Chapter 2649: Curse Killing
"To be able to kill a pillar of a realm on the territory of the Red Dust Splendid World Tower and escape unscathed, the Heavenly Kill Organization is truly terrifying."
"The one who struck was Peach Blossom, the number one assassin emperor of the Heavenly Kill Organization."
"Who can be blamed? Who told Yong Shu Saint to act so arrogantly yesterday, both provoking the Heavenly Kill Organization and offending the Radiant Divine Temple? If he could still live to see the next day like that, who in the world would still fear the Heavenly Kill Organization and the Radiant Divine Temple?"
A person nearby lowered their voice and reminded, "Don't mention the Heavenly Kill Organization and the Radiant Divine Temple at the same time."
...
Outside the Green Pear Pavilion, a group of cultivators from various realms had gathered.
The death of Shu Yong had caused an immense shockwave.
Zhang Ruochen walked into the Green Pear Pavilion and immediately encountered Xiang Chunan rushing out in a hurry. He grabbed him and pressed him down, asking, "Where are you going?"
"To kill," Xiang Chunan said, his eyes cold and his anger blazing.
"Kill who?"
"Kill those who deserve to die."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "Don't act rashly. Take me to see first."
Xiang Chunan wanted nothing more than to storm the Heavenly Kill Organization right then and kill the perpetrator, but realizing no one knew where their main altar was, he felt a surge of frustration.
Inside the Green Pear Pavilion, the ground was covered in peach blossoms.
The petals were a vivid red, formed from the Great Saint blood of Shu Yong.
Shu Yong lay among the petals, his body reduced to a skeleton with only a layer of skin remaining. Apart from that, there were no wounds on his body, making the scene eerily strange.
Hua Chunqiu saw Zhang Ruochen and walked over, saying, "It's Peach Blossom's killing secret art, the Peach Blossom Calamity. Once struck by this secret art, all the blood in the body turns into peach blossom petals and flies out, while the Sacred Soul dissipates into smoke."
"Secret arts can be cultivated by anyone. The killer isn't necessarily Peach Blossom," Zhang Ruochen said with a skeptical attitude.
Because assassins kill for Sacred Stones.
From placing the order, to accepting it, to carrying out the killing, it takes a process.
Unless Peach Blossom happened to be on the Red Dust Archipelago and someone could directly command her, Shu Yong wouldn't have died so quickly. The only ones who could command Peach Blossom were the gods of the Heavenly Kill Organization.
Zhang Ruochen didn't believe that the gods of the Heavenly Kill Organization would dare to come to the Red Dust Archipelago.
Assassins are ruthless. The likelihood that Peach Blossom would simply avenge Fu Gu and Mo Yang out of emotion was very low.
Only five cultivators from the Book Realm had come to attend the Red Dust Assembly, and even counting the Four Beauties of the Blue Sea rescued from Gongyang Mu yesterday, there were fewer than ten. Now, they all stood in the courtyard, their expressions sorrowful and indignant.
They were too weak to even confront the Paradise Realm, let alone the Heavenly Kill Organization or the Confucian Realm.
Now that Yong Shu Saint had died tragically, they could do nothing but watch helplessly.
Weakness was the original sin.
The cultivators of the Book Realm knelt on one knee before Ao Xukong and lamented, "Please, Third Prince, seek justice for the Book Realm and avenge Yong Shu Saint."
They could only turn to the Divine Dragon Realm for help.
Ao Xukong and Linglong Fairy, along with several top-tier Great Saints from the Divine Dragon Realm, were all in the Green Pear Garden.
After all, the Book Realm was under the protection of the Divine Dragon Realm, so they couldn't just stand by and do nothing.
"Get up, all of you. We are also deeply saddened by Yong Shu Saint's death. The Divine Dragon Realm will investigate this thoroughly and give you an explanation." Ao Xukong's eyes were filled with coldness, and murderous intent brewed within him.
Linglong Fairy stood beside Ao Xukong, her slender waist tied with a green sash, her body covered in dragon patterns and radiant with multicolored light. She said, "Why not ask the Tower Master to intervene? With the Tower Master's abilities, he can surely find Peach Blossom. Yong Shu Saint died on the Red Dust Archipelago, so the Red Dust Splendid World Tower should also take responsibility."
Ao Xukong shook his head. "The Red Dust Assembly is imminent, and the Ten Realms Battle cannot afford any mistakes. The Tower Master must be occupied with many matters. How could he waste his energy on a mundane Sacred Realm affair? But you're right; this matter should still be brought to the Red Dust Splendid World Tower. They are the masters here after all."
A top-tier Great Saint from the Divine Dragon Realm said, "The Red Dust Splendid World Tower is already aware of this and has reported it to the Mysterious Case Divine General. The Mysterious Case Divine General takes this very seriously and is personally investigating, but Peach Blossom is no ordinary assassin. Her concealment skills are unparalleled below the Divine Realm. Even a god would find it difficult to track her down."
Linglong Fairy said, "Peach Blossom's killing must mean someone placed an order with the Heavenly Kill Organization. Who could that be? Gongyang Mu?"
"Perhaps there was no one who placed the order. The Heavenly Kill Organization might just be retaliating." As Ao Xukong said this, he noticed Shu Qianchi examining the corpse.
Zhang Ruochen crouched down to inspect Shu Yong's body. He placed his finger on the corpse's brow, refraining from using the Fate Esoterica to deduce, but instead carefully sensed with the Wuji Sacred Intent.
In his mind, an image appeared of Shu Yong returning to the Green Pear Pavilion last night, crossing the gate, and walking into the courtyard...
The next moment, blood gushed from his body like a spring, turning into peach blossom petals that scattered all over the ground, and he fell like a withered log.
However, the attacker could not be deduced or seen.
Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply. Logically, with the subtlety of the Wuji Sacred Intent, he should have sensed something. How could he feel nothing at all?
There was only one possibility: a top-tier god had obscured the other party's heavenly secrets.
Top-tier gods rarely concern themselves with mundane Sacred Realm affairs, and personally helping to obscure heavenly secrets was even rarer. This made Zhang Ruochen more inclined to believe that the one who truly killed Shu Yong might not be Peach Blossom.
"Brother Shu, have you found anything?" Ao Xukong asked.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
Ao Xukong said, "Since Peach Blossom has appeared, this matter is no small thing. I can no longer handle it alone. I must immediately report to my second brother. By the way, Brother Shu, you all need to be careful. Since Peach Blossom has struck at Yong Shu Saint, she might also strike at you. Before the Red Dust Assembly, why don't you take shelter in the Divine Dragon Realm's villa?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If Peach Blossom wants to kill, she will find a way no matter what. It's the same wherever we hide, unless a god guards us every step of the way."
Ao Xukong sighed, knowing the other party was right.
Although the Divine Dragon Realm had a peerless powerhouse like Ao Yi stationed there, even Ao Yi himself probably couldn't guarantee he could withstand Peach Blossom's assassination.
A cultivator from the Red Dust Splendid World Tower arrived, following a god's order, to have Hua Chunqiu, Xiang Chunan, and Shu Qianchi take refuge in the Mysterious Case Divine Palace.
Hua Chunqiu smiled bitterly and said gloomily, "It seems even the Mysterious Case Divine General can't find Peach Blossom. Shu Yong's revenge is impossible."
Xiang Chunan said, "Brother Hua, you go to the Mysterious Case Divine Palace first. With a god's protection, Peach Blossom won't be able to harm you."
"Not necessarily."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Mysterious Case Divine General is just a false god. He might not fear Peach Blossom's assassination himself, but he may not be able to protect us from her."
Hearing this, the cultivator from the Red Dust Splendid World Tower showed anger, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was insulting the god. So, he waved his sleeve and left, leaving behind a parting remark: "The door of the Mysterious Case Divine Palace is always open. If you three don't want to die, you'd better go there to hide."
Zhang Ruochen stared at the departing cultivator from the Red Dust Splendid World Tower and said in a low voice, "I have a better place."
"Where?"
"The Rosy Cloud Villa."
"Although the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden has brought the Divine Pattern Diagram to protect the Rosy Cloud Villa, it may not be safer than the Mysterious Case Divine Palace. After all, the diagram is static, while Peach Blossom is elusive," Hua Chunqiu said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If you want to live, you have to trust me."
Seeing Shu Qianchi so confident, Hua Chunqiu realized the other party must know some secrets they didn't. He couldn't help but feel a bit envious. In just one day, he had gotten so close to the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
"I'm not afraid of Peach Blossom. If she comes to kill, I'll deal with her." Xiang Chunan glared angrily and then said, "I need to find some helpers. I'll go ahead."
Zhang Ruochen wasn't too worried about Xiang Chunan being assassinated. After all, in the Heavenly Court, very few forces dared to target him, and no one wanted to provoke the Truth Divine Temple Master.
After sending Hua Chunqiu to the Rosy Cloud Villa, Zhang Ruochen concealed his aura, changed his appearance, and arrived near the residence of the Paradise Realm faction's cultivators.
Zhang Ruochen felt guilty about Shu Yong's death.
Because he knew it must be related to the street corpse-selling incident yesterday. He had dragged Shu Yong into this. It had been satisfying at the time, but the price paid was too great.
So this time, he would strike ruthlessly, fighting the Paradise Realm faction to the point of chaos and bloodshed.
"Since you chose to start the war first, I'll fight you to the end."
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged, took out Gongyang Mu's blood.
This drop of blood was extracted from Gongyang Mu's legs.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen took out the Ten Thousand Curse Heavenly Pearl, placed it on the ground, and dripped the blood onto it. Then, he began to carve blood patterns around the pearl.
"An eye for an eye, blood for blood."
"Blood Devouring Curse."
Suddenly, a piercing scream rang out from the residence of the Paradise Realm faction's cultivators.
The scream lasted for a while before quickly subsiding.
Sounds of breaking wind followed as cultivators flew toward the source of the scream.
Shang Zihong sat in the main hall, his expression dark and uncertain.
Michael paced back and forth in the hall, his Radiant power bursting forth, causing the surrounding space to boil. He said coldly, "See? See? The retaliation came too fast. Yong Shu Saint just died, and Gongyang Mu has already met with misfortune. A half-god died so inexplicably. Unable to protect even one's own allies, how will the cultivators of the world view our Paradise Realm?"
"Xiang Chunan, Hua Chunqiu, and that Shu Qianchi—all of them must die."
Shang Zihong said, "Calm down first. It's just a half-god. We haven't even figured out how Gongyang Mu died yet."
Footsteps sounded.
Lian Xi, the Great Palace Master of the Judgment Hall, wearing the Radiant Saint Armor and with the Judgment Sword at her waist, walked into the main hall. She waved her hand, and a large pile of items appeared on the ground, including Divine Stones, pill bottles, scrolls, paper, and brushes...
"All of Gongyang Mu's belongings are here. Nothing is missing, but nothing useful was found," she said.
Shang Zihong asked, "His death resembles the Peach Blossom Calamity."
"Actually, it looks more like the Blood Devouring Curse of the Underworld Clan," Lian Xi said.
Shang Zihong's eyes narrowed sharply, and a contemplative look appeared on his face.
Lian Xi said, "Of course, besides the Blood Devouring Curse, there are other secret arts that can cause such a death. For example, the Void Blood Absorption Art of the Undying Blood Clan, the Blood Death Secret Art of the Soul Realm, or the Corpse Drying Method of the Pangu Realm. But the most eerie and capable of draining a half-god of blood so quickly is most likely the Blood Devouring Curse. Perhaps a powerhouse from the Underworld Clan has come to the Red Dust Archipelago to disrupt the Red Dust Assembly."
"I understand. Thank you for your hard work, Great Palace Master," Shang Zihong said with a smile.
"I will continue the investigation."
After Lian Xi withdrew, Shang Zihong stood up from his seat and walked over to Gongyang Mu's belongings. He reached out to pick up a scroll, but halfway through, a look of disgust appeared in his eyes, and the muscles on his face twitched.
He took out a piece of brocade, placed it on his hand, and then picked up the scroll.
Seeing this, Michael shook his head and sighed, "It's been a thousand years. That person is already dead, and the Great Palace Master did nothing wrong. Why can't you get over it?"
"Some things, once dirty, make you feel sick for a lifetime."
Shang Zihong gripped the scroll in his hand, his eyes sharp, and crushed it into pieces, turning it into paper scraps.
"Whether it's the Blood Devouring Curse or a powerhouse from the Underworld Clan, this battle has already begun."