# Chapter 1043: Ten Leading Figures
At the Myriad Realms Tavern, the leading figures of the three major powers gathered together. They were all renowned and prestigious figures, exuding a tremendous oppressive force upon other cultivators.
The Blood God Sect had four leading figures: Gu Linfeng, Shangguan Xianyan, Hai Lingyin, and Wei Longxing.
Among them, Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing were top-tier experts, standing at the peak below the Saint realm. In contrast, the Divine Son Gu Linfeng and the Holy Maiden Shangguan Xianyan appeared relatively weaker.
Of course, Shangguan Xianyan held a special status, commanding a large number of experts from both the Blood God Sect and the Shangguan Clan. If it came to actual maneuvering, Hai Lingyin and Wei Longxing would certainly be no match for her.
In everyone's eyes, the most vulnerable figure was undoubtedly Gu Linfeng. With only a Fifth-Rank Half-Saint cultivation and merely a few trustworthy subordinates by his side, he possessed nothing aside from the title of Divine Son.
To the cultivators of the Cai Clan and the Shangguan Clan, Shangguan Xianyan was regarded as the true power-holder of the Blood God Sect. When they looked at Gu Linfeng, their expressions revealed disdain, contempt, and mockery.
The Cai Clan had three leading figures.
Apart from Cai Jinglun and Cai Yunji, there was also an elderly man—the Grand Steward of the Cai Clan's Sacred Mansion, Cai Jin.
Cai Jin was a Ninth-Rank Half-Saint, over two hundred years old. Although he was no longer young and his blood energy had begun to decline, being able to serve as the Grand Steward of a medieval aristocratic clan proved he was no ordinary person.
This time, Cai Jin had come to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm to search for sacred medicine to achieve Sainthood.
The Shangguan Clan also had three leading figures.
The foremost among them was a man who appeared to be in his early thirties, with a pale face that gave off a sickly impression.
This man was named Shangguan Yi, the number one expert below the Saint realm in the Shangguan Clan, a figure who had entered the "Half-Saint External Ranking."
The other two leading figures were a pair of young and beautiful twin sisters, Shangguan Linglong and Shangguan Nihong.
Being able to sit in the position of leading figures naturally meant they were no simple characters.
The talents of Shangguan Linglong and Shangguan Nihong were not inferior to Shangguan Xianyan's.
At the Realm Son Banquet, both women had firmly secured their seats as kings and had even represented the Taiji Dao in the Sword Discussion Conference hosted by the Liangyi Sect.
They combined the strengths of both the Shangguan Clan and the Taiji Dao. Moreover, at the Realm Son Banquet, they had consumed the Great Saint Heavenly Connection Tea. Recently, their cultivation had advanced by leaps and bounds, and they were already approaching the Fourth-Rank Half-Saint realm.
The Great Saint Heavenly Connection Tea was refined using the sacred sources of eight Beast Clan Great Saints as tea leaves, combined with thirty-seven other types of ten-thousand-year sacred medicine, taking three hundred years to produce.
After consuming the Great Saint Heavenly Connection Tea, their physiques naturally reached an even higher level, far surpassing their peers.
It could be imagined that as long as they obtained some heavenly treasures in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm and elevated their cultivation, their combat power would definitely surpass Shangguan Yi's.
The three major powers had a total of ten leading figures.
Among them, three possessed the greatest strength: the Cai Clan's new top scholar "Cai Jinglun," the Shangguan Clan's "Shangguan Yi," and the Blood God Sect's "Hai Lingyin."
Shangguan Yi spoke first, saying, "According to the Clan Leader's intention, upon entering the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, we are to find Sacred Source Liquid and sacred medicine, prioritizing their use for Shangguan Linglong, Shangguan Nihong, and the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden. As long as we can elevate their cultivation to the Ninth-Rank Half-Saint realm, we can forge three first-rate experts."
"Everyone should understand that the more top-tier experts we have, the greater our initiative in operations within the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm."
Cai Jin let out a laugh, saying, "Isn't the Blood God Sect's Holy Maiden also a member of the Shangguan Clan?"
Shangguan Yi replied, "The Azure Dragon Ruins Realm is extremely rich in resources. Cultivating the three of them only uses a fraction of what's available. Grand Steward, why be so petty?"
Cai Jinglun stopped Cai Jin from continuing, saying, "I see no problem with this proposal. According to our Cai Clan Leader's intention, the resources obtained in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm should first be used to elevate our own cultivation, and only then should the collected treasures be brought back to the Kunlun Realm."
"Our Shangguan Clan Leader shares the same intention."
Shangguan Yi let out a laugh, but then fell into a continuous fit of coughing, as if he truly suffered from a serious illness.
The group continued their discussions and made many arrangements.
However, from beginning to end, no one asked for Gu Linfeng's opinion, deliberately intending to isolate and exclude him.
Zhang Ruochen, for his part, was too lazy to get involved. He sat alone in his seat, drinking tea, appearing exceptionally at ease.
No one knew how much time had passed before someone finally remembered him.
Cai Jin's aged eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, who was seated beside Shangguan Xianyan, and he asked, "The three families have unanimously decided that upon entering the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, we will first occupy a sacred mountain and precious land, establish a stronghold, and then expand outward to search for heavenly treasures. Only by doing so can we achieve both offense and defense. Does the Divine Son have any objections?"
The other leading figures also turned their gazes toward Zhang Ruochen, though each person's eyes held a different expression.
Among them, Shangguan Linglong, Shangguan Nihong, and Cai Yunji all wore looks of contempt. After all, the Blood God Sect's Divine Son had a rather poor reputation—not only was he greedy for beauty, but he was also arrogant and reckless, hardly someone who seemed capable of accomplishing great things.
Coupled with his Fifth-Rank Half-Saint cultivation, few present truly took him seriously.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "No objections. You all decide as you see fit. It suddenly occurs to me that I have an important matter to attend to, so this Divine Son will take his leave first. My apologies, truly my apologies."
With these words, Zhang Ruochen stood up and walked out of the Myriad Realms Tavern.
Cai Yunji slammed her palm on the table, snorting, "Xianyan, how did your Blood God Sect choose such an incompetent Divine Son? In my opinion, if the Blood God Sect falls into his hands, it will inevitably decline sooner or later."
"The Divine Son is just like that. Everyone, please don't take it to heart, lest it harm the harmony between our three families."
Shangguan Xianyan's beautiful eyes fixed on the direction of the door, revealing an unusual smile.
Leaving the Myriad Realms Tavern, Zhang Ruochen arrived at a very secluded spot and used his spiritual power to transmit a message.
Before long, a subtle fluctuation of spiritual power appeared in the air.
"Whoosh—"
Immediately after, an old man crossed through space and stepped out, kneeling on one knee. "Greetings, Divine Son."
This old man was none other than Zhao Shiqi, the Fifth Banner Master of the Netherword Heavenly Palace's First Battalion.
Unknown to outsiders, Zhang Ruochen had long since subdued Zhao Shiqi, making him a hidden chess piece placed within the Blood God Sect.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Has your spiritual power intensity broken through to the Forty-Eighth Rank?"
Zhao Shiqi replied with some delight, "If not for the Divine Son's nurturing, this old man would not have been able to break through so quickly."
Before leaving the Blood God Sect, Zhang Ruochen had met with Zhao Shiqi alone and given him three drops of dew from the first "Azure Dragon" leaf of the Seven Star Divine Ling.
With those three drops of dew, Zhao Shiqi's spiritual power had indeed achieved a tremendous breakthrough.
"The Seven Star Divine Ling truly lives up to its reputation as a divine medicine. Even just a few drops of dew possess such astonishing medicinal effects."
Zhang Ruochen nodded, took out a jade bottle, and looked at Zhao Shiqi. "This bottle contains thirty drops of Azure Dragon Leaf Dew."
Zhao Shiqi's eyes burned with intense heat.
Just three drops of Azure Dragon Leaf Dew had allowed his spiritual power intensity to break through from the Forty-Seventh Rank to the Forty-Eighth Rank.
With thirty drops of Azure Dragon Leaf Dew, wouldn't he have a great chance of breaking through to the Forty-Ninth Rank?
Zhang Ruochen did not immediately hand the jade bottle to Zhao Shiqi. Instead, he asked, "You should know something about the Holy Maiden's movements, shouldn't you?"
Zhao Shiqi quickly replied, "This subordinate was just about to report to the Divine Son. Recently, the Holy Maiden has spent a large amount of cultivation resources to buy people's loyalty. Several Banner Kings of the Netherword Heavenly Palace have reached some kind of cooperation with her. It is said that Wei Longxing also has a very close relationship with her. Someone has personally witnessed the two of them secretly discussing matters. The Holy Maiden is likely targeting the Divine Son. Your Highness must be cautious."
Even Zhao Shiqi could detect something amiss, which showed that Shangguan Xianyan was indeed problematic.
Zhang Ruochen nodded thoughtfully, then tossed the jade bottle over. "Quickly elevate your spiritual power intensity to the Forty-Ninth Rank. When we enter the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, this Divine Son will have important tasks for you."
Zhao Shiqi was not only a spiritual power Half-Saint but also a beast tamer. In the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, he would undoubtedly prove immensely useful.
Sometimes, a single beast tamer could be worth a group of Ninth-Rank Half-Saints.
Having obtained the Azure Dragon Leaf Dew, Zhao Shiqi was overjoyed. He immediately withdrew, preparing to refine the dew and elevate his spiritual power intensity.
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands behind his back, a hint of a smile in his eyes, and muttered to himself, "I never noticed before that this enchantress harbors such great ambition. Her initiative to seduce me was likely just to make me let down my guard."
Suddenly, a subtle fluctuation appeared in the surrounding space.
Zhang Ruochen sensed it and looked up toward the sky. He saw a jade talisman suspended about ten zhang above the ground, completely locking down the surrounding space.
At that moment, a middle-aged man in a blood-red robe stepped through a layer of light and emerged, laughing. "The Holy Maiden underestimated the Divine Son. Even she did not expect that Your Highness had already placed hidden chess pieces within the sect. Everyone thought the Divine Son was just an incompetent man obsessed with beauty—how wrong they were."
"So, you are someone sent by Shangguan Xianyan?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Forgive me for not introducing myself. I am Qin Yu, Banner King of the Netherword Heavenly Palace's Fourth Battalion."
In Qin Yu's hand was a pitch-black long spear. The spearhead was blood-red, emitting wisps of fiery light.
To become a Banner King, Qin Yu's cultivation was naturally quite formidable, having reached the mid-stage of the Ninth-Rank Half-Saint realm.
Zhang Ruochen showed no fear and laughed. "Has Shangguan Xianyan grown so impatient that she wants to make a move against me already?"
(To be continued.)