Chapter 3949: The Second Dark Hand
The Heavenly Human Academy recruited large numbers of Confucian child disciples and Buddhist novices from various realms every year, some of whom were very young and had not yet awakened their Divine Martial Marks.
The Man-Sky Sacrifice began.
From the perspective of deities, it was possible to see the blood-colored light pillar rising from the Heavenly Palace across space.
The blood-colored light pillar was formed by the convergence of blood energy from the altar, opening a unique spatial channel into an unknown domain—the "God Realm."
Zhang Ruochen stared intently at that blood pillar and the entrance to the "God Realm," his entire spirit, energy, and presence undergoing a tremendous transformation, like a dormant beast or a hunter poised to strike.
It was as if he had been watching it for a very long time.
Er Sikong seemed thoughtful and asked, "Uncle Master, you are a flawless celestial master and a great power of this era. Do you know what the God Realm truly is? Where do the Divine Martial Marks come from?"
Many eyes around them fell on Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head.
Yuan Sheng said, "In the ancestral texts of us Primordial Beings, there has never been any record of Divine Martial Marks. Since it is unknown, why not take this opportunity to follow that blood energy channel and barge in to see?"
"That makes sense."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was eager to try, having had such thoughts many years ago. But he had never dared to take that step.
"What sense does it make?"
Zhang Ruochen scolded, "Throughout history, how many Primordial Ancestors have been born? Were they not curious about the God Realm? Did they not think of entering it to see? Yet why does the God Realm remain an unknown mystery to this day?"
Zhang Yuyan said, "Father means that even the Primordial Ancestors were wary of something and dared not cross the gate of the God Realm? Or perhaps they entered it but left nothing behind. Either scenario is terrifying."
The deities present grew solemn, their thoughts leading to deeper fears.
"I think you all overthink things. The Divine Martial Marks—since ancient times, they have been obtained through such sacrifices, and nothing strange has ever happened. This might just be the bridge of immortality bestowed by heaven and earth upon all living beings! Those who obtain Divine Martial Marks are all strong and elite, able to live for thousands or tens of thousands of years." Da Sikong said nonchalantly.
Zhang Ruochen said, "When a strange thing becomes habitual, taken for granted, and ignored, that is the most terrifying."
Chan Bing said, "Indeed, sacrifices are held across the universe every year, with blood energy rushing into the God Realm. Just the amount of blood energy entering the God Realm on the winter solstice alone could form an ocean. Year after year, where does all this blood energy go?"
The gate of the Buddhist Academy opened, and Can Deng and Xuanyuan Lian walked out from within.
The former said, "Zhang Ruochen speaks wisely. When a strange thing is accepted by all, taken for granted, and then ignored, it is indeed terrifying. It is like the emergence of consciousness—do we not also take it for granted?"
"If consciousness did not emerge, how would we differ from grass and trees? Should consciousness not exist?" Er Sikong said.
Can Deng said, "The same question: if there were no Divine Martial Marks, how would you differ from ordinary mortals? Should Divine Martial Marks not exist? In the vast universe, consciousness is the strangest thing that should not have emerged."
Zhang Ruochen looked at Xuanyuan Lian walking behind Can Deng.
Her mental state had recovered, and her eyes showed calm and peace.
But perhaps due to listening to Can Deng's teachings for the past two years, she had shed her cold pride and nobility, gaining a faint Buddhist aura. In the past, she was sharp and ambitious, aiming for the stars. Now, her heart was completely at peace, setting aside the sword in her heart and placing it on the divine altar for worship.
Seeing her able to let go and find relief, Zhang Ruochen was happy for her, as this was undoubtedly another leap in her state of mind.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Can Deng, what is your view on the Divine Martial Marks and that unknown God Realm?"
"It is hard to say," Can Deng said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why is it hard to say?"
Can Deng said, "I have always believed that any method used to help a life grow ultimately aims to gain something from it."
"Planting wheat in spring is for the autumn harvest. Planting trees in desolate mountains is for future logging to build houses. Throwing fish fry into a pond is for netting big fish to eat the following year. Even if I plant a flower at my doorstep, it is for visual pleasure."
"If there truly is some conscious life that bestows Divine Martial Marks upon all beings, helping them embark on the path of cultivation and grow into Saints and Deities, how is that different from the wheat in the field, the trees in the mountain, or the fish in the pond?"
Nalan Danqing said, "Some ancient sages have made similar inferences. But they have all become jokes of later generations, because the things they worried about have never happened in millions of years."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Perhaps autumn has simply not yet arrived."
Can Deng smiled and said, "The fish that have been caught have already been eaten. But the fish in the pond still swim freely."
Chan Bing said, "In the recent eon, more and more strong beings have emerged, and the speed of cultivation has noticeably accelerated, with breakthroughs becoming easier. Perhaps it is a process of ripening! Is autumn approaching?"
Xuanyuan Lian said, "If the Divine Martial Marks truly have a problem, the cultivators of the world will have nowhere to escape."
"Not necessarily."
Zhang Ruochen added, "Once one's cultivation reaches the Indestructible Infinite realm, one can gradually reduce dependence on the Divine Martial Marks and Divine Sources. Ultimately, even if one cuts off the Divine Martial Mark and strips away the Divine Source, one's cultivation and combat power will not be affected."
"What you describe is already the realm of a Primordial Ancestor. Moreover, even a Primordial Ancestor cannot be completely unaffected!" Chan Bing said.
She had seen a true Primordial Ancestor, so she naturally had the authority to speak.
Da Sikong's face, already pale, turned even whiter, and he said, "Uncle Master, Can Deng, please don't scare us like this, alright? I still want to live for a few hundred thousand more years! Is the universe really as terrifying as you say?"
Suddenly.
Those with cultivation above the Indestructible Infinite realm—Can Deng, Zhang Ruochen, Chan Bing, and Yuan Sheng—all stiffened and looked in unison toward the entrance of the God Realm beyond the heavens.
"Did you all sense it?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chan Bing said, "It felt like a gaze from that so-called God Realm was watching this region of the Heavenly Human Academy."
"What a terrifying feeling. It was faint, but since you all sensed it, it must be real," Yuan Sheng said.
Xuanyuan Lian said, "How is this possible? No book has ever recorded that the God Realm has conscious life. Could it be, as you said, that autumn has arrived?"
"Swoosh!"
Can Deng radiated brilliant Buddhist light and said, "It is coming!"
"Boom!" Space violently shook, as if heaven and earth were turning upside down.
This spatial tremor originated from the God Realm and, in an instant, spread across the entire Heavenly Court Continent. The area most affected was West Ox Continent, where the Heavenly Human Academy was located.
Almost immediately, all Deity Kings and Deity Venerables of the Heavenly Court rushed toward West Ox Continent.
The Valley Master of Chixia Feixian Valley, the Master of the Five Elements Temple, the Hall Master of the Truth Divine Temple, and the Heavenly Court's First War God, Bian Zhuang, appeared around the Heavenly Palace, activating the Heavenly Punishment Divine Light and Heavenly Order, launching attacks at the God Realm entrance.
Jie Tian had once sat in for Hao Tian in the Heavenly Palace and knew some of its secrets, saying, "Hao Tian definitely knows something, which is why the Heavenly Punishment Divine Light and Heavenly Order could be activated so quickly and directly attack the God Realm."
"I must return to the Heavenly Palace! Farewell, everyone, until we meet again." Xuanyuan Lian's figure flickered and disappeared from the academy.
"Xuanyuan Lian..."
Zhang Ruochen wanted to call out to her, having something to say.
The alert of danger surged again. Zhang Ruochen's pupils turned into two brilliant Truth Star Seas, staring at the God Realm entrance. His pupils contracted sharply, and he shouted, "Form the formation!"
"He has come for the dark anomaly suppressed in the Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm. I will go to deal with it. You all stay in the academy."
Can Deng shot into the sky first, ten thousand Buddhist lamps shining like ten thousand stars, illuminating the star domain where the Heavenly Court was located, clashing with the dark hand flying out from the God Realm.
In the universe, layers of spatial ripples that could shake great worlds spread outward.
Then, both disappeared into the real world.
"That is..." Yuan Sheng stared intently at Zhang Ruochen, hesitating to speak.
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "It is the other hand of the dark anomaly."
The dark hand released from the Ten Thousand Beasts Treasure Mirror, along with the Universe Cauldron, was still suppressed in the Nine Heavens Universe World of the White Clothes Valley.
This hand flying out from the God Realm was of the same origin. However, its soul and spiritual consciousness had clearly not been refined, so the aura it emitted was far more powerful.
It was truly unimaginable how terrifying it would be if the two dark hands, along with the part of the body suppressed in the Heavenly Human Academy, were to combine with the dark anomaly.
What unsettled Zhang Ruochen even more was why this dark hand had descended from the God Realm.
Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power thoughts heard the voice of Wen Tianjun from the distant Dark Great Triangle Star Domain: "The dark anomaly is stirring. Now is the best time to collect the Sword Realm."
Zhang Ruochen looked at the group of cultivators inside the combined attack divine formation, his eyes deep, and said, "The dark anomaly has already stirred. Once we begin refining and killing Luo Tuoluo, it will likely come to the Heavenly Human Academy. However, the Heavenly Punishment Divine Light and Heavenly Order have been activated, and all the deities of the Heavenly Court will join forces to block it."
"Tell us what to do," Qiangu Nüdi said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Go to the Nine Heavens Universe World. Elder Jie will be responsible for activating the Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules to suppress the evil in the Second Confucian Ancestor's world. If the dark anomaly breaks through the Heavenly Court's defenses, you must hold it back. The Wuwo Lamp, Nüdi, and the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army will assist you."
"Da Sikong, Er Sikong, Danqing, and Senior Sister Luo, immediately lead the cultivators in the academy to evacuate."
"Chan Bing, Yuan Sheng, and Miao Li, come with me to refine Luo Tuoluo's soul."
All the cultivators began to move.
Zhang Ruochen took one last look at the God Realm entrance, which had already closed, and turned into a beam of light, flying into the Nine Heavens Universe World.
"Rustle!"
In the Ninth Heaven Universe World, Zhang Ruochen released the Shura War Soul Sea.
The sea was vast, all condensed from Shura war energy.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God's eyes were filled with excitement, and he said, "I understand, Zhang Ruochen. You want me to absorb the Shura War Soul Sea to break through to the Indestructible Infinite realm, right? I can merge the Shura War Soul Sea into the Peacock Divine Star. If that doesn't break through to Indestructible Infinite, I will accept my fate!"
"The Shura War Soul Sea is the foundation of the Shura Clan. If you absorb it, what will happen to the Shura Clan?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The smile on Xiu Chen Heavenly God's face vanished.
Zhang Ruochen added, "You are responsible for using the power of the Shura Heavenly Dao Esoterica to suppress Luo Tuoluo. Miss Chan Bing has absorbed the nutrients from Luo Tuoluo's Primordial Ancestor corpse and Primordial Ancestor Divine Source. Yuan Sheng has Luo Tuoluo's remnant soul and original essence within her. I will take this opportunity to use the power of Wuji to help them refine, absorb, and integrate."
"The crisis is drawing closer and more intense. This world needs more strong beings to protect it."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said, "So you mean I get no benefits and just help for free? Zhang Ruochen, have you slept with them? I, Xiu Chen, am now a woman, having merged with the flesh of Miao Li. I can do it too."
"What can you do? I see you as the future leader of the Shura Clan, with great expectations for you, yet you keep thinking about crooked paths. Is this still the arrogant and cold Xiu Chen Heavenly God?"
Zhang Ruochen couldn't be bothered to waste words with Xiu Chen Heavenly God and struck him on the chest with a palm. A large amount of Shura Heavenly Dao Esoterica surged toward him.
Luo Tuoluo had originally obtained nearly half of the Shura Heavenly Dao Esoterica from the Shura Divine Temple. After being suppressed for the first time in the Shura Star Pillar Realm, part of the Esoterica was taken away.
The remainder was taken by Zhang Ruochen.
Receiving this portion of the Shura Heavenly Dao Esoterica, Xiu Chen Heavenly God's eyes lit up, and he stopped complaining, immediately beginning to digest and absorb it.
It should be noted that Esoterica could assist in comprehending the realm of Indestructible Infinite.
Zhang Ruochen released the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal. The Lesser Yang "Divine Mountain," Lesser Yin "Divine Sea," Greater Sun "Annihilation Star Sea," and Greater Yin "Jade Tree Ink Moon" appeared one after another.
Then, the Five Elements were derived.
Beneath their feet, a stretch of Divine Realm World territory appeared. The other four elements manifested within the Four Symbols.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Chan Bing and Yuan Sheng and said, "Let me warn you, my divine energy is now extremely yang in nature. Those below the Indestructible Infinite peak will find it very difficult to endure."
"I am a Time Ice Silkworm. I am not afraid of your yang energy." Chan Bing's body emitted a melodious cicada sound, then she spread her wings and flew toward the Annihilation Star Sea, where the yang divine energy was thickest.
Yuan Sheng flew toward the Jade Tree Ink Moon.
Above the Shura War Soul Sea, dark clouds gathered, lightning flashed, and Luo Tuoluo's voice rang out: "Do you think you can refine a Primordial Ancestor's soul with just you?"
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Earth Cauldron and the Hong Cauldron, sending them toward the Lesser Yin Divine Sea and the Lesser Yang Divine Mountain, and said, "With a First-Rank Divine Path and two of the Nine Cauldrons, if I cannot even refine a Primordial Ancestor's remnant soul, how can I ever attain the Primordial Ancestor Dao in the future?"
Zhang Ruochen leaped up, heavily stomping on the center of the Shura War Soul Sea, causing the seawater to splash in all directions. The Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal activated, rolling up all the seawater of the Shura War Soul Sea into a water sphere exactly one hundred million li in diameter, enveloping them.
Strands of Primordial Ancestor remnant soul were drawn out, flowing through the Four Symbols and Five Elements, being ground down by the Earth Cauldron and the Hong Cauldron to erase their spiritual consciousness, then surging toward Chan Bing and Yuan Sheng.
With the protection of the Jade Tree Ink Moon and the Dao Soul Platform, Yuan Sheng released the remnant soul and original essence of Luo Tuoluo within her, letting them flow through the Four Symbols and Five Elements.
Chan Bing was already very similar to Luo Tuoluo.
Now, behind her appeared a Primordial Ancestor image of Luo Tuoluo, with fifty-five clusters of black-and-white Dao light flickering, continuously merging with her flesh.
"Catch it!"
Zhang Ruochen pressed his palms together, and from the Divine Realm World beneath his feet, the Luo Water, like a purple divine river, flew out and surged toward Chan Bing. According to Shi Tian, Luo Water and Luo Tuoluo had an extraordinary connection.
After the resentful spirits on the Luo Water were liberated, Can Deng handed the Luo Water to Zhang Ruochen. Seeming to know the special relationship between Zhang Ruochen, Chan Bing, Yuan Sheng, and Luo Tuoluo, he entrusted this karmic bond to him.
Zhang Ruochen intended to use this opportunity to help Chan Bing elevate her cultivation further, making her a second Luo Tuoluo, and thus went along with it.
As time passed, the auras erupting from Yuan Sheng and Chan Bing both increased at an unimaginable speed.
...
Deep in the universe, around the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, stars fell like rain, as if the apocalypse had arrived.
Year-End Summary!
It's the end of the year, so let's do a summary. First, let's talk about the issues everyone cares about.
First question: When will the book end?
I calculate the ending based on the protagonist's cultivation level. According to the current pace of breaking through one realm every hundred thousand words, it will take another hundred thousand words to reach Indestructible Infinite peak, two hundred thousand to reach Heavenly Venerable rank, three hundred thousand to reach Half-Ancestor, and four hundred thousand to reach Primordial Ancestor. After the Primordial Ancestor, there might be less than a hundred thousand words left, because there's nothing left to write!
In other words, there are about five hundred thousand words left until the end.
Based on a minimum update of one hundred thousand words per month, the book should end around May or June this year. If I slightly enrich the content with some daily life scenes, that would add another one to two hundred thousand words, meaning it would end during the summer vacation.
Originally, I planned to finish last year, but due to various reasons, the updates were too slow last year.
Second question: Is the plot dragging or too fast?
Some readers might think it's too slow.
Actually, I've done my best to skip unnecessary details. Now, breakthroughs and things that require lengthy descriptions are almost always glossed over in one sentence. In the last chapter, I wanted to write about the protagonist breaking through two realms directly to Indestructible Infinite peak, but considering there are still many character plot holes to fill, I slowed down a bit.
Some readers might think it's too fast.
In reality, in the later stages of cultivation novels, realm breakthroughs are naturally very fast. Some books have the protagonist breaking through several realms in one chapter, which is normal because the later stages can only focus on battles. A group of old-timers who have lived for hundreds of thousands of years—writing anything else wouldn't be appropriate. Even if I write, it can only be in very small amounts.
The reason I write a lot of content unrelated to battles is that this book has been in its later stages for too long—several million words of later stages, written over several years.
Writing about battles that reach the level of shattering planets is inherently difficult and can easily become hollow and grandiose. Writing ten thousand words can be very exciting. Writing tens of thousands of words of continuous battles makes the descriptions clumsy and insufficient. Writing hundreds of thousands of words of battles—even the most skilled author would vomit, and the descriptive sentences and vocabulary would inevitably repeat endlessly. I have to intersperse non-battle plots!
The sense of anticipation and exploration of the unknown in the later stages is far inferior to the early and middle stages, and the difficulty of description is several times greater. Writing millions of words in the later stages while still maintaining so many readers' follow-through and topping the hot search lists across all platforms nationwide is truly not easy!
Some readers feel that some later-stage plots may not be as exciting. Isn't that obvious? I myself have probably read over a thousand books, and fewer than ten have I managed to read through to the end. Because no matter how good a book is, the later stages are hard to get through, and people naturally drop it and can't pick it up again.
Having said all this, I mainly want to tell you, dear readers, that everyone has a different preferred pace. Some like fast, some like slow. It's hard to satisfy everyone. I can only write according to my own rhythm, doing my best to produce the best later stages I can, so as not to let down your years of following.
Because as I said above, I myself can't read 99% of later stages. For those who can still read this book until now, aren't they true fans?
Anyway, seeing many book reviews truly moves me, but I also feel guilty. Some plots could have been more carefully crafted and more thoughtfully deliberated.
I originally wanted to write a longer summary, but I'm afraid some readers might say I'm not focusing on the main task and suggest I write more main content. So I'll stop here and chat slowly when the book ends.
One last thing: I saw a reader in the comment section who said they have liver cancer and hope to see the completion of "Eternal God Emperor."
First, I hope this isn't true.
If it is true, I hope you recover soon. I looked it up online; there is still a chance to cure mid-to-late-stage liver cancer. I hope you can continue reading my new book, live well, no matter how difficult, keep fighting, and those who create miracles are those with strong wills. Never give up your love for life.
Second to last thing: I saw "Chi Xianzun" saying they tipped as a leader, and Feitian Yu didn't acknowledge it. Haha, I really didn't check that. I usually only look at the chapter comments.
First of all, thank you very much for your support of this book. Secondly, please don't spend so much money on tips. Money isn't easy to come by. Just subscribing to the chapters is already a great help.
Finally, the third thing: In "Eternal God Emperor," especially the Heavenly Court universe, only the Western Universe was written. The other three universes were hardly described. Will they be written later?
Due to length constraints, they probably won't be written much. The worldview of the entire book is already large and rich enough, so there must be details and omissions.
Finally, the fourth thing: Forget it, I'll stop here. We'll talk later.