Chapter 572: The Heart of the Dao Sovereign (4K)

This divine being is named Ao Gen, one of the Five Lakes Dragon Gods.

The Five Lakes refer to the great deities of Qingcao Lake (Dongting Lake God), Pengli Lake, Danyang Lake, Xieyang Lake (also known as Duyang Lake God), and Taihu Lake.

The Five Lakes Gods hold an extremely high status among water deities.

Ao Gen is the Dragon God of Taihu Lake and also a great Dragon God born of the Western Sea Dragon Clan.

Moreover, he is the younger brother of the Western Sea Dragon Lord.

"How did Ao Gen suddenly fall?"

Zhang Jian seized a prison guard on duty.

This prison guard looked fearful and shook his head as he spoke.

"Heavenly Lord, we minor gods guarding the ice prison dare not be negligent, but we truly do not know how Ao Gen suddenly fell from immortality."

Zhang Jian furrowed his brow and said.

"Then during this period, have any other immortals entered the seventh level of the Eternal Ice Prison?"

Upon hearing this, the prison guard hurriedly replied.

"Heavenly Lord, no other immortals have entered the seventh level of the Eternal Ice Prison!"

Seeing that this prison guard knew nothing despite repeated questioning, Zhang Jian immediately flipped him over, his gaze falling deep into the Eternal Ice Prison.

At this moment, Lingwu Immortal Official Yuan Jiang and Supervising Immortal Official Gu Ning also hurriedly appeared on the seventh level of the Eternal Ice Prison.

At this time, however, Zhang Jian gazed deep into the Eternal Ice Prison; with a wave of his hand, a beam of immortal light plunged into the depths of the ice prison, and instantly the surging demonic energy froze in the void.

Boom—

At the same time, under the purple-yellow immortal light, the Eternal Prison Cells shattered into dust, and a colossal white-gold demon dragon, a thousand zhang in length, was seized and pulled out by Zhang Jian's grasp.

It was a massive white-gold demon dragon, its horns sharp and towering, though its body was covered in thick demonic energy, its scales faintly shifting toward a dark gold hue, and the demonic energy had reached an astonishing degree.

This is a mighty dragon god of the Taiyi True Number level.

But as Zhang Jian's divine sense swept over the dragon's body, his eyes instantly darkened with gloom.

He noticed that the dragon's soul had suffered severe damage, its primordial spirit grievously wounded by an immortal using demonic immortal arts, forcing it to fall into the demonic path.

Moreover, before its fall from immortality, more than half of its essence, energy, and spirit had been drained by someone, leaving it nearly an empty shell.

Just a glance, and Zhang Jian instantly realized—someone was preparing to dump a chamber pot on his head!

If Ao Gen were to fall thus, it would surely alarm the entire Four Seas Dragon Clan.

After all, he is one of the Five Lakes Dragon Gods of the Earth Immortal Realm.

Moreover, he is the younger brother of the Western Sea Dragon Lord.

His fall would certainly be a major event for the dragon clan.

If investigated further, and one saw his wretched state at the moment of death, they would surely question this newly appointed Ice Fortress Heavenly Lord, possibly even suspect him, and then act against him.

Perhaps they would even file a slanderous complaint against him in the Heavenly Court.

His eyes remained calm, yet within them showed no strange color; with a wave of his hand, a river of time and space was born, sweeping up the true form of Ao Gen and drawing it into his palm.

At this moment, a great sacred green lotus appeared deep within his palm.

Inside the green lotus, a vast pure land was born, instantly suppressing Ao Gen's collapsing dragon soul and containing the demonic energy leaking from his body.

Fifth-rank Immortal Art: Green Lotus Purifying Soul Incantation.

At this time, facing the gaze of the immortals, Zhang Jian spoke calmly.

"Ao Gen has fallen from immortality, beyond salvation. Today, all immortals shall witness as I execute him!"

The immortals heard this and exchanged glances.

At this moment, Daoist Gu Ning furrowed his brow and said.

"Heavenly Lord, this minor immortal observes Ao Gen's fall from immortality, and it seems there may be hidden circumstances; should we not re-examine and investigate?"

Zhang Jian spoke indifferently.

"Ao Gen has fallen from immortality; I myself will report to the Heavenly Court!"

Upon hearing this, Daoist Gu Ning's expression turned solemn, and he clasped his hands.

"Heavenly Lord, although you are the Lord of the Eternal Ice Fortress, supervising the Eternal Immortal Prison is also my minor duty. This poor Daoist observes that Ao Gen's fall seems man-made, and I will report the truth faithfully; please, Heavenly Lord, take this seriously!"

His expression bore righteousness, his eyes locked onto Zhang Jian without yielding.

Zhang Jian glanced at him.

Though the Supervising Immortal Official holds a low rank, his authority is not small.

More importantly, they originate from the Four Great Celestial Master Mansions.

The Four Great Celestial Masters are close confidants of the Jade Emperor, and the Four Great Celestial Master Mansions may be considered direct supervisory organs under the Jade Emperor.

Zhang Jian cannot act against such Supervising Immortal Officials.

Otherwise, offending the Four Great Celestial Masters would make it impossible to get along in the Heavenly Court.

Zhang Jian also had no intention of acting against this Supervising Immortal Official.

From the moment he saw this demon dragon, he knew someone had already moved against him.

Therefore, he directly acted to suppress the demon dragon Ao Gen.

To prevent the immortals from observing and inspecting.

This was to avoid a second injury to the demon dragon Ao Gen, while also creating favorable conditions for his counterattack.

Zhang Jian knew that relying solely on Ao Gen's fall from immortality—even if Ao Gen had his essence drained within the Eternal Ice Prison and suffered severe wounds—would not be enough to move him, nor could it be used to transfer him.

After this, the other party would likely strike again.

He needed to give the other party a clear impression.

That this Heavenly Lord of the Eternal Ice Fortress immediately suppressed Ao Gen out of fear that the matter would escalate and affect his own future, thus acting swiftly to seal Ao Gen and prevent others from approaching to investigate his condition.

Seeing Zhang Jian act arbitrarily and decisively, Daoist Gu Ning's expression darkened; he turned, flicked his sleeve, and departed.

"Gu Dao brother..."

Yuan Jiang wanted to speak up to mediate at this moment, but he didn't know where to start.

He could only turn his gaze toward Zhang Jian.

"Heavenly Sovereign, what should we do next?"

Zhang Jian's expression was cold and indifferent, and he spoke in a cold voice.

"Yuan Jiang, I want to increase personnel in the Eternal Ice Prison. I do not wish for a second such accident to occur deep within the Eternal Ice Prison!"

Upon hearing this, Yuan Jiang hurriedly agreed.

……

Inside the Eternal Ice Crystal Divine Hall, Zhang Jian waved his hand and summoned forth that thousand-zhang demon dragon.

As the thousand-zhang demon dragon's vitality burned under magical fire, it was rapidly consuming itself, already nearing the state of an oil-depleted lamp.

Even if some Dao Lords skilled in creation were to come in its place, they would likely still be unable to save it.

But for Zhang Jian, this was truly no difficult matter.

A faint, indifferent cold smile appeared at the corner of his eyes.

Let alone merely causing this demon dragon to fall into demonhood—even if he were to completely slay this demon dragon, he would have a way to bring it back.

To scheme against him with such a method is truly to underestimate him greatly.

Zhang Jian raised one palm, and the innate divine ability, the Nine Revolutions Chaos Qing Lotus Transformation Great Law, condensed from deep within his palm, forming a blooming Chaos Qing Lotus that floated out and entered the true form of the thousand-zhang demon dragon, instantly enveloping its thousand-zhang true form. Chaos currents descended, within which the Chaos Transformation energy blossomed, countless demonic qi melted away, and Chaos divine light pierced deep into the thousand-zhang demon dragon, eradicating countless Chaos demonic qi.

Speaking of purifying power, this innate divine ability of unknown rank is even stronger than the Qing Lotus Purifying Soul Mantra.

However, the strongest aspect of the fifth-rank immortal art, the Qing Lotus Purifying Soul Mantra, is salvation and redemption, not purification.

As the demonic qi was eradicated, the true form of the thousand-zhang white dragon emerged, its body wrapped in faint water-attribute qi, its weakness impossible to conceal.

He had been drained of too much vitality.

Even if he were saved, his foundation would be ruined, and he would have to undergo reincarnation and rebirth anew.

Zhang Jian, however, merely smiled faintly and paid it no mind.

This posed no difficulty for him.

Azure divine light flowed around his body as the Innate Creation Qing Lotus condensed from deep within his palm, instantly transforming into surging creation essence that flowed into the thousand-zhang white dragon's true body, replenishing his three treasures of vitality and aiding his cultivation recovery.

Soon after, the scales of Ao Gen's thousand-zhang white dragon true form gradually recovered.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian waved his hand and withdrew the Innate Creation Qing Lotus.

Strands of white-gold divine light appeared upon Ao Gen's true form, and in an instant he transformed into a white-clad youth, wearing a plain white dragon robe embroidered with cloud patterns, a jade belt around his waist, and at this moment he knelt and clasped his hands in salute.

"Ao Gen thanks the Immortal for saving my life!"

"Rise!"

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm as a surge of magical power lifted him up, and at this moment he asked.

"Ao Gen, do you know who plotted against you, causing your sudden fall from immortality?"

Upon hearing this, Ao Gen's eyes flashed with a hint of hatred, then he clasped his hands and said.

"Immortal, I, a minor deity, also do not know. I only know that I suddenly heard a faint, elusive bell chime, after which I fell into a dazed and confused state, then I had a very long nightmare, vaguely sensing that my dragon soul was torn by a sharp weapon and my vitality was drained by someone, but I know nothing else!"

That person's cultivation is clearly far superior to Ao Gen's.

As a result, even Ao Gen, the great deity of Taihu Lake, could not resist.

Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brow.

He used the Three Lives Stone to examine the spacetime and fate traces around Ao Gen.

But that person might possess a supreme treasure, or perhaps had already severed their fate, leaving no trace to be found.

After some thought, Zhang Jian asked.

"Ao Gen, would you like to leave the Eternal Ice Fortress early?"

At this moment, a faint, indifferent smile appeared in the depths of Zhang Jian's eyes.

Ao Gen's eyes brightened.

"Please, Immortal, give your command!"

He is the Dragon God of Taihu Lake, yet he privately slew a heavenly official of the Celestial Court, committed a grave crime, and was suppressed by the Celestial Court here.

How could he not wish to leave this place?

Especially after this incident, he feels the waters within the Eternal Immortal Prison are too deep.

He does not wish to linger in this ghostly place at all.

Zhang Jian then said.

"This sovereign asks you: what is your relationship with the West Sea Dragon Lord, Ao Shen?"

Ao Gen thought for a moment and replied.

"Although we are not born of the same mother, I, Ao Gen, have grown up beside the Dragon Lord since childhood, and may be considered one of his attendants!"

"Good. Then go and deliver a letter to the West Sea Dragon Palace deep within the Earth Immortal Realm, and ask your elder brother to personally journey to the Celestial Court!"

Zhang Jian whispered to Ao Gen's ear, which caused Ao Gen's brow to furrow slightly, somewhat surprised.

But after thinking it over, he still followed Zhang Jian's instruction, wrote a handwritten letter, and handed it to Zhang Jian.

He himself remained in the Eternal Ice Crystal Grand Hall.

……

Not long afterward, news arrived at the Eternal Ice Fortress from the Celestial Court.

"The Death of Ao Gen" provoked a fierce reaction from the West Sea Dragon Clan. The West Sea Dragon Lord entered the Celestial Court to petition the Jade Emperor, claiming that Ao Gen's death had another hidden cause, and questioning whether the Eternal Ice Fortress Heavenly Sovereign's handling of this matter and its procedures were improper, requesting that the Celestial Court newly dispatch an imperial envoy to enter the Eternal Ice Fortress to investigate this matter.

In short, Ao Gen must not die in vain, and they suspect the new Heavenly Sovereign of the Eternal Ice Fortress of abusing authority.

The Jade Emperor, though weary of it, could only summon the master of the Eternal Ice Fortress to enter the Celestial Court for a confrontation.

This matter ultimately remained unresolved, but it is said that the dragon clan holds a strong opinion of Zhang Jian, this Eternal Ice Fortress Heavenly Lord.

……

A thousand years passed in a flash.

Within the Eternal Ice Crystal Divine Palace, Zhang Jian's body continuously flowed with purple-yellow dragon-shaped radiance, while an extraordinarily majestic spiritual pressure began to manifest around him.

As this majestic and vast spiritual pressure emerged, Zhang Jian could clearly feel that mastering the myriad heavenly and earthly Dao laws had become much more effortless.

It was as if building high and pouring down—naturally and effortlessly transforming his understanding of the Earth Emperor's primordial qi and the myriad heavenly and earthly Dao laws.

In the space of his primordial spirit's sea of consciousness, at this moment his Earth Emperor primordial spirit appeared as clear as water, slowly departing from the core depths of the three-layer primordial qi network within the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram, and gradually freeing himself from the pull of that primordial qi network.

As a divine being born from the Earth Emperor's primordial qi, although his foundation is lofty and exalted, he has always shared honor and disgrace with the Earth Emperor's primordial qi—prospering together, suffering together.

If the Earth Emperor's primordial qi in the boundless heavens and earth were erased by a great divine-power wielder, he too would surely perish as a result.

At this moment, Zhang Jian felt that with the transformation of his Dao-heart, he had completely grasped the initiative between himself and the Earth Emperor's primordial qi.

Even if the Earth Emperor's primordial qi were erased, at most he would suffer severe injury, but it would not pose a threat to his life and death.

However, this progress still cannot be considered as elevating the Dao-heart.

Elevating the Dao-heart means being able to completely master this state.

And being able to enter at any time a state nearly equivalent to that of the Dao Sovereign.

"Still, the years of cultivation have been too short!"

Zhang Jian sensed this change and secretly sighed with some emotion.

His Dao-heart still has tremendous room for growth—this is a good thing.

Going forward, he will continuously consolidate this state until he no longer regresses at all.

Possessing such an unyielding Dao-heart, he will then be able to advance to the fourth step of the Taiyi Perfection, sever fate, and completely gather the power of past, present, and future into one.

Even so, having just begun, Zhang Jian still felt the changes brought by the Dao Lord's worldview.

This power alone is not particularly significant—at most, it only increases resistance to Dao-heart-type immortal arts—but when combined with the innate primordial spirit, the erupting power becomes extraordinarily astonishing.

Especially for Zhang Jian, whose Earth Emperor primordial spirit itself is exceptionally formidable.

At this moment, Zhang Jian felt that he seemed capable of initially mastering several of the Eternal Immortal Treasures on his person.

By using those few Eternal Immortal Treasures, he gradually no longer found them burdensome.

Nor did he again experience that wild, untamable, difficult-to-master sensation.

Moreover, several heavenly and earthly rare treasures within his body could now be completely refined.

For example, the Zhou Tian Star Soul, the Azure Heaven's Blood, the Innate Yin Yang Law Dao Seed, the Heart of Dimensions, and so on.

As for the Hunyuan Shengzhu Pearl, the Samsara Divine Stone, the Flame Emperor's Attainment of the Dao Diagram, the Three Lives Stone, the Innate Creation Green Lotus, and other supreme treasures—complete refinement remains beyond his current realm.

But regarding the profound mysteries of the Hunyuan Shengzhu Pearl, the Samsara Divine Stone, and the Flame Emperor's Attainment of the Dao Diagram, he will inevitably gain deeper insight.

The divine energy contained within the Three Lives Stone and the Innate Creation Green Lotus can also be utilized even further.

The rapid transformation of his own cultivation realm brought joy to Zhang Jian's heart.

However, what surprised Zhang Jian was that the forces secretly scheming against him turned out to be more patient than he had imagined.

They did not even take advantage of the dragon clan's "testing pressure" on him to act again.

But he himself was not lacking in patience.

Zhang Jian had originally planned to quickly resolve the opposing party and then bring over the Ji clan from afar in the Lingyuan Emperor Lord's Mansion to help share part of the burden; under these circumstances, he simply continued to choose waiting.

He believed the opposing party would not wait too long before revealing their fox's tail.

For this reason, he decided to give the opposing party a push.

……

Beichi State, in the season of all things reviving, yet at this time a majestic vapor came from the North Sea, bringing torrential rain and also a vast, forest-like chill.

This obvious fluctuation of rain and snow divine power immediately caused many immortals and gods in Beichi State and the Eternal Divine Realm to have a certain perception.

This is the arrival of a great divine-power wielder of the Dao.

And it is likely not merely an ordinary powerful deity.

Moreover, judging by the appearance, the opposing party comes with mighty force—those who come bear ill intent!