Chapter 3562: Battle News
Zhang Ruochen hadn’t expected this old fellow to turn the tables on him.
“If Brother Chen agrees, I have no objections. I’ll head back to the Central Imperial City first!”
Chi Yao tore through space and vanished from the spot.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, “There’s no rush for the marriage alliance.”
“What’s there to rush about marrying a few wives? Besides, you’ve already written a marriage contract for someone else—are you planning to break it off?” Jie Zunzhe said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “I’ll give a proper explanation to the Thousand Star Civilization side.”
Jie Zunzhe’s expression turned serious. “What about the Dragon Realm side? When you broke through to the Infinite Realm in Lihentian, the Five Dragon Divine Emperor and the Dragon Lord set aside the safety of the Dragon Realm and fought desperately to protect you. And when it came to removing the Asura Soul-Sealing Seal from Monk Jie Fangcun, the Five Dragon Divine Emperor also put in tremendous effort… You owe a lot of favors, and these all need to be repaid.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What exactly did you accept as a dowry from them?”
“Mind your own business!”
Knowing that Zhang Ruochen needed something from him and that he held the moral high ground, Jie Zunzhe grew even more arrogant, putting on the airs of an ancestor. “You told me to compete for the position of a Heavenly Lord, and I’ve gone all out for it. I’ll fight for it no matter what—I have to reclaim that seat. But what about your responsibilities?”
Seeing Zhang Ruochen remain silent, Jie Zunzhe immediately backed down a step. “Ah, Ruochen, I know you don’t like tying emotions to interests, but isn’t this forced by circumstances? Once people find out that your grandmaster can extend his life, a massive storm will hit the Kunlun Realm. Can the two of us alone withstand it?”
“How about this? Let’s set aside the marriage alliance between the Five Elements Temple and the Pangu Realm for now. But the engagement with the Thousand Star Civilization and the debt to the Dragon Realm—those need to be settled this time!”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t refuse again. “Fine. As long as you win back the Heavenly Lord seat, you can arrange the marriage alliances.”
“It’s settled?”
Jie Zunzhe was overjoyed, but then grew a bit uneasy. “Swear on your grandmaster’s honor.”
“Since I’ve agreed, I won’t go back on my word, and I certainly won’t gamble with the lives of billions in the Kunlun Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t want to waste too much time on marriage matters. “Do you have confidence in defeating the Radiant Divine Temple’s Hall Master?”
Jie Zunzhe chuckled slyly. “With the exposure of the Qivada Mother Goddess and the betrayal of the Four Suns Heavenly Lord, the list of Heavenly Lords in the Heavenly Court is constantly changing. There are quite a few peak Great Unbound Infinite cultivators, and their combat prowess is mostly close. So, the positions of the lower-ranked Heavenly Lords have always been unstable.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then why not pick the weakest one to fight?”
Jie Zunzhe revealed a cunning expression. “You know as well as I do—do I really have the strength of a Heavenly Lord? I can only show off for one or two moves! If I fight the weakest and win with one punch, those old fellows won’t necessarily accept it. They’ll keep coming to challenge me one after another.”
“Besides, that would offend a major power for no good reason. It’s not worth it.”
Jie Zunzhe took out the tattered talisman that Tai Shang had refined, looking reluctant. “With this, I can unleash a punch of supreme power, enough to severely wound Coro in one strike. Fighting him means I don’t have to worry about offending anyone!”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Alright, since you have a plan, I won’t interfere. Go deliver the challenge. I need to visit the White Clothes Valley first.”
“Hey, what about Chi Yao? What if the Qishier Pin Lian targets her…” Jie Zunzhe reminded him.
“I’ll take the Space-Time Chaos Lotus from her.”
After parting ways with Jie Zunzhe, Zhang Ruochen first went to the Central Imperial City to retrieve the Space-Time Chaos Lotus, then headed to the Wang Mountain Ancestral Land.
In the Past Divine Palace, he had already comprehended the nineteenth level of the Immovable Wisdom King Fist’s intent. He could now obtain the Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules from the nineteenth layer of the sky above the Heavenly Venerable’s tomb, so he naturally had to go there to further strengthen his combat power.
The Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules left by the Great Venerable were his most powerful trump card at the moment. The more he mastered, the stronger the power he could unleash in times of danger.
After absorbing the Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules, Zhang Ruochen was enveloped in a nine-colored divine light. It took several days for him to fully retract it back into his body.
Just as he stepped out of the ancestral land, Zhang Ruochen encountered Jie Zunzhe, whose face was dark with anger.
Jie Zunzhe said, “This time, I’ve lost a lot of face. I sent a challenge to Coro, but that old bastard ignored me, claiming publicly that a false god isn’t qualified to challenge him. He even tossed the challenge to the Radiant Palace’s Palace Master, Yu Dongxuan. Yu Dongxuan is already on his way to the Kunlun Realm!”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “See? This is what happens when you never establish your authority.”
“You can still laugh?”
Jie Zunzhe’s expression was grim. “Yu Dongxuan is clearly coming to the Kunlun Realm to probe our situation. What if he insists on meeting Tai Shang? What do we do then?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “He’s coming to accept your challenge. Just deal with him, and it’s settled.”
“Easier said than done! The Radiant Palace is the foremost of the eight palaces under the Radiant Divine Temple, and Yu Dongxuan is a peak Great Unbound Infinite cultivator. If I fight him, I’ll lose the talisman. Then how will I compete for the Heavenly Lord seat?” Jie Zunzhe said.
Zhang Ruochen’s smile faded. “Hall Master Coro’s move is indeed clever. It tests your strength while probing the Kunlun Realm’s situation. The key is that he can sit back and watch from the sidelines.”
Jie Zunzhe said, “Forget about going to the White Clothes Valley for now. Let’s head straight to the Radiant Divine Temple and fight. You clear the way, and I’ll conserve my strength.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “The Paradise Realm has deep foundations. There’s more than just Yu Dongxuan. If we go, we might not even see Coro. If we fight too hard, the various worlds of the Heavenly Court will think we’re the ones stirring up trouble, creating internal strife without considering the bigger picture. The timing is sensitive now. If the Kunlun Realm gets isolated, we’ll be in trouble.”
“This won’t work, that won’t work either—we’re too passive!” Jie Zunzhe said.
“It’s because you delivered the challenge the wrong way that Coro could exploit it, leaving us in this predicament.”
Zhang Ruochen sent a divine thought to Chi Yao: “Compile the recent major events in the Heavenly Court and send them to me.”
While waiting for Chi Yao’s message, Zhang Ruochen suddenly asked, “Did you get the Jade Emperor Cauldron back from the Moon God?”
Jie Zunzhe, still frowning and thinking of a countermeasure, replied offhandedly, “The Moon God hasn’t returned to the Guanghan Realm or the Heavenly Court. Where am I supposed to find her?”
Zhang Ruochen was surprised.
Wu Yue had said that the Moon God was in an extremely safe place. Zhang Ruochen had always assumed she had returned to the Heavenly Court. He never expected this answer.
For the Moon God, besides the Heavenly Court, what other place was safe? What place could withstand Jiusi Yitianhuang?
Soon, Chi Yao sent the compiled information to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen quickly scanned it with his divine sense, and gradually, a smile crept onto his face. “I have an idea!”
“What idea?” Jie Zunzhe asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Lure Yu Dongxuan to the Wuding Divine Sea.”
“The Wuding Divine Sea is the Thunder Clan’s territory. If I go there, the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable will definitely make a move,” Jie Zunzhe said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “He definitely won’t make a move. He might not even dare to show his face.”
“Is he afraid I’ll self-destruct my divine source?” Jie Zunzhe asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Can you self-destruct your divine source in front of him? What he’s afraid of is your grandmaster, whose lifespan is nearly exhausted. The news of your grandmaster’s arrangements in the Kunlun Realm has just leaked. Now everyone knows that your grandmaster plans to drag someone down with him before he dies. If we show up at the Wuding Divine Sea at this time, it will definitely scare him.”
Jie Zunzhe nodded. “That makes sense. But what’s the point of going to the Wuding Divine Sea?”
Zhang Ruochen held a message talisman. “According to the latest news, the Heavenly Court’s Second War God, Zhao Gongming, has gone to the Wuding Divine Sea to challenge the Thunder Ancestor.”
“Is the Heavenly Court making a move against the Thunder Clan?” Jie Zunzhe asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, “That’s not our concern. Our goal is the Heavenly Lord seat.”
Jie Zunzhe pondered Zhang Ruochen’s meaning. “Currently, it’s unlikely the Heavenly Court will act against the Thunder Clan. Zhao Gongming challenging the Thunder Ancestor is probably to accumulate battle achievements, boost his prestige, and compete for the Heavenly Lord seat.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Exactly. Bian Zhuang War God ascending to the Heavenly Lord seat was a signal from Hao Tian. The Heavenly Court is starting to centralize power.”
Jie Zunzhe grinned slyly. “Whoever wins, we’ll fight them?”
“If you’re confident, you could take on both at once,” Zhang Ruochen said.
According to Zhang Ruochen’s plan, no matter whether Zhao Gongming or the Thunder Ancestor emerged victorious, as long as Jie Zunzhe defeated the winner with overwhelming force, it would be like buying an invisible enforcer.
Zhao Gongming!
Zhao Gongming’s bid for the Heavenly Lord seat must be Hao Tian’s intention. As long as Zhao Gongming continued to compete and secured the seat, Jie Zunzhe, being stronger than Zhao Gongming, would naturally deserve a seat. Even Hao Tian would personally visit to invite him to be enfeoffed as a Heavenly Lord.
…
The Heavenly Court’s defensive line built on the eastern coast of the Wuding Divine Sea had been completely withdrawn.
Only a few deities remained hidden in the void, monitoring the Thunder Clan’s every move and relaying intelligence back to the Heavenly Court.
“Whoosh!”
A rift tore open in space, and Zhang Ruochen and Jie Zunzhe stepped out.
“She’s here too!” Zhang Ruochen sensed something and showed a surprised expression.
On a rocky planet near the Wuding Divine Sea, Zhang Ruochen spotted a golden chariot parked on a vast plain.
Behind the chariot stood over a hundred Saint Guards in silver armor, standing in perfect formation.
“Brother Ruochen, long time no see. Care to join me in the chariot for a chat?” Xuanyuan Lian’s voice drifted out from within.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t stand on ceremony. He boarded the golden chariot and saw Xuanyuan Lian, dressed in male attire.
From the moment he stepped inside, Xuanyuan Lian’s beautiful eyes were fixed on him, scrutinizing him.
After Zhang Ruochen sat down across from her, she let out a sigh. “You’ve left me far behind after all. It’s really hard to catch up to you.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Has the Heavenly Venerable come?”
Xuanyuan Lian, exuding an extraordinary aura and a heroic spirit surpassing many men, said, “Since I’m here, what difference does it make whether the Heavenly Venerable has come? Would the Thunder Punishment dare to act recklessly?”
“So he hasn’t come.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “That’s too risky. If the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable makes a move, neither you nor Zhao Gongming will be able to escape.”
Xuanyuan Lian changed her demeanor, a faint smile appearing. “With your current cultivation, capturing me wouldn’t be difficult. But do you dare to act? Do you dare to bet that the Heavenly Venerable really isn’t here?”
“Impressive courage.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I thought the Heavenly Venerable would come to oversee the battle. So, besides competing for the Heavenly Lord seat, Zhao Gongming’s fight with the Thunder Ancestor has another reason?”
Xuanyuan Lian’s gaze sharpened. “In recent centuries, the Heavenly Court has had to deal with the Hell Realm and investigate members of the Quantity Organization internally, so it has tolerated the Thunder Clan’s actions. But the Thunder Ancestor has gone too far. He’s sent a large number of Thunder Clan cultivators across the universe, searching for ruins realms and worlds without deities, blood-sacrificing them one by one. Countless beings have died at his hands, devoured by him.”
“Now that the Hell Realm is in turmoil with internal strife, the Heavenly Court can finally free up its hands. How can it not teach the Thunder Ancestor a lesson?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “The Thunder Ancestor had half his divine body severed by Feng Tian, severely weakening his blood energy. He’s naturally eager to recover quickly. The Thunder Ancestor’s realm is already quite close to Indestructible. Even Feng Tian couldn’t kill him. Does Zhao Gongming have confidence in winning?”
(End of Chapter)