Chapter 2682: Made an Outstanding Contribution to the Family
Far from the Heavenly Court, deep in the starry sky.
Here, it was empty and silent, as if no cultivator had passed through for tens of thousands of years.
Jie Zunzhe flew down onto a black rocky planet, released Zhang Ruochen and the White Angelic Emperor from his Divine Realm World, and threw them to the ground.
The White Angelic Emperor immediately distanced herself from them, on high alert, her gaze eventually landing on Jie Zunzhe. There was no doubt he was a deity.
If he were a False God, there might still be a chance to escape today.
But this extremely disheveled old man had managed to take Zhang Ruochen away from the Yan God's hands—how could he possibly be a False God?
The White Angelic Emperor did not act rashly. Trying to escape from a True God was nothing short of wishful thinking. However, since he hadn't killed her, it meant she was safe for now.
Zhang Ruochen had long known that Jie Zunzhe was hiding nearby and wasn't surprised. He asked, "Did you kill Shang Zihong and the Yan God?"
"I am a deity of the Heavenly Court—how could I indiscriminately kill innocents?" Jie Zunzhe said, bristling with indignation.
Zhang Ruochen's heart tightened. "You old fool, why capture an Angelic Emperor? Don't you understand what's important? Shang Zihong must die, or else the mortal world of Kunlun Realm will suffer a severe blow."
Jie Zunzhe sneered dismissively. "Tch, boy, you're the one who doesn't understand what's important. The mortal world of Kunlun Realm—why should you worry about that? That's a trivial matter! The real important thing is that our Zhang Clan must grow and thrive, with successors to carry on."
"This female angel—look, she has the looks, the figure, and she hasn't even become a god yet, yet she's cultivated twelve wings. Clearly, her physique is extremely powerful. If she were to merge her bloodline with yours, the offspring born would undoubtedly be top-tier geniuses."
The White Angelic Emperor stood to the side, shocked. She never imagined that capturing her was driven by such a crazy idea.
"Whoosh!"
The twelve wings on her back spread open, erupting with dazzling white light, and she flew toward the sky.
"Come back, don't leave."
Jie Zunzhe called out like this, and without any visible effort, the White Angelic Emperor, who had already flown ten thousand zhang high, fell back down, crashing heavily to the ground like a white swan trapped in mud.
Jie Zunzhe shot Zhang Ruochen a meaningful look, then stared at the White Angelic Emperor.
"Old man, what do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen asked, bewildered.
Jie Zunzhe grew angry. "Go help her up! She's going to be our Zhang Clan's daughter-in-law. You need to care for and look after her—feelings need to be cultivated."
Zhang Ruochen was stunned for a moment, then said seriously, "Stop talking nonsense. The hatred between Kunlun Realm and Paradise Realm is irreconcilable. Are you crazy, or am I crazy, to have me marry an angel?"
Jie Zunzhe said, "The hatred between Kunlun Realm and Paradise Realm has nothing to do with you—that's our generation's business. Besides, the enmity between the two realms lies with the gods of Paradise Realm, not with her. Boy, let me tell you, the Angel Clan's bloodline is powerful, the top choice for carrying on the family line. Girl, what do you say?"
Jie Zunzhe looked at the White Angelic Emperor, who had just gotten up from the ground.
The White Angelic Emperor's mind was in turmoil. She had never imagined she would encounter something so absurd. But his cultivation was unfathomable; to escape, she would need to plan carefully.
She bowed to Jie Zunzhe. "Greetings, Venerable One."
"You actually know who I am?" Jie Zunzhe said, delighted.
The White Angelic Emperor said, "In the past ten epochs of the Kunlun Realm Zhang Clan, aside from Ming Emperor Zhang Ling, only Jie Zunzhe, who shook the world a hundred thousand years ago, reached the God Realm. It wasn't hard to guess."
"See, so clever. The little angel she gives birth to will definitely be clever too," Jie Zunzhe said.
The White Angelic Emperor was inwardly shaken, far less calm than she appeared. Kunlun Realm, besides Yunshen Daozhu, had another Jie Zunzhe emerging. This news absolutely had to be reported back to the Radiant Divine Temple.
Kunlun Realm was hiding too deeply. If the Radiant Divine Temple had no precautions, the consequences would be disastrous.
Zhang Ruochen removed the Confucian Ancestor face, revealing his handsome and unrestrained true appearance. "If you like her, then have children with her yourself. Don't bring trouble to me."
The identity of Shu Qianchi had been exposed, so he could no longer use that face.
Jie Zunzhe grew anxious. "If it were a hundred thousand years ago, I wouldn't be so hesitant like you—I'd take the initiative without hesitation. But the deathly energy in my body hasn't been fully refined yet. I'm powerless!"
"I'm leaving. Deal with her yourself—better yet, kill her to silence her," Zhang Ruochen said.
Hearing this, the White Angelic Emperor's heart tightened.
Jie Zunzhe blocked Zhang Ruochen's path, tears welling up in his old eyes as he pleaded bitterly, "Ruochen, have some pity on this old man. My lifespan really is running out!"
"You want to go to Hell Realm to save your father—I won't stop you. That's your filial piety."
"But Hell Realm is too dangerous. If something happens to you... wouldn't our Zhang Clan decline completely?"
"If you must go, fine. But at least leave me something to hold onto, a hope, will you?"
Zhang Ruochen couldn't stand his pitiful look. "What hope do you want?"
The tears in Jie Zunzhe's eyes vanished instantly, and he perked up. "At least leave a few children! That way, in my remaining time, I can properly nurture them. Even if you die in Hell Realm, the Zhang Clan will still have them."
"Kunlun has already returned to Kunlun Realm. Take good care of him," Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zunzhe shook his head vigorously. "The Zhang Clan was once such a prosperous family, with an ancestor who was a Heavenly Venerable. How can we place all our hopes on a single seedling?"
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen's mind was entirely occupied with how Shang Zihong would retaliate against his relatives and friends. Hearing Jie Zunzhe's words, an idea struck him. He sighed. "Old man, after hearing your words at the ancestral land, I was deeply moved. I understand your good intentions and deeply realize my own responsibilities. The Zhang Clan cannot decline like this—it must branch out and grow strong."
Hearing this, Jie Zunzhe, who had been holding a secret medicine in his hand, withdrew it and said seriously, "Are you serious?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded deeply. "So, after arriving at the Heavenly Court, during the time you were away, I wasn't idle. I've already made an outstanding contribution to the family. There are a few women—remember their names. They are all daughters-in-law of the Zhang Clan, and they may already be pregnant."
Jie Zunzhe immediately straightened up, overjoyed, feeling that Zhang Ruochen hadn't let him down and was a good descendant of the Zhang Clan. "Tell me, who are they?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "The leader of the Moon-Worshipping Cult, Ling Feiyu."
"The Celestial Maiden of Heavenly Beginning Civilization, Luo Ji."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen didn't seem to be making it up, Jie Zunzhe sincerely exclaimed, "You've got some skill, boy. Even a Celestial Maiden from an ancient civilization is willing to bear your child."
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Also, the Confucian path's Nalan Danqing from Kunlun Realm, the Great Palace Master of the Radiant Divine Temple's Judgment Palace, Lian Xi, and the Hundred Blossom Fairy Ji Fanxin from Thousand Petal Realm..."
Jie Zunzhe noted down the names Zhang Ruochen mentioned—there were thirteen in total, including Canglan Martial Saint and even Gai Tianjiao.
"Is that all?" Jie Zunzhe asked.
"Mm!"
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Shang Zihong and I have a deep enmity. Since he knows I'm still alive, he will inevitably launch a frenzied retaliation against those connected to me."
"As long as I'm here, you don't need to worry about their safety," Jie Zunzhe said.
With a deity's promise, how could Zhang Ruochen not be reassured?
Jie Zunzhe sighed again. "I know who that Shang Zihong is. That junior can't be easily moved. He's a descendant of Shang Zu, and since Shang Zu was willing to pay the price to resurrect him, it's clear he has big plans for him."
"It's not that I'm afraid of Shang Zu, but once Shang Zihong is killed, Shang Zu will inevitably investigate. If he finds out I'm still alive, the trouble will be enormous."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were deep, and he already had a plan. "Even if I couldn't kill him this time, there will be another chance. When that time comes, even Shang Zu won't be able to save his life."
Jie Zunzhe said, "Your worry is unnecessary. Tonight has already caused a huge uproar, and the Heavenly Court nearly erupted in internal strife. The Heavenly Palace won't allow cultivators from various realms to continue fighting."
The White Angelic Emperor walked over, smiling charmingly, and bowed again to Jie Zunzhe. "If I could marry a peerless prodigy like Young Master Ruochen, I would be more than willing. As long as Young Master Ruochen accepts me, I would even be content as a concubine."
She had overheard too many secrets and knew the only way to survive was to marry Zhang Ruochen.
She had to live.
Only by living could she one day pass these secrets back to the Radiant Divine Temple.
How could Zhang Ruochen not see through her intentions?
"Mo Yin, have your injuries recovered?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"Not fully healed yet, but if I devour her, I should recover."
The Devouring Saint Flower burst out from behind Zhang Ruochen, transforming into a dense mass of vines that coiled toward the White Angelic Emperor.
...
Xuan Yi True God's temple was built on the most prosperous celestial domain of West Ox Continent, at the convergence of three divine veins.
The temple was majestic and grand, ten thousand zhang tall, perched atop an ancient desolate divine mountain.
Yin Yuanchen fled all the way back to Xuan Yi Temple. When he reached the foot of the divine mountain, he could no longer hold on and collapsed to the ground, saying weakly, "True God... save... save me..."
Xuan Yi True God's voice, ethereal and merciless, came from the temple: "With your cultivation, losing to a Great Saint at the Ten Thousand Deaths One Life Realm—what right do you have to live in this world?"
"Grandfather... I..."
"Until you reach the God Realm, you have no right to call me grandfather."
Yin Yuanchen lay on the ground, his face pale, his fingers trembling, on the verge of death.
Xuan Yi True God's cold voice rang out again: "Don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll give you one chance. If you can climb up the divine mountain and into the temple alive, you'll have the right to continue living."
Yin Yuanchen raised his head with difficulty, looking at the towering, unattainable divine mountain.
There was no path on the mountain—only cliffs and precipices.
A fierce glint flashed in Yin Yuanchen's eyes, and he gritted his teeth. "I'll climb... Ah!"
He screamed.
Because a war sword flew out from Xuan Yi Temple, falling from the sky and piercing through his back.
"This sword is to teach you a lesson—to firmly remember that you are a failure. Only victors can enjoy; failures must endure the utmost pain," Xuan Yi True God said.
Blood continuously flowed from Yin Yuanchen's abdomen, dripping down the sword tip.
"The True God... is right in teaching me... From now on... I will never... fail again..."
Yin Yuanchen slowly crawled toward the top of the divine mountain.
Where he crawled, he left a bloody trail.