At this moment, on Kongle Mountain outside Saint Ming City, Shang Ziyan stood with a group of powerhouses, overlooking the city and clearly observing the battle within.
Saint Ming City was in ruins, nearly half the city sunk into the ground, littered with corpses, resembling a hellish battlefield.
Beside Shang Ziyan stood a boy of fourteen or fifteen, clad in a python robe, with delicate features, red lips, and white teeth, every inch of his skin radiating divine light.
He was none other than Chi Kunlun, who had sought revenge against Zhang Ruochen in the Truth Heavenly Domain. Possessing a True God Body and being a spatial controller, his potential was limitless.
Chi Kunlun had been fighting on the Merit Battlefield, slaying countless Hell Realm monks, but was betrayed by Heavenly Court faction experts and fell into Shang Ziyan’s hands.
“Ziyan, why go to such lengths to capture this kid?” Si Han asked, puzzled.
Shang Ziyan smiled, “He must be deeply connected to Zhang Ruochen. Keeping him could prove useful.”
“Kill me if you dare. I have a blood feud with Zhang Ruochen, but expecting me to help you against him is delusional,” Chi Kunlun snorted.
Though he hated Zhang Ruochen, he’d never ally with the Heavenly Court faction.
“Ziyan, Zhang Ruochen’s reached Saint Ming City’s outskirts. Should we capture him?” Si Han asked again, locking onto Zhang Ruochen approaching the city.
Shang Ziyan glanced over, saying lightly, “There are enough powerhouses in the city to deal with him. He can’t escape. Let’s head to Peacock Manor to capture Kong Lanyou and destroy Ming Hall. I want Zhang Ruochen to watch his loved ones die one by one.”
He’d arranged ample forces in Saint Ming City to ensure Zhang Ruochen’s capture, leaving him without worries.
Attacking Saint Ming City was indeed a trap to lure Zhang Ruochen.
Otherwise, the city’s monks wouldn’t warrant such a massive effort—a single Nine-Step Saint King could have wiped them out.
Now, Saint Ming City had nearly fallen, with any survivors merely struggling in vain.
Shang Ziyan summoned a warship, heading for Peacock Manor.
He prioritized Kong Lanyou, a former Great Saint whose strength, even with her immortal saint body broken, was not to be underestimated.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi raced toward Saint Ming City.
Seeing the towering killing intent rising from the city, Zhang Ruochen’s heart sank.
From afar, he spotted two figures on the city wall. One was Cang Long; the other, more robust, with wild hair like a lion’s mane, exuded an aura as vast as an ancient divine mountain, no less than Cang Long’s.
“Zhang Ruochen, you’ve finally arrived. You kept me waiting,” Cang Long sneered.
Zhang Ruochen halted, glaring at Cang Long, “A defeated foe dares show his face before me?”
Cang Long’s face darkened, “Who’s the defeated foe? Without external aid, you’d have died last time.”
“External aid or not, you lost and fled in disgrace,” Zhang Ruochen scoffed.
As Cang Long prepared to retort, a sharper voice cut in, “Cang Long, why act so tough? You’re clearly no good. Otherwise, how did Ruan Ling become Master Chen’s woman? You chased her for years without touching a finger, while Master Chen won her in minutes.”
“If I were you, I’d smash my head on tofu and be done with it. How do you have the face to show yourself?”
Even Zhang Ruochen’s forehead creased with exasperation at these words.
Without seeing, he knew the speaker’s insolence—Shoushu.
“Boom.”
A pit appeared in the ground, and Shoushu emerged, grinning sleazily.
“Master Chen, why the rush? I chased you all the way and finally caught up,” Shoushu panted.
Clearly, he was clueless about Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi’s mission.
Otherwise, his cowardly nature would’ve kept him far from this chaos.
Mu Lingxi glanced at Zhang Ruochen, expecting an explanation.
“It’s a long story. I’ll explain later,” he transmitted.
Understanding the moment’s gravity, Mu Lingxi didn’t press.
Cang Long’s face flushed, nearly spitting blood, choked by Shoushu’s words.
“You’re courting death.”
His expression twisted, ferocious.
“Swoosh.”
Shoushu darted behind Zhang Ruochen, shouting, “Fight Master Chen if you dare. He’ll knock your teeth out!”
With Zhang Ruochen present, Shoushu feared nothing.
Cang Long radiated a terrifying aura, black saint light forming black dragons coiling around him. The sky darkened, winds swirling around him.
“Zhang Ruochen, this time I’ll crush you before everyone,” Cang Long roared.
His pent-up rage demanded he personally eliminate Zhang Ruochen, or Zhang Ruochen would become his heart demon, tormenting him.
Shoushu chuckled, “Master Chen, don’t hold back. Teach this punk Cang Long a lesson. Beat him till his own mother wouldn’t recognize him.”
He relished stirring trouble, indifferent to Cang Long’s near-exploding anger.
“Protect yourself.”
Zhang Ruochen murmured to Mu Lingxi.
He flashed forward, sword aimed at Cang Long.
Last time, his strength was insufficient, letting Cang Long escape. This time, he’d give no quarter.
“Cang Long is You God Hall’s strongest below Great Saint. Even as a time-space successor, Zhang Ruochen likely has little chance against him.”
“Rule of Heaven and Earth against a seasoned Near-Path Realm powerhouse? I’ve never heard of such a thing, let alone seen it.”
“Didn’t Cang Long lose to Zhang Ruochen recently? They say Zhang Ruochen captured Ruan Ling and made her his woman in that battle.”
“True or not?”
“Rumor is, Zhang Ruochen used a trump card from the Moon God to win. In raw strength, he’s no match for Cang Long.”
“You believe that? Did he use trump cards to kill Hell Realm divine sons at the Sword Tomb and Xianji Mountain? Who has that many trump cards? Those who underestimate Zhang Ruochen are all dead by his hand.”
…
Before the fight began, onlookers buzzed with debate.
Some supported Zhang Ruochen, but most favored Cang Long.
The cultivation gap was vast, making it unlikely for Zhang Ruochen to overcome two minor realms.
“Zhang Ruochen, your blood will wash away my shame.”
Cang Long roared, thrusting out the Immortal Black Dragon Claw, amassing vast heaven and earth rules into a devouring vortex.
Zhang Ruochen poured saintly energy into the Ancient Abyssal Blade, activating the purple divine stone in its hilt.
Instantly, 50% of the heaven and earth rules within a 3,000-mile radius surged toward him.
With his swordsmanship advanced to Sword Ten’s second layer and his sword soul transformed, the purple divine stone’s ability to manipulate rules had greatly improved.
“Sword Ten.”
The blade slashed, unleashing a white sword beam against the Immortal Black Dragon Claw.
“Boom.”
The vortex shattered under the sword beam.
The blade’s tip met the claw.
A lesser Ten-Yao Thousand-Pattern Sacred Artifact would’ve been damaged, but the Ancient Abyssal Blade was unscathed, releasing a terrifying force that sent Cang Long staggering back.
“Hahaha, Cang Long, told you you’re no good. So weak—go home and recover!” Shoushu laughed brazenly.
“What? Cang Long’s full-powered Immortal Black Dragon Claw lost ground?”
“Is Zhang Ruochen really just Rule of Heaven and Earth? Since when can someone without a Dao Domain easily manipulate such vast rules?”
…
Seeing Cang Long retreat, many spectators were stunned.
Cang Long’s gaze darkened. In less than a month, Zhang Ruochen’s strength had surged, a terrifying growth rate.
“He must not live,” Cang Long resolved.
At this rate, soon he might truly be no match.
“Master Chen, don’t give Cang Long a breather. Chop him up!” Shoushu shouted.
Cang Long’s eyes flashed with cold intent. After dealing with Zhang Ruochen, he’d tear that rat to pieces.
Unfazed, Shoushu taunted back, his expression utterly shameless.
Cang Long summoned the You Moon Blade, infusing 500,000 blade path rules, slashing furiously at Zhang Ruochen.
He longed to use You God’s power, unleashing You Heaven Divine Light to obliterate Zhang Ruochen.
He believed the power in Zhang Ruochen’s left leg was limited, unusable at will. Another You Heaven Divine Light could kill him.
But You Heaven Divine Light could only be used thrice, and the last chance, meant to kill Zhang Ruochen, had failed unexpectedly.
“Space Collapse.”
Zhang Ruochen pointed, 70,000 space rules materializing, saturating the space ahead.
“Boom.”
A ten-zhang-wide space shattered, chaotic spatial forces surging.
Cang Long’s blade beam, though powerful, was swiftly consumed and nullified by the broken space.
