Inside the palace, Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on the dozen or so powerful figures, his eyes narrowing slightly.
Sensing the ancient aura emanating from them, he knew they were, like Saint King Zixin, awakened ones.
According to Saint King Zixin, these awakened ones couldn’t easily act. So why were they gathered here?
As if reading his thoughts, Ao Xinyan explained, “I invited you here, Leader, to secretly transport these seniors to True Dragon Island after its forbidden array is breached. True Dragon Island is unique—even the divine senses of Hell Realm gods struggle to penetrate it, unable to probe its interior.”
“As the master of space with mysterious techniques, and with me, the Destiny Corpse Emperor, and the Dead Zen Patriarch assisting, we should be able to evade the Hell Realm gods’ detection.”
She paused, then continued, “Of course, True Dragon Island’s forbidden array is incredibly formidable, woven with countless divine patterns, impregnable, and with astonishing offensive power. Even Great Saints could be easily obliterated. The Hell Realm’s army is strong, but breaching the island won’t be easy—they may suffer heavy losses without even setting foot on it.”
“However, many things are unpredictable. To be safe, we must prepare for the worst. If the array is breached, we have to intercept the Hell Realm’s army on the island and prevent them from succeeding.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart cleared. So this was the true help Ao Xinyan needed.
These awakened ones were indeed powerful, all top-tier below Great Saint, but their numbers were too few—barely a fraction compared to the Hell Realm’s army. Acting outside the island, even risking exposure, would be suicidal.
Only by entering True Dragon Island, striking covertly, could they trouble the Hell Realm’s forces.
With the enemy in the open and them in the shadows, they held a significant advantage.
As he pondered, Ao Xinyan’s voice sounded in his ear, “These are the first batch of awakened ones, arranged by my master to assist me in guarding the Yin-Yang Sea. Unfortunately, we can’t awaken more sleepers for now, or the situation wouldn’t be so dire.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred. So there were so few awakened ones because only this batch had been revived. He’d thought Ao Xinyan was holding back.
Clearly, this was a Yin-Yang Sea secret, shared with him due to her trust.
“No time to waste. Let’s move,” Zhang Ruochen said, collecting his thoughts.
Ao Xinyan activated hidden secret patterns in Silver Dragon Palace, saying, “The palace has a special spatial teleportation array that can reach anywhere in the Yin-Yang Sea. Please prepare.”
Everyone in the hall stood, gathering around her.
The awakened ones glanced at Zhang Ruochen faintly, saying nothing, their eyes proud.
As Middle Ages survivors, they had every right to their arrogance.
The teleportation array activated, a white light flashed, and everyone vanished.
Above True Dragon Island’s sea, black fog swirled, forming a hidden spatial channel where Zhang Ruochen and his group stood.
This was the power of Silver Dragon Palace’s teleportation array, keeping them concealed. As long as they stayed within the channel, no one would detect them.
“What a lineup. All seven warships are filled with Saint Kings. What is the Hell Realm planning?” Zhang Ruochen’s eyes gleamed.
Ao Xinyan said, “The Key to the World Gate is stored in the Dragon God Temple on True Dragon Island, a sacred site of the Dragon God Clan.”
“At the clan’s peak, millions of dragons and billions of beings came to worship, study, and hear the Dao. It was among the Kunlun Realm’s top three temples, rivaled only by the Ten Tribulations Heavenly Monarch’s Heaven-Passing Temple and the Nine Li Clan’s Nine Li Temple.”
“Sadly, in the Middle Ages’ final battle, the Dragon God Temple was shattered, like a planet breaking apart. Even now, it’s filled with divine destructive forces, a forbidden ruin.”
“Yet, within those ruins lie the Dragon God Clan’s treasures accumulated over billions of years. The Hell Realm’s Saint King army is here to plunder what wasn’t taken in the Middle Ages. They’re bandits, insatiable demons.”
“I only wish I’d been born 100,000 years ago. Even if it cost my last drop of blood, I wouldn’t let them destroy the temple.”
Though Golden and Silver Dragon Islands held treasures, they paled compared to True Dragon Island.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart trembled. Ten thousand years ago, the Dragon God Clan teemed with powerhouses, led by the epoch-shaking Dragon Lord Jiwang, yet their proud Dragon God Temple was shattered.
How terrifying was that battle?
But the temple’s boundless treasures, if even a tenth remained, could rapidly cultivate countless powerhouses for the Kunlun Realm.
No matter what, those treasures must not fall to the Hell Realm.
The temple’s destruction was already a shame for the Dragon God Clan and the Kunlun Realm. Losing its treasures would be beyond shame—a brutal slap, struck once, then again.
Surveying the area, Zhang Ruochen locked onto one warship.
At its bow stood a towering Bone Clan powerhouse, ten zhang tall, with thick, dark-gold bones inscribed with intricate patterns, exuding a terrifying aura.
In his hand, he held an unremarkable Exquisite Dimensional Orb, within which countless dragon shadows danced.
All of Ancestral Dragon Mountain’s captured dragons were imprisoned inside.
When the day-night transition arrived, this Bone Clan powerhouse would personally sacrifice them to weaken True Dragon Island’s forbidden array.
“We need a way to rescue Ancestral Dragon Mountain’s dragons,” Zhang Ruochen murmured.
Saint King Zixin quickly cautioned, “Don’t act rashly, Zhang Ruochen. The one holding the orb is the Slaughter Spirit Emperor, one of the Bone Clan’s Three Emperors. He’s bloodthirsty and untouchable.”
“Leader, I also want to save the dragons, but it’s not feasible now. Don’t risk yourself,” Ao Xinyan urged.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t respond, his gaze shifting to an empty sea region.
For some reason, he felt something odd about it.
“Little Black, use your Great Saint Eyes to check that area,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Unsure of his intent, Little Black activated its Great Saint Eyes, scrutinizing the region.
Its eyes lit up. “Huh? There’s something off here. Such exquisite illusion techniques—even my Great Saint Eyes can’t pierce the truth. Who’s hiding there?”
Others looked but saw nothing.
Zhang Ruochen’s lips curved slightly. “It seems another faction is eyeing the Key to the World Gate. That’s good news.”
“With our limited numbers, we can’t face the Hell Realm head-on. If another force stirs the waters, it works in our favor,” the Destiny Corpse Emperor mused.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes flashed. “We might use them to rescue the dragons.”
“How?” Ao Xinyan asked, puzzled.
Zhang Ruochen smiled mysteriously. “Just watch.”
Before they could say more, he stepped out, vanishing instantly.
“What incredible concealment, blending with the seawater. His Five Elements Chaos Body has mastered water to the extreme,” the Destiny Corpse Emperor remarked, astonished.
The Yin-Yang Sea was peculiar. Hidden in the water, suppressing his aura, Zhang Ruochen was nearly undetectable, even up close.
However, the Hell Realm’s seven warships were extraordinary, with powerful detection. Too close, and no concealment would hold.
Zhang Ruochen restrained his aura to the utmost, drifting with the waves, approaching the warship of the Slaughter Spirit Emperor holding the Exquisite Dimensional Orb.
Covertly, he mobilized spatial rules, releasing a faint spatial force toward the illusion-shrouded sea region.
This force, subtle and blended with the seawater, was imperceptible to all.
But Zhang Ruochen overlooked one person.
“Hm?”
On a hidden warship within the illusion, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s eyes glowed with radiant circles. Her Origin Divine Eyes caught a figure in the seawater.
