Qu Shan Old Mother had gone to the ninth divine river, sitting cross-legged at its source, deeply attuned to the heavenly precepts. Above her head floated a crimson orb, within which hovered a six-winged saint crow.
The ninth river’s source emerged from beneath a seven-zhang-high boulder.
Black Phoenix and White Vermilion Bird sat on either side of the river, also immersed in enlightenment.
As Zhang Ruochen and Tianchu Fairy arrived, Black Phoenix and White Vermilion Bird ceased their cultivation, rising abruptly.
Black Phoenix flashed a charming smile, “You two, this is our martial aunt’s enlightenment spot. I suggest you leave quickly.”
Tianchu Fairy replied, “Do you really think Nine-Bend Celestial Star is an enlightenment sanctuary?”
“Isn’t it?” Black Phoenix’s gaze lingered on Tianchu Fairy, sizing her up.
A top beauty of Tai Bai Realm, Black Phoenix was adored by countless cultivators, confident in her talent and allure. Yet, compared to Tianchu Fairy, even she felt overshadowed, a pang of defeat gnawing at her.
But such is a woman’s heart—the greater the gap, the stronger the urge to measure herself.
“Less than a year since leaving the Truth Heavenly Domain, and you’ve reached Nine-Step Saint King. Such speed is unattainable even in the Truth God Hall. I won’t believe it’s unrelated to Nine-Bend Celestial Star,” Black Phoenix said, tilting her snowy chin.
Tianchu Fairy asked, “Have you gained anything from your time here?”
“We’ve only been here a few hours—too soon to speak of gains,” White Vermilion Bird replied coolly.
Tianchu Fairy said, “It’s futile. Without aligning with Nine-Bend Celestial Star’s heavenly precepts, your cultivation speed here isn’t much faster than elsewhere.”
At this, Qu Shan Old Mother opened her eyes, “How does one align with its precepts?”
Tianchu Fairy clasped her fists, bowing slightly, “Senior, the Blood Bee Asura King has come to Luo River and gone to War Soul Star, intending to use its divine blood to feed his Blood Emperor Bees. I hope you’ll join us to eliminate him soon. In return, I’ll share the method to align with Nine-Bend Celestial Star’s precepts.”
“Ha!”
Qu Shan Old Mother’s laughter rang out, growing colder and deeper.
Her voice carried a terrifying sonic attack. Even with Tianchu Fairy and Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation, their eardrums ached, their minds thundering as if struck by heavenly lightning.
“Are you threatening me, or trying to use me?” Qu Shan Old Mother’s tone turned sharp and piercing, her form morphing into a chilling ink cloud that surged towards Tianchu Fairy.
“Careful!”
Before Zhang Ruochen’s warning fully escaped, Qu Shan Old Mother was upon them.
A wrinkled hand shot out like lightning, aiming for Tianchu Fairy’s neck. Not one to be underestimated, Tianchu Fairy instantly summoned her Rain Silk Divine Sword and a protective talisman.
The sword wove light patterns into a net, slashing at Qu Shan Old Mother.
Unfazed, Qu Shan Old Mother conjured translucent feathers around her, forming six wings that blocked the sword’s assault.
It seemed Tianchu Fairy would be seized.
Boom.
Her talisman shattered into thirty-six orbs, orbiting her like stars, shielding her at the centre.
Qu Shan Old Mother’s fingers clashed with the orbs.
Thunder and fire erupted, illuminating a hundred-li radius in a blinding sphere.
Distant cultivators grew restless.
“They’ve surely enraged Qu Shan Old Mother.”
“With her temper, she won’t care if you’re the Tianchu Civilization’s fairy—cross her, and you die.”
“She doesn’t even fear the Nether God—why would she fear the Tianchu Civilization?”
…
Zhang Ruochen spread his arms, unleashing thirteen dragon souls and thirteen elephant souls. He struck with the eleventh palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm—Dragon-Elephant Ascending Heaven.
Simultaneously, he invoked his Truth precepts, amplifying his attack sevenfold.
Notably, over a decade of Sundial cultivation had boosted his Truth Path, with over sixty thousand precepts—up from sixfold to sevenfold power.
Qu Shan Old Mother glared at him fiercely, her hand morphing into a claw. Saintly qi surged, and with one strike, she sent Zhang Ruochen reeling.
Boom, boom.
He crashed through a small hill, stopping ten li away.
He didn’t fall.
Standing on the shattered ground, his arms throbbed, nearly numb.
Protected by divine inscriptions, his injuries were light. He strode forward, rushing to save Tianchu Fairy before Qu Shan Old Mother breached her talisman.
Black Phoenix fixated on Zhang Ruochen’s feet, her dark eyes gleaming. She whispered to White Vermilion Bird, “Look—his left leg. Isn’t it lame?”
Zhang Ruochen had refined over twenty thousand crimson inscriptions in his left leg.
When walking, he could mask it with focus, making it nearly imperceptible. But in combat, with no spare effort, the limp was obvious.
“It does seem lame… but… no way…” White Vermilion Bird shook her head.
Black Phoenix smirked confidently, “How many lame Saint Kings are there? Two in Luo River? And like the cripple, his Truth Path mastery is exceptional.”
“If he’s the cripple, why pretend not to know us?” White Vermilion Bird asked.
“We’ll have to ask him,” Black Phoenix replied.
Boom.
Qu Shan Old Mother shattered the thirty-six orbs guarding Tianchu Fairy.
From her sleeve flew a barrage of silver iron feathers, hurtling towards Tianchu Fairy.
Sharp as flying swords, their power surpassed them.
Tianchu Fairy summoned a light shield from her arsenal, barely withstanding the onslaught, retreating under strain.
“Girl, reveal the method to align with Nine-Bend Celestial Star’s precepts, or I’ll extract it from your memories,” Qu Shan Old Mother rasped coldly.
Zhang Ruochen returned, shouting, “Stop!”
Both women’s gazes snapped to him.
Tianchu Fairy’s eyes held surprise—she hadn’t expected him to come back.
Qu Shan Old Mother was equally shocked—shocked he could still stand, and that he’d risk his life to return.
“Scram, or I’ll cripple you first,” she barked.
Zhang Ruochen stood firm, “Senior Qu Shan, may I speak?”
She controlled the silver feathers with one hand while forming a black orb with the other. A beastly phantom emerged, exuding destructive force.
“Kid, think one blocked strike makes you bold? I spared you earlier—that’s why you survived.”
Zhang Ruochen sensed lethal danger.
Her anger was real, her killing intent palpable.
“What a volatile old hag. No wonder no one dares ask her,” he thought bitterly, releasing his spatial domain, ready to wield space to counter her.
Sensing spatial fluctuations, Black Phoenix and White Vermilion Bird confirmed his identity.
“Martial Aunt, wait!” they cried in unison.
Qu Shan Old Mother glanced at them, questioning.
Black Phoenix said, “He saved me and Junior Sister—we owe him.”
Qu Shan Old Mother’s eyes flickered, settling on Zhang Ruochen, “What’s this about?”
“He’s the cripple we told you about,” White Vermilion Bird said.
Qu Shan Old Mother clenched her fist, recalling the beast phantom. The silver feathers retracted.
Relieved of their pressure, Tianchu Fairy exhaled, her curious gaze darting between Zhang Ruochen, Black Phoenix, and White Vermilion Bird.
“I’m not unreasonable,” Qu Shan Old Mother said. “Since you aided my nieces—and they’ve praised you to me—you get one chance to speak. Weigh your words carefully.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded gratefully to Black Phoenix and White Vermilion Bird, then approached Qu Shan Old Mother with calm resolve, ascending to the ninth river’s source.
His opening line: “Senior Qu Shan, you haven’t been to War Soul Star, have you? There’s a divine beast corpse there. Though dead, its divine soul lingers, chained.”
Her eyes narrowed sharply, “Is this true?”
“I wouldn’t dare deceive you.”
Zhang Ruochen knew she cared little for the Blood Bee Asura King’s fate. Her priority was reforming her immortal saint body to reclaim Great Saint status.
For someone whose immortal body was once destroyed, that was a monumental challenge, requiring a grand opportunity.
War Soul Star’s divine corpse was that chance.
Asking her to kill the Blood Bee Asura King felt like exploitation.
Telling her of War Soul Star’s treasure was aiding her.
