Chapter 512: Xi Huang's First Stroke Opens Heaven and Earth (4K)

Zhang Jian cast one last glance toward the small courtyard, gave a slight bow, and then shot off into the distance across the plain.

On a small hill, he saw an identical stone platform.

All he needed to do was hand over the self-created Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, and he would be able to pass through this place where the Human Emperor lived in seclusion.

But Zhang Jian had no intention of handing over the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram.

The Mountains and Rivers State Diagram was his innate immortal art, concerning the foundation of his own Dao path.

As for the other fifth-rank immortal art, the Flame Emperor's Blazing World Method, although he had comprehended it from the Flame Emperor's Attainment of the Dao Diagram,

it could not be considered self-created.

It could only be said that he had obtained the Flame Emperor's inheritance.

Zhang Jian intended to take this opportunity to cultivate here for several more centuries, perfecting another immortal art within him that was close to the peak of the fourth rank.

He actually had quite a few immortal arts within him that were close to the fifth-rank immortal art realm.

Including the fourth-rank immortal art Nine Nether Life and Death Golden Chapter, the fourth-rank immortal art Celestial Stars Diagram, the fourth-rank immortal art Five Dragons True Classic, the fourth-rank immortal art Azure Lotus Purifying Soul Method Incantation, the fourth-rank immortal art Great Yin Refining Form Method, the fourth-rank immortal art Wood Virtue Creation True Classic, and so on.

But if one were to speak of completely self-created fourth-rank immortal arts, there were only the Great Yin Refining Form Method, the Roaming the Grand Void Great Method, the Soul-Retaining Method, and a few other such methods.

The Five Dragons True Classic, the Azure Lotus Purifying Soul Method Incantation, the Nine Nether Life and Death Golden Chapter, the Nine Dragons True Classic, the Yellow Court Blessed Land Great Method, the Eight Extremes Time-Space, the Nine Revolutions Like Intention Time Wheel Classic, the Lesser Thousand Heavens Reincarnation Law Prohibition, and other classic scriptures were mostly things he had innovated upon from existing foundations.

Zhang Jian gazed at the stone platform, thought for a moment, and decided to first test the Flame Emperor's Blazing World Method.

However, as expected, it had no effect whatsoever.

Zhang Jian then calmed himself, focusing all his attention on the Great Yin Refining Form Method, this fourth-rank immortal art.

He chose this fourth-rank immortal art as the direction for his advancement.

The Great Yin Refining Form Method, in his contemplation of the art of reversing creation, had further refined the innate Great Yin law-pattern Dao-seed, showing signs of advancement.

Choosing this fourth-rank immortal art might require less time.

Zhang Jian then settled his mind.

In his primordial spirit's sea of consciousness, the fourth-rank immortal art Great Yin Refining Form Method resembled a lovely bright moon, within which countless Great Yin Dao law-patterns formed the main trunk, creating layer upon layer of special, magnificent art structures, with countless heaven-earth runes densely packed, each heaven-earth rune seemingly containing a profound mystery of the Great Yin law.

Within it, branches and twigs were countless, as if forming a unique rune world.

And at the central position was a Great Yin bright moon.

The innate Great Yin law-pattern Dao-seed.

This Dao-seed was actually of a nature far higher than ordinary Dao fruits.

Zhang Jian could feel that it could command the power of Great Yin Dao-qi, far more terrifying than ordinary primordial qi.

If integrated into other Great Yin-attribute immortal treasures, perhaps it could directly condense into a Dao Lord-level immortal treasure.

Because within it lay a strand of innate Great Yin imperishable spiritual light.

But Zhang Jian felt that integrating it into an immortal treasure would be too wasteful.

Therefore, he integrated it into the Great Yin Refining Form Method, allowing it to continually transform.

With this nature, slightly merging a portion of its power, it would surely surpass the fifth rank.

All that was needed was for Zhang Jian to optimize the art structure a little.

For Zhang Jian, this was not too difficult!

Because he had already cultivated two fifth-rank immortal arts.

With experience, it was merely a matter of time.

Just like the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram.

Zhang Jian spent nearly three hundred years, gradually reconstructing the Great Yin Refining Form Method into a third layer.

The first layer was the network formed by the Great Yin Dao law-patterns, the second layer mainly used Great Yin Dao-qi, combined with ice, snow, freezing, and soul Dao-qi powers, and the third layer was the power condensed from the innate Great Yin law-pattern Dao-seed; this power, at the moment the network took shape, gradually surpassed minor accomplishment of the Dao fruit, reaching the great accomplishment state of the Dao fruit.

In fact, the nature of the innate Great Yin law-pattern Dao-seed was even more magnificent and vast than the Great Perfection Dao fruit.

But Zhang Jian, limited by his realm, could not yet release it.

However, upon releasing the Great Yin divine power of the Dao fruit great accomplishment state, the Great Yin Refining Method this immortal art would immediately advance to the fifth rank.

Deep within the Great Yin Refining Method, the Great Yin Emperor's divine form emerged from the virtual to the real, like a divine bright moon, overlooking heaven and earth, looking down upon all beings.

Zhang Jian felt this change, and a faint smile appeared on his face.

In fact, ordinary fifth-rank immortal arts might not necessarily be able to condense such a divine form as the Great Yin Emperor.

Giving birth to such a divine form was entirely because he held the corresponding divine道 authority.

For example, the innate Great Yin law-pattern Dao-seed inherently carried Great Yin authority.

Now he was as if he had gained an additional divine道 emperor authority of the Great Yin Emperor.

This would invisibly add to the sequence of his State Emperor divine道 authority; when displaying the divine道 emperor authority, its power would greatly increase.

At this moment, he did not merely possess this one Great Yin Emperor divine道 authority on his person.

Furthermore, several layers of divine道 emperor authorities, after being refined from numerous heavenly and earthly rare treasures, were also taking shape.

Zhang Jian calculated on his fingers; at this point, adding up the time spent repairing the outer layer restrictions, he had already used nearly two thousand years.

The outer layer restriction repair alone had taken about one thousand years.

The inner layer, spent at the Farming Emperor's former residence, had taken nearly seven hundred years; adding this return's advancement to the fifth-rank immortal art Great Yin Refining Form Method, it totaled nearly one thousand one hundred years.

According to the ratio of time flow with the outer layer.

Three to one, this one thousand one hundred years or so was roughly equivalent to four hundred years.

The actual time he had consumed was one thousand four hundred years.

Zhang Jian calculated on his fingers; the time left for him to assault the core layer was still fairly sufficient.

At this moment, Zhang Jian stepped forward, and with a wave of his hand, transformed the Great Yin Refining Form Method into a faceted ice crystal that fell onto the stone platform.

Instantly, a dense fiery red divine light emanated from the stone platform.

Layer upon layer of fiery red divine light flowed and turned; the thin mist dispersing between the mountains gradually dissipated, and before his eyes, a vast plain reappeared from within.

Only Zhang Jian's eyes flickered, with something unusual in their depths.

He sensed a temporal-spatial fluctuation distinct from that of the Huoyun Cave Heaven.

The plain imperial road before him was a temporal-spatial passage!

After a brief contemplation, Zhang Jian still stepped forward into it.

But upon stepping in, Zhang Jian clearly felt the void churning with shifting stars deep within, a celestial light emanating from his entire body, which he instinctively shielded around himself; yet upon lifting his gaze, his eyes widened in shock.

Yet beneath his feet lay a sparse, primitive landscape.

Numerous stone huts and wooden dwellings were scattered across the highlands of the hills, alongside many scenes of primitive human survival.

The anticipated residence of the Heavenly Emperor did not appear.

Instead, it seemed to be an illusion?

Zhang Jian gazed into the depths of the void, then immediately shook his head.

This did not resemble an illusion; rather, it resembled the reflection of the long river of history, and under a special secret art, it had become 'real'!

Zhang Jian glanced at the scattered, dispersed primitive, barbaric human tribes below.

In the distance flowed a turbid yellow great river, its waves surging to the heavens, vast and boundless, very much like the Yellow River in Zhang Jian's impression.

Yet it was even broader, more magnificent, with surrounding mountains taller and more majestic.

It resembled the primordial wilderness described in the Classic of Mountains and Seas.

Zhang Jian's eyes widened in astonishment; at that moment, he glanced into the distance, his primordial spirit and divine sense radiating outward, and shortly afterward arrived upon a plain.

This plain appeared entirely independent of that special temporal-spatial river.

At this moment, the plain was covered with walls composed of countless five-colored crystals, numbering over a thousand.

Upon merely glancing at them, Zhang Jian's expression subtly changed.

Were these five-colored crystals not similar to high-level immortal arts like the Taiyin Immortal Arts?

Yet he did not expect them to be so densely packed here.

This must be what Red Cloud meant by 'inheriting the teachings of the sages.'

Anyone who enters beyond the third wall of Huoyun can observe the fourth-level immortal arts left by the preceding human emperors, and even fifth-level immortal arts.

This might be the 'newcomer's blessing' bestowed by Huoyun Cave upon this human emperor!

This 'newcomer's blessing' is indeed substantial.

If one could learn even one more, or even many high-level immortal arts, most immortals and gods would surely not refuse.

Yet Zhang Jian felt no excessive excitement.

Having reached his current state, he knew that while learning additional high-level immortal arts would be gratifying, what truly mattered was whether the various immortal arts formed a coherent system aligned with his own path.

If greed for more disrupted his path, it would be a loss not worth the gain.

At the same time, Zhang Jian glanced again at the temporal-spatial traces beside him.

The two seemed like ancient and modern boundary rivers, clearly distinct.

The Heavenly Emperor Fuxi obviously wanted him to make a choice.

To choose these high-level immortal arts, or to return to that historical temporal-spatial imprint.

Zhang Jian could not help but recall the hint given by the Tongshan Dao Tong at this stage.

Wisdom!

Heavenly Emperor Fuxi is a born sage, moreover a ruler skilled in creation, and what he most admires is also the wisdom of those who understand discernment and choice.

Yet the task of passing through the third wall of Huoyun is no longer to create one's own immortal art, but to assist Heavenly Emperor Fuxi in retrieving a 'lost object' misplaced deep within the Huoyun Cave Heaven!

This 'lost object' has no specific designation.

This may be testing the trial emperor's wisdom, perseverance, opportunity, or perhaps vision.

Zhang Jian silently pondered.

However, for now, he must first make a choice, and perhaps later seek the opportunity to find Heavenly Emperor Fuxi's 'lost object.'

In the ancient-modern dilemma, Zhang Jian hesitated slightly, but ultimately fixed his gaze upon that historical temporal-spatial imprint.

Though the numerous high-level immortal arts are rare and precious,

the most precious immortal arts are at most fifth-level.

Unlike other human emperors, Zhang Jian is confident he will never lack fifth-level immortal arts in the future.

Conversely, what is hidden within that historical temporal-spatial imprint, Zhang Jian is very curious about.

The two long rivers run parallel; moreover, the other's value will surely not fall short of that plain constructed from over a thousand immortal arts.

Having made his decision, Zhang Jian turned sideways and returned.

In an instant, his form stepped once more into that special historical temporal-spatial imprint.

Immediately, he saw a youth of peculiar appearance, surrounded by many primitives, having become a chieftain.

He was a youth of considerable stature, clad in animal hides, with bright eyes, though his eyes faintly held something unusual, as if within lay a dragon and serpent twin child; he was exceptionally wise, and after being elected chieftain by the many primitive tribes, he would lead the clans in diligent labor.

After farming, he would lead many tribal warriors into the mountains to cut bamboo groves, begin learning to craft simple bamboo bows, traps, and conduct hunts, yet heaven did not cooperate fully; despite the tribe's relentless labor, the people still did not have enough to eat.

When encountering the Yellow River flood season, they often suffered from hunger and cold.

Under such extreme dependence on environmental sustenance, seeing tribal members dwindle from hunger, this young chieftain secretly made an adventurous decision, leading many of his people away from this place to seek a land with abundant water sources, unlikely to suffer floods or droughts.

His proposal, as expected, was opposed by many tribal elders.

But he overcame all opposition, persuading the vast majority of the tribe.

Thus he led the tribe downstream along the river, settling by the water, embarking on a long journey.

Along this path, hardships and obstacles were countless; they endured hunger, were pursued by fierce beasts, encountered war, and faced internal strife, blame, and division within the tribe, yet he overcame each one, ultimately arriving at a land of abundant water and lush grass.

Here, plant species thrived, water sources were clear, mountain animals were abundant, and fierce beasts were rare.

Indeed, upon seeing this, Zhang Jian faintly realized, he knew who this youthful chieftain was!

That must be the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi.

This historical spacetime imprint may very well be the path of the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi's enlightenment.

As this thought arose, Zhang Jian couldn't help but feel his heart skip.

If so, he couldn't help but feel a surge of joy in his heart.

Compared to being able to personally witness the Heavenly Emperor's enlightenment, especially his creation of the Eight Trigrams of Fuxi, what are a few fifth-tier immortal arts?

Zhang Jian suppressed his thoughts.

As an observer, he quietly watched.

After arriving at this place called Wanqiu, the young chieftain began to use his wisdom, actively improving the survival capabilities of his people, inventing various skills to enhance survival—whether weaving nets for hunting, roasting food over fire, boiling raw water, allowing humanity to escape the life of drinking blood and eating raw meat, transitioning from raw to cooked food, thereby greatly increasing the survival capabilities of primitive humanity and avoiding many diseases.

Later, he further established tribal surnames with the elders, defined human relations, instituted marriage, and promoted the healthy development of the tribe.

This healthy development model gradually gained recognition from more and more primitive human tribes.

Wanqiu gradually transformed from a single primitive tribe into a holy land acknowledged by surrounding tribes.

This is a true sovereign.

He possesses great perseverance, great wisdom, and even greater compassion.

As human relations were established, his divine nature became increasingly evident; it seemed an ancient wisdom within him gradually revealed itself.

Emulating heaven and earth was no longer merely for increasing the tribe's survival odds, but also began to further ponder the mysteries of heaven and earth.

His entire being emanated an aura as if he were one with heaven and man.

To comprehend the great Dao of heaven and earth with a mortal body—Zhang Jian, upon seeing this, could only shake his head.

Gods and heaven, sages and earth—none are beyond this.

He often sat cross-legged on the divination platform by the Wei River, observing the visage of heaven and earth, the changes of sun, moon, and stars, and discerning the patterns of mountains and rivers, constantly reflecting and summarizing the changes in the wilderness world he inhabited.

He gradually understood more and more methods, and divine powers manifested naturally.

Ordinary fierce beasts, even the divine, could no longer threaten him.

After years of wandering, he returned once more to Wanqiu.

One day, suddenly he seemed to hear an explosion in the middle of the Wei River; on the opposite bank, ancient trees shrouded the Dragon Horse Mountain, and divine light burst forth, splitting open.

Then, a divine steed dragon horse flew out, its body snow-white, covered in dragon scales, with horns on its head and wings on its back, leisurely gliding downstream, landing precisely on the jade turtle that had emerged at the river's center, the jade turtle's body clearly marked with trigrams, glowing brightly.

At this moment, as the two met, in the eyes of this young sovereign, they transformed into a three-dimensional Taiji, yin and yang intertwined, radiating light.

This scene attracted all of Fuxi's attention; he involuntarily sat cross-legged, the Taiji divine map deeply imprinted in his consciousness, his eyes instantly blazing, as if in this moment he had pierced the mysteries of heaven and earth.

It seemed that all things in heaven and earth were actually so simple and clear.

To allow humanity to eternally bask in the grace of heavenly and earthly laws, he transformed this sacred insight into the simplest symbol: using "一" for yang, "一一" for yin, arranged in all directions to form the Eight Trigrams.

This act also distinguished the months and years, creating history.

One gives rise to two, two gives rise to three.

This is also the beginning of using human culture to elucidate the changes of heaven and earth.

The fire of primitive human civilization was thus born.

In the depths of the void, Zhang Jian felt even deeper insight; his primordial spirit's sea of consciousness, the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State, at this moment likewise transformed into a three-dimensional Taiji, yin and yang intertwined, countless yin and yang giving birth to all things in heaven and earth, the rolling heavenly and earthly great Dao laws resonating in perfect harmony.

The positions of the heavenly and earthly Eight Trigrams emerged from within.

Within the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and State, many heavenly and earthly great Dao laws seemed to evolve even more harmoniously, as if the yin and yang Eight Trigrams were arranged around the Emperor's Qi of the Earth Sovereign.

Around the Taiyi Dao Fruit at the center of his brow, even more rolling blue clouds were born.

At this moment, the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi by the Wei River slowly lifted his gaze; the light of wisdom in his eyes flowed, as if gazing across endless spacetime, he saw Zhang Jian in the void.