Chapter 3960: Strategies to Counter the Ancestor Calamity

Chapter 3960: Strategies to Counter the Ancestor Calamity

Zhang family disciples returned from various realms one after another, entering the Nine Heavens Celestial World through the entrance at King Mountain.
After over ten thousand years of reproduction, the descendants had become countless. Even with the Eastern Domain catastrophe causing immense casualties, the survivors still numbered in the billions.
Such a family was not particularly vast in the universe.
Any clan with a deity willing to nurture descendants could reach this scale.
As for the nine great families, they controlled at least dozens of major worlds, hundreds of thousands of life-bearing planets, and their descendants numbered in the tens of trillions or hundreds of trillions, scattered across various planets, void realms, and major worlds.
However, the mediocre were marginalized, no different from ordinary mortals—merely carriers of the bloodline.

Zhang Ruochen, accompanied by Taiqing Patriarch and Yuqing Patriarch, had visited Shangqing, who was suppressed beneath the Time Jade Tree. Now, arriving at the entrance of the Celestial World, he happened to witness this scene.
The queue of Zhang family disciples entering stretched like a long dragon, its end invisible.

Taiqing Patriarch said, "Kong Fanni bears deep hatred for the Kunlun Realm Zhang family and is skilled in curses. Ruochen must protect the top-tier cultivators of the bloodline."

Yuqing Patriarch snorted coldly, "A bloodline curse is not so easy to cast. Though Kong Fanni is powerful, she is not invincible. Once the Zhang family disciples enter the Nine Heavens Celestial World, protected by the ancestral power of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, curses cannot threaten them."

Zhang Ruochen said, "Patriarch, I have taken your words to heart. However, the Severing Dao Curse has plagued the Kunlun Realm Zhang family for a million years without destroying us. Now that I am here, she will never succeed."

With his spiritual power reaching the ninety-first rank, Zhang Ruochen could perceive the subtle heavenly mechanisms of the universe through his Wuji power.
If the Qishier Pin Lian truly launched a curse to kill those connected to him, Zhang Ruochen could detect it instantly and then counter it across the vast void, dispersing the curse.
Holding the Mani Pearl, he had the ability to cross space and break curses.
Of course, if Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power and cultivation advanced further, the threat posed by the Qishier Pin Lian's curses would diminish even more.

Currently, Zhang Ruochen could only protect cultivators within the Kunlun Realm from curse threats.
If a cultivator left the Kunlun Realm, or if Zhang Ruochen himself left, it would be difficult to stop the Qishier Pin Lian.
If Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power reached the ninety-third rank, or his cultivation reached the Heavenly Venerable level, he could completely ignore curse threats. Once the Qishier Pin Lian launched a curse, Zhang Ruochen could even find her and appear before her before the curse took effect.

Taiqing Patriarch glanced back at the Time Jade Tree towering into the clouds and sighed, "He is no longer Shangqing. Ruochen… handle it as you see fit. Yuqing and I will return to the Liangyi Sect to see how things are. So many years have passed, and we are finally back."

…

In the Southern Universe's ruling world, the Demon God Realm.
Legend had it that the Demon Ancestor Ridge was where the Demon Ancestor attained the Dao. In his later years, he merged the Ancestor Realm he had cultivated with the Demon Ancestor Ridge.
After the Demon Ancestor's death, the Demon Ancestor Ridge vanished from the world.
Now that the Demon Ancestor Ridge had reappeared, it was a earth-shattering event for the entire Demon Clan and the Southern Universe.

"Since the Demon Ancestor Ridge emerged, any Demon Clan cultivator who entered it has seen their cultivation speed increase severalfold. It is said that several great gods broke through to the Infinite Realm, becoming God Kings and God Venerables."
At the South Sea shore, a squirrel-headed Upper-Level God vividly recounted recent events to Yan Wushen.
Waves crashed against the reefs with a thunderous roar.

Yan Wushen stood facing the wind, gazing at the mountain ridge floating above the South Sea like an independent world. The ridge emitted myriad rays of light, constantly raining down azure light, with massive Demon Clan cultivators entering and exiting.

"Sir, you are quite bold to dare intrude into the Demon God Realm alone."
An aged voice sounded from the void.
The next moment, Snow Granny, the current clan leader of the Double-Eyed Bird Clan, appeared on the sea surface, staring at Yan Wushen on the shore.
The squirrel-headed Upper-Level God was instantly crushed to his knees by her divine might.

Yan Wushen, arms behind his back, smiled faintly, "The Demon God Realm is not a dragon's den or tiger's lair. Why can't I come? Take me to see the Double-Eyed Ancestor."

Snow Granny said, "The Ancestor is not someone you can see just because you wish."

Yan Wushen said, "In that case… I'll leave."

"Come as you please, leave as you please. What do you take the Demon God Realm for?"
Snow Granny released her divine aura, and instantly, snow filled the sky.
Each snowflake had the power to cut through space, swirling toward Yan Wushen in an impenetrable formation.

"Presumptuous!"
Yan Wushen's eyes sharpened, and a burst of spatial power erupted, scattering all the snowflakes.
Even Snow Granny, dozens of miles away, was sent flying by the spatial force, blood streaming from her seven orifices.
His domineering behavior made it seem as if he were the master of the Demon God Realm.

Snow Granny, furious, was about to send a divine sound to summon the Demon Clan gods when she heard the Double-Eyed Ancestor's voice from above: "Bring him to White Peak."

Yan Wushen revealed a smile: "Lead the way!"

…

Feng Yan, Qing Sixue, and Xiang Chunan sat in a pavilion in the back garden of the Zhang family estate, hosted by Empress Chi Yao herself. They drank tea and chatted about everyday matters.
Zhang Yuyan played the zither on a nearby vermilion tower, the melody melodious and lingering.
Such an arrangement was not a formal reception for the Feng family head and the Truth Divine Temple's deputy hall master but rather a family banquet, carrying a sense of closeness.

When Zhang Ruochen arrived, a rare smile appeared on his face. "Second Brother, Third Brother, Sister-in-law, sorry to keep you waiting. I hope you were well attended to?"

Feng Yan, more mature now and exuding an emperor-like aura, said, "The Empress herself received us. We are overwhelmed by the honor."

Qing Sixue smiled, "Yan'er's zither skills have deepened. She may yet attain the Dao of the Confucian Ancestor."

Xiang Chunan said, "Confucian Ancestor? That's not so easy. But reaching the eightieth rank of spiritual power, or even the eighty-fifth, shouldn't be a problem."

"Keep drinking your tea!"
Qing Sixue nearly kicked Xiang Chunan into the pond.

Zhang Ruochen sat down, looked at Feng Yan, and asked, "How is the Feng family? Do you need my help?"

The Qishier Pin Lian had broken into the Pangu Realm and seized the Feng family's Five-Colored Clay Figurine. To stop her from taking the Nuwa Palace, Feng Tian had self-destructed his divine source to drive her back.
With the loss of their Heavenly Venerable, the Feng family's situation was bound to be extremely difficult.

Feng Yan shook his head gently. "The Panyuan Ancient God, the Truth Divine Temple Hall Master, and the Five Elements Temple have been protecting the Feng family. No petty villains have dared to take advantage. Besides, in recent years, Island Master and the Empress have shown us great care. Don't worry about such trivial matters, Big Brother."

Zhang Ruochen glanced at Chi Yao and continued, "Back in the Time Divine Temple, using the Sundial, you made great progress. Strive to enter the Infinite Realm soon and truly uphold the Feng family's position."

Among those of Zhang Ruochen's era, Feng Yan's cultivation speed was already very fast, just a step away from the Infinite Realm.
Those around Zhang Ruochen who had entered the Infinite Realm—such as Qing Su, Chi Xingtian, Xuanyuan Lian, Moon God, Wu Yue, Xiao Hei, Jue Miao Chan Nu, Hai Shang You Ruo, Ni Xuan Bei Shi, Xue Jue War God, Desolate Heaven—were all figures from at least one eon ago, or even several eons ago.
These individuals had their own temporal foundations, not simply boosted by the Sundial.
Even an eon-level genius like Bai Qinger was born several thousand years before Zhang Ruochen and Feng Yan.
Other cultivation monsters, like Zhang Ruochen, Yan Wushen, Ji Fanxin, and Chi Yao, each had their own extraordinary traits, which Feng Yan could not match.

Qing Sixue began discussing serious matters. "The Eastern Domain catastrophe and the deaths of Han Qiu and Xuanji Sword God—I know you must be grieving, Brother. I wouldn't normally bother you. But there is an urgent matter that must be resolved quickly."

Xiang Chunan, loud-voiced, said, "Before the Dark Weirdness left, it said that before the Calamity of Quantities, there must be an Ancestor Calamity. If the Nether Prison breaks, the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm will be destroyed. The Master's wife believes this is no empty threat. We must find a countermeasure before the Nether Prison breaks."

Qing Sixue said, "After deliberation, the Heavenly Court's Heavens have reached three distinct decisions. First, following the Hell Realm's Stone Clan, select ten great cultivators with immense potential and merge them with the Stone God Star River's divine realm world. This way, the Stone God Star is no longer a fixed target and can be better hidden."
"The cultivators of the Heavenly Court side, though unable to refine a major world's world spirit like the Stone Clan, can still store a major world within their divine realm world for temporary concealment."

Empress Chi Yao said, "If so, the major world must sever its connection with the universe, unable to draw heaven and earth energy from it. In other words, to hide completely, all cultivators in the entire major world—including the cultivators themselves—would be unable to cultivate. Everything would come to a standstill."

Qing Sixue showed a troubled expression. "Yes, but if an Ancestor truly appears, who in the current universe can stop them? Regardless, we must first survive this calamity. What if… there is no Ancestor Calamity?"

"Forcing everyone to stop cultivating is exactly what the destroyers want. That way, they only need to spend more time hunting one by one. This can only be a temporary measure."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What is the second strategy?"

Qing Sixue said, "The second strategy, proposed by Xuanyuan Taizu, is to gather all cultivators above the Saint realm from the Heavenly Court Universe's eight thousand major worlds and ancient civilization factions to the Heavenly Court. At the same time, refine all major worlds into formation platforms, arrayed around the Heavenly Court on all sides, forming a Myriad Worlds Grand Formation to fight the Ancestor to the death, to battle the Immortal to the bitter end."

Chi Yao's eyes showed admiration. "Such toughness is indeed Xuanyuan Taizhen's style. Combining the power of all living beings, they can surely fight an Ancestor."

Zhang Ruochen said, "This approach heavily tests the unity of the cultivators. I was able to suppress the Mysterious Sword Cultivator because those supporting me were of one mind, allowing me to be invincible. But within the Heavenly Court, there are many factions, complex beliefs, and no single figure who can dominate everyone. In the short term, they might unite, but over time, conflicts will arise due to increasingly scarce cultivation resources."
"Before the Ancestor Calamity even arrives, the Heavenly Court might already be in civil war."
"Moreover, if the myriad worlds converge and collapse, everyone dies together. It would be nearly impossible to scatter and escape."

Zhang Ruochen asked, "What is the third strategy?"

Feng Yan said, "Seek power that can oppose an Ancestor."

Zhang Ruochen said, "Does such power exist?"

Feng Yan said, "Yes! For example, the mysterious Divine Realm, the prehistoric civilization relic Jade Emperor Realm, the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable's Celestial World, the Nine Cauldrons, and the Dark Weirdness."

Chi Yao questioned, "The Dark Weirdness?"

Feng Yan nodded. "The Heavenly Court's Heavens analyzed that the Dark Weirdness and the upcoming Ancestor Calamity likely do not belong to the same faction. Otherwise, It would not have told us about this in advance. Instead, It seems to want to use the current cultivators' power to deal with the Ancestor Calamity."

Zhang Ruochen said, "The Great Venerable's Celestial World probably cannot deal with an Ancestor."

"What if all twenty-seven layers of the Celestial World were complete?" Feng Yan asked.

Qing Sixue said, "Similarly, if the Nine Cauldrons were complete, there would be a chance to contend with an Ancestor. Legend has it that the Great Bright Maer, relying on the Victory Crown, gained the power to fight an Ancestor."
"In ancient times, there was Maer; today, there is Master Can Deng. Even if Hao Tian, Heavenly Mother, and Lady Shiji cannot return, we still have a fighting chance."

Zhang Ruochen said, "A fighting chance does not mean contending with an Ancestor. Even contending with an Ancestor does not mean repelling one. These are three different levels of power. Do not be too optimistic!"

Chi Yao said, "The Great Venerable's other nine layers of the Celestial World are still unknown."

Feng Yan pondered for a moment, then said, "Actually, Big Brother may not know this, but the Nuwa Palace, the Dragon Nest, and the Demon Ancestor Ridge might also harbor power that can oppose an Ancestor."

Zhang Ruochen's expression shifted greatly. "What did you discover in the Nuwa Palace?"

Feng Yan said, "Back when the Qishier Pin Lian broke into the Nuwa Palace, Feng Tian could not stop her, nor could he self-destruct his divine source. But at that time, a five-colored divine light emerged from the depths of the Nuwa Palace, releasing a terrifying aura that repelled the Qishier Pin Lian."

"What kind of power was that?" Chi Yao asked.

Feng Yan shook his head. "I entered the Nuwa Palace to investigate but found no trace of that power."

Zhang Ruochen said, "The Nuwa Palace disappeared in the ancient desolate era. If it were hidden in the Pangu Realm, it would have been dug up by later Half-Ancestors and Ancestors. Its re-emergence in the Pangu Realm itself suggests it contains extraordinary power that can evade an Ancestor's detection and search."
"Is the Heavenly Court asking us to enter the Dragon Nest to investigate? To find power to counter the Ancestor Calamity?"

Qing Sixue nodded. "The Ancestor Calamity mentioned by the Dark Weirdness is likely the Great Demon God. But even if the Great Demon God emerges, it will not be at its peak. So we have a fighting chance. I have full confidence in Hao Tian, Heavenly Mother, and Lady Shiji. Even if they die in battle, they will surely self-destruct their divine sources, dealing a heavy blow to the Great Demon God."

At this point, Zhang Ruochen could not help but worry about Heavenly Mother, eager to rush to the Nether Prison immediately.
He glanced at Feng Yan. "Second Brother, you seem hesitant. Is there another secret?"

Xiang Chunan pushed Feng Yan's shoulder. "What's there to hide? We're brothers. What can't be said?"

Feng Yan ultimately shook his head.

"Whoosh!"
Xian Chaoji's figure appeared outside the pavilion. "Lord Imperial Dust, news from the Heavenly Court Universe. The ancient hall masters of the Space Divine Temple have been appearing frequently, having already refined three major worlds. They are likely gathering blood qi and souls to restore the Dark Weirdness's power."

Qing Sixue was furious. "Despicable! Committing such heinous slaughter, aren't they afraid of divine retribution?"

Empress Chi Yao frowned. "The Heavenly Court's Heaven Round No Lack—haven't they intercepted and killed them?"

Xian Chaoji said, "These ancient hall masters all have extraordinary spatial skills, able to cross star domains in an instant. The universe is vast, and even a Heaven Round No Lack takes time to reach them, making interception difficult."

Zhang Ruochen said, "I've long wanted to deal with them. Since they're delivering themselves to us, let's eliminate these lackeys first."

Chi Yao said, "In the vast universe, even if we could lock onto them for a moment, by the time we arrive, they will have fled far away."

"Many of them used Five-Colored Clay Figurines as bodies to descend into this era. I happen to need a few Five-Colored Clay Figurines."
Zhang Ruochen looked at Feng Yan. "Second Brother, will you accompany me?"

Xiang Chunan slapped his thigh and laughed. "Right! Second Brother is also a Five-Colored Clay Figurine body, of the same origin as these ancient hall masters with Five-Colored Clay Figurine bodies. With Big Brother's cultivation, you can surely deduce their locations based on this."