Chapter 3542: Jie Venerable's Connection
Jie Venerable wore a disdainful expression. "Even if he has Ancestor Divine Source, so what? How can an Ancestor who fell over a hundred million years ago compare to even a tenth of the Great Venerable's Divine Source? Does his Ancestor Divine Body still retain even one percent of its power? Does his remnant soul's understanding of the Ancestor realm amount to even one ten-thousandth of what it was in life?"
"He is no Yellow Spring Great Emperor at all—he is a ghostly corpse, an entirely new cultivator. Even if he now possesses Indestructible Infinite-level combat power, whether he can reach the peak of Indestructible remains unknown."
"I inherited the Great Venerable's Divine Source, which is countless times more powerful than the Divine Source within his body, and yet I cannot dominate the world. Hmph!"
"You are too lacking in talent, wasting the Great Venerable's Divine Source." Zhang Ruochen said this flatly, without any particular emphasis.
Jie Venerable reacted as if his tail had been stepped on, trembling with rage. "If this old man hadn't reached out to save you, you would have been beaten to death!"
"Alright, alright, many thanks to Elder Jie for coming to my rescue."
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the sky, then his gaze sharpened as he turned southward. "This doesn't look good!"
From the south, a series of powerful auras emerged, standing atop the mountain ridges.
These auras triggered changes in the celestial phenomena, turning the sky as bright as daylight.
More than a dozen humanoid primordial beings appeared, and Yuan Sheng had already gathered with them. Gradually, these humanoid primordial beings formed an encirclement around Zhang Ruochen, Jie Venerable, Feng Tian, and the Life-Death Double Coffin, slowly closing in.
Jie Venerable remained remarkably calm. "Relax, everything is within this venerable one's expectations."
Zhang Ruochen noticed that among those humanoid primordial beings, at least two possessed extremely powerful auras. Just standing there, they exuded immense pressure, altering the very rules of heaven and earth. Even Yuan Sheng did not radiate such terrifying oppressive force.
He found it truly difficult to understand why Jie Venerable was so composed.
Could it be that this old fellow's combat power had already reached a level where he could act with impunity in the Abyss of Darkness?
But he had only just comprehended the Nineteenth Layer of Heaven!
Feng Tian and the Life-Death Double Coffin had ceased their battle. She was dressed in white like snow, cold and beautiful like frost. Beside her, Blood Leaf Parasol Tree and Xu Qiong appeared together—one rooted in the ground, the other roaming through the void.
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor's soul mist had been mostly rescued by her, and his ghostly body was reforming beneath the Blood Leaf Parasol Tree.
Thus, a four-way standoff took shape.
A black locust tree, as tall as the Blood Leaf Parasol Tree, grew behind the group of primordial beings, its trunk like a mountain peak. Among the dense branches stood a figure, surrounded by swirling currents of air that wrapped around her like a cocoon.
She was the Great Elder of the Primordial Path Clan, Yuan Suyin.
Her face was difficult to make out clearly; one could only sense the powerful divine energy radiating from her in layers. She said, "Friends from the upper realms, since you have come to the Abyss of Darkness, why not accompany this old woman to the Chaos River as guests?"
"The White Cang Ridge is closer—let us go to the White Cang Ridge as guests!"
A middle-aged man, over ten zhang tall and resembling a humanoid statue, spoke with a slight smile.
He looked very much like a member of the Stone Clan, with skin and body made of stone, yet blood flowed within him, his eyes were bright, and his life aura was strong. Just by standing there, vegetation sprouted beneath his feet—white flowers, white grass, white trees...
He was the Clan Emperor of the Earth Clan.
Feng Tian remained indifferent. "With just you people, do you think you can invite this Heavenly One?"
The Earth Clan Emperor said, "The twelve clans, including the experts from Great Dark Mountain, will arrive soon. By then, who will be able to escape?"
"At least they haven't arrived yet. Which of you can stop this Heavenly One?"
Feng Tian's gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen. "Come here!"
Zhang Ruochen had just put away the Xutuohai White Silver Tree and knew that Feng Tian intended to break out with him.
Jie Venerable immediately sent a voice transmission to Zhang Ruochen. "With so many people watching, you are the Lord of the Sword Realm. If she tells you to go, you go, that would be a loss of face. Women—you can't just go along with them. The more you indulge them, the more they push. Trust this old man, it's always right. In the Abyss of Darkness, this venerable one has connections. Rest assured, it's very safe. Later, I have important matters to discuss with you!"
Zhang Ruochen was indeed very curious about why Jie Venerable had come to the Abyss of Darkness. So, he looked at Feng Tian and said, "Feng Tian's kindness is appreciated, but my family's ancestor is here, so it would not be proper to leave."
"Fine!"
With just that single word, Feng Tian spread her wings on her back and flew into the sky.
Zhang Ruochen knew very well that the fewer words Feng Tian spoke, the angrier she was, but he could only sigh.
At the same time, the Life-Death Double Coffin sank into the ground, charging off in another direction.
The primordial beings did not intercept. Clearly, with their current strength, they could not simultaneously suppress two Indestructible Infinite-level beings. Even trying to keep just one of them would come at a great cost.
Zhang Ruochen moved closer to Jie Venerable and said in a low voice, "Aren't we leaving?"
"Leave? If we leave now, we'll die if we run into any of them." Jie Venerable transmitted.
Zhang Ruochen was stunned. "Old one, what do you mean by that?"
"I only just comprehended the Nineteenth Layer of Heaven, and I can finally begin to mobilize the Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules within the Divine Source. Those two moves just now used up all the Ancestor power I've accumulated recently!" Jie Venerable's face remained calm, exuding boundless confidence, but he added, "Don't let it show—stay calm."
Zhang Ruochen felt an urge to chase after Feng Tian. He really couldn't trust this old fellow too much.
"Relax, that display just now—there are few below the Heavenly Venerable rank who wouldn't be intimidated. It's enough to keep these people in check." Jie Venerable said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "So you're just a one-punch powerhouse?"
"Stay calm! This venerable one knows what he's doing. I told you, I have connections in the Abyss of Darkness!"
Jie Venerable puffed out his chest, stroked his beard, and strode boldly toward the group of primordial beings.
His bearing, his demeanor—he had it all perfectly under control, like a Heavenly Venerable descending, causing the primordial gods to feel immense pressure, all of them on high alert.
The Earth Clan Emperor's expression was grave; the soil beneath his feet turned to sand as he gathered his divine power.
Yuan Sheng ordered the other primordial beings to retreat, standing alone with her spear, her eyes filled with both battle intent and caution.
"Suyin, the reason I have come to the Abyss of Darkness this time is to see you. Even knowing how difficult this meeting would be, I still crossed the Wuding Divine Sea without hesitation, traversed the Yellow Spring Star River, and arrived here. All to pour out the bitter longing of so many years!"
Jie Venerable's bearing was transcendent, but his eyes were red, his emotions sincere, as he gazed at the figure standing on the Yinhuai Divine Tree.
Where was the invincible aura from moments ago?
He was nothing more than a weary traveler, weathered and sorrowful, a lovelorn man who had crossed mountains and rivers to reach this place!
Yuan Sheng was stunned, involuntarily turning to look at the Great Elder as she descended.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was no better off than her, his eyes filled with confusion, shock, and doubt.
Was this the "connection" he had spoken of?
...
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree transformed into human form, standing on Xu Qiong's back, fuming. "Zhang Ruochen is too detestable! Master gave up suppressing Gai Mie and came back specifically to save him, yet he is so ungrateful!"
"This Heavenly One did not give up chasing Gai Mie just to save him, but because there are more important matters to attend to." Feng Tian said.
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree said, "Gai Mie was severely wounded and about to be captured by us. If Master hadn't sensed Zhang Ruochen's danger, how could you have given up suppressing him at that moment?"
Feng Tian shot her a look, and the Blood Leaf Parasol Tree immediately fell silent, though her eyes still held resentment.
"Zhang Ruochen still has great use. His value far exceeds Gai Mie's—he cannot die."
Feng Tian continued, "Do you remember what Gai Mie said at that time?"
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree thought carefully. "He said that the restriction agreement between the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable and the Great Dark Mountain was about to expire, that the primordial clans would soon emerge, and that the Yellow Spring Star River and the Destiny Temple would be annihilated in the universe. Master doesn't believe him, does he? He only said that to distract you and buy himself a chance to escape. He had just awakened and was suppressed—how could he know about events from ten eons ago?"
"Exactly. How could he know about this matter?" Feng Tian countered.
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree exclaimed in shock, "The restriction agreement is real? The primordial clans have all turned into strange beasts, and they are still so powerful that they need the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable's restriction to suppress them?"
Feng Tian said, "Gai Mie and the Yellow Spring Great Emperor entered the Abyss of Darkness to escape pursuit and to hide while recovering their cultivation. Jiusi Yitianhuang disappeared in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City—he must have entered the Three Rivers and Seven Ridges. What is his purpose?"
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree said, "Master suspects that Jiusi Yitianhuang told Gai Mie about the restriction agreement? That Jiusi Yitianhuang was involved in releasing Gai Mie from Fengdu Ghost City? What is his goal in doing this?"
Feng Tian shook her head gently. "Jiusi Yitianhuang has been scheming for many years. Perhaps he senses that his era is coming and is finally ready to reveal his true face. In any case, we must return to the Ancient Desolate Ruins City immediately. As long as the Ancient Desolate Ruins City does not fall, the sky will not collapse!"
(End of chapter)