Chapter 2018: Pointing the Finger
The Yin Burial Mountain Range was the most famous ancient battlefield in the history of the Central Domain’s Nine Provinces. Several large-scale wars had erupted there, burying countless bones. The Yin energy was extremely heavy, baleful aura soared into the sky, and it was filled with many strange and sinister phenomena.
Not to mention the interior of the Yin Burial Mountain Range, even within its outer thousand-mile radius, bones were piled high, and crows flew in dense flocks. Ordinary people simply did not dare to approach.
Legend had it that the depths of the Yin Burial Mountain Range harbored many peculiarities, a place where the living should not tread. Even a Great Saint who entered might not be able to retreat unscathed.
It was truly strange that the two Golden Qilin Beast Emperors would order the transfer of the sacred altar into the Yin Burial Mountain Range. No one knew what their intention was.
Shangguan Que coughed lightly twice and said, “We were merely following the orders of the two Golden Qilin Beast Emperors. We sent the sacred altar into the Yin Burial Mountain Range and then asked no further questions. So, even we do not know into whose hands the sacred altar has fallen.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s brow furrowed slightly. In that case, he could no longer continue probing the secrets of the sacred altar.
Now, both Golden Qilin Beast Emperors were in the outer space of the Kunlun Realm, battling Great Saints from the Hell Realm. There was no telling when he would have a chance to meet them.
“Wang and Ruochen once saw a coffin in the Hall of All Emperors that bore the handwriting of the Imperial Brother. On it was written the character ‘Chen.’ We presumed that coffin was meant to hold Ruochen’s previous life’s corpse. But when we opened the coffin, we found it empty. Shangguan Que, do you know anything about this?”
At this moment, Mingjiang Wang suddenly spoke up.
He was greatly surprised by the appearance of a coffin in the Hall of All Emperors, and the fact that it was empty only deepened his confusion.
If the Ming Emperor had placed that coffin in the Hall of All Emperors, what was his intention? Why had the corpse inside disappeared without a trace?
Shangguan Que turned around, walked back to the stone platform, and fixed his gaze on Zhang Ruochen, staring intently.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to speak, Shangguan Que said solemnly, “Back then, after the Crown Prince was assassinated, His Majesty personally sealed the Crown Prince’s corpse in a coffin. Under normal circumstances, the Crown Prince’s corpse should have been buried in the Imperial Clan’s forest of tombs. But the Crown Prince’s situation was somewhat special.”
Having said this, Shangguan Que paused, as if hesitant.
“What was so special about Ruochen?” Mingjiang Wang asked hastily.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. He vaguely understood what Shangguan Que meant—it was likely related to his previous life’s possession of half Undying Blood Clan bloodline.
After a moment of silence, Shangguan Que continued, “In his previous life, the Crown Prince possessed the bloodline of the Undying Blood Clan. If he were buried in the Imperial Clan’s forest of tombs, it might have triggered a backlash of fate, disrupting the feng shui pattern of the burial grounds. However, His Majesty was unwilling to have the Crown Prince’s corpse interred elsewhere, so he planned to place it in the Hall of All Emperors, using the special environment and power of that hall to preserve the Crown Prince’s body.”
“Later, the Sacred Bright Empire fell into civil strife and was quickly destroyed. Naturally, no one knew the situation inside the Hall of All Emperors. At the same time, in such chaotic times, I doubt anyone would have thought to go and bury the Crown Prince.”
Upon hearing this, Mingjiang Wang’s face changed drastically. “What did you say? How could Ruochen have possessed the Undying Blood Clan bloodline in his previous life? Could it be that the Imperial Sister-in-law…”
Such a secret had never been mentioned to him by the Ming Emperor, nor had Zhang Ruochen told him beforehand. So Mingjiang Wang was now extremely shocked.
That the Sacred Bright Crown Prince actually possessed the Undying Blood Clan bloodline—if this were to spread, it would cause an unimaginable uproar.
Even now, if this matter were told to all the remnants of the Sacred Bright Empire, they would likely find it hard to accept.
Kong Lanyou said, “The Grand Tutor is correct. In his previous life, my cousin’s birth mother was Xue Hou, so he indeed possessed half of the Undying Blood Clan bloodline.”
“The Imperial Sister-in-law was actually Xue Hou! No wonder she died suddenly after giving birth to Ruochen, and the Imperial Brother buried her in haste, not even allowing us to see her one last time.” Mingjiang Wang showed a look of sudden realization.
The next moment, Mingjiang Wang looked at Kong Lanyou and asked, “The Imperial Sister-in-law was your aunt, the daughter of Kong Shangling. How could she be of the Undying Blood Clan?”
“Xue Hou was not actually my grandfather’s biological daughter. Back then…”
Kong Lanyou began to explain the matter regarding Xue Hou to Mingjiang Wang.
After hearing Kong Lanyou’s explanation, Mingjiang Wang finally understood. He couldn’t help but sigh. He could only say that Xue Hou had been too cunning, deceiving everyone. She had nearly fooled even the Ming Emperor, turning him into a puppet under her control.
“Since the Imperial Brother placed Ruochen’s previous life’s corpse in the Hall of All Emperors, why did it disappear?” Mingjiang Wang asked again.
The Hall of All Emperors was a vital site of the Sacred Bright Zhang Clan. Outsiders simply could not enter. Even a Great Saint would find it impossible to force their way in.
Shangguan Que sat back down, picked up his teacup, took a sip, and said thoughtfully, “It was I who stole the Crown Prince’s corpse.”
“Why would you do such a thing?” Mingjiang Wang was filled with doubt.
Shangguan Que’s expression suddenly turned serious. “Because of Xue Hou. Crown Prince, I want to tell you that Xue Hou was not actually an Undying Blood Clan member born in the Kunlun Realm. She… she… pfft.”
Before he could finish, Shangguan Que suddenly spat out a large mouthful of blood. His chest even exploded, revealing a massive hole. Almost all of Shangguan Que’s internal organs were shattered.
“Teacher, what’s wrong with you?”
Seeing this, Zhang Ruochen’s face changed drastically. He quickly got up to support Shangguan Que.
The others also showed shock, not understanding why such a sudden change had occurred while Shangguan Que was speaking.
Shangguan Que kept vomiting blood. His skin rapidly shriveled, and in an instant, he seemed to have aged hundreds of years.
Then, a startling scene appeared once more.
The flesh on Shangguan Que’s chest began to grow back at an astonishing speed.
In no time, the large hole in his chest was filled with newly grown flesh and bone. Even his shattered internal organs regenerated.
On the surface, it seemed as if Shangguan Que had never been injured. But his vitality was greatly depleted, and he appeared extremely aged.
“What is this?”
Seeing this, everyone was somewhat stunned.
After all, even a Martial Saint King could not possess such astonishing regenerative ability. This was practically an immortal body.
And Shangguan Que was not a Martial Saint King. He primarily cultivated spiritual power, and his physical body was actually quite fragile. If damaged, it should not have recovered so quickly.
Zhang Ruochen’s brow was tightly furrowed. Shangguan Que’s astonishing regenerative ability reminded him of the Undying Blood Clan.
But Shangguan Que was clearly human. How could he possess the abilities of the Undying Blood Clan?
“It cannot be spoken. Indeed, it cannot be spoken. Just half a sentence, and I paid such a heavy price. Cough, cough.”
Shangguan Que stopped vomiting blood, looked up at Zhang Ruochen, and said weakly, “Crown Prince, forgive me, but I am not my own master. If you wish to know some truths from eight hundred years ago, go to the Endless Abyss.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s heart trembled. The Endless Abyss again.
Back then, Shengshu Cainü had come to ask Shangguan Que about the “Blood Clan Secret Scroll,” only to be led to the Endless Abyss by a note.
And the former Blood God Sect Leader and his wife were also inextricably linked to the Endless Abyss.
Now, a strange event had occurred with Shangguan Que. He had something to say but could not speak it, seemingly also connected to the Endless Abyss.
It seemed all fingers were pointing to the Endless Abyss.
Zhang Ruochen pondered silently. It appeared he truly had to make a trip to the Endless Abyss to uncover the many mysteries hidden there.
(End of Chapter)