Chapter 1301: A Deal with the Undying Blood Clan
“Stop.”
Canglan Martial Saint could no longer continue healing in peace. A powerful storm of sacred qi surged from within her body, condensing into thousands of sword projections that floated around her.
Seeing this, Miefeng Blood Saint not only showed no fear but even revealed a faint smile at the corner of his mouth.
Canglan Martial Saint was not an impulsive person, but she had no other choice. Could she simply watch the four female saints be humiliated while she hid in the temple, clinging to life?
Even if she recovered from her injuries and slaughtered her enemies, a flaw would remain in her state of mind, making it difficult to advance in cultivation in the future.
Thus, at this moment, Canglan Martial Saint had no retreat. Even knowing it was a trap, she could only charge out and fight the Undying Blood Clan to the death.
“Shua!”
Canglan Martial Saint moved, transforming into a graceful figure as she rushed toward the location of the four female saints.
Earlier, she had memorized the correct path through the space maze. She moved with familiarity, stepping forward one step at a time.
Even Qing Mo could tell that, in her current state, Canglan Martial Saint was no match for those Undying Blood Clan members. Walking out of the temple was nothing more than walking into a trap.
Qing Mo couldn’t bear to watch. She bit her lip lightly, looking pitiful and pleading, “Young master, please help them. I know you’re not a cold-blooded person.”
Liu Li Female Saint and Yuan Su Female Saint also stopped healing, their gazes fixed on Zhang Ruochen with pleading eyes. Perhaps in their view, this seemingly frail young man was their only hope.
Zhang Ruochen was truly at a loss for words. Even at his peak, he couldn’t contend with the Tongtian Blood Generals, let alone now, with all three of his meridians crippled.
And yet, they placed their hopes on a half-crippled man who was severely injured?
Zhang Ruochen sighed. In the end, he couldn’t bear their stares. He took a step forward, extending both hands and grasping toward Canglan Martial Saint’s direction.
Space twisted violently. Canglan Martial Saint, who had almost exited the space maze, was pulled back into the temple, as if Zhang Ruochen had grabbed her from a distance.
With Zhang Ruochen’s current spiritual power intensity and his profound mastery of space, even if he used space techniques, cultivators at the Saint realm would find it difficult to detect the spatial fluctuations. They wouldn’t even realize he was wielding space power.
Just now, Canglan Martial Saint felt as if she had fallen into a vortex. After a dizzying spin, she found herself back in the temple. She knew it must have been the work of that sickly young man, and she couldn’t help but feel a pang of surprise.
Canglan Martial Saint had encountered some spiritual power saints before, but this was the first time she had witnessed such an eerie technique.
Liu Li Female Saint and Yuan Su Female Saint also gaped in astonishment, finding Zhang Ruochen’s display utterly miraculous. He had pulled back the Martial Saint from a distance! And she was Canglan Martial Saint, the foremost of the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens.
Zhang Ruochen fixed his gaze on Canglan Martial Saint, looking into her surprised, lively eyes, and said, “Even if you want to die, there’s no need to rush, is there? Let me talk to them. Force isn’t the only option—maybe we can save them another way.”
In the past, the human cultivators Canglan Martial Saint encountered either flattered her eagerly, feared her greatly, or couldn’t lift their heads in her presence due to inferiority.
This man before her seemed calm as water, neither sad nor joyful, but his eyes and tone clearly carried a hint of disdain for her, even a note of reproach.
Canglan Martial Saint, who had always been held high above others, had never been spoken to in such a tone except by the Empress herself.
She felt a surge of defiance. Her gaze turned icy, and she said, “The Undying Blood Clan would love to eat your flesh and drink your blood. How could they possibly negotiate with you?”
“Not necessarily. Don’t be so absolute.”
Zhang Ruochen clasped his hands behind his back, walked out of the temple, and stepped onto the open ground. Fixing his gaze on the blood saints of the Undying Blood Clan, he said, “Everyone, how about we make a deal?”
Canglan Martial Saint was a proud and haughty daughter of heaven. Naturally, she didn’t want to be overshadowed by Zhang Ruochen. Her emotions were conflicted—part of her hoped Zhang Ruochen would save the four female saints, but if he succeeded, wouldn’t it highlight her own incompetence?
At this moment, she was extremely curious about how Zhang Ruochen would negotiate with the Undying Blood Clan.
Miefeng Blood Saint sneered, “Who do you think you are? You have no right to bargain with us.”
“If you’re unwilling to talk, someone else will be.”
Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a smile, then turned his gaze to Zhu Qingyi. Pointing at the two blood saints trapped in the space maze, he said, “Miss Zhu, these two blood saints—one at the peak of Xuanhuang realm, one at the Chendi realm—I’ll trade them for the four female saints. Isn’t that a fair deal?”
In any faction, raising a Saint was no easy task.
Especially saints at the Xuanhuang and Chendi realms. Even in the Qingtian Tribe, losing one was a major event.
Zhu Qingyi hadn’t expected Zhang Ruochen to threaten her with the lives of two blood saints. She said coldly, “I advise you not to meddle in matters that don’t concern you, or you’ll bring disaster upon yourself.”
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly. With a wave of his arm, a blade of lightning flew out, striking the blood saint at the peak of Xuanhuang realm, severing both his legs.
The power of lightning burrowed into his body through the wounds, and the peak Xuanhuang realm blood saint writhed on the ground in agony, letting out continuous screams.
Seeing this, all the blood saints present were enraged beyond measure.
“Do you think you’re the only one holding hostages?”
Miefeng Blood Saint grabbed a female saint who was slumped on the ground, gripping her waist with one hand and her right arm with the other. Showing no mercy, he yanked hard.
Rip!
The female saint’s arm, along with her armor, was torn off. Crimson sacred blood splattered across the ground.
The scene was extremely bloody. The female saint’s beautiful face twisted in pain as she collapsed to the ground, convulsing, letting out sobs and screams.
Yet, the blood saints present noticed that Zhang Ruochen’s expression didn’t change at all. He seemed utterly indifferent to the female saint’s life or death.
“Puchi.”
Zhang Ruochen remained cold. With a wave of his arm, a lightning spear shot out, piercing the head of the peak Xuanhuang realm blood saint, killing him instantly.
Even the four Tongtian Blood Generals were taken aback.
A contest of ruthlessness.
Let’s see who is more ruthless.
“You… how dare you…”
Zhu Qingyi trembled with rage. She hadn’t expected that spiritual power saint to act so decisively.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Now, I still have a Chendi realm blood saint in my hands. Are we going to negotiate or not?”
“Fine.”
Zhu Qingyi suppressed the overwhelming killing intent in her heart and said, “But using one blood saint to trade for four female saints is impossible. It has to be one for one.”
Canglan Martial Saint hadn’t expected Zhang Ruochen to actually force the Undying Blood Clan to back down. She couldn’t help but feel a hint of admiration for him. She quickly walked over to stand shoulder to shoulder with him and said, “No, it has to be one for four. The life of a Chendi realm blood saint is far more valuable than those of Xuanhuang realm saints and Upper Realm saints.”
“You’re pushing too far. Don’t you see the situation? Do you really have that much leverage?” Zhu Qingyi said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Then one for two.”
Canglan Martial Saint widened her beautiful eyes and secretly transmitted a message to Zhang Ruochen, “Even if we save two female saints, we’ll still be at their mercy. It won’t change the situation.”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t respond. He simply stared at Zhu Qingyi, waiting for her answer.
The frost on Zhu Qingyi’s face melted slightly, and a seductive smile appeared. “Fine.”
Then, Zhu Qingyi walked over to Miefeng Blood Saint and spoke with him.
The two came from different tribes with different interests. Zhu Qingyi had to promise Miefeng Blood Saint some benefits to secure the deal, taking away two female saints.
Zhu Qingyi said, “Now, can you release them?”
Zhang Ruochen replied, “Let the two female saints enter the formation. Once they reach a safe area, I’ll naturally send the blood saints out of the formation.”
Zhu Qingyi sneered, “Do you think I’m that easy to fool? What if, after the two female saints reach safety, you refuse to release them?”
“That is indeed a troubling problem. How about this: I’ll step out of the formation myself, personally escort them back, and then release the blood saint from the formation. Once the exchange is complete, I’ll return to the formation. Would that make you feel more at ease?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Hearing this, not only the blood saints showed strange expressions, but even Canglan Martial Saint, Liu Li Female Saint, and Yuan Su Female Saint were shocked. They hadn’t expected him to take such a huge risk just to save others.
Once he stepped out of the formation, would the saints of the Undying Blood Clan let him return easily?
Canglan Martial Saint truly saw Zhang Ruochen in a new light. A shimmering brilliance appeared in her beautiful eyes as she said, “I’ll go with you.”
“No need. Qing Mo, come with me,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Qing Mo was hesitant, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was playing with fire. But when she saw the calm, steady look in his eyes, she gained a bit more confidence. After all, she had never seen Zhang Ruochen do anything without being sure of success.
Could the young master have another trick up his sleeve?
Zhang Ruochen led Qing Mo into the space maze, heading out of the temple. As they walked, he transmitted some instructions to Qing Mo.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s transmission, Qing Mo’s eyes lit up, and the fear on her face vanished completely.
Canglan Martial Saint watched Zhang Ruochen and Qing Mo’s retreating figures, grinding her teeth in frustration. She felt that the guy completely looked down on her, preferring to bring a little girl rather than someone with far greater cultivation.
The foremost of the Mysterious Maidens—when had she ever been so belittled?
At the same time, the saints of the Undying Blood Clan were also transmitting messages among themselves, discussing countermeasures. They planned to capture Zhang Ruochen and would never allow him to return to the temple.