Chapter 708

Zhang Jian frowned slightly, but Qingxia Daoist smiled faintly, waving his hand as a strand of azure divine light condensed in the void, and in an instant, within the azure divine light appeared a graceful, peerless figure—she wore a green phoenix robe, tall and slender, her posture exquisite beyond compare; at this moment her eyes slowly opened, pure as water, and she immediately sensed the presence of Zhang Jian and Qingxia Daoist.

Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon this woman, his eyes sweeping over her, and he immediately sensed her origin.

This is a deity of considerable cultivation, already having reached the Great Perfection of the Taiyi realm, not far from attempting to break through the Great Calamity of Destruction.

Moreover, her body is suffused with a dense concentration of innate wood-attribute primordial qi, indicating she is a rare innate divine being.

In Zhang Jian's divine sight, he could clearly perceive behind her a majestic true form of the Azure Phoenix, indicating her innate divine body is that of an innate Azure Phoenix divine bird.

The innate divine body taking on a phoenix-like posture is quite normal.

In the vast void of the heavens, many innate divine beings manifest in the form of divine beasts; the most typical examples are certain powerful demon sages from the ancient demon court, including the demon court's lord, the Ancient Demon Emperor, and the Eastern Emperor of the demon court.

In the primordial era, there were also masters of numerous divine beast races such as dragons, phoenixes, and qilins.

"Daoist, what is this woman's origin?"

Zhang Jian's expression showed some surprise.

But he knew that in the void beyond the realms, innate divine beings are also rare, not easily encountered.

Qingxia Daoist's expression softened into a slight smile.

"This woman is an innate divine being born in a shattered unknown realm, but her fortune was poor—she had only just been born when that realm was attacked and destroyed, and she was captured, becoming a commodity auctioned in the Ancient Source Realm; had it not been for this palace passing by, she would have become another's cauldron, or else been reduced to material for forging weapons or refining laws!"

Zhang Jian nodded slightly; the body of an innate deity is considered a delicacy in the eyes of many immortals and gods in the void beyond the realms, many directly refining it to return to the source and strengthen their own foundation.

Otherwise, it would be used for transplanting flowers and grafting branches.

At this moment, the green-robed phoenix woman, upon hearing this, immediately straightened her face and bowed deeply to Qingxia Daoist and Zhang Jian.

"Qingying offers her thanks to the two exalted gods for saving her life; this humble deity has nothing to repay, and begs the two exalted gods to accept her bow!"

She then bowed deeply, and only afterward slowly rose.

Upon hearing this, Qingxia Daoist smiled and said.

"No need for such formality; we two just happened to pass by this place, and we have use for you—it is also your own fortune that has not run out!"

"Please, exalted gods, give your commands; if Qingying can repay the two exalted gods, she will certainly not shirk!"

Though this innate goddess has suffered misfortune, at this moment she shows no panic, her every movement composed and proper.

Zhang Jian took in her demeanor, a faint smile appearing in his eyes.

An innate divine being whose fortune has not utterly collapsed is difficult to kill.

The Qingying goddess before us clearly has reached the brink of despair, having fallen into the hands of the Left Path Dao Sovereign, only to be snatched away by Qingxia Daoist.

It stands to reason that this rescue was not merely for this Qingying goddess alone.

Qingxia Daoist nodded in satisfaction.

"Good, we will not let you face difficult tasks; on the contrary, we will bestow upon you an opportunity!"

At that moment she imparted the opportune method, and shortly afterward the three transformed into two strands of divine light, flying off in one direction.

Their speed was extreme; this unknown spatiotemporal realm is not far from the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm—only a few decades' journey, and they arrived before a special dimension of spacetime.

It is a bright dimension of spacetime.

Here it is quite lively; deep within the spacetime dimension lies not only a magnificent nine-colored realm, but also many great and small thousand-worlds, like bubbles clustered before the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

The Golden Origin Heavenly Realm before us is somewhat similar to the Eastern Splendor Heavenly Realm that Zhang Jian had previously encountered.

This is an open heavenly realm, allowing immortals and gods from surrounding dimensions to enter freely.

One heavenly realm closed has its benefits; openness also has its benefits.

However, without a certain self-confidence, it is difficult to choose to open a heavenly realm, for an open heavenly realm too easily invites external demon gods, or the attentions of heterodox and left-handed paths.

Zhang Jian and Qingxia Daoist exchanged a glance, then transformed into two streams of light and entered the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

As for how to fare better in a strange heavenly realm, both Qingxia Daoist and Zhang Jian possess ample experience.

Nor need we mention a completely open, domineering heavenly realm.

……

Five hundred years later, the Minghuang Continent, Huosang Prefecture.

This divine land is famed throughout the heavens for the existence of a small patch of heavenly earth spiritual root—the Huosang Forest; the Huosang Forest blooms every nine thousand years, bears fruit every nine thousand years, matures every nine thousand years, and each time it matures, the Fire Source Lake beside the Huosang Forest becomes unusually lively, as numerous fire-clan deities again hold the Huosang Assembly, featuring trade and divine duels; if one can triumph at the Huosang Assembly, there is a chance to enter the Minghuang Palace and hear the Minghuang Holy Emperor lecture on innate Dao laws, hence each Huosang Assembly is extraordinarily lively.

Not lacking are some deities from beyond the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm who enter Huosang Prefecture to participate in such a grand gathering.

After entering the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm, Zhang Jian parted ways with Qingxia Daoist, each pursuing their own goals, their aims differing, so they chose different directions to explore the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

At this moment, beneath a Huosang tree, Zhang Jian gazed upon the blazing Heavenly Derivation Platform ahead, his expression slightly fluctuating.

The bustling Huosang Assembly, he naturally would not miss; after registering, he did not expend much effort, passing directly through the elimination rounds, then the semifinals of four, and finally the finals, determining the top four, with the top three qualifying to enter the Minghuang Palace and receive formal audience with the Dao.

If fourth place, one may choose to receive a portion of the spiritual wine offered by the Huosang Assembly, or else some heavenly material and earthly treasure.

Zhang Jian's eyes sank in contemplation; upon first entering the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm, he was unwilling to lightly reveal his origins and intentions, and going to the Minghuang Palace to listen to the Dao was merely to catch a glimpse of that Minghuang Holy Emperor.

After five hundred years, he now has a gradually clear understanding of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

This is a realm dominated by the Dao of Gods, where the paths of immortals and demons run side by side.

The immortal and demonic paths largely bear the shadow of foreign Dao traditions.

However, the Dao of Gods and the Wild God Dao of the Spirit Realm, as well as the ancient Dao of Gods, are quite different, being instead closer to the present and ancient.

The Golden Origin Heavenly Realm is evidently keeping pace with the times.

Evidently, this is a benefit of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm's openness.

Moreover, according to Zhang Jian's understanding, the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm has nine great God Emperors standing side by side in the present age; these nine God Emperors are the unblemished, peerless hegemons of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm, spanning heaven and earth through countless evolving eras.

As the message from the Southern Pole Longevity Great Emperor indicates, among the nine great God Emperors, the strong ones of the Phoenix clan are predominant.

As for whether the Phoenix clan occupies seven of the nine, this is unknown, for probing into the existence of the nine great God Emperors risks their awareness.

But since the Southern Pole Longevity Emperor said so, it is likely correct.

Among the nine great God Emperors, Minghuang ranks seventh; it is said he entered the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm in the late Middle Ancient era and thereby attained the position of God Emperor in the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

Beneath the nine great God Emperors, the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm also has one hundred and eight Dao Masters governing the three thousand realms; each masters a great heavenly earthly Dao principle, said to possess indestructible bodies, exalted above all, ruling over the gods.

The Huosang Prefecture before him was under the control of the Huosang Daozhu.

This Huosang Daozhu had already been seen by him—a primordial Huosang spiritual root that had attained sentience and become a Dao, now standing upon the Tianyan Platform presiding over the Huosang Assembly.

The so-called immortal and indestructible Daozhu is in fact the sovereign of the Divine Dao.

An ancient mulberry tree that has attained the Dao Lord's fruition.

In Zhang Jian's eternal will, this Huosang Daozhu should have only recently entered the Dao Lord realm, possibly not exceeding three Yanji.

Yet this is also astonishing,

One hundred and eight Daozhu—it is highly likely they are one hundred and eight Dao Lords!

This number far surpasses what Zhang Jian had previously experienced among the many heavenly realms, and it is no wonder the Nine Divine Emperors have the confidence to emulate the Three Emperors' heavenly realm, the Central Heavenly Realm, the Kunlun Heavenly Realm, the Earth Immortal Realm, and other super-realms by directly opening the heavenly realm.

"It's just that the Hanyang Great Calamity mentioned by the Southern Pole Longevity Emperor has not yet shown any trace..."

Zhang Jian secretly mused, having found no trace of the Hanyang Great Calamity, he was not in a hurry, merely deciding first to obtain a formal identity in the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm, ideally one of the one hundred and eight Daozhu, which would make investigation more convenient.

……

At this moment, after the elimination rounds of the Huosang Assembly concluded with the top eight advancing to four, it entered the true semifinals.

After the semifinals, the finals would soon follow, meaning the top three would actually be determined during the semifinals.

Upon the great Huosang throne—this is a massive tree-shaped throne, roots as the seat, trunk as the chair, as if countless flames had transformed into branches and trunks extending from the throne's surroundings, while beside it stood elders of the Huosang Forest, some of whom were awakened Huosang trees, and others were innate fire spirits from the depths of the Huosang Spirit Heavenly Pool who had taken form; each deity radiated immense divine power, extraordinarily remarkable.

The list of the four immortal deities entering the semifinals had already fallen into the sight of the Huosang Daozhu and the various Huosang clan elders.

Yet the Huosang Daozhu and the powerful ones of the Huosang clan had somewhat solemn expressions.

At this moment, among the four candidates, only two were natives; one was the eldest princess of the Huosang clan, Huo Fuling.

The other was an absolute powerhouse from the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect, Changling Daoist, a senior disciple of the Nine Heavens Daozhu.

These two cultivators' cultivation levels were beyond doubt—both had cultivated for over a million years, possessed extraordinary talent, and had already reached the level of Taiyi True Immortals.

Looking across the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm, immortal deities with such cultivation over a million years were few.

As for the other two, one called himself Qinglian Daoist, stating his origin was from the Eastern Immortal Domain governed by the Central Heavenly Court.

The other was from the Reincarnation Dao Palace among the Ten Heretical Sects, named Jinglian Tianjun.

Although the Reincarnation Dao Palace cannot compare to the four great heretical dao palaces where the ancestors of the four great heretical sects reside, it still has a supreme entity presiding over it, shaking countless Yanji, and is one of the colossal entities in the void beyond the realms.

Any sect with a Paramount Daoist of the Other Shore presiding over it cannot be lightly disregarded.

A person's shadow, a tree's name.

However, this is the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm, where the Nine Divine Emperors awe this region, and many immortal deities and powerhouses do not mind; moreover, behind the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm lies another immense power, so even the Reincarnation Dao Palace dare not interfere in the affairs of the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm.

At this moment, on the Tianyan Platform, it was divided into two, with two arenas conducting battles simultaneously.

The arena master on the first arena was the princess of the Huosang clan, Huo Fuling—a goddess wearing dazzling attire, her body entwined with intense fire spirit divine light, clad in red robes like the blazing sun, holding in her hand a divine sword entwined with countless blazing earthly fires.

On the second arena was merely a middle-aged Daoist, his face like clear wind and bright moon, wearing Yunxiao Daoist robes, possessing a unique temperament, and furthermore bearing an air of near-indifference toward the Great Dao.

This was Changling Daoist of the Nine Heavens Immortal Sect.

Zhang Jian's figure then silently appeared upon the first Tianyan Platform, his body emanating a vast and magnificent aura, as if the boundless heaven-earth Great Dao had descended from the dark void and settled upon him; in the distance, Huo Fuling's expression changed slightly, a ripple of intense emotion appearing in the depths of her eyes.

She discovered that this Qinglian Daoist, merely by standing there, she could not muster the will to fight, no matter what.

She even lacked the courage to draw her sword.

Zhang Jian also noticed this scene, a faint smile appearing at the corners of his eyes.

Around the Tianyan Platform, many immortal deities also subtly sensed this change, their expressions altered.

Although this Qinglian Daoist had not released any primordial spirit pressure, merely his gaze sweeping over them made them feel their Dao hearts trembling, their true divine bodies, and even their Dao radiance unable to withstand this power.

This feeling seemed only possible when facing one hundred and eight Daozhu, to possess such a terrifying sensation.

On the Tianyan Platform, the Huosang Daozhu slightly startled, then immediately rose and walked toward the first arena, smiling.

"Dao friend, though you are of Dao Lord stature, you need not lower yourself to participate in such a contest—please take the honored seat!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian deliberately said.

"How rude of me to disturb the host, but if I do not undergo this contest, would I not break the rules and be unable to listen to the Divine Emperor's lecture?"

The Huosang Daozhu laughed heartily upon hearing this.

"Dao friend, do not worry!"

"Dao friend, being of Dao Lord stature, you are equal to us; if you wish to attend the lecture at the Minghuang Holy Hall, I need only report to the Minghuang Holy Hall on your behalf—no need for such trouble!"

Immediately, he led Zhang Jian to the front platform, pondered, then asked again.

"I do not yet know, Qinglian Dao friend, where your immortal abode is; given your cultivation, you surely are not of ordinary origin!"

In the words of the Huosang Ancestor, there was a hint of probing.

Though Dao Lords appearing in the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm are not rare, he still must treat such existences with caution—if they are malicious guests or harbor ill intent, their destructive power is considerable, especially Dao Lords of the heretical paths and demonic Dao Lords; the former are somewhat better, but the latter can be fatal.

Although the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm has the Nine Divine Emperors presiding, demonic Lords have always disregarded rules.

Zhang Jian then smiled and said.

"I am the Qinglian Dao Lord; previously, I had always cultivated the path of salvation and redemption under the Heavenly Venerables of the Eastern Domains; hearing that the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm has outstanding people and spiritual land, and moreover the Nine Divine Emperor Majesties rule here, it is truly a blessed land, yet I would not wish to miss it!"

Zhang Jian again raised the tablet of the Dongji Qinghua Emperor.

It must be said that the Dongji Qinghua Emperor, renowned throughout the heavenly void for saving beings from suffering in all directions, is indeed a golden signboard.

Other immortal deities may perhaps dislike the heavenly court immortals, but they cannot bring themselves to dislike the Salvation Heavenly Venerable.

The Heavenly Court Six Governors, with the Dongji Qinghua Emperor having the highest reputation.

Traveling the four directions under this name guarantees no mistake.

Zhang Jian is not pretending—his redemption authority has been acknowledged by the Dongji Qinghua Changle Emperor!

The title of Qinglian Salvation Heavenly Venerable is also acknowledged by the Supreme!

"So it is the Dao Lord under the command of His Majesty the Dongji Supreme Emperor; I have long admired His Majesty's name, merely never having heard the Dao sound—it seems the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm is indeed blessed henceforth!"

Indeed, the Huosang Ancestor's face instantly broke into a smile.

【121】

He didn't doubt it either—whoever dared to impersonate a great divine being under the command of the Eastern Pole Azure Splendor Supreme Emperor of Joy, and offend the Six Ministers of Heaven, would face consequences far from ordinary in severity!