Chapter 614
You can protect someone for a while, but not forever!
Floating before him was a fragment of the Lu Ya Realm that he had just forcibly stripped away and compressed to the size of a palm. The realm walls were shattered, and the creatures inside were wreaking havoc. He was slowly extracting and refining the remaining chaotic spiritual energy.
This land of Lu Ya was another great achievement he had made for his family, enough to add a brilliant stroke to the family's record of merit.
When he succeeds, he can use the power of his family to completely control the primordial world and become its true ruler.
However, just as he was about to completely seal away the Lu Ya Realm and put it into his sleeve.
My heart skipped a beat.
An indescribable emptiness rose from the depths of his consciousness, as if something extremely important had been forcibly ripped from his soul.
Hongjun opened his eyes, his pupils suddenly contracting.
Zixiao Palace has vanished.
The chaotic spiritual treasure that had accompanied him since birth, the Zixiao Palace that had protected him through countless chaotic tides and allowed him to comprehend the Dao ten times faster than his peers, the Zixiao Palace that carried all his resources, all his escape routes, and all his pride, now had not even a trace of its aura left.
Almost instinctively, he extended his divine sense, following the spiritual imprint he had carved in his early years to sense it.
No.
Nothing at all.
The mark of the true spirit was completely annihilated, leaving not even a fragment.
This can only mean two things: either Zixiao Palace was completely destroyed, and even the origin of the Chaos Treasure was reduced to ashes; or it was refined by a human, and the true spirit imprint left behind by him was also erased.
Either way, it would be a devastating blow to him.
For the first time, Hongjun's breathing became disordered.
He forcibly suppressed the surging shock and anger in his heart, and tried to deduce the cause and effect step by step, attempting to grasp that fleeting trace.
The moment the Three Pure Ones Heaven was swallowed up, the Purple Cloud Palace was within the Three Pure Ones Heaven.
The moment the Three Pure Ones Heaven was swallowed by the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd, the Purple Cloud Palace also disappeared.
The Heaven-Swallowing Gourd is Jiang Wang's most treasured possession.
Only Jiang Wang, or his three disciples, can drive the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd.
As for refining a Chaos Spiritual Treasure in a short period of time, it's almost impossible, unless...
Hongjun's eyes suddenly turned cold.
Luo Feifei.
A contemporary prodigy of the Phoenix Clan in the Nine-Colored Realm, rumored to possess a bloodline reversion to its ancestral form and the ability to "refine treasures through rebirth."
His terrifying talent allowed him to refine a flawed Chaos Treasure into his natal object within just seven days.
The Phoenix Clan has long coveted the primordial world.
In an instant, all the clues were connected in Hongjun's mind into a cold line.
Jiang Wang's lineage, in alliance with the Phoenix Clan, took advantage of his absence from the prehistoric world to launch a sneak attack on the Three Pure Ones Heaven and devour the Purple Cloud Palace!
"Well... well, Jiang Wang is quite something!"
Hongjun's voice was low, almost a whisper, yet it carried an overwhelming killing intent: "I've let you live for so many more years, do you really think you can turn the world upside down?"
He raised his hand and beckoned, and the family communication jade talisman that had been floating to his side lit up with a faint light.
Almost at the same moment, an extremely cold voice came from the other end of the jade talisman.
"Where is Lu Yajie?"
Without greetings or pleasantries, the Ninth Deacon's voice, like ancient, cold iron, pierced straight to the heart.
Hongjun's throat moved slightly, his voice dry: "Lu Yajie... is already in my hands."
Why did the location markers for Zixiao Palace disappear?
Hongjun remained silent for a moment before slowly saying, "Zixiao Palace... has been refined by someone."
There was a full three breaths of silence opposite the jade talisman. That three breaths of silence was more chilling than any angry rebuke.
Then, the Ninth Deacon's voice rang out again, eerily calm.
"waste."
Two words, light and airy, yet they almost cracked Hongjun's Dao heart.
"I have already moved the teleportation array from the Primordial World."
The Ninth Deacon continued, "The resource allocation originally reserved for the Primordial World will also be cancelled."
If you still want your family to be involved in this world, then you'll have to find a way yourself.
Hongjun suddenly looked up, his voice finally becoming urgent: "Ninth Deacon! This matter is of great importance to the Primordial World. The Phoenix Clan has already intervened, Jiang Wang..."
"A 50-year reconstruction period."
The Ninth Deacon interrupted him, "If you can make up for all the resources that the Primordial World should pay within fifty years, I can consider redistributing a teleportation array."
"Fifty years?!"
Hongjun's pupils constricted sharply. "The Phoenix Clan won't give us fifty years! Jiang Wang certainly won't!"
"Then exchange it for your own things."
The Ninth Deacon's voice was devoid of emotion, "You still have control over the remaining portion of the Primordial World, don't you? Hand it all over, and I'll give you half a month."
Hongjun gripped the jade talisman tightly, his knuckles turning white.
After a long pause, he said in a low voice, "...Okay."
Communication ended.
Hongjun hovered in the chaos for a long time before slowly exhaling a breath of turbid air.
He lost Zixiao Palace, his family's strongest support, and the future of the primordial world.
But he still has Lu Yajie.
As long as Lu Yajie exists, he still has the ability to turn the tables.
Thinking of this, Hongjun suppressed all his negative emotions, raised his hand and put the fragment of the Lu Ya Realm, which had been compressed to the size of a palm, into his sleeve. With a flash, he fled towards the direction of the Primordial Barrier.
He wants to go back.
He would personally oversee the primordial world, suppress Jiang Wang, and suppress the Phoenix Clan. After the teleportation array restarted in half a month, he would make those who dared to touch his Zixiao Palace pay a price ten thousand times over.
However, when he finally arrived at the coordinates where the original land pressure boundary was located, after passing through layers of chaotic air currents.
There was nothing there.
There was only boundless chaos and nothingness, and a wisp of the aura of the Devouring Gourd that had not yet completely dissipated.
Hongjun stood there, stunned, his hair and beard standing on end, his eyes bloodshot.
Lu Yajie is gone too.
Meanwhile, in the depths of chaos, countless billions of miles away.
Jiang Wang sat cross-legged on a slowly rotating chaotic blue lotus, his blood and qi surging like dragons, with terrifying phenomena of creation appearing faintly.
Before him floated a small, exquisite purple-gold palace, its surface adorned with three thousand Dao patterns—the very same Purple Cloud Palace that once shook the primordial world.
At this moment, however, this chaotic spiritual treasure has completely changed hands. The true spirit imprint that originally belonged to Hongjun has been completely erased, and in its place is a faint Devouring Heaven Mark left by Jiang Wang.
Jiang Wang looked at the palace before him, and the corners of his mouth slowly turned up, revealing an almost dreamlike smile.
"System, redeem."
[Ding, detected that the host has submitted the Chaos Spiritual Treasure - Zixiao Palace (complete), reward 20 billion experience points, current experience points: 20.13 billion] Jiang Wang took a deep breath, and his eyes burst out with an unprecedented light.
The Nine Revolutions Spiritual Treasure Record, Sixth Revolution!
Once he takes this step, his physical body will truly possess a defense at the level of an innate supreme treasure!
At that time, within the primordial world, unless the Great Dao itself takes action, no one can harm him in the slightest!
He clicked on the breakthrough button on the system panel almost without hesitation.
In an instant, countless golden rays of light erupted from his pores, and his physical body began to reshape itself at a visible speed. Every inch of flesh, every bone, and every wisp of soul was moving towards a higher level of "spiritual treasure."
A fundamental transformation.
pain.
excruciating pain.
It felt as if countless divine blades were churning inside his body, and billions of mountains were pressing down on his bones.
But Jiang Wang just gritted his teeth and didn't even let out a muffled groan.
He had waited for this day for far too long.
At the same time, his divine sense remained focused on the Devouring Gourd not far away.
The gourd was currently suspended in the chaotic void, its mouth wide open, from which streams of pitch-black devouring power surged forth, biting tightly at Lu Yajie, who was still struggling in the distance.
Within the Lu Ya Realm, countless surviving beings were wailing in agony. The boundary walls were crumbling inch by inch, and the laws of the Great Dao were being forcibly torn apart, crushed, and devoured by the Devouring Heaven Gourd.
However, just as the devouring was reaching its final stage...
boom!
A bolt of purplish-black lightning appeared out of thin air, carrying a terrifying pressure capable of destroying everything, and struck straight at the Devouring Gourd!
The Great Dao Annihilates Divine Thunder!
This is a punishment personally bestowed by the will of the Great Dao, created specifically for beings that disrupt the balance of heaven and earth!
Jiang Wang's eyes narrowed, and almost at the same moment the lightning appeared, his figure suddenly became ethereal, as if he had become a completely non-existent shadow.
When upright, there is no shadow; when the Dharma is formless, there is no illusion!
This is one of his most treasured life-saving abilities; once unleashed, even the Great Dao cannot lock onto his presence!
The lightning struck, shattering the chaos and tearing the air currents within a radius of billions of miles into pieces.
But the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd only trembled slightly, and a layer of deep chaotic patterns appeared on its surface, actually withstanding the attack!
Chaos treasures are indeed not easily destroyed by the Great Dao Annihilation Thunder.
As the lightning dissipated, Jiang Wang's figure solidified again. He looked at the Devouring Gourd, which was still stubbornly devouring the Lu Ya Realm, and a smile that was almost eerie slowly appeared on his lips.
"Hongjun, oh Hongjun..."
You never would have imagined this, did you?
"Your most prized Zixiao Palace has now become a stepping stone for my breakthrough; and your painstakingly built Luya Realm will soon follow in its footsteps."
"From today onwards, this primordial world is no longer your place to point fingers."
He gently raised his hand, and the Devouring Gourd in the distance suddenly increased its devouring speed by a hundredfold!
The last barrier of the Lu Ya Realm shattered with a desperate cracking sound.
In the depths of chaos, utter silence descended.
Meanwhile, Hongjun, far beyond the primordial barrier, remained frozen in place, his eyes vacant, muttering something he himself could not understand.
"Gone...all gone..."
The wind blew in from the chaos, chilling to the bone.
Deep within the void of the Hidden Realm, a chaotic-colored barrier slowly rose and fell. Within the barrier, the Devouring Gourd floated in the center, its vines covered with dense cracks that spread like a spider web. Each crack flashed with destructive purple-gold lightning, the traces left by the Great Dao's God-Slaying Lightning.
Jiang Wang sat cross-legged directly beneath the gourd, his black hair hanging down, his robes fluttering without wind. His face was as handsome as ever, yet it carried the indifference that came with years of forbearance and bloodshed.
Nine thousand Great Daos Annihilation God Thunder.
He personally summoned nine thousand bolts of lightning, each one striking directly at the source of the Heaven-Swallowing Gourd, attempting to completely shatter this chaotic spiritual treasure so that he could forcibly refine it with his own blood and soul.
Unfortunately, Heaven did not allow it, and the Great Dao did not permit it. After being struck by nine thousand bolts of lightning, the gourd, though it had recognized its master, was badly damaged, with deep cracks that revealed the bone. The spiritual light inside was dim, and the refining progress dropped from 99% to less than 60%.
"Millions of years..."
Jiang Wang murmured softly, his fingertips lightly touching the surface of the gourd. The cold touch made him frown slightly. "Great Dao, you really are willing to do this."
He could sense that the spirit of the Devouring Gourd was asleep, in a very deep sleep, as if it would completely collapse at any moment.
If he were to continue refining it by force, the gourd would shatter, and he would suffer a backlash. At that point, he would not only fail to become a saint, but he would even fall from the peak of the quasi-saint realm.
Jiang Wang slowly withdrew his hand, his gaze piercing through the barrier and looking into the deeper reaches of the endless void.
The causal threads there were tangled together, and one could vaguely see an old and sinister figure lingering in front of a dilapidated cave.
Hongjun.
The one who once reigned supreme in Zixiao Palace and ruled the primordial world as the representative of the Heavenly Dao is now like a tiger with its teeth pulled out, utterly pathetic.
Jiang Wang's lips curled up slightly, revealing a barely perceptible cold smile.
You'll be in this situation too.
……
Meanwhile, outside the auspicious chaotic realm, in the Qilin Cave.
The ruins of the ancient war between the Dragon, Phoenix, and Qilin clans are now just a desolate wasteland.
After the fall of the First Qilin, the Qilin clan retreated to the Auspicious Chaos Realm and sealed all the passages leading to the Primordial World. For several eons, no one has been able to open them.
But today, the seal is cracking silently.
Hongjun stood at the cave entrance, his hair and beard all white, his Taoist robe tattered, his former air of otherworldly elegance long gone.
His eyes were terrifyingly cold, as if they could freeze the entire void.
"Jiang Wang... human race... good, very good."
He spoke slowly and deliberately, his voice so deep it seemed to come from the depths of hell.
First, Zixiao Palace was seized, then control of the Primordial World was lost, and now even Lu Ya Realm has been swallowed up by the Devouring Gourd. Lu Ya's primordial spirit is entangled by the gourd vines, making his life worse than death.
He witnessed the moment the Lu Ya Realm collapsed, and he also saw Jiang Wang standing in the void, calmly putting away the gourd, as if he were taming an obedient cat.
At that moment, Hongjun almost rushed over without regard for anything else.
But he didn't move in the end.
Because the human race has three Saints of Strength.
First Emperor, Martial Ancestor, Sword Master.
Any one of these three monsters who had achieved sainthood in their physical bodies could stand up to him head-on. If the three of them joined forces, even if Hongjun had a body that had merged with the Dao, he might not be able to gain the upper hand.
More importantly, he didn't want a quick death; he wanted slow torture.
He wanted humanity to struggle repeatedly between hope and despair; he wanted Jiang Wang to watch helplessly as everything he was protecting crumbled little by little; he wanted the Heaven-Devouring Gourd to ultimately turn against its master; he wanted the entire human race to perish with it.
"Tang Sanzang... cannot move, at least not now."
Hongjun muttered to himself, his voice filled with deep resentment, "If the journey to the West is cut off, the immeasurable calamity will descend prematurely. When that happens, the Heavenly Dao will retaliate, and I will die just the same... Jiang Wang, you can protect me for a while, but you can't protect me forever."
He raised his hand, and a hazy gray light flowed from his fingertips, landing on the seal of the Qilin Cave.
Click, click.
The seal shattered like ice, and a deep passage slowly emerged. At the end of the passage was the boundless auspicious clouds and auspicious energy of the Auspicious Chaos Realm.
Hongjun stepped in.
At the same time, a strange vibration suddenly came from his body, as if something was about to burst out.
"not good!"
Hongjun's expression changed drastically, and he hurriedly used his magic to suppress it, but it was too late.
A figure, identical in appearance to him, was forcibly ripped from between his brows. This figure also had white hair and beard, and wore the same Taoist robe, but possessed an even greater air of dominance and arrogance than Hongjun himself. (End of Chapter)