Chapter 3735: Splitting Up
With a sweep of his sleeve, divine force scattered, and the coffin lid opened.
Silver-white moonlight shone into the coffin, illuminating the face of the female corpse.
Lying within the coffin, Kong Faning's body remained undecayed and unrotted even after a million years. Her features were exquisite, her skin like jade, her long hair spread out, as if she were merely sleeping.
Feng Tian stared at the female corpse in the coffin. "This is Faning's remains, there's absolutely no mistake. Back then, she was sent back by Hao Tian, wasn't she? Has Zhang Ruochen gone mad? What proof does he have that Faning is still alive?"
Feng Tian was furious, believing Zhang Ruochen was stirring up trouble, and of course, because she firmly believed Kong Faning could not possibly still be alive.
Nutian Shenzun remained silent, slowly raising his right hand, only to find his arm withering and turning woody.
His Withering Death Art had not been completely resolved.
At his most vulnerable moment of mind, it immediately triggered a counterattack from the Withering Death Art, which began to take effect.
"Back then, it was indeed Hao Tian who sent her bones back to White Clothes Valley, but Hao Tian's words cannot be fully trusted. When Hao Tian was young, he always had feelings for her. It's entirely possible he helped cover up the truth." Nutian Shenzun circulated divine force and Buddhist energy to resist the Withering Death Art.
Nutian Shenzun naturally found it hard to believe that Hao Tian would fabricate such a massive lie, and even harder to believe Kong Faning was still alive. If she were alive, why hadn't she returned to White Clothes Valley in a million years?
Impossible, absolutely impossible.
But when Zhang Ruochen told Nutian Shenzun that Kong Faning had possessed Qishier Pin Lian to sever the Withering Death Art, the firm resolve within Nutian Shenzun finally began to waver.
If what Zhang Ruochen said in his letter was the truth of what happened back then, then many of the doubts that had puzzled him for years would finally make sense.
"I'm going to the Heavenly Court right now. I must find Zhang Ruochen and get to the bottom of this."
Feng Tian's mind raced with many thoughts, and the more she thought, the harder it was to accept.
Why?
If she was still alive, why wouldn't she show herself? To scheme so deliberately, hide in the shadows, and sever all ties from the past—how could she be so heartless?
To avenge her, Feng Tian had undergone a complete change in nature, fully embarking on the path of death. It was a painful path, a lonely one.
A million years had passed, and now news came that she was still alive.
How could such a joke be possible?
How many people had changed their entire lives because of her?
"If you leave, what will happen to the Destiny Temple?" Nutian Shenzun said in a deep voice.
Feng Tian stopped in her tracks.
Tianmu, who had been calm and silent all along, spoke up. "I'll go to the Destiny Temple. It's the perfect chance to lie in wait and have a showdown with this Half-Ancestor, Ba'er. Perhaps, through this battle, I can break through to the Half-Ancestor realm more quickly."
Clearly, Tianmu understood that under the current circumstances, they had no way to actively hunt down Lei Fa Tianzun or Ba'er. They could only endure for now, shifting from offense to defense.
Nutian Shenzun frowned. "You alone? Too dangerous. Even Fengdu Dadi was exiled. Moreover, the remnant soul of Ming Zu may have descended ten Eons ago. I once sensed that overwhelmingly powerful fluctuation of fate. Da Zun's invasion of the Destiny Temple back then was likely related to him."
Tianmu never underestimated her enemies, and she knew they were no ordinary opponents. Otherwise, she wouldn't have come to White Clothes Valley to seek Nutian Shenzun's alliance.
"Who in the Hell Realm do you think is trustworthy enough to support me?" she asked.
Nutian Shenzun thought carefully. "Find Bu Si Zhan Shen. You can absolutely trust him. It's a pity that Xu Fengjin left first; otherwise, he would have been the best choice."
"Bu Si Zhan Shen?"
Tianmu's impression of Bu Si Zhan Shen was still that of a defeated opponent from back then.
Arrogant enough to claim he could surpass Immovable Bright King Great Venerable at the same cultivation level, but in reality, at the same level, he couldn't even defeat her.
"Temporarily relocate White Clothes Valley and Kongming Realm to the Destiny Temple. I must go to the Kunlun Realm and have a talk with Hao Tian. If I don't return alive... let Zhang Ruochen guard White Clothes Valley for three Eons, until Juemiao grows up."
Nutian Shenzun struggled to suppress the Withering Death Art, his arm returning to normal. Clearly, in his eyes, among all the juniors of White Clothes Valley, Juemiao Channa had the highest talent and greatest potential.
"It shouldn't come to that. I have a fair understanding of Xuan Yuan Taihao. He is still relatively honorable and upright, one of the foremost heroes of this era." Tianmu said.
Coming from Tianmu, this was extremely high praise.
After all, she still harbored doubts about the strength of Bu Si Zhan Shen, the number one expert of the Undying Blood Clan.
Nutian Shenzun's eyes turned fierce, his aura chilling. "Who knows? The secrets of life and death from a million years ago, the wars of the Heavens from three hundred thousand years ago—he must give me an explanation. He deceived me for a million years. I hated Xumi for a million years. I could have resolved the Dao-Cutting Curse on the descendants of the Zhang family, even protected them, but the hatred in my heart was an unbreakable knot. In that time, how many injustices and innocent deaths were caused? For this alone, even if it means mutual destruction, I will not forgive him."
Soon after, the three left one after another, each embarking on their own path.
Feng Tian and Nutian Shenzun had both developed obsessions over Kong Faning, and they had to resolve the million-year-old knot in their hearts to overcome their inner demons.
Tianmu's goal was firm. She regarded eliminating Lei Fa Tianzun and the Quantity Organization as her duty, seeking to restore peace to the universe. This was what Da Zun had been doing back then.
She saw breaking through to the Half-Ancestor realm as her most urgent objective. Only with absolute and powerful cultivation could she support her vision. What she pursued was by no means limited to the Half-Ancestor realm; the Ancestor Path was the ultimate pursuit for figures at their level.
Nie Zang Zun Zhe stored White Clothes Valley and Kongming Realm within his spiritual world, gazing at this empty stretch of cosmic void. He let out a long sigh. "If the master had not fallen, Kongming Realm would fear no challenge. How could it be forced to relocate? This move will greatly damage the prestige of White Clothes Valley."
"Times have changed! Being exposed in the open only makes you a living target. Even if Yinxue Tian is still in this world, she might not be able to handle the current complex and dangerous situation. I have a feeling that the truly terrifying enemies are still hidden in the shadows, lurking in the abyss." Tianmu said.
Nie Zang Zun Zhe asked, "Ming Zu?"
Tianmu did not answer. Her gaze was cold and bright. With a jade finger, she tore through space, opening a spatial passage leading to the Undying Blood Clan. On this journey, she wanted to see just what kind of caliber Bu Si Zhan Shen was, and whether he was qualified to lend her a hand.
At the same time, a earth-shattering event was unfolding within the Undying Blood Clan. The gods of the ten major tribes were all rushing back to Undying Divine City to attend the succession ceremony of the new clan leader.
The old clan leader's lifespan was exhausted, and he was about to fall.
...
Feng Tian did not possess Xu Fengjin's formidable spiritual power, nor could she wander between reality and nothingness like he did, easily evading Bian Zhuang and the perception of the Heavenly Court's Tianyuan Wuque experts.
She had to find another way.
So Feng Tian sought out Yue Shen!
Other gods might not be able to bring her into the Heavenly Court, but Yue Shen could.
...
Feng Qianqiu was extremely efficient. Soon, he compiled all the various secrets of the Murong family within the Time Divine Temple into a book and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
At the same time, after being summoned by Feng Qianqiu, the gods of the Murong family, along with their disciples, took the initiative to leave one after another.
There was no other way. With Zhang Ruochen and the Feng clan joining forces, they had the upper hand in every aspect. If they didn't withdraw voluntarily, they would soon face a bloody storm.
Even Tai Lai Tian couldn't suppress Zhang Ruochen. How could the Murong family continue to resist?
Zhang Ruochen sat in a Dan Palace within the Time Divine Temple. The Earth Cauldron was placed beside him. Beneath the cauldron, divine flames burned.
Zhang Ruochen held the secret book in his hands, reading it carefully. "Have those two old fellows from Qiyun Mountain left?"
"Feng Qianqiu went there, and they left. They don't have much lifespan left. Leaving the Time Divine Temple, they will likely fall soon." A pleasant voice sounded in the air, though its owner was not visible.
Zhang Ruochen was puzzled. "That easily? The unique time environment of Qiyun Mountain could at least allow them to drag out their existence for another few tens of thousands of years. For gods on the verge of death, what is there to fear? Why would they be so obedient?"
"If I were them, I would rather choose to submit to me than leave. Unless they have already found a better way out."
The Time Divine Temple had many secret domains and forbidden areas with special time properties, where some gods on the verge of death slept, slowing the loss of their lifespan.
Many of these gods had submitted to Murong Huan, forming the hidden power of the Murong family.
Of course, these secrets had all been uncovered by Feng Qianqiu.
The two old fellows from Qiyun Mountain had reached the level of Qiankun Wuliang, making them pivotal figures in the Heavenly Court Universe.
"Are you suggesting we eliminate them?"
As this voice sounded, A Fuya's noble and icy figure materialized in the air, tall and exquisite.
She was very interested in killing Wuliang-level gods, as it could refine a large amount of high-quality divine substance to strengthen her fragile physical body.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently. "Even if you want to go, I won't let you take the risk. Think about it—in this world today, what better place for time-based secret realms is there than the Time Divine Temple?"
"Qishier Pin Lian?"
A Fuya's expression tightened slightly.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If I'm not mistaken, Qishier Pin Lian must have cultivated in the Time Divine Temple for a very long time. I've looked into Murong Huan's life. I found that he, Hao Tian, Xumi Saint Monk, Kong Faning, the Truth Hall Master, and Xu Tian were all born around the same era."
"Kong Faning was exceptionally brilliant. She must have been admired and infatuated by all the men of that era." A Fuya understood this kind of power all too well. "When a woman possesses such charm, she can use the men of the world as her weapons. If she wanted to kill anyone, she only needed to say the word. If she wanted anything, someone would deliver it to her hands."
"Is that so? I imagine the First Queen must have had similar charm back in her day, didn't she?"
Chi Yao's voice came from outside the Dan Palace.
Soon, Chi Yao led in Nalan Danqing, Wan Canglan, Qing Mo, Xian Feizi, and the other Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens. Each had a unique bearing and demeanor, forming a vivid and fragrant tableau of celestial maidens.
A Fuya excused herself, citing the need for secluded cultivation, and withdrew.
Zhang Ruochen put down the secret book and exchanged pleasantries with the familiar Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens one by one. He teased Wan Canglan about her martial arts cultivation, took out ingredients for Qing Mo to cook, and finally, his gaze fell on Nalan Danqing.
They looked at each other in silence.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to say, "I broke my promise," but with Chi Yao standing right there, the words just wouldn't come out.
Now, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens looked at Zhang Ruochen with eyes full of reverence and admiration, and even a hint of fear. This included Wan Canglan, who had always been at odds with him.
Only Nalan Danqing's gaze remained calm and gentle, like a breeze over autumn water, like warm sunlight on emerald trees. She broke the silence first, speaking softly, "I want to visit the ruins of the Heavenly Academy. Back when the Kunlun Realm was weak in the Heavenly Court, I never had the chance. Now that Da Zhanglao Zhang Ruochen's cultivation is unmatched, exalting Kunlun's might and intimidating all the petty villains of the world, I imagine mentioning your name will grant me entry into the Heavenly Academy, won't it?"
The Heavenly Academy was the Confucian sacred ground established by the Second Confucian Ancestor in the Heavenly Court—formerly known as the Saint Realm.
But it had been destroyed a hundred thousand years ago, reduced to ruins, and occupied by heretical cultivators from the Cha Realm.
"The Heavenly Court isn't as peaceful as it appears on the surface. If you really want to go, I'll accompany you." Zhang Ruochen said.