Chapter 543: Zhang Jian's Cultivation (4K)

In the third stone tower.

Zhang Jian looked at the four tower guardians of Taiyi Heavenly Immortal level condensed before him, a hint of helplessness in his eyes.

Before this stage had even properly begun, it already possessed the difficulty of the final wave of trials from the previous two stages; one could imagine the difficulty ahead would only be higher.

The Dao cultivation of these four guardians were all imprints transformed from Taiyi Heavenly Immortal-level powerhouses, possessing all the Dao fruits, cultivation, and mana of such Taiyi Heavenly Immortal-level powerhouses.

And before him, a spiritual aperture evolved from a shifting earth map.

His task was to protect this spiritual aperture, ensuring its integrity remained above sixty percent.

One against four, and moreover, four of the same level.

There might be even more variations later.

Zhang Jian felt he still needed to bring out part of his true trump cards, otherwise he might suffer a great loss.

Still a fifth-rank matrix-style immortal art.

Fifth-rank immortal art: Nine Revolutions Ruyi Time Wheel Sutra.

Fifth-rank immortal art: Huangting Blessed Land Great Law.

Fifth-rank immortal art: Zhou Tian Star Chart.

In the depths of the void, myriad rays of starlight continuously streaked across, forming a vast stellar river, with specks of starlight bursting forth from within, forming a great stellar array.

This was the higher profundity of the Zhou Tian Star Chart, the Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Array.

Once this array formed, it instantly trapped the four Taiyi Heavenly Immortal-level deities within; no matter what fifth-rank immortal arts they used to bombard it, the Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Array remained perfectly seamless and indestructible.

However, within the array, Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brow.

The Zhou Tian Star Chart was the supreme divine ability held in the hand of the ancient hegemon Dong Di; its might was unquestionably formidable.

But this place was within the stone tower, the void isolated.

This Zhou Tian Star Dipper Great Array had no Zhou Tian Star Chart to rely on, entirely dependent on his own primordial immortal light for evolution, and could not be sustained for too long.

At this moment, changes arose again in the depths of the void.

Rumbling sounds erupted from all sides, yet he saw a vast flood of torrents sweeping in from the depths of the void, covering the sky and earth.

This was the transformation born of the rupture of heavenly and earthly laws; this shift in heaven and earth immediately affected Zhang Jian's control over the Zhou Tian Star Chart.

At the same time, two more Taiyi Heavenly Immortal-level deities appeared in the depths of the void, slashing horizontally toward Zhang Jian from two tricky angles.

One was surrounded by intense Geng metal immortal light, carrying a long sword, clearly a Taiyi Heavenly Immortal-level sword immortal, exceptionally skilled in attack and slaughter.

The other was entwined with intense flames, a cluster of orange-yellow divine fire coiling around, as if burning heaven and earth.

This was the heavenly and earthly divine flame, the Samadhi True Fire.

In the Taiqing Heaven lineage, this fire was renowned far and wide.

It possessed extremely high growth potential.

In the hands of this fire-attribute immortal, it further had the power to burn the three treasures to ashes; in an instant, it transformed into streams of orange-yellow divine light falling from the void.

The situation instantly became one against six, while also facing increasingly violent ruptures of the heavenly and earthly great Dao laws, with interference from the collapse of mountains and rivers.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian remained unhurried; his vast primordial spirit could fully support him in dividing his attention.

In the depths of the void, a matrix-style fifth-rank immortal art erupted simultaneously at the moment the two Taiyi Heavenly Immortals appeared below.

Fifth-rank immortal art: Flame Emperor's World-Burning Law.

Fifth-rank immortal art: Nine Revolutions Ruyi Time Wheel Sutra.

Fifth-rank immortal art: Huangting Blessed Land Great Law.

The combination of time, space, and flame instantly evolved from the depths of the void into a magnificent Fire Chronicle Diagram, completely enveloping the opposite side of the void.

The blazing flames symbolizing the hope of countless races burned across the sky.

This power enveloped the universe, burning away all things, and within it, a heavenly and earthly rare treasure burst forth with divine energy.

The two Taiyi Heavenly Immortals consecutively employed fifth-rank immortal arts, attempting to cleave the time-space prison formed by the Flame Emperor's World-Burning Diagram, but to no avail; they were gradually entwined by the Flame Emperor's Dao fruits, slowly burned to ashes, and reduced to dust.

Zhang Jian, in an instant, saw the two Taiyi Heavenly Immortals reduced to ashes, while simultaneously advancing further in his hand to display the marvels within the Zhou Tian Star Chart.

The Zhou Tian Star Chart unfurled; only to see stars interweaving in an instant, condensing into a vast stellar millstone, which pressed downward, directly slaying each Taiyi Heavenly Immortal one by one.

This is the most profound aspect of control-type immortal arts.

It can divide the battlefield, defeating enemies one by one.

After slaying the six Taiyi Heavenly Immortals, the chaotic scene of heaven and earth above did not end.

But the mere scene of law collapse could no longer threaten Zhang Jian.

This allowed him to smoothly pass the third stage.

In the Pure Yang Hall, the crowd watched this scene and could not help but secretly nod.

One against six, defeating strong enemies in the shortest time, the strength Zhang Jian displayed had already far surpassed that of an ordinary Taiyi Heavenly Immortal.

This was probably not the opponent's true strength.

Yu Wang watched this scene, a faint smile appearing on his brow; he knew this matter was settled.

Zhang Jian breaking through the five stages was undoubtedly no problem.

Because even now, Zhang Jian had still not revealed a single one of his trump cards.

He had not even used any immortal treasures for assistance.

He knew Zhang Jian possessed several powerful fifth-rank immortal treasures within his body.

Moreover, he had not yet used the Human Emperor Immortal Art or the Nation's Fortune Immortal Art.

On one side of the great hall, Yuan Yang Daoist, as a disciple, followed Pure Yang Daoist to accompany guests; watching this scene, he secretly felt some shock in his heart.

He only thought this Lingyuan Emperor's cultivation surpassed his own, but not by too much.

Now seeing this, he realized he had greatly underestimated the opponent.

Even though he possessed the authority of heaven and earth, if he wished to pass the three stages so easily, it would also be very difficult.

Zhang Jian once again stepped out of the third gate with a hundred percent completeness.

After he stepped out of the third gate, he felt an indescribable sense of refreshment in his heart.

At this moment, he also wanted to know how far his cultivation had progressed.

But the first three gates were not enough to force out his potential.

At that moment, he stepped into the fourth gate.

It was still just a simple stone tower.

Only this time, Zhang Jian felt a slight surprise.

Only seen, in the depths of the void this time, no imprint of any powerful being had evolved, and in front of him appeared a grand formation, arranged according to yin and yang and the four symbols, containing within it the boundless power of the four symbols.

"Is this time about breaking the formation?"

Zhang Jian thought to himself.

Sure enough, moments later, a line of text appeared above the void.

This time, he faced this innate formation of the Two Polarities and Four Symbols, and within a hundred years, he was to break the lock of this innate great formation.

This is an innate formation, containing within it many innate mysteries, with tremendous power, combining killing and cutting.

Its power is enough to trap and kill a Taiyi Great Perfection-level expert.

Looking at this scene, Zhang Jian did not feel any pressure.

He is proficient in heavenly and earthly runes, and has profound attainments in formations.

Moreover, during the recent period, he had learned the innate Eight Trigrams of the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi within the Fire Cloud Cave Heaven, which is a useful tool for breaking formations.

Not to mention, he is also proficient in the Hetu arts and numbers.

……

Meanwhile, on the other side, the Water Official Emperor and the Water Virtue Star Lord were not slow in speed; although they entered the Three Great Dao Realms later, they arrived first instead, and likewise stepped into the fourth gate.

The fourth gate was largely similar, with each displaying an innate great formation within.

Yet, the two immortals each held a supreme treasure, suppressing part of the innate great formation, instantly finding its weak point and breaking it.

Such action was easy and relaxed, yet when it fell into the eyes of many pure yang immortals of the Pure Yang Immortal Sect inside the hall, they felt terrified beyond measure.

The changes contained in that innate great formation were too many; their primordial spirits could not even compute them, let alone break the formation.

"These heavenly emperors, each one, actually possess such formidable strength..."

Many Taiyi Great Perfection experts of the Pure Yang Immortal Sect secretly trembled.

As immortals of the Taiqing Heaven lineage, they have their own pride; they are very confident, and most believe that few of their peers can match them.

Today, seeing such a scene, it is inevitable that their Dao hearts would be shaken.

Yuan Yang Daoist remained expressionless; he had seen such scenes not long ago.

In the world of cultivation, one mountain is still higher than another.

……

At this time, Zhang Jian's speed in breaking the formation was equally swift; he did not use any magical treasure, but purely followed the veins of this great formation, gradually found its core node, gradually applied forbidden methods to break the innate great formation, causing its power to become unbalanced, and gradually he solved it.

Such a high-level method of breaking the formation was simple and clear, making the immortals' eyes light up.

Even the Pure Yang Dao Lord glanced sideways a little.

Immortals skilled in setting up and breaking formations belong to a special type of talent, just like those skilled in alchemy and forging, and are all in high demand.

The Donghua Realm wishes to ascend, and also needs many such talents to assist.

However, the Pure Yang Dao Lord at this moment gave rise to some thoughts, deciding to continue comparing Zhang Jian in this aspect.

As he focused his mind, he secretly controlled part of the changes in the Three Great Dao Realms.

Yu Wang seemed to sense something, but he remained silent and continued to observe.

The Three Sovereigns and Five Elders Assembly and the Taiqing Heaven lineage have no friction; the Pure Yang Dao Lord should not make things difficult for me, the Tongshan Dao lineage, in such matters.

……

Before the fifth stone tower, Zhang Jian's face became slightly solemn, and after a moment, he stepped into it.

Inside the stone tower, Zhang Jian saw before him a grand formation appear.

Only seen, countless heavenly and earthly mysteries manifested, and faintly there was a power of returning to the primordial wilderness within; deep in his eyes, he felt some helplessness.

Even just a glance revealed that the killing intent contained in this great formation was several times that of the fourth gate.

Even his innate primordial spirit felt a strong chill.

"No wonder other immortals cannot pass the nine gates!"

He thought to himself, although he felt great danger, he still had some confidence.

At that moment, he stepped into it.

Inside the Pure Yang Immortal Hall, at this moment many Dao Lords gazed upon this special formation manifesting, and instantly felt some astonishment in their eyes.

They had already recognized the origin of this formation.

However, according to the trial laws and prohibitions set up by the Pure Yang Dao Lord and the many Dao Lords, this formation should not have appeared.

It is not that it is too weak.

But that it is too strong!

This is a famous ancient killing formation.

"Is this the Two Polarities Dust Great Formation?"

Yu Wang questioned doubtfully, yet with a tone of affirmation.

The long-browed Dao Lord at the lower seat gazed pensively; he glanced at the Pure Yang Dao Lord, and just then the Pure Yang Dao Lord's gaze came toward him, and he smiled and said.

"Indeed, it is the Two Polarities Dust Great Formation!"

Inside the hall, all the immortals began to discuss in confusion.

The Two Forms Micro-Dust Array is a famed immortal formation of the Taiqing Tianyi lineage, likewise transmitted by the Old Lord himself, and was the great mountain-sealing array of the Changmei Daoist lineage in ancient times, having once sealed and slain countless powerful demons.

This array can evolve micro-dust into primordial wilderness, primordial wilderness into chaos, chaos into yin and yang, and yin and yang into all things; such endless cycling is truly terrifying.

The Pure Yang Daoist Lord perceived the change in Yu Wang's expression, and that was the Dao.

"Although this array is strong, it ultimately lacks a divine banner to suppress the formation, nor a supreme treasure to repress the formation's heart, so its power cannot be too great!"

"Used for trial, it is still suitable!"

Yu Wang pondered slightly, lightly nodded, and thus accepted the Pure Yang Daoist Lord's words.

Although this is a famed great array of the Taiqing Tianyi lineage, he does not believe it can block Zhang Jian.

However, such a killing array appearing at the fifth gate is indeed somewhat excessive in difficulty.

At this moment, within the Two Forms Micro-Dust Great Array, the eight gates have already opened; one sees boundless, magnificent heaven and earth evolving into a primordial wilderness scene, trapping living beings.

Within the great array, Zhang Jian at this moment finally employs part of his trump cards.

Upon his body appear numerous mysterious trigrams; many trigrams flow through the void, transforming into three-dimensional forms of the Yin-Yang Taiji Divine Diagram; the surface of the Taiji Divine Diagram then manifests countless Qian-Kun trigram lines, beginning to decompose the primordial wilderness heaven and earth.

This is his Earth Emperor's Eight Trigrams.

"Fuxi's Eight Trigrams, primordial wondrous method!"

The various Daoist Lords gazing upon this scene inwardly wore solemn expressions.

The primordial Eight Trigrams is the supreme method derived from the Heavenly Emperor Fuxi, possessing the mighty power to drive heaven and earth.

One sees trigram after trigram flying out, as if inlaid in the eight directions of heaven and earth, beginning to continuously survey the hidden life-and-death eight gates of the Two Forms Micro-Dust Great Array.

If Zhang Jian is allowed to continue surveying, sooner or later he will be able to break open the incomplete Two Forms Great Array.

The Pure Yang Daoist Lord gazing at this scene, his eyes rippling; in fact, deep in his heart he has already acknowledged Zhang Jian.

With such a supreme wondrous method in his possession, he already has the qualifications to participate in ascension-maintenance affairs.

Yet see that the Two Forms Micro-Dust Great Array at this moment undergoes formation changes; the magnificent primordial wilderness at this moment rolls and transforms, evolving into various life-and-death yin-yang, wind, thunder, rain, snow changes, to confuse Zhang Jian's spiritual sense perception.

Fortunately, at this moment the myriad trigrams evolved from the Earth Emperor's Eight Trigrams block the myriad wind, thunder, rain, snow pressures from above the firmament.

Those celestial powers inherently carry divine law energy; a single strand of divine wind can rend the void, wind and thunder intertwined easily evolve into the scene of great void destruction.

Wind and snow can freeze heaven and earth.

This is an immortal god pitted against the entire heaven and earth as an enemy.

Such formation indeed made Zhang Jian feel a tremendous pressure.

However, through the Earth Emperor's Eight Trigrams, he can still quickly find the weak nodes of this great array, thereby avoiding the full frontal bombardment of the myriad celestial powers.

"Even the fiercest sunlight will have dark places it cannot illuminate; even the strongest array always has a weak point!"

Seeing countless primordial wilderness above his head gradually sealing the void, transforming into chaos that isolates the heavenly way and earthly way, Zhang Jian knows he cannot allow this to continue, otherwise his pressure will only grow greater.

In fact, at this moment, if he merely deploys the Post-Heaven Spirit Treasure Nine Heavens Azure Lotus Diagram, Zhang Jian has great confidence to directly break the array.

However, deploying the Nine Heavens Azure Lotus Diagram in such a place would truly be overkill.

In the moment of thought, Zhang Jian summons a supreme treasure from within his body.

"Senior Wang Ding, please lend me your aid!"

Hearing Zhang Jian's call, the State Altar Wang Ding, who was in cultivation, immediately responded; bronze-colored immortal light manifested from his body and shot forth instantly.

Fifth-Rank Immortal Method Wang Ding Subdues Demons Secret Record.

Fifth-Rank Immortal Method Nine Dragons True Classic!

Fifth-Rank Immortal Method Nine Tripods Great Array!

Yet see that in an instant, with nine dragon roars, nine red-veined fire dragons fly out from around Zhang Jian's body, instantly entering the State Altar Wang Ding; one sees great tripods appear within the Two Forms Micro-Dust Great Array, boundless mighty force suddenly suppressing the magnificent evolution of primordial wilderness transforming into chaos, delaying the formation.

In the moment of propping up the formation's delay, Zhang Jian's body manifests a purple-yellow divine light; the Earth Emperor's Divine Authority, like a sword, instantly strikes one of the gates, and his form instantly manifests from within.

This is Zhang Jian's first time revealing part of his trump cards.

Such strength is, however, far beyond the realm of ordinary Taiyi Great Perfection.

The various Daoist Lords also cannot help but wear expressions of astonishment.

Especially Zhang Jian's final manifestation of magnificent divine authority power, truly is domineering without equal.

"Truly a seed of the Daoist Lords!"