Chapter 3374: A More Formidable One Has Arrived
"Rumble, rumble."
At the edge of Kiếm Hồn Đãng, space and time were extremely unstable, with all manner of divine powers and great arts evolving and manifesting.
It seemed like only a minor breakthrough in cultivation level, but Ngọc Thanh Tổ Sư's combat power had undergone earth-shaking changes. Even something as powerful as the Heavenly Ladder had been reduced to a mere backdrop.
The entire Kiếm Thần Điện, due to the chaotic battle between the Divine Kings and Divine Venerables, was fraught with danger everywhere. Within the space, every residual strand of power could wound a True God.
Kỷ Phạm Tâm stepped on a lotus emitting the divine light of origin, presiding over the formation, blocking all sorts of chaotic forces.
At the same time, Thái Thanh Tổ Sư's body emanated strange yet regular fluctuations. Sword cries rang out unceasingly within him, and circles of sword shadows automatically appeared, slowly rotating around him.
Clearly, Khương Sa Khắc's soul attack had already been repelled by Ngọc Thanh Tổ Sư earlier, and Thái Thanh Tổ Sư had reached a critical moment for his breakthrough.
Trương Nhược Trần and Tu Thần Thiên Thần stood guard nearby, watching carefully.
The Bồ Đề tree once again bloomed with bright golden radiance, with countless Buddha shadows floating around it.
Trương Nhược Trần gazed toward the direction of Kiếm Hồn Đãng, his expression perpetually grim. "Something's not right! Khương Sa Khắc and Tượng Pháp Thiên belong to completely different eras, yet they appeared together in Kiếm Thần Điện. This is too bizarre!"
"Obviously, they want to use Kiếm Thần Điện as a transition point to descend into the real world," Tu Thần Thiên Thần said.
Trương Nhược Trần asked, "What gives Kiếm Thần Điện the ability to mask the perception of the Heavenly Earth's rules?"
Tu Thần Thiên Thần had lived for far too long, having witnessed many strange and extraordinary events, and took this in stride. "Bối Hy and A Phù Nhã successfully seized new bodies in Ly Hận Thiên, didn't they? Soon they might descend into the real world. Táng Kim Bạch Hổ, a prehistoric divine beast, with the help of the summoner, was able to gradually integrate into this era as well."
Trương Nhược Trần felt a sense of crisis in his heart, feeling that things were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.
If Khương Sa Khắc could descend to Kiếm Thần Điện, could the remnant souls of the other powerful beings among the Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods also descend?
If Tượng Pháp Thiên could appear here, could the remnant souls of other powerful figures from the history of the Minh tộc also appear?
Ngọc Thanh Tổ Sư was so aggressive, wanting to fight into Kiếm Hồn Đãng. He must have sensed something, which was why he was so urgent.
Tu Thần Thiên Thần said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The sky won't fall. We are Divine Venerables of this era. Even if something truly terrifying happens in Kiếm Hồn Đãng, retreating would be an easy matter."
"Whoosh!"
A sword light shot into the sky, like a white rainbow.
Thái Thanh Tổ Sư had broken through. He rose and hurried toward Kiếm Hồn Đãng.
A voice drifted into the ears of Trương Nhược Trần and Tu Thần Thiên Thần: "Leave quickly, return to Kiếm Giới, and leave no traces behind. If Ngọc and I do not return within three days, immediately seal Kiếm Giới. When Long Chủ and Thái Thượng arrive, inform them of what happened here."
Trương Nhược Trần stared intently at Thái Thanh Tổ Sư's retreating figure.
Having broken through, Thái Thanh Tổ Sư's combat power had greatly increased, yet he spoke such words. Was it caution? Or was it excessive pessimism?
What exactly had they sensed?
Tu Thần Thiên Thần was no longer as optimistic as before. "Let's go! Thái Thanh and Ngọc Thanh's cultivation and combat power surpass ours by at least two major levels. If some extraordinary figure is truly about to descend, and even they cannot handle it, then staying behind would only make us a burden."
Trương Nhược Trần raised his arm, divine light rising, and called out loudly, "Tổ Sư, catch the swords!"
Six divine swords streaked across the sky in six beams of brilliant light, catching up to Thái Thanh Tổ Sư.
Thái Thanh Tổ Sư accepted the six swords without turning back, but a gratified smile appeared in his eyes.
Previously, because their contact with Trương Nhược Trần had been too brief, he and Ngọc Thanh had chosen to trust him only because of Tu Di Thánh Tăng and Long Chủ.
They acknowledged Trương Nhược Trần's talent.
As for his character, this time they truly saw it.
He was willing to fight against a Divine King to protect them.
Trương Nhược Trần had already taken a tremendous risk by charging out of the Chiến Pháp Thần Điện to help them resist Khương Sa Khắc's soul attack. After all, he was only a Đại Thần!
Later, when they sensed the impending danger and told Trương Nhược Trần to flee quickly, he had already fulfilled his moral obligation at that point and could have easily used the opportunity to leave. At that moment, Trương Nhược Trần had already done what most people could not.
Yet, Trương Nhược Trần chose to stay and guard them.
In the face of life and death, he chose to hold his ground.
This was beyond mere righteousness!
It could be said that from this day forward, Thái Thanh Tổ Sư and Ngọc Thanh Tổ Sư would support Trương Nhược Trần without reservation. Their relationship with him would become even closer than with Long Chủ and Thái Thượng.
Trương Nhược Trần and Tu Thần Thiên Thần returned to the Chiến Pháp Thần Điện, intending to directly control the temple and leave.
The Kiếm Nguyên Thần Thụ dimmed once more.
At the final moment of leaving Kiếm Thần Điện, Trương Nhược Trần glanced toward the base of the Kiếm Nguyên Thần Thụ. This time, he was certain—he truly saw an aged figure sitting there.
The artifact spirit of the Hắc Thủy Thần Trượng was extremely agitated. "Đại Trưởng Lão is still alive, right beneath the Kiếm Nguyên Thần Thụ! We cannot just leave like this!"
Bạch Khanh Nhi had never met the Đại Trưởng Lão of the Nghịch Thần tộc, but she had heard many legends about him and very much wanted to wait for the Kiếm Nguyên Thần Thụ to extinguish, then rush over to check.
To the Nghịch Thần tộc, the Đại Trưởng Lão was the soul of their people, an unparalleled banner.
Of course, she knew very well that the Đại Trưởng Lão could not possibly still be alive. If he were truly alive, with such a commotion happening, how could he not come out to meet them?
"Are we really going to abandon the two Tổ Sư?" Trì Dao said.
Trương Nhược Trần looked toward Kiếm Hồn Đãng, and in the end, with a hardened heart, he pulled Bạch Khanh Nhi and Trì Dao along, leading the gods to rush out of the temple gates.
Among those present, only Tu Thần Thiên Thần could understand the pain and struggle in Trương Nhược Trần's heart. Ngọc Thanh and Thái Thanh had not chosen to flee with them but instead took the initiative to attack Kiếm Hồn Đãng. A considerable part of the reason was likely to buy them time.
If they could all leave together, who would choose to risk their lives in a desperate battle?
Ngọc Thanh Tổ Sư charged into Kiếm Hồn Đãng and looked at Thái Thanh Tổ Sư who had caught up. "Have they left?"
"Mm! As long as Nhược Trần lives, the sword path can shine again, and Côn Luân can prosper once more. The two of us old fellows must give it our all today. If we can first shatter the evil within Kiếm Hồn Đãng, perhaps we can prevent that one from descending."
Thái Thanh Tổ Sư had just finished speaking when suddenly a puzzled expression appeared in his eyes. "They... they've come back!"
Trương Nhược Trần transmitted his voice to them: "An even more terrifying one has arrived outside. Do the two Tổ Sư know if Kiếm Thần Điện has any other exits?"
"Boom!"
A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering clap of thunder came from the distant heavens.
The speed of the thunder's propagation exceeded the speed of light.
Thái Thanh and Ngọc Thanh exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking to the bottom. They told Trương Nhược Trần that Kiếm Thần Điện had no other exits and told him to quickly come to Kiếm Hồn Đãng.
Now, they could only place themselves in a desperate situation and fight for survival!
The evil within Kiếm Hồn Đãng also sensed the terrifying oppressive force. The thunder directly ignored the chaotic space and the various ancient powers within Kiếm Thần Điện.
The two dark abyssal evil eyes, Khương Sa Khắc, and Tượng Pháp Thiên all struck out simultaneously, drawing upon the dark power within Kiếm Hồn Đãng. Like a black curtain of Dao law, it shrouded time and space.
"Whoosh!"
A bolt of lightning tens of millions of miles long surged into Kiếm Thần Điện.
Ngọc Thanh Tổ Sư and Thái Thanh Tổ Sư had said there were no other exits or entrances in Kiếm Thần Điện. But this bolt of lightning directly pierced through one of the temple's high walls, forcefully opening a passage.
A force of this level would make even Divine Kings and Divine Venerables tremble.
"Kiếm Thần Điện truly lives up to its reputation as a Thủy Tổ great hall comparable to the Thiên Cung. After all these years, it remains indestructible." Lôi Tổ's voice came from tens of millions of miles away. He continued, "Quite a lively gathering indeed. So many titled kings and venerable masters assembled here. This Tổ has arrived—surely you all won't be unwelcoming?"
Each word carried a bolt of lightning, striking continuously at the black curtain shrouding the entrance to Kiếm Hồn Đãng.
The black curtain contained an unfathomably strange power, managing to block most of the lightning bolts each time.
Trương Nhược Trần and the others were blocked outside by the black curtain.
Inside the black curtain, the two Tổ Sư launched attacks but could not break out.
"This time, it's completely over!" Tu Thần Thiên Thần said.
The sky lit up, turning purple.
Countless bolts of lightning covered the heavens, crisscrossing and darting about.
Space seemed to freeze solid, and everyone found it hard to breathe.
Lôi Tổ appeared within Kiếm Thần Điện, floating beneath the lightning, his figure slowly flying forward. The crisis of death struck at everyone's hearts.
The exit of Kiếm Thần Điện had been sealed off by lightning!
Lôi Tổ glanced at the black curtain at the entrance to Kiếm Hồn Đãng, a cautious look flashing through his eyes, then he fell into thought.
Trương Nhược Trần racked his brains for a countermeasure. At present, the only path to survival seemed to be using a borrowed knife to kill—luring Lôi Tổ to attack Kiếm Hồn Đãng. Using Kiếm Hồn Đãng to deal with Lôi Tổ.
Lôi Tổ's gaze fell upon Trương Nhược Trần. "Truly unexpected. Your cultivation speed, young one, is this fast. The Nhật Quỹ and Địa Đỉnh are indeed mysterious and profound."
Hearing this, Tu Thần Thiên Thần suddenly stopped panicking!
She was now the artifact spirit of the Nhật Quỹ.
Even if Lôi Tổ killed Trương Nhược Trần and took the Nhật Quỹ, he could not kill her.
But for some reason, even though Lôi Tổ's cultivation was stronger and he would be a better master, Tu Thần Thiên Thần could not feel happy. Instead, she felt somewhat worried for Trương Nhược Trần's safety.
Tu Thần Thiên Thần had to admit that this kid Trương Nhược Trần indeed possessed a unique charm. Spending time with him bred feelings.
Perhaps he himself was a person rich in emotions.
He valued feelings more than life itself.
These feelings included gratitude, friendship, love, kinship... they manifested in him at all times.
While Tu Thần Thiên Thần was thinking about all sorts of random things, Trương Nhược Trần faced Lôi Tổ directly and spoke: "Lôi Tổ đại nhân did not lose yourself in the vast darkness and found your way to Kiếm Thần Điện. Perhaps fate has decreed that you will become the new master of Kiếm Thần Điện!"
Lôi Tổ had been chased into the Tinh Vực Đại Tam Giác Hắc Ám by Phượng Thiên and had only escaped by sacrificing half of his divine body.
However, being able to escape from Phượng Thiên's grasp undoubtedly proved that Lôi Tổ possessed supremely powerful cultivation.
Lôi Tổ saw through what Trương Nhược Trần was thinking. "Young one, are you trying to lure this Tổ into that black curtain? Rest assured, this Tổ will become the master of Kiếm Thần Điện, and I will also charge into the black curtain to annihilate all the remnant souls and evil within. But before that, I must first take the Nhật Quỹ and the Địa Đỉnh."
This kind of cunning, wily old fox was too terrifying. Trương Nhược Trần had only had a fleeting thought, and he had seen through everything.
Streams of destructive lightning bolts burst forth from Lôi Tổ's body.
Suddenly, Bạch Khanh Nhi knelt down in the direction of the Kiếm Nguyên Thần Thụ. "Bạch Khanh Nhi, a junior of the Nghịch Thần tộc, humbly requests Đại Trưởng Lão to come out of seclusion and suppress the powerful enemy!"