As the Monarch Heavenly Tribulation dissipated, Zhang Ruochen ceased his cultivation and approached Sunken Abyss Ancient Sword, a gratified smile spreading across his face.
He held a deep bond with Sunken Abyss, forged through their shared growth as the most harmonious partners, each exclusively loyal to the other.
Now, Zhang Ruochen had become one of the most formidable figures below the Great Saint Realm, while Sunken Abyss had ascended to a Monarch Weapon, neither lagging behind.
Scanning the sword, Zhang Ruochen noted that, despite just completing the tribulation, it had gained over 20,000 additional monarch-grade inscriptions, totaling 150,000.
Truly a case of accumulated strength bursting forth.
Moreover, the purple divine stone embedded in the hilt had fused more seamlessly with the sword, becoming one, inducing indescribable, wondrous changes.
This purple divine stone was extraordinary, likely tied to the Stone Clan, a rare treasure with boundless potential, though it required further exploration to unlock.
The tribulation was indeed miraculous, transforming ordinary inscriptions into monarch-grade ones and perfectly merging the purple divine stone with Sunken Abyss, a feat beyond human capability.
The transformation of inscriptions, in particular, was a marvel of cosmic creation, distinct from man-made engravings, imbued with an innate, unique charm of the Dao.
“No wonder so many covet a sacred artifact capable of growth. Merely becoming a Monarch Weapon brings such remarkable transformation. If it becomes a Supreme Sacred Artifact in the future, how astounding would that be?” Zhang Ruochen’s eyes gleamed.
His gaze shifted to the four peculiar marks on the sword’s blade, imprinted by absorbing the tribulation’s power, containing profound universal truths.
Having encountered many Monarch Weapons, he’d never seen such marks, suggesting they were not easily obtained.
Likely, Sunken Abyss’s unique material and its complete absorption of the four tribulation forces during the process resulted in this phenomenon.
“Marks containing the mysteries of the Heavenly Tribulation are indeed obscure. If activated, what effects might they have?” Zhang Ruochen mused.
Regardless, these four marks were undoubtedly beneficial.
At that moment, Sunken Abyss’s sword spirit materialized, noticeably matured, its aura even more akin to Zhang Ruochen’s.
“Zhang Ruochen, I need to retreat for a while to comprehend these four tribulation marks,” the sword spirit said.
Zhang Ruochen nodded, “Good timing. My physical body still needs further refinement.”
Having absorbed some stray tribulation energy to temper his organs and brain, he’d seen significant results but hadn’t reached his goal.
While Sunken Abyss studied the tribulation marks, Zhang Ruochen planned to push his physical body to the Saint King Realm’s pinnacle.
With a flip of his hand, he consumed a Heavenly Grade Sacred Pill to aid immortalization and resumed cultivation.
Ten days passed in a blink, and both Zhang Ruochen and Sunken Abyss’s sword spirit completed their cultivation.
The sword spirit had roughly assimilated the tribulation’s gains, gaining initial insight into the four marks and mastering its own power.
“Still a bit short. My brain and heart haven’t immortalized,” Zhang Ruochen sighed lightly.
Immortalizing the body grew harder toward the end, with the brain and heart typically the last.
He wasn’t without means to immortalize them, but controlling his power was tricky; a misstep could push him into the Great Saint Realm.
With only one step left, he wasn’t in a hurry.
Perhaps when his Sacred Dao Rules reached their peak, his body would naturally follow.
With a thought, he stored Sunken Abyss in his divine light qi sea and, without lingering, leapt out of the Endless Abyss.
Knowing Chi Kunlun was in Yan Wushen’s hands, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t sit idly by; he had to rescue him swiftly.
Though Prajna said Yan Wushen’s benevolent form took Chi Kunlun to train as a disciple, Zhang Ruochen doubted his motives were so simple.
However, Yan Wushen was elusive, making him hard to track.
Guided by Blood God Sect experts through three interlocking ninth-grade arrays, Zhang Ruochen entered the sect.
Recently, the sect had kept a low profile, sealing its gates to focus on strength enhancement.
Knowing the sect was in secluded cultivation, Zhang Ruochen didn’t disturb them, only summoning Elder Yuan Xing for information.
As one of the seven ancient sects, the Blood God Sect had disciples across the Central Region’s nine provinces, forming a robust intelligence network.
“Sect Leader, a major event has occurred in the Central Region,” Elder Yuan Xing said.
“What happened?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
“Three days ago, the Hell Realm mobilized 30 million Saint Realm troops, surrounding the Central Imperial City. All ten Hell Clans sent top-tier experts below Great Saint, multiple from each,” Elder Yuan Xing reported.
Zhang Ruochen’s brows furrowed. The Hell Realm’s sudden move was unexpected.
“How did the Hell Realm deploy 30 million troops into Kunlun Realm’s mainland?” Zhang Ruochen wondered, puzzled.
Currently, battles with the Hell Realm were confined to merit battlefields in the five domains, hindered by spatial barriers and Heavenly Court forces, with only a small number of Hell Realm cultivators entering the mainland.
Previous conflicts on the mainland were small, with Hell Realm armies rarely exceeding a million.
Otherwise, Kunlun Realm would have become a living hell, with countless lives lost.
The sudden appearance of 30 million Saint Realm troops was bizarre and shouldn’t have gone unnoticed.
Either the Hell Realm had long planned this, or something went wrong on the merit battlefields.
“The Central Imperial City represents the court. The Hell Realm aims to dismantle it, plunging Kunlun Realm into chaos and hastening its downfall. But this is likely just one motive; they must have bigger plans,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
Elder Yuan Xing added, “Signs emerged months ago, with Hell Realm cultivators appearing in the Central Region in increasing numbers. But the Heavenly Court’s leaders in Kunlun Realm ignored it, leading to today’s crisis.”
“Kunlun Realm isn’t their homeland, so they don’t care. To them, if it falls, new merit battlefields will open. What’s the situation at the Central Imperial City now?” Zhang Ruochen asked, pondering.
“The city is protected by layered arrays and remains intact, but the Hell Realm sent ten array masters to break them, and the situation is dire,” Elder Yuan Xing said.
“Ten array masters, quite a move,” Zhang Ruochen noted, unsurprised. As the court’s stronghold, Chi Yao had fortified it heavily.
The court’s efforts maintained Kunlun Realm’s stability. Without it, chaos would reign, even in Eastern Region’s Saint City, with panic consuming all.
Though opposed to Empress Chi Yao, Zhang Ruochen saw the bigger picture. In the face of a common enemy, personal grudges took a backseat.
A single array master could wield immense power; ten together might overwhelm the city’s defenses.
And 30 million Saint Realm troops were daunting, enough to make even a hundred Great Saints retreat.
This was true total war, a clash between the Hell Clans and the Heavenly Court’s myriad realms.
In such a grand conflict, individual strength seemed insignificant. Even ten Zhang Ruochens would be shattered.
“With all ten Hell Clans involved, Yan Wushen likely isn’t absent,” Zhang Ruochen thought.
Struggling to locate Yan Wushen, waiting at the Central Imperial City might be his best option.
Despite the city’s precarious state, Zhang Ruochen had to go, for both public and personal reasons.
“It should be Saint Ming’s army breaking the Central Imperial City, not the Hell Realm’s,” he mused.
After some thought, he inscribed several communication talismans and sent them out. With the storm upon them, Kunlun Realm’s hidden forces needed to mobilize.
Leaving the Blood God Sect, Zhang Ruochen quietly headed to the nearest merit sub-station.
Before entering, he used *Formless and Phaseless Thirty-Six Transformations* to alter his appearance into a refined scholar, gentle and elegant, resembling the Saint Book Talent in male guise, even in temperament.
Having studied the profound *Thirty-Six Transformations* and practiced the fourth volume of *Forty-Nine Mysterious Arts*, Zhang Ruochen had mastered its essence.
His human form transformations were flawless, nearly impossible to see through.
The Central Imperial City’s situation was complex, and he preferred to act discreetly, staying in the shadows for greater freedom.
Through the sub-station’s spatial array, he arrived at the Heavenly Dog Star Merit Main Station.
Direct teleportation to the Central Imperial City was impossible due to its crisis, requiring a transfer at the main station.
Upon arrival, Zhang Ruochen saw a sea of people.
With the Hell Realm’s siege, the Heavenly Court swiftly mobilized Saint Realm experts to reinforce the city.
“They say the Hell Realm is still amassing troops, nearing 35 million. The Central Imperial City may not hold,” one voice said.
“Kunlun Realm’s fate was sealed when its world membrane was breached. It’s just a matter of time. The Hell Realm wants a quick victory, leaving no chance for recovery,” another added.
“Though the war hasn’t fully erupted, top experts have clashed dozens of times, all at the highest three tiers below Great Saint. We’ve lost several top figures.”
Listening to the discussions, Zhang Ruochen’s emotions stirred.
Looking up, he saw a light screen above the station displaying real-time images of the Central Imperial City, monitored by the Merit Shrine.
Tens of millions of Hell Realm Saint troops surrounded the city, leaving no gaps, preventing any entry or exit.
Countless array patterns protected the city, holding firm against the ten Hell Realm array masters, at least for now.
“Look! Nie Xiangzi, one of the Truth Shrine’s ten divine disciples, is leaving the city. Who will he face?” a commotion arose.
Through the screen, a gallant man in silver armor emerged from the city, calmly facing the Hell Realm’s overwhelming army.
Nie Xiangzi, known for plucking stars with ease, was the only Truth Shrine disciple Zhang Ruochen knew well, having aided him against Shang Ziyue in the Truth Heavenly Domain.
From the Hell Realm’s army, a near ten-foot-tall figure in blood-red armor stepped forward, strikingly handsome with an eerie smile.
“It’s Blood Chen Heavenly Monarch of the Immortal Blood Clan, the top figure below Great Saint in the Blood Heaven Tribe. He’s here in Kunlun Realm,” a cultivator recognized, eyes wide with shock.
Of the Hell Clans, Zhang Ruochen was most familiar with the Immortal Blood Clan, having dealt with them since his weaker days.
Yet, he knew little of their inner workings, with Blood Slaughter, a second-tier figure below Great Saint, being the strongest he’d met.
The Immortal Blood Clan was divided into ten tribes, each vast with numerous prodigies.
Even Blood Slaughter, with a danger index of ten and second-tier strength, only ranked top five among the clan’s elites in the *Hell Clans’ Ten Thousand Evils Record*.
First-tier figures, with danger indices exceeding ten, were rarely listed.
In the clan, “Heavenly Monarch” was a title for Great Saint Realm experts, reserved for Saint Kings at the first tier below Great Saint.
Blood Slaughter, from the Blood Heaven Tribe and a god’s heir, was consistently outshone by Blood Chen Heavenly Monarch, unable to challenge him even with the Purgatory Tower.
Blood Chen, a grandson of Blood Absolute War God, had cultivated for centuries, his strength unfathomable.
Hearing the discussions, Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred, “From Blood Absolute War God’s line.”
Blood Absolute War God was a revered deity of the Blood Heaven Tribe, with many divine descendants.
Crucially, the Blood Queen was his daughter.
Thus, Blood Absolute War God was Zhang Ruochen’s grandfather from his past life.
Blood Chen Heavenly Monarch was, in effect, his cousin.
However, Zhang Ruochen never acknowledged ties with the Immortal Blood Clan, nor would he recognize this so-called cousin.
Still, Blood Absolute War God’s lineage was formidable, producing prodigies like the Nether King, the Blood Queen, and now Blood Chen Heavenly Monarch.
