The instant the Zangshan Demonic Mirror shattered, a vast and magnificent inner world surged forth along with dense blood-coloured divine qi. Within that world, towering demonic mountains appeared one after another. Their rocks were pitch-black, their springs flowed like blood.
It was the inner world of Demon Lord Zangshan.
The rule divine patterns of the Second Grade Blood Ancestor condensed into a radiant hand that pressed straight down toward Zhang Ruochen.
It had to be admitted that the Second Grade Blood Ancestor’s cultivation far surpassed Zhang Ruochen’s. The moment the divine hand formed, Zhang Ruochen was instantly immobilised. Invisible divine force squeezed his flesh inward without cease.
Even the golden light formed by the Buddhist Sanskrit characters dimmed steadily.
Any god at the Butian realm would have had no choice but to close their eyes and await death.
At this critical moment, a ring of light and a torrent of divine qi erupted from Zhang Ruochen’s mysterious foetus.
Boom!
The pressure on his body instantly lightened. He retreated swiftly, rushing into the space where the demonic mountains stood, putting distance between himself and the Second Grade Blood Ancestor.
Everything that had happened in that flash of lightning had been fully observed by Blood Jue War God. He glanced at Zhang Ruochen, a trace of surprise flickering deep in his pupils, mingled with a hint of amusement.
“Second Grade, you dare act presumptuously in this seat’s presence?”
Blood Jue War God’s voice was deep and commanding. He remained seated without moving, yet the entire heaven and earth seemed to fall under his control. The rules of heaven and earth, along with the Second Grade Blood Ancestor’s rule divine patterns, all froze.
“The aura of the Tai Xu realm… You are Blood Jue War God…” A note of fear entered the Second Grade Blood Ancestor’s voice.
The blood-coloured divine qi grew frantic and receded like a tide, surging outward from the Goddess Queen Palace.
“Still thinking of escaping?”
Blood Jue War God spread the five fingers of his right hand and raised it above his head. All the blood qi between heaven and earth was drawn away, gathering in his palm and condensing into the tiny, bean-sized divine body of the Second Grade Blood Ancestor.
Sizzle! Sizzle!
Divine flames surged from his palm, refining a mark from within the Second Grade Blood Ancestor’s body.
Upon seeing that mark, Blood Jue War God’s expression changed slightly. In a voice only he could hear, he muttered to himself, “So he is also a member of the Quantity Organisation.”
Zhang Ruochen vaguely glimpsed that the mark seemed to be a divine character resembling the word “Quantity”.
Without dwelling on it, Zhang Ruochen spread his arms. His sleeves billowed as he suppressed the shattered and expanding inner world of the Zangshan Demonic Mirror, gathering it between his hands.
The inner world of a supreme sacred artefact was no different from a real world.
If it were allowed to fully expand, it would cause considerable destruction to the Heavenly Goddess Tower.
“How formidable. With a turn of his hand he suppressed a great god. Before a Tai Xu realm great god, a figure like the Second Grade Blood Ancestor did not even have a chance to flee.” Bai Qing’er was inwardly shocked.
Blood Jue War God saw through both her thoughts and Zhang Ruochen’s. He stored the “An” character divine script and the Second Grade Blood Ancestor in his sleeve. “Do not make a fuss. He is merely a Tai Yi realm god. The gap between him and the Tai Xu realm is enormous! The reason I could suppress him so easily is mainly because we were close enough and his divine body was broken and gravely wounded.”
“If we were in the starry sky, far enough apart, capturing a Tai Yi great god would not be so simple! Ruochen, is this the gift you wished to give your grandfather?”
Zhang Ruochen replied, “What a pity. If Grandfather had not been here, the gift would have escaped! Moreover, I might even have been devoured by him in return.”
Blood Jue War God laughed heartily. “It is indeed a great gift. Grandfather accepts it! Yet in Grandfather’s eyes, the greater gift lies upon you.”
Zhang Ruochen knew what Blood Jue War God meant. Earlier, to break free from the Second Grade Blood Ancestor’s suppression, he had mobilised the power of martial arts. How could that escape Blood Jue War God’s notice?
Joy flooded Blood Jue War God’s face; even the hair at his temples seemed to dance. “Truly, heaven never seals all exits! Quickly tell Grandfather how your martial dao was restored.”
“It is not exactly restored. I have merely walked a different path. The story is long. Perhaps…” Zhang Ruochen began.
Blood Jue War God interrupted, “If the story is long, then tell it slowly. Grandfather has plenty of time and is extremely curious. If you do not tell me now, you are simply tormenting me.”
Bai Qing’er was also deeply curious about the restoration of Zhang Ruochen’s martial dao. She stood quietly to the side, listening.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her and said, “In truth, my ability to walk this new martial dao path owes much to the guidance and assistance of Great God Huang Tian.”
He then recounted his current situation in detail.
Whether it was Bai Qing’er or Blood Jue War God, Zhang Ruochen believed he could trust them completely, so he concealed nothing.
After hearing everything, Bai Qing’er fell silent for a long time. She gazed at Zhang Ruochen’s youthful, handsome face and, for some reason, felt something new stir within her. If she had to name it, it was the longing a woman feels for the realm she wishes to attain, and the admiration she holds for the man who can reach that realm.
She herself had not even noticed this subtle change of heart; it simply revealed itself unconsciously in her eyes.
One must realise that, in order to cultivate a perfect second-grade saint intent, she had once paid a price few could imagine.
Precisely because she understood how difficult second-grade saint intent was, she knew how utterly unattainable first-grade saint intent was. It was even more remote than becoming one of the Heavens.
Without question, Zhang Ruochen’s ability to walk a new martial dao path after his cultivation was crippled had been decisively enabled by his perfect first-grade saint intent.
How could she not be astonished?
If any other cultivator had achieved this, Bai Qing’er would never feel this way. Instead, she would regard them as a threat and rival, and would scheme to eliminate them by any means.
Blood Jue War God’s expression shifted constantly. “Ruochen, this is a heaven-shaking secret! As Huang Tian said, you have leapt beyond the bounds, beyond life and death, beyond the five elements. Your future accomplishments are unimaginable. If word leaks and Qing Zu learns of it, he will probably act again even if it means offending Tianmu.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded cautiously. “That is why I dare not lightly use martial dao cultivation.”
Blood Jue War God continued, “Using martial dao cultivation is not the main issue. The key is the path you have taken. In any case, be careful. Do not let too many people know.”
Then he burst into laughter. “If Qing Zu learned that because of him you were able to break and then stand stronger, fully unleashing the power of first-grade saint intent, he would probably sigh and say everything is fated!”
“Very well, that is enough. I have other matters to attend to and cannot linger here. When you have time, return to the family. Your mother is very worried about you.”
Blood Jue War God was in high spirits. After giving this instruction, he rose to leave.
“Grandfather! We still have not discussed the armies of Heaven!” Zhang Ruochen called after him.
“Discussed what? This is Xinghuan Heaven’s affair. What is there to discuss with the Great Clan Butcher of the Bloodsky Clan? Oh, you are worried the gods of the Immortal Vampires will be displeased? No need!”
Blood Jue War God glanced down at the Second Grade Blood Ancestor in his hand and smiled. “The value of one great god far exceeds millions of units of saint food. This is the best explanation I can give them. Give me the Zangshan Demonic Mirror. It is time it was returned to your mother! The Bloodsea and Zangshan should long ago have become one.”
Between Zhang Ruochen’s hands, the shattered Zangshan Demonic Mirror and its broken inner world automatically flew toward Blood Jue War God, vanishing into thin air several zhang away from him.
Looking up with a laugh, Blood Jue War God strode away and disappeared from the First Goddess City.
Bai Qing’er stared at his retreating back. “The world believes Blood Jue War God is arrogant and looks down on everyone, yet who sees the situation more clearly than he does? He does not wish to make things difficult for you, nor to pressure you with his status, so he chose to let the saint armies of the thirteen realms go. Among Immortal Vampire gods of his level, few value family affection as he does.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded deeply in agreement.
…
Outside the palace gates, Xue Tu stepped out from behind a luxuriantly leaved sacred tree. Only after confirming Blood Jue War God had truly left did he straighten up and hurry toward the Goddess Queen Palace.
He genuinely feared meeting Blood Jue War God. After all, he was the only one who knew that secret of Blood Jue War God’s.
That matter was of enormous consequence. There was no guarantee Blood Jue War God would not silence him.
Earlier, outside the city, when Blood Jue War God had fought the gods of Heaven, Xue Tu had sensed the deep prejudice Blood Jue War God held against him. The War God had not even deigned to speak to him.
That had made him feel a real threat!
Entering the Goddess Queen Palace, Xue Tu heard Zhang Ruochen say, “Grandfather is a man of deep feeling and righteousness. That is why he took the initiative to order the divine brew removed earlier. It was out of respect for City Lord Bai!”
Hearing this, Xue Tu sneered inwardly.
If he were not worried Blood Jue War God was still nearby, he would very much like to tell Zhang Ruochen, “Junior Brother, you know nothing of the relationship between the War God and City Lord Bai!”
“Junior Brother, my gourd? That is the supreme treasure Master bestowed upon me. You must return it.”
Seeing Xue Tu, Zhang Ruochen turned to leave. “No rush. After I deal with the Third Elder of the Array Annihilation Palace, I will return the gourd to you.”
With the Second Grade Blood Ancestor’s cultivation, he had been able to shatter the inner world of a supreme sacred artefact and escape.
The Third Elder of the Array Annihilation Palace was far stronger than the Second Grade Blood Ancestor. Zhang Ruochen was rather worried that Death Divine Venerable’s gourd might not be able to suppress him. He decided to go find the drunkard at once.
He wondered whether the drunkard had sobered yet.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen flee the moment he appeared, Xue Tu’s vision darkened. His heart sank to the bottom. He hurriedly chased after him. “Junior Brother, when Master gave me this gourd, she warned me a thousand times, ten thousand times, never to lose it. You know how Master’s temper is.”
“I know? I know nothing about Death Divine Venerable,” Zhang Ruochen replied.
Xue Tu grew even more panicked. “Junior Brother, the matter of the Wujian Infernal Tower is already settled. You cannot do this. Something will happen. How will I explain when I return?”
Zhang Ruochen stopped, somewhat annoyed. “It is only a gourd. Is the mighty Great Butcher War Emperor truly so petty?”
Xue Tu thought to himself, If I had six divine swords, naturally I would not worry so much about a single gourd.
“Very well! In the near future I will repair the Sundial and enter seclusion for a time. When I do, I will give you a cultivation slot,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Xue Tu’s spirits soared. He exclaimed in shock, “The Sundial can support divine cultivation?”
One must realise that only time divine arrays could support gods in cultivation.
How rare were time divine arrays?
Even with the Destiny Temple’s foundation, they possessed only two.
And each could support only one god at a time!
Yet the Destiny Temple had so many gods.
After passing the new-god phase, hoping to use the Destiny Temple’s time divine arrays for cultivation meant waiting an entire Yuanhui for a turn.
Now Zhang Ruochen told him the Sundial might be repaired and could support multiple gods at once. What did that mean?
It meant that he, Xue Tu, was about to advance by leaps and bounds, surpassing those gods stronger than him.
The Sundial was far more powerful than a time divine array!
