Perhaps in the eyes of others, Death God Venerable was recruiting Zhang Ruochen, offering him many benefits.
It was an enormous stroke of fortune, the favour of a Heaven.
Any single promise from Death God Venerable would be enough to make any great god in the hell realm weep with gratitude, immediately kowtow, and swear eternal loyalty to Death Divine Palace.
But to Zhang Ruochen, this was Death God Venerable forcing him to choose between life and death.
Join Death Divine Palace, and live.
Otherwise, die.
Did Death God Venerable truly not care about the backlash from Sumeru Saint Monk’s death?
If she did not care, why remember it? Why deliberately mention it?
Why say words like “If this heaven dies by your hand, so be it”?
It meant she had calculated this matter, foreseen various future possibilities.
In any case, Zhang Ruochen had now reached a level that made her take him seriously. If she did not, she would not have summoned him personally.
The reason she wanted him to join Death Divine Palace might be because she truly had enough confidence to make him submit, like taming a rebellious wild beast, training a fierce hawk. In future, he would revere her as true Heaven, see her as true master.
But was it not also a way to keep him caged?
Only by his side could she fully control him. Left free outside, no one knew when he might grow beyond her ability to handle.
Just like Qing Tian back then only crippling Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation without killing him. Because Qing Tian was confident that no matter how high Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power talent, in the domain of spiritual power, he could never escape his palm.
Thinking deeper, was Death God Venerable not also dismantling the massive forces that might ally behind Zhang Ruochen?
Killing him would cost her dearly.
But recruiting him was bloodless victory.
Whatever the reason, if Zhang Ruochen refused to join Death Divine Palace now, it would reveal his intentions. It would surely provoke Death God Venerable to strike him dead.
But could Zhang Ruochen join Death Divine Palace?
He could not.
Setting aside the torrent of infamy it would bring, causing betrayal and isolation.
Even with Death God Venerable, she would force Zhang Ruochen to do many things against his will and conscience as proof of loyalty, making him completely sever past ties. For example, leading hell realm armies to conquer Hundred Clans King City, Xing Huan Tian, Kunlun realm.
Joining Death Divine Palace meant handing his future fate to Death God Venerable.
At this moment, Death God Venerable appeared to be reasoning, seeming to value Zhang Ruochen’s talent. In reality, Zhang Ruochen was in immense crisis, his life hanging by a thread.
One wrong word, and he would die today.
Under Death Divine Palace’s gaze, Zhang Ruochen’s back was already drenched in cold sweat. He bowed deeply. “Many thanks for Feng Tian’s favour. Ruochen is endlessly grateful. Towards Death Divine Palace and Destiny Temple, Ruochen holds no resentment.”
“With Blood Slaughter, Prajna, Gong Nanfeng, we are as close as siblings. With Qing Feiyu, Que, Xu Rulai, we share gentlemanly friendship. We treat Feng Tian, Fortune God Venerable, Xu Tian as our own elders.”
“If Feng Tian has heard anything, it must be from ill-intentioned villains wishing to borrow a knife to kill. Ruochen has offended too many cultivators in the hell realm!”
“As for Saint Monk, we did meet across space-time, but Saint Monk never asked me to avenge him. Saint Monk spent his life pursuing ‘hell not empty, vow not to become Buddha’. Is hatred not also a hell in the heart?”
“If Saint Monk lived, he would never wish me to cultivate for bloody revenge. He would hope I could resolve the conflict between heaven court and hell realm, stop war, stop slaughter.”
“Ruochen’s vision of ’embracing all rivers, encompassing everything’ follows Saint Monk’s legacy. Tolerate what others cannot. All beings are equal.”
“Worldly matters are not simply black and white, right and wrong. Existence is its own reason. Ruochen dislikes killing and destruction, but are killing and destruction not means to protect greater peace?”
“Moreover, the Quantity Tribulation approaches. All in the world will cease to exist. Unable even to survive, yet fixated on past hatreds and present gains and losses. Truly mediocre, narrow-minded, laughable.”
“Ruochen dares promise nothing else. When the Quantity Tribulation arrives, no matter my cultivation, I will draw sword against heaven. I will never be a craven coward fearing death.”
Death God Venerable said, “So you refuse this heaven’s good intentions and will not join Death Divine Palace?”
“Not unwilling, but unable.”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze was sincere. He immediately added, “The hell realm’s border starry skies are now turbulent. If I joined Death Divine Palace at this time, how would Nine Heavens seniors and Xing Tian Ya react? They would surely think Feng Tian threatened me, breeding much misunderstanding. If Xing Tian Ya and Xing Huan Tian allied with heaven court, it would be no good for the hell realm!”
“Furthermore, though the misunderstanding with Xu Tian senior is no major matter. Yet if Feng Tian protects me thus, would he not harbour resentment?”
“If hell realm factions learn of discord between Destiny Temple’s two Heavens, would they not harbour other thoughts?”
“If because of Ruochen, Destiny Temple suffers internal strife, it would weigh heavily on my heart.”
Death God Venerable’s tone was cold and merciless. “Playing clever tricks before this heaven is foolish.”
“Get out!”
Though Death God Venerable’s intellect was supreme and saw through some intents in Zhang Ruochen’s words. Letting him leave alive clearly meant Zhang Ruochen had retrieved his life from this universe’s greatest god of death.
Zhang Ruochen calmed completely. He took his leave.
Behind, Ice Emperor’s voice came. “Zhang Ruochen, convey a message to the gods of Undying Divine Hall for this emperor. Tell them this emperor cannot remain on Ice King Star forever.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s heart shook.
Was this Ice Emperor’s signal of emerging into the world?
Little Black’s mother A Jiu had died at Undying Divine Hall’s hands years ago.
Thus though Wu Bian God Venerable and Xiu Chen Heavenly God were involved, the true culprits must be in Undying Divine Hall.
If these words spread, many divine spirits in Undying Divine Hall would likely lose sleep! This was also helping Blood Absolute War God resolve some crises in the clan.
After all, conveyed by Zhang Ruochen, it undoubtedly informed the world Ice Emperor stood with Blood Absolute War God.
Blood Slaughter and Little Black followed Zhang Ruochen through the wormhole, leaving Ice King Star.
Blood Slaughter daring to leave thus must have Death God Venerable’s permission.
This was intriguing!
Zhang Ruochen did not think his earlier words could make Death God Venerable completely abandon intent to kill him. Moreover, she had not asked about the Sundial or Sword Realm, which was abnormal.
Could it be that to heaven-level powerhouses, Sundial and Sword Realm were insignificant?
There must be some profound connection Zhang Ruochen could not yet see.
No matter. Surviving the current crisis was paramount.
After reaching Blood Sky clan’s Wing World via wormhole, Zhang Ruochen immediately said to Blood Slaughter and Little Black, “You two must help me with several matters. Extremely important.”
Blood Slaughter asked cautiously, “Master, dangerous? This emperor still has wounds.”
“No need to fight. Just talk. Arrange some discreet manpower to spread several pieces of information. Best if it reaches across the hell realm.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Slaughter relaxed at once, smiling. “In the hell realm, nothing this emperor cannot accomplish.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “First piece of information. Tell the world Feng Tian met me on Ice King Star and wished me to join Death Divine Palace.”
Hearing this, Blood Slaughter’s face drained of colour. No more smiling.
Though true, Zhang Ruochen was clearly using Feng Tian’s prestige to deter ignorant divine spirits from acting rashly.
Using a Heaven?
Zhang Ruochen dared. Blood Slaughter did not.
Zhang Ruochen said, “This matter, Little Black handles. It is fact anyway.”
“Second piece, still Little Black. Tell Undying Blood clan gods Ice Emperor is about to emerge. Let those who killed your mother quiet down. No need to conceal. You may be arrogant.”
“Third piece, Blood Slaughter handles. Proclaim publicly Xu Tian once bestowed me a sword, treating me as nephew.”
“Fourth piece, Tian Mu once appeared in Dark Great Triangle starry domain. I travelled with her then.”
…
How could Blood Slaughter not know Zhang Ruochen was building momentum?
Behind each piece of information stood a cosmic titan. Spreading them was dancing on a knife’s edge. Slight misstep, heavenly wrath, divine form extinguished.
No choice. Had to gamble!
If the gamble succeeded, this time should yield great benefits.
Zhang Ruochen knew clearly the immense crisis awaiting him in the hell realm. Setting aside the storm from Wu Yue, merely the forces behind the divine spirits killed in Hundred Clans King City battle would never spare him.
Without building momentum, he had no chance of reaching Destiny Temple alive.
Even with it, the journey to Destiny Temple would face countless perils. Dying en route was possible.
After Blood Slaughter and Little Black left, Zhang Ruochen sensed divine senses and spiritual powers sweep over him. The caution on his face vanished, replaced by a cold smile.
No matter how fierce the storm, he must face it.
Before reaching Blood Absolute family, Xia Yu already led large forces to welcome him.
Xia Yu wore cyan feather heavenly robes, purple gold phoenix hairpin. Clear and picturesque. She still had not assaulted divine realm, accumulating in Great Saint Supreme realm, continually refining her foundation.
“Pay respects to Ruochen Realm Venerable.”
Xia Yu bowed.
The Blood Absolute family troops behind her knelt in unison, voices shaking heaven.
“Let us return to the family first.”
Zhang Ruochen used divine qi to lift Xia Yu, advancing with divine spirit steps. One step crossed ten thousand mountains and rivers.
“Who injured you?” Zhang Ruochen asked with concern.
Xia Yu felt the majestic aura on Zhang Ruochen, like divine mountains and peaks. Remaining calm, she said, “No need to trouble Ruochen Realm Venerable with this. A mere false god. In future, I will take his life myself.”
