“Do you think the same trick, used a second time, can still threaten me?”
Zhang Ruochen stands amidst the vast starlight of his truth boundary, his eyes blazing like twin suns. Raising his arms, he channels the power of countless stars, transforming them into hundreds of thousands of light beams that strike at the ten thousand divine eyes conjured by Wujiang.
Since surviving the *Ten-Thousand-Eye Illusion* last time, Zhang Ruochen has tirelessly sought a counter. He concluded that only truth can dispel illusion.
His mental power, now at the sixty-fourth tier, gives him the confidence to break Wujiang’s illusion.
The starlight beams converge on Wujiang, resembling a barrage of arrows piercing the heart.
“He’s completely unaffected by the *Ten-Thousand-Eye Illusion*? Is the Way of Truth this formidable? It shouldn’t be!”
Wujiang’s eyes flicker with confusion, then sharpen. Behind him, a hundred handprints manifest again, unleashing *Hundred-Hand Life-Death Seals* to shatter the incoming starlight beams.
*Boom, boom.*
The sky above the Dark Star dazzles with starlight, clouds swirling like mist.
Amidst the radiant starlight, the Immovable Wisdom King’s sacred image, towering dozens of miles high, materialises, bathed in golden light, its head piercing the ninth heaven. On Zhang Ruochen’s other side, a divine-demonic shadow emerges, standing atop a hell of ten thousand corpses.
Against a foe like Wujiang, Zhang Ruochen unleashes his strongest sacred technique.
“Divine-Demonic Prison Suppression, Immovable Wisdom King, merge as one.”
Zhang Ruochen clasps his hands, raising them overhead. His long hair whips in the wind, his aura surging to its peak.
*Whoosh!*
On the ground, fierce currents swirl around Fang Mofeng, Yan Cuo, and the other Great Saint. The three feel like frail boats on a primordial divine sea, tossed and nearly swept away by the gusts.
“I thought Wujiang was peerless, matched only by Lan Ying, Emperor Yama, and Luo Shengtian. I never imagined Zhang Ruochen would join their ranks,” Mo Cuo marvels, ashamed that his former genius status pales beside Zhang Ruochen and Wujiang.
Fang Mofeng says, “We must leave the Third Dark Star. This level of combat is beyond our interference.”
Yan Hanyu nods. “No matter what, we owe Zhang Ruochen a great debt.”
Had Zhang Ruochen not intervened earlier, she would have faced her greatest humiliation, and she feels deep gratitude.
Mo Cuo nods. “I owe him a debt.”
When ambushing Saint Lord Zuo Mu, Zhang Ruochen could have delayed, waiting for a better moment. Acting before Saint Lord Zuo Mu violated Yan Hanyu suggests he intended to save her.
Facing the fused Immovable Wisdom King and divine-demonic shadow, Wujiang feels pressure, finally taking Zhang Ruochen seriously as an opponent. He says gravely, “Styx Divine Kingdom.”
The heavens and earth transform. Vast Styx qi spreads for a thousand miles, manifesting a chilling divine kingdom of the underworld. Black palaces, bloodstone walls, bone divine mountains—wondrous sights surround Wujiang.
“Ancestor of the Styx.”
Wujiang’s voice shifts, uttering a second phrase.
Behind him, Styx qi surges.
In the divine kingdom, an immense, ancient divine shadow forms, absorbing heaven and earth’s qi, exhaling dark light, towering in grandeur to rival the Immovable Wisdom King.
“Fight!”
Zhang Ruochen roars, charging into the Styx Divine Kingdom with the Immovable Wisdom King, trampling bone mountains and shattering bloodstone walls. Wherever he passes, mountains crumble, cities collapse, and the sky falls.
Finally, the Immovable Wisdom King clashes with the Styx Ancestor. It no longer feels like Zhang Ruochen versus Wujiang, but rather a clash from ancient times, the Immovable Wisdom King battling the Styx Ancestor, annihilating the starry sky.
The Dark Star’s power shields it from the myriad realms’ divine eyes, and most gods cannot perceive its events.
But this is not absolute.
For a being like God Venerable Fuluo, with immeasurable mental power, the Dark Star’s barrier is no obstacle.
God Venerable Fuluo’s divine statue, as vast as a star, stands three million miles tall.
Behind him, the Gate of Fate weaves countless billions of fate rules, its divine light radiating mysterious power beyond mortal comprehension.
The Gate of Fate’s light dims briefly.
Then, the Third Dark Star’s events appear within it.
Divine eyes from various divine realms open, gazing towards the Gate of Fate.
Zhang Ruochen, Wujiang, and Prajna, stars of their generation, represent the Infernal Court’s future, intriguing even gods.
“The Bloodsky Clan is remarkable, producing three powerhouses, each with top-ten strength in the Hundred-Shackle Realm,” a god’s voice rings with envy.
“The Undying Blood Clan’s overall strength now rivals the Asura Clan, qualifying to challenge the Yama Clan.”
“Without top-tier powerhouses, how can the Undying Blood Clan challenge the Yama Clan? Zhang Ruochen has a second-grade holy intent, but his realm still lags far behind.”
“Not necessarily. He’s holding his own against Wujiang, already among the top tier.”
“Nine out of ten, Zhang Ruochen will lose to Wujiang.”
…
In a divine realm shrouded in endless white mist, a floating island lies deep within—a verdant continent.
On it, Luo Yan, master of the Raksha Clan’s First Divine Kingdom, sits opposite Blood Absolute War God, the Bloodsky Clan’s grand patriarch. Both exude boundless divine power, their auras majestic, blood qi surging like roaring rivers.
Luo Yan wears a blood-ink emperor crown, a robe of thousand-character-thousand-painting divine talismans, and a jade belt with a god-smiting whip. “Blood Absolute, you’ve hidden your plans well. This Hunt for Heaven suggests grand ambitions.”
“My goals aren’t so grand—just to see the Undying Blood Clan rank among the top five clans and the Bloodsky Clan among the top three tribes. The current situation exceeds my expectations. The youngsters are simply outstanding.”
Blood Absolute speaks calmly, but his face beams with pride.
Luo Yan says, “So, you came to my divine realm to boast?”
Blood Absolute shakes his head, his tone turning serious. “I’m here to discuss a significant matter.”
“What matter?” Luo Yan asks.
“What do you think of Zhang Ruochen?”
Luo Yan ponders. “A prodigy. If he doesn’t fall, he’ll claim a seat among the Undying Blood Clan’s thirteen war gods.”
In the Infernal Court, only gods with immense combat prowess and illustrious achievements earn the title “War God.”
The Undying Blood Clan has many powerful gods, but only thirteen war god seats, fixed since antiquity.
Blood Absolute, the youngest of the thirteen, is one.
The eldest, said to be nearly a million years old, is an ancient figure, the foremost war god, titled “Undying War God.” Even the clan’s patriarch, the master of the Undying Divine Hall, fears him.
Yet, this Undying War God hasn’t appeared in over a hundred thousand years, missing even the Middle Ages’ divine war.
The only proof of his survival is his divine flame, still burning in the Undying Divine Hall.
Luo Yan’s assessment that Zhang Ruochen could join the thirteen war gods, equalling the Undying War God and Blood Absolute, is high praise.
Blood Absolute says, “You’re right. I believe Zhang Ruochen’s future is limitless. But his path will be fraught with danger and death. I’ve divined his future, and it’s blank.”
“You fear he has no future, that he’ll fall before godhood?” Luo Yan asks.
Blood Absolute nods, then shakes his head. “A blank future might mean Saint Monk Xumi hid it, or Zhang Ruochen himself concealed it.”
“Himself… I see! Either he has no future, or his future surpasses our achievements, making it unreadable,” Luo Yan says.
Blood Absolute smiles. “The future is full of variables, even fate cannot fully dictate it. With enough power, one controls their own destiny.”
“So, you’re here for him?” Luo Yan asks.
Blood Absolute nods. “He must carve his own path. But as my most outstanding descendant, I must pave the way to make his journey easier.”
“With your status as his war god grandfather, isn’t that the broadest path already?” Luo Yan teases.
Blood Absolute says, “I must cultivate too. I can’t shield him forever, and his enemies are many and mighty. He needs a force to intimidate the entire Infernal Court.”
“You don’t mean our Tianluo Divine Kingdom?”
Luo Yan grows wary, sensing a scheme to pull him in.
Blood Absolute nods. “A marriage alliance. If Zhang Ruochen weds into Tianluo Divine Kingdom, other forces will back off.”
Luo Yan relaxes slightly. As long as Blood Absolute isn’t asking Zhang Ruochen to become his disciple—a move with too many variables—he’s less guarded. He smiles, “A marriage isn’t a big deal. Tianluo Divine Kingdom has several divine daughters in the Great Saint realm, suitable for your grandson. Which one do you have in mind?”
Blood Absolute sneers. “My grandson, a peerless talent with war god potential, deserves more than ordinary divine daughters. I think Princess Luo Sha…”
“Wait, who?”
Luo Yan’s face darkens, his eyes sharp.
Blood Absolute says, “Princess Luo Sha’s talent and intellect are unmatched in this generation of the Infernal Court. Only she is worthy of my grandson.”
“Blood Absolute, you’re too bold. Luo Sha is my daughter, potentially the future ruler of Tianluo Divine Kingdom. Are you proposing marriage or trying to steal her?”
Luo Yan slams the table, resolute. “Don’t even think about it. It’s impossible.”
Blood Absolute says, “My grandson is a rare genius. If I spread the word, gods from the Asura, Styx, Death, even Yama Clans will come with their daughters to discuss marriage. Why do you think I came to you first?”
“In the Infernal Court, the Undying Blood and Raksha Clans should unite closely, as we’re both living beings. A top-tier powerhouse strengthens our interests, status, and voice.”
Luo Yan shakes his head. “You can’t divine Zhang Ruochen’s future, so why should I risk my daughter’s? Worse, if your grandson marries her, I’d be a generation below you. What are you thinking?”
“Who told you to live hundreds of thousands of years and still take consorts yearly?”
“Nonsense! When have I taken consorts yearly? Luo Sha is my only daughter with Tianyin. Even if I agreed, Tianyin wouldn’t, and Luo Sha herself would never consent,” Luo Yan says.
“Not necessarily. I think those two youngsters have some chemistry.”
…
One, a divine kingdom’s master; the other, a grand patriarch. They argue heatedly, faces flushed.
Their battle intent rises, nearly sparking a fight.
“Though you’ve cultivated longer, age doesn’t guarantee strength. Many old-timers weaken over time,” Blood Absolute says, summoning his war halberd, pointing it at Luo Yan.
Luo Yan exhales torrents of evil刹 qi, divine light illuminating his realm. “I’m in my prime. You, even all thirteen Undying War Gods, wouldn’t stand a chance. I’d crush you all single-handedly.”
*Swish!*
A divine light materialises, forming a green-robed woman.
“Tianyin, stay out of this. Blood Absolute has gone too far. I’ll teach him a lesson,” Luo Yan says.
The woman, Tianyin, a former divine maiden of the Fate Temple and disciple of God Venerable Fuluo, is Tianluo Divine Kingdom’s divine queen. She shakes her head. “You’re both true gods who shake the heavens. Why quarrel over a trifle? Let the youngsters decide their own matters.”
Luo Yan looks incredulous. “Tianyin, how can you think there’s room for discussion? You should stand with me, firmly against this marriage.”
“I’ve seen a thread of fate’s trajectory. Perhaps neither you nor I can oppose it,” Tianyin says with a sigh, her tone heavy with resignation.
