Chapter 2269 - The Late Invitation

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

Zhang Ruochen was standing in the Divine Realm. There were meandering rivers of blood flowing under his feet, and thousands of blood-red stars twinkled above his head. The space was vast and with no end in sight.\nHe was bearing two enormous divine auras, but his stout figure and temperament were outstanding.\n“My lord, I want to be the only Immortal Vampire cultivator who wields a Supreme Artifact,” Zhang Ruochen said.\nWargod Bloodximius was still playing chess with Bloodlucius. He said without looking at him, “Do you think you can do it?”\n“Yes.”\nZhang Ruochen said firmly.\nWargod Bloodximius said, “The Qitian Clan ranks first in overall strength among the top ten clans. Lord Bladehell ranks first among all cultivators in terms of cultivation. If that’s the case, why didn’t the gods of the Immortal Vampires choose him? Why did they choose you?\n“The Yellowsky Clan ranks in the top three in terms of overall strength among the top ten clans. Lady Wind’s cultivation might not be weaker than the Lord Bladehell and she is also a goddess’s candidate. She holds the Supreme Artifact and can fight for the benefits of the lower three clans. Why didn’t the gods choose her but you?”\nZhang Ruochen answered calmly, he said, “The overall strength of the Qitian Clan might not be number one in this Celestial-Hunting Festival. Lord Bladehell’s strength might not be able to defeat me. If Lady Wind wants to become a goddess, then I can help her.”\nWargod Bloodximius finally looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, “Do you think you can defeat Lord Bladehell?”\nHis eyes were like ancient stars. They were bright and contained endless mysteries. His eyes seemed calm, but they seemed to be able to penetrate Zhang Ruochen’s soul and see through all his secrets.\nZhang Ruochen was calm in the face of Wargod Bloodximius who had shocked the Celestial Court and Infernal Court. He didn’t panic at all.\nZhang Ruochen raised his arms slowly and his hands formed a palm print.\nThree Dragon Souls and three elephant souls appeared on his left and right sides the moment he raised his arms. The dragon souls were thousands of miles long. The elephant souls were sitting and lying like divine mountains. They all exuded the aura of the Thousand-Koan Realm.\nAt the same time, the blood river under Zhang Ruochen’s feet stopped flowing. Blood trees, blood vines, and blood flowers grew out of the river.\nBloodlucius sensed something. He had an idea and let out a soft exclamation.\nOwooooo\nZhang Ruochen struck out with his palm. The three dragons and three elephants immediately jumped up. They either stretched out their claws or stepped with the elephant’s legs. They combined with his palm print and struck toward Wargod Bloodximius and Bloodlucius who were playing chess.\nZhang Ruochen was not a god, but he dared to attack gods. It required world-shaking courage.\nOne needed a god-defying heart.\nUnfortunately, before such a shocking palm could reach the two gods, it was shattered by their invisible divine power and disappeared.\nZhang Ruochen wasn’t discouraged. His strike was meant to show the two gods his determination and his current strength.\nWargod Bloodximius was satisfied. He said, “Since you have such strength, I have enough confidence to persuade the gods of Immortal Vampires to let you replace Lord Bladehell and Lady Wind. Go!”\nZhang Ruochen cupped his hands and bowed slightly, leaving the divine realm.\nBloodlucius let out a long sigh, he said, “He has integrated Wood of the five elements and has taken the form of the second-grade saintwill. He is just a little bit away from a true second-grade saintwill. To be able to fuse the saintwill to such a high level without cultivating the Path he mainly cultivates is truly a freak.”\nWargod Bloodximius said, “Actually, it can already be considered a second-grade saintwill. However, his saintwill is not perfect enough to maintain a balanced state, so it is just a little bit away.”\n“Is there no way to solve it?” Bloodlucius asked.\n“Yes.”\nWargod Bloodximius said, “If you combine Palm, Fist, and Path of five elements, you will be able to perfect it, and it will be a perfect match for heaven and earth.”\nBloodlucius shook his head slightly. He did not think that Zhang Ruochen’s path would succeed.\n“He has already combined four kinds of saintwill. If he can combine the Swordsmanship at this time, he will be able to cultivate a top second-grade saintwill. Although this path is difficult, there is a chance of success. Why didn’t you tell him to give it a try?” Bloodlucius asked.\nWargod Bloodximius’s eyes turned solemn, “During his seclusion, he did not comprehend the Swordsmanship, nor did he cultivate the Path of Dimension and the Path of Time. He only comprehended the five elements of Canon marks. He’s determined to walk a path of desperation. In that case, why not let him try?”\nBloodlucius didn’t say anything more about this matter. After all, Zhang Ruochen wasn’t his grandson.\n“If Zhang Ruochen wants to control the Supreme Artifact, he’ll be opposed by the entire Immortal Vampires and the Fane of Immortality. Are you going to convince those old fogies?”Bloodlucius said.\n“I’m not going to convince them. I’m going to force them to submit with my strength. This time, the Bloodysky Clan has three completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm and a peerless Supreme Saint who has cultivated the second-grade saintwill. Even if they don’t want to submit, they have to.”\nThe eyes of the Wargod Bloodximius were sharp. He landed heavily.\nVastsea Manor.\nZhang Ruochen sat with Lord Xia Yu, Gu Chenzi, Grand Supreme Saint Yi Xuan, and Supreme Saint Xueqi. They were discussing the arrangements for the Celestial-Hunting Festival.\nMoyin walked over slowly and handed an invitation card to Zhang Ruochen.\nZhang Ruochen and Lord Xia Yu had received many invitation cards and greeting cards ever since the news of Lord Xia Yu defeating Shen Nansheng spread. After all, Lord Xia Yu had broken through to the completion of the Hundred-Shackle Realm in the Vastsea Manor.\nThe Vastsea Manor was already a legend.\nLord Xia Yu had broken through here. Princess Luo Sha was in seclusion here. Fairy Shadowless of Celestial Court lived here. Each of them was stunning and was the subject of discussion by countless cultivators. They gathered together, making it difficult for the Vastsea Manor not to become famous.\nAfter Zhang Ruochen read the card, he said, “It’s Lady Wind’s invitation. She invited me and Lord Xia Yu to attend tonight’s banquet hosted by the Yellowsky Clan.”\n“No. Even if they come to beg, we won’t go.”\nSupreme Saint Yi Xuan was still angry. He was still brooding over the banquet hosted by the ten clans last time.\nSupreme Saint Xueqi snorted and said, “With our current strength, we don’t need to join hands with the nine clans to be able to take control at the Celestial-Hunting Festival.”\nZhang Ruochen stared at Gu Chenzi and asked, “What do you think?”\nGu Chenzi was the calmest among the crowd.\nGu Chenzi said, “The Celestial-Hunting Festival is imminent. Lady Wind must be planning the final strategy for the banquet by inviting the important figures of the ten clans to attend. At the same time, we should decide who will be in charge of the Supreme Artifact.\n“I have a different view on this. I think the Bloodysky Clan should join hands with the other nine clans. This is a battle between clans. It’s too weak to rely on our strength alone. The Celestial-Hunting Festival is important. We can’t let our emotions get the best of us.”\nZhang Ruochen said, “I agree with Gu Chenzi. The representatives of the Bloodysky Clan must go to tonight’s banquet. They must be strong enough to intimidate them and we must get our face back. I’ll leave this to Lord Xia Yu. Supreme Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi will continue to hide their strength. You two are the two trump cards of the Bloodysky Clan.”\n“What do you mean, you’re not going?” said Lord Xia Yu.\nA strange look appeared in Lord Xia Yu’s eyes.\nZhang Ruochen raised his head and looked at the vast sky. “Tonight, I have to go to another place to attend an appointment. I have to go.”\nHis tone was thought-provoking.\n…\nAfter nightfall.\nNine dragon souls pulled a golden carriage out of the Vastsea Manor.\nIt was Zhang Ruochen’s carriage, the Nine-Dragon Carriage.\nThe one driving the carriage was the Supreme Saint Xueqi.\nSupreme Saint Xueqi’s cultivation had improved by leaps and bounds during his seclusion in the Sevenstar Imperial Palace. He had broken 72 shackles and become a top elite in the Hundred-Shackled Realm.\nHowever, he could not afford to buy the Fugue Pills and divine blood with Godstones. He owed Zhang Ruochen a huge debt.\nHe had no choice but to help Zhang Ruochen and pay it back slowly.\nZhang Ruochen sat on the golden and jade-carved couch in the dragon carriage. He stood tall and straight. He pressed his palm on Lian Xi’s snow-white jade-like back and extracted strands of Yang Qi from her.\nLian Xi was as soft as a white civet cat. She sat on his lap and made thrilling gasps.\nHalf of her dress fell to the ground, revealing her smooth skin. Her white chests were pressed against Zhang Ruochen’s chest. Her slender legs were spread out on both sides, swaying gently.\nZhang Ruochen had been in seclusion for decades. Every time he tried to condense the saintwill and try to fuse it, he would transfer part of his Yang Qi into her body first and preserve it with her special physique to avoid being disturbed.\nAfter he regained the Yang Qi back into his body, Zhang Ruochen picked up Lian Xi, whose sweat was as soft as spring mud. He put her on the bed and covered her with a soft quilt to cover her breathtakingly beautiful body.\nLian Xi’s long black hair was covered with sweat. She said weakly, “How long do you want to torture me?”\nZhang Ruochen said, “Do you not want to endure it anymore?”\nXi’s eyes were blank and she said, “I’ve paid enough for what I’ve done. But you can’t completely blame me for what happened in the past. We each have our masters. You can’t control those things, and I can’t control them either.”\nZhang Ruochen put on his white robe and tied his belt. He said, “I can’t completely blame you.”\n“But you’ve turned me into a crucible for your cultivation,” said Lian Xi as her eyes turned red. Her white shoulders, which were exposed outside the quilt, were trembling slightly.\nZhang Ruochen said, “Fifteen years ago, I told you that if you want to leave, you can leave at any time. Yet, you chose to stay. On the first night in the harem of the Sevenstar Imperial Palace, I also gave you a choice. You choose to be my woman.”\n“In the Infernal Court, I have no other choice. If you let me go, where can I go?” Tears almost flowed from Lian Xi’s eyes as she said.\nZhang Ruochen turned his back and didn’t look at her. “In the Infernal Court, I have no other choice. You can at least choose to stay by my side. I’m not bad to you, right?”\n“Don’t think so much. Since you’ve come to Infernal Court, then you should cultivate harder. The humiliation and grievance now will be your biggest motivation. You’ve already endured for decades. Why don’t you continue to endure? If you have enough cultivation in the future, you can come and kill me.”\nThe Nine-Dragon Carriage entered the heart of the Winterpage City and drove to Jiayin District.\nTwo cultivators in black robes had been waiting there for a long time.\nThey led Zhang Ruochen and the Supreme Saint Xueqi into the city. They came to a grand palace and walked up the stairs.\nSupreme Saint Xueqi’s expression was unnatural. He said telepathically, “Jiayin District is where the cultivators of the Yanluo clan live. Are you sure we’re in the right place?”\n“Do you have to make such a fuss?” Zhang Ruochen asked.\nSupreme Saint Xueqi said, “Generally speaking, before the Celestial-Hunting Festival, the big forces of the ten clans would frequently hold events and banquets. They would even invite cultivators of other clans to participate and take the opportunity to test their strength.\n“However, although the Yanluo clan always comes first in the Celestial-Hunting Festival, they don’t attach much importance to it. They rarely invite cultivators from other clans before the banquet.”\nZhang Ruochen said, “If the Immortal Vampires come first every time, their importance to the Celestial-Hunting Festival would drop by a lot.”\nAt that moment, Yan Wushen’s laughter rang out in the palace, “Brother Ruochen, you’re wrong. The Yanluo clan doesn’t look down on the Celestial-Hunting Festival because they think they’re powerful. It’s because all kinds of activities and banquets are boring. It’s better to spend more time practicing.”\nSupreme Saint Xueqi looked very shocked and he looked at Zhang Ruochen and saw a strange expression on his face.\nJust now, the two of them had communicated telepathically through spiritual power, but Yan Wushen had seen through them.\nHow could he not be shocked?\nZhang Ruochen strode into the palace, he raised his voice and said, “I’ve long heard that brother Wushen was already a spiritual-power Supreme Saint before you entered the Battlefield of Merits in Kunlun. I thought that you were already very powerful when you reached the 61st level. However, I’ve only realized now that I’ve greatly underestimated you.”\nAfter decades of seclusion, Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power had made a huge breakthrough and had reached the peak of the 61st level.\nYan Wushen could hear his telepathic transmission. His spiritual power had reached at least level 62, or even higher.\nSupreme Saint Xueqi wanted to follow him into the palace, but he was stopped by a cultivator guarding the palace gate. “His Highness only invited Supreme Saint Ruochen. The rest of the cultivators please wait outside the palace.”\n“What do you mean? With my cultivation of the Hundred-Shackle Realm, I’m not qualified to enter?” Supreme Saint Xueqi said angrily.\nThe cultivator from the Yanluo clan said, “The only reason that Supreme Saint Ruochen was able to enter was because of his cultivation. As for you, even if I didn’t stop you, you wouldn’t be able to enter.”\n“I refuse to believe this. It’s just a gate.”\nAfter his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, Supreme Saint Xueqi’s confidence soared. He took a step forward. However, before his foot landed on the ground, he entered a chaotic space and was lost inside.\nThis palace was filled with Dimensional Inscriptions.\nEvery step was filled with Dimensional Traps. It was a huge test for any cultivator who broke in.\nAfter Zhang Ruochen entered the palace, he saw Yan Wushen sitting alone on the ground in the center of the hall. In front of him was a long red copper table with a pot of wine and two wine glasses.\nOther than that, there was nothing else.\nSimple.\nIt was so simple that it looked shabby. It didn’t seem like he had invited an important guest.\nAfter stepping through one Dimensional Trap after another, Zhang Ruochen walked steadily to the side of the table and stared at Yan Wushen, he said, “After coming to the Divine Domain of Destiny, I’ve been waiting for you to come out of seclusion. Finally, we met again.. Did you receive my reply to the letter of challenge? This palace is beautifully decorated. It can’t be the battlefield you chose, right?”