Chapter 2821: The Scatter-Cash Youth
“I’ll give you the Three-Life Gate, and you give me the Dark Domain Heavenly Net—how about a trade?” Jue Miao Chan Nu asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Didn’t you just say you owed me something? Now you’re starting to rob me with your superior cultivation? Forget that I already gave you the Mani Pearl; even saving your life should be worth you giving me the Three-Life Gate.”
Jue Miao Chan Nu shook her head, very serious, and said, “That’s different. First, saving me—you chose to do it yourself; I never asked you. Second, once something is given, how can it count? A gift can’t be used as a bargaining chip. It’s like when I gave you the Arhat White Pearl—did I ever think of taking it back?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly, unable to argue.
With her reasoning, she actually had the upper hand.
“Even if that Arhat White Pearl was fake,” Jue Miao Chan Nu added.
“Fake?”
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t surprised, because aside from him, what fool in the world would give away a real Buddhist Seven Treasures?
If it had been a real Arhat White Pearl, Jue Miao Chan Nu would have taken it back when they were in the Heavenly Gate.
Jue Miao Chan Nu parted her red lips slightly, a white light shimmering from her mouth.
Her movement was elegant, like a mermaid spitting out a pearl, as a pigeon-egg-sized white orb flew out and appeared in her palm.
The white orb was hazy with light, Sanskrit characters floating on its surface.
It seemed capable of purifying all worldly defilements.
“It’s because of this Arhat White Pearl that I suffer less pain each time the Withering Death Art strikes,” Jue Miao Chan Nu said, her eyes misty, lost in the bitterest memories.
The Arhat White Pearl hanging on Zhang Ruochen turned into a wisp of white mist and flew into the orb in Jue Miao Chan Nu’s hand. Clearly, that was the real pearl.
Jue Miao Chan Nu handed the genuine Arhat White Pearl to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen looked at her with a strange expression, not quite understanding her intent.
Of course, he understood she meant to give him the real Arhat White Pearl, but he didn’t understand why she would do that.
Could there be another fool in the world?
“What are you standing there for? Take it before I change my mind,” Jue Miao Chan Nu said, staring into Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, which were brighter and more beautiful than the Arhat White Pearl and Mani Pearl combined.
Zhang Ruochen took the Arhat White Pearl and found no difference from the fake one he’d had before. This showed Jue Miao Chan Nu’s skill was so high she could make a fake indistinguishable from the real thing.
A Great God should have such means.
“A pearl for a pearl—this settles the old grievances once and for all,” Jue Miao Chan Nu said.
Zhang Ruochen gripped the Arhat White Pearl tightly and said, “Fine, that shows sincerity. Now, give me back the Flame God Armor.”
“Just a suit of armor—I’ve already given it away. Do you want it back?” Jue Miao Chan Nu said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “This armor is no ordinary treasure. Besides, when did I ever say I was giving it to you? I only lent it to you for protection. If I’d known you were a Great God…”
“Wait.”
A hint of cunning flashed in Jue Miao Chan Nu’s eyes, her eyes narrowing like crescent moons. “What you just said was… ‘give.’”
“So what?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “You said it yourself—once you say something, you have to follow through. Since you gave it, how can you take it back? I never asked you for it or tried to take it by force; you offered it willingly. The renowned Jian Shen Zhang Ruochen truly lives up to his reputation as a scatter-cash youth who throws money around like dirt.”
Whether it was Hai Shui or Jue Miao Chan Nu, they were both serious, almost ascetic women who rarely joked.
Anyone trying to joke with them would likely end up laughing alone in embarrassment.
Zhang Ruochen never expected that she would say something so teasing and mocking just to keep the Flame God Armor.
“I’m no youth,” Zhang Ruochen muttered, barely audible.
Only he could hear those words.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I really don’t understand. With your status and cultivation, aside from divine artifacts, what treasure in the world isn’t within easy reach? Why are you so fixated on this Flame God Armor?”
Jue Miao Chan Nu gave a reason Zhang Ruochen couldn’t refuse. “Because I’m not wearing any clothes.”
As she said this, she raised her slender jade arms and spun around in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Whether she was emphasizing that she had no clothes on or deliberately mocking Zhang Ruochen for his low cultivation in not seeing through her clothing’s true nature, it was unclear.
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t help but glance at her green Buddhist robe but didn’t use the power of Truth or Origin. He looked away after a moment.
“This Buddhist robe can block your gaze, but it can’t stop a God Venerable’s prying. You know, in the world of gods, a beautiful woman’s most important possession is her clothes, not her weapons. Otherwise, if she encounters an evil God Venerable, she’s easily defiled. Though, there aren’t many evil gods interested in women’s bodies,” Jue Miao Chan Nu said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I really didn’t know that.”
“It’s not too late to know now. Next time you give a woman a treasure, think along these lines,” Jue Miao Chan Nu said, her body now covered in flames that solidified into a suit of armor.
The Flame God Armor wasn’t fixed in form. Worn on her, it fit perfectly, outlining her figure’s curves vividly.
How was she still a Buddhist cultivator?
The Flame God Armor changed again, becoming soft, turning into a golden kasaya.
Every golden edge burned with divine flames.
“Do you think I can return the Flame God Armor to you?” Jue Miao Chan Nu asked.
Zhang Ruochen knew he wouldn’t get it back. Maybe he really was a scatter-cash youth, at least in the way he scattered wealth like a child. He said, “It suits you better. No need to take it off.”
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “I want the Dark Domain Heavenly Net to use it to collect this Dao Field and take it out.”
“You want to awaken that divine army?” Zhang Ruochen grew wary.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “You need to understand—this Dao Field and that divine army were left to me by my ancestor. They’re my family’s wealth. Isn’t it only natural for me to take the Dao Field?”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t want to help her, nor did he want to be a scatter-cash youth again.
Jue Miao Chan Nu continued, “I know that even though you’re in the Hell Realm, you have countless ties in the Heavenly Court. I’ve investigated you thoroughly. I know you, Zhang Ruochen, are a man of deep loyalty and love. That’s why I’m breaking my rule to trust you today. Don’t worry—even if I am a descendant of Yinxue Tian, I must cultivate the ‘Underworld Soldier Scroll’ to control the divine army. And the ‘Underworld Soldier Scroll’ has long been lost. The divine army’s revival is still far off.”
“But why should I give you the Dark Domain Heavenly Net? You’ve already gotten the Flame God Armor—isn’t that enough?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “You misunderstand. I want the Dark Domain Heavenly Net precisely to repay you for the Flame God Armor.”
“What did you say?”
Her logic left Zhang Ruochen baffled.
He felt Jue Miao Chan Nu wasn’t just treating him like a scatter-cash youth but like a sucker—and a very naive one at that.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “Do you know Wu Jiang’s background?”
“The son of Wen Tong Great God, a disciple of some ancient being from the Darkness Temple. So what? Wen Tong Great God is dead. Surely that ancient being from the Darkness Temple won’t personally take revenge for his disciple?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “That ancient being’s cultivation is supreme. He might not show his face once in tens of thousands of years, so he naturally won’t act personally. But whether Wu Jiang’s senior brother will personally kill you—that’s another matter. Do you know who his senior brother is?”
“I’ve heard he’s a Formation Divine Master,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jue Miao Chan Nu shook her head. “You’re talking about another senior brother. The one I mean is the Hall Master of the Darkness Temple.”
Zhang Ruochen fell silent, deeply shocked.
He had thought Wu Jiang’s mysterious, ancient master was the Hall Master of the Darkness Temple.
“Is there someone in the Darkness Temple more ancient than the Hall Master?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “Given your age and cultivation, of course you wouldn’t know this secret. The world of gods is more terrifying than you imagine. And Wu Jiang’s master is a taboo existence throughout the entire Hell Realm, taking only one disciple per Eon. Now do you understand the scale of the trouble you’ve stirred up?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then I don’t understand—why did that ancient being take Wu Jiang as a disciple this Eon?”
“That’s the crux of the issue! You only know Wu Jiang’s father is Wen Tong Great God, but do you know who his mother is?” Jue Miao Chan Nu asked.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “Wu Jiang’s father is clearly a Great God of the Nether Hall, with… a slight chance to compete for the position of Young Hall Master. So why doesn’t Wu Jiang cultivate in the Nether Hall instead of the Darkness Temple?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Is it related to his mother? Who is his mother?”
Jue Miao Chan Nu shook her head, not telling Zhang Ruochen. “When your cultivation is high enough, you’ll naturally learn these secrets of the godly world. What I’m telling you now is this: give me the Dark Domain Heavenly Net, and I’ll take responsibility for killing Wu Jiang, Mohe Yan, Qu You Great Master, and the others. That saves your life. Don’t you think that repays the Flame God Armor?”
“I think you just want the Dark Domain Heavenly Net,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Jue Miao Chan Nu said, “Isn’t that better than carrying it on you but not daring to use it? Besides, if the Nether Hall and the Darkness Temple start fighting over this, won’t you be quite happy?”
“Do you have to be so blunt?”
Zhang Ruochen sighed, took out the Dark Domain Heavenly Net, and handed it to her. “You’re right—carrying this thing on me is a curse, not a blessing. But I want one thing from this Dao Field.”
Jue Miao Chan Nu took the Dark Domain Heavenly Net, delighted, and said casually, “In this Dao Field, take whatever you can carry.”
Zhang Ruochen stepped out of the Dao Field, the Buddha Emperor Relic on him glowing brightly.
Wherever the Buddha light touched, the celestial patterns automatically retreated.
Zhang Ruochen walked outside the Dao Field to the stone cauldron engraved with the Udumbara flower pattern and the Sanskrit of the Sixth Patriarch. He pressed his palms together and bowed. “Amitabha! I have an extraordinary connection with the Sixth Patriarch. My master, Xumi Saint Monk, held him in the highest regard, yet I have no relic of his. This stone cauldron may not be a treasure, but it was left by the Sixth Patriarch. I would very much like to keep it.”