# Chapter 3001: This Humble Priest is Qingpingzi, Heir of Shangqing
Zhang Ruochen took Yan Hanyu and Mo Cuo into the *Sixth Patriarch's Zen Illustration*, settling them in the Qiankun Realm.
Currently, within the *Sixth Patriarch's Zen Illustration*, there were two great worlds, each occupying half of heaven and earth. On one side was the Qiankun Realm, and on the other was the Sixth Patriarch's broken Divine Realm World.
The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree and the Bodhi Tree were both heavenly and earthly spiritual roots.
Fortunately, there were still very few living beings and cultivators inside, so there was no sign of spiritual energy depletion for now.
But in the future, as the cultivators within the world demanded more and more spiritual energy and sacred energy, it would certainly be necessary to go into the universe to find a place where spatial veins intersected, to bear the weight of a great world.
Worlds carried within scroll paintings had too many limitations.
...
After reading through Lan Jun's information, Zhang Ruochen had already formed a plan. He quietly returned to the venue of the Fire Seed Assembly, without changing his appearance, directly appearing as the Yellow Ox Daoist.
As darkness fell, the halls where the assembly was held were brightly lit. Top-tier great worlds under the Heavenly Court banner had all sent deities, determined to secure the fire seed of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization.
"It's said that whoever can invite the fire seed of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization will receive either the Azure Sky Mirror or the Nine Palaces Divine Seal—two divine artifacts—and also gain the opportunity to observe and comprehend the *Luo Shu*."
"The *Luo Shu*? This is the foremost classic of the Daoist path, known as the source of the Dao. Outsiders simply cannot observe and cultivate it. Even within the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, there are probably fewer than ten cultivators who can cultivate the *Luo Shu*. And the Heavenly Beginning Civilization is willing to take it out?"
"Not take it out? With just the fire seed, can they protect the *Luo Shu*? It's better to take it out now as a bargaining chip, so they can secure more benefits."
"In my opinion, although the divine artifacts and the *Luo Shu* are both earth-shattering treasures, even if we secure them, they have nothing to do with us. What's truly valuable is actually the civilization treasury of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization that will be taken away along with the fire seed."
"The Heavenly Beginning Civilization has been passed down for many years, with countless treasures. Just the divine stones alone must be an enormous number. It can be said that the civilization treasury is the greatest reliance for the future development and growth of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization's fire seed, even for opening up another realm and establishing an independent civilization."
"As long as we welcome the fire seed to our mother realm, we can also benefit from it."
...
Zhang Ruochen sensed slightly and heard the secret transmissions of countless deities.
In the venue for Saint realm cultivators, Zhang Ruochen saw Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan. He did not communicate with them, but simply took a jar of divine brew from their table.
He drank as he walked, gulping it down without stopping.
Feng Yan showed concern, stood up, and warned, "Daoist friend, that wine is extraordinary. It's brewed from Fire Flame Essence Crystal and Eon-Year Vermilion Fruit. Drinking too much, even deities cannot withstand it."
Zhang Ruochen ignored him, his wide sleeves fluttering, and walked straight toward the venue of the deities.
Xuan Yuan Lian's golden chariot was still parked in the most spacious position of the venue. The nine Bone Clan deities exuded a thick aura, occasionally letting out low roars.
Deities were still coming to pay their respects.
At this moment, standing in front of the golden chariot was precisely Lan Jun.
Lan Jun had a feminine face, with petal marks on his cheeks, holding a folding fan. He cupped his hands and bowed to the chariot, then conversed with Xuan Yuan Lian, a smile on his face as they discussed something.
A sound of breaking wind.
A bronze wine jar, as large as a basket, flew toward Lan Jun.
No one expected an attack at the Fire Seed Assembly. Lan Jun instinctively sidestepped and dodged, avoiding the bronze wine jar.
"Bang!"
The bronze wine jar slammed heavily into the golden chariot. Because of its speed and explosive force, it struck the chariot, causing it to shake violently. But in the next instant, dazzling divine light bloomed from the chariot walls, shattering the wine jar into pieces.
"Roar!"
The nine Bone Clan deities raised their heads and roared furiously, their divine might erupting, forming chaotic gale winds that forced the divine patterns in the City Lord's Mansion to manifest one after another.
The deities present were all shocked and stood up one after another.
What was happening? Someone dared to attack Young Master Lian?
Could it be that a deity from the Hell Realm had infiltrated the Fire Seed Assembly?
No, that wasn't right. Why use a wine jar to attack Young Master Lian?
Following the trajectory of the wine jar, the gazes of the deities fell upon Zhang Ruochen.
Feng Xi and Feng Xuan exchanged glances, their expressions changing.
Yu Chenjing, who recognized the Yellow Ox Daoist, opened her mouth in shock, her eyes filled with surprise and confusion.
Qiu Yu Divine Lord frowned deeply, then a hint of gloating smile appeared in his eyes.
Chi Yao stood between Zhen Yuan and Ci Hang Fairy. Seeing Zhang Ruochen reeking of alcohol and looking at the golden chariot, her face changed instantly. She was very worried about Zhang Ruochen, afraid that he had misunderstood because of what had happened earlier.
"Could it be that the trust between us has become so fragile?" For some reason, a strong sense of pain surged in Chi Yao's heart.
If even trust was gone, how could they return to how things were before?
Chi Yao did not indulge in her low mood. She quickly recovered and began to think of countermeasures. If Zhang Ruochen really disregarded everything and challenged Xuan Yuan Lian, what should she do to resolve this conflict?
Xuan Yuan Lian's earlier words were clearly a suspicion of Zhang Ruochen, a deliberate test.
Wasn't Zhang Ruochen's current action exposing himself?
Chi Yao summoned the Blood Drop Sword, her gaze sharp, ready to fight to the death. At the same time, she communicated with Zangjin Baihu. If necessary, she would have to kill a bloody path with Zhang Ruochen and escape from Doushuai City.
Even if she was forced to become an enemy of the Heavenly Court from now on, even if she had to flee to the Hell Realm, at least today, she would never let the Heavenly Court deities and Xuan Yuan Lian suppress Zhang Ruochen.
Otherwise, given the hatred the Heavenly Court deities held for Zhang Ruochen from the battle at Xinghuantian, they would surely cut him into pieces.
Lan Jun knew that the Daoist was targeting him, not Xuan Yuan Lian. He coldly shouted, "Who are you? How dare you attack Young Master Lian? Do you want to die?"
A piercing sword cry rang out.
The sword wrapped in black cloth on Zhang Ruochen's back flew out and fell into his hand. His eyes were bloodshot, his teeth clenched, and he roared, "This humble priest is Qingpingzi, heir of Shangqing. Today, I have come only to slay you, to avenge the blood debt of one hundred thousand years!"
As he spoke, the sword in Zhang Ruochen's hand erupted with dazzling cyan light, sword energy crisscrossing, killing intent fierce.
"Qingping Sword!"
Exclamations rang out one after another.
"So his real name is Qingpingzi." Feng Xi was not surprised. She had long known that the so-called Yellow Ox Daoist was definitely a false name.
Through the Qingping Sword, the deities present had already guessed that the Daoist who called himself "Qingpingzi" must be from the Kunlun Realm.
Luo Jinshu had long since rushed over from the Divine King Mansion. Seeing his cherished "Yellow Ox Daoist Friend" so agitated, he quickly went over, pressed down on his sword-wielding arm, and asked with concern, "Yellow Ox... Qingpingzi Daoist friend, this is the venue of the Fire Seed Assembly. No matter what happened, don't act impulsively."
"Everyone, Qingpingzi Daoist friend is a good friend of mine, Luo. Earlier, in the sea forbidden zone, he displayed great divine might, killed a monarch of the Death Clan, and helped the Heavenly Beginning Civilization guard the Divine Toon Tree. He is also my lifesaver. I have great faith in his character. If it weren't for a true blood feud, he would never have lost control of his emotions."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Luo Jinshu and thought to himself, this father-in-law of mine is truly a man of genuine temperament.
One must know that he had just offended Xuan Yuan Lian. No one knew Xuan Yuan Lian's true character. If he was a narrow-minded person, the consequences would be unimaginable.
At this moment, any cultivator would probably stay far away, not daring to have any connection with Zhang Ruochen.
Feng Xi stepped forward and said, "Qingpingzi Daoist friend has great kindness toward the Feng Clan. If the Daoist friend truly has any grievances, feel free to speak them. Our Feng Clan will definitely not stand idly by."
The Feng Clan deities stepped forward to express their stance, which made those cultivators who wanted to teach Zhang Ruochen a lesson and curry favor with Xuan Yuan Lian feel apprehensive and slowly retreat.
Zhang Ruochen raised his sword and pointed it at Lan Jun, his murderous aura intense. "Tao Lan, do you still remember Mu Yeqing of the Liangyi Sect in the Kunlun Realm?"
Lan Jun's eyes were cold and dark. He snorted lightly, "What Mu Yeqing? What Liangyi Sect? I've never heard of them. The Kunlun Realm, what a distant name. If you hadn't mentioned it, this deity would have thought this great world had already been destroyed."
This was contempt, and also a provocation.
Zhang Ruochen said, "One hundred thousand years ago, this humble priest's beloved daughter, Mu Yeqing, died tragically at your hands. Her yin essence was drained dry, and she died a miserable death!"
"At that time, this humble priest was severely injured and had been in seclusion recuperating. When I came out of seclusion and heard this news, I was overcome with grief and pain. I originally intended to take my sword to the Whore Realm to slay you. Unfortunately, the great calamity of the Kunlun Realm came, and the Saint Monk sealed the great world with his remaining divine power. This humble priest had no choice but to bury this hatred for one hundred thousand years."
"Do you know what kind of torment one hundred thousand years of pain is?"
"I let you roam free for one hundred thousand years, even cultivating to become an Upper-Level Deity. Truly, heaven has no eyes—how unfair! Earlier here, after seeing you, I did not want to disrupt the Fire Seed Assembly, nor did I want to cause trouble for everyone."
"But when I think of Yeqing, think of my poor daughter... sob... how can I suppress the anger in my heart? The grief and indignation surge like a flood—how can I control it?"
Zhang Ruochen was extremely sorrowful, his voice choked and hoarse, tears streaming down his face. The hand holding the sword trembled violently. He played the role of a lonely Daoist whose daughter had died tragically, vividly and with strong emotional impact, causing Feng Xi's eyes to unconsciously redden.
Luo Jinshu, who himself had a daughter, seemed to empathize. After comforting Zhang Ruochen, he angrily rebuked Lan Jun, "Luo has always known that your Whore Realm is a great world where heretical cultivators gather. But because we must obey the Heavenly Palace's decree to unite all forces against the Hell Realm, although I have opinions about you, I have never made any comments."
"But Qingpingzi Daoist friend and I have a life-and-death bond. His matters are my matters!"
"Today, Tao Lan, it's time for you to pay with your life!"
Lan Jun was a heretical cultivator who had indeed done many despicable and evil things. Countless women had died at his hands, and he himself couldn't remember if one of them was named Mu Yeqing.
But seeing Qingpingzi so indignant, so pained, so reckless, Lan Jun was already convinced in his heart. It seemed that he had indeed harvested Mu Yeqing back then, planting the seeds of disaster for today.