Chapter 871: Chapter 871

In a short time without seeing Ling Zhuzhen, Ding Huan found that Ling Zhuzhen's aura had weakened significantly when they met again.

Not only that, but the Dao Rhythm on him was more chaotic than before.

"Lao Ling, you don't seem to be doing too well, getting worse by the day," Ding Huan couldn't help but tease.

Only then did Ling Zhuzhen notice Ding Huan and Jia Baihe approaching. He looked at Ding Huan in disbelief: "Ding Xiaotu, you're really back?"

Ever since Ding Huan left, Ling Zhuzhen thought about Ding Huan every single moment.

Previously, he thought Ding Huan was tricking him, but after Ding Huan tried something on his arm, he knew Ding Huan wasn't deceiving him.

In fact, in this universe, if anyone could resolve his Great Dao Chaos in the shortest time, it was undoubtedly this Ding Xiaotu in front of him.

Later, he heard from Jia Xi that Ding Huan had been taken away by Yan Jiuyue of the Blue Star Sect, most likely facing a grim fate.

This news was more despairing for Ling Zhuzhen than his own situation.

What he didn't expect was that Ding Huan actually came back and was now standing before him.

"What else? You helped me once; of course, I'm going to help you now," Ding Huan chuckled.

Only now did Ling Zhuzhen see Jia Baihe.

He knew Jia Baihe, who had followed Yan Zhuo to Beixing Heavenly City before.

According to Jia Xi, Ding Xiaotu was supposed to pretend to be Jia Baihe's Dao companion, and after the act, Yan Jiuyue would kill him.

Why was the reality different from what Jia Xi said?

Not only did Ding Xiaotu return, but he seemed to have brought Jia Baihe with him?

If Yan Zhuo knew this, Ding Xiaotu might not have enough lives to be killed a hundred times over.

While Ling Zhuzhen was still in shock, Ding Huan straightforwardly said, "Lao Ling, do you dare to go with me, and then find a place where I can help you?"

"Why wouldn't I dare?" Ling Zhuzhen replied immediately.

He was already in such a condition; what was there to fear?

Ding Huan looked at Ling Zhuzhen in surprise: "Seems like you've become bolder? You used to be so timid."

Ling Zhuzhen sighed: "I've never lost hope, even knowing I couldn't escape, knowing I couldn't rid myself of the chaos, I still yearn to recover and take down the guy who seized my Great Dao.

After you slapped me, I knew that relying on myself, I might never remove the chaos.

Moreover, Jie Gun would never allow me to recover either..."

"Was it Jie Gun who took over Beixing Heavenly City? Is this guy also a Taoist Ancestor?" Ding Huan asked casually.

Ling Zhuzhen nodded: "Yes, he indeed is a Taoist Ancestor, but one who has disgraced the term most terribly."

"Seventh Step of the Great Dao, truly difficult to handle..." Ding Huan nodded.

With his current power, dealing with the Seventh Step of the Great Dao was tough.

Ling Zhuzhen sneered, mocking: "Seventh Step of the Great Dao? In his dreams. He probably wouldn't set foot in the Seventh Step of the Great Dao in his lifetime."

Seeing Ling Zhuzhen's mocking tone, Ding Huan was puzzled.

If not the Seventh Step of the Great Dao, what claim does he have to the title of Taoist Ancestor?

"He is the most undeserving Taoist Ancestor in the Great Universe, calling himself a Taoist Ancestor at just the Sixth Step of the Great Dao, how laughable."

"Taoist Ancestor at the Sixth Step of the Great Dao?" Ding Huan was also taken aback.

Though he was only at the First Step of the Great Dao, he knew calling oneself a Taoist Ancestor at the Sixth Step... well, it was akin to a monkey wearing a crown.

How could a mere Sixth Step of the Great Dao have the audacity to claim the title of Taoist Ancestor?

It's nothing short of shameless, isn't it?

Ling Zhuzhen scoffed: "In the past in the Great Universe, even for the Eighth Step of the Dao, unless having a distinct Great Dao and ruling a world, no one dared to claim themselves a Taoist Ancestor.

Now, any riff-raff dares to call themselves a Taoist Ancestor, sigh..."

Ding Huan was speechless too, claiming to be a Taoist Ancestor at the Sixth Step of the Great Dao, it wasn't just thick-skinned.

Then he thought of something: "Did Jie Gun place a mark on you, is that why you dare not leave?"

"Yes, he did place a mark on me."

"Do you want me to help remove it?"

"No need, as long as you can help remove the chaos, I can take off the mark myself."

"Then you're coming with me, aren't you afraid this guy will come after you?"

"He wouldn't dare, he's now in Gusi Holy Dao City, probably negotiating how to deal with the Heavenly Mongolians."

Hearing about the Heavenly Mongolians, Ding Huan was intrigued and asked: "Lao Ling, who injured you recently?"

Ling Zhuzhen sighed, a hint of desolation in his eyes: "Even though there were hidden struggles in the Great Universe before, everyone united outwardly against the Heavenly Mongolians."

Ding Huan picked up the subtext in Ling Zhuzhen's words, asking incredulously: "Lao Ling, are you saying someone is secretly colluding with the Heavenly Mongolians?"

Ling Zhuzhen nodded: "Yes, someone is indeed colluding with the Tiamen people. This person is also a friend of Jie Gun, I do not know her name.

But she brought a Heavenly Mongolian trying to enter the city, and I naturally blocked it, citing that the Heavenly Mongolian did not have a points card.

As a result, that woman directly hit me hard, hmm..."

Ding Huan sighed internally.

The Human Tribe has never lacked traitors, and many times the tribe was nearly destroyed because of traitors.

"Follow me." With that, Ding Huan immediately summoned the Cosmic Pot, ascended with Jia Baihe, too lazy to enter the city.

Without any hesitation, Ling Zhuzhen stepped onto Ding Huan's Cosmic Pot.

Seeing Ling Zhuzhen get onto the Cosmic Pot, Ding Huan immediately propelled the Universe towards where the Chaos resided.

"Mr. Ding, this way leads to chaos. If we proceed from here, there are few places where we can take shelter."

Seeing Ding Huan heading the wrong direction, Ling Zhuzhen hurriedly reminded him.

Ding Huan said calmly, "Lao Ling, it's not that I don't believe you. With your current strength, even if I help you recover after chaos transformation, at most you'll only have the strength of the Derivation Realm.

With the strength of the Derivation Realm, trying to escape Jie Gun's pursuit is almost impossible. So I plan to take you into chaos to restore your strength."

Ding Huan was sure that Jie Gun was confident that Ling Zhuzhen wouldn't escape, which was why Jie Gun dared to leave Ling Zhuzhen outside Beixing Heavenly City.

Even if Ling Zhuzhen recovered to Derivation Realm strength, he might not be able to completely remove the mark left by Jie Gun on him.

Not to mention that Ling Zhuzhen is unlikely to let him probe his Great Dao to help find the Mark of Divine Will.

Even if Ling Zhuzhen agreed to reveal his Great Dao for help, he might not be able to detect the Mark of Divine Will left by a Sixth Step Powerhouse.

Though Ding Huan despised Jie Gun for daring to claim the title of Taoist Ancestor as merely a Sixth Step,

He also knew deeply that his strength in the Creation Dao Realm was far from enough against the Sixth Step of the Great Dao. Follow current novᴇls on NoveI★Fire.net

"Brother Ding, you really overestimate me. These old bones of mine were transformed in chaos; going back in would be like seeking death."

Ling Zhuzhen said helplessly.

Ding Huan chuckled, "Lao Ling, you needn't worry. Since I can take you into chaos, I have the ability to create a Cultivation Space in chaos for you.

Rest assured, only in chaos are you truly safe."

Ling Zhuzhen looked at Ding Huan with bewilderment but did not object.

He believed Ding Huan's words, after all, Ding Huan managed to weaken the chaos transformation in his arm with just a slap, something even the Taoist Ancestors at the Eighth Step couldn't do back in the day.

He himself had been a Taoist Ancestor, yet he couldn't manage it.

"Lao Ling, did Jie Gun have you guard the gate merely to humiliate you? Was there no other intent?"

Ling Zhuzhen, hearing this, smiled self-deprecatingly, "He spares me because soon I must provide him with the Dao Vein.

If you hadn't come to find me, I was planning an escape anyway. My Dao Vein has been completely used up by him, and if I can't produce another Dao Vein, it might lead to my demise."

Ding Huan hesitated to ask further, as it would be like rubbing salt in Ling Zhuzhen's wound, who was, after all, a Taoist Ancestor.

The Cosmic Pot moved very quickly, and just as Ding Huan was about to ask about the Heavenly Mongolians, Ling Zhuzhen suddenly spoke:

"Brother Ding, thank you for your regard for me, Ling Zhuzhen. Whether or not the chaos transformation can be removed, I, Ling Zhuzhen, will always remember your help."

Ding Huan waved his hand, "These are minor matters, not worth mentioning."

To Ling Zhuzhen, these were matters of life and death, and critically reached to whether he could embark again on the path of cultivation.

Yet to Ding Huan, it was nothing more than a trifling effort.

Ling Zhuzhen clasped his fists and did not continue to speak on this matter, instead saying:

"Mr. Ding, I have a heartfelt truth to share with you."

"Lao Ling, you and I are friends now, and we both know Lao Ga, so feel free to speak your mind."

With earnestness, Ling Zhuzhen said, "Fine, during the Great Universe Calamity, I hid in chaos, and though my Great Dao, physical body, and Divine Soul were transformed by chaos, it wasn't entirely fruitless..."

Upon hearing this, Ding Huan became serious.

He suspected that this was truly Ling Zhuzhen's heartfelt truth.

This was the experience Ling Zhuzhen had gained at the risk of his life; sharing it now with Ding Huan was undoubtedly a major favor.

Ling Zhuzhen must have told him this because Ding Huan intended to save his life.

Ling Zhuzhen's tone grew increasingly solemn, "I have a recommendation for you. If you have the chance, don't prove the Fourth Step of Dao in the Great Universe.

You can prove the Creation Realm here, but don't prove the Fourth Step of Dao here."

"Why?" Ding Huan asked in surprise.

Others can prove the Seventh Step of Dao, and even before the Great Universe Calamity, some proved the Eighth Step of Dao here.

Why shouldn't he prove the Fourth Step?

Looking at Ding Huan, Ling Zhuzhen said:

"I suspect that the Heaven and Earth Rules here are still not sufficient for the Fourth Step of Dao. While one can prove the Fourth Step of Dao here, or even up to the Eighth Step, they're still unable to break free from the Cosmic Avenue's constraints..."

Upon hearing this, Ding Huan frowned immediately.

He suddenly recalled the Dao Court opposite Blue Star Divine Land.

All saints there seemed like pseudo-saints, even less than true Quasi-Saints.

Could Ling Zhuzhen mean that those who prove the Fourth to the Seventh Step of Dao here are also pseudo?

"Lao Ling, do you mean that proving the Fourth Step of Dao here is false?"

"No, it should be true."

Ling Zhuzhen took a deep breath, "Because I experienced the Great Universe Calamity, I felt an extreme Cosmic Law during the calamity, it's as if..."

Ling Zhuzhen paused at this, taking a while before uncertainly saying:

"It's as if we are on the fringe of a universe, all the Great Dao we prove are fringe Dao.

During the Great Universe Calamity, I vaguely recognized a cruel possibility, that no matter how we prove our Dao, we cannot escape the Great Universe Calamity..."

Ding Huan's heart trembled.

What Ling Zhuzhen said was exactly the sentiment he had while proving the Creation Dao Realm?

Could it really be true?