Chapter 2264 - Desire
"Piece of cake?"
The four Hundred-Shackled Realm Supreme Saints — Lord Xia Yu, Supreme Saint Yi Xuan, Gu Chenzi, and Supreme Saint Xueqi — had looks of disbelief on their faces. They felt that Zhang Ruochen was too conceited.
It was normal for them to think that way. How could a mere Neverwilt Realm Supreme Saint understand the difficulties of cultivating the Hundred-Shackled Realm?
If Lord Xia Yu was not at her wit's end, she would not have trusted Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen was so confident because he had the Canon of Truth and the Heart of Truth.
The most basic to cultivate the Path of Truth was to see through the void and find the truth. With the Heart of Truth and the 0.058 percent of Canon of Truth, Zhang Ruochen's ability to explore the shackles in a Supreme Saint could even surpass that of gods.
Zhang Ruochen activated the Precepts of Truth and gathered them in his eyes. He looked at the Supreme Saint Xueqi and said, "Xueqi, you've only broken fourteen shackles, right?"
"Yes."
Supreme Saint Xueqi nodded and replied.
"Sit cross-legged. I'll help you find the fifteenth shackle," Zhang Ruochen said.
Supreme Saint Xueqi did not have high expectations of Zhang Ruochen's ability. However, Zhang Ruochen was the leader. Despite Supreme Saint Xueqi's strength and status, he still had to give him face.
Supreme Saint Xueqi hesitated for a moment and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen walked over and stood behind Supreme Saint Xueqi. He said, "Close your eyes and adjust your mental state. Use the most natural way to circulate the blood-red aura in your body."
The Three Top Elites of Bloodysky Clan looked at each other and retreated.
Supreme Saint Yi Xuan sent a telepathic transmission to Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi. "Zhang Ruochen doesn't seem to be joking. He's very serious. Could he help a Supreme Saint find the shackles in him?"
Lord Xia Yu sent a telepathic transmission. "How is that possible? If there is a way to help a Supreme Saint find the shackles in him, why are there so many Celestial and Infernal Court Supreme Saints still trapped in the Hundred-Shackled Realm and unable to break through in their entire lives?"
At that point, Lord Xia Yu began to regret. She felt that it was foolish to pin her hopes on Zhang Ruochen.
Crash
Zhang Ruochen released the Realm-frame of Truth. Instantly, the entire Palace of Cosmos was covered by starlight spots. It was as if it had evolved into a miniature starfield.
Supreme Saint Xueqi was sitting cross-legged on the ground and he only felt that the world around him was spinning. It was as if he was sitting cross-legged in the center of the universe. There were countless stars above his head, below his body, and in all directions.
"Let go of any distracting thoughts. Feel the shackles in you carefully," Zhang Ruochen said.
The so-called shackles were the various invisible powers that bound the Supreme Saint. They existed in every part of one's body.
Only by finding all of them and breaking them could the power of the Neverwither physique be fully unleashed. One could achieve greater freedom of power, physically, and spiritually.
Zhang Ruochen quietly mobilized the power of the Heart of Truth. He raised his palm and pressed it on the top of Supreme Saint Xueqi's head.
Supreme Saint Xueqi instinctively resisted, and his body swayed slightly.
"If you trust me, then don't resist," Zhang Ruochen said.
It may be a crisis of his own life and death. Supreme Saint Xueqi did not fully place his trust in Zhang Ruochen yet. His eyelids twitched as if he was about to open his eyes and break free.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The cultivators of the Bloodysky Clan attending the festival are dispensable to the entire Immortal Vampires. And your cultivation is dispensable to the Bloodysky Clan. You've only broken fourteen shackles. You're too weak!"
"If you want to be looked up to and become strong as soon as possible, if you want to help the Xue Jue family win honor and glory, you can only choose to trust me."
Supreme Saint Xueqi gritted his teeth and gradually gave up resisting. He handed himself over to Zhang Ruochen completely.
Swoosh
A patch of starlight appeared in Zhang Ruochen's palm, illuminating the top of the Supreme Saint Xueqi's head with incomparable brightness and clarity.
The light continued to extend downwards and finally illuminated Supreme Saint Xueqi entirely.
The Three Top Elites of Bloodysky Clan had no choice but to close their eyes because the light was too bright. They could not look directly at it and could only use their spiritual power to sense it.
However, as soon as they released their spiritual power, it was destroyed by the power that burst out from Zhang Ruochen's body. They could not detect anything.
It lasted for twelve hours.
The Three Top Elites of Bloodysky Clan heard Supreme Saint Xueqi's excited voice. "I found it! I found the fifteenth shackle. I found it. That's great. Zhang Ruochen, how did you do it?"
Zhang Ruochen withdrew the Realm-frame of Truth and the blinding light in the Palace of Cosmos disappeared.
"What's there to be excited about? It took me twelve hours to find the shackle. With your talent, you have the nerve to call yourself the number one person in a thousand years in the Xue Jue Family?"
Zhang Ruochen was exhausted. Beads of sweat covered his forehead.
Supreme Saint Xueqi was too excited. He did not mind being looked down upon by Zhang Ruochen.
He had no choice because he was completely convinced of Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen had defeated the Three Top Elites of Bloodysky Clan and displayed his strength as a superior at the God-ascension Ceremony. Supreme Saint Xueqi could only look up to him. Now, Zhang Ruochen could even help the Hundred-Shackled Realm Supreme Saint of the Bloodysky Clan raise his cultivation. He had the potential to change the situation of the Bloodysky Clan. This was something even gods could not do.
How could they not be convinced?
"I'll call all the Hundred-Shackled Realm Supreme Saints of the Bloodysky Clan over right now. At the Celestial-hunting Festival, we'll be able to shake the world with a single feat." Supreme Saint Xueqi said.
Zhang Ruochen stopped him immediately. "What are you doing? When have I said that I want to help all the Hundred-Shackled Realm Supreme Saints of the Bloodysky Clan improve their cultivation?"
"But if you have such ability, why don't you help?" said Supreme Saint Xueqi.
"If I have the ability and I help everyone, how long will I have to help? When will I have the time to cultivate for myself?"
Zhang Ruochen added, "At the Celestial-hunting Festival, only those at the completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm can play the greatest role. Even if the other Hundred-Shackle Realm Supreme Saints improved a few shackles or dozens of shackles, it would not be of much significance. I'm willing to help you because you're a disciple of the Xue Jue Family. I have the blood of the Xue Jue family in me."
The last bit of displeasure and concern in Supreme Saint Xueqi's heart disappeared after he heard that. He stared at Zhang Ruochen, and the words "That's because you're a disciple of the Xue Jue Family" kept echoing in his mind.
Supreme Saint Xueqi's sense of honor of being a disciple of the Xue Jue family rose to the highest point.
"Zhang Ruochen, I'm completely convinced today! From now on, even if you want to compete for the patriarch of our family, I will support you wholeheartedly," said the Supreme Saint Xueqi.
Zhang Ruochen flipped his palm and took out a Fugue Pill from the cauldron. He waved it at him and said, "Take this Fugue Pill and break the fifteenth shackle as soon as possible."
"Thank you."
Supreme Saint Xueqi took the Fugue Pill and took out twenty Godstones. He handed them to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen took the twenty Godstones and he said with a sigh, "What a loss. My Fugue Pills was sold for more than twenty Godstones. Besides, I spent a lot of effort to find the shackle for you. I think I should take fifty Godstones."
Supreme Saint Xueqi's heart skipped a beat. He was afraid that Zhang Ruochen would ask for too much.
After all, even if Zhang Ruochen asked for fifty Godstones, he would continue to ask for Zhang Ruochen's help.
If the Godstones were gone, he could still earn it.
But if he missed the opportunity to improve his cultivation, who could he go to?
"No, no. Zhang Ruochen, how can you go back to your previous price? Twenty Godstones for a Fugue Pill and you have to promise to help us find a shackle. I don't care. I'll give you 200 Godstones now. You have to give me ten Fugue Pills and help me find ten more shackles."
Supreme Saint Yi Xuan rushed over instantly and forced a bag of Godstones into Zhang Ruochen's hand, afraid that he would not accept it.
Gu Chenzi, who had always been calm, also took out a bag of Godstones and said, "I have 280 Godstones for you. Zhang Ruochen, as a Supreme Saint, you must keep your word. You can not deny it."
Lord Xia Yu stretched out his hands and pushed Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi out. He said, "Zhang Ruochen, you have to help me find the shackle of desire first. Name your conditions. Let alone 50 Godstones, I'll give you 100."
They would not have believed it if they had not seen it with their own eyes that Zhang Ruochen had found a shackle for Supreme Saint Xueqi in just twelve hours.
Their hearts were shaken and they had no more doubts.
Zhang Ruochen knew that they would pay no matter how high the price was.
However, Zhang Ruochen valued the potential and future of the four Hundred-Shackle Supreme Saints more compared to the dozens and hundreds of Godstones.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I'm just saying. What are you nervous about? I care more about the ranking of the Bloodysky Clan at the Celestial-hunting Festival than I do about the Godstones from you. I care more about the honor and dignity of the Bloodysky Clan."
"I've been waiting for you to say that for a long time!" Supreme Saint Yi Xuan said.
Gu Chenzi was still cold-looking. He said, "With your words, I'll listen to you at the Celestial-hunting Festival."
A strange look appeared in Lord Xia Yu's eyes as if she was re-examining Zhang Ruochen. In the past, she had been hostile to Zhang Ruochen. When she fought with him, she had even wanted to kill him.
But now, her impression of him has changed slightly.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes met hers, he said, "Lord Xia Yu, you are right. I also think that I should help you find the Shackle of Desire. The Bloodysky Clan must have a Supreme Saint in completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm to support the situation. We can't let any force look down on us. When the time comes, we'll let the other nine clans of the Immortal Vampires come to us. They won't think that we're dispensable."
"What do you want?" Lord Xia Yu asked.
Zhang Ruochen stretched out two fingers and said, "Twenty Godstones."
Lord Xia Yu's eyes were very beautiful. They were not blood red, but green like jade. Her eyelashes were soft and long. There was a hint of cynicism in her eyes, she said, "I won't fall for your tricks, don't expect me to owe you a favor. I'll give you a hundred Godstones."
As Lord Xia Yu spoke, she threw a bag containing Godstones into Zhang Ruochen's hand.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Shackle of Desire is the hundredth and final shackle. It must be the most difficult one. I'm not sure that I can help you find it. "Give me the divine stone now... What If I can't find it later? I may not return it to you."
"Just do your best. Even if you can't find it, I won't take back the Godstones."
Lord Xia Yu was a straightforward woman. She sat cross-legged and took off the violet-gold phoenix hairpin. Her long hair fell like a waterfall. She said, "Let's begin! Whether we succeed or fail, it's not your fault."
Supreme Saint Xueqi retreated to the edge of the Palace of Cosmos. She swallowed the Fugue Pill and cultivated it with all her might.
Supreme Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi were even more nervous than Lord Xia Yu.
If Zhang Ruochen could even find the most difficult—Shackle of Desire, then would not it mean that the two of them also had a chance to cultivate to the completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm before the Celestial-hunting Festival?
It was unimaginable for a clan to produce three cultivators in completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm.
"Zhang Ruochen must succeed."
Gu Chenzi couldn't help but clench his fists.
Crash
The light from the Realm-frame of Truth filled the Palace of Cosmos once again.
As Zhang Ruochen's palm gently pressed on the top of Lord Xia Yu's head, her graceful and delicate body was illuminated like a shining divine jade. Her black eyebrows slightly furrowed and gradually relaxed.
Lord Xia Yu's talent was undoubtedly much higher than Xueqi's.
However, the process of searching for the shackle was not smooth.
She had broken ninety-nine shackles and only one remained. This one was not in her body, but in her Saint Soul, which was connected to her consciousness.
It was called desire.
Lord Xia Yu's consciousness had billions of shackles, and the Shackle of Desire was hidden in one of them.
After twenty hours, both Zhang Ruochen and Lord Xia Yu were exhausted, but the Shackle of Desire did not appear after a while. Lord Xia Yu's heart was fluctuating. Her emotions were already out of control.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm and said, "Stay true to your heart. Next, you have to investigate the consciousness that you don't want others to know."
"Don't... Don't peek into me... My consciousness."
Lord Xia Yu's resistance in her heart became stronger and stronger.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Everyone has the most painful wound. It's not scary to open it. What's scary is that you don't dare to face it.
"You have hatred in your heart. It's very strong. At the same time, it's your weakest part. You don't want anyone to see this side of you. If you continue to resist, I can't help you.
"Do you want to be stuck in this realm forever?"
Zhang Ruochen's voice was gentle, vast, and long. It kept entering Lord Xia Yu's mind.
"Zhang Ruochen, please let me go. I don't want to continue. I don't want to cultivate until the completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm," said Lord Xia Yu. Her tears flowed out as she pleaded with Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head lightly. As if he was peeling off layers of her clothes, he forced open her hidden consciousness. Finally, he knew her most vulnerable side.
Lord Xia Yu has a tragic past.
When Lord Xia Yu was young, her parents were forcibly sent to the Battlefield of Merits. Both of them died, and only their skeletons were sent back.
After that, her status in the family plummeted. She suffered all kinds of unfair treatment, but she could only silently wipe away her tears. She gritted her teeth and stubbornly cultivated hard.
Later, her only elder brother finally came out of seclusion and took her away from the family to train in the Battlefield of Merits.
Unfortunately, she fell into the trap of the Celestial Court cultivators because she had underestimated the enemy. Her elder brother was pierced through the heart by ten thousand swords and burned to death to save her. In the end, she had no choice but to carry her elder brother's bones and return to Infernal Court.
As her cultivation talent gradually revealed itself, she finally entered the vision of the upper echelons of the clan and was accepted as a disciple by the divine ancestor. Her status in the clan grew higher and higher, and her cultivation base grew stronger and stronger.
However, the divine ancestor, who loved her the most, was soon refined to death in the starry sky by the deity of Celestial Court.
Without the protection of the divine ancestor, Lord Xia Yu's family was in decline. It was constantly being encroached upon by the surrounding forces and was being bullied. Therefore, she yearned to become strong and pretend to be cold and heartless. She wanted all cultivators to be afraid of her and not want to be bullied again.
Zhang Ruochen could see that the part where she did not want to open her mind was the part where her brother died because of her.
This should be her hundredth shackle.
It was also her desire.