# Chapter 2152: Still Not Yet Grown Up
Seeing Zhou Zhen leave the Ziwei Imperial Palace, cultivators from all sides couldn't help but focus their attention on him.
Having been captured yet emerging unscathed, and even being personally and politely escorted out by Zhang Ruochen, was an extremely rare occurrence. It inevitably led to many speculations.
Especially those cultivators from the Heavenly Realm Faction had even more thoughts.
Even the Heavenly Palace Enforcers had been suppressed, so how could Zhou Zhen escape unscathed?
If Zhou Zhen hadn't reached some agreement with Zhang Ruochen, few would believe it.
Zhou Zhen, however, had no time to think about such things. He only wanted to get as far away from the Ziwei Imperial Palace as possible, to reach a relatively safe place. He had no desire to face Zhang Ruochen again.
In the Fifth District, as Zhou Zhen passed a mountain range rich with sacred energy of heaven and earth, a large amount of mist suddenly surged forth from the mountains, engulfing Zhou Zhen's figure.
"Who's there?"
Zhou Zhen's expression turned wary. The many formation patterns engraved on his robe immediately began to emit a faint glow.
From within the mist, two figures emerged, appearing before Zhou Zhen.
Seeing these two, Zhou Zhen let out a long sigh of relief and stopped activating the formation patterns on his robe.
The two who appeared were a man and a woman. The man stood over one hundred eighty meters tall, with a burly frame and bulging muscles, like an iron tower. With every step he took, the entire mountain range trembled.
The woman, by contrast, was petite and delicate, with extremely beautiful features. She had transparent, thin wings on her back and held a staff refined from sacred jade. Though there was no fluctuation of sacred power, her spiritual power was exceptionally strong.
The man came from the Giant Eye Robber Clan, named Hong.
The woman came from the Elf Clan, named Yan Xu.
Both were renowned top-tier experts in Paradise Realm.
Whether the Giant Eye Robber Clan or the Elf Clan, both were super-great clans in Paradise Realm, with countless experts and gods seated within, flourishing for eons.
Hong looked down at Zhou Zhen and spoke in a deep voice: "Zhou Dishi, there is one thing I don't understand. Gu Xin'ao is dead, the Heavenly Palace Enforcers have been suppressed, so why did Zhang Ruochen spare only you?"
"What do you mean? Are you hoping Zhang Ruochen killed me?" Zhou Zhen questioned with a heavy tone.
Yan Xu said: "Given Zhang Ruochen's style of conduct, since he forcefully captured you, how could he let you off so easily? And he personally escorted you out, treating you so courteously. Don't you have anything to say?"
Hearing this, Zhou Zhen's heart stirred. He could clearly hear the implication in Hong and Yan Xu's words.
Only now did he finally realize Zhang Ruochen's intention. By deliberately creating these false impressions, Zhang Ruochen was clearly trying to sow discord between him and the Heavenly Realm Faction.
But Zhou Zhen also understood that even if he had realized it earlier, it wouldn't have changed anything. Could he have confronted Zhang Ruochen directly?
"All of this is Zhang Ruochen's scheme. He deliberately made you suspicious," Zhou Zhen said.
Hong raised an eyebrow slightly: "Is that so? Everyone knows Zhang Ruochen's style. If he wanted to deal with you, why would he go through such trouble? Zhou Zhen, how many secrets did you reveal to him?"
Yan Xu's tone softened slightly: "You should know very well how serious the consequences would be if you sabotaged our Paradise Realm's grand plan. Even the Array Extermination Palace couldn't protect you. It's not too late to speak up now. We can turn the tables and severely scheme against Zhang Ruochen."
"I haven't revealed any secrets to Zhang Ruochen. The grand plan can proceed as normal without any problems. Next, I will use the Realm Son Sacred Blood to locate the general position of the Peach Tree," Zhou Zhen said angrily.
Yan Xu's expression shifted several times before she finally extended a hand: "Hand over the Realm Son Sacred Blood. This item is extremely important and cannot have any mistakes."
"Is there a problem with me keeping the Realm Son Sacred Blood?" Zhou Zhen asked.
He could clearly tell that Hong and Yan Xu no longer trusted him. No matter how much he said, it was useless.
Hong took a step forward: "Zhou Zhen, have you already handed the Realm Son Sacred Blood to Zhang Ruochen?"
"Of course not," Zhou Zhen said.
Hong's tone turned cold and heavy, with a hint of killing intent: "Then hand it over quickly. Do you want me to personally take it?"
As he spoke, Hong released an extremely powerful aura, enveloping Zhou Zhen.
This concerned Paradise Realm's grand plan. Not a single mistake could be allowed. Regardless of whether Zhou Zhen had leaked information, the Realm Son Sacred Blood had to be taken first.
At the same time, the thin wings on Yan Xu's back also emitted a blue light, drawing in the surrounding sacred energy of heaven and earth and channeling it into the sacred jade staff in her hand.
Zhou Zhen's heart sank. He hadn't expected that mere suspicion would make Hong and Yan Xu want to attack him. Paradise Realm was truly overbearing.
Although he was a formation earth master, facing both Hong and Yan Xu simultaneously, he would be at a disadvantage.
Moreover, if he actually fought with Hong and Yan Xu at this moment, he would never be able to clear his name and would end up opposing Paradise Realm.
"Fine, I'll hand over the Realm Son Sacred Blood to you," Zhou Zhen said after weighing his options.
Turning his hand, Zhou Zhen produced a small jade bottle, only the size of a thumb, engraved with numerous spatial inscriptions. It was a spatial artifact.
The Realm Son Sacred Blood in the jade bottle had not been easy to obtain. For it, Gu Xin'ao had lost his life.
Fortunately, before Zhang Ruochen made his move, Gu Xin'ao had already handed the Realm Son Sacred Blood to Zhou Zhen. Otherwise, he would have died for nothing.
Zhou Zhen flicked his hand, tossing the jade bottle over.
Just as Yan Xu was about to reach out and catch it, a stream of sacred energy suddenly appeared, wrapping around the jade bottle, attempting to snatch it away.
"Don't even think about it!"
Yan Xu shouted softly and immediately swung the sacred jade staff in her hand.
Instantly, the sacred jade staff burst forth with brilliant sacred light. An extreme icy-cold aura appeared, freezing everything.
With Yan Xu at the center, within a radius of a hundred miles, ice crystals immediately formed.
At the same time, Hong reached out a large hand. Numerous sacred dao rules emerged in his hand, releasing an extremely powerful suction force, directly grabbing toward the spatial jade bottle.
However, that stream of sacred energy was extremely formidable. The spell Yan Xu had cast couldn't freeze it, and Hong's large hand couldn't grasp it either.
"Zhou Zhen, why aren't you attacking?" Yan Xu shouted.
Zhou Zhen snapped back to reality and waved his hand, sending out over a dozen formation seals, forming a precise formation, trying to trap the spatial jade bottle.
"Boom."
That stream of sacred energy instantly broke through the formation's restraint, wrapped around the spatial jade bottle, and directly broke through the air, flying away.
"Roar."
Hong let out a low roar, wanting to give chase.
"No need to chase. The strength of the one who acted in the shadows is extremely powerful, beyond what we can handle," Yan Xu stopped him.
Zhou Zhen snorted coldly: "If you hadn't insisted on me handing over the Realm Son Sacred Blood, how could it have been taken? You two must take full responsibility for this."
Hearing this, Yan Xu's expression darkened. This situation was truly something she hadn't anticipated.
The Realm Son Sacred Blood was an extremely important part of the plan. Now that it had been taken by a mysterious expert, finding the general location of the Peach Tree would undoubtedly become very difficult.
"Zhou Zhen, don't shout. Who can prove that the spatial jade bottle actually contained the Realm Son Sacred Blood? I strongly suspect that you have already handed the Realm Son Sacred Blood to Zhang Ruochen, and what just happened was Zhang Ruochen cooperating with you in a performance," Hong said, staring intently at Zhou Zhen.
Zhou Zhen said angrily: "Don't spout nonsense. Now that things have come to this, you still want to shift the blame?"
"Hmph, the more agitated you are, the more it shows you have a guilty conscience. People who aren't from Paradise Realm are indeed unreliable," Hong snorted coldly.
Seeing that the two were about to come to blows, Yan Xu interrupted: "Regardless of who is right or wrong, let's go see Archangel Michael first."
"Archangel Michael has already arrived in the Imperial City?" Zhou Zhen showed a surprised expression.
Yan Xu said: "This matter is no small thing. Naturally, Archangel Michael must personally control the overall situation."
Without lingering here any longer, the three immediately set off, leaving this mist-shrouded sacred mountain.
As soon as the three left, a figure revealed itself, holding the spatial jade bottle in hand. It was Yin Yuanchen, who had been following all along.
As a fellow cultivator of Paradise Realm, under those circumstances, it was inconvenient for him to reveal his true form, so he could only act in the shadows.
Watching the three depart, Yin Yuanchen did not continue following. Instead, he took the spatial jade bottle and immediately turned back to the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
As soon as he returned to the Ziwei Imperial Palace, Yin Yuanchen encountered Zhang Ruochen.
"Brother Yin, how did it go?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Yin Yuanchen said: "Zhou Zhen met with Hong of the Giant Eye Robber Clan and Yan Xu of the Elf Clan in the Fifth District. Neither Hong nor Yan Xu trusted Zhou Zhen, so some disputes arose."
"I heard them mention that the Realm Son Sacred Blood can lock onto the general location of the Peach Tree, relating to some grand plan of Paradise Realm. Unfortunately, although I am a cultivator of Paradise Realm, I haven't been able to access these things."
After a pause, Yin Yuanchen continued: "By the way, this contains the Realm Son Sacred Blood that Gu Xin'ao took away. I snatched it along the way. Now the three of them have gone to see Archangel Michael, so I didn't continue following."
As he spoke, Yin Yuanchen handed the spatial jade bottle he had taken to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen reached out and took the spatial jade bottle, a flicker of surprise passing through his eyes. He knew very well that what Yin Yuanchen said was completely true, without any falsehood or concealment.
The reason was that he had also followed along and witnessed everything that had happened with his own eyes.
The reason Zhang Ruochen had sent Yin Yuanchen to follow Zhou Zhen was actually to test him, to see what kind of person he really was.
The facts proved that Yin Yuanchen was indeed somewhat unconventional, as the rumors said, even daring to sabotage Paradise Realm's major affairs. Perhaps precisely because of this, Yin Yuanchen couldn't access many of Paradise Realm's secrets.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Brother Yin seems to have something on his mind?"
Yin Yuanchen smiled bitterly and gently shook his head: "Paradise Realm coveting the Peach Tree makes my heart cold. Besides disappointment, there is only disappointment. A good merit battle, why can't we unite against the external enemy? Why must we constantly guard against our own people making underhanded moves? It's utterly unsatisfying!"
Letting out a long sigh, Yin Yuanchen exhaled a breath of turbid air.
Both were intelligent people, so they could naturally guess Paradise Realm's purpose.
The grandson of the Ten Calamities Wen Tianjun's daughter — this identity was too sensitive. Caught between two great worlds, torn left and right, how could he be satisfied?
Zhang Ruochen, the son of Xue Hou, had many similarities with him.
One cannot decide one's birth, only what one should do. The right thing? Or the wrong thing?
With this plan's failure, Paradise Realm would inevitably make other arrangements.
Compared to the Hell Realm's sacred army besieging the city, Zhang Ruochen felt that Paradise Realm's threat was even greater.
The enmity between Paradise Realm and Kunlun Realm was too deep. Paradise Realm would probably be even more eager than Hell Realm to see Kunlun Realm destroyed, to completely bury the secrets of the past.
Not long after, the evil spirit returned from Tianle Palace and handed the Ten Sword Token to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen only glanced at it before handing it to Xue Wuye: "Returning the item to its rightful owner."
The "Flying Immortal Sword Technique" was indeed very profound, containing the Sword Ten of the "Wordless Sword Manual." If it were in the past, Zhang Ruochen would have wanted to borrow it to study.
But now, he had already fully cultivated all five levels of Sword Ten, and had even created the sixth level of Sword Ten based on his own understanding of the "Wordless Sword Manual," combined with the Way of Space.
In a sense, Zhang Ruochen had already reached or even surpassed the height of the former Sword Emperor.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen believed that the Sword Emperor's achievements in the Sword Dao were not limited to Sword Ten. The "Flying Immortal Sword Technique" might have even more profound sword techniques, simply unknown to outsiders.
That level of sword technique was no longer something a Saint King could comprehend or cultivate.
"Thank you, Brother Zhang."
Xue Wuye put away the Ten Sword Token and bowed to Zhang Ruochen in thanks.
From now on, the entire Wanxiang City undoubtedly owed Zhang Ruochen a huge favor.
After a series of events, the Imperial City became quiet.
Originally, cultivators from all realms were very resistant to the realm rules Zhang Ruochen had established, with few willing to accept them.
But Gu Xin'ao's death, coupled with the fact that no one could destroy the sacred edict, and the six enforcers being suppressed, truly intimidated many people.
At this critical juncture, no one dared to act rashly.
This was not to say that cultivators from all realms had chosen to compromise, but rather they were waiting for the Sword God Realm and the Heavenly Palace to react. No one believed this storm could be easily calmed.
However, after waiting for a long time, there was still no news from the Heavenly Palace, causing many to wonder — had the Heavenly Palace tacitly approved of all this?
Finally, some secret information spread through special channels.
It wasn't that the Sword God Realm had chosen to swallow their anger, but that multiple forces had intervened, including the other three ruling worlds, and it had nearly sparked a divine war.
To prevent the situation from escalating, the Heavenly Palace mediated, and all parties reached some agreement, ultimately suppressing the matter.
"How could this be? Do we really have to abide by the realm rules Zhang Ruochen established from now on?"
For such an outcome, most cultivators found it hard to accept.
But they had no choice. Even the Heavenly Palace had tacitly approved of the realm rules' existence. What else could they do?
A Saint King establishing rules to restrain cultivators from all realms of the Heavenly Court — this had never happened before.
Compared to the oppression of cultivators from all realms, the native cultivators of Kunlun Realm felt proud and elated. After all, no one wanted to be oppressed.
In a certain hall.
The figure of the Moon God appeared, telling Zhang Ruochen everything that had happened in the Heavenly Court.
This time, Zhang Ruochen's issuance of the sacred edict, suppressing all realms, caused too great a shock, even surprising the Moon God. Although as a god, cultivators at the Saint King realm were still very weak.
However, a Saint King could influence this merit battlefield, influence cultivators from all realms of the heavens. The significance behind this matter was extraordinary.
"This time, the Western Buddha Realm, the Five Elements Temple, the Heavenly Dragon Realm, the Heavenly Beginning Civilization... all had gods participating. It seems I have finally earned their support," Zhang Ruochen said.
A long time ago, Zhen Yuan had told him that as long as he showed enough potential, the Daoist lineage would fully support him. The Western Buddha Realm clearly had the same intention.
The only thing Zhang Ruochen couldn't understand was the Heavenly Beginning Civilization.
He hadn't heard of any deep connection between the Heavenly Beginning Civilization and Kunlun Realm. The only connection was probably the friendship between Zhang Ruochen and the Heavenly Beginning Fairy.
But whether it was romantic feelings or a life-and-death friendship, in the end, it was only personal affection between two juniors.
A civilization could never, because of personal affection, meddle in the conflicts between great worlds. It would take friendship between gods.
Unless...
"Perhaps the Old Heavenly Lord of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization is repaying the favor of those one hundred thousand drops of divine spring," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
That was one hundred thousand drops of divine spring, which helped the Old Heavenly Lord of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization heal his injuries and smoothly survive the Eon Calamity. This favor was no small matter.
"It could also be Luo Ji helping me. Now that she has obtained the inheritance of the Luo God, her voice in the Heavenly Beginning Civilization will inevitably become greater. Coupled with my own potential, it might make the Heavenly Beginning Civilization take me seriously," Zhang Ruochen thought.
After all, opposing the Heavenly Realm Faction required paying a great price. Any force had to deliberate carefully, weighing gains and losses.
If Zhang Ruochen hadn't become the invincible expert below the Great Saint realm, the situation this time would have been vastly different.
The Moon God said: "You are merely a Saint King, still far from enough. Although it's not yet clear, based on my guess, there are gods from Kunlun Realm pushing behind the scenes."
"Chi Yao?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Among the gods of Kunlun Realm, besides her, who else could it be?
The Moon God shook her head: "The Five Elements Temple, the Western Buddha Realm, the Heavenly Dragon Realm — all should have gods from Kunlun Realm pushing. Otherwise, they couldn't have jumped to the forefront to confront the Heavenly Realm Faction."
"How is that possible? No, could it be..." Zhang Ruochen showed a thoughtful expression.
The Western Buddha Realm had an emperor from Kunlun Realm who became a god there — Zhang Ruochen knew this.
But the Five Elements Temple and the Heavenly Dragon Realm — did they really have gods from Kunlun Realm?
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen thought of the several emperors and the two empresses who had disappeared from Kunlun Realm eight hundred years ago. Could they have gone to the Heavenly Court first, making arrangements in advance?
Just like the Five Elements Temple, although it had deep roots with Kunlun Realm, one hundred thousand years had passed. Without a god from Kunlun Realm cultivating in the Five Elements Temple, how could the Five Elements Temple support them so strongly?
The Moon God smiled: "Do you want to know how Chi Yao evaluated your actions this time?"
"Better not say it."
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned gloomy.
The Moon God hadn't expected that just mentioning Chi Yao's name would cause such a strong emotional fluctuation in Zhang Ruochen. So she didn't continue to beat around the bush: "She said, not being a realm lord yet establishing realm rules is nothing but childishness. Zhang Ruochen still hasn't grown up."
Zhang Ruochen said: "It seems I did what she should have done, making her unhappy."
"In your eyes, are gods' hearts so narrow?"
The Moon God wanted to say something — perhaps in Chi Yao's view, what you did wasn't enough, that you still lacked a true emperor's heart.
If your heart had truly fully matured, you probably wouldn't have issued the sacred edict as the Eastern Domain King in the Ziwei Palace where Chi Yao resides.
Instead, you would destroy the Ziwei Palace, establish the Sacred Bright Hall, first rectify your own name, and then issue the sacred edict as the realm lord.
Issuing the sacred edict as the Eastern Domain King was acting on impulse. It appeared to be for Kunlun Realm's sake, but it lacked legitimacy and was no different from a child's tantrum.
Issuing the sacred edict as the realm lord was shouldering responsibility, bearing the consequences after the edict was issued.
Of course, the Moon God didn't say these words, because she didn't know Chi Yao particularly well, nor did she know Chi Yao's true thoughts.
Perhaps, as Zhang Ruochen said, he had done what she should have done, making her unhappy!