Chapter 1353: Cyan Rainbow Pavilion
(Sigh, there was a bug in the previous chapter. Feng Yinchán was indeed already shot and killed. Perhaps it's because this author is too fond of that name and can't stop thinking about her—crying to death. Seeing a reader point it out in the comments section, I made a correction immediately, changing it to Feng Yinying, Feng Yinchán's older sister. Here, I thank the reader who pointed it out.)
...
As the year drew to a close, the weather was clear and cold, carrying a faint chill.
The Cyan Rainbow Pavilion was located deep within a bamboo forest, with a small bridge over flowing water, tranquil and secluded, forming a stark contrast to the bustling and lively Central Imperial City.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman sat inside the pavilion, unusually dressed in a female garment made of Cold Snow Ice Gauze. Her skin was like congealed fat, her brows and eyes were delicate and clear, and her jet-black long hair was combed very neatly.
She was brewing tea, her two slender jade hands appearing exceptionally graceful, every movement filled with a lively charm.
Throughout the world, there were countless cultivators whose most cherished dream was to behold the immortal countenance of the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman. If they could drink tea and discuss the Dao with her, even if it meant losing a hundred years of their lifespan, many would likely be willing.
Zhang Ruochen walked along the bamboo path, arriving outside the Cyan Rainbow Pavilion. He sniffed lightly and smiled, "Sacred Dao Ancient Tea. That stingy old fellow Chu Siyuan actually gave you leaves of the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea?"
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman gently pursed her lips and smiled radiantly, "He is indeed very stingy, so I personally climbed the Confucian Ancestor Ancient Tea Tree to pick the leaves, taking all the mature Sacred Dao Ancient Tea. Now, whenever he sees me, he still grinds his teeth in anger."
Zhang Ruochen chuckled, able to imagine how wonderful Chu Siyuan's expression must be. Then, he stepped into the Cyan Rainbow Pavilion and sat down across from her.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman picked up a luminous jade teacup and handed it to Zhang Ruochen, her voice incredibly gentle, "Taste it."
Zhang Ruochen took a sip, savored it carefully, and nodded, "As expected of the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman, the tea you brew is richer and more fragrant than anyone else's."
"I thought you would praise the tea, but I didn't expect you to now know how to compliment people. No wonder you've been able to capture the hearts of so many women," said the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman.
Zhang Ruochen set down the teacup and smiled, "Although the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea is precious, placing it alongside the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman, I'm afraid all the men in the world would focus their attention on the latter."
"So, you have a favor to ask of me."
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman picked up the teapot again, filled another cup, and moved it in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Is it only when I have a favor to ask that I would compliment you?"
"Isn't it?"
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman countered.
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a moment, then got straight to the point, "I want to know which important figures from the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan have come to the Central Imperial City? What are their cultivation levels? What trump cards do they have? Where are they hiding?"
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman sighed softly, "You really do know how to ruin the mood. Can't we just drink tea and discuss the Dao purely, without talking about killing and hatred? You should know clearly that with me in the Central Imperial City, no matter how many experts the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan send, they cannot harm Consort Lin in the slightest."
"What about tonight?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said, "That Li Sheng Elder from the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan? He self-destructed his Sacred Source, but you knocked him into the Void Space."
She knew this so clearly, meaning she was likely nearby at the time, witnessing everything in the Realm Son Residence with her own eyes.
Yet, Zhang Ruochen had been completely unaware at the time.
Zhang Ruochen stared intently at the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman across from him, "Has your Spiritual Power reached the fifty-fourth rank?"
"If a martial artist like you, who cultivates the physical body, has reached the fifty-third rank with your Spiritual Power, and I haven't reached the fifty-fourth, wouldn't that make the title 'Sacred Scholar Talented Woman' somewhat undeserved?" the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said with a smile.
Zhang Ruochen asked again, "How did you know I would come to the Central Imperial City?"
"The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman knows everything and is omniscient. Knowing your whereabouts should be a simple matter, shouldn't it?"
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman deliberately put on a proud and self-satisfied look. Seeing that Zhang Ruochen remained serious, she found it a bit boring, put away her smile, and said, "Have you heard of the Heaven and Earth Chess Game?"
"I've heard a little about it," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said, "Although you have treasures that conceal your aura and heavenly secrets, they cannot deceive the Heaven and Earth Chess Game. Your name was personally carved by me onto a chess piece. How could I not know your whereabouts?"
The Heaven and Earth Chess Game was a great secret of the Confucian Path and the Imperial Court, of great importance. Therefore, the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman did not elaborate, only mentioning it.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Did you carve the name Zhang Ruochen?"
"If the name on the chess piece were Zhang Ruochen, would you still be alive?" the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said.
"Thank you."
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman altering the Heaven and Earth Chess Game must have involved great risk, akin to the crime of deceiving heaven. If discovered, she would certainly face terrible consequences.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "How can one truly avoid the surveillance of the Heaven and Earth Chess Game?"
"Unless you leave the Kunlun Realm and hide in another world, the Heaven and Earth Chess Game will always lock onto your Sacred Soul, leaving you nowhere to hide," the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said.
"So the Heaven and Earth Chess Game locks onto the Sacred Soul."
Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself, then said, "When you go back, change the name on the chess piece back. I don't want to implicate you."
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman's heart stirred, "Are you leaving the Kunlun Realm?"
"Not yet for now, but I have a way to avoid the lock of the Heaven and Earth Chess Game," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Qiankun Realm had already been born. Zhang Ruochen could completely hide his Sacred Soul inside the Qiankun Realm, and thus the Heaven and Earth Chess Game would naturally be unable to find him.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman knew Zhang Ruochen was a resourceful person, so she didn't ask further. After a long pause, she said meaningfully, "You shouldn't have come to the Central Imperial City. It's too dangerous."
"I didn't want to come either, but I had no choice," Zhang Ruochen said, a cold light flashing in his eyes. "If they want to deal with me, I have no objection. But if they target my family, I will repay them tenfold."
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman saw that Zhang Ruochen's attitude was resolute and that he would not let the matter rest, so she said, "Feng Yinying, the Eldest Princess of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan, and also Feng Yinchán's older sister. Her cultivation has reached the early stage of True Saint, making her a top-tier expert. Feng Yinchán was killed by you. You should understand why she wants to deal with you, right?"
"Her dealing with me is probably not just about revenge. She likely wants the treasures on me as well, doesn't she?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Don't underestimate her. Feng Yinying's skill in the art of ghost-raising is extremely high. Moreover, as far as I know, she has raised at least six Ghost Kings."
Then, the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman spoke a second name: "Spirit King Saint Ancestor, an old ancestor of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan who has lived for a thousand years. His cultivation is unfathomably deep. It is said that not long ago, he reached the second stele of the Imperial Ruler Divine Ruler and meditated there for three days."
"One of the ten great divine artifacts, the Imperial Ruler Divine Ruler, has appeared?" Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said, "The Imperial Ruler Divine Ruler has never disappeared. It has been kept in the Inscription Rune Guild, guarded by the ten great elders of the guild. However, only beings at the Saint King level can sense its existence. Those below the Saint King level are unaware of this secret."
Legend has it that the Imperial Ruler Divine Ruler is used to measure the cultivation realm of emperors and also contains the Great Saint Dao.
For those at the Saint King realm who wish to advance their cultivation, aside from receiving personal teachings from a Great Saint, going to the Imperial Ruler Divine Ruler to comprehend the Dao is the fastest method of cultivation.
The Inscription Rune Guild has always been a neutral force in the Kunlun Realm, recruiting spiritual power cultivators from across the world. It has branches not only among the human race but also among the various barbarian beast clans. It can be considered the most mysterious and historically ancient force in the Kunlun Realm, yet it never participates in any conflicts.
Therefore, any living being who has reached the Saint King realm can go to the Imperial Ruler Divine Ruler to comprehend the Dao.
The fact that the Spirit King Saint Ancestor could reach the second stele to comprehend the Sacred Dao clearly indicates that he is not someone who has just reached the Saint King realm. His cultivation is indeed unfathomable.
"Is the Spirit King Saint Ancestor also in the Central Imperial City?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman nodded, "Right now, he should still be locked in a contest of magical powers with the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden Supreme, Ling Feiyu."
Being able to contend with the Spirit King Saint Ancestor shows that Ling Feiyu has definitely reached the Saint King realm. With Ling Feiyu's skill in the Sword Dao, once she reaches the Saint King realm, her combat power is not something an ordinary Saint King can match. Therefore, Zhang Ruochen was not particularly worried about her.
"Besides Feng Yinying and the Spirit King Saint Ancestor, what other experts are there?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said, "The Heavenly Fate Corpse Emperor."
"Heavenly Fate Great Emperor?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman said, "That's right, but the Heavenly Fate Great Emperor is already dead. Even if he has come back to life, his body still retains corpse energy. Therefore, he is called the Heavenly Fate Corpse Emperor. Currently, the Heavenly Fate Corpse Emperor is cultivating within the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan and can be considered a member of that clan."
"I must tell you something. Not long ago, the Heavenly Fate Corpse Emperor tried to reclaim the Heavenly Fate Edict and fought Wan Zhaoyi to a standstill."
Zhang Ruochen's brows furrowed tightly, "He's already able to fight Wan Zhaoyi? His cultivation speed is too fast!"
"After all, he is an emperor-level figure. His understanding of the Sacred Dao is not something we can compare to. No matter how fast he cultivates, I wouldn't be surprised. If his speed were slower than yours or mine, that would be what surprises me," the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman continued. "Besides these three, the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan have some old monsters who have been famous for centuries, but they pose no threat to you, so there's no need to introduce them."
"Thank you."
Zhang Ruochen spoke the word "thank you" for the second time.
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman told Zhang Ruochen where Feng Yinying was hiding, then took out a jade box and handed it to him, smiling slightly, "Knowing you would need it, I specially went to ask for one for you."
Zhang Ruochen opened the jade box, and a vast Profound Yellow Qi surged out, filling the Cyan Rainbow Pavilion, as if dense Sacred Dao Rules were also shooting forth.
"Profound Yellow Pill."
A look of joy appeared in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, and he immediately closed the box.
Legend has it that the Profound Yellow Pill can help a Saint cultivate Profound Yellow Qi and break through to the Profound Yellow Realm. It is a rare and sought-after Sacred Pill, only able to be condensed by a Spiritual Power Great Saint who gathers Sacred Dao Rules, and the difficulty is extremely high.
Zhang Ruochen did not ask where the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman had gone to request the Profound Yellow Pill, but he was deeply grateful in his heart because he was currently in urgent need of breaking through to the Profound Yellow Realm.
"Are you going to thank me a third time?"
The Sacred Scholar Talented Woman smiled slightly, staring unblinkingly at Zhang Ruochen. She always felt that the more favors Zhang Ruochen owed her, the happier she became.
Perhaps, giving for someone is also a very happy thing.
Of course, the Sacred Scholar Talented Woman was a clever woman. She didn't want this giving to become a psychological burden for Zhang Ruochen, so she added, "Don't overthink it. I'm just repaying the kindness you once showed me by saving my life. The one who should say thank you is me."