In the Kunlun Realm, within Qinghong Pavilion.
At this moment, the vast small world was filled with the figures of Zhang Ruochen and Yan Wushen, both unleashing their full array of techniques, clashing relentlessly.
If this small world hadn’t been created by Master Fangcun, with its unparalleled stability, it would likely have been shattered to pieces long ago.
Although Zhang Ruochen’s side held a clear numerical advantage, they gained no upper hand in their battle against the Hell Realm’s forces, instead finding themselves at a significant disadvantage.
Moreover, they were currently only facing the powerhouses of seven of the Hell Realm’s ten clans, as the other three were attacking Bookworm and Hundred Fools, leaving them no chance to assist.
Bookworm and Hundred Fools stood before the spatial teleportation array, their bodies battered and broken, yet they held their ground unwaveringly.
No matter how fiercely the Hell Realm’s powerhouses attacked, they refused to retreat a single step, for they could neither afford to nor had anywhere left to fall back.
If they failed to protect this spatial teleportation array, they would become sinners of the Confucian Path and the entire Kunlun Realm.
“You two scholars, still unwilling to step aside?” Jade Sky Bone Emperor said coldly.
Bookworm gave a bleak smile, saying, “To sacrifice for righteousness is my desire. The Confucian Path has no cowards, and we will not disgrace our teacher.”
As disciples of Ancestor Confucius, they possessed lofty integrity and unyielding spirit, refusing to yield even in the face of certain death.
Shi Juexin sneered, “Why waste words? Those unwilling to join the Hell Realm will all be crushed. Submit and prosper, defy and perish!”
“Swish.”
Shi Juexin swung his giant axe with full force.
He had always idolised Huang Tian, aspiring to become a peerless powerhouse like him, and thus used a similar weapon.
While battling Yan Wushen, Zhang Ruochen kept an eye on Bookworm and Hundred Fools, desperate to aid them but unable to break free from Yan Wushen’s interference.
“Zhang Ruochen, the peach tree will surely be cut down, you cannot stop it. Focus and fight me with all you have,” Yan Wushen said.
Behind him, the Yanluo figure grew increasingly solid, wielding the *Book of Death*, conjuring a realm of death to envelop Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen countered with the Zangshan Demon Mirror, combined with the Truth Form, to block the invasion of death’s power.
Simultaneously, he employed the *Secret Code of Time and Space*, amplifying the Spatial True Domain and the River of Time to their utmost limits.
However, Yan Wushen was prepared, wielding extraordinary spatial and origin treasures, holding his own without faltering.
“Bang.”
The Truth Form was pierced, and Zhang Ruochen staggered back several steps, his body trembling, narrowly avoiding injury.
He had been distracted!
Battling Yan Wushen was fraught with peril, where even a moment’s lapse could prove fatal.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression darkened; Yan Wushen was a formidable foe, and defeating him was immensely challenging.
He considered using the Yin-Yang Dual Sword Formation against Yan Wushen, but the Blood-Dripping Sword was currently engaged in a fierce struggle with a Death Clan powerhouse, evenly matched.
“Swish.”
A bone blade appeared abruptly, slashing at Zhang Ruochen’s waist.
The timing of the strike was impeccable, leaving Zhang Ruochen little room to evade.
“Die!”
Jade Sky Bone Emperor roared.
He had been waiting for a chance to ambush Zhang Ruochen, hoping to create an opening that might help Yan Wushen secure victory sooner.
“Boom.”
Zhang Ruochen’s left leg erupted in blazing divine fire, unleashing overwhelming divine might in an instant.
“Clang.”
The bone blade struck his waist but was repelled by the surge of divine power.
With Zhang Ruochen at the centre, a massive crater spanning a hundred li formed, the earth and stone melting into scorching magma that churned within.
The ground beneath Jade Sky Bone Emperor suddenly split open, like a volcanic eruption, as a terrifying wave of divine fire surged forth, engulfing him instantly.
“Crack.”
Jade Sky Bone Emperor’s diamond-hard bone body emitted a cracking sound.
“So strong.”
Jade Sky Bone Emperor was inwardly shocked, retreating from the divine fire in disarray.
Had he not cultivated the Jade Sky Path, rendering his bone body and saint soul jade-like, he would have suffered severe injuries, if not death.
Yan Wushen snorted, “Jade Sky Bone Emperor, do your job. No one interferes in my duel with Zhang Ruochen.”
Having experienced Zhang Ruochen’s fearsome power, Jade Sky Bone Emperor dared not act recklessly again, fearing he couldn’t withstand Zhang Ruochen’s retaliation.
Ultimately, he had underestimated Zhang Ruochen’s strength. In this battle between Zhang Ruochen and Yan Wushen, others could hardly intervene.
On the sacred altar, Feng Yan and Xiang Chunan stood by Thousand Stars Heavenly Maiden’s side.
Following Zhang Ruochen’s orders, they were tasked with protecting her, ensuring she faced no disturbances.
Seeing their side’s situation worsen, Feng Yan frowned and asked, “Haven’t you found the location of that talisman master yet?”
He knew the key to turning the tide lay in breaking the Boundary-Sealing Talisman. Otherwise, they risked being slaughtered by the Hell Realm’s ten clans.
“The Boundary-Sealing Talisman completely conceals the heavens, masking the talisman master’s aura entirely. I need more time,” Thousand Stars Heavenly Maiden said.
She was anxious, but this matter couldn’t be rushed.
Unfortunately, she was still only a Talisman Saint Master, not a Talisman Earth Master, or this task would be far easier.
The gap in realms was difficult to bridge with other means.
Hearing this, Feng Yan didn’t press further, allowing Thousand Stars Heavenly Maiden to focus on the task.
“The Hell Realm sent few powerhouses, but each is terrifyingly strong. I can’t handle even one of them and can only stand here watching, it’s frustrating,” Xiang Chunan said indignantly.
Feng Yan sighed. Both he and Xiang Chunan were only at the Dao Domain realm, their strength comparable to ordinary Near-Dao realm cultivators, but vastly inferior to these Hell Realm powerhouses.
With their current strength, fighting alongside Zhang Ruochen was a distant dream.
Despite nearly being injured by Yan Wushen, Zhang Ruochen still diverted attention to Bookworm and Hundred Fools, as the stakes were too high to ignore.
“No, I must get there. The spatial teleportation array cannot be compromised.”
With a thought, Zhang Ruochen swiftly flipped through the *Secret Code of Time and Space*, releasing a spatial talisman that shot toward Yan Wushen.
This talisman, previously used by Shentu Yunkong to break through multidimensional space, had its power restrained by the *Secret Code* before it could fully activate.
Forged by the Spatial Temple’s powerhouses, the spatial talisman’s might was unparalleled.
“Break!”
Zhang Ruochen fully activated the *Secret Code of Time and Space*, synergising with the spatial talisman.
“Boom.”
A terrifying spatial storm erupted, sweeping toward Yan Wushen.
Seizing the moment, Zhang Ruochen moved at lightning speed, rushing toward the peach grove’s end.
“Stop him!”
A Hell Realm powerhouse roared.
Shi Juexin and Ming Mo turned instantly, one swinging a giant axe, the other unleashing the Evil Nether Path.
Shi Juexin held nothing back, wielding the Stone Clan’s unmatched strength to cleave a long rift in the already constrained space.
Ming Mo released a surge of evil nether energy, condensing it into a point and firing it forth.
Zhang Ruochen brandished the Ancient Abyss Sword, weaving time imprints to create a virtual time domain, briefly freezing the surrounding space-time.
“Bang.”
Two silver sword beams slashed out, striking Shi Juexin and Ming Mo.
Shi Juexin’s stone body was indeed tough; the silver beam left only a white mark, failing to break through.
Ming Mo’s evil nether battle body was weaker, a deep gash appearing on his chest, dark red blood gushing forth.
Enduring Zhang Ruochen’s strike, both Shi Juexin and Ming Mo felt an inexplicable weakness.
“The power of time.”
In an instant, they realised the cause.
During this brief delay, Yan Wushen caught up again.
Knowing he couldn’t break through, Zhang Ruochen made a decisive move, launching two streams of the Spring of Life, remotely infusing them into Bookworm and Hundred Fools.
Unable to assist directly, he could only hope they’d hold out longer.
“Yanluo Hell!”
Yan Wushen closed in, conjuring an immense hell, as if the Hell Realm itself were descending upon this world.
During the Luoshui battle, Yan Wushen’s evil form had used this Yanluo Clan secret technique, countered by Zhang Ruochen’s sundial.
Now, with his dual forms united, the technique’s power had multiplied.
Zhang Ruochen’s expression grew serious, his hands swiftly forming seals. A flood of saint path rules surged from his body, interweaving to form a majestic god-demon figure.
This time, based on the Ming King Saint Form, he combined the Five Elements Saint Path and the Path of Truth, pushing God-Demon Suppressing Hell to its peak.
One side was hell descending, the other was a god-demon suppressing hell, a direct clash.
“Boom.”
The god-demon figure Zhang Ruochen conjured unleashed unmatched power, holding back Yanluo Hell.
Then, with overwhelming ferocity, it tore Yanluo Hell apart.
Above the god-demon figure, nine vast celestial domains appeared, like nine boundless universes.
The lower eight domains were highly solid, as if real, summoned by mysterious forces to descend upon this world.
The topmost domain was hazy, flickering between reality and illusion, indistinct.
The nine celestial domains were immensely heavy, brimming with boundless power.
At this moment, unique forces burst from the eight solid domains, vibrant and colourful, enveloping the god-demon figure in an eight-coloured halo.
Instantly, the god-demon figure’s power surged, as if imbued with a soul, lifelike.
“Bang.”
The torn Yanluo Hell was trampled beneath the god-demon figure’s feet.
This transformation surprised even Zhang Ruochen, as he hadn’t seen such an effect when using God-Demon Suppressing Hell in Ziwei Palace.
He could clearly sense that the root of this change was the *Nine Heavens Ming Emperor Scripture*.
At this moment, the scripture revealed its extraordinary nature, perfectly merging with God-Demon Suppressing Hell, fundamentally altering it.
However, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t yet grasp the intricacies of this change. In another time, he might have studied it thoroughly.
But now was not the time for such thoughts; he set them aside.
Having blocked Yan Wushen, Zhang Ruochen seized the opportunity, turning and charging toward the spatial teleportation array.
Nothing was more critical than protecting it.
