Chapter 2971: Self-Immolation
Seeing Chi Yao standing beside Zhang Ruochen, Gai Tianjiao, like Zhang Hongchen, felt as if a bucket of cold water had been poured over her, instantly losing her overbearing and invincible momentum.
The aura she had just displayed was enough to dare fight even a god.
"Greetings, Master."
Gai Tianjiao bowed to Chi Yao.
Although Chi Yao was no longer the Empress of the Kunlun Realm, the invisible aura she exuded was even more formidable than before, completely different from Zhang Ruochen's approachable and easygoing nature when dealing with old acquaintances.
She said, "You are only at the Great Saint cultivation level, yet you dare to angrily rebuke a god. You have no idea how high the heavens are. Do you know that a single glance from a god could kill you?"
Whether it was her identity as master or her cultivation as a god, Gai Tianjiao dared not act presumptuously before Chi Yao. She lowered her voice and said, "Master's lesson is well taken."
Chi Yao said, "Speak. What happened?"
Gai Tianjiao glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "The Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron of the Shangqing Palace has gone missing, and several Saint realm cultivators guarding the cauldron were severely injured."
Chi Yao simply could not understand how a mere Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron could cause such a major incident.
More importantly, why was Gai Tianjiao so certain that Zhang Ruochen had stolen it?
Zhang Ruochen made some calculations and already had an answer in his mind. He found it quite troublesome and said, "I have been staying in the Sword Pavilion the entire time. The theft of the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron has nothing to do with me, but I already know who took it. Let's first go see the injured cultivators."
Leaving the Sword Pavilion, they arrived at the Shangqing Palace.
The protective formations that had originally guarded the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron were now shattered, with cracks running across the ground.
Dozens of Saint realm cultivators were injured. Some had their chests pierced by sword qi, leaving holes as large as a bowl. Others had half their bodies mangled and bloody.
The attack was undeniably heavy.
Fortunately, no one had been killed.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze deepened. He spread his arms, and the Taiji manifested.
Immediately, the life qi of the entire Fallen God Mountain Range converged from all directions, transforming into dozens of white streams that poured into the bodies of the severely injured Saint realm cultivators.
White light shimmered on their bodies, and their injuries healed rapidly.
"Such powerful life qi! My injuries are fully healed!"
"I feel like my lifespan has increased by at least two hundred years."
...
The injured cultivators, who had been sitting cross-legged in healing meditation, had unexpectedly gained a blessing in disguise. They were overjoyed and looked at Zhang Ruochen with reverence, then knelt and bowed.
Although they did not know who this person was, anyone with such means must undoubtedly be a god.
Leaving the Shangqing Palace, Zhang Ruochen reached out and grabbed the void.
Space trembled violently, ripples spreading outward.
The next moment, Chi Kongle was pulled through space and fell to the ground.
Chi Kongle looked at Zhang Ruochen's unprecedented sternness and coldness. For some reason, even though she was not afraid of death, a trace of fear arose in her heart. "Father, what's wrong?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Hand it over."
Chi Kongle's eyes darted toward Gai Tianjiao beside her. Her gaze turned cold, and a blood-red light flickered in her pupils.
"Can't you hear what I'm saying?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Kongle said, "Yes, I took the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron. But I didn't take it for myself. I knew Father was interested in it, so I wanted to take it and give it to you as a surprise. Such a treasure, if left in the Liangyi Sect, would be like a pearl hidden in dust. Only in Father's hands can it perhaps shine with its true brilliance."
"With their cultivation and insight, do they deserve to possess it?"
"All treasures under heaven belong to the strong. Those who recognize its value should own it."
"I did nothing wrong!"
Zhang Ruochen wanted to discipline her severely, but he held back again and again, unable to bring himself to do it. He said, "Do you know that I once studied and trained in the Liangyi Sect? That is a bond of teacher and disciple. Do you know that the Sect Leader of the Liangyi Sect is my friend? That is a bond of old friendship. Disregarding bonds of friendship, seizing treasures and injuring people—such actions can only be described as pursuing profit at all costs. How can you keep your true heart in the future?"
Chi Kongle suddenly seemed to become extremely fragile. Tears streamed from her eyes as she bit her lip and said, "I didn't kill them. I'm not pursuing profit at all costs. I just wanted to see you happy. I wanted to share some of your burdens. I don't want everything to be done and borne by you alone..."
"Shua!"
Chi Kongle transformed into a streak of brilliant light and shot through the air, disappearing.
"Kongle!"
Zhang Ruochen only then realized that his words had been too harsh, deeply hurting her heart.
His own heart ached terribly.
Chi Yao walked out and said, "I want that cauldron. This matter ends here."
Although Gai Tianjiao knew she had done nothing wrong, seeing the conflict between Zhang Ruochen and Chi Kongle, she felt somewhat guilty.
With Chi Yao giving the order, how could she dare to disobey? She bowed and said, "I will follow Master's command."
Zhang Hongchen stood in the bamboo forest in the distance, his eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen. He dared not breathe, tense with nervousness. He thought to himself, "He really is fierce!"
Zhang Ruochen tore through the air and chased after Chi Kongle.
...
Crossing the Eastern Domain, they arrived at the Central Domain.
Outside the Sacred Bright City, there was Mount Kongle.
At the mountain's summit stood an ancient pagoda, seventy-four stories tall. Standing at its top, one could see the winding Tongming River and gaze into the distance at the endless expanse of Sacred Bright City.
Chi Kongle stood on the seventy-fourth floor, tears still in her eyes, silently gazing at the scene before her.
She was no longer the young girl she once was. Mature and cold, she was now a top-tier powerhouse below the divine realm. In terms of cultivation, she was not inferior to any prodigy of her generation. In terms of appearance, she was not outdone even by Xia Yu, who was hailed as the most beautiful woman of the Blood Heaven Tribe.
The aura she exuded had driven away all the cultivators on Mount Kongle. Insects and birds were silent, and beasts lay prostrate.
A flash of divine light, and Zhang Ruochen appeared behind her.
Zhang Ruochen gazed at her straight back for a moment, then walked over and said softly, "I once asked Grandmaster, after being trapped in the Destiny Temple for a hundred thousand years, with his physical body nearly worn away, why did he still expend spiritual power to reconstitute a physical body after being freed? Was an aged body really that important?"
"He said that with his level of spiritual power, he had indeed transcended the shackles of the physical body and could exist without form or substance. But he wanted to be a person of flesh and blood, to constantly remind himself that he had humanity, emotions, and desires—not just a mass of spiritual power and consciousness."
Walking to Chi Kongle's side, Zhang Ruochen leaned against the railing and said, "In my view, no matter how high one's cultivation, one must never lose their emotions."
"Against enemies, you can use any means necessary. Because if your methods are not ruthless enough, you will die."
"But toward friends and family around you, you must always hold a bottom line, right? Especially when your cultivation is higher, you must not bully others with your power."
The cold light in Chi Kongle's eyes diminished slightly. She said, "That is Father's friend. I am not familiar with her. But... since she is Father's friend, I will not kill her."
Zhang Ruochen's emotions were complicated. It seemed that changing her nature would be very difficult.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen felt warmth on his arm.
Chi Kongle leaned against him, holding his arm with both hands, looking very dependent. She said softly, "I have taken Father's words to heart. Tomorrow, I will return the Heaven-Sacrificing Bronze Cauldron."
"But Father, do you still remember that you once said you would bring me to Mount Kongle to see the myriad lights of the city?"
The name Kongle came from Mount Kongle.
How could Zhang Ruochen forget?
As dusk fell, scattered lights gradually appeared in the distant city.
In the sky, the bright moon hung like a mirror.
Leaning in Zhang Ruochen's arms, Chi Kongle said, "At the Liangyi Sect, I saw Mother. Have you two truly reconciled?"
"Mm," Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Kongle pressed further, "Is it the kind that comes from the heart, completely without barriers?"
This time, Zhang Ruochen did not answer so quickly. He said, "Don't worry about our matters. You must be very tired from training on the Starry Sky Battlefield, right? How many years has it been since you last slept?"
Chi Kongle gently shook her head.
"Then get a good sleep. Don't think about anything. Here, I can protect you. No one can hurt you. You can rest in peace," Zhang Ruochen said.
"No, I want to watch the myriad lights of the city with Father," she said.
The lights were beautiful, illuminating a hundred-mile-long street, a thousand towers, and the joys and sorrows of ten thousand households—like a scroll of the mortal world.
Gradually, Chi Kongle fell asleep in Zhang Ruochen's arms.
...
Beneath the Peach Tree.
The Black Heart Demon Lord, with disheveled hair and trembling all over, knelt before Yunshen Daozhu. He had none of the bearing of a great god; instead, he looked like a child who had done something wrong.
He said in a tearful voice, "I have said everything I need to say. May I ask, Tai Shang, did I do wrong?"
Yunshen Daozhu gently shook his head and said, "For yourself, you did nothing wrong. Under those circumstances, to protect yourself and to guard the Black Demon Realm, you had no other choice."
"With Tai Shang's words, that is enough."
The Black Heart Demon Lord dug his ten fingers into the soil and said with great difficulty, "I know that over the years, I have committed unforgivable sins. Therefore, I do not seek Tai Shang's forgiveness. But I beg Tai Shang to tell the Empress that in this life, Black Heart may have done ten thousand filthy and despicable deeds, but he has never betrayed her."
"Chi chi!"
The Black Heart Demon Lord activated a secret technique. His brow ignited, and a miserable scream escaped his lips.
Flames spread from his brow to his entire body, turning him into a bright fireball.
The flames gradually extinguished, leaving only a layer of black ash on the ground.
Xiao Hei, standing nearby, naturally hated the Black Heart Demon Lord to the extreme. But seeing him die by self-immolation, he was still deeply shaken. He said, "That guy is hateful, but he also has a pitiful side. Why didn't Master stop him?"
Yunshen Daozhu let out a long sigh. "Even if I stopped him, he couldn't live. Or rather, living would be more painful than dying."
It would be difficult to hide the fact that the Black Heart Demon Lord had been brought to the Kunlun Realm from a powerhouse like Shang Zu.
Even if he were sent back, he would not have a good end.
If he were kept in the Kunlun Realm, which god of the Kunlun Realm would accept him?
In any case, if he did not die, he would only wish he were dead, and he would harm the creatures of the Black Demon Realm.
Xiao Hei probed, "What earth-shattering secrets did he tell you earlier, Master?"
Yunshen Daozhu took out a clay pot, scooped up the black ash from the ground, and placed it inside. He said, "Some things are not yet the time for you to know. Has Zhang Ruochen returned to the Kunlun Realm? Tell him to go to the Seventh Mountain of the Ancient God Mountain in the Liangyi Sect. You can go too."
Xiao Hei shook his head and said, "No, that's a trivial matter. Master could just send a divine thought to let him know. I came back this time mainly to learn more about formation dao from you, Master, and to become a Formation God Master as soon as possible."
When he said the first sentence, Xiao Hei was still standing beneath the Peach Tree.
By the time he said the last sentence, he had already flown who knows how many miles away, standing by the bank of a great river.
Cursing under his breath, he was about to complain when he found a copy of the "Formation Canon" in his hands. Overjoyed, he threw his head back and laughed.