# Chapter 4133: Nether Ancestor's Purpose
That giant beast was called Diting, with a tiger's head and a dragon's body, its scales a yellowish-brown color.
Although it did not emit any power fluctuations, who would dare underestimate the mount of an Ancestor?
Gandharva was still dressed in plain cloth, her white hair like silver threads, but she no longer held the black wooden staff, nor did she appear decrepit and aged. Instead, she carried a heroic spirit that only a young woman would possess.
Only, she no longer had a youthful appearance. It could be imagined that the young Meng Weiyang was likely a remarkable woman like Qiangu Nüdi or Bai Qinger—peerlessly elegant, with extraordinary talent.
She was fortunate, relying on the Gray Sea to cultivate to the peak of the ninety-fourth rank, only one step away from becoming a Spiritual Power Ancestor, reaching a realm that countless gods dream of.
She was also unfortunate, guarding the Gray Sea for over a million years, exhausting her beauty, her black hair turning white, her former stunning visage gone, unable to wait for King Kṣitigarbha to return to lay life, only waiting for the Entropy Radiance to fulfill her promise to the Sixth Patriarch from long ago.
Did the feelings of the past still remain?
When lovers meet, can they still express their longing for each other?
After over a million years, the people who were once most familiar had long since changed beyond recognition, existing only in memory.
The most infatuated love of that year was like every sunset and evening glow seen in youth—no matter how brilliant they were then, how plain they are now.
Everyone had grown old, lacking the fervor of youth, lacking the impulse to embrace and kiss, and even lacking the emotion to hold hands and gaze at each other with tear-filled eyes.
One had entered deeply into Buddhism, the other had sunk deeply into evil.
Neither could go back!
Waiting was the most foolish choice in this world, the root of all missed opportunities.
Because after that time passed, the person was no longer the same person, their state of mind and thoughts might have become completely different.
The people present kept shifting their gazes between King Kṣitigarbha and Gandharva.
But the calmest ones present were actually the two of them. King Kṣitigarbha and Gandharva were like old friends who hadn't seen each other for many years, naturally fitting each other's aura without needing any extra pleasantries.
Yet that was all.
Guarding the mountain of love was not guarding love, but guarding the obsession in one's heart, the regret for the past, guarding the young self that had already passed away.
Shang Tian broke the strange atmosphere, saying: "You say that at the end of the Middle Ages, Fanxin escaped from the Life and Death Realm and left the Gray Sea? If so, you should have sent a message to King Kṣitigarbha at that time. Why did you wait until now, hundreds of thousands of years later?"
Meng Naihe said: "The Nether Ancestor escaped the Life and Death Realm during the Entropy Radiance. This shows that the power of the Entropy Radiance likely weakens the seal of the Life and Death Realm."
"It can be seen that when Fanxin made the Entropy Radiance pact with the Sixth Patriarch back then, they were planning to break free when the Entropy Radiance occurred."
"But Fanxin never expected that in ten eons, the Nether Ancestor would be severely wounded three times in succession, allowing them to break free ahead of time. This was a variable. Since the variable occurred, there should have been a contingency plan!"
The Nether Ancestor's three severe wounds over ten eons were:
(Let me briefly organize the timeline previously written for easy reading.)
This battle occurred ten eons before Zhang Ruochen's birth, belonging to the ancient era.
This great melee had a decisive effect, directly severely wounding the Nether Ancestor's origin, sending them to a future a million years later. This meant the Nether Ancestor disappeared from heaven and earth for a million years.
Many of the Nether Ancestor's arrangements, such as "Kong Fanni and Ling Yanzi's Withering Death Art curse," "subduing the Mother of Weak Water," "cultivating Lei Fa Heavenly Venerable, Gu Yanluo, and Shi Yan," were all completed before this battle.
Clearly, before the battle broke out, they had an ominous premonition.
It was truly possible to know the general outline of great matters and have an alertness about life and death.
The meeting between the Sixth Patriarch and Fanxin occurred after the Nether Ancestor's defeat.
Based on Zhang Ruochen's observations after faking his death, going to Qiyu, and entering the Void Cauldron, he made this speculation. After the Nether Ancestor was further severely wounded by the Twenty-Four Heavens in the Void Exhaust Sea, they hid within Qiyu, recuperating in the Void Cauldron.
Because a large amount of Nether Mist remained in the Void Cauldron.
Moreover, the dual superimposition of Qiyu and the Void Cauldron was enough to deceive an Ancestor's perception. Where else in the world could such a safe hiding place be found?
This battle marked the end of the ancient era and the beginning of the Middle Ages.
With the Nether Ancestor's arrangements before going into seclusion to heal, the Quantity Organization stepped onto the historical stage. Under their covert manipulation, the war between the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm, lasting two hundred thousand years, officially broke out.
These two hundred thousand years were the Middle Ages.
The Middle Ages were brief but magnificent.
The Nether Ancestor's injuries somewhat recovered, and they launched the Minor Calamity.
This time, it was the God Realm that severely wounded the Nether Ancestor.
The three-month Minor Calamity made cultivators from all major worlds panic, completely unaware that behind it was a battle between the top beings of the universe.
They only knew their own insignificance, only knew that before the calamity, one major world after another turned to ashes, utterly powerless to resist.
Therefore, the Kunlun Realm activated the Sundial, entering the great cultivation era of "one day in heaven, one year on earth," which subsequently brought about the calamity of their world's destruction.
This was a microcosm of the ultimate battle between the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm!
In the ultimate battle, countless died on both sides, gods fell, and even the Holy Clan was exterminated.
Neither side could hold on anymore!
So they ceased hostilities, and the Middle Ages came to an end.
The Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm began to recuperate, until one hundred thousand years later, when Zhang Ruochen was born, and the Kunlun Realm rose again.
Zhang Ruochen pondered silently, occasionally looking at...
It really was...
Although in the Wuding Divine Sea...
Furthermore, if the Nether Ancestor was defeated by the God Realm when launching the Minor Calamity and then sealed in the Life and Death Realm by Fanxin, then who used the Candle Blood Curse to curse and kill the Holy Clan members?
After all, from the Nether Ancestor's defeat to the Holy Clan's blood extermination, at least several hundred years, possibly even a thousand years, had passed.
When the Star Sea Angler's identity was exposed, Zhang Ruochen and Bai Qinger had speculated together. They believed that the Candle Blood Curse cursing the Holy Clan was likely the Nether Ancestor's decree, with Shi Yan as the executor.
To hide his identity, Shi Yan had killed the Old Woodcutter's entire family, seized the Old Woodcutter's identity, and even accepted the Old Woodcutter as a disciple. He was a figure with great means.
Facing the doubts of Shang Tian and Meng Naihe, Gandharva remained very calm.
After all, having been in the Gray Sea for so long, who knew if she had already changed her heart?
Such concerns were normal.
However, Zhang Ruochen had considerable confidence in Gandharva, because he trusted the Sixth Patriarch, trusted that the Sixth Patriarch wouldn't misjudge.
The Sixth Patriarch had once placed his hopes on Xumi Saint Monk, and Xumi Saint Monk had placed his hopes on Zhang Ruochen. Between them, there was a spiritual inheritance.
Gandharva said: "Fanxin and the Nether Ancestor are actually the same person. Without strong cultivation as support, could I fully trust them?"
Everything the Nether Ancestor did was for immortality. Didn't Fanxin also want immortality?
"When Fanxin emerged, my Spiritual Power had only just reached the ninety-third rank. I couldn't even be sure whether they were Fanxin or the Nether Ancestor."
King Kṣitigarbha smiled and said: "The Sixth Patriarch once said that the Entropy Radiance pact was both a hope and possibly a trap. One's own cultivation and strength are the foundation for dealing with all crises. Placing hope in others is like completely handing over one's life and death to others."
Zhang Ruochen asked: "Since Fanxin met Miss Meng, they must have said something. Has Miss Meng ever seen their true appearance? Do you know where they went?"
Many people turned to look.
This old Daoist was definitely not serious when he was young!
Among the women of the Meng family, there wasn't a single one he didn't call "Miss."
King Kṣitigarbha and Gandharva hadn't seen each other for over a million years, and he didn't address Gandharva as "Miss Meng" like he did when young, but you, an old Daoist, are calling her that!
Wasn't this somewhat flirtatious?
Zhang Ruochen wanted to teach these unromantic old fellows. Even if King Kṣitigarbha and Gandharva were restrained, they were lovers when young. Now that they were old and reunited, even just to set the atmosphere, they should call her "Miss Meng" to help them recall the memories of that time.
King Kṣitigarbha smiled without speaking.
Gandharva, however, looked at Zhang Ruochen with some newfound respect.
"How could it be so easy to see their true body?" Gandharva gently shook her head. "That day, after Fanxin entered the inn, they first mentioned the Sixth Patriarch, saying they had discussed Buddhism with him. Upon learning that the Sixth Patriarch had died, they fell silent."
"Before leaving, they said one and a half strange sentences."
"I couldn't answer them, only asking, 'Haven't you been to the human world?'"
"They didn't answer me. After thinking for a moment, they said, 'They and the Nether Ancestor made a bet...'"
"Just that, hesitating, they left!"
After a brief silence, Hao Tian said: "If Fanxin is truly the Buddha heart of the first fifteen days, perhaps they were sealed in the Life and Death Realm from birth and never entered the human world."
Suddenly, Shang Tian said: "Could the Nether Ancestor's cultivation method be the source of the 'Three Corpses Refining the Dao'? The cultivation method of 'Three Corpses Refining the Dao' originates from the Buddhist Three Bodies. My 'Three Corpses Refining the Dao' was learned from the Tian family. The Tian family's 'Three Corpses Refining the Dao' could very well have come from the Nether Ancestor!"
"These speculations are meaningless!"
Zhang Ruochen said: "The most important thing now is to stop the Minor Calamity, then find a way to find Fanxin. Miss Meng, you have the 'Book of Life and Death,' don't you?"
Gandharva took out the Book of Life and Death and said: "The Nether Ancestor wants to use the Saha World, the Pure Land World, the Lamp of Life and Death, and the Book of Life and Death to refine the Life and Death Realm."
"The Life and Death Realm should be the skull of Buddha Kāśyapa, with the two Heavenly Gates as its eyes," King Kṣitigarbha said.
Everyone present was shocked, but they didn't doubt this.
After all, the only person in the world today who had truly entered the Life and Death Realm was King Kṣitigarbha.
Moreover, as an Ancestor, with an Ancestor's vision and deductive ability, such a judgment must have a basis.
"The Nether Ancestor used Buddha Kāśyapa's skull to imprison Fanxin?" Zhang Ruochen thought of many things, feeling emotional.
To enlighten a lotus, yet that lotus failed to walk the Buddhist path, instead...
Gandharva continued: "The sacrifice is to connect the Life and Death Realm through the Biluo Pass with the Gray Sea. Of course, once connected to the Gray Sea, it also connects to the Santu River. The Gray Sea is the end of the Santu River!"
"Once the Life and Death Realm begins to operate, then..."
The souls, lifespans, life energy, blood energy, and consciousness of living beings in the universe would flow continuously through the countless tributaries of the Santu River into the Life and Death Realm, helping the Nether Ancestor recover their cultivation and become stronger.
"This is the Minor Calamity, the Life and Death Calamity!" Desolate Heaven said. "Can't we just cut off the Santu River?"
Gandharva raised the Book of Life and Death in her hand and said: "Whoever dares to cut the Santu River, just write your name on this book, and it can determine your life and death. This is the Life and Death Curse, the most terrifying curse!"
"When the Book of Life and Death is also refined together with the Life and Death Realm, the Nether Ancestor can use the Santu River to mobilize the power of the entire universe to execute the Life and Death Curse. Even an Ancestor might not be able to withstand it!"
Everyone present changed color.
This was truly the Minor Calamity!
Once it began, it would be irreversible, and the Nether Ancestor would grow stronger and stronger.
The entire universe would turn into deathly stillness before the Great Calamity arrived, with all living beings ceasing to exist.
In the end, only the Nether Ancestor would remain, facing the Great Calamity twelve thousand years later with the most peak combat power, entering a new era.
Sitting at the end of the Santu River in the Life and Death Realm, holding the Book of Life and Death, controlling the life and death of the entire universe.
"Now, perhaps only the God Realm can stop the Nether Ancestor!"
Desolate Heaven looked at...
Zhang Ruochen said: "As long as the Book of Life and Death hasn't fallen into the Nether Ancestor's hands, they still can't do whatever they want. I suggest handing the Book of Life and Death to Heavenly Venerable Hao Tian, letting him take it away from the Gray Sea. Only Heavenly Venerable Hao Tian's cultivation can withstand the Nether Ancestor's cross-void curse."
Earlier, the Nether Ancestor, still in the endlessly distant depths of the starry sky, had only sent a soul thought projection, yet it had beaten everyone to a pulp.
Of course, this was because they were in the Gray Sea, where the Nether Ancestor's soul thought could mobilize more power, making their combat strength formidable. But could any other Heavenly Venerable-level, or even Half-Ancestor, truly be confident in withstanding the Nether Ancestor's curse or avatar elsewhere?
Zhang Ruochen knew that not only had the Eternal True Ruler and Shi Yan gone to the Abyss of Darkness.
The Dark Sovereign had also gone!
The Dark Sovereign going to the Abyss of Darkness was Zhang Ruochen's idea, to secretly assist the Hongmeng Black Dragon.
Zhang Ruochen would not allow the universe to be controlled solely by the Nether Ancestor faction and the God Realm. Multi-polar development would give cultivators from the Heavenly Court Universe, Sword Realm, and Hell Realm more room for survival.
"All four Ancestors are in the Abyss of Darkness. The only ones who can still threaten the Nether Ancestor, besides King Kṣitigarbha, are the Heavenly Demon, who might have already been rescued."
"Unfortunately, the Nether Ancestor has certainly sealed off Tianhuang, so the news can't be transmitted. Otherwise, as long as the gods from all sides mobilize together, the Santu River would be rendered useless. How could the Nether Ancestor do whatever they want?" Desolate Heaven was full of fighting spirit.
The blood letter was...
"I'll write the blood letter for the Hell Realm and send it to Fengdu Ghost City and the Destiny Temple," Desolate Heaven said.
Tantuo Kṣitigarbha touched his head and said: "What are you doing? Aren't you planning to leave? Why not leave together?"
Because they knew very well that they couldn't leave today.
To stop the Minor Calamity, they also couldn't leave.
Hao Tian looked at the blood letter and the Book of Life and Death in his hands, his face showing no fluctuation. He said: "Do you really think I can leave?"
Gandharva smiled and said: "That's right. No one can leave today. If it were really so easy to take the Book of Life and Death away, I would have taken it out long ago!"
"What does Granny mean?" Baozhu Kṣitigarbha asked.
King Kṣitigarbha said: "The Gray Sea is the Nether Ancestor's world. Everything that happens here, they will sense. The Nether Ancestor can project a soul thought onto Meng Huangni in an instant, and they can also project a soul thought onto other cultivators in an instant to stop us."
"As long as we don't leave the Gray Sea, they won't stop us. But once we have the thought of leaving the Gray Sea, they will definitely stop us."
"Moreover, as they get closer and closer to the Gray Sea, the power they can send over will become stronger and stronger."
Gandharva said: "Today, there is only one path: to fight to the death. No one can leave."
"No!"
Hao Tian handed the Book of Life and Death and the blood letter to Zhang Ruochen, saying: "The older generation can die worthily, but the young shouldn't die. The young are hope, the young carry the hopes of all of us. Daoist, we will do our utmost to open a path for you to escape. You take them and leave!"
Hao Tian pointed to Shang Tian, Desolate Heaven, and the others.
Shang Tian was very surprised, not understanding why Hao Tian had chosen Saint Si Daoist.
In terms of cultivation and combat power, Shang Tian believed he was above Saint Si Daoist.
Hao Tian sensed Shang Tian's emotional fluctuation and looked at him, his gaze firm, his voice resounding: "In the battle at the Void Exhaust Sea, the Nether Ancestor became the greatest fear in my heart. If I don't face this fear directly, I will never be able to step into the Ancestor realm. Today, if I escape like I did back then, even if I survive, it will only be dragging out an ignoble existence, like a stray dog. How pathetic."
"Saint Si Daoist is the return of the Life and Death Elder's Ancestor remnant soul, with the courage to draw his sword and slash at the Nether Ancestor. This state of mind far surpasses yours."
"If I die in battle at Tianhuang, the Heavenly Court Universe will be taken over by Saint Si Daoist, and you must fully assist him."
"The Twenty-Four Heavens of that year, only I remain! Let our era end today. I leave the future to you."
The calligraphy was vigorous and forceful, every stroke straight and true, everything written on paper.
Zhang Ruochen held the Book of Life and Death and the blood letter, feeling them very hot to the touch.
Among these blood letters, there was also one from Hao Tian.
He really didn't understand why Hao Tian entrusted such a heavy responsibility to him, even entrusting the Heavenly Court Universe.
Zhang Ruochen also had his pride. He was about to refuse when King Kṣitigarbha's voice transmission reached his ears: "Diting said you are the Sixth Patriarch. I told this secret to Hao Tian. The Sixth Patriarch's choice was you, my choice is you, and now, Hao Tian's choice is also you."
Hao Tian's gaze burned as he stared at Zhang Ruochen, saying: "Yan Huanyu said that the path of death is the easiest, while those who live must bear the heavy responsibility, carrying all the pain and difficulty. Do you lack confidence or do you not want to bear the responsibility?"
The voice was deafening, directly impacting Zhang Ruochen's soul.
Without further words, Hao Tian erupted with Heavenly Punishment Divine Light, dispersing the surrounding gray mist, raising the Xuanhuang Halberd high, his fighting spirit soaring into the clouds. He shouted loudly: "Nether Ancestor, aren't you going to show yourself?"
The divine sound echoed for a long time, seemingly able to penetrate time and space.
"Can't you wait any longer? Fine, I'll send you on your way now."
From within the gray mist, a young woman's voice sounded.
Meng Huang'e walked out step by step, also with a lotus mark on her brow, gray mist rivers flowing on her body, her aura far stronger than Meng Huangni had been earlier.
Meng Huangni was at the peak of Qiankun Infinite realm.
Meng Huang'e, however, was at the Heavenly Venerable level.
The Nether Ancestor could seize the spiritual consciousness of a strong person like Meng Huang'e and project onto her body, showing that they were already very close to the Gray Sea and could transmit more power over.
"Who will send who on their way is still uncertain! I joined the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and have been subjected to countless criticisms from cultivators. Today, I will use my blood to wash away all this, so that the Confucian disciples of the world will know that their Confucian Ancestor was filled with righteous spirit. Take these words back to the Kunlun Realm for me!"
The Fourth Confucian Ancestor's eyes shone with sharp light. Holding his painting brush, he struck first. The vast Divine Qi and Spiritual Power twisted together, transforming into a dazzling beam of light, attacking Meng Huang'e.