Chapter 2326: The Culprit
"You and the Yu Huang were far too bold. Just the two of you dared to storm the Ghost Clan's home star. If you had failed, the Blood Heaven Tribe's excellent situation would have been destroyed in an instant."
Gu Chenzi shook his head gently, speaking in such a manner.
He was a man who sought stability and did not approve of Zhang Ruochen's reckless actions. Though they appeared to have achieved remarkable results, the risks had been extremely high. One slight misstep could have lost everything.
Zhang Ruochen stood beneath a cluster of blood bamboo, his hands clasped behind his back. "If we don't take risks, what chance does the Undying Blood Clan have to challenge for first place among the ten clans? To gain more, you must pay more."
Gu Chenzi said, "But some within the Undying Blood Clan lack such ambition. Instead, they envy everything the Blood Heaven Tribe now possesses and want to drag us down."
"Such people exist everywhere. They are cowardly and weak in front of outsiders, yet ruthless and merciless toward their own."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes revealed a hint of mockery. He exhaled deeply and asked, "Who attacked the Blood Heaven Continent last night?"
Gu Chenzi's sleeves bulged as if filled with wind.
With a sweep of his arm, seven clusters of blood light flew out from his sleeve.
One cluster of light, one figure.
A total of seven living beings knelt on the ground, bound and suppressed by strands of blood-colored threads. Among them were two Immortal Realm Great Saints and five Saint Kings.
"How could there be seven Heavenly Slaves on the home star?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Gu Chenzi said, "They are not Heavenly Slaves. They are Blood Slaves refined from Heavenly Slaves."
Zhang Ruochen looked more closely. Indeed, the eyes of all seven beings were blood-red, blood runes floated on their skin, their expressions were ferocious, and their rationality was weak.
"Have you found out who refined them into Blood Slaves?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Gu Chenzi shook his head lightly. "It's impossible to trace. The memories of the seven Blood Slaves have been wiped clean, and the blood fiend aura on them has been purified by special means. However, the culprit must be a Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection Great Saint."
"Why are you so certain?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"Last night, at the peak of the water waves, I clashed with him. He was not injured and retreated swiftly, vanishing without a trace in an instant. Who else but a Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection Great Saint could accomplish that?"
"Interesting."
Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes and released his spiritual power, spreading it across the entire home star.
With his current sixty-fifth level spiritual power, combined with the perception of the Heart of Truth, almost no cultivator on the home star could evade his detection.
"There are only two Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection Great Saints on the home star: Feng Hou and Yue Tinghai," Zhang Ruochen said.
Gu Chenzi pondered for a moment. "It shouldn't be Feng Hou. Her strength far surpasses mine. If she had made a move last night, there would be no reason for her to flee after a single failed strike. Moreover, she still relies on our power to secure the position of Divine Maiden. She wouldn't offend the Blood Heaven Tribe at this time."
"Whether it's her or not, summoning her for questioning will reveal the truth."
In the Hell Realm, Zhang Ruochen did not easily trust anyone, only the truth he uncovered himself.
Gu Chenzi said, "Feng Hou's identity is special. I will go and invite her personally."
"No need. She has already arrived." Zhang Ruochen waved his hand.
Xue Ningxiao quickly walked in, glanced at Zhang Ruochen and Gu Chenzi in the courtyard, and said, "Cousin, Feng Hou has arrived and wishes to see you."
"Invite her over," Zhang Ruochen said.
This courtyard had originally been an ordinary mortal land. However, because Gu Chenzi, a Great Saint, had cultivated here for several days, sacred blood springs had emerged from the soil, spiritual herbs had grown, blood bamboo had sprouted, and it had transformed into a misty, ethereal sacred land.
A Great Saint's dwelling, influenced by the rules of the sacred path, undergoes evolution and transformation, harmonizing with heaven and earth and connecting with all things. Naturally, it becomes extraordinary.
Feng Hou possessed a beauty that could captivate the world. Sacred light flowed around her, her skin was like solidified cream, and she wore a gold-thread mask that partially concealed her exquisite and flawless face, adding to her ethereal beauty and mystery.
Entering the courtyard, Feng Hou's phoenix-like eyes, clear as cut water, carefully scrutinized Zhang Ruochen. Her red lips curled slightly. "Congratulations, Ruochen Great Saint, on your great advancement in cultivation. Destroying the Ghost Clan's home star, slaying Xu, severely wounding Pink Skeleton, and single-handedly suppressing the Ghost and Bone Clans—you have displayed the might of our Undying Blood Clan."
"Unfortunately, I did not receive advance notice of this. Otherwise, I would not have missed this battle."
Then, she let out a soft, lingering sigh. "Ruochen Great Saint, you did not treat me as one of your own. If there is such a major operation next time, you must inform me. I am not one to shy away from trouble. Fighting for the Undying Blood Clan is a conviction that every Undying Blood Clan cultivator must uphold."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Middle Three Clans lack top-tier experts. They are not difficult bones to chew. My Blood Heaven Tribe can handle them."
Feng Hou's beautiful eyes shifted as she looked toward Gu Chenzi. "The Blood Heaven Tribe truly hides dragons and crouching tigers. Who would have thought that Mr. Gu Chenzi had also reached the Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection?"
Gu Chenzi was well aware of Feng Hou's special status. With Yan Hong Great Saint already defeated and Bore's backer, Wu Jiang, severely injured, the position of Divine Maiden was tilting in her favor. He could not afford to be arrogant and disrespectful toward such a figure, even if Zhang Ruochen could.
Gu Chenzi clasped his hands and smiled faintly in return.
Feng Hou said, "Last night, I also sensed that powerful aura. But he retreated too quickly, vanishing in an instant. I could not trace his trail."
Zhang Ruochen had been standing with his back to Feng Hou, his hands behind him, appearing quite aloof. His tone was indifferent. "It is not untraceable."
"Does Ruochen Great Saint have a method?" Feng Hou looked at his back.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I have heard that those who cultivate the Way of Fate to a certain level can restore a cultivator's erased memories. As a candidate for the Divine Maiden of the Destiny Temple, your mastery of the Way of Fate must be quite high, correct?"
Gu Chenzi silently praised this move. It was brilliant.
It could both test Feng Hou and uncover the true culprit from last night.
Feng Hou looked at the seven figures suppressed within the seven clusters of blood mist. "Are these the ones whose memories were erased?"
Zhang Ruochen did not respond. His silence conveyed his attitude, putting pressure on Feng Hou.
Gu Chenzi nodded to Feng Hou.
Feng Hou naturally understood that Zhang Ruochen was suspicious of her. Therefore, she had to clear her name no matter what. She could not afford to lose Zhang Ruochen's support, as it was a crucial step in becoming the Divine Maiden.
Feng Hou selected a Saint King realm Blood Slave, manifested the Gate of Destiny, mobilized the rules of fate, and pointed a finger at his brow.
The lower a cultivator's realm, the easier it was to restore their memories.
After a while, Feng Hou withdrew her finger. Behind her gold-thread mask, a complex expression flickered in her eyes. "His memories have been restored."
"Who is it?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Feng Hou was silent for a long moment. "Yue Tinghai."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Gu Chenzi, kill them."
A hint of confusion flashed in Gu Chenzi's eyes. How could Zhang Ruochen believe Feng Hou's words so easily? Was he not going to verify it himself? Had he not been suspicious just moments ago?
Zhang Ruochen had his own judgment. When suspicion was warranted, he suspected. When trust was due, he trusted without hesitation.
He turned and walked toward Feng Hou. The faint, elegant fragrance reached his nose. The coldness on his face melted away, replaced by a smile. "Congratulations, Feng Hou, on fusing a Third-Rank Sacred Intent. It seems the position of Divine Maiden is already within your grasp."
Zhang Ruochen was not at all surprised that Feng Hou had fused a Third-Rank Sacred Intent.
With the assistance of the Quasi-Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill, if she could not even fuse a Third-Rank Sacred Intent, she would likely be removed from the list of Divine Maiden candidates without needing the Heaven Hunting Battle to prove it.
Feng Hou's previous strength was not far behind that of Yu Huang and Dao Yu Huang. Now that she had advanced further, she might even replace Xu and rank seventh on the Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection List.
Facing Zhang Ruochen directly, Feng Hou smiled gracefully. "Compared to your Second-Rank Sacred Intent, Ruochen Great Saint, my achievement is nothing. To seize the position of Divine Maiden, I still need your full support."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Yan Hong Great Saint is severely injured. It will be difficult for her to recover her combat power during the Heaven Hunting Battle. As for Bore, her own strength is too weak. Her greatest reliance is Wu Jiang and the cultivators of the Upper Three Clans. Unfortunately, Wu Jiang has been severely wounded by me and will be unable to accomplish much in the short term. As for the Hundred Shackles Realm Great Perfection Great Saints of the Upper Three Clans, they have also suffered significant losses, with several already eliminated."
Feng Hou appeared quite shocked. "You defeated Wu Jiang?"
Yu Huang appeared at a corner of the courtyard at some point. She killed all seven Blood Slaves and shot a cold glare at Gu Chenzi, as if mocking his lack of decisiveness.
She said, "Defeating Wu Jiang is nothing. Even Zuo Mu Shengjun, the strongest among the Thousand Questions Realm Heavenly Slaves, was killed by us."
Feng Hou knew Zhang Ruochen was strong and that the Blood Heaven Tribe was at its peak, but she had still underestimated Zhang Ruochen's strength.
The significance of defeating Wu Jiang was extraordinary. Even the gods would likely be shaken.
This meant that the Undying Blood Clan now had a top-tier powerhouse.
Feng Hou quickly regained her composure. "In that case, does this mean the Undying Blood Clan is now capable of contending with the Yama Clan?"
"Summoning the cultivators of the ten tribes here is precisely for this purpose. This time, the Undying Blood Clan will compete for first place. It's time for the cultivators of the Hell Realm to see us anew," Yu Huang said.
Feng Hou had deep schemes and a profound mind, but at this moment, an unprecedented ambition was stirred within her. Her heartbeat quickened slightly.
Yes, compete for first place.
If the Undying Blood Clan could seize first place among the ten clans, her identity as the Divine Maiden would naturally be justified, and no one would dare question it.
Now, the only threats to the Undying Blood Clan were the Shura Clan and the Yama Clan.
A cold, resolute light flickered in Feng Hou's beautiful eyes. "The ten tribes must be fully unified, without any dissent. In this Heaven Hunting Battle, the entire Undying Blood Clan, from mortals to gods, will take pride in us."
"And if Dao Yu Huang and Yue Tinghai have different opinions?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced sideways, testing the waters.
Feng Hou said, "If the few of us have already decided, even if they are dissatisfied, they will have to endure it. The gods are watching. Who would dare to sabotage the Undying Blood Clan's grand plan? After the Heaven Hunting Battle, they will face the consequences."