Wind and Cloud Overlord looked towards the Clear Sky Sword King and Xuan Yuan Qing. He said, “What are your opinions on this, you two?”
The Clear Sky Sword King’s gaze was sharp. He said, “No matter what choice the Wind Clan makes, this seat is determined to remain in the Dark Delta Star Domain and fight the Dark Shrine, even if it costs me my life. Returning like this now would truly be too shameful!”
Xuan Yuan Qing stood within a cluster of light mist, her figure blurred. Her voice rang out clearly, “If the Sword Realm truly exists and has been found by the Dark Shrine, the strength of the Hell World will surge as a result. This will have a massive impact on the war that is already unfavourable to Heaven. In short, the Bright Shrine will never be intimidated by the Dark Shrine!”
“Since both of you feel this way, this seat now has a clear understanding!”
Wind and Cloud Overlord’s gaze remained firm from beginning to end. He said, “The divine ship will continue forward along the route explored by the Yaksha Clan.”
As a god and an honoured guest of the Wind Clan, Zhang Ruochen’s residence on the divine ship was located on the third level. The space was vast and elegantly arranged, with a Crimson Blood Qilin Fruit Epoch Holy Tree planted there.
Consuming its fruit could rapidly replenish a cultivator’s vital blood and qi.
The Clear Sky Sword King’s courtyard was right next to Zhang Ruochen’s, separated only by array restrictions.
However, these restrictions could not block Zhang Ruochen’s perception.
For seven consecutive days, Zhang Ruochen paid close attention to the Clear Sky Sword King’s every move. He discovered that this sword dao Great God, who had lived through two epochs, rarely went into secluded cultivation. Instead, he seemed quite leisurely, tending to flowers and plants every day.
“Perhaps I really was overthinking it!”
On the Xu Wind Divine Ship, Zhang Ruochen was extremely wary of Wind and Cloud Overlord. Even though he had set up concealing arrays in his courtyard, he did not dare activate the Sun Dial. Without the Sun Dial’s assistance, raising his mental power to the seventy-seventh level in a short time was simply impossible.
During these days, quite a few gods came to visit.
On the second day, Wind Void came to apologise.
Shang Hong and Jia Lin Nan had come to spar in sword dao. It was not provocation, but more like a test.
Clearly, Heaven Realm harboured some caution towards gods from Kunlun Realm.
Of course, the visitor who came most often was Wind Xi. She frequently stopped by to discuss dao principles with Zhang Ruochen. Zhang Ruochen happened to be very interested in the Wind Clan’s Daoist classics, so the two of them chatted very congenially.
They often talked through the night by candlelight, debating the dao.
All of this fell into Wind Rock’s eyes.
Finally, Wind Rock came to visit in person. He entered the courtyard, looked at the massive Crimson Blood Qilin Fruit Epoch Holy Tree, and stroked the trunk with his palm. He said, “Does Daoist friend know that this Crimson Blood Qilin Fruit Holy Tree can survive at most one epoch tribulation? When the second epoch tribulation descends, it will be struck by lightning and turned into charred wood?”
Zhang Ruochen sighed. “Is that so? In that case, this Crimson Blood Qilin Fruit Holy Tree does not have much time left?”
Wind Rock nodded. “Daoist friend should be around two hundred thousand years old, right?”
“More than that!” Zhang Ruochen said.
Wind Rock pretended to recall something. “Ah, yes! Kunlun Realm once opened a Sun Dial. Daoist friend must have cultivated under it for tens of thousands of years, correct?”
“More or less.”
Zhang Ruochen already knew his purpose.
Wind Rock said, “Does that not mean Daoist friend will soon face the second epoch tribulation?”
“Soon!” Zhang Ruochen said.
Wind Rock showed a regretful expression. “It is said that only when a cultivator’s cultivation reaches the Tai Zhen Realm can they survive the second epoch tribulation. Does Daoist friend have confidence in stepping into Tai Zhen before the epoch tribulation arrives?”
“Gods are numerous in the world, yet Great Gods are exceedingly rare. Each one is a hegemon of their realm.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Wind Rock bowed deeply to Zhang Ruochen. “Please do not blame this junior, but I have held these words in my heart for a long time. Since Daoist friend has limited lifespan remaining, yet my elder sister has only just become a god with boundless future prospects, the two of you are truly not a suitable match.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Little brother Rock, you are overthinking it. This poor daoist and Friend Xi only exchange insights on dao principles. There is absolutely no possibility of any other relationship mixing in.”
Wind Rock showed joy. “With Daoist friend’s words, this junior can rest assured! Please do not take offence at this junior’s presumptuousness.”
“How could this poor daoist blame you? Go on.”
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand.
Just as Wind Rock stepped out the door, he looked up and saw Wind Xi. The smile on his face immediately froze.
“Come with me!”
Wind Xi’s expression was calm, but Wind Rock sensed danger in the air.
They moved away from Zhang Ruochen’s courtyard to a strange stone garden bathed in starlight. Wind Xi stopped and said, “Since when have you grown bold enough to interfere in my affairs?”
Wind Rock said, “Sister! Qing Pingzi has cultivated for nearly two epochs and is still only a superior god. His potential has already reached its peak. He lacks the aptitude to become a Great God. Soon he will fall in the epoch tribulation, turning into mere divine bones, or perhaps not even leaving those behind. What will you do then? Reality is this cruel. Even gods can perish.”
“My opposition to you two is not because of the age difference. It is because I do not want you to live with regrets forever. All these years, you said you would not discuss romance because emotions below the divine realm are like a candle flame, too brief to last until dawn. Now that you have entered the divine realm, why choose someone destined never to stay by your side?”
Wind Rock knew that Wind Xi had made her decision. No one could change it. The words he spoke were utterly useless and might even anger her.
But the expected storm did not come.
Wind Xi fell into a peculiar mood. After a long silence, she said, “You may go. I want to meditate here alone for a while.”
…
Wind Rock’s words, Zhang Ruochen naturally dismissed with a smile. However, his determination to break through grew even more urgent.
This journey into the Dark Delta Star Domain had too many variables. Experts were everywhere like clouds.
In the shadows lurked Wu Yue, Frost City Demon, the Rain Master, Qian Heng Yi Shu, and many other powerhouses. In the open stood opponents like Shang Hong, who viewed Kunlun Realm gods as enemies.
Even the Wind Clan gods, who were currently allies, would turn against him in a swarm once his identity was exposed.
Too dangerous!
Although Zhang Ruochen still had hidden cards, when true danger arrived, nothing mattered more than his own cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen went to visit Wind Suspended to seek guidance on more Daoist doubts.
Wind Suspended was a god of the Wind Clan who specialised in Daoist methods. He differed slightly from Wind and Cloud Overlord, who mainly cultivated sword dao and the way of truth.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s purpose, Wind Suspended smiled. “Is it because of what Rock said that Daoist friend is now so eager to break through to the Tai Zhen Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen was stunned. How did Wind Suspended know about this?
Could it be that the arrays he set up in the courtyard could not even block Wind Suspended’s divine sense?
Wind Suspended said, “Earlier, Fourth Brother came to find me and personally discussed this matter with me.”
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood. It was Wind and Cloud Overlord.
It turned out Wind and Cloud Overlord had also been secretly paying attention. That was not surprising, since Wind Xi was his daughter.
How frustrating. Something completely unfounded had somehow become known to everyone!
Wind Suspended kept a smile on his face the whole time. “I have absolutely no objections. We Daoist cultivators value mutual affinity of spirit. We never force anything, nor do we settle. Everything follows the heart!”
Zhang Ruochen quickly said, “There is a misunderstanding. Nothing of the sort exists. This poor daoist truly wishes to discuss dao principles with Friend Suspended and seek ways to break through to Tai Zhen together.”
Wind Suspended became serious. After all, he was now at the peak of superior god realm, only one step away from Tai Zhen.
Although Zhang Ruochen’s age and experience were far behind Wind Suspended’s, in dao principles he combined the strengths of the Innate Dao Method and the Luo Book. The height they stood at was not far apart, allowing for deeper discussion than with Wind Xi.
“The so-called Tai Zhen is when a god organises and summarises all the various daos they have cultivated, ultimately converging them into their primary dao. For example, in the Hundred Shackles Realm, the saintly intent one cultivates might be the Heavenly Fire Sword Dao saintly intent, fused from sword dao saintly intent and fire dao saintly intent.”
“Thus, after entering the divine realm, a god should primarily cultivate the Heavenly Fire Sword God Dao. The rule divine patterns they cultivate will also be the unique Heavenly Fire Sword Dao divine patterns of heaven and earth.”
“Only when enough Heavenly Fire Sword Dao divine patterns accumulate and achieve absolute dominance can quantity transform into quality, allowing a breakthrough to Tai Zhen in one leap.”
“In the Immeasurable Realm, it becomes even purer. It is said that most Immeasurable Realm gods possess only one type of rule divine pattern in their bodies. Yet with a single thought, they can derive ten thousand kinds of rule divine patterns and effortlessly control the myriad daos of the world. One is ten thousand, and ten thousand is one.”
Wind Suspended continued, “As pure Daoist cultivators, however, we are somewhat different from them. The Daoist school emphasises the harmony of yin and yang, and the naturalness of dao.”
“The so-called naturalness of dao means letting things occur naturally, going with the flow. The more one forces it, the less one obtains.”
“Achieving harmony of yin and yang is somewhat difficult. After all, as men, our innate attribute is yang. To become neither yin nor yang, perfectly balanced and naturally harmonious, is not the work of a moment. Yet the Dark Delta Star Domain is an excellent place for us to break through. It is one of the rarest extremely yin places in the world, capable of suppressing the yang attribute within us.”
While Zhang Ruochen and Wind Suspended were engaged in deep closed-door discussion, a pleasant voice came from outside. “Xuan Yuan Qing pays respects to the Seventh Prince!”
The two stopped.
Wind Suspended secretly transmitted to Zhang Ruochen, “This woman is no ordinary person. She is the daughter of a Heavenly Venerate. You must not offend her.”
“The daughter of Hao Tian?”
Zhang Ruochen was surprised. “What relation does she have to Xuan Yuan Lian?”
“She is his younger sister.”
Wind Suspended had already stood up and gone to open the door to welcome her.
Zhang Ruochen was even more astonished. He sensed no similar aura fluctuations between Xuan Yuan Qing and Xuan Yuan Lian. How could they be siblings?
After all, she was the daughter of a Heavenly Venerate. As Qing Pingzi, merely a superior god, he naturally had to stand and go to greet her.
Xuan Yuan Qing’s body radiated powerful bright power. The white divine light was blinding. One could only see a breathtakingly beautiful hazy silhouette, with graceful, curvaceous lines that no divine brush could capture.
“Greetings, Great God.”
Zhang Ruochen and Wind Suspended bowed together.
“There is no need for such formality from you two.”
Xuan Yuan Qing walked straight in. Light rain fell from the sky, and bright divine flowers bloomed on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen did not raise his head to look at her. He stared at the crystal-clear bright divine flowers on the floor, unwilling to meet eyes with someone of her level lest he reveal any flaws. He said, “Since Great God has come to visit Friend Suspended, this poor daoist will take his leave first!”
“Daoist Qing Pingzi, please do not rush to leave. In truth, I mainly came to see you.”
Xuan Yuan Qing stepped on the bright divine flowers and arrived before Zhang Ruochen. A fragrant scent filled the air. Her white gauze trailed on the ground. The white divine light around her gradually faded, revealing her true appearance.
