Chapter 1974: The Beauty Has Departed
After a long while, Zhang Ruochen came back to his senses, slowly exhaling a breath, his emotions gradually calming down.
Regardless, the return of the Supreme Sacred Artifact's artifact spirit was a good thing for the Kunlun Realm. Although they could not act freely at this stage, they could still play a remarkable role at critical moments.
It was just a pity that the Azure Heaven Floating Tower had been taken away, causing Zhang Ruochen to lose a major trump card. But there was no helping it—since the artifact spirit's true form had returned, no one could keep it.
"Shua."
The restriction on Shoushu was lifted, and he immediately flashed to Zhang Ruochen's side. His mung-bean-sized eyes darted around, filled with fear.
"Chen Ye, what's going on? Who were those two old men? Where did they go?" Shoushu asked in a low voice, afraid the two elders might still be nearby.
He had no idea what had just happened. All he knew was that those two elders were extremely powerful, so much so that even Zhang Ruochen could not handle them.
Fortunately, the two elders had not come for him; otherwise, he would definitely be a dead rat by now.
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's nothing now. Let's continue on our way. If you really want to know, you can ask your father later."
"Ask my father?"
Shoushu grew even more confused.
However, since Zhang Ruochen was unwilling to say more, he did not press the issue. Clearly, this matter was no simple affair, and knowing too much might not be a good thing.
Bringing Shoushu along, Zhang Ruochen activated the Flowing Light Merit Armor and flew out of the bamboo grove, continuing toward the Sixty-Sixth Merit Substation.
By the time the two arrived, the Sixty-Sixth Merit Substation had already become quiet, because even Ruan Ling had left.
As for where Ruan Ling had gone, no one knew.
Thanks to Shoushu's rumors, even if Ruan Ling jumped into the Heavenly River now, she would never be able to clear her name.
The worst part was that all of Ruan Ling's treasures had been taken by Zhang Ruochen. Now misunderstood by the Azure Dragon and unable to return to the Nether God Palace, she probably never dreamed she would end up in such a miserable state.
Through the Space Teleportation Array at the Sixty-Sixth Merit Substation, Zhang Ruochen and Shoushu quickly arrived at the Sixty-Second Merit Substation, which was only seventy thousand miles away from Phoenix Lake.
"Isn't that Zhang Ruochen?"
"It really is him. He's my idol now. To think he actually cuckolded the Azure Dragon—that's incredible."
"The Azure Dragon took a huge hit this time. He lost his woman and threw away a bunch of precious treasures for nothing. I've never seen anyone suffer so badly."
"So, unless necessary, never provoke Zhang Ruochen. Otherwise, you might end up worse off than the Azure Dragon."
…
Seeing Zhang Ruochen step out of the Space Teleportation Array, many people began whispering among themselves.
The news had spread too fast. Not even a full day had passed, and it felt like the entire Kunlun Realm had already heard about it.
Hearing these discussions, Zhang Ruochen could only shake his head helplessly. Shoushu's talent for spreading rumors was truly formidable. Even if Zhang Ruochen personally came forward to explain now, it would probably be useless.
"Chen Ye, how's the effect?" Shoushu asked with a smug look.
He was very satisfied with his work, having absolutely exceeded expectations.
Zhang Ruochen felt somewhat speechless. Without saying a word, he walked straight out of the Merit Substation.
"Chen Ye, wait for me!" Shoushu quickly hurried after him.
The two did not waste any time and headed straight for Phoenix Lake.
Phoenix Lake was very famous in the Middle Ages, having once been the habitat of the Phoenix Clan.
A powerful Ice Phoenix had mated with the ancestor of the Mu Clan, giving birth to descendants. As a result, the Mu Clan's descendants naturally possessed the Ice Phoenix bloodline. In a sense, the Mu Clan could be called the half-human Phoenix Clan.
However, over the long years, only Mu Lingxi had successfully awakened the Ice Phoenix bloodline, achieving the Ice Phoenix Ancient Saint Body.
Now, with the Kunlun Realm's revival, Phoenix Lake had also become an awakened sacred land, hiding itself away. Ordinary people simply could not find it.
With Shoushu leading the way, Zhang Ruochen was able to enter this awakened sacred land smoothly.
Because they took a hidden path, they did not alert anyone.
The Phoenix Lake of the past was not very large, but now it had become immense, stretching as far as the eye could see like a vast ocean.
A gentle breeze blew, causing ripples on the lake's surface. The sparkling waves and a cool, refreshing aura greeted them.
"Such rich Heaven and Earth Saint Qi, and the Heaven and Earth Rules are unusually active. Truly worthy of being the former habitat of the Phoenix Clan—it's extraordinary," Zhang Ruochen could not help but praise.
Compared to other places, Phoenix Lake had awakened earlier than the Wang Mountain of Yunwu Commandery, so its cultivation environment was even better.
The Mu Clan had returned to this ancestral land early on, and they had likely gained tremendous benefits, no less than staying at Wuding Mountain. In fact, it might even be better.
After all, the Moon Worship Demon Sect was enormous, composed of twelve medieval aristocratic clans and hundreds of saintly clans. Even if Wuding Mountain had become an awakened sacred land and produced a large amount of cultivation resources, the distribution would not be much.
Shoushu chuckled and said, "Chen Ye, you should have seen it when Phoenix Lake first awakened. Countless sacred herbs grew out of nowhere. There were many tens-of-thousands-of-years-old sacred herbs, and even a hundred-thousand-year-old ancient sacred herb."
"Especially in Phoenix Lake, a huge Ice Phoenix Saint Shadow flew out, and then a Yuanhui-level sacred herb in the shape of an Ice Phoenix appeared. Just smelling the fragrance of that Yuanhui sacred herb could add dozens of Saint Dao Rules to your body."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen showed surprise. He had not expected Phoenix Lake to be so extraordinary. Not only had it produced a hundred-thousand-year-old ancient sacred herb, but also a Yuanhui sacred herb. If this news got out, it would surely attract strong cultivators from all sides.
A hundred-thousand-year-old ancient sacred herb was not particularly rare to Zhang Ruochen—he had already refined many. But a Yuanhui sacred herb, so far, had only appeared once in the Northern Domain, and it had been refined by Pei Yutian.
The value of any Yuanhui sacred herb was immeasurable. Even Lintao Realm experts would desire one.
Unlike a hundred-thousand-year-old ancient sacred herb, a Yuanhui sacred herb could not appear out of nowhere. It had to grow for more than one Yuanhui and survive the Yuanhui Calamity to become a Yuanhui sacred herb.
Therefore, the Yuanhui sacred herbs that appeared in the Kunlun Realm must have survived since the Middle Ages, and they were extremely rare.
"First, take me to Lingxi," Zhang Ruochen said.
Shoushu immediately led the way. "Chen Ye, follow me."
This was not his first time at Phoenix Lake. He knew the place inside and out, above and below ground—there was nowhere he hadn't been.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to surprise Mu Lingxi, so he did not inform her in advance. After arriving at Phoenix Lake, he did not alert anyone either, keeping a low profile.
Skirting around a small part of Phoenix Lake, Zhang Ruochen followed Shoushu to a quiet and elegant manor.
This manor was built right by Phoenix Lake, nestled against the mountain and beside the water. Outside the manor, a large number of exotic flowers and herbs grew, along with towering ancient trees, full of vitality.
However, as soon as he approached the manor, Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly.
Because white mourning silk was hanging on the manor's gate, and a suppressed atmosphere spread out.
"Huh? Who died? Not many people live in this manor," Shoushu said, looking puzzled.
"Creak."
Just then, the manor's gate opened.
A person walked out from inside, reeking of alcohol, wearing a wrinkled gray robe. He sat down at the manor's entrance, his eyes filled with sorrow, continuously pouring wine into his mouth.
Zhang Ruochen was very familiar with this person. Who else could it be but Jiu Fengzi?
Seeing Jiu Fengzi at Phoenix Lake did not surprise Zhang Ruochen, because Jiu Fengzi and Gu Songzi had been with Mu Lingxi.
But Jiu Fengzi's current state made Zhang Ruochen very uneasy, and a sense of foreboding arose in his heart.
Shoushu approached and asked with a strange look, "Old drunkard, what's wrong with you? Who's the funeral for in the manor?"
Jiu Fengzi looked up, glanced at Shoushu, and then at Zhang Ruochen.
The moment he saw Zhang Ruochen, Jiu Fengzi jumped up, rushed in front of him, his eyes red, and shouted loudly, "Why did you only come now? Why did you only come now?"
After shouting, Jiu Fengzi collapsed back to the ground, looking utterly dejected.
Zhang Ruochen's sense of foreboding grew stronger. He quickly crouched down and asked urgently, "What happened?"
Jiu Fengzi took a big gulp of wine and shook his head repeatedly. "Too late. You came too late."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen grew even more anxious. He grabbed Jiu Fengzi's arm and demanded, "What exactly is going on? What's too late?"
Jiu Fengzi grabbed his messy hair, his face full of grief, tears streaming from his eyes.
"Bang."
With a wave of his hand, Jiu Fengzi threw his wine gourd away.
"Old drunkard, are you okay?" Shoushu quickly reached out to support him.
Jiu Fengzi wiped his tears and said in a trembling voice, "It's Lingxi, that girl. Zhang Ruochen, why didn't you come sooner?"
"What?"
Zhang Ruochen felt as if he had been struck by lightning. His body staggered, and he nearly fell to the ground.
Jiu Fengzi's words were like a thunderbolt out of a clear sky.
"How could this be…"
Zhang Ruochen's mind went blank. It felt as if the sky had collapsed.
Shoushu quickly stood up and supported Zhang Ruochen, saying nervously, "Chen Ye, don't scare me."
The next moment, Zhang Ruochen approached Jiu Fengzi again, staring directly into his eyes. "Tell me. What exactly happened?"
"Zhang Ruochen, why couldn't you have come earlier? Lingxi is too strong-willed. She always wanted to catch up to you, to help you, so she pushed herself to cultivate. Not long ago, she took a risk to merge with the Ice Phoenix Ancestor's inheritance, but something went wrong…" Jiu Fengzi said, sobbing.
"Boom."
Zhang Ruochen's mind roared, and his body swayed.
For him, at this moment, the sky had truly collapsed.
"No… Lingxi can't die…"
Bloodshot veins appeared in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. He stood there in a daze, utterly lost. After a long moment, he suddenly pushed Jiu Fengzi aside and rushed into the manor.