Chapter 617: The Primordial True Goddess Nüwa (4K)

He merely swept his gaze across what lay before him, when suddenly his expression shifted—yet he saw that in the depths of the firmament, the natural scene of myriad beasts chasing deer across heaven and earth had abruptly changed.

A heart-stopping power emerged upon the distant firmament above, as if boundless crimson tides were surging forward, and the countless beast herds suddenly sensed danger, grew terrified, and scattered in panic everywhere.

Zhang Jian furrowed his brow.

His divine eyes opened, gazing into the depths of the heavens.

In an instant he beheld a horrifying sight: two terrifying colossal deities emerged from the depths of the firmament, locked in combat at the celestial pole—one a mass of red, the other of blue.

The red and blue radiance collided, unleashing primordial true water and primordial divine fire that churned violently, their destructive force spreading, breeding endless annihilative power that swept forth from the firmament's depths; this immense power shook heaven and earth, and was in no way inferior to the Minghuang Demon Sovereign or Xuanyuan Holy Emperor that Zhang Jian had witnessed within the River of Time.

As that overwhelming power swept over, Zhang Jian felt his body alternately chilled and scorched.

With but a glance, he was nearly obliterated by that conceptual water and fire—either incinerated or suffocated and frozen.

"Flee!"

That thought flashed first in Zhang Jian's mind; his form became a streak of purple-yellow divine light, instantly fleeing beneath the earth, aided by terrestrial authority, racing swiftly toward the outskirts.

At this moment Zhang Jian vaguely knew where he had come.

These two water and fire deities locked in combat were likely the two great ancestral gods of the ancient demon race—Gonggong and Zhurong.

Zhang Jian gave a slight grin.

His fortune was simply too good.

Just having descended, he had actually arrived at such a moment.

Yet as he fled, Zhang Jian distinctly felt deep within the earth a vast, majestic authority's power surging.

This was another ill omen.

Other gods and demons had already monopolistically seized control of terrestrial authority.

Having established the Earth Emperor Dao Fruit upon the earth as foundation, if he were to implant it into the primordial chaos ocean, would he invite assassination from the opposing side?

This thought arose, then quickly faded.

Because Zhang Jian no longer had the leisure to ponder so much.

Only then did he see the earth's crust violently tremble, followed by utter destruction after intense undulations—billions of miles of mountains and rivers instantly evaporated by the rapidly intertwining forces of water and fire.

Zhang Jian felt the two terrifying powers behind him, and his visage trembled.

At this moment he sensed that the water and fire modalities of the heavenly dao laws throughout heaven and earth had awakened, engaging in full-force combat.

All living beings caught within the collision of water and fire were instantly reduced to charcoal or ice, or utterly withered in the alternating ice and fire, returning to oblivion.

Even some low-cultivation demon gods and divinities could not withstand such force.

Zhang Jian fled a hundred million million li through the void in a single breath; the ravaging water and fire power behind him gradually waned.

But the disaster had only just begun.

Zhang Jian stood upon the earth, gazing into the distant void, where he saw rings of intense, splendid light in the far heavens, and below, a colossal divine mountain linking heaven and earth.

That was Mount Zhou!

In Zhang Jian's sight, as the firmament's blazing sun burst forth, an ice-blue colossal deity, whose form seemed to stand shoulder to shoulder with sun and moon, was suddenly struck down from above the firmament.

With his fall, the boundless ocean became a deluge that submerged endless lands, causing the earth's roads to sink.

"Zhurong, you have insulted me too greatly—today I shall perish with you!"

At that moment, accompanying the roar, within the endless ocean a mass of blue light suddenly coalesced and surged toward Mount Zhou.

"Gonggong, cease!"

"You are mad!"

Above the firmament, as the blue-light giant moved, several angry shouts followed.

Yet the blue light expanded, and in an instant struck the majestic, heaven-supporting divine mountain.

Boom!

Accompanied by a heaven-shaking, earth-rending tremendous roar.

Even Zhang Jian, hundreds of millions of millions of li away, heard a terrifying thunderous roar, in which it seemed every component of heaven and earth was emitting the sound of breaking under unbearable strain.

That sound was cruel, yet brimmed with an endless, boundless divine majesty.

Zhang Jian even heard in his ears the countless heavenly earth primordial qi networks, the sound of primordial qi wheels shattering.

As for Mount Zhou, to the wilderness world it was truly vital—it was the Heavenly Pillar.

At this moment, as the colossal water-entity giant collided with the Heavenly Pillar, it shuddered violently, teetering on collapse, then the mountain body split and crumbled step by step.

The immense heaven-supporting divine pillar shattered into countless fragments that fell from above the firmament.

Rumble-rumble-rumble!

Though the collapse and fall of the immense heaven-supporting divine pillar was bad enough,

above the firmament a vast chasm suddenly appeared, that chasm continually tearing open, and in an instant a terrifying flood poured forth from within.

Thus the apocalyptic catastrophe was born.

That terrifying flood was naturally no stranger to Zhang Jian, and he was quite familiar with it.

It was the Nine Heavens Weak Water nurtured in the Central Celestial Realm.

Throughout all realms, two rivers are known as the "filthy rivers" of heaven and earth.

One is the River of Nine Springs and Yellow Springs, which gathers all the darkest, most negative forces in heaven and earth, and is also the place where the earth digests the toxins of myriad spirits.

The other is the Nine Heavens Weak Water River.

The Weak Water River contains a uniquely special Weak Water poison—it is a stellar river that absorbs the constellations of the heavens and the negative forces of celestial dimensions; even immortals and gods who touch it are surely doomed to die.

Only a certain unique class of immortals can possess immunity to Weak Water, having the constitution of Yellow Springs.

Rumble-rumble-rumble!

The heaven-shaking, earth-rending flood descended from the skies; as the chasm widened, it ultimately poured down like a waterfall, falling upon the earth, and in an instant spread across billions of li.

This force even permeated the River of Time; many immortals and gods who had just taken flight were pulled by that silvery-white power, dragged into the Nine Heavens Weak Water, and turned into withered bones.

In the distance, Zhang Jian watched this scene, his eyes shifting repeatedly.

At this moment, he discovered an extremely terrifying fact.

"Such a terrifying disaster, and yet no sudden impulse?"

Zhang Jian's eyes looked somewhat grim.

According to reason, as an innate divine being, he should have received some special heavenly omen before the disaster occurred.

But now he is hardly different from an ordinary mortal.

Though he possesses a body of Dao arts and divine powers, his six senses have become unusually dull.

He knows he may not have gained recognition from this ancient era's chaotic primordial ocean, hence his Dao-heart perception was obscured by the Three Calamities.

Under such circumstances, his risk of falling has greatly increased.

In this vast wilderness world teeming with innate demon gods and innate deities, powerful beings are countless, and the chance of encountering formidable figures is not small.

At the same time, Zhang Jian's Dharma-eye surveyed heaven and earth, as the boundless Nine Heavens' Weak Waters surged forth, countless living beings perished, including many primitive human tribes drowned.

These human tribes, amidst such heavenly disasters, found their established totem formations utterly useless.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brows; though he had defied innate nature to achieve a divine body, he remained part of the human race, having long enjoyed the protection of the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm, making him a steadfast member of humanity—this scene naturally could not be ignored.

This was not born of any utilitarian motive.

Zhang Jian spread his hands; the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and the State suddenly emerged from his palms, streams of purple-yellow immortal light shot forth from beneath his feet, dragon-shaped markings wandered among mountains and rivers, and wherever they passed, countless living beings were gathered into the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and the State.

Zhang Jian knew he might be in a special mythic era.

Perhaps next would come the ancient true goddess Nüwa mending the heavens.

Yet he had no connection to such great gods, nor the confidence to participate.

With insufficient cultivation, joining such a grand affair would only bring disgrace upon himself.

Better to do what he can.

For instance, strive to save as many ordinary living beings as possible.

Divine light shuttled across the land; he resembled a diligent little bee, weaving between mountains, gathering countless living beings into the Map of Mountains, Rivers, and the State.

His Map of Mountains, Rivers, and the State formed its own dimensional space, capable of containing the beings of an entire major realm without difficulty.

During this process, Zhang Jian also saw some innate demon gods who had turned to the left path seizing the opportunity to stir up trouble, attacking some living being tribes.

Faced with these powerful innate demon gods.

Zhang Jian would suppress them if he could overpower them; if not, he would do his utmost.

Relying on his cultivation at the seventh step of the Taiyi Great Perfection, he was nearly invincible beneath the Dao Lords.

The Heavenly River poured down; cracks in the firmament opened wider, heavenly light increased, countless torrents accelerated their descent, and in an instant, most of the Nine Provinces and Four Seas became vast oceans, while surviving beings either took refuge in some cave-heavens and blessed lands, or great immortal Dao sites, or occupied desolate places, resisting with forbidden arts.

Ordinary forbidden arts could not resist the erosive power of the Nine Heavens' Weak Waters.

After saving tens of millions of living beings, Zhang Jian attracted the attention of several powerful innate demon gods; after fierce battles, he slew several of their heads before escaping.

But as his killings continued, Zhang Jian sensed he might attract even stronger innate demon gods, so he secretly changed direction to avoid detection.

Yet after changing direction, he finally encountered misfortune—a Dao Lord-level left-path demon god, where the left Dao met.

Yet he could not escape unharmed.

After a great battle, Zhang Jian was forced to reveal his innate treasure, the Qiankun Map.

From then on, he was thoroughly targeted.

He could only rely on the Qiankun Map's power to control time and space, fleeing all the way.

Yet even so, Zhang Jian could not shake off the Dao Lord behind him.

Instead, the radiance of the innate treasure attracted several more powerful innate demon gods.

Zhang Jian had never before been pursued by such a number of Dao Lords.

He knew his only chance of survival might lie near Mount Zhou.

There, the Heavenly River's waters flowed backward, and Mount Zhou collapsed—extremely perilous.

Zhang Jian had concluded that his cultivation was surely inferior to these Dao Lords, but bearing two innate treasures, his resistance to blows might not be inferior.

Furthermore, great divine beings gathered there, among whom were not lacking ancient true gods.

If he could encounter Hou Tu Niangniang, or perhaps Xi Huang and Fu Xi, two great divine beings, he would surely find a sliver of hope.

He believed such beings, whose Dao permeates ancient and modern times, upon seeing him, would certainly know who he is.

Boom boom boom, the surging floodwaters ahead came rushing; Zhang Jian unified his fivefold essence, focusing part of his eternal will on the Qiankun Map, instantly tearing through space, suddenly plunging into the vast and mighty Nine Heavens' Weak Waters.

Though pursued by many powerful beings, Zhang Jian was actually not afraid.

At this moment, he was only one Dao Lord fruit away from the Dao Lord realm; other aspects like Dao-heart, primordial spirit, cultivation, Dao Lord body, and eternal will were not inferior to a Dao Lord's, and he could still display eternal Dao arts.

However, lacking the crucial core of the Dao Lord fruit, the number of times he could display eternal Dao arts was limited; excess use might quickly drain his cultivation.

But with two innate treasures protecting him, escape remained unproblematic.

He would no longer be like when facing the Purple Still Demon Lord, relying solely on the innate treasure to hold his ground.

Behind him, several streaks of divine light rushed forward; seeing Zhang Jian's form pass through the vast Weak Waters beyond the high heavens, several figures' expressions darkened, strange-colored divine light flashed in their eyes, all wore grim expressions.

They discovered that under the Dao Lord's will-obscuring influence, the opponent's form and aura gradually faded.

The boundless, turbid Weak Waters produced by the collapse of the Nine Heavens' Weak Waters would also interfere greatly with their eternal will.

Even with their cultivation, they could not recklessly unleash their eternal will to search deep into the Weak Waters; otherwise, excessive contamination would pollute their eternal will, affecting cultivation.

Moreover, the opponent possessed a special concealment technique.

Some powerful innate deities showed a hint of regret in their eyes, yet two powerful figures entered the Weak Waters; they were versed in special child techniques, or carried strange treasures, and could still track.

"Truly, an inescapable shadow!"

In the Weak Waters, Zhang Jian, aided by the Qiankun Map's power, fled swiftly; at this moment, his brow's Lotus King Treasure Mirror could still sense two additional vast divine powers chasing behind him, mighty and boundless.

Abnormally astonishing.

However, at this moment Zhang Jian was not in a hurry; he gradually had a way to escape in mind.

But after all, he still needed the right opportunity.

At this moment, Zhang Jian's expression suddenly stirred; he sensed that the two vast divine powers behind him had abruptly vanished.

At the same time, the Nine Heavens Weak Water before him suddenly parted, and he saw a nine-colored divine light descend from the depths of the azure heavens, a supremely divine and sacred vast divine power descending from the firmament.

He saw that it was a goddess clad in nine-colored robes, her body suffused with vast divine power beyond description.

At this moment, the goddess's compassionate divine eyes happened to gaze upon him, falling upon Zhang Jian.

Seeing this goddess, Zhang Jian's expression froze for a moment, then he immediately understood—perhaps this goddess had frightened away the two pursuers behind him.

By this time, Zhang Jian instead let go.

But seeing the other merely smiling slightly at him, Zhang Jian, inspired by fortune, suddenly clasped his hands and said.

"I do not know which divine being you are, Senior; this humble god Zhang Jian pays his respects to the exalted deity!"

Above the firmament, this goddess's pure and clear eyes gazed upon Zhang Jian, as if she could see through everything.

She saw the secret art of the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram hidden deep within Zhang Jian's life palace.

And the myriad beings within the Mountains and Rivers State Diagram.

After a moment, she suddenly smiled.

"With your mere Taiyi cultivation, you dare not fear hardship and aid countless beings—quite commendable!"

"Well, you currently have no foothold; I shall bestow upon you a foothold!"

"I, the goddess Nüwa, by the name of Earth Mother, hereby appoint you as Earth Emperor Divine Lord, to command the earthly essence of the Nine Provinces and Eight Extremes—will you accept this imperial decree?"

"The ancient true goddess, Lady Nüwa?"

Zhang Jian was first startled, then his expression was shaken.

He had actually encountered this ancient true goddess in this place.

Moreover, this Lady Nüwa was willing to bestow an imperial decree upon him.

Such a blessing—of course he would accept.

"This humble god is willing to receive it!"

As Zhang Jian accepted,

the ancient goddess pointed casually, and a vast divine light shot forth, instantly landing upon Zhang Jian!

In that instant, Zhang Jian sensed that his separation from this ancient era suddenly vanished, his Earth Emperor ancestral qi smoothly merging into this vast, boundless vast heaven and earth, re-establishing his divine form.

Moreover, he now held a portion of formidable earth-origin power.

At this moment, Zhang Jian noticed that, deep in his palm, among the three marks of great calamity, the symbol representing the calamity of dwelling suddenly dissipated.

This was indeed his dwelling calamity!