Following Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin, Xiang Chunan, Feng Yan, and Pei Yutian emerged, each showing noticeable changes.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on Pei Yutian, and he smiled, “Congratulations, Brother Pei, on your great progress in cultivation. The Yuan Epoch Holy Herb is truly remarkable.”
In just six years, Pei Yutian’s cultivation had reached the Lesser Rule Heaven of the Nine-Step Saint King realm, a terrifyingly rapid pace.
Before seclusion, Pei Yutian had only just reached the Eight-Step Saint King realm, with a mere two million holy rules in his body.
Now, with another breakthrough, he had at least six million holy rules.
To cultivate over four million holy rules in just seven years was something even the Mysteries of Truth couldn’t achieve.
Undoubtedly, this was entirely due to the Yuan Epoch Holy Herb.
Pei Yutian said, “If refining a Yuan Epoch Holy Herb couldn’t significantly boost my cultivation, I’d be utterly useless.”
“The Yuan Epoch Holy Herb is miraculous. I believe Brother Pei’s cultivation speed won’t slow down, and reaching Greater Rule Heaven, or even the Precept Domain, is only a matter of time,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Pei Yutian, bearing the destiny of the Northern Region, was destined for limitless achievements, with greater potential than others to become a Great Saint.
The sun leaf was naturally more miraculous than the Yuan Epoch Holy Herb, but its potency was primarily for physical refinement, helping Zhang Ruochen achieve the “Beneath Great Saint” bodily realm, with less significant effects on his holy rules.
“Junior Brother Zhang, come to the hall quickly.”
At that moment, Zhenyu’s voice suddenly rang in Zhang Ruochen’s ear.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Let’s go see Senior Brother Zhenyu first.”
The five wasted no time and hurried to the council hall.
“Senior Brother Zhenyu, has the Five Elements Earth arrived?” Zhang Ruochen asked eagerly upon seeing Zhenyu.
Zhenyu nodded, producing a one-foot-square box, “This contains the Five Elements Earth. It’s not much, so you mustn’t lose it, or I’ll be in a tough spot.”
“Thank you, Senior Brother Zhenyu. Rest assured, the Five Elements Earth will be safe,” Zhang Ruochen took the box, promising solemnly.
With the Five Elements Earth, the eleven divine stones at the bottom of Life-Death Cliff were as good as his.
Storing the box, Zhang Ruochen asked, “Senior Brother Zhenyu, when do we attack Xianji Mountain?”
Before seclusion, Zhenyu, Xuanyuan Liekong, and others had been discussing the attack on Xianji Mountain, so a plan must have been set.
Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin needed to go to Xianji Mountain to retrieve the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree trunk, so they couldn’t miss this battle.
“The plan is set. We attack in five days,” Zhenyu said.
Zhang Ruochen looked puzzled, “Why wait five days?”
“Someone hasn’t arrived yet, and their help will be crucial for attacking Xianji Mountain,” Zhenyu explained.
Zhang Ruochen’s curiosity was piqued. Someone valued by Zhenyu and Xuanyuan Liekong must be extraordinary, but he didn’t know who.
He refrained from asking, as Zhenyu would have revealed it if he intended to. Clearly, the person’s identity needed to remain confidential to avoid alerting the Death Clan.
After a brief chat with Zhenyu, Zhang Ruochen and the others left the Northern Region Base, heading straight for Life-Death Cliff.
With the battle looming, getting the divine stones early would allow them more time for secluded cultivation.
Since the anomaly at the bottom of Life-Death Cliff, more warriors had flocked there, all eager for the opportunities within the cave.
But in the past two days, the cliff’s base had suddenly grown quiet.
The reason was simple: a Rakshasa Clan army had appeared, sealing off the area.
Inevitably, a bloody battle erupted at the cliff’s base, with many Celestial Court cultivators losing their lives, staining Life-Death Cliff with blood.
The Northern Region Base was focused on preparing for the Xianji Mountain attack, leaving no resources to spare for Life-Death Cliff, which allowed the Rakshasa Clan to act with impunity.
“No wonder Luo Ji contacted Rakshasa Clan warriors. She’s after the opportunities beneath Life-Death Cliff,” Zhang Ruochen realised.
The Northern Region was the Death Clan’s battlefield, and without a special reason, a Rakshasa Clan army wouldn’t come here.
Feng Yan dashed over, “Big Brother, I’ve scouted it out. There are five hundred Rakshasa Clan dukes and thirty-six princes at the cliff’s base, tightly guarding the cave with the divine stones. Breaking through won’t be easy.”
“Five hundred dukes and thirty-six princes, Luo Ji’s pulled out all the stops,” a glint flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.
The Rakshasa Clan used a nobility system: Saints were marquises, Saint Kings were dukes, and some were princes.
Like marquises, dukes were divided into ten ranks. A One-Step Saint King was a tenth-rank duke, and so on, with Greater Rule Heaven being a first-rank duke.
Once a cultivator condensed a Precept Domain, showing potential for Great Saint status, they could be titled a prince.
Princes were divided into five ranks: Precept Domain was fifth-rank, Sky-Connecting Realm was fourth-rank, ordinary Precept Domain was third-rank, top-tier Precept Domain was second-rank, and first-rank princes, nearly as strong as Immortal Great Saints, could hold their own against them briefly.
Luo Ji had mobilised five hundred dukes, meaning five hundred Saint King realm warriors.
The thirty-six princes were warriors above the Precept Domain realm.
Undeniably, Luo Ji’s backing was formidable, capable of rallying astonishing forces.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, “The more Rakshasa Clan warriors, the better. It’ll boost our merit points.”
Having witnessed the Rakshasa Clan destroy the Ancestral Spirit Realm, Zhang Ruochen held no fondness for them.
Even Luo Ji, despite her claims that he was her destined one, wouldn’t sway him. If he had the chance, he’d find a way to eliminate her.
In short, he couldn’t let a Rakshasa woman beguile him, having suffered too much from women before.
Immediately, Zhang Ruochen took out the upgraded Nine-Dragon Carriage, ushering everyone inside.
*Roar.*
Resounding dragon roars echoed as nine dragon souls surged from the carriage, exuding a terrifying dragon aura.
After advancing to a Twelve-Shine Thousand-Pattern Holy Weapon, the nine dragon souls had transformed, becoming solid and lifelike, resembling nine golden divine dragons.
*Rumble.*
The nine dragon souls pulled the carriage, like an invincible war chariot, charging toward the bottom of Life-Death Cliff.
“Who’s that, daring to make such a spectacle heading to Life-Death Cliff’s base?”
The commotion from the Nine-Dragon Carriage was too great, instantly drawing the attention of many cultivators.
“Let’s follow and see. There might be a show.”
Curious to watch the excitement, some cultivators trailed the carriage.
Soon, the Nine-Dragon Carriage reached the vicinity of the cave.
“Zhang Ruochen, you’re finally here!”
As the voice rang out, Luo Ji’s figure slowly emerged from the mist.
Zhang Ruochen stood atop the carriage, hands behind his back, gazing at Luo Ji, “Luo Ji, you still dare to show yourself? Aren’t you afraid I’ll kill you?”
“Would you bear to kill me? I certainly couldn’t bear to kill you,” Luo Ji giggled, seeming fearless.
Zhang Ruochen felt a slight headache, his gaze turning sharp, “I’ve no time for your nonsense. Step aside, or don’t blame me for being unkind.”
“Insolent! How dare you disrespect Her Highness? That’s a death sentence.”
A Rakshasa Clan prince stepped forward from behind Luo Ji, radiating a terrifying killing intent.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes fell on the prince, a flicker of surprise in his gaze. From the markings on his attire, he recognised him as a third-rank prince, an ordinary Precept Domain warrior.
Even so, this was a genuine Precept Domain warrior, capable of easily forging an immortal holy body and becoming an Immortal Great Saint if he chose.
That Luo Ji could command a Precept Domain warrior was astonishing, a testament to how much her divine father favoured her.
Consider that Xia Wenxin, leading an army of hundreds of thousands to attack the Sword Vault, had no Precept Domain warriors under his command.
Those who reached the Precept Domain held immense status, untouchable even by divine or imperial heirs.
Luo Ji gently waved her hand, and the third-rank prince promptly stepped back.
“Zhang Ruochen, let’s make a deal,” Luo Ji said.
Zhang Ruochen replied coolly, “What deal could we possibly have?”
“This place is completely sealed off by my army. I know you and your group are strong, with many trump cards, but forcing your way in won’t be easy.”
“How about this: we cooperate. The divine stones are yours, the divine corpse is mine. We each get what we need,” Luo Ji proposed with a smile.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t respond immediately, instead pondering silently.
From his understanding of Luo Ji, she was cunning beyond measure. Cooperating with her was like negotiating with a tiger for its hide—one misstep, and she’d devour him whole.
However, the Rakshasa Clan’s blockade of the cave was indeed troublesome. He wasn’t afraid of clashing with Luo Ji head-on, but he worried that a mutually destructive fight would only let others swoop in and claim the spoils.
His mind raced, and Zhang Ruochen said, “Whether it’s the divine stones or the divine corpse, we first need to deal with the divine will evil entity. I have the Five Elements Earth. What do you have?”
“I have five hundred dukes and thirty-six princes. Is that enough?” Luo Ji replied.
Though she smiled, the threat in her words was unmistakable.
Had she not known Zhang Ruochen could obtain the Five Elements Earth, she wouldn’t have set her sights on the divine corpse or revealed her identity earlier.
“Enough, my foot! Luo Ji, you dared to deceive Grandpa Xiang. I’ll tear you apart!”
While Zhang Ruochen was thinking, Xiang Chunan burst out of the carriage, visibly agitated.
Feng Yan followed, a look of apology on his face. He’d tried to hold Xiang Chunan back but failed.
Zhang Ruochen grabbed Xiang Chunan, “Chunan, don’t be rash. Securing the divine stones comes first.”
Then, he turned to Luo Ji, “Fine, I’ll cooperate with you. But you’d better not play tricks, or you won’t leave the Northern Region alive.”
Luo Ji’s smile brightened, “Zhang Ruochen, you’re a smart man. I love working with smart people. Our past two collaborations were pleasant, and I’m sure this one will be no different. After you.”
Zhang Ruochen said no more, leading Xiang Chunan and Feng Yan back into the carriage.
*Rumble.*
The nine dragon souls pulled the carriage straight into the heart of the Rakshasa Clan army’s encirclement, a bold move born of great skill.
