Not knowing whether it was to repay Zhang Ruochen’s favor or because she found his honesty compelling, Yan Zhexian surprisingly agreed.
However, she had conditions.
Since Zhang Ruochen had publicly claimed he was taking her to visit historic sites, he had to follow through.
Hearing this condition, Zhang Ruochen was taken aback, expecting her to seize the chance to extort him. Involuntarily, he wondered if Yan Zhexian had ulterior motives.
“Are you agreeing or not?” Yan Zhexian pouted, urging him.
“Fine! After days of seclusion, I’m restless and eager to move. Taking this chance to explore and broaden my horizons isn’t a bad thing,” Zhang Ruochen agreed.
The two entered the Seven-Star Imperial Palace.
Eighteen Six-Tribulation Ghost Kings carried the massive palace, stirring up thick, chilling ghost mist, exuding an imposing aura as they swaggered toward the Rot Clan’s sacred land.
A Le sat on the stone steps outside the palace, clutching his iron sword, lost in lonely, cold contemplation, his thoughts a mystery.
Led by the Great Sikong and Second Sikong, the seven monks followed behind.
“Move faster, stop dawdling.”
The Great Sikong struck True Killing’s backside with his staff. True Killing, unbothered, quickened his pace.
True Lust “Que Shenzi” and True Anger “Tian Shuzi,” upon learning Zhang Ruochen was heading to the Rot Clan’s sacred land, were initially ecstatic, then grew anxious.
Their joy stemmed from the fact that most of the Death Temple’s Great Saint powerhouses were gathered at the Rot Clan’s sacred land. Zhang Ruochen’s visit was likely to end badly, and they might regain their freedom.
Their anxiety came from wondering how Zhang Ruochen dared to go without absolute confidence.
What was his purpose in visiting the Rot Clan’s sacred land?
Moreover, in their current state, appearing at the Rot Clan’s sacred land and being seen by the Death Temple’s Great Saints would make them a laughingstock for life.
Inside the Seven-Star Imperial Palace, Yan Zhexian asked, “At the Goddess Tower in the Destiny Divine Domain, the one who helped me win the bet, the Emperor of Heaven-Slaying and Earth-Killing, that was you in disguise, wasn’t it?”
“Yes,” Zhang Ruochen replied, inspecting the boxes obtained from the Demon Wolf Clan.
“Why?”
“No reason, just a small favor.”
Yan Zhexian, dissatisfied with the answer, said, “It’s because of the child in my womb, isn’t it?”
Zhang Ruochen finished checking the boxes, stored them in his spatial ring, and looked at her seriously, “I already know nothing intimate happened between us.”
At this, a hint of embarrassment flashed across Yan Zhexian’s fair face.
So, he had known all along!
Zhang Ruochen continued, “But outsiders don’t know. So, if we appear closer, even show some affection, the Yama Clan won’t lose face. That’s your thinking, right?”
The embarrassment on Yan Zhexian’s face vanished, replaced by a cold expression, “Good that you understand. So, don’t harbor any improper thoughts. Our relationship is strictly cooperative.”
“Understood, that’s what I want too,” Zhang Ruochen said briskly.
“Hmph!”
Yan Zhexian let out a delicate snort and stormed out of the palace.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t chase her, instead taking out the quasi-emperor-grade Saint Soul Pill he had just acquired, preparing to refine it.
At the door, Yan Zhexian suddenly stopped, turning back with a hint of petulance, “The Death Temple reigns supreme in the Death Clan, with deep foundations and countless experts. You’d better be careful.”
“Thank you for your concern, Miss Zhexian,” Zhang Ruochen said, bowing from his seated position.
Yan Zhexian waved her sleeve and left, feeling an inexplicable resentment, thinking, “It’s just a transaction, just acting for the world’s monks to see, so they don’t mock me or criticize the Yama Clan behind my back. It’s utterly infuriating.”
The already turbulent Hundred Clans’ Royal City was rocked again today.
After days of absence, Zhang Ruochen appeared brazenly on the streets, still riding the Seven-Star Imperial Palace, ostentatious to an unbelievable degree. What truly shocked people were the seven monks trailing behind.
“Am I seeing this right? Is that Que Shenzi?”
“And Tian Shuzi, along with the three White-Clad Death Gods.”
“Heavens, they’ve all shaved their heads and donned monk robes. Are they really converting to Buddhism?”
“Five Great Saints of the Death Temple in the Life-and-Death Realm turned into monks? This is a once-in-an-eon spectacle.”
“Zhang Ruochen is too bold. There’s going to be a show. Just wait, the Death Temple will definitely act.”
…
The news spread rapidly, drawing more monks to follow and spectate behind the Seven-Star Imperial Palace.
The Rot Clan’s sacred land, called Mud Basin Marsh, was a hundred-mile-wide black swamp, surrounded by numerous ghost mountains and yin peaks, forming a basin-like terrain, hence the name “Mud Basin.”
The Mud Basin Marsh was barren, shrouded in constant yin qi, with rampant decay.
Today, two major figures from the Death Temple arrived at Mud Basin Marsh: Hai Ke and Nan Sheng.
Both were in the Life-and-Death Realm and listed in the Divine Reserve Scroll, their fame in the Death Clan surpassing Que Shenzi and Tian Shuzi. Yuan Qianmo had personally written to invite them.
To welcome them, the Rot Clan held a grand saintly banquet.
Glamorous Rakshasa women, balancing jade trays with human heads, formed a long line, presenting them to Nan Sheng.
“Nan Sheng loves human heads” was well-known across the Hell Realm.
On the other side, winged Immortal Blood Clan maids carried luminous jade bowls containing infants, offering them to Hai Ke.
“Hai Ke devours eight hundred infants daily” was equally infamous.
Nan Sheng and Hai Ke sat at the head, with Yuan Ji and other Death Temple Great Saints seated on either side below.
The Rot Clan’s monks, including their Emperor, stood cautiously, serving attentively.
“Today, I ate a thousand infants. I’m full. Store the rest and offer them to me tomorrow,” Hai Ke said, grabbing an Immortal Blood Clan maid, manhandling her until she cried out.
Just as Immortal Blood Clan members could use Six-Tribulation Ghost Kings to carry palaces, other clans could enslave Immortal Blood Clan members. It was normal, though doing so publicly carried a hint of humiliation.
The eighteen Six-Tribulation Ghost Kings carrying Zhang Ruochen’s Seven-Star Imperial Palace were deliberately chosen by the Xue Jue War God to provoke the Ghost Lord.
After consuming a thousand human heads, Nan Sheng waved the Rakshasa women away.
Unlike Hai Ke, he appeared refined, almost human-like, with two streaks of white hair at his temples.
Nan Sheng said, “I was cultivating in Tiannan. If not for Yuan Qianmo’s sake, I wouldn’t have come. Can anyone explain why the mighty Death Temple, with experts as numerous as fish in a river, has been disgraced by a Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saint?”
Hai Ke bared his sharp fangs, sneering, “A bunch of useless trash. Even if Zhang Ruochen had three heads and six arms, he’s only in the Hundred-Shackle Realm. Yet he captured five Life-and-Death Realm Great Saints. How do you have the face to sit here? Trash, all of you.”
The Death Temple’s Great Saints were embarrassed and uneasy, none daring to argue.
After all, these two had terrifying backgrounds. If they weren’t careful, they could become the next Death Temple pillars after Yuan Qianmo. If they got angry and ate a Great Saint’s head, they’d likely only face a mild rebuke from the gods.
Yuan Ji forced a laugh, “Zhang Ruochen’s demi-god physique is formidable, giving him a huge advantage in the Hundred Clans’ Royal City.”
Another Great Saint quickly added, “Exactly, the environment favors him too much. In another setting, Tian Shuzi and Que Shenzi would never have lost to him.”
“Demi-god physique? So what? It’s just brute strength… Haha, I happen to have brute strength too,” Hai Ke said, his arms as thick as elephant legs. With two explosive sounds, he crushed
“Xue Jue family’s Zhang Ruochen pays respects to the Holy Land of the Fu Clan.”
Zhang Ruochen’s voice, like divine thunder and tidal waves, surged into Ni Pen Ze layer upon layer, causing the clouds to churn.
The Great Sages of the Death God Temple were all surprised and stunned.
Hai Ke froze for a moment, then burst into loud laughter. “Since he has come to us of his own accord, it saves us a lot of trouble. Si Gui, go bring him in. I want to see what this inexperienced brat is capable of, capturing a Great Sage of the Wan Si Yi Sheng realm.”
The Fu Clan leader, Si Gui, responded and immediately led a group of cultivators, flying towards the gate of the Holy Land.
Outside Ni Pen Ze, a sea of people had gathered, with cultivators from various clans rushing to spectate.
It was too shocking!
The Death God Temple hadn’t sought trouble with Zhang Ruochen. Could it be that Zhang Ruochen was taking the initiative to challenge them?
Zhang Ruochen arrived with five Great Sages from the Death God Temple, now turned into monks. This was an outright provocation and humiliation, practically trampling the Death God Temple’s reputation into the ground.
“The situation between Zhang Ruochen and the Death God Temple is now a fight to the death. Who knows how things will unfold next?”
“Zhang Ruochen thinks he can challenge the entire Death God Temple alone. That’s rather unwise. If I were him, I’d first ally with the ten major tribes of the Immortal Vampire Clan, leveraging their strength to confront the Death God Temple.”
“Other cultivators of the Immortal Vampire Clan have no deep grudge against the Death God Temple. Why would they heed his call? Besides, with Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, he’s far from having the authority to command the entire Immortal Vampire Clan.”
…
Yan Zhe Xian stood in the Seven-Star Emperor Palace, not yet revealing herself, but she was shocked by the surrounding atmosphere. She hadn’t expected things to escalate to this point, practically igniting the entire Hundred Clans Royal City.
For a moment, she regretted agreeing to help Zhang Ruochen.
Even with her, the young lady of the Yan Luo Clan, by his side, it might not be enough to quell the fury of the Death God Temple’s cultivators.
Suddenly, a brilliant light emerged from the array inscriptions at the gate of the Fu Clan’s Holy Land, splitting open a three-metre-wide entrance from the centre.
Led by the Fu Clan’s Clan Emperor, more than a dozen Great Sages walked out.
Their bodies were shrouded in black robes, their faces obscured, exuding a chilling, corruptive aura.
Without any pleasantries, the Fu Clan Emperor said, “Great Sage Ruochen, please come inside.”
Standing outside the gates of the Seven-Star Emperor Palace, Zhang Ruochen looked down and shook his head. “The Clan Emperor hasn’t even asked why I’ve come to visit the Fu Clan, yet you invite me in. Could there be an ambush waiting inside?”
The Fu Clan Emperor knew well that if Zhang Ruochen entered Ni Pen Ze, he would surely die.
If Zhang Ruochen died in Ni Pen Ze, it would be a miracle if the Xue Jue family didn’t annihilate the Fu Clan.
But what choice did they have?
The Fu Clan was, after all, subordinate to the Death God Temple and could only follow orders.
“Why has Great Sage Ruochen come here?” the Fu Clan Emperor asked patiently.
“Naturally, to offer an apology.”
Zhang Ruochen snapped his fingers. Zhen Se, Zhen Tan, Zhen Nu, Zhen Wang, and Zhen Sha stepped forward, each carrying two large bronze chests. Under Da Si Kong’s direction, they placed them on the ground.
The ten chests were opened, revealing a dazzling divine light.
They were filled with three thousand divine stones in total.
Even a Clan Emperor wouldn’t be fazed by three thousand divine stones.
The Fu Clan Emperor merely glanced at them before his gaze fell on the five monks opposite, sneering inwardly. “This is your apology? It looks more like you’re here to stir trouble.”
Upon seeing the five Great Sages of the Wan Si Yi Sheng realm from the Death God Temple turned into monks, the Great Sages of the Death God Temple were filled with righteous indignation and fury. Unable to remain seated in the Holy Land, they flew out one after another.
Yuan Ji roared, “Zhang Ruochen, if you truly wish to apologise, hand over all the supreme sacred artefacts you possess, then enter the Fu Clan’s Holy Land with a kowtow at every step. Perhaps then the Death God Temple might spare your life.”
The Great Sages of the Death God Temple moved swiftly, surrounding the Seven-Star Emperor Palace, releasing their saintly might, ready to tear Zhang Ruochen to pieces.
The atmosphere instantly grew tense and murderous.
A single spark could ignite an unstoppable slaughter.
The spectating cultivators from various clans were overwhelmed by the powerful saintly might, struggling to breathe, appearing even more nervous than Zhang Ruochen at the centre of the storm.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “Brother Yuan misunderstands. I’m not here to apologise to the Death God Temple, but to the Fu Clan.”
As the crowd was utterly baffled, Zhang Ruochen continued, “I heard that when I entered the Hundred Clans Royal City, various clans sent cultivators to invite and pay respects to me. However, I was at a critical moment in my cultivation and inevitably neglected their emissaries. Feeling guilty, I decided to visit each clan to offer my apologies.”
“As for the Death God Temple, didn’t we already agree last time to settle our grudges with a single battle? Have you all forgotten so quickly?”
The Fu Clan Emperor said, “Great Sage Ruochen, you must be mistaken. The Fu Clan sent no cultivators to pay respects to you, nor did we invite you.”
At this, the Great Sages of the Death God Temple smirked mockingly.
“Is that so?”
Unfazed, Zhang Ruochen continued, “Very well, let’s move to the next matter. I aim to cultivate the Heavenly Sword Soul in the Hundred Shackles Realm, but I know it’s a difficult task, mainly due to a lack of cultivation resources. Does the Fu Clan have any treasures that can enhance a saint’s soul or refine swordsmanship rules? I’d like to purchase some.”
“No,” the Fu Clan Emperor replied bluntly.
What a joke. The Fu Clan was subordinate to the Death God Temple. For Zhang Ruochen to seek cultivation resources from them was simply asking for trouble.
It was practically inviting humiliation.
The Great Sages of the Death God Temple were delighted to see Zhang Ruochen make a fool of himself and held off on attacking.
Zhang Ruochen asked again, “Truly none? For example, Divine Star Soul, Underworld Soul Pill, Saint Soul Pill, Divine Sword Elixir…”
“Nothing. Whatever you, Zhang Ruochen, want, the Fu Clan doesn’t have,” the Fu Clan Emperor said, growing more confident and somewhat arrogant. “However, we wouldn’t mind accepting these ten chests of divine stones you’ve brought.”
Laughter erupted around them.
Zhang Ruochen nodded seriously. “Fine, I never intended to take these ten chests of divine stones back. Now, let’s discuss the third matter.”
Suddenly, a burst of blood light exploded from Zhang Ruochen.
A sea of divine blood clouds manifested around him, and a pair of massive blood-red wings sprouted from his back.
“It’s… the War God Belt.”
“Indeed, it’s the War God Belt of the Immortal Vampire Clan. Only the thirteen War Gods of the Immortal Vampire Clan are entitled to wear it, symbolising supreme honour.”
“Wearing the War God Belt is akin to the War God himself arriving. Members of the Immortal Vampire Clan must kneel and obey its commands without question.”
…
The Immortal Vampire Clan cultivators present hesitated, unsure whether to kneel.
If it were truly one of the thirteen War Gods, they wouldn’t hesitate. But the one wearing the War God Belt was Zhang Ruochen, merely a Great Sage of the Hundred Shackles Realm.
Seeing the reactions of the Immortal Vampire Clan cultivators, Yuan Ji sneered inwardly. To think Zhang Ruochen could command the Immortal Vampire Clan with just the War God Belt was laughable.
He lacked both the prestige and the strength.
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Chen Yuan Ancient Sword and pointed it at the Fu Clan Emperor. “Today, in the name of the future War God of the Immortal Vampire Clan, I challenge the Fu Clan. In the same realm, I am invincible. Across one realm, I remain invincible. Who in the world can defeat me? Does the Fu Clan’s strongest in the Hundred Shackles Realm or Thousand Questions Realm dare to accept my challenge? If you lack the courage, henceforth, all Fu Clan cultivators must retreat thirty thousand miles upon seeing me.”
Silence fell over the surroundings.
No one could fathom what Zhang Ruochen was trying to achieve. Some even thought he might have gone mad from a cultivation mishap, turning into a crazed demon.
“Those words he just said sound oddly familiar,” muttered a cultivator from the Immortal Vampire Clan.
An older Great Sage from the Immortal Vampire Clan exclaimed, “I remember now. Those were the words spoken by the Xue Jue War God when he challenged the cultivators of the Heavenly Realm.”
“The exact words were: ‘Today, in the name of the future War God of the Immortal Vampire Clan, I challenge the Heavenly Realm. In the same realm, I am invincible. Across one realm, I remain invincible. Who in the Heavenly Realm can defeat me?’”
“Those words are engraved on the divine pillar in the War God Hall of the Immortal God Temple, known as the Oath to Conquer the Heavens.”
The clamour grew louder.
Even after over a hundred thousand years, some cultivators still remembered the Xue Jue War God’s legendary feat of challenging the cultivators of the Heavenly Realm single-handedly.
“It’s said that back then, the Lord of the Immortal God Temple and a highly venerable War God personally accompanied the Xue Jue War God, who was at the Hundred Shackles Realm, to the famous Godfall Battlefield by the Wuding Divine Sea. Facing the allied forces of the Heavenly Realm across the sea, he declared those words.”
“On the first day, the Heavenly Realm sent fifty-seven Great Sages of the Hundred Shackles Realm to fight, but all were utterly defeated, slaughtered by the Xue Jue War God.”
“On the second day, the Heavenly Realm acknowledged that no one in the same realm could match the Xue Jue War God, so they sent cultivators one realm higher. Top Thousand Questions Realm experts from various Heavenly Realms took the stage.”
“Unfortunately, they lost for three consecutive days.”
“Even in the Thousand Questions Realm, no one could stand against the Xue Jue War God. Not a single one escaped alive.”
“These were the Heavenly Realm’s divine seeds, the most talented in the Hundred Shackles and Thousand Questions Realms. The Xue Jue War God killed so many that the Heavenly Realm suffered devastating losses.”
“The morale of the Heavenly Realm was crushed to an unbearable degree. Many gods of the Heavenly Realm were enraged, issuing a bounty across the realms: whoever in the Thousand Questions Realm could defeat the Xue Jue War God would receive divine rewards.”
“Finally, on the fifth day, Huang Tian appeared. With Hundred Shackles Realm cultivation, he fought the Xue Jue War God to a standstill over nine days and nine battles, neither side prevailing, restoring the morale of the Heavenly Realm’s forces.”
“But the Xue Jue War God’s deeds became a legend, the dream of every young cultivator in the Hell Realm.”
Now, Zhang Ruochen was shouting the same words. Was he trying to follow the path of the Xue Jue War God?
With the Oath to Conquer the Heavens, he was forcing the Fu Clan to accept his challenge.
