“Bald donkey, where’s the Yuanhui Holy Medicine?”
From a distance, Xiao Hei’s eager voice rang out.
Dead Zen Old Ancestor and the Destiny Corpse Emperor turned to see Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei approaching.
“Benefactor Zhang, Benefactor Black, thank you for coming. The Yuanhui Holy Medicine I discovered has fled into this jungle,” Dead Zen said, clasping his hands with a serene smile.
Xiao Hei’s eyes widened, activating its Great Saint Vision, staring intently at the mist-shrouded ancient jungle.
Moments later, Xiao Hei’s eyes lit up with excitement, “I never expected that, after the catastrophic disaster True Dragon Island endured, a jungle could still survive. Perhaps the Divine Dragon Clan’s medicinal garden is within.”
At this, Zhang Ruochen, Dead Zen, and the Destiny Corpse Emperor’s eyes gleamed.
The Divine Dragon Clan’s medicinal garden was legendary, said to house countless precious holy medicines, even divine ones. If it had survived, even gods would be moved.
“There’s a strange array and spatial barrier outside the jungle. Attacking forcefully triggers a rebound, making it hard to break,” the Destiny Corpse Emperor mused.
Dead Zen smiled, “Benefactor Zhang’s spatial mastery is profound, and Benefactor Black is an array master. Together, you should overcome the obstacles. If you need assistance, this old monk and the Corpse Emperor are ready to help.”
“Of course, no array can stump this Emperor,” Xiao Hei boasted proudly.
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, “Let’s take a look first.”
He activated his Divine Seal Eye, gazing at the ancient jungle.
Xiao Hei moved closer, examining it carefully.
Dead Zen and the Destiny Corpse Emperor stayed silent, releasing their mental power to monitor the surroundings, ensuring no one interfered with their opportunity.
Three hundred miles away, on a hill cloaked in intricate illusions, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and six Thousand Star Civilization elders stood.
Using her Origin Divine Eyes, she clearly saw Zhang Ruochen’s group.
“The Golden Sun Twin Kings are impressive, actually luring Zhang Ruochen here,” she sighed softly.
An elder said, “Using a Yuanhui Holy Medicine as bait and Dead Zen to draw Zhang Ruochen out—no one could guard against that.”
Another elder added, “Few can resist a Yuanhui Holy Medicine’s allure. It seems Zhang Ruochen’s in grave danger.”
“Heavenly Maiden, this is a grudge between Zhang Ruochen and Sun Civilization. We shouldn’t interfere. If we must, we should side with Sun Civilization.”
Clearly, the elder worried she might help Zhang Ruochen, given their past interactions.
Her brows furrowed. She knew aiding Zhang Ruochen would cause trouble, straining relations between Thousand Star and Sun Civilizations.
“Zhang Ruochen, I believe you won’t fall so easily,” she thought.
Others might be doomed, but Zhang Ruochen was different, defying normal expectations.
After careful observation, Xiao Hei laughed, “This array is indeed peculiar. Breaking it the usual way would take time, but for this Emperor, it’s no challenge.”
Xiao Hei produced a strange stone—the Array-Suppressing Stone, seized from Zhou Yu at the Blood God Sect.
Crafted with great effort by the Sea-Land King among array masters, it could break most ninth-grade arrays.
Unfortunately, it was a consumable with limited uses.
In Zhou Yu’s hands, it might have three uses left, but with Xiao Hei’s expertise, it could manage five or six more.
Under Xiao Hei’s control, the stone floated, touching the complex array outside the jungle.
It glowed, emitting secret patterns that dimmed the array, tearing open a gap.
Carefully stowing the stone, Xiao Hei stamped its foot, unleashing array seals to further tear the array and prevent its self-repair.
High-grade arrays often had self-repairing abilities, the higher the grade, the faster the repair.
Xiao Hei worked swiftly, soon creating a large enough gap for passage.
However, a complex spatial barrier remained, blocking entry.
“Zhang Ruochen, my part’s done. Your turn,” Xiao Hei said, controlling the gap and turning to him.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, extending a hand. Twenty-eight thousand spatial rules emerged, releasing powerful spatial energy that seeped into the barrier.
Dissolving a spatial barrier was delicate work, requiring patience.
Inside the jungle, Sun Civilization’s powerhouses watched Zhang Ruochen intently, eager for him to enter.
With their preparations, once he stepped inside, he was doomed.
The Golden Sun Twin Kings and others were tense, nerves taut as success neared.
“Did I overestimate Zhang Ruochen? He still hasn’t broken my spatial barrier,” Mysterious Void Saint King sneered.
If not for fear of alerting Zhang Ruochen, he’d have loosened the barrier himself.
Zhang Ruochen probed the barrier carefully, not rushing to dissolve it but studying its structure to avoid issues.
This was the Dragon God Temple ruins, filled with oddities. A single misstep could spell disaster.
His unease persisted, not mere sensitivity.
“Hm? Something’s off.”
He detected a faint anomaly.
The barrier seemed artificially controlled.
But when he probed again, the feeling vanished.
His vigilance heightened, thoughts racing.
An idea formed. He turned to Dead Zen, saying, “Are you sure there’s a Yuanhui Holy Medicine? Why no signs? Are you tricking me with some treasure you need, making me do the hard work?”
“Bald donkey, are you deceiving this Emperor?” Xiao Hei asked suspiciously.
Dead Zen said solemnly, “Monks don’t lie. How could I deceive you three? The Five Elements Emperor Flower, frightened after I cut a petal, likely hid deep in the jungle.”
“This jungle is so small—how deep can it hide? Even if you’re not lying, I suspect the flower escaped. Yuanhui Holy Medicines avoid danger,” Zhang Ruochen said gravely.
Even Xiao Hei and the Destiny Corpse Emperor grew doubtful. Since fleeing into the jungle, the flower had shown no signs. Dead Zen’s searches around the jungle found nothing.
“Did it really escape?” Dead Zen frowned.
Inside the jungle, the Great Sun King’s gaze darkened. He hadn’t expected Zhang Ruochen’s suspicion, refusing to act without certainty.
They were ready for a fatal strike, but Zhang Ruochen paused, driving them mad.
Without the Great Sun King’s order, the Five Elements Saint King transformed into a vibrant, five-colored holy flower.
On its slender stem bloomed five dazzling flowers, four with five varied petals, one missing a petal.
Vast water-element essence gathered, forming a petal’s shadow.
Seeing her true form, many Sun Civilization powerhouses’ eyes burned with desire.
The Five Elements Emperor Flower’s effects were miraculous, paving the way for cultivation.
*Swish.*
The Five Elements Saint King flashed to the jungle’s center, manifesting the five energies phenomenon.
“It’s really the Five Elements Emperor Flower! Zhang Ruochen, break the barrier quick—don’t let it escape!” Xiao Hei exclaimed excitedly.
Dead Zen sighed in relief, his credibility intact.
But Zhang Ruochen’s heart sank, thinking, “As expected, something’s wrong.”
His suspicions confirmed, the flower’s timely appearance was too convenient.
He also caught a strange spatial fluctuation when it appeared.
He was nearly certain this was a deliberate trap, its purpose clear.
“Who’s plotting against me? The Golden Sun Twin Kings? Bone Clan’s Ten Venerables? Or the Nether Hall’s Seven Ultimate Killers?” he wondered.
Without hesitation, he summoned the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror, sending it above the jungle, channeling powerful saintly energy.
The mirror glowed with dark demonic light, over a million supreme inscriptions appearing, expanding to a hundred miles, enveloping the jungle in demonic energy.
Xiao Hei, Dead Zen, and the Destiny Corpse Emperor, receiving Zhang Ruochen’s secret message, acted instantly, pouring saintly energy into the mirror.
“Why did Zhang Ruochen activate a supreme saint artifact?”
“Bad news—he’s likely seen through our trap. Act now!”
The Great Sun King’s expression changed, reacting swiftly.
“Since we’re exposed, we fight. With Sun Civilization’s gathered forces, we can crush them,” Mysterious Void Saint King said, eyes fierce.
They had prepared for both outcomes—ambushing Zhang Ruochen ideally, or fighting outright.
Xiao Hei laughed, “So the Golden Sun Twin Kings brought us a Yuanhui Holy Medicine. Such kind people!”
“Big talk for a holy medicine. You have a supreme saint artifact? So do we.”
“Zhang Ruochen, lend us your head to answer to the Old Heavenly Lord.”
The Golden Sun Twin Kings summoned the Golden Crow Ancient Cauldron, suppressed deep in the jungle’s small world, which flew to hover above them.
The cauldron, an ancient supreme saint artifact of Sun Civilization, once wielded by a god, was damaged in a great battle, its spirit destroyed. After ages, a new spirit formed.
Otherwise, they couldn’t have brought it to the Kunlun Realm.
Despite its damage, its power was formidable, and the Twin Kings were confident it could counter the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror.
“The Sun Emperor brought his death upon himself. You seek revenge? Aren’t you afraid of falling to me too?” Zhang Ruochen said coldly.
The Great Sun King declared, “Zhang Ruochen, you’re impressive but not clever. If I were you, I’d have fled upon discovering the trap.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, saying no more.
Dead Zen, now understanding the situation, roared, “Outrageous! You dare scheme against this old monk? Do you think I’m just a chanting monk?”
A lifetime of outwitting others, only to be outwitted now.
His reputation was ruined, and Zhang Ruochen’s group would likely mock him later.
“Stinking monk, you refined my petal, damaging my cultivation. I’ll drain your blood,” the Five Elements Saint King, back in human form, glared coldly at Dead Zen.
Losing a petal as a Yuanhui Holy Medicine, regrowing it was no easy task.
She didn’t believe she was weaker than Dead Zen. Previously, in her true form without saint artifacts, her strength was limited. Now, she had no restraints.
Xiao Hei’s eyes gleamed, staring at her, “It’s been ages since I tasted a Yuanhui Holy Medicine. Come out and let this Emperor eat you.”
“Owl, are you seeking death?” she said, eyes flashing with menace.
Xiao Hei, unfazed, chuckled, “Yuanhui Holy Medicine, I suggest you surrender. Otherwise, when we catch you, we’ll eat you whole. Give up resistance, and we’ll just take the flowers, not all of you.”
Its gaze grew more fervent, nearly drooling.
