CHAPTER 397: 338 ZHANGG AMBUSH! [THANKS TO ’TCL5201314’ FOR THE 23600 REWARD!]

Like Gan Chen.

Like the Nine Peak Daoist.

Back then, had they left a Divine Separation on Medicine King Star, or on Canghai Star, even if ambushed and killed by the Blood Cloud Prison Master, with a Divine Separation preserved, they could still survive and continue cultivating.

But every gain has its loss.

Divine Separation is unmatched for preservation.

Yet it is ultimately a division of the Primordial Spirit’s origin, a severe loss to oneself. Insufficient origin leads to diminished clarity of thought and reduced comprehension.

Even dedicating oneself fully to Divinity Transformation is barely sufficient.

Divine Separation?

It’s too extravagant.

If you cannot break through, if you cannot prove Immortal Dao, death will come sooner or later.

In that case.

Why pursue Divine Separation?

To cling to a fleeting chance of survival, sacrificing the hope of attaining Immortal Dao—isn’t that too great a loss?

Thus.

While the third realm of Divinity Transformation is named "Divine Separation," few truly split their Primordial Spirit.

The Divine Transformation Realm, closer to the Immortal Dao, is even less likely.

Across the starry heavens, those possessing Divine Separations or Avatars are often members of unique races.

Like the "Immortal Vine."

They are brimming with vitality, with exceptionally potent Primordial Spirit origins. Even when split in half, their cultivation remains unaffected.

Hence, most of the Immortal Vine Clan possess Avatars, making them remarkably resilient and difficult to provoke.

Nearly all of them die naturally of old age.

Rarely are they slain by others.

Ordinary Divinity Transformation stage cultivators dare not provoke the powerful members of the Immortal Vine Clan. Apart from the clan’s backing, the difficulty of permanently killing an Immortal Vine expert is a key reason.

Not only these unique races.

Rare treasures of the Star Sea, like the "Pure Yang Immortal Lotus," also enable cultivators to forge avatars.

Such treasures are exceedingly rare across the Star Sea. They allow for the division of a Primordial Spirit at the third realm without damaging its origin—a supreme treasure.

But it has limitations.

Like the "Pure Yang Immortal Lotus."

"The Pure Yang Immortal Lotus imposes a limit on the Pure Yang Primordial Spirit it creates."

"At most, third realm."

"It cannot break through to the fourth realm."

"For Divinity Transformation stage cultivators, it is a treasure. For fourth-order and fifth-order Great Powers, it’s utterly useless."

The Immortal Vine Clan is exceptionally gifted.

They dominate the third realm, and few Divinity Transformation stage cultivators dare provoke them.

But as bloodlines bring blessings, they also bring curses.

The Immortal Vine Clan faces extraordinary difficulty in breaking through to the fourth realm—far greater than that faced by ordinary Divinity Transformation cultivators.

In the billions of years that span the Star Sea.

There are scarcely any tales of Immortal Vine experts breaking the boundaries and ascending to immortality.

Between gains and losses.

It’s hard to have both.

"Divine Separation damages comprehension, impedes Enlightenment cultivation."

"Divine Separation Realm, Divine Transformation Realm, even fourth-order and fifth-order Great Powers—all who aspire to Immortal Dao but have yet to prove longevity must approach Divine Separation with caution and concern."

"I am the same."

"In the Dao Fruit World, if I consciously deployed a Divine Separation, my comprehension would decrease, and my efficiency would greatly slow down."

"In the Dao Fruit World, I can still revive after dying, so Divine Separation serves no purpose for me."

"What’s more."

"In the Dao Fruit World, if I deploy a Divine Separation, the two Primordial Spirits must log off or log on simultaneously; they cannot act independently."

For Chen Jichuan, reality is fundamental.

For "Dao Fruit," the same principle applies—to prioritize reality.

Four thousand years ago, Chen Jichuan successfully cultivated the Pure Yang Primordial Spirit and stayed in the Sumeru Immortal Sect to delve into Array techniques. He even attempted to log off his main body and leave the second Primordial Spirit in the Dao Fruit World to continue cultivating and studying arrays.

But unfortunately, he failed.

Whenever he logs off, his consciousness leaves the Dao Fruit World, and whether it is the main body or the Divine Separation, both fall into stasis and lose awareness.

"Even with two Primordial Spirits, they still share a single consciousness."

"Separated by billions of miles, they remain indivisible."

"It’s called Divine Separation, but it’s vastly different from the legendary ’Cutting Three Corpses’ or ’One Breath to Three Pure Ones.’"

"It’s more akin to multitasking."

"Consciousness, thoughts, and personality remain shared; only the Primordial Spirit and physical forms differ."

Much like two hands.

Under the same ’command system,’ they merely exhibit differences in abilities and focus.

"When logging off, one Primordial Spirit cannot remain while the other departs."

"But when logging on, this is achievable."

"In reality, a Divine Separation can leave one in reality while sending the other into the Dao Fruit World."

"This ensures cultivation in both reality and the Dao Fruit World simultaneously."

"No longer needing full immersion in Dao Fruit, nor total devotion to reality."

Previously.

When Chen Jichuan entered the Dao Fruit World, his physical body remained idle in a cave, halting cultivation, limited to mechanically transporting mana.

When returning to reality.

The Dao Fruit World would follow suit.

Due to discrepancies in time flow, for safety and longevity, Chen Jichuan also had to seal his body here as a precaution.

One entry, one exit.

One step forward, one back.

Too much time wasted.

The Dao Fruit World posed minor issues, but in reality, only half a day’s time was reserved for cultivation—far too restrictive.

If he could master Divine Splitting Techniques, every problem would be solved.

The bindings removed.

As for the downsides of Divine Separation—

"Average cultivators splitting their Primordial Spirits sustain comprehension damage. Even using super-level techniques, some harm is unavoidable."

"I’m no exception."

"But my reality is in constant ’re-cultivation,’ catching up with the Dao Fruit World’s progress, barely requiring comprehension at all."

"Step by step, following the formula is enough."

"Meanwhile, even a comprehension-damaged Divine Separation entering the Dao Fruit World will receive physical and soul attributes granted by it, compensating the Primordial Spirit origin. Comprehension remains unaffected."

Chen Jichuan articulated various drawbacks of Divine Separation upfront.

But for him, these posed no problem whatsoever.

"Why would my re-cultivation demand superb comprehension?!"

"As long as it doesn’t affect the Dao Fruit World, it’s sufficient!"

Chen Jichuan’s face lit with a smile: "Years ago, I derived the ’Divine Splitting Thought Transformation Technique.’ Lacking mastery of the Divine Separation Realm, I was wary of the technique, confused by many intricacies of Divine Separation, and didn’t dare attempt it. But now—"

Chen Jichuan invoked a thought.

The myriad mysteries of ’Divine Separation’ surged forth. What had been hazy and elusive now became crystal clear in his mind.

Advancing to Divine Separation.

Splitting the Primordial Spirit and Divine Soul was as natural and inherent as breathing. The heavens reflected, revealing everything with ease.

For those who understand, it is simple.

For those who do not, it is impossible.

This is the truth.

"Now, no more danger!"

Chen Jichuan’s thoughts calmed, refraining from immediate attempts: "Let me solidify my cultivation first, then experiment in the Dao Fruit World to ensure absolute preparedness before demonstrating it in reality."

His mind settled.

Chen Jichuan closed his eyes in meditation, stabilizing his cultivation.

...

Deep within the stars.

A streak of light halted, revealing an old man in black robes.

His gaze profound, he stared ahead into an endless expanse of darkness, seeing few stars.

The black-robed elder retrieved a treasure mirror from his sleeve and aimed it forward. At once, mist dissipated, revealing the true face of the shadows.

It was a formation encircled by dozens of stars.

"Hidden so deeply—no wonder it couldn’t be found."

The black-robed elder curved his lips into a smile, stowing the treasure mirror and producing a lamp. Chanting softly and weaving hand seals, he hurled the lamp toward the starry void.

It immediately steadied.

Vanished from sight.

The black-robed elder’s robe fluttered, and he too vanished, concealed and undetectable.

Meanwhile, in the distance, a middle-aged man in a fiery red robe hid in the void, his lips quirked in a smile as he alternately watched the Wuhe Immortal Sect and the black-robed elder.

"The Witch Bone Demon is inherently cautious and excels at sinister schemes."

"That Xu Ning may excel at Array techniques, but his cultivation is negligible. If lured out from the sect’s defensive Array, killing him would take no more than a flick of the wrist."

"The Witch Bone Demon’s infamous reputation will ensure that even after the destruction of the Wuhe Immortal Sect, no blame falls upon my Starfall Pavilion!"

The red-robed middle-aged man’s grin deepened as he concealed himself further.

The starry void was desolate.

Perhaps no one would tread here for millennia.

But this day.

From the dark expanse, a streak of light suddenly emerged.

"Bold!"

"Dare harm my Wuhe Immortal Sect’s Divinity Transformation cultivator—you seek death!"

The figure within the light radiated killing intent, streaking close to the black-robed elder before disappearing.

Once the light faded.

The black-robed elder reappeared and grinned widely.

"These youngsters."

"Still too easily irked."

Shaking his head, the elder looked ahead, where a faintly flickering lamp exposed an illusory figure—

Clad in azure robes.

Elegant and striking.

Radiating a certain imposing charisma.

"Fate is mine to command!"

The black-robed elder gazed at the figure in the lamp fire and let out a laugh.

Unconcerned with anything else, he sat cross-legged amidst the stars, refining the lamp carefully.

"Capturing Form and God Lamp!"

"Surely a remarkable artifact!"

In the distance, the red-robed middle-aged man spied on the scene, glancing at the lamp held by the elder. A mix of apprehension and anticipation crossed his face.

...

Time passed.

The forty-nine-day cycle concluded.

"It’s done!"

The black-robed elder finished his ritual and seized the lamp.

Within its flickering flame, the previously vague figure now appeared solid and lifelike, down to the details of facial features and pores.

If anyone from the Wuhe Immortal Sect were present, they would immediately recognize the person as one of their sect’s Old Ancestors—

Xu Ning!

"Seven-star Sword Lord?"

"Not even fourth realm, yet dares claim lordship?"

The black-robed elder sneered, clutching the lamp tighter before transforming into a streak of light.

His destination unknown.

"It begins!"

The red-robed middle-aged man whispered, leisurely standing and stealthily trailing the elder, vanishing into the distance.

The starry void stretched vast.

Some ten days later.

"Here we go!"

The black-robed elder’s gaze sharpened, abruptly halting his motion.

"Ho!"

Instantly, he unleashed his move: with one hand wielding the lamp and the other flicking toward the flame.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

A torrent of fiery sparks erupted into a flame comet, blazing toward the starry void ahead.

The fire swallowed the Star Sea.

Space quivered.

A figure was forcibly stopped and revealed.

It was Chen Jichuan!

"Who goes there?!"

Chen Jichuan feigned panic, shouting into the void.

"With Xu Ning dead, the Wuhe Immortal Sect can fall with a mere flick of the wrist!"

The black-robed elder stared coldly at the figure ahead without responding.

Effortlessly controlling the flames that engulfed the area, he recited his incantations.

Boom! Boom! Boom!

The flame surged wildly toward the captured figure within the lamp.

"Once captured by my ’Capturing Form and God Lamp’ and refined for forty-nine days, there’s no hope of survival!"

The black-robed elder’s confidence soared.

Holding the divine lamp, he manipulated the fire, activating its power at full force.

A wave of indistinct energy rippled through the void, enveloping the figure ahead. A single spark fell toward the figure’s brow.

In the next moment.

A thunderous eruption was poised to strike, forcing the victim’s consciousness to falter, their true soul to emerge—ready for slaughter, their survival impossible.

...