Chapter 3864: Inquiry
Logically speaking, Zhang Ruochen should have handed Yu Jingzhen over to Chi Yao or Bai Qinger. One bore the enmity of a slain son, the other the hatred of an annihilated clan.
Yet, Zhang Ruochen had always believed that the calamity that befell Chi Kunlun in the Space Divine Temple was not solely Yu Jingzhen’s fault; he himself bore responsibility as well.
And the ultimate mastermind should be Qishier Pin Lian. There was no direct enmity between Zhang Ruochen and Yu Jingzhen.
However, the Qishier Pin Lian behind Yu Jingzhen harbored an irreconcilable hatred for the Kunlun Realm Zhang Clan.
Regardless, as the current strongest of the God-Defying Clan and a former friend of Yu Jingzhen, Old Drunkard had the right to know the truth and was the most qualified to settle accounts with Yu Jingzhen.
Zhang Ruochen calmed his thoughts and entered the Imperial Dust Palace located within the Divine Realm World. The Imperial Dust Palace was remodeled from the Evil Emperor’s Underground Palace and, when combined with the Imperial Talisman, could serve both offense and defense.
The twelve stone men that once guarded the Heavenly Venerable’s tomb were now placed within the Imperial Dust Palace. After resisting the attack of the strange evil eye, the twelve stone men had become silent again, motionless.
But the aura they exuded was different! Their stone bodies, thousands of zhang tall, appeared exceptionally majestic. The bronze war weapons in their hands also gave Zhang Ruochen a peculiar fluctuation, as if they were divine artifacts.
Cracks had appeared in their stone skin. Within the cracks, twelve different kinds of power aura leaked out.
Void Heaven’s speculation was reasonable; it wasn’t an illusion. These twelve powers originated from the twelve ancient clans of the Abyss of Darkness.
“Who exactly are you?” Zhang Ruochen dared not rashly break open the stone skin. He planned to wait until everything was settled and then make a trip to the Abyss of Darkness to unravel all the mysteries.
At the same time, he had to deliver the Mani Pearl to Nutian Shenzun to resolve the Withering Death Art. The reason he didn’t tell Void Heaven was that the twelve stone men were certainly related to the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable.
Before figuring out why the Great Venerable had arranged this, Zhang Ruochen didn’t want to expose the secret of the twelve stone men.
Zhang Ruochen, dressed in a green Confucian robe, walked out of the Spring Rain Talisman Pavilion and gazed at the drizzling rain over the sea.
“Out of seclusion so soon?” Wu Yue approached, her fragrant steps light.
Zhang Ruochen said, “The Yama Clan had previously sent a large quantity of healing treasures, even a divine medicine. Using the Earth Cauldron, I refined that Qi Tai Shang from the Space Divine Temple, along with those treasures, into a furnace of spiritual power great pills. After swallowing them, my spiritual power has stabilized.”
“At my current level of cultivation, even if my body and divine soul are shattered, I can quickly reform and won’t be easily injured. But once injured, it can’t be healed in a short time.”
“Continuing in seclusion is meaningless. This is a time of turmoil; there’s no chance for quiet cultivation.”
Wu Yue said, “That’s fine. There are a few major matters to discuss with you. Luo Tolo has escaped!”
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, “I know. The one who acted was Qishier Pin Lian. She took the Shura War Soul Sea, which cuts off the Shura Clan’s vital point. As the spokesperson for the Lower Three Clans, Heavenly Mother will handle it herself; we don’t need to worry.”
“News from the Demon God Realm says that Chongming Ancestor has guided the remnant soul of the Demon Ancestor back,” Wu Yue said.
“Oh!” The star domain where the Demon God Realm was located was too far from Yama Heaven Beyond Heaven. Without making calculations, Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power senses couldn’t reach that far.
Zhang Ruochen said, “The emergence of the Demon Ancestor Ridge was already significant. With the Demon Ancestor’s remnant soul returning, given time, it will surely become a pole in the universe. I’m curious—Chongming Ancestor has little lifespan left, and the pressure to break through should be immense. What benefit does he gain from bringing back the Demon Ancestor’s remnant soul?” Yama Tai Shang had even sacrificed his own son to break through in spiritual power and survive the next Eon Calamity!
Wu Yue said, “Are you suspecting that Chongming Ancestor is walking the same path as Four Yang Heavenly Lord once did? Devouring the ancestor to nourish himself.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “As long as Chongming Ancestor or the Demon Ancestor isn’t one of the Immortal’s people, we can ignore it for now. Besides, the top-tier Heavenly Lords of the Heavenly Court will find a way to investigate this matter.”
Zhang Ruochen naturally had grievances with Chongming Ancestor.
Back then, when Zhang Ruochen, Jing Daoren, Void Heaven, and Feng Tian left the Heavenly Court via the Heavenly River, they were ambushed by Chongming Ancestor.
If Chongming Ancestor claimed he only wanted to kill Void Heaven and Feng Tian, Zhang Ruochen absolutely wouldn’t believe it. Because before that, Zhang Ruochen had refined and killed Yan Wuque, the Palace Master of Array Destruction Palace.
And Yan Wuque and Array Destruction Palace represented Chongming Ancestor’s interests, being the most important force he had deployed in the Heavenly Court.
Zhang Ruochen had acted as Hao Tian’s blade to kill Yan Wuque, helping the Heavenly Palace seize control of Array Destruction Palace.
In other words, this was a game between Hao Tian and Chongming Ancestor. Hao Tian had already reached the Half-Ancestor realm and should be able to suppress Chongming Ancestor.
But Zhang Ruochen wasn’t reassured. He didn’t want to be a pawn again and planned to make a move himself, preparing for contingencies.
“Xuanwu Divine Ancestor!” Zhang Ruochen sent a telepathic message. Then he asked, “Has any news come from the Heavenly Court Universe? Has Beixi fallen?”
Wu Yue said, “Beixi should have been captured. Panyuan Ancient God is personally stationed at the Heavenly Palace and hasn’t returned to Pangu Realm. This shows that something extraordinary must have happened that requires his personal suppression. What could be more important than Pangu Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen agreed with Wu Yue’s analysis and nodded slightly. “If Beixi has indeed been captured, this battle can be considered a bitter victory.” The emergence of the dark anomaly had disrupted everything; otherwise, greater results could have been achieved.
The exposure of Bone Yama and Yan Jun was actually a significant achievement. Being able to thwart their plans was already a blessing amidst misfortune.
Xuanwu Divine Ancestor rose from the seabed, his divine body like a mountain, his head like a lion-tiger, and spoke in human tongue: “What are the Imperial Dust’s orders?”
“Returning this artifact to you.” Zhang Ruochen took out a divine furnace and tossed it out.
The divine artifact, lost and regained, stirred Xuanwu Divine Ancestor’s heart. He said, “The Imperial Dust’s grace, this old one will remember. From now on, when the Imperial Dust Lord visits the Demon God Realm, you will be the most honored guest of the entire Xuanwu Clan!”
“The Imperial Dust possesses various divine artifacts and treasures; I fear nothing I offer could catch your eye. I’ll say only this: from now on, whatever the Imperial Dust commands, this old one will go through fire and water.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Divine Ancestor need not feel such pressure. We are comrades in the fight against the Calamity of Quantities; mutual aid is only right. However…”
“If the Imperial Dust has something to say, speak freely,” Xuanwu Divine Ancestor said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I have some grievances with Chongming Ancestor of your realm. Now that the Ancestor has guided the Demon Ancestor back, he will surely grow powerful in the future. If you invite me to the Demon God Realm, I’m afraid I cannot go.”
Some things need not be said too clearly; Xuanwu Divine Ancestor would understand.
Xuanwu Divine Ancestor said, “The Imperial Dust can rest assured. We are comrades; we would never do anything to harm each other.”
Xuanwu Divine Ancestor dared not speak too plainly, but he was already promising that if Chongming Ancestor ever moved against Zhang Ruochen, he would secretly inform him in advance.
The Demon Ancestor was one of the most top-tier Primordial Ancestors since ancient times, on par with Huangquan Great Emperor, Yama, Murong Buhuo, and the Fate Ancestor.
And the Demon Ancestor Ridge was the legendary Primordial Ancestor Realm left by the Demon Ancestor. With both emerging one after another, how could Zhang Ruochen not take it seriously?
After helping Xuanwu Divine Ancestor remove another bout of dark anomalous energy, Zhang Ruochen and Wu Yue arrived at the Heavenly Venerable Hall.
Although Yan Jun was suppressed, he remained a major threat. If he broke free, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Daiyue Zhenren, Baiyun Divine Ancestor, and four other Yama Clan Boundless cultivators had been guarding the Human Ancestor Banner, not daring to leave for a moment.
When Zhang Ruochen arrived, they breathed a slight sigh of relief and stepped forward to pay their respects. His spiritual power, perfect and without flaw, was enough to command their reverence and awe.
“The dark anomalous energy within the Divine Ancestor is about thirty percent remaining. After three more removals, it should be completely gone,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Baiyun Divine Ancestor thanked him again and said, “The most important matter now is how to deal with Yan Jun! Although Yan Jun’s cultivation hasn’t fully recovered, his realm has reached the peak of Indestructible Infinite. At the very least, a peak Indestructible existence is needed to break his Dao and refine him to death.”
Daiyue Zhenren said, “If we use fifty percent of the Yama Heavenly Dao Esoterica, a mid-stage Indestructible might also be able to do it. But it would take at least tens of thousands of years!”
Zhang Ruochen walked step by step to the Human Ancestor Banner.
Although Yan Jun was sealed and suppressed, his face remained composed, and he laughed, “Even the Half-Ancestors of this era can’t be a match for the dark anomaly. Once they fall, Father God will surely descend upon Yama Heaven Beyond Heaven. Then, you will be the first to die.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Is that what you think? But Bone Yama seems more afraid of the Half-Ancestors of this era, which is why he hasn’t dared to show himself.”
“Dare not?” Yan Jun snorted coldly.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Exactly, he dares not! Because Beixi has been captured, which proves the gap in combat power between them and the Half-Ancestors of this era. Hao Tian and Heavenly Mother are both exceptionally talented, with peerless intellect. Placed in the river of history, they are no less than any Primordial Ancestor. I think, unless a true Primordial Ancestor emerges, no one can be their match.”
“Answer a few of my questions, and you might suffer less torment.”
Yan Jun sneered, “As a Demon Dao Lord, do you think my spiritual will is so fragile? What torment can overcome me?”
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, “I will cut off pieces of your flesh, one by one, and use the Earth Cauldron to refine them into Origin Divine Pills, until there’s nothing left. When your flesh grows back, I’ll cut again and refine again. Let’s see if your cultivation realm can hold once your blood energy and indestructible matter are greatly depleted.”
Ordinary divine artifacts couldn’t refine a peak Indestructible, but the Earth Cauldron could.
Yan Jun’s eyes turned cold and dark as he stared at Zhang Ruochen. “What do you want to ask?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Two questions! First, where did Bone Yama take the Nightmare Land?”
Currently, Zhang Ruochen’s greatest concern was the whereabouts of the Nightmare Land.
Because Yan Wushen had a close relationship with the Lihentian Yan Clan, the person behind him was likely Bone Yama.
And Chi Kunlun was with Yan Wushen, which made Zhang Ruochen extremely worried. Zhang Ruochen had even hypothesized: if Bone Yama and Yan Wushen used Chi Kunlun to exchange for Yan Jun, how should he choose?
“Although Bone Yama is the reincarnation of Father God’s remnant soul, since he took the Nightmare Land away, he would naturally cut off all contact with the outside world, making it impossible for anyone to find him.”
Yan Jun’s answer made Zhang Ruochen frown. He thought to himself, “Could it be that Yan Wushen is not Bone Yama’s man?”
Zhang Ruochen’s question just now was actually a test.
If Yan Wushen was Bone Yama’s man, Yan Jun should know that Chi Kunlun was in Bone Yama’s hands. Then, facing Zhang Ruochen, he could act with impunity.
Yan Wushen was certainly closely tied to the Lihentian Yan Clan; that was beyond doubt. Could the person behind Yan Wushen be the Nether Ancestor?
Zhang Ruochen immediately asked the second question: “Is the one behind you and Bone Yama the Nether Ancestor? Or is it Xuanyuan Xuan Di? Hei Qi? Jiaye Shizu?”