Chapter 4043: Burial Gold
The Third Elder had a pair of blue pupils, a body over two meters tall, a jade hair crown, and a handsome face, but his eyes contained a sinister aura. His spiritual power was not weak, reaching the eighty-seventh rank. After Qingtian died, he followed the final orders and was responsible for guarding the Death God Temple, once becoming the ruler of Tiannan Life-Death Ruins until the Seventh Elder emerged from seclusion. He could not see Zhang Ruochen standing before the Void Kun War God; the gap in spiritual power between them was too great.
The Void Kun War God remained calm, saying, "The Ancestor is inquiring about the Thunder Lord's situation."
The Third Elder did not suspect anything. He walked down the steps, wearing a slight smile with a hint of flattery, and took out a divine pill, handing it to the Void Kun War God. "This is the Time Light Pill, unique to Tiannan Life-Death Ruins. It can extend the life of an Indestructible Infinite by thirty thousand years, and a Great Unbound Infinite by half an eon."
Even the well-traveled Void Kun War God felt a surge of eagerness in his heart. He quickly took the Time Light Pill and carefully examined its authenticity. Realizing Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God were still nearby, the Void Kun War God immediately suppressed his excited emotions and said calmly, "The Third Elder gives me such a valuable gift; you must have a request, right?"
"War God, rest assured, it is nothing major." The Third Elder pondered for a moment before saying, "I heard that Old Seven and a large number of Destiny Temple gods were captured by the Ancestor and imprisoned. After all, we are fellow disciples..."
"You want to rescue them?" The Void Kun War God sneered, taking out the Time Light Pill but not returning it. "If you want to die, don't drag me into it."
The Third Elder shook his head repeatedly. "With my cultivation, how would I dare to rescue anyone in the Nether Kingdom? I just want to see him, perhaps I can persuade him to join Lord Nether Ancestor's side and welcome the new era after the Calamity of Quantities."
"Just meeting him is not difficult, since you have rendered great service." The Void Kun War God put the Time Light Pill back into his pocket. "But whether you can see him depends on the Ancestor's approval. After all, Feng Caiyi and some other Destiny Temple gods are on the run. Before everything is settled, the Ancestor certainly does not want any variables. Wait a moment, I will report for you."
The Third Elder clasped his hands and bowed. "Then thank you, War God."
The Void Kun War God transmitted with his divine thought: "Lord Imperial Dust, please take shelter in the Thunder Altar for a while. It can conceal your aura and heavenly secrets to a certain extent." Clearly, the Void Kun War God was very worried that Chongming Ancestor might detect something. A ninety-third-rank spiritual power was terrifying even across the entire universe. No matter how confident he was in Zhang Ruochen, he dared not take this risk.
Zhang Ruochen was already very interested in the Thunder Altar. He clasped his hands behind his back and walked in with Xiu Chen Heavenly God. He was not worried that the Void Kun War God would betray him, because as long as the Void Kun War God was smart enough, he should understand that Zhang Ruochen's Wuji Divine Dao, spiritual power, and Heart of Truth could perceive his transmissions with Chongming Ancestor. With Zhang Ruochen's strength, he could definitely kill him before Chongming Ancestor arrived.
Walking through the door, Zhang Ruochen finally understood why this Nether Tower was called "Thunder Altar." At the center of the Nether Tower's interior was a mountain-sized altar, shaped like a basin above and a furnace below. The altar was like the wells in other Nether Towers, connected to the depths of the Nether Kingdom, with an endless stream of Nether Fire surging out. The Nether soldiers and generals, after transporting the broken walls of the North Marsh Great Wall, threw them into the altar for refinement. Every quarter of an hour, a large amount of North Marsh Great Wall material melted.
"Is that... the Santu River?" Xiu Chen Heavenly God stared at the seventeen spatial rifts above the altar. From each spatial rift flowed a turbid, stinking great river. Countless bones and yin souls floated on the river surface, continuously pouring into the altar. "What are they doing?" Xiu Chen Heavenly God asked.
Zhang Ruochen, as if he had already seen through everything, said, "Nether Fire can only nourish souls, which is too slow. Connecting to the Santu River allows direct soul devouring. As long as one can withstand it, one can elevate their divine soul to a terrifying height in a short time. The Thunder Altar is a good place, perfectly suited for it. Perhaps it was a contingency plan left behind by it."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God had already sensed the powerful aura below the altar, his eyes filled with intense shock. "You mean it, the Thunder Lord?"
The Thunder Lord was one of the four great powerhouses under Nether Ancestor, who once joined Nether Ancestor in attacking the Abyss of Darkness and defeating the twelve ancient tribes. In the battle at Wuding Divine Sea, the Thunder Lord used his remnant soul to seize his former half-ancestor corpse and emerged, his combat power reaching the mid-stage of Indestructible Infinite, making him the strongest among the ancient powerhouses who had returned at that time. After the Thunder Clan was destroyed, the Thunder Lord was suppressed by Qingtian and brought back to Tiannan Life-Death Ruins along with the Heavenly Lord's Treasure Hall. Qingtian's original intention was to refine the Thunder Lord into a puppet war god to guard Tiannan. While he was alive, the Thunder Lord indeed could not cause any trouble. But once Qingtian died, everything changed.
Zhang Ruochen stepped onto the altar step by step, arriving at the edge of the altar mouth and looking down. Below, lightning intertwined, and thunderclaps rang out continuously. The broken walls of the North Marsh Great Wall, after being melted, condensed into drops of golden liquid. This golden substance was extremely scarce; only one drop could be refined from every ten thousand miles of the Great Wall. "So that's it. The North Marsh Great Wall actually contains Burial Gold," Zhang Ruochen murmured.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God asked, "Burial Gold? The Burial Gold of Zangjin Baihu? What kind of substance is this?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly. "It should be related to Zangjin Baihu's parents or ancestors. The Burial Gold substance refined from the North Marsh Great Wall is too pure. They are helping the Thunder Lord rebuild his half-ancestor body." The Thunder Lord was indeed a half-ancestor in the ancient times. His corpse was also a half-ancestor corpse. But after endless years, the essence of the half-ancestor corpse had already been lost, far inferior to the bodies of contemporary half-ancestors. Absorbing the Burial Gold substance was continuously restoring the strength of his half-ancestor body.
Zhang Ruochen somewhat understood why Shi Yan could break through to the Ancestor realm in this era. It was likely related to the Nether Kingdom, the Santu River, and the North Marsh Great Wall. As long as Nether Ancestor was willing, He could cultivate an Ancestor. Of course, the prerequisite was that this cultivator themselves had the potential to reach the Ancestor realm. After two great battles, eleven eons ago and four hundred thousand years ago, Nether Ancestor was weakened to the extreme. To deal with the God Realm, He certainly needed to cultivate a sufficiently powerful guardian. Shi Yan, Gong Nanfeng, the Nether Sea Spirit, and Gu Yanluo were all likely pieces He had set. However, after Nether Ancestor disappeared for many years, some pieces became uncontrollable once they grew powerful.
"One Shi Yan, one Nether Sea Spirit, and they are already so hard to deal with. If another Thunder Lord emerges, the threat is too great! Should we take this opportunity to eliminate the hidden danger?" Xiu Chen Heavenly God's killing intent was strong, feeling this was an excellent chance.
The Void Kun War God walked in and said, "Lord Imperial Dust, an opportunity has come! Chongming Ancestor has agreed to let the Third Elder enter the Wind Pavilion to visit the Seventh Elder and persuade him to surrender. The protective formation of the Wind Pavilion is ancient and mysterious, and with Teng Ancestor personally guarding it, no one can break in silently. I will accompany the Third Elder into the Wind Pavilion. Lord Imperial Dust only needs to hide in my divine realm world, and Teng Ancestor will definitely not detect anything. However, after this, I will certainly be exposed. Please, Lord Imperial Dust, take me out of the Nether Kingdom."
Zhang Ruochen walked down from the altar step by step. "That is natural! At that time, whether you want to go to the Sword Realm or return to the Heavenly Court Universe, it is entirely your choice. Of course, I hope you will come to the Sword Realm and help me."
"With Lord Imperial Dust's words, I am much more at ease!" The Void Kun War God laughed.
"However, Chongming Ancestor's move is somewhat abnormal..." Zhang Ruochen was about to continue when he saw a group of powerful cultivators walking in quickly. "I will enter your divine realm first." Zhang Ruochen pulled Xiu Chen Heavenly God, passed through the spatial barrier, and disappeared behind the Void Kun War God.
...
Houtu War God "Four Unlike," Phoenix Clan Leader "Feng Jiutian," Black Tortoise Clan Leader "Wu Zhen," Chongming Clan Leader "Xue Grandma," and more than a dozen ancient powerhouses and Nether generals of the demon clan at the Infinite level. The four at the front were all major figures from the former Southern Universe, direct subordinates of Chongming Ancestor. Over the years, whether they had gained benefits from the Demon Ancestor Ridge and the Nether Kingdom, or Yan Wushen had opened the Time Cauldron for them, their cultivation had all improved greatly.
The Void Kun War God said, "All of you come with such a grand formation; what is the matter?"
Feng Jiutian, with beauty no less than Peacock Heavenly Empress, had a graceful figure and skin as white as congealed fat, but her temperament was much colder, like an ice mountain heavenly maiden. "By the Ancestor's order, we are to take over the Thunder Altar. I heard the Void Kun War God is going to the Wind Pavilion. That place indeed needs more powerful cultivators to guard!"
The Void Kun War God immediately understood why Zhang Ruochen had said "Chongming Ancestor's move is abnormal." It was indeed too abnormal. The Third Elder was only going to visit the Seventh Elder, yet so many twists and turns were made, causing such a big commotion. It was completely unnecessary. The Void Kun War God said, "So many people are here to take over the Thunder Altar?"
Wu Zhen, half-human, half-beast, with a tortoise shell on his back and a dragon-snake coiled around his neck, had a fiery temper. "I heard the Void Kun War God found an ancient well containing the blood of an Immortal. Can we have a look?"
The ancient demon gods of the Chaos Era, like Fei Ma Wang, were preserved in the blood of Immortals, surviving from over ten million years ago to the present. An eon ago, the ancient demon gods collectively emerged at the North Marsh Great Wall. Although they were almost completely wiped out, some Immortal blood remained scattered across the North Marsh Great Wall. Who wouldn't covet this blood?
"Your information is quite well-informed. Who told you?" the Void Kun War God said.
Four Unlike was a disciple of Chongming Ancestor and had received many benefits, now reaching the peak of Great Unbound Infinite. "In the North Marsh Great Wall, what can be hidden from the Ancestor?"
The Void Kun War God's eyes turned cold. "Did the Ancestor send you?"
Xue Grandma said, "The Ancestor said he cultivates spiritual power and has no use for Immortal blood. But with so much blood, the Void Kun War God cannot absorb it all. He can share it with everyone. Perhaps, in a few tens of thousands of years, one of us might break through to Indestructible." Xue Grandma was Chongming Ancestor's granddaughter; her words almost represented Chongming Ancestor's will.
The Void Kun War God opened his long, pointed mouth, laughing like a rooster crowing, then his expression turned stern. "So you all came to snatch the Immortal blood? Haha, just you? Unless the Ancestor comes in person, no one will take a single drop of blood from me today."
Feng Jiutian said, "The War God indeed has great courage, worthy of being an Indestructible Infinite. But what is an Indestructible Infinite before a half-ancestor?"
The Void Kun War God lowered his chicken head. "Feng Jiutian, don't think that just because you have gained Ba'er's favor, you have a backer. Ba'er only made you a substitute after failing with A Fuya, a mere plaything. And you call yourself the Phoenix Clan Leader? Not a shred of the pride a phoenix should have. Look at Feng Caiyi; that is what a phoenix should be. Honestly, you are not even as good as this rooster!"
Feng Jiutian's face turned pale with anger, unable to maintain her cold demeanor. She struck out with a palm.
"Bang!"
The Void Kun War God spread his wings, stirring up waves of rule divine patterns, sending Feng Jiutian flying. Then, he strode out of the Thunder Altar, leaving behind a solitary, towering rooster silhouette. "Borrowing anyone's power is just a flower in a mirror, a moon in the water. Only one's own strength truly makes one speak with authority. The Ancestor and Ba'er are indeed powerful, but I am an Indestructible Infinite. How can you bully me?"
An Indestructible Infinite was extremely rare anywhere and could stand on their own. Although Ba'er and Chongming Ancestor held high positions in the Nether Ancestor faction, they were not the ones who could make arbitrary decisions. If they wanted to move against an ordinary cultivator, that was one thing, but moving against an Indestructible Infinite still required considering the attitudes of Shi Yan and the Nether Sea Spirit. After all, facing the God Realm's recruitment, the Nether Ancestor faction was under no small pressure. In times of need, how could they cause internal chaos?
The Void Kun War God and the Third Elder traveled together to the Wind Pavilion.
In the divine realm world, Xiu Chen Heavenly God sowed discord. "These people, using Chongming Ancestor and Ba'er's banner, are too bullying. The War God is an Indestructible Infinite. If they carve up the Immortal blood like this, how can you still stand in the Nether Kingdom?"
"I never intended to go along with the Nether Ancestor faction. Lord Imperial Dust knows my heart." The Void Kun War God then asked, "May I ask Lord Imperial Dust, what do you find abnormal?"
"You noticed it too?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The Void Kun War God said, "I only felt something was wrong when I saw those people coming to the Thunder Altar together."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Just now, Chongming Ancestor's granddaughter said that Chongming Ancestor cultivates spiritual power and is not interested in Immortal blood."
"I don't quite believe that," the Void Kun War God said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "You can believe half of it. Chongming Ancestor is not uninterested in Immortal blood, but now he has something he is more interested in."
Able to cultivate to Indestructible Infinite and lurk under Chongming Ancestor for so long, the Void Kun War God was far from stupid. He instantly understood. "You mean Chongming Ancestor's target is the Seventh Elder imprisoned in the Wind Pavilion?"
"The Seventh Elder inherited Qingtian's spiritual power, but has not fully digested it yet. However, for Chongming Ancestor, this is fatally attractive. It is a spiritual power medicine that might help him break through to the ninety-fourth rank." Zhang Ruochen continued, "But how could the Nether Sea Spirit not be interested in the Seventh Elder? Why would it be Chongming Ancestor's turn? Chongming Ancestor can only take advantage of the Nether Sea Spirit's absence, using the Third Elder's visit to the Wind Pavilion as an opportunity to capture the Seventh Elder. Of course, in the end, the one who takes the blame and gets killed will definitely be you. The Third Elder might share half the blame."
The Void Kun War God was so shocked his comb stood upright. He cursed, "That old bastard, if he ever falls into my hands, I will peck him to death."
As if confirming Zhang Ruochen's guess, Four Unlike caught up from behind. "War God, wait. It was all a misunderstanding earlier. We just wanted to see the Immortal blood, never intended to take it."
The Void Kun War God said indifferently, "I understand. Go back."
"It's on the way. I need to go to the Wind Pavilion too," Four Unlike said.
The Void Kun War God was so startled he almost jumped. His heart could not calm down. He felt that Chongming Ancestor was hiding in Four Unlike's divine realm world.
(End of Chapter)