Chapter 2233: Star Sea World
“Do you know why all the major powers of the Hell Realm place such great importance on the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet? Why they would even recall elites from the battlefield just to gain something at the banquet?” Luo Sha asked, her phoenix eyes misty, a smile curling at her lips.
Zhang Ruochen did indeed feel that the various clans’ emphasis on the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet was somewhat extraordinary, to the point where even gods had stepped in to make personal arrangements and deployments.
A single banquet seemed more important than a Merit War.
However, although the “Dao-Deriving Sacred Fruit” and “Mysterious Extreme Sacred Fruit” at the banquet were rare, their numbers were extremely limited, and their significance was not that great.
Even winning first place among the ten clans, gaining thirty ten-thousandths of the Fate Essence and the Fate Heavenly Token, was far from reaching the strategic importance of a clan.
Zhang Ruochen could guess some things, but he had never personally asked Qingsheng Great Saint or Xue Hou to confirm his suspicions.
Now that Luo Sha had brought it up, he pretended to be unaware and gently shook his head.
Luo Sha said, “As the leader of the Blood Heaven Tribe, you don’t even know this. But it’s within this princess’s expectations. You, as the leader, were forced into the role, unwillingly. How could you spend the effort to understand the deeper significance behind the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet?”
Just as Luo Sha said, whether it was participating in the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet or seizing the position of leader, Zhang Ruochen was in a passive state.
He was passively accepting arrangements.
If not for the pressure of the Hell Realm’s general trend, if not for knowing the schemes of Xuanji Sword Saint and the others, Zhang Ruochen would most likely not have participated in the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet at all.
Even now, deep down, he was still conflicted, even somewhat repulsed by the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, completely lacking the mindset to fight fiercely and dominate the banquet.
After all, what he would be killing were captives from the various realms of the Heavenly Court.
Luo Sha said, “The Hell Realm is too vast. The ten clans are independent of each other, yet they also guard against the other nine. Everyone always holds back. Even for gods, it is very difficult to accurately understand the true strength of the ten clans.”
“The Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, held once every thousand years, is actually an opportunity for the gods to understand the strength and development of each clan. The rewards at the feast are the least important thing.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Since they want to understand the strength of each clan, why choose cultivators under a thousand years old?”
“Because cultivators under a thousand years old are the most representative. Through them, one can glimpse the future development of that clan.”
“Just like you, Zhang Ruochen. When the gods learn of a genius like you at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, they can roughly deduce your chances of cultivating to become a god.”
“How great are your chances of becoming a god?”
“How long will it take for you to become a god?”
“What is your future potential?”
“Is there a way to increase your probability of becoming a god? How to polish you? How to guard against you?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly. “If this method is used to understand the true assets of the ten clans, then the rewards must be attractive enough to make the gods of each clan compete. Only then will the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet have meaning. Otherwise, each clan will still hold back.”
Luo Sha nodded. “Exactly. So, behind the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, there is actually a huge division of interests.”
“Division of interests?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Luo Sha said, “I don’t know the specifics. Only gods can access that information. I only know that the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet might involve the allocation of resources among the clans and the status of major powers within each clan.”
“Of course, status is also closely related to resource allocation. The higher the status, the more resources one receives.”
“The strong get stronger, the weak get weaker.”
“For example, your Blood Heaven Tribe ranks last among the Undying Blood Clan. The tribal world is at the bottom, and the concentration of Blood Fiend Qi in that world is the worst among the ten tribes.”
“However, if you lead the Blood Heaven Tribe to achieve a good ranking at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet—not necessarily first, but even top three—it would greatly help the Blood Heaven Tribe’s ranking.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If I can help the Blood Heaven Tribe achieve first place among the ten tribes at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, would the Blood Heaven Tribe’s ranking become first?”
Luo Sha shook her head. “Of course not. The ranking and resource allocation of the ten tribes depend on many factors. The Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet only accounts for a certain proportion.”
“If you can truly lead the Blood Heaven Tribe to first place within the Undying Blood Clan, although it won’t directly push the Blood Heaven Tribe to first among the ten tribes, enjoying the most resources, it could still rank ninth, eighth, or seventh.”
“Where it ends up depends on whether your Great Tribe Leader has made sufficient arrangements and deployments in other areas. For example, achievements on the Merit Battlefield, the number of new gods, the number of newly born Great Saints, the development of desolate territories… and so on.”
Zhang Ruochen had a sudden realization. “I understand! The resource allocation and internal ranking of each clan require evaluation from multiple aspects, with the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet accounting for a significant proportion.”
“Exactly,” Luo Sha said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then how is the ranking of the ten clans of the Hell Realm determined? Why are they divided into the Supreme Clan, the Upper Three Clans, the Middle Three Clans, and the Lower Three Clans?”
“You’re asking me? How would I know? The hierarchy and order of the ten clans have never changed since ancient times. Perhaps only the gods know the reason. However, resource allocation in the Hell Realm has always been based on ability, unrelated to hierarchy. And as for the so-called hierarchy, we of the Lower Three Clans have never taken it seriously,” Luo Sha said.
Zhang Ruochen fell into silent contemplation.
Having the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet determine the distribution of interests in the Hell Realm was actually quite reasonable.
Within a thousand years, the more geniuses and elites a power nurtured, the more resources it would receive, which would ultimately benefit the geniuses and elites themselves.
“In this millennium, the Blood Absolute Family alone has gained two new gods, which is already a huge advantage for the Blood Heaven Tribe. If the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet also achieves a good result, the Blood Heaven Tribe’s ranking will undoubtedly improve significantly.”
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen finally understood how heavy a bet Xue Jue War God had placed on him.
It was a complete gamble.
A gamble on the future of the entire Blood Heaven Tribe for the next thousand years.
Luo Sha changed the subject, saying, “Unfortunately, the Blood Heaven Tribe is destined not to achieve great results in this Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet. It might even be crushed into the mud and ground underfoot.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled noncommittally. “The Blood Heaven Tribe’s strength may not be outstanding, but even without me, it would not be at the bottom of the Undying Blood Clan.”
Luo Sha said, “Yu Huang, Yixuan Great Saint, and Gu Chenzi are all top-tier Great Saint experts. With them in charge, the Blood Heaven Tribe’s strength could rank sixth or seventh among the ten tribes of the Undying Blood Clan. But because of you, the Blood Heaven Tribe will end up at the bottom.”
Zhang Ruochen understood her meaning and said seriously, “Are my enemies in the Hell Realm really that strong?”
“Not only strong, but also numerous,” Luo Sha said.
Now that Zhang Ruochen understood the importance of the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, he became much more attentive. “Princess, you are exceptionally wise and must have analyzed this thoroughly. Could you tell me what kind of enemies I face?”
“At least three of the top ten on the Hundred Shackles Great Perfection ranking will stop at nothing to kill you. There are also many Hundred Shackles Great Perfection experts who want to teach you a lesson or suppress the Blood Heaven Tribe. With your current cultivation, it is almost impossible to achieve anything at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet.”
Luo Sha continued, “What you should consider now is how to protect your own life at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet. That alone is a considerable challenge for you.”
“In fact, you should have agreed to Feng Hou.”
“If you had formed an alliance with her, your chances of surviving the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet would have greatly increased.”
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a long time before asking, “Do you think I am so easy to kill? Who are these three top-ten Hundred Shackles Great Perfection experts you mentioned?”
“Ranked eighth, Pink Skeleton; ranked fifth, Wujiang; ranked second, Lanying.”
Luo Sha continued, “Pink Skeleton comes from the Bone Clan. It is said she has an undying body. A Supreme Realm Great Saint killed her three times, and she came back to life three times. She is arguably the most bizarre of all Hundred Shackles Great Perfection experts.”
“You offended the Bone Clan too deeply on the Merit Battlefield. Pink Skeleton has already declared that she will slice off every piece of your flesh at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, turning you into a white skeleton.”
“Wujiang, also known as Ten Thousand Hands Daoist or Ten Thousand Hands Wujiang, is the disciple of an ancient god from the Darkness Temple and the little junior uncle of the Dark Son. Although he is only a Hundred Shackles Great Saint, his seniority is higher than many gods.”
“Of course, the most terrifying is Lanying. Even my imperial brother, when mentioning him, becomes extremely serious and regards him as a great enemy. He comes from the Green Deer Divine Temple of the Shura Clan and is known as the Cosmic Divine Fetus.”
“If you encounter any of them, you must flee immediately. Once they get close, even if you are a master of time and space, you may not escape.”
“These three are just the strongest and most eager to kill you. In reality, the number of your enemies is greater than you imagine.”
“Within the Undying Blood Clan, the tribes that compete with the Blood Heaven Tribe are even more your enemies.”
Zhang Ruochen rubbed his chin. “As far as I know, the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet forbids killing each other.”
Luo Sha giggled. “What, are you scared?”
“Scared? Not really. Even if they are strong, killing me won’t be easy. But will the gods allow them to kill me? My maternal grandfather has a terrible temper. What if he overturns the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Luo Sha said, “Zhang Ruochen, after all I’ve said, don’t you understand yet? In the eyes of the gods, you and the other participants in this Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet are different.”
“Do you know why the Thousand Questions realm experts from the Di Shang Divine Kingdom didn’t step onto the Life-and-Death Platform to deal with you?”
“Why didn’t the gods of the Blood Heaven Tribe oppose you becoming the leader?”
“Why can other cultivators choose not to attend the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet, but you must go?”
“Haven’t you ever thought deeply about the underlying reasons?”
Then, Luo Sha sighed softly, as if to herself, “Those with the heart to become gods are indomitable. But many Great Saints in the Hell Realm have had too smooth a cultivation path.”
This seemingly irrelevant sigh shook Zhang Ruochen’s mind, and in an instant, he understood many things.
“Do you want this princess to show you a clear path? Perhaps it can help you defy the general trend and achieve a good ranking at the Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet,” Luo Sha said, her smile alluring, her phoenix eyes shimmering like a fox spirit that could bewitch all beings.
Zhang Ruochen pondered deeply. “No need. If I get serious, how could a mere Heaven Hunting Grand Banquet trouble me?”
“Tch, arrogant fool. This princess will wait to see you suffer,” Luo Sha pouted her red lips and snorted lightly.
Although she spoke disdainfully, seeing Zhang Ruochen so serious and confident, she couldn’t help but recall his majestic figure on the Merit Battlefield, fighting the entire Hell Realm army alone. Her heart fluttered secretly.
A true man should stand tall, facing ten thousand enemies head-on.
Without fear.
“Princess, the Star Sea Gate has arrived,” Han Ying reported.
Ahead on the Blood River, the channel widened, like a long river entering a calm lake.
A bridge formed by countless specks of light connected the east and west banks, spanning eight hundred zhang. Each speck of light was a sparrow shimmering with starlight.
Luo Sha pointed at the bridge of light specks, as if testing Zhang Ruochen. “Do you recognize it?”
Zhang Ruochen looked up. “Sky Domain Star Sparrows! It is said that a single sparrow can support an independent space. The Star Sea World has quite the means, raising so many Sky Domain Star Sparrows. Behind this Star Sea Gate, there must be a unique world.”
Luo Sha said, “The Star Sea World is the largest commercial empire in the Hell Realm, with such vast power that it is known as the eleventh clan of the Hell Realm. The largest sacred store of your Undying Blood Clan, the Ancient Sacred Pavilion, doesn’t even reach one-tenth the scale of the Star Sea World.”
“Why is the Star Sea World called the eleventh clan of the Hell Realm?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Luo Sha said, “Because no power center of any of the ten clans in the Hell Realm can control the Star Sea World. And the Star Sea World controls a vast number of planets, void realms, cosmic secret realms… its territory is immensely vast.”
“Who is behind the Star Sea World?” Zhang Ruochen asked, his curiosity piqued.
Luo Sha smiled mysteriously. “To be able to carve out an independent world space in the Fate Divine Domain and build its headquarters here, who do you think is behind the Star Sea World?”
“The Destiny Temple has quite the methods.”
Zhang Ruochen praised, then felt a bit surprised. “Is this the headquarters of the Star Sea World?”
“Why ask so many questions? Go in and see for yourself, won’t you know?” Luo Sha said.
“Whoosh—”
The hundred-zhang-long sacred ship continued forward. As it passed through the bridge supported by the Sky Domain Star Sparrows, it seemed to hit a layer of water curtain. The water curtain swallowed the ship’s hull until it completely disappeared from the Blood River.