The Ancient Saint Emperor of the Heaven-shading

Chapter 99 Immortal Pool and Immortal Platform, Lotuses Secretly Bloom

Deep within Zulongchuan lies the main peak of Huaxianchi.

Wang Hongwu and Duan De looked around. The sunset dyed everything on earth red, and figures appeared from time to time. They were all lifeless, and apart from the demons and ghosts, there were only corpses. It was very desolate.

As the sun set, a surge of azure energy appeared on the distant horizon, with dragon-shaped pillars piercing the sky and towering pillars emerging. A deafening roar, like the distant howl of the vast wilderness, startled Wang Hongwu and Duan De. This was the ancestral vein breathing.

This ancestral vein has indeed given birth to intelligence, but it is still only at the stage of instinct and cannot be compared with real living beings. Even so, the power it possesses is unimaginable.

"Hmm, found it. In this direction, let's explore." After groping around for a while, Duan De slapped his forehead, and countless Origin Heaven Patterns extended from his feet. Instantly, runes flashed on the mountains and appeared between the great rivers, corresponding to the sun, moon and stars above and connecting with the Netherworld Springs below. They reached the heavens and the earth, leading them all the way to another direction.

Looking into the distance, a towering platform stands amidst the undulating mountains, vast and magnificent, like a continent floating in the void, dazzling and radiant, with divine fire flickering and burning fiercely.

"Is this really the head of a living being? Look at that high platform, it really does resemble the human's altar, with immortal flames burning inside."

Upon arriving here, Duan De shared the same view as Wang Hongwu: this area was truly extraordinary, but as time passed and the landscape continued to change, it was very likely that it would look completely different in a million years, and even the connection between the spine and the skull would probably be difficult to discern.

Wang Hong stared at the mountain that resembled a sacred platform, which emanated a powerful life force that was awe-inspiring. It was this very force that caused the divine embryo within his body to tremble continuously, conveying a strange emotion—a mixture of fear and longing—as if it had a special effect on him.

They stopped there to prepare for setting up the array. These array flags had been jointly refined by several Great Saints and had special techniques. Combined with Duan De's mastery of Origin Heaven Array Patterns, they indeed had the ability to draw upon the power of the dragon vein.

However, in Wang Hongwu's view, the real prize still lay with this unscrupulous Taoist priest, whose source techniques were earth-shattering.

Eight days passed in the blink of an eye. They had completed 60% of the array pattern setup. But on this very day, a sudden change occurred. Yama, leading the Underworld forces, arrived and pointed directly to the location of the Sendai behind the Great Dragon of the Spine.

This made the two even more wary. If they were to be affected by the secret method of communicating with corpses, who knows what kind of disaster it would cause.

"You stole my passage and my opportunity, do you really think I'm easy to mess with!" Yanluozi made a fierce move, using the ultimate true scripture from the imperial scripture he cultivated. One ancient character after another jumped out, forming a cage in the air, the Nine Characters Sealing the Heavens.

As the nine characters pressed down and merged, a world suddenly appeared, flowing with chaotic mist like the creation of heaven and earth. He had actually comprehended the secrets of the ultimate scripture, and with a casual strike, nine ancient characters followed. Wang Hongwu also retaliated, his left hand reflecting nine ancient sun characters, and his right hand circling nine ancient yin characters. Yin and yang combined and blasted forward, a total of twenty-seven ancient characters flying across the sky.

On one side is the tyranny of reincarnation and Yama, who controls life and death; on the other side is the profoundness of yin and yang in harmony, and the world reigning supreme. Together, they created a wondrous scene in the sky: the gate of the six realms of reincarnation and the diagram of yin and yang and the four symbols.

Three different paths of emperors collide, and their phantoms appear as they chant scriptures and confront each other under the sky. This is the continuation of the Dao and the collision of paths.

At the same time, Yama waved his hand, and the holy corpses he had collected behind him immediately rushed over. However, a red banner rose into the sky behind the Sun King, who transformed into a divine spirit, also a saint, and descended with the power of the Eight Forbidden Battles. He smashed the leading holy corpse with a single punch.

Its combat power is fierce and overwhelming, far surpassing that of a spirited corpse. It can fight against many opponents with a certain domineering and arrogant demeanor. Its body is also incredibly hard, cracking a sacred artifact with its bare hands, which shocked the people of the underworld. How could the master's physical body be so abnormal, and the artifact spirit's physical body be so abnormal as well!
Are they all just fighting like their weapons are made of paper?

"A spirit of an artifact? No, a true holy spirit? How did this guy do that?" At this moment, even Yama was astonished. He had seen holy artifacts with spirits, but he had never seen a holy artifact transform into a holy spirit.

Although it's only one word different, the difference is worlds apart.

Even the former Yama King didn't have this kind of opportunity. He suspected that perhaps only the Heavenly Venerable who created the secret of the word "soldier" in the mythological era could do something similar!

"No, the Underworld must obtain this secret technique! There are countless sacred artifacts in the Netherworld. If we can obtain this kind of transformation... even if it's only one in ten thousand, we can still create one!" Yama's eyes turned cold, then became hot again. He had his eyes on this wonderful method that could transform the spirit of an artifact into a holy spirit.

With a flick of his wrist, another killing array enveloped the area. His wealth was so immense that he could casually unleash various sacred weapons and arrays, which spread out and swept across the sky, shattering a section of the extraterrestrial meteorite belt, which then fell in a flurry.

Knowing he wouldn't gain an advantage in a direct confrontation, Wang Hongwu immediately threw out the 108 ancient war carts he had collected earlier, saying, "Old Duan, let's go first!"

These chariots, which corresponded to the numbers of the Heavenly Gang and Earthly Fiends, were arranged in neat rows. The array patterns engraved on them were connected and transformed into a Saint-level killing array. They rushed out and blocked the killing array of Yama's son. Then he opened his Martial Dao Heavenly Eye. With each blink, the heavens and earth resounded, as if the Great Dao scriptures were resounding.

Between the opening and closing of its eyes, the star field vanished and was reborn, and in an instant, an extremely terrifying power flowed out, crushing the void like a giant millstone and shooting out beams of light that could destroy everything.

"Martial Arts Heavenly Eye? I also cultivate the Netherworld Heavenly Eye!" Yan Luozi was fearless. Suddenly, two slits split open above his eyebrows, from which two green eyes squeezed out. Instead of the sacredness of other Heavenly Eyes, they were filled with a dark and sinister oppression. Suddenly, two green snake-like killing lights shot out and collided with the Heavenly Eye runes.

Clang!
The clash of their divine eyes was as sharp as a knife's edge. When they collided, light scattered everywhere, tearing the heavens and earth apart. It was extremely terrifying, and this was just the power of two pairs of eyes.

Taking advantage of this brief exchange, Wang Hongwu also rushed towards the Immortal Transformation Pool, wanting to seize the opportunity first. He spread out a pair of golden crow wings that were a hundred feet long, covered with golden feathers like short swords, burning with the essence of the Great Sun Fire. He disappeared in a flash, catching up with Duan De. Yan Luozi could not catch up with him, but he did not want Duan De to take the opportunity first.

"Go! Set up the Soul-Hooking Array as you chase! I want to turn the Ancient Dragon Cave into a burial pit!" Yan Luozi snorted coldly and led his men in pursuit, setting up the array along the way. They were not much slower than Wang Hongwu and his companion.

After traveling for a while, they arrived at their destination, which they had been looking at from afar. A giant mountain stood in front of them, with a pool of water on its top, shimmering and flowing with a dreamlike radiance in the setting sun.

"That's the Immortal Transformation Pool!" Duan De pointed upwards, his expression somewhat strange. Wang Hongwu was also amazed. The Immortal Pool, shaped like a celestial platform, was vast and boundless. Inside it was a strange liquid, dazzling and crystalline, resembling flames, pulsating and radiating light. If one didn't pay attention, one couldn't see it at all and might mistake it for flames.

Beside it stands a great mountain, with an ancient cave recessed in its waist, breathing in and out dragon energy that shakes the mind. Two ancient jade trees, whose age is unknown, shimmer with green light, grow on either side of the cave.

The Immortal Transformation Pool and the Ancient Dragon Cave coexist and are not far apart; these two sacred places, cherished by the world, are in one place.

"No wonder they always appear one after the other. It turns out they're all in the same area. These are the Yin and Yang caves that appeared in the mythological era. Little Fire Dragon, we've got a great opportunity this time. I heard there are fragments of ultimate weapons that shattered after the war of gods in the pool, and there's Dream Essence in the Dragon Cave. Getting either of these things will bring us endless benefits."

Duan De sighed. When Wang Hongwu mentioned the fragments of the ultimate weapon, his expression changed. The weapon fragments he knew were the remnants of the Immortal Ascension Cauldron, but the current timeline was too early. There might be other weapon fragments besides that one.

I have a half-ruined Immortal-Slaying Gourd in my possession, which was damaged during the God War, so I can use it as a reference to search for it.

The Immortal Transformation Pool is located atop a giant mountain. It is a very open place with visible water, shimmering with light and color, and extremely rich in yang energy, which rushes towards you like heavenly fire.

On the other side, at the foot of the great mountain, an ancient cave exhales dragon energy. Although it is sacred, there is a flow of Yin energy, and there are also bursts of dragon roars. The cave is sometimes bright and sometimes dark, and there are lantern-like eyes flashing, which makes people feel suffocated.

Without hesitation, the two headed straight for the Immortal Transformation Pool, believing it held a great treasure. "The Dragon Vein nurtures a Holy Spirit; could there really be such a deity? This is the Land of Ascension to Immortality; perhaps such an existence truly exists." A moment later, Yan Luozi arrived as well, but his gaze immediately focused on the Dragon Cave. He then flew over and directly attacked Wang Hongwu.

He was enveloped in a continuous, dark green mist, and his voice was cold and hoarse: "Successor of the Sun Emperor, you are both the inheritor of the Heavenly Court and the mortal enemy of my lineage of the Yama Emperor. We are enemies among enemies. Come, let's settle everything here!"

"So what if you're a half-saint? I'll kill you today!" Strands of crimson light spilled out, hanging down from Wang Hongwu's body like rivers of blood. The entire immortal land trembled. His Heavenly Eye became even more terrifying. Suddenly, he laughed loudly, not taking anything seriously. He took a step and three strands of immortal energy circulated around his body. Eleven layers of forbidden lightning burst forth, directly reaching the combat power of a half-saint. He punched down with a single blow.

Yan Luozi narrowed his eyes. The strength of this opponent was extremely rare, both in ancient and modern times. He had achieved a level of accomplishment in the realm of "Slaying the Dao" that surpassed that of his predecessors.

It is only because this era is special that there are barely any rivals. Otherwise, once such a figure appears, all his peers in the world can only live in his shadow and cannot compete with him.

However, he had the advantage in terms of realm, so he did not retreat. His fist, wrapped in the Nether Iron Armor, carried overwhelming divine power, like a giant star crashing down, with destructive fluctuations. Wherever it passed, the void shattered and chaotic mist appeared.

With a deafening boom, the two fists collided, shaking the heavens and earth. Wang Hongwu's divine embryo trembled, providing him with a surge of power to dissipate the aftershocks. He formed a hand seal with his left hand and unleashed a secret technique from the Taiyin Immortal Scripture: Taiyin Revolves for Millions of Years - Blood Washes Heaven and Earth.

This is an extremely gentle divine seal, yet it possesses terrifying power. Taiyin ice crystals emanate from his fingertips, seemingly capable of melting everything. Black mist permeates the air, appearing light and airy, yet nothing can stop it. Even as Yama retreats, he cannot avoid it; his Nether Iron Armor is directly corroded and pierced, dripping droplets of liquid.

Taking advantage of this gap, Yama retaliated, an ancient character lighting up between his brows, carrying a sense of judgment that scorned all living beings. In the past, when he was born, it caused an uproar in the Book of Life and Death, one of the three treasures of the Yama Palace, which resonated with the broken fragments of the Six Paths of Reincarnation, leaving a bloodstain between his brows, which transformed into the ancient character "判" (judgment). He was naturally close to the path of life and death, which can be said to be his unique divine treasure.

At this moment, it unleashed a series of relentless death interrogations. Waves of sound condensed into characters, constantly bombarding Wang Hongwu, judging him as a sinner who had defied the underworld. Anyone else who came would have already been engulfed in karmic fire and burned to death. Even some of the yakshas and corpses around him were affected, burning to ashes one by one, without even having a chance to scream.

However, this power was completely absorbed by the divine embryo, which was born naturally, untouched by the mortal world, pure and flawless, and was naturally unaffected by it, thus protecting its body and spirit.

At the same time, a pair of golden crow wings spread out on Wang Hongwu's back. The golden wings swept across, cutting through the sound waves and instantly disappearing into the void. A series of lightning-fast attacks immediately covered the place where Yanluozi was standing. However, his reaction was also extremely fast. He took a sinister step and floated forward as if on flat ground, dodging one attack after another.

That was the Impermanence Step. Although it was not as fast as the Golden Crow Wings, it was still defying the heavens. It was said that one step could sever life and death, three steps could cross Yin and Yang, and seven steps could reveal the cycle of reincarnation. Now, he took seven steps in a row, and behind him was the image of the Netherworld Reincarnation. The Six Paths of Reincarnation, which had been shattered by the Sun Saint Emperor in the past, seemed to be rebuilt.

The sun rises red in the east! Wang Hongwu decisively activated the phenomenon. With the blessing of the divine restriction domain, this phenomenon was boundless in power. A red sun burst forth with ten thousand feet of golden light and appeared, forcefully shattering the illusory image of the underworld. Yama Zi pressed down with both hands to resist, but was pushed upwards continuously. He let out a cold rebuke, and nine turbid, blood-yellow rivers immediately appeared behind him, surging and rushing, the nine rivers encircling the sun, forcefully imprisoning it in the air.

Nine Lands Yellow Springs Ravine! He unleashed his extraordinary phenomenon. Such a person naturally had his own achievements in secret realm cultivation. He combined the secret realm cultivation method to develop his own Dao fruit. He opened up the Dao Palace into a Netherworld Cave Heaven, used the Yellow Springs True Water to cleanse and transform the five internal organs into Yin and Yang Divine Treasury. At this moment, he spewed Yellow Springs Water, which was extremely Yin and filthy, polluting his divine power and physical body. It burst and exploded with crackling sounds as it burned with the Sun True Fire.

In an instant, the secret of the word "All" was triggered, and Yama felt the situation change drastically. The Sun King in front of him suddenly became fierce, his combat power surged, and he broke through the barrier of the Holy Domain in one fell swoop.

"Interesting, the Nine Secrets? What a coincidence, we in the Underworld have also collected them, and I also possess them!" Yama noticed the fluctuations of the "All" secret and realized why the other party could withstand him even against the forbidden numbers. He couldn't help but sneer, and suddenly burst forth with waves of primordial pure energy around him. At first, it was one, and then it was ten thousand, all rushing over in one go, vast and endless.

This is also one of the Nine Secrets, not one that Wang Hongwu possessed, but one that was collected by the Underworld. Strictly speaking, they are probably the force that has collected the most Nine Secrets.

Boom! Instantly, the Nine Secrets clashed. The two moved with lightning speed, like two giant stars colliding one after another. Accompanied by thunder and lightning, their intense brilliance exploded, causing the heavens to tremble and the starry sky to dim.

Every time they clashed, the entire world was thrown into turmoil. The surrounding creatures could not stand and were swept into the sky. If this place were not so special, eternal and immortal, the endless mountains would have long since turned to dust. Their power was incomparably strong. A single finger could crush mountains, a single slap could bring down meteors from outer space, and a single stomp could change the course of rivers and seas.

As they fought, they also approached the Immortal Transformation Pool, getting closer and closer to the summit of the giant mountain. There, the water was shimmering with light and colorful mist, a truly dreamlike place. The water was as smooth as jade, and spiritual energy surged down, submerging the entire mountain.

Upon arriving, none of them could fly; they were all blocked by a mysterious force and could only climb the mountain on foot. There, they leaped and bounded, exchanging blows, and the aftershocks from their clashes created various strange phenomena on the mountainside.

Upon reaching the mountaintop, Duan De had already set up the battle flags. The surrounding lake water was clear and bright, like a pool of fine wine, with flowing rosy clouds and rising mist, creating a dazzling and translucent scene.

The Immortal Transformation Pool is located atop a giant mountain. Although it is not very large, it gives people the illusion of a world of its own, as if the secret of the origin of life lies here.

In Wang Hongwu's fleeting glance, a divine lotus quietly grew amidst the rippling blue clouds deep within!
"A lotus in the eternal blue sky?" His expression changed drastically. The legend he had heard on the way was true. Indeed, a celestial lotus had descended from the sky and taken root here.

Could that be the predecessor of the Azure Emperor?
Boom! The two clashed again, crashing into a vast ocean deep within the Immortal Transformation Pool. Everywhere there were blue lotuses, stretching from the sky to the earth, the entire sea was emerald green, and in the very center stood a special chaotic blue lotus that soared into the clouds.

"A divine lotus grows in a celestial pool? The legend is actually true." Even Yama was surprised that a divine lotus could actually grow here, which he found hard to understand.

Suddenly, the Chaos Lotus swayed, scattering points of light that formed mysterious symbols in the void, leaving behind unrecognizable characters.

The runes were a vibrant, emerald green, shrouded in chaotic energy, dazzling and brilliant. They then flowed over, resonating with the Immortal Cauldron mark within Wang Hongwu's body, shining brightly alongside the divine embryo, as if verifying something.

“The divine lotus is rooted in the fragment of the Immortal Ascension Cauldron!” Wang Hongwu’s Martial Dao Heavenly Eye clearly saw that the roots of the lotus were wrapped around a piece of green copper, shining brightly, and were absorbing the supreme essence of the Immortal Platform Divine Pool to transform.

At that moment, as if in response to him, the Chaos Green Lotus in the Immortal Pool shook and then rumbled. Its roots, wrapped around the green copper, floated up and then tore through the void, falling into Wang Hongwu's hands.

With a splash, the celestial pool rippled, celestial lotuses swayed, and chaotic energy rose, surrounding Wang Hongwu and making him appear like a holy emperor descending to earth, exceptionally otherworldly and sacred.

"You?! A remnant of the Heavenly Court!" Yama was stunned. Such a treasure was being offered to someone else? This was outrageous!
He could only attribute it to the Heavenly Court lineage; otherwise, it would be hard to accept that they were looking for Wang Hongwu instead of him.

During their battle, Duan De had already set up the formation, causing the mountains and rivers to tremble violently. Boundless dragon energy soared into the sky, converging into a gigantic true dragon that rolled continuously underground, causing the Immortal Pool and Dragon Cave to shake violently.

But this action triggered a terrible change. In the deepest part of the ancient cave at the foot of the mountain, it seemed as if a gestating being had awakened from its slumber, emitting a terrifying wave like a vast ocean.

"stop!"

With a loud shout, a bronze chariot charged out, pulled by the corpse of a Saint-level demonic bird ancestor king, with the corpse of a Haolong clan ancestor king hovering above it, and the corpse of a powerful bull demon clan ancestor king galloping behind.

In addition, eight humanoid jade spirits led the way, each a different color, and each one like a small jade carving, running quickly ahead.

On the bronze chariot stood a broken stone figure, like a deity, surrounded by one hundred and eight divine halos, who roared, "Who dares to make such a fuss here and disturb the formation of my race's future supreme being!"

(End of this chapter)