Chapter 2856: The True Meaning of Life and Death
"Everyone in the world knows that the 'Thirty-Three Heavens' is a technique created by the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable ten eons ago. Mysterious and unfathomable, spanning heaven and earth, it ranks second on the Supreme Divine Technique List and is the strongest in the world."
"Young cultivators must surely wonder—why, if it ranks second, is it the strongest in the world?"
The Confucian-robed elder asked and answered himself, stroking his beard with a smile: "It is because the first position on the Supreme Divine Technique List has been vacant since the day it was compiled. Those who come after can only contend for second place."
"One represents the Heavenly Dao itself—the number of beginnings, and also the number of perfection."
"No matter how strong human power becomes, the techniques created always remain within the Heavenly Dao. Who dares to claim first place?"
...
Techniques are forever static—they are merely a means to explore the Heavenly Dao and pursue immortality.
To say the Supreme Divine Technique List is a ranking of techniques is less accurate than saying it is a ranking of people.
And the ranking of people is influenced by the era.
The closer to the present, the greater the advantage.
This is because the Supreme Divine Technique List is compiled in the present of each era.
The Confucian-robed elder began with the "Thirty-Three Heavens" technique, delving into the grievances and entanglements between Chi Yao and Zhang Ruochen over the years. Although there were details that deviated from the truth and places where the author speculated, the overall account was surprisingly accurate.
"Star Heaven Cliff is indeed formidable—it has investigated me in such detail. The power behind it must be extraordinary, no wonder it can stand alongside the Red Dust Peerless Tower, the Red Xia Flying Immortal Valley, and the Divine Mountain Startling Cloud Pavilion."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on Chi Kunlun, his heart a mix of emotions, bitter and hard to articulate.
Only now did he begin to understand why, in the Ancient Relic Realm of Fate Divine Mountain, the Ming Emperor had only dared to meet him under the identity of Qi Tian. The Ming Emperor had watched him from the shadows countless times.
It was not that he was unwilling to meet.
It was that he dared not, could not.
It was not until the eve of rescuing Tai Shang, when the Ming Emperor knew he might never return, that he finally appeared, acknowledged Zhang Ruochen, and then went to his death with resolve.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen also longed to acknowledge Chi Kunlun, to tell him that his father was still alive.
To ask him if these years had been difficult.
To say he was sorry—that his father had not been able to teach him, protect him, or accompany him.
But he could not!
Because Zhang Ruochen did not know how much longer he could hold on. Perhaps tonight, his oil would run out and his lamp would go dark. He did not want to die before his loved ones, nor did he want those who cared about him to know he was dead.
This terrible news (e hao) was not something everyone could bear.
This terrible news would kill Mu Lingxi, whose heart was placed in him.
It would make Chi Yao live with guilt for the rest of her life, never able to reach the level of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, rendering all her sacrifices meaningless.
It would cause Xue Hou to lose her only son, and no one knew how impulsive she might become.
And the Ming Emperor, imprisoned in the Destiny Temple, would lose his only reason to live. The Destiny Temple would likely no longer spare his life.
...
Zhang Ruochen thought of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable.
The Immovable Bright King Great Venerable had fallen ten eons ago. His Heavenly Venerable tomb was built deep in the ancestral land of King Mountain, and his Divine Source was later refined by the Calamity Venerable.
But before his death, he chose to disappear.
It was precisely because he disappeared that the Heavenly Mother searched for him for countless millennia. As long as no corpse was found, there was still hope—perhaps that was the motivation that kept her alive.
It was not until the Heavenly Mother found a new meaning to live for in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City.
Life is difficult. There is no one who lives solely for themselves.
Sometimes, when the burden is too heavy, even wanting to die only for oneself is no easy task.
Zhang Ruochen felt the faint flame of life within him. It was like a candle in a storm, a wooden boat in a giant wave—on the verge of being extinguished or capsized at any moment.
He had tried every method to prolong his life, but none worked.
A wave of intense weakness washed over him. The flame of life grew even fainter. He could hardly breathe, darkness clouded his vision, and he collapsed into the moon boat.
The noise around him faded, growing distant until he could hear nothing at all.
His head was as heavy as iron. His body grew cold. His senses became numb. His blood seemed to turn into icy water, solidifying and ceasing to flow. He felt as though he were falling into an abyss.
It was then that the old yellow ox, which he had been holding in his hand, let out a mournful cry.
Blood continuously seeped from its fur.
Without Zhang Ruochen's control, the vast power within the old yellow ox began to surge wildly, threatening to tear it apart.
Hearing the old yellow ox's mournful cry, Zhang Ruochen, who had been sinking into darkness and falling into the abyss, nearly losing consciousness, suddenly snapped his eyes open. He struggled desperately, fighting against the invisible force of death.
"I cannot die. If I die, the old yellow ox will die too."
Zhang Ruochen sat up again in the moon boat. His face, pale as paper, was still somewhat stiff. He gasped for breath, his heartbeat thundering like a drum.
He opened his palm and saw that the old yellow ox was still alive. Only then did a faint smile appear on his face.
"Why? I should have died, yet I came back to life. Can a person truly resist death?" Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself.
Death cannot be resisted.
Throughout the ages, how many brilliant and peerless experts—Heavenly Venerables, Buddhas, Primordial Ancestors—have all been buried deep in the earth. Even they could not resist death. Who was he, Zhang Ruochen, but a single grain of sand in the vast world? What right did he have?
"What is the meaning of life? Is it to save other lives?"
Zhang Ruochen pondered deeply.
An old yellow ox could not possibly bring him back from the dead.
It could only be that his own will had overcome death.
And the reason he wanted to live again was simply because he knew that if he died, the old yellow ox would die immediately. Did the old yellow ox hold such immense significance in his life?
Clearly not.
His feelings for the old yellow ox did not possess such powerful energy.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was contemplating the true meaning of life and death, a commotion arose on the shore.
A disdainful, mocking voice rang out: "What 'most stunning two people'? Zhang Ruochen had his cultivation devoured by Empress Chi Yao—he's probably dead and buried by now. A waste like him deserves to be called the most stunning person of this era? This divine son thinks he is the shame of this era."
The group of demon clan great saints that Zhang Ruochen had encountered at the city gate pushed through the crowd, heading toward the high platform.
The one who had spoken was the Blood Howl Divine Son.
On the high platform, the Confucian-robed elder stopped, intimidated by the imposing presence of these demon clan great saints, and dared not continue.
The blue-clad girl holding a pipa mustered her courage and said, "Who says Zhang Ruochen had his cultivation devoured by Empress Chi Yao?"
The Blood Howl Divine Son stood on the high platform, laughing loudly, his voice like thunder: "If it wasn't devoured, could it be that Zhang Ruochen voluntarily transferred his power to Empress Chi Yao? Everyone, would you do such a thing? Haha!"
A roar of laughter erupted from below the high platform.
The Confucian-robed elder tugged at the blue-clad girl, but she remained stubborn, stepping forward to stand opposite the tall and imposing demonic form of the Blood Howl Divine Son. She said, "Zhang Ruochen had his Divine Source and Qi Sea shattered by the Qingtian Ancestor, completely severing his martial path. Under such circumstances, it is entirely possible that he transferred his power to Empress Chi Yao. You cling to outdated views and act out of selfishness, but that does not mean Zhang Ruochen is the same."
The Blood Howl Divine Son had not expected this little girl to be so bold as to confront him. He bared his sharp teeth and sneered, "Are you lecturing this divine son?"
The blue-clad girl was frightened and took two steps back, but still said, "This is the Divine Maiden Tower of the World!"
Seeing her timid demeanor, the Blood Howl Divine Son felt somewhat satisfied. He looked around and said, "If Zhang Ruochen really transferred his power to Empress Chi Yao, then where is he now? If he is alive, we should see him. If he is dead, we should see his corpse."
The Luan Eagle Divine Son, who was traveling with the Blood Howl Divine Son, said, "In this divine son's view, Empress Chi Yao has probably already destroyed the body and erased all traces. With such a ruthless and unscrupulous heart, even if her cultivation is powerful, she cannot be called stunning. What right does she have to occupy the first chapter of the 'Ten Thousand Year Evaluation'?"
"That's not quite right. Empress Chi Yao killed her husband to prove her path—this divine son still admires her greatly. She is indeed the goddess this divine son often meets in dreams. In dreams, the empress is quite adorable." The Blood Howl Divine Son laughed with a mocking tone.
The blue-clad girl was both shocked and fearful. "You... you have such audacity, daring to discuss gods like this. Aren't you afraid of divine punishment?"
The Blood Howl Divine Son shrugged arrogantly. "What is there to fear? Everything we said is the truth. We didn't insult the empress. Surely the gods are not so narrow-minded as to be unable to tolerate the truth?"
The Luan Eagle Divine Son laughed. "Whether Empress Chi Yao's heart is narrow-minded is hard to say. But I have seen her divine statue, and the chest..."
"Clang!"
A piercing sword cry rang out, drowning out the Luan Eagle Divine Son's voice.
"Courting death."
Chi Kunlun's fury transformed into tangible flames. His entire body blazed as he gripped the Abyssal Ancient Sword with both hands and swung it down at the Luan Eagle Divine Son.
The Luan Eagle Divine Son and the Blood Howl Divine Son exchanged glances, both revealing the smug smiles of those whose scheme had succeeded.
They had long known Chi Kunlun was below. The words they had spoken were meant to provoke him.
Both the Luan Eagle Divine Son and the Blood Howl Divine Son had gods backing them, and their ambitions were great. Dealing with Chi Kunlun was only the first step; their greater goal was to lure out Empress Chi Yao.
Unfortunately, they had underestimated Chi Kunlun's combat power.
"Pfft!"
The Luan Eagle Divine Son, whose cultivation had reached the Supreme Realm, had his Dao Domain shattered by Chi Kunlun's sword. The sacred armor on his body split, blood sprayed, and one of his arms flew off.
"To insult my parents, today I will make you perish in both form and spirit."
Chi Kunlun's hair stood on end. From his pupils surged an overwhelming dark force, like mountains and seas. He swung his sword horizontally for a second strike.
"Pfft!"
This sword cut the Luan Eagle Divine Son in half at the waist.
The dark force invaded the Luan Eagle Divine Son's body, corroding his flesh and sacred soul.
Intense pain shattered the Luan Eagle Divine Son's will. A heart-wrenching scream tore from his throat. The flesh around his waist turned into black, festering blood.
"Don't kill me..."
Before the Blood Howl Divine Son could even move to rescue him, Chi Kunlun had already stomped down with a bang, crushing the Luan Eagle Divine Son's head into an explosion of blood mist.
"How dare you! Chi Kunlun, you have killed a Supreme Realm great saint of our Demon God Realm. Even Tai Shang cannot protect you." A demon clan great saint let out such a cold roar.
Chi Kunlun swung his sword back, unleashing a crescent-shaped sword energy that forced back all the demon clan great saints who had surrounded him.
"Blood Howl!"
Chi Kunlun was murderous. Even the dense array of Dao locks in the Divine Maiden Tower of the World could not suppress him. He raised his sword and charged at the Blood Howl Divine Son, who was retreating in panic.
"No matter who is behind you, today you will die. Kill!"