Chapter 3301: From the Border Wilderness Universe
How could he not be shocked?
With Zhang Ruochen’s perception, breaking through a divine formation silently and entering a divine ship would be difficult even for a Divine King or Divine Venerable at the Qiankun Infinite Realm.
The white monk’s robe was spotless, and though no divine light radiated outwardly, he gave the impression of emitting a sacred glow from head to toe. It was not the weathered, ancient sanctity of old, but a kind of free-spirited, pure holiness.
He appeared very young, with a youthful aura about him, impossible to associate with a peerless master.
Though a monk, he was astonishingly handsome, the kind of face that could seal one’s fate at first glance.
Behind him stood Xu Rulai, wearing an apricot-yellow monk’s robe, his head completely bald. He was also handsome, but clearly inferior to the former.
Seeing the strange combination of deities on the divine ship—Zhuque Huowu, Moon God, and Xiao Hei all appearing together—Xu Rulai showed a faintly puzzled expression. But soon, he seemed to understand something and shook his head slightly at them.
Xu Rulai did not know Zhang Ruochen was there, because after leaving Xinghuantian, Zhang Ruochen had donned a spiritual power black robe, concealing his appearance, figure, and aura.
The strange atmosphere lasted for several breaths.
Zhang Ruochen sensed no hostility from the other party, but he did not let down his guard. Changing his voice to a somewhat hoarse tone, he asked, “How did the master know he was hitching a ride?”
The monk’s wide sleeves fluttered in the wind.
The white-robed monk kept one hand behind his back, exuding an air of heroic grace, and smiled. “Past the Guixu, isn’t that the Heavenly Court Universe? Aren’t you all heading there?”
“Forgive me for not introducing myself. After I became a monk, my Dharma name is Candeng.”
Moon God asked, “May I ask which temple the master cultivates at? I have been cultivating for nearly five hundred thousand years, yet I have never heard of your name.”
“Zuling Temple,” Candeng said.
Moon God frowned. She had never heard of it, but his manner did not seem like a fabrication.
Xiao Hei and Zhuque Huowu also searched their memories but found no records related to Zuling Temple.
Candeng said, “You need not be puzzled. It is normal that you have not heard of Zuling Temple, as it is not in this universe.”
“You come from the Border Wilderness Universe?” Zhuque Huowu showed a look of surprise.
She had once heard Fengdu Ghost Emperor speak of the Border Wilderness Universe, a place of endless mystery, seemingly desolate but not truly so. Even with Fengdu Dadi’s cultivation and years of exploration, he had only touched a corner of it.
Candeng said, “You may understand it that way.”
Zhang Ruochen and the others were deeply shaken. The world was truly becoming more and more turbulent, with even a powerhouse from the Border Wilderness Universe appearing.
And he had already caused a major incident—it was very likely him who had broken into Fate Divine Mountain and stolen the six volumes of the Fate Heavenly Scripture.
Candeng looked at Xu Rulai and asked, “You know each other, right?”
“No!” Xiao Hei immediately said.
Xu Rulai said, “Yes.”
Both spoke almost simultaneously.
Xiao Hei, never knowing shame, said, “Alright, we know each other, but not well. You can do whatever you want with him; it has nothing to do with us. As for what happened at the Destiny Temple, we know nothing!”
Candeng’s smile was as warm as the winter sun. “There is no need for such tension. I believe he has a connection with the Buddha, so I intend to teach him for a while. Though I am hitching a ride, I will not take over the nest. Just this three-foot space on the deck will suffice.”
With that, he sat cross-legged in a corner of the deck. In the hand he had kept behind his back, he held a scroll of heavenly scripture.
He sat down and began to study it.
Xiao Hei quickly approached Xu Rulai, opened his Divine Realm World, and moved his lips, but still feeling uneasy, transmitted his voice, “What exactly is this monk’s background?”
Xu Rulai spoke directly, “Just as he said, he comes from the Border Wilderness Universe. At his level of cultivation, he would not stoop to lying to you.”
Xiao Hei was angry, thinking Xu Rulai had a problem with his mind and might be under control. Otherwise, why would he keep speaking for the enemy?
And the enemy had not even sealed his cultivation.
Moon God felt Xiao Hei’s Divine Realm World was unreliable and might not fool the white-robed monk’s perception. She released moonlight and asked, “What is his purpose in going to the Heavenly Court Universe? Did he tell you?”
Xu Rulai thought the person before him was Wu Yue and did not hide anything. “I asked. He only said he came to travel the universe, broaden his horizons, learn new things, and resolve his inner confusion. At the same time, he plans to stop by Kunlun Realm to deliver a letter for a friend across endless star domains.”
“He’s going to Kunlun Realm? Who is he delivering the letter to? Across endless star domains—does that mean it came from the Border Wilderness Universe?” Xiao Hei fired off several questions.
Xu Rulai shook his head, indicating he did not know.
Xiao Hei looked at Zhang Ruochen. “This is a big problem. With the master not here and the Dragon Lord not around either, who in Kunlun Realm can stop him? Want to give it a try?”
Xu Rulai looked at the black-robed figure, secretly guessing his identity.
Zhang Ruochen had some guesses about Candeng’s cultivation level and knew that with his current strength, he could not possibly deal with him. However, Kunlun Realm was a great world that had endured for eons, with its own considerable foundations.
For example, the old man guarding the Nether Prison in the Sword Grave, who looked very similar to Kong Chengzi, was certainly connected. If a major crisis truly arose, he should step in.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Master Candeng has already said he is only going to deliver a letter.”
Zhang Ruochen suspected that even with Moon God’s moonlight divine radiance covering them, it might not fool the white-robed monk’s perception. The other party’s aura was completely concealed, and his cultivation was surely unfathomable.
In the following days, Candeng remained seated within the three-foot space, reading the heavenly scripture with a focused expression, immersed in his own world.
Everyone knew Zhang Ruochen possessed countless treasures, but Candeng showed no intention of taking them. This made Zhang Ruochen suspicious—could the other party truly be an enlightened monk, detached from all worldly desires, unmoved by external things?
Zhang Ruochen approached Xu Rulai to ask about what happened at Fate Divine Mountain.
Xu Rulai recalled, “That day, I was organizing texts in the Tianshou Tower when I unexpectedly found him. He seemed to have been standing under the bookshelf for a long time, reading the texts.”
“My shock at that time far exceeded yours today. You see, no one had ever been able to silently infiltrate Fate Divine Mountain. When the Dragon Lord came before, a fierce battle broke out.”
“I tried to attack but could not move. He only said, ‘This humble monk is just reading; do not be afraid.’”
“He should indeed be from the Border Wilderness Universe, because the books he read were all about human geography, brief introductions to myriad realms, and historical details. He was learning about the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm Universe as quickly as possible.”
“He borrowed six volumes of heavenly scripture, saying he wanted to comprehend the fate power contained within them.”
“Borrowed the heavenly scripture?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Rulai said, “Yes! He said a monk does not steal, and he would teach me cultivation for a while as repayment for borrowing the books.”
Zhang Ruochen looked at the cross-legged Candeng, and his preconceived hostility diminished somewhat.
After thinking for a moment, he walked over.
Zhang Ruochen pressed his palms together in a Buddhist greeting and then asked, “Master Candeng, did you see through my connection with Kunlun Realm long ago, which is why you boarded the ship?”
Candeng placed the heavenly scripture in his hands on his knees, looked up, and smiled, gesturing for Zhang Ruochen to sit down. “No need to call me master; just Candeng is fine.”
“With the heavenly scripture in hand, many things can indeed be seen through at a glance. However, this universe has many differences in the rules of heaven and earth compared to what you call the Border Wilderness. There is some rejection of me, and I need time to understand and adapt, so I cannot yet know everything.”
Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the ground. “So you deliberately sought me out?”
With his level of cultivation, he could have crossed the Wuding Divine Sea on his own, yet he chose to board the divine ship and hitch a ride. If there were no other purpose, that would be strange.
“Yes and no.”
Candeng was very calm, without the aloofness that keeps people at a distance. “Do you have any wine?”
Zhang Ruochen showed a strange expression, then took out a jug of divine brew and handed it to him.
Candeng opened the lid, took a sip, and praised, “Across endless star domains, human geography has undergone earth-shaking changes, even the rules of heaven and earth have changed, but the taste of wine is exactly the same.”
“You are very special, so I boarded the ship to meet you. It has nothing to do with whether you are a cultivator of Kunlun Realm. In fact, you also have a connection with the Buddha.”
Zhang Ruochen had already seen Xu Rulai turned into a monk and quickly waved his hand. “There is a connection, but I have no interest in joining the Buddhist sect.”
Candeng smiled. “With a beautiful companion by one’s side, who would willingly enter the empty gate?”
Zhang Ruochen felt that Candeng did not seem much like a monk. He had Buddhist essence but not a Buddhist heart; he should have a story. In this world, countless people did not want to enter the empty gate but ended up doing so.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to ask who he was delivering the letter for and to whom. Just then, Xiao Hei’s voice came, “We’re almost ashore. We need to hide in Moon God’s Divine Realm World immediately to pass through the Heavenly Court’s defenses.”
Candeng stood up, casually tucking the wine jug into his sleeve. “Since we’ve arrived, I’ll take my leave. You gave me a jug of wine, so I’ll give you a word in return. Be careful—what you are about to do is very dangerous.”
With that, Candeng led Xu Rulai and flew out of the divine ship.
Zhang Ruochen was still pondering the meaning of his words when he saw them flying straight toward the Heavenly Court’s defenses by the Wuding Divine Sea. He quickly warned, “Be careful, don’t force your way through…”
The next moment, everyone on the divine ship was dumbfounded.
They saw Candeng fly directly over the shore defenses without triggering any formations, disappearing into the depths of the starry sky.
The defenses that the Heavenly Court had built over a hundred thousand years—all the divine formations and divine patterns—were as if nonexistent. He crossed them without alerting any deities.
Was this really someone suppressed by the rules of heaven and earth?
Zhang Ruochen suspected that even the All Heavens did not have such means. It was too strange, too unreal. If he were not suppressed, what would he be capable of?
“Was that just an illusion? Did that person never exist? Right?” Xiao Hei swallowed his saliva and looked at Zhuque Huowu.
Zhuque Huowu rolled her eyes at Xiao Hei. “The world is vast, full of wonders. One mountain is always higher than another. What you cannot understand is not necessarily what others cannot achieve. Sigh, why am I even answering your idiotic question?”