Chapter 3837: The Greatest Threat
“When your grandmaster used the formation to try to kill Jiusi Yitianhuang, the Nether Prison shook violently. Forced to act, he had to rush back first.”
“A Great Demon God who hasn’t completely died, combined with a fully-powered Jiusi Yitianhuang, could very well create a Demon Dao Ancestor. If that happens, who can stop them?”
“The biggest unknown now is what state the Great Demon God is in—how weakened he is, and whether we can risk opening the Nether Prison to gather all our strength and kill him.”
“The greatest threat is that we cannot allow Jiusi Yitianhuang to master the Nine Lives Nine Deaths Yin-Yang Dao. If he achieves that path, the consequences will be unimaginable.”
“Their scheme against the Lower Three Clans this time has failed. If Jiusi Yitianhuang has truly fully defected to their side, then their next move will surely be to strike at Moon God, Wu Yue, and Nutian Shenzun, in order to help Jiusi Yitianhuang complete his path.”
Zhang Ruochen guessed that Wen Tianjun’s knowledge of this matter came from Moon God.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is Moon God safe now?”
“She’s in the Heavenly Palace, so she should be safe, I suppose.”
Clearly, Wen Tianjun wasn’t entirely certain, because their opponents’ methods were too sophisticated, and the Heavenly Palace wasn’t impenetrable. After all, even Heavenly Mother had nearly fallen.
A deep, new worry arose in Zhang Ruochen’s heart. “The Great Demon God was born into the Yama Clan. If there’s a problem with the Yama Clan, Wu Yue will be in great danger.”
“The Yama Clan itself has major issues, otherwise, why would Yan Huanyu have gone missing back then?” Wen Tianjun said.
“Earlier, that Heavenly Venerable of the Yama Clan sent an avatar to see me.”
The more Zhang Ruochen thought about it, the more uneasy he felt.
Wen Tianjun noticed Zhang Ruochen’s agitation. “This is the Starry Sky Defense Line. Yan Renhuan is no ordinary man. As long as he still sits in command of the Yama Clan, and as long as Yama Heaven-Outside-Heaven remains peaceful, it means nothing has happened yet. To make a move within the Yama Clan, even Bal would need to plan carefully and prepare thoroughly.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “I’m afraid the highest echelons of the Yama Clan might be the culprits.”
“Then what do you plan to do?”
“I think I need to go to the Yama Clan myself.”
Wen Tianjun admired Zhang Ruochen’s courage but disagreed with his decision. “In their eyes, your value far exceeds that of Moon God, Wu Yue, or even Kong Fannu. Going there would be like walking into a trap.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “If I send other strong warriors to retrieve Wu Yue, or ask her to come to Undying Divine City herself, wouldn’t that be even more dangerous and alert the enemy? Being passive like this is unbearable. Wen Tianjun, standing at your current level of cultivation, have you ever thought about how to take the initiative? Like when you killed Lei Fa Heavenly Venerable.”
Wen Tianjun sighed. “Do you know why troubled times are called troubled times? Danger is everywhere, and destabilizing factors are spread across the universe—that’s what creates chaos. And what we face now is an unprecedented great chaos in all of history. If eliminating danger were that easy and suppressing instability could be done casually, there would be no troubled times at all.”
“If I wanted to hide, I dare say no one in this world could find me. By the same logic, Bal, Qishier Pin Lian, Beixi, Kuiliang Huang, and others can do the same. Lei Fa died because he was too arrogant. This era is far more dangerous than the one when he was Heavenly Venerable. No matter how high one’s cultivation, one must tread carefully and plan step by step.”
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment. “I might have a way to find Beixi.”
With that, he took out a black feathered robe.
“This robe was refined from all the feathers of Beixi’s pair of wings. Back then, Beixi’s possession body, Klysa, tried every means to take it back. Perhaps this is his weakness.”
Wen Tianjun took the robe, a brilliant light flashing in his eyes. “I believe Hao Tian will be very interested in this robe. Do you know the tactic of ‘feinting to the east while attacking the west’?”
“I understand. When Hao Tian strikes at Beixi, that will be the time for me to go to the Yama Clan. To save Beixi, they won’t be able to focus on me.” Zhang Ruochen said.
Wen Tianjun said, “Your identity is quite special. Acting within the Yama Clan won’t draw too much attention. This time, you can thoroughly investigate the truth behind Yan Huanyu’s disappearance.”
Having settled this matter, Zhang Ruochen’s worries eased considerably. “When I came here, I heard that the Pangu Realm experienced a great upheaval, and Feng Tian may have fallen?”
A cold light flickered in Wen Tianjun’s eyes. “It was Qishier Pin Lian. She broke into the Five-Colored Stone Valley and took all the Five-Colored Clay Figures left behind by Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable after his death. She also tried to seize the Nuwa Palace. Feng Tian self-detonated his divine source to force her back. This is my fault—if I had kept her in the Rakshasa Clan, this wouldn’t have happened.”
Zhang Ruochen frowned. “What does she want with the Five-Colored Clay Figures?”
Originally, there was only one Five-Colored Clay Figure, left by Nuwa. That figure gained sentience and later became Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable. After Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable died, he returned to the Five-Colored Stone Valley and turned back into a pile of Five-Colored Clay. The Feng Clan used this clay to mold twelve new Five-Colored Clay Figures, hoping they would gain sentience like Pure Yang Heavenly Venerable and protect the Feng Clan in future generations. Their hopes weren’t in vain—Feng Yan and Feng Xi were two of those twelve.
Zhang Ruochen recalled how Xiang Fati had looked after his death. “Perhaps she wants to use those Five-Colored Clay Figures to create bodies for the remnant souls of some powerful ancient beings. Wen Tianjun, how much do you know about Luo Tolo and the Green Deer God King? Does Luo Tolo have any connection to Nuwa?”
Wen Tianjun said, “The era they lived in is too distant. Even legends can’t be verified, so there’s no point in studying it. As for the Green Deer God King, I’ve heard your grandmaster mention him. If he truly is a possession body of an Asura remnant soul, I’d very much like to meet him. Asura, along with Murong Buhuo, Nuwa, Yama, and others, is definitely one of the top-tier Ancestors in history.”
Zhang Ruochen knew that when it came to understanding top-tier experts and the cosmic situation, he couldn’t compare to Wen Tianjun. After all, the higher one’s cultivation, the clearer the view. The more one experiences, the deeper one’s understanding.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Which faction does the Green Deer God King belong to?”
Wen Tianjun smiled. “Ruochen, you must understand that not everyone is willing to work for the Immortals. Someone like Asura would probably rather become an Immortal himself.”
“In the world today, factions are as numerous as a forest. Some tigers roar from the mountains, dominating one side. Others lurk in the shadows, waiting for an opportunity.”
“Even the gods of the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm can cooperate, so why not them?”
“Whoever is weak, whoever wants to survive and achieve something, will inevitably form alliances.”
“If you want to take the initiative in this cosmic jungle, you must clearly understand the interests of each faction and make full use of that. Your identity is very special. The power you can borrow will far exceed your imagination.”
“Back then, we were also full of passion, believing that cultivation and strength were everything. But we didn’t understand this, which is why the Kunlun Realm was schemed against from all sides, our efforts fell short, and we nearly fell into eternal ruin.”
Wen Tianjun walked step by step to the edge of the open-air observation platform. The lights at the foot of the mountain stretched endlessly, and he said bitterly, “I’ve thought countless times about destroying the Hell Realm to avenge the cultivators who died back then. But even at my level of cultivation, I have to compromise for the greater good.”
“If I made a move to destroy Undying Divine City, those hidden in the shadows would probably be overjoyed.”
“As long as the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm don’t go to war, the advantage is ours. We just need to move steadily, step by step, and we’ll eventually destroy them all. Once one side can’t restrain itself and chooses to strike, it’s a complete loss.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “If the Sword Realm emerges as a third-party force, would it stabilize the situation between the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm?”
Wen Tianjun nodded. “That is your greatest significance. Only you can achieve this. Only if you become the Lord of the Sword Realm can it stabilize both the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm. Otherwise, the Sword Realm emerging as a third party would only worsen the chaos.”
Zhang Ruochen laughed. “This is my first time meeting you, Wen Tianjun, isn’t it? Do you trust me that much? I’m very close to many cultivators in the Hell Realm, including some gods who have grudges against the Kunlun Realm.”
Wen Tianjun laughed even more heartily. “Didn’t our conversation just now hide anything from each other? We were open and honest—does it feel like a first meeting? Each generation has its own grudges. I won’t force you.”
“How could someone chosen by both Tai Shang and Xumi Saint Monk be bad? How could someone so highly praised by Jiwang, Huaying Qingchan, Chi Xingtian, and Shen Po be untrustworthy? In their eyes, you might even rank higher than me.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Since Wen Tianjun has no intention of taking revenge on the Hell Realm for now, who is the killing intent on that character directed at?”
“Jiusi Yitianhuang! I followed him all the way to the Starry Sky Defense Line. Unfortunately, when I reached this star region, he completely concealed his aura and disappeared. He must be hiding in some major world.” Wen Tianjun said.
Zhang Ruochen’s mind stirred. “Earlier, when I arrived, I noticed a cultivator I’d seen before. Her aura seemed familiar. She used a great divine ability to change her appearance and aura, with extremely superb methods. I still don’t know who she is or what she intends.”
Wen Tianjun said, “It’s probably not Jiusi Yitianhuang. With his cultivation, even if his divine soul is injured, it would be hard for you to see through him. A Heavenly Venerable-level being can completely sever all heavenly secrets, leaving no trace.”
At that moment, Yu Qiancheng arrived at the base of the lantern tower. “Master, the person has been settled in Qinxue Palace.”
“Understood.”
Zhang Ruochen looked beside him. “Wen Tianjun, when do you plan to leave Undying Divine City?”
“Coming to Undying Divine City was just a detour to see you. I didn’t expect to gain something unexpected. It’s time to leave. Can you handle things here?”
“This is Undying Divine City. Who can do anything to me?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled freely, took his leave of Wen Tianjun, and glanced at Ji Fanxin.
Ji Fanxin understood his thoughts. “Go ahead and take care of things. We’ll talk tomorrow.”
Seeing Ji Fanxin appear with Wen Tianjun had lifted the heaviest weight from Zhang Ruochen’s heart, but since he hadn’t seen Luo Sha, there was still plenty of worry.