The white-bearded elder knelt before Zhang Ruochen, saying reverently, “My lord, please accept Jiannan Realm as a vassal realm. We will dedicate all our realm’s resources to serve you.”
“We are willing to be your slaves.”
The thirteen Saint King celestial slaves echoed in unison.
Qiyang pointed at them, sneering disdainfully, “What is Great Saint Ruochen’s status? His slaves are divine sons and daughters. What are you lot, worthy of serving under him?”
The Jiannan Realm cultivators clenched their teeth, enduring the humiliation in silence.
Zhang Ruochen waved Qiyang off, saying, “Step aside and wait for me.”
“A bunch of insignificant celestial slaves from a minor realm, why would Great Saint Ruochen bother with them… Alright, alright, I’ll step back…”
Qiyang tactfully flew off the cosmic rock, retreating to a patch of star mist hundreds of miles away.
Zhang Ruochen gazed at the fourteen kneeling cultivators, their tattered clothes and wretched state worse than that of common beggars.
“Since you’ve become the top powerhouses of your realm, you must be wise and insightful. How do you not understand the law of the jungle? Instead of living in such humiliation, why not die gloriously in battle?” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
“We could die gloriously, but… what about the beings of Jiannan Realm? What would happen to them?” the white-bearded elder said, his expression filled with sorrow and helplessness.
Zhang Ruochen crouched down, looking at the elder’s wrinkled face, saying, “To enslave an entire realm—what humiliation. Living worse than death, does that have meaning?”
“As long as we live, there is still hope. Dead, there is nothing! Nothing at all!” the elder said, shaking his head.
Zhang Ruochen was not a heartless man, yet he struggled to comprehend the conviction that kept them clinging to life.
What belief sustained their will to endure?
To survive, they would be slaves, forsake dignity, and live as lowly as dogs, all for a faint, unattainable glimmer of hope.
Did Jiannan Realm truly have a future?
Would the Kunlun Realm one day face a similar choice between destruction and survival?
Zhang Ruochen stood, letting out a long breath, saying, “This is the Hunting Heaven Battlefield. Your fate is death, and no one can change that.”
The faint spark of hope that had ignited in the Jiannan Realm cultivators’ hearts was mercilessly extinguished.
Indeed, they were celestial slaves, mere prey.
How could a hunter spare their quarry?
Zhang Ruochen’s tone shifted, saying, “But there’s a saying in this world: better to rely on oneself than on others.”
“Ourselves?”
“What can we do?”
The Jiannan Realm cultivators exchanged glances, puzzled by Zhang Ruochen’s words.
If relying on themselves worked, who would kneel and beg in such humiliation?
Zhang Ruochen said, “If I wanted to kill you for points, it would take but a flick of my finger. However, if you can prove useful and help me with one task, though I cannot save your lives, I can find a path for Jiannan Realm to survive.”
“What path?”
A Saint King celestial slave asked eagerly.
Zhang Ruochen merely looked up, silent.
The white-bearded elder understood, asking, “What does my lord wish us to do?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Why did you come to the Seventh Dark Star?”
The elder answered honestly, “We heard the strongest celestial slave is hiding in the Seventh Dark Star, capable of deterring Hell Realm cultivators. To survive, we came to seek refuge.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded, saying, “That’s my goal as well.”
The elder, who had reached the Great Saint realm through his own wisdom, grasped Zhang Ruochen’s intent.
Zhang Ruochen said, “If you can help me map out the distribution of celestial slaves in the Seventh Dark Star’s domain and locate Chi Di’s hiding place, I promise to protect Jiannan Realm’s beings for ten thousand years.”
“Only… ten thousand years?” the elder said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Ten thousand years is no short time.”
The elder conferred with the thirteen Saint Kings, then knelt again before Zhang Ruochen, bowing deeply.
He said, “My lord, Jiannan Realm is not a small world but a vast one. It suffered a catastrophic calamity that severed its legacy, which is why no gods have emerged.”
“Why tell me this?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
The elder, staring at the ground, said, “I wish to tell my lord that Jiannan Realm is rich in talent and resources, not a burden. If my lord imparts teachings to them, they will surely become a powerful force under your command.”
He then produced a three-inch sword-shaped token from his mouth, presenting it with both hands to Zhang Ruochen.
“If my lord agrees to impart teachings to Jiannan Realm, we will risk our lives to accomplish your task.”
The Jiannan Realm cultivators spoke in unison.
A tragic resolve emanated from them, knowing their deaths were certain, placing all their hopes in Zhang Ruochen.
Even though they were strangers, they had no other choice.
Zhang Ruochen touched the hair above his forehead, saying, “You’re not foolish at all, but rather clever, skilled at bargaining.”
“I can see, my lord, you are different from other Hell Realm cultivators. You have a kind heart, you want to help Jiannan Realm, you don’t wish to see innocent beings perish in destruction,” the elder said.
Zhang Ruochen gave a cold smile, “A kind heart? You must not have seen me kill without blinking.”
“Yet you are willing to protect Jiannan Realm for ten thousand years. Even if we fail, you would still do so, wouldn’t you? I don’t misjudge people,” the elder said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Don’t presume you can see through me. Do your task honestly. If you succeed and help me, I’ll seriously consider Jiannan Realm’s fate.”
The elder and the thirteen Saint Kings were overjoyed, saying in unison, “Please, my lord, accept the Realm Token. Henceforth, you are Jiannan Realm’s Lord.”
“Please accept the token.”
“Please accept the token.”
…
Zhang Ruochen grabbed the token, holding it, then released Dao Yuhuang from the purple-gold gourd.
“They’re in your hands. Celestial slaves gathering intelligence on other celestial slaves should be easier.”
After briefly instructing Dao Yuhuang, Zhang Ruochen gathered the dozens of Saint corpses on the ground, flew off the cosmic rock, and rejoined Qiyang.
Qiyang glanced at the distant cosmic rock, asking, “What about those dozen Jiannan Realm celestial slaves? You didn’t let them go, did you?”
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had enveloped the cosmic rock in a spatial domain, so Qiyang was unaware of what transpired.
“Mind your own business,” Zhang Ruochen said coldly, hands behind his back.
Qiyang, convinced Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t spare the slaves after a few pleas, recalled Yuanmo Shenzi’s gruesome death and suppressed his curiosity, not daring to ask further.
“Let’s go. Take me to Prajna,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiyang thought he misheard, exclaiming, “Great Saint, what are you planning? Are you going to abduct her? Her Highness Prajna has powerful backing. You mustn’t act rashly.”
“You didn’t learn from earlier,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiyang quickly shut his mouth, hesitating before whispering, “Her Highness Prajna is surrounded by many upper three clans’ powerhouses. Going so openly might not be wise.”
“You’re right. I shouldn’t go so brazenly.”
Zhang Ruochen transformed into Yuanmo Shenzi’s likeness, saying, “This should do, right?”
His voice matched Yuanmo Shenzi’s perfectly.
His aura, gaze, and energy fluctuations were flawless.
Qiyang circled Zhang Ruochen thrice, eyeing the deathly aura emanating from him, swallowing hard.
Had he not seen Yuanmo Shenzi die before his eyes, he would never believe this was Zhang Ruochen.
“They say the Immortal Blood Clan’s transformation techniques are formidable. Today, I’ve seen it for myself!”
Qiyang and Zhang Ruochen, cloaked in deathly aura, carried the dozens of Saint corpses and flew swiftly.
Soon, they reached a rocky asteroid at the edge of the dark space.
After verifying their identities, they passed through an invisible barrier into the asteroid’s interior. Only then did Zhang Ruochen sense numerous powerful Great Saint auras.
Great Saints from the Nether Clan, Death Clan, and Stone Clan passed by occasionally.
Their total number likely exceeded a thousand.
On the asteroid, celestial slave corpses were piled into a sacrificial altar. Saint Sources glowed like lanterns within it.
Scarlet Saint blood flowed from the altar, filling mysterious inscriptions on the ground.
Over a million celestial slave corpses were stacked like hills, with hides used as sacrificial banners and bones as pillars. Soul shadows danced around the altar, emitting hoarse wails.
Nearly three hundred Death Clan Great Saints gathered near the altar, using deathly intent to carve inscriptions.
Each new inscription increased the altar’s power.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What’s the purpose of this death altar?”
Qiyang smiled proudly, saying, “This death altar, overseen by Her Highness Prajna, possesses divine, unfathomable power. With it, we can sweep the Hunting Heaven Battlefield. Even Chi Di would meet his end.”
Qiyang handed the dozens of Saint corpses to a Death Clan Great Saint, looking at the terrifying altar, saying, “Her Highness Prajna is a prodigy of the Destiny Temple. Only she could build such a magnificent work in so short a time.”
“So this is your secret weapon for conquering the Seventh Dark Star?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Fearing Zhang Ruochen might destroy the altar, Qiyang’s smile faded, and he hurriedly said, “The death altar is nearly complete, with self-defensive capabilities. Great Saint Ruochen, please don’t act rashly.”
“And if I insist?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiyang said urgently, “Nearly three hundred Death Clan Great Saints surround the altar. If your power stirs, they’ll sense it, unleashing deathly intent that combines with the altar.”
“The combined deathly intent of nearly three hundred Great Saints, amplified by the altar, would overwhelm even your current cultivation.”
He quickly bowed, adding, “I mean no threat, Great Saint. I’m concerned for your safety and my own life.”
Prajna’s stunning figure emerged from a misty grey portal beneath the altar, her gaze falling on the two.
Qiyang sensed her, standing upright, a smile on his handsome face, saying, “Greetings, Your Highness Prajna. You grow ever more radiant, like the moon in the ninth heaven.”
Prajna, tall and graceful, was surrounded by flowing Nether River waters, her skin emanating Destiny’s sacred light, starkly contrasting the deathly atmosphere.
Her gaze settled on Zhang Ruochen, saying, “So Yuanmo Shenzi is here too. I have matters to discuss with you. Follow me into the altar.”
She turned and entered the altar.
Qiyang glanced at Zhang Ruochen’s profile, stunned for a moment.
Heavens!
Outside the altar, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t destroy it. But inside, with the altar’s defenses nullified, his terrifying cultivation could dismantle it in moments.
More critically, the altar was covered in secret inscriptions, impenetrable even to gods.
Zhang Ruochen had come for Prajna. What if, inside the altar, driven by desire, he acted recklessly?
Prajna was practically inviting a wolf into her den.
Qiyang’s heart raced, tempted several times to reveal Zhang Ruochen’s identity, but the image of Yuanmo Shenzi’s gruesome death restrained him.
That scene would haunt him forever.
“I won’t disturb Great Saint and Her Highness Prajna.”
As Qiyang turned to leave, he found himself unable to move, hearing Zhang Ruochen’s voice, “Come with me. If you try to flee or reveal my identity, I guarantee you’ll die worse than Yuanmo Shenzi.”
“I… I don’t want to intrude…”
Qiyang, miserable, followed Zhang Ruochen into the altar.
Inside, the rules of heaven and earth were chaotic.
Saint Sources glowed brightly, releasing countless Saint Path rules, creating a disordered, chaotic environment.
The ground was like a liquid plane, rippling with each step.
Prajna, holding a cyan-brown Destiny Sky Disk, stood at the centre. With a gentle wave of her hand, the radiant Gate of True Self appeared.
“Follow me into the Gate of True Self,” she said.
Qiyang, curious, asked, “The Gate of True Self, woven from Destiny rules, contains Your Highness’s True Self World. Why are we entering?”
“Don’t ask so much. Just enter.”
Her gaze then fell on Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, entering first.
Qiyang thought to himself, “Could Her Highness Prajna, with her keen intellect, have seen through Zhang Ruochen’s disguise and plan to trap him in her True Self World?”
The more he thought, the more it made sense. He quickly followed, stepping into the Gate of True Self.
Inside was a different scene, a vast white expanse with only a white stone island floating within.
The sky rained eternally.
The rain, too, was white.
“Drip, drip!”
Zhang Ruochen stood on the island, eyes closed, listening to the rain, catching a faint fragrance approaching, saying, “They say every cultivator can create their own world, shaped by their heart. I didn’t expect your world to be so simple, so pale. Why is there no vitality?”
Prajna stood beside him, staring ahead, her long, curved lashes framing her eyes, saying, “The more one thinks, the more one errs. I’m not truly simple or pale; I just choose to be this way.”
“Can’t you stop the rain for a moment?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Prajna said, “Why stop it? I think it’s fine.”
Qiyang, standing aside, couldn’t follow their conversation but felt instinctively that both Prajna and Zhang Ruochen were acting strangely.
To him, one was cold as ice, the other ruthless and merciless.
Yet now, they seemed oddly sentimental.
Prajna’s usual exchanges with Yuanmo Shenzi were nothing like this.
When Zhang Ruochen killed Yuanmo Shenzi, he was far from this calm and gentle.
Suddenly, Prajna asked a question that made Qiyang’s heart leap, “Is Yuanmo Shenzi still alive?”
“He’s dead,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Prajna asked, “Because of the Kunlun Realm, you killed him?”
“Because of myself.”
Not wanting her to probe further, Zhang Ruochen said, “How did you see through my Formless Thirty-Six Transformations?”
“You think I’m still the old me? I didn’t need to see. When you appeared before me, I knew it was you. A person can change everything, but as long as their heart remains, there will always be a connection,” Prajna said.
Qiyang grew increasingly uneasy, feeling he’d heard things he shouldn’t, knowing secrets he shouldn’t, a chill of impending doom washing over him.
“Thud!”
He knelt, trembling, saying, “You… you two, I heard nothing, I know nothing. Can you let me leave the True Self World? I have no interest in your secrets.”
Zhang Ruochen, as if deaf to him, said, “I came to you to resolve one doubt.”
“What doubt?”
“Why is Chi Di in the Hunting Heaven Battlefield? Is he a piece placed by the Empress?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
