# Chapter 3036: The Heavenly Venerable's Daughter
Zhang Ruochen maintained a composed expression as he followed Xuan Yuan Qing and Feng Xuan back into the room.
Inside the room, only a single tiger-headed ancient lamp remained lit, casting a rather dim glow.
Xuan Yuan Qing herself carried not a trace of light, yet as she entered the room, the surrounding space seemed to brighten, the lamplight growing murkier.
She wore a silver-white beaded curtain veil over her face, and between her eyebrows—whether painted with a brush or naturally grown—there was a green lotus mark, lifelike as if it were a divine lotus.
Though she was a woman, her aura was no less imposing than Feng Yun Ba's. With hands clasped behind her back, a waist as slender as a willow, and a pair of supremely spirited immortal eyes, she observed the vessels and scriptures arranged in the room.
Finally, her gaze fell upon an open ancient book on the table. She picked it up and examined it.
"*Xuan Tian Ben Gang*—so the two of you were discussing the Dao. It seems Qing's arrival is ill-timed." Her voice was beautiful, like the melody of a musical movement, capable of involuntarily immersing one within it.
Feng Xuan smiled. "We are both Great Perfection Upper-Level Gods of the Daoist lineage, so we jointly ponder difficult points, hoping to break through to Tai Zhen as soon as possible. Unlike you, Great God, who has already reached the Tai Bai stage—truly enviable."
Tai Zhen Realm was a general term for the Great God level.
Tai Yi, Tai Bai, and Tai Xu—these three realms were the minor stages within Tai Zhen Realm.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, "You two are outstanding representatives of the Daoist lineage, first-class in every way. In no time at all, you will surely enter Tai Zhen. So there is no need for such formality, nor must you address me as Great God. Our ages are not far apart—why not address each other as fellow Daoists? Qing once cultivated at the Five Elements Temple for a time and has some slight understanding of Daoist learning."
"There is no need to stand. Please, both of you, sit."
Xuan Yuan Qing gracefully sat down on the central purple orchid soaring dragon cushion, with the table before her. Her movements were natural, and the powerful aura around her instantly dissipated. She displayed none of the arrogance of a Heavenly Venerable's daughter, appearing instead like a young Daoist nun who had long kept company with a green lamp.
Only this Daoist nun was far too beautiful.
This beauty did not refer to her facial features or her figure, but rather the inner shock she gave people after a fleeting glance. In truth, Zhang Ruochen had never once looked at her veiled face from start to finish, nor had he deliberately paid attention to her figure.
Someone like Xuan Yuan Qing could not simply be defined as a woman. The Heavenly Venerable's daughter, a Tai Bai Great God, and the wielder of the Radiant Divine Sword—all of these were far more important than the label "woman."
Zhang Ruochen exchanged a glance with Feng Xuan, then sat down on the other two cushions.
"Fellow Daoist Qing Ping Zi, may I borrow your sword for a look?" Xuan Yuan Qing looked over, a smile in her starry eyes.
Zhang Ruochen hesitated briefly, then unstrapped the Qing Ping Sword and handed it over.
Xuan Yuan Qing received the sword.
Only then did Zhang Ruochen clearly see her snow-white, flawless hand. Her fingers were like sheep-fat warm jade—slender, soft, and long, containing radiant divine glow within. The beauty of this single hand alone could outshine many who called themselves holy maidens or fairies.
Xuan Yuan Qing turned her wrist, and the Qing Ping Sword traced a half-circle in the air, flashing with green light.
The sword body was dark.
A green lotus mark on the blade contained boundless spirituality.
"A fine sword!"
Xuan Yuan Qing praised, "I was born with a divine medicine, Heavenly Green Lotus, growing between my brows. This sword bears the green lotus as its mark—it must share a great destiny with me. Fellow Daoist, would you gift it to me?"
The corner of Feng Xuan's mouth twitched, his expression turning unnatural.
This was the Qing Ping Sword!
A sub-divine level supreme sacred artifact.
As the Heavenly Venerable's daughter and a supreme Great God, to say such a thing—was she planning to take it by force?
If she truly did so, Qing Ping Zi would have no choice but to comply.
Feng Xuan felt he needed to step forward and speak a word of justice. Even if the other party was the Heavenly Venerable's daughter, she could not simply seize things by force like this. Even if the matter were brought before the Heavenly Palace, reason would be on their side.
Zhang Ruochen was also stunned. He stared at her eyes—no matter how beautiful those eyes were, they no longer seemed so lovely now. Just moments ago, she had appeared modest and gentle—how had she suddenly revealed her true face?
Xuan Yuan Qing continued, "I will exchange it with you for the Radiant Divine Sword."
Feng Xuan, who had just risen in anger, showed a look of great shock and quickly said, "Great God, you must not joke like this."
"I am not joking."
Xuan Yuan Qing was very serious. Her fragrant sleeve swept through the void, and the Radiant Divine Sword emerged from her divine realm world, slowly flying toward Zhang Ruochen. "As long as Fellow Daoist Qing Ping Zi agrees to join the Radiant Divine Temple, from this day forward, the divine sword shall be wielded by you."
Then, she glanced at Feng Xuan with a smile and said, "I already said we should address each other as fellow Daoists—do not mention the words 'Great God' again."
Zhang Ruochen could see the sincerity in Xuan Yuan Qing's eyes. It truly did not seem like a joke, and he could not help but ponder her intentions.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Fellow Daoist Qing, I'm afraid you cannot make such a decision on behalf of the Radiant Divine Temple, can you?"
"Since Qing has spoken these words, I will naturally do everything in my power to make it happen. I believe the Radiant Divine Temple will not shut its doors to a powerful god." Xuan Yuan Qing said.
Feng Xuan gradually understood, realizing the deeper reason behind this.
It seemed Xuan Yuan Qing's words were not just empty talk.
Rather, she wanted to use this to resolve—or at least ease—the grievances between the Paradise Realm and the Kunlun Realm.
After all, the current Kunlun Realm had old-generation powerhouses like Yunshen Daozhu, Dragon Lord, and Qiangu Nüdi, as well as a large number of rising new-generation cultivators like Chi Yao and Blood Spirit Immortal.
If the Kunlun Realm were allowed to develop unchecked like this, once it became strong enough, its conflict with the Paradise Realm would inevitably erupt.
Moreover, this would not be limited to a struggle between two great worlds—it would even sweep through the Daoist lineage, the Buddhist sect, and the various great worlds of the West. For the entire Heavenly Court, it would be a great disaster.
Having Qing Ping Zi join the Radiant Divine Temple, while far from eliminating the contradictions between the two realms, would serve as an entry point, an opportunity.
Zhang Ruochen naturally saw Xuan Yuan Qing's purpose and said, "The Radiant Divine Sword is excellent, but I do not cultivate the Way of Radiance, so it would be of no use to me."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen extended his hand.
Xuan Yuan Qing did not return the Qing Ping Sword to him. Instead, she pulled her sword-holding hand back and said, "Fellow Daoist, do you have faith in your heart?"
Zhang Ruochen felt somewhat awkward, but he could not snatch the sword or lose his temper. He withdrew his hand, rubbed his sleeve, and said, "Why does Fellow Daoist Qing ask this?"
Xuan Yuan Qing said, "If the Heavenly Court could unite with one heart and one mind, its strength would not be inferior to the Hell Realm. But why, for the past one hundred thousand years, has it remained in a passive position? Forced to accept the humiliating condition of establishing Merit Battlefields proposed by the Hell Realm, just to buy time for recovery and cultivation? How many weak realms have been annihilated because of this, their living beings turned into wandering souls and blood food—truly a tragic sight."
"Fellow Daoist Qing believes all of this is related to faith?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, "The Ten Clans of Hell appear to be full of contradictions, yet they can all believe in Fate or Darkness. It is precisely because of this that the Destiny Temple and the Darkness Temple can unify the various clans, integrate their strength, and easily convey their will."
"But the subordinate mortal realms and ancient civilizations under the Heavenly Court number over ten thousand great worlds, with more than one hundred thousand forms of ideology and tens of millions of faiths. Although the Daoist lineage, Buddhist sect, Confucian school, Radiance, and Truth all have enormous influence, they are far inferior when compared to the Destiny Temple and the Darkness Temple."
"These various concepts and faiths often conflict with one another, causing severe internal attrition. The Heavenly Court established the Merit Divine Temple precisely to unify everyone's will and present a united front against external threats. But clearly, the Merit Divine Temple, lacking the support of faith, is nothing but an empty shell, unable to bear the expectations that the gods have placed upon it."
"I chose to enter the Radiant Divine Temple to cultivate because I believe that the teachings of Radiance can stand against Darkness. To turn one's heart toward Radiance, to love life, to make people upright, kind, and sunny—using this as faith, spreading it widely, would be enough to change the entire world."
Zhang Ruochen could see that Xuan Yuan Qing had ideals and ambitions. She was working hard to resolve the internal conflicts within the Heavenly Court and actively seeking solutions—somewhat similar to her brother, Xuan Yuan Lian.
Zhang Ruochen said softly, "Ideals are beautiful, but reality is cruel."
"I know this is very difficult, but when it comes to doing things that change the world, which one is not difficult? If beautiful ideals are suppressed just because reality is cruel, then wouldn't the world be left with only cruelty? No matter how difficult the road ahead, someone must go and cut through the thorns." Xuan Yuan Qing's gaze was very firm, conveying her will to Zhang Ruochen.
It was telling Zhang Ruochen that she was not just speaking empty words.
Feng Xuan sat beside them in silence, having realized that he was indeed just a supporting character.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Fellow Daoist Qing, how do you view the divine war of one hundred thousand years ago?"
Xuan Yuan Qing said, "I am aware that there are rumors in the world that the Paradise Realm, in order to secure its position as the ruling world, betrayed the Kunlun Realm, causing all the gods of the Kunlun Realm to fall."
"I do not deny that there were indeed some petty individuals and lurkers from the Hell Realm, causing heavy losses to the Kunlun Realm. But, Fellow Daoist, do you know that in that divine war, the Paradise Realm also lost over a hundred true gods, and half of the eight palace masters of the Radiant Divine Temple died. Throughout the entire Heavenly Court, the number of fallen gods is beyond counting."
"There was no choice. In those days, because the Kunlun Realm was too powerful, it was listed as the primary target of attack by the Hell Realm. The Heavenly Court did its best to help."
"Has Fellow Daoist considered that the so-called betrayal of the Kunlun Realm by the Paradise Realm might be a rumor spread by the Hell Realm? To divide the Heavenly Court and sow suspicion among the various realms?"
Zhang Ruochen understood very well that every cultivator, standing from their own perspective, had a different way of viewing problems.
That Xuan Yuan Qing would think this way was certainly influenced by the Radiant Divine Temple. It was also the attitude of an outsider toward the entire event—naturally, not as deeply felt as those who had personally experienced it.
Zhang Ruochen said, "And what about one hundred thousand years later? Cultivators of the Kunlun Realm are targeted by the Paradise Realm faction within the Heavenly Court. On the Kunlun Realm Merit Battlefield, they are plundered and oppressed."
Xuan Yuan Qing said, "Is it only the Paradise Realm faction that oppresses and plunders the Kunlun Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen stared at her.
Xuan Yuan Qing said, "What I want to say is that the strong preying on the weak is a reality that no one can change. Those who humiliate and bully the Kunlun Realm are not the Paradise Realm faction—they are all forces stronger than the Kunlun Realm."
"Just like a sect in your Kunlun Realm that suddenly declines—it will inevitably be bullied and swallowed up by other powerful sects. As a god of the Kunlun Realm, what would you do? Such things happen every day, every moment. Can you manage them all? Would you bother to manage them?"
"No great world, no force, survives by relying on others' sympathy."