Cultivating with Top Enlightenment Chapter 929 - 397: Time Rule (Part 2)

The Mountain Ancestor was naturally in awe of the scene before him.

His understanding gleaned from the Ancient Road Sacred Map was that its application invariably left adversaries either vanquished or grievously wounded; however, he, the Mountain Ancestor, was not among those incapacitated.

The Mountain Ancestor fixed his gaze upon the Saint Ancestor, his brow furrowing slightly.

It wasn’t the recent infliction of injury that troubled him, but rather the perplexing failure of his defenses—despite his anticipation and preparation—to staunch the assault from the Saint Ancestor.

This was because, at that critical juncture, the temporal flow enveloping the two combatants seemed to undergo a drastic alteration!

The Saint Ancestor’s fists experienced an acceleration, while the Mountain Ancestor himself was subjected to a deceleration. With one’s speed increasing and the other’s diminishing, his meticulously planned defenses were rendered unequivocally ineffective.

Upon this profound realization, a spark ignited within the Mountain Ancestor’s eyes.

He had not forgotten the fundamental reason for his participation in the war within the realm domain; it was solely for the pursuit of the Ancient Road Sacred Map, an artifact held by the Saint Ancestor.

This particular artifact was reputed to possess the might to facilitate the attainment of the Immortal Golden Immortal realm, a coveted state the Mountain Ancestor was unyieldingly resolved to achieve.

To his astonishment, upon confronting the Saint Ancestor, the latter proceeded to unleash the map’s latent power.

Beyond the inherent capabilities of the Ancient Road Sacred Map, the Mountain Ancestor found himself incapable of fathoming any other source that could empower a cultivator of their standing to command the profound Rule of Time.

He recognized the imperative to ascertain further details.

Consequently, the moment the Mountain Ancestor's chest wound showed signs of mending, he proactively initiated another offensive against the Saint Ancestor.

"Thousands of Mountains and Ten Thousand Cliffs!"

Accompanied by a thunderous roar, the Mountain Ancestor launched himself forward like a speeding projectile.

The very earth beneath them convulsed, and an immeasurable force began to coalesce in his wake.

Obscurely, the onlookers perceived the emergence of a magnificent phantasm, an embodiment of 'Thousands of Mountains and Ten Thousand Cliffs,' materializing behind him, as though the Mountain Ancestor had summoned the very spirit of the mountains from the Mountain and Sea Realm itself!

Upon its genesis, the mountainous apparition seamlessly merged into the Mountain Ancestor’s being.

The Mountain Ancestor’s physical form underwent yet another expansion, transforming into a colossal figure towering over ten feet tall, each contour of his body appearing as if meticulously carved by an artisan’s hand, exuding perfection and potent, explosive strength.

With deliberate steps, the Mountain Ancestor advanced towards the Saint Ancestor.

Confronting the now formidable Mountain Ancestor, the Saint Ancestor maintained an air of unhurried composure, uttering merely:

"The wise delight in water, the benevolent in mountains."

As if caught in a waking dream, a colossal, humanoid Dharma Aspect materialized from the Saint Ancestor.

The instant it appeared, diverse cosmic rules gravitated towards it autonomously, subsequently evolving into the Holy Dao, presenting the semblance of an unyielding, eternal Magic Body.

This resplendent Magic Body far surpassed the ten-foot stature of the Mountain Ancestor.

With swiftness, the Magic Body brought its foot down, intercepting the Mountain Ancestor’s descending step in mid-air.

The collision unleashed an impact far more cataclysmic than the preceding tempestuous surge of rules!

The very fabric of space appeared to obliterate itself at the point of their impact, generating a fractured, abyss-like void of darkness that rent the spatial continuum between them.

This was a combat realm meticulously cultivated by the collective wills of both Spirit Realms, yet it was being savagely torn asunder by their prodigious forces.

The consciousnesses dictating the Vast Realm and the Mountain and Sea Realm had long since manifested, immediately channeling their respective realm energies to ceaselessly mend the ravaged combat realms.

Nevertheless, the spatial integrity they had just restored was once again shattered by the renewed endeavors of the warring titans.

The onlookers bore witness to the Saint Ancestor’s Dharma Aspect and the Mountain Ancestor’s ten-foot-tall physique engaging in a relentless series of aerial kicks.

Despite the disparity in their physical dimensions, a peculiar convergence of force began to manifest in their exchanges.

Ning Qi remained acutely focused, meticulously observing their every maneuver.

The ongoing engagement, while appearing deceptively simple on the surface, was in reality a profound interplay of myriad divine techniques, though what was presented to the public eye was merely a distilled essence, a return to primal simplicity.

Ning Qi possessed the discernment to perceive the True Intent woven within this apparent simplicity.

Each decisive blow struck by either the Saint Ancestor or the Mountain Ancestor invariably triggered the totality of spiritual Qi within the confines of the war realms, even compelling the powers of both spirit realms to intermingle and intensify further.

What seemed uncomplicated was, in truth, the culmination of the maximum power they could currently muster.

Ning Qi, his attention drawn to the spatial fissures that both governing wills struggled to mend, harbored a growing apprehension that if this relentless combat persisted, the war realm itself might ultimately succumb to utter disintegration.

As these profound thoughts occupied his mind, the Saint Ancestor’s Dharma Aspect suddenly emanated a brilliant golden luminescence.

Instantly, their subsequent exchange of kicks deviated from a state of equilibrium; instead, the Mountain Ancestor was violently propelled backward!

With a resounding boom!

The Mountain Ancestor, akin to an unyielding boulder skipping across the void, expertly harnessed the surrounding magical energies to arrest his trajectory, coming to a suspended halt high above.

This time, a thin rivulet of crimson blood trickled from the corner of his mouth.

More critically, the illusory manifestation of 'Thousands of Mountains and Ten Thousand Cliffs,' which he had previously assimilated into his being, erupted outward and dissipated into nothingness behind him.

The Mountain Ancestor turned his head, a smear of blood on his mouth whisked away by the back of his hand.

"Heh heh... haha..."

A laugh erupted from him, despite being repelled yet again.

"I haven't suffered an injury in such a long time that I had nearly forgotten this sensation. Thank you for the reminder."

His gaze fell upon the Saint Ancestor's Dharma Aspect, eyes like a hawk's, sharp and filled with the predatory ambition of a hunter spotting its prey.

A peculiar feeling washed over the Saint Ancestor as he met the Mountain Ancestor’s stare.

Ever since the Spirit Realm was unveiled, all his actions had been guided by divination.

Initially, he meticulously mapped out the dynamics among the Ancestors of the Mountain and Sea Realm.

He foresaw the strained, even hostile, relationship between the Mountain Ancestor and the Sea Ancestor.

Furthermore, he analyzed the complex landscape of the Mountain and Sea Realm, devising a strategy for the Spirit Domain. Employing the principles of Tian Ji's horse racing analogy, he planned to counter the realm invasion.

According to his calculations, the Vast Realm was destined to emerge victorious.

However, the appearance of Ning Qi, an anomaly, shattered all his carefully laid plans. One misstep cascaded into another.

Later, re-evaluating the situation, he recognized Ning Qi not only as a potential opportunity for advancement but also as the greatest unpredictable factor in the ongoing conflict.

Consequently, the Saint Ancestor did not hesitate to dispatch his incarnations into the war realms on two separate occasions.

Now, to contend with both the Sea Ancestor and the Mountain Ancestor, he had even brought forth his most prized possession—the Ancient Road Sacred Map.

Speaking of the Ancient Road Sacred Map, its complete secrets remained elusive to him.

The Saint Ancestor had only managed to grasp a fraction of its immense power, which seemed to echo the abilities of an Ancient Saint, though not in its entirety.

The profound principles of "knowing in the morning and dying in the evening" and "the benevolent enjoy mountains" were derived from this same Ancient Saint's teachings.

And now, observing the expression on the Mountain Ancestor's face, an unsettling intuition struck the Saint Ancestor – something was amiss in his calculations.

Having dedicated years to the art of divination, his intuition and spiritual senses were exceptionally keen.

The Mountain Ancestor’s timely arrival, precisely after the Ancient Road Sacred Map was revealed, coupled with his current demeanor, suggested a disturbing possibility...

As the Saint Ancestor pondered this, a disquieting premonition began to form.

While it appeared he had gained the upper hand by deploying the Ancient Road Sacred Map against the Mountain Ancestor, as an insider, he was acutely aware of the true power wielded by his adversary.

He considered the Mountain Ancestor to be the most formidable foe he had ever encountered in his entire life.

"Zhou Mountain Divine Descent!"

The Mountain Ancestor's sudden roar jolted the Saint Ancestor back to the present.

He watched as the Thousand Mountains and Ten Thousand Cliffs illusion, previously dispelled, materialized once more, arranged in an intricate formation within the void.

Ultimately, it coalesced into a colossal and terrifying Divine Mountain Illusion.

This illusory Divine Mountain surged upward from the ground, its height seemingly limitless, capable of breaching the war realms and extending into the Sea of Realms.

Merely by its appearance, it commanded a third of the entire war realm's expanse!

Furthermore, it continued to swell, constricting the available space for all others.

Under the oppressive shadow of this Divine Mountain Illusion, all were faced with a stark choice: submit or be crushed.

Witnessing this spectacle, the Sea Ancestor's expression hardened, a grimace forming.

She had been defeated by this very technique of the Mountain Ancestor countless times, and she knew its origins intimately.

During their shared time as fellow disciples, an opportunity arose when they ventured into a lesser world.

There, the Mountain Ancestor obtained an ancient inheritance: the Buzhou Mountain Heritage.

Ancient legends spoke of Buzhou Mountain as a colossal Divine Mountain situated at the fringes of the great wilderness, the singular pathway to the Celestial Realm.

To achieve immortality, one was compelled to ascend Buzhou Mountain!

Regardless of one's identity or cultivation level, achieving immortality required traversing this mountain, representing the sole chance for immortal ascension.

However, in subsequent times, the exact cause remains unknown, Buzhou Mountain collapsed, severing the connection between the Human Realm and the Immortal Realm.

Upon receiving this inheritance, the Mountain Ancestor established the Zhou Mountain Immortal Sect, deliberately omitting the 'Bu' from Buzhou, to fully embrace the 'Zhou' aspect of the Dao.