Chapter 1855: Nine Bend Heavenly Star
The Water Star Gourd floated on the vast, boundless water surface. Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the gourd, using his Heavenly Eye to observe the surroundings, searching for a route into the depths of Luo River.
The Simpleton woke up and, seeing Zhang Ruochen beside him, a joyful expression appeared in his eyes. He blurted out, "Zhang Ruochen, how did you come to Luo River?"
Zhang Ruochen closed his Heavenly Eye and said, "Shouldn't you be curious about why you're still alive?"
"What's there to be curious about? I was definitely saved by you. Thanks, hehe."
The Simpleton grinned foolishly, stood up, looking carefree and unconcerned.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Who injured you?"
The Simpleton put away his smile, recalling the memory, his gaze gradually turning sharp. "The Blood Bee Shura King of the Shura Clan."
Zhang Ruochen took out the "Ten Clans of Hell Myriad Evils Record" and quickly flipped through it, finding the name "Blood Bee Shura King."
This person's danger level had actually reached Level Seven.
"Two hundred years ago, the Blood Bee Shura King ascended from the Ye Luo Realm to the Shura Star Pillar Realm. With no background or backing, he has experienced no fewer than a thousand major and minor bloodbaths. Surviving a thousand battles, his cultivation has reached the Nine-Step Saint King realm."
"The Blood Bee Shura King's most fearsome skill is raising a swarm of Blood Emperor Bees. Below the Great Saint realm, no one is unafraid of them."
Zhang Ruochen closed the "Ten Clans of Hell Myriad Evils Record" and muttered to himself, "Qi Xiaotian's cultivation has reached the peak of the Rule Great Heaven realm, yet his danger level is only Level Five. The Blood Bee Shura King's danger index has actually reached Level Seven. Just how strong must this person be?"
Zhenmiao Xiaodaoren said with considerable disdain, "His most formidable skill is just raising a swarm of Blood Emperor Bees. If I, this humble Daoist, spit out a mouthful of flame, I could burn them all clean."
The Simpleton quickly interjected, "Don't underestimate his Blood Emperor Bees. Their bodies are forged like profound iron, and ordinary flames simply can't harm them. I was severely injured precisely because I was besieged by several hundred Blood Emperor Bees."
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "Does that mean the Blood Bee Shura King didn't personally make a move?"
"If he had personally acted, how could I have survived until now?" the Simpleton said.
The Simpleton's combat power far exceeded Qi Xiaotian's, yet he couldn't even defeat several hundred Blood Emperor Bees?
"Are Blood Emperor Bees more formidable than Three-Legged Corpse-Eating Insects?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Simpleton thought for a moment and said, "Whether it's Blood Emperor Bees or Three-Legged Corpse-Eating Insects, they both need to continuously grow to become powerful. Of course, when truly compared, the Three-Legged Corpse-Eating Insect is still more formidable."
"Blood Emperor Bees can only grow by absorbing blood, while Three-Legged Corpse-Eating Insects eat everything, and their gnawing ability is quite terrifying."
"However, legend has it that if a Blood Emperor Bee absorbs enough Divine Blood and encounters some special opportunities, it might forge an Indestructible Saintly Body and grow to a level comparable to a Great Saint. A Blood Emperor Bee at that level would be a true Blood Emperor Bee."
"Of course, reaching that step is far too difficult and only exists in legends."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What level were those several hundred Blood Emperor Bees that besieged you?"
"A single Blood Emperor Bee has the power to kill a One-Step Saint King."
The Simpleton shuddered at the memory, then paused before continuing, "The most terrifying thing about Blood Emperor Bees is their tail stinger. The stinger has no poison, but its penetrating power is extremely strong."
"If they sacrifice their lives to strike with their tail stinger, even a Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifact-grade armor can be pierced."
At this point, the Simpleton quickly asked, "Zhang Ruochen, do you have any Sacred Armor? Give me a set, preferably above the Five-Shine Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifact level. This time, when I encountered the Blood Emperor Bees, it was because I didn't have a decent Sacred Armor that I suffered such a great loss."
Zhenmiao Xiaodaoren said, "You're not being the least bit polite."
"We're all on the same side, why be polite?" the Simpleton retorted.
Zhenmiao Xiaodaoren said, "Are we that familiar with you? We just saved you; shouldn't you repay the favor first?"
The Simpleton was taken aback, then looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, "In the Eastern Domain Sacred City, I also helped you out. We exchange favors; doesn't that make us quite familiar?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, took out a Five-Shine Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifact-grade Sacred Armor, and handed it to the Simpleton. "Just a Sacred Armor, I can afford to give it."
The Simpleton immediately broke into a smile, took the Sacred Armor, and put it on, praising, "Not bad, not bad. Zhang Ruochen is truly generous. With our friendship, Zhang Ruochen, if you want to pursue our Heavenly Maiden, I can help you."
Zhang Ruochen put away his smile and said, "Brother Simpleton, I'm afraid you've misunderstood."
"It doesn't matter, I was just saying it casually. Don't take it too seriously."
Then, the Simpleton muttered to himself, "There are countless outstanding talents who want to pursue the Heavenly Maiden. Many come to me, offering all kinds of precious treasures, hoping I can point them in the right direction. But I've never accepted any. To be honest, this is the first time I've actively wanted to help someone pursue the Heavenly Maiden. Do you know why?"
"Why?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Simpleton laughed. "It's because I can tell that the Heavenly Maiden seems to have a bit of interest in you. Besides, you're a good person, and I find you agreeable."
A moment later, the Simpleton's smile faded. "The Blood Bee Shura King's purpose in coming to Luo River must be the Heavenly Maiden. We need to return to the Nine Bend Heavenly Star immediately."
"Is the Blood Bee Shura King's target the Heavenly Beginning Fairy?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Most likely."
The Simpleton said, "Our Heavenly Beginning Civilization borders the Shura Star Pillar Realm, separated only by a narrow stretch of starry sky. So we're constantly at war, and both sides have deep-seated hatred."
"If the Blood Bee Shura King can capture or kill the Heavenly Maiden, it would be a remarkable achievement, and he would surely receive a huge reward and a large amount of fiefdom."
"For the Blood Bee Shura King, who has no background or foundation, rewards and fiefdoms are extremely important."
"This Simpleton isn't simple at all; his mind is clearer than anyone's," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
The Simpleton had entered and exited Luo River countless times and knew several safe routes. With him leading the way, they quickly passed through the dangerous areas and entered the depths of Luo River.
In fact, the route Zhang Ruochen had found earlier was also a correct one. He only needed to walk for another half hour to get through.
The Nine Bend Heavenly Star was a massive planet floating on the surface of Luo River, with a diameter of up to ten thousand miles. It was pure white all over, like a colossal piece of jade.
When sunlight shone on the Nine Bend Heavenly Star, it reflected a jade-like luster.
The Nine Bend Heavenly Star not only contained dense Heavenly Earth Saint Qi but also emitted a powerful Divine Might. Even when Zhang Ruochen stood tens of thousands of miles away, he could feel a faint pressure.
As they got closer to the Nine Bend Heavenly Star, Zhang Ruochen saw that the part of the planet exposed above the water was flowing with nine Divine Rivers.
The nine Divine Rivers twisted and turned nine times, each one at a higher elevation than the last.
If the Nine Bend Heavenly Star were regarded as a mountain, the nine Divine Rivers would be like nine waterfalls, cascading down from the peak.
"A planet floating in water? It must be an extraordinary treasure planet, it must be."
Zhenmiao Xiaodaoren was ecstatic, taking out the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror, ready to snatch the Nine Bend Heavenly Star.
"The Nine Bend Heavenly Star is a relic left by a deity of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. Many cultivators from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization are stationed on the planet, comprehending the supreme Daoist methods of their divine ancestor. Daoist, stay calm." The Simpleton stopped Zhenmiao, speaking very seriously.
Zhang Ruochen gazed at the nine Divine Rivers from afar, and a tremor stirred in his Qi Sea.
A shadowy figure automatically condensed in his Qi Sea, slowly executing the Luo Water Fist Art.
That shadowy figure was a strand of Zhang Ruochen's consciousness.
However, at this moment, Zhang Ruochen found it difficult to control that consciousness.
"How interesting. The Nine Bend Heavenly Star is definitely a sacred place for enlightenment. Could it be that Luo Xu and Luo Shuihan's opportunities came from here?" Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
The Simpleton furrowed his thick brows, pondered for a long while, and said, "We can't just swagger onto the planet. What if the Blood Bee Shura King has already conquered the Nine Bend Heavenly Star? Wouldn't we be walking into a trap?"
Clearly, the Simpleton was quite wary of the Blood Bee Shura King.
After all, the Blood Bee Shura King controlled a large number of Saint King-level Blood Emperor Bees. The number of Saint Kings under his command rivaled that of an entire major world. A figure like this, once he cultivated to become a god, would surely shake an entire era. He could expand territories and become a realm lord.
Who wouldn't be afraid of facing a demon lord of this level?
The Simpleton said, "I know of a Space Wormhole that can lead directly to the Nine Bend Heavenly Star."
Half an hour later, Zhang Ruochen, the Simpleton, and Zhenmiao Xiaodaoren passed through the Space Wormhole and arrived on the surface of the Nine Bend Heavenly Star without anyone noticing.
Fortunately, the Nine Bend Heavenly Star had not erupted into great chaos, suggesting that the Blood Bee Shura King had not yet arrived here.
"Great, it seems we've returned ahead of time. Now, let's go report to the Heavenly Maiden." The Simpleton was overjoyed, laughing like a Maitreya Buddha.
"By the way, Zhang Ruochen, why exactly did you come to Luo River?" the Simpleton asked again.
Zhang Ruochen fell silent for a long moment before saying, "I want to meet the Heavenly Beginning Fairy. There's something very important I need to tell her."
"Haha!"
The Simpleton laughed. "You say you don't want to pursue the Heavenly Maiden, but now you've exposed yourself. If you want to go, I'll definitely take you. The Heavenly Maiden is by the third Divine River, comprehending Daoist methods."
There were indeed quite a few cultivators from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization on the Nine Bend Heavenly Star. On the way to the third Divine River, Zhang Ruochen saw over a dozen of them.
They were all cultivating in the Divine River.
The third Divine River was a thousand miles long and several hundred zhang wide. The current was swift, and the rising water vapor formed purple, white, and blue colored light mists.
The Simpleton told Zhang Ruochen to wait where he was while he went ahead to report to the Heavenly Beginning Fairy.
Standing by the Divine River, Zhang Ruochen watched the surging water. Every splash seemed like a Daoist method; every ripple seemed like a rule.
In his Qi Sea, a shadowy figure condensed again, executing the Luo Water Fist Art.
Then came a second shadowy figure, a third...
Unconsciously, Zhang Ruochen stepped into the Divine River, treading on the waves with his eyes closed, looking quite entranced. He too began executing the Luo Water Fist Art, entering a state of self-forgetfulness.
Until a sharp shout interrupted him.
"Who are you? How did you get onto the Nine Bend Heavenly Star?"
Zhang Ruochen was jolted awake, a look of disappointment on his face.
Just now, although he was only practicing the fist art, the Sacred Dao Rules in the Heavenly River had increased rapidly, faster than comprehending a Rule Imperial Artifact.
He had been practicing the fist art while comprehending the Dao.
The speed of enlightenment was many times faster than anywhere else.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently and looked downstream. He saw a graceful and moving cyan figure in the water. She was extremely beautiful, with flawless white skin, bright eyes and white teeth, and hair like a waterfall, full of spiritual energy.
Zhang Ruochen recognized her. He had seen her at the Divine Seal Platform.
She was the disciple of the Heavenly Beginning Fairy, Li Miaohan. She had once been almost as famous as Feng Yan, Wang Xu, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, and others. Ranked nineteenth on the "Sacred Merit Ranking," she had extremely high talent.
In terms of cultivation talent, she was undoubtedly among the top tier of cultivators across the myriad heavens.