Chapter 1575: Planning
After visiting the Truth Temple, Zhang Ruochen obtained one month of cultivation time and also received three Truth Temple tokens, representing three slots to enter the temple for cultivation.
Unfortunately, a cultivator could only receive one slot per year. Otherwise, Zhang Ruochen would have gladly given all three tokens to Mu Lingxi and Ling Feiyu.
Leaving the Truth Temple, Zhang Ruochen met Su and handed the three tokens to him.
Su deeply understood the importance of cultivating in the Truth Temple. Each additional token meant that the overall strength of Guanghan Realm could increase by a fraction.
As if holding three peerless beauties, Su carefully put away the three tokens and said, "I will now return to Shatuo Heaven Domain and select three more Saint realm cultivators to bring over."
"Uncle," Zhang Ruochen called out, stopping Su. "At this stage, Guanghan Realm's situation in Truth Heaven Domain is very difficult. I think we should first dispatch three Saint King realm experts here."
Su hesitated.
After all, comprehending Truth Rules at the Saint realm was most beneficial to a cultivator. The higher the cultivation level, the lower the plasticity, which would prevent the three tokens from realizing their true value.
Su understood Zhang Ruochen's intention—to dispatch experts to reclaim other dao fields belonging to Guanghan Realm, and possibly even go to war with Shang Zi.
But Su had lived more than ten times longer than Zhang Ruochen and saw deeper. He said, "If we dispatch three Saint Kings, the other side might dispatch thirty, or even three hundred. Those powerful realms have deep foundations and numerous Saint Kings. Even if one Saint King falls, it's not a big deal. But if Guanghan Realm loses a Saint King, it would be a huge loss."
Zhang Ruochen could see that Su had a steady temperament but was very conservative.
Such a person was suitable for governing a major world and defending it, but could not make a major world swim against the current and rise powerfully.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Alright, transfer the owl sacred beast from Yuanxu Peak Holy Land. As for the other two tokens, Uncle can arrange them."
Since all three tokens were earned by Zhang Ruochen, Su naturally had no objection.
Su gave instructions for them to be cautious and not leave Mirror Fragrance Cliff dao field recklessly. Then, he took the three tokens and returned to Shatuo Heaven Domain.
"Zhang Ruochen, I'm going to accept tasks from the Truth Temple to earn cultivation time. I won't return to the dao field with you all." Ling Feiyu walked out, as proud and ethereal as a snow mountain ice lotus.
Ling Feiyu deeply understood the importance of cultivating in the Truth Temple, so she naturally had to do everything possible to earn as much cultivation time as she could.
Since she couldn't cross the first sea region, she had to accept Truth Temple tasks.
Zhang Ruochen knew Ling Feiyu very well. He knew she was a highly independent woman with her own plans and arrangements, who didn't need others to tell her what to do.
Moreover, Ling Feiyu had strong strength and could do tasks alone.
"Alright," Zhang Ruochen said.
"If you're going to attack the Moon God's dao field or deal with the strong ones from the Realm, send me a message. I'll definitely rush back to help you."
Ling Feiyu also knew Zhang Ruochen very well and had already seen his next plan.
After Ling Feiyu left, Zhang Ruochen took Mu Lingxi, Wen Shusheng, Ling Mi, and Su Qingling through the teleportation array back to Mirror Fragrance Cliff dao field.
Kongling Island.
Feng Yan arrived outside the sacred hall at the island's center. The hall's doors automatically opened.
He saw Feng Xi and the Daoist-robed man, as if they had never left, still sitting on either side of the chessboard, quietly playing.
"Sister, Zhang Ruochen crossed the first sea region and reached the checkpoint of the second sea region. He exchanged three strikes with the gatekeeper," Feng Yan said.
"I know."
Feng Xi's gaze remained fixed on the chessboard as she said faintly.
"Can these two pretend to be any calmer? Even if you're very strong, aren't you surprised at all?" Feng Yan felt quite dissatisfied.
Seeing Feng Xi and the Daoist-robed man only focused on playing chess without saying a word, Feng Yan found it boring. He shook his head and left the sacred hall.
After an unknown period of silence, Feng Xi finally spoke, "Zhang Ruochen's crossing of the Truth Sea was undeniably stunning. I suspect Shang Zi will definitely take action. Can you still sit here playing chess with me so calmly?"
"Shang Zi always likes to maximize benefits. I already have some guesses about what he wants to do. So, no rush, no rush," the Daoist-robed man said faintly.
...
...
Returning to Mirror Fragrance Cliff dao field, Mu Lingxi, Wen Shusheng, and others immediately sat cross-legged beneath the cliff wall and began contemplating the Truth Path diagram left by the Tree God.
Crossing the Truth Sea had been too great a stimulus for them.
Zhang Ruochen had already reached the checkpoint of the second sea region, but they couldn't even reach the twentieth li of the first sea region. Such a gap was too discouraging, forcing them to train desperately and strive to catch up.
Zhang Ruochen came to the edge of the dao field and opened his Heavenly Eye to observe. He found that the Saint Kings from the Realm had already withdrawn.
"They probably received the news too, knowing that I've already been to the Truth Temple and crossed the first sea region." Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly.
Since they knew they couldn't trap Zhang Ruochen and the others, the Saint Kings from the Realm weren't foolish enough to keep guarding here. He just wondered if they had cursed Zhang Ruochen's ancestors for eighteen generations when they left.
Zhang Ruochen prepared to send a message to the Moon God to inquire about "Truth Esoterica."
But Mirror Fragrance Cliff dao field wasn't safe. If a cultivator with spiritual power stronger than his was lurking nearby, they could intercept his message light talisman and seize his secrets.
His opponent was Shang Zi, the new-generation leader of the Merit Divine Temple. It was entirely possible for him to dispatch a spiritual power Saint King to guard near Mirror Fragrance Cliff dao field.
Of course, a message light talisman could only be intercepted just as it flew out.
The possibility of interception mid-flight was extremely slim.
To be safe, Zhang Ruochen used a space teleportation array to reach a rugged mountain range about a hundred thousand li from Mirror Fragrance Cliff dao field. He inscribed the information he wanted to ask and then launched the message light talisman.
Now, he just had to wait slowly for the Moon God's reply.
Zhang Ruochen observed the surrounding environment. It was a desolate primeval forest, filled with large golden maple trees, each as thick as a millstone and exceptionally ancient.
Very quiet, extremely remote, with few cultivators ever setting foot here.
"I could set up a teleportation array here. It might come in handy in the future."
Every teleportation array was a retreat path.
Zhang Ruochen spent only an hour setting up a space teleportation array.
Then, he used soil to bury the array three meters deep underground.
"If Xiao Hei were here, he could use concealment formations to hide the teleportation array better."
Zhang Ruochen rarely spent time studying formations, so he didn't set up any half-baked concealment formations outside the teleportation array, lest he make things worse and have passing cultivators see through it.
"Swoosh"
A speck of light broke through the clouds, flew into the golden maple forest, and landed in Zhang Ruochen's hand.
"It's the Moon God's reply."
Zhang Ruochen grabbed the message light talisman and eagerly read its contents. One by one, characters appeared on the jade talisman.
"First, this is a huge opportunity. Continue crossing the Truth Sea. Each sea region you cross should grant you more Truth Esoterica. Once you obtain one percent of the Truth Esoterica and become a Truth Envoy, I will naturally tell you what Truth Esoterica is."
"Second, this secret cannot be told to anyone. Because besides you, other cultivators have also obtained Truth Esoterica. If the news leaks, those other cultivators with Truth Esoterica will do everything to kill you and seize the Truth Esoterica within your body."
"Third, the Truth Esoterica of heaven and earth is constant and unchanging, only one whole number. You now have one ten-thousandth. You must do your utmost to fight for the remaining nine thousand nine hundred and ninety-nine ten-thousandths."
Seeing the content on the jade talisman, the confusion in Zhang Ruochen's eyes deepened.
Then, he mobilized his spiritual power to examine the Truth Esoterica within his body.
Those Truth Esoterica were like specks of light, spread throughout his body, making his mind clear and pure, as if without a trace of impurity.
Not only in comprehending Sacred Dao Rules, but everything he did seemed easier than before.
Just now, when he set up the teleportation array, he completed it in only an hour. The speed and efficiency were so high that even Zhang Ruochen found it incredible.
But before, he would have needed three hours to set up a teleportation array.
"For now, I won't worry about that. The main thing is to work hard to collect more Truth Esoterica. The Moon God definitely won't harm me. Truth Esoterica is probably something extraordinary."
Zhang Ruochen didn't know which other cultivators had obtained Truth Esoterica, so he had no way to seize it. Therefore, he could only cross the Truth Sea to have a chance at getting more Truth Esoterica.
The gatekeeper of the second sea region was extremely powerful. With Zhang Ruochen's current strength, he couldn't break through.
"The weaknesses I most need to make up for now are in three areas."
"Truth Rules. The more Truth Rules I comprehend, the easier it will be to control the Truth Boat and unleash greater combat power."
"Spiritual Power. Spiritual power can help me control the Truth Boat."
"Mid-rank Sacred Art. I must cultivate a mid-rank sacred art. Otherwise, if I fight the gatekeeper again, I'll still suffer a big loss."
Zhang Ruochen now had forty-seven days of cultivation time. But with so many cultivators from various realms, he couldn't enter the Truth Temple to cultivate at any time. He had to continue queuing and wait for the temple's notification.
"First, cultivate the eleventh palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm. Once the palm technique reaches great perfection, I should be able to contend with the gatekeeper of the second sea region."
Zhang Ruochen decided to go to the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market to purchase Saint King-level dragon souls and elephant souls. He also wanted to browse and see if there were any sacred pills to enhance spiritual power.
The Heavenly Capital Sacred Market was the only trading market in Truth Heaven Domain. Cultivators from all worlds of the universe, as well as disciples of the Truth Temple, all went there to buy and sell items.
Because of the Truth Temple's special status, the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market was extremely prosperous and had a considerable reputation throughout the Heavenly Court realm. There were very few things that couldn't be bought there.
Zhang Ruochen left this rugged mountain range, arrived at a cloud boat dock, and took a cloud boat straight to the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market.
To avoid being recognized, Zhang Ruochen used the Formless Formless Thirty-Six Transformations to change his appearance and used the Buddha Emperor Relic to conceal his aura.