Sensing the thick tension between Zhang Ruochen and Saint King Xingyun, the others were at a loss, unsure which side to support.
Saint King Tianyue frowned slightly. She knew Xingyun harboured resentment toward Zhang Ruochen, but this was excessive.
Yet, aware of Xingyun’s fiery temper, she hesitated to speak, fearing it would provoke his ire.
Facing Xingyun’s formidable saintly pressure, Zhang Ruochen stepped into the hall, his gaze turning sharp.
He didn’t seek trouble, but he wasn’t afraid of it either.
Since Xingyun refused to show him respect, he saw no need to hold back.
“Suppress me? Saint King Xingyun, you’ve got some nerve. It seems you truly have no regard for the Moon God. Your arrogance knows no bounds,” Zhang Ruochen declared loudly.
Xingyun stood abruptly, snorting, “Trying to use the Moon God to intimidate me? Zhang Ruochen, you underestimate me. I’ll show you that in this world, the strong always rule.”
He was aware of Zhang Ruochen’s feats in Kunlun Realm but didn’t take him seriously, believing Zhang Ruochen’s victories in the Eastern Region’s Saint City, Central Region’s Sword Tomb, and Northern Region’s Xianji Mountain relied on external forces.
In Phoenix Lake, with no external aid, Xingyun was confident he could easily suppress Zhang Ruochen with minimal effort.
He didn’t dare harm Zhang Ruochen outright, but teaching him a lesson posed no issue.
“Saint King Xingyun…”
“Xingyun, you…”
Mu Lingxi and Tianyue spoke simultaneously, trying to intervene.
Zhang Ruochen raised a hand, stopping them, “No need to interfere. Let’s see what he can do to me.”
Privately, he transmitted to Mu Lingxi, “Don’t worry. He can’t handle me.”
Relieved, Mu Lingxi trusted Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t act without confidence.
“Bold words, Zhang Ruochen. If you can withstand three of my moves, I’ll let this go,” Xingyun said, looking down at him.
Zhang Ruochen replied coolly, “Make your move.”
“Arrogant. Take my first strike.”
Xingyun attacked, thrusting out a palm.
Over 700,000 palm path rules materialized, coalescing into a surge of saintly energy, forming a flaming sacred furnace that hurtled toward Zhang Ruochen.
The furnace was solid, interwoven with countless rule patterns, resembling a true sacred artifact, brimming with immense saintly power.
“Mysterious Heaven Mid-Tier Saint Technique—Blazing Heaven Palm,” Bu Ji exclaimed.
Guanghan Realm, long suppressed and plundered, retained only a few Mysterious Heaven Mid-Tier Saint Techniques, each immensely powerful, rivaling ordinary high-tier techniques when mastered.
Blazing Heaven Palm was Guanghan Realm’s most renowned mid-tier technique, rarely mastered successfully.
No one expected Xingyun to unleash his strongest technique from the start, showing no intention of holding back.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t dodge. His gaze sharpened as he reached out, twisting the space before him. The incoming furnace abruptly reversed, hurtling back toward Xingyun.
Having studied the space rules within the *Secret Tome of Time and Space*, Zhang Ruochen’s mastery of spatial techniques had greatly advanced, allowing him to wield various spatial methods with remarkable power.
“Spatial techniques,” Xingyun muttered, eyes narrowing. He struck again, shattering the flaming furnace.
“Not bad. Now take my second strike.”
Xingyun flew out of the hall to avoid damaging it with excessive force.
Moments later, he appeared above Phoenix Lake, his aura intensifying, momentum surging.
Phoenix Lake was extraordinary; even a Great Saint’s attack might not damage it, allowing Xingyun to act without restraint.
As Xingyun cast his saint technique, heaven and earth rules and forces within a 3,000-mile radius surged violently, rushing toward him.
Vast flames poured from his body, forming a massive fire phoenix. Endless heaven and earth rules flowed into it, making its form more solid and its aura more terrifying.
The earlier strike was a mere test, using little power. Now, he was getting serious.
“What’s happening? Why is such a powerful aura emerging?”
Guanghan Realm saints were roused, their gazes turning to Phoenix Lake.
“That’s Saint King Xingyun. Who’s he fighting?”
“Good heavens, is this the power of a Near-Path Realm powerhouse? Controlling such a vast range of heaven and earth rules and forces, like a master of a domain.”
“It’s the Envoy. Why is Xingyun fighting the Envoy?”
“They say the Envoy has been unstoppable in Kunlun Realm, his strength unfathomable. Xingyun must want to spar with him.”
…
Guanghan Realm saints buzzed with confusion, unable to grasp the situation.
Soon, Mu Family members were also alerted by the commotion on the lake, rushing from their manor to observe from afar.
“It seems Xingyun is fighting Zhang Ruochen,” Mu Qingtian said, frowning.
Yun Zheng’s eyes gleamed, “I’ve heard the Wu Family and Zhang Ruochen are at odds. It seems true. With Xingyun taking action, Zhang Ruochen’s in for it. Fight, teach him a lesson.”
Since their ancestor couldn’t handle Zhang Ruochen, Yun Zheng pinned his hopes on Xingyun, eager to see Zhang Ruochen humiliated.
At the lakeside, Mu Lingxi, Tianyue, and others focused on Zhang Ruochen and Xingyun. The situation had escalated beyond anyone’s expectations, and stopping it now seemed unlikely.
“Xingyun’s getting serious, wielding heaven’s might. The Envoy is strong, but his cultivation is only Rule of Heaven and Earth. How can he resist?” Bu Ji said, worried.
Wen Shusheng nodded, “The Envoy was impulsive. I hope Xingyun shows restraint and doesn’t harm him.”
Su Qingling turned to Tianyue, urging, “Aunt, stop them!”
“It’s too late. No one can separate them now. Don’t worry too much—the Envoy may not be unable to counter Xingyun’s attacks,” Tianyue said softly, shaking her head.
She was curious about Zhang Ruochen’s true strength, doubting he relied solely on external forces to lead those major campaigns.
Mu Lingxi remained silent, her eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, her confidence in him unwavering.
On the lake, Zhang Ruochen faced Xingyun, holding the Ancient Abyssal Blade.
“Controlling 30% of the heaven and earth rules within a 3,000-mile radius—his strength is only mid-tier among Near-Path Realm powerhouses,” Zhang Ruochen murmured calmly.
He channelled his saintly energy, hundreds of thousands of sword path rules, and over 10,000 time laws into the blade.
The purple divine stone on the hilt glowed faintly, stirring the surrounding heaven and earth rules.
Currently, Zhang Ruochen had three ways to manipulate heaven and earth rules: casting high-tier saint techniques, activating the purple divine stone, or using a supreme sacred artifact.
Without a condensed Dao Domain, he couldn’t directly control rules.
“Hm? He’s not using Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm or a supreme sacred artifact, yet he’s manipulating heaven and earth rules—and on this scale…” Xingyun thought, startled.
Tianyue also showed surprise, “The Envoy is manipulating heaven and earth rules too. Xingyun controls 30% within a 3,000-mile radius, while the Envoy controls 50% within a 2,000-mile radius.”
Controlling more rules, not a wider range, determined strength. Controlling 100% within a 1,000-mile radius was far stronger than 30–40% within a 2,000-mile radius.
Everyone was astonished. Though they hadn’t condensed Dao Domains and couldn’t sense rule flows clearly, they trusted Tianyue’s judgment.
Mu Lingxi finally smiled, her confidence in Zhang Ruochen growing.
“Take my second strike.”
Xingyun acted, striking with a palm.
The massive fire phoenix soared, flapping its flaming wings, unleashing waves of searing heat that nearly boiled the lake below.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t evade, instead raising the Ancient Abyssal Blade and charging forward.
As he swung, countless time marks appeared, imprinting on the surrounding space.
With his deepened mastery of time, Zhang Ruochen could more easily capture time marks and sustain them briefly.
His improved spatial mastery allowed him to manipulate a larger range of rules with the purple divine stone, controlling a vast number.
As he further studied the *Secret Tome of Time and Space*, these abilities would grow stronger.
Dozens of time marks materialized clearly, drawn by the blade, forming a strange virtual time, as if freezing the moment.
“Swish.”
Zhang Ruochen swung, slicing through the fire phoenix’s body.
The phoenix split, becoming two halves, then two dissipating flame clusters.
“My turn.”
Zhang Ruochen murmured, his sword intent soul instantly forming. Holding the blade, he attacked Xingyun.
His sword soul had just transformed into an Earth Sword Soul, and Xingyun was the perfect test of its power.
