Baiyu Mad Lion, after all, was a powerhouse at the peak of the Hundred Shackle Realm. Empress Feng, not wanting to lose such a valuable ally, approached Zhang Ruochen and said, “Baiyu Great Saint was indeed discourteous earlier, but we are allies advancing and retreating together. I ask Great Saint Ruochen not to take offence and to return the Thousand Gang Ring to him.”
Yan Beijun, displeased with Zhang Ruochen’s actions, snorted, “It was just a spar. Baiyu Great Saint has already lost. Is it necessary for Great Saint Ruochen to seize his weapon?”
Zhang Ruochen fixed his gaze on him and said, “Spar? Did I ever agree to spar with him? If my strength were inferior to his, what do you think the outcome of this fight would have been?”
Yan Beijun replied, “At the very least, Baiyu Great Saint wouldn’t have taken your weapon, nor would he have been so overbearing.”
“Is that so? What if I want to spar with you now?”
Without waiting for Yan Beijun’s consent, Zhang Ruochen exhaled sharply.
*Swish!*
The breath condensed into a sword, transforming into a streak of light that shot toward Yan Beijun’s heart.
Though it was merely a breath, it contained Zhang Ruochen’s sword path rules and potent sword intent, its power comparable to a high-tier holy technique.
This breath was no different from a true holy sword.
Yan Beijun’s expression changed drastically, and he dodged swiftly.
However, having only recently broken through to the Great Saint realm, the gap in cultivation between him and Zhang Ruochen was vast. How could he possibly evade?
*Splatter.*
The sword qi struck Yan Beijun’s heart, piercing through and sending his body flying back over ten miles.
The sword qi pierced his heart, passing through his body.
A torrent of Great Saint blood sprayed out, falling to the ground, causing the earth to burn and melt into magma.
Immediately after, Zhang Ruochen formed a claw with his five fingers and reached out, using a technique to seize objects from a distance, snatching a jade pendant-shaped weapon from Yan Beijun’s body.
The weapon’s spirit resisted fiercely but was firmly suppressed by Zhang Ruochen, unable to escape his grasp.
Empress Feng and Baiyu Mad Lion stood stunned. Zhang Ruochen’s actions were utterly unconventional, striking at the slightest disagreement.
Though Empress Feng held high hopes for Zhang Ruochen and sought his support, his arrogant behaviour and disregard for her authority sparked anger within her.
Did strength justify such recklessness?
Having refined the Thousand Gang Ring, Zhang Ruochen placed it on his wrist. He then descended to the ground, retracting his ten wings into his body. His eyes returned to black, and his aura, no longer ferocious and malevolent, became both ethereal and strikingly handsome.
Yan Beijun, as a Great Saint, had immense vitality and wouldn’t die even with a pierced heart.
However, the heart was one of the most critical vulnerabilities for the Undying Blood Race. Once damaged, it would severely deplete his vitality, making recovery difficult.
Pressing his hand to his heart, Yan Beijun slowly rose from the ground, his face ashen. He said, “Zhang Ruochen, with such ruthless methods, aren’t you afraid the Myriad Realms Divine Eye will expel you from the Hunting Heaven Battlefield?”
“Why would the Myriad Realms Divine Eye expel me?” Zhang Ruochen stepped toward him.
Having witnessed Zhang Ruochen’s strength and ruthlessness, Yan Beijun instinctively retreated, saying, “You… you maliciously attacked an allied cultivator, which warrants a deduction of five thousand points. Once your points fall negative, the Myriad Realms Divine Eye’s spirit will naturally expel you.”
“Malicious attack? You’re mistaken. We were just sparring,” Zhang Ruochen said.
“Did I ever agree to…” Yan Beijun began, then fell silent, understanding Zhang Ruochen’s intent.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “If Baiyu Mad Lion had gravely injured me and taken my Purple Gold Gourd, would you still call that a spar?”
“He wouldn’t do that,” Empress Feng said.
Zhang Ruochen turned to her sharply, saying, “And if he did? Have you considered the consequences?”
Empress Feng wanted to argue but, after careful thought, fell silent.
Ultimately, Baiyu Mad Lion was not of the Undying Blood Race but the Stone Clan.
For the Stone Clan’s interests, he could have struck Zhang Ruochen ruthlessly, incapacitating him for the Hunting Heaven Battle, forcing him to recuperate on the home planet for a hundred days.
Worse still, if the Undying Blood Race’s supreme holy weapon were taken, the consequences would be catastrophic.
Did she have a way to counter Baiyu Mad Lion?
Baiyu Mad Lion’s expression darkened. He said, “What’s the point of all this talk? Name your terms. What will it take to return the Thousand Gang Ring?”
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, “Be my mount.”
“What did you say?”
Baiyu Mad Lion roared, his voice thundering.
Zhang Ruochen elaborated, “During the Hunting Heaven Battle, serve as my mount. After a hundred days, I’ll return the Thousand Gang Ring.”
“Haha!”
Baiyu Mad Lion laughed in fury, saying, “You’re too arrogant, too conceited. Earlier, I restrained myself out of respect for Empress Feng. Did you really think you could overpower me? A Great Saint at the peak of the Hundred Shackle Realm isn’t as simple as you imagine.”
*Roar!*
Baiyu Mad Lion let out a long howl, his skin radiating dazzling white light.
His body grew larger, expanding until he transformed into his true form.
A jade lion, as massive as a mountain, appeared on the ground, its holy radiance nearly liquefying into an ocean of holy liquid.
*Boom, boom.*
The mountains in the area couldn’t withstand the jade lion’s aura, collapsing one after another.
Empress Feng hurriedly intervened, saying, “Will you two stop? Do you want to destroy the home planet?”
“It won’t destroy the home planet to deal with him.”
Zhang Ruochen raised his right arm and swung a palm toward the colossal jade lion.
His palm radiated divine light, accompanied by three Thousand Inquiry Realm elephant souls, pressing down on the jade lion’s area, causing it to sink into a massive five-finger basin.
The ground between the fingers rose, forming four thousand-meter-high ridges.
Baiyu Mad Lion struggled fiercely beneath Zhang Ruochen’s palm print, roaring in anger, but to no avail, firmly suppressed.
Seeing this, Yan Beijun’s expression shifted repeatedly, a deep fear rising within him.
Empress Feng held her breath, shocked beyond measure.
Was Zhang Ruochen’s strength too overwhelming?
Baiyu Mad Lion had once ranked eighteenth on the Hundred Shackle Realm peak list. In his true form, his combat power surged significantly, requiring even her to tread carefully.
Yet Zhang Ruochen suppressed him with a single palm?
Due to the emergence of hidden powerhouses from various factions, and with top Hundred Shackle Realm Great Saints consuming rare delicacies like the Yandao Sacred Fruit and Holy Intent Pills at the Hunting Heaven Banquet, many had broken through their bottlenecks, reaching the peak of the Hundred Shackle Realm.
The number of peak Hundred Shackle Realm Great Saints had grown from forty-seven to eighty-eight.
The ranking of peak Hundred Shackle Realm Great Saints had also been reshuffled.
Baiyu Mad Lion, once eighteenth, had dropped to thirty-third.
Empress Feng, previously twelfth, had fallen to fifteenth.
Before entering the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, the Temple of Fate had provided each cultivator with a booklet and a diamond-shaped lens.
The lens, born from the Myriad Realms Divine Eye and linked to it, periodically displayed information about the Hunting Heaven Battlefield.
For instance, the list of peak Hundred Shackle Realm Great Saints.
Whenever a new peak Hundred Shackle Realm Great Saint emerged, the list would update with the latest rankings.
Additionally, if a Celestial Slave killed an Infernal Realm banquet participant, the slave’s location would be tracked by the Myriad Realms Divine Eye and transmitted to every participant’s diamond-shaped lens.
…
*Boom, boom.*
The home planet’s geological structure was stable, yet within a thousand miles of Zhang Ruochen’s palm, numerous canyons cracked open.
The entire Blood Sky Continent trembled.
Fortunately, the thirty million Undying Blood Race members on the continent were gathered in three major cities. Otherwise, the collateral damage could have killed many.
When Zhang Ruochen lifted his arm, Baiyu Mad Lion was exhausted, his body marred with additional cracks.
His massive lion eyes revealed deep wariness. Zhang Ruochen’s strength far exceeded his expectations. Even those ranked in the top ten of the Hundred Shackle Realm peak list might not be this powerful.
“Empress Feng, this Saint admits defeat wholeheartedly today. I have no face to remain on the Undying Blood Race’s home planet. I take my leave.”
A white cloud appeared beneath Baiyu Mad Lion’s feet, and he soared upward, breaking through the clouds.
“Wait.”
Empress Feng moved to pursue and挽留 him.
Zhang Ruochen, faster than her, intercepted her in midair, saying, “Let him go. A top Stone Clan powerhouse staying on the Undying Blood Race’s home planet is a significant risk. One misstep, and we lose everything.”
Empress Feng said, “But…”
Zhang Ruochen interrupted, “You may not care about the lives of the two hundred forty million Undying Blood Race members on this planet, but I do. I also care about the Undying Blood Race’s points. I don’t want our points halved.”
Empress Feng asked, “So, you deliberately drove Baiyu Mad Lion away?”
“You must understand, he attacked me first. Besides, haven’t you long suspected his motives for approaching you? If you have doubts, remove him immediately. Don’t you understand the principle of not using those you doubt and fully trusting those you use?”
Zhang Ruochen descended to the ground, raising his hands slowly, releasing vast holy energy. The ruined land rose again, sprouting lush vegetation, brimming with vitality.
Empress Feng’s anger gradually subsided, finding Zhang Ruochen’s words reasonable.
More importantly, Zhang Ruochen’s demonstrated strength was formidable enough to play a crucial role in her bid for the Divine Maiden position.
The Divine Son or Divine Maiden of the Temple of Fate didn’t need to be the strongest of their era but had to wield significant influence.
As long as Zhang Ruochen was among the strongest of this era, and she had his support, who would dare oppose her?
Approaching Zhang Ruochen, she said, “Everyone knows Baiyu Mad Lion is my ally. You should have given me some face and not struck so harshly.”
“I gave you face by not killing him,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
At the word “kill,” Empress Feng felt a surge of intense killing intent, sending a chill through her.
So, Zhang Ruochen had harboured killing intent earlier.
Zhang Ruochen continued, “When Baiyu Mad Lion said he was ‘defeated wholeheartedly,’ it was just to save his life.”
“This shows the so-called Mad Lion isn’t mad at all but rather cunning.”
“He knew that if he uttered a word of defiance or threatened revenge, he wouldn’t leave the Undying Blood Race’s home planet alive today. If I wanted to kill him, he couldn’t escape.”
“Moreover, he attacked me first. If I killed him, he’d have deserved it.”
Empress Feng’s heart grew cold. Zhang Ruochen’s ruthlessness exceeded her expectations.
With Zhang Ruochen in the Hunting Heaven Battle, this edition would likely be bloodier than any before, with many deaths.
Empress Feng sighed softly, “Baiyu Mad Lion’s departure is a good thing. It saves us from constantly guarding against him.”
Hearing Zhang Ruochen and Empress Feng’s conversation, Yan Beijun realised she had long suspected Baiyu Mad Lion. Reflecting now, it seemed odd. Why would a top Stone Clan Great Saint disregard his clan’s interests to aid the Undying Blood Race, and why would a Stone Clan deity still grant him a Four-Yuan King-grade holy weapon?
It was indeed suspicious.
Too late, Yan Beijun had offended Zhang Ruochen for Baiyu Mad Lion’s sake, sustaining heavy injuries with little chance of recovery during the Hunting Heaven Battle.
A bitter, self-mocking smile crossed Yan Beijun’s face.
Being gravely injured and having his weapon taken seemed like his just deserts.
“Here.”
Zhang Ruochen tossed the jade pendant-shaped weapon back to Yan Beijun.
Overjoyed, Yan Beijun caught it with both hands, his smile both awkward and grateful. “Thank you, Great Saint Ruochen. Earlier, I misjudged the situation and caused you trouble!”
Zhang Ruochen channelled the life essence from the Heart of the Divine Tree, pressing his palm to Yan Beijun’s heart.
As vast life essence poured in, Yan Beijun’s injuries rapidly healed.
His shame deepened, and he lowered his head, saying nothing, only bowing in respect to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen patted Yan Beijun’s shoulder, then turned to Empress Feng, saying, “I recall you seized a Quasi-Emperor-grade Holy Intent Pill. Have you refined it?”
“Fusing holy intent is a significant matter. I’m still adjusting my state,” Empress Feng replied.
“Refine it as soon as possible. If you can fuse a Third-Grade Holy Intent, your ranking on the Hundred Shackle Realm peak list should enter the top ten. A bloodbath is coming, and I need to prepare.”
Zhang Ruochen waved and transformed into a blood-red beam, flying away.
Yan Beijun frowned, asking, “Senior Sister, how does Zhang Ruochen know a bloodbath is coming?”
Empress Feng said, “He likely refers to Baiyu Mad Lion. Since he’s left, he’ll surely report Zhang Ruochen’s breakthrough to the Hundred Shackle Realm to the Stone Clan or the top powerhouses of the Upper Three Clans. This will prompt forces wanting to kill Zhang Ruochen to act immediately, lest he grow stronger.”
“Would Baiyu Mad Lion really do that?” Yan Beijun was still skeptical.
Empress Feng replied, “I don’t know. But if Zhang Ruochen’s guess is correct, I’ll personally teach that lion a lesson if we meet again.”
“Zhang Ruochen lives up to his reputation as a peer of Yan Wushen. Not only is he powerful, but his actions are decisive and ruthless. Fortunately, he’s our ally,” Yan Beijun sighed.
…
“Zhang Ruochen has broken through to the Hundred Shackle Realm. Come to the Stone Clan’s home planet to discuss plans to eliminate him.”
Upon returning to the Stone Clan’s home planet, Baiyu Mad Lion immediately sent word to Great Saint Dasenluo of the Death Clan, Great Saint Yuanfei, Great Saint Wanshou Wujiang of the Nether Clan, and Prajna of the Temple of Fate.
This battle left an indelible impression of Zhang Ruochen’s strength on Baiyu Mad Lion, who now sought to eliminate this threat swiftly. With Zhang Ruochen by Empress Feng’s side, Prajna’s bid for Divine Maiden faced significant obstacles.
…
Regarding Zhang Ruochen’s personality shift, multiple factors have contributed to his current demeanor.
First, being in the Infernal Realm necessitates a different approach to dealing with surrounding cultivators. Deep down, Zhang Ruochen harbours a strong dislike for the Infernal Realm’s cultivators. In other words, his current personality is partly a facade.
Second, as previously mentioned, his inner demons and the influence of his bloodline play a role.
Zhang Ruochen has always been decisive against enemies, though he’s often indecisive in matters of emotion, maintaining a largely positive image. At this stage, his character leans toward a mix of good and evil, with more ruthless and unscrupulous methods.
In the Thousand Inquiry Realm and the Life-or-Death Realm, due to the nature of these realms, his personality will revert to seeking his true self, returning to simplicity, and undergoing a process of atonement and ascetic cultivation.
Additionally, the Hunting Heaven Battle won’t be overly prolonged, likely spanning about three major battles.
