# Chapter 3536: The Covenant
"What truth?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Yuan Sheng revealed a proud expression. Under the white flowing light of the Flame River, her facial skin was as white as jade wax, crystal clear and radiant—where was the slightest trace of a prisoner? She said: "The Primordial Beings are the natural rulers of the universe. You people with mixed and inferior bloodlines are merely our servants."
"But you servants took advantage of your masters' weakness to rebel, usurping our nests and driving our ancestors down to the lower realms, never to see the light of day again."
"No matter how your ancestors embellish and beautify things in historical records, they cannot change their despicable and shameless deeds."
"Traitors, wicked servants devouring their masters!"
Yan Wushen, as if the matter did not concern him, gazed into the distance at the great river of blazing flames. As the fierce wind billowed his sleeves, his body exuded a momentum that could swallow mountains and rivers. He tossed the fruit core, leaving only the pit, in a parabolic arc into the river, where it instantly burned to ashes.
Zhang Ruochen said calmly: "What is master, and what is servant?"
"The Primordial Beings enslaved all living things, using them as blood food and sacrifices, and would not allow them to resist? Who doesn't want to live with dignity? Who doesn't want to stand tall?"
"The order of the universe lies in fairness. The grudges of life and death lie in cause and effect."
"If it weren't for bearing too much oppression, if it weren't for feeling no fairness, if it weren't for wanting to survive, who would have the courage to declare war on the powerful Primordial Beings? Your ancestors reaped what they sowed."
"You say our ancestors erased the truth. What about your ancestors? Didn't your ancestors also erase part of the facts?"
"The ancient times are distant. How many generations have passed? Can we truly understand who was right and who was wrong? When the Calamity of Quantities arrives, everything will be destroyed. All right and wrong, grudges and grievances, love and hate will turn to ashes, and no one will ever know."
"What you should be thinking about is how to escape your predicament, how to coexist with this world. Not continue to fantasize about the glory of ancient times, wanting to be the rulers of heaven and earth, because you no longer have that strength!"
Yuan Sheng's star-like eyes stared fixedly at Zhang Ruochen.
Silence for a long moment.
"Clap! Clap! Clap..."
Yan Wushen clapped his hands, laughing: "As expected of the Lord of the Sword Realm, you speak with such clarity. But if reasoning were useful, why would there be so much killing in the world? No matter how great the reasoning, can it be greater than interests and desires?"
Zhang Ruochen looked over.
As if to say, are you undermining me?
"Tell me, why did you enter Chaotian Que?"
Yan Wushen walked up to Yuan Sheng, his body's shadow covering her as she sat on the ground. His eyes were filled with cold light, and the "Book of Death" in his hand fluttered with the wind, flying out blood-colored characters.
The oppressive feeling was like the arrival of the God of Death.
Facing this man who would soul-search at the drop of a hat, Yuan Sheng looked up, meeting his gaze with a wary expression, then turned to Zhang Ruochen beside her, saying: "Aren't you all about fairness? Only you asking questions—where's the fairness in that? I want to know some things too!"
"You don't seem to understand that you're a prisoner now," Yan Wushen said.
Yuan Sheng said: "Zhang Ruochen, say something! Between the two of you, who's in charge?"
Zhang Ruochen felt a strange sensation, discovering that this woman was not as simple as she appeared on the surface.
Seemingly without scheming, she actually saw the situation very clearly, even able to counterattack from the flaws in his words. Like a blunt blade—though its edge was not apparent, it could split mountains and cut rivers.
Zhang Ruochen said: "How about we just soul-search?"
This statement was not Zhang Ruochen bluffing Yuan Sheng; he had actually entertained the thought, wanting to see if she was hiding her true abilities.
In fact, the moment Yuan Jieyi didn't catch up, Zhang Ruochen had already become suspicious.
"Forget it. Two grown men bullying a woman is already shameful enough."
Yan Wushen looked at Yuan Sheng, saying: "If you want to know something, just ask Zhang Ruochen directly. He... in the upper realm, he's known as the Romantic Sword God. Plus, you've already had intimate contact, so I'm sure he'll treat you gently, unlike me who's so rough."
Yan Wushen stepped back, and as he passed by Zhang Ruochen, he transmitted in a low voice: "This woman might be hiding something. Be careful. When it comes to verbal sparring with women, you're better at it. You handle it—don't disappoint me."
So he had noticed too.
Zhang Ruochen gave him a speechless look, then walked over to Yuan Sheng, moved a stone, and sat down across from her.
Resting his elbow on his thigh, he examined her with an appreciative gaze. She was indeed stunningly beautiful, with a unique exotic charm—long fingers, a slender waist, lips that were not bright red but had a hint of pale gold, appearing extremely soft, full of elasticity and moisture.
Yuan Sheng's eyes turned cold and heavy: "What Romantic Sword God? More like Lewd Sword God, right?"
Zhang Ruochen coughed dryly twice, waved his finger, and the Space Rule Divine Marks on her legs dissipated. He said: "Speak. Answer our previous question first. Don't think about escaping—you know my speed."
Yuan Sheng slowly stood up, facing the Flame River, and said: "Yuan Jieyi and I went to Chaotian Que to break the formations inside, clearing obstacles for the twelve clans to occupy the Ancient Desolate Ruins City."
Zhang Ruochen said: "That's not a good reason. Could you alone break the formations of Chaotian Que? If it weren't for Jiusi Yitianhuang breaking an opening in the Corpse Blood Ocean formation, if it weren't for following me and Yan Wushen, could you have entered Chaotian Que? Could you have reached Qingxu Hall?"
"We underestimated the Ancient Desolate Ruins City, and we underestimated Chaotian Que. You can choose not to believe it, but that's the fact."
Yuan Sheng turned the question around: "What is the Udumbara Flower you mentioned in Qingxu Hall?"
Since he had promised her, Zhang Ruochen maintained his grace, pondered for a moment, then said: "The Udumbara Flower is a rare divine medicine in the world. It can enhance spiritual power and extend a cultivator's life by three hundred to a thousand years. Hundreds of thousands of years ago, Yinshuetian planted the Udumbara Flower in Qingxu Hall."
"My second question is: the upper realm powerhouse you mentioned earlier who fell at Wujian Ridge—was it Yinshuetian?"
Yuan Sheng said: "I don't remember the exact time, but it was indeed hundreds of thousands of years ago, and it was indeed a woman. At that time, five clan emperors were alarmed, and they killed her at Wujian Ridge, dividing her corpse into five parts—a miserable end."
Zhang Ruochen found it hard to accept. A powerhouse like Yinshuetian, who had been invincible in the Hell Realm for several eons and could rival even the Inverse God Heavenly Venerable, had met such a tragic fate in the Abyss of Darkness.
Was the strength of the Abyss of Darkness so terrifying?
Zhang Ruochen condensed a silhouette of Yinshuetian with his divine thought, saying: "Look carefully—is this her?"
"How would I know if it's her? I didn't witness that battle."
Yuan Sheng snorted coldly: "Now it's my turn to ask! Why did the Heavenly Mother leave the Ancient Desolate Ruins City? Is all of this a conspiracy?"
Meeting her sharp, piercing eyes, Zhang Ruochen said: "So you're this afraid of the Heavenly Mother."
"Answer me," Yuan Sheng said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "It is indeed a conspiracy—to lure you all into the Ancient Desolate Ruins City and then wipe you out in one fell swoop."
"Liar," Yuan Sheng said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Alright, that was just a joke. This is not a conspiracy. The Heavenly Mother left the Ancient Desolate Ruins City out of necessity—she had to rush back to the Rakshasa Clan to save me."
"There's not a single truthful word in your mouth."
Yuan Sheng scolded Yan Wushen: "What are you laughing at?"
Yan Wushen said: "The seven emotions and six desires are human nature. I thought of something happy, so naturally I laughed."
"What are you laughing at?"
Yuan Sheng glared coldly at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen shrugged, saying casually: "I also thought of something happy! Alright, let's be serious. I've answered your questions. Two answers—judge for yourself which one is true. Now tell me, what is the ten-eon covenant about?"
Yuan Sheng said: "The covenant was an oath made back then between the upper realm's Primordial Ancestor and the Great Dark Mountain. The upper realm's Primordial Ancestor would not kill a single person from the Abyss of Darkness, but those above the Dragon and Phoenix level from the Abyss of Darkness could not set foot in the upper realm for ten eons."
Zhang Ruochen pressed: "When does the covenant expire?"
Yuan Sheng rolled her eyes.
Zhang Ruochen spread his hands, saying: "You ask first."
Yuan Sheng pointed at Yan Wushen, saying: "I want to know about him. He seems very familiar with Chaotian Que!"
"I can answer that!"
Yan Wushen said: "The path I cultivate is the Six Paths Reincarnation, which aligns with the ancient Qi refiners. I often cultivate in Chaotian Que, so naturally I'm familiar with it."
Yuan Sheng lowered her head in thought, then said: "The covenant has already lost its effect. That's why we appeared in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, saying: "If the covenant had already lost its effect, then what would appear in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City would probably be clan emperor-level figures, right? And there should be armies from the twelve clans!"
"Fine! I lied to you. Actually, the covenant will expire ten thousand years from now."
Yuan Sheng stared into Zhang Ruochen's eyes, saying: "Two answers—judge for yourself."
Yan Wushen laughed again. Seeing her glare at him, he quickly said: "I thought of something happy!"
(The End)