Chapter 2356: The Altar

The white-bearded old man knelt before Zhang Ruochen, speaking devoutly, "Great One, please accept the Southern Sword Realm as your slave realm. We will devote all the resources of our realm to serve you."

"We are willing to be your servants."

The thirteen Saint King celestial slaves spoke in unison.

Qiyang pointed at them, sneering with contempt, "Do you think someone of Ruochen Great Saint's stature would accept just anyone as a servant? His servants are divine sons and daughters. What are you lot, that you think you're worthy to serve under him?"

The cultivators of the Southern Sword Realm gritted their teeth in humiliation, saying nothing.

Zhang Ruochen waved his hand at Qiyang. "Step back and wait for me."

"A minor great world's celestial slaves, why would Ruochen Great Saint bother with them... Fine, fine, I'll step back..."

Qiyang tactfully flew off the starry rock, retreating to a patch of star mist hundreds of miles away.

Zhang Ruochen looked at the fourteen cultivators kneeling on the ground. Their clothes were tattered, their appearance wretched, worse than common paupers.

"You were able to become the top experts of your realm, so you should all be wise and intelligent. Why don't you understand the principle of the strong preying on the weak? Instead of living in such humiliation, it would be better to die a glorious death in battle." Zhang Ruochen's tone was calm as he spoke.

"We could die a glorious death in battle, but... the living beings of the Southern Sword Realm, what will happen to them?" The white-bearded old man's expression was bitter, filled with helplessness.

Zhang Ruochen crouched down, looking at the wrinkled face of the old man. "To enslave an entire realm, what humiliation is that? Living a life worse than death, what meaning does it have?"

"As long as we live, there is still hope. If we die, there is nothing. Nothing at all!" The white-bearded old man shook his head as he spoke.

Zhang Ruochen was not an unfeeling person, but he still found it difficult to understand the persistence in their hearts.

What was it that supported their will to keep living?

To live, even if it meant being a slave or servant, even if it meant losing all dignity, even if it meant being as lowly as a dog, they still persisted. All for that faint, almost unreachable hope.

Did the future of the Southern Sword Realm truly have hope?

Would the future of the Kunlun Realm also face the choice between destruction and survival?

Zhang Ruochen stood up, letting out a long breath. "This is the Heaven Hunting Battlefield. Your fate is sealed in death, and no one can change that."

The hope that had barely ignited in the hearts of the Southern Sword Realm cultivators was mercilessly extinguished again.

Yes, they were a group of celestial slaves, a group of prey.

How could the hunters ever let their prey go?

Zhang Ruochen changed his tone, adding, "But there is another saying in this world: Relying on others is not as good as relying on yourself."

"Ourselves?"

"What can we do ourselves?"

...

The cultivators of the Southern Sword Realm exchanged glances, not understanding Zhang Ruochen's meaning.

If relying on themselves was useful, who would humbly kneel and beg others?

Zhang Ruochen said, "If I wanted to kill you for points, it would be as easy as snapping my fingers. However, if you can be of some use and help me with one task, I may not be able to save your lives, but I can find a way out for the Southern Sword Realm."

"What way out?"

A Saint King celestial slave quickly asked.

Zhang Ruochen only looked up without speaking.

The white-bearded old man understood and asked, "What task does the Great One want us to do?"

Zhang Ruochen said, "What is your purpose in coming to the Seventh Dark Star?"

The white-bearded old man answered honestly, "We heard that the strongest among the celestial slaves is hiding on the Seventh Dark Star, capable of intimidating the cultivators of the Hell Realm. To survive, we specially came to seek refuge."

Zhang Ruochen nodded. "That is also my goal."

The white-bearded old man, having reached the Great Saint realm through his own wisdom, already understood Zhang Ruochen's intention.

Zhang Ruochen said, "If you can help me find out the distribution of celestial slaves in the star region where the Seventh Dark Star is located, and the hiding place of Chi Di, I promise to protect the living beings of the Southern Sword Realm for ten thousand years."

"Only... ten thousand years?" The white-bearded old man said.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Ten thousand years is not short."

The white-bearded old man discussed with the thirteen Saint King celestial slaves, then knelt before Zhang Ruochen again, kowtowing heavily.

He said, "Great One, the Southern Sword Realm is not a small realm but a vast great world. It was only because it suffered a devastating calamity and lost its inheritance that no gods have ever been born there."

"Why are you telling me this?" Zhang Ruochen said.

The white-bearded old man stared at the ground. "This old man wants to tell the Great One that the Southern Sword Realm is a land of outstanding people and geniuses. It is not a burden to you. As long as the Great One is willing to pass down teachings to them, they will surely become a powerful force under your command in the future."

Then, from the old man's mouth, a three-inch-long sword-shaped token emerged. He held it in both hands and presented it to Zhang Ruochen.

"If the Great One is willing to agree to pass down teachings to the Southern Sword Realm, we will risk our lives to accomplish the task you have given us."

The cultivators of the Southern Sword Realm spoke in unison.

There was a tragic and resolute air about them. They knew they were already doomed to die, so they placed all their hope on Zhang Ruochen.

Even though they had never met this person before, they had no other choice.

Zhang Ruochen gently touched the hair above his forehead. "It seems you are not foolish at all. In fact, you are quite clever, good at bargaining."

"This old man can see that the Great One is different from other cultivators of the Hell Realm. You have a kind heart. You want to help the Southern Sword Realm. You do not wish for innocent lives to perish in destruction." The white-bearded old man said.

Zhang Ruochen smiled coldly. "I have a kind heart? You haven't seen me kill people without blinking an eye."

"But you are willing to protect the Southern Sword Realm for ten thousand years. Even if we fail in our task, you would still do it, wouldn't you? This old man will not misjudge a person." The white-bearded old man said.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't be so presumptuous as to think you can see through me. Just go and do your work honestly. If you succeed and help me, I will seriously consider the matter of the Southern Sword Realm."

The white-bearded old man and the thirteen Saint Kings were overjoyed and said in unison, "Please accept the realm token, Great One. From now on, you are the Realm Lord of the Southern Sword Realm."

"Please accept the token."

...

Zhang Ruochen grabbed the realm token, holding it in his hand. Then, he released Dao Yuhuang from the Purple Gold Gourd.

"They are yours to handle. It should be easier for celestial slaves to gather intelligence on other celestial slaves."

Zhang Ruochen briefly instructed Dao Yuhuang, then swept up the dozens of saint corpses on the ground, flew out of the starry rock, and joined Qiyang.

Qiyang looked at the starry rock that had already flown far away and asked, "What about those dozen or so celestial slaves from the Southern Sword Realm? You didn't let them go, did you?"

Just now, Zhang Ruochen had released his Space True Domain, enveloping the entire starry rock, so Qiyang did not know what had happened inside.

"Don't ask about things you shouldn't." Zhang Ruochen said coldly, his hands behind his back.

Qiyang naturally did not think that Zhang Ruochen would let them go just because they begged a few times. However, thinking of how miserably Source Demon Divine Son had died, he suppressed his curiosity and dared not ask further.

"Let's go. Take me to see Bore." Zhang Ruochen said.

Qiyang thought he had misheard and exclaimed in shock, "Great Saint, what do you intend to do? Are you trying to take her by force? Behind Bore Highness, there is a powerful backer. Great Saint must not act recklessly."

"It seems you still haven't remembered my words." Zhang Ruochen said.

Qiyang quickly shut his mouth. After enduring for a while, he said in a low voice, "Bore Highness is surrounded by a large number of strong experts from the Upper Three Clans. If the Great Saint goes there so openly, it might not be... appropriate."

"You're right. It is indeed not appropriate to go openly."

Zhang Ruochen transformed himself, taking on the appearance of Source Demon Divine Son. "Is this acceptable?"

His voice changed, becoming identical to Source Demon Divine Son's.

His aura, gaze, and power fluctuations also became flawless.

Qiyang circled Zhang Ruochen three times, looking at the deathly aura surging around him, and swallowed a mouthful of saliva.

If he had not seen Source Demon Divine Son die right before his eyes, he would never have believed that the person before him was actually Zhang Ruochen in disguise.

"They say the Undying Blood Clan's transformation technique is formidable. Today, I have truly witnessed it."

Qiyang and Zhang Ruochen, wrapped in deathly aura, carried dozens of saint corpses and flew away at high speed.

Before long, they arrived at a small rocky planet at the edge of the dark space.

After verifying their identities, the two passed through an invisible barrier and entered the interior of the small planet. Only then did Zhang Ruochen sense a series of powerful Great Saint auras.

From time to time, Great Saint realm cultivators flew past, including members of the Underworld Clan, Death Clan, and Stone Clan.

The total number of Great Saints probably exceeded a thousand.

On the small planet, an altar had been built from the corpses of celestial slaves. Saint sources, like bright lamps, flickered within the altar.

Crimson saint blood flowed down from the altar, filling the mysterious inscriptions on the ground.

The corpses of celestial slaves numbered over a million, piled up like a small mountain. Corpse skins were used as sacrificial flags, saint bones as pillars, and shadowy soul figures danced around the altar, emitting hoarse howls.

Nearly three hundred Great Saints of the Death Clan had gathered near the altar, using their Death Thought Power to continue carving inscriptions.

With each additional inscription, the altar's power grew stronger.

Zhang Ruochen asked, "Why are you building a Death Altar?"

Qiyang said with some pride, "This Death Altar was constructed under the command of Bore Highness. It possesses a sacred and unfathomable power. With it, we can sweep across the entire Heaven Hunting Battlefield. Even if Chi Di comes, he will only meet his death."

Qiyang threw dozens of saint corpses to a Death Clan Great Saint, then looked up at the Death Altar, which exuded a terrifying aura. "Bore Highness is a genius of the Destiny Temple. Only she could build such a magnificent masterpiece in such a short time."

"So this is the secret weapon you plan to use to conquer the Seventh Dark Star?" Zhang Ruochen said.

Qiyang, worried that Zhang Ruochen might destroy the altar, quickly suppressed his smile and said, "The Death Altar is essentially complete and has self-defense capabilities. Ruochen Great Saint must not act rashly."

"What if I insist on acting?" Zhang Ruochen said.

Qiyang said urgently, "There are nearly three hundred Death Clan Great Saints near the Death Altar. The moment you unleash your power, they will sense it and combine their Death Thought Power with the Death Altar."

"When the Death Thought Power of nearly three hundred Great Saints converges, amplified by the altar, the resulting power, given Ruochen Great Saint's current cultivation, would be difficult to withstand."

Then, Qiyang bowed and quickly added, "Your younger brother absolutely does not mean to threaten the Great Saint. I am only concerned for your safety and for my own life."

Bore's stunning figure emerged from a gray, hazy light gate beneath the altar, her gaze falling on the two of them.

Qiyang sensed her presence and quickly straightened up, a smile appearing on his handsome face. "Greetings, Bore Highness. You look even more ethereal and radiant, like the full moon in the nine heavens, bright and dazzling."

Bore was tall and slender, surrounded by rivers of Nether River water flowing around her. Every inch of her skin emitted the sacred light of fate, forming a stark contrast with the deathly atmosphere here.

Her gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen. "So Source Demon Divine Son is here too. I have something to discuss with you. Follow me into the altar."

With that, Bore stepped into the altar first.

Qiyang glanced at Zhang Ruochen's profile, stunned for a moment.

Heavens! If they were outside the Death Altar, Zhang Ruochen naturally could not destroy it. But once inside, with the altar's self-defense mechanisms disabled, given Zhang Ruochen's terrifying cultivation, the altar that the Upper Three Clans had worked so hard to build would likely be dismantled in an instant.

More importantly, the altar was covered in secret patterns, making it impossible even for gods to detect what was happening inside.

Zhang Ruochen had come specifically for Bore. If, after entering the altar, he was overcome by lust and did something reckless, what then?

Bore was practically inviting a wolf into the house.

Qiyang was extremely anxious. Several times, he wanted to expose Zhang Ruochen's identity, but each time, the image of Source Demon Divine Son's miserable death appeared in his mind, holding him back.

That image would probably become a lifelong shadow for him.

"I won't disturb the Great Saint and Bore Highness."

Qiyang turned to leave but found himself unable to move. Zhang Ruochen's voice rang in his ears: "You will come in with me. If you try to escape or reveal my identity, I can guarantee you will die even more miserably than Source Demon Divine Son."

"I... I don't want to disturb you..."

Qiyang followed behind Zhang Ruochen, looking pitiful, and entered the altar.

Inside the altar, the rules of heaven and earth were chaotic.

Saint sources emitted bright light, releasing a large number of sacred dao rules, creating a chaotic and disordered environment.

The ground was like a liquid surface, rippling with every step.

Bore held the cyan-brown Destiny Heavenly Disk, standing at the center. With a gentle wave of her jade hand, the bright Gate of True Self appeared.

"Follow me into the Gate of True Self," she said.

Qiyang was curious and asked, "The Gate of True Self is woven from the rules of fate. Inside is Bore Highness's True Self World. Why are we going in?"

"Don't ask so many questions. Just go in."

Then, Bore's gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen stepped in first.

Qiyang thought to himself, "Could it be that Bore Highness, with her keen intelligence, has already seen through Zhang Ruochen's true identity and wants to trap him to death inside the True Self World?"

The more he thought about it, the more plausible it seemed. He quickly followed, stepping through the Gate of True Self.

Inside the Gate of True Self was another scene entirely. Everything was white and hazy, with only a white stone island floating in the void.

In the sky, it rained eternally.

The rain was also white.

"Drip, drip."

Zhang Ruochen stood on the island, eyes closed, listening to the rain. He caught the faint fragrance approaching and said, "I've heard that every cultivator can cultivate a world of their own. The heart determines the world. I didn't expect your world to be so simple and pale. Why is there not a trace of life or vitality?"

Bore stood beside Zhang Ruochen, her eyes fixed straight ahead, her eyelashes long and curved. "The more one thinks, the more mistakes one makes. I am not truly simple and pale. I simply have no other choice."

"Can't you make the rain stop?" Zhang Ruochen said.

Bore said, "Why should it stop? I think it's fine."

Qiyang stood to the side, completely unable to understand what they were saying, but he instinctively felt that both Bore and Zhang Ruochen were acting strangely.

In his eyes, one was cold as ice, the other ruthless and merciless.

But now, they seemed somehow... sentimental.

Bore usually did not interact with Source Demon Divine Son like this.

And Zhang Ruochen, when he killed Source Demon Divine Son, was nothing like this calm and gentle figure.

Suddenly, Bore asked Zhang Ruochen a question that made Qiyang's heart race: "Is Source Demon Divine Son still alive?"

"He is dead," Zhang Ruochen said.

Bore said, "Because of the Kunlun Realm, you killed him?"

"Because of myself."

Zhang Ruochen did not want her to continue asking. "How did you see through my Formless Formless Thirty-Six Transformations?"

"Do you think I am still the same person I once was? I don't need to see. When you appeared before me, I knew it was you. A person can change everything, but as long as the heart remains the same, there will always be a connection." Bore said.

Qiyang felt more and more that something was wrong. He realized he had heard things he should not have heard and learned things he should not have known. A chill ran through his entire body, and he felt a great disaster looming.

"Thump!"

He knelt on the ground, his voice trembling. "Two... two of you, I didn't hear anything, and I don't know anything. Can you let me leave the True Self World now? I have no interest in your secrets at all."

Zhang Ruochen seemed not to hear him. "I came to you this time to clarify one doubt."

"What doubt?"

"Why did Chi Di appear on the Heaven Hunting Battlefield? Was it a move orchestrated by the Empress?" Zhang Ruochen said.

...

Bore said, "I wish all readers a happy Qixi Festival! For those who forgot to buy gifts for their girlfriends, hurry up and get moving."

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