Chapter 2438: Xue Hou and Ming Emperor
The Heavenly Fate Department and Judgment Department were highly efficient, finding the results in less than half a day.
Bore, whose figure was slender like a willow and as noble and flawless as a crane in the clouds, stood before the Divine Maiden Hall. She reached out, grabbed a Message Light Talisman flying in from the edge of the sky, glanced at it, then returned to the hall.
"I have good news for you. The Heavenly Fate Department discovered Tiannan Flower Pollen at the place where Tan Fei self-detonated his Sacred Source. It is almost certain that the killer of Tan Fei is Seven-Handed Old Man."
Zhang Ruochen had been sitting in meditation with his eyes closed. Hearing this, he was secretly shocked.
How could this be possible?
When Tan Fei self-detonated, Seven-Handed Old Man had already been taken into his Purple Gold Gourd.
Could it be that Seven-Handed Old Man had used a Spiritual Power Doppelganger or a puppet body?
No.
With so many strong cultivators gathered at the Divine Maiden Tower, how could Seven-Handed Old Man have succeeded with just a doppelganger or puppet body?
Zhang Ruochen said, "Based on Tiannan Flower Pollen alone, you conclude that Seven-Handed Old Man was the one who acted?"
"Three thousand years ago, Seven-Handed Old Man was pursued by a False God and escaped using Tiannan Flower Pollen. Tiannan Flowers are extremely rare; in this Eon, only Seven-Handed Old Man has used them once," Bore said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I don't believe only Seven-Handed Old Man has Tiannan Flower Pollen."
"Indeed. Some top-tier major powers should also have small amounts of Tiannan Flower Pollen stored. However, the Divine Domain Law Enforcement Arbiter personally admitted that the cultivator who informed on him was Seven-Handed Old Man. So everything is clear. It was Seven-Handed Old Man who killed Xing Qian, captured Cang Baizi, killed Tan Fei, and then framed you," Bore said.
Although Zhang Ruochen already knew that the Heavenly Fate Department would help him and that most of the charges against him would likely be cleared, he still found this conclusion absurd and was stunned.
Then, a strange expression appeared on his face, and he found it very amusing.
The informant could not possibly be Seven-Handed Old Man.
Zhuo Yunong was indeed an interesting person, smoothly shifting the blame onto Seven-Handed Old Man and providing everyone with a reasonable explanation.
Without guessing, there must be an unknown dark deal behind this.
No one was worse off than Seven-Handed Old Man.
The person was in the Qiankun Realm, but the blame came from the sky.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Why did Seven-Handed Old Man kill Xing Qian and Tan Fei? And why did he capture Cang Baizi? Where is he now?"
"That is not your concern. The Heavenly Fate Department and Judgment Department have issued the highest-level Saint Execution Arrest Warrant and Bounty Order, hunting down Seven-Handed Old Man throughout the entire Hell Realm," Bore said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What is the bounty?"
"You will know the amount."
Bore shot him a glance and added, "Now, you may leave."
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Divine Maiden Hall, let out a long breath, and hurried on his way while thinking.
The Judgment Department was willing to give up this opportunity to kill him, which meant they must have encountered something more important. They had most likely already learned of the news about the five top-grade Origin Divine Crystals. However, this matter could not be announced publicly, so they only claimed that Seven-Handed Old Man had killed Tan Fei.
Why Seven-Handed Old Man killed Tan Fei was left vague.
But who exactly left the Tiannan Flower Pollen at the scene of Tan Fei's self-detonation?
"Was it to help me? No, the other party wanted to frame Seven-Handed Old Man and shift all the blame onto him."
Zhang Ruochen realized he must leave the Fate Divine Domain immediately.
First, the strong cultivators of the Judgment Department and Heavenly Fate Department would surely immediately calculate Seven-Handed Old Man's whereabouts.
Zhang Ruochen was well aware of the power of the Path of Fate in divination. He could not be sure whether hiding Seven-Handed Old Man in the Qiankun Realm would evade their calculations. Only by being farther away could the probability of the Destiny Temple calculating Seven-Handed Old Man's location be lower.
Second, Zhang Ruochen was worried that the Judgment Department might have further actions.
Once he left the Fate Divine Domain, if the Judgment Department still dared to deal with him, Zhang Ruochen would kill them all without mercy, unlike now where he was constrained.
Many cultivators were waiting at the foot of the Fate Divine Mountain. Seeing Zhang Ruochen leave safely, they all showed disappointed expressions.
"Even the Divine Domain Law Enforcement Arbiter personally took action and couldn't do anything to Zhang Ruochen. Who else can threaten him?"
"Zhang Ruochen has completely established himself in the Hell Realm. Just wait and see; in the next few hundred or even thousand years, it will be his era. All cultivators will be trampled under his feet one by one."
"Isn't that an exaggeration? Zhang Ruochen, after all, is only at the Hundred Shackles Realm. There are plenty of cultivators stronger than him below the Divine Realm." Huo Xing said indignantly.
Atop a Sacred Tower not far from the Fate Divine Mountain, Bai Qinger watched Zhang Ruochen's departing figure.
Zhu Jiangjun said, "Miss, your methods are brilliant. If you wanted to capture Zhang Ruochen, you could have directly borrowed the Judgment Department's hand to do so. If you wanted to release him, using Tiannan Flower Pollen to frame Seven-Handed Old Man would set him free. Even Zhang Ruochen, this so-called Eon-level genius, cannot escape your grasp."
Bai Qinger's expression was calm and elegant. "Zhang Ruochen is more formidable than I expected. He should have already discovered the top-grade Origin Divine Crystals on Seven-Handed Old Man."
"How can you tell?" Zhu Jiangjun asked in surprise.
Bai Qinger said, "Zhuo Yunong and Wuyue Minghuang did not find Seven-Handed Old Man in the Seven Stars Imperial Palace. This shows that Zhang Ruochen has hidden Seven-Handed Old Man in a very secret place. Moreover, the Judgment Department and Heavenly Fate Department are now hunting down Seven-Handed Old Man and offering a huge bounty. Don't you find it strange that Zhang Ruochen did not hand over Seven-Handed Old Man?"
"The only possibility is that Zhang Ruochen knows Seven-Handed Old Man has extraordinary value, and the two have likely reached a cooperation."
Zhu Jiangjun said, "Could there be another possibility? Seven-Handed Old Man has already taken over Zhang Ruochen's body?"
Bai Qinger did not respond.
Zhu Jiangjun said, "What does Miss mean? Seven-Handed Old Man's Spiritual Power has reached the sixty-ninth level. Taking over Zhang Ruochen's body should not be difficult."
"Zhang Ruochen's Spiritual Will is strong enough to condense a Second-Rank Sacred Intent. How could Seven-Handed Old Man take him over? Besides, even if he succeeded, it would be a dead end. Would Xue Jue War God spare the cultivator who took over his grandson's body?"
Bai Qinger added, "If I am not mistaken, Zhang Ruochen will immediately leave the Fate Divine Domain and return to the Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World."
Gui Wangye stammered, "Th-then... th-then... how..."
Zhu Jiangjun ignored him directly and said, "Once Zhang Ruochen returns to the Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World, it will be like a fish entering the sea, and no one can control him. To capture him, we can only intercept him halfway."
"Who says no one can control him?" Bai Qinger said.
Zhu Jiangjun knew that Miss was always bold and often made shocking moves. He was somewhat worried and advised, "The Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World is where the Blood Absolute Family's power is most deeply rooted. The Blood Absolute Family even has three True Gods. Miss must not take risks."
"The Jade Emperor Realm is about to open, and most gods will go there. The Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World is not a dragon's pool or a tiger's den. Why can't I go? Whether it's the top-grade Origin Divine Crystals or Seven-Handed Old Man, I will take them back."
Bai Qinger's five slender, fair, and jade-like fingers slowly extended, reaching toward Zhang Ruochen's distant, tiny figure. She curled her fingers into a fist, as if she had caught him in her palm.
What belonged to her, no one could take away.
...
The Rakshasa Star Pillar Realm was the most core territory of the Rakshasa Clan, equivalent to the ten Wing Worlds of the Undying Blood Clan.
It stood in the starry sky, towering who knows how many billions of miles high, emitting brilliant starlight. Stars floated above it, like specks of light, as tiny as dust.
At the top of the Rakshasa Star Pillar Realm, the light was brightest. It was one of the most sacred places of the entire Rakshasa Clan: the Rakshasa Battle Soul Sea.
All cultivators who ascended to the Rakshasa Star Pillar Realm from other worlds emerged from the Battle Soul Sea. Only after undergoing the baptism of the Battle Soul Sea could they be reborn and transform into a true Rakshasa.
The Rakshasa Battle Soul Sea was boundless. The Rakshasa Battle Qi had condensed into liquid form, churning endlessly, raising thousand-foot waves. In the farther sea area, lightning flashed, emitting a heart-stopping destructive fluctuation that even Great Saints could not approach.
"Whoosh"
A figure in a black robe flew in from the universe and landed at the edge of the Battle Soul Sea.
He removed the black cloak from his head, revealing a face that looked about thirty years old, with a beard, sharp and deep eyes, a high nose bridge, a tall and straight figure, and a majestic bearing. He strode toward the sea.
Just as he reached the shore, he suddenly stopped and said in a deep voice, "Who is it?"
His voice was even louder than the thunder in the distance.
His flesh and bones shifted, and his face instantly changed, taking on the appearance of Qi Tian.
Xue Hou stepped on the waves of the Battle Soul Sea, walking out from amidst the streaks of lightning. Her divine eyes burned brightly, staring unblinkingly at the black-robed man. Although she tried hard to control her emotions, her body still trembled slightly.
The black-robed man never expected Xue Hou to appear here.
Looking at the woman he had once loved most, even though he had imagined their reunion countless times and told himself he must not let her see through him, he ultimately could not control the emotions he had suppressed for eight hundred years.
He wanted to turn and flee, and he also wanted to look away, but his body was as if petrified, standing still.
"Still trying to hide? What's the point? Should I call you Qi Tian, or should I call you Zhang Ling?"
Xue Hou walked up to him, her gaze as resentful as when they parted eight hundred years ago.
But this time, the hatred was even stronger.
The black-robed man smiled bitterly. "Qingyin!"
His face gradually changed back.
"So you have cultivated the divine ability from the 'Thirty-Three Heavens,' the Black and White Two Forms Body, allowing you to transform between a Rakshasa body and a human body. You must have some other secret treasure on you, right? Otherwise, relying only on the Black and White Two Forms Body, you would not have fooled the God Venerables of the Destiny Temple," Xue Hou said.
The black-robed man said, "Don't ask. I won't tell."
"Just like eight hundred years ago?"
Xue Hou's voice turned sharper, and a glimmer of light appeared in her eyes. "Eight hundred years ago, I agreed to stay in the Endless Abyss, not to emerge until the Kunlun Realm was breached by the Hell Realm, or until I cultivated to become a god, or until you sent me a message."
"At the time, I asked you why. You told me not to ask and to wait for your news. I didn't ask, because I trusted you."
"I kept my promise to you. But you promised me you would take good care of Chen'er. Did you keep that promise?"
"Zhang Ling, you have disappointed me too much. You are not worthy of being a husband, nor a father."
The black-robed man was about to speak when Xue Hou interrupted him. "Eight hundred years. Have you ever thought about how I spent those eight hundred years in the Endless Abyss? In these eight hundred years, have you ever thought of going to the Endless Abyss to see me?"
"I imprisoned myself in the Endless Abyss for eight hundred years out of spite, waiting for your news. I thought you would come to the Endless Abyss to find me one day, but that day never came."
"In fact, by the sixteenth year, when I learned of your disappearance and Chen'er's death, I cried for a long time. During those eight hundred years in the Endless Abyss, I sometimes wondered if you had been killed too, and that continuing to wait was meaningless. But precisely because I trusted you, I chose to keep waiting."
"It would have been better if you had died. Why did you suddenly appear before me again?"
The black-robed man dared not meet her eyes. He closed his eyes slightly and said, "I'm sorry."
"Just a 'sorry' is enough? You have wronged many people, not just me and Chen'er, but also the ministers and subjects of the Holy Bright Central Empire who followed your Zhang Clan."
Although Xue Hou's words grew harsher and harsher, her eyes were already filled with tears. "The truth. I only want to know the truth now."
The black-robed man regained his spirit, straightened his back, walked past Xue Hou to the edge of the Battle Soul Sea, and looked at the endless waters. "You should know that to become a Rakshasa and ascend to the Battle Soul Sea, one must kill. Kill many, many people, becoming cruel and bloodthirsty. Not only must you do this, but you must also make your heart become that way. This feeling is not pleasant."
"If you did all this killing and became a Rakshasa, joining the Hell Realm for my sake, I would certainly be moved and could even forgive your eight hundred years of ruthlessness and coldness. But that is not the case. You allied with the Wujian Pavilion to kill the newly promoted Goddess Feng Li. What are you plotting by infiltrating the Hell Realm?" Xue Hou demanded.
The black-robed man said, "So that's where the flaw was. When Chen'er was targeted by the Judgment Department, you did not act. That must have been to force me to act, so you could find me."
Xue Hou said, "If you could have stood by and watched him die, then when we met now, I would not have given you a chance to speak. What would have greeted you would have been my palm strike and the Blood Sea Demon Mirror."
The black-robed man frowned deeply, his eyes filled with bitterness. "Qingyin, these eight hundred years, I have indeed wronged you and Chen'er. But I was only trying to survive, and for the survival of many more. You ask why I made you stay in the Endless Abyss eight hundred years ago. It was simply because I wanted you to live. The Kunlun Realm cannot accommodate an Undying Blood Clan member, just as the Judgment Department cannot accommodate Chen'er."
"Family, nation, and the world—a choice must be made. If the world is lost, what is the point of family and nation?"
"Isn't it a good thing for you that the former Ming Emperor disappeared or died? Can the Hell Realm accommodate an Undying Blood Clan member who fell in love with a human from the Kunlun Realm? No, it cannot. In this perilous and chaotic era, many people are struggling on the edge of death. I would rather you be the daughter of Xue Jue War God than the wife of Zhang Ling."
"When a person stands in that position, they must bear the corresponding responsibility, even if it means abandoning everything. I will repay what I owe you and Chen'er with my life after I finish that matter."
"At that time, I will surely tell you the whole truth."
With a "whoosh," the black-robed man turned into a streak of light and rushed into the Rakshasa Battle Soul Sea, disappearing into the area with the densest lightning.
Xue Hou stood alone at the shore, gazing at his departing back. She could no longer hold back the tears in her eyes, which fell like a spring. For this man she had loved all her life, she ultimately could not bring herself to strike.
...
Eight hundred years to become a god, does Chi Yao have such good talent? Her biological mother's identity has been overlooked! Follow to see~