# Chapter 4037: A Painting
"I'm curious, why would the Venerable Lord not cooperate with the Nether Ancestor Faction, but instead form an alliance with me, your great enemy?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Dark Remnant said, "To me, my only great enemies are the Eternal True Ruler and Qishier Pin Lian. Your grudge with that one has nothing to do with me."
The "that one" she referred to clearly meant the dark abnormality that had once been in the Sword God Hall—the Dark Venerable Lord's head that had been taken away by the Eternal True Ruler.
Evidently, after the great battle millions of years ago, the Dark Venerable Lord's body had been severed, and his consciousness had become quite fragmented.
The Dark Remnant continued, "Besides, when facing life and death, even the greatest grudges must be temporarily set aside."
"To be honest with you, the reason I cooperate with you is because you are young enough, arrogant and confident enough, and have no real understanding of how terrifying I am."
"Those in the Nether Ancestor Faction, however, know well how formidable I am. Cooperation is possible, but they will inevitably be wary and on guard. They won't give me the chance to continue growing stronger. They will seal me below Ancestor-level combat power!"
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Do you think I will give you the chance to grow stronger?"
"Do you have another choice?"
The Dark Remnant said, "You have the Dark Hand suppressed, but you cannot refine or destroy it. You must divert power to contain it, preventing you from fighting at full strength in many situations. Hand the Dark Hand over to me, let me fuse with it, and help me reach Ancestor-level combat power—that would be most beneficial to you."
Zhang Ruochen's smile grew wider. "Once you reach Ancestor-level combat power, the first person you'll kill is me, right?"
"Why would I kill you? There is nothing on you that I want. You are not a threat to me, and I am not a threat to you. In fact, we can coexist."
The Dark Remnant continued, "You should be very clear that the Nether Ancestor Faction and the Divine Realm are powerful. Only if I reach the Ancestor level can I truly contain them and buy you time to assault the Ancestor realm. So, you must help me!"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Before I make a decision, can you answer me one question? Who exactly are the Nether Ancestor and the Space-Time Human Ancestor, and where are they?"
The Dark Remnant said, "I cannot answer that question. Because I am the new consciousness of this body. Although I have awakened some memory fragments, I only have a vague concept of these two. Perhaps, if I reach the Ancestor realm, I can awaken more memories and help you solve this mystery."
Zhang Ruochen would not fully trust her words. He raised the Eternal Life Soul Flame in his palm and said, "I cannot give you this soul flame."
"A mere soul flame holds no interest for me. I only want the Dark Hand in your possession!" the Dark Remnant said.
Clearly, the Dark Remnant did not know that both Dark Hands were under Zhang Ruochen's control.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "Venerable Lord, do you know what my greatest concern is?"
"What?"
"Indeed, I very much hope that the Venerable Lord can contain the Divine Realm and the Nether Ancestor Faction. But I am even more worried that the Venerable Lord has already cooperated with the Nether Ancestor Faction and is pretending to ally with me only to trick me into handing over the Dark Hand. So, before I give you the Dark Hand, the Venerable Lord must first prove herself." Zhang Ruochen said.
The Dark Remnant said, "How do you want me to prove it?"
"Help me deal with the Nether Sea Spirit. Once I obtain the Eighteenth Layer Nether Prison World, you can get the Dark Hand I currently hold." Zhang Ruochen said.
"The world says that you, Zhang Ruochen, keep your word. I trust you."
The Dark Remnant was extremely decisive and agreed to Zhang Ruochen's conditions.
Then, with a strong fluctuation of spatial power, she gradually disappeared into the depths of space.
The room returned to normal, with only the lamp flame gently flickering.
"Even this Eternal Life Soul Flame is beneath her notice? This is comparable to the divine soul of a Heavenly Venerable!"
Zhang Ruochen looked at the soul flame in his hand, secretly pondering the risks of this cooperation with a tiger.
One thing was certain: if Zhang Ruochen had shown even the slightest hint of fear just now, she would have attacked without hesitation to seize the Dark Hand and the soul flame.
Because she was not confident, she could only choose a more cautious strategy.
"Bang!"
Chi Yao, Zangjin Baihu, and Xiu Chen Heavenly God burst in one after another, crowding the room.
Seeing the calm and composed Zhang Ruochen, Xiu Chen Heavenly God asked, "What's going on? Who came? They're ridiculously strong—could it be some Half-Ancestor?"
"No need to be nervous. An old friend." Zhang Ruochen said.
...
The Arctic Main Star was a seventh-level main star at the northernmost point of the Northern Universe, with a diameter of a million li, comparable in size to many stars.
Further north lay the empty and boundless cosmic frontier.
The divine ship silently flew into the atmosphere of the Arctic Main Star and stopped at a bay. Protected by a formation arranged by a Tianyuan Wuque-level master, even the gods stationed on the main star could not perceive it.
Qing Su boarded the divine ship, bowed to Zhang Ruochen who stood at the bow, and said, "Greetings, Master."
"Qing Su, you have been managing all affairs of the Sword Realm in the Northern Universe over the years. You have worked hard. Take me to see the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord. I know he is on the Arctic Main Star." Zhang Ruochen said.
Qing Su was not surprised that Zhang Ruochen could perceive heavenly secrets. She said, "The Divine Lord is in Qixia Sacred City."
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord was a peerless prodigy of the same era as the Dragon Lord and the Ice Emperor. He was not only talented in cultivation but also matched them in wit and wisdom.
In this era, as the older generation of cultivators gradually withered away, the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord had entered the ranks of the Twenty Heavens, becoming one of the most vigorous and powerful experts in the Heavenly Court Universe.
After leading the Imperial Ancestor Divine Dynasty to unify the Imperial Dao Great World, the great world's ranking had directly surpassed the True Martial World, ranking second in the Northern Universe, second only to the dominant world of the Northern Universe, the Ten Thousand Ruins World.
Compared to the Dragon Lord's asceticism and the Ice Emperor's devotion, the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord, as an emperor, had countless consorts and over a thousand children—clearly more adept at enjoying life.
In this regard, he was quite similar to Zhang Ruochen!
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord's imperial ship was his divine temple palace, over sixty li long, built from divine forged materials. It had nine levels and could accommodate tens of thousands of cultivators with room to spare.
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord's body was as majestic as a divine mountain, his dragon robe resplendent, his features sharp as if carved by knives and axes. He was already waiting outside a pavilion at the ship's bow.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao, his face beamed with a confident and sincere smile. "It's been years since we last met. Here we are again! Imperial Dust, Empress, please take the seats of honor."
Zhang Ruochen said, "You are too kind, Divine Lord."
The three sat down in the pavilion, and a line of maidservants presented various dishes and divine brews.
Although Qing Su was the revered leader of the Can Tian Sect and a divine venerable, she could only stand to the side, without the qualification to sit.
After some pleasantries, the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord asked, "Imperial Dust, have you come to the Arctic Main Star to go to the North Marsh Great Wall?"
"Can't I have come specifically to reminisce with the Divine Lord?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord held a bronze cup, his eyes shimmering with the light of wisdom. "Qing Su, did you hear that? Your master came to reminisce with me. If this gets out, my status in the universe will rise by at least one level."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I would very much like to drink and sing with the Divine Lord, discussing the divine path and the trends of the world. But before that, please enlighten me, Divine Lord. Did Princess Yun Zhen join the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom of her own will, or was it your arrangement?"
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord put away his smile. "As a ruler of a nation and a lord of a world, I must consider the succession of the nation and the world."
"Just as Qing Su became my disciple and joined the Sword Realm, does that also represent a branch of inheritance for the Imperial Ancestor Divine Dynasty?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord said, "It's just the way of survival! If I had Imperial Dust's talent for cultivation and the momentum of the world's support, I wouldn't have chosen such a petty path of placing bets on multiple sides."
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord did not answer directly, but he had already answered.
"Is this answer disappointing to Imperial Dust?"
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord smiled bitterly and continued, "I did not deceive or hide anything because I do not want to lose you as a dear friend. Sometimes, I truly admire you and Hao Tian. Once you make a choice, you stick to it unwaveringly, facing death as if returning home."
Zhang Ruochen said, "How does the Divine Lord view the Divine Realm and the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom?"
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord said, "The Divine Realm is supreme, holding the martial authority of all cultivators in the world. But throughout the endless ages, it has never done anything detrimental to the common people. Its forceful return now may be a helpless response to the impending Calamity of Quantities."
Zhang Ruochen said, "So, the Divine Lord holds a friendly attitude toward the Divine Realm? Holding martial authority—isn't that also choking the necks of all cultivators? Can the Divine Lord tolerate such restraint?"
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord said, "Perhaps it is precisely because of the Divine Realm that we have the opportunity to cultivate martial arts, to transcend the masses, and to gain long life and great power?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Has the Divine Lord forgotten that the Divine Realm released the Dark Hand, causing incalculable casualties to the Heavenly Court?"
"Imperial Dust seems to have also forgotten that the Divine Realm once sent Divine Martial Envoys to help us deal with the Ancestor Calamity."
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord continued, "I have no intention of continuing this debate with Imperial Dust. At our level of cultivation, we all understand that matters in this world are not simply black and white. Right and wrong are actually not important. What matters is how to survive and how to survive better."
"I have my principles, and my bottom line has always existed. But, at present, the Divine Realm has the power to harvest all beings in the world yet has not done so. Why must we blindly oppose them?"
Zhang Ruochen stared intently at the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord, finding it hard to accept that this was still the same extraordinary emperor with lofty ambitions he had once known.
Chi Yao said, "Does the Divine Lord know that the third disciple of the Eternal True Ruler is Qishier Pin Lian, who is also Zhuo Yun Zhen's master?"
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord frowned at first, then showed a look of sudden realization. "I understand now why Imperial Dust is so concerned. I can swear that before this, I had absolutely no idea that Zhen'er had become a disciple of Qishier Pin Lian."
Zhang Ruochen stood up. "What concerns me is not this, but that from today onward, I have lost a comrade who could fight alongside me. Let's go!"
"Qing Su, are you willing to leave with me?"
Leaving here clearly meant leaving the Imperial Dao Great World and cutting ties with the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord.
Qing Su never expected that the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord and her master would suddenly have such a great divergence in ideals. How could she not feel conflicted and hesitant?
She did not know who was right.
Perhaps the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord trusted and revered the Divine Realm too much.
Or perhaps her master was too extreme.
But in the end, she chose to leave with Zhang Ruochen.
The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord watched the resolutely departing Zhang Ruochen and the others, his gaze deep and firm. "Imperial Dust, one day you will find that I am the one who is right."
Leaving the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord's imperial ship, they walked along the streets of Qixia Sacred City.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Qing Su, do you know why the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord came to the Arctic Main Star?"
"Your disciple dare not inquire about the Divine Lord's affairs. Perhaps it was Hao Tian Heavenly Venerable's intention. Although most of the great worlds and life-bearing main stars of the Northern Universe have been relocated to the surrounding star regions of the Heavenly Court, someone of the Twenty Heavens still needs to be stationed here." Qing Su said.
Chi Yao said, "The Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord is a cultivator with a firm will. For his ideals to change so drastically, I suspect it was influenced by an important figure from the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom—either a disciple of the Eternal True Ruler or the Eternal True Ruler himself. Dust... what are you looking at?"
Zhang Ruochen stopped, gazing at the bustling street. Through the dense flow of people, he saw a figure in a green Confucian robe.
That figure was a hundred meters away.
On the street between Zhang Ruochen and him, there were at least several hundred people, all in chaos.
He did not stand out, nor did he have any particularly powerful aura fluctuations. But Zhang Ruochen had noticed him, sensing his extraordinariness.
He seemed to be an old man, with a few strands of white hair. He stood by a stall, picking up goods and asking the price. As if the deal fell through, he smiled, put his hands behind his back, and walked away.
He walked very slowly and casually, but no matter how fast Zhang Ruochen moved, he could not catch up.
Zhang Ruochen arrived at the stall where the old man in the green Confucian robe had just stopped. He looked around, but there was no trace of him.
This was a stall selling calligraphy and paintings, run by a down-and-out scholar.
Zhang Ruochen picked up the scroll that the old man in the Confucian robe had just inquired about and slowly unrolled it. His pupils suddenly contracted sharply.
On the scroll was painted the scene of him, the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord, and Chi Yao drinking together in the pavilion, with Qing Su standing outside. Every figure was lifelike, as if they could break through time and space and step out of the painting.
"Did you paint this?"
Zhang Ruochen held up the painting and asked the down-and-out scholar.
The down-and-out scholar's eyes widened. "This... this..."
Zhang Ruochen said, "What did he say to you?"
"He... he said that soon a wealthy and important person would come to buy this painting, and would give me a lot, a lot of money. He told me to take the money and study hard, and not to waste time."
The more the down-and-out scholar spoke, the more ashamed he became, because this painting was not his at all. How could he have the face to ask for money?
"Slap!"
A bag of sacred stones was thrown to him.
Zhang Ruochen put away the painting. "Study hard. Don't disappoint the expectations that person had for you."
Only then did Chi Yao and Qing Su arrive at the calligraphy and painting stall, seeing Zhang Ruochen buy a painting. They both showed curious and puzzled expressions.
"This painting is?" Chi Yao asked.
"Someone's way of giving me a warning. We were meeting with the Imperial Ancestor Divine Lord on the imperial ship just now, and he was there too. But with my perception, I completely failed to detect him. Such terrifying spiritual power." Zhang Ruochen said.
"Could it be the ninety-fourth rank?"
Chi Yao's face had already turned extremely grim. "How can you still be smiling?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If I don't smile, should I cry? Take a look at this painting. Can you see anything unusual?"
Chi Yao took the scroll and glanced at it. Her gaze instantly froze. "The Fourth Confucian Ancestor's painting style—no, it's an authentic work. How is this possible?"
Back when Chi Yao was the Empress of the First Central Empire, she had governed with Confucianism, strongly supporting the Confucian path. Naturally, she had studied the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's paintings extensively and believed she could not be mistaken.
But the Fourth Confucian Ancestor had clearly already fallen!
"Could there be a Confucian cultivator in this world whose painting skill has fully inherited the true legacy of the Fourth Confucian Ancestor? Even Luo Shuihan, who wields the Hunyuan Brush, can't do that, can she?" Chi Yao said.