Chapter 3926: The Saint Musician Is Qingcang
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Nine hundred years have passed, yet the Yuan Clan’s Empress grows ever more radiant and captivating. How could I, this old man, possibly forget?"
"Good that you remember."
Yuan Sheng’s body erupted with sky-piercing cold energy. Reaching out with a claw-like grasp, she summoned the Azure Sea Mixed Yuan Spear and, like an arrow released from a bowstring, thrust it straight at Zhang Ruochen.
Murderous aura filled the hall.
No one had expected Yuan Sheng to strike so suddenly. There was no time to intervene; they could only release their Rule Divine Marks, weaving a heavenly and earthly cage to prevent the clash of Indestructible Infinite cultivators from overturning the Hongmeng Hall.
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen did not move at all, merely releasing his spiritual power. A mysterious array disc condensed before him, blocking Yuan Sheng’s unstoppable spear strike.
The array disc pressed back, sending Yuan Sheng flying out through the hall’s entrance.
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, Yuan Sheng charged back, channeling even denser divine energy within her body.
Zhang Ruochen let out a deep snort. "If the Empress continues to be so unwise, don’t blame me for being discourteous!"
"Is that so? I, this Emperor, simply don’t know what it means to be wise."
Yuan Sheng’s gaze was as sharp as a sword, and she prepared to strike again.
"Stop!"
The divine sound of the Divine Musician rang out, like a thunderclap, shaking the very soul.
But the Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan had already rushed forward, flanking Yuan Sheng on left and right. Both had murderous intent in their eyes, intending to teach this young Empress a lesson.
Yet the Divine Musician’s single word "Stop" forced them to halt.
Zhang Ruochen cast a subtle glance upward at the Divine Musician, suspicion growing. He wondered if the Divine Musician’s "Stop" was directed at the Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan, rather than at Yuan Sheng.
This was an ominous sign.
Yuan Sheng glared fiercely at Zhang Ruochen but did not strike again.
The Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor, who had stepped aside earlier, now came forward. "What grievance or enmity exists between the Yuan Clan’s Empress and the Saint Musician, that you would come to blows over a single disagreement? Why must it come to this? Why?"
Yuan Sheng said, "Does he even deserve to be the Saint Musician of the Great Dark Mountain? In the Hell Realm, this man abandoned me and Yuan Jieyi to die. If not for Zhang Ruochen’s help, we would have perished at the hands of Lady Shiji."
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly. "It’s not that I, this old man, refused to save you, but that I truly couldn’t. Ask anyone here: who dares to rescue someone from a Half-Ancestor? Moreover, if I had acted to save you, I would have exposed my identity and likely been caught up in it myself."
Including the Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan, most of the Emperors present nodded slightly. In their place, they too would have chosen to stand by and continue hiding their identities.
Yun Hunxuan, whose clan had deep conflicts with the Yuan Dao Clan, would not miss this chance to strike at Yuan Sheng while currying favor with the Saint Musician. He laughed loudly, "The Yuan Clan’s Empress exposed her own identity and whereabouts, and was discovered by Lady Shiji, yet she blames the Saint Musician for not saving her. This is the Hell Realm—who would risk exposure to save you? Besides, your fiancé Zhang Ruochen was in the Hell Realm; he would surely have saved you. Right, Saint Musician?"
Zhang Ruochen stared at Yuan Sheng and smiled. "Naturally."
The engagement between Yuan Sheng and Zhang Ruochen had long been a topic of widespread discussion, naturally reaching the Twelve Ancient Clans.
The Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor smiled amiably. "The Yuan Clan’s Empress has always been calm and restrained; she wouldn’t easily expose her whereabouts. Nor would she likely attack merely because the Saint Musician failed to save her. I suspect there’s more to this story, isn’t there?"
Yuan Sheng said, "I exposed my identity and location precisely because of him."
Zhang Ruochen said coldly, "That was a misunderstanding. Who told you to be with Zhang Ruochen? I, this master, was determined to take Zhang Ruochen’s life—that brat cannot be spared. You ruined my plans."
Yuan Sheng said, "So you wanted to kill me too?"
"I already said it was a misunderstanding," Zhang Ruochen replied.
"A misunderstanding? I don’t think so. At that time, you were clearly trying to kill me."
"I had no reason to do so."
Yuan Sheng said, "Yes, you did. Because as long as I was there, I would never allow you to kill Zhang Ruochen. Zhang Ruochen is a descendant of the Spirit Swallow, with the bloodline of ancient beings flowing in his veins. But you are not an ancient being at all. Those not of our kind must have different intentions..."
"Enough!"
The Divine Musician spoke.
Silence fell over the entire hall.
But those present now roughly understood the cause and effect, grasping the enmity between Yuan Sheng and the Saint Musician.
The Divine Musician said, "Yuan Clan’s Empress, the grievances between you and the Saint Musician are a matter of conflicting accounts, and cannot be resolved in a few words. But that phrase, ‘those not of our kind,’ should never have been uttered. The Saint Musician is a disciple of the Mountain Lord and also my junior brother. I believe he is truly on our side, an absolute ally of the ancient beings. Isn’t that right, junior brother?"
Zhang Ruochen showed no sign of guilt, meeting the Divine Musician’s gaze. "If I had any ulterior motives, I would not have gone to awaken the Mountain Lord, nor would I have rushed to Ba Ling at this time with the Mountain Lord. Yuan Clan’s Empress, you insist on taking the enmity between Zhang Ruochen and me onto yourself, twisting black into white and laying false blame—what is your intention?"
Before Zhang Ruochen could finish, exclamations erupted throughout the hall.
"The Mountain Lord has returned?"
"Really? Could it be..."
Many eyes turned toward the masked Ming Gu, their interest in the conflict between Yuan Sheng and the Saint Musician fading.
Few of the Emperors present had ever seen the Mountain Lord’s true form.
Even the calm-headed Head Seven Sword Emperor and Dragon Emperor rose to their feet. Earlier, the Divine Musician had retracted his giant form manifestation, appearing in his true body at the top of the hall.
Ming Gu fixed his gaze on the Divine Musician, his aura steadily rising. His voice was deep and low. "Eagle, have you forgotten your master?"
The names of Gong Nanfeng’s three disciples were Divine Eagle, Immortal Butterfly, and Spirit Swallow.
After a long silence, the Divine Musician stepped forward, clasping his hands in salute. "Greetings, Master! I never expected the Master to still be in the mortal world. My heart is too shaken; only now have I awoken from this dream."
"Greetings, Mountain Lord."
The various Emperors in the hall then bowed to Ming Gu.
Zhang Ruochen realized that the Divine Musician was now the true leader of the ancient clans. The so-called Mountain Lord, without displaying formidable strength, could not command obedience.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen began to wonder. Given the Divine Musician’s status, he should know that the Mountain Lord was merely the remnant soul of the Life Ancestor. Even Kui Liang Huang and the Soul Devouring Lamp knew this.
So why didn’t the Divine Musician expose Ming Gu on the spot?
Zhang Ruochen had prepared a series of countermeasures, but now they were useless.
Clearly, the Divine Musician was deeply calculating and likely had other plans.
Zhang Ruochen grew more vigilant, strengthening his resolve to ally with the Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan, to weaken the Divine Musician’s control over the Twelve Ancient Clans as much as possible.
While everyone’s attention was on Ming Gu and the Divine Musician, Zhang Ruochen sensed a gaze fixed on him. Turning his head, he met the eyes of Yu Zhuan.
Both smiled at each other.
In this hall, aside from the Divine Musician, Zhang Ruochen’s greatest wariness was toward this Great Light possessor. An Ancestor—especially one like Great Light, whose fame shook the ages—who knew what secret arts he might command?
The Divine Musician said, "Since the Master has returned, please take the high seat and preside over today’s oath-taking assembly."
"Oath-taking assembly? Are you preparing to launch an all-out war against the Hell Realm?" Ming Gu did not decline, walking directly toward the highest seat.
The Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor stepped to the center of the hall. "We have received news that the Great Demon God is not dead. The three Half-Ancestors of the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm will join forces to enter the Nether Prison to eliminate the threat. This is our perfect opportunity to strike!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "May I ask the Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor, where did you receive this information?"
The Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor looked at Yu Zhuan and introduced him. "This is Ancestor Great Light! Representing the Paradise Realm, he has come to form an alliance with us. Once we launch our attack, the Heavenly Court Universe will respond from the Starry Sky Defense Line. Then the Hell Realm will be caught between two fronts, and our great plan can succeed."
"Is that so? As far as I know, the Paradise Realm cannot represent the entire Heavenly Court Universe."
Zhang Ruochen did not expose Yu Zhuan on the spot, for with Yu Zhuan’s cultivation and special status, he might indeed secretly control the Paradise Realm.
Perhaps he could use this opportunity to test it.
Yu Zhuan’s body was always bathed in radiant light, his features handsome and divine. He sighed, "The Heavenly Court Universe has suffered under the Hell Realm for too long. As long as you strike first, catching the Hell Realm off guard, the Paradise Realm will naturally rise up. When cultivators from all realms see the chance to destroy the Hell Realm, how could they not act? Decades of hatred will erupt in an instant, igniting the entire Yellow Spring Star River. Then we will divide the Hell Realm among us."
He continued, "You must have sensed the earlier divine battle! If the Heavenly Mother were still on the defense line, how could she not have acted? Would she have watched me escape without a fight? Without a doubt, the Heavenly Mother’s true body has gone to the Nether Prison. Now is the best time to declare war. Delay, and the opportunity will be lost."
The flames of war ignited in the hearts of the Emperors.
They had waited too long for this day.
The Heavenly Mother, guarding the Hell Realm’s defense line, was naturally the greatest threat, making them hesitant to act rashly. The reinforcements from other Hell Realm clans also worried them.
Once they fell into the quagmire of war, they would inevitably end up mutually destroying the Hell Realm—a result they absolutely did not want.
To win, and to minimize casualties.
With the arrival of the Paradise Realm’s representative, their last concern was resolved.
If not now, when?
The Emperors clamored for battle, their morale high.
The Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan both looked at Zhang Ruochen, waiting for him to step forward and establish a fair and just war strategy.
Zhang Ruochen did not disappoint them. He spoke, "I am quite curious about one thing. I ask Great Light to clarify."
"Please, Saint Musician, speak." Yu Zhuan said politely.
Zhang Ruochen said, "May I ask, what is the relationship between Great Light and those destroyers? Why did that sword cultivator earlier save you? Yes, now is the time for war, but this conflict is fraught with countless uncertainties. Even if the Twelve Ancient Clans win, they will pay a terrible price, with countless deaths. If we fail, many races may be wiped out."
"But for the destroyers, as long as the Twelve Ancient Clans go to war, they are the absolute winners. They can stir up trouble from within, dragging the Heavenly Court Universe, the Hell Realm, and us into the mire of war."
"They will never allow any side to win. So I ask, Great Light, are you a destroyer?"
In an instant, the hall fell silent, so quiet you could hear a pin drop.
Facing Zhang Ruochen’s aggressive offensive, Yu Zhuan remained calm and turned the tables. "It seems the Saint Musician bears deep hostility toward the Paradise Realm. Could you be an old acquaintance? Could you dispel your transformation technique and show us your true face, so we can see who you really are?"
Yu Zhuan’s words exposed Zhang Ruochen’s use of a transformation technique, startling many present, for they had not noticed it.
While suspicion grew toward Zhang Ruochen, deep wariness also arose toward Yu Zhuan’s cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I, this master, have a clear conscience. What harm is there in dispelling the technique? But I fear this is your scheme, aimed at probing my true identity, then returning to the Heavenly Court Universe to leak it, using bloodless means to kill me."
Zhang Ruochen said this to tell everyone present that since he was lurking in the upper realm, it was only natural to conceal his identity and appearance.
Zhang Ruochen took out a long flute. "This bamboo flute was cut from the Hongmeng Radiant Divine Bamboo by the Mountain Lord himself, in the presence of the Divine Musician, the Immortal Musician, and several Emperors. It is the only token of the Saint Musician. Some Emperors have fallen, but the Divine Musician is here, and the Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor was also present at the time, right?"
"Hmph!"
Ming Gu let out a heavy snort, filled with rage. The Hongmeng divine light within him rippled like waves, striking every cultivator in the hall.
"Whoever dares to question the Saint Musician questions me. If any upper-realm being dares to divide us, they will face death."
The Golden Clan’s Emperor stepped forward, his expression grim. "Great Light, you have yet to answer: what is your relationship with that destroyer sword cultivator?"
As an Indestructible Infinite, he naturally respected an Ancestor, but he felt no fear toward an Ancestor’s remnant soul.
Yu Zhuan shook his head gently. "I cannot answer that, for I do not know that destroyer sword cultivator. The Saint Musician is right: once war breaks out, the destroyers are guaranteed to win. I suspect the destroyer sword cultivator acted to prevent me from dying at the hands of Nutian Shenzun and the others. He wanted me to reach Ba Ling and form an alliance with you all."
"In truth, the destroyers are nothing to fear—a bunch of cowards who have long since lost their nerve. Lei Fa Tianzun, Yan Jun, Bei Xi, Ming Zu, Kui Liang Huang—all are dead. The Quantity Organization and the Ancient Chaos Demons have all perished. Who dares to show their face?"
"Once war begins, they may stir up trouble, but they cannot affect the overall situation. We are the biggest winners! If possible, we can join forces to wipe them all out."
Yu Zhuan’s words were highly inflammatory, precisely striking the pride of the ancient beings and their eagerness to return to the upper realm.
"A bunch of cowards who dare not show themselves are indeed nothing to fear. If that so-called destroyer sword cultivator appears, I will use him to test my sword," said the Head Seven Sword Emperor.
Since repelling Jiusi Yitianhuang earlier, the Head Seven Sword Emperor’s assessment of upper-realm cultivators had lowered further.
But he forgot that Jiusi Yitianhuang had only just broken through to the Heavenly Venerable rank, and several Emperor-level figures had activated the ancestral formation at Wujian Ridge to suppress him.
More importantly, in the lower realm, the rules of heaven and earth were chaotic, darkness devoured everything, and Profound Meaning could hardly function.
Jiusi Yitianhuang was weakened by multiple forces, while the Head Seven Sword Emperor held the advantage of terrain. With such a disparity, how could Jiusi Yitianhuang not retreat?
Now, entering the upper realm, the advantages and disadvantages had swapped, and he would be the one weakened.
But the ancient beings’ ingrained pride and contempt for the upper realm’s later-born beings made them deeply arrogant.
Zhang Ruochen did not continue targeting Yu Zhuan, lest he be detected. Instead, he laughed loudly, drawing everyone’s attention, and said, "You are all too optimistic. Perhaps you do not know the latest situation in the Hell Realm. Fengdu Dadi has returned. With the help of the Sword Source Divine Tree, Xu Fengjin has also stepped into the Heavenly Venerable rank. Furthermore, with Lady Shiji’s aid, Shi Bei’ya has refined the world spirit of a Stone God Star and may have also broken through."
"Even if the Heavenly Mother has left, can the Twelve Ancient Clans defeat such a force? Even if we win, what price will we pay?"
A single stone stirred a thousand waves!
Zhang Ruochen had thrown not one, but three stones.
"How is this possible? Is breaking through to the Heavenly Venerable rank so easy?"
"If the enemy’s defense line has several Heavenly Venerables, even if we win this war, we will likely be annihilated."
"Once war breaks out, it will only escalate, never stop."
"If what the Saint Musician says is true, this war must be reconsidered."
The Emperors discussed among themselves.
One Heavenly Venerable, they had ways to suppress and kill.
Two Heavenly Venerables, they could barely handle.
But three Heavenly Venerables, opening three battlefields and splitting them apart, would have disastrous consequences. Not to mention fierce characters like Shi Bei’ya and Feng Caiyi, whose cultivation was not far behind a Heavenly Venerable.
The Head Seven Sword Emperor said coldly and arrogantly, "Even if they have broken through, so what? We only need to invite the Immortal Musician. I and the Divine Musician will each handle one. The Phoenix Emperor and Dragon Emperor, working together, can deal with another."
"Moreover, the Mountain Lord and the Saint Musician have returned. We hold the absolute advantage."
Zhang Ruochen was about to refute the Head Seven Sword Emperor’s arrogance when Yu Zhuan spoke first. "If Fengdu Dadi has returned, then Half-Ancestor Di should also be back, so he cannot extricate himself. That is one point."
"Second, if the destroyers want us to break through the defense line and invade the Hell Realm’s interior, then today’s battle, they will certainly help us."
"Third, today I will fight alongside you all. I will break the Tianshu Great Wall and deal with Feng Caiyi, how about that?"
"The Saint Musician worries too much! But speaking of which, why is the Saint Musician so well-informed about the Hell Realm’s situation? Does the Saint Musician know much about the Death Clan of the Upper Three Clans?"
Zhang Ruochen had deliberately not mentioned Qingtian, who had already broken through to ninety-three steps, to guide everyone present to speculate that his identity was Qingtian.
Combined with the act he and Yuan Sheng had put on earlier, it was perfect.
Wasn’t Qingtian one of those most eager to kill Zhang Ruochen?
And nine hundred years ago, Qingtian had also been in the Santu River region.
Zhang Ruochen stared at Yu Zhuan for a moment and said flatly, "The Death Clan has always been low-key, with little information leaking out."
These old fellows present naturally did not believe it, and suspicion had already arisen in their hearts.
The Divine Musician said, "If there are no objections, we can now proceed with the previous decision and launch a full-scale attack on the Hell Realm. All Emperors, go and dispatch your troops..."
"Wait!"
Ming Gu suddenly spoke. "Why should we act now, letting the destroyers be the guaranteed winners? In fact, we also have a chance to win without fail."
Yun Hunxuan sensed the Mountain Lord’s displeasure with the Divine Musician and naturally did not want to follow the previous war strategy. Willing to act as Ming Gu’s straight man, he asked, "May I ask the Mountain Lord, how can we win without fail?"
"Wait, wait for a better opportunity," Ming Gu said.
The Heavenly Mechanism Clan’s Emperor said, "We cannot wait. Opportunities slip away in an instant."
Ming Gu said, "You all heard what the Saint Musician said just now. If we go to war now, even if we win, we will pay a terrible price. This shows that now is not the best opportunity."
"Since the Great Demon God may not be dead, why not wait for him to emerge?"
The eyes of the Emperors present lit up.
The Golden Clan’s Emperor shouted, "The Mountain Lord is wise! If the Great Demon God emerges, he will surely vent his fury on the Heavenly Court Universe and the Hell Realm. When they have both suffered, we can strike."
Yu Zhuan said, "What if the three Half-Ancestors eliminate the Great Demon God?"
The Golden Clan’s Emperor said, "Even if the Great Demon God is weakened, he is still an Ancestor. The three Half-Ancestors will have to pay a price to eliminate him."
Ming Gu suddenly added, "Don’t forget, there is also a dark and eerie presence lurking in the shadows. If the Great Demon God dies, It will surely act. We can still sit on the mountain and watch the tigers fight, waiting for the right moment."
At this point, Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, bowing deeply to Ming Gu. "The Mountain Lord is truly the Mountain Lord, with such strategic composure. This is truly thinking of the lives of all ancient clan cultivators. Your disciple admires you from the bottom of my heart."
"The Mountain Lord is wise."
Not only the Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan, but also the Earth Clan’s Emperor and the Wood Clan’s Emperor stepped forward.
Then the Dragon Emperor and the Phoenix Emperor exchanged glances, walked to the center of the hall, and expressed their support for the Mountain Lord’s decision.
At this point, anyone could see that declaring war on the Hell Realm today was no longer possible.
Under the gaze of many Emperors, the Divine Musician was the first to applaud. "What the Master says is very true. Your disciple’s considerations were insufficient. Indeed, we should wait a little longer."
The Emperors left the Hongmeng Hall one after another.
The Golden Clan’s Emperor and Yun Hunxuan, along with the Earth Clan’s Emperor and the Wood Clan’s Emperor, insisted on holding a banquet to welcome Zhang Ruochen and Ming Gu. The two could not refuse and had to go.
The Divine Musician kept Yuan Sheng behind, clasping his hands behind his back, gazing through the window lattice at the Hell Realm’s defense line deep in the void.
His eyes showed neither coldness nor anger, but beneath that calm gaze, it seemed as if stormy waves were brewing, making Yuan Sheng, who felt guilty, quite uneasy.
"He is not the Saint Musician!" the Divine Musician suddenly said.
Yuan Sheng struggled to suppress the panic in her heart, unsure how to respond.
The Divine Musician continued, "The real Saint Musician, I have tested, should be hiding in the Destiny Temple. Moreover, according to your intelligence, the Mountain Lord should have fallen nine hundred years ago."
Yuan Sheng said, "Why? Could it be... could the Mountain Lord be Kui Liang Huang or Ming Zu?"
The Divine Musician turned around, staring at her heroic and delicate face, and nodded. "However, the Mountain Lord’s aura has not changed; it doesn’t seem like someone else’s disguise. Then there is only one answer: nine hundred years ago, he set up a scheme, choosing to fake his death and go into hiding."
Yuan Sheng said, "And the Saint Musician? He might have originated from the Destiny Temple."
"Since the Mountain Lord is not dead, the Saint Musician may not be dead either," the Divine Musician said.
With these words, Yuan Sheng understood that the Divine Musician knew that Kui Liang Huang was the Saint Musician, or suspected that Kui Liang Huang was the Saint Musician, and thus doubted Zhang Ruochen’s identity.
"I will find a way to test this myself. You must not act alone. You understand, I care very much about your safety."
The Divine Musician gave her a deep look, then continued, "If Fengdu Dadi has truly returned, Zhang Ruochen should also come to the Hell Realm’s defense line. Are you willing to infiltrate the line to see him?"
Yuan Sheng said, "Does the Divine Musician want me to use my relationship with Zhang Ruochen to investigate whether the Hell Realm’s specific situation is as the Saint Musician described?"
"Besides that, you must also investigate the Tiannan Life and Death Ruins to see if Qingcang is absent," the Divine Musician said.
Yuan Sheng said, "Does the Divine Musician suspect the Saint Musician is Qingcang?"
"It’s not impossible."
The Divine Musician’s gaze was affectionate. He extended his right hand, but Yuan Sheng took a step back.
Withdrawing his hand, he said, "Go, and be careful. Zhang Ruochen can be used, but do not develop true feelings. You are the purest royal bloodline of the ancient beings, the most noble existence in the world."