In the pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen and Yin Yuanchen fell into silence, the atmosphere growing somewhat heavy.
After a long while, Yin Yuanchen exhaled softly and said, “Let’s not dwell on these heavy topics. How about we talk about Young Master Yaotian instead?”
A flicker of surprise crossed Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, followed by a wry smile, “How much do you know about Young Master Yaotian, Brother Yin?”
“Why don’t you start, Brother Zhang? What exactly are your feelings for the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady? Don’t look at me, anyone with eyes can see there’s something complicated between you two. Young Master Yaotian’s flamboyant pursuit of her is the talk of the city,” Yin Yuanchen said, a smile playing on his handsome face.
“Friends.”
“Just friends?”
“Close friends.”
“Only close friends?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “A confidante, is that enough?”
“Gold is easy to come by, but a true confidant is rare. A red-haired confidante is even rarer. Brother Zhang, don’t lose your confidant and hurt your beloved,” Yin Yuanchen said meaningfully.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze sharpened, “I don’t know much about Young Master Yaotian. From what you’re saying, there’s something off about him?”
“The Nine Radiance Divine Lord was wise, martial, and unparalleled, a true god praised across all worlds in the Middle Ages, winning over countless beings. But his descendants may not be as upright,” Yin Yuanchen said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “How so?”
Yin Yuanchen didn’t rush to explain, instead saying, “Let me ask you another question, Brother Zhang. If Young Master Yaotian truly admires the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, wants to pursue her, become her partner, and even convinces the gods of the Tianquan Great World to aid the Kunlun Realm, would you bless them?”
This question stumped Zhang Ruochen.
Young Master Yaotian’s appearance, talent, and background were all top-tier. If he had a true heart, he’d be worthy of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady.
But would Zhang Ruochen truly feel no discomfort or reluctance?
“Zhang Ruochen, you’re too greedy,” he thought. “You already have Lingxi, and you can’t betray Luoji. Why can’t you let go of Nalan Danqing? If your confidante marries another, and it’s a good match, you should bless her.”
Thinking of Ling Yuan, guilt overwhelmed him, as if he’d done something unforgivable. Or rather, too many wrongs.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen’s silence, Yin Yuanchen laughed, “The Zhang Ruochen who shakes the heavens is in such pain and turmoil over one question from me? What a sense of achievement! Haha!”
“That was just a hypothetical, Brother Zhang. Why take it so seriously? If you can’t let go, why not fight for yourself instead of sacrificing for others? Your indecision might cause you lifelong pain and her a lifetime of sorrow.”
Zhang Ruochen shook off his low mood, hands behind his back, gazing at the sky, sighing, “Nation and love are always entwined. You said the war a hundred thousand years ago was heavy, but how is love any lighter?”
“Your hypothetical doesn’t hold. The Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady isn’t one person, but nine.”
“My confidante is just one of the nine.”
“Young Master Yaotian, however, wants control over all nine.”
“Perhaps every man is as passionate as Xue Wuye at heart, but it’s not just about possession. Enough of this. Tell me, what kind of person is Young Master Yaotian?”
Yin Yuanchen said, “From what I know, his mission was to retrieve the Nine Radiance Divine Tears for the Tian Yuan Great World at all costs. But after meeting her in the Kunlun Realm, he changed his mind.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded, “If I were him, I’d change my mind. Both the Nine and their leader Nalan Danqing are captivating.”
Yin Yuanchen said, “But his true aim remains the Nine Radiance Divine Tears.”
Zhang Ruochen, having discussed this with the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, knew more. Yaotian’s pursuit wasn’t noble, it’s coercive, using the Tianquan Great World’s aid as leverage to possess her.
That’s why he said Yin’s hypothetical was flawed. Such tactics could hardly be called true affection, or the word “love” would lose all meaning.
Of course, Yaotian’s methods were effective, exploiting the Kunlun Realm’s importance to her. If the realm faced imminent collapse with no other options, she might have no choice but to yield.
Yin Yuanchen said, “If you investigate, you’ll find Yaotian has never fought on the Merit Battlefield. Even in the Kunlun Realm, he hasn’t killed a single Hell Realm monk.”
“To someone of his lofty status, the Hell Realm’s threats will never touch him. Even without acting, weaker worlds on the Merit Battlefield fight desperately against the Hell Realm for him.”
At this, Yin Yuanchen said angrily, “The Heavenly Court is full of such privileged people, short-sighted and indulgent. What would the heroes who died defending the Heavenly Court on the Merit Battlefield think?”
“Fundamentally, the Heavenly Court’s system is flawed. Why should weaker worlds perish? If it’s survival of the fittest, why establish the Heavenly Palace? What are the gods thinking?”
“If someone like Yaotian deceives and marries the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, retrieves the Nine Radiance Divine Tears, and becomes a hero of the Tianquan Great World, I’d be the first to scorn you, Zhang Ruochen, for your inaction, emboldening such people.”
This tirade left Zhang Ruochen helpless.
“I got carried away, sorry. But Brother Zhang, you issued a decree for fair treatment of Kunlun monks, standing against all worlds’ powers. Why can’t you face your own heart and be a passionate swordsman, raging for your beloved?”
“If you won’t act, maybe I will. I quite admire the nine remarkable women of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady. You’d bless me, right? Haha.”
Yin Yuanchen laughed, walked to the pavilion’s edge, and scattered petals into the spiritual lake.
Fish leaped joyfully, vying for them.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t take Yin’s words seriously, falling silent. Love was always what he feared facing, yet couldn’t avoid.
But if that day came, as Yin described, he might cast aside everything and rage for his beloved.
“What’s happening?”
Suddenly, Yin Yuanchen’s expression changed.
Zhang Ruochen snapped back, looking skyward. The once clear blue sky had turned blood-red.
More precisely, countless blood-red stars hung in the sky, casting a crimson hue.
Zhang Ruochen sensed the surrounding space was sealed, forming a small starry realm. Yin Yuanchen’s mansion was like a floating island in the cosmos, tiny and cut off from the outside world.
“Swoosh—”
Zhang Ruochen pointed, a sword qi shooting from his fingertip, only creating ripples in the sky.
“Such a powerful spatial treasure, even a Great Saint couldn’t easily break out.”
Being trapped in such a dangerous environment unnoticed wasn’t ideal.
His gaze shifted to the lakeside, eyes narrowing.
Two figures approached slowly from the lake.
One tall and imposing, the other handsome and refined, both familiar to Zhang Ruochen.
“Yan Wushen,” Yin Yuanchen’s heart sank.
Undoubtedly, all these changes were tied to Yan Wushen.
He never imagined Yan Wushen would appear in the Central Imperial City, arriving at his place silently.
With the city heavily guarded, how did Yan Wushen infiltrate?
And with countless powerhouses here, why would he risk it?
Immediately, Yin Yuanchen acted, collecting the lake’s fish, fearing for his friends’ safety.
“Would Yan Wushen come to the city alone? What’s his goal? How do we break this spatial seal?” Yin Yuanchen pondered.
No matter how he looked at it, this was no simple matter, they needed to escape quickly.
His only comfort was Zhang Ruochen’s presence, their combined strength should ensure their safety.
Zhang Ruochen locked eyes on Yan Wushen, sensing this Yan Wushen was vastly different from the one he met at Luo River, with an opposite aura, likely the good self Prajna mentioned.
The good self’s aura was far stronger than the evil self’s.
This made sense, Yan Wushen’s temporary split was for cultivation, with future merging in mind. The good self needed dominance, or issues could arise during fusion.
Simultaneously, Zhang Ruochen faintly sensed the evil self’s aura.
With both good and evil selves present, Yan Wushen’s intentions were clearly hostile.
His gaze then shifted to the person beside Yan Wushen, none other than Chi Kunlun, missing for some time.
Like Chi Kongle, Chi Kunlun had grown, resembling Zhang Ruochen more, shedding past immaturity.
Chi Kunlun’s eyes met Zhang Ruochen’s, complex emotions swirling within.
Once, he hated Zhang Ruochen, seeing him as the murderer of his parents, vowing revenge.
But Yan Wushen told him Zhang Ruochen was his father, and Empress Chi Yao his mother, leaving him unsure whom to believe.
Seeing Chi Kunlun’s complex gaze, Zhang Ruochen knew he likely understood the truth.
But with Chi Kunlun’s temperament, accepting this wouldn’t be easy.
“Zhang Ruochen, you don’t seem surprised to see me,” Yan Wushen said.
Zhang Ruochen composed himself, “Why should I be? I’ve been waiting for you.”
“Interesting, Zhang Ruochen, I truly admire you. A mere Saint King, daring to offend both the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm. Others would’ve died countless times, yet you thrive, stirring the Merit Battlefield time and again,” Yan Wushen said meaningfully.
He continued, “Setting realm rules as a Saint King, unprecedented in history. It’s a pity you stay with the Heavenly Court. Join the Hell Realm, and if you’re strong enough, you’ll get all you desire, unbound as you are now.”
Clearly, Yan Wushen admired Zhang Ruochen’s talent, despite their opposing sides.
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, “You, Yan Wushen, have roamed the Merit Battlefield, killing countless Heavenly Court monks, yet you live just fine, don’t you?”
“Well said. Your growth speed exceeds my expectations, but it delights me. Do you know how lonely it is without a worthy opponent?” Yan Wushen said, a hint of excitement in his tone.
For centuries, Yan Wushen dominated the Merit Battlefield below Great Saint, even the Heavenly Palace’s four heavenly kings could only suppress him together.
He craved a formidable opponent to push him to greater heights.
Zhang Ruochen stood, gazing at Yan Wushen, “The strong are always lonely, but I relish this loneliness.”
Yin Yuanchen was puzzled. Zhang Ruochen and Yan Wushen fought at Luo River, known to all, yet now it felt like they’d never clashed.
“You waited for me, likely for Chi Kunlun. I’m curious, with you and Empress Chi Yao so opposed, how did you have Chi Kunlun and Chi Kongle?” Yan Wushen said.
He turned to Chi Kunlun, “Little one, didn’t you want to see Zhang Ruochen? Now you have your wish. Ask him any questions.”
Chi Kunlun asked softly, “Is what he said true?”
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t bear to lie, nodding, “Yes.”
At this confirmation, Chi Kunlun’s eyes reddened, his body trembling, emotions surging.
“Why? Why did everyone lie to me?” Chi Kunlun growled.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart shuddered, fully understanding Chi Kunlun’s feelings.
When Chi Yao revealed the Blood Empress was his mother, he couldn’t accept it either, having seen her as an enemy, how could he embrace such a shift?
Chi Yao was too cruel, weaving such lies to deceive two innocent children.
“Yan Wushen, release Chi Kunlun. If you want a fight, I’ll fight. With your status, why trouble a child?” Zhang Ruochen said, voice low.
Yan Wushen smiled faintly, “I never troubled him. On the contrary, I saved him from Shang Ziji and planned to take him as my disciple, but he’s too stubborn to agree.”
“However, I’ll give you a chance. Defeat me, and I’ll return Chi Kunlun to you. How’s that?”
Yan Wushen exuded confidence. Though his evil self suffered at Zhang Ruochen’s hands, and Zhang Ruochen had grown stronger, he remained unfazed.
