Faced with such a forceful Zhang Ruochen, Ling Feiyu’s body stiffened, a fleeting glint of killing intent in her eyes.
Yet, she didn’t lash out, instead gradually ceasing resistance, adopting a coy, half-willing demeanor.
“Let’s see how long you can keep this up,” Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
He grew more intense, his breathing heavier, one hand roaming freely over Ling Feiyu’s exquisite form.
With a rip, Zhang Ruochen tore her white gown, pulling off a large piece.
“No… don’t.”
Ling Feiyu tried to resist, but her lips were sealed by Zhang Ruochen’s domineering kiss, her words muffled.
As if deaf to her protests, Zhang Ruochen continued, tearing her clothes piece by piece, revealing her stunning figure.
Inside the palace, not far from the floating island, a peculiar white space shimmered like a dreamlike bubble, visible yet intangible.
This was an illusionary space, crafted by a highly skilled illusion saint master, nearly undetectable even by top powerhouses.
Within this white illusionary space stood several figures, led by a towering man, three meters tall, radiating terrifying black saint light. Millions of saint path rules flowed across his skin, showcasing his immense power.
He was none other than Cang Long, You God Temple’s top expert below Great Saint and You God’s direct disciple.
Behind him were other You God Temple elites, including the remaining two of the Six Absolutes.
Additionally, a gallant man wreathed in purple energy glared at Zhang Ruochen with deep hatred.
This man, Zi Feng, hailed from the Purple Heaven Temple, the top force in the Hongyang Great World. He was the twin brother of Ziyang Saint King, whom Zhang Ruochen had killed at the base of Life-Death Cliff.
Zi Feng Saint King, stronger than his brother, had reached the Near-Path Realm.
Though no one witnessed Zhang Ruochen killing Ziyang, Zi Feng, through blood ties and secret techniques, confirmed Zhang Ruochen as his brother’s killer.
Watching the scene on the icy saint jade bed, Cang Long trembled, his eyes blazing with fury. “Damn it, damn it!”
“Brother Cang Long, calm down. A small lapse could ruin the plan,” urged Giant Dragon Spirit Master, one of You God Temple’s Six Absolutes.
Nine-Headed Dragon Prince, another of the Six Absolutes, chimed in, “Exactly. This is Sister Ruan Ling’s plan. Only by making Zhang Ruochen drop his guard can we seize the Qiankun Realm and the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree. For the greater goal, Brother Cang Long, you must endure.”
Even Zi Feng Saint King spoke, “Brother Cang Long, don’t act rashly. Zhang Ruochen is cunning with many tricks. Alerting him could ruin everything. The Qiankun Realm, Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree, supreme saint artifacts, Radiant Merit Armor—are you willing to let them slip away?”
“Roar.”
Cang Long let out a furious bellow, nearly losing control.
But he restrained himself, not acting recklessly.
He knew Ruan Ling’s temper. If he disrupted her plan, she wouldn’t forgive him easily.
Yet, seeing Zhang Ruochen brazenly violate Ruan Ling drove him to the brink. He’d always seen her as his woman, untouched by him, only for Zhang Ruochen to take advantage.
Clenching his fists, Cang Long gritted his teeth. “Zhang Ruochen, I’ll make you beg for death, tormenting you for millennia to quell my hatred.”
Seeing Cang Long hold back, Giant Dragon Spirit Master and Nine-Headed Dragon Prince sighed in relief, fearing he’d charge out.
If Ruan Ling’s plan failed, they’d face severe consequences.
Thinking of Ruan Ling’s methods, they shuddered.
On the icy saint jade bed, Zhang Ruochen pushed aside Ling Feiyu’s hands, tearing off her final undergarment, her full chest bared before him.
At that moment, the white illusionary space where Cang Long and the others hid blurred, blocking their view and sound from the outside.
“Ah, Zhang Ruochen, I’ll kill you!” Cang Long roared, radiating terrifying killing intent.
Giant Dragon Spirit Master’s face paled, grabbing Cang Long. “Brother Cang Long, the Qiankun Realm, the Heaven-Connecting Divine Tree!”
Nine-Headed Dragon Prince also restrained him, soothing, “Sister Ruan Ling’s doing this for you, Brother Cang Long. Don’t betray her efforts. Rest assured, she won’t let herself be compromised.”
“She’s already in that state, and you say she won’t be compromised?” Cang Long glared at Nine-Headed Dragon Prince.
Fear flashed in Nine-Headed Dragon Prince’s eyes. “Sister Ruan Ling’s luring Zhang Ruochen to lower his guard. She’ll act soon, not letting him go further.”
“Right, right, Zhang Ruochen won’t last long. Everything’s under Sister Ruan Ling’s control,” Giant Dragon Spirit Master echoed.
Cang Long was at the edge of rage, nearly exploding, his last shred of reason drowning in fury.
On the bed, seeing Zhang Ruochen consumed by desire, a cold smirk flickered in Ling Feiyu’s eyes.
As he buried his face in her chest, she swiftly raised a hand, her finger darting like lightning toward his brow.
At that instant, Zhang Ruochen’s eyes glinted sharply. Faster than her, he seized her neck, pinning her to the bed, rendering her immobile.
“You…”
Ling Feiyu’s face filled with shock, unprepared for this turn.
“Careful.”
A warning rang out as a hidden illusionary space at her brow shattered. A figure emerged, transforming into another Ling Feiyu.
The “Ling Feiyu” pinned by Zhang Ruochen morphed, revealing a different woman, her beauty rivaling the real Ling Feiyu’s.
The truth was now clear.
Glaring at the stunning woman he held, Zhang Ruochen said coldly, “Ruan Ling, You God’s direct disciple, master of mental power, top illusion saint master below Great Saint. You sacrificed much to trap me.”
This was Ruan Ling, one of You God Temple’s two leading figures, with formidable mental power and illusion skills, capable of manipulating even top Near-Path Realm experts.
Even Zhang Ruochen’s late-stage 59th-tier mental power hadn’t initially pierced her illusion, a testament to her terrifying skill.
But no matter how strong her illusions, with her neck in his grasp, Ruan Ling was powerless.
Turning to the real Ling Feiyu, Zhang Ruochen asked with concern, “Are you alright?”
He was certain this was the true Ling Feiyu, clad in the Lightning Empress robe, wielding the Heaven-Burying Sword, exuding a fierce sword intent only she could possess.
Ling Feiyu shook her head. “I’m fine. Not long ago, she disguised herself as you to probe me. I saw through her, but she ambushed me, trapping me in an illusionary space. Then she took my form, waiting for you to fall into her trap.”
“She wanted me to watch you step into her snare, to take all your treasures and drag you to You God Temple.”
“So, you were in an illusionary space at her brow, hearing and seeing everything?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
A flicker of emotion crossed Ling Feiyu’s eyes as she nodded.
Zhang Ruochen felt a twinge of embarrassment. Ling Feiyu had not only heard his exchange with Ruan Ling but also witnessed the earlier scene.
“How did you figure it out?” Ruan Ling suddenly asked.
She believed her plan was flawless, with no gaps, yet Zhang Ruochen, deep in her trap, had abruptly turned on her.
Composing himself, Zhang Ruochen looked at Ruan Ling. “Your disguise was near-perfect. Even without the Lightning Empress robe or Heaven-Burying Sword, I barely doubted you, almost convinced you were Feiyu.”
“But when I mentioned our seventh life in the Seven Lives Seven Deaths Chart, you said we grew old together, living a full life—a glaring flaw that sparked my suspicion. So I tested you, and you revealed more. The real Ling Feiyu would never act as you did.”
He knew Ling Feiyu well. Had he acted so boldly with her, she’d have disciplined him harshly, not let him have his way.
In the white illusionary space, Cang Long paced restlessly, tormented by the lack of sight or sound from outside, clueless about the situation.
The thought of Zhang Ruochen tearing off Ruan Ling’s final garment and pinning her down drove him mad.
“I can’t wait anymore!”
After a long moment, Cang Long roared, unable to endure.
“Boom.”
He struck, shattering the illusionary space.
Giant Dragon Spirit Master and Nine-Headed Dragon Prince tried to stop him but were too late.
Bursting out, Cang Long’s gaze locked on Zhang Ruochen and Ruan Ling. Seeing Ruan Ling subdued, her face contorted in pain, he erupted.
“Zhang Ruochen, you beast, I’ll kill you!”
Imagining what might have transpired, Cang Long’s eyes reddened, radiating murderous intent.
He yearned to tear Zhang Ruochen apart, but with Ruan Ling in his grasp, he hesitated, wary of acting rashly.
Ling Feiyu’s expression shifted. Moments ago, her mind had replayed Zhang Ruochen’s intimacy with Ruan Ling, stirring complex emotions. She’d forgotten to warn Zhang Ruochen about Cang Long and the others in the nearby illusionary space.
Zhang Ruochen remained utterly calm, as if he’d long known of their presence.
With a flip of his hand, he produced a Saint-Binding Rope, securing Ruan Ling.
Considerate, he wrapped her in white gauze, sparing her from full exposure.
“Cang Long, I came for you, but I’m disappointed. You’re so useless, hiding behind a woman to deal with me,” Zhang Ruochen said, shaking his head.
Infuriated, Cang Long growled, “Zhang Ruochen, I’m right here. Release Ruan Ling, and we’ll settle this.”
Shaking the Saint-Binding Rope, Zhang Ruochen’s gaze sharpened. “Fine, I’ll give you that chance. Follow me.”
With that, he enveloped Ling Feiyu and Ruan Ling in a spatial domain, streaking out of the palace as a rainbow beam.
Cang Long pursued without hesitation.
Giant Dragon Spirit Master, Zi Feng Saint King, and the others followed swiftly.
