Chapter 1250: Black Li Crown Prince
The saints below the altar also sensed the powerful fluctuations of sacred Qi and looked up one after another.
"Ssss."
Dozens of beast light shadows rushed out from the magma. When they landed beneath the altar, everyone finally saw clearly that they were a group of cats.
There were more than thirty of them, each having reached the Saint realm.
Some cats were only the size of a fist, like a furry ball. Others were over ten zhang tall, their bodies covered in dragon scales, with heads resembling those of divine dragons.
Qing Mo extended a finger, pointing at one of the black cats, and softly exclaimed, "That's Xiao Hei."
"It's not Xiao Hei. How could Xiao Hei be that thin?" Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
Indeed, there was a black cat in the group.
Compared to Xiao Hei, its figure was lean and wiry, exuding a black mist from its entire body. Its eyes were sharp, and it walked with slow steps, very much like a death god strolling through hell.
Devouring Demon Dragon stared at the cat group and grinned, "Everyone from Jiuli Palace has arrived just in time. Today, let's join forces and first wipe out the human saints, how about that?"
Black Li Crown Prince snorted coldly, "Devouring Demon Dragon, are you dreaming if you think you can use Jiuli Palace's hand to deal with humans? We're not that familiar."
A gloomy expression flashed in Devouring Demon Dragon's eyes, but he did not get angry.
At this stage, the relationship between Zulong Mountain and Jiuli Palace was very delicate—neither at war nor friendly. Both sides hoped this relationship could continue, at least until they had cleared out other barbarian beast races before the final decisive battle.
From the ancient well above the altar, dozens more blue flames rushed out. Some flames flew around the altar, while others plunged into the magma.
Among those present, very few had collected the Nuanling Dragon Fire. Combined, all the major powers had fewer than twenty.
Qing Mo and Huang Yanchen rushed into the magma, each collecting a strand of Nuanling Dragon Fire.
Suddenly, a deep, muddy dragon roar came from the ancient well. The underground independent space trembled slightly, and in an extremely short time, the temperature doubled.
Some of the weaker Saint realm beings felt the impact of an invisible force and staggered backward repeatedly.
Devouring Demon Dragon, Chi Wansui, Qitian Crown Prince, and Black Li Crown Prince did not retreat. Instead, they showed delighted expressions and stepped forward.
Because they knew that the mature Nuanling Dragon Fire was about to emerge.
Although even young divine dragons risked death when collecting mature Nuanling Dragon Fire, they were fearless, confident they were stronger than young divine dragons.
"I must collect a strand of mature Nuanling Dragon Fire to forge an invincible physical body."
Devouring Demon Dragon's eyes widened, his hands turning into dragon claws, and the aura emanating from him grew stronger and stronger.
"The mature Nuanling Dragon Fire is limited in number. The first strand must be mine, the Crown Prince's."
Apart from competing for the World Spirit of Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, Qitian Crown Prince had never failed at anything since childhood. Therefore, he was full of confidence.
To become the second Nether King of the Undying Blood Clan, he had to collect a strand of mature Nuanling Dragon Fire to make himself stronger.
Chi Wansui also wanted to collect a strand of mature Nuanling Dragon Fire, using it to counter Lidi Monk's Indestructible Golden Body and Xue Wuye's Supreme Sword Dao, becoming the number one among the younger generation of human saints.
The first strand of mature Nuanling Dragon Fire would undoubtedly be the most fiercely contested. Therefore, Zhang Ruochen was in no hurry to act. He simply folded his arms, watching the tigers fight from the mountain, and murmured to himself, "I wonder how much their strength has grown?"
Devouring Demon Dragon, Chi Wansui, and Qitian Crown Prince were all peerless prodigies rarely seen in ten thousand years, blessed with great fortune. If not for the arrival of the great era, they would never have emerged together.
In ancient times, even young divine dragons might not necessarily have surpassed them.
"Boom."
The underground independent space shook violently. From the ancient well, a three-zhang-long blue fire dragon flew out. Its body was not large, but it contained a terrifying aura a hundred times greater than that of the Nuanling Dragon Fire flames.
"Whoosh, whoosh."
Devouring Demon Dragon, Chi Wansui, Qitian Crown Prince, and Black Li Crown Prince used their fastest movement techniques to charge forward. Before they even got close to the blue fire dragon, they began fighting among themselves.
Chi Wansui attacked while shouting, "Are you sure you want to fight? Be careful not to trigger the unknown dangers at the bottom of the Yin-Yang Sea. If that happens, we'll all die here."
"No one knows how many strands of mature Nuanling Dragon Fire there are. What if there's only one? This one is mine."
Devouring Demon Dragon was filled with a murderous aura, utterly reckless. He fought with all his might, as if he wanted to punch through the seabed.
"What a reckless madman."
In the end, Chi Wansui and Black Li Crown Prince withdrew, no longer continuing the fight.
If they were elsewhere, they would not fear a battle. But here, they had many concerns and would not be as crazy as Devouring Demon Dragon.
"Saints of the Imperial Court, hear my command: immediately leave this place and return to the surface first," Chi Wansui said.
"Saints of Jiuli Palace, hear my command: do not stay here any longer. Return to the surface first and be ready to support me at any time," Black Li Crown Prince roared.
The Saint realm beings of the various major powers naturally knew they could no longer stay underground. They all rushed into the magma, heading for the surface.
Devouring Demon Dragon and Qitian Crown Prince continued fighting, causing the magma to churn as if the underground space might be torn apart.
Devouring Demon Dragon possessed the Ancestral Dragon Scale, while Qitian Crown Prince possessed the God-Extinguishing Cross. Both were peerless divine weapons, more powerful and mysterious than ten-thousand-pattern sacred artifacts, capable of unleashing earth-shattering power.
"What formidable war tools. They should be among the top three treasures in Zulong Mountain and the Qitian Tribe," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
The Ancestral Dragon Scale was a scale from the ancient dragon ancestor, containing chaotic Qi. When its power was fully unleashed, it could suppress all living beings in the world.
The God-Extinguishing Cross had once shaken a god to death, and the divine blood on it had yet to dry.
Wielding these two peerless divine weapons elevated Devouring Demon Dragon and Qitian Crown Prince's combat power to a terrifying level. Saints of the same realm who approached would be instantly obliterated, leaving no bones or flesh.
Having reached the Saint realm, they could finally unleash a fraction of the true power of the Ancestral Dragon Scale and the God-Extinguishing Cross.
Huang Yanchen said, "Those are two formidable war tools. Even the current power of the Realm Son Seal might not be able to withstand them."
The Realm Son Seal was also a continuously growing treasure. The more sacred Dao rules cultivators infused into it, the stronger it became.
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious. "I need to join the fight now. You and Qing Mo should return to the surface first."
This time, Huang Yanchen did not insist. She led Qing Mo and rushed upward.
No sooner had they left than a major change occurred.
Devouring Demon Dragon failed to control his power. When he struck with the Ancestral Dragon Scale, his aim was slightly off, hitting the square altar.
"Boom."
The altar shook.
From the ancient well at the center of the altar, dozens of deafening dragon roars sounded. Then, dozens of blue fire dragons erupted from the well's mouth.
At the same time, the underground independent space collapsed with a roar, and the magma fell, swallowing the altar and the ancient well.
"Not good."
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed slightly.
Dozens of mature Nuanling Dragon Fires emerging was no longer an opportunity but a disaster. If touched by the flames, one would surely suffer divine form annihilation.
Devouring Demon Dragon and Qitian Crown Prince also changed expressions, stopping their fight to evade the attacks of the dozens of mature Nuanling Dragon Fires.
None of them retreated, still wanting to collect a strand of mature Nuanling Dragon Fire.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze locked onto the largest blue fire dragon. It was five zhang long, with clear dragon scales, whiskers, and horns, and its flame essence was the most vigorous.
Zhang Ruochen charged forward, releasing tens of thousands of sacred Dao rules from his brow. Like chains, they wrapped around the blue fire dragon.
The blue fire dragon possessed high intelligence and naturally refused to be captured. It roared, violently shaking its body, shattering all the sacred Dao rules.
The roar of the blue fire dragon also alerted Devouring Demon Dragon, Qitian Crown Prince, Chi Wansui, and Black Li Crown Prince. Their gazes all turned to Zhang Ruochen.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was wearing the Ten Saints Blood Armor, so no one could see his figure or face clearly.
However, Devouring Demon Dragon, Qitian Crown Prince, and Chi Wansui were all exceptionally brilliant heroes. A single glance was enough for them to recognize him.
"Zhang Ruochen, you've finally shown yourself."
Devouring Demon Dragon hated Zhang Ruochen to the bone, flames nearly shooting from his pupils. His sacred Qi churned violently, continuously pouring into the Ancestral Dragon Scale.
"Whoosh."
From the Ancestral Dragon Scale, a beam of black dragon pattern light shot out, striking at Zhang Ruochen.
Knowing the power of the Ancestral Dragon Scale, Zhang Ruochen naturally would not clash head-on. He quickly used spatial displacement to evade.
The black dragon pattern light beam had unparalleled penetrating power. It shot upward, flew out from the volcanic crater, and pierced the clouds above the Yin-Yang Sea.
Zhang Ruochen appeared very composed, smiling, "Is there any need to be so hostile when you see me? How about we collect the Nuanling Dragon Fire first, then fight?"
"Killing you first, then collecting the Nuanling Dragon Fire—that's not too late either."
Devouring Demon Dragon's resolve to kill Zhang Ruochen was firm. A surge of demonic fiendish Qi erupted from his body, and his arm transformed into a massive dragon claw, striking at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed, gathering palm force and striking out with a single palm, hitting the center of the dragon claw.
"Boom."
Devouring Demon Dragon was sent flying backward dozens of zhang, his massive dragon claw reverting to an arm.
An intense pain swept through most of his body. Devouring Demon Dragon was inwardly shocked, thinking, "Just a mere human, yet his physical strength is even greater than mine by a notch."
"Zhang Ruochen must have achieved a saintly physical body, and it's even stronger than other beings who have done the same."
Qitian Crown Prince narrowed his eyes, a surge of murderous intent rising from him as he slowly approached Zhang Ruochen.
"This is no place to collect the Nuanling Dragon Fire. I'll have to leave first."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Qitian Crown Prince and smiled slightly. Then, he extended his arms, erecting a massive space domain, dragging the five-zhang-long blue fire dragon into it. Afterward, he performed a spatial displacement.
"Let's go."
Zhang Ruochen and the blue fire dragon vanished from underground simultaneously.
(End of chapter)