Chapter 2929: The Undying Curse Art
Emotion is the deepest stirring within the human heart.
Since childhood, Bai Qinger had always hated Huang Tian and hated White Queen—one a father she had never seen, the other a mother with a notorious reputation. She had never known what fatherly love was, nor had she ever experienced a mother's care. If not for encountering her master, the Starry Sea Angler, she might have even doubted her place in this world, feeling as though she were entirely superfluous.
It was only at this moment that she realized White Queen was not as cold as she appeared on the surface. Perhaps her coldness stemmed from some hidden hardship.
Seeing Bai Qinger's low spirits, Zhang Ruochen said, "I have seen many heartless people, and I have also seen many who value bonds deeply. Among those who seem heartless, many are actually the most sentimental. For City Lord Bai to entrust the Heavenly Venerable World to you means she has given her most precious possession to the person she values most."
Zhang Ruochen could understand White Queen's position. Although she was a Great God and the master of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions, the Shang Clan weighed heavily on her shoulders like a mountain. Moreover, her identity as a member of the God-Defying Clan forced her to live in endless darkness, unable to see the light. If Zhang Ruochen were in her place, he would likely treat Bai Qinger coldly as well—only by pushing her away and making her detested could she be protected.
But did White Queen truly not wish to be closer to Bai Qinger?
A bitter smile appeared on Bai Qinger's pale face. Within that bitterness was a trace of longing for warmth. She knew that White Queen had concealed many things from her. This time, when she returned, she would confront White Queen and demand to know everything. Just as Chi Yao had said to Zhang Ruochen, no matter how difficult things were, facing them together would make it easier. She was now a god, no longer a little girl; she could stand on her own.
"If this truly is the Heavenly Venerable World, how can it be opened?" Bai Qinger asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Have you ever taken it off?"
Perhaps because her heart knot had loosened, Bai Qinger's mood improved considerably. She smiled and shook her head.
"Try taking it off," Zhang Ruochen said.
Bai Qinger removed the bracelet, mobilized her divine qi, and infused it inside. The bracelet showed no change.
"Let me take a look."
Zhang Ruochen took the bracelet from Bai Qinger's hand, mobilized the power of his Heart of Truth, and examined it carefully. He discovered a subtle spatial difference between the inner and outer rings of the bracelet. But that was all.
Zhang Ruochen returned the bracelet to Bai Qinger and said, "The Heavenly Venerable World must be related to this bracelet; otherwise, Yu Chen would not have drawn it here before his death. I suspect some kind of trigger or special method is needed to activate it. Did City Lord Bai ever say anything particularly significant to you?"
Bai Qinger pondered for a moment, then shook her head.
Next, Bai Qinger tried using her blood on the bracelet, then subjected it to fire, lightning strikes, and various other methods, but all were futile.
"Boom!"
Chi Yao struck the iceberg with her sword, unleashing a powerful divine shockwave that sent the unprepared Zhang Ruochen and Bai Qinger stumbling backward. The iceberg remained unmoved, not even a scratch on its surface.
Startled, Zhang Ruochen looked around and, seeing no Heavenly Venerable divine patterns or formations activated, breathed a sigh of relief. "What are you doing? Are you really going to chop it?"
Chi Yao furrowed her brows and said, "It's incredibly hard. I wonder what material this ice is made of."
Seeing Chi Yao about to unleash even greater power, Zhang Ruochen quickly stopped her. "Why are you stopping me? The Heavenly Venerable divine source is right before us. If not now, when? If you're always this cautious, you'll miss every golden opportunity."
"Wait a moment. Look, there's another mural here."
Zhang Ruochen pointed ahead of the iceberg.
The iceberg was located at the deepest part of the Heavenly Venerable Hall. The spot where Yu Chen had sat was the optimal position for contemplating the mural on the innermost wall. For a top-tier expert to be gazing at this mural even on his deathbed, it could not be ordinary. Perhaps the value of this mural even surpassed that of the "Thousand Stars in Alignment Contemplation Diagram."
Zhang Ruochen, Chi Yao, and Bai Qinger fixed their gazes on the mural, their expressions growing increasingly puzzled. All three had spiritual power exceeding the seventieth level, yet they could not comprehend the patterns on the mural at all. They could not even parse them.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze moved upward and saw four ancient characters at the top of the mural: "Undying Curse Art." Just from the name, it seemed extraordinary.
Zhang Ruochen asked Bai Qinger, "Does the Goddess Twelve Pavilions have any records about the Undying Curse Art?"
Bai Qinger gently shook her head.
Chi Yao looked at Yu Chen, who was sitting cross-legged within the iceberg, then at the mural on the stone wall, and said, "What if there's a possibility like this? Yu Chen fought Yu Hun, and although he imprisoned Yu Hun, he was also severely injured, even having his heart dug out. Losing a heart wouldn't kill a god; at most, it would cost them their spiritual power cultivation. Yu Chen didn't let his body regenerate a new heart. Instead, he stuffed the Heavenly Venerable divine source into the bloody hole in his chest, sat down here, and began contemplating the Undying Curse Art. Why would he do that? The only possibility is that he believed, with the support of the Heavenly Venerable divine source, cultivating the Undying Curse Art would not only heal him but also make him stronger than before."
Zhang Ruochen agreed with Chi Yao's speculation and said, "Perhaps he even thought that by cultivating the Undying Curse Art, he could achieve true immortality. Unfortunately, his injuries worsened, his blood drained away, and he failed to comprehend the Undying Curse Art, ultimately dying in regret."
Chi Yao let out a long sigh, whether lamenting the tragic fates of Star Huan Heavenly Venerable, Yu Chen, and others, or regretting that such a supreme figure had died in this sunless underground.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly thought of the bizarre states of Yu Longxian and the Old Corpse Ghost and said, "Those who can become God Venerables must be extraordinary. If Yu Chen didn't have some confidence, he wouldn't have gambled his life on comprehending the Undying Curse Art. Could it be that cultivating the Undying Curse Art truly grants immortality?"
Bai Qinger and Chi Yao's hearts trembled violently. But soon, Chi Yao calmed down and snorted disdainfully, "If cultivating the Undying Curse Art could grant immortality, why would Star Huan Heavenly Venerable have met such a tragic end? Since ancient times, those who obsess over immortality have always fallen into miserable fates due to their deep attachments."
Although Zhang Ruochen did not believe in legends of eternal life, the Undying Curse Art, appearing in the Heavenly Venerable Hall and occupying the central stone wall, was undoubtedly extraordinary. He copied the mural and stored it in his space ring.
Chi Yao had no interest in the Undying Curse Art—she could not understand it anyway—and continued studying how to break the ice. Bai Qinger walked to another side of the Heavenly Venerable Hall, observing the formation diagrams on the stone walls.
"Boom!"
Chi Yao struck the iceberg with her palm, sending spatial rule divine patterns surging from her palm, but within the Heavenly Venerable Hall, with her cultivation, she could not tear space apart. She failed again.
Below the stone wall bearing the Undying Curse Art stood a three-zhang-long bronze table. Zhang Ruochen ascended the five steps and approached the bronze table. On it were placed scrolls, an incense burner, a vermilion brush, paper, and other items, but they turned to smoke at the slightest touch.
"Oh?"
In the center of the bronze table, Zhang Ruochen spotted a token made of white jade. On the token was imprinted the character "Ming." He did not rush to grab it, fearing it would also turn to smoke. But the patterns on this token bore many similarities to the Zhang Clan's heirloom token. They should be of the same origin.
"Could it be that the Great Venerable left this here?"
Holding his breath, Zhang Ruochen reached out and touched it. The moment he made contact, the Ming token immediately blazed with light, emitting an intensely hot energy that frantically absorbed Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power.
Outside the hall, in the distant starry sky, the pillar of flame grew even brighter.
"Roar!"
The Old Corpse Ghost let out a howl that seemed to shake heaven and earth, its corpse body emitting black smoke as it was burned by the flame pillar. Led by Black Heart Demon Lord and Luan Ying True Lord, Chi Xingtian and Mu Lingxi had just passed through the passage and arrived below the Old Corpse Ghost.
"Careful!"
Chi Xingtian released divine qi, enveloping Mu Lingxi and shielding her behind him. Black Heart Demon Lord, with his formidable cultivation, withstood the Old Corpse Ghost's roar. But Luan Ying True Lord immediately bled from all seven orifices and fell straight to the ground with a thud.
"Haha, so it's a corpse god of considerable cultivation. But don't be afraid—I'm here!" Chi Xingtian showed no fear, instead looking quite excited, his face flushed.
Black Heart Demon Lord stood to the side, secretly calculating an escape plan.
Chi Xingtian called out, "Who are you, sir? State your name, for I do not kill nameless foes."
"Roar!"
The Old Corpse Ghost screamed again, its howl shaking the heavens. Sound waves rippled outward in circles. Luan Ying True Lord, lying on the ground, convulsed continuously, divine blood flowing from his mouth in increasing amounts.
Chi Xingtian snorted, "Even if you are a Corpse Clan Infinite Realm expert, there's no need to be so arrogant! Do you think a mere roar can scare me, Chi Xingtian?"
Mu Lingxi tugged at Chi Xingtian's sleeve and said, "It seems he can't move. He's wailing in agony."
"Green Li King... save... save me... ah..." Luan Ying True Lord was on the verge of death, feeling as if his divine body were about to split apart.
Even Black Heart Demon Lord struggled to endure the Old Corpse Ghost's howls and said, "Green Li King, look closely. That corpse god seems to be locked onto that flame pillar by some mysterious force. The divine fire on the pillar is refining him."
"Is that so?"
Chi Xingtian was moved and said, "I thought he was carrying a pillar to fight me. Turns out it's not his battle weapon."
Mu Lingxi rolled her eyes and said, "Let's find Zhang Ruochen first."
"No need! I've already sensed that kid's aura. He has a drop of my divine blood on him."
Chi Xingtian swept up Black Heart Demon Lord, Luan Ying True Lord, and Mu Lingxi, stepping onto a patch of black demonic clouds and flying straight toward the black divine temple in the starry sky.
They had just landed on the floating square outside the temple when Zhang Ruochen walked out, supported by Chi Yao and Bai Qinger on either side. There was no help for it—just touching the Ming token had drained his spiritual power, leaving him extremely weak, his legs still trembling.
"Zhang Ruochen, we meet again. Do you still recognize me?"
Chi Xingtian laughed heartily as he walked over. Seeing Zhang Ruochen's hollow, overindulged look, he sneered, shaking his head and speaking bluntly, "Just two, and you're already like this? You need to train your body more. I'm a straightforward person, so don't take offense!"