CHAPTER 883: CHAPTER 606: REINFORCEMENTS FROM ALL DIRECTIONS

At the end of the Ancient Era, the Old Mother suffered a great defeat in the Divine War against the Heart Emperor, devouring his Great Dream Dao; destroyed the Ancient Mirage Dragon, seizing its Illusion Dao; captured the Gu Diao, yet did not slay it, instead controlling it as a hidden piece, left within the Three Thousand Worlds as a contingency.

Little did she know, Gu Diao had its own counterplot. Before the Divine War, it had already stripped a portion of its True Spirit Bloodline and Illusion Realm Dao to create a clone. After the Divine Court’s downfall, the Ancient Era drew to a close, and with the coming of the Destruction Era in the Great Universe, the Gu Diao clone united with a prodigiously gifted Eight Realm female cultivator, thus giving birth to the Heavenly Gu Daoist.

The Heavenly Gu Daoist perfectly inherited the strengths of both his parents—not only was his talent for cultivation unparalleled, but he also bore his father’s Ancient True Spirit blood, wielding several Innate Divine Abilities. From the moment of his birth, his mission was to restore Gu Diao’s True Spirit power and free him from the Old Mother of Forgetful Woes’ control. Thus he feigned service to the Forbidden Zone, working in its name, all while secretly seeking Heavenly Materials and Earthly Treasures that might restore his father.

"Even a mere mortal of inferior root bone and lacking insight could, through this mysterious fortune, ascend to the Heavenly Realm. If Father were to seize it, becoming a god would be no mere fantasy. Once Father attains godhood, I, as his blood descendant, will see my potential without limit. Then we father and son will, in the wake of the Evil God’s suppression and the Forbidden Zone’s destruction, seize the Dao Palace, command the Great Universe, and establish the Supreme Gu Diao Divine Court!" The Heavenly Gu Daoist’s thoughts soared with distant ambition.

A vast surge of spiritual power poured into the Illusion Realm, unraveling into countless chains, stabbing toward Lu Chenzhou.

Lu Chenzhou’s mind radiated with the brilliance of Circular Light, striving with all his might to resist the invasion of this superior force.

This made the Heavenly Gu Daoist even more covetous.

"If not for his Immaculate State of Mind, Lu Chenzhou would have long since fallen under my control. No use being hasty—a hasty bite burns the tongue. Take it slow. Forcefully seizing such fortune will surely trigger its defensive mechanism; should this boy awaken, things will get troublesome. Only by thoroughly assimilating and controlling him, so that he offers forth the fortune of his own will, will it be truly secure..."

...

Time flowed on.

In the real world, three months had passed; within the Illusion Realm, Lu Chenzhou meditated on the Martial Arts Tree, holding steadfast to his heart. All was illusion; only the Martial Arts Heart remained resolute.

The Heavenly Gu Daoist’s illusion attacks at last fully shattered the defenses of Circular Light, torrents of assault flooding deeper and deeper into his mind with no resistance.

The Heavenly Gu Daoist was baffled.

"Where is the soul?"

Within sight stretched an endless spiritual starry sky, the World Tree spanning across the cosmos; upon a distant spiritual wasteland, a shadow exuding a dreadful aura lingered, wandering in solitude.

The Daoist’s gaze contracted.

"The Shadow Kill Ancestor, Wangliang? This child’s spiritual world actually imprisons a demigod’s remnant will?"

He realized that to truly breach this one’s mental defenses would take a far longer road than he had expected.

Though Wangliang had long since perished, and the remnant will was but one ten-thousandth of its former self, it was, after all, a demigod. To withstand its invasion—Lu Chenzhou’s willpower, among Seventh Realms, was the strongest he had ever witnessed; even some Eighth Realms he’d slain did not compare.

The Heavenly Gu Daoist’s eyes blazed with madness: "This only further proves the extraordinary nature of the mysterious fortune! Without a doubt, this is a True God-level opportunity! For even an ant to defy fate so, this can no longer be explained by Great Power-level fortune. Fortune and opportunity—let the worthy claim them; it should be mine!"

The situation grew ever grimmer. The [Wandering Lament] killing move created by the birth of the Great Void Unlimited Spell became Lu Chenzhou’s second barrier against the Heavenly Gu Daoist.

...

Three months later.

The Elder Council.

Among tens of thousands of candle flames, several dozen burned the brightest and fiercest. The stronger the candle, the greater the power. At the very center, the candle representing Lu Chenzhou flickered, its light unstable and wavering.

"How can this be?"

"Has something happened to the Military Leader?"

"Quick, contact all the Seventh Realms!"

In a moment, the Elder Council was in upheaval; the Human World’s Seventh Realms swiftly gathered to discuss solutions.

...

Mystic Sky Realm, Star Dome Sea.

"Brother Chen, long time no see."

Bai Feng, accompanied by Hui Fa and Ye Xiaoyao, arrived to welcome the newly arrived main forces of Tianxia in the Mystic Sky Realm.

Chen Beiming looked around in all directions.

"Has the Military Leader not arrived yet?"

"Not yet."

"Strange. With the Military Leader’s speed, even taking the long route, he should have been here by now."

"Perhaps some other affair has detained him."

After some polite exchange among them—

Chen Beiming picked up the Candle Dragon Order. In a brief moment, his eyes widened: "The Military Leader’s Life Candle is highly unstable."

"Could it be battle?"

Bai Feng’s expression also tightened.

"Unclear. According to the Elder Council, since ascending from Grandmaster, the Military Leader’s Life Candle has never fluctuated so. He may be in grave danger—even the clone left in Xia Realm has fallen dormant."

...

Afar, in the West River Territory—

The Eternal Immortal was just about to enter the Sword Ancestor Ruins to investigate, when he received Chen Beiming’s urgent message.

[Master, Lu Chenzhou is in peril!]

"In the Three Thousand Worlds, there are no more than a handful of Eighth Realm beings able to threaten Chenzhou. At the very least, one must possess Middle Stage of Eighth Realm cultivation."

The Eternal Immortal’s heart weighed heavy.

The Dragon King was isolated in Dou Ancestor Cave Mansion.

Emperor Shitian stood guard in Mystic Sky, maintaining the grand balance.

He was in West River, a hundred and eight thousand li from the Eastern Extreme Territory—it would take an eternity to reach there in time.

[Wan, let me go.]

A long-silent voice echoed forth, a bald-robed figure manifesting before his eyes.

The Eternal Immortal’s pupils shone with excitement.

"You’ve broken through to Eighth?"

"Last month."

"Then your realm must not yet be stable?"

"Do we have anyone else? For such a matter as rescuing Lord Lu, could you trust the Eighth Realms of other civilizations?" The Priest smiled.

Though Da Xia and the West have cultural divides, compared to other world civilizations, they are close—especially those passing the Candle Dragon’s test, in whom one can place absolute trust.

Watching the Priest’s form fade, the Eternal Immortal murmured—

"Having set foot into End Realm of the Withering Years Dao, perhaps the Priest is not much weaker than I now."

...

Another world—

The Yaochi Immortal readied herself, standing atop a mountain as a breeze brushed her hair; her snow-white fingers lifted a veil to mask her stunning face.

The Eternal Immortal’s projection offered warning: "I’ve already sent the Priest. For one able to endanger Chenzhou, their strength must be at least Middle Stage of the Eighth Realm. Though you possess [Cosmic Light Sword], this trip carries mortal peril..."

"I am closest to Kun Gu, while the Priest is farther. I can buy him time."

Seeing the Yaochi Immortal’s resolve—

The Eternal Immortal could only admonish her:

"Then stay vigilant."

"Even if I die, it won’t affect the grand scheme of civilization at all. If Lu Chenzhou perishes, our only hope is the Dragon King."

The Yaochi Immortal bit her fingertip. Blood dripped onto the giant sword before her, the cosmic light soared high, and faintly one could see a Sword Immortal, vast enough to swallow sun, moon, and stars, open his indifferent eyes and strike toward the heavens!

The void shattered, revealing the Ruins Sea beneath.

...

Two months later—

Locked in a battle of wits and will with Lu Chenzhou, the Heavenly Gu Daoist’s face was pale: "To have mastered three of Blue Mountain’s Nine Secrets—truly troublesome."

He and Lu Chenzhou had been dueling within the Illusion Realm nearly half a year. Never before had he imagined that a Seventh Realm could resist his prized Innate Divine Ability for this long. He had tried countless methods, yet couldn’t rewrite any memories beyond October 1st... From this point on, it seemed some supreme force hid Lu Chenzhou’s recollections, making all his efforts to spy useless. Inwardly, he suspected the true face of that mysterious fortune—could it be that this one’s soul harbors a True God? Or perhaps, he himself is a True God reincarnated?

Reincarnation of the Heart Emperor? Not worthy enough.

"That can’t be—the True Gods of the Divine Court all perished body and soul with the Dao Palace’s collapse. Only Great Powers and True Spirits could barely linger until now."

The Heavenly Gu Daoist now found it hard to retreat.

"If worst comes, I’ll end this Yellow Millet Dream, release this child from the Illusion Realm, and slay him directly—bring both his corpse and soul back for examination."

The Daoist had witnessed Lu Chenzhou’s fighting—this man mastered the Three Great Extreme Daos, even the World Dao; in direct combat, the Daoist could not guarantee victory. As a leader of civilization, Lu Chenzhou must surely have hidden cards.

"Heavenly Gu, what is the situation?"

The Old Mother of Forgetful Woes’ voice rang out.

"I have already seized the reincarnation of the Heart Emperor."

Heavenly Gu replied flatly.

The Old Mother fixed her gaze on Heavenly Gu, questioning—

"Who is he truly?"

Without hesitating, Heavenly Gu answered:

"Just an ordinary person, who obtained part of the Heart Emperor’s legacy and swiftly rose."

Upon hearing this, the Old Mother vanished.

Heavenly Gu breathed in relief.

"No one in the Forbidden Zone must learn that the Heart Emperor’s reincarnation is Lu Chenzhou. Otherwise, the Witch Master will surely send his Demon Saints to seize my fortune..."

...

Blood Tree Great World.

"Blood Demon, make a trip to Kun Gu. After all, the Heavenly Gu Daoist isn’t a true Demon Ghost. Though the contract binds him, given his strength, he’s not wholly trustworthy."

...

One month later.

Within the Illusion Realm, Lu Chenzhou, who had meditated motionless for half a year, was gaunt and bloodless. In fending off the endless illusion assaults, his soul and qi-blood foundation had both suffered varying degrees of damage. Within the Illusion Realm, he could not use healing elixirs and could only endure by force.

He was, in every sense, declining; at his lowest point in life, only the Martial Arts Tree deep within his mind still pulsed with vigour.

And it had grown to nine million nine hundred thousand zhang.

Imprisoned half a year, he could do nothing but single-mindedly seek enlightenment, awaiting his chance.

The good news was that the Heavenly Gu Daoist also seemed wary of him, always probing with illusion attacks. Moreover, Lu Chenzhou discovered the Heavenly Gu Daoist had not attacked him in reality. He surmised this technique, like [Butterfly Dream Circulation], caused both sides to fall into slumber upon use.

Thus, the Heavenly Gu must now be concealed somewhere within an Illusion Realm dimension; if he could find that hiding place, there may be hope of breaking free.

So long as he could escape the Illusion Realm, he could employ many trump cards; escape would not be a problem.

Feeling his mental defenses being continually broken down, Lu Chenzhou gathered all his focus, centering his mind on one purpose.

"Stopping Dao Realm!"

Once, he had served as vessel for myriad demons, refining the Immaculate Heart.

Now, taking the Illusion Realm as his blade, he sought to walk the path of the Stopping Dao.

After half a year of tempering, plus more than ten years of cultivation under the stars, Lu Chenzhou’s insight into "World" had already brought one foot into the Stopping Dao Realm.

In normal times, he might have already achieved breakthrough.

But within the Illusion Realm, the true pain was the loss of a decade’s worth of native memories; a rift split his psyche and spiritual being. These insignificant lost memories had fractured his life.

He knew well that forcibly implanted memories of the Great Wilderness were false, but every time he closed his eyes in cultivation, he was still affected.

As if with a shattered mind.

"Such a tyrannical divine skill."

Lu Chenzhou struggled to overcome its impact, little by little gaining enlightenment, growing the Martial Arts Tree to 9,990,000 zhang.

A hundred feet to the summit—only one step remaining.

...

At the same time—

Within the spiritual starry sky—

Seeing the distant World Tree growing ever more robust—

The Heavenly Gu Daoist grew anxious.

"What is happening? Lu Chenzhou’s body and mind have withered nearly to extinction, yet the Dao Essence he comprehends only grows richer. Imprisoned by the Illusion Realm, yet still able to comprehend the Dao unaffected—could it truly be the legendary Innate Enlightenment Saint Body?"

"Impossible—break for me! I must see what is so unique about your soul."

The Heavenly Gu Daoist had already examined Lu Chenzhou’s body through the Illusion Realm; there was nothing unusual. Clearly, the mysterious fortune lay buried in the depths of his soul.

To uncover it, he must shatter every mental defense, use the Great Void Unlimited Spell to uncover this boy’s soul. After months of effort, he was nearly through the [Wandering Lament] barrier, about to reach the very core of Lu Chenzhou’s mind.

Using illusion as the blade, he tore through the wandering wasteland—just as the Heavenly Gu Daoist’s form was about to break free, he was seized by a pair of pitch-black ghostly claws. Their master: the trapped remnant will of Wangliang.