harleyscars Chapter 119 5 Years Later
Chapter 119 5 Years Later
Kunlun Realm, Central Mingsheng Empire, Ming Imperial Palace.
Jade palaces and towers stand majestically in the sky, their glazed tiles reflecting the eternally clear heavens. Celestial mists swirl around the entire imperial city, auspicious clouds rise in thousands of wisps, and rays of light pierce the night. As the core stronghold of the most powerful dynasty in the Kunlun Realm, this place is imbued with the profound heritage of the sage Zhang family. Palaces stretch for thousands of miles, with layers upon layers of divine runes and restrictions, solemn and dignified.
In the Imperial Garden, the clear pond is filled with swaying lotus flowers. A gentle breeze rustles through the leaves, carrying a delicate fragrance. The solemnity and coldness of the palace have faded away, leaving only a scene of childlike innocence and peaceful tranquility.
On the banks of the pond, two young and petite figures stood side by side. They were none other than Zhang Ruochen, the eight-year-old Crown Prince of the Holy Emperor, and Chi Yao, the princess of the Holy Central Empire.
The two were childhood sweethearts, inseparable since they were very young. They were the most envied pair of child prodigies in the entire Kunlun world.
Chi Yao was dressed in a pink and white fairy dress. Her eyebrows and eyes were exquisitely beautiful, her skin was as white as jade, and her clear and bright eyes were full of youthful spirit and ambition. She held a freshly picked snow-white lotus in her small hands, stood on tiptoe, and tilted her tender face up, showing it off to Zhang Ruochen beside her with excited eyes.
"Brother Chen, look! I've reached the Supreme Realm of the Yellow Extreme Realm! Teacher Shangguan specifically praised me, saying my talent is unparalleled, far surpassing my peers!"
The girl's voice was firm, carrying the pure pride unique to children, her gaze unwavering: "In the future, I will definitely cultivate diligently, surpass all the geniuses, defeat the Lord of Shura City, and become the strongest in the Kunlun Realm!"
Eight-year-old Zhang Ruochen was still quite young, but he was not at all like the mischievous and unruly children of ordinary age.
He was naturally calm and composed, far surpassing his peers, with a gentle and serene look in his eyes. He slowly extended his fair hand and gently stroked Chi Yao's soft hair, a warm and doting smile playing on his lips, his voice soft and clear: "The Lord of Shura City is the top of the Emperor Ranking, the strongest person in our Kunlun Realm. Even my father and the Demon Emperor were slightly inferior to him when they fought him in the past."
"But it's good that Yao Yao has ambition. It seems that from now on, I can focus on my cultivation and rely entirely on Yao Yao to protect me."
Upon hearing this, Chi Yao's fair face instantly flushed crimson, both shy and delighted. She quickly reached out her delicate hand and tightly grasped Zhang Ruochen's palm.
The pond water murmured gently, the fragrance of lotus blossoms wafted through the air, and two young figures chased and played by the pond's edge, their laughter echoing throughout the garden. Sunlight fell on their shoulders, outlining a pure and carefree childhood, beautiful and untouched by the world's grime.
No one knew that behind this peaceful and idyllic scene, a destiny game spanning millennia had already been laid out, and the heavy shackles of fate had already quietly enveloped the destinies of the two young children.
Deep within the Ming Emperor's Palace, a towering pavilion stands isolated from the hustle and bustle of the mortal world. No celestial music plays, no auspicious energy rises; instead, a heavy, oppressive silence pervades the air. All the rulers of the top powers in the Kunlun Realm, the leading figures of humanity, have gathered here: the Ming Emperor, the Qing Emperor, the Demon Emperor, the Sword Emperor, the Martial Emperor, the Dao Emperor, the Evil Emperor, the Literary Emperor… all sit solemnly within the hall.
The once mighty emperors and powerful figures of the Holy Realm, who once roamed the world and looked down upon all races, now all had solemn expressions, their brows furrowed with unyielding bitterness and entanglement. They discussed matters in hushed tones, and the atmosphere was extremely heavy.
On the main seat of the high pavilion, a figure in black sat quietly, exuding a vast and boundless aura. His Daoist charm was restrained, seemingly ordinary, yet he possessed a supreme majesty that looked down upon the ages and held the reins of the universe. This was none other than Ling Che's true form.
His divine sense was clear, and he had already detected the two carefree, innocent figures by the pond in the Imperial Garden. Gazing at that pure and innocent scene of childhood, a trace of vicissitude and emotion flashed across his eyes. He murmured softly, his voice filled with sighs: "I remember when I was fifteen, my heart was still that of a child, as strong as a calf, running back and forth."
"Time flies by, and tens of thousands of years can pass in the blink of an eye."
Seeing Ruochen and Chi Yao, so young and carefree, playing in the world, reminds me of my own innocent days, which truly evokes a myriad of emotions.
His voice was soft, carrying a sense of melancholy born from the vicissitudes of time.
Ling Che raised his eyes, his gaze falling on Emperor Ming Zhang Ling and Emperor Qing Chi Xiu, who sat at the head of the table. His tone softened, carrying a hint of pity: "The Holy Monk Sumeru used his own life to plan and scheme for eternity. What he sought was not only the future of my Kunlun Realm, but the future of all living beings in the universe."
"You all already understand the grand plan he has set for you. It is just that the plan is too cruel and too heavy, and should not be borne by children who have not yet grown up."
"In my opinion, all plans should be put on hold for now, and all uncertainties should be addressed once Ruochen comes of age. Let the two children have a carefree childhood, and don't crush their innocence too early."
Upon hearing this, Emperor Ming and Emperor Qing trembled slightly, and immediately bowed and clasped their hands, their expressions respectful and solemn, and they both responded in unison to obey the order.
The pain, guilt, and struggle that had been lingering on their faces eased slightly at this moment.
Especially Emperor Ming.
Through the high pavilion window, he gazed at his son Zhang Ruochen, who was laughing and playing in the Imperial Garden, his eyes filled with endless guilt, self-reproach, and heartache.
As the wise and sagacious head of the Zhang family, he was well aware of the heavy responsibility his son would bear.
Those were ancient burdens, heavy enough to make even the strongest beings in the heavens gasp for breath, and in the end, they all fell on the shoulders of Zhang Ruochen, who was only eight years old.
As a father, he was extremely reluctant and heartbroken, but he was powerless to change the course of fate.
All he could do was follow Ling Che's advice, showering him with all his tenderness and affection to protect his peaceful childhood and allow him to live a carefree life before he was burdened with eternal shackles.
Ling Che took in all the thoughts in Emperor Ming's eyes, raised his hand slightly, and gently patted his shoulder. His voice was deep and steady, with an unwavering certainty that seemed to understand destiny: "There is no need to blame yourself, nor to worry too much."
"This is Ruochen's innate destiny, an eternal path he must traverse alone."
"You only need to remember that your son is no ordinary child. Believe in him, and one day he will be able to break free from the shackles of fate, shatter the cage of destiny, defy the heavens, and take control of his own destiny."
After speaking, Ling Che surveyed the entire hall, looking down at everyone present. His expression suddenly turned solemn: "After years of dedicated cultivation, you have all broken through to the Supreme Realm and firmly established yourselves among the top ranks of the Kunlun Realm."
"Once the internal layout of Kunlun is completely completed, everyone will immediately set off into the Chaotic Boundless Ruins to brave the Heavenly Path and traverse the Gates of Life and Death!"
"The world outside is vast, teeming with myriad races, where opportunities and dangers coexist. Within the Boundless Ruins lies the path of cultivation, and the road ahead is open for you. Once you have passed the Gate of Fate, someone will guide you onto a new path of cultivation."
Upon hearing this, all the Great Sages focused their attention, bowed respectfully, and obeyed the command without daring to disobey in the slightest.
Ling Che gazed into the distant depths of the primordial chaos, and slowly spoke, his voice resounding throughout the hall: "Over eight hundred years have passed in the blink of an eye."
"At that time, the Heavenly Court's Sealing Ceremony will be restarted, the positions of the Twenty Heavens will be re-established, and the seal on our Kunlun Realm should also be lifted. The day of its unsealing is just around the corner!"
"I hope that when we meet again eight hundred years from now, you will all have broken through the tribulations and become gods, and will be able to support a vast sky for the Kunlun Realm!"
After he finished speaking, Ling Che glanced deeply in the direction of the Imperial Garden, shook his head slightly, and a complex and profound meaning flashed in his eyes.
The next moment, the Dao patterns around him became ethereal, his figure merged into the void, and he silently disappeared into the high pavilion, leaving no trace, unfathomable.
Upon seeing this, the Bright Emperor, the Demon Emperor, and all the other emperors in the hall rose, bowed, and knelt to respectfully bid farewell to their ancestor.
Once the void returned to calm, everyone straightened up, and the oppressive atmosphere in the hall swept over them once more.
The leader of the Moon Worshiping Demon Cult, the Demon Emperor, had a solemn look in his eyes and spoke first to set the tone: "The Ancestor has already departed, and the decree has been issued. We need not hesitate. Let us immediately perform our duties and advance the grand plan!"
Emperor Wen sighed deeply, his eyes filled with realization and regret: "Only now do I fully understand why countless predecessors, who have ventured into the Boundless Chaos Ruins for tens of thousands of years, have disappeared without a trace. It seems they did not perish or perish, but rather left Kunlun via that Heavenly Road."
The Dao Emperor's expression was extremely solemn. He took over the conversation and said in a low voice, "Please do not be too happy. The Chaotic Boundless Ruins are extremely dangerous and unpredictable. They contain three thousand worlds, each of which is as vast as a large-scale Ruins Realm."
"The realm is teeming with powerful Great Saints, and countless alien races exist, many of which are born enemies of our human race, bloodthirsty and murderous. For tens of thousands of years, countless geniuses of Kunlun have perished here! This time, as we step into it, we must concentrate our efforts and make thorough plans, for this is the only way to ensure our safety."
Emperor Wu frowned, his face full of worry, and shook his head with a long sigh: "The dangers don't stop there."
"Looking at all of us, apart from the Demon Emperor and the Sword Emperor, who possess profound foundations and unparalleled combat power, the rest of us probably cannot reliably pass through the Path to Heaven! Even the once mighty Emperor of Destiny, who dominated the Central Region and whose talent was unmatched in Kunlun, ultimately failed at the Gate of Fate during his attempt. Without the foundation of a peak demigod, one probably cannot even glimpse the Gate of Fate, let alone traverse the path ahead!"
Upon hearing this, Sword Emperor Xue Hongchen nodded slightly, his tone humble and calm: "Senior Martial Emperor is too modest. Back then, Senior roamed the Southern Region, fought against the Nine-Colored Qilin in the Battle of Ten Thousand Bones Mountain, and his Heavenly Gold Shattering Void Cudgel shook the Southern Frontier. The cudgel shattered stars and shook mountains and seas. We still remember that unparalleled divine power vividly. Senior is still as sharp as ever."
The Evil Emperor, who was the most impatient and easily agitated, interrupted everyone's sentiments in a deep voice, saying, "There's no need for you to boost others' morale and diminish your own!"
"Our ancestors have already set the overall plan and laid out the path forward. We only need to follow their instructions diligently and carry them out to the death. Any further worries are useless!"
He turned his gaze to Emperor Ming and Emperor Qing, his tone tinged with helplessness: "You two, the child is of your blood, but the tide cannot be turned. This is the path to survival for our Kunlun Realm, the end point of the eternal plan laid out by the gods, including Senior Sumeru. We mortals are powerless to interfere with destiny and can only wait for the outcome."
Upon hearing this, all the emperors in the hall wore bitter expressions and remained silent.
The mighty Kunlun Realm, with its ancient heritage and vast resources, has produced countless geniuses. Yet, in the end, the fate of the entire realm, its rise and fall throughout the ages, rests entirely on the shoulders of two immature children.
Such heaviness and helplessness filled the hearts of all the Great Sages of Kunlun Realm with bitterness and powerlessness.
The royal garden of the palace is bathed in sunshine, and the childlike innocence remains unchanged.
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao continued to hold hands and play, laughing and chatting happily, completely unaware that their cruel destiny and eternal burden were already hanging over them, waiting for the end of time to come before crashing down and crushing this moment of human tenderness.
……
The boundless chaos of the Void, a world reaching to the heavens.
This secluded realm, independent of the Kunlun Realm, is shrouded in mist, with layers upon layers of void, and countless ruins intertwined, forming a vast and mysterious cosmic realm of its own.
This is not a natural secret realm, but a cultivation secret realm that Ling Che painstakingly created by his own hands.
Since the Kunlun Realm was sealed by the Venerable Monk Sumeru, and because the spiritual roots of heaven and earth were destroyed, the Kunlun Realm has been unable to nurture high-level cultivators on a large scale. The cultivation of geniuses has been restricted, and the path to enlightenment has stagnated.
To continue the lineage, cultivate unparalleled geniuses, and replenish the cultivation resources lacking in Kunlun, Ling Che devoted his efforts to creating the Chaotic Boundless Ruins, transforming it into an extraterritorial upgrade instance for the Kunlun Realm.
The Void Realm borders the edge of the Kunlun Realm, shrouded in an ancient mist, connecting to countless Void Realms beyond. For tens of thousands of years, this secret realm has continuously provided opportunities and honed the talents of the Kunlun Realm, nurturing more than a dozen True God powerhouses.
It should be known that the Kunlun Realm is one of the worlds with the most abundant resources and the most complete heritage among all the heavens. Martial arts, spiritual power, and all kinds of inheritances and methods are complete, and the cultivation system is extremely perfect. As long as there are enough resources and training environment, it is extremely easy to nurture geniuses.
The secret realm created by Ling Che perfectly fills all the gaps left by the sealing of the Kunlun Realm.
Within the Void Realm, not only are there a vast amount of cultivation resources, sacred medicines, and sacred materials gathered from all the heavens, but Ling Che has also deliberately introduced the bloodlines of all races in the universe, top-level inheritances from beyond the realm, and even the inheritances of the thirty-six Heavenly Daos of the Hell Realm.
After tens of thousands of years of refinement, the Kunlun Realm has accumulated a vast amount of resources. Once the seal on its domain is broken, it will instantly become one of the top ten great worlds in terms of overall strength within the Heavenly Court.
At this moment, deep within the Tongtian Realm, in a secluded secret realm.
Prince Shenyou settled here and devoted himself to consolidating his cultivation.
Sensing the arrival of that supreme and incomparably familiar Daoist aura in the void, Prince Shenyou's heart stirred, and he immediately rose and stepped out of the secret realm to greet it with a bow.
Ling Che stepped into the void, standing above the sea of clouds. His gaze swept over the other party indifferently, and the corners of his lips curled up slightly: "Your Highness the Crown Prince is quite leisurely. It seems that your cultivation has been completely stabilized this time, even surpassing that of the past."
Thanks to Ling Che's help, Prince Shenyou not only completely repaired all his past injuries and regained his peak combat power, but also broke through his realm and stepped into the Undying Boundless Realm. His foundation soared, far exceeding his peak strength in the past.
Prince Shenyou bowed respectfully and spoke sincerely, "The Demon Ancestor has personally come. I presume you have already met with those two children and have the grand plan for eternity been properly explained?"
Ling Che has already ascended to the position of a half-ancestor. In addition, he cultivated the demonic path in his early years and roamed through the ages. Therefore, Prince Shenyou and others all respectfully call him the Demon Ancestor.
Ling Che shook his head slightly, his gaze piercing through layers of void as he looked towards the distant Kunlun Ancestral Realm. His tone carried a hint of helplessness: "Senior Sumi and the Great Venerable's plan was ultimately too crude and too ruthless."
"Two still innocent children, who should have grown up carefree, are instead burdened with the fate of the rise and fall of the entire world and the eternal burden of the great calamities of the heavens. It is truly difficult for them."
"However, this is the destiny of the Zhang family, an eternal chess game that the Great Venerable and the Holy Monk Sumeru have already decided. I cannot forcibly interfere, so I can only go with the flow and do my best to perfect the plan."
Prince Shenyou agreed wholeheartedly and nodded slightly.
With Ling Che's current overwhelming combat power, looking across the heavens, apart from a few dormant progenitors and immortals, almost no one can rival him.
If Ling Che were willing, he could single-handedly eliminate all hidden dangers in Kunlun and quell all threats from beyond the realm, without having to burden the two juniors with the eternal shackles.
However, the grand scheme of things at the top level of the heavens has never been about combat strength.
The grand schemes of the Great Venerable, the plans of Mount Sumeru, the games of the immortals, and the cycle of countless eons—all these involve the karma of countless ages and the great Dao of the heavens. Even a half-ancestor would not have a good end if involved. Didn't the Heavenly Venerable of Rebellion perish in it back then? Therefore, even though Prince Shenyou felt regret in his heart, he dared not say much.
"All the arrangements for the Chaotic Boundless Ruins are complete. The trials, inheritances, and secret realm opportunities of all races have been arranged in a proper manner. We are just waiting for the grand plan to begin, to hone the talents of Zhang Ruochen, Chi Yao, and the other Kunlun prodigies," said the Crown Prince of Shenyou in a deep voice.
The original plan of the Venerable Monk Sumeru was too cruel and brutal, leaving the Kunlun Realm to struggle and be tempered in humiliation and war, with its geniuses withering and its foundation being depleted.
Now that Ling Che has arrived, he will never allow such a thing to happen again. However, Ling Che believes that the cultivators of the Kunlun Realm still need to work hard on their own. Therefore, he personally created this extraterrestrial instance and optimized the path of tempering with supreme means. It retains the danger of life-and-death trials while protecting the foundation of Kunlun, forcibly raising the upper limit of the geniuses of the Kunlun Realm and paving the way for the future unsealing.
Ling Che's gaze was distant as he solemnly instructed, "More than eight hundred years from now, the Heaven-Sealing Assembly will begin. At that time, you and Ji Wang will both be present."
"Having been lying low for too long, it's time to completely rewrite the old order of the Western universe."
A fierce glint suddenly flashed in the eyes of the Divine Prince, and the fighting spirit that had been dormant for ten thousand years in his chest was revived.
He will demand retribution for all the humiliation, oppression, plunder, and injustice suffered by the Kunlun Realm over the past 100,000 years at the Heaven Sealing Conference!
After the conversation ended, Ling Che moved again, traversing the boundless void, leaving the Chaotic Boundless Ruins, and disappearing into the depths of the Yin-Yang Sea.
The Yin-Yang Sea is filled with surging waves, and the Yin and Yang energies rotate endlessly. Dragon scale orchids grow in abundance on the seabed, sacred flowers sway, and celestial mist pervades the air.
Ji Wang sat upright beneath the orchid tree, his divine might vast and boundless. Having undergone the tempering of the Heavenly Venerable Pill, he had long since broken through the shackles and ascended to the realm of the Immortal Boundless.
Not only Ji Wang, but also the Five Elements Temple Master benefited from the Heavenly Venerable Pill refined by Zhen Yu, which allowed him to break through and successfully step into the Heavenly Venerable Realm, becoming one of the top powerhouses in the Heavenly Court.
Ling Che landed and sat opposite Ji Wang under the Divine Orchid Tree. He reached out and took two cups of Ten Thousand Year Divine Wine, handing one to Ji Wang.
Ji Wang took the wine glass, his gaze fixed on Ling Che, and asked softly, "Have you already seen those two children? In your opinion, can Zhang Ruochen shoulder the eternal expectations of the Holy Monk Sumeru and support the future of the Kunlun Realm?"
Ling Che raised his cup, tilted his head back, and drank the rich, divine brew in one gulp. His gaze was calm and unwavering: "This is the destiny of the Zhang family. I only need to repay the debt I owed to the Venerable Monk Sumeru in the past and cooperate accordingly."
He was clear-headed and never dwelled on Zhang Ruochen's fate.
As the embodiment of the Heavenly Dao and the protagonist of this era, Zhang Ruochen's rise to power was inevitable and unstoppable.
The real power struggle among the heavens today is never about the younger generation vying for supremacy, but rather a top-level game played by ancestral beings like the Underworld Ancestor and the Supreme Being.
Both have lived through countless eras, possessing profound scheming, ruthless methods, and an eternally complex plot, involving the life and death of countless beings. Ling Che is currently unwilling to rashly get deeply involved in their schemes.
His only wish now is to lie low and wait for the Kunlun Realm to be completely unsealed and the situation to stabilize before attempting to reach the Ancestor Realm.
Relying on the supreme foundation of his four avatars sharing the same origin and complementing each other, he was fully confident that he could achieve the realm of unwavering martial arts and spiritual power reaching the ninety-sixth level in one fell swoop.
Even if they face the two ancient chess players, the Ancestor of the Underworld and the Supreme Being, they will be able to protect themselves and play the game with ease.
Ling Che raised his eyes and looked at Ji Wang, his tone solemn: "The Five Elements Temple Master's breakthrough to the Heavenly Venerable realm has caused too much of a stir, alarming all the heavens and many old fogies."
"The Heaven-Sealing Assembly, spearheaded by Senior Yu and his group, is approaching. The seats of the Twenty Heavens will be reshuffled. Our Kunlun Realm has been silent for countless ages. Now that the seal has been lifted, we must secure one of them. Jiwang, are you interested in vying for a position among the Heavens?"
Ji Wang slowly shook his head and smiled calmly, "I was born in the Heavenly Dragon Realm, so my identity is ultimately special."
"It would be most appropriate for Elder Jie or Crown Prince Shenyou to compete for these positions in the Heavens. Only they can truly represent the interests of the Kunlun Realm."
Now that Ling Che is in charge of Kunlun, its foundation has grown exponentially, and many outstanding talents have emerged. The momentum has been established, and he no longer needs to bear the responsibility of protection. He can also withdraw and step down.
Ling Che nodded slightly, understanding in his heart.
Ji Wang's cultivation has now surpassed that of his elder brother, the Five Dragon God Emperor, and his combat power is unparalleled in the Southern Universe. In the entire Southern Heaven, only Ancestor Chongming can suppress him. If Ji Wang were to return to the Heavenly Dragon Realm, he would be enough to shake up the格局 (geju, a term referring to the overall situation or structure) of the Southern Universe.
After a moment's contemplation, Ling Che's gaze drifted towards the distant Netherworld Dungeon, a thoughtful glint in his eyes: "Haotian has accumulated enough strength and is about to take a crucial step, ascending to a higher level. Should the remaining hidden dangers of the past in the Kunlun Realm be eliminated in advance?"
He had a thought: to kill the nine-headed stone man deep in the dungeon, refine its essence, and give it to his demonic body to help it rapidly advance and reach the peak of the half-ancestor realm.
But then I thought, killing the nine-headed stone man would definitely trigger the Underworld Ancestor's plan, and I would have to confront this ancient monster who has lived for thousands of years head-on.
Ling Che was not in much interest.
He also wanted to talk to the Ancestor of the Underworld and the Ancestor of Humanity. The heavens are vast, the universe is endless, the great path is infinite, and the road ahead is boundless. Rather than being obsessed with internal strife, squeezing the remaining resources of a universe, and getting entangled in ancient grudges, it would be better to look out at the universe and the starry sea. Relying solely on squeezing the resources of a universe and star system will only confine you to a corner in the end, and it will be impossible to break through the Heavenly Beginning and Endless Realm. He should learn from Nuwa. However, the two old things, the Ancestor of the Underworld and the Ancestor of Humanity, are indeed quite difficult to deal with. At their level of cultivation, their minds are firm and they will not change their minds.