The emergence of Emperor Fengdu has startled the most powerful living and dead beings in the universe.
The battle of Heavenly Venerables concerns matters of great importance. The outcome will affect the morale of both sides’ armies.
Emperor Fengdu took the initiative to challenge Haotian, displaying unparalleled confidence.
Haotian, three hundred thousand years ago, was already ranked among the heavens and one of only three survivors from that unknown war. His combat strength speaks for itself.
For three hundred thousand years, he has been known as the foremost in the universe, a title even the gods of the Hell Realm tacitly accept.
Some heavenly-level figures even believe Haotian’s cultivation surpassed that of the Reverse God Heavenly Venerable from three hundred thousand years ago.
The battle of Heavenly Venerables grips the heart of every god in Heavenly Court and Hell Realm. This wedding at the Destiny Temple, which should have drawn the eyes of the world and caused a sensation for over a decade, is now eerily quiet.
Only when the vast bridal escort fleet from the Darkness Temple arrived did Destiny God Mountain regain a little liveliness.
Zhang Ruochen had long anticipated the situation at Destiny God Mountain and was mentally prepared. He had never intended to hold a grand event and did not regard this as a joyous occasion, so his heart remained calm.
This was a good opportunity to see which forces were worth befriending.
Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue stepped on auspicious clouds, bathed in divine rain, and descended from the divine vessel first. Hundreds of female saints in colourful robes flew in the sky, scattering flower petals.
Amid laughter, the Blood Empress, Blood Shine God Lord, and Ming Wang led many cultivators forward to greet them.
Those who could reach outside the Destiny Temple were mostly gods, with only a very few saint realm cultivators of exalted status.
Without doubt, the gods of the Blood Heaven Tribe had not left the Destiny Temple. Representatives from various forces within the tribe were present.
With the old patriarch’s prestige, representatives from the other nine tribes of the Undying Blood Race also appeared in the crowd.
In addition, Shura Race gods made up a large portion.
Gods from the other eight races of the Hell Realm were far fewer, countable at a glance.
“Hall Master Wu Yue, Realm Venerable Ruochen, congratulations!”
“Today we finally see Hall Master Wu Yue’s true appearance. Truly the foremost beauty of Heavenly Court and Hell Realm, with temperament surpassing even the Moon God of Guanghan Divine Palace.”
…
Among the gods, a clear laugh rang out. “Brother Ruochen, Feng Chen is here. I congratulate you both on tying the knot and being bound for three lifetimes.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the half-bodied Feng Chen Sword God floating in mid-air, showing surprise, but asked nothing and merely nodded.
His peripheral vision passed over a purple-veiled woman beside Feng Chen Sword God. Their eyes met, and it felt like divine lightning struck his divine soul.
So strong!
Zhang Ruochen was inwardly startled. He had not expected a powerhouse of this level below the Immeasurable Realm in the Hell Realm.
“Ruochen, Second Uncle wishes you a perfect match and to grow old together.” Yan Yu approached, polite and refined, with a scholarly air unlike the Yan Luo.
“Thank you, Second Uncle.”
Zhang Ruochen looked towards those behind Yan Yu, seeing Yan Huangtu, Yan Zhexian, Yan Ying’er, and finally Xue Zhi Ancient God. He cupped his hands in a slight bow.
“Second Uncle, I will come pay respects to you and Great-Grandfather later.”
“No rush. You will be busy today. Someone has already set up three drinking challenges ahead. If you cannot drink them under the table, they will not let you enter the Destiny Temple.” Yan Yu laughed.
“Oh!”
As Zhang Ruochen wondered who had set the challenges, another person approached. “Chen, take this.”
Gong Nanfeng thrust a divine wooden box radiating rosy clouds into Zhang Ruochen’s hands.
“This is…”
Zhang Ruochen opened the box and found a jade-green pill inside. He laughed. “You… there was no need for this.”
Though he did not know its use, the pill was clearly extraordinary.
What Zhang Ruochen wanted to say was “You are so poor, why give such a precious wedding gift?”, but it was Gong Nanfeng’s heartfelt gesture. How could he say such words?
Gong Nanfeng looked worried. “This is a Clear Mind Pill. No matter how much you drink, it will keep your reason intact.”
Zhang Ruochen understood, closed the box, and said, “Thank you!”
“Ruochen, our Hundred Clans Royal City has also sent generous gifts, already given to Blood Shine God Lord.”
Amur, Jade Spirit God, and Xuan Ze Great God appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s view, smiling at him.
Zhang Ruochen nodded in response. Next, he spotted Xu Rulai, Que, Prajna, Qing Feimei, Hai Shang Minggong… and other gods of the Destiny Temple.
Tianluo Divine Kingdom’s Tianyin Divine Mother, Luo Zu Yunshan Realm’s Di Lao and Gu Shejing, Darkness Abyss Yan clan’s Yan Ting and Wen Chu. Unfortunately, no Yan Wushen.
Many cultivators remained at Destiny God Mountain. Familiar faces appeared one after another, but ultimately, no sign of the Ming Emperor.
It made sense. As a criminal of the Destiny Temple, how could he appear on such an occasion?
Zhang Ruochen thought of A Le, Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan. If today he were marrying someone else, if the wedding were not at Destiny God Mountain, if they could all attend, how joyful it would be!
“I have it! This god has it! Listen well. The first line is, Thousand stars align, moon joins dust.”
Ahead, cheers rose. A tall Undying Blood Race god pointed at the celestial phenomenon of thousand stars aligning and improvised poetry.
“The second line, Destiny God Mountain feasts the gods.”
“Good!”
“Good poem, good poem, very fitting!”
…
More gods joined the cheering.
The Undying Blood Race god grinned and continued boldly. “Since ancient times, all Heavenly Venerables have passed. None match the moment red candles burn out.”
The cheering gods could no longer laugh!
Many faces turned pale.
Poetry is poetry. Why mention Heavenly Venerables?
This was not poetry. This was courting death.
Not leaving Destiny God Mountain did not mean they did not fear Heavenly Venerables. If this poem spread, someone would surely see it as provocation.
The Undying Blood Race god was none other than Huang Bawu, son of the Huang Tian Tribe’s Grand Clan Chancellor, known as the “Poetry Tyrant”.
“Poetry Tyrant” did not refer to high poetic skill or domineering style, but to his overbearing nature when composing. No matter who you were, where or when, if anyone interrupted his poetry, he would perish together with them.
Self-detonating his divine source was his speciality.
His poem “The Yan family has a daughter newly grown” from the Hunting Heaven Battlefield had spread widely in the Hell Realm, his peak work of courting death. But today’s poem surpassed it.
“Does everyone not think this poem has great momentum?” Huang Bawu was somewhat dissatisfied with the gods’ reaction.
“Good, good poem!”
Xue Tu, reeking of alcohol, shouted loudly but could barely walk straight.
Blood Shine God Lord’s expression changed. He dragged Xue Tu away.
This small interlude soon passed. Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue continued towards the Destiny Temple. Not far from the hall entrance, they encountered the first drinking challenge.
It was set by Luo Shengtian.
He had placed a table and sat there coldly.
Beside it stood a three-zhang-tall bronze cauldron with flames burning beneath. Fierce wine boiled inside, its aroma filling the air.
Zhang Ruochen had expected his challenge and walked up. “Divine Prince, do you wish to drink with me?”
“Drink with you?”
Luo Shengtian snorted coldly. “Today is your wedding, not mine or my family’s. Drink the entire cauldron of the fiercest divine wine this god searched the entire Shura Race to find, and I will let you pass. Do not think of using divine power to refine it. You cannot refine this wine!”
Blue flames rose from the cauldron, showing its potency.
The surrounding gods watched with amusement. None stepped forward to help Zhang Ruochen.
“Divine Prince personally sets the challenge. Realm Venerable Ruochen, this wine must be drunk.” The Shura Race gods shouted in unison, all with ill-intentioned smiles.
Zhang Ruochen knew Luo Shengtian bore no malice, only seeking justice for his sister.
“Fine, I will drink.”
Zhang Ruochen stood beneath the cauldron. With a thought of mental power, a stream of wine flew from the cauldron into his mouth.
From afar, Yan Huangtu said, “Drinking like that, how long will it take? Quickly manifest a giant divine body and drink it in one gulp.”
“Drink it all, drink it all.” The gods chorused.
Zhang Ruochen spread his arms. Countless time mark light spots appeared around him, drastically altering time flow.
The finger-thick wine stream accelerated. In moments, the entire cauldron of fierce wine was swallowed.
Zhang Ruochen’s flesh was strong. His face unchanged, but his head felt slightly dizzy. He was inwardly alarmed. The divine wine Luo Shengtian found was truly formidable. Any other great god would have been floored.
Luo Shengtian showed no disappointment and silently withdrew.
The wine’s aftereffects were strong.
Moreover, two more challenges lay ahead, each harder than the last. Zhang Ruochen would suffer.
Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue continued. Soon they saw the second challenge.
Seeing who set it, joy appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s face. He quickened his pace. “Brother Wushen, I thought you would not come.”
A reddish-bronze table three zhang long blocked Zhang Ruochen’s path.
Ten yellowish-brown clay jars sat on the table.
Yan Wushen stood at the other end and laughed. “When you, Zhang Ruochen, marry, no matter how big the matter, it must be set aside to come drink with you.”
Zhang Ruochen stopped at the table, slightly startled. Sensing Yan Wushen’s divine power fluctuations, he had clearly reached the Taiyi Realm.
He had no sundial. Such cultivation speed was astonishing.
Yan Wushen was also sizing up Zhang Ruochen and sighed. “I did not expect you could already defeat Xu Liao. I do not know whether to be happy or pained.”
“Happy or pained, it is all part of the path of cultivation. Who does not advance through struggle and hardship?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Wushen laughed heartily. “Today we speak not of cultivation, only of wine. Brother Ruochen, do you still remember what this wine is?”
“How could I forget? Twelve Flowers Bloom! If not for Brother Wushen’s wine that day, breaking the Hundred Shackles Realm would not have been easy.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Wushen said, “That day, with our cultivation, we each drank only three cups before reaching our limit. Truly unsatisfying. Today, I have brought all the wine from my cellar. Dare we drink until drunk?”
Zhang Ruochen struck a ready pose. “I fear only that it will not intoxicate.”
“I also fear it will not intoxicate you, so I added Darkness Divine Spring to the wine.” Yan Wushen sat down, steady as a tiger on a mountain, opened a jar, and tossed it to Zhang Ruochen.
…
Today’s early update is not to make up for owed chapters but to owe more. Mainly because it is my birthday today. From noon, I also have three drinking challenges. Sweat…
