Chapter 1317: Death Clan
"What a formidable creature, killing a Tongtian Realm Saint in such a short time."
Zhang Ruochen walked to the corpse of that Tongtian Realm Saint from the Four Symbols Sect, staring at the bloody remains. A layer of black Death Evil Qi shrouded it, making it impossible to touch.
"Whoosh—"
With a flick of his sleeve, a surge of Saint Qi rushed out, dispersing the Death Evil Qi.
Zhang Ruochen picked up a crimson Sacred Sword from the corpse's hand and gripped it, feeling the scorching heat within the blade.
Inside the sword, it seemed to harbor a mountain of flame.
"A fine sword."
Unable to use the Abyssal Ancient Sword for now, Zhang Ruochen was in need of a Sacred Sword.
A powerful Sacred Sword could enhance his combat strength.
This crimson Sacred Sword was called the Fire Luan Sword, a Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact and a renowned blade.
"Hehe."
Suddenly, the half-body corpse snapped open its eyes, revealing two bloodshot orbs filled with violent fury. It flew up from the ground and lunged at Zhang Ruochen's throat.
"Rip."
Zhang Ruochen swung the sword, trailing a streak of flame, and cleaved the half-corpse in two, sending the halves flying left and right.
Liu Li Nüsheng's expression flickered with doubt. "He's already dead, yet he can still attack. Could it be that his Sacred Soul hasn't dissipated and is still driving his body?"
"It's not the Sacred Soul—it's that Death Evil Qi."
Zhang Ruochen recalled past encounters. Once tainted by Death Evil Qi, cultivators either rotted to death or lost their minds, becoming violent, bloodthirsty, and consumed by slaughter.
What kind of power was Death Evil Qi?
Did it truly originate from beyond the Kunlun Realm?
Unless he captured that black figure alive, it would be hard to find the answer.
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, set aside his thoughts, walked to one of the corpse halves, dug out the Sacred Source, and tucked it into his sleeve.
"How terrifying—what kind of creature is it?"
"Is it an undead?"
Just then, two Tongtian Realm Saints from the Star Cult and the Yao Family fled the Floating Island in terror, both wounded, rushing out of the space bubble to escape.
"Is that black figure really that powerful? Even facing a formidable opponent like Canglan Wusheng, it could still wound three Tongtian Realm Saints, killing one and injuring two?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart tightened as he and the six female Saints hurried toward the Floating Island.
At the same time, he instructed Qing Mo to stay on the ground, avoid the Floating Island, find a hidden spot, and wait for an opportunity to act.
The two fleeing Tongtian Realm Saints glanced back at Zhang Ruochen and the six female Saints, shaking their heads. "Youngsters are reckless. With that black figure's strength, how can they possibly contend? Fleeing is the wise choice."
"Boom."
The small world within the space bubble shook violently. Two patches of blood clouds flew in, turning the entire sky crimson, as if it could drip blood.
Two Tongtian Blood Generals burst out of the blood clouds and descended.
The Four-Sword Blood Saint had recovered from his injuries. Holding a sword in each of his four hands, he unleashed a sword intent from within, covering most of the small world in sword energy, accompanied by sharp sword cries.
Miefeng Blood Saint laughed loudly, swinging two chains as thick as water barrels from his left and right hands, like steel dragons, blocking the two fleeing human Tongtian Realm Saints. "Since you're here, why leave?"
The Four-Sword Blood Saint gazed at the countless leaves cascading from the Floating Island, his eyes burning with desire. Moving all four hands at once, he sent the four Sacred swords flying, forming four rivers of sword energy that struck the Floating Island, trying to break it by brute force and seize the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass.
"Bang, bang."
Under the four swords' assault, a massive light shield emerged around the Floating Island, blocking the sword energy.
"There's a protective formation." The Four-Sword Blood Saint stepped on four swords, turning into a streak of blood light, and forcefully landed on the island.
The Floating Island was already in chaos. Zhang Ruochen and the six female Saints had formed a sword formation, coordinating with Canglan Wusheng to fight the black figure, shattering the ancient buildings on the island.
The Four-Sword Blood Saint headed straight for the center of the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass, intending to dig out its roots and take it away.
"A mere Undying Blood Clan dares to snatch the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass before me? You're asking for death." The black figure turned into an inky black stream, breaking out of the sword formation, extending a metallic hand, and slashing downward.
The Four-Sword Blood Saint countered with a backhand sword strike, hitting the metal palm.
But the metal palm carried immense force, pressing the Sacred Sword in the Four-Sword Blood Saint's hand downward. At the same time, a bone-chilling Death Evil Qi surged through the sword toward him.
"You're... from the Death Clan..." The Four-Sword Blood Saint's face changed drastically. He abandoned his Sacred Sword and retreated rapidly. After steadying himself, he summoned four sword slaves to shield him, not daring to let the Death Evil Qi near.
Wind chimes rang out.
The black figure landed on the ground, hands behind his back, and spoke in a hoarse voice: "Since you know the Death Clan, it means you hold some status in the Undying Blood Clan of the Kunlun Realm. Listen to my orders now, help me seize the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass, and I'll credit you for it later."
"With your cultivation, you're not enough to make me submit. A hundred-thousand-year-old Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass is also of great use to our Undying Blood Clan. How could I let you have it?"
The Four-Sword Blood Saint pulled his Sacred Sword from the rock and turned to Canglan Wusheng. "It's not a creature of the Kunlun Realm. Let's join forces to kill it first, then fight over the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass. Deal?"
"Agreed."
Canglan Wusheng was no fool. She made a decision instantly: eliminate the unstable factor of the black figure first, then contend with the Undying Blood Clan.
She bit her finger, letting a drop of bright phoenix blood fall onto her Sacred Sword, and swung it at the black figure.
"Four Directions God-Slaying."
The Four-Sword Blood Saint, using his own strength, deployed a sword formation. The four Sacred swords arranged in a circle, then overlapped, striking at the black figure's chest.
Zhang Ruochen, channeling the power of the six female Saints, pointed his finger, sending the Fire Luan Sword flying. It formed a sea of fire, slashing from the sky to the ground.
The black figure was indeed powerful, but ultimately outnumbered.
"Hiss, hiss."
The Sacred Sword infused with phoenix blood cut into the black figure's waist, tearing a long wound, with blood mist spraying out.
The power of the phoenix blood even ignited the Death Evil Qi on him.
The black figure let out a muffled groan, his voice icy: "Every one of you is guilty of death. That day will come soon."
"Bang."
The black figure's body shattered into a cloud of black mist and vanished.
Only the fading sound of wind chimes remained in the air—both beautiful and like a death knell.
After the black figure retreated, the Four-Sword Blood Saint immediately turned and charged at full speed toward the center of the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass.
The Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass was enormous, each leaf a thousand zhang long, emitting dazzling rays of light. The closer to the center, the brighter it became, like a sacred lamp illuminating an entire world.
The Saint Qi grew denser, nearly turning into liquid.
"As expected of a sacred medicine that has grown for a hundred thousand years—truly a supreme treasure. If I can monopolize it, it will allow me to break through to the Saint King Realm within ten years."
Suppressing his excitement, the Four-Sword Blood Saint reached out with both hands, about to pull out the roots of the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass.
Suddenly, from behind a leaf dozens of zhang wide, a cloud of golden mist seeped out.
The Four-Sword Blood Saint inhaled just a trace, and his face changed drastically. "Golden Bat Poison! Who dares to ambush me?"
"Rip."
The Four-Sword Blood Saint controlled a Sacred Sword, slashing it to cut the leaf.
Behind the leaf, the gaunt figure of Gu Songzi appeared, grinning maliciously. "What if I ambush you? The Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass was always mine. This entire medicinal garden is my private territory. Breaking in here means you pay the price."
Zhang Ruochen, chasing from behind, saw the golden toxic mist floating in the air and immediately stopped.
This old fellow had indeed been hiding near the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass, using the same "mantis stalks the cicada, unaware of the oriole behind" trick?
Clearly, Gu Songzi knew that alone, he couldn't break out and take the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass.
So he hid here, waiting until the battle reached its end to act.
Gu Songzi pulled out a black pill, pinched it between two fingers, and tossed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen caught the pill. "What is this?"
"Nine Dragons Ten Tigers Pill. Swallow it, and your cultivation will instantly surge tenfold. Help me secure the Thousand-Leaf Sacred Core Grass, and once we're out, I'll treat your injuries," Gu Songzi said.
Zhang Ruochen didn't trust Gu Songzi much, but given his current condition and Gu Songzi's predicament, the old man probably wouldn't deceive him.
Swallowing the pill, Zhang Ruochen felt anticipation, waiting for the medicinal power to erupt so he could first deal with the two Tongtian Blood Generals.
But after taking the pill, his body showed no change at all.
On the other side, the Four-Sword Blood Saint acted decisively. He used half his Saint Qi to suppress the Golden Bat Poison and swung his Sacred Sword again at Gu Songzi.
This old man was utterly despicable—he had to be killed first.
But the sword only swung halfway before the Four-Sword Blood Saint felt his strength wane. His legs gave way, and he nearly knelt before Gu Songzi.
Gu Songzi laughed. "Actually, after I landed on the Floating Island, I also laid down a colorless, odorless poison. Even a Saint-level being, once tainted by its toxin, will be weakened for at least an hour. Haha!"
Normally, a Saint's powerful cultivation and vitality made them immune to all poisons.
But Gu Songzi was no ordinary poison master. His alchemy had reached the level of a Saint Master.
Not only the Four-Sword Blood Saint cursed inwardly, but Zhang Ruochen, Canglan Wusheng, and the six female Saints all wanted to beat Gu Songzi into a pulp. He was too cunning and shameless.
Gu Songzi looked at Zhang Ruochen. "Don't worry. You've already taken the antidote, so the poison won't affect you. First, kill them for me. Once we're out, we'll discuss treating your injuries."
"..." Zhang Ruochen was speechless.
So the so-called Nine Dragons Ten Tigers Pill was just an antidote.
Zhang Ruochen gained a deeper understanding of Gu Songzi. He was even more treacherous than Xiao Hei and the Mad Drunkard combined. From now on, not a single word he said could be trusted.