# Chapter 3999: On Star Heaven Cliff
The Star Sea Angler, Yu Lisheng, was one of the most unique old-generation powerhouses in the universe. Having lived for over a million years, he was simultaneously one of the Heavenly Court's Twenty Heavens, one of the Hell Realm's Twenty Heavens, and now one of the pillar figures of the Sword Realm.
During the most intense periods of war between the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm, he alone chose neutrality and managed to remain untouched.
He sat in command of Sea Stone Star Harbor, controlled the Hundred Clans Royal City, and complemented Xinghuantian.
At the end of the Middle Ages, when the God-Defying Clan suffered catastrophic destruction, none of the gods from the Heavenly Court or Hell Realm dared to speak of it, treating it as taboo. Yet the Star Sea Angler dared to shelter the survivors of the God-Defying Clan and even accepted Bai Qinger as his disciple.
Yu Lisheng lived a low-key life, rarely involving himself in the conflicts of the universe. The world only knew him as a descendant of "Yu Long," the eldest disciple of the Xinghuan Heavenly Venerable.
The Xinghuan Heavenly Venerable was the number one under heaven three million years ago. After his death, his body was divided among four disciples, transforming into the Heavenly Venerable's Gauze Treasure, Heavenly Venerable's Divine Source, Heavenly Venerable's Divine Body, and Heavenly Venerable's World.
This was the origin of the tale "Four Disciples Dismember the Corpse"!
The eldest disciple, Yu Long, primarily cultivated spiritual power.
The second disciple, Yu Chen, meticulously studied Daoist secret methods. He failed to merge with the Heavenly Venerable's Divine Source and could not comprehend the Undying Curse Art, dying beneath the Yu Chen Divine Temple on Xinghuantian.
The third disciple, Yu Hun, cultivated various evil arts. Using the Corpse Transformation Forbidden Art, he refined the Xinghuan Heavenly Venerable's corpse into his own body, becoming an Old Corpse Ghost. He was sealed beneath the Yu Chen Divine Temple by the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable.
The fourth disciple, Yu Chan, created the "Cloud Dream Thirteen Chapters" and was the founder of the Goddess Twelve Pavilions.
Zhang Ruochen analyzed everything he knew about the Star Sea Angler, discovering that although he had no direct connection to those suspected of being Immortals, he had many indirect ties to the Nether Ancestor Faction.
These even included his disciple, Bai Qinger.
The divine artifact Bai Qinger controlled, the World-Destroying Bell, was precisely the Nether Ancestor's battle treasure.
And Bai Qinger, guided by the World-Destroying Bell, had gone to an unknown ancestral battlefield, a place filled with strangeness.
Why did the World-Destroying Bell guide her to that ancestral battlefield? What was the purpose?
And why had Bai Qinger lost those memories?
Zhang Ruochen pondered deeply. The more he thought, the more something felt wrong. If the Star Sea Angler truly kept himself aloof, unwilling to participate in right and wrong, and chose neutrality for that reason...
Then why did he manage the Hundred Clans Royal City?
Why did the Mandala Flower Goddess of Thousand Stamen Realm follow his lead?
He had overlooked these doubts before because Zhang Ruochen owed the Star Sea Angler many favors. Moreover, because of his relationships with Bai Qinger and Ji Fanxin, Zhang Ruochen had always regarded him as a respectable elder, subconsciously unwilling to suspect him.
Arriving at Cangjin Continent, beneath Star Heaven Cliff, looking at the red crow trees covering the cliff like flames, Zhang Ruochen's eyes were filled with worry. "Grandmaster, this Senior Yu is no ordinary person!"
What Zhang Ruochen could think of, Yunshen Daozhu naturally could as well.
"Ruochen, there might be misunderstandings in all this. You have multiple relationships with Senior Yu; it's not appropriate to create a rift over this matter. How about letting Grandmaster meet him alone? Let Grandmaster be the villain. That way, the impact on the Sword Realm can be minimized," Yunshen Daozhu said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "He must already know I'm here. No matter how dangerous this journey is, I must personally uncover the truth and give an explanation to the gods of the War Ancestor Divine Army who died. Let's go, Grandmaster. Together, we ascend Star Heaven Cliff."
The red crow tree was known as the most ferocious plant in the universe, unique to Star Heaven Cliff. Once the fruits on the tree ripened, a fire crow would fly out from within.
Where the fire crow landed, a new red crow tree would grow, as if it could live forever, reproducing at an unparalleled speed.
The master of Star Heaven Cliff, the Old Woodcutter, had been felling trees on Star Heaven Cliff for over a million years, yet he still hadn't cut them all down.
If not for the Old Woodcutter's daily chopping, the Red Crow Clan would have long become the number one clan in the universe.
Star Heaven Cliff was enormous, larger than a million life-bearing planets combined. The air was filled with five-colored chaotic divine qi, and the space itself was constantly expanding.
...
At the cliff top.
The Star Sea Angler, with neatly combed white hair, dressed in coarse linen clothes, stood at the edge of the steep, towering cliff.
Even though the cold wind was fierce, it could not lift a corner of his clothes or a single strand of his hair.
"Juren, how many years have you been cultivating with me?"
"One million three hundred and ten thousand years."
The Old Woodcutter stood five steps away, his blue robe washed to a grayish white, a notched firewood knife tucked at his waist, standing silently.
"Ten eons. Time truly flies."
The Star Sea Angler sighed like this, then continued, "You haven't walked down from Star Heaven Cliff all these years, imprisoned for ten eons. Today, you should leave. Go down the cliff, walk through heaven and earth, see the world."
The Old Woodcutter's always calm face showed an expression of incomprehensible surprise. "Master is driving me away? I once made a great vow: not to cut down all the red crow trees, not to descend from Star Heaven Cliff."
The Star Sea Angler did not turn around, only looking at the sea of clouds. "But the red crow trees are not something you can cut down completely."
The Old Woodcutter's fingers trembled slightly. "But you once said that once I cut down all the red crow trees, my spiritual power would reach the ninetieth rank."
The Star Sea Angler said, "Then have you ever considered that it might be precisely because of my words that you have never been able to break through to the ninetieth rank?"
The Old Woodcutter seemed to suddenly understand something, yet also seemed to become even more confused. "So what you said earlier, about me being imprisoned for ten eons, that's what you meant?"
The Star Sea Angler did not answer his question but said lightly, "How much lifespan do you have left? Go down the cliff. Perhaps you can still break through before your lifespan runs out and extend your life for a while. By the way, I killed your entire family. I needed to borrow your identity. You were just an infant then, so knowing this wouldn't have helped. Now that you know, at least you have motivation to cultivate."
Zhang Ruochen and Yunshen Daozhu arrived at the cliff top, passing by the dejected Old Woodcutter as he descended the cliff. They did not disturb each other.
Looking at the tall, gaunt figure by the cliff, Zhang Ruochen said, "Before I came, I thought there must be some misunderstanding. Now it seems I underestimated the cunning of you old-generation cultivators."
The Star Sea Angler said, "When it comes to cunning and wisdom, I am far from ranking among the top in this heaven and earth."
Zhang Ruochen got straight to the point. "Indeed. You hid for so many years, yet were exposed because of A Fuya. Truly most unfortunate. What is your purpose?"
The Star Sea Angler said, "The Dark Abyss cannot be suppressed. It must emerge. The universe needs a new balance of power."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Balance whom? The Time-Space Human Ancestor? The God Realm?"
The Star Sea Angler said, "Why not balance each other? Or perhaps, to deal with the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, who has been missing for many years? Zhang Ruochen, you and Chi Yao awakened Jin Ni. Have you already met the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "What does awakening Ancestor Jin Ni have to do with the Great Venerable? You're too sensitive. Are you afraid of the Great Venerable?"
The Star Sea Angler turned around, his face full of smiles. "In that battle ten eons ago, who wasn't injured? Jin Ni's divine soul and consciousness were shattered, weren't they? How could you possibly know the method to awaken him? Where is the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable recuperating? The Heavenly Venerable's Tomb in the Ancestral Land? The Divine Ancient Nest? The Jade Emperor Realm? The Abyss of Darkness?"
There was not a trace of abnormal fluctuation in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. "The Great Venerable is not an Immortal. His lifespan was limited. He has long fallen. Even his ancestral divine source was refined by Jie Tian. If he were still alive, how could the Zhang family have suffered multiple clan-extermination calamities, or the Saint Monk have fallen, without him lifting a finger?"
The Star Sea Angler said, "Because his opponents are Immortals, are Ancestors. Among us, whoever exposes themselves first must die. The more he conceals, the more it proves he is still alive."
Zhang Ruochen drew in a cold breath. Before ascending the cliff, he and Yunshen Daozhu had already guessed that he was no ordinary person, possibly an Immortal or an Ancestor. But hearing him admit it himself was a different kind of shock.
Zhang Ruochen's state of mind was stable. He had long embarked on the path of the strong and quickly recovered his composure. "Since whoever exposes themselves first must die, why do you dare to expose yourself now?"
The Star Sea Angler said, "Because the Dark Abyss has emerged. It has been placed on the surface, becoming a target. Also, because that one in the God Realm couldn't stand the loneliness and took the initiative to make a move. How could I not respond?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "When you say 'took the initiative to make a move,' are you referring to the Great Demon God being suppressed? Are you the Nether Ancestor?"
The Star Sea Angler's smile faded. An unparalleled intimidating aura surged toward Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen's body uncontrollably retreated backward. The entire world seemed to spin around him, but he remained calm, staring fixedly at the Star Sea Angler.
This was a martial power, not spiritual power.
"Whoosh!"
Yunshen Daozhu unfolded a formation disk beneath his feet, blocking the Star Sea Angler's pressure. "If I self-detonate my divine heart, even if you don't die, you will suffer severe damage to your vital energy. At that time, not to mention the God Realm, even the newly emerged Dark Abyss will not remember your kindness. It will take this opportunity to devour you completely."
The Star Sea Angler said, "If a spiritual power half-ancestor self-detonates their divine heart, how many cultivators in the thousand realms of Wuding Divine Sea can survive?"
"As long as you die, that's enough," Yunshen Daozhu said.
The Star Sea Angler locked eyes with Yunshen Daozhu. If there was even a trace of hesitation or doubt in Yunshen Daozhu's eyes, he would have full confidence in ending the battle before the self-detonation of the divine heart.
But there was none.
Yunshen Daozhu's will was extremely firm.
So firm that no one dared to gamble on it.
The Star Sea Angler withdrew his pressure and laughed. "If I wanted to kill you, would I have waited until now? In truth, Zhang Ruochen's achievements today are not without my arrangements."
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "Why did you help me?"
The Star Sea Angler said, "Because forging you into a sword can cut down my opponents. I cannot accomplish this alone. I have been unable to break the deadlock, but you might be able to in the future."
"But I can also cut you down," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Star Sea Angler said, "Once the flying birds are gone, the good bow is put away. Once the cunning hares are dead, the hunting dog is cooked. You are still far from qualified to be my enemy. When you have that qualification, your greatest enemy will not be me. How about a bet? Let's see who laughs last?"
"Fine, I accept. I will personally cut you down with my sword and give an explanation to the dead gods of the War Ancestor Divine Army," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Star Sea Angler gently shook his head. "You would make an enemy like me over the lives of such insignificant people? You treat this game too lightly. Aren't you afraid of angering me and making me kill you right now?"
"You treat human lives too lightly."
Zhang Ruochen continued, "You won't kill me because you think you know my weakness—that I care too much about the lives of my family and friends. As long as you grasp this weakness, you won't worry about me threatening you one day. Instead, I will become your sword, helping you kill."
The Star Sea Angler looked at Zhang Ruochen with a strange expression. "This weakness, you will never overcome!"
"When one's cultivation is strong enough, weaknesses cease to exist," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Good, very good. This is the confidence I need. Otherwise, I would cut you down today, because someone with insufficient mental fortitude cannot threaten my opponents."
The Star Sea Angler pointed at Yunshen Daozhu. "That includes you."
"Thank you for this affirmation, Senior Yu."
Yunshen Daozhu remained calm and composed, then continued, "Since you've said so much, could Senior Yu tell us how you made A Fuya turn against you?"
The Star Sea Angler said, "Is that difficult? When her life was in my hands, did she have any other choice?"
"That can't be all, can it?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If I'm not mistaken, you must have promised her a more complete method of immortality. The Undying Curse Art she went to comprehend at Xinghuantian before was merely the incomplete immortality method cultivated by the Great Demon God and Jiusi Yitianhuang."
"You're still trying to test my identity?" the Star Sea Angler said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Other than the Nether Ancestor, I can't think of anyone else."
"Zhang Ruochen, let me point you in a clear direction. When your cultivation advances another level, thoroughly investigate the interior of the Kunlun Realm. It's very interesting! Of course, don't investigate yet. Your strength is still insufficient. If you find out, you won't be able to do anything about it. Instead, it will bring great disaster. Haha!"
The Star Sea Angler laughed loudly. Star Heaven Cliff trembled violently, and the five-colored chaotic divine qi boiled.
Yunshen Daozhu's expression changed dramatically. He grabbed Zhang Ruochen's arm and immediately flashed away.
"Whoosh!"
The millions-of-miles-tall Star Heaven Cliff rapidly shrank, smashed through the spatial barrier of the Sword Realm, ignored the half-ancestor formations, and disappeared into the pitch-black Void World.
The disappearance of Star Heaven Cliff caused a tremendous shock throughout the entire Sword Realm.
Many gods flew toward Cangjin Continent to investigate the situation.
Zhang Ruochen stared fixedly at the broken spatial hole. "He can't be the Nether Ancestor. His exposure was too suspicious, as if he was desperately trying to cover up some secret. Who is he?"
Yunshen Daozhu said, "I originally thought he was the Nether Ancestor as well. But just now... Ruochen, did you notice what the shrunk Star Heaven Cliff looked like?"
Zhang Ruochen recalled the scene just now, furrowing his brow. "Like a pillar with a cliff on one side. That side was very flat."
"What if it's placed horizontally?" Yunshen Daozhu said.
A sharp light burst from Zhang Ruochen's eyes. "A stone bridge!"
"It's the Naihe Bridge, the true Naihe Bridge."
Yunshen Daozhu sighed. "Wind thunder eighty thousand towers, corpses and ghosts forge the Nether City. He should be the Corpse Nightmare among the 'Wind Thunder Corpse Ghosts' under the Nether Ancestor, or rather, the Yan Ancestor of the Yama Clan, the Ancestor of Yan Land."
Zhang Ruochen thought back to when the Star Sea Angler went to the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain to rescue Jiu Tian but mysteriously disappeared. Later, Yan Wushen told him that he had been suppressed by Bone Yama and imprisoned in Yan Land without being killed.
Even stranger, Yan Wushen had rescued him with ease.
Thinking about it now, he had truly been too young before, never deeply considering the anomalies in all of this.
(Chapter End)