The Eternal God Emperor and the Demon Ancestor

Chapter 86 Dan Yuan Conference 2

The void trembled. Above the main hall of the Space Temple, the aura of the unchanging laws of space, the majesty accumulated over countless years, was permeated. But at this moment, this majesty was torn apart by an even stronger will.

Zhenyu stood with his hands behind his back in the center of the hall. His black Daoist robe fluttered without wind, and the spatial patterns embroidered on the hem of the robe subtly echoed the spatial laws that enveloped the hall's ceiling. He was tall and straight, with a cold and stern face. His eyes were as deep as the starry sky, and within them surged a terrifying pressure of the Great Freedom Boundless Realm, a domineering force forged through trials by mountains of corpses and seas of blood.

Today's Space Temple was completely different from usual. Apart from the Temple Master, Yu Jingzhen, who was in seclusion year-round and only occasionally appeared, the Heavenly Cliff God Venerable, who usually oversaw temple affairs, along with the two Boundless Realm giants, the Ten Thousand Feet God Venerable and the Eight-Faced God King, were all gathered in the main hall. The four stood on either side, their auras intertwining to form an impenetrable defensive circle. However, facing Zhen Yu, this defensive circle seemed somewhat strained.

Yu Jingzhen, dressed in a plain white robe, had a gaunt face with patterns formed from the laws of space visible on his forehead. As a supreme being at the peak of the 89th level of spiritual power, he was the true pillar of the Space Temple, yet at this moment, his expression was exceptionally solemn. He had long heard of Zhen Yu's name. This newly promoted immeasurable powerhouse of the Heavenly Court had two supreme beings, the Five Elements Abbot and the Bright Virtue God Venerable, standing behind him, and his own combat power was overwhelming. On the battlefield, he had single-handedly fought several God Venerables and God Kings of the Hell Realm, shaking the heavens.

"The presence of the Divine Lord Zhenyu is an honor to our humble abode." Yu Jingzhen spoke first, his voice calm and unreadable, yet a barely perceptible wariness lurked deep within his eyes. He knew all too well that the tranquility of the hall today was merely a facade before the storm.

Zhenyu raised his eyes, his gaze meeting Yu Jingzhen's. An invisible pressure collided and intertwined between the two, causing the spatial laws within the hall to become disordered, and ripples to spread across the void. "Palace Master Yu, you are too kind," Zhenyu said calmly, his tone composed yet carrying an undeniable force. "I am not here as a guest today, but to fulfill my duty on the orders of Haotian."

As soon as he finished speaking, Zhenyu raised his hand, and a golden divine decree slowly appeared in his palm. The decree was formed entirely from the power of the stars in the heavens, and its surface flowed with an incomparably domineering and supreme divine might. As soon as it appeared, the temperature in the hall seemed to drop sharply, and the spatial laws that permeated the temple bowed down.

Upon seeing this, Yu Jingzhen, Tianya Shenzun, and the other three all stiffened in unison. The will of Haotian was the will of Heaven, and no one dared to disobey it. The four of them bowed simultaneously, paying homage to the golden divine decree, their movements perfectly synchronized, displaying utmost reverence.

Seeing this, Zhenyu slowly unfolded the divine decree. In an instant, an incomparably terrifying divine might erupted from the decree; it was the will of Haotian, the majesty of all the heavens in the world. A blurry phantom appeared from the void; though only half of its body was visible, it seemed to envelop the entire spatial temple. Wherever its gaze swept, the four Boundless Realm giants held their breath, even their breathing became cautious.

"Ming Zhenyu as the Deputy Temple Master of the Space Temple."

Above the divine decree, eight large golden characters shone brightly, each carrying the will of the Heavenly Emperor, resounding throughout the entire hall.

These words, like a thunderclap, exploded in the hall, instantly causing a huge uproar.

The Celestial God's expression changed slightly. He had been in charge of the daily affairs of the Space Temple for hundreds of thousands of years and had long regarded the temple as his foundation. The sudden arrival of a deputy temple master, personally appointed by Haotian, undoubtedly disrupted the power balance of the temple. The Ten Thousand Feet Celestial God and the Eight-Faced Celestial King looked troubled. They had both been promoted by Yu Jingzhen and shared his fate, but with Haotian's decree before them, they dared not disobey in the slightest.

Yu Jingzhen's face instantly darkened, turning as black as ink, with veins throbbing on his forehead. As the master of the Space Temple, he already harbored resentment towards Haotian's frequent interference in the affairs of various temples in recent years. Now, Haotian had directly placed his own people in the position of deputy master, a move that was clearly Haotian's way of checking and controlling him. But he dared not be angry, much less disobey. He couldn't afford to offend the two supreme powers behind Zhenyu, and he dared not defy Haotian's will.

Suppressing her anger, Yu Jingzhen forced a smile, cupped her hands, and said, "Congratulations, Vice Hall Master Zhenyu. I hope you will give me your guidance in the future."

The smile was extremely forced, yet the chill in his eyes was almost overflowing.

Seeing this, Zhenyu sneered inwardly, but feigned a hearty laugh and said, "Palace Master Yu, you flatter me! From now on, I will be your colleague. The Space Temple is a great temple of the heavens, and I am honored to serve here. In the future, we will definitely join hands to restore the former glory of the Space Temple!"

His voice was loud and clear, echoing throughout the entire hall, but all that responded was silence. The three Heavenly Gods merely nodded slightly, their expressions perfunctory, their resistance evident in their eyes. They all understood that Zhenyu's arrival meant the complete shattering of the existing factional interests within the Space Temple, and their future, as forces dependent on Yu Jingzhen, would become extremely precarious.

The atmosphere instantly plummeted to freezing point, as if the spatial laws within the hall had solidified.

Yu Jingzhen stared at Zhen Yu with a sinister look in her eyes, her tone carrying a deliberate sarcasm: "As a newcomer, Vice Hall Master, you may not be familiar with the rules of the Space Temple. The rules of the temple are very strict. If you inadvertently violate any rules in your actions, please forgive me."

His words seemed polite, but in reality, they were a warning to Zhenyu: don't think that just because Haotian is backing you up, you can do whatever you want in the Space Temple. The rules of the temple are not something that anyone can break.

Zhenyu slowly raised his eyes, his gaze sharp and intense, staring directly at Yu Jingzhen. Their gazes met in mid-air, as if tangible sword energy were clashing. After a moment, Zhenyu's expression suddenly changed, and he also cupped his hands and smiled, "Palace Master Yu is absolutely right! I am new here and am indeed completely ignorant of the many rules of the temple. If I offend the Palace Master in the future, I hope Palace Master Yu will be lenient and show mercy."

These words, though seemingly gentle, were actually barbed. They acknowledged his "lack of manners" while subtly implying that Yu Jingzhen would be "unforgiving" if she targeted him in the future.

Yu Jingzhen's face instantly turned ashen, and the veins on his forehead throbbed even more violently. He hadn't expected that Zhenyu, at such a young age, would be so ruthless, showing him no mercy whatsoever.

Seeing this, the Celestial Deity quickly tried to smooth things over. He knew that continuing the stalemate would only escalate the conflict. The Celestial Deity put on a smile and cupped his hands, saying, "Has the Palace Master forgotten that the True Universe Deity cultivated spatial techniques in my Space Palace in his early years and has a deep connection with the Palace? Now, being personally appointed as the Vice Palace Master by His Majesty Haotian is an honor for my Space Palace! In that case, we should hold a celebration to welcome the Vice Palace Master into the Palace, so that everyone in the Palace will know about this."

Upon hearing his words, the Myriad Feet Divine Venerable and the Eight-Faced Divine King immediately echoed him, nodding and saying, "The Heavenly Edge Divine Venerable is absolutely right! The Vice Hall Master's presence deserves a grand celebration!"

Both of them knew that in the current situation, they either had to completely side with Yu Jingzhen and oppose Haotian's will, or remain neutral. However, Zhenyu had two supreme powers backing him, and Yu Jingzhen might not be able to win. The wisest choice was to follow Tianya Shenzun's words, ease the tension, and wait and see.

Seeing the three men's attitude, Yu Jingzhen's anger intensified, but he also understood that forcibly opposing them now would only isolate him. He could only snort coldly and remain silent.

Seeing this, Zhenyu understood. He knew that to truly control the Space Temple, Haotian's decree alone was not enough; he needed to offer sufficient incentives to gain everyone's trust.

Zhenyu's gaze swept over the four Boundless Realm giants, and his voice suddenly rose: "Actually, I have another identity. Besides my decent martial arts cultivation, I am also a master alchemist."

"Although I am not as accomplished as the Supreme Lord Yama, I can still refine the Boundless Realm Divine Pill," Zhenyu said calmly, yet with absolute confidence.

Upon hearing this, all four were shocked.

Alchemy masters hold a revered position throughout the heavens, especially those capable of refining Limitless Realm divine pills, who are extremely rare. Although the Heavenly Court has a few alchemy masters, none can refine Limitless Realm divine pills on their own. Only the Supreme Alchemist can easily refine divine pills that are effective even for Limitless Realm experts. For example, although Yu Jingzhen has profound spiritual power cultivation, he cannot refine Limitless Realm divine pills.

Before he finished speaking, Zhenyu flipped his palm, and several divine pills, their bodies shrouded in purple aura, appeared in his hand. The pills emitted a rich fragrance that refreshed the mind and body, and the spatial laws and pill power fluctuations flowing on their surfaces instantly ignited the fervor in the eyes of the several high-ranking members of the Great Boundless Realm.

Boundless Divine Elixir!

This is a treasure that can directly enhance the cultivation level of cultivators in the Boundless Realm, and even help them break through bottlenecks! For these powerful cultivators in the Boundless Realm, it is like sending charcoal in snowy weather.

A flicker of interest flashed in the eyes of the Celestial God. He was advanced in years and nearing the end of his lifespan. If he could obtain a boundless divine pill that could extend his life, he could live for tens of thousands of years and have a chance to reach a higher realm. The same was true for the Myriad Feet Celestial God and the Eight-Faced Celestial King. They had been stuck at their current bottlenecks for many years and could not break through them. If they had the help of the divine pill, they might be able to break through the shackles in one fell swoop.

Zhenyu took in the expressions of the four men and sneered inwardly. He had long expected that although these people valued power, they valued their own interests and cultivation even more.

"As long as you all follow my instructions and wholeheartedly assist me in the future, I promise that each of you will receive a Boundless Realm Divine Pill!" Zhen Yu said firmly, his words like a heavy hammer, striking the hearts of the group.

The Ten Thousand Feet Divine Venerable and the Eight-Faced Divine King exchanged a glance, their hesitation vanishing instantly. Now, Zhenyu had not only offered the benefits of the divine pill but also represented the will of Haotian. Choosing to stand with Zhenyu was undoubtedly the wisest decision.

The two immediately stepped forward, bowed respectfully to Zhen Yu, and said in a deferential tone, "We are willing to follow the Vice Hall Master, even unto death! If the Vice Hall Master commands us to go west in the future, we would never dare to go east!"

With that, Zhenyu flicked his finger, and two purple divine pills flew towards the two of them. The Ten Thousand Feet Divine Venerable and the Eight-Faced Divine King were overjoyed, and quickly reached out to catch them, carefully putting them into their pockets, their faces filled with ecstasy.

Seeing this, the Celestial God became even more anxious. He knew that if he didn't make a choice quickly, he might not even get a taste of the spoils later. He took a deep breath, bowed solemnly to Zhen Yu, and said earnestly, "Vice Hall Master, although I am old, I am very familiar with the affairs of the Space Temple. I am willing to serve you wholeheartedly and manage the daily affairs of the temple! Please give me a chance!"

Upon hearing his words, Yu Jingzhen froze completely, the color draining from his face instantly. He never imagined that the people he had personally promoted would all turn against Zhenyu because of a few divine pills. He had always treated the three of them very well.

Zhenyu quickly stepped forward, helped up Tianya God Venerable, and said with a smile, "Tianya God Venerable, you are too kind! I would be more than happy to have you manage the daily affairs of the temple."

As he spoke, Zhenyu also took out a divine pill and handed it to Tianya Divine Venerable. This divine pill had a stronger fragrance than the previous ones, and the life-extending power it contained was even more concentrated. It was obviously prepared specifically for a powerful figure like Tianya Divine Venerable who was approaching the end of his lifespan.

The Celestial Lord of the Ends of the Earth received the divine pill, trembling with excitement. He repeatedly bowed to Zhen Yu, saying, "Thank you, Vice Hall Master! This humble old man will certainly not fail your trust!"

At this point, three of the four high-ranking members of the Space Temple at the Boundless Realm have sided with Zhenyu, leaving only Yu Jingzhen, who is left to fend for herself.

Yu Jingzhen watched the scene unfold before him, his heart filled with boundless rage, yet utterly helpless. He knew that the divine pill offered by Zhenyu was merely bait; the real key lay in Haotian's will. As the master of the Space Temple, he was but a grasshopper before Haotian. Now that Haotian intended to support Zhenyu, his resistance was nothing more than a mantis trying to stop a chariot.

"The Vice Hall Master's methods are brilliant, and his scale is impressive. I admire him." Yu Jingzhen's voice was icy cold, and the chill in his eyes almost froze the hall. "It seems I underestimated the Vice Hall Master."

Zhenyu made no attempt to hide his intentions, looking directly at Yu Jingzhen with a hint of warning in his tone: "Since Palace Master Yu is aware of this, she should understand that the will of Haotian cannot be defied. Palace Master has been in seclusion in Yuxu for a long time, neglecting the affairs of the temple. I have come here to reorganize the temple. From now on, Palace Master only needs to focus on her seclusion. The daily affairs of the temple will be managed by me and the other fellow Daoists. There is no need to trouble Palace Master any further."

His words were merciless, directly stripping Yu Jingzhen of her power to manage the temple.

Yu Jingzhen's face instantly turned ferocious, a hint of murderous intent flashing in his eyes, but he quickly suppressed it. He knew that Zhenyu had two supreme experts backing him up, as well as Haotian's support; if he really made a move, his fate would not be good.

"Since that's the case, then I won't stay here and get in the Vice Hall Master's way." Yu Jingzhen snorted coldly, glanced coldly at Zhenyu and Tianya Shenzun, and then turned and walked out of the hall.

The three, including Tianya Shenzun, watched Yu Jingzhen's departing figure with complex expressions, but ultimately did not step forward to stop her. In the face of absolute interests and power, past affections had long since become insignificant.

Seeing Yu Jingzhen completely depart, Zhen Yu's smile grew even brighter. He waved his hand and instructed the three Heavenly Gods, "Everyone, from today onwards, the rules of the Space Temple will be changed. Convey my decree that all the elders in the temple come to see me immediately. In addition, present the temple's resource roster and cultivator register."

"Furthermore, the Dan Yuan Conference is about to be held, and the Space Temple must send its elites to participate. This matter will be entrusted to the Heavenly Edge God Venerable, who must select the most outstanding cultivators to bring glory to the temple."

The three Heavenly Lords immediately bowed and accepted the order: "We will obey the Vice Hall Master's command!"

Zhenyu stood in the center of the hall, his gaze fixed on the void outside. He knew that today was merely the first step in gaining control of the Space Temple. Although Yu Jingzhen had left, he was not necessarily content; the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable and the Seventy-Two Lotuses behind him would certainly not let the matter rest.

But Zhenyu was not afraid. His several clones had already planned to kill Yu Jingzhen. If Lei Fa and the Seventy-Two Lotuses were to make a move, his clones would not be afraid.

Meanwhile, Yu Jingzhen, who was in seclusion deep within the Yuxu Ruins, stood in the void, gazing towards the main hall, a ruthless glint in his eyes. He gently stroked the Four-Sided Great Yu Seal in his hand; spatial laws flowed across the seal, radiating a terrifying pressure.

"Zhenyu, Haotian...you will remember this humiliation!"