Chapter 3393: Recognized
As for the Heavenly Realm, Zhang Ruochen was not overly worried. Ke Yangshan and Divine King Daifei were still in Chi Yao’s hands. With Chi Yao’s abilities, she should be able to use those two cards well.
The Quantity Organization, however, was something he had to guard against.
“What about the Thunder Clan? Have you heard any news about them?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Xingtian’s voice was heavy. “How could I not know? The news of the Thunder Clan’s emergence shook the circle of top-tier deities no less than the emergence of the Sword Realm. Rumor has it that when the Boundless Northern Expedition took place, traces of the Thunder Clan appeared. Some Watchers attacked the Thunder Realm but returned in defeat.”
Zhang Ruochen knew more about this matter than Chi Xingtian, and he was inwardly shocked. Those who had attacked the Thunder Realm were the Five Elements Temple Master, Feng Tian, and the Undying War God. Had they all returned in defeat?
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Ruochen realized that Chi Xingtian could not possibly know the full truth. Asking him would not yield reliable information, so he stopped questioning.
Chi Xingtian, however, continued with vivid detail. “Rumor has it that the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable might still be alive. This matter has even troubled the two Heavenly Venerables of the Heavenly Court and Hell.”
“Rumor has it that Xuan Yi is a member of the Thunder Clan, and the Quantity Emperor behind him is likely the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable.”
“Rumor has it that the Thunder Realm might still be hidden within the Wuding Divine Sea.”
“Just the fact that the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable is still alive is enough to overshadow the impact of the Sword Realm’s emergence. But we don’t need to worry. The Kunlun Realm has no feud with the Thunder Clan, so there’s no fear of retaliation.”
Zhang Ruochen could not help but ask, “What if I have a feud with the Thunder Clan? Would it implicate the Kunlun Realm?”
The smile on Chi Xingtian’s face gradually faded. “Are you referring to your feud with Xuan Yi? Don’t worry about that. Xuan Yi’s top priority right now is definitely breaking through to the Boundless Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen wanted to tell Chi Xingtian that he had refined and killed a Divine King of the Thunder Clan, was directly responsible for the deaths of two top-tier Great Gods of the Thunder Clan, and had a deep-seated enmity with the Thunder Ancestor.
He could only hope that the Thunder Ancestor was still trapped in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s sigh, Chi Xingtian’s heart leaped, and a foreboding feeling arose.
Qingxiao had gone to find Bei Gong Jingting, temporarily leaving Qingjing in Zhang Ruochen’s care.
Qingjing did not know what Zhang Ruochen and Chi Xingtian were discussing in secret, but she noticed a strange phenomenon. No one in the divine mansion came forward to greet them, as if no one recognized the two of them at all.
This was highly abnormal.
“Uncle Hong Ke!” Qingjing called out softly.
Zhang Ruochen turned to look at her. “What is it?”
Although Qingjing appeared to be seventeen or eighteen years old, her actual age was greater, and her cultivation had reached the Half-Saint realm.
Earlier, some young talents had come over to strike up a conversation, inviting her to small gatherings of the sword path circle, but she had declined with a shake of her head.
With Zhang Ruochen’s vast experience, he could tell that his senior brother’s daughter was exceptionally intelligent. He even overheard some young cultivators whispering that she was one of the seven great beauties of the Kunlun Realm in the last hundred years, with many suitors.
But as an elder, Zhang Ruochen naturally did not use his divine thoughts or spiritual power to probe her mind, nor did he focus his attention on her. Thus, he had not noticed anything unusual about her.
Qingjing parted her red lips slightly, choosing her words carefully. “Just now, I saw two Great Saints from the Murong family. Uncle Hong Ke, aren’t you going to pay your respects?”
Zhang Ruochen had also noticed Murong Yefeng and Murong Yue.
The Murong family had always been under the banner of the Ming Sect, and Murong Yefeng and Murong Yue were top-tier Great Saint experts below the divine realm. One had reached the Half-Saint King level before the Kunlun Realm had even awakened, while the other had become the Chosen One of the Kunlun Realm.
For two Saint Kings of the Ming Sect not to go and pay respects to them was indeed very unusual.
Qingjing’s eyes were sincere, clear as the water of a spiritual lake, but Zhang Ruochen instantly saw through her thoughts. He mused inwardly that his senior brother’s daughter was exceptionally clever, and her methods far surpassed her mother’s.
The look in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes was terrifying, as if it could pierce her very soul. Qingjing was startled, but it only confirmed her suspicions.
These two people had questionable identities.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “I should indeed go see them.”
“You go ahead. I’ll look around.”
Chi Xingtian was a bit uneasy and decided to thoroughly investigate the entire divine mansion.
Outside the hall by the sacred lake, Qi Feiyu personally came out to welcome Murong Yefeng and Murong Yue. Although she belonged to the Moon Worship Demon Sect, because of her mother, she was considered half the owner of the Void God Mansion.
Zhang Ruochen and Qingjing approached, immediately drawing the attention of the three, who all turned to look.
Murong Yefeng remained composed, with no ripples in his eyes.
Qi Feiyu, dressed in a blue robe like a green lotus in the snow, and Murong Yue, in a blue dress with a slender figure, both carried a sense of pride, walking the line between good and evil.
Zhang Ruochen had fought alongside and against both of them in the past, cooperating on various schemes. He knew them well. They had similar personalities—capable of ruthless action yet adept at hiding their sharp edges. Among them, Qi Feiyu was the more profound thinker, able to disguise herself as an ethereal fairy despite being a demon sect saintess.
At this moment, both women had looks of confusion in their eyes, but more than that, they appeared indifferent.
A Saint King and a Half-Saint were not enough to capture much of their attention.
Qingjing bowed. “Junior Qingjing, daughter of Great Saint Qingxiao, pays respects to the three Great Saints.”
Murong Yefeng smiled. “So you’re Qingxiao’s daughter. I saw you when you were a child. I never thought you’d reach the Half-Saint realm. Time really flies.”
Qingjing smiled and glanced at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen cupped his hands. “Zhang Hongke of the Ming Sect pays respects to Great Saint Yefeng.”
Qingjing had hoped to catch a flaw, but to her surprise, Murong Yefeng stepped forward two paces and, just like her father had done earlier, tightly grasped “Uncle Hong Ke’s” hand, saying excitedly, “Hong Ke, I didn’t expect to see you again so soon. When you left home back then, you didn’t even come to see me.”
Qingjing was now confused, her delicate brows furrowing.
Had she guessed wrong?
Even more confused was Murong Yue. When had the Ming Sect gained a Saint King named Hong Ke, and why did he seem to have such a close relationship with her ancestor?
Zhang Ruochen laughed. “Isn’t this coming to see you, old man? Come on, let’s have a good chat today. Qingjing, come into the hall with me.”
Murong Yefeng pulled Zhang Ruochen toward the hall, sending a voice transmission: “You’re really bold, coming to the Starry Sky Defense Line. When I heard the news of Empress Chi Yao’s return, a thought flashed through my mind that you might come back with her. Would you call that a meeting of minds?”
Murong Yefeng and Zhang Ruochen had been brothers since childhood. No matter what Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation or status, they could always interact naturally and easily.
Qi Feiyu watched the backs of Murong Yefeng and Zhang Ruochen, lost in thought. “That Saint King must have a significant background.”
She had noticed something.
A flash of inspiration struck Murong Yue, and her eyes narrowed. She immediately followed.
Inside the hall, Zhang Ruochen and Murong Yefeng sat in a corner, drinking and laughing, but Qingjing could not hear what they were saying.
As they chatted merrily, Murong Yue picked up the wine flask and filled Zhang Ruochen’s cup, handing it to him.
Zhang Ruochen took the cup and drank it down. After finishing, his expression froze as he realized what had happened. He looked up at Murong Yue.
Murong Yue smiled radiantly, then bowed her head slightly in greeting.
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. Around his own people, he had not bothered to guard against anything, and sure enough, he had been tested.
More importantly, Zhang Ruochen had only changed his appearance, not his build. Murong Yue must have recognized him from his silhouette, combined with Murong Yefeng’s intimate attitude, leading her to guess.
In terms of testing methods, Murong Yue was clearly more skilled than Qingjing.
In terms of intelligence, the two women were likely on par.
But one was a Great Saint, the other a Half-Saint, and the difference lay in experience.
At Zhang Ruochen’s most unguarded moment, a top-tier Great Saint had poured wine for him, a Saint King. For him to naturally take the cup and drink it was enough to reveal everything.
Standing nearby, Qingjing was already stunned beyond words, her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen as an even clearer guess formed in her mind.
In the distance, Qi Feiyu stood among the Great Saints, taking in every move of Murong Yue and Zhang Ruochen. She was shocked, then her expression turned somber. She shook her head with a wry smile.
Zhang Ruochen did not mind being recognized by some people here, because none of them would betray him.
Moreover, he intended to give some old acquaintances here a stroke of fortune, elevating their talents and potential. So he remained relaxed, not trying too hard to hide.
As for any potential crises, he would leave Chi Xingtian to worry about them.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Qingjing and gestured for her to sit beside him, asking directly, “What are you thinking?”
Qingjing had just sat down when she immediately stood up again, as if to bow. But an invisible force pressed down on her, forcing her to remain standing.
In the end, she had no choice but to sit back down.
Her almond-shaped eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, still unable to believe her guess, she asked tentatively, “Uncle Hong Ke, you’re actually Little Master Uncle, aren’t you?”
Her eyes held both anticipation and a hint of inexplicable excitement.
…
First, I want to apologize to two readers. This morning in the group chat, the messages were flying too fast, and I accidentally tapped the wrong button, kicking you out by mistake.
Also, many readers are asking how much content is in the physical books.
The word count of a single volume is certainly limited. So, in my opinion, the commemorative value of the physical books outweighs their reading value. Just think—Wan Gu now has over ten million words. How could it all fit? Haha! The physical books will definitely be meticulously revised, and they also include some character illustrations, which turned out quite well.
(End of this chapter)