Chapter 167: Unified Divine Clan! The Glorious Ancient Great Age!

Fan Qingying's pure, flawless, pretty face was filled with terror as she tried to beg Chen Zheng for mercy.

Especially after seeing Si Ma Chong pulverized by Chen Zheng's single punch, she was so shocked that even the dead spirits seemed to rise.

She wants to live, not to die.

Born abandoned by her own parents, she survived stubbornly like wild grass, and thus understands the preciousness of life.

So as she begged, her legs already bent, trying to kneel, to collapse onto the void, desperately pleading with Chen Zheng to raise his noble hand and spare her life.

As long as she can keep a single life, she'll do whatever Chen Zheng orders, even if he makes her a dog.

At the same time.

Chen Zheng had earlier dispatched a sacrifice to handle Young Master Chu Nan, but it hadn't returned yet; now, a desperate female voice echoed from the Ten Directions Five Elements Tower floating beside the Ancient War Chariot: "Master, could you spare Sister Qingying just once?"

It was Yan Shuiyi's voice; after the events on Fang Ya Island, when she left the Great Northern Ocean, she had been kept imprisoned by Chen Zheng inside the Ten Directions Five Elements Tower.

Seeing Fan Qingying about to be killed, she finally remembered their five‑hundred‑year sisterly bond and couldn't help pleading.

She took Chen Zheng to Fang Ya Island out of necessity.

Even if she didn't guide Chen Zheng, he could still soul‑search her; the outcome would be the same.

But watching Fan Qingying's body die and vanish before her eyes, Yan Shuiyi could not bring herself to do it.

Unfortunately, Chen Zheng, seated inside the Ancient War Chariot, remained cold‑eyed and silent.

His face showed no ripple at either Fan Qingying's begging or Yan Shuiyi's plea.

Bang!

"No..."

Chen Zheng's fist was colder than the most frigid ten‑thousand‑year ice under heaven, and more ruthless, showing no mercy; in Fan Qingying's desperate gaze, a single punch struck her graceful body, instantly blasting her flesh and spirit into nothingness, leaving not a trace of blood or flesh.

Fan Qingying's fragrance vanished and her jade-like form perished, leaving no trace in the world.

"..."

Seeing this scene, Yan Shuiyi inside the Five Elements Tower wore a complex expression, let out a faint sigh, closed her eyes and fell silent.

The moment she closed her eyes, her face turned ashen.

She, too, was powerless, having fallen from a noble heavenly prideful maiden to a prisoner beneath the steps; perhaps someday she would, like Fan Qingying, be casually erased by Chen Zheng.

She was completely overthinking.

Although she was of little use to Chen Zheng, merely a dog, she was still Chen Zheng's dog.

For those under his command, Chen Zheng has always been easy to talk to and would never casually erase them.

Conversely, if Yan Shuiyi performs well in the future, he wouldn't mind promoting her rank and even granting rewards.

As for Fan Qingying, she is different from Yan Shuiyi.

This woman had once chased him from Wanggui Sea City to the depths of Fengmo Ridge, and today she again tries to cling to Young Master Chu Nan's thigh, letting him kill him.

What use is there for a woman who seeks to kill him and even acts on it?

Even if she were beautiful and begged desperately, Chen Zheng would not spare a glance nor let her go.

She must be killed.

No leniency!

"This artifact is rather impressive."

After annihilating Si Ma Chong and Fan Qingying, Chen Zheng casually seized the massive war banner Si Ma Chong had left, pulling it back into the war chariot with his retracting arm.

The banner resembled Si Ma Teng's flag, with a golden pole dazzlingly bright; the main cloth mixed iron and blood, exuding a murderous aura thousands of times stronger than that flag, its battle fervor so intense it seemed unimaginable, as if within it ten billion troops clashed, and a mere flutter could push against the nine heavens.

It is a top‑grade Dao instrument called the Iron Blood War Flag, one of the treasures of the colossal ancient sect known as the Iron Blood Sect.

This sect was countless times stronger than today's dominant Taiyi Sect, Boundless Star Palace, and the Zuma Cult.

Later the Iron Blood Sect vanished into the river of history, and by chance this Iron Blood War Flag fell into Si Ma Chong's hands.

In fact, during those glorious ancient great ages, a major sect like the Iron Blood Sect was as common as fish crossing a river; with immortals walking everywhere, saying that even a Great Luo Golden Immortal was no better than a dog was no exaggeration.

At that time, the three‑thousand great worlds—more precisely the Xuanhuang Great World—could contend hand‑to‑hand with the supreme realms such as the Celestial Realm, Demon Realm, and Void God Realm.

Even the World Tree that grew in the Xuanhuang Great World directly pierced the barrier between the lower world and the Celestial Realm, swallowing three thousand yuan‑qi of the Celestial Realm, and allowing mortals to climb the World Tree into the Celestial Realm.

What a spectacular scene that was!

Unfortunately, because the World Tree possessed the ability to restrain the divine race, the ancestral Holy King of the divine race wielded the creation artifact 'Axe of Nature' to sever it, taking the main trunk to build the Void God Realm.

The World Tree's other branches and fragments scattered across the heavens, some dusted, some vanished.

The piece of World Tree that Fang Han obtained is one of them, and the only one still alive.

Strictly speaking, Fang Han has already acquired two World Tree fragments; the later one was given to him in the Heavenly Dao Hall by Xiao Gangzi, who, seeing Fang Han's close ties with Chen Zheng, presented him with the Five Prisons King Cauldron and the other fragment.

Since the end of the glorious ancient great ages, countless colossal sects like the Iron Blood Sect have gradually faded from the stage of history, disappearing into the river of time, leaving the lower world unable to match realms such as the Celestial Realm, and not even a corner of the Celestial Realm compares.

Even many sects with Celestial Realm backgrounds, such as the Feather Transformation Sect, the Sky‑penetrating Sword Sect, and others, have lost contact with the Celestial Realm.

Of course, these are the highest secrets of each major sect, unknown to outsiders.

Otherwise, if the Taiyi Sect learned that the Feather Transformation Sect had cut ties with the Celestial Realm, they might have already launched a campaign against it because of Chen Zheng's affairs.

Now back to the main story.

When the Iron Blood War Flag landed in Chen Zheng's hand, its spirit was subdued by his great magical power, and the banner continuously shrank, turning into a palm‑sized mini‑flag.

Swish!

With a casual shake, the treasures stored within the mini‑flag rattled out, floating before his eyes.

First flashing before his eyes were seven assorted low‑grade Dao instruments, which Chen Zheng barely glanced at.

There were also eighty‑million Pure Yang Pills—equivalent to eight hundred billion White Yang Pills—matching Chen Zheng's eight‑day absorption capacity; he refined them together with six Immortal‑grade Three‑Yuan Taiyi Pills using true fire, gaining ten strands of Primordial Celestial Dragon power, raising his magical strength to thirty‑four dragons.

There were also many Jade Registers, essentially the Star‑Divine Techniques of the Boundless Star Palace, plus a manual detailing the Great King Domination art; Chen Zheng gave them no further attention, having already obtained them from Si Ma Teng and others.

Worth noting, the Iron Blood War Flag also yielded a heart‑shaped stone, blood‑red as fire, seemingly containing boundless vitality—it was the Life Gem, one of the four Great Ancient Stones.

The four Great Ancient Stones of antiquity are, respectively, Life, Material God, Soul, and Celestial Crystal.

Heaven Crystal Stone and Material Spirit Stone are superior materials for forging Dao artifacts, while Soul and Life, the two great gems, are even more mysterious and rare; obtaining just one can raise a cultivator's cultivation to a terrifying level.

Sima Chong originally intended to cultivate the Longevity Secret Realm, but used this Life Gem to thrust straight into the second level of the Undying Body realm; now it has become cheap for Chen Zheng.

"Sima Chong truly lives up to being the second prodigy of the Boundless Star Palace, with great destiny and a wealthy background."

Chen Zheng nodded with satisfaction, grasped the Life Gem, and refined it with true fire under the character "Refine", thereby gaining six Ancient Celestial Dragon forces.

"Is this the Iron Blood Sect's treasure map? Unfortunately, the Iron Blood Immortal Residence has not yet emerged."

Chen Zheng also found a treasure map among Sima Chong's relics; it depicts a star region, and locating that region allows one to follow the map's markers to the Iron Blood Immortal Residence left by the Iron Blood Sect.

It is rumored that eleven massive treasures exist in the world, referred to as the Seven Residences, Three Vaults, and One Secret Cache.

The one Secret Cache is the Hongmeng Secret Cache, exclusive to the Linglong Immortal Lord.

The three vaults are the Tianwu Vault, the Huangquan Treasure Vault, and the Ethereal Vault.

The secret of the Tianwu Vault originally belonged to Huatian Capital, and the Taiyi Sect coveted it because of this secret.

Unfortunately, the Panwu True Blood was seized by Chen Zheng, no longer belonging to Huatian Capital.

The secret of the Huangquan Treasure Vault lies within Fang Han; on the day he is born, Fang Han can open it.

The Seven Residences are the Red Cloud Immortal Residence, the Bodhi Immortal Residence, the Du Luo Immortal Residence, the Break Army Immortal Residence, the Saint Immortal Residence, the Iron Blood Immortal Residence, and the Great Origin Immortal Residence that Chen Zheng visited previously.

These Immortal Residences contain abundant resources, usually hidden so deeply that no one can find any trace; powerful beings can only sigh in frustration.

However, the vaults possess spirits that will emerge during the Great Tribulation, seeking a destined heir to inherit and combat the calamity.

Since the Great Tribulation has not yet arrived, the timing for the vaults to manifest is not due; Chen Zheng's acquisition of the Iron Blood Immortal Residence treasure map is currently useless, so he can only put it away.

He will scheme again later.

"I am the destined Son of Heaven, fated to inherit the throne of the Boundless Star Palace and unify the divine race; if you dare to refine me, you have already committed a capital crime..."

While Chen Zheng inspected the spoils inside the carriage, Lord Chu Nan, trapped in the sea of fire below, left an extremely resentful dying word: all flesh and blood had been refined.

Since Chen Zheng's appearance, he has constantly been suppressed.

Especially up to the very last moment of his life, he never even saw Chen Zheng's face, nor knew who he was, naturally feeling extremely resentful.

He died in that resentful state.

Whoosh!

Chen Zheng waved his hand, and the raging fire below churned, engulfing the essence left after Lord Chu Nan's body was refined, as well as the essences of numerous pills on his body; all were drawn into the carriage and infused into his own body.

His magical power surged again, rising from the previous forty dragons to fifty‑five Ancient Celestial Dragon forces.

Lord Chu Nan's ninety Divine Skill seeds also merged into Chen Zheng's primordial Golden Core.

Excluding many duplicates, the Divine Skills within his primordial Golden Core now total five hundred thirty.

Moreover, most of Lord Chu Nan's ninety Divine Skills are not weak; they are essentially supreme Divine Skills.

Among them are nine of the Three Thousand Great Paths: Great Azure Sky Technique, Great Sealing Technique, Great Cutting Technique, Great Collapse Technique, Great Protective Technique, Great Translocation Technique, Great Entangling Technique, Great Freezing Technique, and the Boundless Star Palace's sect‑defining Great Stellar Technique!

Chen Zheng previously obtained the Star‑Extinguishing Thief's "Compendium of the Boundless Stars", which was half of a branch of the Great Stellar Technique; now it is finally completed.

In addition, Chen Zheng acquired a divine race Divine Skill comparable to the Great Stellar Technique: Divine Creation.

"Great Catastrophe Technique, Great Five Elements Technique, Great Origin Technique, Great Stellar Technique, Great Protective Technique, Great Slaughter Technique are all top‑ranked among the Three Thousand Great Paths, and there is also Divine Creation—how delightful. If I could slay a Supreme Thus we have Title: Elder of the Feather Ascension Sect and obtain the Great Yin‑Yang Technique, it would be even more delightful," Chen Zheng smiled, setting his sights on the Feather Ascension Sect.

At the same time, with another wave, a staff whose surface streamed with countless divine race characters flew from afar, landed in his hand—it was Lord Chu Nan's Emperor Shih Staff.

From then on, Chen Zheng possessed eight superior Dao artifacts; selling them all would fetch a staggering fortune.

Unfortunately, the three major merchant guilds within the Great Profound Empire cannot muster enough pills to purchase his superior Dao artifacts.

Direct refinement also fails.

He can only wait to see if a suitable buyer appears later.

Nevertheless, Lord Chu Nan still has a superior Dao artifact: the Star Emperor Dragon Bed.

The reason is unknown, but during Chen Zheng's great battle with Lord Chu Nan, the bed not only failed to aid its master Lord Chu Nan, but instead carried the limp Fang Qingwei, who was sprawled on it in a large‑character shape, away from the battlefield; it flew across the heavens, already over a million li away.

"This bed is also worth many pills."

Chen Zheng's eyes flickered; his gaze pierced the carriage curtains, crossed layers of void, locked onto the Star Emperor Dragon Bed as if to strike and suppress it, yet he hesitated.

"Never mind, she is ultimately Fang Qingxue's younger sister."

Chen Zheng frowned, withdrew his gaze from the Star Emperor Dragon Bed, recalled the Ten‑Direction Five‑Elements Tower and other superior Dao artifacts, and activated the Ancient War Chariot to prepare departure.

He intends to visit the Star Cluster Gate, trade the Great Stellar Technique to that faction, obtain a batch of resources, and further augment his magical power.

Then he will return to the Land of Five Elements, await the appointed date with the Linglong Blessed Land, and go together with them to the Grand Zuma World.

Buzz—buzz—buzz.

At that moment, a communication token on Chen Zheng's body began to tremble.

The token emitted Fang Han's voice: "Senior Brother Chen, I have returned to the Feather Ascension Sect, but the atmosphere there is off; all the disciples seem to have forgotten your existence, only the Heavenly Punishment Thus we have Title: Elder, the Heavenly Craft Thus we have Title: Elder, and Jiang Rourou Thus we have Title: Elder still remember you. Yet they have become disheartened by your departure, announcing seclusion for cultivation, no longer involving themselves in sect affairs."

"Oh, such a thing?" Chen Zheng raised an eyebrow, sneering, "The Feather Ascension Sect truly lives up to its name; I did not misjudge their virtue."

He instantly understood what was happening: the upper echelons of the Feather Ascension Sect must have feared that news of his betrayal would spread, tarnishing their reputation, or feared that Fang Qingxue would hear, so they erased all disciples' memories, making everyone forget his existence, to prevent the scandal from leaking.

No wonder, after all this time, Chen Zheng has not heard any rumors of his betrayal of the Feather Ascension Sect.

"Senior Brother Chen, the Heavenly Punishment Thus we have Title: Elder and others gave me a piece of information: the Taiyi Sect's First Deputy Patriarch Chi Rongtian has arrived with the five deputy patriarchs of this faction, now deep within the Feather Ascension Heavenly Palace, holding secret talks with Supreme Thus we have Title: Elder Deng Ao, Sun Xihua, the Five Sword Lord, and others; they are likely discussing matters concerning you, plotting against you, and they urge you to be extremely cautious," Fang Han's voice resonated again from the token, his tone grave.

"These damn things all deserve death."

Chen Zheng's gaze grew cold as he addressed Fang Han: "I will be careful. Convey to the Heavenly Punishment Thus we have Title: Elder and the others that when I later slaughter those Supreme Thus we have Title: Elder who plot against me, I will report back to them a bit."

"Brother, when will you slaughter the Feather Ascension Sect? When the time comes, be sure to tell me so I can loot amidst the chaos," Fang Han chuckled.

"Don't worry, you will also have great merit; your share won't be missed when the time comes," Chen Zheng shook his head and laughed.

I wonder what Feng Baiyu and those Supreme Thus we have Title: Elder would think upon learning Fang Han holds such intentions.

Afterwards, he exchanged a few words with Fang Han, learned that Huatian Capital's Panwu Primordial Spirit had not returned to the Feather Ascension Sect, so he seized the larger Ancient War Chariot, transformed it with the character "Transform" into a gust of wind, and drifted away from the Great Virtue Dynasty's skies.

The direction of his drift turned out to be the Feather Ascension Sect!

What does he intend to do at the Feather Ascension Sect?

(End of chapter)