Chapter 2655: Detonation
Zhang Ruochen said, “Shu Yong is no match for Gongyang Mu.”
“But yesterday, he clearly defeated Gongyang Mu, witnessed by countless cultivators in the Red Dust Sea Market,” Xiang Chunan said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I secretly helped him.”
“This... this can’t be possible...”
Xiang Chunan found it hard to believe. He had been present yesterday as well, yet he had noticed nothing.
With his current level of cultivation, for Shu Qianchi to help Shu Yong defeat Gongyang Mu without his awareness was as unbelievable as a fairy tale.
Ao Xukong and Linglong Xianzi understood Shu Yong’s strength and knew he was indeed no match for the demigod-level Gongyang Mu.
In fact, yesterday, upon receiving the news, they too had been shocked, unable to grasp the reason behind it.
Linglong Xianzi asked, “Is there a connection between this matter and the flaw you mentioned, Mr. Shu?”
“Yesterday, I supported Shu Yong in fighting Gongyang Mu. If the Heavenly Realm Faction learns of Shu Yong’s true strength, how could they not suspect me?”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “Given Peach Blossom’s identity and cultivation level, how could she merely be venting anger for the Heavenly Assassination Organization? Why would she personally kill Shu Yong? Last night, her true purpose was to test Shu Yong’s real strength.”
Xiang Chunan was even more puzzled, saying, “Brother Shu, how exactly did you manage to help Shu Yong defeat Gongyang Mu without anyone noticing?”
“That’s exactly what the Heavenly Realm Faction wants to figure out. They also want to know the secrets I carry,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t mention one more thing: his biggest flaw actually lay with Shi Huang, Jian Huang, Grand Minister of Works, Second Minister of Works, Shang Yue, and Shang Xia.
The sudden emergence of six demigods from the Kunlun Realm and Guanghan Realm would not only cause a stir in the mortal world but even shock some deities.
If they investigated these six thoroughly, tracing back a thousand years, the trail would lead directly to Zhang Ruochen.
It could be said that Zhang Ruochen was not far from having his identity exposed and must leave the Heavenly Court as soon as possible.
But leaving without killing Shang Zihong would leave Zhang Ruochen deeply unsatisfied.
Tonight was a crisis, but also the best opportunity.
After listening to Zhang Ruochen’s words, the cultivators of the Book Realm fell into silence.
Wen Qingxiu, one of the Four Beauties of the Blue Sea, said, “Mr. Shu, please don’t blame yourself or feel guilty. The ones who truly caused Shu Yong’s death are us. Yesterday, if you hadn’t intervened to save us, the four of us would have been humiliated by Gongyang Mu and died in resentment.”
“That’s right, the fault lies with us.”
“If we weren’t so weak and captured by Gongyang Mu, you and Shu Yong wouldn’t have had to act yesterday.”
...
Feng Yan comforted them, saying, “No one is at fault. There’s no need to be too hard on yourselves. Right now, we should focus on how to get through tonight’s ordeal.”
Ao Xukong and Linglong Xianzi no longer brought up the idea of taking the Book Realm cultivators away, because they understood that Peach Blossom would never allow them to leave the Green Pear Garden alive.
“I’ll summon all the experts from the Divine Dragon Clan. I refuse to believe the Heavenly Realm Faction would dare to start a war with the Divine Dragon Clan,” Ao Xukong said.
Xiang Chunan’s eyes turned cold, and he turned to walk toward the gate.
“Where are you going?” Feng Yan asked.
Xiang Chunan said, “If we’re going to fight tonight, I’ll go summon the experts from the Truth Divine Temple.”
“Will your wife agree?” Feng Yan asked.
Xiang Chunan’s expression was resolute, his fists clenched, and he said, “I am the deputy hall master. If she doesn’t agree, I’ll fight until she does.”
Feng Yan gasped and quickly pulled him back, saying, “Don’t say such angry words. You might not be able to beat her. Besides, the Truth Divine Temple intervening in this matter would lack justification and invite criticism from cultivators across the world.”
Zhang Ruochen looked at the setting sun on the horizon and said, “Actually, the current situation might not be entirely unfavorable to us.”
“What do you mean by that?” Linglong Xianzi asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “The six great sect leaders of the Confucian Realm have declared they will raze the Green Pear Garden by midnight tonight. The experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction have openly stood behind them, supporting their words. Doesn’t that mean they’ve cut off their own retreat? No matter what happens tonight, they will have to attack the Green Pear Garden.”
Feng Yan’s eyes narrowed thoughtfully as he said, “If tonight, their bold words fail to come true, it would be a massive blow to the prestige of the Confucian Realm and even the entire Heavenly Realm Faction.”
“It’s more than that.”
After saying this, Zhang Ruochen picked up Shu Yong’s Divine Fox Purple Hao Brush, flew to the midair of the Green Pear Garden, and drew a massive circle with the brush, enveloping the entire garden within it.
Though just a circle, it contained Zhang Ruochen’s Great Saint inscriptions.
Then, Zhang Ruochen wrote a line of text on the ground: “Those who enter will die.”
Putting away the brush, he flew back down and said, “Do you think the six great sect leaders of the Confucian Realm will dare to step into this circle?”
“They must step in, whether they dare or not, since the words have already been spoken,” Feng Yan said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “If they step into this circle, we kill them. Will the Red Dust Peerless Tower and the Heavenly Palace hold us accountable?”
“We’ve already warned them in advance. If they still trespass, they deserve to die. This logic holds anywhere,” Feng Yan said with a smile.
Linglong Xianzi understood and revealed a captivating smile, saying, “As long as our strength is sufficient, we kill anyone who comes in. Then, it will be them who are caught in a dilemma.”
“This is turning their own strategy against them,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiang Chunan spread his hands and said, “In short, it’s just a fight!”
“Not a fight, but a slaughter,” Ao Xukong said, his battle intent boiling despite his severe injuries.
The deaths of seven top-tier Great Saints from the Divine Dragon Clan filled Ao Xukong with fury.
Linglong Xianzi showed a worried expression, saying, “The Confucian Realm might be easy to deal with, but the Heavenly Realm Faction has countless experts. Can we really hold the Green Pear Garden with our strength alone?”
“The Heavenly Realm Faction controls hundreds of great worlds. Even if each world sends just one Supreme Realm Great Saint, that’s hundreds of them. If things get out of hand, hundreds of Supreme Realm Great Saints each unleashing a sacred artifact could level the Green Pear Garden. Even a false god stationed here would die.”
Ao Xukong said solemnly, “So what? I’ll summon all the experts from the Divine Dragon Clan to the Green Pear Garden. If they want a decisive battle, we’ll give them one. Let’s see if the Red Dust Peerless Tower will really stand by and do nothing.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If it escalates to a full-scale war between the Heavenly Realm Faction and the Divine Dragon Clan Faction, the Red Dust Peerless Tower will certainly intervene. But that’s not our goal. We want revenge and to completely eliminate the threat to the Book Realm cultivators.”
Xiang Chunan grew anxious, saying, “Brother Shu, if you have a strategy, just say it quickly!”
Everyone focused their attention on him.
Zhang Ruochen said, “The Heavenly Realm Faction indeed has countless experts, but we are not fighting alone. The experts of the Divine Dragon Clan don’t need to be deployed to the Green Pear Garden, but they can issue individual challenges to the Heavenly Realm Faction’s experts, thereby tying them down.”
“Similarly, the Truth Divine Temple cannot directly intervene in the Green Pear Garden battle, but its experts can challenge the Heavenly Realm Faction’s cultivators at midnight tonight, also tying down a portion of their strength.”
Xiang Chunan slapped his forehead and said, “Great idea! I’ll go discuss this with Xue’er right now. If she still doesn’t agree, I’ll really get angry!”
“Come back.”
“What?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “From now on, don’t leave the Green Pear Garden easily. No one knows where Peach Blossom is hiding. Do you think she wouldn’t kill you? Even if she doesn’t kill you, severely injuring you and rendering you combat-ineffective would be a huge loss for us.”
Xiang Chunan looked troubled, saying, “Fine, I’ll send a message to Xue’er.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head again.
“This won’t work, that won’t work either. How are the Truth Divine Temple cultivators supposed to coordinate with us? We need to discuss this, don’t we?” Xiang Chunan said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “You underestimate your importance in her heart and also her intelligence. I think, even without your reminder, she’s already taking action. Do you really think she doesn’t want to help you?”
“Really... really?” Xiang Chunan said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Xiang Chunan was overjoyed and burst into laughter.
...
The Green Pear Garden had drawn a circle as its boundary and left the words “Those who cross will die.”
This news was spread by cultivators lurking near the garden to gather information, quickly shaking the Red Dust Archipelago.
“A fine move, turning their strategy against them.”
Upon hearing the news, Qing Sixue laughed heartily and then said, “Pass my order: gather all the Great Saints from the Truth Divine Temple and the great worlds closely connected to it. I have an important task to announce.”
An elder from the Truth Divine Temple asked, “Miss, what task? We can’t interfere in the Green Pear Garden matter.”
“Who said anything about going to the Green Pear Garden? Haven’t we all come to the Red Dust Archipelago to showcase our strength and compete for spots in the Ten Worlds Battle? Since that’s the case, tonight, everyone will go challenge an opponent. It’s time for everyone to get moving!” Qing Sixue said.
...
Zhen Yuan and the Compassionate Sailor Immortal from the Western Buddha Realm stood by a golden lotus pond, watching the fish swim in the water.
He said, “The storm is brewing, fierce and overwhelming. Factional conflicts have been brought into the open. Everyone knew this day would come, but no one expected it to be triggered by a nobody like Shu Qianchi, who was unknown until yesterday. Now, the Daoist Lineage and the Western Buddha Realm must make a decision.”
“This is the last thing I wanted to see. But getting the Heavenly Realm to back down is clearly impossible,” the Compassionate Sailor Immortal said, a divine light floating behind her, her immortal grace moving and sacred.
Zhen Yuan said solemnly, “As the ruling world of the Western Universe, the Heavenly Realm has done too many disappointing things over the years. Over the past hundred thousand years, to eliminate the Kunlun Realm’s former influence, they have caused severe internal strife among the worlds of the Western Universe. If not for that, how could the Hell Realm have grown to its current state?”
“The Western Universe is in direct contact with the Hell Realm. As the ruling world, the Heavenly Realm should have taken on the responsibility of leadership. Since they lack that sense of duty, they are unworthy of being the ruling world. Although the Western Buddha Realm does not contend, it cannot stand by and watch the Western Universe be destroyed. Change must come,” the Compassionate Sailor Immortal said.
Zhen Yuan said, “It seems you’ve also received instructions from above.”
“The Heavenly Palace and the ruling worlds determine the cosmic order. That might be about to change. In the near future, we may see the arrival of a new Twenty Heavens.”
...
The Heavenly Beginning Immortal heard Li Miaohan’s report, her eyes lighting up. She immediately said, “Send a challenge to Shang Zihong. At midnight tonight, we settle life and death on the Transformation God Island. If he dares not accept, let him never appear before me again.”
Li Miaohan was stunned, showing a deeply puzzled expression, unable to understand why the Heavenly Maiden had suddenly made such an odd decision.
Challenging Shang Zihong, and at midnight tonight.
“Wait.”
The Heavenly Beginning Immortal frowned, sat back down, shook her head, and muttered to herself, “No, I can’t do that. It’s too deliberate; it would expose his identity. Come, follow me to the Colorful Cloud Villa.”
Though she was reluctant to go to the Colorful Cloud Villa to see Yu Chenjing, she desperately wanted to help Zhang Ruochen. She had to swallow her pride and ask the Thousand Star Civilization for assistance.
The Heavenly Beginning Civilization had sent too few cultivators to the Red Dust Assembly, and their strength was limited.
At the same time, cultivators from the Divine Dragon Clan, Kunlun Realm, Five Elements Temple, Western Buddha Realm, Guanghan Realm, Pangu Realm... including the Thousand Stamen Realm, which had received divine oracles, regardless of their strength, all began to move.
The Red Dust Archipelago was seething with undercurrents, and a rare, earth-shattering confrontation was brewing.
At that moment, a black-robed figure who had just arrived from the Hell Realm stepped off a boat, ascended to the Konglai Island, and entered the Red Dust Sea Market. He looked around with a smile, muttering to himself, “The Heavenly Court is so lively, unlike the Dark Abyss, which is so lifeless.”
...
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