They had assumed their ancestor could easily suppress Zhang Ruochen, but they never expected him to be so terrifyingly powerful.
“Gulp!”
The Mu Family disciples who had mocked and insulted Zhang Ruochen now swallowed hard, their eyes filled with fear as they looked at him.
They had dared to insult a supreme Saint King, utterly clueless about the consequences.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, gazing at Mu Xinghe, and said calmly, “You haven’t ventured out in a long time, have you? Do you think your Rule of Heaven and Earth cultivation makes you invincible?”
“How could your strength have grown so much in such a short time?” Mu Xinghe’s eyes were full of disbelief.
Zhang Ruochen chuckled, “Strong? Actually, my cultivation is still below yours, far from the peak of Rule of Heaven and Earth.”
Mu Xinghe’s expression shifted again, shaking his head, “Impossible. Your aura is so powerful. How could you not have reached the peak of Rule of Heaven and Earth? Even a Dao Domain Realm powerhouse’s aura couldn’t compare to yours.”
“Swoosh.”
At that moment, a figure dashed into the hall, reeking of alcohol—the Drunken Madman.
He casually took a seat, looking at Mu Xinghe like he was an idiot, and sneered, “Old Man Mu, you really are a frog in a well. Do you know that since Zhang Ruochen returned to Kunlun Realm, he’s been through battles that shook the Heavenly Court and Hell Realms, killing countless Dao Domain, Heaven-Connecting, and Near-Path Realm powerhouses?”
“Just half a month ago, Zhang Ruochen single-handedly stormed the Death Clan’s camp at Xianji Mountain in the Northern Region, wiping out 200,000 Death Clan troops and killing several of their divine sons and daughters.”
“Over a month ago, at the冥王 Sword Tomb in the Central Region, Zhang Ruochen annihilated hundreds of thousands of Undead Blood Clan troops, also slaying several of their divine sons.”
“Even earlier, Zhang Ruochen took the Torch Order from the Chen Family ancestor, becoming the King of the Eastern Region and defeating the array master, Master Shenya.”
“With your mere Rule of Heaven and Earth cultivation, you dare try to intimidate him? Are you trying to make me laugh to death?”
Before the Drunken Madman finished, Gusong Zi entered the hall, casting a disdainful glance at the Mu Family members, and snorted, “Saying Zhang Ruochen isn’t worthy of Lingxi? Don’t forget, our Moon-Worshipping Sect worships the Moon God, and Zhang Ruochen is her envoy, a position of immense prestige.”
“Even without that, as the King of Kunlun Realm’s Eastern Region, how is he not worthy of Lingxi?”
“I’m truly impressed by your ignorance, staying holed up in Phoenix Lake, oblivious to the outside world. Think the Mu Family is strong now? A single powerhouse from the Heavenly Court or Hell Realm could easily wipe you out.”
Mu Xinghe was speechless, his heart roiling with shock.
Not just him—every Mu Family member was stunned beyond measure.
Single-handedly wiping out hundreds of thousands of Undead Blood Clan and Death Clan troops? Such a glorious and terrifying feat was unimaginable to most.
And an array master—though they hadn’t seen one, they could imagine the power, nearly unmatched below Great Saint level.
Yet such a formidable figure had fallen to Zhang Ruochen.
Recalling the Drunken Madman’s words about numerous divine sons and daughters of the Undead Blood and Death Clans dying by Zhang Ruochen’s hand, they could scarcely fathom his strength.
Zhang Ruochen ignored their reactions, turning to Mu Lingxi with a smile, “Lingxi, I prepared two gifts for you. I almost forgot to give them to you.”
“What are they?” Mu Lingxi’s eyes sparkled with anticipation.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, stepping outside the hall.
Mu Lingxi followed, and the Mu Family members trailed behind, curious about what precious gifts Zhang Ruochen could present.
Outside, Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, revealing two gifts.
The first was a phoenix, dozens of metres tall, radiating dazzling light, its aura as powerful as a Dao Domain Realm powerhouse.
The second was a stone sphere, a hundred metres in diameter, perfectly round, hovering in midair, so heavy it seemed to collapse space itself.
Most strikingly, the sphere emitted a terrifying aura, its oppressive force causing weaker Mu Family members to kneel, as if facing a supreme deity.
“How can there be a phoenix? Do phoenixes still exist in Kunlun Realm?”
“What’s with that stone sphere? Why is it so terrifying?”
“I can’t take it—my saint soul feels like it’s breaking.”
…
The Mu Family members were utterly shocked, some struggling to stand, others barely holding on.
“A hundred-thousand-year-old ancient sacred herb, and it’s beast-shaped, with such ferocious aura. If its seal is broken, even I could be torn apart easily,” Mu Xinghe gasped, eyes filled with deep fear.
That Zhang Ruochen’s ancient sacred herb was far stronger than him was a crushing blow.
When Phoenix Lake first awakened, it had produced a few hundred-thousand-year-old sacred herbs, but they lacked offensive power, incomparable to Zhang Ruochen’s beast-shaped herb.
Refining this beast-shaped herb would undoubtedly yield far greater benefits than ordinary ones.
If Mu Xinghe refined it, he might condense a Dao Domain.
This phoenix-shaped ancient sacred herb came from Zhang Ruochen’s time at War God Star in Luo Water, linked to a crucified star crocodile, with a grand origin.
Because it resembled a phoenix, Zhang Ruochen had saved it for Mu Lingxi.
Given her awakened Ice Phoenix bloodline, refining it would bring immense benefits.
“Is that a divine throne planet? Good grief, you even got hold of something like that?” the Drunken Madman exclaimed.
“What? A divine throne planet?”
Everyone’s faces changed, including Mu Lingxi’s, stunned that the unassuming stone sphere was a legendary divine throne planet.
Seized from Wang Xu, this planet once held a faint divine star soul, but Zhang Ruochen had the Moon God refine it, making it controllable by anyone.
Everyone knew the value of a divine throne planet—a star manifested in the cosmic river after a being became a god, reflecting heaven and earth. When a god fell, the planet dimmed, becoming nearly impossible to find in the vast cosmos.
Both treasures Zhang Ruochen presented were rare, unparalleled wonders.
He gently brushed aside Mu Lingxi’s stray hair, smiling warmly, “Lingxi, take them. I know you lack for nothing, but this is my heart for you.”
Mu Lingxi nodded, tiptoeing to kiss his cheek quickly, her face beaming with happiness.
With a wave, she stored the beast-shaped herb and divine throne planet.
She didn’t care about their value—anything from Zhang Ruochen, she cherished.
Without the oppressive force of the herb and planet, the Mu Family members sighed in relief, those kneeling standing again.
Those who hadn’t knelt were drenched in sweat, clothes soaked as if pulled from water.
“Lingxi, take me to meet the Guanghan Realm saints,” Zhang Ruochen said softly, taking her hand.
Mu Lingxi smiled brightly, “Let’s go. I’m sure Bu Ji and the others will be thrilled to see you.”
They left the Mu Family’s grand manor without delay.
The Drunken Madman and Gusong Zi glanced at Mu Xinghe and the others, shook their heads, and followed Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi.
Yun Zheng was dazed. He’d meant to put Zhang Ruochen in his place, but it ended like this.
It reminded him of years ago, when, knowing Wuding Mountain was a deadly trap, Zhang Ruochen had fearlessly stormed it, his confidence awing countless sect followers.
Had the Empress not returned as a god, Wutong Qiuyu would’ve been sacrificed by Zhang Ruochen, and the sect’s losses would’ve been unimaginable.
Years later, Zhang Ruochen was still that domineering. Even with their ancestor’s return, they could only look up to him.
Yun Zheng felt a bitter pang. Why had he repeatedly provoked Zhang Ruochen?
If he weren’t Mu Lingxi’s father, Zhang Ruochen might’ve crushed him like an ant.
“I’ll be away for a while. Manage the Mu Family well and do not provoke Zhang Ruochen again,” Mu Xinghe said, gazing at the sky, a touch forlorn.
“Where are you going, Ancestor?” Mu Qingtian asked quickly.
Mu Xinghe replied, “I need to see what Kunlun Realm has become. Feng Zuisheng was right—I’m a frog in a well. Without seeing the outside world, I may never condense a Dao Domain.”
Without waiting for replies, Mu Xinghe soared into the sky, vanishing in a streak of light.
As their ancestor left, many Mu Family members exchanged glances, their faces burning with shame. They’d utterly lost face and would likely avoid Zhang Ruochen in the future.
“No need to worry. As long as Zhang Ruochen cares for Lingxi, he won’t trouble our Mu Family. But we must never provoke him again,” Mu Qingtian said gravely.
Even with Zhang Ruochen’s good temper, truly angering him would bring dire consequences.
