Chapter 3525: Renhuan Heavenly Venerable
In the past few days, the White Clothes Valley had been bustling with visitors, but only true gods among the external guests were allowed entry. The vast number of saint realm cultivators who came to pay homage were all blocked outside the valley.
Because of this, the many temples remained quiet and secluded, with incense burning in every hall, largely unchanged from usual.
Zhang Ruochen walked to the outside of the Kongming Hall. There, to the right of the grand sandalwood divine wood gate, stood a singularly outstanding figure.
That person was clad in golden armor and a silver robe, his eyes gleaming with sharp brilliance, carrying a chilling light.
It was dusk. The setting sun shone upon the golden armor, adding an extra layer of majesty and sanctity.
As Zhang Ruochen’s gaze examined him, the man’s tiger-like eyes also turned to meet his.
With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, even if he restrained his divine might and aura, he was no ordinary god who could meet his gaze.
Zhang Ruochen knew this person’s identity, but without many words, he merely nodded lightly and walked past him into the Kongming Hall.
“What a powerful oppressive aura. Truly, he is completely different from before.”
Mi Tian War God frowned deeply, then looked toward the distant setting sun. A sense of unprecedented loneliness welled up inside him, as if he saw a towering wave crashing down, sending him to the abyssal depths of the water.
Since he began his cultivation, he had always laughed proudly among his peers, rarely facing an opponent. When had he ever suffered such a psychological blow?
At the same time, as Zhang Ruochen stepped into the Kongming Hall, he too felt a terrifying oppressive aura.
The statues of Patriarch Jiaye and the Nether Ancestor stood tens of meters tall, facing each other from left and right.
Beneath the statues, Nizang Venerable and a man who appeared to be around fifty years old sat opposite each other.
The man had eyes so cold they seemed capable of freezing everything in the world. A few strands of white hair at his temples were tied into his crown. His dark cyan divine robe lay like a lake, concealing all energy, emotion, and thought.
In the vast hall, the many Buddha lamps seemed frozen, their flames not flickering in the slightest.
Everything felt so eerie, yet so awe-inspiring.
The two seemed to be discussing something, their expressions heavy.
Even knowing that the person sitting there was the current Heavenly Venerable, Zhang Ruochen remained calm inside.
Just as he reached the center of the hall, Renhuan Heavenly Venerable’s gaze fell upon him. After a fixed, appraising glance, those cold, merciless eyes softened into a warm, sincere smile. “Ruo Chen, come here. Sit beside me. Xue Zhi and Yu’er have praised you before me more than once, calling you the most dazzling talent since ancient times. Today, I must take a good look at you.”
An invitation from a Heavenly Venerable to sit together was no small matter. Not everyone had such qualification.
Because once word spread to the outside world, it would mean that Zhang Ruochen already possessed a status comparable to a Heavenly Venerable, a clan leader, or a divine hall master.
Hadn’t Mi Tian War God, who had broken through to the Boundless realm, only been allowed to stand outside the hall?
He was not yet qualified to enter.
His identity and cultivation were at least two levels below that of one who could sit with a Heavenly Venerable.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell upon Renhuan Heavenly Venerable as he walked over.
He sensed that the other’s aura was elusive—sometimes as unattainable as the World Tree, sometimes as vast and formless as the Void World.
“Greetings, Heavenly Venerable.”
Zhang Ruochen clasped his fists in salute, then bowed to Nizang Venerable.
Both were gestures of a junior.
The next moment, Zhang Ruochen sat down calmly on the left side of Renhuan Heavenly Venerable, without the slightest restraint, as if this seat was naturally his.
His every move clearly did not escape the eyes of the two senior experts in the hall. Nizang Venerable seemed half-asleep, his expression unchanged.
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable said, “Xue Zhi and Yu’er were right. Ruo Chen is truly no ordinary fish in a pond. You have sensed it, haven’t you?”
Zhang Ruochen was inwardly startled but remained composed. “The Heavenly Venerable lives up to his name. Even as a mere doppelganger, his perception far surpasses what Ruo Chen can achieve.”
Earlier, when Zhang Ruochen had sensed Renhuan Heavenly Venerable, he had detected that this was a doppelganger.
The other party had noticed this as well, clearly more skilled than him.
Nizang Venerable appeared to have fallen asleep, but inwardly, he was not calm. Because based on his understanding of Yan Renhuan, he had never praised a young cultivator so much, let alone twice.
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable said, “The Hell Realm has seen repeated upheavals. Even Fengdu Dadi has been exiled into the River of Time. The situation on the Starry Sky Battlefield has grown even more complex. The gods of the Heavenly Court are restless. My true body must remain stationed there and cannot leave. Now, the Hell Realm has shifted from offense to defense. One misstep could lose everything. Perhaps the future battlefield will be on the Yellow Spring Star River.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “The Heavenly Venerable speaks too gravely. In my view, the Hell Realm still holds the advantage.”
“That is true. Nutian Shenzun alone is worth eight hundred realms of the Heavenly Court—perhaps even more than that.”
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable waved his hand. “Let’s set these matters aside for now. Because of Zhe Xian and Ying’er, I have never treated Ruo Chen as an outsider. From the moment you entered, I did not regard you merely as the Lord of the Sword Realm.”
“As an elder, I do have some grievances with you.”
“Though your connection with Zhe Xian was a matter of chance, it still forged a bond of karma. In the past, you used this relationship to gain some conveniences, which undoubtedly told the world that she is your woman.”
“Now, everyone knows that Zhe Xian has borne you a daughter, yet you have never once set foot in Yanluo Tiantian. Is this the responsibility of a man? Is this the bearing of a realm lord?”
“I have never liked meddling in such trivial matters of love between men and women. But as an elder of Zhe Xian, no matter who you are, no matter whether you will one day attain the Ancestor Dao, if you do wrong, I will rebuke you. Wrong is wrong.”
Back in the Hundred Clans Royal City, in his search for the Origin Divine Temple, Zhang Ruochen had indeed invited Yan Zhe Xian to tour the city’s famous sites together, sending some subtle signals to the outside world.
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable’s rebuke was not without reason.
Zhang Ruochen recalled how Yan Zhe Xian had earnestly invited him to Yanluo Tiantian, hoping to ask Tai Shang to help dissolve his Severing Dao Curse. Feeling guilty, he said, “The Heavenly Venerable’s rebuke is just. After the most pressing matters at hand are resolved, Ruo Chen will definitely visit Yanluo Tiantian.”
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable said, “This matter cannot be entirely blamed on you. To protect Ying’er and preserve Zhe Xian’s reputation, the Yanluo Clan was forced to make you Ying’er’s father. Of course, you and Ying’er do share a blood connection.”
“I know this and understand. I will give Ying’er and Zhe Xian an explanation,” Zhang Ruochen said.
The six words “to Ying’er and Zhe Xian” made Renhuan Heavenly Venerable’s eyes grow subtle. “I believe that one who can cultivate a first-rank divine path must have great responsibility and boldness. If Ruo Chen comes to Yanluo Tiantian, you may stay long-term. The Yanluo Clan’s scripture library holds more and fuller records than the Tianshou Tower, which will greatly aid your divine path.”
Zhang Ruochen knew that Renhuan Heavenly Venerable was using emotion to win him over, but he was genuinely tempted by the Yanluo Clan’s scripture library. “Ruo Chen thanks the Heavenly Venerable in advance.”
“Since Ruo Chen insists on calling me Heavenly Venerable, I shall address you as Ruo Chen Divine Lord and discuss a few serious matters.”
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable’s face lost all trace of a smile, his eyes returning to their initial icy severity. “You have met Hao Tian, haven’t you?”
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment, then nodded.
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable said, “Hao Tian is unfathomably deep. You must be wary of him. Speaking as the current Heavenly Venerable of the Hell Realm, Ruo Chen Divine Lord might think I am trying to sow discord between the Sword Realm and the Heavenly Court, but it is worth listening to.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Does the Heavenly Venerable have any guidance to offer?”
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable said, “In the battle at the Rakshasa Clan, many divine kings and divine lords of the Hell Realm fell, and Fengdu Dadi also met with calamity. At that time, Tai Shang sensed a subtle aura in the void—perhaps… Qishier Pin Lian.”
Zhang Ruochen could no longer remain calm. He was visibly shaken. “What does Qishier Pin Lian have to do with Hao Tian?”
Zhang Ruochen knew that after the Great Venerable disappeared, the Kunlun Realm had suffered a terrible calamity, nearly wiping out the Zhang Clan.
The theft of Qishier Pin Lian was closely tied to that calamity.
To this day, it remained an unsolved mystery.
Renhuan Heavenly Venerable said, “According to the Yanluo Clan’s investigations over the years, Xuanyuan Lian is very likely the daughter of Hao Tian and Qishier Pin Lian. Before she broke through to the Boundless realm, she could not leave her golden chariot, afraid of being sensed by heaven and earth. There is a reason for this—most likely related to her mother, Qishier Pin Lian.”
Clearly, the relationship between Xuanyuan Lian and Xuanyuan Qing could hardly be hidden from the Yanluo Clan. Among the top-tier Heavenly Venerable-level figures, who could not see through Xuanyuan Qing as merely her doppelganger?
Zhang Ruochen naturally understood the purpose behind Renhuan Heavenly Venerable revealing this secret, but his heart still churned with shock.
He would not directly suspect Hao Tian based on this alone. After all, everything now was merely Renhuan Heavenly Venerable’s speculation—not even he was certain, and he had no evidence.
Moreover, at that time, Hao Tian was not yet a Heavenly Venerable, and his cultivation was far from the heaven-shaking, earth-shattering level it was now.
But as a Heavenly Venerable, every word and action must be carefully considered. If Renhuan Heavenly Venerable did not have more than ninety percent certainty, why would he casually reveal such a secret to a junior?
In the hall, the candle flames flickered, mirroring Zhang Ruochen’s inner turmoil.
…
Finally home. Tomorrow, I can write properly!
(Chapter End)