Chapter 3888: The Decree of Nutian Shenzun
Zhang Ruochen's expression was one of astonishment as he murmured, "Yuan Sheng went to Wuchang Ghost City?"
After a moment of thought, he forcibly summoned Xiao Hei, who was still healing within the Ten Thousand Buddha Formation.
While Xiao Hei was still dazed, Zhang Ruochen extracted a wisp of his divine soul from within him, holding it in his palm.
The divine soul was like mist, igniting into flames.
The flames leaned toward the direction of Wuchang Ghost City.
Using Xiao Hei's divine soul to verify his divination results, Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself, "I understand now. After you and Cang Jue set out, Yuan Sheng was actually following you the whole time. She was very uneasy about you."
Although Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power was formidable, he had detected Xiao Hei and Cang Jue, who were concealing their auras at the time. However, because he had never considered that Yuan Sheng would come to the Hell Realm, he hadn't deliberately probed or calculated.
Secondly, Yuan Sheng belonged to the Primordial Path Clan and could decompose her body into the rules of heaven and earth. With her cultivation level, if she truly wished to hide, even a Heaven Round No Lack cultivator would find it very difficult.
Xiao Hei was speechless. "Half of this emperor's soul is in her hands. What does she have to be uneasy about?"
"Since she knows of your friendship with me, she would never kill you using that half of your soul. In other words, as long as you understand this principle, you can act with impunity and escape at any time," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei was stunned for a long time. "How does she know that I understand this principle? In reality, this emperor doesn't understand it at all."
"You are a Spiritual Power God Venerable. Who would think that you don't even understand such a principle?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei argued with Zhang Ruochen, "Who would think that you, Zhang Ruochen, went to the Abyss of Darkness and ended up hooking up with the clan emperor of a primordial being? Who would think that? Who would think that?"
"We are allies who have gone through life and death together," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei was very angry, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was insulting his intelligence. "And you say you and Feng Tian are allies! Don't think this emperor didn't hear you calling her Feng'er earlier! And Feng Tian didn't even refute it! That's Feng Tian, known as the Death God Venerable and the Death Overlord."
"That was an act for the sake of Qishier Pin Lian, to tell her that Feng Tian and I are closely connected, advancing and retreating together, and cannot be divided," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiao Hei scoffed. "You might as well tell Qishier Pin Lian that you and Xuanyuan Lian are closely connected, with a bond stronger than metal. If you die, Xuanyuan Lian will definitely commit suicide for you. Guess, for the sake of her daughter, will she let you off?"
Zhang Ruochen was taken aback, looking at Xiao Hei with newfound respect. "Next time, you might consider using that trick. But whether Xuanyuan Lian is Qishier Pin Lian's daughter is still uncertain!"
"What does this have to do with this emperor? Qishier Pin Lian doesn't even take this emperor seriously."
Xiao Hei stomped his foot hard, thinking of how he, a mighty Spiritual Power God Venerable at the eighty-fifth rank, wasn't even qualified to be Qishier Pin Lian's enemy, and he became even angrier.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen asked, "Where's the kasaya?"
"Stolen by that clan emperor of yours!" Xiao Hei said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "That was the kasaya worn by Pi Na Ye Jia when he attained enlightenment. You... I gave you a treasure, and you couldn't even keep it."
"Don't talk about me. Wasn't your Flame God Armor also taken by her? She's a clan emperor, with unfathomable cultivation." Xiao Hei's eyes showed suspicion. "Was the Flame God Armor really taken?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Of course not. It was a gift to her. She helped me and Jie Lao escape from the Abyss of Darkness. I had to compensate her somehow."
Xiao Hei nodded, then suddenly thought of something. "But wasn't the Flame God Armor already given to the White Clothes Valley..."
Zhang Ruochen interrupted him. "How are your injuries? Can you accompany me to Wuchang Ghost City?"
Xiao Hei patted his chest. "This emperor is a Spiritual Power God Venerable. What are a few injuries? Of course, if you could give me a few dozen of those divine soul pills refined from Mo Li Shi Zu's divine soul, my injuries would heal faster. Once healed, it would be easier to sense the other half of the divine soul on that clan emperor."
Xiao Hei knew very well why Zhang Ruochen was taking him to Wuchang Ghost City.
"No need for you to sense it. I will calculate it myself."
Zhang Ruochen took out a piece of animal hide with fur and blood on it and threw it to him.
"What is this?"
Xiao Hei instinctively felt that this piece of animal hide was extraordinary.
Inside each strand of fur was a small world filled with dense divine qi. The divine blood stuck to the hide, each drop like a sea of blood, containing thick blood qi and powerful spiritual consciousness.
A treasure.
Definitely an unparalleled rare treasure.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Mo Li Shi Zu's divine soul is a remnant soul of an Ancestor. It's not easy to refine! There are no divine soul pills left, but I do have a piece of hide for you."
"Is this Mo Li Shi Zu's corpse hide?"
Xiao Hei poked at the animal hide on the ground, very surprised.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Just a small piece. Wear it."
"What for?" Xiao Hei was puzzled.
"To conceal heavenly secrets! I am Heaven Round No Lack, so I can completely conceal my own heavenly secrets and aura, but you cannot. The aura belonging to Mo Li Shi Zu has been erased, and I have inscribed many talisman patterns on this piece of corpse hide. Now it is definitely a secret treasure capable of hiding one's identity."
Xiao Hei shook his head, disgusted. "No! This is corpse hide! Wearing it is so unlucky!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Mo Li Shi Zu has already transformed into a Rong, but I have erased the life aura within, leaving only corpse qi. In the Hell Realm, transforming into a Corpse Clan member will make things easier."
Xiao Hei still shook his head.
"Don't you want to get back that half of your divine soul?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious, and he scolded, "Do you know how badly I am injured? If it weren't for you, would I ignore my own injuries and go find Yuan Sheng now?"
"Have you considered that if Luo Tong Luo finds Yuan Sheng first and suppresses her, then that half of your divine soul will fall into her hands?"
"Do you know the enmity between Luo Tong Luo and Bing Huang? The consequences would be too severe for me to imagine."
Xiao Hei's expression changed several times. "You make a good point. Earlier, when Wuchang Ghost City was attacked, Qishier Pin Lian and Luo Tong Luo acted together. In the previous clash, only Qishier Pin Lian was seen, but not Luo Tong Luo. That is indeed suspicious."
"Zhang Ruochen, this emperor misunderstood you. This emperor thought you were in such a hurry to find that clan emperor... sigh..."
Zhang Ruochen patted his shoulder. "No need to say more. All friendship is in the unspoken. We've known each other for so many years. How could I bear to watch you die?"
Xiao Hei was naturally moved, his expression complex and somewhat self-reproachful. In the end, he decisively put on Mo Li Shi Zu's corpse hide.
"Whoosh!"
Gray deathly light flickered on his body.
Xiao Hei transformed into a man-high Hou, emitting corpse qi all over, like a Corpse Clan deity.
Zhang Ruochen nodded with a smile. "Wait for me to make some more arrangements, and then we'll set off."
Zhang Ruochen was in such a hurry to find Yuan Sheng, naturally, it was not just to help Xiao Hei retrieve that half of his divine soul.
If the twelve stone men were born in the era of the Great Venerable, how could Yuan Sheng, as a clan emperor, not know the secrets within?
If the twelve stone men could join forces to block the attacks of the dark anomalies, then they could certainly deal with Qishier Pin Lian.
Zhang Ruochen's biggest concern at the moment, besides the remnant soul of the Life Ancestor, was that Qishier Pin Lian would suppress the Withering Death Art and come looking for him again. He had to find a way to deal with it before then.
The feeling of the shadow of death always hanging over his head was truly unbearable.
Zhang Ruochen set up a divine formation to conceal heavenly secrets around the periphery of the Ten Thousand Buddha Formation before setting off with Xiao Hei along the Santu River.
Xiao Hei kept glancing at Zhang Ruochen, sighing, feeling very bitter in his heart.
He, a proud Undying Bird, was meant to soar high and roam the starry sea. He had finally cultivated from a cat into human form, and now he was forced to walk on all fours again.
Zhang Ruochen said, "What's wrong? Not willing? Want to change again?"
"Can I?"
Xiao Hei showed a happy expression.
Zhang Ruochen mobilized his spiritual power and slapped Xiao Hei on the back. Instantly, divine light flared.
Xiao Hei transformed from a Hou into a wolf.
"What does this mean? Zhang Ruochen, this emperor is a Spiritual Power God Venerable."
Xiao Hei couldn't take it anymore.
Zhang Ruochen transformed himself, taking on the appearance of Nutian Shenzun, dressed in white robes, with a handsome and imposing face, deep and domineering eyes, waist-length sideburns, and an inherent awe-inspiring wrath.
Xiao Hei was stunned on the spot, unable to speak, intimidated.
"Come, follow me into the city for a walk. This water must be stirred muddy enough to be more favorable to us."
Zhang Ruochen mounted the transformed "Wolf Ancestor" Xiao Hei and then swaggered into Qingfeng Ghost City, one of the nine major ghost cities of the Ghost Clan.
In Qingfeng Ghost City, "Nutian Shenzun" met with the city lord, Qingmian Ghost Lord, and ordered him to dispatch cultivators to help find the traces of Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor.
Subsequently, "Nutian Shenzun" went to other ghost cities of the Ghost Clan and some ancient corpse cities of the Corpse Clan, issuing the same orders.
Although "Nutian Shenzun" had instructed that this matter be kept secret and that the mastermind behind it should not be revealed to the outside world, the news still spread like wildfire, quickly circulating.
"Nutian Shenzun has arrived in the Santu River basin, searching for Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor."
"Is the news reliable? Isn't Nutian Shenzun stationed near the Abyss of Darkness?"
"The city lord of Qingfeng Ghost City told this god himself. How could it be false? Don't tell anyone, this god only told you. If it gets out, the Ghost Lord will have a hard time explaining to Nutian Shenzun."
"What does 'Life Ancestor' mean? Has the remnant soul of the Life Ancestor also returned?"
"You're just finding out now? This isn't a secret at all, okay? Legend has it that back then, the Great Venerable broke into the Destiny Temple precisely to find the descending remnant soul of the Life Ancestor. This is a taboo topic. We can talk about it among ourselves, but don't spread it around, or the Adjudication Division will definitely come knocking, since it's not a glorious matter."
...
The news spread more and more widely among the deities, quickly reaching Wuchang Ghost City and Disha Ghost City under the World Tree.
Ghost Lord was greatly alarmed. "Nutian Shenzun is here?"
"It's highly likely to be true!"
Ghost Lord's eldest son, Yun, added, "According to news from three major ghost cities, a Great God-level figure personally saw Nutian Shenzun and the Wolf Ancestor. Moreover, based on the route Nutian Shenzun has taken, he has been heading east all along, and his destination should be our side."
Ghost Lord sat on the Bone Divine Throne, his expression shifting uncertainly, as if deep in thought.
Yun thought for a moment and said, "However, there is one suspicious point. Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor are such formidable beings. Would it be useful for Nutian Shenzun to mobilize cultivators below the Infinite Realm to search for them?"
"If you don't understand, don't make wild guesses."
Ghost Lord raised his hand to signal Yun to stop speaking. His eyes were filled with the light of wisdom, and he said with extreme seriousness, "You simply don't understand the wisdom of the Twenty Heavens! If Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor are hiding, not even a Heavenly Venerable-level figure, let alone a Half-Ancestor of the current era, would find it easy to locate them."
"But as long as Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor are in the Santu River basin, they will inevitably leave traces. Any anomaly, no matter how subtle, could be the key to finding them."
"Never underestimate any cultivator. The trillions upon trillions of undead in the Santu River basin form a net. The more cultivators Nutian Shenzun mobilizes, the denser this net becomes."
Yun showed a look of sudden realization. "I understand! The wind passes without a trace, but falling leaves, shifting sand, water ripples, and moving clouds are all traces it leaves behind, and they are also clues to finding Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor."
Ghost Lord said, "I estimate that Feng Tian, Di Chen, and Xu Tian have already reached the Abyss of Darkness, which is why Nutian Shenzun was able to break away and come here. The battle fluctuations that erupted earlier, although no aura leaked out, were very likely a clash between Nutian Shenzun and Qishier Pin Lian and the Life Ancestor. Truly an era of great upheaval!"
"What can we do in this upheaval?" Yun asked.
Ghost Lord deliberated for a long time. "This is a battle of titans. It's best not to get involved if you can avoid it. However, if Nutian Shenzun comes to Disha Ghost City, he will certainly issue orders to me, and then it will be difficult. The Hall Master has ended his seclusion and emerged from the Ancestor Realm. As his disciple, I am just about to go pay my respects. I can take the opportunity to seek his advice. Perhaps he has a brilliant plan."
"The Grandmaster has emerged from seclusion, and the status of Disha Ghost City will surely rise significantly," Yun said.