jdhmnovel Chapter 1042 The Big Fish Arrives
Chapter 1042 The Big Fish Arrives
A hint of anticipation flashed in Su Mo's eyes. Immediately afterward, streams of light suddenly shone within his natal sea of time, and thousands of illusory spiritual bodies appeared rapidly, like stars returning to their places. These avatars were of various forms, some like the Yellow Dragon True Man, clad in a five-clawed dragon robe, the dragon patterns lifelike in the flowing light, as if they were about to soar into the clouds at any moment; others like the Pure Void Moral True Lord, dressed in a moon-white robe, with faint Tai Chi patterns embroidered on the cuffs, their bodies surrounded by a transcendent Daoist aura... As soon as they appeared, they arranged themselves according to the profound star orbit formation, the thousands of figures staggered and orderly, faintly forming a thousand-god array covering the entire sea of time.
The instant the array patterns lit up, a terrifying pressure, enough to make even a ninth-grade True Immortal tremble, suddenly surged from Su Mo, sweeping across the cave heaven like a tsunami. That pressure wasn't violent, but it carried an undeniable power of control, as if all the rules of heaven and earth were under its command. Instantly, the Nine Extremes Returning to One Array trembled violently, cracks spreading rapidly like a spiderweb, the spiritual light at the array's base flickering, as if it would shatter completely at any moment. Fortunately, Su Mo reacted quickly, his fingertips forming a hand seal, forcefully suppressing most of the oppressive aura—any later, and the entire cave heaven, along with the surrounding Iron Arm Mountains, would likely have been reduced to dust, leaving not even fragments of spacetime.
next second...
The river of time within the cave once again surged with enormous waves, its previously stable flow rate of 20 billion times surging wildly like a runaway beast. 20 billion times, 21 billion times, 21 billion times… each jump was accompanied by a tremor that tore through space and time.
When the flow rate reached 2.2 billion times, all nine spacetime towers trembled violently. The runes on the towers flickered like candles in the wind, and the flow of time also changed erratically. Fine cracks appeared faintly at the base of the towers, as if they would collapse and shatter at any moment, turning into countless fragments of dark gold.
"Is this the limit?"
A hint of disappointment flashed in Su Mo's eyes. Although he already knew that the Nine-Layered Time-Space Tower's improvement was limited, the fact that it showed signs of collapse after only a two-hundred-million-fold increase was still beyond his expectations. A ninth-grade True Immortal artifact was ultimately too weak for him now, unable to withstand even more terrifying spacetime power.
He sighed and slowly withdrew the power of the Thousand Gods Array. As the power integrated into the Nine-Layer Time-Space Tower weakened, the flow of time began to gradually decrease until it stabilized at 2.198 billion times. Only then did the tremors of the nine golden towers finally stop, and the cracks in the tower bodies gradually disappeared, leaving only the runes still flickering slightly, as if panting or protesting silently.
"21 billion times... Never mind, let's leave it at that for now." Su Mo shook his head, no longer dwelling on it. The astronomical price of 9800 trillion battle merits for a quasi-Golden Immortal artifact was like a mountain blocking his way, something that couldn't be overcome in a short time.
next moment......
"Boom..."
A loud explosion resounded within Su Mo's natal sea of time, causing the Thousand Gods Formation to collapse. Thousands of illusory spiritual bodies transformed into streams of light, flowing across hundreds and thousands of cosmic years like rivers flowing into the sea, surging into the natal sea of time of the thirteen Dao Lords, including Huanglong Zhenren and Qingxu Daode Zhenjun, where they quietly lay dormant.
The moment the great formation dissipated, the spatial fluctuations within the cave suddenly subsided, leaving only the faint light of the Nine Extremes Returning to One Great Formation flowing quietly, intertwining with the clear radiance of the Twenty-Fourth Grade Yuanxu Purple Lotus to create a peaceful scene.
Then, Su Mo closed his eyes and immersed himself in cultivation once more. His natal sea of cosmic energy churned, and the immortal corpses of those eighth-grade True Immortals floated above the heart of the universe. The immortal robes on the surface of their bodies had long since turned to ashes in the dissipation of primordial power, and their exposed bodies were disintegrating at a visible speed. Pale golden primordial power flowed like streams converging into rivers, surging into his limbs and bones along his meridians, nourishing every inch of his primordial body, making the runes on his cell walls increasingly solid, with a faint, immortal luster shimmering on them.
......
Time flies, and soon billions of years have passed.
Su Mo's battle merits are approaching the 20 trillion mark, bringing him one step closer to his goal of exchanging for a quasi-Golden Immortal artifact.
True Extreme Domain, Southern Region, Fallen Phoenix Valley.
Legend has it that tens of thousands of cosmic eras ago, during a fierce battle in the Nine Realms, a powerful Phoenix Clan cultivator with the cultivation of a ninth-grade True Immortal perished here. His immortal body merged with the remaining Phoenix True Fire, evolving over countless eons to eventually become this Fallen Phoenix Valley. The entire valley is shrouded in continuous Phoenix Immortal Fire, the flames a bluish-gold color, twisting in the air into miniature phoenix shadows the size of a palm, emitting clear yet earth-shattering cries.
This is one of the ten forbidden areas of the True Extreme Domain. The fire-attribute True Immortal rules permeating the air are so dense that they are almost solidified. If an ordinary first or second-grade True Immortal dares to take a step into this place, their immortal body will be ignited by the immortal fire within three breaths, and even their primordial spirit will be burned to ashes, leaving no trace of their body. Even a seventh-grade True Immortal, without the protection of an eighth-grade or higher True Immortal artifact, will be reduced to ashes under the continuous burning of the true fire within a few days of entering the valley, without even a chance to be reincarnated.
However, for the Phoenix Clan, Fallen Phoenix Valley is a uniquely blessed land. Especially the Nirvana Flame at the center of Fallen Phoenix Valley, a sacred healing treasure—the flame contains pure life and rebirth power, capable of repairing damaged immortal foundations and even reversing injuries. Therefore, Phoenix Clan True Immortals from the True Extreme Domain and surrounding domains, once severely injured, often risk entering Fallen Phoenix Valley to use the Nirvana Flame to prolong their lives and heal their wounds.
At this moment, in the center of Fallen Phoenix Valley, a man and a woman sat cross-legged. A faint blue light surrounded them, intertwining with the blue-gold Nirvana Flame. The flames, powerful enough to incinerate a seventh-grade True Immortal, became as docile as tamed birds when they touched their bodies, transforming into wisps of fire that continuously flowed into their bodies, nourishing their seemingly broken immortal forms and outlining illusory phoenix silhouettes on their skin.
Their faces were as pale as paper, their lips bloodless, and even their exposed wrists had a sickly bluish-gray tinge, indicating severe injuries, as if they would succumb to life at any moment. But upon closer inspection, a subtle difference could be detected—deep within their slightly trembling pupils, there lurked an uncontrollable excitement and agitation, like a spark flickering in the dark night, ready to ignite at any moment.
The man and woman were the two Supreme Elders of the Qingfeng Clan—Qingxuan True Immortal and Qingyao True Immortal.
"Big brother, pinch me, I feel like I'm dreaming." Qingyao Zhenxian's voice trembled slightly. She raised her hand and stroked a blue jade pendant on her wrist. The number of battle merits flashing on the pendant was about to break through the 100 billion mark. "In just over 20 billion years, not even a fraction of a epoch... I've accumulated nearly 100 billion battle merits... If this were to be told, I'm afraid no one would believe it."
Qingxuan Zhenxian took a deep breath, the Nirvana Fire he inhaled turning into a warm current, but he could not suppress the turmoil in his heart: "Am I not the same?"
In the past, the brother and sister would only earn a few hundred billion battle merits by participating in a single Nine Realms Immortal War, even if they fought tooth and nail. And even then, they had to be on tenterhooks all the time, as the slightest mistake could lead to their demise.
But this time, following Senior Qingxu's "acting," he only stayed in Luofeng Valley to "heal his wounds" and did not make a single move. In less than 30 billion years, he accumulated nearly 100 billion battle merits, which was like a dream.
Happiness came so suddenly that it felt unreal to them all.
"Phew... Thank goodness we didn't refuse Senior Qingxu back then, otherwise we would have regretted it for the rest of our lives."
Qingyao Zhenxian patted her chest lightly, her tone full of relief, though a fleeting hint of lingering fear crossed her eyes.
If I had missed this opportunity because of my timidity back then, I would probably still be worrying about the resources needed to break through the bottleneck.
If this trend continues, it is not impossible for them to accumulate another hundred billion in military achievements, or even more.
at this time......
A clear, melodious sound, like jade striking jade, suddenly resounded in their minds, carrying an undeniable authority: "Calm your mind and heal your injuries. A big fish is coming."
He is the Pure and Moral True Lord!
Qingxuan and Qingyao were startled and almost instinctively looked at each other. They saw undisguised excitement in each other's suddenly brightened pupils, and even their breath caught in their throats.
An ordinary eighth-grade True Immortal is hardly worthy of the title "Big Fish". To be addressed in such a way by Senior Qingxu, one must at least be a perfect eighth-grade True Immortal, or even a near-ninth-grade being who is halfway to the ninth grade! Such an existence would have hundreds of billions of battle merits each. Even if they were only given one level, it would be enough for the brother and sister to add another hundred billion battle merits.
next second...
The two tacitly suppressed all outward emotions, even forcibly suppressing the excitement in their eyes, leaving only a weak and pale expression befitting their "severely injured" status, as if the fluctuations just now were merely an illusion. Closing their eyes, they fully activated the Azure Phoenix Immortal Power within their bodies, guiding the surrounding Nirvana Fire to surge wildly into their limbs and bones, deliberately making the True Immortal Power flow sluggishly and chaotically.
The cyan-gold flames surged more and more violently on their bodies, even revealing a hint of unstable restlessness, as if their immortal bodies could no longer withstand the tempering of the true fire and might collapse at any moment.
Qingxuan True Immortal deliberately let a wisp of immortal fire leap to his brow, singeing a few strands of hair into wisps of smoke, filling the air with the smell of burning. More golden blood spilled from the corner of his mouth than before, sliding down his jawline and dripping onto his clothes, leaving splattered spots of gold—a horrifying sight. Qingyao True Immortal trembled and curled her fingers, seemingly enduring the excruciating pain of being burned alive. Fine beads of cold sweat appeared on her forehead, but in reality, she suppressed her breathing even lower, slowing her heartbeat by half a beat, creating the illusion of being utterly exhausted. Even the phoenix phantom surrounding her dimmed and lost its luster.
He was terrified of revealing even the slightest flaw, which would alert the approaching giant fish, ruin Senior Qingxu's plan, and also cut off his own chance.
Soon, the crackling sound of the Nirvana Fire became the only sound in the valley. The two people's breathing was as weak as a candle flickering in the wind, perfectly playing the roles of two seriously injured True Immortals struggling on the edge of life and death.
......
After tea time.
"Boom..."
A deafening roar erupted from the sky above Falling Phoenix Valley, causing the entire valley to tremble violently. Spiderweb-like cracks appeared in the ground, and the azure-gold phoenix immortal fire was shaken wildly, as if it could be extinguished by the gale at any moment.
A terrifying pressure descended from the sky, making even the peak eighth-grade True Immortal Qingxuan's scalp tingle. It was like a vast ocean of the universe pressing down on his heart, making it extremely difficult for him to even breathe.
The oppressive aura carried an overbearing arrogance that looked down upon the world. Wherever it passed, the fire-attribute true immortal rules in the air groaned in despair, and even the purest Nirvana Flame in the center of the valley dimmed a bit, showing a tendency to be forcibly suppressed and extinguished.
"This oppressive aura... it's from a Ninth-Rank True Immortal!"
......