Chapter 2443: Troubled Times

Ling thought of something and said meaningfully, “I’ve received news that Zhang Ruochen and the new Scioness of Destiny have become closer than before.”

“How is that possible?” asked Huo Xing.

Cang Baizi looked incredulous and said, “These two fought fiercely on the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting.”

Huo Xing said, “The new Scioness of Destiny still needs the support of the three upper clans. They can’t get along with Zhang Ruochen no matter what. The new Scioness should know what’s important.”

Ling smiled. “Don’t worry about it for now. The new Scioness has just been appointed. Her cultivation is too low. She can’t convince the masses, and she can’t command the Adjudication Division. Even if Zhang Ruochen finds her, he can’t do anything to us without solid evidence.”

Cang Baizi stroked his beard and nodded. “Do you think Zhang Ruochen will really attack the Southern Sword Realm?”

“I think so! Father said that Zhang Ruochen’s ranking on the Divine Ascension Ranking is very low because of his inner demons. If he doesn’t fulfill his promise, he will die if he wants to become a god,” Ling said.

Cang Baizi smiled sinisterly and said, “Why don’t we issue an order to release the Corpse Blight into the Southern Sword Realm and turn it into a realm full of dead spirits? This will drive Zhang Ruochen crazy. It’s interesting just thinking about it.”

Ling raised his arm and shook it. “Killing people can’t just be fun. This is a bad idea! Zhang Ruochen claims that he wants to take the Southern Sword Realm by force. Why not give him what he wants?”

“How can this be?” asked Cang Baizi.

Cang Baizi was stunned. He reacted immediately and smiled sinisterly. “Very good, very good. If Zhang Ruochen dies in the Southern Sword Realm, you can’t blame us.”

CLANG!

CLANG!

…

After receiving Ling’s voice transmission, the guards of the Scioness Palace rushed over and surrounded Phoenix Annex.

The 50 guards were all dressed in blood armor and armed with long spears. They completely surrounded Phoenix Annex. Their armor reflected the night, making it cold and solemn.

The head guard, Ye Fancheng, struck the ground with his spear.

WHOOSH!

Countless Supreme Saint Inscriptions and Array Inscriptions appeared underground, he said sternly, “I received intelligence that someone killed three saint realm attendants of the House of Enchanteurs in Phoenix Annex. Do you want to come out yourself and surrender, or do you want us to go in and do it ourselves?”

The appearance of the guards alarmed many cultivators.

Their spiritual power reached out to Phoenix Annex.

“Who dares to kill in the House of Enchanteurs? And it was a saint realm attendant.”

“The master of the House of Enchanteurs is a very powerful figure. She has a deep relationship with the Death Palace. No matter who the person is, he or she won’t have a good ending if one causes trouble here.”

Creak

The door of Phoenix Annex opened.

Zhang Ruochen walked out with a black dagger in his hand.

The Scourging Dagger was temporarily suppressed by Zhang Ruochen, but it still emitted a terrifying evil power.

The 50 guards only felt their vision darken and all the lights were devoured up. They couldn’t see anything. They could only hear the sounds of curses.

Ye Fancheng’s cultivation was powerful. He could block the evil power of the Scourging Dagger and see Zhang Ruochen’s appearance clearly.

His expression changed slightly. He quickly bowed and said, “Greetings, Supreme Saint Ruochen.”

Zhang Ruochen looked around. Soon, he found Ling, Huo Xing, and Cang Baizi in Geese Annex’s pavilion. He smiled at them.

Then, he looked at Ye Fancheng and said, “I didn’t kill the three attendants. This dagger did. Do you believe it?”

“Of course I believe you, Supreme Saint Ruochen. But can you come with me and explain it to the master?” Ye Fancheng said in neither a servile nor overbearing manner.

“Sorry, I don’t have the time,” said Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen walked straight out.

Ye Fancheng took a step forward and blocked his way. He said, “Since the Supreme Saint said that they were killed by this dagger, can you give it to me? I have to report to the master, right?”

“I can’t give you this dagger. If you want an explanation, you can ask Ling, Cang Baizi, and Huo Xing. I won’t say anything else.”

Zhang Ruochen’s tone was calm, but the aura he exuded made the guards dare not breathe.

The House of Enchanteurs clearly knew that Ling, Cang Baizi, and Huo Xing had entered the Phoenix Annex.

Now that people were dead and they only looked for Zhang Ruochen. What did that mean?

Besides, the top-notch emperor-level killers of the Empyrean Assassins could appear in the House of Enchanteurs, which had a powerful intelligence network. Zhang Ruochen would never believe that this had nothing to do with the House of Enchanteurs.

“Get out of the way,” Zhang Ruochen said.

These words sounded like thunder in Ye Fancheng’s ears. His face instantly turned pale and his body swayed.

Finally, he moved to make way for Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen straightened his clothes and walked over.

Only when Zhang Ruochen was far away from the 50 guards did they feel relieved and let out a long sigh of relief.

One of the guards was quite confused. He said coldly, “Sir, are you going to let him go? Whoever kills someone in the House of Enchanteurs will be punished.”

“Many cultivators are watching. If Zhang Ruochen leaves like this, where will the dignity of the House of Enchanteurs be? How will the House of Enchanteurs stand tall in the Divine Domain of Destiny after this?” another guard said.

Ye Fancheng wished to escort Zhang Ruochen to see the master.

However, the master had sent a message to him personally asking him to let Zhang Ruochen go. Of course, he had to do it. In the end, the House of Enchanteurs was a dark force that could not be seen in the light. They did not dare to show their strength in the Divine Domain of Destiny.

With Zhang Ruochen’s status, if he really made a big fuss, the House of Enchanteurs would be the one to suffer.

In the Geese Annex.

Cang Baizi laughed, “Ling’s move is brilliant. Zhang Ruochen was so arrogant. The House of Enchanteurs couldn’t do anything to him, but he had also offended the House of Enchanteurs. Offending the House of Enchanteurs meant offending the Death Palace.

“Zhang Ruochen had no choice. If he compromised with the House of Enchanteurs, the reputation of the Yuanhui-level genius would be ruined. Not only would he lose face, but also the faces of Wargod Bloodximius and Fukurokuju. Rather than losing his face, it’s better to let the House of Enchanteurs lose face,” said Huo Xing.

Ling looked at Zhang Ruochen, who was leaving, and said, “It’s fun to fight with Yuanhui level genius.”

…

Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Phoenix Annex and thought about whether there was a way to get rid of Ling, Cang Baizi, and Huo Xing with the help of the Empyrean Assassins.

However, Zhang Ruochen finally found out that Ling was too cautious and almost wiped out all the evidence.

Zhang Ruochen couldn’t defeat them with just a Scourging Dagger.

Zhang Ruochen let out a long breath. He saw a burly 60-year-old man standing in front of him.

The 60-year-old man stood by the water and nodded at him with a smile. He said telepathically, “Yan Hanyi greets the Prince Consort.”

Zhang Ruochen had seen Yan Hanyi before. He had followed Luo Shengtian to the House of Enchanteurs.

“A cultivator from the Yanluo Clan?”

Yan Hanyi nodded, he said, “You don’t have to be so strange, Prince Consort. The Yanluo clan is very big, and there are countless cultivators. Not all of them are loyal to the Yanluo clan. I’m one of the teachers of the Divine Prince and the Princess. I’m in charge of teaching techniques and passing on the Path of Flowing Light.”

It was not easy to be the teacher of Luo Shengtian and Luo Sha.

Zhang Ruochen said, “Senior, don’t call me Prince Consort. I’m not going to be your princess’s consort. She will be my consort.”

“It’s all the same, it’s all the same,” said Yan Hanyi.

Yan Hanyi seemed to be an easy person to talk to. At least when he faced Zhang Ruochen, he always had a smile on his face. He said, “The Divine Prince wants to see you.”

It was not strange that Luo Shengtian knew about the commotion caused by Phoenix Annex just now.

Zhang Ruochen did not need to guess why Luo Shengtian was looking for him. That Divine Prince had always been unhappy with him. Now that he had finally found something, how could he let him go so easily?

Zhang Ruochen could not refuse him outright. He said, “I have something urgent to do. Why don’t you tell me where your Royal Brother is staying first? I’ll go see him after I’m done.”

“I see…” said Yan Hanyi.

Yan Hanyi looked troubled. Finally, he knew that he could not force Zhang Ruochen. He agreed and said, “Okay! His Royal Highness is staying at the Poinsettia Mansion.”

“Poinsettia,” said Zhang Ruochen.

A strange light flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.

Poinsettia was a flower. Did Luo Shengtian adore flowers?

He did not realize that the Divine Prince had such a wild heart under his serious appearance.

“Prince Consort, please excuse me,” said Yan Hanyi.

Yan Hanyi’s figure disappeared in an instant.

Zhang Ruochen was surprised. Yan Hanyi was too fast. He seemed to be faster than the Great Dimensional Shift. After all, the Great Dimensional Shift had a process of mobilizing Saint Qi.

“Is this the top speed in the saint realm? Even if it’s Que, it’s still not as fast as him.”

Zhang Ruochen had been very confident that he could escape from any saint realm cultivator.

However, could he really escape from existence like Yan Hanyi?

Yan Hanyi left silently and Guye Jing appeared silently.

She stood in the shadow of a broad-leaved silver maple tree by the water. Like a ghost in the night, she said, “You’re weaker than I thought. I’ve already warned you, but you still fell into Ling’s trap.”

Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, “Is that so? Didn’t I escape unscathed?”

“Your goal is to escape unscathed? Do you know that you have just offended the House of Enchanteurs and made the master lose face?” asked Guye Jing.

“Yes, of course I know,” said Zhang Ruochen.

“The master of the House of Enchanteurs is a woman. A very powerful woman,” said Guye Jing.

“Yes,” said Zhang Ruochen.

“Do you know that women are usually narrow-minded? Powerful women are even more narrow-minded. If you make her lose face, she’ll dare to make you lose your life,” said Guye Jing.

Zhang Ruochen didn’t care at all. He asked, “You’re also a powerful woman. Are you also narrow-minded?”

Guye Jing’s eyes were as cold as ice. She said, “You’re very lucky. Something big happened in the House of Enchanteurs recently. The master probably doesn’t have time to care about you.”

“What big thing?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“This isn’t a place to talk. Follow me,” said Guye Jing.

Guye Jing’s body dissipated and turned into wisps of scarlet Qi that wrapped around Zhang Ruochen’s body.

Zhang Ruochen watched while he was on guard.

Gradually, his vision was completely covered by the scarlet Qi. He couldn’t see anything else.

‘What is she doing?’ Zhang Ruochen wondered.

Zhang Ruochen felt uneasy. He condensed the Divine Purification Flame between his fingers and was about to break the red clouds.

Suddenly, the red clouds dispersed.

Zhang Ruochen found himself in an antique room. The walls were covered with calligraphy and famous paintings. A fan-shaped screen was located in the northeast corner.

Guye Jing stood by the window and looked at the scenery outside.

Zhang Ruochen said, “What did you do just now? How did you get here? I clearly sensed that there was no spatial fluctuation.”

“If you lend me the Demonstone Engraving to study, I will tell you the secret,” Guye Jing said.

Zhang Ruochen walked to the table and sat down. He said, “Why don’t you tell me what happened in the House of Enchanteurs first?”

Guye Jing was very direct. She said, “About a month ago, Tan Fei, an Asuran Supreme Saint, won five superior-grade divine crystals in the casino of the House of Enchanteurs on Hoth.

“Ordinary divine crystals can be exchanged for ten Godstones.

“But superior-grade divine crystals can be exchanged for 1,000 Godstones.

“At that time, someone recognized that five divine crystals were superior-grade Divine Crystals of Origin.”

Zhang Ruochen couldn’t maintain his relaxed state, he said seriously, “How is this possible? Since the disappearance of the Fane of Origin, no cultivator could become a god by cultivating the Path of Origin. Even if other gods who cultivate the Path of Origin could condense Divine Crystal of Origin, they couldn’t do so.”

Guye Jing said, “That’s why this matter has caused a huge sensation. Some people have guessed that the Fane of Origin has come into being.”

“Would the gods of Celestial Court and Infernal Court be alarmed by such a big matter?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

Zhang Ruochen could imagine that the gods would definitely attack the birth of an ancient fane. There might even be a large-scale battle of deities.

Guye Jing said, “That’s right. If the Celestial Court discovers that the Fane of Origin has appeared, a massive battle of deities is unavoidable. However, there is still no evidence to prove that the Fane of Origin has been born. Moreover, the news about the superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin has been tightly sealed. Those who should be silenced are all dead!”

Zhang Ruochen chuckled. “The news has been sent to you. I don’t believe that it can be sealed.”

“In the entire Infernal Court, no more than 20 forces know about this. They know about it because the cultivators of these forces immediately sent a message to the gods when the superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin was born,” Guye Jing said.

Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is the Rāhu Mountains one of them?”

“In the Rāhu Mountains, I’m the only one below divinity who knows about it,” Guye Jing said.

Zhang Ruochen asked, “Then why did you tell me the news so easily?”

“Because I need your help to find the Fane of Origin.”

Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Guye Jing continued, “Five superior-grade Divine Crystals of Origin are the key to finding the Fane of Origin.”

Zhang Ruochen asked, “Can you deduce the location of the Fane of Origin through five superior-grade Divine Crystals of Origin?”

Guye Jing nodded and shook her head again. She said, “You can’t deduce the location of the Fane of Origin with only superior-grade Divine Crystal of Origin. You also need the blood of a Master of Origin as a primer.

“Do you know why the gods think that the Fane of Origin has been born? It’s because, in the past ten thousand years, nine Masters of Origin have appeared in the Celestial Court and Infernal Court.

“In the past, there weren’t so many Masters of Origin in a Yuanhui period. Also, there should be some cultivators who didn’t reveal their identity as Masters of Origin.

“Some gods speculate that the Fane of Origin is choosing its future master.”

Zhang Ruochen shrugged and said, “I can’t help with such a big matter.”

“You may not be able to help, but you know who the Master of Origin is,” said Guye Jing.

Zhang Ruochen said, “I do know him, but I’ve already killed him!”

“I’m not talking about Yan Wushen,” said Guye Jing as she turned around and stared at Zhang Ruochen with eyes sharper than knives.

Zhang Ruochen knew who Guye Jing was talking about. After a moment of silence, he said, “I have two questions.”

“What is it?” asked Guye Jing.

“First, more than a dozen forces know about this. But there are only five superior-grade Divine Crystals of Origin. How do you divide them?” asked Zhang Ruochen.

Guye Jing said, “Tonight, all the forces gathered at the House of Enchanteurs to fight for the ownership of these five superior-grade Divine Crystals of Origin.”

“The second question is that this involves an ancient fane. Even if it’s still a guess, I think the gods should come out personally. Why are you saints here?” asked Zhang Ruochen as he found it funny.

Guye Jing said, “I’ve already said that once the gods of the Celestial Court receive the news, a large-scale divine war will be inevitable. Recently, it has been an extraordinary period. The gods of the Celestial Court and the Infernal Court Court have been monitoring each other’s movements. Once the gods of the Infernal Court make any unusual movements, they will definitely be noticed by the gods of the Celestial Court.”

“What extraordinary period?” Zhang Ruochen asked curiously.

Guye Jing said, “You don’t know the news that the Jadeite Realm is about to open?”

Zhang Ruochen shook his head, indicating that he did not know.