Chapter 2646: Disturbing the Gods
Yu Chenjing added, “Brother Shu, do you know the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden?”
“Why bring her up all of a sudden?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Because the Heavenly Beginning Civilization’s current situation is extremely dire.”
“How so?”
Yu Chenjing said, “The Heavenly Beginning Civilization is the closest to the Shura Star Pillar Realm. Once war breaks out, it will inevitably bear the brunt of the attack.”
“Surely the other ancient civilizations and the various realms of the Heavenly Court won’t stand idly by?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing sighed softly, “Of course they won’t stand idly by, but in any war, there will be massive sacrifices. Unless they are inseparable allies, who would fight to the death to help?”
“Within the Heavenly Court, there is another voice claiming that the Heavenly Beginning Civilization cannot be saved. Forcing a defense would likely result in heavy losses. Instead of holding the line, it’s better to concentrate forces and set up defenses at the Giant Spirit Civilization, Blazing Sun Civilization, and Hidden Ruins Civilization, blocking the Shura Star Pillar Realm beyond this line.”
“Abandoning an ally before the battle even begins—if the Heavenly Palace makes such a decision, won’t it chill people’s hearts?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “Indeed, many great worlds oppose it, but it is still a possibility.”
“This is something only the gods can decide. Why should we worry about it?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “In reality, the war between the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm won’t escalate to the level of large-scale divine warfare for now.”
“Why?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “Because the Hell Realm won’t initiate divine warfare in the early stages. They will only advance steadily.”
“Because of the Yellow Spring Star River?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing nodded, “The Shura Star Pillar Realm leads the way because the Star Soul Divine Thrones of the Shura Clan’s gods are all located above the Star Pillar Realm. However, the Star Soul Divine Thrones of the gods from the other nine clans of the Hell Realm are in the Yellow Spring Star River.”
“Without the support of their Star Soul Divine Thrones, the gods of the Hell Realm would be at a huge disadvantage if they entered the Heavenly Court’s territory to fight. Just like one hundred thousand years ago, the casualties were severe.”
“Only when the Yellow Spring Star River also enters the starry sky where the various realms of the Heavenly Court are located, and the two starry skies overlap, will divine warfare fully erupt. That will be the true moment of life and death.”
“The Heavenly Court could initiate divine warfare first,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing shook her head, “The starry sky where the various realms of the Heavenly Court are located and the starry sky of the ancient civilization faction are also far apart. If the gods of each realm go on an expedition, they cannot mobilize the power of their Star Soul Divine Thrones, leaving them with no advantage.”
“On the contrary, because the battlefield is in the starry sky of the ancient civilization faction, once large-scale divine warfare breaks out, all the cosmic secret realms of the ancient civilizations would likely shatter.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then there is only one way, just like one hundred thousand years ago: cut off the energy source of the Shura Star Pillar Realm and set up a grand starry formation to stop it from advancing further.”
Yu Chenjing gazed at the night sky, “Easier said than done? Back then, the Kunlun Realm managed to do it, but countless gods died. Even Ten Calamities Wen Tianjun stained the starry sky with blood, and Chi Xingtian had his head severed. Now, the Hell Realm will surely be prepared. Stopping the Shura Star Pillar Realm might require an even greater price to be possible.”
Yu Chenjing and Zhang Ruochen both fell silent, their thoughts drifting to unknown places.
After a long while, Yu Chenjing smiled, her lips red and teeth white, “You’re right. These are matters for the gods to consider. With our current cultivation, we can only focus on the mortal world. We’ll do our best and achieve the best we can.”
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that Yu Chenjing had already guessed his identity, but she wasn’t certain, which was why she kept probing him.
However, he was genuinely concerned about Luo Ji’s situation, so he asked, “Has the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden come to the Red Dust Assembly?”
Hearing Shu Qianchi ask this question voluntarily, Yu Chenjing’s eyes lit up. What had been only a vague, ethereal guess now had more than a fifty percent certainty.
Yu Chenjing said, “She came, but…”
“What’s wrong?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “Do you know Shang Zihong of the Merit Divine Temple?”
“What does the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden have to do with him?” Zhang Ruochen toyed with the luminous cup in his hand, his gaze flickering.
Yu Chenjing said, “A thousand years ago, Shang Zihong was killed by my friend at the Peacock Mountain Villa in the Kunlun Realm. However, his sacred blood was preserved by the Crimson Child Sword, and the fragments of his sacred soul merged into the Five-Colored Merit Stele. With the help of a divine realm titan from the Paradise Realm, he fused the Five-Colored Merit Stele into a new body and lived a second life.”
“A Saint King receiving the help of a divine realm titan to gain a new life—it seems Shang Zihong’s relationship with that titan is quite special,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “That divine realm titan is Shang Zu, an ancient powerhouse from the same era as Ten Calamities Wen Tianjun. The current Hall Master of the Merit Divine Temple is Shang Zu’s disciple, and Yan God is his grand-disciple. Even the renowned Xuan Yi War God once went to Shangqiu to seek the Way from him. Shang Zihong is Shang Zu’s descendant and has always been groomed as the future Hall Master of the Merit Divine Temple.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Yu Chenjing continued, “The battle at Peacock Mountain Villa in the Kunlun Realm back then was truly thrilling. My friend and Shang Zihong were on the brink of life and death. Yet the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden, who shouldn’t have been involved, stepped in to help my friend, openly opposing the Paradise Realm faction.”
“And then?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “Shang Zihong died in that battle. Now that he has come back to life and holds unparalleled influence in both the Merit Divine Temple and the Paradise Realm faction, how could he not seek revenge?”
Zhang Ruochen was fully aware of the depth of the enmity between himself and Shang Zihong. Having disappeared for a thousand years, Shang Zihong’s anger and hatred, with no outlet, would surely be inflicted on cultivators connected to him.
Back at Peacock Mountain Villa, Zhang Ruochen and Shang Zihong had fought a life-or-death duel, with the Paradise Realm faction and Kunlun Realm cultivators battling fiercely. Luo Ji was one of the few outside cultivators who intervened.
That bond of loyalty, forged in hardship, was especially precious.
Of course, Yu Chenjing had also intervened in that battle.
Yu Chenjing said, “Strangely enough, the one constantly targeting the Heavenly Beginning Civilization is Lian Xi, the Grand Palace Master of the Judgment Palace. Meanwhile, Shang Zihong has repeatedly pursued the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden. In fact, his master, Yan God, even went to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization to propose marriage, but was rejected. One suppresses, the other pursues—don’t you find it interesting?”
“This is not interesting at all.” Zhang Ruochen’s gaze turned cold as he downed his cup in one gulp.
Shu Yong, Hua Chunqiu, and Xiang Chunan naturally knew that Yu Chenjing and Zhang Ruochen were having a private conversation, but they didn’t use their spiritual power to eavesdrop. They only cast strange smiles when looking at the two.
The wine had lost all its flavor. Zhang Ruochen took his leave first.
Originally, he had intended to return the marriage contract to Yu Chenjing and sever all ties. But considering that Yu Chenjing might not be entirely trustworthy, confirming his identity would pose a risk.
“Celestial Maiden, could you see me off? I have a few words I’d like to discuss with you alone,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing showed a hint of delight and agreed.
“We’ve had enough to drink. Let’s go too,” Xiang Chunan said.
The five of them walked out of the Rosy Cloud Villa.
Xiang Chunan wanted to follow Zhang Ruochen and Yu Chenjing, but Hua Chunqiu grabbed him and whispered something. Xiang Chunan suddenly understood and scratched his head awkwardly.
“Brother Shu, you two talk alone. The three of us will head to the painting realm cultivators’ lodging. You must come find us. We’ll drink again tomorrow, and I’ll introduce you to another brother of mine,” Xiang Chunan said with a laugh.
Zhang Ruochen and Yu Chenjing walked side by side along the dim path.
The path was paved with bluestone, flanked by colorful sacred flowers that emitted a spectrum of light in the night.
“So, are you planning to confess to me? You can trust me. On True Dragon Island, we went through life and death together, sharing a bond of hardship,” Yu Chenjing said.
Zhang Ruochen stopped and looked at her.
Yu Chenjing lifted her head, her jade neck slender, her eyes bright, her crystal nose delicate, and her shallow smile exuded a city-toppling charm.
“Give me your hand,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“What for?”
Yu Chenjing was puzzled but boldly extended a snow-white hand, palm up, her phoenix eyes tinged with confusion.
Zhang Ruochen grabbed her hand, and Yu Chenjing felt as if struck by lightning, unable to move. The next moment, Zhang Ruochen’s other hand touched her brow, channeling powerful spiritual power into her sea of consciousness.
Yu Chenjing realized what Zhang Ruochen intended—to erase her memory. She felt a surge of resentment. This guy was far too cautious, leaving no loose ends.
“Whoosh!”
The moment Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power touched her sea of consciousness, a divine light burst from her body, shining for ten thousand zhang.
An extremely powerful divine force was guarding her sea of consciousness.
“Why is the divine power protecting her sea of consciousness so strong?”
This thought had just crossed Zhang Ruochen’s mind when he understood. An old man with white hair walked out of the Rosy Cloud Villa and appeared before him and Yu Chenjing in an instant.
The old man wore a fierce expression, his eyes containing endless divine light, as if the energy of two stars was stored within his pupils. Two of his fingers were already forming a sword seal.
This was a true god!
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to be killed by this god from the Thousand Star Civilization, Yu Chenjing suddenly leaned into his arms, shyly saying, “Ancestor, why have you come out and disturbed us? Jing’er is a bit embarrassed!”
The old man was startled, staring at her and Zhang Ruochen. After a long pause, he retracted his divine power and said, “Your sea of consciousness was just triggered!”
“Yes, Jing’er wanted him to see if there’s only him in my mind,” Yu Chenjing said with a coquettish hum.
The old man scrutinized Zhang Ruochen, shook his head, and said, “You young people really are… forget it. Come see me later.”
With his hands behind his back, the old man returned to the Rosy Cloud Villa.
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a long time, never expecting to encounter such a situation. “How does the Thousand Star Civilization have a god here on Red Dust Islands?”
Yu Chenjing pulled away from his arms, speaking with grievance, “So, don’t think you can act recklessly just because you’re powerful. There are gods hidden among the cultivators of the Thousand Star Civilization, and it’s possible in other great worlds too, though the chances are low. Oh no, oh no, this Celestial Maiden is in big trouble!”
“Why do you say that?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Chenjing said, “This Celestial Maiden is the future Heavenly Lord of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. How can I easily fall for a man? Now that the ancestor has caught us, he’ll definitely punish me.”
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t sure if the Thousand Star Civilization’s god was eavesdropping on their conversation, so he didn’t dare say much. “Go back quickly. Explain to him that our relationship is very pure.”