Chapter 3673: The Prestige of Ruochen Realm Lord
Quansheng, Qingsu, and Daixue had followed Zhang Ruochen in recent years, and their cultivation had all made tremendous progress, reaching the "Heart Stop" level, the third stopping point of the Grand Void's peak.
Although the six elders of the Space Divine Temple were all great gods, and many were even at the Grand Void realm, they were still far inferior to these three.
Zhang Ruochen stood heroically at the prow of the divine ship. After finishing reviewing all the relevant information on the deities of the Space Divine Temple, he rolled the scroll back up and then looked towards the magnificent hall shrouded in divine light at the foot of Buzhou Mountain in the distance.
The Space Divine Temple possessed a majesty no less than that of the Truth Divine Temple or the Destiny Temple. It was a thousand miles high, a masterpiece of divine craftsmanship capable of accommodating hundreds of millions of cultivators, and within it were hidden countless realms.
Behind the temple, Buzhou Mountain was shrouded in mist, its full form invisible, like a wall standing at the end of heaven and earth, blocking all sight. Many halls, islands, divine rivers, and forests floated within the mist, forming a unique celestial realm of their own. These were the sacred cultivation grounds belonging to the Space Divine Temple.
Zhang Ruochen had come this time to display his dominant side. The aura of his divine might spread across the entire Qicheng Heavenly Domain.
Whether on the ground or in the sacred cultivation grounds in the sky, cultivators of the Space Divine Temple with profound cultivation all cast their gazes towards him.
Those whose cultivation was insufficient were already kneeling on the ground, crushed by the divine might.
"He actually returned? How is this possible?"
Wanchi Divine Venerable immediately rushed towards the Space Divine Temple.
The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon showed little joy.
If it were just Chi Xingtian breaking into the Space Divine Temple, the worst that could happen would be some heavy-handedness, and everything would be controllable. But Zhang Ruochen's return had too great an impact; no one could predict how far the situation would develop.
"Haha!"
Chi Xingtian broke free from the water sphere, collected the thirty-six Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions, and was quite delighted.
"Laughing? You can still laugh? By now, the divine kings and divine venerables of the Heavenly Court must have sensed his aura. Perhaps even the Heavens are watching. The Space Divine Temple's actions are somewhat abnormal; there must be a major figure scheming behind the scenes." The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon was somewhat worried. "Moreover, Zhang Ruochen has too many enemies in the Heavenly Court..."
Chi Xingtian seemed unconcerned. "Do you think Zhang Ruochen could have crossed the Heavenly River and entered the Heavenly Court without someone backing him?"
A look of surprise appeared in the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon's eyes. It had been thinking only of the worst-case scenario and had overlooked this aspect.
Could it be that the Heavenly Palace had already come to a compromise with Jie Tian?
...
At the Space Divine Temple.
Xie Tianyi stood at the top of the steps outside the hall, looking towards the divine ship flying in mid-air, locking onto Zhang Ruochen standing at the prow. Stroking his beard, he smiled, "Excellent, I didn't expect such a pleasant surprise."
"This might not be a pleasant surprise!"
Tianya Divine Venerable's eyes gleamed with cold light. Divine Qi surged within his body, and he lightly stomped his foot.
Immediately, the Space Divine Temple erupted with light ten times brighter than before.
"Whoosh!"
Beams of light shot up from the ground, forming a Space Divine Array that blocked the divine ship ten thousand miles away.
This Space Divine Array was far more powerful than the Inch-Long Imprisoning Divine Array activated by the six elders earlier.
Moreover, the one activating the array was Tianya Divine Venerable, a Great Unbound Infinite. He stood like a stabilizing pillar at the center of this heavenly domain where the Space Divine Temple was located, able to control all the divine Qi of heaven and earth.
Tianya Divine Venerable raised his voice, "Does the Realm Lord of the Sword Realm know that the Space Divine Temple has had a rule since ancient times: crossing the Inch-Long River without using a vessel is forbidden? There is also a rule: those who forcibly cross the Inch-Long River shall die!"
By addressing him as "Realm Lord," he was clearly identifying Zhang Ruochen as the master of the Sword Realm.
Zhang Ruochen stood at the prow. "I have already forcibly crossed it. How does Tianya Divine Venerable intend to make me die?"
Zhang Ruochen's arrogance displeased Tianya Divine Venerable. "If the Realm Lord thinks that with Jie Tian backing you, you can act with impunity in the Heavenly Court, I'm afraid you will suffer a great fall."
Zhang Ruochen countered, "Does the Divine Venerable think that with just a Space Divine Array, you can stop me? Or suppress me? Don't forget, I have another identity: the Space Controller!"
Tianya Divine Venerable was confident and tough. "I not only know you are the Space Controller, but I also know the God-Defying Stele is in your hands. But so what? This is the Space Divine Temple. With me here, even if a Heavenly Venerable came, forcing their way in would be no easy feat. If I truly wanted to kill and suppress a Divine Venerable, it probably wouldn't be too difficult."
"Boom!"
On the light curtain of the Space Divine Array, destructive array power appeared.
The silhouette of a Star-Devouring Divine Beast emerged on the light curtain.
The silhouette solidified, as if a real Star-Devouring Divine Beast had been released, its scales like divine iron, its eyes like divine suns. A single claw strike caused a large area of the ground to collapse.
What had been used against Chi Xingtian earlier was merely a trapping and binding divine array.
But now, Tianya Divine Venerable had not only activated the defensive divine array but also the killing divine array.
The aura released by that Star-Devouring Divine Beast caused the sky to change, black clouds gathering, alarming all the deities of the entire West Ox Continent.
Wanchi Divine Venerable appeared behind the divine ship. "The Heavenly Court and the Sword Realm are allies. If the Realm Lord of the Sword Realm withdraws now, we will consider this a misunderstanding and will not pursue the matter."
Tianya Divine Venerable also knew that Zhang Ruochen must have Jie Tian's full support to enter the Heavenly Court and did not want the situation to spiral out of control. "Chi Kunlun was a deity of the Space Divine Temple. We are also grieved by his fall and have been searching for the murderer. I can understand the Realm Lord's feelings. Please give us some time; the Space Divine Temple will surely give the world an explanation."
Xie Tianyi frowned slightly, not expecting Tianya Divine Venerable to back down.
This was not the result he and the Radiant Divine Temple wanted.
Now that Zhang Ruochen had taken the bait, it was a perfect opportunity to escalate the situation and drag the deities of the Kunlun Realm into the fray.
Xie Tianyi said, "The Realm Lord of the Sword Realm should leave quickly! I'll say something unpleasant: even if you find the truth, what then? Chi Kunlun cannot be resurrected. The most important thing now is to go and protect your daughters well, to cherish the living."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Who are you?"
"I am the Deputy Palace Master of the Array-Destroying Palace, Xie Tianyi."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "I have remembered your name. No one who threatens my family has ever come to a good end."
Tianya Divine Venerable and Wanchi Divine Venerable both found this extremely troublesome.
Why did Xie Tianyi have to offend Zhang Ruochen at a time like this?
With Jie Tian backing him, could they really suppress and kill Zhang Ruochen?
Xie Tianyi was not flustered at all. "The Realm Lord misunderstands. Did I utter a single word of threat? Your skill at fabricating charges is truly remarkable. If you used it on the various deities of the Space Divine Temple, how many innocent killings would you create?"
Zhang Ruochen had no intention of revealing his identity as the "Grand Minister of Works" just yet.
If he did, they would have to submit to Hao Tian's will, but they would never be convinced in their hearts, nor would they have any fear of him.
In the future, who would he, as the Grand Minister of Works, be able to command?
Zhang Ruochen had agreed to become the Grand Minister of Works of the Space Divine Temple for two reasons: first, to repay Hao Tian's kindness, and second, to avenge Chi Kunlun. He had no intention of actually taking control of the Space Divine Temple. Therefore, he did not need these people to respect him; he only needed them to fear him so that he could command them to do things.
So, even if the deities of the Space Divine Temple had not been so tough today, Zhang Ruochen would have found a reason to single out a group and establish his authority.
Furthermore, Zhang Ruochen also wanted to use this opportunity to test the members of the Quantity Organization within the Space Divine Temple.
Whoever was the most aggressive was the most suspicious.
After all, once they learned that Zhang Ruochen was the new Grand Minister of Works, they would definitely go into hiding and never show any weakness again.
"Shua! Shua! Shua!"
All the deities under the Space Divine Temple emerged from the various secret realms, flew over, and released their divine might. Surrounded by divine light, they hovered in the void, encircling Zhang Ruochen in the center.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen in a difficult position, Chi Xingtian immediately manifested his giant demonic body, rising thousands of feet tall, and roared, "There is a Quantity Venerable hidden in the Space Divine Temple, likely someone present here. It would be strange if you could find the truth! If you want to suppress us with your formations, heh, then let's fight! At worst, we'll tear down this nest of the Quantity Organization, the Space Divine Temple!"
The deities of the Space Divine Temple were all furious, their shouts and curses coming one after another.
The Fifth Elder, Xue Qing, said, "All cultivators in the world know that the Quantity Organization is best at stirring up conflict, causing the Heavenly Court to fall into internal strife. Your actions here are quite similar to theirs! As far as I know, there are still Quantity Envoys and Quantity Venerables who haven't been found. Who knows if you are innocent?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell upon him.
Instantly, Xue Qing's face turned pale, as if a divine mountain were pressing down on him, making it difficult for him to move.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Elf Clan just attacked the Kunlun Realm, and you were born into the Elf Clan, weren't you? I think your suspicion in Kunlun's death is not small. Seize him."
Chi Xingtian was stunned, looking at Zhang Ruochen.
Although he had been shouting fiercely earlier, it was only to save face, not because he truly wanted to fight. After all, this was someone else's territory, and there was a Great Unbound Infinite sitting in charge. Tianya Divine Venerable had not been boasting earlier; even a Heavenly Venerable would find it very difficult to break in.
He had not expected the usually rational Zhang Ruochen to actually want to fight, and the reason he gave was so flimsy, as if he simply wanted to use his power to bully others.
But thinking about it, it was understandable. With his only son dead, how could he possibly remain rational?
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Qingsu acted, and in a few moments, suppressed Xue Qing under a pagoda-shaped battle artifact.
Xue Qing was a Spiritual Power Great God, and in close-quarters combat, he was naturally at a disadvantage. Moreover, he was facing an existence at the Heart Stop level.
"Rebellion, this is outright rebellion!"
"Daring to suppress an elder of the Space Divine Temple right here in the Space Divine Temple, do you really think the Space Divine Temple is easy to bully?"
...
The deities of the Space Divine Temple were furious beyond measure, each offering up their battle artifacts and manifesting divine abilities.
"I advise you all to calm down. Whoever dares to make a move, I will surely unleash a great slaughter today and bathe the Space Divine Temple in blood."
Zhang Ruochen spoke with divine sound, his voice containing soul attacks, intimidating all the deities present.
Wanchi Divine Venerable saw Xue Qing suppressed and kneeling on the ground. His pupils blazed with battle intent, and his voice was deep. "Realm Lord of the Sword Realm, you have crossed our bottom line! Do you really think the Space Divine Temple dares not kill you?"
"Kill me? Do you have the strength?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was sharp. He continued, "Throughout the entire Space Divine Temple, below the Hall Master, there are only two Divine Venerables and one Divine King. The Quantity Venerable must be among you. I find you, Wanchi Divine Venerable, quite suspicious. You should imprison yourself and let me conduct a thorough investigation."
An outsider dared to say such a thing?
Wanchi Divine Venerable was completely enraged, his battle intent turning into killing intent. "And if I refuse to imprison myself?"
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, "Then you are being uncooperative."
(End of this chapter)