Chapter 126 - 125: Brother Dao, may I take a look at the ruler?

Chapter 126: Chapter 125: Brother Dao, may I take a look at the ruler? The five of them sped through the landscape toward Ling Jiu Mountain, but from afar, it appeared barren and desolate, completely devoid of the aura of an Immortal estate. Nezha, who held the title of Ghost Emperor in the underworld, immediately recognized the pervasive ghostly energy enveloping the mountain. It seems that Randeng truly is no virtuous character. Instead of rushing forward to issue a direct challenge, the Yunxiao sisters stealthily laid down the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation using the Chaos Origin Golden Bowl. The Yellow River Formation had nine curves, and the array plate Yunxiao had given Nezha previously was designated as the zero curve for practice and study. With the array set in place, Nezha hid within the Mountain and River Map, observing covertly. Old Zhao, upon seeing the signal, stepped forward and bellowed, "Daoist Randeng, are you there? I, Zhao Gongming, have come to seek your assistance!" Within a barren, withered cave on Ling Jiu Mountain, an old Daoist seated atop a coffin, his skin clinging closely to his bones with faint traces of flesh, opened his eyes. As one of the earliest Great Experts, he deeply understood the treacherous nature of the Primordial world. Only after equipping himself thoroughly did he emerge. The two faced off across the skies when Randeng spoke, "To have Daoist Zhao visit Ling Jiu Mountain brings great honor to my humble abode. What brings you here? Why not step inside my cave and discuss matters at length?" Zhao Gongming, though simple in demeanor, was not foolish. Entering Randeng’s cave? Who knew what schemes lurked within? Especially when his purpose here was to ’seize’ the Qiankun Ruler, not exchange pleasantries. He responded straightforwardly from a distance, "I’ve heard rumors that you possess a treasure called the Qiankun Ruler. Would you allow me to have a look?" Randeng: "..." The Qiankun Ruler was the treasure he had used to sever his corpse—how could he let others see it, let alone return it afterward? Having cultivated through countless Yuan Hui, Randeng, an ancient relic himself, had already discerned the truth the moment Zhao Gongming appeared—his opportunity lay with this visitor! Words were useless; only life and death would settle the matter. Yet, his first instinct wasn’t to act—it was to flee! Of the three thousand Red Dust Guests once present in Zixiao Palace, how many remain today? Randeng hadn’t been particularly prominent among them, but survival was his specialty, and his cunning unmatched. Now, with enemies blocking his doorstep, and without a sign of movement from Yuanshi Tianzun but clear involvement from Saint Tongtian, matters like dignity or reputation didn’t concern him. A life lost—what use was pride? Yunxiao kept her gaze fixed on Randeng. Seeing him transform into golden light attempting to escape, she immediately performed hand seals to activate the array. Bixiao and Qiongxiao, aligned with their elder sister’s intentions, poured their full effort into supporting her. In an instant, Ling Jiu Mountain was blanketed in yellow sand. Nine colossal, heaven-reaching yellow sand dragons coiled across the sky, blinding the heavens and earth. The boundless yellow sand filled the mountains, each grain imbued with intense power and mana, relentlessly striking the golden light form of Randeng. The Chan Sect’s Vertical Earth Golden Light Divine Power ultimately fell short compared to the Rainbow Transformation Technique—it couldn’t escape the Nine Curves Yellow River Formation. Randeng’s body took shape again, enduring the unending strikes of the yellow sand. His mana, painstakingly cultivated over countless Yuan Hui, was being gradually worn away—this torment was worse than death itself. Realizing the situation had escalated to a life-or-death confrontation, he immediately retrieved a lamp emitting an eerie bone-white flame and, with a breath infused with mana, activated it. Ghost fire filled the skies, surrounding Randeng and reducing the array’s erosion of his mana. He then summoned the Qiankun Ruler into his palm, searching for an opening to attack. Zhao Gongming coordinated seamlessly with his sisters. Once the array was activated, his figure vanished, while thirty-six Ocean Stabilizing Divine Pearls shimmered around him—even Nezha had lent him twelve pearls for this battle. With Zhao Gongming pouring immense Quasi-Saint power into the pearls, the thirty-six Ocean Stabilizing Divine Pearls radiated dazzling blue divine light, instantly dispelling the ghost fire spewed by Randeng, and allowing the yellow sand to continue its assault. Seeing the thirty-six blue divine pearls, Randeng instantly grasped the truth—his path to ascension lay within these pearls. Without hesitation, he retrieved a pitch-black, jade-like coffin from which dense death energy coated him in protection. His once seemingly benevolent visage now appeared utterly monstrous beneath the shroud of menacing ghostly energy—no longer resembling a rightful Immortal. Was Randeng’s true form the black coffin? No. Was it the Ling Jiu Palace Lamp? Certainly not. His true form was the spirit nurtured within the black coffin. Who was the first inhabitant of the heavens for whom this coffin was prepared? The only one in the cosmos deserving the title of ’person’ was Pangu. This black coffin had been crafted by the Great Dao for Pangu, alongside the Qiankun Ruler. The intended process for Heavenly Creation required Pangu to use the Qiankun Ruler to measure and align after splitting the heavens, meticulously expanding the Primordial world over countless eons. Upon fulfilling his destiny, he would rest within the black coffin, perhaps awaiting a day of rebirth. What actually transpired? Pangu’s creation of the heavens was fueled solely by brute force. Measure? Measure what? If the task wasn’t completed, it must have been due to inadequate strength! As a result, after creating the heavens, Pangu burned himself out, his body transforming into all creation within the Primordial world. The coffin, Qiankun Ruler, and the lamp hanging from it all became the spoils of Randeng Daoist. While Randeng benefited greatly, it wasn’t without consequence—the funeral Great Dao, most fitting for the black coffin, was completely blocked by Pangu. Henceforth, when all beings perished, they followed Pangu’s path, returning their essence to the Primordial world, with none burying themselves in coffins. Unable to cultivate the most fitting Great Dao, Randeng diverted his path to corpse refining, reasoning that even if beings abandoned burial, their physical shells would remain! The previous Dragon and Phoenix Tribulation and Witch Demon Tribulation had been times of immense growth in his cultivation. Randeng slapped the lid of the coffin beneath him, instantly summoning four corpse dragons brimming with thick ghost energy, each possessing cultivation at least that of Taiyi Golden Immortals. The four corpse dragons emerged from the black coffin and circled around Randeng, firmly guarding him. Zhao Gongming knew there was no time for delay. If their second master caught wind of their actions, the plan would fail. Without hesitation, he launched his assault—thirty-six Ocean Stabilizing Divine Pearls carrying tidal waves of force smashed into the corpse dragons. The pearls obliterated the corpse dragons’ bodies, but from the black coffin, eight more corpse dragons with Taiyin cultivation flew forth—four protected Randeng while the other four charged toward Zhao Gongming. The Dragon Clan’s physical resilience left Zhao Gongming summoning back his pearls while retrieving a pair of golden scissors. Infused with spiritual power, the scissors transformed into two golden flood dragons spiraling straight toward Randeng. From beneath the coffin emerged four corpse birds, evidently members of the Phoenix Clan. Watching from a distance, Nezha couldn’t help but mock, "How many corpses did this old lamp secretly refine?" Zhao Gongming’s cultivation was inferior to Randeng’s, and in terms of treasures, he was at a disadvantage too. Randeng even had zombies of various strengths aiding him. If not for Randeng being trapped within the array, the tables might have been turned. Seeing Zhao Gongming struggle against Randeng, Yunxiao immediately retrieved the Qingping Sword. As a disciple of Tongtian, one couldn’t step out without mastering swordsmanship! Although she carried her own sword, its power was incomparable to that of the Qingping Sword. Leaving the array to her two sisters, she raised the Qingping Sword high, aiming straight at Randeng, who was heavily shielded by numerous corpse beasts.