Chapter 3418: The Fourth Image, Flickering Extinction Star Sea
The area covered by the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram expanded further, reaching a diameter of nearly one hundred million li.
It was completely impossible to conceal its aura any longer; most of the Flickering Extinction Star Sea was affected.
Living beings on every planet were filled with terror. Even the divine beings in the darkness gathered together to discuss countermeasures.
A divine being sent out a divine thought, asking Qiangu Nüdi what she intended to do in the Flickering Extinction Star Sea, offering to cooperate fully. They adopted a very low posture, unwilling to become enemies with a God Venerable.
"Just passing through. I will leave in a few days. This Venerable has no hostile intent!" Qiangu Nüdi responded, but did not reveal her identity.
Within the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram, the Divine Mountain, Divine Sea, Jade Tree, and Ink Moon were all magnificent and majestic.
The Divine Mountain was taller than most stars.
The Divine Sea was vast and boundless, capable of raising waves ten thousand zhang high.
The Jade Tree was like a World Tree in the universe, its leaves scattering light rain. The Ink Moon was no different from a black hole, resonating with the Jade Tree, forming unique patterns of rules.
Zhang Ruochen began to condense the Sun.
At the Sun position, golden, blazing light gathered towards Zhang Ruochen, containing countless Chaotic Divine Qi and rules.
Gradually, a pair of white wings condensed, each feather the size of a planet, releasing brilliant and powerful Radiant power.
The feathers were as sharp as divine swords, cutting cracks into space.
Chi Xingtian exclaimed in amazement, "With this Fourth Image, it's like a god-slaying great weapon, capable of severing divine bodies and refining divine souls."
He was naturally excited. The stronger the First-rank Divine Path, the greater the possibility of helping him restore his foundation.
Moreover, once his friendship with Zhang Ruochen was deep enough, if he could comprehend the Wuji Divine Dao, even learning just ten or twenty percent would bring him endless benefits.
"The Fourth Image has actually condensed into a pair of Radiant Heavenly Wings," Yu Yao said.
Chi Xingtian, acting knowledgeable, said, "The concrete manifestation of the Four Images is influenced by his past cultivation."
"For example, he has climbed the Truth Divine Mountain and also obtained the Sword Mountain left by Jian Zu. That is why the Shaoyang, condensed from the Way of Truth and the Way of the Sword, took the form of a mountain. Perhaps it wasn't intentional, but there must be an influence from his subconscious."
"To condense the Sun, he mainly relies on the Way of Light and the Way of Space. Space is difficult to manifest concretely. So, subconsciously, he would definitely think of the Angel Clan, who primarily cultivate the Way of Light."
"Cultivating such a pair of Radiant Heavenly Wings is very clever. In the future, he can use them to cross the star sea, with speed surpassing gods of the same realm. When the wings spread, the Radiant Divine Power is released, purifying all demons and monsters."
"Combined with Space power, when the wings spread, they can support a great world similar to the Undying Blood Clan's Wing World."
While Chi Xingtian and Yu Yao were chatting, Qiangu Nüdi's expression was very grave.
She had clearly used the Wujian Divine Sword to stabilize space.
But the fluctuations from Zhang Ruochen condensing the Sun were too intense, tearing space apart and connecting the Real World with the Void World.
This would greatly increase the probability of Bai Zun and Jiu Chi Shen Wang sensing the fluctuations in the Real World.
She could only hope that Zhang Ruochen would break through quickly, to avoid complications from a long delay.
"Whoosh!"
At the position of the Fourth Image, the Sun, the Radiant Heavenly Wings dispersed, reverting into a golden sea of blazing flames.
Yu Yao frowned, "Failed?"
Qiangu Nüdi and Chi Xingtian showed worried expressions, also feeling some regret. If the Radiant Heavenly Wings had been successfully condensed as the Fourth Image, the future benefits would have been endless. Unfortunately, just as it was about to take shape, it collapsed into chaos.
Just then, the golden sea of blazing flames boiled, gradually darkening into a yellow-brown color.
The Fourth Image condensed again...
Chi Xingtian's eyes grew wider and wider, completely stunned. He looked at Zhang Ruochen's Fourth Image, then at the Yellow Spring Star River at the end of the universe in the distance, and couldn't help licking his lips.
Holy shit!
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were fixed on the Yellow Spring Star River, and the Fourth Image evolved with his will, gradually transforming into the form of the "Yellow Spring Star River."
"He actively dispersed the Radiant Heavenly Wings. He wants to evolve the entire Hell Realm into his Fourth Image," Yu Yao exclaimed in shock.
Chi Xingtian said, "If this succeeds, when he displays the Four Images in the future, how will the gods of Hell Realm feel?"
The "Yellow Spring Star River" within the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram became increasingly grand, with stars condensing one by one.
They were not star-spot light clusters.
They were real planets with material substance.
The number of planets grew...
Zhang Ruochen's body began to shake.
At the same time, the Taiyin "Jade Tree Ink Moon," corresponding to the Sun, also shook violently.
Soon, the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram became unstable. The chaotic airflow inside became disordered, cracks appeared in the Divine Mountain, the Divine Sea showed signs of splitting apart, the Jade Tree withered, and the Ink Moon shrank.
"Boom!"
The Yellow Spring Star River collapsed, stars annihilating one after another.
Zhang Ruochen suffered backlash, spitting out a mouthful of blood. The Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram and the Four Images within became even more unstable!
Qiangu Nüdi said, "Not good! Although the Yellow Spring Star River is vast and grand, with shining stars, it is indeed a combination of Space and Light. But it is not suitable for manifesting as the Sun!"
"The Yellow Spring is too dark; it cannot fully display the brilliance of Light."
"The Yin Qi of the Yellow Spring Star River is too heavy, not conforming to the supreme Yang and hardness of the Sun's attribute."
"More importantly, the energy of the concrete manifestation of the Yellow Spring Star River is too strong, far overshadowing the Jade Tree Ink Moon, leading to an imbalance of Yin and Yang."
The path Zhang Ruochen was taking was not about making one aspect as strong as possible, but about proceeding step by step, advancing on multiple fronts.
Maintain balance, then seek myriad changes and infinite deductions.
"What should we do then?" Chi Xingtian asked.
"We can't help; he has to rely on himself," Qiangu Nüdi said.
Qiangu Nüdi sensed something, her gaze fixed on a spatial rift at the edge of the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram. "Perhaps we can help a little. They're here. Prepare for battle and create the best breakthrough environment for Zhang Ruochen."
From the spatial rift, a purple-black Nether River flew out.
Its deathly aura was surging, with countless tributaries.
Qiangu Nüdi attracted countless Time Rules from heaven and earth, evolving them into rivers of time in the void, colliding with the flying Nether River.
Time throughout the entire world seemed to freeze.
Qiangu Nüdi stepped on the river of time, crushing the Nether Rivers one by one. It seemed slow, but was incredibly fast. She pinched her fingers into a sword seal and stabbed towards the spatial rift.
Bai Zun flew out of the spatial rift, striking out with the Seven Mourning Nether Flowers, breaking the Time Sword Art that Qiangu Nüdi had thrust out.
"So it's the Flickering Extinction Star Sea outside... Oh, Zhang Ruochen has reached a critical moment in his breakthrough?"
A strange light flickered in Bai Zun's eyes. She didn't bother to spar with Qiangu Nüdi. Instead, she used her divine thought to evolve a divine ability, condensing a towering Nether City, which she directly suppressed towards Zhang Ruochen's true body.
"Clang!"
The Wujian Divine Sword, which had been suspended high above the nine heavens, slashed through the air, cleaving the Nether City in two.
Bai Zun's true body was caught by Qiangu Nüdi. She felt countless Time Imprint light points enveloping her, slowing not only the operation speed of her divine qi and rule divine patterns, but even her thoughts!
"Impressive! It seems you possess quite a bit of Time Esoterica. It is only in the Real World that you can truly unleash the battle power of a Time Main God."
Bai Zun had also cultivated the Way of Time, and her cultivation realm was far higher than Qiangu Nüdi's. Therefore, even with the suppression of Time power, she managed to block Qiangu Nüdi's attacks.
But it was not easy.
Bai Zun was shocked inwardly. After all, this time she had come prepared and was engaging in a true frontal confrontation. Unlike last time, when she was caught off guard by Qiangu Nüdi's sneak attack.
Could there really be someone in this world who could defy the hierarchy and fight above their realm in the Infinite Realm?
Yu Yao set up a formation to block the residual waves of the battle between the two God Venerables, so as not to affect Zhang Ruochen, who was in the middle of his breakthrough.
Chi Xingtian, wielding the Light War Axe that once belonged to Dai Fei Shen Wang, shattered the Nether Light clones that Bai Zun had separated, one by one. They were all going all out to create a breakthrough environment for Zhang Ruochen.
Within the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram, Zhang Ruochen remained calm, in a state of self-forgetfulness.
For the third time, he condensed the concrete manifestation of the Sun. Stars took shape again, star mist formed clouds, not yellow-brown, nor the form of the Yellow Spring Star River.
With Zhang Ruochen's breathing rhythm, all the stars pulsed in a regular pattern of brightening and dimming.
At the same time, this change affected the Flickering Extinction Star Sea, causing even the extinguished stars to flicker on and off, as if resonating.
"He has manifested the Fourth Image as the Flickering Extinction Star Sea?"
Chi Xingtian was somewhat surprised, but he could understand. After all, the concrete manifestation of the Four Images is not only influenced by the subconscious of past cultivation paths but also by the current environment.
Being in the Flickering Extinction Star Sea and observing the changes of heaven and earth might have allowed Zhang Ruochen to comprehend some possibility of combining the Way of Space and the Way of Light.
At the same time, Chi Xingtian looked at the boundless, real Flickering Extinction Star Sea on the periphery and felt a chill run down his spine.
The star sea manifested by Zhang Ruochen's Fourth Image only covered tens of millions of li of space. But the real Flickering Extinction Star Sea was far too vast!
Yet they were so similar, resonating, flickering together.
"Boom!"
Space collapsed on an even larger scale, fragments densely packed, merging with the Void World, turning into a chaotic zone.
A dark Nether Hand, thousands of li in size, reached out from the chaos, releasing an overwhelming surge of energy, slapping towards Zhang Ruochen, who was condensing the Fourth Image.
"Damn it, another Infinite Realm powerhouse has emerged from the Void World. This aura should be Chi Mu Shen Wang!" Chi Xingtian said.
Qiangu Nüdi and Bai Zun both saw that dark Nether Hand.
Bai Zun attacked even more frantically, fully manifesting her rule divine patterns, holding nothing back, entangling Qiangu Nüdi.
Seeing that Qiangu Nüdi couldn't break free, Chi Xingtian let out a long roar to bolster his courage, raised his axe, and struck towards the dark Nether Hand.
The axe light was dazzling, causing space to roar and collapse even more.
A Great God dared to swing an axe at a God King. This required great courage and fearlessness, overcoming the opponent's spiritual pressure.
But Chi Xingtian's full-powered axe strike only blocked the dark Nether Hand for an instant before he was sent flying. All the flesh on his body exploded, leaving only his bones intact.
"Hmph!"
A deep snort came from the chaotic zone.
The dark Nether Hand revealed its complete form.
It was only a part of the Nether Ancestor's light projection!
At this moment, the Nether Ancestor's light projection walked out, like a giant propping up the universe, its aura majestic, its baleful might sweeping in all directions.
Chi Mu Shen Wang stood on the shoulder of the Nether Ancestor's light projection, a silver-white mask covering his entire face, only a pair of crimson eyes exposed.
Chi Mu Shen Wang was also at the middle stage of Qiankun Infinite. In terms of combat power, he surpassed Bai Zun, only one step away from the peak of Qiankun Infinite.
Qiangu Nüdi finally broke free. She fully activated her Time Esoterica, and countless Time Imprint light points appeared in the cosmic void, converging into a bright divine sea.
The Nether Ancestor's light projection was enveloped by the Time Divine Sea, immediately falling as if into a swamp, unable to break free.
Qiangu Nüdi, wearing the Ancestor Divine Traveling Cloak, her long hair like a black waterfall, her eyes sharp, appeared before Chi Mu Shen Wang. Holding her sword with both hands, she slashed down at close range.
Unlike Bai Zun, who was severely injured, Chi Mu Shen Wang was in his prime. He directly threw a iron fist.
The fist glove erupted with the power of a divine artifact. On his fist, the light projection of a Flame Qilin appeared.
"Boom!"
Sword and fist clashed, divine power surged.
Dense Time Imprint light points struck Chi Mu Shen Wang's body, but were all blocked by his profound cultivation, causing negligible damage to his lifespan.
"You are still far off! Accumulate for a hundred thousand years at the initial stage of Qiankun Infinite, then challenge the middle stage of Qiankun Infinite! Unfortunately, you may not have that chance!"
A look of contempt filled Chi Mu Shen Wang's eyes. He activated his main god-level Fire Dao Esoterica within his body. The Fire Dao rules of the universe converged towards him, forming a crimson divine flame vortex beneath his feet.
In the Flickering Extinction Star Sea, stars one by one completely extinguished, all their energy drained by Chi Mu Shen Wang's Fire Dao Esoterica.
Large swaths of stars turned into dead stars, collapsing into dark stars.
The Flame Qilin waved its claws and roared. On the opposite side, the Time Rules and Sword Dao Rules enveloping Qiangu Nüdi were burned through by the divine flames. Her body was sent flying by the fist force, falling into the Void World.
Fortunately, the Ancestor Divine Traveling Cloak blocked the divine flames, or she would have suffered considerable injury.
"There is still a gap between me and the top experts of the middle stage of Qiankun Infinite."
Qiangu Nüdi stabilized her form, calmed the blood qi in her body, and cast her gaze towards the Real World. She saw that the Nether Ancestor's light projection had already broken into the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram and was swinging its hand to strike at Zhang Ruochen.
It was too late!
Chi Xingtian and Yu Yao, who had gone to intercept, were both struck by the divine ability unleashed by Chi Mu Shen Wang, their bodies exploding.
Just as the dark Nether Hand descended upon Zhang Ruochen's head, he, who had been in a state of self-forgetfulness, suddenly opened his eyes. He raised a hand and pushed it out, colliding with the dark Nether Hand.
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged, his palm emitting the sound of Dragon-Elephant, evolving the Five Finger Heaven and Earth.
He forcibly caught the dark Nether Hand!
The Nether Ancestor's light projection was evolved by Chi Mu Shen Wang and was one of his strongest techniques.
Seeing the dark Nether Hand blocked by Zhang Ruochen with a single hand, Chi Mu Shen Wang was stunned speechless. After a long while, he said, "How is this possible? Hua Ying Qing Chan, who possesses thirty percent of Time Esoterica, couldn't block the Nether Ancestor's power. He didn't activate any Esoterica, didn't have a divine artifact's blessing, and just a single palm technique divine ability caught it?"
Chi Mu Shen Wang gradually saw clearly. The Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram beneath Zhang Ruochen manifested all Four Images, slowly rotating, absorbing all kinds of heavenly and earthly rules and power from the universe.
This palm strike did not activate Palm Dao Esoterica, yet it seemed to utilize the Esoterica of all paths in the world.
This was...
First-rank Wuji, endless and infinite!
No need for Esoterica; Wuji is the Esoterica of all paths.
Zhang Ruochen changed his palm into a fist, his form unmoving like a mountain, and shattered the dark Nether Hand with one punch.
Chi Mu Shen Wang immediately began to evolve an Infinite divine ability, but before it could take shape...
He saw a star sea pressing down on him. Within the star sea, every star radiated Yang-attribute powers like Light, Flame, Space, and so on.
"Boom!"
The towering Nether Ancestor's light projection could not withstand the star sea and was crushed, collapsing.