Shang Ziqi’s crown shattered, his silver hair disheveled, his face smeared with blood, looking utterly wretched.
He had exhausted every trick, yet he couldn’t reverse his defeat. As his injuries worsened, death loomed ever closer.
“I lost… I actually lost to Zhang Ruochen…”
Shang Ziqi’s eyes dimmed, unable to accept this reality.
Years ago, Zhang Ruochen had been nothing in his eyes—a mere ant, easily crushed, posing no threat.
But Zhang Ruochen’s growth was staggering, so rapid it caught him off guard. In their repeated clashes, Shang Ziqi never gained the upper hand, and this time, he suffered a crushing defeat.
Suddenly, Shang Ziqi raised his head, glaring at Zhang Ruochen with venomous resentment, roaring, “I’m not reconciled! I refuse to lose!”
With his roar, his body rapidly withered, vast amounts of vital essence draining into the Crimson Child Sword.
The sword turned completely blood-red, its surface crawling with crimson veins like human blood vessels, exuding an overwhelmingly sinister aura.
A torrent of eerie divine power surged from the sword, as if a god were awakening, its terrifying pressure enveloping a vast region.
“What’s happening?”
The onlookers’ scalps tingled, their holy souls trembling, their bodies nearly compelled to kneel.
This divine might was so terrifying, spanning tens of thousands of miles, as if a true god had descended.
“Shang Ziqi’s truly going all out, using his essence, qi, and spirit to unleash the Crimson Child Sword’s supreme divine might,” a watching powerhouse said, voice quivering.
Supreme divine might was the ultimate power of divine relics, typically only unleashed by Great Saints. Saint Kings could usually only tap into a fraction of a divine relic’s power.
Though not a Great Saint, Shang Ziqi, at great cost, had unleashed this supreme divine might.
Sensing the terrifying pressure from the Crimson Child Sword, Zhang Ruochen’s expression shifted, feeling an immense threat.
“Zhang Ruochen, die!”
Shang Ziqi roared, swinging the sword to unleash the supreme divine might.
This was his final, strongest trump card. Though it came at a tremendous cost, killing Zhang Ruochen would make it worthwhile.
“The power of this strike could slay an Immortal Great Saint. Zhang Ruochen’s strength is formidable, but he likely can’t withstand it.”
“Shang Ziqi’s ruthless, risking everything to unleash such a terrifying move. He’s determined to fight Zhang Ruochen to the death, with no intention of stopping.”
“It seems Shang Ziqi will still win in the end.”
“It’s hard to say, but after this strike, their battle should conclude!”
…
The cultivators locked their gazes on Zhang Ruochen and Shang Ziqi, eager to witness the outcome of this clash.
Simultaneously, the powerhouses on both sides grew tense, halting their fights.
In this situation, intervention was impossible; they could only watch.
Facing Shang Ziqi’s desperate strike, Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned grave. The Secret Tome of Time and Space appeared in his hand, instantly opening to form dozens of layered multidimensional spaces, enveloping him.
With Shang Ziqi’s two corpses destroyed and the remaining Flame Corpse gravely injured, all its power was focused on the Crimson Child Sword, neglecting the Five-Colored Merit Stele.
This lifted the suppression on time and space, allowing Zhang Ruochen to freely wield his temporal and spatial techniques.
Within the multidimensional spaces, Zhang Ruochen mobilized his spatial rules, deploying various spatial techniques.
He knew the multidimensional spaces formed by the Secret Tome alone couldn’t withstand the Crimson Child Sword’s supreme divine might; he needed additional techniques to resist it.
“Spatial Rift.”
Zhang Ruochen pressed forward, conjuring massive spatial rifts across the dozens of multidimensional spaces.
“Boom.”
The supreme divine might approached, crushing everything, unstoppable.
In an instant, the outermost dozen multidimensional spaces shattered, unable to bear the divine might.
Its impact was far more terrifying than a star’s collision, akin to a true god striking.
The dozens of spatial rifts Zhang Ruochen conjured collapsed, failing to absorb much of the divine power.
“Spatial Freeze.”
“Spatial Distortion.”
“Spatial Collapse.”
“Spatial Folding.”
“Spatial Compression.”
…
Capturing time marks, Zhang Ruochen unleashed one spatial technique after another at unimaginable speed.
He didn’t expect these techniques to fully block the supreme divine might, only to weaken its power incrementally.
To others, Zhang Ruochen was instantly engulfed by the divine might, the space rippling with terrifying force.
“Bang.”
The arrays guarding Peacock Manor were torn apart by the force ripples.
The Great Saint inscriptions were rapidly eroded.
Peacock Manor trembled violently, like an island adrift in a stormy sea.
Everyone inside was gripped by fear, as if the apocalypse had arrived.
Fortunately, the Great Saint inscriptions withstood the divine power’s impact, avoiding complete destruction.
This was because the Crimson Child Sword’s supreme divine might targeted Zhang Ruochen, with only residual waves hitting Peacock Manor.
Otherwise, the manor’s defenses would have been breached, and it would have been mercilessly destroyed.
“Master!”
Han Xue’s fists clenched, her eyes filled with deep worry.
Had she known, she wouldn’t have left earlier, so she could now stand with Zhang Ruochen against the divine might.
“Don’t worry. Zhang Ruochen’s tough as nails—he won’t go down easily,” Xiao Hei reassured, though its gaze remained fixed on Zhang Ruochen’s position, nerves taut.
Elsewhere, Thousand-Star Maiden, disguised as a refined gentleman, frowned. “Shang Ziqi’s insane. Injured as he is, he dares use such a move. Does he not care for his life? I hope Zhang Ruochen isn’t killed by this.”
The supreme divine might was so overwhelming that the area around Zhang Ruochen was saturated with divine power, obscuring even her Origin Divine Eyes.
After a long while, the terrifying divine might spanning tens of thousands of miles finally began to dissipate.
“Look, Zhang Ruochen’s alive!”
“His life is unreal—surviving even supreme divine might!”
…
Seeing Zhang Ruochen’s figure reappear, many cultivators gasped in shock.
Zhang Ruochen stood calmly in midair, the Fire God Armor dim, its flames extinguished.
Blood visibly flowed from the armor, dripping downward.
Undoubtedly, though he withstood the Crimson Child Sword’s supreme divine might, Zhang Ruochen was gravely injured, his organs nearly shattered.
“How is this possible…”
Shang Ziqi stared at Zhang Ruochen, eyes filled with disbelief.
Zhang Ruochen held the Abyss Ancient Sword, blood trickling down its blade, saying calmly, “Shang Ziqi, any last words?”
“Don’t you care about Chi Kunlun’s life?” Shang Ziqi sneered.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes narrowed, voice low. “Hand over Chi Kunlun, and I’ll spare you.”
“It’s not that simple. Chi Kunlun’s your son, right? Want to save him? Try kneeling and begging,” Shang Ziqi’s sneer deepened.
Since no one knew Chi Kunlun had been taken by a Yanluo Clan powerhouse, he could deceive Zhang Ruochen as he pleased.
Even the strongest have weaknesses, and Chi Kunlun was undoubtedly Zhang Ruochen’s.
With this trump card, Shang Ziqi was confident Zhang Ruochen would yield.
He seethed with anger, thinking that if the Yanluo Clan powerhouse hadn’t taken Chi Kunlun and the top-tier Streamer Merit Armor, things wouldn’t have reached this point.
A thousand miles away, by a lake, Heart Demon Qiu Yichi gazed skyward, a smile crossing her face. Using the Dao of the Mind, she transmitted to Zhang Ruochen, “No need to worry. Chi Kunlun isn’t in Shang Ziqi’s hands. Go to the Endless Abyss, and you’ll find him.”
Qiu Yichi had witnessed a mysterious Yanluo Clan powerhouse take Chi Kunlun. Guessing the powerhouse’s identity, she wasn’t concerned for Chi Kunlun’s safety.
Her sole aim was to lure Zhang Ruochen to the Endless Abyss.
“Qiu Yichi’s voice? Has Kunlun been saved by her?”
Zhang Ruochen’s mind raced, countless thoughts flashing through.
Initially, he had threatened Shang Ziqi with the lives of Feng Gudao and three others to release Chi Kunlun, and Shang Ziqi had claimed Chi Kunlun wasn’t in his possession.
Combined with Qiu Yichi’s words, it was highly likely Chi Kunlun wasn’t with Shang Ziqi. Otherwise, Shang Ziqi wouldn’t risk his life, even if he cared little for the others.
“Swoosh.”
Zhang Ruochen moved suddenly, using spatial shift to appear before Shang Ziqi.
“Slash.”
The Abyss Ancient Sword struck like lightning.
Shang Ziqi’s body split in two, the three-colored treasure armor failing to protect him.
“You…”
Shang Ziqi’s eyes widened in disbelief.
Moments ago, he was gloating, thinking he had Zhang Ruochen’s weakness, only for Zhang Ruochen to strike without warning.
It happened so fast that neither Shang Ziqi nor the onlookers could react.
Zhang Ruochen’s strike was all-out, not only cleaving Shang Ziqi’s body but shattering his holy soul.
“It’s over.”
Zhang Ruochen murmured, exhaling deeply.
Suddenly, he sensed something peculiar entering his body.
He was all too familiar with it—Truth Mystery.
“Shang Ziqi was indeed remarkable, possessing 8/10,000ths of the Truth Mystery. Now, I have 20/10,000ths.”
Zhang Ruochen was elated.
Truth Mystery was rare, granted only for exceptional performance crossing the Sea of Truth.
Among the many powerhouses Zhang Ruochen had slain, only Wang Xu before Shang Ziqi possessed Truth Mystery, highlighting its value.
Even without gathering 1/100th to become a Truth Emissary, more Truth Mystery greatly aided comprehending holy dao rules, doubling comprehension speed.
“Zhang Ruochen killed Shang Ziqi…”
The onlookers were stunned.
Shang Ziqi was a leader of the Merit Temple, a pivotal figure in the Paradise Realm faction. His death was a monumental event, sure to cause a massive uproar. Zhang Ruochen was practically tearing the heavens apart.
The Paradise Realm faction’s powerhouses were equally shocked, never imagining Shang Ziqi would lose to Zhang Ruochen, let alone die.
“Hm?”
Zhang Ruochen’s expression changed abruptly.
Without time to collect Shang Ziqi’s treasures, he retreated at top speed.
A brilliant divine light burst from Shang Ziqi’s split body, like a divine sun, its blinding radiance impossible to look at directly.
“Another twist?”
Everyone’s eyes widened at the sight.
Under their gaze, a radiant divine hand emerged from the light, reaching for Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen’s body stiffened, unable to retreat further.
As the divine hand neared, the God-Emissary Staff gifted by Moon Goddess flew out on its own, forming a divine power shield around Zhang Ruochen.
The staff then unleashed a powerful divine force, striking the divine hand.
“Boom.”
The divine hand shattered, unable to withstand the staff’s divine power.
The force surged, impacting the three-colored treasure armor Shang Ziqi wore.
“Crack.”
Despite its incredible defense, the armor shattered into fragments of scrap metal.
Shang Ziqi’s withered, split body disintegrated into dust.
The divine light from his body dimmed significantly but didn’t dissipate.
It enveloped the Crimson Child Sword and Five-Colored Merit Stele, shooting into the sky and vanishing instantly.
With its target gone, the God-Emissary Staff retracted its aura, returning to normal, and fell into Zhang Ruochen’s hand.
Holding the staff, Zhang Ruochen felt lingering fear.
That moment had been perilous. Without the staff’s timely intervention, he might have been crushed by the divine hand.
“Moon Goddess is indeed a reliable backer.”
Murmuring, Zhang Ruochen stowed the staff.
Normally, the staff served two purposes: a symbol of status and a means to contact Moon Goddess.
Only when facing attacks from Great Saints or gods could it unleash its fearsome power, drawing on Moon Goddess’s divine might.
Looking at the fragments of the three-colored treasure armor floating in the air, Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, collecting them all.
Even if the armor couldn’t be repaired, the fragments were valuable, suitable for the Abyss Ancient Sword to absorb.
It was a pity the Crimson Child Sword and Five-Colored Merit Stele were taken by the divine light—those were true treasures.
“Zhang Ruochen, you dared kill Shang Ziqi. No one can save you,” Xing Yuan said darkly.
With Shang Ziqi slain under his watch, Xing Yuan couldn’t face Flame God back at the Merit Temple.
His only recourse was to kill Zhang Ruochen.
Raising his hand, Xing Yuan unleashed a terrifying palm strike toward Zhang Ruochen.
“Bang.”
Luo Chen intervened, swinging his Nether Moon Blade to shatter Xing Yuan’s palm strike.
“Want to harm my junior brother? You’ll have to get through me first.”
Luo Chen’s eyes were sharp, his blade flashing as he struck at Xing Yuan repeatedly.
With him here, he wouldn’t let Xing Yuan touch a hair on Zhang Ruochen’s head.
Simultaneously, others resumed their battles.
“Swoosh.”
Xiao Hei shrank and appeared beside Zhang Ruochen.
“Not bad, taking down Shang Ziqi single-handedly. Now, rest and watch this emperor wipe out the Paradise Realm faction’s powerhouses,” Xiao Hei said, head held high.
As it spoke, Xiao Hei planted black array flags in various directions.
To deal with so many Paradise Realm powerhouses, an array was the best approach.
“Rumble.”
Suddenly, a majestic Great Saint aura descended from beyond the sky, dispersing clouds for miles and banishing darkness, as holy light poured down.
Sensing this vast aura, every cultivator on the ground paled, looking skyward.
Ten thousand miles above, a towering figure in silver armor stood, with seven radiant feathered tails and a rainbow-bridge-like halo behind.
“Patrol Angel.”
Seeing the figure, every cultivator’s heart trembled.
“Cease!”
The Patrol Angel roared, his voice like thunder, deep and resonant.
Weaker cultivators were struck, bleeding from their orifices and collapsing.
