Chapter 2372: Direction

Zhang Ruochen had raised his hand but didn’t hit her in the end. Shaking his head, he said, “If the Infernal Court isn’t empty, He swears that he won’t attain Buddhahood? You might have misunderstood what he meant by that.”

“For the so-called Infernal Court to be empty. It’s not to destroy everything in Infernal Court, but instead to overcome all evil in the world.”

On the last page of the Secret Tome of Time and Space is written, “If the Infernal Court isn’t empty, I swear I won’t attain Buddhahood.”.

Zhang Ruochen had read countless books, and there were records of these words which are related to Saint Monk Xumi in them.

It was a great aspiration that Saint Monk Xumi made after listening to the sermon of the Sixth Buddha several Yuanhui periods ago.

At that time, the Infernal Court was not called the Infernal Court. The Infernal Court’s Ten Clans also communicated frequently with the other macroworlds. They were not as opposed to life and death as they were now.

“What? Do you want to make the same aspiration as Saint Monk Xumi? Don’t you ever force yourself to become a monk!” Luo Sha was a little nervous and worried.

Zhang Ruochen said, “I’m selfish and also not that selfless and great.”

“It’s good to have selfish motives. It’s better than not being selfish. People who aren’t selfish are too unreal. They don’t look like people,” Luo Sha said.

Zhang Ruochen asked, “What’s your vision of the future?”

“I. . . I’ve thought about it. Actually, my ambitions aren’t that big. In the future, being the Empress of Devala or the leader of the Rakshasa will be enough,” Luo Sha said seriously.

Zhang Ruochen wanted to grab her and beat her up.

Wasn’t she afraid of being beaten up just because of her pretty looks?

Luo Sha said, “What’s with your expression? I think that with my talent, it’s only a matter of time before I become the Empress of Devala. If my father doesn’t pass the throne to me, will he pass it to my royal brother? At the moment, my brother is still far behind me.”

“Do you dare to say that in front of him?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“What’s there to be afraid of, even he thinks so too.”

Luo Sha snorted and said, “You know why I believe in destiny, but have no desire in joining the Fane of Destiny and become a core Scion? I don’t even care about the position of the Scioness of Destiny.”

Zhang Ruochen said, “You’ve already said this before. Becoming the Scioness of Destiny will require you to sever all feelings and desires for 1,000 years…”

“It’s all a lie. It’s just 1,000 years. For a Supreme Saint, that is not a long time. For a princess like me, who will attain godhood in the future, the time passes with a snap of the finger.” Luo Sha said.

Zhang Ruochen was speechless. He was silent for a long time before asking, “Then how many of your words before were true and how many were false?”

“Why do you care so much about whether what I said was true or false?”

A cunning light flashed in Luo Sha’s eyes and she laughed, “Do you want to know the truth and lies of the destined one for you? Don’t open your mouth yet… since you want to know so much, let me tell you,” she said. “Any of my words may be false. However Zhang Ruochen you are indeed the destined one for me. Those words are true.”

Hmph

Zhang Ruochen did not have a good impression of the Rakshasa. He had always been hostile to them.

The first time he stepped onto the Battlefield of Merits, he saw the Rakshasa roasting human flesh. That left a deep impression of disgust on him.

But he could not hate Luo Sha.

It could be that because she was too beautiful, or perhaps it was because she did not eat the flesh of humanoid creatures, and they both cultivated spiritual power, or maybe it was because Luo Sha had never done anything to hurt him.

It’s because Zhang Ruochen had a good impression of Luo Sha that he was willing to confide with her all his inner feelings like a friend.

Luo Sha saw that Zhang Ruochen was sitting there like a withered stone ignoring her, so she restrained her arrogance a little, saying, “Actually, the biggest reason is that even if I become the Scioness of Destiny for a thousand years, it won’t help me much when I become the Empress of Devala in the future. If that’s the case, why should I waste 1,000 years working for the Fane of Destiny?”

Zhang Ruochen said, “Becoming the Fane of Destiny can bring more benefits to the Rakshasa and Devala. Didn’t your father tell you about the strong relationship between them and urged you?”

“Well…”

Luo Sha rolled her eyes and smiled. “I understand now, so there is where your confusion lies.”

“What do you understand?” Zhang Ruochen looked at her calmly.

Luo Sha said, “You’re conflicted inside. Should you do what you want or what others force you to do? You want to be yourself, but inside you don’t even know what you really want.”

“When you killed Supreme Saint Manjian, you were in pain, weren’t you?”

“If you want to survive in the Infernal Court, but have to do countless things you don’t want to do, you must be in pain, right?”

“You don’t like killing, but you’ve gone further and further on the path of slaughtering. Aren’t you afraid of growing inner demons if you go against your heart?”

“Zhang Ruochen, do you feel that because of responsibilities, feelings, survival, protection… and other external reasons, you haven’t been doing things according to your heart and have become someone you don’t even know?”

“In your heart, there is a lack of perseverance… a perseverance that is worth persevering for.”

Luo Sha’s eyes were exceedingly penetrating. It almost seemed that she could see through Zhang Ruochen and force him into a corner with nowhere to go. He had to face his own heart.

For everyone… the path of cultivation required constant reflection.

It requires you to correct your own mistakes and see clearly in confusion, and also to guide yourself amid difficulties.

Luo Sha said, “My father forced me to be the Scioness of Destiny. My mother taught me countless principles and responsibilities, but I still didn’t follow the path they arranged because I have things I wanted to do and know what I want. Being the Scioness of Destiny will only bind me for a thousand years.”

“Some cultivators can stand on their own after merely reaching the Demi-Saint realm

“Some cultivators have reached the Supreme Saint realm but still don’t know what they want in the future.”

“Do you think my royal brother is okay? The Divine Prince of Devala is one of the most dazzling geniuses of the past thousand years. However, in my opinion, he is a loser. Specifically, a loser who is dragged down by the identity of the Divine Prince!”

“He could have broken through to the Thousand-Koan Realm seventy years ago and continued to advance. However, for the sake of the Celestial-Hunting Battle and Devala, he suppressed his cultivation until now.”

“Is he wrong to do that? There’s no wrong.”

“It’s because of people like him who keep giving. That’s why Devala has always been the leader of the seven great kingdoms of the Rakshasa,” she said. “But he can’t change the fact that he’s a loser. He’ll be bound by his identity all his life. There will be more things to restrict him in the future.”

“Zhang Ruochen you are the same. You didn’t want to participate in the Celestial-Hunting Battle but still came. You could have not come instead.”

Zhang Ruochen replied, “Do I have a choice?”

“Of course, you can choose, but you didn’t. If you, Zhang Ruochen, are a heartless and cold-hearted person, who can control your will? Unfortunately, you are not that kind of person. This is the source of your pain and confusion. The coldness on your face is all an act because the more unscrupulous and ruthless you act, the more you struggle and suffer.”

Luo Sha sighed. “Just like me, I fell in love with you.. a man who doesn’t love me and caused me to become more indecisive than ever. Do you think we’re doomed?”

There was a long silence.

“I understand!”

Zhang Ruochen’s solemn face suddenly relaxed.

Luo Sha said, “It’s good that you understand that I have been encumbered by you.”

Just now, Zhang Ruochen had been thinking and had a direction in mind.

There was a direction, but no answer.

Because the answer was too difficult, he still did not know it without a doubt. In other words, he did not dare to confirm the answer without further confirmation.

Pan Ruo said that he had been walking the path that others wanted him to walk.

Yes!

Zhang Ruochen was indeed confused in the past. From the moment he became the ninth prince of Yunwu Commandery, his heart had been confused. At that time, hatred was all he had.

But hatred was not a person’s future.

The future that Zhang Ruochen wanted was not necessarily to become a deity or a ruler of heaven and earth. He wanted a peaceful and tranquil world where there was no killing, no cannibalism, and no evil… where all his friends and family could live happily without all the bad things around them and live out their years fully, and all of his descendants would continue for generations.

However, this was precisely the hardest part.

His birth that was out of the ordinary meant that the life he imagined was an extravagant hope.

Wanting peace and tranquility was countless times harder than cultivating to achieve divinity.

Perhaps…

This chaotic and cruel universe needed a new order!

That’s right!

A brand new order.

To establish that new order, he had to work hard on his cultivation and become stronger.

This was a path to follow, and it was something that Zhang Ruochen had always longed for in the depths of his heart.

After thinking this through, the pain and struggle in Zhang Ruochen’s heart were reduced by more than half. He felt a sense of relief and joy as if he had just gotten free from a swamp. Despite that, the path he had chosen was as difficult as ascending to heaven.

It was very likely that he would not reach the end even if he worked hard in his lifetime.

However, he was willing to keep going until the day he ushered in a new order.

Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes and immersed himself in the grand vision that he imagined. In his mind, he tried to perfect the perfect picture of the new order bit by bit to get a complete answer.

Whoosh

Gradually, Zhang Ruochen’s body bloomed with an increasingly bright white light, like a saint lamp that was set alight.

Luo Sha exclaimed in surprise. She carefully observed Zhang Ruochen and found that he was currently extremely divine. There was an aura of flawless solemnity and sacred, inviolable dignity.

This scene was like when Zhang Ruochen wielded the Imperial Ruler and charged into the thousands of soldiers of the Infernal Court alone. It left a lasting impression on her heart.

Crack! Crack!

The 12 shackles in her heart broke automatically in an instant.

By now, Zhang Ruochen had broken 50 shackles.

After a long while, Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes. He raised his hand and looked at it.

Then he stood up and looked around his own body.

Then, a warm and sunny smile appeared on his face, and he said, “Thank you, Your Highness. I have benefited for life from your words today.”

Luo Sha didn’t think that she had helped Zhang Ruochen much. However, she was used to Zhang Ruochen’s cold look and he turned so gentle and modest all of a sudden. It made her feel like she had eaten honey, all sweeten up inside. She was also about to give a modest reply.

Zhang Ruochen abruptly changed the topic, “However, there are many flaws in what you said. Forgive me that I can’t agree with you blindly.” He continued. “For example, I don’t think it’s appropriate to comment on the prince. If it weren’t for his and your father’s hard work, you wouldn’t have the right to do as you please. As another example, if you want to be the empress, but don’t want to sacrifice for Devala, why should the people of Devala submit to you?”

“Get lost!” Luo Sha replied.

Zhang Ruochen didn’t continue anymore. He smiled briefly and walked out of the heptangular palace.

The moment he stepped out of the palace, the smile on his face disappeared and turned cold again.

He looked up at the pitch-black void and declared, “Only by becoming stronger can my vision become reality. and the reality I’m facing now is the cruelest.”

Pan Ruo’s figure could not help but appear in Zhang Ruochen’s mind.

She was always like that since the beginning. She always said such harsh words and never wanted to communicate properly. However, she had pointed out the biggest flaw in Zhang Ruochen.

Half of the reason why Zhang Ruochen was able to realize enlightenment today was because of her causing him to have a realization.

Otherwise, he didn’t know when the twelve locks around his heart would break.

“Sooner or later, I will tell you my answer. Now how about your answer? What is your vision and purpose of coming to the Infernal Court?” Zhang Ruochen said to himself.

…

In just three days, the cultivators of the three upper clans had broken through the layers of defense set up by the Celestial Captives. They had traveled millions of miles to reach the sky above the seventh Dark Star.

In the past three days, almost all the Celestial Captives they had killed were useless troops in the Saint King Realm.

However, the three upper clans had suffered heavy losses because of the arrays, runes, and saint technique traps that Celestial Captives had set up in advance.

Two Supreme Saints had fallen, and hundreds of them were injured.

There were more than 700 Supreme Saint Celestial Captives gathered on the seventh Dark Star. They occupied one-third of the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting. They were a huge force that couldn’t be underestimated.

If the three upper clans attacked forcefully, they would suffer heavy losses.

…

In the heptangular palace…

Zhang Ruochen and Luo Sha received the news immediately.

Luo Sha crushed the communication talisman and laughed. “This is interesting! More than 700 Supreme Saints all gathered together. The cultivators of the three upper clans must have been shocked.”

“Without the Altar of Death, the battle for the three upper clans will not be easy,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Luo Sha said, “The three upper clans initially thought that the Celestial Captives would be scattered in this millions of miles of dark space and could be defeated one by one. Now, all the Supreme Saint Celestial Captives are gathered together, they are unable to attack.”

On the Dark Star, spiritual power and cultivation would be severely suppressed. However, that would be an advantage for the Celestial Captives instead.

One side was determined to die and wanted to drag a few people down with them.

The other side cherished their own lives and just have the will to hunt.

Once the war started, even if the three upper clans had an absolute advantage, they would suffer countless losses to vanquish the Celestial Captives on the seventh Dark Star. Thus, the three upper clans didn’t dare to fight.

Luo Sha said, “If the Altar of Death is here, the three upper clans can launch a strong attack. Zhang Ruochen, I’m afraid that the monks of the three upper clans are hating you to death right now!”

Zhang Ruochen shook his head and chuckled.

Without the Altar of Death, Lord Hornless and Pan Ruo couldn’t continue their drama.

What decision would Lord Hornless and Pan Ruo make next?

Zhang Ruochen asked, “Did the message you received only contain information about the Supreme Saint Celestial Captives on the Dark Star? What about the Celestial Captives in the Saint King Realm, Saint Realm, and Demi-Saint Realm?”

“Cultivators below the Supreme Saint Realm will be suppressed till they were like ordinary people on the seventh Dark Star. Once the war starts, they will be cannon fodder,” Luo Sha said.

Zhang Ruochen said, “But there are many Celestial Captives below the Supreme Saint Realm. There are millions of them. One Saint King might be cannon fodder, but what about 10,000 Saint Kings working together? One saint might not be able to exert much power but what about 100,000 of them?”

Luo Sha nodded and said, “You’re right. Celestial Captives below the Supreme Saint Realm are the biggest variable in this battle. But so far, the Rakshasa clan hasn’t found out where they’re hiding yet.”

“Lord Hornless isn’t an ordinary person,” Zhang Ruochen said. “He’s a Supreme Saint in the Banshi Isshou Realm. Since he can hide millions of Celestial Captives, he must have his reasons. We have to be careful.”

Celestial Captives could die as they pleased, but the Supreme Saints of the Rakshasa and the Immortal Vampires were all precious. They were the foundation of the clan’s future.

Luo Sha and Zhang Ruochen naturally had to be careful.

Luo Sha said thoughtfully, “Then let the three upper clans help us first. We’ll take action after they have drawn out Lord Hornless trump card. Zhang Ruochen, why don’t you accompany me to find someone?”

“Who?”

“Yan Guang of the Deathkin, the most powerful necromancer on the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting.”

“Why do we need to find him?”

“To borrow an army from him.”

…