Zhang Ruochen remained composed. “Who does not wish to appear younger? This poor daoist simply prefers this current appearance.”
A Feng clan god smiled. “It is because dao friend Xi likes it, is it not?”
Clearly, the words “dao friend Xi” were deliberately imitating Zhang Ruochen’s manner of speech.
Feng Xi’s face grew even paler. Feng Yan felt deep sympathy for her. He had urged Zhang Ruochen to board the Xu Feng Godship earlier purely because the Continent of Gods was dangerous. He feared Zhang Ruochen becoming caught in the vortex of an Immensity realm great god’s battle.
Moreover, with Feng Xuan and the others having recognised “Qing Ping Zi”, how could they not invite him aboard?
The current situation was precisely what Feng Yan least wished to see.
He knew his sister’s temperament. In all these years she had never been moved by any man. Finally encountering a righteous, upright Qing Ping Zi who hated evil as his enemy, who had saved her from peril multiple times, whose character matched hers, with whom she could discuss scriptures and dao.
Especially after Feng Yun Ba’s fall, Qing Ping Zi, whose personality greatly resembled Feng Yun Ba’s, had stirred an additional special emotion in Feng Xi’s heart.
Who could have imagined that this Qing Ping Zi was actually Zhang Ruochen?
Towards Zhang Ruochen, his sister perhaps harboured no hatred, nor even dislike. Yet Zhang Ruochen was simply not the Qing Ping Zi in her heart. Many illusions had shattered because of this.
It was a heavy blow.
Recalling the confrontation between Qing Ping Zi and Shang Hong that year, would his sister feel that Zhang Ruochen had deliberately used her? Used the Feng clan?
Of course, Feng Yan carried an even greater worry.
During the time big brother and sister had spent together, had truly nothing happened?
“Daozhang, let us go. Help me activate the Pure Yang Divine Sword.”
Feng Yan came to Zhang Ruochen’s rescue.
“Good.”
Zhang Ruochen agreed at once and flew out of the Xu Feng Godship with Feng Yan.
Xuan Yuan Qing watched Zhang Ruochen flee in defeat and revealed a triumphant smile beneath her veil. She had finally exacted revenge. “I shall go too.”
“Tell your sister that in those matters of the past, I was also compelled. I never intended to use her,” Zhang Ruochen transmitted to Feng Yan.
Feng Yan sighed. “I never expected your identity to be exposed in this manner. Yet some words must come from you to untie the knot in her heart. You cannot keep avoiding it as you did today. I always feel I have wronged sister.”
Feng Yan knew his sister’s character well. This matter would surely strike her hard. It could affect her future cultivation, lead her into a dead end, greatly alter her temperament, turn love to hate, or even cause her to suffer qi deviation.
He would never allow such a thing.
Zhang Ruochen recognised the gravity of the situation and thus agreed. Yet he did not believe he had done anything wrong. He acted purely out of regard for his brother Feng Yan, and also because he did not wish Feng Xi to meet misfortune on his account.
Xuan Yuan Qing flew over, her body radiating brilliant divine light, pure and transcendent. “What exactly is that demonic god? Is it truly the resurrection of one of the seventy-two pillar demonic gods of the Primordial Chaos era?”
Zhang Ruochen concealed nothing from them. He outlined the situation with the pink skeleton. “It is all my fault. I was too arrogant. Otherwise her divine soul should have continued sleeping.”
“Yan Hong Great Saint came from the Temple of Destiny and was even one of the goddess candidates a thousand years ago. Surely some god investigated the secrets within her skull?” Feng Yan was curious.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “A mere Great Saint. To attract a Heaven Mending realm true god’s scrutiny would already be remarkable. Even a Heaven Mending realm true god could not approach that blood lake. What could they detect? Perhaps some harboured selfish motives and concealed the secret.”
“A divine soul preserved in a blood lake… What manner of divine blood could preserve a god’s divine soul for so many years?” Xuan Yuan Qing pondered briefly, then seemed to recall something. Her expression changed dramatically.
Zhang Ruochen noticed the shift. “What is it? What did you think of?”
“Nothing.”
Xuan Yuan Qing shook her head, yet doubt lingered between her brows. “Among the seventy-two pillar demonic gods, Fei Ma King was not particularly ferocious. Her temperament was considered relatively mild.”
“Have you misunderstood the meaning of ferocious and mild?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Feng Yan also looked at her.
At that moment, scorched earth spread across the Continent of Gods in patches ten thousand miles wide. Demonic qi gave rise to countless black ferocious beasts. Wherever they passed, fertile fields turned to desert. The beings slain by Fei Ma King were innumerable.
This was the first time Zhang Ruochen had personally witnessed so many lives perish before his eyes. Their bodies burst like beans, turning into masses of blood qi that all flew towards Fei Ma King.
It was also his first glimpse of the terrifying destructive power of a peak great god. To annihilate a realm was truly not overly difficult.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, “I speak of Fei Ma King in the Primordial Chaos era. At least historical records describe her thus.”
“How can historical records be trusted? The Primordial Chaos era was the darkest chapter in cosmic history. Countless great worlds were slaughtered empty. Both living and undead beings sharply declined in number. Which demonic fiend possessed a mild temperament?” Coldness appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.
Though Zhang Ruochen possessed a heart broad as the sea, embracing all things, he clearly understood that with his current cultivation, he could not alter the cruel law of survival where the weak fell prey to the strong.
At least until he possessed such power, he could only do what lay within his ability. He had no intention of overreaching to play saviour.
Yet Fei Ma King sought to annihilate an entire realm.
How was this the law of the jungle?
This was destruction of a star domain’s ecology. Even in the cruel hell realm, such a thing would not be permitted.
But was Fei Ma King wrong?
No.
She merely wished to restore her cultivation swiftly to face threats from all sides. Otherwise Xiu Chen Heavenly God would kill her, not to mention that Xuan Yuan Lian had now acted.
In her view, perhaps it was the honour of these ants to become blood qi and aid her recovery.
The golden chariot had already charged into the demonic clouds and collided with Fei Ma King. Space shattered across hundreds of thousands of miles.
Seizing the opportunity, Xuan Yuan Lian dragged Fei Ma King into the void world. He unleashed the Brilliant Divine Sword. It clashed with the Universe Cauldron struck by Fei Ma King.
For some reason, Fei Ma King could not mobilise the spatial power of the Universe Cauldron. Even infusing it with continuous demonic qi merely caused the cauldron to assume its true size, reaching ten thousand metres in height.
As for weight…
From a single clash that sent the Brilliant Divine Sword flying, one could imagine the cauldron’s weight likely far exceeded a constant star.
Merely condensed into ten thousand metres, it could contend with a divine artefact.
Xuan Yuan Lian was extraordinary. Though he remained within the chariot, he drew upon boundless rules of heaven and earth through profound mysteries of time and sword dao. The Brilliant Divine Sword manifested time sword arts.
The might of the divine artefact erupted fully. Its light blindingly intense.
Waves of time force and sword qi pressed down overwhelmingly, one after another. They drove Fei Ma King into steady retreat, leaving her struggling to parry.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God also charged into the void world. She conjured a sea of time and wielded a white divine cord. Striking repeatedly, she sought to seize the Universe Cauldron amid the chaos.
Zhang Ruochen, Xuan Yuan Qing, and Feng Yan flew to the edge of this shattered and chaotic spacetime. They did not rashly enter.
“He who obtains the nine cauldrons commands the world. With the Universe Cauldron emerging, it will surely draw Tian-level figures. Xiu Chen truly courts death to covet such a treasure,” Xuan Yuan Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. “Xiu Chen indeed possesses great destiny. I know not from whence she obtained the Universe Cauldron. Unfortunately an unexpected Fei Ma King appeared. Whether your brother is handsome or ugly, at this critical juncture, why does he still sit within the chariot? Could he be so ugly he dares not show his face?”
Zhang Ruochen had harboured this doubt since the Tian Chu Civilisation Great World.
Nearly beaten to death by Yu Shen Wang, yet unwilling to emerge from the golden chariot. Just how ugly must he be?
Even Xuan Yuan Qing, saintly as an immortal with excellent mental composure, now wore a face full of frost.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “They say ugly people cause much trouble. From your expression, it seems I have hit the mark. Tell him to stop provoking me, or you will pay a painful price.”
Xuan Yuan Qing naturally knew what “provoking” Zhang Ruochen referred to. Her initial anger diluted by amusement.
Yet she quickly reacted and said coldly, “He provokes you. Why should I pay the price?”
“I currently cannot defeat him,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Xuan Yuan Qing looked at him with disdain. “Can you defeat me?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced sideways, shook his head, and smiled.
Xuan Yuan Qing’s forehead filled with black lines. She felt offended.
Had the Universe Cauldron not emerged, an event of grave import, Xuan Yuan Qing would surely have demanded a battle with Zhang Ruochen to see whence his arrogance stemmed.
Feng Yan stood between them, thoroughly uncomfortable. He had never imagined the noble and aloof Xuan Yuan Qing bickering thus with big brother.
And big brother was formidable indeed, showing not the slightest respect for the son and daughter of a Heavenly Venerable. He had even uttered threats.
Even with the Pure Yang Divine Sword’s sword spirit revived, and Feng Yan certain to become the future Feng clan chief, he treated Xuan Yuan Lian and Xuan Yuan Qing with great respect, always bowing upon meeting.
“Fei Ma King is too terrifying. Her cultivation and battle power continue rising. Big brother, Miss Qing, lend me your aid.”
Feng Yan raised the Pure Yang Divine Sword.
Zhang Ruochen and Xuan Yuan Qing each struck a palm. Vast divine qi from their bodies surged continuously into the Pure Yang Divine Sword.
“Sizzle.”
The Pure Yang Divine Sword blazed fiercely. Its sword spirit revived, erupting with might that shook the clouds. It slashed into the shattered and chaotic spacetime, striking Fei Ma King.
The Universe Cauldron blocked before her like a heavenly bell rung. It emitted a world-shaking divine tone.
Fei Ma King’s body was hurled backwards, separating from the Universe Cauldron as she plummeted into the depths of the void world.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God’s eyes lit up. She immediately struck with the divine cord, transforming it into a thousand-mile dragon that coiled towards the Universe Cauldron.
“Rumble.”
From the other side, the golden chariot raced swiftly.
Above the chariot condensed a cyan spatial great hand that reached towards the Universe Cauldron.
Just as Zhang Ruochen believed the cauldron would fall into one of their hands, a change occurred.
A brilliant sword light flew from the void at extreme speed, condensing into the figure of Famous Sword God. Grasping the Universe Cauldron, unrestrained mad joy filled his eyes. He immediately fled towards the real world, seeking escape.
“Another covetous one.”
Xiu Chen Heavenly God snorted coldly. She struck a palm, unleashing an Immeasurable-level divine ability. Vast and majestic Asura murderous qi condensed into a five-fingered palm imprint heaven and earth.
“You, a waste lacking even divine source and divine body, also seek to seize the nine cauldrons?”
Famous Sword God’s face revealed disdain. His words were merciless, his actions more so.
One hand held the cauldron. The other raised his sword and slashed. Dragging a divine sword edge hundreds of thousands of miles long, he shattered the five-fingered palm imprint heaven and earth with overwhelming force. The strike exploded one-third of Xiu Chen Heavenly God’s divine soul body.
