Night fell, and the lamps began to light up.
More and more cultivators from various realms arrived at the Red Dust Archipelago. The streets of the Red Dust Sea Market bustled with people weaving through, and great saints were visible everywhere, each with an extraordinary background. Being here felt as if one had arrived in the legendary divine realm.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen entered the Returning Sea Pavilion, a young attendant came to receive him, with an extremely respectful attitude.
“I wonder if Senior has a reservation?” the attendant asked.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen had transformed into an old man with snow-white hair and beard, full of vigour, presenting the appearance of a peerless senior expert. He said, “Yes, the position booked by Xu Sheng from the Imperial Path Great World.”
Hearing this, the attendant immediately showed great respect and became even more deferential to Zhang Ruochen. He said, “So it is the guest of Uncle Xu the Emperor. This way, Senior. Uncle Xu the Emperor has reserved a Qian character private room on the fourth floor.”
Zhang Ruochen had no interest in Xu Sheng and did not want to know how remarkable he was. The reason he mentioned his name was because earlier, Zhang Ruochen had gone to the residence of the Kunlun Realm cultivators and learned from the Sword Emperor that Chi Kunlun had already left.
When Chi Kunlun departed, he left a message, “Have Zhang Ruochen come to the Returning Sea Pavilion to find me. Mention the name of Xu Sheng from the Imperial Path Great World.”
Thus, Zhang Ruochen changed his appearance and came here.
The Returning Sea Pavilion was the most top-tier gourmet pavilion in the Red Dust Sea Market. For figures from lesser strong realms, booking a private room in advance here was almost impossible.
Moreover, tonight, outside the Returning Sea Pavilion at the Divine Moon Beach, there would be peerless battles erupting, with countless spectators coming to watch.
Under such circumstances, to book in advance and secure an excellent viewing position truly required immense face. This Xu Sheng clearly had a great background.
The Returning Sea Pavilion was packed with people. Apart from the attendants, the cultivators coming and going upstairs and downstairs were almost all great saints, and not a single one was in the Immortal or Hundred Shackles Realm.
Only now did Zhang Ruochen truly feel what it meant to be the Red Dust Conference where powerhouses from ten thousand realms gathered.
The previous Heavenly Hunt Banquet was merely a gathering of juniors under a thousand years old.
Even the competition for the supreme origin divine crystal involved only a small corner of the Infernal Court’s great saints, far from the majestic spectacle of the Red Dust Archipelago today, with great saints as numerous as clouds.
Just as he was about to ascend to the fourth floor, a person walked towards him.
Zhang Ruochen saw this person and remained outwardly calm, but inside, his heart surged like raging waves, feeling immense surprise.
Unexpectedly, he encountered Shang Zian here.
Tonight, with all major factions jointly challenging the Heavenly Court faction, Shang Zian actually still had the energy to come to the Returning Sea Pavilion? Was he here to watch the battles or to meet guests?
Seeing his appearance as if waiting for someone, it should be to meet guests.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly walked over, cupped his fists towards Shang Zian, and smiled. “I never expected to encounter Young Master Shang here. What a fortunate meeting.”
Shang Zian carefully sized up Zhang Ruochen, revealed a faint smile, and returned the fist salute. He said, “Senior has such powerful spiritual power. You must be a renowned sage. May I ask how to address you?”
“This old man has not come to the Heavenly Court for ten thousand years. My name is long forgotten by all,” Zhang Ruochen said with feigned humility.
The attendant said, “This senior is a distinguished guest of Uncle Xu the Emperor.”
Shang Zian showed a look of realisation and saluted Zhang Ruochen once more. He said, “So it is a senior expert from the Imperial Path Great World.”
The Imperial Path Great World ranked third in the Northern Universe, just like the Heavenly Dragon Realm and the Western Heaven Buddhist Realm. It was one of the eternal great worlds of the Heavenly Court. Three hundred thousand years ago, it had produced a Heaven-level figure who dominated the starry sea.
The Imperial Path Great World was controlled by three divine dynasties.
Xu Sheng was the imperial uncle of one of the three divine dynasties, the Giant Deer Divine Dynasty, and was known as the dynasty’s foremost powerhouse. His cultivation was profound and unfathomable, existing like a secular war god.
Although the Giant Deer Divine Dynasty was merely a nation, its strength was more terrifying than some strong realms. More importantly, its power was highly centralised, unlike other great worlds composed of thousands of sects and ancient schools.
Whether the Imperial Path Great World or the Giant Deer Divine Dynasty, both had extremely ancient inheritances and immeasurably deep foundations. No matter what powerhouse emerged from them, Shang Zian would not find it surprising.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is Young Master Shang waiting for someone?”
“Indeed. Having invited distinguished guests, one must personally come out to greet them,” Shang Zian said patiently and amiably.
“For Young Master Shang to call them distinguished guests, they must be extraordinary. This old man shall go meet the imperial uncle first, lest he waits impatiently!”
Zhang Ruochen took his leave and followed the attendant to the outside of the Qian character private room. As he pushed the door open and entered, he glanced towards the distant Shang Zian and saw that he had already received the guests he was waiting for.
Those two guests were from the demon race.
One appeared to be a young woman in her early twenties, with long black hair, a beauty that toppled cities, skin glowing like divine jade, and several fluffy white fox tails emerging from under her skirt. It was unclear how many there were.
The other had a burly physique, standing two metres and fifty-six centimetres tall, with crimson skin marked by black patterns. His golden hair was fluffy and flared out like a lion’s mane.
Zhang Ruochen did not dare to look for long. He merely pretended to glance casually before immediately entering the private room.
The Qian character private room was very spacious. Ten tables could be placed without seeming crowded. But now, only one table was set up by the window.
Around the table, only four people sat in total.
On the left, one man in his forties had an upright figure and wore golden divine robes embroidered with seven dragon souls swimming about. They were genuine divine robes and genuine great saint dragon souls.
They were called divine robes because every thread contained divine patterns, with unimaginable defensive power.
Beside him sat a young woman dressed in extremely luxurious attire, her face veiled, making her true appearance unclear. But judging from her figure and temperament alone, she was undoubtedly a peerless beauty of noble birth.
The third person sat against the wall, clad in black and white profound armour, wearing a kingly saint artefact-level jade crown. A spear divided into three parts was strapped to his back. He appeared much younger and more handsome, but his actual age was hard to tell.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on the black-robed man sitting by the window. His eyes were extremely complex, with both warmth and chill.
The black-robed man’s appearance, compared to Chi Kunlun a thousand years ago, seemed much more mature. He had truly transformed into a heroic and elegant great saint-level powerhouse.
The fleshly body was undoubtedly Chi Kunlun’s.
Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Chi Kunlun smiled first and said, “Brother Zhang, there are no outsiders here. You can restore your true appearance.”
Apart from Chi Kunlun, the other three all stood up to welcome him.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze grew colder as he locked eyes with Chi Kunlun.
Chi Kunlun placed both hands on the table, exuding a majestic bearing. He said, “What is it? You invited me to the Heavenly Court for the Red Dust Conference, yet you seem somewhat unwelcoming.”
Zhang Ruochen had already seen through the situation. His emotions calmed as he walked to the side of the table and said, “You, Yan Wushen, are actually a coward with no guts. You dare not come to the Heavenly Court in your true body. It disappoints me greatly.”
“Ah! Brother Zhang misunderstands. I have just broken into the Supreme Realm and must go into seclusion to cultivate. I cannot allow the gap in cultivation to let the Missing One keep suppressing me, can I?” Chi Kunlun said.
It was within Zhang Ruochen’s expectations that Yan Wushen would not come to the Heavenly Court in his true body.
No cultivator would make such a foolish decision, entrusting their life to their enemies.
Chi Kunlun said, “Coming with one soul already shows my trust in Brother Zhang’s character. I believe you would not use despicable traps or borrow others’ power to kill me.”
“Of course! If I kill, I will do it personally, one on one.”
Zhang Ruochen added, “I want to speak with Kunlun.”
Chi Kunlun shook his head and sighed deeply. “Brother Zhang does not trust me.”
He picked up a cup of wine, drained it in one gulp, and said, “Is my character so despicable? Kunlun is, after all, my only disciple. If he were not willing, how could I borrow his body? Forget it. It has been a thousand years. Considering your longing for your son, I will not hold it against you.”
Chi Kunlun fell silent and closed his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen’s appearance changed, shifting from the white-haired old man back to his original face.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen’s true appearance, the other three in the private room all revealed expressions of surprise. They had not expected that Zhang Ruochen, who was said to have died a thousand years ago, was actually still alive.
Chi Kunlun opened his eyes again.
His gaze had clearly changed.
Though still sharp with cold light, his bearing lacked a bit of dominance and gained a touch of affection. It lost three parts of its profound inscrutability and gained three parts of human emotions and desires.
“Father!”
Chi Kunlun stood up. The cold light in his eyes gradually faded, filled with a mix of unfamiliar yet familiar emotions.
It was unfamiliar because the time he spent with Zhang Ruochen was too short. He had almost never felt the warmth brought by paternal love. Yet, he deeply knew what Zhang Ruochen had done for him and his sister. After mistakenly believing Zhang Ruochen had died in the Origin Temple, he often recalled it.
Not to mention anything else, at least in treating his children, Zhang Ruochen was absolutely upright and towering, worthy of Chi Kunlun’s recognition.
For him to utter the words “Father”, Zhang Ruochen was already deeply moved inside, his eyes reddening.
This emotion was entirely different from others, striking straight at the heart.
The two were silent for a long time.
Chi Kunlun lightly bit his lip and said, “Over the thousand years, my sister and I have met many times. She misses you greatly. If she knew you were still alive, she would surely be overjoyed.”
“Mm! I know!”
Zhang Ruochen suppressed his emotions and nodded.
Suddenly, Chi Kunlun sat back in his chair and, in a teasing tone, smiled. “Zhang Ruochen, ah, Zhang Ruochen. Among the powerhouses of the world, there are truly few like you who value father-son bonds so heavily. Do you not know that cultivators must view familial ties and emotions more indifferently? Otherwise, endless entanglements.”
Zhang Ruochen knew that the current Chi Kunlun was Yan Wushen. Having suppressed his emotions, he disagreed with his view and said, “But I heard another elder say that cultivators must have emotions. Otherwise, they will lose all humanity. It is too dangerous for you to let Kunlun return to the Heavenly Court!”
“Where is the danger? His mother is a god, his grandfather is trapped in the Fate Divine Temple to rescue the Supreme, such an identity should be extremely prominent in Kunlun Realm. No need for the Supreme to step in. Just his mother speaking out, what can the Heavenly Court do to him?”
Chi Kunlun’s temperament changed. Buddhist light shimmered around him, making him appear extremely sacred. He said, “Let me tell you a secret, to give you some mental preparation. Before I came to the Heavenly Court, I had already considered Kunlun’s safety. So, I mobilised some forces and sent a message to Empress Chi Yao, who is cultivating in the Western Heaven Buddhist Realm.”
“If she still cares about her son’s life, I think she is already on the Red Dust Archipelago now! Meeting your old flame, are you not happy? Do not look at me with that expression. No need to thank me. Sit down quickly. You have reunited with your son, but we have not caught up yet. I am very interested in your disappearance over this thousand years.”
