# Chapter 3118: Playing a Double Act
"Since you claim not to have forgotten the grace of the Hell Realm, why did you collude with the Wind Clan and Hao Tian's daughter in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, ruining the great affairs of the Darkness Temple?" Mu Tuo War God said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I transformed into Qing Pingzi, first to escape the pursuit of Feng Yun Ba, and second to rescue Xue Tu who was imprisoned on the Xu Feng Divine Ship. Your Darkness Temple treated me as a Heavenly Court deity and wanted to kill me. How could I not defend myself and counterattack? Many cultivators know about this matter. You can investigate as you wish."
"Moreover, even if you had known back then that Qing Pingzi was me, Zhang Ruochen, you would never have shown mercy, would you? You would only have used even more ruthless methods against me."
"There is really nothing more to explain to your Darkness Temple."
A gloomy and hoarse laugh suddenly rang out.
Ghost Lord said: "Zhang Ruochen, since you admit that Qing Pingzi was you, then you must acknowledge what you did in the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, right?"
Zhang Ruochen stared coldly at Ghost Lord, thinking to himself: "This old ghost is truly insidious!"
Ghost Lord continued: "In the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, you were forced by circumstances. But in the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, you killed Fen Xin Monarch of the Death Clan and Qing Xuan Ling Shen of the Darkness Temple, yet you still claim innocence? Hmph! Young as you are, your killing intent is quite heavy. More than ten Hell Realm deities have died by your hands."
Zhang Ruochen remained unflustered, saying: "Qing Xuan Ling Shen—I had long wanted to kill him! That scoundrel, on Xinghuantian, actually wanted to kill my own son. Xue Tu and Gu Ya both know of this matter."
"As for Fen Xin Monarch, he was a deity of the Tiannan faction. With Tiannan, my enmity is as deep as the sea."
"Silence!"
A divine sound exploded, causing the space within the temple to rumble and shake.
It was Void Heaven who had roared.
Anyone could see Void Heaven's fury at this moment!
Luo Sha, Xue Tu, Xiao Hei, and the others all changed expression drastically.
Ghost Lord, Xu Liao, Jin Jue Heavenly God, Xue Mu Hall Master, Yi Huang, and other deities revealed cruel smiles.
Void Heaven said: "Zhang Ruochen, you have quite the audacity! Just because of a little personal grudge, do you intend to kill all the deities of the Darkness Temple and Tiannan before you will stop?"
"Void Heaven, please see clearly. Back then, I had no hostility toward any force in the Hell Realm. But because I was too outstanding, when I successfully crossed the divine tribulation, I incurred the jealousy of Tiannan and the Darkness Temple. They crippled my cultivation and nearly killed me. This is not a small personal grudge—it is a deep, blood feud!" Zhang Ruochen said.
Luo Sha's eyes grew more worried. How could Chen Ge answer like this?
No matter how one looked at it, the Darkness Temple and Tiannan were top-tier superpowers of the Hell Realm. If he openly declared that he remembered this deep hatred, wouldn't that mean he would seek revenge in the future?
For the sake of the Hell Realm, how could Void Heaven tolerate him?
Sure enough, Void Heaven's killing intent leaked out, and he said coldly: "Since you are so vengeful, how can I, this Heavenly Lord, tolerate you?"
"Before Void Heaven's divine eyes, I dare not lie and say I have already let go of my hatred. But every word I speak comes from the bottom of my heart. I, Zhang Ruochen, distinguish clearly between kindness and enmity. For great hatred, I will surely repay it. For great kindness, I will surely repay it as well."
Zhang Ruochen bowed again, saying: "In the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, if not for the sword strike granted by Void Heaven, I would have already fallen under the sword of Ming Jian Shen. This is a great kindness—a life-saving grace."
"Speaking of which, Senior Void Heaven was the lifelong enemy of Xumi Saint Monk. Yet Senior Void Heaven not only did not regard me with hostility but even granted me a sword strike, saving me when my life hung by a thread. Such great magnanimity—even if Qing Tian and Wu Bian of the Darkness Temple studied for another million years, they could never catch up."
Xue Tu, standing nearby, was dumbfounded.
This remark—Ghost Lord, Mu Tuo War God, Jin Jue Heavenly God, and other great deities who had lived for hundreds of thousands of years—none of them could counter it.
Although Void Heaven did not care about great magnanimity or good virtue, he had suffered various criticisms throughout his life. Today, being praised so vigorously by a junior, and with reason and evidence, how could his mood not improve?
The killing intent on him dissipated, and he snorted: "It's rare that you still know the four words 'distinguish kindness and enmity.' This shows you can still be saved."
Then, Void Heaven's gaze swept over the assembled deities, and he said: "Speaking of which, I have some connection with this boy Zhang Ruochen. Back then, in order to learn swordsmanship, I secretly transformed into a mortal and joined the Liangyi Sect. After my sword path was accomplished, in order to settle this karmic connection, I forged the Qing Ping Sword and left it to the Liangyi Sect. Hmph, I too am a person who distinguishes kindness and enmity!"
"Unexpectedly, after all these twists and turns, the Qing Ping Sword fell into his hands. Zhang Ruochen, it would be entirely fitting for you to call me 'Ancestral Master'!"
Ancestral Master?
Was he trying to take advantage of Xumi Saint Monk?
Zhang Ruochen finally saw a glimmer of hope and quickly made a third bow, saying: "Ancestral Master only remembers the Qing Ping Sword, but do you still recall the Yu Ding that you forgot in your cultivation cave dwelling at the Liangyi Sect?"
Void Heaven did not expect Zhang Ruochen to be so cooperative. His brows lifted, a hint of amusement flashing in his eyes, and then he sighed: "You brought the Yu Ding out from the Lin Lang Cave Dwelling, right?"
"Exactly," Zhang Ruochen said.
Void Heaven smiled as he looked at the deities with their varied expressions, saying: "Back then, I was obsessed with the sword path, utterly infatuated. I felt that having the Yu Ding on me would only make me lazy in cultivation, so I sealed it in the Lin Lang Cave Dwelling and abandoned it. I never expected that you, boy, would have such fortune—stumbling into the Lin Lang Cave Dwelling and bringing it out."
"Speaking of this, as your Ancestral Master, I must remind you of something. Zhang Ruochen, the Sword Ancestor passed the Soul Sword to you, not for you to rely on it, but to guide you in cultivating your own soul sword. Have you become lazy in your cultivation? How much power does your own soul sword possess?"
Hearing these words, it was as if a divine thunderbolt had struck Zhang Ruochen, causing his entire body to tremble.
Yes, relying on the Sword Ancestor's Soul Sword, he could fight against Tai Xu realm great deities—it was far too convenient!
But no matter how strong the Sword Ancestor's Soul Sword was, how could it slay a Boundless realm deity?
When he eventually reached the Boundless realm and only then discovered this flaw, going back to cultivate his own sword soul with full effort—how could it be perfect? There would inevitably be countless regrets.
Besides that, after obtaining the six divine swords, his refinement of the Abyssal Ancient Sword had also slowed down!
Even if the six divine swords were eventually repaired and restored to their divine artifact might, their most suitable master would still be the Sword Ancestor.
A weapon that suited oneself might not show a difference at the great deity realm, nor at the Boundless realm. But at the level of the All Heavens, every tiny flaw would be infinitely magnified, determining the level of combat power.
Even things that were not flaws might become flaws.
Just like Void Heaven, who cultivated the sword path.
Was the sword path a flaw?
No.
At least for Void Heaven, at the great deity realm and the Boundless realm, cultivating the sword path was an advantage.
But at his current level, as the Void Controller, cultivating the sword path had become a fatal weakness. Without reaching that level, one would never realize what was limiting one's upper limit, or when one had taken a wrong path.
Void Heaven's reminder was like waking Zhang Ruochen from a great dream, as if he had withdrawn his foot from the edge of a cliff. He let out a long breath.
This time, completely sincerely, he made a fourth bow to Void Heaven, saying: "Thank you, Ancestral Master, for the guidance. I will remember this kindness for life."
Mu Tuo War God, Ghost Lord, Li Yuan Heavenly God, and others sensed the "bu dui jin" (something amiss) atmosphere, and their expressions grew increasingly grave.
It seemed Void Heaven had no intention of killing Zhang Ruochen at all.
And what was this about the Yu Ding?
The Yu Ding's owner was Void Heaven?
They naturally would not believe that Void Heaven, because he was focused on the sword path, would seal away a treasure like the Yu Ding in the Kunlun Realm. But who dared to refute it?
And who could produce evidence to refute it?
Void Heaven laughed: "Now that my sword path has reached great accomplishment, I no longer worry about being influenced by external objects. It is time to reclaim the Yu Ding. Zhang Ruochen, return the Yu Ding!"
Zhang Ruochen said: "The Yu Ding was taken by Wu Bian, the Hall Master of the Darkness Temple!"
Void Heaven's brows furrowed.
Mu Tuo War God had long sensed something was wrong and immediately stepped forward. At this moment, even if it meant offending Void Heaven, he had to speak: "This child Zhang Ruochen is using the Yu Ding to split the Destiny Temple and the Darkness Temple. I beg Void Heaven to think thrice."
Mu Tuo War God could clearly see that Zhang Ruochen and Void Heaven were playing a double act.
One wanted to obtain Void Heaven's forgiveness, the other wanted the Darkness Temple's Yu Ding.
Since that was the case, he had to expose all of this and put everything on the table. Although this would offend Void Heaven, at most it was a crime of disrespect, not deserving death.
Void Heaven could not kill him for this.
He was the War God of the Darkness Temple. For the sake of the Darkness Temple's interests, he could even offend Void Heaven. When he returned, he would surely gain the "zhong shi" (regard) of Jiusi Yitianhuang.
That was what mattered more!
Void Heaven's face darkened, and he said: "What do you mean?"
Mu Tuo War God remained unyielding, saying: "Void Heaven appointed Wu Yue, the Hall Master of the Spirit God Hall of our Darkness Temple, as Heavenly Consort, yet she was defiled by this child Zhang Ruochen. Knowing he would surely die, Zhang Ruochen wanted to use the Yu Ding to exchange for his own life. But he harbors evil intentions—his true purpose is to provoke conflict between the Destiny Temple and the Darkness Temple. His heart deserves death."
Including Ghost Lord and Li Yuan Heavenly God, these Tai Xu realm powerhouses, all the deities in the hall were horrified. Each held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
Mu Tuo War God was courting death!
Yin Yang Divine Master shouted coldly: "How dare you! Mu Tuo, are you saying that the Yu Ding is not Void Heaven's possession? Do you think that a mere Zhang Ruochen could possess such a treasure?"
"For the sake of the Yu Ding, some people really don't want their lives!" Jin Jue Heavenly God laughed.
Void Heaven waved his hand, signaling the Destiny Temple deities who wanted to teach Mu Tuo War God a lesson to withdraw. He said calmly: "It is only natural that the Darkness Temple, having just obtained the Yu Ding, would want to keep it for themselves. There is nothing wrong with that. Mu Tuo, are you saying that Zhang Ruochen, because he offended me, wanted to resolve his life-and-death crisis by offering the Yu Ding?"
"Here, I can tell you clearly. I have been watching the recent actions of your Darkness Temple, and I am furious in my heart. You can do whatever you want to Zhang Ruochen, you can use any means to take the Hundred Clans Royal City—but to use me, you have picked the wrong person to offend!"
As the last word fell, the overwhelming divine might pressed down on Mu Tuo War God, who was at the peak of Tai Xu realm, causing him to fall to his knees with a "bang." The bones of his entire body crackled like frying beans.
Void Heaven said coldly: "What nonsense about appointing Wu Yue as Heavenly Consort—that never happened. You dare to spread such rumors? Zhang Ruochen, tell him what really happened!"
Zhang Ruochen was stunned.
"Have you also lost your memory like Wu Yue?"
Void Heaven pointed at Que, saying: "You tell them."
Que stepped forward and said: "At that time, in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, my master saw that Zhang Ruochen's martial arts talent was extraordinary and that he would surely become a great asset in the future. He was quite pleased with him. But the hatred between him and the Darkness Temple was too deep, and with Tian Mu standing behind him, if these two forces were to fight in the future, the entire Hell Realm would be thrown into turmoil."
"The Hell Realm cannot be allowed to fall into chaos!"
"In order to resolve the enmity between the two sides, my master took the initiative and arranged a marriage between Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue, using the alliance to avoid potential crises that might arise in the future. Both Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue agreed."
"At that time, only five people were present. I don't know who, with ulterior motives, spread the rumor that my master had appointed Wu Yue as Heavenly Consort, causing turmoil throughout the Hell Realm. That person deserves to die!"
Void Heaven roared: "Zhang Ruochen, was it you who refused to marry Wu Yue and deliberately spread the rumor? Do you want to die?"
...
There will be another chapter tonight.