Chapter 576: Authority Overlapped, Roads Polluted (4K)

The ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison.

Inside, chaos reigned, filled with the bone-deep chill of eternal cold.

Since Zhang Jian became the Heavenly Sovereign of the Eternal Ice Fortress, the number of times he had entered this place could be counted on one's fingers.

At this moment, Zhang Jian wore an ice-blue Heavenly Sovereign's robe, a python robe with a jade belt, and on his head sat the Eternal Ice Jade Crown; his wide sleeves fluttered wildly in the chaotic airflow.

In his hand he held the Xuánmíng Divine Staff, using its power to dispel part of the dangerous forbidden law in the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison.

His keen, vast divine sense was sensing the changes within the chaotic forbidden law.

Even with the Xuánmíng Divine Staff, the control hub of the Eternal Ice Fortress, Zhang Jian was extraordinarily cautious.

In the conduct code of the Heavenly Sovereign of the Eternal Ice Fortress, one rule was clearly stated: do not lightly enter the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison.

The ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison is where Dao Sovereign-level powerhouses are imprisoned.

For those Dao Sovereign-level powerhouses, even if suppressed here, they command reverence.

In the Eternal Ice Prison's ninth layer, there are three recorded imprisoned Dao Sovereigns.

These three Dao Sovereign-level powerhouses were sent into the Eternal Immortal Prison several yuanhui ago; they are respectively called Jiufeng, Heichi, and one whose Daoist title is unknown in reality, only known to have been suppressed since the founding of the Eternal Immortal Prison, whether by the ancient Heavenly Court's Emperor or not.

After several yuanhui, they have fallen silent, leaving only their Dao forms here.

They may have already perished, or perhaps they shed their cicada shells.

However, Jiufeng and Heichi, the two Dao Sovereigns, are renowned throughout heaven and earth.

One is a powerful demon god born of the ancient demon god clan, with astonishing combat power, who once led the demon god clan in battle against the ancient human sage emperor Zhuanxu.

This is a heaven-shaking, tyrannical demon god.

Although it is heard that this Jiufeng, though ferocious, had a special relationship with the human sage emperor Zhuanxu, and thus was not slain but suppressed.

As for the Dao Sovereign Heichi, he too was once a ferocious force, having refined countless living beings.

This is a Dao Sovereign born among acquired living beings, merely deluded by the demonic path, having long wavered between the heterodox and demonic paths, but before he could make a choice, he was captured by the Heavenly Court's Judicial Heavenly God and brought back, imprisoned in the Eternal Immortal Prison.

Heichi Dao Sovereign is suppressed here not because of any connection in the Heavenly Court, but purely because he cultivated an immortal body, difficult to kill, so he was pressed into the Eternal Immortal Prison, aided by its eternal annihilation power, to wear down his Dao heart.

Whether Jiufeng or Heichi Dao Sovereign, neither is a good sort.

Having been imprisoned in the Eternal Immortal Prison for several yuanhui, if alive, they would only be more terrifying.

Zhang Jian, on the contrary, hopes they have already perished.

In the chaotic airflow, his figure passed through, and the chaotic currents naturally parted.

Zhang Jian also used the Xuánmíng Divine Staff, the Xuántiān Xuánmíng Divine Banner, and the Xuánmíng Divine Seal to sense the whereabouts of the Xuánmíng Divine Seat's hidden cache.

His body likewise glowed with the light of the Infinite River Chart Immortal Law, black and white radiance striving to simulate the power of the Xuánmíng Divine Seat to generate a sense.

Zhang Jian did not attempt to trace back to the source.

The ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison isolates all fate, spacetime-type immortal laws.

This action of his soon produced an unexpected effect: the entire ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison suddenly had a layer of majestic divine power spreading forth, vaguely resonating with the three Xuánmíng Divine Artifacts.

"This..."

Zhang Jian's eyes held a hint of strangeness.

It seemed as if the power of the Xuánmíng Divine Seat permeated everywhere in the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison.

The idea of Witch-Pure Immortal Sovereign was indeed not wrong.

The Xuánmíng Divine Seat is indeed inside the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison.

But if he had not sensed wrong, the Xuánmíng Divine Seat seemed to be the divine power source of the entire ninth layer of the Eternal Immortal Prison.

In other words, has the Xuánmíng Divine Seat become the entity suppressing the three Dao Sovereigns of the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison?

If his guess is correct, then there is no way to obtain the power of the Xuánmíng Divine Seat.

Once the Xuánmíng Divine Seat is drawn out, would not the entire Eternal Immortal Prison collapse?

The mortals, demon chiefs, and even the three great Dao Sovereigns inside might all emerge.

Such a cost, he cannot currently bear.

Just then, a cold, indifferent voice suddenly came from the depths of the void.

"Young man, do you wish to obtain the power of the Xuánmíng Ancestral God?"

Upon hearing this voice, Zhang Jian's expression stirred.

It was a female voice, carrying icy coldness and indifference, yet within lay a terrifying majesty.

After thinking, Zhang Jian bowed his hands and said.

"May I ask if you are Senior Jiufeng?"

Upon hearing Zhang Jian's inquiry, the voice in the chaotic airflow suddenly vanished, but before his eyes, the chaotic airflow suddenly shifted outward, revealing a small path formed by chaotic airflow.

Seeing this small path, Zhang Jian hesitated slightly, then immediately stepped forward onto it.

Possessing the three Xuánmíng Divine Artifacts, and still bearing his innate spiritual treasure, Zhang Jian was not afraid of the Dao Sovereigns in the ice prison.

Moreover, they have been suppressed for several yuanhui.

Even if alive, they probably have only half a life left.

Zhang Jian followed this chaotic small path, advancing all the way.

After a moment, the distant chaotic void showed signs of disturbance, and an ice-blue giant tree formed primarily of Xuánmíng divine power appeared in the distance.

That ice-blue giant tree seemed to stand in the chaos, its crown dense, supporting the chaotic world.

Yet beneath its crown, countless terrifying Xuánmíng ice chains crisscrossed, binding a graceful figure clad in black robes, wearing a blood-red phoenix hairpin, barefoot and suspended.

Her figure was tall and slender, black hair disheveled like a waterfall falling, her beautiful jade-like face exceptionally exquisite, but her eyes were black as jade, filled with inexplicable demonic strangeness and ferocity.

Just one glance, and Zhang Jian still felt as if a special heavenly Dao law were flowing along his eyes, filling all his senses, in the void only an unknown Dao rhythm surging, wanting to draw him in, with even more boundless Dao messages spreading.

That was an ultimate darkness and madness.

This was even more like a terrifying Dao rhythm pollution.

Almost naturally, a technique was triggered deep within his primordial spirit.

The innate divine ability, Nine Transformations Chaos Green Lotus Birth Great Law.

A massive Chaos Green Lotus formed from chaotic qi burst forth from around him, swallowing countless chaotic messages and gradually turning them into streams of information, which his nearly crashed divine sense accepted.

Zhang Jian looked at this Dao Sovereign with some shock in his eyes.

Yet he could not imagine that after such a long span of time, this Dao Sovereign remained so terrifying.

However, Zhang Jian discovered that he could not discern the background of this Dao Sovereign, nor what authority and divine position she represented.

The other's existence surpassed his imagination.

Zhang Jian had never encountered such an existence before.

No, it should be called the first time encountering such a terrifying powerhouse harboring ill intent toward him.

Zhang Jian was certain that this Nine Phoenix Dao Sovereign bore full ill will toward him, earlier attempting to infect him, even to turn him into her puppet.

Thus, Zhang Jian made a decision.

At this moment, he turned and walked away.

Can't afford to provoke, can't even hide?

Such a terrifying existence, old and refined, Zhang Jian did not believe his standing was higher than hers, so he simply left directly.

At this moment, the Nine Phoenix's faint smile came from behind.

"Young one, what are you afraid of? Earlier, this palace was merely joking with you a little. Don't you wish to obtain the power of the Ancestral God?"

Zhang Jian still ignored it and left directly.

Seeing this, Nine Phoenix's eyes showed no peculiarity in their depths, merely gazing faintly at the direction Zhang Jian departed, her black jade-like pupils holding a faint glimmer.

At this moment, Zhang Jian returned along the original path, yet he sensed something abnormal.

Before him, the chaotic small path had completely vanished, replaced by a three-way fork.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's pupils twitched slightly, a hint of contemplation appearing in his eyes.

This was clearly the doing of that Nine Phoenix Great God.

Where is this Nine Phoenix Great God trying to guide him to?

His eyes flickered, he hesitated slightly, yet did not choose to retreat and leave.

Possessing the Three Lives Stone and the Innate Creation Green Lotus, such treasures, this method could not possibly trap him.

Yet he was rather curious about what this Nine Phoenix Great God truly intended to do.

He chose the left path, following this chaotic small trail inward, and found that all other chaotic roads had completely disappeared.

Proceeding along this small path, Zhang Jian walked forward, and after a moment, he saw a terrifying sight.

The chaotic qi dispersed.

Yet before him appeared a colossal ice-snow divine mountain, white snow brilliant, manifesting on the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison.

"There is still a mountain on the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison!"

Zhang Jian's eyes filled with astonishment; the great mountain before him resembled the divine mountains of the ancient Classic of Mountains and Seas, yet beneath the thick ice and snow lay a mountain body as black as steel, emitting a deep, heavy, terrifying aura throughout.

Moreover, the most unique feature was that the central black divine mountain was covered with purple imperial command divine talismans.

The talismans contained an inexplicable mighty power.

As if innate and supreme, capable of exterminating the souls of all things in heaven and earth.

This sight caused Zhang Jian to harbor some speculation.

This black great mountain was not originally part of the Eternal Ice Prison.

Perhaps it is the true form of one of the Three Great Dao Sovereigns?

Zhang Jian recalled part of the information about the Three Great Dao Sovereigns.

It is rumored that among the Three Great Dao Sovereigns, the Black Tooth Dao Sovereign is a black mountain born of a yin evil absolute land.

Innately, he governs authority related to yin darkness, earth, and souls.

Observing the power of the imperial command divine talisman posted deep within the black divine mountain, Zhang Jian slightly contemplated it, sensing from it a divine power mechanism sharing the same origin as the Yuqing Immortal Light.

Yet extraordinarily terrifying.

This should be the handiwork of which Dao Sovereign of the Kunlun Heavenly Realm's Yu Xu Palace.

I do not know what secret art it is, but it has genuinely suppressed the Black Tooth Dao Sovereign, wearing away all his vitality!

However, Zhang Jian dared not confirm whether the Black Tooth Dao Sovereign had already fallen, so he did not dare to approach rashly.

At this moment, his thoughts flashed like lightning, and he prepared to leave this place.

Facing such an existence, he had no intention of venturing forward to scavenge.

He turned and departed from within the chaotic qi.

Yet upon leaving again, Zhang Jian noticed that two more forked paths had reappeared deep within the chaotic qi.

"What exactly does this Great God wish to say?"

Zhang Jian furrowed his brows tightly, yet he did not wish to continue entangling with the other, nor did he like the feeling of being repeatedly toyed with.

His entire body erupted with the Nine Transformations Chaos Green Lotus Birth Great Law, seeking to part these chaotic qi and return to outside the ninth layer of Eternity.

Yet at this moment, a faint voice came from the void.

"Young one, if you wish to obtain the Primordial Chaos Dark Ancestral Qi and the secrets of the Ancient God Dao, do not lack patience—you may yet gain a new harvest!"

A slight pause, then a light laugh followed: "Moreover, with my current state, I cannot do anything to you, nor to those few treasures within your body!"

Zhang Jian's hand movement paused, upon hearing this he spoke directly.

"Nine Phoenix Great God, if you have words, why not speak plainly? Why must you toy with juniors!"

A slight pause, then the voice of Nine Phoenix from deep within the void reappeared.

"Truly a suspicious and cautious young person!"

"This deity is not playing with you, but wants to make a deal with you!"

"A deal?"

Zhang Jian's expression turned solemn, and he already had a guess in his heart.

"Is giving benefits directly to the junior part of the deal?"

The voice of the Nine Phoenixes sounded at this moment.

"No, that is merely giving you the confidence to make this deal. You, junior, have been exceptionally cautious since entering the ninth layer of the Eternal Ice Prison. Given your nature, if you had not seen actual benefits, you might not be willing to make this deal with this palace!"

Zhang Jian smiled lightly, then suddenly said.

"Senior has thought very thoroughly, but I would rather first know the content of the deal!"

From the depths of the void, the voice of the Nine Phoenixes came at this moment.

"Young man, have you not already guessed? You have obtained the name of Xuanming and the inheritance of the ancient divine Dao, while this palace gains precious freedom—a very fair deal!"

Zhang Jian shook his head and said.

"This deal may not be fair. Once senior frees yourself with your methods, it would be easy to reclaim the sealed Xuanming divine position, while I fear I would then have to bear the wrath of the Heavenly Court's thunder!"

After a slight pause, Zhang Jian laughed and said.

"Since Senior Nine Phoenixes has seen through my true identity, you should also know that I am of a divine constitution, and attaining the rank of Dao Lord is not that urgent for me!"

"In other words, the sealed Xuanming divine position is merely an added bonus for me, not worth such great risk in making this dangerous deal with you!"

In the depths of the void, upon hearing this, the Nine Phoenixes fell silent for a moment, then her voice sounded again.

"Young man, you are mistaken. If this palace has not misjudged, you must possess the authority of the Nine Underworlds, and in your path, the Nine Underworlds authority occupies a rather special proportion!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian frowned.

This is what he dislikes most about the Nine Phoenixes.

It seems as if no secret can escape her sight.

He does not know whether his innate creation, the Azure Lotus, has been seen through by her.

Zhang Jian feels it should not have been.

Innate spiritual treasures conceal themselves naturally.

Rather, a few pieces of heavenly and earthly rare treasures might be detected by her.

"Moreover, most of the Nine Underworlds authority is now in the hands of the Netherworld Underworld. If you have not yet gained the approval of the Netherworld Underworld, your Nine Underworlds authority, when condensing the Ancestral Qi Dao Fruit, will inevitably suffer backlash from the Netherworld Underworld!"

Zhang Jian's heart startled secretly.

Is there such a saying?

However, he feels the other party should not deceive him, for such lies would be easily exposed!

Still, he remains somewhat wary in his heart.

These old and shrewd Dao Lords are not easy to deal with; one careless step could easily fall into their traps.

After a brief pondering, he spoke in a deep voice.

"What does this have to do with the sealed Xuanming divine position?"

The voice of the Nine Phoenixes carried a smile as she asked.

"Do you know who the powerful one in charge of the Netherworld Underworld is?"

Zhang Jian frowned and said.

"Fengdu Emperor!"

The Nine Phoenixes said with a hint of disdain.

"Fengdu's weight is still lacking; he is merely a proxy chosen by others!"

Zhang Jian pondered for a moment and said.

"Ksitigarbha Bodhisattva, the Heavenly Sovereign Who Saves Suffering in the Ten Directions?"

The voice of the Nine Phoenixes turned cold and solemn.

"They also only grasp a part of the Netherworld Underworld's authority, mere petty thieves unworthy of the stage!"

"It is the Sovereign Earth God who Follows the Law of Heaven and Emulates the Earth, among the Six Sovereigns!"

The Nine Phoenixes directly announced the answer, then immediately added.

"Within the sealed Xuanming divine position lies an old object, namely the token of the Sovereign Earth God who Follows the Law of Heaven and Emulates the Earth. If you can obtain this token, the Sovereign Earth God who Follows the Law of Heaven and Emulates the Earth will surely let you pass, reducing your tribulation by one!"