thefictionvixens Chapter 127 Ziqian, Ale, Emperor 1
Chapter 127 Ziqian, Ale, Emperor 1
The Underworld Gate, as the most renowned assassin force in the entire Tianmo Ridge region, belongs to the vast system of the Eastern Region Black Market. It has been rooted in Tianmo Ridge for over a hundred years, killing all over the place and having a fearsome reputation.
The leader of the Underworld Gate is a genuine half-saint. In this barren borderland of Tianmo Ridge, where martial arts are scarce, half-saints are already the pinnacle of combat power. This is why the Underworld Gate can secretly take on countless killing missions without anyone daring to provoke them, making it one of the most formidable underground powers in Tianmo Ridge.
However, the borderlands are still the borderlands. Without true powerhouses or saints to oversee them, they can only be considered a second-rate, insignificant force in the orthodox martial arts world of Kunlun.
On this day, an old man with a disheveled appearance, unkempt hair, and tattered clothes walked out from outside the gate of the Underworld Gate.
The old man appeared disheveled and travel-worn, resembling a beggar, with a casual and unhurried gait. Yet, his eyes held a hidden sharpness, and deep within them lay a profound and indifferent gaze that had witnessed the vicissitudes of life.
He glanced up at the imposing yet vulgar gates of the underworld, a faint smile playing on his lips, and murmured to himself, "Is this the place?"
"Without a single saint, it can't even be considered a fourth-rate force."
"How interesting. How could such a desolate and backward place give birth to such a peerless genius that even my junior brother values so highly and entrusted to him? I must see for myself."
The newcomer was none other than Feng Zuisheng, the third disciple of Ling Kun, the previous leader of the Moon Worshiping Demonic Sect.
He lived a carefree and unrestrained life, finding solace in nature and enjoying life to the fullest, rarely being commanded or ordered around by others. This time, his long journey to the barren borderlands was all at the request of his junior brother, Ling Xiu.
Since receiving Ling Che's blessing, Ling Xiu's cultivation has advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the pinnacle of the world. Back then, the previous Demon Emperor Ling Kun died in battle at Tonglu Plain, leaving the Demon Sect leaderless. The eldest disciple, Shi Qianjue, attempted to seize the position of sect leader, but was crushed by Ling Xiu in three moves. He fled the Demon Sect's territory in panic and sought refuge in the central imperial city, relying on Empress Chi Yao to survive the rest of his life.
After centuries of secluded cultivation, Ling Xiu's foundation is now unfathomable, and he stands at the pinnacle of worldly martial arts. In the vast Kunlun Realm, apart from Empress Chi Yao who has unified the world, almost no one dares to claim that they are guaranteed to defeat him.
Ling Xiu was always arrogant and aloof, with a vision that surpassed his peers. Ordinary geniuses were simply not worthy of his attention. The fact that such a prominent figure praised them as unparalleled geniuses and specially sent someone to find and take them as disciples was enough to demonstrate the extraordinary nature of those two young men.
Feng Zuisheng's curiosity was piqued. This time, upon arriving at the Gate of the Underworld, he made no delays or feigned tests. With his extraordinary cultivation and transcendent mind, he disdained the pointless act of pretending to be weak while actually being strong. He went straight into the main mountain of the Gate of the Underworld and found the semi-saint sect leader who was in charge of the sect.
After a seemingly peaceful conversation, the Half-Saint Sect Master was convinced and respectfully invited Feng Zuisheng to join the sect, honoring him as the Supreme Elder of the Underworld Sect.
Upon entering the gates of the underworld, Feng Zuisheng's first act was to seek out the genius "Zi Qian" whom Ling Xiu had specifically requested.
Upon first meeting Zi Qian, Feng Zuisheng frowned slightly, a hint of surprise and disappointment flashing in his eyes.
The girl before him possessed a refined and elegant appearance, a slender figure, and a lively spirit; her looks were indeed outstanding, deserving of the title of a stunning beauty. However, judging from her natural endowments, they were only average, far from being breathtakingly beautiful.
Without the blessing of a special opportunity, this woman's martial arts limit in this life will at most stop at the Saint Realm, and she may even never be able to open the door to the Saint Realm in her lifetime.
"Is this the peerless genius my junior brother spoke of?"
Feng Zuisheng was secretly puzzled and completely baffled.
Ling Xiu's judgment had never been wrong. Since his junior brother had specifically entrusted him with this task, there must be a deeper meaning behind it. Feng Zuisheng suppressed his doubts and, taking his junior brother's words into consideration, still accepted Zi Qian as his disciple and passed on a profound and exquisite demonic cultivation method. However, he did not deliberately help her improve her cultivation aptitude, nor did he provide her with cultivation resources.
He wanted to let her grow naturally, observe her development, and see what kind of unknown, extraordinary potential this seemingly ordinary girl possessed, and whether she could bring him any surprises.
Next, Feng Zuisheng set out to find the second boy, "Ah Le".
When they finally found Ah Le's trail, even Feng Zuisheng, who was calm and had seen all kinds of things in the world, was almost so angry that he didn't know whether to laugh or cry.
Despite possessing first-rate swordsmanship talent, he now humbly kneels, attempting to serve as a servant to a small family in the remote borderlands.
What drove Feng Zuisheng even more crazy and disgusted him was that Ah Le's obsession with love was entirely focused on romance. He was actually a lovestruck fool, a pure-hearted warrior, using his talent to win over a young lady from a small family.
Feng Zuisheng, who had lived a carefree and romantic life, couldn't stand people who would humble themselves and bow down for love, and he shook his head inwardly.
Even if such a weak-willed disciple has some talent in swordsmanship, taking him under my wing would likely ruin my reputation for a carefree life. However, I cannot disobey my junior brother's request.
After much deliberation, Feng Zuisheng concealed his extraordinary cultivation, still disguised as a disheveled beggar and reclusive master. He remained in the shadows, secretly instructing and guiding Ale for several days, correcting his swordsmanship foundation, leaving behind a set of top-level swordsmanship techniques, before quietly departing.
He doesn't directly accept apprentices, but only offers them opportunities without providing protection, intending to temper their character and patiently wait for Ah Le to break free of his predicament and rise from the ashes.
However, Feng Zuisheng's secret intervention caused Zhang Ruochen great harm, indirectly leading to a life-or-death battle for him.
Previously, A-Le's cultivation foundation was shallow, his techniques were rudimentary, and his martial arts skills were mediocre, making him far inferior to Zhang Ruochen, who had gained the experience of rebirth.
After being carefully nurtured by Feng Zuisheng and taught swordsmanship, Ale underwent a complete transformation and his combat power skyrocketed.
When he faced off against Zhang Ruochen, the two were evenly matched and fought fiercely, their battles were brutal and they fought to the death.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen's stronger will, more refined fighting skills, and deeper foundation led him to a narrow victory after a bloody battle. He even saved A-Le without holding a grudge.
It was this defeat, this life-or-death redemption, that completely shattered Ah Le's obsession with love and affection. His Dao heart collapsed and was rebuilt, breaking down and then rising again, washing away all the superficiality, shedding his humility and cowardice, and giving birth to an unparalleled sword heart.
Feng Zuisheng, who had been watching the entire battle from the shadows, finally nodded in satisfaction upon seeing this scene.
Seeing that Ah Le had completely transformed and his Dao heart was stable, he finally revealed himself, took Ah Le into his sect, and brought him into the Underworld Gate for intensive training and special cultivation, intending to hone him into an unparalleled sword that would shake Kunlun.
During this battle, Feng Zuisheng also noticed Zhang Ruochen, the ninth prince of Yunwu County.
However, Zhang Ruochen was merely a prince from a low-ranking border prefecture, and originally he wouldn't have even caught his eye. If Zhang Ruochen hadn't defeated A Le, guiding him through a transformation and revealing his remarkable talent and temperament, he wouldn't have given him a second glance.
But somehow, upon hearing the name Zhang Ruochen, he felt a strange sense of familiarity, as if he had heard it before in some period of time, yet he couldn't quite recall it.
Ultimately, out of consideration for Ah Le's kindness, Feng Zuisheng gifted Zhang Ruochen a jar of holy wine as a reward for honing his disciple and achieving success in this battle, as well as a small encouragement to this young man from the borderlands.
High in the clouds, amidst the hidden gaps in the void, the Tribulation Venerable stood with his hands behind his back, taking in the entire scene before him, shaking his head and smiling bitterly in resignation.
"This kid, with such a low cultivation level, has actually attracted the attention of a Great Sage at the Thousand Questions Realm!"
Just now, Zhang Ruochen fought a fierce battle with A Le, using all his strength and revealing all his fundamental abilities.
If he hadn't covered for Zhang Ruochen throughout, Feng Zuisheng, with his Great Sage perspective, would have surely seen through all of Zhang Ruochen's secrets.
The Venerable Jie secretly thought to himself that if Zhang Ruochen exposed himself too early and disrupted the game, and couldn't even handle this small matter, he would probably never be able to get the divine pill from Zhenyu again.
Zhang Ruochen, who received the sacred wine from Feng Zuisheng, treasured it like a precious gem. He used the wine's medicinal power to cleanse his marrow and meridians, nourish his origin, and break through his shackles, resulting in rapid advancement and continuous improvement in his cultivation.
After joining the Martial City Academy, he was like a dragon returning to the sea and a phoenix soaring into the sky. In a short period of time, he dominated his peers and crushed all the geniuses. He broke through to the Heavenly Realm and defeated his elder brother Zhang Tiangui. He was crowned the number one genius of Tianmo Ridge and became famous throughout the thirty-six kingdoms of Tianmo Ridge.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was rising in the borderlands and stirring up the winds and clouds of Tianmo Ridge, a shocking secret suddenly swept through the entire Eastern Region!
The legacy of the golden dragon, the former master of the Ten Thousand Buddhas Path and the Buddha Emperor's mount, is hidden in the Heavenly Demon Ridge in the desolate eastern border region.
The Golden Dragon is a top-tier beast king in the Great Saint Realm. Back then, when Empress Chi Yao entered the Path of Ten Thousand Buddhas and killed Buddha Emperor Chao Xi, the Golden Dragon took advantage of the chaos to swallow the Buddha Emperor's relic and then fled to the Eastern Region. Many forces in the Eastern Region had been paying attention to this for a long time, but they did not expect that the Golden Dragon would actually run to the Heavenly Demon Ridge.
The Buddha Emperor's Relics and the Golden Dragon's Legacy—either one would be enough to tempt even a Great Saint Realm expert.
The news caused an uproar throughout the Eastern Region. Top powers were restless and eager to act, and countless geniuses, experts, and veterans gathered their forces and headed to Heavenly Demon Ridge to seize the remnants of the Golden Dragon.
The Black Market First-Class Hall is one of the most powerful forces that moves the fastest among them.
Upon learning the exact whereabouts of the Golden Dragon's inheritance, Di Yi, the young master of the Black Market's First-Class Hall, immediately gathered his elite forces and marched in a grand procession to the Heavenly Demon Ridge, eager to seize this supreme opportunity that could defy fate.
Di Yi has a distinguished background, coming from the Di family, a third-class aristocratic family in the Eastern Region. His family is full of Saint Realm experts and has a strong foundation.
He was born with a top-tier holy physique, possessing unparalleled talent among his peers. From a young age, he was the pride of heaven, admired by all. Before meeting Zhang Ruochen, he firmly held the top spot on the Eastern Region's Hidden Dragon Ranking. He defeated Bu Qianfan, the Eastern Region's military prodigy, with just three sword strikes. He was recognized as the number one among his peers in the Eastern Region, possessing unparalleled elegance and surpassing all others.
After receiving Zhenyu's secret blessing, Di Yi began cultivating both the Daoist and Demonic traditions. With the dual cultivation progressing and the accumulation of foundations, his cultivation level skyrocketed, and he has already reached the perfection of the Heavenly Realm. He is only one step away from touching the Supreme Realm.
Ambitious and determined, he was convinced that as long as he obtained the Buddha Emperor's Relic and the Golden Dragon's inheritance, he would surpass all the contemporary geniuses of Kunlun within a hundred years, reach the top of the Hero's Ode, and become the true number one genius of the Kunlun world!
Therefore, he personally led many of the top talents from the Black Market First Class Hall to Tianmo Ridge, wanting to take the lead. The talents from other forces also heard the news and rushed to Tianmo Ridge.
Thus, the small Tianmo Ridge instantly became the center of the vortex in the Eastern Region.
In the central imperial city of the Central Region, in the Empress's palace, all directions converged, and auspicious clouds streamed forth.
At this moment, the stunningly beautiful Empress Chi Yao, dressed in imperial robes, sat on the throne. Looking at the figure that had quietly appeared in the hall and stood in the void, she immediately stood up, bowed, and knelt down, showing the utmost respect: "Greetings, Ancestor Zhenyu."
Zhenyu stood in the void of the main hall, his gaze gentle, looking down at the empress who had single-handedly supported the prosperity of Kunlun. He spoke slowly, his voice resounding throughout the hall: "Chi Yao, you have not disappointed us. Eight hundred years of trials and tribulations have not broken your back, and your obsession has not extinguished your Dao heart."
"With your current foundation, combat strength, and Dao base, there are few who can rival you in the vast universe."
"Zhang Ruochen will soon step into the Eastern Region and ascend to a larger stage. You should also face your true self and confront that long-buried past. You have endured countless hardships and shackles. Now, you have the ability to support your own destiny and control your future."
Upon hearing this, Chi Yao's slender body trembled slightly, and her usually unwavering eyes instantly reddened, filled with endless grievances, guilt, and unease.
For eight hundred years, she wielded her sword alone, bearing infamy, slaughtering sects, and staining her hands with blood. She abandoned love, reputation, and even herself.
The world condemns her as cold-blooded, ruthless, and bloodthirsty, but only she knows the loneliness and hardship she has endured along the way.
She looked up at Zhenyu, her voice trembling slightly: "Master, after Brother Chen regains his memories and learns all the truths of the past... will he really forgive me? My hands are stained with blood, and I have done countless wrong things to hurt him. I'm afraid he won't be able to accept it, I'm afraid..."
Zhenyu chuckled inwardly, but inwardly he was filled with resentment.
Given Zhang Ruochen's temperament, he has always been most susceptible to sweet words and unable to resist devoted women. Now, having been reborn and awakened in a short time, he has already attracted several romantic relationships and incurred several emotional debts. How could he possibly truly resent a peerless woman like Chi Yao, who bore the infamy for him and remained chaste for eight hundred years?
Although he was filled with a thousand jokes in his heart, Zhenyu remained solemn and gentle on the surface, comforting him, "You must believe in the person chosen by the Holy Monk Sumeru, and even more so in the person you have protected for eight hundred years."
"Ruochen has a steadfast heart and a clear mind; I believe he can shoulder all of this. You must stay true to yourself, and the outcome will not let you down."
Changing the subject, Zhenyu's eyes deepened, and he smiled faintly, "Your Blood-Dripping Sword has been sealed away for a long time, and it's time to sharpen it again. Mingyu, Lingxiu, Sichan, Kong Lanyou, and all your peers are waiting to fight you and wash away your past defeats."
Upon hearing this, Chi Yao's beautiful face remained calm and composed, her eyes revealing unparalleled confidence and unyielding pride.
Now, her cultivation is boundless, her foundation unparalleled, and she is invincible among her peers. Even though Sikong Mingyu, Ling Xiu, and others are all top-tier experts in the Great Saint Realm, in her eyes they are still just defeated opponents.
She spoke calmly, her tone both composed and authoritative: "Since they insist on experiencing defeat once again, then this disciple will obey the patriarch's command and give them a chance to be defeated."
Ten thousand years ago, the Thousand Bones Empress of the Kunlun Realm could kill gods and defy deities across borders with her Saint Realm cultivation.
She can do it just the same way today!
Zhenyu nodded slightly, setting the tone: "Let's set it after Zhang Ruochen enters the Eastern Region Holy Academy."
"If he wants to break through to the Supreme Realm of Heaven, he must enter the Void Realm to train and accumulate battle merits. At that time, his hidden strength and heaven-defying talent will no longer be able to be hidden."
"The Fish-Dragon Realm is a crucial test for him. A dragon lies dormant in the abyss, destined to leap over the Dragon Gate. Let's see if Zhang Ruochen, this true dragon of a chaotic world, can stir up even greater storms after stepping into a larger realm."
His gaze pierced through the endless spatial barriers, traversed thousands of miles of mountains and rivers, and looked towards the Tianmo Ridge, a land where war was gradually breaking out and geniuses were vying for supremacy. Zhenyu's eyes were far-reaching, and he had already made most of the moves in the game in his mind, with the changing situation under his control.
Meanwhile, in the starry sky outside the Kunlun Realm, the battle that had raged for hundreds of years was still in full swing. As the divine power of the Venerable Monk Sumeru continued to dissipate, the battlefield of the gods that had been sealed by him 100,000 years ago began to unseal. As the legacies of the gods who died in battle flowed out, all kinds of treasures emerged. The gods of Heaven and Hell fought each other continuously for this reason, and a large number of forces rushed to the Kunlun Realm. Even the Boundless Divine Sea became quiet.