Chapter 4000: Crisis of Trust
Zhang Ruochen was naturally no stranger to the Bridge of Helplessness.
Yan Wushen had once possessed one, using it as a battle weapon in their many clashes.
But according to his grandmaster's words, Star Heaven Cliff was the true "Bridge of Helplessness."
At present, Zhang Ruochen could not determine the truth of Yan Wushen's words back in the star domain of the Nether Prison. If they were true, then the master Yan Wushen had never met was likely not the Nether Ancestor, but Shi Yan, who had transformed into the Star Sea Angler.
Where, then, was the true Nether Ancestor?
Was it as Yan Wushen had guessed—that the Nether Ancestor was among the cultivators they knew well?
Many thoughts flashed through Zhang Ruochen's mind, listing numerous cultivators as suspects, including some extremely close to him.
The higher one stood, the fewer people one could fully trust, and everyone had to be guarded against. Because trusting the wrong person could cost the entire game.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Grandmaster, your understanding of the Kunlun Realm far surpasses mine. What do you think was the purpose of the Star Sea Angler's words just now? Was it to make me fall into suspicion? To sow discord between me and the cultivators around me? Or does a real hidden danger truly exist within the Kunlun Realm?"
Yunshen Daozhu did not immediately answer this question. He said, "Ruochen, after all, you have experienced too little, and you are willing to give everything for the cultivators around you. A Fuya's betrayal and Yu Linsheng revealing his true face must have had a huge impact on your heart. While we learn to be more cautious in the future, we should also respect our own hearts."
"Trust those you employ; do not employ those you doubt. If you suspect a cultivator by your side, distance yourself from him, guard against him, and remove him from the core. Or even use means to force him to reveal his flaws."
"But once you decide someone is worthy of trust, you must firmly believe in your own judgment. Otherwise, you will inevitably breed inner demons and fall into endless suspicion. For you, who is still advancing rapidly in cultivation, this would be devastating, slowing your progress or even halting it."
"Actually, even I, your grandmaster, cannot make an accurate judgment about Yu Linsheng's words. The Kunlun Realm is too vast, with cultivators numbering in the billions, inheriting for ten thousand ages, hiding many secrets. If someone has been laying plans from very early on, let alone you, even I..."
At this point, Yunshen Daozhu shook his head and sighed.
The appearance of an existence at the Primordial Ancestor level filled him with a sense of powerlessness.
"If an Immortal wants to conceal a secret, we cannot discover it. What we can discover might also be the direction someone else deliberately guided us toward."
In the distance, Old Drunkard, Yu Yao, Bai Qinger, Xu Wenzhi, Mandala Flower God, Ji Fanxin, and other cultivators related to Star Heaven Cliff arrived.
Yunshen Daozhu looked at them and said in a voice only the two of them could hear, "Ruochen, you must understand that Immortals live far longer than us. They can lay plans before we are even born. This first-mover advantage is enough for them to hide all flaws. When you suspect someone, you must ask yourself: Would an Immortal make such a mistake? Would they leave such a trace for you?"
"Talk with them well. For you, the most important thing now is to resolve the crisis of trust. Do not chill the hearts of the innocent. 'Better to kill the wrong person than let the guilty go' is the kingly way, but it is by no means the great way."
Yunshen Daozhu left. Zhang Ruochen recalled his words and felt his mind clear up considerably.
Yes, investigate what needs to be investigated, guard against what needs to be guarded against. But blind suspicion will only make things worse.
As long as one's cultivation is strong enough, many problems can be solved. That is the most important thing.
Bai Qinger said, "I saw Senior Brother. He came down from Star Heaven Cliff, left the Sword Realm, and headed north. I have never seen such a confused and desperate look in his eyes. I called out to him, but he seemed to have lost his soul and did not respond."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I will lock onto him with my spiritual power. He will not be in danger. Let him be alone for a while. I will find a way to help him out of his inner predicament."
"What exactly happened?" Old Drunkard asked.
Zhang Ruochen looked at each person present one by one and did not hide the truth. "The one who caused A Fuya to betray us is Yu Linsheng. For now, we speculate that his identity is Shi Yan, a subordinate of the Nether Ancestor, and his cultivation may have reached the Primordial Ancestor realm. The Cliff Master should be the true descendant of Yu Long, and his entire family was killed by Yu Linsheng."
Old Drunkard's emotions flared. "If it weren't you saying this, if it were anyone else, I would have smashed their head in!"
"Whoosh!"
Old Drunkard turned into a beam of light and rushed into the spatial hole that had not yet been fully repaired.
No matter what, he had to meet the Star Sea Angler in person and ask him face to face. For so many years, Old Drunkard had regarded him as a close friend, someone he could share life and death with.
Zhang Ruochen did not stop him, because Old Drunkard could never catch up to Yu Linsheng unless the latter chose to meet him.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Bai Qinger and found her much calmer than he had imagined.
Bai Qinger noticed Zhang Ruochen's gaze and said, "Chen Ge, how do you plan to deal with the cultivators of the Star Heaven Cliff faction?"
Xu Wenzhi, Mandala Flower God, and several other great gods from the Hundred Clans Royal City all became nervous. They knew that Zhang Ruochen had a decisive and ruthless side, never showing mercy to enemies.
Because of the Star Sea Angler, the Sword Realm's losses were not small. If a group of people were not purged, how could they explain to the cultivators of over a thousand great worlds?
An emperor like Zhang Ruochen could not bear the responsibility himself and let the world's cultivators curse him.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I plan to let you take over the great worlds and cultivators of the Star Heaven Cliff faction. I will not interfere with how you conduct the internal investigation. I trust your ability and methods, but regardless of the outcome, you must give me an answer within three years."
Bai Qinger said, "Can you still trust me?"
The seriousness on Zhang Ruochen's face disappeared, and he smiled. "If I can't even trust you, who in this vast Sword Realm can I trust? Don't overthink it. Even your Senior Brother, who followed Yu Linsheng for over a million years, didn't know his secret, let alone you?"
"Besides, if he really is Shi Yan under the Nether Ancestor, then the calamity of the Blazing Blood Curse in your Inverse Clan back then probably had a share of his involvement. He might even have been the one wielding the knife."
Hearing this, Yu Yao, who was born in the Inverse Clan and had experienced those events, fell into painful memories.
The elder she had always respected and been grateful to was actually her enemy?
"Leave the World-Destroying Bell with me. I expect that the Nether Ancestor will come to retrieve it one day."
After obtaining the World-Destroying Bell, Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "Fanxin, the Starry Sky Camp of the War Ancestor Divine Army will be under your command from now on."
"You know I never wanted to join the Divine Army," Ji Fanxin said.
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly. "But I have no one else to use now. This Camp Master position is yours and no one else's. The morale and military strength of the War Ancestor Divine Army must be restored as soon as possible. Danger is everywhere. The future of the War Ancestor Divine Army will not only clash with Half-Ancestors but also face Primordial Ancestors. Everyone must work hard."
Leaving Cangjin Continent, Zhang Ruochen went to the Kunlun Realm to check on Xiao Hei's injuries.
After treatment, the physical wounds on Xiao Hei's body had fully recovered.
But the trauma to his spirit and divine soul required a long period of recuperation, even with the divine pills refined by Tai Shang.
"Fortunately, this Emperor possesses the bloodlines of both the Undying Bird and the Undying Blood Clan, giving me unparalleled vitality. Otherwise, I would have fallen," Xiao Hei said, both emotional and somewhat proud.
Just as his injuries had recovered a bit, he started showing off again. He said, "Not to brag, but under the heavens, I am the only one who can withstand A Fuya's arrow and not die."
Zhang Ruochen said, "But I heard that Zangjin Baihu helped you bear most of the force."
With the Empress in seclusion, Zhang Ruochen had asked Chi Yao to temporarily serve as the Camp Master of the Thousand Bones Camp.
But because Chi Yao had to enter King Mountain to awaken the Golden Lion Ancestor, it was Zangjin Baihu who led the Thousand Bones Camp to the alternate time-space battlefield.
Xiao Hei was surprised. "Really? That arrow was too fast, and my divine soul and spirit were injured, so I don't remember exactly what happened. I don't see any hope of avenging this arrow; I'll have to rely on you. Although she's good-looking... you won't let her off, will you?"
"Focus on recovering."
Zhang Ruochen still had many important matters to deal with and had no time to chat with him. Seeing that his injuries were stable, he prepared to leave.
He would never show mercy to traitors.
Only by letting everyone see the fate of traitors would they think more carefully when faced with temptation and threats of life and death.
Zhang Gushen and Dai Xue Queen were both waiting outside.
Zhang Gushen stepped forward to report first. "Father, this time, the War Ancestor Divine Army lost a total of seventy-eight gods, including Yu Shenwang and eleven great gods, involving seventy great worlds and over a thousand major forces. I personally visited each great world, returned the bodies of the gods, comforted the families and descendants of the deceased, promised resource compensation, and... I promised to do my best to protect them."
Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Zhang Gushen immediately added, "I know this will incur a huge karmic burden and countless entanglements in the future. But I believe the world is one of the weak being prey to the strong, no matter where. If we don't intervene, the consequences will be unimaginable. How can the deceased rest in peace? How can the living dare to fight for the Sword Realm in the future?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled approvingly. "You did well. But you probably can't protect so many people. I have my own arrangements for this matter. The blood of every cultivator who fights for the Sword Realm will not be shed in vain. Yu Shenwang has fallen. Your mother must be very sad. Spend more time with her. I will go to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization to see her later."
After Zhang Gushen left, Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on Dai Xue Queen. "I know why you've come. Don't worry. A Fuya is A Fuya, and you are you. From now on, the Elf Clan under the Sword Realm will be under your command."
Dai Xue Queen secretly breathed a sigh of relief. "The Elf Clan will never betray Emperor Chen's trust."
...
Eastern Domain, King Mountain.
Zhang Ruochen stood beneath the massive, mountain-like body of the Golden Lion Divine Beast, releasing his spiritual power to communicate with it. But he received no feedback, as if it had fallen asleep again.
Chi Yao stood beside him. "I speculate that only by condensing the twenty-fourth layer of the Heavenly Domain can we fully awaken the Ancestor."
"Let me try."
Jie Tian had recovered much of his injuries and was full of energy. He mobilized the Primordial Ancestor Qi within him and continuously infused it into the Golden Lion Ancestor's body.
After a long while, there was no movement at all.
"Strange, very strange. I possess the divine source of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, yet I can't awaken it. How can you?" Jie Tian looked suspiciously at Chi Yao, feeling there must be something fishy.
Chi Yao smiled brightly at Zhang Ruochen before saying, "Because I have condensed the twenty-third layer of the Heavenly Domain, but Elder Jie hasn't yet."
Regarding the secret she had learned from Ling Yanzi in the Divine Ancient Nest, she and Zhang Ruochen had already discussed it and decided not to tell anyone.
The incidents with A Fuya and Yu Linsheng only strengthened their resolve.
"Just wait and see."
Jie Tian was naturally unconvinced and left King Mountain.
He planned to spend the next period recovering from his injuries while rebuilding the Zhang Clan.
Unlike Zhang Ruochen, he couldn't be bothered with the affairs of over a thousand great worlds in the Wuding Divine Sea, let alone the major events of the world. He only sought the prosperity and flourishing of his family.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I need to go to the White Clothes Valley. The next eruption point will definitely be there."
Chi Yao said worriedly, "But you are seriously injured and must rest well. Heavenly Mother has already gone, and Fengdu Dadi has probably gone too. With them there, if even the White Clothes Valley cannot be defended, your going won't help."
"Chen Ge, traces of Primordial Ancestors have already appeared in the universe, but we have not grasped the power to contend with them. Everyone is now watching you, because you are the one with the greatest hope of stepping into the Primordial Ancestor realm. Let's heal our injuries first, then focus our energy on cultivation. Leave the rest to the Half-Ancestors and Heavenly Venerable-level beings of this era."
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a long time and finally nodded. Suddenly, he said, "During this trip to the Nether Prison, I met someone who might be the previous generation's artifact spirit of the Sundial."
Chi Yao noticed that Zhang Ruochen had already released the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal to block the perception of heavenly secrets.
She said, "How strong is he?"
"Heavenly Venerable-level," Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao said, "If we could capture him, wouldn't there be a chance to restore the Sundial to its original state, enough to support your cultivation?"
"His mastery of time and space is terrifyingly high. Capturing him alive would be as difficult as besieging and killing a Half-Ancestor. For now, this matter is not easy to handle. Moreover, it is still unclear whether he is friend or foe."
Zhang Ruochen took out the Heavenly Demon's Primordial Ancestor Divine Source and said, "This Primordial Ancestor Divine Source was given to me by him. I still haven't figured out why he did this or what the meaning is."
Chi Yao could naturally sense the Heavenly Demon's aura within the divine source. "Is that person the Divine Martial Envoy?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Chi Yao said, "Perhaps he wants to use this Primordial Ancestor Divine Source to lure you to the God Realm."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Yao said, "There are only two possibilities for the Heavenly Demon's Primordial Ancestor Divine Source to appear in his hands. First, the Heavenly Demon gave it to him. Second, the Heavenly Demon fell in the God Realm, and the divine source was dug out of his corpse."
"Let's assume he is indeed a friend, not an enemy. If it's the first case, then giving you the Heavenly Demon's divine source is meant to aid your cultivation, or to use your hand to help Heavenly Mother, Chi Xingtian, Gai Mie, and other demonic cultivators."
"If it's the second case, it means the Heavenly Demon might not be dead. He obtained the Primordial Ancestor Divine Source but dared not go to rescue him, so he wants to use your hand to go to the God Realm and rescue the Heavenly Demon."
"Of course, all these deductions are based on the premise that he gave you the Heavenly Demon's divine source with good intentions. If it was with malicious intent, then it is very dangerous, and the God Realm is absolutely off-limits."
...
I see readers arguing a lot about whether the Star Sea Angler is a villain, even saying that many new settings have been added. Actually, that's not the case.
"Red Crow Tree is the universe's number one ferocious plant," "Shi Yan," "World-Destroying Bell," "God Realm"... these are all very early settings.
We are now in the closing phase, and I dare not add new settings. The book is already complex enough. I have tried my best to narrate things in the simplest and most straightforward way, not daring to complicate them.
If it were before, I definitely wouldn't have directly written that the Star Sea Angler is Shi Yan. I would have first written that he is the Nether Ancestor.
Nor would I have directly written that Wu Ying is the artifact spirit of the Sundial. I would have first hidden this identity and slowly revealed it.
...
Because there are too many characters and too many clues, all the twists are being simplified. All the schemes and calculations are straightforward, without flipping back and forth.
Of course, regarding the setting of the villain, if everyone can tell he is a villain, but the protagonist and the people in the book cannot, wouldn't that be too unreasonable? Therefore, the hidden Immortal must be someone no one can guess, which is why the characters in the book cannot find him.
(End of Chapter)