Chapter 4050: Three Things to Do
Void Heaven was very assertive, his gaze sharp, his aura radiating outward, adopting a posture of not letting go of the Blood Fiend Bell and Sword Heart without obtaining them.
But Zhang Ruochen was no longer the junior he once was. He could sit as an equal with half-ancestors and handle things with ease. Besides, Void Heaven was an old acquaintance.
"Is Void Heaven planning to rob me openly?" Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
"If I, the Heavenly Lord, wanted to rob you, I wouldn't appear before your eyes, nor would I let you discover me."
Void Heaven squinted, his eyes flashing with sharp light, hinting to Zhang Ruochen: "Kid, your combat power is impressive now, but if I play dirty, it'll still give you a hard time."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "Since it's not robbery, let's reason things out. When did the Blood Fiend Bell and Sword Heart ever belong to you, Senior?"
Void Heaven sneered, "Do you remember that years ago, in the Destiny Temple, you personally agreed to retrieve the Sword Heart for me?"
"I did agree. But the Nether Prison is extremely dangerous. Sending me in to get the Sword Heart—were you trying to get me killed?"
Before Void Heaven could argue.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "You have shown me kindness, Senior Void Heaven. Even if you wanted me dead, I would have no complaints. That's why I never held a grudge over this matter. Later, I told you about the location of the Sword Source Divine Tree and even took you to retrieve it! Dare you say that your cultivation of Sword Twenty-Four and breakthrough to the Heavenly Venerable rank weren't because of the Sword Source Divine Tree?"
"If you still think I haven't fulfilled my promise, then I have nothing more to say. Human greed knows no bounds; the abyss of desire is hard to fill."
Void Heaven was never one to enjoy reasoning, but he had already fallen into Zhang Ruochen's rhetorical trap from the start. If he made a scene now, he would lose face.
After all, Heavenly Mother was still listening inside the hall!
Void Heaven had come prepared and wouldn't be fooled by Zhang Ruochen's words. He said, "Since you, Imperial Dust, have put it that way, if I continue to pursue this, won't I be mocked by all the cultivators in the world? Do you remember, Imperial Dust, that back in the Destiny Temple, to save your father, you agreed to three things for me? Now it's time to fulfill the last one!"
Zhang Ruochen looked at him with a complex and surprised expression, letting out a long sigh. "I never expected that you, Void Heaven, who are always decisive and bold, would turn out to be such a petty and vulgar person. I thought that matter had already been settled, silently understood in our hearts."
"Settled? You're being a bit wishful, Imperial Dust," Void Heaven said.
Zhang Ruochen replied, "How many times have you borrowed swords from me? Did I ever refuse? Weren't those requests you made? Weren't they fulfillments?"
"If that doesn't count, then what about the time you and Feng Tian were trapped in the Heavenly Court? Who voluntarily let themselves be captured as a hostage to help you escape?"
Void Heaven said, "Did you do that for me?"
Zhang Ruochen continued, "And entering the Ten Thousand Beasts World—wasn't that my invitation? Otherwise, how could you have obtained the Heavenly Mechanism Brush and Murong Buhuo's Divine Heart? Without such great fortune, could your spiritual power have advanced so rapidly over the years? Could your use of the Path of Nothingness and concealment techniques have reached a level where even half-ancestors find it hard to detect?"
"I offered my sincere heart to the bright moon, but the moon thinks I'm being presumptuous."
"Tell me, why did I invite you for such great fortune instead of Nutian Shenzun or Heavenly Mother? Old Ghost Void, I never thought you'd be this kind of person—so insatiably greedy!"
Void Heaven was momentarily stunned.
He really couldn't refute Zhang Ruochen's words.
Zhang Ruochen added, "Admittedly, to rescue Huaying Tai Shang, my father did harm the interests of the Destiny Temple, causing serious losses and committing unforgivable mistakes. I also thank you, Senior Void Heaven, for taking care of him. But over the years, how much have I done to make up for his mistakes on behalf of the Hell Realm? Every time, I risked my life!"
"Even Nutian Shenzun and Feng Tian believe that my father and I no longer owe the Destiny Temple or the Hell Realm. Yet you—the Senior Void Heaven I respect the most and who has gained the most—still cling to this."
"You wanted the Sword Bone to comprehend the sword, and I gave it. You wanted to forge a divine sword, and I helped you forge it. You wanted to enter the Sword Pavilion to study the sword techniques left by the Sword Ancestor before his death, and I overruled objections to take you there. Even your disciple, I helped train, giving elixirs and inviting him to cultivate in the Sundial. On the path of cultivation, aside from your master, who has helped you more than I have?"
"The Sword Heart was left by the Sword Ancestor and the Great Venerable. It absolutely does not belong to the Destiny Temple, nor to you, Void Heaven... The abyss of desire is hard to fill, hard to fill!"
Outside the Witch Hall, not only Zhang Ruochen and Void Heaven were present, but also Xiu Chen Heavenly God, Bai Qinger, Guye Jing, and the four old clan emperors of the Primordial Beings.
Void Heaven had thought he was well-prepared, but he never expected Zhang Ruochen to outmaneuver him like this.
He regretted it.
From the start, he shouldn't have tried to reason with Zhang Ruochen.
But if it came to fists...
Void Heaven glanced at the four old clan emperors of the Primordial Beings nearby and suppressed his rising emotions, saying calmly, "Enough, let's not dwell on the past. But Heavenly Mother can testify that in the Nether Prison, it was I who seized the Blood Fiend Bell."
Zhang Ruochen also calmed down and said, "Void Heaven, why not think carefully about what happened that day? If I hadn't intervened to suppress it, the Blood Fiend Bell would have escaped under the control of its artifact spirit and fallen into the hands of the Nine-Headed Stone Man. If Heavenly Mother hadn't intercepted, you would have died at the hands of the Nine-Headed Stone Man."
"Besides, you don't primarily cultivate the demonic path. What do you need the Blood Fiend Bell for?"
"How about this: since we each have our own arguments, why not hand the Blood Fiend Bell over to Heavenly Mother? She cultivates the demonic path and also practices the Thousand Spirit Blood Fiend. Under her control, it can be used to its fullest potential. After all, you owe her a life, so you shouldn't have any objections."
Zhang Ruochen followed through on his words, took out the Blood Fiend Bell, and sent it into the Witch Hall.
Watching Zhang Ruochen emerge from the Witch Hall with an expression that said, "Since you want to fight, let's make sure no one gets anything," Void Heaven trembled with rage. He shouted "Fine" three times before adding, "You're so noble, Zhang Ruochen, so damn noble. You can give away anything. I'm not as great as you. I'm petty, I'm insatiably greedy. From now on, let's go our separate ways. Who the hell owes who anymore!"
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands behind his back, smiling as he watched Void Heaven's retreating figure, and said, "In the Nether Prison battle, your Void Heaven Divine Sword was damaged. I can help you reforge it."
"No need."
Void Heaven didn't look back.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I can't give you the Sword Heart, but I can lend it to you."
"Whoosh!"
A gust of wind swept by, and Void Heaven reappeared in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Sword Heart, holding it in his palm, and said, "The time for comprehension is limited. When I leave the Abyss of Darkness defense line, I'll take it back."
Void Heaven said, "Naturally, I understand that."
"The Sword Heart must not be lost. If it is, you'll have to compensate with the Heavenly Mechanism Brush and the Sword Source Divine Tree," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Agreed, agreed!"
Void Heaven took the Sword Heart from Zhang Ruochen's hand and immediately teleported away without another word.
"Give me back the Sword Bone... Why are you running so fast? I still have things to ask!" Zhang Ruochen shook his head and sighed.
Bai Qinger walked over and said, "If Senior Void Heaven hides, I'm afraid no one will be able to find him."
"Are you worried he might embezzle the Sword Heart?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Bai Qinger said, "If the Sword Heart can really help him comprehend Sword Twenty-Five, and it takes a long time, he'll definitely hide and cultivate in seclusion. After all, Void Heaven is a sword fanatic who can stay indoors for a hundred thousand years. And... the power of the Sword Heart is known throughout the world. Who wouldn't want to possess it?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Even if he comprehends Sword Twenty-Five a hundred thousand years from now, he'll never be my match. Of course, I know the risks of handing him the Sword Heart, which is why I warned him before giving it. With his wisdom, he should understand what can and cannot be done."
Leaving the Witch Hall, Zhang Ruochen headed to White Clothes Valley.
Blood Butcher was already waiting outside, standing even ahead of the gods of White Clothes Valley.
"Senior Brother, why are you so late? It's been years since we last met. I wanted to visit you in the Sword Realm, but you know the situation on the Abyss of Darkness defense line—I can't leave."
Blood Butcher grabbed Zhang Ruochen's wrist and launched into a long-winded account, making sure everyone knew how close he was to Zhang Ruochen.
And it was indeed shocking, especially to the younger generation of gods.
After all, Zhang Ruochen's current reputation was nearly on par with half-ancestors.
How many gods in the world could shake hands and reminisce with a half-ancestor?
Zhang Ruochen said, "I can't return the Golden Staff to you just yet."
"Return? Do I need it returned?"
Blood Butcher immediately put on a serious expression and said, "If it weren't for you, Senior Brother, I wouldn't even know its value. In my hands, it would be a pearl hidden in the dust. Over the years, without your guidance and care, I would have died countless times and wouldn't have reached my current cultivation level. I only regret not being born a woman so I could marry you to repay your kindness."
"Anyway, I'll say it again: if you return the Golden Staff to me, I'll have no face left to live in this world and will die right before your eyes. Let everyone here bear witness!"
The cultivators present all showed expressions of understanding.
No wonder this guy could curry favor with someone like Imperial Dust. As a dignified God Venerable, he had no shame at all. What couldn't he accomplish?
Zhang Ruochen said, "Where is Feng Tian? I need to see her."
"Senior Brother, you've come at a bad time. Master is in seclusion!" Blood Butcher said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Take me to see her."
"She's in a death seclusion."
Blood Butcher looked troubled.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I calculated the time. Her Eon Calamity is still far off, and she won't break through to the Heavenly Venerable rank so soon. So what kind of death seclusion is she in? She doesn't want to see me, does she?"
"Senior Brother, if Master doesn't want to see you, what's the point of forcing it?"
Then, Blood Butcher transmitted his voice, saying, "Actually, this is all because of those two old monsters from the Heavenly South Life-Death Ruins! They think that since Huaying Tai Shang was imprisoned in the Destiny Temple and tortured, the conflict between the two sides is irreconcilable, and he will seek revenge in the future."
"Moreover, at the end of the Middle Ages, Master was a main advocate in the death of Xumi Saint Monk and the calamity of the Kunlun Realm. She bears great responsibility. Even if you don't pursue it, Huaying Tai Shang and Wen Tianjun will definitely settle accounts with her."
Juemiao Chan Nu and Yanshu Chan Shi represented White Clothes Valley in welcoming Zhang Ruochen and the others.
Nie Cang Da Shi had died of old age thirty thousand years ago. Most of White Clothes Valley's mundane affairs were now handled by the two of them.
The older generation of cultivators was gradually fading away.
After Zhang Ruochen introduced the identities of the four old clan emperors of the Primordial Beings, he said, "The four old clan emperors, Nutian Shenzun, and Fengdu Dadi probably have a lot to discuss. I won't interfere. I need to go to the Heavenly South Life-Death Ruins. There's an old score that should have been settled long ago."
Blood Butcher was startled, realizing that his few complaints had stirred up such a strong reaction from Zhang Ruochen.
Was he planning to flatten the Heavenly South?
"Senior Brother, calm down! The Upper Three Clans, White Clothes Valley, and the Destiny Temple are now a strategic alliance, united against the Primordial Beings and the Dark Weirdness. Besides, Qingtian is considered one of Lady Shiji's people. If you touch him, how can Lady Shiji stand by and do nothing?"
"We've come this far over the years; there's no rush. I'll go invite Master out of seclusion right away. With you, Senior Brother, visiting such a major event, how can she hide and not see you?"
Blood Butcher was now one of the top ten strongest in the Destiny Temple, a hall master, and no longer an insignificant figure in Feng Tian's eyes. He had a certain say.
That's why he dared to say such things.
Juemiao Chan Nu naturally knew about the grudges between Zhang Ruochen and Qingtian and Er Da Ren. Worried, she said, "With the great enemy before us, I implore Imperial Dust to consider the bigger picture. Why not enter the valley first and let Juemiao fulfill her duties as host? You can discuss with your grandfather before making a decision. There's no need to rush."
Zhang Ruochen had come to the Abyss of Darkness defense line to do three things.
First, escort Chan Bing back, as she carried the ancestral bodies of Luo Shui and Luo Tong Luo, making her a key target for the Dark Weirdness.
Second, meet Lady Shiji.
Third, ask Feng Tian about the situation with the Sundial during that battle.
Since Feng Tian chose not to see him, Zhang Ruochen could only seek out another witness to that battle. Going to the Heavenly South Life-Death Ruins was inevitable.
...
Sigh, this was my first surgery, even though it was minor. It was far more troublesome than I imagined. Today, the pain has subsided, but it's still oozing, and my head feels foggy.
Regardless, I have to resume updates. There will be more tomorrow!
(Chapter End)