Chapter 2568: Sword Cry
The Angel Clan deity descended to a mere dozen or so zhang above the seabed, his holy and handsome form coming to a halt.
Because of the deity's presence, the seawater seemed to turn white, imbued with immense power of light. Even without a deliberate attack, Night Traveler Master's ghostly body felt as if it were immersed in a sea of fire, emitting a "chi chi" sound and giving off green smoke.
Seven-Hand Old Man's body was also being purified by the power of light, the fur on him constantly falling off.
The Angel Clan deity's gaze remained fixed on Zhang Ruochen from start to finish. "So you are Zhang Ruochen, the one who killed countless elites of the Paradise Realm? Not bad, I suppose, but unfortunately, you are a half-breed mongrel of human and Undying Blood Clan."
His voice was pleasant to the ear, yet filled with a nobility and arrogance that looked down upon all life in the world.
"Indeed, an angel's mouth cannot produce ivory," Zhang Ruochen said coldly, raising the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
Seven-Hand Old Man and Night Traveler Master exchanged a glance, never expecting Zhang Ruochen to have such nerve, daring to speak to a deity like that.
The Angel Clan deity seemed intent on displaying his cultivation and did not take offense. His voice was clear and cold. "You should know what fate awaits you when you encounter me. So, it would be best if you honestly answer every question I ask next. Perhaps I might grant you a path to survival."
Zhang Ruochen smiled but said nothing.
"Who exactly is that woman who transformed into Ji Fanxin?" the Angel Clan deity asked.
Cultivators of the Hell Realm might speculate that Ji Fanxin indeed possessed the combat power of an Eon-level genius. However, as a deity of the Heavenly Court faction, a simple investigation would reveal the inconsistency.
They could not be fooled.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If you want to kill me, just make your move. Why all this useless chatter?"
The Angel Clan deity's gaze darkened. "Do you think I cannot find out if you refuse to speak? For a deity to search your soul is the easiest thing in the world. However, after a soul search, your sacred soul and spirit will be severely affected."
"Then why haven't you made a move yet?" Zhang Ruochen communicated with the artifact spirit of the Divine Dragon Sun-Moon Chaos Tower, ready to launch a thunderous strike at any moment.
Was a mere new god of the Paradise Realm enough to withstand the power of the Dragon Lord?
Seven-Hand Old Man and Night Traveler Master were now utterly in awe of Zhang Ruochen. Tough, too tough. A Hundred-Shackles Realm Great Saint challenging a deity, though it seemed like a moth flirting with flame and an overestimation of one's abilities, it awakened a long-dormant surge of hot blood and pride within them.
"Unfortunately, an ancient god of the Paradise Realm wants you alive, an Eon-level genius. Otherwise, you would have been reduced to ashes the first time you offended me."
The Angel Clan deity said no more. With a thought, a massive hand of light formed in the water, grabbing Zhang Ruochen within its five fingers.
Zhang Ruochen intended to summon the Divine Dragon Sun-Moon Chaos Tower, but found not only his entire body immobilized, but even his spiritual will was sealed, unable to even communicate with the artifact spirit.
Was this really just a new god?
When he had participated in the siege of Mo Yuanduan back then, he had never felt such a sense of powerlessness. Though both were deities, the difference between a false god and a true god was like the distance between heaven and earth.
"A soul search will only damage your sacred soul and spirit. I doubt the ancient god of the Paradise Realm will mind."
The Angel Clan deity floated in the water, not moving an inch. From his brow, countless tendrils of light shot forth, surging towards Zhang Ruochen's Qi Sea.
"With multiple deities concealing your heavenly secrets, your consciousness must hold many secrets," the Angel Clan deity said, his beautiful eyes filled with anticipation.
Night Traveler Master and Seven-Hand Old Man chose to look down at the ground, pretending to see nothing, but in their hearts, they cursed the Angel Clan deity's ancestors for eighteen generations.
Sword Emperor and Stone Emperor wanted to intervene, but were pinned to the ground by two forces of light.
Just as the tendrils of light were about to pierce Zhang Ruochen's brow, a piercing sword cry echoed through the space, causing all cultivators present—including Zhang Ruochen, Night Traveler Master, and Seven-Hand Old Man—to briefly lose their hearing, their vision going dark.
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen fell to the seabed, dazed for a long while before gradually regaining his sight.
He was still somewhat disoriented, unable to hear anything.
The seabed had become dim again. The Angel Clan deity had vanished, gone to who knows where. In his hand, the Abyssal Ancient Sword was inexplicably trembling slightly.
After an unknown amount of time, Zhang Ruochen finally fully recovered. He looked at the Abyssal Ancient Sword again and asked, "Was it her?"
The artifact spirit of the Abyssal Ancient Sword remained silent, offering no response.
No response was an affirmative answer.
Seven-Hand Old Man and Night Traveler Master rushed over, their expressions rather peculiar.
"What do you want to say?" Zhang Ruochen activated his Truth Eye, scanning the surroundings as if searching for something, asking this casually.
Seven-Hand Old Man said cautiously, "The deity who just struck, was it the one from your Blood Absolute Family?"
"Yes, you must have all heard that sword cry just now," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Master above, please accept this disciple's bow." Night Traveler Master's knees involuntarily gave way, and he knelt down.
Why did he kneel?
Naturally, out of fear.
A deity of the Blood Absolute Family had been nearby all along. If he had made a single wrong move earlier, wouldn't he now be a sacred source?
Being Zhang Ruochen's disciple meant drinking the Water of Life and learning the wonders of space. Why seek death?
Seven-Hand Old Man's expression shifted uncertainly, inwardly sighing with relief. "Since Zhang Ruochen knows the location of the Origin Divine Temple, how could he not have notified a deity of the Blood Absolute Family? No wonder Zhang Ruochen dared to release me from the Qiankun Realm. It turns out he was testing me all along. Too close! Zhang Ruochen, that little fox, is so deep... terrifying, truly terrifying. Death was so close to me, just a thought away."
Seven-Hand Old Man's back was ice-cold. He clasped his hands and bowed, saying, "Senior Brother, both I and Night Traveler Junior Nephew have gathered quite a few sacred medicines. Once Lord Nether King repels that Angel Clan deity, could you introduce us? We would like to offer them to him as a token of our respect."
"Why do you call my master 'Senior Brother'?" Night Traveler Master straightened his neck and looked over.
Seven-Hand Old Man puffed out his chest proudly. "To be honest, Senior Brother has already agreed to introduce me to Lady Xue Hou. Soon, I will become Lady Xue Hou's disciple."
Night Traveler Master's eyes widened. "Master, this is unfair. I want to become Lady Xue Hou's disciple too."
"Didn't you just acknowledge that Angel Clan deity as your adoptive father?"
"All of that was a temporary expedient. To be honest, I have always hated the Angel Clan and the Paradise Realm the most. Every cultivator of the Ghost Clan is irreconcilably opposed to them."
"Becoming a disciple is not something you can just decide on a whim. So far, you have done nothing for the Blood Absolute Family. Why should a deity accept you as a disciple?" Zhang Ruochen withdrew the Truth Light from his gaze, inwardly sighing. A deity's Divine Realm World was truly mysterious; even the Heart of Truth and Space Essence could not sense it.
Night Traveler Master pointed at Seven-Hand Old Man. "Has he performed some great merit?"
Seven-Hand Old Man stroked his beard, looking quite pleased with himself.
"The location of the Origin Divine Temple was information he provided to the Blood Absolute Family," Zhang Ruochen said.
Night Traveler Master's face instantly turned ashen. He then looked at Seven-Hand Old Man with an expression of utmost admiration, thinking to himself, "That old yin-yang master has offered up such a great secret. He must have long been determined to defect to the Blood Absolute Family, and he even knew Lord Nether King was nearby. Earlier, he hinted at me multiple times to join him in killing Zhang Ruochen. He was definitely setting a trap for me, trying to get me killed. Too close, too close!"
Zhang Ruochen patted Night Traveler Master on the shoulder. "Now, can you release Blood Butcher?"
Night Traveler Master's expression changed again. He simply could not fathom how Zhang Ruochen possessed such heaven-defying abilities, knowing that Blood Butcher was suppressed in his space treasure.
Zhang Ruochen was already this formidable at the Hundred-Shackles Realm, with limitless potential. He was bound to stir up earth-shattering waves in the Hell Realm. Taking him as a master might even be an opportunity.
With this thought, Night Traveler Master's mind cleared, and he released Blood Butcher.
...
When the sword cry rang out, the Angel Clan deity was also greatly affected. He felt a sky full of blood light and dense sword energy. Just as he was about to defend himself, the world spun around him.
When he stabilized his form in the void, he found that he had been pulled into a Divine Realm World.
A woman in white stood at the center of the Divine Realm World, holding a blood-red sword. She appeared extremely young and beautiful, her skin like divine jade and immortal crystal carved, her black hair smooth and flowing like a waterfall. Her temperament was ethereal yet heroic, like a weathered, peerless swordswoman, yet also like a pure, unmarried young girl.
After the Angel Clan deity saw her true face, he could not help but smile in surprise. "I never imagined that Empress Chi Yao, who single-handedly supports the entire Kunlun Realm, could have such a pure and clear side. Even more surprising is that you did not stay to guard the Kunlun Realm Merit Battlefield but secretly came to the Origin Divine Temple."
"There are many things you cannot imagine."
Chi Yao toyed with the sword in her hand, her jade fingers wiping the blade, a slight smile on her lips.
When she smiled, she became even more beautiful, causing even the Angel Clan deity standing opposite to feel admiration and reveal an intoxicated expression.
He said, "Among the female deities of the Heavenly Court, in terms of beauty and temperament, aside from the Moon God, you, Chi Yao, are the finest. Unfortunately, you are a deity of the Kunlun Realm, and you chose a man as insignificant as an ant, bearing him a child. How regrettable, how lamentable, how pitiful."
"Are you saying that if I had chosen you, it would not be regrettable, lamentable, or pitiful?" Chi Yao asked quite seriously, her eyelashes standing straight.
The Angel Clan deity smiled like a spring breeze. "Naturally. Moreover, the Kunlun Realm would receive the protection of the Paradise Realm, avoiding the fate of destruction. It is not too late for you to choose again now. At least, I do not mind."
"Uriel, oh Uriel, have you ever wondered why I am here in the Origin Divine Temple?" Chi Yao smiled, revealing her crystal-clear red lips and white teeth.
The Angel Clan deity's eyes shifted slightly, and he suddenly understood. "You have been in contact with Zhang Ruochen all along. Your hostile relationship was entirely an act put on for the deities of the Heavenly Court Myriad Realms and the Ten Clans of Hell? I see. Zhang Ruochen joining the Hell Realm was entirely on your orders, wasn't it?"
Chi Yao rubbed her bright forehead and shook her head with a sigh. "You are even dumber than I imagined. I asked you why I am here in the Origin Divine Temple, and you start guessing a bunch of useless things. With a mind like that, you want to be my man? Let me tell you the truth: I came to the Origin Divine Temple to protect my man and to kill all enemies who threaten him. You are the first."
...
Regarding Chi Yao's personality:
For Chi Yao's true personality, everyone can look at Chapter 926, "A Quiet Morning," and Chapter 1361, "Yao Pool," in Zhang Ruochen's memories. You can also look at Chi Yao's personality when she transformed into Huang Yanchen.