Chapter 3364: Harem Intrigues
Bai Qinger did not primarily cultivate the Sword Dao, but the rain of light from the Sword Origin could temper the divine soul, greatly benefiting cultivation.
Within the light rain, Bai Qinger and Chi Yao resembled celestial consorts, their skin like jade, their bodies flowing with radiant light. Occasionally, they would discuss the Dao with each other, compensating for their own shortcomings and comprehending deeper laws of Dao.
They restrained their coldness and dissipated their imposing might.
One was pure and ethereal in white robes, the other was misty and transcendent like an immortal.
The scene was so beautiful and harmonious that Zhang Ruochen could hardly believe his eyes.
Xiao Hei stretched lazily and chuckled, "Interesting. Those two have actually hit it off! The once aloof Hundred Flowers Fairy has now become a great demon queen. Zhang Ruochen, have you realized anything?"
"Don't talk nonsense. With your current cultivation, either of them could kill you. And most likely, they would do it flawlessly, leaving no trace for me to investigate." Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei was genuinely startled for a moment. He hadn't been this nervous even when criticizing the Heavenly Venerable. Recalling his earlier words, he confirmed he hadn't said anything wrong, then lowered his profile and transmitted his voice, "It's too hard to break through to the Great God realm in martial arts. How about I go learn formations from Divine Venerable Ji?"
He wanted to latch onto a powerful figure, feeling that Ji Fanxin was currently the strongest option.
"You'd better not get involved." Zhang Ruochen said.
Bai Qinger and Chi Yao could indeed be ruthless at times, but Zhang Ruochen believed they would never target Xiao Hei. Setting aside Xiao Hei's background, the bond of life-and-death brotherhood he shared with Zhang Ruochen was unmatched by anyone, enough to make them think twice.
But if Xiao Hei sided with Ji Fanxin, that would truly be dangerous.
With Ji Fanxin's cultivation and Xiao Hei's background, she would be the undisputed mistress of the harem. Who could challenge that?
Xiao Hei thought it over and immediately broke out in a cold sweat. Zhang Ruochen was no longer the prince of Yunwu Commandery, the crown prince of a fallen dynasty, or the favored son of the Blood Absolute Family. He was now a true hegemon, ruling over hundreds of great worlds, like a miniature Heavenly Court.
The intricate interests behind this were unimaginable.
Chi Yao and Bai Qinger might not make a move or hold any hostility toward him, but wouldn't the gods of the Ancient Divine Nest and Xinghuantian act?
The stronger one's power, the greater their authority, and the more wealth and resources they controlled. Thus, countless conflicts of interest would inevitably surround such a person—both visible and invisible.
This was unavoidable, unless all beings were empty of desires, no longer cultivated, no longer pursued power, and no longer cared about life, death, honor, or disgrace.
Zhang Ruochen patted Xiao Hei's shoulder to calm his shaken nerves, took out a bottle of divine pills, and said, "Focus on closed-door cultivation in the Sword Realm. Divine pills can only be supplementary. To break through quickly, you still need to rely on hard work."
Zangjin Baihu walked up the steps and arrived outside the War Method Divine Hall.
A group of oddly shaped gods stood neatly below, thirteen in total.
Tables, stools, doors, planks... Zhang Ruochen felt that this group of gods could form a magnificent divine hall, named the "Thirteen Guardians Hall."
"Can't they transform into human forms?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Zangjin Baihu said, "Why should they transform into human forms?"
"True. Gods should have their own divine forms." Zhang Ruochen casually reached out to pat Zangjin Baihu's plump rear, but halfway through, he felt a chill, and the back of his hand froze over.
Zangjin Baihu glared at him sideways and said, "They say the cultivation resources in the Sword God Hall have been exhausted. They really want us to take them out. I've already agreed."
Zhang Ruochen had noticed this earlier. Compared to the Origin Divine Temple, which was filled with sacred medicines and cultivation resources, the better-preserved Sword God Hall was surprisingly barren.
"Why don't they leave on their own?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Zangjin Baihu said, "They can't leave. The Heavenly Staircase has trapped them inside the hall."
"Why would the Heavenly Staircase do that? Since the resources in the hall are exhausted, why doesn't it leave? With its cultivation and strength, crossing the Dark Night shouldn't be difficult." Zhang Ruochen said.
Zangjin Baihu said, "They don't know the exact situation. Some say the Heavenly Staircase treats them as cultivation resources, raising them like divine medicines, and will devour them all when it needs to break through. It has already consumed several batches of gods like them."
"Others say the Heavenly Staircase uses them as soldiers to fight against the evil anomalies in the darkness."
"Still others say the Heavenly Staircase has reached an unknown agreement with the evil anomalies to control the Sword God Hall and conquer the outside world, with them as divine soldiers and generals."
Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply, "Regardless of the truth, the Heavenly Staircase is a major threat."
"How about we overthrow Blood Mud City right now and suppress it, to avoid any future trouble?" Xiu Chen Heavenly God suggested.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her.
With Taiqing Patriarch and Yuqing Patriarch, who were close to the peak of Qiankun Infinite, not daring to rashly enter Blood Mud City, what confidence did a remnant soul like her have?
Zhang Ruochen felt that Xiu Chen Heavenly God was really getting arrogant. Give her the cultivation of Great Unbound Infinite, and she would dare to attack the Heavenly Court.
...
In the Sword Realm, at the Divine King Manor.
Over a hundred gods gathered in the manor, including gods from various clans of the Hundred Clans Royal City. Each radiated divine light, turning the space into a chaotic blur, like a brilliant sea of stars.
Yu Divine King wore a solemn expression, manifesting a giant form, his divine king's might shaking the nine heavens. "Realm Lord Ruochen is not here. All matters of the Sword Realm will be handled by me, this Divine King. Let me be clear from the start: you are all newcomers here, so please coexist peacefully. If a divine war breaks out, regardless of who started it, I, this Divine King, will directly suppress and kill both sides. I will show no mercy to anyone."
"The territories of each clan and the domains due to each god have been properly arranged by Realm Lord Ruochen and the two Divine Venerables. Now, I will transmit this information to you through divine thought."
"If conflicts truly cannot be resolved, you may select exceptionally talented juniors from the Saint realm to settle them through duels. If there are old grudges or personal enmities, I know that persuasion is useless and will only deepen the resentment. You all command billions of cultivators. It's unrealistic to expect them to remain peaceful and not fight or strive."
"But remember, in the Sword Realm, those above the Great Saint realm must not participate in vendettas or plundering. All of you should step back. In the future, when a sacred army is formed for external wars, there will be plenty of opportunities for you to act."
"Cang Jue, you are a divine servant deeply trusted by Realm Lord Ruochen and do not belong to any faction. You should be able to remain impartial. The specific division of territories among the clans will be left to you. If you secretly accept bribes from anyone and show favoritism, don't blame me, this Divine King, for not respecting Realm Lord Ruochen's face."
"What I have just said are the most basic rules to follow. When Realm Lord Ruochen and the two Divine Venerables return, they will complete the detailed regulations."
"Everyone, the Sword Realm is our Sword Realm. Please protect it together. You may all leave now!"
The gods left one after another, leaving only Luo Ji behind.
Yu Divine King was stern, "You must immediately go with me to the Sword God Hall."
Luo Ji was curious, "All the gods have gathered, the clans are in chaos, and the cultivators are mixed. There must be many with ulterior motives. If Grandfather leaves now, what if..."
Yu Divine King said, "These matters are trivial. You need to go to the Sword Realm, to Zhang Ruochen's side."
Luo Ji remained silent, resisting silently.
She didn't like her grandfather's arrangement. It was too utilitarian, too purposeful.
Yu Divine King sighed, "Grandfather has no choice. The Heavenly Beginning Civilization is too weak. We must borrow Zhang Ruochen's influence to truly establish ourselves in the Sword Realm. How can we gain the same status as the Ancient Divine Nest, the Hundred Clans Royal City, and Xinghuantian with only a single Divine King supporting us?"
"Luo Ji, you are no longer just yourself. You are the Heavenly Lord of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. You bear a heavy responsibility."
"The Old Heavenly Lord has fallen. He placed all his hopes on you. Now, the entire living beings of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization can only rely on you. If you don't strive, the beings of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization will be bullied in the future. How can the Old Heavenly Lord rest in peace?"
Luo Ji's eyes reddened, tears streaming down.
Yu Divine King softened his tone, "Sending you there isn't to make you fawn over Zhang Ruochen. That would only make our Heavenly Beginning Civilization seem spineless. You also cultivate the Sword Dao, and there are great opportunities there. I'm sending you to go into closed-door cultivation."
"Only by becoming strong yourself and contributing to the future great cause can you gain more attention."
"The weak who cling to others will be discarded like worn-out sandals."
"Only the strong can be allies. When someone wants to discard you, they find they can't do without you."
"We need to borrow Zhang Ruochen's influence, but we also have our own value. So, don't wrong yourself. Remember, you are the Heavenly Lord of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization. Your spirit must not be broken. Take all these divine pills."
Feixue Divine King was suppressed by Yu Divine King, and after refining her into divine pills, Zhang Ruochen didn't take a single one.
Now, Yu Divine King kept none for himself, giving them all to Luo Ji.
Yu Divine King knew well that he was ultimately old, and his ceiling was set.
But Luo Ji had extraordinary talent. With the resources of the entire Heavenly Beginning Civilization and the opportunity to borrow Zhang Ruochen's influence, her future achievements could be promising, perhaps leading the Heavenly Beginning Civilization to prosperity.
Luo Ji accepted the divine pills, "If Grandfather leaves, what if something happens in the Sword Realm? At this time, some with ulterior motives might be scheming to escape and reveal the spatial coordinates of the Sword Realm to the outside world."
Yu Divine King smiled deeply, "How can we always guard against them? Grandfather isn't just sending you to the Sword God Hall; I'm going to leak the information. Kill them all in one go, and then things will be peaceful."