Consuming Earths, Devouring Skies

Yan Zaizen wasn’t the only one frustrated by the current situation, Ezekiel had an even bigger headache. He absolutely needed Yan Zaizen to accomplish his mission. The importance of the upcoming Heaven’s Claim was far too important, a genuine matter of life or death, not just for him but to all those who followed him. He had no other substitutes nor options to choose, so Yan Zaizen was his only hope. If that wasn’t the case, he wouldn’t have traveled heavens personally.

Ezekiel’s expression was dignified and solemn, a trace of contemplation and wariness within his bright and endless gaze. For a moment, he glanced at the current Yan Zaizen. This Yan Zaizen lacked the definitive law powers that emanated from the other, and his cultivation level was severely lacking. Furthermore, this clone’s soul did not contain that mysterious black hole that devoured all things soul.

This Yan Zaizen was useless to him. Either against his enemy or in resisting Heavenly Spark’s refinement process.

But Yan Zaizen thought differently. While he lacked his comprehension of laws, he still possessed a fragment of his Soul Cultivation. Furthermore, he absorbed a trace of Heavenly Will into his Dao. Having cultivated for thousands of years, he had a glimpse of understanding in how the world functions and what his limitations might be.

Frowning, Ezekiel said: "While your original body is trapped in that mysterious area, there’s nothing I can do." He gave off a sigh, one suffused with the wisp of frustration and disappointment. "Guess this is fate..." He had no need to linger. It was best that he returned, finding another means to solve his obstacles.

Yan Zaizen wasn’t in a rush to interject his own thoughts. He wanted to thoroughly contemplate his options before deciding. While Ezekiel needed his help, he didn’t have any obligation to do so. Instead, he wanted to further his goals of entering Hell and saving his original body.

The Infernal Path and Herculean Path might have a small chance of success in performing the latter, but it was small - not none. In fact, it might be better if Ezekiel failed in his expedition of Heaven’s Claim. That way, when he fought the Heavenly God of this heaven for Pinaka, he wouldn’t need to enter conflict with Ezekiel. Of course, this thinking wasn’t his reason for contemplation. Regardless of what, he would be forced into conflict with a Heavenly God, not necessarily this one.

Ezekiel’s silver wings started to slowly suffuse with a bright glow as spatial power started to ripple outwards. He was readying for his departure. Staying was not an option. He had little time and very little options. He needed to prepare.

Just as he was about to leave, he abruptly halted. The spatial powers engulfing his body started to dwindle as he regarded Yan Zaizen. For some strange reason, he felt that Yan Zaizen wasn’t too worried about his body or disappointed. There was an itch at the back of his mind that allude to something as he watched Yan Zaizen’s expression.

"What is it?" Ezekiel landed before Yan Zaizen. He felt that Yan Zaizen’s reaction was strange. If it was anyone else, at any other time, he wouldn’t necessarily care, but Yan Zaizen was a mysterious enigma that took his life, saved his life, and held similar qualities as his own. As someone who fought without end and experienced all sorts of arduous challenges, he knew of that expression.

Yan Zaizen slowly lifted his head and stared at Ezekiel’s handsome face. In the end, he softly sighed. "If you claim this heaven, could you use its strength to save my body?" Heavenly Gods possessed an absolute power within their domains and near-omnipotence.

Ezekiel thought for a moment. If he were to take into account that the Deep Mines’ mysterious space was still within the domain of the 27th Heaven, then it was possible. But he couldn’t be absolutely certain. The force within could suppress heavenly might. That being said, to what degree? Could it resist the power of the Heavenly Spark and Heavenly Dao Might?

"I’m not sure. Likely has a sixty-percent chance of success. Even when my father ruled this heaven, he never once told me of such a strange and mysterious place. And there were locations that even he was scared of, and he had informed me of that. But never this." Ezekiel was honest. It was beneath him to make uncertain promises or agreements. Furthermore, he wasn’t certain if Yan Zaizen had a trump card that could help him.

"I see. Then, I’ll help you. Whether we succeed or not, I’ll try," Yan Zaizen said. While it wasn’t certainty of success, be it in Heaven’s Claim or rescuing his body, it would still be good to have multiple avenues.

Ezekiel stared at Yan Zaizen intently, "How?"

Yan Zaizen’s amber-gold eyes started to flicker with a forceful light that emitted his Dao infused with Heavenly Will. As he did, his soul energy that hadn’t fully recovered started to ripple outwards. Despite his current soul being a split from his original, it contained the quintessential Soulforce of the Paragon Soul Realm. With sufficient resources and time, he could regain a portion of his strength or even beyond it.

Ezekiel stilled. His eyes inspected Yan Zaizen for a long while before he blinked. "Divine Soul Realm?" His voice was filled with uncertainty. As the former son of a Heavenly God, and an utmost talent of cultivation, he knew of the intricate nature of the Soul Source Path.

The cultivation path was on the same level as the Heavenly Path, Infernal Path, Fiendgod Path, and others. In fact, it might be far, far stronger. It contained characteristics of the Heavenly Path’s Law of the Soul, Infernal Path, and Origin Path. The cultivation of it didn’t require immense energies or refinement, but a cultivation of the self. Its strength was incredible and the things it could achieve exceeds both the Law of the Soul and Infernal Path in some ways.

However, while it was incredibly powerful and mysterious, it was similarly difficult to cultivate to the point of being endlessly frustrating. This was due to the requirements of cultivating one’s sense of self and soul. To understand oneself is a feat very, very few can achieve, but when one completely comprehended themselves, the most they could or would achieve was the peak-Astral Soul Realm.

Even he, someone with an Upper-tier False Grand Dao, had merely reached this level. But it wasn’t that powerful. The next level, the Divine Soul Realm, was a lost cultivation level that belonged purely to a specific force from ancient times. They had even broken through this realm that no other could achieve and entered the Immortal Soul Realm.

Since then, the two realms were introduced as part of the Soul Source Path. But he had felt the aura of a Divine Soul before, and Yan Zaizen’s soul aura wasn’t it. It lacked that majesty that reigned supreme over all creation. In his senses, he felt a soul aura that was without flaw, without equal, and perfectly balanced. Even his own soul tingled at it, a desire to come in contact with it emerged from the bottom of his soul.

Yan Zaizen shook his head, his bright eyes dimmed. "It’s the Paragon Soul Realm." Others didn’t know that the next step of introspection was evolution of self, a sense of enlightenment. It was only after knowing this did he realize that the Soul Source Path was as divergent and unique as the Heavenly Path.

In the Heavenly Path, one can create their own Original Law, Path, and Heaven. This was miraculous beyond imagination, but everyone knew this was required of them. And in the Soul Source Path, after the Astral Soul Realm, the next stage was devised and generated from your soul, a unique stage to you.

As for how the Divine Soul and Immortal Soul propagated enough to become widely recognized and a sect at that was due to the soul’s ability to adapt and synchronize. If Yan Zaizen wanted, he could infuse his soul aura into others, allowing them to seek enlightenment of his path and embark into the road of a Paragon. It was similar to a Dao.

Ezekiel’s expression changed. Surprise and shock flashed across his face as he regarded the soul aura even more deeply, his various senses intent on discovering its innate qualities. When he felt the aura and its power, he frowned. "It’s weak?"

Yan Zaizen warily smiled, "I split my soul. I need to recover. If I can, then fighting against that expert you fear, I’ll be able to hold him off, perhaps even kill." While his words seemed to lack confidence, his tone didn’t. Yan Zaizen had complete trust that his Paragon Soul Realm, even at its initial development stage, was invincible.

Ezekiel’s eyes brightened as he finally saw a glimmer of hope. Even if Yan Zaizen couldn’t help him in resisting the Heavenly Spark’s feedback, he could still help stall that expert. This was sufficient to make this trip worthy of his time and effort expended. As for recovering his soul energy? If it was merely filling water into a container, he had numerous means and methods to do so.

"Then, our deal is still in effect. If I succeed in my attempt of claiming this heaven, I’ll use my full strength to retrieve your body," Ezekiel promised. As the Heavenly God, he would be an existence that was unrivaled. With the 27th Heaven’s entire power within his grasp, what couldn’t he achieve?

Yan Zaizen nodded. "What’s this expert you’re afraid of?" His curiosity finally unfolded.

Ezekiel’s expression changed again. He slightly gritted his teeth and said, "His accomplishments in the soul are two-fold. Not only did he establish a Minor Heaven with the Heavenly Law of Soul, but he also possesses a unique soul..."

"A unique soul?" Xiao Shinji subconsciously asked, Ezekiel’s tone and words filled him with an urge to ask. While he had remained silent for most of this conversation, he had listened and gathered.

Ezekiel glanced at Xiao Shinji. "Yes, a unique soul. He had obtained the lost legacy of the ancient sect in the Heavenly Origin Grounds, constructing a Divine Soul."

"..." Xiao Shinji was sent into silence. He knew that a Divine Soul exceeded the Astral Soul Realm in the Soul Source Path, but he was mostly ignorant of its origins or strength.

"No wonder..." Yan Zaizen finally understood. If it was just a Heavenly Law of Soul cultivator, it would be simple to use treasures, but those at the Divine Soul Realm can use various abilities unique to the Soul Source Path, such as Soul World. It was this power that allowed him to dominate Lady Ching-chien. But she was a Heavenly Monarch with an Original Law, far stronger fundamentally than this figure.

The only difference was his power. In truth, he might be similar to Lady Ching-chien in strength.

Despite that, after learning of Yan Zaizen’s Paragon Soul, Ezekiel’s confidence surged.