Chapter 217

On the Wuji Great World, not a crow or sparrow made a sound.

Translation: "On the Wuji Great World, not a crow or sparrow made a sound."

On the Wuji Great World, not a crow or sparrow made a sound.

The White Feather family, the Three Elders of the Cluster Stars and the Star Lord, Chi Ren Wang and the remaining Seven Great Demon Saints—all the demons and monsters—were deeply shaken, their scalps tingling with shock, leaving everyone speechless.

Translation: "Feng Baiyu's family, the Three Elders of the Cluster Stars and the Star Lord, Chi Ren Wang and the remaining Seven Great Demon Saints, all the demons and monsters, were deeply shaken, their scalps numb, unable to utter a word."

the Three Elders of the Cluster Stars and the Star Lord

Nobody anticipated that, at the crucial moment when heavenly thunder fell on the immortal realm to punish these intruders, such a drastic turn would happen—the Wuji Star Palace would be wiped out by a sudden, terrifying giant hand.

Translation: "No one expected that, at the critical moment when divine thunder descended from the Immortal Realm to punish these invaders, such a change would occur—the Wuji Star Palace would be exterminated by a sudden, terrifying great hand."

The Wuji Star Palace housed billions of disciples and elders, thousands of supreme elders, three Void‑Immortal vice‑palace masters, and a True‑Immortal palace master, all guarded by the immortal treasure Hunyuan Wuji Diagram; yet it was utterly annihilated by the flood of seawater pouring from that cosmic giant hand, leaving not a trace of bodies or magical artifacts—truly terrifying.

Translation: "The Wuji Star Palace had billions of disciples and elders, thousands of grand elders, three Void Immortal Vice Palace Masters, one True Immortal Palace Master, and was protected by the immortal artifact Hunyuan Wuji Diagram, yet it was utterly annihilated by the seawater pouring down from that great hand in the cosmos, leaving not a trace of corpses or magic treasures—too terrifying."

Numerous onlookers stared into the depths of space at that colossal hand, feeling both relief from survival and lingering shock, their eyes clouded with wonder as they speculated about the immense power of the sea within its palm, why it could be so dreadful as to erase the immortal realm's heavenly thunder, how a single drop could annihilate a True Immortal, and who the countless bodies drifting in that water might be.

Translation: "Countless people gazed into the depths of space at that enormous hand, feeling the relief of having survived a catastrophe and the shock, their eyes filled with doubt as they wondered what divine ability the vast sea in the palm of that hand possessed, why it could be so fearsome as to sweep away the Immortal Realm's heavenly thunder in an instant, a single drop capable of drowning a True Immortal, and who the countless corpses floating in that water were."

And who is the master of that giant hand?

Translation: "Moreover, who was the master of that great hand?"

Which ancient entity among the three thousand great worlds, which peerless celestial immortal, is it?

Translation: "Which ancient relic among the Three Thousand Great Worlds, which supreme heavenly immortal?"

Hardly anyone knows.

Translation: "Almost no one knew."

Only the Linglong Immortal Venerable within the Pure Yang Hall, the Chi Abyss Demon Venerable, and the Heart Demon Old Man—who were inside the Pure Yang Hall—knew who the master of that giant hand was, and through it they beheld the true form of Chen Zheng standing aloof beyond endless light‑years.

Translation: "Only the Linglong Immortal Venerable in the Pure Yang Hall, the Chiyuan Devil Venerable, and the Heart Devil Old One knew who the master of that great hand was, and through that hand in the cosmos they saw Chen Zheng's true form standing proudly beyond endless light-years."

Even after learning the truth, the three were still profoundly shocked, feeling it almost unreal.

Translation: "Even knowing the truth, the three were still deeply shaken, feeling somewhat unreal."

Chi Abyss Demon Venerable stroked his beard and lamented: "When I first met my senior brother in the Five Elements Realm, he was only a divine‑ability secret realm, his strength barely matching that of an ancient titan; yet in just a few short months he has attained this stature—indeed a reincarnation of the Primordial Demon Lord."

Translation: "Chiyuan Devil Venerable stroked his beard and sighed: 'Back when I met my senior brother in the Land of the Five Elements, he was merely at the Shen Tong Mi Jing stage, his power barely matching an ancient giant; now, after just a few months, he has reached this level—truly a reincarnation of the Primordial Devil Lord.'"

He sincerely rejoiced for Chen Zheng, and also for himself; as his junior disciple, he too will soon rise with the tide.

Translation: "He genuinely rejoiced for Chen Zheng and for himself; as his junior brother, he would soon also rise with the tide."

The Heart Demon Elder also gasped in amazement, giving a thumbs‑up: "So Senior Brother Chen has ascended to the third tier of the Immortal Longevity Cave Heaven realm, his combat power comparable to a Celestial Immortal—truly strong, invincible!"

"He has already completely surpassed me? How little time has passed—how little indeed." Linglong Immortal Sovereign murmured to herself, a fierce sense of urgency rising within, and the Wuji relic in her hand tightened ever more.

Chen Zheng is too strong, too fast; even she, who has always been dominant and hailed as a legend by countless cultivators of the Ganges Sand, feels she can't keep up.

She is a legend—what, then, is Chen Zheng?

Boom!

Just as Linglong Immortal Sovereign and the others were lost in their own thoughts, the sky‑covering colossal hand in the cosmos moved again. This time, instead of a torrent of ink‑black sea, five massive fingers descended like five pillars that once upheld the heavens, crashing down and shaking the eight directions, then snatching the floating Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram in space.

"Sss… that senior Celestial Immortal actually wants to seize a divine artifact!" a stunningly beautiful, seductive female among the demon‑race elites trembled and couldn't help but exclaim.

Her name is Tu Mi, one of the eight Great Saints of the subterranean demon race, titled the "Mystic Heaven Great Saint," a fox.

"Although the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram lost much of its former power when, three thousand years ago, it was expended in the assault on the Xuanhuang Great World, it was still a divine relic that descended from the heavens when the Wuji Star Palace was founded thirty thousand years ago, bestowed by the Celestial Immortals to guard the Dao order and, when needed, serve as a bridge between the mortal realm and the Celestial Realm. That senior brother's attempt to seize it will not be easy; it may even provoke the wrath of the Immortals and bring down divine punishment!" The Chi Ren King, standing before the many demon elites, wore an expression of utmost gravity.

As the lord of the Ancient Demon Hall and the foremost master beneath the Wuji Great World, he has battled the Wuji Star Palace for hundreds of thousands of years, knows the sect intimately, and naturally is aware of many of the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram's secrets.

Sure enough.

Before his words finished, from the towering portal at the very center of the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram—once a source of endless celestial thunder—came an ice‑cold, scolding roar, as if the ancient Celestial Emperor seated atop the Ninth Heaven were berating the crawling ants below: "Which mortal dares to slaughter the Dao order of my Nying Emperor's Court in the lower realm and seize the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram? Stop this at once and kneel to confess! Do not think that a hint of unrefined strength lets you disregard the decrees of my Nying Emperor's Court!"

"Heh, the Nying Emperor's Court, huh? When I ascend to the Celestial Realm I'll erase it from the heavens entirely! And you—what low‑ranking servant of the Nying Court are you? Tell me your name so I can wipe out your whole clan later."

Chen Zheng's cold laugh rang across the universe, sharp and decisive; the seized giant finger shifted its momentum and snapped toward the towering portal standing at the center of the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram.

Sss…

The heroes trembled in terror, nearly fainting from shock.

Who would have thought the owner of the massive hand would be so overbearing—so outrageously domineering that he would call a bona fide Immortal a lowly servant.

He even threatened to kill his way into the Celestial Realm.

That's insane!

It is said that the Celestial Realm is the origin of all worlds, more vast than the combined three thousand great worlds, filled with countless Immortal secret realms, and populated by innumerable Great Golden Immortals who have long vanished from the mortal realm.

"Cow‑hearted scoundrel, behead!" A bone‑chilling roar erupted from within the towering portal; the Immortal inside seemed struck at a sore point by Chen Zheng and was utterly enraged.

Swish!

From the portal burst a vast celestial light that pierced heaven and earth, transparent and pure like divine thunder, yet a hundred‑million times brighter than the Great Sun, like the heavens' raging fire, intent on incinerating Chen Zheng.

"It's the legendary Celestial Realm Pure Fire, capable of burning everything, even melting immortal matter!" Feng Baiyu's eyes narrowed sharply as he recognized the source of the transparent light, seeming utterly terrifying.

Yet the so‑called Pure Fire, upon touching Chen Zheng's fingertip, was drowned by the calamity water spewing from his tip, extinguishing instantly and having no effect.

The towering portal was also struck by the rebounding finger, shattering into glass‑like fragments.

The Immortal's voice from within the portal sounded again, its tone brimming with murderous intent that filled the heavens and earth: "Arrogant ant, were it not for the Celestial Realm's rules that prevent me from descending easily, you would have died thousands of times already! Wait for me—I'll report to Lord Nying immediately, and have him personally descend to slay you, that damned ant, and settle all karmic debts…"

The towering portal shattered and dissipated into the world.

Chen Zheng's massive hand also descended, clutching the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram.

The diagram quivered wildly, its surface erupting with tens of thousands of unmatched starlight beams, each capable of turning a galaxy to dust, striking the massive hand, yet they were swallowed by the boundless ocean within his grasp, falling silent.

Boom!

The massive hand squeezed gently; the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram could not endure the terrifying force, a mournful wail of a spirit vessel echoed from within, and the diagram kept shrinking—shrink, shrink, shrink—until it became a tiny chaotic star map, floating silently in his palm.

"My heavens! The Celestial Realm's Immortal was repelled by that senior, and the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram was suppressed—what a divine artifact!"

"The Wuji Star Palace, which shone for hundreds of thousands of years, has been utterly annihilated today; nothing useful remains. That senior is invincible, having overturned a world ranked among the hundreds—could he be a Great Golden Immortal?"

"Master, did your heavenly spirit witness it? The Wuji Star Palace has been destroyed, and the deep blood‑sea vendetta has finally been avenged…"

Across the Wuji Great World, the heroes roared in horrified frenzy; the members of the Star Gate wept and laughed, many nearly convinced they were dreaming.

Even Chi Ren King, the seven Great Saints, Feng Baiyu's family of three, and the three of Linglong Immortal Sovereign all had a moment of stunned bewilderment.

Above the heavens, the massive hand clutching the Mixed Origin Wuji Diagram suddenly shrank to human size; the boundless ocean vanished, and its owner Chen Zheng appeared before everyone's eyes, hovering in midair, a black‑gold robe flapping wildly in the wind, his posture incomparably majestic, his handsome visage dazzling, like a supreme king surveying all living beings.

It's him!

Outside the Saintess Hall, Feng Baiyu was about to summon Xing Xiaohuang and Feng Yaoguang to accompany him in paying respects to the senior who saved his family's lives, but when he saw Chen Zheng's face clearly, he froze on the spot, then a complex expression—bitterness and regret—washed over his face.

Xing Xiaohuang looked at Feng Baiyu in surprise: "Husband, you actually know that senior?"

"Who is that senior?"

Feng Yaoguang had originally been drawn by Chen Zheng's unparalleled bearing, her beautiful eyes flashing with wonder; now hearing Feng Baiyu's words, she withdrew her gaze from Chen Zheng and looked toward her own father, her eyes full of curiosity and inquiry.

In the past, because her mother Xing Xiaohuang was imprisoned by the Wuji Star Palace, Feng Baiyu, as her husband, watched his wife suffer without taking action to rescue her, which left her harboring deep resentment toward Feng Baiyu.

When Feng Baiyu rescued Xing Xiaohuang, reuniting mother and daughter, that long‑standing grudge faded by more than half but still lingered.

But now, Feng Baiyu's attitude seems to be that he knows Chen Zheng, that incomparable gentleman of appearance, temperament, and cultivation, which made her look up to him, and her resentment eased considerably.

"He is the Chen Zheng I told you about when I searched for you on the chaotic continent last time." Feng Baiyu sighed deeply.

"What? He is Chen Zheng, the Chen Gongzi who was forced out of the Feather‑Transformation Gate because of your folly?" Feng Yaoguang was startled.

Afterward, not knowing what she had thought of, she looked annoyed, gritting her silver teeth as she glared fiercely at Feng Baiyu, as if saying: Why didn't you tell me earlier that he was Chen Zheng?

She still remembered how, back then, Feng Baiyu had found her on the Chaotic Continent, solemnly informing her that he had already selected a perfect match for her—named Chen Zheng—not only handsome but also extraordinarily talented, indeed the greatest genius of all time in the Xuanhuang Grand World.

He also urged her to immediately follow him back to the Xuanhuang Grand World to find Chen Zheng, lower her pride and cultivate feelings with him, preferably setting an auspicious day for their wedding.

Back then, Feng Yaoguang loathed Feng Baiyu intensely, and her mind was wholly occupied with coming to the Ultimate Star Palace to rescue her mother—she had no leisure to talk about love.

She impatiently refused, telling Feng Baiyu never to mention the ideal match again, or else she would turn hostile—there would be no father‑daughter relationship left.

What kind of good man could a treacherous scoundrel like Feng Baiyu find for her? How could he possibly be called an ideal husband?

Even if he were a genius and extraordinarily handsome, what would it matter?

She disdained to even glance at him.

But now, having witnessed Chen Zheng's true capabilities, she wished she could slap Feng Baiyu hard twice and demand why he hadn't told her earlier how extraordinary he was.

Such a great man could never be a treacherous scoundrel!

「……」

Feng Baiyu said helplessly: "You're now getting close to Chen Zheng; it's not too late to draw nearer to him."

Xing Xiao Huang, from the behavior and words of this father‑daughter pair, grasped the general idea. Seeing Feng Yaoguang's pretty face full of embarrassment, she quickly took her hand and earnestly said: "As a young lady, you must let go of your reserve and learn to take the initiative. When I first met your father, it was I who took the initiative."

"Really?" Feng Yaoguang said dubiously.

"Absolutely true." Feng Baiyu's face softened into a gentle smile: "Back then, the number of suitors who pursued your mother was enough to circle the Xuanhuang Grand World, and among them was even a Heaven‑Immortal cultivator, yet she alone took a liking to me."

Feng Yaoguang was finally persuaded by her parents, her face flushing red, her voice barely audible as a mosquito: "Well then, let's go together to thank Young Master Chen for saving our lives, and I… I'll take the opportunity to exchange a few words with him."

As she spoke, she lifted her gaze once more to the heavens, only to find that Chen Zheng was no longer in his original spot—he had already descended onto the Ultimate Grand World.

"We pay our respects to Immortal Master Chen, thanking him for saving our lives!"

Chi Ren Wang led the seven great sages of the demon tribe, accompanied by numerous Supreme Elder‑level underlings, to the square outside the Pure Yang Hall, where they bowed deeply to Chen Zheng—who had just retracted his avatar and was speaking with the three Immortal Masters Linglong—eyes filled with reverence.

The Three Elders of the Star Clan and the Star Lord, among others, likewise arrived here and paid their respects.

"No need for formalities."

Chen Zheng casually waved his hand, flicked his fingers, and the primordial meteorite he had borrowed from the Star Clan's members shot out from his sleeve, hovering before the Star Lord and the others.

He then turned to Chi Ren Wang and asked: "Are you Chi Ren Wang, the strongest being in the subterranean world? From today onward, the depths of the Ultimate Grand World remain under your demon tribe, but the surface belongs to the Star Clan; the two sides must never clash—do you have any objections?"

Chi Ren Wang shuddered, daring not to object, and hastily clasped his hands: "I will obediently follow Immortal Master Chen's orders!"

"Immortal Master!"

The Star Lord suddenly fell to his knees with a thud, knocking his head against the ground like pounding garlic toward Chen Zheng.

The surrounding Star Clan Elders and others, excited over obtaining the Ultimate Grand World, were stunned, not knowing why the Star Lord suddenly performed this great rite—could it be to thank Chen Zheng for helping them destroy the Ultimate Star Palace and granting them a world?

Such a great kindness certainly warrants kowtowing in gratitude.

The Three Elders of the Star Clan and the others hurried to kneel.

But just then, the Star Lord spoke a sentence that startled them: "Immortal Master, our Star Clan only wishes to forever follow at your side and serve you!"

"Exactly, our Star Clan seeks no reward, only to forever serve the Immortal Master!" The Three Elders of the Star Clan and the others suddenly realized, hurriedly kneeling to kowtow to Chen Zheng.

"Forget it; when we return to the Xuanhuang Grand World, you will be merged into my Linglong Blessed Land." Chen Zheng shook his head, chuckling.

"Thank you, Immortal Master! Thank you, Immortal Master!" The Star Lord and the others were even more excited than if they had gained thousands of Ultimate Grand Worlds, nearly bringing tears to their eyes.

"Immortal Master, I am unworthy, but I wish to pledge eternal loyalty to you; may I be given a chance?"

Chi Ren Wang watched the Star Clan members enviously, his heart torn, hesitating for a long time; finally gritting his teeth, he too knelt before Chen Zheng.

"Please grant us, Immortal Master, a chance!"

Seeing this, the seven great demon sages likewise dropped to their knees in unison, repeatedly kowtowing as if pleading.

Such a terrifying existence as Chen Zheng, who with three stages of longevity could suppress immortal artifacts, if missed, would be regretted for a lifetime.

"Very well, you shall stay here and manage the Ultimate Grand World for me." Chen Zheng nodded, then said to the three Linglong Immortal Masters and the Star Clan members: "Let's go, we're returning to the Linglong Blessed Land."

The crowd departed in a mighty throng under Chen Zheng's leadership, unaware that astonishing changes had already occurred in the Xuanhuang Grand World, and an unfathomable danger now lay in wait for them. (End of chapter)