Chapter 1143: The Battle for Seizure
The collapse of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm was accelerating, rapidly spreading toward the Royal Capital.
The entire world was shaking, and the oppressive pressure from heaven and earth instilled fear even in top-tier experts.
"Boom, boom."
Dense bolts of lightning streaked across the sky, producing deafening explosions. On the ground, all the mountains had turned into volcanoes, spewing thick smoke and lava.
The world was shrouded in darkness, with only the crimson glow of the erupting lava illuminating the scene as it surged toward the Royal Capital, melting every surface structure in its path.
Within the Royal Capital City.
The native humans were all terrified, collapsing to the ground—some wailing, some kneeling in worship, some praying to the gods... Faced with this apocalyptic scene, no one could remain calm.
Xiao Hei and Princess Bai Li carried the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, walking through the shattered streets and alleys, continuously transporting native humans into the Scroll World.
Xuantian Martial Saint and Ningjing Martial Saint had stopped fighting Zhang Ruochen. Upon receiving Wang Huanzhen's telepathic message, they turned and charged up the mountain, gathering with the other native cultivators.
Zhang Ruochen, Grand Minister of Works, Second Minister of Works, Sun Dadi, and Murong Yue ascended the eastern side of the Holy Mountain unimpeded, securing a high-ground position.
From where Zhang Ruochen stood, he could clearly see the Devouring Demon Dragon and the Vermilion Bird Fairy on the opposite side, along with dozens of ancient ferocious beasts from various beast clans.
Those ancient ferocious beasts had all taken human form, both male and female, most with handsome features but possessing formidable strength.
The Devouring Demon Dragon snorted coldly: "Zhang Ruochen, once I seize the World Spirit, I will settle old scores with you."
"Provided you have the chance to seize the World Spirit," Zhang Ruochen replied with a warm smile.
Qiu Yu and the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor arrived at the Holy Mountain almost simultaneously.
Their strength was immense, but they did not engage the native humans, conserving their energy instead, appearing inscrutable.
So far, Qiu Yu and the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor had rarely fought, instead observing from the sidelines, secretly analyzing the battles between Qi Tian Prince, Zhang Ruochen, and the native cultivators.
Before long, several Realm Sons and top-tier experts from the human race had all gathered at the Holy Mountain.
Everyone knew that the Sacred Source Spirit Spring and the World Spirit were about to emerge. Every living being was on high alert, ready to strike at any moment.
"Boom!"
The fissure at the center of the Holy Mountain widened further, extending north and south, reaching a width of over seventy meters, splitting the towering mountain in two.
More than half of the palace halls on the mountainside had collapsed, reduced to rubble.
At the center of the fissure, a white ball of light emerged from deep underground, piercing through a nine-colored misty haze, and shot upward rapidly.
Within the light ball was a white sacred flower, over ten meters in diameter, its petals as transparent as crystal, exuding an enticing fragrance.
Inside the flower, sparkling liquid—First-Rank Sacred Source Spirit Liquid—flowed, amounting to at least one million small cups.
Such a sacred flower was priceless. If it had appeared in the Kunlun Realm, an ancient sect would have spared no expense to seize it.
"The Sacred Source Spirit Spring has appeared!"
"Strike now! Capturing just one sacred flower would yield wealth comparable to a first-rate sect."
In an instant, at least twenty top-tier experts charged forward, clashing into a chaotic battle, all vying to seize the white sacred flower.
The Undying Blood Clan sent the Demon Heaven Prince, along with three other top-tier experts, rapidly closing in.
From the beast clan side, six ancient ferocious beasts flew out, each unleashing their strongest attacks against other contenders.
On the human side, the Demon Sect's Divine Son, Ouyang Huan, led three quasi-saints from the Moon Worship Demon Sect into the fray.
The four Martial Saints of the Azure Dragon Dynasty held their ground, refraining from action. Clearly, their ultimate goal was to seize the World Spirit, unwilling to sacrifice the greater prize for a lesser one.
Zhang Ruochen, Qi Tian Prince, Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor, Qiu Yu, Devouring Demon Dragon, Xue Wuye, Lidi Master, and other top-tier experts all remained composed, calmly watching the battle in midair.
Sun Dadi and Murong Yue also joined the fight, attempting to seize the white sacred flower.
"Whoosh—"
Before the battle for the first sacred flower had even concluded, another mass of cyan light emerged from underground, and a cyan sacred flower flew out.
Inside the cyan sacred flower was Second-Rank Sacred Source Spirit Liquid, also amounting to over a million small cups.
Clearly, this sacred flower was even more valuable and precious.
Immediately, another wave of experts charged forward, forming a second battlefield.
Grand Minister of Works' eyes gleamed with greed. Unable to stay still, he pulled out his golden staff, stomped the ground, and shot upward, roaring: "This sacred flower and the Second-Rank Sacred Source Spirit Liquid belong to this Buddha!"
However, before Grand Minister of Works could reach the cyan sacred flower, he was struck by over a dozen sacred artifacts and forced to retreat.
Every creature participating in this final battle was a top-tier expert—none were weak. Seizing a sacred flower was no easy feat.
On the battlefield for the first sacred flower, three quasi-saints and one ancient ferocious beast had already fallen. Bodies kept plummeting from the sky, and blood rain drenched the air, a testament to the ferocity of the battle.
"Senior Brother, I'll help you!"
Second Minister of Works, worried about Grand Minister of Works' safety, channeled all his Buddhist energy, forming a dragon shadow, and shot upward to join Grand Minister of Works.
The two monks fought together, unleashing unparalleled combat power, sending all other contenders flying. Few could withstand their combined strikes.
"Those two bald donkeys have grown even stronger!" the Devouring Demon Dragon remarked.
It had fought Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works before, and even at full strength, it could only barely gain the upper hand, unable to defeat them completely.
Now, with their cultivation further enhanced, they had become even more formidable, making the Devouring Demon Dragon find them quite troublesome.
Qi Tian Prince's brows tightened. He muttered to himself: "Zhang Ruochen has such powerful experts by his side. It seems only a super-top-tier expert could stop them."
In the end, Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works, through sheer overwhelming force, intimidated the other contenders and seized the cyan sacred flower, bringing it back to the mountaintop and handing it to Zhang Ruochen.
The battle for the first sacred flower concluded simultaneously.
Ultimately, the Undying Blood Clan's Demon Heaven Prince killed one top-tier expert and four quasi-saints, becoming the biggest winner and claiming the white sacred flower.
Over the next half hour, the third blue sacred flower, the fourth green sacred flower, the fifth red sacred flower, and the sixth purple sacred flower emerged from underground one after another, triggering four major battles.
Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works flew out again, charging toward the sixth purple sacred flower.
That sacred flower contained Sixth-Rank Sacred Source Spirit Liquid, exuding a rich fragrance. Just one glance ignited a strong desire to possess it.
"You two have already seized one sacred flower—are you not satisfied?"
The Demon Heaven Prince's two pairs of fleshy wings flapped rapidly as he flew with incredible speed, intercepting Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works, swinging his Emperor-Slaying Demon Sword.
Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works were blocked. The Yellow Heaven Imperial Daughter and the Pure Heaven Prince seized the opportunity to fly past the two monks, rapidly approaching the sixth purple sacred flower.
The Undying Blood Clan had deployed two princes and one imperial daughter, clearly determined to seize the sixth sacred flower. Anyone who contested them would be slain.
"There are still three other sacred flowers—why doesn't your Undying Blood Clan go after those? Why must you compete with us for the sixth? Do you think our Ming Sect is a pushover?" Grand Minister of Works roared.
The Demon Heaven Prince sneered: "Once we seize the sacred flower, you'll naturally be the pushovers."
When Grand Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works fought together, they could indeed unleash several times their normal power. However, the Demon Heaven Prince was no weakling—ranked third on the "Half-Saint External List," he was only half a step away from being a super-top-tier expert.
The two monks couldn't break through, forced to watch helplessly as the Yellow Heaven Imperial Daughter and the Pure Heaven Prince closed in on the sixth sacred flower.
"Damn it!"
Sun Dadi grabbed his iron staff, ready to join the battle.
He had failed to seize the first sacred flower earlier, and frustration burned within him. This time, he was determined to take the sixth sacred flower from the Undying Blood Clan, no matter what.
Zhang Ruochen said: "The Undying Blood Clan has numerical superiority. There's no need to clash head-on with them."
"Boss, I'm not just trying to seize a sacred flower—I want to reclaim the Ming Sect's dignity. The Undying Blood Clan is deliberately opposing us. Shouldn't we fight back?"
Sun Dadi's eyes blazed with flames. His aura surged, and his body grew larger, transforming into a flaming giant monkey.
The iron staff in his hand seemed to become a pillar holding up the sky, as thick as a water barrel.
"As long as you seize any sacred flower—whichever one—it will restore the Ming Sect's dignity and make the Undying Blood Clan envious and jealous."
Zhang Ruochen maintained his composure, pointing at the third sacred flower, and added: "The competition there is the least. You can give it a try."
"I'll bring back a sacred flower!"
Murong Yue shot out first, charging toward the third sacred flower.
Sun Dadi hesitated for a moment but ultimately followed Zhang Ruochen's advice, launching an attack on the third sacred flower.
With four sacred flowers having emerged, the third was the least valuable, attracting fewer contenders. With Murong Yue and Sun Dadi working together, they had a decent chance of seizing it.
On the other side, the Yellow Heaven Imperial Daughter and the Pure Heaven Prince finally drove back the other competitors, reaching the base of the sixth sacred flower.
"With this sacred flower, the Undying Blood Clan will have two in our possession."
The Pure Heaven Prince's face lit up with excitement. He reached out, about to claim the sixth sacred flower.
"Boom."
A bony dragon tail extended from the void, striking the Pure Heaven Prince and sending him flying off the Holy Mountain, crashing into the Royal Capital City dozens of miles away.
All the creatures present were shocked.
The bony dragon tail that had just struck the Pure Heaven Prince had appeared out of nowhere. No one had detected any hidden expert in that area before.
Such a high level of concealment meant this was undoubtedly a formidable creature.
Who could it be?
Zhang Ruochen looked toward where the bony dragon tail had emerged, a thoughtful expression crossing his face, and a faint smile appeared in his eyes.
"Whoosh."
A massive bone dragon burst out of the void, arriving above the Holy Mountain.
Han Qiu, dressed in black, stood atop the bone dragon's head, radiating an icy dark force. Behind her was an army of the undead, composed of Wuchang and Corpse Kings.
"All the sacred flowers and the World Spirit belong to me."
Han Qiu's body exuded astonishing evil power. Leading her undead army, she charged toward the four sacred flowers still hovering in midair, intending to seize them all. (To be continued.)