Chapter 2060: Pan Ruo and Yan Wushen
Both Zhou Yu and Mosheng were sort of petrified on the Blood God Altar. They could not believe that Zhang Ruochen had crushed the avatar of the saint blood of the Emissary Vigilant in public with impunity.
Their hearts sank at seeing what Zhang Ruochen did. They were unsure if they could get away.
“Well done, Zhang Ruochen. I have long been disliking those buggers. Beat them up whenever you see them next time. So what if he is a Supreme Saint? His avatar was still beaten black and blue when he wasn’t present in person,” said Blackie.
Zhang Ruochen landed on the Blood God Altar. His expression was solemn as he was thinking about what the Emissary Vigilant said.
After a moment of silence, he took out the Staff of the Divine Envoy and got in touch with Yueshen.
The phantom of Yueshen was suspended in the sky in a sacred glow above the Staff of the Divine Envoy.
Mu Lingxi immediately bowed in respect. And so, too, Zhang Ruochen, Blackie, Bao Lie and others.
Everyone had to maintain a sense of humility and fear. They must do nothing that might amount to blasphemy in front of an immortal.
Yueshen swept her eyes over those who were present before she looked at Zhou Yu and Mosheng, who were subdued on the Blood God Altar. “You are such a troublemaker, Zhang Ruochen. You just killed Shang Ziyan recently. Now you have apprehended Zhou Yu and Mosheng.”
Zhang Ruochen had put Zhou Yu, Mo Sheng, and Xuetu in absolute quarantine, so they could neither see nor hear.
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the phantom of Yueshen. “I didn’t ask for this. I was forced to do this.”
“Your killing of Shang Ziyan has already enraged the Fane of Merit and Heavenly Realm. This time, Heavenly Realm and Blackdemon Realm are pressuring me to keep these two guys alive. Even Celestial Palace had spoken for them,” said Yueshen.
“I didn’t know that even Celestial Palace would intervene. Heavenly Realm has a really great influence.” Zhang Ruochen looked grim.
“The constant large-scale infightings have exasperated Celestial Palace. Not to mention both Zhou Yu and Mosheng might become immortals. So Celestial Palace has no choice but to intervene. If they both die, it will surely set off a big storm,” said Yueshen in a serious tone of voice.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart skipped a beat upon hearing that. The situation seemed to be much more complicated than he expected.
On the surface, it only involved two non-Supreme Saint top cultivators. But in fact, it was about the ego for Heavenly Realm and the esteem of Celestial Palace.
The killing of Shang Ziyan had crossed the line of Heavenly Realm. But Yueshen could still manage to keep things under control.
But if he were to kill Zhou Yu and Mosheng, Heavenly Realm and Celestial Palace would not tolerate this. Even Yueshen could not handle the situation by then.
They were still abetting Zhang Ruochen to kill Zhou Yu and Mosheng a while ago. Now they could not help but feel scared. When it came to the battle between the immortals, all of them would have to die if they were not careful.
Immortals could kill them with just a thought.
“It seems that these two guys must absolutely not be killed. But it is also absolutely impossible for me to let them go just like that. Heavenly Realm will have to pay for their release,” said Zhang Ruochen solemnly.
There was a strange look in Yueshen’s eyes. “What do you want?”
“The Godstones and the top five-element sacred artifacts. Everything else is up to you,” said Zhang Ruochen.
He believed that with Yueshen’s ability, she would surely make Heavenly Realm pay a high price by conceding many precious things.
Yueshen shot a meaningful look at Zhang Ruochen. “I will handle this. You can rest assured that this time Heavenly Realm will not get the slightest advantage.”
The Yueshen’s phantom vanished and the Staff of the Divine Envoy returned to normalcy.
“Phew!”
There was a grim look in his eyes when Zhang Ruochen put away the Staff of the Divine Envoy and let out a sigh.
By his way of doing things, he would not let Zhou Yu and Mosheng go. But this time things are much more complicated. If he made a mistake this time, even Yueshen would be implicated.
So he had to control himself.
Now that he and Yueshen were in the same boat, he should not make Yueshen’s life too difficult, sometimes.
Since Zhou Yu and Mosheng were so important to Heavenly Realm, it shouldn’t be long before the negotiation would come to a fruition.
Meanwhile, what happened in the Sect of the Blood God was spreading far and wide. Before long, the entire Kunlun Realm had known about it.
On the Battlefield of Merit in the north of Kunlun Realm, Zhen Yuan received a communication talisman from Central Region. His expression rapidly changed, surprises filling his eyes.
“Zhou Yu and Mosheng are apprehended, and the Emissary Vigilant’s avatar of the sacred blood was crushed. Junior Brother Zhang’s ability is unmatched. But this will also invite trouble. I wonder how Junior Brother Zhang will handle it,” said Zhen Yuan to himself.
He had high expectations for Zhang Ruochen and did not want to see anything untoward to happen to him.
But the matter had a very wide implication. Even he found it difficult to intervene in his capacity.
In the other camp of the Northern Region, Xuanyuan Liekong had also received the news. He frowned spontaneously. “What a Zhang Ruochen! He has improved tremendously. But I am afraid that things might not end up well for him if he keeps behaving in such an unbridled way.”
At first, he was planning to woo Zang Ruochen to his side. But there was some bad blood between them because of the trunk of the Divine Sky-connecting Tree.
So it was natural that Xuanyuan Liekong would not be too happy to see Zhang Ruochen improving so quickly.
…
Jiang Yunchong in East Region got the news and could not help but burst into laughter.
“What makes you so happy?” Yanruo came beside him and asked in curiosity.
Jiang Yunchong handed the communication talisman to her. “As expected from the Scion of Time and Space, he is amazingly gutsy. His presence will tell every other realm that Kunlun Realm is not a place where they can trample at will.”
“Things are probably not so simple. Even the Emissary Vigilant is involved. I am worried that there will be more troubles coming for Zhang Ruochen.” Yanruo frowned slightly.
“Don’t worry, Zhang Ruochen is not a reckless person. Since he dares to do this, he must have a solution.” Jiang Yunchong comforted her.
He might not have much interaction with Zhang Ruochen, but he knew Zhang Ruochen well. He also admired Zhang Ruochen very much.
Not long after, news spread to macroworlds in Heavenly Realm and caused an even greater sensation.
“Zhang Ruochen is mad! He must be severely punished.”
“Xue Lingxian was a villain in ancient times. His appearance at this time spells trouble. It must be investigated.”
“Zhang Ruochen must be suppressed to prevent him from acting recklessly.”
…
People from the Heavenly Realm faction were the most emotional. Cultivators from other factions just watched quietly at this time. They even wished Zhang Rochen to cause more trouble.
On the other hand, news had also spread to and caused a stir in Infernal Court.
The reason was, Xuetu was suppressed, and no one knew if he was still alive.
Many cultivators saw with their own eyes that Xue Lingxian had pierced through Xuetu’s body with his snake tail and taken him into the Sect of the Blood God. No one knew what happened after that.
Xuetu was one of the five non-Supreme Saint powerhouses of the Immortal Vampires. He was ranked in the top 100 in the entire Infernal Court, having great potential to become an immortal.
“Celestial Court sidestepped the rules of the War of Merit and allowed Supreme Saint cultivators to join the fight. Celestial Court must give us an explanation. Otherwise, the Supreme Saints from Infernal Court will surely invade Kunlun Realm on a large scale soon. That will destroy Kunlun Realm.”
“We have got to send an envoy to negotiate with Celestial Court and rescue Xuetu immediately.”
“If they don’t free Xuetu, the Supreme Saints from Infernal Court will crush Kunlun Realm in no time.”
…
The war sentiment in Infernal Court was high. They could not wait to use this issue as a pretext to launch a full-scale war against Kunlun Realm.
In fact, Infernal Court had dispatched envoys in the first instant. They wanted not only to rescue Xuetu but also to look for trouble.
The identity of Xuetu was too sensitive. It was easy for people to make an issue of him.
…
There was a small village named Anning Village near to Darkmourn Mountains.
The village had a small population, and it was quaint and clean.
There was a little tavern in the village. It was quiet at this time. A teenager and a tall and burly man were sitting by the window, eating and drinking all by themselves.
The teenager was none other than Chi Kunlun, while the tall and burly man was the mysterious Yanluo cultivator who snatched Chi Kunlun from Shang Ziyan. This mysterious cultivator was none other than Yan Wushen, whom Celestial Court cultivators would tremble in fear upon hearing his name.
Whoosh!
A stream of light arrived from the outer sky and was caught by Yan Wushen.
“Huh? It’s Zhang Ruochen again? It looks like he has been busy lately.” There was a look of surprise in Yan Wushen’s eyes.
Chi Kunlun looked up and asked eagerly, “What’s going on?”
“See it for yourself.” Yan Wushen threw the communication talisman at him.
Chi Kunlun quickly caught the communication talisman in his hands and read it carefully.
Yan Wushen’s eyes narrowed slightly, with a strange look inside. “The villain of ancient times. That is interesting. It seems it is time for a trip to the Sect of the Blood Sect.”
There was no doubt that the appearance of Xue Lingxian had aroused Yan Wushen’s interest.
Yan Wushen was a fighting maniac who liked to hone himself through battles. Unfortunately, there were fewer and fewer people who could be his opponents.
The Four Heavenly Kings of the Celestial Palace were strong, but they always fought together. As powerful as Yan Wushen was, he could not fight all of them at once. So he had no choice but to avoid them.
Since entering Kunlun Realm, The Four Heavenly Kings of the Celestial Palace had been pursuing him, for which Yan Wushen had no words
The fact that Xue Lingxian was known as the most fearsome man in ancient time spoke volumes of his formidable strength. If he could fight Xue Lingxian in the same realm, Yan Wushen could judge his standing among the best cultivators of all times.
Those who are invincible at present might not necessarily be the best cultivator of all times.
“When will we depart?” asked Chi Kunlun.
He would not be interested in going to other places. But the Sect of the Blood God was different—because Zhang Ruochen was there. He wanted to find the answers to his many questions in mind from Zhang Ruochen.
Just as Yan Wushen was about to speak, he sensed something.
Zzzzzz-Pang!
A lightning bolt struck down from the clouds and hit the bluestone street.
A graceful figure appeared on the street. She had delicate skin that was as spotless as jade, her long hair cascading like a waterfall, her eyes mysterious and captivating. She exuded a lofty air throughout.
She became the center of attention as soon as she appeared.
“Isn’t this Pan Ruo, one of the three Lady candidates of the Fane of Destiny? Are you here looking for me, hoping to make an alliance with me?” Yan Wushen chuckled and gulped down a glass of wine.
Pan Ruo swept her mysterious eyes over and her gaze stopped on Chi Kunlun as if she was studying him.
Chi Kunlun sensed tremendous pressure from Pan Ruo’s gaze. She was not as intimidating as Empress Chi Yao, but she still gave out a sense of pressure that was as heavy as an entire mountain.
He had an illusion that this evil woman seemed to be coming for him. But why?
Pan Ruo’s gaze did not stay on Chi Kunlun for long. She quickly shifted her attention to Yan Wushen. “It seems that other Lady candidates have come to you. But I have no such intention. Only the weak will do that—riding on the strength of others.”
“You are right. The strong only need to rely on themselves. But, are you strong?”
Yan Wushen let out a smile. “The other two Lady candidates have come to see me. They wanted me to help them become the real Lady of Destiny. And they have also offered me very generous terms. Why are you here since you are not here to find an alliance with me?”
Yan Wushen might not be a disciple of the Fane of Destiny, but he was born in the highest clan of Infernal Court and the number one non-Supreme Saint cultivator of Infernal Court. So he was wielding enormous influence.
Anyone who could get his support would undoubtedly be more hopeful to become the Lady of Destiny.
Pan Ruo looked calm without the slightest emotional fluctuation. “Darkmourn Mountains is an ancient battlefield, where countless killings have affected the fate of countless living persons. It is the most ideal place to comprehend the Path of Destiny. I was just passing by when I sensed the energy of the strong. So I came to check it out.”
“There is more to Darkmourn Mountains than meets the eye. Even I can’t see through it. Yet you want to go there to comprehend the Path of Destiny? You have got guts. No wonder you can find favor with the bigwigs of the Fane of Destiny.” Yan Wushen took a long hard look at her.
Pan Ruo was the least qualified Lady candidate among the three contenders. So Yan Wushen would not place his bet on her.
In stark contrast with the uproar on the outside world, the atmosphere in the Sect of the Blood God was a scene of a different world.
“I know you two refuse to be reconciled. Here, I will give you two a chance: fight me one-on-one.” Zhang Ruochen stared at Zhou Yu and Mosheng.
“Fight one-on-one? I can crush you with one hand,” said Zhou Yu with disdain.
“If it weren’t for the advantage of the Supreme Artifact, you wouldn’t have defeated me in the gambit battle.” Mosheng sneered.
“Then we will have another gambit battle, using no weapons or saint techniques. Just hand-to-hand combat,” said Zhang Ruochen.
“You will let me go if I win?” Mosheng hissed.
He would not be interested at all if he would be just a whetstone for Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen of course knew what he was thinking. He spontaneously let out a smile. “Why not if you can win?”
“Then what price do we have to pay if we lose?” asked Mo Sheng in a deep voice.
“I want the Canon of Truth in the bodies of you two.”
Mosheng’s expression drastically changed. He did not expect Zhang Ruochen to be eyeing the Canon of Truth.
As a top-notch genius, Mosheng had indeed got the Canon of Truth when he crossed the Sea of Truth.
He also knew that there were only two ways to get the Canon of Truth from someone. One was to kill that person. Two was to make that person give it up voluntarily.
Since the appearance of the Emissary Vigilant, Mosheng knew that Zhang Ruochen would not kill him and Zhou Yu. As such, the only way for Zhang Ruochen to get the Canon of Truth was to have them give it up voluntarily.
“You are really ambitious, eh, Zhang Ruochen? You want us to give up the Canon of Truth? Do you think we will say yes?” sneered Zhou Yu.
The Canon of Truth was more than just important. It was something that every immortal desired. No one would easily give it up.
There was a disdainful look in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. “You must be thinking that I will not kill you two, eh? But for the sake of the Canon of Truth, I don’t mind taking risks. I have killed Shang Ziyan, anyway. So killing you two isn’t a big deal for me.”
Zhou Yu and Mosheng’s hearts skipped a beat. They both had heard of how ruthless Zhang Ruochen was. He would probably mean what he said.