The Heart of Truth slowly rotated, its 129,600 facets refracting strange light. The patterns etched upon them emerged clearly, as if alive, constantly shifting and elusive.
Even with Zhang Ruochen’s current Sacred Path realm, these patterns remained obscure and difficult to comprehend. Pushing his mental strength to the limit, he could only grasp fragments of their mysteries.
In his view, even Great Saints or gods could not easily unravel the profundities contained within the Heart of Truth.
Fortunately, refining the Heart of Truth did not require fully understanding its mysteries, only a degree of insight, with the key being alignment with it.
Zhang Ruochen relaxed completely, unhurried, slowly communing with the Heart of Truth. His 100 million cultivated Sacred Path Rules gently coiled around it.
Even so, his rule river was repeatedly shattered by the Heart of Truth’s power.
Had his Sacred Path Rules not been exceptionally solid and resilient, many might have been obliterated.
The Truth Master stood by, occasionally offering guidance, helping Zhang Ruochen avoid many missteps and dangers.
In this realm, no one likely understood the Heart of Truth better than the Truth Master.
After an unknown duration, Zhang Ruochen’s rule river finally enveloped the Heart of Truth, establishing a unique connection between them.
“Teachable indeed, grasping the key so quickly. Such comprehension explains why Saint Monk Xumi chose him as successor,” the Truth Master nodded inwardly.
Though she guided him, comprehension depended on Zhang Ruochen.
If his insight were lacking, even the clearest guidance would be wasted.
“Buzz.”
At one moment, the void trembled, and the Heart of Truth was finally stirred.
Despite its fist-sized appearance, the Heart of Truth was immensely heavy, like a vast world. Without alignment, even a Great Saint could not budge it.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes brightened. Clasping his hands, he formed a seal, and boundless Five Elements Chaos Qi surged from his body.
Simultaneously, a million Truth Rules returned, merging with the Chaos Qi to swiftly form a hazy chaotic world, containing a vast starry sea, as if evolving into another cosmos.
As the Truth Form condensed, the Truth Mountain resonated, countless Truth Rules manifesting, weaving a dazzling, vast starry sky in the heavens, strikingly vivid.
“Collect.”
Zhang Ruochen commanded.
Instantly, 99 million Sacred Path Rules moved, slowly dragging the Heart of Truth.
His expression was grave, with no room for laxity, as he exerted all his Sacred Path Rules.
However, things were not as smooth as he hoped. Before moving far, the Heart of Truth trembled slightly, resisting the rules’ binding.
“Saint Aspects, emerge.”
With a thought, Zhang Ruochen released all six Saint Aspects.
The six Aspects suppressed the six directions—sky, earth, east, south, west, north—their powers linked seamlessly, locking the Heart of Truth firmly.
The advantage of six Saint Aspects was now evident.
“Six Saint Aspects? Truly like Yan Wushen, extraordinary beings. Since the Nether Ancient Era, such beings have been rare, yet two appear now. Does this portend something?” the Truth Master’s eyes glinted.
She fell into thought. With her status, she accessed secrets beyond ordinary imagination, often sensing cosmic events in advance.
With the six Saint Aspects’ suppression, the Heart of Truth stabilised, its movement slightly quickening.
This task heavily taxed his spirit.
Even with Zhang Ruochen’s resilient spirit, he nearly faltered.
As the Heart of Truth neared, a black hole appeared on the Truth Form, emitting powerful suction, pulling the Heart in.
“Buzz.”
Suddenly, the Heart of Truth released a faint fluctuation.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze sharpened. His Truth Form shook violently, showing signs of collapse.
Simultaneously, a strange force entered his body, instantly damaging his Five Elements Chaos Body. Fine cracks appeared on his skin, saint blood seeping out.
Fortunately, the force was not too strong, soon dissipating, avoiding major destruction.
“Terrifying Heart of Truth. Not even begun refining, yet it nearly destroyed my body,” Zhang Ruochen thought, alarmed.
The Truth Master’s warning was true, refining the Heart of Truth was fraught with peril, a single misstep leading to ruin.
He could still abandon the attempt now.
But once the Heart of Truth entered his Truth Form, retreat would be impossible.
Gazing at the Heart of Truth, Zhang Ruochen’s eyes showed no hesitation, only resolve. He never regretted his choices.
Readjusting his state, he fully activated his Truth Form, firmly drawing the Heart in.
Even this stable space distorted under the strain.
“Splash.”
With a surge, the Heart of Truth was finally pulled into the Truth Form.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression grew graver, knowing the true danger lay ahead.
He faced two outcomes: successfully refine the Heart of Truth or perish in explosion.
“Refining the Heart of Truth relies solely on your own power, no external aids, remember,” the Truth Master cautioned.
She knew Zhang Ruochen possessed many treasures, but using them now would backfire.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “Thank you, Senior.”
Exhaling deeply, he sat cross-legged, not rushing to refine the Heart of Truth. Instead, he repeatedly circulated the *Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture*, fully relaxing his body and mind.
With his life at stake, he could not afford carelessness.
After a long time, Zhang Ruochen’s state became ethereal, free of distractions, his spirit fully immersed in the Truth Form, beginning to refine the Heart of Truth.
His goal was to fuse the Heart of Truth with his Truth Form, making them one.
Success would immensely strengthen his Truth Form, granting unimaginable benefits.
Under his control, the Truth Form vibrated rhythmically, its billions of stars orbiting the Heart of Truth slowly.
His great advantage was his mastery of the Truth Path at Great Perfection, significantly boosting his chances of success.
The Truth Master stood silently. If Zhang Ruochen failed, she would intervene to save him, if possible.
Such a prodigy’s death here would be a tragedy.
But even her intervention might not guarantee his survival.
Her gaze shifted to the Truth Sea’s shore. Despite the golden mist, she could see the scene clearly.
“Moon God, Tianpeng, Mandala Flower God, Jia Tianxia… quite a few gods have come, all eyeing my Truth Temple’s reward.”
“If Zhang Ruochen succeeds, he’ll face many troubles. Even the Moon God may not protect him, but…”
Her eyes locked onto the Weak Water giant guarding the Heavenly River, a strange glint in her gaze.
But only for a moment, she refocused on Zhang Ruochen.
Even she couldn’t predict how long it would take him to refine the Heart of Truth.
It was unpredictable, perhaps a day or a year, depending on his alignment with the Heart.
“Boom.”
Suddenly, the Truth Form shook, countless stars near the Heart of Truth annihilating instantly.
“Pfft.”
Zhang Ruochen trembled, spitting blood.
His aura grew chaotic, blood and qi surging, his immense yang energy threatening to burst forth.
He remained calm, growing steadier, circulating the *Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture* to regulate his power.
Simultaneously, he deployed the Spatial True Domain, locking himself, as if freezing this space into eternal stillness.
Once refining began, he could not stop, no matter the obstacles.
New stars approached the Heart of Truth, emitting unique fluctuations, cautiously probing.
His Truth Form contained billions of stars, their numbers growing, not easily annihilated.
Soon, the Heart of Truth stirred again, annihilating more stars and inflicting heavier wounds on Zhang Ruochen.
Thus, he repeatedly adjusted, suffering severe injuries each time. Even his robust recovery slowed, unable to keep up.
Over time, half the starry sky in his Truth Form was annihilated, destabilising it, on the verge of collapse.
Condensing a Truth Form was arduous, rebuilding it ten or hundred times harder if destroyed.
“Crack.”
A crack appeared on the Truth Form, mirrored by a clear crack on Zhang Ruochen’s body.
Worse, his saint soul also cracked.
Even using the Seven-Star Divine Ling Sun Leaf’s essence could not repair the cracks or stem the loss of his essence, qi, and spirit.
“Each crack on your Truth Form mirrors one on your body and soul. When it shatters, you will explode,” the Truth Master’s voice sounded in his ear.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart sank, a pressing urgency rising.
But he knew panic was futile, he needed calm to devise a solution.
Yet the Heart of Truth was too domineering, causing more cracks on the Truth Form.
Zhang Ruochen’s injuries worsened, his body covered in cracks, like a porcelain vase about to shatter.
“Hm? Why has Zhang Ruochen’s aura grown so weak?”
The Moon God’s eyes narrowed.
Using her divine staff, she vaguely sensed Zhang Ruochen’s dire state.
She knew the Truth Temple’s reward was hard-won but hadn’t expected it to be life-threatening.
Besides her, Empress Chi Yao’s eyes showed concern, likely sensing his perilous condition.
On the plaza, the Truth Master frowned. Before her, Zhang Ruochen was a bloodied figure, his saint blood nearly drained.
His Truth Form behind him was riddled with cracks, still increasing, with Five Elements Chaos Qi leaking, teetering on collapse.
“Failed?”
Disappointment flickered in the Truth Master’s eyes.
If even Zhang Ruochen couldn’t succeed, would another Saint King ever refine the Heart of Truth?
“I cannot fail. If I die, who will save Kunlun? Who will protect Kong Le? Who will rebuild Saint Ming? I have too much left undone to die here!”
An unyielding will surged in Zhang Ruochen’s heart.
He bore immense responsibilities.
He would not allow himself to fall, absolutely not.
Driven by this will, his Truth Form rapidly collapsed, contracting, returning to chaos.
The Truth Master was about to extract the Heart of Truth but paused, noticing the change.
“Such powerful mental will, still not giving up?” she said, surprised.
Under such pain, most would mentally collapse, unable to rally.
Yet Zhang Ruochen’s will was highly refined, as if sublimated.
The Truth Form collapsed swiftly, shrinking to fist-size, barely encasing the Heart of Truth. No stars remained, only chaos, like before the heavens opened.
The Heart of Truth fell silent, the situation stabilising.
Zhang Ruochen also grew still. Strands of Five Elements Chaos Qi gathered, wrapping him like threads, forming a giant cocoon.
In the Truth Master’s perception, his life force was faint, nearly gone.
“The critical moment has come. I hope he endures,” she said.
She could no longer intervene, his fate now his own.
The Truth Mountain grew eerily silent, the sky’s phenomena vanishing, creating an oppressive atmosphere.
Here, time and space blurred.
“Boom.”
Suddenly, a powerful force erupted, like a volcano dormant for eons.
The cocoon encasing Zhang Ruochen shattered. Behind him, the tiny Truth Form expanded rapidly, countless stars forming, while the Heart of Truth vanished.
It had fused with the Truth Form.
The reborn Truth Form was vaster, each star dazzling.
The starry sky phenomenon reappeared in the heavens, far grander than before.
“Thump, thump.”
A strong heartbeat sounded, vibrant life force emanating from Zhang Ruochen.
His withered body, drained of blood, visibly regained fullness.
Billions of Truth Rules appeared, orbiting him, as if he had become the master of the Truth Path.
“Chaos returns to origin, broken then rebuilt. Truly extraordinary.”
Seeing this, the Truth Master laughed, exclaiming aloud.
Her words reached the gods at the Truth Sea’s shore. Some smiled, while others’ faces darkened.
