Chapter 595: Intense Battle (4K)

Zhang Jian and Ji Shi remained expressionless, yet inwardly they held her in higher regard.

Zihua Xianzi still retained some semblance of reason.

That Min Hua Xianjun was the heir apparent of the Tenth Heavenly Realm, a heavenly prince of one realm.

Although Zihua Xianzi possessed the bloodline of the Heavenly Human Royal Clan, her origins were mysterious, and she was now merely a humble jade maiden of the Eternal Ice Fortress.

Should she rashly become involved, who knows what tribulations she might endure?

At that time, even Zhang Jian and Ji Shi might not be able to help her much.

Upon hearing this, Ji Shi spoke calmly.

"You must think this through clearly!"

"If you do not see him, that Xianjun will surely be greatly disappointed!"

Zihua Xianzi hesitated slightly, then spoke at once.

"Elder Sister Ji, I have made up my mind—even if we were to meet, what would it matter? He cannot protect me, so why should I continue to entangle myself with him? Better to calm my heart and diligently cultivate, seeking the Great Dao!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Shi's face finally showed a hint of a smile.

"Good, since you have this resolve, I will myself inform Min Hua Xianjun—you should focus on your cultivation!"

Zihua Xianzi immediately rose and turned to leave the Nine Heavens Palace.

Within the palace, Zhang Jian and Ji Shi's expressions showed little smile.

Zihua Xianzi's refusal cannot explain much!

Entangled in the tribulation of love, when the threads of calamity entwine, regret may well follow, again and again.

Those deeply ensnared in the love tribulation may not remain rational.

Ji Shi spoke in a deep voice.

"Min Hua Xianjun's side may not be easy to deal with!"

Zhang Jian spoke calmly.

"I too wish to see just what he intends to do!"

In the Yingxian Hall, at this moment appeared a figure clad in pristine white cloud-sleeved immortal robes, the garments embroidered with exceedingly splendid patterns—not dragons and phoenixes, but phoenix motifs alone; her form was noble, her bearing exceptionally unique, as if she were the supreme, exalted bloodline born of all heavens and myriad worlds, an immortal deity.

In fact, the bloodline of the Tenth Heavenly Realm's sovereign lineage indeed bears some connection to the Phoenix Clan.

Lingwu Xian Guan Yuan Jiang and Jiancha Xian Guan Gu Ning Dao Ren sat beside him.

At this moment, with the sound of footsteps approaching, Zhang Jian and Ji Shi appeared in the great hall.

"Honored guests have arrived—may the Eternal Ice Fortress shine with their presence!"

In the distance, Zhang Jian's voice, tinged with a slight smile, emerged.

Zhang Jian spotted that familiar figure from afar.

He and Min Hua Xianjun had indeed crossed paths more than once, and were quite familiar with each other.

Min Hua Xianjun also saw Zhang Jian and Ji Shi, but he noticed that he glanced at several jade maidens behind Zhang Jian, yet did not see Zihua Xianzi, and he slightly furrowed his brow.

"Heavenly Sovereign, has Zihua replied?"

His expression remained calm, as if he did not wish to speak further.

Upon the exalted seat, Ji Shi smiled faintly and said.

"Min Hua Daoist, this time it is merely ill fortune—Zihua Xiaojie is still in seclusion, receiving no one!"

"Not even willing to see me?"

Min Hua Xianjun furrowed his brow.

After pondering, his gaze fell upon Zhang Jian and Ji Shi, and he spoke solemnly.

"Heavenly Sovereign, Ji Xianzi, I still wish to see her with my own eyes!"

Upon hearing this, Ji Shi furrowed her willow brows and said.

"Min Hua Daoist, now that Zihua Xiaojie does not wish to see you, why should you cause her distress and disturb her tranquility?"

"Moreover, you now know—your stations are worlds apart; too much contact benefits neither of you!"

Min Hua Xianjun's expression instantly turned stern.

For a moment, the atmosphere in the hall grew stiff.

Gu Ning Dao Ren, upon hearing this, sensed the shift in the atmosphere and spoke to mediate.

"Xianjun, since Zihua Xianzi does not wish to meet, it means the affinity has not yet arrived—there is no need to force it!"

Had it been any other immortal coming to disturb the female immortals of the Eternal Ice Fortress, he would have already rebuked them and, as a bonus, cast them into the Eternal Ice Prison.

But Min Hua Xianjun is different.

Besides his unique origin, he is also a Shendao Emperor, his cultivation formidable, possessing absolute authority over marital autonomy.

This is a privilege of the Heavenly Court Emperor.

Upon hearing this, Min Hua Xianjun set down his teacup, his eyes falling upon Zhang Jian and Ji Shi, yet he ignored Gu Ning Dao Ren and spoke coldly.

"I say, I wish to see her!"

Hearing the other's tone, Gu Ning Dao Ren's face froze for a moment, then his eyes twitched slightly—his expression grew unpleasant.

On the main seat, Ji Shi witnessed this and ceased her persuasion.

Zhang Jian chuckled lightly.

"I have long heard that Min Hua Xianjun is among the many sons of the Fengwu Emperor, the most gifted, the highest in cultivation, the strongest in divine abilities—surely his wisdom is not lacking either; how could he not know that entanglement in love's tribulation is folly? You cannot protect her—why then provoke her?"

Min Hua Xianjun's expression grew even colder and more detached.

"Whether I can protect my own woman needs no commentary from others!"

At this moment, his eyes fixed upon Zhang Jian seated on the throne above, and he spoke in a deep voice.

"Heavenly Sovereign, since our words have come to this point, I will not conceal it from you—I have come today to the Eternal Ice Fortress with another purpose: to take Zihua into the Tenth Heavenly Realm for cultivation!"

Other celestial officials, upon seeing this scene, all furrowed their brows.

Min Hua Xianjun's action was simply too rude.

This was simply treating the Eternal Ice Fortress as nothing.

Even if the other party was a tenth-level celestial prince of the heavenly realm, this was still the ninth level of the heavenly realm.

They were also not celestial officials under the command of Emperor Fengwu.

On the divine throne, Zhang Jian gazed at Min Hua Xianjun with a calm expression.

He truly did not know whether this Xianjun was truly entangled in a love tribulation or merely using the love tribulation as an excuse to take away Zihua Xianzi.

No matter which it was, he could not let the other party have their way.

Zhang Jian spoke calmly.

"But this is not what Zihua wishes?"

Min Hua Xianjun rose to his feet, his gaze sweeping over the immortals of the Eternal Ice Fortress, and he smiled lightly.

"My tenth celestial realm's treasures are not only the prosperous lands of the central heavenly realm, but also possess numerous eternal ancestral veins, immortal cultivation cities, and cultivation resources far surpassing those of the ninth heavenly realm, not to mention my own protection—how could Zihua not be willing? Surely this is not what others wish?"

Zhang Jian furrowed his brow.

He did not wish to explain this matter, nor did he want to explain it.

"Min Hua Tianjun, you need not cause trouble here arbitrarily. Zihua's immortal registry is here; without my nod, no one can take him away!"

Min Hua Xianjun's face showed a slight cold smile.

"It seems we shall ultimately have to see the true outcome beneath our hands!"

"I have heard that the Eternal Tianjun possesses profound and supreme Dao cultivation, even having defeated the Western Sea War God Ao Mo; I wonder if you have the courage to exchange a few moves with this lord?"

After a slight pause, he spoke with a calm expression.

"If I, by fortune, manage to win even a single move or half a stance, I beg the Eternal Tianjun to release the person!"

Upon the throne of the Tianjun, Zhang Jian heard this and was left speechless.

"Min Hua Daoist, do you take this place for what? Is it the martial arena of the heavenly soldiers of the central heavenly realm?"

Upon hearing this, Min Hua Xianjun glanced at Zhang Jian with his eyes, then suddenly spoke.

"Zhang Daoist, there are some things this lord simply does not wish to do!"

Zhang Jian detected the seriousness in Min Hua Xianjun's words.

He slightly furrowed his brow, and after a moment, spoke.

"Very well, since Min Hua Xianjun has this refined interest, this lord will naturally accompany him!"

A hint of sharpness flashed in his eyes.

Min Hua Xianjun's words clearly carried a hint of threat, which made him feel quite displeased.

"Very well, since we are to fight, I will not take advantage of you; if you lose, I will take Zihua!"

After a slight pause, Min Hua Xianjun waved his hand, and an ice-blue divine stone appeared deep in his palm, emanating profound and unfathomable power.

"This is a heaven-and-earth treasure born from the nurturing of billions of years in the Netherworld Underworld—the Nine Nether Soul!"

"If I lose, this object shall be yours; we shall then count it as a fair transaction!"

Zhang Jian and Ji Shi exchanged a glance, their eyes slightly showing surprise.

At this moment, Min Hua Xianjun actually produced such a supreme treasure as a wager?

In fact, Min Hua Xianjun had no real need to do this.

He then glanced at Ji Shi beside him.

A hint of strange color flickered in his eyes.

"It seems this Min Hua Xianjun's thoughts are quite meticulous!"

Zhang Jian speculated that this Min Hua Xianjun wished to use this to repay the protective favor owed to Zihua Xianzi.

After all, Ji Shi's care for Zihua Xianzi over these years has been evident to all immortals and gods.

Merely seeking a single heaven-and-earth treasure to buy off this affection is clearly insufficient.

"A transaction?"

Zhang Jian chewed on the words, then spoke calmly.

"No need; I will not use my own people as a wager, but if I lose, this also shows that I truly cannot protect my own people, and you may naturally take Zihua away!"

Upon hearing this, Min Hua Xianjun's eyes showed something unusual; he glanced at Zhang Jian, and his gaze seemed to have changed.

But in an instant, he coldly laughed.

"Three days from now, I will await you at the Nine Heavens Cloud Sea of the Ninth Heavenly Realm!"

Immediately, he stepped forward and left the Yingxian Hall, and shortly thereafter departed directly from the Eternal Ice Fortress.

Nearby, the Lingwu celestial official Yuan Jiang, the Surveillance celestial official, and many other celestial officials each had solemn expressions.

They clearly had not expected this Min Hua Xianjun to be so difficult to deal with.

However, the Eternal Tianjun's agreement to duel with the tenth heavenly realm's realm-stabilizing Tianjun is indeed a major event in the heavenly court.

……

Zi Purple Residence

Although Zihua Xianzi had returned to the Zi Purple Residence, her Dao heart remained unsettled deep within, and soon she learned from other female immortals of Min Hua Xianjun's challenge to the Eternal Tianjun.

She hurriedly left seclusion to meet Ji Shi, requesting to see Min Hua Xianjun to prevent the great battle between the two three days hence.

Upon hearing this, Ji Shi smiled faintly.

Zihua Xianzi clearly still did not understand the situation.

When two great divine powers duel, it is not child's play.

This matter involves the dignity and interests of two great divine powers.

Before figuring out the other party's purpose, deciding victory or defeat would reduce mutual entanglement, or the risk of implicating the innocent.

In short, the interests cannot be reconciled.

Their interests cannot be guaranteed, rather than being stoppable just because Zi Hua Xianzi wants to stop them.

Zi Hua Xianzi's decision is fundamentally insignificant.

"Zi Hua, this matter is already settled. Min Hua Xianjun looks down on my Eternal Ice Fortress. As the lord of the Eternal Ice Fortress, the Heavenly Sovereign must step forward to uphold the dignity of the Eternal Ice Fortress; otherwise, how would the immortals of the Eternal Ice Fortress conduct themselves among the heavenly immortals?"

Ji Shi's words immediately left Zi Hua Xianzi disheartened.

……

Three days later

The Ninth Layer Nine Heavens Cloud Sea of the Heavenly Realm.

This place is the deep cloud sea of the Ninth Layer of the Heavenly Realm. Min Hua Xianjun has long been waiting here, clad head to toe in snow-white immortal phoenix armor, with a crimson-gold cloak draped behind him, fluttering in the wind. At this moment, he stands like a blazing sun upon the cloud sea, countless white clouds faintly revealing golden patterns.

Around the Nine Heavens Cloud Sea, there stand powerful heavenly generals and divine beings from the Tenth Layer Fengwu Palace.

Meanwhile, on the other side, many heavenly immortals and deities have received the news and also manifested their true forms within the cloud sea.

The Golden Phoenix Prince Min Hua Xianjun of Fengwu Palace also enjoys considerable fame in the Heavenly Court.

Likewise, the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign, who has also entered the upper seats of Yaochi, holds an extraordinary status.

Of course, in the rumors of Yaochi, his other identity is even more eye-catching.

Among these immortals and deities, there are not a few familiar to Zhang Jian in the Heavenly Court.

The Three Officials Emperor has arrived.

Also present are Bai Hua Xianzi, Bai Cao Xianzi, and the Seven Fairies, who came upon hearing the news to join the festivities.

There are also several notable Dao seeds from the Heavenly Court.

The Zhonghua Heavenly Sovereign of the Human Race Royal Clan has arrived.

The commander of the Heavenly Troops Camp, the Asura Heavenly Army, and the Chiyuan Mountain God have also arrived.

Moreover, several immortals and deities who have considerable entanglements with Zi Hua Xianzi have arrived: the Nine Generations Xianjun, the Tianlong Mountain Yulong Sect Master, and even the Young Master Hai Xinjun of the Haiyan Palace.

Min Hua Xianjun did not wait long. Soon, a dense mass of auspicious clouds and blessed mist surged from the depths of the void, forming a path of light as Zhang Jian led a number of immortals and deities from the Eternal Ice Fortress forward.

At this moment, he had shed the ice-blue robes of the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign, wearing only a simple purple robe, with a faint purple-yellow dragon-shaped divine light flowing around his body, possessing the power to cleave heaven and earth.

Behind him stood Ji Shi, Yuan Jiang, the Lingwu Immortal Official, and Gu Ning Dao Ren, the Surveillance Immortal Official.

In the distance, the Seven Fairies watched this scene, the green-clad fairy casting a glance and pursing her lips as she spoke.

"Zhang Daoist, you are indeed full of confidence—still bringing along your beloved confidante at this hour!"

Bai Hua Xianzi wore a golden Bai Hua immortal dress, her figure graceful and elegant as she stood in the void, her body surging with immense divine power.

During this period, her cultivation seems to have increased significantly, her body enveloped by an extraordinarily thick primordial divine power.

Bai Hua Xianzi's floral authority in the past had never reached such a level.

Beside her, Bai Cao Xianzi glanced over, occasionally showing a hint of envy.

Thousands of years ago, Bai Hua Xianzi found part of the legacy of the ancient Heavenly Court's Flower God in the mortal realm, enabling such progress.

This matter has already spread throughout Yaochi.

Such fortune arouses envy.

Bai Cao Xianzi pondered and could not help but ask.

"Elder Sister Bai Hua, in your opinion, between Min Hua Xianjun and the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign, whose chances of victory are higher?"

Bai Hua Xianzi heard this and shook her head.

"I do not know either!"

After not seeing each other for thousands of years, she does not know how far Zhang Jian's cultivation has advanced.

Yet Min Hua Xianjun is quite renowned in the Central Heavenly Court.

He is also ranked among the top ten on the Myriad Dao Seeds List, standing shoulder to shoulder with Zhonghua Heavenly Sovereign as an unparalleled genius of the Human Race Royal Clan.

Among the many female immortals in the Heavenly Court, both enjoy considerable reputations.

Bai Hua Xianzi's reason tells her that Min Hua Xianjun's prospects are greater.

Although rumors say Zhang Jian defeated the Western Sea War God Ao Mo,

Ao Mo and Min Hua Xianjun, these peerless heavenly prodigies born of the Human Race Royal Clan, still have a gap between them.

Bai Cao Xianzi and several other female immortals feel this clearly in their hearts.

Bai Hua Xianzi's attitude clearly shows she does not have much confidence in the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign either.

The Seven Fairies' expressions are likewise solemn; although they are closer to the Eternal Heavenly Sovereign, having exchanged banquets and communication over the years, Min Hua Xianjun has indeed been famous for a long time.

……

In the distance, the Tian Guan Emperor watched this scene and could not help but ask the Tianhe True Person beside him, smiling as he spoke.

"Royal Younger Brother, what do you think—whose chances of victory are greater between the two?"

The Di Guan Emperor, along with several nearby star deities, also turned their gazes over.

Upon hearing this, the Shui Guan Emperor frowned slightly, sighed lightly, and said.

"If it were three hundred years ago, Min Hua Xianjun would certainly have held the upper hand, possessing a great advantage. But now I believe the methods of this Grand Master's nephew of mine would be stronger by a notch!"

"The final victor must surely be this Grand Master's nephew of mine!"

As his words fell, many surrounding star deities immediately glanced sideways.