Chapter 4003: Returning to the Blood Absolute Family
Gai Mie waited outside the Sword Pavilion.
Under the setting sun, his majestic and heroic figure cast a long shadow on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen had Chi Yao first settle Chan Bing and the four old clan emperors. He walked over alone and said, "Why does the Supreme Pillar give me a feeling of desolate twilight?"
Gai Mie pointed at the vermilion sun on the horizon, like a cinnabar pill, and said, "In this era, strong ones emerge in succession, each stirring up storms, contending for dominance and plotting schemes, far surpassing the chaotic ancient times. How could one not feel a trace of loneliness from being unable to control one's own fate? Don't call me Supreme Pillar anymore in the future; I can't bear it."
In a great era, everyone is like a boat sailing on water, only able to go with the flow.
Zhang Ruochen could understand his feelings and smiled: "The Supreme Pillar himself has profound cultivation, and after successively absorbing the hall soul flame of the Xiongxiao Demon God Hall and the ancestral heart of the Great Demon God, in the Nether Prison battle, he devoured countless ancestral powers, right? The distance to Half-Ancestor is probably just a single step away."
Gai Mie shook his head. Under the setting sun, his chiseled face was a mix of red and black. "Half-Ancestor and Heavenly Venerable rank may seem like only one realm apart, but in reality, there is a heavenly moat between them. Yunshen Daozhu, Heavenly Mother, Hao Tian, Fengdu Dadi, and Wen Tianjun were able to break through successfully not only because of their unparalleled talent but also because they belong to this era and are in harmony with its heavenly and earthly rules."
"People like me, Di, Lady Shiji, and Ba'er do not belong to this era. For us to break through another realm is harder than ascending to heaven, even more difficult than those cultivators who have returned through possession."
"The Immortals might have ways to help us break through, but are They worthy of trust? And what price must be paid to gain Their trust?"
"The Immortals have experienced countless events and countless people, inevitably becoming indifferent to emotions, viewing all cultivators under heaven as straw dogs. Sigh..."
Zhang Ruochen did not know whether Gai Mie's words were deliberately expressing his attitude or a heartfelt lament. He could only say that Gai Mie's current situation was indeed awkward, having reached the point where he must choose a side.
The Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods were mostly dead.
Among the survivors, Meng Ge had joined the Heavenly Court, and Ba'er had reached a cooperation with the Nine-Headed Stone Man in the Nether Prison, effectively joining the Nether Ancestor faction.
Gai Mie's words were undoubtedly testing Zhang Ruochen.
He was also waiting for a promise from Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Even if the Supreme Pillar does not break through to Half-Ancestor, with his current cultivation, entering the dominant state, his combat power is still top-notch under heaven."
"Before a Half-Ancestor, I would only last a few more moves, with a twenty to thirty percent chance of mutual destruction."
A flicker of disappointment passed deep in Gai Mie's pupils. He directly laid his cards on the table and continued, "Imperial Dust, in my view, aside from the Immortals, only your First-Rank Divine Path's auxiliary cultivation ability can help me break through. Back then, I was certain that Di truly wanted to repair relations with you because of this. Unfortunately, it seems I guessed wrong."
"If the Imperial Dust goes to make a deal with Lady Shiji, this is also a significant bargaining chip."
"Let me put it this way: as long as the Imperial Dust promises that when his cultivation advances further in the future, he will be able to assist me in my cultivation. From then on, Gai Mie will swear loyalty to the Sword Realm to the death and follow the Imperial Dust in campaigns far and wide."
For a Supreme Pillar to lower his stance to this extent was not only due to his desire for the Half-Ancestor realm. More importantly, Zhang Ruochen's current combat power had already surpassed his.
In the Nether Prison, fighting one against three and suppressing three heads of the Nine-Headed Stone Man was one thing.
But in the battle of the Different Time and Space, he had even struck back the Dark Strange, the Dark Remnant Body, and the Dark Hand with a single sword. The power of that sword strike was enough to chill the hearts of all Half-Ancestors under heaven.
With the Ancestor not appearing, who would dare to test his edge?
Zhang Ruochen pondered in silence, remaining silent for a long time, putting great psychological pressure on Gai Mie.
After a long while, Zhang Ruochen said in a low voice, "If I refuse, what will the Supreme Pillar do next?"
Even though Gai Mie had experienced countless battles and was seasoned and cunning, he was stumped by Zhang Ruochen's question.
If he answered poorly, he might lose his life today.
Because Zhang Ruochen could not let him leave and join the Immortals.
"Haha!"
Zhang Ruochen laughed loudly, patted Gai Mie on the shoulder, and said, "Just kidding. The Supreme Pillar's combat power is unmatched, and you are a good friend who has fought alongside me many times. How could I not welcome you joining the Sword Realm? Rest assured, if I can truly help you break through to Half-Ancestor, I will do my utmost. In the future, when facing Ancestors and Immortals, I cannot rely on myself alone."
The tight muscles on Gai Mie's face relaxed slightly, and he smiled along.
However, his smile was still somewhat stiff.
"You will take A Fuya's place in the War Ancestor Divine Army and fill the position of a camp master!"
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand and left.
"What a formidable Imperial Dust, getting more and more impressive. Putting me in A Fuya's former position—is this a warning to me?" Gai Mie straightened his lapels and watched Zhang Ruochen disappear from sight.
He had originally intended to remind Zhang Ruochen that before the campaign in the Nether Prison, the pie he had drawn should be fulfilled. He was not asking for the great demonic qi world formed by the fusion of the Great Demon God and the Heavenly Demon Ancestor Realm, but only for the seven stone heads of the Nine-Headed Stone Man.
But after Zhang Ruochen's series of attacks and counterattacks, it was naturally difficult to bring up the request again.
"Still not enough trust."
Gai Mie shook his head with a smile and began to plan in his mind. He intended to pull off a few big moves. He had to first prove his strength and value to secure his position in the Sword Realm.
Over the next few days, Zhang Ruochen first went to the Heavenly Beginning Civilization to pay respects to Yu Shenwang with Luo Ji and Zhang Gushen.
He also held a family banquet, gathering with his children, relatives, friends, disciples, and descendants.
As for the affairs of the thousands of great worlds in the Wuding Divine Sea, on the surface, Chi Yao led the gods of various realms to manage them, while Wu Yue, Yu Chenjing, Zhang Gushen, Ao Linglong, and Princess Shenba represented various forces to mediate conflicts. Behind the scenes, Han Qiu, A Le, Han Xue, and Qing Su were responsible for intelligence gathering, and everything was in order.
The benefits of marriage alliances were evident at this moment.
As long as they were smart and rational enough, they would certainly not exacerbate conflicts, making it much easier to handle.
With the huge external threat, internal conflicts could naturally be reduced.
As for the appointment power of the divine army, it was the strongest and most core force of the Sword Realm, always held in Zhang Ruochen's hands.
...
To visit Lady Shiji, Zhang Ruochen naturally had to bring Xiu Chen Heavenly God and Bai Qinger, the two Star Throne masters who had refined the world spirits of the Stone God Star.
On the Stone God Star and the Peacock God Star, a large number of Stone Clan cultivators lived.
It was precisely because of these two ties that the relationship between the Sword Realm and the Stone Clan of the Hell Realm was still harmonious, with frequent exchanges.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God wore a light gauze long skirt embroidered with hundreds of flowers, with a moon-white inner wrap that was too small to cover properly. A two-finger-wide belt was tied into butterfly knots on each side.
"Zhang Ruochen, how do you think I look in this outfit? And what about this hairstyle and makeup—are they exquisite?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God spun around to show off, her long skirt fluttering in the wind, emitting a faint floral fragrance, attracting many spirit butterflies.
Zhang Ruochen could hardly believe his eyes and nodded, "Just right. Any more exquisite... and it would be a bit too seductive!"
After merging with a female body and breaking through to Indestructible Infinite, Xiu Chen Heavenly God had changed dramatically, becoming soft and graceful, with every smile and frown full of femininity.
Bai Qinger soon arrived as well and reported the results of her investigations over the years to Zhang Ruochen.
She was not one to smile or joke, her eyes calm and devoid of any emotion.
But anyone could see that she was weighed down by worries, lacking the sharp edge she had during her Saint realm days.
Yet precisely because of this, Zhang Ruochen felt a slight ache in his heart. Ignoring the presence of outsiders, he pulled her into his embrace and said in a low voice, "Not being able to find out was already within my expectations. Don't put so much pressure on yourself. No matter whose disciple you are, you are my wife, Zhang Ruochen. I don't want you to live more tiredly after marrying me than before."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was very outspoken, like a gossipy woman, and said vividly, "Wives and wives are different. Think about Chi Yao—she has already become the empress of the Sword Realm. Then think about Wu Yue, Yu Chenjing, Ling Feiyu, Mu Lingxi, Ao Linglong, and Luo Ji—they all have children active in the various mortal worlds, with a sense of presence and recognition. As for Bai Qinger and Ji Fanxin, who have never had children, everyone feels that the Imperial Dust is deliberately distancing himself from them."
Zhang Ruochen glared at her coldly and said, "You talk too much. Are you deliberately stirring up trouble?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was not afraid at all. After all, she was the artifact spirit of the Sundial and an Indestructible Infinite. What could Zhang Ruochen do to her?
She continued, "Speaking of Bai Qinger, she has Stone Clan bloodline, so conceiving a child might be more difficult. But Ji Fanxin mainly cultivates the Way of Life—how can she not have children? That doesn't make sense."
"That's not right. Wu Yue transformed from the Ghost Clan into the Death Clan, which should make conceiving even harder, yet she has had two pregnancies? Zhang Ruochen, are you purely coveting her beauty? Or perhaps, when you're in bed, you actually treat her as the Moon God? That's why you're so obsessed? There were rumors before... What's with that look? Others spread it, in secret, not daring to let you know. It's not this god who said it. No matter how high your cultivation is, can you stop everyone's mouths?"
Zhang Ruochen asked in the calmest tone, "Who spread it? Who did you hear it from?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God gently shook her head and said, "I can't say that. Wouldn't that be betraying someone? I keep my mouth shut."
"Good, very tight-lipped, right? Can't block it, can't pry it open. Just remember what you said today!"
Zhang Ruochen was truly helpless against Xiu Chen Heavenly God. It wasn't that her strength was too high, but that her personality was extreme and stubborn, like a stone head. Even when he used to whip her with the Soul-Beating Whip, he couldn't correct her.
Beating her was definitely not an option.
She had been beaten quite a bit.
He couldn't very well search her soul or kill her, could he?
She was even more fearless than a Heavenly Venerable-level strongman like Gai Mie.
Bai Qinger secretly transmitted a message to Zhang Ruochen: "Those who dare to spread such rumors about you are just a few loose-tongued individuals. This matter can be big or small, but I suggest not making a big deal out of it. Instead, let Wu Yue handle it herself. Her ruthless methods are enough to give those loose-tongued people a painful lesson, and she can control it to a certain extent."
Zhang Ruochen nodded inwardly. This matter indeed needed to be controlled.
Wu Yue might not care about it, but as for the Moon God...
Thinking of the Moon God, Zhang Ruochen's thoughts were tumultuous. Perhaps he should take the initiative to meet her.
After Zhang Beize was born, the Moon God had driven Zhang Ruochen away, saying that they should never meet privately again, and that all karmic ties should be severed from that day onward.
...
Before visiting Lady Shiji, Zhang Ruochen planned to go to the Ten-Winged World of the Undying Blood Clan to visit Patriarch Blood Jue.
It was also on the way.
Standing in the universe, looking at the Ten-Winged World from afar, it resembled a blood-colored giant bat spreading its wings. The location of the body was precisely the Undying Divine Temple.
Over the years, the Undying Blood Clan had clearly been actively preparing measures to deal with the calamity of the Ancestor.
The Ten-Winged Worlds of the ten major tribes and the Undying Divine Temple formed an unparalleled battle formation, wrapped in countless Star Soul Divine Thrones, divine patterns, and formation inscriptions, emitting a momentum that could distort space.
Before coming, Zhang Ruochen had already sent the Night Wanderer to inform Patriarch Blood Jue.
Therefore, early on, the core members of the Blood Absolute Family were waiting at the mansion gate, numerous and quiet yet filled with a festive atmosphere.
Clearly, with Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation and status, his arrival at the Blood Absolute Family was an event that overshadowed everything else.
Xia Yu wore a green feathered robe and a purple-gold phoenix hairpin, her temperament clear and refined, like an immortal descending to the mortal world. With her Divine Venerable-level cultivation, she stood in the front row and asked, "When will the Imperial Dust finally arrive?"
"Don't rush. Even with the master's cultivation, it takes time to come from the Wuding Divine Sea," said the Night Wanderer.
Xia Yu was not afraid of his status as the Imperial Dust's disciple and said coldly, "Speak properly. Am I rushing? This emperor is worried that you are unreliable and might have passed on the wrong message, making everyone wait for nothing."
The Night Wanderer knew that Xia Yu had some friendship and weight with the Imperial Dust, so he did not dare to provoke her. He looked up at the sky, felt a spatial fluctuation, and smiled, "Look, he's here!"
"Whoosh!"
In an instant, Zhang Ruochen, Chan Bing, Xiu Chen Heavenly God, Bai Qinger, and the four old clan emperors following behind appeared outside the Blood Absolute Family's mansion.
Their auras were all restrained, indistinguishable from ordinary people.
But after the century-long war, Chan Bing and the four old clan emperors were famous far and wide. Who didn't know them?
These were five Heavenly Venerable-level experts!
Even with Patriarch Blood Jue's state of mind, seeing such a lineup made him secretly startled, let alone the other cultivators present.
Suddenly, it became even quieter.
"Haha!"
It was Patriarch Blood Jue's hearty laughter that first broke the atmosphere. He said, "Why did only you big ones come? Where are the children? Aren't you bringing them back to the Hell Realm to visit relatives? If they don't interact more, they'll become estranged in the future. I, the great-grandfather, can be ignored, but their grandmother must be acknowledged, right?"
Xue Hou and the Ming Emperor were not in the Blood Absolute Family but were in seclusion on White Cang Star for cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the sea of people behind Patriarch Blood Jue and said, "Grandfather, setting up such a grand formation to welcome me doesn't seem like receiving relatives. There's no need for this; let's keep it natural and close."
"Is that so?"
Patriarch Blood Jue waved his hand and said, "Then everyone, disperse!"
After a moment, only Ni Xuan Shi, the Night Wanderer, Xia Yu, Blood Qi, Blood Chen, Blood Ning Xiao, Qi Sheng, Ying Huo, and other cultivators who had old ties with Zhang Ruochen remained.
Patriarch Blood Jue grabbed Zhang Ruochen's wrist and strode into the mansion, saying, "If you don't bring those children to pay respects to me, their great-grandfather, then we need to have a talk. How about marrying Xia Yu? Leave a seed for the Undying Blood Clan. The position of clan leader needs an heir, doesn't it? Your great-grandfather is still young and has plenty of energy to train an heir."
Xia Yu, who was at the back, heard this and held her breath for a moment before her expression returned to normal.
She only took it as Patriarch Blood Jue's joke. With the Imperial Dust's current cultivation and status, how could he possibly fancy her?
The two were no longer in the same world.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Uncle and mother have both reached the Infinite Realm and are excellent candidates for the clan leader position."
"Don't give me that. They are them, and you are you. What, that old man Jie from the Zhang family asked you to form a marriage alliance, and you agreed, but when it comes to your grandfather, it doesn't work? In terms of closeness, we are closer, right?" said Patriarch Blood Jue.
Zhang Ruochen sighed, "If Grandfather had forced me into a marriage alliance back then, like Old Man Jie, by first accepting the betrothal gifts, I might have given in. But now it's different; my wings are hard... Speaking of wings, Grandfather, would you like to see the Ancestor Wings of Yin?"
Patriarch Blood Jue said, "Changing the subject, are you? Today, you absolutely cannot fool me. Marrying the number one beauty of my Undying Blood Clan is a huge advantage for you. Xia Yu has such a good personality; she definitely won't fight or snatch... Hey, what did you just say? Ancestor Wings? I've heard about this long ago. If it weren't for the danger outside, I would have personally gone to the Wuding Divine Sea a hundred years ago to find you. Hurry up and take them out for me to see. Are they really the blood wings of the Ancestor Yin?"
(End of this chapter)