# Chapter 1830: Divine Cliff Gentleman's Purpose
"This is troublesome! The wealth that Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden Luo Ji can mobilize is not something we can compare with. Lian Xi Celestial Maiden, how about letting her have that Supreme Sacred Artifact fragment?" said the traveler.
The goer followed up: "Our target is the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion. At this critical juncture, there's no need to stir up unnecessary trouble."
But Lian Xi Celestial Maiden showed no intention of backing down, continuing to bid: "Three point five billion sacred stones."
"Four billion sacred stones," said Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden.
"Five billion sacred stones."
...
It was just a Supreme Sacred Artifact fragment, yet soon the two proud daughters of heaven had driven the price to an insane level, exceeding eight billion sacred stones.
The cultivators in the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion were already dumbfounded.
"Spending eight billion sacred stones to buy a fragment? Are they crazy?"
"With that many sacred stones, if used to purchase cultivation resources, it would be enough to rapidly break through my cultivation and reach the Nine-Step Saint King realm in a short time."
In the private room, Xiang Chunan's eyes gleamed, a scorching light bursting from his pupils. "Big Brother, how about we rob them? We'd definitely make a fortune."
"Would any Saint King realm cultivator carry that many sacred stones on them? I suspect that Great Xi King and Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden need to transfer funds from the Soul Realm and Heavenly Beginning Civilization to come up with such a huge amount of sacred stones," said Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen knew why Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden was willing to spend a sky-high price to buy the tortoise shell fragment — because she had once seen Zhen Miao Little Daoist's Purple Gold Eight Trigrams Mirror.
Now, Great Xi King had grown close to old monsters like Jue Yan Fox and Xie Cang Hai. If Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden fought her and won the tortoise shell fragment, she would likely face retaliation.
Just then, Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden called out another astronomical price: "Ten billion sacred stones."
As soon as this price was announced, Lian Xi Celestial Maiden fell silent. After a long moment, she said leisurely: "Since Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden is so persistent, this fragment is yours."
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden said nothing. Only after the Purple Orchid on the floating sacred jade platform shouted "Deal" did the Butcher following behind Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden go straight to negotiate with the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion's representative, clearly discussing how to pay this massive sum of sacred stones.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden was received by a Heavenly Absolute Pavilion manager and led into a private room on the fourth floor.
Luo Yi said: "Ruochen, the situation in the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion is complicated. An uncontrollable major conflict might break out. We should leave immediately."
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said: "You leave first. I still have some matters to attend to, so I need to wait a bit longer."
"Impossible. The space teleportation array that Her Highness set up is single-use. After we leave, what will you do, Your Highness?" said Murong Yue.
Zhang Ruochen said: "If I want to leave, there aren't many below the Great Saint realm who can stop me."
"What about the Earth Master? The Earth Master's methods are beyond our imagination. Your Highness, let's go. Why are you staying? Are you thinking of seizing the Cosmic Void Tear and the tortoise shell fragment? We can think of other ways." Murong Yue was quite worried about Zhang Ruochen's safety.
Luo Yi said: "I think Miss Murong is right. People like Jue Yan Fox are too powerful for us to contend with. They might already know that the divine stones on Kong Hong Bi have fallen into our hands. If chaos erupts in the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion, we will definitely be attacked. Can we withstand it?"
On the floating sacred jade platform, the next treasure began to be auctioned.
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a long time, then said: "You wait for me in the private room for a moment. I'll go pay a visit to that Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden. If chaos breaks out, don't wait for me — activate the space teleportation array and leave directly."
Then, ignoring Murong Yue and the others' protests, Zhang Ruochen walked toward the fourth-floor private room.
"I have long admired Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's reputation and have come specially to pay my respects, hoping to have a word with the Celestial Maiden," Zhang Ruochen said.
Many cultivators in the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion turned their gazes toward the fourth-floor private room.
"Everyone guess — is that arrogant fellow conquered by the Celestial Maiden's peerless grace, or is he going to visit her for the tortoise shell fragment?" a cultivator said teasingly.
"Whatever the reason, Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden will absolutely not see him."
"Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden is otherworldly, pure as ice and jade. How could she meet this arrogant guy?"
"Back then, Lion Qing Divine Son pursued Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden and offered a Heaven-grade sacred pill, a virtual pill, as a meeting gift, but he couldn't even get a glimpse of her."
...
Just as everyone was discussing, the fourth-floor private room actually opened.
The Butcher walked out, smiled at Zhang Ruochen, and said: "The Celestial Maiden invites you in."
Under the dumbfounded gazes of the cultivators, Zhang Ruochen walked into the private room.
Then, something even more astonishing happened. The Butcher and the Fool, who had always been behind Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden, walked out of the private room and stood guard on either side of the door.
In other words, Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden was willing to meet that arrogant fellow alone.
On the scene, who knows how many cultivators were mad with envy and jealousy. If not for the powerful aura emanating from the Butcher and the Fool suppressing them, they would have charged toward the fourth-floor private room together.
Entering the private room, Zhang Ruochen smelled a familiar faint fragrance. In his mind, scenes from the Sealing God Platform surfaced, bringing a hint of tender feeling.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden sat behind a layer of moon-white curtains, outlining a beautiful and moving silhouette.
"Did you come for the tortoise shell fragment?"
That clear, beautiful voice came from behind the curtains.
Zhang Ruochen stood tall, his gaze deep, and said: "Recently, a great upheaval will occur in the Eastern Domain Saint City, and the source of that upheaval is likely right here in the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion. I came to urge the Celestial Maiden to leave as soon as possible."
Candlelight gently flickered, making the figure on the curtains appear and disappear.
After a long moment, that figure stood up, extended a snow-white, flawless jade hand, and parted the curtains.
It was the most beautiful hand in the world — five slender fingers, skin like congealed fat, soft and boneless. Even a gentle movement carried a soul-stirring beauty.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden walked out from behind the curtains, wearing no veil, with no sacred light enveloping her.
Very few cultivators had ever seen her true face.
And those who had seen it were all left breathless and unsettled. Zhang Ruochen was not seeing her true face for the first time, yet he still felt somewhat breathless, ripples spreading through his calm heart.
"Because I also received word that a great upheaval might occur in the Eastern Domain Saint City, I rushed here. Perhaps you need my help," said Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden, her clear apricot eyes gazing at Zhang Ruochen across from her.
"Has she already seen through my true identity? That must be it — she can see the spiritual will intensity of every cultivator. Even if I use the Thirty-Six Transformations of Formless Form, I can't fool her."
Zhang Ruochen did not deliberately acknowledge his identity, saying: "The situation in the Eastern Domain Saint City is beyond our control. If the Celestial Maiden trusts me, come with me to the fifth-floor private room. I have already set up a space teleportation array there, and we can leave together."
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden gently shook her head, saying: "Under the watchful eyes of an Earth Master, do you think a mere space teleportation array can get us away?"
"So the Celestial Maiden also knows there is an Earth Master in the Heavenly Absolute Pavilion." Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden said: "I not only know he is an Earth Master, but I also know he is a formation Earth Master, and also the person sent by the Heavenly Palace to the Eastern Domain Saint City to be responsible for repairing the ancient inscriptions in the Saint City."
"What? He is the one responsible for repairing the ancient inscriptions of the Eastern Domain Saint City?" Zhang Ruochen was shocked.
He knew that if this person was responsible for repairing the ancient inscriptions of the Eastern Domain Saint City, then he would have a thorough understanding of all the ancient inscriptions in the entire Eastern Domain Saint City and could mobilize them to suppress everything within the city.
In other words, in the Eastern Domain Saint City, he was a god.
Below the Great Saint realm, probably no one could contend with him.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden said: "This person is called Divine Cliff Gentleman, a cultivator of the Paradise Realm. It might be better if you don't reveal your identity. But if you activate the space teleportation array, it will undoubtedly expose your identity. Then Divine Cliff Gentleman will focus all his attention on you. Do you have the confidence to escape from a formation Earth Master?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression grew extremely grave, and he gently shook his head.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden continued: "According to my speculation, the mastermind behind the upheaval in the Eastern Domain Saint City is Divine Cliff Gentleman."
"Right now, only the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion and Divine Cliff Gentleman can control the ancient inscriptions and the Grand Zhou Heaven Formation of the Eastern Domain Saint City. As long as the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion is eliminated, no one will be able to restrain Divine Cliff Gentleman."
"At that point, Divine Cliff Gentleman will become the behind-the-scenes master of the entire Eastern Domain Saint City. All rules will be set by him, and all benefits must first satisfy him."
"The Eastern Domain Saint City is awakening. Who knows how many resources and treasures will be born? Just the daily emergence of a single hundred-thousand-year ancient sacred medicine, accumulated over time, would be a terrifying fortune."
"Moreover, you should know better than I that the Eastern Domain Saint City is the central hub of the entire Eastern Domain. Controlling the Eastern Domain Saint City would make it quite easy to then control the entire Eastern Domain."
Zhang Ruochen grew more alarmed as he listened, saying: "So that's how it is."
Originally, Zhang Ruochen had only planned to observe the impending upheaval at the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion from the sidelines, without intending to get involved. But after hearing Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's analysis, he realized he had to do something.
First, because Zhang Ruochen and the Paradise Realm cultivators were already locked in an irreconcilable conflict.
Second, if Divine Cliff Gentleman became the master of the Eastern Domain Saint City, all living beings in the Eastern Domain would likely become his slaves in the future. And all the resources and treasures of the Eastern Domain would be drained dry by the Paradise Realm.
"How can we contend with an Earth Master?" Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply.
A formation Earth Master could challenge a Great Saint, and moreover, the Eastern Domain Saint City was Divine Cliff Gentleman's home ground. Contending with him was almost impossible.
Even a Supreme Sacred Artifact would probably be struck down by him.
Unless... a divine artifact emerged.
Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden seemed lost in thought, then said softly: "In terms of spiritual power, there is one person who might be able to match Divine Cliff Gentleman. She should be with you, right?"
...
Resuming updates. There will be another chapter tonight.