# Chapter 3552: Yinxue Tian
The words Zhang Ruochen had just spoken were not spoken casually, but were carefully considered, every word having its purpose.
First, the curse had only fallen on Yuansheng, showing that Yinxue Tian had no intention of killing him. Or rather, she was in no hurry to kill him.
Second, Zhang Ruochen speculated that Yinxue Tian's decision to enter the Buddhist path back then might not only have been to use Buddhist teachings to suppress the Withering Death Art, but also possibly out of remorse. When she cast the Severing Path Curse, although it only cut off the descendants of the Great Venerable and Ling Yanzi from achieving godhood, her purpose was to force Ling Yanzi to appear and seize the Mani Pearl, thereby resolving the Withering Death Art afflicting herself and Nutian Shenzun. However, the Zhang Clan suffered an unprecedented calamity as a result. She did not kill the benevolent one, yet the benevolent one died because of her.
If she truly harbored such guilt, then Zhang Ruochen's words about "telling it to future generations" could pierce her heart like a sharp sword.
Yuansheng was trapped by the Nether Light Curse, wanting to thrust her spear, but her arms felt as if bound by thousands of chains, unable to move. She wanted to dissolve her physical body and transform into a state of Heaven and Earth Rules, yet her divine qi was uncontrollable. Moreover, the divine blood within her body was silently draining away, her form gradually becoming withered and shriveled. Clearly, she had been struck by a Blood Devouring Curse! After that, her lifespan, life energy, and even the rule divine patterns she had cultivated all began to drain away.
The shock in her heart was beyond words. In the lower realm, she had never encountered such a terrifyingly powerful being, against whom she had absolutely no power to resist.
Suddenly, the draining of her divine blood, lifespan, and life energy stopped. The curse had dissipated! However, her body still could not move.
Yuansheng was confused, looking at Zhang Ruochen's back ahead, thinking to herself: "This guy is actually reasoning with Kong Yinxue? But... it seems to be working, which is strange indeed!" She had never imagined that one day she would have to entrust her life or death to a human man.
"When will hatred and revenge ever end?"
Yinxue Tian repeated the phrase, then continued: "Are you teaching me, a Heavenly One, how to act? Even Xumi didn't have that ability."
"That's because Saint Monk Xumi was unable to resolve the grievances between our two families. But I have done so. Therefore, I can stand before you, senior, with full confidence and speak such fearless words. This is not about teaching you how to act, but rather, I am certain that you are not someone who kills the innocent indiscriminately. Cultivating Buddhism and accumulating good deeds, even a member of the Underworld Clan can be worthy of respect."
Zhang Ruochen was very clear about the purpose of his arrival in the Boundless World. Therefore, when the time came to reveal the truth, he had to take the initiative. This was not deliberate showing off! Rather, it was to let Yinxue Tian understand him and what he had done. Otherwise, dying unjustly at her hands would be an even worse fate!
"Shua! Shua! Shua!"
The drop of blood from Nutian Shenzun, the Suddhodana Silver Tree, and the Bright Mirror Platform all flew out of Zhang Ruochen's control toward that hundred-zhang-long luminous jade hand. That tiny drop of blood extended countless blood vessels, then transformed into the figure of Nutian Shenzun.
Yinxue Tian and Nutian Shenzun communicated something in the palm of her hand, but Zhang Ruochen could not hear them. Clearly, the drop of blood Nutian Shenzun had given Zhang Ruochen was not ordinary; it contained something else. However, with Zhang Ruochen's cultivation level, he could not analyze it.
After a while, Nutian Shenzun's figure burned away and vanished into the Boundless World.
Feeling Yinxue Tian's gaze upon him, Zhang Ruochen immediately added: "Senior, I have no intention of offending you, nor do I wish to involve myself in the grievances between you and the Primordial Path Clan. But she entered the Boundless World because of me and suffered this calamity. How could I watch you kill her and stand idly by?"
"He does have some sense of responsibility. It seems I was not wrong about him." Yuansheng thought to herself.
The hundred-zhang giant hand flew closer, hovering just eighteen zhang away.
Suppressing the fear in his heart, Zhang Ruochen looked up, his gaze falling on Kong Yinxue. He could see a sacred and beautiful silhouette, glowing all over, ethereal yet solid, agile and natural.
Kong Yinxue said: "With your cultivation level, daring to look directly at me, a Heavenly One—such mental fortitude and courage are indeed rare. Tell me, where did you get the Mani Pearl?"
Zhang Ruochen could feel that the chill in Kong Yinxue's demeanor had lessened considerably. He replied: "It was given to me in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City by a ghost-type ancient cultivator."
"If that's the case, then she must be in the lower realm."
Kong Yinxue muttered to herself, then looked back at Zhang Ruochen: "You handed the Mani Pearl over to White Clothes Valley—what are you plotting? You'd better tell the truth, or I'll have no choice but to perform a Soul Search."
"So she still doesn't trust me." Zhang Ruochen thought to himself. Come to think of it, what fool in this world would willingly give away the Mani Pearl?
Zhang Ruochen laughed freely: "Senior, you underestimate the descendant of an Ancestor. If I had any schemes, how could I possibly deceive Nutian Shenzun?"
Zhang Ruochen's words carried a double meaning. On one hand, he was telling Kong Yinxue that she had underestimated him. On the other, he was implying that she had underestimated Nutian Shenzun.
Zhang Ruochen continued: "It was the instruction of Ancestor Yunqing! He told me to let go of hatred and take the initiative to resolve the grievances between our two families. In the end, he was just an outsider, yet even on his deathbed, he regarded this as the most important matter. And what about us? We are one family, sharing the same bloodline. Ten epochs have passed, countless generations, yet hatred still lingers in our hearts. Don't you find that ironic, senior?"
"The Mani Pearl is indeed precious, but it is merely a vessel. If it can be used to resolve the generations-old grievances between our two families, then in my eyes, it truly deserves the title of the number one treasure of the Buddhist sect. This kind of willingness to let go—you don't have it, Nutian Shenzun doesn't have it, but that doesn't mean I cannot do it. In the end, you simply cannot make peace with yourselves inside."
Yuansheng felt that Zhang Ruochen was constantly walking the edge of death, worried that an enraged Kong Yinxue might crush him with a single finger.
Kong Yinxue pondered for a long time, then said: "Make peace with oneself? Yes, all obsessions and unwillingness are nothing but wishful thinking. You may leave."
The Nether Light on Yuansheng dissipated, and she regained her freedom.
The Suddhodana Silver Tree and the Bright Mirror Platform were sent flying back toward Zhang Ruochen with a wave of her hand.
Zhang Ruochen put away the two Buddhist treasures but did not leave immediately. He said: "Jiusi Yitianhuang has entered the Boundless World. Have you seen him, senior?"
Yuansheng rolled her eyes in exasperation. When you're told to leave, just leave! Don't stir up more trouble! Jiusi Yitianhuang would be dealt with by the Chaos Ancestor and the various clan emperors.
A strange look appeared in Kong Yinxue's eyes: "What do you want with him?"
Zhang Ruochen said: "So he is still in the Boundless World? To be honest, Jiusi Yitianhuang has a grand scheme in entering the lower realm, and he may even be cooperating with the Chaos Clan."
"He told me himself that his purpose is to incite internal strife among the ancient clans—both to rescue me from the Boundless World and to prevent the ancient beings from charging out of the Abyss of Darkness once the treaty expires." Kong Yinxue said calmly, her gaze falling on Yuansheng.
Zhang Ruochen said: "I'm afraid it's not that simple. As far as I know, Jiusi Yitianhuang's first life may have been the Great Demon God."
"Oh? He didn't tell me that. But everyone has their secrets. Even if his first life was the Great Demon God, so what?" Kong Yinxue countered.
Zhang Ruochen was stumped. Although Jiusi Yitianhuang's actions had the potential to harm him, they seemed to pose no problem for Kong Yinxue or the Hell Realm.
Zhang Ruochen asked: "May I ask, senior, what exactly is his purpose in entering the Boundless World? Is it really just to rescue you?"
"Call me Ancestor!" Kong Yinxue said.
Zhang Ruochen was momentarily stunned.
Kong Yinxue said: "What? Still harboring resentment? Were all those high-sounding words you spoke earlier just false? Have you not actually let go of the hatred?"
A look of joy appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face. He realized that Yinxue Tian had likely already let go of her resentment long ago. He quickly clasped his hands and bowed: "Greetings, Ancestor!"
After a moment's thought, Zhang Ruochen added: "I was presumptuous earlier. I believe that the Ancestor had already made peace with herself deep down and is not a stubborn person."
"If you want to see Yi, then follow me."
The luminous hundred-zhang giant hand, carrying Kong Yinxue's form, flew into the depths of the darkness.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Yuansheng: "You go first."
Yuansheng thought for a moment and felt that there was indeed no need for her to stay any longer. So she said: "Thank you for earlier."
As soon as she said it, she felt a twinge of regret. Wasn't it because of him that she had entered the Boundless World in the first place? Why should she thank him? Moreover, saying "thank you" meant she owed him a favor.
Before she could take it back, Zhang Ruochen had already followed Yinxue Tian.
Before long, Zhang Ruochen saw Jiusi Yitianhuang.
In the darkness, it was as if clusters of brilliant starry mist had appeared, spreading for tens of millions of li. Within the starry mist, countless stars twinkled, revolving around a black hole at the center. Jiusi Yitianhuang's aura emanated from that black hole.
Single-handedly, he had created such a vast sea of stars within the Boundless World, proving his immense power and giving off an unfathomable impression. Zhang Ruochen could not comprehend this level of cultivation and could not judge his realm.
Zhang Ruochen asked: "What is he doing?"
Kong Yinxue said calmly: "He has brought the remnants of six lives, the corpses of five lives, and the divine sources of five lives. Naturally, he is seeking to elevate his cultivation to the next level."
Zhang Ruochen said: "The Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Path?"
"You know quite a lot." Kong Yinxue said.
Zhang Ruochen asked in confusion: "Why did he choose to fuse the remnants of six lives and the corpses of five lives here in the Boundless World? Couldn't he do it elsewhere?"
"The world is in turmoil, but it has always remained in a state of balance. However, if he successfully cultivates the Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Path, he will likely be able to prove the Ancestor Path, which would break that balance. No one can predict the consequences of that balance being broken, so no one wants him to succeed."
Kong Yinxue said: "Therefore, he had to find a place where he could hide from heavenly secrets, to prevent the celestial phenomena that would occur during the fusion process from attracting attacks."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Is that the reason he gave you, Ancestor?"
"Yes."
Zhang Ruochen said: "I don't think it's that simple. If he was worried about that, he could have gone to the far reaches of the universe. Why come to such a dangerous place as the Boundless Ridge?"
"You have a point."
Zhang Ruochen knew that Kong Yinxue had likely seen through Jiusi Yitianhuang's scheme, which was why she had changed her attitude and brought him here. Could it be that learning his first life was the Great Demon God had allowed her to see the truth?
Zhang Ruochen asked: "Ancestor, do you think allowing Jiusi Yitianhuang to cultivate the Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Path would pose a threat to White Clothes Valley?"
"I don't know." Kong Yinxue said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Then why let him break through?"
"You don't want him to break through?" Kong Yinxue said bluntly.
"Yes." Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment and said frankly: "Two reasons. First, my wife may be the greatest obstacle to his cultivation of the Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Path, and she is currently hiding in White Clothes Valley under Nutian Shenzun's protection. Second, if his first life was the Great Demon God, then after he breaks through, he will surely head to the Kunlun Realm."
Kong Yinxue stroked her white hair, deep in thought, and said: "This puts me in a difficult position. He came to rescue me; I can't exactly repay kindness with enmity, can I? Unless..."
"Unless what?"
"Unless you beg me."
Zhang Ruochen was stunned again, not understanding her meaning.
"You gave the Mani Pearl to White Clothes Valley, resolving the Withering Death Art afflicting them. This placed you on such a high moral ground that it made me uncomfortable, yet I had to admit that I owe a debt to Ling Yanzi's descendant. If you beg me, I can save face and not feel that I am always one step behind Ling Yanzi. Don't you think that makes sense?" Kong Yinxue said.