Chapter 499: Desperate Straits, the Azure Sky Contract

"So, Senior Brother, do you intend to erase me?"

Facing the cold indifference of True Monarch Chengru, True Monarch Huiqing asked straightforwardly without fear.

"No, I do not need to overstep my bounds. Junior Sister, you have hesitated for too long; it is already impossible for you to cause the slightest interference in the future outcome, so let us leave it for Junior Brother to resolve himself."

True Monarch Chengru was naturally dissatisfied and displeased, and furthermore already hostile, so his words were extremely cold and direct, amounting to a complete negation of the other party, which immediately made her rise in anger.

But he would not speak or stay any longer, and silently departed.

Leaving behind only True Monarch Huiqing, her face gloomy and her blood and Qi surging.

That attitude of the other party was more unbearable to her than if he had killed her.

"Then why not kill him!?"

Meng Changqing had originally been in seclusion; he was forced into seclusion because the many previous stimuli had accelerated his breakthrough, finally bringing him to the critical final steps, so he could only remain in deep seclusion and was unable to intervene in other matters.

As a result, when True Monarch Chengru came to knock on the door and wake him, he heard of this change in the situation and was immediately furious and unable to contain his rage.

"If you won't kill him, I will!"

"Wait, wait, wait, don't be agitated, don't be agitated!"

True Monarch Chengru hurriedly held the other party down, speaking rapidly: "In the current situation, we must prioritize stability. On the side of Master, and on the side of the Supreme, we have reached a very tense and critical moment; we cannot throw ourselves into chaos!"

"..."

"Also, Du En is not dead; he was just taken to another realm, another star. You must trust in his abilities. He is no longer an ordinary person; he is a potential supreme being capable of succeeding to the Dao, a future holy one, no less than you, who only holds a nominal title!"

"... Hm?"

Meng Changqing looked at his Senior Brother in a daze, momentarily not knowing what he was talking about—what succeeding to the Dao, what nominal title—how did it feel like so many, many things had happened while he didn't know?!

"Tell me in detail what is going on."

"Cannot be said, cannot be said!"

"Playing these games with me, are you!"

"Haha, I can only say here that Du En will not be in mortal danger for the time being. Hm, he just used the talisman I gave him; although it is all used up, he should have already escaped the most dangerous situation. Next, he only needs to adapt to circumstances and plan slowly; it is not a big problem!"

"Do you take me for a three-year-old? As long as that fellow Huiqing is still jumping around, how could it possibly not be a big problem?!"

Meng Changqing's anger was still surging, but his eyes flickered as he began to calm down.

This Senior Brother before him had, as expected, gone back on his word. The retreat they had agreed upon was just this kind of retreat; now he was clearly putting the overall situation first, which was simply ridiculous. Indeed, he should never have had the slightest relaxation or concession toward him because of previous events!

He confirmed once again that the two of them were indeed enemies whose stances and pursuits were completely contradictory! So he spoke decisively: "Then, issue my True Summoning Order. Whoever dares not to come, after I break through, I will uproot them. Any of you who want to stop me, feel free to try when the time comes!"

The True Summoning Order! Summoning all True Ones of the sect!

They must arrive at the Central Capital within the time limit; if the person cannot arrive, their consciousness must! The ostensible reason was also very simple: to welcome and await the birth of the sect's new True Monarch.

Simply put, Meng Changqing could only use this to curb True Monarch Huiqing's further targeting, packing up all the chess pieces she could use openly. As for the ones in the dark...

Du En, I hope you can hold on. Once I break through here, I will follow the traces of Kongsang Mountain to save you.

Thinking this in his heart, Meng Changqing sent True Monarch Chengru away with a cold face, issued the sternly worded True Summoning Order, and then sealed the Fifth Peak, burying his head to accelerate his breakthrough.

True Monarch Chengru was ultimately somewhat ashamed, so while bringing Sheng Zhaoshui and An Shen back, he pushed for the effective implementation of the True Summoning Order. Suddenly, the Luoyu Immortal Sect, which had been like a stagnant pool, immediately surged with activity.

Because the sect's fifth True Monarch was finally about to formally appear!

And this person was the real deal, someone who had the ability to impact, and would inevitably impact, the existing landscape of the Immortal Sect! For a time, every True One, whether in the main territory or among the stars, began to prepare nervously and rush toward the Central Capital of the Immortal Sect.

In such a situation, there were two other key figures; what were they doing?

In the Second Peak of the Immortal Sect, True Monarch Zhuding sighed somewhat: "Junior Sister seized this timing perfectly. Senior Brother restrains Master, Junior Brother is in deep seclusion, and then, she even had you come to block me."

Strikingly, standing opposite him was True Monarch Buyi, who should have left the sect.

Originally, because of his recent good relationship with Meng Changqing, counting as an invisible ally, he would have taken action, and would have taken action to stop her, but True Monarch Buyi suddenly appeared, interrupting and intercepting his movements.

Naturally, he had been bought off by True Monarch Huiqing! "If Senior Brother has any dissatisfaction, I can take what I discovered during this investigation as compensation; it can also be considered information sharing that is due for your guidance this time."

True Monarch Buyi's expression had not the slightest ripple, because helping True Monarch Huiqing was, firstly, to honor that so-called alliance and the benefits the other party offered, and secondly, to take the opportunity to test the bottom line of True Monarch Zhuding.

And thirdly.

"Jade is not polished, it cannot become a vessel; people are not tempered, they cannot be invincible. At present, the dark tides are surging, and the world is on the verge of overturning; there is no time for Du En to grow slowly. Doesn't Senior Brother think so?"

"... Perhaps."

That he was so easily intercepted was actually already a side answer, so at this moment, since the wood was already carved into a boat, he could only push with the current.

These two True Monarchs immediately began a secret discussion and consultation, causing the dark tides of that era to increase by another point.

A streak of flowing light quietly entered the thick clouds.

Then Du En immediately noticed something wrong.

This cloud layer was not an ordinary cloud layer; it was heavy, sorrowful, carried demonic Qi, hid resentment, transformed into raindrops falling, and rose as steam, endless and long-lasting.

Although it was not intense as a whole, the unity of demonic and resentful energy actually had an endless and indestructible aura.

Moreover, it even had a corrosive and obstructive effect on the Flowing Light Treasure Talisman, greatly reducing his movement speed, making him unable to merge with the light, and soon he would be unable to maintain the state of flowing light.

What kind of realm is this star boundary?

Thinking this, he could only continue to accelerate downward.

Because the Phoenix's lingering hatred was still clamoring and rising within him, and it seemed to be influenced by this rain, so if he didn't quickly find a suitable place to attempt suppression, it would run out and kill him.

"Could even the Vermilion Lord not obtain its recognition? The Phoenix really leaves behind troublesome things."

He pondered while hurrying on his way.

At this very moment, he could naturally see the panel in his eyes.

【Age: 65/4000】

【Spirit Root: Top Grade】

【Cultivation: Deity Transformation Perfection (90/100)】【Great Dao: Vermilion Lord (First Glimpse 1/20)】

【Technique: Yaohua Sacred Canon (Mastery 482200/500000)】

【Spells: Mountain Moving (Small Achievement 0/100), Scraping Killing Profound Dust (Proficient 0/50), Underworld Winter Hiding Yang (Proficient 0/50), Dragon Subduing True Image (Small Achievement 0/100), Earth-Wood Sacred Refining (Perfected), Three True Divine Fires (Small Achievement 52/100), Armor Wood True Domain (Proficient 0/50), Four Seasons Grafting Flowers (Small Achievement 0/100), Fiery Eyes Golden Gaze (Perfected), Vermilion Lord Clears the World (Perfected), Divine Mechanism Puppet Manipulation (First Glimpse 0/20), Solar Divine Fire (Proficient 10/50)】

【Divine Ability: Burying Death and Flourishing Life (Mastery 280/300), Undying Holy Source (Initial Entry 0/20)】

【Hundred Arts: Appraisal (Perfected), Culinary Arts (Perfected), Spirit Seeking (Perfected), Artifact Refining (Great Accomplishment 200/500), Puppet Making (Great Accomplishment 30/500)】

The proficiency of the Zhu Jun Great Dao has increased.

Du En was slightly surprised, but upon reflection, he understood: it was the long-term, sustained improvement brought about by suppressing and burning the Sinful Fetus, continuously purifying and precipitating the Clear Spirit.

Although this Great Dao is currently stuck at the Myriad Star Sinful Fetus, and it is impossible for him to drive it to gain power, this is actually fine; it allows him to monitor the condition of the Myriad Star Sinful Fetus, and at his current cultivation level, he is actually unable to grind this Great Dao at all.

The current situation can be considered a stroke of luck, having found a way to increase proficiency beyond the limits of his cultivation level.

It is just that at this very moment, the Clear World Dao Method he solved below is in a state of needing to cool down after a sacrifice.

It is not just that Zhu Jun Clear World cannot be used; various Dao methods, secret techniques, the two great Divine Abilities, and even the Hidden Wonders of Arts are all currently in a state of cooling down after sacrifice.

Zhu Jun Clear World is just like this: harming the enemy by ten thousand while damaging oneself by ten thousand, betting everything one has, struggling to purify the dusty world even at the cost of one's own destruction! Fortunately, with various forms of assistance, he, as the incarnation of Zhu Jun, actually intercepted some benefits, such as a clear improvement in cultivation and techniques. There is no problem right now, and it has allowed both great Divine Fires to improve by one tier; likewise, they have not been temporarily frozen due to the sacrifice, and even though he is heavily injured to this extent, he can still barely manage to drive them out.

Especially the Three Truths Divine Fire, which has reached the level of small success and is related to the Zhu Jun Great Dao; at the moment, it does not require much magic power to stir up the ripples of the Dao.

Its power is naturally far inferior to the past, but it can be considered a remaining means of self-preservation.

"Although my cultivation and techniques have reached the critical state of an imminent breakthrough, the current state is truly too poor. Let alone cultivation, even healing and recovery are problems. I cannot find a way out of this for the time being... So, how should I suppress it?"

The problem is very serious, because the Phoenix Remnant Hatred is not simple! After screening through a variety of means, only the two great Divine Fires and burning the Holy Body origin within the primordial spirit can barely perform a slow suppression, but none can completely solve the problem.

Moreover, because magic power is exhausted, it cannot be driven normally, but rather through a one-time mysterious sacrifice, using it to push the corresponding Dao to collide with and suppress the rising Divine Venerable Remnant Hatred.

The effects of the two great Divine Fires vary according to the degree of mastery, while burning the origin may affect subsequent physical recovery, or even make the already devastated primordial spirit worse... It is either a stopgap measure or drinking poison to quench thirst. Even Du En now thinks he is at the end of his rope.

But this is all he can do.

While weighing the order, he passed through the thick clouds.

The incessant rain was falling, like an eternal lament.

Snap! The effect of the Flowing Light Treasure Talisman shattered.

The moment it touched the rain, the Phoenix Remnant Hatred suddenly began to rise, and one flame even impatiently poked out to make contact with the rain.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle—the Hatred Fire burned away the rainwater, also releasing the resentment and demonic energy within. Only then did Du En notice that their point of entanglement was actually spiritual energy. No wonder he hadn't sensed any spiritual energy; it turned out it was all here.

And when this spiritual energy entanglement point was destroyed, the resentment and demonic energy immediately lost balance and erupted, spontaneously giving birth to a mass of flesh that swallowed the rainwater and expanded rapidly.

Although the heat at the edge of the Phoenix Remnant Hatred could also burn it, the rain in this world was endless, falling continuously. Even if it was burned away, it had already triggered a chain reaction.

It couldn't be burned out, it simply couldn't be burned out! Du En was caught in the middle, needing to endure the Hatred Fire bursting from within on one side, while shrinking his body to avoid the spread and contamination of the flesh mass on the other.

His appearance seemed somewhat disheveled, a passivity he had never experienced before.

Hmm? His heart suddenly stirred, because at this very moment, he actually sensed a call from afar.

There was a sense of familiarity...

In this situation, he could not afford to think too much, and immediately decided to change course to see what was going on.

Calculating the distance between them, he quickly made a decision.

Use the Sun Divine Fire to suppress the Phoenix Remnant Hatred.

Mysterious sacrifice!

In the gloomy, year-round rain, a brilliant radiance suddenly appeared; it was the sun visiting this place once again, suppressing the Phoenix Remnant Hatred once more while directly evaporating the flesh mass in the air.

Without waiting for any further changes, it suddenly contracted, turning into an arc invisible to the naked eye, and broke through the air, arriving at the place calling to him in the blink of an eye.

The brilliant sun fire suddenly disappeared, and his primordial spirit became even weaker. Now just a small white ball of light, Du En endured the various feelings of exhaustion and depletion, hovering calmly and moving downward along the tips of the dilapidated, withered trees.

He crossed layers of branches, gradually escaping the dampness, arrived at a dark and dry area, then circled downward all the way, broke through the dryness, and came under the canopy of this great tree's withered umbrella.

One could see that there was still a faint trace of green remaining on the main trunk, while the leaves had basically fallen off, the whole thing looking like it was hanging by a thread.

The one calling him was this dying tree.

"This tree is, the Azure Sky Divine Tree?"

Looking at the last falling leaf, that familiar yet strange withered yellow Azure Sky leaf, Du En couldn't help but think this.

Azure Sky is stainless, encompassing all things.

It is the core wonder that composes his natal magic treasure, the Azure Crimson Palace.

And now, its mother plant, the Azure Sky Divine Tree, is withered to death in this unknown star realm.

What on earth is going on?

And why call him here...

The last fallen leaf was drifting; Du En followed closely, arriving at the ground, where many dead leaves were piled up, forming a thick blanket covering the bed of the man-made courtyard.

And on it, a person was quietly sleeping, a young girl.

"She is..."

As Du En's thoughts stirred, faint fragments of light drifted out from his body.

That was Zhu Yi, or rather, the remnants of Qing Xuan, which fell toward the sleeping girl's forehead like a swallow returning to its nest.

And these remnants were also stained with his life-source fragments.

The return of the stars, the entanglement of karma, the source pieces of life.

Under the combined effect of these three factors, a connection, or rather a contract, was miraculously reached, and a pattern of a green flower immediately appeared on her forehead.

The final star realm officially opens.

(End of chapter)