# Chapter 3516: Two People Enter the Battle
"You're the one who's always showing off."
The Wondrous Zenmaid's eyes held no lack of reproach as her right hand changed from a Buddhist seal to a finger point.
Her jade finger pointed out, and the Flame God Armor flew off, covering Zhang Ruochen.
Flames burned on the armor, emitting a lingering trace of residual fragrance.
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, about to tell her that against the destructive power of a Great Unbound Infinite self-detonating their divine source, the Flame God Armor was nearly useless.
But the Wondrous Zenmaid had already turned and left, saying to everyone: "Let's prepare quickly too. Seal the mountain gate, activate all defensive forces. White Clothes Valley must not be lost. Whoever comes, they die!"
The smile gradually faded from Zhang Ruochen's face as he deeply realized that what Nutian Shenzun had said earlier was indeed correct—he really shouldn't meet with the Wondrous Zenmaid anymore. If not for that urgent matter, he shouldn't have come to White Clothes Valley at all.
This journey was dangerous. Zhang Ruochen left Wu Yue, Mu Lingxi, Dai Xue Nüwang, and Quan Zhong Sheng, who were under the Jade Tree Ink Moon, behind in the valley.
As she left, Wu Yue took off the Heavenly Venerable Treasure Gauze and draped it over him, saying only coldly: "I'm returning it to you now!"
No matter how changeable she was—gentle, cruel, or seductive—Zhang Ruochen could always feel the coldness deep within her heart.
At this most dangerous moment, for her to have such a heart, how could Zhang Ruochen's heart not be moved?
How could Zhang Ruochen not know that this journey was a near-certain death?
But if the Calamity of Quantities Emperor truly was Fortune and Blessing Divine Venerable, and his true face was not exposed, then in the future, Xue Jue War God and Luo Sha would be in great danger.
If Zhang Ruochen didn't take this risk, then in the future, those who died might be Xue Jue War God and Luo Sha, as well as others in the Destiny Temple—Ming Emperor, Bore, Hai Shang You Ruo... Such a dangerous figure was too destructive.
The opportunity was right before him; he had to expose him.
Nutian Shenzun stood proudly alone at the top of the stone steps outside the valley, waiting for him. Seeing him catch up, he said: "You don't need to worry too much. With that protective talisman, even if War God Underworld Venerable self-detonated his divine source beside you, you could still survive."
"The affairs of this world are truly wondrous. Someone like me, who has cultivated for less than an eon, has already participated in the clashes of the universe's top-tier powerhouses. My excitement and anticipation have long overshadowed my fear of death and the unknown."
Zhang Ruochen carried a natural worldly elegance, like a rising and unstoppable crimson morning sun, in no way inferior to the mountain-like Nutian Shenzun beside him.
"Let's go!" Nutian Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen followed behind him, walking on foot, crossing streams, leaving the mountains. Ahead was an ancient city lit up with lights.
Outside the city gate, on the main road, carriages and horses returning late were traveling.
The sound of drivers cracking whips and driving livestock, as well as children playing inside the carriages, came through clearly.
All of this was so real, pulling people back from the turmoil of heaven and earth and the crisis of life and death to the ordinary, making their hearts become unprecedentedly calm.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Is this the reason Divine Venerable didn't directly take White Clothes Valley and flee? If White Clothes Valley left, the living beings of this great world before us would surely all become blood food for those ancient powerhouses."
Nutian Shenzun said: "Do you think one can leave just because they want to? I can sense their existence, and naturally they can sense me too. Carrying White Clothes Valley, or carrying an entire great world with me, would undoubtedly be like binding my own hands, like a bird protecting its eggs—certain death. Letting go and fighting it out, on the contrary, allows for a satisfying battle!"
"Shua!"
Two beams of divine light flashed.
Nutian Shenzun and Zhang Ruochen disappeared from the earth and appeared in the empty and silent inter-realm starry sky.
Taking the Divine Spirit Step, the two of them walked straight toward a star field where Divine Throne Planets gathered.
There, dozens of Divine Throne Planets the size of fixed stars were distributed within a space spanning a hundred billion li, surrounded by dark golden nebulas, filled with an aura of mystery and the unknown.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable was once undefeated in the universe for hundreds of thousands of years! I heard that during the Rakshasa Clan battle, he participated in the siege of Fengdu Dadi. This person's cultivation, whether in the past or now, must surely have reached the universe's first sequence."
"You think that if he comes, we will have no chance at all?" Nutian Shenzun said.
"Hua!"
Behind them, within the atmosphere of the great world where White Clothes Valley was located, dense beams of light appeared, and formation inscription patterns surged like countless light threads.
The world-protecting divine formation had been activated!
Zhang Ruochen said: "The Wuding Divine Sea made the Heavenly Court and Hell dare not act rashly, and they even voluntarily abandoned their defensive line. A figure like that, if not undefeated under heaven, is at least one of a handful of people. Besides Hao Tian and Heavenly Mother, who can contend with him?"
Nutian Shenzun's heart was like a rock, his gaze fixed and unshakable. He sneered: "A person who seized his own young son's body to live a second life, a person who must rely on changes in heaven and earth's rules to survive—no matter how strong his cultivation, there must be a flaw in his heart."
"Zhang Ruochen, I know that when you said those words just now, you were testing my confidence and determination. In my life, I have experienced no less than ten thousand battles. No matter how powerful the opponent, my heart has never wavered."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Has Divine Venerable seen Ling Yanzi?"
"I only know she comes from Great Nether Mountain."
Nutian Shenzun stopped. Ahead were rounds of blazingly hot eternal suns, arranged according to some strange pattern.
Looking closely, one could see rule divine patterns and divine qi being released from the eternal suns.
At this moment, even Zhang Ruochen could sense the abnormal heavenly secrets.
Not far away, there was a dark planet, devouring the light and heat emitted by the surrounding Divine Throne Planets.
"Hualala!"
Suddenly, the dark planet released a bolt of lightning, shaped like a divine dragon, flowing unceasingly around the star body, also illuminating the darkness.
Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable stood on the dark star, his appearance exceptionally handsome and extraordinary, his facial contours possessing a rigid yet beautiful charm. He looked up at Nutian Shenzun in the void, the silver-white lightning pattern on his brow seemingly containing energy more terrifying than the dozens of surrounding Divine Throne Planets combined.
He merely cast a smiling glance, but Zhang Ruochen, who was millions of li away, felt as if the entire universe had been illuminated, with no more darkness remaining.
Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable said: "Truly worthy of being the Great Venerable's son, you actually sensed our hidden position."
Nutian Shenzun said: "I am the master of White Clothes Valley. As long as I am here, what in this entire star field can be hidden? I'm just very curious—why would a figure like Heavenly Venerable need to hide? If you had come openly and aboveboard, I would have arranged a grand ceremony to welcome you. Why resort to this?"
Zhang Ruochen silently praised this as brilliant.
This was both telling Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable that he knew everything about their actions.
And comparing Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable to a petty villain lurking in the shadows, pointing out that his actions lacked openness and boldness. The title "Heavenly Venerable" was full of mockery.
Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable showed no emotional fluctuation, smiling: "When it comes to hiding one's abilities, who in this world can compare to you? Since you've come here, it seems your injury was just a ruse. Has Bai Shouji already been captured?"
Facing a figure who had once been undefeated in an era, Nutian Shenzun remained calm and composed, saying: "Bai Shouji has cultivated in White Clothes Valley for several eons. An outsider couldn't possibly drive him to betray. Why doesn't the person behind him still show himself?"
Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable stared at Nutian Shenzun for a moment, then suddenly sighed: "Knowing that Fengdu was exiled, yet daring to come alone—this boldness, I truly admire."
Nutian Shenzun said: "The one who exiled Fengdu Dadi was not you alone."
"Qiangshake is suppressed in Luozu Cloud Mountain Realm, not far from death!"
"Di has been dragged into the River of Time. What use is the world's only half-ancestor? It only damages his reputation!"
"Tiannan Second Elder is imprisoned. Shen Tu Ghost Emperor and Xiong Hai Shenzun have both become dead souls. How much strength do you have left to deal with White Clothes Valley?"
Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable appeared extremely calm, not avoiding the issue, speaking directly: "Indeed, Fengdu was very strong. Even with his vision and divine soul sealed, I could only fight him to a draw."
"But you are not Fengdu! You have been plagued by the Withering Death Art since ten eons ago. Even if your cultivation has reached Indestructible, how far can you go? I alone should be enough to slay you. Dying at the hands of the current Heavenly Venerable will certainly not diminish the Great Venerable's former prestige."
Nutian Shenzun looked toward the dozens of Divine Throne Planets behind the dark star, saying: "If you truly had the confidence to flatten White Clothes Valley alone, why did you bring so many people?"
Several figures in succession emerged from behind the Divine Throne Planets.
Zhang Ruochen saw Fei Ma Wang, Chang He, and five other remnant soul bodies of ancient powerhouses, each standing on a Divine Throne Planet, emitting at least Qiankun Infinite-level auras.
"This is bad. They were already on guard?" Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
These Divine Throne Planets were scattered across a range of hundreds of billions of li. Even if War God Underworld Venerable self-detonated his divine source, the destructive force couldn't travel that far to kill Infinite Realm powerhouses.
For existences like Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable, one would need to be at extremely close range to severely wound them.
Nutian Shenzun remained calm and composed, as if he had never considered relying on War God Underworld Venerable's skull head. He said blandly: "What about Qiwada and Three Evil Demon Lord? I thought they would come."
"Qiwada went to the Nether Hall, and Three Evil Demon Lord went to Nether City. To destroy White Clothes Valley, I naturally need a foolproof plan." Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable's voice was gentle and smooth, without using divine soul or divine power, yet it clearly entered Zhang Ruochen's ears.
His application of heaven and earth's rules had reached an incredibly terrifying level.
Though they were millions of li apart, it felt like he could cross the distance with a single thought, giving people a sense of despair with no escape.
"Honglong!"
A bolt of lightning streaked across the sky above Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable, piercing through three realms.
The thunderous sound went straight into the divine soul.
Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable released his divine qi, saying: "I know you're stalling for time, waiting for Xu Fengjin to return. Then show me all your skills, and see if you can hold out until then."
"Thunder Punishment, since the Great Venerable disappeared from heaven and earth, you've thought yourself undefeated under heaven. This arrogance of yours still hasn't changed."
A sharp edge flashed in Nutian Shenzun's eyes. The pride within his heart and the battle intent accumulated through years of forbearance erupted like a volcano, causing the entire starry sky to shake and countless stars to flicker on and off.
He deserved to be proud!
As the son of an Ancestor, how could he not be proud?