Chapter 3427: Demon Shrine
Zhang Ruochen had obtained the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron from inside the third Dark Star.
Only Zhang Ruochen, Bore, Xue Jue War God, and Xue Hou knew about this.
None of them would ever spread this secret.
Naturally, Stone Axe Lord did not know that the precious cauldron he longed for and regretted missing was right in the hands of the young man before him.
That was precisely why Zhang Ruochen trusted his words.
However, Chi Xingtian did not believe him, thinking Stone Axe Lord was making up stories, and wanted to crack his skull open and search his soul.
Compared to Chi Xingtian, Qiangu Nüdi appeared much calmer, saying, "What you said is just speculation, with no real value."
Stone Axe Lord had his head pressed down by Chi Xingtian's claw, his face stuck to the ground, his skull about to crack. He said, "This lord doesn't know much to begin with! Two Divine Venerables, Heavenly God Xingtian, your divine eyes are like torches; you should be able to see that every word this lord speaks is true, without a single falsehood. Realm Lord Ruochen, you have mastered the Way of Truth; you should be able to see through the truth in my words..."
Zhang Ruochen carefully studied the scroll in his hand. The material was extraordinary, with an ancient charm, its age impossible to determine. It indeed contained an indescribable mysterious aura.
It was very likely a genuine collection of Lady Shiji.
Whether it was the era of the Night Demon Six Clans' ancestors and the Night Soil taboo, or the era of Lady Shiji, both were far too distant from the present. Stone Axe Lord could not possibly know too much.
Zhang Ruochen crouched down, looking into Stone Axe Lord's eyes, and said, "You've been in Night Soil for a while now, haven't you? Tell me, what exactly is beneath Night Soil? Don't tell me it's some Di. Even if there was once a Di who could contend with the ancestors of the Night Demon Six Clans, they would have long since passed away, unable to live until now."
"And Xuan Yi, representing the Quantity Organization, came to Night Soil with clear premeditation, wanting to release something to plunge the world into greater chaos and trigger a larger cosmic upheaval."
"If you can resolve the doubts in my heart, I will not only spare your life and not search your soul, but I will also promote you and help you strive for the Boundless realm in the future."
Stone Axe Lord actually still had some pride. Even as a prisoner, facing the constant threat of soul search, he still referred to himself as "this lord."
But he had no choice. His opponents were too strong, and there was also Chi Xingtian, who disregarded martial ethics, erupting at any moment and striking ruthlessly.
On the verge of being beaten to death, even the proudest person would have to compromise temporarily.
Zhang Ruochen added, "I killed Jade Python Lord, which counts as avenging you."
Stone Axe Lord struggled twice and glared at Chi Xingtian.
At Zhang Ruochen's signal, Chi Xingtian released the claw pressing on Stone Axe Lord's head.
Stone Axe Lord sighed, perhaps lamenting his ill-fated destiny.
He knew he still had some value. After all, the foundation of the Sword Realm was too weak. A Grand Void realm great god was definitely a pillar of strength, so he believed Zhang Ruochen's words about promoting him were sincere.
But helping him strive for the Boundless realm... he would just take that as empty talk.
None of that mattered, though. What mattered was that he was a prisoner now and had no choice.
Stone Axe Lord said, "Because Boundless realm ancestors of the Six Clans stand guard, no one below the Boundless realm can infiltrate Night Soil. That's why most of what I know about Night Soil's secrets is hearsay, and I can't guarantee its truth."
"The taboo figure suppressed by the ancestors of the Night Demon Six Clans was most likely of the Stone Clan. The Stone Clan might have split from the Demon Clan at that time, becoming a separate clan. The entire Night Soil could be the body of that taboo figure."
"As you said, that era is too distant. Even Primordial Ancestors have perished."
"However, the remains of Stone Clan powerhouses, like the rocks in the universe, can be eternal and indestructible. Legend has it that Night Soil gave birth to a new spirit, condensing a new consciousness, and growing to an extraordinary level."
"The reason the stars of the entire Illusion Extinction Star Sea are bright one year and extinguished the next is because it breathes. Because these stars were once part of that taboo figure's body!"
"The new spirit is born, growing stronger every day, and the Night Demon Six Clans can barely hold it back anymore."
"There is another theory. That taboo figure from back then never died but hid his soul spirit in the River of Time, while his body has been sleeping."
"Slap!"
Chi Xingtian slapped Stone Axe Lord on the head.
"Why are you hitting me?"
Stone Axe Lord was furious, feeling that Chi Xingtian was going too far, showing him no respect. He was also a Grand Void great god and might become a member of the Sword Realm.
Striking without warning, utterly bullying.
Chi Xingtian laughed, "I never knew you, Yu Sanjie, could brag so much? Hiding a soul spirit in the River of Time? Ha, if one's cultivation is strong enough, they can indeed enter the River of Time. But the River of Time is also part of the order of heaven and earth. The stronger one's cultivation, the greater the calamity they invite by disrupting that order."
Stone Axe Lord said, "If one borrows the Demon Shrine, or the Time Cauldron among the Nine Cauldrons, it might be possible to cross the River of Time, preserve one's soul spirit, and descend into a future era. What you know—that the future is severed and cannot be reached—that only happened a few thousand years ago!"
"Everyone knows that in the late ancient times, three hundred thousand years ago, the rules of heaven and earth subtly changed. Ancient remnant souls from Lihentian might descend into the real world. Prehistoric beings like Zangjin Baihu and the Swastika Azure Dragon could hatch."
"That taboo figure choosing to descend in this era is entirely possible."
"Besides, this lord is not making wild guesses. Rumor has it that a Great Unbound Infinite of the Demon Clan once ventured into Night Soil, seeking a supreme treasure of the Demon Clan. After coming out, his hair turned white overnight, and he soon fell."
"According to what this lord knows, the treasure that Demon Clan Great Unbound Infinite sought was the Demon Shrine, ranked in the top ten of the first chapter of the 'Tai Bai Divine Artifact Canon.' It is the number one divine artifact of the Demon Clan!"
The mention of the Demon Shrine stunned Chi Xingtian for a moment.
After all, Chi Xingtian himself was a member of the Demon Clan.
But thinking that Stone Axe Lord had even claimed to have once possessed the Nine Cauldrons, Chi Xingtian felt this guy was full of hot air, a braggart.
Zhang Ruochen, however, took in quite a bit.
Naturally, he could not easily believe rumors, but the fact that Night Soil could attract the Quantity Organization to scheme so meticulously, and make Xuan Yi personally come, meant the suppressed thing was definitely not simple.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Celestial Pivot Needle, then retrieved a wisp of Xuan Yi's blood energy he had collected earlier, held it in his palm, and began to calculate.
Stone Axe Lord said, "Realm Lord Ruochen, this lord has told you everything he knows, so..."
"From now on, you will follow Heavenly God Xingtian. You both cultivate the Axe Dao; there should be much to exchange." Zhang Ruochen said.
Stone Axe Lord's face turned ugly. He really wanted to tell Zhang Ruochen that he was not so keen on joining the Sword Realm.
He believed the Sword Realm would not last long and would likely end in tragedy.
But he feared that if he refused and insisted on leaving, he might be killed on the spot.
Looking at Chi Xingtian's eyes, it was clear he wanted to search his soul.
Qiangu Nüdi's Boundless Sword was also still drawn, its cold light gleaming.
"Well, did you calculate anything?" Qiangu Nüdi asked.
"Desolate Heaven Divine Venerable has come to Night Soil. Let's go meet him first."
A Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal appeared beneath Zhang Ruochen's feet, enveloping the few people present, and they transformed into a black-and-white stream of light, heading toward the Hundred-Foot Emperor Mausoleum in the southeast of Night Soil.
The tombs of the Night Demon Six Clans' ancestors suppressed the six directions of Night Soil.
They were both tombs and the roots of formations and sources of earth veins.
The Hundred-Foot Emperor Mausoleum resembled a mountain range spanning heaven and earth, undulating, majestic and magnificent.
A corner of the mausoleum had collapsed, with earth and rocks scattered everywhere.
From the collapsed area, crimson divine light surged, and blood seeped out, forming spiderweb-like rivers spreading across tens of thousands of miles.
The entire night curtain was illuminated blood-red, a chilling sight.
Many gods of the Red Centipede Clan had already arrived, staring at the collapsed mausoleum with heavy eyes and intense anger.
"Xuan Yi is too hateful. Our clan will never share the same sky with him."
"How did Xuan Yi break in and destroy such a corner of the mausoleum, which has defensive measures left by the Great Emperor?"
"There must be a traitor."
...
Wu Dao released his Divine Realm World, protecting the gods of the Red Centipede Clan. Boundless rule divine patterns formed a barrier before him, blocking the blood energy rising from the rivers ahead.
He sensed that this blood energy contained extremely heavy power, but it was very dangerous.
Within the blood energy was a peculiar death factor. Ordinary gods who touched it would surely be in trouble.
Coming with Wu Dao was also the Phoenix Clan Chief.
The Phoenix Clan Chief's cultivation had reached the peak of Qiankun Boundless, making him the current strongest of the Six Clans.
"Zhang Ruochen and Huaying Qingchan have also arrived!" the Phoenix Clan Chief said.
Zhang Ruochen and Qiangu Nüdi landed on the ground, glancing at the Phoenix Clan Chief and Wu Dao.
"This realm lord came to Illusion Extinction Star Sea and Night Soil with no ill intent and no desire to provoke conflict. Regarding the matter of the Heavenly Fox Tomb Realm, I believe Su Yun will have her own explanation. But I still want to tell you that Su Yun is a member of the Quantity Organization; she has long been in contact with Xuan Yi. The incident at the Hundred-Foot Emperor Mausoleum is likely related to her."
Zhang Ruochen did not bother to explain further and walked toward Desolate Heaven.
Desolate Heaven was currently deriving the Qiankun, using the residual aura of Xuan Yi to calculate his whereabouts.
Unfortunately, he failed.
Desolate Heaven looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, "You and Huaying Qingchan should leave Illusion Extinction Star Sea immediately. Leave Xuan Yi to me."
"Why? What is the situation in Lihentian now? How did you, senior, come to Night Soil?" Zhang Ruochen could see that Desolate Heaven was very serious at the moment, so he did not dare call him father-in-law directly.
Desolate Heaven said, "I told you to leave, so leave. Why so much nonsense?"
"Xuan Yi is also my enemy. I must kill him," Zhang Ruochen said.
Qiangu Nüdi said, "We are all Divine Venerables. Even if you want us to leave, you need to give a reason, right? Besides, who doesn't have some grudge against Xuan Yi? From the look of you, it seems you haven't found Xuan Yi's trail."
Desolate Heaven did not know why Shi Tian had come to Night Soil, but the fact that he had come in person meant the matter in Night Soil was no small thing.
If Zhang Ruochen and Huaying Qingchan continued to stay in Night Soil, it would be very dangerous.
Just as Desolate Heaven was about to tell them that Shi Tian had arrived, Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior, your Great Derivation of Qiankun couldn't calculate Xuan Yi's escape route. I couldn't find his aura with the Celestial Pivot Needle either. Xuan Yi is not that formidable."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze shifted to the dense rivers of blood flowing from the Hundred-Foot Emperor Mausoleum. Following these blood streams, he looked toward the blood-red gap in the distant mausoleum.
He said, "It can only mean that Xuan Yi never left."
Desolate Heaven and Qiangu Nüdi looked toward the collapsed part of the mausoleum.
"Shi Tian has come to Night Soil. From now on... I won't be going to the Sword Realm."
Leaving these words behind, Desolate Heaven soared into the sky, crossed the rivers of blood, and plunged into the collapsed gap of the Hundred-Foot Emperor Mausoleum.