“Lan Ying, paying respects to the Divine King and Heavenly God.”
“Hong Futu, paying respects to the Divine King and Heavenly God.”
The two bowed simultaneously, filled with deep reverence for the two titanic gods who had dominated the Hell Realm for hundreds of thousands of years.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God’s divine eyes swept over Lan Ying and Hong Futu, a trace of disappointment flickering across his face. “These two are the strongest representatives of the Green Deer Divine Hall for the Hunting Heaven Banquet?”
“What, you think they can’t kill Zhang Ruochen?” the Green Deer Divine King asked.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God replied, “From what I know, Zhang Ruochen defeated three top Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints of the Blood Heaven Tribe at the god-ascension banquet. Though his cultivation is weaker, his combat strength likely reaches the peak of the Hundred-Shackle Realm.”
The Green Deer Divine King smiled. “A prodigy comparable to Yan Wushen, capable of challenging peak Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints while in the Immortal Realm, isn’t surprising. But are other Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saints limited to only Hundred-Shackle Realm combat strength?”
“What do you mean?” Xiu Chen Heavenly God asked.
“Take a closer look,” the Green Deer Divine King urged.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God’s gaze returned to Lan Ying and Hong Futu, his expression shifting to surprise. “Blood Zheng divine beast, Spirit of Slaughter.”
“Exactly. Hong Futu is a pure-blood Blood Zheng divine beast, exceptionally gifted with immense strength. In the Immortal Realm, he once severely injured a Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Saint. His combat power is virtually limitless,” the Green Deer Divine King said.
Pure-blood divine beasts were almost always single-generation, rare even in the Demon God Realm, one of the Heavenly Realm’s four dominant worlds. Upon maturity, surviving the divine beast tribulation, they could achieve at least pseudo-god-level strength.
A pure-blood divine beast ascending to the Asura Star Pillar Realm was exceedingly rare, perhaps unseen in ten thousand years.
The Green Deer Divine King continued, “Lan Ying is even more extraordinary. Not only is he a Spirit of Slaughter, but he’s also a Cosmic Divine Embryo.”
“Three hundred years ago, I passed through a gods’ battlefield relic in the cosmos and found a chaotic divine cloud. Formed from divine power and slaughter aura, it resembled a fetal egg, radiating nine lights and eighteen colors, each light split into bright and dark shades. It had been gestating for at least three eons.”
“Perhaps by fate’s design, the egg cracked open at that moment, and an infant emerged, still radiating nine lights and eighteen colors. He opened his mouth, greedily devouring all the slaughter aura in the battlefield relic, instantly reaching the Saint Realm.”
“I took him as my disciple, naming him Saint Infant. But the little one was extraordinarily greedy, trying to absorb my divine power while in my arms. So, I later renamed him Lan Ying.”
Xiu Chen Heavenly God scrutinized Lan Ying, muttering, “A Cosmic Divine Embryo truly exists. Though only at the peak of the Hundred-Shackle Realm, his body contains vast divine power. His Slaughter Divine Embryo body is likely no weaker than Zhang Ruochen’s demi-god body.”
Another thought crossed his mind: “Perhaps the Slaughter Divine Embryo body is more suitable for me.”
The Green Deer Divine King asked, “Xiu Chen, do you think these two can kill Zhang Ruochen?”
“Their strength is sufficient. But to ensure success, I’ll give them a boost.”
Xiu Chen Heavenly God produced a dragon-eye-sized black pill and tossed it to Hong Futu. “Swallow it. I’ll help elevate your cultivation to the peak of the Hundred-Shackle Realm.”
Hong Futu held the black pill, sensing its immense battle intent and aura, and joyfully consumed it.
With a flash, two beams of divine light shot from Xiu Chen Heavenly God’s eyes, converging on Hong Futu.
Dense temporal specks enveloped Hong Futu, slowing time dramatically. Ten years inside equated to one day outside.
Such a remarkable temporal technique, even for Xiu Chen Heavenly God, consumed significant divine power and could only be sustained in a small area, unlike the Sundial’s ability to encompass millions of miles.
Lan Ying joined Hong Futu within the temporal specks, cultivating the *Asura Sword*.
The Green Deer Divine King glanced at Xiu Chen Heavenly God. “You didn’t need to expend divine power like this. You know, in the Hell Realm, countless forces want Zhang Ruochen dead.”
“The Nether Clan, Ghost Clan, Bone Clan, Rakshasa Clan, even within the Undead Blood Clan, many hold blood feuds with him. Will they not act at the Hunting Heaven Banquet? I even doubt whether Zhang Ruochen will reach the banquet alive.”
“Blood Absolute War God is ambitious, scheming to elevate the Blood Heaven Tribe’s rank and status among the Undead Blood Clan, with many plans in place.”
“But choosing Zhang Ruochen as the Blood Heaven Tribe’s leader is his gravest mistake. His millennium of planning will collapse, and this millennium’s talents of the Blood Heaven Tribe may all perish. He’ll have to plan for the next millennium.”
…
In the Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace, after two years of refining, the Mercury Gourd, Golden Sun of Destruction, and Cosmic Cold Ice Stone fused into a radiant purple-gold gourd.
Zhang Ruochen retrieved it from the furnace, a surge of searing destructive power washing over him, igniting flames on his Fire God Armor.
Probing with his spiritual power, he sensed, “Good! The Golden Sun of Destruction’s patterns have merged with the Mercury Gourd. Inside, the Golden Sun and Cosmic Cold Ice Stone form a yin-yang vortex, one cold, one hot, in endless circulation.”
The internal environment of the gourd met Zhang Ruochen’s pre-refining expectations, greatly aiding his fist and palm cultivation.
But it could no longer be called the Mercury Gourd.
It needed a new name.
What should it be?
Zhang Ruochen considered grandiose names like “Heaven-Swallowing Earth-Refining Gourd,” “Spacetime Chaos Treasure Gourd,” or “Destruction Cosmic Gourd.”
But he rejected them, finding them too similar to Xiao Hei’s self-styled “Emperor of Heaven-Slaying and Earth-Killing,” reeking of juvenile bravado.
If he became famous in the Hell Realm with this gourd, he might be dubbed “Emperor of Heaven-Swallowing and Earth-Refining,” “Lord of Spacetime Chaos,” or “Blood Emperor of Destruction Cosmos.”
While domineering, they didn’t suit his temperament.
“Forget it, no need to overthink. Purple-Gold Gourd. Simple, and fine.”
After cooling the Purple-Gold Gourd, Zhang Ruochen held it and flew toward Great Saint Qingsheng, calling from afar, “Great Saint, my gourd is fully refined. Help me test its power again.”
Great Saint Qingsheng was intensely curious about the gourd, fused from the Mercury Gourd, Golden Sun of Destruction, and Cosmic Cold Ice Stone, but wary after prior experiences. “The Blood Heaven Tribe’s participants for the Hunting Heaven Banquet are all at the Blood Absolute Clan. No time for testing, hurry and depart.”
Zhang Ruochen insisted, “Testing won’t take long. Don’t be afraid, Great Saint. This time, you don’t need to enter the gourd, just stand there.”
The word “afraid” irked Great Saint Qingsheng, his face darkening. “Afraid? I’m a Supreme Realm Great Saint, fearing nothing short of gods.”
“Good, then stand firm!”
Ignoring Great Saint Qingsheng’s consent, Zhang Ruochen channeled saintly energy into the Purple-Gold Gourd, activating the spatial array at its mouth, covering hundreds of miles.
Unlike before, the Golden Sun of Destruction and Cosmic Cold Ice Stone inside spun rapidly, forming a purple-gold yin-yang vortex that merged with the spatial array, unleashing a swallowing force far stronger than before.
*Rumble.*
Caught off guard, Great Saint Qingsheng, initially dismissive, was pulled by the spatial collapse and yin-yang vortex forces, stumbling forward slightly, looking somewhat disheveled.
He hadn’t been using his power, merely standing casually.
Otherwise, no matter how strong the Purple-Gold Gourd, he could have remained unmoved.
Zhang Ruochen eagerly asked, “How was it?”
Great Saint Qingsheng’s face was grim, his gaze heavy on the Purple-Gold Gourd. “The gourd’s swallowing force is over twice as strong as before. An average Thousand-Question Realm Great Saint, if too close, would surely be sucked in.”
Now, Great Saint Qingsheng began to understand why Blood Absolute War God took such a risk naming Zhang Ruochen as leader.
This treasure alone could make Zhang Ruochen shine at the Hunting Heaven Banquet.
Zhang Ruochen frowned. “The swallowing force still seems lacking. But I have ways to improve it. Does the Blood Absolute Clan have any star cores, Great Saint?”
Star cores, the kernels of stars, were essential for crafting heavy artifacts.
The Golden Sun of Destruction, for instance, was forged from a star’s core essence.
If the Golden Sun of Destruction were a complete star, its gravitational pull could draw in all beings below godhood, irresistible.
Zhang Ruochen sought star cores to fuse into the Golden Sun of Destruction, enhancing its gravity.
If he could elevate it to a complete star’s level, who below godhood would dare not fear his Purple-Gold Gourd?
Great Saint Qingsheng guessed Zhang Ruochen’s intent, sneering inwardly. *Richer than me, the acting clan leader, yet still trying to mooch off the clan.*
He waved dismissively. “The Blood Absolute Clan has none. Want star cores? Buy them in the Forest of No Return.”
Zhang Ruochen met Great Saint Qingsheng’s eyes, saying thoughtfully, “I won’t take clan resources for free. I can trade treasures for them.”
Great Saint Qingsheng wavered, tempted. But as a Supreme Realm Great Saint and acting leader, he couldn’t retract his words. Annoyed, he snapped, “What’s that supposed to mean? Think I’m lying? The Blood Absolute Clan truly has no star cores.”
With a clan as vast as the Blood Absolute, how could they lack star cores?
Zhang Ruochen was about to offer several treasures to sway him, but before he could, Great Saint Qingsheng flicked his sleeve, and Zhang Ruochen was spun out of the Heaven and Earth Divine Furnace’s domain.
“Had you mentioned trading treasures earlier, I’d have gone to the cosmos to fetch star cores myself. What’s the big deal?” Great Saint Qingsheng thought, sighing in regret.
As clan leader and Supreme Realm Great Saint, his word was iron, unchangeable.
After exiting, Zhang Ruochen visited the Blood Absolute Clan’s secret site, the Ancestral Pool, but failed to meet Chi Kongle, who was recovering there. Suppressing his emotions, he prepared for the Hunting Heaven Banquet journey.
A blood-red jade saint ship, five hundred zhang meters long, hovered above the clan’s mountain range, flanked by five massive crystal wings on each side, resembling ten blood clouds.
Nearly all the Saint King cultivators representing the Blood Heaven Tribe for the banquet boarded this saint ship.
Surrounding the ten-winged saint ship were over a hundred saint ships of varying sizes—some six-winged, others eight-winged—each radiating Great Saint aura.
Many Blood Clan cultivators were heading to the Forest of No Return for the spectacle.
Such a grand event, held once a millennium, was bound to be lively. Even non-participants saw it as a chance to make a name in the Hell Realm, unwilling to miss out.
The grandeur of the fleet and its formidable strength struck Zhang Ruochen with awe upon first sight.
Among the hundred-plus Great Saint ships, Zhang Ruochen spotted cultivators riding mounts.
Yu Huang stood proudly atop a Qingluan Beast Emperor, stunningly beautiful, her cold gaze fixed on Zhang Ruochen. “Leader, we’ve waited half a day. When do we depart?”
“Now.”
Zhang Ruochen used spatial teleportation to board the ten-winged saint ship.
In the Blood Heaven Tribe, few Great Saints could use a ten-winged saint ship, likely Great Saint Qingsheng’s. With numerous enemies in the Hell Realm, Zhang Ruochen was safest on his ship.
Led by the ten-winged saint ship, the Blood Heaven Tribe’s fleet sped off, heading for a spatial wormhole near Tianlin Ancient City, passing through to the distant Forest of No Return.
Though only about a hundred cultivators participated in the banquet, Zhang Ruochen sensed over ten thousand Saint Realm cultivators’ auras on the ten-winged ship alone. Nearly every participant brought relatives, maids, and servants, as if competing in wealth and status.
Nearby, Zhang Ruochen overheard three Saint King participants discussing.
“The Five-Realm King, a god’s grandson, wears King’s Sacred Artifact armor. His four maids, all Saint Realm, are young and beautiful.”
“Liu Ji Blood Saint went all out for the banquet, spending a fortune on ten Supreme Saint slaves to carry his sedan. He’ll surely make a grand impression.”
…
The more Zhang Ruochen listened, the more amused he felt, muttering, “Hell Realm cultivators are so competitive. It’s just a banquet, yet they vie and compare at every turn.”
“Haha! Zhang Ruochen, you don’t understand. The Hunting Heaven Banquet is indeed a stage for clans to vie for fame and outshine each other,” Great Saint Yixuan approached, saying.
“Every divine hall, tribe, clan, and divine kingdom strives to display its most magnificent side.”
“Humility, restraint, low profile? Heh, forget it. The more you act that way, the more others think your tribe is weak, your hall lacks ambition, or your clan has declined.”
