Chapter 3845: Nightmare
Mitian War God's cultivation dojo was not far from the clan mansion, located in the same city district, only about a hundred li away.
Returning to the dojo, Zhang Ruochen helped Mitian War God examine his injuries. He condensed a Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal in his palm, absorbing strands of alien power that had seeped into his flesh and blood.
Gradually, the bloody hole in Mitian War God's chest grew new flesh and began to heal.
Yan Yu and Yan Huangtu both breathed a secret sigh of relief.
"What exactly is this power? Even a Divine Venerable's flesh cannot heal itself, and it cannot be refined?"
Yan Huangtu asked in shock.
Zhang Ruochen held the cluster of colorful light mist in his palm and said, "A very strange power of quantity! It resembles the power of quantity absorbed by Boundless Realm cultivators in Lihentian, but it is more concentrated and has subtle differences."
"It is the Nightmare of Quantity!"
Mitian War God said.
Yan Huangtu said, "How could it be the Nightmare of Quantity? Does that mean the black-robed cultivator comes from the Nightmare Land?"
Yan Yu let out a bitter laugh. "Most likely, yes."
"Second Brother, what exactly do you know? The current situation clearly shows that the Heavenly Venerable has encountered trouble. What is there left unsaid?"
Yan Huangtu said.
Yan Yu shook his head, dejected. "What good would it do to speak? None of us can change any of this."
Zhang Ruochen had long known that the Yama Clan was divided into the Two Direct Lines and the Thirteen Divine Clans.
The Two Direct Lines referred to the "Yama Clan of the Outer Heaven" and the "Yama Clan of Lihentian."
The Thirteen Divine Clans referred to the thirteen Yama branches that had produced deities.
The Yama Clan of Lihentian had always been mysterious, rarely engaging in conflicts in the real world, and few cultivators walked the heavens and earth.
Yet, being listed alongside the Yama Clan of the Outer Heaven as one of the Two Direct Lines, its strength was evidently not weak.
During the expedition of the Boundless cultivators from the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm to attack the North Marsh Great Wall, the Radiant Pure Mountain in Lihentian was attacked by remnant souls of ancient powerful beings and destroyed.
At that time, the Heavenly Court side guarding Radiant Pure Mountain was Hao Tian's divine soul thought.
The Hell Realm side guarding Radiant Pure Mountain was a massive humanoid skeleton.
There was no such figure in Hell Realm, so Zhang Ruochen had specifically investigated it. Later, he learned from Feng Tian that this humanoid skeleton was a divine soul thought of the master of the Yama Clan of Lihentian.
The territory occupied by the Yama Clan of Lihentian was called the "Nightmare Land," which was related to prehistoric times and was also the reason Lihentian was known as one of the Five Great Prehistoric Civilization Ruins.
It was said that the Yama Clan's original name was the "Nightmare Clan."
In some ancient period, the Nightmare Clan faced a calamity of extinction, and those with the surname Nightmare were besieged and killed by various clans.
The survivors had to change their surname to Yama to avoid slaughter.
Fortunately, the unprecedented supreme ancestor Yama Luo was born, who recaptured the Nightmare Land and established the Yama Luo Outer Heaven.
Mitian War God saw Zhang Ruochen continuously analyzing the cluster of light mist in his hand and said, "The power of the Nightmare of Quantity is very strange. Only the direct descendants of the Yama Clan can absorb it for cultivation. Once it invades the flesh, not only will the wound not heal, but it will also continuously damage the divine soul and spiritual will."
Yan Yu said, "Direct descendants of the Yama Clan must also stay in Lihentian, in the Nightmare Land, from a young age to master the power of the Nightmare of Quantity. That is the significance of the Yama Clan of Lihentian!"
"Sizzle!"
Zhang Ruochen directly absorbed the cluster of Nightmare of Quantity power into his body.
The few people present were inwardly startled.
However, thinking of the evaluation of Zhang Ruochen as the "Future Ancestor" by cultivators across the world, they were no longer shocked.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment and asked, "Second Uncle, does the Yama Clan of Lihentian intend to take over the Outer Heaven?"
"I am only speculating that the series of changes in the Yama Luo Outer Heaven are related to the Yama Clan of Lihentian. The truth is probably only known to the Heavenly Venerable and Tai Shang."
Yan Yu said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Who possessed Grandfather?"
"It is hard to say."
"What do you mean by 'hard to say'?"
"It may not be as simple as possession."
Yan Yu continued, "His current cultivation is too terrifying!"
Mitian War God nodded in agreement. "Indeed, it is abnormally powerful. I once intended to make a move to test his background. But just by looking at him from afar, my divine soul was injured, as if two divine lights of heaven and earth could pierce through my divine sea. If it were a remnant soul of an ancient powerful being possessing him, how could it have become this strong in such a short time?"
Zhang Ruochen remained silent, then said, "Mitian War God is a Divine Venerable. Even the remnant soul of an Ancestor could not be this strong. With my current cultivation, I cannot achieve this either. Moreover, Grandfather was still a Great God ten thousand years ago. No matter how fast he cultivates, it is impossible for him to reach the Indestructible Infinite level in such a short time."
Yan Yu said, "Ruochen, before they discover you, take Fifth Brother and Zhexian and leave the Yama Luo Outer Heaven immediately. Go and invite Heavenly Mother! Only a Half-Ancestor can break the current situation of the Yama Clan."
"Also, there is Wu Yue. Previously, the Heavenly Venerable could protect her, so she was not in danger. But in recent months, the Heavenly Venerable has not shown himself, and the Heavenly Venerable Hall has been sealed, guarded by that black-robed cultivator. He may have already met with misfortune."
"Just now, you saw that the black-robed cultivator had few scruples and intended to kill Mitian War God directly. Clearly, they are fully prepared and no longer fear alerting the enemy. They are about to make a move!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Killing Renxiao Heavenly Venerable is not that easy."
"What do you mean?"
Yan Yu was slightly moved.
"Even if I have to invite Heavenly Mother, I must first see the Heavenly Venerable. Without understanding the situation of the Yama Clan, how can I prescribe the right remedy? If the Yama Clan of Lihentian takes control of the Yama Clan, the impact on Hell Realm, Sword Realm, and the overall cosmic situation would not be great—it would just be a change of rulers. But I fear there is someone else behind this!"
"Fengdu Ghost City and the Destiny Temple are already mere shells. The Rakshasa Clan has suffered near-extinction-level devastation. The Shura Clan has fallen into Luo Tuoluo's hands. The Yama Clan absolutely cannot have any more trouble."
Zhang Ruochen dared not imagine the consequences of the Yama Clan losing control. Even if the risk was great, he had to uncover the truth and stop all this.
The situation in the Shura Clan was bound to attract the attention of these people.
Moreover, if the Yama Clan of Lihentian was indeed connected to Qishier Pin Lian, Baer, and others, once Hao Tian made a move against Beixi, the top figures of the Yama Clan of Lihentian would surely rush to rescue him.
This was the reason Zhang Ruochen dared to take the risk.
The Yama Clan was already so precarious, yet Zhang Ruochen was still willing to stay and help them through the crisis. How could Yan Yu and Yan Huangtu not be moved?
Their eyes said it all.
Yan Yu suppressed his emotions and said, "That black-robed cultivator's cultivation is unfathomable. To bypass him and silently enter the Heavenly Venerable Hall, only someone with Tianyuan Wuque could do it. And if Ruochen forcefully attacks and breaks into the Heavenly Venerable Hall, it will surely provoke Xue Zhi Gushen to act."
Zhang Ruochen was confident. "I will first go to pick up Wu Yue and Zhexian, then try to break into the Heavenly Venerable Hall. If it is not feasible, I can directly take everyone away. That way, there will be no mistakes."
"Good, let's do it that way."
Mitian War God stood up, his chest wound fully healed. "I will go and unite some trustworthy God Kings and Divine Venerables. When the time comes, I can lend you a hand."
Yan Yu said, "I will handle the realm-protecting formation."
Yan Huangtu furrowed his brow in thought, then raised his voice. "I will be responsible for causing chaos and drawing their attention. I doubt they will kill me for now!"
"That... can be arranged."
Zhang Ruochen said.
Soon, Yan Huangtu became furious and violent, flying toward the Education Divine Hall.
Arriving outside the mountain where the hall was located, he directly manifested his giant divine body, his form like a burning divine mountain, releasing the Nine Dragon Divine Pattern. Wielding the Tongtian Ruyi, he struck down.
Mountains collapsed for hundreds of li.
Beams of divine light flew out from the mountain range.
"Huangtu, what are you doing?"
"Fifth Brother, have you gone mad?"
"Yan Huangtu, is the Education Divine Hall a place for you to run wild?"
...
Yan Huangtu's long hair flew wildly, and he let out an angry roar: "That person in the Education Divine Hall has brought disaster to the Yama Clan. How many clansmen has he devoured? Are you all blind? Even Mi Lianshan died at his hands. He is not my grandfather. My grandfather has been possessed. I will tear him apart! Kill, kill... kill..."
Yan Huangtu's eyes were bloodshot, and he charged madly toward the Education Divine Hall like a madman.
The Yama Clan deities present all changed color.
They naturally knew that Xue Zhi Gushen was most likely possessed by an ancient powerful being, but this was clearly a decision made by the Heavenly Venerable and Tai Shang. Who dared to speak recklessly?
Could this be brought into the open?
Once it spread, the Yama Clan's reputation would surely suffer greatly.
"Stop him!"
A Tai Xu Great God clan elder was anxious, afraid that Yan Huangtu would anger Xue Zhi Gushen and be killed.
Xue Zhi Gushen sat in the Education Divine Hall, secretly discussing with the two black-robed cultivators who had entered the Yama Luo Heavenly Gate earlier. Hearing the commotion outside, he sneered coldly: "How did he come back? A mere Lower Position God, truly ignorant of life and death."
The tall, slender black-robed cultivator, beneath the white jade mask, spoke in a woman's voice: "This matter is unusual. Chi Kongle returned with him."
"Zhang Ruochen's daughter..."
A stronger smile appeared in Xue Zhi Gushen's eyes. "Zhang Ruochen couldn't have come, could he? How would he know about the Yama Clan's situation? Besides, how could the Shura Clan do without him? Can Xu Tian alone deal with Luo Tuoluo and Qinglu Divine King?"
The six-armed black-robed cultivator said, "Zhang Ruochen would never put Xue Jue and the Sundial in danger. He must be in the Shura Clan. Since we are about to make a move, why not capture his daughter first?"
Xue Zhi Gushen said, "I know you have a grudge against Zhang Ruochen, but do not cause unnecessary trouble. Do you think such a small character can escape? The priority now is to deal with those two at the Life and Death Line, take the Book of Life and Death. Once those two old fellows are dead, we can control the Yama Clan more easily."
The female black-robed cultivator said, "What about Wu Yue? Why not take her first?"
The six-armed black-robed cultivator said, "As far as I know, she is an important pawn of that one in Lihentian. I am afraid she cannot be touched."
"There is nothing that cannot be touched. Any uncertain factor that affects the Yama Clan's plan cannot be allowed to exist. Capture her first!"
Xue Zhi Gushen said coldly and heavily.
...
The Spring Rain Talisman Pavilion was located on the coast of the Eastern Sea of the Yama Luo Outer Heaven.
Yan Zhexian, dressed in white, with jet-black hair like ink and eyebrows like distant mountains, wore a simple wooden hairpin in her hair. She stood by the jade stone building platform, gazing in the direction of the Education Divine Hall, sensing the intense divine power fluctuations coming from there.
Spring rain fell like silk, leaving fine droplets of water on her hair, sleeves, and shoulders.
This place was rainy, perpetually damp and cold.
After Xue Zhi Gushen's incident, she had moved here from Tai Shang Qingyun Hall to live alone, often in seclusion, ignoring worldly affairs. In this silent way, she expressed her dissatisfaction with Tai Shang.
She no longer bore the former luxury and willfulness, only an ever-deepening loneliness and sorrow.
It was as if everything she once had was lost. All status and glory seemed laughable, yet she had once been so self-righteous.
Was so-called family affection, so-called love, all false?
"Fifth Brother, why must you do this?"
Yan Zhexian closed her eyes, forcing back the hatred in her heart. She did not know how long she could endure. Perhaps one day, she too would go mad like her fifth brother and recklessly attack the Education Divine Hall.
The wind blowing from the sea was cold, colder than the rain.
Until.
A fox-fur robe was draped over her thin, fragrant shoulders from behind.
Yan Zhexian abruptly opened her eyes, her spiritual power condensed into a brilliant talisman sword at her fingertip, stabbing straight behind her.
But just as she turned around, her delicate body trembled as if struck by lightning, her eyes filled with disbelief.
The Reader