Chapter 4079: The Return of Empress Chi Yao
Five hundred years ago, Zhang Chenchen sought Zhang Hongchen's guidance on the Sword Dao.
The two sparred in the starry sky. Failing to control their power, the aftershocks of their battle spread to a planet millions of miles away, causing the deaths of hundreds of thousands of living beings, with countless more injured.
To deities, this was a trivial matter.
In this chaotic era, divine-level clashes that destroyed planets, or even entire worlds, were not particularly strange. Because, when facing one's own life-or-death struggles and the lives of countless beings, one simply could not afford to care so much.
Zhang Ruochen, however, believed this was not a life-or-death battle against an enemy. It was entirely avoidable. It was a tragedy born from the two of them not caring about the lives of ordinary beings, and it demanded severe punishment without leniency.
Among all of Zhang Ruochen's children, Zhang Hongchen and Zhang Chenchen had the most unruly personalities, fearless and somewhat wicked, but they were by no means demonic tyrants who treated life as worthless.
Zhang Ruochen took them to see the tragic scene on that planet.
They saw the corpses beneath collapsed houses, children crying for their lost parents, villages buried under mud and rock... The two immediately knelt and begged Zhang Ruochen to sentence them to death.
Throughout the world, whether noble or evil, every powerful figure stands atop mountains of corpses and seas of blood, not lacking the innocent souls of the wrongfully killed.
But innocent casualties caused by mistakes were something they could never forgive themselves for.
Zhang Ruochen had initially decided to strike them dead with his palm, but not only Mu Lingxi and Ling Feiyu, but also many other cultivators came to plead for them. In the end, even Wen Tianjun and the Dragon Lord were alerted.
"Why not give them a chance to reform, to make amends by caring for the orphans who survived?"
"This is not a peaceful era. If every mistake must be repaid with a life, then we will surely be constrained by our enemies. In the end, the Imperial Dust will become a blade used by our enemies to kill us."
...
The Dragon Lord recalled that incident from five hundred years ago and said, "It cannot be said that the Imperial Dust was harsh! If he had truly shielded his own children, disregarding the lives of ordinary beings, then I would have been truly disappointed in him. If a ruler's heart is not ruthless, that is a catastrophic weakness."
"The Imperial Dust has compensated for this weakness. It may cost his close friends and family many benefits and privileges, but for the entire Sword Realm, it may not be a bad thing."
Chi Xingtian, now accomplished in his cultivation, still respected the Dragon Lord but had his own temper. He said urgently, "We can't just turn a blind eye and speak nonsense, can we? How many deities in the Sword Realm are secretly discussing this? They all feel that the Imperial Dust's temperament has changed drastically since he gained Half-Ancestor-level combat power. Power blinds the eyes, and the slaughter of the supreme ones is plentiful."
The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon said, "Mortal emperors, before ascending the throne, call their companions brothers and win people's hearts. But once they sit on that throne and hold the power of life and death, how many still care about past friendships? Killing former brothers without mercy is common. The Imperial Dust... seems unable to escape this either."
"The most fundamental truth of this universe has played out countless times in the mortal world."
The Dragon Lord's eyes were deep, and he glanced toward the direction of the hall, as if harboring many concerns. He lowered his voice and said, "Have you noticed? In the past, we could all see through the Imperial Dust at a glance. But now, he is murky and hard to discern, and no one can see through him."
Chi Xingtian's heart jumped, his eyes as wide as copper bells. "Lord Dragon, do you mean that his various actions over these eighty thousand years might have been deliberately performed?"
"Can a person pretend for a moment? How could they pretend for eighty thousand years? Besides, isn't he afraid of being abandoned by everyone?" the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon said.
The Dragon Lord said, "If it is real, everyone can find reasons to convince themselves that it is real, that people's hearts change. If it is an act, countless people can also convince themselves that human nature does not change. No one can determine which is the real him, and that alone achieves the goal."
"The Entropy Calamity has appeared. There is only one Eon left before the Great Calamity. In truth, most of the rights and wrongs in the universe have lost their meaning. Only finding a way to survive beneath the Calamity is the sole truth."
Chi Xingtian did not want to think so much. He said, "If that's the case, he should at least quickly convene the deities to discuss building an End Times Fortress. Not indulge in wine and women, seek pleasure, and do whatever he wants now. Unless... unless, facing the Great Calamity and the inevitable end times, he has lost his fighting spirit and bowed to fate."
"Most cultivators would choose that! One Eon of bitter cultivation, one Eon of drunken stupor. Since the outcome is the same, why not choose the latter?" the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon said.
Chi Xingtian sighed, "No matter what, we cannot lose our fighting spirit. We cannot accept fate. Tai Shang has gone into seclusion! Ji Fanxin, Bai Qinger, Mu Lingxi, Ling Feiyu, and other women who once had deep feelings for him have been alienated, with growing rifts. Now, perhaps only Lord Dragon's words can still be heard by him."
The Dragon Lord waved his sleeve, and the hall doors "bang" opened.
The dim yellow sunlight shone in softly.
Ao Xinyan's slender shadow was cast into the hall.
She wore the Bishui Xuanyin Armor, standing straight outside the hall. As the doors opened, her long hair flew in the wind. She reported, "Master, Empress Chi Yao has returned!"
"Finally back!"
A smile appeared on the Dragon Lord's stern and handsome face.
Chi Xingtian and the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon exchanged glances, both seeing the joy in each other's eyes.
Who better than Empress Chi Yao to advise Zhang Ruochen?
Most importantly, with Empress Chi Yao's personality, she would never stand by and watch Zhang Ruochen sink into depravity, nor would she tolerate his cold-blooded harshness.
And she indeed had the strength and prestige to do so.
She even had the opportunity to take his place after he was abandoned by everyone.
Eighty thousand years ago, after the battle at the North Marsh Great Wall, Chi Yao disappeared from the world, concealing her aura and cutting off all heavenly secrets. No one knew where she had gone.
But everyone knew she must have gone to do something important.
Her return was like throwing a massive stone into the seemingly calm but turbulent Sword Realm, immediately alarming all the major worlds under the Sword Realm's banner.
Before she even entered the Guixu, Chi Yao was stopped by four waves of deities, who spoke to her about various matters.
Among them were naturally Chi Xingtian and the Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon.
Chi Yao wore plain clothes. Time had not touched her youthful appearance. She still looked like she was in her early twenties, stunningly beautiful and ethereal. But she had lost the sharpness of an empress, replaced by a natural and serene Daoist charm.
This aura of "returning to simplicity, nearly one with the Dao" greatly reassured the deities who had rushed over. They all knew that her cultivation must have reached a new level.
The stronger her cultivation, the greater her influence over the Imperial Dust.
Chi Yao's eyes were calm as she looked at the deities. "The Imperial Dust is the master of the Sword Realm. His plans are far-reaching. How could you possibly understand them?"
"War God Xingtian, the Imperial Dust has not failed to formulate plans for building the End Times Fortress. In fact, as early as eighty thousand years ago, he secretly tasked me with this matter. You can only see the present, but the Imperial Dust can see the future."
"Furthermore, back then, the Imperial Dust left the Demon Qi Great World of the Nine-Headed Stone Man to you, without keeping it for himself. In killing the Nine-Headed Stone Man and quelling the Ancestor Calamity, the Imperial Dust may not have contributed the most, but he was undoubtedly the most crucial figure. The Demon Qi Great World was rightfully his spoils of war!"
With that, Chi Yao said no more.
Chi Xingtian's old face was already flushed red with shame.
The Demon Qi Great World represented the Ancestor Realm of the Heavenly Demon and the Great Demon God.
Without it, Chi Xingtian would not have reached Indestructible Infinite so quickly, and might even have spent his entire life unable to reach the Infinite Realm.
Most crucially, it was with Zhang Ruochen's help that Chi Xingtian had made up for his deficiencies and reached the Infinite Realm.
Chi Yao was telling Chi Xingtian that anyone in the world could question the Imperial Dust, but not him. Even if the Imperial Dust had truly changed and made mistakes, he should still stand by his side.
"So the Imperial Dust had plans all along. I was wrong. I misunderstood him. I will go to the Origin Divine Temple to apologize immediately." Chi Xingtian gritted his teeth, wishing he could slap himself twice.
Chi Yao looked at the other deities.
None dared to meet her gaze, all lowering their heads.
Chi Yao said, "With War God Xingtian's current level of cultivation, to admit his mistake and publicly say the word 'apologize,' I believe it comes from the heart. But you are overstating it. You didn't actually do anything wrong. Why should you apologize?"
Chi Xingtian knew that Chi Yao was protecting his dignity, and he was grateful in his heart, but he could not forgive himself.
Because he had indeed harbored resentment toward Zhang Ruochen, secretly criticizing and complaining. Wasn't that no different from ingratitude?
Chi Yao continued, "Every Indestructible Infinite is a pillar of the Sword Realm, the backbone that holds up a corner of the world. If the Imperial Dust truly has done something wrong, you should step forward, you must step forward, and point out his mistake to his face."
"I have learned my lesson!"
Chi Xingtian cupped his hands and bowed, knowing that Chi Yao had only said half of what she meant.
The half that would damage his dignity was left unsaid.
Chi Yao left alone, entering the Guixu.
The Eight-Winged Nightmare Dragon let out a long breath. "So formidable, such a terrifying aura. Though she is calm as still water, she still exerts an invisible pressure. I wonder what level her cultivation has reached now."
Chi Xingtian said, "She is right! No matter the final outcome, I should have long ago pointed out the Imperial Dust's mistakes to his face, instead of complaining behind his back. In this regard, I am even worse than that one from the Rice Mountain! In the past, with my temper, I would have done so long ago... Hmph, it turns out that I am the one who has changed."
...
The Nether Kingdom and the Sword Realm were both located on the vast ocean of the Guixu.
Their positions and layout were like the two fish eyes of a Taiji, forming a most terrifying grand formation. The formation's eye was the Seventy-Two Layer Tower.
Many deities believed that with this Taiji grand formation, they could contend with an Ancestor.
The Origin Divine Temple was rebuilt, situated in the Nether Kingdom, at the location where the Wind Pavilion once stood.
Chi Yao transformed into a streak of light and landed outside the Origin Divine Temple, looking up.
Zhang Ruochen had clearly taken back the large amount of Origin Esoterica originally held by Bai Qinger, Ji Fanxin, and others, and gathered it all into the Origin Divine Temple.
Using divine eyes to observe, one could see the surrounding heaven and earth Origin rules converging densely, like an Origin divine sea.
The Origin Cauldron, the "Earth Cauldron," had transformed into ten thousand meters tall, standing to the left of the temple's main gate. The light of the Primordial World, peeling off from the cauldron's body, was projected onto the clouds above the temple, like a real suspended sacred great world.
A sense of heaviness and grandeur rushed toward them.
The Origin Divine Temple was already majestic enough, but even more eye-catching was the faintly visible Seventy-Two Layer Tower behind the temple.
The tower's body soared into the clouds, connected to the light of the Primordial World.
It could be said that any cultivator standing before the Origin Divine Temple would feel their own insignificance and a sense of humility before the Imperial Dust, who dominated the universe.
"Hua!"
Zangjin Baihu flew out from Chi Yao's Celestial World, appearing beside her. Its golden pupils gazed at everything before it. "Zhang Ruochen is really showing off now. Isn't he afraid of attracting an Ancestor?"
"With the formation in the Guixu and the Imperial Dust's current cultivation, even if an Ancestor came, they might not gain the upper hand."
Chi Yao stepped onto the jade square outside the Origin Divine Temple and looked at Xiao Hei, who was eating the Rice Mountain in the northeast corner of the square.
Xiao Hei sat in the pile of rice, clenching his fists, looking furious. He noticed Chi Yao and Zangjin Baihu's gazes but showed no intention of asking for help, instead eating with big mouthfuls.
His belly was already round and swollen.
"Confined. Interesting."
Zangjin Baihu's golden pupils flickered, seeing the profound and mysterious order patterns around the Rice Mountain.
"Greetings, Empress!"
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens standing outside the Origin Divine Temple quickly walked down the stone steps and bowed to Chi Yao.
The Void Kun War God and the Famous Sword God, who were guarding the temple gate, exchanged glances but did not descend the steps to greet her.
Chi Yao pointed at the Rice Mountain and Xiao Hei in the northeast corner. "What's going on?"
Nalan Danqing whispered, using sound transmission to speak secretly.
Chi Yao showed a look of understanding. "I see! He is competing with the Imperial Dust, so he didn't ask me to plead for him. It was just a verbal offense. Why go this far?"
"This is a dispute over right and wrong! As long as he firmly believes he is right, he will never bow his head. I believe that Sect Master Xia will eventually eat the Rice Mountain empty!" said Wan Canglan, one of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens.
Chi Yao said, "It seems you all have complaints as well."
"We dare not."
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens said in unison.
When Chi Yao reached the main gate of the Origin Divine Temple, she stopped. "Open the door!"
"Forgive me, Empress, but without the Imperial Dust's order, the temple's doors cannot be opened." The Void Kun War God raised his large chicken head and said arrogantly.
Chi Yao glanced at the Void Kun War God, then at the Famous Sword God. "Sir, you were once so proud, claiming that the Sword Dao does not bend. How have you become a child guarding the temple gate?"
The Famous Sword God, dressed in white like snow, with a noble temperament, said calmly, "Guarding the gate for the Imperial Dust is also the Sword Dao."
"Huala!"
The two doors of the temple slowly opened.
Wu Yue and the Moon God walked out from inside, one on the left and one on the right. They were dressed in grand and gorgeous attire, with exquisite makeup and dazzling ornaments.
Both possessed the finest figures, beauty, and temperament in the world, with jade-like skin and immortal bodies. They wore identical divine robes, their skirts trailing on the ground. Their expressions were cold, without a trace of a smile, making it hard to tell who was who.
They quickly walked past Chi Yao without a word.
For the first time, Chi Yao's brow deeply furrowed.
Wu Yue could be excused. She came from the Darkness Temple, always deep and scheming, with extreme methods, not caring about her reputation. She was a typical demoness and seductress.
But the Moon God was so pure and proud, having kept herself chaste for hundreds of thousands of years, pure and elegant. Countless cultivators regarded her as their only dream goddess.
Their attire and makeup just now were like that of dancing girls.
Could the Moon God truly endure such humiliation?
Chi Yao walked into the Origin Divine Temple, where it was silent. "Isn't this too much for the Moon God? She is a peerless divine maiden above the nine heavens, extremely proud in her heart, and cares deeply about what the world thinks of her. What you did is more cruel than killing her. Have you considered that her heart might have been killed by you?"
"In the past, she showed you great kindness. To seek justice for you, she could ram the Merit Divine Temple with her body. To save you, she could travel the Heavenly River with Bian Zhuang. Even if she has some character flaws and likes to take advantage of you, she truly regarded you as one of her own. The Moon God is definitely a respectable senior, or a good teacher and helpful friend."