Chapter 3443: How Embarrassing
With Tai Shang retreating into the Ancestor Realm, the Dragon Lord not yet returned, and Qiangu Nüdi stabilizing her cultivation realm, the Kunlun Realm could only rely on Jie Zunzhe to shoulder the heavy burden.
If not for being left with no other choice, Jie Zunzhe would have long since slipped away.
The Tongtian Divine Temple had been initially repaired, now seated in the Central Domain, majestic and magnificent. Although the Tongtian Tower was missing, Tai Shang had transplanted the Heaven and Earth Spiritual Root, the Peach Tree, into the temple.
The temple was gradually restoring its former glory, with an area spanning hundreds of thousands of miles transformed into divine soil.
Jie Zunzhe chose to meet the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization at the Tongtian Divine Temple. If the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor dared to act recklessly, he could rely on the temple's power to protect himself.
In truth, the Sword Pavilion would have been more suitable.
But the eighteenth floor of the Sword Pavilion was, after all, the Ancestor Realm, the supreme secret of the Kunlun Realm, and naturally could not be revealed to outsiders. Moreover, Tai Shang's condition could not be exposed.
Jie Zunzhe still hoped that, even if Tai Shang disappeared one day, for tens of thousands of years, the uncertainty of his life or death would continue to intimidate various powerful enemies.
...
The Thousand Star Civilization came with a fierce momentum, led by the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor, with dozens of gods descending to the steps below the Tongtian Divine Temple.
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor looked back at the gods behind him and said, "A month ago, Zhang Ruochen, Huaying Qingchan, and Chi Xingtian's group entered the Southern Universe. They must have already returned to the Kunlun Realm by now."
"All of you, listen well. No matter who you see later, even if it's that Tai Shang of the Kunlun Realm, you must show your fierceness. Argue on principle, and be tough enough. The reason is on our side!"
"Yes, we obey the Ancestor's decree."
The dozens of gods marched into the Tongtian Divine Temple in a grand procession.
The Thousand Star Civilization did not have only dozens of gods; those who came all belonged to the lineage of the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor, the uncles and elders of Yu Chenjing.
Jie Zunzhe sat at the very top of the hall, feeling uneasy, his anxiety growing.
Among the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization, there were indeed several female deities. They looked at Jie Zunzhe with icy gazes, their killing intent heavy. To be precise, everyone's killing intent was heavy, as if they had come to collect a debt.
Jie Zunzhe straightened his spine, rose to greet them, and let out a loud laugh: "The Divine Ancestor graces Kunlun with his presence. I have failed to welcome you from afar, failed to welcome you from afar. How is the situation on the Starry Sky Battlefield? Do you need me to come and assist?"
"Hmph!"
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor directly unleashed a powerful divine might, not giving Jie Zunzhe any face, and said in a deep voice: "Spare me this act. If you don't give me a satisfactory explanation today, don't blame me for not respecting your Zhang Clan's ancestors."
"Immovable Bright King Great Venerable was such a heroic figure. How could his descendants produce such a scoundrel? Do you believe I will go to the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable's tomb right now and write the four characters 'Clan of Evil and Treachery' as a gift to you? So that your generations will be cursed and spat upon forever?"
Jie Zunzhe had always taken the revival of his family as his goal, to restore the glory of the ancestral clan.
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor's four words were not very damaging in terms of power, but they were highly insulting.
However, through the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor's words, Jie Zunzhe became even more convinced that it seemed he had indeed stepped on a landmine back then, accidentally offending a woman of the Thousand Star Civilization.
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor's temper was both hard and foul, known for daring to rebuke a Heavenly Venerable to his face—this was common knowledge in the world. Jie Zunzhe truly did not dare to confront him head-on.
Jie Zunzhe once again looked at the female deities among the Thousand Star Civilization's gods, wanting to know who the aggrieved party was. His gaze locked onto a Tai Xu Great God.
This Tai Xu Great God was Yu Chenjing's grandmother, Feng Qingleng. She appeared to be in her thirties, showing no signs of age, with a pleasing appearance, plump and elegant.
In terms of age and cultivation level, this was the most likely candidate!
Moreover, she stood very close to the front, directly facing him.
But Jie Zunzhe truly had no recollection of her.
Seeing Jie Zunzhe looking at her, Feng Qingleng immediately thought of the Divine Ancestor's earlier words and snorted coldly: "Old fellow, don't you dare deny it. The evidence is solid. Even if this goes all the way to the Heavenly Venerable, your Zhang Clan will have to pay the price."
"This matter... wouldn't it be bad if it became known to everyone? Let's not trouble the Heavenly Venerable," Jie Zunzhe said, lowering his tone.
Yu Chenjing's grandfather, Yu Cangsheng, stepped forward, already drawing his war sword, and said: "Old scoundrel, do you still know shame?"
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor stopped Yu Cangsheng and Feng Qingleng, who were about to come to blows, and said: "So, you know about this matter? And you admit it?"
"I don't know the details very clearly," Jie Zunzhe said, wanting to confirm, and looked at Feng Qingleng, asking: "May I ask this god, what is your name?"
Yu Cangsheng said: "She was once the Heavenly Maiden of the Wind Clan, later married to me as my wife, known as the Qingleng Great God."
Jie Zunzhe sucked in a breath of cold air. He finally understood how big today's matter was—it involved both the Thousand Star Civilization and the Wind Clan.
He absolutely could not admit to this!
Besides, he truly had no memory of Feng Qingleng at all.
Jie Zunzhe immediately hardened his stance and said: "How dare you! This is the Kunlun Realm. What do you think you are doing? Do you really think that because Tai Shang has fallen, you can just pin a crime on us and take the Kunlun Realm as your target? I am still here! The Zhang Clan will never accept any defilement!"
Jie Zunzhe could tell that the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor was only an incarnation; his true body was certainly still stationed at the Starry Sky Battlefield.
So, he flicked his sleeve, turned around, and walked toward the divine throne at the top of the hall, perfectly embodying the demeanor of the Ancestor's heir, and said: "If you're not convinced, come and fight."
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor knew that Jie Zunzhe had always been shameless, but he did not expect him to go so far in shielding Zhang Ruochen.
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor frowned and asked: "Has Huaying old man really fallen?"
"No comment."
Jie Zunzhe sat down on the divine throne, placed his hands on the armrests, tilted his head back, and looked down at the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization below, then said: "Please, all of you, return! As long as I am here, no one can bully the Kunlun Realm. Next time, don't use such underhanded tactics!"
In truth, Jie Zunzhe was very nervous inside. If the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor really had solid evidence, he would inevitably face a joint attack from the Wind Clan and the Thousand Star Civilization.
"Your tactic of turning the tables and blaming others really lives up to your shameless reputation. Without solid evidence, would I be here?"
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor locked eyes with Jie Zunzhe and shouted: "Baizhan!"
Seeing the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor so confident, Jie Zunzhe's heart sank to the bottom. He had already started thinking about whether to hide in the ancestral land or the Ancestor Realm.
Baizhan Xingjun stepped forward and pointed at the void.
A layer of water screen appeared in the void, on which the scene of Zhang Ruochen forcing the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden to write a marriage contract in the Truth Heaven Domain years ago was displayed.
Moreover, lines of blood-red text appeared on the water screen.
"The Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen, is handsome in appearance, peerless in talent, and upright in character. He is the man I admire from the bottom of my heart. Today, I, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden Yu Chenjing, swear by the honor of Baizhan Xingjun, voluntarily willing to marry the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen."
Back then, Baizhan Xingjun was cultivating in the Truth Heaven Domain. The moment the oath was made in his name, his divine soul sensed it and imprinted all the scenes in his divine sea.
Including Zhang Ruochen tearing off the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's skirt hem to use as the marriage contract's silk cloth. And forcefully untying the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's belt as a token of love.
In the temple, many gods of the Thousand Star Civilization saw for the first time the scene of Zhang Ruochen forcing Yu Chenjing to write the marriage contract, and their anger flared up instantly.
Yu Cangsheng trembled with rage and said: "This brat is unforgivable! Jing'er is the future Celestial Master of our Thousand Star Civilization, and she has suffered such a great humiliation."
Yu Taizhen said: "Jie Zunzhe, stop shielding Zhang Ruochen. If he is a man, let him roll out immediately. Hiding away, what kind of skill is that?"
Feng Qingleng said: "Our Thousand Star Civilization will not let this go easily! Old scoundrel, whether you are a false god or a god venerable, you cannot protect him. If there is no explanation, the Divine Ancestor's true body will surely descend."
Jie Zunzhe's eyes had already widened. Then, he slammed his palm onto the armrest, shattering the divine throne beneath him, and stood up roaring: "Wretch! The Zhang Clan's household is unlucky, to have produced such a bastard. How embarrassing!"
Jie Zunzhe's sudden outburst startled the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization.
The hall fell silent instantly.
Jie Zunzhe looked toward the direction of the ancestral land in the Eastern Domain and said: "It's all my fault for not educating him properly. The face of our ancestors has been ruined by him alone! The Great Venerable's lifelong reputation has been destroyed by this little beast."
Earlier, he had been worried and fearful, scolded and called an "old scoundrel," yet Jie Zunzhe, feeling guilty, dared not say a word in rebuttal.
Who knew it had nothing to do with him at all? He had almost taken the blame.
Jie Zunzhe was furious inside.
Jie Zunzhe found Yu Chenjing among the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization, quickly approached her, his eyes moist, and let out a long sigh: "A thousand wrongs, ten thousand wrongs, all are Zhang Ruochen's fault. Child, don't be too sad. I will make this right for you."
Before setting out, Yu Chenjing had been "made up" to look very thin and haggard, pitiful, with tears always glistening in her eyes, as if she had been crying all these years, as if she woke up from nightmares every night.
Jie Zunzhe said: "Where is the marriage contract? It's not that I don't trust you, but that brat is too rebellious. Now that he has reached the Infinite Realm, I, as his ancestor, may not be able to make him listen. But if the marriage contract is handed over to Tai Shang, Tai Shang will naturally discipline him!"
Learning from Jie Zunzhe that Zhang Ruochen had broken into the Infinite Realm, the gods of the Thousand Star Civilization were all shocked.
This was too fast!
Reaching the Infinite Realm truly made one a sovereign of a region, able to firmly secure the position of Sword Realm's Realm Lord.
But Jie Zunzhe's change in attitude was too drastic. Everyone was caught off guard.
Yu Cangsheng, worried that Jie Zunzhe was putting on a front, said: "The marriage contract was naturally taken by Zhang Ruochen! To verify this matter, just confront him face to face. Where is he? Surely he is in the Kunlun Realm?"
Unexpectedly, Jie Zunzhe was very decisive, without any hesitation, and said: "Good, I will take you there now."
One after another, they walked out of the temple.
In the ears of the Thousand Star Divine Ancestor, Tai Shang's voice rang out, and his gaze gradually deepened. As a Celestial Venerable, he naturally would not come all the way to the Kunlun Realm just for such a trivial matter.
In truth, he was using this as an excuse to secretly meet with Tai Shang in the Kunlun Realm.
First, to clarify Tai Shang's specific condition.
Second, to discuss whether to participate in the Celestial Venerable Assembly.
If there were no legitimate reason involving Zhang Ruochen and Yu Chenjing, making a special trip to the Kunlun Realm would inevitably arouse suspicion from Hao Tian and the Celestial Venerables of the Heavenly Court, leading them to think that the Thousand Star Civilization and the Kunlun Realm were preparing to flee.
Conversely, by bringing the matter of Zhang Ruochen and Yu Chenjing into the open, no matter how the situation developed afterward, it would appear open and aboveboard, reasonable and justified.
This could help the Thousand Star Civilization gain more initiative!