Chapter 3558: Returning to the City
The concerns of Wuqing Sect were well-founded.
Zhang Ruochen had a thorough understanding of Feng Tian—absolutely decisive in killing and sparing no mercy. The reason she was so tolerant and indulgent toward him was solely because the Earth Cauldron could aid her cultivation, serving as a shortcut for her to assault the Heavenly Venerable rank in the short term, and even glimpse the Half-Ancestor and Ancestor realms in the future. This kind of interest exchange could indeed be considered a bargaining chip, but whether it could save the lives of Chi Yao and Jie Zunzhe was highly uncertain.
Of course, the main reason was that Zhang Ruochen currently lacked the strength to contend with her on equal footing.
Chi Yao and Jie Zunzhe, including the torchbearers of the Kunlun Realm cultivators, were all staying on the eighteenth floor of the Sword Pavilion.
Not long after, Zhang Ruochen, Wuqing Sect, and Xiu Chen Heavenly God arrived outside the Ancient Desolate Ruins City.
Now, the Ancient Desolate Ruins City had its formations activated, with beams of light shooting into the sky, illuminating billions of miles of heaven and earth, shrouded in divine glow and flowing radiance. There was no trace of its former desolation; instead, it exuded a breathtaking momentum, one city suppressing an entire realm.
Even millions of miles away, one could feel the fluctuations of the inscriptions left by the Ancestor.
The entire space-time was pressed down by the city! Space could not be broken, and the light points of time imprints surged within the divine glow, forming tidal waves. To bypass the Ancient Desolate Ruins City and head to the upper realm was utterly impossible.
Wuqing Sect, with a towering physique like a dragon-elephant traversing mountains and rivers, looked ahead and said, "This is the momentum of the Ancient Desolate Ruins City? An Indestructible Infinite, leveraging the might of this city, could surely block several clans of the Primordial Beings."
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly as well, saying, "The Primordial Beings are so powerful. Just this trip to Wujian Ridge, I saw seven or eight beings at the All Heavens level. And this is only the tip of the iceberg; the even more terrifying Great Dark Mountain is still hidden in the mist. Yet, such powerful Primordial Beings cannot leave the Abyss of Darkness, and the fundamental reason is this very Ancient Desolate Ruins City."
"Though the ruined city is in ruins, its lingering might remains."
"The ancestors of all living beings, the successive Ancestors, Half-Ancestors, and Heavenly Venerables, have left behind too many defensive measures here."
After sensing that Jiusi Yitianhuang had not yet caught up, Zhang Ruochen’s always anxious heart finally settled for the moment. Honestly, facing a powerful existence like Jiusi Yitianhuang, Zhang Ruochen knew that once encountered, he wouldn’t even have a chance to escape. That oppressive feeling was unprecedented.
Even now, it wasn’t safe; he had to flee Jiusi Yitianhuang’s sphere of influence as quickly as possible.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God, with a cold and beautiful face, said, "The Ancient Desolate Ruins City is quite mysterious, with several forbidden areas. If we really dig into it, who knows what we might uncover."
On the way, Zhang Ruochen had exchanged information with them and learned that after arriving in the lower realm, Cang Jue had quietly disappeared.
They had met Chi Yao at Ba Ling.
The most important reason Wuqing Sect came to the lower realm was to find Yan Wushen. But there had been no news of Yan Wushen.
Seeing the worry in Wuqing Sect’s eyes, Zhang Ruochen said, "Fifth Uncle, don’t worry too much. Brother Wushen has broken through to the Infinite Realm; he definitely has the ability to protect himself."
When Zhang Ruochen was captured by Yuan Sheng, Yan Wushen had taken great risks to harass Yuan Sheng and did not flee alone. Zhang Ruochen naturally remembered this favor.
But now, he had to leave the lower realm and rush back to the Kunlun Realm.
Zhang Ruochen still had great confidence in Yan Wushen. Even before reaching the Infinite Realm, he had survived in the lower realm for a thousand years, ventured into forbidden areas like Chao Tian Que, and not only survived but also gained great opportunities.
In terms of luck and wit, he was no less than Zhang Ruochen.
It was just that one stood in the rapids on the water’s surface, while the other hid in the undercurrents beneath.
Zhang Ruochen’s sudden rise had indeed overshadowed some of Yan Wushen’s brilliance, but it also shielded him from the slaughtering blades of the All Heavens.
To the right of the West City Gate, on a bluish-gray boulder, stood a scholar in green robes.
It was Wu Wei, the second disciple of Jiusi Yitianhuang.
Wu Wei watched Zhang Ruochen and the other two approaching from afar and said with a smile, "Are the three of you well?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said, "Less nonsense. Open the city gate’s ancient formation."
Wu Wei, refined and elegant, said, "Heavenly God is still as aloof and proud as ever, looking down on all cultivators under heaven. But times have changed! The Heavenly God has fallen; you are merely the artifact spirit of the Sundial, Zhang Ruochen’s maidservant, and a tool of the Sword Realm. Hmph! The Heavenly God is now in female form, isn’t she?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God’s eyes turned icy cold, and she pointed a finger.
"Whoosh!"
A time divine dragon, carrying the might of the Infinite, charged at Wu Wei.
Wu Wei smiled faintly, not activating the formation, but simply flicking his sleeve, shattering the tens-of-miles-long time divine dragon.
The divine power erupting from him pierced through space and struck Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God let out a muffled sound, as if struck in the chest by a palm, staggering backward.
Zhang Ruochen secretly activated the Way of Space, dissolving the divine force that Wu Wei had struck into her.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God stopped her retreat, her long hair disheveled. Though uninjured, being humiliated by a cultivator who was once far beneath her was an insult she could not swallow.
Zhang Ruochen knew that Wu Wei was playing mind games, trying to sow discord between him and Xiu Chen Heavenly God. He was also worried that Wu Wei already knew about Jiusi Yitianhuang’s breakthrough and was deliberately stalling here.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I advise you to open the city gate’s ancient formation immediately."
Wu Wei shook his head, clasped his hands, and bowed to the sky, saying, "I am under orders from Feng Tian to guard the West City Gate and cannot afford any slack. Oh, I remember now. Realm Lord Ruochen has an extraordinary relationship with Feng Tian; no wonder you speak with such confidence. But duty calls—who knows if you might be Primordial Beings in disguise?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God wished she could restore her full cultivation and kill Wu Wei with a palm strike. Divine sound emerged from her mouth, forming rings of sound waves, and she called out, "Feng Caiyi!"
Wu Wei said, "Feng Tian has entered Chao Tian Que and probably cannot hear your call, Heavenly God."
Zhang Ruochen took out the Earth Cauldron and placed it on the ground.
Wu Wei watched calmly, saying, "With your cultivation, Realm Lord, you think you can forcefully break the formation of the Ancient Desolate Ruins City with the Earth Cauldron? You are only humiliating yourself."
A corner of the Earth Cauldron’s seal was opened.
A wisp of ghostly qi seeped out from the cauldron.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the majestic city ahead and raised his voice, "Ziren Ghost Emperor is in my hands."
Hearing this, Wu Wei’s calm and composed eyes finally changed.
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor, who had been guarding the South City Gate, turned into a patch of dark clouds and, in an instant, arrived above the West City Gate.
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor had been saved by Feng Tian from the hands of Huangquan Great Emperor. Given the current situation in the lower realm, he certainly wouldn’t return to Fengdu Ghost City.
Zhang Ruochen had sensed his presence and used Ziren Ghost Emperor to lure him out.
Wu Wei and Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor argued within the formation.
But in any place, strength reigns supreme. Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor was a realm higher than Wu Wei, so his status and influence were vastly different.
After a while, the city gate’s ancient formation opened a crack, and Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor let Zhang Ruochen and the other two into the city.
"Thank you, Ghost Emperor. I will remember this favor," Zhang Ruochen said, slightly bowing.
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor stared at Zhang Ruochen, sensing the powerful aura emanating from him, and couldn’t help but be surprised.
Compared to their last meeting, this young man’s cultivation seemed to have made another great breakthrough.
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor had to seriously consider how to treat this increasingly assertive rising star. Thus, he did not put on the majestic airs of a Ghost Emperor and said with a smile, "Realm Lord Ruochen summoned me here—are you handing over that traitor Ziren to Fengdu Ghost City for punishment?"
Ziren Ghost Emperor’s betrayal had led to Gai Mie’s escape, the loss of the Yellow Spring Seal, and nearly caused his death. One could imagine the hatred in Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor’s heart.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Wu Wei and transmitted in a low voice, "This is someone Feng Tian wants. I can’t make the decision."
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor’s expression turned solemn. If it were any other cultivator, he would never show face, even if he had to borrow the power of Fengdu Dadi to take the person. But Feng Tian had just saved his life, leaving him with such a huge debt—how could he not repay it?
Zhang Ruochen suddenly laughed loudly, "Ghost Emperor, you are incredibly lucky! That day, when you were ambushed by Ziren Ghost Emperor and Huangquan Great Emperor, I happened to encounter it. I thought to myself that I have always been on good terms with Fengdu Ghost City—how could I stand by and do nothing? So, I used many schemes to lure the clan emperor of the Primordial Path Clan to deal with Huangquan Great Emperor, just to help you escape. That battle was extremely perilous; I nearly lost my life! Fortunately, my clan’s ancestor and Feng Tian arrived in time… Haha, enough of that!"
"Realm Lord, this great kindness—I saw it with my own eyes and have always remembered it in my heart," Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor said.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, saying, "What great kindness? It was all due to your own profound cultivation that you withstood Huangquan Great Emperor’s devouring. If it were another cultivator, like Wu Wei, falling into Huangquan Great Emperor’s hands, they would have long turned into bones and dust!"
Wu Wei let out a cold, sinister laugh, then vanished into the air, saying, "Realm Lord, until we meet again."
"I’m waiting," Zhang Ruochen said, watching Wu Wei leave. Then, in a low voice, he added, "Ghost Emperor, be wary of the cultivators from Jiusi Yitianhuang and the Darkness Temple. Gai Mie’s escape from Fengdu Ghost City was not accomplished by Ziren Ghost Emperor alone. There is another mastermind behind it. As far as I know, Jiusi Yitianhuang’s first life was the Great Demon God."
Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor had long suspected this and was not too surprised, but upon learning the identity of Jiusi Yitianhuang’s first life, he was still shaken.
"I still need to go pay respects to Feng Tian, so I won’t say more. Ghost Emperor, just remember that the Sword Realm and Fengdu Ghost City will always be friendly—this is also the covenant between Senior Yu and the Great Emperor."
Zhang Ruochen led Xiu Chen Heavenly God and Wuqing Sect toward the Corpse Blood Sea where Chao Tian Que was located.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God sneered, "Zhang Ruochen, do you think Zhou Qi Ghost Emperor can’t see through your little schemes?"
"I want him to see through them," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree grew by the shore of the Corpse Blood Sea, its trunk tall and its leaves crimson red.
Blood-red raindrops fell beneath the tree, creating a misty scene.
Xu Qiong lurked in the darkness of the nearby space, its aura astonishing. Zhang Ruochen could sense its location.
The humanoid lifeform formed by the Blood Leaf Parasol Tree stood beneath the tree. She had long known Zhang Ruochen had returned but deliberately pretended not to notice.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen approach, she suddenly turned her head and said in feigned surprise, "Isn’t this Zhang Ruochen of the Ancestor Clan? Where’s your ancestor? Why did you come back alone?"
Zhang Ruochen scolded, "Don’t be so dramatic and sarcastic. I need to see Feng Tian. I know you have a special soul connection with her. Send word to her immediately."
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree was cold and defiant, saying petulantly, "Feng Tian is not someone you can see just because you want to."
"I have important matters to discuss with her. If you delay, the consequences will be on your head."
In truth, when Zhang Ruochen learned that Feng Tian was in Chao Tian Que, he felt a sense of relief and wanted to leave the Ancient Desolate Ruins City directly, so that Chi Yao, Jie Zunzhe, and the others would not be exposed to risk.
But thinking of Jiusi Yitianhuang’s danger and Feng Tian’s repeated rescues in the past, he couldn’t bring himself to just walk away.
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree gritted her teeth and said angrily, "Feng Tian has made a great discovery in Chao Tian Que and is in a critical moment of cultivation. She won’t see you. You’d better not disturb her!"
"Rustle!"
Before she finished speaking, a whirlpool formed in the center of the Corpse Blood Sea.
Feng Tian, dressed in white, rose from beneath the whirlpool like a startled swan. Her jade-like face was veiled, appearing and disappearing, her figure stunning and aloof, filled with deathly aura, making ordinary gods dare not look directly at her.
…
Xiao Yu wishes all readers a prosperous Year of the Tiger and a fresh start in the new year.
At 8 PM tonight, there will be red packets on the WeChat public account. For those who didn’t get one last night, try your luck tonight. Did anyone get a three-digit amount yesterday?