Chapter 710: The Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor and the Phoenix Phoenix Demon Venerable, Recruiting (4K)

After the tremor of the Fire Spirit Heavenly Pool, the Fire Mulberry Dao Lord had not appeared for several months; even when sending the Four Gods to the Phoenix Phoenix Sacred Hall, it was the elders of the Fire Mulberry clan who were responsible for the escort.

He must have suffered serious injuries!

A group of more than ten people rode the Fire Cloud Flying Shuttle toward the Phoenix Phoenix Sacred Hall.

Along the way, the sole goddess, Fire Poria, was quite active; this eldest princess of the Fire Mulberry clan was very curious about the outside world, and taking the opportunity, she leaned close to Zhang Jian under the pretense of asking for advice, but in fact intentionally inquired about the divine system of the Heavenly Court.

Actually, the divine system of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm and that of the Heavenly Court are hardly different, only their sources differ—one originates from the Jade Emperor, the Great Heavenly Lord, while the other originates from the master of the Golden Origin Dao lineage, Yuan Huang.

However, thinking of this Yuan Huang, the leader of the Nine Great Divine Emperors, Zhang Jian at this moment also had some speculation.

In the ancient primordial mythology, among the three clans, the leaders of the Phoenix clan were respectively the Ancestral Phoenix and Yuan Huang.

Although the Phoenix clan has declined, some powerful members still remain, and they should not allow anyone in the myriad voids to casually use Yuan Huang as an honorific.

The Golden Origin Heavenly Realm is related to the Phoenix clan, so the master of that heavenly realm, Yuan Huang, should certainly not be unaware of these taboos.

I just don't know whether there is any connection between these two.

……

The Phoenix Phoenix Sacred Hall is located on Jade Mountain, surrounded by widespread parasol tree spiritual seeds.

There are fire parasols, green parasols, and also ancient surviving golden-thread parasol trees.

It is said that these were brought in from beyond the realm by the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor, and they have considerable supportive effects on the divine beings of the Phoenix clan, or indeed on other avian clans of immortals and gods.

Parasol trees form forests, stretching for hundreds of thousands of li kilometers; the entire mountain resembles various gemstones on the earth, with the innate spiritual mechanisms of wood and fire attributes gathering here, and around it stand numerous immortal cities and divine domains guarding the area.

In the Nine Great Divine Emperors of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm, the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor ranks seventh; his authority is slightly inferior to that of other divine emperors, but around him there are also many immortal gods of the avian clans, as well as innate wood spirits and innate fire spirits attached.

Among the one hundred and eight Dao Lords, the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor also has six or seven Dao Lords under his command maintaining dignity.

Of course, compared to the first three divine emperors, this is still somewhat lacking.

According to Zhang Jian's knowledge, the first-ranked Yuan Huang, the second-ranked Dan Que Divine Emperor, and the third-ranked Golden Phoenix Divine Emperor each have more than sixty Dao Lords under their command on the surface.

Zhang Jian, however, is not particularly envious; his foundation has now entered the proper track, and he already has two Dao Jun under his command, and after waiting a dozen or so derivation eras, with the scale of the Immortal Court Heavenly Realm, when it grows to the level of the Spirit Heaven Realm or even the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm, it will not be worse than other heavenly realm masters.

Shortly after, as the gods arrived at the mountain gate of Jade Mountain, they saw divine light emerging from within the depths of Jade Mountain, coming out to greet them.

Leading them was a strong warrior of the Phoenix clan wearing phoenix robe attire.

He is also a Dao Lord, named Chi Ping Dao Lord, who is a fire phoenix; he is tall and graceful, with a fiery red divine seal appearing deep between his brows.

Those who stand out among billions of living beings naturally possess a certain demeanor.

It is clear that he came for Zhang Jian; as for the few juniors of the Fire Mulberry clan, they obviously lack the qualifications to receive a greeting from a Dao Lord-level strong warrior.

At this moment, upon seeing Zhang Jian, he exchanged a few polite words, then personally guided Zhang Jian toward the depths of Jade Mountain.

"I have heard that a distinguished guest from the Eastern Immortal Realm has arrived; His Majesty the Divine Emperor is very pleased, and thus has already set up a banquet in the mountains to entertain fellow Daoists!"

"Thank you for your trouble, Chi Ping Dao Friend!"

Zhang Jian glanced at this Chi Ping Dao Lord; as fellow sovereigns of the divine path, this Chi Ping Dao Lord gave Zhang Jian the feeling of being clearly stronger than the Fire Mulberry Dao Lord, having already survived the Second Great Calamity of Destruction.

He is indeed a close attendant of the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor.

Along the way, Chi Ping Dao Lord wore a smiling countenance and, incidentally, introduced Zhang Jian to the splendid scenery of Jade Mountain, occasionally asking one or two questions about the customs and local conditions of Zhang Jian's Eastern Immortal Realm, exchanging views, and appearing quite amiable.

The two proceeded forward, and after a short while entered a great immortal gate.

Inside the immortal gate, the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor had already led many strong warriors of the Phoenix Phoenix Sacred Hall to take their seats; upon seeing Zhang Jian arrive, he guided him to a seat. The Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor wore a robe of black, red, and gold interwoven, his posture graceful and slender; though seated above the others, he exuded a pressing aura of nobility and splendor, his body surrounded by intense divine radiance, vast and boundless divine light, though his demeanor was stern, his expression remained somewhat kind.

After first routinely inquiring about Zhang Jian's origins, he directly invited him to participate in the upcoming lecture of the Phoenix Phoenix Sacred Hall.

This is a divine emperor who does not like to speak much.

Zhang Jian naturally agreed without hesitation.

Subsequently, Chi Ping Dao Lord further recommended to Zhang Jian the other strong warriors within the sacred hall from the Phoenix Phoenix Continent under the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor; most of the Dao Lords under the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor had already arrived, and additionally, some Dao Lords under other divine emperors, as well as strong warriors from beyond the realm, came to listen to the Dao, each possessing an extraordinary presence.

These strong warriors, upon hearing that the 'Qing Lotus Daoist' before them came from the domain of the Eastern Extreme Qing Hua Long Le Emperor Lord, were all somewhat curious, with some harboring intentions to test him; they openly asked for instruction in the secret method of salvation, to which Zhang Jian naturally responded with composure.

He did not display anything overly outstanding, merely demonstrating the capabilities expected of an ordinary three-turn great divine ability user, yet this was enough to astonish many strong warriors of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm present.

While many strong warriors in the hall secretly observed Zhang Jian, Zhang Jian was also secretly assessing the many Dao Lords.

The strong warriors under the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor are not few; among the more than ten Dao Lords present, there is also one three-turn great divine ability user, likely a trusted confidant of the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor.

However, merely glancing over them, Zhang Jian could already affirm that these strong warriors could not pose much threat to him.

Only that Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor needs to be watched carefully.

This Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor is not the three-turn great divine ability user I imagined, but a true and verified His Shore Dao Venerable.

Zhang Jian did not use secret methods to probe, for that would be impolite; but at this moment, as his cultivation steadily advances and he possesses the Primordial Jade Pearl, he can faintly sense the terrifying nature of the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor.

He can feel that this Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor is unfathomably deep.

Zhang Jian noticed that the gaze of the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor at the head of the hall occasionally fell upon him, with some special expression in the depths of his eyes.

But after a moment, the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor withdrew his gaze; perhaps to him, Zhang Jian was merely a somewhat special strong warrior, and in his long cultivation journey, he has seen such beings many times over.

After the banquet ended, the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor rose and departed.

After the other immortals and gods had met Zhang Jian, most departed with kind expressions; a few possibly were not eloquent, yet also showed no malice; only a few gazes remained scrutinizing from beginning to end, and when they finally departed, they still did not conceal that kind of exclusivist hostility.

Zhang Jian did not care.

Meanwhile, Chi Ping Dao Lord brought Zhang Jian to his temporary residence, a rather exquisite hermitage, located beside a beautiful lake, surrounded by strange and wondrous flowers and herbs, and informed Zhang Jian that the lecture of the Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor would take place in seven days.

Inside the hermitage, after Chi Ping Dao Lord left, Zhang Jian's expression became somewhat subtle, with a hint of unusual color in his eyes.

This hint of unusualness was directed toward that Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor.

The other party may not have recognized the change in his origin, qi, cultivation methods, or even the concealment of his fate seal, but Zhang Jian, regarding this Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor, had a faint suspicion.

When Zhang Jian first saw this Phoenix Phoenix Divine Emperor, he faintly sensed that the other's gaze was very familiar.

As an innate holy being, Zhang Jian has always had an excellent memory.

Whatever he has seen, he will not forget.

Even if he merely glanced at something unintentionally, he can remember it very clearly.

And in his memory, that familiar presence left him with a very deep impression.

He was nearly killed in the river of time and space.

That was the Minghuang Demon Venerable!

Zhang Jian had always remembered that terrifying Demon Venerable who sought to destroy the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm.

Although he had never seen the other's true form, that peculiar gaze left a deep impression on him.

"Is it or isn't it?"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered with a strange light; he had once asked the Yuwang Ancestral Master about the origins of the Minghuang Demon Venerable, but the Yuwang Ancestral Master replied that he had never seen the Minghuang Demon Venerable, nor did he know of the existence of such a powerful Demon Venerable among the Six Great Demon Realms.

But Zhang Jian had clearly seen part of the tribulations once endured by the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm during the Great Calamity of Destruction.

The Minghuang Demon Venerable once led hundreds of millions of demon gods in battle against the Xuanyuan Holy Emperor, attempting to block the Three Sovereigns and prevent the formation of the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm.

How could such a terrifying existence leave no record?

Moreover, its whereabouts are unknown.

There must be some secret.

Either the Yuwang Ancestral Master truly did not know, or he had his own difficulties and could not reveal this secret.

Given the Yuwang Ancestral Master's stature, he had already attained the Dao before the opening of the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm, so he must know part of the secret!

Zhang Jian could be certain it was the latter.

But if it were an enemy, the Three Sovereigns and Five Elders' inner sanctum would surely have recorded it in great detail, missing nothing, and would not fail to warn the human powerhouses of the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm to beware of this great foe.

Yet afterward, there was not a single word recorded, and Zhang Jian had already formed a suspicion.

That is, what means did the Three Sovereigns' Heavenly Realm use, or perhaps the Heavenly Court used, to turn her into one of their own!

Of course, many immortals and gods from the Six Great Demon Realms who "abandoned darkness for light" upon entering the Heavenly Court, or other heavenly realms, would similarly choose to remain as low-profile as possible to avoid being settled with by the demon ancestors of the Six Great Demon Realms.

Of course, these are all Zhang Jian's speculations.

Whether the Minghuang God Sovereign is indeed the former Minghuang Demon Venerable, he currently cannot determine.

Yet a hint of wariness still lingered in his heart.

If the Minghuang God Sovereign truly is the Minghuang Demon Venerable, then the hidden depths of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm are too profound.

What kind of powerhouse is the Minghuang Demon Venerable? He is an existence among the Six Great Demon Realms capable of leading hundreds of millions of demon gods in battle against the human Xuanyuan Holy Emperor.

……

Seven days later, before the Minghuang Holy Hall, on the Heavenly Phoenix Terrace, the Minghuang God Sovereign descended in a luxurious robe woven of gold and red from the boundless splendid light, accompanied by boundless divine light and countless clear phoenix cries and Dao sounds falling from the void, like the break of dawn.

Before the Heavenly Phoenix Terrace, golden rays shot up into the sky, forming golden phoenix trees that broke through the clouds, numbering over a thousand; above the sea of clouds, streams of light appeared and silently submerged into the golden light, coalescing into the phoenix-nest treasure throne.

Zhang Jian had heard the Dao many times before, but this was the first time he sat cross-legged in a nest-like manner, or stood within a golden nest, to listen to the Dao.

He could see not far away that some powerful beings of the divine beast clans had simply manifested half-demon, half-divine forms, thereby harmonizing with the power of the divine trees beneath them, purifying their bloodlines while listening to the Dao sounds.

The Minghuang God Sovereign's lecture on the Dao soon began; she spoke of the innate Dao of the gods and part of the ancient and modern Dao of the gods, focusing on how to uncover the innate gods and the bloodline soul potential of the innate divine beast clans, progressing from shallow to deep.

Only at the end did she begin to lecture on the cultivation method of the Dao of the Gods and Dao Sovereigns, from harmonizing with the heavenly and earthly Dao laws, continuously evolving one's own Dao fruit and Dao qi, then to bathing the innate divine beast's body in the heavenly and earthly Dao laws.

Zhang Jian sat upright in the center of the crowd, yet also felt he had gained greatly.

He contemplated the Three Thousand Dao laws, thereby nurturing three thousand sources to temper his Earth Emperor source; although he possessed the Immortal Court Heavenly Realm and his progress was not slow, a person's comprehension ultimately has limits, which is also one of the reasons he was willing to leave the Immortal Court Heavenly Realm and accept the mission in the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

The Minghuang God Sovereign's comprehension of the various heavenly and earthly Dao laws is extremely profound.

Especially her understanding of the innate Dao of the gods, which completely surpasses Zhang Jian's imagination.

The innate Dao of the gods can actually be called the primordial Dao of the gods, or the ancient Dao of the gods.

These three are one lineage, merely differing in name due to different eras and changing environments.

The innate Dao of the gods emphasizes the true form of the Dao of the gods, usually by merging one's own Dao laws with the true forms of gods and demons, unleashing the power of one's god-demon true form to an unimaginable extent.

But this cultivation method extremely requires innate resources.

When the barbaric heaven and earth still existed, during the primordial and ancient eras, innate blessings were abundant, many heavenly materials and earthly treasures grew, facilitating the dual cultivation of flesh and primordial spirit.

But if one falls into some resource-poor heaven and earth, or where innate blessings have long since vanished, naturally it is a dead end.

After the barbaric heaven and earth passed into the medieval era, innate blessings gradually disappeared, and the innate Dao of the gods gradually withdrew from the stage.

The lineage of qi practitioners then welcomed spring.

The ancient and modern Dao of the gods also took root and sprouted alongside.

But after the birth of the myriad heavens' void, this great Dao, combined with the ancient and modern Dao of the gods, indeed renewed its vitality.

Zhang Jian was also very interested in this; he now still needs time to condense the three thousand sources' qi to temper his Earth Emperor source, so he has leisure to forge his Earth Emperor divine body and concurrently practice the method of severing the three corpses.

Zhang Jian knows some ancient supreme masters are usually proficient in everything, rather than severely biased.

After all, having lived long, such dual cultivation naturally comes as a matter of course.

The hardest part is, he truly possesses this condition.

But even so, cultivation is merely auxiliary cultivation.

The Minghuang God Sovereign's lecture on the Dao did not last long; nine hundred years later, it ended.

The Minghuang God Sovereign departed directly, and Zhang Jian also prepared to leave the Jade Mountain.

But at this moment, the Chibing Dao Master beside the Minghuang God Sovereign found Zhang Jian and spoke to recruit him.

"I do not know if Dao Friend Qinglian would be willing to remain on the Minghuang Continent, to share the worries of His Majesty the Minghuang?"

Beneath the green parasol tree, facing the Chibing Dao Master's recruitment, Zhang Jian was not surprised; seeing Zhang Jian silent, the Chibing Dao Master immediately proceeded to recite the previously prepared favorable conditions, one by one.

This time, to retain this three-transformation great divine ability wielder, the Chibing Dao Master had also done his homework thoroughly.

Although the Minghuang God Sovereign is honored as one of the Nine Great God Sovereigns, her subordinates are few in number; at this time, she indeed needs powerful assistants to help stabilize the situation.

Many benefits of the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm are currently inconvenient for the Minghuang God Sovereign to contend for, after all, she must still heed the rules of the game among the Nine Great God Sovereigns, and cannot always personally intervene.

That would be against the rules and also damage dignity.

If one could obtain a three-transformation Dao Sovereign to assist, it would undoubtedly be like adding wings to a tiger.