Chapter 3194: The Great Venerable Expels Guests
As the Kunlun Realm fully revived, the folded space within the King Mountain grew increasingly vast, ridges connecting to hills, hills spreading into mountains, extending toward infinite distances.
Eternal, never-dissipating spiritual mist shrouded the mountains and rivers, while purple divine radiance seeped from the rocks.
On the cliffs, within the jungles, sacred medicines could be seen everywhere.
Tonight, the moonlight was vast and hazy, the wind clear and the air crisp.
Deep within the King Mountain, at the Zhang Clan ancestral land, over a thousand small, hill-like graves stood, all shrouded in nine-colored divine light. The world within that light was filled with mystery, not resembling a burial ground, but rather a land of immortals.
Though the Zhang Clan's ancient sages had passed, their sacred might and divine might still remained.
Cultivators without the Zhang Clan's bloodline who came here would be blocked by the nine-colored divine light.
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao moved swiftly under the moonlight. As they neared the ancestral land, they saw from afar, at the edge of the nine-colored divine light, two figures standing—one old, one young.
They were two Daoist priests!
Before them burned incense and candles. They bowed respectfully toward the graves within the nine-colored light, their expressions solemn and filled with reverence.
Zhang Ruochen's brow furrowed deeply. How dare cultivators intrude into the King Mountain and come to the Zhang Clan ancestral land?
Only after recognizing one of them as Zhen Yuan did his hostility lessen.
His gaze fell upon the other elder. He had white hair and a white beard, with an ancient, refined countenance, like an unfathomable deep pool—one glance revealed no ripples at all.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood many things. Many previous confusions dissipated. He strode forward, ascended the hill, arrived near the two men, and bowed deeply: "Zhang Ruochen, a descendant of the Great Venerable from later generations, pays respects to the Observatory Master."
The Observatory Master of the Five Elements Temple, a sacred land of the Daoist path, was one of the Twenty Heavens of the Heavenly Court. His cultivation was profound and unfathomable. Feng Tian must have been hiding from him, which was why she had concealed herself in the Endless Abyss.
The Observatory Master's eyes seemed forever fixed on the deepest recesses of the boundless universe, yet also contained terrifying energy capable of destroying heaven and earth. Gazing into the depths of the graves, he sighed: "If the Great Venerable were still here, the Heavenly Court and Hell would never be as chaotic as they are today, nor would an evil force like the Quantity Organization be allowed to exist in this world. All is past. When we reminisce about the ancients, our eyes can never look forward."
The Observatory Master turned his head, his gaze falling upon Zhang Ruochen, seeming to possess a mysterious, penetrating power that could see through his physical body and divine soul. His expression gradually sharpened: "The Great Venerable and Xumi Saint Monk were both great sages of the Zhang Clan, and indeed of the entire universe. As their descendant, Zhang Ruochen, why have you sunk so low, entangling yourself with those bloodthirsty, cruel, murderous evil beings?"
Zhang Ruochen did not show the slightest sign of weakness, despite the other's supreme cultivation and transcendent status, because his conscience was clear. "Is the Observatory Master reprimanding this junior?"
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master stared at him intently. "The Great Venerable has passed, the Saint Monk has entered nirvana. What was once a glorious Heavenly Venerable clan now stands as nothing but mounds of yellow earth. In your generation, you could have risen again and brought glory to your family. I truly do not wish to see you take the wrong path, bringing shame upon the Great Venerable and the Saint Monk."
"Where is Feng Caiyi? Did she return to the Hell Realm via the Santu River?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart pounded like a drum, but he remained calm and composed. "I cannot hide it from the Observatory Master after all."
Zhen Yuan spoke earnestly: "At Feng Tian's nirvana site, my master detected the faint aura you left behind. But your technique for concealing your aura was too superb (gaochao). Even with my master's cultivation, he could not catch up to you. When news of your appearance at the Santu River arrived, my master was certain that you must have hidden Feng Tian within your Divine Realm World and escorted her back to the Hell Realm."
"How foolish!"
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master's eyes seemed to contain thunderclouds and storms. "That Feng Caiyi is known as the Death God Venerable. Countless living beings have died by her hands. Even the Saint Monk's death back then was directly related to her. This was a perfect opportunity to eliminate her. How could you be so ignorant of right and wrong, letting the tiger return to the mountain?"
"Do you know that Feng Caiyi's vision is to wipe out the Heavenly Court?"
"Even if you knelt before the Great Venerable's grave and repented for a hundred thousand years, it would not be enough to atone for this sin."
If he were not in the wrong, no matter how powerful the being he faced, Zhang Ruochen could stand tall and unyielding. But if he was in the wrong, his momentum would inevitably plummet.
Chi Yao said: "Observatory Master, may I ask a question? Compared to the life and death of one person and the life and death of an entire realm, which is more important?"
"Naturally, one person is light, and an entire realm is heavy," the Five Elements Temple Observatory Master replied.
Chi Yao said: "Yes, in my view, that is also the case. If I could kill Feng Tian, I would be willing to die on the spot, because it would save more living beings."
"But in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, the life and death of one person and the life and death of an entire realm can sometimes be equally important. Because that person is someone he cares about!"
"Before he can benefit the entire world, he can only first protect the family and friends around him."
"Observatory Master, is this approach right or wrong?"
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master looked at Zhang Ruochen. "Did Feng Caiyi threaten you with the safety of those you care about?"
Seeing the Observatory Master's expression soften, Chi Yao breathed a secret sigh of relief.
When a being of the Heavenly level became angry, killing a Great God was as easy as cutting grass.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Yes! But, this junior has a foolish opinion. I wonder if I may speak it."
"Speak!"
Zhang Ruochen asked: "May I ask the Observatory Master, is the Calamity of Quantities approaching?"
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master understood what he was getting at, so he remained silent, waiting for him to continue.
"Many deities in the world know that the war of the Heavens thirty thousand years ago, and the calamity that nearly destroyed the world a hundred thousand years ago, were both related to the Calamity of Quantities. The Calamity of Quantities targets not only the Heavenly Court Universe, but also the Yellow Spring Star River. If that is the case, why must the Heavenly Court and Hell fight to the death, causing mutual destruction?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhen Yuan did not want Zhang Ruochen and the Observatory Master to become too hostile, so he tried to mediate: "Ruochen, the war was started by the Hell Realm. You should ask Feng Tian this question. She is one of the most aggressive war hawks in the Hell Realm."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Then I would very much like to know, why does Feng Tian have the vision of destroying the Heavenly Court? I would very much like to know, has the Observatory Master ever considered not killing Feng Tian, but instead, while she is weak, trying to persuade her to fight together against the Calamity of Quantities and stop the war?"
"Naive! A Heavenly-level powerhouse with firm convictions—can you shake her will?" the Five Elements Temple Observatory Master said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "This is indeed very naive, but has the Observatory Master ever thought of it? Even just a single thought? No, right? The Observatory Master only thought of killing her to eliminate future trouble, but never considered that if you could change her mind, you might be able to stop the war. Once the Calamity of Quantities arrives, she might also be a powerful ally."
"If the Saint Monk were still alive, I think he would definitely choose persuasion, rather than having only killing as an option. Those who only know how to kill—what difference is there between them and Shura or vengeful spirits?"
"This junior does not dare to dream of shaking the Observatory Master's will. I am merely humbly seeking guidance."
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master gazed at the bright moon in the sky, a flickering light in his eyes. "Yes, if the Saint Monk were still alive, I'm afraid he would also have such naive thoughts. If one were not naive, how could one say, 'If Hell is not empty, I will not become a Buddha'? For this naivety of yours, you cannot be a member of the Quantity Organization."
"Zhang Ruochen, come with me to the Five Elements Temple to cultivate!"
"Is the Observatory Master still suspicious of my identity, wanting to imprison me in the Five Elements Temple?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhen Yuan quickly said: "Brother Ruochen, my master is doing this, firstly, to protect you. Right now, the deities of the world all believe you are the Quantity Opportunity. Danger lurks everywhere. Only by entering the Five Elements Temple can you completely avoid disaster."
"Secondly, your method of cultivating the First-rank Divine Path is very similar to the Daoist lineage. Tai Shang once asked my master to take you as a disciple and guide you a little. At that time, my master refused."
"Today, he asks you to enter the Five Elements Temple entirely because he values that naivety of yours."
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master's aura was vast and profound, his gaze stern. "No! This Observatory Master is indeed somewhat suspicious that he is the Quantity Opportunity, so I have decided to place him under house arrest in the Five Elements Temple. If Zhang Ruochen were truly naive, how could he navigate so adeptly between the Heavenly Court and Hell? How could he hide from the perception of Heavenly-level powerhouses from a certain distance?"
Zhen Yuan smiled bitterly, knowing that his master did not want to give Zhang Ruochen a chance to refuse. At the same time, Zhang Ruochen letting Feng Tian go had truly angered his master.
This time, Chi Yao was intimidated by the Observatory Master's aura, suppressed by his divine power, unable to open her mouth to help Zhang Ruochen defend himself.
"Boom!"
Deep within the forest of graves, from a majestic and imposing tomb, chaotic divine light and chaotic rules flowed out.
The ripples of spatial oscillation spread from within the tomb forest to the outside.
Above the great tomb, twenty-seven layers of heavenly realms appeared, both illusory and real. A towering, unparalleled figure sat cross-legged upon them. Countless stars manifested above the great tomb, like an independent universe, vast and boundless, strange and mysterious.
Zhen Yuan and Chi Yao, though both of extraordinary temperament, were now filled with shock.
The Five Elements Temple Observatory Master had originally been determined to take Zhang Ruochen away, but now he let out a long sigh: "Let's go. The Great Venerable has issued an order to expel guests."
The Observatory Master glanced at Zhang Ruochen, then led Zhen Yuan out of the King Mountain.
Countless questions swirled in Zhen Yuan's mind. Even if the Great Venerable was powerful, he had ultimately fallen. His master was a current Heavenly-level being; he did not necessarily have to obey even the Heavenly Venerable's command. How could he be driven back by the vision manifested from the tomb?
The shock in Zhang Ruochen's heart was no less than Zhen Yuan's.
Could it be that the Great Venerable's spiritual will had not been extinguished?
Could a mere posthumous will force back a Heavenly-level being of unfathomable cultivation?
Zhang Ruochen looked at Chi Yao. "You cultivate the *Bright Emperor Sutra*. Try circulating this technique and see if you can enter the nine-colored divine light."
Chi Yao circulated her divine qi. Above her head, layers of solid heavenly realms manifested, resonating with the twenty-seven layers of heavenly realms above the distant Heavenly Venerable's tomb.
With one step, the nine-colored divine light rippled like water, but did not block her.
Chi Yao and Zhang Ruochen entered the tomb forest one after another and hurried toward the Heavenly Venerable's tomb where the chaotic divine light flickered. Both were Great Gods with extraordinary means. The killing formations and chaotic spaces within the tomb forest could not threaten them.
Before long, they arrived at the foot of the Heavenly Venerable's tomb.
Here stood twelve stone figures, each thousands of zhang tall, holding different war weapons, exuding extraordinary battle might and divine charm.
Even with Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, looking at the twelve stone figures, he felt a sense of pressure.
They seemed to be the tomb's guardians, or perhaps twelve supreme deities who had once truly existed.
Passing beneath the twelve stone figures, Chi Yao's gaze fell upon the very base of the Heavenly Venerable's tomb. Holding her breath, she said: "That is... the Great Venerable's mount, the Golden Lion Divine Beast. Is it still alive?"
(Chapter End)