Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly. Could this count as retreating unscathed?
If not for his rich battle experience and decisively abandoning the sword at the first moment, once struck by the opponent’s Absolute Self Virtual Time Domain, the injury would definitely have been heavier than last time.
Abandoning even the sword to retreat whole was simply a crushing defeat.
This time, Zhang Ruochen saw the opponent’s cultivation clearly. She had not reached the Taixu realm, only the Taibai realm.
After killing the Frost City Demon, Zhang Ruochen had thought cultivators below the Taixu realm were no longer a threat. Today he knew he had been gravely wrong, severely underestimating the world’s outstanding talents.
The Frost City Demon was naturally no weakling, but he had been heavily wounded then, fleeing in panic. Zhang Ruochen succeeded in one strike through a sneak attack. Among it, the power of the Yu Ding and Earth Ding accounted for the vast majority.
Truly without borrowing the Sword Ancestor sword soul, Earth Ding, Reverse God Stele, and other means, even with his current cultivation, facing the Frost City Demon at peak state head-on, the chance of victory would be minimal.
Zhang Ruochen naturally would not belittle himself. After all, the little girl before him, valued by Xu Tian, was absolutely no ordinary person. And were the Earth Ding, Sundial, and Reverse God Stele not part of his power?
However, next he truly needed solid, down-to-earth cultivation for a period.
Take the Absolute Self Virtual Time Domain the little girl had just displayed. This was cultivated by combining the Absolute Self Time Mark with the Virtual Time Domain.
In a duel, all time within the domain was under her control.
If she wished, she could stop time.
If her attainment in the time path was deep enough, she could even briefly reverse time within the domain.
With enough time invested, Zhang Ruochen could cultivate it too. However, cultivating the same Absolute Self Virtual Time Domain would undoubtedly be inferior. With his Taiji circle, he naturally had to cultivate virtual time and absolute self time on the basis of the Taiji circle.
Que arrived in the Five Realms Heaven and, seeing the somewhat dejected Zhang Ruochen, said. “You fought again?”
Zhang Ruochen admitted frankly. “Yes, a crushing defeat. Who exactly is she? Who taught her the path of time?”
Que seemed to understand Zhang Ruochen’s mood. “Besides Master, who else? It seems you have not yet witnessed her time swordsmanship!”
“She also masters time swordsmanship?” Zhang Ruochen suddenly recalled something and smiled. “Of course. Senior Xu Tian fought the Saint Monk for so many years. How could he not understand time swordsmanship?”
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. It seemed her strength had revealed only the tip of the iceberg.
Que said. “Actually, Brother Ruochen, there is no need to feel so discouraged. In the great divinity realm, crossing a major realm to defeat, or even kill, an enemy is already rare in the world. Master said that, upon reaching the Immeasurable realm, crossing even one realm to defeat an opponent is absolutely impossible!”
“You have only just reached the Taiyi realm, while she is a top expert in the Taibai realm. You should know that, with Blood Absolute War God’s strength, back in mid-Taibai realm, he only slightly surpassed her. Her current strength must have advanced further.”
Zhang Ruochen asked. “What is her name?”
“Hai Shang You Ruo.” Que replied.
A trace of surprise appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. As if speaking to himself, he murmured. “So she is from the Hai Shang family!”
Hai Shang was a major surname in Destiny Temple.
Ten thousand years ago, the Life God Venerable was the ancestor of the Hai Shang family. Rumour said that, after the Life God Venerable’s death, the Death God Venerable Feng Caiyi protected the Hai Shang family.
The tragedy that occurred in Destiny Temple back then was indeed full of twists and mysteries.
Zhang Ruochen could understand why Hai Shang You Ruo was so cold towards him. Because the rumours claimed the killers of the Life God Venerable and Auspicious God Venerable were the Ten Tribulations Ask Heaven Lord and Xumi Saint Monk.
“Brother Que surely did not come just to visit me?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Que replied. “Shen Tu Ghost Emperor has come to Destiny Divine Mountain and wishes to see you.”
Zhang Ruochen was slightly moved. He had not expected that Shen Tu Ghost Emperor, the foremost among Fengdu Ghost City’s five ghost emperors, had truly come!
After Zhang Ruochen and Que left, Hai Shang You Ruo, who was fishing, murmured. “Worthy of being the successor of Xumi Saint Monk. In mere century of cultivation, his progress is so great. No wonder Xu Tian lets him serve as my whetstone to help me break into Taixu.”
…
Fengdu Ghost City’s five ghost emperors were all transcendent existences who had entered the Immeasurable realm ten thousand years ago. Among them, the Eastern Ghost Emperor Shen Tu was the strongest. Having cultivated for a million years, he could sit as equal with the heads of various clans.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the Angry Heaven Divine Palace ahead and felt slight surprise. “A powerhouse like Shen Tu Ghost Emperor coming to the divine mountain, even if Xu Tian does not appear personally, at least a god venerable should receive him, right? As far as I know, Angry Heaven God Venerable is not on the mountain.”
“Since you knew Shen Tu Ghost Emperor’s level, you still dared act so brazenly in Hundred Races King City?” Xue Li walked out from Angry Heaven Divine Palace and said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Xue Li. “I thought Senior Xue Li had misunderstood me. Meeting again, you would surely apologise. Now it seems I overestimated senior’s character.”
“You think Xu Tian stepping in for the bestowed marriage means this matter is over?” Xue Li said.
A deep voice came from Angry Heaven Divine Palace. “Xue Li, no impudence.”
Xue Li suppressed his anger and snorted.
Que whispered to Zhang Ruochen. “The Ghost Emperor has already met Master. Coming here is to heal Ban Ruo. Earlier, Xue Li already apologised to Ban Ruo before the divinities of Angry Heaven Divine Palace.”
Zhang Ruochen was inwardly shocked. This Shen Tu Ghost Emperor could actually stoop so low. He seemed difficult to provoke.
One must know that the one who wounded Ban Ruo was Pu Chuanqi.
Though Xue Li had joined that battle, he had never struck Ban Ruo.
Such a transcendent powerhouse, for the sake of an upper god, going this far?
Zhang Ruochen did not fear straightforward divinities like Xue Li. Even with higher cultivation, at least they were transparent and calculable. He feared those who acted unpredictably!
“Has Qing Lu God King come?” Zhang Ruochen suddenly asked.
Que shook his head. “Qing Lu God King is still at the starry battlefield. He only sent a letter to Master, harshly scolding Pu Chuanqi. Claiming that, even if Destiny Temple executes Pu Chuanqi, it would be deserved.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Truly an old cunning fox. Angry Heaven God Venerable is at the starry battlefield. He does not apologise in person, but writes to Xu Tian. This way, no one on Destiny Divine Mountain dares kill Pu Chuanqi!”
Zhang Ruochen entered Angry Heaven Divine Palace and saw Ban Ruo. Though her hair remained fully white, her vitality and spirit were far better than before, sharp and vigorous.
“Thank you, Ghost Emperor, for the ten thousand years of lifespan.”
Ban Ruo bowed to Shen Tu Ghost Emperor.
Shen Tu Ghost Emperor wore silver armour. His eyes were narrow, connecting to his ears. His bearing was outstanding. Just standing in the courtyard gave the feeling that heaven and earth revolved.
He stood at the centre of heaven and earth, like a pillar upholding them.
Ghost qi was thick upon him, as if he had only an upper body, the lower half completely misty. He smiled. “This emperor and your master share deep friendship. Granting ten thousand years of lifespan to restore your foundation, what is that? Besides, Fengdu Ghost City bears some responsibility in this matter. Realm Venerable Ruochen has arrived and waited long for you!”
Zhang Ruochen steadied his mind, faced the imperial might, and walked over. “Ghost Emperor must have come for Xiang Ru Yue’s divine source?”
In the courtyard, Kong Dao Hai, Que, and Ban Ruo all showed odd expressions.
Xue Li and Xiang Ru Yue showed anger, glaring hatefully at Zhang Ruochen.
Because Zhang Ruochen, a mere junior, upon seeing Shen Tu Ghost Emperor, showed not a trace of respect, let alone a bow. What attitude was this? Far too arrogant!
Shen Tu Ghost Emperor had invisibly acted, suppressing Xue Li and Xiang Ru Yue. His gaze sized up Zhang Ruochen. “Long heard a remarkable young hero has emerged between heaven and earth. Seeing you today, indeed remarkable. No wonder you gained recognition from Tian Lao and Xu Tian.”
Since Shen Tu Ghost Emperor addressed him as Realm Venerable Ruochen, Zhang Ruochen naturally conversed with him as a realm venerable.
Why bow?
Besides, Xiang Ru Yue and Xue Li had successively attacked him. To claim no tacit approval from Shen Tu Ghost Emperor behind the scenes, Zhang Ruochen simply did not believe it.
Zhang Ruochen showed no excessive courtesy. “Xiang Ru Yue in Hundred Races King City, without reason, sought to kill me. At that time, he did not treat me as Tian Lao’s divine envoy! I only took one divine source and spared his life. Does Ghost Emperor think I was too merciful?”
Shen Tu Ghost Emperor smiled as he watched Zhang Ruochen. “There was indeed a misunderstanding! You two, quickly apologise to Realm Venerable Ruochen?”
Xiang Ru Yue and Xue Li gnashed their teeth in hatred. They truly could not understand why Ghost Emperor tolerated this brash youth so much, allowing him to grow ever more brazen.
But the two still gritted their teeth, held their hatred, bowed, and apologised to Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing this scene, Kong Dao Hai shook his head, filled with disappointment towards Zhang Ruochen. In his view, Zhang Ruochen had inflated beyond measure. How could he offend Fengdu Ghost City so?
Today could have resolved the conflict.
“How will Realm Venerable Ruochen return the divine source to Xiang Ru Yue?” Shen Tu Ghost Emperor asked.
Zhang Ruochen said. “A Taibai great divinity’s divine source should be worth at least a million divine stones, right?”
A human-skin bag flew from Shen Tu Ghost Emperor’s sleeve and landed at Zhang Ruochen’s feet.
The next instant.
Shen Tu Ghost Emperor, Xiang Ru Yue, and Xue Li vanished from Angry Heaven Divine Palace.
Zhang Ruochen checked his space ring and found Xiang Ru Yue’s divine source indeed gone. What terrifying means.
Able to silently take Xiang Ru Yue’s divine source from the space ring, naturally he could silently take Zhang Ruochen’s life.
Zhang Ruochen picked up the human-skin bag. It was full of divine stones. His heart eased at last. No need to worry about divine stones any more. He could continue peaceful cultivation on Destiny Divine Mountain.
Que said. “Actually angering the ever gentle and refined Shen Tu Ghost Emperor. Zhang Ruochen, you are the first in the present age!”
This was clearly not praise!
Zhang Ruochen appeared very calm. “I just wanted to test Ghost Emperor’s mindset, see if it could be easily shaken.”
“It is not that I speak for him because he granted Ban Ruo ten thousand years of lifespan. But you did go too far this time. There was completely no need to reach this point.” Ban Ruo said.
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly. “When Xue Li scolded me outside earlier, Shen Tu Ghost Emperor could have suppressed it with a single thought, yet he did not. At our first meeting, he addressed me as Realm Venerable Ruochen, giving me such great face. How could I not accept it?”
“Xiang Ru Yue and Xue Li attacked me. Was Ghost Emperor truly completely unaware?”
“Surely you do not think that, if I today obediently played the junior and meekly presented the divine source, that Shen Tu Ghost Emperor would spare me?”
