Chapter 2740: Yan Wushen's Message
Yan Zhexian felt Zhang Ruochen was being too domineering, but thinking that she was a deity, she refused to back down. "I, this god, come whenever I please. Can you control that? And if I want to leave now, can you stop me? You're merely a Saint-realm cultivator. No matter how strong you are, I don't take you seriously."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "I understand now. Those rumors outside are all true."
Yan Zhexian felt satisfied after getting her verbal jab in. Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, she looked puzzled and asked, "What rumors?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "The entire Hell Realm is spreading word that my name has disappeared from the Divine Reserve Scroll, that I've incurred Heaven's punishment and am doomed never to step into the Divine Realm. The Yama Clan originally wanted an alliance through marriage with the Blood Absolute Family, but now they've abandoned me. Countless cultivators are mocking me, saying I'm unworthy of the Yama Clan's eldest daughter, that I was just a toad lusting after swan meat."
"These are baseless claims. Who's spreading such nonsense?" Yan Zhexian said.
Zhang Ruochen continued on his own, "The War God said the marriage proposal came from the Yama Clan first. So why have I become the toad coveting you, the swan?"
"You're certainly not a toad."
Yan Zhexian furrowed her willow-leaf brows, pondering. "Who is maliciously spreading these rumors, and what's their purpose?"
"Is it really just rumors? Didn't you come to Sansheng Realm today to cause trouble, hoping to sever ties with me completely?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"Of course not. I was just worried about Ying'er. Besides, I had no idea about these rumors."
Yan Zhexian added, "You asked why I only came to find Ying'er after three years? Because I've been in seclusion all these years, striving to break through to the seventieth level of spiritual power."
"I just emerged from seclusion, heard you were alive, and rushed over immediately."
"Zhang Ruochen, I, Yan Zhexian, am not the type to kick someone when they're down. You should know me better than that."
Her gaze softened considerably, and she asked with concern, "Why did your name disappear from the Divine Reserve Scroll? Have you found out the reason?"
"That's my business, and it doesn't require Miss Zhexian's concern," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Zhexian looked annoyed. "Fifth Uncle was right. You're too arrogant, prouder than anyone else. With just three parts strength, you dare to attempt ten parts work. If you could lower your head just a little, set aside that deep-seated pride and self-respect, you'd already be navigating the Hell Realm with ease, leading the ten clans."
Zhang Ruochen understood what Yan Zhexian meant by "lowering his head." It wasn't true submission. It meant believing in fate, devoutly worshiping at the temples of the ten clans, befriending cultivators from all major powers, forming marriage alliances, and achieving inner compromise.
After Yan Zhexian left, Zhang Ruochen received a message light talisman.
On the talisman were Yan Wushen's engraved words:
"Brother Ruochen, it's time to fulfill your promise. I'll be waiting for you in the Abyss of Darkness."
...
Yan Zhexian didn't leave Sansheng Realm. On the street, she spread her spiritual power and soon caught a Death Clan Great Saint who was spreading rumors, restraining him with spiritual power chains.
The Death Clan Great Saint recognized Yan Zhexian but dared not shout "Deities must not interfere in mortal affairs." After all, this Yama Clan eldest daughter had a fierce temper, and angering her was no joke.
"Speak. How did Zhang Ruochen's name suddenly disappear from the Divine Reserve Scroll?" Yan Zhexian demanded.
The Death Clan Great Saint was suppressed, kneeling on the ground, and said with difficulty, "I don't know!"
"You don't know?" Yan Zhexian said.
"How could Saint-realm cultivators like us know such secrets?"
Yan Zhexian walked over, raised her finger, and a blade-shaped rune pattern condensed above the Death Clan Great Saint's head. "Since you don't know the reason, why spout nonsense? Forget it, questioning you is too troublesome. I'll just conduct a soul search myself."
The Death Clan Great Saint was terrified and quickly said, "Legend has it that Zhang Ruochen was cursed by the Nether Hall—the Severing Dao Curse. Yes, the Severing Dao Curse."
"I see."
After asking a few more questions and understanding the situation, Yan Zhexian killed the Death Clan Great Saint with a single finger strike.
Soon after, she arrived again at the residence where Zhang Ruochen was staying, just in time to bump into Zhang Ruochen, who had concealed his aura, changed his appearance, and was walking out.
If this had been anywhere else, even though Yan Zhexian had achieved godhood through spiritual power, she might not have recognized Zhang Ruochen's disguise. But what a coincidence.
Yan Zhexian blocked Zhang Ruochen's path. "Where are you going?"
Zhang Ruochen found her quite troublesome. Why did he have to run into her?
Yan Zhexian said, "Are you leaving Sansheng Realm?"
"No," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Zhexian said, "If you're not leaving, why change your appearance and conceal your aura? Are you trying to avoid me?"
"That's right. If I can't afford to provoke you, I can at least avoid you, can't I?"
Zhang Ruochen knew that the Yama Clan of the Outer Heaven and the Yama Clan of the Dark Abyss didn't have the best relations, so he didn't want Yan Zhexian to know the purpose of his trip.
Yan Zhexian sighed softly and shook her head. "I've already looked into the situation. Zhang Ruochen, I can help you."
A strange expression appeared in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
Suddenly, Yan Zhexian's tone turned cold. "Don't misunderstand. It's mainly because you saved me and Fifth Uncle once before. Helping you this time is repaying that favor."
"What exactly do you know?" Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.
Yan Zhexian said, "Those rumors—that the Yama Clan abandoned you, that Princess Luo Sha wanted to break off the engagement—are all meant to create the impression that you've been isolated. That way, deities will take risks, kill you, and seize your Esoterica and Supreme Sacred Artifacts."
"Breaking the rumors is simple. We can do what we did in Hundred Clans Royal City, where you took me sightseeing at various clans' famous sites. We can reenact that show of affection here in Sansheng Realm and shut their mouths."
"Show of affection?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Zhexian was very serious. "For me, it's indeed some sacrifice, but at least it can help you. This should be what Ying'er wants to see! Zhang Ruochen, now do you understand what it means to set aside pride and self-respect? To help you, I can set aside my own pride and self-respect."
"But I don't have time! As you can see, I need to go on a long journey."
Zhang Ruochen then smiled. "Thank you for your concern, Miss Zhexian. I truly appreciate your kindness. Farewell!"
"Zhang Ruochen, you can't leave! Don't you want to break through to the Divine Realm? The Nether Hall's curse isn't necessarily unbreakable. Come back to the Yama Clan with me. I'll ask Tai Shang to help you break the curse."
Yan Zhexian transmitted her voice while chasing after Zhang Ruochen.
Before long, the two had pursued each other out into the starry sky.
Yan Zhexian's rune path skill was astonishing. Using flowing light rune patterns to enhance her speed, even when Zhang Ruochen used Divine Spirit Step, he couldn't shake her off.
"For the first time, I realize she's this stubborn."
After using Divine Spirit Step countless times, Zhang Ruochen admitted he couldn't lose her, so he stopped.
Soon, Yan Zhexian caught up, panting heavily, her snow-white cheeks flushed, her spiritual power considerably depleted. She shouted angrily, "I genuinely want to help you. Why are you running?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Then I'll be honest. I find your sudden change in attitude too suspicious."
Yan Zhexian was stunned for a long moment. "What do you mean? Do you think I'm plotting something against you?"
"The Esoterica I possess would tempt any deity. Now that you've reached the Divine Realm, don't you have any thoughts about it? Not to mention the Esoterica, even those Supreme Sacred Artifacts could provoke deities to act," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Zhexian was so angry her cheeks puffed up. She pointed at Zhang Ruochen, at a loss for words.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Or perhaps you're after my body?"
Yan Zhexian regretted ever getting involved in his affairs. "Zhang Ruochen, you're too arrogant! I have no interest in anything you possess. As for your body, you couldn't give it to me even if you tried."
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "A physical body that has cultivated a First-rank Sacred Intent—even if you're not interested, wouldn't other deities of the Yama Clan want to study it? Or even seize it?"
"Why are you so ungrateful? Should I just watch you fall into ruin?" Yan Zhexian said through gritted teeth.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Have you heard the saying, 'Sudden kindness hides ulterior motives'? You, Yan Zhexian, are such a proud woman, so arrogant, seeing all cultivators as ants. Why are you suddenly being so good to me? It's too abnormal!"
"I... I... Why am I bothering?"
Yan Zhexian was furious. She turned to leave, not wanting to see Zhang Ruochen anymore.
But in the end, she didn't leave. She sighed inwardly. Yan Zhexian, Yan Zhexian, you're really pathetic. Why do you care about him?
Yan Zhexian stared at Zhang Ruochen. "If you're really worried the Yama Clan might harm you, you can ask Blood Absolute War God to accompany you to the Yama Clan."
"You need to understand that right now, the most important thing for you is to break through to the Divine Realm. Everything else is secondary."
"If there's anyone in this world who can break the Nether Hall's curse, it's the Yama Clan's Tai Shang. As long as I plead, Tai Shang will definitely help you."
Then she snorted again. "Don't think I have some hidden agenda. I'm helping you because I think you're truly talented, and I don't want to see the Nether Hall suppress you below the Divine Realm. Also, it's for Ying'er!"
Yan Zhexian wasn't particularly deep or scheming. How could Zhang Ruochen not see through her?
But Zhang Ruochen knew very well that the Nether Hall's curse couldn't be broken just by having high spiritual power. Otherwise, why go to the Yama Clan's Tai Shang? Wouldn't it be easier to go directly to Grandmaster?
Zhang Ruochen silently noted Yan Zhexian's goodwill. Such help in times of need was especially precious.
However, Zhang Ruochen had some unspeakable secrets, including his memories, so he absolutely couldn't let the Yama Clan's Tai Shang help him break the curse. If his secrets were exposed, the consequences would be unpredictable.
Zhang Ruochen planned to anger Yan Zhexian and get her to stop pestering him, lest she attract deities who wanted to kill him.
He said, "Actually, the reason I'm secretly leaving Sansheng Realm and trying to shake you off is because I want to secretly meet a close female friend."
"But you're too annoying, insisting on following me."
"Yan Zhexian! Breaking through to the Divine Realm and crossing the Divine Tribulation is no big deal for me, Zhang Ruochen. Why do you have to meddle so much? Go do your own thing and stop ruining my plans."