Chapter 3494: Ghost Clan Chaos
Zhang Ruochen and Chan Mingya transformed into two beams of divine light and appeared outside the Death God Temple.
As they stepped through the temple gates, the scene before them instantly shifted.
The ground turned into a land of death, piled high with pale white divine bones.
Feng Tian, clad in white robes with black hair flowing, sat atop the Phoenix Divine Throne above. Her slender jade hands held the Auspicious Ruyi, studying and toying with it. The aura of a Heavenly Venerable naturally radiated outward, imposing an overwhelming pressure on all.
“We pay our respects to Feng Tian!”
Zhang Ruochen and Chan Mingya bowed in unison.
Yet, for a long while, they heard no command from Feng Tian to rise.
After waiting some time, Zhang Ruochen lifted his head, straightened his posture, and glanced around.
He noticed that many deities had gathered in the Death God Temple, including Qing Feiwei, Yan Ju, and Tianming Venerable, all clearly present.
Quite a few deities turned their gazes to Zhang Ruochen, their expressions filled with utmost admiration.
Gong Nanfeng stood at the very back among the deities, secretly giving Zhang Ruochen a thumbs-up.
Above, Feng Tian’s gaze shifted from the Auspicious Ruyi to Zhang Ruochen. She said, “Ruochen Divine Venerable truly possesses an innate proud spirit. Before a Heavenly Venerable, do you show such fearlessness?”
The deities in the hall were all startled, sensing a deathly aura.
Even Gong Nanfeng straightened up, his expression tense.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I hold only reverence for Feng Tian. Why should I be afraid?”
“Considering you have just rendered great merit by retrieving a precious treasure for the temple, I will permit this one instance of insolence.”
Feng Tian gave a light snort, then turned her gaze to Chan Mingya. “I cannot be bothered to conduct a soul search. Speak for yourself—who are you really?”
Chan Mingya trembled, lowering her head, not daring to speak.
Zhang Ruochen said, “It was the previous generation artifact spirit of the Soul-Devouring Lamp, Xi Zhan, who devoured her divine soul in Lihentian…”
“Did I ask you?”
Thunderclaps rumbled above the Death God Temple.
Chan Mingya prostrated herself directly on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen frowned, wanting to continue speaking.
Gong Nanfeng stepped forward and bowed. “Feng Tian, it is clear that Chan Venerable’s divine soul and spiritual will have suffered a major problem. As Ruochen Divine Venerable said, it was likely Xi Zhan who devoured her divine soul and erased part of her spiritual will.”
“Xi Zhan was an ancient spirit, born from the Soul-Devouring Lamp. After achieving spiritual power of perfect roundness, he severed his own artifact body, roamed the universe, and devoured the spirits of all things. He died on the Santu River at the hands of the Second Confucian Ancestor’s Karma Chess Formation.”
“Ruochen Divine Venerable, may I ask where Xi Zhan’s remnant soul is now?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I have already beaten it until its soul was scattered and destroyed.”
Immediately, astonished murmurs arose in the temple.
Zhang Ruochen said, “There is nothing surprising about this. Although Xi Zhan was formidable in life, in the end, he was merely a remnant soul. How could he possibly be a match for the current Divine Venerable?”
Those deities who knew of Zhang Ruochen’s victory over the Judgment Venerable remained calm. Given Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation level, combined with the Earth Cauldron, a great killing weapon, refining and destroying a remnant soul in a short time was nothing to marvel at.
Feng Tian’s voice was vast and distant. “Just now, the Three Evils Emperor released his aura, luring me out of the Divine Mountain. Unfortunately, he fled too quickly, and I could not catch him.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “There cannot be such a coincidence in the world. The Three Evils Emperor would not provoke Feng Tian without reason.”
Feng Tian said, “You claim to have killed Xi Zhan. Now tell me, what exactly is the relationship between the Quantity Organization and these ancient powerhouses?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “The Quantity Organization and the ancient powerhouses have different goals, but neither is tolerated by this era. Clearly, they have moved toward cooperation. This scheme involving Xi Zhan and the Three Evils Emperor undoubtedly shows that their cooperation has reached a deeper level.”
“Do I need you to tell me this?” Feng Tian said.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Chan Mingya, who was prostrate on the ground, and transmitted his voice. “It is your turn. Tell everything you know.”
Chan Mingya slowly lifted her head, not daring to meet Feng Tian’s gaze. “Xi Zhan originally planned to stay in Lihentian for a while longer to completely refine my divine soul. But not long ago, he received a Message Light Talisman, so he emerged early and rushed to the Destiny Temple.”
“Was it the Three Evils Emperor who sent him the message?” Tianming Venerable asked.
Chan Mingya shook her head. “I do not think so. Xi Zhan only met with the Three Evils Emperor after descending into the real world.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What was the content of the Message Light Talisman?”
Chan Mingya looked up at Zhang Ruochen with a sorrowful expression and gently shook her head.
Zhang Ruochen said, “And what did Xi Zhan and the Three Evils Emperor discuss?”
Chan Mingya shook her head again.
“Whoosh!”
Chan Mingya vanished from the ground.
The next moment, she was already held in Feng Tian’s hand.
From Feng Tian’s eyes, strands of Fate Divine Light patterns flew out, rushing directly into Chan Mingya’s body to conduct a soul search.
The deities in the temple were silent as cicadas in winter, none daring to plead for Chan Mingya.
Zhang Ruochen felt no pity whatsoever. The world was inherently this cruel. If he were in Feng Tian’s position, he would also conduct a soul search on Chan Mingya to ensure that Xi Zhan was truly annihilated.
This was actually for the best.
After the soul search, Feng Tian would understand that Zhang Ruochen was upright and honorable, and would never let beauty interfere with important matters.
Zhang Ruochen did not care if Feng Tian mistakenly thought he was a lecher.
Loving beauty is human nature.
The key lies in whether one can control one’s desires.
A person who accomplishes great deeds, like the old ghost Xu, can both pass through a myriad of flowers and abstain from desire for years to cultivate. He moves effortlessly between cultivation and beauty.
The current situation was different from before. Zhang Ruochen no longer needed to deliberately cultivate a “romantic” reputation or fabricate a weakness.
Given the current state of the Destiny Temple and the Hell Realm, what was needed was a Zhang Ruochen capable of great deeds—a collaborator who could deal with the Quantity Organization and the ancient powerhouses.
Feng Tian withdrew the Fate Divine Light, then waved her hand, sending Chan Mingya flying.
Just as Chan Mingya was about to crash to the ground, Zhang Ruochen slightly lifted his right foot and gently tapped. Immediately, ripples of space appeared. Then, he reached out a hand and pressed it against her back, neutralizing Feng Tian’s divine power, allowing her to land steadily.
Chan Mingya looked at Zhang Ruochen, gratitude in her eyes, her gaze growing even more affectionate.
Feng Tian said, “Let this matter end here. Tianming Venerable, Chan Mingya, hear my command.”
Tianming Venerable and Chan Mingya immediately stepped forward a few paces.
Feng Tian said, “The world is currently in turmoil, with remnant souls of ancient powerhouses frequently appearing. Some, with the secret help of the Thunder Clan, the Quantity Organization, and even certain current Divine Venerables with special purposes, have succeeded in possession in Lihentian and gained new bodies.”
“But there are also some remnant souls of ancient powerhouses that cannot find suitable bodies to possess, or dare not take the risk of possession. They have descended into the real world in soul form, intending to walk the path of the Ghost Clan. Many have infiltrated the star domains of the Ghost Clan, devouring Ghost Clan cultivators everywhere.”
“Deities from various Ghost Clan cities have sent messages to me, seeking help from the Destiny Temple.”
“Now that most of the Destiny Temple’s Divine Kings and Divine Venerables are away, I can only send you two to go and assist the Ghost Clan in stabilizing the situation.”
Tianming Venerable’s expression turned grave. “Those ancient powerhouses were all figures who could shake heaven and earth in life. With just the two of us, I fear it will be difficult to bear such a heavy responsibility. Moreover, Chan Venerable’s current state should be resting in the Destiny Temple.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred, and he immediately said, “I am willing to go to the Ghost Clan and assist Tianming Venerable.”
Feng Tian almost rolled her eyes. “You have more important matters to attend to. You are not to leave the Fate Divine Domain for even half a step. As for Chan Venerable, her spiritual will has suffered a severe blow, and she needs a good tempering.”
“Those ancient powerhouses were at least at the Heavenly Venerable level in life, but now they are only remnant souls. If you cannot even handle a remnant soul, what qualifications do you have to govern the Heavenly Fate Department?”
Tianming Venerable dared not say more. He immediately said, “I will certainly not disappoint Feng Tian’s expectations.”
Zhang Ruochen sensed something was wrong.
Those remnant souls of ancient powerhouses had all, to some extent, comprehended the Dao of the Indestructible Realm. They should be useful to Feng Tian as well. Why did she not go personally, but only send Tianming Venerable and Chan Mingya?
Could Feng Tian not care about such a rare opportunity?
“Rest assured, you are not the only ones going. Powerhouses from other clans are also heading there.”
Feng Tian said, “All of you, withdraw and do what you must. Zhang Ruochen, Gong Nanfeng, stay behind.”
After all the deities had withdrawn, the temple became empty.
Gong Nanfeng said, “There is one thing I do not understand. Although the rules of heaven and earth have changed, allowing the remnant souls of those ancient powerhouses to descend into the real world, they cannot possibly walk the path of the Ghost Clan. By devouring ghost souls, they can only increase their soul power, and there will be an obvious upper limit. Once they reach a certain critical point, heavenly tribulation will surely come!”
Zhang Ruochen suddenly thought of something. “Could it be that their plan against Fengdu Dadi, joining forces to exile him to the future, was to scheme something within the Ghost Clan?”
(Chapter End)