# Chapter 3442: Coming to Demand an Explanation
"Haha!"
Xue Wuye laughed, saying: "Forgive me for speaking bluntly, Senior, but if Tai Shang truly wished to see you, he would have already opened the formation and invited you into Kunlun."
A new god, speaking so presumptuously to a God Venerable, yet Shizhi God Venerable did not become angry. He said: "Tai Shang and my clan's Heavenly Venerable are old acquaintances. He would not refuse to see me. Unless... unless the rumors are true, and the elder Tai Shang has already fallen?"
Shizhi God Venerable's face showed grief as he urged: "Open the formation quickly. I must see Tai Shang one last time, no matter what. If you juniors dare to obstruct me again, do not blame me for being impolite!"
As he spoke, Shizhi God Venerable's divine might erupted completely, suppressing the three gods below until they could barely hold on.
"Whoosh!"
A sword light tore across the sky, striking heavily toward Shizhi God Venerable.
A sharp gleam flashed deep within Shizhi God Venerable's pupils. He pressed out with his palm, and ten thousand bolts of lightning surged from his palm, clashing against the Boundless Divine Sword.
"Boom rumble!"
Shizhi God Venerable was forced back three steps, each step covering one hundred twenty-nine thousand six hundred li, dissipating the power of the divine sword.
Qiangu Nüdi's stunning figure descended from the sky, her luminous hair strands dancing like threads of light.
The Boundless Divine Sword let out a sharp ring as it flew back into her hand.
"Is the Kunlun Realm a place that Thunder Clan gods can barge into as they please?"
Shizhi God Venerable's gaze fixed on Qiangu Nüdi, then shifted to the divine ship not far away.
On the divine ship, only Chi Xingtian was visible, with no sign of Zhang Ruochen.
Qiangu Nüdi said: "They were not qualified to negotiate with you. Now, do you think I am qualified? If you have something to say, speak!"
A stiff smile, like iron plate, appeared on Shizhi God Venerable's face. He said: "So it is the newly ascended God Venerable of the Kunlun Realm who has returned. Congratulations! I truly have urgent business and must meet Tai Shang in person. I ask Qingchan God Venerable to grant me this convenience."
Qiangu Nüdi said: "Inconvenient! If you have something to say, say it to me. Otherwise, please take your leave, Sir!"
After careful consideration, Shizhi God Venerable said: "Very well! The Heavenly Venerable wishes to invite Huaying Tai Shang to Wuding Divine Sea to attend the All Heavens Assembly, to jointly discuss the great plan of dealing with the Calamity of Quantities."
"Apologies, but if it is an All Heavens Assembly, then Lei Fa Heavenly Venerable should naturally invite the All Heavens. My grandfather is not one of the All Heavens, so I fear he has no opportunity to attend."
Qiangu Nüdi naturally did not take this so-called All Heavens Assembly seriously.
Lei Fa Heavenly Venerable was merely using this opportunity to reassert his influence.
With Hao Tian and Fengdu Dadi present, which Heavenly Lord from the Heavenly Court or Hell Realm would attend the All Heavens Assembly he convened?
"Huaying Tai Shang was not listed among the All Heavens in the Heavenly Court, but my clan's Heavenly Venerable believes he is more qualified than anyone to become one of the All Heavens. Furthermore, the Heavenly Venerable knows the secrets of the Twenty-Four All Heavens War thirty thousand years ago, and also knows the inside story of the three-month Calamity of Quantities one hundred thousand years ago. These will be revealed at the All Heavens Assembly," Shizhi God Venerable said.
Qiangu Nüdi's heart shook violently.
Thirty thousand years ago, the Twenty-Four All Heavens War left only three survivors.
It became an unsolved historical mystery to this day.
Of the three who returned, only Hao Tian and the Sixth Patriarch were known. But Hao Tian and the Sixth Patriarch had always remained silent about that war.
No one knew what had actually happened.
As for the Calamity of Quantities one hundred thousand years ago, it was even more terrifying, directly destroying the glorious and flourishing Saint Realm at that time, with countless gods falling across the realms. This eventually gave rise to the later establishment of the Heavenly Court.
Even the Kunlun Realm was enveloped by heavenly fire for three months at that time, nearly being destroyed.
It was this heart-stopping catastrophe that forced the Kunlun Realm to activate the Sundial, entering the mad cultivation era of "one day in heaven, one year on earth."
Shizhi God Venerable was very satisfied with Qiangu Nüdi's expression. He smiled and said: "I also invite Qingchan God Venerable, and..."
He looked toward the divine ship, saying: "And Ruochen God Venerable, to visit the Thunder Clan at that time. The Thunder Clan will receive you with the highest courtesy."
"Shua!"
Shizhi God Venerable entered the Lightning Shuttle and disappeared at the edge of the void.
Zhang Ruochen watched the direction Shizhi God Venerable had left, saying: "Such formidable soul strength. He actually sensed me."
Although Zhang Ruochen was not wearing the Ancestor Divine Travel Cloak, he had carefully restrained his aura and concealed his heavenly secrets.
Chi Xingtian said: "This Shizhi God Venerable could block the Boundless Divine Sword with his bare hands, clearly his cultivation is higher than Qingchan's. At such a close distance, how could you possibly hide from his perception?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently, saying: "It's not that simple. This Shizhi may not be a cultivator of this era. His background is likely extraordinary."
Zhang Ruochen very much wanted to intercept Shizhi God Venerable, but considering the current complex situation, there was no need to create unnecessary trouble. He suppressed the thought.
...
Zhang Ruochen, Qiangu Nüdi, and Chi Xingtian entered the Kunlun Realm and went directly to the eighteenth floor of the Sword Pavilion.
This was the Ancestor Realm left by Jian Zu, capable of concealing all heavenly secrets!
Tai Shang sat beneath a silver pine tree, with a stone table and a pot of tea, as if he had been waiting for them for a long time.
Luo Shuihan, dressed in white like an immortal, stood not far away.
"Greetings, Tai Shang!"
"Grandfather!"
Seeing Tai Shang safe and well, all three breathed a sigh of relief, their suppressed emotions swept away.
"Good that you've returned. Sit down, all of you!"
Tai Shang smiled and gestured, saying: "You've both broken through to the Infinite Realm. Excellent! Ruochen, have you thought about your future path?"
Zhang Ruochen sat down, knowing that Tai Shang was not asking about his plans for the future, but about his cultivation path.
After all, with the Four Symbols perfected, to achieve a major breakthrough in cultivation, one would inevitably need to combine it with the evolution of heaven and earth to deduce the next step.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I have some ideas, but none are mature. They will require a lot of time to deduce."
Tai Shang said: "Your grandmaster has confidence in you! Don't rush too much. Having reached the perfection of the Four Symbols, you need to continue settling. You still have plenty of time. Deduce slowly, step by step, and walk steadily."
"Mm!"
Zhang Ruochen gazed deeply at the smiling Tai Shang, and his heart suddenly became much heavier.
Chi Xingtian could not help but ask: "Who exactly attacked the Kunlun Realm? Was it really that Tai Shang of the Yama Clan?"
Tai Shang said: "This matter is meaningless to you. If any All Heaven from the Hell Realm had acted, it would have been the same. The Kunlun Realm was not breached, and we suffered no losses."
Tai Shang did not elaborate, seemingly unwilling to cause friction between Zhang Ruochen and the Yama Clan over this matter. But Zhang Ruochen understood.
An All Heaven of the Hell Realm, and a Heaven Round No Lack cultivator — it could only be Yama Tai Shang.
Tai Shang said: "Ruochen, Qingchan, you have just broken through. You must consolidate your realms as quickly as possible. Xingtian, your foundation has not yet been repaired. Let Ruochen help you. You must be more obedient and not act rashly. All of you, withdraw and do what you need to do."
Huaying Qingchan and Chi Xingtian both left, but Zhang Ruochen stayed behind.
Luo Shuihan filled his teacup to the brim.
Zhang Ruochen picked up the teacup, but could no longer control the sadness in his heart. His eyes reddened, and he said: "Grandmaster, have you found the Ancestor Realm of the Second Confucian Ancestor? Senior Yu told me that the Second Confucian Ancestor was likely a Spiritual Power Ancestor, and may have left behind a supreme treasure for healing spiritual power."
Although Tai Shang appeared in excellent spirits with no signs of injury,
Zhang Ruochen could tell from his every word that it sounded like he was giving his final testament.
Moreover, if nothing were wrong, why would Tai Shang enter Jian Zu's Ancestor Realm?
This was clearly because, in the outside world, Tai Shang could no longer maintain his human form and was about to completely dissipate.
Tai Shang said: "You are already a God Venerable. How can you still not control your emotions?"
Zhang Ruochen calmed his emotions, forcing back his grief.
"The Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm should not be in the Kunlun Realm. If it is, it can only be on the eighteenth level of the Nether Prison!" Tai Shang said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Grandmaster, how much time do you have left?"
Tai Shang smiled and said: "Being able to see you and Qingchan reach the Infinite Realm, your grandmaster is already very gratified! It's a pity that I could not save your father from the Destiny Temple."
"Grandmaster need not blame yourself. Father should not be in any danger at the Destiny Temple for now," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Go. Cultivate diligently. From now on, the Kunlun Realm will be entrusted to you!"
Tai Shang showed signs of fatigue. Zhang Ruochen suppressed many questions in his heart and did not continue asking. He walked out of the Sword Pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen released A Le and let him cultivate in the Sword Pavilion.
"Whether it succeeds or not, I must go to the Abyss of Darkness. Perhaps only the Udumbara Flower can help Grandmaster extend his life."
Zhang Ruochen knew the danger of the Abyss of Darkness and also knew the preciousness of the Udumbara Flower. Heavenly Mother would not give it to him, but he had to try.
He gathered his emotions and was about to go to the Purple Micro Palace when Jie Zunzhe appeared before him.
The two stared at each other, each harboring their own thoughts.
Zhang Ruochen was thinking about promoting Jie Zunzhe's Ancestor Divine Power, helping the Kunlun Realm shape a All Heaven-level powerhouse to take the heat.
Jie Zunzhe, on the other hand, was thinking about how to persuade Zhang Ruochen regarding the marriage alliance with the Heavenly Dragon Realm, since he had already accepted the betrothal gifts!
In the end, Jie Zunzhe's old face squeezed out a smile first. He said amiably: "Ruochen truly is the Qilin child of our Zhang Clan. Breaking through to the Infinite Realm just like that — excellent, you have not disgraced the family. You've seen Tai Shang, right? Tai Shang's condition is not good... Ah, there is one matter I need to discuss with you..."
"How about not discussing it? I'm very busy."
Zhang Ruochen teleported away and directly entered the Purple Micro Palace.
He had tricked this old fellow out of an Ancestor relic, yet the old man could still smile — there was definitely no good intention behind it.
Better to leave first.
Jie Zunzhe teleported and appeared before him, blocking his way. His face was serious as he said: "I am not discussing this with you. I am informing you. Do you know why the Five Dragon God Emperor took such a great risk, ignoring even the Heavenly Dragon Realm, to go to Lihentian to help you break through?"
"Could it be your esteemed self's contribution?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zunzhe was quite pleased with himself, saying: "Hehe, you guessed half right. The other half, well..."
"Two God Venerables, something terrible has happened!"
Xue Wuye transformed into a beam of divine light, appearing atop a palace, then flew down and walked before them, looking extremely anxious.
Jie Zunzhe's words were at the tip of his tongue but were interrupted. Naturally, he was very annoyed. He said in a deep voice: "I am only a false god. Don't call me that recklessly. What happened? Why are you so impatient? Has Shizhi come again?"
"It's not the Thunder Clan. It's the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor. He has led the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization to the Kunlun Realm to demand an explanation!" Xue Wuye said.
"Who? The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor, demanding an explanation?"
Jie Zunzhe was completely bewildered, unable to understand the logic behind this.
The Starry Sky Battlefield was still very unstable, with divine battles erupting frequently. What did it mean for the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization to come to the Kunlun Realm to demand an explanation?
Zhang Ruochen secretly breathed a sigh of relief, saying: "It must be trouble you caused. Go quickly!"
"How could it be trouble I caused?" Jie Zunzhe said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "If it weren't trouble you caused, why would a All Heaven-level existence like the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor personally come to the Kunlun Realm to demand an explanation? No other cultivator has that qualification. It's most likely something you did one hundred thousand years ago!"
Jie Zunzhe felt that Zhang Ruochen's reasoning had some merit. He muttered to himself, beginning to recall whether he had truly offended the Thousand Star Civilization in any way one hundred thousand years ago.
What he feared most was that among his countless romantic interests, there might be a direct descendant of the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor.
Because there were too many, he was not entirely clear on the exact identities of many of his lovers. If one of them turned out to be the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor's daughter or granddaughter, that would be troublesome!