Chapter 4088: The Ancestor Arrives
“Do you intend to fight all of us alone?” Yan Wushen asked.
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Heavenly Demon Stone Knife, holding the blade in one hand and a sword in the other, gazing proudly at the assembled powerhouses within the city. “What harm is there in trying?”
“Roar!”
The old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan, resembling a giant ape, leaped with a single bound and landed at the city gate. She raised her head and let out a long howl, her pupils turning golden as two beams of light shot forth.
Under the influence of the conscious curse, she was not in her right mind, her emotions highly frenzied.
Yet, she still possessed intelligence.
Her action was meant to seal the city gate, preventing Zhang Ruochen from breaking it open from the inside out.
After all, outside the city were Chi Yao, Zangjin Baihu, Ancestor God, Immortal Musician, and the old clan emperor of the Primordial Path Clan—all top-tier experts. If they all entered the city, today’s battle would hold no chance of victory for them.
Conversely, Zhang Ruochen had charged alone into the Nether City, deep in enemy territory, outnumbered and isolated. No matter how strong he was, escaping suppression would be difficult.
With the eight supreme powerhouses joining forces and leveraging the might of the Nether City, they could even contend with an Ancestor.
At the same time, the old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan was also tying down Zhang Ruochen, buying time for the others to activate the ancestral qi and formations within the Nether City.
“Shush!”
Yan Wushen, A Fuya, Divine Musician, the old clan emperor of the Primordial Beginning, the old clan emperor of the Primordial Chaos, and even the old clan emperor of the Heavenly Mechanism, whose divine body had been reconstituted, swiftly moved to various positions within the Nether City.
Yan Wushen and the Swastika Azure Dragon landed on a desolate patch of black mud within the Nether City.
Here, nothing grew, barren and empty.
Only the faint outlines of distant ancient structures could be seen.
Yan Wushen set down a bronze ancient cauldron the size of a wine cup, which instantly transformed into a cauldron several zhang tall, its legs sinking into the black mud.
On the cauldron’s surface, runic patterns flickered. Immediately, rings of formation inscriptions imbued with ancestral dao resonance spread outward, and a bright pillar of light erupted from the cauldron’s mouth, shooting straight up through the nether clouds in the sky.
“Boom!”
The Heavenly Demon Stone Knife streaked through the air, piercing through layers of formation barriers, aimed directly at Yan Wushen’s brow.
It was blocked by the pillar of light, the blade trembling within it.
“The old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan is a half-ancestor—defeated so quickly?” Yan Wushen muttered to himself.
The Swastika Azure Dragon swam through the space behind him, countless swastika symbols dense as stars, saying, “With the Victory Crown upon him, he is invincible beneath the Ancestor realm.”
Before the words faded, Zhang Ruochen’s figure appeared opposite the bronze ancient cauldron.
He walked forward step by step, holding the Abyssal Divine Sword, and said, “Brother Wushen, could you gift me this Universe Cauldron?”
The blade of the Abyssal Divine Sword dripped with blood—the blood of the old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan.
Yan Wushen’s heart sank to the depths, but he still laughed heartily, “So Brother Ruochen wants the cauldron? I thought you were after my life. Take it if you can!”
“Whoosh!”
A sudden gale arose, shaking the ground.
From the southeast of the Nether City, the Primordial Beginning Divine Sword descended.
The old clan emperor of the Primordial Beginning stood atop a nether well, bathed in ancestral nether qi, his strength and aura surging severalfold as he controlled the sword with his qi.
At this moment, not only was the power of the Nether City bestowed upon him, but the strength of the other experts within the city was also partially transferred to him through the ancestral formation.
The old clan emperor of the Primordial Beginning was originally the weakest among the eight powerhouses, but this strike unleashed a half-ancestor-level might.
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly, not expecting the Nether City to be so profound—it was essentially a combined attack battle formation, linking their powers together.
When one moved, all moved together.
More critically, it was difficult to break their combined link, as it was the work of an Ancestor.
“Bang!”
Raising the Abyssal Sword to block the Primordial Beginning Divine Sword, Zhang Ruochen’s peripheral vision caught movement to his left.
There, the Primordial Chaos Battle Axe cleaved out from space just a few zhang away. The axe blade was icy cold, carrying a power that could destroy all matter in the world—a force of breaking the dao.
Its power surpassed even the Primordial Beginning Divine Sword.
Zhang Ruochen snorted heavily, retreating, and directly collided with the Primordial Chaos Battle Axe.
Radiant divine light erupted from his body, beams of brilliance flaring out, sending the Primordial Chaos Battle Axe flying.
“Boom!”
The Hongtian Arrow struck Zhang Ruochen’s chest, tearing his robes and sinking its arrowhead into his flesh.
Zhang Ruochen’s hand, clad in the Qilin Fist Gloves, tightly grasped the Hongtian Arrow. Otherwise, this arrow would have pierced through his body.
The power of this arrow was no less than a full-force strike from a quasi-ancestor.
The Hongtian Arrow, renowned through the ages, did not merely wound the physical body—it could extinguish a cultivator’s indestructible matter and divine soul.
A Fuya, surrounded by a rain of light, slender and graceful, stood atop a grand hall at the center of the Nether City. Her brow radiated ancestral divine radiance, drawing forth streaks of killing nether light that slashed toward Zhang Ruochen.
Meanwhile, the old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan, her wounds healed, rejoined the Nether City battle formation. She bore the array plates of thirteen ancestral divine formations on her back, like thirteen divine lights protecting her body, and charged again.
Yan Wushen struck the Universe Cauldron heavily with his palm, sending a sea of time imprint light spreading out, crashing into Zhang Ruochen.
He said, “Brother Ruochen, you underestimate your opponents. Alone, none of us can withstand more than a few of your moves. But with the Nether City’s aid, we can even battle an Eternal True Ruler. You shouldn’t have entered the city alone!”
The Nether City was clearly more formidable than the Hundred Flags Chaos Diagram. While it might not allow them to fight an Ancestor as Yan Wushen claimed, it could overwhelm any cultivator beneath the Ancestor realm.
Zhang Ruochen stood in the sea of time imprint light, as if treading on a vast ocean, and said calmly, “You are indeed all top-tier experts, hard to deal with. But if you all fall here, wouldn’t the Nether Ancestor faction cease to exist?”
As he spoke, the old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan reached him, her five fingers spread wide, each as large as a palm leaf.
Her palm strike descended.
Zhang Ruochen did not meet it head-on. He shifted his form, appearing above the old clan emperor, and swung his sword.
“Bang!”
The war sword failed to break through the thirteen ancestral divine formation array plates on the old clan emperor’s body, but it still sent her crashing to the ground, creating a deep pit.
...
Ancestor God, Immortal Musician, and the old clan emperor of the Primordial Path Clan stopped several hundred li from the Nether City.
Beyond this point, ancestral divine patterns and nether qi grew dense, and they might even contract the curse.
Involving the Nether Ancestor and Corpse Nightmare, even with their Heavenly Venerable-level cultivation, they had to be cautious.
“The Nether City is the core part of the Nether Ancestor’s ancestral realm. Refined by Corpse Nightmare, it can definitely trap and kill half-ancestors.”
“The eight powerhouses inside the Nether City are at least at the Heavenly Venerable level. United, they can sweep across the universe.”
“Breaking in from the outside will be difficult.”
The old clan emperor of the Primordial Path Clan hurled the Radiant War Halberd, but as it struck the city wall, it was immediately wrapped in layers of nether qi. All its power was neutralized, and it clattered to the ground.
“I’ll clear the path!”
Chi Yao combined her power with Zangjin Baihu, stepping on chaotic divine light, fearlessly walking toward the Nether City’s gate.
As she neared the gate, a “Myriad Forms Formless Seal” appeared on it.
It was left by Zhang Ruochen earlier.
“Boom!”
The gate shattered.
Entering the city, Chi Yao leaped onto Zangjin Baihu’s back, pointing her sword at A Fuya.
“Bang, bang!”
Zangjin Baihu stepped on rings of golden light, carrying Chi Yao straight toward the heart of the Nether City.
Immortal Musician, Ancestor God, and the old clan emperor of the Primordial Path Clan entered the city, each locking onto an opponent, charging at Divine Musician, the old clan emperor of the Heavenly Mechanism, and the old clan emperor of the Primordial Beginning.
With these four powerhouses tied down, the ancestral formation within the Nether City was effectively split. The old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan and Yan Wushen’s combat power plummeted, making it difficult to contend with Zhang Ruochen.
“Puchi!”
The thirteen ancestral divine formation array plates were shattered by Zhang Ruochen’s sword.
The Abyssal Divine Sword pierced through the old clan emperor of the Chaos Clan’s waist, cutting her in two.
Yan Wushen, holding the Universe Cauldron, retreated rapidly.
“Clang!”
Zhang Ruochen struck with the Sundial, sending the Universe Cauldron, along with Yan Wushen and the Swastika Azure Dragon, crashing through the Nether City and into the pitch-black, boundless Void World.
Half an hour later.
The eight powerhouses of the Nether Ancestor faction were completely routed, fleeing the Nether City.
A Fuya spread her elven wings, like a flame of light, moving faster than light, vanishing from Zhang Ruochen’s sight as she headed straight for the Divine Wood Nest.
She intended to seize the opportunity to break into the Ancient God Nest.
“Where do you think you’re going, First Queen?”
Zhang Ruochen’s voice came from all directions in the starry sky.
Immediately, space rapidly contracted, and various forces collapsed inward.
A Fuya, having reached the half-ancestor realm, was not so easily trapped. She executed a marvelous divine ability, breaking the spatial seal. But as she escaped from the space, she found herself back in the Nether City.
In the domain of space, she was clearly outmatched by Zhang Ruochen.
This time, only she remained in the Nether City.
Zhang Ruochen stood opposite her.
Behind him was Chi Yao.
Chi Yao, protected by the Chaotic Divine River, appeared elegant and natural, saying, “When the First Queen betrayed the Sword Realm back then, did you foresee today’s outcome?”
A Fuya’s eyes were calm as still water, gazing at the poised Zhang Ruochen across from her, and said, “For Empress Chi Yao to describe me with the word ‘betrayal’ is to underestimate me. For I never submitted to the Sword Realm, nor will I submit to anyone.”
“Truly proud and aloof. The First Queen is indeed a heroine among women, rare through the ages.”
Zhang Ruochen wasted no words. He raised his sword and slashed through the air, drawing a bright vertical line.
This strike contained power and sword intent sufficient to lock onto a half-ancestor, sealing off space.
Even with A Fuya’s ancestral divine body and boundless divine power, she could not escape.
She could only meet it head-on.
“Whoosh!”
The Abyssal Divine Sword halted above A Fuya’s head.
Zhang Ruochen exerted immense force, but could not press it down any further.
It was a force of order, transcending the rules of heaven and earth, blocking the space between the Abyssal Divine Sword and A Fuya, dissolving Zhang Ruochen’s absolute power into nothingness.
Such a method was astonishing.
The dao technique was exquisite, profound, and heaven-reaching.
Only an Ancestor in person could achieve this.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his sword, a look of wariness appearing in his eyes, as if every passing breeze carried infinite killing intent. He said, “Since the Ancestor has arrived, why not show yourself?”
“Bang!”
In midair above the Nether City, a large expanse of space shattered.
Nether mist spread, and an aura vast and awe-inspiring surged forth, as if the heavens had opened an eye.
Within the eye-like spatial hole, the Star Sea Angler stood at the bow of a boat, his hair streaked with gray, appearing aged and frail, yet exuding an air of extraordinary distinction.
He sighed, “Ruochen’s cultivation speed is truly remarkable. Across the three realms of the universe, those who can still surpass you can be counted on one hand.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Senior, why have you aged so much?”
“Everyone grows old, everyone walks toward the end of death. Even an Ancestor cannot escape this,” the Star Sea Angler said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Not necessarily. The Eternal Undying One is an exception. For instance, the Nether Ancestor.”
“The Eternal Undying Art is not so easy to cultivate.”
The Star Sea Angler gently shook his head, smiling, “Ask the First Queen—despite obtaining the complete Undying Curse Art, can she truly be undying?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at A Fuya and said, “This only proves that the Undying Curse Art is not the true Eternal Undying Art. The Nether Ancestor would never pass on the real Eternal Undying Art to anyone.”
Who didn’t desire eternal life?
At Corpse Nightmare’s level of cultivation, the only thing left to pursue was immortality, coexistence with the heavens.
Zhang Ruochen said, “With senior’s Ancestor realm, you could stand as an equal to the Nether Ancestor. Why not go and demand the true Eternal Undying Art from Him? When the Great Calamity arrives, at least you’ll have an extra guarantee of survival.”
The Star Sea Angler stroked his beard and laughed heartily, “Is Ruochen trying to sow discord?”
“No. I simply feel it’s not worth it for senior. As an Ancestor, you could dominate all things and command all beings. Yet now, you can only rely on the Nether Ancestor, neither truly honored nor noble. How stifling.”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “If I one day become an Ancestor, I will first suppress the Nether Ancestor, seize the Eternal Undying Art, and from then on be eternal, undying through the calamities. Wouldn’t that be satisfying?”
The Star Sea Angler shook his head without speaking, then said, “Since Ruochen has such ambition, why not join forces with me? Let us first raze the Eternal Kingdom and capture the Eternal True Ruler. He has lived for nearly ten million years, his lifespan far exceeding that of an Ancestor. He must have obtained the Eternal Undying Art.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred, and he said, “I have already met the Eternal True Ruler. He told me that the God Realm has no Eternal Undying One.”
“Do you believe that?” the Star Sea Angler asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Not entirely. So I wish to ask senior—is this true?”
“If the God Realm had no Eternal Undying One, how could it contend with the Nether Ancestor? Why would I regard them as my greatest opponents? Ah, Ruochen, I warned you long ago—the Confucian path of the Kunlun Realm is a bunch of hypocrites. You must never trust them,” the Star Sea Angler said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded thoughtfully and said, “Senior’s proposal is excellent. The Eternal True Ruler taking the Seventy-Two Lotus as a disciple is indeed infuriating. Let us go to the Colorless Realm now, raze the Heavenly Kingdom, and suppress him.”
Beside him, A Fuya’s melodious voice rang out, “Imperial Dust is not going to the Colorless Realm. He intends to lure away Nightmare Ancestor to protect the Ancient God Nest.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I, this Emperor, always keep my word. Why does the First Queen doubt me? Do not judge others by your own standards—going back on your word is your style.”
“I am a woman, after all. How many women don’t deceive?” A Fuya said.
Yan Wushen, stepping on the Azure Dragon, returned and said loudly, “Imperial Dust, why not release the First Queen first and then withdraw from the Nether City? Let us carefully discuss a complete plan. Attacking the Eternal Kingdom is no small matter—it must be deliberated at length.”
Having secured the Nether City, how could Zhang Ruochen give it back?
This was the final link in his breakthrough to the half-ancestor realm!
Only by comprehending the Nether Ancestor’s ancestral dao contained within the Nether City could he ignite the fortieth cluster of dao light and achieve Minor Derivation Perfection.
Zhang Ruochen said, “What if I refuse to release her?”
“Then Ruochen shows no sincerity at all,” the Star Sea Angler said, as if losing patience.
In that instant, all matter and rules within the entire starfield came to a halt.
The aura of an Ancestor filled heaven and earth.