Zhang Ruochen maintained a calm expression and followed Xuan Yuan Qing and Wind Suspended back into the room.
The room contained only one ancient tiger-head lamp that burned steadily, casting a rather dim light.
Xuan Yuan Qing originally emitted no trace of radiance, yet as she entered the room, the surrounding space seemed to brighten. The lamplight grew even murkier in comparison.
She wore a silver-white beaded curtain veil over her face. At the centre of her brow, whether drawn with a brush or naturally grown, was a vivid green lotus mark, lifelike, resembling a divine lotus in full bloom.
Though she was a woman, her presence did not fall short of Wind and Cloud Overlord’s. She stood with her hands behind her back, her waist slender as a willow. Her pair of exceptionally lively immortal eyes scanned the objects and ancient texts arranged in the room.
Finally, her gaze settled on an open ancient book on the table. She picked it up and examined it.
“《Xuan Tian Ben Gang》. So the two of you were discussing the dao. It seems Qing has come at an inconvenient time.” Her voice was beautiful, like the melody of a musical composition, effortlessly drawing one into its depths.
Wind Suspended smiled. “Both of us are peak superior gods of the Daoist school, so we join forces to ponder difficulties and seek an early breakthrough to Tai Zhen Realm. Unlike Great God, who has already reached Tai Bai Realm. Truly enviable.”
Tai Zhen Realm was the collective term for the Great God level realms.
Tai Yi, Tai Bai, and Tai Xu were the three sub-realms within Tai Zhen.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “The two of you are among the foremost outstanding representatives of the Daoist school. It will not be long before you both enter Tai Zhen. Therefore, there is no need for such politeness, nor to address me as Great God. Our ages are not far apart. Why not simply call each other daoist friends? Qing once cultivated for a period in the Five Elements Observatory and has some slight understanding of Daoist lineage teachings.”
“There is no need to remain standing. Please, both of you, sit.”
Xuan Yuan Qing gracefully seated herself on the central purple orchid coiling dragon meditation cushion. Before her was the table. Very naturally, the powerful aura around her vanished instantly. There was none of the arrogance one might expect from a Heavenly Venerate’s daughter. She resembled a young Daoist nun who had long accompanied the flickering lamplight.
Only this nun was perhaps far too beautiful.
This beauty did not refer to her appearance or figure, but to the shocking impact she gave to the heart in a fleeting glance. In truth, from beginning to end, Zhang Ruochen had never looked at her veiled face, nor deliberately observed her figure.
A person like Xuan Yuan Qing could not simply be defined as a woman. Daughter of a Heavenly Venerate, Tai Bai Great God, wielder of the Bright Divine Sword. These identities far outweighed the mere label of “woman”.
Zhang Ruochen and Wind Suspended exchanged a glance before sitting on the other two meditation cushions.
“Daoist friend Qing Pingzi, may I borrow your sword for a look?” Xuan Yuan Qing looked over, a trace of a smile in her starry eyes.
Zhang Ruochen hesitated slightly, then removed the Qing Ping Sword and handed it to her.
Xuan Yuan Qing accepted the sword.
Only then did Zhang Ruochen clearly see her flawless snow-white hand. Her fingers were like warm suet jade, slender and graceful, suffused with bright divine glow. The beauty of this single hand alone could surpass many who claimed to be saintesses or immortals.
Xuan Yuan Qing turned her wrist. The Qing Ping Sword traced a half-circle in the air, flashing with green light.
The sword body was pitch-black.
Upon the blade was a green lotus mark, brimming with boundless spirituality.
“What a fine sword!”
Xuan Yuan Qing praised. “I was born with a divine herb, the Heavenly Green Lotus, growing at my brow. This sword bears a green lotus seal. It must share great affinity with me. Daoist friend, would you be willing to gift it to me?”
The corner of Wind Suspended’s mouth twitched. His expression grew unnatural.
This was the Qing Ping Sword!
A sub-god level supreme saint artefact.
For the daughter of a Heavenly Venerate, an unparalleled Great God, to say such words. Was she intending to seize it openly?
If she truly took it by force, Qing Pingzi would have no choice but to accept it.
Wind Suspended felt he had to speak up for justice. Even if she was a Heavenly Venerate’s daughter, she could not simply rob it outright. If this reached the Heavenly Palace, right would be on their side.
Zhang Ruochen was also stunned. He stared into her eyes. No matter how beautiful those eyes were, at this moment they no longer seemed so. Just moments ago she had appeared modest and gentle. How had she suddenly revealed her true face?
Xuan Yuan Qing continued, “I will exchange it with the Bright Divine Sword.”
Wind Suspended, who had just angrily risen, showed great shock. He quickly said, “Great God must not jest.”
“I am not jesting.”
Xuan Yuan Qing was very serious. With a sweep of her fragrant sleeve through the void, the Bright Divine Sword emerged from her divine realm world and slowly flew towards Zhang Ruochen. “As long as Daoist friend Qing Pingzi agrees to join the Bright Shrine, from now on, this divine sword will be wielded by Daoist friend.”
Then she glanced smilingly at Wind Suspended. “I already said, let us all address each other as daoist friends. No more mention of Great God.”
Zhang Ruochen saw the sincerity in Xuan Yuan Qing’s eyes. It truly did not seem like a joke. He could not help but ponder her intentions inwardly.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Daoist friend Qing probably cannot decide on behalf of the Bright Shrine, can she?”
“Since Qing has spoken these words, I will naturally do my utmost to push this forward. I believe the Bright Shrine would not turn away a powerful god at its door.” Xuan Yuan Qing said.
Wind Suspended gradually understood and saw the deeper reason behind it.
It seemed Xuan Yuan Qing’s words were not mere talk.
She intended to use this to resolve, or at least ease, the enmity between Heaven Realm and Kunlun Realm.
After all, present-day Kunlun Realm had veteran powerhouses like the Fallen God Island Master, the Dragon Lord, and the Thousand Bones Female Emperor, as well as a large group of rising new generation figures such as Chi Yao and the Blood Spirit Immortal.
If Kunlun Realm were allowed to continue developing unchecked, once its strength grew sufficient, conflict with Heaven Realm would inevitably erupt.
Moreover, this would not be merely a clash between two great worlds. It could sweep in the Daoist school, Buddhist school, Western various worlds. For the entire Heaven Court, it would be a great catastrophe.
Having Qing Pingzi join the Bright Shrine would not eliminate the contradictions between the two realms entirely, but it would serve as an entry point, an opportunity.
Zhang Ruochen naturally saw through Xuan Yuan Qing’s purpose. He said, “Though the Bright Divine Sword is excellent, this poor daoist does not cultivate the way of light. Naturally, it would be of no use to me.”
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen extended his hand.
Xuan Yuan Qing did not return the Qing Ping Sword. Instead, the hand holding it drew back slightly. “Does Daoist friend have any faith in his heart?”
Zhang Ruochen felt somewhat awkward, yet he could neither snatch it nor grow angry. He withdrew his hand, touched his sleeve, and said, “Why does Daoist friend Qing ask this?”
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “If Heaven Court could unite as one, its strength would actually not be inferior to the Hell World. Yet why, over the past hundred thousand years, has it always been in a passive position? Why was it forced to accept the humiliating terms from the Hell World, opening merit battlefields just to buy time for recovery? How many weak worlds were reduced to ashes because of this, their living beings turned into wandering souls and blood food? Truly tragic beyond words.”
“Daoist friend Qing believes all this is related to faith?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “The ten clans of Hell appear full of contradictions, yet they can all believe in Fate or Darkness. Because of this, the Fate Shrine and Darkness Shrine can unify the various clans, integrate their strength, and easily convey their will.”
“But Heaven Court’s subordinate mortal realms and ancient civilisations combined number over ten thousand great worlds, with more than a hundred thousand ideologies and millions upon millions of faiths. Although the Daoist school, Buddhist school, Confucian school, Brightness, and Truth all wield enormous influence, compared to the Fate Shrine and Darkness Shrine, they fall far short.”
“These various doctrines and faiths often conflict with one another, causing severe internal friction. The Heaven Court established the Merit Shrine precisely to unify everyone’s will and face the external threat together. Yet clearly, a Merit Shrine without faith to support it is nothing but an empty shell. It cannot bear the expectations the gods place upon it.”
“I chose to cultivate in the Bright Shrine because I believe the teachings of brightness can stand against darkness. With hearts turned to light, cherishing life, being upright, kind, and radiant, using this as faith and spreading it far and wide, it is sufficient to change the entire world.”
Zhang Ruochen could see that Xuan Yuan Qing possessed great ideals and ambitions. She was earnestly working to resolve internal contradictions within Heaven Court and actively seeking solutions. In this regard, she resembled her elder brother Xuan Yuan Lian somewhat.
Zhang Ruochen said softly, “Ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel.”
“I know it is difficult. But is there any endeavour to change the world that is not difficult? If we strangle beautiful ideals simply because reality is cruel, would the world not be left with nothing but cruelty? No matter how hard the path ahead, someone must blaze the trail through thorns.” Xuan Yuan Qing’s gaze was resolute, conveying her will to Zhang Ruochen.
She was telling Zhang Ruochen that she was not merely speaking empty words.
Wind Suspended sat silently to the side. He had realised he was truly just a supporting figure here.
Zhang Ruochen said, “How does Daoist friend Qing view the divine war from a hundred thousand years ago?”
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “I know there are rumours in the world claiming that Heaven Realm, in order to dominate the position of ruler, betrayed Kunlun Realm, leading to the fall of Kunlun Realm’s gods.”
“I do not deny that there were indeed some petty villains and infiltrators from the Hell World, causing Kunlun Realm heavy losses. But Daoist friend, do you know that in that divine war, Heaven Realm also lost over a hundred true gods? Half of the eight palace masters of the Bright Shrine perished. Across the entire Heaven Court, the number of fallen gods was beyond counting.”
“There was no other way. Back then, Kunlun Realm was simply too powerful, so the Hell World targeted it first. Heaven Court did its utmost to assist.”
“Has Daoist friend ever considered whether the so-called betrayal of Kunlun Realm by Heaven Realm might be a rumour deliberately spread by the Hell World? To divide Heaven Court and sow suspicion among the various realms?”
Zhang Ruochen understood very well that every cultivator viewed matters from their own perspective.
Xuan Yuan Qing’s belief stemmed naturally from the influence of the Bright Shrine. As an outsider to the entire event, her attitude differed from those who had lived through it personally.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then what about a hundred thousand years later? Kunlun Realm cultivators in Heaven Court are targeted by the Heaven Realm faction. On the Kunlun Realm merit battlefield, they are plundered and oppressed.”
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “Are only the Heaven Realm faction oppressing and plundering Kunlun Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen stared at her.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “What I wish to say is that the law of the jungle is a reality no one can change. Those bullying Kunlun Realm are not merely the Heaven Realm faction. It is all powers stronger than Kunlun Realm.”
“Just like if a sect in your Kunlun Realm suddenly declined, it would inevitably be oppressed and devoured by other powerful sects. As a god of Kunlun Realm, what would you do? Such things happen every day, every moment. Can you manage them all? Would you even try?”
“No great world, no faction, survives on the sympathy of others.”
