Chapter 3290: The Choice of the Hell Realm Gods
Inside the iron cage, Xiao Hei grinned joyfully and called out, "Zhang Ruochen, hurry up and open the cage, break the divine chains. It's been a while, and I've actually missed you."
Zhang Ruochen pointed at the iron cage and said, "This person is an impostor. He cannot fool my Truth Eye. Cang Jue, lock him up with the gods of Fengdu Ghost City. We'll deal with him slowly later."
With that, ignoring Xiao Hei's shouts, Zhang Ruochen walked toward Chi Yao and the gods of Shengu Nest.
Chi Yao stood on the ground, ethereal like a maiden in a painting. She glanced at Xiao Hei, who was being dragged away by Cang Jue, and asked, "What's going on?"
"Some people have loose tongues and need to suffer a bit."
Zhang Ruochen naturally did not mention Feng Xi's matter. Instead, he said, "Fengdu Dadi is, after all, a Heavenly Venerable. How could he be casually criticized? Even if nothing has happened now, it doesn't mean he won't bring disaster upon himself in the future. Fortunately, Zhuque Huowu still showed respect to Bing Huang. If he had fallen into the hands of another god, he would likely be dead by now."
"Let's not dwell on that. May I ask how to address the several predecessors from Shengu Nest?"
The old man in human form cupped his hands and said, "Yi Clan, Mu."
"Sheng Clan, Wushen."
"Yan Clan, Huoyi."
Chi Yao said, "The five clans of Shengu Nest—Yi, Wan, Zang, Sheng, Yan—each clan member takes the clan surname. Senior Yi Mu is the strongest below the Infinite Realm in the Yi Clan, with extraordinary martial arts attainments."
"Senior Sheng Wushen primarily cultivates the Way of Life, the Way of Wood of the Five Elements, and the Way of Metal, and is proficient in various prehistoric divine abilities."
"Senior Yan Huoyi is an existence with an eighty-fourth-level spiritual power. Previously, when he infiltrated the Cold Stone Ancestral Realm and managed to deceive Zhuque Huowu, it was because he covered the heavenly secrets."
Zhang Ruochen had already witnessed their prowess when they repelled Zhuque Huowu earlier. Each possessed formidable combat strength, all worthy of being listed in the *Treatise on Great Gods*.
This demonstrated the strength of Shengu Nest.
Yi Mu said, "Before the Ancestral God departed for the North Marsh Great Wall, he calculated the current situation and instructed us to emerge and assist."
Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but ask, "What did the Ancestral God calculate?"
Yan Huoyi, who resembled a liquid human, said, "He calculated that the Quantity Organization would rise to prominence, that the second Starry Sky Defense Line would encounter upheaval, and that the Hell Realm would inevitably launch a large-scale attack on the Hundred Clans Royal City."
Yi Mu said, "What we need to do is force back the Hell Realm army, prevent a Heavenly Court attack, and hold out until Star Sea Angler, Nine Heavens, and the Ancestral God return."
"But Feng Tian is a variable we cannot ignore. If she decides to destroy everything, we will all die, and the Hundred Clans Royal City and Xinghuantian will turn into mountains of corpses and seas of blood." Sheng Wushen sighed, his tone filled with helplessness.
Zhang Ruochen did not mention the matter of the Thunder Clan. He said, "As long as the second Starry Sky Defense Line remains unbroken, Feng Tian will never do that. After all, the most terrifying things about the Hundred Clans Royal City and Xinghuantian are not a city or a realm, but Senior Nine Heavens and Star Sea Angler. Of course, it's not impossible that Feng Tian might take Xinghuantian and the Hundred Clans Royal City to force the two elders to join the Hell Realm."
"That won't be easy. The Watcher of the Heavenly Court will surely intervene to stop it."
Chi Yao then asked, "What's the plan next? Go directly to confront the Hell Realm gods?"
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then smiled. "Every clan in the Hell Realm has extraordinary trump cards and top-tier formidable figures. We cannot underestimate them."
"Moreover, they should be the ones in a hurry now. Instead of us going to them, it's better to wait for them to come to us."
Chi Yao's gaze swept over the devastated scene. "The protective divine formation of the Cold Stone Ancestral Realm is mostly destroyed. Without a formation to defend, it's not a good place for negotiations."
"Let's go to Xinghuantian!" Zhang Ruochen said.
...
Jade Python Lord, Yang Shuo, Kong Can, and Elder Yang returned to Xiongguan Star with the gods of the Death Clan. News of the fall of the Cold Stone Ancestral Realm came one after another.
The Hell Realm gods on the Eastern Extreme Continent fell into silence.
Kong Can asked, "Heavenly Lord, any news from Shen Wu?"
The Blazing Sun Heavenly Lord seemed to have aged several eons. He closed his eyes weakly and shook his head.
If only he had known that Zhang Ruochen, that junior, would grow to such a heaven-defying level, he would have spared no expense, even personally intervening, to kill him back then.
Kong Can comforted him, "Senior Shen Wu has profound cultivation. He shouldn't have been captured. Perhaps he has another plan, which is why there's been no news."
The surrounding gods discussed among themselves, all feeling that the situation was slipping out of control.
The defeat at the Great Heart Ape Ancestral Realm was one thing, given that the Darkness Temple gods' defection gave Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God the advantage of terrain.
But the involvement of Shengu Nest and the fall of the Cold Stone Ancestral Realm struck like a heavy blow to the hearts of every god in the Hell Realm.
The enemy was so strong—could they still cope?
Would Zhang Ruochen, Xiu Chen Heavenly God, and Shengu Nest take this opportunity to attack Xiongguan Star?
In the Hundred Clans Royal City, which faced Xiongguan Star, the cultivators of the various small clans were filled with fighting spirit and unprecedented morale.
Today, news of the divine battles deep in the star domain had been relayed back, incredibly uplifting, sweeping away a century of gloom.
Every cultivator on the streets was discussing it, repeatedly mentioning the names of Realm Lord Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
That's right! Xiu Chen Heavenly God had returned, becoming the focus of discussion among the major forces of the universe through a series of great battles. Killing Xu Zhen, fighting Shen Wu, forcing Zhuque Huowu to surrender, her prestige far overshadowing Zhang Ruochen.
All the gods analyzed that it was likely because Xiu Chen Heavenly God had obtained the Sundial's body and partially restored her cultivation that the Hell Realm suffered consecutive defeats.
As for Zhang Ruochen...
He was merely under the protection of Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
But being able to enlist a powerhouse like Xiu Chen Heavenly God also demonstrated Zhang Ruochen's ability.
The Hell Realm regarded Xiu Chen Heavenly God as a traitor and their greatest enemy. The various clans in the Hundred Clans Royal City saw her as a war god invited by Zhang Ruochen, a figure who could change the landscape of this star domain.
On Xiongguan Star, a god said coldly, "Xiu Chen Heavenly God is an existence of the Infinite Realm. Since she made a move, why didn't the Watcher appear to slay her?"
"As a god of the Shura Clan, yet opposing the Hell Realm at every turn, when our clan's God Venerable returns, she will surely be annihilated in both form and spirit." Another god spoke indignantly.
Jade Python Lord said, "I have seen Xiu Chen Heavenly God in action. Her cultivation is indeed far superior to before, but she has not reached the level of Qiankun Infinite. If we truly fight, I can contend with her."
The Blazing Sun Heavenly Lord had a resilient personality, growing stronger with setbacks. He recovered and said, "Everyone, don't be so disheartened. It's just a remnant soul like Xiu Chen, just Shengu Nest. The Hell Realm has countless strong individuals—why should we fear them?"
"Before leaving, the Four Suns Heavenly Lord left behind a Heavenly Banner. If Zhang Ruochen, Xiu Chen Heavenly God, and the others dare to come to Xiongguan Star, we will make sure they never return."
"Raise the Heavenly Banner, seal the planet."
The gods of the Blazing Sun Clan simultaneously unleashed divine light, and a Heavenly Banner imprinted with the figure of the Four Suns Heavenly Lord manifested in the void.
The war banner fluttered, resonating with heaven and earth.
Above the war banner, four blazing suns appeared, giving the gods an unparalleled sense of oppression.
The gods of the various major forces secretly thought, "As expected of a force with a Heavenly Venerable—they have too many trump cards, enough to ensure victory in battles below the Infinite Realm."
Kong Can snorted, "The Death Clan's Divine King Battle Formation once scared off Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God. Unfortunately, they are too cunning, only knowing how to flee and not daring to engage directly."
"The Divine King Battle Formation moves slowly. If it can't lock onto its target, it can only end up being passively beaten."
The gods all turned to look in the direction of the voice.
A god with butterfly wings, the Wind God, stepped out on wisps of green divine mist and said, "I am from the Green Deer Divine Hall, the senior disciple under Green Deer Divine King, Shen Feng. Greetings to all ancient gods!"
Shen Feng had only cultivated for over four hundred thousand years, which was quite young among a group of Tai Xu Great Gods, so he performed the junior's salute.
A senior disciple of a Divine King was indeed of noble status, but it depended on who he was compared to.
The people present all had at least a God Venerable as their backing, some even being disciples or descendants of Heavenly Venerables. They themselves were overlords of star domains, ruling over dozens of great worlds and hundreds of thousands of life-bearing planets.
A senior disciple of a Divine King only earned them a single glance.
Just that.
Unfazed by the disdain, Shen Feng still smiled and said, "Before leaving, the Divine King also left a trump card for the Green Deer Divine Hall. Today, it might be able to play a role!"
"Thank you, Great God Shen Feng. There will be an opportunity for the Green Deer Divine Hall to act."
"I heard that Xiu Chen Heavenly God once joined the Green Deer Divine Hall. Why don't you, Great God Shen Feng, use your methods to slay her?"
The gods smiled, not taking Shen Feng's words seriously.
Could a trump card left by a Divine King compare to one left by a Heavenly Venerable?
Not to mention a Heavenly Venerable's trump card—a single Divine King Battle Formation was enough to crush everything.
Shen Feng smiled and said, "Alright! Leave Xiu Chen Heavenly God to this junior!"
The gods directly ignored Shen Feng and continued their discussions.
Shen Feng returned to the Green Deer Divine Hall's camp, his smile gradually fading, a cold gleam appearing in his eyes. Behind him, on a bone war chariot, sat a black coffin.
Six false gods guarded the black coffin.
A Great God from Fengdu Ghost City suddenly spoke, "Lady Huowu's cultivation is profound, and she is by no means weak-willed. She would only willingly surrender if her opponent was so powerful that she couldn't even self-destruct her divine source. I believe that in the current situation, we should first negotiate with Zhang Ruochen."
A single stone stirred a thousand waves!
Zhenyun Great God faced condemnation from gods of all sides.
"Is Fengdu Ghost City, the foremost of the Ghost Clan and the city of a Heavenly Venerable, already surrendering and admitting defeat?"
"Isn't it just a batch of captured gods and cultivators? If Zhang Ruochen dares to kill them, the Hell Realm will make the Hundred Clans Royal City and Xinghuantian pay with their lives."
"Negotiate with Zhang Ruochen? Ridiculous! When the Half-Venerable arrives, the Death Clan will be the first to go to war. Blood for blood. If they want war, we'll fight until the enemy's blood runs cold."
The Great God from Fengdu Ghost City said coldly, "The situation at the second Starry Sky Defense Line is unstable. If the Hell Realm's top experts come here and the Heavenly Court counterattacks, what then? Is that battlefield more important, or this one?"
"Because of the purge of the Quantity Organization, the Hell Realm is currently in turmoil internally. The Heavenly Court is also taking advantage of this to cause trouble everywhere. Our forces are already scattered. Can the experts left behind in the Hell Realm even make it here?"
"In truth, everyone knows deep down that we currently cannot deal with Zhang Ruochen or take the Hundred Clans Royal City. We just don't want to admit it."
"Once the internal situation in the Hell Realm and the situation at the second Starry Sky Defense Line stabilize, we can gather our forces, set a heaven-and-earth net, and dealing with a Zhang Ruochen will be no trouble. We are not admitting defeat now—this is a strategy to buy time."
After a long silence, Zhenyun Great God of the Darkness Temple received a message light talisman and raised his voice, "Hall Master Wu Yue has sent a strategy: do not fight Zhang Ruochen head-on. Instead, divert the trouble elsewhere."
"What does 'divert the trouble elsewhere' mean?" Jade Python Lord asked.
Zhenyun Great God said, "Lead Zhang Ruochen to Paradise Realm, and draw the war to the Heavenly Court."
Kong Can also received a divine message talisman. After reading it, he frowned, then smiled slightly. "The Half-Venerable has sent word that he cannot come. However, he has given us a strategy: tell Zhang Ruochen that Xuan Yi and Desolate Heaven have clashed, and the divine battle erupted outside the Kunlun Realm."
The Great God from Fengdu Ghost City received a message from Soul Seven and said, "Lord Soul Seven also cannot come, but he has instructed me to deliver a secret letter to Zhang Ruochen, enough to resolve the Hell Realm's crisis in the Hundred Clans Royal City star domain."
The gods who had previously opposed negotiations all fell silent.
According to the messages from these top-tier figures of the Hell Realm, they could not spare themselves, so they supported negotiations and a temporary truce with Zhang Ruochen.
Was the Hell Realm really going to admit defeat this time?