Chapter 709: Golden Crow's Cry (4K)

The Huosang Daozhu immediately had Qinglian Daojun take the seat of honor.

On the Tiantian Platform, with Zhang Jian absent, the remaining three could directly advance to the top three of the Huosang Assembly.

However, a ranking still needed to be determined, so the contest continued.

Although most of the gods' attention was focused on Zhang Jian, Huosang Daozhu still harbored doubts and took the opportunity to ask about some secrets of the Dongji Qinghua Changle Pure Land and its wondrous methods, using this as verification—unaware that this was actually Zhang Jian's strong suit.

Although he had never truly resided in the Dongji Qinghua Changle Pure Land, he was indeed the Emperor of the Netherworld Underworld and had served as the 'Grand Secretary' to Hou Tu Niangniang; within the Netherworld, his knowledge of the profound mysteries of the Dongji Qinghua Changle Pure Land was unquestionable, and as for the profound mysteries of the Redemption Dao, Zhang Jian could speak of them for thousands of years without repetition.

Before the final on the Tiantian Platform concluded, Huosang Daozhu could already confirm that Zhang Jian's words were 'not false'; he immediately patted his chest and guaranteed that he would certainly recommend Zhang Jian to the Minghuang Shenghuang!

After a brief pause, Huosang Daozhu could not help but ask again.

"Qinglian Daoist, I dare to inquire: did you enter the Jin Yuan Tianjie of your own accord, or was it by another decree from the Dongji Shangdi?"

He gently stroked his fiery red beard, his deep eyes betraying a probing gaze.

Zhang Jian shook his head.

"His Majesty rarely assigns tasks to his subordinates unless one of the heavenly realms faces an apocalyptic disaster, in which case he dispatches powerful beings to carry out the path of redemption. As for myself, I am merely curious about the Jin Yuan Tianjie—outside rumors speak of its outstanding people and spiritual land, of heavenly treasures and earthly riches, not lacking in precious innate divine artifacts. Thus, entering this realm coincides with the Minghuang Emperor's Dharma assembly, and I would not wish to miss it. I must trouble Huosang Daozhu to recommend me; if this succeeds, I will naturally not let Huosang Daozhu labor in vain!"

Zhang Jian gave a slight smile.

This was naturally his pretext.

Currently, his primary goal is to integrate into the Jin Yuan Tianjie and obtain a favorable identity before beginning to penetrate the Haoyang Great Calamity.

Huosang Daozhu nodded slightly; this reason was plausible.

The Jin Yuan Tianjie itself is renowned for its abundant resources, and powerful beings from the heavenly voids periodically enter it for this reason.

He then smiled and said.

"Qinglian Daoist, there is no need for such modesty—my Jin Yuan Tianjie has always welcomed honored guests from the ten directions. As a sage under the Dongji Qinghua Tianzun, Minghuang Emperor will surely learn of this and personally issue an edict to invite you!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian laughed heartily and said.

"Huosang Daozhu flatters me—Qinglian is merely a drifting duckweed beyond the realms; how could I dare to disturb Minghuang Emperor? To hear the Emperor's Dao sound is already more than I could hope for!"

He spoke with extreme courtesy, and Huosang Daozhu immediately became even more pleased.

At this moment, on the Tiantian Platform, the outcome had gradually become clear: the eldest princess of the Huosang clan, Huosang Fuling, whose cultivation was outstanding and methods slightly superior, took first place; next was Jinglian Tianjun of the Huihui Dao Palace, whose methods slightly surpassed those of Changling Daoren of the Jiuxiao Sect.

However, some immortals and gods on the platform could see that the other two were not inferior in cultivation to Huosang Fuling, but merely unwilling to offend the host, secretly holding back their techniques.

This is also a normal practice.

Since the top three can all enter the Minghuang Shengdian to attend the Dao lecture, why not actively curry favor with this eldest princess of the Huosang clan?

The other two immortals and gods have long passed the age of competitive vigor and are even more unwilling to offend the Huosang clan at this time, lest they invite unnecessary trouble.

After the grand competition of the Huosang Assembly concluded, Huosang Daozhu immediately announced the results.

Huosang Fuling, Jinglian Tianjun, and Changling Daoren respectively obtained the three quotas for entering the Minghuang Shengdian to attend the Dao lecture through the Huosang Assembly; simultaneously, Qinglian Daojun will also proceed together to the Minghuang Shengdian in several months.

He finally added Zhang Jian's name and title, clearly intending to comfort Zhang Jian this Daoist, while also expressing goodwill.

Finally, he invited Zhang Jian to visit the sacred land of the Huosang clan as a guest.

Zhang Jian naturally went along with it.

The Huosang clan wishes to befriend him, and he is no less eager to use the Huosang clan as a stepping stone to open up his position in the Jin Yuan Tianjie.

……

Deep in the Huosang forest, tree after tree of Huosang burned red like fire—these heavenly and earthly rare species, born with intense heavenly and earthly Dao profundities, seemed able to resonate with the fire-attribute Dao rules deep in the dark void; each towering Huosang tree now bore clusters of crimson Huosang fruits, like tiny suns, its leaves showing gold-red hues, rustling with a 'hualala' sound in the breeze, as an invisible heat wave spread, accompanied by a booming sound.

Beneath each Huosang tree, many fire-attribute spiritual plants were alternately cultivated.

Everything appeared breathtakingly beautiful.

"The Huosang trees here are truly no less renowned than the famous Fusang of the heavenly voids!"

Zhang Jian praised without cease.

He had truly seen the Fusang before—even in the Nine Heavens Mountain of the Central Heavenly Realm, a Xianling Realm had planted an innate Fusang.

That innate Fusang was obtained from the relics of the Eastern Emperor, and for the cultivation, growth, and practice of part of the Zhang clan's fire-attribute immortals, it had made great contributions.

Huosang Daozhu, along with several other powerful members of the Huosang clan accompanying him, upon hearing this, all showed a hint of joy on their faces.

For the gods of the Huosang clan, this was truly the highest praise.

Who in the heavenly voids does not know the fame of the innate Fusang? It is praised by many ancient gods as one of the ten great mythological spiritual roots of the primordial era, and it nurtured the two sovereigns of the ancient Yaoting; its mythical legendary color still resounds throughout the heavenly voids to this day.

Huosang Daozhu laughed heartily and said.

"Although our Huosang clan is deeply favored by the fire-attribute heavenly and earthly Dao laws, we dare not accept such praise from you, Daoist—the innate Fusang is renowned throughout the heavenly voids, and moreover holds sway over the Great Sun's authority; compared to it, our Huosang clan's foundation is still far too shallow!"

Zhang Jian's pupils flickered.

The Jin Yuan Tianjie also has a sun god, but the sun is none other than the Jinxī Shenghuang among the Nine Great Shenghuang—it is an innate phoenix nurtured by the sun of the Jin Yuan Tianjie, born with command over solar divine power, and having opened its own realm, it can be said to be one of the oldest Shenghuang of the Jin Yuan Tianjie.

Among the Nine Great Shenghuang of the Jin Yuan Tianjie, Minghuang Shenghuang ranks seventh, Jinxī Shenshen ranks fourth, the first place belongs to the Yuanhuang Shenghuang, and second place to the Danque Shenghuang.

Third place is the Jin Huang Shenghuang.

These three ancient Shenghuang each opened up a vast realm, monopolizing the three talents of heaven, earth, and man in the Jin Yuan Tianjie.

Yuanhuang established the Jin Yuan Daoting, governing all gods.

Danque Shenghuang then established the earthly order—all gods of the boundless earth originate from her gate, or else revere Danque Shenghuang as their source.

As for Jin Huang Shenghuang, he enjoys enlightening immortals and demons; he once, as Daozu, enlightened the immortals and gods of the Jin Yuan Tianjie to begin the path of cultivation, his subordinates hosting many powerful beings, having overseen a realm's education, and even served as master of the Daoting.

Although the Huosang clan says its foundation is not deep, it only controls this Huosang territory and a portion of the earth-fire authority.

Compared to the primordial myth where the innate Fusang personally nurtured the lineage of the sun god, there is simply no comparison.

As they walked through the Huosang forest, Zhang Jian also felt a sense of expansive joy and spiritual delight.

This Huosang forest truly lives up to its fame—it can be called the renowned innate fire-source holy land of the Minghuang Continent.

Just then, Zhang Jian's steps hesitated, his gaze following the direction of the fire-source lake toward the distance.

In another direction of the fire-source lake, far off lay layered mist and emerald hues; similarly, the mountains were a sea of fiery red, except at the summit, where a vast expanse of fiery red shot straight into heaven and earth.

This was a dormant volcano, also a famous region of Huosang Prefecture—it stretches for thousands of thousands of kilometers, its depths wrapped in blazing flames, a sea of red light rendering the interior desolate, flames licking the scene, utterly severed from the outside world where maple fires blanket the land—two worlds, contradictory yet beautiful.

It is the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool.

Many fire-affiliated deities of Fire Mulberry Prefecture come from the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool.

This is a place where the innate fire veins are exceptionally vigorous.

At this moment, several powerful members of the Fire Mulberry Clan almost simultaneously turned their gaze toward the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool.

The Fire Mulberry Forest was somewhat silent, and the Fire Mulberry Dao Master even pinched his fire beard, staring in the direction of the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool.

The next moment.

Boom—!

It seemed as if a muffled thunderclap came from deep within the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool, and at the instant this tremendous sound arrived, the fire-element spiritual mechanisms deep in the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool experienced a momentary disturbance, as if a terrifying divine energy was about to surge forth from within.

"Is the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool about to erupt again?"

Watching this scene, one of the Fire Mulberry Clan's powerful members could not help but mutter, his expression changing violently.

Zhang Jian's eyes showed slight surprise; the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool is a forbidden land of the Fire Mulberry Clan, so he would not dare to use secret arts to probe it, but if the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool, stretching thousands of kilometers, were to erupt, its power would likely destroy all living beings in this prefecture.

He had long sensed that what lay deep within the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool was not ordinary mortal fire, but contained a portion of overwhelming innate fire spirits, whose power was extremely strong.

But with a Dao Master presiding, he thought it would not become a major problem!

The Fire Mulberry Dao Master spoke at this moment.

"With me here, the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool will not erupt!"

His expression was calm, and with a wave of his hand, a vast divine power emanated from beneath his feet, spreading deep into the earth; in an instant, it penetrated deep into the earth veins of the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool. Zhang Jian's pupils flickered with a hidden radiance, the Dao Fruit's auspicious clouds deep within revealing the Primordial Jade Pearl, the Primordial perspective allowing his eternal will to pierce through the boundless void in an instant, enabling him to see the innate fire veins deep in the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool surrounded by suddenly appearing rune chains, which suppressed the fire veins and earth veins entirely, causing the boiling innate fire spirits to gradually 'cool' down.

Boom—!

But at the same time, it seemed like the roar of an immeasurable tide, and a vast, terrifying earth-fire killing aura suddenly surged forth, like a tsunami flowing from deep within the earth; the violent power that emerged was instantly suppressed by a vast divine power. Zhang Jian seemed to see a terrifying phoenix with extraordinarily brilliant plumage emitting a loud phoenix cry from deep within the immeasurable earth's lungs, and the countless earth-fire killing auras became tranquil beneath the phoenix's cry, though some portions still rushed toward the earth veins in all directions.

One of these surged toward the direction of the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool.

That vast divine power caused the Fire Mulberry Dao Master's expression to change; perhaps sensing that there were 'others' nearby, the Fire Mulberry Dao Master glared, and a vast crimson divine light appeared deep within the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool, transforming into a towering fire ancient mulberry tree hundreds of thousands of zhang high, with countless branches and trunks formed of fire forming dense fire rune vines, forming a dam that blocked the depths of the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool.

Boom—!

The terrifying earth-fire divine killing surge swept in, and within the immeasurable earth-fire killing aura lurked a hint of terrifying annihilation; the destructive power struck the walls, instantly causing the countless golden fire runes on the walls to collapse, and the walls shattered.

"The power of great annihilation?"

The Fire Mulberry Dao Master's expression changed slightly, yet he gritted his teeth, and countless crimson divine lights once again condensed from before the Fire Mulberry Divine Tree, forming a tangible fire divine kingdom.

But the fire divine kingdom was still destroyed more than half by the overwhelming force, and only then did that terrifying earth-fire killing aura gradually subside.

In the Fire Mulberry Forest, the true body of the Fire Mulberry Dao Master vanished in an instant; although the other party departed quickly, Zhang Jian had already seen that the other's crimson beautiful beard had been burned more than half...

It is truly rare to see a fire-attribute Dao Lord burned by earth-fire.

Zhang Jian's pupils fluctuated, yet there was no emotion in his eyes; within that terrifying earth-fire surge, he felt the presence of great annihilation.

Someone is undergoing the Great Annihilation Tribulation deep in the earth's marrow.

And it absolutely cannot be one of the first three Great Annihilation Tribulations.

As for which number it is, he does not know.

This is a great tribulation triggered by a Paragon-level being of the Other Shore; it is no surprise that the Fire Mulberry Dao Master could not suppress it.

At this moment, Zhang Jian's expression was somewhat subtle, and he could not spare attention for the Fire Mulberry Dao Master's plight.

The second anomaly of the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool caused a hidden fluctuation in a secret art within his body.

That secret art is the Eastern Emperor Nine Yang Severing Immortal Method, which he has already cultivated to the fifth level of Eternal Immortal Method.

Even the creator of this secret art, the Eastern Emperor, a powerhouse of the Zhou Shan Realm, could not reach this level.

At this moment, this secret art fluctuated slightly, as if disturbed by some special heavenly and earthly divine power.

This change made Zhang Jian feel surprised.

He saw that the golden crow divine bird formed by the structure diagram of the Eastern Emperor Nine Yang Severing Immortal Method within his body seemed to have completely come alive at this moment, and in his mind, it seemed as if he heard a special crow's cry from deep within the clearly empty void.

Indeed, it was the cry of a crow.

The cry of the golden crow.

Although he had never heard the true cry of a golden crow, a certain intuition made him absolutely certain.

This inevitably gave rise to a hint of thought in Zhang Jian's heart.

Could it be related to the Bright Yang Tribulation he seeks to resolve?

Zhang Jian's heart faintly felt something unusual.

He never imagined he could hear the cry of a golden crow in the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

It is true that the heavens and void possess a golden crow clan, but not the ancient golden crow clan; rather, after the ancient era, the myriad heavenly realms were born, naturally giving rise to innate golden crows.

But the innate golden crow clan has always been reclusive, with most powerful members following the last ancient innate golden crow, dwelling in a special innate secret realm, making them very difficult to see.

Zhang Jian had wanted to enter the depths of the immeasurable earth's marrow to investigate, but he knows it is probably impossible now.

The immeasurable earth's marrow is the territory of the Crimson Void God Emperor and another God Emperor, with many deities guarding it; without the recognition of those two God Emperors, he cannot enter the core region for investigation.

He knows that going to the Phoenix Holy Hall to make contact with that Phoenix God Emperor is still very necessary.