“That divine power vortex is likely the source of the monster’s power. If we destroy it, the balance of the four divine powers will be disrupted, causing the monster significant trouble and giving us a chance to escape,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said earnestly.
With her Source Divine Eyes, she could directly perceive the essence of all things.
But then, she frowned slightly, “The power condensed in the divine power vortex is extremely strong. Ordinary attacks would likely be shattered upon approaching, unable to cause any damage.”
“Moreover, the location of the vortex is peculiar, with severely distorted space, making it difficult for any attack to reach. And if one attack fails, it will surely alert the monster, so we only have one chance.”
Clearly, while they had identified the monster’s weakness, exploiting it to escape was no easy task.
“My time is running out. At this final moment, no matter what, I must fight,” the Child of Darkness’s eyes, previously dim, now flickered with resolute light, perhaps sparked by the hope of escape brought by Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
Who would choose death if there was a chance to live?
He knew Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden were exceptionally clever, surely aware that their combined strength alone had a slim chance of destroying the vortex.
But there was only one opportunity.
Only by joining forces could their chances of success significantly increase.
“The three of us—one from Kunlun Realm, one from an ancient civilization, one from the Inferno Realm—should be enemies, yet now we must unite to fight for survival. What do you say?”
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden looked at Zhang Ruochen, wondering if he could set aside his prejudices for this collaboration.
Zhang Ruochen appeared meditative, deep in thought.
With the Child of Darkness, their chances would indeed improve.
Despite his weakened state, Zhang Ruochen didn’t underestimate him. If he acted, his methods would undoubtedly be terrifying.
Though reluctant, there was no other choice.
“Zhang Ruochen, I know you harbor deep resentment toward the Inferno Realm and don’t want to work with me. Rest assured, once we’re out, we remain mortal enemies. I look forward to a fair, one-on-one duel with you, where life or death depends solely on strength,” the Child of Darkness’s bold courage made Zhang Ruochen seem less decisive.
After a moment’s thought, Zhang Ruochen decided, especially since the Child of Darkness couldn’t hold on much longer.
Zhang Ruochen said, “We’ll cooperate and strike with full force once.”
The Child of Darkness looked up, giving Zhang Ruochen a deep glance, then nodded, “Good, let’s break the shackles of fate together.”
Immediately, the three began discussing the details of their collaboration. With only one chance, they couldn’t afford carelessness and had to consider every possibility.
Soon, they were ready. The Child of Darkness began tracing patterns on the ground again.
Compared to before, these patterns were far more complex, densely packed, infused with immense Dark power.
The Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror hovered above Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, who poured their sacred energy into it, fully unleashing its greatest power.
Simultaneously, a black sacred bell emerged from the Child of Darkness, exuding an ancient aura and vast divine might.
Undoubtedly, the bell was a divine relic, belonging to a god of the Dark Path.
“Whoosh.”
The ground’s patterns activated, emitting a profoundly dark light that shot upward, breaking through all obstacles as before, revealing the massive divine power vortex to the trio.
“Strike.”
Without hesitation, the three launched their strongest attack.
The Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror and the black sacred bell were unleashed, releasing powerful supreme force and Dark divine power, like two black dragons seeking to break their cage and soar to the heavens.
Under their deliberate control, the supreme force and Dark divine power merged, erupting like a volcano, crashing into the divine power vortex.
“Boom.”
The vortex trembled violently, its layered barriers shattering instantly.
The next moment, the vortex tore apart, its immense divine power surging outward, causing the entire space to quake and become unstable.
Blinding beams of light shot from the torn vortex. Zhang Ruochen saw clearly that each beam contained a treasure, their numbers astonishing.
Fist-sized sacred pills, powerful bronze artifacts, sparkling sacred sources…
“This monster is indeed one of the five overlords,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
According to the short, thin elder, the Dragon God Hall ruins originally held many treasures, but most were collected by the five overlords within.
Zhang Ruochen had suspected as much. If such a terrifying monster wasn’t among the five overlords, how powerful would they be?
“Roar!”
The divine power monster let out an enraged roar, resounding through its internal world, causing the trio to spit sacred blood, their sacred souls nearly shattering.
The shattered vortex began to reform slowly.
“We must break the monster’s body and escape now, or once the vortex fully reforms, we’re doomed,” the Child of Darkness said, controlling the black sacred bell to strike the void.
“Clang.”
The bell’s chime shook the void but couldn’t breach the monster’s body.
It was impenetrable.
The vortex was reforming too quickly, growing stronger.
“I’ll break it. You collect those treasures. We didn’t come here to leave empty-handed,” Zhang Ruochen said to Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
Focused, Zhang Ruochen released Space rules, seizing a strand of stray Space divine power, wielding it like a divine blade to slash outward.
“Rumble.”
The monster’s body was torn open, creating a massive rift.
From within its internal world, the rift looked dozens of meters long, like a narrow canyon—their only path to survival.
Though Zhang Ruochen had refined many Space divine crystals, enabling him to wield Space divine power, sustaining it was extremely taxing. He roared, “I can only hold it for three breaths. You go first.”
Then, a sudden change occurred.
With lightning speed, the Child of Darkness erupted with strength far beyond his prior state, wielding the black sacred bell to unleash a powerful suction, absorbing all the treasure-laden beams from beside Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
“You two fools have outlived your usefulness. Die.”
The Child of Darkness, bell in hand, rushed to the rift’s edge, radiating terrifying killing intent. Two black chains shot from his body.
The chains, carrying overwhelming malice, like two ferocious black dragons, attacked Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
With their terrifying might, even an Immortal Great Saint caught off guard could perish.
Who could have imagined the weakened Child of Darkness would suddenly turn on them?
Now, he was a different person, his eyes cold and ruthless, brimming with evil energy, looking at Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden like fools.
But just as he thought they were doomed…
Ripples spread around Zhang Ruochen’s space, slowing the chains as if caught in a quagmire.
“Did you think I wasn’t prepared for you?” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
The Child of Darkness’s eyes narrowed, “Aren’t you fully focused on holding the escape passage? How could you have the strength to block my attack?”
“If I hadn’t said that, would you have shown your true colors?” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden stood behind Zhang Ruochen, her sacred energy forming a beam of Source divine light, her eyes flashing with coldness, “Child of Darkness, I underestimated your cunning. You almost fooled me.”
Without further words, Zhang Ruochen acted, mobilizing Space rules and pressing forward, causing a large area of space around the Child of Darkness to collapse rapidly.
With the vortex damaged, the space’s suppressions had weakened, no longer hindering Zhang Ruochen’s spatial techniques.
So what if the Child of Darkness was on par with Yan Wushen? Zhang Ruochen was confident he could fight him.
With his current cultivation and mastery of Time and Space Paths, he could contend with top-tier powerhouses below Great Saint.
“I underestimated you. Even this couldn’t catch you off guard,” the Child of Darkness said, unfazed by the collapsing space.
His composure gave Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden a sense of danger.
Indeed, the Child of Darkness, in both cultivation and cunning, was an unparalleled adversary, rare across the myriad realms.
“Rip.”
His body was swallowed by the collapsing space, reduced to fragments.
“Did we overestimate him? Is he dead?” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said, yet her heart remained uneasy, feeling it wasn’t over.
Then, a shocking scene unfolded.
From the shattered space, a black speck shot out, spinning wildly, expanding into a black hole.
A tall, slender figure emerged, regal and commanding.
It was none other than the Child of Darkness.
Unlike before, he was vibrant, youthful, and brimming with vitality, showing no weakness.
Seeing this, Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s face paled, “This is… the Dark Temple’s secret Dark Divine Embryo Technique.”
“You know of the Dark Divine Embryo Technique? Thousand Star Civilization’s knowledge of the Inferno Realm is profound,” the Child of Darkness said, a hint of surprise in his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen, less familiar with the Dark Temple’s secrets, was puzzled.
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden explained, “The Dark Divine Embryo Technique is a forbidden art of the Dark Temple, rarely taught and extremely difficult to master. But if successful, it grants immense benefits, allowing a complete transformation and a top-tier physique.”
“Once a divine embryo is formed, shedding the old body doubles one’s lifespan, essentially granting a fresh start.”
Zhang Ruochen was shocked, “Such a technique exists? If one could repeatedly form divine embryos, wouldn’t that mean immortality?”
“Theoretically, yes, but forming even one divine embryo is incredibly difficult and dangerous, requiring extraordinary talent and fortune. Historically, the most remarkable figure underwent five transformations, achieving a supreme divine body, becoming a titan of the Dark Temple,” Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said, shaking her head.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes flashed with gravity. The nine great temples, existing for eons, indeed held extraordinary legacies, with secret techniques even gods would covet.
The Child of Darkness summoned the black sacred bell, saying, “This monster collected over a hundred million treasures, each a rare gem. The Dragon God Hall, one of Kunlun Realm’s three great temples, hasn’t disappointed me.”
“With these, my True Dragon Island venture has exceeded expectations, enough to significantly boost the Inferno Realm’s strength. In the future, these treasures will cultivate Inferno Realm warriors to crush Kunlun. And I owe thanks to you two.”
Clearly, the Child of Darkness had long known of the treasures in the mysterious vortex, disguising himself to lure them into cooperation, both to escape the monster and seize the treasures.
Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had also been using him.
But they hadn’t anticipated he’d mastered the Dark Divine Embryo Technique, preserving his life.
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was furious at his words, “Those treasures don’t belong to you. You won’t take a single one.”
Zhang Ruochen poured sacred energy into the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror.
Ripples spread across its surface, absorbing the incoming Dark power.
Simultaneously, vast demonic energy surged from the mirror, forming towering ancient demonic mountains, suppressing the Child of Darkness.
A trace of killing intent appeared between Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden’s brows, “Child of Darkness, let’s see how strong your new body is.”
Light glowed from her brow, and a red ring flew out, releasing immense Source divine power, vibrating at a high frequency, destabilizing the surrounding space to the brink of collapse.
This was a divine relic of a Source Path god, which she couldn’t have wielded without her advanced Source Path mastery.
“Zhang Ruochen’s growth is too fast. Just reaching the Near-Path Realm, he’s cultivated Time and Space Paths to such depths. If he continues, he’ll become my greatest lifelong enemy,” the Child of Darkness frowned.
Instead of resisting their attacks, he seized the moment to rush through the rift, escaping the monster’s body. During this, supreme and Source forces struck him, causing severe injuries.
Turning back, he looked at Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden rushing toward the rift, laughing, “Dear friends, no need to see me off. Once I break through to Great Saint, I’ll slay this monster to avenge you.”
His hands clasped, millions of black patterns emerged, forming a massive black millstone that struck toward them.
“Boom.”
The millstone collided with their attacks in the rift, halting their advance.
In that brief moment, the rift closed, trapping them inside the monster.
The next moment, the vortex within the monster reformed, regaining its vigor, and let out a roar that shook True Dragon Island for tens of thousands of li.
Spitting blood, the Child of Darkness fled swiftly.
Though the cost was high, eliminating Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and seizing treasures gods would covet was a massive gain.
With the monster’s power, now enraged, it would be surprising if Zhang Ruochen and Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden weren’t refined to death.
