Chapter 3825: Controversy
"Ah…"
Yu Jingzhen, with disheveled long hair, knelt on the deck of the divine ship, letting out a pained roar as blood flowed from his seven orifices.
Gradually, Zhang Ruochen released his grip on the man's head.
On his fingertips, strands of Truth Divine Light retracted back into his body along his arm.
Everyone's gaze fixed on him, waiting to learn the results of the soul search.
Zhang Ruochen said, "What a formidable sword strike!"
"Master, in all the world today, who besides Void Heaven dares claim superior swordsmanship to you? What sword strike were you referring to?"
Xue Tu was utterly bewildered.
A Fuya showed a thoughtful expression and said, "Was it the owner of that sword light that appeared in Yu Xu?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "It should be."
Xue Tu grew even more confused and said, "What exactly are you two talking about?"
"Whoosh!"
The projection of the Corpse Burier's avatar appeared on the divine ship and said, "Someone left a sword strike in Yu Jingzhen's sea of consciousness?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "This sword strike is probably even stronger than the Sword Twenty-Three that Void Heaven prides himself on. It is absolutely the number one sword cultivator of this era. If anyone rashly attempted to search Yu Jingzhen's soul, they would surely be slain by this sword strike, their consciousness severed, turning them into a living corpse."
"Unfortunately, he met you, Master. That sword strike lost its effect."
On White Desolate Star, Zhang Ruochen had successively defeated several universe-level titans, causing Xue Tu to feel a profound sense of awe and reverence from the depths of his heart, and words of admiration and worship came naturally.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "Even I cannot block this sword strike. However, Heavenly Venerable Hao Tian has already shattered it. Only fragments of sword qi remain in Yu Jingzhen's sea of consciousness."
"Doesn't that mean Yu Jingzhen's most important memories and consciousness have all been severed by that sword qi?"
A Fuya said.
"Yes, but I still discovered some important memory fragments. I must rush to the Sword God Temple as soon as possible!"
Zhang Ruochen had originally intended to use Yu Jingzhen's sea of consciousness to find the mastermind behind the Blood Curse cast on the Inverse God Clan ten thousand years ago, to uncover the secrets of the Minor Calamity, and to search for the Nether Ancestor, who might still be alive in the world. However, in Yu Jingzhen's sea of consciousness, the one he had the most contact with was Qishier Pin Lian.
In other words, Yu Jingzhen likely never even touched the core secrets.
Qishier Pin Lian should be the one who directly interacted with the "Minor Calamity."
In the fragments of Yu Jingzhen's memory, Zhang Ruochen discovered a major secret that confirmed his earlier speculation.
There was indeed some connection between the Formless Realm and the Sword God Temple.
Zhang Ruochen saw traces of the Sword Source Divine Tree and a black, deep world rift, forming a stark contrast with the emptiness of the Formless Realm.
The Great Elder of the Inverse God Clan had once said that he could seal the Sword God Temple for a thousand years using his final divine power, borrowing the Sword Source Divine Tree and the spiritual will of the three thousand Sword Gods. Now, a thousand years had already passed, and no one knew the current state of the Sword God Temple.
What made Zhang Ruochen even more wary from the depths of his heart was the "Darkness" deep within the Sword Soul Abyss. It was too mysterious, too eerie, and absolutely a great terror.
Zhang Ruochen fell into deep thought. If he were to go to the Sword God Temple, should he first visit the Heavenly Court and invite Hao Tian to accompany him? Could Hao Tian afford to leave?
A Fuya said, "What are you thinking? I see fear in your eyes. I thought there was nothing in this world that could make you afraid."
Chi Kongle, Xia Yu, and Xue Tu all showed expressions of shock.
Even the silent Ice King raised his eyes to look at Zhang Ruochen.
The Ice King had already suppressed the Hall Master. Their group was traveling on the divine ship toward the Undying Blood Clan's Ten-Winged Great World on the Starry Sky Defense Line.
Zhang Ruochen revealed a difficult smile and said, "First Queen, and Senior Corpse Burier, you both have vast knowledge. What level of power do you think can preserve the artifact spirit of a divine artifact for thousands or even tens of thousands of eons without decaying?"
"Have you encountered such power?"
The Corpse Burier said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "At the Sword God Temple! The artifact spirits of the divine artifacts passed down from the Sword Realm, the Heavenly Dao Flute and the Earth Demon Sparrow, are still alive. Not remnants of souls, but the original artifact spirits themselves."
The Corpse Burier's eyes were filled with worry, and he said, "With your current cultivation, don't even touch such power. If you truly want to investigate, go and invite the Heavenly Mother! A Half-Ancestor should fear no taboo in this world!"
A Fuya said, "The power you speak of is somewhat connected to the Immortal. If it hasn't awakened, it's best not to provoke it."
The Ice King, with hair as white as frost, stood proudly at the bow of the ship and said, "If it hasn't awakened, there must be a reason—either it is weak, or it is healing, or it cannot be tolerated by heaven and earth. If it is a potential threat, the reason for the Sword Realm's destruction in the past, why not unite our strength and take this opportunity to eliminate it?"
A Fuya said, "Thirty thousand years ago, this might have been the situation that led to the fall of the Twenty Heavens. Some things, before you have enough strength, must be regarded with reverence."
The Ice King said, "Even if that was the case thirty thousand years ago, at least the Twenty Heavens delayed the arrival of the calamity, buying us time."
A Fuya said, "The times are different. There is no Heavenly Venerable like the Inverse God Heavenly Venerable who could rally everyone. Hao Tian? The Heavenly Mother? Who can integrate all the strong warriors of the Heavenly Court and Hell to fight together? Moreover, there are still figures like Ba Er, Qishier Pin Lian, and Beixi in the shadows. Their purpose for existing might be to throw the universe into chaos, to prevent the Heavenly Court and Hell from joining forces again, trapping everyone in internal strife. Not only do they consume each other's strength, but they also have no time to deal with the threats truly hidden in the darkness. The more chaotic the universe, the better it covers their true intentions."
The Ice King said, "First Queen seems to know something?"
A Fuya said, "I only know that even an Ancestor may not be invincible. In the long history of the universe, more than just the Great Demon God have fallen in battle. Who were their opponents? Even Ancestors cannot defeat them, so what about us? Since you say that the Twenty Heavens thirty thousand years ago sacrificed their lives to buy us time, why don't we cherish that time, cultivate diligently, and improve ourselves?"
Zhang Ruochen quietly watched the debate between the Ice King and A Fuya.
The difference in their views lay in the fact that the Ice King preferred to take the initiative, eliminating the hidden danger while it was still weak. A Fuya, on the other hand, believed that the current situation did not provide a foundation for uniting all forces to fight. Without uniting all forces, going with only a portion would be like throwing an egg against a stone. It was better to strengthen oneself first and wait for changes.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Before resolving the issues with Ba Er, Qishier Pin Lian, and Beixi, Hao Tian and the Heavenly Mother indeed cannot leave."
"Then why not return to the Sword Realm first? We can investigate the current situation of the Sword God Temple and then make the next plan."
A Fuya said.
A Fuya naturally wanted to go to the Sword Realm because the reason she was working for Zhang Ruochen was that he had promised to take her to the Sword Realm to observe the "Undying Incantation" left by the Xinghuantian Venerable.
A Fuya had already seen the rubbing scroll of the "Undying Incantation" from Zhang Ruochen's hands and speculated that Jiusi Yitianhuang's Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Dao and Corpse Transformation Forbidden Art might have been derived from the engraved diagram of the "Undying Incantation." The original owner of the "Undying Incantation" engraved diagram might trace back to the Great Demon God, or even further. Regardless, the "Undying Incantation" engraved diagram had become the key for A Fuya to fuse with the Ancestor's corpse, an important path to break through to the Indestructible Infinite. She had to go to the Sword Realm.
Zhang Ruochen did not refine and kill Yu Jingzhen but temporarily sealed him away. He would be useful in the future.
As for Shang Yao, she had been taken away by Shang Tian's corpse. No matter whose daughter she was, she had an unbreakable connection with Shang Tian's corpse. How could she be given to Zhang Ruochen like a divine corpse?
Zhang Ruochen led Xia Yu, Chi Kongle, and Yan Ying'er into the Dan Realm.
Xue Tu quickly said, "Master, what about me?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "You are not lacking in cultivation resources. Have you taken too few pills over the years? Your realm is already somewhat unstable!"
"But... but..."
Xue Tu was anxious. Which cultivator would disdain pills?
Zhang Ruochen said, "What you lack is time to settle. Next time the Sundial is activated, focus on consolidating your cultivation."
Xue Tu had missed two opportunities to activate the Sundial, and his cultivation had even been left far behind by Xiao Hei. Naturally, he was very dissatisfied, but hearing Zhang Ruochen's promise, he was overjoyed.
He smiled and said, "May I ask, Master, when will the next time be?"
Zhang Ruochen did not directly answer him and said, "Return to the Destiny Temple and invite Mu Lingxi, Bore, Que, Gong Nanfeng, Qing Feiwei, and Hai Shang Youruo to the Undying Divine Temple."
Xue Tu immediately understood and said, "Good, leave it to me. However... Junior Sister Lingxi has been following the Master in cultivation, so I might not be able to find her. The others may not all be at the Destiny Temple either. I can only do my best. By the way, should I invite the one from the Great Calamity Palace of the Void Heaven Temple?"
"I will handle this matter personally."
Zhang Ruochen said.
At a space wormhole, Xue Tu disembarked from the divine ship and returned to the Destiny Temple.
Zhang Ruochen was, of course, aware of the great danger lurking in the Destiny Temple, but that great danger should not easily expose itself. It would not target cultivators of Xue Tu's level. Once exposed, with the Heavenly Mother's current Half-Ancestor cultivation, who could she not slay?
After pondering for a moment, Zhang Ruochen also began to cultivate, continuing to deduce the changes after the Five Elements, seeking to break through to the Indestructible Infinite as soon as possible.
He had already reached the pinnacle of the Five Elements, only the final breakthrough remained.
Once his cultivation realm reached the Indestructible Infinite, Zhang Ruochen would have fewer things to fear, allowing him to act more calmly and boldly.
According to the deductions of Daoist sages, the change after the Four Symbols was the Eight Trigrams. The Four Symbols and Eight Trigrams were both illusory. However, when Zhang Ruochen derived the Five Elements, he was actually transforming illusion into reality, taking a different path from the Eight Trigrams, requiring a combination of illusion and reality.
Long ago, when Zhang Ruochen observed the "River Map," he had already found a path for himself, so he was not confused.
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen pressed his right hand toward the void, and the light and shadow of the "River Map" appeared before his palm.
In the light and shadow, various rules twisted and intertwined, forming fifty-five cloud clusters.
Twenty-five cloud clusters were blazing and bright, formed by the twisting of Yang-attribute rules, like twenty-five divine lamps, representing the Yang number.
Thirty cloud clusters were dark and cold, like black holes, representing the Yin number.