Chapter 3403: Entering Lihentian
Jie Zun entered the Wang Mountain ancestral land and arrived beneath the Heavenly Venerable’s tomb. There, he saw Zhang Ruochen standing below the corpse of the Golden Chimera Divine Beast, holding something in his hands.
He said, with irritation, “Have you comprehended the nineteenth layer of fist intent for the Immovable Wisdom King Fist?”
“Not yet, it’s not that fast. I’ve only grasped half of it,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun’s expression improved slightly. He puffed out his chest and said, “Then why has your aura suddenly increased so much?”
“I’ve made a major breakthrough in the Way of Space, mastering the Infinite divine ability ‘Extreme Dark Gravity Space’ to its great perfection. The Taiji Yin-Yang has become even more stable!”
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, not considering the cultivation of an Infinite divine ability to be anything remarkable.
Jie Zun noticed the hollow golden sphere in Zhang Ruochen’s hand, which contained a purple gem sealed inside. He roared, “You unfilial descendant! That is an item worn by the Golden Chimera Ancestor. How dare you take anything? Put it back immediately!”
The Golden Chimera was the mount of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable. Its cultivation was formidable, and in that era, it held an absolutely transcendent status. Even the Zhang family’s juniors had to respect it and address it as “Golden Chimera Ancestor.”
Jie Zun had coveted the Blunt Void Stone inside the hollow golden sphere for a long time, but he had always hesitated. He worried that the Golden Chimera Ancestor might not be completely dead, that some spiritual will might still remain.
Who would have thought Zhang Ruochen would be so decisive, directly taking it and beating him to it?
It seemed his earlier worries had been excessive!
Jie Zun pleaded earnestly, “The Golden Chimera Ancestor accompanied the Great Venerable throughout his life, fighting across all the dangerous lands and forbidden domains of the universe, slaughtering his way to invincibility under heaven. We Zhang family juniors must hold it in reverence. How can you disturb its peace? Return it immediately, or I will enforce the family law!”
“Letting a treasure gather dust, unseen by the light of day, is the true unfilial act. If the Golden Chimera Ancestor were still alive, it would surely want me to use the Blunt Void Stone properly and enhance the Zhang family’s prestige. Jie Lao, when you tell me to return it, could it be that you want it for yourself?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun trembled with anger. “Nonsense! I always act according to propriety and law. I don’t just take anything.”
Zhang Ruochen slowly twisted the hollow golden sphere open a turn. Immediately, the earth shook, and the spatial gravity in the ancestral land reached ten thousand times its normal level.
Divine light and sacred radiance surged from the numerous tombs, resisting the gravity.
“Stop! Are you trying to destroy the ancestral land? Once the seals are completely gone and the Blunt Void Stone is exposed, the spatial gravity will instantly reach ten billion times. The entire Eastern Domain will be crushed flat, and no living being will survive,” Jie Zun said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “It’s fine. This Blunt Void Stone has been refined and turned into a tool. Its power can be controlled.”
Even as he said this, he did not continue twisting. He restored the hollow golden sphere to its original state.
The gravity in the ancestral land returned to normal.
This Blunt Void Stone was a rare treasure. Once combined with the Way of Space he had cultivated, it could unleash even more terrifying power.
Jie Zun clasped his hands together, showing no regard for his dignity as a Divine Venerable. He knelt directly before the Heavenly Venerable’s tomb and said, “I have failed the Great Venerable! I have failed the Golden Chimera Ancestor! The Zhang family has produced such a scoundrel in later generations, coming to the ancestral land to take things, disturbing the peace of all the ancestors. I am guilty! What are you looking at?”
Zhang Ruochen naturally had objections. He felt that Jie Zun had no right to criticize him, since they were both cut from the same cloth.
Jie Zun stood up and said, “Are you thinking of digging up the tombs of all the ancestors too?”
“Are you speaking your true thoughts now? You once said that door was dug up—where was it dug from? Could it be from the tomb of some ancestor? Did you give it to me out of guilt?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun pointed at Zhang Ruochen, trembling. “You little brat, don’t spout nonsense!”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart skipped a beat.
Could he have hit the mark? Was that door really dug up by the old man from some ancestor’s tomb?
Jie Zun guessed what Zhang Ruochen was thinking and roared, “I am not that unfilial! That door did come from beneath the ancestral tomb forest, but I discovered it by accident when I went underground to sleep and heal ten thousand years ago.”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t want to argue further with Jie Zun. He said, “When I took the Blunt Void Stone, I paid my respects to the Golden Chimera Ancestor. I’m not like you.”
Then, Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on the twelve stone giants, each thousands of feet tall. He said, “Jie Lao, is it possible to take them out? With them, the Zhang family could immediately become the tenth greatest clan in the universe.”
The stone giants’ combat power was comparable to that of a Tai Xu peak Great God.
With twelve stone giants guarding a single clan, they could surely dominate the world and look down upon an entire star sea.
“Don’t dream. They are the guardians of the ancestral land. If they leave, they will turn to sand. If you want the Zhang family to become the tenth greatest clan in the universe, you need to work harder. If the Zhang family could have hundreds or thousands of prodigies like Kunlun, Kongle, Hongchen, and Yuyan, the future would surely be glorious.”
Jie Zun realized it was impossible to trick the Blunt Void Stone out of Zhang Ruochen’s hands. He said, “Let’s go. Head to Lihentian. Breaking through the realm is the urgent priority. Many great things have happened in the universe. This is a time of shifting winds and changing clouds.”
A trace of worry flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. He immediately asked, “What has happened?”
“What use would it be to tell you with your current cultivation? These matters often involve conflicts at the level of kings and venerables, with even some All Heavens scheming behind the scenes. Wait until you break through to Infinite Realm before you can get involved.”
Jie Zun and Zhang Ruochen first went to Demon Ridge and brought Chi Xingtian along.
Originally, a hundred thousand years ago, the Kunlun Realm had a passage to Lihentian, but it had collapsed during a divine war.
Jie Zun planned to take the two of them to the Heavenly Court’s passage, but…
Zhang Ruochen stood atop a snowy mountain peak, releasing the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram and operating it at full power.
Dark clouds gathered, and lightning flashed.
Above, a passage appeared, with the power of Boundlessness spreading toward the Kunlun Realm.
Jie Zun watched, momentarily stunned. He felt he had underestimated the power of the Wuji Divine Dao. He waved his hand and said, “Go. Hua Ying Qingchan and Desolate Heaven are in Boundless Pure Heaven. I’ve already told you their approximate location.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Jie Lao, aren’t you coming with us?”
Jie Zun said, “I’m a false god. I’m not trying to break through to Infinite Realm. Why would I go to Lihentian?”
Chi Xingtian said, “Lihentian these days is extremely dangerous. Not only are ancient Heavenly Venerables appearing, but there are also ancient beings like A Fuya and Beixi who have successfully taken over bodies.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “When I go to Lihentian to break through, I definitely won’t be able to hide it from the calculations and perceptions of those who are perfect and without flaw. Qingtian will not allow me to enter Infinite Realm. Additionally, the Quantity Organization…”
Jie Zun waved his hand. “Stop with the nonsense. Although we are in the Kunlun Realm, we have been keeping an eye on Lihentian. If anything happens, we will naturally act. Even though you are unfilial, you are lucky to have a responsible ancestor!”
Then Jie Zun added, “The heavenly secrets of you two have been concealed by Tai Shang. As long as you are careful, you won’t be detected before breaking through. My target is too big. If I travel with you, it will easily cause problems.”
Zhang Ruochen finally understood. The old man was also afraid. He was worried about having the Ancestor Divine Source taken from him. That was why he stayed holed up in the Kunlun Realm all year round, only sneaking out when necessary.
Indeed, the old man was an existence not tolerated by the gods of the world. He had defied heaven by fusing with the Ancestor Divine Source, allowing him to use a wisp of Ancestor Divine Qi and a small amount of Ancestor Rules. He could also reinfuse Ancestor Divine Qi into depleted ancestral relics, instantly unleashing unparalleled power.
In the current world, he was the only one.
The interest of some All Heavens in Jie Zun might even surpass their interest in Zhang Ruochen.
After sending off Zhang Ruochen and Chi Xingtian, Jie Zun returned to the Central Imperial City and met with Tai Shang again beneath the Sword Pavilion.
A majestic, sacred figure stood within a mass of golden light. He had a human form but with dragon horns on his head. The aura he exuded could rival heaven and earth.
He said, “Qingchan, Desolate Heaven, Chi Xingtian, Zhang Ruochen—any one of them has limitless potential. Their future achievements will surely be extraordinary. Now that they have gathered in Lihentian, someone will definitely take the risk to make a move. Tai Shang, did you invite me to the Kunlun Realm at this time on purpose?”
Jie Zun chuckled. “The Heavenly Dragon Realm and the Kunlun Realm are of the same breath. What distinction is there between them? If they break through to Infinite Realm, it will mean more allies for the Heavenly Dragon Realm, won’t it?”
The majestic man, radiating golden light, said, “If something really happens, of course I won’t stand idly by. But if something happens to the Heavenly Dragon Realm in the future, who knows if they will help?”
Jie Zun said, “Is the Divine Emperor asking for a reward?”
“The Divine Emperor is not that mercenary.” Tai Shang smiled. “Does the Divine Emperor believe that the alliance between the Heavenly Dragon Realm and the Kunlun Realm is indeed very close in our generation? But among the new generation of young people, it seems too distant. Do you want to strengthen the alliance?”
The majestic man with dragon horns before them was none other than the current realm lord of the Heavenly Dragon Realm, “Five Dragon Divine Emperor.” He was also the fifth brother of the Dragon Lord and the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon, and one of the Twenty Heavens of the Heavenly Court.
Jie Zun fell silent. He could understand the Five Dragon Divine Emperor’s concerns. After all, everyone in the world knew that Tai Shang could not hold on much longer. Once he passed away, the only connection between the Heavenly Dragon Realm and the Kunlun Realm would be the Dragon Lord.
Jie Zun said, “Isn’t Chi Xingtian getting along well with the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon? Those two should have gotten together long ago!”
“Hmph!”
The Five Dragon Divine Emperor’s voice was deep. “We are all clear-headed. Everyone knows that the future core of the Kunlun Realm is Zhang Ruochen. I have a daughter of extraordinary talent in my lineage who could marry Zhang Ruochen. If you two agree to this, everything will be fine.”
The Linglong Fairy stepped out from the golden light, appeared beneath the Sword Pavilion, and respectfully bowed to Tai Shang and Jie Zun.
Tai Shang’s gaze was meaningful as he looked at Jie Zun.
“Good! This matter is settled. I will agree on Zhang Ruochen’s behalf.”
Jie Zun was overjoyed inside, but he restrained himself. Changing his tone, he said arrogantly, “However, Zhang Ruochen’s potential, cultivation, and status are now the best in the world. The Zhang family is an ancestral family. The door to the family is not so easy to enter.”
“Divine Emperor, to put it bluntly, although this young lady of yours has extraordinary talent and a first-rate appearance, wanting to marry Zhang Ruochen, a future Primordial Ancestor, is still reaching above her station. We need to discuss the dowry properly!”