Chapter 491: The Marvelous Treasure Land

Long before entering that Buddha-land in the form of the Spirit-Ming Stone Monkey, Kongkong Daoist had deduced the secrets of Donggaozi and Jingcang Bianji Buddha through divination.

And because his true form, the Red-Cheeked Horse Monkey, naturally understands yin-yang, comprehends human affairs, excels in entering and exiting realms, and can evade death and prolong life, he was inherently attuned to the art of divination.

Not long after returning from that Buddha-land, his true form had grown so rare in its emergence that he opened an altar, performed rites, and even borrowed the Upper Salvation Golden Dipper to personally divine Donggaozi’s current situation, seeking to learn just how far this man had progressed.

Kongkong Daoist had never walked the path of virtue and fortune, and held no great doctrinal conflict with Donggaozi.

The two ought to have remained uninvolved, each treading their own way.

But Kongkong Daoist knew that in this multiverse, every additional player equal to himself, in a situation where one hair’s movement stirs the whole body, inevitably produced immeasurable effects on the balance of power.

It would make the hidden tides surge even fiercer—and perhaps even jeopardize his own grand scheme for the future…

Thus, Kongkong Daoist could not rest easy.

Though Kongkong Daoist could rarely manifest his true form, and though he had borrowed a great treasure, he could only deduce that Donggaozi had shifted from karmic virtue to fortune virtue, intending to use fortune virtue as his foundation to attain a higher realm.

But whether Donggaozi had truly succeeded in his intentions, advanced further on the Dao, and become a player equal to himself…

In this regard, since his final trace had vanished at the Gate of All Wonders, it seemed he had entered its depths.

Even with his supreme mastery in divination, Kongkong Daoist’s power could not pierce the chaotic, layered, and Dao-chaotic ruins of the old world to accurately divine Donggaozi’s condition—he could only shake his head and cease.

“The chaos of the Fa Saint Heaven is growing ever more intense. If the great calamity truly erupts, how many factions will place heavy bets? How many immortals and gods will descend personally?”

Unless a figure like the Master himself intervenes fully to mediate, the multiverse’s balance will surely shatter. At such a time, whichever faction grows strongest will have the greatest chance to survive the great calamity.

Thus, might Yuanchen’s weight have increased slightly?

Donggaozi faked his death to escape; Daxian has forged the Celestial Punishment Axe. Think on it—truly, it is a season of turmoil!”

Suddenly, Kongkong Daoist on the cliff shook his head and spoke these words, his gaze deep and enigmatic.

The old monkey beside him, still dazed, immediately lowered his head.

He forced his face to shed its shock and fear, cultivated and regulated his qi several times, and finally regained his composure.

Due to Kongkong Daoist’s ritual, the old monkey had witnessed every scene that had just unfolded.

Whether it was the Nine-Headed Lion splitting earth and sea, or the Heavenly Lord of Baiyang Temple openly manifesting his gaze, or the Buddha of Compassionate Wisdom revealing his majestic form in boundless void…

None were anything less than titanic beings of the multiverse!

Others without fortune could scarcely hope to meet even their disciples or kin, let alone witness their direct manifestations!

Yet even these shocks paled beside the overwhelming terror the ancient stone axe had inflicted upon the old monkey.

The stone axe looked utterly ordinary, as if a clumsy mortal craftsman had made it—rough, pitted, its sharpest edge riddled with dents.

Aside from lightning and thunder coiling around it, there was nothing mystical.

Yet this ordinary stone axe somehow filled the old monkey with a sense of immense, overwhelming power—as if it could execute heaven’s punishment, encompass the supreme, contain the boundless, emerge from the seamless, and govern all things in accordance with yin-yang.

As if, the moment the axe fell, whatever lay before it would be cleaved in two.

And after the stone axe had directly clashed with the Buddha of Compassionate Wisdom, nearly slain the Nine-Headed Lion, and even forced Kongkong Daoist to rise and form seals to confront it…

The terror reached its peak, leaving the old monkey’s spirit unsteady, his thoughts hazy.

“…”

At this moment, the old monkey had barely steadied his spirit. After hesitation, he could not help but ask:

“Ancestor, that axe just now?”

Kongkong Daoist glanced at him and said:

“The Celestial Punishment Axe—the ultimate treasure Daxian once wielded. But this artifact was inherently incomplete. Before Tianyi Yan rebelled against heaven, Daxian had even persuaded Tianyi Yan himself to repair it. Yet even with Tianyi Yan’s creative power, he failed utterly.”

Since then, the axe had rarely appeared in the world; Daxian mostly used other divine treasures in battle. Now, this is strange indeed.”

“So… the Celestial Punishment Axe has been fully repaired?”

The old monkey involuntarily replied, still trembling at the memory of its overwhelming might.

Kongkong Daoist paid no mind to the old monkey’s idle speculations. He gazed into the distant sky, lost in thought.

Today’s spectacle was, for him, a true delight.

Kongkong Daoist knew well: under the pretext of Donggaozi’s shift to the Fortune Dao, the great beings had subtly united, each harboring silent agreement, intending to jointly challenge Yuanchen.

Their aim was to probe Yuanchen’s depths, to gauge the strength of its Immortals, so they might prepare for the coming great calamity.

Ideally, they hoped to force Donggaozi to appear in order to assess the Daoist cultivation of the former Master of the Heavenly Gang Manifestation Hall.

Of course, if Yuanchen showed weakness here, yielding territory or benefits, that would be ideal—exactly what they desired.

But Kongkong Daoist knew: if Yuanchen showed weakness, it would no longer be Yuanchen, and would never possess its current glorious reputation!

Under siege by enemies, showing weakness is a last resort.

In Kongkong Daoist’s view, as long as any alternative exists, one must never do so.

Such an act brings no respite—it only reveals one’s fatigue, inviting even harsher oppression, like a slow blade cutting flesh, step by step, until no retreat remains.

“Who could have foreseen that their united pressure would not force out Yuanchen’s Immortals, but Daxian instead?”

“It’s as if one sought to catch a whale of the deep ocean, yet met a great dragon of the celestial river. But never mind…”

Kongkong Daoist shook his head, smiling inwardly.

In truth, he was pleased by the actions of the Nine-Headed Lion, the Crimson-Clad Daoist, and others.

Though he had expended great effort to deduce that Donggaozi was now within the Gate of All Wonders, unlikely to manifest,

it was still worthwhile to witness Yuanchen’s Immortals act before the Fa Saint Heaven’s calamity, to glimpse this sect’s depths.

Yet Daxian had remotely summoned the Celestial Punishment Axe, shattering the Nine-Headed Lion’s scheme beyond repair—something even Kongkong Daoist had not anticipated.

“To witness the true nature of the Celestial Punishment Axe today has made this spectacle worthwhile.”

“Yet how, after Tianyi Yan was imprisoned in the Three Realms Cave and the primordial age collapsed, could the Celestial Punishment Axe be fully repaired—when even Tianyi Yan himself had failed?”

Kongkong Daoist’s thoughts shifted, then his gaze settled on Chen Hang, then turned to the old monkey standing silently beside him, and he smiled:

“Enough of the spectacle. Now, let us speak of matters of consequence. What are Yuanshu’s plans?”

“…”

The old monkey, startled, looked up blankly, utterly confused.

Kongkong Daoist spoke slowly:

“I know Yuanshu’s nature. To me, though we share no blood, our temperaments are nearly identical.”

Indeed, I have always held great hopes for Yuanshu. His actions prove he will surely expand the Sect of Catastrophe Immortals I founded—he is destined to become a founding patriarch.”

As long as he survives the human tribulation and attains the celestial immortal realm, he will eventually join our ranks—capable of trampling all beings, ruling heaven and earth!”

But all this… depends on him surviving the human tribulation.”

The old monkey now understood. He looked down at a cloud bank below, where Fu Lao had placed a hand on Chen Hang’s shoulder; both figures transformed into a bolt of lightning and headed toward a nearby realm.

The old monkey pondered, but after straining his mind, found no instruction from Chen Yuanshu regarding himself.

He gave an awkward smile, fearful of angering Kongkong Daoist, and lowered his head cautiously:

“Ancestor, before Yuanshu sent me to Douruyu to meet you, he mentioned only the Yuanchen Ancestral Ancestor and the Deliverance Talisman.”

As for how Yuanshu intends to handle Chen Hang… this… he gave me no instructions before I departed.”

Kongkong Daoist gave the old monkey a meaningful glance and smiled:

“You still don’t remember? You’re wrong—he gave you clear instructions.”

Saying this, Kongkong Daoist raised a finger and pointed at the old monkey’s third eye.

Instantly, the old monkey felt a thunderous Zhen in his mind; a forgotten memory surged forth, making him widen his eyes in shock.

“Yuanshu, you’ve got quite the move!”

The old monkey’s face darkened.

…

…

After Kongkong Daoist’s finger touched him, the old monkey recalled Chen Yuanshu’s instructions before departure.

And Chen Yuanshu had deliberately obscured his soul’s memory for this reason.

Upon reflection, it was not hard to guess…

“How long has it been since Yuanshu mastered the ‘Embryonic Light Passing Shadow’ method that Lao Mu the Immortal of Wood bestowed upon you?”

Are you using this method to display your divine talent, hoping to win the Ancestor’s support for your grand scheme? Such innate potential is truly terrifying!”

The old monkey strained to recall, but could not remember when Chen Yuanshu had used the ‘Embryonic Light Passing Shadow’ method to subtly cloud his soul within the Waterborne Rongcheng Lifesaving Heaven.

He rubbed his head, wearing a pained expression.

Though he now knew Chen Yuanshu was no longer the same—he was a Sixth Sect Demon Master, a Pure Yang True Person, a towering figure renowned across the Nine Provinces and Four Seas, destined by the Dark Five Manifested Dao Lord to ascend to immortality—

He was no longer the Heavenly Edict True Talisman from Xu Huang Heaven who needed the old monkey’s hidden aid just to survive.

Yet to see Chen Yuanshu so casually, so effortlessly, manipulate him like a pawn to demonstrate his talent to Kongkong Daoist—without the old monkey ever sensing a thing—

The old monkey’s thoughts were now complex, a storm of emotions, unsure what to say.

While the old monkey pondered, Kongkong Daoist had swiftly sifted through the memory deliberately concealed, understanding exactly what Chen Yuanshu intended next.

He narrowed his eyes, smiled, and after a long pause, sighed in admiration.

“Yuanshu, you intend to use this method to confront the human tribulation? Indeed—those who cannot plan for the whole cannot plan for a part; those who cannot plan for ten thousand generations cannot plan for a single moment.”

Such a tribulation blocking your path demands even greater caution—no excess is too much. As for the length of time, it is hardly worth counting.”

If this method has merit, I say it lies precisely in its inevitability and its resistance to defense!”

Though difficult and time-consuming to prepare, if truly accomplished, Yuanshu, you may rid yourself of Chen Hang, your greatest internal threat.”

If it fails…”

At this, Kongkong Daoist’s lips curled into a strange smile; his words halted mid-sentence.

He nodded to the old monkey:

“At first, I was curious: with Yuanchen’s current power and Chen Hang’s present status, how would Yuanshu strike? How would he use a divine descent body to duel Chen Hang?”

The divine vessel can never compare to one’s own physical form; even a hair’s breadth difference can become a fatal flaw in combat—if he truly intends this, he’s squandering the Immortal Catastrophe Talisman in his hands.

This kind of brilliant stratagem…

Among all the Catastrophe Beasts accompanying the Catastrophe Seed, you are undoubtedly the most accomplished.

At this moment, the old monkey also dispelled the faint irritation in his heart and kept smiling apologetically.

Since his creation by Kongkong Daoist, he and Chen Yushu have shared the same fortune and misfortune.

Since their interests are aligned, if Chen Yushu truly attains the Dao, even creatures like him could ascend to heaven in broad daylight along with him.

If that’s the case, why dwell on such minor grievances?

“Sending Yue You from the Earth Abyss, setting an ambush in the Eastern Sea, the divine descent body at Ganliu Herb Garden, and today’s scheme…”

The old monkey thought for a moment and couldn’t help but feel a chill run down his scalp:

“Truly, one scheme follows another—Yushu, anyone who opposes you is doomed!”

As the old monkey secretly trembled in fear, Kongkong Daoist finally turned his gaze toward Chen Heng, then waved his hand slightly; the hundreds of thousands of clouds below the cliff instantly dispersed and vanished forever.

To have cultivated the Grand Yi Divine Thunder at the Golden Core stage—

Even Kongkong Daoist couldn’t help but feel a pang of admiration, and his desire to claim Chen Heng as a Catastrophe Seed grew even stronger.

If Chen Heng had been ordinary, he could have easily laid an ambush, gradually forcing him into a corner until he had no choice but to submit to him, just like the other Catastrophe Seeds.

But Chen Heng has already become a disciple of Yuanchen, with the Yuanchen Immortals—and even Great Manifestation—standing behind him as patrons.

Such familiar tactics are unlikely to succeed now…

“Very well, I shall wait and see whether you can escape again in the coming Catastrophe War—Chen Heng, I await your Daoic achievement!”

Kongkong Daoist smiled inwardly.

Meanwhile, in a small alternate realm near the Buddha Realm.

After carefully recounting the events that had just transpired to Chen Heng, Master Fu fell into deep thought, his face filled with profound emotion; then, composing himself, he stated his intention to depart.

“Aren’t you planning to return to Xiao Ming Marsh first?” Chen Heng asked.

“The sect is currently at peace; returning would serve no purpose. Even Great Manifestation himself just appeared in person—who dares to covet it now?”

Master Fu gazed at the endless sky and sighed:

“After spending so long imprisoned in the Buddha Realm, I’ve finally regained my freedom—I must attend to some matters of my own.”

Chen Heng bowed respectfully, bid Master Fu farewell with a smile, and thanked him once again for his assistance.

“No need for such formalities—it’s no great favor. Unfortunately, after years of battling monks in the Buddha Realm, I’ve used up every last pill I had; otherwise, as a senior of the sect, I should have given you a proper welcome gift.”

Before Chen Heng could politely refuse, Master Fu waved his hand dismissively and laughed heartily:

“When you achieve the Yuan Shen stage and subdue Ji Fa Kai to become the designated heir, I’ll return to Xiao Ming Marsh to congratulate you in person—and then I’ll make up for this gift. For now, I’m off!”

With those words, Master Fu instantly transformed into a beam of pure light and vanished, his booming laughter echoing for a long time through the clouds.

The sheer joy and exhilaration in that laughter, even from afar, was impossible not to feel.

“Great Manifestation Ancestor… the Heaven’s Punishment Axe…”

Standing in place, Chen Heng did not leave immediately; after deep contemplation, a smile appeared on his face, and he too transformed into a streak of sword-light, vanishing instantly into the highest heavens.

Thanks to the opportunity gained within the Buddha Realm, in just five years, he had entered the Grand Yi Divine Thunder—his wish fulfilled.

Compared to his original plan, this was more than a year and a half ahead of schedule!

Since the Golden Core Assembly was still over forty years away, he would stick to his original plan: observe the heavens and earth, travel through countless realms, and strive to uncover their mysteries, advancing his cultivation to the third sub-stage of the Golden Core.

Grand Yi Divine Thunder, Yinming True Water—

These two great arts consume immense amounts of spiritual energy, far surpassing ordinary techniques in scale and intensity, like heaven and earth apart.

Even though he had cultivated a top-grade Golden Core and possessed spiritual energy far exceeding others of his level,

his current cultivation was still insufficient—he needed to ascend to the next sub-stage just to barely manage them.

And with forty years remaining, barring unforeseen obstacles, it should be enough for him to break through another sub-stage and fully manifest his Inner Landscape before the Golden Core Assembly!

Faintly, a streak of sword-light darted through the clouds like a coiling dragon, flickering once before vanishing.

……

……

Twenty-four years later, Miaobao Land.

A beam of pure light slowly descended, then dissolved into thin air, revealing Chen Heng’s figure.