Chapter 892: Chapter 60: Hou Chen, Land of Calamity
Under the Fiery Flame Domain, the Sword Burial Plane remains as always.
The chaotic places are still chaotic; the mystical places are still mystical.
Within the Yuan Ci Secret Realm.
Hou Chen dragged his exhausted body, standing lonely atop a towering mountain peak.
The mountain peak swept through the air, causing his snow-white long hair to flutter in the wind.
He occasionally coughed a few times, large traces of blood spilled from the corners of his mouth.
Lately, Hou Chen often stood atop this mountain peak, frequently gazing into the distance.
The Master returned, but after fiercely battling the Jiang family, he departed again, leaving behind an endless prestige.
The Emperor Qi Sword Body emerged once more, stirring the great momentum of the world.
The decline of the Jiang family also became a perennial topic of discussion among cultivators.
The Jiang family’s pursuit halted, they even suddenly sealed themselves off from the world, as if in a phase of self-cultivation and recuperation due to great losses of Primordial Energy.
But Hou Chen knew that things were far from simple.
Yet, he could do nothing, for he couldn’t even master his own life.
He had exhausted everything; now all his efforts were for naught because this damaged soul body left him waiting for death.
Hou Chen felt many reluctances, yet he had to face this cruel reality.
He was reluctant to part with Sisi, the Master, and even Uncle Zhou Gucheng.
But he had no path, no way forward.
Hou Chen sighed lightly, his voice somewhat forlorn.
In recent days, Hou Chen often sighed. When death approaches, many things become clear and indifferent.
Many things hard to let go of can only turn into a helpless sigh.
Gazing into the distance, Hou Chen often recalled the past, remembered his master Zhou Yan, and then suddenly everything he once couldn’t understand became easy to grasp.
Sometimes death is a shortcut to rapid maturity.
But this shortcut to rapid maturity is often so cruel and harsh.
...
"What, no hope left? Are you planning to give up?"
Zhou Gucheng silently came to Hou Chen’s side, speaking coldly.
"Give up? No, I have never given up, nor will I ever give up."
"The Master has returned, I am very happy. Just, not finding Sisi Sister, my heart is unwilling. But I am truly powerless now."
"I have exhausted everything, used all my strength in seeking progress and breakthroughs.
So, I do not regret.
I have not given up, just no longer have the time to progress."
"But your words contain the sorrow of seeing through worldly affairs. Sorrow is a trait of the weak."
Zhou Gucheng mocked.
"No, Uncle, you are wrong. Because seeing through worldly affairs, one becomes sorrowful. I am sorrowful for these Heaven and Earth rules as if they are imprisoned."
"I always wondered why we have to perceive Heaven and Earth rules? Why can’t we create Heaven and Earth rules?!
If I had time, I would certainly create Heaven and Earth rules, create my own Heaven and Earth rules, rather than being led by the nose by them, like a pitiful beggar, a clown."
"My sighs are also due to lack of time. Yet even so, as I stand here, upon this peak, I continue to contemplate a Dao, an ’One Qi Three Purities’ Dao."
"I know I have limited time, yet my understanding has not ceased. I have no time, but my family, friends, and even Master and Sisi Sister, they do."
"My Dao is not perfected, but if I truly go... this Dao will still continue."
"The Dao hasn’t been interrupted, so I have never given up."
Hou Chen spoke solemnly.
"Well said, Zhou Yan should indeed be proud and pleased with a disciple like you."
Suddenly, two figures appeared behind Hou Chen.
One of them, Hou Chen recognized well, was Zhuge Wuwei.
The other, Hou Chen gazed intently.
And it was that person who spoke.
"I am Hua Qiudao, a friend of your Master Zhou Yan. I came this time originally planning to save your life. But it seems I overthought, how could the clever Fellow Daoist Zhou Yan not leave a back path for his most cherished disciple? Actually, witnessing Zhou Yan observing the battle, I should have realized he certainly left precautions."
Hua Qiudao chuckled.
"Indeed, precautions were left long ago, but this Heavenly Mechanism nearly troubled me greatly."
Zhuge Wuwei smiled wryly.
"Elder Wuwei, what do you mean? Could it be you..." Hou Chen exclaimed in shock.
"Haha, indeed. Hou Chen, the path of training in these years, how do you feel? Great harvests, right?"
Zhuge Wuwei laughed.
"Elder Wuwei, are you saying that I still have a Lifebound Essence Soul left?!"
Hou Chen was utterly shocked.
Suddenly, he realized, finally relieved, and said, "I understand now! So all along I felt there was always a trace of deficiency, it originated from this! Moreover, no wonder after losing my Three Souls, you weren’t worried at all, instead, you let me fight desperately! No wonder the Jiang family couldn’t replicate my bloodline after taking my Three Souls, I never imagined it was due to this reason! Such a method, truly remarkable, it must be the Master’s technique! Only the Master possesses such heaven-defying intelligence!"
Hou Chen’s voice was excited, filled with endless admiration and fervor, his eyes almost glowing like divine radiance.
"Indeed, back in the Yuan Ci Secret Realm, your master, the Saint Master, when he first taught you the Soul Slash skill, noticed the extraordinary yet impure characteristics of the Emperor Blood. Thus, during the Soul Slash, he detained something.
At that time, he didn’t expect such a situation to occur and was merely worried that you couldn’t fully refine the Emperor Blood, which might result in death from explosion, so he made a reserve.
Fearing to discourage you and with the intention to temper you, when suppressing your bloodline with the same bloodline power and teaching you the Soul Slash skill, he resorted to such a means, severing a wisp of your most complete soul and a portion of the purest essence of the Emperor Blood, temporarily sealing it with the Soul Suppressing Technique.
Later, the Saint Master found me and instructed me to guard you. If one day you truly meet your demise, and he has become unreachable, then I would take you and, following the aura of the ’Throne,’ enter a Great Domain to avoid calamities.
Once settled, we would revive you."
"But unexpectedly, things have changed a bit; now, your soul body can no longer survive, so it’s time to unseal your true Emperor Blood inheritance.
Combining it with the Soul Slash skill, you can immediately recover as before. However, this is also your final inheritance, and if you encounter misfortune again, it truly would be beyond saving."
Zhuge Wuwei explained.
Only then did Hou Chen suddenly comprehend, finally understanding why his fusion with the Emperor Blood suddenly accelerated once he learned the Soul Slash skill! It turns out the core of the Emperor Blood, suppressed and extracted, was reserved as Lifebound Essence Blood for future contingencies.
Amongst the endless pain of Soul Slash, achieving this was indeed not difficult for the master.
Hou Chen was relieved, yet sighed with emotion, deeply moved.
It’s clear to see the painstaking efforts put into this.
"I originally came with the intention of prolonging your life with Merit Power, but it seems I worried for nothing. Let me tell you about something else instead."
At this moment, Hua Qiudao pondered and said.
"Senior... please speak."
Hou Chen hesitated slightly, bending to pay his respects.
"With Merit Power, and with Fellow Daoist Zhuge Wuwei, I calculated the Heavenly Mechanism Skill. Through deduction of the former ’Throne’ power, a Void Passage was discovered.
This should be a passage towards a Great Domain.
If you hold no attachments, gather all your relatives and friends who can be gathered. Fellow Daoist Zhuge Wuwei and I will exert our power to bring the Yuan Ci Secret Realm into that passage, stepping into the Great Domain Fiery Flame Domain, for a genuine resurgence."
"Are you willing to go?"
"I..."
Hou Chen’s heart was moved, but he couldn’t part with a certain attachment in his heart.
"As far as I know, the Demon Soul Palace and the Netherworld Palace have already gone to the Fiery Flame Domain. That’s why you haven’t heard any news about Sisi and them."
Zhuge Wuwei laughed.
"Ah—then I’ll go, I’ll go—"
Hou Chen hurriedly said, his anxious appearance causing Hua Qiudao and Zhuge Wuwei to laugh.
"This fellow Taoist—how did you discover the Void Passage? I’ve been studying Void and Thunder, yet found no trace. I hope for some guidance."
Zhou Gucheng hesitantly inquired.
He did not doubt, for those brought here by Zhuge Wuwei need no questioning.
He was just astounded by such a Tao.
It must undoubtedly be a formidable and immensely powerful Tao.
"Nothing but a single damaged Immortal Weapon."
Hua Qiudao did not hide, directly unveiling the Linglong Tower, which emanated ancient aura, with stars, sun, moon, and celestial phenomena manifested on it, appearing very frightening.
"Entering through this tower, then exiting, you pass through certain spatial passages, entering the Fiery Flame Domain. However, the Yuan Ci Secret Realm is somewhat special, and it’s still in testing and adjustment, but the problem shouldn’t be large. As long as the spatial passage within the pagoda doesn’t experience unforeseen distortion, there should be no problem."
Hua Qiudao did not intend to hide, revealing his supreme treasure, the Linglong Tower.
Upon its emergence, even Zhou Gucheng and Hou Chen were stunned.
After a long while, Hou Chen finally recovered, but his gaze flickered, seemingly contemplating something.
After a while, Hou Chen suddenly said, "Within the Emperor Blood, there are faintly mixed memories, which I had previously dismissed. But now, seeing this pagoda, I suddenly recall!"
Hou Chen suddenly exclaimed.
Having seen through life and death, there wouldn’t be many things that could shock him.
But now, his shout was completely unmasked, startlingly abrupt.
"Hmm?"
Zhuge Wuwei and Hua Qiudao, Zhou Gucheng, all suddenly grew solemn, concentrating and holding their breath, their eyes fixed on Hou Chen.
"In a wisp of memory within the Emperor Blood, there’s the form of this tower—it seems to be called the ’Dark God Tower,’ presumably the Throne of the Dark God Domain."
"Dark God Domain?"
Zhuge Wuwei was also shocked.
"’Dark God Domain’? Such a strange name, yet why does it feel very familiar to me?"
The Merit Power within Hua Qiudao suddenly heated, his brows furrowed deeply, unable to recall where he had encountered this ’Dark God Domain.’
But, as he struggled in vain for an answer, a vast Merit Power, like a clear spring, suddenly poured into his soul.
In that instant, Hua Qiudao’s body trembled, exclaiming, "I understand! That’s the battlefield! The Silent Annihilation Battlefield of the Thirty-Three Heavens! The tribulation land of the Ten Thousand Buddhas’ Extinction and All Immortals Suffering!"
Hua Qiudao’s cry of astonishment left Hou Chen and Zhuge Wuwei more baffled, both looking somewhat dumbfounded at Hua Qiudao.
"Apologies for Hua Qiudao’s abruptness, just realized a matter. Well, once we go to the Fiery Flame Domain, we will understand all the information regarding the ’Dark God Domain.’ Hou Chen, the Zhou Sisi you fancy, awaits you at the Fiery Flame Domain."
Hua Qiudao, concentrating and holding his breath, suppressed the overwhelming shock within his heart, yet his voice still trembled slightly.
He forcibly suppressed the sensation of shock and awe in his heart, joking with Hou Chen, merely to lighten the oppressive atmosphere a little.
...