Chapter 4060: Distribution of Benefits
The sword moved without sound.
Yet, all the rules of heaven and earth were annihilated, including time, space, light, and darkness. Nothing remained in the world but sword intent.
All the fire crows were cleared away.
The Red Crow King used Star Heaven Cliff to resist, gathering half-ancestor divine qi into clouds, but was still wounded by the endless sword qi, its tree body peeling away from Star Heaven Cliff.
The power of this sword strike faintly possessed the ability to defy realms and strike down opponents of higher cultivation.
Golden Suanni Ancestor released the Time-Space Chaos Lotus, its petals unfolding one by one. One flower, one world. Space continuously expanded and contracted, attempting to suppress the Red Crow King within the lotus.
Just then, the Dark Remnant arrived, swinging the Thunder God Hammer.
"Crackle!"
Thunder and lightning fell like a rain waterfall, bright and dazzling, descending from the sky and landing entirely on the Red Crow King.
While heavily wounding the Red Crow King, it also broke the spatial confinement power of the Time-Space Chaos Lotus. Seizing the opportunity, the Red Crow King escaped through the spatial gap opened by the lightning, entering the Void World.
"Ruining our good deed, you did that on purpose, didn't you?"
Void Heaven was enraged, twin pupils shooting forth sword qi. With a flick of his sleeve, he shattered space and pursued into the Void World.
Golden Suanni Ancestor was even faster, taking the lead over Void Heaven, crashing through the starry sky, carrying endless golden ancestral radiance that illuminated even the Void World.
The Dark Remnant did not attack again, nor did it pursue. Instead, it unhurriedly collected Star Heaven Cliff. Then, it headed to Lihentian.
Facing the four half-ancestor-level powerhouses—Zhang Ruochen, Panyuan Ancient God, Fourth Confucian Ancestor, and the Dark Remnant—the Nether Sea Spirit did not even have a chance to self-destruct its divine source. It was repeatedly struck, its soul body shattered.
Clearly, its earlier claim of possessing four ancestral curse seals was entirely a ruse to confuse its opponents.
Finally, the Nether Sea Spirit's injuries became so severe that its combat power dropped below the half-ancestor level. It was suppressed by the Dark Remnant's "Dark Mist Lock" and the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's righteous qi.
The Dark Remnant was well aware that the Fourth Confucian Ancestor, as a member of the Divine Realm faction, would not give it a chance to recover its divine soul. So it said, "Imperial Dust's word is law. Now that the Nether Sea Spirit is suppressed, does your earlier promise still hold?"
Before Zhang Ruochen could respond, Xiuchen Heavenly God flew out from the Sundial and said urgently, "Think back yourself. Imperial Dust never said he would give you the Nether Sea Spirit."
"For an existence like Imperial Dust to play such word games—isn't that meaningless?" the Dark Remnant said.
"It is meaningful!"
Xiuchen Heavenly God said, "I am the artifact spirit of the Sundial. He is the Nether Sea Spirit. Imperial Dust intends to use his spirit to nourish the Sundial's artifact spirit. That is perfectly reasonable and fully aligns with the interests of the Sword Realm."
Panyuan Ancient God said, "This is not the time to fight over benefits. Corpse Nightmare could return across space at any moment. When that happens, who among us can withstand his wrath? We must settle this quickly and leave."
Panyuan Ancient God's words were directed at Zhang Ruochen.
Clearly, he believed the Nether Sea Spirit should be handed over to the Dark Remnant.
There were two considerations for this.
First, the Nether Sea Spirit's cultivation and attainment far surpassed Ba Er's. Even with the Dark Remnant's abilities, refining and absorbing it would take considerable time.
Before that, even if Corpse Nightmare escaped from the Ancestor Battlefield and returned, he would first target the Dark Remnant.
This would give the Heavenly Court Universe and the Sword Realm more time to organize their defenses against an ancestor's wrath.
Second, after this battle, the Nether Ancestor faction had suffered a heavy blow, and the Divine Realm had grown powerful.
How could the Nether Sea Spirit be given to the Fourth Confucian Ancestor?
Giving it to the Dark Remnant, allowing it to grow stronger, would serve as a check on the Divine Realm to some extent.
With the Divine Realm, the Nether Ancestor faction, the Dark Sovereign, and the current Primordial Beings all contending against each other, they would have more room to survive.
Of course, in Panyuan Ancient God's view, the Sword Realm and the Hell Realm already possessed the power to contend with these four factions, ranking as the fifth and sixth forces.
The appearance of Golden Suanni Ancestor undoubtedly indicated that the Great Venerable and Ling Yanzi might still be alive. This was the biggest reason the Sword Realm could be counted as the fifth force.
As for the Hell Realm, with Xu Fengjin and Feng Caiyi having reached higher cultivation levels, half-ancestors were numerous.
Only the Heavenly Court Universe had become the weakest side.
Therefore, Panyuan Ancient God had to sell this favor to the Dark Remnant.
Zhang Ruochen could naturally see the issues that Panyuan Ancient God had considered. He even knew that the Dark Remnant had deliberately let the Red Crow King escape because it feared the Divine Realm becoming the sole dominant power.
While the Fourth Confucian Ancestor suppressed the Nether Sea Spirit, the righteous qi emanating from his body clashed with the dark qi, and he said, "The Dark Sovereign's killing nature is too heavy. In the past, the Sword Realm created by Sword Ancestor was destroyed by his hands. Ruochen, you must never let him regain the ancestor realm. The consequences would be endless."
Panyuan Ancient God had already clearly sided with the Dark Remnant. Zhang Ruochen's choice would be exceptionally critical.
"Of course, if Ruochen brings the Nether Sea Spirit back to the Kunlun Realm and refines it into soul pills with the Earth Cauldron, distributing them to the gods of the Kunlun Realm to help them advance their cultivation, I would be in full agreement," the Fourth Confucian Ancestor said.
Xiuchen Heavenly God said, "As expected of the Confucian Ancestor. Every word you speak is true insight. The Sword Realm and the Kunlun Realm urgently need to increase their strength now."
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen asked, "Confucian Ancestor, are you planning to return to the Kunlun Realm?"
The Fourth Confucian Ancestor nodded and said, "It's long past time to return. I wonder if the landscape has changed, and whether the Confucian path is flourishing."
Panyuan Ancient God caught the subtle implication in their exchange and said, "Since you're returning, then stay for the long term. With a Confucian Ancestor in residence, giving lectures and preaching, the Confucian path in the Kunlun Realm will surely flourish."
In Panyuan Ancient God's view, the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's suggestion that Zhang Ruochen bring the Nether Sea Spirit to the Kunlun Realm was meant to draw Corpse Nightmare's ancestral wrath to the Wuding Divine Sea.
Zhang Ruochen had seen through this, which was why he asked that question. His meaning was, "You want me to bring the Nether Sea Spirit back to the Kunlun Realm, but will you return to the Kunlun Realm to help me withstand the ancestor's wrath?"
Panyuan Ancient God naturally wanted to seize this opportunity to stoke the fire and put the Fourth Confucian Ancestor on the spot.
Xiuchen Heavenly God said, "If you all keep chatting like this, Corpse Nightmare will really be back!"
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Since you're all looking at me to make the decision, you shouldn't have any objections, should you? I am the youngest here. No matter which side I take, it will be hard to convince everyone. So I can only stand from the most fair and just perspective."
"In the battle to suppress the Nether Sea Spirit, everyone contributed, so everyone should get a share of the spoils."
"The Nether Sea Spirit's divine soul is extremely powerful, at least at the late half-ancestor level. Handing it over to any one person would be unsafe. It could be rescued by Corpse Nightmare at any time, and given time, it would return to its peak. So, let's split the Nether Sea Spirit's divine soul in half—one half for Panyuan Ancient God, and one half for the Dark Sovereign."
Panyuan Ancient God narrowed his eyes slightly, keenly sensing Zhang Ruochen's intention.
This was to prevent the Heavenly Court Universe from getting too close to the Dark Remnant.
If the Heavenly Court Universe grew too close to the Dark Remnant, its dependence on the Sword Realm would weaken.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Senior Panyuan was struck by an ancestral curse seal, which must have damaged your vitality. You can use the Nether Sea Spirit's divine soul to heal your injuries."
This benefit was now something Panyuan Ancient God could not refuse.
Moreover, he would not be able to later transfer it to the Dark Remnant.
Because doing so would offend Zhang Ruochen and the Sword Realm. If you were so ungrateful, you would not get any benefits in the future.
Besides, once the benefit was in hand, it would be difficult for Panyuan Ancient God to willingly give it up.
The Nether Sea Spirit's cultivation level was right there. Refining its divine soul would undoubtedly bring immense benefits to Panyuan Ancient God's cultivation at the half-ancestor level.
That was human nature. If you never had something, you could easily let it go.
But once you obtained it, giving it away was as hard as sharing your own wife.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the Fourth Confucian Ancestor and said, "I ask Senior Confucian Ancestor to take the Nether Sea to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom for suppression. The Nether Sea is part of the Nether Ancestor's divine realm world. Such a terrifying opponent is beyond our ability to provoke. Only the Divine Realm can contend with it."
Xiuchen Heavenly God said displeasedly, "So, after all this fighting and risking our lives, we only get the Nether Prison? And those two who acted last get the easy spoils? Zhang Ruochen, you are too foolish—"
"Presumptuous!"
Zhang Ruochen's face turned cold. With a palm strike, he sent Xiuchen Heavenly God back into the Sundial. Then, he clasped his hands to the others and said, "I have been too lenient with my subordinates. Please forgive me. Let's end it here. I hope that when we meet again in the future, we can still talk and laugh, rather than face each other with weapons."
Zhang Ruochen gradually moved the Nether Prison into his divine realm world.
The "Fate Heavenly Scripture" and the Heavenly Mechanism Brush were suspended within the Nether Prison.
"I have a deep friendship with the Destiny Temple. Helping them recover the 'Fate Heavenly Scripture' and the Heavenly Mechanism Brush—you seniors should have no objections, right?"
Zhang Ruochen was polite and humble in tone. After collecting the Nether Prison, he flickered across space and returned to the Nether Kingdom.
The one most dissatisfied with this distribution of benefits was naturally the Dark Remnant.
But it had no choice but to accept.
Because it still had a favor to ask of Zhang Ruochen.
After splitting the Nether Sea Spirit's divine soul with Panyuan Ancient God, the Dark Remnant pursued Zhang Ruochen back to the Nether Kingdom.
...
This battle, involving ancestors and half-ancestors, had left even the Nether Kingdom in ruins. Broken space and chaotic residual Dao techniques were everywhere. It was a scene of utter devastation.
Nether soldiers and generals were either dead or had fled.
Half of the so-called Eighty Thousand Towers had been destroyed.
But the main body of the Nether Kingdom remained. The land was vast, with yin clouds and death qi shrouding the mountains. Forty-two stars (Hengxing) hung above the Demon Ancestor Ridge, casting light and illuminating the endless darkness.
Feng Tian had already walked out from the Parasol Divine Tree. Ancestral flames flowed around her body, and twelve Gates of Destiny shone behind her, radiating eternity. Her temperament and aura had undergone earth-shaking changes.
In addition to the Dao charm that cultivation had bestowed upon her, she now carried a trace of demonic qi.
This trace of demonic qi allowed the two auras of death and life within her to finally reach a state of balance.
After all, she was originally from the Corpse Clan and had primarily cultivated the path of death for over a million years. Even after being reborn through nirvana, her death qi was still far thicker than her life qi.
For Feng Tian, who aspired to cultivate the twelve-phase perfection, this was undoubtedly the most difficult step. It laid a solid foundation for her to assault (Chongji) the half-ancestor realm.
From now on, her cultivation path would be smooth, and she could advance a thousand miles in a single day.
Zhang Ruochen appeared beside Feng Tian. Following her gaze, he saw the gods of the Destiny Temple cleaning up the battlefield. He said, "We need to evacuate quickly. If we delay, things could change."
"If Corpse Nightmare could break free, with his ancestor-level cultivation, he would have returned long ago. There's no need to rush," Feng Tian said, her demeanor calm.
Zhang Ruochen looked at her in surprise.
Feng Tian was known for being decisive and swift, acting quickly, urgently, and ruthlessly, never missing any opportunity. She would execute her decisions immediately.
Seeing her slow down was truly surprising.
"You absorbed the ancestral flame? I can feel that you have formed a unique connection with the Parasol Divine Tree and the Demon Ancestor Ridge. Congratulations. Soon, you should be able to enter the half-ancestor realm," Zhang Ruochen said.
Feng Tian's eyes were calm, without joy or sorrow. She asked, "Where is he?"
"He has returned to his era," Zhang Ruochen said with an involuntary sigh.
Feng Tian said, "He helped me?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "He gave up his ancestor-level cultivation to send you further, while he returned to his original position in fate."
Emotion finally flickered across Feng Tian's face. "Without his help, I might have died under the ancestral flame. Without the power he injected into the Fate Ancestor Divine Source, even if I obtained the ancestral flame, I might not have reached the half-ancestor realm before my lifespan ran out. I have very little time left. Now, at least I have a seventy percent chance."
"Throughout history, how many geniuses and heroes have pursued the ancestor realm? Yet he is the only one who could give it up. Why?"
Zhang Ruochen knew that Gong Nanfeng's actions had caused a huge psychological impact on Feng Tian.
Feng Tian clearly did not like owing favors, especially one like this, which was unprecedented in history. She had no idea how to repay it, and there was no way to repay it.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I don't know why he did it, but I know he must not have regretted it. Because when he returned to that era in the past, he still handed the Joy Gate to you, without trying to change the fate that was already set. In his view, this might have been the best arrangement."
Feng Tian looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, "He left no message for me?"
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head. "He was usually an optimistic and talkative person. But when people like that leave, they often do so in silence."
"I will revive the Destiny Temple. I will avenge him and personally kill the Nether Ancestor," Feng Tian said, her calm eyes showing frost and a resolute will.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Perhaps he only wanted you to live well."
Feng Tian asked curiously, "And you? Why did you come to the North Marsh Great Wall? Why did you wade into this muddy water? At Nutian Shenzun's palace, you said it was certain death."
She had already been told the answer, yet she asked again.
Women indeed liked to repeat the same questions and hear the same answers they already knew.
The Dark Remnant appeared in midair and said, "Sorry for interrupting, but I have an agreement with Imperial Dust. Now is the time for Imperial Dust to fulfill his promise."
Chi Yao, driving the twenty-seven layers of the heavenly realm world left by the Great Venerable, returned to the Demon Ancestor Ridge and said, "As an ally, the Sovereign, aside from letting the Red Crow King escape, doesn't seem to have been of much help."
The Dark Remnant said, "If the Nether Sea Spirit had chosen to self-destruct, Imperial Dust, Panyuan, and the Fourth Confucian Ancestor might not have been able to suppress it."
Feng Tian did not know what deal the Dark Remnant had made with Zhang Ruochen, but she had no goodwill toward it. She said, "A gentleman's agreement is kept. A villain's alliance is not worth honoring, or you will only be deceived by the villain."
Chi Yao said, "Earlier, the Sovereign was trying to take advantage of our misfortune."
If the Dark Remnant had a head, its gaze toward Chi Yao and Feng Tian would surely be filled with killing intent.
It said, "I only thought Imperial Dust's word was as good as gold, that he was a true hero. I never expected him to be swayed by two women, ruining his reputation and credibility."
Zhang Ruochen laughed. "The Black Hand has always been unstable. I really don't want to keep it by my side, wasting my energy. Handing it over to the Sovereign would be a relief. But what they said makes sense. In this alliance, the Sovereign was indeed not very honorable."
"Not just not honorable! Your actions cannot even be called those of an ally. We should keep you here and eliminate the threat."
Void Heaven's voice came from a distant place.
A moment later, he descended like a bright sword light, landing on a plain in the Nether Kingdom, sealing off the space to the Dark Remnant's left.
"Woof woof!"
Golden Suanni Ancestor rode golden clouds from the right, its body like a mountain, its breath like thunder.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Void Heaven's strange appearance and wondered in his heart. This old ghost Void was imitating Jing Daoren of all people.
He had no time to ask what had happened. He continued to pressure the Dark Sovereign. "It seems that Void Heaven and Feng Tian have quite a grudge against the Sovereign. This makes things difficult."
The Dark Sovereign knew very well that Zhang Ruochen was not unwilling to hand over the Black Hand. He was just negotiating terms to gain greater benefits.
In the grand game of strategy, Zhang Ruochen was undoubtedly the most rational one, not swayed by emotions.
Knowing he was in the wrong and at a disadvantage, the Dark Sovereign had no choice but to take the initiative to back down. He asked, "The battle on the Dark Abyss defense line was not led by me. Letting the Red Crow King escape was to prevent the Divine Realm from becoming the sole dominant power. I don't think I did anything wrong. Imperial Dust, why not speak plainly? What conditions do you need to hand over the Black Hand to me?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Does the Sovereign misunderstand something?"
"No misunderstanding. I also think I didn't help much in this battle. How about I hand over Star Heaven Cliff to Imperial Dust?" the Dark Sovereign said.
Void Heaven showed a look of interest, but soon reason overcame greed.
Star Heaven Cliff belonged to Corpse Nightmare. Whoever took it would invite great disaster.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I don't have any grievances. But Void Heaven was almost killed by the Red Crow King, and the Sovereign let it go. This grievance does need some compensation. How about gifting a cultivation insight on the path to the ancestor realm, along with the cultivation method of Myriad Forms Formless?"
Void Heaven's eyes lit up.
For now, he had the self-awareness not to covet the ancestor realm. But after cultivating Sword Twenty-Five, the half-ancestor realm was within reach.
Half-ancestors also had differences in strength.
The Nether Sea Spirit, for example, was far stronger than ordinary half-ancestors.
The Dark Sovereign was an Immortal. His cultivation insights were more precious to a half-ancestor than anything else.
Chi Yao said, "Once the Sovereign obtains the Black Hand and merges with it, he will surely regain ancestor-level combat power. By then, the more we pressure him now, the more fiercely he will retaliate in the future."
"Haha!"
The Dark Remnant laughed loudly. "Two cultivation insights—is that considered pressure? Imperial Dust is truly a man of broad mind. I admire him greatly. In the future, we will surely fight side by side again. The Nether Ancestor and the Divine Realm are our common enemies."