Chapter 638

A flicker of intense interest appeared deep in Zhang Jian's eyes.

The Eternal Will extended along the power of that shattered spacetime, and after a moment, it sensed that this strand of Eternal Will seemed to have traversed ancient and modern ages, as if seeing the time of the primordial ages, when the Four Pole Gods—East Azure Green Dragon Mengzhang Shenjun, North Black Tortoise Zhiming Shenjun, West White Tiger Jianbing Shenjun, and South Vermilion Bird Lingguang Shenjun—existed.

These four deities, with their six symbols, roamed the four netherworlds, and together with the land where the Heavenly Demon Realm resides, they opened heaven and earth using a fragment of a vast and desolate world, then drew countless giant beasts from the chaos beyond the realms into a vast expanse of chaos, slaughtering them completely to replenish the origin of the Heavenly Demon Realm and lay its foundation.

Afterwards, the four ancient gods underwent nirvana, each manifesting their true forms and merging into the Heavenly Demon Realm to suppress the four poles for hundreds of millions of years. Among them, two strands of divine light broke free, while the other two, upon breaking free, became the ancestors of all gods, silently fell, and their fate—life or death—remains unknown.

The true form of the East Pole Green Dragon Mengzhang Shenjun 'fell'!

As for whether it was a dragon's molt or a fall, Zhang Jian could not yet discern.

However, after the Heavenly Demon Realm took shape, that strand of his self was instantly attracted by a portion of the earth's primordial qi and fell into it, where it nurtured an innate divine being named the Earth Soul.

The Earth Soul is the earth's primordial qi, a portion of the innate essence that emerged when the Heavenly Demon Realm first opened heaven and earth, born from the innate creative origin, and naturally endowed with stewardship over a portion of the earth's origin.

Merely as a divine being born from the origin of the Heavenly Demon Realm, at the beginning of heaven and earth's opening, it did not possess much advantage.

After the Heavenly Demon Realm was opened, numerous powerful demon clans continuously poured into its depths. The arrival of these powerhouses replaced the position of the first batch of innate deities, and they began to extensively hunt down the native-born innate gods and divine beings of the Heavenly Demon Realm, devouring, refining, suppressing, or subduing them to seize control of the Heavenly Demon Realm's discourse.

This was merely the beginning; thereafter, numerous powerful demon clans from beyond the heavens began to vie for the Heavenly Demon Realm's discourse and transmission rights, striving to become the demon emperor who preaches heaven and earth and leads the development of the Heavenly Demon Realm.

This is the first wave of boundless calamity upon the birth of the Heavenly Demon Realm—the Boundless Demon Emperor Calamity.

During this calamity, a portion of powerful races emerged, among them the Heavenly Lion Clan giving birth to the Nine-Headed Lion Emperor.

Also, the Phoenix Clan gave birth to the Primordial Divine Phoenix, the Yang Phoenix, and several other powerful demon emperors.

Among the Dragon Clan, the Black Pool Dragon Emperor, the Cold Soul Dragon King, and several other peerless powerhouses were born.

As for others like the Purple Child Demon Emperor, the Grand Void Demon Emperor, the Stone Emperor, the Melody Emperor, and the Lotus King, they all manifested during the same period.

And in the first calamity, the Phoenix Clan, aided by the Primordial Lord Lingguang Shenjun, established their hegemony.

The Earth Soul God Monarch incarnation condensed by Zhang Jian, however, dimly endured the first wave of the Boundless Calamity of the Heavenly Demon Realm.

Heavenly Demon Realm, Earth Soul God Mountain.

It is a magnificent and vast divine peak; since the birth of the Earth Soul God Monarch, among the many native deities of the Heavenly Demon Realm, it has also gained a great reputation.

Its successful survival in the first Boundless Calamity and ability to maintain a degree of autonomy qualifies it as a benchmark among native deities.

After the calamity passed, the innate deities gathering around him gradually increased in number.

Deep within the Earth Soul God Mountain, Zhang Jian's body now radiated a strong aura of eternity and divine radiance.

The Dao Monarch's body, once certified as eternally certified, even if merely a 'self' nurtured by a span of spacetime power, possesses the essence of the Dao Monarch realm, and this will not retreat.

At this moment, Zhang Jian, aided by the 'Earth Soul God Monarch'—a virtual divine persona of the Heavenly Demon Realm—is gradually transforming the virtual into the real, integrating it into the earth's origin within the Heavenly Demon Realm.

Once this is achieved, regardless of whether he successfully blocks the Dao or not, he will gain immensely.

Upon the Earth Soul God Throne.

The vast god throne is spread across countless mountains and rivers of the Heavenly Demon Realm, their meridians mapped; these mountains and rivers, the meridians' divine forms, are the results of the 'Earth Soul God Monarch' wandering between heaven and earth over the years, personally surveying and mapping them, which Zhang Jian ultimately incorporated as part of the Great Earth Dao.

Using this divine form as the foundation of authority, Zhang Jian gradually constructed in the depths of the Heavenly Demon Realm's earth origin a vast phantom of the earth primordial qi wheel.

This earth primordial qi wheel, in the earth and earth-attribute network, occupies the central position, gradually drawing in vast earth essence, earth primordial qi, earth-traveling essence, and earth-traveling primordial qi to resonate.

A transcendent rank beyond the earth and earth-attribute qi network gradually took shape above his head on the river of fate, resembling a blazing purple-yellow star slowly rising.

The emergence of the purple-yellow star caused ripples in this spacetime origin, and many powerful ancient gods and demon sages faintly sensed it.

Especially a portion of powerful earth-attribute demon gods harbored deep malice toward it.

One radish, one hole.

One heavenly realm differs from the deep ocean of primordial chaos.

The Dao Monarch rank condensed in the deep ocean of primordial chaos is a rank shared by all heavenly voids, capable of being condensed anytime, anywhere, as long as one can withstand the erosion of the primordial chaos ocean.

But the origin of one heavenly realm is limited; if you occupy the source, then the amount that other ancient gods and demon sages can occupy will correspondingly decrease.

This is the struggle of the Great Dao.

Upon the River of Fate, at this moment, a boundless earth-yellow flood condensed from within, separately forming several vast divine lights rushing toward the newly condensed purple-yellow star.

They manifested as a great earth-yellow dragon, a three-beast yellow lion, a yellow bird, and the figure of a vast divine being.

Among these four earth-yellow divine lights, the dao fruit manifested by the great earth-yellow dragon is the strongest.

It is the dao fruit of the Central Hook and Chen Emperor.

Majestic power surged in, its light as if piercing through ancient and modern times.

In the divine light formed by the purple-yellow star, Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brow; this innate divine body of his possesses no innate spiritual treasure for protection, and can only rely on his own cultivation to resist. He immediately manifested the Map of Vast Mountains and Peaks, connecting it to the earth origin of the Heavenly Demon Realm, the map surging to block the multiple divine lights.

Merely from the impact of multiple divine lights, the radiance of the purple-yellow star he condensed flickered violently, as if it might be struck down at any moment.

Zhang Jian realized that this 'newly promoted' Dao Monarch might not be able to withstand the frontal assault of the crowd.

"It is simply that the years of cultivation are too shallow..."

Zhang Jian secretly thought.

His growth speed is not slow.

After attaining the Dao Monarch rank, benefiting from the Earth Soul God Monarch, the Nether Moon Emperor, the Nine Abyss Investigation Spirit Emperor, and the earth primordial qi sown by all realms and heavens, as well as the myriad heavenly and earthly treasures within his body, his cultivation has been advancing rapidly.

But this rapid advancement, compared to the vast accumulation of other Dao Monarchs over dozens or even hundreds of aeons, is still somewhat weak.

Without an innate spiritual treasure, he cannot erase this gap in time.

Zhang Jian is very clear about this.

Only through continuous accumulation of knowledge and relentless innovation can he gradually close the gap, even surpass it.

But aside from lacking an innate spiritual treasure, he is absolutely not one who does nothing.

With a thought, a layer of primordial chaos qi formed around his body, suddenly manifesting lotus after lotus of vast chaos green lotuses.

This layer of primordial chaos qi descended, as if drawing the Heavenly Demon Realm's vast heaven and earth origin into resonance, and moreover, a dao resonance that refines all things manifested from within, completely blocking all the yellow light attacks outside the chaos green lotuses.

This is the Nine Transformations Chaos Green Lotus Transformation Great Law.

Having comprehended a portion of the mysteries of the East Azure Barrier, Zhang Jian's Nine Transformations Chaos Green Lotus Transformation Great Law faintly approaches the second level of Eternal Dao Law.

Whether in defensive power or offensive power, both are marvelously enhanced.

Even if multiple earth-attribute Dao Lords attacked him simultaneously, they could not directly cause his Dao Lord rank to fall.

The purple-yellow star above the River of Fate gradually stabilized at this moment, its radiance not inferior to that of the yellow bird or the unknown earth deity.

"If you truly wish to wage war against this deity, I shall accompany you to the end!"

Upon sensing the rapid formation of the purple-yellow star above the River of Fate in a short time, Zhang Jian also gained greater confidence.

In fact, it proved that by integrating a portion of the divine marvel of the Desolate Mountains and Peaks Map into the Heavenly Demon Realm, perfecting part of its earthly structure, it still produced an effect, allowing his Earth Soul Dao Lord rank to instantly condense and stabilize completely.

However, this Dao Lord rank pales in comparison to the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank he himself condensed, the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank bestowed by the goddess Nüwa, and the Nether Moon Emperor Lord rank conferred by the goddess Hou Tu, as well as the Nine Abysses Investigating Spirit Lord rank.

These are all publicly conferred ranks shared across the heavenly void.

Whether in any heavenly realm dimension or the human realm dimension, they can all benefit.

Now, the condensed Earth Soul Dao Lord rank is not only low in rank, but merely a first-rank Dao Lord rank born in the Heavenly Demon Realm.

Though not in terms of strength, by this Zhang Jian can comprehend part of the earthly origin principles of the Heavenly Demon Realm, which greatly benefits his cultivation.

Moreover, though mosquito legs are small, they are still meat and can also enhance Zhang Jian's own cultivation.

Furthermore, among the divine lights, the Eternal Will sensed that Zhang Jian had condensed his Dao Lord rank so quickly, and all felt a hint of embarrassment, knowing that continuing would be futile, so they withdrew the Eternal Will at once, yet still remembered the aura of this Earth Soul Divine Lord.

Zhang Jian perceived this scene, his expression calm and indifferent.

At this moment, he furrowed his brows; after obtaining the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank, his power further increased.

Yet he still felt greatly constrained.

This place differs from the past and present world, for it is a special spacetime realm; he sensed that the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank and the Nether Moon Emperor Lord rank were restricted and could not be projected here.

Many schemes could not take shape.

"Next, we must first find the one undergoing tribulation; if we can slay that tribulation-crosser, the Chaos Primal Ocean will surely return some primal essence of heaven and earth!"

"Furthermore, after the Heavenly Demon Realm's first Boundless Calamity, what follows should be the renowned Heavenly Demon Rebellion!"

In the Earth Soul Divine Mountain, Zhang Jian gazed upon the many subdued primordial deities beneath the divine throne, as well as some primordial demon gods.

Whether primordial deities or primordial demon gods, they were all influenced by the four Primordial Sovereigns; the forms of primordial deities were mostly primordial divine beasts, or divine birds, or divine beasts, or aquatic forms, myriad and strange.

Few primordial deities took human form.

Zhang Jian knew that after the Heavenly Demon Rebellion, the advantage of the primordial divine beast clan would be greatly suppressed, while the later-born demon clans would rise again, leveraging the rebellion to occupy vast fertile lands.

Only fear that at this time, some tyrannical demon clan powerhouses from beyond the realm were already stirring restlessly.

Only one opportunity away, they would open a gate for all demons and forcefully surge in from outside.

Behind Zhang Jian, vast black-and-white divine light appeared, and a magnificent divine map emerged from within, revealing a mysterious river of intertwined black-and-white light flowing forth, breaking through all fate's mists.

The power of the Fate Dao Law flowed from within.

Zhang Jian used a portion of the power of the Fate Star, attempting to deduce the whereabouts of the Purple Cloud Demon God.

But the effect was limited.

Above the firmament, a star that has existed since ancient times interfered with his power to probe the River of Fate.

That is the Divine Power Star.

The natal star of the Mighty Purple Child Demon God.

The Purple Cloud Demon God, while under the protection of the Divine Power Star in spacetime, underwent tribulation and naturally enjoyed considerable advantage.

After another failed deduction, Zhang Jian paid it no mind, merely ordering the gods to pay more attention recently to other later-born demon clans and sentient beings on earth.

Zhang Jian continued to immerse himself in secluded cultivation.

He had never tried to actively seek the Purple Cloud Demon God.

If he were truly the tribulation of the Purple Cloud Demon God, the Purple Cloud Demon God would naturally come to him.

To Zhang Jian, a mere Purple Cloud Demon God is nothing at all.

What he will soon face in the past and present—the Jade Carving Dao Lord—is the real problem.

That Jade Carving Dao Lord is none other than a disciple of the Water Mother Maiden.

Under the illustrious name of the Water Mother Maiden, there are no impostors.

Although he possesses an innate spiritual treasure, as a disciple of the ancient and mighty Water Mother Maiden, it cannot be ruled out that he lacks no innate or acquired spiritual treasure for protection.

Nevertheless, Zhang Jian still had his subordinate deities actively monitor the movements of the Ox Clan Demon God.

Especially a portion of the Ox Clan Demon Gods who have attained the Great Perfection of the Taiyi realm.

Yet Zhang Jian never imagined that this unintentional action would soon bring him unexpected gains.

After a thousand years, a Earth Spirit Divine Lord came to report, discovering an Ox Clan Demon God fleeing toward the Earth Soul Mountain, appearing to have considerable cultivation, and additionally possessing a combat method unknown to the gods and demons of this era.

This cannot be concealed.

Zhang Jian had long noticed that the combat style of the demon clans in this era resembles that of the ancient times.

Likewise, they excel in close combat with fleshly bodies, refining their blood and flesh to the utmost extreme, yet their use of various arts is overly direct.

The main structure of their arts lacks research.

In the past and present era, whether immortals and gods or demon clans, their research into the divine arts and secret techniques of all major races has long reached a flourishing peak, yielding far better results when activated.

After all, in this era, many Dao Lords' theories and achievements remain in an unpublished state.

And to achieve this is quite conspicuous.

"It seems this wretch's tribulation has finally arrived!"

Upon the Earth Soul Divine Throne, Zhang Jian faintly revealed a hint of a smile, a flash of icy color passing through his eyes.

Back then, the Divine Power Star incarnate obstructed his path to the Dao, nearly causing his death at the hands of the Spike-Iron Demon Saint.

And now, it is time to repay the karmic debt!

Meanwhile, the Purple Cloud Demon God is now fleeing at great speed; this is not his first escape, and behind him follows a terrifying Dragon Clan Demon God, his entire body entwined with intense blazing flame qi, yet this occurred because the Purple Cloud Demon God passed through a region of the Earth Dragon Tribe, discovered a heavenly and earthly rare treasure, and thus exterminated that tribe—unbeknownst to him, behind this tribe stood an old ancestor of demon-saint level as their reliance.

However, protected by an eternal-level immortal treasure, the Purple Cloud Demon God is not particularly panicked.

But in an instant, his expression froze; for some unknown reason, he suddenly felt a layer of intense omen arise from the depths of his primordial spirit, and in a moment of thought, he unconsciously drew out a special eternal immortal treasure from within his primordial spirit.

It was a fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure, its entire body entwined with starlight, as if primordial starlight had manifested above his head.

Yet above the void, a path of fierce turbid divine light flowed toward him, faintly attempting to petrify the starlight above his head, but the starlight forcibly broke through.

"Hmm?"

Above the void, Zhang Jian watched this scene with a slight furrow of his brow.

With his Dao Lord cultivation, a single strike failed to break open that fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure.

Lacking an innate spiritual treasure, or even an eternal immortal treasure, even a Dao Lord would suffer a drastic reduction in combat power.

However, cultivation and realm differ greatly, and this gap cannot be bridged.

Moreover, using a fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure beyond one's level comes at a considerable cost.

Above the void, a dragon clan Dao Lord manifested, transforming into a youth wearing azure-green robes with a stern countenance, and he too saw Zhang Jian.

A great divine ability wielder of the Dao Lord realm.

Once proven, forever proven.

Unless already fallen, otherwise the origin of the Purple Cloud Demon God is quite clear.

The two exchanged a glance, and their intent was confirmed.

Both sides bear grudges against the Purple Cattle Demon Clan, and cannot allow the clan to produce another Dao-attained being.

"Hand it over!"

At that moment, the azure-robed Dragon Lord's body surged with flowing five-colored divine light, the light interweaving and enveloping the fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure, instantly sweeping it away.

"Chaotic Star Sword Decree!"

Zhang Jian watched this scene, a cold light flashing from his palm, and in an instant, a blade of eternal sword qi from the heavens erupted from endless starlight, sweeping horizontally to slash at the Purple Cloud Demon God; beneath the sword light, it seemed as if the Purple Cloud Demon God's past, present, and future were annihilated, cutting through cultivation, fruition, and even the primordial spirit.

In the depths of the Purple Cloud Demon God's eyes, a trace of intense fear surfaced.

"No, I am the peerless genius of the Purple Cattle Demon Clan—who can kill me!"

Amid his roar, another path of purple divine light emerged from the depths of his brow, winding and flowing, revealing a purple-gold relic.

The relic blossomed with endless radiance, within which condensed a majestic Buddha phantom.

Endless Buddhist chants, Buddha light suffusing the heavens, within the purple-gold cloud light condensed a great dharma seal; the Buddha forming the seal seemed to give birth to boundless virtuous and vicious Buddha lotuses from his hands, shielding the Purple Cloud Demon God.

"Buddhist secret art? Boundless Virtue and Vice King Buddha!"

Zhang Jian watched this scene, his eyes flickering slightly, feeling from the majestic divine seal enveloping the purple-gold Buddha a tremendous power.

This power was not inferior to that of the fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure swept away by the Dragon Lord's five-colored divine light.

The Purple Cloud Demon God's foundation far exceeds imagination.

At this moment, the Purple Cloud Demon God's body surged with boundless Buddha light; in an instant, his form condensed, preparing to break through spacetime and flee.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian let out a soft snort.

Escaping before him is not so easy.

With a thought, a vast map of mountains and rivers encompassing all heavens and worlds appeared above the firmament.

The map floated and sank, instantly enveloping the cosmos and Dharma realm, countless spacetimes, the river of fate above, suppressing the surrounding boundless spacetime.

Simultaneously, Zhang Jian raised one hand, which instantly transformed into a giant palm, as if grasping the power of mountains, rivers, and the universe, fiercely pressing toward the Purple Cloud Demon God.

He did not need to strike the opponent dead directly; only needing to exhaust the Buddha light within the relic would be the Purple Cloud Demon God's demise.

The Purple Cloud Demon God also felt the boundless divine power within that vast golden sunrise, and faintly sensed a hint of despair.

This Boundless Virtue and Vice King Talisman is a fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure bestowed upon him by the Fire Cloud Dao Lord.

But he clearly knows that although this fifth-grade eternal immortal treasure is powerful, with his current cultivation, he cannot actively drive it.

At most, he can only passively withstand a single strike; if he cannot escape afterward, he will surely die.