Under the cover of the Sundial, Xiao Hei spent over a year inscribing hundreds of billions of array inscriptions on three Supreme Sacred Artifacts and twenty-eight King Sacred Artifacts.
Various auxiliary materials were also refined with impressive results.
Zhang Ruochen, whose heart had been on edge, felt a slight relief and said, “Is there any way to avoid being tracked or sensed by other cultivators?”
Xiao Hei pondered Zhang Ruochen’s question, assuming he was worried about the Tian Shu Needle, and said, “You have a divine being shielding your fate, so you don’t need to worry about being tracked. But the Tian Shu Needle is no ordinary artifact; it’s a divine weapon. If the Division of Destiny collects an item you’ve used, like a vessel or a holy robe, within a certain range, no amount of hiding will help.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, “A divine weapon is, of course, unbeatable. I’m not talking about the Tian Shu Needle but Gushen Jing. This demoness is hard to read, with grand ambitions, and she possesses a drop of my Great Sage blood, which lets her find me anytime. How can I get rid of this major problem?”
“A drop of Great Sage blood? Containing your essence, qi, and spirit?” Xiao Hei’s expression turned strange.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Correct.”
“You gave it to her?”
“You could say that.”
Xiao Hei sneered coldly, “Then there’s no way out. You planted this cause yourself; it can’t be undone.”
Generally, blood shed by a Great Sage during injury doesn’t contain their essence, qi, or spirit. Even if collected, finding the owner through it is no easy task.
Back then, Zhang Ruochen had willingly given a drop of blood containing his essence, qi, and spirit.
With such a drop, Gushen Jing could easily locate him by activating a secret technique.
Xiao Hei added, “You don’t need to worry too much. Even with your blood, she can only pinpoint you within the range her mental strength can reach.”
“Besides, she’s already drained a lot of your soul power. Why worry about a drop of blood? Unless you can bring yourself to kill her, this demoness might become a real threat, striking a fatal blow at a critical moment.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “It’s better to resolve grudges than deepen them. Until Gushen Jing shows hostility, it’s best not to make an enemy. I already have enough foes.”
Xiao Hei let out a “hiss,” unable to believe such words came from Zhang Ruochen.
The old Zhang Ruochen wasn’t like this.
Even with potential enemies, he’d likely strike first to eliminate them.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Don’t be so shocked. I’ve thought this through. Gushen Jing and I have no deep personal grudges, only dealings of interest. With Luo Ji as a connection, there’s a real chance we could become allies.”
“I’ve been reflecting lately on why I’m surrounded by enemies. Besides external factors, my past approach might have been a big issue.”
“By treating potential enemies as actual ones, I turned them into enemies. But I never considered resolving those tensions.”
“Some enemies don’t have to be mortal foes; they could become friends.”
This realisation came from breaking the Desire Mind Shackle, reliving past events. Zhang Ruochen saw that some of his previous actions were too extreme, lacking kindness toward many people and patience to resolve conflicts.
For example:
When he first met Kong Lanyou after eight hundred years, he didn’t trust her, even holding hostility.
Or when he feared Thousand Stars Heavenly Maiden would seize his Truth Mysteries, he tried to assassinate her.
In reality, she never truly tried to kill him. In the Dragon God Hall ruins, they faced hardships together, not only resolving their enmity but forming a friendship.
If you view the world with hostility, the world becomes your enemy.
Who wants to be enemies with the world?
Who doesn’t want more friends?
As he thought, a spark flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s mind, as if he grasped something crucial.
But the spark vanished just as quickly.
…
Goddess Tower.
Bai Qing’er was always a mysterious figure. Even within the Twelve Goddess Towers, few cultivators knew much about her.
As such, her palace was quite desolate.
Aside from the master of Ice King Star’s Goddess Tower, few knew she resided here.
Kailuo, with snow-white hair and a long beard braided into a whip, wore a white jade mask. He stood in the hall with hands behind his back, admiring an ancient painting on the wall.
“Not a bad painting. Each stroke is an array inscription. If activated, it would instantly form a ninth-grade grand array, enough to suppress a Great Sage at the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm. The painter must at least be a King of Land and Sea.”
Bai Qing’er entered, shrouded in black gauze, her face obscured, her voice hoarse as she said, “This painting, called *Snow Over Mountains and Rivers*, is the work of Master Yunqi from the Ice Emperor Palace, known as Ice King Star’s top array master.”
Kailuo laughed, “This Master Yunqi has decent painting skills, but his array mastery is mediocre.”
A King of Land and Sea array master is rare, even in the entire Blood Heaven Tribe’s Wing World. Even some powerful realms in the Heavenly Court’s myriad worlds might lack such a figure.
If his words spread, they’d surely provoke outrage among Ice King Star’s cultivators.
Kailuo was direct, picking up a brush from the desk and adding a few strokes to the painting.
Instantly, the snowy scene’s aura transformed, seeming to pull the two in the hall into it.
The painting’s array leapt to a higher level.
Bai Qing’er’s eyes narrowed. Now, this painting could likely suppress an early Thousand Questions Realm Great Sage. The Heaven Realm had sent a formidable expert.
Kailuo set down the brush, believing he’d made his point, and said, “All of Zhang Ruochen’s treasures, including his life, belong to the Heaven Realm. Additionally, Zhou Zhen, Shentu Yunkong, and Lan Xi, I want alive.”
As one of the four ruling worlds of the Heaven Realm, negotiating with a mere Twelve Goddess Towers allowed for such dominance.
Especially since the Twelve Goddess Towers had approached the Heaven Realm first.
Bai Qing’er said, “Everyone knows Zhang Ruochen has countless treasures, even mysteries coveted by divine beings. If you take all the benefits, what do we get?”
Kailuo laughed loudly, “Aren’t you after the Tian Shu Needle? This divine artifact, the Heaven Realm won’t contest. You can pin it all on us. Isn’t that a benefit?”
Kailuo was shrewd, openly exposing Bai Qing’er’s schemes and calculations.
He made it clear: the Heaven Realm was willing to take the blame, but Zhang Ruochen belonged to them.
Bai Qing’er said, “Why would I want the Tian Shu Needle? Without the Mysteries of Destiny, it can’t be activated, and it would only provoke the wrath of the Temple of Destiny.”
“Zhang Ruochen has the Mysteries of Destiny. We’ll give you a ten-thousandth share,” Kailuo said.
Bai Qing’er fell silent for a moment and said, “Since you’ve seen through my plan, I won’t hide it. Yes, my target is the Tian Shu Needle. This time, we each get what we need.”
“Good. Before big moves, we should settle the benefits. We’ll proceed with your plan.”
Kailuo nodded, satisfied, and added, “I came not only to discuss benefits but to offer a gift, which might prove crucial.”
He extended a finger, slicing through space like paper, creating a rift.
From the rift flew a two-meter-high iron cage.
Nine holy chains wrapped around the cage, their ends piercing the chest and back of the old man inside.
The old man wore a loose Confucian robe, his face aged and weathered, with dishevelled white hair falling over it.
Bai Qing’er said, “Who is he?”
“Caught from the Kunlun Realm, his name is Shangguan Que, a Confucian cultivator, Zhang Ruochen’s teacher,” Kailuo said.
Bai Qing’er said, “I accept this gift.”
“Farewell.”
Kailuo adjusted his attire, walked out of the hall, and looked at the falling snow, a meaningful smile on his lips.
“Such a young girl with such grand ambitions.”
How could the Heaven Realm not want the Tian Shu Needle?
But Kailuo knew the Temple of Destiny was too powerful. Seizing the Tian Shu Needle would cost too much. The ten dark forces targeting the Temple were doomed to fail.
Of course, if they could deal a heavy blow to the Temple, the Heaven Realm wouldn’t mind picking up the scraps.
Bai Qing’er gazed at Shangguan Que in the cage, still deep in thought.
Shang Xia stood behind her, worried, and said, “The Heaven Realm knows our plan, likely because they have people among the ten dark forces.”
“That’s normal. The ten dark forces are tolerated by the Temple of Destiny because the Heavenly Court’s realms secretly support them. Some were even created by the Heavenly Court. By comparison, the Twelve Goddess Towers are relatively clean,” Bai Qing’er said.
Shang Xia said, “Forgive my bluntness, but we shouldn’t lead this plan to seize the Tian Shu Needle or ally with the other nine dark forces. With such a big move, if the Heaven Realm knows, how could the Temple of Destiny not?”
“That’s the point. It’s more interesting if everyone knows. I want to stir this pond even murkier.”
Bai Qing’er pointed to *Snow Over Mountains and Rivers* on the wall and said, “Send this painting to the city lord’s mansion for Brother Duan to examine.”
Shang Xia rolled up the painting and left.
Bai Qing’er’s fingers moved like a sword, slashing through the air.
*Whoosh!*
The iron cage and the nine holy chains on Shangguan Que shattered into scrap metal, scattering on the floor.
Shangguan Que remained calm, sitting on the ground, glancing up at her.
“It’s said that at its peak, the Kunlun Realm developed Confucianism to its zenith, producing four Confucian Ancestors, each a supreme figure among the heavens. I’m versed in many paths but know only the name of Confucianism, not its methods. Could you, sir, be my teacher for a few days and instruct me?”
Bai Qing’er’s black gauze fell away, revealing a breathtakingly beautiful face. She helped Shangguan Que up, her eyes sincere and humble.
“And after those days?” Shangguan Que said calmly.
Bai Qing’er said, “Your fate depends on Zhang Ruochen’s attitude.”
…
The character “Kailuo” was mentioned earlier. Only god-tier readers might recall where.
