The Huntian Feast was a significant event, and Zhang Ruochen had to approach it with caution, so he stayed. Perhaps Luo Ji could indeed provide valuable information.
To know oneself and one’s enemy ensures victory in every battle.
The incident of being lured to the Life-and-Death Platform by Emperor Moro happened largely because Zhang Ruochen knew too little about his enemies in the Hell Realm.
Luo Ji seemed to be deliberately teasing, not addressing the main topic immediately. Instead, she poured a cup of tea and slid it towards Zhang Ruochen, speaking casually as if chatting about everyday matters, “Though you removed my saintly robes, becoming the fated one in the prophecy, you belong to the Heavenly Court, and I to the Hell Realm. Deep down, I never dared believe that prophecy.”
“Until you arrived in the Hell Realm with True God Qingyin, I was finally convinced.”
Her gaze drifted to the horizon, hands spread, her expression devout, “Destiny has arranged everything and never errs. Zhang Ruochen, do you believe in destiny?”
She looked towards the Temple of Destiny.
Zhang Ruochen recalled the visions in the Pool of Destiny, his handsome face tinged with bitterness, silent for a long time.
“If destiny dictates everything, what’s the point of living? Of cultivating? Of wars and killing?”
He sipped the tea, its rich aroma sending a cool stream to his head, clearing his mind.
Luo Ji said, “I believe in destiny. I believe everything in this world is fated. Our meeting, acquaintance, and understanding involve too many coincidences and causes. If not for destiny’s arrangement, why would you be in the Hell Realm? How could we sit here, sipping tea?”
“As for life’s meaning, who can say? We only need to follow the God of Destiny’s guidance, growing stronger, naturally unlocking the universe’s ultimate mysteries.”
Zhang Ruochen stared at her, thinking, *The Hell Realm must have countless devout believers like Luo Ji, making the Temple of Destiny so grand and powerful.*
The power of faith was terrifying, elevating the Temple of Destiny above the ten clans’ power centres, making it the Hell Realm’s decision-maker.
In the Heavenly Court, only the Temple of Truth, Temple of Merit, and Temple of Light had the potential for such influence.
The Temple of Truth had the greatest chance but didn’t aggressively promote faith. Instead, it fairly offered the chance to cultivate the Dao of Truth to all clans, even sharing the Mysteries of Truth.
Otherwise, truth-worshipping cultivators would fill the myriad realms, and the Temple of Truth’s influence might surpass the Heavenly Palace.
The Temple of Merit was bogged down by endless merit wars, lacking the capacity to spread faith.
The Temple of Light promoted faith vigorously, but its influence was mainly confined to the Paradise Realm faction. Taoism, Buddhism, Confucianism, Demon Gods, Demonic Paths, and Evil Paths countered it, preventing its dominance.
Luo Ji smiled, “Your impatient look shows you don’t share my faith. Talking about destiny is mainly to explain the Hell Realm’s factional disputes.”
Zhang Ruochen looked intrigued, “Besides the ten clans, are there other factions in the Hell Realm?”
“The ten clans each have their power centres, acting independently. But without other forces restraining them, a war among the ten would erupt instantly.”
She added, “Conflicts between clans have long simmered. Fortunately, the Heavenly Court’s threat keeps the ten clans superficially friendly and united.”
Zhang Ruochen had thought the ten clans were a monolith, never imagining inter-clan conflicts severe enough to spark war.
“The Heavenly Court’s myriad realms struggle for survival. How are they a threat to the Hell Realm?” he asked.
Luo Ji said, “Zhang Ruochen, how many battles have you fought? How many enemies faced? Never underestimate your opponent, no matter how weak.”
“The Heavenly Court is the Hell Realm’s opponent, and not a weak one.”
“If they were weak, they’d have been destroyed long ago. How could they still exist?”
Zhang Ruochen pondered silently, digesting her words.
Luo Ji stood, gazing at the River of This Life’s banks, “Did you know, 100,000 years ago, the Hell Realm was split into the War Faction and the Neutral Faction?”
“There was a Neutral Faction?”
Zhang Ruochen had assumed the Hell Realm’s ethos was destruction, war, and slaughter, so this surprised him.
Luo Ji nodded, “100,000 years ago, the War Faction, led by the Temple of Darkness, included the Nether, Ghost, Bone, Stone, and Asura Clans as staunch supporters. Early in the war, they clashed fiercely with the Heavenly Court’s realms.”
“The Neutral Faction, led by the Temple of Destiny, neither joined nor opposed the war.”
“Until Life God and Auspicious God, two of the Temple’s twelve divine venerables, suddenly fell, and Death God and Ferocious God took control.”
“Soon after, the Temple of Destiny declared all-out war on the Heavenly Court, aiming to eradicate all life.”
“You know, the Immortal Blood Clan and Raksha Clan are living beings. This decree made us feel a great crisis.”
“If all life were eradicated, how long could our clans survive?”
“As we hesitated, the Temple announced that Kunlun Realm’s Saint Monk Xumi and Ten-Tribulation Heavenly Lord crossed time and space, infiltrating the Temple to kill Life God and Auspicious God.”
“They revealed the Kunlun Realm used time powers to draw time marks from the entire star domain, destabilising the River of Time. The Kunlun Realm’s strength surged, aiming to destroy the Hell Realm and dominate the universe, putting the ten clans in peril.”
“Forced, the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm waged all-out war, with the Immortal Blood and Raksha Clans joining. The Kunlun Realm became the centre of this epochal war. You know its fate better than I.”
Zhang Ruochen hadn’t known the war’s hidden complexities, a storm of intrigue.
He said, “How can you trust the Temple of Destiny’s word?”
“It’s suspicious, a mystery. Life God and Auspicious God were among the mightiest gods. Even Saint Monk Xumi and Ten-Tribulation Heavenly Lord couldn’t kill them silently, if at all. But 100,000 years later, it’s settled history. Who investigates what really happened?”
Luo Ji continued, “There was also allegedly a Peace Faction.”
“A Peace Faction in the Hell Realm?” Zhang Ruochen laughed, shaking his head, incredulous.
Luo Ji said, “I didn’t believe it either, but legends don’t arise from nothing.”
“Who was the Peace Faction?” he asked.
“The previous Yama Clan leader.”
She added, “Some claim on the day of the Temple’s upheaval, the Yama leader entered the Abyss of Darkness to seclude, never emerging.”
“Conspiracy tales in the Hell Realm say he was imprisoned by the Temple of Darkness’s gods, sealed deep in the Abyss.”
“Others say he never secluded but was killed by the new Yama leader.”
“Conspiracy theorists believe 100,000 years ago, gods opposing the war on the Heavenly Court died in internal strife. But who knows the truth? The previous Yama leader was immensely powerful. Could he be so easily imprisoned or killed?”
“Though few believe in a Peace Faction, the Yama Clan indeed shows little zeal for the war with the Heavenly Court, maintaining neutrality. They focus on the Abyss of Darkness, seeking their lost leader.”
Zhang Ruochen sighed, “The Hell Realm isn’t as simple as it seems, rife with underlying conflicts.”
Luo Ji smiled, “It’s more complex than that. Conflicts between legitimate and illegitimate lines, living and dead beings, and countless internal clan disputes.”
“Then there’s the hierarchy conflict. The Raksha, Immortal Blood, and Asura Clans match any in strength. Why are we lower clans? The Yama Clan’s population is a millionth of the Asura’s, yet they’re supreme?”
“So, Zhang Ruochen, though you have countless enemies here, understanding these conflicts can help you find allies.”
“The enemy of your enemy is your friend.”
Her insights convinced Zhang Ruochen staying was wise.
At that moment, a golden saint ship with eight golden wings sliced through the blood-red waves, catching up to sail alongside Luo Ji’s ship, less than ten zhang apart.
From Zhang Ruochen’s seat, he could see the other ship’s decorations and figures.
A Ninth-Step Saint King of the Immortal Blood Clan with six blood wings stood on the ship, bowing, “Greetings, Princess Luo Ji. Is Great Saint Ruochen aboard Your Highness’s ship?”
Luo Ji looked at Zhang Ruochen, “They’re looking for you.”
“I don’t know them,” Zhang Ruochen shook his head, puzzled.
Hanying spoke for Luo Ji, “Great Saint Ruochen is indeed on the princess’s ship. Who are you?”
“I am Yan Beijun of the Huangtian Tribe. My senior sister, long admiring Great Saint Ruochen, invites him aboard for a talk,” the Immortal Blood Clan Saint King announced.
Luo Ji smiled at Zhang Ruochen, “Yan Beijun’s quite renowned below the Great Saint level. His senior sister, Empress Feng, only 400 years in cultivation, is a peak Hundred-Shackle Realm powerhouse and one of three candidates for the Temple of Destiny’s Goddess. Her status, talent, and position are top-tier in the Hell Realm. Few receive her personal invitation. You’re quite fortunate in the Hell Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Hanying, “Tell him I’m accompanying the princess to enjoy the River of This Life’s scenery and can’t join.”
Though he was using her as a shield, Luo Ji felt inexplicably pleased.
Still, she was puzzled, “Empress Feng seeks you, likely to enlist you as a supporter for her Goddess candidacy. The Huntian Feast may formally appoint the Goddess.”
“She needs you, and you need her as a key ally for the Feast. You must know this. Why refuse?”
Zhang Ruochen toyed with his teacup, “The Feast is full of powerhouses, including many peak Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints. I’m only at the Immortal Realm, too insignificant. I doubt Empress Feng values me much.”
Luo Ji laughed, covering her mouth, “The arrogant Zhang Ruochen, humble? You’re right, though. I know Empress Feng’s top supporters: Blade Prison Emperor of the Qitian Tribe, Yin Wei of the Temple of Destiny, and White Jade Mad Lion of the Stone Clan, all peak Hundred-Shackle Realm, ranking in the top twenty.”
“This Feast has forty-seven peak Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints, with those three in the top twenty. Blade Prison Emperor, dubbed the Immortal Blood Clan’s strongest below Thousand-Question, ranks ninth.”
“Of course, these are public stats. Some hide their cultivation, so the number exceeds forty-seven.”
Zhang Ruochen was surprised, “There’s a ranking? Where’s Emperor Moro?”
“The ranking, compiled by Star Sea World based on past achievements and abilities, only includes peak Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints. Emperor Moro isn’t at that level, so he’s unranked,” Luo Ji said.
“And your brother?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Fourth,” Luo Ji replied.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred.
On the platform, though Divine Prince Luo Shengtian hadn’t shown his full power, Zhang Ruochen had gauged him.
If he ranked only fourth, the Huntian Feast would be tougher than imagined.
Luo Ji said, “The top ten peak Hundred-Shackle Great Saints have records of defeating or killing Thousand-Question Realm Great Saints. Yan Wushen, a once-in-an-epoch genius, avoided them before reaching Hundred-Shackle. He’s likely secluded, breaking through.”
Zhang Ruochen felt mounting pressure. Before the Feast, he had to condense a Saint Intent.
He’d also strive to reach the Hundred-Shackle Realm.
After Hanying relayed his message, the eight-winged golden saint ship lingered nearby.
The two ships sailed side by side into the River Market District.
