Chapter 3955: The Various Imperial Consorts
When Zhang Ruochen returned to the Zhang Clan in Wangshan, it was already late at night.
The mansion courtyards were deep and secluded, with high walls densely packed.
Lanterns hung from the eaves and corners, and patrols moved in teams.
Most of the Zhang Clan disciples here were descendants of Zhang Shaochu and Mingjiang Wang. Later, descendants of Chi Kunlun also moved in, with lineages passed down to this day.
As time flowed by, most cultivators from Zhang Ruochen's era who had not become gods had long since passed away.
Now, in the vast Zhang Clan estate, Zhang Ruochen recognized only a dozen or so people. Half of them had survived to this day only by refining Divine Sources to become false gods.
This time, Zhang Ruochen did not alert his descendants. He went straight deep into Wangshan to meet Gai Mie.
The folded space within Wangshan was vast and expansive, like a divine realm small world. Resources were abundant, sacred realms were everywhere, and many spiritual medicine fields had been cultivated.
It could be called a secluded paradise.
After the battle with Qishier Pin Lian, Gai Mie had entered the depths of Wangshan. No one knew what he intended to do.
The ancestral tomb forest buried the successive ancestors of the Kunlun Realm Zhang Clan. It was located deep in Wangshan, consisting of tomb mounds the size of a thousand mountains, all shrouded in nine-colored divine light.
Inside the nine-colored divine light, chaotic divine qi and chaotic rules permeated, causing the heaven and earth rules of the surrounding space to undergo strange and wondrous changes.
The two divine beasts guarding the tomb forest, the "Elephant-Swallowing Rabbit" and the "Demon Ape," both cultivated the demonic path. Not only did they not attack Gai Mie, but they also sent him various sacred fruits, rare treasures, and fine wines.
The two of them had been introduced into the sacred realm by Xiao Hei and guided to godhood by Jie Tian.
At this moment, Xiao Hei and Jie Tian were taking turns scolding them.
"You two beasts! I told you to guard the cemetery, but instead you've invited a wolf into the house. Isn't he just a Demon Dao Supreme Pillar? What's so worthy of your flattery? Where did this wine come from?"
"Raised in vain, truly raised in vain! Where is your backbone? Fight! Drive him out. I warned you: anyone who trespasses into the ancestral land will be killed without mercy!"
One was a Heavenly Venerable, the other a God Venerable. The Elephant-Swallowing Rabbit and the Demon Ape dared not refute. They crouched on the ground, left and right, looking aggrieved. Where was the majesty of demonic path divine beasts?
After all, the other party was a Heavenly Venerable-rank. How could they fight?
Besides, Gai Mie had even guided them in cultivation. This was guidance from a Heavenly Venerable-rank, something that would benefit them for life.
Gai Mie's burly body, like a small mountain, stood motionless at the edge of the ancestral tomb forest, observing the chaotic rules within the nine-colored divine light. He seemed to have turned into a stone statue.
The aura emanating from him, released at all times, made even gods feel a sense of awe, as if looking up at a high mountain.
He wanted very much to break into the tomb forest to investigate, but every time he stepped into the nine-colored divine light, powerful spatial fluctuations would emanate from deep within the forest, and an extremely dangerous feeling would arise in his heart.
This forced him to retreat again and again.
If it were truly just an ancestral tomb, how could it make a Heavenly Venerable-rank feel danger?
As the ancestor closest to this era, his influence on this era was unmatched by anyone. Naturally, he must be hiding the greatest secret of this age.
After listening to Xiao Hei and Jie Tian's veiled scolding for a long time, Gai Mie finally moved. He said calmly, "These two have decent talent. Why not let them follow me? Their future achievements will surely be higher than guarding a tomb forest."
Jie Tian glared at him and said, "I spent so many resources to raise them to godhood. Do you think you can just take them away?"
Xiao Hei was very wary of Gai Mie's terrifying Heavenly Venerable-rank might. It felt as if a single glance could tear his body apart, but he still said in a deep voice, "The Supreme Pillar has a great reputation, but unfortunately, he is a lone man. He has to do everything himself. Are you trying to take on two little brothers to command?"
Gai Mie laughed. "Countless gods in the world wish to follow me but cannot."
"It is indeed their fortune to be able to follow the Supreme Pillar." A clear voice sounded in the wind.
The next moment, Zhang Ruochen's figure appeared out of thin air before everyone.
The Elephant-Swallowing Rabbit was overjoyed, its eyes almost popping out of their sockets. It called out, "Master Chen!"
The Demon Ape let out a long roar to the sky, knelt on one knee, and saluted: "Master!"
Zhang Ruochen nodded to them, then looked at Gai Mie. His gaze was calm, but it carried a sharp momentum that confronted him tit for tat: "The Supreme Pillar has come to the Zhang Clan ancestral land. May I ask what business you have?"
Gai Mie had helped the Kunlun Realm deal with powerful enemies, and for that, he deserved gratitude.
But trespassing into the Zhang Clan ancestral land was another matter entirely. This was not the behavior of an ally.
It was like an acquaintance who helped you fight someone outside, but while you were away, he stole from your home. Even if he had not yet acted, it was a dangerous signal.
At the very least, it showed that Gai Mie did not take the Zhang Clan seriously, which was why he acted so willfully. If the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable were still alive, would he dare to casually break into the Zhang Clan ancestral land?
Gai Mie could certainly hear the questioning tone in Zhang Ruochen's voice. His torch-like demonic eyes stared at him and said, "I heard that the Emperor Chen suppressed that mysterious sword cultivator in the Heavenly Court?"
"How could I have such strength? I have only just broken through to the middle stage of Indestructible Infinite."
Zhang Ruochen took another step toward Gai Mie, his arms slightly spreading. As space trembled, his Divine Realm World unfolded a corner behind him.
The Nine Heavens Celestial World appeared in the spatial divine light behind Zhang Ruochen, emitting Ancestor Divine Qi and Ancestor Rules that were of the same origin as the nine-colored divine light in the tomb forest and resonated with it.
Zhang Ruochen's body was bathed in a waterfall of nine-colored Ancestor Divine Qi, making him appear even taller and more resilient.
"Hua! Hua! Hua!"
Beams of divine light bloomed!
Chan Bing, Qiangu Nüdi, Xiu Chen Heavenly God, Yuan Sheng, and Wuwo Lamp all emerged from the Ninth Heaven Celestial World, floating beneath the Time Divine Tree.
At the same time, A Fuya, Chi Yao, Ji Fanxin, Bai Qinger, and Wu Yue arrived later at the edge of the ancestral tomb forest.
On the scene, the number of Indestructible Infinite-level combatants reached six: Zhang Ruochen, Chan Bing, Jie Tian, Yuan Sheng, A Fuya, and Wuwo Lamp.
Additionally, there were eight Great Unbound Infinite-level combatants: Qiangu Nüdi, Chi Yao, Zangjin Baihu, Ji Fanxin, Bai Qinger, Xiu Chen Heavenly God, and Wu Yue.
It could be said that this force was by no means inferior to the ten Heavenly Venerables of the Heavenly Court or the Hell Realm.
This did not even include the Snow Domain Star Sea Divine Army, the Stone Clan cultivators on the two Stone God Stars, and the Ancestor Power of the Nine Heavens Celestial World.
With such a formation, and at the Zhang Clan ancestral land, Zhang Ruochen was fully confident of suppressing a Heavenly Venerable-rank.
Naturally, this was a show of strength, a warning to Gai Mie not to cross his bottom line. A Heavenly Venerable-rank's cultivation might indeed allow him to do whatever he wanted in the universe, but in the Kunlun Realm, in the ancestral family of an ancestor... it was not enough.
Gai Mie stared at Zhang Ruochen for a moment, then the demonic flame in his eyes dissipated. He straightened his robe and smiled. "I have long admired the name of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, so I came specifically to pay my respects."
"I see. I thought the Supreme Pillar wanted to move the Heavenly Venerable's tomb," Zhang Ruochen said.
Gai Mie waved his hand. "This misunderstanding is huge! We are allies. I have principles. Two gentlemen, may I ask a bold question: Has the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable truly fallen?"
He first looked at Zhang Ruochen, then at Jie Tian.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why does the Supreme Pillar ask this?"
Gai Mie naturally would not mention the dangerous feeling he had when stepping into the tomb. He said, "In the battle half a month ago, near Wangshan, the killing intent was thick and condensed into clouds, threatening to annihilate the Zhang Clan in one fell swoop. But at that time, some strange commotion came from within Wangshan, which scared her away."
The gods present all showed expressions of surprise and doubt.
"What strange commotion?"
"It sounded like a dog barking, faint but like thunder," Gai Mie said.
Zhang Ruochen fell into thought. After a moment, he said, "Would the Supreme Pillar be willing to stay in the Kunlun Realm for a long time?"
Gai Mie was slightly startled, then laughed heartily. "This time, resisting Qishier Pin Lian was not very successful, but it did block them and buy time for the Kunlun Realm gods to activate the protective divine formation. At the same time, it foiled their plan to seize the Sword Pavilion. And now, the Sword Realm has moved into the Wuding Divine Sea. I have fulfilled my promise to Kong Fannu!"
"I must first return to the White Clothes Valley to collect my reward. Qishier Pin Lian's combat power is extraordinary. Once I obtain the Ancestor Demon Heart and devour the Heavenly Dao Esoterica, my combat power will advance, and I will definitely fight her again."
Gai Mie's words were a tactful refusal of Zhang Ruochen's offer, clearly indicating that he was unwilling to attach himself to Zhang Ruochen or the Kunlun Realm banner.
This was understandable!
In the current Zhang Ruochen, or even the entire Sword Realm faction, Gai Mie definitely did not believe anyone was stronger than him. How could the proud and unruly Supreme Pillar submit to such a force?
A demon should walk alone, free and unrestrained.
But Gai Mie's words also revealed another piece of information. Even though Qishier Pin Lian had lost the Luo River, the Heaven and Earth Chess Platform, and the Four Directions Great Universe Seal, her combat power was still terrifying. This made Gai Mie think that he must obtain the Demon Heart and devour the Heavenly Dao Esoterica before he could fight her.
It should be noted that Gai Mie was the third pillar of the Supreme, ranked above Qiangshake, Meng Ge, and Yan Jun, second only to the Ancestor Heavenly Demon and the Half-Ancestor Ba Er.
At the same realm, he was no weakling. His combat power should be very formidable.
With Qishier Pin Lian, a scheming enemy intent on destroying the Zhang Clan, plotting in the shadows, any cultivator would find it hard to sleep or eat in peace.
Zhang Ruochen did not blame Candeng for letting Qishier Pin Lian escape back then. After all, this was not Candeng's grudge. When one's cultivation reached such heights, the way one looked at problems might be completely different.
What was the point of killing one person?
Killing Qishier Pin Lian would inevitably create countless karmic ties with Hao Tian, Nutian Shenzun, Xuanyuan Lian, the Dark and Strange... and many others. He might not fear them, but there was no need to do something he could avoid.
What was the point of saving one person?
The person saved might later feed on other creatures, commit killings and sins. Would the deaths of those creatures, and those killings and sins, count as the cause he sowed and the effect he reaped?
Therefore, at the Heavenly Human Academy, Candeng was able to lend a hand and drive away Qishier Pin Lian. Zhang Ruochen was already very grateful.
As Gai Mie was leaving, he said, "If the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable is not dead, or if you step into the Half-Ancestor realm before me, I will definitely come to visit again."
Gai Mie took away Guoguo and the Demon Ape, which Zhang Ruochen had forced upon him.
A demon cultivator like Gai Mie, who had survived the chaotic ancient times and became the fourth-ranked figure of that era, must have his own brilliance.
If Guoguo and the Demon Ape could learn even one or two percent from him, they would surely become demonic path giants in the future.
After Gai Mie's aura disappeared from the Kunlun Realm, Xiao Hei finally burst out laughing. "Too awesome! Truly the Emperor Chen, intimidating even the legendary Supreme Pillar until he lost all his arrogance. You don't know, when I faced him alone earlier, my legs could barely stand straight. His demonic might was too domineering!"
Jie Tian swept his gaze over the women present and said seriously, "The momentum was enough, but your cultivation is still far from Gai Mie's! If it weren't for the presence of so many imperial consorts here, strong enough to intimidate a Heavenly Venerable-rank, could we have done it? I, the old ancestor, am just a false god, but I still have to say: the Emperor Chen has too few children, and the Zhang Clan has just suffered a great calamity... Let me finish, will you?"
"I'm going back to the Fallen God Island to go into seclusion. I won't meddle in the Zhang Clan's family affairs." Qiangu Nüdi flew out from the Ninth Heaven Celestial World and left directly.
"I'm just an artifact spirit. Don't spread rumors."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God concealed his form and disappeared into the Ancestor Divine Qi.
Chan Bing let out a cold snort, clearly having a strong objection to Jie Tian's earlier words.
Jie Tian raised his voice and said, "How about considering it again? My Ruochen is a future ancestor!"
Even Zhang Ruochen, with his calm and steady mind, felt extremely embarrassed.
Chi Yao, Bai Qinger, and Ji Fanxin all frowned slightly. Only Wu Yue could still smile in response, completely unconcerned by Jie Tian's nonsense.
Yuan Sheng walked out of the Nine Heavens Celestial World, stared into Zhang Ruochen's eyes, and said calmly, "This time... thank you. Refining and merging the remnants of Luotuoluo's Ancestor Soul and divine body essence has benefited me greatly."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Are you leaving?"
Yuan Sheng nodded. "I'm worried about leaving Da Zhanglao alone. I am the clan emperor of the Primordial Path Clan. The cultivators of the entire clan are waiting for me."
At this moment, there was no weakness in her. She was filled with the courage to face any challenge, as heroic as Qiangu Nüdi.
"Yuan Sheng, you promised me. If you want to go back, first hold the wedding, and it's best to get pregnant. Then I will definitely let you go! The Kunlun Realm Zhang Clan needs a descendant of pure-blooded primordial beings." Jie Tian spoke earnestly, not joking at all.
Yuan Sheng looked at Zhang Ruochen with a pleading gaze.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Haven't you seen a child born from a primordial being and a human? Go have one with Su Yin yourself! Yuan Sheng, be careful on the road. Take this talisman that conceals aura and heavenly secrets."
After Yuan Sheng left, Jie Tian's expression grew increasingly ugly. He muttered to himself, "You think you're helping her, but you don't understand a girl's heart at all. Do you think she really wants to leave? If you had taken the initiative to persuade her to stay, she would be ten times happier than she is now. Tell me, am I right?"
Wu Yue smiled, her bright teeth showing. "The old ancestor is absolutely right! From any perspective, the Emperor Chen should keep the Yuan Clan Emperor. It would be beneficial in every way, with no harm. But feelings lie in the heart. With the Emperor Chen's current mood, how could his mind be on romantic matters?"
Jie Tian laughed heartily. "No wonder you are the wife married in the Destiny Temple with proper rites. Your vision is indeed different. It is I who am wrong. I did not consider this layer."
Hearing this, Bai Qinger and Ji Fanxin took their leave one after another, claiming they would continue to help restore the terrain and vitality of the Eastern Domain.
Jie Tian naturally understood what was going on. "One is an Eon-level genius, the other is a hundred percent certain to step into Heavenly Circle Without Deficiency. Both are rare and extraordinary women in the world. They listen to you and follow you through life and death. This makes all the men in the world envious. You should get things done quickly, and you must give them the titles they deserve."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Shall we go into the tomb together?"
Jie Tian knew what Zhang Ruochen was thinking, because he had guessed the same thing. So, he nodded.