Chapter 3976: Jing Daoren's Great Fortune
"Swoosh!"
Divine light flickered as Zhang Ruochen, clad in a white divine robe, appeared outside the Darkness Temple.
The Golden Cicada Armor had already been returned to Xuanyuan Second.
"Greetings, Imperial Dust."
The deities outside the temple all bowed in unison.
Zhang Ruochen gestured for them to rise, then strode into the hall.
The temple doors, forged from the ultimate substance of darkness, lay shattered into pieces, the surrounding walls warped, and a massive footprint-shaped pit marred the floor.
Yunshen Daozhu stood alone at the center of the hall, gazing at the stone-skin sand on the ground. The soft divine radiance around him illuminated the eternal darkness of this place.
"Ruochen, your grandmaster has failed in his entrusted task!"
Yunshen Daozhu's mood was heavy.
"Grandmaster need not blame yourself. In today's battle, forcing Qishier Pin Lian into self-exile and driving back the Dark Hand is already a great victory." Zhang Ruochen paused, then added, "Moreover, the emergence of the six stone figures may not be entirely a bad thing."
Yunshen Daozhu said, "Everything has its pros and cons. Since it has happened and cannot be undone, we might as well look on the bright side. Tell me, what do you think?"
Zhang Ruochen knew his grandmaster intended to test him, and said, "Our greatest enemy has never been these stone figures, but the calamity of the Primordial Ancestor and the Immortal foretold in the Dark Weirdness Prophecy."
"From the release of the Dark Hand from the Divine Realm to the Dark Weirdness's deliberate revelation of the Ancestor Calamity, all signs indicate that the Immortals are also playing games among themselves."
"The Dark Weirdness is undoubtedly powerful, but it has been dismembered. Relatively speaking, I believe the Nether Ancestor and the one in the Divine Realm are even more terrifying."
"Therefore, only by breaking the balance among the Immortals can we make them fight again and check each other, giving us more room to survive."
"These stone figures sealed by the Great Venerable most likely belong to the Nether Ancestor's faction. Releasing them greatly increases the Nether Ancestor's strength. By exiling Qishier Pin Lian, the Dark Weirdness's power has been diminished. I suspect the balance among the Immortals has certainly tilted."
"Perhaps this is exactly the situation the Dark Weirdness most wants to see. Only by being weak enough can it gain more benefits when the balance is restored."
"As for why the Great Venerable chose to seal the twelve old clan emperors in stone rather than directly refining and killing them back then, I don't know, but there must be a deep reason."
Yunshen Daozhu nodded slightly, slowly walked to a seat on the left side of the hall, and sat down. He asked, "What is the status of the five stone figures you have?"
"I left them in the Kunlun Realm, suppressed by the Nine Heavens Celestial World left by the Great Venerable," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yunshen Daozhu's eyes were filled with relief and admiration. "You can anticipate risks and act more steadily now. Otherwise, in today's battle, those five stone figures might have broken their seals under the stimulation of the Dark Hand's power."
Zhang Ruochen asked with concern, "Grandmaster, your aura..."
"It's nothing. Having just broken through to a new realm and immediately engaging in a direct confrontation with a powerhouse like the Dark Hand, it's inevitable that my aura is unstable. It will stabilize after some consolidation," Yunshen Daozhu said with a wave and a smile.
Yunshen Daozhu had not personally pursued the six old clan emperors, partly out of fear that the Dark Hand might return, but he had not even launched a spiritual power attack, which clearly indicated his dangerous state.
This was also why Zhang Ruochen had not pursued the six old clan emperors and had rushed back to the Wuding Divine Sea as soon as possible.
After confirming that Yunshen Daozhu was truly not seriously injured, Zhang Ruochen asked with a hint of a smile, "Grandmaster, have you really broken through to the ninety-fourth level?"
Yunshen Daozhu guessed what Zhang Ruochen was thinking and said, "In this era, even ninety-fourth-level spiritual power cannot solve all problems. So, you must continue to work hard and maintain a sense of urgency. The future of the Sword Realm lies with you, not with me. Ninety-fourth level... should be your grandmaster's limit."
There was no despondency or complacency in Yunshen Daozhu's eyes; everything was very calm.
Zhang Ruochen said, "As far as I know, the lifespan of a Half-Ancestor can reach fifteen eons. Has Grandmaster's lifespan increased?"
"Your grandmaster will be satisfied if he can help you all survive the Ancestor Calamity. In the future, it will still be up to you to hold up this world and shelter more people from the wind and rain," Yunshen Daozhu said.
Zhang Ruochen felt a sense of relief, as if a thousand-pound burden had been lifted from his shoulders. "So, Grandmaster is confident in dealing with the Ancestor Calamity?"
Yunshen Daozhu did not give a direct answer to this question. "As long as there is enough time, with the help of Senior Yu, Jiu Tian, and Xingtiandao Zhu, the power of the formations in the Wuding Divine Sea will only grow stronger."
"The longer the time, the stronger the formations?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Yunshen Daozhu nodded. "I have already tested the power of the myriad realms' collective strength, and there is still much potential to be tapped. If a perfect thousand-realm grand formation can be established, it should not be difficult to contend with an Ancestor who has not yet reached their peak state. The question now is whether to move the Kunlun Realm to the Wuding Divine Sea."
Having become a Half-Ancestor of this era, many things that were previously fraught with concerns could now be set in motion.
Previously, Tai Shang had considered that once the Kunlun Realm was moved to the Wuding Divine Sea, there would be no going back. The starry domain where the Kunlun Realm was located would be occupied by other major worlds.
But now, who would dare to do so?
Moreover, if the Ancestor Calamity truly descended, the Kunlun Realm, isolated in the starry sky, would be extremely dangerous.
"This matter should still be discussed with Wen Tianjun," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yunshen Daozhu nodded, not acting arbitrarily just because he had stepped into the Half-Ancestor realm.
Such a major event as moving a realm must be agreed upon by the top few giants of the Kunlun Realm.
Otherwise, over time, rifts would inevitably appear.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the pieces of stone skin on the ground and asked, "Can we use these stone skins to deduce the locations of the six old clan emperors?"
Yunshen Daozhu shook his head gently. "They are all old foxes; they won't leave such a flaw. Ruochen, your grandmaster needs to go into seclusion for a while to stabilize his realm, but I will keep my aura emanating outward to make it impossible for outsiders to see the truth."
"If deities from various realms come to congratulate, you should receive them and must not neglect them. Even for major realms with past grudges, such as Paradise Realm, Destiny Temple, and the Death Clan, you must not make things difficult for them at this time. Grievances must be settled, but we are far from being strong enough to do whatever we want. Learning to endure is the key to achieving great things."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "I want to fully activate the Sundial."
Yunshen Daozhu fell into deep thought, silently deducing various subsequent developments.
Back then, the Kunlun Realm had fully activated the Sundial, achieving a rapid advancement for all its cultivators. But it also invited a great calamity, drawing joint attacks from enemies in both the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm, nearly destroying the realm.
Now, the Sword Realm, with a Half-Ancestor having emerged and a thousand realms guarding it, is certainly more powerful than the Kunlun Realm of an eon ago.
But this era is also far more dangerous than an eon ago.
There are several Half-Ancestors, and the number of Heavenly Venerable-rank experts exceeds ten. More importantly, there are the lurking Immortals.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Since we are fully activating the Sundial, I will issue an indiscriminate invitation to the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm, just like the Truth Divine Temple did back then, distributing the slots."
Yunshen Daozhu said, "Doing so will not incur public wrath, but can instead unite the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm to some extent, and also increase your influence among the major forces of the universe. Ruochen, this is a clever move; it can be done."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "If it were before Grandmaster's spiritual power breakthrough, I wouldn't have dared to mention this. With a Half-Ancestor backing me, I can naturally take bigger steps."
...
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Darkness Temple and saw A Fuya's stunningly beautiful figure.
She stood like a poem or a painting under the temple pillar, her back to Zhang Ruochen, as if gazing into the distance or lost in her own thoughts.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Does the First Queen wish to meet the Half-Ancestor?"
"I was waiting for you."
A Fuya turned around, her star-like brilliant eyes fixed on him, her red lips parting slightly. "Thank you."
Zhang Ruochen said, "For not trading you to Void Heaven?"
A Fuya said, "Under those circumstances, you didn't use me as a bargaining chip, so you certainly won't in the future. Zhang Ruochen, you are a person one can completely trust."
Zhang Ruochen was in an excellent mood and laughed. "To receive such praise from the First Queen is my honor. However, with the First Queen's cultivation strength capable of piercing Qishier Pin Lian's heart with one arrow, as long as I'm not stupid, I definitely won't hand you over to anyone else. Even if the First Queen wanted to leave, I would do my utmost to retain you."
A Fuya was a woman who rarely smiled. "It's a pity the first arrow didn't wound Qishier Pin Lian."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred, knowing what she was referring to. "The First Queen can focus on her cultivation; leave the Arrow Dao Esoterica to me."
This time, she had stood firmly behind him, and it was with the support of her power that Zhang Ruochen had been able to contend with Qishier Pin Lian.
Zhang Ruochen naturally had to repay her.
"Zhang Ruochen, I no longer owe you a favor!"
Xuanyuan Second's voice rang in Zhang Ruochen's mind, and his aura and heavenly secrets gradually disappeared in the direction of the Western Buddha Realm.
...
The space around the Bronze Divine Tree had been repaired by Tai Shang, but the Dark Weirdness Qi entwined on the trunk, branches, and leaves lingered.
It had even seeped into the seawater, turning the sea area spanning millions of miles as black as ink.
Xinghai Chuizhe had set up a formation to stop the spread of the Dark Weirdness Qi.
Li Mo Shenshi, a disciple of Xingtiandao Zhu and a representative of the Hundred Clans Royal City, had fallen in this sea area, which was a great tragic news for the cultivators of the various clans in the Hundred Clans Royal City.
For this reason, many deities from the Hundred Clans Royal City had come here to pay their respects.
"Imperial Dust has arrived!"
"Imperial Dust's Wuji Divine Dao can refine the Dark Weirdness Qi."
...
"Senior Yu, Senior Brother, Master Xu."
Zhang Ruochen landed directly on Xinghai Chuizhe's dilapidated wooden boat, standing together with the three men without bowing. Given his current cultivation and status, even if he bowed, Xingtiandao Zhu and Xu Wenzhi would not dare to accept it.
In terms of combat power, even without relying on any external help, Zhang Ruochen was by no means inferior to Xinghai Chuizhe.
Therefore, in terms of status, Zhang Ruochen was even a notch above Xinghai Chuizhe, and addressing him as "Senior" was the utmost respect.
Xinghai Chuizhe said, "How is Tai Shang's condition?"
"He needs to go into seclusion to stabilize his realm for a while. From now on, the formations on the Wuding Divine Sea will have to rely on Senior Yu," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xinghai Chuizhe looked towards the Bronze Divine Tree. "Although the defensive formations of the Wuding Divine Sea are still in their initial stage, without this Bronze Divine Tree, even the Dark Hand would not have been able to break through from the outside. Ruochen, do you have confidence?"
"While the Dark Weirdness Qi is untouchable, it is also a great killing weapon, is it not?"
Zhang Ruochen was no stranger to the Dark Weirdness Qi. This time, he did not plan to refine it directly. Instead, he released the Earth Cauldron and activated the primordial world patterns on its body.
The Dark Weirdness Qi was continuously drawn into the cauldron.
"Swoosh! Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Three beams of divine light descended from the sky, appearing on the sea near the wooden boat.
They were the Five Elements Temple Master, the Truth Divine Temple Master, and Xuanyuan Lian of the Heavenly Court.
The Five Elements Temple Master's pupils were like five-colored stones, staring intently at the Bronze Divine Tree. "Imperial Dust, I sense my junior brother's aura. If you can save his life, the Five Elements Temple will surely reward you heavily."
Whether it was because he was anxious to save his junior brother, or because Zhang Ruochen's cultivation and strength had reached a level where he could be treated as an equal, the Five Elements Temple Master, who had always been at odds with Zhang Ruochen, was now very polite to him.
While absorbing the Dark Weirdness Qi, Zhang Ruochen had sensed the life fluctuations of Jing Daoren.
Compared to Li Mo Shenshi, Jing Daoren, having reached the Indestructible Infinite realm, possessed a life force many times stronger.
"I will do my best," Zhang Ruochen said.
Jing Daoren's physical body seemed to have disappeared, but his life fluctuations were extremely strong, leaving Zhang Ruochen puzzled.
As the Dark Weirdness Qi on the Bronze Divine Tree was completely absorbed by the Earth Cauldron, Jing Daoren's faint divine thought transmission came from inside the divine tree: "Thank heavens and earth, someone has finally come. My indestructible substance and divine soul have merged with the Bronze Divine Tree. But my divine soul has been severely eroded by the darkness, and I can only briefly regain my senses. Zhang Ruochen, save me quickly!"
A strange look flashed in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. He vanished from his spot and appeared beside the trunk of the Bronze Divine Tree.
His hands formed the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram, which then evolved into the Five Elements.
Both palms pressed out simultaneously.
As the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal rotated and the Five Elements flowed, strands of Dark Weirdness Qi were drawn out from within the Bronze Divine Tree and merged into the "Ink Moon" of the Great Yin.
Gradually, five-colored light appeared on the Bronze Divine Tree, and the Five Elements rules flowed rapidly.
"Swoosh——"
Ten blazing suns flew out from within the Bronze Divine Tree.
The light and heat emitted by each sun were tens of thousands of times stronger than a star. These were the ten Golden Crow Great Sun Stars left by the Blazing Sun Ancestor.
They looked like ten fruits growing on the tree.
Jing Daoren's laughter came from within the ten Golden Crow Great Sun Stars. "Qishier Pin Lian never dreamed that I was refining the ten Golden Crow Great Sun Stars, merging part of my divine soul into them, so she didn't completely break my Dao. This time, struck by lightning, it instead allowed my physical body to merge with the Bronze Divine Tree and the ten Golden Crow Great Sun Stars, successfully breaking through to the middle stage of Indestructible Infinite. Haha!"
Zhang Ruochen naturally understood Jing Daoren's state. "You've lost your physical body!"
"What use is a physical body? I'm not like you and Old Man Xu. I've abstained from desires for years, so the significance of a physical body is minimal. With this Bronze Divine Tree as my body, my future achievements will be limitless. This is a true great fortune!" Jing Daoren was very excited, as if he had long wanted to abandon his physical body.
Back in the battle to destroy the Thunder Clan, Jing Daoren, who cultivated the Five Elements Dao, had been coveting the Bronze Divine Tree. Because this divine tree represented a special state of the Metal Dao and Wood Dao in the universe!
And the reason Jing Daoren had gone to great lengths to trade the ten Golden Crow Great Sun Stars from Zhang Ruochen was also for this purpose. They represented the most extreme Fire Dao in the universe.
Moreover, the Wuding Divine Sea was the place where the Water Dao rules were most abundant and active.
Jing Daoren's ability to reach the Indestructible Infinite realm meant that the rules of the Five Elements Dao had all reached a state of great perfection, allowing him to transform them at will.
This was the fundamental reason why he could abandon his physical body and merge into the Bronze Divine Tree when the Thunder God's Hammer struck down.
The thorough preparation beforehand, combined with the decisive choice at the moment of death, was both a coincidence and aided by the right time and place, thus creating this unique great fortune for Jing Daoren.
"Swoosh!"
The massive body of the Bronze Divine Tree rapidly contracted, condensing into a human form.
It was still Jing Daoren's round and short, fat appearance, but on his head sat a bronze tree bearing ten flame fruits.