Chapter 2110: The Painter's Fall
Although Zhang Ruochen's relationship with the imperial court was strained, he had to admit that after the Kunlun Realm became a merit battlefield, the court had played a huge role in keeping the five regions relatively stable.
But as the Hell Realm's offensive grew fiercer, the court's strength was stretched thin and barely sustainable. The key issue was a severe lack of top-tier experts. No matter how powerful the Blood-Drop Sword was, it couldn't sweep through all the strong ones of the Ten Clans of Hell.
Many thoughts flashed through his mind quickly. Zhang Ruochen said, "You've arrived too late. A damaged divine formation has been reactivated. True Dragon Island has been resealed—no one can enter or leave."
Hearing this, Shengshu Cainü and the King of Slaying All both changed expression. They had come for the Key to the World Gate, never expecting they wouldn't even have the chance to set foot on True Dragon Island.
Only now did they understand why Zhang Ruochen was here instead of on True Dragon Island.
"Do you have any news about the Key to the World Gate?" the King of Slaying All asked.
Zhang Ruochen paused briefly, then said, "The Key to the World Gate is extremely mysterious. No one should be able to find it. Otherwise, the World Spirit would likely already be in danger."
Although the short, thin old man who was the Key to the World Gate had fallen into their hands, Zhang Ruochen clearly had no intention of handing it over to the court.
There were many reasons for this, mainly two. First, he and the court were enemies, not allies—there was no reason to gift them the Key to the World Gate. Second, the court's strength was hollow; they couldn't protect it properly.
The Key to the World Gate was born from the Kunlun Realm's origin and couldn't be taken out of the realm. If not for that, handing it over to that taboo figure at Yin-Yang Sea would have been the safest option.
"In that case, I should return to the Southern Region," the King of Slaying All said, clearly in a hurry.
Without a moment's delay, the King of Slaying All soared into the air, turning into a streak of blood light that vanished into the distance in an instant.
Seeing the King of Slaying All leave, Zhang Ruochen moved and appeared on the light boat, standing opposite Shengshu Cainü.
Their eyes met, and Zhang Ruochen saw a trace of weariness in Shengshu Cainü's gaze. His heart was stirred.
"Are you alright?"
Zhang Ruochen and Shengshu Cainü spoke at the same time, saying the same words.
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, trying to sound as casual as possible. "I'm doing fine. I've been moving around, seeing all kinds of scenery."
He left out all the killing and bloodshed, not wanting to mention it.
Truth be told, it had been a long time since he'd last seen Shengshu Cainü. Although she had rushed over at Peacock Manor before, she had been in the form of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, and they hadn't even had a proper conversation.
"Too many strong ones have died by your hand. The Hell Realm and the Paradise Realm won't let this go easily. You must be very careful," Shengshu Cainü warned seriously.
She knew Zhang Ruochen was now incredibly strong, a top-tier expert at the first level below Great Saint. But open attacks are easy to dodge, while hidden arrows are hard to defend against. Any carelessness could be fatal.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Many people want my life, yet I'm still alive and well. I have to thank these external pressures for helping me improve my strength so quickly. Don't worry—my life is tough. No one can take it."
"I just don't want to see anything happen to you," Shengshu Cainü murmured, a shadow of gloom passing through her eyes.
Sensing her emotional shift, Zhang Ruochen felt a vague unease and quickly asked, "What's wrong? Has something happened?"
"I'm fine. The court has many matters I need to handle. I can't stay long. Take care of yourself." Shengshu Cainü's gaze flickered, avoiding his eyes.
Seeing this, Zhang Ruochen grew even more suspicious. He stared intently at her and said, "Tell me, what exactly happened? If it's within my power, I will definitely help you."
He really didn't want any entanglements with the court, but when it came to matters involving Shengshu Cainü, he couldn't stand by and do nothing.
Shengshu Cainü slowly sat down on the light boat, hugging her knees with both hands, biting her lower lip. A faint mist appeared in her eyes, as if she had suffered a great injustice.
Zhang Ruochen's heart trembled. Since he had known Shengshu Cainü, he had never seen her show such vulnerability.
Even when she was trapped in the first gradient of the Endless Abyss, she had always been strong, never this fragile.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to press further, Shengshu Cainü murmured softly, "Painting Saint Senior... has passed away... He..."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen was stunned at first, then showed an expression of disbelief, thinking he had misheard.
Chu Siyuan had cultivated for centuries. Even before the Kunlun Realm had revived, he had reached the peak of the Saint Realm, becoming a patriarch of the Confucian Path. His foundation was extremely solid.
On the Merit Battlefield of the Ancestral Spirit Realm, Chu Siyuan had broken through to become a Spiritual Power Saint King, growing stronger and stronger, eventually becoming one of the top experts of the Confucian Path.
Moreover, Chu Siyuan possessed the Confucian Path's ultimate treasure—the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram. Even if he encountered an invincible enemy, he should have been able to protect himself.
So Zhang Ruochen found it hard to believe the news of Chu Siyuan's death.
"When did this happen?" Zhang Ruochen asked, his expression heavy.
Shengshu Cainü's eyes dimmed. "Three days ago."
"With Senior Chu's... cunning and strength, who could kill him?" Zhang Ruochen pressed.
Shengshu Cainü lowered her head even further, her eyes beginning to moisten. "It was the Rakshasa Clan's Grand Prince Mara."
Zhang Ruochen frowned. He hadn't expected this to be the work of a Rakshasa Clan strong one, since the Rakshasa Clan's main battlefield was the Southern Region, not the Central Region.
The Central Region also had a merit battlefield, but it was dominated by the Undying Blood Clan.
In the Rakshasa Clan, those who reached the Dao Domain realm could be titled Prince. Above them were the even more honored Grand Princes.
Any Grand Prince had to be at least at the third level below Great Saint, and they often had fearsome reputations in both the Heavenly Court Realm and the Hell Realm.
But even facing a Rakshasa Grand Prince, Chu Siyuan should have had a chance to escape with the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram. Why had he suddenly provoked the Rakshasa Clan?
"It's not just Painting Saint Senior. The entire Painting Sect was destroyed by Grand Prince Mara's army," Shengshu Cainü said, unable to hold back her sobs.
She had once sought teachings from the Four Confucian Sects. The Painting Sect was like her alma mater, and Chu Siyuan was her teacher. Now they were all gone—how could she not grieve?
Zhang Ruochen's heart shook. He understood now—it wasn't that Chu Siyuan had provoked the Rakshasa Clan, but that the Rakshasa Clan had come to annihilate the Painting Sect.
Zhang Ruochen asked in a low voice, "Why did the Rakshasa Clan destroy the Painting Sect?"
"Because the Painting Sect still preserved the last Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree planted by the Confucian Ancestor himself. It is the spiritual symbol of the Confucian Path. And the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree is a treasure that even the gods of the Hell Realm covet—it can help them comprehend the supreme divine path," Shengshu Cainü said.
The Confucian Path was too deeply intertwined with the imperial court. One prospered, and the other prospered; one fell, and the other fell.
Ten million years ago, the four Confucian Ancestors each planted a Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree. During the Middle Ages Calamity, three were destroyed, leaving only the one at the Painting Sect.
For the Confucian Path, the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree held immense significance. It was like the Confucian Ancestor still alive, holding a supremely revered place in the hearts of all Confucian disciples.
A Rakshasa army had secretly infiltrated the Central Region and attacked the Painting Sect. This was something the Confucian Path and the imperial court had never anticipated. By the time they could have sent help, it was already too late.
Since even Chu Siyuan had died, the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree had likely fallen into Rakshasa hands.
"Led by Grand Prince Mara, the Rakshasa Clan mobilized thousands of Dukes and over a hundred Princes. Although the Painting Sect had tens of thousands of disciples who fought to the death, most of them were weak—how could they resist?
"Painting Saint Senior had a chance to retreat, but he chose to live and die with the Painting Sect, using his life to guard the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree. It was planted by the Confucian Ancestor himself, representing the spirit of the Confucian Path. No matter what, it could not fall into the hands of the Hell Realm.
"Senior Luo Xu got word and tried to help, but he couldn't even enter the Painting Sect before being severely wounded by Grand Prince Mara. Then he was chased by Rakshasa strong ones all the way. His fate is unknown now.
"In a short time, the Painting Sect turned into hell. Wherever the Rakshasa army passed, only white bones were left. Painting Saint Senior fought bloodily but couldn't turn the tide. He was captured by Grand Prince Mara, strung up by the neck, and hung from the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree. Using a demon blade, Grand Prince Mara sliced off the flesh from Painting Saint Senior's body piece by piece and ate it. In the end, only a white skeleton remained, swaying in the wind."
As Shengshu Cainü spoke, she broke down crying loudly, tears streaming down endlessly.
By now, her emotions had completely spiraled out of control. Such a respectable senior had died so horribly—she couldn't accept it.
Zhang Ruochen's heart was also shaken violently. He felt a suffocating pressure, clenched his fists until his joints cracked, and a cold killing intent surged in his eyes.
Killing someone is one thing—a quick death is a mercy. But this Grand Prince Mara had sliced off Chu Siyuan's flesh piece by piece and eaten it in front of him. How cruel was that?
There was no need to imagine it—Chu Siyuan must have endured unimaginable pain before finally dying.
Zhang Ruochen had an extremely deep impression of Chu Siyuan. Their first meeting was when he was fleeing from the evil path saints with Ling Feiyu, whose will had been damaged.
Back then, the Undying Blood Clan's Qitian Tribe had invaded with a hundred thousand troops. Chu Siyuan had simply painted a picture and annihilated them all—absolutely stunning.
Later, Chu Siyuan used the Painting Sect's ultimate treasure, the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Diagram, to restore Ling Feiyu's will, which also sparked a unique feeling between Zhang Ruochen and Ling Feiyu.
In Zhang Ruochen's heart, Chu Siyuan was a very stubborn man, but upright, hating evil like an enemy, with no tolerance for impurity.
He still remembered how Chu Siyuan had gone with him to Shengming City, earnestly advising him not to stray from the right path.
And when the Blood God Sect faced a great crisis, Chu Siyuan had set aside his prejudices, stepped forward, and fought against the Blood God Sect Leader's wife. Even though his strength was inferior, he never retreated.
Now, he had died guarding the Painting Sect and the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree, displaying the lofty integrity of the Confucian Path to the fullest.
Thinking of that old man being eaten, reduced to white bones, and the entire Painting Sect turned to scorched earth, Zhang Ruochen stood there in a daze. His eyes involuntarily grew moist.
War, after all, was cruel and merciless. Perhaps one day, the people close to him and those familiar friends would all die in battle.
He wondered who would be next.