Chapter 209: Chapter 153: Spatial Passage
The situation changed too quickly, catching Chu Zheng somewhat by surprise.
Becoming the Holy Master was not what he had previously desired, but at this moment, facing Geng Yiyang, he had no room to refuse.
Because what Geng Yiyang was asking for was, indeed, not something very difficult for him to accomplish.
But becoming the master of a Holy Land was far from simple talk, the responsibilities involved were too complex to be summed up in a few words.
The moment he donned the crimson robe of the Holy Master, Chu Zheng felt as though he was shouldering a Divine Mountain, the weight on his shoulders terribly heavy.
A Holy Land could not be sustained by one or two Cultivators alone.
Ji Yuyan was gathering all Cultivators above the Divine Infant Realm, which meant that all the Elders of Taixuan were included.
In this battle, these already old Elders were unlikely to return alive.
If these Elders were to all perish, it would take two to three thousand years for Taixuan's strength to recover to its former state.
Chu Zheng glanced over the many youthful disciples in the distance, aside from Fu Quanliang, the oldest being just over ten years old.
How long it would take for them to grow up was anyone's guess.
In an instant, he became the person with the longest tenure in Taixuan.
The lives and futures of these young disciples all fell on his shoulders.
Geng Yiyang personally tied the Golden Crown for Chu Zheng, taking into account his age, Chu Zheng had just reached the appropriate age for his coming-of-age ceremony, which was just right.
After the ceremony, all the surrounding Great Mysterious Elders bowed and paid their respects in unison.
Standing behind Fu Quanliang, the many disciples, not fully aware of the situation, followed suit in the grand gesture of worship:
"We greet the Holy Master."
In any other Holy Land, Chu Zheng might have faced opposition from some Elders or dissent from disciples, requiring him to overcome some hurdles before he could sit in the position of the Holy Master.
But in Taixuan, there seemed to be no need for such concerns.
In the eyes of all the disciples, as the Saint Heir, it was only natural for Chu Zheng to succeed to the position of the Holy Master.
Fu Quanliang hung his head low, his eyes brimming with irrepressible excitement.
In just two short years of knowing Chu Zheng, his status had undergone an astonishing reversal.
From a servant of a mansion to the master of a Holy Land.
Not even the mythologies of Ancient Times dared to write such tales, yet Chu Zheng had done it.
As he had thought before, encountering Chu Zheng was the greatest opportunity of his life.
After completing the succession ceremony, Geng Yiyang took Chu Zheng on a tour around the Taixuan Holy Land.
He pointed out the key nodes of the great array that enshrouded the entire Holy Land.
Half a day later, the two arrived at the base of the main peak.
Originally, this place was a sea of magma, suppressed by the Taixuan Battle Halberd, but now the magma had been extracted by Geng Yiyang, and the location had turned into a cave.
The barriers around it glowed with a reddish Divine Light, crystal clear, almost like Immortal Crystal.
At the center, there was a grand array spanning over thirty yards, filled with intricate spiritual patterns.
Off to one side of the array there was also a Flying Boat about ten yards long.
Chu Zheng's eyes flickered with Spiritual Light, and his faceplate quickly transmitted information.
[Teleportation Array (Eighth Order/Incomplete): A high-grade Teleportation Immortal Array crafted by an Eight Tribulations True Immortal. Once activated, it can reach a Star Domain 1.27 million light-years away. Lacking Immortal Jade, it cannot be activated. (Details)]
[Star-shatter Shuttle (Sixth Order): A top quality Magical Treasure, unawakened. Forged entirely from Seventh Order Immortal Material Star Origin Meteoric Iron, exceptionally sturdy, capable of high velocity, and able to navigate the starry sea. (Details)]
An Immortal Array!
Moreover, a Teleportation Immortal Array.
Chu Zheng's heart stirred slightly, somewhat shocked; he looked at Geng Yiyang, his expression wavering.
With the Teleportation Immortal Array and this Flying Shuttle capable of navigating the starry sea, he could guess part of Geng Yiyang's thoughts.
"This Immortal Array is an inheritance from an ancient forefather of Taixuan, our last escape route. It requires Immortal Power to activate and cross Star Domains, but Superior Quality Spirit Stones or Spirit Vein Essence could also serve as an alternative, at least to leave the Cangyun Realm."
"Spirit Essence, we have plenty in the treasury of the Holy Land. When the time comes, you may take what you need. Trees may die when transplanted, but people must live. The legacy of our forefather is weighty, but when it must be abandoned, abandon it."
Geng Yiyang's expression turned solemn, "You have your own Small World. In a short period, you can be self-sufficient. If the coming battle is inevitable and the Cangyun Realm cannot be preserved, I hope you can immediately take these disciples and leave Cangyun to at least save these lives."
As his voice faded, he lifted his hand, in the palm, a Divine Fire formed into a coiling dragon moved restlessly.
"This fire will sense my life or death; keep it with you. Upon receiving news of my death, if you're willing, erect a cenotaph for me. There's no need for a spiritual tablet. Receiving incense offerings would only disturb my cycle of rebirth."
Talking about his own life and death, Geng Yiyang seemed much more at ease.
In Chu Zheng's view, Geng Yiyang could have chosen another path, taking these disciples and leaving Cangyun immediately, finding a new place to live on, far from the strife.
"Holy Master, why don't you..."
Before Chu Zheng could finish speaking, Geng Yiyang interrupted with a wave of his hand:
"I am no longer the Holy Master now, and besides, Cangyun is ultimately our ancestral land, how could one so easily abandon it."
Geng Yiyang shook his head slightly. This was an assembly called by the Immortal Alliance. Deserting in the face of battle would mean that even if Ji Yuyan reported to the Immortal Alliance, he'd still face death.
In the vast starry sea, the Immortal Alliance was everywhere; no being could escape its retribution.
"I understand."
Hearing this, Chu Zheng took the dragon of Divine Fire from Geng Yiyang's palm, carefully storing it away, saying no more.
After leaving the cave, Geng Yiyang began preparations for what was to come.
All the Divine Infant Cultivators in Taixuan City had also been conscripted.
For some powers, Divine Infant Cultivators were the pillars of the heavens; having them taken away was equivalent to the sky collapsing, yet no one dared to resist.