Standing before the ice prison, Ling Feiyu’s eyes were filled with shock, unable to believe the words of the middle-aged man.
Zhang Ruochen, however, appeared calm, smiling slightly, “With the foundation of the Moon Worship Sect, having a revived ancient is not unexpected. But since you’ve awakened, Senior, why not stop the sect’s experts from colluding with external enemies?”
The Spirit Devouring King stroked his beard, a glint flashing in his eyes, “You’re quite knowledgeable, knowing about the revived ones. It’s not that I didn’t want to intervene, but I’ve been in deep slumber in this ice dungeon. Only recently did I sense a powerful energy fluctuation, which gradually woke me.”
At this, Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. The powerful energy fluctuation the Spirit Devouring King mentioned was likely the unrestrained release of his Flame God Leg’s power.
Despite the great distance, it still disturbed the Spirit Devouring King, rousing him from his deep slumber.
Indeed, the ice dungeon’s environment was quite suitable for such a slumber.
His gaze shifting, Zhang Ruochen looked at a cave within the prison, clearly freshly dug, confirming the Spirit Devouring King’s words that he had just emerged from underground.
“Your awakening is timely, Senior. With you overseeing the Moon Worship Sect, I believe no one will dare threaten it again,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Typically, every revived one was immensely powerful, a supreme Saint King, capable of dominating an era.
The Spirit Devouring King looked proud, “Naturally. With me here, how could I allow outsiders to wreak havoc in the sect? But unless necessary, I won’t act lightly or show myself. The fewer who know of my existence, the better.”
As expected, like Jiang Yunchong and Hong Tianji, the Spirit Devouring King was also low-key, not yet ready to step into the spotlight.
These revived ones were the hidden strength of the Kunlun Realm.
With a wave of her hand, Ling Feiyu opened the prison gate.
“Rest assured, Senior, no information about you will leak out,” Ling Feiyu promised solemnly.
The Spirit Devouring King nodded, “Good. Go release the other sect experts. Don’t mind me.”
At this, Ling Feiyu bowed respectfully to the Spirit Devouring King, then turned to free the other Saint Realm experts imprisoned on this level.
As soon as Ling Feiyu left, Shoushu approached Zhang Ruochen, “Master Chen, why’d you come to the sect? I thought you’d head to Phoenix Lake to find the Little Saintess first.”
“I did plan to find Lingxi, but I heard Cang Long was plotting against the Moon Worship Sect, so I came here first. Have you seen Lingxi recently?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Shoushu grinned, “Of course. I just got back from Phoenix Lake. It’s changed a lot; most people wouldn’t find it. If you’re going to see the Little Saintess, I can lead the way.”
“Alright, once things here are settled, take me there,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Had Cang Long and Ruan Ling not schemed against him, his original plan was to reunite with Mu Lingxi and Lin Fei at Phoenix Lake before coming to Wuding Mountain to see Ling Feiyu.
Though his plans were disrupted, it wasn’t a big issue.
Soon, Ling Feiyu freed all the imprisoned experts, and together with Zhang Ruochen, they left the ice dungeon.
Shoushu and the Spirit Devouring King remained in the ice dungeon. Father and son, reunited after a hundred thousand years, had much to discuss. The quiet ice dungeon, undisturbed, was perfect for their heartfelt talk.
On Saint Water Peak, a bamboo grove offered serene tranquility. Walking along its paths calmed the mind.
Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu walked side by side for a long time, neither speaking, the atmosphere somewhat heavy.
“Swoosh.”
A holy light flew from the horizon, landing in Zhang Ruochen’s hand, a communication talisman.
After reading its contents, Zhang Ruochen smiled, “Looks like this Cang Long really cares about Ruan Ling.”
“What’s going on?” Ling Feiyu asked.
Zhang Ruochen handed over the talisman, saying, “Cang Long wants to ransom Ruan Ling and asked me to name a condition. This could be useful.”
After reading the talisman, Ling Feiyu said, “What’s your plan?”
“Agree to Cang Long, of course. Since he’s eager to ransom Ruan Ling, let’s make the Nether God Hall bleed a little. I need some things, and this might be the chance to get them,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Killing Ruan Ling outright was pointless. Trading her for treasures was far more valuable.
After some thought, Zhang Ruochen inscribed a communication talisman and sent it out.
The next moment, he took out twenty bottles of Merit Sword-Washing Marrow, “By the way, this is a meeting gift for you. I mistakenly gave it to Ruan Ling earlier.”
Ling Feiyu glanced at Zhang Ruochen, didn’t refuse, and calmly accepted the twenty bottles.
“Feiyu, I…”
Zhang Ruochen began, but Ling Feiyu cut him off, “No need to say more. I’ve heard all you had to say before. Over the years, I’ve thought it through. We’re both pursuing the supreme path, and we shouldn’t be weighed down by romantic entanglements. Until we become gods, I won’t consider anything related to love.”
Seeing the resolve in Ling Feiyu’s eyes, Zhang Ruochen knew she’d made her decision and wouldn’t waver. He nodded, “Fine, we’ll talk after we become gods. Until then, we’re mere mortals.”
They exchanged a smile.
With everything clarified, they both felt lighter, free from entanglement and worry.
“Feiyu, what’s the treasure Cang Long is after?” Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.
A strange light flashed in Ling Feiyu’s eyes, “It’s the Moon Soul Pearl, left by the Moon God. Legend says it’s formed from the essence of the Guanghan Realm, nourishing both body and soul. It’s usually held by the sect leader, and only those who’ve made great contributions can use it for cultivation.”
Outsiders only knew of the Moon Worship Sect’s supreme holy artifact, the Life-Death Bronze Furnace, as its greatest asset, unaware of another treasure, a divine relic left by the Moon God, equally significant to the sect.
The Moon Worship Sect’s enduring strength, producing countless experts generation after generation, owed much to the Moon Soul Pearl.
“Is the Moon Soul Pearl still at Wuding Mountain?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ling Feiyu nodded, “Yes, both the Life-Death Bronze Furnace and the Moon Soul Pearl are the sect’s guardian treasures. Unless the main altar is breached, they cannot leave Wuding Mountain. Come, I’ll show you this treasure.”
With that, Ling Feiyu turned into a streak of light, flying out of the bamboo grove toward Saint Gold Peak.
Zhang Ruochen followed without hesitation.
He was genuinely intrigued by the Moon God’s treasure.
Within Saint Gold Peak lay a hidden cave, protected by layers of formations, nearly impossible for even a supreme Saint King to breach.
Few in the Moon Worship Sect knew how to enter the hidden cave.
At a cliff wall, Ling Feiyu used a secret technique to open a passage and stepped inside.
Zhang Ruochen followed closely, unconcerned.
As soon as they entered, the passage vanished, leaving no trace.
The passage was narrow, but soon it opened into a vast space filled with dense holy energy, almost liquid in form.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze was instantly drawn to an ancient, towering holy furnace.
The furnace stood twenty zhang tall, over ten zhang in diameter, its azure surface etched with countless secret patterns and profound holy techniques.
Undoubtedly, this was the Moon Worship Sect’s guardian treasure, the Life-Death Bronze Furnace, an ancient supreme holy artifact.
Parts of its surface bore dark red stains, rumored to be divine blood from ages past.
Like the Qingtian Pagoda, the Life-Death Bronze Furnace lacked a spirit.
Otherwise, with the furnace’s power, only a top-tier expert could hope to invade Wuding Mountain.
“The Life-Death Bronze Furnace isn’t just an offensive supreme holy artifact. Its greater value to the sect lies in its internal time flow, ten times slower than the outside world,” Ling Feiyu said, stepping forward.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression shifted, astonished, “The Life-Death Bronze Furnace is a time treasure? No wonder the sect’s cultivators progress so quickly.”
Time treasures were exceedingly rare, even in the Time God Hall, especially those with high ratios.
Zhang Ruochen knew the Kunlun Realm’s most famous time treasure was the Heavenly Wheel Seal held by Chi Yao, with a thirty-to-one ratio, followed by the Sword Pavilion, with its seventh layer at seven-to-one.
Cultivating with a time treasure was twice as effective.
He hadn’t expected the Life-Death Bronze Furnace to be a time treasure, with a ten-to-one ratio. Ten months inside equaled one month outside.
With both the Life-Death Bronze Furnace and the Moon Soul Pearl, it would be strange if the Moon Worship Sect didn’t produce experts.
“Moreover, the furnace emits a unique flame that tempers the body. Paired with the Moon Soul Pearl, the effect is remarkable. The Moon Soul Pearl is inside the furnace. Since you saved the sect from collapse, I can authorize you to cultivate in the furnace for a time,” Ling Feiyu said earnestly.
The secrets of the Life-Death Bronze Furnace and Moon Soul Pearl were known to few even within the sect, let alone outsiders.
Allowing an outsider to use them was nearly unprecedented in the sect’s history.
But Zhang Ruochen’s role in averting a catastrophe earned him this rare exception.
