Chapter 2412: Gu She
Zhang Ruochen paid no attention to the crowd's discussions and stares. He sat on a chair, eyes closed in recuperation, replaying his earlier battle with Yan Wushen in his mind, absorbing what he had learned and felt.
At that time, despite falling into demonic possession, surprisingly, his rationality had not completely vanished.
It was the Heart of Truth that had helped him hold onto that last thread of clarity.
After the battle ended, when Xue Jue War God planned to take him to the Fulu Divine Palace to ask a God Venerable to suppress his inner demon using the Path of Fate, he had recovered on his own, again relying on the Heart of Truth.
However, the assassination of Wind Queen by the Wujian Pavilion, occurring simultaneously with his life-or-death duel against Yan Wushen, inevitably invited suspicion of a connection between the two events. Thus, Zhang Ruochen had played along, pretending not to know what had happened, blaming everything on his inner demon's mischief.
The battle with Yan Wushen had been the most exhilarating and unrestrained of Zhang Ruochen's life, as if he were a nine-day wandering dragon soaring through the sky, unleashing all he had learned with complete freedom. He had gained many insights that needed careful digestion.
"I might fool others, but I probably can't fool Grandfather."
Zhang Ruochen recalled Xue Jue War God's gaze from earlier, his heart trembling slightly. He felt those eyes possessed the power to see through all mysteries of heaven and earth.
"Rustle, rustle."
A faint, fragrant breeze drifted by.
Footsteps were subtle.
Zhang Ruochen did not turn to look, nor did he release his spiritual power, yet in his mind, a figure as beautiful as a painting automatically emerged. A red robe, sashes fluttering, her face hidden in illusion, her form concealed among the rules of heaven and earth, like a gust of wind, like a wisp of air.
Like a red garment moving on its own, without a body.
Yet her figure undeniably existed.
"Has Young Master Ruochen heard of the Divine Reserves Scroll?" Gu Shejing's voice came from behind him.
The voice was like a young girl's, cheerful and pleasant; like a child's, clear and innocent; and upon deeper reflection, it seemed to have been tempered by the myriad experiences of the mundane world, carrying a wealth of life's wisdom within its tone.
Just a simple question gave Zhang Ruochen multiple strange sensations.
Among Luo Sha's close female friends, in Zhang Ruochen's view, she was the most formidable—he still could not see through her cultivation level. However, the fact that she could disperse Feng Qingli's spiritual power attack with a single sleeve swing at least proved her strength surpassed Feng Qingli's.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Of course I've heard of it. It's one of the six heavenly scriptures of the Destiny Temple. Legend says that the names of any cultivator with at least a ten percent chance of becoming a god will automatically appear on it."
"The Divine Reserves Scroll has four grades: A, B, C, and D. Grade A is the best; over seventy percent of cultivators who enter this grade can become gods. Young Master Ruochen ranks eighty-seventh in Grade D, with less than a twenty percent chance of becoming a god."
Gu Shejing spoke unhurriedly, having already stepped within a zhang of Zhang Ruochen.
The fragrance grew stronger.
Zhang Ruochen had little interest in the Divine Reserves Scroll and did not believe it was truly that miraculous. How vast was the universe? How could a single heavenly scripture encompass everything?
Still, hearing that his own ranking was so low left him somewhat surprised.
Gu Shejing chuckled softly, "A world-shaking Eon-level genius, yet only ranked in Grade D—truly baffling."
There was no mockery in her laughter.
It seemed more like curiosity, as if she found it very interesting.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Indeed, baffling."
"In fact, the ranking on the Divine Reserves Scroll is not fixed. If one can make up for one's own shortcomings, apply the right remedy, and balance excess with deficiency, the probability of becoming a god will gradually increase," Gu Shejing said.
Zhang Ruochen understood that this was what she really wanted to say.
He asked, "In your view, what shortcomings do I need to make up for?"
"Don't call me fairy; you can call me demoness instead," Gu Shejing said.
Zhang Ruochen finally looked up and glanced at her, his heart immediately pounding.
Before him, red clouds filled the sky, strands of demonic qi twisting within the red gauze. He could not see her face clearly, only feeling a bone-piercing cold and a despair-inducing deathly aura.
The deathly aura was even denser than that of Ghost Clan, Death Clan, Bone Clan, or Death Clan Great Saints.
Earlier, Luo Sha had introduced Gu Shejing, saying she came from "Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm," rumored to be the most dangerous place in the Rakshasa Clan.
It was said to be a world formed from the body of Demon Ancestor Rahu after his death.
Gu Shejing said, "The inner demon! I heard that you went to fight Yan Wushen to the death because your inner demon invaded and you lost your mind. The inner demon has become the greatest obstacle on your path to godhood."
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm, "Can you help me eliminate my inner demon?"
"If you come with me to Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm, eliminating the inner demon won't be difficult," Gu Shejing said.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then asked, "What price do I need to pay?"
"I heard that Young Master Ruochen possesses several Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions. I would like to borrow them for a period of time to study and contemplate," Gu Shejing said.
So it was for the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions.
Zhang Ruochen neither admitted nor denied possessing them, saying, "Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm is such an extraordinary place; it must contain countless demonic scriptures and classics. I think the technique you cultivate is no weaker than the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions."
Gu Shejing sensed his tactful refusal, saying, "The technique I cultivate is called the Death Spirit Diagram, and it is indeed not inferior to the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions. However, my ranking on the Divine Reserves Scroll falls far short of Blood Demon's."
"Blood Demon?"
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment, then said, "Is his ranking on the Divine Reserves Scroll very high?"
"Second in Grade A," Gu Shejing said.
Zhang Ruochen understood immediately.
Blood Demon had cultivated for only a thousand years, yet at the Hundred Shackles Realm, he held such a high ranking on the Divine Reserves Scroll. Naturally, everyone attributed this to the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions, believing it was because he simultaneously cultivated nine stone inscriptions.
Zhang Ruochen sighed, "Since you have checked my ranking on the Divine Reserves Scroll, you must have investigated me. If you have, you should know that although I was once a cultivator of the Kunlun Realm, that was a past life. That life ended in the Kunlun Realm. Even if I had the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions, they would have been lost."
"Young Master Ruochen doesn't need to refuse so quickly. You can think it over more. Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm truly has ways to help you cleanse your inner demon."
Gu Shejing floated backward and retreated, then left one more sentence: "Let me remind you, Young Master Ruochen: the first in Grade A of the Divine Reserves Scroll is Yuan Qianmo, who has a close relationship with Yan Zhexian."
The fragrance faded, and she was gone.
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that the heavy inner demon was indeed an obstacle on his path to godhood, but since the Heart of Truth could block it, for now, he did not need to worry too much.
Moreover, Xue Jue War God had said that the Path of Fate could suppress the inner demon.
Next, Zhang Ruochen planned to spend more effort comprehending the Path of Fate, both to deal with the inner demon and to prepare for receiving the Fate Esoterica.
If his Path of Fate was not strong enough, he would not be able to bear the Fate Esoterica.
This was likely why Fulu God Venerable had delayed granting him the thirty ten-thousandths of Fate Esoterica.
As for Gu Shejing's parting words, Zhang Ruochen paid them even less heed.
Because in the coming period, Zhang Ruochen planned to go into seclusion for cultivation.
First, to heal his injuries.
Second, to strive for the perfect state of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent.
Third, to break through to the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm.
Once he reached the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm, the power of his half-god body would be fully unleashed. At that point, Zhang Ruochen might not be invincible below the divine realm, but he would not need to fear anyone.
"Yuan Qianmo! Ranked first in Grade A of the Divine Reserves Scroll—I hope he is not a petty person." Zhang Ruochen did not want to inexplicably gain a powerful enemy.
If Yan Wushen had heard Zhang Ruochen say this, he would have been unable to hold down his coffin lid: "This is still called petty? Just because a God Venerable arranged a marriage, you fought me to the death. Now you've gotten Yan Zhexian pregnant, and Yuan Qianmo can't even kill you to vent his hatred?"
Luo Sha walked over, smiling, and asked curiously, "What did Xiao Jing say to you?"
"She wants to borrow the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions." Zhang Ruochen did not hide it and said directly.
Luo Sha naturally understood how highly Zhang Ruochen valued the inherited treasures of the Kunlun Realm; how could he let them fall into the hands of Hell Realm cultivators? So she said, "I'll talk to her."
"No need, I've already refused her," Zhang Ruochen said.
Luo Sha said, "You don't know her. If she wants something, she will obtain it at any cost. Fortunately, I get along with her fairly well; maybe I can dissuade her."
Zhang Ruochen did not stop her.
Luo Sha's identity was indeed extraordinary. Her father was the Great Emperor of the Rakshasa Clan, and her master's master was a God Venerable. Even if Gu Shejing came from Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm, she would likely have to be cautious.
As for how Luo Sha and Gu Shejing had become close friends and whether their relationship was truly that intimate, Zhang Ruochen did not ask.
"Boom!"
The southern courtyard erupted with deafening noise. Countless cultivators joined in roaring, as if something major had happened.
"What happened? Yan Wushen has already fallen; why are they so excited? Wasn't the engagement banquet canceled?"
"Are they trying to cause trouble?"
...
The guests who had come for Zhang Ruochen and Luo Sha's engagement banquet were all curious and immediately sent people to investigate.
Soon, the investigators returned.
"What exactly happened?" Blood Qi Great Saint asked.
One of the investigators said, "It is said that a divine envoy from Fate Divine Mountain has arrived, ready to escort Bore to the divine temple."
"Going to the divine temple now?" Blood Qi Great Saint asked in surprise.
"Yes."
"Only her?"
"Yes."
The cultivators in the northern courtyard were all shocked.
Wind Li had been assassinated, and immediately a divine envoy from the divine mountain came to escort Bore. What did this mean?
Was Bore about to turn misfortune into fortune and become the new Divine Maiden?
This was no longer just a possibility; it was as certain as iron.
Bore becoming Divine Maiden had too great an impact, causing representatives of the various major forces of the Lower Three Clans to fall into deep thought. Then, they inscribed message light talismans, sending the news in all directions like a meteor shower.
Cheers and jubilation spread from the southern courtyard all the way to the northern courtyard.
Bore stood upright and dignified, wearing a festive red robe, and walked into the northern courtyard. Behind her followed a large number of cultivators from the Underworld Clan and Death Clan.
The divine envoy from Fate Divine Mountain, bathed in starlight, stood waiting to one side.
Everyone looked at Bore and whispered among themselves.
"What is she doing in the northern courtyard?"
"Show some respect for the new Divine Maiden, or you might be dealt with later."
"Look at how smug the Death Clan and Underworld Clan are; it seems Bore came here just to show off."
Zhang Ruochen and Luo Sha walked side by side to greet her.
Bore stared at the two of them, watching them approach from afar. Her face was cold, devoid of any emotional fluctuation, like a face carved from iron and stone.
Luo Sha, tall and slender, wore a charming, faint smile and asked, "Congratulations, Your Highness Bore, on turning misfortune into fortune. It seems you are about to take the position of Divine Maiden. May I ask why you have come here?"
Bore looked at Luo Sha for a long time, then said, "Princess Luo Sha's beauty is unmatched, and her aura is captivating. She is indeed the ideal partner for any man in the world. Marrying you is Zhang Ruochen's good fortune."
Luo Sha's red lips were glossy, curling slightly at the corners, "Chen Ge is a peerless genius who appears only once in an eon. Marrying him is my good fortune."
Zhang Ruochen's heart tightened. Luo Sha was acting strangely.
Why had she suddenly become so intimate, calling him "Chen Ge"?
Had she guessed something?
Zhang Ruochen and Bore's expressions remained unchanged, but they were both quite tense, not entirely natural.
"Your Highness Bore also had the chance to marry an Eon-level genius. What a pity, what a pity," Luo Sha said.
Bore walked over to a nearby sacred jade table, picked up the fine wine on it, filled three cups, raised one, and said, "I came here only to toast the new couple. Especially to toast Zhang Ruochen—if not for you, Bore might not have had the fate to become Divine Maiden. What should I wish for? Let it be: may you two be happy for a hundred years."
With that, Bore drank it all in one gulp.
Behind her, the cultivators of the Underworld Clan and Death Clan all burst into loud laughter.
"Well said! Happy for a hundred years, happy for a hundred years! Haha!"
Anyone could see that Bore's words carried hidden meaning, clearly a declaration of war against Zhang Ruochen. The so-called "happy for a hundred years" might apply to mortals, but for cultivators at the Great Saint realm, a hundred years was but a fleeting moment.
Bore left with the divine envoy.
The cultivators who had attended her and Yan Wushen's engagement banquet did not disperse; instead, they became even more festive, drinking and making merry, filled with laughter and joy.
Not long after, Xue Jue War God, Xue Hou, Luo Yan Great Emperor, Tian Yin, and other divine-level beings descended upon the outer hall of the Fulu Divine Palace. Under the witness of Fulu God Venerable, Zhang Ruochen and Luo Sha completed their engagement ceremony.
The date for the formal wedding would be discussed separately.
Unlike the engagement, the formal wedding could never be conducted hastily; many preparations were needed.
After the engagement banquet ended.
Xue Jue War God summoned Zhang Ruochen alone in the divine realm world and asked, "In your battle with Yan Wushen, did you grasp the true essence of the Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent?"
With just this one sentence, he exposed Zhang Ruochen.
The claim that his inner demon had taken over his reason and he completely forgot the battle process—clearly, it could not fool Xue Jue War God.