Shocking the Nine Heavens With My Sword
Chapter 727 - 704

Chapter 727: 704

Zhou Heng picked out a dozen pieces of metal from the space artifact, all of which were of the Sublimation Realm level.

There were higher-grade materials available. The Zhou Family was quite wealthy, possessing a large quantity of Creation Realm materials. However, the key issue was the Gold Devouring Clan’s bloodline showing no reaction to Creation Realm materials, rendering them useless to him.

Let’s not worry about that for now; restoring his normal size was the most important thing.

Zhou Heng, carrying the materials, returned to the Immortal Residence and immediately began the refinement process.

The limit of the Gold Devouring Clan’s bloodline was between Sunshine Emperor and Sublimation King. Zhou Heng found it strenuous to consume materials of the Sublimation Realm but decided he could not bear to continue in the body of a child anymore.

Slowly refining the precious materials, he extracted the metal essence to strengthen his divine bones.

His body size was gradually changing; his divine bones became more resilient but did not increase in height or size, as the body’s instinct was to develop toward greater strength rather than aesthetic appeal.

Sunshine Sovereign, Sunshine Emperor!

All these were Sublimation Realm materials. Zhou Heng refined just seven pieces of metal until he elevated his physique to the peak of Sunshine Emperor, reaching his bloodline’s limit.

At this stage, absorbing more metal essence could not break the bloodline limitations to further enhance his physique, so he could only continue growing Zhou Heng’s divine bones, allowing his body to finally grow taller!

After refining three more pieces of metal, Zhou Heng’s physique returned to normal, bringing him immense relief.

Now, he had five pieces of metal left.

He could stop here or try to break through the bloodline’s limit and advance further to Sublimation King!

But even if he advanced, it would only be one more level. He had reached the end of the Gold Devouring Clan’s bloodline capabilities. To become stronger, he would need to evolve a new bloodline that surpasses that of the Gold Devouring Clan!

However, body cultivation is a minor path. Even if one reaches the level of a Creation King in body cultivation, it’s less powerful. Even if it can’t kill, it can suppress permanently, depleting the lifespan until one is suffocated to death!

Let’s not think about this now and see if I can reach the Sublimation King’s physique!

Zhou Heng began to absorb the last five pieces of precious materials. As the essence of these metals entered his body, he felt as heavy as a mountain, finding it extremely difficult to even move a finger!

This was the intense pressure of the Sublimation King level!

Fortunately, he was now a Twenty-One Wheels Sunshine Emperor, having already broken through the realm barriers, possessing strength comparable to a Two Aspects Sublimation King, fully capable of withstanding such pressure.

"Break for me!"

He shouted in his mind, his divine bones cracking all over under his own force, becoming more fragile until they utterly shattered!

It hurt so much!

Zhou Heng grimaced with pain. Although body cultivation advanced quickly and did not require understanding the grand doctrines of heaven and Earth, each level increase was too painful, involving the shattering of old bones before rebuilding.

While he cried out in pain, he circulated the metal essence throughout his body, striving toward a stronger state.

After enduring countless tribulations, Zhou Heng finally refined the metal essence within his body, elevating its quality by another layer.

It was done!

With a thought, his divine bones began to recondense, and he reshaped himself from a pool of mud.

A Sublimation King Immortal Artifact level physique!

Zhou Heng opened his eyes and smiled lightly, now undefeable by any surpassing the limits of Sublimation King, although not quite sufficient against a Sublimation King or Sovereign who has broken through realm barriers.

He concluded his cultivation session, and this retreat had unexpectedly taken ten days!

"Husband!"

"Zhou Heng!"

Seeing him emerging from retreat, all the women rushed towards him, overjoyed to see him back to his original form, and Xiao Huoshui went straight for a playful attack below, saying, "Everything else got bigger, only to shrink the most essential part!"

"Silly, there are no bones there; how could it change!"

"No bones? Then why does it get so hard, making momma’s butt hurt every time!"

"Xiao Huoshui, you’re too lewd!"

The progress of the women was significant. They had undergone body modifications by Huo Tian, and their cultivation levels improved at an incredible rate. Moon Shadow Saintess had already reached Seven Wheels Sunshine King, but she could at least break through realm barriers, so it might take a month or so to break through to Sunshine Sovereign.

The progress of Black Donkey was quite noticeable too; it had reached Eight Wheels Sunshine King and was likely a few days away from a breakthrough. It ate the Heaven-Earth Fruit, which made it more monstrous than the women, needing only Eight Wheels to break through and then directly become a Three-Wheels, or even Four-Wheels Sunshine Sovereign!

After leaving the Immortal Residence, Zhou Heng was pleasantly surprised to find Zhou Hongshen had returned!

Copper Heart Valley was the Zhou Family’s temporary residence, but many family members were still traveling outside, like Zhou Hongshen. Not having seen him for two years, the Sunshine Emperor had successfully broken through to Sublimation King, but upon learning that Zhou Heng was now a Twenty-One Wheels Sunshine Emperor, Zhou Hongshen expressed feeling deeply struck.

Because as long as Zhou Heng broke through, he could easily rise to become a Seven Aspects, Eight Aspects Sublimation King, much stronger than him, a Three Aspects Sublimation King!

The first time Zhou Heng met him, he was only the Moonlight King while Zhou Heng was the Sunshine Emperor, a gap as vast as heaven and earth between them. But now, Zhou Heng had almost caught up to him, leaving him without any face.

A few days later, Zhou Tong also returned, having sent all individuals with the Mysterious Yin Physique back, not exactly to their homes but to look out for one another. A few more days passed, and Zhou Ningning returned as well.

The Lian Family was decimated by her hand down to the last blade of grass!

Zhou Heng couldn’t help but reflect that not everyone in the Lian Family was necessarily evil, like Lian Jingxiang, for instance; he hoped she hadn’t returned to the Lian family home.

The tranquility didn’t last many days before a terribly bad piece of news suddenly arrived.

Old Ancestor Yuhe’s attempt to ascend to the Creation Sovereign failed, and he became paralyzed in both legs!

This was a cultivation injury, and it was impossible to sever the legs and regenerate— even if that were done, the newly grown legs would still be paralyzed!

Zhou Yuhe was a direct descendant of the Great Eternal Emperor, a direct elder brother from the ancestral line of Zhou Heng!

When the news spread, all members of the Zhou Family fell into a solemn mood.

Zhou Yuhe’s rush to breakthrough was because he wanted to quickly rescue his trapped father, that seemingly omnipotent Great Eternal Emperor! But cultivation in haste is never fruitful, and his undue eagerness led to a spiritual breakdown, causing serious injuries from the dao.

This was a cultivation injury, a case where medication is useless—except for the true treasures of heaven and earth!

Zhou Heng had asked the Fire Divine Furnace, but even the Fire Divine Furnace could only shake its head, as it wasn’t a pharmacist; it could perform alchemy but not heal injuries.

Zhou Yuhe’s failed breakthrough not only caused him a severe injury but also meant the day when the Great Eternal Emperor could be rescued was indefinitely prolonged. All members of the Zhou Family were loyal and devoted; thinking of their ancestor imprisoned without his freedom, how could they not feel urgent and enraged?

"Do you really want to help him?" one evening, Zhou Heng sat on the mountaintop, gazing at the starless, moonless sky as a waft of fragrance hit him, and Huo Tian’s voice arose behind him.

"Do you have a way?" Zhou Heng was ecstatic; he knew Huo Tian was powerful, but he didn’t know she could also heal.

"There is a way, but it will come at a great cost!" Huo Tian said indifferently.

"No matter the cost, as long as it can heal Yuhe Ancestor!" Zhou Heng firmly declared.

Huo Tian was silent for a while, then said, "Take the rune from your forehead, implant it into his body, and not only will it heal his condition, but it will also bring him tremendous benefits!"

The rune had been bestowed upon him by Huo Tian. After absorbing the Star Core and the Heavenly Mysterious Spirit Crystal from the Immortal Realm, the rune had approximately recovered to 1% of its capacity, its power terrifyingly immense, nearly shattering even the Blue Dragon Empress!

To Zhou Heng, it was his lifesaving talisman, having already saved his life numerous times.

No wonder Huo Tian said he would have to pay a great price!

"Take it!" Zhou Heng said without hesitation.

He possessed an invincible heart; he had a rune given by Huo Tian that could allow him to peek into the myriad mysteries of the universe, but he believed more in himself, confident that he could reach the same heights as Huo Tian!

His future was not determined by just one rune!

"Have you decided?" Huo Tian asked mildly, a hint of admiration in her eyes.

"Haha, let’s start immediately!" Zhou Heng grabbed Huo Tian’s delicate hand and rushed towards the valley.

...

"What, you want to implant a bone into Yuhe Ancestor? No!" Zhou Shanyi vehemently refused upon hearing Zhou Heng’s method of treatment, "Not just that I won’t agree, Yuhe Ancestor himself wouldn’t!"

The idea of bone implantation sounded terrifying and would undoubtedly cause great harm to Zhou Heng!

Zhou Yuhe’s injuries needed healing, but not at the cost of harming their own people, which was a consensus among the Zhou Family members.

"Ancestors, the Emperor is trapped and must be rescued as soon as possible; at present, only the Yuhe Ancestor is our hope!" Zhou Heng calmly persuaded, "Besides, I am only losing a bone; it’s not like it can’t grow back!"

"No way!" The four Creation Kings of the old Zhou Family shook their heads simultaneously; in Zhou Yuhe’s absence, they were the ones managing the Zhou family affairs.

"Since Zhou Heng has made up his mind, you shouldn’t dissuade him any further!" Huo Tian appeared from the Immortal Residence and said indifferently.

"I said no—" Zhou Wenqian glared and was about to rage, but halted abruptly, feeling his soul tremble under Huo Tian’s phoenix gaze, unable to continue speaking.

The Peerless Heavenly Maiden’s gaze swept the four Creation Kings who were instantly silenced, feeling that opposing this person was against heaven’s law, utterly inexcusable!

"Bring him here!" Huo Tian completely took the initiative and commanded the four Creation Kings.

Her words were the will of heaven and earth; who would dare to disobey?The four Creation Kings obediently left and soon carried Zhou Yuhe over. The condition of this Creation Sovereign was far worse than Zhou Heng had imagined; not only were his legs paralyzed, but it seemed he had also lost his cultivation, appearing like someone waiting for death.

"Nonsense!" However, the spirit of this old ancestor was like someone on stimulants, extremely agitated! He was so angry that his beard trembled, and said, "Have you all gone mad, sacrificing a younger family member to save this old bone? If you dare, I will surely break your dog’s legs!"

He scolded, and besides Zhou Heng, everyone else there from the Zhou lineage was his direct descendant. Hence, although the four Creation Kings were sprayed with spit, they didn’t even dare to wipe it off; two were Zhou Yuhe’s direct children, and two were his grandsons, raised under Zhou Yuhe’s strict fists, having immense reverence for him.

"Quiet!" Huo Tian glared at the old man displeasingly. (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, we welcome you to vote for it at qidian.com, your support is my greatest motivation. Mobile users, please read at m.qidian.com.)