Chapter 734: Husband and Wife, Choosing (4K)

Within the Innate Creation Divine Pool, countless scorching gold-red divine flames seeped out, their intense heat seeming to melt the boundless void.

From within, a grand phoenix cry echoed, faintly carrying a hue of deep pain.

"Your Majesty!"

Qingyue Daozhu's face turned pale, layers of cold air rising around her as she gathered the Taiyin Bright Moon Dharma Aspect behind her, about to step forward, but Zhang Jian blocked her.

"Danger!"

As the words fell, layers of blazing gold-red divine light shot forth from within, the temperature of those flames exceeding even the true solar fire at the heart of the sun star.

Within them lay the power of multiple root-source concepts.

This power far surpassed the scope of eternal immortal defenses condensed from the foundation of Dao rules; if Qingyue Daozhu rashly entered, even a touch of that conceptually charged true solar fire would inevitably burn away her authority, making escape of her primordial spirit difficult.

At this moment, gazing into the depths of the Innate Creation Divine Pool, the Eternal Will clearly sensed a terrifying burst of scorching divine flame erupting from its depths, its might endless and continuous.

Within it, the Danque Divine Emperor began to reveal a trace of her presence.

Earth-yellow divine light of the great earth manifested around her, the boundless will of the earth Dao gathering from deep within the earth toward her graceful form, and this majestic earth Dao will, upon appearing, actually reined in the violent true solar fire once more.

"Earth Dao Will!"

At this moment, Zhang Jian gazed into the dim void, feeling that mighty and overbearing earth Dao will, his eyes showing a slight fluctuation.

Earth Dao Will and Heaven Dao Will, as well as some powers of emergent racial wills, share certain similarities.

Those of Paragon-level strength have their primordial spirit will irradiated by the power of the root Dao fruit, gradually condensing corresponding root will.

Root will fused with the root Dao fruit can be far more resilient, domineering, and agile than Eternal Will.

However, compared to the magnitude and essence of Heaven Dao Will, Earth Dao Will, and Human Dao Will, it still falls far short.

Of course, if the true body of the Taiyi Clan were to arrive here, the earth Dao will of the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm might not necessarily withstand the attack of such a being.

After the numerous omens subsided, Zhang Jian led Qingyue Daozhu forward, only to see that within the Innate Creation Divine Pool, the pool of innate creation origin had already been seen to its bottom.

This was not merely a pool of innate creation origin.

Rather, it was the creation origin formed by countless heavenly and earthly laws of the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm over two yuanhui, all of it drawn by the Danque Divine Emperor.

Yet the Danque Divine Emperor's injuries did not improve; instead, they worsened.

She had underestimated the trauma brought upon her by the Taiyi Clan.

Within the Innate Creation Divine Pool, vast divine light sank, layer upon layer of omens fading into darkness, the Danque Divine Emperor slowly opened her eyes, her gaze giving a faint sigh.

At this moment, she also saw Qinglian Daozhu and Qingyue Daozhu at the edge of the Innate Creation Divine Pool, and immediately her form flashed as she stepped out from within.

"Your Majesty, your condition does not look good?"

At this time, Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brow.

The Danque Divine Emperor nodded slightly.

"I still underestimated the tyrannical methods of that divine clan's divine emperor; his Taiyi divine powers are indeed astonishing, no wonder he is regarded as the originator of the Taiyi Dao fruit in legend!"

Zhang Jian's eyes grew slightly solemn.

The state of Taiyi inherently contains the meaning of Dao and the origin of the universe, and also carries the sense of infinity.

Above the heavens and voids, there are even powerful beings who walk only the Taiyi Great Dao, seeking the infinite origin, striving to penetrate the path of Yuanshi; though they have not succeeded, merely walking this path alone is enough to shake the boundless heavens and earth.

The Taiyi Clan stands out among them, naturally making them difficult to deal with.

Zhang Jian stood to the side, having not spoken.

Seeing this, the Danque Divine Emperor smiled and said.

"You accompany me for a walk!"

Zhang Jian gave a slight nod.

The two immediately walked out of the Danque Dao Palace, flying toward the direction of the Diyuan Continent, while Qingyue Daozhu originally wanted to follow but was waved away by the Danque Divine Emperor.

The Diyuan Continent is vast and magnificent, also belonging to the divine lands situated at the center.

As one of the Three Innate Phoenixes of the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm, the Danque Divine Emperor's status is undoubtedly extremely high.

Born receiving the worship of countless gods, she is further honored as the Mother of the Earth of the Jin Yuan Heavenly Realm, leaving behind many myths in numerous eras of evolution.

At this moment, the two resembled wandering immortals among mortals, the Danque Divine Emperor, as host, taking great interest in introducing Zhang Jian to the many interesting events occurring upon the earth.

Having lived through countless ages, the many allusions inscribed upon the earth come easily to her grasp.

Zhang Jian likewise once served as an earth god, and also as a heavenly emperor of a realm, a human Dao god-king, an underworld emperor, a heavenly garrison, and is likewise well-versed; traveling together, they would not find themselves bored.

One thousand five hundred years later, the Diyuan Continent, Qingshi City.

This is an ordinary yet rarely seen mundane city.

Since the separation of heaven and humanity, countless mundane beings have been sent to the mortal realm, including some low-ranking immortals and gods, and the heavenly realm now rarely has regions where mundane beings reside.

But with the passage of time, some have lost their ancestral bloodlines, or are descendants of gods who once protected them, appearing from nothing, their numbers increasing year by year, once again forming a considerable scale.

Qingshi City is such a mundane town.

At the center of the town, Zhang Jian and the Danque Divine Emperor walked side by side, gazing upon the surrounding people whose faces were filled with smiles, the Danque Divine Emperor's expression also showing some joy.

She had not felt, for a long time, the joys and sorrows of the world as an ordinary person does.

At this moment, she suddenly felt a whim, smiling as she invited Zhang Jian.

"Qinglian Dao friend, do you not wish to settle here with my palace for a hundred years, to experience a taste of this boundless sea of suffering?"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered slightly, a hint of surprise in his gaze toward the Danque Divine Emperor.

The Danque Divine Emperor's expression remained unchanged, merely smiling.

"What, Qinglian Dao friend is unwilling?"

Zhang Jian said.

"To accompany Your Majesty through this beautiful span of years, I naturally seek nothing more, but if we two are to settle here together, we must have a proper designation!"

The Danque Divine Emperor glanced at Zhang Jian, her beautiful eyes holding a hint of a smile that was not quite a smile.

"What designation does Qinglian Dao friend desire?"

"We live together here—surely this is not merely the relationship between a steward and a fallen noble's maid?"

Zhang Jian glanced at Danque Shenghuang, then suddenly smiled and said.

"I merely feel that husband and wife might be better!"

Danque Shenghuang glanced at Zhang Jian, her face showing a hint of a cold snort.

"Better in what way?"

Zhang Jian then said: "Your Majesty possesses an innate divine body, a heaven's chosen son; one would suppose your origin is that of the sovereign of the innate gods, your nobility beyond words, yet you govern the earth, honored as Mother of the Earth, and have never truly comprehended the countless ordinary living beings upon it—from birth to growth, from growth to marriage and bearing children, to the withering of life—surely this is not a great regret?"

Danque Shenghuang shook her head and said.

"Qinglian Daoist, you have mistaken; as the Sovereign of the Earth, how could I fail to experience the parting of life and death among living beings, the sorrow of all things withering? The earth likewise has the limit of its lifespan, and likewise knows sorrow and joy!"

Seeing Danque Shenghuang casually dismiss it, Zhang Jian did not mind; in truth, he was merely joking idly with Danque Shenghuang, not truly harboring such intent.

After a brief pause, Danque Shenghuang immediately continued.

"However, this can indeed be tried!"

At once she transformed her form into a stream of light, heading first toward Qingstone City; Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged, merely stepping in after her.

Danque Shenghuang changed her mind, yet no ripple stirred in the depths of his Dao-heart.

But she also knew that, at this moment, Danque Shenghuang's Dao-heart, under the threat of utter collapse, still showed a breach.

This he could not leave unattended.

……

After the two figures entered Qingstone City one after the other, two figures emerged from the void—namely Yuanhuang and Jinhuang.

"Elder sister, younger sister's condition seems somewhat off?"

Yuanhuang gave a slight nod and said.

"With her cultivation, her Dao-heart keen—even though my cultivation far surpasses hers, she should have already sensed my presence!"

Jinhuang tightly furrowed her brows.

"Elder sister, has there been any news from the Phoenix clan?"

She also felt some anxiety in her heart.

Yuanhuang's eyes grew solemn; at this moment she shook her head and said.

"Not yet; I fear that the Taiyi Majesty has also calculated this—our plea for aid may be useless!"

"

Yuanhuang clearly understood that the Taiyi clan was forcing them to reveal their trump cards.

In truth, deep in her heart, that strike from the Taiyi clan could pierce through Danque Shenghuang's defense and slay Danque.

The Taiyi clan refrains from doing so, mostly out of fear of the Phoenix clan's hidden hand.

Seeking to press forward step by step.

It must be said, Yuanhuang and Jinhuang are both anxious in their hearts.

Danque Shenghuang is unlike other Shenghuang.

The Innate Three Phoenixes were nearly born in the same era, their bond far surpassing that of the other six Shenghuang.

Yuanhuang's eyes flickered, then she immediately said.

"Wait a little longer—I will not let Danque come to harm!"

Jinhuang nodded slightly; she still believed in Yuanhuang.

She believed Yuanhuang would not willingly lose Danque even if she lost her precious treasure.

At this moment she glanced again into Qingstone City, her eyes holding a hint of sternness.

"Now that younger sister's Dao-heart has encountered trouble, that brat also harbors ill intent; wait until I drag him out and give him a sound thrashing!"

Jinhuang's eyes flashed with ill intent, but before she could act, Yuanhuang restrained her.

"Elder sister?"

Jinhuang's eyes held some confusion.

Yuanhuang gazed toward Qingstone City, her eyes somewhat tranquil, shaking her head to stop her.

"Do not act rashly; although Danque's Dao-heart has cracked, it is not beyond self-restraint—this is her own heart's choice; we need not stop her, but let her go as she will!"

Upon hearing this, Jinhuang furrowed her brows.

"Elder sister, I disagree; my Phoenix clan has always been extraordinary, pure and immaculate—how could we become entangled with such immortals and gods? This certainly is not what younger sister would wish!"

Seeing Jinhuang's face full of anger, Yuanhuang shook her head and said.

"I too have little confidence in defeating that Taiyi one, but this tribulation is already unavoidable; let her follow her heart—how many times, even as gods, can we follow our hearts?"

Her form transformed into a stream of light and quietly departed.

Jinhuang's eyes, upon hearing this, flickered with slight hesitation, but after a moment she still bit her lip and said.

"No, elder sister, if you do not care, I cannot ignore it—that Qinglian dared to be rude to younger sister; I will certainly not let her off lightly!"

Her eyes moved, and in her hand appeared a feather, which transformed into a stream of light, drifting vaguely into the depths of Qingstone City; only then did she herself turn into a stream of light and depart.

……

In truth, Jinhuang had indeed mistaken.

Zhang Jian and Danque Shenghuang harbored no other thoughts; they merely manifested as an ordinary mortal couple, living a mundane life.

Of course, they also had their extraordinary aspects.

The two always slept in separate rooms, on separate beds, rising with the sun and resting at its setting!

Together they contemplated the passage of time, the weakening of the body, the fatigue of emotion.

But this emotional impact, for those who have experienced the vicissitudes of the seas and fields, even witnessed the collapse of heaven and earth, is but a drop in the ocean—not worth mentioning.

For the two gods, this is merely a segment of the cultivation path worth briefly recalling—a fleeting scenery.

Of course, the surveillance methods left by the Golden Phoenix were noticed by both the Divine Emperor of Danque and Zhang Jian, but neither deity paid them any mind.

Zhang Jian, on the other hand, found it quite interesting.

This period of ordinary life made him feel as if he had returned once again to the Zhou Mountain Realm.

Had he not come into contact with the Tongshan Dao lineage's Foundation Establishment method through Zhang Yi, and lacked that special sacrificial technique, he might have lived an ordinary life like many of his academy peers—perhaps becoming a minor official, or perhaps finally achieving the ancestral wish of the Zhang clan to be granted land and title.

During this process, Zhang Jian faintly sensed where his own attachment to self lay.

Meanwhile, the Divine Emperor of Danque was fully immersed in body and mind; at this moment, her black hair had turned to three thousand strands of white, her beautiful face gradually losing vitality with the passage of time, yet her eyes carried a hint of desolate twilight.

At the gate, she wore a coarse hemp robe, her hair pinned with a golden hairpin, leaning on a dragon-headed cane, her eyes holding a trace of vicissitude.

Zhang Jian at this time likewise had white hair like a crane's, though his hair remained meticulously neat.

"A hundred years truly passed in the blink of an eye!"

The Divine Emperor of Danque's face showed a rare trace of reluctance as she glanced upon this tranquil little courtyard.

Every flower, grass, and tree here had been planted by her own hands.

At the same time, she gazed upon the Dao Master of Qinglian beside her; though they had never truly become husband and wife, the distance between them had been invisibly drawn much closer.

Zhang Jian saw the fluctuation in the Divine Emperor of Danque's eyes, and at that moment he sighed.

"Your Majesty, excessive agitation of the Dao-heart will affect your wounds!"

For those of Dao Venerable rank, the power that the Dao-heart realm can create is immensely strong.

If one is unwilling to fall, it is very difficult to eradicate.

Just like his Flaming Feather Divine Emperor, the Dao Venerable of Lingling.

Though the Divine Emperor of Danque suffered great trauma, if she is unwilling to fall, the time she can endure will be very long.

But that would be extraordinarily painful.

The Divine Emperor of Danque's gaze was calm, and she merely smiled.

"This is a scene of peace and harmony; such tranquility, I, the former Emperor, had never before been able to feel its beauty!"

Zhang Jian sighed.

"Movement and stillness together constitute the Dao; Your Majesty previously favored stillness, which perhaps caused you to overlook the beauty before you!"

"Perhaps that is so!"

The Divine Emperor of Danque suddenly turned her gaze upon Zhang Jian and spoke calmly.

"Dao Friend Qinglian, our agreement ends here; you may now depart the Golden Yuan Heaven Realm on your own!"

Her face remained calm, but Zhang Jian suddenly lifted his head, his eyes showing a hint of surprise.

In an instant, he understood the Divine Emperor of Danque's meaning.

She did not wish him to be drawn into the conflict between the Golden Yuan Heaven Realm and the Taiyi Clan.

The Divine Emperor of Danque also appeared to be preparing for a final, desperate struggle!

Was she intending to fight the Taiyi Clan to the death?

At this moment, Zhang Jian's eyes showed some fluctuation, with a hint of hesitation.

Should he save the Divine Emperor of Danque—or not?