# Chapter 4076: Shaking All Sides
"He actually came from behind and walked ahead of everyone. Shouldn't the path of First-rank Divine Path be more difficult?"
Pan Yuan Ancient God stood atop the Pan Gu Realm, his expression complex. How could there not be a trace of envy in his heart?
Ancestor — that was the other shore they were all pursuing, and only they knew how difficult that step truly was. Zhang Ruochen had already become a divine peak before his eyes, impossible to surpass.
...
Heavenly Palace.
Xuanyuan Lian, Bian Zhuang War God, Zhao Gongming, Guang Mu War God, Zhuang Tai'a, Qing Yuyu... all the gods gathered, using divine thoughts to peer at the brilliant starlight in the deep void.
The Ancestor-level fluctuation triggered a tide of Heaven and Earth Rules.
Zhuang Tai'a sighed: "Everything is within my expectations. After eighty thousand years of seclusion, his cultivation has advanced further. He can even contend with Ancestors."
"You predicted all this? When one's cultivation reaches their level, advancing even a single step is extremely difficult. It's normal for one's realm to stagnate for an entire lifetime," Zhao Gongming said.
Zhuang Tai'a said: "But that is Imperial Dust. His life can be called a legend. How can he be compared to other cultivators?"
"Not 'can be called a legend' — he has already become a legend. Future generations will forever remember his name," Xuanyuan Lian said.
Zhao Gongming asked: "What do we do now? Imperial Dust can now be called the number one expert of the Heavenly Court, Sword Realm, and Hell Realm. Many relationships must be overturned and reestablished."
"I once harbored the intention to kill him. Now I only hope he is magnanimous, encompassing all things, and does not hold grudges for past offenses," Zhuang Tai'a said.
Everyone's gaze turned to Xuanyuan Lian.
Although, eighty thousand years ago, Xuanyuan Lian and Zhang Ruochen had a falling out and their relationship became strained, that was not her fault.
The two had deep friendship in the past. As long as Xuanyuan Lian could put aside the grudge in her heart, she was still the best envoy to go to Wuding Divine Sea.
Xuanyuan Lian said: "Must we go pay respects to him?"
Zhao Gongming advised: "This is the only Ancestor-level expert alive today. It has already shaken the universe. All sides will inevitably send heavyweight figures to offer congratulations. If the Heavenly Court sends no one, or if the person sent lacks sufficient status, who knows what the consequences might be? I've heard that Imperial Dust's temperament has changed greatly and he is not easy to get along with. Everyone, please don't spread this around."
Bian Zhuang's expression was solemn, containing both some displeasure and reverence for Ancestor-level power. He said: "If only Heavenly Venerable Hao Tian could step into the Ancestor realm!"
These words spoke the inner voice of everyone!
Half-Ancestor and Ancestor seemed to differ by only one realm, but in reality, the difference was like heaven and earth.
...
Yan Huanyu was in an excellent mood, saying: "Excellent! This era has finally given birth to a leader worthy of trust. Yu'er, go to Undying Divine City... no, this old man will go personally."
"Clan Leader, is such ceremony necessary?" Mi Tian War God asked.
Yan Huanyu's eyes sharpened, and he said earnestly: "When the day comes that the Yama Clan faces an extinction crisis and needs to request Imperial Dust's assistance, you will know whether it is necessary or not. To put it bluntly, he is now the Heavenly Venerable of this era, the sole honored one among the Heavens."
...
"Senior Brother has broken through his realm. When it comes to contending with Ancestors, those still stronger than him in this world can be counted on one hand! From now on, whether it's the God Realm or the Abyss of Darkness, who wouldn't give this Emperor some face?"
Blood Butcher laughed loudly and immediately rushed to the Destiny Temple, wanting to be the first to inform the Temple Master of this joyous news.
The Temple Master was surely still in seclusion and didn't yet know of this happy event.
...
Yan Land.
A Fuya walked out from inside a lush divine tree, barefoot with snow-white feet. Beneath her steps, colorful flowers bloomed, tender grass dripped with dew, green robes draped over her body, a jade belt cinched her waist. Her slender, graceful figure gave off a soft beauty that seemed as if one could hold it in a single hand.
Her features were exquisite, her gaze profound. She looked toward the star-filled void, sensing that awe-inspiring Ancestor-level power fluctuation.
And also...
that familiar aura.
"Contending with Yan Ancestor, even if his cultivation hasn't reached Ancestor, it's no different from Ancestor. Is the First Queen feeling fear and worry in her heart?"
Behind her, Yan Wushen appeared out of thin air.
His shoulders were broad, his figure straight as a peak. The black clothes he wore were covered in profound and mysterious patterns.
A Fuya did not turn around, saying calmly: "Ancestor is not so easily attained. It was the power of the Victory Crown that helped him. However, you are right — this is no different from Ancestor, because no one below Ancestor is his match anymore. You ask me if I feel fear and worry in my heart. What about you? Do you feel jealousy in your heart? Do you feel resentment? Do you feel pain from being far behind him?"
Yan Wushen said: "The First Queen is indeed someone who once reached the Ancestor level. Your state of mind is profound, not something this junior can compare to."
A Fuya slowly turned around, her slender jade fingers slowly rising. Life Qi extended outward invisibly, causing the surrounding flowers, grass, and trees to grow at a visible rate and give birth to spirituality.
One must know that A Fuya had merged with her own Ancestor corpse, and the death Qi within her body was very dense.
Being able to display the means of the Way of Life indicated that the corpse Qi and death Qi from the Ancestor corpse within her body had completely dissipated, and her cultivation had reached some unfathomable realm.
She said slowly: "We are actually the same kind of people! You don't think that by accepting Chi Kunlun as your disciple, you can truly be friends with Zhang Ruochen, do you? Enemies are forever enemies."
Yan Wushen said: "The consequences of betraying Zhang Ruochen have always been very tragic. But enemies — they may not necessarily end up tragically."
A Fuya nodded slightly, saying: "If you want to gain something, you must lose something. Since you chose to believe in Nether Ancestor, you must abandon everything from the past. In this era, those with divided loyalties often die the fastest."
"Has the First Queen ever seen Nether Ancestor? I have been curious about this for a long time," Yan Wushen asked.
A Fuya did not directly answer this question, saying: "I only know that since Zhang Ruochen possesses Ancestor-level strength, the confrontation between Nether Ancestor and the God Realm will soon erupt. If Zhang Ruochen stands on Nether Ancestor's side, our chances of victory will be greater. Conversely, our situation will be even more perilous than it is now."
Yan Wushen deliberately showed a surprised expression, saying: "The First Queen actually believes he might still stand on the same front as us?"
A Fuya said: "Zhang Ruochen is extremely intelligent. How could he be someone who acts on impulse? If he wants to accomplish anything, he will certainly not allow the God Realm to grow too powerful. In any case... we actually don't need to think too much about it. Everything will be decided by Nether Ancestor and Yan Ancestor."
"Yes, Zhang Ruochen is now a half-Ancestor-level figure. It's not our place to think about countermeasures."
Just as Yan Wushen was about to leave, he suddenly stopped and asked: "Is the First Queen also someone who wants to accomplish something?"
Amid laughter, Yan Wushen disappeared before A Fuya's eyes.
...
Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.
Zhuo Yunzhen and Qing Su stood on a mist-shrouded floating island, behind them rows of palaces and divine halls.
"Join the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom. Staying in the Sword Realm will have no future. Do you know how thoroughly an Ancestor's understanding of the various Dao methods in heaven and earth is? Listening to the Eternal True Ruler's lectures brings endless benefits. My cultivation has already caught up to yours. In the future, entering the God Realm to cultivate will only make my cultivation speed faster," Zhuo Yunzhen said.
Qing Su smiled and shook her head, saying: "You invited me to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom just to say this?"
Zhuo Yunzhen wore a veil covering her face, her arms wrapped in colorful ribbons, giving her a mysterious, ethereal aura. She said: "Every cultivator in the universe knows that when Gai Mian defected to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom back then, it was Imperial Dust's scheme to divert trouble eastward — using the Desolate Moon to trigger a confrontation between Ancestors."
"Does the True Ruler know this? The True Ruler knows."
"The True Ruler and the entire Eternal Heavenly Kingdom can tolerate all of this. Look now — does Gai Mian still want to return to the Sword Realm? Gai Mian is an extremely shrewd figure. He knows better than anyone that no place is safer than the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom, and the cultivation environment is better. People are all driven by profit!"
"As long as you come to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom, becoming the True Ruler's grand-disciple is not difficult. In the future, you will surely have a place among the Divine Martial Envoys."
Qing Su's smile faded, a hint of coldness appearing: "My master is Imperial Dust, the number one figure of this era. He has treated me with great kindness and care. Why would I abandon the light for the darkness and become someone else's grand-disciple?"
Zhuo Yunzhen thought Qing Su was negotiating terms, saying: "You don't mean to become an Ancestor's disciple, the fifth disciple of the True Ruler, do you? That is absolutely impossible! The True Ruler's four disciples — which one is not an extraordinary figure? Even the True Ruler's grand-disciples only number a little over a dozen."
Qing Su clearly did not want to continue this topic.
She and Zhuo Yunzhen had been close since childhood. So, upon receiving her invitation letter, she had come to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom for a visit.
Because of the friendship between Wen Tianjun and the Fourth Confucian Ancestor, the relationship between the Sword Realm and the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom had been fairly harmonious in recent years, with frequent exchanges between cultivators.
Qing Su asked: "After Divine Ancestor God Lord became the Eternal True Ruler's disciple, his cultivation must have advanced by leaps and bounds, right?"
"Did Imperial Dust send you to gather information? Does he care so much about Father God's cultivation progress?" Zhuo Yunzhen said.
Qing Su shook her head, saying: "Not at all! Given Master's realm and height, he wouldn't be so concerned about Divine Ancestor God Lord's cultivation progress. I'm just curious about the strength of the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and the Eternal True Ruler. Does an Ancestor have the ability to help Indestructible Infinite-level experts cultivate?"
Zhuo Yunzhen couldn't help but reveal a proud smile in her eyes, saying: "Father God has gone to cultivate in the God Realm. In the future, Heavenly Venerable-rank and Half-Ancestor are both achievable."
Her master was the True Ruler's third disciple, her father was the True Ruler's fourth disciple. Zhuo Yunzhen was as noble as a princess of the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom. The sense of superiority she had hidden for many years was only now slightly revealed.
Suddenly.
Zhuo Yunzhen and Qing Su both sensed something and simultaneously looked toward the Real World.
Zhuo Yunzhen wore a veil, so her expression was unclear, but her eyes revealed the shock in her heart: "The one who struck was truly Corpse Yan? How could Imperial Dust withstand an Ancestor's attack? Ancestors should be able to crush all those below them."
Qing Su was overjoyed, her beautiful eyes shimmering, saying: "Master must have already achieved Minor Derivation Perfection and crossed that most difficult step. From now on, he will be Dust Ancestor. Even Ancestors cannot do anything to him!"
Zhuo Yunzhen looked at Qing Su with a complex gaze, feeling that her earlier persuasion was too ridiculous.
If Zhang Ruochen truly possessed Ancestor-level combat power, he could sit on equal footing with the Eternal True Ruler. As his disciple, Qing Su's status in the universe would naturally rise accordingly.
Qing Su sensed Zhuo Yunzhen's gaze, and her excited emotions quickly calmed down. She said: "Yunzhen, I know you advised me to join the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom out of good intentions..."
"No need to say more! Since Imperial Dust's cultivation has greatly advanced and he can contend with Ancestors, I'll just treat what I said earlier as a joke," Zhuo Yunzhen said.
Qing Su didn't know what to say and only wanted to rush to Undying Divine City immediately. She said: "Yunzhen, my master and your master will inevitably have a battle in the future. The blood debt of the Kunlun Realm Zhang Family will definitely be settled. You must be mentally prepared. I'm leaving!"
...
"The Ghost Clan Clan Leader sends a divine medicine, Blood Crystal Dendrobium, one plant. May the Ancestor accept it with a smile."
"The Bone Clan Azure Robe God Venerable sends fifty Indestructible Bones, which can be used to refine divine armies."
"The Rakshasa Clan's Luo Sha Female Emperor sends a letter, to be opened personally by Imperial Dust."
"The Xuan Gu Nine-Eyed Dragon God is outside, apologizing, hoping to seek an audience with Imperial Dust to be forgiven for past offenses of offending him."
"The Fierce Terror Divine Palace Palace Master, Great Butcher War God Emperor, sends a hundred beauties from various clans, all Heavenly Proud Daughters of the younger generation."
...
In just one day, various forces of the Hell Realm sent heavyweight figures to deliver congratulatory gifts.
Ye You was extremely busy. Many gods who had previously been too lazy to even look at him now had to lower their heads three inches when meeting him, begging him to help deliver messages or present gifts.
Truly, when one person attains the Dao, even their chickens and dogs ascend to heaven. The identity of "Ancestor's Disciple" had only existed in historical ancient texts before. Ye You couldn't help but sigh — he had finally lived to become what he had dreamed of.
An Ancestor's disciple — even if not sitting on equal footing with the Heavens, surely sitting on equal footing with God Kings and God Venerables was not too much to claim, right?
Heavenly Mother, Green Deer God King, Undying War God, and Yan Huanyu, representing the Lower Three Clans and the Yama Clan, held a secret discussion with Zhang Ruochen in the Thunder Altar.
Ice Emperor, Blood Absolute Clan Leader, Mi Tian War God, Ni Xuan Bei Shi, and Yan Yu all stood at a distance, listening.
After an entire day of deliberation, it was finally decided that the core great worlds of the four clans would be moved to one location to jointly face the threat from Ancestors.
This time, Thunder Lord's attack and Corpse Yan's Ancestor-level grand talisman had been too dangerous. Relying on a single clan's strength alone could not withstand them.
After settling all this, Green Deer God King finally couldn't help asking: "Imperial Dust should now be at the Half-Ancestor realm, right?"
Zhang Ruochen sat on the highest divine throne, his aura involuntarily leaking outward. He said: "Who are you inquiring for? The Eternal True Ruler? Nether Ancestor? Or the Dark Lord?"
Green Deer God King was the reincarnation of Ancestor Ashura's remnant soul, by no means an ordinary figure. He was not intimidated by Zhang Ruochen's words, only pretending to be fearful and respectful, saying: "Imperial Dust must not wrong me! This old man's pursuit is to personally attain the Ancestor Dao, not to attach myself to anyone."
"Oh, is that so? What if I want you to attach yourself to me?" Zhang Ruochen said aggressively.
Green Deer God King gave a forced smile: "That would naturally be something I would seek but cannot obtain. However... the Shura Clan still needs someone to oversee it."
Heavenly Mother wore the Houtu Wedding Gown, a phoenix crown and rosy veil, her white hair hanging at her waist. With one hand behind her back, she stood alone by the window, facing away from everyone, looking at the endless stream of cultivators outside. She said: "I am watching him. He can't cause much trouble. Among the Lower Three Clans, I am the one who speaks."
Green Deer God King knew that Heavenly Mother's cultivation had become increasingly unfathomable in recent years, so he did not dare to argue. But he did mention: "I wonder who is stronger now between Imperial Dust and Heavenly Mother? Can the Houtu Wedding Gown compare to the Victory Crown?"
(Chapter End)