Chapter 1209: Saint Phase Talisman
That tattered and worn talisman had been given to Zhang Ruochen by the Supreme Elder before he departed for the second gradient of the Endless Abyss, claiming it possessed terrifying and unparalleled power.
However, Zhang Ruochen did not really believe it.
After all, the talisman was so dilapidated that it truly looked no different from scrap paper.
Only with a mindset of giving it a try did Zhang Ruochen infuse his Saint Qi into it. To his surprise, the talisman actually began to change.
The red light spots on the talisman grew increasingly dense and rapidly spread outward.
Zhang Ruochen did not know the method for using this talisman, yet a strange consciousness surfaced in his mind, as if someone were guiding him, teaching him how to wield it.
Zhang Ruochen was astonished to discover that this strange consciousness was actually emanating from within the talisman.
The talisman, as if possessing life, merged with Zhang Ruochen’s consciousness.
“Merge.”
Zhang Ruochen bit his finger and drew a blood-red line on the talisman.
Then, he pressed the talisman against his chest. With a “whoosh,” the talisman sank directly into his skin. Only a runic imprint remained on his chest.
“Boom.”
Countless blood-red light spots surged out from Zhang Ruochen’s chest, even sending Yue Shuzi, who stood behind him, flying backward.
Yue Shuzi steadied himself, staring at Zhang Ruochen in great surprise: “Such powerful strength… Where did that power come from?”
Yue Shuzi was certain that the power just now did not belong to Zhang Ruochen at all.
…
…
In the sky, half of Chu Siyuan’s body had collapsed. He was only barely holding on with his formidable spiritual power; otherwise, he would have fallen long ago.
Yet he was already at the end of his rope, facing the Sect Leader’s wife with no strength left to fight back.
The Sect Leader’s wife walked toward him, her four pairs of blood wings gently fluttering. Her entire being exuded a bewitching, sinister, and domineering aura. Everything in heaven and earth, including the air and light, flowed outward, afraid to approach her.
“If you had stayed obediently in the Painting Sect, you could have at least kept your life. Why meddle in the affairs of the Blood God Sect?” the Sect Leader’s wife said, looking down at him.
Having reached the Saint King realm, the Sect Leader’s wife’s life level had become different. Even when looking at Chu Siyuan, it was as if she were gazing at an ant, devoid of any emotional fluctuation.
Only those of the same level were qualified for a direct conversation.
Clearly, Chu Siyuan no longer had the qualification to speak with her face to face.
There was not a trace of desolation on Chu Siyuan’s face. Instead, he let out a loud laugh and said with righteous indignation: “You have only broken through a step ahead of me, nothing so remarkable. The victor is king and the loser a bandit—that has always been the rule since ancient times. Today, I die by your hand. Tomorrow, the sages of the Confucian Path will surely take your life.”
Knowing he could not survive the day, Chu Siyuan was unyielding. His body, which had been beaten to a collapse, straightened up again. He raised his head and puffed out his chest, glaring at the Sect Leader’s wife.
Even if he was to die, he would die standing, die with dignity.
The saints of the Blood God Sect, who had already fled into the distance, looked back and sighed inwardly, unable to help but admire Chu Siyuan. At the same time, they lamented that the Painting Saint, whose fame had spread across the world, was about to fall.
Originally, this matter was a battle between the Blood God Sect and the Undying Blood Clan, having nothing to do with Chu Siyuan. Yet he was willing to lend a hand and help deal with the Sect Leader’s wife.
Just this alone surpassed many selfish saints.
“What a tough bone.”
Murderous intent finally surged in the Sect Leader’s wife’s eyes. Her right hand, as smooth as jade, reached forward. Hundreds of lightning bolts converged into a torrent of lightning.
Just as Chu Siyuan was about to be killed, suddenly, a heaven-shaking, earth-shattering roar erupted behind the Sect Leader’s wife.
The Sect Leader’s wife sensed it and turned her head to look. She was momentarily stunned.
On the ground, a massive blood-red figure slowly rose, its feet planted on the earth, its head as high as the clouds.
That giant figure was formed from dense, blood-red light spots.
The saints of the Blood God Sect also sensed the powerful aura and stopped, gazing at the towering blood-red giant.
“That’s… that’s the Supreme Elder’s Red Sun Saint Phase! Has the Supreme Elder returned?”
“Has the Supreme Elder finally made his move?”
…
All the cultivators showed expressions of joy, for once the Supreme Elder acted, any problem could be resolved.
Eight hundred years ago, the Supreme Elder had already earned the title of “Tenth Emperor.” Even with his hidden injuries, he could still dominate the world.
The Sect Leader’s wife was also startled and had to turn her arm, redirecting the lightning torrent aimed at Chu Siyuan to strike the attacking blood-red giant instead.
Zhang Ruochen stood inside the blood-red giant and struck out with his palm.
The blood-red giant followed Zhang Ruochen’s palm movement, extending a massive hand and pressing down. Not only did it shatter the lightning torrent, but it also sent the Sect Leader’s wife flying.
“Boom.”
The Sect Leader’s wife landed in a rather disheveled state, cracking the ground with over a dozen fissures.
Chu Siyuan widened his aged eyes in astonishment, for he could clearly see that inside the blood-red giant was not the Tenth Emperor, but Zhang Ruochen.
“Where did this brat borrow such terrifying power?”
Chu Siyuan was very unwilling. He would rather have been killed by the Sect Leader’s wife’s palm than be saved by Zhang Ruochen, and he certainly did not want to see Zhang Ruochen in such a dominant posture.
How outrageous!
The Sect Leader of the Painting Sect, saved by a junior he had once scolded?
How shameful.
Uninformed cultivators would surely spread the word: The Painting Sect Leader was beaten helpless by a woman, and in the end, the Blood God Sect’s Divine Son had to step in to save him, or else the renowned Painting Saint would have been killed.
At the thought, Chu Siyuan felt like vomiting blood.
The Sect Leader’s wife also saw the figure inside the blood-red giant and let out a soft exclamation: “Yan Liren actually passed the Saint Phase Talisman to you before leaving.”
Zhang Ruochen flew out from inside the blood-red giant, standing on its shoulder. He extended an arm, bent his fingers, and grabbed at the air.
The massive giant collapsed with a “boom,” turning into billions of light particles that all converged into Zhang Ruochen’s palm.
“Suppress.”
Zhang Ruochen roared softly, pressing his five fingers downward. A rain of light poured from his palm.
The Sect Leader’s wife looked up. The scenes of heaven and earth vanished, leaving only the entire sky pressing down, each light spot like a star.
“Pfft.”
This strike truly caused the sky to collapse and the earth to sink. Mountains within hundreds of miles were all crushed into flat ground.
The Sect Leader’s wife’s body was shattered severely, drenched in blood, no longer recognizable as human form, like a mass of flesh.
She suffered severe injuries, mounted a blood cloud, and swiftly flew toward the horizon, leaving behind a cold voice: “Gu Linfeng, once this king heals his wounds, he will surely return to the Blood God Sect and grind your bones to dust.”
Zhang Ruochen did not pursue, for the power of the Saint Phase Talisman was rapidly fading.
Moreover, he did not know how resilient a Saint King’s life force was. Chasing recklessly might allow the Sect Leader’s wife to turn the tables.
Moments later, the power of the Saint Phase Talisman completely dissipated, and Zhang Ruochen returned to his original cultivation level.
The runic imprint on Zhang Ruochen’s chest had vanished, but he could faintly sense that the Saint Phase Talisman had not disappeared; it was still inside him.
Yue Shuzi, after all, was a prefectural lord who had seen great storms. He quickly calmed down and, seeing the confusion in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, explained: “The Saint Phase Talisman can be used several times. However, you need to infuse it with Saint Qi again until it reaches saturation before you can unleash its power once more.”
“Is that so?”
Zhang Ruochen mobilized the Saint Qi from his Qi Sea and channeled it toward his chest.
The Saint Qi flowed in continuously but vanished instantly, as if there were a bottomless pit there that could not be filled to saturation.
“Replenishing the Saint Phase Talisman to saturation with Saint Qi will surely be a long process, probably not something that can be done in a short time.”
Just thinking about it, Zhang Ruochen let it go.
After all, using the Saint Phase Talisman could unleash attacks at the Saint King level, requiring an immense amount of Saint Qi.
Regardless, the Saint Phase Talisman was undoubtedly a supreme treasure, one that even saints would fight tooth and nail to obtain.
With a Saint Phase Talisman in hand, even True Saints and Ultimate Saints at the peak of the Saint realm would not dare to offend Zhang Ruochen lightly. If Zhang Ruochen used the talisman, they simply could not withstand it.
Chu Siyuan flew down from midair, limping and extremely weak.
Yue Shuzi went over to support him.
When he reached Zhang Ruochen, Chu Siyuan straightened his back again, snorted coldly, and said: “Boy, the stronger the power you wield, the greater the forces you command, the heavier the responsibility on your shoulders. From now on, walk the righteous path. If you dare take the crooked way, this old man… cough… will personally suppress you… cough…”
Perhaps because he used too much force to speak, Chu Siyuan coughed up blood.
Zhang Ruochen frowned, utterly puzzled. He had clearly saved Old Man Chu, yet Chu showed no sign of gratitude and instead seemed displeased.
Truly baffling.
Chu Siyuan and Yue Shuzi left the Blood God Sect to return and heal their wounds.
Chu Siyuan was severely injured. If not treated in time, he might be left with lifelong, incurable hidden ailments.
The saints of the Blood God Sect returned, surrounding Zhang Ruochen.
Then, Elder Yuanxing and Elder Yuanzhou exchanged glances. Led by the two of them, all the saints bowed to Zhang Ruochen and said in unison: “Greetings, Sect Leader.”
Saints did not need to kneel to anyone. For them to bow was already a remarkable honor.
The Supreme Elder had passed the Saint Phase Talisman to Gu Linfeng, clearly indicating that he was to succeed as the Blood God Sect’s Sect Leader.
In the eyes of the saints, the Supreme Elder was an absolutely sacred existence. The decisions he made were naturally to be followed.
Coupled with Gu Linfeng’s own exceptional talent and boundless potential, the saints of the Blood God Sect accepted him and honored him as the new Sect Leader.
…