At the horizon, the first light of dawn appeared, signaling the arrival of a new day.
Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin, and Xie Chengzi left the Death Tomb, standing atop a massive stone tablet as they swiftly flew toward Tiandu Mountain.
It was only then that Ji Fanxin turned to Zhang Ruochen and said, “I truly underestimated you before. I never expected you to have connections within the Death Temple as well. To kill an elder and still walk away unscathed is no small feat.”
This matter couldn’t be hidden from Ji Fanxin, and she had likely deduced a great deal.
However, since Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin were merely collaborators, he didn’t reveal A’Le and Han Qiu’s involvement.
A’Le and Han Qiu remained in the Death Temple, both to temper themselves and to promptly report the results of the assassination mission to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “Actually, you’ve also surprised me, Fairy. Despite such a major incident, you didn’t flee alone. I’m quite touched.”
Ji Fanxin replied, “Don’t be too moved. I stayed because Elder Qi’s death had nothing to do with me.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “If Qin Kai hadn’t helped clear my name and I had clashed with the Death Temple, would you have intervened?”
“No. Fighting the Death Temple within the Death Tomb would be no different from seeking death.”
After a pause, Ji Fanxin added, “However, I could have paid a high price to buy your life first.”
As long as the price was high enough, Ji Fanxin could indeed have purchased Zhang Ruochen’s life from the Death Temple. How long Zhang Ruochen lived would then be entirely up to Ji Fanxin.
In other words, if Ji Fanxin bought Zhang Ruochen’s life, he could delay his death. During that time, many variables could arise.
Zhang Ruochen said, “As expected of a leader of a realm, you’re truly wealthy.”
“Can I compare to you? First, you placed a massive order worth hundreds of millions of saint stones at the Hundred Flowers Palace, then spent 1.4 billion saint stones at the Death Temple. Even a Great Saint wouldn’t be as extravagant as you,” Ji Fanxin retorted.
Mentioning saint stones, Zhang Ruochen sighed softly.
After paying the deposit at the Death Temple, Zhang Ruochen was left with almost no saint stones, poorer than an ordinary Saint.
Fortunately, he was about to help the Kunlun Realm attack the Xumi Dojo. This opportunity would likely allow him to seize some treasures and saint stones to fill his nearly empty storage ring.
Upon returning to Tiandu Mountain, Zhang Ruochen parted ways with Ji Fanxin and headed back to the Moon Goddess Dojo.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Yihuang Bone Staff and placed it in front of him. Then, he separated one percent of the saint soul mist from Qing Jin’s soul in his dantian and directed it toward the staff.
The evil spirit within the Yihuang Bone Staff immediately let out an excited roar, beginning to absorb and refine the soul mist.
During the crisis in the Death Tomb, the Yihuang Bone Staff had played a crucial role. If it hadn’t been for the staff and Mo Yin restraining Elder Qi, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t have had the time to suppress the Mirror Flower Water Moon poison.
“The Yihuang Bone Staff can currently unleash power comparable to a mid-to-late seventh-step Saint King. After refining this soul mist, it should reach the level of an eighth-step Saint King.”
While the Yihuang Bone Staff refined the soul mist, Zhang Ruochen took out the long whisk left by Saint Monk Xumi to contemplate the rules of time and space.
Only by deepening his understanding of the Dao of Time and the Dao of Space could Zhang Ruochen advance to the fifth-step Saint King realm more quickly.
The next day.
A maid arrived outside the refining pavilion where Zhang Ruochen was in seclusion and reported, “Divine Envoy, a young… gentleman has come to the dojo and wishes to see you.”
“Not interested,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
“Her cultivation is formidable; she must be a significant figure,” the maid added.
Zhang Ruochen ceased his cultivation, thinking to himself that it was about time for the attack on the Xumi Dojo. Could it be someone sent by the Kunlun Realm?
“Creak.”
Zhang Ruochen opened the door of the refining pavilion and stepped out, saying, “Lead the way.”
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden, dressed in a white saint robe with blue dragon patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs, stood straight beneath the Truth Dao engravings left by the Moon Goddess, gazing at the “Starry Moon Diagram.”
Her eyebrows were like delicate brushstrokes,
Her eyes were lively and beautiful, her eyelashes distinct, as if meticulously painted with a brush. Her delicate nose was exquisitely shaped, and her lips, glistening like crystal, revealed a row of pearly white teeth.
Her features were refined to the extreme, and the more one looked at her, the more captivating she became, endlessly intriguing.
The maids of the Moon Goddess Dojo were originally saintesses of sects or princesses of imperial dynasties, each one a beauty of the highest order. Yet, compared to the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden, they all paled in comparison, as if they were mere humble servants, while the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden was a celestial being from the heavens above.
Especially the elegant and noble aura she exuded—any woman standing before her would likely feel inferior.
Although the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden was currently disguised as a man, anyone could tell that she was undoubtedly a peerless beauty, no less stunning than the nine fairies depicted in the “Nine Immortal Beauties Painting.”
Seeing the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden, Zhang Ruochen was quite surprised and quickly walked over.
He first dismissed the maids, then smiled and said, “Your Highness, you came to visit the Moon Goddess Dojo without giving any prior notice. Had I known earlier, I would have personally led all the cultivators in the dojo to welcome you outside.”
“Wouldn’t that mean I’ve been tied to the war chariot of the Guanghan Realm?”
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden smiled, turned around, and said, “The Moon Goddess truly lives up to her name. The Truth Dao engravings she left behind are indeed extraordinary. Upon entering the Moon Goddess Dojo, I saw groups of beauties, a blooming array of flowers, a feast for the eyes. I initially thought it was due to your charm, Zhang Ruochen, but now I see it’s because of this engraving.”
“They chose to stay in the Moon Goddess Dojo voluntarily. It has nothing to do with my charm or the Moon Goddess’s engravings,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden gave a noncommittal smile, then said, “In the entire Truth Heavenly Domain, the number of cultivators who have seen my true face can be counted on one hand.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I am actually one of them? That’s quite an honor.”
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden had always worn a veil and used powerful spiritual energy to conceal her appearance, figure, and aura. Therefore, very few cultivators had truly seen her real face.
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden said, “You should be well aware of the purpose of my solitary visit to the Moon Goddess Dojo, right?”
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Not really.”
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden’s eyes darkened, and she bit her lip gently. Then, she softened her tone and said, “After listening to your so-called advice on Kongling Island last time, I thought it over carefully and found some truth in your words. To temper my mind, I must first shed the identity of the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden. Only by losing the protection of my status will danger, setbacks, and emotions I’ve never experienced before truly come to me.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “It’s rare for Your Highness to come to such a realization. I wish you a successful transformation and the forging of an indomitable divine heart.”
Zhang Ruochen had once suggested to the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden that she hide her identity and temporarily pose as a member of the Guanghan Realm, cultivating alongside him.
This was because Zhang Ruochen had countless enemies, and there were even more who sought to suppress the Guanghan Realm. Challenges and dangers were ever-present.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen had only mentioned it casually, never expecting the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden to actually agree. After all, it was clearly an attempt to use her!
Moreover, being close to him indeed carried life-threatening risks.
Seeing the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden’s slightly unusual expression, Zhang Ruochen widened his eyes slightly and asked, “Has Your Highness accepted my suggestion and decided to cultivate by my side?”
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden snorted lightly, glared at Zhang Ruochen, and said, “That’s right. You must be thrilled, aren’t you? As you wished, I’ve delivered myself to be used by you. Go ahead and laugh! Why hold back?”
After hearing Zhang Ruochen’s advice, the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden had communicated with her clan’s patriarch through spiritual energy, asking whether her mental state truly had flaws and seeking guidance on how to mend them.
To her surprise, the patriarch had advised her to follow Zhang Ruochen in cultivation.
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden had struggled with this decision for a long time, only resolving to visit the Moon Goddess Dojo today.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Don’t be so reluctant. Even if you want to come, I might not necessarily accept you. With your lofty celestial maiden attitude, who knows what kind of trouble you might bring me? And with your stunning beauty, you’re already a walking disaster that could attract a lot of trouble for me.”
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden gritted her teeth, her inner turmoil evident. She felt that Zhang Ruochen was clearly taking advantage of her while pretending to be indifferent. She said, “There are countless ways to temper one’s mind. Do you think I must follow you to cultivate?”
With that, the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden walked out of the dojo.
She was confident that Zhang Ruochen would surely stop her, even beg her to stay, a faint smile of anticipation on her lips.
“Farewell,” Zhang Ruochen called out.
The Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden’s smile vanished instantly. She abruptly stopped, turned around, and glared at Zhang Ruochen, saying, “Don’t regret this.”
“Of course, I won’t regret it.”
Zhang Ruochen watched the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden’s retreating figure and shook his head, saying, “Truly, she’s as proud as can be. Is this the attitude of someone seeking help? Is this how one tempers their mind? With such a mindset, keeping her by my side would only bring me trouble.”
As the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden swiftly walked out of the Moon Goddess Dojo’s gates, she brushed past the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden.
Both women were disguised as men, each possessing extraordinary grace and breathtaking beauty.
In that instant, time seemed to stand still.
Though they were merely passing each other, their brief exchange revealed their mutual recognition of each other’s uniqueness.
After leaving the Moon Goddess Dojo, the Thousand-Star Celestial Maiden suddenly turned around, gazing at the Nine Heavens Mystic Maiden’s graceful back with a thoughtful expression. “Who is she? With such beauty and aura, she shouldn’t be unknown. She should have been famous long ago. Why have I never seen her before? Could she also be here to see Zhang Ruochen?”
