# Chapter 2471: Experts of Paradise Realm
Under the coverage of the Sundial, Xiao Hei spent over a year inscribing tens of billions of formation inscriptions on three Supreme Sacred Artifacts and twenty-eight Monarch Sacred Artifacts.
Various auxiliary materials were also refined to a decent standard.
Zhang Ruochen's previously anxious heart relaxed slightly. "Is there any way to avoid being calculated and sensed by other cultivators?"
Xiao Hei carefully considered Zhang Ruochen's question, thinking he was worried about the Celestial Pivot Needle. "You have a deity helping to conceal your heavenly secrets, so you don't need to worry about being calculated. But the Celestial Pivot Needle is no ordinary item—it's a divine artifact. If the Fate Transport Department goes to the Blood Absolute Family and collects vessels you've used or sacred robes you've worn, within a certain distance, no matter how well you hide, it won't matter."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Divine artifacts are indeed impossible to oppose. I'm not referring to the Celestial Pivot Needle, but to Gushe Jing. That demoness is hard to distinguish as friend or foe, with grand ambitions. Unfortunately, she possesses a drop of my Great Saint blood and can find me anytime, anywhere. How can I get rid of this big trouble?"
"A drop of Great Saint blood? Does the blood contain your essence, qi, and spirit?" Xiao Hei's expression turned strange.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Exactly."
"You gave it to her?"
"You could say that."
Xiao Hei sneered coldly. "Then there's no solution! The karma you've sown cannot be resolved."
Generally speaking, blood that flows from a wounded Great Saint does not contain the cultivator's essence, qi, and spirit. Even if someone collects the blood, using it to find the owner is not easy.
Back then, Zhang Ruochen had voluntarily separated a drop of blood, which contained his essence, qi, and spirit.
With such a drop of blood in her possession, as long as Gushe Jing activated a secret technique, finding Zhang Ruochen would naturally be effortless.
Xiao Hei added, "Actually, you don't need to worry too much. Even if she has that drop of your blood, she must be within the range her spiritual power can reach to accurately locate your position."
"Besides, she's already absorbed quite a bit of your soul power, so why worry about a drop of blood? Unless you can harden your heart and kill her, that demoness might become a major threat, delivering a fatal blow at a critical moment."
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's better to resolve enmity than to keep it. Before Gushe Jing shows hostility, it's best not to make enemies. I already have enough enemies."
Xiao Hei let out a "tsk" sound, finding it hard to believe such words came from Zhang Ruochen's mouth.
The Zhang Ruochen of before was not like this.
Even with just a potential enemy, Zhang Ruochen would likely strike first to eliminate the threat.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't be so surprised. I have my own analysis. Gushe Jing and I have no major personal grudges, only dealings of mutual benefit. But with Luo Sha as a connection, there might be a possibility of becoming allies."
"Lately, I've been thinking: why do I have enemies everywhere I turn? Besides external reasons, perhaps my past way of doing things was also problematic."
"I treated potential enemies as actual enemies, so they truly became enemies. But I never considered how to resolve the hostile relationship between both sides."
"Some enemies aren't necessarily irreconcilable mortal foes; they can also become friends."
This realization came because, while breaking the Desire Shackle, Zhang Ruochen had relived many past experiences. He discovered that some of his previous actions were indeed too extreme, lacking goodwill toward many people and things, and lacking patience to resolve conflicts.
For example:
When he first met Kong Lanyou after eight hundred years, he didn't trust her and even harbored hostility toward her.
Another example:
Fearing that the Thousand Star Celestial Maiden might seize his Truth Esoterica, he had taken the initiative to assassinate her.
In fact, the Thousand Star Celestial Maiden had never truly tried to kill him. In the end, the two of them, by chance, shared hardships in the Dragon God Palace ruins, not only resolving their hostility but also forging a friendship.
If you are hostile to the world, naturally the whole world will be your enemy.
Who wants to be an enemy of the whole world?
Who doesn't want a few more friends?
As he thought, a flash of inspiration struck Zhang Ruochen's mind, as if he had grasped some key point.
But that flash of insight vanished in an instant.
...
...
Divine Maiden Tower.
Bai Qinger had always been a very mysterious figure. Even cultivators within the Goddess Twelve Pavilions knew very little about her.
For this reason, the palace where she resided was quite desolate.
Except for the Ice King Star Divine Maiden Tower's Tower Master, few knew she lived here.
Kailuo had snow-white hair and a long beard braided into a whip. He wore a white jade mask on his face, stood with his hands behind his back in the hall, admiring an ancient painting hanging on the wall.
"Not a bad painting. Every stroke is a formation inscription. If this painting were activated, it would instantly unfold a ninth-rank grand formation, enough to suppress a Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saint. The painter should be at least a Sea-Land King."
Bai Qinger walked in from outside, her entire body wrapped in black gauze, her face unclear. Her voice was hoarse. "This painting is called 'Snow Covering Mountains and Rivers.' It was the work of Yunqi Shangren of the Ice Imperial Palace. Yunqi Shangren is known as Ice King Star's number one formation master."
Kailuo smiled. "This Yunqi Shangren's painting skills are decent, but his formation dao is quite mediocre."
Being called a "Sea-Land King" formation master was rare even in the entire Blood Heaven Tribe wing world. Even among some powerful realms of the Heavenly Court Myriad Realms, there might not be a formation master of the Sea-Land King level.
If his words were to spread, they would surely be condemned by all cultivators on Ice King Star.
Kailuo was quite direct. He picked up a brush from the table and added a few strokes to the painting.
Instantly, the snowy scene in the painting underwent a dramatic change in momentum. Even just hanging on the wall, it seemed about to sweep the two people in the hall into it.
The painting's formation instantly rose by one level.
Bai Qinger's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly. This painting could now probably be used to suppress a Thousand Questions Realm initial stage Great Saint. Paradise Realm had indeed sent a formidable expert.
Kailuo put down the brush, believing he had achieved the effect of intimidating the mountain to shake the tiger. "All of Zhang Ruochen's treasures belong to Paradise Realm, including his life. Aside from that, I want Zhou Zhen, Shentu Yun Kong, and Lian Xi alive."
As one of the four ruling worlds of Paradise Realm, negotiating with a mere Goddess Twelve Pavilions naturally allowed for a strong stance.
Moreover, this time it was the Goddess Twelve Pavilions that had taken the initiative to approach Paradise Realm.
Bai Qinger said, "Everyone knows Zhang Ruochen possesses countless treasures, even esoterica coveted by deities. If you take all the benefits, what do we get?"
Kailuo laughed heartily. "Aren't you after the Celestial Pivot Needle? Paradise Realm won't compete with you for this divine artifact, and you can pin everything on Paradise Realm. Isn't that a benefit?"
Kailuo was an extremely shrewd man. He directly laid out the schemes and calculations in Bai Qinger's heart.
He told her directly that Paradise Realm was willing to take the blame, but Zhang Ruochen had to belong to Paradise Realm.
Bai Qinger said, "What would I do with the Celestial Pivot Needle? Without Fate Esoterica, I can't activate it at all. Instead, it would provoke the thunderous wrath of the Destiny Temple."
"Zhang Ruochen has Fate Esoterica. When the time comes, I'll give you a ten-thousandth of it," Kailuo said.
Bai Qinger was silent for a long moment. "Since you've already seen through my plan, I won't hide it anymore. Yes, my target is the Celestial Pivot Needle. In this operation, we each get what we need."
"Very good. Before doing something big, we should first divide the benefits. The plan will proceed as you've laid out."
Kailuo nodded with satisfaction, then added, "The reason I came this time, besides discussing the division of benefits, is to give you a gift. It might play an important role at a critical moment."
Kailuo extended a finger and drew in the void.
Space split like paper, creating a crack.
From the crack flew an iron cage two meters high.
Nine sacred chains were wrapped around the cage, their other ends piercing through the chest and back of an old man inside.
The old man wore a loose Confucian robe, with a simple and weathered face, his gray hair scattered over his face.
Bai Qinger said, "Who is he?"
"Captured from Kunlun Realm. His name is Shangguan Que, a Confucian cultivator. He is Zhang Ruochen's teacher," Kailuo said.
Bai Qinger said, "I accept this gift."
"Farewell."
Kailuo straightened his clothes, walked out of the hall, looked at the snowflakes flying in the sky, and a meaningful smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.
"The girl is young, but her ambitions are quite big."
How could Paradise Realm not want the Celestial Pivot Needle?
But Kailuo knew very well that the Destiny Temple was extremely powerful. The cost of seizing the Celestial Pivot Needle was too great. For the Ten Dark Powers to target the Destiny Temple was destined to be like throwing an egg against a rock.
Of course, if the Ten Dark Powers could truly inflict heavy damage on the Destiny Temple, Paradise Realm would naturally not mind coming out to pick up the spoils.
Bai Qinger looked at Shangguan Que in the iron cage, still immersed in thought.
Shang Xia stood behind her, quite worried. "Paradise Realm knowing our plan must mean they have people among the Ten Dark Powers."
"That's normal. The reason the Ten Dark Powers are not tolerated by the Destiny Temple is that various realms of the Heavenly Court secretly support them. In fact, some of these dark powers were originally established by the Heavenly Court side. Comparatively, the Goddess Twelve Pavilions is relatively innocent," Bai Qinger said.
Shang Xia said, "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, but we shouldn't have taken the lead in this plan to seize the Celestial Pivot Needle, nor should we have allied with the other nine dark powers. Since it's stirred up such a commotion that even Paradise Realm knows, how could the Destiny Temple not know?"
"I want everyone to know—that's what makes it interesting. I want to stir this pond even murkier."
Bai Qinger pointed to the "Snow Covering Mountains and Rivers" painting on the wall. "Send this painting to the City Lord's Mansion and let Senior Brother Huan take a good look."
Shang Xia rolled up the painting and left directly.
Bai Qinger's fingers were like swords as she slashed.
"Whoosh!"
The iron cage and the nine sacred chains on Shangguan Que all broke, turning into scrap metal scattered on the ground.
Shangguan Que remained very calm, sitting on the ground, looking up at her.
"I've heard that during Kunlun Realm's most glorious period, Confucian dao was developed to its extreme, giving birth to four Confucian Ancestors, each existing like a Heavenly Venerable. I am proficient in all paths of the world, but I have only heard the name of Confucian dao without grasping its method. Sir, could you be my teacher for a few days and teach me?"
The black gauze on Bai Qinger's body dissipated completely, revealing her stunningly beautiful true face. She helped Shangguan Que up, her gaze sincere and humble.
"And after a few days?" Shangguan Que said indifferently.
Bai Qinger said, "Zhang Ruochen's attitude will determine the teacher's life or death."
...
"Kailuo" this character has been mentioned before. Only divine-level readers might find where.
There's another chapter at dawn.