Chapter 3962: The Future War
Yan Wushen stood atop the highest leaf of the Parasol Divine Tree, feeling the dense heaven and earth energy there, and said, "This Parasol Divine Tree, which pierces through two realms and can even absorb the power of 'Quantity,' appeared together with the Demon Ancestor Ridge, didn't it? Could it be the very one planted by the Demon Ancestor himself back then?"
Only he and the Chongming Ancestor stood on that leaf.
The Chongming Ancestor's long hair flowed, his demeanor ethereal and immortal-like. "With the aid of this divine tree, after at most one eon, the Demon God Realm's plane will surely ascend another level. Even if it cannot compare to the Heavenly Court, it will not be far off."
Yan Wushen nodded lightly. "The Heavenly Court... the Saint Realm, you mean. The reason the Saint Realm became the heart of all realms is that the Saint Clan produced the Truth Great Emperor, who planted the Truth Heavenly Wood, absorbing the heaven and earth energy and stellar essence of the entire universe. He also built the God-Sealing Platform to gather cultivators from countless star domains. Thus, after who knows how many years, the Saint Realm's plane level far surpassed all other great worlds."
"Over ten million years ago, at the end of the Chaos Era and the beginning of the Ancient Era, the battle in the Truth Heaven Domain saw the Great Demon God kill Luo Tian Zhenjun and cut down the Truth Heavenly Wood. The Saint Clan suffered a devastating blow, the Saint Realm's growth ceased, and it fell into decline. If not for the Heavenly Demon and Meng Ge preserving the Saint Clan's spark, the clan would have been completely annihilated."
"During the Minor Calamity an eon ago, the Saint Realm suffered another catastrophic disaster. The Saint Clan was utterly wiped out, and the plane declined once more."
"Recently, the Underworld Sea's collision with the Heavenly Court and the Heavenly Venerable-level battle in West Ox Continent have already revealed the Saint Realm plane's decline. In the era before the Chaos Era, even Half-Ancestor-level battles would not have caused such an impact on the Saint Realm."
"So, with the emergence of the Parasol Divine Tree and the Demon Ancestor Ridge, the Demon God Realm has a chance to replace it. However..."
Yan Wushen's tone shifted. "Ancestor, the Demon Ancestor bloodline within you is not pure, is it?"
The Chongming Ancestor remained expressionless, but a cold gleam flashed deep in his pupils.
He had always regarded himself as a descendant of the Demon Ancestor. However, his original form was not a phoenix, which had led to much controversy. Thus, this was the last thing the Chongming Ancestor wanted to hear.
The Chongming Ancestor's mind calmed instantly, and he said flatly, "A dragon gives birth to nine sons, a phoenix hatches nine chicks."
"The nine sons are all different, and the nine chicks also vary. Among the phoenix's nine chicks, besides the Ice Phoenix and Fire Phoenix, there are also the Chongming, Dapeng, Thunderbird, Zhu Luan, Great Wind, Peacock, and White Swan."
"I see. This junior has learned something new!"
Yan Wushen then added, "However, this Parasol Divine Tree has the effect of aiding those with phoenix blood in their cultivation. In the current era, Ancestor has a great enemy."
The Chongming Ancestor said, "You speak of Feng Caiyi?"
Yan Wushen nodded. "Feng Caiyi will surely seize the Parasol Divine Tree and the Demon Ancestor Ridge."
The Chongming Ancestor said, "It is not that I, this old man, am boasting. With just a mere Feng Caiyi, if she dares to come to the Demon God Realm, I have a ten out of ten certainty of suppressing her. She would make fine fertilizer for the Parasol Divine Tree."
"It seems the emergence of the Demon Ancestor Ridge is indeed accompanied by some power left behind by the Demon Ancestor." Yan Wushen thought to himself, then said, "Ancestor is at the ninety-third level of spiritual power, and with the support of the Demon Ancestor Ridge and the entire Demon God Realm's heaven and earth power, you could suppress even an Indestructible Infinite peak Feng Caiyi, let alone a Heavenly Venerable-level Feng Caiyi. But Feng Caiyi is not alone!"
The Chongming Ancestor looked at Yan Wushen with a strange gaze. "Void Heaven and Kong Fannu?"
Yan Wushen smiled. "This is Ancestor's home ground. I suspect the entire Demon Ancestor Ridge is covered in formation inscriptions. Void Heaven and Nutian Shenzun are not Half-Ancestors. How could they defeat Ancestor on his home turf?"
"So?" the Chongming Ancestor said.
Yan Wushen said, "Zhang Ruochen."
The Chongming Ancestor showed no hint of disdain; instead, he became more cautious than when he heard Feng Caiyi's name.
In the battle at West Ox Continent, although Zhang Ruochen had borrowed power, he had already earned the right to stand on equal footing with the strongest handful of cultivators in the world.
Most importantly, his cultivation speed was too fast. No one knew what level his combat power would reach the next time he made a move.
The Chongming Ancestor said, "The sundial can no longer support Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation. His cultivation speed will inevitably slow down. Moreover, Zhang Ruochen cannot possibly go to war with the Demon God Realm for Feng Caiyi's sake."
Yan Wushen said, "So Ancestor is handing all initiative to others? Hoping Zhang Ruochen's cultivation speed will slow down, hoping Zhang Ruochen won't help Feng Caiyi?"
"Does Ancestor still remember that he already formed a grudge with you back at the Heavenly River?"
The Chongming Ancestor revealed a playful smile. "Youngster, if you only know this one trick of sowing discord, you will disappoint this old man too much. Bring out truly useful bargaining chips!"
Yan Wushen said no more. He lightly stamped his foot, and the space behind him shook violently.
"Boom!"
Amidst a expanse of sacred Buddhist light, Yan Wushen's Divine Realm World manifested.
The Chongming Ancestor gazed into the distance. Deep within the Buddhist light, a majestic black divine city appeared. The city crouched like a primordial wild beast, exuding a soul-devouring, spirit-sucking netherworld aura. Faintly, lightning and thunder could be seen within the city.
However, the city's body was dilapidated, with countless sections of the city wall collapsed, full of vicissitude and ancient charm.
The Chongming Ancestor narrowed his eyes. "This is... the legendary Nether City?"
Yan Wushen said, "Exactly. It is the Nether City left behind by the Nether Ancestor."
The Chongming Ancestor's gaze toward Yan Wushen changed completely. Previously, he had regarded him as a junior, with some degree of contempt. Now, that contempt had turned into wariness.
The Nether City, along with the Nether Sea, Nether River, and Nether Realm, were all parts of the Nether Ancestor's Divine Realm World, demonstrating the power it contained.
The Chongming Ancestor sighed with emotion. "Eighty thousand towers of wind and thunder, corpses and ghosts forge the Nether City. I never thought I would see this city in my lifetime. But why is it a ruined city? Who could have beaten the Nether City into such a tattered state?"
Eighty thousand towers of wind and thunder, corpses and ghosts forge the Nether City.
This referred to the four most powerful beings under the Nether Ancestor during the Nether Ancient Era.
Wind: the Life Ancestor.
Thunder: the Thunder Duke.
Corpse: Shi Yan.
Ghost: the Soul Mother.
Yan Wushen said, "Some things, Ancestor is better off not knowing."
The Chongming Ancestor laughed. "This old man has heard that the battles among the Immortals began in the Chaos Era. Ten eons ago, an unprecedented, earth-shattering war broke out. It seems the Nether Ancestor was also severely injured, just like the Dark Weirdness. Thinking about it, it makes sense. If not for his severe injuries, why would you come to find this old man?"
Yan Wushen withdrew his Divine Realm World. "Does Ancestor have the confidence to defeat one hand of the Dark Weirdness?"
The Chongming Ancestor caught the implication and his smile vanished instantly. "You have already proven that there is indeed an Immortal behind you. This old man has great respect for the Nether Ancestor. But what can I gain?"
Yan Wushen said, "The ninety-fourth level of spiritual power!"
The Chongming Ancestor's eyelids twitched.
Yan Wushen said, "Ancestor's talent in the path of spiritual power is undoubtedly at its peak, but the ninety-second level was your limit. By absorbing the remnant soul of the Demon Ancestor, you broke through to the ninety-third level. To go further is impossible."
The Chongming Ancestor said, "If it's impossible, how can it become possible?"
Yan Wushen said, "By gathering the rarest resources in the entire universe, such as the Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm, the Fallen God Island Lord's divine heart, the Great Demon God's divine heart... whichever divine heart you want."
The Chongming Ancestor, a cunning and experienced figure, saw not the benefits but the danger.
He said, "What you have mentioned are not three benefits, but three tasks you want this old man to help you with."
"Taking the Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm is to save the Dark Weirdness suppressed within it. Killing the Fallen God Island Lord should be to clear an obstacle to your world-destroying plans. The obstacle posed by the Formation Supreme is as great as that of a Half-Ancestor."
"The Great Demon God's divine heart is in the White Clothes Valley. What is that for? To deal with Kong Fannu?"
Yan Wushen said, "Ancestor will understand in due time."
The Chongming Ancestor shook his head. "This old man never agreed."
Yan Wushen countered, "Hasn't Ancestor already agreed?"
"When did this old man agree?"
"Ancestor did not kill me, so that is agreement. If Ancestor had not agreed, why would you have spoken with me for so long?"
Yan Wushen smiled. "Rest assured, now is not the time to act. Ancestor still has a long time to consider. But Ancestor must remember: what you choose is not right or wrong, but life or death."
...
In the border starry sky of the Northern Universe, a blue nebula hundreds of light-years wide spread out, with a rather thick concentration of heaven and earth energy.
A total of thirty-one great worlds floated within this nebula. Brilliant stars dotted it like gems.
The Dragon Herding Realm was a great world directly ruled by the Xuanyuan Clan. It had dense vegetation, a well-developed river system, and raised over ten thousand species of earth dragons and barbaric dragons.
It was a great world specially used by the Xuanyuan Clan to cultivate mounts, with over a billion cultivators stationed there year-round.
A burly cultivator with ox horns appeared above the Dragon Herding Realm, landing in the clouds.
He was a former hall master of the Space Divine Temple, named He Rong.
He Rong was different from other ancient hall masters. His physical body had been destroyed at Buzhou Mountain, so he had not been able to reclaim his body through possession.
Fortunately, the Qishier Pin Lian had broken into the Wind Clan and seized the Five-Colored Clay Figurine. With the help of the Nether Sea's power, He Rong's remnant soul merged into the Five-Colored Clay Figurine and transformed into an Underworld Clan member.
His current appearance was reshaped during the transformation into the Underworld Clan, not the original form of the Five-Colored Clay Figurine.
Looking down at the earth dragons and barbaric dragons on the vast land below, He Rong revealed a cold, mocking smile, full of bloodthirsty intent.
Although the Longevity Envoy had ordered them to collect blood energy and souls to deliver to the Dark Weirdness, they were the ones doing the collecting. Thus, every time they refined a great world, He Rong could absorb a portion for himself.
For those who had returned through possession, blood energy and souls were far too precious.
"Whoosh!"
The ancient hall master, Jin Ling, transformed into a streak of five-colored light and appeared beside He Rong.
He Rong said, "Is everything arranged?"
"The space around the Dragon Herding Realm's starry sky has been sealed. But we must be quick. The Heavenly Court universe's Heaven Round No Gap will soon detect the spatial anomaly here," Jin Ling said.
...
An hour later.
A crack appeared in the space where the Dragon Herding Realm had been located.
Zhang Ruochen and Feng Yan walked out from within.
The Dragon Herding Realm had vanished, but many of the planets that had once orbited above it remained.
Feng Yan frowned deeply. "We're too late. They fled quickly. This is the means of an Infinite-level space cultivator. Perhaps the Heavenly Court's decision is correct. Whether hiding all realms or gathering all realms, it is imperative. Otherwise, it's impossible to guard against such attacks."
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm, his eyes observing the starry sky.
Feng Yan thought of something and extended his left hand. His arm instantly turned into five-colored clay. "Big Brother, give it a try!"
Zhang Ruochen nodded and pressed his palm against Feng Yan's, carefully sensing the subtle heavenly connection in the universe.
After a long while, he withdrew his hand.
Feng Yan asked, "How is it?"
Zhang Ruochen did not confirm or deny.
Feng Yan revealed an expression of "I expected as much." "Although the twelve clay figurines were all molded from the Five-Colored Clay left after Chunyang Heavenly Venerable's death and are of the same origin, after endless years, this connection has nearly faded to nothing. It's normal that it can't be deduced."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly asked, "Back in the Zhang Clan, Second Brother, what exactly did you want to say? What were you worried about?"
Feng Yan was surprised that Zhang Ruochen had suddenly brought this up. After a moment of shock, he said frankly, "There is indeed a shocking secret, but at the time, Chu Nan and Si Xue were present, so I didn't speak of it. Of course, it's not that I don't trust them, but given their cultivation levels, there's no need for them to be exposed to such secrets. Knowing too much is not necessarily a good thing. In fact, I myself wish I didn't know."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Did you discover something in the Nuwa Divine Palace?"
Feng Yan nodded, his expression more serious than ever before. "Although I did not find the power that repelled the Qishier Pin Lian, I did find a passage of engraved text left by Nuwa in a secret realm of the Nuwa Divine Palace."
Feng Yan's emotions were clearly out of control, his heartbeat quickening.
He said, "That passage of engraved text recorded... the Future War."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes blazed with light. "What Future War?"
Feng Yan shook his head. "That passage of engraved text was too eroded. Over eighty percent of the characters were already illegible. Such is the power of time. From the Primordial Era to the present, too much time has passed. Even the words of an Ancestor cannot be eternal."
"But besides the Future War, I also found a few familiar characters."
Feng Yan's voice trembled as he spoke. "Immovable Bright King... Big Brother, Nuwa may have predicted the emergence of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable as early as the Primordial Era, and may have even fought alongside him across the River of Time."
A roar echoed in Zhang Ruochen's mind. Many previously unsolvable mysteries now seemed to connect faintly.
For example, the Blood Shadow Divine Mother's inexplicable sensing of the Ancestor's hidden aura ten eons ago.
For example, the fluctuations of an earth-shattering war sensed by many old-timers who had lived from ten eons ago to the present.
Another example: the River of Time had been severed at a certain node in this era, making it impossible to travel to the future. Thus, Xumi Saint Monk, the Buddha of the Future, had never appeared in this era again.
And Fengdu Dadi being exiled to the future undoubtedly indicated that the mastermind behind the scenes had used great divine powers to prevent cultivators from the past from coming to this era. For cultivators of this era to travel to the future was not impossible.
There was also the Witch Ancestor Chi, whose traces of existence had been deliberately erased.
...
There must be some connection between these events.
A strong sense of urgency arose in Zhang Ruochen's heart. He wanted to go to the Ancient God Nest immediately. Perhaps Ling Yanzi could give him the answer.
After a long time, Zhang Ruochen's mind calmed down. "The abilities of an Ancestor are beyond our comprehension. Crossing the River of Time is not surprising."
Feng Yan said, "But why have we never seen an Ancestor from the past crossing the River of Time to come to this era?"
Zhang Ruochen's lips moved. His gaze fell on a life-bearing planet ten thousand miles in diameter not far away. "I will have to go to the Ancient God Nest and the Dragon Nest to verify this matter. First, retrieve the Five-Colored Clay Figurine!"
"Big Brother means..."
Feng Yan revealed a joyful expression, following Zhang Ruochen's gaze.
(End of Chapter)