Chapter 1215 - 843: Daluo True Spirit

The Queen Mother of the West held the altar in her left hand and the Five Directions Banner in her right, surrounded by five-colored radiance, marching majestically towards the River of Fate.

"Even if you are a Primordial Daluo, don’t think you can escape the shackles of fate." A figure appeared on the River of Fate, waving its hand as countless chains, like spiritual snakes, rushed towards the Queen Mother of the West.

"I am a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, the sun and moon decay but I do not, the heaven and earth perish but I do not. Who can harm me? Even if the world is destroyed, I can continue to survive in the chaos. I have already transcended the world, how can your River of Fate trap me?" The Queen Mother of the West’s voice was full of defiance, as the divine light that protected her began to recede. Zhang Chen stood on the altar and saw for the first time the true appearance of the Queen Mother of the West.

How to describe it?

Here’s a verse as evidence:

In the celestial realm of Yaochi, she reigns supreme, with jade bones and icy skin radiating divine light.

Cloud-like hairpins adorned with stars and moon, robes gently swaying with mist and clouds.

The azure phoenix glances, its shadow a startled swan, while the Peach of Immortality blushes, shy before the Jade Emperor.

A smile that enchants the heavens and clears the earth, even the nine sky’s rosy clouds are outshone by her grace.

Zhang Chen could not help but be momentarily dazed, the beauty of the Queen Mother of the West was unparalleled, akin to the embodiment of the Great Dao, flawless and mesmerizing. Yet he was more astonished by the might of the Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal, as he saw the Queen Mother of the West surrounded by a flowing colorful glow, her delicate hands enveloped in unique and domineering Primordial Law, striking towards the entangling chains, which were instantly severed like fragile straw.

However, in the next moment, those countless chains rose again, weaving incessantly, transforming into a single massive chain, glowing with a chaotic luster. It wrapped around the waist of the Queen Mother of the West, intending to drag her into the River of Fate to drown.

"This is the power of all beings, entangled with the cause and effect, all related to you. Don’t think you can escape." The figure on the River of Fate revealed a hint of mockery in its eyes.

"Damn it! A cursed method, last time you didn’t merge and refine all the cause and effect, I’ve never seen you have such skills?" The Queen Mother of the West’s eyes showed a trace of horror.

"Last time, you were severely injured by thunder punishment, not worthy of me using such methods." The figure on the River of Fate spoke unhurriedly, with no emotion in its voice.

As the body of the Queen Mother of the West gradually sank into the River of Fate, she snorted coldly: "You think this can trap me? Watch me cleave through your River of Fate!"

The divine light around the Queen Mother of the West fluctuated, emitting a dazzling radiance. She took a step forward, striding towards the River of Fate, exuding immense power, charging magnificently towards the figure in the River of Fate.

Seeing the advancing Queen Mother of the West, the figure on the River of Fate slightly curved the corner of its mouth: "You are already bound by fate, how can you be my match?"

Its palm slowly extended, the River of Fate roiled, from its depths emerged a long blade, engraved with three hundred and sixty-five runes. The runes emanated a mystical sheen, emitting radiant divine light, as the figure stepped on the river’s surface, advancing towards the Queen Mother of the West.

"Boom!"

In an instant, the River of Fate surged with a thousand waves, space shattered, time distorted, the Qi of Chaos pervaded the river of time, as the torrential water surged towards the direction of the altar.

"Be careful! This is the Water of Fate. Once flushed, it will wash away your existence from heaven and earth, or cast you into the chaotic tribulations of cause and effect." The voice of the Old Monkey Ancestor was filled with horror: "Quickly take shelter with the Peach Tree, the Peach Tree is an Innate Spirit Root, untouched by cause and effect. With its aid, you can avoid the Water of Fate."

The Old Monkey Ancestor grabbed Zhang Chen, their figures flickered as they leapt onto the Peach Tree, finding a crevice to hide within.

The Peach Tree towered hundreds of miles high, any mere unevenness in the bark could be considered the most primal cave, making it easy to find refuge.

The Old Monkey Ancestor pulled Zhang Chen into the cave, while the group of Golden Armored Warriors each found a crack in the tree bark to slip into, plucking peach blossoms to seal the crevice.

Zhang Chen watched as the Old Monkey Ancestor used the peach blossom leaves to seal the entrance, a hint of curiosity in his eyes: "Is the Ancestor, a Daluo Golden Immortal, also afraid of the power of fate?"

The Old Monkey Ancestor glanced at Zhang Chen: "A Daluo Golden Immortal merely leaps out of the river of time, unafraid of the assault of temporal power. As for the River of Fate? Its essence is cause and effect, even a Primordial Daluo Golden Immortal can’t withstand that force."

Zhang Chen thought of the Saints of his previous life, said to be unstained by cause and effect, and asked: "I heard that Primordial Daluo isn’t touched by cause and effect, so why is the Queen Mother of the West troubled by the power of fate?"

"Primordial Daluo Golden Immortals indeed aren’t touched by cause and effect, but where is this? This is the River of Fate, where the cause and effect of all beings converge. By jumping in, you willingly entangle yourself with cause and effect, even Saints can’t escape such tribulations." The Old Monkey Ancestor replied.

Zhang Chen thought of a metaphor. A Saint is like a white cup of water, originally untouched by color, but if immersed for a long time, it will eventually stain.

The West Queen Mother is now equivalent to jumping into the colorful dye vat of her own accord. If she can’t escape quickly, she will likely be dyed with a color extremely hard to wash away.

Brightness flickered in Zhang Chen’s eyes; he seemed to have realized the secret of the Primordial Saint, that even a Primordial Saint is not omniscient and omnipotent.

Outside, the Qi of Chaos circulated, and terrifying floods rolled on the river of destiny. Earth, water, wind, and fire reopened; Yin Yang Qi swirled, causing the river of destiny to surge with thousands of waves, as if on the verge of collapsing. At this moment, water fog from the river of destiny swirled around the altar, blocking Zhang Chen’s vision. Outside, the storm of destiny raged, further concealed by peach blossom petals, leaving Zhang Chen unable to see outside. He could only sense the altar drifting up and down in the void.

"The essence of the river of destiny is the Power of Cause and Effect. It’s a pity that it doesn’t fall under the Authority of Water, otherwise it could help my Authority of Water advance further." Zhang Chen was still contemplating how to strengthen his own Divine Techniques.

"I wonder what the origin of the West Queen Mother is, that she can gamble with destiny?" Zhang Chen tentatively asked the White Ape.

The White Ape shook its head, "I am the first White Ape from the beginning of the world. When I was born, the West Queen Mother was already occupying Kunlun Mountain, establishing endless palaces. At that time, Kunlun Mountain was utterly desolate, with no other living beings. West Queen Mother and I were the only beings. Later, I was attracted by the Peach of Immortality and got caught stealing when the West Queen Mother discovered me, leading me to become the steward of the Peach Garden, responsible for managing the growth and harvest of the Peaches. Back then, Kunlun Mountain was empty, as was the entire Heaven and Earth..."

The White Ape paused, seemingly lost in memory, with a look of reminiscence in its eyes.

Looking at the White Ape before him, Zhang Chen felt that it must have an unusual origin, so he asked, "I wonder what the origin of the senior is?"

"I am the first White Ape shaped after the opening of heaven, the first creature of this Heaven and Earth to transcend the river of time," the White Ape replied.

Zhang Chen was surprised to hear that the White Ape was the first creature to leap out of the river of time, prompting him to ask further, "What Divine Power does a Daluo Golden Immortal possess?"

"Leaping out of the river of time, thereafter, despite the passage of years, I remain immortal. Does that count?" said the White Ape.

"Of course it counts!" Zhang Chen nodded. Immortality is the greatest danger looming over all beings; only by leaping out of the river of time and evading its erosion can one have enough time to comprehend the mysteries of Heaven and Earth.

"I wonder how one attains the Dao of Daluo?" Zhang Chen tentatively inquired.

This is all secretive; if he could find some traces, it would greatly benefit his future, pointing him in the right direction.

Unexpectedly, the White Ape looked at Zhang Chen and shook its head, "Your aptitude is too poor; you have no chance to attain the Dao of Daluo."

Zhang Chen was taken aback and incredulous, "Not even a slight chance?"

"To attain the Dao of Daluo requires transforming the Yuan Ling into the True Spirit, then the True Spirit has a chance to leap out of the river of time. As for you, though you have a Primordial Spirit, how could a Primordial Spirit compare to a Yuan Ling?" the White Ape replied.

Zhang Chen was somewhat dissatisfied, "If I persistently train in the future, one day I can transform my Primordial Spirit into a Yuan Ling."

"Yuan Ling is innate, only possessed by Innate Spirit; it’s unheard of for Postnatal Spirits to cultivate it," the White Ape sneered.

Zhang Chen was dumbstruck, "How can this be? Is there really no hope for Postnatal Spirits?"

The White Ape seemed to be looking at a fool, "You seem clever, yet you can’t understand such matters. Primordial Spirit and Yuan Ling are like two species; can a chicken suddenly transform into a pig? This difference between species directly determines the limit."

Zhang Chen fell silent, his heart growing cold. If he truly couldn’t transform into Yuan Ling, wouldn’t his lifetime limit be fixed? Would he never be able to glimpse the realm of Primordial?

"Is there any Heavenly and Earthly Treasures that can transform one’s Primordial Spirit?" Zhang Chen asked unwillingly.

The White Ape shook its head, "I’ve never heard such a thing."

"How can this be?" Zhang Chen expressed incredulity.

The White Ape sympathetically patted Zhang Chen’s shoulder, "But you shouldn’t worry too much. With the West Queen Mother’s favor, there’s the Peach Tree to extend your life. Even if you can’t attain the Dao of Daluo, you can still live forever with no calamity. With the West Queen Mother’s protection, who dares kill you? Even though I’ve attained the Dao of Daluo, I must treat you as an equal, don’t I?"

Zhang Chen felt helpless upon hearing the White Ape’s words. Is that the same thing? Achieving immortality through one’s own efforts versus relying on others for immortality, are those the same feeling?