“Does even Great God Xuanyuan believe Shang Hong’s words and wish to probe this poor daoist’s divine realm world?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Still acting?
Unexpectedly addressing her as Great God Xuanyuan, was this feigned anger?
How did Zhang Ruochen have the face to be angry?
Xuanyuan Qing said, “The implications behind this matter are vast. It involves far more than just two great gods, so caution is advisable. Daoist friend, rest assured. This seat can swear on the Tianzun’s reputation that any secrets discovered will never be revealed to a third party.”
She was doing this for two reasons. First, Zhang Ruochen was simply too adept at stirring trouble. He had dug pitfalls for her, used her as a shield, and still wanted to rescue Blood Butcher.
Did he truly think the daughter of a Tianzun was easy to bully?
Second, Xuanyuan Qing was genuinely very curious about Zhang Ruochen.
This fellow was profoundly unfathomable, harbouring countless secrets. Why not take this opportunity to probe a little?
If anyone was to blame, it was he himself for insisting on saving Blood Butcher. Otherwise, how would she have gained this chance?
Of course, it was not merely curiosity.
Xuanyuan Qing was more concerned about whether Qingtian’s crippling of Zhang Ruochen’s martial cultivation had involved some vast conspiracy. Was it all an act?
After all, Zhang Ruochen had so many schemes.
After all, the one on Xinghuan Heaven was Qingtian’s chief disciple.
This concerned whether she should continue to maintain good relations with Zhang Ruochen in future, and whether the Heavenly Court should immediately eradicate Xinghuan Heaven.
If Zhang Ruochen had truly acknowledged a thief as father and pledged allegiance to Qingtian, and if the one on Xinghuan Heaven had not truly broken with Qingtian, the consequences would be extremely grave.
“Very well. Excellent.”
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward and slightly cupped his hands towards Feng Xi. “Many thanks to Daoist friend Xi for speaking on this poor daoist’s behalf. The clear prove themselves clear, the turbid prove themselves turbid.”
Then his gaze turned to glare angrily at Xuanyuan Qing. “Since even the daughter of the Tianzun doubts this poor daoist, if I do not unfold my divine realm world and allow your probe, would I not truly be falsely accused? But if the divine realm world is probed and Blood Butcher is not found, what then?”
Shang Hong knew he had no other retreat. He said, “If that is the case, this seat will accept any disposition and speak not another word.”
Jialin Nan stepped forward and smiled. “In truth, there is no need to escalate to this point. There is still one cultivator present who can serve as a witness.”
Only then did the gods’ gazes fall upon Lian Xi.
Before a group of true gods, Lian Xi, a mere demigod, was truly unremarkable.
Feng Xuan said, “This woman arrived with Shang Hong. She will inevitably favour him. Are her words credible?”
Jialin Nan replied, “This god did not say to question her. Directly searching her soul would suffice, would it not?”
The assembled Feng Clan gods all wore strange expressions, inwardly remarking that the gods of the Temple of Light were truly ruthless.
Soul-searching would cause enormous damage to a cultivator’s potential.
The higher the cultivator’s talent, the greater the impact after soul-searching.
Lian Xi was one of the foremost secular powerhouses of the Temple of Light, yet in Jialin Nan’s eyes she was no different from a mortal. He spoke of soul-searching so lightly.
What if, after soul-searching, her soul spirit was damaged and she could not survive the divine tribulation?
Zhang Ruochen gave a cold snort and cursed, “A beast utterly devoid of human feeling, actually targeting a young girl. This poor daoist dares assert that this young girl must be the tool you have prepared to use against me. Whatever sinister moves you have, direct them at this poor daoist. Is it not merely probing a divine realm world?”
Whoosh!
Zhang Ruochen stamped his foot, releasing divine qi and regulative divine patterns.
At once, a divine realm world of green mountains and clear waters gradually took shape, extending into the distance.
Zhang Ruochen had never deliberately cultivated his divine realm world, yet he could, relying on the Taiji dual aspects, casually condense any form of divine realm world he wished. After all, the paths he had comprehended numbered more than ten thousand.
Watching Xuanyuan Qing and Qingpingzi enter the divine realm world, Shang Hong’s gaze shifted to Lian Xi, a cold smile appearing on his face. It seemed this servant held no small weight in Zhang Ruochen’s heart.
If Xuanyuan Qing found Blood Butcher within the divine realm world, Zhang Ruochen would surely break completely with her.
At that moment, he could immediately seize Lian Xi and hurl her into the battlefield of great gods’ clashes. That should exert some influence on Zhang Ruochen.
Lian Xi’s expression was calm as still water, yet in her heart she had seen through the true faces of these Temple of Light gods. Jialin Nan wanted to search her soul and sacrifice her to deal with Zhang Ruochen, yet no one spoke in her defence.
Instead, it was Zhang Ruochen who had stood forth.
This fellow who had once made her loathe him, who had treated her as a maidservant and tormented her incessantly, why was he protecting her so?
Still as domineering as in Hell Realm…
Yet she liked it so much.
Lian Xi already harboured a near-twisted affection for Zhang Ruochen. Now there was added a genuine heartfelt warmth.
Like a little lamb that had run away from home, bullied outside where anyone could kick it, anyone wanted to stew and eat it, everyone mocked it. Only the old ram at home, who had often scolded it, could stand out to shelter it from wind and rain, treating it as a lamb rather than food.
In truth, Lian Xi was well aware that in the events of Hell Realm, neither she nor Zhang Ruochen had had choices. They had merely preserved and used each other.
Had she not used Zhang Ruochen’s status to preserve herself, she would long ago have been devoured alive in Hell Realm.
As a woman who had once sought to kill Zhang Ruochen and been captured by him, she could not demand more.
Yet Zhang Ruochen had still released her, given her the Sword of Judgement, and now protected her again. Did this mean that in his heart he did not merely regard her as a lamb? A servant?
Ripples of joy spread across the lake of Lian Xi’s heart.
Entering the divine realm world, Xuanyuan Qing first glanced at the spatial ring Zhang Ruochen wore. With one look she saw through everything stored within, all manner of miscellaneous items.
What of a Zhentian-level supreme sacred artefact?
Xuanyuan Qing held it in no regard.
The truly valuable items, the great secrets, must be concealed within the divine realm world.
Yet after probing around, Xuanyuan Qing found nothing of value in Zhang Ruochen’s divine realm world, only treasures long known to the world’s cultivators. She could not help feeling some disappointment.
Xuanyuan Qing said irritably, “Speak, then. Exactly where have you hidden Blood Butcher?”
“Released by Shang Hong,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
“Still pretending?”
Xuanyuan Qing shot him a cold glance, then suddenly noticed something. “Take off your clothes.”
“You have already probed my divine realm world and learned all my secrets. Must you not even spare the final one?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Black lines appeared on Xuanyuan Qing’s forehead. “This seat refers to the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe.”
“Very well.”
Zhang Ruochen removed the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe and handed it to her.
Xuanyuan Qing carefully examined the divine arrays and hidden spaces within the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe, yet found only the bead she herself had given Zhang Ruochen containing the Son of the Ice Emperor and the Ancestral Realm Lord. She was inwardly astonished.
For she was certain Blood Butcher had been rescued by Zhang Ruochen.
Where exactly had he hidden him?
“May I have it back now?”
Zhang Ruochen reached out to reclaim it.
“This treasured robe belongs to the Heavenly Court and should be returned to the Yin Yang Realm. Since you rescued Blood Butcher, you must pay some price,” Xuanyuan Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression darkened. “If you put it that way, take the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe. But the lives of Shang Hong and Jialin Nan, I will claim. Even the Tianzun cannot preserve them.”
“Are you threatening this seat?”
Beneath Xuanyuan Qing’s veil, those bright eyes, sharply divided between black and white, grew increasingly piercing as she met his gaze.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Of course I dare not. Great God Xuanyuan need only expose my identity and personally act, uniting with the gods aboard the Xufeng Divine Ship. That would suffice to put me to death.”
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen changed tack. “Yet there is no wall without a chink. Should this matter leak out, Xinghuan Heaven and Xing Tian Ya would immediately throw in with Hell Realm.”
He claimed he dared not, yet every sentence was a threat.
Only with cards in hand could they stand as equals, contend sharply, and bargain.
In the past, what qualification had Zhang Ruochen possessed to bargain with Xuanyuan Qing?
Xuanyuan Qing glared at him. “Hmph. Even if this seat returned the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe to you, you would not spare Shang Hong and Jialin Nan.”
“Correct.”
Zhang Ruochen admitted frankly, “Knowing my martial cultivation remains intact and that I have stepped into the great god level, how could I leave them alive? Yet there is a difference.”
“What difference?” Xuanyuan Qing asked.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe in her hands and smiled. “If Great God Xuanyuan insists on reclaiming this rag, I will find a way to force you to kill Shang Hong. I believe the weight of Xinghuan Heaven far exceeds one Shang Hong. You will not fall out with me.”
“You are too presumptuous. I will never compromise with you. That would only make you push further,” Xuanyuan Qing said with a cold laugh.
“Listen to me finish.”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “If Great God Xuanyuan returns this rag to me, I will let the matter drop today. Afterwards, whether I can kill Shang Hong and Jialin Nan in the Dark Grand Triangle Star Domain will depend entirely on my own ability. What say you?”
Xuanyuan Qing’s snowy teeth bit out points of chilly starlight. “Good, good, excellent. Declaring who you will kill as you please. This seat wishes to see just how great Zhang Ruochen’s abilities are. Take it. Who cares for your rag.”
Zhang Ruochen picked up the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe. His eyelids drooped as he pondered a moment, then he handed this treasured robe, nearing sub-divine supreme sacred artefact level, to Xuanyuan Qing.
“What are you doing?” Xuanyuan Qing asked, puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Naturally, gifting it to Miss Qing. Rainbow robes for beauties, treasured swords for heroes. Back then Miss Qing intended to give me the Sword of Light. Though I refused, I have remembered that kindness in my heart.”
Xuanyuan Qing was stunned. She truly could not comprehend Zhang Ruochen’s manoeuvre.
Moments earlier, over the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe, they had nearly come to complete rupture.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “A treasured robe seized and one actively gifted carry entirely different meanings. Moreover, earlier Miss Qing wished to return it to the Yin Yang Realm. Naturally, I was even less willing.”
Xuanyuan Qing was amused by his words and revealed a smile. “Are you not afraid I will still return it to the Yin Yang Realm?”
“No matter. In any case, my intention has been conveyed. If Miss Qing does not appreciate it, there is nothing to be done,” Zhang Ruochen said with a shrug.
Xuanyuan Qing naturally accepted without demur, taking the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe. “Speak, then. What favour do you seek from me?”
“Lian Xi will surely face hardship henceforth. Help me look after her a little,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xuanyuan Qing found it even harder to understand. She looked at Zhang Ruochen as though he were a monster. “All the world knows she is merely your servant, and she even stole your Sword of Judgement… I understand now. Back then you deliberately gave her the Sword of Judgement and released her to return to the Heavenly Court. Zhang Ruochen, you truly are a romantic. The name Windflow Sword God is well-deserved, provoking one after another, leaving affection everywhere…”
At this point she could say no more, finally sensing something amiss.
She glanced at the Seven Sources Rainbow Robe in her hands.
Yes, leaving affection everywhere, even here with her.
Unfortunately, she, Xuanyuan Qing, was not taken in by such tactics. Let alone one Seven Sources Rainbow Robe, even ten would be useless.
