455: Two spiritual roots

The agreement between Xiao Zhuo and Feng Changge was thus settled in a silent undercurrent.

The day Feng Changge handed over the Heaven-Opening Inheritance would be the day Xiao Zhuo helped him ascend to the imperial throne.

That crucial Immortal Formation jade slip had also returned to Feng Changge's hands.

With the Formation diagram back, even if Xiao Zhuo didn't intervene, Feng Changge felt he had a ninety percent chance of surviving to the end in this bloody struggle for the imperial throne.

The so-called struggle for the imperial throne was not about currying favor with the emperor like in Mortal Dynasties, but a true battle of life and death.

This was an iron rule set by the Immortal Dynasty.

All Imperial Princes participating in the struggle for the imperial throne could use any means necessary.

Whether fighting alone or through power struggles.

During this time, schemes, overt plots, assassinations, and encirclements were all without taboo.

Naturally, this also included the use of Formations.

And the Fengdu Guardian Grand Formation was the most formidable sharp blade hanging above the Imperial Capital.

Once activated, not only would True Immortals outside the barrier/boundary find it difficult to break through, but within the barrier/boundary, the Formation master could also leverage the power of the Formation to instantly possess strength comparable to a Quasi-Immortal.

Currently, there were four individuals involved in this life-and-death game: the First Imperial Prince Feng Ziyi, the Third Imperial Prince Feng Chengtian, the Fourth Imperial Prince Feng Yuzhuo, and the Ninth Prince Feng Changge.

Feng Ziyi was most favored by the Great Feng Emperor and had already secretly been granted the Emperor's heart, with his subordinate forces deeply entrenched.

Although his birth mother did not come from an Immortal Dao family and could not provide external support, the Emperor's deep affection for her, coupled with his own efforts and the support of many powerful clans, made his strength unparalleled among the four Imperial Princes, and his cultivation was even half a step ahead, with one foot already in the Mahayana realm.

The mothers of the other three Imperial Princes all originated from major cultivation families or Sects within the Imperial Dynasty, each backed by a Quasi-Immortal.

Although slightly inferior to Feng Ziyi, they were by no means without the power to fight for their lives.

Since the day the Great Feng Emperor ascended to the Peak of Quasi-Immortal, the four Imperial Princes had been openly and covertly contending in the imperial court, frantically cultivating their factions.

The Imperial Dynasty's struggle for the imperial throne had no rules, only life and death.

Once the Great Feng Emperor achieved Immortal Ascension and departed, the great battle was bound to erupt.

Only one person could survive to the end, receive the Immortal Envoy's enfeoffment, and rule the world.

Fengdu, this thousand-year-old Imperial Capital, had been destroyed and rebuilt countless times due to previous struggles for the imperial throne.

This time, it would likely be no exception.

Xiao Zhuo then settled down in Prince Yus Mansion, living a reclusive life.

Rumors outside consequently ran rampant.

Some spread that the Ninth Prince had gained the favor of a newly advanced True Immortal, and the imperial throne was already as good as his.

There were also slanders that the person who underwent Tribulation earlier did not achieve Immortal Ascension, but was actually a Devil Head who triggered a Heavenly Punishment, and that the Ninth Prince's cooperation with him might bring misfortune to the Imperial Dynasty.

Rumors were chaotic, and their truth was hard to discern.

But what was undeniable was that the Ninth Prince was indeed deeply connected to that mysterious existence.

This made the other three Imperial Princes feel like thorns in their backs, as if facing a formidable enemy.

Behind Feng Ziyi stood two Quasi-Immortals, and Feng Chengtian and Feng Yuzhuo each had a Quasi-Immortal supporting them.

Now, Feng Changge not only had Zhao Tingzhi but also the unfathomable Xiao Zhuo, his strength was evident, instantly pushing Feng Changge to the forefront and making him the target of all.

The three Imperial Princes, by prior agreement, began to jointly suppress him, intending to cut off Feng Changge's wings before the Great Feng Emperor achieved Immortal Ascension.

They clearly regarded him as their number one enemy.

However, Xiao Zhuo paid no attention to these court disputes. He only wanted Feng Changge to survive.

After the Great Feng Emperor's Immortal Ascension was complete, no matter how many Quasi-Immortals his opponents had, it would make no difference to him.

During this period, he first had Feng Changge's people take him to redeem the guanting token. With his methods, he directly perused all the Spiritual Root Cultivation Techniques in the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion of the Changfeng Imperial Dynasty, not even missing the four Immortal Cultivation Techniques hidden in the secret chambers of the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion.

He naturally had no interest in redeeming a fifth-rank minor official position with the guanting token. After reading all the classics in the Ten Thousand Scrolls Pavilion, he remained secluded in Prince Yus Mansion.

Without important matters, even Feng Changge dared not disturb his cultivation.

He enjoyed the tranquility and continued to research Spiritual Roots and Spiritual Root Cultivation Techniques.

Since the initial Formation of the Space-Time Spiritual Root, he had noticed that although it could operate, there was a subtle stagnation, and its Foundation seemed unstable.

It must still be missing certain core Spiritual Root Runes, and even though he had improved the Free and Natural Heavenly Art, it was not entirely suitable for Spiritual Root cultivation.

He was confident that improving the Cultivation Technique, having drawn upon so many Spiritual Root Cultivation Techniques, was not an issue, but the missing core Runes made him conceive the idea of seeking true Time Spirit Root and Space Spiritual Root.

He firmly believed that as long as he obtained these two, even if he couldn't gather all the Spiritual Root Runes, it would be enough to completely perfect his Space-Time Spiritual Root.

Therefore, he summoned Feng Changge and ordered him to inquire about the whereabouts of the two great Spiritual Roots.

In Xiao Zhuo's courtyard, Feng Changge stood respectfully.

Upon hearing the request, a strange expression flashed across his face.

Xiao Zhuo's eyes moved slightly: "What? Trouble?"

"No! Senior!" Feng Changge's lips curved into a peculiar arc, "I know where the Space Spiritual Root you are looking for is right now! My good elder brother, Feng Ziyi, possesses a top-grade Space Spiritual Root!"

"As for the Time Spirit Root..." He paused slightly, "I have only seen records of it in ancient Imperial Dynasty texts. The most recent person was also from three thousand years ago, who had already achieved Immortal Dao and was guided away by the Immortal Dynasty, now nowhere to be found."

Xiao Zhuo raised an eyebrow: "That person's name?"

"It seems... his name was Di Yue. He came from another Imperial Dynasty tens of thousands of miles away and once won the championship of the Seven Dynasties Grand Competition, so there are slight records in the texts," Feng Changge replied.

"Seven Dynasties Grand Competition?"

"Senior may not know," Feng Changge explained, "The Seven Dynasties Grand Competition is jointly held by the Changfeng Imperial Dynasty and the other six major Imperial Dynasties, with each side sending Geniuses to compete, and Secret Realm quotas within the seven dynasties are allocated based on ranking."

Seeing Xiao Zhuo lost in thought, he continued: "The most recent Grand Competition ended three years ago. Our Changfeng Imperial Dynasty... ranked fifth. We suffered quite a loss in terms of Secret Realm quotas."

Feng Changge showed a look of chagrin, seemingly quite embarrassed by the ranking.

Xiao Zhuo, however, didn't care, his thoughts had already drifted to the Genius who possessed the Time Spirit Root and had gone to the Immortal Dynasty.

From Feng Changge's words, it was clear that both Space and Time Spiritual Roots were extremely rare, sought after but hard to find.

Since Feng Ziyi possessed a Space Spiritual Root, then he... was determined to get it.

Anyway, this person was destined to die in the struggle for the imperial throne, so why not... benefit himself?

"I understand." Xiao Zhuo nodded faintly, "After the Great Feng Emperor achieves Immortal Ascension, I will go and... deal with Feng Ziyi for you."

Upon hearing this, Feng Changge's lips curved into an uncontrollable smile.

He knew Xiao Zhuo's strength better than anyone else.

Being able to silently subdue his maternal grandfather, Zhao Tingzhi, in his heart, Xiao Zhuo was an invincible existence within the Quasi-Immortal Realm, far surpassing even his imperial father.

Just as Xiao Zhuo was deeply embroiled in the imperial throne disputes of the Nirvana Realm—

The Immortal-Demon Realm was already ablaze with war, with smoke signals everywhere.

A demonic cult named "Abandon Heaven Cult" suddenly rose, sweeping across the entire Immortal-Demon Realm in just a few months.

Whether it was the Three Great Sacred Lands of the Immortal Realm, the Supreme Heavenly Court, the Western Heaven Buddhist Kingdom, or the Nine Great Abysses of the Demon Realm, all listed this cult as a grave threat, their number one enemy.

The Abandon Heaven Cult wielded a terrifying evil art that could corrupt the Laws of the Dao.

The power of various Dao attack techniques in the Immortal-Demon Realm was sharply reduced against its followers.

Conversely, their evil art could defile Immortal and Demon powerhouses.

Those who perished under the evil art had their Dao imprints directly erased, with no possibility of resurrection.

Even more, their consciousness was also corrupted, turning them into Puppets controlled by the Abandon Heaven Cult.

The top forces of the Immortal-Demon Realm were forced to unite to resist the Abandon Heaven Cult.

However, this cult's Foundation was unfathomable, and it had already infiltrated various factions.

Every time they clashed, the Immortal-Demon allied forces were like a sieve; all their plans were seen through, and they were repeatedly defeated with heavy losses.

In every battle, there would be sudden betrayals from middle and high-ranking members, stabbing them in the back.

A large number of top powerhouses from the Immortal-Demon Realm had already entered the Nirvana Realm, leaving the remaining forces to face the long-prepared Abandon Heaven Cult like headless flies, suffering massacres.

Even the Jade Pool Holy Land was forced to seal its mountain gate, isolating itself from the world.

Inside the Holy Land's Small World, by a misty pond in a pavilion.

Cao Xiaochuan's face was pale as he sat opposite the siblings Wang Xianzhi and Wang Xianyu.

"Senior Brother? Your injuries..." Wang Xianyu's voice was filled with worry.

Cao Xiaochuan slowly shook his head, indicating he was fine.

In the depths of his eyes, however, a trace of indelible pain flashed.

"Senior Sister Qingzhu is a blessed person and will never fall in Yellow Wind Plain! Senior Brother, you must believe her!" Wang Xianzhi said in a deep voice to comfort him, trying to dispel the heavy mood.