Sitting in the pavilion, Great Saint Qingsheng, with a smile on his face, praised, “Ruochen, Xuetu just told me everything. This time, you did well. Acquiring the Seven Cauldron Divine Wandering Pill will surely elevate the overall strength of the Blood Heaven Tribe’s banquet attendees significantly.”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze turned to Xuetu, a cold glint in his eyes.
Xuetu, feeling aggrieved and helpless, said, “Senior Brother, I had no choice. With Great Saint Qingsheng’s keen insight, how could I hide anything from him?”
“You swore an oath to the heavens,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Great Saint Qingsheng remarked, “In the Hell Realm, no cultivator trusts the heavens. What are the heavens? The Hell Realm cultivators believe in fate, darkness, slaughter, death, or the gods.”
Xuetu was startled, not expecting Great Saint Qingsheng to trick him too. This old man was cunning, likely retaliating for Xuetu’s earlier secrecy.
Who did I provoke?
Before Zhang Ruochen could get angry, Xuetu hurriedly said, “Senior Brother, listen to my explanation. It’s not what you think. I didn’t reveal a single word to Great Saint Qingsheng, he guessed it all.”
Zhang Ruochen poured a cup of holy spring, handed it to Great Saint Qingsheng, and said leisurely, “Then swear again, in the name of your father god.”
“Another oath?”
Xuetu felt bitter. A grand Great Saint, a fearsome figure to cultivators across the Heavenly Realm, reduced to acting like a grandson.
With no choice, Xuetu swore again.
In his current situation, offending Zhang Ruochen would leave him no place in the Divine Domain of Fate.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Uncle, there might be a misunderstanding. I bought the Divine Wandering Pill for my own use. Of course, if the Blood Heaven Tribe’s banquet attendees can afford the price, I might sell some to them.”
Great Saint Qingsheng, familiar with Zhang Ruochen’s temperament, didn’t press him. His eyes moved up and down, and he said, “Naturally, you paid a high price for it, so how could you give it away casually? Even I, your uncle, wouldn’t be so generous.”
Then, both Great Saint Qingsheng and Zhang Ruochen fell silent.
Zhang Ruochen knew that Great Saint Qingsheng’s visit to Vast Ocean Manor was not for idle chat, there must be another purpose, so he waited.
Waited for him to speak first.
Great Saint Qingsheng’s gaze fell on the Sundial, exclaiming, “What a remarkable time treasure. One year of cultivation here equals one day outside. What a pity, such a pity!”
“What’s the pity?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Great Saint Qingsheng said, “It’s a pity it’s been damaged, no longer in its former glory. It has no spirit, and its range is only two hundred zhang, making its value limited. For gods, it’s even less useful.”
A god, once immersed in cultivation, enters a selfless state, their divine body expanding to its full size.
Could a mere two hundred zhang contain them?
“The Sundial’s attack power is still formidable, I’m sure many gods would want to seize it,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Hmph! Seize it from you? Even the Heavenly God Xiuchen was taught a lesson, who would dare try?” Great Saint Qingsheng snorted.
After a pause, he sighed, “Xuechen and Xiaoxiao are top talents of the Blood Absolute Family’s generation, but as the acting patriarch, I can’t provide them with the best cultivation environment or resources. Ruochen, before the Hunting Heaven Banquet, why not let them cultivate within the Sundial’s range?”
“That’s… certainly possible,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Great Saint Qingsheng was overjoyed, laughing, “With the Sundial’s help, gaining decades of cultivation time, they’ll surely accumulate more holy path rules before the banquet. On their behalf, I thank you.”
Xuetu, standing aside, sneered, seeing through Great Saint Qingsheng’s cunning plan. He clearly sent his children to get close to Zhang Ruochen, who controlled vast cultivation resources, hoping they’d gain even a small benefit, which would be immensely valuable for Xuechen and Xueningxiao.
“Even Great Saint Qingsheng sets aside pride to curry favour with Zhang Ruochen. Should I be more proactive?” Xuetu thought.
“No need for thanks. Uncle, just help me test the Purple Gold Gourd’s power,” Zhang Ruochen said, summoning the gourd from the Qiankun Realm.
At the same time, Lianxi, Hong, Shentu Yunkong, and Zhou Zhen emerged from the World Gate, appearing in Vast Ocean Manor.
The four Great Saints were wary, observing their surroundings while staying cautious of Xuetu and Great Saint Qingsheng.
“They’re Great Saints of the Undying Blood Clan, one with unfathomable cultivation. Where is this place?” Zhou Zhen was shocked, cold sweat on his back.
Could this truly be the Hell Realm?
To Heavenly Realm cultivators, the Hell Realm meant death and darkness.
Falling into the hands of Hell Realm cultivators meant a fate worse than death, filling their hearts with intense fear.
“It’s Xuetu! Why is he with Zhang Ruochen, and they seem close?” Lianxi recognised the notorious figure from the Merit Battlefield, unable to comprehend why Zhang Ruochen called him a brother.
Could Zhang Ruochen be a Hell Realm spy in the Heavenly Realm?
Lianxi’s heart sank, looking up but seeing no light, as if trapped in a dark prison, unsure of what torment awaited.
Shentu Yunkong, Hong, and Zhou Zhen also felt a wave of despair.
Zhang Ruochen ignored their emotions, instructing Xuetu, “Watch them, we’ll be back soon.”
Zhang Ruochen and Great Saint Qingsheng entered the jungle micro-world to test the Purple Gold Gourd’s power.
Great Saint Qingsheng, owing Zhang Ruochen a favour for allowing his children to cultivate, didn’t refuse.
The test results came quickly.
“The Purple Gold Gourd’s suction power has increased by about twenty percent,” Great Saint Qingsheng concluded.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Can it threaten the top ten Great Saints in the Hundred Shackles Realm?”
“Them? Each has the strength to defeat or kill a Thousand Questions Realm Great Saint. Your gourd poses a threat, but capturing them isn’t easy unless you further enhance its suction,” Great Saint Qingsheng said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded, then, curious, asked, “Uncle, what grade is the holy intent you’ve condensed?”
Great Saint Qingsheng, rather proud, said, “Fourth grade.”
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly, “Only fourth grade?”
Great Saint Qingsheng, sensing the disdain in Zhang Ruochen’s tone, darkened, saying coldly, “A fourth-grade holy intent is already top-tier, with a chance to become a god. You should inquire, in the entire Blood Heaven Tribe, those with fifth-grade or higher holy intents in the Supreme Realm are rare.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What grade is the holy intent of Blood Absolute War God?”
“From what I know, the War God cultivated nine types of holy intent, which, after multiple fusions, became two second-grade intents,” Great Saint Qingsheng said, eyes full of reverence.
The Blood Absolute War God was an insurmountable divine mountain in his heart, worthy of lifelong worship.
That he cultivated nine holy intents amazed Zhang Ruochen.
Yet, with his talent, only producing two second-grade intents left Zhang Ruochen somewhat disappointed.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Is there no Great Saint who has condensed a first-grade holy intent?”
“First-grade holy intent?”
Great Saint Qingsheng coughed dryly, saying earnestly, “Ruochen, I know your talent is great, but don’t aim too high. In the Hell Realm, sometimes an entire yuan hui—129,600 years—passes without a Great Saint achieving a second-grade holy intent.”
“The top ten Great Saints in the Hundred Shackles Realm are the most talented in the Hell Realm this millennium. Yet, only six have third-grade holy intents, and four have fourth-grade.”
“When the War God cultivated two second-grade holy intents, it caused a huge stir among the gods.”
“If you can condense one second-grade holy intent, it’ll solidify your status as a yuan hui-level genius. If you manage two, heh, even Hell Realm forces hostile to you might set aside grudges, perhaps even offering their clan’s prized daughters to ease relations.”
“Really that exaggerated?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Great Saint Qingsheng said, “The Blood Absolute Family producing another Blood Absolute War God, is that exaggerated?”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Historically, has any Great Saint condensed a first-grade holy intent?”
“Probably not.”
After careful thought, Great Saint Qingsheng added, “Though legends mention cultivators achieving it, divine analysis deemed it unlikely.”
“You see, holy intent is tied to mysteries.”
“In the universe, any mystery’s quantity is an eternal ‘one,’ or one hundred percent. If you cultivate a first-grade holy intent, upon becoming a god, you’d control one hundred percent of that mystery, becoming its absolute master. Is that possible?”
“No cultivator can achieve a third-grade or higher holy intent in a single path. It requires fusing with other intents.”
Zhang Ruochen, thoughtful, said, “So, if I cultivate a first-grade holy intent in the Path of Time, upon becoming a god, I’d control one hundred percent of time’s mysteries, becoming the universe’s absolute master of time?”
“Correct, but that’s impossible. Even Saint Monk Xumi only mastered less than half of time’s mysteries, accumulated over countless millennia,” Great Saint Qingsheng said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “If I cultivate a second-grade time holy intent, upon becoming a god, I’d master fifty percent of time’s mysteries? A third-grade, twenty-five percent?”
Great Saint Qingsheng said, “Theoretically, yes. But no cultivator has achieved a third-grade holy intent in a single path. So, mastering twenty-five percent of time’s mysteries upon becoming a god is impossible.”
“Besides, it’s unknown if there’s even twenty-five percent of time’s mysteries available. If not, you’d need to wait for gods holding time’s mysteries to fall, returning them to the universe.”
“Also, the Time Temple, mimicking the Truth and Fate Temples, seeks to collect all scattered time mysteries.”
“If they succeed, even if you become a god via the Path of Time, you’d gain no mysteries unless you storm the Time Temple and seize them.”
“Honestly, I know little about mysteries. What I’ve said is my speculation and from texts. Don’t think too far ahead. Focus on condensing more, higher-grade holy intents for now.”
After this, Great Saint Qingsheng sighed deeply.
The word “mysteries” gave him a headache.
His fourth-grade holy intent meant, even if he became a god, mastering mysteries was impossible.
Gods who master mysteries are exceedingly rare.
Though six of the top ten Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints have third-grade holy intents, they’re the Hell Realm’s best in a millennium, prime targets for the Heavenly Realm to eliminate.
If even one survives to become a god, it’d be remarkable.
Most with third-grade holy intents die in the Supreme Realm or at the Heavenly Realm’s hands.
Becoming a god is a near-impossible leap.
Zhang Ruochen sought more advice on condensing holy intents, then they left the jungle micro-world, returning to Vast Ocean Manor.
The manor was in ruins, the ground blackened, once molten, now frozen.
The Bing Si District, where Blood Heaven Tribe cultivators gathered, was fortified with top Great Saint inscriptions, yet many were breached, destroying buildings.
The Sundial, guarded by Moyin and Zhang Ruochen’s five holy aspects, still hovered over the manor.
Great Saint Qingsheng’s eyes darkened, saying, “Damn it.”
“I’ll handle this,” Zhang Ruochen said, knowing what happened.
The four Heavenly Realm Great Saints wouldn’t stay quietly in Vast Ocean Manor, and Xuetu alone couldn’t suppress them.
With a flash, he left the manor.
In Bing Si District, many Blood Heaven Tribe Great Saints gathered. Shentu Yunkong, Zhou Zhen, Lianxi, and Hong failed to escape.
When Zhang Ruochen arrived, the four were subdued.
Shentu Yunkong’s body was cleaved in two by a sword.
Still alive, his halves were hung up, with cauldrons below catching his dripping holy blood.
“Kill me!” Shentu Yunkong roared in humiliation.
A Hundred Shackles Great Saint twisted Zhou Zhen’s body like a rope using blood fiend energy, his flesh tearing, bones cracking, holy blood flowing into the Great Saint’s mouth.
Zhou Zhen’s screams were harrowing.
Hong, equally wretched, was chained by the neck by another Hundred Shackles Great Saint, dragged like a dog.
Laughter echoed around.
Most eyes, however, were on Lianxi.
Bound by three blood-red chains at her wrists and waist, Lianxi was immobile, as if about to be torn apart.
The chains, formed from potent blood fiend energy, were held by three Hundred Shackles Great Saints.
The Nine Immortals Beauty Chart was famous in the Hell Realm, and capturing one of its fairies was a goal for many in the Merit War.
Now, such a stunning fairy in the Hell Realm became the Blood Heaven Tribe’s prime target.
Possessing a fairy was secondary, the real prize was prestige.
Taking a Nine Immortals fairy as a concubine or slave would earn envy.
“Canghu, Beihuang, I’ll give you each a hundred divine stones to let me have the Shadowless Fairy,” Great Saint Xueqi said.
Emperor Canghu laughed, “Generous, but I lack not divine stones, only a woman to bear my heir. The Shadowless Fairy seems perfect.”
“Her unique physique and talent would produce fine offspring. She’s better as my concubine,” Great Saint Xueqi said.
Beihuang said, “Canghu, Xueqi, I’ll offer each a hundred divine stones and ten saint-realm beauties for the Shadowless Fairy.”
“No, I want her. Whoever competes with me today is my mortal enemy,” Emperor Canghu declared.
…
Xuetu spotted Zhang Ruochen, his eyes darting, seizing the chance, rushing out, shouting, “What are you three fighting over? The Shadowless Fairy is already my Senior Brother’s woman. You dare covet her, seeking death?”
With Xuetu’s current prestige, no cultivator dared ignore him.
“She’s Zhang Ruochen’s woman?” Great Saint Xueqi’s face stiffened.
Xuetu said, “Long ago.”
In Xuetu’s view, since Zhang Ruochen captured Lianxi and kept her in his micro-world, any normal man would have already done what needed doing.
Lianxi, furious, said coldly, “Xuetu, speak nonsense again, and I’ll die with you.”
“Where’s the nonsense? Dare you deny nothing happened with my Senior Brother?”
Xuetu sneered, adding, “Fairy, be honest. With my Senior Brother as your backer, you’ll fare better in the Hell Realm. Otherwise, in their hands, they might tire of you in a few years, gifting you to another Great Saint or selling you as a slave in the Star Sea World.”
