“Swish.”
About two thousand metres from the temple, a burst of silver radiance suddenly flared in midair.
Within the silver glow, figures stirred, powerful waves of saintly energy surged skyward, it was the Kunlun Realm cultivators, most of them gravely wounded, their morale low, resembling a band of defeated soldiers.
But upon realising they’d escaped the Paradise Realm kings’ encirclement, they erupted in ecstatic joy, like drowning men on the brink of death, suddenly hauled ashore.
All eyes turned to Zhang Ruochen’s silhouette ahead, filled with reverence.
Even the grudge-bearing Heaven-Devouring Demon Dragon had to concede, falling silent.
In such a dire situation, facing hundreds of formidable Saint Kings, Zhang Ruochen had saved them all, had it been the dragon, it might not have even shown up, at best rushing to the Temple of Truth for aid.
Yet by the time the Temple’s divine disciples arrived, the Kunlun Realm cultivators would likely have been annihilated.
With such means, courage, and magnanimity, who could refuse to admire Zhang Ruochen?
Now, the Heaven-Devouring Demon Dragon began to understand why Princess Bai Li, a primordial relic, chose to follow Zhang Ruochen over marrying it.
Zhang Ruochen indeed bore the air of a timeless hero.
Like the Dragon Clan’s ancient leader, Lord Jiwang, from the Middle Ages.
Having read the secret records of Ancestral Dragon Mountain, the Heaven-Devouring Demon Dragon knew of Lord Jiwang’s legends, yearning deeply, a true timeless hero, not just a pillar of the Kunlun Realm but a dragon overlord revered across the cosmos.
Every such hero carried immense destiny, drawing a host of supremely talented followers who, growing alongside them, became figures the world looked up to.
For instance, Lord Jiwang’s “Eight Heavenly Dragons,” each wielded the might of war gods and Buddhas.
Perhaps Princess Bai Li saw Zhang Ruochen’s potential, choosing to follow him, hoping his great destiny might one day elevate her to the stature of the Eight Heavenly Dragons, gazing down on the firmament, worshipped by all.
The court-affiliated cultivators, who’d long viewed Zhang Ruochen as a remnant of the old dynasty, fell silent, their emotions a tangled mix.
The court was the Kunlun Realm’s mightiest force, its ruling core.
They’d thought it had gathered all the realm’s talents, yet these elites paled beside the few at Zhang Ruochen’s side.
Where had he found so many skilled allies?
“Now that we’ve broken free, let’s flee this place quickly.”
“Right, with most Paradise Realm kings trapped in the temple, it’s our chance to escape.”
…
Over half the Paradise Realm Saint Kings were confined in the temple, the rest, though numerous, were scattered across the island, unable to regroup swiftly.
This was indeed the Kunlun Realm cultivators’ best shot at freedom.
But Zhang Ruochen had no intention of leading them in a breakout, his gaze fixed on the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady, “A rare opportunity, we can’t just let them go, can we?”
Her aura shifted, eyes sharp as swords, blazing flames erupted from her, transforming her into a war goddess, “No need to remind me, today this saint will crush them all, avenging my brother.”
Zhang Ruochen frowned, that voice… not the Saint Book Talent, but Canglan Martial Saint, one of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady’s personas.
Wan Zhaoyi’s sister, Wan Canglan.
Likely, the Saint Book Talent’s mental energy had been exhausted, slipping into slumber, allowing Canglan Martial Saint’s consciousness to take over.
Zhang Ruochen found Canglan Martial Saint a headache.
Could their teamwork match the seamless synergy he’d had with the Saint Book Talent?
“Listen, saints of the Kunlun Realm, lend me your strength, help me reclaim the temple.”
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady formed hand seals, nine divine martial imprints glowed at her brow, forming a circle.
From its centre, a beam shot out, striking the temple’s roof.
The Kunlun Realm saints each unleashed a stream of saint qi, pouring into her back, her delicate frame absorbing it all like an endless sea.
Bolstered by the saints, her aura grew increasingly formidable.
The temple belonged to the Fate Goddess, one of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady’s aspects.
Sensing her power, the temple quaked, shrinking, drawing towards her.
Zhang Ruochen stepped back to Zhenmiao Little Taoist, the Devouring Saint Flower, and Xie Chengzi, using the cyan lotus seed to channel potent life force into Chi Kunlun and Chi Kongle.
“Crackle.”
Chi Kunlun’s severed hand regrew, colour returned to his pale face.
The cyan glow bathed the Kunlun Realm saints, rapidly healing their wounds, they stared at Zhang Ruochen in disbelief.
“Huh, there it is again!”
Zhang Ruochen sensed a faint pulse from deep underground, stronger than before, a smile breaking across his face.
The cyan lotus seed’s light flickered, bright then dim, as if resonating with something.
“What is it?”
Zhang Ruochen sent out his mental power to probe.
But the sensation vanished instantly.
“Rumble.”
Below, the temple shrank by half, then a snag occurred.
Powerful saintly path forces surged from within, not breaching it but jolting it, expanding it again.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
…
The trapped Paradise Realm cultivators unleashed fierce attacks, soon restoring the temple to its original size, the backlash forcing the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady back.
Zhang Ruochen eyed her struggle, “If you can’t reclaim the temple, how about letting me try?”
She glared at him, eyes icy, “If I can’t, no other cultivator could.”
“With hordes of Paradise Realm Saint Kings inside attacking together, that force, even as the temple’s master, you likely can’t withstand,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Feeling belittled, defiance flashed across her face, she spat a crimson stream of saint blood, it turned to blood rain, merging with thick saint qi, cascading onto the temple.
Stained with her blood, the trembling temple calmed, shrinking once more.
Zhenmiao Little Taoist quipped, “She’s afraid you’ll take the temple and not give it back, she’s guarding against you!”
“Heh, I think she’s worried you’ll steal her glory, such a massive feat, I wouldn’t hand it over either,” the Devouring Saint Flower chuckled.
Zhenmiao Little Taoist, no longer fearing Xiao Hei, asked, “Where’s that owl?”
“It’s searching for the true Xumi Dojo!”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze sharpened, he turned northwest.
His palm pressed the Eight Dragon Umbrella, pouring in saint qi.
The canopy unfurled, golden light blazed, shielding all the Kunlun Realm saints behind it.
“Bang bang.”
Six saint arrows struck the umbrella, resounding six times.
Soon, six elf clan Saint Kings with saint bows emerged from the northwest, nocking another volley.
From other directions, more Paradise Realm Saint Kings arrived, attacking across the vast void.
Initially, Zhang Ruochen and his group held firm.
But the numbers swelled, their assaults growing fiercer.
The Kunlun Realm saints in midair became sitting ducks.
The Devouring Saint Flower warned, “Master, we can’t hold much longer! Should we tell that Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady to stop reclaiming the temple and break out before the encirclement tightens?”
“Give it everything, hold them off a bit longer.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes darkened, too impatient to argue with her, he turned into a white streak, reaching her side, striking with a palm.
“Bang!”
The palm hit her shoulder, sending her flying sideways.
“Zhang Ruochen, what are you doing?”
She wasn’t badly hurt, just furious.
Ignoring her, Zhang Ruochen unleashed the *Secret Tome of Time and Space*, it hovered above the temple.
Dazzling silver radiance poured from it, like rippling water, enveloping the temple.
She realised he’d struck her for getting in his way.
Watching the temple drift towards the tome, her anger flared, she gnashed her teeth at Zhang Ruochen midair, torn between cursing his audacity and hating her own inadequacy.
Suddenly, she spotted a figure stepping from the void behind Zhang Ruochen.
It was Gongzi Yan, leader of the Spatial Temple.
He’d escaped the temple via spatial shift earlier, lurking nearby, awaiting his moment.
As Zhang Ruochen reclaimed the temple, Gongzi Yan appeared behind him, his gaze menacing, “The one laughing last will be me, die!”
A spatial rift formed in Gongzi Yan’s palm, about to strike.
“Swish.”
From the ground, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Lady waved her arm, a blinding silver light shot forth.
A silver cleaver, tinged with faint divine power, slashed at Gongzi Yan’s neck.
His face twitched, he unleashed a spatial freeze talisman, clashing with the cleaver, halting it midair.
That brief delay gave Zhang Ruochen time to seal the temple into the tome, he spun, slashing a spatial rift just as Gongzi Yan attacked.
“Bang.”
The two rifts collided, shaking the space within a few zhang.
Now less than ten zhang apart, their icy gazes locked.
“Seeking death.”
Zhang Ruochen’s pent-up fury erupted, seeing Gongzi Yan so close, he unleashed a blazing fist, fearless despite the three-realm gap, his killing intent surging.
