Chapter 4246: The Moment of Counterattack, Offense and Defense Shift
"The Death Clan, with the full strength of their clan, pays respects to the Human Ancestor!"
...
The collective will of the "Death God Sacrifice" clan, spanning endless time and space, descended upon the Human Ancestor.
The will was formless, yet omnipresent.
It transformed into semi-real, semi-illusory divine chains that intertwined, and even though the Human Ancestor's cultivation was unparalleled through the ages, capable of reaching heaven and earth, he was still restrained for the span of a single breath at this moment.
The bonds, shackles, thoughts, and spirit from the vast mortal world were imposed upon him.
One bow, trapping him for one breath.
Seizing this opportunity.
"Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh! Whoosh!"
The Cauldron of Origin, the Cauldron of Time, the Void Cauldron, the Cauldron of Light, and the Cauldron of Darkness—five cauldrons streaked like shuttles, flying out first to strike the Star Heaven Cliff that was falling from above the Destiny Temple.
With the five cauldrons now wielded by Zhang Ruochen, who in the world could stop them?
"Boom!"
The Star Heaven Cliff, millions of miles high, was struck repeatedly. First, it trembled violently, then cracked, and finally exploded apart, releasing devastating energy ripples.
It was as if a Primordial Ancestor had struck it five times in succession.
Amidst the countless fragments of stone, Zhang Ruochen's afterimages flickered as he broke through the air.
The Heavenly Demon stood in the sky, stone blade in hand, raised above his head. His Primordial Ancestor aura and demonic might peaked to their utmost.
The thirty-six scenes from the *Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription*—the Hell Map, the Nine Nether Map, the Ascending Dragon Map, the Burial Realm Map, the Blood Axe Map, the Dark Moon Map—all manifested fully.
Each scene was a perfect, peerless divine ability.
With one slash of the blade, all thirty-six scenes converged into it, striking straight at Zhang Ruochen, who was charging against the tide.
It seemed capable of splitting time and space, dividing the universe.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was calm as still water. Without a second thought, he swung his arm. His arm and palm transformed into a hundred-thousand-foot-long shadow of light, dispersing the peerless blade radiance of the Primordial Ancestor's strike.
The stone blade snapped, and the Heavenly Demon's arms were mangled and bloody.
No matter your Primordial Ancestor cultivation or your invincible divine abilities, before the Heavenly Dao Great Emperor, you were but a firefly compared to the bright moon.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen's light of escape accelerated, breaking through the Heavenly Demon's Primordial Ancestor order field defense.
He grabbed the Heavenly Demon by the neck and then plunged downward.
This grab contained the power of the Five-Break Clear Spirit Hand. All the power within the Heavenly Demon's body was scattered, his rules and order thrown into chaos, and the aura of his Primordial Ancestor status vanished completely.
"You should have died millions of years ago, enduring millions of years of inexplicable suffering... I think, for a figure like you, who should have been unrestrained, extraordinary, and free, if you still had your own thoughts, you certainly wouldn't have been willing to be enslaved like a puppet."
"Heavenly Demon, rest in peace. I will help you find release!"
At this moment, what appeared in Zhang Ruochen's pupils was the proud figure of the Heavenly Demon from when he had gone to the Primordial Beginning to cultivate the First-Rank Sacred Intent, the one who had struck that blade to save him.
That was a debt Zhang Ruochen owed.
The Heavenly Demon's resolute, angular face was covered in disheveled long hair, and his pupils held none of the sharpness or edge of a Primordial Ancestor, only endless emptiness and desolation.
The former First Supreme Pillar, the demonic overlord who ended the Chaotic Ancient Era... had long since passed away.
On the River of Time below, the Space-Time Human Ancestor had already broken free from the Death God Sacrifice's will. A thought reached out to the Heavenly Demon's body, triggering the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source within him.
"Chi chi!"
The Divine Martial Mark on the Heavenly Demon's brow emerged, glowing red-gold.
His body began to burn.
Zhang Ruochen struck first, shattering the Heavenly Demon's brow. From his Qi Sea, he plucked the burning Primordial Ancestor Divine Source, holding it in his palm like a divine lamp.
In the small world of his palm, he condensed time-stopping ice crystals, freezing the already-cracked Primordial Ancestor Divine Source.
A fist-sized bloody hole remained in the Heavenly Demon's brow. As if losing all power, he fell downward, his body gradually freezing within the time ice crystals.
With a splash, he fell into the River of Time.
In the distance, Void Heaven, Feng Tian, Chan Bing, Xiu Chen, Blood Butcher, Que, Hai Shang You Ruo, and other top-tier deities each used their means to block the fragments of the Star Heaven Cliff falling from the sky.
"What just happened? The Star Heaven Cliff was shattered just like that, and the Heavenly Demon fell just like that?" a deity of the Destiny Temple said, staring at the Heavenly Demon's corpse sinking into the River of Time, shocked and unable to calm down for a long time.
In recent years, major events had occurred frequently, but witnessing a Primordial Ancestor die before one's eyes was still a shocking affair.
Blood Butcher's blood surged, and he laughed wildly in excitement: "How can we mere mortals fathom the magical combat of Primordial Ancestors? What seemed like a mere moment might have been thousands of years in the time dimension created by Senior Brother."
Hai Shang You Ruo said, "With the Imperial Dust's Dao fully realized, how could an ordinary Primordial Ancestor be his match for even a single exchange? Moreover, the Heavenly Demon's state was clearly abnormal."
Defeating the Heavenly Demon, plucking the Divine Source—it was done with ease.
The morale of the Destiny Temple army on the River of Time was high.
They did not know the danger that had just passed, only seeing the Imperial Dust as a mythic legend. Never in history had anyone heard of someone plucking a Primordial Ancestor's Divine Source.
No one knew that on the Northern Universe and the Santu River, the Death Clan had been wiped out to the last, their blood dyeing the starry sky, their bones covering the Ancient God Path, with few survivors.
This victory was bought with the lives of an entire clan.
"Be careful! All cultivators, heed my command—raise the Gate of Destiny!"
Feng Tian gazed ahead at the Space-Time Human Ancestor and Zhang Ruochen, who had suddenly clashed together. Her expression was heavy. After giving the order, she immediately struck out with six volumes of the *Fate Heavenly Scripture*, raising twelve Gates of Destiny.
Just a moment earlier.
Zhang Ruochen, holding the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source of the Heavenly Demon, which was about to explode, escaped into the Qiankun, opening a path of time and space beneath his feet, and struck a palm at the Human Ancestor.
Now he was beginning his counterattack!
The Space-Time Human Ancestor understood Zhang Ruochen's intent. It was a purely mutual-destruction tactic, leaving no retreat for himself, nor for his opponent.
If he did not take this palm, Zhang Ruochen would surely rush to the past to stop the Doomsday Sacrifice.
If he took this palm...
"Boom!"
The two collided.
The Heavenly Demon's Primordial Ancestor Divine Source exploded. At its core, space trembled violently, and the light blazed to an extreme.
When light reaches its peak, it becomes darkness, as if turning into an unstable black hole.
The destructive storm from the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source's explosion first tore apart the River of Time, then surged toward the Seventy-Two Layer Tower and the Second Confucian Ancestor in the past, as well as the Destiny Temple in the future.
The Seventy-Two Layer Tower and the Second Confucian Ancestor were quite close and were flung away by the storm, falling into the chaos of time and space.
The destructive storm surging toward the future was mostly neutralized by the Eternal Divine Sea, which was one light-year in diameter, before clashing with the Destiny Temple.
"Whoosh!"
Behind the Destiny Temple, countless Gates of Destiny rose from the army of cultivators.
"Bang, bang..."
The Gates of Destiny burst one after another, and the cultivators in the army shattered along with them.
Even separated by vast time and space, it was still hard to withstand, with countless casualties.
Fortunately, they held.
The River of Time cracked all the way to beneath the Destiny Temple before stabilizing, not spreading further.
Void Heaven, Feng Tian, and Chan Bing, all at the Half-Ancestor realm, stood at the forefront of the temple. Their bodies were riddled with wounds, their divine robes turned to bloodstained garments, and their faces rapidly aged under the erosion of time's power.
...
Zhang Ruochen and the Space-Time Human Ancestor bore the brunt of the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source's explosion almost point-blank. Both were severely wounded, their bodies shattered, with few bones intact.
Even the Primordial Ancestor rules and order within their bodies were worn away countless times.
Such injuries were enough to affect the very foundation of a Primordial Ancestor and could not be healed in a short time.
A moment later.
Zhang Ruochen's broken body stabilized in the chaos of time and space. He immediately activated the Dao power of Eternity and Infinity, gathering the shattered time and space to reassemble the River of Time.
"Since the years have been destroyed, why bother reassembling them?"
The Space-Time Human Ancestor, with white hair stretching three thousand zhang and the sun and moon reflected in his pupils, stepped forward, causing heaven and earth to collapse. He attacked Zhang Ruochen with overwhelming dominance.
Where was the appearance of old age?
He was like an ancient divine sword, seemingly covered in rust but still sharp. This sword had two cold edges, killing as it came.
In truth, as long as the River of Time was broken, the Space-Time Human Ancestor's goal was achieved, enough to remain undefeated.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen's current position was now closer to the Destiny Temple behind him.
The aftershocks from their level of combat could annihilate the entire Destiny Temple army.
Zhang Ruochen naturally would not let the Space-Time Human Ancestor succeed. He abandoned reassembling the River of Time and rushed forward at extreme speed, trying to distance himself from the Destiny Temple as much as possible.
"Boom!"
He struck out with both fists. Both used the power of time and space, both containing the Dao force of Eternity and Infinity.
Light waves spread, heaven and earth shattered.
"Pfft! Raise... the Gate of Destiny..."
"Burn divine blood, burn lifespan—there is no retreat!"
"The Fate Stream still flows against the current, the River of Time still surges backward... Great Emperor, fight with all your might—we can hold on!"
...
Cultivators in the Destiny Temple army fell in droves.
But they still pushed the River of Time forward step by step, making the years flow backward.
In the chaos of time and space, the Second Confucian Ancestor, after reassembling his Spiritual Power Primordial Ancestor body, found that the Seventy-Two Layer Tower had flown toward the Space-Time Human Ancestor.
Once the Space-Time Human Ancestor took control of the Seventy-Two Layer Tower, the balance of the battle would surely be broken.
This artifact was an extremely important trump card for the Space-Time Human Ancestor, forged with countless effort and scheming.
"Alas!"
The Second Confucian Ancestor noticed that the turbulent time and space had suddenly become stable.
He looked toward Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen's entire body radiated brilliant divine light, his hair turned into myriad divine rivers, and above his head floated nine bright stars, emitting nine distinct ancient powers.
Such an aura and Dao resonance made even the Second Confucian Ancestor feel a desire to kneel and bow in submission.
"The Nine Cauldrons... the Nine Cauldrons have finally truly merged with the Dao, commanding the world, revered by all clans! When did he seize control of the remaining four cauldrons?"
It was just before, when the Heavenly Demon's Primordial Ancestor Divine Source exploded, and the Space-Time Human Ancestor thought Zhang Ruochen was about to reassemble the River of Time.
In reality, Zhang Ruochen was then wearing down the artifact spirits of the four cauldrons controlled by the Human Ancestor.
...
...
The Space-Time Human Ancestor flew down onto the Seventy-Two Layer Tower, his physical body fully restored, still with that immortal air. But his gaze at Zhang Ruochen was no longer that of looking at a junior or a rising talented disciple.
Now it was a gaze of equality and seriousness.
Such a gaze, from ancient times to the present, had been seen by fewer than five people.
He said, "The Nether Ancestor's Soul Devouring Curse?"
Having refined the Divine Illumination Lotus, Zhang Ruochen's curse techniques were now on par with the Nether Ancestor.
Earlier, he had used the Soul Devouring Curse to devour the artifact spirits of the four cauldrons, thus reclaiming control over them.
Zhang Ruochen also reassembled his Primordial Ancestor physical body, exuding a supreme, unparalleled aura from his young, robust form: "From now on, this battle belongs only to the two of us!"
"Whoosh!"
Fifty-four clusters of Dao light burst from his body, forming sixty-four light shadows with the strange domain in his Xuan Tai and the Nine Cauldrons, surpassing the forty-five numbers of the *Luo Shu* and the fifty-five numbers of the *He Tu*.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor, cautious, activated the Seventy-Two Layer Tower. Seventy-two rule rivers surged from the tower's gates, striking at the approaching Zhang Ruochen.
"Break for me!"
The seventy-two rule rivers were torn apart by Zhang Ruochen in an instant.
The Nine Cauldrons clashed with the Seventy-Two Layer Tower. The Space-Time Human Ancestor could not withstand it and was sent flying backward.
"Boom!"
"Boom, boom!"
...
Zhang Ruochen's blood and Qi surged. He strode forward, one step covering a world, completely seizing the upper hand, continuously driving the Space-Time Human Ancestor and the Seventy-Two Layer Tower toward the past.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor was not flustered. Even in retreat, he maintained a disciplined structure, able to counter the various divine abilities and combat techniques Zhang Ruochen unleashed.
"The River of Time is already broken. Even if you go to before the Doomsday Sacrifice, you will need to pay with your life for a chance to reverse the future. But it is only a chance!"
Zhang Ruochen was unaffected, his combat style becoming even more fierce, his blood and Qi vigorous: "This chance was bought with the lives of how many people? Even if the River of Time is broken, even if I must die from the backlash of heaven and earth's karma, this is already set in stone. I have no regrets and will not change my mind."
"Nine Daos unite, Heavenly Dao Seal Technique."
Zhang Ruochen created techniques in a single thought. Yin-Yang, Five Elements, Time and Space—nine Daos united into the all-encompassing Heavenly Dao Seal, striking the void. The force of the shock penetrated the Seventy-Two Layer Tower and landed on the Space-Time Human Ancestor.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor's chest caved in, and blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.
The next moment, the blood at the corner of his mouth ignited, and the Primordial Ancestor blood and Qi within his body turned into an endless sea of fire.
The Human Ancestor's body became like a torch, his might growing continuously.
"Finally, I've forced you to burn your blood and fight as well! Karma cycles, and today offense and defense have shifted."
Zhang Ruochen did not hesitate to ignite the blood within his body. His battle intent was terrifyingly high, his gaze sharp as a blade.
"Whoosh!"
The Space-Time Human Ancestor pointed upward, opening a passage connecting to the Divine Realm.
At the end of the passage was the main altar, shrouded in swirling clouds.
Within the swirling clouds were Divine Martial Marks as dense as stars.
Zhang Ruochen sensed a terrifying, unknown force. That main altar in the Divine Realm seemed to share the same origin as him.
As the altar operated, the divine Qi within his body trembled slightly, and all his Dao light flickered between brightness and darkness.
"Is it the Heavenly Dao's Origin?"
Zhang Ruochen murmured, feeling for the first time that he might indeed have some connection to the Heavenly Dao.
"He wants to use the power of the Heavenly Dao's Origin to activate the Seventy-Two Layer Tower! Zhang Ruochen, I, this old man, will hold him back."
The light in the Second Confucian Ancestor's eyes dimmed, becoming much more desolate.
Decisions that took a clear mind sometimes could not be made after millions of years of deliberation. Yet sometimes, they could be made in an instant.
All because today, everyone in the world was moving forward.
This resolute will, this spirit of unity, pushed him forward.
In his youth, was he not the same?
Full of vigor, full of passion and hope for the future and the entire world.
The roc flies north over the sea, the phoenix faces the sun, carrying books and swords on a boundless road.
The Second Confucian Ancestor strode forward, his green robe fluttering in the wind.
The roots and branches of three World Trees extended from within his body, madly absorbing the world's Qi and world rules from time and space.
"I once said that playing chess is a solitary affair; too many people cause chaos. Once a piece is placed, it takes root and moves forward, with no retreat or regret. Thus, all people in the world are my chess pieces."
"But today, the people of the world have taught this self-righteous Confucian Ancestor a lesson. I now realize that no one is willing to be a mere chess piece. Once they fight desperately, everyone becomes a player."
"Only the cowardly, the timid, the selfish, and the despicable become pawns manipulated by others. Chess cannot enslave fearless warriors or open-minded sages."
"How laughable that I spent my life cultivating the Heavenly Will, believing my will to be the will of heaven."
"In the end, I trapped myself in the chess game, deceiving myself, deceiving heaven, and ultimately being toyed with by fate."
"A player does not regret his moves, so today I will no longer be a player! Zhang Ruochen, I will help you overturn the board!"
The seven heavenly lamps lit in the Second Confucian Ancestor's divine heart merged into one.
His Spiritual Power aura surged another notch: "Teacher, are you ready?"
"The Heavenly Will Art, Sever... Human... Will!"
Every word the Second Confucian Ancestor shouted caused the Space-Time Human Ancestor's body to tremble, as if struck by a heavy blow.
The attack came from the dimension of Spiritual Power.
At the cost of his life, the Second Confucian Ancestor forged a golden Severed Will War Sword and sent it flying.
The war sword was not within time and space. The Space-Time Human Ancestor could not block it with divine Qi, rules, or order. He could only watch as it pierced his brow.
He could only mobilize his Spiritual Power and divine soul to resist.
"Chi!"
The Severed Will War Sword broke through the Space-Time Human Ancestor's defense, piercing two inches into his brow, the tip reaching his Sea of Consciousness.
If the Sea of Consciousness was broken, even if the Human Ancestor was not stripped of his will, his consciousness would be severely damaged, driving him mad.
This sword strike from the Second Confucian Ancestor was no less than the full-force attack of any Primordial Ancestor.
"Xiao Qiu, you are deep in thought and meticulous in your calculations! But you must know that before absolute cultivation disparity, all your actions are transparent. You cannot hide from me!"
"The three World Trees were suggested by me, your teacher, for you to acquire to enhance your combat power. Do you think I, your teacher, would not have a countermeasure against you?"
As the Space-Time Human Ancestor spoke these words, Zhang Ruochen broke through the Seventy-Two Layer Tower and, with the Nine Cauldrons, struck from behind.
He intended to take advantage of the Second Confucian Ancestor's spiritual attack to severely wound the Space-Time Human Ancestor from the material plane, crippling his combat power.
But at this critical moment, the battle situation changed in an instant.
One of the World Trees within the Second Confucian Ancestor, out of his control, extended its roots toward his head, first breaking through his Sea of Consciousness.
It must be noted that at this moment, the vast majority of the Second Confucian Ancestor's Spiritual Power thoughts were forged into the Severed Will War Sword, leaving his own defenses at their weakest. How could he withstand the World Tree's backlash?
With his Sea of Consciousness broken, he could no longer control the Severed Will War Sword.
Accompanied by the Second Confucian Ancestor's unwilling roar of grief, the Severed Will War Sword, which had a chance to severely wound the Space-Time Human Ancestor, instantly turned into wisps of golden smoke, dissipating in the chaos of time and space.
What dissipated was also the Second Confucian Ancestor's entire Spiritual Power cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen's killing blow naturally missed.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor had already escaped, fleeing from the center of the Nine Cauldrons' combined strike.
Although the Second Confucian Ancestor's effort fell short, he had successfully prevented the Space-Time Human Ancestor from mobilizing the power of the Heavenly Dao's Origin, putting the Human Ancestor in a completely passive position in his confrontation with Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen immediately pursued, attacking like a storm, giving the Space-Time Human Ancestor no chance to catch his breath.
No more chances to mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao's Origin!
It must be understood that the fundamental difference between fighting on the River of Time and fighting in the Divine Realm lay here.
In the Divine Realm, the Space-Time Human Ancestor could easily mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao's Origin, and in much greater quantities than on the River of Time.
Here, it took the Space-Time Human Ancestor more time to mobilize the power of the Heavenly Dao's Origin, and even the Second Confucian Ancestor could interrupt it.
"Bang, bang!"
The Space-Time Human Ancestor retreated upstream on the River of Time, using the Sundial to protect himself and the Seventy-Two Layer Tower to block the Nine Cauldrons. He engaged in close combat with Zhang Ruochen, each punch like a star collision, each palm like a great world clashing.
It was not that he did not want to draw the battle toward the Destiny Temple or the future.
But Zhang Ruochen had sealed the path to the future!
Of course, the Space-Time Human Ancestor could retreat to the Divine Realm, but that would mean the failure of his countless years of scheming.
Because Zhang Ruochen would surely take this brief opportunity to return to the past, destroy the main altar in the Sword Realm, and turn the Doomsday Sacrifice into a mere illusion.
At that point, even if he returned to the Divine Realm and killed all the cultivators attacking it, what would be the point?
Continue the decisive battle with Zhang Ruochen?
What would be the meaning of that decisive battle?
In the end, as long as people have desires, they have weaknesses.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor's weakness was this Doomsday Sacrifice.
It was something he could never give up.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor never imagined he would fall into such a difficult situation. When did things start slipping out of his control?
No, he had not lost yet.
"Do you really want to perish together with me?" the Space-Time Human Ancestor said.
Now that the River of Time was broken, the cultivators of the Destiny Temple could not cross over.
The reversal of time would be interrupted.
Under such circumstances, if Zhang Ruochen destroyed the main altar, he would surely suffer a severe backlash from the karma of heaven and earth. The Space-Time Human Ancestor did not believe that Zhang Ruochen would let him go before dying from the backlash.
Because there was still some time before the Great Calamity, he could still prepare for a Minor Calamity.
"Whether it's mutual destruction or your complete defeat remains to be seen," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Space-Time Human Ancestor said, "It may not be your complete defeat! You have too much confidence in those cultivators of the Destiny Temple. Can they be a match for a Primordial Ancestor?"
...
The Second Confucian Ancestor seemed to have all his essence drained in an instant, his face pale as death. The few remaining Spiritual Power thoughts in his body were continuously absorbed by the World Tree.
Murong Zhuzai, holding a staff, stepped out from a spatial hole not far behind him.
He reached out and pressed against the Second Confucian Ancestor's heart. Instantly, the World Tree's branches and roots quickly emerged from the skin, spreading toward Murong Zhuzai's arms, shoulders, and chest...
"Boom!"
The massive World Tree burst through the Second Confucian Ancestor's body, fully rushing into Murong Zhuzai.
The Second Confucian Ancestor's physical body had already been destroyed in the storm of the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source's explosion. This was merely a Spiritual Power Primordial Ancestor body.
Once his Spiritual Power was drained, he naturally turned to ashes.
"What a pity. A ninety-sixth-level Spiritual Power—how many in history? If you hadn't forged most of your Spiritual Power into the Severed Will War Sword, how could I have had any chance to kill you?"
Murong Zhuzai shook his head lightly, no longer hiding. His voice had changed from before.
He deliberately let his voice carry through the chaos of time and space, letting all the surviving cultivators of the Destiny Temple hear.
"It's... him!"
Void Heaven's eyes widened in shock.
But he quickly relaxed and laughed heartily. He said, "Old man Hua Ying really knows how to play. I, Xu Fengjin, am truly in awe today."
Many deities of the Destiny Temple were familiar with this voice.
"It's... the Venerable One?"
Blood Butcher's face turned cold, and he gritted his teeth: "The Venerable One of the Heavenly Fate Division, the World Tree's Spirit. Back when Yunshen Daozhu was imprisoned in the Destiny Temple, it was this World Tree's Spirit that suppressed him and wore down his Spiritual Power."
Zhang Ruochen's intuition when he first met Murong Zhuzai was not wrong, because he had also met the Venerable One of the Heavenly Fate Division.
It was at the Heavenly Guard Platform on Fate Divine Mountain.
It was that time when Zhang Ruochen had consulted materials and discovered that Yunshen Daozhu and the Godfall Clan were descendants of the Space-Time Human Ancestor. It was also at the Heavenly Guard Platform that Zhang Ruochen found the *He Tu*.
At that time, the Venerable One of the Heavenly Fate Division was already the strongest Spiritual Power cultivator under Void Heaven in the Destiny Temple.
"It seems that even then, the Venerable One had already been subdued by the Human Ancestor," Hai Shang You Ruo said.
Void Heaven said angrily, "To possess Murong Buzhi and attain the Spiritual Power Primordial Ancestor realm—such an opportunity, if it fell to me, I would also be willing to be subdued."
"Xu Fengjin, if you submit now, it is not too late."
Murong Zhuzai withdrew the World Tree. After absorbing the remaining Spiritual Power from the Second Confucian Ancestor's body, his cultivation had improved further. He walked step by step through the chaos of time and space, leaving ripples of Spiritual Power as he approached the Destiny Temple.
Void Heaven shouted, "You old scoundrel, what right do you have to ride over me? Back in the Destiny Temple, you even asked me for advice on Spiritual Power cultivation!"
Murong Zhuzai's eyes sharpened: "Ancient history, not worth mentioning! Now, can you withstand a single strike from me?"
"Boom!"
The sound of calamity thunder roared around him.
The power of calamity condensed into phantom forms of divine beasts like the Azure Dragon and Fire Phoenix, with the majestic might of a Primordial Ancestor pressing down on heaven and earth.
Void Heaven stiffened his neck, his face red, his lungs about to burst with rage, but he could not utter a single word.
Blood Butcher shouted, "If Void Heaven self-destructs his Half-Ancestor Divine Source, can the Venerable One escape unscathed?"
Void Heaven turned to look at Blood Butcher.
Rebellion, all rebellion—when had he ever said he would self-destruct his Divine Source?
If all the cultivators of the Destiny Temple held such expectations, would he have to go through with it?
Que did not overthink it, believing Blood Butcher's words were reasonable: "Master, go ahead. I will surely carry on the Great Calamity Palace in the future. Everyone, attack together, assault the Primordial Ancestor, and help Master self-destruct his Divine Source."
Blood Butcher glanced secretly at Que: "Are you serious?"
"How many have died today, how many Divine Sources have exploded—how can there be any falsehood?" Que had absolute respect for Void Heaven and, naturally, absolute confidence in him.
He firmly believed that although his master was not bound by trivialities, he would surely uphold great righteousness.
Void Heaven was put on the spot. He had valued his face all his life, but this time, he truly did not want it.
He glanced left and right at Feng Tian and Chan Bing, and his anger surged: "What are you looking at me for? Feng Caiyi, you are a Half-Ancestor at the peak—why don't you go?"
Feng Tian's gaze shifted from Void Heaven, locking onto Murong Zhuzai opposite. She took a step forward.
"Whoosh!"
The entire chaos of time and space trembled slightly, then began to rotate, forming a seemingly boundless, massive vortex.
Murong Zhuzai, caught in the time-space vortex, was greatly shocked. He looked incredulously at Feng Tian opposite.
Feng Caiyi had hidden her cultivation—when had she broken through to the Primordial Ancestor realm?
Feng Tian was also stunned.
She had only taken one step forward.
"This is... Senior Brother's Eternal Divine Sea! The shattered Eternal Divine Sea has recovered! This is a backup plan left by Senior Brother, haha..." Blood Butcher laughed wildly.
...
All the Alliance Leader's gifts have been sent out, each batch different.
Some have one sword, engraved with "Abyssal Depths." Some have two, engraved with "Abyssal Depths" and "Blood Drop."
But aside from the first batch (inscribed in small seal script), the prices are roughly the same. The single-sword ones are more finely crafted.
The first batch had no experience, the platform was not chosen correctly, and the purchase price was twice as high.