Chapter 2903: The Miserable Great Slaughter War God Emperor
Chi Yao walked down from the top of the rocky mountain. Once a mighty empress who shook the world, she now appeared slightly gaunt, her eyes brimming with deep emotion as she silently gazed at Zhang Ruochen.
"This time, it was my fault. You've suffered."
Zhang Ruochen walked over, spread his arms, and pulled her into an embrace.
Chi Yao closed her eyes tightly, leaning against his chest like a docile wildcat. "Before, I was the one who was wrong. This time, it should be your fault. You should have understood that no matter what you became, I would never abandon you. Don't just leave without a trace again, okay? As Kunlun said, no matter how great the difficulty, we can face it together as a family."
"Mm."
Zhang Ruochen felt the warmth of Chi Yao's body, his gaze fixed on the boundless starry sky. His thoughts suddenly opened up. "I finally understand now. Back then, the Saint Monk actually chose both of us. On the surface, he let us choose between the 'Real Volume' and the 'Void Volume,' but in truth, that choice didn't matter at all. What mattered was the trials we endured on our path of cultivation after making that choice, and the tempering of our hearts."
"Without these years of being hammered and refined, how could your heart have withstood my transmission of power? It would have been impossible to merge the 'Real Volume' and the 'Void Volume.'"
"And as for me, it was precisely because I had my own trials and experienced countless life-and-death situations that I could successfully cultivate the Wuji Sacred Intent and walk back from the brink of death."
"From the very beginning, the Saint Monk chose you to cultivate the 'Bright King Scripture,' while guiding me onto a path full of uncertainty!"
Cultivating time and space was the fundamental reason Zhang Ruochen could develop the Wuji Sacred Intent. When Xumi Saint Monk passed the Time-Space Divine Martial Mark to him, the decision had already been made. Because cultivating the 'Bright King Scripture' didn't require mastering the Way of Time or the Way of Space at all.
If the complete 'Bright King Scripture' was the flawless technique deduced by the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, then the martial path Zhang Ruochen now walked was a possibility deduced by Xumi Saint Monk through the Way of Time and the Way of Space.
Chi Yao stood on the shoulders of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, gazing at the peak of martial arts, seeking the extreme realm of the divine path.
Zhang Ruochen, following Xumi Saint Monk's guidance, used time and space as his foundation to probe the secrets of the Heavenly Dao and seek the truth of the universe.
The two had inherited the achievements of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable and Xumi Saint Monk respectively. Whether they could digest these achievements and achieve breakthroughs surpassing their predecessors was their greatest test.
Both paths were dangerous and full of uncertainty.
Chi Yao bit her lip lightly and snorted coldly, "That old monk really knew how to scheme! In the end, he valued you more. Otherwise, how could he have been so certain that you would be the one to transmit power to me?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Perhaps the Saint Monk knew that to cultivate the Wuji Divine Dao, one must have a heart that embraces all rivers, capable of containing all things in the world, and also brave enough to sacrifice oneself. But to cultivate the 'Bright King Scripture,' one must have a nature like fire, sharp and exposed. Driven by such a personality, it was inevitable that I would be the one to transmit the power."
The two of them, teenagers and young girls in their teens, had been tormented by Xumi Saint Monk's methods for nearly two thousand years. Only today did they suddenly come to this realization. Naturally, Chi Yao felt a sense of resentment.
But that resentment quickly dissipated.
At least now, the clouds had parted to reveal the moon. Both had stepped into the divine realm, both were alive and well, without needing to sacrifice either one.
Wasn't this the best possible outcome?
Chi Yao asked, "Where is Xumi Temple? That old monk was hateful, scheming against us to the very end. But without these years of harsh tempering, we wouldn't be who we are today. I want to go and offer him a stick of incense."
Zhang Ruochen was silent for a moment, then said, "I will definitely rebuild Xumi Temple."
At this point, Bai Qinger, who had been standing nearby, finally had a chance to interject. "Shang Hong has already left Xinghuantian. Before he returns to the starry sky of the Heavenly Court, he will definitely go to rescue the three gods of the Heavenly Realm Faction. Zhang Ruochen, even if you want to go home, shouldn't you first go see if the Great Slaughter War God Emperor is dead or not? At least collect his corpse."
How could Zhang Ruochen not hear the resentment in Bai Qinger's voice?
As Fengchen Sword God had said, staying with two women at the same time was a foolish thing. Especially when these two women were no easy characters, each more domineering than the last.
Zhang Ruochen tried to soothe Bai Qinger's emotions. "Don't worry. Before the matter of Xinghuantian is settled, I will definitely not leave."
"Whether you leave or not, what does it have to do with me?"
Bai Qinger transformed into a streak of light, rushing into the pitch-black universe, heading toward Xinghuantian.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Chi Yao.
Chi Yao stared in the direction Bai Qinger had left. "Do whatever you need to do. But don't think you can send me away."
"Xinghuantian is too dangerous. You and Kunlun should return to the Kunlun Realm immediately. Once I finish things here, I will definitely come back for a visit," Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao remained unmoved, a cold pride in her beautiful eyes.
Zhang Ruochen was about to continue persuading her when a divine thought from Xue Tu flew in from beyond the heavens, hurriedly landing on the small planet. "Senior Brother, quickly invite the War God to Camel Nebula. Shang Hong is too strong... can't hold out..."
"Boom!"
The divine thought that had formed Xue Tu's figure exploded.
"She really guessed it right! Shang Hong's methods are indeed extraordinary. In the vast and boundless universe, he could still find the hidden Xue Tu."
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the starry sky. Not far from Xinghuantian, he spotted a blue nebula.
The nebula's shape resembled a camel, colorful and spanning tens of billions of miles of cosmic space.
"Clang!"
A flash of blood light appeared on Chi Yao's back, and the Blood Drop Sword flew out. "Shang Hong's cultivation is supreme, his combat power approaching that of a Great God. I'll go with you."
"No, you can't show yourself. This time, you have to listen to me!"
Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power, stepping along the spatial veins, covering a hundred and eight thousand miles with each step as he rushed toward the Camel Nebula.
Originally, Zhang Ruochen had planned to send the Nether Flower Pavilion Master to the Nether Hall to invite the Absolute Zen Buddhist Nun. Using her hand to eliminate Shang Hong, this great threat.
But the Nether Flower Pavilion Master had left several days ago, and the Absolute Zen Buddhist Nun had yet to arrive. Now that the situation had changed, Zhang Ruochen had to go himself.
Shang Hong was no ordinary opponent. Unless a Great God appeared, he was virtually invincible.
...
After capturing Yan God, Jia Linan, and Kailan Feili, Xue Tu and Gu Ya were pursued by a Heavenly Court upper-level god. They fled into the Camel Nebula.
This nebula contained a strange power that interfered with a god's five senses and spiritual power, making it a natural hiding place.
But their luck didn't last long. Once Shang Hong arrived, all of Xue Tu and Gu Ya's concealment methods failed, and they were quickly exposed.
Gu Ya was at the mid-stage of upper-level god rank, but Shang Hong merely pointed a finger, piercing through his chest, staining the nebula with god blood.
In the face of a powerhouse like Shang Hong, any upper-level god seemed pathetically weak.
Xue Tu was only at the early stage of mid-level god rank, not even worth Shang Hong's personal attention. Lan Jun spat out a mouthful of divine Qi, which condensed into a colorful divine mountain, firmly suppressing Xue Tu beneath it, leaving him unable to move.
Shang Hong searched Xue Tu's body and found a gourd-shaped treasure. He released Yan God, Jia Linan, and Kailan Feili from inside.
"Greetings, Heavenly Grandson."
"Thank you, Heavenly Grandson, for saving our lives."
Yan God, Jia Linan, and Kailan Feili were all extremely weak, their faces pale. After falling into Xue Tu's hands, they had been drained of blood multiple times. Yan God, in particular, had nearly been sucked dry into a mummy.
Seeing their wretched state, Shang Hong showed displeasure. "Look at yourselves now. They were just two Hell Realm gods. Even if you couldn't defeat them, couldn't you at least escape?"
Yan God said, "At that time, in the Rainbow Mountain Range, there was a mysterious powerhouse secretly helping them. That's why we failed and fell into their hands."
Lan Jun was shocked. "So that was how it was. Could it be the Blood Absolute War God?"
"Is the Blood Absolute War God in Xinghuantian?" Jia Linan's face changed dramatically.
Lan Jun nodded, his voice cold and heavy. "Caiyi God fell at the hands of the Blood Absolute War God. This matter has probably shocked the world."
Suppressed beneath the colorful divine mountain, Xue Tu coughed up blood as he laughed loudly. "The War God has already arrived in Xinghuantian, and you still dare to act recklessly? Release this Emperor immediately! Maybe this Emperor can plead for you and leave you with a whole corpse."
Jia Linan was furious. Divine Qi surged within his body, and a light sword condensed in his hand, slashing toward Xue Tu.
"Keep him alive. He might still be useful," Shang Hong said.
"Pfft!"
The light sword cut Xue Tu in half at the waist, splitting him into two pieces.
Blood flowed from both halves of his divine body, with white flames burning on the wounds. The pain made Xue Tu howl miserably. "If you have the guts, fight this Emperor one-on-one! A group beating someone, what kind of skill is that?"
Lan Jun said, "Don't waste time trying to stall. It's useless. Although the Blood Absolute War God has come to Xinghuantian, it's very likely he was severely injured in his duel with the Duotian War God Emperor and has already fled."
"What?" Xue Tu exclaimed in shock.
The Duotian War God Emperor was also in Xinghuantian?
Jia Linan retrieved his supreme sacred artifact war sword from Xue Tu's body and sneered, "Weren't you quite arrogant before? Where has your Great Slaughter War God Emperor's ferocity gone? No one is coming to save you. Be a good boy and come back to the Heavenly Court with us. This god will drain your divine blood drop by drop and refine it into blood pills."
Xue Tu's face turned ashen. He couldn't muster any arrogance anymore.
An upper-level god of the demon clan, whose skin bore fish scales, said, "Shang Hong, what should we do with Gu Ya?"
This upper-level god of the demon clan was named Mo Yu, and his status in the Demon God Realm was extraordinary. His cultivation was far superior to Gu Ya's, who was at the mid-stage of upper-level god rank.
Earlier, it was he who had been pursuing Gu Ya and Xue Tu.
After Gu Ya was severely injured by Shang Hong's single strike, Mo Yu used a divine painting to trap him inside and was using the power of the formation within the painting to refine him.
However, Gu Ya's cultivation was profound, and he kept attacking the divine painting, trying to break free.
"They are all gods of the Destiny Temple. Bring them back to the Heavenly Court together," Shang Hong said.
This trip to Xinghuantian had cost the Heavenly Court heavy losses. Only by capturing Xue Tu and Gu Ya could they salvage some face. At least it would look better when they returned.
Suddenly, the nebula churned, and the spiritual energy of heaven and earth rapidly converged.
A clear voice rang out: "Want to take them away? Have you asked for my opinion?"
"Shua!"
Divine light flickered.
The next moment, Zhang Ruochen's heroic figure appeared opposite the Heavenly Court gods, separated by only a few tens of miles.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, Xue Tu was overjoyed. "The War God has arrived! You're all dead! Senior Brother, quickly invite the War God to act and annihilate them all!"
Hearing Xue Tu's words, the Heavenly Court gods were all greatly alarmed. They immediately unfolded their divine realm worlds, summoned their supreme sacred artifacts, and activated their strongest defensive measures.