For three thousand years, he must utilize every segment of time well, not only to enter the inner depths but also to find various conditions to extend his meditation in the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven and complete them.
This tests the wisdom, perseverance, opportunities, and other qualities of the cultivator.
Zhang Jian’s eyes swept over the vast clouds around him, the Great Dao’s rhyme contained within was intoxicating, but according to the hints given by the Tongshan Dao Lineage, there wasn’t much necessity to linger in the outskirts, and he wasn’t planning to stay long.
He intended to find a path through the myriad fire cloud maze to enter the inner region.
"According to the strategy guide, the outer fire cloud grand array is an innate array inherent to the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven. This innate array, combined with the power of the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven, can trap a Supreme Great Power without much issue, though the array is damaged, only retaining part of its mysteriousness, yet entrapping a Taiyi Great Power, and a Taiyi True Number wouldn’t be a problem!
With my original attainment in the Rune Forbidden Technique path, it would at most trap me for three to four hundred years.
But with the strategy guide, knowing the principles of this array’s operation, breaking through this grand array would pose no difficulty!
Moreover, the outer layer contains three opportunities to extend the retention time. If completed, the retention time within the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven can increase by at least two thousand four hundred years!"
Zhang Jian pondered secretly.
"Young man, which realm’s Human Emperor are you from? Lately, the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven has been lively, two or three Human Emperors have come one after another?"
At this moment, an elderly voice came from the void.
Upon hearing this, Zhang Jian’s eyebrows moved slightly, his eyes scanned the surroundings, the voice was hidden in space, seemingly everywhere.
However, this place is the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven, the Human Race Sacred Land, Zhang Jian was not worried that the other party was an enemy.
He immediately said, "Junior Zhang Jian, Human Emperor of the Zhou Mountain Realm, greets the senior!"
"Zhou Mountain Realm? Oh, so you’re the Human Emperor born from that ancient land!"
From the depths of the void, the voice carried a slight smile.
Moments later, strands of red light emerged from the depths of the clouds, abruptly forming an elderly figure dressed in a fiery red divine robe, exuding an immortal and Taoist aura, but his rosy face was full of age, and his gray-white hair was simply tied into a bundle, his eyes flowing like the passage of time, filled with endless deep and ancient atmosphere.
His face wore a smile, but within his eyes lay a pool of stagnant water, like air trapped in a sealed space, suffocating.
He glanced at Zhang Jian, his expression calm, seemingly not too interested, waved his hand momentarily, and divine light fell into Zhang Jian’s hand.
"This is a part of the breakthrough rules within the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven, when the time comes, this deity will kick you out of the Fire Cloud Holy Land!"
He expressed no emotion, his figure instantly transforming into a red light that disappeared.
"Really emotionless, didn’t even leave a name..."
Zhang Jian sighed inwardly.
A moment later, a faint voice came from the depths of the void.
"My name is Hongyun, an Innate God remolded by an Ancient Saint Emperor!"
"Hongyun Ancestor?"
Zhang Jian was taken aback, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes.
In an instant, he settled his mind.
Regardless of whether he is the Hongyun he imagined, currently, he has no connection with him.
He needs to complete the task in the shortest time possible, entering the core of the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven, to maximize the gains from this trip.
At this moment, Zhang Jian was holding a jade slip in his hand, containing a portion of the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven’s taboos, including forbidden areas and time limit for his stay, similar to the information he received from the Tongshan Dao Lineage.
Zhang Jian casually crushed the jade slip and flew deeper into the outer layer.
According to the information provided by the Tongshan Dao Lineage, the core of the outer layer is the Great Celestial Red Cloud Technique Ban, finding its nodes and comprehending the profoundness would allow entry.
And those three tasks are hidden, concealed in the depths of the red clouds.
Each involves repairing and perfecting a sect of the Great Celestial Red Cloud Technique Ban’s damaged node; each successful repair allows an additional eight hundred-year stay within the Fire Cloud Grotto Heaven.
Apart from these known tasks, it’s said there are also hidden opportunities for creation in the outer layer, depending on the explorer’s own fate.
Zhang Jian discerned the direction, relying on the sensitivity of his Innate Primordial Spirit, quickly locating the node.
There were several floating cloud platforms, indistinguishable from other fire clouds, but inside contained traces of Heaven and Earth Runes of Dharma Ban, faintly resonating with the surrounding clouds, forming massive space-time whirlpools.
This was the first node.
At this moment, Zhang Jian’s expression was peculiar, his eyes sweeping through the surroundings.
Along the way, he faintly discovered a hint.
This seemed to be a massive red cloud, deep within were innumerable densely packed Heaven and Earth Runes, seemingly composed of a special layer of Heaven and Earth Dao Qi, its might vast.
The Human Race Saint Emperors seem intent on repairing this cacophonic ’red cloud’!
Moreover, Zhang Jian’s mind always felt a special abnormality, temporarily suppressing this strangeness.
He believed that continuous contact might bring answers later on.
Zhang Jian’s gaze fell upon the cloud platform before him, he waved his hand, a hidden jade token flew out.
Up ahead was a line of Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Talisman, inscribed with unknown cloud patterns, followed by ’eight hundred’ written in the same script!
Evidently, it valued eight hundred years.
Zhang Jian focused himself, repairing and deciphering forbidden techniques were his forte.
One technique mastered opens all techniques, proficient in various Heaven and Earth Runes, providing great convenience.
At this moment, Zhang Jian was not merely approaching this task with a mindset of merely completing it.
The Heaven and Earth Dao Rhythms contained within this forbidden technique also presented him with opportunities.
Though each feather of a mosquito is small, the accumulation forms a qualitative change.
Zhang Jian noticed that the Heaven and Earth Runes within the forbidden technique were mostly close to their original, innate state, not later added.
They were closer to the Dao than the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Talisman.
Though Zhang Jian had little accumulation in this aspect, being an Innate God and well-versed in the Dragon and Phoenix Treasure Talisman derived from innate runes, researching these felt fluent and smooth!
Zhang Jian immediately sat cross-legged on the cloud platform, a layer of intense Innate Divine Light circulated around him, penetrating the depths of the cloud platform to examine the multitude of Heaven and Earth Runes, while also leaving no mystery of the surrounding forbidden techniques untouched.
Repairing such Heaven and Earth Forbidden Techniques requires an overall connection, ultimately making them smooth and efficient.
Not simply stitching.
He was indeed quite familiar with such matters.
Six years later, he opened his eyes, reaching into his Mountain and River Space, taking a portion of Fire Attribute Innate Divine Materials, including Fusangzi, and even Innate Fire Essence Qi condensed from the Fusang Spirit Root, instantly merging into red light entering the cloud platform beneath his feet, the once lifeless platform suddenly began to stir.
The broken Innate Technique Ban within was gradually rejoining under the merging spiritual light of Innate Divine Materials, as if reunited, glowing as in the beginning.
It slowly resonated with the numerous Innate Technique Bans around it, as if seamlessly connected.
Large bursts of red light emerged, and a moment later, a dense stream of Innate Essence Qi began to form, simultaneously gathering towards Zhang Jian.
Vast Fire Attribute Heaven and Earth Dao Laws at this moment appeared to flood into Zhang Jian’s sea of consciousness.
A massive red cloud trajectory emerged around him.
The red cloud revolved, momentarily transforming into an intense red light manifesting around Zhang Jian.
Additionally, strands of intense red light revealed various ancient fire era evolutions, gradually consolidating into a Fire Emperor Divine Form.
This was a Tier Four Immortal Technique comprehended from Sui Huang’s Dao Attainment Map.
Having received the nurturing of Fire Attribute Dao Laws, it faintly gathered grand Dao Qi ability, as if possessing a true divine rhythm, able to emerge from the passage of time, wielding an impressive Divine Power that can not only burn the heavens but also illuminate and penetrate the space-time and ages.
Witnessing this scene, Zhang Jian felt joyous in his heart.
Upon repairing this forbidden technique, he unexpectedly received a portion of Heaven and Earth Dao feedback.
This was indeed positive.
Fortuitously, this Sui Huang Immortal Technique practice was thoroughly successful, its might soon leaping to Tier Five, a considerable increase in his strength.
Yet he glanced at the resonance in the depths of the void.
Somehow, Zhang Jian sensed that this colossal ’red cloud’ seemed to be something more than a mere forbidden technique, resembling a life form?
Could he be resurrecting an ancient life form?
Zhang Jian dismissed this notion, hoping it was merely his illusion.
Otherwise, he might find himself entangled in some high-stakes situation!