# Chapter 4041: The Mistress of the Great Calamity Palace
"It has nothing to do with me."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was speechless, spreading his palms, completely unable to understand why these ghost soldiers and ghost generals had exploded and died.
She could have prevented gods from self-destructing their divine sources, yet she had been unable to stop what had just happened.
Void Heaven said: "Death imprints were branded into their consciousness. Once their consciousness sensed a crisis, their soul flames would explode, giving us no opportunity. Otherwise, do you think, given my personality, I would have tracked them for half a month without taking action?"
Zhang Ruochen picked up the armor worn by the octopus-shaped ghost general, his fingers stroking it as he carefully sensed and investigated. "It's a good set of armor."
"Whoosh!"
The ghost armor melted into liquid form, flowing along Zhang Ruochen's arm toward his entire body.
Chi Yao said: "Several dozen ghost soldiers and ghost generals have had their souls scattered. The existence who left death imprints in their consciousness has definitely sensed the upheaval here. Chen Ge, if we're going to fight, we need to think of countermeasures now."
Void Heaven suddenly stood up, wiping his greasy mouth with his sleeve, looking like he was about to leave.
"Void Heaven, where are you going?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Void Heaven said: "The plan has already failed. Of course I'm returning to the Hell Realm. Feng Caiyi has most likely already fallen. I can't afford to have anything happen to me; I must shoulder the responsibility of revitalizing the Destiny Temple. You all should leave quickly too. Once Corpse Nightmare arrives, we won't be able to escape!"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was very proactive, quickly activating the Space Teleportation Array that Zhang Ruochen had arranged on the Sundial.
Zhang Ruochen frowned and said: "I can assert that Corpse Nightmare is not at the North Marsh Great Wall."
Void Heaven said: "Do you think that someone as scheming as him would be attracted by Desolate Moon to Eternal Heaven? Your scheme is something anyone could see through."
Zhang Ruochen said: "The reason you're certain he won't go is because your cultivation isn't high enough, because you have fear toward Eternal Heaven. But Corpse Nightmare is an Ancestor—what does he have to fear?"
"As long as the Hongmeng Black Dragon walks out of the Abyss of Darkness and attacks Eternal Heaven, how could Corpse Nightmare miss this opportunity?"
"What opportunity?" Void Heaven asked.
Zhang Ruochen said: "As long as the Hongmeng Black Dragon pins down the Eternal True Ruler, Corpse Nightmare might destroy Eternal Heaven, cutting off its wings. He might also go directly to the God Realm and destroy its foundation. You need to understand, in the eyes of an Ancestor, only those of equal rank are considered opponents. We... are merely pawns!"
"These are just your speculations!" Void Heaven said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "If Corpse Nightmare were at the North Marsh Great Wall, there wouldn't be any traces of battle left behind. Didn't you all dare to come to the North Marsh Great Wall precisely because you determined that Corpse Nightmare's focus is on the three fronts of Eternal Heaven, the Abyss of Darkness, and the Jade Desolate Realm?"
Void Heaven was persuaded by Zhang Ruochen's words and said: "Even if Corpse Nightmare isn't there, Ba Er, the Mother of Weak Water, and the Spirit of the Nether Sea are not something you and I can deal with. Especially the Spirit of the Nether Sea—it controls the Eighteen Layers of Nether Prison World, and its combat power is unmatched below the Ancestor level."
"Unmatched below the Ancestor level—isn't that an exaggeration?" Zhang Ruochen said.
A strange light flashed in Void Heaven's eyes. "Don't tell me you have another hidden card, inviting Heavenly Mother or Residual Lamp here?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled without speaking, not giving a definite answer.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's composed and strategic demeanor, Void Heaven felt greatly reassured, even more certain that a Half-Ancestor was hidden in the shadows.
As long as someone could block the Half-Ancestors of the Nether Ancestor Faction, everything would be fine.
Void Heaven sat back down, laughing: "Actually, we don't need to worry so much. We could set up a trap here and have a decisive battle with the cultivators of the Nether Ancestor Faction. Kill them one by one as they come—wouldn't that be satisfying? How about setting up a formation? With our combined spiritual power, we could set up a killing formation that even a Half-Ancestor would have to carefully consider before approaching."
Chi Yao's expression was strange. "Void Heaven changes his mind quite quickly."
Void Heaven sneered: "As long as there's no threat from an Ancestor, what do I have to fear? Besides, the Nether Ancestor Faction must be laying their plans in the Jade Desolate Realm; their forces won't all be concentrated at the North Marsh Great Wall."
Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power had been extended outward the entire time, and a hundred billion miles away, he sensed a faint aura.
Though the aura was weak, its speed was extremely fast, moving toward their location.
Without a doubt, it was an extremely powerful god-level expert, using concealment techniques to stealthily approach and investigate.
Perhaps it was the fluctuation of heaven and earth rules caused by Zangjin Baihu, or perhaps the death of those ghost soldiers and ghost generals had drawn them over.
Void Heaven also sensed it. His eyes rolled around as he said in a low voice: "Impressive cultivation, excellent concealment methods. I can only sense faint fluctuations but can't identify their identity."
"At least Great Unbound Infinite." Zhang Ruochen said.
"The North Marsh Great Wall really is dangerous. Such a powerful existence is attracted here so casually." Chi Yao said.
Before long, a figure in blue robes—the Peacock Heavenly Empress—appeared on the distant Great Wall.
Her cloud-like hair buns and soft waist exuded a hundred charms, but her current gaze was filled with intense vigilance. She first glanced at the dozens of ruined North Marsh Great Wall sections in the distant void, then her gaze fell upon the dozens of ghost armors on the ground.
From beginning to end, dozens of divine talismans surrounded the Peacock Heavenly Empress, capable of concealing her physical traces, aura, and heavenly secrets.
"Could there be survivors who slipped through?"
The Peacock Heavenly Empress summoned a pentagonal token-shaped divine artifact, suspending it above her head. She then released her divine soul to sense her surroundings, cautiously walking toward the scattered ghost armors on the ground.
Apart from Feng Caiyi, Qi Daren, and Soul Mother, the Peacock Heavenly Empress feared no cultivator from the Destiny Temple.
Even if there were survivors who had slipped through, she had full confidence in dealing with them.
Suddenly, the Peacock Heavenly Empress felt as if she had passed through an invisible water curtain, and the scene before her changed dramatically.
In the sky, golden snow was falling.
On the snow-covered Great Wall lay a white tiger as massive as a small mountain. Beside the tiger, around a campfire, sat a circle of people.
All their gazes were fixed on her.
"The previous scene was an illusion; this is the real scene."
This thought flashed like lightning through the Peacock Heavenly Empress's mind. Instinctively, she wanted to retreat, but upon seeing Zhang Ruochen, Void Heaven, and the others sitting by the campfire, she couldn't take a single step.
Her legs had gone very weak.
"Heavenly Empress, come and sit for a while." Zhang Ruochen said.
A bitter smile formed on the Peacock Heavenly Empress's face. She could only walk with slow, heavy steps until she was ten paces away from them, then respectfully bowed. "Greetings, Imperial Dust, Void Heaven."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God snorted coldly, clearly dissatisfied with her.
After all, she was an Indestructible Infinite—was her presence so insignificant? Wasn't she worth a bow?
Void Heaven squinted as he examined the Peacock Heavenly Empress, especially noting the full, rounded peaks of her chest. He had to admit, the Peacock Heavenly Empress was an extremely charming woman, with top-tier looks and figure.
He wondered what it would be like to take her as a mount.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Speak. Where did Feng Tian and the gods of the Destiny Temple go?"
His tone was very calm, but an invisible spiritual pressure directly entered the Peacock Heavenly Empress's divine soul.
The Peacock Heavenly Empress maintained her bowing posture and said: "Betraying the Nether Ancestor results in the destruction of both form and spirit."
Void Heaven said: "Not answering the question also results in the destruction of both form and spirit."
The Peacock Heavenly Empress said: "Since death is inevitable either way, I wish to choose who I die by."
"Quite the personality."
Void Heaven's gaze sharpened like a sword as he lost patience and prepared to directly search her soul.
He didn't believe that a powerful expert like the Peacock Heavenly Empress would also have death imprints planted in her consciousness and soul.
But Zhang Ruochen didn't want to take that risk. The lives of Feng Tian, Bore, Blood Butcher, and the others were likely tied to the Peacock Heavenly Empress.
He had to extract something useful.
If there were more complications, time would run out.
"Actually, there is a path to survival for you." Zhang Ruochen said.
The Peacock Heavenly Empress said: "If such a path exists, I will certainly take it."
"As long as you answer whatever I ask. From now on, you will be the mistress of the Great Calamity Palace, under Void Heaven's protection. For the Nether Ancestor Faction to kill you would be no easy task."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Right, Senior Void Heaven?"
Void Heaven knew that the Peacock Heavenly Empress had unclear relationships with Gai Mie and Yan Wushen, so he naturally felt some reluctance.
He, Xu Fengjin, had a certain taste and status—he wasn't a collector of trash.
"Following me is acceptable, but as for being the mistress of the Great Calamity Palace, let's discuss that further." Void Heaven said.
Zhang Ruochen said: "The Peacock Heavenly Empress is a peak Great Unbound Infinite existence. She's more than qualified to be the mistress of the Great Calamity Palace."
"Wouldn't it be better for Imperial Dust to take her under your protection? Isn't the position of Imperial Consort still vacant?" Void Heaven said.
"You two are actually pushing her away."
Chi Yao stood up and walked toward the Peacock Heavenly Empress. "As long as you tell us the information you have, I'll take you back to the Sword Realm and protect your safety."
"Whoosh!"
Nine-colored chaotic divine light flashed on Chi Yao's body, shattering all the divine talismans around her. The Peacock Heavenly Empress was knocked back three steps, letting out a muffled sound.
Her Indestructible Infinite peak cultivation was fully displayed, her presence intimidating.
The Peacock Heavenly Empress had suffered considerable injuries. Enduring the pain inside her body, she said: "I only trust Imperial Dust's promise."
Void Heaven hesitated inwardly. He had to admit, the Peacock Heavenly Empress was indeed quite appealing. If she went to the Sword Realm, she would inevitably fall into Gai Mie's embrace.
As the saying goes, don't waste good women, don't spare bad women.
"I agree! As long as you cooperate, from now on, you will be the mistress of the Great Calamity Palace." Void Heaven said.
Even Xiu Chen Heavenly God shot him a strange look, feeling that Old Man Void had a strange personality—changing his mind at every turn, completely unpredictable.
Taking Gai Mie's woman—wasn't he afraid of future conflict?
But the Peacock Heavenly Empress still stared at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Since Void Heaven has agreed, I'll act as a witness. If he goes back on his word in the future, you can come to me to seek justice."
"Imperial Dust's word is as good as gold. Then I have no more concerns." The Peacock Heavenly Empress said.
If she had any other choice, how could she have made such a choice?
Right now, what Zhang Ruochen and Void Heaven were worried about was whether her soul and consciousness had been planted with death imprints similar to those ghost soldiers and ghost generals.
But she knew her own situation best. Once they searched her soul, she wouldn't be able to keep any secrets.
Including her life—she would have to surrender it here.
Having a choice now was already the best outcome among misfortunes.
Going to the Sword Realm with Chi Yao was indeed also a choice. But it was absolutely a path to death!
Because she had no value to Chi Yao.
Without value and with potential danger, how could a woman as decisive in killing as Chi Yao keep her alive?
The Peacock Heavenly Empress said: "After the Twelve Phase Divine Formation of Fate was breached, some of the Destiny Temple's gods were captured and taken to the Demon Ancestor Ridge, while another part fled into the future with Feng Tian!"
Zhang Ruochen was skeptical of this information. "Feng Tian's attainment in the Way of Time can only be considered mediocre. Under the interception of a Half-Ancestor, she probably couldn't enter the River of Time."
Void Heaven waved his hand. "It's not impossible! Have you forgotten the Past God Palace and Future God Palace of the Destiny Temple? Before departing, Feng Caiyi took away these two divine palaces."
The Peacock Heavenly Empress said: "That's correct. It was precisely the Past God Palace and Future God Palace that opened the Gate of Time."
Zhang Ruochen said: "There must be a Half-Ancestor who pursued them into the River of Time."
"It's Ba Er. He is determined to obtain the Heavenly Cauldron and the Ancestor of Fate's divine source." The Peacock Heavenly Empress said.
Void Heaven raised his eyelids. "Your attainment in time is profound. Why don't you enter the River of Time to rescue them?"
Zhang Ruochen extended a finger and struck toward the space above the black war fortress.
"Whoosh——"
In that space, time rules became extremely active.
The sound of flowing water echoed in the void, like a great river surging.
Zhang Ruochen manifested the River of Time with his great divine ability, but on the river's surface, there were only clouds of time imprint light points, with no trace of Feng Tian and the others.
A fierce killing intent emanated from Chi Yao's eyes.
The Peacock Heavenly Empress trembled under the pressure of the killing intent and immediately said: "The River of Time remains unchanged, but space has changed! Lord Nether Sea once said that he had used a great divine ability to change heaven and earth. No matter how Feng Tian fled on the River of Time, she ultimately couldn't escape his grasp. I suspect that Feng Tian has already been locked onto and cannot independently choose which space to return from."
Void Heaven said: "Ba Er is chasing from behind, and the Spirit of the Nether Sea is waiting ahead on the River of Time. This truly is a dead end."
"Now that I'm here, it's no longer a dead end."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Take me to see the Spirit of the Nether Sea."
Feeling the unyielding will in Zhang Ruochen's eyes, the Peacock Heavenly Empress said: "Lord Nether Sea is in the Nether Kingdom! Controlling both the Nether Prison and the Nether Kingdom, no one below the Ancestor level can withstand ten of his moves. Even Chongming Ancestor has submitted."
"You don't dare to go?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"Going means death."
"Take me there. You don't need to enter the Nether Kingdom." Zhang Ruochen said.
After repeated hesitation, the Peacock Heavenly Empress finally nodded. "Since you insist on seeking death, I can only oblige you. The Nether Kingdom is a place of great danger—entry means no return."
Zhang Ruochen put away the Earth Cauldron and looked at Void Heaven. "Senior Void Heaven, please remain here. If I encounter danger, I hope Senior will come to my rescue."
Void Heaven was already extremely wary of the Spirit of the Nether Sea. Hearing that the Nether Kingdom had also emerged and fallen under the Spirit of the Nether Sea's control, he was even more reluctant to go.
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen wasn't forcing him to go, Void Heaven was overjoyed inside. "Rest assured, I will be your strongest backup."
...
Under the Peacock Heavenly Empress's guidance, Zhang Ruochen, Chi Yao, and Xiu Chen Heavenly God headed toward the Nether Kingdom.
Zangjin Baihu was temporarily sent into the Celestial World.
Chi Yao reminded him: "If we encounter danger, Old Ghost Void will definitely not come to rescue us. He'll run faster than anyone. We should have forced him to come with us."
"Forcing a melon doesn't make it sweet."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Besides, someone needs to pin down the Spirit of the Nether Sea for a period of time, giving me enough time to rescue people."
"Chen Ge means?" Chi Yao asked.
Zhang Ruochen said: "The death imprints in those ghost soldiers' and ghost generals' consciousness were planted by the Spirit of the Nether Sea. When they died outside that black war fortress, the Spirit of the Nether Sea would sense it and go to investigate. I suspect the Spirit of the Nether Sea is currently on his way there!"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God suddenly understood. "So you had this planned all along. Old Ghost Void is finished!"
"He won't be finished... well, at least he should be able to keep his life. When it comes to hiding and escaping, I'm no match for that old fellow." Zhang Ruochen said.