Chapter 1038: A Top-Tier Ruins Realm on the Verge of Exhaustion
Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen did not stay long in the Royal Clan Burial Forest, because when Qing Mo and the Swallowing-Elephant Rabbit went out to buy ingredients, they heard an exceptionally shocking piece of news.
It was related to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
The Azure Dragon Ruins Realm was already infinitely close to exhaustion. Its space had become extremely fragile, the continental plates were splitting apart, with massive earthquakes occurring daily and numerous volcanoes erupting.
Originally, all the indigenous saints born in that world had already fled.
This was because the aura of saint-level beings was too terrifying. Once released, the already fragile Azure Dragon Ruins Realm would suffer large-scale collapse.
The aura of saint-level beings could destroy the Heavenly and Earthly Rules of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, and ultimately, the saint-level beings themselves would die without a burial place.
The ruins realm warriors stationed in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm had used some covert methods to send back some news.
It was said that every volcanic eruption would bring out large amounts of gems from deep underground, including Sacred Stones and Sacred Jade.
A Heaven Extreme Realm ruins realm warrior had once picked up over a dozen Sacred Stones, instantly becoming wealthier than the decades of accumulation of a low-rank Half-Saint.
Another warrior at the First Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm had found a piece of crystalline Sacred Jade. After refining it, he reached the Half-Saint Realm overnight, without even knowing what had happened.
The Azure Dragon Ruins Realm was on the verge of destruction. The useful substances within the world would, in an extremely short period, transform into the most essential treasures—either Sacred Stones, spiritual medicines, or other even more precious sacred objects.
It was said that the main material for refining Sacred Origin Pills, "Sacred Source Spiritual Liquid," would only condense when a ruins realm was about to be destroyed.
The reason a Half-Saint could save several years, or even decades, of bitter cultivation by taking a single Sacred Origin Pill was that they were plundering the origin of a world and converting it into their own cultivation.
Sacred Source Spiritual Liquid was extremely difficult to find, which was why Sacred Origin Pills were so precious. Even a Medieval Aristocratic Clan would need several years to refine just one.
Moreover, seventh-grade, eighth-grade, and ninth-grade Sacred Origin Pills were not even available in Medieval Aristocratic Clans or various ancient sects.
This was because only when a top-tier ruins realm was on the verge of exhaustion could the Sacred Source Spiritual Liquid needed to refine high-grade Sacred Origin Pills be produced.
How many top-tier ruins realms were there around the Kunlun Realm? You could count them on ten fingers.
As long as a top-tier ruins realm was not artificially damaged, it would have a lifespan of at least a hundred million years.
Even if the Kunlun Realm had high-grade Sacred Origin Pills, they were preserved from the ancient times. At most, there were only a few, and all had been used to cultivate the Nine Realm Sons.
Now that the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, one of the top-tier ruins realms, was on the verge of exhaustion, it would inevitably release a large amount of high-grade Sacred Source Spiritual Liquid, and even some heavenly materials and earthly treasures that even saints found hard to see. How could this not drive people crazy?
"Transforming into a Half-Saint overnight," "Picking up Sacred Stones anywhere," "Large amounts of Sacred Source Spiritual Liquid condensing"... All kinds of news were flying everywhere.
The cultivators of the entire Kunlun Realm were all boiling with blood, eager to rush to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm immediately.
Those ancient sects, Medieval Aristocratic Clans, and saintly clans had long known about the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm. Their preparations were quite thorough, and they could mobilize at any time.
Everyone knew that the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm was about to stir up a bloody storm, yet they had to get involved.
If you didn't compete, didn't snatch, and didn't take risks, then other forces would obtain those treasures, rise up, and crush you.
On the path of the Great Dao, if you didn't advance, you would fall back.
Soon after, news spread that the Undying Blood Clan and the Death Zen Sect would also send a large number of experts to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
At the same time, the various beast clans in the Barbarian Wilderness Secret Realm were also stirring restlessly. Some beings from the "Half-Saint Ranking" and the "Half-Saint Outer Ranking" appeared in the Central Domain, causing a huge sensation.
Among them, the Devouring Demon Dragon, ranked third on the Half-Saint Ranking, broke into a pass of the First Central Empire and devoured the 130,000-strong human army guarding it, including a War Saint, who was also eaten.
The Devouring Demon Dragon issued a harsh threat: "It's best if humans don't go to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm to compete for treasures. Otherwise, the young elites will surely be wiped out."
In ancient times, the Devouring Demon Dragon clan fed on saint-level beings and could fight against true gods.
That Devouring Demon Dragon in the Barbarian Wilderness Secret Realm was not a descendant but an ancient remnant species with the purest bloodline.
Once it reached adulthood, it would surely become an invincible beast emperor.
On the Half-Saint Ranking compiled by Shengshu Cainü, the Sword Emperor's descendant, Xue Wuye, was only ranked fourth.
The Devouring Demon Dragon's ranking was even above Xue Wuye's, so one could imagine how terrifying its combat power was.
On the same day, the Kun Clan Prince, ranked sixth on the Half-Saint Ranking, emerged from the sea in his true form, reached the edge of the Kunlun Realm's landmass, and struck with full force.
Thousands of miles around shook, and a large piece of continental plate separated from the Kunlun Realm, becoming an isolated island in the sea.
The Kun Clan Prince also issued a statement: "The water beast clans will enter the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm to seize opportunities. The human Half-Saints had better know their place. If they meddle, they will only bring humiliation upon themselves."
Whether it was the land beasts of the Barbarian Wilderness Secret Realm or the water beasts of the sea regions, they had all reached a tacit understanding, preparing to join forces against humanity, denying them the chance to seize resources from the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
In the Kunlun Realm, they naturally dared not oppose humanity, because Empress Chi Yao's cultivation was too terrifying, suppressing the beast emperors of all clans into hiding.
However, saint-level beings simply could not enter the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm. Once there, the advantages of the beast clans would be fully displayed, enough to crush the young human elites.
The appearance of the Devouring Demon Dragon and the Kun Clan Prince was a form of intimidation issued by the beast clans.
One could imagine that if Chi Yao had not cultivated the Nine Realm Sons, the strongest human below the saint level, Kong Hongbi, would only be ranked thirty-fourth on the Half-Saint Ranking. Competing with the beast clans for resources would have been utterly hopeless.
Even with the Nine Realm Sons, humanity had only narrowed the gap somewhat. The beast clans still held an absolute advantage.
Zhang Ruochen left the Royal Clan Burial Forest and heard a lot of news about the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm in Saint Ming City.
"That Devouring Demon Dragon is too arrogant. If Master Lidi makes a move, he can suppress it."
Many human cultivators were furious, eager to personally kill the Devouring Demon Dragon and restore human dignity.
"On the Half-Saint Ranking, Master Lidi's rank is indeed a bit higher than the Devouring Demon Dragon's. But among the top ten of the Half-Saint Ranking, humanity only holds three spots, while the beast clans have seven powerful beings. If a real battle breaks out, the young human elites will likely suffer heavy casualties."
"So what? We cultivators, how can we fear a fight?"
The intimidation of the Devouring Demon Dragon and the Kun Clan Prince did not scare off the human cultivators. Instead, more outstanding talents prepared to head to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
Huang Yanchen sighed and said, "The Azure Dragon Ruins Realm will surely flow with rivers of blood. If the young human elites are wiped out, there will be a gap in the top-tier human experts in the future. At that point, the entire race will face a catastrophic disaster."
Zhang Ruochen said, "If the young human elites don't compete, they will inevitably fall behind the beast clans in the future, ending up in a passive and beaten position."
Qing Mo furrowed her brows and asked, "Then what should we do?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled, speaking in a tone that left no room for doubt, "Speaking of which, that Empress Chi Yao is quite far-sighted, establishing the Chaos Myriad Realms Mountain outside the domain and setting up military camps in various ruins realms."
"The Azure Dragon Ruins Realm certainly has a military base camp established by the Ministry of War. If the human elites are truly massacred by the beast clans, they can take refuge in the base and at least save their lives."
Huang Yanchen's eyes shimmered with light, and she said, "Chen Ge, what are your plans? Should we go to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm?"
"Go, of course we go."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was firm, clearly having made his decision long ago.
A top-tier ruins realm on the verge of destruction—such an opportunity was rare even in a million years. If missed, there would be no second chance.
No matter how dangerous, he had to take the risk.
To go to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, one had to first go to the Chaos Myriad Realms Mountain and board a ruins realm ship.
Of course, aside from that, the Kunlun Realm also had some wormholes connected to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm. Some of those wormholes were distributed in the Barbarian Wilderness Secret Realm, some overseas, and others were only known to Medieval Aristocratic Clans and ancient tribes.
"Should we go to the Chaos Myriad Realms Mountain now?" Huang Yanchen asked.
"Naturally, we set off now."
Zhang Ruochen did not return to the Phoenix Dance Palace, after all, it was a world-famous brothel.
If Huang Yanchen found out that he frequently visited the Phoenix Dance Palace, it would inevitably lead to some unnecessary misunderstandings.
Saint Ming City had a ruins realm ship heading to the Chaos Myriad Realms Mountain, but Zhang Ruochen certainly could not board it under his current identity.
So, Zhang Ruochen changed his appearance, taking on the form of the Blood God Sect's Divine Son, Gu Linfeng.
That Phantom Gold Mask was handed to Huang Yanchen for her to wear.
Huang Yanchen's identity was rather sensitive.
In the eyes of outsiders, she was not only one of the Nine Realm Sons but also Zhang Ruochen's fiancée. It was best not to be recognized.
It had to be said that Huang Yanchen, wearing the Phantom Gold Mask, had a different kind of beauty. It still carried an icy aura but added a touch of mystery.
To board the ruins realm ship, they had to go to the Azure Dragon Army's military camp.
News of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm had already spread throughout Saint Ming City. Cultivators from all sides were stirred into action, rushing out of the city gates and heading to the Azure Dragon Army's camp, afraid that if they were late, there would be no spots left.
Walking out of Saint Ming City's gates and leaving the influence of the City-Protecting Grand Formation, Zhang Ruochen immediately sensed Xiao Hei's aura.
"Has he escaped from Lin Suxian's hands?"
Zhang Ruochen naturally knew that Xiao Hei had been captured by Lin Suxian.
However, Lin Suxian's cultivation was not enough to kill Xiao Hei, so Zhang Ruochen had never worried about his safety.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, leading Huang Yanchen and Qing Mo to a deserted area. Soon, they saw the figures of Blood Moon Ghost King and Xiao Hei.
Blood Moon Ghost King glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Luo Xu asked me to bring you two items. One of them is this fat cat."
With that, Blood Moon Ghost King waved his sleeve, sending Xiao Hei flying toward Zhang Ruochen.
Xiao Hei rolled on the ground like a furry ball, cursing loudly, "I'll warn you one more time: This emperor is not an object. Believe me, once I enter the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, I'll make you pay a heavy price."
He rolled all the way to Zhang Ruochen's feet before stopping.
He got up, shook the long fur on his body, feeling very embarrassed, and bared his sharp teeth and claws, wanting to charge at Blood Moon Ghost King to fight to the death.
"Xiao Hei!"
Zhang Ruochen called out to Xiao Hei, stopping him, then asked Blood Moon Ghost King, "So, what is the second item that Senior Luo Xu brought?"