“Martial arts of the world originate from the Three Great Daos; the nine schools and hundred philosophers spread across the land.” This saying was widely known in Kunlun Realm.
Taiji Dao was one of Kunlun’s Three Great Daos, the culmination of Daoism, producing countless powerhouses. Since ancient times, most famous experts of Kunlun Realm had ties to Taiji Dao.
Since Zhang Ruochen was born in Kunlun, he naturally chose Taiji Dao as his first destination.
There were three routes from Xinghuan Heaven to Kunlun Realm.
First: depart Xinghuan Heaven, cross the endless starry void, enter the Southern Universe, then circle to the Western Universe where Kunlun lay.
Leaving aside how difficult the endless starry void was to traverse—without precise wormhole coordinates, even gods could lose themselves—the journey through the Southern Universe was extremely dangerous for someone with Zhang Ruochen’s sensitive identity.
Heaven’s cultivators could pass through the Southern Universe to reach Xinghuan Heaven.
But Zhang Ruochen could not pass through the Southern Universe to reach Kunlun.
Such were the negative consequences of being branded the “Yuanhui Arch-Traitor.”
Second route: return via the Undying Divine Sea.
This path was now impassable!
Both Heaven and Hell stationed heavy forces along the shores of the Undying Divine Sea.
With Zhang Ruochen’s current divine cultivation, he could not evade the Immeasurable-realm guardians Heaven had stationed there.
Even if discovered, with his status as Realm Venerable of Xinghuan Heaven, they might not be able to do anything to him. But they would certainly block him and never allow him to cross the Undying Divine Sea.
Thus, only one path remained.
Return via Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm.
Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm was now the front line of the starry battlefield. Hell’s ten clans and Heaven’s myriad-realm armies fought until the heavens overturned and blood stained the stars.
It was the very storm centre of the universe, utter chaos.
Yet precisely because it was chaotic enough, slipping back to Kunlun Realm was relatively easier.
Knowing Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation had hit a bottleneck and needed resolution, Luo Yi stopped pressing for marriage. At parting, she merely said, “I will wait for you forever.”
Zhang Ruochen felt deep guilt.
But he understood: in this chaotic age, nothing was more important than powerful cultivation and surviving.
The next evolution of Taiji was crucial to him—the vital step in forging his own unique path. For now, he could only engrave Luo Yi’s devotion deep in his heart and never betray it.
Travelling with Zhang Ruochen to Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm were Xiao Hei, Xue Tu, Prajna, Yan Yu, Yan Zhe Xian, and Feng Chen Sword God. Apart from Xiao Hei, the others went straight to the starry battlefield.
Their cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds; they urgently sought opponents to battle fiercely, fully integrating their millennia of secluded gains.
Xiao Hei had little interest in fighting. He clamoured to return to Kunlun with Zhang Ruochen, claiming he missed his master’s master terribly. His true motive remained unknown.
Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm resembled a pillar standing in the cosmos; its height was immeasurable. Even with Zhang Ruochen’s current realm, gazing at it from the starry sky filled him with awe.
It was a world!
Yet larger than a thousand great worlds combined.
Passing through nine layers of clouds and descending to the ground, the soil was dark red, as though soaked in blood for aeons. Unknown creatures’ white bones protruded from the earth everywhere.
Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes, sensing the air’s flow. “Worthy of being a Shura realm. The spiritual qi, saint qi, and divine qi here are completely different from elsewhere—heavy with murderous aura. Cultivating here long-term, even non-Shura would become bloodthirsty.”
“This emperor sees Feng Chen Sword God stayed here for years yet never turned bloodthirsty?” Xiao Hei retorted.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “His heart is exceptionally firm, rare in the world. Shura murderous aura cannot corrupt his spiritual will.”
Knowing Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm teemed with powerhouses and gods, Xiao Hei did not wish to linger. “Let’s go. This place is too barren—nothing interesting. Hurry back to Kunlun. This emperor is dying to pay respects to Master’s Master.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Do you know how to evade Heaven and Hell gods on the starry battlefield?”
“You do! You can even avoid Venerable divine patterns,” Xiao Hei said matter-of-factly.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “The starry void is vast and uncrossable. Do you know the wormhole distribution near Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm?”
“Feng Chen Sword God definitely knows. We should have kept him to guide us to Kunlun.”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze grew solemn. “It is best he have no connection to anything Kunlun-related.”
Xiao Hei realised Zhang Ruochen was in no rush; he clearly had a plan. “Fine, you’re in charge. This emperor will follow you.”
“That’s more like it!”
Zhang Ruochen took out a transmission light talisman and inscribed words with finger and divine force.
The talisman flew toward the outer heavens.
“Who are you messaging?” Xiao Hei asked.
“You talk too much. Come, I’ll take you to meet a friend.”
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, moving like flowing light toward the horizon.
“You still have friends among the Shura?” Xiao Hei chased after.
Falling Star Divine Hall ranked seventeenth among the Shura clan’s twenty-four divine halls and occupied a vast territory in Xiuluo Star Pillar Realm. Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei had landed within that territory.
Soon, Zhang Ruochen sensed Fang Mofeng’s aura and went straight to him.
…
A thousand years ago in the Hunting Heaven Battle, Fang Mofeng had been the leader of Falling Star Divine Hall. With Zhang Ruochen’s help, his cultivation reached the pinnacle of Hundred-Shackle Realm.
Over the millennium, his cultivation had advanced greatly; he now stood at the peak of Myriad-Deaths-One-Life Realm, ready to step into Paramount Realm at any moment.
Such talent made him a divine seed with extraordinary status in Falling Star Divine Hall.
At this moment.
Fang Mofeng rode a saint chariot pulled by nine golden-scaled flood dragons, aura majestic. He watched below as Falling Star cultivators escorted a long column of sea-clan captives.
At the same time, corpses of Falling Star cultivators were carried back.
Some sea clans tried to flee and were cleaved in two.
Some wept and were smashed into meat paste.
Gradually, all fell silent, faces filled only with terror.
A Shura saint-king woman in armour, revealing long jade legs and supple waist, knelt outside the chariot holding a saint scroll. “Great Saint, here is today’s list of sea-clan captives. Please review.”
“Mm.”
The scroll flew up and landed in Fang Mofeng’s hand.
He scanned it with mental strength, closed it, and said, “With Vast Sea Civilisation broken, every Hell power is scrambling for benefits. Our Falling Star Divine Hall holds geographical advantage; we should gain more. These captives still have value—imprison them together for now. Eh!”
Suddenly, the calm Fang Mofeng exclaimed.
Facing a great saint like Fang Mofeng, the Shura female saint-king already bore immense pressure. Hearing his exclamation, her face paled further. She hurriedly asked, “Is something wrong, Great Saint?”
“Nothing to do with you. Withdraw!”
Fang Mofeng stepped down from the chariot and walked quickly across the dark-red hills toward two figures.
The Shura female saint-king was extremely curious. Who could make Great Saint Mofeng personally descend to greet them?
She looked over and was even more shocked.
Great Saint Mofeng actually bowed to them, extremely respectful.
She could not see the two figures’ faces clearly—only that one wore flowing white robes, seemingly a youth. The other wore a black cloak, extremely mysterious.
“Could they be gods?”
The Shura female saint-king felt awe and bowed deeply before leaving.
Fang Mofeng clasped fists and bowed to Zhang Ruochen. “Greetings, Sword God Ruochen… no, Realm Venerable Ruochen!”
Zhang Ruochen accepted the bow calmly and smiled. “Rise.”
A great saint bowing to a god was only natural—hierarchy must be observed.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen smile, Fang Mofeng’s pressure eased greatly. He relaxed. “Why did the Realm Venerable not inform us of your visit? I will immediately notify the Hall Master; we must receive you with the highest honours.”
“No need to alarm the Hall Master. I cannot bear it,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Fang Mofeng said solemnly, “How could you not? In the Hunting Heaven Battle a thousand years ago, without your help, Falling Star Divine Hall might have been annihilated. Later, we achieved an extremely high ranking, even rising from eighteenth to seventeenth place among the Shura clan. Our status and voice grew stronger.”
The hall’s rise was mainly due to overall strength increase; the Hunting Heaven ranking was secondary.
But Falling Star Divine Hall truly owed Zhang Ruochen an enormous debt.
Especially Fang Mofeng—he owed Zhang Ruochen his life.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I require discretion on this trip.”
Fang Mofeng showed understanding. “What matter brings the Realm Venerable to Falling Star Divine Hall?”
With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, he was a figure who could shake the gods of the universe. Fang Mofeng did not believe he came merely to see him.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is your master in the divine hall? We met once at Heavenly Goddess Tower.”
Fang Mofeng’s master was Shuo Qianhai; Zhang Ruochen did not need telling—he could judge with the Heart of Truth.
“Master is currently guarding the hall.”
Fang Mofeng did not pry why Zhang Ruochen wished to see his master and directly led him to Falling Star Divine Hall.
On the way, Zhang Ruochen asked about the Yan-Mo Dual Saints.
He remembered Yan Hanyu and Mo Cuo, the two extraordinarily gifted great saints of Falling Star Divine Hall.
Especially Yan Hanyu, reputed as Falling Star’s number-one beauty, said to be direct descendant of Tianchu Civilisation’s Heavenly Lord. She had betrayed Tianchu and joined the Shura clan for love of Mo Cuo.
Fang Mofeng was close to the Dual Saints. He sighed with regret. “Not long ago, Yan Hanyu betrayed Falling Star Divine Hall.”
“How could that be?” Zhang Ruochen was surprised.
Fang Mofeng replied, “She returned to Tianchu Civilisation! In her heart, some things are more important than love and lover. She left Mo Cuo junior brother a farewell letter: when civilisation falls, live and die with one’s people; on the battlefield, only life and death remain.”
…
Spent seven or eight hours today sorting out discarded characters, foreshadowing, and relationship webs—wrote several thousand words. I’m exhausted! The later stages are so hard to write—too many characters, too many details!
I calculated: if one detail per thousand words, ten million words means ten thousand details.
Many details were written years ago. Today I reread much of the earlier content and realised I’d forgotten quite a few. Even something like how Xiao Hei addresses the Master of the Island of Fallen Gods—great-grandmaster or grandmaster—required checking again to confirm.
