Chapter 4229: The Time-Space Human Ancestor
The Wuding Divine Sea had a place of convergence.
Within that convergence existed the "Sword Realm" and the "Underworld Nation," both being transcendent world planes in the universe second only to the Heavenly Court. They were the legacies of the Sword Dao civilization and the Nether Ancestor era, displaying the glory of those two prosperous ages to later cultivators, as well as the supreme divine power of the Sword Ancestor and the Nether Ancestor.
The Underworld Nation once had eighty thousand towers.
The Sword Ancestor had three thousand swords under his command.
The Origin Divine Temple was situated upon the vast land of the Underworld Nation, established on the site of the former Wind Pavilion ruins. After Zhang Ruochen became the Lord of the Sword Realm, it became his place for seclusion, rest, and deliberation.
Within this star domain, it held an extraordinary and transcendent status.
The size of the Origin Divine Temple was no less than that of a living planet, its interior densely filled with divine mountains, streams, and waterfalls, with four distinct seasons.
Plum Garden was one of the nine palaces and seventy-two gardens within the Origin Divine Temple.
In a few more days, it would be the Winter Solstice.
The sky was a greenish-gray, and heavy snow fell profusely. The vermilion palace garden was covered with a white roof.
Hanging from the eaves were rows of crystal-clear icicles, jagged and interlocking. The snow on the ground was knee-deep, making it a bitterly cold winter for any mortal.
Kong Lanyou and Bore, one on the left and one on the right, led Zhang Ruochen to the round chess gate of Plum Garden, then stopped.
Zhang Ruochen crossed the covered bridge spanning the white frozen lake and arrived at the Moon-Viewing Pavilion, which was set up with a six-panel screen.
Inside the pavilion, a stove fire was burning.
Outside the pavilion, the thickest plum tree had been transported from the Kunlun Realm. It had grown for tens of thousands of years, nourished by the divine qi within the temple, transforming into a sacred tree, thicker than a millstone.
Ling Feiyu sat alone on a dark wooden lounge chair in the pavilion, facing the red plum blossoms in the snow, unknown whether she was asleep or awake.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the white hair on her head, walked over, and said with a hint of teasing: "Night rain drizzles, the Xiao Xiang River breaks a heart; from the Red Tower, Feiyu's swordplay is unmatched. First Venerable, I have brought back your unparalleled sword!"
Ling Feiyu's face was etched with deep lines of time, her body withered and aged, long since having lost the peerless elegance of her former days as the First Venerable Saintess. But her eyes remained as clear as autumn water, filled with the calm and wisdom that came from weathering countless storms.
She slightly raised her head to look at Zhang Ruochen, her face showing none of the sorrow of a white-haired old woman. The hem of her plain robe hung down between the chairs, swaying in the wind like flowing ink painting.
She smiled, her voice hoarse, yet gentle and magnetic: "Someone came to report early this morning, knowing you would return today. Everyone is very happy."
Zhang Ruochen placed the jade battle sword on the side table, looking at her appearance, which was as aged as someone eighty or ninety years old.
Clearly, someone had carefully dressed her up. She was dressed very elegantly, neatly, with not even a single strand of white hair out of place.
She was so serene and composed.
Anyone seeing her appearance and state at this moment would not feel sorrow for her or sympathize with her. They would only think that if one could be so graceful at the end of life, it would definitely be an enviable thing.
The "Corpse of Time" on Ling Feiyu had been dissolved by Tai Shang before Zhang Ruochen returned.
But her lifespan and blood qi had been truly lost, and she was on the verge of death.
Even after taking life-prolonging divine medicine, she could only live for another one or two eons, unable to return to her youthful prime.
Zhang Ruochen crouched down, took her left hand, stroked her wrinkled but still slender fingers, and smiled: "I'm back, so you have to get better. I am an Ancestor now, I am omnipotent!"
Ling Feiyu appeared very calm: "You came back to do something more important. Don't waste your cultivation and power on me. I am fine now."
Ling Feiyu had slept in the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin for tens of thousands of years, seeing more clearly and thinking more thoroughly than anyone.
The Immortal of the God Realm must be in the Sword Realm, right by their side.
Zhang Ruochen's return at this time was undoubtedly to confront the Immortal. A game that would determine the life and death of the entire universe had already begun in silence.
She did not want to consume Zhang Ruochen's cultivation at this time, becoming a pawn for the Immortal to use against Zhang Ruochen.
Feeling a trace of gentle life force entering her body, Ling Feiyu said: "The Minor Calamity and the Great Calamity are both upon us. Can we get through them?"
"Of course we can," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Is that so? You're not even good at lying."
Ling Feiyu extended her other hand, using all her strength to push Zhang Ruochen away, and said with extreme seriousness: "I don't want to have just gained something, only to lose it again. I don't need to experience such ups and downs once more. If you really want to help me, wait until after the Great Calamity. For now, just chatting with me, an old lady, will make me very happy!"
"Have you seen Hongchen? Is she doing well?" Zhang Ruochen saw that her eyes were as firm as ever, so he withdrew his hand, stood up, and imitated her, sitting down on the adjacent dark wooden lounge chair. He rested his head lightly on it, closed his eyes, and said: "She is very smart and has high talent. Don't worry about her. You know, lying like this is quite comfortable. It's a pity it's winter, and the snow is falling too heavily. Are you cold?"
Ling Feiyu turned her face to look at him, smiling and shaking her head. Zhang Ruochen said: "Hey, listen, the snow has a sound when it falls!"
Ling Feiyu's hoarse voice sounded: "Your life has been too rushed, driven forward by countless people, too hurried! How could you remember the four seasons? Not only does the falling snow have a sound, but the sprouting of spring buds and the falling of autumn leaves all play the birth and withering of life."
"Yes, these years, either exhausted from running or in seclusion seeking the Dao, I have missed too much beauty. How could it be like before?"
Zhang Ruochen thought of something and asked: "Do you remember when we first met?"
"How could I forget?"
Ling Feiyu looked at the red plum blossoms standing proudly in the white snow outside the pavilion, thinking of that time of flourishing flowers and youthful vigor, and said: "That year, it was in the Sword Grave. Thanks to me being there, otherwise, you would have been captured by Wan Zhaoyi!"
"How is it that I remember it being at the Pearl Light Pavilion in Taizhou?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Ling Feiyu's eyes turned cold: "Don't anger a person whose lifespan is about to end, bringing up what shouldn't be brought up, right? *Cough, cough*..."
Zhang Ruochen immediately stopped, no longer teasing her, and sighed: "I really miss those times. Although it was also full of dangers, time passed so slowly. A year could hold many experiences, meet many people, forge deep friendships, and have so many joys and sorrows. Not like now, where ten thousand years pass like a fleeting moment, and in my memory, besides cultivation and slaughter, nothing remains."
"Want to go back?" Ling Feiyu asked.
"Can't go back!"
Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu sat like this on the lounge chairs, amidst the falling snow, chatting about whatever came to mind, reminiscing about the past, or discussing life.
Zhang Ruochen had also experienced old age and decay, entering the twilight of life, so he understood Ling Feiyu's true state of mind very well.
That afternoon, he seemed to become that old man Zhang working at the famous inn again.
The two of them were like an old married couple, chatting about family matters, occasionally laughing.
Until the snow stopped and the bright moon rose.
"Go to the Heavenly Court first. Hongchen is waiting for you there. After I finish handling things here, I will come to find you. Then, we will never be separated again!"
Zhang Ruochen stroked Ling Feiyu's cheek and gently kissed her forehead.
"Can you leave?" Ling Feiyu asked.
She was very clear about the current situation. Zhang Ruochen wanting to send everyone away before confronting the Immortal was definitely wishful thinking.
"I will try my best to fight for a sliver of hope for everyone. If it truly cannot be done—" Zhang Ruochen said.
Ling Feiyu smiled: "If it truly cannot be done, no one will blame you. Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The two identities of Heavenly Venerable and Ancestor are almost suffocating you. Carrying too much, how can you fight? Cast off these two shackles, travel light, and you will be invincible under heaven! Ask yourself, what can the Immortal do to you?"
Yes!
If he had no responsibilities on his shoulders, what could the Immortal do to him?——
Leaving Plum Garden, Chi Yao was already waiting outside. "How is Feiyu?" she asked.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I don't know how to define good or bad. Perhaps only one's own feelings are the most real."
"Cultivators above the Infinite Realm have all been summoned to the main hall, waiting for you!" Chi Yao said.
Arriving at the main hall of the Origin Divine Temple, Zhang Ruochen concealed nothing, revealing the secret that the Immortal of the God Realm was in the Sword Realm.
He also told everyone the purpose of his return this time.
"Boom!"
Even though everyone present was a God King or God Venerable, they immediately exploded into an uproar, panicked and at a loss.
It was too sudden. The danger had always been right beside them.
About half an hour later, the gods gradually calmed down from their shock.
Zhang Ruochen stood in the center of the divine hall, one hand behind his back, remaining calm from beginning to end, and continued: "Therefore, the place everyone guessed for the final battle is not the Heavenly Court, but very likely the Wuding Divine Sea."
"From now on, everyone can choose to evacuate immediately. Take as many as you can."
"I don't know if you can escape, because I don't know what choice the Immortal will make. But I will do my utmost to fight for time and a chance of survival for you."
Famous Sword God frowned deeply: "If the Immortal of the God Realm is truly hiding among us, he will not let any cultivator leave."
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"We are the chips he uses to threaten Master, and also the blood qi and soul medicine for the Minor Calamity." Han Xue's aura was very strong, her fighting spirit intense.
Xu Wenzhi said: "If all the gods scatter and flee far away, no matter how strong the Immortal's cultivation is, he cannot keep everyone."
"Old Man Xu, are you serious? How wide was the range of destruction caused by the single blow from the Seventy-Two Layer Tower before? Even if you let you flee for a few days first, you wouldn't escape. The entire star domain might already be sealed off." Chi Xingtian said.
The arguments started again.
Qiangu Nüdi saw that many people were scared out of their wits and said coldly: "Why must we flee? The Wuding Divine Sea has formations, the War Ancestor Divine Army, and the leadership of Imperial Dust. Why can't we burn our boats and fight to the death against the Immortal?"
The Eight-Winged Night Shura Dragon wore armor, its pairs of dragon wings spread, and it echoed: "Since we can't escape anyway, and death is certain, why not fight the Immortal? You're not afraid of death, are you?"
"Whoever is afraid of death is a son of a bitch." Niu Jianqiang said arrogantly.
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly, feeling offended, vaguely remembering that this yellow ox was raised by him.
Xu Wenzhi said earnestly: "Facing an ordinary Ancestor, we certainly have the power to fight. Even facing the Second Confucian Ancestor and the Black Abyss Venerable Lord, with Imperial Dust leading us, we can play some role. But facing the Immortal who controls the Seventy-Two Layer Tower, we will only become a burden to Imperial Dust. Whether we can escape is not our primary concern! Not causing trouble for Imperial Dust is the top priority."
Chi Xingtian said unceremoniously: "If you're afraid, just say so. If you want to leave, leave quickly! A person whose courage is broken will only cause trouble if they stay."
"You are being completely unreasonable." Xu Wenzhi said.
While the gods were arguing heatedly, Zhang Ruochen remained silent and walked towards the outside of the main hall.
Immediately, the voices of all the God Kings and God Venerables quieted down, and they all looked at the Imperial Dust who was about to leave, at a loss.
Stepping out of the hall, Zhang Ruochen stopped without turning around: "Whether to stay or leave depends on you. What I hope is that you don't make unnecessary sacrifices. Everyone should fight for their own survival. Yao Yao, I leave this to you!"
Qiangu Nüdi quickly chased out of the Origin Divine Temple, walking side by side with Zhang Ruochen, and asked: "Where is Imperial Dust going?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her and smiled: "Nüdi is asking knowingly! Since I'm back, how could I not go to pay respects to Grandmaster? He was able to dissolve the Corpse of Time on Feiyu. Has his spiritual power already broken through to the ninety-fifth rank?"
Qiangu Nüdi's lips moved, wanting to speak but stopping, and finally said: "I'll go with you!"
The journey was silent.
The two flew over a vast sea, left the Underworld Nation, and arrived at the Sword Realm.
Arriving outside the mountain gate of the God Fallen Sect, Qiangu Nüdi finally couldn't help but ask: "Do you suspect that Grandfather is the Immortal of the God Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen looked at the stone steps stretching over a thousand levels ahead, where figures of many younger disciples of the God Fallen Sect could be seen, and said: "You think so yourself, otherwise why would you have followed? Why would you ask such a question?"
This was not the answer Qiangu Nüdi wanted to hear. She said: "Perhaps the Immortal of the God Realm deliberately guided us to suspect this. Have you considered this possibility?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded and asked: "What do you want to say?"
Qiangu Nüdi stared at him intently, having many things to say, wanting to persuade him, but when the words reached her lips, she couldn't utter a single one.
Her heart was extremely complex and pained. She wanted to escape, not wanting to face the truth.
"Has Huaying Qingchan become so hesitant? This is not the Nüdi I know!"
Zhang Ruochen could feel the unease and anxiety in Qiangu Nüdi's heart. In fact, the pain and torment in his own heart were no less than hers. His feelings for Grandmaster were very deep, always regarding him as a mentor in his outlook on life and values.
Before meeting Grandmaster, Zhang Ruochen lived more for himself and his loved ones. What did the affairs of the world have to do with him? After meeting Grandmaster, he began to understand what the great righteousness of the world and responsibility meant.
However, before returning to the Wuding Divine Sea, he had already prepared himself for everything, so he could control his emotions.
"Ruochen, Qingchan!"
A familiar voice came.
The figure of Yunshen Daozhu appeared at the end of the stone steps above, his hair and beard completely white, looking even older than before.
His aged face was full of smiles.
There was the kindness of an elder looking at a junior, and the heartfelt joy of seeing an outstanding descendant.
Zhang Ruochen and Qiangu Nüdi both looked up and saw, behind Yunshen Daozhu, the Ming Emperor and Xue Hou who had come to welcome them together.
"Chen'er!"
Xue Hou, seemingly cold and ruthless, was actually very sentimental. She was already too excited to control herself and couldn't help wiping away her tears.
"Hua!"
Zhang Ruochen's figure flickered, and he appeared at the end of the stone steps. His gaze shifted from Yunshen Daozhu to the Ming Emperor and Xue Hou, and he bowed deeply.
Xue Hou quickly helped Zhang Ruochen up, shook her head vigorously, and then asked about his experiences over the years, about the fake death back then, about the Gray Sea, about the Ancestor's magical duel, and whether he had any injuries.
Mother and son held hands and walked into the God Fallen Sect together. Yunshen Daozhu, the Ming Emperor, and Qiangu Nüdi only accompanied them on the side, much more restrained in their emotions.
"Mother, I still have important matters to discuss with Grandmaster. Why don't you and Father go to the Origin Divine Temple first? Yao Yao is back too!" Zhang Ruochen gently patted the back of Xue Hou's hand, his face beaming with an optimistic and relaxed smile.
At this moment, he had none of the majesty of an Ancestor.
Xue Hou was very reluctant.
The Ming Emperor said: "Master and Ruochen are both the most outstanding figures in the universe. What they need to discuss must involve the Minor Calamity, the Ancestor, and the Immortal. Don't disturb them. This is the important matter!"
After Xue Hou and the Ming Emperor left the God Fallen Sect, the smile gradually faded from Zhang Ruochen's face, and he said: "Grandmaster threatening me with family members is really beneath your dignity, and the method is not clever at all. I thought you would be more magnanimous than the Nether Ancestor!"
Beside him, Qiangu Nüdi stared intently at Yunshen Daozhu, still holding onto hope in her heart.
Seeing that Yunshen Daozhu did not refute, Qiangu Nüdi immediately stepped between them.
She said: "Imperial Dust has misunderstood. Xue Hou and the Ming Emperor have been cultivating in the God Fallen Sect all these years. Xiao Hei can testify. This is definitely not Grandfather's intention."
"Qingchan, you should withdraw as well. Ruochen and I have long needed to have a heart-to-heart talk!" Yunshen Daozhu said softly.
Qiangu Nüdi turned around, stubbornly shaking her head, fundamentally not believing that the two could come to a conclusion.
"Very well!"
Yunshen Daozhu did not force Qiangu Nüdi. He raised his finger and gently tapped it in the air.
"Hua—"
Space shifted accordingly.
Zhang Ruochen frowned, releasing Ancestor rules and Ancestor order to resist, but he could not stabilize the moving space.
The three of them instantly appeared on the Fallen God Island in the Kunlun Realm.
Ahead was the end of time and space, where all matter disappeared, turning into a boundless, colorful sea of light. In this sea of light, all energy existed between the real and the illusory.
"Do you still remember this place?" Yunshen Daozhu asked.
Zhang Ruochen nodded: "The ancestral land of the God Fallen Clan! Grandmaster said it was left behind by the Time-Space Human Ancestor."
"It was left behind by me."
Yunshen Daozhu looked at the colorful sea of light ahead and continued: "Lihentian seems very vast, as vast as the universe itself, but the power of quantity actually only accounts for a small part. The power of quantity in this colorful sea of light is more than the entire Lihentian combined. Ruochen, with your current cultivation, you can absorb it all very quickly and cultivate the perfect number of heaven and earth."
Zhang Ruochen was neither sad nor happy, and said: "And then?"
Yunshen Daozhu said with extreme solemnity: "Over so many years, Ruochen, can't you still see that the greatest threat to the universe is the Nether Ancestor? From cultivating the Great Demon God to start the bloody era of the Ancient Chaos, to cursing Ling Yanzi and Kong Yinxue with the Withering Death Art, killing the Twenty Heavens, cursing the Holy Clan, then cultivating the Quantity Organization to cause chaos in the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm, and launching the Life-and-Death Minor Calamity in the Gray Sea."
"Of course, compared to the Santu River, these are all insignificant."
"Grandmaster doesn't want to argue or try to convince you. But before our decisive battle, shouldn't we first join hands to eliminate the Nether Ancestor, this hidden danger who wants to reap the benefits?"
The previous five or six chapters finally finished writing the most difficult part of this book! There are about ten to fifteen chapters until the grand finale, similar to what was planned at the beginning of the year.
Don't worry about the plot of the finale. It has been deduced countless times, and it won't disappoint everyone.
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