Chapter 4232: Opening the Heart
After sending off Bore, Mu Lingxi, and Zhang Xingchen, Zhang Ruochen stood alone in the vast and dark void, his gaze fixed on the distant Wuding Divine Sea.
At this moment, he was extremely calm and composed.
His entire being entered the most rational and resolute state.
The Wuding Divine Sea was too magnificent, its widest point spanning three hundred billion miles.
Half of all the water in the universe existed here.
Over the past thirty thousand years, under the command of the Divine Realm, four main altars had been constructed. The three located in the Hell Realm, Paradise Realm, and Eternal Heavenly Kingdom had all been destroyed in succession.
Only the fourth altar in the Wuding Divine Sea still stood tall and majestic.
This main altar was built atop the Sword Realm within the Guixu. When activated, its erupting light pillar shot straight toward the Divine Realm.
Even standing tens of trillions of miles away, Zhang Ruochen could see it clearly.
Additionally, among the great worlds, islands, and planets floating in the Wuding Divine Sea, over five thousand Heaven and Earth Altars had been built.
More than five thousand light pillars, like a cluster of columns propping up the Wuding Divine Sea and the Divine Realm, also resembled bridges connecting the two realms.
"Perhaps the Wuding Divine Sea is the very foundation of the Human Ancestor's scheme. What exactly does he plan to do?"
Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes, contemplating how the Space-Time Human Ancestor would try to kill him.
At the same time, he considered how to take the initiative.
Regarding the first question, Zhang Ruochen had yet to think it through thoroughly. Because if he approached the battle with the Space-Time Human Ancestor with a mindset of mutual destruction, the final outcome would surely be the demise of both.
That was the result he wanted.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor knew his strength and resolve but still refused to compromise—that was what worried Zhang Ruochen the most.
If the Space-Time Human Ancestor were so easy to deal with, he wouldn't have survived until now.
Zhang Ruochen imagined himself as the Space-Time Human Ancestor, pondering his methods, and muttered to himself: "I understand! He won't fight me directly; he will definitely kill me before the battle begins. The way to kill me..."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes pierced through layers of space, seeing the Seventy-Two Layer Tower in the Void World.
Without the complete Nine Cauldrons, it was the strongest ancestor-killing divine artifact in the universe.
The Seventy-Two Layer Tower was still frantically absorbing void power, as if trying to swallow the entire Void World. The terrifying aura it released could make any top-tier being in the universe tremble.
When it unleashed its power, it would likely be even more terrifying than when it suppressed the Nether Ancestor.
"So this is the killing move meant for me? But what will he use against Fanxin? Human Ancestor, oh Human Ancestor, are you so confident?"
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to react passively. He began to consider the second question.
If he took the initiative, should he first destroy the Heaven and Earth Altars on the Wuding Divine Sea, or directly attack the Divine Realm?
Various signs indicated that the Space-Time Human Ancestor also had his ultimate secret.
That secret lay in the Divine Realm.
Choosing the former might fall into the Space-Time Human Ancestor's trap. Because these Heaven and Earth Altars might just be a smokescreen, a trap to lure him in.
Choosing to attack the Divine Realm...
The Divine Realm was the Space-Time Human Ancestor's territory. For so many years, even the Nether Ancestor dared not easily intrude.
Zhang Ruochen was not someone who feared death or hesitated. The reason he was indecisive was that he had sufficient respect for the Space-Time Human Ancestor's wisdom and strength.
Facing such an opponent, any small mistake would doom everything.
And he only had one chance, with no room for trial and error.
"If Fanxin were here... her understanding of the Space-Time Human Ancestor would surely surpass mine." Zhang Ruochen never arrogantly believed that his wisdom could easily crush the countless eons of scheming by an Immortal.
It was precisely this calmness and self-awareness that allowed him to reach where he was today—standing eye-to-eye with an Immortal, making even the Immortal wary.
Unlike the Great Demon God, Corpse Nightmare, Life Ancestor, Dark Sovereign, or even the Nether Ancestor, who all exited the stage in various dismal ways.
Under the escort of the Golden Lion Ancestor, the gods of the Sword Realm quickly withdrew.
They took away more than half of the great worlds in the Wuding Divine Sea and most of the Divine Throne Planets.
The star sea of the Sword Realm domain grew dim.
Chi Xingtian, who had retreated to the edge of the star sea, looked back and clenched his fists: "I really hate retreating like this. I say, we should use the formations and have a grand battle with the Immortal."
With the Heavenly Demon, his old ancestor, likely hiding in the shadows, Chi Xingtian naturally felt emboldened.
Who didn't have an ancestor?
The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon twisted his ear: "I think you're blinded by battle lust. Do you still not know who the Immortal of the Divine Realm is?"
"You old hag... ah..."
Chi Xingtian winced in pain, standing on tiptoe: "You know? Just you... stop, you talk, you talk..."
"Up to now, among the retreating gods, have you seen Tai Shang?" the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon said.
Chi Xingtian's expression changed drastically: "Impossible! With Tai Shang's spiritual power cultivation, he must have stayed behind to fight alongside Imperial Dust, which is why he hasn't appeared."
"What about the Empress? She hasn't appeared since leaving with Imperial Dust."
The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon released her grip and snorted: "The entire Sword Realm's formations were arranged under Tai Shang's direction! Do you think we can use the formations he set up against him? If it really is him, and he has operated in the Wuding Divine Sea for years, his arrangements might be more than just formations."
Chi Xingtian was arrogant but had absolute respect for Yunshen Daozhu.
Thus, he had never suspected him.
After the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon's words, Chi Xingtian felt a chill run down his spine and instantly calmed down: "If that's the case, wouldn't Imperial Dust be at a complete disadvantage by choosing to fight the Immortal in the Sword Realm? If I had known, I would have dismantled all the formations and Heaven and Earth Altars before leaving!"
"Then we wouldn't have been able to leave!"
The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon sighed deeply, glanced at her slightly bulging belly, and murmured softly: "Perhaps the fact that we can retreat now is thanks to Imperial Dust and the Empress buying us time. Let's go. This level of confrontation is beyond our participation; we can't influence anything."
Shen Ba Princess, Yin Yuanchen, Yun Qing, and other gods piloted the Divine Temple of Passage, flying further away from the Wuding Divine Sea.
Yin Yuanchen stood at the temple's gate.
In his view, the distance was filled with space shattered by the Heaven and Earth Altars, and at the end of the light pillars, he could see a corner of the Divine Realm.
Shen Ba Princess approached: "What are you thinking about?"
"Grandmother, what kind of place do you think the Divine Realm really is?" Yin Yuanchen asked.
Shen Ba Princess saw through his thoughts: "You're unwilling to accept it, wanting to participate in this battle?"
Yin Yuanchen curled his lips into a smile and looked at Shen Ba Princess: "When I was young, I knew Zhang Ruochen and Yan Wushen were top-tier prodigies, but I never thought I was much inferior to them. I always had a competitive heart. After so many years, that dead competitive heart seems to be stirring again."
"In a world crisis, some lead, some carry the banner."
"Some walk ahead, and some should follow behind. Not like now, where one carries the banner while everyone else flees."
"This world crisis, I want to shoulder a part of it too!"
"I'm certain the Divine Realm holds great secrets. The Nether Ancestor and Imperial Dust dare not enter the Divine Realm because they are opponents of the Immortal. The Immortal is waiting for them to enter the Divine Realm for a decisive battle, thus gaining the upper hand, and may have even set traps."
"But I am not the Immortal's opponent; I am just a small pawn!"
"Grandmother, Yuanchen can no longer accompany you. Let this life's merits and demerits, honor and disgrace, end here!"
Yin Yuanchen bowed to Shen Ba Princess, then transformed into a beam of light, flying out of the Divine Temple of Passage, following the light pillars of the Heaven and Earth Altars straight toward the Divine Realm.
Having once defected to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom, he had some understanding of the Divine Realm.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor sat atop the main altar, overlooking the entire star sea. The star clouds were colorful, vast and boundless.
But after the Entropy Calamity and a series of ancestor-level battles, even this brilliant universe had become somewhat dilapidated, riddled with holes, with chaotic heaven and earth rules, truly showing signs of an apocalypse.
Before him was a chessboard.
The game was nearing its end, with black and white pieces scattered.
"Hua!"
A beam of light descended, landing on the seat opposite the Space-Time Human Ancestor, condensing into the form of the Second Confucian Ancestor. These two old men.
One had an immortal aura, the other was refined and gaunt.
The entire universe's past and present seemed to converge on the chessboard, as with a smile, they controlled the prosperity and decline of an era and a civilization.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor held a white piece between his fingers, staring at the board, seeking a way to break the deadlock. He smiled: "You've come at the right time. Your chess skills are better than mine. Help me see if this white side still has a chance?"
The Second Confucian Ancestor surveyed the overall situation. After a moment, he shook his head: "Black is the first mover, with a considerable advantage. The arrangement is tight, with killing moves hidden everywhere. Even if white avoids one kill, it will die from the second or third. All its vital points are sealed off. It's a sure loss."
The Space-Time Human Ancestor said: "Even you can't see a single way out?"
"At this point, even I am useless. Unless we retract a few moves, it might be worth a try," the Second Confucian Ancestor said.
"In my rulebook, there is no retracting moves."
The Space-Time Human Ancestor put the piece back into the pot and asked: "Refining three World Trees—does it give hope of reaching the Beginning and End of Heaven?"
The Second Confucian Ancestor smiled and shook his head: "It only speeds up the absorption of heaven and earth energy and rules a bit. With my talent, I will never enter the Beginning and End of Heaven. How does the Human Ancestor view the Ancient Primordial Illumination Lotus?"
The Space-Time Human Ancestor's eyes were filled with wisdom: "The Ancient Primordial Illumination Lotus is definitely not the Sixteenth Day!"
"Are there two Nether Ancestors in the world?"
The Second Confucian Ancestor was somewhat surprised.
"Hard to say!"
The Space-Time Human Ancestor said: "But this Ancient Primordial Illumination Lotus is definitely not the Nether Ancestor who has been contending with me for countless eons. That one has already died in the Earth Desolation."
The Second Confucian Ancestor said: "This Ancient Primordial Illumination Lotus is still a bit immature, too impatient. In fact, the death of the Sixteenth Day really did let our guard down. If she had continued to hide, watching the current cultivators fight to the death with the Divine Realm, she might have reaped the benefits."
"Perhaps she has fallen in love," the Space-Time Human Ancestor said.
The Second Confucian Ancestor looked up, slightly surprised.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor smiled: "Since the beginning of heaven and earth, the eternal path, the seven emotions and six desires are above it. The birth of consciousness is very wonderful. As long as there is consciousness, there will be seven emotions and six desires. No one can escape! In the past, Empress Houtu fell in love and chose to end herself."
"Is that how the Human Ancestor views the Ancient Primordial Illumination Lotus?" The Second Confucian Ancestor clearly didn't agree with this.
He was not someone swayed by emotions and desires.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor smiled: "Because I also have seven emotions and six desires. Otherwise, how boring would this world be? Eh, I sense it. She's here!"
Their gazes simultaneously turned toward the southern starry sky.
The Second Confucian Ancestor frowned, solemnly: "Zhang Ruochen clearly came to the Wuding Divine Sea with the determination to perish together. If he reverses the Dao again, the destructive power of the strange domain might not be comparable to ordinary ancestral divine sources. Can the Human Ancestor withstand it?"
"This child has a will even firmer than the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable of that year, with great resolve and boldness. If he were to perish together elsewhere, even I couldn't suppress him," the Space-Time Human Ancestor said with a hint of fear.
The Second Confucian Ancestor said: "Have you already clashed?"
The Space-Time Human Ancestor nodded and continued: "When we met earlier, he had that thought. But I used the spatial order I had long arranged in the Wuding Divine Sea to suppress him, showing him that under such spatial order and rules, even if he successfully reversed the Dao, I could already distance myself from the spatial dimension, enough to save my life. That's when he gave up the idea."
The Second Confucian Ancestor had descended to the Wuding Divine Sea as a projection.
He dared not come in person because he knew that Zhang Ruochen at this moment was in his most terrifying state.
That resolute will, the Second Confucian Ancestor could feel even from across endless star domains, chilling to the bone.
If he and the Human Ancestor were in the same place, Zhang Ruochen would not hesitate to take them both away.
Although the Space-Time Human Ancestor was confident he could escape the destruction storm of Zhang Ruochen's self-detonation in the Wuding Divine Sea.
That was just his confidence.
In the Second Confucian Ancestor's view, the Human Ancestor had controlled the universe for billions of years without ever losing. Such a mindset might lead to underestimation. And Zhang Ruochen, though young, was a first-rank of all ages, already beyond the Human Ancestor's control.
Now, Zhang Ruochen and the Ancient Primordial Illumination Lotus had joined forces.
With a first-rank of all ages plus ninety-seventh rank, how would the Human Ancestor deal with such a lineup?
The Second Confucian Ancestor turned to look at the Space-Time Human Ancestor beside him. He saw that he was still slightly smiling, with no fear in his eyes, but rather a look of anticipation.
The divine tree planted by Mu Lingxi in the Star Dust Valley could produce the Spring of Life because it was cultivated from a root of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree.
According to Mu Lingxi, over the years, only Ji Fanxin had found her.
The root of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was given to her by Ji Fanxin.
Now.
Ji Fanxin, dressed in white, stood beneath the trunk of the divine tree, wearing a veil, with the Heavenly Dao Flute hanging at her waist. Her entire being exuded a spiritual aura, turning the entire Star Dust Valley into a celestial world.
Beside her, the roots of the divine tree were as ancient and rugged as flood dragons.
The hill highland beneath her feet was covered in large patches of colorful exotic flowers, the life energy so thick.
Zhang Ruochen walked along the valley, the terrain gradually opening up, as if stepping into a painting.
Finally, he saw her standing beneath the divine tree.
Just like the first time he saw the Hundred Flowers Fairy, she was so mysterious and cold, her eyes were clear without impurities, yet seemed to hold all the stories of past and present.
Zhang Ruochen walked through the sea of flowers and grass, his robe stained with wet petals and grass blades. Amidst the gurgling water, he followed the stream of the Spring of Life up the slope.
Under the tree.
Ji Fanxin's heavenly voice sounded: "I didn't want to come, because I know you will definitely lose."
When she didn't speak, even if she was right in front of him, she gave Zhang Ruochen an infinite sense of distance, as if he had never known her.
As if he could never get close to her.
But the moment she spoke, no matter how cold and ruthless her voice was, Zhang Ruochen felt that the Hundred Flowers Fairy he knew had returned! So he said: "Then why did you come?"
"Because I know you will definitely lose," Ji Fanxin said.
In just a few words, Zhang Ruochen's emotions were complex and hard to describe. A warmth lingered in his chest, and he couldn't help but think of the words she had said back then when they were cultivating the Sword Dao Sacred Intent in the Origin Divine Temple of the Sword South Realm: "You don't have to bear such a heavy psychological burden. If there is no love in my heart, I will never give myself to you. Since there is love, then any decision I make now, I will be responsible for myself. If one day we drift apart, leave you, or no longer pay attention to you, then don't come looking for me again. Because that means there is no longer love in my heart for you."
Zhang Ruochen climbed the slope and stood opposite her, a zhang away. Thousands of emotions surged in his heart, but all that came out was: "Fanxin... long time no see..."
"It's you who didn't come to see me," Ji Fanxin said.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to speak.
Ji Fanxin continued: "It's you who no longer trusted me. Even with Nihe, you thought I had ulterior motives, that I was using you. Trust collapsed, and you felt we were drifting apart, that I had no love in my heart."
"But ah, I have been waiting for you in the Sword Realm all along, while you transformed into the Life and Death Heavenly Venerable and hid, wanting to watch me and the Divine Realm fight. Zhang Ruochen, between the two of us, it is you who changed your heart, not me!"
"Perhaps because you love too many people, it's easier to change your heart!"
Zhang Ruochen felt a pain in his heart, because Ji Fanxin's words hit him precisely in the chest. He wanted to refute but couldn't open his mouth.
Seeing his pain, Ji Fanxin sighed softly and said: "But loving too few people, loving only one, easily traps oneself in it. You can't bear to see him hurt, can't bear to see him face danger alone. Knowing that coming here would fall into the Human Ancestor's scheme, she still came without hesitation, because she remembered too much of his past kindness. How could she bear to watch him go to his death?"
"When love is too true, you selectively remember only the beautiful memories between the two. Thinking of that year's self and that year's Zhang Ruochen, you unconsciously came here."
"Zhang Ruochen, tell me, why is love so unfair?"
"It's not like that, Fanxin, it's not like that..."
Zhang Ruochen wanted to explain.
Ji Fanxin interrupted him: "I didn't come here to discuss feelings and right and wrong. If you really want to explain, do it after this battle! Then, in front of Nihe, you can explain well why you had her back then, what purpose you had? Why did you not acknowledge her or see her for over thirty thousand years after returning? Isn't she your own daughter?"
"Don't say such things casually!" Zhang Ruochen said.
Ji Fanxin gave him a sidelong glance.
At this point, what he cared about most was this.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Is it really all my fault for causing all this? You hid too much from me. What's the deal with Jiusi Yitianhuang? You secretly cultivated the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly, Mo Yin, and the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree without telling me, right? You knew about Corpse Nightmare, Lady Shiji, Lian Xi, and the others long ago, didn't you?"
"If you had been more open with me, how could I have suspected you?"
Ji Fanxin said: "Given your cultivation level at the time, and the Space-Time Human Ancestor's shrewdness, I didn't think telling you the truth was the right thing to do. You were far from being as mature and steady as you are now."
Zhang Ruochen said: "You say I had ulterior motives for having Nihe. But what about you? Weren't you using that to hide yourself even deeper?"
Ji Fanxin frowned: "If we're going to accuse and attack each other like this, it's meaningless! How about we fight first and let the Human Ancestor and Yan Tingqiu have a laugh?"
After a brief silence.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I want to know, what exactly is the Nether Ancestor? What is your relationship with Him?"
"You've been to the Gray Sea. Don't you have any guesses?" Ji Fanxin said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Can we stop playing riddles?"
Ji Fanxin had come here to meet Zhang Ruochen, ready to be open and honest. She said: "We are all that lotus. The Nether Ancestor is the Sixteenth Day, and I am the first fifteen days. Our lives are intertwined."
"She was originally stronger than me, so she could imprison me in the Bihuo Pass. She believed my existence would be her weakness. In fact, it seems that is indeed the case. If it were her, she would never develop feelings for any man, and her state of mind would be unassailable."
"But starting from the scheme set by the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable back then, she suffered several heavy blows in succession, her injuries worsening, and she fell into a disadvantage in the struggle with the Divine Realm."
"There was no time left; only a few hundred thousand years remained until the Calamity of Quantities."
"So she returned to the Bihuo Pass, preparing to devour me to recover her strength, and even hoped to reach a higher level."
"Unfortunately, she underestimated me. My spiritual power had reached the ninety-seventh rank, and I instead imprisoned the severely injured her in the Bihuo Pass."
Zhang Ruochen had already learned most of this from Gandharva, and now it was just further confirmation.
"Is the Nether Ancestor really dead?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"In the state you think, she is dead!"
Ji Fanxin continued: "Over thirty thousand years ago, the Nether Ancestor recovered some strength and escaped from the Bihuo Pass. After escaping, she met with me once. Instead of fighting fiercely, we formulated a plan."
"She told me not to stop her from initiating the Minor Calamity of Life and Death. If she succeeded, she would ascend to the top of the universe and sweep away the Divine Realm."
"If she failed, she would most likely fall, thus numbing the Divine Realm. As long as I kept hiding, letting the current cultivators fight to the death with the Divine Realm, and then strike unexpectedly, there would be a high probability of laughing last."
"As long as I didn't die, sooner or later, she could return from a particle state."
"This is everything you want to know! There's not much thrilling about it, just human nature games and miscalculations of confidence."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Unfortunately, the Nether Ancestor's scheme seems to have failed. You are indeed her biggest flaw. She paved the way for you, but you didn't follow her plan. If you had waited until I and the Divine Realm were both weakened, then struck, you would surely have been the final winner."
"Because I want to win together with you!" Ji Fanxin blurted out, looking straight at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen met Ji Fanxin's gaze and held his breath.
He didn't know how to describe his feelings at this moment.
This was a being with spiritual power at the ninety-seventh rank, yet her feelings were so sincere, making him feel guilty, as if he himself believed he was unworthy of her true heart.
Ji Fanxin said: "In fact, the Nether Ancestor never imagined that you could one day reach such a height, a level that even an Immortal must take seriously. No one understands better than me and the Space-Time Human Ancestor that this is far from your limit!!"
"This is also why I came. I see a chance to win together in you! What? Moved? It's not easy to move the heart of Imperial Dust in this day and age."
"But..."
After a pause, Ji Fanxin looked at Zhang Ruochen, her eyes filled with persistence, wisdom, and warmth. She said softly: "But I am very clear that if I were facing a dead end today, Zhang Ruochen would definitely come with his sword without hesitation, sharing life and death with me, unlike me who hesitated and dragged it out until now. In this regard, I am inferior to you again!"