Chapter 4160: Ancestral Dragon
Heavenly Palace.
Xuanyuan Lian led a large group of deities, forcefully breaking into the Central Divine Hall.
Along the way, all who tried to stop them were suppressed.
Those accompanying her included "Cihang Venerable," Array Extermination Palace Master "Pingping," Red Cloud Flying Immortal Valley Master "Qingyusheng," Red Dust Peerless Tower Master "Zhuang Tai'a," Truth Divine Hall Hall Master "Xiang Chunan," and Wind Clan Patriarch Rock Emperor "Feng Yan."
All were outstanding figures of the younger generation.
Now, they had grown up and possessed exceptional cultivation capable of standing on their own.
Some were close to Cihang Venerable, others were Xuanyuan Lian's direct subordinates.
It had all the momentum of a forced abdication!
"Hua!" A beam of Xuanhuang Qi several zhang thick descended from the sky, landing inside the Central Divine Hall.
The half-ancestor power erupting from the Xuanhuang Qi beam sent many cultivators staggering backward, some even being thrown into the air.
Xuanyuan Taizhen appeared at the center of the Xuanhuang Qi beam.
His physique was imposing and domineering, clad in heavy golden armor, dragon heads hanging from his shoulders, and a black cape fluttering behind him like a war banner. His half-ancestor might radiated outward, causing those with weak mental fortitude to tremble in fear.
But more people stood firm, their gazes unwavering and expressions unchanged.
Those who could appear in the Central Divine Hall were at least Divine Venerables, battle-hardened and tempered through countless trials.
Xuanyuan Taizhen had long known that Xuanyuan Lian and Cihang Venerable had returned to the Heavenly Court. In recent days, they had been moving among the major powers, clearly preparing for this day. "Venerable, as a Buddhist cultivator, you should keep your six senses pure and not be troubled by worldly affairs. You are involving yourself too much," he said.
Cihang Venerable pressed her palms together and bowed: "Being in the midst of the mortal world, how can one escape right and wrong? In this chaotic era, with calamities looming and life and death beyond one's control, even a small Buddhist cultivator like myself—let alone the Buddha himself—would have no choice but to enter the world."
Xuanyuan Taizhen's gaze fell on Xuanyuan Lian. "Lian'er, do you wish to become the master of the Heavenly Palace?"
Xuanyuan Lian shook her head. "Second Uncle overestimates me. I only want to choose someone more beneficial to the future of the Heavenly Court Universe to be the master of the Heavenly Palace, to assist him, and to fight for a sliver of hope for survival amidst the life-and-death pressures of the Ancestor, the Immortal, and the Great Calamity."
"Such ambition..."
Xuanyuan Taizhen shook his head, a hint of disappointment flashing in his eyes. "If you want to sit in the position of Heavenly Palace Master, Second Uncle will immediately step aside and fully support you. But others... do these 'others' have the qualifications?"
A resounding voice came from outside the hall: "I thought Xuanyuan Taizhen would never be a weak-willed coward who easily gives in. So it turns out you have your own agenda. Is the position of Heavenly Palace Master something only cultivators of the Xuanyuan Clan can sit on?"
Shang Tian strode in from outside the hall.
With him were the head of the Heavenly Palace officials, "Xianxia Chi," the "True Martial Great Emperor" of the True Martial Realm, "Hunyuan Tian" of the Yuan Realm, and the nine war gods who had once followed Hao Tian, such as "Bian Zhuang" and "Zhao Gongming."
The hardliners of the older generation had also arrived!
Di Zu Shenjun remained as heroic as ever, but his dignified aura far surpassed the past.
Entering the Merit Divine Hall, he saw several figures inside, and a flash of surprise quickly passed through his eyes. Finally, his gaze settled on Zhang Ruochen, scrutinizing him carefully.
He said, "If I am not mistaken, it was you who led me here?"
Zhang Ruochen did not look at him, sitting opposite Chi Yao, and said, "Knowing it was dangerous, you still came?"
Di Zu Shenjun stood at the hall's entrance, ready to flee at any moment. "If you kill me here in the Merit Divine Hall, aren't you afraid of bringing catastrophic disaster upon the Heavenly Court?"
"Have you informed the Eternal True Ruler?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Di Zu Shenjun said, "There is no need to inform. The True Ruler will perceive everything on his own."
"Is that the confidence that brought you here?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Di Zu Shenjun said, "I came only to see what kind of person is behind the scenes opposing the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom. Destroying the Heaven-Earth Altars recklessly and detaining women and children—hardly the actions of an upright and honorable figure."
"Lord Shenjun truly lives up to being a peerless figure accepted as a disciple by the Ancestor. Your words are indeed sharp."
Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly and raised his hand.
Lian Xi then released Zhuo Wenzhen.
"The Doomsday Priests who were killed were all arrogant and despicable, reckless and presumptuous, or those who bullied the weak by relying on the powerful. Even someone like Ghost Lord, who could restrain himself a little, was allowed to live."
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Although Zhuo Wenzhen is proud, willful, and looks down on others, she still has some bottom line. I have not harmed her in the slightest."
"Bringing her to the Heavenly Court was only to meet with Lord Shenjun, lest you hide yourself and become too difficult to find."
Zhuo Wenzhen wanted to speak, to tell Di Zu Shenjun to flee immediately, that the old Daoist before him was not someone he could handle. Unfortunately, she could not speak, nor could she even release her divine thoughts.
Di Zu Shenjun naturally knew what kind of people those Doomsday Priests were. He actually looked down on them too.
But building the Heaven-Earth Altars was the top priority now, and he needed their services. Although he was a disciple of the Ancestor, he could only turn a blind eye.
He said, "Do you want to see me, or do you want to kill me?"
"If I wanted to kill you, I would not have said so much."
Zhang Ruochen looked at him and said, "Lord Shenjun, as long as you agree to leave the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and confine yourself in the Imperial Dao Great World for a hundred thousand years, you and Zhuo Wenzhen may leave the Merit Divine Hall alive today."
Di Zu Shenjun had once had a deep friendship with Zhang Ruochen. They had faced life and death together in the Abyss of Darkness and could be called "good friends." Although they later parted ways due to differing ideals and grew distant, Zhang Ruochen knew that Di Zu Shenjun was still a responsible and principled person. Therefore, he had no intention of killing him.
If he did not even have this capacity for tolerance, how could he speak of "embracing all rivers and encompassing all things"?
Zhang Ruochen could tolerate and understand Di Zu Shenjun's pursuit of another possibility, of walking a different path, as long as their ultimate goals were aligned.
Di Zu Shenjun re-examined the Daoist before him. Seeing the sincerity in his eyes, which did not seem feigned, he was greatly surprised.
A transcendent existence who dared to oppose the Divine Realm—could he actually be soft-hearted?
Chi Yao and Zhen Yuan were also silently pondering. Why did this Life-Death Heavenly Venerable want to spare Di Zu Shenjun's life? Was there a deeper scheme?
Di Zu Shenjun said, "Who exactly are you, sir?"
"This venerable one's Dao name is Life-Death. When Hao Tian was on his deathbed, he passed the position of Heavenly Venerable to me. You may respectfully call me Life-Death Heavenly Venerable!" Zhang Ruochen straightened his chest and lifted his chin slightly.
Di Zu Shenjun did not care whether the word "Life-Death" was connected to the ancient Ancestor "Life-Death Old Man." Instead, he focused on Hao Tian's death.
His expression became slightly agitated. "Did you return from the Gray Sea, sir?"
"That is correct," Zhang Ruochen said.
Di Zu Shenjun pressed further, "Did Hao Tian die at the hands of the Nether Ancestor?"
"More or less," Zhang Ruochen said.
Di Zu Shenjun asked, "What about the Fourth Confucian Ancestor? Is he still alive?"
Di Zu Shenjun had been persuaded by the Fourth Confucian Ancestor and recommended to the Eternal True Ruler, thus becoming a supporter of the Divine Realm's salvationist ideology. After all, as things stood, no other force or power could counter the Great Calamity except the Divine Realm.
The Fourth Confucian Ancestor had shown kindness to Di Zu Shenjun in his youth.
His virtue and conduct had earned Di Zu Shenjun's deep admiration and absolute trust, which in turn led him to trust the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom completely.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently. "In the sea of fire, his spiritual power was exhausted, his spirit burned out, and he vanished from the world."
Di Zu Shenjun's gaze remained sharp, but the rims of his eyes reddened slightly. He asked in a low voice, "Did he have any last words before he vanished? Any unfinished wishes?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "He said that his entire life was like a puppet manipulated by strings, unable to see the truth, unable to distinguish right from wrong, unable to see the path ahead, not knowing whom to believe, not knowing what to do, and not knowing whether he had done the right thing."
"He said that the Second Confucian Ancestor was the one he admired most—a determination to create peace for ten thousand generations, trusting in his character and his great righteousness."
"But he also said that those who uphold great righteousness often find it difficult to maintain virtue."
"In order to win, they would stop at nothing, and no one could fathom their true heart."
"Because of this, the Fourth Confucian Ancestor chose to fight to the death in the Gray Sea, just as the Third Confucian Ancestor had done back then. Even knowing it was like a moth flying into a flame, he did not hesitate."
Di Zu Shenjun listened quietly, the sharpness in his eyes gradually fading.
Although Chi Yao admired the Confucian path, she held a deep prejudice against the Fourth Confucian Ancestor, believing that he had stood by and done nothing when the Kunlun Realm was in its greatest crisis, unworthy of the title "Confucian Ancestor."
But hearing Zhang Ruochen's account, she finally understood that the Fourth Confucian Ancestor had his own hardships.
Even at his level of cultivation, he had his own confusion and helplessness.
Perhaps it was the pain in his heart that made him choose the path of the Third Confucian Ancestor at the most critical moment of the universe—fighting to the death, unwilling to continue doing things he would regret.
Zhang Ruochen took out the "World Illuminated Painting" and continued, "At the very last moment, the Fourth Confucian Ancestor finally achieved great enlightenment, reaching the supreme realm of all things illuminated. All his remaining spiritual power was infused into this painting."
"The righteous should be like the blazing sun hanging in the sky, illuminating all under heaven, with righteousness enduring forever."
Zhang Ruochen's final words were thunderous and deafening.
The blazing sun on the "World Illuminated Painting" released brilliant radiance, emitting righteous energy that swept away all gloom.
If before this, Di Zu Shenjun, Chi Yao, and Zhen Yuan still harbored doubts about this "Life-Death Heavenly Venerable," after he produced this painting and spoke the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's dying words, no one could question him anymore!
Hao Tian passing the position of Heavenly Venerable to Zhang Ruochen was equivalent to entrusting him with the authority, connections, and followers accumulated over more than a million years.
The Fourth Confucian Ancestor giving the "World Illuminated Painting" to Zhang Ruochen was equivalent to bestowing upon him the virtue and prestige he had accumulated. It was as if the righteous divine radiance had been added to his body, enough to earn the trust of many cultivators.
"The world is illuminated, and righteousness endures forever."
Thunder seemed to roar in Di Zu Shenjun's mind. His Heavenly Venerable-level aura vanished completely, and he fell into confusion and self-doubt.
Even at the moment of his death, the Fourth Confucian Ancestor was reflecting on the rights and wrongs of his life.
What about him?
Was continuing to walk the path of the Fourth Confucian Ancestor truly correct?
Suddenly.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes sharpened, and an unmatched divine might erupted from his body. He roared, "Who?"
"Slap!"
The world barrier of Di Zu Shenjun's Divine Realm World was shattered by the roar, revealing countless cracks.
Within the cracks.
An enormous dragon body appeared, coiling and twisting, releasing terrifying ancestral might.
Ancestral divine patterns, like colorful waterfalls, seeped out from the cracks.
"Ancestor!"
Chi Yao and Zhen Yuan both exclaimed, immediately circulating their divine Qi and entering a battle-ready state.
"Hua!"
Zhang Ruochen vanished from his seat, crashing through the world barrier and entering Di Zu Shenjun's Divine Realm World.
At some point, the Xuanhuang Halberd had appeared in his hand.
The halberd's blade gleamed with cold light.
"Ao!"
Dragon scales burst through another part of Di Zu Shenjun's Divine Realm World, charging out.
But after charging out, it realized it had not escaped the Merit Divine Hall. Instead, it had arrived in a black-and-white world filled only with life Qi and death Qi.
Black-and-white life-death imprints were both above and below.
The dragon's body was so massive that even a casual collision could shatter a great world.
Yet, with such a colossal body and such terrifying power, it was contained by the black-and-white life-death imprints.
This black-and-white world seemed capable of holding the entire universe, boundless and without rules or laws.
Di Zu Shenjun and his shattered Divine Realm World were also enveloped within it.
The dragon scales spoke in human tongue: "Fight alongside me, and kill the Life-Death Heavenly Venerable."
Di Zu Shenjun had long lost his will to fight. He shook his head. "I cannot join you in this battle. I truly need to go into seclusion for a time, to think clearly about the past and the future. Otherwise, I will surely breed inner demons amidst this confusion."
The dragon scales sneered coldly: "You are always confused, always so easily influenced by others. With such an unstable will, you are destined to never achieve the Ancestor's great path."
Zhang Ruochen flew out from the darkness, holding the Xuanhuang Halberd, and said, "Not everyone's path is smooth and clear. There will always be temptations and deceptions. Blindly moving forward is not as good as stopping to think carefully. You must be the leader of the Doomsday Priests, Dragon Scales, correct?"
Di Zu Shenjun knew it was a trap but still dared to come to the Merit Divine Hall. Naturally, he had a backup plan.
That backup plan was Dragon Scales.
When Zhuo Wenzhen was captured, Dragon Scales knew that the Black-and-White Daoist and Xuanyuan Second's next target would definitely be Di Zu Shenjun.
So, he chose to lie in wait.
He had come with Di Zu Shenjun, originally intending to kill the Black-and-White Daoist and Xuanyuan Second.
He never expected to encounter the "Life-Death Heavenly Venerable" behind them. Even more unexpected was that the "Life-Death Heavenly Venerable's" perception was so terrifying that he could not hide even within the Divine Realm World.
Since he could not escape in time, he had to fight head-on.
Dragon Scales did not underestimate the "Life-Death Heavenly Venerable," after all, even Murong Bu Huo had suffered a great loss. But he also did not believe he had no chance of winning.
Zhang Ruochen carefully observed the dragon before him. Its scales were like a stretch of mountains, and every breath it took expelled a patch of seven-colored space, like a starry sky. Each breath could spit out a seven-colored nebula.
Any other cultivator, even a half-ancestor, would likely be intimidated.
"This aura on you... Ancestral Dragon. The Divine Realm actually found the corpse of the Ancestral Dragon..."
Zhang Ruochen's brow furrowed deeply, finding it troublesome.
He had been to the Dragon Nest and had some understanding of the Ancestral Dragon's power and aura.
The massive creature before him was undoubtedly one of the Nine Great Witch Ancestors, the "Ancestral Dragon."
Of course, it was only the shell of the Ancestral Dragon.
The soul and consciousness within were cultivated by the Divine Realm.
The ancestral Qi and ancestral divine patterns emanating from it were far more terrifying than those of the Dizang King he had seen, comparable to the Nether Ancestor's nether Qi and divine patterns.
This was too terrifying.
The terror did not lie in a single Ancestral Dragon. If the Divine Realm had been planning this long ago, with the Second Confucian Ancestor's spiritual power and the unfathomable depth of the Immortal behind the Divine Realm, whose corpse in the universe could they not dig up?
Even the Celestial Mechanism Brush used by someone like Murong Bu Huo to hide his "divine heart" and "divine body" had been found by the Second Confucian Ancestor.
What could the Divine Realm not do?
According to what Void Heaven had said, the Celestial Mechanism Brush's interior only contained the residual power of Murong Bu Huo's divine heart and divine body. Yet, even these residual powers had allowed Void Heaven's spiritual power to advance by leaps and bounds.
With the appearance of the Ancestral Dragon, the whereabouts of Murong Bu Huo's divine heart and divine body now had a clear answer.