The Blood Bee Asura King stood with his back against a towering hill, wielding his sword horizontally to block the Qingtian Pagoda. Dense patterns, resembling wriggling earthworms, emerged on his holy armour.
When the power of the Supreme Artefact struck the armour, more than half of it was dissipated.
The Butcher found it hard to believe, exclaiming, “How is this possible? Even a Supreme Holy Artefact can’t kill him?”
“Roar!”
The Blood Bee Asura King let out a thunderous bellow, and a tall, majestic Great Saint battle soul surged from his body.
Unable to withstand the immense power of the Blood Bee Asura King, the hill behind him shattered with a boom, crumbling into rubble and dust that filled the sky.
It was relatively common for cultivators to refine the souls of savage beasts into their own battle souls.
For example, Zhang Ruochen had thirteen dragon souls and thirteen elephant souls within him.
However, for a Saint King realm cultivator to refine the holy soul of a Great Saint into their own battle soul was exceedingly rare, its difficulty comparable to slaying a Great Saint.
Given the Blood Bee Asura King’s strength, he clearly wasn’t yet capable of challenging a Great Saint.
Yet his physical toughness and mental willpower far surpassed that of a Dao Domain realm cultivator.
Empowered by the Great Saint battle soul, the Blood Bee Asura King broke through the suppression of the Qingtian Pagoda, leaping into the air, vaulting over it, and charging towards Zhang Ruochen and the others.
The Blood Bee Asura King knew well that he couldn’t confront the Qingtian Pagoda head-on; the greatest weakness of Zhang Ruochen and his group was themselves.
“We must stop him.”
Zhang Ruochen pulled out a stack of talismans, holding them in his hand, while simultaneously controlling the Qingtian Pagoda again, preparing for a second strike.
The Blood Bee Asura King could withstand one blow from a Supreme Holy Artefact, but not necessarily ten.
The holy qi within Fairy Tianchu transformed into a white holy river, continuously flowing into the jade stele hovering in midair. The semicircular light shield grew even more radiant.
“Killing Sword Path, Cross Execution.”
“Break for me.”
The Blood Bee Asura King swung his war sword, unleashing the origin divine power within it, merging it with the Killing Sword Path, and slashing out a cross-shaped seal.
With a “bang,” the semicircular light shield was torn apart, and the jade stele crumbled into dust.
“He’s coming. What do we do now?” the Butcher asked, looking at Zhang Ruochen.
Unknowingly, the cultivators of the Tianchu Civilisation had come to see Zhang Ruochen as their backbone.
“Laiwang Ren and Qu Xingzhe have blocked our retreat. We can’t break through the blood mist in a short time, so we have no choice but to fight the Blood Bee Asura King head-on,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Those two damned bastards—I’ll make sure to tear them apart one day,” the Butcher snarled.
“We can’t let the Blood Bee Asura King get close, or none of us will be able to withstand a single strike from his sword.”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression was grave as he unleashed all the talismans in his hand, transforming them into a dense barrage of attacks.
The Blood Bee Asura King sneered, “Using the same trick a second time—do you really think it can stop me?”
“Swish—”
The Blood Bee Asura King merged with his war sword, breaking through the attack zone formed by the exploding talismans, closing within ten zhang of Zhang Ruochen and the others.
“Die.”
The Blood Bee Asura King’s first strike was aimed at Zhang Ruochen.
The Qingtian Pagoda hadn’t returned in time to block him, forcing Zhang Ruochen to channel all his holy qi into his left leg.
His left leg ignited, releasing scorching waves of heat.
But before Zhang Ruochen could make his move, a graceful white figure stepped in front of him—it was Fairy Tianchu. Her silhouette was breathtakingly beautiful, her long black hair fluttering in the wind, her curves soft and captivating.
Zhang Ruochen wasn’t unfamiliar with the sight of Fairy Tianchu’s back.
Yet, at this moment, her figure left him momentarily entranced.
“She…” Zhang Ruochen’s gaze grew hazy.
Fairy Tianchu’s jade fingers formed an orchid seal, and the vertical eye on her forehead opened, its pupil radiating a dazzling array of multicoloured starlight, as if it contained a vast cosmos within.
Facing her, the Blood Bee Asura King’s surroundings vanished, and he found himself in a starry expanse.
Before him, a nebula of vibrant colours spun rapidly, forming a vortex. From its centre, a beam of light shot out, striking him.
“Pfft.”
The Blood Bee Asura King was sent flying backwards, crashing heavily several miles away.
Blood dripped from the vertical eye on Fairy Tianchu’s forehead as it slowly closed. Her breathtakingly beautiful face turned pale, and her delicate frame trembled slightly.
That strike had cost her dearly.
For some reason, anger surged within Zhang Ruochen. He unleashed the power of the Yan God Leg, stepping forward in a single stride, his foot landing miles away above the Blood Bee Asura King.
The Blood Bee Asura King looked up to see a thick layer of fiery clouds in the sky.
A massive foot imprint descended from the clouds, pressing down towards him.
“Great Saint Battle Soul.”
The Blood Bee Asura King planted his war sword into the ground, summoning the Great Saint battle soul once more. He leapt upwards, striking at the sky with both palms.
“Rumble.”
The Blood Bee Asura King was stomped back to the ground, his body sinking into the earth. His black wings were scorched, and his holy armour glowed red-hot.
Fairy Tianchu’s earlier strike had already injured him.
Now, taking the full force of Zhang Ruochen’s Yan God Leg, his wounds worsened, and he spat out a mouthful of blood.
Yet, astonishingly, he held firm with his arms, resisting the Yan God Leg without collapsing.
As the power of the Yan God Leg faded, the Blood Bee Asura King roared, “Back off!”
Zhang Ruochen felt an overwhelming force surge from beneath his foot, forcing him to stagger backwards. His leg bones creaked and cracked, as if they might shatter.
“The gap in cultivation is still too vast. Even the Yan God Leg couldn’t bring him down,” Zhang Ruochen said with a bitter smile.
In the distance, Laiwang Ren and Qu Xingzhe were utterly shocked.
“Zhang Ruochen… he’s actually managed to injure the Blood Bee Asura King. Is this boy really just an Eight-Step Saint King?”
“Impossible. The Blood Bee Asura King can easily slay Dao Domain realm experts. How could an Eight-Step Saint King harm him?”
At that moment, Master Shenya descended from the sky, landing before Laiwang Ren and Qu Xingzhe.
Seeing Master Shenya, both Laiwang Ren and Qu Xingzhe beamed with joy, their uneasy heart settling down.
“Greetings, Master.”
Laiwang Ren and Qu Xingzhe bowed in unison.
Master Shenya stood with his hands behind his back, gazing into the distance. He let out a loud laugh, “The infamous Blood Bee Asura King amounts to this? Beaten so miserably by a junior from the Heavenly Realm. If word of this battle spreads, I’m afraid your reputation will be ruined.”
The Blood Bee Asura King’s gaze was icy. He wiped the blood from his mouth, looking at Master Shenya with unprecedented wariness.
He didn’t rush to attack again, saying, “The renowned Master Shenya has come to Luo Shui—quite unexpected. If your target is me, I can only advise you to abandon that notion quickly.”
Master Shenya, nursing an injury, had no desire to provoke a formidable foe like the Blood Bee Asura King. “You may leave now.”
The Blood Bee Asura King was shrewd. He had no intention of facing both a Holy Array Master and Zhang Ruochen’s group at once. Picking up his war sword, he retreated into the blood mist.
“Though they’re all from the Heavenly Realm, they seem to have old grudges. Let them fight it out first. Once one side defeats the other, it won’t be too late for me to step in.”
The Blood Bee Asura King coveted the Supreme Holy Artefact in Zhang Ruochen’s hands and longed to capture Fairy Tianchu. How could he truly retreat?
Master Shenya’s gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen and Fairy Tianchu. The smile faded from his face, replaced by a dark expression. “Fairy, you shouldn’t have gotten so close to Zhang Ruochen, nor should you have made an enemy of me. When you acted in the Eastern Region’s Holy City, did you ever consider this outcome?”
Though Fairy Tianchu’s face was pale, she remained proud as a winter plum. “The outcome of today is still uncertain.”
Master Shenya replied, “If you think you can escape my grasp with just a Supreme Holy Artefact, you’re underestimating a Holy Array Master far too much.”
Zhang Ruochen sniffed lightly, catching a faint floral scent in the air.
“Has she arrived?”
A glint of joy flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.
Master Shenya’s spiritual power, far exceeding that of anyone present, sensed something. He turned to look behind him.
On the barren ground, vibrant, fragrant flowers began to bloom. A figure of ethereal beauty emerged from the horizon, exuding an otherworldly aura untouched by mortal concerns.
“The Hundred Flower Fairy, Ji Fanxin,” Laiwang Ren said.
Qu Xingzhe added, “Why is she in Luo Shui too?”
Master Shenya’s brows furrowed deeply but soon relaxed. He took the initiative to greet her with a smile. “I’ve long heard of the Hundred Flower Fairy’s fame. May I ask what brings you to the Battle Soul Star?”
Ji Fanxin pursed her red lips and said faintly, “I’ve no interest in you. I came to the Battle Soul Star merely to earn some merit points.”
Master Shenya nodded knowingly. “Could it be that you intend to eliminate the Blood Bee Asura King, a great scourge of the Heavenly Realm? His cultivation is formidable. Forgive my bluntness, but I’m afraid you’re no match for him. Why not join forces with me?”
Master Shenya was unaware that Ji Fanxin had always concealed her true strength. He assumed she was merely a highly gifted Saint Path cultivator, not necessarily stronger than a Dao Domain expert.
“How would we cooperate?” Ji Fanxin drew closer.
Master Shenya transmitted his voice through spiritual power. “If you turn a blind eye to what happens today, I’ll help you eliminate the Blood Bee Asura King. With his head, you could claim a fortune in merit points.”
Master Shenya’s goal today was to kill Zhang Ruochen and Fairy Tianchu, avenging the events in the Eastern Region’s Holy City.
Thus, he’d naturally have to silence the Blood Bee Asura King as well.
The reason he didn’t dare kill Ji Fanxin to tie up all loose ends was that if two fairies from the *Nine Immortals Beauty Scroll* died on the Battle Soul Star, it would cause an uproar.
How could the Heavenly Palace not investigate thoroughly?
If even the slightest clue were uncovered, even as a Holy Array Master, Master Shenya would face certain death.
But if he enlisted Ji Fanxin, with her as a witness claiming the Blood Bee Asura King killed Fairy Tianchu and the others, Master Shenya could rest easy.
A faint smile appeared on Ji Fanxin’s face. “Thank you for your kind offer, but I already have an ally. Unfortunately, that ally happens to be your enemy.”
