Chapter 656: The Root of the Earth Emperor, the Jellyfish Dharma Aspect (4K)

This Taiji Divine Mountain stands here, as if the root of the boundless earth suppresses the Xuanhuang.

The earth's root and earth's qi surge like a great dragon, penetrating this land.

Such a magnificent and vast earth's root, Zhang Jian has seen only once in his life.

Deep within Zhang Jian's brow, two special Dao Lord ranks faintly emit a ripple.

These are the Second Transformation Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank and the Third Transformation Earth Soul Divine Lord rank.

These two earth-attribute Dao Lord ranks are universal ranks born from the chaotic primordial ocean.

If he could master this realm's earth's root, Zhang Jian could hope to advance either the Second Transformation Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank or the Third Transformation Earth Soul Divine Lord rank further.

Especially the Third Transformation Earth Soul Divine Lord rank—if he could gather the earth's origin from the celestial court's heavenly realm, the immovable earth's root, he would have hope to breakthrough the Dao Lord rank.

Yet from the depths of his heart, Zhang Jian most hopes to advance the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank.

For this is his natal rank.

Zhang Jian's form flew toward the Taiji Divine Mountain, settling beneath an ancient city at one of its foothills, then released the Mingfei mother and child.

Afterwards, he began to investigate the realities within the Taiji Divine Mountain.

He had noticed early on.

Within this Taiji Divine Mountain, forces are intricately entwined—not only are there disciples of the Three Primordial Dao Lords, but also disciples of the Taiji Primordial God, with the four great Dao traditions mutually hostile and waging war.

Clearly, such a magnificent earth's root, none of the four Dao Lords have abandoned.

After settling the Mingfei mother and child, over the following decade or so, Zhang Jian became a hermit, spending most of his time in a thatched hut teaching Tianze, letting him feel the mortal world's warmth, while Zhang Jian also did not forget the 'Qinglian Salvation Heavenly Venerable's' ten-directional rush to relieve suffering, differentiating countless Xuantian spirit bodies to enter heaven and earth to accumulate merit, eliminate calamities, and simultaneously probe the customs and changes of heaven and earth across the celestial court's heavenly realm.

Over these many years, Zhang Jian also entered the depths of the Taiji Divine Mountain multiple times to investigate this magnificent central divine mountain.

Zhang Jian had early noticed that the immovable earth's root deep within the Taiji Divine Mountain had already been artificially sealed.

And it was not a seal by a single Dao Lord's talisman, but by four.

The Three Primordial Dao Lords, plus one Taiji Primordial God.

Yet such Daoist seals, in Zhang Jian's eyes, are nothing.

His attainment in innate runes far surpasses that of the gods.

……

Deep within the Taiji Divine Mountain, the Xuanhuang of earth, countless earth essences dense and intense, Zhang Jian in a green robe, his body surrounded by a layer of faint purple-yellow immortal light, the Boundless Bright Light Cloud Radiance emerging behind him.

He sat cross-legged on an innate divine stone, gazing at the magnificent abyss beneath his feet and the surging thick earth essences in the surrounding subterranean space, behind him a magnificent divine chart emerged, within it evolving Zhonghai Prefecture, even to the Source Candle Realm, the Purple Origin Realm, and parts of the other eight realms' divine forms and scenes.

This is the scene of the Ten Regions' Mountains, Rivers, and State Altars.

As it took shape, Zhang Jian was gradually gaining control over the immovable earth's root before him, silently refining it.

This method of refinement is extraordinarily ingenious.

If in the future he could melt the ten regions, ten heavens, void, and all things into the Mountains, Rivers, and State Altars Chart, he could then use the chart to control a portion of the celestial court's heavenly realm's origin, thereby controlling the ten heavens and ten regions, ascending to the supreme position in the celestial court's heavenly realm.

Yet at this moment, in the origin depths of the Taiji Divine Mountain, four special seals emit a strange Daoist divine rhythm, driving away all immortals and gods, yet unable to threaten Zhang Jian, who is near at hand.

Nor can they prevent the immovable earth's root from gradually being invaded by Zhang Jian's Dao cultivation, bearing his own mark.

Instead, Zhang Jian can, through a part of the mystery within the four talisman seals, further probe the foundations of the four Dao Lords.

This is the gap caused by differing knowledge accumulation.

The four Dao Lords thought that by relying on their own talisman seals, they could completely suppress the immovable earth's root, yet their understanding of earthly rules is far inferior to Zhang Jian's, and they lack Zhang Jian's perspective, which is approaching the Dao Venerable realm.

Yet although he gradually gained control of this earth's root, Zhang Jian never thought to directly refine it into the Source Candle Realm.

It is not yet time.

Before the final confrontation with the Purple Origin Heavenly Emperor, he will not do such a thing as making enemies of all immortals and gods of the celestial court's heavenly realm.

However, Zhang Jian now faces a choice.

After refining the immovable earth's root, that magnificent and vast earth qi, and earth's fortune, could fully support him to recondense a Dao Lord rank, or strengthen the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank, even up to the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank.

Recondensing an earth-attribute Dao Lord rank is something he no longer considers.

He already possesses two same-attribute Dao Lord ranks, and they are both universal ranks across all realms—there is no need to condense a third.

Better refined than mixed!

Zhang Jian slightly pondered, two lights like sun and moon appeared behind his head, deep within the two lights were two magnificent Dao Lord rank phantoms like the rising sun.

Second Transformation Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank.

Third Transformation Earth Soul Divine Lord rank.

Regarding importance, there is no doubt the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank is crucial, for it is his natal Dao Lord rank, complementary to his own foundation.

If it were elsewhere, Zhang Jian would not hesitate, naturally pouring the boundless earth essence and celestial court's earth fortune into the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank to strengthen its foundation and divine power.

But the future war in the celestial court's heavenly realm is extremely perilous—he may then face a Purple Origin Heavenly Emperor bearing a heavenly realm heavenly emperor rank.

With the power of the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank, even if he gained part of the celestial court's heavenly realm's earth fortune, he might not be able to breakthrough to the Dao Venerable rank in this realm.

Whereas the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank is a third-transformation Dao Lord rank, and not an ordinary third-transformation Dao Lord rank—after receiving the celestial court's earth fortune, Zhang Jian has confidence to breakthrough it to the Dao Venerable rank.

If used well, at a critical moment it will be a trump card.

After all, his Earth Emperor Dao Lord's background has not yet been exposed.

Yet what makes Zhang Jian hesitate is that if the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank accommodates the celestial court's heavenly realm's earth essence and earth fortune, it indeed has an opportunity to breakthrough to the Dao Venerable rank.

If the Earth Emperor Dao Lord rank breakthroughs to the Dao Venerable rank early, the help it brings him far surpasses that of the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank.

After all, it is his natal Dao Lord rank.

If his natal Dao Lord rank breakthroughs one step earlier to Dao Venerable, it shows he is very close to the Dao Venerable realm.

Who could resist such temptation?

Zhang Jian pondered for a moment, then set aside his scattered thoughts and decided to pour the obtained earth essence and earth fortune into the Earth Soul Divine Lord rank.

In this battle, he must possess greater strength.

Only by winning this great war can he have a brighter future.

In the moment of thought, a resolve formed in his heart, and Zhang Jian felt the countless streams of earthly essence qi flowing silently through his body, as well as the earthly fortune constantly descending from above, suddenly find a destination, surging in an instant toward the position of the Earth Soul Divine Lord deep within his Life Palace.

The sunlike Dao Lord position of earthy yellow absorbed the rolling earthly essence qi, and the earthly fortune radiated a brilliance of rule-light beyond compare; within it, countless innate runes gradually became clear, the Great Dao totem taking on a three-dimensional form, faintly condensing a magnificent and extraordinary power surpassing that of a Third Transformation Dao Lord position.

Within, a vast and desolate phantom of earth-formed land emerged, part of which became unnervingly real; the immense divine power merged from the Earth Soul Dao Lord position into the depths of his origin, giving him a sensation as if he were about to burst, and after circulating the acquired and innate spiritual treasures, they seemed to gain an additional layer of foundation.

"Still lacking a little!"

Zhang Jian sensed the immense divine power within, his eyes flickering slightly.

According to the fortune rules bestowed by the Celestial Court of the Heavenly Realm, this Earth Soul Dao Lord position merely showed a bluish-purple hue, never having transformed into pure purple, clearly still lacking some accumulation to reach the Dao Venerable position.

But this is no problem.

With the steps of the myriad Tai Xu spirit-bodies measuring heaven and earth, and the supplementation of the Nine Earth Gods' forms, the Earth Soul Divine Lord position will surely advance smoothly.

……

Tai Ji Divine Mountain, Qing Shan Ao

A small manor nestled in the mountain hollow, not comparable to those above, but more than sufficient compared to those below.

There are also not a few stockades nearby.

At the foot of the mountain lies a small market, appearing quite lively.

At this moment, within the small manor, another tall and slender youth sat beneath the old tree by the gate; though wearing coarse hemp cloth, his refined features could not be concealed—his frame was slender, his fingers fair and white, his skin utterly unlike the dark or dark-yellow complexion of the other mountain folk; though young, the grace in his brows and eyes drew attention, and several amorous maidens in the vicinity had already passed by several times, their eyes filled with affection, their shyness and delight unreserved.

Jiaomu had long grown accustomed to such gazes.

Shortly after, his eyes twitched as he saw a youth in green robes slowly walking from afar along the blue stone path; his eyes lit with joy, and he immediately rose to go forward.

"Master!"

Zhang Jian gazed upon the handsome, joyful youth before him and gave a slight nod.

He then stepped forward and entered the small courtyard.

Within the courtyard, a figure of graceful bearing and beautiful countenance, her posture supple, likewise wore coarse hemp cloth, mending garments; upon seeing Zhang Jian arrive, she also showed a faint hint of joy.

"Immortal Lord!"

Zhang Jian gave a slight smile and said.

"No need for such formalities; it seems you and your son have been living quite peacefully these days!"

The beautiful lady bowed deeply.

"Thanks only to the Immortal Lord's protection; otherwise, we mother and son would not have this tranquility and joy!"

Jiaomu, however, was somewhat lively.

"Master, you need not worry about your disciple; your disciple now also has means to protect his mother, and during this time, some have had designs on her, but the disciple has beaten them all away with three punches and two kicks—there will be no problem!"

Speaking of beating those local tyrants, a smile appeared on his face.

Though he strove hard to control his emotions, his youthful nature still made it difficult to conceal.

He is the son of the Ming Consort brought out by Zhang Jian from the Nan Liang Wang Palace.

Though this Heavenly Sin Demon God bears an innate demonic fetus, he has shown nothing abnormal; under his tutelage, he is at most a youth of mature disposition.

Zhang Jian and the mother and son shared a simple meal, after which he made his purpose clear.

Not long ago, he had already received a transmission from Yu Zhuo Dao Lord, the matter of retaking the Tian Chi Emperor's throne having some leads, and he told him to prepare.

He prepared to leave the Yuan Chu Earth Realm.

Upon hearing this, the mother and son both turned pale.

"Immortal Lord, you..."

The Ming Consort wanted to speak but hesitated; she had grown accustomed to the days under the Immortal Lord's protection.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon Jiaomu, and he smiled.

"Disciple, your cultivation has already achieved minor success; it is time you left this mountain hollow to see the broader world of cultivation beyond, for reading ten thousand scrolls is not as good as traveling ten thousand miles!"

Upon hearing this, Jiaomu's eyes flickered with excitement, yet also with reluctance.

Immediately thereafter, he took out several magical artifacts he had refined on the road and handed them to Jiaomu, letting him use them as he saw fit, and permitting him to join other cultivation sects of the Celestial Court of the Heavenly Realm for study.

At this moment, Jiaomu slowly walked to Zhang Jian's front and bowed deeply, his expression sincere.

"Master's teachings, I shall forever keep in my heart!"

Zhang Jian helped him up, a faint smile on his lips.

Though Jiaomu bears the seal of the innate demonic fetus, as the great fortune of an innate deity, he still possesses it, and this departure will surely be like a flood dragon entering the sea, stirring up wind and rain.

But Jiaomu's eyes soon fell upon the Ming Consort with some worry.

"Master, it's only that my mother lives alone here, fearing she may draw those with ill intentions to come seeking trouble; I truly am somewhat worried..."

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian immediately laughed.

"You need not worry; your mother has likewise embarked upon the immortal path, and her fortune is not poor—her cultivation path is far smoother than yours. Rather, it is you who bear the demonic fetus, desiring to refine it completely, to attain the fruition of the Dao, which still requires your own effort!"

Saying this, Zhang Jian turned his gaze toward the Ming Consort.

The Ming Consort's bright and lovely eyes met Jiaomu's surprised gaze, a faint smile touching her lips; her gaze unmoving, she formed a seal with her hands, and an invisible immortal light burst forth from beneath her snow-white skin—this thread of power profound and icy, like a full moon, capable of refining the forms of all things in heaven and earth.

This is precisely the Great Yin Refining Form Grand Method, a Dao Lord-level transmission.

Seeing this, Jiaomu's eyes brightened.

Though the power revealed by the Ming Consort is far inferior to his, he believes it sufficient for self-protection.

Moreover, he also trusts this master's judgment, and immediately bowed again, saying.

"Master, your disciple will never let you down!"

Jiaomu's eyes shone with bright light.

Zhang Jian gave a slight nod.

……

After bidding farewell to Jiaomu and his mother, Zhang Jian then left Tai Ji Divine Mountain, heading toward the celestial barrier of the Yuan Chu Earth Realm.

He moved with extreme speed, in an instant crossing the barrier between heaven and humanity by going against the flow, heading toward a vast and magnificent land.

This was the Taiyuan Heaven among the ten heavens.

The Heavenly Pool Sacred Realm of the Heavenly Pool Emperor Lord lies within this vast and magnificent land.

From afar, Zhang Jian could see that, compared to the ten earths, the position of the ten heavens was exceptionally favored, with countless innate vital energies swirling around, and furthermore, thick and vast primordial void meridians drew in immeasurable innate spiritual mechanisms, pouring into this place.

At this time, the Taiyuan Heaven was also surrounded by layer upon layer of magnificent and vast heavenly realm barriers, radiant and brilliant, resembling a grand and majestic enormous heavenly ring.

Zhang Jian's figure flickered, and he entered within.

Passing through the void dharma realm formed by the heavenly realm barriers, Zhang Jian shifted his vital energy, his form transforming into a stream of light, directly appearing before a vast and magnificent water current, which resembled a heavenly river flowing out from the Heavenly Pool Sacred Realm, its waters nourishing most of the territory of Taiyuan Heaven.

Taking this heavenly river as its source, there were also many tributaries, resembling layers of jade belts, shaping this pure land.