Everyone knows that a catastrophic upheaval must have occurred on the Starry Sky Battlefield. Though the starry sky defence line has fallen, has the hell realm not paid a grievous price as well?
The old clan leader looked solemn, impatient to set off, and urged, “Hurry and offer sacrifice to heaven and earth. Perform the wedding ceremony.”
That vast great world, propelled by the divine generals, had already drifted above the sacrificial altar.
Upon the altar stood mental force divine spirits of the Temple of Destiny, each clad in black robes and holding staffs.
“Today is truly a double blessing. Once the sacrifice concludes, the entire Destiny Divine Domain will bathe in auspicious light and fortunate radiance.”
The gods within the hall were filled with excitement, every one gazing towards the firmament.
“Hold a moment!”
As this voice rang out, the gazes of all the gods turned towards Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, arriving directly beneath the Fortune Divine Venerable.
Wuyue stared at his back, sensing the resolute determination without the slightest hesitation. She truly could not comprehend why he insisted on clinging to what he called his bottom line.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze was steady as he bowed deeply. “Feng Tian lies gravely wounded. Xu Tian’s fate is unknown, and both are missing. Today is hardly a joyous occasion. If we proceed with grand sacrifices on Destiny Divine Mountain, seeking auspicious light and radiance, how will the world judge us?”
“Were it not that this wedding was bestowed by Senior Xu Tian and officiated by the Fortune Divine Venerable, Ruochen would even believe the ceremony should be cancelled.”
Many divine spirits present knew Zhang Ruochen’s character. He would never stand idly by while a realm’s beings were live-sacrificed for his wedding. Yet none had expected him to resist in this manner, and indeed, no fault could be found in it.
A smile appeared on the Blood Absolute War God’s face. He glanced at the old clan leader and transmitted secretly, “Old fellow, you have lost. Remember to add those divine stones.”
The Blood Absolute War God naturally knew of the live sacrifice of an entire realm and that Zhang Ruochen would oppose it. But this was the will of the Temple of Destiny, the ideology of the hell realm. He could not stand against it.
The old clan leader’s eyes held an unusual glint as he stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen, transmitting, “This boy truly carries great fortune. Even heaven aids him. This old man is curious how he would have dealt with it had this incident not occurred.”
The Blood Absolute War God could roughly guess. “He would probably have sacrificed himself.”
The old clan leader revealed an expression of disbelief. Could such a person exist in this world?
Yet recalling the Sumeru Holy Monk of old, it no longer seemed so incomprehensible.
High above, the Fortune Divine Venerable said, “Ruochen speaks reason. Let everything be simplified. Yet since the wedding is held in the Temple of Destiny, sacrifice cannot be omitted. We shall offer one billion beings to inform heaven and earth.”
“Divine Venerable!”
Zhang Ruochen bowed once more. “Ruochen carries half human blood. Human weddings forbid killing. I beg the Divine Venerable to grant this. If possible, Ruochen is willing to infuse the altar with his own vital blood, offering sacrifice to heaven and earth for peace of mind.”
The Fortune Divine Venerable smiled. “Since Ruochen has spoken thus, naturally those one billion beings shall exclude humans.”
“Who says human weddings forbid killing?”
Huang Bahu declared, “This god has dwelt in the human world. The weddings of human emperors also involve sacrifice, with no small number of pigs and sheep slaughtered.”
The Sealed Dust Sword God smiled. “Great God Bahu, you misunderstand. Boundary Venerable Ruochen seeks to express his devotion to Hall Master Wuyue. What better proves the sincerity of feeling than self-sacrifice on the wedding day? Among humans, there is the custom of swearing oaths with blood. The marital oath is a lifelong bond.”
“So that is how it is.” Huang Bahu nodded in sudden understanding.
The Sealed Dust Sword God spoke thus to ease Zhang Ruochen’s position. “Swearing with blood” did not mean what he claimed. Those who understood knew better than to expose it.
The divine spirits who remained in the Temple of Destiny for the wedding would not target Zhang Ruochen over such a matter.
Wuyue, elegant and serene, said, “Ruochen, the Divine Venerable has agreed not to use humans as sacrifice. This is immense grace. Why not offer thanks at once?”
“Thank you, Divine Venerable, for your fulfilment.”
Zhang Ruochen had not expected to pass this hurdle so easily. Evidently, his grandfather-in-law had discussed it with the Fortune Divine Venerable. Of course, the greatest reason was the upheaval on the Starry Sky Battlefield.
Without that upheaval, Zhang Ruochen had truly been prepared to sacrifice half his vital blood. If that proved insufficient, what matter if he offered all?
It would neither undermine the dignity of the Temple of Destiny nor fail to demonstrate his resolve.
This was not the womanly benevolence that Wuyue spoke of.
What is womanly benevolence?
On the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, those prisoners were already doomed. The two sides stood in mortal opposition. At that time, Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation was low, he had no foundation in the hell realm, and he had barely secured his own footing.
Under such circumstances, any attempt to spare or save them would have been womanly benevolence.
Yet today, the beings of an entire realm would be sacrificed simply because of his wedding. One could say they died because of him. How could he remain at ease?
Now he was a great god, envoy of Tian Lao, backed by Xing Huan Tian and Star Heaven Cliff. He was no longer the minor saint of old. He clearly possessed his own voice and the power to resist. If, out of fear, he did nothing…
Then only two outcomes awaited. First, a flaw would appear in his state of mind, and he would never reach the supreme realm in this lifetime.
Second, he would have changed, lost his original heart, become cowardly, utterly indifferent.
Why had Nine Heavens supported him and made him lord of Xing Huan Tian?
Not because of his talent.
His talent had merely piqued her interest.
What truly earned her regard and unreserved support was the battle in Xing Huan Tian. In Zhang Ruochen, she had seen sentiment, righteousness, and benevolence. For these, he was willing to sacrifice his life.
No other divine spirit, not even Bai Qing’er, possessed such qualities.
With Nine Heavens’ support came that of the Star Sea Angler.
The Dragon Lord supported Zhang Ruochen for the very same reason.
In the eyes of true supremes, what did exceptional talent matter? Were they themselves not peerless geniuses, each harbouring the ambition to be unrivalled beneath heaven?
What they valued was often what most divine spirits deemed worthless.
Such qualities were the rarest and most precious.
Without them, Zhang Ruochen could never have gained the backing of those great figures, nor the opportunities, nor his present achievements. All were interconnected.
Whether the world held those of great benevolence and righteousness mattered not. But such benevolence was never found in those who constantly spoke of it, nor in those who performed pedantic acts of righteousness. Rather, it lay in those who truly cherished life, who guarded their bottom line while preserving themselves, and who, when that line was crossed, would pay any price, even shattered bones and rivers of blood, without regret.
If everyone waited until achieving unrivalled power before upholding their heart or doing what they wished, would it still be the original heart? Would those deeds still be the original wishes?
After the sacrifice, the wedding ceremony was swiftly conducted.
Once the rites concluded, the old clan leader, Di Lao, the Grand Clan Butcher of the Demon Heaven Tribe, and many other divine spirits immediately departed Destiny Divine Mountain. Some returned to their clans, others hastened to the Starry Sky Battlefield.
Henceforth, tensions between heaven and hell realms would surely mount. Anything could happen.
The interests on the Starry Sky Battlefield were vital, yet they must also guard against enraged heavenly divine spirits infiltrating the hell realm for widespread slaughter.
“What? Pu Chuanqi detonated his divine source? When did this happen?” Zhang Ruochen was stunned by the news.
Gong Nanfeng’s expression was grave. “It was while you went to the Dark Temple to fetch the bride. Fortunately, it occurred in prison, where many divine inscriptions and arrays were in place, or Rage Heaven Divine Palace would have suffered grievous losses.”
Zhang Ruochen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. In that case, no one could trace the trouble back to him or the Blood Absolute War God.
Though he suspected the matter involved the Blood Absolute War God, he still asked, “What happened? Why did Pu Chuanqi detonate his divine source?”
“It is said that after successive setbacks and the humiliation of bloodletting in prison, he could bear no more and chose to detonate it.” Gong Nanfeng replied.
Zhang Ruochen sighed. “First his divine artefact was seized, then his head severed, followed by imprisonment and the drawing of soul and blood. Truly tragic. At least now he leaves behind a name for unyielding resolve.”
Gong Nanfeng gazed at Zhang Ruochen with concern. “Never mind him. Chen, with your current cultivation, do you have confidence in defeating Hai Shang You Ruo?”
“What is it?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Gong Nanfeng pressed urgently, “What is it? Do you not realise that once heaven’s starry sky defence line falls, what situation will follow? When the Murderous Scary Divine Venerable returns, will you still be able to leave? You must depart Destiny Divine Mountain at once. If you lack confidence, I can beg her to lose deliberately.”
Warmth surged in Zhang Ruochen’s heart. He gave a carefree smile. “Rest easy. Defeating that girl is no longer difficult. By the way, Feng, thank you.”
Even without Gong Nanfeng’s reminder, Zhang Ruochen felt the urgency and set off towards the Five Realms Heaven.
“Hai Shang You Ruo, Zhang Ruochen has come again!”
The moment he stepped into the Five Realms Heaven, Zhang Ruochen shouted loudly.
The gates of the Future Temple opened.
Hai Shang You Ruo, petite and delicate, emerged slowly. Though she appeared youthful, she carried great composure. Amidst the chaotic mist, Zhang Ruochen advanced with grand strides, sword in one hand, wine cauldron in the other.
“Zhang Ruochen, today is your wedding day. You abandon Wuyue to come here. Were you swept out by her, with nowhere else to go?” Hai Shang You Ruo’s voice was tender, clear, and pleasing.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Knowing you cannot leave the Five Realms Heaven, I have specially brought wedding wine for you.”
“Oh!”
Hai Shang You Ruo revealed surprise. She had not expected Zhang Ruochen to value her friendship so highly, and a faint warmth stirred in her heart.
“But it depends on whether you have the ability to drink it!”
Time imprint lights appeared around Zhang Ruochen. His speed surged, and he instantly closed in on Hai Shang You Ruo, slashing straight down with his sword.
“Boom!”
Hai Shang You Ruo’s absolute self virtual time domain was effortlessly cleaved open, startling her beautiful eyes wide. She immediately deployed her movement technique, retreating swiftly and narrowly evading the strike.
Even so, a strand of her hair was severed.
