Chapter 2999: Xu Qing
Pairs of astonished eyes all fell upon Chi Yao.
How could the gods present not be shocked?
Even figures like Shang Hong and the Qiu Yu Divine Lord had never seen Xuan Yuan Lian’s true form. Legend had it that no cultivator had ever been able to enter the golden carriage.
From within the carriage, Xuan Yuan Lian’s voice rang out: “The Female Saint Emperor is truly a new-generation deity whom even the Heavenly Venerable and Tai Shang hold in high regard. Riding together with you and conversing so pleasantly is an experience Lian will never forget for the rest of his life.”
Hearing this, Chi Yao’s gaze turned cold, like a sharp sword drawn from its sheath, a tiger shadow faintly appearing behind her. Without a doubt, Xuan Yuan Lian’s words carried ulterior motives and deep implications.
Immediately afterward, she looked toward Zhang Ruochen and found that he had already disappeared at the end of the corridor.
Between Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao, there existed an extremely strong connection. Without powerful spiritual power to block it, no matter how the other changed their appearance, they could recognize each other at a glance.
Xuan Yuan Lian’s words just now were too subtle, going beyond mere appreciation of Chi Yao.
The gods from various worlds all wore expressions of disbelief.
Was Young Master Lian trying to convey his will to the outside world?
Chi Yao indeed possessed beauty rivaling that of the Moon God, yet her relationship with Zhang Ruochen was known throughout the world. That Young Master Lian did not indulge in women was also common knowledge.
Could it be that Young Master Lian had taken a liking to her?
This was no small matter!
It was already enough to make many forces that intended to deal with Chi Yao back down.
Zhang Ruochen had absolute trust in Chi Yao. No matter who she rode with in the same carriage, there must be a reason for doing so.
But the purpose behind Xuan Yuan Lian’s final words was worth pondering.
Was this an attempt to challenge him from afar?
If Xuan Yuan Lian truly had such thoughts, even if he were the son of the Heavenly Venerable, Zhang Ruochen would not mind making him pay a heavy price.
Of course, there was an even more terrifying possibility.
Xuan Yuan Lian might have already begun to suspect the identity of the Yellow Ox Daoist. His words just now were entirely a test, using Chi Yao to probe him.
Arriving at the gathering venue for Saint Realm cultivators, Zhang Ruochen confirmed that Zhuang Tai’e had not followed him before reuniting with Yiman. Passing through layers of formations, they reached a scenic area within the City Lord’s Mansion.
This place was far from the venue of the Fire Seed Assembly, and no noise could be heard anymore.
The name of Qing Shen was Xu Qing.
The moment Yiman led Zhang Ruochen into this garden, Zhang Ruochen sensed a divine thought sweep over him.
Before long, Zhang Ruochen met Xu Qing in a grand hall.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the various furnishings in the hall—rows of seats, divine lamps burning on the pillars—and said, “This should be the place where City Lord Luo receives guests, right? Aren’t you afraid that City Lord Luo will find out about our meeting here?”
Xu Qing wore a palace dress woven with blue-flowered divine silk, her hair coiled high, her demeanor elegant, standing within a hazy divine mist.
But this hazy divine mist could not block Zhang Ruochen’s eyes; he could still see her breathtakingly beautiful face.
A woman born in the Goddess Twelve Pavilions who could marry someone like Luo Jincheng must possess extraordinary skill and stunning beauty. In her youth, she must have been enchantingly charming, captivating countless heroes.
She said, “By setting the meeting here, I never intended to hide it from him. Are you Zhang Ruochen, the new Realm Lord of Xinghuantian and the new City Lord of the First Goddess City?”
Zhang Ruochen revealed his true appearance.
“You have great courage, daring to actually come to Heavenly Beginning Civilization. Don’t you know that the God King is in the city? Don’t you know that after the Starry Sky Defense Line was breached, cultivators across the world have placed the blame on you?” Xu Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I came to Heavenly Beginning Civilization to save it.”
“No one can save Heavenly Beginning Civilization.”
Xu Qing stepped out of the divine mist, her figure graceful and moving. Though she appeared to have a certain age, it added an extra layer of mature charm.
Walking all the way to Zhang Ruochen, she knelt down and bowed to him.
“When I left the Goddess Twelve Pavilions, I promised to do three things for the City Lord to repay her kindness back then. Now, only the last one remains. After this, I will have no further connection with the Goddess Twelve Pavilions! When I next see the City Lord, I will no longer need to bow.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then you no longer need to do that last thing. City Lord Bai is no longer in this world.”
Xu Qing’s eyes showed deep grief. She said, “The City Lord is no longer in this world, but a promise must be kept. The Goddess Twelve Pavilions made me who I am and saved the person I once was. This is my debt to the Goddess Twelve Pavilions.”
“Tell me, what is your real purpose in meeting me?”
Zhang Ruochen admired Xu Qing’s character of keeping her word. He said, “Can I still trust you now? Should I regard you as Xu Qing, a cultivator of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions, or as Qing Shen, the wife of the City Lord of Doulu City?”
“Before the third task is completed, City Lord Zhang may regard me as a disciple of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions, absolutely loyal to it. But…” Xu Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand and said, “No need to say more! After this matter is done, the Goddess Twelve Pavilions will never disturb your life again. Do you know where the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden is?”
With Xu Qing’s status, how could she not know that Luo Ji had an unusual relationship with Zhang Ruochen?
Whether it was the hundred thousand drops of divine spring Zhang Ruochen gave to Luo Ji in the Truth Heaven Domain, or what happened in the Kunlun Realm, there were many informed individuals in Heavenly Beginning Civilization.
“So City Lord Zhang came to Heavenly Beginning Civilization for her. Your reputation for being romantic is indeed well-founded.”
Xu Qing’s face showed hesitation. After pondering for a long time, she said, “This question concerns the inheritance of Heavenly Beginning Civilization and is of utmost importance. Even if City Lord Bai were resurrected, given the kindness she showed me, I would absolutely never tell her.”
Then, changing the subject, she said, “But City Lord Zhang is a man of deep emotion and righteousness. In Xinghuantian, even knowing that the God-Defying Clan deserved death and was not tolerated by the entire world, you still showed the courage to stand against both the Heavenly Court and Hell to protect the Young City Lord.”
“I was not in Xinghuantian at the time, but I know that City Lord Zhang fought until the very end, fell, and rose again, a true towering hero. Even facing figures like Ming Jian Shen and Xuan Yi True God, you dared to raise your sword against them. This must be why Divine Teacher Yuyue trusted you enough to entrust Xinghuantian and the Goddess Twelve Pavilions to you, right?”
“A person like City Lord Zhang would never do anything to harm Luo Ji, would he?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If I had the slightest intention to harm her, may my soul be shattered and I die a miserable death.”
“After Hanhai Civilization was breached, she went to Tianzhu Mountain,” Xu Qing said.
Finally, there was news!
Zhang Ruochen said, “There is another matter. I want to use your name to lure Feng Qi here.”
Xu Qing frowned, unable to understand why he would do this. She said, “This is the second task!”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If you trust me, help me. Because this matter could very well concern the survival of the entire Heavenly Beginning Civilization, and perhaps even more than that.”
“Are you serious?” Xu Qing said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I did not rush to see Luo Ji immediately but stayed here to wait for a Feng Qi. Madam, why do you think Feng Qi’s attraction to me surpasses even Luo Ji’s? Heavenly Beginning Civilization might collapse tonight. I, the City Lord, am not exaggerating.”
Xu Qing became serious. She said, “Very well, I will arrange this. Feng Qi has always wanted to borrow a copy of the ‘Luo Shu’ from Jincheng but has been repeatedly refused. Using this as bait, he will surely come.”
“The women of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions are indeed masters of fishing, striking at the heart in every move,” Zhang Ruochen praised.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. The “Luo Shu” was indeed the inherited treasure of Heavenly Beginning Civilization, untouchable by outsiders. Even someone of Feng Qi’s status could not even see a copy.
Borrowing the original “Luo Shu” seemed almost impossible.
Xu Qing said, “City Lord Zhang says he came to save Heavenly Beginning Civilization. How true is that?”
“Completely true,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Qing said, “How will you save it?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “My heart is completely sincere, but as of now, I am not entirely certain. Moreover, if Heavenly Beginning Civilization cannot even survive tonight’s crisis, then there is no point in talking about what comes after.”
Xu Qing probed, “Is Feng Qi related to tonight’s crisis? Has he already defected to Hell Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled but said nothing.
From outside, sounds of quarreling and crying came.
Zhang Ruochen walked to a huge horizontal window three zhang long, pushed open half of it, and looked out. In a distant courtyard, a tragic scene was unfolding.
Xu Qing came over and also looked out. She sighed, “The word ‘love’ is the most harmful.”
“Madam was born in the Goddess Twelve Pavilions yet managed to enter the upper echelons of Heavenly Beginning Civilization. Don’t you think true love is precious?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Qing gave Zhang Ruochen a deep look. She said, “City Lord Zhang has taken pity on them and wants to help them? But don’t you know that the Heavenly Court and Hell are incompatible, and love between them is a forbidden fate, ending only in death.”
“Some outcomes we cannot change. But…”
Zhang Ruochen looked again and said, “But when it comes to our own families, within our ability, why not help them? The hatred between the Heavenly Court and Hell should not be imposed on our own children and descendants.”
…
Mo Cuo had followed the Hell Realm army through a space rift to arrive at the great world of Heavenly Beginning Civilization.
He had had the chance to retreat, but he did not. Instead, with a resolve to die, he came to Doulu City.
No matter what, he had to see Yan Hanyu.
Yan Hanyu had been willing to betray Heavenly Beginning Civilization for him and join the Falling Star Divine Temple. Now that Heavenly Beginning Civilization was about to be destroyed, could it be that he, Mo Cuo, did not even have the courage to die with her?
At this moment, Mo Cuo was bound in chains, kneeling on the ground with disheveled hair. His legs had been shattered, blood dripping, and not a single piece of intact flesh remained on his body.
The one who had captured him here was Feng Qi’s disciple, Yan Kai.
Yan Kai was also Yan Hanyu’s father.
Yan Kai held a sacred spear, his gaze cold and ruthless. In front of Yan Hanyu, he thrust the spear through Mo Cuo’s chest, pinning him to the ground. Blood gushed out like a spring.
“No! Father, no, I beg you. Let this be the last time I beg you…”
Yan Hanyu knelt on the ground, chains flowing with fiery light patterns binding her hands and feet, her wrists and ankles already a bloody mess. Her face was deathly pale, her body extremely weak, crying and pleading, without a trace of her former glory as the most beautiful woman of the Falling Star Divine Temple.
All her brilliance had been worn away.
Returning to Heavenly Beginning Civilization, she did not have the chance to fight alongside her people. Instead, she was treated as a disgrace to the civilization, judged and imprisoned. All her cultivation was abolished.
Fortunately, she was a direct descendant of the Heavenly Lord’s lineage, or she would have died a miserable death long ago, unable to remain alive.
The hatred between the Heavenly Court and Hell doomed love to end in death.
Or something worse than death.
…
Something came up today, so no livestream. I’ll release the saved chapters from the past two days now!
Livestream will continue tomorrow.
(Chapter End)