The interiors of the ten main clan stars each hold unique opportunities.
At the same time, these ten opportunities are also the ten trials set by the Temple of Destiny for the most outstanding talents of the past millennium. Only by passing the trials can one seize the opportunities.
The allocation of these ten opportunities corresponds to the constitutions of the ten clans’ cultivators.
Ghost Clan cultivators are more likely to seize the opportunity within the Ghost Clan’s home star.
Undying Blood Clan cultivators are more likely to seize the opportunity within the Undying Blood Clan’s home star.
…
In the Temple of Destiny, the Ghost Lord, always at odds with War God Xue Jue, snorted coldly, “The opportunity within the Ghost Clan’s home star can only be seized by Ghost Clan cultivators. Others, even if they venture inside, will achieve nothing.”
“Not necessarily. Your Ghost Clan cultivators are useless, letting Zhang Ruochen and Saint Yanhong get there first. With their talents, they might well have a chance to seize it. This is fate’s arrangement,” War God Xue Jue retorted.
Deep down, the Ghost Lord was quite worried, fearing Xue Jue’s words might come true.
For a foreign cultivator to seize an opportunity meant for the Ghost Clan would be a profound humiliation for every Ghost Clan member.
Moreover, in the Ghost Lord’s view, Xu, with his extraordinary talent, was the only Ghost Clan cultivator with a slim chance of seizing the opportunity. If Zhang Ruochen got there first, War God Xue Jue would surely gloat about it endlessly, and the Ghost Lord could not bear such indignity.
The Lord of Impermanent Ghost City said, “The ten opportunities are not so easily seized. If I recall correctly, in the last millennium’s Hunting Heaven Feast, only the Sword God Feng Chen passed the trial and claimed one of the ten opportunities, correct?”
The Ghost Lord added, “In the past ten thousand years, across ten Hunting Heaven Feasts, only four young Great Sages have succeeded in seizing an opportunity. In many sessions, despite an abundance of geniuses, not a single one succeeded.”
“The opportunity within the Ghost Clan’s home star has endured thirty Hunting Heaven Feasts over thirty thousand years. Countless brilliant Ghost Clan cultivators have emerged, yet none have succeeded. Zhang Ruochen isn’t a Ghost Clan cultivator, so the difficulty is even greater. Xue Jue, you place too much hope in him. Beware, you may only find disappointment.”
War God Xue Jue replied, “You’ve said so much, desperately trying to prove Zhang Ruochen can’t seize the opportunity within the Ghost Clan’s home star. Yet, this only reveals your anxiety and fear that he might succeed.”
He continued, “Moreover, the reason no Ghost Clan cultivator has claimed the opportunity meant for them in thirty thousand years only shows that the Ghost Clan has produced nothing but failures, not a single worthy talent.”
“What did you say?”
“Outrageous!”
A thunderous clash of divine might erupted in the Temple of Destiny.
The Ghost Clan gods were enraged, finding War God Xue Jue’s arrogance intolerable. Having survived one epochal tribulation, he was acting lawlessly.
The claim that “the Ghost Clan has produced only failures for thirty thousand years” was unbearable for any Ghost Clan member, including their gods.
In War God Xue Jue’s divine realm, countless streams of ghostly divine smoke surged in, vast and overwhelming, like billions of ghost soldiers invading, shattering his divine realm layer by layer.
Xue Jue regarded it calmly, raising his powerful right arm and grasping at the void, “Halberd, come!”
A blood-red war halberd appeared in his hand. Divine armour formed around him, and a sharp divine might erupted, transforming into a sky-piercing blood radiance that obliterated the invading ghostly divine smoke.
“Good. I prefer action over words. Who will fight me?” War God Xue Jue’s voice thundered, his aura boundless, as if ready to battle all Ghost Clan gods.
A tremendous clash followed.
The divine might of the Undying Blood Clan gods erupted, forming a sky of blood mist, colliding with the Ghost Clan gods’ divine might.
The Lower and Middle Three Clans had deep-seated grudges, and even among gods, physical conflicts over disagreements were common.
The essence of living and undead beings was an irreconcilable conflict.
“For the undead to grow stronger, more living beings must die—not just those of the Heavenly Realm but also the Lower Three Clans’ beings.”
This was the root of their enmity.
For instance, among the twelve million ghost souls Xu had refined into his Immortal Chaos Ghost Emperor Body were souls of Undying Blood Clan and Rakshasa Clan cultivators.
“Enough! Is this grand feast to become a battlefield of gods? This is the Temple of Destiny. Shouldn’t you show me some respect?”
A divine statue, towering countless miles high, manifested in the void, radiating blinding divine light of fortune. Behind it, the Gate of Destiny appeared, as massive as a star, three million miles tall.
The gods’ divine shadows stood beneath the statue and the Gate of Destiny, appearing insignificant, like mortals before a god.
“We pay respects to Venerable God Fulu.”
The Ghost Clan and Undying Blood Clan gods ceased their conflict, returning to their divine realms and sitting quietly.
The statue spoke again, “The Inferno Realm has suppressed the Heavenly Realm for a hundred thousand years due to your collective efforts. Do you wish to destroy this yourselves?”
“I know there are grudges between clans, but why must you act personally?”
“You are all universe-shaking existences, the strongest born from billions of cultivators. You should learn to control your power. If there are grudges, let the younger generation resolve them—it will also temper them.”
“Even gods cannot escape death and will eventually fade into oblivion. The future of the Inferno Realm lies with the young. Their strength represents the strength of your clans.”
The gods fell silent, none daring to act recklessly before Venerable God Fulu.
The statue turned to War God Xue Jue, “Xue Jue, has Zhang Ruochen truly cultivated a second-grade sacred intent?”
Hearing Venerable God Fulu inquire about a young Great Sage, the gods’ eyes showed surprise.
After all, Fulu’s stature was immense. To have one’s name known and personally inquired about by him was an unparalleled honour for any Great Sage.
Fulu’s stance could, to some extent, determine Zhang Ruochen’s future status in the Inferno Realm.
War God Xue Jue restrained his battle intent, stood, and clasped his fists, “Thank you for your concern, Venerable God. Zhang Ruochen has indeed cultivated a second-grade sacred intent, though it still has flaws and can only be considered quasi-second-grade for now.”
Even before a god of Fulu’s level, Xue Jue was rarely so humble.
But Venerable God Fulu was different, having once guided Xue Jue’s cultivation, acting as half a master. This was why the proud war god showed such respect.
The statue spoke, “It seems the Xue Jue Family is about to enter its most glorious era. The opportunity within the Ghost Clan’s home star, originating from the Divine Ancient Nest, is significant. If Zhang Ruochen can seize it, his future achievements may surpass yours.”
The words “Divine Ancient Nest” shocked the gods again.
The ten opportunities varied, and even the gods of the ten clans were unclear on their specifics. But Fulu’s words made them realise the opportunity within the Ghost Clan’s home star was far more precious than imagined.
The statue continued, “The Hunting Heaven Battle is a trial for Zhang Ruochen. If he passes, I will grant him a divine blessing, ensuring he can cultivate safely in the Inferno Realm.”
This was a significant signal, representing a god’s will.
Zhang Ruochen had killed many divine sons and daughters, earning enmity from numerous gods. While War God Xue Jue and the Blood Empress could protect his life, they couldn’t stop gods from targeting him.
But Venerable God Fulu could.
The prerequisite, however, was that Zhang Ruochen pass the trial—not just a test of talent and strength.
…
Inside the purple-gold gourd, Zhang Ruochen, with the power of the Destruction Golden Sun, the Divine Wood Heart, and the Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire, finally refined all the Amo Curse within his body.
When he returned to peak condition and stepped out of the gourd, he found it floating on a boundless golden sea.
Even with his cultivation and the supreme sacred artifact’s power, he couldn’t resist the assimilating force of the golden mist on the water’s surface.
“This is bad. I’ve lost my bearings. How can I reach the shore and return to the surface?”
In just a few breaths, standing on the gourd, Zhang Ruochen’s body turned golden.
His body stiffened like iron. Using his mental power, he moved himself back into the gourd, landing on the blazing surface of the Destruction Golden Sun.
This time, his skin, hair, flesh, and even some bones had turned golden. It took a long time for him to restore his body to flesh and blood using the Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire and the Divine Wood Heart’s life essence.
“How terrifying. I’m trapped in this golden sea with no way out.”
Zhang Ruochen frowned, then sensed something, his expression turning to astonishment, “Why has my mental power suddenly increased so much?”
When he broke his first shackle and reached the Hundred Shackle Realm, his mental power had surged to the mid-stage of the sixty-second tier.
But in that moment, it had rapidly climbed again, nearing the late stage of the sixty-second tier.
After careful investigation, Zhang Ruochen discovered the reason for the rapid increase. After his body was goldenised and refined by the Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire and Destruction Golden Sun, some mysterious power had merged into his mental power thoughts, greatly enhancing their strength.
There was another, greater reason.
Refining the goldenised body with the Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire and Destruction Golden Sun caused significant damage to his body. His ability to fully recover was due to the Divine Wood Heart’s constant supply of life essence.
This process accelerated the absorption and refinement of the Divine Wood Heart.
Thus, his mental power surged rapidly.
Then, Zhang Ruochen noticed something even more remarkable: the second shackle in his right arm had loosened significantly during the goldenisation and flesh restoration process.
It was an unexpected boon.
“With the aid of the Divine Roaming Pill’s qi, I should be able to break the second shackle.”
Since escaping was difficult for now, Zhang Ruochen decided to cultivate inside the purple-gold gourd.
With a loud crack, after seven attempts, he broke the second shackle in his right arm, his demigod body releasing even stronger divine power.
Standing atop the radiant Destruction Golden Sun, Zhang Ruochen raised his glowing arms, a smile on his lips, “The process of goldenisation and flesh restoration is truly profound. Just one cycle has proven more effective than a thousand attempts to break shackles.”
“Moreover, during the process, some mysterious metallic power seems to have merged into my flesh, mental power, and sacred soul.”
With a spark of inspiration, Zhang Ruochen flew out of the gourd again.
Standing on the gourd, he searched for a way back to the surface while actively allowing the golden mist to invade his body.
His skin lost sensation, his flesh lost sensation, his bones completely lost sensation…
This time, Zhang Ruochen took a bold risk, waiting until only his qi sea remained ungoldenised before using his mental power to return to the gourd.
Thus, his entire body was goldenised.
It took even longer than before to restore his fleshly body.
The process from goldenisation to flesh restoration was excruciating, as if every inch of his flesh was melted and reformed.
Without Zhang Ruochen’s resolute will, he wouldn’t have dared attempt it a second time.
It was a form of self-torture.
Though agonizing, the rewards were immense.
After this cycle, Zhang Ruochen’s mental power reached the late stage of the sixty-second tier, and he broke the third shackle in his right leg.
“Keep going.”
The thrill of advancing his cultivation and power made Zhang Ruochen forget the pain, even beginning to enjoy the process.
The third cycle.
The fourth cycle brought his mental power to the peak of the sixty-second tier, breaking the fourth shackle.
The fifth cycle.
…
The seventh cycle pushed his mental power to the sixty-third tier, breaking the fifth shackle.
…
The tenth cycle brought his mental power to the mid-stage of the sixty-third tier, breaking the sixth shackle.
…
The process continued relentlessly.
Zhang Ruochen was fully immersed, thinking, “Danger and opportunity go hand in hand. The golden mist can kill Great Sages, turning them into golden statues, yet it can also rapidly enhance cultivation. Even cultivating with the Sundial isn’t this fast.”
Unbeknownst to Zhang Ruochen, among Great Sages below the Thousand Questions Realm, he was likely the only one capable of repeatedly undergoing this flesh transformation.
Firstly, his Immortal Five Elements Chaos Sacred Body had a strong affinity for the metallic power, one of the five elements.
The five elements—metal, water, wood, fire, earth—could cycle and transform into one another.
Metal births water, water births wood, wood births fire, fire births earth, earth births metal.
Moreover, his demigod body, nurtured by the divine blood of the Blood Phoenix and bolstered by the Undying Blood Clan’s bloodline, gave him far greater vitality than other Great Sages, allowing his body to recover despite repeated destruction.
Additionally, he possessed the supreme life treasure, the Divine Wood Heart.
These innate and acquired advantages enabled Zhang Ruochen to continuously transform between goldenisation and flesh restoration.
For the pink skeleton with her divine bone body, even if she recovered from goldenisation, her divine bones would sustain some damage. Multiple transformations would not benefit her but harm her essence.
Lacking the ability to cycle the five elements, she couldn’t absorb the benefits of the golden mist by transforming it into water, wood, fire, or earth attributes compatible with her body.
