Zhang Ruochen’s consciousness delved into his qi sea, comprehending, understanding, and manipulating the newly acquired Burial Gold divine rule patterns.
This was a rare opportunity to glimpse the mysteries of the divine realm while still at the Great Saint stage.
Although the Flame God Leg contained a hundred million flame divine patterns, they were not in his qi sea and could only be used for combat.
The Flame God’s leg, of course, originally held far more than a hundred million divine patterns.
Before the leg was severed, most of the divine rule patterns had been retracted into the qi sea.
Otherwise, a divine leg would contain at least a trillion divine rule patterns.
If Zhang Ruochen’s Flame God Leg had a trillion divine rule patterns, he could have not only crushed Dang Hu, an early Ten Thousand Deaths Realm cultivator, with a single stomp but even Wu Ma Jiu Xing would have been unable to withstand it.
As his control over the divine patterns grew more proficient, Zhang Ruochen’s body softened, reverting from a rigid state to flesh and blood, finally able to move again.
Not daring to leave the room, he took out the Seven-Star Imperial Palace, entered it, and eagerly released the rules within his body, forming a Dao Domain.
His Dao Domain couldn’t compare to that of a Thousand Questions Realm Great Saint. It was merely an invisible domain, without manifesting or taking form.
But this time was different. As the rules were released, countless golden tigers appeared, galloping within the Dao Domain.
Each golden tiger represented a single Burial Gold divine rule pattern.
The sky was filled with tiger shadows.
Their roars were deafening.
Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen’s control over the Burial Gold divine rule patterns was too weak. The golden tigers ran chaotically, without order, unlike a Thousand Questions Realm cultivator who could dominate their Dao Domain with absolute control, capable of crushing lower-realm Great Saints with its pressure.
“Although I only have six hundred seventy million Burial Gold divine rule patterns, their energy far surpasses my own seven and a half billion holy path rules.”
“One Burial Gold divine rule pattern contains energy over a hundred times greater than my own holy path rules.”
“Doesn’t that mean a peak Thousand Questions Realm Great Saint with seven hundred billion holy path rules would no longer have an advantage trying to suppress me with their Dao Domain?”
This thought lifted Zhang Ruochen’s spirits considerably.
His rule count had always been his weakness, leaving him vulnerable to suppression by the Dao Domains of Ten Thousand Deaths Realm Great Saints. He had to rely on the power of the Qiankun Realm or the domains of the three Eternal Paths combined with the supreme power of a Supreme Saint Artifact to break free or counterattack.
Now, although his Dao Domain still couldn’t match a Ten Thousand Deaths Realm Great Saint, early or mid-stage Ten Thousand Deaths Realm Great Saints could no longer crush him with their Dao Domains alone.
As for Thousand Questions Realm Great Saints…
How many of them could cultivate over seven hundred billion holy path rules?
Zhang Ruochen’s current Dao Domain could go toe-to-toe with any Thousand Questions Realm Great Saint.
However, he faced two troubling issues.
First, the six hundred seventy million Burial Gold divine rule patterns were too powerful, far surpassing his own holy path rules.
This wasn’t necessarily a good thing, as it could affect his holy path cultivation.
Second, while the Burial Gold divine rule patterns were strong, he could currently control only about a hundred million of them. The remaining five hundred million, even if released, were in a chaotic state, unable to form an effective attack.
Unless his mental strength could advance further, reaching the sixty-seventh tier.
With sufficient mental strength, he could control the divine rule patterns.
The second issue required improving his mental strength.
The first issue demanded enhancing his own holy path rules.
Additionally, Zhang Ruochen considered a third problem.
How should he utilise the Burial Gold divine rule patterns?
Simply integrate them into his Dao Domain to clash with other Great Saints?
That would, at best, allow him to confront Thousand Questions Realm Great Saints.
Unlike the flame divine patterns, which had the Flame God Leg as a vessel to directly convert into attack power, the Burial Gold divine rule patterns needed a holy technique to transform into combat strength.
Zhang Ruochen sought guidance from the Burial Gold White Tiger, hoping it could impart one or two prehistoric holy techniques or divine abilities.
Since these were divine rule patterns, they could surely be used to perform divine abilities.
Moreover, with his semi-divine body, he didn’t lack divine qi.
Even an immature minor divine ability could shine brilliantly in the Saint Realm, unleashing unparalleled power.
Unfortunately, the Burial Gold White Tiger said lightly, “You’re a Yuanhui-level genius, the finest brush in the world. Why copy others’ paintings when you can create your own?”
“Other cultivators, at the Great Saint stage, have already created multiple powerful holy techniques that are passed down through generations. You should be even more exceptional.”
“Now, the Burial Gold divine rule patterns are a perfect blank canvas for you. I’m eager to see what wondrous painting you, this brush, can create on it.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Why do I feel like you’re just reluctant to teach me holy techniques or divine abilities?”
The Burial Gold White Tiger said, “Prehistoric holy techniques and divine abilities can indeed control the Burial Gold divine rule patterns, but they hardly align with this era’s rules of heaven and earth. Without their support, and even obstructed by them, even the most powerful techniques lose much of their might. So, creating holy techniques suited to the Burial Gold divine rule patterns is the right path. I have high hopes for you.”
Had Zhang Ruochen never considered creating his own holy technique?
Of course he had, but it was too time-consuming.
Most cultivators who created holy techniques, whether Great Saints or Saint Kings, did so when they felt their cultivation could no longer progress, diverting their energy to technique creation.
Of course, there were also extraordinarily talented individuals who could cultivate while creating techniques.
But how could self-created holy techniques compare to those of ancient sages?
The holy techniques of ancient sages, passed down to the present, had likely been refined and perfected countless times by later generations. Some might even have been created by the mightiest of gods.
A thousand years ago, the Sealed Dust Sword God was a peerless genius, dominating an era in the Hell Realm. Skilled in every discipline, he could create exquisite techniques with a spark of inspiration.
With his aptitude, he could have been one of the defining figures of this Yuanhui.
Yet, because he spread himself too thin, mastering too many fields, he failed to even condense a second-grade holy intent.
In contrast, the focused and unyielding Void Sword Cultivator, Que, surpassed him.
Whether the Sealed Dust Sword God or Que would achieve greater heights in the future was uncertain.
But in terms of holy intent, Que was indeed stronger than the Sealed Dust Sword God of the same period.
Zhang Ruochen had, in fact, created one sword technique.
It was called *One Thought, Flowers Bloom*.
It fused the Sword Path, the Path of Space, and the Path of Time into a single sword technique.
As his understanding of these three paths deepened, he continually refined this technique, and its power was now quite formidable. Though it was just one move, he could wield it freely.
The advantage of a self-created holy technique lay in its perfect harmony with one’s mind, body, and holy qi.
It flowed seamlessly, with the sword arriving as soon as the thought did.
But Zhang Ruochen had never created a second sword technique, as he didn’t know how to develop it further.
Moreover, he always felt that his self-created sword technique, though seemingly exquisite, lacked something.
It lacked a spirit.
A spirit that represented him.
A sword technique or holy technique without a spirit was like a person without a soul.
Even if created, it would be like a clay figure, destined for limited achievement.
From creating holy techniques, Zhang Ruochen thought of his own spirit. From his spirit, he reflected on his pursuit.
In the past, his drive to cultivate stemmed from seeking revenge on Chi Yao.
Later, learning part of the truth left him lost for a long time. During that period, he had no pursuit, merely dragged forward step by step by external forces.
He cultivated daily, but what was the purpose?
To save the Kunlun Realm?
To uncover the ultimate truth of eight hundred years ago?
To surpass Chi Yao, defeat her, or even kill her to clear his mind?
None of these.
Later, awakened by Banruo and Luo Ji, Zhang Ruochen formed his own vision: to reshape the order of heaven and earth, transform the entire universe, and give all beings a new way of living.
But that vision was too grand, too distant, like a dream requiring a lifetime to pursue.
Moreover, reshaping the order of heaven and earth required a powerful heart and an unparalleled spirit. He needed to transcend himself first. But what was that spirit?
Zhang Ruochen sank into contemplation.
…
A gentle fragrance wafted through.
Though the doors and windows remained shut, a captivating woman in a red dress appeared in the room, blending the delicate beauty of a human woman with the sinister allure of a Rakshasa.
Sensing Gu Ye Jing’s aura, Zhang Ruochen snapped out of his reverie, stepped out of the Seven-Star Imperial Palace, and glanced at her faintly, saying, “Miss Gu Ye, you’re not here to seize the Supreme Origin Divine Crystal, are you?”
Gu Ye Jing, like a living portrait of a beauty, stood by the dark brown wooden wall, saying, “If I made a move, could you stop me?”
“I couldn’t, but you’d get nothing,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Gu Ye Jing said, “Zhang Ruochen, you underestimate the value of the Supreme Origin Divine Crystal and the Origin Temple. I may not be able to handle you, but if I captured you and took you back to Luo Zu Yun Shan Realm, gods there would act. Then, all your secrets would cease to be secrets.”
As she spoke, her deathly demonic qi surged forth.
Each strand of demonic qi was like a chain.
Zhang Ruochen remained unfazed, saying, “The Blood Absolute War God gave me the Seven-Star Imperial Palace and the War God Belt, seeing me as the future heir of the Xue Jue Family. He knew I had countless enemies in the Hell Realm, so why was he at ease leaving for the Jade煌 Realm?”
“The War God Belt can block gods, but not cultivators below the divine realm,” Gu Ye Jing said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Do you really think I have no other trump cards?”
“I’d like to test that!”
Gu Ye Jing manipulated the deathly demonic qi, infusing it with rules, forming dozens of blood-red chains that clinked as they wrapped towards Zhang Ruochen.
The space around Zhang Ruochen was instantly suppressed, becoming incomparably solid.
Before the chains even reached him, he felt the world turn lifeless, the space infinitely compressed, and his body nearly immobilised.
A deafening tiger roar erupted from within Zhang Ruochen.
His body radiated dazzling golden light, as Burial Gold divine rule patterns transformed into golden tiger shadows, rushing out to counter the chains binding him.
