# Chapter 4068: Wen Tianjun's Choice
Wen Tianjun did not mind Zhang Ruochen and Can Deng Dashi's concealment, as these two could be said to be the cultivators he trusted most at present.
If they did not speak, they naturally had their reasons for not speaking.
Nalan Danqing and Luo Shuihan, upon hearing the name "Fourth Confucian Ancestor," were both in a state of confusion and shock, pondering the meaning of Zhang Ruochen's words.
Wen Tianjun gazed at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Perhaps your speculation is correct."
"Did you ask?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Wen Tianjun said, "He did not answer me directly."
"Given your friendship, his refusal to answer directly is itself an answer. In that case, I can think slightly more highly of the Fourth Confucian Ancestor—at least he did not resort to outright lies." Zhang Ruochen said.
The others present were all guessing what riddle Zhang Ruochen and Wen Tianjun were playing.
Nalan Danqing and Luo Shuihan's cultivation levels were too far apart, and both were sensible enough not to take the initiative to ask. Can Deng Dashi drank on his own, appearing calm and at ease.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "If you have questions, just ask directly. I think all of this will soon no longer be a secret."
Luo Shuihan had obtained the Hunyuan Brush and inherited the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's legacy, much like the master-disciple relationship between Zhang Ruochen and Xumi Saint Monk. Therefore, she lacked her usual restraint and asked impatiently, "The Fourth Confucian Ancestor..."
"Is in the Wuding Divine Sea, probably still at the Dragon Nest, right?"
Zhang Ruochen looked at Wen Tianjun.
Wen Tianjun nodded and said, "Let her go. In the end, they must meet."
Luo Shuihan stood up.
Zhang Ruochen took out a book and handed it to Luo Shuihan, saying, "Take this to the Confucian Ancestor and say it is a gift from me."
It was the materials Nalan Danqing had investigated and compiled regarding the painting, Su Zilian, and the Kasyapa Buddha Ancestor, but it was a copy transcribed by Can Deng Dashi.
Nalan Danqing had to be removed from the equation, leaving no trace behind.
For someone whose spiritual power had reached the height of the Fourth Confucian Ancestor, they could analyze many causal connections from the characters alone.
Having Can Deng Dashi transcribe it was to sever these causal connections, creating confusion and doubt for the Fourth Confucian Ancestor and the Eternal True Ruler behind him.
After Luo Shuihan left with the book, Wen Tianjun said, "Yin Yuan Chen and Zhang Gushen, who were taken by Gai Mie to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom, he will help send them back."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Does Wen Tianjun find his words credible?"
"Credible. If he wanted to keep them as hostages, he would not have agreed so readily." Wen Tianjun said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I am just curious about one thing: since he did not die, why has he not returned to the Kunlun Realm all these years? What reason did he give?"
"I asked. He said he was helping the Eternal True Ruler suppress evil anomalies in the God Realm. As for whether the evil anomalies are the dark and sinister Dark Hand or something else, he did not reveal, only saying they were extremely dangerous." Wen Tianjun said.
Nalan Danqing had discerned many things and said, "Based on our discoveries at the Heavenly Man Academy, we always believed that the Fourth Confucian Ancestor died at the hands of the Qishier Pin Lian. Now that the Qishier Pin Lian has joined the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom, and the Fourth Confucian Ancestor is also there, can we assume that the incomplete painting the Fourth Confucian Ancestor left behind at the Heavenly Man Academy back then was intentional? And what was its purpose?"
Wen Tianjun had clearly spoken very thoroughly with the Fourth Confucian Ancestor and said, "He spoke about what happened back then. It was indeed the Qishier Pin Lian who ambushed him, but the Eternal True Ruler saved him and took him to the God Realm to heal his injuries. Thus, he owed a life debt. As for the Qishier Pin Lian becoming the Eternal True Ruler's disciple, that happened in this era."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Could it be that the Qishier Pin Lian was already the Eternal True Ruler's person long ago? Could the ambush at the Heavenly Man Academy have been a scheme against him, intended to make him join the God Realm?"
Wen Tianjun said, "I raised the same doubt. His answer was that he absolutely trusts the Eternal True Ruler, holds him in the highest esteem, and hopes that I and the gods of the Kunlun Realm can join the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom to fight together against the Nether Ancestor Faction, the Primordial Beings, and the future Calamity of Quantities. He believes that only the God Realm has this strength, and he is willing to unite all forces of the Heavenly Court Universe and the Sword Realm, but he rather dislikes the Hell Realm."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "He was actually telling you that he will not return to the Kunlun Realm."
"I know, so I did not bring it up again." Wen Tianjun said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "What about the Divine Martial Mark? Since the Eternal True Ruler and the Fourth Confucian Ancestor were both born in the Kunlun Realm and uphold moral righteousness, they should have some attachment to the Kunlun Realm, shouldn't they? If any realm's Divine Martial Marks were to be reduced, it should not be those of the Kunlun Realm's living beings."
Wen Tianjun said, "This is what he said: although the Divine Martial Mark is released from the God Realm, it is not controlled by the God Realm. It is a Dao imprint of heaven and earth. Therefore, it is not that the God Realm and the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom deliberately did it; it is that as the rules of heaven and earth underwent tremendous changes, the Divine Martial Marks themselves became fewer."
"Quite a watertight answer."
Zhang Ruochen clearly did not believe this explanation.
Nalan Danqing finally could not restrain her curiosity and asked softly, "Why does the Imperial Dust say that the Eternal True Ruler was born in the Kunlun Realm?"
Can Deng Dashi laughed heartily and said, "I guess it has to do with the riddle they were playing earlier."
"The Eternal True Ruler is the Second Confucian Ancestor." Zhang Ruochen said.
As a cultivator of the Confucian path, Nalan Danqing's psychological shock today was unprecedented. Everything was overturning her understanding. No wonder Zhang Ruochen was so despairing about the future. No wonder Zhang Ruochen had asked her to do those things in secret.
The secrets hidden behind this were like a bottomless abyss that could devour everything.
The truth was being uncovered step by step, but the truth was hard to accept, each revelation more shocking than the last.
Wen Tianjun said, "It has not been truly confirmed yet."
"Does Wen Tianjun still harbor illusions? The Fourth Confucian Ancestor not answering you is itself the answer. Rest assured, after this battle between Primordial Ancestors, the Eternal True Ruler's identity will no longer be concealable. To repel the Hongmeng Black Dragon and the Corpse Nightmare, he must display his true strength."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred, and he said, "Wen Tianjun does not actually believe the Fourth Confucian Ancestor's words, does he?"
Can Deng Dashi looked over with interest.
Wen Tianjun fell silent.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The calamity that befell the Kunlun Realm in the past was related to the Qishier Pin Lian, was it not? Yet the Eternal True Ruler accepted her as his disciple. What happened at the North Marsh Great Wall, I have already recounted. The Fourth Confucian Ancestor's actions were by no means those of a person of great virtue and selflessness."
Wen Tianjun frowned deeply and said, "This lord is also half a disciple of the Confucian path. I have a great sense of identification with the character of the Confucian Ancestors. It is precisely this sense of identification, combined with my past friendship with the Fourth Confucian Ancestor, that makes me seriously consider the feasibility of supporting the God Realm."
"The actions of the God Realm and the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom are indeed not entirely bright and righteous. But are we ourselves any different? Facing powerful enemies, facing the Calamity of Quantities, many times we are all compelled by circumstances."
"Ruochen, if the God Realm did not exist, the Nether Ancestor Faction would have destroyed the world back in the Middle Ages."
Can Deng Dashi said, "This humble monk now somewhat understands why your expression was so pained when you came here. Because your heart has begun to waver; you are no longer resolute."
Wen Tianjun said, "Is that not normal? The three of us are the same. When dealing with enemies, we can be unwaveringly certain, but when dealing with friends, we always expose the soft side of our hearts. It is precisely because of this softness that our hearts are still human hearts."
Can Deng Dashi looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, "What do you say?"
"I have always maintained great vigilance toward the God Realm and the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom. But I believe that at the present stage, the Sword Realm should not have only one voice, so I support Wen Tianjun's decision. Wen Tianjun's association with the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom is actually beneficial to the Sword Realm. If any Primordial Ancestor moves against the Sword Realm, the God Realm cannot stand idly by." Zhang Ruochen said.
Wen Tianjun's gaze moved between Can Deng Dashi and Zhang Ruochen, then he laughed loudly: "Rest assured, this lord has not reached the point of fully trusting them. I also have vigilance."
"I must go see the Eternal True Ruler, and even go to the God Realm, to dig out the Immortal behind the God Realm. For those whose cultivation has reached our level, none of us is anyone's follower. Everyone's path is destined to be different, but the result we pursue is the same."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I know that Wen Tianjun's choice to temporarily trust the Fourth Confucian Ancestor and be willing to associate with the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom is partly because the Sword Realm is currently weak and unable to protect itself. I have brought back the Eighteen Layers of Nether Purgatory. As long as the Seventy-Two Layer Tower is forged, the Sword Realm will have the strength to fight."
"Do you need help?" Wen Tianjun asked.
Zhang Ruochen needed to study the Seventy-Two Layer Tower in detail through the forging process, thereby illuminating the Dao Light and impacting the Half-Ancestor realm. Therefore, he shook his head and said, "At this stage, neither the Nether Ancestor Faction nor the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom is the most important. The Yuhuang Realm needs Wen Tianjun more. A large number of the Sword Realm's gods are there."
"Understood."
Wen Tianjun took the wine glass Zhang Ruochen handed him, drank it all in one gulp, and then left the Wuding Divine Sea.
Can Deng Dashi watched Wen Tianjun's departing figure and smiled: "He has always been strong-willed and taciturn. The fact that he explained so much to us shows that deep down, he harbors doubts about the God Realm and knows he might be walking on a wrong path. But can you say with certainty that this is definitely the wrong path?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "Right and wrong are not so easy to judge."
"But he is walking it. Whether right or wrong, he will give us an answer, allowing us to become more resolute in ourselves."
Can Deng Dashi asked, "What do you plan to do next?"
"Improve my cultivation, prepare to impact the Half-Ancestor realm. At the same time, find that painting and uncover the secret that the Heavenly Demon, the Second Confucian Ancestor, and the Great Venerable are all seeking." Zhang Ruochen said.
Can Deng Dashi said, "The three of them, as Primordial Ancestors, spent who knows how many tens of thousands of years and could not find it. What makes you think you can?"
"They searched in secret, which is naturally very difficult. But I will make this secret public and let all the cultivators under heaven help me find it." Zhang Ruochen smiled.
Nalan Danqing was very curious and said, "In that case, why hand the materials to the Fourth Confucian Ancestor? Why not just make them public directly?"
Can Deng Dashi saw through Zhang Ruochen's intention and said, "If made public directly, the source traced back would be you and Zhang Ruochen. Handing it to the Fourth Confucian Ancestor, the source traced back would be him, the God Realm."
Nalan Danqing said, "Will the Fourth Confucian Ancestor make the materials public?"
"Of course not, at least not now. But I have a way to make everyone under heaven believe that it was the Fourth Confucian Ancestor who made them public, that he is the one searching for that painting." Zhang Ruochen said.
Nalan Danqing said, "Then please explain, Imperial Dust, what if the Fourth Confucian Ancestor comes forward to clarify?"
"He won't. He will think this is a good method and might even offer a generous reward." Zhang Ruochen said.
Nalan Danqing blinked her eyes, fluttering, and said, "If that is the case, any cultivator who finds this painting will definitely go directly to the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and hand it to the Fourth Confucian Ancestor. Imperial Dust, what benefit can you gain from this?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "First of all, my interest in this secret is actually not that great. Using this method to divert the Nether Ancestor's attention toward the Fourth Confucian Ancestor is the key."
"Secondly, if I want to intercept that painting in advance, I also have the opportunity."
Nalan Danqing said, "How so?"
"Go to the Book Realm and wait by the tree for the rabbit." Zhang Ruochen said.
Nalan Danqing was startled and said, "You think that painting is in the Book Realm?"
"If it were not in the Book Realm, why would the Heavenly Demon have Xu Zheyuan search for it? If it were not in the Book Realm, why would the Xu family have searched for it generation after generation? Having searched for over ten million years, even if the Xu family has not found the painting, they must have grasped quite a few clues." Zhang Ruochen said.
Nalan Danqing said, "But the Book Alliance's people did not extract more information from the Xu family."
"That is because the people you sent were not strong enough in cultivation and did not gain the Xu family's trust." Zhang Ruochen said.
Can Deng Dashi said, "It seems the good show is about to begin. What can this humble monk help with?"
"Master, could you make a trip to Kongming Ruins for me?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Can Deng Dashi said, "High profile or low profile?"
"High profile." Zhang Ruochen said.
After Can Deng Dashi left, Zhang Ruochen fell into melancholy.
With Nalan Danqing's cultivation level, she had learned too many things she should not know. For someone with a heart of stone, killing her directly would be the safest.
As Wen Tianjun said, right and wrong are placed before you.
But when facing friends, when facing those close to you, you absolutely cannot act based solely on simple right and wrong. You must forever retain that softness in your heart.
Nalan Danqing said, "You are not thinking of silencing me, are you?"
"Why would you think that?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Nalan Danqing smiled and said, "Because if I die, your secrets will be much harder to expose. Facing the Nether Ancestor, you do not want to leave any flaws."
"There is another way: keep you by my side, never separating for a moment."
Zhang Ruochen grabbed Nalan Danqing's jade hand and pulled her into his embrace, holding her tightly. Even through her robe, he could feel the softness of her body.
Their faces pressed together, Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes, lightly inhaling the faint fragrance on her, and said, "I very much want to win, to surpass the Immortal, to surpass the fate that was arranged long ago. But I will never lose myself just to win. Danqing, Can Deng Dashi was right. I should not have involved you. But since I have already involved you, I will protect your safety with my life."
Nalan Danqing had long stepped into the God Realm, so naturally she did not have the shyness of a young girl, but her two willow-like eyebrows still furrowed slightly, quite flustered and panicked, as she said, "Qing Mo is still in the academy!"
"Then let's change places." Zhang Ruochen said.
Nalan Danqing's beautiful face was full of helplessness, and she said in a pleading low voice, "Danqing is a disciple of the Confucian path, bound by ritual and propriety. I beg the Imperial Dust not to force the issue."
Zhang Ruochen sensed something, suddenly stood up, released his tight embrace on Nalan Danqing, and straightened her collar for her, saying, "Old fellow, when did you arrive?"
Jie Zunzhe stood under the eaves in the distance, his expression stern, and said, "This old man... just arrived! You were too absorbed! Zhang Ruochen, you are too hypocritical. Back then, when this old man helped you, you scolded me as if I were no better than a beast. Now that this old man is not helping you, you have become the beast yourself. She is a great Confucian scholar, starting from emotion and stopping at propriety. Look at you, you only know how to disgrace the Zhang family. If this old man had not come, would you have forced the issue?"
Nalan Danqing felt she could never show her face again and quickly fled this place.
Jie Zunzhe, with his hands behind his back, stared at Nalan Danqing as she hurried away with small steps, walking toward Zhang Ruochen, and said, "The meaning of 'bound by ritual and propriety' is that you must marry her first. Most of the time, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden cultivates and fights as one. Marrying one is like marrying nine. Ah, enviable!"
"What are you here for?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Jie Zunzhe said, "Didn't you say we were drinking? I wanted to drink too... Fine, fine, let's talk business. I just went to see the Fourth Confucian Ancestor. He said you were badly injured at the North Marsh Great Wall and came to check on you. Who knew I would see something I shouldn't have? Where is Chi Yao? Can she allow you to eat the grass by her side?"