Chapter 3560: Destroying the Scheme
Feng Tian did not directly answer Zhang Ruochen's question. Instead, she said with profound meaning, "You are the master of the Sword Realm, and I am the sovereign of the Death God Palace. If there is nothing else, you should leave."
These words were undoubtedly telling Zhang Ruochen that he had overstepped his bounds.
How could the secrets of the Destiny Temple be told to the master of the Sword Realm?
Who knew whether the two would be friends or foes in the future?
"Take care."
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, said no more, raised his arms, his sleeves billowing like clouds, and made a bow.
Then, he turned and left directly.
Zhang Ruochen did not hand over Ziren Ghost Emperor, who was suppressed in the Earth Cauldron, to Feng Tian. Feng Tian also did not ask for him.
Blood Leaf Wutong watched Zhang Ruochen's departing back and said, "This guy really doesn't treat himself as an outsider, daring to ask about any secret. Does he think the master has no guard against him?"
Feng Tian seemed lost in thought, her gaze quite profound.
She certainly knew that Zhang Ruochen's question just now was not an attempt to extract the secrets of the Destiny Temple. It was a well-intentioned reminder to her that there might be experts hidden within the Destiny Temple who could threaten her.
Since they were not on the same path, some things could not be explained clearly.
She was like this, and Zhang Ruochen was the same.
...
After reuniting with Wu Qingzong and Xiu Chen Heavenly God, Zhang Ruochen immediately left the Ancient Desolate Ruins City and headed for the exit of the Abyss of Darkness.
Along the way, Xiu Chen Heavenly God looked at Zhang Ruochen with a very strange expression, as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
Zhang Ruochen looked at her and took the initiative to ask, "What secret do you have to tell me?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said, "I am just lamenting how unpredictable the world is. How could two people as extreme as you and Feng Caiyi become so close? Old Fifth, don't you find this matter ridiculous?"
Wu Qingzong said, "I had the same thought when I saw you cultivate a female body."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God's face instantly darkened.
"Stop talking nonsense. Feng Tian and I are just taking what we need from each other," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Self-deception."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said, "With Feng Caiyi's current cultivation and her mastery of the Path of Fate, do you really think she doesn't know about the people in the Sword Pavilion? Ten thousand years ago, not only would Jie Zunzhe and Chi Yao, these must-kill targets, be dealt with, but even Old Fifth, who left the Hell Realm to join the Sword Realm, would definitely be someone she would kill to deter other cultivators who wanted to leave the Hell Realm."
"No matter what your background is or who supports you, as long as you touch the interests of the Destiny Temple and the Hell Realm, you must die."
Wu Qingzong said, "I agree with that."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Times change. Feng Tian is trying to break through to the Ancestor Realm and is already cultivating the other eleven phases besides Death. Since she has the phases of Fate and Auspiciousness in her heart, her killing intent is not as strong."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God sneered repeatedly, "Actually, Feng Caiyi wasn't always like this. Before Kong Faning died, she didn't only cultivate the Path of Death; she often smiled. It was only later that she gradually became cold-blooded and lost her initial humanity."
"And you?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God snorted and said no more.
Zhang Ruochen said, "How exactly did Kong Faning die?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said, "After the Great Venerable disappeared, a shocking storm broke out in the Kunlun Realm, and all the strong ones fell. As the Ancestor's clan, the Zhang family bore the brunt and was almost wiped out. And as the son of the Great Venerable, Xumi, who had not yet become a monk, was naturally the one who received special attention."
"Faning changed into his appearance, lured the great enemy away for him, and then fell. They both had Ancestor bloodline. When that great enemy calculated their aura, he probably didn't realize he had chased the wrong person."
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, it wasn't Saint Monk who killed her."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God showed anger, "If Xumi had any sense of responsibility, why didn't he lure the great enemy away himself? Moreover, after Faning died, he didn't even think about revenge. Instead, he became a monk. Isn't that just like a turtle hiding in its shell? From the very beginning, their meeting and falling in love was all his fault."
"If Faning hadn't been heartbroken, how could she have done something so irrational?"
"In her time, how stunning and unparalleled she was! If she were still alive, she would undoubtedly be the number one under heaven. How could Hao Tian and Heavenly Mother compare to her?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "This is just your one-sided story. You weren't even an eyewitness. How do you know there isn't some hidden truth? Including Kong Faning changing into Saint Monk's appearance and being killed by the so-called great enemy, you only heard about it, right? You can't accept the fact that Kong Faning is dead. Your emotions and reason are completely controlled by your own feelings. You are too stubborn!"
"This matter was said by Hao Tian himself. How could it be false? Although Hao Tian was young back then and far from his current cultivation, someone who can cultivate to his level must have an empty and clear heart. He would never stoop to lying," Xiu Chen Heavenly God said.
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to argue with Xiu Chen Heavenly God anymore, but he suddenly thought of something, "Is it possible that Kong Faning didn't die?"
"Impossible! If she hadn't died, I would definitely have sensed it. Her remains were sent to the White Clothes Valley for burial." Xiu Chen Heavenly God looked at Zhang Ruochen with great displeasure, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was insulting Kong Faning by asking this question with ulterior motives.
If it weren't for the fact that she couldn't beat him and that her lifeblood was in Zhang Ruochen's hands, she would have already made a move.
Zhang Ruochen always felt that the events of that year were quite suspicious.
Brother and sister loved each other but didn't know each other's true identities.
Xumi Saint Monk chose to become a monk but did not choose revenge. Instead, he made the vow, "Until Hell is empty, I will not become a Buddha."
Adding to that, Zhang Ruochen had met Kong Yinse and didn't feel she held much resentment towards the Zhang family of the Kunlun Realm. Instead, she felt guilty. When the Zhang family was nearly wiped out, what was she doing?
Because of all these inconsistencies, Zhang Ruochen actually had a bold guess in his mind just now. But thinking that Nutian Shenzun was Kong Faning's own elder brother, if Kong Faning were really not dead, how could he, with his cultivation, have no perception?
"I hope I'm overthinking it."
Zhang Ruochen secretly resolved that the next time he went to the White Clothes Valley, he would definitely investigate Kong Faning's tomb thoroughly.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Wu Qingzong and asked casually, "Fifth Uncle is still worried about Wushen?"
"I want to stay in the Abyss of Darkness."
Wu Qingzong suddenly stopped.
Zhang Ruochen took the opportunity to ask, "I've always been curious. Wushen cultivates both good and evil, practicing both the Yama Heavenly Dao and the Buddhist Path. Does he have two masters?"
"I know what you want to ask, but I know very little about his secrets." Wu Qingzong thought for a moment and then added, "His current achievements are inseparable from the support of a big shot from the Yama clan in Lihentian. I can only say this much."
Wu Qingzong ultimately stayed and returned to the Ancient Desolate Ruins City.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God walked out of the Abyss of Darkness, they sensed Xue Tu hiding sneakily in the void.
Zhang Ruochen crossed space and appeared silently behind Xue Tu, "What are you doing here?"
Xue Tu was clearly startled. Seeing it was Zhang Ruochen, he showed joy, "Senior Brother... you... you're out?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "This place is dangerous. It's not where you should be."
"How can that be? Senior Brother, you and Master both came to the Abyss of Darkness. How could I not come? Back then, before I even broke through to the God Realm, I dared to charge into the Abyss of Darkness. With my current cultivation, where in the Abyss of Darkness can I not go?"
Xue Tu sensed that the aura and power on Zhang Ruochen had changed significantly from before, and his heart ached. He said in a low voice, "Senior Brother has another great opportunity?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I just broke through a realm."
"I knew it!"
Xue Tu slapped himself hard, "Senior Brother, next time you go anywhere, you must take me. I, Xue Tu, am not afraid of death and dare to fight. I might not be able to help much, but just leave the hard and dirty work to me. I'll get it done. It's a pity I missed this opportunity."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Has anything happened in the Kunlun Realm?"
Xue Tu shook his head, "What big events could happen in the Kunlun Realm? Things are calm on the Heavenly Court side now. All the big events are happening in the Hell Realm."
"It seems the worst hasn't happened yet," Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself.
Jie Zunzhe walked out of the Sword Pavilion and said, "If it had happened, the universe would already be in an uproar."
Seeing Jie Zunzhe appear, Xue Tu immediately became alert. Suddenly, he thought of something, "Actually, there was a big event, but I'm not sure if it counts. It should be a good thing."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes darkened, "Speak quickly."
"On the Kunlun Realm side, it is said that an Ancestor Realm has appeared, with astonishing phenomena. This Ancestor Realm most likely belongs to the Second Confucian Ancestor," Xue Tu said.
Zhang Ruochen and Jie Zunzhe exchanged a glance, and their expressions changed.
"It seems this is Grandmaster's bait," Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zunzhe said, "Let's go. Don't waste time."
Xue Tu didn't know the hidden details and laughed, "Senior Brother should be happy! Since the Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm has appeared, it seems Hua Ying Tai Shang can find a way to prolong his life from it."
Zhang Ruochen ignored Xue Tu and said, "It's definitely too late to go back now."
Jie Zunzhe also found it a headache and scratched his scalp, "Yeah, if we go back now and run into those people, it's like walking into our own death trap. And it might disrupt Hua Ying old man's plan."
"The scheme is already set. We can't get involved, and we can't change anything."
Zhang Ruochen squinted his eyes, "Then let's just flip the table and destroy Grandmaster's scheme."
Jie Zunzhe was stunned, "Don't do anything reckless, kid."
Zhang Ruochen looked at Xue Tu and asked, "Do you want to earn some merit for the Hell Realm?"
Xue Tu didn't know how to answer, worried that Zhang Ruochen was testing him. He hesitated, "I... I do want to, but I'm definitely on Senior Brother's side. The bond between us brothers is more important than anything."
Zhang Ruochen said, "But now, you have to betray me and become my enemy."
Seeing how serious Zhang Ruochen was, Xue Tu's face turned pale with fright, "Impossible! That will never happen in a lifetime. I can swear a poisonous oath."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Now, you send a message to all the cultivators above the Infinite Realm in the Hell Realm, saying that you have extracted a shocking secret from me. The appearance of the Second Confucian Ancestor's Ancestor Realm is fake. Hua Ying Tai Shang's real intention is to lure a group of enemies to their deaths before he dies. Tell them to be careful and immediately stay away from the Kunlun Realm."