Leaving Wuding Mountain, Zhang Ruochen donned the Radiant Merit Armor, took Shoushu, and sped off at a thousand times the speed of sound toward the Sixty-Sixth Merit Exchange Station, the closest to Wuding Mountain.
Nearing the station, Zhang Ruochen and Shoushu parted ways, with Shoushu going ahead to prepare.
Once certain Shoushu was ready, Zhang Ruochen entered the station unhurriedly.
“Zhang Ruochen.”
Cang Long appeared, his eyes brimming with venom.
Since his debut, he’d always been unstoppable, yet this time he’d suffered a crushing defeat at Zhang Ruochen’s hands, a stain on his life that only Zhang Ruochen’s blood could wash away.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, strolling over, “Cang Long, did you bring what I asked for?”
“Where’s Ruan Ling?” Cang Long’s face was dark.
Knowing Cang Long wouldn’t hand over the Five Elements divine materials without seeing Ruan Ling, Zhang Ruochen promptly opened the Qiankun Realm, releasing her.
He’d used a secret technique to seal Ruan Ling’s mental power, rendering her powerless, so there was no need for the Saint-Binding Rope.
“Junior Sister.” Concern filled Cang Long’s eyes.
Zhang Ruochen placed a hand on Ruan Ling’s shoulder, “Relax, I’ve always been gentle with women. Your junior sister hasn’t suffered a bit. Give me the items, and I’ll return her to you.”
Ruan Ling showed no extreme reaction. With her mental power sealed, resistance was futile.
She wondered what conditions Cang Long had agreed to for Zhang Ruochen to release her.
“Isn’t that Cang Long? Why’s Ruan Ling with Zhang Ruochen?”
“The Nether God Hall and Zhang Ruochen are like fire and water. What’s going on?”
“Strange indeed. Is there some hidden story here?”
…
The station bustled with people, and soon, Zhang Ruochen, Cang Long, and Ruan Ling drew attention, sparking discussions.
Hearing these, Cang Long’s face grew uglier, his eyes practically spitting fire.
“Get lost, all of you!”
Fury surged within him as he roared at the onlookers.
If this weren’t a Merit Exchange Station, he’d have torn the speakers to pieces.
Sensing his terrifying killing intent, the crowd scattered, fearing trouble.
Calming slightly, Cang Long took out a brocade box, “What you want is inside. Release Ruan Ling now.”
Zhang Ruochen extended his mental power to probe the box.
Cang Long didn’t stop him, allowing the inspection.
Satisfied, Zhang Ruochen withdrew his mental power, smiling, “Good, the items are fine. Let’s trade.”
He stepped toward Cang Long with Ruan Ling.
Fighting was forbidden in the station, so there was little to worry about.
Approaching, Zhang Ruochen reached for the box while Cang Long grabbed Ruan Ling’s hand.
Almost simultaneously, Zhang Ruochen lifted his hand from Ruan Ling’s shoulder, and Cang Long released the box.
“Swoosh.”
Cang Long pulled Ruan Ling back, distancing himself from Zhang Ruochen.
“Junior Sister, are you alright?” he asked with deep concern.
Ruan Ling stared at Zhang Ruochen, saying coldly, “I’m fine. What did you give him?”
“Good stuff, naturally. Cang Long, thanks for the generous gift. You two chat; I’ll be off,” Zhang Ruochen said, shaking the box lightly before leaving.
With that, he vanished.
“Damn it.” Cang Long clenched his fists, seething with murderous intent.
He wanted to intercept Zhang Ruochen and reclaim the divine materials.
But his injuries hadn’t healed, and he feared Zhang Ruochen’s previous tactics, so he held back.
He’d considered ambushing Zhang Ruochen with help, but that risked the materials falling into others’ hands.
Given Zhang Ruochen’s cunning, he likely had precautions in place.
So, the idea was abandoned.
“What exactly did you give him?” Ruan Ling asked again.
Cang Long’s face darkened, “Heavenly Blood Mother Gold and Primordial Soil.”
Ruan Ling’s expression changed. She hadn’t expected the box to contain such precious treasures.
She knew Cang Long had the Heavenly Blood Mother Gold, and the Primordial Soil must have come from Nether God.
“We must eliminate Zhang Ruochen and take back the divine materials,” she thought.
Nether God was surely disappointed, and failing this task would bring severe consequences.
As Zhang Ruochen left, Shoushu sprang into action.
“Know what’s going on?” Shoushu said, looking around.
“You know?” someone asked curiously.
Shoushu grinned, showing two white rat teeth, “Of course. Not long ago, Cang Long and Ruan Ling schemed against Zhang Ruochen, but he turned the tables, injuring Cang Long and capturing Ruan Ling, his lover.”
“With his lover captured, Cang Long was frantic, doing everything to save her.”
“Believe it or not, Zhang Ruochen made an exception, agreeing to trade with Cang Long for treasures to free Ruan Ling.”
One person shook their head, “Impossible. Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t let a tiger return to the mountain, especially with his deep feud with the Nether God Hall. There’s no reason to release her.”
Shoushu said, “But he did release her, right before your eyes. Strange, isn’t it? The reason’s simple: Ruan Ling’s been tamed by Zhang Ruochen, and Cang Long, clueless, foolishly traded treasures to get her back. Funny, right?”
“Ruan Ling, tamed so easily? No way,” another doubted.
Shoushu glared, “Why not? I heard Ruan Ling used illusions to pose as Ling Feiyu to seduce Zhang Ruochen, but it became real. Zhang Ruochen took full advantage, so he couldn’t bear to kill her. He’s not heartless. Look, does Ruan Ling have a single mark on her?”
The crowd turned to Ruan Ling, scrutinizing her.
Though skeptical, they saw Zhang Ruochen take the treasures and release Ruan Ling, undeniable proof.
“It’s true. No marks on Ruan Ling, and she’s glowing. Since when is Zhang Ruochen so gentle?”
“Gentle? You kidding? When has he ever spared an enemy?”
“Looks like there’s something between Ruan Ling and Zhang Ruochen.”
“Obviously. If she didn’t offer herself, why would he let her go? For treasures? No way.”
“Poor Cang Long, completely in the dark, trading treasures for Ruan Ling, treating her like a pure goddess.”
“Exactly. Zhang Ruochen’s ruthless, passing her to Cang Long after he’s done and taking his treasures. Brilliant move.”
“Quiet, don’t you see Cang Long’s face turning green?”
…
Though hushed, their words reached Cang Long’s ears.
His face indeed turned green, chest heaving with rage, nearly spitting blood.
Ruan Ling, her mental power sealed, didn’t hear the gossip. Seeing Cang Long’s expression shift, she asked, puzzled, “Cang Long, what’s wrong?”
“Slap.”
The more Cang Long thought, the more he believed the gossip. Furious, his lungs felt like they’d explode. Imagining Zhang Ruochen with Ruan Ling, he slapped her hard, roaring, “You wretch, conspiring with Zhang Ruochen to deceive me! I’ll crush him before your eyes.”
Stung by the slap, Ruan Ling was stunned. Cang Long had never treated her this way.
“Cang Long, are you mad?” she snapped.
His face dark, fists clenched, he said, “Don’t you know what you’ve done?”
With that, he stormed into the spatial teleportation array, unable to look at her.
He couldn’t stay, lest he vomit blood from rage.
He’d suspected something between Ruan Ling and Zhang Ruochen but refused to believe it. Now, he had no choice.
Ruan Ling, furious and confused, wondered why Cang Long, who’d traded two divine materials for her, treated her so.
Her priority was breaking Zhang Ruochen’s seal, then uncovering the truth and settling scores with Cang Long.
With her mental strength, breaking the seal was only a matter of time.
Seeing this, Shoushu smirked with satisfaction and slipped away.
By a stream near the Sixty-Sixth Merit Exchange Station, Shoushu emerged from the ground, joining Zhang Ruochen.
“How’d it go?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Shoushu grinned smugly, “Master Chen, trust me, I nailed it, exceeded expectations. Cang Long’s losing it. You should’ve seen his face, pure gold.”
“Exceeded expectations?”
Shoushu vividly recounted the rumors he’d spread.
Zhang Ruochen was initially pleased, but his face darkened, lines creasing his forehead. He’d only asked Shoushu to spread word that he’d tamed Ruan Ling, sowing distrust among Cang Long and the Heaven Realm faction.
But Shoushu had embellished, claiming Zhang Ruochen forcibly took Ruan Ling and made her his woman. No wonder Cang Long was livid.
The rumor’s effect was stronger, but at what cost to Zhang Ruochen’s reputation?
“You… ugh…”
Zhang Ruochen, torn between laughter and exasperation, shook his head, “Fine, you’re a clever rat. Good job. Here’s your reward.”
He tossed a pair of glowing gauntlets to Shoushu.
Shoushu caught them, eyes sparkling, “Nine-Shine Ten Thousand Pattern Saint Artifact gauntlets! Thanks, Master Chen!”
At Six-Step Saint King, these gauntlets were perfect, boosting his strength significantly. As an ancient remnant, he could now face Eight-Step Saint Kings.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t mind. Having defeated many Hell Realm experts, he had plenty of high-tier Ten Thousand Pattern Saint Artifacts.
Without lingering, he took Shoushu and headed back to Wuding Mountain.
