# Chapter 4120: Pit Kill
Fan Chen, Baozhu Earth Treasury, Tantuo Earth Treasury, and Cihang Venerable were all sealed in their divine souls and divine seas by Meng Huang'e using Heavenly Venerable Order, and were tightly bound with golden thread dragon-binding ropes piercing through their hearts.
Zhang Ruochen received even more special treatment.
Countless Ancestor Rules and Order transformed into a set of stone armor, wrapping around his entire body.
The stone armor was connected to the entire Love Mountain.
Unless one could thoroughly analyze and comprehend Gandharva's Dao and break her Dao, there was absolutely no way to break through the stone armor from the inside out.
Zhang Ruochen was very curious—where had Baozhu Earth Treasury and Fan Chen gone after being suppressed? And where had Huang Tian and the First Master of the Meng family gone?
Had they escaped?
Zhang Ruochen understood the cultivation level of Lanshi Shen and did not believe he had the ability to capture Huang Tian, Baozhu Earth Treasury, and Fan Chen simultaneously.
Therefore, there was a possibility that Huang Tian had escaped during the battle.
...
Inside the main hall.
Lanshi Shen and Meng Huang'e stood at the periphery of the "Absolute Self Time Dominance Seal," staring at the four people sitting around the table, their time infinitely approaching stillness.
Lanshi Shen's eyes were deep and profound. "Why not stop casting the Absolute Self Time Dominance Seal and release the Fourth Confucian Ancestor? The moment the Dominance Seal disappears, you and I can launch a full-force attack, surely severely wounding him. Then Gandharva and the Dark Envoy can easily suppress him."
Gandharva's voice was low. "It's not that simple. Very few people know the secrets of Biluo Pass and the Eight Divisions Followers, but the Divine Realm is certainly among them. Since the Eternal True Ruler dared to let the Fourth Confucian Ancestor come alone, how could he not have given him a trump card?"
"The Divine Realm's understanding of us is like our understanding of the Divine Realm—both sides are wary of each other."
Although Gandharva's spiritual power was infinitely close to the ninety-fifth rank, she was ultimately not an Ancestor.
It was precisely because she feared that the Fourth Confucian Ancestor carried Ancestor-level means that, as soon as they made a move, she cast the Absolute Self Time Dominance Seal, not giving the Fourth Confucian Ancestor a chance to strike.
Of course, Gandharva was not worried that she could not withstand Ancestor-level means.
Rather, she was worried that once Ancestor-level means were unleashed, she would have no chance to keep the Fourth Confucian Ancestor here.
Hearing the name "Eternal True Ruler," Lanshi Shen and Meng Huang'e no longer dared to mention releasing the Fourth Confucian Ancestor.
They still had some confidence they could withstand a strike from the Fourth Confucian Ancestor.
But a strike from the Eternal True Ruler would absolutely reduce them to ashes.
Even though the probability of the Fourth Confucian Ancestor unleashing Ancestor-level means was not high, they dared not take the risk lightly.
Meng Huang'e asked, "Where is the First Master?"
Lanshi Shen's expression turned much darker. He said to Baoyin Earth Treasury, "Release him."
"Amitabha!"
Baoyin Earth Treasury pressed his palms together, and his Divine Realm World opened a corner behind him.
The First Master of the Meng family, with only half his body remaining, fell out from within.
The First Master was covered in blood, his lower body gone from the waist down, his abdominal cavity a mess of flesh and blood, his eyes filled with hatred. "Why won't you believe me? I absolutely did not betray the Nether Ancestor and the Eight Divisions Followers. The traitor is him—he was soul-searched by Huang Tian, his spiritual will broken, and he has completely submitted to Huang Tian."
"Crack!"
Baoyin Earth Treasury stomped and crushed the First Master's left arm, saying coldly, "On the Heavenly Dragon Ship, the secret of my meeting with Tantuo Uncle Master and the Dark Envoy was leaked by you to Xuanyuan Second and Cihang Venerable, leading to our capture and Huang Tian's escape. Huang Tian has certainly returned to the Hell Realm to summon reinforcements. You are trying to ruin the Nether Ancestor's grand plan that has spanned millennia."
"Although I was captured, how could my spiritual will be soul-searched by a Huang Tian sealed by seven divine chains? Unlike some people, who, once afflicted with the Withering Death Art, were completely controlled and confessed everything."
The First Master's eyes were bloodshot. He tried to soar up but was swatted back to the ground by Baoyin Earth Treasury. His hatred was overwhelming as he roared, "The seven divine chains binding Huang Tian were all pulled out by Saint Si Daoist. His cultivation has already recovered."
Baoyin Earth Treasury burst into laughter. "Do you even know what kind of existence imprisoned Huang Tian? Just him? Just that Daoist who is now suppressed? He could pull out the seven divine chains of that existence? When fabricating lies, you'd better first understand the situation."
Following the direction Baoyin Earth Treasury pointed, the First Master saw Zhang Ruochen suppressed within the stone armor and found himself momentarily speechless.
"Huang'e, Huang'e, how could you be mixed up with them? You know what happened on the Heavenly Dragon Ship. Explain to them quickly—what I said is the truth."
Meng Huang'e had been observing the First Master and Baoyin Earth Treasury. She smiled. "What I know is that on the Heavenly Dragon Ship, the First Master was indeed captured, and more than once."
"I also know that the First Master was soul-searched and afflicted with the Withering Death Art, telling everything he knew to Saint Si Daoist and the others. As for Baoyin Earth Treasury... why not soul-search him?"
Baoyin Earth Treasury's expression changed drastically, and he immediately bowed respectfully. "I beg Lady Huang'e to spare my life. If I am soul-searched, my cultivation realm will be cut off at the Indestructible Infinite Middle Stage."
"The First Master of the Meng family says that Huang Tian is hiding in my Divine Realm World, but the Chief himself has personally searched and found no trace of Huang Tian. His lie has already been exposed."
"If, because of a single lie from a traitor, you would soul-search a cultivator at the Indestructible Infinite Middle Stage, destroying his Dao, it would chill people's hearts."
"If one day, I meet the Nether Ancestor and tell Him that Lady Huang'e colluded with Saint Si Daoist, would the Nether Ancestor soul-search Lady Huang'e?"
Murderous intent flickered in Meng Huang'e's eyes. "Are you threatening me?"
"I dare not. I am merely fighting for my own survival."
Baoyin Earth Treasury bowed again, extremely respectfully.
Lanshi Shen stopped Meng Huang'e and transmitted, "Tantuo is no longer under control. Baoyin Earth Treasury is our only candidate to control the Desolate Wasteland."
Meng Huang'e asked, "This Master Baoyin has such a strong attitude and seems to have backbone. He doesn't appear to have been soul-searched. When Sanying Tian recruited him, did he not soul-search him?"
"I'm not sure."
Lanshi Shen said, "However, I have been stationed at the Life-and-Death Realm Star for a long time and know quite a bit about the Desolate Wasteland. This Baoyin Earth Treasury is a resolute and ruthless character with a strong pursuit of the Great Dao. If Sanying Tian and Tantuo Earth Treasury promised him benefits in cultivation back then, it is entirely possible he would have defected."
Baoyin Earth Treasury had cultivated to the Indestructible Infinite Middle Stage, so his will was naturally extraordinary. Before Sanying Tian broke his spiritual will, even someone as stunning as Baozhu Earth Treasury could not shake his state of mind.
Therefore, what Lanshi Shen understood was the truth.
Only, neither he nor Meng Huang'e knew that Sanying Tian acted with swift decisiveness, caring nothing about whether it would destroy Baoyin Earth Treasury's Dao, only about subduing him in the shortest time possible.
Meng Huang'e had no familial affection for the First Master. She asked coldly, "Did you soul-search the First Master?"
"I did. He did not lie. But for someone whose spiritual will has been broken and who has been soul-searched, how trustworthy are his memories?" Lanshi Shen said.
Meng Huang'e said, "You make a good point. If I were Saint Si, having set up such a scheme, I would certainly erase the First Master's relevant memories to ensure nothing goes wrong. The fact that the memories remain suggests they are unreliable. This Saint Si Daoist is quite cunning."
Lanshi Shen said, "At least one thing is certain: Huang Tian is not in Baoyin Earth Treasury's Divine Realm World. There is no reason for Baoyin Earth Treasury to stubbornly deny it."
Meng Huang'e nodded slightly but was still uneasy and wanted further verification.
Her eyes, bright and sparkling, fell on Fan Chen and Cihang Venerable. She said softly, "Have you soul-searched them?"
"Yes, soul-search them. Soul-search them, and you will find the truth."
The First Master laughed somewhat maniacally, his eyes venomous.
Because he knew he had no way out.
Fan Chen sat cross-legged and sighed deeply. "Monks do not lie. We have said everything we needed to say. I must admit, Baoyin Earth Treasury's guess is correct—Huang Tian has returned to the Hell Realm to invite Heavenly Mother and Lady Shiji. There is no need to deceive you, because your time of death is not far off."
Seeing that Meng Huang'e intended to soul-search Fan Chen, Lanshi Shen transmitted again, "Erjun Tian said that this man is from the Heavenly Multitude and has a deep connection with him."
"Oh!"
Meng Huang'e's eyes showed surprise. She stared at Fan Chen for a long moment, then shifted her gaze to Cihang Venerable. She formed her five fingers into a claw shape, with soul energy and rule patterns flowing on her fingers.
"She is somewhat strange and cannot be soul-searched. Earlier, when I tried to soul-search her, even with my Heavenly Venerable-level cultivation, I was nearly counterattacked," Lanshi Shen warned.
Meng Huang'e had heard some legends about Cihang Venerable.
She was the ten-thousandth reincarnation of Buddha Kasyapa, gathering ten thousand lifetimes of merit, and could be called an innate Buddha. Despite her youth, she had already reached the Indestructible Infinite Middle Stage.
The backlash of ten thousand lifetimes of merit power was no joke.
Meng Huang'e's hand, which had been about to reach toward Cihang Venerable, suddenly flashed like lightning and landed on Baoyin Earth Treasury, her five fingers gripping the back of his neck.
"Swoosh!"
Threads of Heavenly Venerable-level soul energy transformed into tiny chain-like forms, burrowing into Baoyin Earth Treasury's body.
Baoyin Earth Treasury was like a captured fat cat. If he tried to forcefully break free, his entire spine would be ripped out of his body by Meng Huang'e.
"Since Lady Huang'e humiliates me like this, today I will die together with you."
Baoyin Earth Treasury's eyes were sharp, his attitude resolute. He mobilized the divine energy within his body toward his divine source.
He intended to self-destruct his divine source to prove his innocence through death.
Without a moment's hesitation, this made Meng Huang'e secretly startled.
"Bang!"
Meng Huang'e struck Baoyin Earth Treasury's back with a palm, sending him flying, stumbling backward to the wall.
She withdrew the soul chains from Baoyin Earth Treasury's body. "Huang Tian's cultivation is not ordinary. If he were truly hiding inside you, it would be a huge variable. Master Baoyin, I apologize for just now."
"Since Master did not lie, then the one lying must be the First Master. Master, how do you think he should be dealt with?"
Baoyin Earth Treasury still wore an angry expression, but Meng Huang'e's cultivation was too terrifying, so he could only endure silently. "Why not use the stone mill outside to grind him to death?"
"Very well, I will follow Master's suggestion." Meng Huang'e said.
Baoyin Earth Treasury picked up the First Master, who had only half his body left, and walked out of the main hall.
The First Master had completely lost the will to continue arguing. His spirit was listless, feeling that his life had been too much of a failure—everyone he met was more calculating than the last.
Even a little girl from his own clan turned out to be a top figure among the Eight Divisions Followers.
For hundreds of thousands of years, he had been completely unaware.
"As expected of the famous Huang Tian. I die without regret, I die without regret! You don't believe me... haha... Meng Huang'e, Lanshi Shen, you will die sooner or later. I'll be waiting for you down below... That monk and that Daoist are both hiding their strength..."
Not long after the First Master was thrown into the stone mill, his laughter stopped, replaced only by agonized roars and screams.
Even an Indestructible Infinite cultivator could not withstand the grinding of the stone mill.
The First Master's Indestructible Divine Blood soaked into Love Mountain, and all the Mandala Shuhua emitted brilliant radiance, growing visibly.
Inside the stone armor.
Zhang Ruochen's heart rose and fell several times.
Just now, Meng Huang'e had not soul-searched Baoyin Earth Treasury but had used soul chains to probe every inch of his flesh and bones.
Actually, Zhang Ruochen shared the same thought as her.
Since Huang Tian was not hiding in Baoyin Earth Treasury's Divine Realm World, he was most likely hidden somewhere within his physical body.
Although Meng Huang'e had not found Huang Tian, Zhang Ruochen did not believe Huang Tian had truly returned to the Hell Realm.
Huang Tian must be somewhere on Baoyin Earth Treasury's body.
Because Zhang Ruochen knew very well that Baoyin Earth Treasury's spiritual will had long been broken by Huang Tian, and his personality could never be so tough and decisive. Then the only explanation was that his soul and consciousness were both controlled by Huang Tian.
Huang Tian simultaneously cultivated two types of Second-Rank Divine Paths.
Besides the "Life-and-Death Divine Path," there was also a mysterious and wonderful "Great Expansion Qiankun Divine Path."
Entering the Great Expansion, hiding within Qiankun.
This was Zhang Ruochen's speculation.
On the other side, Meng Huang'e told Lanshi Shen the news that "Sanying Tian has been captured, and Shang Tian has likely entered the Gray Sea."
"That Shang Tian is a formidable figure who knows the eight major tribes of the Gray Sea very well. I will go to Biluo Pass immediately and gather the Eight Divisions Followers' army to deal with him first. What about these people... should we take them to Biluo Pass first?"
Lanshi Shen's gaze swept over the captured cultivators, including Baoyin Earth Treasury.
Clearly, he did not fully trust Baoyin Earth Treasury.
Meng Huang'e said, "None of these people are simple. I think it would be safer to suppress them here on Love Mountain until we have captured Hao Tian and Shang Tian."
"If Huang Tian has truly returned to the Hell Realm, the time we have left is not much. Has the Nether Ancestor returned? Should we perform the sacrifice early?"
Lanshi Shen said, "How could someone like me know the Nether Ancestor's whereabouts? As for Huang Tian, there is no need to worry too much. If he returns to the Hell Realm to seek reinforcements, he will only be walking to his death."
The battle to seize the "Book of Life and Death" from the Yama Clan had been quite perilous.
Yan Huanyu and Meng Naihe were both inside the Book of Life and Death, and the combat power they unleashed by activating it could not be suppressed even by Erjun Tian.
Fortunately, Lady Shiji arrived and secretly lent a hand, allowing them to successfully seal Yan Huanyu and Meng Naihe inside the Book of Life and Death.
When Baoyin Earth Treasury and Tantuo Earth Treasury suppressed Huang Tian, Lanshi Shen had suspected that there was a major figure from the Nether Ancestor faction hidden within the Stone Clan.
Only, he had never guessed it might be Lady Shiji.
With Lady Shiji stationed in the Hell Realm, whether it was Xuanyuan Second or Huang Tian, once they appeared, they would surely die.
"Lady Shiji seems not to be of the Yan Ancestor's lineage but, like us of the Eight Divisions Followers, is a true direct descendant of the Nether Ancestor."
Lanshi Shen knew that for the major operation at Biluo Pass, the Nether Ancestor had guarded against Corpse Yan, only fully launching it after Corpse Yan had gone to the Abyss of Darkness.
All of Corpse Yan's faction had been completely excluded.
The Thunder Lord's Thunder Clan was destroyed, and the Fate Ancestor's lineage had withered.
Corpse Yan's faction had been ineffective and made repeated mistakes, clearly harboring spies and no longer trusted. Was Corpse Yan turning a blind eye?
Now was the time for the Eight Divisions Followers to step onto the stage of history and sweep across the world.
...
After Lanshi Shen left, Meng Huang'e finally turned her attention to Zhang Ruochen.
Because Zhang Ruochen was the greatest threat.
She clasped her hands behind her back, her smile like a flower, looking closely at Zhang Ruochen's extremely handsome face, her voice sweet. "Daoist, what secret are you hiding? Why is your physical body strong enough to contend with Heavenly Venerable-level beings, yet your cultivation realm is such a mess? Tell me, should I soul-search you first, or break your Dao and seize your source?"
"Seventh Miss, we have no enmity..." Zhang Ruochen said.
Meng Huang'e interrupted him. "If we have no enmity, why did you curse me?"
"I also helped heal your injuries. Why remember only grudges and not kindness? You are so beautiful and moving, more charming and fragrant than all the Mandala Shuhua on this mountain. You would never do something as cruel as breaking someone's Dao and seizing their source." Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to use the method Jie Zunzhe had once taught him.
As long as it was a woman, she would surely be happy to hear words of praise.
Praise spoken from an enemy's mouth was even more gratifying.
Meng Huang'e laughed. "I'm starting to wonder if you really are the Life-and-Death Elder. Even if the Life-and-Death Elder returned as a remnant soul, he could never be as smooth-tongued as you. Are you afraid of death?"
"A little... uh..." Zhang Ruochen said.
"Bang!"
Meng Huang'e struck the heart position of the stone armor with one finger. Terrifying Heavenly Venerable power penetrated the stone armor and impacted Zhang Ruochen's body.
His chest caved in, and his heart shattered into bloody mud.
The intense pain made Zhang Ruochen clench his teeth.
Meng Huang'e was still smiling, still beautiful. "It seems your physical body isn't that strong after all. You're not an undying body."
Meng Huang'e released Rule Divine Marks and Order, entering the stone armor, preparing to analyze and break his Dao.
"Whether my physical body is strong or not, Seventh Miss will experience it for herself in the future. I'm just afraid that the one whose Dao is broken and source seized will be you."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were sharp as he shouted, "Gandharva, don't you hate the monks of the Desolate Wasteland and the men of the Meng family the most? Now, the Meng family man has been ground to death. What about the monk of the Desolate Wasteland?"
Hearing this, Tantuo Earth Treasury, Baoyin Earth Treasury, and Baozhu Earth Treasury all raised their heads, their expressions changing slightly.
Even Fan Chen shuddered, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was somewhat shameless.
Was he trying to drag the three Earth Treasuries of the Desolate Wasteland down with him? To buy himself time?
Baoyin Earth Treasury had heard some rumors about Gandharva and Earth Treasury King and immediately said, "Although Earth Treasury King was my master, he was the most hypocritical false Buddha in the world. Fortunately, he is dead. If he were not dead, I would personally kill him in the future and take his place."
Gandharva watched coldly from the sidelines.
Tantuo Earth Treasury closed his eyes and shook his head. "This poor monk remembers nothing."
Gandharva sneered coldly.
Baozhu Earth Treasury remained silent, sitting still like a Buddha.
Seeing her like this, murderous intent finally appeared in Gandharva's eyes. She asked, "Are you a disciple of Earth Treasury King?"
"That is correct." Baozhu Earth Treasury said.
Gandharva said, "What kind of person do you think he is?"
"My master is the cultivator I respect most. His Buddhist Dharma will surely spread throughout the world." Baozhu Earth Treasury's face showed no fear.
Gandharva said, "Very good, very good."
"How can this be, how can this be..."
Meng Huang'e's surprised muttering sounded, followed by a question: "How can you have no Dao method, no divine source?"
"Of course he has no divine source, because his physical body is not the Life-and-Death Elder's Ancestor corpse, and he is not the Life-and-Death Elder's remnant soul returning." Gandharva said.
Earlier, when Zhang Ruochen transformed into a source particle state and burst into the main hall, Gandharva had already seen this.
Meng Huang'e said, "How can there be such a person in the world?"
Even Cihang Venerable, Baozhu Earth Treasury, and Baoyin Earth Treasury cast curious glances.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Does that mean you can't do anything to me? Even if you throw me into the stone mill and grind me to dust, you still can't kill me. I am the incarnation of the origin of heaven and earth!"
This last sentence was spoken with force and conviction.
Fan Chen, who knew Zhang Ruochen's background, very much wanted to rush up and cover his mouth. The more he bragged, the more outrageous it got.
You, the dignified Di Chen, can't you be a bit more steady?
But then he thought about it and understood Zhang Ruochen's strategy—deliberately creating confusion to buy time for Huang Tian.
"Old woman doesn't care what incarnation you are! Killing you is indeed troublesome. But destroying a person doesn't necessarily require killing them."
Gandharva said, "Do you know that if you pick a Mandala Shuhua that has shed its flowers and only has leaves left, add water from the Gray Sea, and brew it into a soup, it can make one forget love? Forgetting everything, consciousness and soul all become blank. Then you will no longer be you; you will only be a puppet."
Her gaze then fell on Baozhu Earth Treasury. "Since you are his proud disciple, I will give you another kind of soup. Pick a Mandala Shuhua that has shed its leaves and is in full bloom. Brew it with the blood and soul of a man and a woman, and it becomes a love soup. After two people drink it, their love takes root deeply, and they can never forget each other. If one dies, the other must die with them, unable to control themselves. With whom would you like to drink this soup?"
Baozhu Earth Treasury said, "If a single bowl of soup can make one forget love or fall in love, what difference is there from breaking one's Dao or breaking one's spiritual will?"
"Exactly, it is breaking the Dao, breaking the spiritual will." Gandharva said.
Baozhu Earth Treasury shook her head. "I don't believe that a mere flower can have such power. Someone like Saint Si Daoist, who is destined to become an Ancestor in the future, has such a firm spiritual will. Would he be affected by this? I absolutely do not believe it."
"Are you two digging pits for each other?" Zhang Ruochen cursed inwardly and immediately said, "Since Baozhu Earth Treasury doesn't believe it, let her drink it first."
Baozhu Earth Treasury said, "Since Saint Si Daoist is not an Ancestor body, his physical body must have something strange about it. It's better to first draw his blood to brew the soup; maybe it will reveal the truth."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Forget Love Soup doesn't need blood; it uses water from the Gray Sea."
"How about letting the two of them drink the Love Soup first?"
Meng Huang'e suddenly proposed, a smile growing thicker on her face.
Just as Baozhu Earth Treasury had said, Zhang Ruochen did not believe that a mere bowl of soup could break his spiritual will. But drinking the Forget Love Soup gave him more opportunities to escape.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If you want to destroy me, the Love Soup won't work. Gandharva, don't you want a puppet? I'll drink the Forget Love Soup!"