Back then, Master of Death God Island extracted a drop of white liquid, suspected to be sword source, from Supreme Purity’s eight million divine soul thoughts and fused it into the sword seal. Yet now, the white liquid within the sword seal had completely dissipated.
The reason Zhang Ruochen had managed to wound Famous Sword God with a single sword earlier was precisely that this drop of suspected sword source liquid had dispersed and merged with the Sword Ancestor soul swords, vastly amplifying their power.
Master of Death God Island had said this drop of white liquid possessed astonishing might, capable of piercing straight through Kunlun Realm. Zhang Ruochen now believed it utterly.
Could it truly be sword source?
Dragon Lord asked, “Why do you ask this?”
Zhang Ruochen explained why he had been able to unleash that sword, then added, “In the instant the white liquid fused with the Sword Ancestor soul swords, my consciousness seemed to pierce through space and time. I saw an extremely strange scene.”
“It was a world completely devoid of colour. More precisely, there was only white. Everything in it was white.”
“White mountains, white water, white plants and trees. In such a world, only one person bore colour. That person looked exactly like Supreme Purity Ancestor.”
“He was forging a sword. His aura was immensely powerful. He seemed to notice my consciousness and glanced towards me. Unfortunately, the vision lasted only a moment.”
At the Two Forms Sect, Zhang Ruochen had seen portraits of Supreme Purity.
Dragon Lord’s expression grew much graver. “If these words had come from anyone else, I would have struck them down on the spot for utter nonsense. Do you realise how perilous the world you just described truly is?”
“It is called the Colourless Realm, the most dangerous realm within Li Hen Tian. Any Grand Void great god seeking a breakthrough to the Immeasurable Realm who reaches the edge of the Colourless Realm immediately turns away.”
Zhang Ruochen was stunned. “The Colourless Realm? Uncle Dragon, every word I spoke is true.”
“I naturally believe you.”
Dragon Lord gazed deep into the Dark Night Realm Gate, as if trying to peer through the chaotic space-time. Inwardly, he wondered whether this place actually held an entrance to Li Hen Tian.
“There were indeed some hidden truths surrounding Supreme Purity’s death back then.”
Confusion appeared on Dragon Lord’s face, yet he shook his head. “The time and space here are too disordered. What you saw may have been a trace left by Supreme Purity two hundred thousand years ago.”
Seeing Dragon Lord unwilling to speak further of past events, Zhang Ruochen did not press.
Dragon Lord smiled. “Those events were strange indeed. One could call them a scandal for Kunlun Realm. But so much time has passed. Telling you now would do no harm. Come, let us leave this place first. I will explain as we go.”
“Are you wondering why, since I was following you all along, we still insisted you take this journey yourself?”
Zhang Ruochen walked with Dragon Lord along a path of divine qi laid through the void. “This trip was cultivation for me in itself. Moreover, I bear the Sword Ancestor sword soul and six divine swords. They might resonate subtly with the Sword Realm.”
“Not entirely.”
Dragon Lord continued, “There is another very important reason. Your grandmaster and I feared that if we appeared openly, we might startle Grand Purity and Jade Purity into hiding.”
“Since Supreme Purity could leave the Dark Triangle Star Domain, Grand Purity and Jade Purity must also be capable of it. Learning that Supreme Purity died in Kunlun Realm, how could they not guard against Kunlun Realm gods?”
“Only with you in the open, plus the Sword Ancestor sword soul and six divine swords, could we draw them out. Do you resent us for plotting too deeply?”
Zhang Ruochen was moved. “You wish to kill Grand Purity Ancestor and Jade Purity Ancestor?”
“If possible, who would willingly raise a hand against their own?”
Dragon Lord sighed. “What Supreme Purity did back then, let alone Bi Luo Zi, even I would have struck him down. But I do not believe Grand Purity and Jade Purity have become like that.”
…
First Divine Maiden City bustled with life. Streets teemed with traffic.
Yet when one cultivator cried out, “Shang Hong’s stellar soul divine throne has gone dark,” uproar swept through every lane and alley.
Everyone looked up, gazing towards the starry void beyond the cosmos.
In recent years, gods of Heavenly Court and Infernal Realm had fallen frequently. Divine throne stars dimmed often. It was no longer surprising.
But Shang Hong was different. He was an Envoy of Truth, grandson of Shang Tian, future divine emperor of the Great Shang Divine Dynasty, with potential to reach the Immeasurable. His death would surely unleash a terrifying storm.
Nameless Mountain Manor.
Yu Rumour, white robes like snow, graceful figure swaying, approached the drunkard who was scolding geese. “Master truly feels no worry at all?”
“What is there to worry about?”
The drunkard kicked a goose into the lake. “If the Sword Realm truly emerges, it would be strange if Heavenly Court and Infernal Realm do not fight until heaven and earth overturn. How could only a few die? Besides, old man Hua Ying has gone personally. He should hold the situation steady. Your injuries have healed?”
“They no longer trouble me.” Yu Rumour said.
The drunkard warned, “Do not sneak off there. Even Feng Yun Ba fell. With your ability, going would be throwing your life away.”
After a pause, he added, “Send Huang Tian instead! That boy’s life is tough. He has lingered half-dead for decades anyway. Why guard a graveyard? Does he truly think the dead can return to life?”
Yu Rumour considered briefly. “Since Senior Hua Ying has gone to the Dark Triangle Star Domain, there should be no mishaps. For him… to go again would serve no purpose.”
The drunkard glared. “You think I am sending him to die? When did I ever say to send him to the Dark Triangle Star Domain?”
“What does Master mean?” Yu Rumour was puzzled.
The drunkard said, “He is of the Stone Clan. Both Lord God of Life and nearly Lord God of Death. If his heart holds life, he charges forward without fear. No one in the world can rival him. Killing him would be difficult. But once his heart dies, he might perish even sitting still. We must inject vitality into his heart, awaken him. Otherwise, the man is ruined!”
Worry filled Yu Rumour’s eyes. She had visited Yu Chen Divine Temple earlier and found Huang Tian turned to human-shaped stone, all vitality gone. No call could rouse him.
“Before killing Xuan Yi, he will never die.” Yu Rumour said.
The drunkard replied, “Do you know that when he fought Duo Tian Divine Emperor, he advanced from the boundary of life and death divided to the boundary between life and death? Had he not suffered successive heavy wounds in later battles and the emotional blow of Yu Bai Wei’s death, he could fully have consolidated that realm and grasped the mystery between life and death. At that stage, even killing him would not be easy for me.”
“But he had no time to comprehend.”
“Precisely. That is why he now cannot emerge from between life and death.”
Yu Rumour was deeply moved. She asked urgently, “Master, how can we inject vitality into him?”
“He still lives in this world because two people remain in his heart. One is naturally Xuan Yi. The other… certainly cannot be you.”
The drunkard gave Yu Rumour a cold glance. “Go find Bai Qing’er. Have her awaken her father. That girl is far cleverer than you! Once he wakes, go straight to the Yaksha Clan ancestral realm. Do not disturb me again. Every one of you brings trouble. The cosmic pattern is about to change. Pity, it comes a little early.”
“Why go to the Yaksha Clan ancestral realm…”
Yu Rumour asked, but the drunkard had already vanished.
Leaving the manor, Yu Rumour grasped the drunkard’s purpose in sending them to the Yaksha Clan ancestral realm. Shock filled her heart.
Only after long moments did she compose herself. She looked towards Heavenly Venerable Bright Moon Platform above the clouds and sighed. Clearly father and daughter, clearly in the same realm, yet because of hatred in her heart, Bai Qing’er had never once visited Huang Tian.
But could all fault truly lie with Huang Tian?
He was the most pitiable one.
Bai Qing’er had moved the divine hall from beneath Yu Chen Divine Temple and placed it upon Heavenly Venerable Bright Moon Platform.
After returning from the Tianchu Civilisation, she had entered seclusion in the hall and never stepped out again.
The instant Yu Rumour entered the hall, Bai Qing’er, seated beneath the Thousand Stars Linked Pearls Contemplation Diagram, opened her eyes and looked over. Towards Yu Rumour, Bai Qing’er held no ill will.
“Many things have happened outside. You truly care not at all?” Yu Rumour asked.
Bai Qing’er closed her eyes again. “If great events occur, Divine Master and the Nine Heavens seniors will handle them. If unrelated to Xing Huan Tian, no matter how great, what concern is it of mine? For me now, nothing matters more than cultivation.”
“He may die. You truly feel no concern?” Yu Rumour asked.
Bai Qing’er was coldly detached. “For him, death would be a release, no? Xuan Yi’s vengeance, I will claim myself.”
“Divine Master need not persuade me further. I know he had countless compulsions. The fate of the Reverse God Clan was long sealed. But in all this tragedy, does he bear no responsibility at all? If he could offer Mother no future, why bring her from Paradise Realm in the first place? Having brought her, even in death, he should never have left.”
Yu Rumour’s heart ached deeply. She wished to defend Huang Tian. No one understood his helplessness back then better than she.
Yet she restrained herself. She knew Bai Qing’er was exceedingly stubborn. Full forgiveness of Huang Tian could not come overnight.
Yu Rumour said, “I speak not of Huang Tian, but of Zhang Ruochen.”
Alarm flashed in Bai Qing’er’s heart. She frowned. “What exactly has happened outside?”
“The struggle for the Sword Realm. Gods fall. Zhang Ruochen has been swept into this storm. Over five great gods have already perished. Master must hold Xing Huan Tian and cannot leave. If Huang Tian could go, he should be able to bring Zhang Ruochen back safely.” Yu Rumour said.
Bai Qing’er was not easily deceived. Her expression softened. “If the Sword Realm truly emerges, even if the Nine Heavens seniors do not go, Master would hurry there. How could it fall to Huang Tian?”
“The Sword Realm has not yet emerged. It may even never emerge. Add the extreme peril of the Dark Triangle Star Domain, so Immeasurable Realm gods have not yet moved.”
After thought, Yu Rumour added, “Zhang Ruochen is after all lord of Xing Huan Tian. If Xing Huan Tian offers no aid, shall we let Kunlun Realm and Tian Luo Divine Kingdom go instead? First Divine Maiden City is his home.”
Bai Qing’er rose and stepped from the hall. She looked to the starry sky overhead, seeking vanished divine throne stars. Her expression grew ever graver. “Must it be Huang Tian?”
Outside the hall, Bai Qing’er and Yu Rumour stood shoulder to shoulder. Colourful robes fluttering, graceful as paintings, like two divine consort immortals upon the sacred moon.
Yu Rumour said, “So long as he acts, in divine battles below the Immeasurable Realm, no matter how fierce or how many experts, he can bring Zhang Ruochen back.”
