In the void world, the ancient Buddha of Putuo was struck by the power of death ideation. His physical body turned into withered wood, and his speed of escape grew ever slower.
“You cannot get away!”
The Five Adults thought as one, and thousands of talismans condensed in the void, transforming into thousands of divine spikes that flew towards the fleeing ancient Buddha of Putuo.
Whoosh!
Zhang Ruochen shattered the real world and descended into the void world. He swung the Bodhi tree, smashing all the divine spikes to pieces.
“Who exactly are you? Why do you possess the Bodhi tree of the Sixth Ancestor? Among the ten great disciples of the Sixth Ancestor, there is no one like you.” The Five Adults spoke coldly, tracing divine symbols with their fingers.
Zhang Ruochen watched the approaching Five Adults, his expression grave.
The opponent’s mental strength was immense, their methods strange and exquisite. With his current cultivation, even with the Bodhi tree’s aid, he was no match. A direct confrontation would end in certain defeat.
At that moment, the Bodhi tree shook, and ghostly mist flowed.
It was the Great God Mofei, attempting to break free from the tree’s suppression.
The ancient Buddha of Putuo returned, his body filled with death qi, his flesh now like wood. He came to Zhang Ruochen’s side.
“Why have you come back?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Amitabha! How could Putuo flee alone and leave his martial uncle here? Today, even if it means death, I shall perish together with him.”
The ancient Buddha of Putuo released four gods from his sleeve and handed them to Zhang Ruochen. Resolve filled his eyes as his body began to burn.
“You think you can perish together with this seat?” The Five Adults smiled disdainfully.
Zhang Ruochen said, “What if you add me?”
The Bodhi tree grew in the void world, its branches swaying, scattering Buddhist light and radiance that could resist mental power.
Whoosh!
At that instant, brilliant origin divine light shone into the void world.
The character “Funeral” sped rapidly towards them.
The smile faded from the Five Adults’ face. They muttered to themselves, “An origin lord god, no less. This is somewhat troublesome.”
Transforming into a streak of blue light, the Five Adults shattered the spatial barrier between the real and void worlds. Soon, they vanished from Zhang Ruochen’s perception.
Back in the real world, with Zhang Ruochen’s help, the death qi in the ancient Buddha of Putuo’s body was completely purified. His skin regrew, but he was gravely weakened, his aura dropping to the Taibai realm great god level. It was unknown how long recovery would take.
“That Five Adults of Tiannan is too powerful, especially their death ideation power. It is simply impossible to resist. Had my martial uncle not aided me today, Putuo might not have escaped.”
The ancient Buddha of Putuo stood and bowed to Zhang Ruochen. “Putuo owes my martial uncle two lives!”
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly. “What is life, what is death? All cause and effect was already destined the moment we met.”
Then, the ancient Buddha of Putuo introduced Zhang Ruochen’s identity to Qing Sixue, Feng Xi, Wu Ming, and Jing Xiu. At once, the four gods showed solemn respect, bowing deeply in gratitude for his rescue.
Zhang Ruochen felt rather uncomfortable under their gaze. He looked at Chi Yao, whose cold eyes were fixed on him, and naturally understood her thoughts. He transmitted his voice. “No choice. My identity cannot be revealed. Truth be told, in the Buddhist sect’s hierarchy, I truly outrank Uncle Chi. I deserve such courtesy.”
Zhang Ruochen’s identity might fool others, but how could it fool Chi Yao?
Jing Xiu was the former Qing Emperor of the Kunlun Realm, Chi Yao’s imperial father.
Chi Yao’s face grew even colder. “Master Yuanchen, may we speak privately?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled warmly. “Very well.”
Seeing Zhang Ruochen enter the mental force domain of the Funeral Gold White Tiger, both Jing Xiu and the ancient Buddha of Putuo frowned, showing concern.
That Master Yuanchen wielded the Bodhi tree. He was clearly the inheritor of the Sixth Ancestor’s mantle. His status was extraordinarily noble, and he had just saved their lives.
They hoped no mishap would occur.
Zhang Ruochen gazed closely at Chi Yao’s snow-white, jade-like countenance. His smile grew ever more solemn and sacred.
“Staring like that will arouse suspicion.” Chi Yao said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Boy or girl?”
Resentment flickered in Chi Yao’s eyes. “Do you still care about her? Going to the Dark Triangle Star Domain to seek the Sword Realm was indeed urgent. I do not blame you. But after returning, why was your first stop not the Kunlun Realm? Even if not to see me, you should have seen her.”
Zhang Ruochen offered no explanation. “I am sorry. It is all my fault. After escaping the Destiny Temple, have I not been finding every way to return to the Heavenly Court to see you both?”
Chi Yao did not truly blame Zhang Ruochen. She understood his predicament, but she was unhappy about his marriage to Wuyue. She knew he had many compulsions, yet she still wished to vent her emotions.
Seeing him apologise without any defence, Chi Yao instead felt heartache. She thought herself too harsh, somewhat unreasonable.
But she would never show that heartache. Her gaze softened. “A girl! I named her Zhang Yuyan.”
The smile on Zhang Ruochen’s face gradually turned playful.
He was not surprised Chi Yao would give the child the surname Zhang.
But the name Yuyan held meaning, incorporating Huang Yanchen and Ling Feiyu. Had Chi Yao’s intolerant nature truly changed?
This was a good thing.
“Very good. I like the name greatly.” Zhang Ruochen nearly could not resist taking Chi Yao’s hand, but he remembered that if the distant onlookers saw, who knew what shock it would cause.
Chi Yao gave Zhang Ruochen a stern look and turned to serious matters. “This affair is strange. The Five Adults of Tiannan was outside the Juling Divine Hall, yet suddenly departed to target Father and the others. In their eyes, are Father and the four gods more important than the Juling Divine Hall?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Qing Sixue is the daughter of the Truth Temple lord. Feng Xi is a god of the Feng clan. Uncle Chi is your father. Which of them is not important? The fall of any one would tug at the whole, triggering immense upheaval.”
Chi Yao detected an underlying meaning. “What do you mean by that?”
“The Quantity Organisation!” Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao’s eyes darkened slightly. After pondering, she shook her head. “No. The Quantity Organisation would not act so openly. They would not expose themselves so easily.”
“Do you know who that peak Taixu realm powerhouse who attacked you was?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao said, “After discovering we held one-tenth of the origin profound meaning, he decisively withdrew. He concealed himself well, carrying secret treasures. Only by truly clashing could his identity be probed.”
“No matter how well he hides, he cannot escape my perception.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Surprise crossed Chi Yao’s flawless immortal visage. “I too possess part of the Truth Heart’s power. Why did I not sense it? Who is he?”
“Jia Tianxia!”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “As early as the battle in Xinghuan Heaven, I found the Quantity Organisation’s mark in the Second Jia Blood Ancestor. Jia Tianxia’s move this time further confirms my suspicion.”
“So the Death Clan targeting Uncle Chi likely aimed to lure you here. The Quantity Organisation’s true target is probably you. They simply did not expect the Funeral Gold White Tiger to reach peak Taixu combat power via the origin profound meaning, so they withdrew at once.”
Chi Yao naturally trusted Zhang Ruochen completely. She considered the possibilities he described. “If Jia Tianxia is a Quantity Organisation member, we must eliminate him quickly. But he is peak Taixu realm. Assassinating him is too difficult!”
“Then expose his identity and let the Heavenly Court execute him.”
Leaving a powerhouse like Jia Tianxia, who could strike at Chi Yao anytime, made Zhang Ruochen deeply uneasy.
Chi Yao said, “Without ironclad evidence, who can easily move a peak Taixu great god? I believe your words, but no one in the Heavenly Court will. You should know about the Four Yang Heavenly Lord and Yanyang Civilisation’s rebellion? The Heavenly Court’s internal situation is very sensitive now.”
“Where is Xuan Yuanqing?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao had heard of Zhang Ruochen’s affairs with Xuan Yuanqing in the Dark Triangle Star Domain. She knew he persisted, hoping to use the Heavenly Lord’s daughter to kill Jia Tianxia.
In her heart, she did not wish Zhang Ruochen to grow too close to Xuan Yuanqing.
But killing Jia Tianxia was more urgent.
Chi Yao said, “Xuan Yuanqing has cultivated long in the Bright Divine Hall. She always upholds bright ideals in her heart. No one knows if the Bright Divine Hall instilled thoughts harmful to the Kunlun Realm.”
At this point, she felt something amiss and huffed. “I am not slandering her. Merely, one must guard against others. Whether for personal interest or the cosmic situation, Xuan Yuanqing has reason to kill you. If possible, it would be better if I meet her.”
“Can you persuade her? You cannot, but I can.” Zhang Ruochen said.
…
After some debate, Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao concluded their discussion and walked over. They were met by pairs of peculiar gazes.
The ancient Buddha of Putuo remained composed and smiled. “Is Martial Uncle acquainted with the great god Chi Yao?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Naturally not. Merely, the mysterious powerhouse who struck and shattered space earlier was rather strange. The great god Chi Yao asked this monk some questions, hoping to deduce that person’s identity.”
The gods present nodded in sudden realisation. Indeed, it was strange.
Not only striking, but deliberately shattering vast space, clearly to use chaotic space power to conceal identity. Could it be a great god from the Heavenly Court side?
“Any results?” the ancient Buddha of Putuo asked eagerly.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
This excuse might fool the other gods, but how could it fool Jing Xiu?
Jing Xiu knew Chi Yao too well. He keenly noticed that, for the first time, apart from Zhang Ruochen, she showed faint affection towards another man.
Though she hid her gaze towards Master Yuanchen, traces still showed.
Affection cannot be concealed.
Jing Xiu’s heart twisted in pain and bitterness, then turned to anger. No matter how ethereal Master Yuanchen appeared, she must not wrong Ruochen.
Even though Chi Yao had reached great god level and might not heed her father, this matter must be addressed.
The Chi family already owed the Zhang family enough!
Though there was no right or wrong in those past events, once war began, it brought slaughter and innocent souls. How could one overcome that inner barrier?
Even a lifetime cultivating Buddhism could not redeem the sin in his heart.
