Chapter 652: The Chessmaster, Primordial Three Daoist Monarchs (4K)

Zhang Jian waved his hand, and a stream of light flew out from within the thatched hut, instantly transforming into an immortal shield in the depths of his palm.

Green immortal light flowed and swirled.

This is the second-rank eternal immortal treasure, the Lotus King Immortal Shield.

The celestial realm of the immortal court is quite peculiar.

When traveling from the immortal palace to the mortal realm, one passes through a special celestial-human barrier; any immortal or deity who has not received the immortal palace's talisman edict will be directly sent into the deep reincarnation passage of the celestial realm, thus entering the mortal realm.

Upon first arriving here, although Zhang Jian successfully assumed the position of the Qinglian Salvation Suffering Heavenly Venerable Daoist Monarch, he had not yet fully comprehended the great Dao of heaven and earth, so he could only enter the mortal realm by following the six paths of reincarnation.

To avoid the suffering of reincarnation, he casually used an eternal immortal treasure as a substitute for his own rebirth; it detached itself from the eternal immortal treasure and entered the mortal realm.

In fact, Zhang Jian also did not wish for the Purple Yuan Heavenly Emperor to notice any disturbance; otherwise, he could have forcibly torn through the barrier of the mortal realm and entered directly.

Zhang Jian gazed at the Lotus King Immortal Shield in his hand.

Until he fully comprehends the great Dao of heaven and earth in this realm and masters the position of the Qinglian Redemption Heavenly Venerable Daoist Monarch, he will not lightly engage the Purple Yuan Heavenly Emperor again.

Knowing oneself and knowing the enemy ensures victory in a hundred battles.

To immediately engage in a death struggle with local tyrants upon entering a strange territory is certainly not a wise move.

Furthermore, Zhang Jian also needs to reestablish contact with Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo, so that the two may rekindle their understanding of the celestial realm.

At this moment, inside the thatched hut, a frightened voice of a couple echoed out; a perfectly fine infant suddenly transformed into a streak of green treasure light and flew out, truly frightening the two.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian's brow twitched slightly.

At this moment, glancing at the impoverished couple inside the thatched hut, he waved his hand, and suddenly animal pens appeared on both sides of the hut; waving his hand again, he saw the pens filled with cattle and sheep, and at the same time took out a jade ruyi to give to the couple who stepped out, smiling as he spoke.

"This deity shares a certain affinity with you two; I bestow this jade ruyi upon you. This treasure is imbued with a spell, and will surely grant you abundant offspring, blessings, and longevity, and divine protection, as long as you two remain in this world, your descendants shall enjoy endless fortune and prosperity!"

Upon hearing this, the couple was overjoyed and hurriedly bowed down.

"Thank you, Immortal!"

Zhang Jian waved his hand to lift the two up, and at the same time glanced at the cattle and sheep in the animal pen; the cattle and sheep in the pen were not produced by his illusionary technique, but were directly created through the art of harmonizing creation; his form flashed and turned into a stream of light, vanishing into the mountain village.

The couple beneath the thatched hut were now weeping with joy.

To them, having a child was something that could happen at any time, but this full pen of cattle and sheep was rare, let alone the fact that they had been bestowed a treasure by an immortal, bringing them abundant blessings and longevity, and divine protection.

……

Zhang Jian left this small mountain village; at this moment he raised his head and looked at the scorching sun of the celestial realm above, whose killing intent poured down from the depths of the firmament as if unobstructed, falling upon the mortal realm and making the weather abnormally hot; vegetation on the earth withered and sickened, some regions began to dry up, rivers ceased flowing, within a hundred miles lay desolate and uninhabited, roads littered with withered bones, and malevolent spirits lurked in the wilds.

Walking across this wasteland, Zhang Jian could not help but let compassion show in his eyes; in his gaze he saw that decades ago this place had once flourished and prospered, with villages, towns, and bustling markets.

But since the heavens and earth began to dry up, countless beings have fled their homelands, starving corpses littered the roads, and furthermore, heretical paths, demons, monsters, and ghosts took advantage to hunt living beings.

Even the silhouettes of deities could be seen.

This is a corrupt world; many rules have already rotted and degenerated, becoming shackles upon the common people.

Those deities actually collude with heretical paths, extorting incense offerings and stealing the people's blessings.

"When a nation is about to perish, there must be monsters; when one side of the celestial realm is about to perish, what will be born?"

Zhang Jian secretly pondered, his eyes sweeping over the void, scanning this terrifying plain filled with intense resentment and deathly stillness, where only a portion still had greenery, or perhaps the outskirts of cities still retained the people's vital energy.

In such a world about to fall into eternal night, it is no wonder that redeeming power is so active, even capable of aiding him in condensing a Daoist Monarch position.

This land greatly needs redemption.

After scanning his surroundings, Zhang Jian slightly pondered, then immediately activated the second-rank eternal Daoist art, the Dream Wander through the Grand Void Great Law, manifesting countless Grand Void spirit bodies racing in all directions, while also fulfilling his own vow to rescue suffering by responding to cries and rushing to the ten directions.

This is actually the great vow of the Salvation Suffering Heavenly Venerable of Taibyi.

However, Zhang Jian felt he was temporarily 'borrowing' one or two, and thought that the Great Elder of the Eastern Extreme would not mind.

Moreover, he had indeed received personal authorization from that Great Elder of the Eastern Extreme.

After completing the merit of saving the world, he would pay a little patent fee.

But Zhang Jian knew that even if he manifested ten million incarnations, for this boundless heaven and earth filled with resentment and evil force, it would be merely a drop in the ocean.

To redeem this heaven and earth, one must solve the problem at its root.

"Still, it would be better to conduct an on-site investigation first!"

A thought flashed through Zhang Jian's mind, and he transformed into an ordinary cultivator, like an ascetic monk walking forward along the official road.

He merely chose a direction at random, conducted his investigation in his own way, and left some markers along the route, awaiting the arrival of Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo.

……

One hundred years later, Jiangdu, the Beacon Fire Royal City

This is Yuzhou of the Purple Yuan Continent, the capital of the Southern Liang Dynasty; this place is still relatively prosperous.

Green mountains and clear waters, the royal city stands tall.

Not far from the Beacon Fire Royal City lies the famous White Jade River of Yuzhou; this great river runs through the southeast of this vast continent, forming vast expanses of fertile land; in its heyday it was famed as nourishing billions of beings.

The scorching heat overhead seems unrelated to this place.

Here also gather many officials and nobles of the Southern Liang Dynasty; the surrounding commoners, compared to those of other regions, have a slightly more rosy complexion, but as the drought persists, more and more refugees travel upstream along the river, flooding into the outskirts of the Beacon Fire Royal City, adding a touch of chaos to this prosperous royal city.

Deep within the Beacon Fire Royal City stands another grand temple, known as the Three Ancestors Platform, dedicated to the Three Ancestors of the Immortal Court, the source of all laws in the immortal court.

They are respectively the Dragon Lineage Daoist Monarch, the Heavenly River Daoist Monarch, and the Purple Cloud Daoist Monarch.

This Three Ancestors Temple has long been favored by the officials and nobles of various dynasties, with flourishing incense.

However, in recent years, with the rise of another great teaching in the immortal court, its influence has gradually waned.

Though not speaking of deserted gates, the incense has indeed completely ceased.

Upon the vast multi-courtyard estate, many Daoist boys lean against the gates gazing out, yet see little foot traffic; inside, restless energy fills the air.

On this day, however, a young noble in green robes entered through the main gate, immediately startling the abbot of the Three Ancestors Temple.

According to the standards of the Three Ancestors Temple, a mere royal city noble visiting would not warrant the abbot personally coming out to greet him; however, today's Three Ancestors Temple is unlike before, and can no longer tolerate the upper and lower levels picking and choosing.

Fortunately, this royal city noble was generous; upon arrival he donated hundreds of bolts of cloth and silk, along with a hundred gold leaves; the abbot, pleased, even wished to personally accompany and preside over the sacrifice, but was refused by this royal city noble.

After conducting the blessing and sacrifice ritual, this royal city noble merely declared his intention to privately pay homage to the Three Ancestors Daoist Monarchs.

Three Ancestors Hall.

At this time, three majestic Dao Sovereign Dharma Aspects stood upon the altar, their golden bodies solemn and dignified.

A youth in azure robes, graceful and unrestrained, gazed upon the three golden Dharma Aspects, a hint of a sneer flickering in his eyes.

"I never imagined that the venerable lineage of the Three Ancestors would decline to such a state!"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered; according to him, since the primordial beginning, there have been three innate Dao Sovereigns in heaven and earth. These three Dharma Aspects are the most ancient deities in heaven and earth, said to be connected to the Sovereign of Creation, born from the great qi after the Sovereign of Creation fell.

They respectively represent the essence, qi, and spirit of the Sovereign of Creation.

That is, the Dragon Lineage Dao Sovereign representing essence, the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign representing qi, and the Purple Cloud Dao Sovereign representing spirit.

Zhang Jian's expression remained calm; over the past century, as he wandered the celestial realms of the Immortal Court, he had also grasped many secrets through his own means.

These three Dao Sovereigns have loomed high above since the primordial age, each establishing their own lineage and dividing the great fortune of heaven and earth.

However, although the three Dao Sovereigns hold great teachings, they cannot work in unison; instead, they harbor significant contradictions. During this turbulent era, a Heavenly Emperor arose, followed by a god and a demon.

The Heavenly Emperor is the Purple Yuan Emperor.

This emperor held a lofty position in the primordial era, second only to the three great Dao Sovereigns, and was renowned for his zeal for justice and public good. In the end, he stood out in the divine war, was honored by the gods as Heavenly Emperor, and thus ended the divine strife.

Moreover, he received the joint recognition of the three Dao Sovereigns.

Furthermore, there are the Two Great Primordial Deities: the Taiji Ancestor God and the Wuji Demon God.

The Taiji Ancestor God attained the Dao from the primordial five great qi, his position exalted, having taught countless immortals and deities; he is indeed a divine ancestor.

Over these tens of thousands of years, he has gradually supplanted the Three Ancestors' lineage, earning the honorific of Dao Ancestor.

He subtly looms above these three primordial creators of the initial age—indeed, it is rather ironic.

As for the Wuji Demon God, he was born from the countless tribulations of heaven and earth, descending tribulations upon heaven and earth, and is the primordial demon god of the Immortal Court's celestial realm.

As myriad thoughts flashed through his mind, at this moment he waved his hand, shrouding the incense and spiritual thoughts of two of the golden Dharma Aspects, and then shouted.

"Heavenly River Dao Friend, are you still unwilling to reveal yourself and meet?"

With his words, however, the central Qi Origin Ancestor God, the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign's golden Dharma Aspect, suddenly emitted thread after thread of dense, majestic, vast divine light.

Boom—!

Within the divine light, it seemed as if endless surging torrents welled forth, the sound of roaring lament.

Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged; this sound of the surging river was not the roar of heaven and earth's water element, but the roar of the Immortal Court's celestial realm's qi sea. This Heavenly River Dao Sovereign represents the will of the myriad mountains, rivers, and lands of the Immortal Court's celestial realm, the boundless qi, as the embodiment of the Immortal Court's celestial realm's qi, and also the master of the qi sea—his divine might cannot be measured.

A hint of cold indifference appeared in Zhang Jian's eyes.

Alas, these three primordial Dao Sovereigns, who sit upon such great fortune, have actually had the fruit of the Immortal Court's celestial realm plucked by others—truly incompetent, and now they sit trapped in the city of sorrow, besieged by the Boundless Calamity Evils.

At this moment, in the depths of the void, boundless qi divine light swept down like a transformation, as if forming myriad swords aimed at Zhang Jian, and a cold voice emerged from within.

"You, the form of the Heaven-Outside Demon Lord, dare to appear in this lord's solemn dojo? Do you not fear falling here?"

"May I ask, Dao Friend, have you ever seen the world beyond this realm?"

Zhang Jian glanced at the surrounding manifesting majestic qi immortal light, did not actively activate his techniques to resist, but simply gazed with indifference at the form of the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign emerging above the golden Dharma Aspect.

Before the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign could inquire, Zhang Jian laughed at himself again.

"I think, as one of the three primordial creators of the Immortal Court, the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign should be well-informed and experienced. Your Immortal Court's celestial realm has been artificially plundered of the source of the Dao, the creation of heaven and earth; the source of this realm's Dao is withering, the collapse of the heavenly realm is imminent, and yet at this time someone is willing to make a great vow, a grand aspiration, to redeem this realm. May I ask, Dao Sovereign, is this the conduct of a demon god, or the righteous way of heaven and earth?"

The Heavenly River Dao Sovereign glanced at Zhang Jian, then spoke indifferently.

"This does not change the fact that you are an 'invader'!"

Zhang Jian shook his head.

"What is an invader? It is one who comes with aggressive, destructive will, attempting to destroy the welfare of the Immortal Court's celestial realm's beings—that is an invader. But I now come to redeem this realm and its myriad beings. May I ask, Dao Sovereign, do you now have the confidence to redeem this realm that is about to utterly fall and sink?"

Zhang Jian gazed upon the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign, his expression solemn.

"I have heard that the three primordial Dao Sovereigns were born from the legacy of the Sovereign of Creation. Do the three Dao Sovereigns truly see only private gain in their eyes, and have never considered the myriad beings of the Immortal Court's celestial realm, nor this boundless heaven and earth?"

Upon hearing this, the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign's expression shifted slightly; he glanced at Zhang Jian, and the immortal qi light flowing around him gradually reversed, being drawn back into his body.

The Heavenly River Dao Sovereign naturally knows well the current plight of the Immortal Court's celestial realm.

The qi of the Boundless Calamity Evils boils, and heaven and earth further show signs of Dao collapse and myriad things' destruction—omens of the apocalypse.

The six Dao Sovereigns now are also mired deep, currently suffering the backlash of the Immortal Court's celestial realm's Dao, their true forms unable to move.

Otherwise, when this realm-outside Dao Sovereign first entered the Immortal Court's celestial realm, he would have been besieged by all, not merely having the Purple Yuan Emperor manifest.

Although they are not on good terms with the Purple Yuan Emperor now.

"What does Dao Friend intend?"

At this moment, the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign gazed upon the Qinglian Salvation Suffering Heavenly Lord before him, his eyes deep with scrutiny.

Zhang Jian spoke with indifference.

"Why does Dao Friend wear such an expression? No matter what I intend, I must first redeem this realm; only after the Boundless Calamity passes will I raise other matters!"

After a slight pause, he gazed upon the three Dao Sovereigns with indifference and said.

"For the three Dao Friends, the worst case is merely that heaven and earth gain one more chess player—certainly better than now!"

The Heavenly River Dao Sovereign glanced at Zhang Jian, his eyes cold and indifferent.

"I fear what Dao Friend seeks is no less than what the Purple Yuan seeks!"

Zhang Jian laughed heartily.

"This point I do not deny, but have the three Dao Friends sought less? In truth, this god and the three Dao Friends share a common goal!"

The Heavenly River Dao Person deeply glanced at Zhang Jian; this time he did not refute, merely gave Zhang Jian a cold, indifferent look, his form suddenly returning to the golden Dharma Aspect, vanishing fiercely within the Three Ancestors Hall.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian paid no mind; this time entering the Three Ancestors Temple, he had not thought to directly persuade these three Dao Sovereigns.

But even if he could influence the three Dao Sovereigns by a thread, it would be good, at least aiding his subsequent salvation plan.

Now it seems his words have had some effect, however slight.

Although the Heavenly River Dao Sovereign did not explicitly state his position, at least he does not reject me as strongly as before.

Zhang Jian then stepped forward and left the Three Ancestors Temple.

In the void, he looked down at the Beacon Fire Royal City, his expression cold.

What he needed to do next was to quickly accumulate the position of the Savior of Suffering, the Blue Lotus Heavenly Venerable, so that it would truly gain the support of countless beings; then, bearing the power to save the world, he would perfect this position, and whether it was the Purple Origin Emperor Lord or any other existence, they would naturally cease to be a problem.