# Chapter 1222: Being Oneself Again
"Yes."
There was nothing to hide, Zhang Ruochen admitted directly.
Burial Moon Sword Saint was not surprised, merely nodding. "What are your plans next? If you stay at Liangyi Sect, the sect will use all its resources to nurture you, allowing you to become a new-generation Sword Saint in the shortest possible time."
Zhang Ruochen's fingers gently stroked his teacup. "Stay at Liangyi Sect? As Lin Yue, or as Zhang Ruochen?"
"Lin Yue," Burial Moon Sword Saint said.
"I don't want to be Lin Yue anymore, nor do I want to be Gu Linfeng. Right now, I only want to be Zhang Ruochen."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were very calm, but deep within his pupils, a resolute expression appeared.
In Taiyin Ancient City, Zhang Ruochen had not revealed his identity because of drunkenness. Rather, deep in his heart, he had long been yearning to be Zhang Ruochen again.
He no longer wanted to be anyone else.
Burial Moon Sword Saint was silent for a moment, then said, "You need to understand that Zhang Ruochen is a major criminal the Empress has ordered arrested. With Liangyi Sect's current foundation, we cannot contend with the Empress and the Imperial Court. Even though you have become a Saint, there are still many times when you must compromise. Some powerful forces can reduce even a Saint to ashes in an instant."
"In that case, why should I stay at Liangyi Sect?"
Zhang Ruochen stood up, clasped his hands together, and bowed deeply to Burial Moon Sword Saint. "Thank you, Sword Saint, for saving my life, and thank you to Liangyi Sect for nurturing me in the past. In the future, if Liangyi Sect faces trouble, Zhang Ruochen will definitely not stand idly by."
Having said this, Zhang Ruochen turned and left.
Xiao Hei also transformed into a shadow, darting into Zhang Ruochen's sleeve.
Burial Moon Sword Saint knew that Liangyi Sect could no longer keep Zhang Ruochen, and also knew that Zhang Ruochen's wings had grown strong enough that he no longer needed to rely on anyone.
"Heal your injuries before leaving," Burial Moon Sword Saint said.
"No need. I have an important matter to attend to, and I'm in a hurry. After I finish that matter, I will definitely visit Liangyi Sect again. At that time, I hope to seek the Sword Saint's guidance on some aspects of the Sword Dao."
Zhang Ruochen took nine steps in succession. With each step he took, the sword intent on his body grew stronger.
"Whoosh—"
When he took the ninth step, the sword intent on Zhang Ruochen's body accumulated to its peak. His body directly transformed into a beam of sword light, shooting into the sky and disappearing at the end of the horizon.
Qingfeng Saint watched the departing Zhang Ruochen, a hint of envy appearing in his eyes. He muttered to himself, "With his Sword Dao attainments, it shouldn't be long before he becomes a Sword Saint. And he's still so young. Could he become a new-generation Sword Emperor?"
Behind Qingfeng Saint, an old Daoist with white beard and white hair walked out from the forest.
The old Daoist wore a white Daoist robe. The front of the robe was printed with a Taiji symbol, and the back was printed with a Bagua compass, giving him an immortal and transcendent bearing.
Even Burial Moon Sword Saint, who had been sitting, stood up and, together with Qingfeng Saint, bowed with clasped hands. "Greetings, Taiyi Patriarch."
In fact, Taiyi Patriarch had gone to Taiyin Ancient City together with Burial Moon Sword Saint. It was also Taiyi Patriarch who wanted to test Zhang Ruochen, which was why he had not allowed Burial Moon Sword Saint to help Zhang Ruochen deal with the Death God Knight.
Half of what Burial Moon Sword Saint had told Zhang Ruochen earlier was an exaggeration.
The Death God Knight indeed possessed an offensive treasure. Once activated, it had the chance to kill a True Saint. However, it could not kill Burial Moon Sword Saint.
In other words, it was not difficult for Burial Moon Sword Saint to kill a Death God Knight.
Burial Moon Sword Saint pondered carefully, then asked, "Disciple has a question."
"Go ahead," Taiyi Patriarch said.
Burial Moon Sword Saint said, "Patriarch, why did you prevent this disciple from killing the Death God Knight and Silver Robed Elder of the Undying Divine Temple? Was it to continue using them to temper Zhang Ruochen?"
"Exactly," Taiyi Patriarch said.
Burial Moon Sword Saint was extremely curious and also very puzzled. Given Taiyi Patriarch's status, why was he so concerned about a young junior?
Zhang Ruochen was indeed supremely talented with boundless potential. However, Liangyi Sect also had geniuses who could match him. For example, Gai Tianjiao with her Innermost Extreme Yang Body was also a rare prodigy in ten thousand years.
Yet, Taiyi Patriarch had not shown such concern and attention toward her.
If there was no deep connection between Taiyi Patriarch and Zhang Ruochen, Burial Moon Sword Saint definitely would not believe it.
"Could the legend be true? Is Zhang Ruochen really the Sacred Bright Imperial Crown Prince from eight hundred years ago?"
Burial Moon Sword Saint knew that eight hundred years ago, one of the nine Emperors who shook the world, the Ming Emperor, had studied at Liangyi Sect.
And Taiyi Patriarch was the Ming Emperor's junior disciple. Both had studied under Liangyi Sect's legendary figure, Yuanfa Dao Ancestor.
Burial Moon Sword Saint naturally did not voice his speculation. Instead, he said, "The Death God Knight and Silver Robed Elder are both too powerful, far beyond Zhang Ruochen's current level. What if an accident occurs?"
"If their strength were insufficient, they would not be qualified to serve as Zhang Ruochen's whetstone."
Taiyi Patriarch spoke very calmly, but Burial Moon Sword Saint and Qingfeng Saint could both hear his confidence in Zhang Ruochen. That confidence had even reached a level that was difficult to understand.
Leaving Liangyi Sect, Zhang Ruochen flew rapidly above the Fallen God Mountain Range, heading westward toward the territory of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan — Divine Dream Marsh.
Perhaps all cultivators in the world thought Zhang Ruochen had died under the lightning tribulation, but the Undying Divine Temple could certainly calculate that he was still alive.
The Death God Knight would likely catch up soon.
Therefore, Zhang Ruochen had to be fast.
Xiao Hei had a smile on his face. "The people at Liangyi Sect really are meddling. Zhang Ruochen, since the Undying Divine Temple can calculate that you're still alive and you can't escape pursuit anyway, why not spread the news that you're still alive? That way, those who care about you won't be crying and grieving."
Zhang Ruochen coughed, blood trickling from the corner of his mouth. He then turned into an arc and landed on the top of a mountain peak, stopping temporarily.
He clutched his chest, circulating Saint Qi to suppress the injuries in his body. "Don't spread it for now."
Xiao Hei asked, "Why?"
"The Undying Divine Temple does know I'm still alive, but they will definitely not spread the news. I have treasures on me that they want. As long as everyone in the world believes I'm dead, only they will continue to come after me, allowing them to monopolize the treasures on my body," Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhang Ruochen had too many enemies. Just dealing with the Undying Blood Clan alone was already overwhelming.
If other forces also joined the pursuit, Zhang Ruochen would have to forget about finding the Six Saints Ascending Heaven Wine formula and the Divine Dragon Sun-Moon Chaos Tower. He would have to devote all his energy to escaping.
"Are you just going to keep hiding like this? Right now, the entire Kunlun Realm is in an uproar. The news can't help but reach the ears of those who care about you," Xiao Hei said.
Zhang Ruochen took out four Message Light Talismans, carved text into each, and then sent them out, transmitting the news that he was not dead to the four people he considered most important.
Then, Zhang Ruochen said, "Let's go. Continue the journey."
"You're badly injured. Don't keep pushing yourself. This Emperor will go subdue a savage beast to serve as a mount."
Xiao Hei entered the Fallen God Mountain Range. After a moment, he subdued a sixth-rank upper-level savage beast — a Four-Winged Silver Light Crane.
The Four-Winged Silver Light Crane's body was over twenty meters long, covered in silver feathers, and exuded rich spiritual energy. Its flying speed could match a Lower Realm Saint.
Zhang Ruochen came to the back of the Four-Winged Silver Light Crane, sat down cross-legged, and devoted himself fully to healing his injuries.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was hurrying toward Divine Dream Marsh, the news of "Zhang Ruochen's Fall" also reached Divine Dream Marsh, shocking all the high-ranking members of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan.
The current clan leader of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan was named Ao Yi. He wore a golden armor dragon robe, appearing to be around fifty years old, exuding a full and vigorous spirit.
Ao Yi received the news, revealed a faint smile, and gently shook his head. "Truly a turbulent time. Major events happen every day. Just a few days ago, I heard that Gu Linfeng had become the new Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect. Not long after that, news comes that Gu Linfeng is actually the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen, and that he was struck dead by tribulation lightning while crossing his life-and-death tribulation."
"Even if Zhang Ruochen died, he at least killed three Upper Realm Saints of the Undying Blood Clan. He is definitely a pride of the human race."
The speaker was named Ao Jing, Ao Yi's eldest son and the young clan leader of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan.
Though called the young clan leader, Ao Jing was not young anymore. He had lived for nearly two hundred years and had recently broken through to the Saint Realm.
Behind Ao Jing stood a young and beautiful woman.
The woman's skin was crystal clear and white like divine jade. She had a tall figure, and her chest's pair of peaks were particularly prominent. On her head, she wore a five-colored crystal. Just by standing there, the water vapor between heaven and earth naturally converged toward her, making her appear exceptionally sacred.
Even though Ao Jing had already become a Saint, standing beside her, all the limelight was stolen away by her.
This woman was Ao Jing's eldest daughter and the most beautiful princess of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan, named Ao Xinyan.
In the great hall, all the high-ranking members of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan understood that Ao Xinyan was the true heir of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan.
Because Ao Xinyan's talent was extremely high, she could be called the number one heavenly prodigy of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan in the last hundred years.
Especially after she had refined a piece of Divine Dragon Bone into her body, some claimed that no clan member in the last ten thousand years could match her talent.
It could be said that Ao Xinyan was the embodiment of all favor and affection, adorned with countless halos. Countless women envied and were jealous of her.
But at this moment, Ao Xinyan's eyes were red-rimmed. She seemed to have lost her soul, her gaze exceptionally dull.
Ao Yi was the first to notice that Ao Xinyan's emotions were very wrong. He asked with concern, "Yan'er, what's wrong with you?"
The other high-ranking members of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan in the hall also looked toward Ao Xinyan, very curious as to why the always sharp and spirited princess would be so utterly dejected.
Ao Xinyan bit her lip and said in a trembling voice, "Grand... Grandfather, has Zhang Ruochen... really... really fallen?"
(Chapter End)