Chapter 1118: This Is the Boundary, Cross It and Die
"Zhang Ruochen has arrived at the royal capital and is excavating rock and earth on Dragon Summit Mountain. It seems he has found the most ancient relic of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm."
This piece of news spread through the outskirts of the royal capital, stirring up a violent storm.
In the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, Dragon Summit Mountain was steeped in many legends, shrouded in a mysterious halo.
It was said that an ancient civilized nation had once performed sacrifices to heaven and earth on Dragon Summit Mountain, making the place even more sacred. In the past period, the spiritual energy of Dragon Summit Mountain had rapidly dried up, turning it into a wasteland. After the new dynasty was established, the sacrificial site was moved to the royal capital city.
At a time when the world was on the verge of exhaustion, many were still inclined to believe that an ancient relic would truly emerge from Dragon Summit Mountain.
This news was naturally spread by Murong Yue and the six high-ranking Half-Saints of the Murong Clan.
Upon hearing the news, Feng Yinchang was quite pleased, a vicious glint flashing in her eyes. "Zhang Ruochen, you've finally come."
Immediately, all the cultivators of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan mobilized, starting another round of incitement.
"Zhang Ruochen seized the heavenly treasures and earthly riches of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan, and plundered the wealth of a city, yet he's still not satisfied."
"Dragon Summit Mountain is the gateway to the royal capital. It must be an extraordinary treasure land. Who knows, it might really hold ancient sacred objects buried within."
"That great demon Zhang Ruochen is already this formidable. If he gets his hands on the relics of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, who can still control him?"
...
The cultivators of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan were well aware that inciting others to deal with Zhang Ruochen was no easy task.
After all, most cultivators who had reached the Half-Saint realm were quite shrewd and wouldn't dare to touch Zhang Ruochen, a tough nut to crack. Only by using wealth and treasures to tempt those greedy cultivators would anyone be willing to take the risk.
As for their claim that Zhang Ruochen had turned into a bloodthirsty great demon, it was merely an excuse they fabricated to convince those restless cultivators.
Upon hearing the news about Zhang Ruochen, Mu Lingxi immediately headed toward Dragon Summit Mountain.
"Finally arrived at the royal capital. Zhang Ruochen, have you really gone berserk from cultivating the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm?" Wan Huayu muttered to herself, then spread a pair of dazzling fiery phoenix wings and tore through the sky.
Not only were many cultivators from the human camp heading toward Dragon Summit Mountain, but the various barbarian beast clans and the Undying Blood Clan also received the news. Large numbers of powerful beings left their camps, transforming into streaks of light as they rushed toward Dragon Summit Mountain.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen and the others had already reached the summit of Dragon Summit Mountain and were clearing the earth and stone covering the ancient altar.
Dragon Summit Mountain contained a mysterious power emanating from within, making the mountain's structure extremely solid. Even an ordinary stone was as hard as black iron.
Gradually, the rough outline of the ancient altar emerged, measuring a full one hundred and eighty-six zhang in diameter and emitting a faint cyan light.
At the center of the altar coiled a massive stone dragon. Its head and claws had already fallen off, leaving it battered and worn, yet it carried an ancient charm. Just one glance inspired a sense of awe.
As the altar revealed itself, a patch of cyan clouds condensed above Dragon Summit Mountain, covering an area of several hundred li.
"Shua, shua."
Sounds of wind being torn echoed continuously.
Many beings had already arrived at the outskirts of Dragon Summit Mountain.
They didn't approach immediately but instead restrained their auras, gazing from afar toward the summit.
Although many beings wanted to seize the vast heavenly treasures and earthly riches Zhang Ruochen carried, his reputation preceded him—fighting nineteen kings alone, challenging the Azure Heaven Tribe... a series of brilliant feats that was enough to intimidate many.
Who would dare to be the first to charge forward, except for the top-tier experts?
Most beings were merely looking to fish in troubled waters. Among them, forces with grudges against Zhang Ruochen wanted to take this opportunity to eliminate him.
"The man on the summit of Dragon Summit Mountain is indeed Zhang Ruochen. I saw him once from afar in Tiantai Prefecture."
"Look, cyan auspicious clouds are gathering above Dragon Summit Mountain. Could it be that some incredible treasure is about to emerge?"
...
As the ancient altar revealed itself, the spiritual energy of heaven and earth underwent subtle changes, causing a small-scale commotion. Many beings became convinced that a treasure was indeed emerging from Dragon Summit Mountain.
The number of beings gathering near Dragon Summit Mountain grew larger and larger, and the fluctuations of sacred qi became increasingly dense.
Standing in the emerald green wilderness, Mu Lingxi gazed at the distant peak, her eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen. A joyful expression appeared on her exquisite face, and she was about to use her movement technique to rush over.
"Junior Sister, don't act rashly. If Zhang Ruochen has truly gone berserk from his cultivation, he might not remember you, and he could even attack you."
Qi Feiyu transformed into a streak of white light, flying out from the forest to block Mu Lingxi.
In addition, another Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, Lan Caisang, accompanied Qi Feiyu. Dressed like a goddess in blue treasure robes, she appeared before Mu Lingxi.
"Even if Zhang Ruochen has fallen into demonic madness, he wouldn't harm me." Mu Lingxi was firmly convinced of this.
Behind her, a magnetic male voice sounded: "Even if Zhang Ruochen won't harm you, do you think those beings who want to deal with him will spare you?"
Mu Lingxi turned around and looked into the distance.
There, the Divine Son of the Moon-Worshipping Cult, Ouyang Huan, sat in a wheelchair, slowly moving forward.
Behind Ouyang Huan followed a large group of powerful cultivators from the Demon Sect, all of whom were ruthless Half-Saint-level figures. Among them were also some elders who had reached the Quasi-Saint realm.
Mu Lingxi furrowed her brows. "Do the beings who want to deal with Zhang Ruochen include you?"
Mu Lingxi was well aware of the enmity between Ouyang Huan and Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen had not only taken Ouyang Huan's Realm Son Seal but also severed his legs. Such hatred was no small matter. As long as Zhang Ruochen lived, the resentment in Ouyang Huan's heart would only grow.
In fact, Ouyang Huan could have taken a sacred pill to regenerate his legs.
However, he had offended the number one Holy Maiden, Ling Feiyu.
At that time, Ling Feiyu had returned to the Demon Sect's headquarters and, with a tough attitude, sought to kill Ouyang Huan.
Ouyang Huan also had a considerable power base behind him that could contend with Ling Feiyu. The two sides clashed fiercely, fighting until the heavens and earth darkened. If the Demon Sect's leader hadn't intervened to suppress both sides, the Moon-Worshipping Cult might have split.
In the end, both sides had to compromise.
Ling Feiyu received a massive compensation, while Ouyang Huan retained his position as Divine Son.
At the same time, Ling Feiyu imposed an additional condition—
Until Ouyang Huan's cultivation surpassed hers, he would have to remain in a wheelchair, crippled for life.
This condition was a complete humiliation for Ouyang Huan and a form of punishment.
Ouyang Huan gazed toward Dragon Summit Mountain, his eyes somewhat distant, his tone calm: "To have a grudge and not retaliate is to be a coward. Do you think I am a coward?"
Mu Lingxi said, "Are you keeping me here to threaten him?"
A Demon Sect elder barked, "How dare you speak to the Divine Son like that, Mu Lingxi? Your courage is far too... great..."
That Demon Sect elder, who had reached the Quasi-Saint realm, saw A Le step out from behind Mu Lingxi. His voice abruptly cut off, as if someone had grabbed his throat, leaving him unable to continue. His lips trembled.
A Le wore simple gray clothes and held an iron sword, looking very ordinary. But his eyes emitted a cold light.
Even the Quasi-Saint-level Demon Sect elder felt a chill run down his spine when meeting his gaze.
Ouyang Huan also glanced at A Le, then fixed his eyes on Mu Lingxi. "Keeping you here is only to save your life. The enemies Zhang Ruochen will face are more terrifying than you imagine. If Zhang Ruochen can hold out until the moment I make my move, then even I would have to admire him."
Among the cultivators rushing to Dragon Summit Mountain, some wanted to support Zhang Ruochen.
For instance, some of the human cultivators Zhang Ruochen had saved in Yingsha City still remembered that debt of gratitude and wanted to repay it.
They were watching, wanting to see if Zhang Ruochen had truly turned into a bloodthirsty demon.
"Rumble!"
A dark, oppressive cloud of dust rushed in from the east, crushing giant rocks into powder and flattening mountains into plains. It soon reached the foot of Dragon Summit Mountain.
The black dust gradually dispersed, revealing a vast horde of barbarian beasts.
They were all massive sixth-rank barbarian beasts, possessing combat power comparable to Half-Saints.
The weaker barbarian beasts had long since left the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm through space wormholes and returned to the Kunlun Realm.
Those that remained were all sixth-rank barbarian beasts. Only those at this level were qualified to compete for the World Spirit.
"To be able to gather so many sixth-rank barbarian beasts, could it be the Devouring Demon Dragon?"
Excitement rippled through the beings in this area.
As long as the Devouring Demon Dragon made the first move, a chain reaction would surely follow, and more and more beings would attack Zhang Ruochen.
Standing on the summit of Dragon Summit Mountain, Zhang Ruochen faced the biting wind. His long black hair fluttered in the wind. He drew the Abyssal Ancient Sword and swung it down the mountain.
"Hua—"
A sword qi, dozens of li long, like a black river, flew down from the summit and slashed in front of that group of sixth-rank barbarian beasts.
On the ground, a three-zhang-deep, dozens-of-li-long sword qi fissure appeared.
Zhang Ruochen's mouth emitted ripples of sound waves, his voice icy cold: "This is the boundary. Cross it and die."
The Qilin Wolf Beast King roared angrily: "At death's door, yet still so arrogant. I, the king, will cross this boundary and see what you can do to me."
The Qilin Wolf Beast King had profound cultivation and was definitely a regional overlord in the barbarian wilds. Even though he had heard many legends about Zhang Ruochen, he still didn't take him seriously.
With so many sixth-rank barbarian beasts gathered together, even if Zhang Ruochen had three heads and six arms, he would surely die. What was there to fear?
"Howl!"
The Qilin Wolf Beast King's body radiated a golden light. He lunged forward, crossing the sword qi boundary.
"Puchi."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword transformed into a black streak of light, flying down from the summit of Dragon Summit Mountain. It pierced through the Qilin Wolf Beast King's head, carrying a spray of blood mist, then flew back into the air, hovering above the barbarian beast horde.
With a bang, the Qilin Wolf Beast King's massive body crashed heavily to the ground.
The barbarian beasts that had intended to follow the Qilin Wolf Beast King across the boundary immediately stopped in their tracks, trembling all over, thoroughly frightened.
A powerful beast king had been slain in an instant. Just how terrifying was Zhang Ruochen's strength?
At the foot of Dragon Summit Mountain, a wave of gasps echoed. Cultivators from various human forces were horrified.
Many who had wanted to attack Zhang Ruochen had to reconsider their own capabilities, and thoughts of retreat began to form. A figure like Zhang Ruochen was simply not someone they could provoke.
"Roar!"
A heaven-shaking, earth-shattering dragon roar resounded.
A vast, rolling demonic cloud flew rapidly from the direction of the royal capital.
Vaguely, within the demonic cloud, a massive dragon shadow could be seen, like a dark mountain range, exuding a fearsome killing aura.
The Devouring Demon Dragon's head emerged from the clouds, as huge as a hill. It roared: "Zhang Ruochen, seeing me this time, are you planning to run away again?"