Journey to the West: I have Nine Golden Crows Inside Me
Chapter 985 - 720 faces self-destruct_2

Chapter 985: 720 faces self-destruct_2

He could withstand it, but Jiang Chen was quickly reaching his limit.

In the cultivation world things are different from the mortal world. In the mortal world, the young and strong are feared, but in the cultivation world, the older one is, the greater their advantage.

Divine Transcendent Huang Jiao had lived for tens of thousands, even hundreds of millions of years more than Jiang Chen. That was his advantage. The innate source of his strength was so incredibly profound that even if Jiang Chen fought ten times harder, he still couldn’t outmatch him.

"Damn it, these old fellows, they’re like tortoises, each able to live for tens, hundreds of millions, or even billions of years, with extremely profound original sources of power that a young man like me could not hope to rival."

Jiang Chen really wanted to jump up and point at Huang Jiao’s nose, cursing him for lacking martial virtue, for bullying the young with his age; a fellow who had lived for several hundred million, or even tens of billions of years, was actually shamelessly picking on a youth who had not even cultivated for a few hundred years.

Truly a sign of declining moral standards, the hearts of people are no longer those of old times, and the elderly no longer speak of martial virtue.

Filled with intense resentment, Jiang Chen was about to connect with the Innate Thunder Treasure Tree in the Nine Heavens, preparing to borrow its original power, to drain Divine Transcendent Huang Jiao of his life force.

His own original source was insufficient, so he would add it to that of one of the Ten Great Innate Spirit Roots, the Innate Thunder Treasure Tree. The combined original sources of the two should suffice to drain the old fellow opposite of him to death.

...

...

"No, I cannot die, and even less can I die of old age! The accomplishment of my Dao is within reach, how can I fall and perish right before the gate of enlightenment?"

"I must risk it all, even if it means rebirth and entering the Human Race, to fight for a chance at life. With such an endeavor, even in defeat, I would die for the sake of enlightenment, not in a disgraceful old age as I face now."

Divine Transcendent Huang Jiao didn’t know what Jiang Chen was planning, but he knew that he couldn’t continue like this any longer; otherwise, he might actually become the first Great Divine Transcendent to die of old age.

He was unwilling to accept this fate. He sought to achieve the Dao, to cultivate to the realm of the Daluo Jinxian of the Primordial, thus transcending Heaven and Earth, impervious to countless tribulations, eternal and indestructible even when Heaven and Earth crumbled and the sun and moon decayed.

He didn’t want to die!

Having made up his mind, Huang Jiao’s eyes suddenly revealed a trace of ruthlessness. In an instant, his eyes, which had become incredibly turbid due to the influence of the power of Demise, suddenly cleared up once more.

His previously listless spirit also became invigorated in that moment, his face even flushed with an unusual red, as he temporarily cast off the influence of the Demonic Power of Destruction and regained a new lease on life.

This was a resurgence of vitality!

The previously near-death Huang Jiao suddenly burst with new life and returned to his peak condition. If this was not a resurgence of vitality, then what was it?

Once the breath holding himself together was exhausted, no matter the outcome of this battle, he would not survive; he would fall. Without help, it would take millions of years to resurrect.

Jiang Chen was not without the ability to completely slay Huang Jiao, but the cost of doing so was too great. He simply could not afford it, as it would require exchanging his life for the other’s permanent demise.

Exchange life for life? How could Jiang Chen possibly do such a foolish thing?

The Demonic Power of Destruction ultimately wasn’t Jiang Chen’s strength. Although he could borrow it, he had to pay a price when using it. The greater the damage he inflicted on Huang Jiao, the greater the price he would have to pay.

To completely slay Huang Jiao, Jiang Chen would have to pay with his life. Therefore, Jiang Chen would not do so.

He only thought of slaying Huang Jiao so that he could not make an appearance for millions of years—that would be enough. As for when Huang Jiao resurrects millions of years later, by that time, Jiang Chen was confident he could easily suppress him.

After millions of years, if his plan succeeded, he would definitely have cultivated to the realm of the Daluo Jinxian of the Primordial. Even if the plan failed, with the help of the Divine Palace of the Cycle, he could also become a Great Divine Transcendent.

A mere Huang Jiao was nothing worth mentioning after millions of years.

...

"My young friend, you are one step ahead. This time, it is indeed you who has won, I submit wholeheartedly to defeat," said Huang Jiao.

After returning to his peak, Huang Jiao no longer struggled. Instead, he admitted defeat openly, acknowledging his loss and that Jiang Chen had outplayed him.

His nonchalance somehow made Jiang Chen quite uneasy, and an ominous premonition took hold in his heart. As expected, in the next moment, this unsettling premonition became reality. Huang Jiao the immortal said,

"However, my determination to attain Dao will not waver. Young friend, you may have bested me once, but that does not guarantee you’ll best me a second time."

"Our Human Race sees it, and I very much look forward to our next contest. Unfortunately, young friend, you may not have this opportunity anymore."

What does he mean by ’Our Human Race sees it’?

Realizing Huang Jiao the immortal’s intention, Jiang Chen’s expression changed drastically. He quickly released the grip on Huang Jiao the immortal’s shoulder and prepared to retreat swiftly.

But it was too late.

The instant Jiang Chen let go, Huang Jiao the immortal made his move and grasped Jiang Chen tightly. At the same time, his aura exploded in an instant, soaring to an inconceivable level.

Huang Jiao the immortal was about to self-detonate!

Knowing there was no way out, Huang Jiao the immortal chose to self-detonate in the end, destroying his Dao Fruit to rid himself of the Demonic Power of Destruction’s influence, seeking a ray of hope, a chance to be reincarnated into the Human Race, to start anew.

Such reincarnation, without the factor of Xuanyuan’s Three Cauldrons, meant Huang Jiao the immortal could certainly not be reborn into the Great Han imperial family, nor could he reincarnate as a natural-born Human King. Yet, reincarnation into an ordinary member of the Human Race posed no problem.

Huang Jiao the immortal, one of the Central Five Elders of the Heaven Court, such a presence in the Prehistoric World was almost unparalleled, second only to the supreme beings of Heaven and Earth.

If he were to reincarnate into the Human Race and become an ordinary person, how could the Fate of the Human Race refuse him?

After all, a personage like Huang Jiao the immortal carried immense Fate. Should he reincarnate into the Human Race, the Fate he carried would merge with the Human Race, bringing tremendous benefits.

The Fate of the Human Race lacked consciousness; it couldn’t weigh pros and cons. Seeing such a powerful Fate willingly merging with the Human Race, how could it possibly refuse?

As for the impact Huang Jiao’s reincarnation into the Human Race might have, that was a matter for the Human King to consider. If the Fate of the Human Race could think and weigh the advantages and disadvantages, what would be the need for a Human King? Wouldn’t it be able to handle matters on its own?

"Damn it!"

Jiang Chen didn’t care about Huang Jiao’s reincarnation into the Human Race. In fact, as long as it wasn’t to seize the Fate of the Human Race or usurp its Dao Fruit, the upper echelons of the Human Race actually welcomed the reincarnation of Great Divine Transcendents into the Human Race as ordinary people.

For with the arrival of Great Divine Transcendents, the foundation and Fate of the Human Race would be strengthened, bringing enormous benefits.

Just like during the Spring and Autumn Period and Warring States Period, many Great Divine Transcendents reincarnated into the Human Race, established schools of thought, and propagated their doctrines, ultimately leading to a golden age for the Human Race.

In that era, numerous Great Divine Transcendents gathered within the Human Race, creating countless precious treasures that, to this day, the Human Race has yet to fully assimilate.

Jiang Chen wasn’t concerned about Huang Jiao’s reincarnation into the Human Race, but rather his imminent self-detonation. Huang Jiao was about to self-detonate, yet he was holding onto Jiang Chen’s hand, making it clear he intended to take him down with him.

At that moment, Jiang Chen finally understood the meaning behind Huang Jiao’s last words. If he were to be caught in the blast of Huang Jiao’s self-detonation, he would either die or be severely injured, requiring a long period of recuperation, and naturally, he would have no chance to face Huang Jiao again.

"How vicious!"

While cursing Huang Jiao’s maliciousness, Jiang Chen sought a solution. But the attack was sudden, and with Huang Jiao holding onto his hand, escape was easier said than done.

"You’re forcing my hand!"

Suddenly, Jiang Chen gritted his teeth and let out a roar as he too initiated his own source power to begin self-detonating.

You think you’re the only one who can self-detonate? Think I can’t do the same?

Determined, Jiang Chen also chose to self-detonate. This way, Huang Jiao’s True Spirit would inevitably be affected. Even if he were lucky enough to reincarnate successfully into the Human Race, the person he became would naturally be born with deficiencies, unable to live a long life.

With a loud boom, both exploded at the same time!