The Arctic Glacier Continent.
Dark demonic clouds blanket the sky, cold night rain drips incessantly.
Raindrops, capable of piercing mountains, penetrating the hardest rocks.
“Crack!”
Occasionally, lightning streaks across the sky, like a bright celestial blade traversing thousands of miles, before finally dissipating into nothingness.
This land, uncertain whether it is a sacred realm or a demonic domain, has become even more perilous.
In the darkness not far from Sleeping Buddha Mountain, Demon Sound, Wind Empress, Blade Prison Emperor, Yue Tinghai, and Great Senluo Emperor stand within a concealed formation, gazing from afar at the Dragon Clan Bronze Temple.
They did not follow Zhang Ruochen into the temple, instead hiding at the foot of the mountain.
Blade Prison Emperor’s face is grim, his eyes deep, “Three hours have already passed.”
“Zhang Ruochen is still too reckless. If he had brought us into the bronze temple, the danger would have been much reduced. With his strength alone, how can he contend with formidable figures like Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu, renowned across the heavens?” Wind Empress, wearing a golden veil, sighs softly.
Even if Zhang Ruochen defeated Wujiang, she still does not believe he has the strength to stand toe-to-toe with Que, Lan Ying, or Yan Huangtu.
Seizing treasure from a tiger’s mouth, how could it be so easy?
Yue Tinghai’s voice is low, “Perhaps he deliberately didn’t want to bring us along. After all, the Mirror Platform and the Buddha’s Relic can only be claimed by one, not shared.”
“What nonsense are you spouting?”
Great Senluo Emperor growls, stepping forward, ready to teach Yue Tinghai a lesson.
Demon Sound gently raises her delicate hand, stopping Great Senluo Emperor, and chuckles, “Even if the master wants to claim the Mirror Platform and the Buddha’s Relic for himself, it’s because he has the ability to seize them. If you went, you wouldn’t even need Yan Huangtu to act; Yan Zhexian could kill you. What right do you have to question the master? Haven’t you knelt enough?”
Yue Tinghai, the foremost powerhouse of the Jingtian Tribe, revered by thousands, carries his own pride, “What are you, but Zhang Ruochen’s servant? Do you have the right to lecture me?”
Demon Sound’s face is enchanting, she lightly licks her red lips, looking at Yue Tinghai as if he were prey.
Blade Prison Emperor, well aware of Demon Sound’s terrifying cultivation, steps between them, smiling apologetically, “Lady Demon Sound, Zhang Ruochen has been silent for so long, and we’re all worried for his safety. Please prioritise the bigger picture and don’t stoop to his level.”
“Hurry up and apologise to Lady Demon Sound.”
Yue Tinghai knows of the strength of the Saint Devouring Flower, but still harbours disdain.
In his view, with the Yanluo Clan’s setup at the Dragon Clan Bronze Temple, and the monstrous strength of Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu, Zhang Ruochen, entering alone, is unlikely to come out alive.
If Zhang Ruochen dies, the Saint Devouring Flower will also perish, so what is there to fear?
However, he still has to give Blade Prison Emperor face.
Thus, Yue Tinghai clasps his hands, saying perfunctorily, “I spoke out of turn earlier, please forgive me, Lady Demon Sound.”
Blade Prison Emperor quickly smooths things over, laughing, “The lady must know how formidable Zhang Ruochen’s opponents are today. We’re all worried, and waiting so long naturally makes us restless, it’s only human.”
“You handle things flawlessly.”
Demon Sound says coldly, then turns back to the Dragon Clan Bronze Temple, “Since you all know the strength of Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu, you should understand that the master didn’t bring you because he didn’t want you to throw your lives away.”
Her words leave Blade Prison Emperor, Yue Tinghai, and Wind Empress speechless.
They are indeed top-tier experts below the Thousand Questions Realm, but if Zhang Ruochen had taken them to storm the Dragon Clan Bronze Temple, they would have felt some fear.
After all, seizing a supreme treasure would inevitably lead to a life-and-death battle.
Fighting to the death with powerhouses like Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu carries a significant risk of falling.
Wind Empress says, “Yan Huangtu and the Eight Sons of Life and Death have entered the temple. Yan Zhexian and Xi, though stationed outside, have set up an inescapable net. But their focus is on the powerhouses inside the temple, unaware that we, too, have come to the Yanluo Clan’s home star.”
“I believe we can seize this chance to disrupt the Yanluo Clan’s formation. That way, once Zhang Ruochen escapes, he can leave smoothly.”
Blade Prison Emperor shakes his head, “Not advisable! Outside the bronze temple, the Yanluo Clan has gathered over two hundred Great Sages, including top-tier experts like Yan Zhexian and Xi. At best, we could disrupt their formation temporarily, but they would quickly reorganise.”
“I believe we must strike at the perfect moment, coordinating inside and out, to truly break the Yanluo Clan’s formation.”
Wind Empress and Blade Prison Emperor look to Demon Sound, curious about her decision.
“I agree more with Blade Prison Emperor’s opinion. Let’s wait for the master’s signal,” she says.
Yue Tinghai’s eyes flicker, “We can’t lack a backup plan. If Zhang Ruochen dies in the bronze temple, the Yanluo Clan’s cultivators will immediately fortify their home star. By then, it’ll be too late for us to escape.”
This issue, even Blade Prison Emperor and Wind Empress cannot ignore.
If Zhang Ruochen falls, the Immortal Blood Clan’s plan to claim the top spot among the ten clans would fail, and they would need to find a way to escape the Yanluo Clan’s home star.
“If you want to flee, go now, I won’t stop you,” Demon Sound says coldly.
Yue Tinghai wants to leave, but fears Zhang Ruochen might escape alive, and when the time comes to settle scores, he would surely face dire consequences.
…
Yan Wushen unleashes the true form of the Naihe Bridge, a mere segment of which suppresses space, pinning Zhang Ruochen in place.
On the other side, the Eight Sons of Life and Death form the Immortal and Indestructible Array, trapping the heavily injured Que, unleashing waves of attacks that turn into an ocean of energy, engulfing Que’s body.
Yan Huangtu, meanwhile, faces Lan Ying again.
In the previous battle, Lan Ying lost a vast amount of chaotic energy, killing intent, and divine energy, leaving him severely weakened.
Now, though wielding the Asura Sword as his body, his attack power has greatly diminished, and Yan Huangtu’s Tongtian Ruyi strikes dim the sword’s radiance, showing signs of suppression.
It must be said, Yan Huangtu’s plan was highly successful.
If Que, Lan Ying, and Zhang Ruochen were at their peak, even with the Yanluo Clan mobilising hundreds of Great Sages, they likely couldn’t hold them.
Yan Wushen’s eyes gleam brightly, his voice resounding, “Zhang Ruochen, our past three battles were unsatisfying, never truly deciding a victor. How about today, we have a truly fair and just duel, winner lives, loser dies.”
Though suppressed by the Naihe Bridge, Zhang Ruochen flashes a smile, “This is the Yanluo Clan’s home star. My heart is burdened, while you can fight freely, how is that fair? Moreover, this sacred land aligns with the power within you, giving you a significant territorial advantage, amplifying your combat strength. How is that fair?”
In a transmitted voice, Zhang Ruochen whispers, “And thirdly, I’ve already obtained the Emperor-Grade Saint Will Pill. What’s the point of fighting you? A mere stone bridge can’t hold me.”
“Sizzle.”
From Zhang Ruochen’s body, a surge of Pure Extinguishing Divine Fire erupts, forming a fiery shield that melts the binding patterns locking him in place.
His left leg slowly rises.
Powerful divine energy surges from his leg, radiating a majestic aura.
“Bright Flame Leg Technique, Demon-Subduing Form.”
Using the Flame God’s Leg, Zhang Ruochen unleashes the Bright Flame Leg Technique, a high-tier Thousand Questions Saint Technique cultivated within the Dark Star.
This leg technique, rooted in strength and amplified by the Way of Fire, draws on the fire rules of heaven and earth, unleashing unparalleled destructive power.
Combined with the Flame God’s Leg, its might is even greater.
“Rumble!”
His left foot stomps, instantly causing the ground to sink in patches, while powerful fiery energy surges with the dust, breaking the Naihe Bridge’s suppressing force.
Zhang Ruochen unfurls his ten golden wings, flying out from the golden dust, charging toward the exit of the golden world.
“Brother Wushen, I’ll take my leave.”
With a whoosh, Zhang Ruochen passes through a shimmering water-like light curtain, leaving the golden world.
Yan Wushen stares at the hundred-mile-wide crater on the ground, his expression heavy. Zhang Ruochen’s strike has left him profoundly shaken.
If that strike had targeted him instead of the ground, could he have withstood it?
“Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation speed surpasses even mine. This time, he’s taken the lead! I must quickly fuse the fifth path of the Six Paths of Reincarnation Saint Will.”
Yan Wushen feels immense pressure, a trace of fear rising in his heart for the first time.
Fear that he cannot keep up with Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation speed, that he will be left behind.
If that day comes, his state of mind will surely develop a severe flaw, and his perfected dual nature of good and evil might split once more.
He must strive harder.
No!
Not just strive.
He must fight desperately, cultivating with all his might, seizing every chance to grow stronger.
Isn’t Zhang Ruochen always fighting with his life on the line?
His own cultivation environment has been too comfortable.
Yan Wushen pursues, determined not to let Zhang Ruochen escape. No matter what, he must seize the Emperor-Grade Saint Will Pill.
…
Outside the Dragon Clan Bronze Temple, sixty-one Great Sage Talisman Masters and nearly two hundred Yanluo Clan Great Sages form three inner and three outer layers of encirclement, making the place as impregnable as an iron fortress.
Led by Yan Zhexian and Xi, over a dozen top-tier Hundred Shackles Realm Great Sages of the Yanluo Clan gather together.
“Zhexian, no need to be so tense, right? Let’s not even mention whether those three can get past Yan Huangtu, Yan Wushen, and the Eight Sons of Life and Death. Even if they break through and enter the bronze temple, how could they get past us?” a Hundred Shackles Realm Great Sage, who has broken ninety-nine shackles, laughs.
Xi clearly has great confidence in the setup outside the temple, “Let alone Que, Lan Ying, or Zhang Ruochen, even a Great Sage of the Ten Thousand Deaths and One Life Realm couldn’t break through our talisman array, much less the combined attack formation of one hundred ninety-eight Great Sages.”
“For some reason, I feel uneasy, like something unpredictable is about to happen.”
Yan Zhexian’s delicate brows furrow slightly, her beautiful eyes turning toward the foot of the mountain, a thoughtful expression emerging, “Yan Huangtu pursued Que, bringing the Eight Sons of Life and Death. Lan Ying pursued Que, bringing the Red Pagoda. Zhang Ruochen came to the Yanluo Clan’s home star to seize the Emperor-Grade Saint Will Pill, so why did he come alone?”
“You suspect other Immortal Blood Clan cultivators came with Zhang Ruochen to the Yanluo Clan’s home star?” Xi’s expression shifts slightly.
Yan Zhexian says, “From childhood, my spiritual intuition has always been accurate…”
At that moment, a shout rings out, “All Great Sages, full alert! Zhang Ruochen has emerged from inside! Talisman Masters, activate the talismans! Where is Lady Zhexian? Come quickly to take charge!”
