# Chapter 1164: Battle Against Saint Hongyuan
Saint Hongyuan roared in a deep voice: "Gu Linfeng, are you threatening the Saintess?"
Zhang Ruochen shrugged, looking indifferent, and said calmly: "Which eye of yours saw me threatening her? Besides, behind the Saintess stands the Shangguan Clan, with deep background. How could I, this Divine Son, possibly threaten her?"
Saint Hongyuan's eyes blazed with cold light, his hands clenched into fists. If not for Gu Linfeng's special status, given his temper, he would have already beaten Gu Linfeng into oblivion.
Dharma King Haiming narrowed his eyes, thinking to himself: "After becoming Divine Son, Gu Linfeng has become more and more arrogant, not even putting Saints in his eyes. It seems he needs to be taught a lesson."
Gu Linfeng was Dharma King Haiming's grand-disciple, and it was Dharma King Haiming who had single-handedly supported him to the position of Divine Son.
Now, Dharma King Haiming felt he could no longer control Gu Linfeng, so he didn't immediately intervene, wanting to use Dharma King Diyuan to teach Gu Linfeng a lesson.
Shangguan Xianyan naturally knew that Gu Linfeng's greatest backing was Dharma King Haiming. Now, Dharma King Haiming was completely taking a hands-off attitude, with no intention of standing up for Gu Linfeng.
Could it be that Dharma King Haiming wanted to become Sect Leader himself and had already abandoned Gu Linfeng?
"If Dharma King Haiming has abandoned Gu Linfeng, then even if I tell the truth, Gu Linfeng will probably still end up dead."
Shangguan Xianyan's thoughts raced. After careful consideration, she spoke methodically: "Wei Longxing and the Divine Son indeed had some grievances, but I truly don't know whether Wei Longxing plotted against the Divine Son. This matter is of great importance, and I hope the Law Enforcement Elder can investigate thoroughly before making a decision."
Saint Hongyuan sneered: "Gu Linfeng, what more do you have to say? The Saintess knows nothing about this."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes stared fixedly at Shangguan Xianyan. He didn't get angry or lose his temper, instead revealing a faint smile.
Setting aside later events, just during the time at Chaos Myriad Realms Mountain, Wei Longxing had sent people to assassinate Zhang Ruochen.
How could Shangguan Xianyan possibly not know about this?
Without a doubt, when Shangguan Xianyan spoke those words just now, she had chosen to stand with Dharma King Diyuan.
Zhang Ruochen shifted his gaze, disdainfully glancing at Saint Hongyuan, and said: "As Divine Son, do I need to explain so much to you? I killed someone I thought deserved to die. Is that such a big deal? According to the sect rules, the Divine Son holds the power of life and death. Sect members below the Saint realm can be punished with a single word."
Saint Hongyuan was furious. A mere Half-Saint dared to look at him with contempt and speak to him in a contemptuous tone.
Did he not know that one should have reverence when facing a Saint?
Among the cultivators present, some felt that Gu Linfeng truly had the bearing of a Divine Son and was worthy of admiration.
More cultivators, however, felt that Gu Linfeng was simply seeking death.
The current Blood God Sect was plagued with internal and external troubles, full of contradictions, and could split at any moment. In such a situation, a Half-Saint realm Divine Son daring to challenge a Saint—if that wasn't seeking death, what was?
"Is this guy tired of living?"
Ji Shui lightly bit her teeth, feeling that Gu Linfeng hadn't read the situation clearly and would likely meet with misfortune today. Now it depended on whether Dharma King Haiming would lend him a hand.
Ji Shui knew Dharma King Haiming very well. In his eyes, there were only two words: "benefit."
If Dharma King Haiming felt the cost of helping Gu Linfeng was too great, he would very likely abandon him.
"Punished with a single word? This Saint thinks you are completely abusing your power, killing indiscriminately. Your nature is too violent. You are unfit to be the Divine Son of the Blood God Sect and should be deposed."
Saint Hongyuan spread his hands, and the Saint Qi surging from his palms transformed into hundreds of chains, flying toward Zhang Ruochen.
"Crack, crack."
Each chain was like a dragon or snake, not only carrying powerful destructive force but also flying along mysterious and unpredictable trajectories.
Clearly, Saint Hongyuan had infused Saint Dao rules into them.
Zhang Ruochen saw it very clearly. Although it appeared to be hundreds of chains, most were illusions; only eight chains were real.
Zhang Ruochen reached out and grabbed forward. His arm formed a series of afterimages, actually catching all eight chains in his hand.
Saint Hongyuan was momentarily stunned. Before he could react, he saw Gu Linfeng, who was standing opposite, charging toward him. In his pupils, Gu Linfeng's figure grew larger and larger.
"Not good."
Saint Hongyuan circulated his entire body's energy and pushed both palms forward.
Zhang Ruochen struck out with a palm, meeting Saint Hongyuan's double palms. A thunderous roar erupted.
Saint Hongyuan staggered backward, retreating all the way to Dharma King Diyuan's side before steadying himself.
Zhang Ruochen still had one hand behind his back, standing in place, and said coldly: "With such meager cultivation, how dare you show disrespect to this Divine Son?"
In the Returning Origin Divine Palace, it was dead silent. Everyone was shocked.
One must know that there was a chasm between Half-Saints and Saints, impossible to cross, like the gap between earth and sky.
Yet Gu Linfeng had repelled a Saint, which was hard for some to accept.
What they didn't know was that Zhang Ruochen had only used fifty percent of his power. If he had used full strength, that palm strike would have already injured Saint Hongyuan.
He was now in the identity of Gu Linfeng, not the Heir of Time and Space. He had to suppress his strength and not appear too heaven-defying.
"His strength has already reached such a level."
Shangguan Xianyan felt considerable pressure. If Zhang Ruochen didn't die today, her future days would be very difficult.
Elder Yuanxing's aged eyes revealed a bright light, as if finding a pearl among grains of sand, showing both surprise and delight.
A dignified Saint, worshipped by all living beings under heaven, had been repelled by a Half-Saint. Saint Hongyuan felt utterly humiliated and became even more furious: "As expected of the Divine Son, you do have some skill. However, this Saint was merely careless just now. In a real fight, your meager cultivation is no different from a cat or dog."
Saint Hongyuan's aura continued to rise. Blood-red Saint Qi surged out completely, like a sea of clouds. At the same time, behind him, a dozens-of-zhang-tall Saint-Phase phantom stood up.
"Let's fight outside. If the Returning Origin Divine Palace is damaged, none of us can bear the responsibility." Zhang Ruochen said.
Saint Hongyuan said: "Suppressing you will only take one or two moves. It won't damage the Returning Origin Divine Palace."
"Don't speak too confidently, lest you can't back down later."
Zhang Ruochen flew outward, rushing out of Infant Lord Peak and landing above a sea of clouds.
Saint Hongyuan chased after him, his body merging with the Saint-Phase phantom. He swung his arm, and a large handprint slammed down toward Zhang Ruochen.
"Saint Hongyuan is truly enraged. He might take this opportunity to suppress the Divine Son."
"Saint Hongyuan entered the Saint realm ten years ago. His cultivation is extremely profound. Even if he hasn't reached the Middle Stage Saint realm, dealing with Gu Linfeng should be easy."
"Let's guess—how much of his power will Saint Hongyuan be forced to use against Gu Linfeng?"
...
...
Zhang Ruochen infused Saint Qi into the Seven Kill Fist Gloves, activating a Thousand Ripple Annihilation Force. He struck out with a palm, and the seven Saint jades at the center of the gloves simultaneously emitted dazzling light, like seven stars.
"Boom!"
The large handprint Saint Hongyuan had struck was shattered.
Zhang Ruochen took the initiative to attack, still activating the Thousand Ripple Annihilation Force, and struck out nine palms in succession.
"Relying on the Thousand Ripple Annihilation Force to contend with a Saint? You're too naive!"
Saint Hongyuan formed hand seals. The Saint-Phase phantom behind him became increasingly solid, dense Saint Dao rules shuttling within it, continuously drawing in the spiritual energy of heaven and earth.
"Sky-Shattering Strike."
The Saint-Phase phantom punched out, like a dark red small mountain, shattering the nine Thousand Ripple Annihilation Forces and colliding with Zhang Ruochen's palm.
Zhang Ruochen flew backward, his arm aching.
Saint Hongyuan's cultivation was indeed very strong, not an ordinary Lower Stage Saint. He was comparable to the Eight-Dragon Martial Saint of the Azure Dragon Dynasty. Zhang Ruochen found it somewhat strenuous contending with him using only fifty percent of his power.
"Saint Hongyuan has even used a Saint technique like Sky-Shattering Strike. It seems that brat Gu Linfeng's strength is truly formidable, surpassing some Saints who have just entered the Saint realm." Dharma King Haiming's expression was uncertain, and no one knew what he was thinking.
Saint Hongyuan didn't want to give Gu Linfeng a chance to catch his breath. He struck again with Sky-Shattering Strike, his fist force increasing further. The power fluctuations emitted caused all Blood God Sect disciples within several hundred li to feel fear and kneel on the ground.
"Seven Orifices Blood Nether Palm."
Zhang Ruochen's seven orifices in his palm fully opened. Thick blood Qi surged from his body, condensing behind him into a massive Nether King phantom.
Combined with the Thousand Ripple Annihilation Force, Zhang Ruochen struck out with another palm.
Now, Zhang Ruochen's Seven Orifices Blood Nether Palm had made tremendous progress, able to unleash forty-four times the attack power, far surpassing ordinary Saint techniques.
"Boom!"
Saint Hongyuan's Saint-Phase phantom couldn't withstand this palm at all. It directly exploded, and even Saint Hongyuan's true body flew backward, his face turning extremely pale as he suffered some internal injuries.
"So strong?"
Saint Hongyuan found it unbelievable and had to admit that he had indeed underestimated this Divine Son earlier.
At the same time, he became even more furious and humiliated, preparing to use a killing move, sparing no cost to capture Gu Linfeng.
Suddenly, the sky darkened.
A patch of black clouds condensed, appearing above Saint Hongyuan and Zhang Ruochen's heads.
"This is... Calamity Clouds?"
Saint Hongyuan had already crossed three Half-Saint Calamities, so he quickly recognized it.
Zhang Ruochen looked up, the corners of his mouth slightly curling: "It seems my cultivation has reached the extreme realm. Without even using much power, I've already attracted the Half-Saint Calamity."
Since it had come, he would accept it.
Zhang Ruochen had full confidence in crossing his first Half-Saint Calamity.
...
(New chapter, very difficult to start writing. Complicated character relationships, various conflicts—it's giving me a headache. I've been writing until four in the morning... Well, to get to the point, the update is late!)