Chapter 2448: Wuma Jiuxing
Zhang Ruochen rubbed his temples, looking quite weary, and said, "At the Divine Maiden Tower, I did indeed discover some unusual things. I wonder, how much do you know about that woman Bai Qinger?"
Upon hearing the name "Bai Qinger," Guyeshe Jing's composed yet cold face showed a hint of gravity. She said, "She is known as the most mysterious woman of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions. There are rumors that her father might very well be the Great God Desolate Heaven. As for her specific age, cultivation realm, sacred arts and secret techniques, and methods and abilities, she rarely reveals them, so the outside world knows very little about her."
Zhang Ruochen said, "On the night you all were competing for the top-grade origin divine crystal, Bai Qinger was at the Divine Maiden Tower. Moreover, she employed extremely clever means to thoroughly swindle the Gambling God, the Seven-Handed Elder."
"The bet at the Seven-Colored Coral Tree?" Guyeshe Jing asked.
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Guyeshe Jing let out a light laugh and said, "The cultivator who made the Seven-Handed Elder lose hundreds of thousands of divine stones was called the Butcher Heaven Destroyer Emperor. This matter has already spread throughout the Hell Realm. Could that person be you?"
The hedgehog lying on the ground raised its head and glared fiercely at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen knew that Guyeshe Jing must have investigated him, so he admitted it, saying, "That's right, the Butcher Heaven Destroyer Emperor is me. However, I was not the one who set up the scheme. I only intervened because I couldn't bear to see the woman I love suffer a loss."
Guyeshe Jing's eyes showed a hint of mockery, and she said, "The woman you love? Yan Zhexian?"
"Exactly," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Master Ruochen truly is a man of many affections."
The sarcasm in this sentence was even stronger.
Zhang Ruochen acted as if it didn't matter and continued, "During the bet, the mysterious cultivator in black gauze was Bai Qinger. Besides her, Cang Baizi, Yun Heng Iron Blood King, Huan Xu Blood Emperor, and Fei Er Tian Ding were all her people."
Guyeshe Jing said, "The four you mentioned are all top-tier great saints who dominate their regions, backed by major powers like the Longevity Hall and the Fei Er Clan. How could they take orders from a woman of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Bai Qinger is more formidable than you imagine. All I know is that she used the power of dreams to control these top-tier great saints. If Miss Guyeshe doesn't believe me, you can investigate and will surely find clues."
"Alright, even if Bai Qinger has heaven-defying methods, why would she set up a scheme against the Seven-Handed Elder?" Guyeshe Jing asked.
Zhang Ruochen certainly couldn't tell Guyeshe Jing everything. With her intelligence, saying too much might lead her to suspect him instead.
Zhang Ruochen shrugged and said, "How would I know why she did it? It was precisely to figure this out that I brought a huge trouble upon myself."
"Go on," Guyeshe Jing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "That night, I followed Cang Baizi and left the Divine Maiden Tower. But unexpectedly, I encountered the battle between Bai Qinger and the Seven-Handed Elder. Both the Seven-Handed Elder and Xing Qian died at Bai Qinger's hands, while Cang Baizi was killed by the Seven-Handed Elder's dying blow."
"Bai Qinger's spiritual power is formidable. She discovered me hiding in the shadows and wanted to silence me. Forced into a corner, I had no choice but to unleash the Purple Gold Gourd."
"Even with the Purple Gold Gourd, I still couldn't hold her off. Fortunately, the Seven-Handed Elder's final strike caused her great trouble, allowing me to escape."
"This is the whole cause and effect of the incident!"
"I think the reason I was targeted by the Judgment Hall must be Bai Qinger pulling strings behind the scenes, trying to use a borrowed knife to kill me and put me to death."
More than seventy percent of what Zhang Ruochen said was true.
Guyeshe Jing clearly believed some of it and fell into thought, saying, "I went to the area where you used the Purple Gold Gourd to investigate. There were indeed traces of battle there, but someone had restored the terrain using clever means."
"Bai Qinger is too powerful. Among women below the divine realm in the Hell Realm, she should be number one," Zhang Ruochen said with a lingering fear.
Guyeshe Jing snorted lightly, "You're only at the Hundred Shackles Realm. Your understanding of the top-tier sequence below the divine realm is too shallow! Only an Eon-level genius who has reached the Supreme Realm can claim to be number one below the divine realm. Since you knew the truth, why didn't you speak up when the Judgment Hall surrounded the Hanhai Manor back then?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's obvious that Bai Qinger has some secret dealings with the Judgment Hall, or even the entire Destiny Temple, aimed at putting me to death. Even if I told the truth, it wouldn't change the situation. It's better to directly deny it and act ignorant. That way, they can't do anything to me."
"By the way, before he died, the Seven-Handed Elder said something. I suspect that Bai Qinger killed him and wanted to silence me because of it."
Guyeshe Jing said, "What did he say?"
Zhang Ruochen looked around cautiously.
Guyeshe Jing said, "Don't worry. This is my absolute rule domain. Even gods cannot hear our conversation."
Zhang Ruochen lowered his voice and said, "The Seven-Handed Elder said, 'Even if I die, I won't tell you where I got the top-grade origin divine crystal.'"
Guyeshe Jing's expression shifted dramatically, her phoenix eyes narrowing, and she said, "Are you sure you didn't mishear?"
"How could I mishear it? After returning, I analyzed it carefully and came to a shocking guess," Zhang Ruochen said.
Guyeshe Jing sneered, "There's no need to guess! The appearance of the top-grade origin divine crystal in the gambling city of the Divine Maiden Tower must mean that some cultivator has already been to the Origin Divine Temple. That cultivator is the Seven-Handed Elder. The five top-grade origin divine crystals that Tan Fei had must be related to the Seven-Handed Elder. The reason Bai Qinger set up a scheme against the Seven-Handed Elder is likely because she found out that he was the source of the top-grade origin divine crystals."
"Everything makes sense now. I didn't expect a small Goddess Twelve Pavilions to have such ambition."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I suspect that the cultivator who stole the five top-grade origin divine crystals is most likely Bai Qinger. First, the five top-grade origin divine crystals and Tan Fei were always sealed in the Divine Maiden Tower. If anyone could tamper with them, it would have to be someone from inside the Divine Maiden Tower."
"Second, why did Tan Fei suddenly self-destruct his sacred source and shout that I killed him? I think it was Bai Qinger using her dream power. Only dream power is so bizarre."
"Third, the Destiny Hall's intervention to save me caught Bai Qinger off guard. She knew the truth wouldn't stay hidden for long. So, she used Tiannan flower pollen to redirect everyone's attention back to the dead Seven-Handed Elder. This way, all leads were cut off."
"She wants to monopolize the Origin Divine Temple."
Guyeshe Jing was extremely shrewd and had her own judgment. She didn't fully believe Zhang Ruochen.
She said, "These are all your one-sided words. I don't believe you would tell me such important information without holding anything back. Of course, I believe some of what you said is true, but you've probably kept a lot to yourself, haven't you?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I know you have doubts. Actually, telling you all this is purely out of necessity."
"Oh?"
Guyeshe Jing showed an interested expression, as if she neither believed nor disbelieved.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Bai Qinger still hasn't given up on silencing me. She chased me from the Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World all the way to Ice King Star. Not long ago, she even sent Fei Er Tian Ding to capture another woman I love, Xia Yu, trying to force me to submit and shut me up. Fortunately, I arrived in time and saved Xia Yu. Otherwise, the consequences would have been unimaginable."
"I am well aware that with my Hundred Shackles Realm cultivation, even if I were ten times stronger, Bai Qinger could crush me with just one finger. So, I am now very eager to form an alliance with a powerful figure who can oppose her. Besides you, I can't think of anyone else."
To make Guyeshe Jing believe him and underestimate him, Zhang Ruochen decided to continue playing the role of a lustful and romantic man.
Guyeshe Jing sneered, "Your last sentence was insincere! Your choice to ally with me must have another purpose, right?"
Zhang Ruochen gave an awkward smile, "You've seen through me again! That's right, if I were to form an alliance, I have other options, like Luo Sheng Tian. However, the only one who can help me resolve my inner demon is the Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm."
"If what you said is true, then fine. But if you have any other intentions, it's best to give them up now. Otherwise, even if you are Luo Sha's fiancé, I will still be unkind to you," Guyeshe Jing said.
Zhang Ruochen was taken aback, then quickly realized.
So Guyeshe Jing thought that his alliance with her was because he had designs on her?
Were all the women in the Hell Realm so self-righteous?
Or was the image he had created so deeply ingrained? As soon as he approached, every woman in the Hell Realm would immediately be on guard, instinctively thinking he was after their body?
Zhang Ruochen said, "If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave."
"Wait."
Guyeshe Jing shot Zhang Ruochen a sideways glance and said, "Aren't you the one who wants an alliance?"
"That's right. But my cultivation is too weak right now, and it's not suitable for me to wade into this muddy water. So I've decided to go back to the Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World to hide for a while and break through to the Thousand Questions Realm first," Zhang Ruochen said.
Guyeshe Jing said, "With me here, why do you need to hide?"
"Well..."
Zhang Ruochen was speechless internally. He hadn't expected Guyeshe Jing to be so unpredictable.
His original plan was to stir up conflict between Guyeshe Jing and Bai Qinger, then immediately go to the Tian Luo Divine Kingdom. When he returned, the two women should have already worn each other out, and he would only need to pick up the pieces.
But Guyeshe Jing was clearly not so easy to manipulate. She had no intention of letting him leave.
Guyeshe Jing said, "Since you suspect Bai Qinger stole the five top-grade origin divine crystals and killed Tan Fei, then let's go confront her and see how formidable she really is."
"With your level of strength clashing, I can't get involved at all," Zhang Ruochen said.
Guyeshe Jing shook her head, "The five top-grade origin divine crystals were stolen using spatial power. So, this time when we deal with Bai Qinger, the main goal is to test whether she is proficient in the Way of Space. You are a Space Master, how could you not get involved?"
Zhang Ruochen wasn't as reckless as Guyeshe Jing. Bai Qinger had many experts by her side. How could they just deal with her so easily?
He was about to refuse again.
Guyeshe Jing said, "You wouldn't be trying to use me to deal with Bai Qinger and then reap the benefits, would you? Or perhaps you've already obtained the top-grade origin divine crystals, and Bai Qinger's goal in dealing with you is to seize them? You want me to deal with Bai Qinger while you sneak off to the Origin Divine Temple?"
"Of course not. Every word I said earlier was true. We are allies. Our interests are aligned," Zhang Ruochen said.
Guyeshe Jing said, "If you want to leave, I won't stop you."
"Since I've already formed an alliance with you, of course I won't leave. Come on, let's discuss how to test Bai Qinger. That demoness, I've long wanted to teach her a lesson," Zhang Ruochen said, sitting back down on the chair with a serious and earnest expression.
Just then, Guyeshe Jing's gaze suddenly shifted away from Zhang Ruochen, looking out the window, and she asked in a rather abrupt manner, "Have you ever heard the name Wuma Jiuxing?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, "Why did you suddenly bring him up?"
Guyeshe Jing said, "Wuma Jiuxing, three thousand two hundred years old, is the young master of the Qiankun Yiqi Hall. In the border regions of the Hell Realm, he is a well-known terrifying existence, hailed as the number one below the divine realm among all dark powers. Although he is the young master, he is actually the real power holder of the Qiankun Yiqi Hall."
Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but draw in a cold breath. The Qiankun Yiqi Hall was one of the Ten Dark Powers, on par with the Wujian Pavilion. To be able to control such a vast organization, his cultivation and methods must be top-tier.
Guyeshe Jing said, "As early as a thousand years ago, he killed Guo Ling, a Supreme Realm great saint from the Heavenly Court's Ruiya Realm, with a single slash. Listen carefully, just one slash. Not only did he split Guo Ling in two, but he also extinguished all his vitality, making it impossible for him to escape or re-form his physical body."
"Three hundred years ago, he fought with Yu Qiu, the previous Divine Son of the Destiny Temple. At that time, Yu Qiu, who had just reached the Supreme Realm, could only fight him to a draw and couldn't win."
"That battle was regarded by Divine Son Yu Qiu as the greatest shame of his life. He felt he had disgraced the Destiny Temple. A dignified Divine Son couldn't even defeat a cultivator from a dark power."
"So, Divine Son Yu Qiu locked himself in the Destiny Temple for a hundred years. When he emerged, intending to avenge his shame, Wuma Jiuxing had disappeared!"
"That draw ultimately left Divine Son Yu Qiu with lifelong regret. Many cultivators believe that Divine Son Yu Qiu's failure to pass the divine tribulation was, to some extent, related to Wuma Jiuxing. When crossing the divine tribulation, the most taboo thing is an incomplete state of mind."
Zhang Ruochen nodded solemnly, taking Wuma Jiuxing seriously.
Every generation of Divine Sons and Divine Daughters of the Destiny Temple were carefully selected talents, receiving the full support of the entire temple and enjoying cultivation resources that other cultivators couldn't obtain. Under such conditions, to only fight to a draw with a cultivator from a dark power at the same realm was indeed a stain on one's life.
However, it also showed from another angle that Wuma Jiuxing was truly remarkable.
Guyeshe Jing said, "About thirty years ago, Wuma Jiuxing, who had been missing for two hundred years, reappeared in the public eye. His cultivation had advanced further, stepping into a new realm. Not long ago, he accomplished a shocking feat."
"What feat?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Guyeshe Jing said, "He went to the Kunlun Realm Merit Battlefield and, with just three slashes, killed three Supreme Realm great saints on the 'Red Dust Peerless List.'"
Great saints who could make it onto the "Red Dust Peerless List" were all top-tier experts below the divine realm.
"Then he's invincible below the divine realm?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Guyeshe Jing said, "You're right. Now, even if Divine Son Yu Qiu were still alive, he might not be able to defeat Wuma Jiuxing. No one knows where he went during that hundred-plus years or what incredible opportunities he gained."
"Why did you suddenly bring him up?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Guyeshe Jing said, "Because he has come to Ice King Star and has a close relationship with Bai Qinger. Yesterday, the Divine Domain Enforcement Arbiter Zhuo Yunong led an enforcement team to surround the Divine Maiden Tower to investigate the top-grade origin divine crystals. During that time, it is said that Bai Qinger was interrogated."
"This morning, Wuma Jiuxing declared that he would represent the Ten Dark Powers in challenging Zhuo Yunong."
"After Divine Son Yu Qiu failed his tribulation and Qi Tianming Emperor broke through to the divine realm, Zhuo Yunong became the number one below the divine realm in the Destiny Temple. The Ten Dark Powers have never been tolerated by the Destiny Temple and have been purged many times. If Zhuo Yunong loses this battle, it will be a huge blow to the Destiny Temple's prestige."
"Now, Wuma Jiuxing is at his peak, riding the momentum of having slain three top-tier Supreme Realm great saints. No cultivator believes Zhuo Yunong can win. Everyone only wants to know if Zhuo Yunong can withstand his first slash."
"Since Wuma Jiuxing became famous, he has almost always used only one slash against all opponents. To this day, only Divine Son Yu Qiu has been able to withstand his first slash."
"And now, he has arrived!"
Zhang Ruochen noticed the strange look in Guyeshe Jing's eyes and finally turned his head, following her gaze out the window.
...
The mystery of Hanxue's background—could she be a descendant of Qiangu Nüdi, a member of the Fallen God Clan?
Follow the WeChat public account "Feitian Yu" and reply with the keyword "Hanxue Background" to check~