Chapter 4032: Return to Sword Realm
A palm strike landed on the Immortal Music Master.
She could not evade it.
"Bam!"
It was like striking a clump of cotton. In Zhang Ruochen's slightly surprised gaze, the Immortal Music Master's body exploded apart, transforming into wisps of primordial mist that scattered in all directions across the heavens and earth.
There was no physical substance, much like how the Primordial Path Clan could merge their bodies into the rules of heaven and earth.
The Immortal Music Master's technique was even more profound than this. The primordial mist pierced through the three realms, penetrating both space and time.
Zhang Ruochen collected the Victory Crown into his hand, standing tall atop Overlord Ridge, and did not continue to attack.
The Immortal Music Master's body appeared simultaneously in the Real World, Lihentian, and the Void World. There were three of her, each a true body.
As the battle erupted, powerful fluctuations leaked outward. The Golden Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor led the armies of the Twelve Ancient Clans, drawing upon the power of the Thousand Gold Purple Peak Tree. Rings of golden light contracted inward toward the central area where Zhang Ruochen and Lady Shiji stood.
This was a pressure from heaven and earth, suppressing the mobility of Zhang Ruochen and Lady Shiji.
Of course, the so-called "heaven and earth" referred not to the vast cosmos, but to the small realm of heaven and earth where Overlord Ridge was located.
Lady Shiji summoned the Darkness Cauldron, suspending it in midair, and dispersed these golden rings of light into nothingness.
She said, "I advise you all not to meddle, or else Overlord Ridge will surely be reduced to wasteland today."
The three Immortal Music Masters sent a telepathic message, instructing the Golden Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor and the gods of the other eleven clans to hold their positions and not continue attacking.
Then, the three Immortal Music Masters all looked toward Zhang Ruochen simultaneously and said, "Imperial Dust's cultivation speed is truly astonishing. My defensive order rules could not even block you for an instant. With such combat power, no one among the Heavenly Venerable rank is your match."
As Zhang Ruochen refined the artifact spirit of the Victory Crown, he said, "The Immortal Music Master's methods are also beyond my expectations. This is the Primordial Clone Art, is it not?"
The Immortal Music Master nodded. "Three clones, each a true body. Even if I detonate the divine heart of one clone, as long as the other two remain, my spiritual power can recover to its original state within at most one eon."
There was a hint of threat in these words.
She was telling Zhang Ruochen that she had the resolve to fight to mutual destruction and possessed the means to counterbalance him.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Do you think I would fear the detonation of a single clone's divine heart?"
Yuansheng had been standing not far from Zhang Ruochen, her heart filled with extreme conflict. Although she knew this day would come eventually, now that it had truly arrived, she had no idea how to choose.
Matters decided by beings of the Immortal Music Master's and Zhang Ruochen's level were simply not something she could change.
The Immortal Music Master said, "In truth, Imperial Dust has already obtained the Victory Crown. Perhaps we should continue discussing the transaction? If we keep fighting, even if the two of you can kill all of us and slaughter every ancient creature on Overlord Ridge, you would only be forcing the Abyss of Darkness to launch a war against the Hell Realm ahead of schedule. At that time, both the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and the Nether Ancestor Faction would be very pleased."
Seeing the Immortal Music Master take the initiative to yield, Yuansheng immediately said, "Lord Imperial Dust, we now share a common great enemy, the Nether Ancestor. Perhaps we can no longer be friends in the future, but before the Nether Ancestor dies, we can cooperate."
"If you had taken this attitude from the beginning, how could things have escalated to the point of a complete falling out?"
Zhang Ruochen understood very well what the Immortal Music Master was thinking.
She must have believed that the Desolate Moon was priceless, and that no matter what the Abyss of Darkness offered, they could not trade it from Zhang Ruochen.
More importantly, she must have guessed that Chi Kunlun would tell Zhang Ruochen everything.
In that case, how could Zhang Ruochen possibly hand over the Desolate Moon to the Abyss of Darkness, allowing the Primordial Black Dragon to grow to an even more terrifying height?
It was precisely based on these two points that the Immortal Music Master could only use the Victory Crown as a bargaining chip.
The Victory Crown was something Zhang Ruochen absolutely had to obtain, just as the Abyss of Darkness absolutely had to obtain the Desolate Moon.
Yuansheng knew Zhang Ruochen very well. He was a man who had always been working for the stability of the universe. Seeing his attitude soften, she knew there was still a chance for a turnaround. "Please state your conditions, Lord Imperial Dust. The Twelve Ancient Clans will do their utmost to satisfy them."
"Can you represent the Twelve Ancient Clans?"
Zhang Ruochen's authority was evident without anger. "The Immortal Music Master cannot represent the Twelve Ancient Clans either, can she? I am the Lord of the Sword Realm. If you want to negotiate terms with me, the Primordial Black Dragon should come in person."
Yuansheng knew very well how powerful the revived Primordial Black Dragon was and feared that Zhang Ruochen would offend it. She was about to say something more.
Zhang Ruochen spoke first. "Trust only comes once. Once lost, it will never return. Lady, let's go."
In truth, at the beginning, Zhang Ruochen had planned to hand over the Desolate Moon to the Primordial Black Dragon, thereby sitting on the sidelines and watching the tigers fight. But after learning the news of the "Collapse of Great Dark Mountain," he changed his mind.
The Primordial Black Dragon had grown to this level, undoubtedly at the Ancestor level, already capable of contending with the Eternal True Ruler and Corpse Nightmare.
If it grew any stronger, Zhang Ruochen had no idea what consequences it would trigger.
Walking out of the domain where the Thousand Gold Purple Peak Tree was located, Zhang Ruochen saw the banners covering the sky over Overlord Ridge, divine light condensing into clouds, dragons soaring and phoenixes dancing. The great army gathered here had already formed battle formations, a truly awe-inspiring sight.
If Zhang Ruochen had not broken through to the Heavenly Venerable rank, facing such a formation, he would have had no confidence at all.
But now, even without Lady Shiji accompanying him, Zhang Ruochen was fully confident in breaking through the divine army of the Twelve Ancient Clans and leaving this place.
The Golden Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor and the Fire Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor stood at the very front of the divine army. Seeing Zhang Ruochen, their faces showed expressions of shame, and they bowed with clasped hands.
Then, they released their divine qi again, manipulating the battle formation, waiting for the Immortal Music Master's command.
Meeting on the battlefield, a single bow conveyed all past friendships.
The Immortal Music Master merged her three bodies into one, walking forward slowly. "Let them leave."
The Golden Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor, the Fire Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor, and Yuansheng, who had followed behind, all secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
It was not entirely because of past friendships. The most important reason was that the half-ancestor aura emanating from Lady Shiji was too terrifying. Zhang Ruochen was not a half-ancestor, yet he surpassed one.
Without strength, how could one talk about friendship?
The two Elder Ancestor Emperors made way, watching Zhang Ruochen and Lady Shiji depart, their minds occupied with thoughts of the True One Elder Ancestor Emperor and the Totem Elder Ancestor Emperor who were in the Sword Realm.
How would Zhang Ruochen deal with them?
The Golden Clan's Elder Ancestor Emperor was worried. "What about the Desolate Moon? How do we explain this to the Primordial Dragon Ancestor?"
"I will report the truth to the Ancestor. Zhang Ruochen's current strength is simply not something we can control. I believe the Ancestor will understand," the Immortal Music Master said.
The Heavenly Mechanism Clan Emperor said, "In truth, controlling Zhang Ruochen might not necessarily require the Victory Crown. However, we have touched his reverse scale. The situation of the True One Elder Ancestor Emperor and the Totem Elder Ancestor Emperor will be difficult. Moreover, the consciousness curses of several Elder Ancestor Emperors have not been resolved. Can the Primordial Dragon Ancestor resolve them?"
Yuansheng snorted coldly. "You had better not entertain such thoughts. Once you touch his reverse scale, there will be no possibility of cooperation in the future. Don't forget, our greatest enemy is the Nether Ancestor. The Nether Ancestor has not yet appeared, and just Corpse Nightmare is already quite troublesome. If we leave ourselves no way out, the tragedy of the Ancient Desolate Era will surely repeat itself."
Yuansheng's cultivation had already surpassed that of the Heavenly Mechanism Clan Emperor, and she was a trusted subordinate of the Immortal Music Master.
These words naturally silenced the Heavenly Mechanism Clan Emperor.
...
"I was truly a bit worried that you would kill her in anger. If we had fought to the death, even if we won, we would have lost—losing the entire situation."
Lady Shiji was in an excellent mood, whether because she had kept the Desolate Moon or because she had seen Zhang Ruochen suffer a setback.
Zhang Ruochen, however, could not smile at all. "Lady, are you not afraid of the Primordial Black Dragon at all?"
"Originally, I was a little afraid. But after this trip, I am no longer afraid at all."
Lady Shiji had lost her usual dignity and distance. She spoke more freely, her tone light. "With such a major matter as the Desolate Moon, the Primordial Black Dragon did not come in person. This shows that He is probably unable to leave the Abyss of Darkness for now. That is the first point."
"Second, with the Nether Ancestor not yet appearing, the Primordial Black Dragon actually destroyed Great Dark Mountain. With such scheming, why fear Him?"
"Third, the destruction of Great Dark Mountain cannot be kept secret. Guess what choice Corpse Nightmare will make upon hearing the news? You must know that these two factions have the greatest enmity and hatred."
Unconsciously, Zhang Ruochen's mind conjured the stubborn figure of Feng Tian.
If the collapse of Great Dark Mountain could lure Corpse Nightmare to the Abyss of Darkness, it would indirectly help Feng Tian a great deal.
Without the threat of an Ancestor, her journey to the North Marsh Great Wall could at least change from ten deaths with no chance of life to nine deaths with one chance of life.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Perhaps the Primordial Black Dragon destroyed Great Dark Mountain and did not appear at Overlord Ridge precisely to lure Corpse Nightmare to the Abyss of Darkness. In His eyes, we are not even worth mentioning."
"That does make some sense. After all, He did not expect you to go to Overlord Ridge at this time. His plan was probably to first deal with Corpse Nightmare, the greatest threat, and then take the Desolate Moon. I see you are full of worries. Can't you let it go? Is it because of the Immortal Music Master, or because of that fiancée?" Lady Shiji said with a smile.
Zhang Ruochen had once saved Yuansheng's life at Lady Shiji's place, using the excuse that Yuansheng was his fiancée.
Now that Lady Shiji brought this up again, there was certainly a hint of schadenfreude.
Zhang Ruochen said, "What I am thinking about is this: since Lady wants to walk the Path of the Finite, why not take the North Marsh Great Wall? The North Marsh Great Wall has stood for ten thousand ages, containing an abundance and purity of matter unmatched anywhere else in the world, and it is ownerless. If you obtain the North Marsh Great Wall, even if you cannot become an Ancestor, you can at least complete half the journey, right?"
No matter what, Zhang Ruochen still wanted to help Feng Tian.
"Have you considered why the North Marsh Great Wall has been able to exist for ten thousand ages? Without figuring this out, I dare not act rashly. The more abnormal it is, the more dangerous it is."
Lady Shiji seemed deep in thought. "Who wants to move the North Marsh Great Wall?"
"Corpse Nightmare," Zhang Ruochen said.
...
Returning to the Abyss of Darkness defense line, Lady Shiji once again brought up the matter of exchanging the Desolate Moon for the Five-Colored Glazed Cover.
Clearly, although she was stubborn, she was quite wary of the Primordial Black Dragon and the Eternal True Ruler. It might also be that after sixty thousand years of research without results, she still dared not swallow the Desolate Moon, so she planned to return this source of trouble to Zhang Ruochen.
The Five-Colored Glazed Cover was different. Once obtained, it could be refined immediately.
Just as she had said before, after refining the Five-Colored Glazed Cover, she was confident she could contend with Corpse Nightmare for a hundred moves. At that point, even if she could not win, she could at least escape and buy time.
Of course, whether it was truly that powerful remained unknown.
This time, Zhang Ruochen did not rush to refuse. His main concern was that Lady Shiji might slip away without a trace. In the face of life-and-death crises, she was entirely capable of doing so.
"The Five-Colored Glazed Cover is said to have been forged by fusing Nuwa's Five-Colored Stone with the Burning Lamp Glazed Lamp. The value of the Five-Colored Stone alone is no less than that of the Desolate Moon. Lady wants the Five-Colored Glazed Cover; it is not impossible. But only if Lady first helps me seize the Netherworld Refining Purgatory," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Seventy-Two Layer Tower was only missing the Eighteen Layers of Purgatory World.
Lady Shiji said, "The Sword Realm is full of experts. Do you still need my help?"
"The Nether Ancestor Faction is also full of experts," Zhang Ruochen said.
Lady Shiji agreed readily and even handed the Desolate Moon to Zhang Ruochen first. As Zhang Ruochen was about to leave, she did not forget to say, "Those who value their promises will never be betrayed by them. I trust in Zhang Ruochen's commitment!"
If Zhang Ruochen did not know that the Desolate Moon was a source of trouble, he might have believed her.
Fate Bone went to the Bone Clan. Zhang Ruochen and A Le went to the Stone Divine Temple to pick up Bai Qinger.
Zhang Ruochen planned to return to the Sword Realm first, then visit the Yama Clan.
On the divine ship back to the Sword Realm, Bai Qinger stood at the bow, calmly watching the receding stars. Hearing Zhang Ruochen's footsteps approaching from behind, she said, "Why didn't you ask me about the outcome of this battle?"
Zhang Ruochen rested his hand on the railing. "What does it matter? A battle between father and daughter—victory or defeat has no meaning. Do you know, Kong Le once wanted to kill me too? She thought I was the enemy of the Chi family."
Bai Qinger was clearly surprised, not expecting Zhang Ruochen to have such a past.
Zhang Ruochen said, "It is hard for you to understand that kind of pain. But once it is talked through, once it is explained, look at Kong Le now? Desolate Heaven Hall Master is a man of deep affection, by no means cold-hearted. As long as one of you can take a step back, can take the initiative to lower your posture and resolve the conflict, the resentment between you will naturally dissolve."
"The Desolate Heaven Hall Master I know has a profound love for White Empress. That love will surely be transferred to you. I guess you won this time. Because he would never want to see you cultivate by consuming your lifespan again."
Bai Qinger closed her eyes, a crystal-clear teardrop sliding down the corner of her eye, revealing a vulnerable side. She actively leaned onto Zhang Ruochen's shoulder and said softly, "Yes, I won. But I know he let me win."
"The Desolate Heaven I saw this time was completely different from before. It was as if... all the coldness had disappeared. As you said, I could feel the pain and loneliness in his heart."
"He can also be sentimental, can also shed tears, and has a fragile side. In the past, I thought of him as too strong, so strong that nothing could crush him. But perhaps he also needs family affection!"
A faint smile appeared at the corner of Zhang Ruochen's mouth.
The fact that Bai Qinger could understand things from Desolate Heaven's perspective showed that her heart had changed and she had untied her knot.
"A person only removes their disguise and reveals their truest self in front of their closest loved ones."
Zhang Ruochen reached out and wrapped his arm around Bai Qinger's slender waist. "Since he needs family affection and you are unwilling to stay by his side, why not send a grandson over to keep him company?"