Ten thousand years ago, the youthful Second Jia Blood Ancestor was undoubtedly a benchmark figure of his era, it was precisely this that earned him, then only a Saint King, such high praise from the Moon God.
The Moon God’s discernment was unparalleled.
The number of young talents she deemed worthy, including Zhang Ruochen, wouldn’t exceed five.
A prodigy like Second Jia Blood Ancestor, having reached godhood and cultivated for ten thousand years, naturally possessed terrifying combat prowess.
The Moon God said, “To deal with you, three-tenths of my strength will suffice.”
“Moon God, you’re too arrogant! This isn’t the era of ten thousand years ago, the world has long since changed. Over these ten millennia, heroes have risen, tides have turned, countless cosmic titans have fallen, and a new generation of supreme gods has emerged. I am one of them. Now, all I need is one battle to stand at the Heavenly Realm’s pinnacle.”
Second Jia Blood Ancestor stood at the centre of the blood qi vortex, stepping forward.
That single step spanned an immense distance, landing him directly in the Shatuo Heavenly Domain.
Clearly, the “one battle” he spoke of was this clash with the Moon God. Defeating her would free him from Jia Tianxia’s shadow, elevating him to a chessmaster in the Heavenly Realm’s grand game.
“Swish, swish.”
The whisk in his hand spun rapidly, each white thread wielding the power to cleave heaven and earth, instantly turning the ground beneath the Moon God into a tattered chaotic zone.
In this chaos, all natural rules were severed, countless sharp forces surging towards her.
The Moon God extended a crystalline jade finger, pointing forward, a wave of light rippling from her fingertip.
Sensing the finger’s fearsome power, Second Jia Blood Ancestor poured his all into the whisk, rules streaming from his body to fill the space, converging on the weapon.
“Bang.”
The rules snapped, the whisk shattered.
Blood dripped from his hands as he staggered back, shock in his eyes.
Retreating thousands of li, he barely neutralised her finger’s force with an ancient shield.
“She’s actually this strong.”
His expression shifted, but then he turned to find the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin behind him, unnoticed until now, bearing down like a blazing sun and divine moon.
“Blood War Nine Heavens.”
Second Jia Blood Ancestor spun, transforming into a blood fountain.
The fountain gushed fiercely, soon turning sky and earth into an endless blood sea. From its surface, massive handprints struck, clashing with the coffin, shaking the heavens relentlessly.
“Boom.”
After countless exchanges, the coffin’s power tore the blood sea in two.
The Moon God stood atop it, at the rift’s centre, suppressing Second Jia Blood Ancestor’s true form, plummeting into the void space, vanishing from sight.
Even as space resealed, onlookers’ hearts still raced.
That final image—the Moon God’s unmatched valour, Second Jia Blood Ancestor beneath her feet—was breathtaking.
Lord Yan and You God, having fled the Shatuo Heavenly Domain, trembled with dread. They knew Second Jia Blood Ancestor’s might better than anyone, yet he was powerless before her.
Fourth Jia Blood Ancestor said, “Fear not, Second Jia Blood Ancestor doesn’t fight unprepared battles, since he dared challenge the Moon God, he likely brought the Blood War Temple’s guardian treasure. With that, defeating her might not be impossible.”
Though he said this, Fourth Jia Blood Ancestor dared not re-enter the domain. If something went awry and the Moon God returned victorious…
He couldn’t bear to imagine the consequences.
Besides, with Second Jia Blood Ancestor and Black Heart Demon Lord in play, the outcome seemed set, no need for him to risk it.
Moon God Mountain.
Black Heart Demon Lord’s divine will avatar, a condensed demonic figure, hammered over thirty times, finally tearing a crack in the divine rune circle.
“No!”
Barbarian Sword Greater Saint roared in defiance.
“Bang.”
A tyrannical divine force surged into the circle, striking him.
His giant sword flew up to protect him, clashing with the force, holding it briefly. The next moment, both sword and saint crashed into the Guanghan Divine Palace’s wall.
“Haha!”
The demonic figure laughed, “The divine rune circle and Blood Moon Devouring Heaven Formation are impressive, holding me back this long.”
Immense divine might flooded the breached circle, paling Zhang Ruochen’s face, his veins bulging, his body on the verge of bursting.
“Whoosh!”
Barbarian Sword Greater Saint’s giant sword trembled on the ground, rising, seized by the demonic figure.
His palm brushed the blade, a divine light sealing its spirit.
“Pfft.”
The sword then flew, striking Barbarian Sword Greater Saint’s neck, severing his head, embedding it in the palace wall. His headless body fell heavily beside Zhang Ruochen.
Only then did the demonic figure’s gaze settle on Zhang Ruochen, eyes narrowing, then smiling, “I knew there was a familiar aura on you, it’s that undead bird by Thousand Bones Empress’s side. Old friend, why hide?”
Xiao Hei emerged from Zhang Ruochen’s robe, snarling, “Old friend, my foot! The Empress treated you well, yet you’re an ungrateful wretch. If I hadn’t been sealed these ten millennia, I’d thrash ten of you.”
The demonic figure said, “The Empress was always my most admired and respected figure, without her support and recognition, I’d never have joined the Kunlun Realm’s prodigies to hear the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree’s sermon. Alas, no matter how hard I trained, she left me far behind, beyond reach.”
“She treated me as a close friend, but never intended our bond to deepen. I knew she thought me unworthy.”
Mentioning “Thousand Bones Empress,” his emotions flared, his demonic, mist-shrouded face twisting.
Xiao Hei cursed, “Look at yourself, daring to covet the Empress—can you match even her little finger? A faithless cur like you, if she were alive, with her peerless talent, a glance could kill you a hundred times.”
“Is the Empress still alive?” the demonic figure roared.
Xiao Hei sneered, “Beg me, beg me, and I’ll tell you.”
“A beast so blind to its doom, thinking this is still ten thousand years ago? Now I’m a god, ruling the world, what are you? I’ll extract your saint soul and find what I want.”
The demonic figure strode forward, a claw reaching for Xiao Hei.
Before it landed, Xiao Hei’s body crumpled under the pressure, the gap in strength too vast for resistance.
Yet his mouth kept muttering, eyes venomous, tears welling.
Zhang Ruochen caught fragments—“Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree” and “Thousand Bones Empress.”
Could the tree’s felling be tied to this demon god?
But it seemed unlikely, back then, even Thousand Bones Empress hadn’t reached godhood, this demon god couldn’t have had the power to fell it.
As Xiao Hei faced capture, Zhang Ruochen shifted, blocking him.
“Since you seek death, I’ll oblige.”
The demonic figure’s palm pressed down on Zhang Ruochen’s head.
As all thought him doomed, Zhang Ruochen raised an arm, meeting the palm, holding back its mountain-crushing force.
“Boom.”
Moon God Mountain sank sharply.
White and black light formed a circle, spreading tens of thousands of li.
“How… how is this possible…” countless cultivators gasped.
“It’s the Moon God’s power.”
Some noticed Zhang Ruochen clutching a wooden staff.
Radiant light poured from it, enveloping him.
“She really made Zhang Ruochen her divine envoy, isn’t that role for Greater Saints at least?”
“With his Saint King body and soul, can he withstand a god’s power?”
The divine envoy staff activated under Greater Saint-level attacks, letting Zhang Ruochen wield a portion of the Moon God’s might.
Zhang Ruochen said gravely, “Though I left the Kunlun Realm, I despise traitors most. I don’t know what treachery you wrought ten thousand years ago, but since Xiao Hei calls you faithless, you deserve death.”
His other hand struck, a vast divine force hitting the demonic figure’s chest, sending it flying.
But the blow left Zhang Ruochen’s arm aching, bloodied.
He couldn’t fully bear the Moon God’s power.
“War Resolve.”
Leaping up, he swung the staff, striking the demonic figure again, knocking it back. A scroll fell from it, containing the Paradise Realm kings.
Zhang Ruochen charged the scroll, punching it.
One hit would kill all within.
“Bang.”
Before his fist landed, divine force tore the scroll apart. The kings burst out, exploding midair into vivid blood mists.
Silence fell, Shatuo Heavenly Domain cultivators frozen, clearly shaken.
Multiple Paradise Realm gods had come to save those Saint Kings, only for Zhang Ruochen to slaughter them before their eyes.
It was a resounding slap to the gods’ faces, stinging not just their pride, but their hearts.
