Chapter 2838: Sealed Memories
What Xumi Saint Monk recounted was not much different from what Chi Yao had said—it simply told them the cruelty of cultivating this technique.
The sixteen-year-old Zhang Ruochen fell into silence.
Beside him, Chi Yao’s face turned even paler. She couldn’t help but glance at Zhang Ruochen, as if waiting for him to make a decision.
At that time, they were still too young, having lived a life of luxury and comfort. How could their temperament and will compare to now? Suddenly being burdened with such a heavy future was like a bolt from the blue.
A young heart is ultimately hot-blooded and impulsive!
Zhang Ruochen said, “If there is truly a great upheaval in this world that cannot be avoided or escaped, then there is no other path but to face the difficulties head-on. I am willing to cultivate the Void Scroll! In the future, I will pass the power to Yao Yao. Even if it costs me my life, I will not hesitate. Like Weisheng holding the pillar, I will hold on until death!”
Chi Yao was clearly moved and shocked by Zhang Ruochen’s words. Her face grew even whiter, and she gently tugged at his sleeve, shaking her head as she called out, “Chen Ge…”
“Good! This is my son.”
Ming Emperor walked out, his gaze sharp and authoritative. “If the great hall is about to collapse, and everyone hides inside, unwilling to come out, then they are waiting for death. Someone must step forward, support the world, shed their blood, and dare to sacrifice.”
“We are among the few in Kunlun Realm who know the truth, and we are the rulers of the royal family. It is our duty to guard this land.”
“When the world rises and falls, if the rulers do not step forward and do the great deeds of saving the world, do they still deserve to be rulers? Should the common people, who don’t even know what is about to happen, be the ones to sacrifice? Even if we must fight, even if we must die, we should be the first to take that step.”
Qing Emperor sighed deeply. “This is too cruel. I only regret that I have already reached the Great Saint realm and cannot cultivate the technique left by the Great Venerable. Holy Monk, just how strong are the enemies? Can’t even you, Elder, deal with them?”
Xumi Saint Monk shook his head. “In truth, I do not know how strong the enemies are. Training these two is merely using the last of my strength to fight for a thread of hope for the future. We can only fight for that one thread of hope.”
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao fell into a dispute. With their youthful temperament, they were somewhat ignorant and fearless, both vying to cultivate the Void Scroll.
Ming Emperor thought of something, his expression shifting as he communicated with Qing Emperor through divine sound.
He said, “If they keep arguing like this, a decision will eventually be made—one cultivates the Void Scroll, the other the Real Scroll. In a few hundred years, or a few thousand years, when their cultivation reaches the peak below the Divine realm, their feelings will surely deepen even more. By then, can they truly watch the other die? Die to fulfill the other?”
“Yes, the one who dies is certainly liberated, but the one who lives… how can they continue to cultivate? With bitterness in their heart, accompanied by guilt and grief, it will be impossible to cultivate to the level of the Great Venerable, let alone surpass him.” As Qing Emperor spoke, tears streamed from his eyes.
The lively and clever girl before him was his daughter, his own flesh and blood. Whether she became the one who died or the one who lived in pain, as a father, Qing Emperor found it unbearable.
Yet there was no other way.
As Ming Emperor had said, being born into a royal family meant one could not simply indulge in pleasure; one must also keep the world in their heart.
Ming Emperor looked at Xumi Saint Monk and asked the same question for who knew how many times, “Holy Monk, can I really not take Ruochen’s place?”
“Your martial cultivation and state of mind have already been set. Even if you were to start over, your achievements would not be high. Of course, if you truly wish to try, it is possible! But can you find another person to cultivate the ‘Bright King Scripture’ with you?”
Xumi Saint Monk pointed to Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao and continued, “Such a heavy burden should not be placed on these two children. Perhaps they are too young to understand what their decision truly means. But you two, haven’t you already made the decision for them?”
“I am merely a dead man, telling you of the crisis I know and the method that might change the future. How you decide is up to you.”
Ming Emperor and Qing Emperor were, after all, emperors of their generation. Since they knew there was no retreat, they no longer indulged in sentimentality.
These days, they had thought it through clearly enough.
“Better a short pain than a long one.”
“This is also a test for them. If they cannot even pass this hurdle, it would be better to abandon cultivating the ‘Bright King Scripture’ and let them cultivate freely, so they don’t have to bear such heavy responsibilities and live unhappily for the rest of their lives.”
Ming Emperor and Qing Emperor communicated through divine sound for a long time, thoroughly discussing and finalizing their strategy and plans for the future.
Ming Emperor said, “You two, whoever wants to cultivate the Void Scroll must first do one thing.”
“What thing? Even if it’s ten things, I can do them,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao argued with Zhang Ruochen, “I can do it too.”
Ming Emperor used Saint Qi to condense two short swords and threw them to the two. “Stab one sword into the other’s heart and kill them.”
“Clang.”
The short swords fell to the ground.
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao were both stunned.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Father, why make such a joke? It’s not funny.”
Ming Emperor’s gaze was stern, and he said nothing.
Qing Emperor said, “This is no joke. We are very serious.”
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao exchanged glances. Slowly, they picked up the short swords from the ground.
“Why must we do this? Father, you must be getting senile. If one of us is killed, how can we cultivate the ‘Bright King Scripture’?”
Chi Yao threw the short sword away and walked angrily toward the outside of the hall.
“Bang!”
The hall’s doors closed.
The impact of the two golden doors slamming shut sent Chi Yao flying back.
Qing Emperor’s stern voice rang out, “I repeat, this is no joke. Today, you either make a decision or you are expelled from the royal family. As for cultivating the ‘Bright King Scripture,’ you two are the best choice, but not the only one.”
Chi Yao had never seen Qing Emperor so imposing. She was so frightened that her lips trembled, like a quail shivering in fear, with none of the commanding presence of an empress.
Zhang Ruochen tore open his collar, revealing his chest, and said, “Yao Yao, you do it! Don’t worry, it’s just a stab through the heart. With Father and Qing Emperor’s cultivation, I won’t be in any danger.”
Chi Yao grabbed the short sword with both hands and approached step by step. Her arms trembled the entire time, and her eyes were filled with despair.
Ming Emperor was extremely stern, no longer showing the hesitation that had lingered in his eyes earlier. He said coldly, “Zhang Ruochen, think carefully. If Yao’er stabs this sword, then she will be the one to cultivate the Void Scroll.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen lunged forward and lightly flicked the blade with his finger.
The short sword that had been in Chi Yao’s hands was instantly snatched away by him.
“Yao Yao, I’m sorry. This sword must be mine!”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze was resolute, and his sword struck like lightning.
But the blade stopped at Chi Yao’s heart, unable to advance another inch.
Zhang Ruochen had thought he was firm enough. He had thought that, knowing Chi Yao would not die, he could definitely stab the sword down and win the chance to cultivate the Void Scroll.
But—
“Ah…”
Zhang Ruochen roared, threw the sword away, and knelt on one knee. “Father… I can’t do it…”
Chi Yao also knelt beside him.
“If you can’t even do this, what’s the point of cultivating the ‘Bright King Scripture’?” Ming Emperor sighed heavily and waved his hand. “Forget it. From today onward, you are no longer the Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire, no longer a member of the royal family. Leave the royal capital as soon as possible and live as a commoner. As a commoner, you won’t have to bear the responsibilities on your shoulders. You can live a free and happy life.”
Zhang Ruochen did not rise. “Father, do you truly think your son is a coward? Unworthy of being a member of the Zhang Clan? Afraid to make sacrifices? I simply cannot bring myself to stab Yao Yao. But I swear to the heavens that in the future, I will give my life to fulfill her.”
“Are you certain you can give your life to fulfill her?” Ming Emperor asked.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Chi Yao and said firmly, “I am not acting on impulse. I have thought it through clearly. I hope you will not treat me like a child. I, Zhang Ruochen, mean what I say, and my word is as good as gold.”
“Good. You may leave,” Ming Emperor said with a nod.
As Zhang Ruochen walked out of the hall, Qing Emperor’s voice rang out, “Yao’er, stay.”
Standing outside the hall, Zhang Ruochen vaguely heard Ming Emperor’s voice: “I knew he wouldn’t be able to stab that sword. He is like his mother—seeming decisive on the surface, but deep down, he is full of emotion. He simply cannot bring himself to be ruthless toward those he cares about. That’s fine. Let him cultivate reincarnation and start over. It will also serve to remove the Undying Blood Clan bloodline from his body.”
Just as Zhang Ruochen wanted to continue listening, a Buddhist sound rang out behind him.
Then, everything went dark.
Everything before Zhang Ruochen’s eyes disappeared.
His body became heavy and painful, especially his head, which felt as if it were splitting open. Every inch of his flesh seemed to burn, making him unbearably miserable.
“Zhang Ruochen… Chen Ge…”
Chi Yao’s voice called out beside him.
At the same time, a powerful divine energy surged from his back.
Zhang Ruochen jolted awake, opening his eyes and sitting up on the stone platform. He looked around and found himself in an ancient, dilapidated stone hall, with rubble and debris scattered everywhere.
Zangjin Baihu, who had been leaning in close, was startled by Zhang Ruochen’s sudden movement and leaped back more than ten zhang, crashing into a stone pillar and breaking it.
Zhang Ruochen caught a faint, refreshing fragrance. Turning his head, he saw Chi Yao standing behind him. Clearly, he had been leaning against her earlier.
“Chen Ge, you’re finally awake!”
Chi Yao wept tears of joy. She looked somewhat like the teenage girl from before, not at all like a long-reigning empress.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes moved as he thought deeply.
“What’s wrong?”
Chi Yao grew nervous, thinking that Zhang Ruochen’s divine soul and spiritual will had been too severely damaged, leaving him unable to return to normal.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen shook his head and smiled. He looked at Zangjin Baihu and said, “I understand now! This is the sealed memory you mentioned.”
“Your memory was unlocked? How is that possible? How strong would one’s spiritual power have to be to undo the seal?” Zangjin Baihu found it unbelievable, then thought of something. “I understand. It was the power of Qing Zu.”
“Qing Zu? Who is Qing Zu?”
Zhang Ruochen tried to stand, but as soon as his feet touched the ground, he realized how weak he was. His body fell backward, and Chi Yao caught him.