Chapter 3900: You Are Cursed
"Zhang Ruochen, capturing Luo Tuoluo will be the worst decision you have ever made."
Gu Yanluo left these words behind and vanished directly, his aura disappearing from this region of heaven and earth.
Just as the Dragon Corpse Knight had said, Gu Yanluo had lost any reason to continue fighting. Even if he could capture Zhang Ruochen, he would inevitably pay a heavy price himself.
As for seizing the Heavenly Dao Esoterica of the Bone Emperor, that was even more difficult.
There was no joy on Zhang Ruochen's face. He said, "In today's battle, Heavenly Mother did not appear. Gu Yanluo will surely become even more reckless. He will definitely not leave the Santu River Basin just like this. The reason he is leaving now is not because he cannot defeat us, but because he wants to wait for the Life Ancestor and Qishier Pin Lian to make the first move."
The Black and White Daoist said, "Qishier Pin Lian dared to risk intruding into the Shura Star Pillar Realm to rescue Luo Tuoluo. This shows that what Gu Yanluo said before leaving was not without basis. Luo Tuoluo probably really does have some extraordinary origin. Zhang Ruochen, Qishier Pin Lian will definitely come for you."
Zhang Ruochen could hear the schadenfreude in the Black and White Daoist's voice. "I have already fought her," he said.
The Black and White Daoist showed a look of surprise, then snorted dismissively.
He no longer believed anything Zhang Ruochen said.
Glancing at Yuansheng, the Black and White Daoist lowered his eyelids. "The Life Ancestor, Qishier Pin Lian, and Gu Yanluo are targeting you. I, the Clan Leader, do not wish to get involved any further. Zhang Ruochen, you are a man of your word, aren't you? Is it time to fulfill your promise now?"
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "Clan Leader, isn't this a bit like burning the bridge after crossing the river? If it weren't for helping your Ghost Clan guard the Wuchang Ghost City and the Fengdu Ghost City, why would I have waded into this muddy water? Compared to Luo Tuoluo, isn't Qishier Pin Lian more interested in the strange blood spring in Wuchang Ghost City?"
"Does the Clan Leader truly believe he can stay out of this?"
The Black and White Daoist said, "The Sword Realm and the Hell Realm are allies, aren't they? Allies helping each other is only natural. In the future, if the Sword Realm and Imperial Dust are in danger, the Ghost Clan will surely help with all its might. But you know the situation at Fengdu Ghost City. There are too many threats to deal with. I, the Clan Leader, must rush back."
Who doesn't know how to play dirty?
The Black and White Daoist sneered inwardly.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The situation we are about to face is even more severe. I cannot do without the Clan Leader."
The Black and White Daoist was determined to get as far away from Zhang Ruochen as possible. He sighed helplessly. "I truly lack the strength. Clan Emperor, the Soul-Suppressing Banner is a foundational divine artifact of the Ghost Clan. Please return it. For the sake of Imperial Dust's face, I, the Clan Leader, can let bygones be bygones and pretend I never saw you in the Santu River Basin. But the prerequisite is that you must leave immediately and stop stirring up trouble."
Yuansheng's gaze was icy. "And what about you stealing the Yinhuai Divine Tree from my Primordial Path Clan?"
The Black and White Daoist narrowed his eyes. "This is the Upper Realm! Clan Emperor, you seem to have misjudged the situation, haven't you? I have already made concessions. Don't be ungrateful."
"And what do you intend to do?"
The Blue Sea Primordial Spear in Yuansheng's hand flickered. Every inch of her skin and every strand of her hair flowed with light patterns.
The Black and White Daoist and the seven Dragon Corpse Knights also released their divine might.
The Black and White Daoist said, "Imperial Dust, a war between the Primordial Beings and the Upper Realm is inevitable. You should know who are allies and who are enemies. We are all overlords of our own domains. The decisions we make affect the lives and deaths of countless cultivators under our command. You wouldn't let your emotions cloud your judgment, would you? Don't forget the promise you made earlier."
Zhang Ruochen nodded solemnly. "A man without credibility cannot stand. I keep my promises. But I also promised her to help her reclaim the Yinhuai Divine Tree."
Yuansheng's previously anxious heart quietly settled.
For some reason, as long as Zhang Ruochen was on her side, she felt very at ease, feeling that her life-threatening risk of rushing back to help him was not in vain.
This mentality actually made Yuansheng very uncomfortable.
Because only the weak place their hopes on others.
She was a Clan Emperor. She could not have a weak mentality.
Zhang Ruochen could only be an ally, or even a friend. He absolutely could not be her pillar in the Upper Realm.
Yuansheng regained her imposing momentum. "Let's not make things difficult for Imperial Dust! Since we have the bond of fighting side by side, let bygones be bygones. How about we exchange the Soul-Suppressing Banner and the Yinhuai Divine Tree?"
Zhang Ruochen inwardly cried out in alarm.
Even though there were two divine medicines inside the Yinhuai Divine Tree, its value still could not compare to the Soul-Suppressing Banner. If Yuansheng so readily offered to exchange the Soul-Suppressing Banner, once the Black and White Daoist became suspicious, there would be trouble!
Zhang Ruochen quickly said, "The Soul-Suppressing Banner is of no value to you Primordial Beings! But to the Ghost Clan, which is currently facing internal and external troubles, it is absolutely indispensable. Hurry up and take out the Soul-Suppressing Banner. I will act as the bridge of trust between you."
Yuansheng took out the Soul-Suppressing Banner and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the Black and White Daoist. "Clan Leader, hurry up. You were the one who stole it first. Why are you being so hesitant? As the leader of a great clan, is your heart narrower than a woman's?"
The Black and White Daoist felt aggrieved and was unwilling to compromise. "This is the Upper Realm, the Santu River Basin. As long as I send a message, the gods of the Middle Three Clans will converge from all directions. Does she have any chance of escape? I hold the initiative."
The White-Haired Skeleton, who had been standing nearby, suddenly had a flash of inspiration in his eyes. "I have an idea! You're right. Use your identity as the Ghost Clan Clan Leader to issue a summoning order to the entire Middle Three Clans. Let's make this a big deal. Have all the gods gather at the Bone God Temple and the Ten Thousand Bone Cave. As long as our power reaches a certain level, Gu Yanluo, the remnant soul of the Life Ancestor, and Qishier Pin Lian may not dare to make a move."
Seeing someone else trying to use him again, the Black and White Daoist said coldly, "On what grounds? Even if I issue a summoning order, it will be to summon the gods to the World Tree to guard Fengdu Ghost City and Wuchang Ghost City."
"Are you being ungrateful?"
The White-Haired Skeleton interlocked his ten fingers and cracked his wrists.
Thinking of the other party's terrifying cultivation, and then looking at Zhang Ruochen and Yuansheng, who had unfriendly expressions, the Black and White Daoist couldn't help but draw a cold breath and became wary. "Do you want to fight so badly? Then fight. I, the Clan Leader, have no fear. Compromising with you would be a fate worse than death."
The White-Haired Skeleton was slightly stunned. "I told you he was one of the few tough guys in the Middle Three Clans."
Zhang Ruochen said leisurely, "Actually, if the Clan Leader wants to die, you don't need us to do it."
"Zhang Ruochen, stop trying to scare me!" The Black and White Daoist folded his arms behind his back and looked up at the sky, determined not to waver no matter what Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Has the Clan Leader not noticed that his ghostly body is becoming weaker?"
"Injured, of course it's weak. Aren't you weak?" the Black and White Daoist said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Clan Leader, why don't you carefully examine yourself? Have you been cursed?"
Although the Black and White Daoist's expression remained stiff, he immediately began to internally inspect his ghostly body.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "The beam of death qi that Gu Yanluo struck at me contained the Blood Devouring Curse. But I immediately cut off the rotting flesh on my body and stripped away the curse. I suspect that the beam of life qi he struck you with contained the Soul Devouring Curse."
"Gu Yanluo's curse techniques are terrifying to the extreme. It can be said that Renhuan Heavenly Venerable was cursed to death by him. Tell me, Clan Leader, how does your cultivation compare to Renhuan Heavenly Venerable's?"
The Black and White Daoist could no longer maintain his composure. His body trembled slightly, because he discovered that he really had been hit by the Soul Devouring Curse.
"Clan Leader!"
Two Dragon Corpse Knights stepped forward, one on the left and one on the right, as if to support the Black and White Daoist.
"Get away."
The Black and White Daoist released ghostly qi, blasting them back.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Gu Yanluo has only just left. He hasn't fully activated the curse yet. Once he starts, the time the Clan Leader has left will be very short!"
"Let's go. To the Nether Divine Temple."
The Black and White Daoist was about to leave with the seven Dragon Corpse Knights.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Gu Yanluo can be called the number one curse technique master in the world today. Does the Clan Leader think the Nether Divine Temple can help you break the curse? I have a way."
The Black and White Daoist quickly calmed down, regaining the bearing of a clan leader. "You really have a way..."
Zhang Ruochen took out the Mani Pearl and showed it to him.
The Black and White Daoist, who had thought he was doomed this time, let out a long sigh of relief when he saw the Mani Pearl. "Speak. What are the conditions?"
"Any condition?"
"Any."
The White-Haired Skeleton said, "If you had done this earlier, we wouldn't have wasted so much breath."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I think Senior Minggu's suggestion has merit. Things have developed to this point. It is indeed time to issue a Divine Summoning Order. However, it is not enough to just summon ordinary gods. It is easy for the enemy to take advantage of the situation. I suggest inviting Qingtian, Shitian, and other Heavenly Venerables of the Hell Realm."
"Can we invite them?" the Black and White Daoist asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "You are a Clan Leader, the current spokesman of the Middle Three Clans. Besides you, who else has such face?"
...
The four of them split up. Zhang Ruochen and Yuansheng rushed to Wuchang Ghost City, while the White-Haired Skeleton and the Black and White Daoist went to the Bone God Temple and the Ten Thousand Bone Cave to make preparations in advance.
Since their opponents were powerful and difficult to contend with, the only thing they could do was choose their own battlefield.
This was the only initiative they could grasp.
Before this, the Black and White Daoist and Yuansheng had already returned the Yinhuai Divine Tree and the Soul-Suppressing Banner to each other.
Only one of the two divine medicines inside the Yinhuai Divine Tree remained. The other had been swallowed by the Black and White Daoist.
Yuansheng checked the treasure inside the Yinhuai Divine Tree that she cared about most, the one that concerned the life and death of the Primordial Path Clan. Finding it still there, she was finally completely relieved.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I will send you to Wuchang Ghost City. From there, you must go on your own. Hurry back to the Abyss of Darkness and find a strong being among the Primordial Beings to help you resolve the hidden dangers in your body."
"No, I, the Emperor, will stay to help you. You need me now," Yuansheng said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Do you know how strong my enemies are?"
"Of course I do. But you helped me retrieve the Yinhuai Divine Tree. You are a benefactor of the Primordial Path Clan. How can I leave when you are in your most difficult time?" Yuansheng said.
Zhang Ruochen possessed the Heart of Truth and always felt that Yuansheng's words were insincere.
Yuansheng said, "Two Heavenly Venerable-level beings have appeared simultaneously in the Santu River Basin. Are the Heavenly Venerables and Half-Ancestors of your Upper Realm just sitting idly by?"
When Qishier Pin Lian appeared, Heavenly Mother did not show up, which was still within Zhang Ruochen's understanding. After all, Qishier Pin Lian had been very cautious in that battle.
But the White Jade Red-Eyed Lion had fallen, and Gu Yanluo had appeared in the world. Such a big event had occurred, yet Heavenly Mother still had not appeared.
Then there was only one possibility: Heavenly Mother was not in the Santu River Basin. And Zhang Ruochen could be certain that she was definitely on the Abyss of Darkness side.
Heavenly Mother had been stationed at the Ancient Desolate Ruins City for many years and understood the Primordial Beings better than anyone. Therefore, she would absolutely not allow the Primordial Beings to break through the defense line and enter the Yellow Spring Star River.
If Heavenly Mother and Nutian Shenzun were confident about the situation in the Santu River Basin, it could also explain another issue: there must be a strong being secretly stationed in the Santu River Basin.
Zhang Ruochen guessed that this person was most likely Lady Shiji.
No one was more stable than her. The last time in the Soul Realm, Zhang Ruochen was almost beaten to death before she appeared.
No, there was someone even more stable than her.
Zhang Ruochen thought of Void Heaven, and a surge of anger rose in his heart. This old fellow, in order to cultivate and break through to a higher realm, was completely ignoring the situation outside.
With this kind of sense of responsibility, he still wanted to compete with Fengdu Dadi for the position of Heavenly Venerable?
Just now, Zhang Ruochen had risked using the Dream Entry Technique, trying to pull Feng Tian into a dream, but had failed.
The situation at the Ten Thousand Buddha Array made him extremely worried.
Therefore, on this trip to the World Tree, Zhang Ruochen not only wanted to take away Wuchang Ghost City, but also wanted to dig Void Heaven out, no matter where he was hiding.
As a Heavenly Venerable of the Hell Realm and a giant of the Destiny Temple, he had to take responsibility. No one could stand idly by.