Chapter 4253: The Great Ending (Finale)
"Father, you have finally returned. Have you broken through to the state of 'Heaven's Beginning, Self's End'?"
Zhang Hongchen's blood energy was extremely vigorous, her spirit and energy piercing through heaven and earth. Clearly, her cultivation had been restored, and she was overjoyed to see Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen's expression was not kind, his aura oppressive.
How could it be right to entrust one's own mother to someone else for teaching?
Zhang Ruochen said in a stern tone, "Take good care of her... take good care of her. If anything goes wrong, I will hold you accountable."
Zhang Hongchen was not afraid of Zhang Ruochen. She glanced at Ling Feiyu, who looked like a young girl, and sent a playful voice transmission, laughing, "Father, have you two succeeded in your good deed?"
"Stop talking nonsense," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Greetings, Master Hongchen."
Ling Feiyu remembered this mysterious strongman who had always been by her side when she was a child.
It was this mysterious strongman who had repeatedly told her about Zhang Ruochen's legends and heroic deeds, and had urged her to work hard to win favor and such. She hadn't understood it then, and she still didn't quite understand it now.
Zhang Hongchen clasped her hands behind her back, graciously accepting Ling Feiyu's bow, looking quite pleased with herself. Only when she felt the coldness in Zhang Ruochen's eyes did she quickly help Ling Feiyu up.
"Go home immediately."
Zhang Ruochen scolded, feeling both angry and dizzy, his vision darkening.
The divine nature of the Heavenly Dao was attacking him again.
When he was away, everyone had gone their separate ways, each building their own home. One Bai Qinger, one Zhang Hongchen—no one could control them!
After sending Zhang Hongchen and Ling Feiyu away, Zhang Ruochen went to the ancestral tomb of the Moon Worship Demon Sect to pay respects to the departed.
"Hua!"
The Divine Demon Rat emerged from a crack in the ground of the cemetery, in the form of a rat, its body shriveled, its whiskers white, extremely old.
"Master Chen?"
"Heavens, Master Chen has actually come to the Moon Worship Demon Sect! Greetings, Master Chen! Greetings, Great Emperor!"
The Divine Demon Rat knelt and kowtowed.
Hearing the sound, Qi Feiyu, who was guarding the cemetery, came out leaning on a staff.
She was old too!
Her black hair was gone, half of her head was white.
Although she no longer had the peerless elegance of one of the Four Great Beauties of the Liangyi Sect, nor the stunning beauty of the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, she was still clean and neat, aging naturally, with great poise.
Who said a beauty cannot have white hair?
"Sister Qi, why are you guarding the cemetery at the Moon Worship Demon Sect?"
Zhang Ruochen found it unbelievable, after all, Qi Feiyu's cultivation was not low; she was a Taiyi Great God.
"In a battle, I injured my origin, greatly reducing my lifespan. To recuperate, I simply came here to live in seclusion, seeking peace and quiet." Qi Feiyu appeared very calm, without any edge of striving for fame or profit.
Led by Qi Feiyu and the Divine Demon Rat, Zhang Ruochen entered the cemetery to pay respects to Ling Xiu and other old friends.
Searching the entire cemetery.
Zhang Ruochen came to a low grave that was about to completely disappear. He dug out the tombstone that had been buried in the mud for many years, straightened it, and wiped it clean.
"Tomb of Zi Qian!"
Back when Zhang Ruochen returned to the Kunlun Realm, at the Heavenly Demon Mountain, he had encountered Zi Qian, who was already old and decrepit, and bestowed upon her a chance encounter. Presumably, her cultivation had improved later.
It was hard to find beautiful flowers in autumn, so Zhang Ruochen picked a branch of kumquat and placed it on her grave.
Farewell, assassin girl.
Cold Dew had passed, all things were declining, and Frost's Descent was imminent.
The yellow leaves on the trees were about to fall completely, ushering in a bare winter.
Zhang Ruochen used the Ancestral Divine Qi to refine the physiques of Qi Feiyu and the Divine Demon Rat, enhancing their lifespans, restoring their spirit, energy, and vitality to a youthful state.
They could live at least another Eon.
Qi Feiyu did not restore her youthful appearance, not wanting to waste her cultivation on it. She told Zhang Ruochen that Lin Suxian had passed away, and Luo Xu was living in seclusion alone by the Luo River.
Zhang Ruochen left the Moon Worship Demon Sect, first going to the Eastern Domain Sacred City, then to the Luo River to visit Luo Xu.
He had a great drinking session with Luo Xu.
The next day, as he was leaving the Luo residence, he ran into another group of cultivators who had come to visit Luo Xu.
A divine ship docked by the Luo River, and a stunning figure wearing a white veil stepped off.
Around her were countless young cultivators following.
Whether it was the effect of the alcohol or the invasion of the Heavenly Dao's divine nature, Zhang Ruochen was half-drunk and half-awake. He asked a nearby martial artist, "Who is that?"
"You don't know her? That's Su Lang, the leader of the new generation of Confucianism. She is the disciple jointly trained by the Divine Ancestors of the Book and Qin Sects, and has inherited the 'All Under Heaven is Bright' Dao method of the Fourth Confucian Ancestor. She is the hottest figure in the Kunlun Realm right now."
Another person said, "It is said that the new chapter of the 'Heroes' Ode' is being compiled by her. She is currently traveling the world, visiting the outstanding talents of various regions."
Zhang Ruochen's divine sense gradually drifted away. Looking at Su Lang's appearance, he saw through the very core of her soul.
He saw the soul shadow of Han Qiu.
"Are Luo Shuihan and Nalan Danqing crazy? Making Han Qiu's reincarnation the leader of the new generation of Confucianism, inheriting the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's Dao method? Do they think they can turn a Dark Path killing god, the Dark Concubine, into the demure and righteous person they want to see?"
Gradually, Zhang Ruochen sank into his own conscious world, leaving Luo City like a walking corpse.
But this time, he did not fall as he had before. His body continued to move forward according to its original consciousness.
Along the Luo River, it took him several months to walk to the Heavenly Demon Ridge.
Zhang Ruochen could clearly perceive that his divine soul state had gradually reached its peak, his injuries had healed, and he could contend with the divine nature of the Heavenly Dao.
As long as he broke through the final barrier, the "Self" could completely break free, reaching the transcendent state of "Heaven's Beginning, Self's End."
The Eastern Domain had experienced several great calamities, and its geography had long since changed dramatically.
Although the Heavenly Demon Ridge was still called the Heavenly Demon Ridge, it was no longer the same one. No old ruins could be found.
The Yunwu Commandery, the Qianshui Commandery... had also changed with the times, becoming dust of history.
This winter was exceptionally cold.
The entire Eastern Domain was covered in a vast expanse of white.
Zhang Ruochen walked alone through the knee-deep snow, entering the Wang Mountain.
The cold wind howled like a giant beast, shrill and piercing.
Snowflakes the size of palms occasionally hit his head. His body seemed to have turned into a snowman, with only his face and hands visible.
Deep in the Wang Mountain, Zhang Ruochen exhaled a breath of white air, wiping the snow off the tombstones one by one, revealing the words on them.
Lin Lan, Yunwu Commandery King, Zhang Shaochu, Zhang Yuxi, Mingjiang Wang, Lin Lingshan...
In recent years, many new graves had been added. Among them was Jie Tian.
"Mother, Fourth Brother, Ninth Sister, Twelfth Uncle, Ruochen has returned. After a long journey through life, going around in circles, I have come back to where I started."
Zhang Ruochen leaned against Lin Lan's tombstone, sitting in the thick snow, talking to the air: "I really miss you all. Do you know, I almost forgot all of you. Now I have remembered everything... Haha, why do I feel the twilight of picking up morning flowers? That shouldn't be..."
"Mother, do you know, Ruochen has grown up, grown into the person you most hoped he would be..."
Zhang Ruochen looked at the words "Lin Lan" on the tombstone, thinking of many, many things. The first time he saw her when he woke up from a nightmare at the age of sixteen, she was so young and gentle.
Thinking, thinking, the fatigue of hundreds of thousands of years washed over him, and he gradually closed his eyes and fell asleep.
When he woke up again, the snow had stopped, and the sky had cleared.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes and looked at the warm winter sun in the sky. His gaze shifted from confusion and immaturity to deep and sharp. His whole person was like a sword that had been cleaned of rust.
He pushed off the thick snow on his body and stood up again. At this moment, the wind and snow stopped!
"Life is a circle. Only when you complete it will you truly understand what the 'Self' is. Ninth Prince, Sacred Bright Prince, Divine Envoy, Great Elder, Romantic Sword God, Imperial Dust, Heavenly Dao Great Emperor—these are just titles given by others. Zhang Ruochen can only be Zhang Ruochen."
"Rest in peace here. I'm leaving. I'll come back to see you next time."
"On this path of life, I'm afraid I can't stop for a moment. I must always move forward..."
Zhang Ruochen's figure became extremely resolute, like an immortal divine mountain, or like a boundary stone of heaven and earth. He turned around and walked on the white snow, his steps becoming firmer and firmer.
With this turn, he left an era behind.
Walking out of the Wang Mountain ancestral land, he passed by the Zhang family mansion.
It was the Winter Solstice. The direct descendants of the various branches of the Zhang family had all returned to gather. Even though it was only noon, the place was already decorated with lanterns and colorful streamers, filled with laughter and joy, a lively scene.
Children were playing and frolicking, young talents were sparring with swords, and the elderly were commenting on current events.
This was the Zhang family mansion, mainly the descendants of Chi Kunlun, Zhang Shaochu, and Mingjiang Wang. No one knew how many generations had passed. They were all young people below the Divine Realm.
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to disturb them, but just as he was about to leave, he noticed several familiar figures.
With a single glance, he saw through the origin of their souls. They were Zhang Shaochu, Zhang Yuxi, Mingjiang Wang, and some deceased fellow disciples.
They had actually reincarnated and gathered together, sitting around a stove eating venison.
It was a custom in the Eastern Domain to eat venison on the Winter Solstice.
Zhang Ruochen's lonely and deep heart was immediately filled with joy. He knew that it must be the Divine Altar that had preserved their souls. It must be Chi Yao's doing.
"Ninth Sister, long time no see!"
Zhang Ruochen sat down by the stove as if he were at home, picked up chopsticks, and began to feast on the venison in the pot, without any of the distinguished image of a generation's Great Emperor.
Zhang Yuxi's reincarnation's eyes lit up, and she asked with interest, "How do you know I am the ninth child in the family?"
"Because I am also the ninth child."
Zhang Ruochen nudged Zhang Shaochu's reincarnation sitting next to him: "Eat up, why are you staring? You're not doubting that I'm a member of the Zhang family, are you?"
"Of course not. Haha... let's eat together. It's the Winter Solstice again, and we're all reunited!"
Everyone raised their white jade cups together.
They filled their cups with wine and drank heartily. Today, there was wine, so today they would get drunk.
This Winter Solstice drinking session lasted until the sun hung low in the western sky, and the sky began to darken.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the people slumped over the table. His mood, once passionate, became calm again. After the excitement, there must be endless emptiness.
He stood up to leave.
He had already broken through to the state of "Heaven's Beginning, Self's End." Zhang Ruochen prepared to end this journey through the world. He looked at the fiery red sunset on the river and the vast white mountains beyond, feeling that all past events had dissipated like clouds and smoke before his eyes. So, he smiled knowingly.
When a great era comes to an end, the smoke from cooking fires and the lights of homes are everyone's final destination.
He was going home!
Just like those survivors who had fought across the stars, returning to their own worlds, to the mortal world, to the white clouds and blue skies, to the misty rain in a small town, or to the solitary smoke in the desert, the setting sun on the long river.
Passing through the sunset, Zhang Ruochen walked along the ancient path by the stream, humming a song as he stepped into the gradually darkening night.
"The night is vast, the road is hard to walk, enemies, friends, and relatives have withered away.
The lonely moon is bright, the empty mountain is silent, this road is walked to the end, the past is vivid and becomes a memory.
Thinking back to when I was young, my heroic spirit pierced the clouds, a thousand waters, sword in hand, at Fengwan Terrace, like rain of golden jade leaves, the whole building beckoned with red sleeves.
That winter in the Western Courtyard, white snow covered the red building;
That city in the Eastern Domain, stone steps left footprints.
Tonight, I dream of returning to the Yunwu Kingdom, the misty waves of the Luo River sky.
Ten thousand homes with lanterns on New Year's Eve, outside the Sacred Bright City, Kong Le...
The Two Eminences Green Mountain is eternally beautiful, the Blood God Sect's dark and endless abyss.
The Hunting Heaven Grand Feast competed for length, the Red Dust Market compared heights.
The youth is gone, hard to return, only regrets remain in the heart.
Can't find it, can't go back.
Unwilling to walk, yet unable to stop.
Heavenly Demon Ridge, Eastern Domain City, Blood God Sect, Sword Grave Road.
The mountains and rivers have changed course, a hundred generations have passed.
Truth Divine Temple, Fengdu City, the Twelve Pavilions of the Dark Abyss. Traversing the ruins, it's hard to see the old traces.
No Heaven in the East, no Law in the West. Heart Art in the South, Rain Field in the North. The Central Domain's nine prefectures, trillions upon trillions.
Another year of the 'Heroes' Ode,' the white-haired old man of No Heaven and Rain Field, driving a cart in the bustling market, lifting the curtain to look at the newcomers. I see, bright lanterns hanging on the long street, beautiful women accompanying talented men, heroes discussing the world, tonight they will surely sing without sleep!
Chu Siyuan, Zhu Hongtao, Wan Ke, Lingshu, Lei Jing, Man Jian...
Life and death, never to see again.
Ao Xinyan, Junior Sister Zi, Master Shi Ji, Emperor Xia Yu, Kong Jue Miao, Feng Xi...
How many people have I let down in this life?
Kui Huangliang, Kong Faning, Gong Nanfeng, Yinxue Tian...
A lifetime of obsession, unable to find release, lamentable and sigh-worthy.
Farewell! Qing Cang, the Tiannan Life-and-Death Ruins still exist. Farewell! Kong Yinxue's portrait hangs high in the ancestral hall. Farewell!
Kong Faning, from now on, there will be no more Withering Death Art in this world.
Farewell! Yan Tingqiu, Heaven's will plays tricks on people, people deceive Heaven, in the end, it is self-deception.
Farewell! Yan Renhuan, Yan Huanyu, the Yama Clan has never lacked backbone.
Farewell! Fourth Ancestor, the Great White World has its inheritance.
Farewell... Feng, I will take care of your little phoenix for you.
………………………………
White-haired beauties are buried in the green mountains, a handful of yellow earth, a piece of sky.
Who remembers the heroic bones of that year, buried by the roadside among the weeds.
Fishermen and woodcutters talk and laugh by the river, the tavern tells stories for ten thousand years. The red dust remains the same, new people replace old faces.
All is past, joys and sorrows, partings and reunions, everywhere is the mortal world."
Zhang Ruochen stopped by the river, looking towards the edge of the universe, where the thick fog came through the North Marsh Great Wall.
"Kong Le, go and investigate the other side of the North Marsh Great Wall."
[The End!]
Stand up, disperse, leave...
………………………………
Serialized for nine years, from July 3, 2015, to June 25, 2024. This story is regret, is obsession, is madness, is sorrow, is unwillingness, is forgetting and not forgetting.
**Afterword!!!**
Yesterday, when it ended, I was in a state of excitement and didn't feel much.
But when I got up this morning, I felt terrible. There was really a feeling of emptiness, as if a best friend I had known for nine years had suddenly and forever left.
For me, *The Ancient Godly Emperor* is that best friend.
It spends more time with me every day than my wife does. For nine years, over three thousand days and nights, I devoted all my energy and thinking to it every day. The focus of my life was entirely on it.
Many readers say, "The end of *The Ancient Godly Emperor* means the end of my youth," "The end of *The Ancient Godly Emperor* adds another scar to my youth"...
In fact, the person who feels the worst is me.
For everyone else, it might just be that ten or so minutes a day, a small expectation when waking up in the morning or before going to sleep, a habit that has accompanied you for several years.
For me, it has been my entire life for the past nine years.
I sat dazed for the whole morning, and the aftereffect finally hit me. It wasn't until 4 PM that I finally started writing this afterword.
Where to start?
Let's first talk about the growth process of *The Ancient Godly Emperor*. It was published on Chuangshi Chinese website on July 3, 2015, and went on the paid list in August. It was the book with the highest first-day subscription on QQ Book City at the time.
A few months later, on March 1, 2016, its daily sales broke 30,000, breaking the highest sales record on QQ Book City at the time.
A few more months later, in October 2016, its average subscription broke 30,000.
Why do I remember this so clearly? Because I posted on my Moments to show off. The daily sales of 30,000 and average subscription of 30,000 in 2016 were still very impressive.
In the same year, thanks to the performance of this book, I became one of the first batch of Twelve Heavenly Kings of Yuewen.
The following year, I got the Great God contract.
In 2018, it went on the QQ Browser paid list and quickly topped the bestseller list.
Later, it went on WeChat Book City and Baidu, and it almost always ranked first quickly. When it went on new media platforms, it wasn't the best-selling book, but it was among the best-selling ones.
According to one editor, *The Ancient Godly Emperor* basically dominated every new channel it went on.
According to a Platinum author friend, *The Ancient Godly Emperor* basically swept through every traffic dividend of Yuewen Group.
2021 and 2022 were probably the peak years for *The Ancient Godly Emperor*. It was the number one annual hot search on almost all search platforms across the entire internet. It was also in this year that I got the Platinum contract.
It should have been around the second half of 2022 that anti-piracy measures started. Subscriptions on QQ Book City and Qidian began to increase significantly, reaching a peak at the end of 2024, becoming the number one in follow-up subscriptions on both platforms.
Of course, after the anti-piracy measures, I also left a free reading place for readers who might not be as financially well-off, which is on QQ Browser. The number of readers following on QQ Browser, I see, is more than the sum of the second to tenth places.
The record is over!
There is some showing off, but not much.
Let's talk about the most criticized aspect... the update frequency...
Actually, before 2017, the updates were very stable, at least 6,000 words per day.
From 2017 to 2020, it was still relatively stable. Although there were severe breaks, the average was still about 5,000 words per day.
The worst period for breaks was after I had surgery in 2023. Basically, it became one chapter every two days.
Why did this happen? I have analyzed it more than once and talked about it before.
It's really because I was too physically and mentally exhausted.
I started writing books in 2011. Until 2017, for those five or six years, I never rested for more than a day.
I know everyone probably doesn't believe this, but it's the truth.
At that time, I was writing at least 9,000 words almost every day. After finishing one book, I would start publishing a new book the next day.
With my typing speed, anyone who has watched my live streams knows that writing 9,000 words means spending all my time on it every day.
My friends envied me for having flexible writing time, but I envied those who could have two consecutive days off in a year, and those who could relax a bit after work.
When is a writer happiest?
It's when they have finished writing today's updates.
Physical fatigue is secondary; mental fatigue is more important.
My current realization is that I absolutely cannot write books over ten million words anymore. It's too tiring. All kinds of characters, settings, and details keep piling up in my mind, accumulating... more and more... more and more...
This feeling of fatigue really gets worse the longer a book is written.
By the eighth or ninth year of writing... to be honest with everyone, I was completely gritting my teeth and persevering by looking at the back-end royalties. So, everyone doesn't need to sympathize with me. I only dare to joke with everyone now that it's finished.
For a new book, I think finishing at around four to five million words would be relatively easy, basically finishing in about two years. By six to seven million words, it would probably be impossible to guarantee stable updates. Eight to nine million words would probably take five to six years to finish.
Actually, the strongest urge to finish was three years ago.
That year, without bragging, I had several nightmares, all about finding out that the book had ended.
Some readers think the ending came too quickly.
But in fact, the book started to wrap up three years ago. Except for the Di Huang, a necessary small side quest for reincarnation, no new characters or maps were added, and no new plot was expanded. The overall development of the plot began to contract.
It can be said that the two to three million words of plot in the past two to three years were all serving the ending.
This year, on the surface, only the last few chapters were the ending. But in reality, everything written this year was the ending plot, all revolving around the final battle. It has been the acceleration phase of the ending all along.
Some readers might not believe this is the acceleration phase? They think many parts are still padding.
Let me put it this way: Since the beginning of this year, for every chapter I write, I almost have to go back to several earlier parts to fill in the holes and connect the preceding and following plots. But most readers have actually forgotten these holes and won't care.
Just like in the final battle, I wrote about the plots and roles of nearly a hundred characters. But what everyone cares about might only be a few.
There are too many readers. As long as one character is not written about, readers will call for it. But when it is actually written, eighty to ninety percent of readers will complain about padding because they have forgotten that character.
Writing the ending this way is my own persistence, to let the vast majority of characters appear, a collective curtain call.
Just like many readers have completely forgotten about Lin Lingshan, Zi Qian, Qi Feiyu, and Yu Ling Shen, but I had to write about them in the ending.
Because I know there must still be readers who remember them.
At the same time, I must give an account to that character in my own mind. This is your youth, and it is also my youth.
Other important characters can still appear in the extras, but they definitely won't appear in the extras.
Many readers think that the ending didn't write about Huang Yanchen, but in fact, I put a lot of effort into it.
For example, this line: "Thinking back to when I was young, my heroic spirit pierced the clouds, a thousand waters, sword in hand, at Fengwan Terrace, like rain of golden jade leaves, the whole building beckoned with red sleeves."
Actually, it describes the most important moment between Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen. The Qianshui Commandery, Fengwan Terrace, and Golden Jade Leaves—how many people still remember?
The ending writes about returning to the Liangyi Sect, the Longevity Courtyard and Zixia Spirit Mountain where Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu lived. How many people still remember the stories that happened there between Zhang Ruochen, Mu Lingxi, and Shengshu Cainü?
Every specific location description, every detail, behind it is a large section of past stories.
I wanted to write about Si Xingkong, Chang Qiqi, Zhen Miao, Ao Xinyan, wanted to write about the Yuntai Sect Mansion, wanted to write about the Martial Market Academy, wanted to write about the Nine Nether Sword Saint and Red Desire Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall, wanted to write about the grave where Zhang Ruochen helped Han Xue bury her mother, wanted to write about Lei Jing's descendants...
I wanted to write about the old and decrepit Chen Wutian and Pei Yutian, seeing the young talents on the new edition of the "Heroes' Ode," their prime of life, accompanied by beauties, drunk and singing, reminiscing about their past. But in the end, it was only reduced to that simple sentence in the ending.
I have too much I want to write, but in the end, I had to select and cut, not being too long-winded.
I had to find a balance between plot richness and pacing.
Because it was already enough. On the basis of what everyone thought would be "a fierce or tragic fight, the protagonist kills the enemy, and most of his side dies," I wrote ten more chapters. That was already enough. Many readers already thought it was dragging, because they had forgotten those characters and people, so writing these plots had no meaning.
But I remember. I think it has meaning.
An author writes books for readers to read, but this ending is the period of my youth. I have to give myself the most important account. I am more serious than anyone else.
In the last month or two, to write a good ending, I hardly went out for gatherings. I turned down all gatherings and all matters.
In the ending, I gave spring to the White Clothes Valley and Jue Miao Chan Nü, but I didn't expect everyone to have forgotten Hai Shui.
I gave summer to Huang Tian, Yu Yao, and Bai Qinger. Their lives have been bitter, so they deserve such a warm and quiet summer.
I gave autumn to the people of the Liangyi Sect and the Moon Worship Demon Sect, because many old friends have withered like leaves in the wind.
I kept winter for Zhang Ruochen. In this life, he has finally walked out of the cold and bitterness.
After walking through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, Zhang Ruochen's life has been walked in reverse, reaching the Winter Solstice at the beginning of the story. After eating the hot venison soup, let everything from the past be gone forever.
For myself, this ending has consumed all my mental energy. I have lived up to my nine years of effort.
All the holes have been filled in the past two to three years. All the people have been given an account in the past two to three years.
For readers who pursue a complete story, it can be considered over after the Six Paths Reincarnation was established!
Reincarnation itself was something the protagonist intended to establish when Lin Lan died.
But I have always liked open endings in my writing. I don't like to directly seal off the reader's imagination.
So the subsequent plot is another choice for those readers who are unwilling to let the story end just like that.
Of course, the author himself is also unwilling to let the story end just like that!
Life is a feast that must end!
It's impossible for a book to accompany everyone for a lifetime. Thank you all for your company along the way.
From today onwards, we will meet again in the martial world.
We are all men. When saying goodbye, there is no need for too many words.
Take care, everyone. Look forward. The road ahead is long and bright.
Readers interested in the new book and the subsequent story can continue reading.
...
.........
Readers who can read through fourteen million words from beginning to end must be the ones who love this book the most and have the highest tolerance for the author.
Being able to finish one to two million words of a book is already considered a hardcore fan. Being able to finish over ten million words and endure the author's one-chapter-every-two-days update schedule... such readers are divine readers!
Having such a group of readers, it can be said that any author in the online literature circle would be envious. If you don't believe me, just grab any author and ask.
Regarding the new book, I talked about it with everyone during the live stream. It is highly likely that Chi Kongle or Zhang Hongchen will be the important female lead.
Based on the current worldview, the length will not be short, probably around eight to nine million words.
Compared to this book, the main points of streamlining are: first, entering the main plot faster in the early stages; second, the main characters will not be as numerous and as mixed as in *The Ancient Godly Emperor*.
*The Ancient Godly Emperor* had too many characters. Over time, readers simply couldn't remember them.
This is what I consider to be the biggest flaw of *The Ancient Godly Emperor*.
In fact, the number of main characters could be slightly reduced, and the stories of the characters could be written more fully.
In addition, *The Ancient Godly Emperor* had two settings that didn't have much impact initially, but as the length of the story increased, these two settings gave me a lot of headaches.
The first setting is that gods have strong vitality and are difficult to kill.
The second setting is that gods can self-destruct their Divine Source to threaten their opponents.
If these two settings appeared in the later stages, the impact wouldn't be too great.
But writing them out in the god stage greatly affects the design of subsequent plots. Gods have strong vitality, Great Gods are naturally stronger, God Kings and God Venerables are even stronger, Indestructible Infinite is even stronger, Heavenly Venerable level is even stronger...
This constant increase in strength makes it very difficult for the protagonist to kill his opponents happily... killing them happily would be unreasonable.
In short, it greatly affects the progression of the plot.
The impact of self-destructing the Divine Source is that with this setting, whenever any god faces a life-and-death crisis, this factor must be considered.
Writing it every time would be very boring.
But not writing it for one would make readers think it's unreasonable.
These two settings were the most troublesome for me in the later stages, very difficult to handle. So the new book will definitely make adjustments!
Of course, the cultivation method and early worldview of the new book are completely independent.
If Chi Kongle is the female lead, the feeling of her interaction with the new book's male protagonist might be like the early-stage protagonist and Feng Tian, a match between a talent and a strong one.
Or it could be like the early-stage protagonist and the Moon God, where both have mutual interests. The protagonist needs the Moon God's protection, and the Moon God needs the protagonist to do things that are inconvenient for her.
It's too early to talk about all this now.
It will all depend on the plot development at the time. Even whether or not to write a connection with the worldview of *The Ancient Godly Emperor* is unknown. It's only a high probability. Currently, there are two ideas that can be connected.
Whether or not to write Chi Kongle as the female lead is also only a high probability, not an absolute. Because writing her as the female lead would restrict the development of many plots.
My preferred way of writing a new book is definitely one full of wonderful ideas, where the plot can develop in multiple directions, guiding readers to imagine a novel world.
Why did I finish the book? Because when the Heavenly Venerable and Half-Ancestor can perceive everything with a single thought and punch a star domain to pieces with one fist, it's very difficult to guide readers to have novel feelings anymore!
A good book must have tension and must be something readers can immerse themselves in.
If Chi Kongle is set as the female lead from the beginning, it will have some impact, and it will also affect the interaction between the protagonist and other female characters.
Feitian Fish's books cannot have a single female lead. There will definitely be many loves and hatreds.
Let's not worry about this for now. I really don't want to think about the new book right now. I just want to empty my mind for two months.
If the next book has a connection, Zhang Ruochen will definitely be the behind-the-scenes big shot, the most terrifying chess player, the setting with the strongest single combat power. Not necessarily the only strongest, but definitely the top-tier combat power.
The release time for the new book will be at the end of the year! December 1st? Or January 1st?
Probably around that time.
I believe that since everyone has been able to follow the updates until now, you must like Xiaoyu's writing style.
In addition, the bonus chapter will be updated in a couple of days.
As for the extras, they will probably be divided into two series. One series will be about the plot of the protagonist's entire family, which will be a continuous chapter.
The other series will mainly focus on filling in the holes.
That's it for now. Borrowing a reader's sentiment:
Nine years ago, on July 3rd, I opened my computer and wrote: Chi Yao, I regarded you as my beloved, why did you kill me?
...
.........
Also, I give this to everyone: On a certain day X years ago, a young man opened a novel: Chi Yao, I regarded you as my beloved, why did you kill me?
**Bonus Chapter**
"What strange fog, devouring the Space Rules between heaven and earth?"
Chi Kongle, dressed in a white robe with silver thread, a vermilion swallow mark on her brow, stood upright on the peak of a thousands-of-miles-long remnant wall of the North Marsh Great Wall.
Below her eyes, she wore a mask made of ice jade.
Against the backdrop of the mask, she appeared even more heroic and mysterious, while her tall and perfectly curved figure gave her a breathtaking, peerless beauty.
Her eyes were bright like jade beads, peering at the white fog surging like a waterfall.
Where the white fog passed, the Space Rules between heaven and earth dissolved.
Space Rules are the foundation of space. After dissolution, space naturally disappears, turning into nothingness.
However.
The white fog seemed unable to affect the North Marsh Great Wall. After flowing over the wall, the fog quickly became thin.
It was a case of one thing conquering another.
"It is the burial gold substance contained in the North Marsh Great Wall that restrains it."
Chi Kongle activated her Dao method. Immediately, dense burial gold rule divine patterns flew out from her body like a spider web, wrapping around her entire body, forming nine golden divine rings.
The next moment, she stepped into the void, leaving the North Marsh Great Wall and entering the fog.
The North Marsh Great Wall was already at the edge of the universe.
Once past the North Marsh Great Wall, no one knew what they would encounter.
Of course, with her current cultivation level of the Indestructible Infinite realm, there were not many things in the world that could make her afraid. Even the most dangerous places were accessible.
"The Space Rules of heaven and earth have disappeared, and space has turned into nothingness. But the white fog has covered the nothingness, forming a new spatial structure, however..."
Chi Kongle discovered.
The various rules of heaven and earth had become different!
They were different from the Heavenly Court Universe, the Hell Realm, the Abyss of Darkness, and even the God Realm.
Moreover, the white fog was getting thicker and thicker. Even with her Indestructible Infinite realm divine eyes, she was affected and could not see through millions of miles of void in a single glance.
Logically, fog this thick should have liquefied.
But it hadn't.
It was still gaseous.
"Hua!"
Chi Kongle sensed something and suddenly turned around.
A sharp and powerful finger sword flew from her index fingertip, shaking the void, striking a certain direction behind her.
It didn't hit anything.
The sword energy of the finger sword traveled at the speed of light into the distance.
She frowned slightly.
She had clearly sensed a gaze spying on her, and it wasn't far away.
Chi Kongle became vigilant, released Time Order to protect her body, and continued forward.
Two months later, she had traveled an unknown number of billions of miles in the fog, far away from the North Marsh Great Wall, reaching the depths of the edge of the universe.
"Father sent a message saying that beyond the edge of the universe is the endless nothingness of the Bootes Void. At my speed, I should have entered the nothingness zone long ago. Why is there still endless white fog?"
The white fog was very strange, affecting both vision and divine sense perception.
There were no reference points in the fog. Continuing forward, Chi Kongle couldn't guarantee she wouldn't lose her way.
"Eh!"
Chi Kongle sensed a subtle fluctuation behind her.
This fluctuation grew stronger and stronger, causing the white fog to churn, sometimes surging, sometimes contracting.
After a while, a ship several hundred zhang long emerged from the fog, stopping a hundred miles away.
The white fog was driven away and could not approach.
This ship came from the direction of the North Marsh Great Wall. Upon closer inspection, it was actually square in shape.
It didn't look like a ship, more like a box.
The ship wasn't too large, at least far smaller than those divine ships that could carry mountains and rivers, but it gave Chi Kongle an invisible sense of oppression, as if it were a thousand or ten thousand times heavier than a star.
"Shua!"
A familiar and graceful figure appeared on the right side of the ship's railing.
It was the Qiangu Nüdi, who had been missing for decades.
...
Chi Kongle boarded the ship and discovered that the so-called square ship was actually a demon shrine.
The demon shrine was originally in the hands of Di.
After Di died, it was obtained by Lady Shiji.
After Lady Shiji's physical body was destroyed under the Seventy-Two Layer Tower, the demon shrine and the Heavenly Demon Stone Knife were both taken away.
The demon shrine is known as the number one divine artifact of the demon clan. It can travel through the River of Time, shaped like a rectangular box. But it opens at the top.
The reason she hadn't recognized it earlier was that she hadn't expected someone to use it upside down as a ship.
Entering the demon shrine with the Qiangu Nüdi, the space immediately expanded and stretched rapidly, increasing countless times in an instant.
It was only a few hundred zhang long, but now it was unknown how many millions of miles long.
Chi Kongle looked around. Beneath her feet was a vast and boundless divine land. The mountains were tall and steep, the great rivers flowed and roared, and the material strength was extremely high, surpassing the Heavenly Court's realm land.
Using her divine sense to explore, she couldn't find the edge, blocked by formation inscriptions.
The sky was round, a civilization ring.
A desolate moon hung in the sky, emitting light as bright as a star, seemingly having turned into the sun of this land.
"The sky is round and the earth is square; the shrine and the ring are both cages! Nüdi, was it you who were spying on me outside the North Marsh Great Wall?"
Chi Kongle followed behind the Qiangu Nüdi, walking through a forest of green bamboo and weeping willows, heading towards a large lake.
"Emperor Dust sent you to investigate beyond the North Marsh Great Wall. It's too risky!" the Qiangu Nüdi said.
"Someone has to take the risk. Can everything be done by Father himself? In this world, everyone should hold up a corner and shoulder their own responsibilities. Danger and death are not terrifying; what is terrifying is not daring to face them." Chi Kongle was free and easy, yet resolute.
Ahead.
The old voice of the Human Ancestor came: "Well said! When everyone holds a sword, the sword is invincible. When everyone is not afraid of danger and death, the war galaxy has a glimmer of hope."
Walking out of the willow forest, the view opened up.
Chi Kongle saw a three-story lakeside cottage, built with green bamboo, with smoke curling from the chimney above.
She couldn't see the figure of the Human Ancestor.
But she could smell the aroma of food, a long-lost aroma.
Chi Kongle's gaze fell on the dark and empty doors and windows. Her posture was straight, her snow-white neck raised, without a trace of fear: "First, use alarming words to intimidate, then slowly plan. Human Ancestor senior, using such schemes on a junior like Kong Le, don't you think it's beneath your dignity?"
Before sending Chi Kongle across the North Marsh Great Wall, Zhang Ruochen had told her all the secrets, including the secret that the Human Ancestor might still be alive.
Therefore, upon hearing the Human Ancestor's voice, Chi Kongle was able to remain calm and composed, responding with ease.
The Human Ancestor walked out from the bamboo door on the second floor. He was dressed in a wide white robe, with crane-like hair and a childlike face, full of immortal spirit, a wide smile on his face: "You, your words are sharp and aggressive, completely different from Hongchen. Facing me, Hongchen would never be so tough. Come, don't keep your nerves so tense. The food is ready. Have a taste with Qingchan."
Chi Kongle was unmoved: "I think it's better to talk business. Master Ancestor invited me aboard the ship. It can't be just for a meal, can it? Whether it's to detain me as a hostage or to silence me, it's better to make it clear first."
The Human Ancestor's eyes narrowed slightly, then he sighed: "I know the hostility in your heart, but whether you believe it or not, we are no longer enemies now, but allies. Everything Master Ancestor did was just to escape the Bootes Void. Now that people from outside have come in, the way out is naturally opened."
"Allies? Kong Le doesn't think she is qualified to be Master Ancestor's ally."
Chi Kongle always wore the ice jade mask, maintaining absolute calm even when facing the Immortal who had almost destroyed the entire universe.
The Human Ancestor smiled: "Want to know the origin of the white fog?"
Chi Kongle stared at him.
"Want to know? Then first taste the food Master Ancestor personally made, or it will get cold!" The Human Ancestor turned and walked inside.
"Let's go!"
The Qiangu Nüdi said softly, and walked towards the lakeside cottage first.
Chi Kongle naturally understood that if the Human Ancestor wanted to make a move, he wouldn't have gone to such trouble. So, she followed the Qiangu Nüdi and ascended to the second floor of the cottage.
Inside the room, the Human Ancestor sat by the window at a table, like a kind old man waiting for his granddaughter to come home for dinner, without any trace of a strongman's aura.
"Qingchan and I are about to leave the war galaxy and will no longer be a threat to you. Besides, your father has already broken through to the state of 'Heaven's Beginning, Self's End.' Master Ancestor is probably no longer his match!"
The Human Ancestor took a sip of tea and continued: "I have never been an enemy of your father. Master Ancestor really hoped he would join me in breaking out of the Bootes Void and make a name for ourselves in the outside world. I also gave him a choice. But he couldn't bear the annihilation of all living beings, so we had to part ways and fight to the death."
"Facts have proven that he was right, and Master Ancestor's obsession was too deep."
Chi Kongle stopped at the door, not walking over: "Where does this white fog come from? Is it an outside force attacking our universe?"
"It is the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh."
The Human Ancestor whispered an ancient name from the depths of his memory.
Chi Kongle said: "What is the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh?"
"The universe's first granary, the mist-source ancient marsh hidden."
The Human Ancestor added: "Calculating the time, it should be when the spring of the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh is about to dry up. They have come to the war galaxy to seize the spring in the Guixu of the Wuding Divine Sea."
Chi Kongle said: "Just for a spring?"
"The Wuding Divine Sea is the source of all water for all the great worlds and planets in the entire war galaxy. If the Guixu spring is lost, how long can life in the war galaxy continue to thrive? Similarly, the spring of the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh is drying up, and the galaxy they are in will also enter a period of decline." The Human Ancestor said.
Chi Kongle thought for a moment and asked: "Why can the North Marsh Great Wall resist the white fog? Has the war galaxy clashed with the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh before?"
The Human Ancestor said: "I have left the galaxy sea for too long and don't know the changes outside. However, if the master of the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh is not dead, he should be of the same lineage as Bai Ze and Zang Jin. You should know the Eight Origins Methods, right?"
Chi Kongle immediately wanted to leave, to send this information back to the North Marsh Great Wall.
"Actually, Master Ancestor can help you deal with the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh. I also know the best way to deal with them. But you have to get your father to agree to one condition for Master Ancestor!" the Human Ancestor suddenly said.
Chi Kongle said: "Do we necessarily need your help?"
"Your father would never ask such a question, because he may not care how powerful the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh is, but he will definitely care about the casualties of the six-path living beings in the war galaxy." The Human Ancestor said.
Chi Kongle stopped, turned back, sat down on the chair to the right of the table, took off her mask, picked up a bowl, picked up some food and ate it, asking: "What condition?"
The Human Ancestor was very satisfied and asked with a smile: "Can you make decisions for your father?"
"My father's decisions, I think I can make at least half of them."
Chi Kongle took out the Creation Divine Sword, placed it on the table with a bang, but her hand never left the sword hilt.
As long as the Creation Divine Sword was there, she could borrow Zhang Ruochen's ancestral power.
Because the Creation Divine Sword itself is a part of Zhang Ruochen's ancestral body, like the arm that could chase and kill Murong Zhuzai, possessing unparalleled ancestral might.
This place is not far from the war galaxy. Through the Creation Divine Sword, Zhang Ruochen could even project part of his power here.
"Don't rush. They are coming!"
The Human Ancestor looked out the window, where there was a lake and a sky burned golden by the fire of civilization.
"Who?"
Chi Kongle and the Qiangu Nüdi asked almost simultaneously.
"The Ancient Marsh Dragon Riders. They are the vanguard of the Divine Granary Ancient Marsh. Their strength should not be underestimated. You two go and deal with them!" the Human Ancestor said.
...
"Shua! Shua!"
Chi Kongle and the Qiangu Nüdi flickered and landed at the edge of the demon shrine at the same time, looking into the distant fog.
Soon.
Seven figures with powerful auras flew out from the fog.
The figures were extremely large, accompanied by low, deep dragon roars.
Seven dragons, very different in form from the dragons they knew. They had no flesh and blood, composed of light silver liquid water and golden skeletons. Their wings were thick white fog.
Their necks were long, some with two heads, some with three.
On the dragons' backs were seven humanoid figures.
Behind each of them floated a huge "卍" character mark. The forces constituting the "卍" character marks were different, and the colors of the light emitted by the "卍" character marks were also different.
The white fog twisted and rotated due to their arrival, forming seven vortex holes, extending towards the demon shrine ship.
...
There were many things I forgot to mention in the afterword. Let me mention them here.
1. The Legend of the Heavenly Emperor will not be written again, because that was a book from several years ago, and its style is not suitable for the current era. I mentioned it during the live stream but forgot to talk about it.
2. Bugs in the book, the fine-tuning of the earlier parts, and the extras are all being worked on continuously.
3. The new book will most likely be connected, but it will definitely be based on the new book's own cultivation system and worldview, completely independent. It will only be connected if it can be connected naturally, not forcefully. So don't have too high expectations. The early stage will definitely be a weak connection.
4. Only this one bonus chapter will be written. I won't write a separate sequel. It can only be said that it has some connection with the new book.
The extras will be updated with continuous storylines to account for all the characters. Currently, it is expected to be about ten to twenty large chapters. I don't know if it will increase. The reason I didn't put it in the main text is, first, I didn't want the ending to be too long-winded. Second, the extras might be a bit more unrestrained and not suitable for the ending.
In a few days, the first chapter will be updated.
**Explanation!**
I made a mistake just now. I posted the bonus chapter into the VIP chapter section because the backend defaults to VIP chapters, and I clicked directly.
I wanted to delete it and repost it, but I couldn't delete it.
I contacted the editor, and the editor said that seven thousand people had subscribed in an instant, so he couldn't do anything about it!
Everyone, please go to the public account to read it later. Sorry, I'm really sorry.
**End of Book Activity Preview**
It's been ten days since the book ended. Let me tell you about the end-of-book activity starting July 4th.
Originally, the activity should have been on the day of the ending, but for various reasons, it was postponed to the 4th. At that time, I didn't want to keep everyone waiting for the end-of-book activity, so on June 25th, I updated all seven chapters in one day!
The activity is like this: I will update the first chapter of the extras.
1. During the activity, this chapter of the extras is free.
After the activity, it seems the extras will only be viewable with a full subscription.
2. The first chapter of the extras will be updated at midnight on July 4th.
3. There are many lucky draws in the activity, including signed physical books and various accessories.
4. The first chapter of the extras will be exclusively updated on Qidian Chinese website because it's Qidian's end-of-book activity. (I apologize to the readers of QQ Book City.)
5. The extras are a series, aimed at completing the story of *The Ancient Godly Emperor*. It was written at the end of the final chapter. The purpose of the extras is to fill in the holes, talk about the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, and talk about the plot between the protagonist and the various female leads. Because the ending did not write about the plot between the protagonist and the important female leads.
If I had written these extra plots in the ending, I could foresee that many people would say it's padding, that I'm deliberately delaying the ending. So, I ended it in a very refreshing way.
Therefore, there is no need for some readers to speculate about those messy things.
At the same time, there is no such thing as deliberately trying to make money, because all chapters of the extras are free. If I really wanted to make money, I wouldn't have contracted the plot and ended it in the past two years. I could have written for another two or three years without any problem. A few chapters of extras really don't matter.
Except for this first chapter "Going Home," which is needed for the end-of-book activity (free during the activity), all subsequent extra chapters will be updated for free.
(I'll report to you: I only finished revising up to chapter seven today. The earlier parts were really written in an immature way, and it's a headache to revise. Fortunately, I don't have to start over. Just getting it to a passing grade of sixty is enough! I'll try to revise a hundred chapters in these two months.)
**Extra Chapter 2: Ancestral Blood and Dao Garden**
(For those who haven't read the first chapter of the extras, don't subscribe to the full book. Go to Feitian Fish's public account to read it for free. The public account has already been updated.)
"One drop of ancestral blood is naturally nothing."
Known throughout the world as the Scatter-Cash Boy, Zhang Ruochen was never stingy.
Moreover, by the River of Time, to help him achieve the perfection of his "Consistent from Beginning to End" cultivation, countless cultivators had offered their Divine Sources. At that time, they did not know if they could recover their cultivation in the future.
The beings of the Undying Blood Clan had all turned into blood medicine, providing him with blood energy.
For a drop of kindness, he always repaid it with a gushing spring.
...
Chi Yao never minded being the villain. Hearing Zhang Ruochen agree so readily, her eyes flickered as she reminded him: "Emperor, you are the number one person of the Six Paths today. You can be benevolent and friendly, you can be close to the cultivators below, but you also need to establish authority."
"One drop of ancestral blood may not mean much to you."
"But if everyone uses their kindness as leverage, and everyone is granted ancestral blood... what difference is there between you and a blood medicine?"
"If you are too easy-going, no one will respect or fear you, and they will dare to challenge you from below, acting without restraint. This is human nature!"
"If the lord of a city is like this, the city will be destroyed. If the lord of a country is like this, the country will be destroyed."
"Kindness cannot command troops, righteousness cannot accumulate wealth. Goodness cannot be an official, benevolence cannot hold power."
"If you no longer want to deal with worldly affairs, we can retire together. Whatever decision you make, I will not stop you. But if you want to be the Great Emperor of this universe and seek eternal peace for all living beings, then even if I am criticized by the world, I must stop you."
Although Xiao Hei was a bit embarrassed, he felt that what Chi Yao said was reasonable. Just as he was about to speak, Chi Yao continued: "By the River of Time, the people of the world helped the Great Emperor achieve the perfection of his Dao method. It was moving and admirable. But at that time, everyone was sharing the same fate. If they didn't fight to the death for a glimmer of hope, the entire universe would have been sacrificed."
"They were indeed helping you achieve the perfection of your Dao method, but weren't they also saving themselves?"
"Therefore, this is the camaraderie of fellow soldiers sharing a common hatred, not a favor."
"At the Eternal Divine Sea, the Great Emperor helped them recover their cultivation and recondense their Divine Sources. He did more than enough."
"Therefore, the Great Emperor's gratitude should be placed on the pattern of the entire universe, creating a new order on a macro level, not sinking into the quagmire of personal emotions."
Zhang Ruochen put down his chopsticks and bowl, smiled, and said: "Are you asking me to become the Heavenly Dao again? When humanity was lost, I had to find it. Now that I have found it, I have to return to divinity."
Chi Yao said: "Because a person who only has high cultivation cannot be a Great Emperor. He can only be a carefree knight-errant in his own heart. Power is a sharp sword that can split heaven and earth and cut through anything, but it must always be bound by a scabbard forged from responsibility, principle, and morality, so that it does not hurt oneself."
"A Great Emperor must have both the ruthlessness of the Heavenly Dao and the compassion of the Human Dao. He must have the broad-mindedness to embrace all rivers, and also the loneliness and domineering of 'I alone am the honored one.'"
"'I alone am the honored one!'"
Zhang Ruochen recited these four heavy words.
It's easy to shout slogans, but most of those who truly move in this direction are just heartless and ruthless people.
How can someone with feelings be the only honored one?
If you have righteousness, you cannot be the only honored one.
Perhaps one day, when all the people he cares about have passed away, and he gradually buries his emotions deep in his heart, he will be able to cultivate that aura of being the only honored one.
Among all his divine consorts and confidantes, being with Chi Yao has always been the most tiring.
There is no tranquility like being alone with Shengshu Cainü or Jue Miao Chan Nü.
There is no casualness like being with Mu Lingxi or Bore.
There is no warmth like being with Luo Ji or Kong Lanyou.
There is no pleasure and romance like being with Luo Sha or Wu Yue...
...
It's more like a husband and wife struggling to manage their daily lives, worrying about daily necessities and the elderly and the young every day.
Being with Chi Yao forces him to return to reality, to responsibility, to the tedious and worrying affairs of the world. Even though he is already invincible under heaven, he still has to sink into this state of physical and mental exhaustion. Zhang Ruochen doesn't want to be like this forever. He also wants to indulge occasionally and have some relaxed and carefree time alone.
The Origin Divine Temple is home, not a cage.
"I think... maybe we should just forget it..."
Xiao Hei finally managed to interject, wanting to slip away.
Chi Yao said: "Sect Leader Xia is different from other cultivators. If the Great Emperor has friends who share life and death, you must be among them."
"Of course."
Xiao Hei beat his chest loudly.
Chi Yao continued: "The Great Emperor's achievements today are inseparable from Sect Leader Xia's guidance in the past. You can be said to be both a teacher and a friend."
"Who can compare to this friendship?"
The little prejudice Xiao Hei had against Chi Yao in his heart was swept away.
Chi Yao continued: "If the Great Emperor wants to do something, Sect Leader Xia will definitely be the first to support him, and will never fear difficulties."
"Do I even need to say it? If I'm not the first to support him, who will be?"
Chi Yao said: "So, I absolutely agree with Emperor Dust giving you this ancestral blood. But it's not because of what happened by the River of Time back then, but because of the bond between you. No other cultivator would have such treatment."
Xiao Hei's heart was stirred. He felt that the usually cold and aloof Empress Chi Yao was today the sister-in-law he should respect the most.
This was family!
Chi Yao said: "But I'm afraid the news will leak out and cause a lot of trouble. We need to create a pretext."
"Still need to create a pretext?" Xiao Hei was surprised.
Chi Yao nodded: "This can't be hidden. If we don't create a pretext, won't everyone come asking for ancestral blood? Do they have the same friendship with you and Emperor Dust?"
"Makes sense."
Xiao Hei was very excited and asked: "How do we create this pretext?"
Chi Yao said: "What is Emperor Dust's biggest problem right now?"
"Xu Laogui?"
Chi Yao shook her head: "No matter how much Xu Tian stirs things up, as long as Emperor Dust says one word, he has to behave."
Xiao Hei frowned: "Could it be the Jing Daoren of the Five Elements Temple, or Gai Mie of the demonic path... no, no, they are not even as good as Xu Laogui... I know, it's Feng Tian of the Destiny Temple..."
His voice stopped abruptly.
Xiao Hei glanced at Chi Yao and suddenly became much more clear-headed: "With my cultivation, how could I possibly affect Feng Tian? How about... forget about the ancestral blood!"
"It's not Feng Tian." Chi Yao said.
"Ah, if it's not Feng Tian, then who could it be?" Xiao Hei was curious.
Chi Yao said: "After the great chaos, great governance is needed. But the gods are fighting fiercely over resources, the territory of the Heavenly God Dao, and the authority of the Six Paths, causing new disputes. This really shouldn't be happening."
Xiao Hei smiled: "Emperor Dust has returned and is invincible. As long as he gives the order, the disputes of the Six Paths will be resolved."
Chi Yao said: "Emperor Dust has his difficulties. You know him best. He values friendship very much, but the entire Six Paths are filled with his old acquaintances. It's hard to even balance two bowls of water. Now, hundreds and thousands of bowls are placed before him."
Zhang Ruochen picked up his wine glass and sipped it, quietly watching Chi Yao manipulate Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei suddenly understood: "I see. Rectifying the Six Paths is the most headache-inducing thing for Emperor Dust right now. However, my cultivation is limited. It's easy to deal with ordinary cultivators, but those Heavenly Venerable-level and Half-Ancestor-level existences, and those with ancestral backing, are very troublesome."
Chi Yao smiled: "In the Six Paths universe, Emperor Dust will be the good guy, and I will be the bad guy. But we still need a good role model and a chicken."
"What chicken?"
"The chicken used to kill as an example to warn the monkeys."
Xiao Hei gasped: "I must be that good role model. I have it! The pretext is there. We'll claim that I lobbied all parties, leading the gods of the Kunlun Realm to voluntarily give up the struggle for resources in the Heavenly God Realm, and then I was commended by Emperor Dust and granted ancestral blood."
Chi Yao said: "Good!"
From then on, they no longer discussed matters of the universe.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei drank happily and feasted heartily, not at all like someone who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years.
It must be said that Qing Mo's culinary skills were exquisite. Even an ancestor of the "Heaven's Beginning, Self's End" realm would sigh at the delicacy of the world and wish to taste it every day.
In the Qing Zhao Palace, Zhang Ruochen personally helped Xiao Hei refine four drops of ancestral blood, helping him achieve a fundamental change in his physique. At the same time, he erased his own aura from the ancestral blood, not wanting to leave any hidden dangers.
In fact, with Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, it would be easy for him to help cultivators improve their physiques, or even their cultivation, without specifically using ancestral blood.
Every medicine has its side effects.
The ancestral blood of a "Heaven's Beginning, Self's End" ancestor is both a supreme divine medicine and a peerless strange poison.
Refining it into the body has its benefits and its drawbacks.
Xiao Hei has half the bloodline of the Undying Blood Clan, and his utilization of blood is incomparable to other races. That's why Zhang Ruochen chose to use his own ancestral blood to help him.
There are naturally better ways to help other cultivators improve their physiques and cultivation.
After seeing Xiao Hei off, Zhang Ruochen said: "Don't think he's easily fooled. In reality, he's very shrewd. It won't be long before he figures it out. The Human Ancestor could grant ancestral blood to E Da and E Er. Yao Yao, do you think I am inferior to the Human Ancestor?"
"But no one dares to take the initiative to ask the Human Ancestor for ancestral blood."
Chi Yao stood with him outside the Qing Zhao Palace, like a Divine Emperor and Empress, one heroic and world-shaking, the other beautiful like a celestial maiden.
She added: "I can give, but you cannot take the initiative to ask. Chen Ge, these two are different."
Zhang Ruochen had thought that after returning home, he could relax and enjoy family happiness. But it seemed that things were not going as he wished. No matter where he was, no matter what his cultivation level, there were always endless things to deal with. It was impossible to do whatever he wanted.
"I think I am not suitable to be an emperor. How about asking Hao Tian if he is interested?"
...
"If there were no Ancestral Senate, no thick fog spreading over the North Marsh Great Wall, I would certainly support you in laying down all your burdens and responsibilities, and we would retire to the Kunlun Realm together, never to care about these rights and wrongs again."
Chi Yao continued: "But from the moment we learned about the outside world, Chen Ge, can you really lay down everything?"
"Moreover, for the world to be stable, there can only be one common lord. Do you think Hao Tian can suppress all parties?"
"Not to mention Yan Wushen and Tian Mu forming their own factions, just the cultivators close to you, can Hao Tian manage them? Do you think Hao Tian can deal with Feng Caiyi and Luo Sha impartially? You will become the biggest umbrella for those who disrupt the order of the Six Paths!"
"Everyone wants to be themselves, everyone wants to escape responsibility. But the strong are nurtured by the resources of the world. How can they consume all the resources of the world and then escape responsibility, caring only for themselves?"
"Some things can only be done by you. Don't make it difficult for Hao Tian!"
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly: "I just got home... Why is it different from what I imagined? I thought that after finally reaching 'Heaven's Beginning, Self's End,' I could control my own destiny, no longer have to run around, be together less and apart more, and could properly accompany you all... I also want to enjoy the wind, the moon, recite poetry, play music, and sing in harmony..."
Chi Yao smiled radiantly, very happy that Zhang Ruochen could be so frank and real in front of her, and said: "Actually, not everything needs to be done personally. You can find one or several cultivators who can represent you to handle the affairs of the world."
Zhang Ruochen had long intended to do this. His first choice was Chi Kongle.
She had gone to the edge of the universe north of the North Marsh Great Wall. Now, he had to choose another.
Seeing that Chi Yao did not intend to let the matter rest, Zhang Ruochen decided to settle many things now: "First, let's talk about the headache-inducing matters you mentioned earlier."
"As for the remnant souls of the several ancestors who fell in the Epoch War, or their backup plans, I can use curses to kill them all. But I don't plan to do that."
"I believe that the current situation is by no means peaceful. Everyone must maintain a sense of crisis at all times."
"The ancestors have fallen and are hard to become a climate. The big dangers have disappeared, and the small dangers will be left to them. Danger and opportunity coexist. Let them fight for the ancestral soul medicine themselves."
Chi Yao pondered: "Chen Ge believes that we should let the people of the world grow through struggle, so as to meet the greater challenges in the future?"
Zhang Ruochen looked into the sky, with an extraordinary aura: "Even if these ancestral remnant souls sneak through reincarnation and successfully reincarnate, what can they do? When they were at their peak, they still had to bow their heads when seeing me. Even if they reincarnate, they must honestly hide and endure."
Chi Yao nodded slightly: "So, the biggest problem at present is still the Human Dao and the Heavenly God Dao."
Zhang Ruochen said: "We all cultivated up from the mortal world. We know that disputes in the mortal world are unavoidable. If we want the Human Dao to have a relatively peaceful environment, there cannot be true gods with too strong destructive power."
"How about this: the Heavenly Court, the Sword Realm, and all the ancestral realms will be moved to the Heavenly God Dao. All gods of all great worlds will be forcibly ascended to the Heavenly God Dao."
"As for the Heavenly God Dao... if everyone wants to fight for territory and resources in the Heavenly God Dao, let them fight. But those above the Infinite Realm are not allowed to make a move. Those who disobey will be executed."
Chi Yao said: "This will confine the disputes of beings below the Infinite Realm within a controllable range. But what about those above the Infinite Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands behind his back, his eyes sharp: "Those above the Infinite Realm should shoulder their responsibilities. Tell them the truth about the Bootes Void. Either they cultivate and preach in peace, or if they can't settle down, they can go out early and fight with cultivators from outside."
Chi Yao had long expected that Zhang Ruochen would not be willing to cower in the war galaxy's universe. But to lay out plans for the outside world so quickly was far beyond her expectations.
She was still worrying about the disputes of the Six Paths, but Zhang Ruochen's gaze had already seen the Virgo Supercluster.
"He has made up his mind to challenge the Ancestral Senate!"
...
As expected, the next day, the news of Zhang Ruochen's return spread throughout the Origin Divine Temple.
The place where Luo Ji lived was the "Dao Garden" of the Nine Palaces and Seventy-Two Gardens, a cave heaven and blessed land in itself.
Every thousand years, the Heavenly Beginning Civilization would select the most outstanding young women of the new generation as divine attendants and send them to the Dao Garden to follow Luo Ji in cultivation. After all, the Dao Garden belonged to the Origin Divine Temple, and its cultivation environment and resources were among the best in the entire universe.
Zhang Gushen walked quickly through the Dao Garden, his young and handsome face full of joy.
"Greetings, Young Master!"
"Young Master is back! Quickly report to the Empress!"
...
Wherever he passed, all the divine attendants bowed to Zhang Gushen.
Zhang Gushen was calm and wise, approachable and kind, smiling and signaling them to rise.
Luo Ji sat by a hundred-zhang-wide divine river, listening to Li Miaohan report on the many events that had taken place in the Qing Zhao Palace last night.
The divine river flowed slowly, the breeze was sweet.
"Greetings, Mother!"
Zhang Gushen stopped three zhang behind Luo Ji and bowed.
Luo Ji was quiet as water, like an orchid in an empty valley, with strands of white divine light flowing around her: "My son has always been calm and steady. Why are you a bit impatient today?"
"Mother, this is not impatience, it's ecstasy. Father is back! I just returned from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, where I paid respects to my maternal grandfather, and learned the news from Uncle Hei." Zhang Gushen smiled.
Li Miaohan was Luo Ji's disciple and had followed her for hundreds of thousands of years. She was now a Tai Xu Great God.
She smiled: "Emperor returned last night. He went straight to the Qing Zhao Palace. It is said that the Food God Temple sent dozens of dishes over, all personally cooked by the Wonderful Hand Divine Maiden."
Zhang Gushen said: "Since Father has returned, his divinity must have faded, and his humanity has returned. His cultivation realm must have reached a higher level."
Luo Ji looked up at him: "You have always been exceptionally intelligent, calm, and restrained. What's wrong with you today? Don't try to speculate about your father. There's no point in speculating."
"It's just happiness... Alright, I understand! Actually, Mother, Father's return means many things can be easily resolved."
Zhang Gushen's expression became serious, and he continued: "Mother has lived in the Dao Garden for a long time. I'm afraid you don't know that after the Epoch War, the world has not been peaceful. On my way to and from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, I often saw armies mobilizing and gods fighting. All forces were involved. In the end, it's because the process of changing the world involves too many interests."
Luo Ji sat under the green divine tree and said: "Do you think you are the only one who understands the principles of the world? I have known what the world is like longer than you. Where there are people, there will be struggles. Let the ancestors and the Supreme Group deal with these matters. Don't worry about them!"
Zhang Gushen was very sensible and stopped talking about worldly affairs. He looked around and said: "Father will definitely come to the Dao Garden. Mother, aren't you going to prepare?"
"There's nothing to prepare. I expect your father won't come to the Dao Garden for a few more days. If something happens, he might have to leave the Origin Divine Temple immediately. I've gotten used to it over the past hundreds of thousands of years."
A trace of loneliness flashed in Luo Ji's eyes.
It wasn't that she was complaining about anything, because she knew what was more important.
In the past, facing the many challenges of the ancestors and the Immortal, how could Zhang Ruochen put romance first?
Now, the most dangerous and difficult times have finally passed.
But Luo Ji understood that her position in Zhang Ruochen's heart could not compare to Chi Yao, Bore, Mu Lingxi, and the others. In terms of cultivation, she was far inferior to Yuan Sheng and Bai Qinger.
Yu Chenjing had the pain of losing her son. Ling Feiyu had reincarnated. Wu Yue's methods were brilliant...
How could Zhang Ruochen not go to them first when he returned?
Zhang Gushen sensed the emotional change in Luo Ji's heart: "Actually, with Father's current cultivation and status, we should take the initiative to go and pay our respects. I reckon that the several in the Hao Yue Palace, the Ling Xi Palace, and the Mei Garden have already gone over. Mother, I know you have always been one to not contend, but today, everyone is going, and you are not. Isn't that also a breach of etiquette, which might instead displease Father?"
Just as Luo Ji was pondering.
Zhang Ruochen's low and slightly angry voice came: "Gushen understands this principle, but you cannot see through it. Do I have to come to see you myself?"
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's true body arrive at the Dao Garden, the three of them changed color.
Luo Ji stood up and immediately wanted to bow.
Li Miaohan, although a Great God, was no different from a mortal in front of an ancestor. She was about to kneel.
"Stop!"
Zhang Ruochen strolled over to the three of them: "Soon, I will issue a decree to the Six Paths. Anyone who enters the True God Realm does not need to kneel to anyone. This bad habit should have been abolished long ago. Gods should have the dignity of gods. Only then will more beings be brave enough to strive and cross the river on the path to becoming gods."
Li Miaohan couldn't tell if Zhang Ruochen was truly angry or pretending to be, so she flattered: "This move by the Great Emperor will surely win the hearts of all the gods in the world."
Zhang Gushen, however, saw it clearly: "Father is the ancestor of the present age, supreme and unparalleled. Why would he need to use this method to win over the gods of the world? Senior Sister, why don't you go and order the preparation of a meal?"
"No need. A cup of clear tea will do." Zhang Ruochen said.
Luo Ji, dressed in a white Daoist robe, elegant and dignified, led Zhang Ruochen to the Wen Xin Zhai in the Dao Garden. Although she had just been rebuked, she was not afraid at all.
How could a person who can embrace all rivers be angry over such a small matter?
She didn't believe that Zhang Ruochen had become a completely stranger after becoming an ancestor.
Wen Xin Zhai.
Luo Ji personally brewed tea for Zhang Ruochen.
"Gulu gulu."
The fire was perfect, and the fragrance of tea filled the entire Dao Garden.
Zhang Ruochen's heart gradually calmed down: "Early this morning, Yuan Sheng, Wu Yue, Ling Feiyu, Mu Lingxi, Yu Chenjing, and Ao Linglong all went to the Qing Zhao Palace to pay respects to me. Why didn't you go?"
Luo Ji held a tea scoop, adding tea leaves to the pot, and said softly: "Yuan Sheng went to ask you to seek justice for the Primordial Beings. Ling Feiyu's reincarnation went, it must be Hongchen's intention. Mu Lingxi went because of Xingchen's desire to become a monk, which is giving her a headache. As for Wu Yue, Yu Chenjing, Ao Linglong, and the others... the Great Emperor can judge for himself."
"Your return is a major event for the universe. For our family, it is the most important event. Didn't you see that even the usually calm Gushen was ecstatic?"
Zhang Gushen stood to the side, not daring to sit down: "Who can remain calm in the face of such a joyous event as Father's return? Anyway, I can't. Mother, if you were really calm, why did you send Senior Sister to inquire about the news early this morning?"
"See, his cultivation has reached the Indestructible Infinite realm, and his wings are hard. I say one thing, and he talks back several times." Luo Ji said.
Zhang Gushen smiled bitterly.
"Gushen is already very good. You can't even let him smile, can you? You've been too strict with him since he was a child." Then, Zhang Ruochen added: "Gushen, tell me about your experiences on the way to and from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, and also tell me your countermeasures."
Zhang Gushen immediately became serious and talked about the various disputes erupting in the Human Dao and the Heavenly God Dao.
"Son believes that the universe is too vast, with ten thousand worlds standing side by side and numerous races. Disputes are unavoidable. Collecting all the weapons of the world and issuing a kill ban would only make the path to becoming a god more difficult for the world's cultivators."
"In fact, as long as we can control the intensity of the struggle, let everything happen within the rules, and let cultivators at all levels die as little as possible from the innocent disasters caused by high-level strongmen's fights, it can be considered a peaceful and prosperous era."
"There is no absolute fairness, but we can try to achieve relative fairness."
...
Zhang Gushen talked about many of his own ideas, most of which coincided with Zhang Ruochen's.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I will leave this matter to you. Can you do it well?"
Luo Ji's eyes focused, not giving Zhang Gushen a chance to answer, and said first: "In today's universe, many ancestors coexist, and half-ancestors and Heavenly Venerable-level figures each show their divine powers. You are letting a child like him do such a big thing. Will those predecessors and elders take him seriously?"
Zhang Ruochen took the warm teacup from Luo Ji and asked with a smile: "Gushen, do you think you are still a child? I have never seen a child at the Indestructible Infinite realm."
Zhang Gushen said: "In front of Father and Mother, Gushen will always be a child."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Kunlun died in the God Realm. Kong Le has gone to the North Marsh Great Wall. Hongchen, Ying'er, and Nihe all lack a proper form. Among your generation, the one I have calculated to be most suitable to shoulder the responsibility is you."
Zhang Gushen quickly understood: "Father is an ancestor, so naturally he cannot do everything himself. Below the divine realm, if you need someone to share your worries, Gushen will do his utmost."
"Not below the divine realm! Everything below the Infinite Realm, you can decide on your own." Zhang Ruochen said.
Luo Ji was a bit worried: "I'm afraid it will offend many people. Those above the Infinite Realm will definitely make a move. Emperor, this is not just a struggle of cultivation and power, but also a contest of wisdom and schemes."
"Are you afraid Gushen can't win?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Luo Ji said: "I'm afraid he will fall into the schemes of those old fellows, and in the end, put you in a dilemma."
"Mother, I want to try."
Zhang Gushen's eyes were calm, and his tone was also calm, but it carried an unwavering determination.
He knew very well that his mother, relying only on herself, would find it difficult to compete with the other divine consorts in the Origin Divine Temple, so she chose not to contend. He had to become strong himself, so that his mother's weight in his father's heart would be greater.
Zhang Ruochen's heart was like a mirror, seeing everything.
"Hua!"
The Earth Cauldron appeared from the space beside Zhang Ruochen, the size of a fist, flying towards Zhang Gushen.
"This cauldron has followed me for many years. All the cultivators in the world know it. Now, I pass it on to you. First, you can use it to refine the treasures of the world into pills to aid your cultivation. Second, it is to tell your predecessors and elders that you can now fully represent me. In this way,