“To Master Ruochen.”
Zhang Ruochen opened the invitation and quickly read through it.
His gaze settled on the name at the bottom, his eyes sharpening with intensity.
Closing the invitation, Zhang Ruochen gave a cold smile. “He’s actually seeking me out.”
“Who?” Blood Slaughter asked curiously.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “The fifth son of the Ghost Lord, Miao.”
Blood Slaughter jumped in shock. “The Blood Absolute Clan and the Earth Fiend Ghost City are sworn enemies. From the War God to the Ghost Lord, down to their monks, open and covert conflicts are countless. Why would Miao invite you? I get it—it must be about the Sword South Realm. From what I know, it was Miao who bought the Sword South Realm from the Death Black-Robed High Priest.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “How much do you know about Miao?”
“Not much.”
Blood Slaughter shook his head. “The Ghost Lord’s nine sons are all top-tier talents with the potential to become deities. It’s said that Miao passed his eighth Ghost Tribulation a thousand years ago. There’s been no news of him in recent centuries, so I don’t know if he’s passed his ninth.”
For a ghost cultivator, passing the ninth Ghost Tribulation places them among the top powerhouses below the divine realm, comparable to Supreme Realm Great Saints.
Blood Slaughter grinned. “I bet Miao plans to use the Sword South Realm to pressure you, Senior Brother. Too bad he’s miscalculated. The Blood Absolute Clan is too powerful to care about a mere Sword South Realm. You shouldn’t go to this meeting. Miao is too strong for us to handle right now.”
“Go? Why wouldn’t I go?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Slaughter was stunned. “Senior Brother, now’s not the time for bravado. Why not activate the Sundial, cultivate for a thousand years, and then go dominate?”
“Endless secluded cultivation slows progress and only consumes lifespan,” Zhang Ruochen said.
The Hunt for Heaven Battle lasted only a hundred days, yet Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation advanced more than in centuries under the Sundial.
The path of cultivation requires trials and opportunities.
The Sword South Realm held little weight in Zhang Ruochen’s heart, but a promise made was as heavy as a mountain. No matter how difficult, he would strive to fulfill it.
The Earth Fiend Ghost City, Hidden Exhaust Bone Sea, and Eternal Life Hall jointly purchased the Sword South Realm, possibly to target Zhang Ruochen. However, a great world holds countless beings and billions of buried bones.
These beings, once killed, could spawn countless corpse and ghost cultivators. The buried bones could produce numerous bone cultivators.
If Zhang Ruochen didn’t attend, Miao could order the slaughter of the Sword South Realm, turning it into a ghostly domain to bolster the three factions’ strength.
Then, Zhang Ruochen’s failure to act, breaking his promise, would affect his state of mind.
Miao would still achieve his goal.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the sky. “Let’s go to the Goddess Tower now. Blood Slaughter, lead the way.”
“Senior Brother, I have urgent matters and can’t go to the Goddess Tower!”
At another time, Blood Slaughter would eagerly visit the Goddess Tower for pleasure, but having lost face there two days ago, he was too embarrassed to return.
Besides, Miao was a formidable figure, and his invitation to Zhang Ruochen was clearly ill-intentioned.
A Neverwither Realm Great Saint like him dared not get involved.
“Really not going?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“I’d love to, but Father issued a divine decree. I must return to the Blood Sky Tribe’s Wing World immediately.” With no other excuse, Blood Slaughter pinned it on a deity.
Zhang Ruochen said casually, “I heard you stored quite a few divine stones in the Star Sea World.”
Blood Slaughter’s face paled instantly.
Great Asura King, back at Hanhai Manor and standing at the gate, had transmitted Blood Slaughter’s secret to Zhang Ruochen.
Blood Slaughter sweated profusely, trembling, and said mournfully, “Senior Brother, how… how did you know?”
“How many did you store?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Blood Slaughter nearly cried. “Those divine stones were earned with my life. It was so hard! Senior Brother, I’ll definitely repay the stones I owe you. But cultivation is so costly. I can’t be left with nothing, can I?”
“I didn’t say I wanted your divine stones. Why so nervous?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Relieved, Blood Slaughter exhaled deeply.
Zhang Ruochen asked again, “Want to take me to the Goddess Tower?”
“No problem. I know the place well.”
“Not rushing back to the Wing World anymore?”
“Not urgent at all. What could be more pressing than Senior Brother’s business?”
“Good. Tonight’s expenses at the Goddess Tower are on Divine Son Blood Slaughter.”
Blood Slaughter’s face, just regaining color, turned pale again, his body stiffening as if petrified.
…
The Goddess Tower, located in Huasheng City Domain, was reachable from Hanye City Domain with a single spatial teleportation.
Still unable to fully control the Flame God Leg’s power, Zhang Ruochen wore the Fire God Armour. Alongside a dejected Blood Slaughter, he stood by the Heavenly God Lake, gazing at the brightly lit Goddess Tower at its center.
The Goddess Tower wasn’t a single building but a cluster of opulent waterborne palaces.
The palaces gleamed with golden splendor, with sacred trees rising through layered jade tiles, emitting purple light. Purple leaves drifted, like lanterns dancing in the sky. Faint sounds of singing and dancing carried over, sparking endless imagination.
Boats traversed the lake, carrying monks, many with impressive cultivation. Great Saint auras were frequently sensed.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen detected a familiar aura, his gaze landing on a jade-green sacred boat. Carved with Great Saint inscriptions, it blocked mental probing.
With the Eye of Truth, Zhang Ruochen faintly saw inside.
Divine Prince Luo Shengtian sat cross-legged, radiating dazzling light, his aura like a dragon or roc, with a faint divine might capable of overturning the heavens.
“It’s him.”
Zhang Ruochen’s face showed a strange expression.
Meeting Luo Ji’s royal brother in a place like the Goddess Tower was unexpected.
Zhang Ruochen could tell Luo Shengtian had broken through to the Thousand Questions Realm, his cultivation and combat power surging several times. With his current strength, he could likely defeat Hundred Shackles Realm foes like Que or Lanying with a single move.
Luo Shengtian’s lead over others in reaching the Thousand Questions Realm was within Zhang Ruochen’s expectations.
After all, Que, Lanying, Yan Huangtu, and Wujiang were heavily injured in the Hunt for Heaven Battle, requiring time to heal. Luo Shengtian, having accumulated for years and being a step from the Thousand Questions Realm, broke through easily without injuries.
What puzzled Zhang Ruochen was that Luo Shengtian, typically serious and not one for indulgence, had come to the Goddess Tower so soon after his breakthrough, unable to fully control his surging power. Why?
The jade-green sacred boat docked.
Luo Shengtian donned a special sacred robe, making him appear shorter and thinner, and wore a golden mask. Accompanied by a sixty-year-old man, he ascended a white jade staircase.
The Goddess Tower, aware of the Divine Prince’s significant status, sent a Rakshasa Clan woman in green to wait at the shore.
As Luo Shengtian disembarked, the woman bowed respectfully and escorted them into the Goddess Tower.
Zhang Ruochen observed it all.
Curious, he wondered what secretive matter Luo Shengtian was handling.
Turning to Blood Slaughter, he asked, “Can one hide their identity at the Goddess Tower?”
Blood Slaughter shook his head. “Of course not. The Goddess Tower must know every monk’s identity. Saint Realm monks are too destructive. If a reckless lunatic caused trouble, the Goddess Tower could be destroyed.”
Suddenly, he added solemnly, “Senior Brother, you just got engaged to Princess Luo Ji. It’s indeed unsuitable to appear here publicly. If you don’t want to reveal your identity, you can contact the Tower Master. With their permission, you can avoid showing your true face.”
“No need for the hassle.”
Zhang Ruochen’s form shifted, his flesh rearranging.
Moments later, he transformed into Xue Qi, even altering the Fire God Armour to conceal its divine light, resembling ordinary sacred armor.
Xue Qi, a prodigy of the Blood Absolute Clan under a thousand years old, had reached the Hundred Shackles Realm. Entering the Goddess Tower with Blood Slaughter was reasonable.
Though both were Great Saints, the Goddess Tower hosted many Great Saints, so they received no special treatment. They boarded a reception spirit boat with other monks to enter the Goddess Tower.
Disembarking outside the reception hall, Zhang Ruochen truly felt the opulence of the Goddess Palace.
The reception hall alone, built from materials used for Monarch Saint Artifacts, stood a hundred zhang tall, grand and imposing, with bronze doors wide enough for dozens to pass side by side.
Every detail was meticulously crafted.
Phoenix carvings on golden pillars, floral lanterns by the doors, window lattice designs, bone carvings for decoration, and the arrangement of sacred trees and spirit flowers—all were of master-level artistry, awe-inspiring even to Saint Realm monks.
Unlike the pleasure dens Zhang Ruochen imagined, it resembled a refined cultural hall steeped in artistic aura.
Each step revealed a new, breathtaking scene.
Compared to this, Zhang Ruochen’s Hanhai Manor was like a crude thatched hut.
“If not for the noise and clamor, the Goddess Tower would be an ideal place for self-cultivation,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Slaughter, standing to his right, gazed at the lights and sighed, “Senior Brother, you don’t know. The Goddess Tower has nine palace clusters, some serene and natural. Frankly, any monk who comes here risks becoming enthralled, unwilling to leave until their wealth is spent.”
Zhang Ruochen chuckled and shook his head, disagreeing.
Great Saints have strong wills, able to control their desires, unlikely to succumb easily—unless plagued by inner demons.
In the reception hall, many monks gathered, with white-robed women weaving through, conversing and arranging their destinations.
These women, some alluring, some pure, hailed from the Undying Blood Clan, Rakshasa Clan, Nether Clan, Yanluo Clan, and more, as well as humans, elves, dragonesses, and fox clans from the Heavenly Court.
All were at least Half-Saints, engaging confidently even with Great Saint powerhouses.
Zhang Ruochen spotted two familiar figures—Yan Zhexian and Yan Huangtu.
Both had altered their appearances and wore robes masking their auras, accompanied by over ten powerful guards, exuding authority and drawing attention.
The hall’s master, a Great Saint named Han Yunge, appeared as a youthful woman in her twenties, though she was over three thousand years old, highly astute.
A human woman rising to hall master in Hell Realm required sharp cunning.
Han Yunge approached Yan Zhexian and Yan Huangtu, bowing gracefully with a faint smile, communicating via mental transmission.
No one knew what they discussed.
Moments later, Yan Huangtu said, “Tonight, I’ll stay at Xueying Court again. You know how to arrange it.”
“Understood.”
Han Yunge summoned a white-robed girl to lead the Yanluo Clan group deeper into the palace cluster.
“Who’s that, speaking to Hall Master Han so boldly?”
“Even ordinary Divine Sons lack such influence. Could it be a Thousand Questions or Ten Thousand Deaths and One Life Realm powerhouse?”
“They must be someone significant.”
…
Few saw through Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian’s disguises, save Zhang Ruochen, leaving others to speculate.
Zhang Ruochen’s suspicions grew. “What’s going on? Why are Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian here? Is something big happening at the Goddess Tower?”
Yan Huangtu’s presence was understandable.
After the life-and-death battles of the Hunt for Heaven Battlefield, a man might seek pleasure to unwind. But Yan Zhexian’s presence made Zhang Ruochen ponder if the Yanluo Clan had ulterior motives.
He then noticed several other powerhouses, all personally received by Han Yunge, clearly significant figures.
Even Blood Slaughter sensed something amiss, whispering, “Senior Brother, the Goddess Tower feels off today. Normally, Han Yunge is rarely seen. Yet today, she’s here in person, receiving multiple groups.”
His tone carried envy and curiosity.
He added, “Xue Qi’s status is too low. If you appeared as yourself, Senior Brother, no matter how lofty the Goddess Tower is, Han Yunge would personally greet you, not leave us ignored like this.”
Han Yunge, dressed in silk with fairy-like ribbons on her wrists, exuded elegance, like an immortal untainted by mortal dust.
A white-robed maid, holding a ledger, hurried to Han Yunge’s side, whispering something via mental transmission.
Han Yunge’s eyes showed surprise. She took the ledger, glanced at it, and couldn’t help looking toward “Xue Qi” and Blood Slaughter.
Approaching, she moved like a refined scholar, bowing slightly. “Yunge greets Great Saint Xue Qi and Divine Son Blood Slaughter.”
Many monks in the reception hall turned their gazes.
Some were astonished that Han Yunge showed such respect to Blood Slaughter and Xue Qi, given her own Great Saint status.
Blood Slaughter, thrilled to be acknowledged, straightened proudly.
Zhang Ruochen remained composed, displaying extraordinary poise.
Han Yunge transmitted mentally, only to Zhang Ruochen, “Why didn’t Master Ruochen inform us of your arrival? Please forgive any neglect.”
Zhang Ruochen replied via transmission, “How did you know my true identity?”
“Your transformation technique is masterful, beyond my ability to see through. But the Goddess Tower knows Xue Qi has returned to the Blood Sky Tribe’s Wing World and is not in the Destiny Divine Domain.”
A charming smile appeared on Han Yunge’s youthful face, captivating many monks present.
Zhang Ruochen thought, the Twelve Goddess Pavilions’ intelligence network is formidable. They likely have detailed information on most Great Saints in Hell Realm.
Han Yunge spoke openly, “Great Saint Xue Qi is an honored guest. Would you like to choose a flower?”
“Choose a flower?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Blood Slaughter, envious and jealous, quickly transmitted, “Han Yunge is sharp—she’s guessed your identity. At the Goddess Tower, only those with exceptional status and talent can choose a flower.”
“In other words, without your current talent and the status as the Blood Absolute Clan leader’s grandson and the Blood Empress’s direct disciple, you wouldn’t qualify.”
“Even as the clan leader’s grandson and a Divine Son, without your talent, you still wouldn’t qualify.”
“Talent and background are both essential.”
“Of course, if your cultivation reached the Supreme Realm and you ranked above Grade B on the Divine Reserve List, you’d also qualify.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “No, I’m not interested.”
Blood Slaughter was stunned. No monk with the chance to choose a flower had ever refused.
More anxious than Zhang Ruochen, he transmitted, “Senior Brother, the flowers cultivated by the Goddess Tower are no ordinary Saint Realm women. They’re talented, gentle, and refined. Some can reach the level of mental power Great Saints with their music or calligraphy, rivaling Kunlun Realm’s great scholars.”
“More importantly, once you choose a flower, she belongs to you alone, never to be with another man.”
“The Goddess Tower’s transcendence comes from knowing lust only attracts ordinary monks. Only affection resonates with top prodigies and divine reserves.”
Intrigued, Zhang Ruochen asked, “Such women are rare. Can the Twelve Goddess Pavilions cultivate a batch?”
Blood Slaughter said, “Exactly. The Twelve Goddess Pavilions have that kind of power. They treat their flowers like daughters. Monks who win their love are, in a sense, sons-in-law of the Pavilions. It’s said the master of this Goddess Tower is the lover of the Death Black-Robed High Priest.”
“No wonder you said their roots in Hell Realm are deep, with sons-in-law across the realm, all remarkable figures,” Zhang Ruochen laughed.
Blood Slaughter said, “So, Senior Brother, are you choosing a flower? Try one. I want to see what makes the Goddess Palace’s flowers so extraordinary, captivating so many powerful and talented figures.”
“No,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Slaughter froze. “Why? Oh, I get it—you’re worried Princess Luo Ji will find out.”
Ignoring him, Zhang Ruochen shook his head at Han Yunge, smiling. “Thanks for the offer, but I’ll pass for now.”
“Very well, the Goddess Tower respects Master Ruochen’s choice.”
Though she said this, Han Yunge knew the Twelve Goddess Pavilions wouldn’t miss investing in a cosmic-level genius like Zhang Ruochen.
If he became a deity, the Pavilions’ status would solidify further.
But Han Yunge understood that with figures like the Shadowless Fairy, Xia Yu, and the brilliant Princess Luo Ji by his side, Zhang Ruochen’s standards were too high for ordinary flowers.
“Perhaps only Qing’er could catch his eye. But Qing’er is proud, viewing the world’s talents as ants. She may not take to this cosmic-level genius.”
Han Yunge thought of Bai Qing’er in the Destiny Divine Domain, but even the Tower Master couldn’t force her.
After all, Bai Qing’er’s father was a cosmic-level genius in the previous era, on par with the Blood Absolute War God.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I’m here to meet Miao. Where is he?”
He handed the invitation to Han Yunge.
After reading it, she smiled. “I’m aware of the enmity between the Blood Absolute Clan and the Earth Fiend Ghost City. I hope Master Ruochen respects the Goddess Tower’s rules and avoids conflict. If a fight is necessary, we have a battle platform inscribed with divine patterns to resolve disputes.”
“As long as they follow the rules, I won’t act,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Han Yunge said, “Miao, Cang Baizi, and Huoxing, three Great Saints, are at Fengti Court.”
“Don’t tell them I’m here yet,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Slaughter, hearing Cang Baizi’s name, showed a mix of shame and fear, standing rooted, unmoving.
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Blood Slaughter said, “Nothing, nothing. Senior Brother, I must warn you. Cang Baizi is a powerhouse from the Eternal Life Hall, with unfathomable cultivation. Huoxing, a major figure from the Hidden Exhaust Bone Sea, is no weaker than Miao. None of these three are easy to deal with.”
“If you’re scared, don’t go. Investigate something else—”
Zhang Ruochen stopped mid-sentence, his gaze shifting to the reception hall’s entrance. A figure, a woman disguised as a man, walked in.
