Seeing Chi Yao standing beside Zhang Ruochen, Gai Tianjiao, like Zhang Hongchen, felt as if a basin of cold water had been poured over her. Her previously domineering momentum vanished instantly.
Moments ago, she had the aura to challenge even a god.
“Greetings, Master.”
Gai Tianjiao bowed to Chi Yao.
Though Chi Yao was no longer the empress of the Kunlun Realm, the intangible presence she exuded surpassed her former self. It differed completely from Zhang Ruochen’s easygoing manner with old acquaintances.
She said, “You are merely a great saint, yet you dare angrily curse a god. Truly ignorant of the heights of heaven and the depths of earth. Do you know a single glance from a god could kill you?”
Whether as master or god, both status and cultivation made Gai Tianjiao不敢放肆 before Chi Yao. She said softly, “Master’s lesson is correct.”
Chi Yao asked, “Speak. What happened?”
Gai Tianjiao glared at Zhang Ruochen. “The Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron in the Upper Purity Palace is missing. Moreover, many sacred realm powerhouses guarding it were severely injured.”
Chi Yao truly could not understand. It was merely a Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron. How had it caused such a commotion?
More crucially, why was Gai Tianjiao certain Zhang Ruochen had stolen it?
Zhang Ruochen calculated briefly. He already had the answer in his heart, feeling quite a headache. “I have been in the Sword Pavilion all along. The theft of the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron has nothing to do with me. But I already know who took it. First, let us check on the injured cultivators!”
Exiting the Sword Pavilion, they arrived at the Upper Purity Palace.
The array originally protecting the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron was shattered. The ground bore numerous cracks.
Dozens of sacred realm cultivators were injured. Some had sword qi piercing their chests, leaving bowl-sized holes. Others had half their bodies mangled and bloody.
The attacker had struck heavily.
Fortunately, no lives were lost.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes darkened deeply. He spread his arms, manifesting Taiji.
Instantly, life qi from the entire Fallen God Mountain Range converged endlessly, forming dozens of white streams that surged into the bodies of the severely injured sacred realm cultivators.
White light immediately glowed on their bodies. Their wounds healed rapidly.
“Such powerful life qi. My injuries are healed!”
“I feel my lifespan has increased by at least two hundred years.”
…
The sacred realm cultivators, originally seated in meditation to heal, gained fortune from misfortune. Excited beyond measure, they gazed at Zhang Ruochen with reverence, then knelt and kowtowed.
Though unaware of his identity, such means surely belonged to a god.
Leaving the Upper Purity Palace, Zhang Ruochen grasped toward the void.
Space shook violently, ripples appearing in circles.
The next instant, Chi Kongle was seized across the air and thrown to the ground.
Chi Kongle looked at Zhang Ruochen’s unprecedented severity and coldness. For some reason, even she who feared not death felt a trace of fear. “Father, what is wrong?”
“Hand it over.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Kongle’s eyes flicked toward Gai Tianjiao nearby, turning cold. Bloody light flashed in her pupils.
“Did you not hear me?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Kongle replied, “Indeed, I took the sacrificial cauldron. But I did not intend to keep it for myself. I knew Father was interested in it, so I wanted to take it and give it to you as a surprise. Such a treasure in the Liangyi Sect is pearls and jade covered in dust. Only in Father’s hands might it reveal its true brilliance.”
“With their cultivation and insight, are they worthy of possessing it?”
“Treasures of the world belong to the strong. Those who recognise their value should own them.”
“I did nothing wrong!”
Zhang Ruochen wanted to discipline her severely but restrained himself repeatedly, unable to bring himself to do so. “Do you know I once apprenticed in the Liangyi Sect? This is master-disciple bond. Do you know the sect leader is my friend? This is old friendship. Ignoring bonds to seize treasure and injure others is utterly profit-driven. How can one guard one’s original heart in the future?”
Chi Kongle suddenly seemed extremely fragile. Tears welled in her eyes. Biting her lip, she said, “I did not kill them. I am not profit-driven. I only wanted to see you happy. I wanted to share some burdens. I do not want you to handle and bear everything alone…”
“Whoosh!”
Chi Kongle transformed into a startling rainbow light, fleeing into the sky.
“Kongle!”
Only then did Zhang Ruochen realise his words had been too harsh, deeply wounding her heart.
His own heart ached greatly.
Chi Yao emerged. “I want that cauldron! This matter ends here.”
Though Gai Tianjiao knew she had done nothing wrong, seeing Zhang Ruochen and Chi Kongle in such conflict made her feel somewhat uneasy.
Hearing Chi Yao speak, how dared she disobey? She bowed. “All as Master commands.”
Zhang Hongchen stood in the distant bamboo grove, eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen. She dared not breathe, extremely tense. In her heart, “Truly fierce enough!”
Zhang Ruochen flew into the void, pursuing Chi Kongle.
…
Crossing the Eastern Region to the Central Region.
Outside Saint Ming City, Kongle Mountain.
Atop the mountain stood an ancient tower, seventy-four storeys tall. From the top, one could see the winding Tongming River and gaze far at the endless Saint Ming City.
Chi Kongle stood on the seventy-fourth storey, tears still in her eyes, silently watching the scene before her.
She was no longer the young girl of old. Mature and cold, a top powerhouse below divinity. In cultivation, she yielded to no contemporary genius. In beauty, she rivalled Xia Yu, called the foremost beauty of the Blood Heaven Tribe.
The aura she exuded drove away all cultivators on Kongle Mountain. Insects hid, birds fell silent, beasts prostrated.
Divine light flashed. Zhang Ruochen appeared behind her.
He gazed at her straight back for a moment, then approached. Softly, “I once asked Grand Master why, after ten thousand years imprisoned in the Temple of Destiny with even his body ground to nothing, upon release he still expended spiritual power to recondense a flesh body. Is an aged body truly so important?”
“He said with his spiritual power, he had indeed transcended physical shackles, able to be formless. But he wished to be a person of flesh and blood, constantly reminding himself he had humanity, emotions, seven feelings and six desires, not merely a mass of spiritual consciousness.”
Standing beside Chi Kongle, Zhang Ruochen leaned on the railing. “In my view, no matter how high cultivation reaches, one cannot lose emotions.”
“Toward enemies, any means are acceptable. For if your methods are insufficient, you die.”
“But toward friends and family nearby, one must hold a bottom line, correct? Especially when your cultivation is higher, you must not bully the weak.”
The chill in Chi Kongle’s eyes lessened. “That is Father’s friend. I am not close to her. However… since she is Father’s friend, I shall not kill her.”
Zhang Ruochen’s emotions were complex. Changing her nature seemed truly difficult.
Suddenly, his arm warmed.
Chi Kongle leaned against him, arms hugging his, very dependent. Softly, “Father’s earlier words, I have taken to heart! Tomorrow, I shall return the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron.”
“But does Father remember once saying he would bring me to Kongle Mountain to see the myriad household lights?”
Kongle’s name originated from Kongle Mountain.
How could Zhang Ruochen forget?
Dusk fell. In the distant city, scattered lights gradually appeared.
In the sky, the bright moon hung like a mirror.
Leaning in Zhang Ruochen’s embrace, Chi Kongle said, “At the Liangyi Sect, I saw Mother. Have you truly reconciled?”
“Yes!” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Chi Kongle pressed, “The kind from the heart, with no barriers left?”
This time, Zhang Ruochen did not answer quickly. “Our matters, do not concern yourself! Training on the starry sky battlefield must have been exhausting. How many years since you slept?”
Chi Kongle shook her head lightly.
“Then sleep well. Think of nothing. Here, I can protect you. No one can harm you. Rest peacefully.” Zhang Ruochen said.
“No. I want to watch the myriad household lights with Father.” she replied.
The lights were beautiful, illuminating hundred-li long streets, thousand pavilions, the joys and sorrows of myriad households, like a scroll of mortal life.
Gradually, Chi Kongle fell asleep in Zhang Ruochen’s embrace.
…
Beneath the Flat Peach Tree.
Black Heart Demon Lord, hair dishevelled, body trembling, knelt before the Lord of the Fallen God Island. He lacked any great god’s bearing, resembling instead a child who had erred.
Sobbing, “All that should be said, I have said! Dare I ask Taishang, have I erred?”
The Lord of the Fallen God Island shook his head lightly. “For yourself, you did nothing wrong. In that situation, to preserve yourself and guard the Black Demon Realm, you had no other choice.”
“With Taishang’s words, it is enough!”
Black Heart Demon Lord dug his ten fingers into the soil. With great difficulty, “I know these years I committed unforgivable sins, so I seek not Taishang’s forgiveness. Only beg Taishang tell the Empress that in Black Heart’s life, though he did ten thousand filthy deeds, he never betrayed her.”
“Hiss hiss!”
Black Heart Demon Lord glanced up at the tree full of gorgeous peach blossoms, filled with attachment to this world. Then gritting his teeth, he activated a secret method. Flames ignited at his brow. He uttered a wretched scream.
Flames spread from his brow across his body, forming a bright fireball.
The flames gradually extinguished. Only a layer of black ash remained on the ground.
Little Black standing aside naturally resented Black Heart Demon Lord deeply. Yet seeing him self-immolate touched him greatly. “Though hateful, this fellow also has a pitiable side. Why did Grand Master not stop him?”
The Lord of the Fallen God Island sighed long. “Even stopping him, he could not live. Or rather, living would be more painful than death.”
Bringing Black Heart Demon Lord to the Kunlun Realm was hard to conceal from powerhouses like Shang Ancestor.
Even releasing him back would yield no good end.
Keeping him in the Kunlun Realm, which Kunlun god could accept him?
In any case, if he did not die, he would suffer worse than death and harm the beings of the Black Demon Realm.
Little Black probed sideways. “What earth-shaking secrets did he tell Grand Master earlier?”
The Lord of the Fallen God Island took a clay jar, scooped the black ash, and placed it inside. “Some matters are not yet time for you to know. Zhang Ruochen has returned to the Kunlun Realm, correct? Have him visit the seventh layer of Ancient God Mountain in the Liangyi Sect. You may go too.”
Little Black shook his head. “No need. These are minor. A divine thought from Grand Master, and he will know! This return, I mainly wish to learn more array dao from Grand Master, striving to become an array divine master soon.”
When saying the first sentence, Little Black stood beneath the Flat Peach Tree.
By the last sentence, he had flown countless li away, standing by a great river.
Cursing under his breath, just as he thought to complain, he found holding the Array Canon. Joy surged. He threw his head back and laughed heartily.
