The six divine swords stood like ochre-coloured heavenly pillars in Chi Yao’s divine-realm world. Divine flames blazed fiercely, and countless array inscriptions flickered across their surfaces.
Half a year passed. The Six United into One Sword Shocking God Array was finally complete.
Bai Qing’er stood beneath the six swords, heroic and graceful beyond compare. “Zhang Ruochen, only the final stroke remains!”
Zhang Ruochen hesitated briefly, then spread his hands.
Whoosh!
The Tai Chi circle spread from his mysterious foetus. Within the circle flowed only the Rules of Life and the Rules of Death; there were no sword path rules.
“The sword path must never hesitate! You, Zhang Ruochen, once cultivated a third-grade sword saint will—do you truly fear you cannot control a mere Six United into One Sword Shocking God Array?” Bai Qing’er said.
The hesitation vanished from Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. He withdrew the Tai Chi circle and rose into the air, hovering among the six swords.
He cut open a wound on each wrist.
Divine blood flowed from his body, turning into countless crimson threads that formed array patterns and branded themselves onto the six swords.
Boom!
In an instant, the array inscriptions on the six swords intertwined, merging into a single circular array disc.
Within the disc, ten thousand swords flew in unison.
“Collect!”
Zhang Ruochen raised his right hand above his head. The six divine swords fused into one and flew into his palm.
Sizzling sounds rang out. His right arm turned crimson-gold, covered in divine fire and sword patterns. Only after a long moment did the transformation subside and his arm return to normal.
Chi Yao walked over. “What were you hesitating about just now? Did you think you could not wield a sword because you lack sword path rules?”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “I merely felt that with the seven soul swords already in my possession, this Six United into One Sword Shocking God Array was unnecessary. If given to you, it could unleash even greater power.”
A touched expression appeared in Chi Yao’s eyes. She revealed a rare girlish charm and spoke softly. “Across the entire universe, I fear there is no second person who treats six divine swords as if they were nothing. Why did you change your mind?”
Zhang Ruochen replied, “I want to know what a sword path without rules looks like.”
“A sword path without rules?”
Both Bai Qing’er and Chi Yao looked puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “The sword path must never hesitate, and even less must it be bound. Without rules, there are no shackles, no fixed forms, no flaws. Only pure sword intent remains!”
“The sword is one. Every strike is one.”
“I want to know which path is truly the strongest: the sword path with rules, or the sword path without.”
The faint ringing of countless swords seemed to echo in Zhang Ruochen’s ears.
These sword cries came from every corner of the universe!
In the distance, True Lord Blood Gou’s colossal divine corpse had already been devoured completely by the God-Eating Insects.
“They’re coming!”
Zhang Ruochen sensed something and rushed out of Chi Yao’s divine-realm world first.
Bai Qing’er and Chi Yao followed closely, taking positions on his left and right. They gazed into the grey death mist and felt a powerful wave of divine power rapidly approaching.
Soon the other party seemed to sense them as well and slowed down.
From the grey mist emerged a demonic god with an eagle’s head. He let out a shrill laugh. “I never expected you three would make it here. Wonderful!”
Zhang Ruochen studied True Lord Luan Ying for a moment. “This place is extremely dangerous—yet you can still laugh?”
“Why shouldn’t I laugh?”
True Lord Luan Ying’s body shimmered with metallic lustre, his feathers sharp as sword blades. “You three new gods each carry supreme treasures. Your flesh and divine souls are the greatest tonics for this lord. Meeting you is a gift from the heavens.”
Disdain flashed in Chi Yao’s eyes as Upper God aura radiated from her.
True Lord Luan Ying’s eagle eyes instantly fixed upon her. In disbelief he stared at Chi Yao. “You have broken through to Upper God?”
“Do you still dare speak so arrogantly now?” Chi Yao asked.
True Lord Luan Ying glanced behind him, his expression torn. Suddenly he did something that shocked all three.
He dropped to one knee. “Empress Chi Yao has mastered the Thirty-Three Heavens. In the future she will surely stand above the universe and become one of the Twenty Heavens. Luan Ying is willing to become Empress’s mount to atone for past sins.”
Zhang Ruochen had intended to test the Six United into One Sword Shocking God Array on True Lord Luan Ying. Who would have thought this Upper God would surrender so quickly?
Chi Yao said, “You and True Lord Blood Gou have always wanted to deal with this empress—why change your mind so fast?”
True Lord Luan Ying replied, “If Empress were still a Middle God, Luan Ying would naturally still harbour some thoughts. But now that Empress has reached Upper God, opposing her would be no different from seeking death.”
“You could still flee! An Upper God from the Demon God Realm becoming the mount of a new god—aren’t you afraid the gods of the Heavenly Court will laugh at you?” Chi Yao asked.
True Lord Luan Ying coughed up a mouthful of blood.
He could no longer maintain his facade. Weakly he said, “To be honest, if escape were possible, Luan Ying would already have burned divine blood and fled. My earlier bravado was all an act to scare you away.”
Zhang Ruochen had long seen that he was gravely injured.
True Lord Luan Ying continued, “Moreover, you have blocked the path ahead, and behind lies extreme peril. I have nowhere to run. Becoming a mount to atone is my only chance at survival. Besides, with Empress’s talent and foundation, she is certain to become one of the Twenty Heavens. Serving as the mount of a Heaven is no disgrace—it is an honour.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “You say the path behind is extremely perilous—what kind of peril?”
Terror filled True Lord Luan Ying’s eyes, as if recalling something horrifying. “An unfamiliar starry sky, a black divine palace, towering pillars of fire, a corpse-god ten thousand li tall… In short, we must leave at once! This is the most terrifying forbidden ground in all of Xinghuan Heaven!”
A distant breathing sound came from the grey mist.
True Lord Luan Ying’s body trembled. “You hear that, don’t you? That is why I dare not flee back the way I came. I would rather become Empress’s mount than return there. Let us go—immediately! We must leave this place at once!”
The old corpse-ghost’s aura grew clearer.
Even Zhang Ruochen felt his scalp tingle. He asked, “Where did you and True Lord Blood Gou enter the underground? Where is the exit?”
True Lord Luan Ying explained, “That day, after escaping the First Divine Maiden City, we saw the Blood Absolutes War God take no action and our fear subsided.”
“We thought and thought, and realised the Yuchen Mountains were extraordinary. First the Fourth Blood Ancestor fell, then even Goddess Cai Yi went there. You, Zhang Ruochen, and the Blood Absolutes War God entered the Yuhong Mountains—you must have had some purpose.”
“So you secretly entered the Yuhong Mountains to investigate, hoping to seize a great opportunity?” Zhang Ruochen laughed.
True Lord Luan Ying admitted, “Exactly! To become a supreme expert, a cultivator must never let any opportunity pass. One great fortune is enough to reach Great God level in future.”
“That is why True Lord Blood Gou and I always wanted to deal with Empress—it was for cultivation, for shortcuts. I believe many other gods think the same.”
Chi Yao said, “You are honest enough!”
True Lord Luan Ying replied, “Before Empress’s wisdom, lying or scheming would be courting death. Since I have chosen to submit, I dare not conceal anything.”
“What makes you think this empress would accept a mount like you? True Lord Blood Gou has already died beneath our swords,” Chi Yao said.
True Lord Luan Ying answered, “True Lord Blood Gou’s divine soul was invaded by corpse-god evil qi. Before meeting you, he had likely already become a mindless beast. Though we had some friendship, it is not enough for me to seek vengeance and oppose Empress.”
“As long as Empress accepts me as mount, I will lead you to the exit.”
Chi Yao looked at Zhang Ruochen. “Why don’t you take him?”
True Lord Luan Ying declared, “This lord submits only to the strong! Zhang Ruochen’s martial cultivation is crippled—he is unworthy to be my master. Only by following the great Empress Chi Yao is there a bright future.”
Zhang Ruochen shrugged. “He is an Upper God with pride after all. Only because you, Empress Chi Yao, are destined to become one of the Heavens will he willingly submit.”
Then he transmitted to Chi Yao, “Take True Lord Luan Ying. Many matters can be handled by him instead of you personally. He was clearly terrified by the old corpse-ghost—that is why he submitted so quickly. Anywhere else, if he had the slightest chance of escape, he would never kneel to you.”
Chi Yao stepped forward and extended a flawless jade hand. “Give me half your divine soul.”
Without hesitation, a mass of divine soul light flew from True Lord Luan Ying’s head and landed in Chi Yao’s hand.
Chi Yao said, “From this moment on, no matter how far apart we are, this empress can perceive your every word and action—and kill you with a single thought.”
“Luan Ying understands!”
True Lord Luan Ying shrank into a palm-sized cyan luan with an eagle’s head. He said to Chi Yao, “Empress, we gods of the Heavenly Court must keep distance from Zhang Ruochen, or endless trouble will follow.”
“Is that something you should say?”
Divine light surged from Chi Yao’s eyes, striking True Lord Luan Ying to the ground with a pained cry.
“Empress, Luan Ying speaks from the heart—for your own good! Harsh words benefit the listener!” True Lord Luan Ying cried loudly.
Zhang Ruochen walked to Chi Yao’s side and laughed. “I somewhat regret letting you take him. This fellow is clearly trying to drive a wedge between us.”
“No wedge! This lord only knows that you, Zhang Ruochen, are unworthy of Empress. At most you can be her male favourite,” True Lord Luan Ying insisted, as if he had already become Chi Yao’s most loyal minister and fierce general.
“Whether I am worthy is not for you to decide.”
Zhang Ruochen reached out and wrapped an arm around Chi Yao’s slender, supple waist, showing True Lord Luan Ying the truth with action. “Lead the way.”
“No! Empress, you cannot debase yourself so! How can you let this crippled Zhang Ruochen embrace you? He is unworthy.” True Lord Luan Ying grew agitated, as if ready to fight Zhang Ruochen.
Chi Yao truly felt True Lord Luan Ying talked far too much.
Do all bird-people chatter so?
“Seal!”
She held the divine soul light and cast a secret technique, sealing True Lord Luan Ying’s mouth.
True Lord Luan Ying’s expression fell. He flapped his wings feebly and flew ahead to lead the way, feeling he had no future—only darkness lay before him.
Mainly because he had chosen a master with no future.
It was too late for regrets now.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly halted, eyes narrowing. “Wait—the Blackheart Demon Lord is catching up!”
