Chapter 3756: An Explanation
The Buzhou Mountain was broken and withered, no longer could one see exotic flowers or strange herbs, sacred beasts or flying birds. Everywhere was barren, nothing left but crushed stone and yellow earth.
Many parts of the mountain were covered in shocking cracks, filled with deathly qi.
In large pits that had been smashed out, rotting corpses of ancient powerhouses lay. Even in eternal slumber, they still emitted a terrifying divine might, which ordinary gods dared not approach, and Saint realm cultivators regarded as forbidden ground.
The sky's space was shattered, chaotic and dim, residual divine power lingered that would not dissipate for ten thousand years.
This was the trauma of war!
Even the number one divine mountain, rich in resources, had been reduced to wasteland.
Had it been a major world, it would have long since split apart, billions of living beings turned to ash, returning to cosmic dust.
Xuanyuan Lian, holding the Space-Time Chaos Lotus, followed the middle-aged man in golden armor, step by step up Buzhou Mountain, accompanied by Guangmu War God, Zhao Gongming, and Tianya Divine Venerable. When they were about to reach the summit, they encountered Void Heaven and Feng Tian emerging from the Void Ruins. The two sides immediately became tense, the atmosphere murderous.
Behind Xuanyuan Lian, Guangmu War God, Zhao Gongming, and Tianya Divine Venerable, each followed a divine army.
The Heavenly Court gods bathed in the order of Heavenly Laws, each shining like stars, their battle intent connected into a single piece, their momentum grand.
Void Heaven's laughter broke the murderous atmosphere: "I was wondering who it was, turns out it's you, Xuanyuan the Second! I thought you'd be holed up in the Myriad Void Realm forever. Didn't expect you to be so impatient either. What, are you here to contend with Hao Tian for the Heavenly Venerable throne?"
Jing Daoren, whose arm and divine source were being gripped by Void Heaven, looked displeased. In his, Xu Fengjin's, eyes, everyone was "the Second."
Thinking of the nickname "Second," Jing Daoren felt like dying—it was the greatest stain on his cultivation path.
The middle-aged man in golden armor was none other than Hao Tian's younger brother, the "Grand Ancestor" of the Xuanyuan Clan, Xuanyuan Taizhen.
Xuanyuan Taizhen was not listed among the Twenty Heavens, but many of them were deeply wary of him.
Xuanyuan Taizhen naturally knew that the word "Second" from Void Heaven's mouth was hardly a compliment, but his heart remained unmoved, unaffected. "There is only one Heavenly Venerable. Since it comes from the Xuanyuan Clan, there is no need for a second one!"
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen's eyes flashed with a strange light, gaining a rough understanding of this legendary man.
Undoubtedly, from these words alone, one could tell that Xuanyuan Taizhen valued clan interests, prestige, and glory above all else.
At the same time, it showed he was an extremely confident man. The implication was: if the Heavenly Venerable hadn't come from the Xuanyuan Clan, he would certainly have fought for it.
His words both countered Void Heaven's provocation and declared to the world that the Xuanyuan Clan was a united front.
In reality, Hao Tian, the Lord of the Heavenly Palace, had always kept his distance from the Xuanyuan Clan. For a hundred thousand years, he had not deliberately helped the Xuanyuan Clan seek benefits. In some areas, he had even sacrificed their interests.
Though no one dared say it openly, many believed Xuanyuan Taizhen and Hao Tian were at odds.
Otherwise, Void Heaven wouldn't have brought it up at their first meeting.
Xuanyuan Taizhen said, "Where is Yu Jingzhen?"
"You're too late. He has already fled to the Formless Realm with Qishier Pin Lian and the Five-Eyed Golden Insect," said Feng Tian.
"Qishier Pin Lian is Kong Faning!"
Void Heaven's voice was extremely loud, as if afraid the Heavenly Court gods wouldn't hear.
Sure enough, as soon as Feng Tian and Void Heaven spoke, the Heavenly Court gods erupted in discussion.
"The space teleportation array at the top of Buzhou Mountain connects to the Formless Realm? How is that possible?"
"Who is Qishier Pin Lian? Kong Faning… that name sounds familiar."
Some younger gods asked the ancient gods beside them, but those ancient gods were too shocked to speak.
Someone explained, "Kong Faning is the younger sister of Xumi Saint Monk and Nutian Shenzun, the legitimate daughter of Immovable Bright King Great Venerable. These three cultivators who inherited the Ancestor bloodline are all extraordinary, figures we must look up to."
"Kong Faning is still alive…"
God Kings and God Venerables who knew more inside information fell into deep thought.
The more they thought, the more terrified they became.
Zhang Ruochen knew that Void Heaven and Feng Tian were doing this deliberately, bringing up Qishier Pin Lian to shift the Heavenly Court gods' hostility toward the Formless Realm.
Seeing Void Heaven's gaze fall on Xuanyuan Lian, Zhang Ruochen instantly saw through the old man's intentions and quickly sent a voice transmission: "Don't drag her into this! Also, if you reveal the secret of Hao Tian and Qishier Pin Lian, it might indeed cause chaos within the Heavenly Court, but if you anger Hao Tian, are you sure you and Feng Tian can still leave the Heavenly Court?"
Whether Xuanyuan Lian was Qishier Pin Lian's daughter was unproven. Zhang Ruochen didn't want Void Heaven to hurt her just to escape.
Void Heaven knew well how formidable Hao Tian was. Truly touching his reverse scale might lead to unpredictable consequences. So, he chuckled and said, "If there's nothing else, I'll be off! No need for thanks—eliminating the Quantity Organization is everyone's duty."
"Xu Fengjin, do you think you can leave today? Is the Heavenly Court a place you can come and go as you please?" said Guangmu War God.
Void Heaven's smile faded, his eyes turning hostile. "Do I look that easy to talk to? Who is this random person, daring to be so insolent?"
A heavy spiritual power burst from Void Heaven's eyes, piercing through the Heavenly Law order before Guangmu War God.
Guangmu War God's divine soul was injured. He staggered back three steps, his face turning deathly pale. Horrified, he quickly mobilized the Heavenly Law order and drew upon the essence and spirit of the gods to reinforce himself, fearing another attack from Void Heaven.
Xuanyuan Taizhen watched calmly, then said, "Guangmu War God isn't wrong. If you, Xu Fengjin, want to leave the Heavenly Court, you do need to give an explanation."
Void Heaven's long hair fluttered, his aura imposing. "You want an explanation from me? Then I'll have Second and Zhang Ruochen give their explanations right here on Buzhou Mountain. Observatory Master, Zhang Jie, aren't you going to show yourselves?"
A beam of light descended!
The Five Elements Temple's Observatory Master's projection appeared in the void, stepping on five-colored clouds. "Feng Caiyi won't kill Zhang Ruochen. I think you won't kill Jing Daoren either. If you truly did, I can guarantee you would never leave the Heavenly Court."
Was it that easy to see through?
Void Heaven glanced at Feng Tian with disdain. The Death Overlord, yet someone had pointed out her lack of killing intent, losing her deterrent effect. In the past, who would have dared question Feng Caiyi's resolve to kill?
Jie Tian's projection appeared not far from the Observatory Master, angrily shouting, "Feng Caiyi, release my Zhang Clan's future Ancestor immediately, or I'll have it out with you!"
After saying this utterly unthreatening line, Jie Tian clasped his hands behind his back and fell silent.
Zhang Ruochen felt the old man was just there to watch the show, with no intention of saving him.
Still, using himself as Feng Tian's hostage had indeed been a miscalculation.
Feng Tian's gaze was icy, her aura no weaker than Void Heaven's. She released the Gate of Death and various divine artifacts to oppose the Heavenly Law order. "Since you don't believe I'll kill, then let's fight. Try to suppress me and Void Heaven, and see what price you pay. Today, I'll dye Buzhou Mountain red with your blood, leaving a name that will be sung for eternity."
Every word carried killing intent. The Death Esoterica connected heaven and earth, drawing endless death rules from the vast universe.
The sky of the Heavenly Court turned blood-red from the massive accumulation of death rules.
Void Heaven directly shouted toward the heavens: "Yama Heavenly Venerable, have the ten clans of Hell Realm's armies been assembled? Let's work together from within and without. Today, we'll breach the Heavenly Court and suppress all the gods of the myriad realms. If it's war, who's afraid of who?"
Jing Daoren's arm was nearly crushed by him, wincing in pain, cursing incessantly.
Led by Xuanyuan Taizhen and the Five Elements Temple's Observatory Master, the Heavenly Court gods were not intimidated, but they all fell into thought. Feng Tian's cultivation and status as Death Overlord exceeded their expectations. If they fought, they had to consider the chain reaction that might follow.
Not just Yan Renhuan across the Starry Sky Defense Line, but also Lei Fa Heavenly Venerable of the Wuding Divine Sea, and figures like Ba'er and Kui Liang Huang, who might seize the opportunity.
This also included Qishier Pin Lian, as mentioned by Void Heaven and Feng Tian.
Jie Tian watched the death rules thickening in the sky, then glared fiercely at Zhang Ruochen. What a scourge! As an ancestor, trying to get any benefit from Zhang Ruochen was harder than reaching the heavens. Zhang Ruochen, on the other hand, had taken the Death Esoterica from the hands of the Immortal-Worshipping Cult's leader and handed it straight to Feng Caiyi.
The Truth Temple's Hall Master descended from the mountaintop with Dragon Lord, Moon God, A Fuya, and Xiao Hei. "Let them go! Before going to war with Hell Realm, we must first pacify the Wuding Divine Sea and the Formless Realm, lest others profit from our conflict."
The Truth Temple's Hall Master was highly respected by the Heavenly Court gods, and her words carried considerable weight.
Then, she sent a voice transmission to Xuanyuan Taizhen, the Five Elements Temple's Observatory Master, Jie Tian, Zhao Gongming, Guangmu War God, as well as Bian Zhuang War God above the Heavenly River and the Valley Master of the Red Xia Flying Immortal Valley, informing them of the situation in the Void Ruins.
This included the dozens of ancient Space Divine Temple Hall Masters who had returned through possession, and the mysterious sword qi that had flown out of the Formless Realm.
This force was too vast, even more threatening than the Thunder Clan of the Wuding Divine Sea.
Xuanyuan Taizhen said, "Since the Hall Master says so, we can let them leave this time. But my Xuanyuan Clan's Tai Xu Great God fell in the Space Divine Temple. Is there no explanation for that?"
"There is an explanation!"
Zhang Ruochen shouted this, then added, "The Space Divine Temple's Hall Master, Yu Jingzhen, is the Third Elder of the Inverse God Clan, the Young Lord of the Weak Water Clan, and a core member of the Quantity Organization."
Just this one sentence contained a wealth of information, touching on some taboo topics, stirring even greater waves among the Heavenly Court gods.
Xuanyuan Taizhen waved his hand directly. "Xu Fengjin, Feng Caiyi, you may go! But remember this well: we are not sparing you because we cannot kill you."
Void Heaven didn't want to lose face. "Such big talk, Xuanyuan the Second. How about we pick a time and spar a few rounds?"
Feng Tian took Zhang Ruochen and flew straight toward the Heavenly River in the sky, her divine voice drifting back. "Xuanyuan Taizhen, you remember this too: if we can leave the Heavenly Court safely today, we can do so again next time."
"Boom!"
In a starry space not far from the Heavenly Court, space was torn apart by a powerful force, collapsing inward to form a ten-thousand-zhang-long black hole.
From the spatial hole, a palace covered in blood-colored talismans flew out. Its shape resembled a coffin, sharp and angular.
More than a dozen gods of the Murong Clan stood straight-backed, their auras intimidating, standing outside the palace, gazing toward the Heavenly River.
"You two Hell Realm Heavens, I think you'd better not leave today!" A long, hoarse voice came from the coffin-like palace.
Just the voice alone contained an unimaginable spiritual will, its influence spreading to all the major worlds of the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm along the Starry Sky Defense Line.
"Rustle!"
One blood-colored talisman after another fell from the palace, flying toward the Heavenly River like a meteor shower.
The talismans grew larger, eventually reaching the size of stars, releasing an aura of world-destroying power.