Chapter 3690: An Unpleasant Parting
Under the moonlight, by the Holy Lake, spiritual lanterns hung one after another.
This floating island, with its beautiful environment and dense planting of sacred trees and spiritual woods, had once been the cultivation dojo of Space Divine Temple's Great Elder Huo Canghai. Now, it had become Zhang Ruochen's residence.
Not only Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan were present, but also three other graceful figures, each with a distinct temperament, were there.
Yu Chenjing, a beauty like jade, held a folding fan in her hand and had a straightforward personality. She said, "I thought the Great Elder was too busy with important matters to pay us any attention! I didn't expect Chunan and Yan Shen to have such great face that you came out as soon as they invited you!"
"It's not that we have great face, it's clearly that the sister-in-law has great face." Xiang Chunan chuckled, speaking without any restraint.
The engagement between Yu Chenjing and Zhang Ruochen had long been public knowledge, no secret.
In front of them, Zhang Ruochen naturally wouldn't put on airs. After exchanging pleasantries, he gestured for everyone to take their seats.
Because of Chi Kunlun's matter, even the carefree Xiang Chunan found it hard to joke or tease.
The atmosphere was quite oppressive and heavy for a time.
Zhang Ruochen noticed the slightly restrained Linglong Xianzi.
She sat upright beside Yu Chenjing, dressed in white, with an immortal heart and jade-like bones, her expression calm and serene.
Yet within this tranquility, there was a hint of pressure and unease.
Given Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation and status, aside from sworn brothers like Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan, other cultivators sitting at the same table with him would feel as if they were sitting with a Heavenly God—how could they be relaxed and natural?
Sitting beside Feng Yan was Murong Ling.
Although Murong Ling had cultivated for over three hundred thousand years and could be considered an ancient god, she still looked solemn and uneasy in front of the fearsome Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Second brother, won't you introduce her?"
Feng Yan's expression was calm, neither stormy nor sunny. He said, "This is my wife, Murong Ling! At the time of our grand wedding, big brother was in the Destiny Temple, so I truly couldn't invite you. That is my fault."
Zhang Ruochen naturally knew who Murong Ling was, and he knew even better that this marriage alliance was decided by that Heavenly God of the Wind Clan and that Heavenly God of the Murong Family.
As the wielder of the Pure Yang Divine Sword and the current head of the Wind Clan, Feng Yan was destined to have no choice in the matter; he had to choose a marriage alliance.
As for how much affection the two had for each other, only they themselves knew.
However, on the surface, at least, they treated each other with respect.
Zhang Ruochen's mind conjured the figure of Wu Yue, and an unspeakable guilt filled his heart. He said, "It is my fault for missing your big day. I should punish myself with three cups!"
"Three cups aren't enough, three jars are necessary." Xiang Chunan said.
"Alright, three jars it is."
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to take out wine from his space treasure, he saw Yu Chenjing wave her sleeve.
"Whoosh!"
One bronze tripod after another appeared in the divine mist, floating before everyone's eyes.
She smiled faintly: "Back when we were cultivating at the Truth Divine Temple, you often drank together. I've already prepared this for you! How about three tripods? This wine is definitely not weak; it has been stored for over an eon. In the Thousand Star Civilization, it is only used to entertain Divine Kings and Divine Venerables."
Xiang Chunan, recalling the unrestrained years of his youth, had originally planned to have a good drink with Zhang Ruochen to ease his pain of losing his son. Upon hearing Yu Chenjing's words, he immediately sat back down, his face full of embarrassment.
How could he, with his current cultivation, dare to taste wine meant for entertaining Divine Kings and Divine Venerables?
Linglong Xianzi immediately came to his rescue, saying, "I have some divine brew from the Dragon Clan here. Though it cannot compare to the rare delicacies of the Thousand Star Civilization, it is still brewed from divine fruits and divine flowers, rich and mellow, enough to intoxicate a god."
With a wave of her sleeve, various wine vessels flew out.
The wine vessels were exquisite, only a foot tall, but they contained a universe within.
One pot could equal one tripod.
Zhang Ruochen stood up, picked up a wine vessel, and said, "Second brother, I toast you!"
Feng Yan also stood up, raising his cup with both hands.
Except for Xiang Chunan, everyone present knew that the three cups Zhang Ruochen toasted contained too many emotions.
Xiang Chunan clamored to drink with them, grabbing a silver wine pot and pouring a lot into his mouth.
After three rounds of wine, Zhang Ruochen asked, "Chunan, why didn't Sixue come along?"
Xiang Chunan's mood sank a little. He said, "In that battle two thousand years ago, Master's wife was in the Cangxu Civilization. To resist Qingcang, she was severely wounded and nearly fell. Her injuries have not yet healed to this day. Junior sister has been staying at the Truth Divine Temple all these years to take care of her."
"Once things stabilize here, I will go to the Truth Divine Temple to visit the Temple Master, hoping to be of some help." Zhang Ruochen said.
Although the Truth Temple Master had always looked down on Zhang Ruochen after he went to the Hell Realm, Zhang Ruochen had always regarded the Truth Temple Master as a great benefactor on his cultivation path. Without the Heart of Truth, he would never have reached where he was today.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen deeply admired her.
A treasure like the Heart of Truth was not something just anyone could bear to part with, passing it on to a junior they had never met.
In terms of selflessness, no one in the Heavenly Court could surpass the Truth Temple Master.
Xiang Chunan thought of how his master's wife always scolded Zhang Ruochen, and his expression became quite strange.
Yu Chenjing said, "The Beheading Heaven Assembly has now spread throughout the universe, causing a huge uproar. The Divine Ancestor asked me to inquire whether you need him to come and help you hold down the Space Divine Temple?"
The others were all visibly moved.
The Thousand Star Divine Ancestor was a Heavenly God.
If a Heavenly God's true body were to sit in, who would dare to act recklessly?
This level of support from the Thousand Star Civilization was practically a direct alignment, completely treating Zhang Ruochen as one of their own.
After all, Yu Chenjing, Yu Cangsheng, and Feng Qingleng were all in the Space Divine Temple, already representing the Thousand Star Civilization. Feng Yan of the Wind Clan, Xiang Chunan of the Truth Divine Temple, and the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon and Linglong Xianzi of the Heavenly Dragon Realm were also in the same situation.
But for a Heavenly God to come personally would change everything.
Xiang Chunan found it hard to believe. "Is it necessary to alarm the Divine Ancestor? We're just beheading two Liang Huang; what kind of trouble could arise?"
"It's not that simple! Behind the Qivada Mother Goddess is that Heavenly God of the Houtu from the Demon God Realm. As a Liang Huang, she deserves to die, but it depends on who kills her."
"If she dies at the hands of the Heavenly Venerable, the Demon God Realm naturally won't have any objections."
"But if Great Elder Ruochen wants to behead her, where will the face of that Houtu be? Is this about stepping on a ruling world to establish authority? To whom is this authority being shown?"
The one who spoke these words was Murong Ling.
As her words fell, the entire place fell silent.
Feng Yan's expression was quite ugly, a coldness in his eyes.
Murong Ling quickly said, "Ling has no intention of offending the Great Elder; I am merely reminding the Great Elder that this possibility exists. Moreover, besides the Qivada Mother Goddess, behind Array-Destroying Palace Master Yan Wuque is also that Houtu. That Houtu's spiritual power is unparalleled in this era. If he comes, the Beheading Heaven Assembly will surely..."
"Shut up!"
"Bang!"
Feng Yan slammed his palm heavily onto the table, shattering the jade table of special material into powder.
Yu Chenjing laughed coldly, saying, "A mere Taibai Great God dares to hold such deep prejudice against a Great Unbound Infinite Divine Venerable? Is this a reminder or a threat? How about the Great Elder release Yan Wuque and send the Qivada Mother Goddess to the Demon God Realm for that Houtu to handle?"
Murong Ling smiled faintly. "Ling truly has no such intention; you all misunderstand! It's just that the Space Divine Temple is currently at the center of the storm. If the Great Elder could invite a Heavenly God to sit in, it would be foolproof."
Feng Yan shot Zhang Ruochen an apologetic look and was about to drag Murong Ling away.
"Wait."
Zhang Ruochen's expression remained unchanged, his tone calm. "Shen Ling is right; that Houtu is indeed not to be trifled with. But since this elder dares to preside over the Beheading Heaven Assembly, I fear no challenge. The Time Divine Temple's Temple Master Murong Huan is the second-in-command of the Murong Family, correct? If I remember correctly, he should also be the uncle of that Heavenly God of the Murong Family."
"Shen Ling, go back and deliver a message for me. The Space Divine Temple and the Array-Destroying Palace are not the end. If the Time Divine Temple cannot see the big picture, it will be next."
"If he sees the big picture, let him come to the Space Divine Temple to see me. I might give him a way to live!"
Murong Ling stared intently at Zhang Ruochen, showing little fear. "Does the Great Elder know what cultivation Huan Zu has? He is not comparable to the Array-Destroying Palace Master. The Murong Family is not the Array-Destroying Palace!"
Zhang Ruochen seemed indifferent. "The reputation of the Nine Great Clans has long been heard! Put it ten eons ago, even if the Nine Great Clans were combined, would they be enough for my Zhang Clan to fight? Even in this era, your Murong Family has no right to speak such harsh words in front of me."
Even without calling on Jie Lao Tian, Zhang Ruochen was confident he could contend with the Murong Family.
Times had changed.
Murong Ling was clearly intimidated by Zhang Ruochen's aura. After a moment's hesitation, she lowered her attitude and said, "The Heavenly Venerable appointed Divine Lord Ruochen as the Great Elder, not wanting the Heavenly Court to split."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Exactly right. So this elder will help the Heavenly Venerable remove some malignant tumors. Today, for the sake of second brother, I will let you leave. If you dare to be so presumptuous again, even if I want to spare you, the people under me will find a way to put you to death."
The gathering ended on an unpleasant note.
Zhang Ruochen picked up his wine glass and continued drinking.
Xiang Chunan had fully understood by now and was in a difficult position. He said, "Big brother, she is, after all, second brother's lawful wife, and she has borne him a son and a daughter. Don't bother with her! I guarantee you, there won't be a next time."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "What guarantee do you have?"
"I..."
Xiang Chunan's face turned red from holding back.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze gradually turned cold. "It's normal for the Space Divine Temple and the Array-Destroying Palace to be purged, and for the Time Divine Temple and Murong Huan to feel a sense of crisis. But Murong Ling has married into the Wind Clan, yet her heart still belongs to the Murong Family. She wants to use that Houtu, the descendant of the Demon Ancestor, to intimidate me. She is too bold! Even Xuan Yuan Lian has no right to meddle in this matter. What gives her the right to get involved?"
"Someone has malicious intent, wanting to drag the Wind Clan into the water to restrain me."
Yu Chenjing said, "Is the Time Divine Temple's problem really that serious?"
"Afuya and Beixi were brought from Lihentian to the Heavenly Court through the Time Divine Temple. One can imagine how many ancient powerhouses the Time Divine Temple has secretly brought over."
Zhang Ruochen had one more thing he didn't tell them: Qishier Pin Lian was likely connected to the Time Divine Temple as well.
How could she have cultivated the Way of Time to that level without going to the Time Divine Temple? How could she not have borrowed the Time Esoterica?
(End of Chapter)