Zhang Ruochen’s expression changed sharply. He truly had not expected Xu Tian to bestow a marriage between him and Wu Yue.
This move completely absolved Xu Tian himself of any involvement.
Yet to Zhang Ruochen, it was a massive trap. Setting aside any possible connection between Wu Yue and the Great Emperor Feng Du, Wu Yue herself was far from someone easy to deal with.
A woman this dangerous was one Zhang Ruochen wished to avoid at all costs. How could he dare take her as his wife and keep her close?
With his current cultivation, he was no more than a child before Wu Yue, utterly powerless to fight back. Hiding secrets would be impossible.
Zhang Ruochen could understand Xu Tian’s reasons. First, it was surely meant as punishment for Wu Yue. Second, it was preparation for a future challenge to the Great Emperor Feng Du’s position as Heavenly Venerable.
Now Zhang Ruochen had become a pawn in the contest between Xu Tian and the Great Emperor Feng Du. One wrong step, and he would be reduced to ashes.
No matter how unwilling he was, did he dare say “no”?
Luo Yi had not expected the situation to twist in this way either. With Xu Tian’s words, whether the Great Emperor Feng Du or the Nine Deaths Emperor grew furious in future, given their status, they would only confront Xu Tian. They would not blame Zhang Ruochen.
In effect, Xu Tian had taken all the pressure upon himself for Zhang Ruochen’s sake.
All Zhang Ruochen had to do was marry Wu Yue. Though it was an extremely difficult decision, the rewards far outweighed the risks.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen silent for so long, Luo Yi grew worried, fearing he might stubbornly defy Xu Tian’s will.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward. “For the Ancestral Master to bestow this marriage, Ruochen is deeply grateful. How could I be unwilling? In fact, the true source of the rumours has already been identified.”
“Oh? Who?” Xu Tian’s gaze turned icy.
The look carried both genuine anger and a warning to Zhang Ruochen.
He feared Zhang Ruochen might blurt out that Wu Yue herself had spread the rumours.
That would be rejecting the face he was offering.
He had spared Zhang Ruochen’s life, taken on all the risks for him, resolved the crises from the Blood Heaven Tribe, the City of Hundred Clans, and Xing Huan Heaven. The Universe Cauldron was precious, but not yet delivered. How could that repay the debt?
Xu Tian valued rules above all.
Debts owed must be repaid.
Marrying Wu Yue was the repayment.
Zhang Ruochen said, “It was Mo Basha, the spiritual power deity of the Immortal Vampire Temple. After the Ancestral Master bestowed the marriage in the Dark Triangle Starfield, Uncle Ming Wang discussed the matter with the deities of the Immortal Vampires. Unexpectedly, Mo Basha turned out to be a deity aligned with Qing Yun Que of the Azure Heaven Tribe. To strike at my grandfather, he used this vicious scheme.”
Mo Basha was indeed a deity supporting Qing Yun Que.
Before coming to Destiny Divine Mountain, Zhang Ruochen had already discussed this with the Blood Jue War God. The matter required a scapegoat.
The Blood Jue War God needed a pretext to purge unstable elements within the Immortal Vampires.
Of course, they had not initially anticipated the bestowed marriage. They had thought Xu Tian would merely deny appointing Wu Yue as Heavenly Concubine. Then they could shift all blame onto Mo Basha and Qing Yun Que, while clearing the Dark Temple entirely.
After all, the Blood Jue War God knew well that no one could touch the Dark Temple.
Touching the Dark Temple meant shaking the very foundations of Hell Realm.
Only by extricating the Dark Temple could the storm pass.
When Xu Tian made his decision and stood with Zhang Ruochen, the Dark Temple knew the tide had turned. No matter how unwilling, they could only swallow the loss.
“Did you hear that?”
Xu Tian berated Mu Tuo War God. “Fools. The entire Dark Temple is full of fools. Wu Bian is the temple master, yet he was played for a fool by an Immortal Vampire deity, used without even realising it.”
How could Mu Tuo War God not know the truth?
But at this moment, even if Wu Yue stepped forward and declared, “You, Xu Tian, did appoint me Heavenly Concubine,” no one would believe her.
Because Wu Yue had lost her memory.
Wu Yue had no idea what had happened.
Only Xu Tian, Que, Ming Wang, and Zhang Ruochen knew the truth. The scapegoat Mo Basha had likely already fallen into the Blood Jue War God’s hands. Once word came from Destiny Divine Mountain, he would be silenced.
“Brilliant. Truly masterful, Blood Jue. This move resolves the crisis, wins over Xu Tian, and seizes the chance to crush the final obstacle to the clan leadership.” Mu Tuo War God did not believe Zhang Ruochen could have devised this strategy. Zhang Ruochen would never miss a chance to strike the Dark Temple.
Only a figure like the Blood Jue War God would know the Dark Temple could not be touched.
In the current situation, even if the Dark Temple Master, Lord Wu Bian, were here, he could only accept it grudgingly.
Who could have foreseen that the utterly unrestrained Xu Tian would spare a junior who had taken advantage of his woman?
“Go. Immediately to the Immortal Vampires. Bring Mo Basha alive to Destiny Divine Mountain.” Xu Tian ordered.
Ting Yun Sheng led several Destiny Temple deities and flew out at once.
“Great Deity Yun Sheng!”
The spiritual avatar of the Yin Yang Divine Master appeared in the starry sky, blocking Ting Yun Sheng and the others.
Ting Yun Sheng asked curiously, “Divine Master, what is the meaning of this?”
The Yin Yang Divine Master smiled. “Merely to remind the Great Deity to proceed with caution on this journey.”
“A mere Mo Basha, guilty of such a heinous crime. Would the Immortal Vampire Temple dare obstruct? This is not seizing Qing Yun Que.” Ting Yun Sheng replied with disdain.
The Yin Yang Divine Master said, “A single Mo Basha is indeed nothing. But remember Xu Tian’s final three words: bring him alive.”
With that, the Yin Yang Divine Master smiled faintly and his avatar dissipated.
Ting Yun Sheng’s expression changed.
If Xu Tian truly wanted him alive, why the reminder?
Heavenly intent was inscrutable. These waters ran deep.
In the hall.
Xu Tian withdrew the divine might pressing on Mu Tuo War God. Appearing weary, he waved his sleeve. “Enough. Considering you were manipulated, this Heaven has a broad mind and will not hold it against you. Go back and tell Wu Bian not to repeat foolish acts. Greed must have limits. If the Universe Cauldron is not returned within three days, this Heaven can only invite Fury Heaven Divine Venerable and Fortune Divine Venerable to personally retrieve it.”
“Pity that Ban Ruo, with such outstanding talent, was grievously wounded by your Dark Temple. Pity the Wolf Ancestor, who served Fury Heaven Divine Venerable as a mount for a hundred thousand years, yet the Demon Wolf Clan was bullied by your Dark Temple to such a state. Pity Fortune, a Divine Venerable no less, yet unable to protect even a junior, losing all face.”
Xu Tian sighed deeply, yet every word carried threat. Finally, he said, “As for the marriage of Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue, have the Heavenly Fate Division select an auspicious date. Hold it soon, here in Destiny Divine Hall. This Heaven will personally officiate.”
“Yes.” The Yin Yang Divine Master bowed in assent.
Xu Tian gazed around. “Any other matters? If not, dismissed.”
The Ghost Master stepped forward at once. “Report to Xu Tian. The town-suppressing ancestral artefact of Dishan Ghost City remains in Zhang Ruochen’s hands.”
“Why raise such a trivial matter here? If something was taken, go take it back yourself. In future, if you lose your wife, shall this Heaven help you find her?” Xu Tian said coldly.
The Snow Wood Hall Master and ? Emperor, who had been about to demand divine sources, immediately held back.
The Ghost Master showed no anger. At least Xu Tian was telling him he could act against Zhang Ruochen. He had feared Xu Tian truly saw Zhang Ruochen as kin and would allow no one to touch him.
Jin Jue Heavenly God hesitated repeatedly but ultimately said nothing.
It was clear Zhang Ruochen and Xu Tian currently shared interests. Even though Fire Ze Divine Lord, a great deity of Destiny Temple, had died by Zhang Ruochen’s hand, Xu Tian could not punish him heavily now.
They could only wait for the return of Murderous Terror Divine Venerable and let the Divine Venerable handle it.
Killing a great deity of Destiny Temple demanded a price.
…
The Ghost Master, Li Yuan Heavenly God, Xu Liao, ? Emperor, and Snow Wood Hall Master flew out of Destiny Divine Domain into the starry sky of Wugui Forest.
Xu Liao said resentfully, “With Xu Tian’s protection now, and as Heavenly Grandmother’s envoy, who in Hell Realm will dare oppose Zhang Ruochen from now on?”
“This whole affair is highly suspicious…” Li Yuan Heavenly God said.
The Ghost Master gestured for silence, then released his divine realm world.
Once the gods entered his divine realm, the Ghost Master said, “Mo Basha is merely a scapegoat. Xu Tian’s true aim is the Universe Cauldron. For now, Zhang Ruochen still has value to Xu Tian, so we cannot touch him. Once Xu Tian obtains the cauldron and matters settle, however we deal with him, Xu Tian will not intervene.”
“Heh heh. You don’t truly believe Xu Tian has never considered killing Zhang Ruochen? He appointed his own Heavenly Concubine, yet a junior tasted her first. How could he not hate?”
“If that is so, Murderous Terror Divine Palace will surely strike first.” Xu Liao smiled viciously.
A transmission talisman flew through the starry sky and landed in the Ghost Master’s hand.
After reading its contents, the Ghost Master first looked startled, then smiled. “Now it all makes sense. I knew that, with Xu Tian’s vision, he would not fall out completely with the Dark Temple over a mere Universe Cauldron.”
“What has happened?” Li Yuan Heavenly God asked.
The Ghost Master said, “The Star Sea Angler and the master of Divine Ancient Nest have gone to the Starry Battlefield, entered Heaven Court’s starry defence line, and visited Hao Tian.”
At this news, all the gods present were stunned.
When Heaven Court and Hell sealed the twenty heavens, they had included the Star Sea Angler among them. He was the only one accorded such treatment.
This showed he was a key figure both Heaven Court and Hell sought to win over.
At that time, news of Jiu Tian reaching heavenly perfection in spiritual power was still unknown. Now that Jiu Tian and the Star Sea Angler were allied, their weight was even greater.
The Star Sea Angler visiting Hao Tian, whatever the purpose, was enough to shake all of Hell Realm.
At this critical moment in the Starry Battlefield, even to steady the Star Sea Angler and Jiu Tian, Xu Tian absolutely could not touch Zhang Ruochen. Moreover, the master of Divine Ancient Nest had emerged, adding further variables.
The Ghost Master smiled. “No need for such alarm. The Star Sea Angler cannot join Heaven Court. His actions are mere posturing, supporting Zhang Ruochen. At the same time, he warns Hell Realm’s war faction: push too hard, and they may have no choice but to join Heaven Court.”
“By keeping Zhang Ruochen at Destiny Divine Mountain and having him marry Wu Yue there, is Xu Tian not effectively placing him under house arrest? At the same time, he divides Xing Huan Heaven and Heaven Court, preventing them from uniting.”
“Now it seems Qing Tian was truly far-sighted. This boy Zhang Ruochen is indeed extraordinary, gradually becoming a key piece in the game among the great powers.”
