Previously, Lin Moyu had already filled the grand array with 2,900 units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. During that time, he could be considered to have gained a certain degree of control over the grand array. Now that the grand array was activated, those 2,900 units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth simultaneously surged out with heaven-and-earth power. Through the grand array, they converged and became one, transforming into ten-thousand-colored divine light that descended onto Lin Moyu.
His flesh body and soul, which were collapsing, were instantly stabilized. They were still collapsing, but the speed slowed by more than tenfold. Moreover, under the shroud of this ten-thousand-colored divine light, the condensing speed of the remaining hundred units of heaven-and-earth greatly accelerated. One advancing and one retreating, it bought Lin Moyu enough time.
The hundred units of heaven-and-earth rapidly condensed. Lin Moyu swept his hand and sent all hundred units into the grand array, filling the final hundred stars. Three thousand stars reached perfection, the grand array became complete, and the starry-sky heaven-and-earth that had vanished before appeared once again.
Lin Moyu looked into the void. The three thousand filled stars interlocked with one another, and the grand array they formed was clearly different from the other regions.
Using the grand array to evolve the Dao heart?
No, I saw it wrong. This is… using the Dao heart to evolve the grand array.
What I am seeing is a true Dao heart. So the Dao heart can be used like this.
Lin Moyu felt as if a veil had been lifted. At last he understood: it was not the grand array simulating the Dao heart, but a grand array arranged within the Dao heart. The Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth connected to one another in the form of a grand array, making the Dao heart more stable, and then feeding back into the Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, making it stronger. In turn, it affected flesh body and soul, making his own power stronger, and the grand array he had arranged also grew stronger along with it.
This was the inheritance of the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
Lin Moyu felt that this should be the inheritance the Nine Heavens Divine Lord had released. He was telling him the correct way to use the Dao heart.
The stars only appeared for a short while, then vanished again. Lin Moyu's three thousand heaven-and-earth returned to his flesh body and soul. At the same time, a streak of divine light descended together with the Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. Lin Moyu was enveloped by divine light, and his flesh body and soul began to grow stronger again.
First, flesh body and soul accelerated in collapse, then, at the edge of complete disintegration, they began to recover at high speed. Break, then establish. Emerge from the cocoon as a butterfly.
Lin Moyu had undergone countless rebirths. Life and death to him were like child's play. Moreover, every rebirth had been a resurrection after both flesh body and soul shattered, far surpassing this time. Yet this time, the effect was far greater than before.
As Lin Moyu broke and re-established, the power within the Divine Hall seeped into every inch, every fraction of his flesh body and soul, as if giving them a thorough baptism, forcing another qualitative transformation.
The baptism was not pleasant. The agony rising from the deepest part of the soul was enough to make even a Hongmeng true supreme powerhouse howl in misery, yet Lin Moyu merely gave a few muffled grunts and endured it. He had simply died too many times. He was used to it.
His re-established flesh body and soul naturally bloomed with dazzling divine light. Vast power flowed within him. Lin Moyu's eyes carried shock as he murmured to himself.
No wonder the Nine Heavens Divine Lord can carry a million heaven-and-earth. Flesh body and soul can actually become this strong.
Before entering the Divine Hall, the first seventy halls each strengthened the flesh body by one-tenth, and it was not cumulative. It was one-tenth based on the original standard. Seventy Divine Halls strengthened flesh body and soul sevenfold, letting his flesh body and soul surpass the limit of a Hongmeng true supreme powerhouse and touch a new level.
In others' eyes, this was already unbelievable. But the seventy Divine Halls and the sevenfold enhancement were only laying the foundation for an even greater transformation to come. Without that foundation, his flesh body and soul simply could not bear the later strengthening.
From the seventy-first Divine Hall onward, each time, flesh body and soul could be strengthened by a full factor of two, and this strengthening used the prior sevenfold enhancement as its base. Each doubling was equivalent to the total of the previous sevenfold enhancement. Ten Divine Halls made flesh body and soul ten times stronger again. Flesh body and soul had reached a terrifying extent, not inferior in the slightest even compared to those weaker Primordial Ferocious Savages, only slightly weaker than the stronger Primordial Ferocious Savages seen later.
Even so, he still had not truly reached the new level. He had even suspected that the new level did not exist at all.
He never expected that this strengthening was still only a foundation, laid for this break-and-reestablish. Without the earlier foundation, he could not have carried three thousand units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, could not have passed the test of this Divine Hall, and naturally could not have completed the break-and-reestablish.
This time, flesh body and soul directly gained another tenfold increase on the prior foundation.
Tenfold.
That is enough for me to carry over ten thousand units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
But even so, I still have not touched the next level. The step beyond a Hongmeng true supreme powerhouse, what level is it exactly? Why is the gap so enormous?
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord takes Hongmeng true supreme powerhouses as divine servants, but would such a mighty existence really need this kind of servant?
Though he did not know how strong the Nine Heavens Divine Lord truly was, even his current self could easily erase a Hongmeng true supreme powerhouse. What use were such divine servants?
Forget it. I am not at that realm anyway. Why think about it? Once I finish the ninety-nine Divine Halls, perhaps the mystery will be solved.
I wonder what reward the next Divine Hall will bring. Based on previous experience, it will probably still strengthen flesh body and soul. Could it really become another tenfold?
This break-and-reestablish, beyond flesh body and soul becoming ten times stronger, more importantly made Lin Moyu feel that his flesh body and soul had undergone a qualitative transformation. This was no longer simply getting stronger. It was stepping into another level of living beings, a life-level gap compared to other living beings, not something describable by mere strong or weak.
Crossing the Divine Road, he arrived at the eighty-second Divine Hall. Like the previous halls, it was still a grand array evolved from the Dao heart. Stars appeared within the grand array, then faded, leaving 12,000 units of heaven-and-earth empty, requiring Lin Moyu to fill them with his own Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
Lin Moyu looked into the void with an expression of, as expected.
So it really is.
The limit of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth I can carry should be between 10,000 and 11,000 units. Yet now it wants me to evolve and condense 12,000 units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. No fancy tricks, but it still forces me to do it. This is an open scheme. The Nine Heavens Divine Lord's arrangement.
Lin Moyu knew he had no choice. With the previous experience, even though this time exceeded his limit by a full thousand units, he had a way to handle it. He had even anticipated the process he would endure.
The shattering of flesh body and soul was unavoidable. After filling the grand array, the Divine Hall's reward would surely restore him completely, perhaps even another break-and-reestablish.
Flesh body and soul strengthening tenfold, that was inevitable.
Lin Moyu had already figured out the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's pattern. Seen this way, these ten Divine Halls could make my flesh body and soul a hundred times stronger. By then, who knows how terrifying my flesh body and soul will become.
After completing these ten Divine Halls, the final nine Divine Halls, what arrangements would they hold? Not to mention Primordial Ferocious Savages, or even more Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord still had not shown himself. Who knew when he would appear.
Evolving and condensing ten thousand units of heaven-and-earth would take quite some time. Lin Moyu was not in a hurry. He proceeded step by step, while studying this Dao Heart grand array, absorbing its essence for himself.
Fearless of death, unafraid of perishing, viewing life and death as drifting clouds. As long as he wanted it, he would achieve it.
The eighty-second Divine Hall held no pressure for Lin Moyu. Exceeding his carrying capacity, so what? Flesh body and soul shattering together, so what? Lin Moyu did not care at all.
After seeing through the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's intent and verifying it, Lin Moyu had no more scruples. He completely let loose. He evolved and condensed Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth at an astonishing speed. All kinds of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, in countless forms, were born with a thought. The types of heaven-and-earth and the number of living beings were not limited. As long as they were strong enough, it worked.
Some Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth held only a single living being. Some contained living beings so tiny they could not be seen, yet terrifyingly powerful. Some Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth were themselves a single living being.
Human thoughts are endless, thus living beings are endless. Sometimes you cannot think of it, and in dreams, fragments of consciousness appear. Those fragments fuse into countless forms, all of which can become Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
Lin Moyu's thoughts were innumerable. His Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth were naturally inexhaustible.
He passed one Divine Hall after another. Each Divine Hall made Lin Moyu undergo a break-and-reestablish, like repeated qualitative transformations. Each time, flesh body and soul could strengthen tenfold.
When he passed the ninetieth Divine Hall, flesh body and soul became another hundred times stronger, and the Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth he could carry had already exceeded one hundred thousand. Though still far from the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, compared to himself before, it was vastly stronger.
Within his Dao heart, those hundred thousand heaven-and-earth arranged in a peculiar way, forming a grand array. Lin Moyu absorbed the grand array's essence from the Divine Halls, and combined it with his own understanding of arrays, fusing in the Infinite Divine Array, and created his own Dao-heart grand array.
The grand array within the Dao heart resembled the Infinite Divine Array, filling every corner of the Dao heart, making the Dao heart unbreakable.
Arriving before the ninety-first Divine Hall, Lin Moyu's eyes shot out sharp light as he scanned it.
No Sealing-Suppression Grand Array. Seems there is no need to fight.
There was no array formation inside the Divine Hall either, but there were other things.
Lin Moyu strolled into the Divine Hall. Inside stood a massive stele like a mountain. Complex patterns were carved on it. Within the patterns seemed to be a Supreme Master, standing atop heaven and earth. Unfortunately the patterns were incomplete and could not be seen clearly. Yet Lin Moyu faintly saw that the weapon in that Supreme Master's hand seemed somewhat similar to the Calamity Scepter.
Looks like the truth is about to be revealed.
The Calamity Scepter had always been surrounded by mysteries. The sealed memories and power, at his current level, seemed like only the Nine Heavens Divine Lord could do it. Even the hall spirit of the Divine Servant Hall, the black shadow within the Heaven-and-Earth Wall, and even the System, all seemed unable to do it.
Thus it could be concluded that the Calamity Scepter should have some connection to the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
The stele suddenly lit up. Radiance illuminated the Divine Hall. Then a crisp laugh rang out. On the stele, a figure suddenly appeared. The figure turned from illusory to real, becoming an eleven or twelve-year-old little girl, very cute.
She seemed just awakened, yawning.
How many years has it been? You finally came.
That way of speaking was somewhat similar to Little Mist.
Lin Moyu could tell she was not a living being, but an artifact spirit. He guessed her identity was similar to the hall spirit of the Divine Servant Hall, a spirit of the hall, the spirit of this Divine Hall.
Hearing her words, Lin Moyu could not help thinking that she seemed to have been waiting for him.
The little girl vanished from the stele and instantly arrived before Lin Moyu. She was only a bit over half his height. Standing on the ground, she could only reach his chest.
She lifted her head.
I am not that guy in the Divine Servant Hall. This young lady is the artifact spirit of the Nine Heavens Divine Hall, far stronger than that guy.
Lin Moyu smiled and asked, My name is Lin Moyu. What is your name?
Whether she was an artifact spirit or something else, from her appearance and tone, Lin Moyu knew how to talk to her.
No need to be so polite.
The little girl said, You can call me Ajiu. That is the name the Divine Lord gave me.
Speaking of the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, Ajiu seemed a bit proud.
Lin Moyu said, Ajiu, were you waiting for me?
Ajiu said, Yes. I have waited for you for who knows how many years. I have slept so many times. Wake up and sleep, sleep and wake, and you just would not come. But the Divine Lord said you would definitely come. I believed the Divine Lord, so I kept waiting.
Lin Moyu laughed in surprise. Sleeping several times, each sleep was probably measured in hundreds of millions of years.
Ajiu, why were you waiting for me?
Lin Moyu asked again.
Ajiu said, Of course I was waiting for you to解除 my seal. The Divine Lord said that once you arrived, you could undo my seal.
Lin Moyu paused slightly, not knowing how that seal could be undone.
Ajiu pointed at the stele.
See this stele? Inside is a set of arrays. You comprehend that set of arrays, then enter the stele's space and reinforce the seal inside. That is all. Simple.
Lin Moyu felt it was a bit too simple. Comprehending arrays should not be hard for him.
Ajiu said, Do not think it is simple. The array inside the stele was personally arranged by the Divine Lord. Inside it seals a very formidable Primordial Ferocious Savage King. When you go in to reinforce the seal, it will cause trouble for you. But with Ajiu here, I guarantee you will not be in danger of losing your life.
Lin Moyu asked, I previously encountered some Primordial Ferocious Savages, and they were all suppressed and killed. What is the Primordial Ferocious Savage King inside like?
Ajiu said, Do not compare those guys to it. A Primordial Ferocious Savage King is different. It is very hard to kill. It can only be sealed.
Lin Moyu said, I would like to hear the details.
Ajiu said, Fine, I will tell you.
These ferocious savages have four levels. The weakest are lower-grade ferocious savages. More powerful are upper-grade ferocious savages. Even more powerful are Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings. Besides that, there is another called…
At this point, Ajiu suddenly patted her head.
Strange, why can I not remember? I remember there is another guy. Why was it called…
Seeing her expression, Lin Moyu knew this memory segment might also have been sealed by the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, which was why she could not recall it.
He hurriedly said, If you cannot remember, do not force it. It is just a name. It does not matter.
Ajiu patted her head a few more times.
Right, it is just a name. Anyway, there is a guy even stronger than that Primordial Ferocious Savage King.
This stele is called the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele. The Divine Lord refined it from his Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. It forms its own space inside, sealing a Primordial Ferocious Savage King. But this seal needs reinforcement at intervals. I used to do it. Now that you are here, it is yours.
Ajiu explained that each time she woke up, she would reinforce the seal. From the ninety-first Divine Hall to the ninety-ninth Divine Hall, there were nine Nine Heavens Dao Heart Steles, sealing nine Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings. Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings were extremely hard to kill. What he needed to do was reinforce the seals so they could not escape.
Lin Moyu had doubts.
Are Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings truly impossible to kill?
Not easy to kill.
Ajiu blinked at Lin Moyu, as if she wanted to say something, but in the end she did not.
Lin Moyu suddenly understood a little and continued.
Then what if I kill them?
Ajiu shook her head. She blinked again and gave him a look.
In Lin Moyu's eyes, there was no one who could not be killed, only those easy to kill and those hard to kill. Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings should be very strong, very hard to kill, but impossible to kill? Lin Moyu did not believe it.
Even the desolation beasts had once been considered impossible to kill, yet were they not slaughtered in heaps in the end? The key was whether you could find the method.
Ajiu activated the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele and opened a passage for Lin Moyu to enter.
Inside the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele was a self-contained space. The moment Lin Moyu entered, he saw a hundred units of powerful Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth coiling through the void. Between the Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, a giant net was woven, sealing a Primordial Ferocious Savage within it.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King had a form that changed constantly, between empty and real. Sometimes it became a dragon, sometimes a beast, and sometimes mist.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King was not asleep. A huge eye surfaced, staring at Lin Moyu.
You finally came.
Curiosity appeared in Lin Moyu's eyes. Why did it say the same thing as Ajiu?
This Primordial Ferocious Savage King seemed to know he would come.
You knew I would come?
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King's single eye became a pair. Its gaze was fierce.
Of course I knew. How could that old bastard of the Nine Heavens so easily let us go?
From its words, Lin Moyu heard their hatred toward the Nine Heavens Divine Lord. That hatred was strange, as if inborn. Just as when he first saw Primordial Ferocious Savages, he had felt an inexplicable disgust and wanted to kill them. Presumably, when Primordial Ferocious Savages saw him, they felt the same.
Between Primordial Ferocious Savages and the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, they were born enemies who could never coexist.
Lin Moyu said, You have been sealed here for endless ages. Before you die, do you have anything to say?
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King's eyes suddenly became more than a hundred. A low laugh rumbled like thunder.
Even that old bastard of the Nine Heavens cannot kill us. And you think you can?
Lin Moyu said, Yes. I can.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King laughed even more arrogantly.
You cannot kill us. My lord will return one day. My lord will kill that old bastard of the Nine Heavens. You cannot escape either.
The lord it spoke of should be the guy Ajiu could not name, the one sealed from her memory. It seemed these Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings were not the strongest enemies. Their lord was.
Fine. I will kill them first. When I meet the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, every mystery will be unveiled.
Lin Moyu flew into the grand array woven by Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. The Primordial Ferocious Savage King instantly turned into dense fog. From within the fog, countless attacks bombarded him.
With a thought, the Infinite Divine Array roared into form. The Infinite Divine Array formed with a single thought, containing ten thousand units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. Like a towering wall, it blocked in front of Lin Moyu.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King's attacks fell onto the array, making the Infinite Divine Array boom, but they could not break it.
What array is this?
A shocked cry came from the fog.
Lin Moyu chuckled.
An array that can slaughter you.
He moved his thought again. The Infinite Divine Array turned into the Infinite Slaughter Array. Ten thousand units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth resonated together. Boundless killing intent rose like a raging wind. An array spirit surfaced from within the array. The array spirit controlled living thunder, and blew a world-annihilating wind from its mouth, piercing bone and corroding soul. In an instant, it scattered the fog.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King screamed in the thunderlight. Its form kept changing, condensing and dispersing, struggling desperately within the thunderlight.
Impossible. Even that old bastard of the Nine Heavens cannot kill us. How could you possibly kill us?
Its cry was miserable, filled with shock and disbelief.
Lin Moyu gently shook his head and did not answer, only speaking to himself.
A Primordial Ferocious Savage King is merely hard to kill. With the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's ability, how could he not kill them? It is only a matter of whether he wants to kill them.
With only a hundred units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, he could seal it for countless years. Unable to kill it? How could that be?
Lin Moyu was certain the Nine Heavens Divine Lord absolutely had the ability to kill them, but chose not to. As to why, it was likely to leave this dish for him.
If he listened to Ajiu and did not kill it, then he would fall behind. It truly was hard to kill, but not impossible.
Under the Infinite Slaughter Array, the Primordial Ferocious Savage King was gradually being ground to death. If this continued, at most one day would be needed to kill it.
Impossible, impossible. You cannot possibly kill this king!
The Primordial Ferocious Savage King roared endlessly, but Lin Moyu could tell it was already putting up a strong front while weak within. Creatures like it, that had lived for countless ages, did not want to die.
Lin Moyu did not want to say more. Kill it and be done. Why speak so much?
Whatever mysteries he had, once he met the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, they would naturally be resolved.
One day later, the Primordial Ferocious Savage King was forcibly suppressed and killed by the Infinite Slaughter Array. Lin Moyu vanished from the array and appeared inside the Divine Hall.
The Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele turned into a streak of light and fell onto Lin Moyu. Lin Moyu immediately felt incomparable comfort, a comfort he had never experienced before. His soul and flesh body underwent another baptism and began to strengthen.
This strengthening was different from before. This time it was very gentle, like a murmuring stream, constantly nourishing flesh body and soul. The strengthening speed was not fast, but it was unending, and the root of it all came from the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele, from the hundred units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth within it.
This was the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. Together with the Dao Heart Stele, it was like an oversized Dao Heart Source Stone, using an extremely gentle method to make flesh body and soul, and even the Dao heart itself, grow stronger.
Ajiu giggled.
Congratulations. You passed.
Lin Moyu said, Many thanks.
Ajiu pointed.
Come with me.
She led Lin Moyu out of the Divine Hall to the area behind it. This should have been where the Divine Road was. At least, the first ninety Divine Halls were like this. But now, there was no Divine Road.
Lin Moyu asked, What is going on?
Ajiu said, Starting from this Divine Hall, the Divine Road is controlled by me. Only if you pass can I open the Divine Road. If you do not pass, there is no Divine Road. Just now, you killed the Primordial Ferocious Savage King inside the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele, so you passed. Not only did you get the reward, you can also open the Divine Road to the next Divine Hall.
Lin Moyu understood.
So that is why you gave me that look just now.
Stop, stop, stop. Do not talk nonsense.
Ajiu hurriedly shook her head and waved her hands, stopping Lin Moyu from continuing.
Lin Moyu smiled.
Cannot say it?
Ajiu nodded hard.
Mm, mm. What the Nine Heavens Divine Lord did. Mm, mm.
Fine. Same as I guessed.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord imposed restrictions, not allowing Ajiu to say it outright. If he did not kill the Primordial Ferocious Savage King, whether because he obeyed and did not kill, or because he lacked the ability to kill, the result would be failure.
Lin Moyu asked, Why did he do this?
Ajiu shook her head.
I do not know either. But if the Divine Lord did it, he must have his reasons.
Fine. This artifact spirit was very obedient. She had just been here too long and was a bit tired of it.
Lin Moyu asked, Are the next Divine Halls the same?
Ajiu said, Eight more.
She did not answer directly, but the answer was clear.
Then open the Divine Road. I will slaughter them one hall at a time.
Hearing Lin Moyu, Ajiu became unusually happy.
Okay. I will open the Divine Road for you right now.
She ran and hopped to the front of where the Divine Road should be, tapping with her little hand. A rosy-radiance Divine Road automatically appeared.
The two stepped onto the Divine Road together. The instant he stepped onto it, Lin Moyu discovered that this Divine Road had changed.
Chapter 4847: Divine Lord Hall
The previous Divine Roads he had walked had no effect at all, merely ordinary steps. But this time, a warm current surged within the Divine Road. It did not nourish flesh body and soul, but went straight to the Dao heart.
The effect of the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele still continuously strengthened flesh body and soul, while the warm current from the Divine Road accelerated the Dao heart's evolution and condensation of heaven-and-earth. The two complemented one another, producing astonishing results.
One Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth after another continuously evolved, and perfectly matched the strengthened flesh body and soul, bringing out the best in each other.
Ajiu floated beside Lin Moyu and felt it too.
From here on, the Divine Road also becomes part of the reward.
Lin Moyu asked, Why is the Nine Heavens Divine Lord doing this?
Ajiu shook her head.
I do not know. The Divine Lord never said.
Perhaps he had said, but that memory was sealed.
Lin Moyu took out the Calamity Scepter.
Has Ajiu seen this?
Ajiu let out a surprised cry.
How do you 850 have this thing?
At this moment, the Hongmeng Gemstone flew out from the Calamity Scepter.
Eh? You recognize me?
Ajiu said, It is carved on the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele. Hello, my name is Ajiu.
The Hongmeng Gemstone looked obviously disappointed.
Hello. My name is Hongmeng.
Ajiu nodded.
Mm, mm. Why do you look exactly the same as the drawing on the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele?
The Hongmeng Gemstone shook its head.
I do not know either.
Lin Moyu felt a bit speechless. It seemed both of their memories had been tampered with. The only one who could have done it was the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
It looked like this secret could not be unlocked before meeting the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
This stretch of Divine Road was long. Lin Moyu walked for three days before reaching the ninety-second Divine Hall. Unconsciously, his flesh body and soul had once again strengthened by more than tenfold. Though it strengthened slowly, it strengthened at every moment. Given enough time, the effect could far exceed what came before.
The number of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth also broke through two hundred thousand.
Entering the ninety-second Divine Hall, it was still a Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele, no different from before. But Lin Moyu knew the Primordial Ferocious Savage King sealed inside should be stronger.
So what? Slaughter it.
Ajiu opened the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele.
Fellow Daoist Lin, please.
She was very happy, as if victory was in sight. Her greatest task here was to stabilize the seals within the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Steles at intervals. It left her with no freedom, and even sleep was poor. Once Lin Moyu slaughtered these nine Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings, even if she did not gain freedom, at least she could sleep well.
Lin Moyu entered the Nine Heavens Dao Heart Stele. No nonsense was needed. He struck directly. He wanted the reward now, to enhance his flesh body and evolve more Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. These Primordial Ferocious Savages were stepping stones for his strengthening.
He continued improving the Infinite Slaughter Array. The Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth within the array surged from ten thousand units to twenty thousand, and its power rose greatly. In only half a day, he strangled and killed the Primordial Ferocious Savage King.
Lin Moyu did not grow complacent. He knew the gap between himself and the Nine Heavens Divine Lord was still huge. The Nine Heavens Divine Lord could seal a Primordial Ferocious Savage King with a hundred units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, and at most two hundred units would be enough to slaughter it. Yet he needed at least ten thousand units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. The gap was enormous.
His Infinite Divine Array was not weaker than the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's arrays. The root cause was that his Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth were not strong enough. Moreover, his Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth had only just been evolved recently. To become peak-strong would require vast time.
Besides that, there was flesh body and soul.
Lin Moyu believed that in the end, he too could slaughter a Primordial Ferocious Savage King with only a few hundred units of heaven-and-earth. What the Nine Heavens Divine Lord could do, he would certainly do as well.
After successfully passing the ninety-second Divine Hall, within the reward's bathing radiance, Ajiu opened the Divine Road and they continued toward the next Divine Hall.
One hall after another, Lin Moyu slaughtered his way forward without obstruction. From entering these halls onward, this segment's rewards were the most generous, and it was the fastest period of strengthening in his cultivation life.
No bottlenecks, no limits, no obstacles. He simply strengthened smoothly and freely the whole way.
What he needed to do was keep enhancing the Infinite Divine Array and slaughter the Primordial Ferocious Savage Kings, until the Primordial Ferocious Savage King on the ninety-ninth level was killed.
Lin Moyu's Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth count was only a tiny bit away from breaking through to one million. The Infinite Divine Array already carried one hundred thousand units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. This grand array's strength was unprecedented. Flesh body and soul also seemed to touch a limit. The strengthening rate slowed, but it still increased like a murmuring stream.
Ajiu shouted excitedly.
Finally freed!
The Hongmeng Gemstone looked strange.
Why are you so happy?
Ajiu said, You do not understand how amazing it feels to sleep well.
It and Ajiu were two extremes. Ajiu wanted to sleep badly. The Hongmeng Gemstone did not want to sleep at all.
Lin Moyu asked, I have finished all ninety-nine Divine Halls. What happens next?
Ajiu said, Next we go up to the Divine Lord Hall. But to go up to the Divine Lord Hall, you need a million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. Do you have enough?
Lin Moyu thought to himself. So above the ninety-nine Divine Halls, there is still the Divine Lord Hall. But that was normal. Since there was a Divine Servant Hall, naturally there would also be a Divine Lord Hall.
I am still just a little short of a million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. With a bit more time, I will have enough.
If I am right, the Divine Road to the Divine Lord Hall should also help evolve Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. If it does, it will save time. If it does not, then it just takes more time.
Thinking that, he asked, Is there a Divine Road to the Divine Lord Hall?
Ajiu said, Of course there is.
Lin Moyu said, Then there is no problem. I can finish evolving a million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth on the road.
Ajiu cried happily.
Good! Let us go right now. I cannot wait.
Her task here was only one final step away from completion. As long as Lin Moyu went to the Divine Lord Hall, her task would be fully complete. Even if she still had no freedom, she could sleep properly.
After the ninety-ninth Divine Hall, Ajiu opened the Divine Road for Lin Moyu. The end of the Divine Road reached straight into the clouds. The Divine Lord Hall was hidden within the Nine Heavens clouds, impossible to glimpse.
Stepping onto the Divine Road, the warm current drilled into the Dao heart, helping Lin Moyu evolve Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
Steady.
He would not need to walk the entire Divine Road before he could evolve a million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
Halfway along, Lin Moyu felt something and looked back. He saw the path he had walked. The ninety-nine Divine Halls were all beneath his feet. At this moment, Lin Moyu felt as if he stood at the pinnacle. The scenery in his eyes was so beautiful. This kind of beauty could only be felt by someone standing here.
He thought of something. Back then, he had promised the Po-Cang Emperor to let him see the scenery beyond the Life-Forbidden Zone. Unfortunately, whether it was the Divine Servant Hall or here, the Po-Cang crystal could not be taken out. The Po-Cang Emperor within seemed to be asleep, with no movement at all.
Lin Moyu asked, Is the Nine Heavens Divine Lord in the Divine Lord Hall?
Ajiu said, Of course. The Divine Lord lives in the Divine Lord Hall.
Lin Moyu asked, What is the Divine Lord's temperament like?
Ajiu thought for a moment.
The Divine Lord is easy to talk to, but Ajiu always feels the Divine Lord is a bit lonely.
A bit lonely.
The higher you go, the fewer people there are. At the height of the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, there were probably very few.
This Divine Road was long. After walking a full nine days, he finally saw the shadow of the Divine Lord Hall. At this time, Lin Moyu's Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth count reached exactly one million. Flesh body and soul also seemed to reach a limit, no longer continuing to strengthen.
A million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, flesh body and soul at the limit.
Lin Moyu felt he had touched a true bottleneck. Crossing it would be extremely difficult. If he did cross it, it would likely be a level he could not imagine.
He had originally thought that after a thousandfold strengthening of flesh body and soul, evolving a million Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, and reaching perfection in formation Dao, that would be the step beyond a Hongmeng true supreme powerhouse. Now it seemed it still was not.
The true next step was breaking this limit.
But I have a feeling this step is very, very hard.
Lin Moyu looked at the Divine Lord Hall faintly visible in the clouds, sharp light flickering in his eyes.
So strange. Why do I feel like I have been here before? Especially the rune on the Divine Lord Hall, it gives me a feeling of familiarity.
Ajiu flew at the side, curious.
What are you looking at?
Lin Moyu said, I am looking at the rune on the Divine Lord Hall. That rune seems extraordinary.
Ajiu said, Oh, that. That is the Nine Heavens Realm Sigil. The Divine Lord created it. I remember the Divine Lord said this sigil gathered…
Ajiu looked troubled, as if thinking.
Lin Moyu realized Ajiu's memory might be sealed again.
Suddenly Ajiu clapped her small hands.
I remember. The Divine Lord said the Nine Heavens Realm Sigil gathers everything, everything…
Lin Moyu grew curious.
Everything, what does that mean?
Ajiu shook her head.
I do not know. The Divine Lord did not say specifically.
Lin Moyu said, No matter. I will know soon.
He was not far from the Divine Lord Hall. In another half day, he would arrive.
The Hongmeng Gemstone sat on Lin Moyu's shoulder, also watching the Divine Lord Hall.
Strange. Why do I feel like I have been here?
Lin Moyu said, You must have. It is just that your memory is sealed now.
The Hongmeng Gemstone nodded.
Probably. Looks like I have some relationship with that Divine Lord.
Lin Moyu said, Perhaps. This time, your seal may be undone.
Not only the Hongmeng Gemstone's seal, but also Ajiu's seal.
The greatest mystery was about to be formally unveiled.
Finally, he crossed the Divine Road and arrived before the Divine Lord Hall.
The Divine Lord Hall was even more magnificent than the previous ninety-nine Divine Halls. Its exquisite splendor was beyond words. At least, Lin Moyu could not find a fitting term to express its extraordinariness. He could only tell that the Divine Lord Hall itself was an extremely powerful magic treasure.
Above the Divine Lord Hall, the Nine Heavens Realm Sigil scattered radiance. Within that radiance, starlight sparkled. Each point of starlight seemed like a heaven-and-earth, constantly evolving through birth and destruction, completing the entire life of a heaven-and-earth in an extremely short time.
Seated high upon the Ninth Heaven, laughing as one watches the world below.
A clear voice came from within the hall.
The instant the voice sounded, the Calamity Scepter buzzed and automatically rose, hanging in midair. The Hongmeng Gemstone let out a startled cry and automatically drilled back into the Calamity Scepter, directly falling into deep sleep.
So sleepy.
Ajiu cried out once, then collapsed to the ground, breathing evenly as she fell asleep.
Lin Moyu did not feel any power fluctuations. What appeared with the voice seemed to be only a trace of will. The Nine Heavens Divine Lord was terrifying beyond measure, far beyond what he had imagined.
This had already surpassed flesh body, soul, and Dao heart. It was terror on another level entirely.
Lin Moyu bowed toward the Divine Lord Hall.
Junior Lin Moyu greets Nine Heavens Divine Lord, senior.
The voice came again from within the Divine Lord Hall.
You finally came back.
Lin Moyu's heart jolted.
These few words carried an extraordinary meaning. Earlier, Ajiu had said, you finally came. The Primordial Ferocious Savage King had also said, you finally came. That meant they knew someone would come, but that person did not have to be him. It could be anyone, as long as someone came. That information was very likely given by the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, and Lin Moyu had judged so as well.
But now the Nine Heavens Divine Lord said, you finally came back.
Just one extra word, yet a completely different meaning.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord meant he came back, not merely came. In other words, he had been here before, left, and only then could he come back.
Before Lin Moyu could respond, the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's voice came again.
Come in.
The Divine Lord Hall bloomed with ten-thousand-colored rosy radiance, forming a rosy-radiance avenue, as if welcoming Lin Moyu.
Since I am here, I will settle in.
Lin Moyu stepped into the rosy radiance and entered the Divine Lord Hall.
Inside, it was likewise splendid and exquisite. The four walls were carved with beautiful patterns. These patterns were not merely lifelike. When you looked at them, they were alive. When you did not look, they were as if dead.
The dome above was like the void itself. You could directly see the Nine Heavens Realm Sigil, and behold endless heaven-and-earth being born, destroyed, and evolved.
Lin Moyu could not help feeling something wondrous. This Divine Lord Hall seemed to contain endless heaven-and-earth. Everything he had seen and experienced seemed traceable here.
Most importantly, the sense of familiarity grew even stronger.
Could it be that I really have been here before?
Lin Moyu's mind was filled with doubts. He swept his gaze through the hall, but did not see the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
At the hall's head, a throne hung in midair. It was empty. The throne emitted an ancient, vast aura, and it was clear that no one had sat there for a very long time.
This was the Divine Lord Hall, the residence of the Nine Heavens Divine Lord. The throne was also the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's throne, yet no one sat upon it.
The Nine Heavens Realm Sigil cast down fused sigil-light, and a figure appeared within it.
The figure was hazy, its appearance unclear, yet Lin Moyu's familiarity surged again. He felt he recognized the other, and knew him well. Still, it could be guessed that the figure was the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
The figure gradually condensed, revealing a face both unfamiliar and familiar, as if seen before yet not truly known. He showed little expression, only looking calmly at Lin Moyu and slowly speaking.
Do you feel it is strange, as if you have seen it, but cannot recall?
Lin Moyu nodded.
What senior says is correct. Please explain.
The figure said, Not yet. You will soon have the answer. Before that, I will show you some things.
A beam of rosy radiance rose from the dome. The entire Divine Lord Hall instantly vanished. Lin Moyu's vision blurred, and he found himself in the void. In that instant, he did not know how far he had crossed, from the Divine Lord Hall to here.
The void's rules were peculiar. It was not the Life-Forbidden Zone, nor the Heaven-and-Earth Wall. It was a place he had never been. Yet the rules here also felt somewhat familiar.
His mind startled, and with three parts uncertainty, he blurted out.
This is Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
He received no answer. Lin Moyu did not press, only continued observing.
The void continued changing. Soon there was a second change. This time it was not teleportation, but a complete transformation of heaven and earth. Time flowed backward.
This is Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
Lin Moyu was certain. He was within the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. Only within Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth could such scenes be made.
Spacetime reversal was not impossible, but it could not be done so effortlessly, silently.
When the surroundings finally stopped changing, Lin Moyu found himself in a space formed of purple mist. This space was strange. The purple mist emanated a peculiar power. He felt it was familiar, yet could not remember why.
This purple mist is somewhat similar to Hongmeng Heaven-and-Earth.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord manifested a phantom beside Lin Moyu.
This space is called the Source Realm.
Source Realm.
Lin Moyu's heart sank.
Why do I feel familiar with the Source Realm?
The moment he heard the words Source Realm, it was as if some memory was tugged loose. That memory seemed to come from the deepest instinct of the soul, even more like it came from an indescribable boundless void.
For a moment, Lin Moyu's thoughts became slightly chaotic.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord's voice continued.
This is the beginning of everything. It is the source point, perhaps also the endpoint.
As he spoke, within the purple mist of the Source Realm, a tiny point of light appeared. It went from faint to blinding in less than half a breath, becoming impossible to look at.
The light exploded. The purple mist rolled in the blast. Clumps of purple mist, large and small, changed within the explosion, as if孕育 something.
Soon, countless living beings were born from the purple mist. They took many forms: beasts, plants, spirits, and humans. Without exception, they were all incomparably powerful.
They began fighting over the remaining purple mist. They began slaughtering one another in war.
The purple mist was limited. They not only seized ownerless purple mist, but also gained purple mist by killing others.
The slaughter was extremely brutal. Everyone fought to the death, as if it would never end.
Lin Moyu watched as an onlooker and murmured.
Is this raising gu?
No one answered him.
The slaughter lasted a long time and finally reached its end. In the end, only two remained alive. By killing enough opponents and devouring enough purple mist, both had become countless times stronger than at the start.
They were evenly matched. Neither could overpower the other. A great battle lasted a long time, and in the end, no victor emerged. Neither could kill the other.
Primordial Ferocious Savage, Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
Lin Moyu recognized them. One was a Primordial Ferocious Savage, the other was the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
After failing to determine a victor, the battle stopped, but they did not reconcile. Both sought a way to kill the other.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage used some unknown method to begin splitting and breeding descendants. Its splitting was fast, and soon it had countless descendants.
The Primordial Ferocious Savage thus became the Savage Ancestor, the ancestor of all Primordial Ferocious Savages. Though the descendants were not as strong as it, it could gather their power and make itself stronger. In that way, its power would surpass the Nine Heavens Divine Lord.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord did not stop either. With a wave, Dao-heart divine light blazed brilliantly. Within the Dao-heart divine light, heaven-and-earth evolved one after another. Grand arrays were born and destroyed. A new great battle began.
Both sides used their full abilities. The battle fell into deadlock again.
Battle after battle, without end.
During this time, Lin Moyu saw the Nine Heavens Divine Lord often let out a long sigh. During pauses in battle, a trace of pain often showed in his eyes.
Lin Moyu felt as if he shared it. He could sense that the Nine Heavens Divine Lord was heartbroken for the living beings within his Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth.
He used Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth to form arrays. With each battle, Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth would be damaged, and the living beings within would suffer catastrophic disaster. Countless would die and be wounded.
If Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth did not evolve living beings, it could not reach its strongest state and could not respond to the Savage Ancestor. So he had to keep evolving powerful Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, yet also had to watch heaven-and-earth collapse and living beings be devastated.
Gradually, the Nine Heavens Divine Lord became increasingly pained. He seemed to feel guilty.
This is about to form a heart demon.
Lin Moyu watched, frowning slightly.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord's Dao heart was perfected. External shocks should not affect him. Logically, he should not produce a heart demon.
Yet this heart demon came from within the Dao heart, from the Nine Heavens Divine Lord himself.
The heart demon had to be resolved. The longer it dragged on, the more troublesome it would be.
Lin Moyu believed the Nine Heavens Divine Lord must have noticed his own issue, and would resolve it.
Sure enough, the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's gaze became resolute, filled with killing intent, and also with ruthless decisiveness.
For a figure like the Nine Heavens Divine Lord, once he became ruthless, it would not only be toward enemies. He would be just as ruthless toward himself.
He charged at the Savage Ancestor with domineering, overwhelming force, fighting to the death. This battle was completely different from before.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord only attacked and did not defend, no longer holding anything back, looking as if he would perish together with his foe.
The Savage Ancestor was suppressed and fell into disadvantage.
Within the Source Realm, Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth manifested. Grand arrays crisscrossed. Countless Primordial Ferocious Savages were slain, and over half died.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord did not count the cost. Previously, he would still grieve for the countless living beings in his Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. But this time, he seemed to have made up his mind.
You die or I die. Put to death, then live.
So ruthless.
If Lin Moyu guessed right, he intended to use killing intent to self-sever his heart demon.
As an onlooker, Lin Moyu understood what the Nine Heavens Divine Lord intended to do. The only thing he did not understand was this: even though the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's grand arrays were strong, killing the Savage Ancestor would still be difficult.
Not to mention killing, even sealing-suppression would not be easy.
Their strength was close. Neither could do much to the other.
How would the Nine Heavens Divine Lord do it?
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord used a grand array to envelop the entire Source Realm, then suddenly shouted.
A million units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth began to burn fiercely. Along with those million units of Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth, the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's Dao heart, soul, and flesh body also burned.
Sacrifice my body. Sacrifice my soul. Sacrifice my Dao heart. Sacrifice my heaven-and-earth, the billions of living beings.
Sever.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord sacrificed everything: flesh body, soul, Dao heart, and the billions of living beings within his Dao Heart Heaven-and-Earth. He sacrificed it all, and in exchange, gained power sufficient to sever and kill the Savage Ancestor.
The terrifying attack almost shattered the Source Realm.
The Nine Heavens Divine Lord traded all of himself for the Savage Ancestor's fall.
You cannot kill me. You will regret it. You cannot kill me. You will regret it.
The Savage Ancestor's screams echoed through the Source Realm, lingering for a full million years.
Time will smooth everything away. The Savage Ancestor's screams finally vanished.
After both fell, purple mist reappeared.
Everything of theirs came from the Source Realm. Now it returned to the Source Realm. From where it came, it returned.
But Lin Moyu knew it did not end there. Otherwise, there would not be the Nine Heavens Divine Lord of the present era, nor whatever came after.
He did not know how many years passed. Within the purple mist, a point of light appeared again. A tiny soul passed through spacetime and descended abruptly.
The soul absorbed purple mist and rapidly grew stronger.
Lin Moyu's heart stirred.
So that is how it is.
He understood. This soul was the Nine Heavens Divine Lord from back then. More precisely, it was the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's heart demon.
After the Nine Heavens Divine Lord's heart demon appeared, he severed it. After severing it, he sealed the heart demon, and also fused a trace of his own soul awareness onto it, sending them together into another layer of spacetime.
After that, he sacrificed everything and perished together with the Savage Ancestor.
Yet that trace of soul awareness, together with the heart demon, survived in another layer of spacetime. After countless ages, that trace of soul awareness and the heart demon returned to the normal spacetime and reappeared in the Source Realm.