Zhou Zhen’s mind raced, weighing his options in a dilemma.
Some things he couldn’t say, but at this moment, it seemed he had no choice but to speak.
Given Zhang Ruochen’s sharp intellect, deceiving him wouldn’t be easy. To escape, Zhou Zhen would need to reveal something truly valuable.
After some thought, Zhou Zhen said, “Guxin Ao vaguely mentioned that the seven remaining realm sons are tied to the dynasty’s fate, able to harness the power of the myriad spiritual veins gathered in the Central Imperial City, crucial for its defense.”
“If a realm son dies, the city’s defenses might develop a flaw.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. With the Central Imperial City in such a precarious state, gathering all seven realm sons might indeed serve this purpose.
For a deity to painstakingly nurture seven realm sons, there must be an extraordinary intent. Even if not fully mature, they could play a vital role.
Yet the Paradise Realm faction sought to kill the realm sons, revealing sinister motives.
At such a critical time, the Paradise Realm was still scheming internally instead of uniting against the Infernal Realm, utterly deplorable.
“What were you and Guxin Ao plotting in the Tianle Palace?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Zhou Zhen replied, “Guxin Ao valued my status in the Array Extinguishing Palace and wanted to ally with me, so he hosted a banquet in the Tianle Palace to welcome me. Even a powerful realm like the Sword God Realm has reasons to seek the Array Extinguishing Palace’s favor.”
As he spoke, a trace of pride flickered in Zhou Zhen’s eyes, the confidence of an Array Extinguishing Palace disciple.
The palace held a transcendent status, independent of worldly powers, and even dominant realms strove to maintain amicable relations.
Zhang Ruochen nodded noncommittally, his true thoughts known only to himself.
“Where is Zhang Ruochen? The Heavenly Palace enforcement team has arrived!”
At that moment, a cold voice rang out.
Though not as far-reaching as Xie Ling’s, it spread through the First Central District where the Ziwei Imperial Palace stood, reaching the ears of millions of saint realm cultivators.
“Now that the Heavenly Palace enforcement team has acted, let’s see how long Zhang Ruochen can remain arrogant.”
“Arrogant? Facing the enforcement team, even a true dragon must coil. Who dares defy the Heavenly Palace’s authority?”
“Let’s watch the show. I wonder what Zhang Ruochen will look like in shackles.”
…
In an instant, the cultivators of the First Central District were roused, their gazes turning to the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
Though Zhang Ruochen was known for his defiance, few believed he would dare oppose the Heavenly Palace.
A glint of joy flashed in Zhou Zhen’s eyes. With the enforcement team’s authority, Zhang Ruochen likely wouldn’t dare harm him further.
If they could apprehend Zhang Ruochen, all the better.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Zhou Zhen calmly, saying, “Guxin Ao was killed, and the enforcement team didn’t stir. Yet the moment you’re captured, they rush over. Your influence is impressive.”
“Are you thinking their arrival means I’ll let you go?”
Zhou Zhen’s heart trembled, his instincts warning him things might not be as simple as he hoped.
Outside the Ziwei Imperial Palace, six Heavenly Palace enforcers rode white jade heavenly horses, standing in a line. Each radiated intense killing intent, manifesting as ferocious divine and demonic figures, their mere presence intimidating, clearly not here with good intentions.
“Zhang Ruochen, show yourself!” one enforcer barked.
As his words fell, the palace gates opened, and a graceful green-clad palace maiden stepped out.
Stopping three zhang from the enforcers, she said nervously, “The King of the Eastern Region is handling important matters and will not see anyone.”
Though a saint, she was no match for the six enforcers, especially under their overwhelming saintly aura, which weighed heavily on her.
“How presumptuous! We represent the Heavenly Palace, and Zhang Ruochen sends a mere palace maiden to brush us off? Is he insulting us? Zhang Ruochen, do you still respect the Heavenly Palace?” an enforcer shouted.
Being turned away was unprecedented since he became an enforcer.
A powerful aura erupted from him.
*Bang.*
The green-clad maiden, too weak to withstand it, was sent flying, blood spurting from her mouth.
Fear filled her eyes, feeling as if her body might explode.
She hadn’t expected such domineering behavior.
In her panic, a gentle force enveloped her, stabilizing her form and dissipating the crushing aura.
A stream of crystalline life spring water flew from the Ziwei Imperial Palace, entering her body.
“What great authority. As Heavenly Palace enforcers, you think you can disregard my realm rules and bully Kunlun Realm’s native cultivators at will?” a cold voice echoed from the palace.
The enforcer who spoke urged his white jade horse forward a few steps, declaring loudly, “Zhang Ruochen, don’t twist words. You killed the Sword God Realm’s leader without cause and seized the array master sent by the Heavenly Palace, violating heavenly law. Release Master Zhou Zhen immediately, surrender, and follow us to the Heavenly Palace for punishment.”
Others might fear Zhang Ruochen, but as a Heavenly Palace enforcer, he had no regard for him.
“Apprehend me? Do you have a heavenly decree from the Heavenly Palace?” Zhang Ruochen’s calm voice responded.
The enforcer snorted, “Do you think you’re a deity or a Great Saint? To apprehend you, what need is there for a heavenly decree?”
“Without a heavenly decree, you think you can apprehend me? Do you take me for a pushover?” Zhang Ruochen’s tone remained calm, but an invisible pressure radiated from the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
Another enforcer said, “Zhang Ruochen, do you dare resist? Think carefully about the consequences.”
The threat in his tone was unmistakable.
The six enforcers’ eyes glinted coldly, ready to storm the palace.
They had come to apprehend Zhang Ruochen, and even Empress Chi Yao couldn’t charge them with disrespect.
“Without a heavenly decree or your commander present, you six think you can make me surrender? Where does your confidence come from?”
“No matter your status, harming Kunlun Realm’s native cultivators without cause violates my realm rules, and you must face punishment,” Zhang Ruochen’s indifferent voice sounded.
An enforcer laughed coldly, “Realm rules? Zhang Ruochen, you take yourself too seriously. Punish us? Go ahead and try.”
He dismissed Zhang Ruochen’s words entirely. It was always the Heavenly Palace enforcers who punished others; who could punish them?
At times, their words were tantamount to heavenly law, unquestionable.
But before his words faded, the surrounding saintly energy trembled violently, condensing into a hundred-zhang hand that pressed down from the sky.
The six enforcers’ faces changed.
Without hesitation, they acted, unleashing powerful saintly techniques to counter the descending hand.
Six chains flew from their bodies, glowing with brilliant saintly light, intricate runes surfacing, like six reviving divine dragons soaring upward.
Forged with the Heavenly Palace’s secret methods, the chains could bind various powers, capable of restraining top Nine-Step Saint Kings, even Immortal Great Saints.
But no matter their efforts, it was futile.
As the hundred-zhang hand descended, the space within a hundred zhang froze completely.
The six enforcers were as if petrified, unable to move.
“Zhang Ruochen, you dare attack Heavenly Palace enforcers? Do you truly disregard heavenly law?” one enforcer roared.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t respond with words, letting his actions speak.
The hundred-zhang hand pressed down without pause.
*Bang.*
The six enforcers and their mounts were driven into the ground, only their heads remaining above.
“Zhang Ruochen, you’ll regret this.”
The enforcers were furious, never having faced such humiliation.
A hundred li away, Jin Hong and other enforcers stood on a low hill, observing the Ziwei Imperial Palace from afar.
“Commander, should we rescue them?” an enforcer asked.
Jin Hong, hands behind his back, said calmly, “They disobeyed my orders and sought trouble with Zhang Ruochen. Let them suffer a bit.”
The other enforcers fell silent, wary of displeasing Jin Hong.
At that moment, Jin Hong felt a gaze from the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
He knew it was Zhang Ruochen’s, unsurprised, as he hadn’t hidden his presence.
Meeting Zhang Ruochen’s gaze, Jin Hong smiled, unfazed by his powerful saintly aura. But his fellow enforcers weren’t so composed, feeling as if a mountain weighed on them, unable to move.
“Heavenly Fiend Lord, Jin Hong.”
Though they’d never met, Zhang Ruochen’s formidable mental strength allowed him to deduce Jin Hong’s identity from various clues.
A wisp of saintly energy, a rule, a glance, a hair, a patch of skin—all contained infinite knowledge, revealing the whole from a part.
Mental strength wasn’t just for combat.
Since Jin Hong didn’t show himself, Zhang Ruochen saw no need to provoke another strong foe.
After a brief exchange of glances, Zhang Ruochen withdrew his gaze.
*Whoosh.*
The enforcers breathed a collective sigh of relief, feeling unprecedented ease.
“Zhang Ruochen is terrifying. No wonder so many top-tier powerhouses below Great Saint level were suppressed by him. Those six dared provoke him, truly asking for trouble.”
“The commander was wise. Without a heavenly decree from the Heavenly Palace, there’s no way to subdue Zhang Ruochen.”
At this moment, the enforcers fully trusted Jin Hong’s decision.
Jin Hong said nothing, turning to leave decisively.
The others didn’t dare linger, following suit.
As for the six suppressed enforcers, they were left to fend for themselves.
Witnessing their suppression, the cultivators watching from the shadows were astounded.
“Zhang Ruochen’s gone mad, daring to suppress Heavenly Palace enforcers. Isn’t he afraid of compounding his crimes?”
“It’s a pity Commander Jin Hong didn’t act, or Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t dare be so brazen.”
“Even if Jin Hong acted, the outcome might be the same. Zhang Ruochen has no equal below Great Saint level.”
“It seems we must wait for the Heavenly Palace’s response, which shouldn’t take long.”
…
Many cultivators felt disappointed but helpless.
Without a Heavenly Palace order, with Great Saints and deities unable to enter Kunlun Realm, no one could deal with Zhang Ruochen.
As long as he remained, the realm rules would hang over all cultivators, binding them.
In the Ziwei Imperial Palace, Zhang Ruochen remained calm, as if nothing had happened.
Zhou Zhen was shaken. Though unaware of the specifics outside, he heard the six enforcers’ words.
It was hard to imagine how Zhang Ruochen could be so bold as to provoke the Heavenly Palace enforcers.
This made his escape seem nearly impossible.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Zhou Zhen, pausing before smiling, “Don’t be nervous. Since Master Zhou has been so cooperative, I, Zhang Ruochen, will keep my word and let you go.”
Zhou Zhen looked surprised, “You’re really letting me go?”
“Of course. Come, I’ll personally escort you out.”
With that, Zhang Ruochen released a wave of saintly energy, enveloping Zhou Zhen, and performed a spatial shift.
The next moment, they appeared at the Ziwei Imperial Palace’s gate.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, patting Zhou Zhen’s shoulder warmly, as if they were newly forged friends.
“I’ve offended you this time. I hope you won’t take it to heart. If you need anything in the future, feel free to come to me. In Kunlun Realm, there’s little I, Zhang Ruochen, can’t handle,” he said.
The six suppressed enforcers glared coldly at Zhou Zhen.
As members of the Paradise Realm faction, their status gave them access to many secrets.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have defied Jin Hong’s orders to rush to the Ziwei Imperial Palace to demand Zhou Zhen’s release.
But now, it seemed Zhou Zhen might have a serious issue, possibly having leaked critical secrets to Zhang Ruochen.
Why else would Guxin Ao be killed while Zhou Zhen walked free, personally escorted by Zhang Ruochen?
Zhou Zhen was still dazed, unsure of the situation.
But since Zhang Ruochen was letting him go, how could he hesitate?
As Zhou Zhen left, Zhang Ruochen secretly transmitted to Yin Yuanchen via mental strength, “Brother Yin, I need a favor.”
“Brother Zhang, name it,” Yin Yuanchen replied.
“Please follow Zhou Zhen and see who he meets,” Zhang Ruochen transmitted.
“Since you trust me, leave it to me,” Yin Yuanchen responded promptly.
Immediately, Yin Yuanchen concealed himself, left the Ziwei Imperial Palace, and quietly followed.
