Chapter 1369: One Year Later
As the Heaven and Earth Altar opened, the deathly evil qi, blood qi, and death qi that had permeated the Kunlun Realm gradually receded, soon restoring peace and tranquility.
To the vast majority of living beings, it was merely a celestial phenomenon; they had no idea what had truly transpired. Only the strongest figures at the very top sensed the aura of danger.
Drunken Madman and Ancient Pine Seed watched the blood qi above their heads slowly dissipate, both letting out long sighs of relief, feeling their entire bodies lighten. Earlier, when the blood qi had shrouded heaven and earth, even with their cultivation levels, they had felt their sacred souls tremble—that aura was terrifying.
Ancient Pine Seed glanced at Kong Lanyou, who stood atop the peak. With a leap, he too reached the summit, bowed respectfully, and then asked, "Holy Ancestor, your cultivation far surpasses ours. Do you know what just happened?"
Kong Lanyou clasped her hands behind her back, her white hair fluttering in the wind. Her eyes fixed on the sky, revealing a solemn expression. She said, "A great upheaval is approaching. No living being in the Kunlun Realm can escape it."
Ancient Pine Seed looked puzzled. "Empress Chi Yao has already become a god, shaking the world and being invincible in this era. Who would dare oppose her? The Ancestral Dragon Mountain, the Jiuli Palace, or the beast emperors in the four seas? Do they have the audacity to create such a great upheaval?"
Kong Lanyou gently shook her head. Suddenly, her brows twitched slightly as she sensed someone's aura, a strange fluctuation flashing in her eyes.
"You two take care of Zhang Ruochen. I, this Saint, will return soon."
With a flicker of movement, Kong Lanyou vanished from the peak.
The next moment, she had traveled eight thousand miles away, landing by an ancient riverbank, where she re-materialized. Her eyes stared ahead.
There, Empress Chi Yao stood with her hands behind her back, gazing at the mist on the river's surface.
Beside Empress Chi Yao were four small beasts, lying on the ground like pets. One resembled a dragon, another was a white cat with nine tails, a third was a winged fish, and the last was a palm-sized tortoise-crocodile.
Kong Lanyou glanced at the four small beasts, and her expression shifted violently. They were no mere pets but the rulers of the desolate secret realm and the four seas. To think that beings of such terrifying cultivation had been reduced to this state.
When Kong Lanyou's gaze locked onto Chi Yao, her eyes turned icy cold. "Chi Yao, why do you hurt him again and again? And after hurting him, why do you still appear?"
Empress Chi Yao's expression was indifferent, her back to Kong Lanyou. "You dare speak to me of hurt? Do you even understand what hurt is? Let me ask you one question: which hurts more—letting you kill him, or letting him kill you?"
Kong Lanyou's gaze sharpened, and she found herself unable to answer. Because when faced with an impossible choice, she would rather die herself than harm a single hair on Zhang Ruochen's head.
Chi Yao's eyes held an indescribable emotion. "My eight hundred years were a full eight hundred years, each day feeling like a year. His eight hundred years were but a fleeting moment. And you dare speak to me of hurt? Are you worthy?"
Kong Lanyou said, "But you don't even dare to see him. What are you afraid of?"
Chi Yao closed her eyes and said nothing.
Kong Lanyou pressed on, "What are you doing? What were you plotting back then? My cousin is far more intelligent than me; he will soon guess and see through it. When that time comes, should he kill you or not? Why do you torment him like this?"
"Death is a release for me, a mercy. I have been waiting for that day. Living is the true cruelty and torment. If that day truly comes, I will give him a reason to kill me, so he won't be troubled. But the prerequisite is that he must have the ability to kill me; otherwise, he is nothing but a worthless waste."
Chi Yao continued, "Before, I didn't kill you because you were also a waste then, not worth my effort. Now that you have stepped into the Great Saint realm and can claim the title of emperor, your threat to my hard-built First Central Empire grows ever greater. So I can no longer spare you."
"You want to kill me?" Kong Lanyou said.
On the ground, the four small beasts raised their heads, glancing at Kong Lanyou with pity.
Chi Yao said, "Now, you have only two paths before you. The first: come with me, and together we will fight for a future unknown. The second: I kill you. Since death is inevitable sooner or later, dying by my hand at least grants you a dignified end."
Kong Lanyou did not know exactly what Chi Yao was doing, but she could guess some of it. In the end, she chose to leave with Chi Yao. Before leaving, she did not go back to see Zhang Ruochen, afraid that seeing his lonely and sorrowful appearance would make her unable to go.
One year later.
A full year had passed, and the Kunlun Realm had regained its peace and prosperity.
In the Northern Domain, the Undying Blood Clan was utterly annihilated by the imperial army, leaving only a few stragglers who could no longer pose a threat.
In the Southern Domain, the Death Zen Sect withdrew beyond the realm. The Death Zen Ancestor personally issued a decree: as long as the Empress reigned, no sect member would set foot in the Kunlun Realm again.
In the Eastern Domain, Fengdu Ghost City was breached, and over ninety percent of the wandering ghosts and evil spirits were obliterated.
The barbarian beasts of the desolate secret realm and the aquatic tribes of the four seas, along with all major races, swore allegiance to the First Central Empire.
It was an unprecedented era of prosperity, with myriad races paying homage and the entire world united under one rule.
The once-brilliant talents had all grown up, becoming overlords in their own right.
Xue Wuye became the city lord of Ten Thousand Fragrance City; Li Di became the master of Brahma Heavenly Path; Chi Wansui was enfeoffed as a Heavenly King; Ouyang Huan became the deputy sect leader of the Demon Sect; Sui Han became the sect master of the Qin Sect...
Each was writing their own legend, striving in cultivation, and continuing to transform and grow stronger.
Yet, the one once hailed as the invincible Heir of Time and Space among his peers, Zhang Ruochen, had been missing for an entire year, never reappearing in the Kunlun Realm. Countless people believed he had died.
Gradually, he was forgotten, and new legends began to be told.
"The Southern Domain's Heavenly Earth Spiritual Root, the Parasol Divine Tree, has revived, mending the missing Heavenly and Earthly rules of the Kunlun Realm. It's said many cultivators are rushing to join it."
"You're joking—that's a Heavenly Earth Spiritual Root, a divine tree. Cultivating alongside it brings endless benefits. Even many big shots in the imperial court are sending resources to befriend it. With your talent and strength, if you go to join, it probably won't even accept you."
...
Among all the ancient clans of the Kunlun Realm, the most powerful was undoubtedly the Fire Clan.
The Fire Clan had always guarded the Parasol Divine Tree, remaining mysterious and low-key, to the point where people thought they had gone extinct. However, with the revival of the Parasol Divine Tree, the Fire Clan reappeared in everyone's sight.
Their strength gradually became apparent.
Fengdu Ghost City was breached by the Fire Clan cultivators led by the Parasol Divine Tree. They even suppressed the Ghost City's lord, "Divine Beginning Ghost King," annihilating ninety percent of the wandering ghosts and evil spirits that had plagued the Eastern Domain, with only a tiny fraction escaping.
The Fire Clan became famous in a single battle, shaking the world.
Parasol Divine Tree Qiuyu also became a renowned hero through this battle, earning praise from cultivators everywhere.
On this day, Qiuyu, accompanied by four Fire Clan elders, arrived at the Demon Sect's headquarters, Wuding Mountain, and was personally received by the Demon Sect's sect leader.
When the news spread, it caused a sensation throughout the Moon-Worshipping Demon Sect. Countless cultivators wanted to see Qiuyu's true face and discussed the purpose of his visit to Wuding Mountain.
"Qiuyu was once the number one on the Half-Saint Ranking, with even Li Di and Xue Wuye ranking only second and fourth."
"It's said Qiuyu's appearance is extremely handsome, no less than Xue Wuye's—a top-tier handsome man."
"Since Qiuyu is the Parasol Divine Tree, he is also a son of a god, likely to step into the divine realm in the future. Whoever gains his favor will surely soar to great heights."
By evening, news spread that Qiuyu had come to Wuding Mountain to propose marriage, hoping the Demon Sect's sect leader would betroth the Holy Maiden Mu Lingxi to him as his Dao companion.
This news naturally sparked jealousy among countless talented young women.
"Mu Lingxi is so lucky to have won the admiration of Lord Qiuyu. From now on, even the deputy sect leader will have to show her respect."
"An alliance between the Divine Sect and Lord Qiuyu is a good thing. We might also benefit a lot."
"The Little Holy Maiden's Ice Phoenix Body has reached great perfection, making her a perfect match for Lord Qiuyu."
...
After the marriage was settled, a large group of Fire Clan and Moon-Worshipping Demon Sect cultivators headed toward Mu Lingxi's residence to inform her of the joyous news.
Qiuyu wore a yellow shirt, his figure tall and straight. He was indeed handsome and free-spirited, exuding a transcendent aura. As he passed, he drew the attention and sighs of countless female cultivators.
Suddenly, Qiuyu stopped, pondered for a moment, and said, "Only after the marriage is settled do we inform her. Miss Mu will surely be very angry. I must prepare a gift to apologize first."
Demon Sect Deputy Sect Leader Ouyang Huan chuckled softly, "Lord Qiuyu once saved Lingxi's life. You two share a deep bond. If Lingxi hears of this, she will surely be overjoyed, not angry. Right, Uncle Yun?"
Hearing the title "Uncle Yun," Yun Zheng's heart swelled with joy.
Before this, given Yun Zheng's status in the sect, how could Ouyang Huan have called him "Uncle Yun"?
But now, with Mu Lingxi about to marry Qiuyu, Yun Zheng's position as her father had undergone a earth-shattering change. Even the deputy sect leader addressed him as "Uncle Yun," and from now on, all cultivators in the Divine Sect would likely treat him with utmost respect.
Yun Zheng laughed, "My daughter is fortunate to have won Lord Qiuyu's favor—it's a blessing cultivated over ten lifetimes. However... her personality has been rebellious since childhood. If she offends Lord Qiuyu in the future, you must discipline her as needed. That temperament of hers has long needed correction."