Chapter 2689: A Thousand Years’ Sigh
The fiery clouds in the sky continued to burn, only dimming slightly after nightfall.
Standing on Jiwen Island, one could see all sorts of bizarre celestial bodies, warships, and palaces floating in the sky at every turn.
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Divine Valley and saw from afar a graceful and beautiful figure standing beneath a precious tree laden with blood pears. She was serene as water, yet exuded a cold, unapproachable aura.
Unbidden, his mind conjured the scene of his first meeting with Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling in the western martial arena of the Martial Market Academy.
The past flashed by in an instant.
“Divine Maiden!” Zhang Ruochen called out.
Beneath the blood pear tree, Bore, lost in thought, snapped back to reality and fixed her gaze on Zhang Ruochen.
She stared for a long time, her eyes shifting continuously, always filled with an indescribable complexity. In the end, she only said flatly, “Zhang Ruochen? It should be you, no mistake. You’ve changed so much, I almost didn’t recognize you.”
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t tell if she meant it or not. He sighed, “Often, even a few years bring great changes to a person, let alone a thousand years. We’re no longer the youths we once were. Our faces have weathered, our hearts have grown murky. We’ve changed so much, and we can never go back.”
“Indeed,” she said. “Aren’t you going to invite me into the valley? Or is it inconvenient?” Bore’s deep eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen.
“Of course. Please.”
Zhang Ruochen and Bore walked side by side into the Divine Valley.
This valley had already merged with Xue Hou’s Divine Realm World.
The cultivators spying and watching from afar suddenly saw nothing and heard nothing.
“Greetings, Divine Maiden.” Xia Yu gave a slight bow to Bore.
Bore seemed preoccupied and didn’t look at her.
Xia Yu watched the two walking through the valley, deeply puzzled. She felt they were not mere acquaintances but rather an old couple with a profound story.
But the thought only flickered through her mind before she shook her head.
How could it be?
Bore Divine Maiden had too little interaction with Zhang Ruochen.
Their only encounter was during the Heaven Hunting Battle, where they were rivals, locked in a life-or-death struggle.
The two walked for a long time without speaking.
Until Bore’s gaze fell on Chi Kongle in the distance. In those cold, emotionless eyes, a trace of bitterness finally surfaced. She sighed, “If not for that incident back then, we might have had a daughter or son, probably about her age by now.”
Zhang Ruochen was stunned, staring straight at her.
Was this something she could just say?
There were bound to be beings of the Heavenly God rank from the Destiny Temple in the Guixu. If they overheard this, it would bring her deadly danger.
Of course, beings of that rank wouldn’t stoop to eavesdropping on two Saint-level cultivators. And within Xue Hou’s Divine Realm World, even a Heavenly God would find it difficult to eavesdrop.
But still, the risk was enormous.
Moreover, Xue Hou didn’t know about their relationship. Hearing such words, what would she think?
A thousand years of longing—no words could express it.
A thousand years of worry—how torturous to the heart.
A thousand years of solitude—who could share it?
A reunion after a thousand years must bring great joy, a hundred moments of reminiscence, a thousand sighs of emotion, and ten thousand layers of helplessness and sorrow.
Women are ultimately emotional beings. When inner feelings erupt, reason struggles to suppress the surge.
Bore stared at Chi Kongle for a long time, her eyes filled with envy, fascination, confusion, and sadness. At this moment, she was no longer the majestic Divine Maiden, but merely a woman—a weak woman yearning for her own home and family.
But she no longer had a family, nor a home.
Zhang Ruochen was not cold-blooded; he was a man deeply attached to the past.
Such a man was often sentimental and struggled to manage his feelings. Simply put, he was a scoundrel.
Nor was Zhang Ruochen a vengeful person. As long as the hatred wasn’t deep, he could often forgive. For instance, Xue Tu, the Seven-Handed Old Man, Yan Wushen, Bai Qinger, Chi Wansui, Wan Zhaoyi, Lin Lingshan, Zi Qian… In the end, they all reached an inner reconciliation.
Seeing Bore like this, he was deeply moved. He questioned himself repeatedly: This woman before him was his former wife—could he fully forgive her? Back then, she must have had her reasons.
He wanted to take Bore into his arms, to confess their hearts to each other and reconcile.
He knew that at this moment, Bore’s heart was at its most fragile. If he spoke, they would surely reconcile, and Bore would tell him everything. Perhaps she would lean against him, pouring out her longing and past regrets.
But in the brief moment of Zhang Ruochen’s hesitation, Bore had already regained her composure. Not a trace of pain remained on her face. Her voice cold, she said, “I came to see you for no other reason. I just couldn’t control myself and wanted to say a few words to you. I’m leaving. Take care.”
Zhang Ruochen stared at Bore’s retreating back, several times on the verge of speaking.
But in the end, not a single word came out.
It wasn’t that he no longer loved her.
If he didn’t love her, why would he remember so vividly?
The hatred had long faded.
He knew Bore must have had her reasons.
But why could he no longer say the word “love”? Why could he no longer open his arms and pull her into his embrace?
Why?
Bore walked very slowly, each step as if waiting. But the path through the valley was too short; no matter how slowly she walked, there was an end.
Leaving the valley, she soared into the air and flew away.
At some point, Xue Hou appeared beside Zhang Ruochen, smiling. “This Divine Maiden is quite remarkable. How long has it been?”
Zhang Ruochen composed himself. “She and I are impossible.”
His mind in turmoil, he didn’t want to say more and walked away.
“Who says it’s impossible? My son is handsome and talented, destined to become a king among gods. Marrying a mere Divine Maiden is hardly a difficult feat. Bore is about to step down!” Xue Hou was very interested in Bore and said this.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t respond.
…
Lan Ying was an unparalleled genius of the Shura Clan, hailed as the “Cosmic Divine Fetus.” He inherited the Ashura Sword and had exceptional mastery in the Sword Dao. If not for meeting legends like Que and Yan Wushen in this era, he would have been a leading figure in the Hell Realm.
After a thousand years of cultivation, he hadn’t fallen behind. Instead, he had advanced rapidly, becoming one of the ten Eon-level representatives of the Hell Realm.
Now, Lan Ying received a guest.
Lan Ying’s childlike appearance hadn’t changed in a thousand years. Seeing Nan Sheng, who had come to visit, he knew his purpose. With a sharp, thin laugh, he said, “You’re not here because of Zhang Ruochen, are you? The rumors haven’t even been confirmed yet. Why are you all so nervous?”
Nan Sheng smiled. “Who else has come to see you?”
Lan Ying pointed a finger.
Nan Sheng looked into the hall and saw a cluster of ghostly blue flames in the darkness.
The flame’s shape resembled an eagle.
But within the flame sat a young woman.
Nan Sheng said, “So the Earth Fiend Ghost City is even more anxious than our Death God Temple. Miss Yuan has arrived first.”
Yuan was the second child of the Ghost Lord and the most talented among his nine children.
Yuan said, “Zhang Ruochen has killed Yan Wushen and defeated Que. If he really has returned, others might ignore him, but we cannot.”
Nan Sheng said, “No need for ‘if’ or doubt. It’s him. That’s almost certain now.”
Lan Ying giggled. “So what if it’s him? According to the news from the Paradise Realm, Zhang Ruochen is only at the Ten Thousand Deaths One Life Realm now.”
“But he killed the Judgment Envoy and severely wounded Yin Yuanchen—that’s a fact,” Yuan said.
Nan Sheng clasped his hands behind his back, calm and composed. “I know the details. I heard Zhang Ruochen mastered some secret art, seized the Judgment Envoy’s Star Soul Divine Throne, and used its power to severely wound Yin Yuanchen.”
“My sixth senior uncle personally deduced that a Saint-level cultivator might briefly sever the connection between the Judgment Envoy and the Star Soul Divine Throne. But directly seizing the Star Soul Divine Throne for one’s own use is absolutely impossible.”
“My sixth senior uncle suspects that Yunshen Daozhu used his powerful spiritual power to meddle from the shadows.”
“Zhang Ruochen’s true combat strength can be analyzed. He fought the Paradise Realm’s Guna Fairy and, though he hid much of his power, we can get a rough idea. He’s stronger than Guna Fairy, but only by a limited margin. He should be at the level of a quasi-Eon-level representative.”
Lan Ying and Yuan had full faith in the deductions of the six great figures of Tiannan Shengsi Xu.
Yuan said, “I’ve heard that Zhang Ruochen has only cultivated ten trillion Sacred Dao Rules. If he can unleash quasi-Eon-level representative combat power at that level, he’s truly terrifying.”
Lan Ying kept a smile on his face. “Is Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation speed that slow? That’s strange. With his status as the Heir of Time and Space, he should have broken through to godhood long ago.”
“Zhang Ruochen’s ranking on the Divine Reserve Scroll wasn’t high back then. It’s already incredible that he made it through the Hundred Shackles and Thousand Questions Realms,” Yuan said.
Lan Ying said, “So, there’s no need to fear him?”
“No! Never underestimate the enemy.”
Nan Sheng’s eyes sharpened. “I believe Zhang Ruochen is our great enemy. He must be eliminated as soon as possible, and we cannot let him break through to the Supreme Realm. The Wuding Divine Sea is the perfect place to kill him. He must not be allowed to return to the Hell Realm.”
Yuan agreed. “I concur. After the battle between Yin Yuanchen and Que in three days, everyone will immediately return to the Hell Realm. That will be our best chance to strike. As for Xue Hou, we’ll need to find a god of sufficient weight to lure her away. Ideally, we should also ally with the Destiny Temple. Even if we kill Zhang Ruochen then, Xue Hou will have no choice but to swallow her anger. Heh heh.”
Nan Sheng said, “Feasible. I’ve received news that the Destiny Divine Maiden has already visited Zhang Ruochen, but the negotiations didn’t go well. Some cultivators saw her leaving the valley with a dark face, looking terrifyingly grim. She’s likely already set her mind on killing Zhang Ruochen.”
…
There will be another chapter tonight.