Chapter 953: Falling Wind Mountain
Returning to the Netherword Heavenly Palace camp and entering his cave dwelling, Zhang Ruochen took out paper and a brush from his Space Ring.
While pondering, he wrote on the paper.
It took an entire night to finish writing four letters in a row, seal them, and store them away.
On the envelopes of the four letters were written four names: Mother, Huang Yanchen, Kong Lanyou, and Chi Yao.
In truth, Zhang Ruochen wanted to write more letters, to more people, and explain more matters.
However, time was too short; he could only write first to the four most important people—the closest to him, those he was most responsible for, those he had wronged the most, and those he both hated and loved the most.
The reason he felt he owed Kong Lanyou the most was that he had deceived her twice in a row, yet had no choice but to do so.
Among the old acquaintances from eight hundred years ago, only Kong Lanyou, upon hearing the name "Zhang Ruochen," had personally come to see him, a stranger, and had sought him out twice.
This showed how important the name Zhang Ruochen was in her heart.
In fact, Zhang Ruochen understood many things, but for various reasons, he ultimately chose to avoid them.
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, handed the four letters and the Cosmic Divine Wood Map to Xiao Hei, and said, "If I don't return from the Endless Abyss, help me deliver these four letters to them."
Xiao Hei took them and asked, "The things you said you hadn't done—was that writing a suicide note?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly and said, "Not exactly. I just felt I should explain some things. If I don't die in the Endless Abyss, these four letters will naturally lose their purpose."
"Actually, I think we should spread the secret that the Endless Abyss has three gradients. That way, the Confucian Path and the Imperial Court will definitely send strong experts to investigate Shengshu Cainü's life or death. You wouldn't need to take the risk yourself," Xiao Hei said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "First, if we do that, those who want to kill Shengshu Cainü will enter the first gradient first."
"Second, I'm not going there just to investigate Shengshu Cainü's life or death. There's something even more important."
Xiao Hei asked, "Something even more important?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was deep and profound. "Based on some information I got from Haiming Dharma King, combined with the Undying Blood Clan I encountered in the Endless Abyss last night and Shengshu Cainü's death, I feel there's a shocking secret hidden beneath the Endless Abyss. Perhaps only by going down once can I find the answer."
Day had broken, and a new day had begun.
Zhang Ruochen made up his mind to go to the Endless Abyss again today.
However, just as he stepped out of the cave dwelling, he heard the summons of Wuliang Banner King, calling him to the entrance of Cangtian Valley.
"What is it?"
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then activated his movement technique, disappearing from the spot and heading toward the valley entrance.
The entrance of Cangtian Valley was an open expanse of snow.
At this moment, on the snow, stood one hundred and twenty flag bearers in neat rows, clad in black armor. The weakest among them was at the Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Perfection.
Half of them were at the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Such an elite army could already annihilate a Half-Saint family.
"Whoosh!"
A black beam of light descended from above, condensing into Wuliang Banner King's Half-Saint doppelganger, hovering a dozen zhang above the ground.
"Greetings, Banner King!"
The one hundred and twenty flag bearers below shouted in unison, creating a surging momentum.
Zhang Ruochen had already arrived outside the valley, standing not far away, watching the one hundred and twenty flag bearers and Wuliang Banner King with a puzzled expression.
Wuliang Banner King glanced in Zhang Ruochen's direction and then declared loudly, "Eight hundred li east of the Endless Abyss, traces of a few blood beasts have appeared on Falling Wind Mountain. The Deputy Palace Master has ordered that they be completely eradicated within today. Banner Leader Gu, you will lead the team to handle this. Do you agree?"
From Xiao Hei, Zhang Ruochen had already learned some things about blood beasts.
Zhang Ruochen looked confused and asked, "Banner King, what are blood beasts?"
Wuliang Banner King landed on the ground, releasing a circle of Saint Qi from his palm to form a domain, enveloping both him and Zhang Ruochen.
Wuliang Banner King stared at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Some secrets of the Endless Abyss are only known to those at the Banner Leader level and above. Since I'm sending you out on a mission, I will now tell you the secret of the blood beasts."
With the domain covering them, the flag bearers outside could not hear the conversation between Wuliang Banner King and Zhang Ruochen.
Wuliang Banner King's expression was solemn. "You should have heard of Xue Hou, right?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Naturally. It is said that Xue Hou was the most powerful Great Saint-level figure in the history of the Undying Blood Clan, aside from the Underworld King."
Wuliang Banner King nodded. "Eight hundred years ago, Xue Hou fought against the Ming Emperor and ultimately fell in the Endless Abyss."
"In that battle, Xue Hou's blood spilled onto the first gradient. Some savage beasts absorbed that powerful blood energy and turned into bloodthirsty monsters. Our Netherword Heavenly Palace's mission is to eliminate all those blood beasts, preventing them from escaping the Juegu Snowy Mountains."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred, and he asked doubtfully, "What does 'first gradient' mean?"
"It's within the Endless Abyss."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen still looked confused, Wuliang Banner King continued, "In fact, the Endless Abyss is divided into three gradients. Entering the first or second gradient gives you some chance of returning to the surface. Only falling into the third gradient truly means no return."
"This matter is top secret, known only to those at the Banner Leader level and above. You must keep it confidential. If it gets out, it will mean death."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Who first discovered the secret of the Endless Abyss?"
"Naturally, it was the current Sect Leader of the Blood God Sect," Wuliang Banner King continued. "It is said that three hundred years ago, when the Sect Leader was still young, he came to the Juegu Snowy Mountains for training and was attacked by blood beasts. After killing the blood beasts, he went alone to trace their origin, all the way to the Endless Abyss. In the end, he discovered that there were two more layers of the world below the abyss, and those blood beasts crawled out from the first gradient."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Banner King, have you been to the first gradient?"
"No."
Wuliang Banner King immediately shook his head. "The Sect Leader has issued a ban: without his order, no one is allowed to go to the first gradient. Besides, the first gradient is extremely dangerous. Once, a Banner King secretly entered the first gradient to explore its secrets, but he never returned. The Sect Leader personally went to rescue him but only brought back a skeleton."
Wuliang Banner King glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Banner Leader Gu seems very interested in the first gradient? I must warn you: even a Banner King-level figure died down there. With your cultivation, it's best not to take the risk."
"I understand," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Now go and eliminate the blood beasts on Falling Wind Mountain. This is your first mission; make sure it's clean and thorough," Wuliang Banner King said.
Zhang Ruochen led the one hundred and twenty flag bearers, all riding savage elephants, charging out and heading toward Falling Wind Mountain, stirring up endless wind and snow.
"I've said so much to a man about to die. I've done my part. The Divine Son should be waiting for him on Falling Wind Mountain."
Wuliang Banner King smiled, his form dispersing into a cloud of black smoke that dissipated into the air.
"First go to Falling Wind Mountain, then find a chance to break away."
Zhang Ruochen sat on the back of the savage beast, making this decision in his heart.
The savage elephants ran extremely fast. Half an hour later, Zhang Ruochen could already see the outline of Falling Wind Mountain.
Just then, Zhao Shiqi's voice, transmitted through thousand-li sound transmission, entered Zhang Ruochen's ear: "Young Master, Falling Wind Mountain is a trap set by Wuliang Banner King and the Divine Son to eliminate you."
Zhang Ruochen was slightly startled. He released his spiritual power, tracing back along the sound waves, and quickly locked onto Zhao Shiqi's location.
It was on Falling Wind Mountain.
This Divine Son had repeatedly tried to kill Zhang Ruochen and had successfully angered him.
If he wasn't eliminated, who knew what other methods he would use in the future.
"Is Wuliang Banner King also on Falling Wind Mountain?" Zhang Ruochen's gaze turned cold.
"No."
Zhao Shiqi continued to transmit, "The Divine Son thinks you're only a second-step Half-Saint, so he only brought four Banner Kings. If we join forces, we can take them all down. Should we strike?"
"Of course."
Zhang Ruochen added, "Wait until I arrive before striking. Leave no survivors."
Zhang Ruochen rode the savage beast, pretending to be completely unaware, leading the one hundred and twenty flag bearers as they continued toward Falling Wind Mountain.
Mei Lanzhu stood atop an ice waterfall cliff on Falling Wind Mountain, watching the approaching flag bearer team, a mocking smile on his face. "Gu Linfeng, that fool, actually came to Falling Wind Mountain. Banner Leader Qifeng, why haven't you acted yet?"
"Rest assured, Divine Son. I have already set up the Divine Hurricane Formation. Even if Gu Linfeng is a seventh-step Half-Saint, he will surely die."
Banner Leader Qifeng grinned, opened an iron fan, fully mobilized his spiritual power, and waved it.
The surface of the iron fan emitted a dazzling light, and countless fine inscription patterns flew out.
"Whoosh, whoosh!"
Under the guidance of the inscription patterns, the Divine Hurricane Formation activated.
The snowy mountains within a hundred li radius all shook, sending out dense wind blades that flew toward Zhang Ruochen and the one hundred and twenty flag bearers, completely engulfing them.
"Ah... ambush..."
"Save me... attack formation..."
In the mountain hollow, screams rose and fell.
The flag bearers were attacked by the wind blades and couldn't defend themselves. Their bodies were torn apart, turning into a pile of mutilated corpses lying in pools of blood.
Mei Lanzhu saw this and smiled with satisfaction. "The Divine Hurricane Formation is the top-tier sixth-grade attack formation. Gu Linfeng should be dead beyond dead. It's a pity that to kill him, we lost an elite team of flag bearers."
Zhao Shiqi stood behind Mei Lanzhu and said with a smile, "Without a team of flag bearers as sacrifices, who would believe that a major figure from the Blood God Sect died here?"
"Gu Linfeng is just a jumping clown. Does he deserve to be called a major figure?" Mei Lanzhu glanced at Zhao Shiqi, sneered, and showed great disdain.
(Alright, today I'm slow again. My writing speed is really getting slower and slower. In fact, I often hate myself for it. Anyway, I'll go to sleep now. Saying more would just bring tears.) (To be continued.)