Zhang Ruochen took out the Qingtian Pagoda, channelled his holy qi to activate it, and transformed it into a giant tower hundreds of zhang tall.
“Swish—”
As soon as he stepped into the tower, a sharp blade light, carrying the power of a Great Saint, slashed towards him.
It was the blade of the Great Saint’s holy corpse.
Zhang Ruochen was prepared. He opened the Secret Tome of Time and Space, conjuring a multidimensional space and using spatial power to trap the war blade.
“Clang!”
The blade’s surface erupted with silver light, emitting a piercing hum.
The mere sound of the blade’s vibration generated a force strong enough to tear a Saint realm cultivator to shreds.
“How dare you act so insolently? Believe me, I’ll refine you by fire,” Zhang Ruochen said.
A silver centipede flew out of the blade, over thirty zhang long, its shell gleaming as if forged from pure silver. It coiled and crawled around the blade, producing a “sizzle” friction sound as sparks showered down.
It was the blade spirit, having condensed a Dao body.
The aura emanating from the silver centipede was scarcely weaker than that of a Dao Domain realm powerhouse.
“Junior, I am a Dao body forged over three years using the True Fire of Tribulation. You think you can refine me?” the centipede declared.
“What’s so impressive about the True Fire of Tribulation?”
Zhang Ruochen unleashed the power of his Yan God Leg, his leg surging with intense flames that filled the Qingtian Pagoda’s interior, turning it into a blazing furnace.
The power and presence of Yan God struck terror into the centipede, causing it to stammer, “God… the power of a god…”
“Do you think I can refine you now?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
The silver centipede fell silent, no longer daring to challenge him.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Surrender your consciousness essence and submit to me.”
After all, it was just a blade, and the silver centipede sought a new master—one who could make it even stronger.
The man before it, though not highly cultivated and incomparable to its original master, wielded a Supreme Holy Artefact and could manipulate spatial power, promising a boundless future.
Submitting to him wasn’t a bad choice.
“I submit, I submit, Master.”
The silver centipede spat out a silver pearl, which floated slowly towards Zhang Ruochen—its consciousness essence.
Zhang Ruochen took the silver pearl, inspected it, then stored it in his qi sea, using the Qiankun Realm’s power to suppress it.
He reached out into the void.
The silver war blade flew automatically into his hand.
Zhang Ruochen probed it with his spiritual power, discovering that the blade contained 103,400 inscription patterns—truly a Ten-Yao Wanwen Holy Artefact.
This blade rivalled the Ten Dragons Blade once used by Emperor Ming.
“A fine blade, pity I don’t cultivate the Blade Path.”
Inside the blade was a chaotic space storing a vast amount of Great Saint power.
The silver centipede could tap into this Great Saint power, allowing its unleashed strength to rival a Dao Domain realm expert. In truth, its own power wasn’t particularly formidable.
If handed to a master of the Blade Path, its unleashed might would be even greater.
“Zhang Ruochen, how about giving this blade to me?” the evil spirit’s voice echoed from the Yi Huang Bone Staff.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Yi Huang Bone Staff and asked, “Do you cultivate the Blade Path?”
“Heh heh, I was once a Great Saint, versed in a hundred paths. My mastery of the Blade Path ranks among the top three of all I’ve learned,” the evil spirit replied.
Zhang Ruochen said, “I could give it to you.”
The evil spirit’s combat strength had already reached the Dao Domain level. With a Ten-Yao Wanwen Holy Artefact blade, its power would surely rise further.
The evil spirit added, “The Great Saint relic embedded in the bone staff is nearly depleted of energy. You must help me forge a physical body soon. Only with a body can I hope to regain my Great Saint realm.”
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Can’t you switch to cultivating the Ghost Path?”
“Cultivating the Ghost Path isn’t that simple. Each advancement requires surviving a ghost tribulation—fail, and my soul scatters. Besides, my skull and spine remain intact. If you ask the Moon Goddess, she’d surely be willing to help me recast my body.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “It requires the Moon Goddess’s intervention?”
“Recasting a body for a Great Saint is an act against the heavens—how could it be easy? Only an ancient deity like the Moon Goddess has the means to defy fate,” the evil spirit explained.
Zhang Ruochen replied, “I won’t return to the Heavenly Realm just yet—wait a bit longer. If the Buddha Emperor’s relic runs out of energy, I have a Great Saint holy source here, or I could embed a divine stone for you.”
With that, Zhang Ruochen took out the decayed Great Saint holy corpse, preparing to use the Qingtian Pagoda to forcibly break its indestructible holy body and extract the holy source within.
“Wait,” the evil spirit interjected.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “What’s wrong?”
The evil spirit let out a sinister chuckle. “Since I can’t forge my own body yet, I might as well borrow this one for now.”
The Yi Huang Bone Staff flew from Zhang Ruochen’s hand, landing on the Great Saint holy corpse. A thick, ink-like evil qi poured from the staff, forming a cocoon.
The cocoon slowly rose, hovering in midair.
“Zhang Ruochen, lend me a hand,” the evil spirit urged eagerly.
Zhang Ruochen channelled his holy qi into his left leg, activating the Yan God Leg’s power. Flames roared forth, surging towards the cocoon to refine the Yi Huang Bone Staff and the Great Saint holy corpse.
A full day and night passed, with Zhang Ruochen exhausting his holy qi countless times.
Finally, the Yi Huang Bone Staff and the Great Saint holy corpse fused, becoming a living dead.
The Great Saint holy corpse opened its eyes—no eyeballs, just two flickering flames of evil. It examined its arms and let out a hoarse, triumphant laugh. “At last, I have a body again—and an indestructible holy frame at that. Good, truly good.”
The indestructible holy frame’s defence was nigh invincible below the Great Saint level.
The evil spirit clenched its fists, circulating its evil qi. Dense Great Saint patterns emerged on its skin, causing the surrounding heavenly rules to swirl around it.
A Great Saint corpse was like a mystical war weapon.
The evil spirit was steadily unlocking the mysteries within the corpse. Once fully mastered, its combat strength would soar. In the future, it could even face powerhouses like the Blood Bee Asura King head-on.
Zhang Ruochen gave it some Spring of Life. After swallowing the water, flesh and skin regrew over the corpse’s decayed parts, shedding its former grotesque terror.
“Controlling a Great Saint servant is quite a dangerous affair,” Ji Fanxin’s voice came from the woods.
A faint floral fragrance wafted to his nose as Ji Fanxin’s stunning figure appeared before Zhang Ruochen. Her aura was serene, blending seamlessly with the surrounding flora.
The evil spirit’s hostility flared, a surge of evil qi rising from its back as it glared coldly at Ji Fanxin.
Ji Fanxin’s phoenix eyes flicked towards it, a powerful spiritual force radiating out, subduing the evil spirit.
After all, the evil spirit wasn’t a true Great Saint. Against a spiritual powerhouse like Ji Fanxin, it met its nemesis and felt deep wariness.
“Stand down,” Zhang Ruochen commanded.
The evil spirit dared not defy him and retreated.
Zhang Ruochen gazed at Ji Fanxin. “Fairy, your cultivation must have broken through a major realm, hasn’t it?”
“Indeed,” Ji Fanxin replied.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Congratulations! With your current strength, even using only martial power, you could likely suppress some Dao Domain realm experts.”
“Isn’t your progress even faster? You’ve broken through to the Eight-Step Saint King realm.”
Ji Fanxin was genuinely surprised, suspecting Zhang Ruochen possessed a time treasure. Only such an artefact could explain his rapid advancement.
She added, “With your current strength, you can hold your own against Dao Domain realm experts. Shall we set off to retrieve the main body of the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree?”
“Since Fairy is so eager to obtain the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree, we can depart now,” Zhang Ruochen said.
The main body of the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree was vital to Zhang Ruochen too.
It wasn’t just a divine corpse—it had other uses.
For instance, alchemy and artefact forging.
The sapling of the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree had once mentioned that within its main body lay a profoundly mysterious treasure, nurtured over billions of years. It could aid cultivators in comprehending the Dao, grant longevity, and even conceal secrets to divinity.
Ji Fanxin said, “The divine stone you wanted has been delivered by Qianrui Realm cultivators to Qianshui Royal City. We can pick it up along the way.”
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin went together to bid farewell to Fairy Tianchu.
Fairy Tianchu sat cross-legged by the third Tongtian River’s bank, her long hair trailing into the water, her skin as smooth as mutton-fat jade. Her injuries had healed, and her cultivation had advanced considerably.
Everyone who survived the Battle Soul Star expedition had reaped immense rewards.
Upon learning Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin’s intent, a strange glint flashed in Fairy Tianchu’s phoenix eyes. “You’re leaving?”
Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Ji Fanxin stepped in. “There’s an important matter Zhang Ruochen and I have planned for a long time. We must head to the Northern Region. If Your Highness is interested, you’re welcome to join us—there might be a great opportunity to seize.”
Zhang Ruochen thought Ji Fanxin was stirring trouble. Why invite Fairy Tianchu to the Northern Region?
Having one fairy from the Nine Immortals Beauty Painting accompany him was enough to make cultivators worldwide envious and hostile.
If two fairies travelled with him and word got out, it would cause a sensation. Countless cultivators would turn red-eyed with jealousy, viewing him as a thorn in their side.
Fairy Tianchu didn’t immediately reject Ji Fanxin’s invitation. She fell into thought, then said, “I’d like to speak with Zhang Ruochen alone. Could you step aside for a moment, Fairy?”
Ji Fanxin withdrew to a distance, flashing Zhang Ruochen a meaningful smile as she left.
Zhang Ruochen stood quietly behind Fairy Tianchu. Seeing her remain silent, he broke the silence. “Actually, Hundred Flower Fairy and I are just allies. Our relationship isn’t as close as Your Highness might think.”
“You two… are actually quite well-suited.”
Fairy Tianchu rose slowly, her dark hair swaying amid her white robes, exuding purity and grace. She stared at the divine river before her. “No need to go to the Northern Region. I have an opportunity I can give you right now.”
