Undying Life

Chapter 923: Chapter 923: The Opening of the Zhuanlun Hall

Three years later, in the Tianzi Mansion.

"Are the celestial dynasties surrounding Great Yin still unwilling to send troops?" the Third Prince asked calmly.

At this moment, the Third Prince seemed to have matured significantly, no longer as impetuous as he was a few years ago.

"Yes, Your Highness. We cannot understand why they refuse to join forces to eliminate the scourge of Great Yin," an official said, worry evident on his face.

"They can't eliminate them. Besides, those celestial dynasties might have already been infiltrated by Great Yin. Without external wars, internal conflicts have probably already started," the Third Prince said bitterly.

"What should we do now, Your Highness? Great Yin has already taken over a significant portion of the southern territories. If this continues, we will undoubtedly be defeated. Should we request reinforcements from the capital?"

"No need. At this point, seeking reinforcements is meaningless. Tomorrow, I will head north with two ancient immortals from the Martial Hall. We will go straight to the Great Yin's capital and destroy Changjing completely," the Third Prince said coldly.

In a war between celestial dynasties, a direct confrontation between kings was a last resort. It was not just about failing to capture the enemy's fortune but also about declaring to the world that this king had only brute courage, unworthy of being a supreme leader. Talents would seek out wise rulers; who would follow a mere brute?

But at this moment, the Third Prince had no choice. This battle would determine everything. If he could defeat Zhong Shan, he would request to be transferred to the Wuxiang Domain, leaving this sorrowful place behind.

"Yes!" The officials felt the weight of the situation.

If the Third Prince could not stop Zhong Shan and the advance of Great Yin, it would be a disgrace. Losing influence was bad enough, but losing the southern territories entirely could cost him his position as the crown prince.

In Changjing.

"Holy King, Nian Ben has left the Tianzi Mansion with two ancient immortals. They should arrive at Changjing in five days," Yi Yan reported respectfully.

With the communication from the life tablets, Zhong Shan could monitor movements across the world at any time.

"Understood."

Five days later, three figures appeared outside Changjing.

Nian Ben, dressed in golden robes, and two men in purple clothes stood at the outskirts of Changjing.

Nian Ben's eyes gleamed coldly.

"Changjing holds the fate of Great Yin. Be careful, both of you. Prepare to act," Nian Ben said coldly.

"Yes!" the two men responded immediately.

"Third Prince of the Wuxiang Holy Court, trespassing in Great Yin, what crime should you bear?" A thunderous voice echoed through the sky.

Nian Ben's eyelid twitched. How did Zhong Shan discover us? How did he know?

Looking towards Changjing, Nian Ben saw Zhong Shan leading his ministers out of the Immortal Palace. After stepping outside, a dragon throne suddenly appeared behind Zhong Shan. He sat down and gazed at Nian Ben calmly, with his ministers standing respectfully on both sides.

"Zhong Shan!" Nian Ben said coldly.

Old and new grudges surged within him, and his expression grew fierce.

"What's this? The Third Prince has crossed the line again. Last time, you left me a Heart Dao Fire Lotus. What do you plan to leave behind this time?" Zhong Shan said with a sinister smile.

"Hmph, Zhong Shan, you can keep boasting. Even if you use the power of Great Yin and add Luo Xingchen, it only amounts to the strength of two ancient immortals. This time, I will destroy Changjing and kill you, Zhong Shan!" Nian Ben declared coldly.

"I've heard that countless times, but no one has succeeded. Stop making empty threats in front of me; I'm tired of them!" Zhong Shan said disdainfully.

"You'll pay for that remark. Attack now, or you'll never get another chance!" Nian Ben commanded.

"Hahaha, such words would be fitting coming from the Wuxiang Holy King. But from you? Far from it!" Zhong Shan retorted disdainfully.

"Hmph, attack!" Nian Ben ordered sternly.

As soon as Nian Ben spoke, the two men in purple robes sprang into action. Suddenly, an abundance of green light erupted around them. From the void, countless vines emerged, covering the sky as if they grew directly from the air, heading toward Changjing.

Around Changjing, numerous formations activated, but the vines clung to them bizarrely and quickly began to cover the sky over the city. In no time, the vast city of Changjing appeared like an egg, wrapped tightly by the endless vines, casting the city into darkness.

As the vines enveloped Changjing, they exerted a terrifying pressure, seemingly intending to crush both the city and its formations.

Zhong Shan gave a slight nod to the mud bodhisattva, who then disappeared in a flash.

Outside, the horrific green vines appeared to grow along the lines of heavenly laws, exuding a domineering force of 'life'. The vines were everywhere, a supernatural ability controlled by the two purple-robed experts. This power ignored laws and rules, forcefully binding Changjing and aiming to restrict Zhong Shan from utilizing the city's immense fortune.

Nian Ben smirked coldly.

But suddenly, from the gaps in the vines, black water began to seep out. As the black water spread, the vines rapidly withered, and countless spirits emerged from the black water, appearing in torment. The cries and howls of these spirits echoed through the heavens and earth.

Wherever the black water flowed, the vines withered. The black water surged upwards, scattering in all directions. The supernatural power of the two purple-robed experts was instantly neutralized.

The sky cleared, and the vines vanished.

In the void, a black sea formed, with a large wave cresting. Standing atop the wave was a figure in black robes.

The mud bodhisattva!

The black sea beneath the mud bodhisattva's feet was formed from the black water that had suddenly appeared. Countless ghosts churned within the water, exuding an aura of pure malevolence.

"What is this?" Nian Ben's eyelids twitched violently.

Who is this? It's not Zhong Shan, nor is it Luo Xingchen. That boundless celestial vine was an extremely powerful supernatural ability, yet it was destroyed in an instant? Who is he?

"Nian Ben, didn't the Wuxiang Holy King teach you? Never provoke someone without first understanding their background, as doing so is a quick path to death. How much do you really know about Great Yin?" Zhong Shan sneered.

"Third Prince, this is the Foulness of Beings from the Five Impurities, specifically from the eastern Zhuanlun Hall!" one of the purple-robed men exclaimed in shock.

"What? The Foulness of Beings?" Nian Ben was stunned.

"Yes," the purple-robed man confirmed with a frown.

Nian Ben glanced at the mud bodhisattva, then back at Zhong Shan.

"Zhong Shan, you're incredibly bold. Hahaha, truly bold!" Nian Ben laughed strangely.

"You're not lacking in courage yourself," Zhong Shan said dismissively.

"Zhuanlun Hall, the Hall of Reincarnation, one of the Ten Halls. No one dares to touch it. The Zhuanlun Domain lacks major powers precisely because they fear the Zhuanlun Hall. By the way, didn't you release Father Guo not long ago? I heard his enemies are everywhere, but no one dared to kill him because he was sealed in the Zhuanlun Hall. You, Great Yin, are truly audacious, meddling with the Zhuanlun Hall and even wielding the Foulness of Beings!" Nian Ben gloated.

Upon hearing Nian Ben's words, Zhong Shan's eyes narrowed.

Father Guo? Wasn't he left alone because the sages feared the karma of the former Great Zhou? No, there was something off back then. It seems there was more to it.

The Zhuanlun Hall? One of the Ten Halls? This must be the main reason why the sages avoided it.

"Mud Bodhisattva, take them down!" Zhong Shan ordered.

"Yes!" the Mud Bodhisattva responded respectfully.

As he spoke, the vast black sea beneath him surged towards the three ancient immortals. Simultaneously, more black water appeared from all directions, filled with the Foulness of Beings, assaulting Nian Ben and his companions from every side.

This was the Mud Bodhisattva's first action after breaking the Zhuanlun Hall's seal.

The black waves were overwhelming, leveraging the Foulness of Beings, the Mud Bodhisattva, though only at the celestial level, was able to contend with three ancient immortals.

"Boom!"

The endless black water enveloped the three ancient immortals, creating massive internal clashes. Nian Ben couldn't believe it; the Foulness of Beings, which was untouchable and feared by all, was now wrapping around him.

He had thought Luo Xingchen was Great Yin's strongest, but now there was another powerful entity, the Mud Bodhisattva. How could Great Yin have such a formidable feng shui master?

"Boom!"

The three ancient immortals combined their strength to break through the Foulness of Beings, looking at the Mud Bodhisattva with astonishment.

"The Foulness of Beings can't hold us, but you're courting death. Anyone who manipulates the Foulness of Beings won't live beyond a hundred years. You're doomed!" Nian Ben sneered at the Mud Bodhisattva.

The Mud Bodhisattva ignored Nian Ben. Seeing that the Foulness of Beings couldn't restrain the three, he changed his hand seals. Suddenly, the black water began to turn slightly red, emitting a strong stench of blood.

The black sea slowly turned into a blood sea, filling the air with a suffocating metallic smell.

"The Foulness of Worries? The Foulness of Worries?" one of the purple-robed men exclaimed.

"The Foulness of Worries?" Nian Ben shouted in shock.

The blood sea stained the sky, making the space it touched sizzle, as if it were corrupting the very void. Countless blood-colored ghosts within the sea clawed at Nian Ben and his companions.

"Impossible! How can a celestial level being control the Foulness of Worries? Why aren't you dead?" Nian Ben couldn't believe it.

Clearly, Nian Ben had a thorough understanding of the Five Foulnesses, but the Mud Bodhisattva continually defied his expectations.

Suddenly, a vast section of the blood sea surged towards the three. They moved quickly, dodging most of the attack, but one wrong move led one of them straight into another part of the blood sea.

"Boom!"

The purple-robed man was instantly enveloped by the blood sea.

The Mud Bodhisattva's eyes lit up. He extended his hand and made a grasping motion. Suddenly, a nearly invisible seal dropped from the sky, pressing onto the blood sea.

"Boom!"

A tremendous explosion shook the void, causing the world to tremble.

The seal and the blood sea vanished, along with the purple-robed man enveloped by it.

He disappeared?

"You killed him?" the remaining purple-robed man asked in disbelief.

"The Zhuanlun Seal, no wonder. No wonder you were acknowledged by the Zhuanlun Hall? The Envoy of Zhuanlun Hall?" Nian Ben said in shock.

"You recognize the Zhuanlun Seal?" the Mud Bodhisattva asked, surprised.

"The Ten Halls? The sixth hall has opened. The sixth hall, the Zhuanlun Hall, has opened?" Nian Ben said in horror.