The next day, Zhang Ruochen brought Chi Kongle back to the Liangyi Sect and re-entered the Upper Purity Palace.
On the square, the place where the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron had stood remained in ruins, with sword marks crisscrossing the ground.
Gai Tianjiao stood beside the rubble, shaking her head. “Realm Venerable Ruochen, previously I indeed offended. I forgot the hierarchy between saints and gods. Please, as a great one, overlook the faults of the small. No need to return the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron. Master has already spoken. How dare I accept it?”
With that, she raised her sleeves and bowed deeply.
The Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron stood right beside the two of them.
Gai Tianjiao’s distant attitude did not affect Zhang Ruochen’s mood.
His gaze fell on the familiar old scenery around them, on the ancient pines and cypresses whose branches extended from the eaves of the halls. “Eldest Senior Sister, you know well that I, Zhang Ruochen, have always been one who values old affections. So, is this your way of retreating to advance? If you say such words again, I shall take the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron now and never set foot in the Liangyi Sect again in this life.”
Gai Tianjiao did not rise, maintaining her bowing posture. Her current expression could not be seen.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “No matter how manly one appears, a woman is still a woman. When daring to anger but not to speak, having emotions is normal. I understand.”
Gai Tianjiao could no longer keep up the act. She straightened up, glancing toward Ancient God Mountain. Clearly, she greatly feared Chi Yao. “With your relationship to Master, calling me Eldest Senior Sister again would tangle things beyond clarity!”
“Relationships, we each calculate our own.”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression was sincere. He stared intently into Gai Tianjiao’s eyes, unafraid of Chi Yao overhearing. “Relying solely on power to suppress others is ultimately not the great dao. Since ancient times, those who oppress with power often meet poor ends. Even invincible in life with none daring to speak, after death, good endings are rare.”
“You truly dare say it.” Gai Tianjiao thought inwardly.
These words indeed struck her heart.
Chi Yao was her master and one of the few gods in the Kunlun Realm. How could she dare defy her will?
Yet Gai Tianjiao was, after all, the current sect leader of the Liangyi Sect.
She truly did not know what mysteries the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron held, or even if it counted as a supreme treasure. But if she allowed it to be lost simply because of Chi Yao’s word, how could she continue as sect leader with any face?
Last night, she had thought it through clearly and decided to resign as sect leader.
Zhang Ruochen’s sincerity today and the fairness of his words moved Gai Tianjiao deeply. The tangle and gloom of last night vanished entirely.
If previously she merely envied his cultivation talent and admired his broad-mindedness in offering incense for Yuan Fa Dao Ancestor, now she truly believed without reservation that, no matter the circumstances, Zhang Ruochen could never be the Yuan Hui arch-villain as others claimed.
Between envy and admiration, and unconditional trust, there was a distance.
Now, that distance was gone!
Rarely, Gai Tianjiao revealed a smile. “I truly do not know what mysteries the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron holds. As Kongle said, rather than letting it gather dust in the Liangyi Sect, better to gift it to Junior Brother! No matter what, you are also a disciple of the Liangyi Sect. This point, you must acknowledge!”
Zhang Ruochen understood. Chi Yao had spoken. Gai Tianjiao dared not accept the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron under any circumstances.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Of course I acknowledge it!”
“Words are no proof. We must set it in writing.” Gai Tianjiao replied.
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat bewildered. This required a written record?
Gai Tianjiao snapped her fingers. Soon, two disciples from the Upper Purity Palace carried in a massive stone over ten zhang tall.
“Carve it here!” Gai Tianjiao said.
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly repeatedly. How could he not understand her intent? “With my status, even if I write it, would Eldest Senior Sister dare display it?”
“You are now the Realm Venerable of Star Huan Heaven. Even some Heavenly Court gods, to cultivate in the Sun Dial, must request from you. Our Liangyi Sect gates open in the Kunlun Realm. Why dare we not display a stone?” Gai Tianjiao replied.
“In that case, I shall leave a few words.”
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Shen Yuan Ancient Sword.
Gai Tianjiao reminded, “This stone may stand in the Liangyi Sect for who knows how long, perhaps even at the mountain gate. So, Junior Brother, please exert full effort. Do not weaken your own prestige before future generations.”
Zhang Ruochen unleashed vast sword intent, swinging the sword rapidly. Heavy to start, light to finish.
Stone chips flew, falling to the ground.
When he sheathed the sword, two lines appeared on the massive stone:
“To the utmost heavenly sacred realm, Liangyi’s green mountains eternally grand.”
“One dawn of enlightenment, heavens high, seas broad, fame for myriad ages.”
The characters contained powerful divine aura, extraordinary charm. They were divine script.
Gai Tianjiao approached, examining closely. Each divine character horizontal like mountain ridges, vertical like rivers. Stroke by stroke, like fierce sword moves assaulting, hard to parry.
“Fine calligraphy! But you have not signed your name yet!” she said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, sighing softly. He swung the sword again, carving his name.
Gai Tianjiao treasured it greatly. “Zhang Ruochen, ah, Zhang Ruochen. No matter how great you become in the future, you are still a disciple of our Liangyi Sect. With these two lines, it is like gaining a sect-protecting divine artefact.”
In truth, after the Kunlun Realm merit war, Zhang Ruochen’s reputation there was not poor. Though highly controversial, he had countless admirers.
The prosperity of the Ming Sect in the Kunlun Realm was the best proof.
Regardless of the future, even now, with feats like suppressing the Third Elder of Zhenmie Palace and defeating Famous Sword God, with identities as Tianlao’s divine envoy and Star Huan Heaven Realm Venerable, leaving these two lines held extraordinary significance.
Countless geniuses and heroes would come to apprentice because of it.
What Gai Tianjiao thought was, with this massive stone, even if Hell Realm conquered Kunlun in the future, placing it at the Liangyi Sect gate should deter those Hell demons and ghosts.
Sect-protecting divine artefact was no mere talk.
As Zhang Ruochen’s achievements grew, the artefact’s power would increase.
The two lines Zhang Ruochen left were, of course, far more than that simple.
Not only infused with his divine qi and sword intent, but also incorporating the third-grade sacred will of the character “One” and sword soul power.
Of course, the third-grade sacred will of “One” was nearing transformation into the Sword Dao of “One”, needing only final accumulation and epiphany.
Sacred will is the womb, profound mysteries the soul.
Dao is the ultimate destination of divine cultivation.
Like Wuji sacred will becoming Wuji Divine Dao.
Condensing sacred will chooses direction, summarises, nurtures the dao womb. Every god walks their own path, beginning from condensing sacred will.
Cultivation before condensing sacred will is sensing the world, understanding more, ultimately finding direction and pressing forward unswervingly.
Thus, after Hundred Shackles Realm, the Thousand Questions Realm lets great saints further firm their convictions. With vision as endpoint, divine dao as path, realising one’s value in this world.
The Sword Dao of “One” is Zhang Ruochen’s own sword dao.
Unfortunately, after achieving divinity, Zhang Ruochen had little time for sword comprehension. Thus, his sword dao remained incomplete. Still sacred will, sword moves, sword intent, sword dao rules, sword soul.
In true sword dao, all these long fuse and merge.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Does Eldest Senior Sister know of sword soul?”
Gai Tianjiao was slightly moved. “This is one of Sword Ancestor’s eight absolutes, alas lost. But rumour says Junior Brother used sword soul power in the Star Huan Heaven battle.”
Zhang Ruochen did not conceal. He nodded. “All sword dao worldwide stems from Sword Ancestor. But that Sword Ancestor abandoned courage and魄, losing fighting spirit, retaining only transmission intent. Such transmitted sword dao actually lost sword dao’s essence.”
“Sword soul is sword dao’s soul.”
“Sword soul is sword dao’s spirit.”
“A sword without sword soul is like one sheathed, lacking edge and emotion. How can a sword without emotion be unrivalled?”
Zhang Ruochen pointed to the two lines on the stone. “Sorrow, love, desire, anger, joy, evil, fear are the seven veins of sword soul. I left the cultivation method for one vein in the characters. Cultivators with sufficient talent and comprehension should be able to realise it.”
…
After Zhang Ruochen entered the Upper Purity Palace, Chi Kongle waited outside.
Zhang Hongchen in red hid in the woods, secretly observing Chi Kongle.
Chi Kongle had naturally detected her. Coldly, “In the Hell Realm, if a cultivator dared spy on me secretly, I would have slain them with one sword long ago.”
“So arrogant, yet still obediently returned to admit fault.”
Zhang Hongchen thought thus inwardly. She walked out slowly, unafraid of Chi Kongle. “You are Chi Kongle?”
Chi Kongle ignored her.
Zhang Hongchen approached several steps. “Zhang Ruochen is your father, correct? Why do you not bear the surname Zhang?”
Chi Kongle still ignored her.
Zhang Hongchen drew closer again, sizing her up. Finding her extremely resembling the portraits of Zhang Ruochen, she felt unwell. She snorted lightly. “So arrogant. Is your cultivation very high? Can you beat that fellow in the Central Imperial City?”
“You wish to know?” Chi Kongle, annoyed, finally spoke.
Without waiting for reply, Chi Kongle plucked a hair from her head.
“Bang!”
From the hair surged vast sacred qi and strands of divine qi, condensing an avatar.
The avatar looked identical to Chi Kongle. Like a sword, it flew out, fast as light, swift as lightning, crashing fiercely into Zhang Hongchen.
Zhang Hongchen’s face changed dramatically. She immediately summoned her nine swords for defence.
“Bang!”
The nine swords scattered wildly. Zhang Hongchen was struck by the overwhelming force, flying a hundred zhang away. Barely evading the sword qi, she crashed to the ground.
Chi Kongle said, “You cannot even block one strike from a single hair of mine. Now you know my cultivation?”
Zhang Hongchen’s face paled. Standing up, “You are a god?”
“Not a god, yet at half-god peak.” These words came not from Chi Kongle but from above Zhang Hongchen’s head.
Zhang Hongchen had sensed earlier a powerhouse intervening, dissipating part of Chi Kongle’s force, allowing her to retreat unscathed. Now looking up toward the ancient pavilion behind, she saw a mysterious powerhouse in black cloak seated there, robes fluttering, aura powerful.
Zhang Hongchen asked, “Who are you?”
“Call me Uncle Black, and I shall gift you a protective divine array.” The mysterious powerhouse said generously.
He could be so generous naturally because he knew gifts now could be reclaimed manifold from Zhang Ruochen later. To reap benefits required justification, reason, making Zhang Ruochen clearly aware of his great contribution.
No one could stop him gifting a divine array to Zhang Ruochen’s daughter.
