Chapter 3972: Hunting the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus
"It's a pity I don't possess enough Arrow Dao Essence, otherwise this arrow would surely have wounded you."
A Fuya stood within the Origin Divine Sea, surrounded by a dazzling divine radiance. Nine divine arrows of varying forms floated within the Ancestor Divine Qi, orbiting around her.
"Even the Hongtian Arrow and Ancestor Divine Power cannot pose a fatal threat to me. It seems the First Queen will never have another chance to fight me!"
The Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's eyes were filled with killing intent. She would not give A Fuya the opportunity to grow stronger.
If Zhang Ruochen helped A Fuya find enough Arrow Dao Essence—over fifty percent—allowing her to undergo the qualitative transformation from a main god to an overlord, then the Hongtian Arrow combined with Ancestor Divine Power would gain the ability to threaten the life of a Heavenly Venerable-level being.
To obliterate a Heavenly Venerable-level powerhouse, one needed Overlord-level Essence.
"Eight phases unite as one, invincible under heaven. Qingming and Xieming, above the overlord."
A seventy-two-petal sacred lotus appeared beneath the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's feet. Her hands formed seals, and the eight phases of the Nether Method, suspended in the eight directions, converged toward the center, showing signs of fusion.
A Fuya and Xuanyuan Second both wore grave expressions.
Although they had returned as remnants of their souls, they had once been invincible in their respective eras. They possessed a deep understanding of the Nether Ancestor—the Primordial Ancestor who had flattened the Abyss of Darkness and was hailed as the "Foremost Ancestor Through the Ages."
Xuanyuan Second grew anxious. "She is actually cultivating all eight volumes of the *Nether Scripture* simultaneously, and each volume has reached the pinnacle of mastery. This is a huge problem. We cannot allow her to merge the eight phases."
Zhang Ruochen had long heard the legend that cultivating all eight volumes of the *Nether Scripture* simultaneously could grant immortality.
Although he did not believe the legend was true, the aura emanating from the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus as the eight phases merged was indeed growing stronger, as if she were about to break through a critical threshold.
The evil Nether Heavenly Dao rules in the universe continuously converged toward her.
Zhang Ruochen felt a strong sense of crisis. Without hesitation, he executed the ninth level of the Time Sword Art—the Eon Slash.
One slash could sever an eon's worth of a god's lifespan.
At the same time, the Earth Cauldron, the Witch Cauldron, and the Hong Cauldron flew out one after another. Driven by Zhang Ruochen, A Fuya, Xuanyuan Second, the Wuji Lamp, and the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army, they accompanied the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal and slammed heavily toward the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus.
A Fuya said, "Legend has it that those who cultivate all eight volumes of the *Nether Scripture* simultaneously, once the eight phases merge, can transform into Qingming or Xieming, gaining combat power above the Overlord level. The current intense fluctuations of the evil Nether Heavenly Dao rules in the world indicate that she is walking the path of Xieming."
"However, only a Half-Ancestor can perfectly master Overlord-level Essence and display Overlord-level combat power. Even if the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus has mastered over fifty percent of the evil Nether Heavenly Dao Essence, she is still only at the Heavenly Venerable level. The amount of Essence she can fully utilize is probably only thirty to forty percent, insufficient to achieve the qualitative change to Overlord level."
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's ability to master such a large amount of evil Nether Heavenly Dao Essence must be related to the Nether Hall Hall Master.
Previously, she had not possessed this much evil Nether Heavenly Dao Essence.
A Fuya said, "This is precisely the most heaven-defying aspect of cultivating the eight volumes of the *Nether Scripture*. If the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus were to become a Half-Ancestor and transform into Xieming, she could reach above the Overlord level. With her current cultivation, in the state of eight-phase fusion, transforming into Xieming would grant her combat power infinitely close to the Overlord level. Perhaps... even true Overlord-level combat power."
Zhang Ruochen was no stranger to combat power infinitely close to the Overlord level.
Back then, by leveraging the terrain of the Wuding Divine Sea, the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable could unleash combat power infinitely close to the Thunder Dao Overlord level, earning the title of number one under heaven.
The Nutian Shenzun, leading the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army and joining forces with Mong Ge and Void Heaven, was still no match for him and was wounded by him.
It was only when Hao Tian arrived that he interrupted the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable's process of merging with the entire Wuding Divine Sea to transform into a true Overlord.
Under the threat of four top-tier powerhouses, the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable was forced to flee the Wuding Divine Sea, losing his terrain advantage and his infinitely close to Overlord-level combat power, ultimately meeting his downfall.
If he had not fled and had fought to the death in the Wuding Divine Sea, even if he still could not escape death, at least one of the four powerhouses—Hao Tian, Nutian Shenzun, Mong Ge, and Void Heaven—would have died in battle.
When two armies meet on a narrow path, the brave do not necessarily win.
But the coward is sure to lose everything.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen could have returned to the Wuding Divine Sea, allowing the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus to transform into Xieming, in order to protect himself.
But Zhang Ruochen chose another path—to attack fiercely and stop her. Just as the Dying Lamp had said, the only way to prevent the fusion of the Dark Weirdness and the Dark Hand was to fight, and keep fighting.
"Boom!"
The Eon Slash was blocked by the time order released by the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus and the space of the seventy-two-petal lotus, dissipating a few zhang in front of her.
Seventy-two petals, seventy-two worlds.
The Buddha aura on the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus completely faded. Her eyes gradually sharpened, her black hair turned purple, and at the position of her hands, the shadows of six arms appeared.
A total of eight arms!
Light projections of human figures appeared on her left, right, and back—four faces and four phases, growing increasingly solid.
"Rumble!"
Her true body, holding a heavenly pillar in one hand, blocked the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal charging toward her.
"Crack!"
A Fuya kept drawing her bow and shooting arrows.
The nine divine arrows, each of a different form, were fired one after another.
Each arrow could push forward a long distance, continuously breaking through the time order and the seventy-two-petal lotus worlds.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
...
Zhang Ruochen used every means at his disposal. The Abyssal Divine Sword carved out one powerful sword mark after another. The four cauldrons struck like eternal suns. Lightning turned into four torrents of attack.
The two forces clashed, colliding with each other, shattering the starry sky wherever they passed.
Feng Yan and a tall, imposing figure appeared in this starry sky.
In the void beside them floated the two halves of Hu Zhen's bloody corpse.
This ancient Hall Master of the Space Divine Temple had been split in two by an axe after escaping. Logically, with his level of cultivation, his vitality should have been very strong.
But just one axe strike had extinguished all his life force.
The battle axe in the tall figure's hand was still dripping blood. His lower jaw was covered in a thick beard, his eyes blazing as if containing the flames of destruction, and the contours of his muscles rose and fell like mountain ranges.
The newcomer was none other than the number one powerhouse of the Eastern Universe—Pan Yuan Ancient God.
Feng Yan said, "Ancient God, are you not going to make a move yet?"
"I want to see the limits of their combat power! But I cannot wait any longer. If she transforms into Xieming, even I might not be a match."
Pan Yuan Ancient God took a deep breath, drawing the dark yellow nebula spanning thousands of billions of li into his abdomen. His divine body grew even taller.
An overwhelming and unparalleled power erupted from within him. The next moment, he had already crossed the distance of this nebula, arriving before the seventy-two petal worlds and the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal, and swung his axe down.
"Rumble!"
Most of the seventy-two petal worlds shattered. The Seventy-Two Petal Lotus at the center was sent stumbling backward by the force of the battle axe.
But they separated for only an instant before clashing again, leaving the others within the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal standing idly by.
Zhang Ruochen looked toward Feng Yan from afar, not expecting that he had actually managed to invite Pan Yuan Ancient God.
Compared to Zhang Ruochen, who needed to combine the strength of many to contend with a Heavenly Venerable-level opponent, the battle between Pan Yuan Ancient God and the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus was far more intense and agile.
Zhang Ruochen was still far behind a true Heavenly Venerable in terms of speed.
In the previous battle, if the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus had wanted to leave, Zhang Ruochen could not have stopped her. If she had not intentionally stayed behind with ulterior motives, she would not have lost the initiative.
"Seal Heaven and Lock Earth."
Zhang Ruochen channeled the divine Qi of the Four Symbols, pouring it continuously into the Four Directions Universe Seal.
Instantly, the four directions of space in this star domain were enveloped, suppressing the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's ability to escape.
The Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's divine voice rang out: "Zhang Ruochen, do you think that inviting a Pan Yuan Ancient God will be enough to deal with me today?"
"What about adding me, old man?"
Void Heaven leaped out from the starry sky, striding forward with long hair flying. He reached out his hand: "Where is the sword?"
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to lend him the Abyssal Divine Sword.
After all, Void Heaven was a helper he had invited.
With the Abyssal Sword in hand, Void Heaven laughed uproariously: "Kong Fanning, today the one sending you on your way is I, Void Fengjin!"
"Whoosh!"
An infinite sword intent erupted from Void Heaven. With a flicker, he was already slashing a sword at Kong Fanning's head.
Kong Fanning swung her heavenly pillar, clashing with the Abyssal Divine Sword.
At the same time, from another direction, Pan Yuan Ancient God's battle axe tore through space, slashing diagonally.
Although Kong Fanning blocked the battle axe with another heavenly pillar, her body flew backward like a meteor, falling completely into a disadvantage.
Facing two top-tier powerhouses like Void Heaven and Pan Yuan Ancient God simultaneously, who under the Half-Ancestor level could withstand it?
Zhang Ruochen led the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal, intercepting from another direction. He commanded the gods to jointly activate the Wuji Lamp and the Gate of Destiny, using the divine light of fate to suppress the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's cultivation and combat power.
"Zhang Ruochen, I have abandoned the White Clothes Valley to come to your side. Remember what you promised. If you go back on your word again, don't blame me for being rude!"
"Kong Fanning, don't blame me for joining forces with others to deal with you. Blame him for offering too much!"
Void Heaven summoned the Sword Source Divine Tree, drawing forth even stronger sword intent, and executed Sword Twenty-Four.
This sword broke through all of the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's defenses, grazing her fair neck. It severed a strand of purple hair while leaving a deep sword wound on her neck.
"I originally did not want to get involved in your grudges, but you should not have instructed those ancient powerhouses who returned as remnant souls to wreak havoc in the Eastern Universe, nor should you have invaded the Pan Gu Realm and caused countless massacres. This debt must be settled today."
Pan Yuan Ancient God, like a giant propping up the universe, tore apart the space power unleashed by the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus and scattered the evil Nether Heavenly Dao Essence continuously converging toward her.
A whisper echoed through the starry sky: "Is this a group of people beating a woman, or is a woman challenging the entire world?"
Although the voice was low, it clearly reached Zhang Ruochen's ears.
In the distance, a cyan nebula several hundred million li tall appeared, taking the form of a deer shadow.
The arrival of the Green Deer Divine King made both sides wary, uncertain of his intentions.
If he joined Zhang Ruochen's camp, the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus would surely die today.
If he helped the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus, the day's siege would surely fail.
Even the Yunshen Daozhu had described the Green Deer Divine King as "very formidable," indicating that he was no simple figure.
The Green Deer Divine King did not make a move, merely watching the battle quietly.
...
Meanwhile, the Well Daoist, who had been corrupted by the darkness, had not succeeded in self-destructing his divine source.
The Starry Sea Angler, relying on his formidable spiritual power, suppressed his will and then pulled him into the formation.
Li Mo Divine Master said, "Grandmaster, the Well Daoist is one of the Heavenly Court's Heavenly Venerables and has a close friendship with Imperial Dust. If we can save his life, his bond with the Sword Realm will surely deepen in the future."
"With a great enemy before us, now is not the time for rescue. Moreover, this dark force is extremely dangerous, and I cannot dispel it. Send him to the Darkness Temple first."
The Starry Sea Angler set up a spiritual power barrier in the Well Daoist's Sea of Consciousness and Divine Realm World, then handed him over to Li Mo Divine Master.
Shortly after Li Mo Divine Master left, a bronze divine tree suddenly appeared on the sea surface.
The bronze divine tree grew at an extremely fast rate. Its branches and leaves pierced through the formation light barrier above the Wuding Deep Sea, while its roots delved deep into the seabed, passing through space and spreading toward Lihentian and the Void World, rapidly expanding.
Li Mo Divine Master had already lost all signs of life.
The Starry Sea Angler looked toward the direction of the bronze divine tree, his expression extremely grim.
There was no doubt that the bronze divine tree had grown from the Well Daoist's Divine Realm World.
He had been very cautious, having specifically examined the Well Daoist's Divine Realm World and applied a seal.
What kind of power was driving the bronze divine tree?
The Yunshen Daozhu flew out of the Sword Realm and the Guixu, appearing on the sea surface. Gazing at the bronze divine tree hundreds of billions of li away, his divine light blazed intensely. "So this is where their true goal lies!"
...
Zhang Ruochen's perception was sharp, and he naturally detected the abnormal changes in the Wuding Divine Sea.
The bronze divine tree was originally a treasure of the Thunder Clan, growing at the bottom of the Guixu Sea. After the destruction of the Thunder Clan, it had been obtained by the Well Daoist.
"It is continuously taking root in the space of the Wuding Divine Sea, spreading toward Lihentian and the Void World. What exactly is it trying to do?" Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself, sensing extreme danger.
At the same time, he understood the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus's purpose in continuously pulling the battlefield farther away.
Was it too late to rush back now?
A Fuya, displaying the cognitive height befitting her Ancestor remnant soul, said, "The bronze divine tree was born together with the Wuding Divine Sea. They share an extraordinary connection—they can nurture each other or destroy each other. If my guess is correct, they intend to use the bronze divine tree to split the Wuding Divine Sea in one strike. If that happens, the formations of the Wuding Divine Sea will be completely destroyed, and the thousand great worlds relocated there will face inevitable destruction."
"The Dark Hand can then rescue the Stone Man and absorb the blood Qi and souls of the countless living beings on those worlds, achieving a rapid leap in cultivation and combat power."
Xuanyuan Second said, "That is impossible. No one in this era can split the Wuding Divine Sea."
Zhang Ruochen's expression was more solemn than ever. "No, the Dark Hand can do it."
The Seventy-Two Petal Lotus was already wounded, but her cold voice echoed across the starry sky: "Zhang Ruochen, you invited Pan Yuan and Void Fengjin to jointly strike at the Dark Hand and protect the Wuding Divine Sea. But you were blinded by hatred, abandoning the root for the branch, and came to hunt me instead. This seals your defeat today!"
"If the Wuding Divine Sea's thousand worlds are destroyed and countless lives perish, it will all be a great mistake of your making."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Do you think a few words can shatter my state of mind? Since you are so eager to die, I will grant your wish today. Green Deer Divine King, if you still refuse to act and insist on sitting on the fence, I will use all my connections and power to hunt you down next! On the other hand, if you act, past grievances will be wiped clean. I have said my piece."
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had received a message from his Grandmaster, telling him not to worry about the rear and to focus on killing the Seventy-Two Petal Lotus.
Ultimately, whether in strength, experience, or wisdom, the Yunshen Daozhu clearly surpassed Zhang Ruochen at present. Since he dared to say that, he evidently had some confidence.