Chapter 2745: Bore's Despair
Gu Lan Ocean was one of the seventy-nine great oceans of the Life and Death Realm Star. In the waters near the eastern coast, the largest Space Teleportation Array on the entire planet was built.
The diameter of the teleportation array had to be three hundred li.
At this moment, within a three-hundred-li radius of the sea, space was violently trembling, erupting with bright radiance.
After the radiance faded, a graceful and sacred figure appeared at the center of the formation.
"We pay respects to the Divine Maiden."
The cultivators guarding the Space Teleportation Array all knelt on one knee.
Liu Yao, a Great Saint of the Supreme Realm from the Ghost Clan, did not kneel, but he still lowered his head. He was secretly shocked in his heart—what had been happening recently? Why were so many important figures descending one after another?
Bore wore a long robe and held the Fate Decision Staff. She asked, "Where is Wujiang?"
"The whereabouts of a True God are not something someone like me can know," Liu Yao said respectfully.
"Are there things even your Star Palace doesn't know about on the Life and Death Realm Star? Forget it, I won't make things difficult for you. Take me to see the Star Palace's Yu Shen."
Liu Yao and Bore, one after the other, transformed into two beams of holy light and broke through the air, disappearing.
...
Yu Shen was the master of the Yin Yu Divine Temple.
As Bore walked into the Yin Yu Divine Temple, she not only saw Yu Shen, who was clad in a suit of divine armor, but also saw Wujiang, Nine-Toothed Wolf God General, and Army Sea God General sitting below.
Wujiang laughed loudly. "How about it? This god said it—the Divine Maiden is exceptionally intelligent and would surely find her way to the Yin Yu Divine Temple."
Bore walked into the temple, her feet stepping on liquid light patterns that rippled outward in circles. "Although Yu Shen has joined the Star Palace, in the end, he is still a god of the Underworld Clan. Fellow clansmen are always easier to talk to."
Facing four gods at once, Bore showed no timidity. She found a seat and sat down.
Army Sea God General asked curiously, "Has Divine Maiden Bore not yet crossed the Divine Tribulation?"
Bore's expression turned heavy, and fatigue showed in her eyes. She sighed. "In the Wuding Divine Sea, I shattered my True Self Gate and suffered an incurable injury. If I cannot make up for it, I fear I will follow in the footsteps of Divine Son Yuqiu and Divine Son Xingluo."
In the divine temple, the four gods were all visibly moved.
Wujiang's eyes shifted slightly as he asked, "Even with the methods of a God Venerable, it cannot be healed?"
Bore shook her head gently. "Unless I can use the Path of Fate to reabsorb the power I scattered."
"The power the Divine Maiden scattered was all refined by Zhang Ruochen... haha!"
Nine-Toothed Wolf God General suddenly burst into loud laughter, revealing nine sharp fangs. "If the Divine Maiden is bold enough, this time, not only can she take back her own power, but she can also gain even greater strength. The only fear is that the Divine Maiden might not be willing to strike ruthlessly enough."
Wujiang kept his eyes fixed on Bore, trying to see through her—whether her injury was truly incurable or just an act.
Bore's eyes flickered with uncertainty. Finally, as if she had made a major decision, she said, "If one does not act for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them. In the Wuding Divine Sea, I helped Zhang Ruochen break through his realm because I saw his immense potential and wanted him to owe me a huge favor, so I could make use of him in the future."
"Now that my own life and death and my hope of becoming a god are at stake, I have no choice but to take back what he owes me. That is only natural, isn't it?"
"Of course it's only natural," Army Sea God General echoed.
Nine-Toothed Wolf God General said, "If we can also seize Zhang Ruochen's First-Rank Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent and Third-Rank Sword Dao Sacred Intent, the Divine Maiden will surely be able to claim the title of King or Venerable in the future."
The two god generals looked at Wujiang, both showing smiles.
Originally, they had worried that Divine Maiden Bore had a close relationship with Zhang Ruochen and would be unwilling to help. Now it seemed that this Divine Maiden had long regretted helping Zhang Ruochen and had the intention to kill him.
How wonderful.
Bore said, "This Divine Maiden has already calculated that Zhang Ruochen is on the Life and Death Realm Star."
"I have calculated it too," Wujiang said.
Bore showed no surprise. "May I ask how True God Wujiang managed to deduce this?"
"Zhang Ruochen took my Ten-Thousand Curse Heavenly Pearl, causing this god to lose a great deal of face. But that Ten-Thousand Curse Heavenly Pearl has become his biggest weakness."
Wujiang spoke with a smile. "How could a Supreme Sacred Artifact be so easily fully refined?"
Nine-Toothed Wolf God General's eyes blazed with heat. "Since Zhang Ruochen is on the Life and Death Realm Star, there's no time to waste. Let's make our move now."
Bore glanced at Yu Shen, who was seated above. "Make a move on the Life and Death Realm Star?"
Nine-Toothed Wolf God General and Army Sea God General thought of the Star Palace's rules and immediately calmed down.
Yu Shen said, "Zhang Ruochen is traveling with Gu Shejing of the Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm. Once you make a move, a divine war will inevitably break out. The Star Palace cannot stand idly by. This matter must be carefully considered."
The Star Palace governed the entire Life and Death Realm Star and the surrounding starry sky.
Yu Shen was a god of the Star Palace and held considerable influence.
But if a divine war truly broke out on the planet, he could not bear the responsibility.
"I have a strategy that might work," Bore said.
Wujiang said, "Divine Maiden, please speak."
"Zhang Ruochen and Gu Shejing came to the Life and Death Realm Star. They must want to cross the Seven Resentments Ferry and traverse the Santu River. On the Santu River, space is chaotic and death energy is abundant. If we strike there, we can even hide it from the three gods of the Blood Absolute Family, ensuring Zhang Ruochen dies without a burial place," Bore said.
Wujiang laughed. "This method is excellent. We will follow the Divine Maiden's strategy."
Army Sea God General was somewhat worried. "But we don't know when Zhang Ruochen will cross the Santu River."
"Zhang Ruochen owes me a huge favor. He doesn't yet know that I have turned against him. So, why don't I go meet him and find out when he plans to cross the Santu River and what he intends to do there?" Bore said.
"If the Divine Maiden goes in person, she will surely uncover the truth."
Wujiang stood up and bowed to Bore with clasped hands.
Bore left the Yin Yu Divine Temple.
Wujiang's smile gradually faded.
Army Sea God General's divine eyes turned sharp and cold. "The Divine Maiden is probably not on the same side as us."
"Oh? What makes you say that?" Wujiang pretended not to know.
Army Sea God General said, "Since Divine Maiden Bore can accurately locate Zhang Ruochen and has a deep relationship with him, why does she need to go and investigate when he will cross the Santu River?"
"Why not bring us along directly, strike when Zhang Ruochen is completely off guard, and end the battle in an instant? Why go through all this trouble?"
Nine-Toothed Wolf God General found it hard to believe. Shocked, he said, "That can't be! Zhang Ruochen is destined never to become a god. Divine Maiden Bore is no fool. Why would she still help him and oppose us?"
Wujiang's lips curled slightly. "If you want to know the answer, just follow her. This time, we might even catch two birds with one stone."
Wujiang summoned a Dark Formation Diagram and enveloped Nine-Toothed Wolf God General and Army Sea God General within it.
The three gods' divine bodies and auras vanished without a trace.
...
In the Divine Maiden Tower.
Xiao Hei, whose full name was Xia Xiaotian, became excited after hearing Zhang Ruochen's account. He slammed the table and shouted, "Good! Since the gods of the Nether Hall have come to die, let's deal with them first. But let me make it clear in advance—their Divine Sources belong to me."
"This emperor needs to use Divine Sources to refine Divine Pills."
Gu Shehuan, in her red long dress, crossed her two snow-white jade legs and said, "Divine Pills? Even ordinary alchemy masters can't refine Divine Pills."
"This emperor is no ordinary alchemy master," Xia Xiaotian snorted.
After a thousand years, Xiao Hei had become even more arrogant.
Gu Shehuan didn't argue with him. "The Divine Sources go to you, and the divine corpses go to me. I happen to need to refine one or two guardian demon generals for myself."
"Then the divine souls go to me," Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhang Ruochen planned to refine the divine souls and first cultivate his own Sacred Soul to the level of a Divine Soul.
By then, his use of Profound Meaning would surely reach a higher level.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen wasn't sure whether the Severing Path Curse would suppress his cultivation of a Divine Soul. After all, once a Great Saint cultivated a Divine Soul, they could also be called a False God.
Xia Xiaotian said, "So, how are we going to fight this battle?"
Gu Shehuan's gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen, waiting for him to make the decision.
"Oh? Why is she here?" Zhang Ruochen sensed Bore's presence.
Their mutual perception was reciprocal.
At this moment, Bore had already entered the Seven Resentments Sacred City.
Gu Shehuan's eyes showed curiosity. "Who's here?"
"Is Chi Yao here so soon?" Xia Xiaotian was secretly startled.
Gu Shehuan, who had been crossing her legs, put them down, showing a cautious expression. If it really was Empress Chi Yao of the Kunlun Realm, wouldn't that be interesting?
"Wait for me here. I'll go meet her."
Bore's arrival made Zhang Ruochen realize something unusual was happening. But he couldn't let Gu Shehuan know about it, so he went alone to meet in secret.
The eastern part of the Seven Resentments Sacred City was the Seven Resentments Ferry.
The Santu River flowed through the Seven Resentments Ferry, its river channel vast and boundless, connecting to an unknown void.
If one looked from the starry sky, they would see a turbid river, wrapped in deathly yin energy, flowing in from the universe, passing through the enormous Life and Death Realm Star, and flowing toward the dark beyond the heavens.
Where the river channel met the planet was the ferry.
Bore stood by the Santu River, her figure slender and graceful.
Above, the stars dotted the sky.
On the river ahead, countless corpses and white bones floated, with ghost fires dancing in the air. A wind filled with filth, death qi, and a foul stench blew in from the dim river surface.
The sound of water was loud, and the waves were turbulent.
Behind her, a spatial fluctuation appeared.
Zhang Ruochen stepped out from a series of rippling space rings, walking with slow steps until he stood beside her. Following her gaze, he looked at a ferry boat sailing on the Santu River.
That ferry boat had to be a thousand zhang long and was a ghost ship.
Ghost fire lanterns hung from the eaves and railings of the ghost ship, but a thick fog made it impossible to see the scene on board clearly.
Zhang Ruochen sensed an unknown danger on the ghost ship, but he didn't pay it much attention. His focus was on Bore. He asked, "Has your cultivation recovered?"
Bore didn't answer. Her deep eyes were filled with complex emotions. She smiled bitterly. "Tell me, does fate truly decide everything? No matter how hard you struggle, you can't change the outcome?"
Zhang Ruochen's long hair fluttered in the wind. "The Fate Divine Maiden shouldn't be saying things like that."
Bore laughed at herself. "I've already looked through the ancient texts. The Severing Path Curse cannot be broken. The power of the Nether Hall is not something one person or one god can oppose."
"Your state of mind is chaotic. Do you think I can't become a god?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Your path is destined to be difficult. Your path may very well have been cut off."
Perhaps it was because of the despair in her heart, feeling that nothing mattered anymore, Bore suddenly opened up. "Back then, I abandoned everything and came to the Hell Realm, just to lend you a hand. Even if I could only exert the tiniest bit of strength, it was better than sitting around waiting for death."
"Do you know what it feels like when a person is destined for only a tragic end?"
"When fate toys with you, and you struggle bitterly, advance bravely, sweep away all obstacles, thinking you've changed the outcome—only to later realize you still haven't escaped fate's arrangement? What does that feel like?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart trembled. His eyes grew misty. "What did you see in the Destiny Pool?"
Bore shook her head, tears falling from her eyes.
Her chest ached terribly. "I was wrong. I shouldn't have overestimated myself and tried to change fate. I never expected that after the trajectory of fate shifted, the result would be that you can't even break through to the God Realm."
"Your fate, because of this variable that is me, has become even more tragic."
"It was I who harmed you. It was my arrogance that harmed you."
"Zhang Ruochen, listen to me. Stop trying to break through to the God Realm. Leave the Hell Realm immediately, and leave the Heavenly Court as well. Stop meddling in any more conflicts. Stop caring about the rights and wrongs of this world. What does the destruction of the Kunlun Realm have to do with you? In the war between the Heavenly Court and Hell, we are all just pawns. We can't decide anything. Why get involved?"
"You have to go to a place where no cultivator can find you. Shed all your burdens and live the most comfortable life, the way you want it most."
"You can at least live for another ten thousand years, twenty thousand years. That's better than..."
Bore couldn't bear to continue.
Zhang Ruochen understood that Bore was emotionally out of control because she knew he was cursed, destined never to become a god, and might even be abandoned or killed.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen laughed.
Bore's eyes were streaked with tears as she looked at him. "Why can you still laugh? Do you know that the gods rushing to the Life and Death Realm Star to kill you are countless? The Yama Clan has abandoned you, the Tianluo Divine Kingdom has abandoned you, and even the Undying Divine Temple will abandon you. You are completely isolated!"
"I'm not afraid of them."
Zhang Ruochen looked at her. "I laugh because you're finally willing to tell me the truth, to open your heart, instead of always hiding yourself."
"It was Chi Yao who took you to the Destiny Pool and showed you some future scene, wasn't it? That's why you chose to believe her without reservation."
Bore looked up at the sky, opening her eyes wide to hold back her tears.
"Are you stupid? Xumi Saint Monk is the Buddha of the Future. He can know many things about the future. If I truly had no future, why would he choose me as his heir? Fate isn't necessarily unbreakable," Zhang Ruochen said.
"But..."
Suddenly.
Zhang Ruochen and Bore both sensed something at the same time.
They saw that by the Santu River, a Dark Formation Diagram had appeared.
Wujiang, Nine-Toothed Wolf God General, and Army Sea God General were all standing beneath the Dark Formation Diagram, only a few dozen zhang away from Zhang Ruochen and Bore.
"Clap! Clap! Clap..."
Wujiang clapped his hands in applause and laughed. "Brilliant, truly brilliant. I never expected that the dignified Fate Divine Maiden had always been trying to resist fate. Today, this god has truly had his eyes opened wide."