Chapter 3883: Ghost Clan Leader
Blood Butcher hurried out of the White Impermanence Divine Temple, his face pale. Glancing at the towering Impermanence Ghost City in the distance, his fingers trembled involuntarily.
He tried to maintain composure, but the fear in his heart could not be suppressed.
After hesitating for a moment, he steeled himself and rushed toward the wilderness outside the southern city of Impermanence Ghost City, where cultivators were most densely gathered.
...
After repelling Yellow Spring Great Emperor, Qishier Pin Lian, and Luo Tong Luo, and suppressing Moli Corpse Ancestor, the Hell Realm cultivators stationed outside Impermanence Ghost City gained immense confidence, their morale soaring.
Whether it was Zhang Ruochen or Void Heaven sitting in the White Impermanence Divine Temple made little difference to them.
Void Heaven, needless to say, was a top-tier All Heavens of the Hell Realm with remarkable achievements. He had dared to raise his sword against Hao Tian, participated in the annihilation of the Thunder Clan, stormed the Heavenly Court, pacified the Shura Star Pillar Realm, and even dared to touch the legendary "Dark Abnormality"—all while retreating unscathed.
With such a figure stationed at Impermanence Ghost City, which Hell Realm cultivator would not feel at ease?
As for Zhang Ruochen, though called the Sword Realm Lord, his relationship with Feng Tian was undoubtedly extraordinary. In terms of sharpness and youthful fighting spirit, he surpassed even Void Heaven. Together with Feng Tian, they were more than capable of facing any challenge.
Most importantly, Zhang Ruochen controlled the Earth Cauldron, which was said to be able to refine the Abnormality Blood Spring in the city, thereby permanently resolving the hidden danger threatening the entire Santu River region.
It was this subtle mindset that made the Hell Realm cultivators, who had originally planned to leave, all stay behind, busily setting up defensive formations outside Impermanence Ghost City.
Blood Butcher arrived at the most crowded area of cultivators, cleared his throat, and then announced loudly: "Feng Tian has decreed: capture the traitor of the Bone Clan. Anyone who provides clues will be rewarded with a Soul Divine Pill refined from Moli Corpse Ancestor's divine soul. Anyone who can capture him and bring him to the White Impermanence Divine Temple will be granted a divine artifact."
Such generous rewards immediately caused a stir.
Sounds of breaking wind rang out continuously as deities flew out from temples scattered across the wilderness and gathered around.
"The Bone Clan actually has a traitor, and it's alarmed Feng Tian? Who is it?"
"To alarm Feng Tian, it must be at least a Great God. Obtaining a divine artifact is no easy task."
"Great Butcher War God, hurry up and tell us. I've reached the peak of Grand Void Realm and am in dire need of a suitable divine artifact weapon."
...
Even Mingye Shenzun, Gong Nanfeng, and Yaoguang were drawn over, curiosity evident on their faces.
Blood Butcher's expression was extremely strange, like he was constipated, as he said: "This Emperor doesn't know who he is... Stop, let this Emperor continue. Although I don't know his identity, I know his appearance."
"Hua!"
Blood Butcher moved his divine thought.
A pile of earth rose from the ground, reaching human height, and automatically shaped itself into bones, limbs, and white hair.
Soon, the white-haired skeleton was fully recreated.
Murmurs of discussion arose from all around.
"What is this? I can find eighty thousand Bone Clan cultivators like this in a single day."
"Exactly, it's too common! I remember not long ago, Great Butcher War God, you threw a white-haired skeleton like this into Impermanence Ghost City. How are we supposed to find him?"
Hearing this, Blood Butcher's face grew even uglier. "The Bone Clan traitor Feng Tian is looking for is him."
"Him? Who is he... Wait, what did you say? That Bone Clan cultivator thrown into Impermanence Ghost City?"
The deities present finally realized something was wrong, their expressions changing.
Someone asked cautiously: "Impermanence Ghost City is filled with the Abnormality Blood Spring. That Bone Clan cultivator didn't turn into blood sand?"
Mingye Shenzun said gravely: "Since Feng Tian has issued a bounty, it means the white-haired skeleton is still alive. Just how high is his cultivation?"
Blood Butcher forced calm, saying: "To survive Impermanence Ghost City, he must be at least Infinite Realm... Everyone, don't be afraid. Feng Tian said she is absolutely certain the white-haired skeleton is hiding in one of the temples here, or in some deity's Divine Realm World."
"So, he has accomplices, or controls puppets."
"Everyone, keep an eye on each other. If you find any deity behaving abnormally, as long as the suspicion is reasonable, it will be considered providing a clue, and you will receive a Soul Divine Pill containing Ancestor power."
Zhang Ruochen stood on Yin Mountain, beneath the eaves outside the White Impermanence Divine Temple, smiling as he watched from afar.
This tactic of startling the snake was naturally his plan.
The white-haired skeleton had vanished without a trace after escaping Impermanence Ghost City, meaning it must have hidden nearby. To completely conceal its aura and heavenly secrets under the watch of a Heaven Round No Gap cultivator, it could only hide in a temple or a deity's Divine Realm World.
Of course, this also showed the white-haired skeleton's skill. If it were another cultivator, Zhang Ruochen could still deduce its hiding place from residual heavenly secret traces.
Since heavenly secrets were useless, he had to resort to this crude method.
Under Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power coverage, this crude method made it easy for the other party to reveal flaws.
Just like now, every deity's expression and eye movement were under Zhang Ruochen's observation, including Mingye Shenzun, Yaoguang, and Gong Nanfeng.
Any slight abnormality would become Zhang Ruochen's primary suspect.
He had to find the white-haired skeleton; otherwise, it would always be a threat to Impermanence Ghost City. He couldn't fully trust its words. Moreover, many things needed to be verified by finding it.
Additionally, since the white-haired skeleton said the Life Ancestor had already arrived at Impermanence Ghost City, Zhang Ruochen harbored the idea of killing two birds with one stone.
He wanted to use the white-haired skeleton to lure out the Life Ancestor.
He also wanted to use the Life Ancestor's hand to find the white-haired skeleton.
"As expected of deities, they hide deeply. Not a single one showed an abnormal expression."
Zhang Ruochen was not in a hurry, showing great patience.
Over the next half month, Zhang Ruochen switched the auxiliary cauldron for forging swords to the "Truth Cauldron" Hong Ding, using the Earth Cauldron to refine Moli Corpse Ancestor.
One after another, Zhang Ruochen received secret reports from many deities. The white-haired skeleton was not found, but instead, two Ghost Clan deities who had defected to Yellow Spring Great Emperor were uncovered.
"Hua!"
A beam of flame light flew from the Fengdu Ghost City atop the World Tree, landing outside the White Impermanence Divine Temple, condensing into the tall, heroic figure of Zhuque Huowu.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, Zhuque Huowu's face showed a troubled expression, and she spoke with difficulty: "The Clan Leader invites Emperor Dust and Feng Tian to Fengdu Ghost City for discussion."
"Clan Leader?"
Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised.
As one of the ten clans of the Hell Realm, the Ghost Clan naturally had a leader, but his presence was too low. Zhang Ruochen could barely recall who he was.
Not only the Ghost Clan leader, but even the Ghost Divine Temple Hall Master was equally unknown.
After all, the entire Ghost Clan, and even the entire Middle Three Clans, were ruled by Fengdu Ghost Emperor and his Five Directions Ghost Emperors, forming their own power system.
Feng Tian awoke from cultivation and appeared behind Zhuque Huowu, asking: "Has Black and White Daoist returned?"
Zhuque Huowu nodded. "The Clan Leader arrived secretly at Fengdu Ghost City yesterday."
Hearing the title "Black and White Daoist," Zhang Ruochen immediately remembered.
This Ghost Clan leader was born in Impermanence Ghost City and was the master of Mingye Shenzun and Heqing Shenzun.
However, after the great divine war between the Heavenly Court and the Hell Realm an eon ago, Black and White Daoist had retired, and there had been no news of him since.
Some said he had fallen.
Some said he was in seclusion healing.
Feng Tian saw the confusion in Zhang Ruochen's heart and said coldly: "Black and White Daoist's lifespan was exhausted, so he went to the Abyss of Darkness to seek the legendary life source that could reverse fate. I thought he would end up like those powerful figures in history who never returned when they were about to die of old age. Unexpectedly, after so many years, he has returned. It seems his cultivation has broken into Indestructible Infinite."
Zhuque Huowu said: "The Clan Leader has indeed reached Indestructible Infinite."
Zhang Ruochen pondered, then said: "Yesterday, when Mingye Shenzun secretly left the Black Impermanence Divine Temple, I found it strange. But I trusted him and didn't lock onto him with my spiritual power."
"After that, Mingye and Heqing went together to Fengdu Ghost City. At that time, Black and White Daoist was probably hiding in his Divine Realm World. The purpose of this was clearly not to guard against outsiders, but against us?"
Feng Tian's gaze fell on Zhuque Huowu. "You are now a Shenzun, so I won't pressure you. But Zhang Ruochen has done you a great favor. You should tell us what exactly is happening in Fengdu Ghost City."
With Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power, he could completely penetrate the layers of divine formations of Fengdu Ghost City and deduce the general situation.
But he did not do so, having already guessed most of it.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand. "No need to make things difficult for Huowu. We'll go to Fengdu Ghost City ourselves."
Zhuque Huowu frowned and sighed. "The Clan Leader rushed to Fengdu Ghost City in secret to seize power."
She added: "Now, all the deities of the Death Divine Palace have been controlled, and the formation hubs of Fengdu Ghost City are all in the hands of deities arranged by the Clan Leader."
Zhang Ruochen laughed heartily. "Feng Tian has been racking her brains for the Ghost Clan, even moving the Death Divine Palace here, facing layers of danger alone. Yet others seem to be deeply wary of you."
"I'm actually quite curious: did Feng Tian really take the opportunity of Fengdu Great Emperor's absence to subdue the Ghost Clan, or even the entire Middle Three Clans?"
Feng Tian's gaze turned cold.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Just a joke! Since Fengdu Great Emperor is not dead, how could Feng Tian have the intention to subdue the Ghost Clan? But that Clan Leader probably doesn't think so."
Zhuque Huowu said: "The Clan Leader might be angry because Feng Tian used Impermanence Ghost City to suppress the Abnormality Blood Spring, causing damage to the city. The Clan Leader has always been ruthless and tolerates no mistakes. Even Hun Qi was suppressed because the Space-Time Altar was destroyed."
Feng Tian showed a disdainful expression. "Black and White Daoist has always been self-righteous and stubborn. I can't be bothered with him. Go to Fengdu Ghost City to see him? Does he think he's that important? Zhuque Huowu, go back and tell him: if he doesn't release the deities of the Death Divine Palace within three days, I'll teach him how to be a ghost."
Zhuque Huowu sighed inwardly. She knew that with Feng Tian's temper, she would never compromise with the Clan Leader. If this escalated, the consequences would be unimaginable.
She looked at Zhang Ruochen with pleading eyes.
In this world, the only one who could make Feng Tian compromise was the man before her.
Zhang Ruochen stood up and looked at Feng Tian. "My Feng Tian, give me a face. Let's go to Fengdu Ghost City together? We're on their turf, and he is the Clan Leader after all."
Feng Tian looked at him coldly, seeing the deep meaning in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, as if he had another plan. She said: "You give him face, but he might not give you face. He has already taken control of all the formations in Fengdu Ghost City. Are you sure you can contend with him? Once inside Fengdu Ghost City, you'll be quite passive."
"Would he dare to make a move?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Feng Tian said: "Borrow him ten guts, and he still wouldn't dare."
"Then it's settled!"
Zhang Ruochen smiled and walked out of the temple first. "Huowu, you'd better not get involved in Fengdu Ghost City. Stay at the White Impermanence Divine Temple and watch the cauldron for me."
Just as Zhang Ruochen and Feng Tian set off for Fengdu Ghost City, Xiao Hei and Cang Jue descended from the divine ship, landing at a dock less than a hundred million miles from Impermanence Ghost City.