Chapter 2657: Secret Meeting
The Heavenly Dragon Realm faction and the Truth Divine Temple faction were both powerful, but compared to the Dominator World faction, there was no small gap. Michael, naturally, remained calm and composed.
However, Pangu Realm was the Dominator World of the Eastern Universe.
A Dominator World joining the fray carried entirely different significance. No wonder Zhou Yu had declared that things had taken a turn for the worse.
Michael's expression ultimately grew much more tense. He took the challenge letter, opened it, and examined it carefully, guarding against the possibility that the Heavenly Dragon Realm might have forged it.
The name and spiritual imprint of Donghua Emperor were both stamped upon it.
Although not all the experts from the hundreds of great worlds of the Heavenly Realm faction were gathered in the lantern tower, the vast space still contained over a hundred figures with formidable auras.
At that moment, a clamor arose as they all began to discuss among themselves.
Shang Zihong's gaze, though more solemn, remained steady. He said to Michael, "There's no need to be so nervous. Donghua Emperor is a figure of what caliber? On the 'Red Dust Peerless List' Peerless Volume, he's second only to Que, the number one of the Heavenly Court. Yet he chose to challenge you. Clearly, Pangu Realm doesn't want to get too deeply involved; they're just making a gesture. Or rather, Pangu Realm is controlling the negative consequences of a confrontation between two Dominator Worlds."
"Then what is Pangu Realm and Donghua Emperor's purpose in doing this? I don't believe that Feng Yan, the Rock Emperor of the Feng Clan, could have invited him," Michael said, his face cold and stern.
Shang Zihong's eyes were deep as he thought carefully, realizing that tonight's matter was no small affair and contained a mystery he could not fathom.
Pangu Realm's stance was something he couldn't figure out.
Now that the Hell Realm was attacking and a great battle was imminent, there shouldn't be conflicts between Dominator Worlds.
Soon after, another Great Saint from the Heavenly Realm, holding a challenge letter, hurriedly entered and reported, "Zhen Yuan of the Five Elements Temple challenges the White Angel Emperor."
The sound of another set of footsteps followed, and another Great Saint rushed in, presenting a challenge letter: "The Compassionate Bodhisattva of the Western Buddha Realm challenges the Red Angel Emperor."
"Yu Feiwo of the Thousand Star Civilization challenges the Black Angel Emperor."
The White, Red, and Black Angel Emperors were the three giants among the long-established Great Saints of the Heavenly Realm. Each had cultivation reaching the heavens, standing at the pinnacle of the mortal world, controlling the discourse of the entire Heavenly Realm faction.
The intervention of the Five Elements Temple, the Western Buddha Realm, and the Thousand Star Civilization finally made the assembled experts in the lantern tower realize that things were truly dire.
These top-tier forces or great worlds each had their own factions behind them. Their sudden, simultaneous attacks didn't seem like a simple matter targeting the small incident at the Green Pear Garden.
The few cultivators in the Green Pear Garden couldn't possibly cause such a huge stir.
Was this about shaking the ruling position of the Dominator Worlds?
No.
Pangu Realm was also a Dominator World. Undermining the Heavenly Realm's prestige wouldn't benefit them.
Shang Zihong was utterly perplexed, muttering to himself, "It seems tonight's matter is no longer just a conflict of the mortal world. Zhou Yu, go and contact the cultivators of the Demon God Realm and the Ten Thousand Ruins Realm. I want to speak with them."
...
The Green Pear Garden was unusually desolate, and even the surrounding area had fallen into deathly silence. All cultivators took detours to avoid it.
Inside the garden, Zhang Ruochen, Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and the Great Saints of the Heavenly Dragon Realm were either setting up formations or inscribing Great Saint runes, aiming to fully leverage the terrain's advantages.
The divine talisman in Linglong Fairy's hand was crucial, so Zhang Ruochen personally took action, fixing it at the intersection of the Great Saint runes.
This was their most important trump card.
With it, they could counterbalance Peach Blossom and pose a certain degree of threat to him.
At dusk.
Under the escort of a large group of experts from the Thousand Star Civilization, the Starlight Saint Chariot slowly rolled down the main road and stopped at the entrance of the Green Pear Garden.
Zhang Ruochen was already waiting outside. "Why has the Heavenly Maiden graced the Green Pear Garden with her presence?"
Feng Yan, Xiang Chunan, and the cultivators of the Heavenly Dragon Realm all showed curiosity. At such a sensitive time, when all cultivators were keeping their distance, why had the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden come to the Green Pear Garden? What was her purpose?
Could it be that she also wanted to wade into this muddy water?
Even if they had some friendship, it wasn't enough to make the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden offend the Heavenly Realm faction. The Thousand Star Civilization had come to the Heavenly Court to find allies, not to make enemies.
Yu Chenjing stepped down from the Saint Chariot, wearing a light blue long dress, with a beautiful face, hair adorned with hairpins and cloud-like tresses, and a charming smile. "It's not yet midnight. Is the Green Pear Garden some dragon's pool or tiger's den that this Heavenly Maiden cannot visit?"
She landed on the ground, looked at the words "Death to Entrants," and said, "Can this Heavenly Maiden cross this line?"
"Of course," Zhang Ruochen said, making a gesture of invitation.
"Wait a moment."
Yu Chenjing looked toward the Starlight Saint Chariot.
Hua Chunqiu stepped out of the chariot, took a deep breath, and showed a resolute expression as if facing death. "How could tonight's battle be without me? Brother Shu, if you had let me hide in the Colorful Cloud Villa, how could I still paint my 'Red Dust Peerless Chart'?"
Xiang Chunan laughed heartily. "I knew it, Brother Hua is also a man with guts."
Everyone invited Yu Chenjing and Hua Chunqiu into the Green Pear Garden.
After entering the garden, Yu Chenjing looked at Zhang Ruochen. "Mr. Shu, tonight the Thousand Star Civilization will go all out to help you. My uncle has already challenged the Black Angel Emperor. Other Supreme Realm Great Saints will soon issue their challenge letters as well."
Hearing this, everyone present was moved.
Xiang Chunan was momentarily stunned, then looked at her with admiration. "Such loyalty! For today's timely help from the Heavenly Maiden, if the Thousand Star Civilization ever faces danger in the future, I can't vouch for the Truth Divine Temple, but I, Xiang Chunan, will definitely come to aid."
Other cultivators, however, didn't believe that the Thousand Star Civilization's actions were solely due to Yu Chenjing's sense of loyalty. After all, although Yu Chenjing was a Heavenly Maiden, such a major decision was not something she could unilaterally approve.
The significance behind it was extraordinary.
Of course, no one could deny that this Heavenly Maiden was indeed willing to help them, and they owed her a great debt of gratitude.
Everyone expressed their thanks.
Before leaving, Yu Chenjing had a private talk with Zhang Ruochen, telling him that the Heavenly Beginning Heavenly Maiden had gone to the Colorful Cloud Villa to seek her help.
After seeing Yu Chenjing off, Zhang Ruochen fell into thought.
He was also shocked by the Thousand Star Civilization's decision, finding it unbelievable.
Based on their past friendship, Yu Chenjing might have helped him on a personal level, but there was no way she would lead the entire Thousand Star Civilization to challenge the Heavenly Realm faction.
Soon, news came to the Green Pear Garden that the Five Elements Temple, the Western Buddha Realm, and Pangu Realm had issued challenges to the experts of the Heavenly Realm faction. This greatly boosted the morale and confidence of those who had been uneasy.
Xiang Chunan walked over to Zhang Ruochen. "The virtuous have many helpers, the unvirtuous few. Tonight, the Heavenly Realm faction will deeply realize that even a Dominator World cannot cover the sky with one hand. When all the great worlds attack together, no matter how strong they are, they can't hold out. I wonder if this lesson will make them more restrained in the future?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression was grave, and he remained silent.
Xiang Chunan asked curiously, "What's wrong? With such a favorable situation, cheer up. What's there to worry about? Peach Blossom? Even if Peach Blossom is strong, we're prepared now. We won't be caught off guard; we can handle him."
Zhang Ruochen said something cryptic, "It seems I underestimated this Red Dust Assembly. By some twist of fate, I've stumbled into a chess game played by the big shots."
"What game? What chess game?" Xiang Chunan asked, puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen just shook his head without answering. "There's nothing to fear from Peach Blossom. Didn't the Deceptive Case Divine General say that if he dares to show up again, he will personally strike him down? I don't believe Peach Blossom has the strength to face a false god head-on. A god's words can't be broken, can they? Huh!"
"What is it?" Xiang Chunan asked.
Zhang Ruochen quickly walked toward the gate, where he saw the Grand Minister of Works and the Second Minister of Works standing outside the circle, their expressions somewhat strange, as if constipated.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "This place is very unsafe. Why have you come? Hurry inside."
After entering the Green Pear Garden, Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power domain and had a private conversation with the two monks.
Shu Qianchi was originally a cultivator of the Kunlun Realm, so it was natural that no one would suspect a private talk with a half-god of the Kunlun Realm.
Xiang Chunan nudged Feng Yan with his elbow. "Brother Shu's expression shifts between worry and smiles. What do you think—did he hear good news or bad news?"
"Your curiosity is too strong," Feng Yan said.
Xiang Chunan glared at him. "Brother Shu's cultivation is so high. Aren't you curious?"
"He's coming over. Ask him yourself," Feng Yan said.
Zhang Ruochen came to Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan's side and spoke via telepathy, "I have an important matter to attend to and must leave for a short time. I'll definitely be back before midnight. But the Heavenly Realm faction is surely keeping a close watch on every move in the Green Pear Garden. If they find out I've left, they might strike early. You need to help me cover it up."
Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan didn't think he was trying to escape out of fear.
After all, if he really wanted to flee, he wouldn't need to use such tricks.
After the private talk, Xiang Chunan patted Zhang Ruochen's shoulder. "Brother Shu, you expended a lot of spiritual power earlier inscribing the Great Saint runes. Rest for a while."
"Sounds good."
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged under a sacred tree.
However, only Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan knew that the one sitting there was merely a doppelganger formed from mud. Shu Qianchi's true body had already left the Green Pear Garden quietly, concealed by his high-level spiritual power.
The Grand Minister of Works and the Second Minister of Works did not leave but stayed by the side of Zhang Ruochen's doppelganger.
The Grand Minister of Works and the Second Minister of Works had come to the Green Pear Garden to deliver a message from Yan Wushen. Since Zhang Ruochen had personally invited Yan Wushen, he naturally had to meet him in person.
However, from them, Zhang Ruochen learned that the one who had arrived at the Red Dust Archipelago was Chi Kunlun.
This led Zhang Ruochen to various speculations, including whether Yan Wushen's revival might have involved taking over Chi Kunlun's body. Although he knew this possibility was slim.
The more he thought about it, the more urgent his desire to see Yan Wushen became.