Chapter 313: Calamity Punishment

Leaden clouds obscured the sky, and the wind carried a bleak, desolate hue.

Chen Heng looked around, seeing only water light merging with the sky and clouds, vast and boundless.

Above, the moonlight flowed gently and softly, like water soaking into the raging sea beneath the clouds, swirling and spreading with the tides, with no one knowing where it would ultimately go.

This was also a realm of the Water Kingdom's vast oceans.

If yesterday's residence of the Dragon Lord had shown long whales overturning waves and fish and dragons dancing together,

it was truly a scene brimming with vitality, where all things flourished.

But this Hongze Longevity Sin-Absolution Fan Fan Dongtian was a vast, boundless expanse, endless to the eye, with only the turbid waters of the Raging Sea constantly churning and bathing in waves.

Apart from a few large islands and towering ancient peaks reaching the sky, there was no other scenery in the sea, let alone any living creatures.

It resembled the ancient state of a Yi Fang Xiao Zhi Jie just after creation, where the clear rose upward and the turbid sank downward, with heavenly essences and earthly souls still mixed within the single body of water!

At this moment, Chen Heng's gaze suddenly caught a faint glimmer of Jin Jin Guang flashing on a distant large island, brilliant and sparkling.

Its radiance was pure and bright, resembling some celestial palace or oceanic treasury.

Slightly curious, Chen Heng waved his wide sleeve, urged his sword light forward, and instantly shot into the sky, heading toward the place where the light flashed.

Before long, when he arrived above the large island and stabilized his sword light,

he saw a landscape of pearl palaces and shell gateways, jade towers and crystal halls, exceedingly magnificent.

Various halls and pavilions were built according to the terrain, arranged with elegant irregularity; viewed from the clouds, even the mountain rocks and Lin Mu within the island were dyed with a layer of shimmering rosy hues, truly a splendid sight to behold.

Hundreds of beautiful female attendants moved among these palaces and gateways, like butterflies flitting through flowers, overwhelming the eyes.

Just then, a voice suddenly sounded beside Chen Heng, sighing lightly and saying:

"This Hongze Longevity Sin-Absolution Fan Fan Dongtian was originally created by a young friend of mine from long ago; his Mei Mei Gongxing was formidable, so the Fan Fan Dongtian he created naturally belonged to the superior class. Pity that this friend met calamity and died suddenly beyond the heavens; under my authority, this Fan Fan Dongtian has remained hidden within the palace, rarely activated.

Only today has it finally welcomed guests once more..."

Chen Heng turned to look and saw that, just a few steps behind him on the cloud head, an old man filled with emotional sighs had appeared without his noticing.

The man wore a golden long robe, with a flying celestial tally hanging at his waist; his features were Chang Chang Qingjue, his head full of white hair, resembling a wealthy nobleman, yet every gesture and movement carried an awe-inspiring dignity.

He was like a sacred being transcending the dust, extraordinarily remarkable!

"May I ask who this senior is?"

Chen Heng bowed and asked respectfully.

"I am Ao Yang, and I have been acquainted with your Yu Yu Yuchen sect for many years; this time, your Tai Su calamity trial will be protected by me."

The old man in the golden robe smiled slightly and spoke kindly.

"So this is that Divine Lord..."

The thought flashed briefly through Chen Heng's mind.

Before he could ponder further, Ao Yang smiled, pointed with his finger, guided Chen Heng down toward the island, and began chatting along the way.

"Since my old friend passed away, this Hongze Longevity Sin-Absolution Fan Fan Dongtian has become quite neglected; fearing that you, young friend, might find it too desolate and uncomfortable to inhabit, I specifically ordered the palace servants to come here and perform a slight cleaning. Although time was tight and perfection impossible, at least some vitality has been added.

I hope you will not disdain its rough and simple aspects."

After passing through several hanging-flower gates, Ao Yang said to Chen Heng with a smile.

Chen Heng observed that the various buildings on the island emitted precious lights and floral shadows, too brilliant to look upon directly.

Thousands upon thousands of palace lanterns hung along the corridors on both sides, extremely ingenious and containing everything, like five-colored auspicious clouds shining upon each other. In the nurseries, many immortal grasses and rare flowers were planted for people to admire, emitting waves of subtle fragrance that penetrated deep into the heart and marrow.

The female attendants along the road, seeing the two arrive, all bowed prostrate in salute, respectful and reverent, none daring to raise their eyes.

Such an arrangement

clearly required considerable effort and was not as casually done as described...

Although Chen Heng did not understand why Ao Yang, with the lofty status of a Divine Lord, would be so courteous to a junior like himself,

he dared not show any negligence at this moment; folding his hands in salute, he said:

"The Divine Lord is too generous; with such a magnificent and cleverly beautiful scene, how could this junior harbor any feeling of disdain?"

"I know that for ordinary cultivators, feeding on wind and drinking dew, sleeping on ice and pillowing on stone, are common matters.

But you, young friend, are a famous person selected in the New Year's evaluation; in the future, you will surely rise straight to the blue clouds, dwell above the rosy mist and whip the universe, surpassing all under heaven! Why must you inflict such hardship upon yourself?"

Ao Yang glanced at him, then swept his gaze over the female attendants before them, smiling slightly as he said:

"You must know that listening to music, enjoying pleasure, admiring flowers, and drinking wine are also the carefree affairs of immortals..."

Chen Heng followed Ao Yang's gaze.

He saw that several of the female attendants here had dragon horns growing from their heads; their beauty was like spring orchids and autumn chrysanthemums, each displaying its elegance in its own time, causing his heart to tighten slightly with alertness.

After the two entered the main palace and exchanged a few words,

Ao Yang observed that Chen Heng possessed outstanding appearance and talent, with a demeanor neither humble nor arrogant, and conduct that was dignified and open.

Ao Yang felt even more delighted, a trace of satisfaction rising in his eyes.

"I came here originally to protect you, young friend, during your Break Through Realm; coming and going, I have delayed quite a bit of time—do not blame me, do not blame me."

After nearly half an hour had passed,

Ao Yang saw that the incense burning in the golden censer had faded somewhat, so he stroked his beard slightly, smiled, and said:

"Come, activate your Xue Xuan Gong!"

Chen Heng rose from his seat, expressed his gratitude solemnly, then activated his divine intent and opened all the acupoints and pores of his body.

Like a long whale sucking in water, he drew spiritual energy from the outside into his body, then gently rotated his Xue Xuan Gong.

At the instant the spiritual energy entered his body, Chen Heng felt as though he had broken through some obscure obstruction existing in the void.

His entire body of bones, sinews, skin, and membranes trembled, emitting a melodious clear sound like Jin Yu striking together; his qi and blood surged upward against the current, becoming impossible to suppress, and manifested explosively outside his body with a roaring sound!

Had this palace not been protected by prohibitions, it would likely have already shattered all the bricks and tiles and soared straight up into the clouds!

"Tai Su Zhen Xing... Tai Su Zhangren is truly wise and profound as the sea, having even created such a strange and unusual method."

Ao Yang raised his old eyes and saw that within the rolling blood qi resembling a heavenly waterfall, a vague human figure ten feet tall was sitting cross-legged in the void, identical in posture to Chen Heng's current state.

Behind his head, a faint halo of round light floated, pure and flawless, exuding an aura of chaotic gloom.

In his heart, he silently praised it, then sighed aloud.

At the very moment the Tai Su Zhen Xing manifested, Chen Heng heard only a tremendous boom beside his ear, after which he could hear not a single sound.

Simultaneously, the blood within his body continued to quake incessantly, churning like boiling water, stabbing his meridians with pain so severe they felt ready to snap, as if torn apart by ten thousand knives and saws!

In the heavens, faint Lei Jin Guang suddenly flashed, blazing with boundless brilliance; its length spanned hundreds or even thousands of li, treating the barrier of the Fan Fan Dongtian as if it were nothing, intending to extinguish all existence within the void and return everything to the primordial Xue Xuan, Yuan, and Shi Qi!

No one could block it, and nothing could obstruct it!

Such a terrifying display frightened the female attendants within the Fan Fan Dongtian until they lost control of their minds, unable to suppress their screams.

Even the several dragon maidens at the main palace turned pale, their divine souls wracked with waves of stabbing pain!

"Senior Brother Master Tongxuan, you truly still cherish old sentiments, actually entrusting this matter entirely to this old man..."

Ao Yang glanced at Chen Heng, let out a rumbling burst of laughter, and roared fiercely:

"Then I, Ao Yang, shall accept this great favor!"

As his words fell.

The entire Fan Fan Dongtian trembled in unison!

Vast light, bright as the sun, surged forth from this place, blanketing tens of thousands of li of territory beyond the Fan Fan Dongtian!

At this moment.

Beneath the layered waves of the East Sea.

An ancient god with a dragon's head and a human's body was seen holding the Hongze Changsheng Ba Zui Fan Fan Dongtian lightly in one hand, as if cradling a chicken egg.

With his other hand raised.

He struck out with all his might, delivering a single punch toward the myriad attacking Lei Ting!

At the same moment.

Within the void and the heavens, it seemed as though some strange disturbance had been sensed.

A short Daoist priest, who had been in deep sleep, suddenly rolled over and rose from his jade couch; he leaped down from the high bed, his eyes flashing, and emitted a soft "Eh?" from his mouth.

(End of Chapter)