Chapter 1236: Becoming a Saint
The Earth Dragon's massive body rumbled as it ran, like a small mountain in motion, leaving behind footprints over ten meters long with each step.
A blood-red halo surrounded the Death Knight's body, and coupled with his icy blood armor, he appeared exceptionally ferocious.
An immense saintly might emanated from the Death Knight, surging toward Ao Xinyan, the Wine Madman, and Xiao Hei like a biting cold wind.
"What a terrifying being. How did Zhang Ruochen provoke such a fearsome enemy?"
Ao Xinyan felt a chill of dread, as if the figure standing on the Earth Dragon's back was a god of death from the underworld, capable of destroying everything in the world.
"Chasing quite fast, aren't they?" Xiao Hei chuckled.
Ya She Saint, clad in a silver robe, stood behind the Death Knight and spoke in a hoarse voice: "Fat cat, did you really think faking death would let you escape? You underestimate the methods of the Undying Divine Temple."
The Death Knight's voice was icy: "Where is Zhang Ruochen? Tell him to come out and die."
The Death Knight's injuries had fully healed, and he had returned to his peak state, now a far cry from his condition in Taiyin Ancient City.
"Zhang Ruochen has already entered the Yin-Yang Sea. Dealing with the likes of you—this emperor only needs to extend one claw to crush you."
Even as Xiao Hei boasted recklessly, he secretly sent a voice transmission to the Wine Madman: "Old drunkard, your cultivation should be pretty deep, right? Here's your chance—take them out."
The Wine Madman shook his head gravely: "No, no. This old man once swore an oath never to kill again in this life, or else I'd never get to drink another drop of alcohol. If I can't drink, wouldn't that be worse than death?"
"You don't have to kill them—just suppress them," Xiao Hei said patiently.
"No, no. What if I accidentally kill one? This old man won't take that risk." The Wine Madman shook his head like a rattle-drum.
Xiao Hei wanted nothing more than to bite the Wine Madman to death: "Then what use is tagging along?"
"It's not much use at all."
The Wine Madman remained utterly calm, walking to a rock, sitting down, pulling out a wineskin, and drinking alone, showing no intention of acting.
Xiao Hei's earlier words had enraged the Death Knight and Ya She Saint.
"What an arrogant cat. This saint will first chop off your four claws and see how you can still be so cocky." Ya She Saint said darkly.
Ya She Saint knew Xiao Hei was Zhang Ruochen's battle pet. Eliminating it would be like cutting off one of Zhang Ruochen's arms.
"That cat isn't easy to deal with. Yao Sheng, join Ya She Saint in attacking. Capture it and force Zhang Ruochen's whereabouts out of it." The Death Knight said coldly.
"Understood."
Yao Sheng leaped down from the Earth Dragon's back and strode toward the seaside.
In Taiyin Ancient City, Yao Sheng had escaped, but later, the Death Knight had recaptured him.
This time, the Death Knight didn't force him to submit but directly refined him into a blood slave.
Now, Yao Sheng's four eyes all blazed with blood-red light, and strange patterns surfaced on his skin.
The saintly aura emanating from Yao Sheng was even stronger than before.
Xiao Hei's strength was roughly on par with Zhang Ruochen's.
In Taiyin Ancient City, he had only been able to hold his own against Ya She Saint by relying on formation power. In truth, his real strength fell far short of Ya She Saint's.
But even with a gap in strength, he couldn't lose face.
"Fight if you want—who's afraid of who?"
Xiao Hei stood upright on two legs and walked forward to face Yao Sheng and Ya She Saint.
"Courting death."
Ya She Saint produced a bronze circular plate, channeling his spiritual power into it. Instantly, the plate grew to the size of a millstone, spinning as it flew, striking at Xiao Hei.
"Boom."
The bronze plate slammed into Xiao Hei, sending him flying backward into the Yin-Yang Sea.
As yin and yang alternated, the seawater grew increasingly scalding, turning a fiery gold like molten lava.
Xiao Hei plunged into the water with a sizzling sound, then sank to the bottom.
"Pathetic."
Ya She Saint sneered in disdain, retrieved the bronze plate, held it in his palm, and turned his gaze toward Ao Xinyan and the Wine Madman.
"Speak. Where exactly is Zhang Ruochen?" Ya She Saint demanded.
From another direction, Yao Sheng approached step by step, wielding the Ghost King Chain.
Ao Xinyan indeed possessed a powerful constitution, but she could at most contend with Lower Realm Saints. Facing experts of Yao Sheng and Ya She Saint's caliber, escaping would already be a stroke of luck.
"Old drunkard, what do we do now?"
Ao Xinyan looked at the Wine Madman, pinning her hopes on him.
The Wine Madman's gaze fixed on the direction of the concealment formation. His eyes narrowed, and he exclaimed in surprise: "Zhang Ruochen has become a saint!"
Ya She Saint and Yao Sheng were both startled, following the Wine Madman's gaze.
There was nothing there.
Ya She Saint clenched his fists, his expression furious: "Old man, you dare toy with us—"
Before he could finish, the ground shook violently.
"Boom."
A torrent of sword qi burst forth from the concealment formation, like a rain of swords, surging toward Ya She Saint and Yao Sheng.
"Zhang Ruochen really is nearby."
In haste, Ya She Saint could only raise the bronze plate to block the incoming sword qi.
Yao Sheng swung his arm, sending the Ghost King Chain flying. It spun rapidly, scattering the dense sword qi in all directions.
When all the sword qi dissipated, Zhang Ruochen, clad in a white Daoist robe, emerged from the concealment formation with his hands behind his back.
Seventy-two rings of saintly light surrounded his body, enveloping him at the center.
"Has the leader truly stepped into the saint realm?" Ao Xinyan asked.
The fluctuation of saintly qi emanating from Zhang Ruochen was far stronger than before. Just standing there, he exuded a sharp, imposing aura.
"Zhang Ruochen, you've finally shown yourself. Today is your day of death."
Yao Sheng's face twisted with malice. He stomped the ground and flew toward Zhang Ruochen.
"Clatter."
The Ghost King Chain shot out first, like a steel dragon. At the chain's tip hung a true saint's head, emitting green ghost fire and unleashing earth-shattering power.
Yao Sheng's strength ranked among the top of Upper Realm Saints, enough to briefly clash with Xuanhuang Realm Saints.
The Death Knight believed Yao Sheng could defeat Zhang Ruochen, so he stood back, intending to use Yao Sheng to exhaust Zhang Ruochen's Five Tribulations Saint-Suppressing Talisman.
Zhang Ruochen stood still, calm and composed: "I've long wanted to cut you down, but kept putting it off. Today, let it be—may you return to dust and ashes."
"Whoosh—"
The Abyssal Ancient Sword flew out on its own, hovering before Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen extended a finger and pointed forward.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword traced an arc of light and slashed down.
"Crack."
The Ghost King Chain couldn't withstand the Abyssal Ancient Sword's attack and shattered into dozens of pieces.
"How... how can it not block a single strike..."
Yao Sheng was stunned. He cast aside the broken chain, formed his hands into claws, and unleashed a sacred technique.
Two massive blood-red claw prints materialized before Yao Sheng, surging forward in attack.
Zhang Ruochen walked forward unhurriedly, waving his finger. The Abyssal Ancient Sword slashed down again, effortlessly tearing through the two claw prints and cutting across Yao Sheng's waist.
Yao Sheng's saintly body was severed in two.
"Boom."
Zhang Ruochen stomped on Yao Sheng's head, crushing it to pieces, leaving him no chance to reform his body.
Before Ya She Saint could act, Yao Sheng was already dead.
Ya She Saint drew a sharp breath, a strange look flickering in his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen's growth rate was terrifying. Only a few days had passed, and he had effortlessly taken down Yao Sheng at his peak.
The Death Knight's pupils contracted: "Having just stepped into the saint realm, the power you've unleashed is already unmatched below the Xuanhuang Realm. It seems I must kill you today. I can't let you escape again, lest you grow to a point where even I can't handle you."
The Kunzi Heavenly Palace Master, with peak Xuanhuang Realm cultivation, couldn't withstand a single blow from the Death Knight.
And since Zhang Ruochen's strength still fell slightly short of a Xuanhuang Realm Saint, the Death Knight was fully confident he could kill him.
Zhang Ruochen faced off against the Death Knight while secretly sending a voice transmission to Ao Xinyan and the Wine Madman: "Board the ship."
"We can't board it. That's a death vessel—once aboard, we'll be doomed forever." Ao Xinyan said.
"Forget about the death vessel. Board it first."
The Wine Madman had long wanted to get on the ghost ship. Hearing Zhang Ruochen's decision, he grew even more eager.
He grabbed Ao Xinyan's arm, bent his legs, and shot up like an arrow from a bow, flying toward the ghost ship's deck.
"Trying to flee? Not so easy."
Ya She Saint raised both hands and launched the bronze plate.
The plate grew enormous, unleashing a powerful force as it flew high, aiming to knock the Wine Madman and Ao Xinyan down.
The Wine Madman reached out, grabbed the bronze plate like a piece of flatbread, and quickly stuffed it into his robe.
He and Ao Xinyan landed on a section of the ghost ship's deck and immediately dashed into the black mist, shouting: "Run! Powerful enemies are closing in!"
Ya She Saint realized he had completely lost contact with the bronze plate and stood frozen in shock.
What just happened?
The bronze plate was a spiritual sacred artifact more powerful than a thousand-mark sacred artifact. How could that drunkard just snatch it with a single grab?
Had he encountered a formidable figure?
But if he was so strong, why would he run?
Ya She Saint felt as if he had been played for a fool. Trembling with rage, his face flushed red, and he wished he could tear the Wine Madman limb from limb.
The moment the Wine Madman and Ao Xinyan boarded, thousands of blood-red lightning bolts appeared above the ghost ship. The black mist enveloping the hull churned violently.
Then, the ghost ship set sail again, charging into the depths of the Yin-Yang Sea.
Zhang Ruochen stopped facing off against the Death Knight, activated his movement technique, and shot toward the ghost ship.