# Chapter 634: A Man's Heart is Full of Emotion
Everyone has their own persistence and beliefs. Some people, for "loyalty," can remain faithful unto death; some, for "filial piety," can live and die together; some, for "courage," can walk through blades; some, for "righteousness," can step into fire.
Orange Moon Star Envoy naturally had her own persistence as well. She could not simply watch as her former young master was killed right before her eyes.
"Hua!"
Orange Moon Star Envoy's wrist flicked, and the Dragon-Chaining Chain flew out, wrapping around Di Yi and dragging him to her side.
Mu Lingxi naturally understood the enmity between Zhang Ruochen and Di Yi. She snorted coldly, summoned her white sacred sword, activated the inscriptions within it, and was about to attack Orange Moon Star Envoy.
"Murong Clan."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes revealed a strange expression, and he softly murmured to himself.
"Wait."
Zhang Ruochen stopped Mu Lingxi, walked to stand opposite Orange Moon Star Envoy, and said, "Are you a descendant of the Murong Clan?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy looked at Zhang Ruochen with suspicion and said, "So what if I am?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded, waved his hand, and said, "Xiao Hei, take her away first. I'll find her later and discuss some matters with her."
Xiao Hei hadn't expected Zhang Ruochen to let Orange Moon Star Envoy go. He chuckled and said, "Alright!"
Without any power to resist, Orange Moon Star Envoy was swept up by a gust of wind that Xiao Hei sent out, carried into the distance. Moments later, they disappeared beyond the horizon.
Without wasting any more words with Di Yi, Zhang Ruochen executed a sword technique. With a flick of his finger, a sword qi flew out and severed Di Yi's head.
"Chi chi!"
Black flames surged from Di Yi's head and body, burning fiercely.
When the corpse had turned to ashes, a stream of black sacred qi and a stream of red blood qi rose up, intertwining with each other as if about to condense into a new body.
Zhang Ruochen naturally wouldn't give Di Yi another chance to reform his body. He immediately released his Space Domain, mobilized space power, and forcibly separated the black sacred qi and red blood qi.
"Sister Duanmu, help me refine Di Yi's martial soul," Zhang Ruochen said.
The martial soul was the cultivator's spirit.
Only by completely refining Di Yi's martial soul could he be killed.
Di Yi's martial soul strength was comparable to that of a cultivator at the eighth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm. Relying solely on Zhang Ruochen's cultivation, it would be very difficult to refine it.
"Hua—"
Mu Lingxi sat cross-legged opposite Zhang Ruochen, drawing a stream of freezing cold qi from within her body. It transformed into a white pillar of light that shot out from the palms of her hands.
Zhang Ruochen brought his hands together. His brow's Qi Sea and his abdomen's Mysterious Fetus both began to operate simultaneously, condensing a very domineering masculine energy.
Spreading his arms, he struck out forcefully. A pillar of fire surged from his palm.
One cold, one hot—the two forces collided with each other, beginning to refine the black sacred qi and red blood qi.
Di Yi's martial soul was hidden within the two streams of energy.
Even with Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi joining forces, it took a full three days to completely refine Di Yi's soul.
The black sacred qi and red blood qi still floated in midair, like two clouds of vapor, spinning around each other to form a Taiji mark.
Mu Lingxi withdrew her true qi, looked up, and said, "The black sacred qi should be Undying Sacred Qi. If you refine it, you might be able to cultivate the Undying Sacred Body."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "I want to cultivate the Five Elements Chaos Body. I've already reached the 'Three Spirit Treasure Body' level. I can't give up halfway just to cultivate the Undying Sacred Body. Besides, I don't want to dig out my own heart."
The Undying Sacred Body was also known as the "Heartless Sacred Body."
To successfully cultivate the Undying Sacred Body, one first had to dig out their own heart.
Even after digging out one's heart, the probability of success was quite low. The greater likelihood was death.
The Undying Sacred Body was indeed formidable, comparable to the Four Spirit Treasure Body. For anyone, it was a tremendous temptation. Some would even dig out their own hearts to gamble on it.
But Zhang Ruochen had never considered cultivating the Undying Sacred Body. For him, the Five Elements Chaos Body was the true challenge.
Mu Lingxi also shook her head. Clearly, she had no interest in the Undying Sacred Body either.
Just as Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi were thinking about how to deal with the Undying Sacred Qi...
In the sky, the black sacred qi and red blood qi seemed to be pulled by some force, rushing downward. On the ground, a human-shaped shadow lay quietly, continuously absorbing the sacred qi and blood qi.
The sacred qi and blood qi merged with the shadow, quickly condensing into a complete flesh-and-blood body, growing like bamboo shoots.
Mu Lingxi revealed an expression of disbelief and began to be on guard, saying, "Even his soul has been refined. Is Di Yi still not dead?"
Zhang Ruochen's eyes showed a thoughtful expression. His heart stirred, as if he had guessed something. Involuntarily, the corner of his mouth curved into a smile. Clearly, he also found it quite miraculous.
The black sacred qi condensed into a suit of armor, wrapping around the person's physical body. Outside the armor, only a rugged and handsome face was visible.
His features were very three-dimensional, his gaze sharp, his nose bridge high and straight. Every line on his face seemed carved by knives and axes.
"Bu Qianfan."
Mu Lingxi had met Bu Qianfan once before, so she naturally recognized him at a glance.
After Di Yi died, why had he turned into Bu Qianfan?
Mu Lingxi didn't know that Bu Qianfan had been refined by Di Yi into a Heavenly Demon shadow. Therefore, she found it difficult to understand what was happening before her eyes. It seemed incredibly unbelievable.
Zhang Ruochen, however, appeared very calm. He smiled and said, "Interesting."
Bu Qianfan stood opposite Zhang Ruochen, his body as straight as a spear. In a full, strong voice, he said, "Zhang Ruochen, first of all, I must thank you. If you hadn't refined Di Yi's soul, I wouldn't have regained my freedom. Consider this a debt I owe you. But... shouldn't we settle the grievances between us?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "First of all, I congratulate you on regaining your freedom. Secondly, I like people who are clear about grievances. But I only remember that a long time ago, you already owed me a favor. Adding today's favor, you now owe me two favors. Apart from favors, do we have any grievances between us?"
Bu Qianfan's eyes narrowed. Involuntarily, he stepped forward, releasing a powerful battle intent, and said, "Although I was refined by Di Yi into a Heavenly Demon shadow, I still retained my consciousness. Do you think I don't know what you did to Orange Moon Star Envoy? A disciple of the Sword Saint, the Heir of Time and Space, and yet you are such a despicable person? You dare to do it but not to admit it?"
Zhang Ruochen naturally knew that Bu Qianfan had deep feelings for Orange Moon Star Envoy.
He just hadn't expected that as soon as Bu Qianfan regained his freedom and re-formed his body, he would start defending Orange Moon Star Envoy's honor.
Should he call him infatuated or foolish?
Zhang Ruochen's expression remained unchanged. He couldn't be bothered to explain what had happened between him and Orange Moon Star Envoy. He just smiled and said, "Let's not even talk about whether I did anything to Orange Moon Star Envoy. Even if I did, what business is it of yours?"
Bu Qianfan was momentarily stunned, and his battle intent weakened somewhat.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "What does what happened between Orange Moon Star Envoy and me have to do with you? Who are you to her? On what grounds do you stand up for her? What qualifications do you have? Her lover? Don't joke around, alright? In Orange Moon Star Envoy's heart, you are a dispensable person. Even Di Yi was more important to her than you. Perhaps, in her heart, I am even more important than you."
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, Bu Qianfan's eyes became dazed, even somewhat at a loss. In the end, he smiled bitterly, dejected, and said, "You're right. In her heart... I really am nothing."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, walked over to him, patted his shoulder, and said, "The truth is always hard to hear, but that's how it is. Orange Moon Star Envoy knew you had been refined by Di Yi into a Heavenly Demon shadow, yet when I was about to kill Di Yi, she still protected him. She never thought of you at all."
"A woman who doesn't love you—no matter how much you do for her, she won't give you a second glance. Aren't you being foolish?"
Bu Qianfan closed his eyes and said, "I don't care."
"There's nothing wrong with being devoted. I was once just as devoted as you are, but in the end, I paid a heavy price. You can't force a woman who doesn't love you to love you. You can only change yourself. Otherwise, she will always be your weakness."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and didn't say more. "Come find me when you've figured things out, and I'll send you out. Because of you, the Bu Holy Clan will surely face sanctions from the imperial court. If you don't pull yourself together and rush back to the Eastern Domain Sacred City, it will cause immeasurable losses to the Bu Holy Clan."
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to interfere in matters of the heart. He had said what needed to be said. He had done his utmost.
If Bu Qianfan still couldn't extricate himself from this trap, then no one could help him.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen mention the "Bu Holy Clan," a glimmer of fighting spirit finally surged back into Bu Qianfan's eyes. He seemed to realize his own responsibilities.
"Wait," Bu Qianfan said.
Zhang Ruochen turned around and looked at him.
Bu Qianfan let out a long breath and said, "I want to return to the Bu Holy Clan. Since I've already caused a great disaster, I must go back and do my best to make amends. I will bear the responsibilities I should bear."
Having come out of the shadows so quickly, Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but look at Bu Qianfan with a bit more respect. "Not bad. Follow me."
Opening the Space-Time Gate, Zhang Ruochen personally escorted Bu Qianfan out.
The two appeared in a deep valley of the Falling God Mountain Range. They walked side by side, heading out of the valley.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I hope you won't reveal my secret to anyone. If you can do that, consider it as repaying one of the favors you owe me."
Bu Qianfan glanced coldly at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Are you trying to patronize me? Don't worry, I won't reveal your secret. As for the two favors I owe you, in the future, whenever you send word, I will naturally come to repay them."
(As per tradition, of course, Xiao Yu still has to ask for votes. The WeChat account has already updated the "Ten Illusions in the Book of the Ancient God Emperor." Everyone can go take a look. WeChat account: feitianyu5)