“Roar!”
Emperor Chi let out a long howl, the sound waves spreading across the vast world of over ten thousand miles where the White Jade Divine Tree stood. The sturdy branches trembled, and the surrounding characters teetered on the verge of collapse.
His body erupted with sky-piercing azure light, his form expanding, transforming into a Chi beast over twenty miles long.
The Chi beast, resembling a dragon but without horns, had jade-green scales that reflected a metallic sheen.
If not for the White Jade Divine Tree’s numerous branches creating a confined space, Emperor Chi’s true form would have been even larger.
The Chi beast’s front claws remained bound by divine chains. Its body surged forward, knocking away the incoming characters, unscathed by their assault.
In the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*, Great Sage Yuan Fei was not alarmed but delighted. “Emperor Chi has been forced to reveal his true form. It seems his holy energy is nearly depleted. Now is the time to slay him.”
Great Sage Yuan Fei let out a hearty laugh, brimming with confidence. His major acupoints released a surge of deathly aura, pouring into the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*. With a loud shout, he declared, “Illusion Seal.”
“Boom, boom.”
The countless characters surrounding the Chi beast suddenly scattered in all directions.
They collided with one another, condensing into a single character larger than the Chi beast itself—”Illusion.”
The “Illusion” character radiated an eerie glow, not only blindingly bright but also causing everything its light touched to gradually fade, ultimately turning into nothingness.
Only the Great Sage standing within the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion* was unaffected.
Of course, the White Jade Divine Tree, being the divine body of the Blood Shadow Divine Mother, was also immune to the power of nothingness.
The “Illusion” character pressed down on the Chi beast, enveloping it in the power of nothingness. Its tough scales gradually became transparent. Even with its cultivation at the Realm of Life and Death, it clearly couldn’t hold out much longer.
The Chi beast spat out a five-coloured stone sword from its mouth, repeatedly slashing at the “Illusion” character.
The sword’s light sliced through the character as if passing through water, unable to destroy it.
Prajna could see that Emperor Chi was giving his all, but the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion* was too strange, leaving him no chance of escape. Death was imminent.
“Emperor Chi entered the Hunting Heaven Battlefield with a resolve to die. Dying at the hands of the Death Clan may not be a bad thing. Even if the Death Clan gains these thirty million points, they cannot surpass the Immortal Blood Clan,” Prajna thought to herself.
Her gaze towards Emperor Chi held deep respect.
“Sacrificing oneself to save others” was the mindset that monks like them, who ventured into the Hell Realm, were always prepared for—it was their ultimate destiny.
Today it was Emperor Chi; tomorrow, it might be her.
Que had never been interested in combat artefacts, believing only in his absolute strength. However, after witnessing the power of the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*, his steadfast resolve wavered slightly.
“If I could wield the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*, would my combat power rise to another level?”
This thought flashed briefly before he extinguished it.
A resolve honed over centuries could not waver. Otherwise, he would spend countless years rebuilding it, delaying his cultivation and potentially hindering his path to divinity.
“I am who I am. With one sword, I will slay all enemies. Using other artefacts would only bind me.”
Que opened his eyes again, his pupils gleaming with dazzling light. No longer concealing his aura, he was like a divine sword unsheathed, like a white rainbow piercing the sun, his spirit soaring to the heavens.
In this moment of upholding his resolve, his mind became crystal clear, faintly grasping a way to perfect his incomplete Second-Grade Holy Intent.
Great Sage Yuan Fei sensed the intimidating aura and glanced at Que in surprise, meeting his gaze.
“Emperor Chi can only die by my sword.”
Around Que’s body, thousands of sword energies automatically condensed, forming a ring of sword rain that shot out in all directions.
“Pfft.”
“Ah… who, who’s attacking us?”
“How could an attack penetrate the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*?”
…
Countless Death Clan Great Sages were caught off guard, their bodies pierced by sword energy, blood flowing freely.
The sword energy contained the power of nothingness, invading their bodies.
The flesh at their wounds gradually turned to nothingness.
The “Illusion” character suppressing the Chi beast wavered, growing fainter.
“Boom.”
Azure flames erupted from the Chi beast’s body, shattering the “Illusion” character. Breaking free, it fled swiftly along the gaps between the branches.
“You can’t escape!”
Que moved like a streak of light, appearing above the Chi beast, swinging his Shadow Elixir Sword.
A black sword light, over ten miles long, appeared, like a serpent of nothingness weaving between reality and illusion, ever-changing and wondrous.
The Chi beast let out a low growl, spitting out the five-coloured stone sword, unleashing a multicoloured sword light.
“Clang.”
The two sword lights clashed, breaking in the centre and quickly dissipating.
Que frowned, muttering to himself, “As expected of a Great Sage in the Realm of Life and Death. Even at the end of his strength, he can still block my attack.”
Great Sage Yuan Fei stood coldly in the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*, his heart filled with unwillingness.
He had bet everything on Emperor Chi, and just as success was within reach, Que ruined it. If they couldn’t kill Emperor Chi, the Death Clan’s ranking would suffer greatly.
“If you don’t die, join me now to activate the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion* again. If we don’t kill Emperor Chi, we’ll all be sinners of the Death Clan,” Yuan Fei said icily.
Que’s sword energy numbered in the tens of thousands, but the power of nothingness in each was thin. Some powerful Great Sages in the Hundred-Shackle Realm had already refined the nothingness, recovering.
“Swish—”
The *Scroll of Truth and Illusion* once again radiated brilliant light, condensing a massive “Illusion” character, pressing down on both Que and the Chi beast.
Que sensed the immense power within the “Illusion” character, glanced up, and said, “Using the power of nothingness before a master of nothingness? Foolish.”
Ignoring the “Illusion” character, Que’s figure vanished.
When he reappeared, he stood on the Chi beast’s back, gripping the Shadow Elixir Sword with both hands and thrusting downward.
The four-foot-two-inch sword glowed brilliantly, piercing the Chi beast’s back scales, its sword energy penetrating its body. Blood gushed from the scales, forming a fountain of blood.
“Roar!”
The Chi beast let out a mournful cry, filled with sorrow.
It flew rapidly, trying to break free.
But Que clung like a parasite, pressing the sword deeper.
“Thud, thud.”
The five-coloured stone sword slashed at Que repeatedly, but all attacks were neutralized by the Mirror of Nothingness beneath his feet. The mirror, like an unbreakable spherical domain, couldn’t be penetrated even by a supreme holy artefact.
Prajna’s expression remained calm, not daring to show any hint of emotion, but her fingernails had pierced her palms.
Restraint, she must restrain herself, hiding all emotions.
“Is this the strength of the top-ranked in the Hundred-Shackle Realm? Que is terrifying, invincible in this era.”
“Even with his mental power sealed and his holy energy nearly depleted, Emperor Chi is still a Great Sage in the Realm of Life and Death. How can he not break free from Que’s sword?”
…
The *Scroll of Truth and Illusion* chased the Chi beast from behind.
The Death Clan Great Sages on the scroll were stunned by Que’s ferocity. None of them would dare face Emperor Chi alone—it would be tantamount to suicide.
Great Sage Yuan Fei’s face was cold as ice, his teeth clenched as he controlled the “Illusion” character, silent.
“Swish—”
Suddenly, a winding golden light shot out from between the branches.
The golden light rushed towards Que on the Chi beast’s back, throwing a fierce punch. The Mirror of Nothingness beneath Que’s feet reflected the true form of the golden light—it was Yan Wushen, using his nine-zhang-six golden body.
Yan Wushen radiated origin light, resisting the erosion of the Mirror of Nothingness. His golden fist drew closer to Que.
An arc of energy formed in front of the fist.
Que’s eyes narrowed. He drew the Shadow Elixir Sword and slashed.
“Thud!”
Yan Wushen was thrown back, crashing into a branch with a metallic clang. But after being knocked back, he quickly pursued the Chi beast again, seemingly uninjured.
Laughing as he chased, Yan Wushen said, “Que, killing Emperor Chi is meaningless for you. Why not leave him to me?”
“Emperor Chi’s life is mine. Anyone who dares to compete must be prepared to die by my sword.”
Que stood upright on the Chi beast’s back, holding the thin-as-a-cicada-wing Shadow Elixir Sword, staring at Yan Wushen chasing behind. Inwardly, he was surprised—Yan Wushen had taken his sword head-on and seemed completely unharmed.
Yan Wushen’s golden body had grown stronger!
“Thud! Thud! Thud…”
Que, Emperor Chi, Yan Wushen, and the “Illusion” character controlled by Yuan Fei and the Death Clan Great Sages clashed repeatedly, creating waves of energy.
Throughout, Que remained on the Chi beast’s back, passively countering the attacks of the five-coloured stone sword, Yan Wushen, and the “Illusion” character. Each casual sword swing neutralized their killing moves.
Que didn’t want to prolong the fight, but he sensed a powerful aura hidden in the shadows, yet to make a move.
That aura gave him a sense of extreme danger.
So, he held back, reserving strength to counter an attack from the hidden figure.
Zhang Ruochen had expelled all the curse power from his body and was hiding in space, closely following them, waiting for the right moment to strike.
“Since Emperor Chi cannot survive, I’ll send him off myself.”
“Thud!”
As Que swung his sword again, knocking Yan Wushen back, Zhang Ruochen spread his ten golden wings, emerging from space. Wielding the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus, he struck at Emperor Chi’s head.
All the monks saw Zhang Ruochen’s sudden appearance.
Great Sage Yuan Fei’s eyes turned blood-red as he roared, “Stop him!”
Que reacted swiftly, forming a sword gesture with both hands.
“Swish!”
The Shadow Elixir Sword flew out, its tip striking the centre of the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus.
Ripples of energy spread outward.
In the next instant, Que flashed in front of the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus, grabbing the hilt. His full power erupted like a flood, like a tsunami, like the sky collapsing.
But Zhang Ruochen was no longer the same. He wasn’t pushed back. Instead, he struck the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus with a fist, unleashing nine layers of shockwaves.
Fist Path Holy Intent, Nine-Shock Holy Intent.
Nine consecutive shockwaves struck Que, forcing him back nine steps.
Que’s expression shifted. In just a few dozen days, Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation had advanced so much? He had broken sixty-eight shackles, and his cultivated holy path rules were nearing ten billion.
Even so, Que was confident he could defeat him.
Steadying himself, Que’s power surged, and thousands of sword shadows appeared on the Shadow Elixir Sword, striking like raindrops against the supreme power barrier formed by the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus.
If the barrier broke, the sword rain would hit Zhang Ruochen.
Emperor Chi, now back in human form, wielded the five-coloured stone sword, slashing at both Zhang Ruochen and Que, enveloping them in sword energy.
Forced to retreat, Zhang Ruochen and Que used their techniques to block the multicoloured sword light.
“Haha, this is getting interesting!” Yan Wushen, riding golden light, laughed heartily and sent out a communication talisman.
Clearly, he was summoning the Yanluo Clan’s Great Sages to hurry over.
Suddenly, Emperor Chi stopped fleeing and actively attacked Zhang Ruochen with his sword.
The five-coloured stone sword erupted with supreme multicoloured power, forming a cloud where images of warhorses, rivers, mountains, dragon-shaped flames, and azure holy trees manifested and evolved.
After a moment’s thought, Que also swung his sword at Zhang Ruochen.
Emperor Chi’s goal was to die by Zhang Ruochen’s hand.
Que’s goal was to kill Zhang Ruochen first, reclaiming the Emperor-Grade Holy Intent Pill. If possible, he also wanted to seize Zhang Ruochen’s supreme holy artefact and quasi-emperor-grade holy intent pill.
Killing a weakened Emperor Chi was easy, but the chance to kill Zhang Ruochen was rare.
Even more unexpectedly, Yan Wushen condensed an Origin Dao Tower, pressing it towards Zhang Ruochen. To him, it didn’t matter who killed Emperor Chi, but it absolutely couldn’t be Zhang Ruochen.
If so, Zhang Ruochen had to be eliminated first.
At least, he needed to be forced out of the battlefield.
Last time, Que was the target, and Zhang Ruochen, Lan Ying, and Yan Wushen together could only fight him to a draw, both sides suffering.
This time, for various reasons, Zhang Ruochen became the target.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t retreat. Retreating would mean forever losing the chance to kill Emperor Chi.
From Emperor Chi’s actions, Zhang Ruochen faintly guessed that Prajna had likely used some method to convey a message to him. Thus, even at his limit, Emperor Chi didn’t flee but attacked him.
He wanted to die by Zhang Ruochen’s hand!
“Yan Wushen, didn’t you want to see my Holy Intent? As you wish.”
“Yin-Yang and Five Elements, Heaven and Earth Revolve.”
Facing the combined attacks of three powerhouses, Zhang Ruochen was fearless, his battle spirit soaring. Flames engulfed him, his hair stood on end, and he raised both hands, releasing the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Holy Intent.
Instantly, a multicoloured chaotic light burst from Zhang Ruochen, illuminating the White Jade Divine Tree, over ten thousand metres tall.
Around his body, a Yin-Yang Taiji seal appeared, blocking the five-coloured stone sword’s slash.
The sword’s five-element power was absorbed and transformed by the Yin-Yang Taiji seal.
“Boom.”
Que’s Shadow Elixir Sword struck, releasing vast nothingness and sword energy.
But these forces couldn’t break the Yin-Yang Taiji seal, only causing it to tremble violently. The Yin-Yang and Five Elements Holy Intent absorbed the nothingness and sword energy, converting them into five-element and yin-yang power.
“Thud!”
Yan Wushen’s Origin Dao Tower struck above Zhang Ruochen’s head but still couldn’t break the Taiji seal formed by the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Holy Intent. Its power was absorbed.
Standing at the centre of the Yin-Yang Taiji seal, Zhang Ruochen spun rapidly, absorbing their attacks and converting them into five-element and yin-yang power, counterattacking them.
One man held off three powerhouses.
Chaotic forces surged between the four, any stray energy capable of killing a Great Sage.
“How is this possible? Zhang Ruochen… how can he be this strong?” Great Sage Yuan Fei trembled, unable to believe the scene before him.
Prajna’s teeth clenched, her face frozen.
In the Temple of Destiny, the gods’ gazes focused on the battlefield.
This was Zhang Ruochen’s first time wielding his newly fused Holy Intent!
They all wanted to see how powerful a Holy Intent fused from six intents was—could it be the legendary First-Grade Holy Intent?
“This…”
Even the gods, seeing Zhang Ruochen face three powerhouses alone, were speechless.
They didn’t believe Zhang Ruochen was stronger than Emperor Chi or could defeat Que.
But his ability to absorb and transform their attacks with his Holy Intent, holding off three masters through borrowed strength, was still astonishing.
The gods saw the truth, but ordinary monks watching the Ten Thousand Realms Divine Eye projection didn’t.
They only saw Zhang Ruochen fighting Emperor Chi, Que, and Yan Wushen to a standstill, undefeated in the short term, subverting their understanding of power.
