Zhang Ruochen took Yan Hanyu and Mo Cuo into the *Six Patriarchs’ Zen Release Diagram*, settling them in the Qiankun Realm.
The current *Six Patriarchs’ Zen Release Diagram* contained two great worlds, each occupying half the space. One side was the Qiankun Realm, the other the Six Patriarchs’ broken divine realm world.
Both the Heaven-Connecting Divine Wood and the Bodhi Tree were spiritual roots of heaven and earth.
Fortunately, there were still very few beings inside, and not many cultivators, so no depletion of spiritual qi had occurred yet.
But in the future, as the cultivators in the world demanded more spiritual qi and saint qi, it would definitely be necessary to find a place in the universe where spatial veins converged to bear the great worlds.
A world carried by a scroll had too many limitations.
…
After reading Lord Lan’s records, Zhang Ruochen had a plan in mind. He quietly returned to the Fire Seed Conference venue without changing his appearance, appearing directly as Daoist Yellow Ox.
The sky had darkened. The palace where the conference was held was brightly lit. Gods from top great worlds under Heaven had come, determined to obtain the Tianchu Civilization’s fire seed.
“It is said that whoever invites the Tianchu Civilization’s fire seed can obtain one of the two divine artifacts, the Qingtian Mirror or the Nine Palaces Divine Seal, and also gain the opportunity to contemplate the *Luo Shu*.”
“The *Luo Shu*? This is the foremost classic of the Daoist sect, considered the source of the Dao. Outsiders cannot contemplate or cultivate it at all. Even in the Tianchu Civilization, probably fewer than ten cultivators have mastered it. The Tianchu Civilization is actually willing to offer it?”
“If they do not offer it? Can they guard the *Luo Shu* with just the fire seed? Better to offer it now as a bargaining chip to gain more benefits.”
“In my view, though the divine artifacts and *Luo Shu* are heaven-shaking treasures, even if obtained, they mean nothing to us. What is truly valuable is the civilization treasury that will be taken away with the fire seed.”
“The Tianchu Civilization has inherited for many years. How vast its treasures! Just the divine stones alone must be an enormous number. One could say the civilization treasury is the greatest reliance for the Tianchu Civilization fire seed’s future development and strength, even reopening a realm and establishing an independent civilization.”
“As long as we welcome the fire seed to our mother realm, we can benefit from it too.”
…
Zhang Ruochen sensed slightly and heard countless gods’ secret transmissions.
In the saint realm cultivators’ venue, Zhang Ruochen saw Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan. He did not communicate with them, merely picking up a jar of divine brew from their table.
He drank as he walked, gulping madly.
Feng Yan showed concern and stood to remind him, “Fellow daoist, that brew is no ordinary one. It is made from fire flame essence crystals and Yuanhui vermilion fruits. Drink too much, and even gods cannot withstand it.”
Zhang Ruochen ignored him. His wide sleeves fluttered as he headed straight for the gods’ venue.
Xuanyuan Lian’s golden carriage remained parked in the widest spot of the venue. The nine Bone Clan gods’ auras were profound, occasionally emitting low roars.
Gods still approached to pay respects.
At this moment, standing before the golden carriage was precisely Lord Lan.
Lord Lan had a feminine face marked with petal imprints. He held a folding fan, cupped his hands in salute to the carriage, then conversed with Xuanyuan Lian, smiling as they discussed something.
A whooshing sound broke the air.
A bronze brew jar, as large as a basket, flew towards Lord Lan.
No one expected an attack at the Fire Seed Conference. Lord Lan instinctively dodged sideways, evading the bronze jar.
“Bang!”
The bronze jar struck the golden carriage hard. Its speed and explosive force shook the carriage violently. But in the next instant, dazzling divine light bloomed from the carriage walls, shattering the jar.
“Roar!”
The nine Bone Clan gods roared angrily to the sky. Divine might erupted, forming chaotic gales that revealed divine inscriptions throughout the City Lord Mansion.
All gods present were shocked and stood up.
What was happening? Someone dared assault Young Master Lian?
Could Hell Realm gods have infiltrated the Fire Seed Conference?
No!
Why attack Young Master Lian with a brew jar?
Following the jar’s trajectory, the gods’ gazes fell on Zhang Ruochen.
Feng Xi and Feng Xuan exchanged glances, both paling.
Yu Chenjing, recognising Daoist Yellow Ox, opened her small mouth in shock, eyes full of astonishment and confusion.
Lord Juyu frowned deeply, then a schadenfreude smile appeared in his eyes.
Chi Yao stood between Zhenyuan and Compassionate Ferry Immortal. Seeing Zhang Ruochen reeking of alcohol and looking at the golden carriage, her face changed abruptly. She worried greatly for him, fearing he had misunderstood earlier events.
“Has the trust between us become so fragile?” For some reason, intense pain surged in Chi Yao’s heart.
Without trust, how could they return to the past?
Chi Yao did not dwell in her low mood. She quickly recovered and began thinking of countermeasures. If Zhang Ruochen truly challenged Xuanyuan Lian recklessly, what could she do to resolve the conflict?
Xuanyuan Lian’s earlier words clearly showed he had begun suspecting Zhang Ruochen, deliberately probing him.
By acting now, was Zhang Ruochen not exposing himself?
Chi Yao summoned her dripping blood sword, her gaze sharp. She prepared for a desperate fight. She communicated with the Funeral Gold White Tiger. If necessary, she could only kill a bloody path out of Doushuai City with Zhang Ruochen.
Even if forced to oppose Heaven in the future and flee to the Hell Realm, today she absolutely could not let Heaven’s gods and Xuanyuan Lian suppress Zhang Ruochen.
Otherwise, with the hatred born from the Xinghuantian battle, Heaven’s gods would tear him apart.
Lord Lan knew the daoist targeted him, not Xuanyuan Lian. He coldly shouted, “Who are you? Daring to assault Young Master Lian. Do you wish to die?”
A piercing sword hum rang out.
The sword wrapped in black cloth on Zhang Ruochen’s back flew out, landing in his hand. His eyes red, teeth gritted, he roared, “This old man is Qingpingzi, successor of Shangqing. Today I come only to slay you and avenge the blood debt from one hundred thousand years ago.”
With that, the sword in Zhang Ruochen’s hand erupted in brilliant cyan light. Sword qi crisscrossed, killing intent chilling.
“The Qingping Sword!”
Exclamations rose one after another.
“So his true name is Qingpingzi.” Feng Xi was not surprised. She had long known “Yellow Ox Daoist” was a pseudonym.
Through the Qingping Sword, the gods present guessed that the daoist calling himself “Qingpingzi” must be from the Kunlun Realm.
Luo Jinshu had hurried from the God King Mansion. Seeing his cherished “Yellow Ox fellow daoist” so agitated, he rushed over, grasping his sword arm. Concerned, he asked, “Yellow Ox… Qingpingzi fellow daoist, this is the Fire Seed Conference venue. No matter what happened, do not be impulsive.”
“Everyone, Qingpingzi fellow daoist is Luo’s good friend. Earlier in the sea domain forbidden zone, he displayed great might, slaying a Death Clan monarch and helping the Tianchu Civilization guard the Divine Chun Tree. He is even Luo’s lifesaver. Luo trusts his character completely. If not for a blood feud, he would never lose control.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Luo Jinshu, thinking inwardly that this father-in-law was truly a man of genuine emotion.
After all, he had just offended Xuanyuan Lian. No one knew Xuanyuan Lian’s true temperament. If he was narrow-minded, the consequences would be dire.
At such a time, most cultivators would stay far away, avoiding any connection with Zhang Ruochen.
Feng Xi stepped forward. “Qingpingzi fellow daoist has great grace towards the Feng clan. If fellow daoist has any grudge, speak it. The Feng clan will never stand idly by.”
With the Feng clan gods taking a stand, those wanting to punish Zhang Ruochen and curry favour with Xuanyuan Lian grew wary and slowly retreated.
Zhang Ruochen pointed his sword at Lord Lan, killing intent surging. “Tao Lan, do you still remember Mu Yeqing of the Kunlun Realm’s Liangyi Sect?”
Lord Lan’s gaze turned icy. He snorted lightly. “What Mu Yeqing? What Liangyi Sect? I have never heard of them. The Kunlun Realm—such a distant name. If you had not mentioned it, this god would think that great world had already perished!”
This was contempt and provocation.
Zhang Ruochen said, “One hundred thousand years ago, this poor daoist’s beloved daughter Mu Yeqing died tragically at your hands, her yin essence depleted to death. How miserably she died!”
“At that time, this poor daoist was gravely injured and in secluded recovery. Upon emerging, hearing this news, I was heartbroken. I intended to take my sword to the Cha Realm to slay you. Unfortunately, the Kunlun Realm’s great calamity struck. The saint monk sealed the great world with his remaining divine power. This poor daoist had to bury the hatred for one hundred thousand years.”
“Do you know what kind of torment one hundred thousand years of pain is?”
“You lived freely for one hundred thousand years and even cultivated to upper god. Truly, heaven has no eyes. What injustice! Earlier here, upon seeing you, this poor daoist did not wish to disrupt the Fire Seed Conference or trouble everyone.”
“But recalling Yeqing, recalling my poor daughter… sob… the rage in my heart—how could I suppress it? Grief and indignation surged like a flood. How could I control it?”
Zhang Ruochen grieved deeply, voice choked and hoarse, tears streaming, sword hand trembling violently. He portrayed a heartbroken daoist whose daughter died tragically vividly and infectiously. Feng Xi’s eyes reddened unconsciously.
Luo Jinshu, as a father with a daughter, seemed to empathise. After comforting Zhang Ruochen, he angrily rebuked Lord Lan. “Luo has always known your Cha Realm is a great world gathering evil dao cultivators. But to follow the Heavenly Palace’s decree and unite all forces against the Hell Realm, though I had opinions, I never commented.”
“But Qingpingzi fellow daoist shares life-and-death friendship with Luo. His affairs are Luo’s affairs!”
“Today, Tao Lan, you must pay with your life!”
Lord Lan was an evil dao cultivator who had indeed committed many despicable acts. Too many women had died by his hands. He himself could not remember if one was named Mu Yeqing.
But seeing Qingpingzi so furious, pained, and reckless, Lord Lan believed it. It seemed he had indeed harvested Mu Yeqing’s yin back then, planting the root of today’s calamity.
