Chapter 4017: A Battle of Women
On the Life-and-Death Boundary Star, within the Divine Maiden Tower, there was singing and dancing.
Zhang Ruochen admired the graceful dancing of seven beautiful women before the hall, each with a slender figure. He drank wine as he spoke, "It's not too different from the initial deduction. The Extreme South Star Domain and the Extreme North Star Domain are being attacked simultaneously, intending to lure away the strong cultivators from the Abyss of Darkness defense line."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God sat to Zhang Ruochen's right, possessing a beauty that could topple cities and nations, and said, "The Dark Weirdness and Di have already made their move. It's very clear that the one attacking White Clothes Valley must be Qishier Pin Lian. To be blunt, Chan Bing is no match for her. Your plan to lure the snake out of its hole is far too risky!"
"Do I fear risk? The greater the risk, the greater the reward," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said coldly, "Qishier Pin Lian was born in White Clothes Valley. Planting an insider there would be a trivial matter for her. All the various defensive measures of White Clothes Valley are as good as nonexistent to her."
"Once the Nine Heavens Celestial World is breached and the Dark Hand emerges, White Clothes Valley will undoubtedly be the first to be reduced to scorched earth, and then the entire Abyss of Darkness defense line will be swept away. This most crucial link, your design is too weak. One slight misstep, and the entire game is lost."
Zhang Ruochen said, "If White Clothes Valley weren't weak enough, why would they make a move? Pour the wine."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God looked extremely reluctant but still picked up the wine jug and filled his cup.
Zhang Ruochen was not without worries.
His worries were not directed at people like the Dark Weirdness, but at the Primordial Beings of the Abyss of Darkness.
If the Twelve Primordial Clans were to launch an attack at this time, the situation would become several times more dangerous, and could potentially spiral out of control.
Although the four old clan kings of Gold, Water, Fire, and Earth were in place as backup, there were still six old clan kings afflicted with the consciousness curse who had not yet appeared, leaving significant variables.
Zhang Ruochen understood Yan Wushen. His actions were all aimed at creating greater chaos in the universe, seeking opportunities within that chaos.
What greater chaos could there be than the deployment of the Twelve Primordial Clans?
...
White Clothes Valley was a stream gorge, with cliffs on both sides covered in stone caves.
In the caves were either Buddha statues or demonic clay sculptures.
Green bamboos were planted on both sides of the stream, the water flowed swiftly, and a gentle breeze blew, making it a very pleasant place to live.
A graceful figure in white robes, her sleeves fluttering, walked along the ancient path by the stream, heading deeper into White Clothes Valley.
Arriving beside a thatched cottage at the foot of the cliff, she stopped, her beautiful eyes gazing at two stone tablets not far from the cottage.
One tablet was engraved with the words "Tomb of Kong Faning."
The other was a blank tablet.
With a wave of her hand, the two stone tablets exploded, turning into rubble and dust.
Chan Bing walked out of the thatched cottage, and a chill spread throughout the entire valley. "As expected, there is a traitor in White Clothes Valley."
Bai Zun turned around, calmly meeting Chan Bing's gaze, and said, "The Ice Ancestor is mistaken. I am loyal to the mistress of White Clothes Valley. How could I be called a traitor?"
Bai Zun, with white clothes and white hair, had pupils that were also white.
She was one of Yinsuetian's nominal disciples and had once been the most dazzling young cultivator of the Underworld Clan in an eon. Highly valued by Yinsuetian, she drifted on the Santu River for five thousand years, comprehending the "Santu Nether River" Dao method, a testament to her extraordinary talent.
In the last fifty thousand years, she had often gone to the Sword Realm to cultivate using the Sundial and had become a top-tier expert of White Clothes Valley, reaching the early stage of Great Unbound Infinite.
With such cultivation, it was natural for her to have access to the core secrets of the Abyss of Darkness defense line.
Chan Bing had no interest in debating with Bai Zun. "Faning, aren't you going to show yourself?" she said.
The third eye on her forehead opened, and a beam of time shot out from her pupil.
Bai Zun felt her body unable to move, completely locked down, as if her body and soul would be torn apart at any moment.
"Whoosh!"
The space rippled, and Qishier Pin Lian walked out of Bai Zun's Divine Realm World, forming a hand seal with one hand to neutralize Chan Bing's attack.
"You may go first," Qishier Pin Lian said.
Bai Zun clasped her hands in a bow, then walked deeper into White Clothes Valley.
Chan Bing did not try to stop her. Her spiritual awareness was completely locked onto Qishier Pin Lian. "You've changed. You've really changed. You are no longer the Faning I once knew."
Qishier Pin Lian said, "Aren't you the same? We both cultivate the Way of Time, so we should understand that nothing in the River of Time is eternal. Everything changes, including the human heart."
Chan Bing's gaze was cold and clear. "No matter how much you change, this is White Clothes Valley, the place where you grew up. Can you bear to destroy it with your own hands?"
Qishier Pin Lian gently shook her head. "I came only to take the Dark Lord's left hand. If you make way for me, White Clothes Valley will remain peaceful today."
"And if I don't?" Chan Bing said.
Qishier Pin Lian turned sideways, leaning against the cliff and looking up at the stone caves. The light of countless stars fell upon her face. "You are no match for me. Even if you fight to the death, in the end, White Clothes Valley will be the first to be destroyed. Why bother?"
"Clatter."
In the nearby stream, soldiers of the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army emerged from the water in rows, quickly surrounding Qishier Pin Lian.
Their armor was cold and dark, and the formation runes flowed.
Chan Bing stood at the front of the divine army, her aura sharp and fierce. "As long as I am here, you will not take that dark hand. If you insist on destroying White Clothes Valley, then we will all be buried here together. No one will leave alive."
Qishier Pin Lian could feel the determination to die in Chan Bing's aura. "Even with these remnants of the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army, you are still far from being my match. Why risk your life? What's the point?"
"Although you participated in erasing Luo Tuoluo's remnant soul, you have fused with Luo Tuoluo's Ancestor Body, Ancestor Divine Source, and Luo River. You are at least nine-tenths like her. The Dark Lord will certainly not kill you. If you submit to her, you could at least reach the Half-Ancestor realm in the future."
Chan Bing's heart was bleeding. She didn't want to listen any further.
"Whoosh!"
A vast, white cold air was released from her body, and the surrounding scene changed dramatically.
An endless ice plain appeared, with heavy snow falling. Only Chan Bing, Qishier Pin Lian, and the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army stood on the snowy ground.
A pair of colorful, thin cicada wings spread from Chan Bing's back. Her entire body was shrouded in Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules. "Come. Let me see exactly how much power you've gained by submitting to her."
Qishier Pin Lian naturally wouldn't waste time. The moment she said she would attack, she did.
"Whoosh!"
The Eight Aspects of the Nether Book manifested around her.
The sacred Nether Ancestor, the majestic Nether City, the boundless Nether Kingdom, the endless Nether Sea... all these Dharma aspects, along with her true body, broke through the clouds formed by Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules with irresistible force.
Chan Bing's brows furrowed slightly. She finally felt the gap in combat power between them, both at the Heavenly Venerable rank.
Even though she had absorbed Luo Tuoluo's Ancestor Divine Source, the rules and order she condensed were still shattered by Qishier Pin Lian like a whirlwind.
In the end, Luo Tuoluo had existed for too long, and the remaining power in the Ancestor Divine Source was not much.
Qishier Pin Lian's true body reached Chan Bing, and her right hand formed a Demon-Subduing Seal.
Her five fingers shone with golden light, and Buddha sounds resounded through heaven and earth.
"Crash."
Chan Bing struck out with both palms. The Luo River surged forth from her Divine Realm World, colliding with the Demon-Subduing Seal struck by Qishier Pin Lian.
The two forces were earth-shattering, continuously collapsing the ice world Chan Bing had manifested to protect White Clothes Valley.
Seeing that their power was about to affect White Clothes Valley, neither of them showed any intention of stopping.
The last trace of hope in Chan Bing's eyes vanished. With a deep snort, a white lotus seed appeared in the void behind her, and ripples of time and space continuously spread outward.
The lotus seed transformed into a Time-Space Chaos Lotus, releasing rings of white ripples.
Qishier Pin Lian's divine Qi suddenly became chaotic, her power and aura sharply decreasing. She was sent flying backward by the impact of the Luo River.
Chan Bing did not pursue. She raised her hand and held the Time-Space Chaos Lotus in her palm. "Do you still have the same confidence as before?"
After Qishier Pin Lian steadied herself, there was not a trace of panic in her eyes. "Di was severely wounded by Lady Shiji, and you are in control of the Time-Space Chaos Lotus. It seems you anticipated this battle long ago. Not bad. This is more like it!"
The battle intent and power of the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army all converged onto Chan Bing, and the ice world was re-condensed.
Chan Bing said, "The Time-Space Chaos Lotus is your greatest nemesis. You are destined to lose today. Surrender and come with me to see Kong Fannu. Don't keep making mistakes."
"What is wrong, and what is right? Do you get to decide?"
A seventy-two-petal lotus appeared beneath Qishier Pin Lian's feet. The lotus continuously released space rules, evolving into seventy-two worlds, blocking the power erupting from the Time-Space Chaos Lotus.
The ground and void of the ice world were covered in blooming lotuses, with a fragrant scent and Buddha light radiating in all directions.
The aura emanating from Qishier Pin Lian grew even stronger!
Chan Bing stared at the Dao method rules around Qishier Pin Lian. "How is this possible? You have already come this far at the Heavenly Venerable rank. You are probably only a step away from the Half-Ancestor realm."
Qishier Pin Lian had broken through to the Heavenly Venerable rank only a few tens of thousands of years ago, yet the cultivation realm she displayed now had left Chan Bing far behind.
Qishier Pin Lian said, "This is the power of the Dark Lord! Her comprehension of the Divine Dao and Heavenly Dao is unmatched in the world. Listening to her preach for a day is equivalent to a thousand years of self-enlightenment. If there were no benefits to be gained, why would so many cultivators follow her?"
"Chan Bing, now you should understand how ridiculous it is for you to ask me to surrender, right?"
A phoenix cry resounded through the ice world.
"Add me to the mix, and you won't be able to leave today, will you?"
Amidst the heavy snow, Feng Tian walked gracefully in a red dress, adding a touch of brilliant color to this pure white world.
She held the Auspicious Ruyi in her hand, the Gate of Destiny hovering above her head, and lightning flowed beneath her feet, as if she were riding a hundred thousand thunder dragons. The order of death and the rules of fate continuously encroached upon the domains of Qishier Pin Lian and Chan Bing, forming a tripartite standoff.
With the support of the Life Gate of the Fate Ancestor, the Ancestor Divine Source of the Fate Ancestor, and the Thunder Clan Ancestor Realm, after fifty thousand years of cultivation, Feng Tian's cultivation had also advanced by leaps and bounds.
She had achieved mastery in all twelve paths of fate and was just one step away from the Heavenly Venerable rank.
"Shua!"
Feng Tian's form flickered, appearing above the seventy-two-petal lotus world, and swung the Auspicious Ruyi.
Qishier Pin Lian used the "Exhaustive Penetration" of the Five Eyes and Six Divine Powers, easily neutralizing Feng Tian's full-force strike. Then, she used the Heavenly Eye Penetration, shooting a beam of Buddha light at the Gate of Destiny.
"Chop!"
Chan Bing, carrying the power of the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army, swung her arm like a divine blade, dispersing the Heavenly Eye Penetration.
"Rumble!"
The power of the Thunder Clan Ancestor Realm and the Time-Space Chaos Lotus, one from the front and one from the back, continuously battered the seventy-two lotus worlds beneath Qishier Pin Lian's feet.
Di's ambush at the Heavenly South Life-Death Wasteland made Qishier Pin Lian aware of the danger. She didn't want to waste any more time here. "Since you force my hand, don't blame me for going on a killing spree."
A terrifying, unparalleled Ancestor aura flew out from Qishier Pin Lian's body, spinning upward, twisting the space to an extreme degree.
At the center of the vortex was a "Nine-Headed Mark."
The nine heads were arranged in a ring, each with a different appearance. The rules and order they released were infinitely subtle and profound. Even the Thunder Clan Ancestor Realm and the Time-Space Chaos Lotus could not withstand it. The power of order pierced through the bodies of Chan Bing and Feng Tian.
It was the Ancestor Mark cultivated by the Nine-Headed Stone Man.
This mark contained unparalleled Ancestor power. It had once heavily injured Heavenly Mother, who was wearing the Houtu Wedding Gown, with a single strike.
Many people thought this Ancestor Mark had fallen into Hao Tian's hands.
In reality, this was not the case. It was only because, after Qishier Pin Lian seized the Nine-Headed Mark, Hao Tian was the only one who pursued her.
Everyone thought that with Hao Tian's cultivation, taking the Nine-Headed Mark from Qishier Pin Lian would be a simple matter. The truth was clearly not so. No one knew what exactly happened after Hao Tian caught up with Qishier Pin Lian.
...
Bai Zun arrived at the end of White Clothes Valley, standing beneath the Nine Heavens Celestial World, releasing a gray mist of death from her palm.
"Amitabha!"
Yanshu Chan Master, holding a Bodhi tree, walked out of the void and sighed. "The fighting among you women is truly tiresome. This poor monk originally did not want to get involved. But Benefactor Zhang said that if this poor monk cannot hold the Nine Heavens Celestial World, he will force me to return to secular life and marry and have children. Where is the justice in that?"
Bai Zun said, "White Clothes Valley has few people. The Chan Master should indeed return to secular life."
Yanshu Chan Master said, "Do you know why this poor monk gave Juemiao that name? It's because 'Jue' (extreme/absolute) is wonderful."
"Having suffered from the Withering Death Art, it is naturally 'extreme' that is wonderful. Now that the Withering Death Art has been resolved, the Chan Master should consider the future of White Clothes Valley," Bai Zun advised.
Yanshu Chan Master nodded, appearing to think seriously.
He was not thinking about Bai Zun's proposal, but whether he should change Juemiao Channu's name.
Bai Zun raised her arms, gray mist rising, and numerous Nether Rivers flowed within the mist. "Chan Master, you are no match for me. Step aside!"
Yanshu Chan Master snapped out of his thoughts, looking quite serious. "This poor monk simply does not like fighting. It does not mean he cannot fight."
Bai Zun said, "I have already reached Great Unbound Infinite."
"So what?" Yanshu Chan Master said.
Bai Zun's eyes narrowed. With a wave of her hand, the gray mist and Nether Rivers surged towards Yanshu Chan Master, continuously devouring the Buddha light emitted by the Bodhi tree.
Yanshu Chan Master chanted the Buddha's name, a ring of Buddha halos appearing behind his back. He pointed a finger forward.
Behind him, strands of Nine-Colored Chaos Divine Qi from the Nine Heavens Celestial World gathered onto his body and burst forth from his fingertip.
"Boom!"
The gray mist and Nether Rivers were all shattered.
Bai Zun let out a muffled groan. Various protective measures before her body exploded. Spitting white blood, she was sent flying backward, crashing heavily into the cliff face.
Yanshu Chan Master used the Bodhi tree to suppress the severely injured Bai Zun, its roots entangling her.
"Returning to secular life? That will never happen. Buddha is merciful. Good, good."