Chapter 599: Pressing Hard
The Deep Blue Star Envoy looked at the Crimson Desire Star Envoy as if she were a little girl, a contemptuous gleam in his eyes. "From now on, everything in the Fallen God Mansion will be under my control. You can return to the Evil Emperor City now!"
"On what grounds?" the Crimson Desire Star Envoy said coldly.
The Deep Blue Star Envoy took two steps forward, unleashing a powerful martial aura that radiated from his body, pressing down on the evil path martial artists present and forcing them all to retreat backward.
Stopping right in front of the Crimson Desire Star Envoy, the Deep Blue Star Envoy said coldly, "This is the Young Master's order. Surely you wouldn't dare disobey the Young Master's command?"
It was Di Yi's order.
A sense of foreboding rose in the Crimson Desire Star Envoy's heart. Could it be that Di Yi had already sensed her ambition and was preparing to deal with her?
The great battle in the Eastern Domain Sacred City had triggered a series of massive repercussions.
The most direct consequence was that some Black Market forces once hidden in the Eastern Domain Sacred Land had come under dual suppression from the Imperial Court and the Martial Market Bank, forcing them to immediately withdraw to the Eastern Domain Evil Land.
The Black Market's high-level leadership had already decided that all these Black Market forces withdrawing to the Eastern Domain Evil Land would be resettled in the eighteen commanderies of the Fallen God Mansion.
Among them, Qingyun Commandery, located at the edge of Fallen God Commandery and closest to the Fallen God Mountain Range, was the top priority.
In other words, whoever controlled Qingyun Commandery at this moment would effectively control this batch of Black Market forces withdrawing to the Eastern Domain Evil Land.
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy had barely managed to seize the opportunity to be the first to arrive in Qingyun Commandery for coordination and deployment. How could she possibly hand over such a fat piece of meat to the Deep Blue Star Envoy just because of one word from Di Yi?
But she was not yet strong enough to directly clash with Di Yi.
If she disobeyed Di Yi's order and remained in Qingyun Commandery, Di Yi would surely eliminate her with thunderous means to remove the threat once and for all.
What should she do?
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy could only try to stall the Deep Blue Star Envoy for now, buying time while she thought of a countermeasure.
After nightfall, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy gathered her most trusted subordinates—those with the highest strength—to brainstorm together.
How could these evil path cultivators dare to offend Di Yi?
Everyone unanimously advised the Crimson Desire Star Envoy not to confront Di Yi head-on at this stage, lest she provoke his wrath. In short, they told her to keep her head down, endure, endure again, and endure some more.
After those evil path martial artists left, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy angrily smashed a wine jug to the ground, her eyes filled with cold light. "Usually, each one is more arrogant and domineering than the last, but the moment they hear Di Yi's name, they all turn into cowards. Not a single one is worthy of being entrusted with important tasks..."
Yao Yao felt uneasy and hesitated before speaking. "Everyone knows well what Di Yi is capable of. Moreover, Di Yi is surrounded by experts and talented individuals. Even though he lost the Green Robe Star Envoy, the Yellow God Star Envoy, and the Orange Moon Star Envoy, he still has three Star Envoys by his side. Any one of them could suppress and kill us. Who wouldn't be afraid?"
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy shot a glare at Yao Yao, her eyes flashing with cold light. "So even you think I should slink back to the Evil Emperor City? Obey Di Yi's every command from now on, without any resistance?"
"Thump!"
Yao Yao's heart jolted, her face turning pale as she immediately knelt on the ground.
But she remained silent.
Clearly, she truly believed that the wisest decision for the Crimson Desire Star Envoy was to return to the Evil Emperor City. Starting a war with Di Yi now would be like throwing an egg against a rock.
Seeing Yao Yao's expression, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy felt even more disappointed.
Deep down, she was extremely unwilling to give up.
This trip to the Fallen God Mansion to coordinate and deploy the Black Market forces from the Eastern Domain Sacred Land was an opportunity for the Crimson Desire Star Envoy to win people over and increase her influence.
If she lost this chance, how could she ever contend with Di Yi in the future?
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy walked out of the great hall, her mood complicated. She walked forward while pondering countermeasures, unconsciously arriving outside Zhang Ruochen's courtyard.
She stopped, glanced inside, and saw that the lamp in the room was still lit.
So the Crimson Desire Star Envoy pushed open the courtyard gate and entered.
"Star Envoy, paying a late-night visit—may I ask what business you have?"
Zhang Ruochen's voice came from inside the room.
Walking under the moonlight like a dark elf, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy stopped beneath a maple tree, a hint of weariness in her tone. "There are indeed some matters I wish to discuss with you."
"Whoosh!"
The guest room door opened, and Zhang Ruochen, wearing a white robe and holding a pot of tea, stepped out. He gently closed the door behind him and walked toward the Crimson Desire Star Envoy. "Star Envoy, feel free to speak your mind."
The two sat down across from each other at a stone table in the courtyard, both wearing calm expressions. The surroundings were exceptionally quiet, with only the rustling sound of the wind.
After a long moment, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy sat upright, her face devoid of its usual seductive charm, exuding an air of elegance—like a beauty stepping out of a painting. Her two crystalline red lips parted slightly as she spoke slowly. "The Young Master has sent someone with an order for me to return to the Evil Emperor City. We might have to leave Qingyun Commandery tomorrow."
Zhang Ruochen carefully observed the Crimson Desire Star Envoy's eyes, discerning something. "I see a look of reluctance in your eyes, Star Envoy. Could it be that you don't wish to return to the Evil Emperor City?"
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy looked at Zhang Ruochen with some surprise, then smiled. "As expected, those who become Spiritual Power Masters are all sharp-minded individuals."
"To be honest, my purpose in coming to Qingyun Commandery was to take over a batch of Black Market forces relocating from the Eastern Domain Sacred Land to the Eastern Domain Evil Land. Right now, I truly don't want to go back. But the Young Master's orders cannot be defied. Do you have any way to help me stay in Qingyun Commandery?"
In truth, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy had only spoken casually, never expecting Zhang Ruochen to come up with a solution. After all, if she, with her intelligence, couldn't think of a way, how could this man possibly be smarter than her?
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then picked up the teapot and poured a cup for the Crimson Desire Star Envoy. "Actually, it's not that difficult."
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy's heart stirred, and her beautiful eyes immediately fixed on Zhang Ruochen. "You have a plan?"
Zhang Ruochen said lightly, "The most decisive method is to simply kill the messenger. Then, Star Envoy, you can pretend you know nothing. That way, you won't have disobeyed the Young Master's orders, and you can still stay in Qingyun Commandery. Isn't that right?"
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy smiled, her eyes darkening as she shook her head.
She had thought Zhang Ruochen might have some brilliant strategy, but it turned out to be just a terrible idea.
Still, she appreciated his boldness—at least he wasn't intimidated by the names of Di Yi and the Deep Blue Star Envoy.
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy elegantly picked up the teacup and took a gentle sip. "You don't understand. The one who came to deliver the order is the Deep Blue Star Envoy, one of the Seven Star Envoys. He's not someone you can just kill."
Admittedly, the Crimson Desire Star Envoy was indeed a disciple of a Saint. When she was seductive, she could enchant people to the point of losing their minds. When she was elegant, she was more noble, refined, and beautiful than an imperial princess.
"I don't agree with that."
Zhang Ruochen tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "If the Star Envoy wishes to contend for the position of Young Master, now is the best time to kill the Deep Blue Star Envoy. Killing him would be like cutting off one of Di Yi's arms."
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy's gaze turned cold. She raised her slender arm and slammed her palm onto the stone table with a bang. "Such treasonous words dare to leave your mouth? Do you believe I could kill you right now?"
Zhang Ruochen remained perfectly calm. "If the Star Envoy doesn't want to contend for the Young Master's position, why are you unwilling to return to the Evil Emperor City?"
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy stared intently into Zhang Ruochen's eyes, seeing his composed demeanor. Then she withdrew her killing intent and laughed. "You're indeed very clever. Yes, I do want the Young Master's position. But your method won't work, because with my current power, I can't kill the Deep Blue Star Envoy."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I can help you, Star Envoy."
"You?"
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy shook her head. "Your strength is indeed decent. But the Deep Blue Star Envoy's cultivation has reached the peak of the Fish-Dragon Sixth Transformation. Moreover, he possesses a Sacred Artifact and some trump cards, allowing him to contend with cultivators at the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation."
"Although he's not a Saintly Body, he's not much weaker than one at the same level. Even if all the cultivators of Red Willow Manor attacked together, they might not be able to kill him. You struggled against Ji Gui and Luo Shi—how could you possibly be his match?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "That was then, this is now."
Zhang Ruochen released his Spiritual Power, causing the surrounding natural energy to violently tremble and transform into purple electric light that gathered behind him, coalescing into a massive lightning divine shadow.
"Crackle!"
The divine shadow formed from lightning was ferocious and glaring, holding a thunder hammer, standing three zhang tall, with two horns on its head, radiating a terrifying aura of power.
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy shot to her feet, incredulous. "The Wrath of the Thunder General. You've already mastered this second-rank spell?"
The Wrath of the Thunder General was one of the two second-rank spells she had given Zhang Ruochen just today.
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy's expression shifted slightly. She took a step back, immediately mobilizing her Spiritual Power into a defensive stance, and said warily, "Who exactly are you?"
The Crimson Desire Star Envoy herself was a Spiritual Power Master, so she naturally knew how difficult it was to cultivate a second-rank spell. She simply couldn't believe that Zhang Ruochen could master the Wrath of the Thunder General in half a day.
Even with her own Spiritual Power at the forty-third rank, it would take at least half a month to successfully cultivate a second-rank spell.
"Star Envoy, why are you so tense? Could it be that you suspect I've practiced second-rank spells before?"
Zhang Ruochen, having gained the Crimson Desire Star Envoy's trust, slowly dispersed his Spiritual Power. The lightning divine shadow behind him gradually faded until it completely vanished into nothingness.
The powerful aura of energy also dissipated, turning into nothing.