CHAPTER 540: 435 ZHANGG COUPLE

"Daoist Qi."

As the intense battle raged on, Yu Ming Immortal Venerable arrived belatedly, accompanied by the two Heavenly Venerates, Yu Cheng and Shanhua.

Outside the Immortal Sect, the nine Immortal Venerables had gathered together, creating an unprecedented grand occasion.

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable approached Chen Jichuan and said, "The matters of Taiyin have been carried out in secret; I just learned of them and came swiftly. I hope I didn’t arrive too late."

Currently, he had firmly allied himself with Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan, swiftly tying himself to their ranks—a move that had undoubtedly drawn envy and jealousy from numerous Heavenly Venerates and Immortal Venerables across the Nine Heavens.

Clearly, he knew whom he ought to aid at this moment.

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable paid his respects to Chen Jichuan and then turned to observe the battlefield. Upon noticing the scene, he saw eight Heavenly Venerates—including Yongye and Wanying—sitting cross-legged to one side, all with closed eyes, stabilizing their injuries. Immortal light flickered and trembled around them—evidence of their heavy wounds.

As he turned his gaze to the current battle, there was a sword light more dazzling than anything else. At first glance, it seemed like five Immortal Venerables were besieging Wang Yan alone. But upon closer inspection, it became clear that Wang Yan, with just one person and one sword, effortlessly suppressed all five Immortal Venerables.

"Daoist Dongning possesses powers this remarkable?!"

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable was delighted.

He had always been close to Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan, often discussing sword techniques and engaging in friendly sparring matches. Yet, those exchanges had always been measured and restrained—this was the first time he had witnessed Wang Yan’s true strength.

Shock filled him.

Joy overwhelmed him.

"Daoist Yu Ming."

As Chen Jichuan prepared to step up and join the fray, he noticed that Yu Ming Immortal Venerable had arrived. Immediately, he grinned and said, "Please, Daoist, guard the formation for me and my wife while I go face Bixia and Xuanming, these two Immortal Venerables."

With those words,

Chen Jichuan took a step forward and entered the battlefield.

"Wind Thunder Venerable?"

"What does he intend to do?"

"This man relied on Dongning Immortal Venerable to rise to the Four Realms. Rumor has it, he’s known as the ’Soft Rice Venerable.’ Could he be playing sly?"

A crowd of Heavenly Venerates was startled by Chen Jichuan’s movements.

Throughout these years, Chen Jichuan—taking advantage of Wang Yan’s Immortal Sword—had easily traveled between the celestial and underworld locations of Chongming Realm’s various cultivation treasure grounds.

While he cultivated, Wang Yan safeguarded him from outside threats.

As time passed,

his reputation naturally tarnished.

The many Upper Immortals and Heavenly Venerates of the Chongming Realm were equally envious and resentful. Their distorted perspectives ensured Chen Jichuan’s infamy spread far and wide like a foul wind. On the surface, every Upper Immortal treated him with respect, and Heavenly Venerates interacted with grace and warmth.

But in private, laughter and scorn ran rampant.

This entrenched stereotype had endured for nearly forty thousand years, rumors turning fiction into truth. Consequently, Chen Jichuan’s decision to act first caught Bixia and Xuanming, the two ancient Immortal Venerables, momentarily by surprise.

They quickly regained focus—

"This man possesses strength!"

Chen Jichuan stepped forward, and behind him, five figures descended in succession. Each exuded majestic dignity, resplendent and awe-inspiring—five Emperor Phases.

As the Five Directions Emperor Phases emerged,

the Five Elements Immortal Sword split into five, wielded by each Phase—striking and taking aim at the remaining Heavenly Venerates near the white jade stairs.

"Magic Power Avatar!"

"Thought-Avatar projection!"

The Heavenly Venerates’ hearts churned with mixed emotions.

The "Magic Power Avatar" differed from the Divine Soul avatar, comprising only a sliver of consciousness infused purely with mana. It couldn’t autonomously cultivate nor remain outside for extended durations.

Its use was confined to combat circumstances.

The avatars’ capabilities varied depending on the chosen magic skill.

Some avatars wielded only thirty to fifty percent of their master’s strength.

Others nearly matched their master’s full power.

Though cultivators in Chongming Realm practiced Magic Power Avatars, even Heavenly Venerates typically could only enhance their avatars to five or six-tenths of their own strength, rendering them less useful during battles with similarly ranked opponents.

Watching Chen Jichuan unleash five Emperor Phase avatars against them now, some felt insulted.

Yet, a few discerning individuals recognized immediately: "These avatars are formidable!"

Regardless of their internal judgments, following his creation of the five Emperor Phase avatars, Chen Jichuan ceased paying attention to the remaining Heavenly Venerates. His feet swept across Wind Thunder as he pointed forward, sending Sword Qi cascading outward, manifesting the "Seven Emotions Magic Sword."

The Sword Qi surged directly at the two Immortal Venerables.

"Stop him!"

Bixia Immortal Venerable, ever cautious, stepped backward and solemnly raised nine azure beads from her wrist in offering.

This treasure, named the "Mountain and River Pearl," had been commissioned from an Artifact Refining Master long before Bixia had achieved transcendence. Over countless eras, it had been carried alongside her, refined and nourished continuously. Within the pearls resided innumerable mountains infused with boundless immortal energy. Each individual "Mountain and River Pearl" represented a pinnacle Immortal Treasure, weighing as much as ten thousand mountains combined. When the nine pearls’ energies merged into one, their destructive might could sink continents and drown seas.

A single strike from this artifact would intimidate even Yu Ming Immortal Venerable enough to avoid direct confrontation.

"Daoist, be careful!"

Yu Ming Immortal Venerable’s heart tightened as he swept his mana, hurdling forward to aid Chen Jichuan.

Fully aware of the current situation, Yu Ming Immortal Venerable understood—

"How many Holy Artifacts exist within the Immortal Gate Realm?"

"How many can truly ascend?"

"Dongning Immortal Venerable."

"Wind Thunder Venerable."

"And myself."

"Considering the nature of their personalities, perhaps Yu Cheng and Shanhua might also have a chance."

"But if the five of us were to sequentially obtain sufficient Holy Marks to transcend, would the remaining Holy Artifacts still suffice for the others? Even if they were enough, would those two still be willing to linger within Chongming Realm for another lengthy stretch of years?"

Clarity filled Yu Ming Immortal Venerable’s thoughts.

Chen Jichuan and Wang Yan had no desire for prolonged stays in Chongming Realm, yet there was no obstacle in relinquishing their peerless martial arts from within the Immortal Gate Realm.

Their reluctance seemed more likely tied to their consideration for him. Yu Ming Immortal Venerable felt deeply moved and, at this critical juncture, swiftly resolved to give his all in support.

But just as he surged forward—

"Mountain and River Pearl?"

"What an extraordinary treasure!"

The "Wind Thunder Venerable," standing opposite the "Mountain and River Pearl," did not dodge or evade. Instead, with one sweeping motion of his wide sleeves, radiance burst forth, and those nine "Mountain and River Pearls" froze momentarily, only to spiral directly into Chen Jichuan’s sleeves.