Chapter 4243: Human Nature and Divine Nature
The Dark Lord felt that Zhang Ruochen's Dao techniques were as vast and grand as heaven and earth itself, breeding a sense of utter defeat from which there was no escape.
This was not only suppression at the level of Dao techniques but also an envelopment of aura and momentum.
"Shua shua!"
The seven cauldrons each possessed different powers, their auras like seven Primordial Ancestors, pursuing along the lines of the palm's meridians. The Witch Cauldron evolved myriad great techniques of the Witch Ancestor, the Yellow Cauldron erupted with divine light of radiance, the Mysterious Emperor released infinite darkness, the Heavenly Cauldron locked onto fate and the cosmos—seven cauldrons, seven layers of Dao, representing the continuation of the Witch Ancestor's power.
"Damn it... you forced me into this! You will bear all the consequences!"
The Dark Lord was well aware of what Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, combined with the nine cauldrons, signified.
It meant he could truly kill an Eternal Unchanging level Primordial Ancestor. If caught by him, today's calamity would be inescapable.
There was only one way out.
He had to make Zhang Ruochen truly realize the price of killing him.
Act according to the situation, calculate gains and losses.
Between gain and loss lay advance and retreat.
"Chi chi!"
Within the Dark Lord's body, Bai Yuan's Eternal Unchanging Primordial Ancestor substance, soul spirit, rules, and order were ignited by a secret technique.
His combat power and aura rapidly increased, quickly reaching a level not inferior to the Eternal Unchanging peak realm of the White Jade Divine Emperor.
Moreover, it continued to grow...
Possessing the "legacy" of Bai Yuan, an Immortal, the Dark Lord had a great opportunity in the future to strike at the Eternal Unchanging realm.
If he burned up the "legacy" today, the path to the Eternal Unchanging realm would be severed!
At this moment, he was exchanging his future path to the Eternal Unchanging realm for a temporary boost in cultivation and combat power. He was risking everything!
The Primordial Ancestor flames on the Dark Lord's body were millions of times brighter than stars. The vast starry region around him, over three hundred trillion miles wide, became distorted due to the spatial fluctuations emanating from his body.
The power of Myriad Forms Formless devoured everything in space.
His combat power was infinitely close to the Eternal Unchanging realm.
The Dark Lord's momentum surged like the Witch Ancestor Bai Yuan reborn. Breaking through Zhang Ruochen's palm-print heaven and earth, he directly grabbed a nearby star sea, holding an endless starry sky in his palm, and struck it at the seven cauldrons chasing behind him.
"Boom!"
The seven cauldrons hummed.
Trembling, they released seven kinds of supreme heavenly powers.
The star sea struck by the Dark Lord collapsed and exploded. Within the star sea, tens of millions of planets shattered into dust, turning into a murky chaos where no rules existed.
The power of Myriad Forms Formless devoured everything in space.
His combat power was infinitely close to the Eternal Unchanging realm.
The Dark Lord's momentum surged like the Witch Ancestor Bai Yuan reborn. Breaking through Zhang Ruochen's palm-print heaven and earth, he directly grabbed a nearby star sea, holding an endless starry sky in his palm, and struck it at the seven cauldrons chasing behind him.
"Boom!"
The seven cauldrons hummed.
Trembling, they released seven kinds of supreme heavenly powers.
The star sea struck by the Dark Lord collapsed and exploded. Within the star sea, tens of millions of planets shattered into dust, turning into a murky chaos where no rules existed.
The force was extremely powerful, containing the might to destroy the world.
"Boom!"
Space shattered.
Zhang Ruochen stepped across this ruined starry region, emerging from the chaos, and struck a palm at the Dark Lord's chest.
The Dark Lord defended with all his might, spitting out a hundred thousand beams of order light from his mouth, and two rivers of talisman divine patterns surged from his eyes.
But he could not block it at all. The palm strike dimmed his divine light and sent his body staggering backward.
Cracks appeared again on his Primordial Ancestor body.
"If you had the death-defying will of Ksitigarbha King or Yan Tingqiu, compressing your entire lifespan into half a day or a day to bloom fully, I might have to avoid you. But you simply don't have that kind of courage!"
Zhang Ruochen's killing intent was overwhelming. Even though a starry region had just been destroyed, it could not shake his heart in the slightest.
If the Dark Lord controlled the Heavenly Dao Origin, even if they resolved the Great Calamity, the universe would never know peace.
Such a hidden danger must be eliminated in advance. Cut the flesh to remove the poison, no matter the cost.
"Boom!"
A dozen exchanges in a row, the power level reaching the Eternal Unchanging realm.
The Dark Lord was the first to lose, turning into a porcelain doll with cracks all over his body, on the verge of shattering into pieces at any moment.
Seeing the seven cauldrons emerge from the ruined starry region and converge with Zhang Ruochen, the Dark Lord knew that even with his combat power raised to its current height, he was still no match. So, he gave up the head-on confrontation and immediately fled toward the direction of the Heavenly Court Myriad Realms starry region.
"Pursue me further, and the price you will pay will be the entire Heavenly Court Myriad Realms and countless living beings of the universe."
Feeling the threat might not be enough, he added, "When truly pushed to the brink, do you think I wouldn't self-destruct my Primordial Ancestor Divine Source? You underestimate the resolve of a Primordial Ancestor!"
With every step the Dark Lord took, a Myriad Forms Formless seal a light-year in diameter appeared beneath his feet, allowing him to cross tens of trillions of miles in an instant.
At their level, crossing the universe was not difficult.
The Time Cauldron and Space Cauldron beneath Zhang Ruochen's feet flew out, joining the seven cauldrons.
The nine cauldrons flew in nine different directions. Some mobilized the light of all stars in the universe, some channeled time rules into divine rivers, some evolved a cosmic star sea.
The power of the nine cauldrons far surpassed that of the seven.
Nine kinds of power sealed off all dimensions of escape for the Dark Lord.
Sensing the nine cauldrons approaching from nine directions, the Dark Lord truly felt the weight of the saying, "Obtain the nine cauldrons, and you command the world." A thought arose in his heart to return the Civilization Ring and the Heavenly Dao Origin.
But he cut off that thought in an instant.
If it were the Zhang Ruochen of the past, he might have wanted to avoid massive casualties and compromise, choosing to let him go for the time being.
But at this moment, Zhang Ruochen had no weaknesses. The Dark Lord could not sense the existence of his human nature. He truly seemed like a consciousness born from the heavens, determined to suppress and kill all heresies and challengers in the world.
The Dark Lord activated the power of the Desolate Moon, causing it to rise from his abdomen to his brow, releasing Primordial Divine Radiance to break through the nine cauldrons' blockade. He slipped through the gap between the Universe Cauldron and the Yellow Cauldron.
But as soon as he emerged, he saw Zhang Ruochen waiting ahead.
"The Great Calamity is accelerating. What good does it do you to fight me to the death? We can negotiate. The Civilization Ring and the Heavenly Dao Origin are not necessarily something I can't return to you."
The Dark Lord tested whether Zhang Ruochen's attitude would soften.
Zhang Ruochen was utterly indifferent, his hand forming a grasping motion.
"Hua!"
The Creation Divine Sword rose in his palm, with the sword spirits of Abyssal Depths and Blood Drop flying around the blade.
As the sword was raised above his head, the cosmic void behind Zhang Ruochen rose into a boundless nebula of sword qi. Within the nebula, all sword-shaped sword qi pointed their tips at the Dark Lord.
There was no room for negotiation.
The Dark Lord's eyes turned cold and ruthless. Gritting his teeth, he began to burn his lifespan, learning from Ksitigarbha King and the Second Confucian Ancestor, exchanging his entire lifespan for brief, invincible combat power.
"Deciding now is too late!"
Zhang Ruochen's long hair billowed, his gaze cold enough to freeze the cosmic star sea.
With a free and easy yet overwhelmingly powerful aura, he swung his sword, cleaving through the rules and order field released by the Dark Lord.
"Boom!"
The nebula-like ocean of sword qi surged forward, drowning the Primordial Ancestor flames on the Dark Lord's body.
Even the Desolate Moon released by the Dark Lord could not block it.
The Primordial Ancestor divine body was cleaved in two by the sword.
This sword seized the power of creation. It could be called a Time Sword Art, a Space Sword Art, a Truth Sword Art, a Fate Sword Art... It contained Zhang Ruochen's lifelong understanding of the Sword Dao, executed at his current cultivation level. It was arguably the strongest sword in history, reaching a level that even the Sword Ancestor had not achieved.
Because the Sword Ancestor had the strength to escape from Bai Yuan's hands.
But this sword of Zhang Ruochen's could not be blocked even by the peak Bai Yuan.
The Desolate Moon was the Dark Lord's Divine Source.
But this sword directly cleaved the Desolate Moon, creating countless cracks, and sent it flying away from the Dark Lord.
The aura of the Dark Lord on the Desolate Moon was completely erased by the sword.
The two halves of the Dark Lord's cleaved body were horrified to find that the Sword Dao power invading their bodies could not be dissolved, constantly destroying their rules, order, spirit, and soul.
Seizing creation, slashing creation, extinguishing creation.
Besides the nine cauldrons, this Creation Divine Sword, nurtured by Zhang Ruochen, could also be called an Ancestor-Extinguishing Divine Artifact.
After Zhang Ruochen appeared, not only did the Dark Lord flee, but the White Jade Divine Emperor also decisively escaped.
What he feared was not just Lin Ke and Zhang Ruochen, but also the Nether Ancestor.
Since the Human Ancestor had fallen and Zhang Ruochen had returned alive, it undoubtedly meant that the Nether Ancestor had made a move, choosing not to be a fisherman reaping the benefits but to stand on Zhang Ruochen's side.
Fortunately, the Dark Lord had snatched the Civilization Ring and the Heavenly Dao Origin, drawing Zhang Ruochen away, giving him a chance to escape.
Yan Wushen, Hao Tian, and Heavenly Mother were all severely injured. Moreover, with the initial signs of the Great Calamity appearing, establishing reincarnation would undoubtedly be the top priority.
Although Lin Ke's combat power was strong, his killing intent was far inferior to Zhang Ruochen's. He would not go to any lengths to kill him.
It could be said that killing the White Jade Divine Emperor would bring no benefit and might even lead to mutual destruction in his desperate counterattack.
This was also why, in the ancient epochs when the Human Ancestor, Nether Ancestor, and Bai Yuan stood in a tripod, the White Jade Divine Emperor, an Eternal Unchanging peak, could remain eternal and undying.
He could not defeat the Eternal Unchanging realm, but in a desperate fight, he could threaten the Eternal Unchanging realm.
Just like the Second Confucian Ancestor, who condensed the Absolute Will War Sword at the cost of his life. If not for the World Tree within his body causing trouble, he would have already pierced the Human Ancestor's Sea of Consciousness with that sword.
As the White Jade Divine Emperor expected, Lin Ke did not pursue.
"Zhang Ruochen's human nature is being overtaken by the divine nature of the Heavenly Dao. He doesn't care how many beings die in a Primordial Ancestor-level battle or how many planets are destroyed. He seems intent on eliminating all hidden dangers. This universe can no longer be stayed in!"
The White Jade Divine Emperor fled toward the Southern Universe.
He knew that back then, after Wen Tianjun was severely injured, he fled from the Southern Universe to the Phantom Extinction Star Sea and then left this universe.
The Residual Lamp had been invited by Wen Tianjun.
There must be a way out at the border of the Southern Universe.
"Dang! Dang!..."
Bell sounds rang out, causing space to tremble.
Sixty-five spatial holes appeared ahead, each with a set of bells suspended within.
The sound waves were like the heavenly music of the Great Dao, yet also like the world-destroying bells of doom.
Ji Fanxin, dressed in white, her skin like immortal jade and colored glaze, slowly emerged from the void. Against the backdrop of the sixty-five bronze bells, she was like a peerless painting suspended in the universe.
Her pupils flowed with dark blue Nether light, her long hair like hundreds of thousands of heavenly rivers spanning the void.
"Hua la!"
The sound of water roared, as if the entire universe had turned into an ocean.
The White Jade Divine Emperor looked around and found that space was constantly shattering, with countless tributaries of the Santu River rolling and flowing, trapping him like a cage.
The White Jade Divine Emperor tried to stay calm, staring at Ji Fanxin: "You are the Sixteenth Day. You never died. Even the Human Ancestor was deceived by you!"
"You are wrong. The Sixteenth Day is dead!"
Ji Fanxin's divine radiance was brilliant, extremely ethereal.
If one did not look carefully, they would not notice the Nether light in her pupils.
The White Jade Divine Emperor did not believe her at all. Just as he was about to speak, Ji Fanxin continued, "But since the first fifteen days existed, the Sixteenth Day can be born at any time. A lotus, as long as its root remains, will eventually bloom again."
The White Jade Divine Emperor was greatly shaken: "The flower withers, the leaves wither, the stem wilts, but the lotus root hides in the mud, its vitality buried deep underwater, deceiving everyone. When the Sixteenth Day comes, the lotus blooms again, blossoming in the mortal world."
Ji Fanxin said, "From the time the lotus bud emerges from the water to the end of its bloom, there are fifteen days—that is its flowering period. On the sixteenth day, it should wither, but it refuses to accept this. Thus, in the midst of withering, Nether intent was born."
"Fanxin resides in the root and stem, ever-renewing but adhering to the Heavenly Dao's laws of withering and flourishing."
"Nether intent resides in the flower, unwilling to wither, unwilling to obey the laws of the Heavenly Dao, desiring eternal bloom and immortality."
"Heart and intent, their philosophies oppose each other, checking and balancing each other."
"Later, as Nether intent's cultivation grew stronger, its intent took form. Even leaving the main body, it could be invincible in the world. So, it planted the Divine Illumination Lotus in the Realm of Life and Death, imprisoning it, using the Santu River to absorb the death qi of the entire universe to nourish it."
"The Divine Illumination Lotus, due to the existence of Nether, remained undying, while Nether could be reborn through the Divine Illumination Lotus. As long as one of the two survived, they could mutually achieve each other."
The White Jade Divine Emperor said, "So, Nether intent was reborn long ago, hidden within the Divine Illumination Lotus? But you certainly did not expect that Fanxin would sacrifice the Divine Illumination Lotus to Zhang Ruochen to help him perfect his Dao."
"No, this was within my expectations. If she had not given the Divine Illumination Lotus to Zhang Ruochen, how could he have gained the strength to contend with the Human Ancestor? How could he have ended in mutual destruction with the Human Ancestor? Losing the Divine Illumination Lotus had a great impact on me, but was it not also a complete escape from the shackles of the Divine Illumination Lotus and Fanxin?" Ji Fanxin said.
"Then you seize the Heavenly Dao Origin and restart the Minor Calamity. Not only can your cultivation return to its peak, but you may even take a step further."
The White Jade Divine Emperor said, "But Zhang Ruochen clearly dragged the Human Ancestor into the future, intending to be buried together with him in the Great Calamity. Was it not you who intervened, changing the outcome of their mutual destruction?"
"It was not me. It was her."
Ji Fanxin let out a faint sigh, shaking her head: "I did not expect that, with hearts and intents not communicating, checking and balancing each other, at the critical moment, she made me fail."
The pressure on the White Jade Divine Emperor eased a little. He laughed: "Sixteenth Day, although you have returned, you are merely a strand of Nether intent. How far are you from your peak? And Ji Fanxin, in order to reverse the future, open a tributary of time, and split the universe's time, must have suffered the backlash of time and causality. Otherwise, how could you have taken advantage of her?"
"Both of you are in a weakened state, still checking and balancing each other. I really don't understand why you came to intercept me? What is the point?"
The White Jade Divine Emperor was genuinely puzzled. It was not that he thought he could defeat the Ji Fanxin before him. Rather, he was absolutely confident in escaping.
He was also absolutely confident in dying together with the Nether Ancestor.
Only the world's most foolish person would do something meaningless that could bring about their own demise.
The Nether Ancestor was clearly not such a person!
"You are wrong in at least two points!" Ji Fanxin said.
The White Jade Divine Emperor said, "I would like to hear the details."
"First, in killing Zhang Ruochen, Fanxin would check and balance me. In killing you, she would fully assist me." Ji Fanxin said.
The White Jade Divine Emperor's expression changed slightly, feeling on Ji Fanxin the same fear he had once felt toward the Nether Ancestor.
Ji Fanxin continued, "Second, this is not a meaningless thing! Killing you and seizing your Eternal Existence Divine Dao will allow me to recover my cultivation faster."
"Why don't you seize the Heavenly Dao Origin? Why don't you seize Zhang Ruochen's Eternal Existence Divine Dao? Do you have the strength to seize my Eternal Existence Divine Dao?" The White Jade Divine Emperor felt belittled by Ji Fanxin. Did she really think she was still the Nether Ancestor at her peak?
Ji Fanxin said, "If I could defeat him, why would I bother with your mere Eternal Existence Divine Dao?"
"Boom!"
From deep within the distant star sea came the terrifying destructive storm of a Primordial Ancestor self-destructing his Divine Source.
The White Jade Divine Emperor was overjoyed: "The Dark Lord has self-destructed his Primordial Ancestor Divine Source. Zhang Ruochen is surely dead. This is a godsend opportunity. Why don't you go seize the Heavenly Dao Origin?"
"Shua!"
The White Jade Divine Emperor thought Ji Fanxin's attention had been drawn away by this sudden change, and that she would be distracted. So, seizing this opportunity, he executed the Mysterious Purity Return to Origin Technique from the Eight Origins Techniques.
He struck directly at Ji Fanxin's soul spirit!
He believed that Nether intent, newly born, must have a weak soul spirit.
Ji Fanxin pointed a finger, breaking the Mysterious Purity Return to Origin Technique, and used a Soul Devouring Curse to counterattack, wounding the White Jade Divine Emperor's soul spirit.
The White Jade Divine Emperor let out a miserable cry and retreated explosively.
"Attempting to ambush the soul spirit of a being with ninety-seventh level spiritual power? How could you think of such a thing? I have never been at a disadvantage in my many years of scheming against the Human Ancestor and Bai Yuan. What makes you think you can outwit me?"
"If you still had the Eternal Existence Divine Sea left by Bai Ze, you might have some say before an Eternal Unchanging level powerhouse. But do you still have Bai Ze's Eternal Existence Divine Sea?"
Every word from Ji Fanxin dismantled the White Jade Divine Emperor's confidence, seeking to destroy his spiritual will.
Bell sounds came from all directions, containing various curses and spiritual power attacks. The White Jade Divine Emperor could only raise his own Eternal Existence Divine Sea to defend, while fleeing at top speed.
He understood now!
In dealing with him, Fanxin and Nether intent were truly of one mind, with no checking and balancing. Their spiritual power and martial techniques were perfectly combined.
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the destructive storm of the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source self-destruction, holding the Heavenly Dao Origin in his palm. His body showed no signs of injury, his flesh intact, and his eyes were full of spirit.
Chi Yao, Heavenly Mother, and Lin Ke, who had rushed over first, looked at each other upon seeing this.
They were both delighted and shocked.
Could even a Primordial Ancestor Divine Source self-destruction not harm him?
Zhang Ruochen said, "Besides the Desolate Moon, the Dark Lord also condensed a new Primordial Ancestor Divine Source when he reached the Primordial Ancestor realm. I was momentarily careless and let him successfully self-destruct his Divine Source. However, it was a Beginning and End level Primordial Ancestor Divine Source, so its destructive power was limited."
Heavenly Mother felt that Zhang Ruochen at this moment was somewhat unfamiliar, carrying a coldness that looked down on all living beings.
Even when he looked at the three of them, his gaze was one of condescension, as if Primordial Ancestors were no different from the common masses.
Lin Ke transmitted to them: "The Civilization Ring no longer binds the Heavenly Dao Origin, so the power of the Heavenly Dao has naturally surged into him. His current cultivation and combat power have likely returned to their peak. The backlash of causality and time, as well as the injuries from his battle with the Human Ancestor, have probably healed in another way."
Heavenly Mother murmured, "Is it because the backlash of causality and time, along with the injuries from fighting the Human Ancestor, caused his human nature to fail to block the endless influx of Heavenly Dao divine nature? Using divine nature to supplement human nature—this kind of healing is better left undone."
Lin Ke said, "He is now at the Eternal Unchanging peak realm. To break through to the Eternal Unchanging realm, the key lies in the word 'self.' If he cannot overcome this trial of himself, the consequences are unpredictable."
"Will he completely transform into the Heavenly Dao?" Chi Yao was very worried.
Lin Ke said, "It is not impossible! As far as I know, some Eternal Unchanging level powerhouses who have lived for endless ages later proclaimed themselves as heaven. Because they have experienced too many human emotions and bonds, they have become as ordinary as air, completely ignorable. What they pursue and what gives their lives meaning is the truth of the universe and the ultimate of the Great Dao."
Zhang Ruochen had been listening, his gaze softening considerably. Suddenly, he asked, "The Great Calamity is approaching. Since Master Residual Lamp comes from outside, may I ask if we can move outside to avoid the calamity?"
Lin Ke realized that their Primordial Ancestor-level divine thought transmissions had not escaped Zhang Ruochen's hearing: "This should be the last, worst-case option. I think you should first establish reincarnation. If the attempt to resolve the Great Calamity fails, then consider leaving this universe. A great cosmic migration is not as simple as you imagine. The outside might be more terrifying than the Great Calamity."
Zhang Ruochen sensed the confrontation between Ji Fanxin and the White Jade Divine Emperor. Turning his head to look, the softness in his eyes disappeared, replaced by killing intent.
Then, he stepped through the void and vanished before the three of them.
Chi Yao's brows were tightly furrowed: "I clearly sensed the return of his human nature just now. Was it the aura of the White Jade Divine Emperor that stimulated him?"
"At least he did not see us as targets for killing." Heavenly Mother said.
Lin Ke pondered: "His human nature is being overshadowed by the divine nature of the Heavenly Dao, not extinguished! It is human nature that is guiding this killing intent, so we are not his attack targets."
Chi Yao said, "In other words, if not for this human nature, he would already be like a heavenly tribulation or an Eon Calamity, indiscriminately cleansing all Primordial Ancestors in the universe?"
"That is exactly it." Lin Ke said.
Heavenly Mother erupted with Primordial Ancestor divine radiance, demonic qi surging: "Then there is no other way. It seems we must kill the White Jade Divine Emperor. Only by letting him kill all the Primordial Ancestors he wants to kill can human nature perhaps suppress divine nature and achieve return."