Chapter 2553: Father and Son

Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation  Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation

The Wulvers were as famous as the Yakshas in the Royal City of Hundred Clans. They were one of the three strongest clans.

The sacred land of the Wulvers was also known as the “Seven Mountain Chain.” Between the mountains, the demonic Qi turned into a sea of clouds. It was dark and dense, and lightning flowed within. The sound of thunder constantly rumbled within, sometimes far and other times near.

On the top of the first mountain, there stood two figures.

Ki Tian, standing in front, lifted the black hood on his head and revealed a face around 30 years of age. He had a beard and was full of energy. His gaze was as sharp as lightning.

His face, including his body, and aura were changing rapidly.

In a moment, he had changed into another appearance.

Zhang Ruochen saw this familiar middle-aged man before him and could no longer hold back his emotions. The emotions, questions, and confusion he had experienced over the years rushed from his heart to his head. They turned into two warm streams that welled out from his eyes.

“So… you’ve been in the Fane of Destiny for so many years. I thought you were dead, killed by Emperor Qing and the others, or went and became a monk in the Western Buddha Realm. How could you… how could you still be alive?” Zhang Ruochen gritted his teeth. He sounded like blaming the person.

Ki Tian was actually Emperor Ming, who had disappeared around 800 years ago.

His name was Zhang Ling.

Emperor Ming’s gaze was profound and focused. He stared at the sea of demonic Qi beneath his feet, “I know you have hatred and resentment,” he said. “But no matter how tough and tired it is for a man, and no matter how much hatred and resentment he has, he shouldn’t cry. You’re more like your mother in the end.”

Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly and said, “How can I not cry when I’m so overwhelmed with such emotions? You’re mistaken. I don’t hate you, nor am I resentful. I just want answers.”

The atmosphere was freezing at the peak.

Emperor Ming didn’t answer him immediately. After a long silence, he said, “I’m sorry.”

Zhang Ruochen straightened his back and said, “This apology should not be directed to me. You should have said it to my mother. Also, at those serving Central Shengming Empire who were loyal to you and died or were forced to exile.”

“You are wrong! This apology doesn’t mean that I think what I did was wrong. I just feel guilty that I’m not strong enough. If I were strong enough, I wouldn’t have to struggle helplessly and could protect our home, country, civilization, and Kunlun with my strength.”

Emperor Ming turned around and finally faced Zhang Ruochen. “I know you already knew a lot. I also know the doubts you have and your dissatisfaction with me as your father.”

Zhang Ruochen stood at the side and listened quietly.

“Your personality is indeed more like your mother’s. She may seem ruthless, but she couldn’t see the bigger picture. She places family above everything else. But I’m different. I had been the Crown Prince of the Central Shengming Empire since I was young. Later, when I ascended to the throne, I had to do what I had been taught since I was young. They were my dutires and obligations.

Emperor Ming laughed self-deprecatingly and said, “Without a world, how would there be a country? And without a country, how could there be a home?

“If you weren’t born in the imperial household, you wouldn’t have to bear these responsibilities. To not bear these responsibilities while holding that position is a disgrace to a world and means that you are not worthy of living in it.

“If you are just an ordinary person, you don’t have to do anything. For a world or a country and civilizations, the mediocre person only needs to reproduce to carry on generations. But those exceptionally talented have to shoulder the responsibility to write history, create the future, or save the world from crisis.”

It was unclear whether he was talking to himself or Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen did learn about what had happened 800 years ago from Murong Yefeng, King Mingjiang, Kong Lanyou, Chi Yao, and Granny Begonia.

Sometimes, Zhang Ruochen could understand Emperor Ming’s difficulties and the reasons he had to acknowledge. After all, Zhang Ruochen had grown up with his father around and knew him quite well.

But Zhang Ruochen did not understand why hadn’t his father told him everything 800 years ago.

Zhang Ruochen said, “It’s been so many years since we last met. Are we going to just talk about this only? I’m no longer a child and know what’s the right thing to do.”

“I know you’ve grown up. You have a strong heart and can bear the responsibilities you should shoulder. That was why I came to see you,” Emperor Ming replied.

Zhang Ruochen asked, “Did you know that Chi Yao killed me 800 years ago?”

Emperor Ming stared deep into his eyes and nodded.

“Why?”

Emperor Ming walked to the cliff’s edge with his hands behind his back and looked up at the sky.

Zhang Ruochen pressed forward, “Why did you let her kill me? Why didn’t you tell me the truth? If I knew the truth, you should know that I would give everything, even my own life, for the sake of our family, our empire, and our macroworld, Kunlun. Was it the awakened ones in Kunlun who forced you? Did they make Chi Yao kill me?”

Emperor Ming shook his head gently, “One day, you will understand. Our generation is working hard to live and to let more people live. Chen’er, it’s been so many years. Are we going to only talk about this in reunion? Don’t we have anything else to talk about?”

Zhang Ruochen knew Emperor Ming too well. That was why it was hard to hate him.

He knew that his father would never do anything to hurt him. Maybe his father had a different idea or kept him in the dark, but his father’s intention could not be bad.

Emperor Ming and Zhang Ruochen sat on the cliff edge, enjoying the cold wind.

The father did not look old. The son was already a grown-up. They were both tall and strong men who could shoulder responsibilities.

“Do you still remember that time when I had beaten you up when you were seven years old?” Emperor Ming suddenly laughed as if he was reminiscing about the past.

Zhang Ruochen smiled and shook his head. “That was probably the most humiliating time in my life. My behind was beaten until it was about to crack open, and they were so swollen that I couldn’t even pull up my pants. But I had forgotten why you had beaten me.”

“Because you said you didn’t want to be called Zhang Ruochen,” Emperor Ming said.

“Really?”

“Yes, you said I had named you after Xue Hongchen because I wanted you to be like him. You said you would only be yourself, so you wanted to change your name,’” Emperor Ming said.

Emperor Ming often mentioned the phrase “an ideal son should be someone one like Xue Hongchen.” He had named Zhang Ruochen after Xue Hongchen.

Zhang Ruochen was curious.”I still wondered even till now. In any case, I’m still the Crown Prince of the Central Shengming Empire. Is it okay for you to give me a name like this? The Sword Emperor is excellent, but you’re also an emperor. You shouldn’t admire him so much that you practically worshipped him, right?”

Zhang Ruochen wasn’t afraid of being spanked again. He couldn’t help but be more outspoken to his father.

Emperor Ming’s eyes were filled with deep emotion, and he sighed. “It’s not just his talent that I admire and appreciate. Did you know that he was the first person in Kunlun to give up everything he had and sneak into the Infernal Court without hesitation? He did that to help Kunlun find a chance to survive and set foot on the path of darkness that was likely to lead to his death.

“From then on, there would be no Sword Emperor in Kunlun, leaving behind thousands of beautiful women who were heartbroken with sorrow.

“However, did you know that Xue Hongchen was the most distinguished and emotional man? He couldn’t bear to see women crying, and he also couldn’t bear to part with the splendid sights in the human world. If he heard that a woman was wronged, even if he didn’t know her, he would’ve traveled thousands of miles with a sword to uphold justice for her.

“I thought that with his character, age, and talent, he would never agree to give up everything he had. I thought he would not be willing to leave the thousands of beauties heartbroken and head to the Infernal Court to become a living dead. However, he agreed without hesitation and was the first to leave Kunlun.

“At that time, I said my child should be like Xue Hongchen. I named you Ruochen because I was stunned by the sight of him leaving.”

Zhang Ruochen said, “How many Kunlun cultivators actually hide in the Infernal Court? All of that to save the Lord of Nephilim Island?”

“The myriad macroworlds of the Celestial Court and the Ten Clans of Infernal Court regard Kunlun as a treasure trove. They want to loot it and exterminate its various species. It was as if a group of wolves had come, and the living beings in Kunlun were like two-legged sheep. On the contrary, those weak realms found survival easier than us. The Lord of Nephilim Island can block the milky way of Styx for 100,000 years with arrays. Only by saving him can there be hope for Kunlun.”

Emperor Ming stood up and said, “Chen’er… No, Zhang Ruochen, promise me that no matter what happens this time, you must take good care of your mother. Tell her that I never regret knowing her. If you wish to rebuild Shengming Empire, then do it. You are now a Supreme Saint, so you should walk your own path.”

Emperor Ming patted Zhang Ruochen’s shoulder. Then he jumped into the sea of clouds surging with demonic Qi.

Zhang Ruochen felt 30 per cent of the Canon of Destiny return to his body. His expression was stunned because he realized that his father’s words were meant to be his last words. He let out a shout and jumped into the pitch-black sea of clouds.

Unfortunately, Emperor Ming had disappeared without a trace. No matter how Zhang Ruochen shouted, there was no response.

The Canon of Destiny had returned to his body. It meant that the Empress of Thousand Bones had refined the Destiny Token.

The plan to rescue the Lord of Nephilim Island had officially begun!

Emperor Ming had come to see him at this time because he had prepared for the worst scenario regarding this plan. That was why he had come to see Zhang Ruochen one last time.

After thinking this through, Zhang Ruochen rushed out of the Wulvers’ sacred land. Even if he couldn’t catch up with Emperor Ming, he had to return to Mount Destiny as soon as possible.

Rescuing the Lord of Nephilim Island was such a big matter. It would definitely be earth-shaking, so it was normal that even deities could die in the fight.

Was this a farewell for eternity after a short reunion?

Someone blocked Zhang Ruochen right before he could leave the Seven Mountain Chain.

“Le!”

Le was dressed in plain clothes. He still carried his iron sword and said stiffly, “He has left the Royal City of Hundred Clans. He is also a deity. You can’t hope to catch up with him. Besides, it’s useless even if you can chase up to him.”

Zhang Ruochen said, “Do you know who he is?”

“Your father,” Le said.

Zhang Ruochen said, “Did he ask you to stop me?”

Le thought for a moment and stepped to the left. An old and senile cultivator walked out from behind him. He was withered with age, and his body was covered in wolf skin. There was a tail hanging between his legs.

“If you want to help them, you don’t have to go to Mount Destiny. There are many things you can do right now,” the old man said in a hoarse voice.

Zhang Ruochen used his spiritual power to check and found no active signs of energy on the old man’s body. He was shocked and realized that the old man was probably a deity.

He must be one of the three deities staying in the Royal City of Hundred Clans.

“He’s the grandson of the Wulvers’ lord ancestor. He’s a deity,” Le said.

The old man laughed dryly. “I am just a deity who is about to die.”

Zhang Ruochen suppressed his chaotic emotions. After that, he bowed and said, “Greetings, God Hendae.”

The name of the Wulvers’ lord ancestor was Fenrir. He had submitted to Skywrath of the Fane of Destiny and become his mount. Thus, he found a place for the Wulvers to live at the edge of the Infernal Court.

Without Skywrath’s backing, how could the Wulvers have developed to such a powerful state in 100,000 years?

Zhang Ruochen had heard about Hendae, the grandson of Fenrir.

Hendae said, “Rescuing the Lord of Nephilim Island doesn’t depend on how many cultivators go to Mount Destiny. After all, most of the deities of Mount Destiny have gone to the Jadeite Realm.”

“What we need to do is to lure the remaining deities of Mount Destiny to the Royal City of Hundred Clans by as much as possible so that Mount Destiny will become even more empty.”

“Why the Royal City of Hundred Clans?” Zhang Ruochen had calmed down completely.

Hendae said, “Because the Royal City of Hundred Clans is at the edge of the Infernal Court, and the deities of the Celestial Court can quietly come to the nearby field of stars. Only when the deities of the Celestial Court take action could the deities of the Fane of Destiny be restrained.”

“There are actually many macroworlds in the Celestial Court that don’t want the Lord of Nephilim Island to escape, so it’s impossible for them to help directly. We can only use surprising benefits to lure them here.”

Zhang Ruochen wasn’t stupid. He instantly understood something. “Wouldn’t it be better if we added the Yakshas?”

Hendae smiled, “You’re smart,” he said. “You’ve already thought of this. It is true that we did create the Light of Origin in the sacred land of the Yakshas. The Yakshas were the biggest clan in the Royal City of Hundred Clans. They had a deep foundation, and if they were involved, they could trap the deities of the Celestial Court and Fane of Destiny.”

“Unfortunately, the Fane of Origin isn’t in the sacred land of the Yakshas. The Celestial and Infernal Court deities might not fall for it.”

Zhang Ruochen asked, “How long before the Empress and the others plan to take action?”

“It shouldn’t be that fast. They’ll only take action when the Light of Origin erupts again and draws out the deities in Mount Destiny,” said Hendae.

Zhang Ruochen shook his head, “The deities are very smart,” he said. “And the Yakshas aren’t stupid. The Light of Origin can only attract them for a while. Without the birth of the true Fane of Origin, they’ll quickly realize the trap and return to Mount Destiny. When that happens, the Empress and the others won’t be able to escape. Not only will they be unable to save the Lord of Nephilim Island, but they’ll also all have to go in.”

“It’s impossible to have a foolproof plan, and the plan also carries a huge risk. If we can lure the deities of Mount Destiny out for a while, it’s a chance we must take, even if it’s very slim.” Hendae sighed.

Zhang Ruochen said, “What if the true Fane of Origin comes into being?”

“What did you say?” Hendae’s eyes lit up.