Because of the fall of the Ghost God Venerable, the situation on the starry battlefield had become unprecedentedly tense. The auras of Heavenly Venerable-level powerhouses constantly enveloped that expanse of starry sky. Cultivators from both sides, from gods down to half-saints, all felt their hearts tremble in fear.
A single beam of divine light from a Heavenly Venerable could pierce through space and time, reducing them to ashes.
No one knew how many times these Heavenly Venerable-level powerhouses had already clashed in the void world.
Yet amid such tense circumstances, the divine war that erupted in the Hell Realm still shook all parties. In an extremely short time, it spread to every corner of the universe.
Kunlun Realm.
After receiving the news, Tribulation Venerable paced back and forth with hands behind his back, cursing loudly. “That little bastard is too good at causing trouble. He has stolen all the limelight from the Heavenly Venerables. No, this old man must make a trip to the Hell Realm.”
“Hmph!”
Heavenly Fox Grandmother let out a cold snort. Tribulation Venerable, who had just taken a step, immediately stopped.
Tribulation Venerable glanced at Heavenly Fox Grandmother’s expression, his face full of bitterness. He sighed deeply. “After all, he carries the blood of our Zhang family. We cannot simply ignore him just because the Hell Realm is dangerous, can we?”
Seeing Heavenly Fox Grandmother still wearing a cold expression, Tribulation Venerable added. “Alas. Just as the Zhang family was showing signs of prosperity, two gods have fallen one after another to Destiny Temple. This old man is ashamed before the Zhang ancestors and the Great Venerable. No, I must go to the Hell Realm.”
“You want to go to the Hell Realm?”
Heavenly Fox Grandmother walked over, holding her black-gold iron staff. She sneered. “Saving someone from Xu Fengjin’s hands? You are dreaming. Besides, Zhang Ruochen is Heavenly Grandmother’s divine envoy and the Realm Lord of Xing Huantian. Does he need you to save him? After you run away this time, how long do you plan to disappear again?”
“This old man is truly worried…” Since she did not believe him, there was nothing more to say.
Tribulation Venerable wore a purple divine robe and a jade crown. His white hair was neatly arranged. His brows radiated righteousness, like a transcendent old immortal. Yet at this moment, he felt deeply depressed. What a perfect opportunity, and he still could not get away.
It was over.
His remaining years were completely ruined.
If he truly wanted to leave, Heavenly Fox Grandmother naturally could not stop him.
But when Heavenly Fox Grandmother had come to Kunlun Realm, seeing her poisoned by corpse toxin and gravely injured, perhaps out of conscience, Tribulation Venerable had made a heap of promises to soothe her emotions. He had uttered endless sweet words that would disgust any young woman who heard them.
Heavenly Fox Grandmother had only said one thing at the time. “I forgive you one last time. If you leave without a word again, I will end myself in Kunlun Realm.”
Men feared nothing more than women threatening death.
Just as Tribulation Venerable wore a woebegone expression, a divine light flew from the western sky. It landed on the ground, condensing into the figure of Granny Begonia.
After consuming the spiritual force divine pill Zhang Ruochen had given her, Granny Begonia had survived her divine tribulation and become a spiritual force god. Sword Pavilion had also transformed, becoming Kunlun Realm’s eleventh divine artefact.
Tribulation Venerable smiled broadly and hurried to greet her. “Begonia, why have you come? Come, let me introduce you. This is…”
Before he could finish, Granny Begonia said. “We know each other. Heavenly Fox Great God of the Demon God Realm. Taishang has sent word. Do not worry about Zhang Ruochen. Kunlun Realm’s safety now rests entirely on you.”
Tribulation Venerable asked. “Entirely on this old man? Where is he?”
Granny Begonia said coldly. “Such a major event occurred on the starry battlefield. Taishang naturally rushed there. Who is like you, always so unreliable? When will you truly stand tall?”
Tribulation Venerable sensed danger. What was going on? Had she changed her heart?
That old flower shadow?
It must be. Otherwise, why would the old flower shadow send a message to Begonia instead of directly to him? Too suspicious.
Tribulation Venerable grew serious. “Begonia, now that you have survived your divine tribulation, you will face many temptations. But do they care for you? They care for Sword Pavilion, for the divine artefact. That… cough… old flower shadow actually has many shortcomings compared to this old man. He is merely stronger in spiritual force…”
Granny Begonia looked at Tribulation Venerable, somewhat confused about what he was saying.
Tribulation Venerable spoke plainly, furious. “Was it the old flower shadow who helped raise your spiritual force?”
Granny Begonia trembled with anger. She stamped her foot hard and vanished into the void.
The greatest upheaval since the Middle Ages was occurring. All Kunlun Realm gods had mobilised, heading to various fronts to cope with the upheaval and seek opportunities for Kunlun Realm’s rise.
Yet this old fellow was still lost in wild thoughts.
Did he think everyone was as shamelessly old as him?
Unreasonable.
…
Hundred Clans King City.
On Jade Spirit Mountain, Clan Leader Xuan?, Amur, and others, nearly twenty great gods gathered. They were the masters of this starry expanse, deciding the fates of countless beings.
Yet at this moment, all wore grave expressions.
Clan Leader Xuan? said. “No matter what, at least Ruochen Realm Lord has achieved his goal. He can face Xu Tian directly.”
Amur worried deeply. “It is too much. Qinglu Divine Hall, Fengdu Ghost City, Eternal Life Hall, Hidden Bone Sea… These forces will not let it rest. Fengdu Ghost City, Dark Temple, even hardliners within Destiny Temple will demand his death.”
Jade Spirit God’s wondrous eyes were profound. Her red lips like cinnabar. “If Zhang Ruochen had not gone to Destiny Divine Mountain, could Hundred Clans King City withstand Hell Realm’s army? He went for us. From the moment he set out, he knew this journey was nine parts death, one part life.”
All gods present fell silent.
The starry battlefield was tense. Was this starry expanse around Hundred Clans King City not equally stormy?
They had even sensed Phoenix Heaven’s aura earlier.
Heavenly might oppressed all.
Now they could only pin hopes on Star Heaven Cliff and Zhang Ruochen heading to Destiny Divine Mountain.
They could even imagine the storm if news spread of Zhang Ruochen dying on Destiny Divine Mountain.
It would be Xu Tian declaring war on Xing Huantian and Star Heaven Cliff.
Hundred Clans King City would bear the brunt, first to fall.
How could they not be anxious? How could they not worry?
This feeling of fate beyond their control was truly agonising.
Some gods secretly resolved that if Zhang Ruochen truly resolved this crisis and prevented war, even if he wished to become Lord of Hundred Clans King City, they would accept it.
…
Blood Brilliance God Lord finally understood. He said admiringly. “So Ruochen planned it this way, using Destiny Temple’s power to reach Destiny Temple. A clever move.”
“This is nothing. It was within expectations.”
Blood Absolute War God’s gaze frequently turned to the horizon, towards the wormhole.
“Great Clan Butcher, are you waiting for some news?” Blood Brilliance God Lord asked.
Blood Absolute War God nodded. “The two transcendent existences of Xing Huantian and Star Heaven Cliff did not stop Zhang Ruochen from coming to Hell Realm. Thus, they must act. They cannot let Ruochen handle such a major matter alone.”
“How will they act? They would not go to Destiny Divine Mountain in true body, would they?” Blood Brilliance God Lord asked.
Whoosh!
A message talisman light streaked across the sky, falling into Blood Absolute War God’s hand.
After reading the talisman’s contents, Blood Absolute War God rejoiced greatly. “Now Ruochen’s life is half saved.”
…
Destiny Divine Hall was grand and majestic. Its inner space vast and surging, like a miniature universe.
Zhang Ruochen was bound in chains flowing with electric light. He walked step by step to the hall’s centre and stopped.
Escorting him was Blood Slaughter.
“Senior Brother, kneel. Kneeling to a Heavenly Venerable is no shame.” Blood Slaughter advised softly.
Zhang Ruochen looked around the hall. He saw Ghost Lord, Mu Tuo War God, Ting Yunsong, Jin Jue Heavenly God… Over a hundred gods, each manifesting giant divine forms, standing on cloud clusters. Some bodies reached tens of thousands of li.
It was truly a scene of gods and demons filling the sky, intent on murder.
Some sneered. Some grinned ferociously.
Finally, Zhang Ruochen looked at the divine throne suspended in mid-air. Xu Tian sat upon it. Divine might enveloped heaven and earth, like the universe’s master. All gods present revered him.
“Zhang Ruochen, will you not kneel?” Jin Jue Heavenly God said gravely.
Zhang Ruochen replied. “None of you have knelt to Xu Tian. Why must I?”
“Do you not know your crimes?”
Zhang Ruochen said. “What crimes have I committed? Please enlighten me, Jin Jue Heavenly God.”
Jin Jue Heavenly God naturally avoided mentioning Wuyue. “You killed how many Hell Realm gods? The death of Lord Huo Ze alone is enough to send you to the God-Slaying Platform.”
“I did kill many gods. But which time did I provoke them first?”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned cold. “I, Zhang Ruochen, am Heavenly Grandmother’s divine envoy. Yet I have always acted low-key, treated others humbly, never initiated trouble. But if others attack me, am I not allowed to resist? Such weakness would disgrace Heavenly Grandmother.”
Blood Slaughter’s mouth twitched.
Low-key? Humble?
Senior Brother, if you are low-key, no cultivator in Hell Realm is high-profile. If you count as humble, where does that leave me, Blood Slaughter?
Yet Zhang Ruochen truly had not initiated trouble.
The gods who died by his hand had all provoked him first.
Mu Tuo War God said. “Has my Dark Temple ever provoked you?”
“I still remember the grudge of Lord Wujian.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Mu Tuo War God had not expected Zhang Ruochen so adept at arguing. He bowed to Xu Tian. “Zhang Ruochen is no Hell Realm god, yet constantly opposes Hell Realm. He will surely become a great threat. Please, Elder Xu Tian, execute him.”
All Hell Realm gods avoided Wuyue, fearing to anger Xu Tian by raising it openly.
Luo Yi said. “How is Zhang Ruochen not a Hell Realm god? He is Heavenly Grandmother’s divine envoy, acting on her behalf across the world. Those Hell Realm gods seized his territory, coveted his treasures, sought his death. Did they hold Heavenly Grandmother in their eyes? Such actions deserve death, do they not?”
Mu Tuo War God said. “May I ask Princess Luo Yi, do you speak for Tianluo Divine Kingdom or the Rakshasa clan? Heavenly Grandmother’s envoy status cannot override Hell Realm’s interests. Zhang Ruochen is Xing Huantian’s Realm Lord, not a Rakshasa god.”
At that moment, Xu Tian’s voice rang out. “Zhang Ruochen, tell me. Do you count as a Hell Realm god?”
This question was extremely dangerous. Ghost Lord, Jin Jue Heavenly God, and others all smiled.
It seemed Xu Tian indeed harboured anger, merely restraining it due to status. Since so, they must seize the chance to vent for him, ensuring Zhang Ruochen died convinced.
Surely gaining Xu Tian’s favour.
Zhang Ruochen bowed. “In reply to Elder Xu Tian, though Ruochen resides in Xing Huantian, my heart has never forgotten Hell Realm’s grace. Grandfather, Heavenly Grandmother, Fortune God Venerable, Emperor Luo Yan, even you, Elder Xu Tian, all bestowed great kindness on Ruochen.”
