Chapter 2717: One Hundred and One
On the shores of the Wuding Divine Sea, sacred cities stood one after another, majestic and magnificent.
Within the sacred cities, many powerful Saint Realm cultivators witnessed what had just occurred in the cosmic space. It was as bright and stunning as a meteor streaking across the night sky.
A single sword strike wounded a god, staining the divine sea with blood.
"Mortal world myth, truly a mortal world myth!" an elder Great Saint who had lived for over ten thousand years said in a trembling voice.
"The Black Bone Saint Army on the Wuding Divine Sea battlefield was invincible, intimidating all the armies of the Heavenly Court. Who could have imagined they would fall today at the hands of Great Saint Ruochen? One man against ten thousand troops."
"Strong! Throughout the ages, the number one in the mortal world."
"I truly envy Princess Luo Sha, to have such an unparalleled fiancé. She must be the object of jealousy for all women under heaven."
...
In the starry sky.
Cultivators of the Yama Clan stood on a silver-white divine ship, watching from afar, all utterly stunned.
Yan Huangtu's gaze was dazed for a long time before he spoke somewhat desolately, "Even a god cannot stop him. How has Zhang Ruochen become so powerful? The heroes born in this era will all live in his shadow."
Yan Yu smiled gently and elegantly, "Why must you compare yourself to him? In truth, with your cultivation, you can already support the mortal world of the Yama Clan."
"Second Brother, are you finally going to strike at the Divine Realm?"
Yan Huangtu caught the implication in his words.
Yan Yu nodded lightly, "You and Zhexian have both reached the pinnacle of the mortal world. You can serve as the leading figures of the Yama Clan. There's no need for me to linger in the Saint Realm any longer. By the way, you haven't forgotten to prepare the gift for that girl Ying'er, have you?"
"Of course not."
Yan Huangtu's expression suddenly shifted, and he said solemnly, "Since Zhang Ruochen has returned, the matter of Zhexian and Ying'er can't just be left unresolved, can it?"
"There's no need for us to worry about that. Grandfather and the others care more about the Yama Clan's reputation than we do. Besides, Zhang Ruochen's return as a mortal world myth carries extraordinary significance. It's said that even figures at the God King level claim he will change the landscape of the Divine Realm in the future."
Yan Yu pressed further, "Do you understand the meaning of those words?"
Yan Huangtu was first stunned, then his gaze deepened, and he said gravely, "If he becomes an enemy, he must be eliminated immediately. If he becomes an ally, he must be secured immediately."
"Let's go, back to the Outer Heaven." Yan Yu said.
...
Xia Yu knew Zhang Ruochen was strong, that he could fight across the world and be unstoppable.
But that he could crush a sacred army with such overwhelming force and wound a god still shocked her deeply. Her mind was stirred as she watched the figure suspended above the Wuding Divine Sea, knowing she would remember this moment for the rest of her life.
Even if her cultivation later reached the Divine Realm and surpassed Zhang Ruochen's current level, she would never forget it.
"Splash!"
The End Sea Divine General flew out of the Wuding Divine Sea, his chest a bloody mess, divine energy spilling out.
His face, larger than a mountain, was twisted and terrifying, and he let out a long roar.
The divine sound was deafening, spreading for who knows how many thousands of miles, expressing the boundless fury in his heart.
A god, looking down on the mortal world, viewing all living beings as ants.
What had just happened was, to him, an immense humiliation.
"I underestimated you. Let's fight again."
The wound on the End Sea Divine General's chest healed rapidly, and beneath his feet, a vast ocean of divine energy unfolded, connecting the surface of the Wuding Divine Sea to the starry sky.
"I advise you not to humiliate yourself further."
Zhang Ruochen spread his hands, and seven Supreme Sacred Artifacts flew out, hovering in seven directions in space. The light curtains of their Supreme power shone as brightly as seven stars.
"Heavens! Seven Supreme Sacred Artifacts! How can this fight continue?"
"Is Zhang Ruochen planning to slay a god today?"
"You have too little faith in the End Sea Divine General. Is it so easy for a god to fall?"
"It's not that we lack faith in the god, but Zhang Ruochen has too many Supreme Sacred Artifacts. He already has the potential to refine and kill a god."
...
In the end, the End Sea Divine General did not continue to attack. It wasn't that he feared Zhang Ruochen, but because he saw, in the starry sky behind Zhang Ruochen, a blood-red nebula emerging.
Within that nebula stood the figure of Xue Hou.
The might of a true god was naturally incomparable to that of a false god.
Suppressing his anger, the End Sea Divine General clasped his hands and bowed to Xue Hou, "Lady Xue Hou, the disciple of Dharma-Ending Divine King and the only son of Tianque Divine Ji have been imprisoned by Zhang Ruochen for a thousand years. Isn't it time to release them?"
"I only know that the Divine Realm must not interfere in the mortal world. You have broken the rules." Xue Hou said.
The End Sea Divine General's expression shifted slightly, and his gaze involuntarily turned to a divine temple floating in the distance.
Zhang Ruochen had long noticed that temple and sensed the terrifying divine might spreading through the starry sky. Clearly, the god within that temple was immensely powerful.
From the temple came a deep, heavy voice: "Zhang Ruochen, I look forward to you stepping into the Divine Realm soon. Let's see if you truly can change the landscape of the Divine Realm. Let's go!"
The End Sea Divine General vanished above the Wuding Divine Sea.
The temple also disappeared.
Zhang Ruochen did not sense how they left, realizing that compared to true gods, he was still far behind. He asked, "Mother, who was that in the temple?"
"Don't worry about him. Come with me. Your grandfather wants to see you."
Xue Hou released her divine power, sweeping Zhang Ruochen and Xia Yu into her Divine Realm World, and they left this starry sky.
...
"It was Dharma-Ending Divine King."
Blood Absolute War God held a thick booklet, reading it carefully, and answered Zhang Ruochen like this.
"Should I send Tian Shuzi and Que Shenzi back to the Death God Temple to resolve this conflict?"
Zhang Ruochen knew the terror of figures at the Divine King level and worried about creating a powerful enemy for the Blood Absolute Family.
Hatred in the world, if it could be resolved, was naturally best.
Earlier, if the Death God Temple hadn't first deployed the Black Bone Saint Army to blockade the planet and pressure Zhang Ruochen, he wouldn't have been provoked into fighting back.
"Matters of the mortal world are for you to decide."
Blood Absolute War God continued flipping through the booklet, occasionally making notes with a brush, "Of course, if you approach this with the mindset of resolving the conflict, you might be wishful thinking. How many disciples does Dharma-Ending Divine King have? Do you think he truly cares about one Tian Shuzi?"
"Could it be related to what he said about me becoming a god and changing the landscape of the Divine Realm?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"You don't need to worry about him for now. Dharma-Ending Divine King is extremely proud. Before you step into the Divine Realm, or rather, before you truly change the landscape of the Divine Realm, he won't personally deal with you."
Blood Absolute War God closed the booklet and sent it flying from his fingers.
"Take a look."
"Whoosh!"
The booklet spun rapidly, moving at incredible speed.
Knowing Blood Absolute War God was testing him, Zhang Ruochen spread his arms and activated the power of the Wuji Sacred Intent, condensing a Yin-Yang Taiji Seal in front of him.
The booklet struck the Yin-Yang Taiji Seal, quickly slowing down.
When it fell into Zhang Ruochen's hands, it came to a complete stop.
Holding the booklet, Zhang Ruochen felt something strange. When he had just used the Wuji Sacred Intent, he felt a sense of powerlessness, as if the force he could unleash was extremely limited.
Perhaps it was because he was now within Blood Absolute War God's Divine Realm World.
Blood Absolute War God had been watching Zhang Ruochen use his Sacred Intent, a contemplative look in his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen opened the booklet and flipped through it, then froze.
"Qu Xinyao, Rakshasa Clan, daughter of Lie Tian Divine Lord, Ten Thousand Deaths One Life Realm, 1,800 years old, Yin Sha Divine Jade Body..."
"Hong Yi, Underworld Clan, outstanding disciple of Qing Yu Great God, Demigod Peak, 'Divine Reserve Volume' Grade B..."
"Xi Fen Female Emperor, Undying Blood Clan, Great Saint Supreme Realm..."
...
Every page of the booklet recorded detailed information about a woman from the Hell Realm, complete with shadow images.
By injecting Saint Qi, the shadow images would come to life, standing before him like real people.
After reading two pages, Zhang Ruochen quickly flipped to the back.
He found that there were records for a hundred women.
Each of them had extraordinary backgrounds—either divine maidens or outstanding disciples of gods—and they were all beautiful, with different temperaments and charms, fitting the aesthetic standards of humans and the Undying Blood Clan.
Some of the entries had been modified or crossed out.
"Have you finished reading? If you're satisfied with all of them, I'll send someone to deliver the betrothal gifts immediately." Blood Absolute War God said.
"Betrothal gifts? For whom?"
"For all of them, of course." Blood Absolute War God said.
Zhang Ruochen knew Blood Absolute War God's intentions, but he had only thought he would be asked to choose from the booklet. He never imagined Blood Absolute War God's heart was so wild.
Zhang Ruochen was stunned for a moment, then said, "This booklet records the information of a hundred proud daughters of heaven."
"Exactly! One hundred, not one less." Blood Absolute War God was very serious, and his eyes carried an unyielding will.
Zhang Ruochen said nothing, turning his gaze to the side, looking at Xue Hou.
"Don't bother looking. Xia Yu's name isn't written in the booklet, but she is the one hundred and first. Xia Yu, are you willing to marry Zhang Ruochen and become a part of the Blood Absolute Family?" Blood Absolute War God said.
Zhang Ruochen was speechless.
He had clearly been looking at Xue Hou, hoping she would stop Blood Absolute War God. When had he looked at Xia Yu?
Called out by Blood Absolute War God, Xia Yu, who had been standing beside Xue Hou, stepped forward with a reverent expression, bowed, and said, "I will follow the Grand Clan Leader's arrangements!"
Zhang Ruochen looked at Xia Yu.
But Xia Yu stared at the ground, not meeting his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath to calm himself, then said, "Sending betrothal gifts to one hundred and one women at once is too exaggerated! If I'm rejected, it won't just be my face that's lost, but also the face of the Blood Absolute Family and yours, Grandfather."
"With your talent, who would refuse? They'd be scrambling to marry you." Blood Absolute War God said.
Zhang Ruochen flipped to one page of the booklet, "Qing Feiwei? She was the Fate Divine Maiden from seventy thousand years ago. She's already stepped into the Divine Realm, right? With her talent, who knows what level she's reached now. Why would she look at a man with Saint Realm cultivation?"
"Qing Feiwei? I added her deliberately. That woman is considered a first-rate figure of the Undying Blood Clan in this eon, having reached the Upper-Rank God level. However, in the Jade Emperor Realm, she owes me a life. She's already promised to repay that debt." Blood Absolute War God said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, does she know about this?"
"No. But I'll go talk to her myself. I think the chances are good." Blood Absolute War God said.
Good chances?
Zhang Ruochen rubbed his temples, truly unable to understand where Blood Absolute War God got such confidence.
Just because he saved someone once, they had to marry his grandson? No way to repay except with their body?
Besides, even if Blood Absolute War God dared to propose, Zhang Ruochen wouldn't dare to marry.
Blood Absolute War God said, "You seem skeptical? Ruochen, you're still thinking like a Saint Realm cultivator. You need to re-evaluate yourself, to understand your strength and unparalleled potential."
"Qinglu Divine King said that once you become a god, you will change the landscape of the Divine Realm. Many gods see that as alarmist talk."
"But I believe you have that ability."
"A person who can change the landscape of the Divine Realm—why can't he marry a god?"
"You've cultivated a Third-Rank Sword Dao Sacred Intent and fused a First-Rank Sacred Intent, unparalleled in history. In the future, you'll likely become a king or venerable in the Divine Realm, even a cosmic overlord. The women in that booklet—they still have a chance to marry you now. In the future, I'm afraid they won't be worthy of you."
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly, "Marriage should be based on feelings. If it's tied to interests, it loses its meaning. Besides, not every woman only cares about interests and admires the strong."
"Among them, there must be those who already have someone they love. Even if they yield to the pressure of the gods behind them and marry me, how could such a forced match be sweet?"
Blood Absolute War God said, "You talk to me about feelings? Fine, let's talk about reality."
"The reality is that now, not only do many gods in the Heavenly Court want to kill you, but so do those in the Hell Realm. The power of the Blood Absolute Family alone may not be enough to protect you."
"In the eyes of the gods, you are either a future overlord worth investing in and winning over, or a threat that must be eliminated."
"After the Ten Realms Battle ended, seven gods have already come to me, expressing their desire for a marriage alliance. They want to form an alliance, help you grow, and jointly cultivate you into a future cosmic overlord. More gods will come to me."
"If I reject their goodwill, it might push them to the side of our enemies."
"Is reality really so cruel?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Absolute War God said, "You have to understand that not every cultivator has such qualifications. If you agree, your path ahead will be much easier. Many forces will actively pave the way for you."
"Of course, if you truly become a cosmic overlord in the future, you'll have to represent their interests and become their backer in turn."
"In the face of such great interests, tell me, is a mere marriage alliance insignificant? You just need to nod your head."
Zhang Ruochen did not nod. He pondered for a long time, then said, "They're not just investing in me, are they? They're investing in the entire Blood Absolute Family."
"If I'm not mistaken, the forces behind the gods who contacted you first, Grandfather, have been investing in you for the past hundred thousand years, haven't they? This is essentially an interest circle centered around you, aiming to create a God Venerable or a cosmic overlord."
"My appearance caught them off guard, but also delighted them. So, they proposed a marriage alliance with me, wanting to bind themselves more deeply to the Blood Absolute Family."
Blood Absolute War God looked deeply at Zhang Ruochen, surprised that this kid had seen through this point.
"Your guess is roughly correct." He said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "In that case, the marriage alliance doesn't have to involve me. I think you, Grandfather, could continue to marry. If you're concerned about face and don't want to take many wives, you could entrust the task of marriage alliances to Uncle Underworld King. As a god, he should contribute to the family."
"As for me, the most important thing right now is to strike at the Divine Realm. I can't afford to be distracted."