Outside Peacock Manor, after the battle between Kong Lanyou and Di Feng erupted, others also took action one after another, and no one could remain uninvolved.
On the side of the Paradise Realm faction, there were hundreds of powerful Saint King realm experts, with nearly a hundred of them at the Nine-Step Saint King level, giving them an absolute numerical advantage.
At this moment, only a portion of the Nine-Step Saint Kings had made their move, while the other experts stood guard, sealing off all escape routes.
Individuals like Jin Yu, Luo Chen, Bao Lie, and Mo Yin were given special attention, personally targeted by top-tier powerhouses such as Xing Yuan and Chen Hu.
Clearly, the Paradise Realm faction intended to focus on those closely associated with Zhang Ruochen.
“Swish.”
Sounds of breaking through the air rang out as many cultivators arrived near Peacock Manor one after another.
However, those who arrived dared not approach too closely, only observing from a distance, fearing that getting too near would involve them in the conflict.
“It escalated into a fight so quickly. Those Nine-Step Saint Kings seem to be controlled by Feng Gudao’s Soul-Holding Technique. How could they turn around and help Zhang Ruochen?”
“Feng Gudao, Zi Linglong, Chi Sheng, and Gu Tianyin were all captured alive by Zhang Ruochen and brought to Peacock Manor, seemingly to exchange for Chi Kunlun. Why are they nowhere to be seen now?”
“You arrived too late. Feng Gudao and the other three have already been killed. Shang Ziqi is ruthless, refusing to exchange Chi Kunlun no matter what.”
“Could it be that in Shang Ziqi’s eyes, Feng Gudao and the others are less important than Chi Kunlun?”
“Zhang Ruochen’s side has too few powerhouses. This time, they’re likely doomed, with no chance of a reversal.”
…
Watching the fierce battle that had erupted outside Peacock Manor, many cultivators couldn’t help but feel pity for Zhang Ruochen.
In their view, Zhang Ruochen had wiped out all the Paradise Realm faction experts in Saint Ming City and could have retreated unscathed. Yet, he chose to come to Peacock Manor, essentially walking into a trap. The miracle of Saint Ming City could not be repeated at Peacock Manor.
“To turn the experts controlled by Feng Gudao to his side, Zhang Ruochen is quite capable. Fight on, keep fighting, preferably until both sides are exhausted. Only then can this princess make her move.”
Raksha Princess Luo Ji hid in the shadows, her gaze firmly locked on Zhang Ruochen.
If Zhang Ruochen were gravely injured here, she could seize the opportunity to capture him and take him back to the Hell Realm. She had never abandoned that idea.
In another direction, Tianchu Fairy, Thousand-Star Maiden, Fool, and Butcher were also concealed in the darkness, observing the battle in front of Peacock Manor from afar.
“This Zhang Ruochen really isn’t afraid of death. Shang Ziqi clearly wants him dead. This is far more dangerous than the situation at Daluo Dojo,” Thousand-Star Maiden said, shaking her head.
Though she coveted the Truth Mystery within Zhang Ruochen, making a move at this moment was obviously unlikely. She wasn’t willing to provoke the colossal Paradise Realm for Zhang Ruochen’s sake, risking trouble for Thousand-Star Civilization.
Tianchu Fairy turned to Thousand-Star Maiden and said, “Chen Jing, aren’t you going to act?”
“Act? My relationship with Zhang Ruochen isn’t that deep. We’ve only had some cooperation in the past. In other circumstances, I might help him out, but to go against the Paradise Realm faction? Absolutely impossible,” Thousand-Star Maiden replied resolutely.
Tianchu Fairy frowned slightly and said, “There are rumours about you and Zhang Ruochen…”
The news of Zhang Ruochen and Thousand-Star Maiden’s “carriage scandal” had once spread like wildfire.
Thousand-Star Maiden gritted her teeth and said, “That’s completely fabricated. I can’t believe you, sister, would believe it.”
Hearing this, Tianchu Fairy’s brows relaxed, a resolute look appearing in her eyes. She turned to Butcher and Fool and said, “You two stay here and don’t act rashly.”
“If Your Highness intends to help Zhang Ruochen, I request to act as well. Zhang Ruochen saved my life at Luoshui. I must repay this debt,” Fool immediately said.
“Count me in,” Butcher added.
Hearing their words, Thousand-Star Maiden showed a look of surprise and said, “Sister, aren’t you afraid this will bring great trouble to Tianchu Civilization?”
“I’m acting only on my own behalf, not Tianchu Civilization’s. The debt I owe Zhang Ruochen must be repaid,” Tianchu Fairy said firmly.
With that, Tianchu Fairy darted forward decisively.
Butcher and Fool followed without hesitation.
“Swoosh.”
A thread of light, as fine as a hair, shot out from Tianchu Fairy, skimming along the ground.
Then, the thread soared upward, winding and piercing through the bodies of three Saint Kings in succession.
With a slight tremor of the thread, the three Saint Kings let out agonised screams, their sacred bodies shattering into countless fragments, falling from the sky.
In the blink of an eye, the three Saint Kings were dead, without even a chance to resist.
What Tianchu Fairy used was naturally the Rain Silk Divine Sword, capable of killing invisibly and always effective.
“Hmm? Luo Ji, you dare interfere? How bold,” a powerhouse from the Paradise Realm faction shouted.
This man was lean, with ruthless eyes, carrying a bronze ancient sword on his back. His aura was razor-sharp, like an unsheathed divine sword.
His name was Yu Lin, from Tian Gui Realm, a leader among those below the Great Saint level in Tian Gui Realm.
Though Tian Gui Realm was a relatively weak world among the Heavenly Realms, Yu Lin, as its leader, was not weak in strength.
Like Guanghan Realm, which ranked near the bottom, it had still produced some top-tier powerhouses.
Over the years, Tian Gui Realm had clung tightly to Paradise Realm, unconditionally supporting whatever Paradise Realm undertook.
“Interfere? So what?” Tianchu Fairy said coldly, wielding the Rain Silk Divine Sword and attacking Yu Lin.
Her sword qi formed a net, enveloping Yu Lin.
Seeing Tianchu Fairy’s move, a chilling murderous intent flashed in Yu Lin’s eyes. “Hmph, since you seek death, I’ll grant it.”
Daring to meddle in the affairs of the Paradise Realm faction, he would show no mercy, even if Tianchu Fairy was one of the stunning beauties on the Nine Immortals Beauty Chart.
“Swish.”
Yu Lin drew the bronze ancient sword from his back and slashed.
“Boom.”
The sword beam Yu Lin unleashed was immensely destructive but failed to destroy the sword qi net formed by the Rain Silk Divine Sword.
Seeing this, Yu Lin was shocked, not expecting Tianchu Fairy’s strength to be so formidable.
Immediately, he dared not be careless and fought with full force.
As Tianchu Fairy clashed with Yu Lin, Butcher and Fool also acted, attacking the Nine-Step Saint Kings of the Paradise Realm faction.
Both were top-tier experts in the Dao Domain realm, not to be underestimated.
Watching Tianchu Fairy, Fool, and Butcher engage the Paradise Realm faction’s powerhouses, Thousand-Star Maiden’s eyes showed astonishment. She hadn’t expected Tianchu Fairy to truly act for Zhang Ruochen’s sake.
Was it merely to repay a debt, or were there other factors?
Regardless, Thousand-Star Maiden herself would not get involved. That Zhang Ruochen was too reckless and shameless. He deserved to suffer a bit to learn some respect.
“Luo Ji.”
Zhang Ruochen noticed Tianchu Fairy at once, initially surprised, then the corners of his mouth curved slightly into a faint smile.
This situation was far more perilous than the one in Eastern Domain Saint City. He hadn’t expected Tianchu Fairy to intervene again, nor had he anticipated her presence in the Central Domain.
If Tianchu Fairy’s presence in the Central Domain was a mere coincidence, Zhang Ruochen would never believe it.
He just didn’t know whether her actions this time were to repay a debt or mixed with personal feelings.
Shang Ziqi also noticed Tianchu Fairy’s arrival and sneered, “Zhang Ruochen, a mere Luo Ji can change nothing. She’ll only die alongside you.”
“My life is tough. Many have tried to kill me, but they all ended up dead by my hand. This time will be no different,” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
With that, Zhang Ruochen struck first, wielding the Abyss Ancient Sword and slashing at Shang Ziqi.
“Nine-Nine Return to One.”
Right from the start, Zhang Ruochen unleashed a sword technique from the True One Thunderfire Sword Art.
Nine illusory shadows appeared, attacking Shang Ziqi from different directions, as if nine Zhang Ruochens were striking together.
In an instant, the nine shadows merged into one, stabbing at Shang Ziqi, who held the Crimson Child Sword, from an extremely tricky angle.
The True One Thunderfire Sword Art was a holy-level sword technique passed down by the Torrential Sword lineage, profound and powerful.
By infusing the powers of time and space, Zhang Ruochen made the True One Thunderfire Sword Art even more unpredictable, impossible for anyone to see through.
Though Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation level couldn’t yet compare to the ancestral masters of the Torrential Sword, he had cultivated the True One Thunderfire Sword Art to a level that even they had never reached.
As the saying goes, the student surpasses the master.
“Well met.”
Shang Ziqi’s Flame Corpse showed no fear, wielding the Crimson Child Sword to meet Zhang Ruochen’s attack.
Dense golden light patterns appeared on the Crimson Child Sword, erupting into a towering wave of fire.
“Boom.”
The thunderous flames released by the Abyss Ancient Sword clashed fiercely with the towering fire wave from the Crimson Child Sword.
A violent shockwave formed, spreading in all directions.
The shockwave was so powerful that both Zhang Ruochen and Shang Ziqi’s Flame Corpse staggered back a few steps, creating some distance between them.
At that moment, Shang Ziqi’s Origin Corpse transformed into a streak of light, suddenly unleashing the Five-Colored Merit Stele to suppress Zhang Ruochen.
Simultaneously, Shang Ziqi’s Ice Corpse also acted, deploying the Ten Thousand Refinements Tower.
The Ten Thousand Refinements Tower instantly grew to hundreds of feet tall, releasing waves of terrifying Supreme Power, as if it could crush everything.
Though a single Ten Thousand Refinements Tower wasn’t a complete Supreme Sacred Artifact, its power was still formidable, capable of unleashing Supreme Power.
Zhang Ruochen activated the Streamer Merit Armor, shooting forward instantly.
The Hidden Mountain Demonic Mirror trembled, manifesting towering demonic mountain shadows to meet the Five-Colored Merit Stele and the Ten Thousand Refinements Tower.
“Bang.”
The Five-Colored Merit Stele and the Ten Thousand Refinements Tower were blocked, both retreating backward.
The demonic mountain shadows manifested by the Hidden Mountain Demonic Mirror shattered, and the mirror itself flew back above Zhang Ruochen’s head, its surface still glowing with numerous Supreme Inscriptions, emitting a dark and eerie demonic light.
In their initial clash, Zhang Ruochen and Shang Ziqi were evenly matched, neither gaining an advantage.
Zhang Ruochen’s brows lowered, silently calculating.
Shang Ziqi was indeed a formidable foe, not only exceptionally talented but also equipped with a plethora of treasures. The Crimson Child Sword was a divine relic, the Ten Thousand Refinements Tower was part of a Supreme Sacred Artifact, and the Five-Colored Merit Stele was a treasure crafted by the Merit Temple, each immensely powerful.
Even the armor Shang Ziqi wore and the various accessories on him were no ordinary items, almost all rare treasures.
Facing such a treasure-laden opponent, anyone would find it a headache.
