Chapter 2138: Taking Advantage of the Crisis, Bullying Everywhere
Before the resplendent ancient sacred chariot, a handsome man with a jade-like demeanor and the ethereal Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden stood facing each other, both exuding a sacred and noble aura, appearing perfectly matched, like a pair of divine lovers.
The handsome man wore a warm smile, giving others a feeling as gentle as a spring breeze. He said, "Miss Nalan, my sincere heart can be witnessed by the sun and moon. I believe that at this time, the Kunlun Realm will greatly need the assistance of my realm. I hope you, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, will give it serious consideration."
As he spoke, the handsome man reached out his hand, attempting to take the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's jade-like hand.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden slightly turned her body, avoiding the handsome man's hand, and said with a faint smile, "Danqing already understands Young Master Yaotian's intentions and will certainly discuss it seriously with my eight sisters. I believe we will give Young Master Yaotian a satisfactory reply."
"That would be for the best. Please rest assured, Miss Nalan. My realm is already mobilizing a sacred army, and they will soon arrive at the Kunlun Realm, ensuring the safety of the Imperial City." The handsome man withdrew his hand, his face still bearing a smile.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden said, "Danqing thanks Young Master Yaotian here."
"My realm and the Kunlun Realm have been on good terms for generations. Naturally, we cannot stand by and watch the Kunlun Realm be destroyed by the Hell Realm. Moreover, between you and me, there is no need for thanks." The handsome man's smile grew even brighter.
After exchanging a few more words, the handsome man bid farewell to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, boarded the ancient sacred chariot, and departed unhurriedly.
From start to finish, the handsome man did not spare a single glance at the refined scholar transformed by Zhang Ruochen, showing complete disdain.
However, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden cast her gaze toward Zhang Ruochen, a flicker of strange light passing through her eyes, as if she had discovered something.
Zhang Ruochen merely exchanged a glance with the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden before swiftly using his movement technique to flash away.
Seeing this, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden hesitated briefly before giving chase.
Dozens of miles from the Ziwei Imperial Palace, beside a clear stream, Zhang Ruochen stopped, standing beneath a verdant willow tree.
The place was quiet, with no one else around, giving the impression that they were no longer within the Imperial City.
"You've come after all."
A gentle voice sounded behind Zhang Ruochen.
The sacred and flawless Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden appeared, drifting down like a divine maiden descending to the mortal world.
Clearly, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden had recognized Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen turned around, meeting the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's gaze. "With such a major event happening, how could I not come? Why didn't you send me a message earlier?"
"I just didn't want to put you in a difficult position," the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden said with a soft sigh.
She knew that the Imperial City was a place of heartache for Zhang Ruochen, perhaps the spot in the Kunlun Realm he least wished to tread.
Of course, she also understood that if she sent word, even though Zhang Ruochen harbored resentment toward the imperial court, he would still come without hesitation.
Zhang Ruochen didn't dwell on the issue and instead asked, "Who was that man just now?"
The Heavenly Court Myriad Realms were filled with hidden dragons and crouching tigers. No one could know all the geniuses, let alone recognize every one of them.
The handsome man who had been with the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden possessed profound cultivation and an outstanding aura—far from an ordinary figure. Yet Zhang Ruochen had no impression of him at all. He was likely a reclusive genius from some major world.
A flicker of hesitation passed through the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's eyes. After a moment of silence, she said, "In the Heavenly Court, he is known as Young Master Yaotian. He comes from the Tianquan Major World and is a descendant of the Nine Radiance Divine Lord."
The Tianquan Major World was no small matter. Among the many major worlds of the Western Universe, it ranked in the top five, with an immensely deep foundation.
As for the Nine Radiance Divine Lord, he was a legendary super figure in the history of the Tianquan Major World—the only being in the universe to simultaneously cultivate the nine powers of Sun, Moon, Rahu, Ketu, Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth to their utmost limits. He became the Saint Dao ruler of the Tianquan Major World, invincible across the cosmos.
However, the divine war 100,000 years ago was too brutal. Over a thousand major worlds were destroyed, more than half the deities of the Heavenly Court fell, and the Nine Radiance Divine Lord also perished in that war.
"Has he come for the Nine Radiance Divine Tears?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Legend had it that when the Nine Radiance Divine Lord fell, nine tears scattered, turning into meteors that fell into the Kunlun Realm—these were the so-called Nine Radiance Divine Tears.
Since this Young Master Yaotian was a descendant of the Nine Radiance Divine Lord, Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but connect him to the Nine Radiance Divine Tears.
Especially since Young Master Yaotian had directly sought out the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, making his goal even clearer.
The Nine Radiance Divine Tears were relics left by the Nine Radiance Divine Lord, of great significance. The Tianquan Major World would certainly not want them to remain outside forever, nor would they allow the Hell Realm to seize them.
Zhang Ruochen had long noticed that the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden each had different physiques, cultivating different powers yet able to merge as one. It was highly likely they had obtained the legendary Nine Radiance Divine Tears, each gaining their own fortune.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden nodded. "Yes, he wants to reclaim the Nine Radiance Divine Tears."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen furrowed his brow slightly.
He could tell that Young Master Yaotian was extremely powerful. With the vast influence of the Tianquan Major World, reclaiming the Nine Radiance Divine Tears shouldn't have been difficult.
Yet Young Master Yaotian hadn't taken action; instead, he was so attentive to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden. His intentions were likely far from simple.
"What exactly did Young Master Yaotian ask you to consider?" Zhang Ruochen asked seriously.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden didn't answer immediately. Instead, she walked step by step to the stream's edge, standing silently for a long time. A flicker of complexity passed through her eyes. "It's nothing really. Don't worry, I can handle it."
"If you're unwilling to say, then I'll have to go ask that Young Master Yaotian myself," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Why must you do this?"
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden turned around and said, "I'll tell you. He hopes that we, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, will all marry him. In doing so, not only will he not reclaim the Nine Radiance Divine Tears, but the entire Tianquan Major World will do its utmost to help the Kunlun Realm."
Zhang Ruochen said, "What a fine Young Master Yaotian. He wants both the Nine Radiance Divine Tears and the people. What a well-calculated scheme."
Seeing the Kunlun Realm on the brink of destruction, he sought to take advantage of the crisis. Such tactics were utterly despicable.
A figure as unparalleled as the Nine Radiance Divine Lord—who would have thought his descendant could be so shameless?
Actually, thinking about it, it made sense. Any one of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden—with their beauty, temperament, and talent—would be hard for many to resist. To marry all nine women would be an ultimate delight for any man.
Moreover, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden possessed extraordinary cultivation talent. If they were brought into the Tianquan Major World and properly nurtured, they might greatly enhance the entire world's strength.
After all, with the wonder of the Nine Radiance Divine Tears and their own innate gifts, it wasn't impossible for them to become gods in the future.
"What do you plan to do? Accept his conditions?" Zhang Ruochen asked again.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden pondered for a long time, her misty eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen. "In your eyes, am I really that foolish?"
Then she added, "The ruler of the Western Universe is the Paradise Realm. Even if we agreed to Young Master Yaotian, how much help could the Tianquan Major World truly give the Kunlun Realm? Even if they weren't afraid of offending the Paradise Realm, they'd still have to consider their own losses. He just wants to take both the people and the treasure without shedding a drop of blood."
"Marrying him would be worse than marrying you."
Hearing that last line, Zhang Ruochen didn't take it seriously. He knew it was just something the Shengshu Cainü, or the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, had said in a moment of anger.
"The Nine Radiance Divine Tears have already merged into our sacred souls. Only by killing us can they be retrieved. For now, I can still play along with him, but when it comes time to lay our cards on the table, there will inevitably be a resolution," the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden said with a faint sigh.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen's heart trembled. He hadn't realized that the Nine Radiance Divine Tears were tied to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's very life and death.
The "resolution" she spoke of could only be one thing.
Since she wouldn't yield to him, death was the only option.
One path to life, one to death. No wonder Young Master Yaotian seemed so confident—he was threatening both the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's life and the Kunlun Realm's survival.
"Why didn't you tell me? You should know that I would never stand by when it comes to you," Zhang Ruochen said, staring intently at her.
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's heart trembled. "Don't do anything rash. The Tianquan Major World is immensely powerful, and the Nine Radiance Divine Lord's lineage dominates it. Do you not already have enough enemies? I can handle him. You don't need to get involved."
Zhang Ruochen grabbed her soft jade-like hand, his gaze sweeping with authority. "So what if he's a descendant of the Nine Radiance Divine Lord? So what if it's the Tianquan Major World? In the Kunlun Realm, he has no right to act as he pleases."
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden couldn't break free from Zhang Ruochen's grip. She shot him a resentful glance but had no choice but to give up.
After a moment, Zhang Ruochen realized he had been too rash, his emotions getting the better of him. He quickly released her hand and said softly, "How is the Central Imperial City faring now?"
"Not too well. Although the Imperial City is protected by layers of formations, the ten formation masters of the Hell Realm are all highly skilled. Given enough time, they might be able to break through."
"Moreover, the Imperial City is now a mix of fish and dragons, with great hidden dangers," the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden said gravely.
Zhang Ruochen understood. If there were Hell Realm cultivators lurking in the Eastern Domain Sacred City, the Central Imperial City was likely no exception.
Of course, the threat didn't come solely from hidden Hell Realm cultivators. There were also forces hostile to the Kunlun Realm. If they made trouble at this time, they could deliver a fatal blow to the Central Imperial City.
Thinking of this, Zhang Ruochen grew even more worried about Chi Kongle. "I want to see Chi Kongle."
"Kongle isn't at the Ziwei Imperial Palace. She's gone to the Grand Chancellor's Lianzhu Mansion. In a day or two, there will be a council meeting. Leaders from all realms will attend to discuss strategies against the enemy."
"During the council, the young geniuses of each realm will also gather to exchange ideas. Kongle wants to use this opportunity to improve her strength," the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden said.
Zhang Ruochen fell into thought. The leaders of the major worlds attending this council would likely be numerous, and none would be weak. Even the Grand Chancellor, Wang Shiqi, might not be able to maintain order.
Without sufficient strength, there would be no say. At that point, the imperial court and even the Kunlun Realm's position would become very passive.
In fact, the imperial court had already lost much of its authority. Apart from the Ziwei Imperial Palace, there seemed to be no place in the Central Imperial City that cultivators from other realms couldn't freely tread.
After seeing the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden back to the Ziwei Imperial Palace, Zhang Ruochen headed toward the Lianzhu Mansion, eager to meet Chi Kongle as soon as possible.
It had been a long time since they last parted in the Truth Heaven Domain, and he had yet to fulfill the promises he made to her.
With the council about to be held, the gates of the Lianzhu Mansion were wide open, welcoming leaders from all realms.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen arrived outside the mansion, he saw numerous ornate carriages arriving in an endless stream. Some were pulled by sacred beast kings comparable to Nine-Step Saint Kings, highlighting the noble status of those within.
Of course, some didn't care for such displays and arrived in person.
Those qualified to attend this council were all leaders of top-tier powerful realms, each possessing extraordinary strength. It was a rare occasion to have so many great figures gathered in one place.
Only a world as ancient and indestructible as the Kunlun Realm could exert such a strong pull on cultivators from all realms. Not just cultivators from weaker worlds, but even the top geniuses of powerful realms would covet the opportunities within the Kunlun Realm.
Zhang Ruochen didn't reveal himself. Using spatial techniques, he silently entered the Lianzhu Mansion.
Soon, he located Chi Kongle.
Apart from nine grand halls, the Lianzhu Mansion also had many pavilions and towers, mainly distributed over a spiritual lake. They were arranged in a scattered yet orderly fashion, and with the mist rising from the lake, it gave a dreamlike feel.
The place where the young geniuses of each realm gathered was on this spiritual lake.
Though they were called young geniuses, their cultivation levels were all above the Saint King realm. Based on their cultivation, they were scattered across various small islands.
"Whoosh—"
Zhang Ruochen appeared on one of the small islands, like an invisible man, drawing no attention from anyone present.
Dozens of young experts had already gathered on this island, and Chi Kongle was among them.
Compared to her time in the Truth Heaven Domain, Chi Kongle had changed greatly. She was no longer the immature girl of eleven or twelve but had grown into a graceful young woman, radiating a soft sacred light, like a stunning beauty. One could faintly see traces of a young Chi Yao in her.
It went without saying that Chi Kongle must have entered the Heavenly Wheel Seal to cultivate, accelerating her growth.
Zhang Ruochen could imagine that Chi Kongle's current achievements must have come through much hardship.
At that moment, Chi Kongle was sitting alone at a jade table, with no one around her, looking quite isolated.
The dozens of geniuses were chatting happily, but not one was willing to communicate with Chi Kongle. Even when they glanced at her, their eyes held mockery and disdain.
Seeing this, Zhang Ruochen felt a pang of pain in his heart. He wanted to appear immediately and take her away from this place.
Just then, three more young geniuses entered the pavilion. They were of different forms, hailing from the Angel Clan, the Giant Clan, and the Elf Clan.
Clearly, these three geniuses were from the Paradise Realm.
Seeing them arrive, many in the pavilion immediately rose to greet them.
"Brother Bolan, Brother Palas, and Fairy Yanyu, you've finally arrived. We've been waiting for a long time."
All the geniuses wore smiles, showing great respect.
Setting aside their backgrounds, the strength of Bolan and the other two alone commanded awe.
Bolan, in particular, was a divine son with powerful bloodline and extraordinary talent. His future achievements were limitless.
Bolan was handsome and dashing, with golden hair flowing in the wind and golden pupils. On his back were two pairs of platinum-white wings, his entire body radiating a sacred glow. He also possessed an indescribable noble aura that made others feel inferior.
Bolan smiled and said, "I've just returned from the Merit Battlefield. My apologies for keeping you all waiting."
"With Brother Bolan's strength, you must have slain many Hell Realm experts this time. Climbing the *Saint King Merit Ranking* is only a matter of time."
"Of course. Brother Bolan is a rare genius the Angel Clan hasn't seen in ten thousand years. If he had been born a hundred years earlier, he would surely have become one of the top experts below the Great Saint level, shaking both the Heavenly Court and Hell."
...
Everyone spoke, their words full of flattery.
Hearing this, Bolan's smile grew even brighter, clearly enjoying it.
Turning his gaze, Bolan suddenly noticed Chi Kongle sitting alone nearby. A strange glint flashed in his eyes. Smiling, he walked over.