The Heavenly Dragon Realm, an everlasting great world, boasts strength second only to the dominant Demon God Realm in the southern universe.
This secondary divine ancient ship, named the Scarlet Fire Dragon Ship, was crafted by a dragon clan master artificer. When pushed to its fullest, it can unleash combat power capable of withstanding a pseudo-god’s attack.
Waves of Great Saint-level energy fluctuations emanated from the ship, showcasing the Heavenly Dragon Realm’s formidable might.
A voice emerged from the ancient hall in the ship’s cabin, “Since Scholar Shu is an unparalleled Great Saint of the Kunlun Realm, you must know of the Sword Emperor and Stone Emperor, who have recently risen to fame in the Heavenly Realm, correct?”
Footsteps followed.
A group of cultivators stepped out from the ancient hall.
Men and women, each with remarkable cultivation and extraordinary presence, some exuding powerful vitality, others radiant with stunning beauty, all were Great Saint-level powerhouses.
The one who spoke was Shu Yong, a pillar of the Book Realm’s mortal world.
He appeared in his early twenties, strikingly youthful, refined, and clean-shaven.
Zhang Ruochen, unfazed by the display, calmly replied, “The Sword Emperor and Stone Emperor are top powerhouses of the Kunlun Realm. Naturally, I know of them.”
“Are they sleepers from the Middle Ancient era?” Shu Yong’s eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen knew this was a test, as the Sword Emperor and Stone Emperor hailed from the Dragon God Temple ruins on True Dragon Island. Others might not know their origins, but those who had been to the ruins could deduce something.
At that moment, Exquisite Fairy, one of the nine immortals from the *Nine Immortals Beauty Scroll*, stood not far from Shu Yong. Her golden hair adorned with small dragon horns, clad in a purple robe, her tall and shapely figure stood amidst swirling saint mist.
Zhang Ruochen said, “That’s a great secret of the Kunlun Realm, not to be shared.”
“Scholar Shu’s righteous aura is profoundly pure. May we spar a little?”
Without waiting for Zhang Ruochen’s consent, Shu Yong struck with a palm, his hand radiating righteous aura.
The righteous aura formed a long river, its roaring waves deafening, reaching Zhang Ruochen in an instant.
In Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, the river of righteous aura stretched a thousand miles, like a white divine dragon, coiling and surging with mountain-swallowing might.
The river was real!
Shu Yong had pulled Zhang Ruochen into his Domain of the Way.
Within a mere step, a domain world spanning thousands of miles unfolded, a feat beyond an ordinary Great Saint.
Zhang Ruochen stood still, using his Limitless Sacred Will to conjure righteous aura, forming a blazing sun above his head.
“Boom!”
The river surged, clashing with the sun.
In an instant, the righteous aura dissipated, the river shattered, and Shu Yong staggered back three steps, his face paling. His Confucian robe was scorched in several places.
The onlookers were stunned.
They never imagined an obscure Confucian cultivator could be so powerful, injuring Shu Yong, the Book Realm’s top powerhouse, without moving.
Zhang Ruochen gave a cold huff, scanning the crowd, saying, “Is this the Heavenly Dragon Realm’s hospitality? Farewell!”
“Scholar Shu, wait.”
Shu Yong hurriedly chased after him, raising his wide cloud sleeves and bowing deeply, saying, “Please forgive me, Scholar Shu. I acted to test if you were a cultivator from the Confucian Realm. If I offended you, I’m willing to punish myself with a strike.”
Before finishing, Shu Yong aimed a palm at his own chest.
Zhang Ruochen could see the strike was genuine, a true gesture of apology.
He couldn’t help but feel a tinge of regret. Why were so many Confucian cultivators so rigid? Why strike oneself instead of offering a box of divine stones as an apology?
Zhang Ruochen exhaled a breath of righteous aura, no longer scorching but soft and flowing, neutralizing Shu Yong’s palm strike. His body, weightless, floated back over ten steps.
“Forget it! If you truly strike yourself and get gravely injured, word might spread that I’m overbearing and narrow-minded. Instead of a strike, how about punishing yourself with a jar of wine?” Zhang Ruochen said.
A melodious female voice laughed, “Great idea! This Heavenly Lady happens to have fine Jade Bee Nectar, but no matter how I urge him, he never drinks. With Scholar Shu’s words, it seems he must down a jar.”
Zhang Ruochen looked over, seeing a figure dressed as a man emerge from the ancient hall.
Though in male attire, she wore feminine makeup, with red lips, delicate willow-leaf brows, and misty eyes. She was both handsome and refined, a stunning beauty with the heroic charm of a man.
It was the wine-loving Thousand-Star Heavenly Lady, Yu Chenjing.
After a millennium, Yu Chenjing’s cultivation had far surpassed her past. Though a woman, she exuded a leadership aura unmatched by men, her smiling eyes deep and scrutinizing as she studied Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen had long known Yu Chenjing was here and that Shu Yong’s attack was prompted by her whispered suspicion that he might be a Confucian Realm cultivator in disguise.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “May I ask, Brother Shu, am I a Confucian Realm cultivator?”
“Below, rivers and mountains; above, sun and stars. Scholar Shu can wield righteous aura to form a blazing sun, surpassing my own mastery. Naturally, no Confucian Realm cultivator could achieve this,” Shu Yong said.
Ao Xukong mediated, saying, “Since Scholar Shu isn’t from the Confucian Realm, he must be a great Confucian of the Kunlun Realm. We’re all allies. Please, come inside!”
The group filed in, taking their seats.
Zhang Ruochen’s earlier display of skill earned him respect, securing him a prominent seat across from Exquisite Fairy.
Jade Bee Nectar, a divine brew, was snow-white like jade, with a honey-sweet aroma but an intense kick. Once drunk, it caused a buzzing in the ears like thousands of bees, lingering endlessly.
Sipping the wine, Zhang Ruochen covertly observed.
He noticed over fifty Great Saints gathered in the small ancient hall, each with impressive cultivation. Half were dragons from the Heavenly Dragon Realm, joined by top mortal figures from other southern universe great worlds.
Yu Chenjing was the only cultivator from the Ancient Civilization faction.
Shu Yong, seated beside Zhang Ruochen, was remarkably forthright. Never a drinker, he had downed half a jar, his face flushed with drunkenness despite his profound cultivation.
He asked, “How many hidden powerhouses like Scholar Shu does the Kunlun Realm have?”
“You know they’re hidden, so why ask?” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Shu Yong quickly shut his mouth, downing another cup as self-punishment.
Curious why Yu Chenjing was present, Zhang Ruochen asked, “Are those gathered here all from great worlds allied with the Heavenly Dragon Realm? As far as I know, the Thousand-Star Civilization belongs to the Ancient Civilization faction, not the Heavenly Dragon Realm’s faction.”
Strong realms often attracted weaker worlds seeking survival, forming factions naturally.
Shu Yong, surprised, said, “Does Scholar Shu not know that the Ancient Civilization faction faces imminent disaster and is seeking allies to survive this crisis?”
A glint flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes as he recalled the cosmic phenomenon seen at Moon God Mountain, asking, “Is it related to the Shura Star Pillar Realm?”
Shu Yong nodded, saying, “In one or two years at most, the Shura Star Pillar Realm will crash into the star domain of the Ancient Civilization faction. Then, the ancient civilizations must either abandon their cultivation grounds or fight the Hell Realm to the death.”
Though Zhang Ruochen had anticipated this, his heart struggled to accept it.
If the Shura Star Pillar Realm crashed into the Ancient Civilization faction’s star domain, a universe-wide war would be inevitable.
How could the ancient civilizations abandon their cultivation grounds?
Where could they go?
The Heavenly Realm’s cultivation resources were saturated, with limited saint and divine veins. Worlds had long fought over resources.
If the ancient civilizations relocated to other worlds’ territories, it would spark chaos in the Heavenly Realm.
War was the only option.
Once the ancient civilizations clashed with the Hell Realm, the Heavenly Realm’s worlds, bound by mutual survival, wouldn’t stand idly by.
The survival of ancient civilizations, some spanning countless epochs, would depend on the strength and support of their allies in the Heavenly Realm, unlike the performative Merit Battlefield of the Kunlun Realm.
This wasn’t a merit war but a fight for survival.
Understanding this, Yu Chenjing’s presence here became clear.
Shu Yong said, “The Heavenly Realm and Hell Realm intersect in three star domains.”
“The first is the Kunlun Realm. Ten thousand years ago, Saint Monk Xumi severed the spatial veins between the Hell Realm and Kunlun Realm. Lord Wen of Ten Tribulations led gods to disrupt the energy source of the Yellow Spring Star River’s advance, and the Kunlun Realm’s array master set up a cosmic array to block its engulfment.”
“The second is the Boundless Divine Sea, the largest battlefield between the Heavenly and Hell Realms. The Heavenly Realm has fortified it for hundreds of thousands of years, building countless fortresses and divine cities, making it impregnable to the Hell Realm.”
“The third is the star domain of the Ancient Civilization faction.”
“The Hell Realm has never been aggressive in attacking from the Ancient Civilization faction’s direction, instead trying to sow discord between them and the Heavenly Realm, though without success.”
“No one expected the Hell Realm had been preparing in the Shura Star Pillar Realm for years, using the Shura Temple as an energy core, harnessing the power of countless stars and gods to drive this massive world, aiming to crush the Ancient Civilization faction and declare war on the Heavenly Realm.”
Indeed, it was a declaration of war.
When the Shura Star Pillar Realm began moving toward the Ancient Civilization faction, the Hell Realm had already declared war.
Along with it moved the Yellow Spring Star River, spanning countless trillions of miles, as the Hell Realm began devouring the Heavenly Realm’s star domains.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on Yu Chenjing, his mind conjuring an ethereal, radiant figure. The ancient civilization closest to the Shura Star Pillar Realm was the Tianchu Civilization. He wondered how she was faring.
Sensing his gaze, Yu Chenjing looked back, smiling, “With Scholar Shu’s exceptional cultivation, you’re sure to make a name at the Mortal Assembly and earn a place on the *Mortal Peerless List*.”
“In the Middle Ancient era, Saint Monk Xumi and the Lord of the Thousand-Star Civilization were close allies, making our realms longstanding friends. Chenjing boldly invites Scholar Shu to aid the Thousand-Star Civilization against the Hell Realm’s army. What say you?”
