Chapter 1140: Golden Light Storage Bag
The top-tier experts of the Azure Dragon Dynasty had either gone to the outer city to fight or were guarding the altar atop the sacred mountain, leaving this magnificent royal palace with surprisingly weak defenses.
With Zhang Ruochen and his group’s cultivation levels, they infiltrated the palace without alerting any of the native cultivators, moving unseen and unheard.
As a royal palace, it naturally contained many precious treasures. For an ordinary martial artist, any single item taken out would be worth a fortune, enough to ensure a lifetime of comfort.
However, those treasures were utterly beneath the notice of Half-Saint level figures.
Sun Dadi and the Grand Minister of Works had already charged toward the inner palace, disappearing from sight, seemingly intent on capturing a few princesses and consorts.
“Amitabha! Uncle Master, I will go intercept Senior Brother and stop him from making a mistake.” The Second Minister of Works pressed his palms together, his expression solemn and dignified, a hint of worry in his eyes.
“Go ahead,” Zhang Ruochen said.
After the Second Minister of Works left, Zhang Ruochen captured a military general who had cultivated four dragon shadows, extracted the location of the Azure Dragon Dynasty’s national treasury, and then hurried there with Murong Yue.
When the Saint realm figures of the Azure Dragon Dynasty left the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, they would surely take all their treasures with them.
However, in recent times, the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm had produced a vast amount of heavenly materials and earthly treasures, which must still be stored in the dynasty’s treasury, as they couldn’t have been sent out of the realm yet.
The Azure Dragon Dynasty’s treasury was built within the sacred mountain, separated from the royal palace by only a single wall.
The outer area of the treasury was protected by extremely powerful defensive formations, layer upon layer, making it impossible even for Saint realm figures to break through.
Murong Yue followed beside Zhang Ruochen, gazing at the treasury’s stone door, and asked, “Sect Leader, should I first test how strong the outer defensive formations are?”
Zhang Ruochen grabbed Murong Yue’s wrist and pulled her back, saying, “No need for a direct assault. I have a way.”
With a shake of his body, Zhang Ruochen’s physique and appearance underwent a dramatic transformation. He changed into a middle-aged man with a somewhat sallow complexion, broad shoulders and a thick waist, exuding a dignified aura.
His appearance became identical to that of Qingkong Martial Saint, even down to the temperament and gaze.
Zhang Ruochen spread his arms, and strands of Saint Qi surged from his body, condensing into eight massive dragon shadows that radiated a vast dragon aura.
Then, he strode purposefully toward the treasury’s stone door.
The soldiers guarding the treasury all knelt in salute, saying, “Greetings, Lord Qingkong Martial Saint.”
“Open the formations immediately,” Zhang Ruochen said in a deep, heavy voice.
“But… My Lord, didn’t you go to the outer city to fight the extraterrestrial demons? Why have you come to the treasury?” A Six-Dragon Martial King expressed doubt, asking cautiously.
Zhang Ruochen displayed an extraordinary bearing, releasing a powerful aura from his body to intimidate them, and said, “Do I need to explain my actions to you?”
The Eight-Dragon Martial Saints were the guardians of the Azure Dragon Dynasty, the most revered beings. In this critical time, they held the highest decision-making authority, so no one dared to defy their will.
The soldiers guarding the treasury, not daring to offend Qingkong Martial Saint, immediately opened the defensive grand formation.
Zhang Ruochen entered the formation, stopped, and surveyed his surroundings. Then, he silently released his Space Domain.
“Buzz.”
The space trembled violently, causing the soldiers to bleed from their seven orifices as they collapsed to the ground.
Zhang Ruochen controlled his power perfectly, only knocking them unconscious without taking their lives.
The Six-Dragon Martial King did not faint. With his profound cultivation, he withstood the attack of spatial power and remained standing.
“You… who are you…”
He pointed at Zhang Ruochen, a look of terror on his face, and stumbled backward, trying to flee.
“Shua.”
Zhang Ruochen rushed over at his fastest speed and struck the top of his head with a palm. A powerful palm force, accompanied by flashes of lightning, surged into the Six-Dragon Martial King’s body.
The Six-Dragon Martial King’s vision went black, and with a thud, he collapsed to the ground.
“I wonder how many heavenly materials and earthly treasures are stored in the Azure Dragon Dynasty’s treasury?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled, took out the Abyssal Ancient Sword, swung it, and shattered the stone door, successfully breaking into the treasury’s interior.
The Azure Dragon Dynasty’s treasury extended from the ground to a hundred zhang deep underground, with a vast internal space. One could imagine that it must have once held countless treasures.
But now, the treasury was empty, completely cleared out.
Zhang Ruochen gave a wry smile and muttered to himself, “It seems I’m still too late…”
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen sensed danger. Reacting at his fastest, he performed a Space Displacement, crossing several dozen zhang to reach the edge of the treasury, pressing his back against the icy iron wall.
“Boom!”
At the spot where he had just stood, a thunderous explosion erupted. Faintly, eight dragon shadows appeared before quickly vanishing.
The treasury was a completely sealed space.
Now, within the treasury, a force like a tidal wave surged violently, crashing against the iron walls with a loud hum that took a long time to settle.
“So there’s an Eight-Dragon Martial Saint hiding in the treasury. Interesting.”
Zhang Ruochen was both surprised and pleased.
Since an Eight-Dragon Martial Saint was stationed here, it meant the treasury still held valuable treasures that hadn’t been moved.
When the power fluctuations in the treasury calmed down, a tall, thin figure emerged.
This man, named Wang Shidao, was a Martial Saint from the Azure Dragon Dynasty’s royal clan. He looked very old, with a full head of silver hair tied in a bronze crown, but he showed no signs of frailty; instead, he was full of energy.
Wang Shidao held one hand behind his back, his eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, and said coldly, “You are not Qingkong Martial Saint at all. Who are you?”
“Not bad for a Martial Saint. You have some insight,” Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Wang Shidao snorted coldly, “The eight dragon shadows on your body are not the original dragon qi of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm; they carry the aura of the Kunlun Realm’s power. With my cultivation, seeing through you is not difficult.”
Zhang Ruochen’s body shook, emitting a series of crackling sounds, and soon returned to his original form.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on Wang Shidao’s back, a strange expression crossing his face.
There, Wang Shidao carried a golden bag.
The bag’s material was quite unique, resembling golden silk brocade, yet it seemed covered in a layer of flowing golden liquid that moved slowly.
“There’s a faint spatial fluctuation.”
Zhang Ruochen was certain that the golden bag was a space treasure.
The Azure Dragon Dynasty had not only produced a Space Teleportation Array but also another space treasure, piquing Zhang Ruochen’s curiosity. He immediately asked, “Where did you get that golden bag?”
Wang Shidao’s expression tightened, a guarded look appearing, and said, “This is the Azure Dragon Dynasty’s national treasure, the Golden Light Storage Bag. How could an extraterrestrial demon like you even think of coveting it?”
“Eight Extremes Collapse.”
Wang Shidao drew a circle with his hands, and at the circle’s center, eight black dragon shadows emerged, turning into eight bolts of lightning that shot toward Zhang Ruochen.
An Eight-Dragon Martial Saint was indeed formidable, but Zhang Ruochen was fearless. He mobilized the Saint Qi within his body and struck out with both palms simultaneously.
“Dragon-Elephant Divine Furnace.”
As Zhang Ruochen unleashed his palm strike, a blaze of red-golden flame surged from his back, instantly filling the treasury.
The space within the treasury became a blazing copper furnace. Any Half-Saint who entered would be burned to death within a single breath.
“Boom.”
The two forces collided, creating a powerful wave of energy that spread outward.
The iron walls of the treasury were inscribed with formation runes, which withstood the force; otherwise, most of the sacred mountain would have collapsed.
The two continued to clash, exchanging dozens of blows.
All their techniques were the most brutal and direct—fists against palms, power against power—a pure contest of strength.
After a while, they separated.
Wang Shidao was drenched in sweat, breathing heavily. The skin on his fists had split open, oozing bright red blood. He stared at the extraterrestrial man opposite him in shock, saying, “How is this possible… You’re only at the Ninth-Rank Half-Saint realm. How can you withstand my power?”
Wang Shidao was over three hundred years old, with profound cultivation and martial skills honed to perfection. But he was old; his blood qi was declining, and his physical explosive power and endurance were waning.
After dozens of exchanges, he showed signs of fatigue.
Zhang Ruochen, however, remained full of energy, standing straight across from Wang Shidao, and said, “For your age, it’s quite impressive that you’ve withstood so many of my strikes.”
Hearing this, Wang Shidao felt no honor; instead, he thought Zhang Ruochen was mocking him.
A mere Ninth-Rank Half-Saint daring to speak to an Eight-Dragon Martial Saint like this infuriated Wang Shidao. He roared, “Boy, don’t be so arrogant. I’ll destroy you now.”
“Demon-Subduing Seal Technique.”
Wang Shidao’s body swelled, and his hands formed a strange seal.
Beneath his feet, a black circular light seal ten zhang in diameter appeared, with eight dragon shadows coiled within it, emitting ear-splitting roars.
The power fluctuations on Wang Shidao grew stronger, putting some pressure on Zhang Ruochen.
“Your seal technique cannot subdue demons.”
Zhang Ruochen remained calm, not retreating but stepping forward. He formed a palm seal and shouted, “Seven Orifices Blood Nether Palm.”
Behind Zhang Ruochen, a massive, blood-red demonic figure with twelve wings slowly rose. It was tall and ferocious, exuding a terrifying killing aura.
That was the phantom of the Nether King.
“Boom.”
Zhang Ruochen struck out with his palm, forming a giant handprint.
The blood-red demonic figure also struck out, colliding with Wang Shidao’s Demon-Subduing Seal Technique, shattering it in an instant.
“Pfft.”
Wang Shidao spat blood and flew backward, crashing heavily into the iron wall. He slid down like a piece of paper, leaving only a bloody trail.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his palm and walked over to Wang Shidao.
Wang Shidao’s saintly body was shattered, most of his head crushed, the back of his skull completely caved in, and saint blood gushed from his body.
In moments, his life force faded completely.
Having killed a Martial Saint, Zhang Ruochen felt neither guilt nor excitement, remaining unusually calm.
Zhang Ruochen took the Golden Light Storage Bag from Wang Shidao’s body, held it in his hand, and looked at it with curiosity. “It’s been a while since I last saw a space treasure. I wonder what’s inside? And what special power does this Golden Light Storage Bag possess?” (To be continued.)