Chapter 2447: Ice King Star Stirs Up Winds and Clouds
"First of all, let me make this clear, I, the Emperor, am only agreeing to help you because of the Empress."
"Given your current appearance, everyone on Ice King Star already knows what you look like. I think it's better if you turn into a cat—it'll help you stay hidden."
"Turn into a cat? Are you trying to humiliate me, the Emperor? I am a noble Undying Bird."
"But right now, you're just an owl. Who would believe you're an Undying Bird?"
Hearing this, Xiao Hei immediately deflated, unwilling to accept it. "Can't I turn into something else? I, the Emperor, think turning into a tiger would be much more majestic. Preferably a divine beast-level one."
Zhang Ruochen's face showed a strange expression. "A prehistoric divine seed?"
"Hey! That suggestion isn't bad." Xiao Hei revealed a delighted look.
Zangjin Baihu's voice rang in Zhang Ruochen's ears: "How do you know such an idiot? If it dares to turn into a tiger, I'll swallow it in one bite. Neither the tiger clan nor the prehistoric divine seeds can afford to lose face."
Xiao Hei, smug and pleased, was about to transform.
Zhang Ruochen coughed dryly twice. "I think it's not suitable for you to turn into a tiger."
"Why?" Xiao Hei was stunned.
Zhang Ruochen said, "A tiger's rear is too big—fat and round. I'm afraid I won't be able to resist reaching out to touch it."
Xiao Hei stepped back two paces, showing a wary expression. Secretly, he thought, Zhang Ruochen, that scumbag, after fusing with the Undying Blood Clan's bloodline, has indeed become quite perverted. He's even eyeing my, the Emperor's, rear.
Too terrifying!
Without hesitation, Xiao Hei turned into a black hedgehog, then stared at Zhang Ruochen with a provocative look.
Come on, try to touch me now.
Zhang Ruochen smiled lightly and flew straight up into the air.
He had great confidence in Xiao Hei's transformation technique.
Having once followed the Empress, Xiao Hei had read countless scriptures. Even one of the six great strange books of the Kunlun Realm, the "Divine Fall Sutra," was passed down by him to Hanxue. Xiao Hei had naturally cultivated some mysterious transformation techniques, and with his powerful spiritual power, as long as no gods appeared, no cultivator would likely see through him.
Zhang Ruochen changed his appearance and, carrying the hedgehog Xiao Hei, entered West First Sacred City.
Ice King Star had a total of seventeen sacred cities, one per realm domain.
West First Sacred City was majestic and towering, built on a vast ice plain. Its walls rose like mountain ranges, and the entire city seemed like an ice divine beast crouching there.
Zhang Ruochen had found West First Sacred City based on the aura from the message light talisman.
Using the token of the Wujian Pavilion, Zhang Ruochen quickly learned about Yan Hanyi's whereabouts. More precisely, he learned that the Divine Prince of the Tianluo Divine Kingdom had arrived on Ice King Star, along with the location of the Divine Prince's temporary residence.
He didn't need to guess—Yan Hanyi was definitely traveling with the Divine Prince.
"Why would Luo Sheng Tian come to Ice King Star? It seems Yan Hanyi's appearance here isn't just to deliver a message to Luo Sha. There must be something else major going on."
Zhang Ruochen arrived at the Divine Prince's temporary residence and happened to see the mansion's gate open. Three figures walked out.
Besides Luo Sheng Tian and Yan Hanyi, there was also a cold and beautiful woman—Feng Qingli, whom Zhang Ruochen had met once at the engagement banquet. She was both Luo Sha's close friend and a disciple of Tianyin Divine Queen.
Luo Sheng Tian was imposing and extraordinary, walking side by side with Feng Qingli.
He had shed his usual rigid and cold demeanor, smiling as he walked and talked, as if discussing something. The two seemed quite close.
A luxurious and elegant carriage, pulled by two white dragons, drove up to the three of them.
Luo Sheng Tian went to the carriage and helped Feng Qingli board first.
Zhang Ruochen stood in the distance, watching it all, a smile appearing on his face. "This Divine Prince doesn't seem to be a man who doesn't understand romance."
Then, Zhang Ruochen secretly transmitted a message to Yan Hanyi.
Yan Hanyi's ears twitched. His eyes swept the surroundings without leaving a trace, and he said to Luo Sheng Tian, who was about to board the carriage, "I still need to continue investigating the matter of the top-grade origin divine crystals. I won't accompany Your Highness and Miss Qingli to the banquet."
Luo Sheng Tian hadn't expected Yan Hanyi to be so perceptive. He was quite satisfied inside, though his expression remained serious. "The Tianluo Divine Kingdom didn't pay much attention to Ice King Star before, so we have too few cultivators stationed here. For now, I'll have to trouble you, Teacher, to handle things personally."
"With such a secret matter, I wouldn't feel at ease leaving it to lower-level cultivators either," Yan Hanyi said.
After the carriage drove off, Zhang Ruochen stepped forward toward Yan Hanyi. "Where should we talk?"
"Enter the residence."
Yan Hanyi carefully observed Zhang Ruochen, quite surprised. With his cultivation level, he couldn't see through the flaws in Zhang Ruochen's transformation technique. Was this something a Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saint could accomplish?
Once inside the residence, Yan Hanyi activated the formation.
He said, "Actually, the Consort doesn't need to avoid the Divine Prince. He bears no ill will toward you. In the Fate Divine Domain, when the Judgment Division surrounded the Hanhai Manor, the Divine Prince dispatched all the Tianluo Divine Kingdom's cultivators to search for Cang Baizi and Xing Qian, trying to clear your name."
Zhang Ruochen sat directly on a chair, reverting to his original appearance, and smiled. "In the Destiny Temple, I promised to meet His Highness, but later some things happened, and I had to leave first. Given His Highness's temper, wouldn't he be angry? If he saw me, the first thing he'd do is fight me. On Ice King Star, I don't dare to act rashly or expose my whereabouts."
Yan Hanyi showed an understanding expression. "The Divine Prince was indeed somewhat angry about the Divine Maiden Tower incident."
Zhang Ruochen's smile faded. "Elder Yan should understand the purpose of my visit, right?"
The relaxed atmosphere vanished instantly, and the space in the room seemed to solidify.
Yan Hanyi said, "The Consort should know the Princess's feelings for you. She would never do anything to disappoint you. Miss Lingxi has gone to the Tianluo Divine Kingdom's imperial palace and will not suffer the slightest grievance."
"At the engagement banquet, some cultivators wanted to embarrass you and deliberately added human flesh to the dishes. It was the Princess who immediately had those dishes removed. From such details, you can see that the Princess cares deeply about your feelings."
"Since childhood, the Princess has been doted on by everyone. Even the Great Emperor had to consider her feelings and accommodate her in everything. This is the first time I've seen her take the initiative to consider another person's feelings and accommodate them in every way."
"The Consort may not know that when you were captured by the Judgment Division, the Princess personally begged the Great Emperor for a precious imperial-grade sacred pill to save you. And she gave that imperial-grade sacred pill to Wuyue Minghuang of the Fate Department."
Zhang Ruochen was stunned, then sighed softly. "So that's how it was."
So the involvement of the Fate Department and Wuyue Minghuang in that matter was no coincidence.
Zhang Ruochen recalled everything since he met Luo Sha, and a trace of guilt involuntarily arose in his heart.
Several times, he had been too harsh with her.
And she didn't seem to hold a grudge.
Everyone thought Luo Sha was incredibly intelligent, but when it came to Zhang Ruochen, dealing with him and matters related to him, she became foolish.
If it were just because of the prophecy of the "fated person," how could it be like this?
She was so smart—how could she not see that Zhang Ruochen had no feelings for her?
Perhaps her sending someone to take Mu Lingxi away was just to see what was so outstanding about this woman who could capture Zhang Ruochen's heart—something she herself couldn't match.
Or perhaps she was just insecure, afraid that Zhang Ruochen would break off the engagement or even leave the Hell Realm.
After a long silence, Zhang Ruochen asked, "Luo Sha is in seclusion, isn't she?"
The moment he asked this question, Zhang Ruochen's heart trembled. This seemed to be the first time he had taken the initiative to care about Luo Sha, to ask about her. Before, he had never paid her any attention, not even having the concept that she was already his fiancée.
Yan Hanyi said, "After reaching the Great Saint Realm, the Princess can unseal the seal within her body and initially control the divine-level power she was born with. She needs to go into seclusion for a long time to understand and integrate it."
Zhang Ruochen asked again, "Why did you come to Ice King Star?"
A strange light flickered in Yan Hanyi's eyes. He hesitated, then said, "Actually, many powerful figures have come to Ice King Star for a major matter. But this matter is of great importance, and I cannot disclose it."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. He already had a guess.
"I plan to go to the Tianluo Divine Kingdom in the next few days. Can Elder Yan help me?"
Zhang Ruochen was still uneasy and intended to go himself—both to see Mu Lingxi and to visit Luo Sha.
Meeting both women at the same time gave Zhang Ruochen a headache, but no matter how painful, he had to go. He would have to face it sooner or later.
"That's good. The Princess actually wants to see you very much," Yan Hanyi said.
Zhang Ruochen left the residence. Before leaving, Yan Hanyi gave him a token that allowed free passage through the various space teleportation arrays and wormholes of the Tianluo Divine Palace without revealing his identity.
Not long after leaving the residence, Zhang Ruochen felt a sensation. A strange look appeared on his face as he looked up at the second floor on the right side of the street.
There, Gushe Jing, dressed in a green scholar's robe, sat by the window on the upper floor, gazing at him. Her lips moved.
The sound only reached Zhang Ruochen's ears: "How about sharing some tea? I have important matters to discuss."
Gushe Jing possessed a drop of his blood, so it was no surprise to Zhang Ruochen that she could find and see through him.
Since he had already encountered her, how could he avoid her?
Besides, Zhang Ruochen had a question he wanted to ask her.
Xiao Hei snorted lightly. "Another woman, and a formidable one at that. Zhang Ruochen, you're even more of a scumbag than I, the Emperor, imagined."
"Stop the nonsense. Let me ask you this: can you beat her?" Zhang Ruochen transmitted.
Xiao Hei's eyes flickered, and he put on an invincible air. "No matter how powerful she is, she's no match for me, the Emperor. If I make a move, I can take on ten of her."
"Really? She's the most outstanding prodigy of this generation from the Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm, just one step away from the divine realm," Zhang Ruochen said.
"From the Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm?"
A look of shock appeared in Xiao Hei's eyes, and he muttered to himself.
"Can you handle it or not? Are you scared?"
Zhang Ruochen was annoyed. Xiao Hei loved to boast but always fell short at critical moments.
He was very wary of Gushe Jing.
This woman was unfathomable.
Xiao Hei's tone was less arrogant than before. "The Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm is no small matter. It's said to be a world formed from the corpse of the Demon Ancestor Luohou. This woman may have inherited the true teachings of that Demon Ancestor lineage. She's not to be underestimated."
"What do you mean by the Demon Ancestor lineage?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"It's a long story. Let's go meet her first. I, the Emperor, have recovered my cultivation and want to find a top-tier expert to fight. Let the name of the Emperor Who Slays Heaven and Earth resound once again across the Heavenly Court and Hell, making all living beings who see me tremble in fear," Xiao Hei said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen frowned. He felt Xiao Hei was a bit inflated and overconfident. "You'd better restrain yourself. Now is not the time to reveal your strength."
Ascending the platform and arriving opposite Gushe Jing, Zhang Ruochen immediately felt the rules of heaven and earth around him change, as if he had stepped into a small, independent space.
Yet before approaching her, he hadn't noticed anything unusual.
Of course, that was also because Zhang Ruochen hadn't used the Heart of Truth to deliberately probe.
"Why did you come to Ice King Star?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Gushe Jing held a teacup, carefully staring into Zhang Ruochen's eyes. "The five top-grade origin divine crystals originally stored in the Divine Maiden Tower were stolen. During the theft, Tan Fei was also killed."
"What? How could this happen?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Gushe Jing said, "Do you want to know who stole the top-grade origin divine crystals?"
"Why are you looking at me like that? Do you think I stole them?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Gushe Jing continued to stare at him, as if trying to see through his truth and falsehood. "The fact is exactly that. The five top-grade origin divine crystals were taken using spatial means, through seventeen layers of barriers. Besides you, who has such high spatial mastery? Moreover, when Tan Fei self-destructed his sacred source, he shouted that you killed him while holding the five top-grade origin divine crystals in his hands."
"Conspiracy, definitely a conspiracy. Someone is trying to frame me."
Zhang Ruochen dared not take such a big blame. Five top-grade origin divine crystals would implicate more than a dozen major powers. Once this matter was confirmed, countless experts would come after him.
For the sake of the Origin Divine Temple, those people would do anything.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I am a space controller, but there are countless cultivators in the Hell Realm with high spatial mastery. For top-grade origin divine crystals, even if a god personally acted, it wouldn't be strange, would it?"
"Gods from the Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm personally investigated the Divine Maiden Tower and confirmed that no god made a move," Gushe Jing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I know—it was the Seven-Handed Elder. The Judgment Division and the Fate Department found Tiannan pollen at the site where Tan Fei self-destructed, indicating that the one who acted was definitely the Seven-Handed Elder."
"The Seven-Handed Elder has gone missing. Even the Fate Operations Division couldn't deduce his location. The Judgment Division and the Fate Department mobilized the entire power of the Destiny Temple but found no trace of his departure. Many cultivators speculate that the Seven-Handed Elder may have been killed. Someone deliberately used the Tiannan pollen to divert everyone's attention to this dead man," Gushe Jing said.
Zhang Ruochen realized that Gushe Jing had never believed from the start that he had stolen the top-grade origin divine crystals. Her earlier questioning was just a test.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "If the Seven-Handed Elder is really dead, doesn't that mean the trail is cut off?"
Gushe Jing nodded. "Exactly. Since the trail is cut off, we can only trace it from the source. The earliest place where the five top-grade origin divine crystals appeared was the Divine Maiden Tower on Ice King Star."
"Is that why you came to Ice King Star?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Gushe Jing said, "Correct. Actually, there's another clue."
"What clue?"
"You."
"Me? Why me?"
Gushe Jing said, "Although many cultivators believe you don't have the ability to steal the five top-grade origin divine crystals and kill Tan Fei, you did use the Purple Gold Gourd in the area near the Divine Maiden Tower. You can't possibly have nothing to do with Xing Qian's death or the disappearances of Cang Baizi and the Seven-Handed Elder. Even if it's a frame-up, why would someone frame you instead of another cultivator?"
"Speak, Young Master Ruochen. What exactly are you hiding?"
Zhang Ruochen did indeed have one top-grade origin divine crystal, so under Gushe Jing's gaze, he felt extremely uncomfortable and somewhat guilty. But at that moment, he thought of a plan to kill two birds with one stone.
Perhaps he could use Gushe Jing's power to deal with Bai Qinger.
A demoness and a enchantress—if they fought each other, he could escape.