Chapter 4170: The Ranking List
Since ancient times, who among those who became Primordial Ancestors was not a figure of unparalleled brilliance, capable of encompassing heaven and earth?
Zhang Ruochen spent several months studying the corpse and Divine Source of the Primordial Ancestor Yaksha King, comprehending his Dao. But the Dao of a Primordial Ancestor is like a vast, boundless sea of stars—how could it be fully understood in just a few months?
In those months, he only managed to trace the main veins of the Great Dao, gaining a sufficient understanding of the Primordial Ancestor Yaksha King’s strength in life.
This was helpful for his cultivation of the Wuji Divine Dao.
Zhang Ruochen did not extinguish the nascent spirit within the Primordial Ancestor Yaksha King’s corpse. Instead, he used the Ghost Seal and the Soul-Controlling Art to subdue it, handing it over to Lian Xi for control.
It made for an excellent puppet war god.
“Creak!”
Pushing open the door, he was greeted by the morning light of dawn.
The air was cool and refreshing, with thin mist drifting through the Divine Wood Garden. “These old fellows, every single one of them has incredible patience.”
Over the past few months, Zhang Ruochen had been waiting for news from the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom. But Hongmeng Black Dragon and the Dark Venerable Lord had been unusually quiet. Only the “Black and White Daoist” and “Xuan Yuan the Second” remained active, still attacking the Heaven and Earth Altars scattered across the universe.
Qingfeng and Mingyue were disciples of Zhen Yuan, with considerable cultivation reaching the Divine Realm. Yet they appeared to be only sixteen or seventeen years old, like two handsome, clear-eyed youths.
“Greetings, Saint Si Daoist.”
They bowed respectfully to Zhang Ruochen.
They knew that this Daoist master possessed profound Daoist arts and a mysterious background. Not only was he friends with their master, but even the temple’s overseer had personally come to visit him.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What were you two arguing about just now?”
Qingfeng said, “Daoist, it’s like this: a year ago, after Empress Chi Yao came to take the ginseng fruits, I counted them specially. There were twenty-nine left on the tree. Now, there are only twenty-eight! But he insists that there were originally only twenty-eight on the tree, and none are missing.”
“It’s definitely twenty-eight, no mistake. I count them every day,” Mingyue said.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the ginseng fruits on the tree. There were indeed only twenty-eight. He smiled and said, “Neither of you seems like someone who would lie. It seems there is indeed something strange about this.”
Qingfeng said, “During this time, it was his turn to guard the ginseng fruit tree. I think he secretly ate one!”
Zhang Ruochen made a quick calculation with his fingers, then called Mingyue over. He lightly touched his forehead with a finger and immediately understood. “Neither of you is at fault! I will explain this matter to Great Venerable Zhen Yuan. Stop blaming each other. By the way, why did Empress Chi Yao come to ask for ginseng fruits a year ago?”
“Thank you, Daoist.”
With Saint Si Daoist speaking up, his master would surely give face. Mingyue secretly breathed a sigh of relief, even though he still felt there were only twenty-eight ginseng fruits on the tree.
Qingfeng said rather proudly, “The Empress sought the ginseng fruits to extend the life of some great figure in the Sword Realm. This ginseng fruit ripens only once every three eons. Just smelling one can extend one’s life by three thousand six hundred years. Eating one extends life by an entire eon. It is effective even for Indestructible Infinite cultivators. It can be called the number one treasure of our Five Elements Temple.”
“It’s only effective for cultivators below the Heavenly Venerable rank! The life level of a Heavenly Venerable is too high; ginseng fruits cannot change their lifespan.”
As Zhen Yuan’s voice sounded, Qingfeng and Mingyue’s faces changed drastically. They immediately bowed in salute, not daring to lift their heads.
The loss of a ginseng fruit was no small matter.
Zhen Yuan glanced up at the ginseng fruits on the tree and said, “You may withdraw.”
After Qingfeng and Mingyue left, Zhang Ruochen said, “It was one of my people who stole and ate the ginseng fruit, and also altered Mingyue’s memory.”
It was none other than the Black and White Daoist.
That old ghost had originally been on the verge of running out of lifespan, which was why he had ventured into the Abyss of Darkness seeking an opportunity. Unexpectedly, he had truly broken through to the Indestructible Infinite realm.
Zhen Yuan showed no intention of continuing the conversation on this topic.
Having a Primordial Ancestor owe him a favor was far more valuable than a single ginseng fruit.
Zhen Yuan had overheard their earlier conversation and asked, “Daoist, are you interested in the cultivators of the Sword Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen was naturally curious. Who in the Sword Realm was on the verge of running out of lifespan, to the point that Chi Yao would personally come, risking great danger, to beg for ginseng fruits from the Heavenly Court?
“The Sword Realm is filled with experts. It is a force in the universe that cannot be ignored.”
Knowing that Zhen Yuan was extremely intelligent, Zhang Ruochen feared that pressing further would arouse suspicion, so he glossed over it.
“Indeed, the Sword Realm is teeming with experts, including several with the potential to become Primordial Ancestors. Daoist, take a look at this!”
Zhen Yuan handed a ranking list to Zhang Ruochen.
“This is…”
“Compiled by the Primordial Queen A Fuya. It ranks the cultivators in the current universe with the potential to become Primordial Ancestors. A total of ten people are evaluated.”
Zhang Ruochen looked at the list.
At the same time, at the Heavenly Spirit Temple atop the Ten Thousand Beasts Divine Mountain, Jing Daoren also handed the list to Void Heaven.
Void Heaven read the names on the list three times over, his eyes almost sinking into it, while the breath from his nostrils grew increasingly rough.
“Stop looking. You’re not on it.”
Jing Daoren walked over to a chair beside a fiery red divine tree and sat down.
“What kind of trash list is this? Don’t send this kind of stuff to me anymore. It’s a waste of time.” Void Heaven directly crumpled the list.
Jing Daoren sat up straight and said seriously, “It’s not a trash list! It was compiled by the Primordial Queen A Fuya. Her spiritual power and martial arts are not much weaker than yours. Among the cultivators who have returned with the remnant souls of Primordial Ancestors, aside from the Corpse Demon and… and the one down the mountain, she is the strongest. Think about it—even Corpse Demon could break through to become a Primordial Ancestor. The Primordial Queen’s talent is stunning; she might not be able to do it. She isn’t even on the list, so why should you be?”
Void Heaven said, “Heavenly Mother is ranked first. I, this Heavenly Lord, accept that. I heard she comprehended the Endless Dao from the Houtu Wedding Gown. She is indeed the cultivator most likely to break through to Primordial Ancestor among current practitioners. But Feng Caiyi? Why is she on the list? And ranked seventh at that?”
Jing Daoren said, “Feng Caiyi cultivates the Kongmie Fa Yi, merging the twelve phases of fate and forging her own path. She has obtained the Demon Ancestor Ridge, wields the Demon Ancestor’s legacy, and also received the lifelong cultivation of the Fate Ancestor at his death. In terms of her own heart and spirit, as well as her opportunities and comprehension, she is top-tier. How can you compare to her?”
“Besides, she is the Hall Master of the Destiny Temple, while you are merely the master of one of the twelve palaces.”
Void Heaven’s eyes widened as he glared angrily.
This was unbearable.
Before that brat Zhang Ruochen appeared, when had he ever taken Feng Caiyi seriously? At most, he saw her as a future mount.
But ever since Zhang Ruochen appeared and was taken under Feng Caiyi’s command to refine pills, her great opportunities had come one after another, and her cultivation had gradually caught up, putting immense pressure on Void Heaven.
It was just like the saying circulating in the Hell Realm: “Caiyi is no mere hellbird; meeting Imperial Dust, she soars above the nine heavens.”
Jing Daoren sneered, “To be honest, you old ghost Void, don’t feel wronged. Feng Caiyi is simply more daring and willing to fight than you, with a spirit far surpassing yours. Back when we fought at the North Marsh Great Wall, wasn’t it she who pushed through opposition to make it happen? A Fuya is quite objective!”
Void Heaven took a deep breath, calming himself, and said, “The Demon Ancestor was her past life, and the Fate Ancestor was her guide, passing on all his Primordial Ancestor cultivation to her. If I had such opportunities, I would have long reached the peak of the Half-Ancestor realm!”
“I don’t feel wronged, nor do I have any resentment. I just think this list A Fuya wrote is too ridiculous. She even includes little brats like Yan Wushen, Chi Yao, and Xue Jue. Is such a list credible?”
Jing Daoren stood up from his chair and said seriously, “You old ghost Void, you really think too highly of yourself and look down on others. Yan Wushen and Chi Yao—one cultivates the Six Paths Reincarnation Divine Dao, and the other cultivates the perfected ‘Thirty-Three Heavens.’ They are recognized by the world’s cultivators as having the potential to become Primordial Ancestors. Their cultivation speed is not much slower than Zhang Ruochen’s in his day. You have no right to question them.”
“As for Xue Jue, he absolutely has top-five talent in the entire universe. He is already at the Heavenly Venerable rank. I heard that before Zhang Ruochen died, he gave many supreme treasures to him. After Zhang Ruochen and Desolate Heaven died, there are only a few who can compare to Xue Jue.”
“Xue Jue has the second-rank Fivefold Sea Divine Dao and the Unbreakable Divine Dao, both self-created perfected Great Daos. What do you have? Can your Sword Dao still break through? Your Void Dao even conflicts with your Sword Dao, making it impossible for you to ever hope for Primordial Ancestor in this life.”
Void Heaven’s head was buzzing. He felt that Jing Daoren was retaliating—retaliating for his earlier claim that Jing Daoren was unqualified to be the master of the Heavenly Palace.
How could a cultivator’s vengefulness be so strong?
Zhang Ruochen rolled up the list and laughed, “This isn’t a ranking of the probability of breaking through to Primordial Ancestor at all. It’s purely a tool for the Corpse Demon faction to kill with a borrowed knife!”
Zhen Yuan nodded and said, “This move isn’t clever, but it’s very effective. It can subtly influence the decisions of some cultivators. When a Primordial Ancestor eliminates threats, there is always a certain order.”
“Whoosh!”
The formation light screen of the Divine Wood Garden flickered.
Dragon Lord walked in, handsome and divine, with a tall and straight bearing and an extraordinary noble aura. From a distance, he said, “The situation is set. The Black and White Daoist and Xuan Yuan the Second have led a large group of radical cultivators, charging into Lihentian, heading toward the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.”
The Black and White Daoist and Xuan Yuan the Second had just walked out of the Refining God Tower when they heard this, momentarily stunned.
After Dragon Lord had met with the Compassionate Navigator Venerable, his trust in Hao Tian’s chosen successor had greatly increased, and he had agreed to the thirty-thousand-year transaction with Zhang Ruochen.
Although Zhang Ruochen had not yet taken control of the Heavenly Palace, Dragon Lord was already playing the role of the head of the Heavenly Palace officials, helping him oversee the world.
This was not the first time Zhen Yuan had seen Dragon Lord in the Divine Wood Garden, so he was no longer surprised. He said, “These radical cultivators are nothing but a rabble. Can the fake Black and White Daoist and Xuan Yuan the Second break through the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom?”
Dragon Lord said, “The forces of the Dark Venerable Lord and Hongmeng Black Dragon may not be as vast as the God Realm or the Corpse Demon faction, but they still have countless experts under their command. Don’t underestimate the methods and abilities of a Primordial Ancestor. Especially Hongmeng Black Dragon—the twelve ancient clans all obey his commands.”
“Moreover, these rabble are just tools to be used. The Dark Venerable Lord and Hongmeng Black Dragon will surely act personally.”
Everyone’s gaze turned to Zhang Ruochen, eager to know how he would act in this great upheaval.
Zhang Ruochen said, “This battle is of great importance. I must go there personally. Death Grand Protector will accompany me. The rest of you will follow Ji Wang’s orders. It is not impossible that someone might take the opportunity to cause chaos in the Heavenly Court. You must act cautiously.”
The cultivators present felt an added layer of respect for the Life and Death Heavenly Venerable before them.
They had truly been worried that the Life and Death Heavenly Venerable would take them all to Lihentian. If so, they would have been treated as cannon fodder and pawns.
Because this battle mainly depended on whether the Eternal True Ruler would appear.
If the Eternal True Ruler did not appear, then with the assault waves raised by the Dark Venerable Lord and Hongmeng Black Dragon, destroying the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom would not be difficult.
If the Eternal True Ruler did act, then in this battle of Primordial Ancestors, any cultivator below that level would likely be annihilated.
The Life and Death Heavenly Venerable’s decision not to let them go at least showed that, in his heart, their value outweighed the resources and treasures of the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom, and he valued their lives greatly.
This was an extremely rare and commendable thing!
Dragon Lord had been deep in thought, but suddenly spoke, “Heavenly Venerable, Ji Wang wishes to go with you, to seize the divine realm treasures of the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom for you.”
Zhen Yuan’s eyelids lifted slightly, revealing a strange expression.
“Haha! I didn’t expect you, Ji Wang, to be a ruthless character willing to risk your life for treasures.” Xuan Yuan the Second laughed loudly.
Zhang Ruochen knew Dragon Lord too well to believe he was the kind of person Xuan Yuan the Second described. He could roughly guess Dragon Lord’s purpose. It was most likely for Yin Yuanchen.
Yin Yuanchen was one of the five great sacrificial priests of the Doomsday Priest. Once the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom was breached, he would surely be surrounded and hunted.
No one could save someone from under the noses of the Dark Venerable Lord and Hongmeng Black Dragon. But with the Life and Death Heavenly Venerable backing him, Dragon Lord wanted to try.
After all, Yin Yuanchen was the great-grandson of Wen Tianjun. Given Dragon Lord’s friendship with Wen Tianjun, he could not stand by and watch him die.
What Zhang Ruochen did not know was that Yin Yuanchen alone was not enough to make Dragon Lord risk his life like this. What Dragon Lord truly sought to find and rescue was Hong Chen.
Because he had already received news that one of the five great sacrificial priests, Hong Chen, was actually Zhang Ruochen’s daughter, Zhang Hongchen.
Zhang Ruochen stared into Dragon Lord’s eyes for a long moment, then said, “Zhen Yuan, go tell Jing Daoren and Void Heaven that the Heavenly Court is in their hands. If there is even the slightest mistake, I will hold them accountable. Let’s go!”
Walking to the foot of the Refining God Tower, Zhang Ruochen pointed at the Black and White Daoist and said, “If you want to eat something, take it openly. What kind of skill is stealing? There will be no next time!”
The Black and White Daoist’s soul trembled under Zhang Ruochen’s gaze, as if pierced by ten thousand swords.
Lihentian had no top visible above, no bottom visible below, and was boundless in all directions.
It coexisted with the Real World and the Void World, collectively known as the Three Realms.
After the great calamity, the barriers between the Three Realms had collapsed and shattered on a large scale. The boundaries between Lihentian, the Real World, and the Void World had become blurred, gradually evolving toward chaos.
In the past year, driven by the “Black and White Daoist” and “Xuan Yuan the Second,” over ten thousand Heaven and Earth Altars across the universe had been destroyed.
Even so, the Eternal True Ruler had still not responded.
Moreover, with the fall of Dragon Scale, the severe injury of Murong Dui Ji, and the successive destruction of the Hell Realm’s main altar and the Heavenly Court’s main altar, the world’s cultivators had lost their fear of the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.
Thus, under the covert push of Hongmeng Black Dragon and the Dark Venerable Lord, a large army of radical cultivators from the Heavenly Court Universe, Hell Realm, and Sword Realm quickly took shape, advancing majestically toward the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.
These radical cultivators included those who had been oppressed by the Doomsday Priests and truly hated the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.
There were also those who had been deceived, wanting to go to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom to seize wealth and resources. And there were those whose minds had been controlled by the Dark Venerable Lord’s dark qi.
Chi Kunlun, Chi Kongle, and Yan Ying’er, clad in armor and wearing masks, hid within a Shura clan army, riding on cyan clouds, following the gods as they charged toward the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom.