Upon hearing that the Blood Empress was gravely wounded and that Prajna had been ambushed and gone missing, Zhang Ruochen felt intense heartache, yet he had no choice but to prioritise the greater matter and head first to the Fire Ghost Clan.
If he did not deliver a severe lesson to those people this time, they would only grow more brazen in future.
As for the Blood Absolutes War God, Zhang Ruochen felt no worry at all. With his maternal grandfather’s methods, if he could not even settle matters within the Undying Blood Race, how could he lead an entire clan?
Before stepping into the teleportation array, Zhang Ruochen swallowed the third Taiyi Divine Pill.
With the situation growing ever more turbulent and enemies ever more frenzied, only formidable cultivation could meet the challenge.
Though both the Yasha ancestral realm and the Fire Ghost ancestral realm lay on the edge of the Hell Realm, within the same star domain, the distance was immense. After three consecutive teleports, Zhang Ruochen and Lord Ailian finally arrived.
That Lord Ailian dared to risk danger alongside him earned Zhang Ruochen’s genuine admiration.
“Brother Ailian trusts so fully that I can certainly persuade the Fire Ghost Clan?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Lord Ailian smiled. “In the border regions of the Hell Realm, up to now, it is still the one on Xing Tian Ya who holds final say.”
Zhang Ruochen immediately realised he had overthought it. What others trusted was not him at all, but the Star Sea Angler.
In the end, one’s own strength was the true foundation for standing between heaven and earth.
To participate in this cosmic struggle for dominance, his current cultivation was still somewhat insufficient. He could only borrow momentum. Borrowing momentum, in truth, revealed one’s own weakness.
…
The Fire Ghost Clan’s ancestral realm was an enormous star, over ten thousand times larger than ordinary stars, yet its light was not bright, and its temperature was not high.
Around the star stretched a ring nine billion li in diameter.
Countless small planets were scattered across this ring, all shrouded in ghostly qi, serving as the living places of the Fire Ghost clansmen.
Only the strongest among the Fire Ghost Clan could withstand the surface temperature of the star and ascend to cultivate there.
Zhang Ruochen and Lord Ailian landed on the star and reached the Ghost King Palace. A divine general nine metres tall, stationed outside, directly invited them in.
“The Fire Ghost Clan is this courteous? I thought we would be refused at the gates,” Zhang Ruochen said with a laugh.
Lord Ailian sensed something unusual and said cautiously, “Could it be a trap?”
Zhang Ruochen felt no tension at all. Even if the Fire Ghost Clan had truly allied with the Darkness Temple and sought to capture him, it would not be a great concern.
So long as the Fire Ghost King did not act personally, he still had confidence in escaping.
Upon entering the Ghost King Palace and seeing the blue-robed beauty seated within, Zhang Ruochen understood why their entry had been so smooth.
The blue-robed beauty wore a veil, yet it could not conceal her peerless grace. She seemed like an immortal banished from a painting, or an elf among clouds, with an added mysterious, hazy allure. Who else could it be but Bai Qing’er?
Bai Qing’er fixed her gaze on the entering Zhang Ruochen, examining him closely. Once confirmed it was his true body, a faint smile appeared in her eyes. “Ruochen has finally reached the great god level. It seems the journey to the Dark Triangle Star Domain yielded considerable opportunities.”
Seeing Bai Qing’er seated in the palace, Lord Ailian guessed the reason for her presence here.
Yet they had only just decided to take action in the City of Hundred Clans. How had Bai Qing’er arrived at the Fire Ghost Clan ahead of them? This woman truly was one of the foremost extraordinary talents of this Yuan Hui. Her far-reaching vision and profound intellect were breathtaking.
“Do not mention it. This time I lost all face. I do not know how I can stand in the universe from now on,” Zhang Ruochen sighed.
Bai Qing’er said, “Is that so? All I know is that the name of the Romantic Sword God has become even more renowned. I fear it will be remembered for all eternity.”
A great god sleeping with a Heaven’s Heavenly Concubine truly had the potential to be eternally famed.
This was not the moment to discuss such things. Even if Bai Qing’er harboured dissatisfaction, she had to set it aside for now. “I was just speaking with Clan Leader Xuan Mian about the Sword Realm. Has there been any result?”
Could matters concerning the Sword Realm be openly discussed?
Only the highest existences among the three great clans would likely qualify to know.
Understanding the gravity, Lord Ailian prepared to withdraw from the Ghost King Palace.
Zhang Ruochen stopped him. “Brother Ailian is a friend this Realm Venerable trusts completely. There is no need to avoid him.”
Seeing sincerity in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, Lord Ailian felt a tremendous surge in his heart and immediately bowed deeply.
Zhang Ruochen could tell that Bai Qing’er and Clan Leader Xuan Mian had already nearly concluded their talks. Mentioning the Sword Realm was likely the final clinching blow.
After all, this concerned the Fire Ghost Clan’s future path of retreat.
In the Ghost King Palace, besides Bai Qing’er and the Fire Ghost Clan Leader Xuan Mian, two more gods with profound auras sat shrouded in dense ghostly mist. Both were ancient gods who had cultivated for hundreds of thousands of years.
They were Great God Yu Qing and Great God Yun Xu.
Both were top figures beneath the Fire Ghost King.
These two ancient gods of exceedingly profound mental states now opened their eyes and looked towards Zhang Ruochen. The allure of the Sword Realm was evident.
Zhang Ruochen said, “The Sword Realm is inferior to Heaven Court, yet its cultivation environment far surpasses Heaven Court.”
“You truly found the Sword Realm?” Great God Yu Qing’s voice was hoarse yet filled with excitement.
Zhang Ruochen brimmed with confidence. “If even I cannot find the Sword Realm, then it can only mean the Sword Realm does not exist at all.”
Clan Leader Xuan Mian was a great god of the Taixu Realm, over ten zhang tall, his entire body burning with piercing flames. Eight eyes grew upon him. “Realm Venerable Ruochen says the Sword Realm is inferior to Heaven Court, yet why claim its cultivation environment far exceeds Heaven Court?”
Zhang Ruochen replied, “The density of sacred qi in the Sword Realm and the number of divine veins cannot compare to Heaven Court. However, sacred medicines grow everywhere in the Sword Realm now, and sacred soil and sacred grounds are found wherever one looks. Apart from my two Immeasurable Realm ancestral masters, the number of gods can be counted on one hand. Clan Leader, which do you think offers the better cultivation environment?”
These words both promised benefits to the Fire Ghost Clan and served as deterrence.
Lord Ailian’s heart surged. Such an unknown cultivation paradise truly existed in the universe?
Even if the Sword Realm were only a tenth of Heaven Court, it would still draw countless cultivators to seek refuge with Zhang Ruochen. One must remember that Heaven Court supported gods and Saint Realm cultivators from over eight thousand great worlds, including ancient civilisation factions.
Moreover, from Zhang Ruochen’s words, the Sword Realm was merely inferior to Heaven Court.
If Zhang Ruochen had revealed this information in the Yasha Clan, Lord Ailian was certain his master would have agreed to cooperate immediately, even making considerable concessions.
For this was no longer merely about the Yasha Clan’s survival, but about whether the Yasha Clan could rise again and become a supreme great clan in the universe.
Clan Leader Xuan Mian controlled his inner excitement. “Good. With Realm Venerable Ruochen’s words, from now on, whatever action Xing Huan Tian takes, the Fire Ghost Clan will surely offer full support.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Clan Leader trusts me so completely? Not worried I might deceive you?”
Clan Leader Xuan Mian smiled without speaking.
They did not linger long in the Ghost King Palace. Soon, Zhang Ruochen, Bai Qing’er, and Lord Ailian took their leave.
Only then did Zhang Ruochen voice the doubt in his heart. “The Fire Ghost Clan’s power is vast and immensely strong. They would never willingly submit to others. How exactly did you persuade them?”
Bai Qing’er was cold and peerlessly beautiful, her voice devoid of worldly warmth. “Are you not curious why, though both are ghost clans, the Fire Ghost Clan is not part of the Hell Realm’s ghost clans?”
“I have heard something of this. The ghost clans were born along the Three Paths River basin, while the Fire Ghost Clan was born on this star called Yan Hai. In the eyes of the ghost clans, the Fire Ghost Clan are heretics,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Bai Qing’er replied, “Not merely heretics, but food. The fastest way for ghost clans to raise cultivation is to devour other ghost clans. As far back as the era of the Xing Huan Heavenly Venerate, the Fire Ghost Clan already received protection from Xing Huan Tian. Over these millions of years, whenever they faced great crises, it was Xing Tian Ya that resolved them.”
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood. Indeed, since Xing Tian Ya held transcendent status in the Hell Realm’s border regions, how could it lack influence in the City of Hundred Clans?
No wonder Clan Leader Xuan Mian had earlier only smiled without speaking. Whether or not Zhang Ruochen had found the Sword Realm, the Fire Ghost Clan had no choice.
But with the Sword Realm as a future retreat, the Fire Ghost Clan could willingly offer full support to Zhang Ruochen.
It was also no wonder Bai Qing’er did not mind letting the Fire Ghost Clan know the secret of the Sword Realm.
Bai Qing’er’s jade-like neck was long and proud as a swan. She gazed at Zhang Ruochen. “You should not have provoked Wuyue. Because of this impulsive act of yours, you completely disrupted Master and the others’ arrangements and plans. Many matters had to be advanced prematurely. The risks have greatly increased as a result.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “You truly believe it was a moment of impulse on my part, lust clouding my judgment, that led to this grave error?”
“Wuyue is so proud, her spiritual power so high. Could it possibly have been her who took the initiative?” Bai Qing’er did not conceal the annoyance in her eyes.
Zhang Ruochen looked away. “Back in the Origin Temple, you were just as proud…”
“Do not say another word.”
Bai Qing’er wore a veil, so her expression could not be seen. “I cannot be bothered with this matter anyway. In any case, there are certainly others who mind it more than I do. We shall see how you get past them when the time comes. Speak. How do you plan to break the deadlock? The Divine Maidens’ Twelve Mansions have already suffered heavy losses. The dead are dead, the captured are captured. If action is not taken soon, I fear every Divine Maiden Tower in the Hell Realm will be destroyed.”
“We break the deadlock in the most unyielding way. Tooth for tooth, blood for blood.”
Killing intent already surged in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. “You need not involve yourself in this. Return first to Xing Huan Tian.”
With that, Zhang Ruochen took out a Taiyi Divine Pill and handed it to her.
Bai Qing’er accepted the Taiyi Divine Pill, yet showed no joy.
When a man offered favours without cause, it was either treachery or theft.
Her expression darkened. “You are not going to tell me that the Heavenly Venerate Treasure Gauze was taken by Wuyue, are you?”
Zhang Ruochen had not expected Bai Qing’er’s insight to reach such a level. From merely receiving a divine pill, she had discerned the clue. He immediately regretted it.
“Rest assured. I will make her return it with interest,” he said.
Bai Qing’er’s emotions slipped her control. She hurled the Taiyi Divine Pill at Zhang Ruochen, but halfway through the motion, she withdrew it. Coldly, she said, “Men truly cannot be relied upon.”
She tossed a fist-sized divine palace to Zhang Ruochen and departed angrily through the void.
Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh, but after probing the interior of the divine palace with spiritual power, joy appeared on his face.
Lord Ailian, who had stood awkwardly to the side, finally breathed a sigh of relief and offered consolation. “Miss Qing’er is a foremost extraordinary woman of this world. She will surely understand Brother Ruochen’s difficulties. I believe she will soon see reason.”
