# Chapter 3499: Wuyue, My Wife
Even if this possibility was extremely low, Zhang Ruochen had to treat it seriously.
Although Lady Shiji had never truly appeared, and whether she was alive or dead remained unknown, the astonishing phenomenon caused by the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron in the Phantom Extinction Star Sea still made Zhang Ruochen uneasy when he recalled it now. Even Di's head had been severed and taken away.
Such a fearsome figure, renowned through the ages, was not someone to provoke!
Zhang Ruochen hung Lady Shiji's portrait on the wall.
Beneath the wall, he placed a divine altar, setting the cauldron that had been used to cook lamb upon it.
He burned incense, made three bows with hands clasped, and only then did his heart calm down considerably.
"Lady Shiji, if I have offended you in any way before, I beg for your tolerance and mercy. Please do not take it to heart."
Zhang Ruochen was about to go refine the Frightening Sea God Venerable, but suddenly stopped, returned to beneath the portrait, took out three bright red sacred fruits, and placed them beside the incense cauldron. Only then did he leave, satisfied.
Several more days passed. Zhang Ruochen never once left the Past Divine Palace.
During this time, Bore and Nutian Shenzun's second disciple, Kong Daohai, came once to request a divine pill.
Kong Daohai had already lived for nearly seven hundred thousand years. His lifespan was nearly exhausted. If he could not break through to the Infinite Realm, he would soon die of old age.
Although the All-Connecting Divine Pill could not directly help him break through, it could still help somewhat, offering a glimmer of hope.
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's useless. Your potential is already exhausted. You are destined to never break through to the Infinite Realm. There's no need to waste a large amount of cultivation resources to exchange for a divine pill from me. It would be better to leave those resources to future generations, to ensure the prosperity of your clan."
"I understand!"
Kong Daohai did not insist. With a dejected expression, he left the Five Realms Heaven.
Bore said, "What's wrong? Are you unhappy? Do you think my words were too hurtful? Or do you feel that I didn't give you face?"
"I have never cared about such face! But a person who has cultivated for seven hundred thousand years—how difficult is that? How many life-and-death situations and dangers have they endured? To directly cut off his hope like that—that is too cruel!" Bore said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "He has cultivated for seven hundred thousand years. His heart should be very clear. Breaking through to the Infinite Realm is just a delusion of his. A lifespan of seven hundred thousand years—that is not short!"
Bore sighed, "Perhaps you are right."
Zhang Ruochen took out two All-Connecting Divine Pills and handed them to Bore, smiling, "To anyone else, I can be cruel. But hearing that sigh from you, my heart aches unbearably. These two All-Connecting Divine Pills—one is for you, and the other you can do with as you see fit."
Bore understood everything in an instant. A hint of anger appeared between her brows, but then many tender feelings emerged.
So that was it. Zhang Ruochen had deliberately rejected Kong Daohai so cruelly.
Because Zhang Ruochen did not need Kong Daohai to owe him a favor.
But Bore needed this favor!
Zhang Ruochen said, "Kong Daohai's strength is not weak. With Nutian Shenzun absent, he has always been the one managing the overall situation at Nutian Divine Palace. Moreover, he is a direct descendant of the Kong Clan of White Clothes Valley. Having him owe you a favor will be of great benefit to you in the future. Even if he dies ten thousand years from now, his descendants and his successors will continue to support you and serve you. As for those cultivation resources he sent over, I truly have no use for them."
...
A thousand-zhang-long blood-colored divine ship flew across the sky, entering the colorful star mist of the No Return Forest. Soon after, it descended into the Fate Divine Domain.
Blood Absolute War God, Xue Hou, and Xiao Hei arrived at the foot of Fate Divine Mountain. Ahead of them was the newly built Gate of Destiny, a layer of white light blocking their way.
Blood Absolute War God wore a set of bright armor, his cape fluttering behind him. His divine venerable aura radiated outward. With a single declaration, "Blood Absolute pays respects to the mountain," the gods of Fate Divine Mountain were stirred and came down the mountain one after another.
Blood Butcher was the first to rush over to greet them. At the Gate of Destiny, he bowed, "Greetings, Grand Clan Chief and Master!"
Blood Absolute War God's gaze was sharp, hiding a murderous aura. He strode past Blood Butcher with the momentum of a dragon or tiger, bringing gusts of wind as he headed toward the Death Divine Palace.
Blood Butcher struggled to remain calm. Only after Blood Absolute War God had walked far away did he let out a long sigh of relief. Forcing a smile, he said, "It has been a long time since I last saw you, Master. Please allow Blood Butcher to bow once more."
Xue Hou said, "No need to bow. You are already a Great God. There is no need for such formalities. Now, Feng Tian is your master!"
"No, once a teacher, always a teacher. If it were not for Master's protection and guidance back then, how could Blood Butcher have achieved what I have today? I have a few treasures obtained from the secret realm. I would like to ask Master to take a look and help appraise them."
Blood Butcher made a gesture of invitation, letting Xue Hou walk ahead.
Xiao Hei stood straight as a spear, wearing a black bamboo hat, exuding a certain heroic aura. He let out a disdainful snort, the mockery in it self-evident.
Blood Butcher's expression changed abruptly as he coldly stared at him.
Xiao Hei said calmly, "I heard Zhang Ruochen is under house arrest on Fate Divine Mountain. Where is he? This Emperor wants to see him."
"Senior Brother is now a revered Divine Venerable. How dare you call him by his name? To pay respects to a Divine Venerable, one must submit a visiting card in advance. It is not something you can do just because you want to."
Blood Butcher looked at Xue Hou, caught up with her, and smiled, "Master, have you come to see the Sacred Bright Great Emperor? He is at the Great Calamity Palace. I will take you there."
Xiao Hei shook his head and sighed, "A dignified Great God, with no bearing or integrity at all. Ruined. You are already ruined in this life. Forget about reaching the Infinite Realm."
"If you want to see what true bearing is, this Emperor will show you what the bearing of a Great God really means." Blood Butcher's voice came back, carrying a confrontational edge.
Xiao Hei was speechless. Among Great Gods, he had never seen anyone so lacking in lower limits. He, the Heaven-Slaying Earth-Destroying Emperor, could never do such a thing.
A pair of round cat eyes, through the black gauze, cautiously looked up at the Gate of Destiny above. Xiao Hei shrank back a little and walked inside.
...
Five Realms Heaven.
"Zhang Ruochen! Zhang Ruochen! This Emperor has come to see you!"
Xiao Hei shouted loudly outside the Past Divine Palace.
Blood Butcher stood to the side, a look of disdain on his face. He felt this owl was too presumptuous.
But thinking that this fellow had been with Senior Brother from the very beginning, step by step, and could even be considered half of Senior Brother's guide, their relationship was truly unmatched. Instantly, Blood Butcher felt a bit sour inside.
The formation opened.
Zhang Ruochen's voice rang out, "Come in!"
Blood Butcher stepped into the Past Divine Palace ahead of Xiao Hei, found Zhang Ruochen who was refining the Frightening Sea God Venerable, and said, "Senior Brother, the Grand Clan Chief and Master Xue Hou have arrived at Fate Divine Mountain!"
Beneath the Earth Cauldron.
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes, a look of joy on his face. "I was just calculating the time. They should be arriving about now. Has Grandfather gone to pay respects to Feng Tian?"
"Senior Brother's divine calculations are truly admirable!"
Blood Butcher's eyes were filled with admiration.
Although being a Divine Venerable meant countless cultivators would flatter and admire him, Zhang Ruochen truly found it hard to bear.
Xiao Hei stood beneath the portrait, arms behind his back, carefully examining it. "Tsk tsk, Zhang Ruochen, you have already reached the Infinite Realm. Apart from the current All Heavens, why should you look up to anyone? Hanging Lady Shiji's portrait here, burning incense and offering sacrifices... you... you have truly surprised this Emperor. The more you cultivate, the more you regress?"
"Do not be disrespectful to Lady Shiji! Even if I have reached the Infinite Realm, before her, I am still just a student." Zhang Ruochen said.
Blood Butcher said, "Senior Brother speaks with great reason! Learning has no end; one must never be complacent. Even after being titled a Divine Venerable, one still spurs oneself on like this. When will I ever reach such a state?"
"You, get out! This Emperor has confidential matters to discuss with Zhang Ruochen." Xiao Hei said very rudely.
Blood Butcher's eyes widened, and he said angrily, "This is Fate Divine Mountain. On what basis do you tell this Emperor to leave?"
Xiao Hei sighed, "Confidential matters. It's inconvenient for you to be here. If you really want to know, you can stay. But some secrets, once known, may not be a good thing."
Blood Butcher thought of the identity of this owl before him—besides being the son of the Ice Emperor, he had another identity. His expression immediately changed drastically.
If it was about the Kunlun Realm side...
He truly did not want to know anything.
"You go first. Prepare things. I want to welcome Grandfather and Mother." Zhang Ruochen said.
"Alright!"
Blood Butcher left as if pardoned.
"Thump!"
Xiao Hei could no longer hold himself together. He directly pounced in front of Zhang Ruochen and hugged his thigh, saying, "Zhang Ruochen, save me! Only you can save me now, or else I am dead for sure!"
Zhang Ruochen was caught off guard by his antics. He activated the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal, enveloping the entire Past Divine Palace, then kicked his leg in disgust. "What are you doing, what are you doing? How big of a deal is it to act like this?"
"Swoosh!"
A corner of Xiao Hei's divine realm world opened, and Wuyue's slender, graceful black figure stepped out from within.
Between the five slender jade fingers of her right hand, she held an inch-long talisman. Looking at Xiao Hei, who was hugging Zhang Ruochen's thigh, her voice was soft and pleasant: "You behaved yourself. Otherwise, with just a slight move of my finger, you would be dead!"
The black bamboo hat had long since fallen to the ground.
Xiao Hei's cat face was full of misery. He looked very wary of Wuyue, daring to be angry but not to speak.
Clearly, he had suffered quite a bit during this time.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Let go. Hurry up and let go. What kind of spectacle is this?"
Zhang Ruochen kicked Xiao Hei away and stood up, carefully examining Wuyue. He smiled, "If you wanted to come to Fate Divine Mountain, why use such a method? What if the Gate of Destiny calculated it out? It would easily cause misunderstandings."
"The Gate of Destiny has long since collapsed. The new Gate of Destiny has not yet fully merged with the Fate Esoterica in the divine mountain. How could it calculate me?"
Wuyue loosened her five fingers, and the talisman in her hand fell to the ground, snatched up by Xiao Hei.
After parting ways at Lihentian, Wuyue had undergone great changes. She still possessed a city-toppling, stunningly beautiful face, with a figure that was a masterpiece of nature. The skin beneath her black robe was like immortal fat and beautiful jade. But the former gloom, ferocity, and coldness had diminished considerably, replaced by something even more unpredictable.
She had once been like the moon in water—elusive but traceable.
But now, above the moon in water, there drifted wisps of mist, making her even more hazy, as if hiding many secrets.
Wuyue saw Zhang Ruochen staring at her, and his gaze was becoming increasingly vigilant. The corners of her ruby-like crystalline lips curled into a smile. "I guess you are thinking whether I have been possessed by some ancient powerful being?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "My wife Wuyue has always called me husband."
"If you wish to hear it, this servant can call you that now too. Husband!"
The smile in Wuyue's eyes grew thicker. Her voice was tender as water. "Is this acceptable?"
"Not really!"
Zhang Ruochen's two fingers clamped around Wuyue's wrist, but in an instant, her hand slipped away like a spiritual snake.
Lines of talisman patterns appeared on the skin of her arm, and her figure had already appeared beneath Lady Shiji's portrait.
(End of Chapter)