Zhang Ruochen rubbed his temples, looking rather exhausted, and said, “At the Goddess Tower, I did notice some unusual things. How much do you know about this woman, Bai Qing’er?”
Upon hearing the name “Bai Qing’er,” a trace of solemnity appeared on Gu Shejing’s calm and icy face. She said, “She is known as the most mysterious woman of the Twelve Goddess Pavilions. There are rumours that her father might be the Great God Huang Tian. As for her specific age, cultivation level, sacred techniques, secret methods, and abilities, she rarely reveals them, so the outside world knows very little about her.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “That night when you were competing for the supreme source divine crystal, Bai Qing’er was at the Goddess Tower. Moreover, she used extremely sophisticated methods to ruthlessly outwit the Gambling God Elder Seven Hands.”
“The gambling match involving the seven-coloured coral tree?” Gu Shejing asked.
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
A faint smile appeared on Gu Shejing’s face as she said, “The cultivator who made Elder Seven Hands lose tens of thousands of divine stones is called the Emperor of Heaven-Slaying and Earth-Killing. This matter has already spread throughout the Hell Realm. That person, wasn’t it you?”
The hedgehog lying on the ground raised its head, glaring fiercely at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen knew that Gu Shejing must have investigated him, so he admitted, “That’s right, the Emperor of Heaven-Slaying and Earth-Killing is me. However, I wasn’t the one who set up the scheme. I only intervened because I couldn’t bear to see the woman I love suffer a loss.”
A mocking look appeared in Gu Shejing’s eyes as she said, “The woman you love? Yan Zhexian?”
“Exactly,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
“Young Master Ruochen is truly a passionate man.”
The sarcasm in her words was even more pronounced.
Zhang Ruochen appeared unfazed and continued, “In that gambling match, the mysterious black-veiled cultivator was Bai Qing’er. Besides her, Cang Baizi, Yun Huan Iron-Blood King, Huanxu Blood Emperor, and Fei’er Tianding were all her people.”
Gu Shejing said, “The four you mentioned are all top-tier Great Sages who command awe, backed by first-rate forces like the Hall of Eternal Life and the Fei’er Family. How could they take orders from a woman of the Twelve Goddess Pavilions?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Bai Qing’er is far more formidable than you imagine. I only know that she used the power of dreams to control these top-tier Great Sages. If Miss Gu doesn’t believe me, you can investigate. You will surely find some clues.”
“Alright. Let’s say Bai Qing’er has extraordinary means. But why would she set up a scheme against Elder Seven Hands?” Gu Shejing asked.
Zhang Ruochen, of course, couldn’t reveal everything to Gu Shejing. With her intelligence, saying too much might make her suspect him.
He shrugged and said, “How would I know why she did it? It was precisely to figure this out that I got myself into huge trouble.”
“Go on,” Gu Shejing said.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “That night, I followed Cang Baizi and left the Goddess Tower. Unexpectedly, I witnessed a battle between Bai Qing’er and Elder Seven Hands. Both Elder Seven Hands and Xing Qian died at Bai Qing’er’s hands, while Cang Baizi was killed by a final strike from Elder Seven Hands before his death.”
“Bai Qing’er’s mental strength is formidable. She discovered me hiding in the shadows and tried to kill me to silence me. I had no choice but to use the Purple Gold Gourd.”
“Even with the Purple Gold Gourd, I couldn’t hold her off. Fortunately, Elder Seven Hands’ final strike caused her significant trouble, allowing me to escape.”
“This is the full account of the incident.”
“I believe the reason the Arbitration Division is targeting me is likely because Bai Qing’er is pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to use others to eliminate me.”
Most of what Zhang Ruochen said, over seventy percent, was true.
Gu Shejing clearly believed some of it and fell into thought, saying, “I investigated the area where you used the Purple Gold Gourd. There were indeed traces of a battle, though someone with sophisticated means restored the terrain.”
“Bai Qing’er is too powerful. Among the women below the divine realm in the Hell Realm, she should be considered the best,” Zhang Ruochen said, showing a lingering fear.
Gu Shejing gave a soft humph, “You’re only at the Hundred-Shackle Realm. Your understanding of the top sequence below the divine realm is too shallow. Only a Primordial Genius who reaches the Supreme Realm dares to claim to be the best below the divine realm. Since you know the truth, why didn’t you speak up when the Arbitration Division surrounded the Vast Ocean Manor?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “It’s obvious that Bai Qing’er has some shady dealings with the Arbitration Division, even with the entire Temple of Destiny, aimed at putting me to death. Even if I told the truth, it wouldn’t have changed the situation. It was better to deny everything and act ignorant. That way, they couldn’t do anything to me.”
“By the way, before he died, Elder Seven Hands said something. I suspect Bai Qing’er’s reasons for killing him and trying to silence me are related to it.”
Gu Shejing asked, “What did he say?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced around, showing some apprehension.
Gu Shejing said, “You don’t need to worry. This is my absolute rule domain. Even gods can’t hear our conversation.”
Zhang Ruochen lowered his voice and said, “Elder Seven Hands said, ‘Even if I die, I won’t tell you where the supreme source divine crystal came from.'”
Gu Shejing’s expression lit up, her phoenix-like eyes flashing as she said, “Are you sure you didn’t mishear?”
“How could I mishear? After returning, I carefully analysed it and came to a shocking conclusion,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Shejing sneered, “Is there even a need to guess? The supreme source divine crystal appeared in the gambling city of the Goddess Tower, so it must be because a cultivator has already been to the Temple of Origin. That cultivator was Elder Seven Hands. Tan Fei’s five supreme source divine crystals must be connected to Elder Seven Hands. Bai Qing’er’s scheme against Elder Seven Hands was likely because she discovered he was the source of the supreme source divine crystals.”
“Everything makes sense now. I didn’t expect a mere Twelve Goddess Pavilions to have such ambition.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I suspect that the cultivator who stole the five supreme source divine crystals was also Bai Qing’er. First, the five supreme source divine crystals and Tan Fei were always sealed in the Goddess Tower. Only someone inside the Goddess Tower could tamper with them.”
“Second, why did Tan Fei suddenly self-destruct his sacred source and loudly claim I killed him? I think it was because Bai Qing’er used the power of dreams. Only dream power could be so bizarre.”
“Third, the Division of Fate’s intervention to save me caught Bai Qing’er off guard, and she knew the truth couldn’t be hidden for long. So, she used Tiannan pollen to shift everyone’s attention back to Elder Seven Hands, a dead man. This way, all clues were cut off.”
“She wants to monopolise the Temple of Origin.”
Gu Shejing, being extremely shrewd, had her own judgement and didn’t fully believe Zhang Ruochen.
She said, “This is all just your side of the story. I don’t believe you’d tell me something so important without holding anything back. Of course, I believe some of what you said is probably true, but you’re likely keeping a lot to yourself, aren’t you?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I know you have doubts. Honestly, I’m telling you all this because I have no choice.”
“Oh?”
Gu Shejing showed an interested expression, half-believing, half-doubting.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Bai Qing’er hasn’t given up on silencing me. She chased me from the Blood Heaven Tribe’s Wing World all the way to Ice King Star. Not long ago, she even sent Fei’er Tianding to capture another woman I love, Xia Yu, to force me to comply and shut my mouth. Fortunately, I arrived in time to save Xia Yu, or the consequences would have been unthinkable.”
“I know very well that with my Hundred-Shackle Realm cultivation, even if I were ten times stronger, Bai Qing’er could crush me with a single finger. So, I desperately need to ally with someone who can stand up to her. I couldn’t think of anyone else but you.”
To make Gu Shejing trust him and underestimate him, Zhang Ruochen decided to continue playing the role of a lustful, romantic figure.
Gu Shejing sneered, “That last sentence wasn’t sincere. You chose to ally with me for some other purpose, didn’t you?”
Zhang Ruochen gave an awkward smile, “You’ve seen through me again. You’re right. If I were to form an alliance, I have other options, like Luo Shengtian. But the only one who can help me dispel my inner demons is Luo Zu Yunshan Realm.”
“You’d better be telling the truth. If you have any other motives, you should abandon them now. Otherwise, even if you’re Luo Ji’s fiancé, I won’t go easy on you,” Gu Shejing said.
Zhang Ruochen was stunned but quickly realised.
So, Gu Shejing thought he was trying to ally with her because he had designs on her?
Were all the women in the Hell Realm this self-assured?
Or had the image he cultivated become so ingrained that whenever he got close, every woman in the Hell Realm immediately became wary, instinctively assuming he was after their bodies?
Zhang Ruochen said, “If there’s nothing else, I’ll take my leave.”
“Wait.”
Gu Shejing glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, “Didn’t you want to form an alliance?”
“That’s true. But my cultivation is too weak right now, and I’m not suited to wade into this mess. So, I’ve decided to return to the Blood Heaven Tribe’s Wing World to lay low for a while and break through to the Thousand-Inquiry Realm first,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Shejing said, “With me here, why do you need to hide?”
“Well…”
Zhang Ruochen was speechless, not expecting Gu Shejing to be so unconventional.
His original plan was to provoke a conflict between Gu Shejing and Bai Qing’er and then immediately head to the Tianluo Divine Kingdom. By the time he returned, the two women would likely have fought to a standstill, and he could simply pick up the pieces.
But Gu Shejing was clearly not so easily manipulated and had no intention of letting him leave.
Gu Shejing said, “Since you suspect Bai Qing’er stole the five supreme source divine crystals and killed Tan Fei, let’s go confront her and see just how powerful she is.”
“In a clash between powerhouses of your level, I wouldn’t be able to contribute at all,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Shejing shook her head, “The five supreme source divine crystals were stolen using spatial power. So, in dealing with Bai Qing’er this time, the main goal is to test whether she is proficient in the Path of Space. You’re a master of space; how could you not contribute?”
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t as reckless as Gu Shejing. Bai Qing’er was surrounded by powerful experts; how could they confront her so easily?
He was about to refuse again.
Gu Shejing said, “You’re not trying to use me to deal with Bai Qing’er so you can reap the benefits, are you? Or perhaps you’ve already obtained the supreme source divine crystals, and Bai Qing’er’s targeting you is to seize them? Are you sending me to deal with her while you secretly head to the Temple of Origin?”
“Of course not. Every word I said earlier was true. We’re allies; our interests are aligned,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Shejing said, “If you want to leave, I won’t stop you.”
“Since we’ve already formed an alliance, I naturally won’t leave. Come, let’s discuss how to test Bai Qing’er. I’ve been wanting to teach that enchantress a lesson for a long time.” Zhang Ruochen sat back down, his expression serious and earnest.
At that moment, Gu Shejing’s gaze suddenly shifted from Zhang Ruochen to the window outside, and in a rather abrupt change of topic, she asked, “Have you heard of Wuma Jiuxing?”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, “Why did you suddenly mention this person?”
Gu Shejing said, “Wuma Jiuxing, aged three thousand two hundred, is the young master of Qiankun Yiqi Hall, a terrifying figure well-known in the fringe regions of the Hell Realm, hailed as the strongest below the divine realm among all dark forces. Though he is the young master, he is the actual ruler of Qiankun Yiqi Hall.”
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but draw a sharp breath. Qiankun Yiqi Hall was one of the top ten dark forces, on par with Wujian Pavilion. To control such a vast force, both cultivation and means must be of the highest calibre.
Gu Shejing said, “A thousand years ago, he killed the Supreme Realm Great Sage Guo Ling of the Ruiya Realm in the Heavenly Court with a single strike. Listen carefully, just one strike. Not only did he split Guo Ling in two, but he also extinguished all his vitality, preventing escape or bodily reformation.”
“Three hundred years ago, he fought Yuqiu, the previous Divine Son of the Temple of Destiny. At that time, Yuqiu, who had just reached the Supreme Realm, could only fight him to a draw, unable to win.”
“That battle was considered a lifelong disgrace by Yuqiu, who felt he had shamed the Temple of Destiny. A grand Divine Son couldn’t defeat a cultivator from the dark forces.”
“As a result, Yuqiu locked himself in the Temple of Destiny for a hundred years. When he emerged, seeking to redeem himself, Wuma Jiuxing had vanished.”
“That draw became a lifelong regret for Yuqiu. Many cultivators believe that Yuqiu’s failure to overcome the divine tribulation was, to some extent, related to Wuma Jiuxing. The greatest taboo in crossing a divine tribulation is an incomplete state of mind.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded solemnly, taking Wuma Jiuxing seriously.
Every Divine Son or Daughter of the Temple of Destiny was a carefully selected prodigy, cultivated with the full resources of the temple, resources unavailable to other cultivators.
Under such conditions, to only fight a dark force cultivator to a draw in the same realm was indeed a stain on one’s life.
But it also showed, from another angle, how extraordinary Wuma Jiuxing was.
Gu Shejing said, “About thirty years ago, Wuma Jiuxing, who had been missing for two hundred years, reappeared in the public eye, his cultivation soaring to new heights. Not long ago, he did something earth-shattering.”
“What did he do?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Gu Shejing said, “He went to the Merit Battlefield of the Kunlun Realm and, with just three strikes, killed three Supreme Realm Great Sages listed on the Red Dust Peerless List.”
The Great Sages on the Red Dust Peerless List were all top-tier powerhouses below the divine realm.
“Below the divine realm, isn’t he invincible?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Shejing said, “You’re right. The current Wuma Jiuxing, even if Yuqiu were alive, might not be able to defeat him. No one knows where he went during those hundred-plus years or what incredible opportunities he gained.”
“Why did you suddenly bring him up?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Gu Shejing said, “Because he has come to Ice King Star and has a close relationship with Bai Qing’er. Yesterday, Zhuo Yunong, the Divine Realm Enforcer, led an enforcement team to surround the Goddess Tower to investigate the supreme source divine crystals and reportedly interrogated Bai Qing’er.”
“This morning, Wuma Jiuxing declared he would challenge Zhuo Yunong on behalf of the ten dark forces.”
“After Yuqiu failed his tribulation and Qitian Huang broke through to the divine realm, Zhuo Yunong became the top figure below the divine realm in the Temple of Destiny. The ten dark forces have always been at odds with the Temple of Destiny, having been suppressed countless times. If Zhuo Yunong loses this battle, it will be a massive blow to the Temple of Destiny’s prestige.”
“Now, Wuma Jiuxing is at the height of his power, coming with the momentum of slaying three top Supreme Realm Great Sages. No cultivator believes Zhuo Yunong can win. They only wonder if Zhuo Yunong can withstand his first strike.”
“Since Wuma Jiuxing rose to fame, he has almost always defeated opponents with a single strike. The only one who ever withstood his first strike was Yuqiu.”
“And now, he has arrived.”
Zhang Ruochen noticed the unusual glint in Gu Shejing’s eyes and finally turned to follow her gaze out the window.
…
The mystery of Han Xue’s origins: Could she be a descendant of Empress Thousand Bones, a member of the Godfall Clan?
