1410 Return Of The Empress

"Pray to the sky and earth."

The cultivators of the Sacred stood in all directions and yelled at the same time. The deafening voices filled the entire Mount Tianmu.

Then everyone reached out at once, sending Holy Qi into the Kaiyuan Deer Cauldron.

Bright golden light shone from within.

If one looked from ten thousand miles away, one would see that the Peakless Mountain had turned entirely golden. A strong beam of power kept seeping out of it.

In an instant, Qiu Yu was returned to his original shape by the Kaiyuan Deer Cauldron. He turned into a huge flaming divine tree. Faint divine power poured out of the tree, but he still couldn't escape from the Kaiyuan Deer Cauldron.

Qiu Yu's words of compromise came from within the divine tree. "Zhang Ruochen… Spare my life and I'll listen to you from now on."

Hearing this, the powerful Saints who'd once been close to Qiu Yu felt disdain.

Even an ordinary Saint had their own reputation and ego, viewing them as more important than their own life.

As the divine parasol tree and the future world spiritual root of Kunlun's Field, Qiu Yu was actually begging his enemy. This was unacceptable for many cultivators.

The world spiritual root wasn't only a medium to connect the World Spirit and the rules of the world. Even more, it represented an entire world's will.

Most of the cultivators present couldn't accept having Qiu Yu represent the will of Kunlun's Field.

"I don't need you to work for me."

Zhang Ruochen spoke coldly from under the Kaiyuan Deer Cauldron. Then he raised his head and slowly lifted his hands. He prepared to open up the world gates of the Universe World so the Divine Sky-connecting Tree could absorb the parasol tree's power.

But when he looked up, he saw 33 brilliant stars gleaming in the sky.

That was…Chi Yao's Star Soul Constellation.

The other cultivators on the ground also sensed the sparkling constellation in the sky. Their hearts all trembled.

"The Empress… The Empress is returning to Kunlun's Field…"

One Saint Elder of the Fire Tribe was overjoyed. After letting out a long scream, he prostrated himself respectfully on the ground and kowtowed to the constellation. "Empress, a true god."

Even a Saint Elder was kneeling. The other cultivators of the Fire Tribe naturally kowtowed as well.

The next moment, boundless divine might poured out of the 33 stars. They transformed into starlight and fell to the ground, shrouding the land of Peakless Mountain.

"Greetings, Empress!"

"Greetings, true god!"

All the cultivators at the peak of Mount Tianmu were terrified. They prostrated themselves on the ground. No one dared to go against a deity.

Below the mountain, Shi Qianjue, the Fire Lord, Death Zen Elder, Vice Leader, Murong Yefeng, and the golden Ni who were fighting all stopped. Under the divine might, even they knelt on the ground.

Actually, as long as a deity didn't target a Supreme Saint, they could fight back against the deity with their cultivation and willpower. At least, they could stay upright.

But the Supreme Saints present could all feel that divine might wasn't all that came from the constellation. There was also the anger of a god.

No one was stupid enough to go up against a deity.

Plus, kneeling to a god wasn't embarrassing.

Whoosh!

A beam of seven-colored divine light flew from the 33 stars. They landed above Mount Tianmu and consolidated into Empress Chi Yao's figure.

She stood on a seven-colored cloud. She wore a divine robe and her black hair was piled on her head. She had eyes more beautiful than the stars and she radiated with a mighty and divine aura.

Only one person in this space didn't kneel. It was Zhang Ruochen.

"Chi Yao…"

Zhang Ruochen's eyes were bloodshot. He stood on Mount Tianmu, leaning on his sword. He used his strong willpower to go against the divine might.

Unfortunately, his cultivation and Spiritual Power were too weak compared to a god. He couldn't counter Chi Yao at all. His legs kept trembling as if they were about to bend and fall to the ground.

Cold disdain appeared in Empress Chi Yao's eyes as they locked onto Zhang Ruochen. "You actually dared to destroy the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion. You are so courageous."

Every divine sound that traveled through strengthened the divine might that Zhang Ruochen suffered from.

Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen roared. A decisive look appeared in his eyes. He swung his sword and with a poof, broke his own two legs.

Thud.

Without the support of his legs, Zhang Ruochen fell heavily to the ground.

All the cultivators present were impressed inside, but they also laughed inwardly that Zhang Ruochen was so stupid.

Didn't he see that the Supreme Saints were all prostrated on the ground? It was not embarrassing to kneel before a deity. Why must he break his own legs?

Inside the Kaiyuan Deer Cauldron, Qiu Yu was ecstatic. He laughed, saying, "Zhang Ruochen, I told you before that fighting against the entire Kunlun's Field is death. Now, the Empress has returned, you and those crazy Sacred rebels will all die. Haha…"

Qiu Yu was laughing, but halfway through, he couldn't laugh anymore.

He saw that someone else was still standing beside Zhang Ruochen, having fended off the Empress' divine might.

More accurately, she wasn't a person but a beautiful Ghost King.

There was a blood moon's print on her forehead. She extended a snowy-white finger and pressed lightly on Zhang Ruochen's legs.

In that instant, Zhang Ruochen's broken legs were reconnected.

He didn't feel the divine might anymore and stood back up. It was clear that Ghost King Bloodmoon was helping him block Chi Yao's divine might, so he could remain standing.

"She can be so composed before a god and protect Zhang Ruochen. What kind of existence is this?"

"No wonder Zhang Ruochen dared to destroy the Lingxiao Heavenly King Mansion and attack Peakless Mountain. He has strong support behind him."

"That can't be a god too, right?"

…

The imperial court, Sacred followers, Demonic Sect, Fire Tribe… All cultivators present were incredulous. They all looked at Ghost King Bloodmoon, trying to guess her identity.

Ghost King Bloodmoon met Empress Chi Yao's eyes. Two gusts of divine might interwove in the space between them. Zhang Ruochen could see clearly that cracks had actually appeared in the space. It was about to turn into spatial fragments.

After the test, they didn't attack further. Instead, they pulled back their divine might.

"I thought you would die in the Heaven World," Ghost King Bloodmoon said. "I didn't think that you would return to Kunlun's Field so soon. It seems that the saintly road has already been paved between Kunlun's Field and Heaven World."

Empress Chi Yao stepped on the seven-colored cloud with 33 stars above her head. "Why are you protecting Zhang Ruochen?" she asked.

Ghost King Bloodmoon's voice was cool. "I'm naturally protecting him because I see his potential. How about you give him to me?"

"Impossible," Empress Chi Yao said.

"What if I insist on saving him?" Ghost King Bloodmoon asked.

"This is Kunlun's Field and my Star Soul Constellation is in the sky. It can provide me with unlimited divine power. Are you sure you want to start a divine war with me for a Saint?"

Ghost King Bloodmoon was fearless. "Once we begin a divine war, I can promise that all beings within one million miles will die completely. There are a lot of Saints and Supreme Saints gathered here, right? If they all die, what will you use to compete in the Heaven World? You've already been there. You should know that our power isn't important there at all. What's important is their abilities."

Ghost King Bloodmoon and Empress Chi Yao both had their concerns, so they didn't start a divine war. They could only compromise and agree to each other's conditions, signing a divine contract.

Of course, only they could hear their conversation. The outsiders didn't know what they were discussing at all.

After signing the contract, Ghost King Bloodmoon finally said to Zhang Ruochen, "Bring the pill and alcohol old guys and go to the Heaven World with me right now."

Zhang Ruochen furrowed his brows. "No. I must bring all of the Sacred into the Universe World first and then leave with you."

"That's impossible. I've already signed a divine contract with that Empress of yours," Ghost King Bloodmoon said. "I can only save your one life."

Zhang Ruochen's eyes were determined. "Chi Yao will never spare them if they remain in Kunlun's Field. If I don't send them into the Universe World, I'll never go with you."

Ghost King Bloodmoon grew unhappy. "Zhang Ruochen," she said coldly, "you should understand something. Before a deity, no mortal has any voice. You can only submit, unless you wish to die here."

"So what if I die? So what if I live?" Zhang Ruochen seemed indifferent.

"If you choose death, you are undoubtedly a coward. If you choose life, you at least have a fighting chance."

Ghost King Bloodmoon walked leisurely to Lord Mingjiang. While speaking, she flattened her jade-like hands into a flat palm and cut down on Lord Mingjiang's neck.

"You… What are you doing? Are you forcing me?"

Zhang Ruochen roared in anger. He tightened his grip and lifted the Abyss Ancient Sword. He rushed toward Ghost King Bloodmoon.

But he only took one step before he couldn't move anymore. He couldn't stop Ghost King Bloodmoon at all. He could only watch as she cut off Lord Mingjiang's head.

At that moment, Zhang Ruochen truly understood what helplessness was like. He'd never wished more for the power to fight against a god.

Ghost King Bloodmoon was very cold. She walked toward Mu Lingxi now and flattened her hand into a palm sword again.

Roar!

Zhang Ruochen howled and his entire body shook. He wanted to escape from Ghost King Bloodmoon's restraint, but he couldn't.

Ghost King Bloodmoon's palm didn't fall down. She just placed it on Mu Lingxi's neck and said indifferently, "Remember the helplessness you feel at this moment. It's not enough to have the heart and courage to go against a god. You also need the ability.

"Before destiny, everyone is a chess piece. If you wish to live and protect your family, friends, and lover, you must make yourself stronger and become the most useful chess piece. Now, you are a pretty good chess piece to me, so you are qualified to speak with me and have my protection."

Ghost King Bloodmoon walked back to Lord Mingjiang and put his head back.

Lord Mingjiang instantly turned into a complete body again. Fear colored his eyes. "Greetings, true god."

Ghost King Bloodmoon didn't even spare him a glance. She continued speaking to Zhang Ruochen. "Unwilling to accept this, right? There's no helping it. This is how cruel reality is. If you don't want to be someone else's chess piece, you must continuously become stronger. When you're strong enough, you might be able to jump out of the chess board and become one of the players. Now, do you choose life or death? Do you choose to be a coward or to have a fighting chance?"

Zhang Ruochen stared coldly at Ghost King Bloodmoon without speaking.

Ghost King Bloodmoon continued, "Don't worry. Empress Chi Yao can't kill the cultivators of Sacred Central Empire, because she must gather all the power above the Half-Saint Realm in Kunlun's Field to do something. This is also why she wouldn't let you bring all the Sacred cultivators into the Universe World. That is her bottom line."

"What is she doing?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

Ghost King Bloodmoon didn't keep it a secret. "The same thing that I want you to do," she answered frankly.

Zhang Ruochen finally realized that what the Moon Goddess wanted him to do was even more important than he'd expected. In that case, he had more room for negotiation.

Even if all lives were only chess pieces before a god, Zhang Ruochen still had to save the lives of the Sacred Central Empire cultivators. This was his responsibility.