Zhang Ruochen’s gaze grew cold. Trading beauty for survival—he hadn’t imagined such a thing would happen in the Kunlun Realm. It was truly lamentable.
Given the realm’s current state, it was understandable that some felt despair and sought to secure an escape route.
Yet, even if they joined those powerful realms, without sufficient strength, their lives would likely be miserable, forcing them to bow and scrape, living without dignity, akin to slaves.
“Do you have a way to save Xue Wuye?” Jiutian Xuannü asked, her eyes hopeful.
Each Heir bore a vital mission, and losing one so needlessly would be a tragedy, a devastating blow to the Kunlun Realm.
A strikingly alluring sword attendant kowtowed repeatedly to Zhang Ruochen, sobbing, “It’s all my fault, I caused harm to the young master. Lord Ruochen, please save him, even if it costs my life, I’m willing.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her. She was indeed breathtakingly beautiful, her charm innate, no wonder Guxin Ao had set his sights on her.
“Everyone, leave,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Without hesitation, they quickly exited the cultivation chamber. Xue Wuye’s life hung by a thread, and no time could be wasted.
Sealing the chamber, Zhang Ruochen looked deeply at Xue Wuye on the jade bed, then flipped his hand, producing a fist-sized, emerald-green object radiating an intense life force.
It was the Heart of the Divine Tree, nurtured by the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree, capable of reviving the dead and mending bones. One formed every eon, its value immense, coveted even by gods.
At Immortal Machine Mountain in the Northern Region, Zhang Ruochen had collected the tree’s trunk, obtaining seven such hearts. He gave two to Fairy Hundred Flowers and Mu Lingxi, leaving five.
“Saint Monk Xumi guided Xue Wuye in swordsmanship for a month and bestowed time and space imprints, surely with purpose. I must save his life. In a sense, we’re fellow disciples. Xue Wuye, don’t waste this Heart of the Divine Tree. If you fail to become a peerless powerhouse, I’ll personally reclaim those imprints for our master,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
Having received the *Secret Canon of Time and Space* and the *Divine Tree Diagram of Qiankun*, he was Xumi’s disciple, though less fortunate than Xue Wuye, who had met him in person.
Without further hesitation, Zhang Ruochen pressed the Heart of the Divine Tree into Xue Wuye’s body.
No further action was needed, the heart unleashed vast life force, merging into Xue Wuye’s flesh and bones, repairing his near-shattered body.
This was a great opportunity for Xue Wuye. Integrating the heart not only saved his life but promised immense benefits, profoundly impacting his future cultivation.
Nourished by the life force, the cracks on Xue Wuye’s body healed rapidly, and his shattered meridians began to reform.
Zhang Ruochen opened his Heavenly Eye, closely observing Xue Wuye’s condition, seizing the chance to study the heart’s mysteries.
In little time, Xue Wuye’s physical injuries fully healed, his constitution greatly enhanced, achieving a perfected physique.
Restoring his holy soul was trickier but only a matter of time.
With his current cultivation, Xue Wuye couldn’t fully refine the heart, most of its essence would remain stored in his body, releasing gradually over time.
Three hours later, Xue Wuye’s injuries were healed, and he awoke.
“Thank you, Brother Zhang, for saving my life,” Xue Wuye said, rising and thanking him earnestly.
He knew how grave his injuries were, yet now he was unscathed, with only Zhang Ruochen present, the truth was clear.
“I integrated a Heart of the Divine Tree into you. Use it well,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Wuye’s heart jolted. He knew the heart’s immense value, no wonder it healed such severe wounds.
He could feel his strengthened constitution and holy soul, even his cultivation had advanced, with a surge in life rules within him.
“Saint Monk Xumi said I’d face a great tribulation, death if I failed, but unimaginable rewards if I survived. It’s come true,” Xue Wuye sighed.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes glinted. Xumi had foreseen this event.
Yet, the future was fluid, even Xumi couldn’t be certain Xue Wuye would survive.
Staring at Xue Wuye, Zhang Ruochen asked, “With your temperament, how could you be so easily provoked by Guxin Ao?”
Though their interactions were few, Zhang Ruochen knew Xue Wuye wasn’t impulsive, unlikely to recklessly risk his life, even for a sword attendant.
As Wancheng City’s lord and a Kunlun Heir, he bore great responsibilities, making rash actions even less likely.
“I knew I was no match for Guxin Ao, so I didn’t intend to fight, planning to leave with my sword attendants. But he proposed a pure swordsmanship spar, no cultivation comparison. As a sword cultivator, how could I refuse?”
“I didn’t expect Guxin Ao to be so despicable. A leader of the Sword God Realm, yet he broke his word. After just dozens of moves, he used his superior strength to grievously wound me and seize my Ten Sword Token,” Xue Wuye said, his voice heavy.
Despite his composure, such humiliation filled him with fury.
If Guxin Ao had defeated him purely with swordsmanship, he’d accept it, but to use such vile tactics was unacceptable.
Zhang Ruochen understood instantly. Guxin Ao’s actions were premeditated, targeting a sword attendant was a pretext, his true aim was Xue Wuye.
Moreover, he likely coveted Wancheng City’s *Flying Immortal Sword Art*.
Xue Wuye suddenly grew solemn, “Brother Zhang, I have an unreasonable request. Will you agree?”
“What is it?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“I ask you to retrieve the Ten Sword Token. The *Flying Immortal Sword Art* must not fall to the Sword God Realm,” Xue Wuye said.
“Guxin Ao, having taken the token, will likely study it. Even if retrieved, it may be too late,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Xue Wuye shook his head, “The token I carried, symbolising Wancheng City’s lord, is heavily sealed, not easily deciphered.”
He continued, “Since entering the Kunlun Realm, the Sword God Realm has been collecting swordsmanship texts, even eyeing the Sword Pavilion. Though a swordsmanship haven, they crave the *Wordless Sword Manual*.”
“The *Flying Immortal Sword Art*, derived from the *Wordless Sword Manual*, holds the secrets of Sword One to Sword Ten. The Sword God Realm has long coveted it, perhaps why Guxin Ao acted personally.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. The *Flying Immortal Sword Art* was among Kunlun’s mightiest sword techniques. Even with the Sword God Realm’s heritage, few texts could compare, let alone surpass it.
Many great realms coveted Kunlun’s powerful legacies, like the Black Demon Realm targeting the *Heavenly Demon Stone Carving*.
The Six Wondrous Books, famed across myriad realms, were targets for countless realms.
Losing these legacies could doom the Kunlun Realm to permanent decline, with no hope of revival.
—
*Author’s note: Many readers feel the story lingers too long below the Supreme Saint realm. I understand, but I must fill the earlier plot holes at this stage, which takes time. The Kunlun Realm arc is nearing its end, with only the Central Imperial City segment remaining.*
