Chapter 604: 603. Chapter 598: One Slash, Frost Chills Fourteen Provinces

603. Chapter 598: One Slash, Frost Chills Fourteen Provinces

The Cosmic Cauldron fell silent, save for the sound of Yijie continuously altering its direction.

After a long while, Ding Huan put away the Large Mouth Pot: "Brother Zhuo, Sister Yan, did you bring Baihe's ashes?"

Yan Qi shook her head: "When we saw Baihe self-annihilate, Chong Chong Shenjin flew into a rage—he actually intended to desecrate her body."

My husband and I were furious too; this man was accustomed to arrogance, and if anything didn't go his way, he'd erupt. Even after Baihe's death, he still wouldn't let her rest."

Though Baihe left because she could not resolve her inner knots, we cannot allow others to defile her after her passing."

Because my husband and I intervened, our Divine Sword Shanzhuang and the Heavenly God Palace finally could not avoid that bloody battle."

Besides leaving me the Large Mouth Pot, Baihe left behind nothing else."

It was because of that battle that our Divine Sword Shanzhuang was wiped out, and my husband and I could no longer remain on the Chaos Star Continent—we had to flee far beyond it, and unexpectedly, we encountered your flying treasure in the void."

Ding Huan stood up and bowed deeply to Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi: "Thank you both for protecting Baihe."

Zhuo Yao quickly stood and said: "Brother Ding Huan, we didn't manage to save Baihe—we're truly ashamed."

"No, if not for Brother and Sister Yan's protection, Baihe wouldn't have passed in peace."

Ding Huan knew well that despite Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi's simple account, the scene must have been far more complex.

But Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi were upright and noble, their hearts far beyond ordinary people's—they simply didn't wish to complain to him.

The Divine Sword Shanzhuang was destroyed; one can imagine how many perished in that battle.

"Brother Zhuo, how many years have you been away from the Chaos Star Continent? Do you know its location?" Ding Huan asked further.

The Cosmic Void Direction Disc he obtained contained no coordinates for the Chaos Star Continent.

But based on Ding Huan's guess, the Chaos Star Continent was likely the very star continent the Dao Ancestor sought.

From Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi's cultivation levels, one could tell the Chaos Star Continent's celestial laws were exceptionally strong.

One could only wonder whether the Dao Ancestor had already found this star continent.

"We've been away for nearly twenty years. The first reason we can't return is that we have no place to stand—Heavenly God Palace's master, Chong Chong Shenjin, is too powerful; if we returned, we'd have no refuge."

"He won't let us live, and secondly, we came to find celestial materials to rebuild my son Zhuo Wushang's body…"

Here, Zhuo Yao sighed.

Yan Qi's eyes turned red again.

Ding Huan immediately understood: during the battle between the Divine Sword Shanzhuang and the Heavenly God Palace, Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi's son had been reduced to a shattered physical form.

Without hesitation, Ding Huan pulled out a Nine-Colored Void Lotus and pushed it forward: "Brother Zhuo, Sister Yan, I happen to have celestial materials for body reconstruction—please take this for your son."

Celestial materials for body reconstruction?

Yan Qi instantly realized, snatched the jade box, and opened it—when the Nine-Colored Void Lotus, perfectly sealed, appeared before them.

Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi both gasped in unison: "Nine-Colored Void Lotus?"

"Thank you, thank you…" Yan Qi's voice trembled with emotion.

They had longed to find celestial materials to rebuild Wushang's body, yet never dreamed they'd find a treasure like the Nine-Colored Void Lotus.

Zhuo Yao quickly pulled out a ring and handed it to Ding Huan: "Brother Ding, if I didn't urgently need this celestial material, I'd have no face to take it."

"This material is too precious—these are just a few tokens of my gratitude…"

Ding Huan immediately pushed the ring back: "Brother Zhuo, if I were to demand spiritual crystals for a mere Nine-Colored Void Lotus, what would I be but an ungrateful wretch?"

"This…" Seeing Ding Huan's firmness, Zhuo Yao could only retract the ring.

"Brother Ding, if you have any request, we will spare no effort." Zhuo Yao's tone was solemn.

Ding Huan said: "I originally planned to return to the Semi-God Star Continent; I can give you the coordinates now—you two should go to the Blue Star Sect on the Semi-God Star Continent to cultivate."

"The Semi-God Star Continent isn't far from here—no more than a few years' journey."

"Brother Ding, what about you?" Zhuo Yao sensed Ding Huan had no intention of returning to the Semi-God Star Continent and asked quickly.

Ding Huan said: "Please give me the route to the Chaos Star Continent—I intend to visit Baihe."

For Ding Huan, unless he eradicated the Heavenly God Palace completely, his Dao path would forever bear a demonic obstacle.

"Brother Ding, you absolutely must not go to the Chaos Star Continent—it's teeming with powerful cultivators. The Heavenly God Palace's master, Chong Chong Shenjin, is rumored to have truly transcended the Immortal Emperor realm…"

Zhuo Yao hurried to stop him.

This was precisely what Ding Huan wanted to ask—both Zhuo Yao and Yan Qi clearly surpassed Immortal Emperor Fullness.

Had they surpassed the Immortal Emperor realm?

Logically, even if the Chaos Star Continent's laws were complete, they were still Immortal World laws—how could one cultivate beyond the Immortal Emperor realm?

"Brother Zhuo, is the Chaos Star Continent no longer governed by Immortal World laws? How can one surpass the Immortal Emperor realm?"

Zhuo Yao replied seriously: "Though the Chaos Star Continent is part of the Immortal Realm, its laws are slightly superior to those of the Immortal World—this is why Chong Chong Shenjin has entered the Yu Shen Realm."

"Even my wife and I have touched the edge of the Yu Shen Realm—we simply haven't crossed the threshold yet."

Ding Huan guessed his assumption was correct: the Chaos Star Continent must be the very star continent the Dao Ancestor sought.

"I truly must go to the Chaos Star Continent—please give me the route. I'll be eternally grateful."

Zhuo Yao immediately pulled out a direction orb and handed it to Ding Huan:

"Brother Ding Huan, this is the route to the Chaos Star Continent—it will require passing through a cosmic vortex."

"Though we've only just met, I know you're a man of true feeling—so I'll accompany you there."

Then Zhuo Yao turned to Yan Qi: "Aqi, wait for me on the Semi-God Star Continent."

Yan Qi shook her head without hesitation: "My husband and I never separate—you go, I go with you."

Zhuo Yao laughed heartily: "Good! Then let's return to the Chaos Star Continent together. Even if the Heavenly God Palace surrounds us, we can still escape."

Ding Huan knew what he intended to do—whether the Heavenly God Palace blocked him or not, he would go to block them.

"Then let's go together," Ding Huan said, thinking it wouldn't delay him much.

His Cosmic Cauldron was far faster than Zhuo Yao's flying shuttle.

Ding Huan transferred partial control of the Universe Pot to Zhuo Yao:

"Brother Zhuo, I'm worried my cultivation isn't strong enough—during our journey to the Chaos Star Continent, please help me pilot the ship while I enter seclusion to cultivate for a few years."

"Alright, rest assured—I'll handle everything else," Zhuo Yao immediately agreed.

He silently sighed inside.

How much cultivation could be gained in just a few years?

But he understood Ding Huan's state of mind—if Yan Qi had been in trouble, he himself would have gone mad.

He had seen the Universe Pot's speed firsthand; even with his cultivation, driving a top-grade immortal artifact flying shuttle, he couldn't catch even its shadow—clearly, the Universe Pot was incredibly fast.

After returning, Ding Huan immediately entered the second level of the Universe Pot.

He had never cultivated on this rule-soil before; now he decided to enter seclusion here for several years.

The two and a half divine veins supplied immortal spiritual energy; Ding Huan only completed one Zhou Tian and felt astonishment.

Cultivating on the Universe Pot's Chaos Rule-Soil, his cultivation advanced with astonishing speed.

The Chaos Dao rules contained within the Rule-Soil perfectly matched his Great Universe Art.

Coupled with the divine veins supplying immortal spiritual energy, Ding Huan could feel his cultivation rising with every Zhou Tian.

In just three months, Ding Huan reached Immortal Emperor Eighth Layer.

Seven months later, he was at Immortal Emperor Ninth Layer.

After one year, Ding Huan advanced to Immortal Emperor Tenth Layer…

Two years passed, and Ding Huan ceased cultivation.

He was now at the peak of Immortal Emperor Twelfth Layer; according to the rules of this universe, further cultivation would only solidify his current realm.

He extended his divine sense—the Universe Pot was moving extremely fast. Though not as swift as when he controlled it himself, it was still several times faster than when Yi Jie piloted it.

On the deck stood a boy, about eleven or twelve years old, playing happily with Yi Jie.

Ding Huan knew this boy must be Zhuo Wushang, restored to his physical body.

Zhuo Wushang had only just reached True Immortal realm—such cultivation was certainly unfit to join the great battle at the Divine Sword Manor.

Zhuo Wushang's physical body shattered not because he was caught in that great battle's aftermath, but due to some other cause.

Ding Huan did not step out; he took out the Opening Heaven Geng Metal.

After the Wheel of Reincarnation Spear shattered, he now had no suitable artifact at all.

Before he leveled the Heavenly God Palace, he must forge a new artifact.

Grand Void Flame was still an immortal flame, yet it stood at its peak.

When Ding Huan tossed the Opening Heaven Geng Metal into the Grand Void Flame, he saw it refused to melt at all.

But this didn't deter Ding Huan—he directly constructed a Great Universe Art Zhou Tian, drawing both the Opening Heaven Geng Metal and the Grand Void Flame into his own Great Universe Art Zhou Tian.

As the Great Universe Art rotated, the surface of the Opening Heaven Geng Metal began to melt within the Grand Void Flame.

Ding Huan poured his immortal energy furiously into the Grand Void Flame; moreover, he even pulled out several fire-origin crystals to power it.

Simultaneously, streams of flame Dao principles were infused into the Grand Void Flame.

The Grand Void Flame's aura surged, and the melting speed of the Opening Heaven Geng Metal increased.

This "increase" was only relative to its initial state—in truth, it was still astonishingly slow.

After more than half a year, the Opening Heaven Geng Metal was barely shaped by Ding Huan into a long blade.

It couldn't be called forging—only kneading.

This feat relied entirely on Ding Huan's immense divine sense and immortal energy, plus the reinforcement of his Dao-flame.

The blade looked crude and ugly—but for Ding Huan, this was already the utmost he could achieve.

He shaped it into a long blade because long blades were easiest to forge.

Though ugly, Ding Huan had no intention of further refining it; instead, he began etching forbidden patterns.

One after another, array patterns were carved into the blade's surface; the weapon's killing aura grew ever stronger.

Two more years passed, and Ding Huan completed the final forbidden pattern.

The blade's killing momentum coalesced, emitting a deep, resonant hum as it landed in Ding Huan's hand.