Chapter 2446: Meeting the Empress Again
"You lecher, do you even take me seriously? I'm incredibly powerful now—I could suppress you with a single claw!"
Being ignored by Zhang Ruochen left Xiao Hei feeling frustrated, and he decided to teach him a harsh lesson.
"Chi chi!"
Powerful spiritual energy burst forth from his body, condensing into streaks of lightning and fire that melted the cave's stone walls as they surged toward Zhang Ruochen.
This lightning fire was even more terrifying than the Purifying Divine Flame Zhang Ruochen had cultivated. He realized that Xiao Hei's cultivation had likely truly recovered; he had underestimated him before.
"Hua la."
Suddenly, space shattered, opening a hole about a zhang in diameter.
Zhang Ruochen lost his footing and fell into the dark Void Space, only to be swept away by a strange beam of light and vanish from sight.
Xiao Hei's expression shifted slightly, and he immediately tried to pursue into the Void Space, but an invisible wave of force sent him tumbling back like a spinning top.
A sword's cry rang out.
The Void Sword flew out and landed in Hanxue's hand.
Xiao Hei picked himself up off the ground and said, "Don't chase after them—it's the Empress, the Empress has taken Zhang Ruochen away."
Hanxue was worried, her brows furrowed tightly. "We have to plead for Master. I believe everything he did in the Hell Realm was forced upon him, not his true intention."
Xiao Hei shook his large head. "If the Empress wanted to kill him, why would she bother taking him away? In her eyes, a mere Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saint is just a slightly bigger bug."
Hanxue put away the Void Sword. "I understand. Master must have met the Empress before, and maybe he's secretly joined the Wujian Pavilion too."
Xiao Hei shook his head again. "No, I think the Empress took a liking to his talent and mercifully spared that scoundrel Zhang Ruochen's life, hoping he'd reform and start anew. The Empress is truly too kind, too noble—her breadth of mind, I can't match even a fraction of it."
"Oh, and there's an even bigger possibility: the Empress spared him just now because of me. After all, I hold a special place in her heart that no one else can replace!"
Hanxue said, "Even so, why did the Empress strike you back just now?"
Xiao Hei's smug expression froze, his cat face darkening. He snorted, turned around, and stormed off, fuming, "Just wait to collect Zhang Ruochen's corpse—the Empress won't let him off."
...
The Divine Realm World of Qiangu Nüdi was an endless ocean.
The sea's surface was as calm as a mirror, clearly reflecting every shadow.
This was Zhang Ruochen's second time here. Qiangu Nüdi stood before him, her posture as straight as a divine sword, dressed in simple white robes. Her black hair hung loosely behind her, tied at the middle with a blue cloth band.
She possessed a gentle and graceful temperament, yet also an exalted and commanding elegance, along with a vast and intangible mystery, and the sharp aura of a war goddess sweeping through armies. No woman could stand before her without feeling inferior.
Even though Zhang Ruochen had been tempered into unwavering resolve, he still felt his heart yield.
Zhang Ruochen had met many extraordinary women, but none could match Qiangu Nüdi, who gathered all extremes of temperament into one being, like a divine mountain shrouded in clouds—no matter how hard one tried to probe, she remained unfathomable and inexhaustible.
Compared to her, Chi Yao lacked a touch of mystery and had more dominance.
Compared to her, the Moon God lacked a touch of heroic spirit and had more softness.
This was the first time Zhang Ruochen had clearly seen Qiangu Nüdi's form, yet he still couldn't make out her face. That visage, capable of inspiring endless fantasies in men, how breathtakingly beautiful must it be?
Qiangu Nüdi gazed at Zhang Ruochen and said, "I used to think I could see through the essence of everything in the world, including every cultivator I've met. But you and Bore have made me unable to see through you."
"Lately, I've been pondering a question. Bore clearly refused the marriage because of you, even defying the will of a God Venerable, nearly perishing. Yet not long ago, I told her she could stop being a Divine Maiden, no longer risk staying in the Hell Realm, and leave with you to pursue your own lives. Guess—did she agree or refuse?"
"She must have refused," Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiangu Nüdi nodded. "I asked her why, but she remained silent."
"She's always been a woman who doesn't like to explain and keeps everything hidden inside," Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiangu Nüdi said, "Then let me ask you a question. If I promise to help you rescue Chi Kunlun and Chi Kongle, would you be willing to leave the Hell Realm with Bore? I believe you don't like the deceit and the blood-soaked air that can corrupt one's heart in the Hell Realm."
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment. "No."
Qiangu Nüdi said, "Why? For her sake, you used the Wujian Order to ask me to kill Feng Hou. You also fought a life-or-death battle with Yan Wushen. Weren't those two things meant to stop her from marrying Yan Wushen? Don't you want to be with her? Do you want her to stay in such a dangerous place like the Hell Realm? Or do you enjoy being in the Hell Realm and don't want to leave?"
"Empress, I cannot answer your question," Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiangu Nüdi smiled faintly. "Human nature is indeed very complex. How laughable that I once thought I had seen through everything in the world. It seems no matter what level of cultivation one reaches, one cannot fathom the vastness of the universe or the depths of the human heart."
"I have already obtained Feng Li's Fate Heavenly Order. If you lend me the Fate Esoterica to study for a while, I can forge a brand-new Fate Heavenly Order."
Qiangu Nüdi extended a flawless jade hand, her five fingers slender and graceful, exuding utmost beauty.
Zhang Ruochen reached out his palm and touched that sacred and inviolable jade hand. Instantly, a bright radiance bloomed between their palms, illuminating the entire Divine Realm World.
For some reason, even though he had only known Qiangu Nüdi for a short time, Zhang Ruochen could trust her without reservation.
Perhaps that was her personal charisma.
She had managed to establish the Wujian Pavilion in the Hell Realm, listing it among the Ten Dark Powers, with countless experts flocking to her. This was not something achievable by cultivation alone.
After taking the Fate Esoterica, Qiangu Nüdi said, "How much longer will you stay on Ice King Star?"
"At most three months," Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiangu Nüdi said, "Three months should be enough. Within three months, I will return the Fate Esoterica to you. Go. If you encounter problems on Ice King Star that you can't solve, you can have Xiao Hei and Hanxue mobilize the Wujian Pavilion's forces to help you."
"Hua!"
Spatial inscription patterns flew from her sleeve and struck Zhang Ruochen.
The next moment, Zhang Ruochen felt as if his body was continuously space-jumping, unable to breathe or control himself.
During one pause in the jumps, he vaguely saw the massive outline of Ice King Star, like a white egg floating in the universe. The egg's surface was shrouded in mist.
After a moment, he felt solid ground beneath his feet and found himself back in the stone cave on Wutong Saint Mountain.
Taking a deep breath, Zhang Ruochen calmed his heart, thinking, "It seems the Empress isn't on Ice King Star at all, but in some distant cosmic void far away."
In that instant, he estimated he had crossed at least a billion li, or even farther.
The Empress's mastery of space was profound.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen return safely, Hanxue's anxious heart finally settled. "Master, the Empress didn't make things difficult for you, did she?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently. "How many cultivators in the Hell Realm know you're part of the Wujian Pavilion?"
"Not many. After I came to the Hell Realm with Master's husband, because I have the Thousand Bone Constitution and cultivated the 'Divine Fall Scripture,' and was recognized by the Void Sword, the Empress felt a connection with me and took me as her disciple. Only a few high-ranking members of the Wujian Pavilion know about this," Hanxue said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "And Xiao Hei?"
"Xiao Hei hasn't been in the Hell Realm long. Although he's caused several major incidents on Ice King Star, almost no cultivators know he's connected to the Wujian Pavilion. The cultivators on Wutong Saint Mountain have seen him, but they forget afterward. Xiao Hei's spiritual power is strong—he erases their memories," Hanxue said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "If that's the case, you two can help me with some things."
Although the Empress had told Xiao Hei and Hanxue to mobilize the Wujian Pavilion's forces to assist him, Zhang Ruochen dared not get too close to the Wujian Pavilion.
He had to distance himself from it.
"Alright, Hanxue, you stay in the Wujian Pavilion. It's best to change your appearance and not contact me directly," Zhang Ruochen said.
Hanxue said, "And then?"
"When I need the Wujian Pavilion's help, I'll send you a message," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei's cold snort echoed in the cave. "The Wujian Pavilion is the Empress's foundation—do you think you can just mobilize it as you please?"
"It was the Empress's order," Zhang Ruochen said.
"What?"
Xiao Hei was shocked, his eyes nearly popping out. "Impossible! The Empress spared your life only because of me. Ahem, maybe also a bit because of Xue'er."
"The Empress also said that from now on, you are to follow my arrangements. If you disobey, she'll pull your ears," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Are you kidding? If the Empress ever said such a thing, I'll... I'll turn into a dog in my next nirvana!"
Xiao Hei couldn't believe that the noble and holy Empress would cooperate with a scoundrel like Zhang Ruochen.
Even more unbelievable was that, given his current cultivation and his past friendship with the Empress, she would order him to obey Zhang Ruochen.
It should be Zhang Ruochen obeying him.
After a while.
It seemed Xiao Hei had communicated with the Empress's divine will. Dejected, he came before Zhang Ruochen, his eyes filled with unspeakable sorrow, muttering, "It shouldn't be like this. The Empress should trust me more. Why, why, after waiting a hundred thousand years, does she favor this pretty boy over me?"
Zhang Ruochen patted his head. "Have you thought about what to turn into in your next nirvana? You don't have to become a dog—I think turning back into a cat would be quite pleasing to the eye."
"Really?"
Xiao Hei's eyes lit up, thinking that becoming a cat was acceptable.
After all, he had been a cat for a hundred thousand years.
"It depends on your performance. Come with me to see someone—there are some things I need to figure out," Zhang Ruochen said.