With the aid of the Sundial, the two had cultivated for over a year, refining all the divine power crystals they had obtained. Naturally, they couldn’t refine the two Dark divine power crystals.
Through this cultivation, Zhang Ruochen reaped immense rewards. His Space rules reached 340,000, and his Time rules reached 260,000. More importantly, his understanding of the Paths of Time and Space deepened significantly, gaining insight into many critical aspects.
Now, Zhang Ruochen had mastered the first level of the Space Annihilation technique to perfection, doubling its power. It could likely rival top-tier powerhouses below the Great Saint level, serving as a major trump card.
“Divine power crystals are indeed valuable, but their effects diminish after refining many, unable to increase sacred path rules as rapidly as before,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden sighed lightly.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, “Don’t be too greedy. Achieving this much is already quite good, at least helping us overcome the immediate crisis.”
Their greatest gain wasn’t the increase in rules but their deeper understanding and perception of the Eternal Paths, which was key to resisting the four-coloured divine light’s erosion.
“You’re right, and my lost lifespan has been fully restored. The Sundial truly lives up to its reputation as a legendary supreme treasure,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden looked at the Sundial, her eyes full of joy.
Previously, the erosion of Time divine power had cost her significant lifespan, turning her dark hair grey.
Now, she was radiant, her hair black again, showing no signs of aging.
This was because, while comprehending the Eternal Paths, they had inadvertently triggered a deeper power within the Sundial. Specks of unique time imprint light emerged, merging with Zhang Ruochen’s Time rules, much like when he first encountered the Sundial.
Although it should have increased Zhang Ruochen’s lifespan, the rule river formed by their Eternal Path rules flowed through both their bodies, benefiting Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden as well, nearly fully restoring her lost lifespan.
With a wave, Zhang Ruochen stored the Sundial.
“Being trapped in the monster’s body isn’t safe. We need to find a way out quickly,” Zhang Ruochen said seriously.
Though they no longer feared the four-coloured divine light, if the monster employed other methods, the outcome would be unpredictable.
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden nodded earnestly, “The space inside this monster is vast. Let’s explore and see if we can find anything.”
Immediately, they stood up, moving hand in hand.
They needed to maintain the rule river’s flow between them, making physical contact essential.
The space was immense, spanning unknown thousands of li, but it was empty and deathly silent.
This was expected, given the monster’s power; it likely wouldn’t allow anything to exist safely within its body.
With the four-coloured divine light’s terror, even a Monarch-grade weapon could be refined over time.
Suddenly, a deafening roar echoed.
Zhang Ruochen halted, sensing something.
Relying on his profound mastery of the Space Path, he could faintly detect subtle spatial fluctuations within a few hundred zhang, allowing him to anticipate dangers.
Mental power was useless here, and vision was limited, so they had to rely on other means.
“What’s wrong?” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden asked curiously.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Hundreds of zhang ahead, there seems to be someone else.”
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s eyes flashed with surprise. Inside this terrifying monster’s body, where even they barely survived, how could someone else be present?
If Zhang Ruochen’s perception was correct, that person must be extraordinary.
Cautiously, they concealed their auras and moved forward.
“There really is someone,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s gaze sharpened.
Using her Source Divine Eyes, she clearly saw a figure sitting cross-legged a hundred zhang ahead.
Thanks to her advanced Source Path mastery, her Source Divine Eyes had become more wondrous, or she might not have seen clearly even ten zhang away in this environment.
The figure was surrounded by a mass of four-coloured divine light, nearly engulfing them.
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden could tell the person wasn’t dead but was in dire straits.
Eroded by Time power, they were emaciated, their hair completely white, exuding a decaying aura, as if nearing death.
Simultaneously, Source power eroded their body, on the verge of collapsing into countless invisible particles.
“Such eerie Dark aura. Could it be…” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s expression changed.
She was deeply familiar with this Dark aura.
While many in the Inferno Realm cultivated the Dark Path, only the Child of Darkness was unique, rumored to have entered the Abyss of Darkness and fused with its alien Dark power.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression grew grave, “It’s the Child of Darkness’s aura. I didn’t expect him to be inside the monster too. Likely swallowed before us, yet enduring the four-coloured divine light’s erosion until now. Truly impressive, worthy of being among those exceeding danger level ten.”
The *Ten Clans of Inferno’s Record of All Evils* listed information on many Sacred King powerhouses in the Inferno Realm, categorized by danger level up to ten, with level ten being the top-tier Near-Path Realm experts.
However, supreme powerhouses like Yan Wushen and the Child of Darkness weren’t listed, as they were deemed beyond level ten.
Rumors said those exceeding level ten could kill ordinary Immortal Great Saints, truly standing at the Sacred King Realm’s pinnacle.
Even in the Inferno Realm, such powerhouses were exceedingly rare.
“The Child of Darkness is indeed powerful, but he’s now at his limit, his life nearly extinguished. Who would’ve thought the Dark Temple’s once-in-a-millennium genius would die in a divine power monster’s belly,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden sighed, shaking her head.
The Child of Darkness was extraordinarily talented, deemed certain to become a god by the Dark Temple’s leaders, yet now faced premature demise. The ways of the world were unpredictable.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm, his gaze indifferent. The death of the Child of Darkness would only benefit Kunlun Realm.
If possible, he wanted to eliminate all Inferno Realm powerhouses on True Dragon Island, dealing a significant blow to the Inferno Realm.
The Child of Darkness was extremely weak, an ideal chance to strike, but after consideration, Zhang Ruochen held back.
The Child of Darkness was too mysterious. Acting rashly could provoke a desperate counterattack, causing trouble.
Since he would soon be refined by the four-coloured divine light, there was no need to take the risk.
As they pondered, the Child of Darkness suddenly raised his head, his wrinkled face revealing slowly opening eyes, gazing directly at their position.
“He’s noticed us. Even in such weakness, his alertness is remarkable,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s eyes flashed with surprise.
Since they were exposed, Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden stopped hiding and continued forward.
They stopped ten zhang from the Child of Darkness.
His gaze was calm, devoid of past sharpness, resembling an elderly sage who had seen through the ways of the world.
Looking at Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, he showed no hostility, as if observing two ordinary mortals, saying faintly, “I didn’t expect to meet you two at the end of my life. Perhaps this is the wonder of life—you never know what the future holds or what the next moment brings.”
Zhang Ruochen snorted lightly, “The Inferno Realm is always bent on destruction, seeking to plunge the universe into silence, yet you speak of life. Don’t you find that ironic?”
The Child of Darkness was inherently proud, rarely acknowledging others, typically ignoring ordinary cultivators. But in his eyes, Zhang Ruochen was exceptional, worthy of dialogue—or rather, a discourse.
A final discourse at life’s end.
His withered, aged face lacked the vibrancy of youth, yet he forced a smile, “Does the Celestial Court not have slaughter? Are there no beings in the Celestial Court pursuing death and destruction? If so, why can’t someone in the Inferno Realm pursue life?”
“If you pursue life, why come to Kunlun Realm?” Zhang Ruochen countered.
The Child of Darkness said, “I pursue the continuous evolution of life—transcending to sainthood, even godhood. The conflict between the Inferno and Celestial Court is meaningless. I only seek greater breakthroughs in cultivation, to walk further on the path of the strong.”
“Kunlun Realm is unlike ordinary worlds, enduring for eons, birthing countless wonders and extraordinary figures like the Ten Tribulations Heavenly Lord, Saint Monk Xumi, and Dragon Lord Jiwang. They represent the pinnacle of life I aspire to, so I had to come, to follow their footsteps and perfect my path.”
At this, his eyes shone with radiant brilliance.
In this moment, the Child of Darkness seemed to have let go of everything—conflicts, interests, the divide between Celestial Court and Inferno Realm—becoming a pure cultivator.
“What a pity your life is nearing its end, with no chance to pursue anything further. Fate loves to toy with us,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden shook her head.
From what she knew, the Child of Darkness had never appeared on any merit battlefield, staying in the Inferno Realm to cultivate, overlooked by many. Perhaps he truly was devoted to the path.
But whether true or not, it hardly mattered now, as his life was about to end.
The Child of Darkness said, “I never believed in fate, nor have I visited the Destiny Temple that Inferno Realm cultivators revere. In truth, it’s about taking action. From the moment a cultivator steps onto the path, they defy fate. The weak are swayed by destiny, but the strong control it. I face this calamity only because I’m not strong enough.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. Many cultivators boasted grand aspirations, claiming “my fate is mine, not the heavens’,” but how many truly held that as a steadfast belief?
In desperate situations, most would accept their fate, lacking the courage to resist.
“Buzz.”
Suddenly, the space trembled violently, an extremely dangerous aura enveloping Zhang Ruochen, Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, and the Child of Darkness.
They looked up, their expressions sharpening. A solid river of time appeared, filled with countless time fragments, disrupting the entire spacetime.
Zhang Ruochen could summon a time river’s shadow, but its power paled compared to this one.
As they prepared to act, the Child of Darkness extended a withered arm, his fingers tracing intricate secret patterns on the ground.
Instantly, countless light specks appeared in the sky, like billions of stars, creating a grand cosmic momentum, as if they were truly in the universe’s starry expanse.
The specks rotated, like a galaxy reversing, twisting the entire spacetime.
Even the terrifying time river twisted, veering off course, failing to strike the trio and vanishing into the darkness.
After this, the Child of Darkness’s form grew even more withered, his aura at its weakest.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes flashed with intrigue, staring at the Child of Darkness. His adept handling suggested deep familiarity with the monster’s methods.
“The situation’s bad. This monster has many tricks. If we don’t find a way out soon, we’ll likely be refined,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said gravely.
The Child of Darkness said, “This monster is highly intelligent. It could kill us quickly but chooses not to, wanting to torment us slowly, driving us to despair and death. This gives us a chance to escape.”
“What chance?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Child of Darkness said, “Everyone has weaknesses, and I believe this monster is no exception. If we find its weakness, we might escape.”
“Weakness?” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden mused.
Inside the monster’s body, with much unknown, finding a weakness wouldn’t be easy.
The Child of Darkness said, “This monster is formed from four divine powers, unlike the others outside, having undergone a fundamental transformation, perhaps qualifying as a true lifeform.”
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s eyes lit up, “These four divine powers are extremely potent and belong to different gods, making perfect fusion nearly impossible. The monster likely maintains a balance. If we can disrupt this balance, we might severely damage it, gaining a chance to escape.”
Zhang Ruochen pondered, “That could indeed be a weakness, but how do we disrupt the balance?”
Finding the weakness was only half the battle; they needed a feasible plan.
“I vaguely saw a peculiar divine power vortex at the top of this space, displaying four colours. The divine power surging from outside seems to converge there,” the Child of Darkness said.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred, “Where is this vortex?”
Instead of answering, the Child of Darkness traced patterns on the ground again.
“Whoosh.”
A dim light shot upward, breaking through obstacles, revealing hidden elements.
Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden looked up, their vision now clear to thousands of zhang above.
As the Child of Darkness said, a massive divine power vortex slowly rotated, faintly exuding a terrifying aura capable of annihilating everything.
Moments later, the ground’s secret patterns faded, the dim light vanished, and the vortex was hidden again.
“Cough, cough.”
The Child of Darkness coughed violently, his face ashen, on the brink of collapse.
