Chapter 1424: Not Wanting, Not Missing

The heavens crumbled, and the earth was rent asunder!

In his despair and disappointment, Taiwu let out a long sigh, making one last desperate attempt.

In that instant, ghosts wept and gods wailed. From beneath the earth emerged an endless surge of nether energy and boundless spectral figures of gods and demons, all kneeling deep within the ground, prostrating themselves before the crimson lotus. At the same time, countless divine beings, Buddhas, and demons appeared in the sky, chanting scriptures in unison. The sounds of Zen hymns and demonic incantations echoed ceaselessly, creating an overwhelming spectacle.

This celestial phenomenon stunned everyone!

The crimson lotus, which had emerged, seemed forged from primordial metal. Though only a foot tall, it was incredibly unique, managing to provoke a joint ritual of Buddhas and demons, and the wailing of ghosts and gods—truly unimaginable. Enveloped in dense chaotic energy, it burst forth from beneath the ruptured training ground, appearing as if it sought to drain all the essence from the nine heavens and ten earths.

Clearly, Taiwu had gone mad. He refused to suffer a humiliating defeat and die, thereby solidifying an astonishing record and glory for a mere youth. Who was he? Taiwu Heavenly Venerate! With ‘Martial’ in his title, how could he be ordinary? He harbored the ambition to devour the heavens and carve a path to becoming an unparalleled overlord.

In his desperation, he unleashed his ultimate trump card! This lotus held immense significance, linked to the secret of his enlightenment. Yet, he now cast it aside, intending to decisively eliminate his opponent.

“I am Taiwu! Even in death, I must be consecrated with heavenly blood. How could I possibly fall at the hands of a mere wraith from the lesser netherworld? Today, even if my very foundation of cultivation shatters, I will throttle you and sever your path forward!”

Taiwu raged, his eyes gleaming with a faint reddish light. As his long hair billowed, it conjured streaks of lightning. His entire being became sharp and formidable, like a great lord of destruction, intent on annihilating everything. In his eyes, his opponent was far too young—a mere youth. How long had he been cultivating, to dare to directly slay a Heavenly Venerate in public like this? Should he perish in such a manner, it would be an utter disgrace. His lifelong renown would be utterly wasted, and all the dignity and prestige he had established would shatter, becoming a source of ridicule for future generations.

The foot-tall crimson wonder-lotus swayed, and the void itself fractured around it. It moved towards Chu Feng, seemingly carrying the might of world annihilation, intent on crushing him.

“What is that thing?” Many exclaimed, none having anticipated the emergence of such a plant. It struck fear into the hearts of cultivators from all sides.

“That is Taiwu’s very foundation, the extraordinary lotus of enlightenment!” a Heavenly Venerate sighed.

“That is… a treasure leading to grand power. Obtaining even one is incredibly difficult, and this crimson lotus is the absolute finest among them, a rare and precious marvel,” another Heavenly Venerate secretly conveyed.

Everyone now understood its nature: it was Taiwu’s very foundation for achieving enlightenment! Even in the Yang Realm, finding the pollen and exotic fruits required to ascend to grand power is exceedingly difficult; otherwise, there would be many more grand powerful beings in the world! Furthermore, and most crucially, finding pollen and exotic fruits that perfectly align with oneself is even harder, invariably requiring immense serendipitous fortune. As for the most precious among these, they are truly once-in-a-lifetime encounters, entirely dependent on one’s individual destiny.

What was the origin of Taiwu’s crimson lotus? To possess such a world-shaking celestial phenomenon, inspiring dread in all who beheld it!

“Heavens, what am I seeing? This is… the legendary supreme object of enlightenment, transplanted directly from a primordial metal mine! It’s radiating the aura of primordial metal—a truly priceless treasure!” The gray-haired Heavenly Venerate exclaimed, his eyes betraying both fear and avarice. This was an unimaginable plant, and its immense power was now clear.

Speaking of primordial metal, it was naturally considered a priceless treasure by all grand powerful beings, capable of being forged into future enlightenment artifacts! Plants occasionally born alongside primordial metal were invariably rare wonders, their pollen and fruits possessing unimaginable properties, far surpassing any other plant of comparable grade.

No one had imagined that Taiwu possessed such a plant, let alone that he would now use it against an enemy! People realized that Taiwu had gone all in, intending to destroy both himself and his enemy by sacrificing his foundation of enlightenment.

“You truly believe this can kill me? What a futile effort, why even bother!” Chu Feng shook his head, not believing it could truly harm him.

However, he was indeed surprised. Aside from the pollen and exotic fruits found in unique areas of the Yang Realm, the legendary plants said to be rooted in primordial metal or born in the chaotic realm were also astonishing. If obtained, one’s life could be entirely rewritten. Though this particular specimen was not a 'dao lotus' directly rooted in primordial metal, but rather a crimson lotus born within the mine itself, it was nonetheless exceptionally remarkable, enough to astonish the world.

Boom!

Infused with the aura of the Great Dao and imbued with the mystical charm of gods, Buddhas, and demons, the crimson lotus descended, accompanied by the sounds of chanting. It was incredibly difficult to evade. Its spectral images and its rules permeated everywhere. This moved Chu Feng, truly a wonder-lotus worthy of its name! Legend has it that lotuses are inherently aligned with the Dao, carrying invisible Dao principles. Thus, whenever such a plant appears, it is extraordinarily astonishing.

Chu Feng launched an attack, blasting towards the sky, but the plant merely trembled, spewing forth auspicious energy and thirty thousand crimson rays that engulfed Chu Feng, neutralizing his divine attack. It should be noted that the divine light he unleashed had torn the very firmament, with hundreds and thousands of chains of order interwoven. Any other Heavenly Venerate arriving here would have been confined and slain. Yet, this lotus, with a mere tremor, exhibited such divine might, which was truly astonishing and terrifying.

“Truly remarkable!” Chu Feng sighed, already stirred, his expression growing exceedingly grave.

After the foot-tall crimson lotus ascended, it exuded wisps of primordial metal energy and chaotic energy, giving off an incredibly heavy sensation, as if it could crush the heavens and earth. Explosive roars erupted between heaven and earth as it swept across the sky.

“Go!”

Chu Feng spoke with cold indifference, employing the Seven Treasures Divine Art. Instantly, a burst of colorful light shot forth, sweeping past like a nascent rainbow sun. Thousands of rules and myriad auras permeated the air, unleashing a devastating strike upon the wonder-lotus!

Boom!

A tremendous sound resonated between heaven and earth—the resonance of the Dao, mingled with the roars of gods and demons. Around the wonder-lotus, spectral images of Buddhas and demons surged and wavered, as countless fragments of rules scattered wildly. This was the result of the Seven Treasures Divine Art’s impact, as the two forces collided and continuously eroded each other.

Taiwu’s face contorted, etched with bitterness. He was utterly unwilling to accept this. He closed his eyes, then snapped them open again, his expression terrifying. He was truly unwilling. His foundation for enlightenment, the crimson lotus he had nurtured for an untold number of years, would now be unable to bloom – a moment that had been so close. But now, his dream was shattered! He himself had nearly finished his recuperation, preparing to assault the Dao path within a century and become a grand power. But now, his foundation was on the verge of destruction!

“Go!” he declared, making a resolute decision.

The crimson lotus’s buds began to unfurl, their crystalline petals fluttering, surprisingly stained with blood. Then, strand after strand of divine chains of order cascaded from among the blossoms, locking down heaven and earth as they extended towards Chu Feng. One could see figures of Buddhas, demons, immortals, and ghosts all emerge. They sat cross-legged around the wonder-lotus, and as the flowers bloomed, they simultaneously chanted scriptures and roared.

“This is… utterly destroying his foundation!” a Heavenly Venerate sighed deeply, uncertain whether his emotion was astonishment or profound sorrow, sympathizing with a kindred spirit's plight.

In this world, for a Divine King to become a Heavenly Venerate, a one-in-ten success rate is already considered excellent. And for a Heavenly Venerate to ascend to grand power, achieving even one success out of a hundred is considered remarkable! It must be understood that individuals of Heavenly Venerate stature have battled their way through countless armies to reach their current standing. Yet, when aspiring to higher realms, the final few steps are a one-in-a-hundred selection—how incredibly difficult! The vanquished all perish, and scarcely one in a hundred succeeds. How tragic! Naturally, this assumes a smooth path, where one has already secured a foundation for enlightenment and gathered grand-power-level pollen and exotic fruits in advance!

Taiwu’s ambition was vast; he harbored the will to devour the heavens. By finding a wonder-lotus born beside primordial metal, he would undoubtedly far surpass others if he succeeded. Alas, at this critical juncture, he was forced to make this lotus bloom prematurely, not for his own evolution, but to unleash the boundless potential of the plant in advance.

“It can actually be used this way!” Chu Feng exclaimed in astonishment.

After the bud bloomed prematurely, no pollen dispersed. Instead, it was consumed by the parent plant itself, a result of Taiwu’s refining. The plant shimmered with an ethereal mist, and the parent plant unleashed the oppressive might of a grand power.

“Boom!”

The crimson lotus violently trembled, surging towards Chu Feng.

“Destroying your own foundation of enlightenment to kill me with this wonder-lotus? What a pity, it’s not truly a grand power, merely imbued with wisps of its exotic might!” Chu Feng sneered.

However, he did feel immense pressure. This was the first time he had encountered such a situation, where no pollen dispersed, and the plant itself absorbed its essence to unleash the oppressive might of a grand power. Chu Feng, brimming with vital energy, wielded the Vajra Gavel and violently smashed it forth! This was a 33-Heaven artifact, and even against such oppressive might, he dared to strike directly.

“Pfft!”

At that critical moment, as Taiwu refined the wonder-lotus, he himself was the first to vomit a mouthful of blood. This was a consequence of the crimson lotus siphoning his essence, vital energy, and spirit. Taiwu knew he now had no way of becoming a grand power. Forcibly activating the lotus in this manner, allowing it to gain a fraction of such power, was simply too draining on his primordial energy and had severely damaged his foundation. This even caused the crimson lotus to sway.

Concurrently, Chu Feng’s Vajra Gavel struck, and a dazzling brilliance illuminated the entire heaven and earth.

“Boom!”

It was as if the cosmos had collapsed, and all the heavens had cracked open. The Vajra Gavel collided with the lotus, and divine chains of order surged skyward, instantly causing the entire area to erupt. Swiftly, the Vajra Gavel spun back, propelled by the force of the collision. Chu Feng hastily retrieved it, fearing others might seize it. As a result, he let out a muffled groan, having been impacted by the recoil. His body swayed as he struggled to hold it steady.

On the other side, the crimson lotus emitted a cracking sound, then shattered into fragments. Taiwu, meanwhile, cried out, continuously coughing up blood, his face ashen.

“Master!”“Grandmaster!”

On the horizon, all the disciples and followers of Taiwu’s lineage cried out in alarm, their faces drained of color, their hearts nearly stopping.

“Even like this, he couldn’t kill that youth?!” People were stunned. That was the oppressive might of a grand power, albeit in wisps, yet it failed to suppress this individual. Everyone who looked at the Vajra Gavel showed fervent gazes, though more often, it was fear. It was simply too astonishing.

“It’s not a true grand power after all, merely an inanimate object, imbued with only wisps of grand power’s exotic might. And you thought it could kill me?!” Chu Feng sneered.

However, his heart suddenly constricted, feeling intensely uneasy. His Fiery Golden Eyes blazed, staring ahead. He had a strange premonition that something was amiss. Taiwu’s face turned ashen. He knew his path forward was severed; the priceless treasure he had cultivated for years, perfectly attuned to himself, was destroyed. In less than a century, he would have become a grand power, but now, everything had come to naught.

“Ha, my lifelong renown has been utterly swept away, and a brilliant future has, today, become nothing but a fleeting illusion. I am so unwilling,” he uttered tremulously, his face ashen, as if all his essence, vital energy, and spirit had drained away.

Yet, Chu Feng grew increasingly uneasy. He abruptly brought out his stone jar, placing it in front of him, and shouted, “You old scoundrel, still trying to ambush me? Dream on!” He had a premonition of extreme danger approaching. Taiwu’s demeanor was clearly intended to make him drop his guard.

Concurrently, he finally saw it: nestled among the roots of the shattered crimson lotus was a tiny, rice-grain-sized tile shard. Unlike the surrounding debris, it carried wisps of an ominous aura, mixed with dirt, as it silently flew towards him. Had he not possessed his extraordinary Fiery Golden Eyes, he would never have noticed that it was a damaged tile shard, as it appeared no different from other bits of stone debris. Through ages and eras, it had endured countless tribulations. Its very existence to this day was a miracle. In an instant, Chu Feng’s entire mind focused. He felt, astonishingly, that it had existed for countless eons.

The stone jar in Chu Feng’s hand vibrated, colliding with the rice-grain-sized tile shard and emitting a blinding flash of light! The clash nearly obliterated heaven and earth!

Taiwu was horrified. Upon seeing the stone jar in Chu Feng’s hand, he was bewildered and astonished. Ultimately, his eyes filled with endless greed and profound regret. Even though the stone jar was different from before, no longer a perfect cube, Taiwu still managed to surmise at the last moment that it was likely the supreme treasure lost from the Yang Realm!

The tile shard exploded. Though only the size of a grain of rice, it possessed world-shaking energy. However, all its energy was absorbed by the stone jar. This shocked Chu Feng. How could a tile shard the size of a grain of rice be so powerful, causing even the stone jar to tremble several times? It was truly terrifying! At the same time, at the last moment, he noticed that this tile shard possessed certain characteristics similar to the stone jar, but its aura was considerably weaker. Could it be an artifact from the same era?

Meanwhile, the heavens and earth rumbled. Millions of miles away, Taiwu’s master, a white-haired female grand power, stirred. Her own plant of enlightenment rose from the ground, and beneath its roots, astonishingly, lay another tile shard. However, her shard was considerably larger, about an inch long, and was intricately carved with numerous strange patterns, as if it bore the very Dao of all heavens! Taiwu’s piece had been bestowed by her years ago. It was precisely because the two tile shards, vastly different in size, possessed a mysterious mutual attraction that Taiwu’s master, the white-haired grand power, instantly sensed her disciple was in grave danger!

Now, she continuously activated it, hoping to use this tile shard to pierce through spatial barriers, traverse millions of miles, and provide aid! At this moment, what made her heart tremble was that a stone statue in her immortal's cave—a divine image of the Martial Maniac—began to shake violently, issuing a solemn warning.

“Disciple, you have brought about a great calamity! You must not activate it further. Otherwise, everything in this world will cease to exist, and all the heavens and myriad realms will wither into desolation. There are some beings whom heaven cannot bury, nor can time slay or erase. No one can defeat them, no one can contain them. Only by not thinking of them, not remembering them, and allowing them to fall into eternal oblivion, utterly losing their way back, can they be contained. If there is even one person in this world who still thinks of him, still remembers him, or touches even a speck of dust or a grain of earth connected to him, it will trigger a karmic reaction. As long as a single wisp of thought about him remains in this world, it can guide him back and allow him to return!”

These were the words of the Martial Maniac, who was revered as the Martial Emperor by his disciples and followers, held in the highest regard. Yet today, his attitude was astonishingly frantic. The white-haired woman trembled. In her memory, her master, the Martial Maniac—also known as the Martial Emperor—was always a man of few words, offering at most a brief comment. But today, he had urgently uttered so many warnings, genuinely terrifying her.

“To not think or remember him, letting him drift into silent oblivion, gradually fading away. But today… the trouble is immense. A being returning by treading upon imperial bones—no one can control such a one. Perhaps… he is about to emerge.”

In the far north, the Martial Maniac muttered to himself. In his secluded cultivation retreat, he opened his profound eyes. Beside him was a clay pot, though broken and only partially remaining, standing about a palm’s height. One could discern endless profound symbols etched upon it, depicting various creatures in intricate, dense patterns—all of them supreme and mighty.

The Martial Maniac’s heart throbbed. He said, “This is the Emperor Suppressing Jar, and also a coffin. As long as one does not think of him or remember him, that being should remain forever banished, buried within one’s thoughts. I never imagined that trouble would arise after all. That being has not yet fallen into eternal oblivion!”