“Twang.”
The White Sun Arrow shot forth, transforming into a blinding white beam, chasing after the fleeing Hundred Illusions Divine Son.
Hundred Illusions Divine Son halted, turning back to see the arrow’s form clearly. He muttered to himself, “The White Sun Arrow of White Sun Heavenly Lord—how could it be in a human’s hands?”
“Hundred Peaks Rise from the Earth.”
Hundred Illusions Divine Son formed a hand seal, gripping the gem and pressing it to the ground.
Instantly, the land before him quaked violently, giving rise to one mountain after another.
Each mountain stood at least a thousand metres tall, composed of rock as hard as iron.
Explosive sounds rang out continuously.
The White Sun Arrow pierced through the stone mountains, closing in on Hundred Illusions Divine Son, nearly striking him.
His form blurred, then vanished entirely.
The White Sun Arrow slammed into the ground, carving a dozens-of-li-long trench across the earth.
“Swish—”
Hundred Illusions Divine Son reappeared, unfurling three pairs of silver wings and wielding a blood-red millstone, hovering above the White Sun Arrow.
“Collect.”
The blood-red millstone, interwoven with numerous inscriptions, formed a powerful vortex, tugging at the White Sun Arrow.
“White Sun Heavenly Lord was once the foremost war god among the Great Saints of the Azure Heaven Tribe. His Azure Sky Bow and White Sun Arrow are treasures surpassing Ten-Yao Wanwen Holy Artefacts. If I can seize the White Sun Arrow, I could command the Undying Blood Clan of White Sun Star. From then on, I’d be the king of White Sun Star.”
Fully aware of the arrow’s value, Hundred Illusions Divine Son’s excitement surged as he poured all his strength into claiming it.
Zhang Ruochen sensed Hundred Illusions Divine Son attempting to take the White Sun Arrow. He channelled his entire body’s holy qi into the Azure Sky Bow, using its connection to the arrow to retrieve it. A fierce tug-of-war ensued between the two.
“Big Brother, let me lend you a hand!”
Xiang Chunan pulled out the Metal Demon Crown, activating its supreme power. With a lift of his arm, the crown soared upward.
Moments later, it reached the sky above Hundred Illusions Divine Son, conjuring thick demonic clouds that pressed downward. The air in that region grew dense, the space seeming to solidify.
Simultaneously, Murong Yue unleashed her Azure Light Crescent Slash, and Xie Chengzi launched his Bloodthirsty Ring, attacking Hundred Illusions Divine Son from two other directions.
Hundred Illusions Divine Son looked up, muttering, “A Supreme Holy Artefact.”
Then, eyeing the Azure Light Crescent Slash, his expression darkened further. “A divine legacy artefact. Who are these cultivators, wielding so many top-tier weapons?”
He abandoned his attempt to seize the White Sun Arrow, clapping his hands together.
His body shrank rapidly, collapsing into a speck of light and vanishing.
“Boom!”
The Metal Demon Crown, Azure Light Crescent Slash, and Bloodthirsty Ring struck in succession, shattering the earth below. Dust billowed skyward, and chaotic energy fluctuations filled the air.
Shielded by his spatial domain, Zhang Ruochen reached the outskirts of the devastated area first. With a flick of his sleeve, he retrieved the White Sun Arrow in a swift motion.
“He’s slipped away again,” Zhang Ruochen said, frowning.
Hundred Illusions Divine Son’s combat strength might be weaker than the Blood Bee Asura King’s, but his mastery of illusions was exceptional. Killing him was harder than killing the Blood Bee Asura King.
Even more troubling, Hundred Illusions Divine Son could alter his appearance and form, appearing and vanishing unpredictably with countless illusions. If he set his mind to assassinate someone, that person would face near-certain death.
“Letting Hundred Illusions Divine Son escape this time will surely bring endless trouble. We must be extremely cautious from now on,” Murong Yue said, her voice laced with concern.
“He won’t get away.”
Xiang Chunan let out a grunt, activating his Thousand-Mile Vision to track Hundred Illusions Divine Son’s whereabouts.
Meanwhile, Ji Fanxin employed a spiritual technique to subdue the Blood Camel Nether Beast. Standing gracefully atop its back, she approached Zhang Ruochen.
Shi Ren clenched his fists tightly, rushing beneath the Blood Camel Nether Beast. He pulled out a Seven Tribulations Saint-Suppressing Talisman, holding it between two fingers. “Fairy, this beast devoured my clansmen. I’ll kill it to avenge them.”
Veiled in mystery, Ji Fanxin exuded an ethereal beauty. Her melodic voice replied, “I just questioned the Blood Camel Nether Beast—it didn’t devour your clansmen. In truth, the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan’s cultivators only briefly clashed with Hundred Illusions Divine Son before retreating into a black plain deep within the clan’s territory.”
Shi Ren froze, then his face lit up with joy. “They must have fallen back to the Sword Tomb.”
Deep within the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan lay a black plain, perpetually shrouded in dark clouds.
The plain was bitterly cold, capable of freezing mortals to death within an hour. Yet, amidst this frigid expanse, numerous active volcanoes spewed intense heat near their bases.
On this land of ice and fire, countless swords and the bodies of sword cultivators lay buried.
Zhang Ruochen and his group reached the edge of the black plain and paused, refraining from advancing further.
Xiang Chunan landed at the rim of a volcano, gazing into the distance. “I’m certain Hundred Illusions Divine Son entered the Sword Tomb from here. But the heavenly rules here are unusual—my Thousand-Mile Vision is disrupted by a mysterious force. I can only see traces he left behind, not his true form.”
Having visited the Sword Tomb before, Zhang Ruochen knew its environment was unique.
“The heavenly rules in the Sword Tomb differ from elsewhere. This place is saturated with sword path rules, crowding out others. Sword cultivators here can multiply their strength several times over, while non-sword cultivators see their power diminished by the same degree,” Zhang Ruochen explained.
Murong Yue said, “Your Highness is a sword path cultivator. Killing Hundred Illusions Divine Son in the Sword Tomb would be effortless. Should we pursue him now and eliminate this major threat?”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently. “If it were just Hundred Illusions Divine Son, he’d be no cause for concern. I fear more Undying Blood Clan powerhouses have already entered the Sword Tomb.”
“Killing Hundred Illusions Divine Son is secondary. More importantly, we must prevent them from releasing the Nether King from the Nether Dungeon.”
“Let’s first rendezvous with the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan’s cultivators. Once the Blood-Suppressing Talismans are refined, dealing with the Undying Blood Clan will be much easier.”
Shi Ren agreed with Zhang Ruochen’s decision, nodding. “I have a secret method to contact my clansmen.”
He took out a sheet of talisman paper, sliced his index finger, and used his holy blood to inscribe an odd pattern on it.
Lighting the paper, he burned it to ashes.
“That’s your secret method?” Xiang Chunan scratched his head, puzzled.
Shi Ren clasped his hands behind his back, smiling and nodding. “Indeed. We’ll wait here, and the clan elders should come to meet us soon.”
After about the time it takes an incense stick to burn, two black-robed elders emerged from the ground not far from Zhang Ruochen’s group.
Seeing Shi Ren, the elders beamed with delight and approached. “Wonderful! Young Chief, is it really you? You’ve finally returned!”
“Elder Xuanfeng, Elder Xuanhai,” Shi Ren greeted.
Though his cultivation now surpassed theirs, Shi Ren still respectfully clasped his fists in salute.
Elder Xuanfeng, marked by a black mole between his brows, warily scanned Xiang Chunan and the others. “Young Chief, who are they?”
“Elder Xuanfeng, it’s been a while,” Zhang Ruochen stepped forward.
Recognising him instantly, Elder Xuanfeng exclaimed in surprise, “Zhang Ruochen!”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “As one of the six sword bearers of the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan, is it so shocking for me to appear at the Sword Tomb, Elder Xuanfeng?”
Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation and strength had grown beyond compare. Even secluded within the clan, Elder Xuanfeng had heard of his exploits and no longer saw him as a mere junior.
Standing before Zhang Ruochen, the two elders felt a subtle tension, sensing considerable pressure.
Shi Ren said, “No need for suspicion, Elders. They’re my friends and Zhang Ruochen’s—naturally, friends of the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan as well.”
“Young Chief, you may not know, but the Undying Blood Clan excels in transformation arts. They can infiltrate by posing as familiar cultivators, making them nearly impossible to guard against. Not long ago, a top-tier Undying Blood Clan expert slipped into our clan. Had the clan leader not seen through his identity in time, the entire Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan might have been wiped out,” Elder Xuanhai said, still shaken.
Shi Ren replied, “That Undying Blood Clan expert has already been driven off by us.”
“How is that possible?” Elder Xuanfeng and Elder Xuanhai exclaimed in unison.
Elder Xuanfeng continued, “I witnessed that Undying Blood Clan member’s methods firsthand—nearly unfathomable, not far off from the Azure Heaven Blood Emperor of old.”
“But he was indeed defeated by Zhang Ruochen,” Shi Ren affirmed.
At this, the two elders exchanged a glance, their eyes brimming with elation.
To them, Hundred Illusions Divine Son was a nightmare-like existence. The entire Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan had been helpless, forced to retreat into the Sword Tomb for refuge. That Zhang Ruochen could defeat him was, to their fearful hearts, a monumental relief.
Looking at Zhang Ruochen anew, Elder Xuanfeng and Elder Xuanhai’s gazes filled with reverence. They bowed in unison, saying, “We beseech the sword bearer to protect the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan.”
“No need for such formality, Elders. Take us to see the clan leader!” Zhang Ruochen said, gesturing with a light lift of his hand.
The two elders straightened up.
The Sword Tomb Palace was more than just a building—it was a powerful holy artefact.
Shi Qiankun, the clan leader of the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan, had used the Sword Tomb Palace to gather all the clan’s members, flying into the Sword Tomb to hide and avoid annihilation by Hundred Illusions Divine Son.
Inside the Sword Tomb Palace:
The clan’s cultivators sat on the right, led by Shi Qiankun.
Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin, Xiang Chunan, and the others occupied seats on the left side of the hall.
Zhang Ruochen presented the pattern for the “Saint King-level Blood-Suppressing Talisman” to Shi Qiankun. “With this talisman, the crisis facing the Prison-Suppressing Ancient Clan should be resolved.”
Having once commissioned Shi Qiankun to refine Half-Saint and Saint-level Blood-Suppressing Talismans, Zhang Ruochen knew the clan leader was familiar with them.
Taking the pattern, Shi Qiankun studied it closely, his eyes growing brighter.
But moments later, he frowned deeply. “The Saint King-level Blood-Suppressing Talisman can certainly overpower Undying Blood Clan members below the Seven-Step Saint King realm. However, against those above Seven-Step Saint Kings, it falls short.”
Xiang Chunan, ever bold, declared, “If one isn’t enough, use ten—or dozens—and hurl them all at once!”
Shi Qiankun shook his head. “Even dozens of Saint King-level Blood-Suppressing Talismans unleashed together could only suppress an Eight-Step Saint King at best. They’d have little effect on a Nine-Step Saint King—unless there’s a higher-grade Blood-Suppressing Talisman.”
