Tathagata watched as the powerful figures departed one after another. After standing in contemplation for a mont, he too stepped forward and disappeared.
With the departure of the strongest beings, the area, once rich with spiritual energy, had beco chaotic. Before long, a massive storm began to brew, turning the environnt into an extrely hostile one.
Despite the worsening conditions, many cultivators were reluctant to leave.
The Heavenly Court had been annihilated, with everyone within it eting their demise!
The news of this cataclysmic battlefield, as fierce as the winds that now howled through the land, spread rapidly across the world. Ying's overwhelming dominance and the fall of Confucius were conveyed through countless jade slips, swiftly reaching the desks of leaders across the various factions.
Ten days later, the area was completely engulfed by the hurricane. Yet, many powerful individuals braved the storm to witness the ruins of the battlefield and the shattered remains of the Heavenly Court.
On this particular day, another group ventured into the storm.
"Master, I saw it with my own eyes that day. This is where the Jade Emperor fell, and over there is where Confucius was devoured by Ying. It was brutal—Confucius was torn apart alive by Ying," a guide narrated to the others.
"Torn apart alive?" one of the listeners asked, frowning.
"Of course! Don't believe the rumors—I'm telling you, I saw it myself. Ying was tearing and eating at the sa ti, so ferocious that even Mitiān Sage was trembling, his face turning pale!" the guide boasted.
"You could see the face of a Sage? Aren't their faces impossible to see?" another person questioned, exposing the guide's exaggeration.
"Uh? Sixth Junior Brother, if you're going to listen, don't interrupt!" the guide snapped, irritated.
"Enough! Where are the ruins of the Heavenly Court?" the leader of the group demanded.
"Master, it's right over there. The space around it is unstable, and no one can get close!" the guide pointed to the distance.
"Huh? But didn't you say the space was unstable and no one could approach? Then why is there soone standing there?" the sixth junior brother remarked skeptically.
"Impossible! I saw a Celestial Immortal try to get close and be crushed to dust!" the guide retorted quickly.
But indeed, a figure stood there, dressed in an elegant black robe.
"Who is that?" the guide exclaid in surprise.
"Silence!" the leader imdiately commanded.
It was then that the group noticed that the black-robed figure's face was obscured, as if covered by a layer of mist.
With a flick of his sleeve, the black-robed man swept up the ruins of the Heavenly Court into his sleeve, and with a single step, he vanished from the scene.
"Who... who was that?" the sixth junior brother stamred, swallowing hard.
"A face obscured... Was that a Sage?" the guide murmured in shock.
"No, that was Sa!" the master, well-versed in the ways of the world, imdiately recognized the figure.
"Sa?"
"Let's go! This place is no longer safe!" the master urged, his voice filled with panic—
In a secluded valley, surrounded by layers of protective formations, stood a grand hall at its center. Outside, Xidu Huang, Hao ili, Luo Xingchen, Mr. Corpse, Nangong Sheng, and Little Gold Dragon kept vigilant watch.
Inside, Zhong Shan and Jieyin were engaged in a crucial task.
"Gītóng, activate!" Zhong Shan commanded in a deep voice from within.
The entire hall was bathed in a brilliant red light!
After exerting imnse effort, Zhong Shan's body swayed slightly from exhaustion.
Jieyin quickly extended a hand to Zhong Shan's forehead, channeling a surge of energy into his body to swiftly replenish his spent strength.
"Like I said before, it won't work," Jieyin said with a wry smile.
"Why won't it work?" Zhong Shan's eyes widened in frustration.
"Your Gītóng does indeed have the power to create miracles, but it can only save the living. I, in the strictest sense, am already dead," Jieyin replied, shaking his head.
"Dead?" Zhong Shan frowned.
"Yes, it's useless. My life essence has already perished, and my fate has been shattered. What you see now is rely a shadow, a remnant that lingers in this world, soon to dissipate. But in these final monts, with a friend by my side, I am content," Jieyin said calmly.
Zhong Shan's heart grew heavy, his nose tingling with a hint of sadness.
"Zhong Shan, let beco your disciple. You must teach , teach how to win over a saintess! I've dread of winning the heart of a saintess from a sacred ground since I was young, and now my future depends on you."
"That powerful? Then make one for too! I'll trade a great celestial weapon with you!"
"Five pieces, that's my bottom line. One shouldn't be too greedy!"
mories of past days with Jieyin flooded Zhong Shan's mind. Was there really no way to save such a dear friend?
Jieyin looked at Zhong Shan and said, "There's no need to be sad. In truth, I died tens of thousands of years ago. Just being able to live again and see this world one more ti has been enough for ."
Zhong Shan fell into a heavy silence.
Jieyin reached out and took out a crystal, within which a golden '卍' symbol was sealed.
"I know you have a son, the current master of Tianyin Temple. I'm about to leave, and there's nothing left that holds here, except for you and Princess Nine Tails, the only two true friends I've ever had. Since Princess Nine Tails is now in the Fox Realm, that leaves only you. Take this Buddhist symbol. You can give it to your son; it will greatly help him," Jieyin said.
Zhong Shan did not take it, his heart weighed down by the gravity of the situation. Jieyin, as if preparing for the end, placed the crystal on the ground before Zhong Shan.
"Taishang, Zhunti, Tongtian, and I—we are all going to vanish," Jieyin said softly.
"Tongtian? Sa? He wasn't there; how could this happen? Why didn't you leave?" Zhong Shan asked.
"Leave? It wouldn't have mattered. As long as we are in this world, the Eye of Heaven's Will sees us. Tongtian wasn't there? He's been reborn, and he certainly won't escape. Only Hongjun and Yuanshi have yet to be reborn," Jieyin reminisced.
"Hongjun, Yuanshi—both of them are master strategists. Compared to them, we fall short. They will return, but Hongjun will never allow Yuanshi to live. Yuanshi knows this, but he won't be able to defeat Hongjun. You must be careful of Hongjun in the future—his calculations are too profound. No one knows how many contingencies he has prepared!" Jieyin warned.
"And if possible, find the Zixiao Palace as soon as you can. Most of Hongjun's power is sealed inside, along with several of the supre treasures he has collected. It's the sa as that living planet I once ntioned," Jieyin sighed.
"I will," Zhong Shan nodded.
"Be wary of two people: Ying and Tathagata. From this day forward, do not trust them!" Jieyin said, catching his breath.
"I understand," Zhong Shan nodded again.
"Heh, this world is descending into chaos. It's going to be a ti of great turmoil, and you are still too weak," Jieyin said with a bitter smile.
"I will beco strong, very strong," Zhong Shan reassured him.
"I know you will. I believe you'll beco an Ancestor Immortal in no ti. You'll gather power quickly, expand your empire, but you're still missing one crucial thing—sothing most precious," Jieyin said.
"What is it?" Zhong Shan asked, frowning.
"Accumulation of the Heart Dao," Jieyin replied.
"The Heart Dao?"
"Yes, just like a 'divine ability.' As you grow and reach this level, you should have developed your own unique divine ability by now, right? Like your subordinate, who mastered the Ti Divine Ability. But you? You've grown too quickly, too impatiently," Jieyin shook his head.
Zhong Shan fell silent.
"I will help you," Jieyin offered.
"You'll help ?" Zhong Shan asked in surprise.
"Trust . Close your eyes and focus. Don't speak, and shut off all your senses. Use your heart to feel," Jieyin instructed solemnly.
"I trust you," Zhong Shan said firmly.
Closing his eyes, Zhong Shan sat cross-legged, cutting off all external contact and shutting down his six senses. He could no longer hear anything from Jieyin.
Jieyin looked at Zhong Shan and smiled sadly.
"To have a friend like you in this second life is enough for . I will transform into the Bodhi Tree and help you comprehend all spiritual essences, spending my final monts in this world. I have no regrets. I hope you can break through the struggles we faced and beco the strongest under the heavens," Jieyin said with deep sincerity.
With that, Jieyin's body began to transform, slowly becoming a lush green tree. The tree grew to cover Zhong Shan, and countless rays of green light descended from the leaves, entering Zhong Shan's body.
As the tree continued to transfer its energy, it gradually began to fade, becoming more and more translucent.
Three days later, the tree completely disappeared, and within the hall, Jieyin had vanished—dissipated into nothingness. The only thing left behind was the crystal containing the golden '卍' symbol.
Zhong Shan remained seated, his face shifting through a spectrum of colors as countless streams of light flickered across his features.
After Jieyin's disappearance, another seven days passed before Zhong Shan's eyes suddenly snapped open.
When his eyes opened, two beams of thirteen-colored light shot out, striking a nearby pillar.
"Boom!" The pillar shattered into pieces.
Zhong Shan quickly stood up.
"Jieyin? Jieyin? Su Afo? Su Afo, co out! Co out here, you bastard!" Zhong Shan shouted, his voice filled with anguish as tears stread down his face. But Jieyin would never answer him again.
"Zhong Shan, let beco your disciple. You must teach , teach how to win over a saintess! I've dread of winning the heart of a saintess from a sacred ground since I was young, and now my future depends on you."
"Five pieces, that's my bottom line. One shouldn't be too greedy!"
Su Afo's words from the past echoed in Zhong Shan's mind.
Zhong Shan sat alone in the hall for a day, overwheld with sorrow.
"Su Afo, I won't let you down! I've understood now—I've grasped my own divine ability," Zhong Shan said, picking up the crystal from the ground with determination.
As he spoke, he clenched his teeth, clearly struggling to suppress the deep sadness in his heart.
"Boom!"
At that mont, a loud explosion shook the hall. The massive structure crumbled into ruins.
"Zhong Shan!" Hao ili's anxious voice called from outside.
A flash of golden light swept through the area, turning the hall into a pile of rubble. Luo Xingchen and the others were lying on the ground, severely injured.
In the sky above, Jinpeng, clad in golden armor and wielding a fla-covered Fang Tianhua halberd, had broken through the formation that Jieyin had set up.
"Jieyin's formation? Pathetic. Is that old fool dead yet?" Jinpeng sneered at Zhong Shan.
Zhong Shan's fists clenched tightly.
Taking a step forward, Zhong Shan's movent whipped up a fierce wind, placing himself protectively in front of his companions.
With the anger from his recent grief still burning within him, Zhong Shan confronted Jinpeng.
"So, he's really dead? That old bastard is finally gone! Hahaha!" Jinpeng laughed heartily.
"Jinpeng!" Zhong Shan roared, his eyes flashing with ferocity as his rage shot toward Jinpeng.
The intensity of Zhong Shan's fury was enough to make Jinpeng's laughter falter.
"What? Think you're tough now? How about using that Heaven-Opening Axe again? Without that old fool Jieyin, what tricks do you have left?" Jinpeng taunted coldly.
"You're asking for death!" Zhong Shan growled.
As he spoke, the surrounding space grew icy, and a thick layer of frost and snow ford, frozen by the killing intent in Zhong Shan's words.
To read the manga version, please click the YouTube link syoutu.be/GnU613H6xm8
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