The ruins of the Origin Temple were vast, filled with hidden realms and constant dangers. Even with the impressive cultivation of Zhang Ruochen and his group, it took them a long time to reach the area Gu Shejing had mentioned.
Here, the seawater was as black as ink and chillingly cold.
Zhang Ruochen’s vision and perception were greatly hindered, making him secretly wary.
Blood Slaughter shivered, looking at the boundless darkness ahead and said, “It’s so cold it can affect a Great Saint. Why hasn’t the seawater frozen? This is a dangerous place, absolutely a killing ground.”
Seven Hands Elder released his spiritual power, forming a small domain that enveloped Zhang Ruochen, and said, “There seems to be a strange force in this seawater, constantly eroding my body. If a cultivator below the Great Saint level came here, they would likely be instantly corrupted into a monster by that force.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “It’s demonic energy.”
“How could it be demonic energy? I’ve seen many demonic cultivators, and while their aura is somewhat similar to this force, it’s definitely not the same,” Seven Hands Elder said.
“It is indeed demonic energy,” Gu Shejing said. “This area has existed for countless eons. The demonic ways of that time must differ from those of today. The iron book records that the Earth Sparrow, also called the Earth Demon Sparrow, is the earliest record of demonic ways in the universe.”
“It’s precisely because this place has such intense ancient demonic energy that I suspect the Earth Demon Sparrow is likely hidden here.”
Blood Slaughter cautiously said, “We don’t even know what kind of divine artifact the Earth Demon Sparrow is. If its spirit is still alive and its demonic nature is strong, wouldn’t rushing in be like seeking death?”
“A divine artifact’s spirit must also endure the Yuan Epoch Tribulation. After so many years, the spirit would have long perished,” Master Night Wanderer said.
Blood Slaughter countered, “Since so many years have passed, what if a new spirit has been born?”
“This…” Master Night Wanderer was speechless, his gaze chilling as he felt Blood Slaughter was always arguing with him. He secretly resolved to find a chance to teach him a lesson.
Gu Shejing said, “The materials used to forge divine artifacts are the universe’s finest substances, enduring through eons without decay. It’s possible a new spirit could have formed, but for a spirit to cultivate on its own and reach the divine realm is nearly impossible. So, we needn’t worry too much.”
Seven Hands Elder said, “There’s one thing I think we should clarify in advance.”
“What is it?” Gu Shejing asked.
Seven Hands Elder continued, “If we find the Earth Demon Sparrow and manage to subdue it, who gets to keep this divine artifact? It can’t all go to you, can it?”
“That’s indeed something we should discuss beforehand,” Master Night Wanderer added.
Gu Shejing, as if anticipating this question, smiled and said, “The place where a divine artifact resides must be extraordinary, likely holding other rare treasures.”
“Our biggest problem now is entering this area. Why don’t we work together to break through? Any treasures we find along the way can be split evenly. As for the Earth Demon Sparrow, if it’s really inside, let’s each try to subdue it. Whoever succeeds claims the artifact. What do you think?”
“So, everyone has a chance?” Blood Slaughter’s expression lit up.
Gu Shejing said, “Exactly. Legends say many divine artifacts choose their masters, some even submitting to a mere Saint.”
This proposal made Seven Hands Elder and Master Night Wanderer’s eyes gleam, and they had no further objections.
In their view, if Gu Shejing tried to monopolize the artifact, it wouldn’t be easy. After all, with Zhang Ruochen and the two of them combined, in a place filled with residual spatial array patterns, she might not have the upper hand.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm throughout, activating the Heart of Truth to use the Eyes of Truth, carefully sensing and observing.
Unfortunately, this area was too strange, and even the Heart of Truth was greatly affected, only able to probe a small region.
“Let’s go in and see. Night Wanderer, you and Gu Shejing take the lead,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Master Night Wanderer’s expertise in the Path of Space was considerable, and Gu Shejing had ventured in twice before. They moved forward slowly, encountering no major dangers for the time being.
Blood Slaughter stayed at the rear, erasing their traces.
Zhang Ruochen studied and observed along the way, suddenly saying, “There are many spatial bubbles and folded spaces here. Everyone, stay close to avoid getting separated or lost in the layered spaces.”
“There’s a figure!” Blood Slaughter exclaimed.
Everyone stopped and looked toward the upper right.
About ten miles away, at a height of thirty to forty feet, a path made of piled stones stretched upward from the ground, disappearing into the distance.
Though underwater, it looked like a stairway to heaven, leading to an unknown realm.
A long line of figures appeared on that path.
“Why is there a floating path slanting upward?”
“It’s too far to see who they are. Could it be an ancient projection?”
“Should we go check it out?”
Zhang Ruochen stopped Master Night Wanderer, who wanted to investigate, and said, “The space here is complex. It looks like it’s only ten miles away, but it could be thousands or tens of thousands of miles. That path appears to slant upward, but it’s likely a flat road.”
“And the figures on that path, I’ve seen clearly. They’re not ancient projections but cultivators from the Death God Temple. The one leading is Yuan Qianmo.”
“Master, you can see that clearly?” Master Night Wanderer was skeptical.
How could a Great Saint of the Hundred Shackles Realm have such keen eyesight?
Gu Shejing approached cautiously and asked, “Is it really Yuan Qianmo?”
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Seven Hands Elder’s face grew grave as he said, “Didn’t Yuan Qianmo and the Supreme Realm Great Saints from the Death God Temple go to explore the heart of the Origin Temple? Are we already in the core area?”
Yuan Qianmo’s reputation was formidable, feared by all in the secular world of the Hell Realm.
Having just killed a member of the Death Clan, they felt a twinge of guilt.
Gu Shejing said, “Your mastery of space is profound. Can you estimate how far they are from us?”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, saying, “It’s too far to judge accurately.”
“Why not get closer and take a look?” Gu Shejing suggested.
Master Night Wanderer, somewhat afraid, said, “Better not. Yuan Qianmo alone could wipe us all out, not to mention the many Immortal Realm cultivators from the Death God Temple with him. If we’re spotted, the consequences would be dire.”
Gu Shejing said, “Yuan Qianmo is a significant figure. Instead of vying for the Origin Mystery, he’s here, which means he has a major goal. The Death God Temple’s archives surpass even those of Luo Zu Yunshan Realm, likely containing more information about the Origin Temple and the Earth Demon Sparrow.”
“Why not follow them from behind and bide our time?”
“Too risky!” Master Night Wanderer, timid by nature, dared not provoke the mighty Death God Temple.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment and said, “Searching aimlessly like this isn’t the way. Since the Death God Temple cultivators abandoned the Origin Mystery to come here, they must have valuable information. Following them is indeed our best option.”
Gu Shejing’s face lit up, knowing Zhang Ruochen had the courage and resolve.
In truth, Zhang Ruochen was worried that if Ji Fanxin was trapped in this area, the Death God Temple cultivators finding her would put her in grave danger.
Zhang Ruochen instructed, “I’ll take the lead from now on.”
“Night Wanderer, set up an array to conceal our presence. We must not let the Death God Temple detect us.”
“Seven Hands Elder, stay vigilant for any unknown dangers.”
“Blood Slaughter, keep erasing our traces.”
Zhang Ruochen looked to the distant right, where the stone path extending upward was fading rapidly, almost disappearing.
“Open!”
Zhang Ruochen secretly invoked the Spatial Mystery, pointing forward.
Crack! Crack!
Invisible spatial inscriptions snapped one by one, and where there was no path, he forcibly carved one out.
They encountered spatial cliffs, ruined spatial arrays, chaotic spatial formations, all of which Zhang Ruochen resolved one by one.
A spatial cliff was like a true cliff, with no path beyond.
But with a light point of Zhang Ruochen’s finger, a spatial road extended automatically, stretching to the horizon.
The ruined spatial array was even stranger. Though only tens of feet wide, when Gu Shejing fell into it, she found herself in a vast realm spanning hundreds of thousands of miles, unable to escape.
It was Zhang Ruochen who entered and brought her out.
…
Gradually, they caught up to the Death God Temple cultivators.
Though still over ten miles apart, even with Blood Slaughter’s cultivation, he could clearly see Yuan Qianmo’s face, indicating the distance was real, not separated by layered spaces.
As Zhang Ruochen had deduced, the stone path the Death God Temple cultivators walked was not slanting upward but straight forward.
The earlier slant was an illusion caused by spatial distortion.
“They’ve stopped. What are they doing?” Blood Slaughter asked.
The Death God Temple cultivators had indeed halted, using glowing divine crystals to build a small, simple altar.
Gu Shejing, standing to Zhang Ruochen’s right, nudged him lightly with her slender arm and smiled, “Do you know who the young cultivator next to Yuan Qianmo is?”
Zhang Ruochen observed carefully and said, “Strange. Why is a Half-Saint youth among a group of top Death God Temple cultivators? Could it be Huan Zhen?”
“Exactly. As I mentioned before, Huan Zhen is one of the six remaining Origin Controllers in the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm. Yuan Qianmo bringing Huan Zhen here means they have big plans,” Gu Shejing said, her lips curling with keen interest.
At this moment, Master Night Wanderer and Seven Hands Elder were trembling with caution, fearing detection by Yuan Qianmo. Only Gu Shejing could still smile.
She said, “Why are you so scared? The Blood Absolute Clan’s deity is nearby. Are you afraid of a single Yuan Qianmo?”
“The deity is likely seeking opportunities and can’t always be by my side,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Shejing smiled inwardly, thinking this was more reasonable.
How could a deity entering the Origin Temple not explore its core?
Throughout the journey, Zhang Ruochen sensed no one following them, concluding that Chi Yao was likely held up by the angel deity.
Zhang Ruochen felt no great turmoil. In his view, Chi Yao’s presence in the Origin Temple was likely at the Dragon Lord’s behest, probably to resolve the hatred and conflict between them.
Unfortunately, the Dragon Lord, an outsider, could not understand the complex love-hate relationship between Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao.
Chi Yao’s forces had killed countless citizens of the Saint Ming Central Empire.
Zhang Ruochen, leading Saint Ming’s remnants, had stormed Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion, killing many Chi family members.
Their hatred was no longer just personal.
Moreover, their conflict was far more than mere hatred.
With Chi Yao absent, Zhang Ruochen felt lighter, not wanting to owe her too much today, lest he hesitate in a future confrontation.
Two people on opposing sides should not grow too close.
Chi Yao should understand this.
…
Regarding questions about the three divine artifacts of the Origin Temple, some readers feel the number is too small. In fact, everyone overlooks the issue of the temple’s existence in time.
Like the ten divine artifacts of Kunlun Realm, accumulated over countless ages, during the Origin Temple’s era, Kunlun Realm might not have had a single divine artifact.
A nation with three atomic bombs during World War I is not the same as one with three today.
Additionally, the three divine artifacts mentioned are the temple’s guardian artifacts, not the only ones.
