Chapter 653

After seeing the Tianhe Daoist Sovereign and vaguely probing the thoughts of these three Primordial Daoist Sovereigns, Zhang Jian did not continue to consider contacting the other god and demon.

The Taiji Ancestral God established the Taiji Sect, gradually seizing the authority of the three Primordial Daoist Sovereigns, and seemingly gained recognition from the Celestial Court, possibly already in league with the Zi Yuan Heavenly Emperor, making contact unnecessary.

As for the Wu Jie Mo Shen, this demon god has now infiltrated the depths of the Celestial Court's heavenly realm, absorbing the rapidly growing Wu Liang Jie Sha Qi of heaven and earth, and his cultivation is likely increasing rapidly.

Such a demon god would rather see the Celestial Court's heavenly realm fall, so as to seize its destructive Dao fruits, gather boundless power into one body—how could he be a fellow traveler with the Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign?

Instead, he might become a great enemy.

Zhang Jian can be certain that, wishing to redeem heaven and earth and eliminate that Wu Liang Jie, the primordial demon king born of the native demonic path will surely act to stop him.

……

Above the void, Zhang Jian's figure began to walk toward the Southern Liang King's Palace; today, having entered the Beacon Fire King's City, besides using the Three Ancestors Daoist Observatory to probe the three Primordial Daoist Sovereigns, he also needed to enter the Southern Liang King's Palace to accomplish another great matter.

This great matter is related to his Grand Vow and Great Oath.

Zhang Jian prepares here to once again subdue a guardian deity, while simultaneously eliminating a demonic calamity.

Recently, during his travels across heaven and earth, he sensed that a terrifying Primordial Demon God had matured into a Primordial Demon Fetus, descending into the world and falling into the Beacon Fire King's City, so he prepared to first redeem this demon.

The essence of this demon is the same as that of the Wu Jie Mo Shen born in a Wu Liang Jie of the Celestial Court's heavenly realm.

Both born from the negative forces of heaven, earth, and all beings, they inherently possess the power to destroy great eras and also have an indestructible nature; if allowed to mature successfully, he would become another Wu Jie Mo Shen.

As a Redeeming Daoist Sovereign of heaven and earth, Zhang Jian naturally ought to early eradicate this menace, lest it become a hidden danger during his salvation of the world.

The Southern Liang King's Palace, extraordinarily magnificent, has one grand palace after another clustered around it, giving it a most extraordinary appearance.

Humming!

As Zhang Jian approached, he faintly sensed violent tremors in the depths of the void, countless golden currents of fortune gathering above the Southern Liang King's Palace, converging with the human Dao, ultimately manifesting the image of a majestic golden Emperor.

This is the dharma image of an Emperor of the Celestial Court, named the Si Ming Emperor.

Its position is roughly similar to that of the Bei Ji Zhong Tian Zi Wei Emperor in Zhang Jian's impression.

However, he has gone further than the Bei Ji Zhong Tian Zi Wei Emperor, directly becoming the orthodox sacrifice offered by many dynasties in the human realm, a totem-like existence.

Mundane dynasties sacrifice to the Si Ming Emperor, while the Si Ming Emperor draws upon the dynastic fortunes of the human realm to cultivate, also protecting the human dynasties.

In Zhang Jian's view, this is a deformed existence.

It is simply lying directly above the human dynasties, drinking blood and eating flesh!

The most absurd part is that this is voluntary on the part of the human dynasties, who surrender their dynastic fortunes to celestial gods, including the dynasty's future and potential, entirely placing them under others' control.

In Zhang Jian's view, this behavior is utterly foolish.

If the Three Emperors' heavenly realm were to know, those human sovereigns and emperors would surely have already descended thunderous wrath, reducing this place to dust, and the Si Ming Emperor would naturally not expect to preserve his life.

Yet here, it has become customary.

However, the Si Ming Emperor's divine power is clearly unable to resist Zhang Jian's kind of existence.

Zhang Jian merely glanced deep into the Southern Liang King's Palace, sensing that extremely weak source of karmic sin, and temporarily chose not to enter the Southern Liang King's Palace.

Instead, he waited in a wine pavilion around the palace.

This place is called the Yu Lou, built by a prince of the Southern Liang royal family with far-reaching influence; from here, one can even see part of the scene within the imperial street, and it is said that officials can be seen ascending to court here every day.

Therefore, this place is bustling every day, nearly full.

Zhang Jian stepped inside; he had already reserved a seat here, and after entering an elegant pavilion, he acted like a worldly handsome young noble, first ordering much food and drink, then summoning the courtesans of the building to play music, sing, and dance on one side, appearing quite at ease.

Since beginning cultivation, Zhang Jian has strictly restrained himself.

Even though he became the founding sage ancestor of the Great Xia Dynasty, a holy king, he remains strict with himself, setting an example for the Zhang clan.

At this moment, he seemed to recall the scene from when he was in the Zhou Mountain Realm, Fengxi County.

But now, at this moment, Zhang Jian's state of mind is completely different.

After Zhang Jian lightly drank a few cups, he waited in the elegant pavilion for the person he was expecting.

Only seen at the gate, Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign wore a blue robe, with a flowing sash tied behind his head, his countenance handsome, like a pure gentleman emerging from mud.

Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign glanced at the women inside the room and said calmly.

"The Earth Emperor Daoist friend is indeed quite at ease!"

"Does Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign not like such hospitality? That is truly a pity!"

Zhang Jian smiled faintly, and with a wave of his hand, signaled the women to leave the private chamber.

Several beautiful young women at this moment felt some regret, similar to how Zhang Jian's grace and wealth made him a rare benefactor, but it was a pity that although he ordered them to sing and dance, his eyes showed no sign of their presence from beginning to end.

Seeing this, Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign sneered.

"I originally thought that after the Daoist friend made his Grand Vow, he would rush upon hearing the call, enduring great hardship to save all directions, but now it seems he was mistaken!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian was speechless, and for now did not argue with Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign about this.

Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign's expression then turned solemn, as he glanced up and down at Zhang Jian, then suddenly said.

"The Earth Emperor Daoist friend's Grand Vow method is truly profound and marvelous; this deity observes that your status as a Redeeming Daoist Sovereign is quite extraordinary, and likely also possesses the potential to attain the status of a Dao Venerable!"

Her expression carried a hint of curiosity.

The Redeemer status is also quite rare in the myriad heavens and void, for there is already one who attained the Heavenly Emperor status through it—the Dong Ji Qing Hua Chang Le Emperor.

Many great divine beings are unwilling to lightly provoke this Heavenly Emperor, so they do not actively condense similar status and authority.

Therefore, for many immortals and gods, the Redeemer status is truly a blind spot of knowledge.

Zhang Jian glanced at this Daoist Sovereign whose expression changed faster than turning a page, then nodded and said.

"Redeemer-type status has always possessed vast and marvelous power, but the only problem in perfectly attaining this Daoist Sovereign status is that the difficulty is not small!"

This is the status of the Grand Vow type.

Yet it involves advancing consumption, borrowing one's own 'credit'!

If 'credit' goes bankrupt, the Void Heavenly Dao is not to be taken lightly!

The backlash from the myriad heavens and void would be enough to make one drink a large jug!

Zhuo Zhuo Daoist Sovereign glanced at Zhang Jian and said.

"If completed, fellow Daoist might even have a chance to achieve the status of a Dao Venerable of the Other Shore in this Evolutionary Era!"

The Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo's eyes flickered with a hint of envy.

Although we had discussed this matter, and I knew Zhang Jian would attract the attention of the Purple Origin Heavenly Emperor in a special way, I truly did not expect it to resemble the great compassionate vow of the Heavenly Venerable Who Saves from Suffering, who vowed to save the ten directions.

Of course, the key is success.

Clearly, this Earth Emperor Daoist Monarch must have possessed a rank and authority of redemption before entering this realm!

I do not know how the other party obtained such a rank and authority of redemption.

Especially without having provoked the Heavenly Venerable Who Saves from Suffering.

Zhang Jian merely smiled and shook his head.

Achieving Dao Venerable status through the position of the Qinglian Salvation Heavenly Venerable Daoist Monarch is extremely difficult, but accelerating cultivation speed is promising.

The practice of great vows and great oaths has one direct benefit.

If one can fulfill the great vow and great oath, one will also obtain a great oath, and the Dao heart will be nourished in return.

The Redemption Qinglian Heavenly Venerable divine position currently condensed by Zhang Jian is merely a first-transformation Daoist Monarch position; the power contained within the Daoist Monarch position is not particularly strong.

But Zhang Jian can indeed feel that this position holds immense potential.

Perhaps even a third-transformation Daoist Monarch position will not be its limit, and there is hope to break through into the Dao Venerable realm.

If he can evolve a Dao Venerable position universal to the Chaos Origin Sea, this journey will indeed be a great gain.

At that time, there truly is hope to achieve the Dao Venerable body.

After briefly exchanging insights gained from a century of exploration, Zhang Jian then stated the purpose of summoning Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo this time.

"This journey might still require Fellow Daoist Yuzhuo to lend a hand!"

Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo's gaze was calm, he pondered and said.

"Since we are allies, I will naturally lend you my strength!"

Zhang Jian nodded, his eyes flashing with a hint of killing intent.

"If we can seize the opportunity to directly slay the Wuji Demon God, that would be best!"

By deducing with this supreme art of the Infinite River Chart, Zhang Jian calculated that after the origin of the Sin-Karma Demon God awakens, the Wuji Demon God will surely sense it, possibly manifesting its true form to come and seize people.

The Sin-Karma authority contained within the Sin-Karma Demon God is extremely powerful; if the Wuji Demon God can devour it, its cultivation will surely rise to higher levels, and its foundation will become stronger.

Even if the Wuji Demon God can endure this, merely subduing the Sin-Karma Demon God for its own use might still give birth to an existence of Demon Lord level in the future.

The Wuji Demon God will most likely be unable to resist this temptation and descend.

At that time, Zhang Jian, using the Primordial Jade Pearl to conceal heavenly secrets, calculating with intent against unintentional action, the two working together have a chance to directly slay, or alternatively suppress, this Wuji Demon God.

Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo glanced at Zhang Jian and said.

"I will not easily expose my own existence, but I will restrain him for you one or two times; whether you can kick the Wuji Demon God out of the game depends on your own grasp of timing!"

Zhang Jian nodded.

He understood Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo's concerns.

To him, Daoist Monarch Yuzhuo is also a trump card, capable of reversing heaven and earth at critical moments.

But using it to slay just one Wuji Demon God would be a gross overkill!

After finalizing their discussion, Zhang Jian walked out of this Yu Tower and headed toward the Southern Liang Palace.

Although this secular palace can be described as having bronze walls and iron gates, with strict guards, beneath Zhang Jian's feet, it was as if walking on level ground.

At this moment, he activated the Primordial Jade Pearl.

The Boundless Great Radiance Cloud emerged from behind his head; under the vast 'Primordial Perspective', boundless light shone upon heaven and earth, and all the profound mysteries of heaven and earth were laid bare before his eyes.

Although the future demon fetus was hidden very secretly, under the illumination of the Boundless Light Cloud, in Zhang Jian's perception, it appeared like a point of dark candlelight floating within the light.

Zhang Jian stepped forward, passing through layer upon layer of palace gates in a single stride, and shortly arrived before an exquisite and elegant palace gate.

"Bai Huang Garden!"

Zhang Jian raised his head, his gaze falling upon this massive palace gate.

In the rear court, those not of the empress's rank who can reside in an independent palace gate bearing the character 'Phoenix' clearly show how favored the owner of this palace gate is in the Southern Liang Palace.

This is the palace gate of the Ming Consort, a favored concubine of a generation, in the Southern Liang Rear Court.

Within the Beacon Fire Imperial City, there are countless rumors about this Ming Consort.

She is a remarkable woman.

Even before entering the palace, she already had considerable fame.

At this moment, Zhang Jian passed through the many maidservants before the palace gate, and even the divine power barrier formed by the four directional deities, directly entering the palace interior.

From afar, he saw before a magnificent and splendid hall a beautiful consort in luxurious attire rocking a cradle, gazing with eyes full of indulgence at the small infant within.

Her countenance was peerlessly beautiful, her brows and eyes filled with a strong golden-green aura of fortune, appearing to possess great destiny.

Zhang Jian merely glanced at her, then shifted his gaze to the infant in the cradle, a faint smile appearing at the corner of his eyes.

But the infant in the cradle seemed to sense something, and began to wail loudly.

The sound immediately startled the beautiful consort, who rose at once and approached to shake the cradle, trying to soothe the infant, but the infant in the cradle continued to wail without cease.

"Quite spiritually perceptive!"

Zhang Jian was slightly surprised.

This is the newly born innate demon god.

Its innate nature is sin-karma, born from the boundless sin-karma power of the Celestial Court world.

His essence is that of an innate deity.

Close to innate divinity, given a little postnatal cultivation, it is easy to rebel against innate divinity.

At this moment, Zhang Jian slowly stepped forward, his form directly manifesting within the palace hall.

"You are…"

The Mingfei beside him seemed to sense something, raising her head instantly as her flower-like visage paled, about to cry out loudly.

Zhang Jian smiled faintly, and with a wave of his hand, an invisible force seemed to span the void, completely bringing the surrounding spacetime of this palace under his control; the Mingfei stood frozen in midair, merely staring wide-eyed with her beautiful eyes in shock.

Zhang Jian gazed at the infant in swaddling clothes, wearing a bright yellow small jacket, and spoke calmly.

"Mingfei, Your Ladyship, do not be startled; this immortal has come for the young prince!"

Zhang Jian casually reached into the cradle and lifted this future demon god, then added.

"The young prince born to Your Ladyship possesses extraordinary talent and innate abilities; I share a karmic bond with him, so I will guide him a stage forward, aiding him to attain the righteous fruition of immortality and divinity!"

At this moment, the Mingfei realized she could speak, and hurriedly said.

"If the immortal is to guide him to immortality, why not appear openly before His Majesty? With your powers, you would surely receive his gracious reception!"

At this time, her beautiful eyes were filled with sincerity, yet they involuntarily fell upon the young prince, fearing he might suffer even the slightest harm.

Zhang Jian lightly touched the infant's glabella with one hand, ignoring the Mingfei's small gestures, and merely smiled.

"It is simple; I will first remove a demonic tribulation for him! Mingfei, Your Ladyship, do not worry, remain calm and composed, and simply observe from beside!"

Simultaneously, Zhang Jian waved his hand, and in the Mingfei's horrified, despairing gaze, he took the magical implement from her hand and placed it aside.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the infant's glabella.

The demonic fetus had already been born, but before his cultivation had greatly matured, he was like a precious treasure, a divine object concealing its light, merely possessing a constitution far superior to that of ordinary people by hundreds or thousands of times, without any other omens.

If he followed his normal fate's trajectory, he would grow up in this atmosphere, gradually awakening his demonic fetus and heavenly mandate, ultimately becoming the great demon god who governs boundless kalpas, and even attaining the status of demon sovereign in the great calamity.

But at this moment, he had just been born; though possessing unparalleled excellence, facing an existence like Zhang Jian, he had utterly no means.

Zhang Jian gazed at the infant and smiled.

"You are destined to bear the boundless karmic sins of the celestial courts of immortality, thereby achieving conclusion, or to fall alongside the celestial courts of immortality, or to transcend and enter the six demon realms; entering the demon realm is destined to have no future, so let me offer you another possibility!"

"Is not the Dao Sovereign far more promising than the Demon Sovereign?"

Zhang Jian raised his hand, and a finger pointed down, landing on the infant's glabella, instantly activating his karmic sin and demonic fetus.

A thread of pure, vast demonic qi erupted instantly from within the Baihuang Palace, the demonic qi spreading, nearly transforming this beautiful, elegant palace into Avici Hell; the Mingfei's face turned horrified, as she seemed faintly able to see a terrifying demon god manifest above the celestial courts of immortality, commanding hundreds of millions of demon soldiers, wreaking havoc upon heaven and earth, achieving the status of conclusion.

After this thread of pure demonic qi dispersed for a moment, it instantly retracted.

Seeing this, Zhang Jian returned the infant to the Mingfei.

This brief moment was already sufficient!

Without heeding the startled Mingfei beside him, he at this moment directed his gaze into the depths of the void; merely a moment later, he sensed a formless, intense divine light tracing the river of fate, locking onto the infant's position, crossing realms to arrive.