Que, the top-ranked in the Hundred-Shackle Realm, master of nothingness.
Yan Wushen, a Saint King Realm cultivator with perfected Saint Path rules, half-Buddha body, a genius of the Yuan Epoch.
Emperor Chi, a Great Sage in the Realm of Life and Death.
All three were figures revered by countless beings, yet now, even their combined might could only match Zhang Ruochen in battle.
Could there be anything more astonishing?
“With this Holy Intent, Zhang Ruochen’s path of cultivation will surely go far,” a deity murmured, lost in thought.
The gods understood a truth: the longer one cultivates, the higher their cultivation doesn’t necessarily become.
During the Saint Realm, whether the chosen path is broad enough, whether the foundation is strong enough to support continuous growth and strength, is crucial.
Even gods with grudges against Zhang Ruochen were now pondering whether to eliminate him at all costs or to actively resolve their conflicts.
After all, with Zhang Ruochen’s talent, he could reach the Divine Realm within a thousand years.
Once he became a god, he would be among the strongest.
A thousand years is too brief.
A single closed-door cultivation session might span that time, and by then, Zhang Ruochen could already be a god.
Some matters must be resolved promptly; the longer they’re delayed, the graver the consequences.
Zhang Ruochen’s weight in the gods’ minds had shifted!
Ancient God Xuezhi and Luo Yan, still in the Divine Realm world of War God Xue Jue, held their wine cups in silence, lost in thought, enveloped in a strange atmosphere.
Empress Xue stared intently at the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, her expression heavy with worry.
Though Zhang Ruochen appeared dominant, fighting three against one, the situation was perilous. If his Yin-Yang and Five Elements Holy Intent were breached, the outcome could be catastrophic.
Life and death hung on a single moment.
Even with her Divine Realm cultivation, she couldn’t predict the outcome.
…
After a brief shock, Great Sage Yuan Fei’s eyes darkened. “Join me in attacking, press down with the Illusion Seal.”
Prajna couldn’t help but speak, “Don’t…”
Great Sage Yuan Fei glared at her sharply. “What does Your Highness Prajna mean?”
Prajna’s flustered heart quickly calmed. “Their battle is extremely dangerous, in a delicate balance. Breaking it could endanger all four.”
“You care so much for Que’s safety? Don’t forget, Your Highness, Que just ruined our plan. I don’t care about the lives of Zhang Ruochen, Que, or Yan Wushen. I only want Emperor Chi dead.”
Great Sage Yuan Fei raised his palm, and countless characters rose from the ground, binding Prajna.
Clearly, Prajna keeping Que close and Que disrupting Yuan Fei’s plan had angered him, creating a rift.
“Illusion Seal.”
Under Yuan Fei’s control, the massive “Illusion” character plummeted.
Seeing this, the gods behind Zhang Ruochen, Yan Wushen, and Que grew restless. The fall of any of the three would be a massive loss for their factions.
“No god may interfere in the Hunting Heaven Battle. That is the rule,” God Venerable Fortune’s stern voice echoed through the Temple of Destiny.
“Boom.”
The “Illusion” Seal struck the Yin-Yang and Five Elements Holy Intent, unleashing a massive ripple.
The balance broke, and the Yin-Yang Taiji diagram around Zhang Ruochen shattered. Surging forces crashed into the four.
“Pfft!”
All four spat blood, flung in different directions.
Zhang Ruochen and Yan Wushen, protected by supreme holy artefacts, were relatively lightly injured. Que, instantly turning ethereal, dissipated most of the impact, unharmed at his core.
Only Emperor Chi, already at his limit, was gravely wounded, his body nearly destroyed, large patches reduced to bone.
His life force was rapidly fading.
It was clear to all that Emperor Chi was done for; one final blow could end him. This Great Sage of the Realm of Life and Death had reached his end.
“Swish!”
“Swish!”
“Swish!”
Ignoring their injuries, Zhang Ruochen, Yan Wushen, and Que surged towards Emperor Chi at top speed.
At such close range, their speed outpaced spatial teleportation, which required time.
Great Sage Yuan Fei, teeth clenched, raced against time, directing the “Illusion” character to strike Emperor Chi.
Knowing death was certain, Emperor Chi laughed grimly, glaring at Zhang Ruochen. “Zhang Ruochen, you dog. Even if I die today, I’ll take you with me.”
“Roar!”
He transformed back into the Chi beast, charging at Zhang Ruochen.
The Chi beast’s massive eyes met Zhang Ruochen’s, showing no sorrow or fear. Dying by Zhang Ruochen’s hand, aiding the Empress’s cause, was the best outcome.
“No!”
Que, Yan Wushen, and Yuan Fei shouted almost simultaneously.
Yuan Fei’s “Illusion” Seal was closest to Emperor Chi, about to strike first. But who could’ve expected Emperor Chi, in his final moment, to aim for mutual destruction with Zhang Ruochen?
Victory, so close, slipped away again.
If Emperor Chi succeeded, his thirty million points would go to the Immortal Blood Clan.
Emperor Chi was already self-detonating his Saint Source; suppressing it with mental power was too late.
Yan Wushen and Que forcibly stopped, glancing deeply at Zhang Ruochen before fleeing, unwilling to die in Emperor Chi’s explosion.
Zhang Ruochen locked eyes with Emperor Chi, understanding his emotions. He roared, “Trying to self-detonate before me? Not so easy.”
“Void Time Domain.”
The Void Time Domain enveloped the Chi beast’s massive body, slowing time nearly to a halt, buying Zhang Ruochen a fleeting moment.
“Spatial Sword Dance.”
Thirty-six spatial swords formed around Zhang Ruochen, encircling him as they struck Emperor Chi’s brow, piercing through.
“Thud, thud.”
Zhang Ruochen and the thirty-six swords tore through from head to tail, emerging blood-soaked, clutching a crystalline Saint Source.
The self-detonation was stopped.
The Chi beast let out a mournful cry, its massive body plummeting, its life force extinguished.
In that moment, the world fell silent, all eyes on Zhang Ruochen.
Prajna wanted to cry out but restrained herself. She knew Emperor Chi’s death was not in vain; it was worth it. If it were her, dying by Zhang Ruochen’s sword, she would feel no sorrow.
…
In the cosmic starry sky outside the White Jade Divine Tree, battles raged on as clans hunted the scattered Heavenly Slaves. Fewer than a hundred Great Sage Heavenly Slaves remained.
The Immortal Blood Clan’s Great Sage legion returned, joining the fray.
“Rip.”
Blood Slaughter used five King-Grade holy artefacts to slay an Immortal Realm Great Sage Heavenly Slave, first taking his Saint Source. Then, he harvested the Great Sage’s heart, lungs, kidneys—everything valuable, carefully sorted and stored.
Finally, he collected every drop of the Great Sage’s blood into a jade bottle, nodding in satisfaction.
As usual, he took out the diamond-shaped mirror to check his points.
“One million seven hundred seventy thousand. Not bad, not bad. My performance in this Hunting Heaven Battle is outstanding, surpassing some Hundred-Shackle Realm Great Sages. I’ll surely be heavily nurtured. Plus, I seized several King-Grade holy artefacts and collected plenty of Saint Sources, blood, hearts, and kidneys… should fetch a hefty price, enough to support my cultivation to Hundred-Shackle Great Perfection. Shame…”
Thinking of the eight King-Grade holy artefacts Zhang Ruochen took, Blood Slaughter felt a pang of frustration.
How could there be such a shameless person?
“I only owe him one supreme holy artefact, and he stole it! Does he have to keep hounding me? Once I reach Hundred-Shackle Great Perfection, I’ll have my revenge. Want repayment? Beat me first. Wait…”
Suddenly, Blood Slaughter’s eyes widened, staring at the mirror in shock, as if seeing a ghost.
How did the Immortal Blood Clan’s points suddenly jump by thirty million?
To one hundred twenty million.
“Emperor Chi! It must be Emperor Chi’s death. A Great Sage in the Realm of Life and Death—who could kill him?”
Zhang Ruochen’s image flashed in Blood Slaughter’s mind. He quickly checked Zhang Ruochen’s points.
Moments later, he froze.
“As expected! As expected… incredible. He actually killed a Great Sage in the Realm of Life and Death. How can he be this freakishly strong?” Blood Slaughter muttered, brushing his chest. “I got cocky. Gotta stay humble, stay low-key.”
He promptly hid the five King-Grade holy artefacts.
Gradually, the Immortal Blood Clan, Bone Clan, Nether Clan, Yanluo Clan… the ten clans noticed the point changes. Some were ecstatic, others silent, some sighed.
“The Yanluo Clan… defeated at last…”
“We’re sinners. We’ve lost the honour of the Supreme Clan.”
The Yanluo Clan Great Sages rushing to the White Jade Divine Tree were utterly demoralized, as if the Hunting Heaven Battle had ended early. Even killing all remaining Great Sage Heavenly Slaves wouldn’t surpass the Immortal Blood Clan’s points.
The outcome was set.
After killing Emperor Chi, Zhang Ruochen’s suppressed injuries erupted. Cracks appeared on his body, as if it might shatter.
The Yin-Yang and Five Elements Holy Intent’s power rampaged within, shattering blood vessels, meridians, and saint veins.
He relied on the Heart of Divine Wood’s life force to repair his body, but blood still oozed from his skin.
All Yanluo Clan monks lost their fighting spirit, but Yan Wushen didn’t give up. Checking the points on his diamond-shaped mirror, he stared at Zhang Ruochen. “No, the Yanluo Clan hasn’t lost. There’s still a chance.”
He raised his voice, “Your Highness Prajna, are the Immortal Blood Clan’s remaining members tied to Zhang Ruochen? Calculate it for me. The Yanluo Clan will owe you a favour.”
This favour was from the entire Yanluo Clan, not just Yan Wushen.
In other words, if she helped, the Yanluo Clan would support her as the Destiny Goddess at a critical moment.
Prajna had no choice.
Her only rival was Empress Feng.
Defeating the Immortal Blood Clan aligned with her interests.
If she refused, it would seem she was aiding Zhang Ruochen and the Immortal Blood Clan. Scrutiny could link everything in the Hunting Heaven Battlefield to her and Zhang Ruochen.
Prajna activated the Gate of True Self, mobilizing destiny rules to calculate.
Que’s face was cold. “Zhang Ruochen, give me the Emperor-Grade Holy Intent Pill and one Quasi-Emperor-Grade Holy Intent Pill. I’ll withdraw from the Hunting Heaven Battlefield and stay out of the Immortal Blood Clan and Yanluo Clan’s conflict.”
His words carried a strong threat.
Great Sage Yuan Fei added, “I want one supreme holy artefact, one Quasi-Emperor-Grade Holy Intent Pill, and ten thousand divine stones. Agree, and the Death Clan will stay out of your conflict. You can owe the divine stones, to be paid after the Hunting Heaven Battle, but you must swear by War God Xue Jue and Empress Xue’s names.”
Even if the Immortal Blood Clan’s points were halved, the Death Clan couldn’t surpass them.
In that case, why not exploit the situation for gain?
Yuan Fei believed the gravely injured Zhang Ruochen would compromise, ripe for exploitation. Otherwise, with the major forces allied, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t leave alive.
And the Immortal Blood Clan’s points would still be halved.
Yuan Fei faintly regretted asking for too little; he should’ve demanded harsher terms.
Zhang Ruochen temporarily suppressed the chaotic Holy Intent forces, laughing loudly. “As the heir of time and space, where can’t I go? You think you can exploit me?”
“Swish—”
Turning into a golden beam, Zhang Ruochen shot forward.
“Stay!”
Yuan Fei directed the “Illusion” Seal to suppress Zhang Ruochen.
Unwilling to be surrounded, Zhang Ruochen raised the Seven-Star Ghost Lotus above his head. The lotus bloomed with chilling black light, manifesting thousands of ghostly shadows, briefly blocking the “Illusion” Seal.
Seizing the moment, Zhang Ruochen, to everyone’s surprise, flew towards the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*. “You want a supreme holy artefact? I’ll give you one now.”
The Purple-Gold Gourd appeared in his hand.
“Quick, activate the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*’s defensive inscriptions, form the Reality Seal!”
Thinking Zhang Ruochen was about to attack with the supreme holy artefact, Yuan Fei withdrew the “Illusion” Seal’s power, activating another force in the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*.
The Reality Seal.
Switching from attack to defence.
“Reality” characters rose at the scroll’s edges, forming a scripture.
But Zhang Ruochen’s speed was unmatched. At the moment of transition, he entered the scroll, appearing before Yuan Fei in a blink.
“Thud, thud!”
He unleashed thirteen palms in succession.
From the first to the thirteenth Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, all struck Yuan Fei.
Yuan Fei was flung back thirteen times, his bones nearly shattered, reduced to a bloody pulp, his fate unknown.
“Outrageous!”
The Death Clan Great Sages’ voices roared, furious, unleashing deathly mental power to erase Zhang Ruochen’s saint soul and spirit.
But Zhang Ruochen had already escaped, flying dozens of miles from the *Scroll of Truth and Illusion*.
With Yuan Fei down, the Reality Seal dissipated, unable to stop Zhang Ruochen. He came and went as he pleased.
A Death Clan Great Sage suddenly shouted, “Bad news! Your Highness Prajna has been taken by Zhang Ruochen!”
“She was pulled into the Purple-Gold Gourd. That beast Zhang Ruochen, even in such danger, dares to kidnap!”
“Chase him, stop him! Don’t forget Yan Zhexian, captured by him. Zhang Ruochen is capable of anything. Act fast, or it’ll be too late.”
