A thousand years ago, after the Battle of Hunting Heaven, Que’s fame soared, and his master’s identity became widely known. It was no longer a secret.
He was Xu Tian, the Void God Venerable of the Void God Palace, one of the twelve palaces of the Temple of Destiny.
Of course, now he was addressed as “Xu Tian”.
After the Middle Ancient era, the Void God Venerable had resided long in the Great Tribulation Palace, no longer concerning himself with worldly affairs.
His most recent appearance had been during the previous Hell Divine Tide. He had crossed the starry defence line alone and fought the Lord of the Truth Temple until the heavens overturned and the earth went dark. It was said that an ancient demon god from the Truth Temple arrived and joined forces with the Truth Temple Lord, yet even together they could do nothing against him.
As for that ancient demon god…
Rumours claimed he had been excavated from the Dark Demon Well beneath the God-Conferring Platform, a demon god born in the Chaotic Ancient era who bore a striking resemblance to one of the seventy-two pillar demon gods under the Great Demon’s seat. He might even be the same person.
Other rumours said the demon god was an ancient god-demon who had died and been buried at the bottom of the Dark Demon Well, now living a second life.
Opinions varied, each tale more outlandish than the last.
The matter had once caused a sensation in both Heaven and Hell, only subsiding after the Truth Temple Lord personally stepped forward to deny the rumours.
To join forces with the Truth Temple Lord and still contend against Xu Tian showed that ancient demon god was no ordinary existence. His intervention had caused all factions to dredge up rumours from ten thousand years ago once more.
In any case, Xu Tian could disregard the starry defence line, enter the Heavenly Court universe, fight the Truth Temple Lord and the ancient demon god alone, and retreat unscathed. Throughout the entire Hell Realm, few existed on his level.
Do not be deceived by the resounding fame of Wuyue, Xuan Yi, Xue Jue, Huang Tian, Jue Miao, the Famous Sword God, and Feng Yunba, who dominated the universe. Before a figure like Xu Tian, they were mere juniors.
In that battle in the outer starry sky, the Truth Temple Lord stood motionless while Huang Tian swung his axe, only to be flung back hundreds of li by the rebound.
Why did Zhang Ruochen feel such dread upon hearing Xu Tian summon him?
Not because Xu Tian’s cultivation was so terrifying, but because Zhang Ruochen knew Xu Tian had once been defeated by Saint Monk Xumi, and the two had formed a deep grudge. If the enmity were not profound, why would Xu Tian have created the Void Heaven Sword Technique solely to counter Saint Monk Xumi’s Time Sword Technique?
As the successor of Saint Monk Xumi, Zhang Ruochen naturally had to bear the consequences of that karma.
Yet soon his expression recovered. Inwardly he thought, “If Xu Tian truly intended to act, he would have crushed me long ago. Why send Que to summon me?”
Still, he could not let his guard down.
Who knew what a heavenly-level figure like this might be thinking?
If he truly deemed Zhang Ruochen a threat, it would be strange if he did not kill him.
Watching Zhang Ruochen fly away with Que, Xue Tu laughed carelessly. “Why do you all look so grim? With Lady Tianmu here, what is there to worry about? Did you not see? Xu Tian showed restraint out of respect for Lady Tianmu. He has no intention of acting. He merely wishes to meet him.”
Amur’s expression eased slightly. “Indeed. Were it not for Lady Tianmu’s presence, today would have been perilous.”
All the gods present grew even more convinced that Lady Tianmu was undoubtedly inside the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot.
Xiao Hei gave a cold snort. “It seems Xu Tian and Lady Tianmu do not get along. They are both here, yet they exchanged not a word.”
Yuling God cast a disdainful glance. “Exchanges at their level are beyond what we can see or hear.”
“That is what is meant by kings not meeting kings!” Xue Tu declared, as though he understood perfectly.
Inside the white-feathered peacock sacred chariot, Luo Ji, clad in the Heavenly Venerable Treasure Gauze, furrowed her brows in acute anxiety. She knew Zhang Ruochen’s journey this time would be fraught with danger and wished to drive the chariot in pursuit at once.
Yet she realised that before an existence like Xu Tian, she could offer no help. She might not even be able to approach.
In the past, she would only cause trouble for Zhang Ruochen.
The Heavenly Venerable Treasure Gauze might intimidate Wuyue, but before Xu Tian it was mere child’s play, utterly insignificant.
“Since Xu Tian did not strike directly, he must still be uncertain whether to kill him. Ruochen should be able to handle it. He certainly can…” Luo Ji’s brows remained tightly knit, her heart filled with both worry and self-reproach.
This expedition to the Dark Triangle Star Domain had proven far more perilous than she had imagined.
All for the sake of the Tianchu Civilisation.
If Zhang Ruochen were killed by the Void God Venerable, she would live forever in guilt.
…
Xu Tian was not as ferocious and terrifying as Zhang Ruochen had imagined. Instead he carried a somewhat immortal, daoist aura, with white beard and hair, kind brows and gentle eyes. His gaze was not particularly sharp, though his burly frame somewhat diluted the immortal air.
To Zhang Ruochen’s surprise, the Nether King was also present.
“I pay my respects to Xu Tian.” Zhang Ruochen bowed with utmost courtesy.
“Your sword gall is passable, but too much time has passed, and it has diminished greatly. It cannot compare to the boldness and sword momentum of the Sword Ancestor when he lived.”
Xu Tian stood in the void, as though space and time themselves were frozen, yet no divine power emanated from him. He seemed no different from an ordinary robust elder. He offered this brief appraisal, ignoring the Nether King no longer, and turned to Zhang Ruochen. “Release the sword souls. Let this old man see them.”
Zhang Ruochen dared not disobey and released the seven soul swords of the Sword Ancestor.
Sword gall represented sword momentum.
Sword souls represented the spirit of the sword.
Xu Tian gazed at the seven soul swords for a moment, then clenched his five fingers. The seven swords merged into one, forming a three-chi light sword that seemed almost solid. Around the blade, sword dao rules densely wove like a spider’s web.
The sword rang out with a piercing clamour.
Xu Tian shook his head, waved his arm, and the soul swords separated once more into seven. “Like the sword gall, they have diminished severely. They hold no value. Put them away.”
Zhang Ruochen retrieved the seven soul swords, his face burning with embarrassment.
These seven soul swords were treasures of the sword dao, their full power still beyond even his current cultivation. Even the Famous Sword God coveted them.
Yet in Xu Tian’s eyes, they were worthless.
“Swoosh!”
The Qingping Sword flew out beyond Zhang Ruochen’s control and landed in Xu Tian’s hand.
His sword forcibly taken, Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly but could only restrain himself.
At the same time he was deeply curious why Xu Tian would be interested in a secondary god-level sword when he clearly carried six divine swords himself.
Xu Tian held the sword in his right hand, his left stroking the blade. His turbid eyes grew brighter and brighter. In his twin pupils appeared two utterly contrasting scenes: an ocean of stars in one, endless darkness in the other.
“Good lad. He even erased all traces of the sword and its spirit. It seems there is no shortcut.” Xu Tian suddenly laughed.
Que and the Nether King looked towards Zhang Ruochen, assuming the “good lad” referred to him.
But Zhang Ruochen knew it was not.
The “good lad” Xu Tian spoke of was surely Shang Qing.
Could Xu Tian be using the Qingping Sword as a lead to locate the Sword Realm?
Xu Tian was not merely an Immeasurable realm martial dao supreme. His spiritual force had also reached flawless perfection.
The “Void Great Tribulation Palace”, one of the Hell Realm’s four great spiritual force titans, referred to him.
Xu Tian’s smile faded. “Indeed. If the Qingping Sword alone could lead to the Sword Realm, old man Hua Ying would have gone himself long ago. Zhang Ruochen, you seem rather displeased?”
Zhang Ruochen knew his thoughts had been seen through. “Senior, you are a heaven of the Hell Realm, yet you forcibly seize a junior’s sword. Am I not even allowed a trace of discontent?”
“Ruochen, you must not be insolent before Xu Tian.” The Nether King rebuked.
It sounded like a reprimand, but in truth he feared Zhang Ruochen might anger the unpredictable Xu Tian.
Que was inwardly shocked. Even he, Xu Tian’s sole disciple, would not dare speak back in such a way.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Though I am displeased, I am also convinced. Senior is a heaven. Even divine artefacts are yours for the taking.”
Xu Tian’s gaze turned cold. “Young one, do not be discontent. Do you know this Qingping Sword was forged by this old man himself? If we speak strictly, this old man is its true master.”
Zhang Ruochen was inwardly startled and looked at Xu Tian.
The Qingping Sword was forged by him?
Holding the Qingping Sword, Xu Tian recounted coldly, “When Xumi was young, he was dazzlingly brilliant and had a heavenly venerable father. Wherever he went, he drew all eyes, and all beings knelt in worship. Many women this old man once fancied had their souls stolen by him. It filled one with jealousy. Yet that fellow cherished nothing. In the end he abandoned home and child to become a monk. Tell me, is that not infuriating?”
Zhang Ruochen knew Xu Tian was not truly asking him, so he remained silent.
Xu Tian continued, “Stealing my women when young was bad enough, but after becoming a monk he deliberately opposed the Hell Realm, vowing that until Hell was emptied he would not achieve Buddhahood. Had Immortal King Daming and Ling Yanzi still lived, this old man might not have dared provoke him. But alone, what was there to fear?”
“Unfortunately, that fellow did have some ability. Though he always claimed to cultivate Buddhism and was unwilling to fight this old man, he still beat me black and blue every time.”
“Later, when he fused sword dao with the dao of time and created Time Sword Technique, he became even more formidable. This old man was no longer his match. Tell me, why does a monk need to cultivate the sword? Is that not shameless?”
“No rule states that cultivators of Buddhism cannot practise sword dao. Perhaps the saint monk was forced to it by you.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Tian’s gaze deepened. “You are right there. If even Buddhists can cultivate sword dao, why can this old man not? To master the sword, this old man once sent an incarnation to study in the Liangyi Sect for three thousand years, comprehending the Wordless Sword Manual up to Sword Twenty. Such sword dao talent even Xumi could not match.”
“This old man has never owed anyone a favour in his life. After comprehending the sword, I tossed the Qingping Sword I had forged to that little bastard Shang Qing. Then I fought Xumi once more. Damn it, I lost again!”
Zhang Ruochen and the Nether King had grown accustomed to Xu Tian’s foul mouth, even cursing himself, so they remained unmoved.
Que’s face twitched incessantly, as though only today seeing his master’s true nature.
At Xu Tian’s level of cultivation, there was no need for pretence. He thought as he wished and spoke as he wished. This was true return to simplicity.
“Another hundred thousand years passed. This old man comprehended Sword Twenty-One and Sword Twenty-Two, and with the dao of void reaching great completion, I believed victory assured. Yet alas, I lost by a single sword.”
Xu Tian laughed darkly. “Though defeated this time, the margin was small. Moreover, I had already glimpsed the outline of Sword Twenty-Three. I believed that once I mastered Sword Twenty-Three, I could surely defeat him and wipe away past shame.”
