Chapter 3733: The Three Titans of the Destiny Temple
After Xiao Hei left the Heavenly Court, he went straight to the White Clothes Valley.
When Zhang Ruochen activated the Sundial in the White Clothes Valley, Xiao Hei had already gone there to cultivate for a long time and had become quite familiar with the gods in the valley. Coupled with his cultivation at the Great God realm, it was naturally easy for him to meet Nutian Shenzun.
What surprised Xiao Hei was that Void Heaven and Feng Tian were also there.
The three titans of the Destiny Temple had gathered, seemingly discussing some major matter.
The auras emanating from the three titans were each more terrifying than the last, making Xiao Hei feel like an ant gazing at the vast sky. He became completely obedient, bowing and paying respects one by one, not daring to harbor even the slightest stray thought.
Void Heaven and Feng Tian both showed confusion in their eyes. This fellow had just gone to the Heavenly Court—why had he slipped back to the Hell Realm so quickly?
Could it be that he never actually went to the Heavenly Court and was merely paying lip service?
Thinking of this, the two Heavenly beings’ expressions turned grim.
Those who deceive the heavens are unforgivable.
Xiao Hei felt a chill run down his back and wanted nothing more than to leave immediately. He quickly took out the letter Zhang Ruochen had given him and said, “Reporting to Nutian Shenzun, this is a letter Zhang Ruochen asked me to deliver. He said it must be opened by you personally, as it involves an extraordinary secret.”
Nutian Shenzun waved his sleeve, and the letter fell into his hand.
The seals on the envelope had been specially arranged, so only his Divine Qi could open it.
Unfolding the letter, Nutian Shenzun began to read.
In the letter, Zhang Ruochen truthfully recounted his two encounters with Qishier Pin Lian, including the secret in the Soul Realm where Qishier Pin Lian had joined forces with Blood Talisman Evil Emperor and Xuanwu True Ancestor to rescue the Soul Mother.
Nutian Shenzun’s expression remained unchanged, but his eyes flickered unpredictably, sometimes dark, sometimes bright. Gradually, the emotions in his eyes could no longer be suppressed.
Affected by his mood, the entire great world where the White Clothes Valley was located saw dark clouds racing and lightning flashing.
Void Heaven and Feng Tian exchanged a glance, both extremely curious.
With Nutian Shenzun’s cultivation and mental state, why would his emotions fluctuate so violently? What earth-shattering event had occurred?
Void Heaven, his white hair hanging straight to his waist, asked calmly, “What happened? Is it related to what happened in the Soul Realm? That kid Zhang Ruochen always loves to stir up trouble.”
Nutian Shenzun remained silent, his face as dark as if it were about to freeze into ice. He seemed lost in thought, leaving Void Heaven feeling somewhat awkward.
After a long while, Nutian Shenzun’s letter turned to ash in his hand. He closed his eyes and said, “Both of you, I’m afraid I won’t be able to move the White Clothes Valley to the Destiny Temple for now to join you in dealing with Kui Huang and Ba Er.”
With these words, Nutian Shenzun vanished from the hall.
Void Heaven and Feng Tian’s sharp gazes simultaneously fell on Xiao Hei.
They had just finished their discussions, so why had this sudden disruption occurred?
Xiao Hei, crushed by the divine might of the two Heavenly beings, felt like he was about to kneel. He silently cursed his bad luck. None of this had anything to do with him!
“Lord Void Heaven, Zhang Ruochen has a message for you,” Xiao Hei quickly said.
Void Heaven shot a wary glance at Feng Tian, then released his spiritual power to pull Xiao Hei into his spiritual domain. “Speak. What did he say?”
Xiao Hei looked around at the vast whiteness, unable to see Feng Tian’s figure.
He cupped his hands and bowed, then said with great flair, “Zhang Ruochen said the Sword Origin is in his hands.”
“What? Is this true? Did he ask you to bring the Sword Origin back?”
Void Heaven showed a delighted expression. The Sword Origin was far more valuable than the Sword Heart!
The Sword Heart could, at most, help him master Sword Twenty-Four.
But the Sword Origin could allow him to go further on the path of the sword, even to glimpse the path of the Sword Ancestor.
The Sword Ancestor’s path to becoming an ancestor began with the Sword Origin.
Xiao Hei said, “This is absolutely true. However, as Lord Void Heaven knows, Zhang Ruochen is quite cunning. He has a condition. He said he wants to borrow the Universe Cauldron. Only after obtaining the Universe Cauldron can he give you the Sword Origin.”
Xiao Hei secretly felt pleased with himself, thinking he was much smarter than Zhang Ruochen.
Was he supposed to tell Void Heaven that after everything was done, Zhang Ruochen would take him to retrieve the Sword Origin?
That would be treating Void Heaven like a fool!
That wasn’t how you painted a pie.
Zhang Ruochen was far away in the Heavenly Court, but Xiao Hei would have to bear Void Heaven’s wrath.
Void Heaven, a shrewd figure, observed Xiao Hei’s eyes but found no flaws.
He figured that a mere Great God, no matter how bold, wouldn’t dare to play tricks in front of him.
Locked in Void Heaven’s gaze, Xiao Hei felt no guilt. In his mind, he had already arranged everything for Zhang Ruochen, imagining how Zhang Ruochen must have spoken in the Time Divine Temple: “Tell Void Heaven that the Sword Origin is in my hands. As long as I get the Universe Cauldron, I will surely deliver the Sword Origin.”
Void Heaven asked, “What does he need the Universe Cauldron for?”
Xiao Hei was prepared. “This is a great secret. He instructed me not to tell anyone.”
Void Heaven snorted coldly, releasing his divine might.
“Of course, Lord Void Heaven is an exception.”
Xiao Hei immediately caved, lowering his voice. “Zhang Ruochen discovered a Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid. He must use the Universe Cauldron to retrieve it.”
Void Heaven’s eyes widened, and his heart stirred. He grabbed Xiao Hei by the collar, almost lifting him off the ground. “Is it really a Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid?”
Xiao Hei hadn’t expected such a strong reaction from Void Heaven. He silently lamented how poor the mental states of these Heavenly Venerable-level titans were.
He quickly said, “That’s what he said, anyway.”
In reality, Zhang Ruochen had only told Xiao Hei, “Borrow the Universe Cauldron, and perhaps we can find traces of a Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid.”
In Zhang Ruochen’s view, painting such a pie left him plenty of room to maneuver later.
At worst, he could tell Void Heaven that the orchid hadn’t been found.
Void Heaven’s eyes darted as he thought of something. “Borrow the Universe Cauldron… Could the Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid be on Buzhou Mountain? Yes, at the summit of Buzhou Mountain, where the successive Hall Masters of the Space Divine Temple are buried, it’s entirely possible for such an orchid to grow.”
Xiao Hei was startled by Void Heaven’s expression and quickly said, “I’m just delivering the message. I don’t know the truth. But I think, since the Ming Emperor is still in the Destiny Temple, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t dare to deceive Lord Void Heaven!”
Void Heaven nodded, releasing his grip on Xiao Hei. He snorted, “The Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid is such a treasure. If Zhang Ruochen gets his hands on it, he’ll surely offer it to the Heavenly Mother, or Nutian Shenzun, or even consume it himself. How could it ever fall to me?”
Xiao Hei grew worried, afraid Void Heaven wouldn’t take the bait. He quickly added, “It seems there isn’t just one Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid. There are many.”
“What?”
Void Heaven didn’t believe it.
Xiao Hei trembled under his glare and quickly raised his hand to swear, “I swear by the heavens that everything I’ve said is true. If a single word is false, may I die in the Eon Calamity.”
“Zhang Ruochen, oh Zhang Ruochen, I’ve risked everything to help you get the Universe Cauldron this time. It looks like I’ll have to stay in the Kunlun Realm from now on and never return to the Hell Realm,” Xiao Hei thought to himself.
Void Heaven was desperate to break through to a higher realm and was nearly obsessed. Now, with definite news of the Sword Origin and the Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid, his emotions naturally surged.
How proud was he? If not forced by circumstances, why would he come to the White Clothes Valley to beg Nutian Shenzun?
If he could break through to the Heavenly Venerable rank, what would there be to fear in the world? Why would he need Kong Fannu to return to the Destiny Temple to hold the fort?
Xiao Hei withdrew from Void Heaven’s spiritual domain, feeling as limp as if all his strength had drained away.
Playing tricks in front of Void Heaven was indeed a dangerous dance on a blade’s edge. Every glance from Void Heaven seemed capable of seeing through him.
Fortunately, he had prepared thoroughly before coming.
Before Xiao Hei could catch his breath, he found himself pulled into Feng Tian’s divine realm.
Feng Tian, who cultivated the Path of Death, was even more terrifying than Void Heaven. Every breath of her aura seemed to pierce the soul. Xiao Hei broke out in cold sweat, cursing Zhang Ruochen in his heart.
He had been sent by Feng Tian to find Zhang Ruochen in the Heavenly Court. Feng Tian cared deeply about his safety.
But Zhang Ruochen had written to Nutian Shenzun and made a deal with Void Heaven, yet had no message for Feng Tian.
Such neglect would surely enrage Feng Tian if she found out.
What to do?
“It seems I’ll have to help him again! Zhang Ruochen, you owe me big time. Where in the world can you find a friend like me? Next time, don’t call me unreliable.”
Feng Tian, wearing a veil, was cold and aloof. She asked, “Speak. What did he say?”
Xiao Hei composed himself and said respectfully, “Zhang Ruochen said he knows of your kindness and will always remember it. But he is currently not his own master and cannot return to the Destiny Temple to assist you for now.”
“Did he really say that?” Feng Tian’s voice was icy.
Xiao Hei’s eyes were sincere. “Lady Feng Tian, Zhang Ruochen truly has you in his heart, but his situation in the Heavenly Court is not as glorious as it seems. It’s said that in the Soul Realm, he barely escaped with his life. I’ve heard from some Heavenly Court cultivators that Zhang Ruochen is protecting the Kunlun Realm and has cooperated with Hao Tian, willingly acting as his blade.”
Feng Tian never expected Zhang Ruochen to directly speak of “kindness” and “heart.” It struck her like lightning and thunder, filling her with a hint of panic.
“How dare he… Could it be that because his cultivation has greatly advanced, he finally dares to face his own heart?” Feng Tian thought.
Like Void Heaven, Feng Tian never imagined that Xiao Hei would dare to spout nonsense in front of them.
After all, Xiao Hei didn’t seem like someone with guts; he had always been cautious.
Seeing Feng Tian’s expression, Xiao Hei couldn’t help but admire Zhang Ruochen. The romantic Sword God truly had skill—he had actually moved the Death God Venerable’s heart.
But Xiao Hei didn’t know that between Zhang Ruochen and Feng Tian, there had always been a veil, one neither was willing or dared to pierce.
And now, he, the messenger, had torn it open.
Feng Tian asked, “What message did Zhang Ruochen give to Void Heaven?”
“This…”
Xiao Hei showed a troubled expression.
“Fine. You may withdraw.”
Feng Tian’s usually calm heart stirred with ripples she couldn’t calm. She repeatedly pondered the meaning behind the words Zhang Ruochen had sent back through Xiao Hei.
“Not his own master,” “difficult situation”—was he asking for her help?
On the other side, after much deliberation and weighing the risks, Void Heaven finally made up his mind. He had to go to the Heavenly Court himself.
With Hao Tian currently trapped in the Kunlun Realm and unable to break free, the greatest threat was gone. For the Sword Origin and the Purple Heart Heavenly Venerable Orchid, this risk was worth taking.
Besides, he couldn’t trust Xiao Hei with something as important as the Universe Cauldron.
When Void Heaven approached Xiao Hei and said he would go to the Heavenly Court with him, Xiao Hei was dumbfounded. He immediately realized he had overplayed his hand.
He had painted the pie too big, and Void Heaven couldn’t resist, wanting to make a personal move.
(End of Chapter)