Chapter 3964: The Buddha Realm Situation
After Zhang Ruochen and Empress Chi Yao issued their decrees, the Zhang family at Wang Mountain became a hub of bustling activity, breathing new life into the Eastern Domain, which had just endured a great calamity.
To compete for the position of the second-generation leader, Zhang Ruochen's children and disciples, as well as Chi Yao's successors—the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden and the various Realm Sons—rushed in from all corners of the world.
Among them were naturally Ye Luochen, Yu Qiancheng, and others who had originally been in the Hell Realm.
However, everyone was well aware that they had no real qualifications to contend for that position. They had merely come as witnesses to attend Chi Kunlun's coronation ceremony.
From now on, Chi Kunlun would be the absolute center.
And Zhang Ruochen and Empress Chi Yao were clearly intent on completely setting aside all matters below the Infinite level, fully engaging in the game of the Heavens' duels and the life-or-death struggle.
The nine-tiered Celestial World left by the Great Venerable each contained a divine-level plant.
The Ninth Tier Celestial World.
In the Snow Hibiscus Divine Tree Garden, ancient pavilions stood in clusters, and vermilion halls lined up in rows.
Chi Kunlun took out the Time-Space Chaos Lotus, infused it with divine qi, and gently pushed the lotus out, letting it fall into a three-hundred-mile-long green-water Sacred Lake beside the divine tree.
"Splash!"
The Time-Space Chaos Lotus immediately sprouted a large number of gaseous roots, extending in all directions and covering the Sacred Lake.
As thousands upon thousands of roots absorbed the essence and power from the lake, the lotus floating on the water grew increasingly radiant and crystalline, emitting supreme divine brilliance.
Qingqing, who cultivated the Way of Time, said, "The flow of time inside the Chaos Lotus is rapidly slowing down. It should be able to support cultivators at the Great God level to enter and train. The time ratio is... about thirty times."
"That's equivalent to the time ratio inside the Heavenly Wheel Seal left by Xumi Saint Monk," said Xue Wuye, who had once trained inside the Heavenly Wheel Seal's inner world.
He was now clearly the foremost among the Realm Sons.
Back then, Chi Yao had selected the nine most talented individuals from the Kunlun Realm, sealing them as Realm Sons and providing them with the best cultivation resources.
These nine had not disappointed her. Every one of them had stepped into the God Realm, becoming pillars of the Kunlun Realm—some as sect masters, some as city emperors, some as path ancestors—continuously nurturing new forces for the Kunlun Realm and driving its rapid prosperity and strength.
They had made the Kunlun Realm's foundation more solid.
It was no longer a castle in the air, relying solely on the supreme power of the older generation.
Gai Tianjiao said, "The world inside the Heavenly Wheel Seal can't support Great God-level training. It's only good for mass-producing cultivators below the God Realm. The Time-Space Chaos Lotus is far more valuable!"
Zhang Chuanzong, who cultivated the Way of Life, keenly sensed something and said, "Big Brother, the Time-Space Chaos Lotus has been absorbing all kinds of sacred qi and essence from the Sacred Lake. Those roots seem to be spreading outward."
Chi Kunlun stood tall like a mountain, scanning the crowd, and said, "Exactly. The Time-Space Chaos Lotus can absorb all essence substances from heaven and earth, providing the best cultivation environment for those who enter it to train."
Zhang Chuanzong said, "All essence substances... Doesn't that mean wherever the Time-Space Chaos Lotus takes root will eventually become wasteland?"
"Precisely. The qi of heaven and earth and essence substances cannot be born out of nothing."
Then Chi Kunlun added, "But everyone, rest assured. With our cultivation levels, we won't cause too much of an impact. The reason Father and Mother passed it on to us is that, at their level, they can no longer use the Time-Space Chaos Lotus to train. Otherwise, they would quickly drain the life qi and essence substances of an entire realm."
As he said this, Chi Kunlun thought of the Nether Hall Lord he had seen earlier, and a flicker of struggle passed through his eyes.
The Nether Hall Lord, Wen Zhiren, had hidden himself in a divine realm world to cultivate in seclusion, daring to come to the Kunlun Realm. His audacity was considerable.
This was undoubtedly using his secluded cultivation life to force Chi Kunlun to act quickly.
Qishier Pin Lian naturally had no fear, as she still held Jing Xiu's soul and blood, allowing her to cast curses.
Besides his family's life-and-death concerns, his master Yan Wushen and the Nether Ancestor behind him still deeply influenced Chi Kunlun. To protect his family, he not only had to resolve the immediate danger but also secure a path of survival for everyone when the Calamity of Quantities descended in the future.
With the Nether Ancestor's protection, his family could surely survive the Calamity of Quantities safely. As for the lives of others, Chi Kunlun could no longer care about that.
Before the Calamity of Quantities, few could survive anyway.
Since his master was cooperating with Qishier Pin Lian, it was clear they wanted the Dark Weirdness to grow stronger. Therefore, entering the Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm to release the remnant body of the Dark Weirdness would undoubtedly be beneficial to their side.
Chi Kunlun's psychological burden gradually lightened. The only thing he needed to worry about was that madwoman Qishier Pin Lian, who was scheming to overthrow the Zhang family.
Regardless, to resolve the immediate crisis and save his maternal grandfather, he must first seize control of the Time-Space Chaos Lotus.
Chi Kunlun said, "According to Father and Mother's wishes, whoever is strongest and most capable of commanding respect will control the Time-Space Chaos Lotus. At the same time, they will oversee all matters in the nine-tiered Celestial World, and everyone else must fully cooperate."
Hearing this, many faces showed smiles, with no intention of competing.
But some were eager to try.
Yan Ying'er, after her seclusion on Baicang Star, had greatly improved her cultivation and was very interested in the Time-Space Chaos Lotus. Her black, shiny eyes kept darting around.
Unlike the others present, she wasn't so worldly-wise.
Since it was about strength, she believed she was no weaker than Chi Kunlun.
There was also the always eccentric Zhang Hongchen, whose fair face bore a mischievous smile, clearly not convinced by Chi Kunlun.
If not for her mother's repeated instructions before coming, telling her not to compete, she would have already drawn her sword.
Among all of Zhang Ruochen's disciples, Ye Luochen was the most aloof. From start to finish, he sat alone under a distant tree, sipping his drink, as if an outsider.
Xue Wuye smiled and said, "I have personally tested Junior Brother Kunlun's cultivation. I'm afraid no one here is his match. He is undoubtedly the best candidate to control the Time-Space Chaos Lotus. What do you think, Talented Woman?"
Nalan Danqing said, "Night City Lord is the foremost among the Realm Sons. If even you are no match, then the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden naturally has no one who can defeat him."
Xue Wuye and Nalan Danqing clearly represented the two camps of the Realm Sons and the Mysterious Maidens.
This meant the entire Kunlun Realm supported Chi Kunlun.
Chi Kunlun observed the expressions of everyone present and was about to make a final decision when he heard commotion outside.
...
Qingsu, though a disciple of Zhang Ruochen, had been cultivating for hundreds of thousands of years and was considered an elder. Therefore, she did not participate in the gathering at the Snow Hibiscus Divine Tree Garden.
Instead, she was stationed at Wang Mountain, guarding the entrance to the nine-tiered Celestial World.
Now, she was facing trouble.
"I am Emperor Dust's disciple, genuine and true. Why won't you let me in?"
A yellow ox, accompanied by two house-sized white geese, shouted at Qingsu, unafraid of the God Venerable aura she exuded.
Over the years, Niu Jianqiang had been cultivating in the Sword Realm. He had accidentally heard a mysterious woman wearing a veil mention that Emperor Dust had issued a decree summoning all his children and disciples to select the next-generation leader and bestow the Time-Space Chaos Lotus.
Upon learning this, Niu Jianqiang was so angry his belly swelled. He immediately brought his two sworn brothers, Goose One and Goose Two, to the Kunlun Realm to demand an explanation.
Even Ye Luochen and Yu Qiancheng, who were in the Hell Realm, had been invited!
He was also a disciple of Zhang Ruochen. Why wasn't he invited?
Was it because he was a cow?
Just as Niu Jianqiang and Qingsu were arguing, space trembled, and a space wormhole appeared about ten zhang above the ground.
A little girl radiating seven-colored light leaped out of the space wormhole and landed on Goose One's back.
"Damn it, you again?"
Goose One clearly recognized the suddenly appearing little girl. He mobilized his divine qi, turning his wings into flaming roc wings, trying to throw her off.
But the little girl's control over space power was extremely subtle. She seemed nailed to Goose One's back, unmoving, and even let out a giggling laugh.
Niu Jianqiang pointed his horn at the little girl and said in a deep voice, "Xiao Qi, are you going to compete with me? I tell you, I'm determined to get the Time-Space Chaos Lotus. Not even you, not even Chi Kunlun, can stop me."
This little girl was the Space Chaos Worm, Xiao Qi.
In recent years, Xiao Qi had been in the Sword Realm, training under the Yecha Clan's Yuling God.
Yuling God had extremely high attainments in the Way of Space and could provide the food Xiao Qi needed to grow.
Of course, Xiao Qi was no longer the larva that needed careful care. She had already stepped into the God Realm and could roam the universe on her own.
"I am a Space Chaos Worm. The Time-Space Chaos Lotus belongs to me, and its value can be maximized."
Xiao Qi snorted, stomped her feet on Goose One's back, leaped up, and headed for the space gate behind Qingsu.
Like Niu Jianqiang, she had accidentally learned the news and came to join the fun.
Qingsu waved her sleeve, sending out a surge of rules and divine qi.
But strangely, before the rules and divine qi reached Xiao Qi, she vanished into thin air. Only the space gate leading to the nine-tiered Celestial World showed a slight ripple.
Qingsu showed a strange expression and muttered to herself, "As expected of a Space Chaos Worm."
Qingsu had no intention of chasing Xiao Qi back. Instead, she let Niu Jianqiang in as well, then began to ponder who was behind this, luring these two troublemakers to Wang Mountain.
...
In the Zhang family mansion.
Rain Master, her graceful figure wrapped in a wide black robe, bowed to Wu Yue and said, "Master, it's done. I have always been puzzled: since Chi Yao's disciples can participate in this gathering to compete for control of the Time-Space Chaos Lotus, why don't Master's disciples have that right?"
Wu Yue sat in front of a mirror, drawing her eyebrows, and said, "You want the Time-Space Chaos Lotus?"
Rain Master bowed and said indignantly, "I just want to help Master reclaim the rights that rightfully belong to you. Master, you are the legitimate one!"
Wu Yue said, "You'd better never mention that again. Do you think I did this just to vent my anger?"
Rain Master showed a confused expression.
Wu Yue looked through the window at the depths of Wang Mountain, at the nine-colored clouds there, and said, "What I am doing now cannot possibly be hidden from Emperor Dust. But isn't this exactly what Emperor Dust wants to see? Do you think Emperor Dust really wants to hand over all matters of the Zhang family, even the entire Kunlun Realm, to Yan Wushen's disciple?"
Rain Master showed a look of sudden understanding and said, "Disciple understands!"
"Go, make more connections with the gods of the Kunlun Realm. Don't see yourself as a lone wanderer; learn to integrate into this new living environment."
Wu Yue waved her hand, signaling Rain Master to withdraw.
She put down her eyebrow pencil, gazed at her flawless jade-like face in the mirror, then put on a dark red hooded robe, fastened the first button, pushed open the door, and walked toward the courtyard where Chi Yao was staying.
Chi Yao was receiving Jing Xiu, who had just returned from the Western Buddha Realm.
Arriving outside the courtyard, Wu Yue saw from afar the figures of Ji Fanxin and Bai Qinger. The two women, graceful as paintings, stood beneath the red wall.
She couldn't help but smile knowingly. Truly, clever women were all alike.
...
Xuanyuan Second was a very decisive person. Once he made up his mind to cultivate Buddhism, he wasted no time and headed straight for the Western Buddha Realm.
Zhang Ruochen had anticipated this, so he waited in advance on a planet closest to the Western Buddha Realm, eating vegetarian food with Feng Yan in a mortal city.
In this city, one-third of the people cultivated Buddhism, and the remaining two-thirds believed in it.
"He's here!"
Zhang Ruochen glanced up at the sky.
Xuanyuan Second was very high-profile. He only restrained his aura, without deliberately hiding his heavenly secrets or changing his appearance.
Zhang Ruochen didn't need to mobilize his spiritual power; just using his eyes, he could see Xuanyuan Second's every move across hundreds of thousands of miles of space.
Feng Yan became nervous and said, "Big Brother, if Qishier Pin Lian and the Dark Weirdness faction's cultivators are really hiding in the Western Buddha Realm, and Xuanyuan Second barges in like this, once an Infinite-level battle breaks out, it will inevitably affect the entire great world."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "No, it won't. With Xuanyuan Second's cultivation, he can't stir up much trouble in Qishier Pin Lian's hands. He might even be captured in the first exchange."
Feng Yan said, "What if Qishier Pin Lian hides herself? Wouldn't Xuanyuan Second fail to detect any clues?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Second Brother, you underestimate the Indestructible Infinite too much. If it were just Qishier Pin Lian alone, she might be able to evade Xuanyuan Second's perception. But how could the Western Buddha Realm have only her?"
"Besides, Xuanyuan Second is going to the Western Buddha Realm to cultivate Buddhism. He'll stay there for a long time. A powerful cultivator like him is too much of a hindrance. Qishier Pin Lian will most likely take the initiative to deal with him."
Zhang Ruochen wasn't worried about Xuanyuan Second's safety. With his Golden Chuan Armor and Half-Ancestor bone body, his defense was ridiculously high.
Grinding down an Indestructible Infinite wasn't something that could be done in a short time.
What Zhang Ruochen was most worried about now was Jing Xiu, who had gone to the Kunlun Realm. He hoped Chi Yao would handle it carefully and not make any mistakes.
"Not good!"
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen's consciousness spanned several breaths of time, foreseeing the future in advance.
This was a "Time Precognition" that would automatically activate when a major event was about to happen.
Zhang Ruochen's figure flickered and disappeared from the table. The next moment, he had entered the Western Buddha Realm, appearing inside the Jinggai Treasure Hall at the Mohe Wuyan Temple.
Inside the Jinggai Treasure Hall, there were only three people.
At the top of the hall sat the Compassionate Boat Immortal, her state strange, as if she couldn't move.
The second was an ancient Hall Master of the Time Divine Temple, lying at the center of the hall. Its body resembled a toad, about seven meters long, pure white all over.
The third was Xuanyuan Second, who had just walked into the Jinggai Treasure Hall.
Zhang Ruochen's sudden appearance clearly startled Xuanyuan Second, making him take a step back and summon the Demon God Stone Pillar.
Zhang Ruochen paid him no attention at all. He immediately released the "Jade Tree Dark Moon" Taiyin scene, unleashing an endless amount of time power toward the ancient Hall Master, whose body resembled a toad.
The ancient Hall Master's divine source had already exploded, and his divine body was gradually disintegrating, with destructive power constantly surging outward.
However, under Zhang Ruochen's time power suppression, all of this appeared very slow.
(End of Chapter)