Chapter 3793: Carrying on the Family Line
A Fuya occupied an exclusive secret realm within the Time Divine Temple. Here, time rules were active, the environment was serene and beautiful, filled with colorful exotic flowers.
Zhang Ruochen walked along the path, seeing many cultivators of the Elf Clan.
Some had come for the title of the First Queen, some trusted Queen Dai Xue, and others were drawn by the Sundial. All had pledged allegiance to the Time Divine Temple banner.
With a flicker of his form, Zhang Ruochen appeared outside a green wooden divine temple over thirty zhang tall.
Here, life qi was vast and abundant, filled with towering sacred trees and green vines.
A white river flowed past the right side of the temple. Thick white mist hung over the river's surface, giving it a celestial, ethereal quality.
"Splash!"
The two Thousand Star Civilization divine generals guarding the temple saw Zhang Ruochen and immediately knelt on one knee in salute.
From inside the temple, Jie Tian's voice rang out: "Carrying on the family line, do you know what the meaning of cultivating the Way of Life is?"
"The eternity of life, the preciousness of existence."
A young, warm voice responded.
Jie Tian said: "Wrong! Completely wrong! Life lies in reproduction, life lies in continuation..."
"Ancestor, you've said this eight hundred times already, and it's not correct. Life lies in experiencing the world, going through spring, summer, autumn, and winter, wind, rain, thunder, and lightning, joy and hardship, and so on."
Jie Tian said: "Nonsense! Is this what A Fuya taught you? Do you know why your name is Chuan Zong (Carrying on the Family Line)? This represents a mission, represents the high hopes your father has placed in you, represents the responsibility of revitalizing the family."
"Wasn't this name chosen because you used the God-Defying Stele to threaten father, and he agreed to it?"
Zhang Chuanzong's eyes were clear, and he questioned with a skeptical tone.
Jie Tian trembled with anger, saying: "Who? Who told you that?"
"Uncle Xiao Hei," Zhang Chuanzong said.
"Fine, wait here. I'll be back shortly. That blabbermouth, this is absolutely outrageous..."
Jie Tian cursed as he walked out of the temple, just as he ran into Zhang Ruochen entering the temple door. His eyes lit up, and he said: "Out of seclusion so quickly? Have you figured out the next step of change?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly: "Is Old Jie forcing Chuanzong again? Actually, after all these years of Old Jie's efforts, the Zhang family members have already blossomed everywhere. Why must you still labor so hard?"
Jie Tian said seriously: "This is nothing! Look at the top families in the universe, their members are spread across all realms of the universe, even every planet. The Zhang family is far behind! You won't put in the effort, so do you expect me, an old man, to do it myself?"
"That wouldn't be impossible," Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Tian's mind conjured images of Yuan Suyin, Heavenly Fox Grandmother, Begonia Old Woman, and others. He immediately shook his head, saying: "I am now a Heavenly Lord, already old. If I had a hundred children and a thousand daughters, wouldn't the cultivators of the world laugh me to death?"
Zhang Chuanzong quickly walked to Zhang Ruochen, raised his hands with wide sleeves hanging before him, and bowed gracefully, saying: "Father!"
He looked to be in his early twenties, every strand of hair combed neatly, fixed on top of his head with a jade crown.
In the center of the jade crown, a wooden hairpin passed through.
He had perfectly inherited the features of Zhang Ruochen and Yu Chenjing, but his personality was gentle, his manners elegant, full of scholarly air.
Zhang Ruochen said: "How has your training been with your master all these years?"
"In the last thousand years, Master has had me train under Queen Dai Xue. She has been in seclusion for a thousand years and hasn't come out," Zhang Chuanzong said.
Zhang Ruochen frowned, saying: "Don't address her as 'that old lady' in front of your master."
Zhang Chuanzong had been accepted as a disciple by A Fuya, cultivating the Way of Life.
The rumor spread outside that A Fuya had given birth to a child for Zhang Ruochen, and that child was him.
Because A Fuya had used her own ancestral blood to help Zhang Chuanzong build his foundation, his body naturally carried her bloodline aura.
As for why A Fuya agreed to do this, it had little to do with Zhang Ruochen. It was the work of the Thousand Star Civilization.
After the Dragon Nest emerged, the Five Dragon God Emperor and the Dragon Lord successively reached the Indestructible Infinite level. This made the Thousand Star Civilization feel a crisis. They believed they had to find a powerful backer for Zhang Chuanzong, so that Yu Chenjing could stand firm by Zhang Ruochen's side and avoid any accidents.
After all, after Chi Kunlun's death, Zhang Chuanzong was Zhang Ruochen's only son.
Therefore, the Thousand Star Civilization, relying on its deep foundation, gifted A Fuya a divine artifact-level bow in exchange for the opportunity for Zhang Chuanzong to become her disciple.
They had truly paid a heavy price!
As for the rumor that Zhang Chuanzong was the child of A Fuya and Zhang Ruochen, Zhang Ruochen had specifically investigated it and found that Xiao Hei had spread it.
Whether Xiao Hei had received any benefits from the Thousand Star Civilization was unknown.
This rumor could, to some extent, affect the relationship between A Fuya and the cultivators of Paradise Realm, and could also protect Zhang Chuanzong. So, Zhang Ruochen turned a blind eye.
A Fuya didn't seem to care about the rumors and had never come forward to clarify.
"Swoosh! Swoosh!"
Two beams of divine light crossed through space and appeared in the temple.
Thousand Star Divine Ancestor arrived in a flurry, his expression serious. He looked at Zhang Ruochen and said: "Have you resigned from the position of Grand Elder of the Time Divine Temple and Space Divine Temple?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded, saying: "I was just about to inform Divine Ancestor."
"Are you leaving?"
"Mm."
"What are your next plans?"
Zhang Ruochen said: "Divine Ancestor, don't be so nervous. I won't leave the Heavenly Court Universe for now. I need to go to Kunlun Realm and Western Buddha Realm first."
How could Thousand Star Divine Ancestor not be nervous?
Ever since Zhang Ruochen married Yu Chenjing, and Yu Chenjing became the Heavenly Lord of the Thousand Star Civilization, the two sides had become deeply bound.
One prospers, both prosper. One suffers, both suffer.
Zhang Ruochen continued: "Jiusi Yitianhuang is the most urgent problem that needs to be solved right now. To solve this problem, relying only on our strength is not enough. After this, I will also need to go to Hell Realm to unite some forces."
Yu Chenjing, standing beside Thousand Star Divine Ancestor, said: "To force Jiusi Yitianhuang to leave the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, we don't necessarily have to confront him head-on. As long as we use methods to make him realize that staying in the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain will cost him dearly, he will naturally retreat. For example, attacking the Darkness Temple's assets in Hell Realm."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently, saying: "It's not that simple. I dare say that Jiusi Yitianhuang's target is me. He deliberately wants to lure me there. Additionally, Moon God and Wu Yue should also be his targets. However, your suggestion is good. We can have the Wujian Pavilion and the Death God Temple handle it."
Currently, Zhang Ruochen controlled three main direct forces.
The Goddess Twelve Pavilions served as his eyes and ears.
In Hell Realm, Bai Qinger was in charge.
In the Heavenly Court Universe, it was controlled by Qing Su and Xianchao Ji, who had both reached the God Venerable level. They were called the "Two Venerables, Qing and Xian."
The assassin organization, the Death God Temple, was his hidden arrow.
Han Qiu and A Le served as the Heaven and Earth Envoys of the Death God Temple, stationed in the Heavenly Court Universe and Hell Realm respectively. The organization's power had grown more than tenfold compared to before.
The temple master of the Death God Temple was A Fuya.
Of course, this mysterious temple master had never made a move.
Then there was the Wujian Pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen and Qiangu Nüdi had once discussed the planning of the Wujian Pavilion, intending to develop it into a secret organization with members spread across the Heavenly Court Universe and Hell Realm, complementing the Goddess Twelve Pavilions and the Death God Temple.
However, the significance of the Wujian Pavilion's existence was to gather talents from all over the world and cultivate a secret "Great World" within the Heavenly Court Universe and Hell Realm.
This "Great World" existed within every major world and every planet.
Apart from Qiangu Nüdi and Han Xue, Qing Qing and Zhang Hongchen were also training in the Wujian Pavilion.
In fact, with the current strength of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions, the Death God Temple, and the Wujian Pavilion, any one of them alone could compare to a top-tier powerful realm.
Thousand Star Divine Ancestor discussed with Zhang Ruochen in secret for a while longer before feeling at ease. His gaze fell on Zhang Chuanzong, full of affection, and he said earnestly: "Chuanzong, you not only need to cultivate the Way of Life, but also need to learn some combat techniques. Otherwise, what will you do if you encounter danger in the future?"
"Not only does he need to learn combat techniques, but now that he is a god, he should also get married! Speaking of which, doesn't your Thousand Star Civilization have any suitable women? Aren't you all anxious?"
Jie Tian was very angry.
Thousand Star Divine Ancestor found it difficult to persuade Zhang Chuanzong, but upon hearing this, his heart stirred, and he said: "This matter can be discussed."
Then, Thousand Star Divine Ancestor pulled Jie Tian aside to discuss the specific plans.
Zhang Chuanzong vaguely heard words like "marriage alliance"... "three thousand in the harem"... "I, the Heavenly Lord, have the final say"... and other phrases. His face turned pale, and he looked at Yu Chenjing with a pleading gaze.
Yu Chenjing, in turn, looked at Zhang Ruochen.
How could she defy what Thousand Star Divine Ancestor and Jie Tian had decided?
Zhang Ruochen said: "Actually, it is indeed inappropriate for Chuanzong to only cultivate the Way of Life. As the son of Zhang Ruochen, he is destined to walk alongside danger. He must learn to protect himself."
Yu Chenjing's eyes were pitiful, and she said: "Can't you protect him? Since he likes the Way of Life, why not let him delve deep into it? The Way of Life can also reach the Infinite Realm."
Zhang Ruochen gently stroked Yu Chenjing's fair forehead and smiled: "You should understand that's not what I mean. How easy is it to reach the Infinite Realm through the Way of Life alone? A Fuya, Huang Tian, Hai Shang Youruo, Ji Fanxin—which of them only cultivates the Way of Life?"
"Chuanzong, if you don't want a marriage alliance, I can give you another choice. Come with me to Hell Realm, and I'll find you another master."
"Good!"
Zhang Chuanzong agreed without a second thought.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Don't agree so quickly. Think it over carefully. Going to Hell Realm will be very dangerous. That master of yours will definitely not let you cultivate freely like the First Queen does. In Hell Realm, there won't be so many people doting on you and protecting you."
Yu Chenjing's eyes were full of worry. She wanted to speak, but Zhang Ruochen stopped her.
Zhang Chuanzong was an optimist and said: "Father, do you want me to become a disciple of Hall Master Huang Tian? I've long wanted to travel to Hell Realm and meet Sister Kong Le..."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's gaze grow increasingly stern, Zhang Chuanzong's voice grew softer.
But Zhang Ruochen became even more determined to send him to Hell Realm. Where in the world was there absolute safety? Only by becoming strong oneself was one truly safe.
"What's going on today? Everyone is here?"
Xiao Hei swaggered in from outside the temple, saying: "Xuanyuan Lian and Zhao Gongming are here. They say they have important matters to discuss with you. Hey, what's wrong with Old Jie? Why are you looking at me, this Emperor, with that kind of expression?"
Xiao Hei's pace slowed down. He felt that Jie Tian's expression was very wrong and instinctively wanted to run away, saying: "This Emperor has important matters to attend to. I'll take my leave first."
"You still want to leave?"
A moment later, Xiao Hei's miserable screams echoed through the temple.
While screaming, he shouted: "Stop! If you're going to hit someone, there has to be a reason, right? This Emperor refuses to accept this!"
The screams grew even more piercing and harsh.