Zhang Ruochen glanced at Yan Kaixuan and the others, then looked up at Yandba, saying, “Fine, I agree.”
“As expected, your loyalty is admirable. No wonder these Saint Ming loyalists are willing to die for you,” Yandba said, a radiant smile spreading across his face.
As long as Zhang Ruochen took the bait, everything would fall into place.
Seeing Yandba’s smug expression, Shoushu bristled, “Yandba, you shameless coward! A top powerhouse of Yin-Yang Realm, yet you’ve disgraced your entire realm!”
Yandba’s smile vanished, his face darkening, “Once I deal with Zhang Ruochen, I’ll take care of you.”
“Pah! You old fool, what’s there to be proud of? Even without time or space techniques, Master Chen will crush you!” Shoushu spat.
In this moment, he had to back Zhang Ruochen, ensuring their momentum didn’t falter.
Yandba struggled to contain his rage, tempted to slay Shoushu first.
Zhang Ruochen raised the Ancient Abyssal Blade, pointing it forward. Countless sword energies coalesced, forming a sword domain, as he said gravely, “Yandba, make your move.”
“Since you’re so eager to die, I’ll oblige,” Yandba said, shifting his focus from Shoushu to face Zhang Ruochen.
“Boom.”
Nine terrifying flames erupted from Yandba, spreading in all directions, forming a fire domain. The temperature around Saint Ming City surged, as if evaporating all moisture.
Among the nine flames was one Zhang Ruochen recognized—Pure Extinction Divine Fire, a vassal-grade flame.
This technique mirrored Yan Wang’s, almost identical.
“Take this!”
Yandba roared, thrusting out a massive handprint condensed from the nine flames.
“Yin-Yang Realm’s renowned Mysterious Heaven Mid-Tier Saint Technique—Nine Flames Incineration Palm. As expected of Yandba, mastering it to perfection,” a monk exclaimed.
“Your Highness, flee!” Yan Kaixuan shouted hoarsely, frantic.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze sharpened, his spirit and energy merging with the Ancient Abyssal Blade. The purple divine stone mobilized 50% of the heaven and earth rules within a 3,000-mile radius, surging toward him.
“Sword Ten.”
A white sword beam shot from the blade, like a crescent moon soaring.
Compared to his fight with Cang Long, this Sword Ten was more refined and formidable.
Swordsmanship improved through combat, evolving with each use, unlocking its deeper essence.
“Bang.”
The handprint of nine flames shattered, splitting back into nine flame clusters.
Zhang Ruochen staggered back a few steps, dissipating the Nine Flames Incineration Palm’s impact.
Yandba frowned, dissatisfied with the outcome.
He should’ve added a condition banning sword techniques.
“Again.”
Yandba struck once more, still using the Nine Flames Incineration Palm.
This time, it was more varied. Nine flames poured from him, forming a sea of fire that surged toward Zhang Ruochen.
“Roar.”
The flames coalesced into lifelike fire dragons, roaring as they charged.
Zhang Ruochen activated the Radiant Merit Armour, retreating swiftly.
Mu Lingxi and Shoushu had already withdrawn far to avoid being caught in the fray.
“Zhang Ruochen, retreat further, and I’ll kill them all,” Yandba threatened coldly.
Zhang Ruochen halted, sheathing the Ancient Abyssal Blade. Saintly energy surged to his palms, unleashing a dragon shadow and an elephant shadow.
Within a 2,500-mile radius, 50% of the heaven and earth rules were mobilized, merging into the shadows.
As his cultivation grew, the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm’s range of rule manipulation expanded.
The dragon and elephant shadows grew massive, nearly filling the sky, visible from afar as a stunning phenomenon.
“Heavens’ Dragon-Elephant.”
“Boom.”
The fire sea shattered, all fire dragons bursting apart.
Zhang Ruochen stumbled back, reeling from the intense impact.
“Even without time or space techniques, Zhang Ruochen can hold his own against Yandba. His mastery of sword and palm paths is extraordinary.”
Witnessing Zhang Ruochen withstand two strikes, many spectators were stunned.
Yandba’s brows furrowed as he leaped from the wall, closing in on Zhang Ruochen.
“Zhang Ruochen, I underestimated you. But this ends now,” Yandba said, his gaze razor-sharp, brimming with killing intent.
“Bang.”
Nine flames erupted from the ground, forming a fiery cage that trapped Zhang Ruochen.
Countless flame rules wove through the cage, unleashing incinerating divine power, engulfing him.
Yandba smirked coldly, certain that no matter how resilient Zhang Ruochen was, he’d fall.
“Your Highness!” the captured Saint Ming loyalists roared in fury.
“What a pity—Zhang Ruochen was too impulsive,” Lingyan Demon Consort sighed from the ancient tree.
“Yandba, you shameless dog! Fight Master Chen fair and square!” Shoushu bellowed.
Mu Lingxi stayed silent, her eyes fixed on the fiery cage, refusing to believe Zhang Ruochen would fall so easily.
As all eyes locked on the cage, a figure appeared silently behind Yandba—Moyin.
Holding the Hidden Mountain Demonic Mirror, its surface gleamed with hundreds of thousands of supreme inscriptions. Supreme power coalesced into a dazzling demonic beam.
“Boom.”
The beam struck Yandba, piercing his body, leaving a massive, bloody hole.
Focused entirely on Zhang Ruochen, Yandba hadn’t anticipated Moyin as a hidden trump card.
Unprepared, the supreme sacred artifact’s strike didn’t kill him but inflicted catastrophic damage.
“Zhang Ruochen, you…” Yandba spat blood, unable to finish.
Moyin extended roots, piercing Yandba, voraciously absorbing his essence.
“Bang.”
The fiery cage shattered, revealing Zhang Ruochen.
Burned by the flames, his body glowed red, like heated divine iron.
Without the tempering in the Life-Death Bronze Furnace, he might’ve been injured, but now he was unscathed, not a hair singed.
Ignoring Yandba’s fate, Zhang Ruochen teleported into the city.
A Space Exquisite Ball appeared in his hand. Activating it, he absorbed the tens of thousands of Saint Ming loyalists.
Had he not lured Yandba away, rescuing them would’ve been difficult.
Threatening so many loyalists sealed Yandba’s fate from the start.
“Hiss.”
As Moyin drained Yandba, spectators gasped.
Only now did they realize Yandba had been played—Zhang Ruochen’s retreat was a lure.
Once Yandba was drawn from the gate, Zhang Ruochen struck, killing him and saving the loyalists.
“Zhang Ruochen is too terrifying, with endless tactics. Never make an enemy of him.”
Many monks shared this thought.
“Bang.”
Moyin flicked her roots, shattering Yandba’s desiccated corpse into dust.
“If I devour a few more powerful Near-Path Realm powerhouses, I’ll soon break through to Heaven-Connecting Realm,” Moyin thought, elated.
For a Saint Devourer Flower, growing stronger meant consuming monks’ essence.
At Dao Domain Realm, her strength rivaled Heaven-Connecting Realm, even holding her own against weaker Near-Path Realm foes.
Without this, she couldn’t have critically wounded Yandba with one strike from the demonic mirror.
“Your Highness, save the King—he’s in danger,” Yan Kaixuan urged from the Space Exquisite Ball.
Zhang Ruochen released him, sprinkling dozens of Life Spring droplets, each sparkling like a star.
The droplets landed on Yan Kaixuan, seeping into his skin and blood.
His injuries healed significantly, and he said, “Your Highness, the King broke out southeast, but Heavenly Court faction experts pursued. Hurry, or it’ll be too late.”
Having served King Mingjiang for centuries, he couldn’t bear to see him fall.
Earlier, fearing Zhang Ruochen couldn’t match the Heavenly Court faction, he’d urged him to flee.
But now, having slain two of their top powerhouses, Zhang Ruochen seemed invincible, boosting Yan Kaixuan and the Saint Ming monks’ confidence and excitement.
