# Chapter 3545: Jie Zun's Teachings
"One hundred thousand years, it's been one hundred thousand years! With so many vows made back then, how could I possibly remember them all clearly?" Jie Zun said.
Zhang Ruochen knew this would be the result.
Jie Zun would make solemn vows to any woman, wishing he could tell her all the sweetest words.
Yet women everywhere fell for this.
According to what he himself said, he was sincere with every woman and absolutely devoted. But only during the time they were together.
Pressed by Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao until he was truly annoyed, Jie Zun pondered for a moment, then said: "I do still remember a few of those vows. First, I once swore in the name of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable that I would, as a descendant of the Great Venerable, do everything possible to lift the forbidden covenant, even if it meant being ground to dust."
Zhang Ruochen said: "The covenant agreement between the Great Venerable and the Great Dark Mountain—how could you possibly lift it in advance?"
"Yes, after making that vow, I knew it would be very difficult to accomplish, because I couldn't be sure if I could represent the Great Venerable. And if I could, what would I need to do to lift the covenant?"
Jie Zun raised his head with a smile, then continued: "But at least she was very moved when she heard those words, and extremely happy. Isn't that enough? When two people are together, happiness is what matters most."
Zhang Ruochen was speechless, not knowing how to respond.
Chi Yao said: "Jie Zun, that's called deception."
"I dare swear to heaven—during the time I was with Su Yin, every word came from the heart, not a single falsehood. My sincerity could be witnessed by the sun and moon. Besides, with her cultivation and intelligence, if I had been lying, wouldn't she have seen through it?"
Jie Zun explained: "At that time, I truly hoped the ancient beings would emerge. First, it could help Su Yin, and second, it could restrain the Hell Realm. I was absolutely certain that after returning to the Kunlun Realm, even if I had to move the Great Venerable's tomb to the Abyss of Darkness, I would lift the covenant. Even if I had to bear the reputation of an unfilial descendant, I would fulfill my vow."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and waved his hand: "Forget it, let's consider that you were sincere. What about other vows?"
Jie Zun said: "I also said that after this, if I could lift the covenant, I would marry her into the Zhang family in a grand ceremony in the name of the ancestral clan."
"We would watch the star river together, visit famous mountains together, have three or five children, teach them calligraphy and painting, watch them grow up, and then grow old together hand in hand, our white hair intertwined."
"If I couldn't lift the covenant, then even if the Kunlun Realm and the Abyss of Darkness were separated by a thousand mountains and ten thousand rivers, with the Yellow Spring Star River lying between them, I would still go to the Chaos River to see her every thousand years. A meeting once every millennium—I would never break this vow."
"But who knew what would happen later? Can you blame me for this?"
Chi Yao asked: "Jie Zun, do you still have feelings for Senior Su Yin?"
"Do you even need to ask? For her, I could risk my life. But what use is that?"
Jie Zun stroked his white hair and sighed: "Time ages a person, and youth never returns."
Chi Yao said: "If it's just these two unfulfilled vows, as long as you explain clearly, Senior Su Yin might not necessarily refuse to forgive you."
"The key is that she simply doesn't believe I was severely injured and near death. She thinks I've married and had children outside, completely forgetting her. She even believes that my coming to the Abyss of Darkness this time has ulterior motives. Heaven is my witness!"
After a pause, Jie Zun said: "As for marrying and having children... one hundred thousand years ago, she never asked, so how could I rashly bring up such unpleasant matters to her? When I was with her, I didn't even think about other women."
Chi Yao suddenly felt that Jie Zun's current predicament was entirely his own fault.
"Gone for one hundred thousand years. Every thousand years, she should have been waiting by the Chaos River, but disappointment after disappointment, until finally only despair remained. She must have thought you were dead! Your reappearance only turned those beautiful memories and painful longing into resentment."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen suddenly fall silent, unsure whether he was thinking or recalling something, she asked: "Chen Ge, what are you thinking?"
Zhang Ruochen recovered from his thoughts and asked: "Jie Lao just said that Ling Yanzi never returned to the Great Dark Mountain?"
Jie Zun didn't know why Zhang Ruochen suddenly asked about this, and replied: "That's what Su Yin told me. Given her status, freely entering and leaving the Great Dark Mountain shouldn't be difficult."
Zhang Ruochen said: "So, Jie Lao has never been to the Great Dark Mountain?"
"Since Ling Yanzi isn't at the Great Dark Mountain, why would I go to such a dangerous place?" Jie Zun countered.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, feeling something was wrong.
If Ling Yanzi wasn't at the Great Dark Mountain, then who sent Cang Mang to give him the Mani Pearl?
If Ling Yanzi wasn't at the Great Dark Mountain, where did the painting personally done by the Great Venerable in Cang Jue's hands come from?
Jie Zun said: "Ten epochs have already passed. Who knows if Ling Yanzi is still alive? Rather than placing hope on her, it's better to find a way to save ourselves."
Chi Yao said: "Why doesn't the Realm Lord go and apologize to Senior Su Yin? If she still has feelings for you, and you admit your mistake and sincerely repent, she should forgive you."
"Admit what mistake? Repent for what? What mistake have I made?"
Jie Zun's attitude was surprisingly tough, saying: "Zhang Ruochen, you must remember this clearly. A man can make mistakes and then correct them, but he must never humbly admit fault. Otherwise, his life is ruined!"
"Jie Lao, don't drag me into this. This has nothing to do with me." Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao felt somewhat helpless and looked at Zhang Ruochen, her eyes asking whether they should use the sword bone.
Zhang Ruochen had sensed something was wrong earlier, which was why he had given the sword bone to Chi Yao.
Because her cultivation was the lowest, the ancient beings would be least vigilant against her.
Zhang Ruochen's speculation was correct. The one who had sealed Chi Yao's cultivation was an ancient being at the Qiankun Infinite realm. If she activated the sword bone, she could break the seal.
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head at her, not daring to communicate verbally.
The Yin Huai Sacred Tree was a living entity with consciousness. Their conversation couldn't escape its perception.
At the same time, with Yuan Sheng's powerful cultivation, she might be eavesdropping on their conversation right now, monitoring their every move.
Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes, trying to use the Taiji Four Symbols to dissolve the seal Yuan Sheng had placed inside him.
"Zhang Ruochen, I have a plan!"
Suddenly, Jie Zun's voice sounded in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Not a voice.
It was a telepathic transmission.
Their divine souls and spiritual power had all been sealed!
The one who sealed Jie Zun was definitely Yuan Su Yin.
How could he transmit telepathically?
"Don't look, stay calm, act as if nothing happened." Jie Zun's voice sounded again in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Zhang Ruochen formed a thought in his mind: "Have you already broken the seal?"
"Not that easy. I can only use a trace of soul power for now."
"What's the plan? Hurry and say it."
Jie Zun said: "My relationship with Su Yin has already broken down. With my current appearance, winning back a woman who has changed her heart is simply impossible. But you're different! You perfectly inherited my former handsome appearance, and you have top-tier cultivation talent. If you actively pursue a woman, which woman in the world could resist?"
"What kind of terrible idea is this?"
Zhang Ruochen became even more certain that Jie Zun was unreliable. In the future, he would have to rely on himself.
However, although Zhang Ruochen had many confidantes, he had almost never actively pursued anyone, never spent effort on this. Everything had just happened naturally.
Jie Zun said: "I think Yuan Sheng is quite good—top-tier in talent, cultivation, and appearance. Our old Zhang family's ancient bloodline is already very thin. If it can be continued in your generation, the family's future prosperity is assured. This can also make up for the regret that Su Yin and I never had children."
"Don't even mention this." Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun said: "The Earth Cauldron, God-Defying Stele, Mani Pearl, and other treasures on you have all been taken, haven't they? Don't you want to get them back?"
"Of course I want to get them back, but I have to wait for the opportunity." Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun said: "With your current cultivation, how many more years would you need to cultivate to take back what's rightfully yours from them? Besides, will they give you that opportunity?"
"Yuan Sheng actually has a kind side. I won't deceive a woman like you did." Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun urgently said: "How is this deception? A graceful and virtuous lady is sought after by a gentleman. You yourself said she is kind. With such cultivation, such beauty, a woman like this—don't you want to enjoy the moonlight with her, share a pillow, and discuss a beautiful future together?"
"The ancient beings have been trapped in the Abyss of Darkness, this bitter and cold place. Don't you want to help them? If you help them, don't you need a reason to convince those old fellows outside?"
"Besides, the covenant is about to end! The ancient beings are now full of hostility. Once they break out of the Abyss of Darkness, chaos will definitely ensue. At that time, all forces will unite to suppress them."
"They will all die! Can you bear to watch her die?"
...
Zhang Ruochen didn't know how Jie Zun could come up with such a bunch of crooked reasoning, and continued to state his position: "I've already made some mistakes in the past. I can't keep making mistakes. There's no room for negotiation on this!"
Jie Zun said: "Fine, you're right! Even though they repaid kindness with enmity and treated you like this, you still have to be magnanimous like a man and not argue with them. It's all my fault!"
Suddenly, Jie Zun let out a heart-wrenching roar, pounding the iron cage with both hands.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
Although his cultivation was sealed, his strength was still considerable, creating ripples of energy.
Then, the black tree roots wrapped around his wrists tightened, emitting lightning that scorched his arms black, even causing blood to seep out.
But Jie Zun continued to roar and shout wildly, startling Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao, who didn't know what he intended to do.
Was he trying to forcefully break free?
Or was he using this self-torturing method to force Zhang Ruochen to compromise?
Yuan Sheng stood in the wooden hall, studying the Earth Cauldron.
The cauldron sealed Zi Ren Ghost Emperor, who occasionally made loud noises.
"Could it really be, as the Great Elder said, that he was using me to reach Wujian Ridge?"
"But I went to the Ancient Desolate Ruins City and Chaotian Que—he couldn't have known about that in advance. That the Udumbara Flower might be at Wujian Ridge was also something he deduced while in Chaotian Que."
Yuan Sheng recalled everything that had happened. From the beginning of their fight, Zhang Ruochen had actually been in a passive position. After capturing her, he could have searched her soul immediately, but he didn't.
Compared to Yan Wushen, Zhang Ruochen had truly been protecting her all along.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen had repeatedly emphasized that he bore no hostility toward the ancient beings.
It was Zhang Ruochen who told her that Gai Mie had entered the Hell Realm. When she was simultaneously fighting Huangquan Great Emperor and Zi Ren Ghost Emperor, Zhang Ruochen had stepped in to suppress Zi Ren Ghost Emperor, which involved great risk. Including later, when Zhang Ruochen attacked Huangquan Great Emperor to help her escape.
If...
If from the very beginning, Zhang Ruochen truly had no hostility toward the ancient beings, then her taking his treasures and imprisoning him—didn't that count as repaying kindness with enmity?
Seeing the suppressed Zi Ren Ghost Emperor, many thoughts arose in Yuan Sheng's mind.
If she herself couldn't distinguish good from evil, right from wrong, then how could she judge the crimes of all beings against the ancient beings in ancient times?
She was a noble ancient being, not an evil strange beast.
Just then, Yuan Sheng sensed the change in the Chaos Divine Prison, so she put away all of Zhang Ruochen's treasures and disappeared from the hall.
"Shua!"
Divine light flickered, and the cold, icy Yuan Sheng appeared in the Chaos Qi Sea.
She reached out her hand, using spatial power to restrain the frenzied Jie Zun, then scolded: "Jie Zun, don't waste your strength. You can't escape the Chaos Divine Prison! When the Great Elder returns after suppressing Gai Mie, he will judge you."
Jie Zun immediately calmed down and said: "I indeed broke the vows I made back then, making Su Yin wait bitterly for one hundred thousand years. Death is not enough to atone for my crime. But what crime have these two committed? On what grounds do you judge them?"
"You are the least qualified to speak!"
"What status does Zhang Ruochen have? He is the Lord of the Sword Realm, known as the young ancestor, a legendary prodigy of the younger generation. He cultivated the only first-rank divine path in history, even more astonishing than the Great Venerable in his youth. Yet to save you, he not only didn't take the opportunity to escape but risked his own life. Behind him lies how many hopes? How precious is his life?"
"Having just broken through to the Infinite realm, he dared to draw his sword against Huangquan Great Emperor, completely forgetting his own life. I ask you, among your ancient beings, how many would fight for you in such a dangerous situation?"
Jie Zun's tone was firm and resounding: "Don't argue first! Are you going to say that we carefully planned this to scheme against you? Were Zhang Ruochen and I together when we entered the Abyss of Darkness? You witnessed it yourself. Don't you really know?"
"Yuan Sheng, you are no longer the little girl who believed everything the Great Elder said and obeyed everything he commanded. Since you've become the clan emperor, you must have your own judgment and trust yourself."
"Even if I say this, you still won't believe it."
"But you should still remember Yan Wushen, right? Go find him, capture him, ask him the truth, search his soul."
Jie Zun laughed bitterly up to the sky: "What does it matter if I'm imprisoned in this dark place for life? It's close to Su Yin here, I like it. But your Yuan Dao clan is a noble four-star ancient race. As the clan emperor, how can you do something like repaying kindness with enmity?"
"Zhang Ruochen said it was your kindness that moved him, so he was fearless, willing to fight to the death to save you. But I think he misjudged you."
Yuan Sheng was indeed stumped by this prepared speech of Jie Zun's. For a moment, she didn't know how to refute.
After a long while, Yuan Sheng said: "Senior, are you trying to escape this way?"
Jie Zun transmitted to Zhang Ruochen: "I've planted a seed of self-doubt in her heart. Next, it's up to you!"
"Up to me to do what? What are you trying to do? This approach won't work. Do you really think she's a little girl? Do you think using provocation will make her release us? Dream on!" Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun said: "Of course she's not a little girl. How can you pursue a little girl? Didn't we agree earlier? You have to use love to move her."
"When did we agree?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun said: "Time waits for no one. Do you really want to be locked up here for life? By the time you get out, Tai Shang will have already dissipated!"
Zhang Ruochen's heart ached.
Jie Zun said: "Fine, I won't make things difficult for you. How about this—praise her. You can at least praise her, right?"
"How do I praise her?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zun slapped his forehead: "Wasting your title as the Romantic Sword God. You don't even know how to praise a woman? Learn from me. I'll say one sentence, and you repeat it."
Yuan Sheng saw that Jie Zun kept silent, even slapping his forehead in regret, so she snorted coldly and prepared to leave.
Just then, Zhang Ruochen suddenly spoke, his voice somewhat stiff: "Miss Yuan, your true nature is really kind. It's just that when facing us cultivators from the upper realms, you don't dare to show your true feelings, covering them with coldness. I don't regret saving you..."
Jie Zun continued transmitting to him: "Ah, it's not really saving, is it? After all, your cultivation is so profound. How could Huangquan Great Emperor have kept you? I was just being presumptuous."
When Zhang Ruochen said "just being presumptuous," he suddenly stopped, realizing he had been led into a trap by Jie Zun.
But this pause was even more obvious than saying it directly.
Yuan Sheng, who was about to leave, heard these words and turned to look at Zhang Ruochen.
Beside him, Chi Yao also looked at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen decided to break away from Jie Zun's telepathy and said directly: "I might as well tell you the truth. At the very beginning, I did have the idea of using Huangquan Great Emperor to escape. But at the critical moment, you saw through my plan. Not only did you not kill me, but you sent me away, making me feel guilty."
"After that, you could have led Huangquan Great Emperor in my direction and made me a scapegoat, but you didn't. It was because of this kindness that I made up my mind—I absolutely couldn't just walk away."
"Saying all this, I don't expect you to release us. I just don't want to be misunderstood."
Yuan Sheng stared at Zhang Ruochen and said: "Don't overthink things. I didn't want you to die, not because of kindness, but because your path is valuable to me."
Seeing that she was about to leave, Jie Zun immediately transmitted: "Quick, praise her! This is your only chance. You must seize it. Say: In my life, I've seen countless beautiful women, but you are definitely the most beautiful. One look lasts a thousand years, and I can never forget you. If you're interested in my path, I'll teach you this first-rank divine path. As long as you like it."
"Too disgusting. I can't say it." Zhang Ruochen directly refused.
Yuan Sheng disappeared from the Chaos Divine Prison.
As she turned and left, no one noticed that her cheeks were slightly flushed.
Jie Zun slapped his thigh, almost cursing out loud, but finally held back and transmitted: "Disgusting? It depends on who says it! You're underestimating the power of appearance too much! Ask yourself, if the Moon God praised you as the most handsome man in the world, saying she fell deeply in love with you at first sight, would you be floating on air? Men and women are the same! With your appearance, talent, and the groundwork we've already laid, even if she clearly knows you might be deceiving her, she'll still fall."
"Ask yourself, how many humanoid ancient beings are there in the entire Abyss of Darkness? As the clan emperor, who dares to openly praise her? Who dares to easily pursue her? If you had put in just a little effort, we would have escaped by now! You're infuriating me!"
Zhang Ruochen had no mood to continue wasting time on this and said: "If my guess is correct, after they suppress Gai Mie, they will definitely go to Wujian Ridge. Something must be happening at Wujian Ridge. By then, there might be an opportunity to escape."
(This chapter ends)