Chapter 3202: Heavenly Book Omen
The six-colored starry sky, with nebulas condensed into forest-like forms, was truly wondrous.
This was the most core star domain of the Hell Realm, the Forest of No Return.
Three World Trees stood at the center of the Forest of No Return, majestic and grand, shrouded in divine mist all year round, like divine trees propping up the universe.
A single leaf of theirs was an entire world.
Yama Heaven Beyond Heaven, Fengdu Ghost City, and Fate Divine Domain—these three divine cities, hailed as the most powerful in the Hell Realm—were respectively located atop the three World Trees, gathering countless gods.
...
A small, yellowish-brown rocky asteroid, seven hundred miles long, lacked an atmosphere and had an irregular shape.
On such an asteroid, a city had been built, guarded by a large number of Hell Realm troops.
This was because there was a Space Teleportation Array here, directly connecting to Fengdu Ghost City.
Zhang Ruochen stood within the city on the rocky asteroid, gazing at the three World Trees, using the Heart of Truth and the Wuji Divine Dao to perceive them carefully.
However, the star domain outside the three World Trees was shrouded by strange and terrifying power, making it impossible to sense the forms, cultivators, or information of the worlds within.
"Swoosh!"
At the center of the city, the circular Space Teleportation Array lit up, its light like a pillar.
A Divine Ship appeared within the array.
It flashed and vanished, the Divine Ship departing for Fengdu Ghost City.
This place was merely a transfer point for space teleportation; cultivators heading to Fengdu Ghost City rarely stayed in the city.
Xue Mu stared at the direction of the teleportation array, snorting coldly: "It's the Ghost Lord's Divine Ship. That old fellow rushed over from the star domain where the Hundred Clans Royal City is located. It seems he wants to use the birthday celebration as an opportunity to befriend the gods of Xue Changjin's and Shentu Ghost Emperor's factions."
"The Young Lord might not know, but the Ghost Lord was previously closest to the Wenhe Ghost Emperor faction."
The Hell Realm had nine great Ghost Cities, each backed by an Infinite Realm Ghost Clan titan.
But Fengdu Ghost City was the only divine city of the Ghost Clan, the supreme hall. The other eight Ghost Cities combined could not contend with Fengdu Ghost City.
For the Ghost Lord to secure his position as the City Lord of Earth Fiend Ghost City and maintain his transcendent status within the Ghost Clan, he naturally needed the support of Fengdu Ghost City.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What is the origin of that Formation Divine Master from Earth Fiend Ghost City? Why is there so little information about her circulating?"
Beside the Ghost Lord, there was a female ghost wearing a wedding robe and a phoenix crown, possessing extremely powerful Spiritual Power and profound formation mastery.
A hundred years ago, when Zhang Ruochen was on his way to the Destiny Temple, she had made a move, and her strength was extraordinary.
Just now, Zhang Ruochen had sensed her aura again on the Ghost Lord's Divine Ship, hence the question.
Xue Mu said, "Her name is Qianqian. Her Spiritual Power is very strong, and she holds a transcendent status within Earth Fiend Ghost City. Only the Ghost Lord knows her origins."
"It is said that she died on her wedding night, killed by her own husband. Thus, she harbors an obsession and resentment, always wearing a wedding robe and phoenix crown. If the Young Lord can subdue her, it would be like cutting off one of the Ghost Lord's arms. Hehe!"
Sometimes, a bad reputation truly cannot be washed away.
The reason Zhang Ruochen inquired about Divine Master Qianqian was entirely due to his constant vigilance towards those with powerful Spiritual Power. Such people often hide their secrets deeply, making it difficult to see through their true intentions.
"Swoosh!"
The Space Teleportation Array lit up again, and a group of cultivators appeared within it, all at the Great Saint Realm.
There were towering Barbarians, those with lion heads, and others crackling with electricity...
Protected by this group of Great Saints, seven carriages drove out of the array, but they did not immediately head to Fengdu Ghost City, as if waiting for someone.
Those seven carriages were each the size of a palace, emitting rings of divine light, clearly indicating the noble status of those within.
Seeing this group of cultivators, Xue Mu showed a peculiar expression and looked towards Zhang Ruochen.
These cultivators were the strong ones from seven of the former Hundred Clans Royal City's clans—the Electric Carboxyl Clan, the Ancient Barbarian Clan, and the Silver Lion Clan were even among the top-ranked smaller clans.
Previously, through coordinated internal and external attacks, a corner of the Hundred Clans Royal City's Starry Prison Grand Formation had been breached. That time, over a dozen small clans had rebelled, and the Hundred Clans Royal City had nearly completely fallen.
Fortunately, several mysterious strong ones had appeared in the city, and the Hell Realm army's preparations were insufficient. Soon, the Hundred Clans Royal City suppressed the rebellion and repaired the formation.
Nevertheless, the gods of seven small clans had taken their ancestral realms and escaped the star domain of the Starry Prison Grand Formation, joining the Hell Realm.
It was not hard to guess that within those seven carriages were the gods of the seven clans.
Zhang Ruochen's expression was calm, showing no emotion.
Given the situation of the Hundred Clans Royal City, its fall was only a matter of time. The gods of these small clans, seeking a way to survive for their people, were beyond reproach.
Zhang Ruochen could understand their choice.
But having escaped and become the vanguard of the Hell Realm, turning their weapons against the Hundred Clans Royal City, they were now enemies, with no room for sentiment.
At that moment, a golden, radiant Divine Ship flew from a leaf world of the World Tree where the Fate Divine Domain was located, hovering above the city.
On the Divine Ship, golden war flags fluttered, bearing the characters "Blazing Sun."
On the ground, the Great Saints of the seven clans and the seven carriages flew up onto the Divine Ship.
Seven gods of various forms stepped out from the carriages, each exuding powerful divine might and high spirits. Whether it was the Great Saints of the seven clans or the Blazing Sun Clan cultivators on the Divine Ship, all knelt on one knee.
Blazing Sun Heavenly Lord, with long golden hair, a robust physique, and blood energy like a dragon, led six Blazing Sun Clan gods out of the Divine Ship, actively welcoming them, exchanging pleasantries and laughter with the seven clan gods.
Xue Mu, as if afraid Zhang Ruochen wouldn't know, said, "The Blazing Sun Clan is now the eleventh clan of the Hell Realm. They are forging ties with various factions, spending vast amounts of Divine Stones and treasures, seeking to fully integrate into the Hell Realm. In the war to attack the Hundred Clans Royal City, they are the most active, intending to occupy the Hundred Clans Royal City and turn that starry sky into their territory. By subjugating the various small clans in the Hundred Clans Royal City, they aim to bolster the Blazing Sun Clan's prestige."
"If they succeed, the Blazing Sun Clan might truly establish a firm foothold in the Hell Realm."
Zhang Ruochen said, "So the Blazing Sun Clan also intends to latch onto Xue Changjin's thigh, using this opportunity to build a good relationship with Fengdu Ghost City. This birthday celebration is quite interesting! It seems Shentu Ghost Emperor holds considerable influence in Fengdu Ghost City."
Xue Mu said solemnly, "Not just considerable—when the Great Emperor is absent, Shentu Ghost Emperor is the foremost among the Five Ghost Emperors. The entire Fengdu Ghost City, the entire Ghost Clan, follows his orders. His influence extends to the entire Middle Three Clans."
"Now that Wenhe Ghost Emperor has fallen, once Shentu Ghost Emperor returns, his influence will only rise further. The Xue family is like a vassal of Shentu Ghost Emperor, and Xue Changjin is the god Shentu Ghost Emperor trusts most. His birthday celebration is no small matter."
"Swoosh!"
The Blazing Sun Clan's Divine Ship passed through the Space Teleportation Array and headed to Fengdu Ghost City.
Soon, a ball of light flew out from the Fate Divine Domain, crossed the star domain space, and descended into the city.
It was the gods of the Destiny Temple, with representatives from the Three Departments and various Divine Palaces.
Among them were as many as four Grand Gods of the Grand Void Realm, including Hai Shang Youruo, who had reached the mid-stage of the Grand Void Realm.
In just over eighty years, breaking through to the mid-stage of the Grand Void Realm, she must have had an extraordinary opportunity.
However, Hai Shang Youruo had been stuck at the peak of the Supreme Void Realm for many years, accumulating a deep foundation of divine Qi and rule divine patterns. That she could break through with accumulated strength was not surprising to Zhang Ruochen.
Just as they were about to enter the Space Teleportation Array, Bore suddenly stopped and said, "You go ahead to Fengdu Ghost City first."
"What's wrong?" Hai Shang Youruo asked.
Bore said, "I forgot to bring the birthday gift from Nutian Shenzun's Divine Palace."
The gods of the Destiny Temple smiled, not suspicious, and all walked into the Space Teleportation Array, disappearing in an instant.
Bore's beautiful eyes searched the city.
"Stop looking, I'm right in front of you," Zhang Ruochen's voice entered Bore's ears.
The scene before Bore's eyes seemed to turn into lines, flowing rapidly.
Space shifted, and she appeared opposite Zhang Ruochen, sitting on a wooden, incense-scented chair. Such spatial means were something even gods could not react to!
The two stared at each other for a long time.
Bore could see that Zhang Ruochen had changed a lot, becoming more aggressive than before. His eyes were very gentle, but the strong aura emanating from them made her feel suffocated, unable to meet his gaze directly.
She said, "Master said you have been cultivating in the Zhang Clan's ancestral land. Have you finally broken through?"
"Something like that."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and asked, "Xue Changjin is just celebrating a birthday. What has he done to deserve the gods of the Destiny Temple's Three Departments and Twelve Palaces all coming to offer congratulations? What exactly is going on?"
Bore said seriously, "The Heavenly Fate Department calculated that a turmoil is about to erupt in Fengdu Ghost City, and there were omens and warnings on the Heavenly Book of Fate."
"Why are you looking at me like that? You don't think the turmoil in Fengdu Ghost City will be caused by me, do you?" Zhang Ruochen laughed. "I do intend to go to Fengdu Ghost City, but only to target Xue Changjin."
Bore said, "You are targeting Xue Changjin, but the chain reaction it will trigger is definitely not small. The situation is turbulent now, and the Quantity Organization is stirring up trouble everywhere. If Fengdu Ghost City falls into chaos, the consequences will be dire."
"Regardless of how this turmoil erupts, if people find out you were in Fengdu Ghost City during this time, do you think Fengdu Dadi will let you off when he returns?"
"You wouldn't even need to wait for Fengdu Dadi's return, because this matter would be enough to confirm your identity as a member of the Quantity Organization."
Bore's tone softened, "The Destiny Temple also suspects Xue Changjin and is very wary of him. You should do less now and wait for Xue Changjin to reveal his own flaws."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze turned inward, and he pondered for a moment, then said, "Are you trying to persuade me to leave?"
"You shouldn't wade into this muddy water, or you'll never be clean in the future. I think you should head to the Hundred Clans Royal City now, take this opportunity to defeat the Hell Realm army, and seize control of the Hundred Clans Royal City," Bore said.
Zhang Ruochen said solemnly, "Going to the Hundred Clans Royal City with the identity of a Quantity bearer would bring nothing but harm. What I am planning is significant, and I must go to Fengdu Ghost City. If it causes turmoil in Fengdu Ghost City, it will be unavoidable."
(Chapter End)