During the conversation with Gai Tianjiao, Zhang Ruochen learned that yesterday, Yuan Fa Dao Ancestor had failed to transcend his divine tribulation and died in the heart tribulation.
Yuan Fa Dao Ancestor was a sleeper from the Middle Ancient era, one of the earliest great saint powerhouses to awaken after a hundred thousand years. He was also the master of Emperor Ming and Grand Master Tai Yi.
Two thousand years ago, the overt overlords of the Kunlun Realm were the Nine Emperors and Three Empresses.
In reality, the earliest awakeners like Yuan Fa Dao Ancestor were the true figures directing affairs behind the scenes. Events such as “Sword Emperor heading to the Hell Realm”, “Green Emperor apprenticing in the Western Heaven Buddha Realm”, “Emperor Ming slaying the Blood Empress”, “Chi Yao unifying the world”…
All were actually their will.
They prepared for the time after Saint Monk Xumi’s divine power dissipated, allowing the Kunlun Realm to eliminate internal threats, develop rapidly and strongly, gain support from some Heavenly Court forces, rescue Taishang, and better survive… and so on.
Many people shed blood and tears.
Many died in foreign lands.
Many endured lifelong pain, bearing heavy burdens.
But at least now, more people in the Kunlun Realm lived in a prosperous and majestic era, without the realm’s destruction and people’s demise. Descendants did not become blood food or slaves.
The future was unknown, but at least they had fought for a present full of hope.
The many pains and trials Zhang Ruochen’s family endured were due to the Blood Empress’s undead blood clan identity and the pressure from awakeners like Yuan Fa Dao Ancestor.
The deceased were gone. Who was right or wrong no longer mattered!
“He was ultimately my father’s master. I shall offer incense on behalf of my father!”
Zhang Ruochen entered the Upper Purity Palace, lit incense candles, bowed deeply, and placed them in the censer.
“If Dao Ancestor knew you offered incense for him, perhaps he could have transcended the heart tribulation.” Gai Tianjiao stared at Zhang Ruochen’s outstanding figure, her beautiful eyes misty. She felt deep admiration.
With such magnanimity, she conceded defeat wholeheartedly.
No wonder such a figure could leave her far behind.
Leaving the Upper Purity Palace, Zhang Ruochen said, “This return to the Liangyi Sect, I actually have a request. I wish to borrow the sect’s foundational secret canon, the Taiji Innate Merit.”
Gai Tianjiao was very generous. “As long as you promise not to transmit this merit to the Hell Realm, what harm in letting you view it?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “If Eldest Senior Sister trusts me, this condition is entirely superfluous.”
Gai Tianjiao thought for a moment and nodded seriously. “You are right. I worried needlessly!”
If Zhang Ruochen had intentions, he could have long transmitted various powerful inheritances from the Kunlun Realm to the undead blood clan. He would not need to specially return to the Kunlun Realm to seek the Taiji Innate Merit.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron. “I am very interested in that Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron. Eldest Senior Sister, name a price?”
Gai Tianjiao’s gaze sharpened. She scrutinised Zhang Ruochen carefully. “What are you planning? Do you want to empty the Liangyi Sect? Though the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron is no extraordinary weapon, its symbolic significance is profound. Do you think I would decide to sell it to you?”
Zhang Ruochen replied, “It is merely a cauldron!”
“Anything you, Zhang Ruochen, take interest in must be extraordinary. Originally, with the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron there, I thought little of it. But with your mention, the more I look, the more I feel it is no ordinary object.”
Gai Tianjiao added, “Being able to store the sword intent of various saints already means it is no common item. Moreover, legend says it is a relic left by the Three Purities Ancestors. I must spend more time studying it properly.”
To become sect leader, Gai Tianjiao’s intellect was naturally sharp.
Most crucially, she trusted Zhang Ruochen enough.
She believed that with his discernment, anything he valued absolutely could not be sold.
Even if he desired the bronze cauldron greatly, Zhang Ruochen would not seize it by force. He could only smile helplessly. “Trying to gain even a little advantage from Eldest Senior Sister is truly difficult.”
Chi Kongle, following behind Zhang Ruochen, stared deeply at the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron.
Gai Tianjiao walked shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Ruochen along the ancient paths they had once trodden. Lost in thought, she suddenly asked, “Since I have agreed to lend you the Taiji Innate Merit for viewing, in reciprocity, should you not tell me why you want the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron?”
Gai Tianjiao had investigated the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron several times but found nothing remarkable.
Even its ability to store sacred realm cultivators’ sword intent should not move a god like Zhang Ruochen, who possessed six divine swords.
Zhang Ruochen said, “What I value is precisely its ability to store sacred realm cultivators’ sword intent. To be honest, I promised Sword Ancestor to bear the heavy responsibility of revitalising sword dao.”
Zhang Ruochen did not reveal everything, only stating one reason.
Gai Tianjiao harboured no doubts. After all, following the battle at Star Huan Heaven, Heavenly Court great figures had speculated that Zhang Ruochen had obtained Sword Ancestor’s inheritance and mastered the cultivation method for sword soul.
There were even rumours that he grasped vast sword dao profound mysteries.
Though the Liangyi Sect was a branch of Taiji Dao, part of the Daoist lineage, it was renowned worldwide for sword dao. A thousand years ago, it was the foremost of the Kunlun Realm’s four great sword dao sacred grounds, possessing the Sword Pavilion and famous across the world.
Did Gai Tianjiao wish to obtain the sword soul cultivation method from Zhang Ruochen?
Of course she did.
As sect leader, she more than anyone hoped the Liangyi Sect’s sword dao could advance further.
Sword dao without sword soul was incomplete.
Dao laws within brought natural grandeur.
Sword dao without brought invincible conquest.
Inner sage and outer king could make one unrivalled in the world.
But she found it hard to broach the subject.
Countless cultivators worldwide practised the Taiji Innate Merit. Even Liangyi Sect sacred realm cultivators did so. Even without lending it to Zhang Ruochen, he could find ways to obtain it.
But worldwide, who else besides Zhang Ruochen cultivated sword soul?
Zhang Ruochen very likely treated the sword soul cultivation method as a trump card.
With this trump card, he could attract all sword fanatics worldwide to his banner, for his use.
How could he possibly transmit the sword soul cultivation method to the Liangyi Sect?
Gai Tianjiao asked, “Your martial dao cultivation has already… Why still wish to view the Taiji Innate Merit?”
“All merits worldwide have unique aspects. Who says they can only be used for cultivation? Using them to comprehend heaven and earth, to gain insight into the origin of the great dao, is also feasible.”
Zhang Ruochen took out a large quantity of Spring of Life, placed it in a spatial jade box, and handed it to Gai Tianjiao. “I take no unfair advantage from Senior Sister. This Spring of Life flows from beneath the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree. The Liangyi Sect will surely find it useful.”
The starry sky battlefield raged fiercely. Countless cultivators fell. Grand Master Tai Yi remained on the battlefield, unaware his master had already perished.
The Spring of Life was incomparably precious.
“There are rumours you are wealthier than god venerables. I shall not stand on ceremony with you.” Gai Tianjiao accepted the Spring of Life.
As they spoke, the two arrived at an open area.
Zhang Ruochen stopped, gazing at the distant majestic Ancient God Mountain.
Ancient God Mountain originally fell under Upper Purity Palace jurisdiction.
It had seven layers. Even the lowest first layer reached nine thousand metres. Legend said the mountain formed from the nirvana of an ancient god of the Liangyi Sect. The sacred springs within were the ancient god’s blood.
Zhang Ruochen had once climbed Ancient God Mountain, reaching at most the third layer.
The peak of the third layer housed the Sword Pavilion.
The latter four layers remained hidden in misty clouds. Even Liangyi Sect disciples could not enter.
Even the first three layers held countless places that still amazed Zhang Ruochen to this day.
For instance, the mountain could preserve the sacred souls of deceased sacred realm cultivators, with the sacred souls retaining consciousness and partial combat strength.
This was an ability only of the “Sacred Altar”.
The Sacred Altar had depleted the entire treasury of the Saint Ming Central Empire to build.
As for where Emperor Ming obtained the blueprints and how he knew the cultivation method of the Biluo Dao, it remained a mystery to this day.
It was precisely these reasons that, after becoming a god, Zhang Ruochen returned to the Liangyi Sect with the idea of re-exploring Ancient God Mountain. With his current cultivation and insight, he was confident he possessed the ability to unravel these mysteries.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What exactly is the origin of Ancient God Mountain?”
“You can ask Granny Begonia about this. She comes from that era and surely knows more than I. I only know that many sleepers from a hundred thousand years ago descended from the fourth layer.” Gai Tianjiao said.
Gai Tianjiao handed the original of the Taiji Innate Merit to Zhang Ruochen, instructing him not to take it from the Liangyi Sect, before leaving.
After departing, she immediately went to the Upper Purity Palace to study the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron.
Zhang Ruochen arrived at the peak of the third layer of Ancient God Mountain. Looking up, clouds and mist shrouded the mountain. Not only were great saint inscription patterns and arrays arranged, but also some profound divine patterns.
With his divine eyes and the profound mystery of the Heart of Truth, he could only part the clouds to clearly see the fourth, fifth, and sixth layers.
The final seventh layer remained faintly visible, unclear.
“Interesting.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly. Carrying the Taiji Innate Merit, he entered the Sword Pavilion.
…
After the battle at Star Huan Heaven, Zhang Ruochen had offended too many great figures in the Heavenly Court. Kunlun Realm cultivators on good terms with him dared not easily enter the starry sky battlefield.
They feared retaliation or assassination by their own side on the battlefield.
Chi Kunlun was especially so.
Now, Chi Kunlun presided over the First Central Imperial City as the secular emperor of the Kunlun Realm.
In the Purple Micro Palace, by the Heavenly Pool.
Chi Yao wore a loose white plain robe. Her jet-black long hair fell naturally. Her beauty was serene, lips crystalline, hands like jade. She sat cross-legged, inhaling and exhaling divine qi of heaven and earth. Brilliant radiance evolved around her.
Moonlight like water fell on her face, illuminating an exquisitely beautiful immortal visage that took one’s breath away.
Suddenly.
A pair of beautiful eyes opened. In her pupils evolved seven-coloured nebula patterns, as if able to see through ten thousand li. Invisible divine might spread forth.
Chi Kunlun sensed this aura and came to the Heavenly Pool. “Why has Mother emerged from seclusion early?”
Chi Yao stood under the moon, gazing at the sea of clouds. “I sensed it. Your father has come to the Kunlun Realm, along with your sister.”
Chi Kunlun was overjoyed. “Where are they? Have they come to the Central Imperial City? I knew Father would return. This time, he surely will not leave again! Sister has returned too. Our family can finally reunite.”
The four mysterious maidens standing afar looked at each other, all finding it inconceivable.
With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation and status, returning to the Kunlun Realm would, once news spread, surely shake the myriad realms of the Heavenly Court and the ten clans of Hell.
“Keep this matter secret. I shall go to the Liangyi Sect.”
Divine light flashed on Chi Yao’s body. She vanished.
