Chapter 4014: Death God Sacrifice
The word "Primordial Ancestor" carried immense weight.
Although the figure had appeared in the distant southern universe, and although those present were among the top-tier powerhouses of the current cosmos, they still felt as if they were facing a great enemy.
Lady Shiji said, "Zhang Ruochen, have you seen Shi Yan display his true strength?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded lightly.
"How does he compare to the Nine-Headed Stone Man?" Lady Shiji asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Facing the Nine-Headed Stone Man, I could still draw my sword and fight. Facing Shi Yan, if he wanted to kill me, I wouldn't even have a chance to strike. It's a complete suppression at the level of Dao and law. Perhaps only a Half-Ancestor could exchange blows with him."
Fengdu Dadi stood tall and imposing, his figure sharp and aloof. He said, "Do you think that if I, Heavenly Mother, and Lady Shiji joined forces, we could contend with him?"
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "Within a hundred moves, the three of you would surely be defeated. After a hundred moves, Great Emperor would fall, Lady Shiji would be captured and turned into an artifact spirit, and Heavenly Mother, relying on the Houtu Wedding Garb, might be able to escape."
Xu Tian said, "Exaggeration, pure exaggeration. Do you even know what realm a Half-Ancestor truly is? It's one foot already across the threshold. Even if they're no match for a Primordial Ancestor, the move of self-detonating their Divine Source alone would make a Primordial Ancestor think twice, afraid to push them into a death spiral."
"If a single Half-Ancestor faced him, they might not even have the chance to self-detonate their Divine Source. But if three Half-Ancestors attacked together, wouldn't he be unable to suppress them?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Self-detonating a Divine Source still operates on a single dimensional level of space. A Primordial Ancestor can easily transcend time to avoid calamity. Moreover, Senior Xu Tian is only thinking from your own perspective on how to counter a Primordial Ancestor. But have you considered that a Primordial Ancestor would also think about how to resist and suppress a Half-Ancestor's self-detonation?"
"If a Primordial Ancestor senses your resolve to die, they will never let you get close. If you lack that resolve and go to fight a Primordial Ancestor, you're undoubtedly walking to your death."
"In this world today, only Flower Shadow Tai Shang, whose Spiritual Power has reached the ninety-fourth rank, poses the greatest threat to a Primordial Ancestor, with a chance of a one-for-one exchange. But even that chance isn't very high."
"If you truly want to stand against a Primordial Ancestor, the Fate Twelve-Phase Divine Formation is your only hope. But it's far too passive."
Zhang Ruochen had once wounded the Dark Anomaly with a single sword strike, yet even he felt so powerless and pessimistic when facing a Primordial Ancestor. This showed just how terrifying Shi Yan truly was.
Lady Shiji said, "Even among Half-Ancestors, there are vast differences in combat power. If you hand over the Five-Colored Glass Cover to me, within ten thousand years, I could gain the ability to spar alone with Shi Yan for a hundred moves and possess the strength to deter him with a self-detonating Divine Source."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Lady Shiji wields the Dark Cauldron, so naturally, you have that potential. But for your combat power to reach that level, you must first suppress Di, then find Jiusi Yitianhuang and seize the Dark Esoterica. Without fifty percent of the Dark Esoterica, how can you speak of using the Dark Cauldron to fight a Primordial Ancestor? Even with my full support, Lady Shiji, you still have a long way to go on this path."
The most dejected person present was undoubtedly Xu Tian. He had been proud all his life, looking down on everyone, but now those before him were walking further and further down the path of the Half-Ancestor, even beginning to discuss how to face a Primordial Ancestor. Meanwhile, he was still far from even reaching the Half-Ancestor realm.
Shi Tian arrived and said, "The Demon God Realm and the Abyss of Darkness defense line are far apart. Even taking the Ancient God Path and Space Wormholes won't get us there quickly. Instead of waiting like this, why not let me go personally and scout for information?"
Zhang Ruochen sensed something and took a bright red chicken feather from his sleeve.
He waved the feather, and space rippled like a water curtain.
This feather had been plucked from the head of Xu Kun War God and could be used for mutual communication.
An image of Xu Kun War God appeared on the rippling space water curtain. He had a human body and a chicken head, standing over a hundred zhang tall. He said, "Lord Imperial Dust, something has happened to Wen Tianjun and Candlestick Lamp Master!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Speak in detail."
Xu Kun War God said, "Chongming Ancestor believes that the attacker was the legendary Primordial Ancestor, whose goal was to rescue Minghai and seize the Nether Purgatory."
"Wen Tianjun and Candlestick Lamp Master happened to be visiting the Demon God Realm and were ambushed by the Primordial Ancestor. They may have already fallen."
"The Ancestor was also severely injured. Fortunately, the God Realm intervened, and with the protection of the Parasol Tree Divine Tree, he managed to survive."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What about the time fluctuations that spread from the Demon God Realm?"
Xu Kun War God said, "It is said that Wen Tianjun and Candlestick Lamp Master tried to escape into the future, causing those powerful fluctuations. Whether they succeeded is unknown."
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "Did Chongming Ancestor say this as well?"
Xu Kun War God nodded. "Wen Tianjun and Candlestick Lamp Master chose to fight to the death with the Primordial Ancestor to cover the Ancestor's escape and protect the beings of the Demon God Realm."
"Now, the Ancestor has used a Spiritual Power field domain to carry the entire Demon God Realm and is heading to the Heavenly Court."
"I am responsible for the subsequent deployment in the southern universe. The Ancestor's intention is that all major worlds in the southern universe must relocate to the star domain where the Heavenly Court is located. Only by having realms adjacent to each other, like the Sword Realm, can we consolidate our strength and contend with the Primordial Ancestor."
Long after Xu Kun War God's figure had dissipated, Zhang Ruochen remained silent, lost in thought.
Hearing the exchange between Zhang Ruochen and Xu Kun War God, those present felt both a sense of lament and shock, but also secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Since the God Realm and the Nether Ancestor Faction truly were at odds, they would naturally check and balance each other, reducing the pressure on them.
Xu Tian said, "That little chick Xu Kun has made rapid progress in the last few tens of thousands of years. It's said he has already broken through to the Indestructible realm and become the second most powerful figure in the Demon God Realm. It seems Lord Imperial Dust has played no small part! I wonder how many of your own people you've planted in the Hell Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen knew that Xu Tian was now extremely jealous of him and found fault with everything he did. With Heavenly Mother and Fengdu Dadi both having achieved Half-Ancestor status while he hadn't, Xu Tian was undoubtedly anxious. So, faced with this aggressive remark, Zhang Ruochen remained completely unruffled. "I think there's a problem here!"
"What problem?" Heavenly Mother asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Lady Shiji clearly sensed the aura of the Universe Cauldron, indicating that the time fluctuations were caused by the Universe Cauldron. Yet Xu Kun War God said it was Wen Tianjun and Candlestick Lamp Master trying to escape into the future."
Lady Shiji said, "That only means the Universe Cauldron is in the hands of either Wen Tianjun or Candlestick Lamp Master."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly. "That shouldn't be the case."
Although Zhang Ruochen had never seen Yan Wushen use the Universe Cauldron, judging by the cultivation speed of Yan Wushen, Peacock Heavenly Queen, and Chi Kunlun, he was almost certain the Universe Cauldron was with Yan Wushen.
"A Half-Ancestor's trump card—how could it be so easily known to you?" Lady Shiji said.
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to argue about this. "Lady Shiji, you've fought Minghai. What do you think of his strength?"
Lady Shiji said gravely, "Very strong. Without using the Nether Purgatory, he and I are probably evenly matched. Using the power of the Nether Purgatory, he is undefeated in one-on-one combat below the Primordial Ancestor level."
"Minghai is part of the Nether Ancestor's Divine Realm world, having given birth to his own consciousness and life. He has been settled in the Half-Ancestor realm for who knows how many years. He could easily take away the Heavenly River and the Ghost Gate, and even broke the Shura Star Pillar Realm. Among Half-Ancestors, he has walked further than all of us."
Zhang Ruochen began to understand why Lady Shiji was reluctant to easily hand over the Ghost Gate to him.
The Ghost Gate and the Nether Purgatory were each a quarter of the Seventy-Two Layer Tower.
Heavenly Mother said, "With the Houtu Wedding Garb, I can fight him. The Nether Purgatory cannot trap me."
Clearly, Heavenly Mother was being modest. No matter how strong Minghai was, he couldn't be as powerful as the Nine-Headed Stone Man.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Even Heavenly Mother needs the Houtu Wedding Garb to contend with him. On what basis could Chongming Ancestor suppress him?"
"You think there's something suspicious here? The spirit of Minghai was already injured by me, Hao Tian, and others in the Nether Prison. He's not at his peak." Lady Shiji said.
Shi Tian said, "Chongming Ancestor is proficient in formations and led the gods of the southern universe. No matter how strong one person is, how can they match an entire universe?"
Heavenly Mother said, "Ruochen seems to know some information that we don't?"
None of those present were mediocre. Lady Shiji, in particular, had a seven-orificed exquisite heart. She said, "Do you know who holds the Universe Cauldron?"
"I can't say for certain on this matter. I must go to the Heavenly Court immediately, hoping to make it in time. Senior Xu Tian, would you like to come with me?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Tian clasped his hands in his sleeves, closed his eyes in contemplation, as if his mind had wandered beyond the heavens.
"Lord Imperial Dust need not be so worried," said Fengdu Dadi, who was usually taciturn.
Zhang Ruochen said, "What insights does Great Emperor have?"
Fengdu Dadi said, "You've underestimated one person—the one you should least underestimate."
"Hao Tian?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Fengdu Dadi nodded. "Lady Shiji said that Minghai, carrying the Nether Purgatory, is undefeated in one-on-one combat among Half-Ancestors. I don't agree with that. In the same realm, Hao Tian is the undefeated one. It's just that he only reached the Half-Ancestor realm a few tens of thousands of years ago. If Minghai brings the Nether Purgatory, Hao Tian will naturally bring the Heavenly Punishment World to fight. The outcome is uncertain."
Zhang Ruochen had long heard that the "Heavenly Punishment Divine Light," one of the Heavenly Court's two trump cards, originated from the Heavenly Punishment World.
As the former number one of the Hell Realm, Fengdu Dadi had faced Hao Tian across the starry sea for many years, so he naturally understood him well.
For an opponent to hold him in such high regard spoke volumes about his ability.
Fengdu Dadi continued, "Hao Tian's greatest strength is not actually his combat power, but his wisdom and methods. Holding together the scattered myriad realms of the Heavenly Court requires considerable ability!"
"If Chongming Ancestor really has a problem, he definitely can't fool Hao Tian. I believe that Chongming Ancestor's level is far below Hao Tian's; he can't be his opponent."
Shi Tian said, "As long as we're not facing a Primordial Ancestor, if Hao Tian falls to the point where we need to rescue him, then he doesn't deserve to sit in that position in the Heavenly Palace."
Zhang Ruochen was an extremely cautious person who didn't want any accidents. So, he closed his eyes and used the Dream-Entering Technique from the "Cloud Dream Thirteen Chapters" to pull Xuanyuan Lian into a dream, informing her of his conjectures.
Chongming Ancestor held a high position in the Heavenly Court universe and was the banner of all realms in the southern universe. Without any evidence, this matter absolutely could not be made public.
For now, he could only trust Hao Tian.
As long as Hao Tian was on guard, the Heavenly Court should be safe from major trouble.
Bai Qinger and Lianxi, who had been virtually unnoticed, stood at the entrance of the Glazed Divine Hall, not qualified to participate in the discussions of these top-tier giants.
It was only now that Bai Qinger spoke: "Everyone, have you considered one thing? The news of Wen Tianjun and Candlestick Lamp Master's calamity will soon spread across the starry sky. If Chongming Ancestor really has a problem and turmoil erupts in the Heavenly Court, could it set off a chain reaction?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Qinger, what are your thoughts?"
Bai Qinger said, "The Nether River and the Dark Hand have been suppressed in the White Clothes Valley. The reason the Nether Ancestor Faction and the Dark Anomaly haven't acted is partly due to the hidden game and partly because once someone attacks the White Clothes Valley, the Sword Realm will surely come to its aid. Even Hao Tian might rush over."
"Now, the Sword Realm has lost two Half-Ancestors and can only defend itself, while the Heavenly Court is too busy to care for itself."
"With such a golden opportunity, how could the Dark Anomaly not seize it?"
"If He can really hold back, we can use some methods to lure Him out."
"For example, now that Lord Imperial Dust is leaving the Abyss of Darkness defense line and heading to the southern universe, once turmoil truly erupts in the Heavenly Court, Heavenly Mother and Lady Shiji can immediately rush over."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze swept over Fengdu Dadi, Heavenly Mother, Lady Shiji, Xu Tian, and Shi Tian one by one. "I think this plan is feasible. Instead of painstakingly searching for Di and the Dark Anomaly, why not use this opportunity to lure them out? On our own turf, our chances of victory are always greater."
Shi Tian laughed. "As expected of Tian'er's daughter. This 'luring the enemy in' strategy, I think, is feasible."
Xu Tian continued to argue. "What if Chongming Ancestor has no problem and no turmoil erupts in the Heavenly Court?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Lady Shiji. "This plan is still feasible, but we need to borrow Di's head to calculate his hiding place and force them to attack proactively."
"Don't look at me. Haven't you already made your own arrangements? See? You sent that drunkard back to Tiannan Life-Death Ruins to be a mediator, didn't you?" Lady Shiji's eyes held a hint of resentment, with a somewhat coquettish expression.
"Absolutely not."
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the star domain where Tiannan Life-Death Ruins was located.
...
The Death God Sacrifice had begun!
Under the Time-Space Death God Tree, Qingtian had already bathed and burned incense, then knelt and prostrated himself in worship.
Under his lead, from the gods of Tiannan Life-Death Ruins to the various Yellow Mist Great Worlds and Death Spirit Planets of the Death Clan, all Death Clan cultivators knelt and prostrated themselves in worship.
The Death God Sacrifice required three thousand prostrations.
One prostration, one question to heaven: Where is Di?
"Where is Di?"
Qingtian's voice was hoarse but spread across the starry sea.
Countless trillions of Death Clan cultivators followed him in prostration, shouting the three words "Where is Di?"
"Where is Di?"
By the time Qingtian shouted the hundredth time, ripples of telekinetic power had already formed, continuously spreading into the universe.
The speed of propagation broke the rules of time and space, rapidly spreading throughout heaven and earth. The three words "Where is Di" could even be faintly heard in dreams or dazes by the beings of the Heavenly Court universe.
Zhang Ruochen found it somewhat unbelievable. "The Death Clan's Death telekinetic power has such a move? If they worship like this, they might be able to use telekinetic power to directly worship Di to death."
Xu Tian seemed to have long known about the Death God Sacrifice and said indifferently, "It's not 'might'; it's 'definitely can.' But since the Death God Sacrifice is called a sacrifice, it means one must pay a price. The greater the deed you want to accomplish, the greater the price you pay."
(Chapter End)