Chapter 3681: The Setup
"The Space Divine Temple is rotten, having nearly become a stronghold of the Quantity Organization. Since you lack the ability to investigate yourselves, the Heavenly Venerable invited me to come."
"To cure a chaotic situation, harsh measures are necessary. Only by cutting away the malignant tumors with bold strokes can a diseased tree be reborn."
Zhang Ruochen's divine voice thundered, his entire body radiating a firm and imposing aura, putting immense pressure on every deity in the hall.
The gods in the hall looked at the two deities with broken limbs frozen in space, feeling a mix of fear and newfound respect for this new Grand Minister of Works. At least he wasn't someone who killed indiscriminately.
The remaining five deities Zhang Ruochen had named were already subdued by the elder-level experts present, who proceeded to directly search their souls.
Although these deities had severed some of their own memories, traces still remained, allowing many causal threads to be deduced and traced.
Several elders present assumed Zhang Ruochen had found the Quantity Organization members by searching Huo Canghai's soul, so they weren't overly shocked—only their expressions were extremely grim.
It was too embarrassing!
Previously, they had also investigated the gods of the Space Divine Temple, but aside from Huo Canghai's lineage, the results were negligible.
The seven deities Zhang Ruochen had named all had varying degrees of connection to Huo Canghai and Elder Xueqing, having done many secret tasks for them.
Seventh Elder Cao Beisheng, appearing to be in his thirties, wore martial robes with broad shoulders and a sturdy build. Standing within a small Xuanhuang world, he restrained the sharpness in his eyes and asked humbly, "Grand Minister, did you search Huo Canghai's soul? Do you know who the Quantity Venerable behind him is?"
The gods' gazes, more or less, turned toward Tianya Shenzun and Wanchi Shenzun.
Although Tianya Shenzun and Wanchi Shenzun maintained calm expressions, worry stirred within them.
After all, at this moment, a single word from Zhang Ruochen could doom even them, Shenzuns, to death without burial.
If Zhang Ruochen accomplished the feat of executing a Shenzun, he would establish his authority completely. From then on, his prestige in the Space Divine Temple could even rival the Hall Master's. After doing this, who would dare touch his friends and family?
Moreover, the wealth and cultivation resources behind a Shenzun were undoubtedly an astronomical figure—who wouldn't want that?
Would Zhang Ruochen do it?
Zhang Ruochen's gaze locked onto Tianya Shenzun and Wanchi Shenzun. Just as the tension among the gods in the hall reached its peak, he spoke: "All memories and traces of the Quantity Venerable on Huo Canghai were severed by Kui Huangliang. Even the Heavenly Venerable cannot restore those memories."
Wanchi Shenzun abruptly stood up. "Why doesn't the Grand Minister search my soul first?"
Zhang Ruochen's voice deepened. "Were your memories also severed by Kui Huangliang?"
Wanchi Shenzun fumed, "I can swear to the heavens—if I am a member of the Quantity Organization, may I face endless calamity and die without a burial place. Of course, if the Grand Minister wants to avenge his son and unleash a massacre, I will accept my fate."
"You are naturally not easily cleared of suspicion, but there's no rush. We'll investigate slowly. Today, this Elder has more important matters to announce!"
Zhang Ruochen released his divine might, like a thousand layers of space descending, pressing Wanchi Shenzun back into his seat. "Cao Beisheng!"
"Here!"
Cao Beisheng responded.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Announce to the outside world that in three days, this Elder will hold a Beheading Emperor Ceremony at the Space Divine Temple, inviting gods from all realms of the Heavenly Court to witness."
"May I ask the Grand Minister, what is the 'Beheading Emperor'?" Cao Beisheng asked.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at him. "Beheading two of the Quantity Emperors: Mother Goddess Qiwada and Emperor Sansha."
"Boom!"
Every deity's mind felt as if it had exploded.
It was too shocking!
Mother Goddess Qiwada and Emperor Sansha were former Heavenly Venerables, lofty and unattainable.
Was Zhang Ruochen going to behead heavens at the Space Divine Temple?
And two at once?
Even Tianya Shenzun and Wanchi Shenzun were stunned into numbness, then exchanged glances, realizing their vision had been too narrow.
Zhang Ruochen had no need to establish authority by executing them.
What could be more wild than establishing authority by beheading Heavenly Venerables?
This event would surely make the Space Divine Temple famous across the universe, a major event recorded in history.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen spread his arms wide, as if embracing mountains and rivers.
Behind him, a boundless divine land manifested. Mother Goddess Qiwada's massive demonic body and the world formed by Emperor Sansha's divine form were both suppressed within by Hao Tian's divine patterns.
The gods below, sensing the terrifying auras of these two Heavenly-level beings, all changed color, then bowed to Zhang Ruochen in reverence.
This was momentum!
If Zhang Ruochen hadn't defeated Tianya Shenzun and suppressed Xie Tianyi beforehand, even if he produced Mother Goddess Qiwada and Emperor Sansha, the gods would only think he was borrowing the Heavenly Venerable's authority and would despise him.
Now, they only felt Zhang Ruochen was unfathomably deep, perhaps able to stand shoulder to shoulder with the Heavenly Venerables.
Otherwise, why would the Heavenly Venerable trust him to handle two Quantity Emperors?
Zhang Ruochen said, "Qingsu, send a message to Bamian Shenwang, ordering him to return to the temple within three days to see me."
"Zhuo Fang, arrest all the most direct descendants and heirs of Tianya Shenzun, Wanchi Shenzun, and Bamian Shenwang, and throw them into the Divine Prison."
"For Shenwangs and Shenzuns, we must still give them some dignity. Even if we need to search souls, we can start with these people for clues."
"Anyone who relies on their prominent family to refuse arrest or chooses to flee—kill them directly."
"Understood!"
Zhuo Fang had long wanted to do this, but previously, no one had the courage to offend three Boundless-level beings and the intricate forces behind them simultaneously. Now, with Zhang Ruochen backing him, he could go all out.
Wanchi Shenzun said coldly, "Grand Minister, calamity should not extend to one's clan—you should understand this well."
Zhang Ruochen replied, "Indeed, I understand it well. That's precisely why we must find that Quantity Venerable. If we don't, Wanchi Shenzun, won't your clan be in great danger?"
Wanchi Shenzun was the number one expert of the Stone Realm, with countless clansmen and disciples.
If they were all arrested, half the gods of the Stone Realm might be taken.
And this wasn't just about the Stone Realm—several of Wanchi Shenzun's disciples were rulers of entire worlds.
As the protector of nearly ten great worlds, how could Wanchi Shenzun allow Zhang Ruochen to act so radically?
But facing the overwhelming momentum, he realized he could do nothing.
Tianya Shenzun finally spoke, his tone unhurried: "The Quantity Venerable could also be the Hall Master. What does the Grand Minister plan to do then?"
This was a highly disrespectful statement, something only Tianya Shenzun, a Great Unbound Infinite, dared to say.
Other gods wouldn't even dare to entertain such a thought.
To many, Tianya Shenzun had cornered Zhang Ruochen: either confront the Hall Master, or lose all the authority he had built up.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Third Elder, Ninth Elder—the two of you will enter the Divine Prison yourselves."
"Understood!"
Third Elder "Liu Qingyu" and Ninth Elder "Xiahou Jie," direct disciples of the Space Divine Temple's Hall Master, stepped forward and bowed to Zhang Ruochen, not daring to defy his will.
After all, in three days, Zhang Ruochen would even behead heavens.
Killing two Great Gods would probably be no pressure at all.
With Zhang Ruochen's current momentum, anyone who challenged him would be like an egg smashing against a rock.
Seventh Elder Cao Beisheng deeply realized that this divine meeting would spark a terrifying storm, sweeping across the entire Heavenly Court.
Because directly involved were gods from dozens of great worlds. The indirect impact on interests could reach hundreds of great worlds.
Even the Heavenly Palace wouldn't dare to stir up such a commotion lightly. If mishandled, these great worlds might defect to the Hell Realm or spark internal chaos.
Using avenging Chi Kunlun as a pretext, with Zhang Ruochen as the instigator, was perfect.
Most of the conflict would be drawn onto Zhang Ruochen alone.
Cao Beisheng said, "Zhuo Fang, let me assist you."
Zhuo Fang nodded, clearly aware this wasn't something he could accomplish alone.
"Qingsu, go help them. Also, Quan Zhongsheng and Dai Xue will take over the positions of Third Elder and Ninth Elder."
After completing the initial reshuffling of the Space Divine Temple, Zhang Ruochen declared the meeting adjourned.
...
The Divine Prison was built at the bottom of the Space Divine Temple, located within one of the hundreds of chaotic small worlds where heavenly secrets were severed.
The warden of the Divine Prison was Fourth Elder Xuanyuan Yincheng, born in Wanxu Realm, a collateral branch of the Xuanyuan Clan.
Xuanyuan Yincheng walked out of a floating divine hall, clad in black iron armor, and saluted Zhang Ruochen with clasped fists. "Greetings, Grand Minister!"
Zhang Ruochen merely nodded slightly before entering the Divine Prison.
Tianya Shenzun was locked within a time-space forbidden zone, where even ancestral patterns existed. By mobilizing the Space Divine Temple's power to activate these ancestral patterns, even a Great Unbound Infinite could be suppressed.
"Shenzun doesn't seem surprised to see this Elder." Zhang Ruochen appeared outside the forbidden zone, his posture straight as a sword.
Tianya Shenzun sat on the ground within the forbidden zone, calm and composed, smiling. "At the divine meeting, the Grand Minister stirred up a massive storm, but it was actually a diversion. You have another purpose, don't you?"
Zhang Ruochen stepped into the forbidden zone. "What makes you say that?"
Tianya Shenzun said, "If the Grand Minister truly suspected that I and Wanchi Shenzun might be the Quantity Venerable, you would have searched our souls without hesitation in that setting."
"Since you didn't, and instead launched a massive crackdown, arresting cultivators closely related to the four Boundless-level beings in the temple—what else could it be but a diversion? Are you really going to search the souls of a hundred gods and offend a hundred great worlds?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Continue."
Tianya Shenzun said, "I suspect the Grand Minister already knows who the Quantity Venerable is."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were sharp, carrying a cold light. "Huo Canghai contacted Xueqing and devised the plan to kill Chi Kunlun. Unfortunately, Xueqing's memories were severed. Though I restored them using the Path of Fate, I only saw a blurry black shadow."
"So you concluded that the Quantity Venerable is not me or Wanchi?" Tianya Shenzun said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Given your cultivation levels, even if Xueqing's memories were severed, I am fully confident I could restore them. The one who acted is above you, yet far below Kui Huangliang."
Tianya Shenzun's expression shifted slightly. "The Hall Master?"
"Possible. But it's also possible that a powerful figure is hiding among the gods of the Space Divine Temple, strong internally but weak externally." Zhang Ruochen said.
Tianya Shenzun naturally didn't want the Hall Master to be the Quantity Venerable, and inwardly nodded, finding the latter possibility more likely. "What does the Grand Minister want to know?"
"Has the Space Divine Temple secretly been summoning ancient powerhouses back?" Zhang Ruochen asked.