Chapter 1147: Great Pursuit Beyond the Realm
The high-rank ruin realm was extremely vast, with a round sky and square earth, suspended like a continent in the dark universe.
At this moment, such a high-rank ruin realm was shattering, heading toward destruction, emitting a "rumbling" sound. The energy released was naturally quite astonishing, spreading all the way into the starry sky, shaking nearby asteroids until they trembled.
It was a wave of power that human strength could not resist.
The Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince flew in midair, staring down at Zhang Ruochen below, his battle intent boiling over. The Divine Annihilation Cross Shield in his hand released a destructive wave of power.
However, many spatial rifts appeared around him, and some spatial structures collapsed entirely, transforming into chaotic zones.
"Fall back quickly."
The Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince suppressed the battle intent in his heart and issued an order.
Immediately afterward, the front-line experts of the Undying Blood Clan all withdrew from the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, flying toward the vast, boundless outer realm.
Even with the Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince's cultivation level, he dared not remain in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm any longer.
This place had already become a chaotic zone. For tens of thousands of years, or even hundreds of thousands of years to come, it would maintain this form, becoming a forbidden zone within the universe.
Qiu Yu revealed a hesitant expression. He still wanted to charge out and stop Zhang Ruochen from seizing the World Spirit. However, when he saw the Devouring Demon Dragon and the Heavenly Mandate Great Emperor flee the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, he no longer hesitated. Transforming into a streak of flame light, he broke through the chaotic atmosphere and flew toward a small asteroid not far from the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
Zhang Ruochen's purpose in actively shattering heaven and earth was to use the crumbling Azure Dragon Ruins Realm to force them back, buying time to suppress the World Spirit.
As the Heir of Time and Space, even trapped in a chaotic world, he had some means of survival, ensuring he would not die inside.
The land beneath Zhang Ruochen, Xiao Hei, and Huang Yanchen split apart, forming the prototype of a low-rank ruin realm.
Because the low-rank ruin realm had not yet fully formed, its spatial structure was extremely unstable. Lightning fell like rain, and space sometimes split open, sometimes closed, filled with danger.
"This piece of land likely cannot condense into a low-rank ruin realm. It will collapse a second time soon. We must leave as quickly as possible."
After observing, Zhang Ruochen reached this conclusion.
Sensing danger, Zhang Ruochen continuously channeled the Saint Qi within his body, injecting it into the Cosmic Divine Wood Map. Together with Xiao Hei, he suppressed the World Spirit.
The Cosmic Divine Wood Map grew increasingly massive. From within the map, verdant branches extended outward, wrapping around the World Spirit of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
The two were locked in a contest of power. Countless Heavenly Dao rules surged forth, colliding with each other, forming ripples of spatial waves.
Qiu Yu stood on an asteroid over three hundred meters long, staring down at the chaotic, shattered world below. He detected a peculiar aura of power.
That aura gave him an unprecedented sense of threat.
"Zhang Ruochen?"
Qiu Yu gently shook his head. That threat did not seem to emanate from Zhang Ruochen.
After all, this was not his first encounter with Zhang Ruochen. Although Zhang Ruochen was powerful and put some pressure on him, he had never felt a threat that made his soul tremble like this before.
"There seems to be a significant secret hidden within Zhang Ruochen."
Qiu Yu's gaze grew sharper and sharper.
The World Spirit of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm was ultimately too weak. It could not withstand the attack of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree and was absorbed into the Cosmic Divine Wood Map.
"Zhang Ruochen, I must go all out to suppress the World Spirit of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm. Until it is completely subdued, the Cosmic Divine Wood Map will remain sealed. Take care of yourself."
The voice of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree entered Zhang Ruochen's mind.
"How long will it be sealed?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree did not answer and fully retreated into the Scroll World.
Given the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree's current state, completely suppressing the World Spirit of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm seemed no easy task.
"The World Spirit of the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm is quite weak. It should be subdued quickly. This emperor will also lend a hand."
Xiao Hei transformed into a streak of black light, rushing into the Scroll World just before the spatial gate closed.
Zhang Ruochen rolled up the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and stored it in his Qi Sea. He felt no joy from acquiring the World Spirit. Instead, a sense of crisis weighed on him. He said to Huang Yanchen, "All those experts are waiting for us beyond the realm. Cutting a path to survival today will not be easy. I should have taken you into the Scroll World earlier."
"I don't want to stay in the Scroll World. If we must fight, we fight together. No matter how difficult, as long as we are united, we can always cut a bloody path."
Huang Yanchen held a Sacred Sword, her gaze resolute, bearing a will as unyielding as steel.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Huang Yanchen. In her, he seemed to see a shadow of Chi Yao.
Huang Yanchen revealed a gentle smile and said, "I have learned the Yin Instrument Nine Swords. We can execute the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Sword Formation."
"Hmm?" Zhang Ruochen said.
The Yin-Yang Two Instruments Sword Formation, known as the strongest two-person sword formation, was one of the highest secrets of the Taiji Path and was never passed on to outsiders.
The Ming Emperor had studied as a disciple at the Liangyi Sect, thus having the opportunity to learn the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Sword Formation and passed it on to Zhang Ruochen.
That Huang Yanchen had learned the Yin Instrument Nine Swords surprised Zhang Ruochen somewhat.
Huang Yanchen added, "The Empress once passed the Yin Instrument Nine Swords to me."
Zhang Ruochen was momentarily dazed, then quickly regained his composure. "Let's give it a try."
The Yin Instrument Nine Swords and the Yang Instrument Nine Swords required a deeply affectionate couple to cultivate together to grasp their subtleties, integrating them fully, merging the sword techniques with the formation to unleash maximum power.
Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen had never practiced the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Sword Formation together. Even with deep feelings and tacit understanding, they might not unleash the formation's true power.
Thus, using the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Sword Formation might become a burden instead, making it better for Zhang Ruochen to face the enemy alone.
Zhang Ruochen grabbed Huang Yanchen's small hand, activated the Divine Mark Phoenix Swiftness, and wove through the gaps of shattered space. Soon, they flew out of the chaotic Azure Dragon Ruins Realm.
Zhang Ruochen did not use the power of the Sacred Edict. Although he could use it to achieve speeds comparable to Saint-level beings, the Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince, the Devouring Demon Dragon, Qiu Yu, and others surely possessed similar treasures. There was simply no way to escape.
"Look, Zhang Ruochen is out!"
"Stop him. He must not be allowed to escape."
"He should have already taken the World Spirit. Everyone, strike with full force. Kill Zhang Ruochen and seize the World Spirit."
...
Experts from various factions standing on meteorites and small asteroids flew out one after another to intercept Zhang Ruochen.
At this moment, the Grand Minister of Works, the Second Minister of Works, Sun Dadi, and others stood on a small asteroid three thousand miles away. Straining their eyesight to the limit, they could vaguely make out the figures of Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen.
The Second Minister of Works had the strongest spiritual power, extending several thousand miles. He transmitted a spiritual message, informing Zhang Ruochen of their location.
Zhang Ruochen led Huang Yanchen and immediately flew toward their asteroid.
The Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince's six blood wings grew enormous. Flapping simultaneously, they unleashed astonishing speed, rapidly closing in on Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen.
When still a hundred miles away, he hurled the Divine Annihilation Cross Shield with force. The cross shield spun rapidly, leaving a trail of light in the starry sky, like a meteor.
From another direction, Qiu Yu was also approaching rapidly. Thus, Zhang Ruochen chose not to clash head-on with the Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince, avoiding being surrounded and attacked by multiple experts.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen used the Great Space Teleportation, vanishing from his spot and reappearing elsewhere. He not only dodged the Divine Annihilation Cross Shield but also widened the distance from the Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince.
The cosmic space was vast. Cultivators from various factions were at least a thousand miles apart. Flying through the cold, dark void, they appeared as slow as snails crawling across black paper from a distance.
Surrounding Zhang Ruochen was no easy task.
However, as time passed, experts from different forces drew closer to Zhang Ruochen, nearly all within three hundred miles of him. With a Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact, they could launch effective attacks.
"Fight."
Zhang Ruochen prepared to break through. Choosing a direction, he actively flew toward it.
In that direction were over a dozen experts of the Undying Blood Clan, all at least at the Half-Saint level.
They formed an arc, spaced only a hundred meters apart.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen charging at them, a somewhat aged Undying Blood Clan cultivator let out a hoarse laugh. "Courting death."
This Undying Blood Clan member was a Blood Saint named Yi Gu, who had cultivated to the peak of the Lower Realm Saint level. He had been using secret techniques to suppress his realm below the Saint level.
"Boom!"
Yi Gu the Blood Saint spread his arms, breaking the seals within his body. The full power of the Saint realm erupted. Thick Saint Qi condensed into a sea of blood beneath his feet. He roared, "Finally, I can unleash Saint-level power. How exhilarating. Zhang Ruochen, have you come to die?"
Now that everyone had left the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, even if Yi Gu the Blood Saint reverted to his Saint-level cultivation, it would not shatter space.
"Chop."
Yi Gu the Blood Saint raised a blood blade, a Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact, activating the three thousand inscriptions within it. Drawing upon the Thousand Ripple Annihilation Force, he swung the blade at Zhang Ruochen.
Yi Gu the Blood Saint was a true Saint-level being, no longer bound by any constraints. With a full-powered slash, the resulting power was terrifying to imagine.
Locked onto by the blade aura, Zhang Ruochen could not dodge. He had to fight.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze darkened. He activated the three thousand inscriptions in the Abyssal Ancient Sword and slashed out with all his might.
Blade and sword clashed. The two Thousand Ripple Annihilation Forces collided violently, sending the other dozen Undying Blood Clan experts flying backward.
In this exchange, both combatants were sent flying backward.
"Zhang Ruochen truly is a major threat to the Undying Blood Clan. At just the Ninth-Level Half-Saint realm... he is already this formidable." Blood dripped from Yi Gu the Blood Saint's arm, flowing down his fingers.
He had thought that reverting to the Saint realm would allow him to easily suppress Zhang Ruochen. But the facts proved that Yi Gu the Blood Saint had underestimated the strength of a top-tier expert.
Of course, Yi Gu the Blood Saint's slash had also served a significant purpose, blocking Zhang Ruochen's advance and trapping him in an encirclement.
Behind Zhang Ruochen, the Heaven-Hunting Crown Prince, Qiu Yu, the Devouring Demon Dragon, and other Saint-level beings who had restored their cultivation were closing in.
Huang Yanchen spoke again, "Let's use the Yin-Yang Two Instruments Sword Formation! Only by using the sword formation can we kill that ancient clan Blood Saint before the other experts catch up and break out of the encirclement. Otherwise, we will be in a very passive position."
...