Chapter 568: Lord of the Immortal Prison, Eternal Ice Fortress (4K)

After a hundred years, the Water Official Emperor formally assumed his position, and the golden edict from the Heavenly Court also arrived at the Water Official Emperor's residence.

Because Water Official Emperor Zhang Jian held the Three Yuan Emperor's residence, operating the Heaven-Earth Water Circulation Great Dao Law, maintaining the Heavenly Court's order, and aiding Left Pure Yang Daoist in ascending to govern a major realm, his rank was promoted by one level, becoming Rank Nine, and his post was transferred from Water Official Emperor to the Ninth Layer of the Lower Realm, the Arctic Region, as the Guardian Heavenly Lord of the Eternal Ice Fortress.

The order was issued and took effect immediately.

This can be considered Zhang Jian's first substantive immortal post of Rank Nine.

The position of Water Official Emperor was ultimately only temporary.

This was also the foundation of his promotion.

Having served as a substantive Rank Nine Emperor, and possessing genuine merits on his person, his transfer to Rank Nine as a regional Guardian Heavenly Lord naturally drew no objections.

Moreover, Zhang Jian's transfer from a regional substantive Emperor to a local garrison within the Guardian Legion did not look like a promotion in any way.

The many Heavenly Court immortals and deities naturally had nothing to say.

In the end, for the Heavenly Court immortals and deities, seniority is very important.

Having served as a substantive Rank Nine Heavenly Court Emperor, and then serving as a regional Guardian Heavenly Lord, he was no longer particularly conspicuous.

……

The Central Heavenly Court towers above the myriad heavenly voids, with the lower level having nine layers, namely the Nine Heavens.

The middle and upper levels each also have nine layers, totaling twenty-seven heavens.

Additionally, there are six heavens where the feudal lords' level has three layers, and furthermore, the Three Supreme Heavens.

In total, there are thirty-three heavens.

Only the ancient Zhou Mountain once penetrated the thirty-three heavens, and the power of Zhou Mountain traversed the dimensions of the heavenly realm, directly extending into the human realm, as well as the void dimension where the Netherworld Underworld resides.

Unparalleled in its grandeur.

But Zhou Mountain has been broken, and the heavenly and earthly pattern has undergone tremendous change.

The Ninth Layer of the Lower Realm, the extreme northern region, is said to be where, after Zhou Mountain's collapse, a piece of unmelted ice and snow fell and nurtured into existence.

This is a land brimming with vitality, part of it teeming with life.

However, a small area remains perpetually covered in unmelted snow, bitterly cold and piercing to the bone; even if immortals and deities enter, they will be affected by the emanating chill, their Dao sealed in ice, falling into eternal slumber.

This place has become the Eternal Divine Realm, also known as the Eternal Forbidden Zone.

The Eternal Ice Fortress is established at the center of the Eternal Divine Realm; here, substantive cold currents flow in the void, layer upon layer encircling, so much so that even the temporal river of this region is stained with a layer of pure white wind and snow, presenting a fragmented landscape.

This region is vast; at a glance, the surrounding mountains and rivers are all such pure white ice and snow.

Zhang Jian's form transformed into a beam of immortal light, first landing in Bei Zhou Prefecture, where he glanced upon this vibrant land.

Here, the seasons are like spring, the earth fertile, nurturing countless living beings, among which traces of various immortal sects and Daoist traditions are not lacking.

This place is somewhat similar to the domain where Qingyi City of the Eastern Immortal Domain in the Fifth Layer of the Upper Realm is located.

However, in terms of prosperity, the Eastern Immortal Domain is still far more prosperous.

At least in the Eastern Immortal Domain, Zhang Jian saw few mortals, but immortals were common.

Yet here, mortals are common, while the number of immortals is not large.

There are also many strange and wondrous alien races, and the numbers of the Heaven-Human race are not small.

"Truly, one land and water nurture one unique local customs and sentiments!"

Zhang Jian gazed upon this scene, and a faint smile secretly arose in his heart.

In this land where living beings reside, he, this Guardian Heavenly Lord of the Eternal Ice Fortress, should also not be too bored.

Zhang Jian did not linger long in this land of living beings; his form transformed into a stream of light, directly plunging into the Eternal Divine Realm on the other side of the Eternal Mountain Range.

The snow-covered mountains and the fertile, vast green basin, with the black plains forming a clear contrast.

Even more terrifying is that extreme chill.

That cold wind, swirling in the depths of the void, blew upon the snow-covered mountain peaks, making them seem to tremble, giving rise to cold energy.

Zhang Jian also felt a chill.

His pupils slightly fluctuated, and there was also something unusual in the depths of his eyes.

At this moment, his cultivation was not ordinarily powerful; the Earth Emperor's primordial qi, spread throughout the Heavenly Court's governance of the myriad heavenly realms, allowed his cultivation to advance a thousand miles a day.

Moreover, his divine body, having undergone the refinement of the Nine Revolutions Chaotic Qing Lotus Transformation Great Law, was likewise extraordinarily powerful; ordinary harm could not even approach him before being directly assimilated by the chaotic qi manifested around his body.

That the snowflakes born of this ice and snow could make him feel a chill shows how astonishing it is.

Zhang Jian raised one palm, and countless snowflakes swirled, condensing deep in his palm into a snowball; instantly, from within it flowed a terrifying will of annihilating heaven and earth, sealing all things in ice.

Feeling this will, his eyes slightly widened in surprise.

This was not merely material ice sealing, but came from some terrifying will, even to the point of a spiritual chill.

He had some suspicions in his heart.

Yet his form pressed forward, and soon he saw the outer periphery of the Eternal Divine Realm, where battalions of Divine State silver-white armor stood, their armor embroidered with various runes resisting ice and snow, resisting freezing; these immortal armors gleamed brilliantly upon the ice and snow.

A battalion of three hundred heavenly soldiers, led by a low-ranking divine general.

That divine general had the cultivation of a high-ranking heavenly immortal.

The three hundred immortal soldiers were mostly true immortals, but also many heavenly immortals.

Zhang Jian glanced at them and paid no heed.

This was already a realm where heavenly immortals walked about freely, and great powers could often be seen.

But considering this place is the core of the myriad heavenly voids, and also the heavenly prison heavily guarded by the Heavenly Court, such a display is not strange at all.

Zhang Jian had no intention of revealing himself directly; he continued forward toward the direction of the Eternal Ice Fortress.

As he moved stealthily, he saw in the distance an endless ribbon of ice and snow formed by freezing qi, layer upon layer encircling, within which misty vapors were faint, and points of cold stars flowed—this was the radiance of heavenly forbidden arts.

Clearly, powerful heavenly court immortals and deities had laid down a strict and severe forbidden law around the Eternal Ice Fortress.

The severity of the forbidden law within made even Zhang Jian feel it was troublesome.

But it was still not enough to stop him.

A blue crescent moon appeared behind his head.

The second-rank eternal immortal treasure, the Lotus King's Mirror, emerged, illuminating the void and revealing all forbidden laws.

He entered it with his form.

His form was an invisible immortal light, swiftly breaking through layer after layer of icy crystal cold stars.

In just a few hours, he approached the core of the eternal ice fortress.

He was originally skilled in the profound runes and marvelous methods of the great Dao of heaven and earth; after attaining sanctity, his knowledge broadened and his attainment deepened.

But upon arriving here, Zhang Jian chose to stay voluntarily.

Only then did he see layer upon layer of unique cold currents forming a rotating, extraordinary cyan three-dimensional ice treasure wheel, within which multiple ice giant wheels turned slowly, lifting the eternal ice fortress into the depths of the void.

Icy blue light flowed from within, mysterious and unfathomable.

Even if Zhang Jian glanced at it, he felt a intense chill from his eyes straight into his spirit, sealing his Dao heart.

Within the three-dimensional ice giant wheel like heaven and earth, who knows how many terrifying forbidden laws are hidden?

Zhang Jian could be certain that it was certainly meant to deal with Dao Lord-level beings, even to block immortals and gods above the Immortal Venerable level.

Forcing entry now has no meaning.

Moreover, Zhang Jian's infiltration here was essentially just to inspect the defenses of the eternal ice fortress.

At this moment, he also abandoned infiltration and directly presented the immortal seal of the Eternal Ice Fortress Heavenly Lord.

A beam of immortal light was aimed at the core of the forbidden law deep within the eternal ice fortress.

Deep within the eternal ice fortress, a guiding immortal light instantly emerged, rushing swiftly, falling upon Zhang Jian's surroundings, guiding him into the depths of the eternal ice fortress.

Within the eternal ice fortress.

At the moment the immortal seal emitted immortal light, the garrison commander guarding the eternal ice fortress, currently the lord of the ice fortress, immediately sensed it.

In the icy crystal depths of the ice fortress, a middle-aged man with a gaunt figure, wearing an ice-blue long robe, awoke from the garrison Heavenly Lord's mansion; he had a teardrop-shaped ice crystal ornament hanging at his brow, and his eyes held a faint, inexplicable hue.

"What was meant to come has finally come!"

He murmured, then instantly adjusted his attire while summoning the many guardian immortals and gods of the eternal ice fortress to come forth to welcome.

Before the crystal-constructed immortal fortress.

A magnificent immortal light flew down from the void, arriving instantly before the immortal treasure.

Within the immortal light, a radiant immortal god stepped forth, his body swirling with chaotic qi, wearing a blue immortal robe embroidered with dragon patterns, his eyes like celestial stars, sword-browed and starry-eyed, wearing a Heaven-Piercing Crown, unforgettable at a glance.

Dozens of immortals and gods stood afar before the ice fortress; seeing this, they immediately bowed in salute.

"Supreme Commander of the Eternal Ice Fortress, Divine Might General Wu Chun, and Martial Spirit Immortal Official Yuan Jiang, leading the twelve commanders of the Eternal Ice Fortress garrison, pay respects to the Ice Fortress Heavenly Lord!"

At this moment, Zhang Jian's eyes gazed upon the assembly of immortals, first catching sight of Immortal Lord Wu Chun.

Before entering the eternal ice fortress, Zhang Jian knew the previous lord of the eternal ice fortress was Immortal Lord Wu Chun.

Immortal Lord Wu Chun is also one of the two great commanders of the thirty thousand eternal heavenly soldiers in the Eternal God Realm; his cultivation is not weak, he is a powerful deity who has attained the Great Perfection of Taiyi.

This is a deity of very ancient standing.

After the previous lord of the eternal ice fortress resigned tens of thousands of years ago, the fortress has always been managed by Immortal Lord Wu Chun as acting lord.

The other great commander is the Martial Spirit Immortal Official Yuan Jiang.

This is a deity of the Taiyi Heavenly Immortal level.

Zhang Jian's eyes then fell upon the twelve garrison regiment commanders; these commanders' cultivations are mostly at the Taiyi True Number level, with a few at the Taiyi level.

The strongest among them is only approaching the Taiyi Heavenly Immortal realm.

But in the heavenly soldiers camp, this should be considered high-spec.

Ordinary heavenly soldier units do not have such a configuration.

The thirty thousand heavenly soldier gods and generals surrounding the eternal ice fortress are also an elite high-spec force.

Besides the twelve commanders, there are also some officials stationed within the ice fortress, such as supervising immortals, chief clerks, and the finance immortal official in charge of the eternal ice fortress heavenly soldiers' provisions; these immortals are mostly appointed by the Heavenly Court, and although they are subordinate to Zhang Jian as the Eternal Ice Fortress Heavenly Lord, their status is special—they cannot be arbitrarily dismissed by Zhang Jian upon vacancy; they must first be reported to the Heavenly Court before replacement.

They are also mid-level immortals.

Of course, if Zhang Jian, as the lord of the eternal ice fortress, insists on replacing them, they also have little capacity for resistance.

As for other lower- and mid-level immortals, they are directly influenced by the lord of the eternal ice fortress.

They can be directly replaced without needing to first report to the Heavenly Court.

Therefore, for Zhang Jian, the new lord of the ice fortress, the situation is most complex—there is reverence, there is apprehension.

Zhang Jian's gaze swept over; his mighty Earth Emperor primordial spirit power was not concealed, and wherever his gaze fell, the immortals all lowered their heads.

Zhang Jian then spoke calmly.

"You have all gone to great trouble!"

He smiled slightly, his eyes sweeping over the immortals as he added.

"As I have just arrived, I am unfamiliar with the eternal ice fortress and the eternal ice prison; I hope all immortals will lend their strength, uniting upper and lower ranks!"

His expression remained calm.

The immortals, upon hearing this, responded in unison.

"We dare to obey your command, Heavenly Lord!"

"Excellent!"

A hint of satisfaction appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes; then his gaze fell upon the immortals again, and he said lightly.

"If you are truly satisfied with me, you may say so; if I have erred, I am not without tolerance; I have always conducted myself with fairness!"

Many immortals' eyes flickered secretly; they did not know Zhang Jian, nor would they readily believe such platitudes, so they could only pat their chests one by one, expressing their willingness to follow the new lord of the eternal ice fortress.

Beside him, Immortal Lord Wu Chun watched this scene, merely smiled faintly, and quickly led Zhang Jian into the depths of the eternal ice fortress.

After leading Zhang Jian into the eternal ice fortress, he immediately handed over the mansion token and the heavenly soldier tiger talisman.

He showed great obedience.

Zhang Jian temporarily saw nothing unusual.

Afterwards he also took over the interior of the Eternal Ice Fortress, the key to the Eternal Ice Crystal Divine Palace.

The Eternal Ice Crystal Divine Palace is one of the core secret places of the Eternal Ice Fortress, containing within it three suppressing treasures of the Eternal Ice Fortress.

This is also the core of controlling the Eternal Ice Fortress.

Mastering this Eternal Ice Crystal Divine Palace means thoroughly mastering the Eternal Divine Realm, the Eternal Ice Fortress, and the Eternal Ice Prison.

This is of utmost importance.

Under the accompaniment of the group of immortals, Zhang Jian personally entered the Eternal Ice Crystal Divine Palace to inspect the condition of the three treasures one by one, and only after confirming everything was correct did he complete the subsequent handover.

Everything went quite smoothly.

Afterwards Zhang Jian accepted the banquet hosted by General Shenwei Wuchun Xianjun, Lingwu Xian official Yuan Jiang, and a group of Ice Fortress immortals for him.

Zhang Jian also welcomed advice like flowing water.

At the banquet, the immortals' cups clashed and crossed; although it was in this bitterly cold land, amidst the ice crystal snow, there was indeed a unique flavor.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Wuchun Xianjun beside him, and he raised his cup and asked.

"General Wuchun seems to also be of the Tianren clan?"

Wuchun Xianjun heard this, put down his wine cup, clasped his fists, and said.

"This subordinate originally came from commoner origins of the Tianren clan, yet was born and raised in the Heavenly Realm, and due to accomplishments in cultivation, was recommended to enter the Eternal Ice Fortress. Coincidentally, the previous commander of the Eternal Ice Fortress resigned and reincarnated, so this subordinate temporarily took over the position of Ice Fortress Master. Now that the Upper Realm Heavenly Sovereign has descended, it can also be said that the Eternal Ice Fortress has regained its mainstay!"

His face full of sincerity, Zhang Jian's eyes fell upon him, and he sighed slightly.

"The Tianren clan truly has many strong individuals; speaking of which, not long ago this sovereign saw Chonghua Xianjun and Minhuá Xianjun at the Yaochi banquet, their demeanor could be said to be unparalleled in elegance, leaving a deep impression!"

Wuchun Xianjun's eyes twitched slightly, and then he said.

"Chonghua Xianjun and Minhuá Xianjun are of the Tianren royal lineage, they are heaven's chosen ones; this subordinate dares not compare himself with the two Xianjun!"

The origins of the Tianren clan are very complex; part comes from the Transformation Immortal Pool, some are transformed from commoners who ascended through breaking their homes.

Another part are indigenous natives of the Central Heavenly Realm.

Among them, the royal lineage mostly refers to the innate deities among the natives.

The Central Heavenly Realm naturally nurtures high-ranking deities, or perhaps innate deities, the holy descendants' bloodline; they are born with noble lineage, and also protected by the fortune of the Central Heavenly Realm.

"General Wuchun also need not undervalue himself!"

Zhang Jian smiled lightly.

He glanced at this Eternal Heavenly Army Supreme Commander who appeared flawless, yet in his eyes there was some deeper meaning.

He actually hopes that in the future this Divine Might General will truly be honest and down-to-earth.

After the banquet, Zhang Jian directly summoned the prison god guarding the Eternal Ice Prison, and began personally inspecting the roster, fulfilling his duty as Master of the Eternal Immortal Prison.

Actually, Zhang Jian is no stranger to being a prison warden.

During his time in the Zhou Shan Realm, he once substituted for the Jingming Daoist to guard the Demon-Suppressing Tower.

And he utilized the Demon-Suppressing Tower to perfect various Dao arts, and also made acquaintance with many strong individuals.

The Buddha Demon Jia Ye, the Seven-Tailed Heavenly Fox, and many other cultivators ultimately became his guest officials, including Fengshan Hai and the Taiyin Immortal Maiden, who are loyal aides of the Great Xia Dynasty, and together ascended to the Heavenly Pass with him.

However, the Eternal Ice Fortress Immortal Prison is clearly different from the Demon-Suppressing Tower of the Zhou Shan Realm.

The prisoners inside are likely even more unique.

Zhang Jian is quite interested in this.