“Boom!”
Zhang Ruochen’s palm strike was like five thunderbolts, nearly knocking Shang Ziyi unconscious. His body plummeted toward the sea.
The space above the sea had already solidified.
Shang Ziyi crashed onto the sea surface, sending out ripples of spatial waves. His body collapsed, unable to rise again, his eyes completely devoid of light. He knew he was utterly defeated.
This scene chilled the hearts of the cultivators from the myriad realms of the Heavenly Court.
Another peerless genius had fallen.
Compared to Chu Jian, Shang Ziyi was even more dazzling. Renowned for a thousand years, he held immense influence across the Western Universe, hailed as the heir of the Merit God Temple.
Zhang Ruochen hovered above Shang Ziyi’s body, suppressing him tightly with the Eternal Return Domain. The Ten Thousand Curses Heavenly Pearl flew out, releasing faint, invisible threads of curse power that surged toward Shang Ziyi’s five-colored stone body.
With the power of curses, he extinguished his soul.
Donghua Emperor’s head regrew, and Cihang Fairy condensed a pure, snow-white body in Buddhist light. The two joined Zhenyuan, Ao Yi, Yao Guang, and the Wanxu Realm leader. Some unleashed divine techniques, others struck with supreme holy artifacts, attacking Zhang Ruochen.
No matter what, they could not stand by and watch Zhang Ruochen curse-kill Shang Ziyi.
“Zhang Ruochen defeated the Heavenly Court’s eight top experts by leveraging the power of time and space, breaking them one by one. If he stood still and took the strongest attacks from these six great experts head-on, he likely could not withstand them.”
All the cultivators present thought so.
They believed Zhang Ruochen would surely abandon the chance to curse-kill Shang Ziyi to avoid their onslaught.
“Yin-Yang Five Elements, Heavenly Way Infinite.”
Zhang Ruochen fully unleashed the power of his infinite holy intent. Above his head, below his feet, and all around, Yin-Yang Five Elements seals appeared. The power of heaven and earth gathered endlessly, swirling around him.
The three supreme holy artifacts and three divine techniques struck by the six experts landed in the Yin-Yang Five Elements vortex. The six forces canceled each other out, unable to harm Zhang Ruochen at the vortex’s center.
Donghua Emperor’s expression shifted slightly. He said, “This power is strange. I feel the connection with my Qingming Bell weakening.”
“Even before breaking through to the supreme realm, Zhang Ruochen could seize control of the Star Soul Throne from the Judgment Divine Envoy. With his current cultivation, taking a supreme holy artifact is hardly difficult,” the Wanxu Realm leader said.
Donghua Emperor, Ao Yi, and the Wanxu Realm leader fully released their spiritual power and holy souls to maintain communication with their supreme holy artifacts.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen single-handedly resist the six great experts of the Heavenly Court, the cultivators of the Hell Realm erupted in cheers.
Their emotions surged, filled with excitement.
Especially the great saints of the Immortal Blood Clan, who shouted Zhang Ruochen’s name, regarding him as a hero of their clan.
“Godson Ruochen is mighty and unparalleled, suppressing the Heavenly Court single-handedly.”
“Great Saint Ruochen is truly the light of our Immortal Blood Clan. A thousand years ago, he led us to victory in the Hunting Heaven Battle. A thousand years later, he is invincible in the mortal realm. Below the divine realm, who can challenge him?”
“After today’s battle, those rats of the Heavenly Court will tremble at the name of Great Saint Ruochen.”
…
The Hell Realm revered strength above all, and Zhang Ruochen’s prowess earned him the respect and awe of all cultivators.
Previously, when Zhang Ruochen declared he would fight all and become the Lord of the Ten Realms, most Hell Realm cultivators scoffed, thinking him arrogant. Now, his overwhelming combat power had won their hearts, convincing them he was indeed qualified to be the Lord of the Ten Realms.
Some would even feel indignant on his behalf if anyone opposed his claim.
The strong deserved everything. It was only natural.
This was exactly what Zhang Ruochen needed.
Once he gained the recognition of the entire Hell Realm, even the Destiny God Temple would find it difficult to move against him.
Above the sky, in the direction of the Heavenly Court cultivators, a vast divine might surged, turning a large swath of the sky purple-black. A god sought to save Shang Ziyi.
But at that moment, a demonic claw emerged from the divine world of the Judgment Venerable, blocking the divine might.
Sensing that Shang Ziyi’s soul fluctuations had been completely curse-killed, Zhang Ruochen withdrew the Ten Thousand Curses Heavenly Pearl. He sent out the Diamond Moon Wheel, Wujin Battle Heaven Pillar, and Zangshan Demon Mirror, clashing with the three supreme holy artifacts in the Yin-Yang Five Elements vortex.
“Boom!”
“Boom!”
“Rumble!”
…
Deafening collisions rang out, sending waves of dazzling supreme power light.
Donghua Emperor, Cihang Fairy, Ao Yi, Zhenyuan, Yao Guang, and the Wanxu Realm leader all retreated, putting a great distance between themselves and Zhang Ruochen.
Shang Ziyi’s body transformed into a five-colored Merit God Stele, held in Zhang Ruochen’s hand.
Zhang Ruochen declared loudly, “If you still wish to fight, I will accompany you to the end. I do not mind burying you all in this Boundless Divine Sea.”
The Wanxu Realm leader’s eyes darkened. As a Yuanhui-level representative, who lacked pride?
Even if it meant burning their life force to shine briefly and perish with Zhang Ruochen, they would reclaim the Heavenly Court’s honor.
But Zhenyuan grabbed his wrist, shaking his head.
“Let Zhang Ruochen be the Lord of the Ten Realms,” Zhenyuan’s voice reached the Wanxu Realm leader’s ears.
The Wanxu Realm leader paused, then seemed to understand something and stepped back.
Zhenyuan clasped his hands in salute from afar, saying calmly, “Brother Ruochen’s cultivation is unrivaled in this era. Even united, we are no match for you. Today, we are thoroughly defeated. You are worthy of being the Lord of the Ten Realms. But the Heavenly Court will not concede. On the true battlefield, we will surely have a chance to settle this.”
Hearing “You are worthy of being the Lord of the Ten Realms,” many Hell Realm cultivators were stunned.
“What does Zhenyuan mean? We never acknowledged Zhang Ruochen’s eligibility for the Ten Realms Battle. How did he become the Lord of the Ten Realms?” a supreme realm great saint from Disha Ghost City said angrily.
The great saints of the Death God Temple also clamored, “The Heavenly Court’s cultivators suffered a crushing defeat, but that does not mean the Hell Realm’s powerhouses would lose to Zhang Ruochen. At least Que and Yan Wushen might not be his match.”
A great saint from the Qinglu Shrine sneered, “As far as I know, Zhang Ruochen and Zhenyuan are close. They likely planned this. Is this not a Heavenly Court scheme? If the Ten Realms belong to Zhang Ruochen, how is that different from belonging to the Heavenly Court?”
The Immortal Blood Clan cultivators were furious, saying, “How many Heavenly Court experts fell to Great Saint Ruochen, including figures like Chu Jian and Shang Ziyi, and you dare say this was planned?”
“Great Saint Ruochen spared Lan Ying and Yuan, already giving you face. Are you rejecting this courtesy?”
“Godson Ruochen is the Lord of the Ten Realms. If anyone disagrees, step up and fight. If you win, you can be the Lord of the Ten Realms. If you lack the courage to act, keep quiet.”
“Great Saint Ruochen is unrivaled. Let alone the Ten Realms, he could be the Lord of a Hundred Realms.”
…
Countless Immortal Blood Clan cultivators were captivated by Zhang Ruochen’s peerless demeanor, especially the beautiful female cultivators, who felt a sense of worship.
The allure of the strong was immense.
Not just the Immortal Blood Clan, but even cultivators from the Raksha Clan, Shura Clan, and some from the Middle and Upper Three Clans spoke up, defending Zhang Ruochen.
“Forget Chu Jian and Shang Ziyi. If you could kill one of the Paradise Realm’s three angel emperors, I, Fang Mofeng, would admire you. Compared to Great Saint Ruochen, what are you?” said a great saint from the Shura Clan’s Falling Star God Temple.
In the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, the Falling Star God Temple owed Zhang Ruochen a significant favor.
In this debate, more cultivators sided with Zhang Ruochen, silencing those from Disha Ghost City, Qinglu Shrine, and Death God Temple.
Donghua Emperor, Zhenyuan, and the others retreated. Zhang Ruochen did not pursue. Forcing cultivators of their caliber to a point of mutual destruction was unwise.
Their self-destructive techniques were most effective as a deterrent, enough to protect them against pseudo-gods.
Of course, even if one of them detonated their holy source, it might not kill the current Zhang Ruochen. However, he had no absolute confidence in surviving such an attack and would not gamble with his life.
Yin Yuanchen did not retreat, standing atop the Tongtian Pagoda.
Zhang Ruochen looked at him, saying, “You did not flee. Do you think I cannot kill you?”
Yin Yuanchen replied, “You cannot kill me. Because you know I am not like Shang Ziyi. He had a desire to live, so he died. But for the past thousand years, my heart has long been dead. I will not give you a chance to kill me. Either we die together, or you let me go.”
“By saying this, are you not admitting you are inferior to me?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yin Yuanchen said, “In the saint realm, you have indeed reached heights I cannot match. But the divine realm offers countless possibilities. A few thousand years of saint realm cultivation cannot determine the heights reached in hundreds of thousands of years in the divine realm. Countless dazzling figures have been surpassed by latecomers.”
“It seems this thousand years have brought you much insight. With such a mindset, no wonder you became a Yuanhui-level genius.”
Zhang Ruochen temporarily ignored Yin Yuanchen, stepping forward, crossing space to intercept Lan Ying and Yuan, who were about to return to the Hell Realm cultivators’ ranks.
Lan Ying and Yuan fell into the Eternal Return Domain, trapped in two spatiotemporal vortexes, their expressions changing.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Have you two decided? Do you want the supreme holy artifact or your lives?”
Lan Ying gritted his teeth, sneering with a voice as harsh as a child’s cry, “Zhang Ruochen, you are indeed strong, making me feel unbeatable. But if you force us to perish together, it will not benefit you.”
Yuan’s eyes also showed resolve.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, saying, “I do not believe you have the resolve to perish with me. Without such determination, you will surely die.”
Having cultivated to this level, just a step from divinity, who would willingly die?
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen showed no intent to kill them outright. It would be strange if they had thoughts of mutual destruction.
Lan Ying and Yuan locked eyes with Zhang Ruochen, their auras clashing fiercely.
They could not back down, but neither could they truly detonate their holy sources, leaving them in deep internal conflict.
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the sky, declaring loudly, “They will not detonate their holy sources to kill me. They lack such resolve. Ghost Lord, Qinglu God King, if you two do not show yourselves, they will die by my sword!”
The Hell Realm cultivators erupted in an uproar, finding Zhang Ruochen too audacious. A mere saint realm cultivator daring to summon two divine realm giants to meet him. Even the Blood Absolute War God in his time was not so bold!
