Chapter 2200: Leaving Kunlun
To summon Zhang Ruochen's soul, Xue Hou had been severely injured.
At this moment, her hands, white as jade, held the radiant Divine Wood Heart, absorbing its internal power in an endless stream.
The life force contained within the Divine Wood Heart was immense, as if the vitality of countless billions of plants across the entire Kunlun Realm had converged into a single entity.
After absorbing merely a thousandth of it, the cracks on Xue Hou's Divine Source healed at a visible rate.
Where the cracks had been, the Way of Life filled in the gaps.
"One eon, one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years. The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree is truly formidable, no wonder it's a deity who cultivated the Way of Life to its pinnacle. Absorbing it for just over a hundred years, the Dao and knowledge I've comprehended have already been immensely beneficial to me."
The Divine Wood Heart contained not only life force.
More importantly, it held the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree's Way of Life, knowledge, and wisdom.
Absorbing a thousandth represented a thousandth of one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred years. In that span of over a hundred years, the Way of Life comprehended by the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree would take an ordinary Saint-level cultivator ten thousand years to reach, if they could even attain that level.
If she fully absorbed the Divine Wood Heart, even though Xue Hou had only recently become a deity, her mental state would reach the level of a god who had survived one Eon Calamity, or even higher.
Moreover, her severely damaged divine soul would multiply several times over, reaching a level many deities could only dream of.
It could be said that a single Divine Wood Heart was a rare treasure capable of triggering a divine war.
"Whoosh—"
The moment her Divine Source was fully repaired, a layer of divine light burst from Xue Hou's body, like a divine lamp being lit.
Where the divine light shone, tender green plants sprouted from the soil.
Roots took hold, seeds germinated, and they grew rapidly…
Finally, they transformed into three hundred million towering trees, forming a lush, vibrant forest of green shade.
It was worth noting that these three hundred million towering trees were merely born from the life force contained in the divine light radiating from Xue Hou's body.
King Ming let out a clicking sound with his tongue, his eyes narrowing deeply as he glanced at Zhang Ruochen standing beside him. "The Divine Wood Heart is a divine-level treasure. It's wasted on you. How about giving one to your uncle?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Skyward Sword and the hilt of the Stellar Divine Sword were taken by you, weren't they, Uncle?"
King Ming shook his head. "How can you call that taking? That sounds terrible. The Stellar Divine Sword merging into one is a matter of heavenly destiny. No one can change the will of heaven."
"The will of heaven?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
King Ming said, "That's right. The moment I subdued the Stellar Divine Sword, heaven had already made its arrangements. The divine sword was meant to reappear in the world, its peerless sharpness intimidating all the heavens and myriad realms."
Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply at this. He suddenly felt that the legendary ferocious and fierce King Ming had the makings of a divine prophet, spouting one set of rhetoric after another.
He had taken something and could still shift the blame onto heaven.
"Did heaven also arrange for me to give you a Divine Wood Heart?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
King Ming's extremely sinister eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, and he nodded slightly, giving him a confirming look.
"Heh heh."
Zhang Ruochen laughed. Believing that would be a strange thing indeed.
King Ming shook his head gently, somewhat disappointed by Zhang Ruochen's attitude. "I will soon become a god, and after becoming a god, I will be a strong one among deities. If you want to beg me, now is a good opportunity."
"What would I beg you for?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
King Ming said patiently, "You're going to the Hell Realm to save people. Having an extra god to help you will increase your chances of success. Give me a Divine Wood Heart, and I'll take care of it."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I'm thinking about something."
"What?" King Ming asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If I ask Mother to help me retrieve the sword hilt and the Skyward Sword now, reason is on my side. I think Mother would agree. Uncle, you're not a god yet. Are you sure you can defeat Mother?"
Black lines appeared on King Ming's forehead.
He suddenly realized that this kid was quite shrewd. Trying to trick him wouldn't be easy.
Standing atop the Blood Mountain, Xue Hou could naturally hear the conversation between Zhang Ruochen and King Ming.
When she heard the word "Mother" come from Zhang Ruochen's mouth, her heart surged with emotion. Her brilliant divine eyes were filled with tenderness.
But she understood that Zhang Ruochen had said "Mother" only to use that identity to negotiate terms with King Ming.
The rift between mother and son might have been mended.
Yet Zhang Ruochen's aversion to the Undying Blood Clan remained.
King Ming said, "Tell me your conditions. How can I get a Divine Wood Heart?"
"First, help me save the person. If successful, consider the sword hilt and the Skyward Sword as a gift to you, Uncle," Zhang Ruochen said.
King Ming's expression turned solemn, his gaze deep. "Saving people is not impossible. But, Zhang Ruochen, you must understand one thing: when you go to the Hell Realm, it's best to follow the rules of the Hell Realm. If you have any ulterior motives, even if your divine mother is my own sister, I will kill you."
Although he said it calmly, it gave Zhang Ruochen a chilling sensation. He had no doubt that King Ming would indeed be capable of killing him.
Meeting King Ming's gaze, Zhang Ruochen remained calm and stared back.
King Ming hadn't expected that, despite his killing intent radiating outward, Zhang Ruochen could remain composed without showing the slightest fear. His evaluation of this nephew rose another notch.
"The Blood Absolute Family needs a genius like you. If you are outstanding enough, after going to the Hell Realm, the resources and glory you obtain will far surpass what you have now."
Then King Ming added, "You'd better maintain your current mindset and will. Only then can you gain the recognition of Xue Jue War God. At that time, any grudges you've formed with the major forces of the Hell Realm, he will help you settle."
"Your identity is too sensitive. To survive in the Hell Realm and live well, gaining the recognition of Xue Jue War God is the first step. Remember this firmly."
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a long moment. Then, suddenly, he took out a Divine Wood Heart and handed it to King Ming. "Uncle, this one remark of yours is worth far more than a Divine Wood Heart."
King Ming was taken aback for a moment, then laughed. "Interesting, very interesting. Someone as clever as you will surely live well in the Hell Realm. It seems everything I just said was unnecessary."
Taking the Divine Wood Heart, King Ming pressed it into his brow, where it turned into a tiny emerald light point, like a gem embedded there.
Both Zhang Ruochen and King Ming were extremely intelligent. Some things didn't need to be spelled out; they could understand each other.
If he had given the Divine Wood Heart to King Ming earlier, King Ming would only have helped Zhang Ruochen save the person.
But by giving it now, when Zhang Ruochen went to the Hell Realm, King Ming would have to do his utmost to protect his life.
To put it another way, if Zhang Ruochen hadn't given King Ming a Divine Wood Heart, even if King Ming acted to save Chi Kongle, he certainly wouldn't have done his best.
By then, Zhang Ruochen might still have had to offer a Divine Wood Heart to enlist his help. But even if he did, Zhang Ruochen would still owe him a favor.
Treasures could be given away, but the timing of the giving had to be carefully managed.
Zhang Ruochen sensed something and looked toward the horizon.
There, on the horizon, a patch of seven-colored rosy clouds appeared.
At the center of the rosy clouds, a beautiful, ethereal immortal figure walked slowly forward. She had long, snow-white hair and a delicate, graceful figure. With each step she took, a lotus flower bloomed beneath her feet.
Step by step, lotuses bloomed.
On her back grew a pair of peacock wings.
The seven-colored rosy light emanated from those peacock wings, resplendent and magnificent, with sacred energy surging forth, making her perfect face and temperament appear ethereal and mysterious.
Zhang Ruochen was overjoyed. "Lan You, you've finally recondensed your immortal body and returned to the Great Saint Realm."
Recently, Zhang Ruochen had been struggling against adversity, experiencing too many sorrowful events. Finally, there was a piece of good news, and his heart was naturally stirred with excitement.
He leaped upward, intending to fly before Kong Lanyou.
But as soon as he leaped, his body plunged into the ground, leaving only his head above the surface.
Kong Lanyou walked over to Zhang Ruochen, her beautiful eyes full of confusion. She couldn't help but laugh. "Cousin, what are you doing?"
Zhang Ruochen was, after all, a Great Saint, a highly esteemed Eastern Domain King, and the ruler of the Holy Bright Central Empire. Naturally, he cared about his dignity.
Having suffered such a great embarrassment, his expression was somewhat unnatural. He coughed dryly twice. "First, pull me up. I'm afraid the more I try to climb, the deeper I'll sink."
Kong Lanyou bent down, extending a jade-white hand to gently stroke Zhang Ruochen's face, which was the only part above ground. She gave him a radiant smile. "I think you're fine just like this. How about staying underground a little longer?"
As Kong Lanyou bent over, a snowy white cleavage was clearly visible before him, like an inverted jade bowl, exuding a seductive charm.
Zhang Ruochen found it somewhat awkward to look at, so he deliberately closed his eyes. "Lan You, I'm about to leave for the Hell Realm immediately. The time we can spend together is already limited. After this parting, who knows how long it will be before we meet again. And when we do, I don't know if we'll be friends or foes…"
"Splash."
Zhang Ruochen felt his body lighten as he returned to the surface.
Kong Lanyou's delicate brows furrowed slightly, showing confusion and bewilderment. As if afraid he would leave immediately, she tightly grasped his hands.
Xue Hou still needed some time to fully recover to her peak state, so Zhang Ruochen and Kong Lanyou walked side by side, talking as they went, recounting recent events.
They were now both at the Great Saint realm, standing at the pinnacle of the Saintly Path. Yet they were like young boys and girls of fifteen or sixteen, fingers intertwined, intimately close.
Perhaps because he had merged with his former body, Zhang Ruochen felt even closer to Kong Lanyou, as if everything was still as it had been eight hundred years ago.
Kong Lanyou stopped, gazing at him from close range. "Cousin, once you go to the Hell Realm, it will be very difficult to turn back. The Heavenly Court, Kunlun Realm, and Guanghan Realm will no longer have a place for you."
"I understand," Zhang Ruochen said.
A smile capable of captivating all beings appeared on Kong Lanyou's exquisite, perfect face. "If one day truly comes when neither the Heavenly Court nor the Hell Realm has a place for you, I am willing to stay by your side. The universe is vast, the mortal world boundless. There will always be a place to call home."
With that, Kong Lanyou gently rose on her tiptoes, and her glossy, fragrant red lips unexpectedly kissed Zhang Ruochen on the cheek.
Then she hugged him tightly, her breath like orchid, whispering in his ear, "Cousin, you've suffered too much. It's just a pity that I wasn't by your side during your most difficult times."
Kong Lanyou's move was truly sudden.
So much so that Zhang Ruochen didn't react for a long time. His mind wavered for a moment before he composed himself. He placed one hand on her head and the other around her slender waist, his gaze solemn. "Take care of Mother for me. Wait for me. I will definitely return."
Lin Fei had long since been taken by Xue Hou to the Endless Abyss. Not long ago, Zhang Ruochen had gone to see her.
When the Kunlun Realm Merit War broke out, it was actually Xue Hou's doppelganger who had first found Lin Fei, wanting to meet the woman Zhang Ruochen called "Mother." She wanted to learn from her how to be a mother and how to gain Zhang Ruochen's recognition.
It was for this reason that when Zhang Ruochen first came to the Endless Abyss, Xue Hou, like an ordinary woman, had prepared a large table of delicious food for him.
Instead of using a deity's forceful attitude to force Zhang Ruochen to acknowledge her as his mother.
Later, when Mu Lingxi went to fetch Lin Fei, Lin Fei had already been sent to the Endless Abyss by Qiu Yichi. Xue Hou's doppelganger had then taken on Lin Fei's appearance, wanting to make contact with Zhang Ruochen first to understand his personality and temper.
"Stop your lovey-dovey nonsense. It's time for us to set off."
From afar, King Ming called out, rather spoiling the mood.
The tightly embracing Zhang Ruochen and Kong Lanyou immediately separated.
Xue Hou stood with her hands behind her back, her gaze overlooking the sky, fully displaying the majestic dignity of a deity. Her cultivation had completely recovered. "Eight hundred years have passed. It's indeed time to leave. Lan You, remember what your aunt told you. Everything in the Second Gradient will be temporarily under your care."
With that, Xue Hou extended a snow-white, slender finger and pointed outward.
"Crack."
Above the Second Gradient, a deep spatial passage appeared.
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the other end of the passage and vaguely saw a stretch of starry sky, though he didn't know where in the universe it connected.
"What did Mother mean by what she said to Lan You just now? What needs to be taken care of in the Second Gradient of the Endless Abyss? Those blood beasts?"
Zhang Ruochen felt that there must be some unknown secrets hidden here.
However, Kong Lanyou had strong principles and a stubborn personality. Since she had agreed to Xue Hou, it certainly wasn't anything bad.
Wrapped in Xue Hou's divine light, Zhang Ruochen, Xue Tu, Xue Mo, Qi Tian, and Ying Huo passed through that spatial passage. After a dizzying whirl, they arrived in a pitch-black, cold universe.
Zhang Ruochen turned back and saw the distant Kunlun Realm.
They were already very far from Kunlun Realm. What he saw was merely a patch of atmospheric light, ten times larger than the moon.
Although they were still in the nearby starry sky, the distance between him and Kunlun Realm was already countless millions of miles.
"I can't suppress it any longer. The Heaven and Earth Rules have sensed me. I must immediately undergo my Divine Tribulation. My Divine Tribulation is the Heart Tribulation."
King Ming flew down to a yellow-brown planet with a diameter of thirty thousand miles, causing the planet to tremble violently. He then sat down cross-legged in a "five hearts facing heaven" posture.
The next moment, divine light burst from his body, enveloping the entire planet. Then it spread to the surrounding starry sky, turning into a sea of blood-colored divine light.
"What a formidable King Ming. He's only a demigod, yet his divine light can illuminate a stretch of starry sky, dyeing tens of thousands of planets with a layer of blood. I possess a demigod body, so why can't I do the same?" Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.