Chapter 3154: Chi Yao and Master Yuan Chen?
In the Void World, the Ancient Buddha of Putuo, attacked by death thought power, had his physical body turn into withered wood, and his escape speed grew slower and slower.
“We can’t get away!”
The Fifth Elder moved his mind, and thousands of talismans condensed in the void, transforming into thousands of divine thorns that flew toward the Ancient Buddha of Putuo ahead.
“Whoosh!”
Zhang Ruochen shattered the real world, descended into the Void World, swung out the Bodhi Tree, and shattered all the divine thorns.
“Who exactly are you? Why do you have the Sixth Patriarch’s Bodhi Tree? Among the Sixth Patriarch’s ten great disciples, there is no one like you.” The Fifth Elder was extremely cold, drawing divine talismans with his fingers.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the Fifth Elder, who was getting closer, his expression grave.
The opponent’s spiritual power was formidable, his methods strange and exquisite. With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, even with the help of the Bodhi Tree, he was no match. A direct confrontation would mean certain defeat.
At that moment, the Bodhi Tree shook, and ghostly mist flowed.
It was the Great Demon God Mo Fei, trying to break free from the Bodhi Tree’s suppression.
The Ancient Buddha of Putuo returned, his body filled with deathly energy, his flesh becoming wood-like, and he came to Zhang Ruochen’s side.
“Why did you come back?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Amitabha! How could Putuo flee alone, leaving the Master Uncle here? Today, even if it means death, I will fight him to the bitter end.”
The Ancient Buddha of Putuo released the Four Gods from his sleeve and handed them to Zhang Ruochen. A look of absolute determination filled his eyes, and his physical body began to burn.
“With just you, you think you can fight me to the bitter end?” The Fifth Elder sneered contemptuously.
Zhang Ruochen said, “What about with me added?”
The Bodhi Tree grew in the Void World, its branches and leaves swaying, scattering Buddhist light and radiance that could resist spiritual power.
“Whoosh!”
At that moment, bright Origin Divine Light shone into the Void World.
The character “Burial” flew rapidly toward this direction.
The smile on the Fifth Elder’s face faded, and he muttered to himself, “So it’s the Origin Master God. That’s a bit troublesome.”
Turning into a streak of blue light, the Fifth Elder shattered the spatial barrier between reality and void, and soon disappeared from Zhang Ruochen’s perception.
Back in the real world, with Zhang Ruochen’s help, the deathly energy inside the Ancient Buddha of Putuo was completely purified, and his skin grew back. However, he was extremely weak, his aura dropping to the level of a Great God at the Taibai Realm. It was unknown how long it would take him to recover.
“This Fifth Elder of Tiannan is too formidable, especially his death thought power—it’s simply unstoppable. If not for the Master Uncle’s help today, Putuo might not have been able to escape.”
The Ancient Buddha of Putuo stood up and bowed to Zhang Ruochen, saying, “Putuo owes the Master Uncle two lives now!”
Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly and said, “What is life, and what is death? All karma was already determined the moment we met.”
Afterward, the Ancient Buddha of Putuo introduced Zhang Ruochen’s identity to Qingsi Xue, Feng Xi, Wu Ming, and Jingxiu. Immediately, the four gods showed great respect, quickly bowing and thanking Zhang Ruochen for saving them.
Zhang Ruochen felt very uncomfortable and looked at Chi Yao, who was staring at him with cold, sharp eyes. He naturally understood what she was thinking and sent a telepathic message: “I can’t help it. My identity can’t be exposed. To be honest, my seniority in the Buddhist sect is indeed above Uncle Chi’s, so I deserve such a grand salute.”
Zhang Ruochen’s identity might fool others, but how could it fool Chi Yao?
Jingxiu was the former Azure Emperor of the Kunlun Realm, Chi Yao’s father.
The coldness on Chi Yao’s face deepened. “Master Yuan Chen, may I have a word alone?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled amiably. “Alright.”
Seeing Zhang Ruochen walk into the spiritual power domain of Zangjin Baihu, Jingxiu and the Ancient Buddha of Putuo both frowned, showing worried expressions.
That Master Yuan Chen held the Bodhi Tree, clearly the Sixth Patriarch’s successor. His status was extremely noble, and he had just saved their lives.
They hoped nothing troublesome would happen.
Zhang Ruochen gazed closely at Chi Yao’s snow-white, jade-like face, his smile becoming more solemn and sacred.
“Staring like that will arouse suspicion,” Chi Yao said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Boy or girl?”
A hint of resentment flickered in Chi Yao’s eyes. “Do you still care about her? Going to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain to find the Sword Realm—I understand the urgency, and I don’t blame you. But after coming out, why didn’t you return to the Kunlun Realm immediately? Even if not to see me, you should have at least seen her.”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t explain. “I’m sorry. It’s all my fault. After escaping from the Destiny Temple, I tried every possible way to return to the Heavenly Court to see you all, didn’t I?”
In truth, Chi Yao didn’t actually blame Zhang Ruochen. She understood his predicament. She was just unhappy about his marriage to Wu Yue. She knew he had many helpless choices, but she still wanted to vent her emotions.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen apologize without any explanation, Chi Yao instead felt a pang of heartache, thinking she was being too harsh and unreasonable.
But she would never show that heartache. Her gaze softened a little. “A girl! I named her Zhang Yuyan.”
The smile on Zhang Ruochen’s face gradually turned playful.
It was no surprise that Chi Yao would give the child the surname “Zhang.”
But the name Yuyan was interesting, containing elements of Huang Yanchen and Ling Feiyu. Could it be that Chi Yao’s intolerant personality had changed?
That would be a good thing.
“Very good. I like that name very much.” Zhang Ruochen almost couldn’t help grabbing Chi Yao’s hand, but he thought about how that scene, if seen by those far away, would probably shock them beyond measure.
Chi Yao shot Zhang Ruochen a glare and began discussing serious matters. “This is very strange. The Fifth Elder of Tiannan was originally outside the Giant Spirit Divine Temple, but he suddenly left, just to deal with Father and the others. In his eyes, are the four gods—Father and the others—more important than the Giant Spirit Divine Temple?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Qingsi Xue is the Hall Master of the Truth Divine Temple, Feng Xi is a god of the Wind Clan, and Uncle Chi is your father. Which of them is unimportant? The fall of any one of them would affect the whole situation, triggering a massive upheaval.”
Chi Yao sensed there was a deeper meaning in Zhang Ruochen’s words. “What do you mean?”
“The Quantity Organization,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao’s gaze darkened slightly. She thought for a moment, then shook her head. “No, the Quantity Organization wouldn’t act so blatantly. They wouldn’t expose themselves so easily.”
“Do you know who that peak Taixu Realm powerhouse who attacked you was?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao said, “That person retreated decisively after discovering we possessed one-tenth of the Origin Esoterica. He concealed himself very well and carried a secret treasure. Only by truly fighting him could I have tested his identity.”
“No matter how well he concealed himself, he couldn’t fool my perception,” Zhang Ruochen said.
A look of surprise appeared on Chi Yao’s flawless, immortal-like face. “I also possess part of the power of the Heart of Truth. Why didn’t I sense it? Who is he?”
“Jia Tianxia.”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “As early as the battle at Xinghuantian, I discovered the mark of the Quantity Organization inside Erjia Xuezu. Jia Tianxia’s attack this time further confirms my speculation.”
“So, the Death Clan’s attack on Uncle Chi was likely meant to lure you here. The real target of the Quantity Organization was probably you. However, they didn’t anticipate that Zangjin Baihu could use the Origin Esoterica to reach peak Taixu-level combat power, so they immediately retreated.”
Chi Yao could, of course, trust Zhang Ruochen without reservation. She pondered the possibilities he had laid out. “If Jia Tianxia is a member of the Quantity Organization, he must be eliminated as soon as possible. But he’s at the peak of the Taixu Realm. Assassinating him would be too difficult.”
“Then expose his identity and let the Heavenly Court execute him.”
Leaving a powerhouse like Jia Tianxia, who could kill Chi Yao at any moment, alive in the world made Zhang Ruochen deeply uneasy.
Chi Yao said, “Without absolute evidence, who would dare to easily touch a peak Taixu Realm Great God? I can believe your words, but no one in the Heavenly Court will. You should know about the rebellion of the Four Yang Heavenly Lord and the Blazing Sun Civilization, right? The internal situation in the Heavenly Court is very sensitive right now.”
“Where is Xuanyuan Qing?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao had heard about what happened between Zhang Ruochen and Xuanyuan Qing in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain. She knew he wouldn’t give up and wanted to use the Heavenly Venerable’s daughter’s hand to kill Jia Tianxia.
In her heart, she didn’t want Zhang Ruochen to get too close to Xuanyuan Qing.
But killing Jia Tianxia was more urgent.
Chi Yao said, “Xuanyuan Qing has been cultivating in the Radiant Divine Temple for years, always upholding the philosophy of light. No one knows if the Radiant Divine Temple has instilled ideas unfavorable to the Kunlun Realm in her.”
At this point, she felt something was off and snorted. “I’m not trying to slander her, but one must be cautious. Whether from the perspective of personal interests or the overall cosmic situation, Xuanyuan Qing has reasons to kill you. If possible, it would be better for me to meet her.”
“Can you convince her? You can’t, but I can,” Zhang Ruochen said.
...
After a heated argument, Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao finished their discussion and walked over, greeted by a pair of strange looks from everyone.
The Ancient Buddha of Putuo remained relatively calm and asked with a smile, “Is the Master Uncle an old acquaintance of Great God Chi Yao?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Of course not. It’s just that the mysterious powerhouse who attacked and destroyed space earlier was quite strange. Great God Chi Yao asked this humble monk about some things, trying to deduce that person’s identity.”
The gods present nodded in understanding. Yes, it was indeed strange.
Not only did he attack, but he deliberately shattered a large area of space, clearly trying to use the power of chaotic space to conceal his identity. Could he be a Great God from the Heavenly Court side?
“Was there any result?” the Ancient Buddha of Putuo quickly asked.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
This excuse might fool other gods, but how could it fool Jingxiu?
Jingxiu knew Chi Yao too well. He keenly noticed that for the first time, Chi Yao showed a faint hint of affection toward a man other than Zhang Ruochen.
Although she kept hiding it, the way she looked at Master Yuan Chen still left traces.
Love cannot be hidden.
Jingxiu felt a pang of pain and bitterness in his heart, which then turned into anger. No matter how transcendent and ethereal this Master Yuan Chen was, she must not do anything to betray Ruochen.
Even if Chi Yao had reached the Great God level and might not listen to him as her father, he had to intervene.
The Chi family had already wronged the Zhang family enough.
Regarding the events of the past, there was no clear right or wrong, but once war began, it was accompanied by slaughter and innocent deaths. How could one get past that hurdle in their heart?
Even if one spent a lifetime cultivating Buddhism, it would be difficult to atone for the sins in their heart.