Prajna’s mastery of the Path of Destiny was profound, wielding the Gate of True Self to deduce the secret that all remaining Immortal Blood Clan members were tied to Zhang Ruochen, even tracking him.
Naturally, Zhang Ruochen had to capture her.
“Swish—”
Zhang Ruochen spread his ten wings, weaving through the branches, flying at breakneck speed.
The Death Clan Great Sages had long been left behind, out of sight.
Yan Wushen chased for a stretch but was soon far behind.
Only Que, using a saint technique of the Path of Flowing Light, was slightly faster than Zhang Ruochen, relentlessly pursuing and occasionally launching attacks with the Shadow Elixir Sword.
Zhang Ruochen dared not pause, wary of being surrounded.
If it were only Immortal Realm or Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Sages encircling him, he wouldn’t be too concerned. But with powerhouses like Yan Wushen and Que among them, the situation would become dire.
“Thud, thud.”
The Seven-Star Ghost Lotus hovered behind Zhang Ruochen, clashing fiercely with the Shadow Elixir Sword flying from behind.
Sword energy and supreme power collided, bursting into dazzling clouds of energy.
“I must escape the White Jade Divine Tree quickly. Once outside, my Path of Space can shine, and Que won’t catch me.”
The thought had just crossed Zhang Ruochen’s mind when hundreds of powerful Saint Path energy fluctuations surged from all directions.
The Yanluo Clan Great Sages, receiving Yan Wushen’s message, regained their fighting spirit. They mobilized all their Great Sages to intercept Zhang Ruochen, making a final push to seize first place in the Hunting Heaven Battle.
“Stop Zhang Ruochen, wipe out the Immortal Blood Clan’s members.”
“The Yanluo Clan still has a chance. This is a fight to the death, spare no cost to halve the Immortal Blood Clan’s points.”
“Fight! Fight until the heavens collapse, die without regrets.”
…
Hundreds of Yanluo Clan Great Sages surged with battle intent, rushing towards Zhang Ruochen like a tide.
As he flew, Zhang Ruochen roared, “Stand aside, or die.”
“No retreat. We fight to the death.”
Voices of Great Sages echoed from all directions.
The Yanluo Clan’s Great Sage legion, united in purpose, was resolute in seizing first place among the ten clans, even at the cost of their lives.
The only pity was the rushed timing and Zhang Ruochen’s speed, coupled with the lack of a top-tier leader to organize a coordinated formation.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes turned cold, his hands clasping together.
Specks of time imprints materialized, condensing into a radiant bell of light and shadow, enveloping him at its centre.
“Bell Toll.”
Zhang Ruochen let out a soft command.
The time bell rang, sending time imprints and soundwaves surging outward like a tsunami, crashing into the Yanluo Clan Great Sages.
“Buzz!”
“Buzz!”
…
With each toll, Yanluo Clan Great Sages were flung back.
They not only endured the sonic impact but also had their lifespans slashed by the time imprints.
Que slowed his pursuit, raising the Mirror of Nothingness to block the time imprints’ assault, inwardly shocked. “Zhang Ruochen is suffering from Holy Intent backlash and severe internal injuries, yet he dares to use such a powerful time-based saint technique repeatedly? Isn’t he afraid of time backlash?”
Previously, Que thought Zhang Ruochen’s time mastery, allowing the time bell to toll thrice in succession, was impressive.
But now, the bell tolled five times.
Each toll subjected him to a fierce impact from the Time Saint Aspect. Overuse could shatter it.
The five tolls sent countless Yanluo Clan Great Sages reeling, weakening them.
Yet, as if fearless of death, they continued charging at him.
“Those who block me die.”
Zhang Ruochen spun rapidly, channeling the Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire within, forming a long, conical fire tornado.
His ten golden wings, like invincible blades, slashed through the approaching Yanluo Clan Great Sages.
“Thud, thud, thud…”
Some Yanluo Clan Great Sages had their saint bodies cleaved by the golden wings, blood spraying; others were struck by Zhang Ruochen, exploding into blood mist; some, touched by the Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire, became engulfed in flames.
In just four breaths, Zhang Ruochen broke through the Yanluo Clan’s encirclement, escaping.
Behind him, dozens of gravely injured Yanluo Clan Great Sages remained, countless others burned by the divine fire, and some even perished, their bodies and saint souls destroyed.
Zhang Ruochen appeared unstoppable, crushing hundreds of Yanluo Clan Great Sages with overwhelming force. In reality, his injuries worsened drastically, and upon breaking free, he spat blood.
In any other circumstance, he would never clash head-on with hundreds of Great Sages.
Fortunately, he had previously driven out the Yanluo Clan’s top powerhouses, array masters, and talisman masters from the battlefield. Had a Life-Death Eight Sons-level Hundred-Shackle Great Perfection Great Sage emerged to block him for even one or two strikes, the consequences would have been dire.
“Swish!”
Emerging from the White Jade Divine Tree, Zhang Ruochen saw Empress Feng and the Immortal Blood Clan’s Great Sage legion.
Seeing him escape, all the Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages were overjoyed, their gazes filled with reverence.
Thanks to Zhang Ruochen, they felt the Immortal Blood Clan’s greatness for the first time, surpassing even the Yanluo Clan.
Killing Emperor Chi and securing the critical thirty million points elevated Zhang Ruochen’s status among the Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages to its peak.
Though injured, in their eyes, he was an insurmountable divine mountain.
“Great Sage Ruochen, we fight with you.”
Hundreds of Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages shouted in unison.
Sensing the pursuing Death Clan and Yanluo Clan Great Sages, Zhang Ruochen instructed, “I must leave immediately to find a safe place to hide and protect the remaining Immortal Blood Clan members.”
With many Immortal Blood Clan powerhouses present, Zhang Ruochen had no desire to fight recklessly or risk further damage to his Holy Intent. Finding a place to stabilize his injuries was paramount.
He was confident that with his Path of Space and the Thirty-Six Formless Transformations, no one could find him quickly if he focused on hiding.
Empress Feng, her refined and beautiful face framed by the blood-red Asura Sword, said, “Go with peace of mind. I and the Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages will do our utmost to hold them off.”
Having just defeated Xi, Empress Feng brimmed with confidence and battle intent.
Barring surprises, the Destiny Goddess position was hers.
Zhang Ruochen extended his right hand, pressing forward.
“Swish.”
A spatial wormhole mirror took shape.
He was about to step through, crossing space…
Suddenly, a blood-red sword light, brimming with lethal killing intent, shattered the wormhole mirror, slashing towards Zhang Ruochen’s neck.
The mirror was less than a metre from him.
Faced with such a swift sword, even a Life and Death Realm or Supreme Realm Great Sage couldn’t dodge.
“Rip.”
The sword light sliced through, severing Zhang Ruochen’s neck, his head flying.
The Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages, unprepared for this turn of events, roared in fury.
More gazes turned to Empress Feng.
Her hands were drenched in blood.
The Asura Sword, originally in her grip, had broken free, flying out to decapitate Zhang Ruochen.
Lan Ying’s form emerged from the Asura Sword, childlike, letting out a piercing laugh. “Zhang Ruochen, you shone in the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, fighting heaven and earth, defeating one powerhouse after another, seizing the Emperor-Grade Holy Intent Pill, expelling Yan Huangtu and Wujiang, and cultivating an extraordinary Holy Intent. But all your achievements will ultimately belong to me.”
“Lan Ying, what are you doing?” Empress Feng demanded coldly.
Lan Ying glanced at her, chuckling. “Our deal was to counter the Yanluo Clan and help you become the Destiny Goddess. Rest assured, I’ll honour both. But how to handle Zhang Ruochen isn’t part of our agreement.”
“You used me? Used me to get close to Zhang Ruochen, striking when he was unguarded,” Empress Feng said.
Lan Ying replied, “I only want to devour Zhang Ruochen and take his Holy Intent Pill. Refining him might let me possess a Second-Grade Holy Intent without cultivating it myself.”
“Empress Feng, our cooperation can continue. I’ll help the Immortal Blood Clan fend off the Yanluo Clan’s attacks, securing first place among the ten clans.”
“To all Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages here, restrain your emotions and consider what’s best. Attacking me to avenge Zhang Ruochen adds another enemy. Why not take a step back?”
“A step back benefits us all.”
“Fighting to the death only profits the Yanluo Clan.”
“For a dead Zhang Ruochen, it’s not worth it. From now on, I’ll take his place, leading the Immortal Blood Clan to first place.”
Though the Hunting Heaven Battle made the Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages accept Zhang Ruochen, with many admiring him as a goal and guide, he was once part of the Heavenly Court, having killed countless Immortal Blood Clan monks.
A divide remained, impossible to bridge quickly into deep camaraderie or life-and-death bonds.
While alive, they respected him and willingly followed his orders.
But with Zhang Ruochen dead, expecting someone to risk everything for revenge was unrealistic. Their relationship hadn’t reached that point.
Among the Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages, perhaps only Emperor Yu would do so.
Their eyes bloodshot, they glared at Lan Ying, but none stepped forward. Some feared her strength; others prioritized the clan’s interests.
Seeing this, Lan Ying laughed, wielding the Asura Sword, flying towards Zhang Ruochen’s head, opening a misty maw to swallow and refine it.
Something eerie happened. Zhang Ruochen’s floating head suddenly regained life, its eyes blazing with brilliance.
“No, Zhang Ruochen isn’t dead.”
Sensing danger, Lan Ying retreated rapidly.
Too late. Zhang Ruochen spat a flame, hitting her, causing her body to emit wisps of green smoke.
Meanwhile, his headless body, wielding the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus, struck Lan Ying.
“Thud.”
Her body shattered into a cloud of killing intent.
The Seven-Star Ghost Lotus moved to absorb it, but the Asura Sword swiftly flew in, seizing the killing intent into its blade.
“Swish.”
The Asura Sword flew far, its radiance painting the starry sky blood-red, dazzling yet eerie.
From the sword, Lan Ying’s cold voice rang out. “Slashed by the Asura Sword, its overwhelming killing intent should instantly devour your life force and destroy your qi sea. How are you still alive?”
That earlier strike was long-prepared, catching Zhang Ruochen off guard, with even stronger killing intent than the one that struck Que.
Que had anticipated it, using nothingness to dissipate much of the killing intent, surviving his body being split. Did Zhang Ruochen also prepare, neutralizing the Asura Sword’s killing intent?
Lan Ying didn’t believe it.
How could the Asura Sword, a mighty divine weapon, have its killing intent so easily countered?
Zhang Ruochen’s head and body reunited, flames blazing. “My Five Elements Chaotic Immortal Saint Body—do you think your bit of killing intent can destroy it?”
Before facing the Blood Shadow Divine Mother, such a strike might have been fatal.
But now, with his body refined by the White Cang Blood Soil, the Asura Sword couldn’t kill him—at least not with Lan Ying’s cultivation.
Sensing Yan Wushen and Que’s auras, Zhang Ruochen’s expression shifted. He glanced at Empress Feng, then used Great Spatial Shift, vanishing across space.
The next moment, he appeared five hundred miles away.
He opened a spatial wormhole mirror and stepped through.
His earlier ambush and words had stunned Lan Ying. In truth, the killing intent in his body wasn’t fully resolved, and his combat strength had plummeted.
He had to escape, avoiding direct clashes with Que, Yan Wushen, or Lan Ying.
Moreover, he couldn’t fathom whether Empress Feng and Lan Ying’s cooperation included targeting him.
Was their earlier exchange an act?
Logically, Lan Ying’s neck-severing strike required preparation. The Asura Sword was in Empress Feng’s hand—how could she not notice?
If Empress Feng hadn’t used the Path of Destiny to mask the sword’s killing intent, how could Zhang Ruochen have been unaware?
Besides, Zhang Ruochen’s prominence in the Hunting Heaven Battle outshone all other Immortal Blood Clan monks. As long as he lived, even if Empress Feng became the Destiny Goddess, she’d face scrutiny, seen as relying on him.
The Immortal Blood Clan Great Sages in this battle revered Zhang Ruochen, not her, a goddess in name only.
Only Zhang Ruochen’s death, after losing his value on the final day, would be Empress Feng’s ideal outcome.
Then, she could claim all his victories.
