Zhu Jiuling, the Deity

Buzz!

Amid a ripple of Space-Time, Zhou Zheng's figure suddenly appeared on a vast grassland.

"Is this that Deity's Private Space?"

Zhou Zheng looked in every direction. This Private Space was astonishingly vast. Not only did the grassland beneath him stretch as far as the eye could see, but he could even make out the shadows of countless mountains in the distance.

After all, he was on someone else's territory, so Zhou Zheng did not move rashly. After several breaths, a figure suddenly flew over from afar.

Whoosh!

The figure soon landed. It was a small, thin old man whose appearance was rather similar to that of the Xia Clan.

"Are you Zhou Zheng?" the old man asked.

"That's me. And you are?"

Zhou Zheng nodded, watching the old man with some confusion. The other man's aura was exceedingly weak; he could not possibly be the Deity Zhu Jiuling.

"I was ordered by my master to receive you. Come with me!" the old man said directly before taking to the air again.

Zhou Zheng was briefly stunned, but he quickly reacted and rose into the air to follow.

The two flew for about fifteen minutes before soon arriving inside an incomparably majestic palace.

At first, Zhou Zheng was rather surprised by the palace, which was nearly a thousand meters tall. Why build a palace so high? But when he saw the lifeform within, his doubts immediately vanished.

It was a strange beast with two wings, two claws, a dragon's head, and a serpent's tail. Even while curled up on the ground, it stood over a hundred meters tall. If it rose, it could probably fill the entire palace with ease.

The strange beast radiated an incomparably terrifying aura. The gulf in their levels of life made Zhou Zheng understand that this was the Deity Zhu Jiuling!

"This junior, Zhou Zheng, pays his respects to you, Senior!" Zhou Zheng bowed respectfully. The enormous strange beast opened eyes as large as houses.

It glanced at Zhou Zheng, then lightly moved its head.

"You are a Bronze Token Divine Envoy and have only one chance to receive a Deity's guidance. Why did you choose me?" Zhu Jiuling spoke. His booming voice formed gusts of wind that made Zhou Zheng feel as though he were standing at the heart of a violent gale.

However, upon hearing Zhu Jiuling's words, Zhou Zheng did not hesitate. He said directly, "Senior condensed your Original Divine Heart through the Time Deceleration True Meaning and became a Deity. Now, you have even mastered the complete Time Divine Heart. I wish to achieve something in the Mystery of Time, so naturally I chose you, Senior!"

"Time? Heh heh!"

Zhu Jiuling gave a cold chuckle of unclear meaning, then ordered, "Xing Yi, test his strength!"

"Yes, Master!"

The old man who had brought Zhou Zheng here immediately bowed. In the next moment, two Short Blades appeared in his hands.

"Be careful!"

The old man gave a warning. In the next moment, his entire body abruptly transformed into lightning and vanished from where he stood.

So fast!

Zhou Zheng was slightly startled. At that moment, he had no time to say anything. With a thought, he slowed everything around him.

Having reached the third level of the Time Deceleration Profound Mystery, Zhou Zheng could slow time tenfold when going all out.

But in battle, maintaining a fivefold slowdown was optimal.

Under fivefold Time Deceleration, faint lightning afterimages appeared in the air where he had previously been unable to see even a shadow.

Whoosh!

Zhou Zheng immediately drew the longsword from his back.

Clang! Clang! Clang!

In an instant, the old man's figure swept past Zhou Zheng. Zhou Zheng struck out at once, blocking dozens of the other man's attacks.

However, the opponent's attacks were both swift and fierce, making Zhou Zheng's entire body go numb involuntarily.

He's a peak Flying Heaven level Transcendental, and he has definitely mastered the Mystery of Lightning True Meaning!

Zhou Zheng's heart grew solemn. After continuously absorbing the power of heaven and earth within Origin Stones for six years, he was no longer at the initial Flying Heaven level, but he was still some distance from the peak Flying Heaven level.

The old man was already stronger and faster than Zhou Zheng, and on top of that, he had mastered the fifth-grade Mystery of Lightning True Meaning. His attacks were truly berserk.

But I can still fight him!

Zhou Zheng stood where he was, responding to countless changes with stillness.

Although his opponent had mastered the Mystery of Lightning True Meaning, Zhou Zheng had mastered several third-level Myriad Realms mysteries, including the Time Deceleration Profound Mystery, which could greatly restrict speed. Added together, Zhou Zheng was no weaker than his opponent.

It could even be said that he was stronger!

Whoosh!

The old man suddenly appeared before Zhou Zheng. The two Short Blades in his hands spun like wind-fire wheels as they viciously attacked Zhou Zheng.

Zhou Zheng did not rush to counterattack. The sword in his hand moved with incredible speed, repeatedly swinging as he used a gentle force to continuously deflect the old man's frenzied attacks.

Although Zhou Zheng had yet to condense the Mystery of Lightning into True Meaning, he had still reached the third level of the Myriad Realms with it.

He understood the Mystery of Lightning quite well. This mystery was incomparably violent and incredibly swift when attacking, but it lacked flexibility.

Thus, Zhou Zheng had incorporated the mystery of wind into it.

Likewise, the Mystery of Lightning lacked endurance. Its attacks might be incredibly violent for a time, but once an enemy dragged out the battle, it was easy to be counterkilled.

Therefore, Zhou Zheng had also been considering incorporating the Mystery of Light into it.

However, Zhou Zheng was extremely cautious with this fusion.

This was because his Mystery of Wind and Thunder had already combined to form Time Deceleration. Adding other mysteries could easily break that balance.

Although wind, thunder, and light represented time in some worlds, that was not necessarily true in this world. The World Rules were different, so certain principles could not simply be applied here.

At that moment, Zhou Zheng did not think further. He dealt with the old man's attacks move by move. Though the other man's assault was frenzied, Zhou Zheng's swordsmanship was also exquisitely precise, leaving no openings in his defense.

Suddenly, Zhou Zheng narrowed his eyes.

Whoosh!

An incomparably tricky sword strike erupted in an instant. Striking at a blind spot in the old man's attack, the precise blow instantly slammed into his body.

Sshk!

Though this strike was a "slam," a force within it madly destroyed every Particle. The old man's defensive robe was torn apart in an instant.

Bang!

The old man was sent flying, only barely stopping after crashing into a Stone Pillar.

"Cough!"

The old man coughed up blood and rose, intending to fight again. At that moment, Zhu Jiuling's voice rang out.

"Stop, Xing Yi. You are not his match!" Zhu Jiuling said calmly. "He has not even used a secret technique, yet you already went all out. The outcome between you has been decided!"

"This old servant has disgraced Master!" The old man unwillingly knelt down.

"After all, he is someone who obtained the title of Bronze Token Divine Envoy. It is already quite good that you were able to fight him to this extent!" Zhu Jiuling said. "I told you long ago that you must conserve your strength in battle. Had you corrected this sooner, you would not have lost so quickly!"

"Thank you for Master's instruction!" The old man grew even more ashamed.

"Enough. Leave!"

"Yes, Master!"

The old man answered. After bowing once more, he left directly.