Chapter 591 19: Returning Ruins Vortex

In the skies above the Vast Forest Sea, Fang Cheng returned to the Taixu Cloud Tower. After several days of quiet meditation, dark clouds suddenly swarmed the sky, expanding rapidly.

In the blink of an eye, a crushing mass of tribulation clouds blanketed an area a thousand miles wide.

Arcs of four-colored lightning—gold, silver, cyan, and black—leapt ceaselessly through the clouds as a dull roar rumbled, sometimes distant, sometimes near.

Amidst the boundless Thunder Light, ninety-nine Thunder Divine Spirits appeared. Each rode a Celestial Palace, a chariot, or an Electric Flood Dragon as they descended to surround Fang Cheng.

The power of the Fourth Celestial Tribulation was indeed far greater than the first three.

The Demon Lord had corrupted the Celestial Dao Origin of the Red Profound Realm, infusing the Celestial Dao with a demonic nature. The Celestial Tribulations had become twisted and frenzied, their power growing to an immeasurable degree.

Each of these ninety-nine Thunder Divine Spirits emanated a tyrannical aura comparable to a Tribulation Realm Great Power. The Celestial Dao was merciless, seeking to obliterate everything.

Fang Cheng had long expected this. He formed a hand seal and unleashed the True Understanding of the Golden Wheel of Destiny. Behind him, rings of golden wheels materialized, each spinning at a different speed. Countless profound and complex runes were born and then annihilated within them.

After so many years of development, the Fang Family had flourished with endless descendants and a prosperous fate. This gave Fang Cheng's Secret Technique considerable power.

He calmly stepped out of the Cloud Tower, walking on air as he ascended into the sea of tribulation lightning and fearlessly engaged the ninety-nine Thunder Divine Spirits in battle.

Protected by the Fortune Golden Wheel, the tribulation lightning was weakened by at least thirty to forty percent. His Protective Spiritual Light then weakened the remaining lightning by another thirty percent.

The tribulation lightning that finally struck Fang Cheng had only thirty percent of its original power left and posed no threat to his physical body.

At the same time, an ethereal streak of sword light flew in from the edge of the Forest Sea. It shot into the boundless tribulation lightning and revealed the form of "Celestial Venerable of Universal Transformation."

A colossal Devouring Power, like that of a black hole, emanated from him. He stood proudly in the void, and the space around him twisted into a black halo.

Every time Fang Cheng dispersed a Thunder Divine Spirit, it was devoured completely by the "Celestial Venerable of Universal Transformation."

The "Celestial Venerable of Universal Transformation" began to undergo a strange transformation. The Taiqing Divine Iron, Profound Gold, and Red Copper that composed it started changing into another substance.

Fang Cheng dispersed all the Thunder Divine Spirits in one go before casually returning to the Taixu Cloud Tower.

A stream of Celestial Dao Demonic Intent descended from the heavens and landed on his body. Instantly, countless vicious and grotesque eyes sprouted on his arm, causing his flesh to undergo a demonic mutation.

Fang Cheng sneered. He glanced at the Demon Lord, who was still playing chess, and swept a hand over his arm. All the eyes immediately closed.

He circulated the Nine Revolutions Profound Origin Technique, his body glowing with a dark golden light. The eyes turned into wisps of black mist that steamed off his arm and vanished in an instant.

After passing the Fourth Celestial Tribulation, he found that his Qi Sea and Dharma Aspect had room to grow again. He set up a restrictive barrier and immediately entered secluded cultivation.

Outside the Taixu Cloud Tower, the "Celestial Venerable of Universal Transformation" finished devouring the tribulation lightning. It floated to the top of the Cloud Tower and stood there, silently acting as a Guardian for its true self.

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Wilderness Domain.

Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

Above the azure sky, a Golden Boat shattered the void and appeared just outside the island.

Yu Wenxu stood at the prow, looking down upon the Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

'Fang Cheng, from this day forward, I'll make sure you're the only one left in the Fang Family.'

The Golden Boat beneath his feet swelled, in an instant becoming as large as a mountain. Endless runes coiled around it like ribbons. Carrying the momentum of one crossing ten thousand tribulations to reach the other shore, it crashed violently toward the Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

How could the Fang Family disciples on the island have anticipated such a formidable enemy? Under the pressure of this Nine-Tribulation Great Power's aura, not only were their bodies immobilized, but they could barely even form a thought.

Just as the Golden Boat was about to completely crush the Primordial Qi Celestial Island, a Cyan-Black Great Tomb suddenly materialized and "swallowed" the entire island.

BOOM!

The Golden Boat slammed viciously into the great tomb, unleashing a heaven-shattering, earth-rending boom.

For a thousand miles around the point of impact, the sparsely scattered clouds were instantly blasted into nothingness!

Two incomparably tyrannical auras intertwined, expanded, and then instantly burst, spreading outward and sweeping in all directions.

Where the Primordial Qi Celestial Island had once been, the void fractured like a broken mirror, with terrifying black cracks spreading in every direction.

Numerous cracks appeared on the Cyan-Black Great Tomb. The mountain-sized tomb instantly shrank to the size of a grain of rice, flashing with brilliant light.

Yu Wenxu's Golden Boat, meanwhile, had a corner smashed off. Over thirty percent of its external runes were annihilated, leaving it in a state not much better than the Cyan-Black Great Tomb.

"Hmm? The Fang Family has other experts?"

Yu Wenxu's expression turned grim. He was thoroughly surprised.

Just then, ten enormous, ferocious Demon Beasts brimming with savage energy descended from the sky, surrounding Yu Wenxu.

Yu Wenxu's gaze swept over them. These Demon Beasts were not unfamiliar to him—

Ji Meng, Ying Zhao, Feidan, Fei Lian, Jiu Ying, Shangyang, Bai Ze, Qin Yuan, Ci Tie, and Ghost Vehicle.

The ten legendary Demon Saints of Ancient Times!

An exquisitely beautiful woman in a black dress calmly appeared atop Ji Meng's head. Without a word, she pointed a finger directly at Yu Wenxu.

In an instant, the ten phantoms of the Demon Saints opened their mouths. Lights of all colors erupted at once, immediately drowning Yu Wenxu.

Ten terrifyingly powerful Divine Techniques manifested simultaneously, causing the great sun to vanish and plunging the world into silent darkness.

A Giant Bronze Cauldron struggled free and fled in a panic.

Ascendant Feng Yan gave it a cool glance but did not pursue.

With her keen eye, she could already tell that Yu Wenxu was severely injured. However, their strengths were more or less evenly matched. If he fought to the death, she would gain no advantage.

Inflicting further injury upon him was already the best possible outcome.

Ascendant Feng Yan withdrew the Demon Saint Illusions. The Cyan-Black Great Tomb appeared out of thin air and released the Primordial Qi Celestial Island.

...

"Thank you for your help this time, Senior."

Inside the Taixu Cloud Tower, Fang Cheng spoke his thanks softly to the image of Ascendant Feng Yan, which was formed from the curling green smoke of a Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Incense.

Ascendant Feng Yan's voice was calm. "There is no need for thanks. The conflict between you and the Cultivators under the Demon Lord is intensifying. It would be best to move the Fang Family to another World Heaven sooner rather than later."

"I agree. I had planned to do so, but I didn't expect things to escalate this quickly... I will make a trip back in a few days."

The two chatted for a moment longer before dispersing the Ten Thousand Miles Sound Transmission Incense.

Fang Cheng pondered for a moment, then took out the chess piece the Demon Buddha had given him. He infused it with Magical Power, and the piece transformed into a ray of Buddha Light, revealing a middle-aged monk.

It was the Demon Buddha.

"Donor Fang, it is a pleasure." The Demon Buddha had a dignified appearance, like that of an enlightened high monk. His voice was steady and powerful, and very pleasant to the ear.

"Greetings, Demon Buddha." Fang Cheng rose and bowed in respect.

The Demon Buddha's expression flickered. He glanced at the Spiritual Mechanism Incarnation outside the Cloud Tower, seeming to sense something. "Fellow Daoist, did you kill the Night Queen?"

An embarrassed look crossed Fang Cheng's face, and he nodded.

The two fell silent for a moment.

After a short while, the Demon Buddha pressed his palms together, recited a Buddhist mantra, and said slowly, "The karma between her and me has run its course. It was all her own doing. She deserved this tribulation."

Facing this figure who had reached the peak of this realm thousands of years ago, Fang Cheng was filled with a mix of emotions.

For a moment, he didn't know where to begin.

Back when he was only at the Sensing and Life Talisman Realm, he had already heard of this legendary figure's deeds.

'And now, I can actually stand as his equal...'

The Demon Buddha said, "I am engaged in a game of chess with the Demon Lord and cannot divert my attention. I only found a brief opening to communicate with you when he just acted to save one of his own."

"I have observed your battles and it seems you have cultivated two Spirit Immortal legacies, one of which seems to touch upon the Path of Returning Ruins. Therefore, there are a few things I must tell you, or there may not be another chance."

Fang Cheng cupped his hands. "Please enlighten me, Demon Buddha."

The Demon Buddha sighed. "Back then, when the Spirit Immortals of the Upper Realm sealed the Demon Lord in this realm, it was not because they couldn't kill him. It was because if the Demon Lord were to fall, the Celestial Dao Origin of this realm would shatter along with him, and countless living beings would perish as well."

"The Demon Lord's left hand has now escaped its seal, all due to a moment of misjudgment on my part. If he manages to unseal his other five bodies, he will surely vent his anger on the inhabitants of this realm. He will refine the Red Profound Realm, demonize its billions of inhabitants, and turn this world into a Demon Country. At that point, the life and death of every being in this realm, regardless of their Cultivation, will be in his hands."

"Over these years, I have performed countless deductions within a great dream and have managed to find a way to break this stalemate."

Hearing this, Fang Cheng's eyes lit up, and he listened intently.

He heard the Demon Buddha say, "Dragon Elephant's refinement of the Demon-Suppressing Celestial Stele is a world-shaking endeavor. Unfortunately, even if the Celestial Stele is completed, I fear the Demon Lord will interfere, making it impossible to completely purge the demonic intent from the Celestial Dao Origin."

"When that time comes, only a handful of people will be able to seize the opportunity to pass the Ninth Celestial Tribulation and ascend, leaving the countless billions of lives in the Red Profound Realm behind with no hope."

He looked beyond the heavens. "If you can completely destroy the Demon Lord's body at the moment the Demon-Suppressing Celestial Stele purges part of the Celestial Dao Demonic Intent, then his reason for remaining in this realm will be virtually meaningless. Your Path of Returning Ruins technique is up to the task."

Fang Cheng thought for a moment. "I'm afraid that to do so, I would need to pass the Ninth Celestial Tribulation."

The Demon Lord's body was comparable to an Immortal Body. Even if the Mixed Element Seven Tribulations Diagram was powerful, Fang Cheng would need to raise his Cultivation and Magical Power to the Peak of the Tribulation Realm to have a chance of slaying a foe beyond his level.

But the Demon Buddha just smiled slightly. "The day you and Dragon Elephant entered the Grotto Heaven Chessboard, I sensed the aura of a certain treasure on you. If I am not mistaken, that should be the Immortal Copper Treasure Box, jointly refined by the seventy-two saints of the Ancient Human Race of our Red Profound Realm."

"This treasure can directly access a Returning Ruins Vortex in the Outer Void. If you can fully control this Treasure Box, you might be able to cast the Demon Lord's body directly into the Eye of the Ruins. That would be no different from destroying his body."

Fang Cheng fell silent.

He had already unraveled the secret of the Immortal Copper Treasure Box. The seventy-two saints of the Ancient Human Race had forged this treasure merely to observe the Returning Ruins Vortex, hoping to comprehend a more profound origin of the Great Dao.

To put it simply, the Immortal Copper Treasure Box was a "window" for observing the Returning Ruins Vortex.

If he were to use this treasure in battle, Fang Cheng would have no control over it. A single moment of carelessness, and under the tyrannical Devouring Power of the Returning Ruins Vortex, it could spin out of control and even bury the entire Red Profound Realm.

That Returning Ruins Vortex was simply too massive. To it, the Red Profound Realm was nothing more than a speck of dust.

The Demon Buddha looked at Fang Cheng and said slowly, "You cultivate the Path of Returning Ruins. You can try to borrow and control the power of the Returning Ruins Vortex. Once you succeed, in all the All Heavens and Myriads of Realms, there will be no one beneath the level of a Spirit Immortal who can stand against you."

...