Chapter 3679: Zhang Ruochen's Weight
The divine battle had ended, but the residual divine power remained strong.
The black clouds above Qi Cheng Heaven Domain would not disperse, and the space was extremely unstable. All cultivators who rushed to this region were filled with unease.
The Heavenly Court had not seen a divine battle of this magnitude for a long time, alarming various major powers.
In the various sacred cities and holy lands of West Ox Continent, including the esteemed divine temples, cultivation grounds, and pure lands, all were engaged in heated discussion. Zhang Ruochen's name was repeatedly mentioned, with tones filled with shock and reverence.
...
At the banks of the Zhi Chi River.
The Eight-Winged Night Dragon gazed at the broken red earth on the opposite side of the great river. Earlier, that place had been lush and green, covered with spiritual flowers and exotic trees, a divine land. Her tone was heavy, "His cultivation realm has reached Great Unbound Infinite!"
"This is a cause for celebration, why do you have that expression?"
Chi Xingtian felt proud and was very delighted, his laughter never ceasing, "This battle has established his future status! Figures like Tianya Shenzun and Xie Tianyi have been suppressed. How satisfying! The humiliation inflicted on cultivators of the Kunlun Realm by the Space Divine Temple and the Array Destruction Palace back then has now been repaid with interest."
The Eight-Winged Night Dragon said, "What do you know? He is the Lord of the Sword Realm, and the Sword Realm has always remained neutral. Now, with his Great Unbound Infinite cultivation, he has become the Grand Elder of the Space Divine Temple. Do you know what this means?"
Chi Xingtian raised his head and glanced sideways, "Why think so much? Since he made this choice, there must be a reason. He must have considered all consequences. What are you worried about? What does it have to do with you..."
"Bang!"
The Eight-Winged Night Dragon's hand transformed into a palm-sized dragon claw, slapping Chi Xingtian to the ground.
"Long Ba!"
...
Empress Chi Yao did not feel joy or sorrow because of Zhang Ruochen's cultivation realm.
She had always hoped that Zhang Ruochen would return to the Heavenly Court, return to the Kunlun Realm. Now that her wish had come true, she instead felt a trace of hidden worry.
She knew where the problem lay.
Previously, she had hoped Zhang Ruochen would return to the Kunlun Realm because, at that time, Zhang Ruochen, as a member of the Undying Blood Clan, had joined the Hell Realm, his situation dangerous and precarious.
But now, Zhang Ruochen was the Lord of the Sword Realm, walking the tightrope between the Heavenly Court and Hell. No matter how dangerous or pressured, he had never leaned toward either side.
Now, choosing to join the Heavenly Court was certainly partly to avenge Chi Kunlun, but she knew this was not the main reason.
To avenge Chi Kunlun, Zhang Ruochen did not need to join the Heavenly Court. She could do it, Jie Tian could do it, just at a greater cost.
It was undoubtedly for the Kunlun Realm!
Zhang Ruochen had once promised Tai Shang to help him protect the Kunlun Realm for ten thousand years.
Now, with the news of the life-extending divine medicine spreading across the world, the Kunlun Realm was already in turmoil, and had even suffered an open attack from the Hong Tian Arrow.
The storm would only grow fiercer!
Empress Chi Yao could only guess two things.
First, Zhang Ruochen joined the Heavenly Court as the Grand Elder of the Space Divine Temple, personally selected by the Heavenly Venerable, and struck so fiercely from the start to intimidate those restless villains.
Second, he was also making himself a target to share the pressure on the Kunlun Realm.
Thinking of these two points, she felt even more the difficulty of Zhang Ruochen's position. He bore too many responsibilities that he could have avoided, and every step was arduous. He even had to make compromises.
The other deities of the Kunlun Realm did not think so much, and were all in high spirits.
No matter what, Zhang Ruochen was born in the Kunlun Realm. His current strength undoubtedly elevated the Kunlun Realm's prestige in the Heavenly Court to a new level.
...
Yu Cangsheng looked gratified, stroking his beard, "It seems his ruthless actions were intended to establish authority. What a Grand Elder of the Space Divine Temple! My earlier worries were unnecessary."
Yu Chenjing showed her teeth in a smile, "Grandfather, you don't understand him well enough! This Ruochen Realm Lord never kills indiscriminately. If he killed Xue Qing just to establish authority, even as Grand Elder, he would be punished by the Heavenly Rules. Moreover, didn't this battle expose some people's weaknesses? Besides the Paradise Realm faction, the Quantity Organization is the one most eager to kill Zhang Ruochen!"
Feng Qingleng had been in a contemplative state, but suddenly a smile appeared on her face, "That's good too!"
Yu Cangsheng and Yu Chenjing both turned to look at her, curious why she suddenly said such a strange thing.
Feng Qingleng said, "Since Ruochen Realm Lord has become the Grand Elder of the Space Divine Temple, he will surely stay in the Heavenly Court for a long time. Your marriage can be arranged now!"
Yu Chenjing frowned and smiled bitterly, "I'm afraid it can't be done! With mourning on, how can there be celebration?"
...
Imperial Ancestor Divine Dynasty.
Xun Yang Palace was a divine land at the center of the Imperial Ancestor Divine City, connected to the earth veins below and the star river above.
After Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord returned from the Wuding Divine Sea, he had been in seclusion in Xun Yang Palace for over a thousand years, only emerging today.
The many divine consorts, princes, princesses, and the deities who came one after another all arrived outside the palace to pay their respects.
Those who could attend were either powerful or high in cultivation, the core members of the Imperial Ancestor Divine Dynasty.
Ao Xue Divine Consort was in an excellent mood, holding a message divine talisman, "Divine Lord, there is great news from the Heavenly Court!"
Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord reached into the void, took the message divine talisman, and read it carefully. A slight smile appeared on his lips, then he fell into thought.
After a long while, he said, "What a formidable Zhang Ruochen! His cultivation speed is so fast. With one cauldron, he severely wounded Tianya Shenzun. He has taken that most crucial step! Ao Xue, go personally to the Space Divine Temple and deliver my visiting card."
The people below, including the deities, were all moved.
What kind of figure was the Divine Lord? He was actually going to visit Zhang Ruochen in person?
Did Zhang Ruochen have such qualifications?
Ao Xue Divine Consort was momentarily stunned.
Xing Ni Divine Consort said, "This seems somewhat inappropriate. Why not let your servant and Sister Ao Xue prepare a generous gift on behalf of the Divine Lord and send it to the Space Divine Temple to congratulate Ruochen Divine Venerable on his ascension to Grand Elder?"
Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord shook his head, "You underestimate Zhang Ruochen's current weight too much! If you go to offer congratulations, it falls far short."
Knowing they found it hard to understand, Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord added, "Do you think I am lowering myself by going? But you don't know that he also holds the title of Young Ancestor. Previously, I hesitated whether to fully bet on him. If I still hesitate now, it would be indecisiveness!"
"Since the Divine Lord has made a decision, your servant is willing to accompany you."
Xing Ni Divine Consort and Ao Xue Divine Consort said in unison.
Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord said, "Ao Xue will accompany me! Xing Ni, you will go on my behalf to the Ju Lu Divine Dynasty and the Yu Qian Divine Dynasty, and tell them that the Imperial Dao Great World has been divided for too long. The three kingdoms have been at war for years, causing internal attrition, inviting ridicule from the various realms of the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm. Now is the time for unification!"
Upon hearing the first sentence, Xing Ni Divine Consort felt a pang of jealousy, but upon hearing the latter part, she was completely shocked.
Was the Divine Lord going to unify the Imperial Dao Great World and become the sole ruler of this third-ranked great world in the Northern Universe?
Ao Xue Divine Consort showed a delighted expression, "Has the Divine Lord broken through to the peak of Great Unbound Infinite?"
Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord nodded with a proud and spirited demeanor.
"Boom!"
A wave of excitement erupted outside Xun Yang Palace. All cultivators were overjoyed.
Since the Divine Lord had reached the peak of Great Unbound Infinite, his strength far surpassed the strongest of the Ju Lu Divine Dynasty and the Yu Qian Divine Dynasty. He was only one step away from being a Heavenly Venerable, so naturally, he could become the ruler of the Imperial Dao Great World.
After rejoicing, Xing Ni Divine Consort showed a worried expression, "Behind the Ju Lu Divine Dynasty and the Yu Qian Divine Dynasty, there are shadows of Heavenly Venerables. It won't be easy to make them submit."
A deity with high battle intent said, "If they don't submit, then fight. Beat them into submission!"
Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord's gaze was deep, "Unifying the Imperial Dao Great World is to consolidate strength and face future greater challenges together. Going to war is actually the worst strategy! My visit to the Space Divine Temple to see Zhang Ruochen is to borrow his influence to pressure the rulers of the Ju Lu Divine Dynasty and the Yu Qian Divine Dynasty into submission."
"Even if Grand Elder Ruochen is strong, he is still far from the Divine Lord. Why borrow his influence?" a deity asked, puzzled.
Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord said, "Do you think the Heavenly Venerable made Zhang Ruochen the Grand Elder of the Space Divine Temple just to investigate the Quantity Organization? Shallow vision! Just wait and see. There will surely be a great storm in the Heavenly Court next."
...
Yu Dongxuan did not rush to the Space Divine Temple to rescue Xie Tianyi. He only went to the Array Destruction Palace and then went straight back to the Paradise Realm.
With Tianya Shenzun, Xie Tianyi, and the foundation divine formation of the Space Divine Temple, they were no match for Zhang Ruochen. Moreover, Zhang Ruochen had the Heavenly Venerable behind him...
In short, Yu Dongxuan felt that even if he went to the Space Divine Temple, he probably couldn't suppress Zhang Ruochen.
Even if he suppressed Zhang Ruochen, there was still Zhang Jie!
If he made a move, Zhang Jie would definitely intervene.
Returning to the Paradise Realm, Yu Dongxuan went to the Radiant Divine Temple and reported all the details of the day's events to the Hall Master.
A deep voice came from the divine temple, "Zhang Ruochen and the Paradise Realm are in a life-and-death situation. Now that his wings are full, he is indeed difficult to deal with! This matter cannot rely solely on the Radiant Divine Temple. Go to Shang Qiu and the Elf Divine Temple. Those two should contribute their share."
Yu Dongxuan first went to Shang Qiu to pay respects to Shang Tian.
Shang Tian's hatred for Zhang Ruochen was even greater than that of the Radiant Divine Temple.
Shang Tian's most outstanding offspring, Yi Tianjun, was sent to the Stone Divine Temple by Zhang Ruochen.
The younger prodigies of the Shang Clan who died at Zhang Ruochen's hands were countless. Even the Great Shang Divine Dynasty, because of Zhang Ruochen and Shen Ba Princess, was nearly destroyed.
Shang Tian did not receive Yu Dongxuan.
Walking out of Shang Qiu was his disciple, Qingcheng Yun.
Shang Tian's two most outstanding disciples were the Hall Master of the Merit Divine Temple and Qingcheng Yun.
Qingcheng Yun walked with a dragon's stride, his aura pure and clear, with a bright star between his brows. He walked slowly and stood opposite Yu Dongxuan, the third most important figure in the Paradise Realm, without any nervousness, appearing calm and composed.
A hint of mockery flashed in his eyes, "Master says that regarding this matter of the Space Divine Temple, you were not only foolish but also used lowly tactics, inviting ridicule. He does not wish to get involved."
Yu Dongxuan's face turned ugly, and he said in a deep voice, "Whether it's Zhang Ruochen or the Kunlun Realm, both have the potential to surpass the Paradise Realm. When the nest is overturned, how can the eggs remain intact?"
"Don't scheme with fools! If the Radiant Divine Temple wants to find allies, go to the Elf Divine Temple! As for Master's thoughts, don't trouble the Great Palace Master with them. Please!"
Qingcheng Yun directly saw the guest out.