Chapter 3866: The Current Situation
If the remnant soul of the Life Ancestor had already returned during the era of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable and had a deep connection with Ling Yanzi, then ten eons had passed since then, and his cultivation must have reached an unimaginably profound level.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen was also confident. Even if he was not yet a match for the Life Ancestor, no one in the world could easily seize his body.
He could be defeated. He could die.
But no one could extinguish his spiritual will.
A Fuya picked up the ancient scroll and examined the handwriting of the Ancestor Yama on the memorandum, gradually losing interest. She said, "Since Hao Tian is willing to show himself, it means he knows it is already very difficult to lure out those hidden in the darkness. The universe may be entering an era of Half-Ancestor deterrence, ushering in a relatively stable period."
"I believe it is time to return to the Sword Realm. Taking advantage of this rare period of peace, we should train a divine army capable of fighting Half-Ancestors. If the Sword Realm lacks the power to resist Half-Ancestors and is found by one, it will be like a lamb waiting to be slaughtered, with no power to resist."
Bai Qinger added, "Hao Tian did not mention the outcome of his confrontation with the dark anomalies, which means the confrontation itself had no result. Or perhaps the battle is still ongoing, but the battles of Half-Ancestors can transcend time and space, surpass the material plane, and escape the perception of heavenly mechanisms—things we cannot understand."
Wu Yue said, "This battle has caused too many powerful figures to fall, and anyone would tremble in fear. I agree with the First Queen's analysis. Next, there will inevitably be a period of stability in the world. This is a situation created by the emergence of several Half-Ancestors."
"To break this situation, a new Half-Ancestor or even an Ancestor must emerge."
Bai Qinger said, "I believe the next flashpoint of conflict will be either the Abyss of Darkness or the Kunlun Realm."
"First, those hidden in the shadows will not act rashly again. However, they can incite the Twelve Ancient Clans of the Abyss of Darkness to wage an all-out war against the Hell Realm. The Abyss of Darkness is too mysterious, with unfathomable power, and may have the strength to disrupt the current pattern."
"However, they are also sitting on the mountain watching the tigers fight, waiting for the right moment to make a move."
"People like Ba Er and Kui Liang Huang also need to use the Twelve Ancient Clans to test Tian Lao and ascertain her current state."
"Second, the Nether Prison in the Kunlun Realm is also a key to breaking the deadlock."
Bai Qinger controlled the Goddess Twelve Pavilions, had access to intelligence from both the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm, and had close ties with Qiangu Nüdi and Chi Yao, so she knew a great deal of information.
Zhang Ruochen sat on a chair, listening quietly.
He had to admit that the four women before him were each more intelligent than the last. They were not mere ornaments. They could survey the world, reference the past and present, deduce the future, and analyze the situation with remarkable thoroughness.
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, First Queen, you believe we should return to the Sword Realm, take this opportunity to consolidate our own power base, lie low, and conserve our strength, so that we can calmly respond when the next conflict erupts."
"Qinger, on the other hand, believes we should take active action, go to the Kunlun Realm or the camp of Nutian Shenzun, to prevent another crisis from erupting."
A Fuya said, "As long as the Imperial Dust is willing, we can immediately gather the divine realm elites from the various major forces gathered around us and go to the Sword Realm for training. With the Sundial, it won't take long to cultivate a large number of Boundless cultivators, or even Indestructible Infinite cultivators."
"For example, Qiangu Nüdi, Chi Yao, Qianxing Shenzu, Luo Yan Dadi, Bing Huang, Blood Absolute Clan Leader, Cihang Xianzi, and the four of us all have the opportunity to break through to Indestructible Infinite or Tianyuan Wuque."
"The Sundial itself is also a bargaining chip, enough to tempt many gods."
"I know a secret method for forging divine army battle armor, which can incorporate Ancestor substances to resist the Ancestor might of Half-Ancestors."
"Armor in formation, united as one."
"If led by several Indestructible Infinite cultivators and a large number of Boundless realm God Kings and God Venerables, such a divine army could certainly contend with Half-Ancestors. They could advance to attack and retreat to defend."
Bai Qinger held a dissenting opinion and shook her head. "First, the cultivators the First Queen wants are not yet available from the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm. Forcibly gathering them and going to the Sword Realm might backfire. The timing is not right!"
"Second, if the Kunlun Realm is lost, an Ancestor might emerge. By then, even forming a divine army might not be enough to stop it."
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment, then looked at Wu Yue. "What do you say?"
Wu Yue said, "Husband already has a decision in his heart, why ask me?"
"I want to hear your suggestion," Zhang Ruochen said.
Wu Yue said, "The words of the First Queen and Qinger both have some truth. Right now, forming factions is equivalent to splitting the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm, which would indeed easily cause disputes. Hao Tian will certainly be displeased, and Tian Lao will also be in a difficult position. It is not a good time."
"But training troops and forming a divine army to counter Half-Ancestors is indeed urgent."
"However... although the Sword Realm's forces are not in the Sword Realm, they have long been tacitly acknowledged by all parties. There is no need to go to the Sword Realm for training. Since the Sundial has been activated on White Desolate Star, why can't that place become a training ground?"
"The First Queen wants to go to the Sword Realm, mainly to comprehend the 'Undying Incantation,' fuse with the Ancestor corpse, and break through to Indestructible Infinite. We can act separately!"
"Husband, I suggest that Senior Jiu Tian and the First Queen return to the Sword Realm first to arrange defenses and forge the divine army battle armor. At the same time, we can send cultivators to transport cultivation resources from the Sword Realm to White Desolate Star to train promising cultivators."
"Although the current head of the Undying Blood Clan is the Undying War God, I do not believe the Undying Blood Clan has the ability to withstand a Half-Ancestor alone. After receiving a large amount of our cultivation resources, the two sides can naturally become more deeply bound. The gods of the Undying Blood Clan will surely develop a sense of belonging to the Sword Realm. By then, even the Undying War God will have to compromise and attach himself to Husband's banner."
"If the Undying War God is unwilling to join the Sword Realm, we can completely bypass the Undying Blood Clan and activate the Sundial in the Rakshasa Star Pillar Realm. The Rakshasa Clan is now in ruins and needs our support."
"The Sundial, the Earth Cauldron, the Paradise Realm, and the spiritual power experts like Husband, Senior Jiu Tian, the Tai Shang of the Kunlun Realm, me, Fanxin, and the Star Heaven Cliff Lord are all the most important resources of the Sword Realm. We can refine divine pills to help cultivators rapidly improve their cultivation. This can become the capital for Husband to negotiate with the spokespersons of various clans and the trump card to subdue enemies without fighting."
"I see that Husband has been consulting files related to the Life Ancestor and ancient beings. It seems Husband intends to go to the Abyss of Darkness. However, this trip is dangerous, and you must think twice before acting."
Ji Fanxin and Bai Qinger looked at Wu Yue, their hearts stirring with some unusual emotions.
Because when Wu Yue addressed them as "Fanxin" and "Qinger," her tone carried a sense of superiority. Calling Zhang Ruochen "husband" repeatedly seemed more like a declaration of her status as the legitimate wife.
Before long, the old drunkard, swaying unsteadily from drink, arrived at the seventh floor of the library. Zhang Ruochen told him about the matters they had discussed earlier.
The old drunkard had personally killed Yu Jingzhen. In recent years, his will had been very low, and he always felt that he had caused the deaths of the Inverse God Clan's people, unable to resolve this knot in his heart.
The old drunkard slurred his words, "Alright, return to the Sword Realm, return to the Sword Realm. I'll listen to you."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't drink so much. At your age, what hurdle can't you get over? When you return to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain this time, you must find a way to contact Senior Yu. He has been missing for over ten thousand years. You two are old friends; you should have a way to contact him, right?"
The old drunkard just grunted in agreement.
Senior Yu was none other than the Star Sea Angler, Yu Linsheng.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "Qinger, stay. I have something else to tell you."
After everyone else had left, Zhang Ruochen released a spiritual power field. "What's wrong? Unhappy?"
"No," Bai Qinger said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "How about coming with me to the Abyss of Darkness?"
"No, I plan to go to White Desolate Star and use the Sundial to cultivate." After a moment's thought, she added, "This trip to the Abyss of Darkness will certainly be dangerous. I don't want to become your burden."
Zhang Ruochen knew what was bothering Bai Qinger. "Before I set out, I also need to go to White Desolate Star. Let's go together! How about doing me a favor?"
Bai Qinger said, "You want me to go and comfort Senior Jiu Tian?"
"You are, after all, a member of the Inverse God Clan, and you have inherited the divine heart of the Da Zhanglao," Zhang Ruochen said.
Bai Qinger said, "I am only half a member of the Inverse God Clan, not the right person. I will write a letter to Divine Master Yu Yao. It would be more appropriate for her to step in."
Zhang Ruochen said, "There is another matter. On Ice King Star, you seemed to have something important to tell me. What was it?"
"I can barely remember it now," Bai Qinger said.
Zhang Ruochen looked at her and sighed. "I said I would definitely give you an explanation. You don't want our wedding to be so hasty, do you?"
Bai Qinger shook her head. "I'm not saying this out of anger. I really can't remember. I only recall that I followed the resonance of the World-Destroying Bell to a terrifying battlefield, where various Ancestor Qi filled the air... I really can't remember. The paths I walked and the scenes I saw were all like being shrouded in a layer of mist, and the mist is getting thicker."
"I once tried to write down my experiences, but the paper would burn. When I carved them on artifacts, they would turn to dust. Nothing could bear the record. Divine artifacts might be able to, but I have no way to leave words on divine artifacts."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Various Ancestor Qi?"
Bai Qinger nodded affirmatively. "That place must be an Ancestor battlefield, terrifying beyond compare."
"The owner of the World-Destroying Bell was once the Nether Ancestor. During the Chaos Era, it was wielded by the Great Demon God. After the Great Demon God's era ended, it passed through several hands before falling into the hands of the Inverse God Clan, where it was sealed away."
"In history, eras where two Ancestors were born simultaneously are extremely rare. How could there be a battlefield where Ancestors fought in chaos?"
Zhang Ruochen took the World-Destroying Bell from Bai Qinger and released his spiritual power.
"Dong!"
A deafening bell sound exploded in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
The next moment, blood flowed from Zhang Ruochen's seven orifices, and a buzzing sound echoed endlessly in his skull.
"How could this happen?"
Bai Qinger was shocked and immediately stepped forward to check Zhang Ruochen's condition.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand gently, gradually recovering. "I wanted to use the World-Destroying Bell to deduce the heavenly mechanism, but I suffered a backlash from my spiritual power. Qinger, you have become entangled in a great cause and effect, and it is difficult to tell whether it will bring fortune or disaster."