Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s threatening words, a thick killing intent surged in Great Saint Xue Fu’s eyes.
“Impudent! A mere Saint King dares to raise his voice before me? Courting death?”
As he spoke, Xue Fu extended a hand, unleashing a concentrated surge of blood fiend energy that enveloped Zhang Ruochen. Lacking a suitable pretext to act, Xue Fu seized the opportunity Zhang Ruochen had given him.
The Annihilation Emperor was about to intervene, but someone moved faster. A wave of majestic righteous energy swept out, effortlessly dispersing the blood fiend energy.
A spirited elder in Confucian robes stepped forward, his expression stern, exuding an innate authority without anger.
It was none other than Emperor Wen, one of Kunlun Realm’s Nine Emperors from eight hundred years ago.
“Xue Fu, you’re the one being impudent. Do you think Kunlun Realm is defenseless?”
Emperor Wen’s voice boomed, white light surging from his body, transforming into an even denser righteous energy.
Ordinarily, Emperor Wen was genial, resembling a scholarly elder in his seventies or eighties—refined, unassuming, indistinguishable from an ordinary old man.
But when provoked, he was entirely different. As an enthroned emperor, his majesty was inviolable.
Among Kunlun Realm’s Great Saints, Emperor Wen’s cultivation was among the most profound, infinitely close to divinity. Only a handful, like the Peach Tree or the Haitang Spirit Ancestor, could compare. All he lacked was the catalyst for godhood.
For an Infernal Court Great Saint to act recklessly in Kunlun Realm, Emperor Wen, a native Great Saint, could not stand idly by.
The Annihilation Emperor stepped forward, his voice cold. “Xue Fu, you dare try to kill Guanghan Realm’s divine envoy? Believe me, I can obliterate you right now.”
Seeing Emperor Wen and the Annihilation Emperor intervene so forcefully, Great Saint Hun Ling of the Heavenly Palace frowned slightly. “Xue Fu, you may be an Infernal Court envoy, but you must follow the rules. Otherwise, you’ll be asked to leave Kunlun Realm.”
Kunlun Realm was under the Heavenly Court’s jurisdiction. Allowing an Infernal Court envoy to act unchecked would be a slap to the Heavenly Court’s face.
Moreover, their mission was to investigate Xue Lingxian at the Blood God Sect. Causing further complications would only make things messier.
Warned by three envoys, Xue Fu’s expression darkened, and he was tempted to lash out. But after a moment’s thought, he restrained himself.
His objectives—uncovering the Blood God Sect’s vulnerabilities and rescuing Xue Tu—remained unfulfilled. Escalating now would be counterproductive.
Xue Fu quickly calmed, fully retracting his aura.
“I was merely eager to clarify Xue Lingxian’s situation, perhaps too hasty. The Merit Battlefield’s rules are at stake, and if uncontrollable factors arise, the consequences are clear to all,” Xue Fu said calmly.
His words were righteous, leaving no room for criticism.
Emperor Wen withdrew his aura, reverting to his refined, detached demeanor, as if above worldly concerns.
The Annihilation Emperor gave Xue Fu a cold glance before approaching Zhang Ruochen.
If Xue Fu weren’t an Infernal Court envoy, he’d have crushed him into pulp.
“Zhang Ruochen, summon Xue Lingxian at once,” a cold voice demanded.
The speaker was a heroic man in golden armor, nine feet tall, with flowing golden hair, holding a jade scepter. Three pairs of white wings spread behind him, radiating brilliant holy light.
Standing beside Zhang Ruochen, the Annihilation Emperor transmitted secretly, “This is Great Saint Aos of Paradise Realm, from the Light Temple, Zhou Yu’s senior brother under the same deity. Over ten thousand years old, his strength is unfathomable.
“Of the other four envoys, you’re familiar with Emperor Wen of Kunlun Realm. The white-haired Hun Ling represents the Heavenly Palace, immensely powerful. The one in black demonic armor is Great Saint Black Feather, a ferocious demonic bird in true form, representing Black Demon Realm.
“The one who acted earlier is Great Saint Xue Fu of the Infernal Court, a veteran of the Merit Battlefield who’s slain many Heavenly Court Great Saints.”
Zhang Ruochen’s mind stirred, gaining a clearer understanding of the six envoys.
His thoughts racing, he met Great Saint Aos’s gaze, neither servile nor defiant. “Xue Lingxian was slain by our sect’s Blood God Ancestor in the Middle Ancient era. What remains is merely a holy thought, which dissipated after one action. I have no means to make Xue Lingxian reappear.”
“Excuses! A holy thought dormant for hundreds of thousands of years could not suppress so many top Saint Kings so easily. In my view, it wasn’t Xue Lingxian’s holy thought at all, but a Great Saint hiding in the Blood God Sect,” Aos declared coldly.
Great Saint Black Feather stepped forward, his sharp gaze piercing. “No one can break the Merit Battlefield’s rules. Zhang Ruochen, if you claim it was Xue Lingxian’s holy thought and it’s gone, why fear an investigation?”
Since the upheaval at the Blood God Sect, Patrol Envoys had monitored the sect from the ninth heaven, noting no one entering or leaving.
The more Zhang Ruochen obstructed, the more it suggested something was amiss.
“Zhang Ruochen, step aside. I’ll inspect this altar myself. If you interfere, don’t blame me for showing no mercy,” Xue Fu said, seizing the moment, his tone domineering.
With the Heavenly Court envoys targeting the Blood God Sect, Xue Fu was delighted. The more internal strife, the better for him.
If the Heavenly Court’s five envoys were united, he’d have little room to maneuver.
Hun Ling pondered briefly, then looked at Zhang Ruochen. “The Heavenly Palace has ordered a thorough investigation. The Blood God Sect must cooperate fully.”
The Heavenly Palace’s orders were inviolable.
Zhang Ruochen understood that without a thorough probe, the envoys from the Heavenly Palace, Paradise Realm, Black Demon Realm, and Infernal Court wouldn’t relent.
He spoke gravely, “Since the Heavenly Palace commands it, I’ll cooperate fully. But if anyone seeks to wantonly damage the Blood God Sect, I’ll never agree.”
“You needn’t worry about that,” Hun Ling assured.
Great Saint Aos’s gaze fell on Zhou Yu, bound on the altar, his eyes chilling. “Zhang Ruochen, release Zhou Yu and Mo Sheng at once.”
Few knew the exact deal between the Paradise Realm faction and the Moon God, but Aos was well aware.
Five top-tier Five Elements divine materials, sixty thousand divine stones, and allowing Guanghan Realm to relocate to the cultivation-rich Ziluo Heavenly Domain—the Paradise Realm faction had paid a steep price.
In another setting, Aos would have killed Zhang Ruochen to erase this humiliation.
The Annihilation Emperor handed Zhang Ruochen a spatial pouch. “This is from the Moon God. Release them.”
Zhang Ruochen took it, his spiritual power confirming five top-tier Five Elements divine materials and twenty divine stones. He nodded slightly.
With a wave, he unbound Zhou Yu and Mo Sheng, sending them off the altar.
Their faces were grim, and they retreated silently behind their respective Great Saints, their pride utterly shattered, rendering words futile.
“There are other Black Demon Realm cultivators,” Black Feather said.
The Paradise Realm faction’s costly deal wasn’t just for Zhou Yu and Mo Sheng but also for other suppressed Black Demon Realm cultivators.
Losing thousands of Saint Kings would be a severe blow to Black Demon Realm.
Without a word, Zhang Ruochen produced a Space Exquisite Orb, decisively releasing the imprisoned Black Demon Realm cultivators.
“Hand over Black Demon Realm’s traitors,” Black Feather demanded again, referring to Du Mosheng, Pei Linhu, and others.
Zhang Ruochen saw through Black Feather’s intent: Du Mosheng’s defection to the Blood God Sect was an affront to Black Demon Realm’s dignity, requiring their elimination.
He declared loudly, “Du Mosheng and the others are now part of the Blood God Sect. I cannot hand them over.”
“I’ll purge my sect’s traitors, and no one can stop me,” Black Feather said forcefully.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes darkened. “You’re welcome to try.”
Black Feather’s aura erupted with killing intent. A mere Saint King daring to defy him was beyond audacious.
The Annihilation Emperor stepped forward, neutralizing Black Feather’s killing intent. “Black Feather, are you breaking the rules? You have no authority over those who’ve left Black Demon Realm.”
Black Feather’s face grew darker.
“We’re here to investigate Xue Lingxian. Set personal matters aside to avoid delaying our mission,” Emperor Wen said calmly.
Hun Ling nodded. “Focus on the task. I must report back to the Heavenly Palace soon.”
Reluctantly, Black Feather ceased targeting Zhang Ruochen, postponing his purge.
Zhang Ruochen remained composed, casually grabbing Xue Tu and tossing him into the Space Exquisite Orb.
This action ignited fury in Xue Fu’s eyes.
“Zhang Ruochen, release Xue Tu, and I’ll pretend nothing happened, leaving the Blood God Sect immediately,” Xue Fu transmitted secretly.
Zhang Ruochen’s lips curled slightly as he transmitted back, “Releasing Xue Tu isn’t impossible, but give me a supreme holy weapon.”
Xue Fu’s mouth twitched at the demand. A supreme holy weapon—Zhang Ruochen dared to ask for such a treasure.
Supreme holy weapons were exceedingly rare, coveted even by Great Saints.
“Do you think supreme holy weapons are common? I’ll offer a top-tier myriad-pattern holy weapon at most. If I find leverage, you’ll get nothing and face serious trouble,” Xue Fu transmitted.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Threaten me? I don’t fall for that. No supreme holy weapon, no Xue Tu.”
“You…”
Xue Fu seethed, his chest burning with rage.
A Saint King daring to act so arrogantly before him was unforgivable.
Zhang Ruochen acted as if nothing had occurred, casually storing the Azure Sky Saint Dragon in the Space Exquisite Orb.
Zhou Yu clenched his fists, seething. He’d gone to great lengths to capture the dragon in the Barbaric Secret Realm as a mount, only for it to fall into Zhang Ruochen’s hands.
With these tasks done, Zhang Ruochen drifted off the altar, allowing the envoys to investigate.
Though the six envoys were formidable, they were only avatars here. The spatial bubble concealing the blood mist space should suffice to deceive them.
Soon, the envoys ascended the altar, inspecting it meticulously.
Xue Fu, Aos, and Black Feather were especially thorough, leaving no detail unchecked.
Zhang Ruochen appeared calm but was inwardly tense, fearing any slip.
At one point, Emperor Wen’s gaze met his, carrying a profound look that jolted Zhang Ruochen’s heart.
He realized Emperor Wen, the Confucian Path’s leader and a peerless spiritual Great Saint, likely surpassed all in investigative prowess.
The spatial bubble, though intricate, might not evade Emperor Wen’s spiritual probing.
As Zhang Ruochen grew anxious, Emperor Wen’s gentle voice reached him. “Creating a spatial bubble at your cultivation level is impressive, but it’s not enough to fool these people. Don’t worry—Kunlun Realm’s secrets won’t be exposed. They’ll find nothing.”
Zhang Ruochen quietly sighed in relief. With Emperor Wen’s covert aid, no mishaps should occur.
Emperor Wen likely knew far more secrets than he did, perhaps even the Blood God Altar’s hidden truths.
Emperor Wen closed his eyes, seemingly idle, his aura vanishing like pine, bamboo, or stone—eerily still. Zhang Ruochen suspected he was using spiritual techniques to disrupt the other envoys’ perceptions.
“Nothing? Could Xue Lingxian be hidden beneath the altar?” Xue Fu frowned.
He moved to investigate the altar’s depths.
Zhang Ruochen snorted coldly. “The depths house the Blood God Ancestor’s resting place. No one may intrude.”
“Any suspicious place must be inspected, regardless,” Xue Fu sneered.
Without waiting for Zhang Ruochen’s response, Xue Fu plunged into the altar’s subterranean space.
Zhang Ruochen’s brows furrowed, then relaxed. The depths held only the Blood God’s divine corpse—Xue Fu would find nothing.
Xue Fu soon reached the subterranean space, where the Blood God’s thousand-zhang-tall divine corpse loomed.
Despite eons since its fall, the corpse was enveloped in potent divine power, repelling approach.
Its blood energy remained vibrant, almost alive, raising questions of whether the Blood God was merely slumbering.
“The Blood God’s divine corpse is indeed formidable. Could the treasure he took from the Undying Blood Clan be within it?” Xue Fu’s eyes gleamed.
Even Xue Tu knew of this secret; how could Xue Fu not?
With the corpse before him, Xue Fu wouldn’t miss the chance. If he obtained the treasure, he might soon ascend to godhood.
Without hesitation, he approached the corpse, extending a hand to release a surge of blood fiend energy, probing the Blood God’s body.
“Buzz.”
As the energy infiltrated, a vast divine might erupted from the corpse.
The entire Blood God Altar quaked.
The divine power enveloping the corpse surged, and a majestic voice echoed in the void: “Die.”
“Bang.”
The divine power struck Xue Fu, hurling him from the depths.
He crashed heavily to the ground, his body nearly shattering, his aura wilting.
The other envoys looked on in astonishment, uncertain of what had transpired.
“Blaspheming a deity brings such consequences,” Zhang Ruochen said.
As the Blood God Sect’s leader, Zhang Ruochen knew much about the Blood God. Legend held that the Blood God had mastered Mysteries, ensuring his divine thought’s eternal endurance, roaming beyond the ninth heaven—far beyond ordinary gods who lacked Mysteries.
Xue Fu’s plight stemmed from disrespecting the Blood God, triggering its indestructible divine thought and earning his punishment—a self-inflicted fate.
