The invitation was sent by Dao Yuhuang, the leader of the Qitian Tribe.
Zhang Ruochen opened the invitation and glanced at it.
The invitation was addressed to the “leader” of the Blood Heaven Tribe, inviting the “leader” to bring the tribe’s Great Saints to a night banquet tomorrow evening, where the ten major tribes of the Immortal Blood Clan would gather.
Emperor Yu refined the holy spring and discovered that, in an instant, she had gained thousands of additional rules.
This spring was no ordinary item.
She reached for another drink, only to find the jade pot empty.
Emperor Yu placed the jade pot back on the table and said, “Do you know why the invitation was sent to me?”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze lowered, watching the fish in the lake, and said calmly, “The Qitian Tribe ranks first among the ten major tribes of the Immortal Blood Clan. It’s only natural for them to organise such a gathering. However, Dao Yuhuang couldn’t possibly be unaware that I’m the leader of the Blood Heaven Tribe, yet he deliberately sent the invitation to you. It’s clearly an attempt to sow discord within our tribe, a crude tactic of alienation.”
“It’s good that you understand this.”
Emperor Yu’s tall and graceful holy figure stood up, preparing to leave.
“Wait.”
Zhang Ruochen called out to her, saying, “I can’t attend this banquet.”
“Why not?” Emperor Yu asked, puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen sighed softly, “Dao Yuhuang sent the invitation to you, so you should represent the Blood Heaven Tribe at the banquet.”
“I’m not the leader,” Emperor Yu huffed.
Zhang Ruochen said, “In the current situation, if I attend, the Qitian Tribe and the other eight tribes will surely seize the opportunity to target me, accusing me of showing up uninvited. My humiliation would be secondary, but the Blood Heaven Tribe’s reputation must not be tarnished.”
Emperor Yu spun around, saying, “Are you scared?”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, “I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself and will teach them a harsh lesson. That would create division and major conflicts within the Immortal Blood Clan, making us a laughingstock to the other clans of Hell.”
Whether it was the Hunting Heaven Feast or the broader environment of Hell, the ten major tribes of the Immortal Blood Clan competed with each other while also uniting.
Take the Hunting Heaven Feast, for example: the ten tribes of the Immortal Blood Clan must first unite to confront the Ghost Clan, Rakshasa Clan, Stone Clan, and the other nine clans.
This was a struggle among the ten clans, tied to the honour of the entire Immortal Blood Clan.
Only then came the internal competition among the ten tribes of the Immortal Blood Clan.
If infighting broke out among the ten tribes before the Hunting Heaven Feast even began, they would not only be ridiculed but might end up at the bottom of the feast.
Emperor Yu stared intently at Zhang Ruochen, saying, “So what’s your solution? Do you really want me to represent the Blood Heaven Tribe at the ten tribes’ banquet? Aren’t you afraid…”
She paused mid-sentence.
Zhang Ruochen understood her unspoken words, likely something like, “Aren’t you afraid I’ll seize your authority and turn you into a puppet leader?”
He shrugged nonchalantly, saying, “I competed for the leader position solely for the glory of the Blood Absolute Family. But I’m not very familiar with the Blood Heaven Tribe’s banquet attendees. If I were to lead, I’d likely make a mess of things. I’m sure you wouldn’t want to see that, would you, Emperor Yu?”
“You’ve got some self-awareness, at least. Do you know that because you’re the leader, the Blood Heaven Tribe has become a target? Many of the enemies you made on the Kunlun Realm’s Battlefield of Merits have vowed to humiliate the Blood Heaven Tribe at the Hunting Heaven Feast,” Emperor Yu said bluntly, her tone laced with resentment towards Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, “That’s exactly why the Blood Heaven Tribe needs you to step up and lead everyone. As for me, the lower my profile, the better, so the tribe faces less targeting.”
Emperor Yu hadn’t expected Zhang Ruochen to suggest this voluntarily, and a trace of surprise stirred in her heart.
Zhang Ruochen handed her the invitation, saying, “For the sake of the Blood Heaven Tribe, please take charge of the Hunting Heaven Feast, Emperor Yu.”
Emperor Yu didn’t believe Zhang Ruochen truly didn’t care about the leader’s role, nor that he would be so accommodating, yet she couldn’t find a reason to refuse.
Unconsciously, she took the invitation.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “One more thing: the Qitian Tribe, Qingtian Tribe, and Huangtian Tribe all have Hundred-Shackle Realm Perfection powerhouses. If our Blood Heaven Tribe wants to shine at the Hunting Heaven Feast, we must also have a Hundred-Shackle Realm Perfection powerhouse.”
Emperor Yu snorted, “Hundred-Shackle Realm Perfection isn’t so easy to achieve.”
“Haven’t you already broken ninety-nine shackles?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Emperor Yu tucked away the invitation, her arms crossed behind her back, and said, “You, a Great Saint who’s just reached the Immortal Realm, how could you understand the mysteries of the Hundred-Shackle Realm?”
“Please enlighten me, Emperor Yu,” Zhang Ruochen said humbly.
Seeing his attitude, Emperor Yu grew even more surprised.
Was this really the Zhang Ruochen who had terrified Hell’s Holy King cultivators?
With his talent, strength, and background, one would expect him to be as arrogant and self-assured as Yan Wushen.
“What’s he plotting?” Emperor Yu couldn’t figure him out.
When someone was courteous, she couldn’t act haughty, lest she appear inferior to Zhang Ruochen.
Emperor Yu said, “After reaching the Hundred-Shackle Realm, to grow stronger, one must not only comprehend Saint Dao Rules but also continuously break the shackles within the body.”
“The earlier shackles are easier to break.”
“After breaking ninety shackles, the difficulty of breaking each additional one increases several times. The last ten shackles are harder to break than the first ninety combined.”
“The most difficult one, called the Desire Shackle, is invisible and intangible, the hardest to locate and break. Many Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints leave the Desire Shackle for last. I’ve spent five years but haven’t even glimpsed its shadow.”
Her mood was somewhat dejected as she said, “I’m only one shackle away from Hundred-Shackle Realm Perfection, but the difference in combat power is vast.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I’ve cultivated the Path of Truth. Perhaps I can use the power of truth to help you see through illusions and locate the Desire Shackle.”
“You?” Emperor Yu, who had no fondness for Zhang Ruochen from the Heavenly Court, said, “You’re not a Truth Controller. With your meager attainments in the Path of Truth, you think you can help me? Even if you could, breaking the hundredth shackle isn’t something that can be done in a month or two.”
“I’m a Time Controller. Securing a few years, or even decades, for you to break through isn’t difficult,” Zhang Ruochen said confidently.
Emperor Yu retorted, “No one offers kindness without a motive. Zhang Ruochen, what are you really after?”
“I only want the Blood Heaven Tribe to perform better at the Hunting Heaven Feast,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“You’d better not have ulterior motives. No matter how you try to curry favour with me, it won’t work.”
Emperor Yu’s graceful figure soared like an immortal butterfly, flying out of Hanhai Manor.
Zhang Ruochen called after her, “Emperor Yu, may I know your real name?”
There was no response.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head lightly. With a peerless beauty and Great Saint like Emperor Yu, he’d have to take things step by step.
Returning to the Sundial’s range, Zhang Ruochen resumed cultivation.
His primary goal now was to advance his cultivation to the late stage of the Immortal Realm.
“It’s time to dedicate more effort to comprehending my own Saint Intent.”
Cultivating Saint Intent was essential for breaking through to the late Immortal Realm.
“A Great Saint doesn’t necessarily have to cultivate only one Saint Intent. If I start with Time Saint Intent or Space Saint Intent, my lack of experience might result in a low-grade intent.”
Time, space, and swordsmanship were the three paths Zhang Ruochen valued most.
He couldn’t afford to be careless.
“I’ll start with Fist Saint Intent.”
Most Great Saints could only cultivate one Saint Intent. Those who cultivated two were rare, and those with three or more were even rarer.
Despite his confidence, Zhang Ruochen didn’t dare to be reckless. He chose the Path of the Fist, which he had perfected at the Holy King Realm, as his first and crucial Saint Intent.
First, Zhang Ruochen separated the 4.6 million Fist Dao Rules from his sea of qi, gathering and refining them repeatedly.
The 4.6 million Fist Dao Rules intertwined in pairs, forming 2.3 million thicker rules.
Then, they intertwined again.
After three months, the 4.6 million Fist Dao Rules were condensed into 460, each as thick as a holy pillar, imbued with profound mysteries.
At this point, no matter how much force Zhang Ruochen applied, he couldn’t merge the Fist Dao Rules further.
“It seems I need external assistance.”
Zhang Ruochen took out the Purple Gold Gourd, shrank his body, and flew inside.
With the gourd’s power, the 460 Fist Dao Rules in his sea of qi seemed to melt, converging above the Tongtian River into a chaotic light sphere.
It appeared that the Fist Saint Intent was about to form within the light sphere.
Suddenly, a loud explosion rang out, and the chaotic light sphere dispersed, reverting to 4.6 million Fist Dao Rules that flew back into the Tongtian River.
So close, yet so far.
“What a pity, just a little short!”
Zhang Ruochen felt regret.
Months of effort had been undone in an instant.
“It seems the Purple Gold Gourd’s cultivation environment isn’t quite enough. I need to buy a star core. Additionally, I must purchase high-grade treasures to aid in cultivating Saint Intent.”
Leaving the Purple Gold Gourd, Zhang Ruochen headed straight out of Hanhai Manor toward the River Market District.
A blood-red river flowed through the district’s centre.
Saint ships shuttled across the river. Large ones carried palaces, radiating the awe-inspiring might of Great Saints, while smaller ones, only a few zhang long, held just two or three cultivators.
The so-called “River Market” lined both banks of the blood-red river.
An elderly Asura Clan member spread out a beast hide, displaying the blood, bones, and hearts of various Saint Realm creatures as goods, calling out to attract buyers.
Nether Clan cultivators sold various curse talismans.
Ghost Clan ghost kings led groups of human slaves along the riverbank, treating them like livestock. The human slaves crawled on the ground, including graceful women and powerful Saint Realm cultivators.
In Hell, constantly bought and sold for menial tasks, their human dignity had long been lost.
Zhang Ruochen walked along the riverbank, observing everything calmly.
With holy energy surrounding him, even without deliberately hiding his face, few cultivators could discern his true appearance.
He walked and observed.
Some stalls offered decent treasures, but with Zhang Ruochen’s current standards, they didn’t catch his eye.
A Holy Realm Rakshasa female, wearing a black veil, appeared before Zhang Ruochen, bowing respectfully before saying, “May I ask if you are Great Saint Ruochen?”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t believe she could see his true face.
Clearly, a Great Saint-level powerhouse nearby had recognised him.
“Who are you?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“I am Yao Li, a holy maid of Princess Luo Ji.”
Then, Yao Li added, “The princess wishes to invite Great Saint Ruochen for a meeting.”
Luo Ji was one of the few Hell cultivators Zhang Ruochen didn’t entirely despise. Perhaps it was because she was so beautiful that it was hard for a man to dislike her.
Or perhaps it was because they had once dual-cultivated mentally, sharing a fleeting, romantic past.
But when it came to emotions or friendship, there was little to speak of.
Their relationship was more adversarial.
“I’m sorry, I have important matters to attend to and no time for now.” After declining, Zhang Ruochen prepared to leave.
“Please wait, Great Saint Ruochen. Her Highness guessed you might be reluctant to meet her, so she asked you to look at something first.”
Yao Li took out a jade bracelet and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Upon seeing the bracelet, Zhang Ruochen’s eyes narrowed sharply, his aura turning icy. He grabbed Yao Li by the neck, lifting her off the ground.
“Where did this bracelet come from?” Zhang Ruochen asked coldly.
Unable to speak, Yao Li’s face paled in terror, transmitting mentally, “It was given to me by Her Highness.”
*Thud.*
Zhang Ruochen tossed Yao Li to the ground, picked up the bracelet, and held it gently, his gaze filled with tenderness, saying, “Take me to see Luo Ji.”
Led by Yao Li, Zhang Ruochen left the River Market District and headed toward the Martial Combat District.
The bracelet was something Zhang Ruochen had personally crafted and given to Mu Lingxi.
Though its grade was low and its storage space small, Mu Lingxi had always worn it. How had it ended up in Hell? How was it in Luo Ji’s hands?
Yao Li brought Zhang Ruochen to a black-glowing plaza in the Martial Combat District.
*Whoosh.*
Her figure flickered and vanished from the spot.
Standing alone in the empty black plaza, Zhang Ruochen remained composed, murmuring, “A spatial teleportation talisman! Who lured me here?”
*Swish.*
Four black holy light curtains rose at the plaza’s edges, sealing the entire area.
A burly Rakshasa Clan Great Saint, clad in holy armour and wielding a battle axe, stepped out from the black light curtain behind Zhang Ruochen, roaring with fury, “Zhang Ruochen, on the Kunlun Realm’s Battlefield of Merits, you brutally tortured and killed my brother, Great Prince Moro. It’s time we settled this score!”
