Chapter 3965: Treasure Hall Ambush and Kill
Under the dual forces of "Time Stop" and "Space Freeze," the state of the ancient hall master's self-detonating divine source was gradually brought under control.
However, it remained extremely dangerous.
Within a radius of several dozen zhang, space trembled violently, threatening to collapse or expand, highly unstable, emitting light ten thousand times more dazzling than a star.
The name Jinggai Treasure Hall was derived from the numbers "Jing" and "Gai."
Jing represented ten thousand times a trillion.
Gai represented ten thousand times Jing.
Jinggai signified infinity and boundlessness.
But this most sacred ancient treasure hall of the Western Buddha Realm was now in jeopardy, covered in space rifts everywhere.
The destructive energy of a being of this level self-detonating its divine source, while not enough to destroy the Western Buddha Realm, was sufficient to destroy most of its defensive formations, divine patterns, and order, causing irreparable damage and billions of deaths.
With the slightest misstep, if the energy spiraled out of control, none of the three people inside the Jinggai Treasure Hall would survive.
Although Zhang Ruochen was confident he could survive, the damage to his divine soul and the loss of indestructible matter would not be recoverable in a short time.
"I am Di Chen. All buddhas, hear my command. Immediately evacuate the Western Buddha Realm."
Zhang Ruochen felt that Qishier Pin Lian still had a backup plan, his mind uneasy. While suppressing the destructive force, he transmitted a divine sound decree.
Every word he uttered flew out and heavily struck the golden bell outside the hall, producing sixteen world-shaking bell tolls that resounded across the buddhist realm's land.
Many old monks walked out of temples, pagodas, and scripture pavilions, gazing toward the Maha Infinite Temple where the Jinggai Treasure Hall was located.
"Whoosh——"
Beams of golden light rose from various parts of the buddhist realm, shooting into the clouds and heading beyond the heavens.
But a large number of old monks who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years chose to stay, either activating the realm's defensive formations, mobilizing the star buddhist light of the divine throne planets beyond the heavens, or lighting the ancient divine lamps in old temples...
Various foundational methods were activated at this moment to ensure that even if the divine source exploded, the Western Buddha Realm would be fully protected.
The buddhas still trusted Zhang Ruochen, as he was the successor chosen by both the Sixth Patriarch and the Seventh Patriarch. He was also the Calamity of Quantities Great Protector and the destined savior unanimously recognized by buddhist cultivators worldwide.
Back in the Jinggai Treasure Hall, just as Zhang Ruochen's voice was transmitted, a figure appeared out of nowhere inside the hall.
He emerged from behind the throne where Ci Hang Fairy sat, his physique imposing, humanoid in form, but headless. In place of his head were two eyeballs the size of watermelons.
One eye's pupil was crescent-shaped.
The other eye's pupil burned as hot as the sun.
Although Zhang Ruochen had been too anxious to examine carefully earlier, the fact that this person could evade Zhang Ruochen's perception even under such circumstances showed his formidable skill.
"Zhang Ruochen, I've been waiting for you for a long time."
That figure, wielding a crescent-shaped curved blade, shifted positions, bypassing the area of the self-detonating divine source, appearing above and behind Zhang Ruochen, slashing straight at his head.
He had calculated that Zhang Ruochen was fully focused on suppressing the destructive force of the self-detonating divine source, and struck with the blade decisively.
This shocked Zhang Ruochen, because the opponent seemed completely unafraid of death.
Even if this strike could severely wound him, what then?
Once the destructive force of the self-detonating divine source spread, how could the attacker himself survive?
"Whoosh!"
A bright Gate of Destiny rushed out from Zhang Ruochen's body, hovering behind and above him.
It was the Auspicious Gate left by the Destiny Ancestor.
The crescent-shaped curved blade clashed with the Auspicious Gate, the blade sinking into it, immediately stirring up overwhelming energy ripples that activated various ancient patterns within the Jinggai Treasure Hall.
The hall's structure emitted a piercing cracking sound.
"Boom!"
Blade qi and destiny beams surged out from the doors and windows, shooting in all directions, causing the heavenly and earthly rules of the entire Western Buddha Realm to boil.
Zhang Ruochen had already recognized the attacker as Lao Mo from Jin Ling and He Rong's memories.
He was the strongest under Qishier Pin Lian, and in some ancient era, had been the hall master of the Time Divine Temple.
Lao Mo had not expected Zhang Ruochen to be so powerful. In such a critical situation, merely releasing a Gate of Destiny was enough to block his full-powered slash.
"This is the power of the Destiny Ancestor..."
Lao Mo channeled his divine qi and rule divine patterns within his body, his dual pupils releasing endless time imprint light points.
Gripping the blade with both hands, the light emitted by the blade grew increasingly dazzling.
Suddenly, another force surged in, and a voice said: "Who are you, and why do you seek to kill me?"
Xuan Yuan Second had come to his senses and struck at Lao Mo with the Demon God Stone Pillar.
He was furious; this assassination plot against him was too perilous.
The moment he stepped into the Jinggai Treasure Hall, that toad cultivator had self-detonated his divine source, leaving him no time to suppress the cultivator's spiritual will.
If Zhang Ruochen had not arrived in time, Xuan Yuan Second dared not imagine the consequences.
A strange thing happened. The Demon God Stone Pillar Xuan Yuan Second struck at Lao Mo changed its trajectory and fell toward Zhang Ruochen instead.
"Space distortion... How is this possible..."
Xuan Yuan Second's eyes widened, and he tried to retract the Demon God Stone Pillar, but it was too late.
Space distortion was not a particularly profound technique, but to distort the attack power of an Indestructible Infinite cultivator, one's cultivation level would need to be at least one or two realms higher.
But from Lao Mo's earlier slash at Zhang Ruochen, it was clear he was at the same cultivation level as Xuan Yuan Second.
That was why Xuan Yuan Second was shocked.
Zhang Ruochen raised his hand to block the Demon God Stone Pillar falling from above.
"Crack!"
The floor of the Jinggai Treasure Hall beneath his feet cracked in countless places, the hall structure teetering on the verge of collapse.
The defensive measures left by various buddhas and gods throughout the Western Buddha Realm's history continued to disintegrate, unable to withstand the aftermath of an Indestructible Infinite-level battle.
Maha Mountain sank several dozen zhang, with multiple sections of the mountain collapsing.
Under the pressure of Indestructible Infinite aura, the monks, birds, and beasts in the mountain all collapsed to the ground, unable even to stand, let alone flee.
"Who exactly are you attacking?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xuan Yuan Second showed an awkward expression and said, "It's him. This old fellow is very strange, carrying some kind of bizarre space power."
"It's the power granted to him by the Dark Anomaly."
Zhang Ruochen had fully controlled the force of the self-detonating divine source, continuously compressing it and gathering it within the Jade Tree Ink Moonlight Shadow.
His Heart of Truth sensed the surroundings, searching for Lao Mo, who was constantly shifting and teleporting through space gaps.
"Rise!"
Zhang Ruochen released his divine qi, enveloping the Jinggai Treasure Hall, lifting it away from Maha Mountain and flying into the starry sky.
"Whoosh!"
Finally, Lao Mo stopped hiding and swung his blade.
This strike still contained the Dark Anomaly's space power, its speed approaching that of a Heavenly Venerable-level cultivator's attack, aimed directly at Zhang Ruochen's Xuan Tai position.
Zhang Ruochen narrowed his eyes and formed a sword seal with his fingers.
"Clang!"
With a piercing sword cry,
the Abyssal Divine Sword flew out from his Xuan Tai, grazing the blade's edge and striking Lao Mo's chest.
The sword's body pierced through the five-colored defensive divine light, sinking in.
Lao Mo's face showed disbelief, then he was sent flying backward by the force of the Abyssal Divine Sword.
Xuan Yuan Second seized the opportunity to leap up, using the stone pillar like a spear, striking down heavily.
"Bang!"
Wounded, Lao Mo quickly rolled away and vanished into space again.
With a roar, the Demon God Stone Pillar nearly pierced through the Jinggai Treasure Hall, sending rubble flying everywhere.
Inside the Jinggai Treasure Hall, Lao Mo transformed into rapidly flowing black thread-like patterns, some surging toward Ci Hang Fairy, others rushing toward the hall's doors.
His intentions were inscrutable.
Zhang Ruochen shifted positions, appearing beside Ci Hang Fairy, grabbing her wrist. Space rule divine patterns enveloped the two, and they teleported away, disappearing from the Jinggai Treasure Hall.
"Zhang Ruochen, you're too unscrupulous..."
Xuan Yuan Second sensed danger and immediately fled toward the hall's exit.
"Boom!"
The destructive force of the self-detonating divine source, previously suppressed within time and space, erupted instantly once Zhang Ruochen stopped controlling it, tearing the Jinggai Treasure Hall into pieces.
Fortunately, by then, the Jinggai Treasure Hall had already been dragged into the starry sky by Zhang Ruochen and pulled into the Void World.
The energy of the divine source explosion leaked from the Void World, causing hundreds of millions of miles of starry sky to collapse. The shockwave struck the Western Buddha Realm, shaking the entire great world and pushing it thousands of miles away.
...
"Since the master said that whoever is strongest controls the Space-Time Chaos Lotus, we have to fight to know who is strong and who is weak, right?"
Xiao Qi's figure appeared on a branch of the Snow Hibiscus Divine Tree, a hundred zhang above the ground, barefoot, swinging her two fair legs, speaking thus.
Below, by the Holy Lake, everyone's gazes turned toward her.
Bei Gong Lan asked, "Who are you?"
"Whoosh!"
The light of the Space-Time Chaos Worm's true form flashed briefly behind Xiao Qi.
Han Xue transmitted a message, informing everyone of Xiao Qi's identity.
The Space-Time Chaos Worm, as famous as the Time Ice Silkworm, had future potential and achievements, and her special status meant few present could afford to offend her.
Bei Gong Lan knew that Chi Kunlun was determined to obtain the Space-Time Chaos Lotus, so she spoke for him, saying, "So you are Seventh Miss. Seventh Miss is not exactly a disciple of Di Chen, is she?"
"Why not? Di Chen has taught me some methods of cultivating the Way of Space," Xiao Qi said.
Bei Gong Lan shook her head with a smile, "Seventh Miss and Tu Tian Sha Di Zhi Huang are more like our seniors, considered our martial uncles. You and Di Chen are of the same generation!"
"Is that so?"
Xiao Qi's eyes lit up, intrigued by the title "martial uncle."
Bei Gong Lan bowed, "Greetings, Seventh Martial Uncle."
Some other cultivators present followed suit in bowing.
"Tricking a little girl, what kind of skill is that? Whether she is Di Chen's disciple is not for you to decide. I will definitely compete for this Space-Time Chaos Lotus and the position of leader below the Infinite Realm in the Sword Realm."
Hoofbeats sounded.
Niu Jian Qiang walked out step by step from the layers of palaces, his cow hair shining like golden silk, his eyes bright, fixed on the lotus flower in the Holy Lake.
Although Niu Jian Qiang had long cultivated in the Sword Realm, he had once followed Zhang Ruochen for a time, so almost everyone present knew him.
Chi Kunlun's expression was calm, and he said, "That's right. Father and mother's decree is that the strongest must control the Space-Time Chaos Lotus. Anyone present who wishes to be the leader of this generation may step forward and challenge."
Bei Gong Lan added, "Not only that, but one must also command the respect of all. May I ask, Junior Brother Niu, with your cultivation level, can you command respect?"
Niu Jian Qiang sneered, "I am not like you all, who have cultivated for who knows how many years using the sundial. In the Sword Realm, relying on myself, in just this many years, I have already reached Upper-level God cultivation. Who present has higher talent than me? If I cultivate with the Space-Time Chaos Lotus, I will surely step into the Great God realm within ten thousand years."
Someone present laughed.
It was Gai Tian Jiao, who said, "Junior Brother Niu, in terms of talent alone, there are many here higher than you. In terms of cultivation, you are not even my match, are you? How can you challenge Kunlun?"
Niu Jian Qiang raised his neck, "Everyone has their trump cards. It's not that higher cultivation always means greater strength."
"Whoosh!"
A sword light flashed across the sky, instantly crossing the lake and appearing before Niu Jian Qiang.
Bei Gong Lan's war sword pointed directly at his brow.
A powerful sword intent enveloped Niu Jian Qiang, countless sword dao rules wrapping around him, rendering him immobile.
Bei Gong Lan said, "As it turns out, Junior Brother Niu, you still have a long way to go."
"Lan'er, sheathe the sword. We are all fellow disciples; don't harm the harmony."
Chi Kunlun's observation skills were keen. His gaze then fixed on Yan Ying'er and Zhang Hong Chen, who had been eager to try, and said, "Ying'er, Hong Chen, I know your cultivations are very high. One is the successor of Blood Shadow Divine Mother, the other is the sword dao genius Father has the highest hopes for. If you intend to control the Space-Time Chaos Lotus, you may step forward."
"But you must understand! Controlling the Space-Time Chaos Lotus means responsibility, meaning you must do your utmost to protect your family, fellow disciples, and the Kunlun Realm and Sword Realm. This is not a contest of pride, nor is it something fun."
"Father's decision to select a new generation of leaders is to find someone capable of overseeing the overall situation of the Nine Heavens Celestial World, someone who can bear the responsibility of suppressing Heavenly Venerable-level sword cultivators and the remnants of the Dark Anomaly, always ready to sacrifice themselves. Are you prepared?"
Although Zhang Hong Chen was unconvinced by Chi Kunlun, she had self-awareness, knowing she was not someone who could manage the big picture.
What she wanted to compete for was victory or defeat, not leadership.
As for Yan Ying'er, Chi Kunlun had hit the mark; she only thought it was fun. If she were really tasked with handling a pile of mundane affairs, she might run away the next day and return to the Hell Realm.
Everyone present nodded in agreement, feeling that Chi Kunlun was the most composed and the strongest, the best candidate to control the Space-Time Chaos Lotus.
Bei Gong Lan looked at Chi Kunlun's tall figure and resolute eyes, feeling even more admiration and love. She smiled, "Since no one else has objections, I believe the Space-Time Chaos Lotus should be controlled by Kunlun. What are everyone's opinions?"
Wan Cang Lan said, "The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden has no objection."
Xue Wu Ye said, "We realm sons will fully cooperate with Kunlun."
Zhang Hong Chen smiled, "I hope my elder brother will live up to his words."
...
Just as everyone was expressing their views, Ye Luo Chen's gaze suddenly turned toward the entrance of the Snow Hibiscus Divine Tree Garden.
"I have an objection."
With a woman's voice,
Chi Kong Le's stunning figure, like a sword immortal, had already crossed time and space, appearing above the Space-Time Chaos Lotus. Her white martial robe fluttered, and her cold eyes carried a piercing sharpness.
Ye You Master chased in after her, saying repeatedly, "My senior sister has an objection, she has an objection... We hurried as fast as we could, but did we make it in time, everyone?"
...
Resuming updates.
(Chapter End)