Chapter 2146: Empress of Thousand Bones
Ever-white Planet was a huge planet filled with white sand and white rocks. It was situated in a faraway unfamiliar s.p.a.ce from Kunlun Realm, next to the vast and demonic milky way of styx.
The dimensional teleportation array which was silent for a long time suddenly burst out with a ray of bright white light. Then, two figures appeared.
After many teleportations, Zhang Ruochen and Blackie finally arrived at Ever-white Planet again.
It was daytime at the moment. As they looked up, they could see a giant light door dazzling like the bright sun.
Zhang Ruochen raised his head and stared at the light door. He was now much stronger than he was before and could see that there was something unusual about this s.p.a.ce.
Logically speaking, the light door was so unique that anyone in Kunlun Realm should be able to see the light it emitted.
Countless deities of Celestial and Infernal Courts were aiming at Kunlun Realm since it became the Battlefield of Merits a long time ago. Yet, this place was never discovered. There was something weird about this.
The only explanation was that someone had hidden this s.p.a.ce with a powerful technique, so even the deities couldn’t sense it.
The person most likely to do this was undoubtedly Saint Monk Xumi.
There must be a shocking secret hidden here for Saint Monk Xumi to spend so much effort in setting up this place. It might be related to the great battle from one-hundred thousand years ago.
With his previous experience, Zhang Ruochen adjusted the dimensional coordinates and activated the array.
Ripples appeared in the s.p.a.ce about twenty thousand miles away from the light door.
Zhang Ruochen and Blackie walked out from the center of the ripples. They stood in the void s.p.a.ce and looked ahead.
Even though he had seen it once, Zhang Ruochen’s heart still stirred violently when he looked at the light door up close. He felt suffocated.
“What a huge door. The stars are like dust in front of it. It’s really a miracle.” Blackie couldn’t help but exclaim.
Blackie’s cultivation and strength had once been close to that of a deity. Its methods were very impressive, but it still wasn’t able to make such a big move.
The light door erected quietly in the void s.p.a.ce. No one knew how long it had existed.
Zhang Ruochen and Blackie both felt the terrifying aura which was emitted from the light door as they were so close to it. It felt as if it wanted to shatter their bodies and saint souls.
‘Its dimensional structure is so complicated:Endless void s.p.a.ces are stacked on top of each other. This phenomenon was caused by the power of the Death’s Door. Could it be Saint Monk Xumi who refined the Death’s Door?’ Zhang Ruochen muttered.
Saint Monk Xumi’s cultivation was unfathomable. He was good at refining treasures such as the Sacred Qiankun Wooden Picture Scroll and the Chaotic s.p.a.ce-time Lotus. It wasn’t impossible to say that he was the one who refined the Death’s Door.
This was especially so since the dimensional teleportation array here was also set up by Saint Monk Xumi. Everything seemed to match.
“I don’t think so,” Blackie shook his head. “I can feel that the aura emitted by the Death’s Door is extremely ancient. It is comparable to the Light Myriad Scroll. It’s very likely that it was a product of the ancient times. At that time, Saint Monk Xumi was not even born yet.”
“Also, I used the Supreme Saint’s Eye just now and saw some patterns on the Death’s Door. They’re familiar. I think I’ve seen them somewhere before. Let me think about it.”
Blackie held its head on its wings and thought seriously.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t disturb Blackie. He opened the Heaven’s Eye between his brows and observed the Death’s Door carefully. He wasn’t in a hurry to get close.
Even if he really wanted to break through the Death’s Door, he had to understand it better first.
There were indeed many patterns on the Death’s Door. They were complex and mysterious, as if they contained all kinds of principles of heaven and earth.
It was undoubtedly a huge project for someone to carve so many patterns on such a huge door. It was not something an ordinary person could complete.
Even with Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation realm, he still had no idea what those patterns meant.
“I remember now,” Blackie suddenly exclaimed. “There are similar patterns in Nether Dungeon and Sword Pavilion. Could it be that these three objects were all refined by the same person?”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s heart skipped a beat. He quickly recalled that he had entered both Nether Dungeon and Sword Pavilion before so he was no stranger to those places.
He hadn’t paid much attention to it previously, but now that Blackie mentioned this, Nether Dungeon and Sword Pavilion did indeed have complicated patterns formed naturally.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the Death’s Door and said, “There are eighteen levels in the Death’s Door, and so is Nether Dungeon. It’s rumored that Sword Pavilion has eighteen levels too. Could there really be a connection between the three?”
There was only one Death’s Door in front of them, but that mysterious gatekeeper had said that there were eighteen levels in the Death’s Door. Only by going through them could one finally enter Infernal Court.
Nether Dungeon and Sword Pavilion were both very mysterious. No one could tell what their origins were.
It was said that even a deity could be suppressed in Nether Dungeon.
After all, an elite like Lord Ming whose powers were infinitely close to a deity, was only imprisoned in the fifteenth level of the Prison Realm.
On the other hand, Sword Pavilion which stored the Wordless Sword Manual, was the Supreme Sanctum for sword cultivators.
Apart from having the same number of levels, Nether Dungeon and Sword Pavilion had another similarity — they were both dimensional treasures that contained the universe. Sword Pavilion even contained the power of time. The higher the level, the greater the ratio of the flow of time to the outside world.
‘Only a Master of Time and s.p.a.ce can combine the power of time and s.p.a.ce perfectly to refine a mysterious treasure,’ Zhang Ruochen thought.
Since ancient times, Kunlun Realm had only produced three Masters of Time and s.p.a.ce, including Zhang Ruochen.
According to Blackie, Saint Monk Xumi was not good at refining weapons, so the person who refined Sword Pavilion was most likely the mysterious first Master of Time and s.p.a.ce.
Even as a Scion of Time and s.p.a.ce, Zhang Ruochen still knew nothing about the first Master of Time and s.p.a.ce because that person existed too long ago. Only a few of his stories were left for the later generations.
The only thing Zhang Ruochen knew was that the first Master of Time and s.p.a.ce was known as the time and s.p.a.ce ancestor. He was one of the oldest powerful figures in Kunlun Realm.
After thinking for a long time, Zhang Ruochen used the Great Dimensional s.h.i.+ft and quickly approached the Death’s Door with Blackie.
In a moment, Zhang Ruochen and Blackie were less than one-thousand miles away from the Death’s Door.
Facing the Death’s Door at such a close distance, the impact it had on his mind was undoubtedly stronger.
“Eh? There’s actually a palace here. Zhang Ruochen, does the mysterious gatekeeper you mentioned live inside?”
Suddenly, Blackie found the small palace in the lower right corner of the Death’s Door.
Of course, the so-called small was relatively speaking. The palace was actually very magnificent. It was thousands of feet tall, like an ancient divine beast entrenched in the void s.p.a.ce.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the palace. Last time, he wanted to break into the Death’s Door by force, but a huge hand that was thousands of miles long extended from the palace and slapped him back to Ever-white Planet.
Now that he thought about it, that hand owner’s cultivation must be extremely high for him to have such a terrifying technique.
“Young man, here you are again.”
As he was thinking, a wave of spiritual power came out from the palace.
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but smile when he received this familiar spiritual power wave, “After so many years, I didn’t expect that you could still remember me.”
At that time, Zhang Ruochen hadn’t even reached the saint level yet and was very weak. He was surprised that he could still remember him.
“I’ve lived for a long time, but my memory is good. Young man, it’s good that you’ve reached the peak of Saint Kinghood in such a short time. Are you here to break through the Death’s Door?” The spiritual power came again.
Before Zhang Ruochen could answer, Blackie stepped in and asked, “Who are you? Why are you here?”
“I’m just a forgotten person. It’s meaningless even if I tell you. Do you want to break through the Death’s Door?” The hermit who called himself the gatekeeper asked again.
Zhang Ruochen thought about it and said, “Now that I have acquired a stronger cultivation base and strength, am I qualified to know some secrets about the Death’s Door? Please explain it to me.”
Last time, Zhang Ruochen had asked a lot of questions, but this hermit who called himself the gatekeeper, did not tell him anything because his cultivation was too weak.
Although he had some guesses, he still wanted to get specific answers from the hermit.
“Tell me quickly, what is the origin of the Death’s Door? Who Made It? I have never heard of it in the Middle Ages,” Blackie said anxiously.
It thought that it was knowledgeable and knew many secrets, but it knew nothing about the Death’s Door.
The hermit thought for a moment and said, “The peace of Kunlun Realm has been broken again. Many secrets will be revealed by people sooner or later. It doesn’t matter if I tell you.”
“Do you see the galaxy behind the Death’s Door? That is Infernal Court, a powerful civilization whose goal is destruction. Kunlun Realm was almost destroyed by Infernal Court a hundred thousand years ago.”
“Back then, the deities of Infernal Court used their supreme divine power to control the entire s.p.a.ce and crush the piece of sky where Kunlun Realm was located. If not for the almighty who used the supreme divine weapon which turned into the Death’s Door at the critical moment and blocked the void s.p.a.ce, Kunlun Realm and many other microworlds may have been swallowed up long ago.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen felt a sense of suffocation. He was extremely shocked. The collision of the s.p.a.ces was incredible just thinking about it.
Who was that almighty that blocked the void s.p.a.ce? Lord Wentian of the Ten Tribulations? Lord of Nephilim Island? Dragon Lord Jiw.a.n.g? Or is it someone else?
“Which of the Ten Greatest Divine Artifacts is the Death’s Door? Who is that almighty?” Zhang Ruochen asked quickly.
Although he didn’t know much about the Ten Greatest Divine Artifacts, he knew that there weren’t any door-shaped Divine Artifacts among them.
At the same time, he was also very curious about the almighty who blocked the void s.p.a.ce. This person’s strength must be extremely powerful and he must have a great reputation.
Unfortunately, everything relating to that event a hundred-thousand years ago was erased by an invisible force. Even the deities of Kunlun Realm were mostly unknown to the future generations.
After waiting for a long time, nothing was spoken from the hall.
Since he received no reply, Zhang Ruochen did not continue to ask any more questions. He didn’t want to upset him.
After thinking for a while, Zhang Ruochen extended an index finger and gently tapped in the void s.p.a.ce. Suddenly, Huang Yanchen’s shadow condensed in front of his fingertip. He asked, “Senior, has she been here before?”
“Yes. After entering the Death’s Door, she never came out again,” said the mysterious hermit.
Zhang Ruochen was slightly shocked. It seemed that his guess was right. All of Huang Yanchen’s changes were indeed caused by the Death’s Door.
However, he had a vague feeling that it was not that simple. Huang Yanchen could not have entered Infernal Court for no reason. Moreover, how could she break through all eighteen levels of the Death’s Door with her strength at that time?
After all, the mysterious hermit had said that one needed to be at least a saint king to be qualified to break through the Death’s Door.
“After asking so many questions, do you want to break through the Death’s Door?” The mysterious hermit asked.
Zhang Ruochen came back to his senses and looked at the palace. There was a strange light in his eyes. Who was this gatekeeper? Why was he guarding the Death’s Door? Was everything he said true?
Thinking of this, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but say, “Actually, I’m more interested in you rather than the Death’s Door. I hope to ask you something in person.”
With that, Zhang Ruochen made a bold move. He used his bodily movement and turned into a streak of light. He rushed toward the magnificent palace in the lower right corner of the Death’s Door.
Bang.
When he was five hundred miles away from the palace, Zhang Ruochen was blocked by an invisible barrier. He had to stop.
“Young man, this is not the place for you to come. If you don’t want to break through the Death’s Door, you can leave,” the gatekeeper said lightly.
Blackie also flashed over and curled its lips. “Why are you acting so mysterious? I want to see who you really are.”
Swish.
Seventy-two array flags flew out and instantly formed a mysterious Ninth Stratum Array.
The Ninth Stratum Array revolved and condensed into a hundred thousand feet long Divine Sword. It emitted billions of sharp Sword Qi and slashed towards the palace like lightning.
Crack.
A terrifying power came out of the hall and directly shattered the Divine Sword. All Sword Qi was destroyed instantly.
Even the Ninth Stratum Array disintegrated in an instant. Cracks appeared on some of the array flags, and Blackie himself retreated backward.
But Blackie didn’t pay much attention to that. He stared at the palace with shock in his eyes, as if he had discovered something incredible.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Ruochen asked, confused.
Blackie said emotionally, “He used the power of G.o.d’s Fall. Only those who cultivated G.o.d’s Fall can practice this power.”
G.o.d’s Fall was one of the six great tomes of Kunlun Realm. It was a secret of Nephilim Island. Usually, only members of Nephilim Clan could practice it.
During the Middle Ages, Nephilim Clan was extremely powerful. They had Lord of Nephilim Island, one of the strongest powerhouses in Kunlun Realm. On top of that, Empress of Thousand Bones was also from Nephilim Clan.
Lord of Nephilim Island was extremely powerful. He was on par with Lord Wentian of the Ten Tribulations, Saint Monk Xumi, and Dragon Lord Jiw.a.n.g. He had powerful Canon and the power to slaughter G.o.ds.
Unfortunately, after the Middle Ages, Nephilim Clan retreated back to Nephilim Island and disappeared. Many people had long forgotten about their existence.
Only Blackie was very familiar with Nephilim Clan. It managed to find Nephilim Island in the vast sea and bring Han Xue to receive the inheritance of G.o.d’s Fall.
“Who are you? How did you receive the inheritance of G.o.d’s Fall? Do you have anything to do with Nephilim Clan?” Blackie asked anxiously.
Now, Blackie wanted to rush into the palace more than Zhang Ruochen to find out the ident.i.ty of the mysterious hermit. It was concerned with anything that had to do Nephilim Clan.
‘Could it be Lord of Nephilim Island who was left at the Death’s Door?’ Zhang Ruochen guessed.
The mysterious hermit said, “It doesn’t matter who I am. Don’t try to make trouble here. Leave quickly.”
Obviously, Zhang Ruochen and Blackie had offended the gatekeeper and upsetted him.
Zhang Ruochen was about to say something when he suddenly sensed something. He couldn’t help but turn his head and look at the distant sky.
‘What is that? A person?’
A blurry figure came into Zhang Ruochen’s sight.
She carried a sword on her back and stepped on the void s.p.a.ce. It looked as if she was walking slowly, but every step she took was ten-thousand miles apart.
This figure walked in a straight line. She seemed to be walking and enlightening the Canon and mystery of all heaven and earth at the same time.
A huge star appeared in front of this person, blocking her path. However, before it could get close to her, the star was penetrated by an invisible force and split in all directions. It couldn’t deviate her direction at all.
Zhang Ruochen’s mind trembled. He vaguely sensed that what penetrated the star seemed to be… a streak of Sword Qi. Yet when he sensed carefully, it seemed that there was no Sword Qi at all. Everything seemed to be his illusion.
In Saint King Realm, Zhang Ruochen had already practiced the Sword path to Great Perfection. He thought that he had a deep understanding of the Sword path.
However now, he felt like he didn’t understand Sword at all. Perhaps he hadn’t even remotely come into contact with the essence of the Sword path.
There was only one thing that Zhang Ruochen could be sure of: this person must have cultivated the Wordless Sword Manual, but she had already attained a realm which he couldn’t understand.
In the blink of an eye, the figure crossed boundless void s.p.a.ce and entered the palace where the mysterious hermit was.
ROAR!
At this moment, Blackie suddenly howled. It seemed extremely excited, and it rushed towards the palace without a thought.
Strangely, at this moment, the obstacle did not exist anymore.
“Empress, is that you? I am Tu Tian. Don’t you remember me?” Blackie shouted loudly.
Zhang Ruochen immediately followed after him. He changed into a strange expression, “Blackie, now I know that your real name is Tu Tian. Ha ha… wait, Empress? Did you just say that she’s Empress of Thousand Bones?”
Zhang Ruochen realized all of a sudden.
“Although I didn’t see her face clearly, I can feel her demeanor. She must be the Empress. I knew she was still alive.” Blackie was getting more and more excited.
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly. Could that person be Empress of Thousand Bones? He still had lots of doubts in his head.
Empress of Thousand Bones had disappeared for a hundred thousand years and entered into the depths of Nether Realm. Even if she was still alive, why would she be here?
Identifying someone based on that person’s demeanor was obviously problematic.
Moreover, given Blackie’s relations.h.i.+p with Empress of Thousand Bones, if that person really was Empress of Thousand Bones, she had no reason to ignore Blackie.