Chapter 4182: The Eternal Empress
Six figures radiating ancestral might emerged from the world, each one majestic and awe-inspiring, their myriad laws illuminating the starry seas across ten directions.
The headless skeleton of Kasyapa Buddha shocked the Buddhist cultivators in this starry sky. Some wailed in grief, some raged in fury, and some gouged out their own eyes. They felt the Buddha was sacred and should rest eternally underground, not suffer such humiliation.
To witness it was to feel guilt.
Beside the Buddha's headless skeleton lay the ancestral corpse of the Heavenly Duke.
This was a Primordial Era Qi Refiner Ancestor, immensely renowned, named after Heaven itself. His descendants were called the Thunder Clan, flourishing for countless ages.
The Radiant Heaven Earth Divine Rope had not been severed, but the goal was achieved. Mo Yin naturally had no intention of fighting the gods of the Divine Realm to the death. She immediately withdrew her sword and fled into the Void World.
Fighting was impossible to win.
Her retreating silhouette was exactly like that of a young Zhang Ruochen.
"Where do you think you're going?"
Among the six ancestral-level figures, only Furong Zhuzai (Furong Ruler) had reached the Ancestor level in cultivation, swallowing up star rivers and overlooking all living beings. The light radiating from his right eye surged, and an ancestral talisman flew out from his pupil.
The ancestral talisman was not bound by the rules of the universe, infinitely profound, crushing space yet crossing it in an instant, arriving in a flash to strike at Mo Yin.
Mo Yin stopped at the edge of a spatial rift and looked back, her gaze calm and distant, very much bearing Zhang Ruochen's demeanor.
She raised her right hand and drew a circle in the void.
"Whoosh!"
A Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal spun into motion, flying from her palm and colliding with the pressing ancestral talisman.
The Shaoyang Divine Mountain, the Shaoyin Divine Sea, the Illusory Destruction Star Sea, and the Jade Tree Dark Moon all manifested in the universe, supporting the four directions of heaven and earth.
In the void, the two annihilated each other.
This was the strongest move taught to her by "the girl," derived from the Wuji Divine Dao.
When the violent energy dissipated, "Zhang Ruochen" had vanished without a trace.
"Such formidable Wuji Divine Dao—it really is him."
Furong Zhuzai muttered to himself, then said, "His cultivation hasn't reached the Ancestor level, but he already possesses combat power to rival an Ancestor. He absolutely cannot be left alive. Find him—I will personally slay him."
The five figures radiating ancestral might headed in five different directions, shattering space as they entered the Void World.
The collision of the ancestral talisman and the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal generated even more violent destructive energy.
The Paradise Realm bore the brunt of it, terrifying the various clans within to the point of despair, all prostrating and trembling.
Fortunately, Xuanyuan Lian activated the Myriad Realms Zhou Tian Grand Formation in time, blocking the aftermath of the Ancestor-level clash.
"That was Big Brother—no mistake about it."
Xiang Chunan was exhilarated, grabbing one of Feng Yan's three heads and six arms, saying excitedly, "I told you Big Brother didn't die. Now do you believe me? Who is he? He's Zhang Ruochen, the One of All Ages."
Feng Yan's face was deeply worried: "Eternal Heavenly Kingdom is indeed just the tip of the iceberg of the Divine Realm's power. After the Ancestral Dragon and the Ancestral Yaksha King, now six more Ancestor corpse new spirits have appeared."
"Ancestors were so sacred and noble in life, but after death, no matter how they buried themselves, they're dug up by the Divine Realm, never finding peace. Is this the morality of the Divine Realm?"
Xiang Chunan quickly covered his mouth, saying, "That old Furong is a Spiritual Power Ancestor. Are you looking for death? The Buddhist masses and the descendants of those Ancestors haven't said anything yet—why are you getting angry?"
"I just don't think this is a big deal. The Ancestors have long fallen; they're just part of the universe's resources."
"We cultivators, which of us hasn't waded through mountains of corpses and seas of blood? In this apocalyptic era, what morality are you talking about? Too hypocritical! If you can hold the line and survive, that's good enough!"
Covering two mouths, but Feng Yan had a third mouth: "That's because, aside from Divine Realm cultivators, no one uses morality to boast about themselves. Even less do they deceive the masses with grand justice and righteousness."
"If the Divine Realm were truly selfless, only leading all living beings to face the Great Calamity together, I, Feng Yan, would give my all, even my life."
"But is that really the case?"
"The appearance of these Ancestor corpses means the Divine Realm will no longer use moral faith to trick the masses into building the Heavenly Earth Altar. Instead, they will use absolute power to intimidate and enslave everyone."
The anger on Feng Yan's face gradually faded, replaced by a smile: "It's good! At least Hongmeng Black Dragon, Dark Sovereign, Black and White Daoist, Xuanyuan the Second, Void Heaven, and the others have torn off the Divine Realm's disguise, forcing it to reveal its true face."
"The lies of the Eternal True Ruler have been shattered, and the halo of the Second Confucian Ancestor has been completely destroyed."
Chi Yao and Bore arrived at the starry domain near the Paradise Realm, but the battle had already ended.
The place where the Radiant Heaven Earth Divine Rope had been cut was restored to its original state, like a Radiant Heaven River, representing the highest Dao in the universe.
Emperor Dust couldn't cut it with two sword strikes.
In the entire universe, few could sever it.
"It's his residual aura—no mistake."
Joy appeared in Chi Yao's eyes, and she immediately began to deduce Zhang Ruochen's whereabouts. But the heavenly secrets were cut off, and the aura disappeared into the Void World, impossible to find.
She wasn't disappointed.
Instead, she breathed a sigh of relief.
If she couldn't find him, then it would be even harder for those ancestral-level figures from the Divine Realm to locate Zhang Ruochen.
"Indeed, it's his heavenly secret aura... but why is it like this..."
Bore's resolve wavered; she felt it might really be Zhang Ruochen who had acted.
But if so, now that the Divine Realm knew he was alive, wouldn't they resort to more extreme measures to force him to appear?
"Whoosh!"
A spiritual power doppelganger projection of Furong Zhuzai manifested in the void, as large as a nebula, looking down at Chi Yao and Bore, saying, "Zhang Ruochen wishes to be an enemy of the Divine Realm. Dare I ask, Empress, what choice will you and the Sword Realm make?"
Overwhelming ancestral pressure descended, like layers of star seas crashing down.
Chi Yao released her Twenty-Six Layer Heavenly Domain to resist, showing no fear, meeting his gaze on equal footing: "Are you so certain he is Emperor Dust?"
Furong Zhuzai said, "Otherwise?"
"Then suppose he is Emperor Dust. I, the Empress, and all cultivators of the Sword Realm stand firmly on the same front as Emperor Dust. Dare I ask, Ancestor, how do you intend to deal with me and the Sword Realm?" Chi Yao said.
She showed no respect for the Ancestor, even challenging him head-on.
The gods who had gathered in this starry domain were all terrified.
Not bowing and kneeling was already considered insolent in the eyes of an Ancestor.
"Then I must invite the Empress and Miss Bore to the Seventy-Two Layer Tower as guests. If Zhang Ruochen is alive, he will surely come to meet you."
As Furong Zhuzai finished speaking, his right hand's five fingers turned into countless light chains, like divine waterfalls, flying toward the two women.
"To force him to appear, the Divine Realm indeed still uses extreme measures." Bore released the Gate of Destiny to resist the suppression of the Ancestor's divine might, preparing for a death battle.
"Yanchen, put away the Gate of Destiny. Your master is here—how dare a mere doppelganger projection act recklessly?"
Chi Yao's aura instantly sharpened, her imperial might erupting, with none of the softness of her youthful, beautiful appearance.
She formed hand seals, and within the Twenty-Six Layer Heavenly Domain World above her head, the scenes of the "River Map" and "Luo River Writing" appeared. Then, a Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal, carrying Zhang Ruochen's aura, flew out.
"Boom!"
The flying light chains, along with Furong Zhuzai's spiritual power projection, were blasted apart by the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal.
It was a crushing victory—all laws shattered, space collapsing on a massive scale.
Countless gods gathered in the starry domain near the Paradise Realm were stunned.
Both by Chi Yao's terrifying strength and by her courage in destroying the doppelganger projection of a Spiritual Power Ancestor.
Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan flew out from a major world not far from the Paradise Realm.
Xiang Chunan said, "If you want to convict someone, you'll never lack a pretext. Furong Zhuzai, did you see clearly? The Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal isn't something only Emperor Dust can use. Emperor Dust's reputation as the 'Scatterer of Wealth' is known throughout the world—he long ago spread the Wuji Divine Dao."
Feng Yan said, "If the Divine Realm wants to capture the Empress and Miss Bore, it will have to step over my corpse."
More gods flew out from the myriad worlds' starry domains, gathering around Chi Yao and Bore.
Xuanyuan Lian was among them.
She said, "Furong Zhuzai possesses the supreme cultivation of an Ancestor. Lian cannot withstand even a single thought. But misfortune should not extend to family. The Heavenly Court and the Sword Realm advance and retreat together. Today, if the Ancestor wants to take people, then kill all the cultivators present first."
Zhang Ruochen and Shang Tian stood on the city wall of a void war fortress outside the Cha Realm, able to see Chi Yao, Bore, Xuanyuan Lian, Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and other gods in the shattered space.
Shang Tian's beard swayed like a bundle of dark red straw, saying, "This move is indeed formidable, completely pushing the Divine Realm to the opposite side of all cultivators in the world. Behind that fake Emperor Dust is definitely a remarkable figure with extraordinary mental tactics and means."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes held a cold intent: "The Second Confucian Ancestor cherishes his reputation and has some bottom lines in his actions. This Furong Zhuzai is too confident—does he really think being an Ancestor means he can do whatever he wants?"
"Is the Heavenly Venerable going to act?" Shang Tian said.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on Chi Yao.
He saw her communicating with the gods around her, then she entered Lihentian alone, following the Radiant Heaven Earth Divine Rope toward the Seventy-Two Layer Tower.
At this moment, Chi Yao truly had the majesty of an empress, her eyes carrying a cold arrogance that looked down on the world.
In terms of sheer presence, she was in no way inferior to an Ancestor.
Below the Seventy-Two Layer Tower was a black ocean, formed from the shattered Black River.
The Hongmeng Black Dragon was reduced to a skeleton, but its dragon roar was unceasing.
Chi Yao's martial robe sleeves fluttered like dragons, her long hair flowing like a divine river, as she flew to a height level with Furong Zhuzai.
The Zangjin Baihu was always with her, its "Zang" character cold and sinister, its prehistoric terrifying bloodline boiling within its body, ready to fight even an Ancestor.
Having reached the Half-Ancestor realm, the Zangjin Baihu feared no cultivator in the world.
A chaotic river flowed beneath the one tiger and one person, filled with the ancestral rules and ancestral divine qi of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable. The river clashed with the spiritual power thoughts emanating from Furong Zhuzai, the confrontation growing more intense.
Countless eyes in the universe were fixed on the two figures above the Seventy-Two Layer Tower.
If a fight broke out, it would surely ignite a cosmic-level war.
At this moment, Chi Yao represented not just herself and the Sword Realm, but also Zhang Ruochen.
Furong Zhuzai knew he couldn't crush her with his ancestral thoughts, saying, "As expected of the only one after the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable to achieve mastery of the 'Bright King Sutra.' The Empress is truly unparalleled in the world."
"This cultivation of mine was made possible by Emperor Dust."
Chi Yao reaffirmed her stance.
Furong Zhuzai said, "I was fortunate enough to meet the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable once. He lamented that his foundation was insufficient, able only to build twenty-seven layers of heavenly domains, unable to advance further."
"The Empress has made up for the Great Venerable's regrets and flaws, walking the path of perfect completion. Your future achievements will surely surpass his. Why be so stubborn?"
Chi Yao's divine voice was vast and distant: "The number of heavenly domain layers does not fully represent cultivation. The Great Venerable's realm is not something you can fathom. Don't praise me to death, and don't threaten me. I came to the Seventy-Two Layer Tower to tell the Ancestor that everything must be based on reason. If you won't be reasonable, then we will fight, even if you are an Ancestor."
She continued, "Emperor Dust has long fallen, buried in the void. But the Divine Realm never believes it. To force him to appear, you sent the Qishier Pin Lian to use the Time Corpse to assassinate Emperor Dust's kin. I have not forgotten this debt."
"If there is a next time, please be prepared, Ancestor. The Empress will lead the Sword Realm cultivators to invade the Divine Realm, fighting to the death. You can build the Heavenly Earth Altar yourselves. I only hope that by then, there will still be people willing to be driven by you."
Furong Zhuzai's pupils were covered by the ancestral talisman, making his emotions unreadable.
After a long silence, Furong Zhuzai said, "Why must it come to this? The Empress is being too extreme. The conflict between the Qishier Pin Lian and Emperor Dust is a personal grudge, unrelated to the Divine Realm."
Seeing the Ancestor back down, no longer so tough and unyielding, Chi Yao's tone softened slightly: "Whether Emperor Dust is still alive, let's investigate together. Until then, the Sword Realm will cooperate with the Divine Realm in building the Heavenly Earth Altar. I have said my piece."
Chi Yao glanced at Furong Zhuzai, thought for a moment, then clenched her fist. Her blood qi roared within her, gathering the power of the Zangjin Baihu, the Golden Lion Ancestor, and the Twenty-Seven Layer Ancestral Heavenly Domain World into one.
Without moving, she threw a punch.
Mere harsh words would never be taken seriously by Furong Zhuzai; he might even sneer inwardly.
But this long punch she threw was filled with infinite Dao, erupting from a singularity, through the chaotic primordial era, to the desolate ancient times... manifesting scenes of nebular light and mist, barbaric continents, myriad heavenly stars, the River of Time, and countless other visions.
The scenes continuously evolved, changing without end. Everything that had ever happened in the universe from ancient times to the present seemed contained within this single punch.
This was the Dao that Zhang Ruochen had taught Chi Yao—Eternal Unity.
She fused Eternal Unity with the Immovable Wisdom King Fist, giving birth to this punch.
How could Furong Zhuzai have expected Chi Yao to dare strike in front of his true body?
Hastily, he waved his hand to create a spiritual power light screen.
The light screen covered heaven and earth, with billions of runes flickering on it.
"Boom!"
This spiritual power light screen couldn't stop the punch.
The fist force shattered the void, piercing through past and future, striking the Divine Realm gate above Furong Zhuzai's head.
The Divine Realm gate shattered with a roar.
"You—"
Furong Zhuzai was furious, his disheveled long hair flying, the full might of a Spiritual Power Ancestor erupting.
Too insolent!
On his first day stepping out of the Divine Realm and descending into the universe, Furong Zhuzai had intended to kill Zhang Ruochen to establish his authority, but Zhang Ruochen had escaped.
Now, a Chi Yao who had just entered the Half-Ancestor realm dared to throw a punch at him.
First, she shattered his spiritual power doppelganger projection, then she shattered the Divine Realm gate in front of his true body.
Where was he, a Spiritual Power Ancestor, supposed to put his face?
Of course, Chi Yao didn't have the combat power to rival an Ancestor. She had borrowed the power of the Zangjin Baihu, the Golden Lion Ancestor, and the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable's Twenty-Seven Layer Heavenly Domain to accomplish this feat.
"Does the Divine Realm think it can strike at me without consequence? Can I not return a single punch?"
Chi Yao locked eyes with Furong Zhuzai, then added, "Remember this punch! Whoever dares to touch a Sword Realm cultivator, this punch will one day land on them."
Chi Yao departed with the Zangjin Baihu.
The spiritual power released from Furong Zhuzai caused the heavenly and earthly rules of Lihentian to riot, but in the end, he restrained himself and did not strike.
The resolve Chi Yao had shown, along with the will expressed by the gods waiting outside the Paradise Realm, forced him to consider the consequences.
Some people could not be intimidated by an Ancestor's might.
If he truly forced these people into a desperate fight to the death, the chain reaction would inevitably be a confrontation between the Divine Realm and the entire universe.
That was exactly what the Ancestors hiding in the shadows most wanted to see.
"The time is not yet right. Building the Heavenly Earth Altar is the most important task now. Once the altar is complete, I will take your life then." Furong Zhuzai watched Chi Yao leave, his mind gradually calming.