Chapter 1824: Tianjue Pavilion
Lu Huaiyu said, "They were acting on the orders of a Dragon-Protecting Pavilion master."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes showed disappointment. He asked again, "Which master?"
Lu Huaiyu shook his head.
It must be known that the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion was divided into the Heavenly Net and Earth Net Pavilions, each with its own masters and deputy masters. Given Lu Huaiyu's status, he couldn't access the highest secrets of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion.
However, Lu Huaiyu gave Zhang Ruochen a clue, saying, "One of the senior Dragon-Protecting Pavilion members was the Crown Prince's teacher in his previous life, the Crown Prince's Grand Tutor, Shangguan Que. If Your Highness truly wishes to know the secrets of the Sacred Altar, you can visit him."
"As expected."
Zhang Ruochen was not surprised by Shangguan Que's identity.
Whether in the previous life or this one, many doubts pointed to Shangguan Que.
Zhang Ruochen understood many things, yet more questions arose.
Once, Shengshu Cainü had visited Shangguan Que, and he gave her a clue that pointed directly to the Endless Abyss.
It was on that occasion that Shengshu Cainü nearly died in the Endless Abyss.
Zhang Ruochen couldn't figure out what relationship Shangguan Que had with the one in the Endless Abyss. Why was it that when Qing Emperor and Chi Yao destroyed the Holy Bright Central Empire, only he could save his life and retreat unscathed, allowing the entire Shangguan clan to thrive to this day?
"After retrieving the Divine Stone, I must go to the Central Domain," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
"Whoosh"
A Message Light Talisman flew from the western sky and landed in Zhang Ruochen's hand.
It was a message from Shengshu Cainü.
Through the Heavenly Chess Game, Shengshu Cainü had located some of the Saint King realm cultivators of the Nether God Hall and transmitted the information to Zhang Ruochen via the talisman.
Zhang Ruochen was secretly shocked: "The 'Coming and Going Man' and 'Going Traveler' among the Six Ultimates of the Nether God Hall are both in the Eastern Domain Sacred City. What are they planning?"
The territory of Kunlun Realm was vast. Any one of the Six Ultimates could handle matters alone, so why were two appearing in the same place?
If it were just about seizing the Divine Stone, there was no need for figures like the Six Ultimates to act. Sending Nine-Step Saint Kings like Feng Chengdao and Bai Yuejun would have been more than enough.
"The Divine Stone taken by Feng Chengdao and Bai Yuejun should be in the hands of the Coming and Going Man or the Going Traveler. This is troublesome." Zhang Ruochen's brows furrowed deeply.
Both the Coming and Going Man and the Going Traveler were experts at the Rule Grand Heaven and Earth realm, with deep accumulations. Their offensive and defensive capabilities were far beyond ordinary Nine-Step Saint Kings.
Even with a Supreme Sacred Artifact, Zhang Ruochen might not be able to suppress them.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen couldn't act recklessly; he had to avoid the Patrol Envoys. If discovered by a Patrol Envoy, the consequences would be dire, and many would want him dead.
A second Message Light Talisman arrived from Shengshu Cainü, saying, "There's something I'm not sure if I should say, but since you're in the Eastern Domain Sacred City, I've decided to tell you. Recently, the Eastern Domain Sacred Prince Mansion is likely to undergo a great upheaval..."
On the talisman, Shengshu Cainü detailed the crisis facing the Eastern Domain Sacred Prince Mansion to Zhang Ruochen.
After reading it, Zhang Ruochen fell into a long silence.
"The Eastern Domain Sacred Prince Mansion has dominated the Eastern Domain for at least a hundred thousand years. It's only natural that the wealth and resources they've accumulated would tempt those great realms. However, their true target should be the famous 'Forty-Nine Mystical Arts.'"
The Forty-Nine Mystical Arts was divided into four volumes, containing thirty-six levels of techniques, thirty-six ultimate skills, and thirty-six transformations.
Whether it was the techniques, ultimate skills, or transformations, they were treasures that cultivators across the world coveted.
The "Formless and Faceless Thirty-Six Transformations" that Zhang Ruochen practiced was merely a superficial part of the Forty-Nine Mystical Arts.
The true thirty-six transformations could not only change one's appearance but also transform into mountains, water, air, or even split into thirty-six forms to unleash various ultimate skills.
Even if cultivators from other great worlds captured the Saint realm cultivators of the Chen clan of the Eastern Domain Sacred Prince Mansion, they might not be able to seize their memories. Even if they did, they would only obtain a superficial part of the Forty-Nine Mystical Arts, useful only for reference and learning.
It was like the thirty-six rubbing diagrams of the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription obtained by the Black Demon Realm.
Those thirty-six rubbing diagrams were personally rubbed by gods, but practicing from them still had many flaws, far from the original.
Thus, only by seizing the original of the Forty-Nine Mystical Arts could one truly master this divine technique.
Zhang Ruochen's current strength was indeed formidable, but he didn't think he had the power to destroy the Eastern Domain Sacred Prince Mansion. After all, the mansion had been rooted in the Sacred City for over a hundred thousand years, with deep foundations and countless means.
And Shengshu Cainü said the mansion was in danger of annihilation, meaning the enemies attacking it would be terrifying.
Logically, upon learning this, Zhang Ruochen should play it safe and immediately flee the Eastern Domain Sacred City.
But knowing that the Nether God Hall was also involved in this operation, Zhang Ruochen decided to stay. Alone, he might not change much, but at least he had to retrieve the Divine Stone, right?
"Tianjue Pavilion."
Zhang Ruochen looked at the location Shengshu Cainü had sent him, then led Murong Yue and Xie Chengzi there.
Tianjue Pavilion was located at the edge of the Golden Rainbow Continent in the Eastern Domain Sacred City, on Tianjue Island.
Tianjue Island floated above the sea surface, one of the busiest and most lively places in the Eastern Domain Sacred City. Standing on the island, Saints with extraordinary eyesight could see most of the Golden Rainbow Continent and the vast, boundless sea.
If a hundred-thousand-year ancient sacred medicine appeared, cultivators on Tianjue Island could immediately see the auspicious light it emitted.
According to Shengshu Cainü's information, the Coming and Going Man and the Going Traveler were at Tianjue Pavilion on Tianjue Island.
Zhang Ruochen changed his appearance, looking elegant and handsome, wearing dragon-scale armor and a dragon-patterned golden robe, exuding a transcendent aura as he entered Tianjue Pavilion.
With the long robe covering him, it was hard to tell that his leg was somewhat lame.
Murong Yue and Xie Chengzi followed behind him like a maid and a guard.
As soon as he entered Tianjue Pavilion, countless eyes fell on Zhang Ruochen, clearly noticing his precious armor and deep cultivation, guessing he had a remarkable background and identity.
"What are you looking at? I'll gouge out your eyes."
Xie Chengzi released an icy, piercing aura, revealing his formidable power and startling all the cultivators present.
"So powerful! Who is this person?"
"Never seen him before. He might be a Dragon Emperor's Crown Prince from the Heavenly Dragon Realm. Either way, we can't afford to provoke him."
...
Zhang Ruochen put on an aloof expression, as if disdainful to look at the cultivators in the pavilion, but in reality, he had observed everyone. To his surprise, he spotted several familiar figures.
One of them was the Young Pavilion Master of the Bright Hall, Kong Hongbi.
Speaking of which, Zhang Ruochen had considerable grievances with Kong Hongbi. He wondered what Kong Hongbi would think if he knew Zhang Ruochen was the Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire and the cousin of the Bright Hall's Saint Ancestor.
"What is Kong Hongbi doing in the Eastern Domain Sacred City? Could Lanyou have sent him to deliver the Divine Stone?" Zhang Ruochen thought.
Kong Hongbi's talent was indeed impressive, definitely among the top tier in Kunlun Realm.
With the Bright Hall's intensive nurturing and the revival of Kunlun Realm, where the rules of heaven and earth had changed, his cultivation had advanced rapidly, and he had already broken through to the Saint King realm.
Besides Kong Hongbi, Zhang Ruochen also saw Xiang Chunan.
Xiang Chunan sat in a corner with a large wine jar on the table, drinking heavily and chatting loudly with a man sitting across from him. His voice boomed throughout Tianjue Pavilion.
The man opposite him had fair skin, was extremely handsome, wore a bright red sacred robe, and moved gracefully, a stark contrast to Xiang Chunan's rough demeanor.
"This person... why do I feel a sense of déjà vu..." Zhang Ruochen frowned.
Zhang Ruochen didn't recognize the man sitting across from Xiang Chunan, but the feeling he gave off was somewhat familiar. Could he have changed his appearance?
"This reckless fool makes friends with anyone," Zhang Ruochen shook his head lightly.
A steward of Tianjue Pavilion quickly approached and respectfully bowed to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "The first floor is only for ordinary cultivators. A distinguished guest like you should go to the private rooms upstairs."
This steward might not see through Xiang Chunan's cultivation, but surely he knew Kong Hongbi's identity?
If Kong Hongbi was considered an ordinary cultivator in his eyes, then how noble were the cultivators in the private rooms upstairs?
Zhang Ruochen looked up and saw that besides a suspended sacred jade platform in the center of Tianjue Pavilion, there were layers of private rooms spiraling upward. However, those rooms were all inscribed with formation runes, making it impossible to sense the identities or auras of the cultivators inside.
"Excellent. Give me the best private room," Zhang Ruochen said arrogantly.
"Please."
The steward followed behind Zhang Ruochen and, noticing him observing the suspended sacred jade platform, smiled and said, "That is our Tianjue Pavilion's auction platform. If you have any precious items, feel free to auction them there."
Then, lowering his voice, he added, "The treasures auctioned at Tianjue Pavilion are all top-notch. A few days ago, a certain adult auctioned a freshly picked hundred-thousand-year ancient sacred medicine here, fetching a sky-high price."
Zhang Ruochen was inwardly stunned.
With cultivators from various worlds pouring into Kunlun Realm, Tianjue Pavilion seemed to be becoming more and more extraordinary.
The steward led Zhang Ruochen to a private room on the fourth floor and said, "Sir, we have arrived."
"This is only the fourth floor. I see private rooms on the fifth floor; the environment there seems better," Zhang Ruochen said.
The steward looked troubled and quickly replied, "The four private rooms on the fifth floor are all occupied, and each one is occupied by someone not to be trifled with..."
"Not to be trifled with... Haha, there is no one in this world that this Crown Prince cannot trifle with. Today, I insist on going to the fifth-floor private room," Zhang Ruochen laughed arrogantly.
Zhang Ruochen guessed that the Coming and Going Man and the Going Traveler were likely in one of the fifth-floor private rooms, but he didn't know which one.
A good commotion would be the perfect way to flush them out.