Chapter 1734: Woman Disguised as a Man
At the horizon, a fish-belly white light emerged, signaling the arrival of a new day.
Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin, and Xie Chengzi left the Death Tomb, standing atop a massive stone stele as they flew swiftly toward the direction of Tiandu Mountain.
It was only then that Ji Fanxin turned to Zhang Ruochen and said, “I truly underestimated you before. I never expected that even the Death God Temple had your people. To kill an elder and still escape—that’s no small feat!”
This matter couldn’t be hidden from Ji Fanxin; she had surely deduced many things.
However, Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin were merely cooperating, so he didn’t reveal A Le or Han Qiu.
A Le and Han Qiu remained in the Death God Temple, both honing themselves and, at the same time, being able to report the results of the assassination to Zhang Ruochen at the earliest opportunity.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “Actually, you’ve impressed me too, Fairy. With such a major incident unfolding, you didn’t flee alone—I’m quite moved.”
Ji Fanxin replied, “No need to be so moved. The reason I didn’t leave is that Elder Qi’s death had nothing to do with me in the first place.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “If Qin Kai hadn’t helped clear my name, and I had clashed with the Death God Temple, would you have stepped in?”
“No. Fighting the Death God Temple in the Death Tomb—what difference would that make from seeking death?”
After a pause, Ji Fanxin added, “However, I could have paid a high price to buy your life first.”
As long as the price was high enough, Ji Fanxin could indeed buy Zhang Ruochen’s life in the Death God Temple. How long Zhang Ruochen lived would be entirely up to her.
In other words, if Ji Fanxin bought Zhang Ruochen’s life, he could delay his death. And during that time, many variables could arise.
Zhang Ruochen said, “As expected of a realm leader—truly wealthy and generous.”
“Can I compare to you? First, you placed an order worth hundreds of millions of sacred stones at the Hundred Flowers Palace, then you spent 1.4 billion sacred stones at the Death God Temple. Even a Great Saint isn’t as extravagant as you,” Ji Fanxin said.
Mentioning sacred stones, Zhang Ruochen let out a light sigh.
After paying the deposit at the Death God Temple, Zhang Ruochen had almost no sacred stones left on him—poorer than an ordinary Saint.
Fortunately, the next task was to help the Kunlun Realm attack Xumi’s Dao Field. Taking advantage of this opportunity, he should be able to seize some treasures and sacred stones to fill the empty space in his storage ring.
Returning to Tiandu Mountain, Zhang Ruochen parted ways with Ji Fanxin and went back to the Moon God Dao Field.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Yi Emperor Bone Staff, set it upright before him, and then separated one percent of the Saint Soul mist from the Green Ember within his Qi Sea, channeling it toward the staff.
The evil spirit within the Yi Emperor Bone Staff immediately let out an excited roar, beginning to absorb and refine the soul mist.
The crisis he had faced in the Death Tomb this time had been greatly mitigated by the Yi Emperor Bone Staff. If not for it and Mo Yin holding back Elder Qi, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t have had time to suppress the Mirror Flower Water Moon Poison.
“The power the Yi Emperor Bone Staff can unleash now is comparable to a cultivator at the middle to late stage of the Seven-Step Saint King. After refining this soul mist, it should be able to reach the level of an Eight-Step Saint King.”
While the Yi Emperor Bone Staff refined the soul mist, Zhang Ruochen took out the long whisker of Xumi Saint Monk and began comprehending time rules and space rules.
Only by deepening his understanding of the Way of Time and the Way of Space could Zhang Ruochen reach the realm of the Five-Step Saint King more quickly.
The next day.
A maid came to the outside of the alchemy tower where Zhang Ruochen was in seclusion and reported, “Divine Envoy, a young… young master has come to visit the Dao Field and wishes to see you.”
“Not seeing anyone,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Their cultivation is very strong—they should be a major figure,” the maid said.
Zhang Ruochen stopped his training, thinking to himself that it was about time for the attack on Xumi’s Dao Field. Could it be someone sent by the Kunlun Realm?
“Creak.”
Zhang Ruochen opened the alchemy tower’s door and stepped out, saying, “Lead the way.”
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, dressed in a white sacred garment with blue dragon-patterned borders on the collar and cuffs, her slender waist bound by a moon-white belt, stood straight beneath the Truth Way carving left by the Moon God, gazing at the “Stars Surrounding the Moon” diagram.
Her brows were a delicate green, her eyes bright and spirited, each eyelash as if painted on with a brush. Her nose was exquisite and straight, her red lips crystal clear, revealing a row of snow-white teeth.
Her features were exquisitely perfect, and they were quite enduring—the more one looked, the more beautiful she became.
The maids of the Moon God Dao Field were all originally saints of various sects, princesses of dynasties, or commandery princesses—each one a top-tier beauty. Yet, compared to the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, they all paled, as if they were merely lowly servants while she was a fairy from the Ninth Heaven.
Especially the elegant, noble aura she carried—no matter how beautiful a woman stood before her, she would likely fall short.
Although the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was disguised as a man at the moment, anyone could tell she was an absolute beauty, no less than the nine fairies on the “Nine Immortal Beauties” painting.
Seeing the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, Zhang Ruochen was quite surprised and quickly walked over.
First, he dismissed all the maids, then smiled and said, “Heavenly Maiden, if you had informed me in advance that you were visiting the Moon God Dao Field, I would have personally led all the cultivators here to welcome you outside.”
“And then you’d have tied me to the chariot of the Guanghan Realm?”
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden chuckled, turned around, and said, “The Moon God truly lives up to her name. The Truth Way carving she left behind is indeed not something ordinary gods can match. Entering the Moon God Dao Field, I saw clusters of beautiful women, a hundred flowers blooming—a truly delightful sight. I thought you, Zhang Ruochen, weren’t that charming, but it turns out it’s because of this carving.”
“They chose to stay in the Moon God Dao Field willingly. It has nothing to do with my charm, nor with the carving left by the Moon God,” Zhang Ruochen said.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden gave a noncommittal smile and then said, “In the entire Truth Heaven Domain, the cultivators who have seen my true face can be counted on one hand.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “And I am one of them—quite an honor, it seems.”
For a long time, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had worn a veil and used powerful spiritual power to conceal her appearance, figure, and aura. So, those who had seen her true face were indeed very few.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said, “You should be very clear about why I came alone to the Moon God Dao Field, right?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Not really.”
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s gaze darkened, and she gritted her teeth. Then, she restrained her emotions and said softly, “Last time, on Kongling Island, after listening to your… so-called advice, I thought it over carefully and felt your words had some merit. To temper my mind, I must first discard the identity of the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden. Without that identity to protect me, danger, setbacks, and other emotions I’ve never experienced before will truly descend upon me.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “It’s rare that you, Heavenly Maiden, have come to this realization. I wish you a successful transformation and the forging of an unyielding divine heart.”
Zhang Ruochen had once suggested to the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden that she hide her identity, temporarily disguise herself as a member of the Guanghan Realm, and cultivate by his side.
Because Zhang Ruochen had countless enemies, and even more who wanted to suppress the Guanghan Realm, challenges and dangers would arise at any moment.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen had only said it as a joke, never expecting the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden to actually do it. After all, it was clearly an attempt to use her.
Moreover, getting close to him truly meant risking one’s life.
Seeing the strange expression on the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s face, Zhang Ruochen’s eyes widened slightly, and he said, “Don’t tell me you’ve accepted my suggestion and plan to cultivate by my side?”
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden let out a light snort, glared at Zhang Ruochen, and said, “That’s right. You must be delighted, aren’t you? As you wished, I’ve delivered myself to be used by you. If you want to laugh, go ahead! Why hold back?”
After hearing Zhang Ruochen’s advice back then, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had communicated spiritually with her clan’s ancestor, asking if her state of mind truly had flaws and seeking guidance on how to remedy them.
To her surprise, the ancestor told her to go and cultivate alongside Zhang Ruochen.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had struggled and hesitated for a long time, only making up her mind today to come to the Moon God Dao Field.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Don’t be so reluctant. Even if you want to come, I might not necessarily accept you. With your lofty Heavenly Maiden syndrome, you’re bound to cause me no end of trouble. And a femme fatale of your looks can already bring me plenty of problems.”
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden ground her teeth incessantly, unable to calm down inside, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was completely taking advantage of the situation while pretending to be virtuous. She said, “There are countless ways to temper one’s mind. Do you think I have to cultivate with you?”
With that, she turned and walked toward the exit of the Dao Field.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was fully confident that Zhang Ruochen would stop her, even beg her to stay, a hint of expectant smile on her lips.
“No need to see you off,” Zhang Ruochen called out.
The smile on the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s lips vanished. She stopped abruptly, turned back to glare at Zhang Ruochen, and said, “Don’t regret this.”
“Of course I won’t,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Watching the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s retreating figure, Zhang Ruochen shook his head and muttered, “So arrogantly proud—is this how you ask for help? Is this how you temper your mind? With that attitude, keeping you by my side would only add to my frustrations.”
Just as the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was quickly walking out of the Moon God Dao Field’s gate, she brushed past the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden.
Both women were disguised as men, and both possessed top-tier auras and stunning beauty.
In that instant, time seemed to stand still.
Although they were one entering and one leaving, merely exchanging a fleeting glance, each sensed the other’s extraordinary nature.
Stepping out of the Moon God Dao Field, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden suddenly turned around, staring at the graceful silhouette of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, a contemplative look on her face. “Who is she? With looks and aura like that, she can’t be unknown. She should have been famous far and wide by now. Why have I never seen her before? Could she be here to see Zhang Ruochen too?”