Chapter 3500: Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Path
One was the most beautiful woman of the present age, the other was an ancestral figure whose beauty would be remembered for ten thousand years.
One moved, the other was still, reflecting each other, their beauty naturally perfect.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why has your spiritual power increased so much? Is this the seventy-sixth rank?"
"It is the peak of the seventy-sixth rank," Wu Yue said.
As Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue stared at each other, Xiao Hei, holding a talisman, had been busy, looking very panicked. He said, "Before you two start your magical duel, can you first remove the Slaughter Heaven Slaughter Earth Talisman for me?"
"What talisman?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei said urgently, "The Slaughter Heaven Slaughter Earth Talisman! It's a talisman she created herself, specifically designed to kill me. Another talisman is attached to my divine source. If the talisman in my hand shatters, my divine source will also shatter."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why didn't you go find the Ice Emperor?"
"Alas! After Father went to Lihentian to protect your path, he never returned to the Undying Blood Clan. It's as if he vanished from the world." Xiao Hei sighed deeply.
Zhang Ruochen released his divine soul and probed Xiao Hei's divine sea. He said, "She tricked you. There is no such thing as a Slaughter Heaven Slaughter Earth Talisman."
"Impossible! The first time she activated the talisman, my divine source nearly shattered!" Xiao Hei said very confidently.
Zhang Ruochen said, "She used an illusion technique to deceive you, making you hallucinate."
"Hehe!"
Wu Yue smiled charmingly. "As expected of my husband, you saw through everything at a glance."
Zhang Ruochen could see that Wu Yue had not been possessed, but he could also see that she was indeed different from before.
Moreover, not much time had passed, yet her spiritual power had grown too strangely. It was at least equivalent to an eon of bitter cultivation.
Wu Yue's expression quickly turned cold and solemn. She said, "I know you have many doubts in your heart. Coming to Fate Divine Mountain to find you was entirely out of necessity, to avoid disaster."
"What disaster?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Jiusi Yitianhuang wants to kill me."
Wu Yue's gaze was deep and heavy, not at all like she was joking.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why does he want to kill you?"
"Because, in Lihentian, the Moon God and I hunted and killed the remnant soul of his sixth life body, the ancient Moon God. That is the reason my spiritual power was able to achieve such a great breakthrough!"
Wu Yue no longer had any trace of softness. She was as she was when Zhang Ruochen first met her: cold, proud, and looking down on all living beings in the world.
Zhang Ruochen said, "This is what you and the Moon God went to conspire about?"
Wu Yue nodded. "Nine is the ultimate number. Jiusi Yitianhuang has lived to his ninth life and has reached the end of life and death. Living a tenth life is as difficult as ascending to heaven."
"However, in the tomb of the Yellow Spring Great Emperor, I came across a secret scroll. At that time, I realized that Jiusi Yitianhuang still had one path to take: to merge the souls of nine lives, refine the bodies of nine lives, and prove the Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Path. If he succeeds, he might be able to forge a path to becoming an Ancestor."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Can I trust you?"
"There is no need for me to fabricate such a reason. If I wanted to harm you, I would not have chosen Fate Divine Mountain." Wu Yue said.
"That seems to be the case."
Zhang Ruochen said, "If what you say is true, Jiusi Yitianhuang will definitely capture you and the Moon God. Where is the Moon God now?"
"The Moon God is currently very safe. She and I share a common interest. If we have the opportunity, we would very much like to find the remnant souls of his other seven lives and seize his Dao." Wu Yue said.
Zhang Ruochen only felt a headache coming on. Why were these women all so bold, completely without any scruples?
Jiusi Yitianhuang was not a clay figure. In the current Hell Realm, aside from the Heavenly Mother, who could claim to be firmly superior to him?
Moreover, a figure who had lived in hiding for nine lives was best at concealment. Who knew what his true strength was?
Hunting and killing one life's remnant soul was one thing, but wanting to hunt the other seven lives?
Jiusi Yitianhuang's nine-life arrangements must have a grand scheme. Ruining his scheme would surely invite a calamity that would shake heaven and earth.
Zhang Ruochen clapped his hands. "Impressive, admirable, what boldness! But after you stir up trouble, can't you bear it yourself? Why come hide with me?"
Wu Yue's gaze was firm, and she said matter-of-factly, "Because you are my husband."
Xiao Hei was emboldened again. He clasped his hands behind his back and stood tall. "I think she has a point. She is your legally wedded wife, witnessed by all the gods of the world. If she falls into Jiusi Yitianhuang's hands, how will you face yourself then?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't tell me she still has some leverage over you?"
Xiao Hei hung his head in defeat. "All the treasures on my body have been taken by her! Zhang Ruochen, make her give them back! How can a robber be a wife?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head in disappointment. "The Ice Emperor's illustrious reputation has been completely ruined by you!"
...
The Great Slaughter War God Hall was Blood Butcher's divine hall on Fate Divine Mountain.
Inside the hall, only Zhang Ruochen, Xiao Hei, Blood Butcher, and Xue Hou were present, sitting together and eating goat head soup.
Zhang Ruochen was a bit tired of it, so he didn't pick up his chopsticks. Instead, he took a sacred fruit to taste, switching to a lighter flavor.
Xiao Hei and Blood Butcher ate with great relish, as if in a fierce battle, never stopping their mouths. They even devoured it half-raw.
"Master, you should try some too. This is the goat head of a Supreme Pillar. It's delicious and invigorating. I feel like my body is about to burn up, and my cultivation is constantly improving." Blood Butcher said.
Xue Hou just smiled and shook her head. Then, she took out a divine sword and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Stellar Divine Sword!"
"In the battle of the Rakshasa Clan, your divine sword displayed great power in the hands of the Heavenly Mother, shocking the world. But those were only six of the seven swords of the ancient Sword Realm's Seven Star Divine Swords. This is the seventh!" Xue Hou said.
The Seven Star Divine Swords were seven swords.
Six of them were damaged and decayed in the Origin Divine Temple and were obtained by Zhang Ruochen.
Later, in the hands of Sword Bone, the six swords were merged into one.
The Stellar Divine Sword of the Nether King was said to have been forged by the Sword Ancestor using a star, making it as heavy as a star.
Some also speculated that the Stellar Divine Sword's predecessor was likely the seventh of the Seven Star Divine Swords. However, this sword had broken, and the Sword Ancestor used a star to recast it, merely to repair the divine sword.
Zhang Ruochen did not take it. "Is Uncle willing to part with the sword?"
"He said that half of this sword already belongs to you. And now, its value is greater to you." Xue Hou said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I want to know the truth."
"It was your grandfather's intention." Xue Hou said.
Zhang Ruochen understood. He was silent for a moment. "Grandfather doing this will surely create a rift with Uncle. I cannot take this sword."
"Your grandfather will naturally compensate him from elsewhere." Xue Hou said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I already have the Abyssal Ancient Sword and the Earth Cauldron. Seven swords or six swords make no difference to me."
Xue Hou seemed to have anticipated this outcome. "You still don't understand your grandfather? He cares most about face. He has already asked for the sword for you. If you don't accept it, that will truly be a problem."
"Greetings, Great Clan Leader!"
Blood Butcher put down his chopsticks and immediately stood up to bow.
"Greetings... greetings..."
Xiao Hei's mouth was full of mutton, his face puffed up like a furry ball. After swallowing with great effort, he managed to say the words "Great Clan Leader."
Xue Jue War God glanced at Xue Hou, his brow furrowing into a "川" character.
Zhang Ruochen took the Stellar Divine Sword from Xue Hou's hand and smiled. "Grandfather, I really like Uncle's gift. Coincidentally, I also have two gifts here. Please take them back and give them to him."
With that, Zhang Ruochen took out the Darkness Divine Sword and a bottle of Divine Pills for Reaching Heaven.
There were twenty Divine Pills for Reaching Heaven in the bottle. How to distribute them was entirely up to Xue Jue War God.
"Haha! I heard in the Blood Heaven Tribe that your alchemy skill is comparable to a top-tier divine master. You casually refine dozens of divine pills. Many great gods of the Undying Blood Clan are envious!"
Xue Jue War God was about to take over as the clan leader of the Undying Blood Clan, and he needed to win people's hearts. Even if Zhang Ruochen didn't offer the Divine Pills for Reaching Heaven, he would have found a way to ask for them.
Taking the pill bottle and looking at it, Xue Jue War God was immediately disappointed. "Only twenty? That's not nearly enough to distribute!"
"That's enough! On the way here, you told me that Ruochen is now the Lord of the Sword Realm and must act in his position. At most, we could only ask for ten Divine Pills for Reaching Heaven. Now that you've gotten twenty, aren't you happy?" Xue Hou showed no pressure in front of Xue Jue War God and ruthlessly exposed the truth.
Xue Jue War God laughed heartily, then said, "Ruochen, your mother's divine pills are not with me."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Grandfather, rest assured. Divine pills are mere external possessions. How could I miss Mother's share? Besides, I still have some materials on hand, so I should be able to refine a few more. If I stay on Fate Divine Mountain long enough, I'll surely refine quite a few divine pills. When I next visit the Blood Absolute Family, I'll send Grandfather a basket of divine pills."
A basket of divine pills?
Were divine pills so worthless?
Blood Butcher and Xiao Hei's eyes lit up, burning with fervor. They realized that Zhang Ruochen was now a top-tier divine alchemy master.
A divine alchemy master of this level could sit on equal footing with a clan leader or a hall master, quickly helping a clan cultivate a large number of experts.
Even Xue Jue War God's gaze became playful, as if he truly had some expectations. "If you need any materials, just say the word. I'll have them shipped from the Undying Blood Clan!"
"We'll talk about that later. Let's discuss the important matters first."
Zhang Ruochen was naturally not a top-tier divine alchemy master.
To be called a top-tier divine alchemy master, one had to be at least among the top twenty below the Alchemy Dao's Supreme Being, including those few who were proficient in everything and had achieved perfection without flaw.
Zhang Ruochen was far from reaching that level of alchemy skill.
But since Wu Yue had come, with her spiritual power, her status as a divine alchemy master, and the Earth Cauldron, they should barely be comparable to a top-tier divine alchemy master.
She claimed to be his wife, and having stirred up a sky-breaking disaster, she could come "home" to hide, but she also had to work for this "home."
Xue Jue War God understood Zhang Ruochen's thoughts. He was very straightforward, putting away the Darkness Divine Sword. He glanced at Blood Butcher and Xiao Hei, who took the hint and immediately walked outside.
"These two can do small tasks twelve times perfectly, even exceeding expectations. But when it comes to big matters, they always make it hard to feel at ease. It's better not to let them know about some things."
Xue Jue War God sat down. "I have already met with Feng Tian. She said she can represent the Destiny Temple and support me in becoming the clan leader of the Undying Blood Clan. But she has one condition!"
"She needs the support of the Undying Blood Clan, even the support of the Undying War God?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Jue War God nodded. "Although I have broken through to the Infinite Realm, to become a clan leader, my strength and foundation are still far off. Internally, I have the support of the old clan leader and the Undying War God. Externally, I must gain the support of the Destiny Temple, using the faith of destiny to stabilize the hearts of the people below. Only then can I avoid being exploited by those with ulterior motives, causing a disaster like that of the Rakshasa Clan. Ruochen, never underestimate the power of faith!"
"The old clan leader's time is running out. The Undying War God cannot completely favor me. If I lack the ability to control the situation, I won't be able to take the position of clan leader. I'll have to walk his path and become the clan's war god. A clan leader and a war god are different!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Grandfather believes that the Undying Blood Clan cannot participate in the internal power struggles of the Destiny Temple, and you also believe that Feng Tian's strength is not yet enough to be the master of the temple, unable to fully control destiny. That's why you are hesitant?"
"Once you sit in the position of clan leader, one wrong step means the fate of an entire clan. If it weren't for the old clan leader's insistence and deeper considerations, I truly wouldn't want to tie myself down!" Xue Jue War God said. "You know Feng Tian better. What do you think of her?"
"..."
Zhang Ruochen only then understood why Xue Jue War God was discussing such a major matter with him. What did he mean by "know her better"? Was there some misunderstanding that hadn't been cleared up?