Pairs of astonished eyes all fell upon Chi Yao.
How could the gods present not be shocked?
Even figures like Shang Hong and Lord Juyu had never seen Xuanyuan Lian’s true appearance. Legend had it that no cultivator had ever entered the golden carriage.
From within the carriage came Xuanyuan Lian’s voice, “The Female Saint Emperor is indeed a new-generation god highly regarded by both the Heavenly Venerable and Taishang. Sharing a ride and conversing joyfully with you, Lian will remember it for life.”
Hearing these words, Chi Yao’s gaze turned icy, like a sharp sword unsheathed. A tiger shadow faintly appeared behind her. Without doubt, Xuanyuan Lian’s statement had ulterior motives and deep implications.
Immediately after, she looked towards Zhang Ruochen and found that he had already vanished at the end of the corridor.
Between Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao existed an extremely strong connection. Without powerful mental power isolation, no matter how the other changed their appearance, they could recognise each other at a glance.
Xuanyuan Lian’s earlier words were too subtle. They went beyond mere appreciation of Chi Yao.
Gods from various worlds all showed expressions of disbelief.
Was Young Master Lian conveying his intentions to the outside world?
Chi Yao indeed possessed beauty rivaling the Moon Goddess, but her relationship with Zhang Ruochen was known to all. It was equally well-known that Young Master Lian abstained from women.
Could Young Master Lian actually have feelings for her?
This was no small matter!
It was enough to make many forces intending to target Chi Yao hold back.
Zhang Ruochen had absolute trust in Chi Yao. No matter whom she shared a carriage with, there must be a reason for it.
But the purpose of Xuanyuan Lian’s final words warranted deep consideration.
Was this a challenge to him from afar?
If Xuanyuan Lian truly had such intentions, even as the son of the Heavenly Venerable, Zhang Ruochen would not mind making him pay a heavy price.
Of course, there was an even more frightening possibility.
Xuanyuan Lian had begun to suspect the identity of Daoist Yellow Ox. Speaking like that earlier was entirely using Chi Yao to probe him.
Arriving at the venue where saint realm cultivators gathered, Zhang Ruochen confirmed that Zhuang Ta’a had not followed before reuniting with Yiman. They passed through layers of arrays to reach an elegantly serene area in the City Lord Mansion.
This place was far from the Fire Seed Conference venue. No clamour could be heard.
Qing Shen’s name was Xu Qing.
The moment Yiman led Zhang Ruochen into this garden, Zhang Ruochen sensed a divine intent sweep over him.
Soon after, in a grand hall, Zhang Ruochen met Xu Qing.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the various furnishings in the hall: rows of seats, divine lamps burning on pillars. He said, “This should be where Lord Luo receives guests! Setting our meeting here, are you not afraid Lord Luo will find out?”
Xu Qing wore a palace gown of blue floral divine silk, her hair coiled high, exuding elegant temperament. She stood amid hazy divine mist.
But this hazy divine mist could not obscure Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. He could still see her captivating beauty.
A woman from the Twelve Booths of the Divine Maiden who could marry someone like Luo Jincheng must possess extraordinary means and beauty. In her youth, she must have been enchantingly charming, captivating countless heroes.
She said, “By setting the meeting here, this god has no intention of hiding it from him. You are the new Realm Venerable of Xinghuantian, the new city lord of the First Divine Maiden City, Zhang Ruochen?”
Zhang Ruochen revealed his true appearance.
“You have great courage to actually dare come to the Tianchu Civilization. Do you not know God King Yu is in the city? Do you not know that after the starry defence line was breached, cultivators everywhere blame you?” Xu Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I came to the Tianchu Civilization to save it.”
“No one can save the Tianchu Civilization.”
Xu Qing stepped out from the divine mist, her figure graceful and alluring. Though she appeared to have some age, it added a mature charm.
She walked right up to Zhang Ruochen, knelt, and performed a salute.
“When I left the Twelve Booths of the Divine Maiden, I promised to do three things for the city lord in repayment for her past grace. Now, only the last one remains. After this, this god will have no further ties to the Twelve Booths! Even seeing the city lord again, there will be no need for courtesy.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then you need not do this last thing. City Lord Bai is no longer in this world.”
Deep sorrow appeared in Xu Qing’s eyes. “The city lord may be gone, but promises must be kept. The Twelve Booths achieved me and saved the old me. This is what I owe them.”
“Speak! What is your purpose in seeing me?”
Zhang Ruochen admired Xu Qing’s character of keeping promises worth a thousand gold. He said, “Can I still trust you now? Should I see you as Xu Qing, cultivator of the Twelve Booths, or as Qing Shen, wife of the lord of Doushuai City?”
“Until the third matter is complete, City Lord Zhang may regard me as a disciple of the Twelve Booths, absolutely loyal. But…” Xu Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand. “No need to say more! Once this is done, the Twelve Booths will never disturb your life again. Do you know where the Tianchu Heavenly Maiden is?”
With Xu Qing’s status, how could she not know that Luo Ji and Zhang Ruochen had an unusual relationship?
Whether it was the one hundred thousand drops of divine spring that Zhang Ruochen from the Truth Celestial Domain gave Luo Ji, or the events in the Kunlun Realm, many in the Tianchu Civilization knew.
“So City Lord Zhang came to the Tianchu Civilization for her. The name of being passionate is well-deserved.”
Hesitation appeared on Xu Qing’s face. After pondering long, she said, “This question concerns the inheritance of the Tianchu Civilization. It is of utmost importance. Even if City Lord Bai returned to life, with her grace to me, I would never tell her.”
Then, changing tone, she said, “But City Lord Zhang is a person who values affection and righteousness. In Xinghuantian, even knowing the Inverse God Clan deserved death ten thousand times and was not tolerated by the world, to protect the young city lord, you still showed the resolve to oppose both Heaven and Hell.”
“I was not in Xinghuantian then, but I know City Lord Zhang fought to the end, fell and rose again, a true pillar of heaven and earth. Even facing figures like Sword God Ming and True God Xuanyi, you dared to draw your sword. This must be why Goddess Yuro could entrust Xinghuantian and the Twelve Booths to you?”
“A person like City Lord Zhang would never harm Luo Ji. Right?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If I harboured even half a thought of harming her, may my soul scatter and I die a miserable death.”
“After the Hanshai Civilization was breached, she went to Tianzhu Mountain,” Xu Qing said.
Finally, there was news!
Zhang Ruochen said, “There is another matter. I want to use your name to lure Feng Qi here.”
Xu Qing frowned, unable to understand why. “This would be the second matter!”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If you trust me, help me. Because this may concern the survival of the entire Tianchu Civilization, and perhaps even more.”
“Is this true?” Xu Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I did not rush to see Luo Ji but stayed here waiting for Feng Qi. Madam, why do you think Feng Qi’s appeal to me exceeds Luo Ji’s? The Tianchu Civilization might collapse tonight. This city lord has no need to exaggerate.”
Xu Qing grew serious. “Very well! This god will arrange it. Feng Qi has always wanted to borrow a rubbings volume of the *Luo Shu* from Jincheng but has been repeatedly refused. As long as we use this as bait, he will surely come.”
“Women of the Twelve Booths are indeed masters at angling, attacking the heart everywhere,” Zhang Ruochen praised.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. Worthy of the *Luo Shu*, the inheritance treasure of the Tianchu Civilization. Outsiders could not touch it. Even with Feng Qi’s status, he could not see the rubbings.
Borrowing the true *Luo Shu* seemed almost impossible.
Xu Qing said, “City Lord Zhang says he came to save the Tianchu Civilization. How true is this?”
“Fully true,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Qing said, “How?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “My heart is fully sincere, but for now, I do not have full confidence. Moreover, if the Tianchu Civilization cannot pass tonight’s crisis, there is no point discussing the rest!”
Xu Qing probed indirectly, “Is Feng Qi related to tonight’s crisis? Has he betrayed to the Hell Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled without speaking.
Outside came noises of quarrel and crying.
Zhang Ruochen walked to the huge three-zhang horizontal window, pushed open half, and looked out. He saw a tragic scene unfolding in a distant courtyard.
Xu Qing approached and looked as well, sighing, “The word ‘love’ harms the most.”
“Madam, born in the Twelve Booths yet able to enter the upper echelons of the Tianchu Civilization. Do you not find true love precious?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Qing looked deeply at Zhang Ruochen. “City Lord Zhang is moved by compassion and wants to help them? But do you know that Heaven and Hell are incompatible? Love between them is ill-fated, ending only in death.”
“Some outcomes we cannot change. But…”
Zhang Ruochen looked again. “But for our own family, within our ability, why not help? The hatred between Heaven and Hell should not be imposed on our descendants.”
…
Mo Cuo had followed the Hell Realm army through a spatial crack to the Tianchu Civilization’s great world.
He had the chance to withdraw but did not. Instead, with resolve to die, he came to Doushuai City.
No matter what, he had to see Yan Hanyu one last time.
Yan Hanyu could betray the Tianchu Civilization for him and join the Falling Star Temple. Now, with the Tianchu Civilization about to perish, did Mo Cuo lack even the courage to die with her?
At this moment, Mo Cuo was wrapped in iron chains, hair dishevelled, kneeling on the ground. His legs were shattered, blood dripping, not a patch of intact flesh on his body.
The one who captured him here was precisely Feng Qi’s disciple, Yan Wen.
Yan Wen was also Yan Hanyu’s father.
Yan Wen held a saint spear, his gaze cold and merciless. Before Yan Hanyu’s eyes, he pierced Mo Cuo’s chest with one thrust, nailing him to the ground. Blood gushed like a spring.
“No! Father, no, please. Consider it your daughter’s final plea…”
Yan Hanyu knelt on the ground, hands and feet bound in chains flowing with flame inscriptions. Her wrists and ankles were already mangled and bloody. Her face was deathly pale, body extremely weak. She wept and begged, showing none of her former beauty as the top divine maiden of the Falling Star Temple.
All her grace had been worn away.
Returning to the Tianchu Civilization, she had no chance to fight with her clan. Instead, treated as the civilization’s shame, she faced trial and imprisonment. Her cultivation was entirely crippled.
Fortunately, she was direct bloodline of the Heavenly Lord lineage, or she would have died miserably long ago, unable to remain alive.
The hatred between Heaven and Hell doomed love to death.
Or something more tragic than death.
…
Something came up today, so no live stream. Posting the drafts from the past two days now!
Continuing the live stream tomorrow.
