Chapter 736: Xi He's Remnant Soul, Decisive Battle

Although Xi He's face bore a solemn expression, this time she brought good news, and at the same time, bad news.

The good news was that she had finally refined a secret treasure capable of temporarily suppressing the injuries of the Dan Que Divine Emperor; the bad news was that the situation in the Golden Origin Celestial Realm had become urgent, and she prepared to trigger the hidden hand early, engaging in a decisive battle with the Tai Yi Clan.

During this period, she discovered that some high-ranking immortals and deities in the Golden Origin Celestial Realm had begun to waver in their attitudes, even abandoning their divine posts and secretly fleeing the Golden Origin Celestial Realm.

Even including powerhouses of Dao Lord level.

For this, she ruthlessly slaughtered several Dao Lord primordial spirits attempting to flee, killing the chicken to scare the monkeys, intimidating a portion of the strong, but Xi He knew the effect would not last long.

However, in the short term, engaging in a decisive battle was not good news for the Dan Que Divine Emperor.

Entering the battlefield in such a state, the possibility of falling was very high.

But unfortunately, the Earth Net, as one of the two major central networks of the Golden Origin Celestial Realm, made the Dan Que Divine Emperor's role irreplaceable.

Unbeknownst to her, her figure appeared before a section of the Earth Net; at that moment, the Earth Net trembled slightly, and a heavenly road manifested before her eyes.

Xi He's brow twitched, and she stepped forward into it.

By the shore of the Earth Divine Pool, a vast expanse of nine-colored divine light emerged from the void, floating in midair, auspicious clouds swirling, celestial sounds faint and distant.

Xi He's true form then emerged from within.

However, what met her eyes caused Xi He to feel slightly astonished.

Not far away, the Qing Lian Dao Lord wore a blue official robe, his handsome face composed, his demeanor calm; upon seeing her arrival, he slightly bowed.

Yet within the Earth Divine Pool, rolling earth origin coalesced into a massive vortex enveloping a towering figure.

The Dan Que Divine Emperor manifested his true form of the other shore, boundless Xuan Huang divine energy surging around him, swallowing the earth origin, his aura rising steadily, faintly foreshadowing a grand vision touching the primordial origin of heaven and earth, the boundless Hun Yuan, Xuan Huang divine energy mighty and vast, drowning the endless azure sky.

Such divine energy was not like that of severe injury and impending fall.

On the contrary, he stood at the peak, faintly showing signs of breakthrough.

"This..."

In the depths of Xi He Divine Emperor's eyes, there was also some surprise; she then glanced at the Qing Lian Dao Lord beside her, immediately realizing that all this was likely due to this Qing Lian Dao Lord.

Perhaps this Qing Lian Dao Lord harbored another secret!

Her expression remained unchanged, and she did not directly face Zhang Jian; at this moment, her eyes held more delight.

That the Dan Que Divine Emperor could recover at this time was truly the best possible outcome!

Boom—

It seemed to notice Xi He's arrival; the earth origin flowing from the Earth Divine Pool intensified, transforming into nine magnificent earth origin light pillars falling around the Dan Que Divine Emperor, layer upon layer of vast divine energy surging, the Dan Que Divine Emperor's surroundings faintly revealing a magnificent, complete divine wheel, within the radiance faintly visible the true form of the boundless earth of the Golden Origin Celestial Realm.

Her true form emerged from the Xuan Huang divine light, her body covered in layers of unfathomable primordial divine power, magnificent and vast, her true form seeming to fill the universe between heaven and earth, truly terrifyingly formidable.

By the shore of the Earth Divine Pool, Zhang Jian's eyes also showed some change.

He had also seen several primordial-level divine true forms, such as the number of primordial ancestors of the Spirit Realm, and the true form of the Zi Yuan Heavenly Emperor of the Celestial Court Heaven Realm, but compared to the Dan Que Divine Emperor, they were like immature children.

The gap was too great.

This Divine Emperor truly deserved to be the innate divine being born at the dawn of the Golden Origin Celestial Realm.

Such a true form resembled, in his impression, the ancestors of the twelve ancient demon gods during the ancient demon god war.

As the last part of the earth origin in the Earth Divine Pool was swallowed by this magnificent Divine Emperor's true form, the layers of Xuan Huang divine light around the Dan Que Divine Emperor gradually faded, his form shrank, and instantly transformed into a slender, beautiful figure appearing before Xi He, wearing a goose-yellow palace dress, her face unadorned yet pure as jade, a hint of smile in her eyes, her dignified demeanor mixed with gentleness.

"Big sister, how did you come here!"

At this moment, her face bore a slight smile.

Xi He took her hands and examined her up and down, then after a moment nodded and said.

"It seems you have encountered a benefactor; your primordial Dao injury has completely healed, your cultivation even faintly increased—truly, misfortune bears fortune!"

The Dan Que Divine Emperor glanced at Zhang Jian, smiled faintly, and said.

"Big sister, did you come this time for other matters?"

Xi He nodded slightly, then immediately said.

"I refined a secret treasure to suppress Dao injury for you; now it seems unnecessary, as for the other matter, it can be done earlier!"

She whispered a few words into the Dan Que Divine Emperor's ear; shortly after, she saw the Dan Que Divine Emperor's face change slightly.

"Would this not cause complications?"

After a brief pause, she added.

"I fear the price would be too great!"

Xi He's face bore a stern, ruthless expression.

"Otherwise, we cannot force him out to fight us, and my Phoenix Clan does not fear such trouble—he was the one who first provoked my Phoenix Clan!"

"The enemy has already made his move; how can we remain passive defenders forever?"

The Dan Que Divine Emperor shook his head and said.

"Doing this, I fear we will forge a deadly enmity with that Demon Emperor!"

Xi He said coldly.

"Now it is he who seeks to forge a deadly enmity with us!"

After a brief pause, she added.

"Moreover, we have already forged a deadly enmity between us!"

Seeing that persuasion would not move Xi He, the Dan Que Divine Emperor merely sighed lightly; Xi He then turned and landed upon Zhang Jian, her gaze falling upon him, Zhang Jian's expression shifted slightly, he felt a mighty, vast pressure sweeping toward his primordial spirit, but he quickly regained composure, and in his ears came Xi He's voice.

"Qing Lian Dao Lord, you have merit in healing the Second Sister; I, the Emperor, reward merit and punish fault—what do you desire?"

Zhang Jian, upon hearing this, pondered briefly and said.

"Your Majesty Xi He, I assisted the Dan Que Majesty purely because the Dan Que Majesty is compassionate and benevolent, relieving heaven and earth—this is my true intention, not for other reasons! No reward is needed; saving the Dan Que Majesty equals the merit of transforming all beings!"

Zhang Jian's eyes flickered; he admitted this was not mere flattery.

In fact, it was indeed so.

If the Dan Que Divine Emperor, this Great Mother Goddess of Earth, were to fall, only then would the order upon the earth likely collapse in an instant.

Yuan Huang glanced at him, her expression noncommittal, and simply said lightly.

"The Golden Origin Dao Court will not slight those who have rendered meritorious service!"

As the words fell, her figure transformed into a stream of light, piercing the void and departing.

Dan Que Shen Huang watched Yuan Huang depart, the joy in her eyes gradually fading, replaced instead by a faint sorrow.

Zhang Jian stepped forward, seeing her state, he asked.

"Your Majesty, your injuries have fully recovered, your cultivation has advanced even further—why is your heart so troubled and joyless?"

Dan Que Shen Huang glanced at her, paused a moment, then said:

"Elder Sister fears she will bring great calamity upon the Phoenix Clan!"

She glanced at Zhang Jian, hesitated slightly, then revealed the two of them's covert investigation.

"The Golden Origin Dao Court intends to use the remnant soul of a goddess within the Tang Valley to draw out the Taiyi Clan!"

"A goddess's remnant soul?"

Zhang Jian's pupils flickered slightly, a strange look appearing in his eyes.

A faint speculation arose in his heart.

However, Dan Que Shen Huang directly spoke the answer.

"It is the soul of the ancient goddess Xihe!"

"The remnant soul of the Heavenly Empress?"

Zhang Jian's expression changed.

In ancient mythology, Xihe was the Heavenly Empress of the Heavenly Court, said to originate from the Yin Star, and also claimed to be an innate star deity nurtured by the Yang Star.

Some say she had already reached the level of jointly governing the sun and moon.

But regardless of her origin, Xihe is the Heavenly Empress lawfully wed to the Demon Emperor Jun of the Demon Court.

She is also one of the protagonists of the first marriage in the primordial wilderness.

The counterpart in the heavenly marriage.

In mythology, she is the elder sister-in-law of the Donghuang Taiyi Clan!

If her remnant soul is used as bait, the Taiyi Clan will almost certainly appear.

But one misstep, and it will indeed cause the Phoenix Clan and the Demon Clan to forge a deadly enmity!

Zhang Jian's Dao heart also trembled slightly deep within.

He had not expected that Xihe would still have left a remnant soul in the Tang Valley.

However, Zhang Jian immediately recalled the innate spiritual treasure, the Sun Essence Wheel, held by the Golden Origin Heavenly Court's Solar Deity Emperor, Jin Xi Shen Huang.

It is said that this Sun Essence Wheel was held in Xihe's hands.

It appears that the Sun Essence Wheel in Jin Xi Shen Huang's hands should have been obtained from Xihe.

Zhang Jian slightly furrowed his brow, his gaze directed toward Dan Que Shen Huang.

Dan Que Shen Huang's gaze merely turned toward the direction of the Golden Origin Dao Lineage.

"The Taiyi Clan suppressed the Fourth Sister; Elder Sister is preparing to use this Xihe goddess as a sacrificial banner, simultaneously luring out the Taiyi Clan, to settle the grudge in one stroke!"

Zhang Jian's expression remained unchanged, but in his heart he silently cursed.

What is this all about?

This trip of mine has turned out to be a great loss.

Now the war has already escalated; if we fail to understand, it may evolve into a great war between the Phoenix Clan and the Demon Clan.

I feel the Primordial Opening Heaven Diagram in my hand growing somewhat hot to the touch.

But this matter can no longer be stopped.

When the time comes, we can only adapt to circumstances, see if we can find a way to preserve Xihe's remnant soul!

Zhang Jian's heart at this moment feels somewhat complex.

Actually, I do hope the Phoenix Clan can win this victory, and this is not because of my personal relationship with Dan Que Shen Huang.

But rather because it is the long-held aspiration between the Human Clan and the Demon Clan.

Although the Taiyi Clan is truly the Divine Clan's Divine Emperor, they are also the Demon Clan's Demon Emperor; their revival will inevitably cause those Demon Clan Great Sages who have long suppressed their ambitions to generate different thoughts.

Zhang Jian, as the Human Clan's Holy King, a core elder.

Whether from his own interests or from emotion, he will not wish for the Demon Clan to revive again and clash with the Human Clan.

Even if he shares a portion of good karma with the Donghuang Taiyi Clan!

But the situation may not turn out as he imagined.

Given the Donghuang Taiyi Clan's formidable strength, the Phoenix Clan may not necessarily be able to defeat them.

Conversely, the Haoyang Tongtian Tribulation may indeed descend upon the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

Therefore, Xihe's remnant soul is of utmost importance.

Moreover, if the Human Clan can obtain Xihe's remnant soul, perhaps they could also use it to prevent those ambitious demons from stirring up turmoil again.

Dan Que Shen Huang's countenance remained calm; at this moment she looked toward Zhang Jian and said.

"Qinglian Dao Friend, since you are willing to stay, then prepare early—the decisive battle is imminent!"

After a slight pause, she added.

"However, your cultivation is not yet complete; in the end, you must still remain in the rear!"

Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian's expression became solemn, he gave a slight nod.

……

Time flowed like water, silently passing.

Five ten thousand years later.

Clang!

That day, the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm suddenly gave rise to boundless omens, and a vast, muffled thunderous sound emerged.

This booming sound thoroughly shook the entire Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

Within the Creation Divine Net, Zhang Jian also felt that the heavenly Dao laws of the entire Golden Origin Heavenly Realm were trembling, as if about to shatter.

Yet above the azure heavens, the Taiyin Star, which had long remained still, suddenly burst forth with intense divine light, violently agitated.

"It seems that the goddess Xihe is actually of the Taiyin Star deity lineage?"

Zhang Jian silently pondered at this moment.

The disturbance of the Taiyin Star was merely a beginning; soon after, Zhang Jian's gaze fell upon the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm, where he saw a vast, magnificent, chaotic golden light emerging from a shattered cave heaven blessed land.

The omens dissipated in a short time, after which a piece of news began to circulate throughout the Golden Origin Heavenly Realm.

Within the Tang Valley Cave Heaven, a remnant soul of an alien deity has emerged; the Golden Origin Dao Court plans to hold the Sun-Merging Grand Ceremony in a thousand years, gathering the power of myriad deities to completely refine it.

One stone stirs up a thousand waves.

The entire Golden Origin Heavenly Realm became lively because of this.

……

In the Tianfeng Dao Palace of the Divine Province of Tianyuan.

Since obtaining the Azure Heaven Immortal Mansion, Daoist Qingxia has been in secluded cultivation, refining the extraordinary treasure; yet even the vast omen from the bursting Taiyin Star still disturbed her retreat.

She is somewhat sensitive to omens of the Taiyin Star.

But upon learning of the recent major events in the Golden Origin Dao Court, she still felt an inexplicable tremor.

Her first reaction was much like Zhang Jian's.

"Xihe actually has a chance to revive?"

Daoist Qingxia slightly furrowed her brow.

As a Daoist of the LanTai Palace of the Heavenly Court, she knows more than Zhang Jian.

This goddess of sun and moon originally came from the Taiyin Star deity, later becoming the sun goddess—she truly governs both sun and moon.

What worries her most is Xihe's other identity.

She and the Taiyin Star Lord were sisters in ancient times.

When she returns, that will be quite something!