As soon as Zhang Ruochen’s words fell, all the undead blood clan cultivators present turned their gazes toward Great Saint Yi Xuan, Gu Chenzi, and Yuhuang, clearly believing that the leader of the Blood Heaven Tribe could only be one of them.
The reputation of the “Three Wonders of Blood Heaven” was so renowned that, let alone prodigies born within the last millennium, even veteran Hundred-Shackle realm powerhouses could scarcely match them.
Great Saint Yi Xuan laughed heartily, saying, “Gu Chenzi, Yuhuang, it seems we’re destined to clash. Which of you two wants to face me first?”
Among the “Three Wonders of Blood Heaven,” Great Saint Yi Xuan was the most belligerent, a notorious battle maniac. Apart from cultivation, his favourite pursuit was challenging the strong.
“You two can fight for it, I have no interest in being the leader,” Yuhuang said indifferently.
Her words didn’t surprise Great Saint Yi Xuan or Gu Chenzi. Yuhuang had always shunned conflict, especially in the last century, during which she had rarely fought. No one knew the true extent of her current strength.
Great Saint Yi Xuan said, “It’s just as well that Yuhuang isn’t joining, lest others say I’m too crude and don’t know how to cherish beauty. Gu Chenzi, let’s have a spar and see if you’ve mastered the Blood-Melting Nether Finger.”
Gu Chenzi stood, calmly replying, “It’s been decades since we last fought. I, too, want to see how much you’ve progressed.”
“What are we waiting for, then?”
With a flash, Great Saint Yi Xuan shot out of the Vast Sea Villa.
With too many cultivators inside the Vast Sea Villa, it was hard to fight freely. Outside, the terrain was open, inscribed with numerous divine runes, impervious to damage, allowing them to unleash their full strength.
Gu Chenzi didn’t hesitate and followed immediately.
Great Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi faced each other in mid-air, and though they hadn’t yet clashed, the atmosphere shifted dramatically, clouds swirling and the sky changing colour. The rules and saintly energy of heaven and earth converged toward them from all directions.
Immense Great Saint pressure radiated from both, causing weaker cultivators to tremble, some barely resisting the urge to kneel.
“Gu Chenzi, take my palm strike first.”
Great Saint Yi Xuan struck first, drawing countless heavenly rules into his palm, as if conjuring an entire world.
This palm carried the overwhelming momentum of heaven and earth, seemingly capable of crushing all resistance.
Gu Chenzi remained unruffled. Eight massive silver wings unfurled behind him, absorbing heaven and earth’s saintly energy at an unimaginable speed, condensing thousands of silver lightning bolts that surged like spirit snakes toward Great Saint Yi Xuan’s palm.
*Boom.*
The lightning and palm strike collided, unleashing a terrifying force that disrupted the rules of heaven and earth.
Thanks to the divine runes, no matter how strong the impact, no destruction occurred.
Great Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi didn’t pause, unleashing even more domineering techniques, engaging in fierce combat.
It was clear to all that they were evenly matched, and a victor would not emerge quickly.
At that moment, every cultivator in the Vast Sea Villa closely watched the battle. Such a peak confrontation was a rare sight.
Zhang Ruochen observed intently. Since he aimed to become the Blood Heaven Tribe’s leader, he would inevitably have to face one of them soon.
As the saying goes, know yourself and your enemy, and you’ll never be defeated.
By studying Great Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi’s techniques, he could prepare more easily.
The two fought fiercely, exchanging over a thousand moves, yet neither gained the upper hand.
At a certain moment, both halted simultaneously, pulling back to create distance.
Gu Chenzi retracted his silver wings, saying, “Unless we fight to the death, it’s hard to determine a winner. So be it, I won’t compete with you this time. You can be the Blood Heaven Tribe’s leader.”
“Then I won’t decline…” Great Saint Yi Xuan began, ready to accept.
But at that moment, a calm voice interrupted, “I’d like to test Great Saint Yi Xuan’s skills.”
Great Saint Yi Xuan turned, locking his gaze on the speaker.
Not only him, but the other undead blood clan cultivators also shifted their attention.
When they saw who spoke, many revealed surprised expressions.
“Cousin Ruochen is challenging Great Saint Yi Xuan, this…” Xue Ningxiao was stunned.
The speaker was none other than Zhang Ruochen, the source of their astonishment.
Zhang Ruochen was remarkable, having defeated Yan Wushen and achieved astonishing feats in the Kunlun Realm. But he had only recently broken through to the Immortal realm. How could he contend with Great Saint Yi Xuan?
Yet, after watching the intense battle between Great Saint Yi Xuan and Gu Chenzi, Zhang Ruochen still dared to issue a challenge. Did he truly believe he could defeat Great Saint Yi Xuan?
Was that even possible?
Under the gaze of many cultivators, Zhang Ruochen stepped out from the Vast Sea Villa, approaching Great Saint Yi Xuan.
Great Saint Xue Qi fixed his eyes on Zhang Ruochen, complex emotions flickering in his gaze.
Great Saint Xue Qi had always valued family honour highly. This time, he desperately wanted to bring glory to the Xue Jue Family, especially now that the Blood War God had become the Grand Clan Leader of the Blood Heaven Tribe. The leader should rightfully come from the Xue Jue Family.
But his strength was lacking, far inferior to the “Three Wonders of Blood Heaven,” leaving him powerless to compete.
Now, Zhang Ruochen had stepped forward. Regardless of the outcome, his courage alone slightly shifted Great Saint Xue Qi’s perception of him.
“Zhang Ruochen, oh, Zhang Ruochen, if you can defeat Great Saint Yi Xuan and become the Blood Heaven Tribe’s leader, you’ll truly secure your place in the Xue Jue Family. No one in the family will dare speak against you again,” Great Saint Xue Qi thought.
Having heard of Zhang Ruochen’s legends, Great Saint Xue Qi was quite curious about his strength.
Not just anyone could defeat Yan Wushen.
Of course, if Zhang Ruochen lost this fight, Xue Qi could seize the opportunity to challenge him and take the family leadership.
The weak were unfit to lead the Xue Jue Family.
Xue Tu watched Zhang Ruochen, his eyes brimming with anticipation.
He knew Zhang Ruochen better than anyone present, aware of many of his trump cards, such as his demi-god physique and legendary ten golden wings. With countless hidden strengths, this battle was sure to be spectacular.
In mid-air, Zhang Ruochen and Great Saint Yi Xuan faced each other, a mere hundred zhang apart.
Great Saint Yi Xuan studied Zhang Ruochen deeply, his will surging, releasing an immense saintly pressure that bore down on him.
With his cultivation, even ordinary Hundred-Shackle realm Great Saints would struggle to withstand his pressure.
Zhang Ruochen stood unmoved, effortlessly neutralising Great Saint Yi Xuan’s pressure.
Seeing this, Great Saint Yi Xuan’s interest was piqued. “Zhang Ruochen, I’ve heard of your feats in the Kunlun Realm. I want to see what skills you, who defeated Yan Wushen, possess. Don’t disappoint me.”
“Great Saint Yi Xuan, please enlighten me,” Zhang Ruochen said with a slight bow.
Respect was due to the strong.
Great Saint Yi Xuan’s fingernails on one hand rapidly extended, transforming into sharp claws. A surge of bloodfiend energy erupted, filling the area with a thick, bloody aura.
*Whoosh.*
As he swung his claws, a thousand-zhang-long blood claw materialised, slashing toward Zhang Ruochen.
Without the divine runes anchoring the space, it would have been torn apart.
Zhang Ruochen pointed a finger, summoning millions of spatial rules that merged into the surrounding space.
*Swish.*
Silver gleams flashed, and fine spatial cracks appeared.
Great Saint Yi Xuan’s massive blood claw shattered into over ten segments, each cut perfectly smooth.
The next moment, the fragmented blood claw exploded, reverting to bloodfiend energy, yet it didn’t dissipate, continuing to surge toward Zhang Ruochen.
The bloodfiend energy churned violently, transforming into a viscous blood sea in an instant, frantically absorbing heaven and earth’s rules and saintly energy, expanding rapidly as if to engulf the entire world.
Zhang Ruochen condensed powerful spatial energy at his fingertip, forming a sharp silver beam capable of cutting through anything.
*Pfft.*
The beam shot out, slicing the blood sea in half, preventing it from merging again.
Then, Zhang Ruochen took the initiative, charging out of the blood sea. He extended a hand, activating all seven acupoints in his palm, releasing a torrent of blood energy.
Instantly, a towering Nether King phantom materialised, vast and majestic, striking a palm toward Great Saint Yi Xuan.
A faint divine might imbued the Nether King phantom, enhancing its majesty and vitality, as if it were an avatar of the Nether King himself.
The Seven-Acupoint Blood Nether Palm, created by the Nether King, was profoundly mysterious, far beyond an ordinary saint technique.
As long as one’s blood energy was strong enough, its power could theoretically increase without limit.
In this regard, Zhang Ruochen had a clear advantage.
With ten golden wings, his blood energy surpassed even Hundred-Shackle realm Great Saints.
Thus, during his prior seclusion, Zhang Ruochen had devoted considerable time to mastering the Seven-Acupoint Blood Nether Palm, elevating it to a higher level.
As the Nether King phantom appeared, the vast blood sea shattered, unable to hold together.
The rules and saintly energy of heaven and earth converged toward the phantom, as if entirely under its command.
“Interesting.”
Great Saint Yi Xuan chuckled, not retreating but advancing.
As his hands moved, the sky filled with sharp claw shadows, their immense power distorting large swathes of space.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Great Saint Yi Xuan locked in combat, many undead blood clan cultivators showed surprise, clearly not expecting Zhang Ruochen to have the strength to face Great Saint Yi Xuan.
Even among peers, few could match Great Saint Yi Xuan. Cross-realm combat against him should have been impossible.
“Such vigorous blood energy, such a formidable physique, such keen battle instincts,” Gu Chenzi said, his eyes gleaming.
His strength and insight were exceptional, quickly discerning some of Zhang Ruochen’s capabilities, prompting words of admiration.
Among the “Three Wonders of Blood Heaven,” Gu Chenzi had the strongest blood energy, yet he felt Zhang Ruochen surpassed him.
It was hard to imagine what Zhang Ruochen had experienced after falling before the spatial rift to undergo such a transformation.
Yuhuang’s eyes also flickered with curiosity, her gaze deepening as if trying to see through Zhang Ruochen completely.
“Cousin Ruochen is incredible! Even Great Saint Yi Xuan can’t overpower him. Could he really become the Blood Heaven Tribe’s leader?” Xue Ningxiao’s eyes widened, hardly believing what she saw.
Xue Chen mused, “Zhang Ruochen isn’t impulsive. If he dares to act, he must have confidence.”
Truthfully, Zhang Ruochen’s rapid progress was jarring to Xue Chen.
When the Kunlun Realm became a Merit Battlefield, Zhang Ruochen was still weak. Had they met then, Xue Chen would have dismissed him.
Yet, in a short time, Zhang Ruochen had leapt to become a top-tier Saint King and now could rival the “Three Wonders of Blood Heaven.” Such a terrifying growth rate was astounding.
Xue Chen wasn’t surprised by Zhang Ruochen’s combat prowess.
He was more curious why Zhang Ruochen chose to compete for the “leader” role.
Zhang Ruochen had little attachment to the Xue Jue Family, so it couldn’t be for family glory. Based on Xue Chen’s understanding, Zhang Ruochen likely had little interest in the Huntian Feast.
Was it the will of a god?
Only a god could influence Zhang Ruochen.
Not only the cultivators in the Vast Sea Villa were watching this battle, but the gods of the Blood Heaven Tribe in the Xue Jue Divine Palace were also observing, their attention largely on Zhang Ruochen.
His identity was too unique. Without the Blood War God’s influence, Zhang Ruochen would have no place in the Blood Heaven Tribe’s world.
To survive in the Infernal Realm, he first needed the recognition of the Blood Heaven Tribe’s gods. The best way was to prove his worth through strength.
This was one reason the Blood Empress urged him to act.
*Bang.*
Zhang Ruochen and Great Saint Yi Xuan clashed with a palm strike, blood energy surging wildly.
Great Saint Yi Xuan grew increasingly shocked. Despite drawing on his shackle-breaking power, he couldn’t gain the upper hand and was faintly suppressed.
“Zhang Ruochen, if you can withstand this palm, I’ll concede victory,” Great Saint Yi Xuan declared.
As he spoke, he fully mobilised his cultivated Saint Path rules, unleashing the immense power gained from breaking eighty shackles, all condensed into one palm.
Instantly, the temperature within tens of thousands of li plummeted. Saint lakes froze rapidly, vegetation iced over, and ice crystals drifted in the air. The entire world seemed on the verge of freezing.
With one palm, he sealed the universe in ice, all things falling silent.
Given Great Saint Yi Xuan’s cultivation, unleashing a perfected Hundred-Shackle high-tier saint technique was unimaginably powerful.
Immediately, Great Saint Qing Sheng activated the divine runes in the Vast Sea Villa, isolating it from the outside to prevent collateral damage.
After all, many weaker Saint realm cultivators in the Vast Sea Villa couldn’t withstand such freezing power.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes narrowed. He extended both hands, forming a profound and domineering palm seal, as an overwhelming masculine energy surged from his body.
In an instant, Zhang Ruochen became a blazing furnace, his skin glowing red as if melting.
Within his divine light sea, the divine sun formed by the Seven-Star Divine Lingzhi’s sun leaf and the Destruction Golden Sun spun rapidly, releasing vast masculine energy that merged with his own.
The next moment, the masculine energy Zhang Ruochen unleashed was a million times stronger than ordinary, exuding a terrifying aura of destruction.
“Dragon-Elephant World Annihilation.”
Zhang Ruochen roared inwardly.
*Roar.*
With earth-shaking dragon roars and elephant trumpets, three divine dragons and three divine elephants burst from his palms, each massive and solid, radiating a majestic pressure that suppressed the heavens.
The dragons and elephants blazed with raging flames, melting all things, as if to incinerate the world.
*Boom.*
Two opposing forces collided violently, unleashing an even more devastating destructive power.
Despite the Xue Jue Family’s highly stable space, ripples formed, with small areas shattering and countless black cracks extending in all directions, a terrifying sight.
Heat waves rolled through the heavens, melting all ice, as if the earth, emerging from an ice age, was bathed in sunlight again.
Under the immense force, Great Saint Yi Xuan staggered back a step, his blood energy surging wildly.
Zhang Ruochen stood tall, unmoved by the destructive force.
For someone with a demi-god physique, such an impact was negligible.
*Hoo.*
Exhaling lightly, Zhang Ruochen activated the Destruction Golden Sun to regulate the rampant masculine energy within, gradually calming it.
His physique was now strong enough to withstand releasing such vast masculine energy. Otherwise, he might have injured himself before harming the enemy, possibly even burning his saint soul.
In the Vast Sea Villa, many undead blood clan cultivators stared wide-eyed, their gazes filled with deep reverence.
The undead blood clan revered strength above all. Only great power could earn their respect.
Now, Zhang Ruochen was undoubtedly a powerhouse in their eyes. No one cared about his origins anymore, strength spoke for everything.
