Chapter 3150: Persuading Desolate Heaven
Liang Gu said, "Killing Xuan Yuan Lian—I don't think it's feasible."
"What's wrong with it?" Liang Ji asked.
Liang Gu replied, "Killing the son of the Heavenly Venerable is equivalent to declaring war on the Heavenly Court—there's nothing wrong with that. The problem is, in the current world, I'm afraid no one can kill Xuan Yuan Lian. Qing Yu Sheng compiled the latest edition of *The Discourse on Great Gods*, and Xuan Yuan Lian's overall strength ranks fourth. With such power, unless an Infinite-level being makes a move, who can kill him?"
*The Discourse on Great Gods* had a total of twenty-five rankings, among which the Comprehensive Strength Ranking held the greatest influence. It listed thirty names, representing the ranking of the most powerful cultivators below the Infinite Realm.
Given the current cosmic situation, ranking fourth on the Comprehensive Strength Ranking meant being the fourth-strongest in the world.
Add to that his identity as the son of the Heavenly Venerable, and he was bound to have numerous trump cards and hidden means—perhaps even unpredictable variables.
As powerful as the Famous Sword God was, ranking first on the Sword Dao Ranking, he only placed seventeenth on the Comprehensive Strength Ranking. Feng Yun Ba ranked second on the Sword Dao Ranking but was at the very bottom of the Comprehensive Strength Ranking.
Because of the journey to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, he had lost the divine artifact, the Famous Lord Sword, and the Sword Dao Essence. In the latest edition of *The Discourse on Great Gods*, the Famous Sword God's name had disappeared from the Comprehensive Strength Ranking.
Liang Gu said, "We could choose the Heavenly Venerable's daughter, Xuan Yuan Qing. It would be best to kill her in a humiliating manner."
The Liang Envoys present all showed expressions of understanding.
To provoke the Heavenly Court's desire for revenge, the methods naturally had to be extreme enough.
Liang Gu continued, "As for Chi Yao, if we want to kill her, we must never underestimate the strength of Zang Jin Bai Hu. We must ensure absolute certainty. But just killing people—shouldn't that be enough?"
The last sentence was directed at Liang Ji.
"If we can break through the Heavenly Court's second Starry Sky Defense Line, that would be the true decisive blow. There would be no need to stir up the emotions of the Hell Realm; the Hell Realm army would naturally attack on its own," Liang Ji said.
Liang Gu said, "The second Starry Sky Defense Line has been set up by the Heavens. With our Great God-level cultivation, it's almost impossible to destroy it. But we can still try—after all, no matter how strong the defense line, it is guarded by people. As long as there are people, there will always be weaknesses."
...
Arriving at Xing Huan Tian, Zhang Ruochen first visited Desolate Heaven.
Desolate Heaven stood before Bai Huang Hou's grave, as steady as a mountain, his eyes filled with sorrow.
The hibiscus flowers in the Yu Chen Temple seemed never to wither, always so vibrant.
Desolate Heaven put away his sorrowful emotions, glanced at Zhang Ruochen, and said, "Marrying Wu Yue was the most regrettable decision you've ever made in your life."
"If I had any other choice, why would I have done this?" Zhang Ruochen said with a bitter smile.
Desolate Heaven said, "If there's nothing else, you can leave now."
"One of the most important reasons I came to Xing Huan Tian was to pay my respects to you, senior. My maternal grandfather wants to invite you to the Blood Heaven Tribe to cultivate together inside the Sundial," Zhang Ruochen said.
In truth, Xue Jue's exact words were: "Tell Desolate Heaven—if he doesn't come, he'll definitely be left far behind by me. When that happens, I'll smash his dog head. Tell him exactly that!"
A cold, sharp expression appeared in Desolate Heaven's eyes. "The Infinite beings have marched north. This is precisely the time for me to go to Paradise Realm and fight to the death with Xuan Yi. Do you think I would hide away in seclusion like him? Time is never the only shortcut to rapid cultivation. Tell him—even if he goes into seclusion for a hundred thousand years, he won't leave me behind."
Zhang Ruochen could tell that Desolate Heaven's visit to Bai Huang Hou's grave was likely a final farewell. He had already resolved to go to Paradise Realm to take revenge on Xuan Yi, even if it meant death.
What tremendous courage!
What profound emotion!
Who said the Stone Clan had no feelings?
Zhang Ruochen had fought Xuan Yi before and knew how terrifying he was. With Desolate Heaven's current cultivation, at best, he could only achieve mutual destruction. Why must it come to this?
But Zhang Ruochen understood the principle: "Not knowing the pain in another's heart, do not urge them to be rational."
Zhang Ruochen let out a long sigh. "Actually, my grandfather has a favor to ask."
"Xue Jue asking a favor of me? Zhang Ruochen, you can't stop me from going to Paradise Realm. If I don't return, take good care of Qing Er for me." A hint of bitterness appeared in Desolate Heaven's resolute eyes.
Zhang Ruochen said, "This time, my grandfather truly has no other choice and can only turn to you. He believes that in this world, you are one of the few people he can absolutely trust."
"In this world, who can still do anything to Xue Jue?" Desolate Heaven asked curiously.
Zhang Ruochen said, "My grandfather is indeed preparing to activate the Sundial and go into seclusion to cultivate. But before that, he must eliminate all uncertain factors around him. Therefore, he plans to use the Sundial as bait to lure them all out."
"My grandfather believes that after the Infinite beings marched north, the Quantity Organization will definitely seize the opportunity to stir up trouble. And their primary target is likely him."
"My grandfather doesn't have many people he can absolutely trust, and even fewer who have the strength to help him. Senior, I beg you to go and help him. Ruochen pleads with you!"
Zhang Ruochen bowed deeply.
Xue Jue had indeed discussed this matter with Zhang Ruochen, but he had never said he wanted Desolate Heaven's help.
Zhang Ruochen acted so humbly, making this request, partly because he was genuinely worried that something might go wrong with Xue Jue War God, and partly because he wanted to stop Desolate Heaven from going to Paradise Realm.
Xue Jue War God was incredibly arrogant—if he was now asking for help, Desolate Heaven, though suspicious, would never believe that Zhang Ruochen would scheme against him.
"Xue Jue has come to this?" Desolate Heaven sneered.
Zhang Ruochen deliberately said, "The reason my grandfather was so arrogant and looked down on everyone before was mainly because he had many powerful backers. But now that those backers have left, he naturally lacks confidence."
Desolate Heaven deeply agreed with this point and nodded. "The North Marsh Great Wall is far away, and the Heavens and Infinite beings probably won't return anytime soon. Fine, I'll go to the Blood Heaven Tribe first, then head to Paradise Realm."
After Desolate Heaven left, Divine Master Yu Yao walked out. "Ruochen, thank you."
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand and smiled. "In this world, there are only a few people who can influence Desolate Heaven's will. Actually, having Qing Er step forward would be more effective than bringing up my grandfather."
Divine Master Yu Yao said, "Qing Er is a person with strong opinions, but she is also too opinionated. Once she hates someone, it's hard to change. The same goes for loving someone. Perhaps only you can resolve the conflict between father and daughter."
"Before Xuan Yi, Yi Tian Jun, Shang Tian, and Shi Zu are dead, how can her heart knot be untied?" Then, Zhang Ruochen added, "Leave everything to time. Time will fade everything and heal the wounds in people's hearts."
After bidding farewell to Yu Yao, Zhang Ruochen took Yu Ling Shen to Mi Shan Tian Zun Lake.
This had once been the medicinal garden of Xing Huan Tian Zun, filled with sacred medicines, each of extraordinary value. There were also cliff carvings and ancient stele inscriptions left by great figures of antiquity, all of which were masterpieces passed down through the ages, of immense value for Great God cultivation.
Yu Ling Shen had never seen such a treasure trove. As she walked forward, her beautiful eyes shimmered. If she could gather the sacred medicines here for nourishment and comprehend the scriptures left by the Tian Zun and ancient powerhouses, why worry about being unable to step into the Infinite Realm?
But unless one was Zhang Ruochen's absolute trusted confidant, who had the right to enter here at any time?
"This is truly a Tian Zun blessed land. Ruochen's fortune makes me envious," Yu Ling Shen said, her pretty face beaming with a smile, full of charm, as she cast a lingering, reproachful glance at Zhang Ruochen.
"Don't seduce me. I've been carrying a lot of Yang energy lately, and I might not be able to withstand the allure of your Grand Void mid-stage," Zhang Ruochen said, though his eyes were clear and he didn't look at her.
Yu Ling Shen naturally knew that if she tried to seduce Zhang Ruochen because of the cultivation resources at Mi Shan Tian Zun Lake, she would only be looked down upon by this young man.
"When did I seduce you? It's clearly you who has evil thoughts in your heart," Yu Ling Shen said.
Zhang Ruochen leaped up and plunged into the lake.
Yu Ling Shen followed closely.
Diving ten thousand zhang deep, the lake bottom was far more expansive than the surface, like a colorful, hazy underwater world. Even the mud at the bottom was purple, radiating a rosy glow.
A vine coiled around a stone pillar at the bottom caught Yu Ling Shen's eye.
The vine's leaves were dozens of meters long, like patches of green clouds, with countless feather-shaped divine patterns flowing over them. The vine itself resembled the body of a white dragon, thick and covered in scales.
"The legendary Phoenix-Head Dragon-Form Fu Fang Teng!"
Yu Ling Shen was excited and thrilled, every inch of her snow-white skin seeming to tremble.
"Don't get too excited too soon. The Tian Zun's power protects this place."
Zhang Ruochen extended a finger and pointed into the distance.
"Boom!"
Shields shaped like scales appeared in the water, completely enveloping the Phoenix-Head Dragon-Form Fu Fang Teng.
The residual waves of Tian Zun divine power emanating from the scales directly sent Yu Ling Shen and Zhang Ruochen flying backward.
Stopping dozens of miles away, Yu Ling Shen's smile faded. "The Tian Zun's divine power is so strong. With our cultivation, it's impossible to obtain the divine medicine."
"I didn't expect it to be this strong either."
Zhang Ruochen wasn't lying to her. After all, the last time he came, his cultivation was far inferior to now, and his understanding of the Tian Zun's sealing divine power was limited.
After all, it had been two or three million years...
He had thought that with his current rapidly improving cultivation, he might be able to try.
But after trying, he realized it still wasn't possible.
Zhang Ruochen said, "At least it's not a wasted trip. Now you know I didn't lie to you."
Yu Ling Shen smiled bitterly, naturally not blaming Zhang Ruochen for breaking his promise.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I always keep my word. So, there's no need to be so disappointed. There's another way."
"What way? Can you conjure up a divine medicine?" Yu Ling Shen asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Of course I can't conjure one! But I believe there must be some on the Starry Sky Battlefield."
Yu Ling Shen's heart stirred, and her eyes lit up.
If the Starry Sky Defense Line was breached, then the ancient civilizations that had formed the defense line would inevitably be exposed on the battlefield. Among them, the Giant Spirit Civilization and the Hidden Void Civilization were ranked among the top ten ancient civilizations. With their heritage, it was entirely possible for them to possess one or two divine medicines.
"Rather than letting the Hell Realm take them, we should claim them ourselves. Let's go. We can't delay any longer. I must get to the Starry Sky Battlefield as soon as possible." Zhang Ruochen had analyzed with Xue Jue War God what the Quantity Organization might do, so he was quite anxious.