“Since the matter is clear, it was Ji Fanxin who killed Lu Baitou and Shan Qiu. Let the Death Temple and Green Deer Temple drop the issue.”
Prajna delivered the final verdict, representing the Destiny Temple, and announced the outcome.
Before this, Zhang Ruochen had recounted the entire incident in detail, only replacing Bai Qing’er with Ji Fanxin.
He had no choice, as Bai Qing’er and he held each other’s secrets, so Ji Fanxin had to take the blame for now.
With various forces restraining one another, the matter was significant. Resolving it by downplaying its importance was currently the best approach.
Yuan Qianmo, of course, couldn’t accept this outcome and was about to speak.
Prajna, however, fixed her gaze on him first, saying, “Why did the Death Temple’s Mo Yunduan intercept Ji Fanxin? Does Prince Qianmo know about this?”
Hearing this, Yuan Qianmo finally understood why the Destiny Temple was siding with Zhang Ruochen. They were displeased with the Death Temple’s actions.
By bringing this matter to light, Zhang Ruochen was clearly slapping the Death Temple in the face.
Yuan Qianmo grew even more displeased with Zhang Ruochen.
Still maintaining his elegant smile, he shook his head lightly, “How would we, mere saint realm cultivators, know about divine matters? I will immediately send a message back to the temple to confirm whether Mo Yunduan truly came to this star region without authorization.”
The word “without authorization” carried weight.
None of the onlookers were fools; they all understood the Death Temple’s intentions.
But with Yuan Qianmo’s cultivation on display, though they were discontent, no one dared to openly confront him.
Yuan Qianmo moved past the issue, saying, “Zhang Ruochen, since you didn’t die under the Heavenly Dao Arrow, would you care to finish what you started to say at the Goddess Tower?”
Back at the Goddess Tower, Zhang Ruochen was about to reveal Bai Qing’er’s secret, ready to go all out, when a Heavenly Dao Arrow sent him flying. Subsequently, the entire Goddess City was destroyed under the Divine Punishment Heavenly Gang Talisman.
The situation then and now were entirely different.
Now, with Bai Qing’er holding leverage over him, Zhang Ruochen had to help her conceal the truth.
The head of the Earth Fiend Ghost City, the fifth son of the Ghost Lord, Miao, said, “Regarding the supreme origin divine crystal, can Young Master Ruochen give us a clear explanation?”
At the mention of “supreme origin divine crystal,” the leaders of various forces fixed their fiery gazes on Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm, spreading his hands, “Explanation? I only happened to witness Bai Qing’er from the Twelve Goddess Towers killing Elder Seven Hands and Xing Qian in the Destiny Divine Domain. Moreover, with my low cultivation, I couldn’t even confirm if that Bai Qing’er was someone else in disguise. Beyond that, I know nothing.”
Naturally, no one believed him.
Immediately, several Supreme Realm Great Saints released their saintly might, intending to intimidate him.
“What are you doing? Planning to make a move?”
Ni Xuan sat within a haze of saintly light, her true appearance visible only to Supreme Realm Great Saints and those with spiritual power above the sixty-seventh tier.
Her words suppressed the Supreme Realm Great Saints, forcing them to retract their saintly might.
Ni Xuan continued, “Zhang Ruochen has already said he knows nothing. Are you planning to suppress him and forcibly search his soul for memories? Are the children of my Blood Absolute Family so easily bullied?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Ni Xuan, feeling even more puzzled.
A Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Nether Clan forced a smile, “The supreme origin divine crystal is of great importance. We only hope Young Master Ruochen can provide clearer details.”
“Zhang Ruochen is only at the Hundred Shackles Realm. Why do you think he has the power to steal the supreme origin divine crystal? If you want to frame him or borrow a knife to kill, don’t use such crude tactics,” Ni Xuan said.
A Supreme Realm powerhouse from the Green Deer Temple beside Lan Ying sneered, “It’s certain that Zhang Ruochen traveled with Ji Fanxin and killed Infernal Realm cultivators, isn’t it?”
“Didn’t he already explain? He was coerced by Ji Fanxin and had no choice but to travel with her,” Ni Xuan said.
Miao added, “That sounds far-fetched. From what I know, Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin were close in the Celestial Realm, practically confidants.”
As the crowd argued, a voice roared, “Enough! I’ll tell you the truth. During the battle between the Destiny Temple and Ji Fanxin, it was Zhang Ruochen who saved us, allowing us to escape. Otherwise, the Destiny Temple might have been completely wiped out.”
The speaker was Four-Eyed Lord, a Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Destiny Temple.
He was one of the four Supreme Realm Great Saints who escaped from Bai Qing’er alongside Xing Luo.
The hall fell silent.
Four-Eyed Lord continued, “It’s indeed embarrassing, and I didn’t want to admit it, but it’s the truth. Ji Fanxin is far stronger than you imagine. This seemingly harmless Hundred Flowers Fairy is already a Yuan-level genius in the Supreme Realm. Zhang Ruochen is a benefactor to the Destiny Temple!”
No one questioned Zhang Ruochen further.
Not because they believed him, but because with Ni Xuan backing the Blood Absolute Family and the Destiny Temple supporting Zhang Ruochen, no amount of questioning could harm him.
The discussion in the hall shifted to focus on how to deal with Ji Fanxin, her next moves, and how to rescue Sikong and reclaim the Tian Shu Needle.
…
Half a day later.
Zhang Ruochen stood on a rocky asteroid, gazing at a spatial wormhole in the distant void, pondering Bai Qing’er’s next actions.
In her battle with Mo Yunduan, she must have been severely injured.
Otherwise, she would have already arrived here, forcing her way through.
The killing of Lu Baitou and Shan Qiu, along with the abduction of Gong Nanfeng, was likely the work of the spatial jade turtle by her side.
Sensing someone approaching, Zhang Ruochen quickly composed himself, saying, “Your Highness, coming to find me alone, do you still have doubts?”
Xing Luo, hands behind his back, walked to Zhang Ruochen’s left, looking at the wormhole, smiling, “I came to thank you. And don’t call me Your Highness; I’m no longer a divine son.”
Unlike Yuan Qianmo’s aloof arrogance or Zhuo Yunong’s cold detachment, Xing Luo was an outlier among the Infernal Realm’s top powerhouses.
Zhang Ruochen had no aversion to him, saying, “It’s rare to hear a thank you from someone like you. I thought in the Infernal Realm, where strength reigns, the strong wouldn’t bother with the weak like me.”
“Strength reigns everywhere. There’s no equality in the world. There’s a natural chasm between the weak and the strong,” Xing Luo said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Is that so?”
“If you didn’t have exceptional talent and the identity as the Burial Gold White Tiger’s guide, I wouldn’t be standing here talking to you. That’s reality!” Xing Luo said.
Zhang Ruochen accepted this silently, saying, “Fair enough. At least you’re honest.”
Suddenly, Xing Luo said, “I looked into Bai Qing’er and found some interesting things. Want to know?”
“No thanks.”
Zhang Ruochen turned to leave.
Xing Luo, surprised, chased after him, “Why not?”
“My cultivation is too low. Knowing the secrets of powerhouses like you brings no benefit,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xing Luo said, “The Celestial Realm’s Cairo Earth Master and Klafirin, who shot you with the Heavenly Dao Arrow, both sneaked into Ice King Star through the Twelve Goddess Towers’ channels. And Bai Qing’er has vanished! I followed her trail and ran into you, Gong Nanfeng, and Ji Fanxin in the starry sky.”
Xing Luo had suspected Ji Fanxin was Bai Qing’er.
But he later dismissed the idea.
First, Zhang Ruochen was enemies with Bai Qing’er but close with Ji Fanxin. If Ji Fanxin were Bai Qing’er, how could Zhang Ruochen not see through her? And if he did, why not expose her true identity?
Second, Bai Qing’er had no reason to cause such a high-profile massacre in the Infernal Realm.
Third, he didn’t believe a woman from the Goddess Tower would dare act so boldly.
“Cairo Earth Master came to Ice King Star?” Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned cold as he asked.
Xing Luo’s last shred of doubt vanished. If Ji Fanxin were Bai Qing’er, Zhang Ruochen’s reaction to this news would have shown some flaw.
Xing Luo smiled, “Why the interest in him?”
“I have an irreconcilable grudge with the Celestial Realm,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xing Luo, clearly aware of Zhang Ruochen’s background, nodded knowingly, “The demigod Yan Yu saw Cairo Earth Master and Klafirin leading a group of Celestial Realm cultivators in Goddess City on Ice King Star. Whether it’s the theft of the Tian Shu Needle or the supreme origin divine crystal, the Twelve Goddess Towers are highly suspect. That’s why I trust you over Bai Qing’er.”
Zhang Ruochen hadn’t expected Xing Luo to be so vigilant as to investigate Bai Qing’er, saying, “Why bother with suspicions? With the Destiny Temple’s power, just wipe out the Twelve Goddess Towers.”
“It’s not that simple.”
Xing Luo shook his head, smiling, “The Twelve Goddess Towers are backed by complex forces, even within the Destiny Temple. Just because Cairo Earth Master and others sneaked into Ice King Star, how could we destroy them? Unless we can prove the Celestial Realm controls the Towers and used them to steal the supreme origin divine crystal and Tian Shu Needle.”
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. Xing Luo was clever enough, but his imagination wasn’t bold enough to grasp Bai Qing’er’s true prowess.
Controlled by the Celestial Realm?
Those Celestial Realm cultivators were likely pawns in Bai Qing’er’s hands.
At this thought, Zhang Ruochen felt a pang of sorrow, bound as he was by that cunning woman, forced to help her hide the truth.
The more he learned about Bai Qing’er, the less he wanted to kill her, but his desire to defeat her grew stronger.
One day, if he could best her with his true strength and make her say, “Great Saint Ruochen, I am defeated, utterly convinced. You are the foremost of this Yuan, the strongest I admire. Even the Blood Absolute War God and Huang Tian cannot earn such respect from me.”
That would be life’s greatest triumph!
Besides Chi Yao, few had sparked such a fierce competitive spirit in Zhang Ruochen.
He asked, “Where are Cairo Earth Master and the others now?”
Xing Luo pointed to the distant wormhole, “They escaped through that wormhole to the Hundred Clans Royal City. Yan Yu and Zhuo Yunong are already in pursuit.”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze deepened.
Cairo Earth Master, Zhou Zhen’s martial uncle, was the Hand of the World of the Celestial Realm’s Array Extinction Palace.
Zhou Zhen had told Zhang Ruochen that Cairo Earth Master was the one who planned to destroy Ziwei Palace, colluded with the Infernal Realm, and aimed to sever Kunlun Realm’s new spiritual root, the Peach Tree.
Cairo Earth Master couldn’t be the mastermind, but with Zhou Zhen’s cultivation, that was as far as he could trace.
To uncover the true orchestrators and expose the conspiracy, capturing Cairo Earth Master was essential.
This was a major breakthrough for retaliating against the Celestial Realm.
Colluding with the Infernal Realm was a grave charge, enough to topple the deities behind Cairo Earth Master, perhaps even multiple deities. At this thought, Zhang Ruochen’s blood surged with excitement.
…
Zhang Ruochen stood beneath the White Deer Saint Carriage, bathed in its gentle saintly light.
From the carriage, Ni Xuan’s voice, youthful and melodious, said, “At Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm, you can match Lan Ying at the peak of the Thousand Questions Realm. The War God wasn’t mistaken about you.”
“Why help me?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ni Xuan laughed, “Because you’re a child of the Blood Absolute Family.”
“I don’t want to hear empty words,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Ni Xuan’s tone grew serious, “Because the War God values you, seeing you as the future of the Blood Absolute Family. If a cosmic upheaval occurs and something happens to him, you, your mother, and the sixth son can still uphold the family.”
“Losing you would mean losing your mother, a blow the Blood Absolute Family cannot bear.”
“Moreover, the War God genuinely likes you, doting on you more than any of his sons, with great expectations for your future. He believes you can fulfill what he couldn’t.”
“In the Blood Absolute Family, the War God is the heavens, the sole faith. If I went against his will, do you think I’d have a place in the family?”
Zhang Ruochen believed her, smiling, “So, you’re doing this to resolve the conflict with my mother?”
There was no direct enmity between him and Ni Xuan; the conflict stemmed from Blood Empress and Ni Xuan.
Ni Xuan said, “You’re sharp, so I’ll be direct. You’re the best person to mediate our conflict. I wronged your mother back then, and I’ve apologized to her and the sixth son in the War God’s presence, willingly giving up all power. My son has gone to the Merit Battlefield.”
“Truly given up all power?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ni Xuan sighed, “You mean Ice King Star?”
“The patriarch has declared that Ice King Star’s assets are all mine now. If you hand them over, I might consider persuading my mother,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Ni Xuan replied, “I cannot give them to you.”
“Why not?”
Zhang Ruochen was puzzled. With Ni Xuan’s cultivation, just a step from divinity, why cling to Ice King Star’s meager wealth?
Ni Xuan said, “The third son may not see your purpose, but I do. You’re securing Ice King Star as a fallback to escape the Infernal Realm and return to Kunlun, aren’t you? Sorry, the War God doesn’t want you to leave. So, I cannot let you have it. Instead, I must watch you and sever all your ties to Kunlun Realm.”
