It’s unclear whether Zhang Ruochen had offended the clans of the Hundred Clans Royal City too deeply in recent days, but even though he was the underdog, even though he had defeated the aggressive Que Shenzi, he still attracted waves of criticism.
No one believed Zhang Ruochen genuinely wanted to resolve the conflict with the Death God Temple.
No one thought the words he spoke to Que Shenzi were heartfelt.
Instead, they believed Zhang Ruochen was deliberately humiliating Que Shenzi, each word laced with sarcasm, threats, mockery, and ridicule, stripping a peak Ten Thousand Deaths Realm divine son of all dignity.
“Zhang Ruochen is despicable. Winning is impressive, but toying with Que Shenzi like this shows no grace befitting an epoch-level genius.”
“Exactly. I couldn’t stand that line, ‘You don’t even have a supreme sacred artifact?’ Listen to that arrogance. Are a few measly supreme sacred artifacts such a big deal?”
Many cultivators nodded in agreement.
“A top-tier Great Saint of the Death Clan reduced to Zhang Ruochen’s prisoner. He might even be forced to study Buddhism or Taoism. How tragic!”
“Forcing a human to drink blood like an Undying Blood Clan member—what’s the difference?”
“Que Shenzi would probably rather die than endure this humiliation.”
A Great Saint from one clan shouted, “Why must Great Saint Ruochen humiliate Que Shenzi so? Why not give him a swift end?”
“Indeed! The victor is king, the defeated a bandit. A Great Saint can be killed but not humiliated.”
“If Great Saint Ruochen dares not kill Que Shenzi, release him at once. If you’re going to kill him, do it cleanly. This hypocritical act only disgusts us cultivators.”
…
More and more cultivators rallied behind Que Shenzi.
But everyone knew it was impossible for Zhang Ruochen to release him. So, many urged Zhang Ruochen to kill Que Shenzi outright to spare him further humiliation.
Que Shenzi’s back grew cold, his scalp tingling, mentally cursing the watching cultivators’ entire families.
How could he not be afraid?
This was Zhang Ruochen, a man who feared no one in the world when it came to killing.
What was a little humiliation? As long as he could escape, there would always be a chance to reclaim his dignity.
But if Zhang Ruochen, in a fit of rage, killed him, there’d be no chance to turn things around. What an unjust death that would be!
“Swish swish!”
A group of Great Saints from the Death God Temple descended from the sacred tower, filling the street.
Each radiated deathly evil light, advancing menacingly toward Zhang Ruochen from both ends of the street.
The watching cultivators cleared the way.
“Release Que Shenzi, or this street will be your grave today,” Yuan Ji declared, pointing at Zhang Ruochen with commanding presence.
With the hostage in Zhang Ruochen’s hands, the Death God Temple, despite its many powerhouses, dared not act rashly.
Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply, “Que Shenzi and I agreed to settle our grudge with one battle. Now, the victor is decided. Whatever grievances exist between me and the Death God Temple should be resolved! Please, everyone, leave. I don’t want to fight anymore today.”
“Release Que Shenzi first, then we’ll talk,” Great Saint Yuan Fei said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, “The grudge between me and Que Shenzi hasn’t been fully resolved. I can’t release him yet.”
Que Shenzi hurriedly spoke, “It’s… it’s resolved. I… I accept my defeat wholeheartedly. The battle is over, the grudge settled.”
Suppressed by the Nether Light Curse, his mouth struggled to move, his speech halting.
Zhang Ruochen patted his shoulder, his gaze sincere, “No, you’re not convinced. You still harbor resentment, wishing to kill me. Hatred is the root of all evil. Brother Que’s heart is still too fixated.”
Que Shenzi could no longer pretend, grinding his teeth, his face twisted with rage and menace.
Humiliation again!
Yuan Ji’s eyes blazed with anger, “Zhang Ruochen, even with a hostage, do you think we’ll hold back and not act?”
Que Shenzi’s expression changed drastically, shaking his head vigorously at the Death God Temple’s Great Saints.
Yuan Ji stared at Que Shenzi, “Rest assured, Que Shenzi, don’t worry. I don’t believe Zhang Ruochen dares kill you. Today, the Death God Temple’s powerhouses won’t rest until this man is dead.”
Que Shenzi’s face grew even graver, inwardly cursing Yuan Ji to death.
Yuan Ji had made it clear he intended to kill Zhang Ruochen. In such a situation, how could Zhang Ruochen not dare kill him? Yuan Ji was clearly abandoning him.
Que Shenzi silently vowed that if he survived today, he’d find a way to ruin Yuan Ji upon returning to the Death God Temple.
“Crack!”
Zhang Ruochen patted Que Shenzi’s shoulder again, “How could I kill Brother Que? The world needs those with great magnanimity. If you can’t tolerate one enemy, how can you embrace the world?”
Countless cultivators, including Yan Zhe Xian and Lan Xi, scoffed.
…
The Death God Temple’s Great Saints had agreed to let Que Shenzi act alone for three reasons. First, Que Shenzi’s strength was formidable, with guaranteed victory.
Second, Zhang Ruochen was backed by the Blood Absolute War God, Fortune God Venerable, and Emperor Luo Yan, towering figures who shook the universe. If the Death God Temple overwhelmed and killed Zhang Ruochen, those three—especially the Blood Absolute War God—would surely be enraged.
But if Que Shenzi acted alone and killed Zhang Ruochen, what then?
If the Blood Absolute War God retaliated against the Death God Temple, he’d only be mocked by its gods.
Third, Que Shenzi held a lofty status in the Death God Temple, and others deferred to him. Letting him defeat Zhang Ruochen would boost his fame by stepping on an epoch-level genius.
But who could’ve known Que Shenzi would be so useless, causing the Death God Temple to lose immense face?
To salvage their reputation, the Death God Temple had to take Zhang Ruochen down, even if it meant ganging up on him.
Ignoring Que Shenzi’s murderous glare, Yuan Ji ordered, “Attack.”
The four White-Clothed Death Gods encircling Zhang Ruochen struck first.
Sacred path rules and deathly evil energy surged from them simultaneously, followed by an overwhelming barrage of sword energy slashing toward Zhang Ruochen.
Que Shenzi’s face turned ashen, certain he was doomed today, and closed his eyes.
“Swish!”
Ignoring the incoming sword energy, Zhang Ruochen struck Que Shenzi’s chest with a palm, spatial ripples bursting from his hand. Que Shenzi vanished, reappearing the next moment within the Seven-Star Emperor Palace’s defensive formation, collapsing at Lan Xi’s feet.
Que Shenzi stared in disbelief at Zhang Ruochen, now surrounded and under attack.
The four White-Clothed Death Gods, mid-to-late Ten Thousand Deaths Realm cultivators, each wielded at least thirty million sacred path rules.
“Crack crack.”
Zhang Ruochen had already activated the Fire God Armor and released the Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror.
Even if the sword energy pierced the supreme power defense layer formed by the Hidden Mountain Demon Lord, its force was greatly diminished. When it hit the Fire God Armor, it only sparked harmlessly.
Yuan Ji gritted his teeth, “Zhang Ruochen is protected by supreme sacred artifacts. Close-range attacks are needed to break his defense.”
The four White-Clothed Death Gods instantly formed a sword-killing array, with four Death God phantoms appearing behind them.
Their powers merged as one, unleashing a force slightly stronger than Que Shenzi’s.
“Swish!”
A white shadow flew above Zhang Ruochen, raising a sword with both hands, slashing a river of sword energy.
A second white shadow charged from behind, swinging a horizontal slash.
The space around the sword’s edge trembled.
A third white shadow thrust straight from the front, its sword light brighter than a star, blinding lesser cultivators to the point of tears.
The fourth white shadow stood still, but his Three-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact sword flew out, transforming into a bone dragon, circling toward Zhang Ruochen’s right.
The four White-Clothed Death Gods struck almost simultaneously, each attack as if powered by all four combined.
“What a terrifying sword array. The four White-Clothed Death Gods act as one yet attack separately.”
“The Death God Temple really wants to kill Zhang Ruochen!”
On Kun Tower, Yan Huangtu, Yan Zhe Xian, Prajna, Xuan Zehai, and Xuan Qingying held their breath, fixated on the dazzling battle zone.
Even Que, usually calm, showed a grave expression, muttering, “Four-Pole Sword Array.”
“Rumble rumble.”
Zhang Ruochen’s figure vanished.
The four lethal strikes from the White-Clothed Death Gods hit nothing.
The two attacking from front and back nearly struck each other, only saved by their powerful cultivation and quick reactions, withdrawing their swords to defend.
Their swords clashed, sending the two White-Clothed Death Gods flying in opposite directions.
The Death God Temple’s Great Saints were dumbfounded, unable to believe Zhang Ruochen could escape with spatial teleportation under such circumstances.
Suppressed by the domains of four Ten Thousand Deaths Realm Great Saints and trapped in a sword-killing array, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t possibly teleport.
So, he hid in the Purple Gold Gourd.
“Swish!”
Zhang Ruochen burst out from the Purple Gold Gourd, softly chanting, “Nether Light Curse!”
A White-Clothed Death God, just three steps away, was cursed before he could react, frozen like Que Shenzi, unable to move.
Zhang Ruochen waved, sending him into the Seven-Star Emperor Palace.
“Nether Light Curse!”
The second White-Clothed Death God was cursed, petrified in place.
Zhang Ruochen kicked, sending him flying into the Seven-Star Emperor Palace.
“Nether Light Curse!”
The third White-Clothed Death God was immobilized. Zhang Ruochen struck him with a palm, teleporting him into the Seven-Star Emperor Palace.
With Zhang Ruochen unleashing the Void Time Domain and moving swiftly, the three Nether Light Curses were cast almost simultaneously. The Death God Temple’s Great Saints couldn’t intervene in time.
As Zhang Ruochen prepared to cast the fourth Nether Light Curse, Yuan Ji roared, “Stop!”
A whistling sound came as a palm-sized jade sword, agile as a spirit snake, flew toward his heart.
The Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror automatically returned, forming a protective shield.
“Boom!”
The jade sword struck the mirror, producing a thunderous bell-like sound, sending Zhang Ruochen flying backward.
Yuan Ji, pleased with his successful strike, pushed with his right hand, channeling even greater power into the Six-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact-grade jade sword.
The Hidden Mountain Demon Mirror flashed, swallowing the jade sword.
Zhang Ruochen landed, steadying himself, and glanced back to find he had returned to the Seven-Star Emperor Palace’s defensive formation, his back foot on the steps.
Yuan Ji’s eyes widened in shock, realizing his connection to the jade sword was severed!
That was no ordinary item—a Six-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact with the potential to become a supreme sacred artifact, worth tens of thousands of divine stones.
Yuan Ji quickly regained his composure, joining the Death God Temple’s Great Saints to surround the Seven-Star Emperor Palace.
This time, they truly hesitated to act rashly. After all, Zhang Ruochen had captured four Ten Thousand Deaths Realm Great Saints. If pushed too far, he might kill them all, and the consequences would be severe!
All watching cultivators were stunned, never expecting Zhang Ruochen, who earlier seemed cowardly and weak, to make the Death God Temple suffer such a loss.
Was it all an act?
Pretending to be weak to lure the enemy?
Despicable!
Many cultivators quietly cursed Zhang Ruochen, calling him cunning and shameless.
Standing on the Seven-Star Emperor Palace’s steps, Zhang Ruochen felt exasperated. What was wrong with them? Why such prejudice against him?
Clearly, he was the underdog, targeted by a horde of Death God Temple powerhouses.
Clearly, he had shown the utmost goodwill, willing to reconcile with the Death God Temple. Why couldn’t they see that?
Sigh, why care about others’ misunderstandings? As long as his conscience was clear.
The Demon Earth Clan’s emperor, Xuan Disha, arrived nearby with a group of clan elders. Xuan Zehai and Xuan Qingying hurriedly went to pay respects.
Xuan Disha, aged with white hair and beard, wore purple jade robes and a sacred crown, yet was full of vigor. Looking at Zhang Ruochen on the palace steps, he said, “A hero rises in youth. Zhang Ruochen’s mental strength has likely reached the sixty-eighth tier.”
Xuan Qingying, incredulous, said, “How is that possible? Even among Supreme Realm Great Saints, those who cultivate mental strength to the sixty-eighth tier are rare.”
Xuan Disha squinted and smiled, “Without such mental strength, how could Zhang Ruochen so easily curse four Ten Thousand Deaths Realm Great Saints? Moreover, it’s likely his powerful mental strength that allows him to wield supreme sacred artifacts freely, use profound Sacred Will, and more effectively harness the power of his demi-god body.”
The Demon Earth Clan’s emperor, nearly thirty thousand years old, had immense mental strength.
Everyone trusted his judgment implicitly.
Looking at Zhang Ruochen again, Xuan Qingying’s expression grew complex but soon turned to disdain and contempt. If he was so powerful, why pretend to be timid earlier?
No trace of a powerhouse’s demeanor.
Xuan Zehai asked, “Why has the Clan Emperor left the sacred land to come here?”
“Someone asked me to resolve the conflict here and help Zhang Ruochen escape,” Xuan Disha said.
Xuan Zehai’s heart stirred, sensing deeper implications.
“Asked,” not “requested.”
Didn’t that mean the one helping Zhang Ruochen was at least on par with the Clan Emperor, perhaps even surpassing him in cultivation or status?
Moreover, rescuing Zhang Ruochen from the Death God Temple would likely cost the Demon Earth Clan dearly.
Xuan Disha smiled again, “Since no clan’s cultivators could move Zhang Ruochen, I, as Clan Emperor, will personally step in. I hope he’ll give me some face!”
