# Chapter 4092: Love Surpasses Dust, Righteousness Surpasses Void
"Trying to provoke me, old man? But I fall for it every time. Come, come, come, tell me, just how dangerous is it?"
Void Heaven squeezed between Zhang Ruochen and Meng Ge, wedging himself into the middle.
Everyone else present could see that Zhang Ruochen was deliberately baiting Void Heaven. After all, relying on Meng Ge alone to defeat Jiusi Yitianhuang was uncertain at best. Killing Jiusi Yitianhuang would require Void Heaven, the number one sword of this era.
Chi Yao showed a thoughtful expression. Zhang Ruochen, at this moment, having Void Heaven and Meng Ge deal with Jiusi Yitianhuang, must have a deeper purpose.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Meng Ge, as if seeking his opinion.
Meng Ge shook his head.
He truly did not want Void Heaven to go.
Because the Divine Realm was too perilous. No intruder had ever returned. Meng Ge was going with the determination to die. Eighty thousand years ago, he had already died once, so it no longer mattered.
But in Void Heaven's eyes, Meng Ge's head shake was nothing short of an insult, as if saying: "Xu Fengjin definitely wouldn't dare to go. Why tell him?"
Throughout his life, Void Heaven could be weaker than anyone, except for two people.
The first was Xumi Saint Monk, and the second was Meng Ge.
There was no longer any chance to defeat Xumi Saint Monk, but Meng Ge was right before him.
Void Heaven bared his teeth in a cold smile: "Do you think that by not telling me, old man, I have no way of knowing? Zhang Ruochen, do you think Meng Ge, a Heavenly Venerable-rank, can escape my tracking?"
Meng Ge said: "Not letting you go is because this journey is fraught with peril. I have a worthless life, long overdue to die in the Ancient Era or eighty thousand years ago. Dying is no loss. But you have cultivated Sword Twenty-Five and broken through to Half-Ancestor. You should preserve your useful life for more important matters."
"So righteous and awe-inspiring? You were one of the infamous Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods of the Ancient Era. One would think you were the Radiant Divine Temple's Hall Master or some Confucian Ancestor. The Meng Ge of before was not like this!"
Void Heaven laughed darkly for a long while, then added: "The path I, Xu Fengjin, want to walk, no one can stop! If you won't let me go... what right do you have to stop me?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and sighed: "Fine, since you've decided, count yourself in. But I'll be blunt—this matter is top secret. Once you know, there's no room for regret or backing out. Up to now, even Empress Chi Yao and Wen Tianjun are not qualified to know."
In the distance.
Wen Tianjun raised his voice: "I can go with Meng Ge. What of it if it's a matter of life and death?"
"Go, go, what are you butting in for? What business is it of yours?" Void Heaven said.
Chi Yao said: "The Emperor need not worry too much! If Half-Ancestor Void were to go back on his word, he would lose face today. How could he still claim to be the number one sword under heaven?"
"After the sword cut down Bone Yanluo, who under heaven wouldn't say, 'Love surpasses dust, righteousness surpasses void'?" Wen Tianjun said.
Even using this "famous saying" concocted by Xue Tu, Void Heaven felt a growing sense of unease. He was gradually being put on the spot, with the feeling that he couldn't escape even if he wanted to.
Zhang Ruochen gave Void Heaven no chance to regret or think carefully. Using the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal to envelop himself and Meng Ge, he said with extreme caution: "Senior Meng Ge, take out that item and let Void Heaven have a look."
Meng Ge opened the mysterious object in his hand and handed it to Void Heaven.
After taking it, Void Heaven immediately felt an unprecedented heaviness of demonic qi. Every divine pattern inside the Divine Source was like a heavenly and earthly divine chain, infinitely profound, containing the essence of the Great Dao.
"This is... whose Ancestor's Divine Source is this? Heavenly Demon?"
Void Heaven realized that the matter was more serious than he had estimated.
Zhang Ruochen said slowly: "The Heavenly Demon's Ancestor Divine Source was given to me by a cultivator from Eternal Heavenly Kingdom. The Heavenly Demon is likely not dead, but sealed in the Divine Realm. Taking this Ancestor Divine Source there might awaken him. An Ancestor—do you know how significant that is?"
Void Heaven waved his hand: "No, no, no. You clearly said it was about Jiusi Yitianhuang, how did it get to the Heavenly Demon? The Divine Realm? I'm not going, absolutely not going."
Zhang Ruochen said: "Jiusi Yitianhuang is in the Divine Realm."
"Impossible! Jiusi Yitianhuang is a cultivator of the Nether Ancestor Faction. Going to the Divine Realm—how is that any different from seeking death?" Void Heaven simply didn't believe it.
Zhang Ruochen said: "That precisely shows that the Divine Realm has no Ancestor."
Void Heaven's heart stirred. As long as there was no Ancestor, where in the world couldn't he go?
But soon, he shook his head again: "Everything is just your speculation! You don't dare to go yourself, yet you want me, old man, to go. How can I trust you? Since ancient times, no intruder has ever returned from the Divine Realm."
Meng Ge shook his head: "I said we shouldn't have told him this secret. If I go alone, I can definitely rescue the Heavenly Demon and personally kill Jiusi Yitianhuang."
Void Heaven's eyes sharpened: "Just you? Are you a match for that old yin-yang Jiusi Yitianhuang? Zhang Ruochen, if I may speak frankly, if you send him alone to the Divine Realm, the final outcome will be losing both the wife and the soldiers—losing both the person and the source."
Zhang Ruochen said: "I will have Chi Xingtian go with him."
"That cat? If he goes, he'll just be one more burden." Void Heaven was extremely dismissive.
After stepping into the Half-Ancestor realm, even Indestructible Infinites were mere targets for sale in Void Heaven's eyes.
Zhang Ruochen said: "But he is fearless. He will definitely dare to go."
Meng Ge said seriously: "Chi Xingtian is indeed more reliable than Xu Fengjin. He is a descendant of the Heavenly Demon. After I perish together with Jiusi Yitianhuang like jade and stone, he can definitely carry the Ancestor Divine Source and rescue the Heavenly Demon."
"What do you mean? Everyone is better than me, old man, right? Are you saying that if I don't go, it won't work?" Void Heaven said.
"Yes! This secret is of great importance. Since Void Heaven already knows, if you don't go, I will have to take extreme measures."
Zhang Ruochen raised his right hand.
In his palm, rule divine patterns interwove, flowing in black and white colors.
Void Heaven's brow tightened, and he asked in a low voice: "Is there a problem with Ling Yanzi's side?"
Zhang Ruochen said: "You guessed it?"
Void Heaven said: "Earlier, when she repelled Corpse Yan, she didn't appear, likely because she couldn't appear. The fact that she could give you the Cause and Effect Qin is abnormal in itself. You're so eager to trick me, old man, into going to the Divine Realm to rescue the Heavenly Demon—isn't it because this side of the Divine Ancient Nest can't provide any help to the Sword Realm? If the Heavenly Demon isn't dead, he is at least in a hostile state toward the Divine Realm."
Zhang Ruochen put away the rule divine patterns, clasped his hands behind his back, pondered for a moment, and said: "This era has no Immovable Bright King Great Venerable, no Ling Yanzi. So we can only place our hopes on the Heavenly Demon. Senior Meng Ge knows the Heavenly Demon best. Do you think he will stand on our side?"
Meng Ge did not hesitate: "To kill Jiusi Yitianhuang, I can go to the Divine Realm, even if it means certain death. If it's to rescue the Heavenly Demon, what does it matter if it's ten deaths without a chance of life?"
Void Heaven naturally understood that although the Sword Realm, Hell Realm, and Heavenly Court Universe had many contradictions and estrangements, they had long reached a certain tacit understanding. They must join forces to deal with the threats from various Ancestors and Immortals.
If the Heavenly Demon emerged, the pressure on Hell Realm would also greatly decrease.
Zhang Ruochen said: "Has Void Heaven made a decision?"
"Since you, Zhang Ruochen, can produce the Heavenly Demon Divine Source, this matter must be true. Do you really think I, Xu Fengjin, am afraid of death? There is only one Eon left until the Great Calamity. The time the Immortals leave us will only be shorter. If we can invite an Ancestor to sit in, only then will we cultivators of this era have some confidence."
Void Heaven tucked the Heavenly Demon Divine Source into his bosom and said: "Such an important thing is safer in my hands. Zhang Ruochen, this trip to the Divine Realm is unpredictable. I might never return. I want to borrow something from you."
"Speak!" Zhang Ruochen said.
Void Heaven said: "The Seventy-Two Layer Tower."
"Old Ghost Void, have you not woken up yet?"
"At least the Great Venerable's Twenty-Seven Layer Celestial World, right?"
"If you keep talking nonsense, I will have to take action and erase your memory! Let's see if my First-rank Divine Path is more profound or your Half-Ancestor spiritual will is stronger." Zhang Ruochen stood tall and proud, his eyes showing a firm determination.
Void Heaven's eyes rolled: "At least the Sword Ancestor's Sword Heart, right?"
The Sword Ancestor's Sword Heart had tremendous power. Over the years, Void Heaven had asked Zhang Ruochen for it many times.
After cultivating Sword Twenty-Five, Void Heaven's sword dao achievement was second only to the Sword Ancestor. The road ahead was gone! Without great fortune and great enlightenment, advancing further was almost impossible.
Hao Tian, Heavenly Mother, Fengdu Dadi, Wen Tianjun, Nutian Shenzun, Panyuan Ancient God... which of these wasn't a heaven-defying genius? Yet they were all still cultivating in the Half-Ancestor realm, with Ancestorhood being distant and uncertain.
Void Heaven truly had little confidence that he could surpass them and reach the Ancestor realm alone.
Earlier, having witnessed Zhang Ruochen break an Ancestor's defense with one sword strike, Void Heaven's desire for the Sword Ancestor's Sword Heart grew even stronger.
One could say that the "Seventy-Two Layer Tower" and the "Twenty-Seven Layer Celestial World" were not his real targets. He was merely using them to drive up the price, then bargain down.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen deep in thought, Void Heaven knew there was a chance, and said: "The Divine Realm is definitely not simple. There must be experts. The Heavenly Demon's sealing place must be heavily guarded. If we encounter a Half-Ancestor-level existence, without the advantage of time and place, I might not necessarily win. With the Sword Ancestor's Sword Heart, it would be different. My combat power would definitely increase by a small realm."
"You old fellow, you've been planning this all along, haven't you?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Void Heaven said: "When it concerns my own life and a matter that affects the cosmic structure, shouldn't I think more about it? Think about it, the Eternal True Ruler's second disciple hasn't appeared for many years, right? He's likely in the Divine Realm. Besides the Eternal True Ruler's several disciples, could there be other experts in the Divine Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Sword Heart, and Void Heaven moved to seize it.
Zhang Ruochen did not immediately give it to him, saying: "I want to know, what is your plan?"
Void Heaven suppressed his eagerness and said: "Wait until the winter solstice this year. We will participate in a sacrificial ceremony on a remote planet. When the passage to the Divine Realm opens, we will use the Heavenly Mechanism Brush to silently slip in. Of course, relying only on me, old man, Meng Ge, and that cat is still somewhat lacking. It will be difficult to handle unexpected situations."
"You want to find other helpers? The candidate..." Zhang Ruochen said.
"Rest assured, absolutely trustworthy."
Void Heaven said a name in a low voice.
Zhang Ruochen frowned: "Him? Does he dare to go? His courage is the smallest under heaven."
"That's because you didn't give enough benefits."
Void Heaven looked extremely confident, saying: "When I dealt with Bone Yanluo, I also took fifty percent of his Bone Emperor Heavenly Dao Profound Meaning. That old bone has lived in the Fate Heaven Domain for almost eighty thousand years, using every means possible, but I never let go, precisely waiting for an opportunity to control him."
The old bone Void Heaven spoke of was naturally Ming Gu.
Ming Gu held fifty percent of the Bone Emperor Heavenly Dao Profound Meaning. Nothing in the world was more attractive to him than fifty percent of the Bone Emperor Heavenly Dao Profound Meaning.
The Emperor's soul is invincible, the Emperor's body is indestructible.
When the two types of Profound Meaning merge, it becomes the true Bone Clan Emperor, with no flaws.
When Zhang Ruochen opened the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal, Heavenly Mother and Immortal Music Master had already walked out from the secret realm gate.
Heavenly Mother asked: "I heard there's news of Jiusi Yitianhuang?"
"I, old man, will handle this matter myself."
Void Heaven's posture was cold and sinister. After glancing at everyone present, he left with Meng Ge, disappearing into the Void World.
Heavenly Mother's white hair was like frost: "What is Old Ghost Void so proud of?"
"He might be trying to compete with the Black and White Daoist for the title of Hell Realm's number one tough guy." Zhang Ruochen said.
Yuan Jieyi said: "Isn't the Black and White Daoist the number one tough guy of the Middle Three Clans?"
"Is that so? Then Old Ghost Void is still more daring." Zhang Ruochen said.
Heavenly Mother pulled Zhang Ruochen into the Divine Realm World and said: "Can you give me the Cause and Effect Qin?"
"You want to kill an Ancestor?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Heavenly Mother's eyes were filled with endless sorrow, unlike before. She said: "You are going to do that thing of yours. What about after? Besides me, who can wield the Cause and Effect Qin? Besides me, who can use it against an Ancestor? Not everyone has the ability to perish together with an Ancestor like orchid and mugwort."
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head: "You are one of the current cultivators most likely to impact Ancestorhood. You wear the Houtu Wedding Gown. Even if you encounter an Ancestor, you have a high probability of escaping. Hao Tian and Fengdu Dadi cannot compare to you in this regard. So, you are the one who should die the least!"
Heavenly Mother said: "You actually think this way?"
Zhang Ruochen said: "The Houtu Wedding Gown and the Cause and Effect Qin, Heavenly Mother can choose one. Actually, just as Ling Yanzi said, perhaps one day the Great Venerable will return? Seeking death is actually a manifestation of cowardice. This is not the Heavenly Mother I know."
Heavenly Mother finally smiled, her red lips blooming like flowers: "Zhang Ruochen, ah, Zhang Ruochen, your current state of mind truly qualifies you to contend with Ancestors!"
She no longer mentioned the Cause and Effect Qin. Heavenly Mother said: "What do you think about the severed River of Time?"
"Does Heavenly Mother think it might not necessarily be the Nether Ancestor's doing?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Heavenly Mother said: "At the fracture of time, a Nether Light does not disperse, but that doesn't necessarily mean it was the Nether Ancestor's handiwork. When you asked Ling Yanzi a question on the River of Time, she didn't answer you, indicating she also has doubts in her heart."
Zhang Ruochen said: "At the North Marsh Great Wall, the Nether Ancestor and the Fate Ancestor's long-distance confrontation also severed the River of Time, but under the effect of heaven and earth rules, the river quickly recovered. How strong must the power be to sever the River of Time and prevent it from re-forming? This power can even suppress heaven and earth rules!"
Heavenly Mother said: "Perhaps it borrowed the power of heaven and earth."
"Carrying heaven and earth to command all living beings, divine power bestowed by martial authority? Does Heavenly Mother think it was the Divine Realm's doing?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Heavenly Mother gently shook her head: "I just think that if the Divine Realm also has a hidden Immortal, He must not be as heavily injured as the Nether Ancestor. After all, the Nether Ancestor suffered a second severe blow."
"Judging from the styles of the Divine Realm and the Nether Ancestor Faction, it's clear that the Divine Realm has the upper hand. They can openly establish the Eternal Heavenly Kingdom and unhesitatingly open passages to the Divine Realm. In contrast, the Nether Ancestor Faction can only operate in the shadows."
...
Not long after Heavenly Mother left, the Divine Wood Nest disappeared into space, leaving no trace.
Chi Yao was worried: "The disappearance of the Divine Wood Nest is a form of showing weakness, indicating to the various Ancestors that the Great Venerable has passed away and Ling Yanzi is powerless against Ancestors. From now on, they will have no more scruples!"
Immortal Music Master, holding a pipa, gracefully bowed to Zhang Ruochen, elegant and moving: "I implore the Emperor to put aside past grievances and help the Primordial Beings through their difficulties."
The Yuan Dao Clan's old clan emperor, Yuan Suyin, and Yuan Jieyi were all shocked in their hearts.
Given Immortal Music Master's status and proud nature, why would she be so humble?
Soon they thought of the reason.
Since they couldn't invite Ling Yanzi, the Primordial Beings' only lifeline was Zhang Ruochen.
The three of them also bowed in unison.
Zhang Ruochen felt somewhat uncomfortable and asked: "Yao Yao, what do you think?"
"What can I think? The Yuan Dao Clan's empress is pregnant with your child. Can you not help? Love surpasses dust, righteousness surpasses void." Zangjin Baihu blurted out this sentence.
Was this something to say in public?
It made it seem as if Zhang Ruochen had taken advantage of someone's vulnerability.
Zhang Ruochen really wanted to cut out Zangjin Baihu's tongue. This mouth was a match for Xiu Chen Heavenly God and Xiao Hei.
The four Primordial Beings all had extremely unnatural expressions.
Especially Yuan Suyin, whose face was ashen, as if hearing bad news. She blamed herself deeply, feeling that she had harmed Yuan Sheng, that she shouldn't have left her alone in the Wuding Divine Sea.
If not for the Yuan Dao Clan's old clan emperor using divine qi to suppress her, she would have already attacked and fought Zhang Ruochen to the death.
Zhang Ruochen, as if unaware of the strange atmosphere, said: "I did indeed promise Yuan Sheng to help the Abyss of Darkness through its difficulties. Of course, I also just promised Ling Zu, so you don't need to worry too much. I have my own countermeasures."
"Uh... all the various forces already know you've come to the upper realm. Returning to the Abyss of Darkness without being noticed is as difficult as ascending to heaven. Why don't you all come with me to the Wuding Divine Sea? It just so happens you can attend my and Yuan Sheng's wedding."
Yuan Suyin, thinking of the means Zhang Ruochen had mentioned in the Wuding Divine Sea to retaliate against Immortal Music Master, immediately refused: "We cannot go to the Wuding Divine Sea."
Yuan Sheng had already fallen into the fire pit. How could they let Immortal Music Master repeat the same fate?
The Zhang Ruochen of today was truly different from before. He was a wolf in sheep's clothing, and if he said he would do something, he would definitely follow through.
Immortal Music Master said: "Great Elder need not be nervous! The Emperor and Yuan Sheng are in love. Being able to come together is a great joy. As Yuan Sheng's family, we naturally should go and have a cup of wedding wine."
"How about... the three of us from the Yuan Dao Clan go? Immortal Music Master has powerful spiritual power. She can hide the truth from heaven and evade the Ancestor's perception to return to the Abyss of Darkness." Yuan Jieyi now also couldn't see through Zhang Ruochen. Previously, he had sworn to believe in Zhang Ruochen's character, that he wouldn't touch a hair on Yuan Sheng's head. Now it seemed Immortal Music Master was really in danger.
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned cold: "Immortal Music Master is a dignified Heavenly Venerable-rank. Do the two of you need to make decisions for her?"
"Everything follows the Emperor's arrangements."
Immortal Music Master's voice was pleasant, like an oriole. (Chapter End)