Chapter 1343: The First Round of Clash
"Who exactly are you people, and why are you treating us like this? My elder sister is the Empress's disciple—she will have you all killed."
Thirteenth Commandery Princess's eyes were filled with tears. Having been pampered and spoiled her entire life, how could she endure such torment and humiliation? The pain on her body twisted her delicate little face.
"The Empress has already fallen. What is a disciple of the Empress worth? In the face of the Undying Blood Clan, all humans are nothing but food and livestock, haha!"
Miefeng Blood Saint let out a wild laugh. Then, raising his head, he looked toward Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen and said, "Yanchen Commandery Princess, to invite your parents to the Northern Domain, I personally traveled all the way to the remote Qian River Commandery. Even without merit, I have my toil. How will you thank me for that?"
"You are seeking death."
Huang Yanchen could no longer remain calm. She summoned the Realm Son Seal, drawing out the imperial aura within it, and hurled it at Miefeng Blood Saint.
Miefeng Blood Saint sneered. Raising a single hand, a sound of wind and thunder erupted. Strands of blood qi surged from his palm, gathering above his head into a massive handprint over a hundred meters long, effortlessly blocking the Realm Son Seal.
"The Realm Son Seal is a remarkable treasure, but unfortunately, your cultivation is too low. You are not qualified to cross hands with me..."
Before Miefeng Blood Saint could finish his words, a surging wave of sacred power shattered the blood-colored handprint and collided with his palm.
Miefeng Blood Saint's long hair flew wildly. He staggered back three steps before steadying himself. Fixing his gaze forward, he saw that the one who had struck him was none other than Zhang Ruochen.
When had this brat's power reached such a terrifying level, allowing him to clash head-on with him?
The thought barely crossed Miefeng Blood Saint's mind before an even stronger force erupted from Zhang Ruochen's body, transmitting through his palm.
"Crack, crack."
The bones inside Miefeng Blood Saint's body let out a series of explosive sounds. Five blood-colored cracks appeared on his palm. He was sent flying backward, crashing with a thunderous roar into the cliff wall behind him.
Massive boulders tumbled down from the cliff, burying Miefeng Blood Saint.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Qian River Commandery King, Liuli Half-Saint, and Thirteenth Commandery Princess beside him. He unleashed a stream of sacred qi, forming a vortex that swept them up, intending to take them away while the opportunity lasted.
Yinghuo and Situ Fengcheng were also slightly startled. Zhang Ruochen's formidable strength exceeded their expectations.
However, they naturally would not allow Zhang Ruochen to take the people so easily. Yinghuo smiled faintly and said, "Want to snatch people away? Do you think it's that easy?"
Behind Yinghuo stood a Blood Saint clad in the Ten-Saint Blood Armor. His eyes had been closed, but now they suddenly opened. They had no pupils—only two blood-red eyeballs, looking extremely eerie.
His form flickered, transforming into a vortex of blood qi as he shifted in front of Zhang Ruochen.
"Boom!"
He raised his foot, and instantly, the airflow in the surrounding space became chaotic. Countless Heavenly and Earthly Rules manifested—Fire Rules blazing, Ice Rules condensing into icy threads, Lightning Rules weaving into a net...
When his foot stomped down, even Zhang Ruochen felt as if the sky were collapsing and the earth sinking.
"Not good."
Zhang Ruochen quickly moved in front of Qian River Commandery King, Liuli Half-Saint, and Thirteenth Commandery Princess, releasing his Sacred Soul Domain to shield them.
"Boom!"
The man's foot landed, unleashing a profound force that tore apart Zhang Ruochen's Sacred Soul Domain.
At the same time, the man kicked off the ground and suddenly punched forward.
"Roar."
Behind him, the phantom of an eight-headed serpent appeared, with eight heads and eight tails, its presence incredibly imposing.
The eight heads of the serpent merged with his fist seal.
"Seven Orifices Blood Nether Palm."
Zhang Ruochen's reaction speed was astonishing. The seven orifices on his right palm opened simultaneously, as if he were holding seven stars in his hand.
Behind him, a massive blood-red Nether King shadow emerged, radiating a dignified and domineering aura.
"Boom!"
Fist and palm clashed violently, producing a deafening sound like two stars colliding.
The two were locked in a stalemate, neither gaining the upper hand.
The ground beneath their feet cracked apart like a spiderweb, shattering continuously. Even the formations the Undying Blood Clan had set up in advance trembled slightly.
Qian River Commandery King and Liuli Half-Saint were people who had seen great sights. They could naturally feel the terrifying power emanating from Zhang Ruochen.
A few years ago, he was nothing more than a fledgling youth. They had only thought he had potential when they betrothed Huang Yanchen to him.
Who could have imagined that in just a few short years, Zhang Ruochen would grow to such a level, like a divine being, leaving them only able to look up to him?
Even those Saint Realm ancestors of the Eastern Domain Chen Clan might not be as powerful as Zhang Ruochen, right?
Thirteenth Commandery Princess gazed at the tall figure before her with a look of reverence. Once upon a time, this young man was supposed to be her consort.
Unfortunately, back then, she had looked down on Zhang Ruochen, thinking he was merely a prince from a lowly commandery, unworthy of her. She had begged Qian River Commandery King not to marry her to him. Now, Thirteenth Commandery Princess realized how blind she had been.
Yinghuo's beautiful eyes narrowed slightly as she murmured to herself, "At the Upper Realm Saint level, Zhang Ruochen can already contend with a Death Knight General. What kind of physique does he have?"
Although the Death Knight General had not reached the True Saint level, he was even stronger than a Heaven-Passing Blood General, considered the most powerful combat power below the True Saint level.
"Boom."
Miefeng Blood Saint burst out from the pile of rubble, roaring, "I'll kill you."
Hundreds of wind blades materialized in front of Miefeng Blood Saint, converging into a massive handprint that slammed toward Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to extend his left hand, unleashing a Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm. His arm glowed like red-hot iron, accompanied by a dragon's roar, as it met Miefeng Blood Saint's handprint.
Fighting both Miefeng Blood Saint and the Death Knight General alone, even with Zhang Ruochen simultaneously using his physical body and martial path, he could not hold his ground and was forced back step by step.
With each step backward, a massive crater formed beneath his foot.
On the other side, Guoguo, the Demon Ape, Qing Mo, and Huang Yanchen charged toward the southern cliff, but Yinghuo and four silver-robed elders blocked them with a series of sacred techniques, preventing them from advancing even a single step.
Zhang Ruochen's mind stirred. He withdrew his power and quickly pulled his arms back.
Miefeng Blood Saint thought Zhang Ruochen's strength was waning. Overjoyed, he pressed the attack, sending another handprint toward the top of Zhang Ruochen's head.
The Death Knight General also struck, his fist like a blazing sun, the phantom of the eight-headed serpent coiling around it, unleashing destructive power.
Zhang Ruochen struck out with two more palm strikes. Unlike before, this time, both palms held a Saint-level Blood Suppression Talisman.
"Watch out."
Situ Fengcheng's eyes narrowed as he warned.
But the clash happened in the blink of an eye. Miefeng Blood Saint and the Death Knight General could not withdraw their arms in time and collided solidly with the two Saint-level Blood Suppression Talismans.
"Bang."
"Bang."
The two Saint-level Blood Suppression Talismans exploded, turning into two blinding white lights. White chains condensed and wrapped around Miefeng Blood Saint and the Death Knight General.
Zhang Ruochen pushed with both palms, sending them flying. Just as he was about to press the attack to severely wound them, the corner of his eye caught Situ Fengcheng turning into a streak of light, rapidly closing in.
Although Situ Fengcheng was still some distance away, Zhang Ruochen clearly sensed an extremely dangerous aura, like a rolling planet bearing down on him, making it hard to breathe.
Left with no choice, Zhang Ruochen had to abandon Miefeng Blood Saint and the Death Knight General. At top speed, he rushed to Qian River Commandery King, Liuli Half-Saint, and Thirteenth Commandery Princess, retreating swiftly with them.
Situ Fengcheng wielded the Sky-Burning Sword and swung it, dragging a curved wave of sword qi and fire toward Zhang Ruochen's back.
"Boom."
Canglan Martial Saint hurled a sacred sword, which plunged into the ground, transforming into a sword mountain a thousand zhang tall, blocking the attack.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen retreated safely and regrouped with Huang Yanchen and the others.
Situ Fengcheng glanced at Canglan Martial Saint but did not pursue further. He retreated to the base of the southern cliff and swung his sword. With a wet thud, he severed Shi Ren's left arm.
Shi Ren gritted his teeth, forcing himself not to cry out.
"Forcibly snatching people and breaking the rules. Zhang Ruochen, this is the price you pay for your dishonesty," Situ Fengcheng said.
In the first round of clash, losing three hostages meant Situ Fengcheng had suffered a considerable loss, and he was naturally angered.
"Zhang Ruochen, don't worry about me... Leave quickly. They've set up a net here... They never intended to exchange with you. They want to kill us all... cough, cough..."
A burly Blood Saint struck Shi Ren across the face.
Instantly, Shi Ren's mouth overflowed with blood, and he could no longer utter a single word.
"You go too far."
Zhang Ruochen grabbed Zhu Qingyi by one arm and slammed her hard to the ground, creating a human-shaped crater. Then, he thrust his sword into her heart, piercing through it.
Pressing down on the sword hilt with both hands, he drove it deeper. Blood gushed endlessly from Zhu Qingyi's heart, turning the soil beneath her blood-red.
Zhu Qingyi's vitality was strong; even with her heart shattered, she would not die, but her body convulsed uncontrollably.
"Stop."
Situ Fengcheng shouted, holding his sword to Shi Ren's neck.
"Will you exchange or not?" Zhang Ruochen roared.
Situ Fengcheng said, "We will exchange. But you broke the rules first. Now it's one for one. As for the Sky-Burning Sword, you'll have to earn it back with your own skill."
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that since Situ Fengcheng dared to return all the hostages, he must have full confidence in annihilating them all here.
But Zhang Ruochen could not care about that now. He only wanted to rescue Shi Ren immediately, unwilling to watch him suffer any longer. Even if there truly was a net spread wide, he would fight to the death, tearing it apart.