Chapter 1363: Stand in My Way, and Die
Outside the palace gate, a layer of mysterious power permeated the air. The other cultivators could not hear Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen's conversation and had no idea what was happening.
"Why is Zhang Ruochen spitting blood? Could the Empress have injured him from afar?"
"Are you stupid? The Empress is a great deity. With just a thought, she could annihilate Zhang Ruochen's divine form and soul. If she were to strike, how could it be just a minor injury?"
...
The crowd buzzed with discussion, all extremely curious about what Huang Yanchen had said to Zhang Ruochen that could make a Saint-realm powerhouse spit blood.
At the very top of the Ziwei Palace, layers of divine clouds gathered. Within the seven-colored divine clouds lay the Heavenly Lake.
The Heavenly Lake was thirty li long, nineteen zhang deep, and a deep blue color.
At the center of the Heavenly Lake was the residence of Empress Chi Yao—the Yuanchu Sacred Hall.
At this moment, the Nine Heavenly Mysterious Maidens were all standing outside the Yuanchu Sacred Hall, by the shore of the Heavenly Lake. Like nine divine maidens untouched by worldly affairs, they stood above the nine heavens, their sacred eyes gazing down at the earth below, fixed on Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen.
They did not know the exact situation, but they knew that Zhang Ruochen had gone too far today. To dare offend a deity—he was surely doomed.
Canglan Martial Saint, clad in Phoenix Flame Armor with flames burning around her, had a constantly shifting expression on her face. Finally, as if making a major decision, she turned around, knelt toward the Yuanchu Sacred Hall, and raised her voice: "Your Majesty, Zhang Ruochen is not a great evil. At Xianji Mountain, he once saved me and six female saints and killed no fewer than ten Blood Saints of the Undying Blood Clan. This is a monumental achievement, enough to offset any fault. I beg Your Majesty to spare his life."
Outside the Yuanchu Sacred Hall, silence reigned. Everyone stared at Canglan Martial Saint with pitying eyes. At this moment, she dared to plead for Zhang Ruochen? Could she not see the danger?
Shengshu Cainü was much calmer than Canglan Martial Saint. She understood very well that the conflict between Zhang Ruochen and the Empress was not about any mistake Zhang Ruochen had made, but about other grievances.
Therefore, no matter how many merits Zhang Ruochen accumulated, if the Empress wanted to kill him, she would still kill him.
Although she understood this truth in her heart, seeing Zhang Ruochen spit blood still caused her pain.
"Thump."
Shengshu Cainü knelt to the ground.
Seeing this, the other Mysterious Maidens all showed surprised expressions. They had not expected that the brilliantly intelligent Shengshu Cainü would also lose her composure.
Shengshu Cainü was silent for a moment, organizing her words. After a long while, she said, "I report to Your Majesty: Zhang Ruochen is a meritorious figure for humanity and must not be killed."
"First, Zhang Ruochen ventured into the Underworld, survived countless dangers, and brought back the stone talisman of Qiangu Nüdi, sealing the Corpse River and blocking the passage to the Underworld, preventing billions of undead spirits and ghostly fiends from entering the Kunlun Realm. This is a great merit for saving all living beings. Killing him would surely invite criticism from the world."
"Second, in the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm, Zhang Ruochen not only saved the lives of hundreds of thousands of human elites but also struck fear into the various barbarian beast clans, greatly boosting humanity's prestige. He can be called a hero of the race. Throughout history, no deity of any race has ever killed a hero of their own race."
"Third, when Your Majesty was not in the imperial city, the Undying Blood Clan slaughtered the world, treating humans as livestock and grain. Zhang Ruochen not only presented the 'Blood Clan Secret Scroll' but also fought a desperate battle against the Undying Blood Clan, killing countless enemies. This is a merit for the entire world. To kill him... the people of the world would not accept it!"
The other Mysterious Maidens were all moved. They felt that Shengshu Cainü was too bold. On the surface, she was listing Zhang Ruochen's achievements, but anyone with a bit of wisdom could tell that she was using the people of the world to pressure the Empress.
The Empress was a deity, the only deity in the Kunlun Realm. Threatening her—what difference was there from seeking death?
"Thump."
Qing Mo's appearance and figure had changed greatly, but she still seemed delicate and timid. Yet, for some unknown reason, she also knelt down. However, she remained silent, not knowing what to say.
She was the Miraculous Hand Divine Maiden among the Nine Heavenly Mysterious Maidens.
Finally, from within the Yuanchu Sacred Hall, the Empress's voice rang out: "I disdain to kill an ant. But if an ant wants to offend its superior, how can I tolerate it? Since you want to kneel, then kneel forever."
...
...
The bloody tears in Zhang Ruochen's eyes disappeared, and his gaze gradually turned sharp. He stepped forward one step at a time and said coldly, "Step aside. I want to see Chi Yao. I want to ask her face to face."
Huang Yanchen stood outside the vermilion palace gate and shook her head. "Go back. You won't be able to see her."
Every word Zhang Ruochen spoke carried killing intent. "Stand in my way, and die."
"The Ziwei Palace is not a place you can just barge into."
Inside the palace gate, a tall figure appeared, holding a Qilin long spear. The iron boots on his feet struck the ground, producing a series of clanging sounds.
Gradually, Chi Wansui's face was revealed as he walked to the front of Huang Yanchen.
Following him, Beigong Lan, Xue Wuye, Lidi Heshang, Ouyang Heng, Suihan, Gai Tianjiao, and another figure completely wrapped in a black robe walked out together.
The nine Realm Sons stood in a row, facing Zhang Ruochen. Each was a peerless genius rarely seen in ten thousand years, exuding a powerful aura.
The figure wrapped in the black robe was very tall and slender, holding a black staff. Only a woman's form could be discerned, but no one had ever seen her true face. She was the most mysterious of the nine Realm Sons, known to all as "Mi Yingzi."
The nine Realm Sons—each could be invincible in any other era, each could dominate alone, each had created their own legends, capable of killing enemies across several realms. Although Zhang Ruochen's fame had somewhat overshadowed them, they remained legends of humanity.
It was not easy to see even one Realm Son on ordinary days, but today they appeared together, naturally causing a huge sensation in the Central Imperial City.
"Amitabha. Benefactor Zhang, my master has no intention to kill today. As long as you do not step through the gate of the Ziwei Palace, I can guarantee your life will be safe," Lidi Heshang said.
Gai Tianjiao was all muscle, full of masculine vigor, but looking at Zhang Ruochen, he was extremely conflicted. "What are you doing? What kind of grudge is this? Leave the imperial city quickly. I don't want to fight you."
Beigong Lan's expression was also complicated. "Leave quickly. Don't force us to act."
"Stand in my way, and die."
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen's heart was filled with nothing but killing intent, with no other thoughts. He moved his arm, and the Abyssal Ancient Sword let out a piercing sword cry.
Then, a burst of ten-thousand-zhang sacred light erupted from his body. A patch of five-colored clouds condensed above his head. He stamped his foot on the ground, turning into a streak of light, charging straight toward the gate of the Ziwei Palace.
The nine Realm Sons acted simultaneously. Except for Ouyang Heng and Huang Yanchen, all of them struck with their Realm Son Seals.
The seven Realm Son Seals, like seven jade mountains, released an imperial aura, each condensing a huge figure of the Empress, pressing down toward Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing Chi Yao's form appear, the anger in Zhang Ruochen's chest surged to its peak. He swung his sword, dragging out a long river of sword energy.
"Boom, rumble."
The seven Empress figures were all shattered. The seven Realm Sons were simultaneously sent flying backward, crashing into the palace wall before falling down.
This was a crushing momentum. With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, how could they possibly contend with him?
Chi Wansui knelt on one knee, clutching his chest, staring at Zhang Ruochen in shock. "So strong."
"Whoosh—"
At that moment, from the very top of the Ziwei Palace, within the Yuanchu Sacred Hall at the center of the Heavenly Lake, nine beams of seven-colored divine light flew out, descending from the sky and entering the bodies of the nine Realm Sons.
The cultivation of the nine Realm Sons soared rapidly. In an instant, each reached a level not weaker than Zhang Ruochen's.
Chi Wansui stood up again, vanishing from his spot. When he reappeared, he was already standing before Zhang Ruochen, sweeping his Qilin long spear horizontally.
"Roar."
A Qilin phantom several tens of zhang in size appeared on the long spear, emitting a deafening roar as it pounced with claws bared.
Zhang Ruochen did not stop. He charged forward with his physical body, holding his sword in his right hand while forming a fist seal with his left, colliding with the sweeping Qilin long spear.
"Boom."
One arm actually blocked the Qilin long spear.
Chi Wansui was secretly startled and tried to retreat, but he saw Zhang Ruochen already swinging his sword down toward his head. It was too late to retreat, so he could only try to avoid his head.
"Slash."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword cut down from Chi Wansui's right shoulder, severing his collarbone and four ribs, stopping only when it reached his chest.
It was not that Zhang Ruochen did not want to split Chi Wansui in half, but Beigong Lan had drawn her sword, blocking Zhang Ruochen's sword momentum.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze sharpened. He glared at Beigong Lan to his lower right and directly released his grip on the Abyssal Ancient Sword. He opened his palm, and the seven orifices in his palm opened, condensing a patch of blood cloud as he struck down with the fastest possible speed.
Beigong Lan's expression changed. She quickly withdrew her sacred sword and counterattacked, thrusting the sword tip toward Zhang Ruochen's palm.
Even so, she could not force Zhang Ruochen back.
Zhang Ruochen's palm was pierced through by her sacred sword, blood gushing out, but as if he felt no pain, he continued along the sword body, striking down with undiminished force.
"You..."
Beigong Lan had not expected Zhang Ruochen to be so ruthless toward himself.
With a booming sound, Zhang Ruochen's palm slammed Beigong Lan into the ground, leaving her lying there, blood flowing from her seven orifices, unable to stand up again.
Zhang Ruochen raised his tattered palm and struck Chi Wansui's head, shattering half of his skull and sending him flying backward, embedding him directly into the city wall, his life or death unknown.
Zhang Ruochen's expression was blank as he continued forward.
"Clang."
A sword cry rang out.
Xue Wuye's figure silently appeared before Zhang Ruochen. Before his form materialized, a dazzling sacred sword had already appeared, with thousands of sword energies converging into a single point.
The person had not yet arrived, but the sword had already come first.