Ban Ruo ultimately accepted only one of the seven Sword Ancestor soul swords.
Love Sword.
Perhaps she did not wish to completely sever her lingering attachment to love, so she guarded it with the sword.
She used Zhang Ruochen’s sword to protect that feeling in her heart.
After parting from Ban Ruo, Zhang Ruochen went to see Pu Chuanqi, who was imprisoned in Fury Heaven Divine Palace. Pu Chuanqi’s divine blood was continuously drawn out and refined into blood pills.
His divine soul was continuously extracted and refined into soul pills.
These blood pills and soul pills were to be used to heal Ban Ruo.
He had once been at the peak of Grand Void Realm, with even a chance in future to assail Immeasurable Realm, yet he had fallen to such a tragic end. Truly pitiable.
Yet Zhang Ruochen did not believe Pu Chuanqi would remain imprisoned here forever. After all, he was a top-tier powerhouse. The wrongs he had committed did not yet warrant death.
A man like this, once freed, would surely seek vengeance madly.
…
Ming Emperor, Zhang Ling, cultivated the black-and-white dual forms. After baptism in the Asura Battle Soul Sea, he changed his name to “Qi Tian”, fully transformed into an Asura, and later joined the Heavenly Fate Division of Destiny Temple.
Since he was a deity of the Heavenly Fate Division, no matter how grave the offence, in the end he would be taken back to the Heavenly Fate Division for punishment by them.
Zhang Ling, imprisoned in the Heavenly Fate Division divine prison, was enduring the “ghost mill torture”.
A hundred ghosts pulled the millstone, vast as a palace, grinding Zhang Ling’s divine body into minced flesh. After grinding, the divine body reformed.
The next day, it was ground again.
What was ground was not merely flesh and blood, but also the divine soul.
Day after day, year after year.
Yet he would not be completely killed. Time would be left for healing.
“Qi Tian, do you know how many times you have been ground?” Luo Cunzhen stood beside the stone mill, asking with a cold laugh.
Zhang Ling was bound all over by divine chains, suspended above the millstone. Hair dishevelled, he no longer possessed the vitality of a thousand years ago. He seemed aged and decayed. In a low voice, he said, “The fourteen thousand and seventh time.”
“You actually remember so clearly. Your mental will is strong indeed. Humph, increase the punishment!” Luo Cunzhen’s eyes were full of malice as he shouted sternly.
Back then, the Lord of Death God Island had been imprisoned in the deepest level of the Heavenly Fate Division divine prison. At that time, Luo Cunzhen had been one of the top three powerhouses under Heavenly Fate Venerable.
Heavenly Fate Venerable had gone to Jade Emperor Realm, leaving him in charge of the Heavenly Fate Division.
It was precisely because of the traitor Qi Tian leading Dragon Lord into Destiny Divine Mountain, reaching the deepest prison level and rescuing the Lord of Death God Island, that he had fallen from the glorious great deity of the Heavenly Fate Division’s punishment division to this sunless place.
How could there be no hatred in his heart?
If not for instructions from Death Divine Venerable and the Venerable to spare Qi Tian’s life, he would long since have swallowed him whole.
“Stop!”
A cold shout rang in Luo Cunzhen’s ear.
Bang bang!
Xue Tu cleared the way ahead, knocking down a swathe of Heavenly Fate holy guards, charging to Luo Cunzhen.
Luo Cunzhen stood suspended in iron armour, looking coldly at Xue Tu. He snorted, “So arrogant, deities of Death Divine Palace daring to闯 my Heavenly Fate Division divine prison? Today, this seat will teach you a proper lesson on behalf of Feng Tian.”
A manifested shadow flew from Luo Cunzhen’s body, swift as lightning, one palm pressing towards Xue Tu.
With Luo Cunzhen’s cultivation, even a mere avatar possessed world-shaking divine power. As the palm pressed, Xue Tu felt the sky spin and earth turn, body unable to move, as if about to be torn apart by an invisible force.
Boom!
Zhang Ruochen, hands behind his back, shifted before Xue Tu, directly using his body to shatter Luo Cunzhen’s avatar.
All divine force instantly dissipated into nothingness in space.
Luo Cunzhen recognised Zhang Ruochen and sneered coldly, “Qi Tian, your son has come! Truly unexpected. In mere centuries, his cultivation has reached such strength.”
Whoosh!
Luo Cunzhen pointed a finger. Strands of corpse qi surged out, forming chains, blades, axes, war swords, bone hammers… tens of thousands of weapons, all like divine armaments, pressing down overwhelmingly towards Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen shot up from the ground, punching out fist after fist, forming illusions of heavenly rivers, shattering the weapons, dispersing the corpse qi.
Finally, one fist struck before Luo Cunzhen.
Xue Tu jumped in fright, shouting, “Master Brother!”
This was not the time when Jade Emperor Realm was open. Heavenly Fate Venerable was right in the Heavenly Fate Division. Beating those holy guards was one thing, but striking a great deity of the Heavenly Fate Division, how could it end well?
Fist winds carried densely packed bright rune patterns, blowing against Luo Cunzhen, forcing his protective divine light to manifest.
Luo Cunzhen was greatly shocked inwardly. He had not expected Zhang Ruochen to be this strong, instantly striking before him. Underestimating the foe, he nearly suffered a great loss.
But he quickly composed himself and laughed, “Such mighty prestige, Boundless Realm Venerable. Is the Heavenly Fate Division a place for you to run wild? This seat will stand here unmoving. If this fist of yours lands, I guarantee you will never leave Heavenly Fate Division divine prison in this lifetime… ah… you…”
Bang!
Zhang Ruochen struck heavily with his fist, shattering layer after layer of Luo Cunzhen’s protective divine light, sending him crashing into the stone mill.
Boom! The stone mill shattered.
The hundred ghosts pulling it all scattered in soul and spirit.
Zhang Ruochen could not restrain the fury in his heart. He flew into the air, using his divine sword to sever the chains binding Zhang Ling. His eyes bitter and complex, he said, “Father, I… I came too late…”
Zhang Ling opened a pair of wrinkled eyes, carefully looking at Zhang Ruochen. Long-absent emotion stirred in his heart, yet he forcibly suppressed it and sighed, “You should not have come. All this is my fault. I should bear it. Leave.”
“Zhang Ruochen, do you think you can rescue him? Such arrogance will only make him suffer more.”
Divine light blazed on Luo Cunzhen like a scorching star. His mouth emitted cold, wild laughter, frightening the holy guards in the divine prison into full retreat.
Even Xue Tu immediately withdrew to the prison entrance.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Luo Cunzhen, then fixed his gaze on Zhang Ling. “Father, wait for me to return.”
Zhang Ruochen crossed space, heading towards the prison exit.
“Where do you think you’re going? This seat said you will never leave Heavenly Fate Division divine prison in this life!”
Luo Cunzhen released his divine realm world, enveloping the entire prison. Grey corpse qi wrapped towards Zhang Ruochen, accompanied by countless rule divine patterns.
“Fury Sword!”
A Sword Ancestor soul sword flew from Zhang Ruochen’s body, like a meteor in the night.
Pfft!
One sword pierced Luo Cunzhen’s divine realm world, penetrating his body.
This ancient top-tier powerhouse of Destiny Temple immediately went limp, falling from the air, unable for long to rise from the ground.
Xue Tu stared dumbfounded, worried to death.
This was the Heavenly Fate Division’s territory. Luo Cunzhen was one of the top three great deities under Heavenly Fate Venerable. To wound him so gravely, how could Heavenly Fate Venerable not rage?
“Watch here for me. I will be back soon.”
Zhang Ruochen passed by Xue Tu and went straight to Destiny Divine Hall.
Xu Tian seemed to have anticipated his return, still seated upon the divine throne. “Why have you come back? Who let him in? Does this Heaven meet a junior whenever he wishes?”
Que stood at the hall entrance, eyes closed in rest, thinking inwardly, it was clearly you who instructed earlier that if Zhang Ruochen came again, do not block him.
Zhang Ruochen knelt on the spot.
“Why are you kneeling?” Xu Tian asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Ruochen kneels to heaven and earth above, to parents below. To save parents, I can cast aside life, let alone kneel.”
“Oh, you wish to save your father? Impossible. No one can save him from the crimes he committed.” Xu Tian said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “To Destiny Temple, my father’s crimes are indeed unforgivable. But Senior Xu Tian surely has a way, or you would not have instructed Heavenly Fate Venerable to let me leave.”
Xu Tian shook his head vigorously, brows furrowed. “Releasing your father would indeed be a single word from this Heaven. But releasing him would render Destiny Temple’s prestige and laws nonexistent. In future, would not everyone dare betray the temple? Dare oppose Destiny Temple?”
Zhang Ruochen understood inwardly. “Whatever conditions Senior Xu Tian has, state them.”
“Three conditions!”
Xu Tian smiled. “First, you must remain in Destiny Temple for a time. Yes, this Heaven wishes to keep you under house arrest at my side. Do you accept?”
“I accept.”
Xu Tian said, “This Heaven will leave Destiny Divine Mountain for a period. You will not sneak away?”
“Absolutely not.”
Xu Tian nodded. “Second, you must go to Kunlun Realm and fetch the sword heart for this Heaven.”
“Sword heart?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Of Sword Ancestor’s eight absolutes, heart is supreme, source is root. To cultivate Sword Twenty-Four, since the sword source is not found, the sword heart must substitute.” Xu Tian said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “But I do not know where the sword heart is.”
“Sword Tomb!”
Xu Tian continued, “I do not ask you to fetch it now. With your current cultivation, you could not. But you must promise. This Heaven trusts you greatly, knowing that what Zhang Ruochen promises, he will accomplish.”
“Good. I promise.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “And the third condition?”
Xu Tian thought for a moment. “Never mind. I will raise it later when I think of it.”
“Perhaps Senior Xu Tian can think more now.” Zhang Ruochen said.
An unstated condition is the hardest to fulfil.
Xu Tian said, “This Heaven feels keeping your father in the Heavenly Fate Division is quite good.”
Zhang Ruochen could only compromise. “The third condition, Senior Xu Tian may raise later. How will Senior Xu Tian save my father?”
Xu Tian was very satisfied with Zhang Ruochen’s attitude and smiled. “Releasing him is impossible. But this Heaven wishes to forge a divine sword and happens to lack a sword servant to tend the furnace.”
“Many thanks, Senior Xu Tian.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly inwardly. Now his vital weakness was truly grasped by Xu Tian.
This old fellow was too shrewd, planning without omission.
Seeming to help him, yet in reality binding him firmly.
“When may Ruochen leave Destiny Divine Mountain? Ruochen means to go to Kunlun Realm to fetch the sword heart for Senior Xu Tian.” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xu Tian said, “Que will take you to Future Divine Palace. He will tell you when you may leave.”
Past Divine Palace and Future Divine Palace were both among Destiny Temple’s twelve divine palaces.
After Zhang Ruochen and Que left, Ting Yun Sheng hurried back to Destiny Divine Hall and reported, “Xu Tian, Mo Basha is dead!”
“Dead? Idiot. This Heaven said alive, alive! Ting Yun Sheng, such audacity. Do you not take this Heaven’s words to heart?” Xu Tian raged.
Ting Yun Sheng immediately knelt on one knee. “It was all Blood Jue! News reached Blood Heaven Tribe in advance. Blood Jue learned Mo Basha had framed him and rose in fury to kill him. Blood Jue’s temper is known to all. No one could stop him. Now he has made war banners from the skins of Mo Basha and Qing Yun Tai, already leading the gods to attack Azure Heaven Tribe, seeking justice for his fallen son.”
