Chapter 77: Tenth-Stage Dao Foundation, Mysterious Lotus Pedestal!

The movement techniques of the Yellow Springs Sect Disciples were like ghosts, as their sinister black Qi transformed into giant clawed pythons that lunged at the unknown Loose Cultivators blocking their path.

The Blood Demon Sect was even more violent; Blood Wuhen activated a Blood Banner, and wherever the blood-colored streak passed, whether they were righteous or evil, those with weaker cultivation were instantly drained of their essence blood!

Other Schools were not to be outdone, but the Loose Cultivators suffered the most; with the slightest carelessness, their lives and cultivation would be extinguished.

Whoosh!

The gaze beneath Blood Wuhen's bronze ghost mask suddenly sharpened, and a hint of amusement flashed across his lips as he looked at the spot where Zhou Chen had disappeared.

"That just now was… the aura of a powerhouse. Interesting."

…

Ancient and mysterious.

Just as he stepped into the Secret Realm, Zhou Chen suddenly felt pressure coming from all directions, along with faintly audible Buddhist chants and intermittent demonic sounds.

Some Loose Cultivators with low cultivation began to cry and laugh alternately, appearing bizarre to the extreme.

If one's Mental Energy isn't strong enough, an ordinary person would likely be turned into an idiot by a mental attack of this level, Zhou Chen thought to himself.

Secretly becoming vigilant, he slowly circulated the Divine Concealment Art and the Tai Chu Chaos Sutra, and the bizarre sensation gradually began to disappear.

Whoosh!

A figure ahead turned into a streak of light and sped forward; although well-hidden, Zhou Chen could tell at a glance that it was Ye Chen.

Zhou Chen didn't dawdle either and quietly followed.

Before long, relying on the perception of Ye Chen's Ring Spirit, they bypassed many Vicious Beasts and dangerous areas, unknowingly arriving deep within the Secret Realm.

Temples, palaces, and pagodas were everywhere here.

Further ahead, an endless spiritual pool appeared.

The next moment, the calm spiritual pool suddenly surged!

Boom!

Three golden-bodied Puppets wearing tattered monk robes appeared; these Puppets were sixty feet tall, their entire bodies were dark gold, and their auras were all at the tenth layer of Foundation Establishment!

They were Dharma-Protecting Arhats in life, and after death, they were eroded by Buddha Power and transformed into guardian Puppets!

"Moo!"

These Puppets didn't notice Zhou Chen, but Ye Chen wasn't so lucky.

The person and the three Puppets began to fight.

Taking advantage of this gap, Zhou Chen quietly bypassed Ye Chen and quickly arrived in front of an ancient palace.

This was exactly the palace where the Ancient Buddha Sarira mentioned in Ye Chen's Opportunity was located.

Just as he stepped into the main hall, two first-layer Core Formation Puppets instantly locked onto Zhou Chen.

A giant Buddhist palm struck down, blotting out the sun.

Zhou Chen's expression remained unchanged; his left hand slapped the Spirit Beast Bag, and the Red Flame Crystal Tiger lunged at one of the Puppets, engaging it in combat.

Rumble!

His right hand gripped the air, and the Myriad Phenomena Cauldron appeared out of nowhere, expanding rapidly as it smashed violently toward the other Core Formation Puppet.

"Die!"

Zhou Chen shouted sternly, and with a flash of golden light from the Myriad Phenomena Cauldron, the Core Formation Puppet was instantly rendered immobile as a large crater was smashed into the ground.

Sizzle, sizzle, sizzle!

A streak of Golden Earth Glazed Flame shot out, and a large hole was actually burned right through the chest of the Core Formation Puppet.

On the other side, the Red Flame Crystal Tiger also finished its battle; the Puppet's attacks felt like mere scratches on its body, while the Puppet itself was torn into pieces, its parts scattered in a heap.

Zhou Chen walked up to a Buddha statue and struck out with a palm, causing the statue to collapse with a crash.

At the base where the statue had stood, a crystal-clear jade box appeared, looking like no ordinary item.

With a sweep of spiritual power, the jade box flew into Zhou Chen's hand.

Opening the jade box, a Sarira about the size of a fist, perfectly round and flowing with seven-colored glazed Buddhist light, slowly floated out.

It was indeed the Ancient Buddha Sarira!

The entire cave was instantly filled with Buddhist light, and low-pitched Sanskrit chanting seemed to transcend time and space, echoing directly deep within his Soul.

Zhou Chen was shaken; the power contained within this Sarira far exceeded his imagination.

He didn't dare to delay and immediately stepped forward to take it into his hand.

It felt warm to the touch, and a vast essence frantically surged against his Meridians; had it not been for the deep Foundation of the Tai Chu Chaos Sutra, he might have been instantly burst apart.

[Ding! Successfully intercepted Ye Chen's Opportunity, obtaining the High Grade Saint Rank treasure: Ancient Buddha Sarira! Triggered ten-thousand-fold return! Obtained one High Grade Imperial Rank Ancestral Buddha Sarira! Would you like to claim it?]

The System's notification rang out at the right time!

Even with Zhou Chen's firm resolve, he couldn't help but feel his heart racing at this moment.

An Ancestral Buddha Sarira!

This was a supreme holy object completely beyond the cognitive scope of the Southern Region's cultivation world!

The greatest effect of a Sarira is to enhance one's Aptitude and Foundation, and it is only effective upon the first use; an Ancestral Buddha Sarira was something that likely only the legendary Imperial Clans could possess.

If the energy of the Ancient Buddha Sarira was like a lake, then this Ancestral Buddha Sarira was like a boundless ocean!

"Claim the Ancestral Buddha Sarira!"

Just by holding it, Zhou Chen felt as if his Soul was being cleansed and sublimated, and his understanding of the Tai Chu Chaos Sutra seemed to become a fraction clearer.

Zhou Chen did not hesitate for a second.

This place was full of dangers, and he could encounter Blood Wuhen at any time; he had to refine it as quickly as possible!

His figure flickered, and taking the Red Flame Crystal Tiger with him, he instantly disappeared from the spot and entered the Guiyi Secret Realm.

Sitting cross-legged, Zhou Chen took a deep breath and formed hand seals.

The Tai Chu Chaos Sutra operated at full power!

Black and white runes circulated wildly as Zhou Chen held the Imperial Rank Ancestral Buddha Sarira at his Dantian, carefully guiding it into his body with a wisp of Spiritual Qi.

Buzz!

The moment that wisp of Buddha Power entered his body, Zhou Chen's entire body shook violently, and his mind hummed!

It was as if a world-shattering boom exploded deep within his Soul!

That seemingly tiny wisp of essence contained unimaginably terrifying power, rampaging through Zhou Chen's Meridians!

Intense pain swept through his entire body!

His Meridians, bones, and flesh felt as if they were being repeatedly hammered by billions of red-hot steel needles!

And at the same time, a surging life force was also continuously nourishing Zhou Chen's body!

Zhou Chen gritted his teeth, the veins on his forehead bulging.

He knew that the power of the Imperial Rank Sarira was too immense, far exceeding the limits of what his current Realm could withstand!

If the Undying Golden Body Art hadn't already reached the Peak of the third layer, Zhou Chen's Physical Body would likely have collapsed by now.

"Steady!!"

Zhou Chen roared in his heart, and the black and white Tai Chu runes within him spun at an unprecedented speed.

"Advance for me!"

Zhou Chen made a prompt decision, guiding that wisp of Imperial Rank Origin to slowly merge into the core of his Dao Foundation.

Rumble!

The moment Zhou Chen's Dao Foundation Lotus Pedestal touched the Imperial Rank Origin, it vibrated violently.

The ninth-stage Dao Foundation began to crack inch by inch from the edges; first stage, second stage, until the entire ninth-stage Dao Foundation shattered into pieces, leaving only darkness.

"No!!!"

Zhou Chen's eyes nearly burst from their sockets, unable to believe that the Dao Foundation he had worked so hard to build was gone just like that.

How could he possibly accept this?

Just as Zhou Chen was in despair, the black and white Tai Chu runes turned into a streak of light and plunged resolutely into the depths of his Dao Foundation.

The next moment.

A beam of light pierced the darkness!

A microscopic black and white dot began to frantically devour the nutrients of the Ancestral Buddha Sarira at a terrifying speed.

It gradually took root and sprouted, eventually growing rapidly into a crystal-clear Dao Foundation Lotus Pedestal.

Gradually, dark gold patterns began to appear on the Dao Foundation Lotus Pedestal, changing from a blur to being distinct.

Around the Lotus Pedestal, billions of profound black and white light spots revolved slowly like the orbits of stars.

It was chaotic, ancient, and mysterious, containing a terrifying pressure!

"Could this be the legendary… Tenth-Stage Dao Foundation?!"

Zhou Chen couldn't help but cry out in shock!