Chapter 3042: Departing in Fury
The Seven-Source Colorful Garment was a divine robe refined by the Colorful Garment God over an entire lifetime, consuming resources that ordinary gods could scarcely imagine. For gods at the Heaven-Mending Realm, it was indeed more useful than a divine artifact, greatly enhancing combat power and defensive capabilities, even serving as a means to escape at critical moments.
However, given Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation and combat strength, the value of the Seven-Source Colorful Garment was no longer significant.
Beyond securing a patron for Lian Xi, Zhang Ruochen had another purpose.
He intended to cultivate a connection with Xuanyuan Lian.
Zhang Ruochen was the master of Xinghuantian, representing the neutral faction. Yet he was too close to the Hell Realm. Despite having mortal enmity with the Darkness Temple and the Tiannan region, and irreconcilable conflicts with the Destiny Temple, the vast majority of forces in the Heavenly Court still regarded him as a Hell Realm cultivator.
This was not good for a neutral faction.
Nor was it good for Xinghuantian.
Now that Xuanyuan Lian was willing to befriend him, Zhang Ruochen naturally harbored some intentions. He could not offend her to the point of no return; he had to maintain this delicate relationship, using her to convey his intentions to the Heavenly Venerable.
It would be best if Xuanyuan Lian actually sent the Seven-Source Colorful Garment back to Yin-Yang Realm. That way, all realms of the Heavenly Court would know that the Heavenly Venerable's daughter and Zhang Ruochen were on good terms.
Thus, those great worlds in the Heavenly Court that held grudges against Zhang Ruochen, and those powerful figures who wished to destroy Xinghuantian, would have to consider the Heavenly Venerable's will before taking extreme actions.
In other words, Zhang Ruochen was using this to balance Xinghuantian's position between the Heavenly Court and Hell, and also borrowing the Heavenly Venerable's influence to shield himself from harm.
Giving away the Seven-Source Colorful Garment was even a light gesture!
Xuanyuan Lian was exceptionally clever. With just a moment's thought, she understood Zhang Ruochen's scheme.
But she did not care.
Letting the world know that she, Xuanyuan Lian, was on good terms with Zhang Ruochen—wasn't that also a good thing for the Heavenly Court?
It would inevitably make the Hell Realm wary and create a rift with Xinghuantian and Zhang Ruochen.
That rift would be widened by Zhang Ruochen's enemies in the Hell Realm, potentially sparking conflict. Why not go along with it?
"Why is Miss Qing looking at me like that? The gift of the Seven-Source Colorful Garment was truly for Lian Xi's sake," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xuanyuan Lian let out a cold laugh. "When you need something, it's 'Miss Qing'; when you speak harshly, it's 'Great God Xuanyuan.' Forget it, I won't argue with you. What exactly is going on with your martial cultivation? The Qitian personally struck, shattering your Divine Sea and Divine Source. I don't believe you can recover from that. Are you putting on an act?"
Zhang Ruochen knew how monumental this matter was and said solemnly, "An act? This is a deep, blood feud. Once I stand among the Heavens, I will surely march on Tiannan and personally slay Qitian. Could it be that Great God Xuanyuan suspects I have pledged allegiance to Qitian's sect?"
Hearing the sinister tone in Zhang Ruochen's voice, Xuanyuan Lian frowned slightly. "The death of the Saint Monk back then involved Qitian's participation. If you were to join Qitian's sect, you would be acknowledging your enemy as your father. Then you would no longer be just a great villain of the Eon; no one in the world would think well of you."
Xumi Saint Monk was both an ancestor of the Zhang Clan and Zhang Ruochen's guide in cultivation, even saving his life. For these reasons, Qitian would never allow Zhang Ruochen to grow.
Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes. "Come and examine me yourself."
Xuanyuan Lian hesitated for a moment but eventually extended her pale, soft hand and pressed a finger to Zhang Ruochen's brow. "Aren't you afraid I might kill you with this finger?"
"If you, Xuanyuan Lian, were that kind of person, why bother talking about spreading the faith of light? Why talk about daring to change the world?" Zhang Ruochen could smell the faint fragrance emanating from her long sleeves and thin gauze, refreshing and pleasant.
"You don't have a Divine Martial Mark, Divine Sea, or Divine Source? How is that possible?"
Xuanyuan Lian withdrew her finger, her face full of shock and doubt.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I can cultivate a second Divine Source, can't I?"
"That's impossible! Someone like Qitian would never overlook that possibility," Xuanyuan Lian said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, "The *Thirty-Three Heavens* stands unrivaled in the world. What martial technique in the Heavenly Court or Hell can compare to it?"
"Ten Eons ago, my Zhang Clan ancestor, the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, was unmatched in his era. With his own strength, he forced the Heavens of both the Heavenly Court and Hell to bow their heads. His lingering might, even ten Eons later, still terrifies the Heavens."
"Do you think Qitian crippled my martial arts because he feared me?"
"He fears the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable!"
"He fears that I might become a second Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, even if the possibility is only one in ten thousand."
"As long as my martial arts are crippled, no matter how high my spiritual power becomes in the future, he will have no fear. Because no matter how high spiritual power rises, it cannot produce a second Immovable Bright King Great Venerable."
"I'm telling you this to make you understand—don't judge the *Thirty-Three Heavens* by ordinary standards. What other techniques cannot achieve, the *Thirty-Three Heavens* can."
Xuanyuan Lian could clearly hear the arrogance in Zhang Ruochen's tone, as if he were saying he, too, was a descendant of a Heavenly Venerable.
Her tone lost some of its pride. "Even so, you couldn't possibly have reached the Great God level so quickly."
Zhang Ruochen pointed to the area below his navel. "My second Divine Source is in my Xuan Tai. Miss Qing can examine it if you wish."
Xuanyuan Lian's starry eyes glanced over but immediately looked away, spitting coldly, "Shameless villain!"
"Shua!"
She transformed into a streak of flowing light and flew out of the Divine Realm World.
Seeing that he had driven Xuanyuan Lian away, Zhang Ruochen slowly let the frivolous smile fade from his face.
The *Sixth Patriarch's Zen Meditation Diagram* was hidden within his Xuan Tai, and all of Zhang Ruochen's important secrets lay inside that diagram.
Xuanyuan Lian hadn't refrained from examining Zhang Ruochen's Xuan Tai out of genuine shame or anger.
Rather, there was no longer any need to investigate further.
As long as she confirmed that Zhang Ruochen's Divine Sea and Divine Source were truly shattered, her suspicions about Xinghuantian could be set aside for now.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his Divine Realm World and looked at the cultivators on the divine ship.
Clearly, Xuanyuan Lian had already told them the results.
The gods of the Wind Clan wore expressions of indignation as they glared at Shang Hong, while others looked at Zhang Ruochen with guilt.
Feng Yan gazed at the transcendent, radiant, and holy Xuanyuan Lian, a flicker of complexity in his eyes. He became even more certain that severing the connection between his sister and "Qing Pingzi" was the right decision.
Jia Linnan was filled with regret. He should never have listened to Shang Hong's bizarre speculation. Fortunately, he hadn't been deeply involved and probably wouldn't be implicated.
Suddenly, Jia Linnan thought of something and his face turned pale.
Could it be that the Hell Realm gods had really been released by Shang Hong?
Had Shang Hong been using him from the very start?
Shang Hong's eyes blazed with divine flames, as if he wanted to devour Zhang Ruochen, but he couldn't say a word.
Even if he dared to bet his own life that the other party was Zhang Ruochen, who on the Xufeng Divine Ship would believe him?
Zhang Ruochen, looking even angrier than Shang Hong, gritted his teeth and let out a cold snort. He bowed deeply to the assembled gods and said, "Today's incident is entirely this poor Taoist's fault, causing such unpleasantness. But since everyone was already suspicious of me, if anything else happens later, I fear I'll be subjected to another examination of my Divine Realm World. Even if I die, I will never endure such humiliation again."
"I know I have no face left to remain on the Xufeng Divine Ship. Farewell, everyone!"
Zhang Ruochen flicked his sleeves and flew out of the Xufeng Divine Ship.
"Daoist Qing Pingzi, Xi never doubted you. If anyone should leave, it is not you."
"Friend, the strong ones of the Darkness Temple must already see you as a thorn in their side. If you leave alone like this and something happens, how can the Wind Clan ever claim to uphold righteousness? Feng Xuan would rather die than find peace of mind."
Feng Xi and Feng Xuan chased after him, but they couldn't catch up. They could only watch helplessly as Qing Pingzi departed resolutely, vanishing into the darkness.
Feng Xi couldn't hold back her tears, recalling the shame and anger in Qing Pingzi's eyes as he left. She murmured, "It's Xi's fault, all Xi's fault. Please come back, friend. The road ahead is dangerous."
If she had defended Qing Pingzi strongly enough earlier, even if Xuanyuan Lian was the Heavenly Venerable's daughter, she would have had to back down on the Xufeng Divine Ship and not humiliate a Great God like that.
How could Feng Xi not blame herself?
Qing Pingzi had risked great danger to chase after Shi Di to save her. To save her seventh uncle, he had even engaged in close combat with Shi Di, risking exposure and death.
To protect her younger brother during his tribulation, he had fought to the death.
But what about her? Why hadn't she fought to the death against the Heavenly Venerable's daughter earlier? Why hadn't she directly expelled Shang Hong from the Xufeng Divine Ship?
Feng Xuan's guilt was no less than Feng Xi's. His voice trembling, he said, "Daoist Qing Pingzi risked his life to save me, yet I watched him suffer such humiliation on the Xufeng Divine Ship. A lifetime of cultivation, and today I have thrown away all righteousness. I am unworthy of being called a man! Unworthy!"
Feng Xuan and Feng Xi returned to the Xufeng Divine Ship, their faces colder than ice.
Feng Xuan bowed to Xuanyuan Lian. "Great God Xuanyuan, if you do not give the Wind Clan an explanation today, Feng Xuan will end his life right here."
The other gods of the Wind Clan were all filled with righteous indignation.
Xuanyuan Lian said, "I will now examine Shang Hong's Divine Realm World."
Feng Xi said, "Xue Tu has already been released. Great God Xuanyuan, are you going to examine him now to help clear Shang Hong's name? Forgive Xi for speaking bluntly—Shang Hong is indeed a Great God, and the Shang Clan's power is vast. But the stronger one's cultivation and the greater one's influence, the greater the harm they can cause. Great God Xuanyuan, do not be soft-hearted!"
Xuanyuan Lian's eyes narrowed. Before this, not even a god at the Heaven-Mending Realm, let alone a Great God, had dared speak to her like this.
Soft-hearted...
This was the very phrase she had used on Zhang Ruochen, and now it had been thrown back at her so quickly.
Mo Xiansheng, who remained quite calm, said, "The Fourth Master's fall not only saved the Wind Clan disciples on the Xufeng Divine Ship but also saved you, Great God Xuanyuan. You owe the Wind Clan two lives. Driving away Qing Pingzi, placing our Wind Clan's benefactor in danger, and now continuing to protect someone who deserves death?"
Xuanyuan Lian finally understood why Zhang Ruochen had dared to say he could force her to kill Shang Hong with her own hands. Now, facing this situation without Zhang Ruochen's interference or incitement, she was already under immense pressure.
With her cultivation and status, Xuanyuan Lian possessed a natural boldness. Though she did not release her divine might, her gaze grew colder. "I owe the Wind Clan a debt, and I will repay it doubly in the future, so as not to dishonor the Fourth Master's sacrifice. But are you all trying to force me to execute Shang Hong now?"