Chapter 1422: Divine Envoy Battle Royale
Divine beings must not be offended.
This was the most deeply ingrained belief in the hearts of all living creatures.
Yet now, in order to seize the position of Divine Envoy, they had no choice but to offend a divine being. The hearts of all the saints trembled slightly.
Zhang Ruochen, however, did not hesitate for a moment. Phantom images of a divine phoenix and a celestial luan appeared beneath his feet as he shot forward with incredible speed.
The remaining eleven True Saints were momentarily stunned, but then they too unleashed their fastest speed, charging toward the Guanghan Divine Palace.
"That sacred sword belongs to me. None of you should even think of contending with me for it."
Ji Kongpo stepped on two Kunpeng phantom shadows, his speed even surpassing Zhang Ruochen's, quickly pulling ahead.
Besides him, Su Qingling and Ling Mi were also extremely fast, starting later but arriving sooner, nearly keeping pace with Ji Kongpo.
After all, Zhang Ruochen was only at the initial stage of the Heaven-Connecting Realm. Compared to the most outstanding prodigies of the Guanghan Realm, he held no advantage in speed.
"A little brat at the Heaven-Connecting Realm dares to compete for the position of Divine Envoy? Don't block the way in front of me—get out of the way!"
From behind Zhang Ruochen, a burly man over three meters tall charged forward. With a powerful leap, his speed surged, and he threw a cyan iron fist aimed at Zhang Ruochen's back.
Before the fist arrived, a terrifying sound of wind and thunder reached Zhang Ruochen's ears first.
The burly man was not human but a primordial beast. Not only had he achieved sainthood through his physical body, but his body was also filled with chaotic qi.
Most importantly, his cultivation had reached the peak of the True Saint realm.
If he had struck an ordinary Heaven-Connecting Realm saint, even if they didn't die, they would have been severely injured.
Just then, Zhang Ruochen twisted his body, spinning around, and formed hand seals with both hands to block the attack from behind.
"Boom."
The force of the fist sent Zhang Ruochen hurtling rapidly toward the Guanghan Divine Palace, arriving beneath the palace even before Ji Kongpo, Ling Mi, and Su Qingling.
"So he could block a punch with half my strength. No wonder this kid dared to get involved—he does have some skill." The burly man was slightly stunned.
In the assembly, the saints who had not participated in the Divine Envoy battle were also dumbfounded.
"Chi Yan Qing Lang can fight for a long time against someone at the initial stage of the Ultimate Saint realm without losing. For a Heaven-Connecting Realm saint to block his punch is truly unbelievable."
"I feel like Chi Yan Qing Lang is in cahoots with him. That punch just now was clearly meant to send him straight to the foot of the Guanghan Divine Palace. Heh heh."
...
...
The Guanghan Divine Palace stood over four hundred zhang tall, majestic and grand, exquisitely beautiful, with divine light bursting forth. The steps, walls, and pillars were all built from extremely pure sacred stones and sacred jade. Upon closer inspection, one would find that these stones and jade were carved with incredibly fine patterns—flying swallows, divine maidens, soaring dragons, starry skies, and so on.
However, standing at the foot of the Guanghan Divine Palace, one felt an immense divine might pressing down.
Even with Zhang Ruochen's cultivation, it felt as if a divine mountain were weighing on him, forcing him to climb slowly upward.
Ji Kongpo, Ling Mi, and Su Qingling also reached the base of the Guanghan Divine Palace and felt the suppression of the divine might.
"A Heaven-Connecting Realm saint wants to climb to the top of the Guanghan Divine Palace? Get down here!"
Ji Kongpo was decisive, immediately attacking Zhang Ruochen. His Golden Scale Snake Spear transformed into dozens of golden beams, thrusting out simultaneously, enveloping Zhang Ruochen's entire body.
To Zhang Ruochen, it seemed as if dozens of golden pythons were baring their venomous fangs, lunging at him to tear him apart.
Forced to stop, Zhang Ruochen drew the Abyssal Ancient Sword and held it horizontally to block.
Instantly, hundreds of sword qi condensed into a shield, clashing with the dozens of snake spear phantoms.
"Bang, bang, bang."
A series of explosions rang out in the area between Ji Kongpo and Zhang Ruochen.
There was no denying that Ji Kongpo was even more formidable than Bu Ji, who was at the initial True Saint stage. No wonder Bu Ji felt pressured upon hearing that Ji Kongpo had broken through to the True Saint realm.
"He actually blocked the first form of Ji Kongpo's 'Pole-Arm Killing Art.' This Heaven-Connecting Realm saint is no ordinary person."
"Ji Kongpo, when fighting opponents of the same realm, always wins in a single move. Now, with an entire major realm above his opponent, he can't finish him off—that's truly strange."
...
Ji Kongpo's physique was exceptionally powerful. He had achieved the fourth Extreme Realm and had attained sainthood through his physical body. Compared to Wu Hao's perfect physique, he was only half a step weaker, making him a quasi-perfect physique.
At this moment, Ji Kongpo was also slightly surprised. Although he had been careless and hadn't used his full strength, that first form of the Pole-Arm Killing Art was something even few True Saints could withstand, let alone a Heaven-Connecting Realm saint.
Because of this delay, Ling Mi and Su Qingling had already climbed to a height of over thirty zhang. Wen Shusheng and Bu Ji had also caught up. Ji Kongpo dared not waste any more time, so he stopped attacking Zhang Ruochen.
Using his Golden Scale Snake Spear as a lever, Ji Kongpo launched himself upward, leaping from the ground to a height of thirty zhang. Then, he swung the spear, attacking Su Qingling above.
"What a nuisance."
From between her brows, Su Qingling sent out two sacred swords. One clashed with the Golden Scale Snake Spear, while the other struck at Ling Mi.
Since she was entangled by Ji Kongpo, she couldn't let Ling Mi get ahead either.
In an instant, the three were locked in battle.
"Qingling, I'll help you."
Bu Ji activated his Great Saint battle soul, appearing like a massive golden lion climbing the Guanghan Divine Palace, quickly approaching the battle circle.
Ji Kongpo's strength was clearly slightly inferior to Ling Mi and Su Qingling. He was knocked out of the battle circle and collided with the oncoming Bu Ji.
Thus, the two of them began fighting as well.
Zhang Ruochen skirted around the battle circle and continued climbing upward, soon reaching a height of nearly one hundred zhang.
The four who were fighting noticed someone had gotten ahead of them and immediately stopped, rushing upward in pursuit.
The higher they climbed, the greater the suppression of the divine might.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen feared divine might the least. In fact, the higher he climbed, the greater his advantage became.
Now, he had reached a height of two hundred zhang, holding the greatest advantage. He unleashed his fastest movement technique. As long as he maintained this lead, the position of Divine Envoy would be his.
Below, the assembly of saints at the Ten Thousand Saints Conference grew restless.
"Am I seeing things? A Heaven-Connecting Realm saint has surpassed Ji Kongpo, Ling Mi, Su Qingling, Wen Shusheng, Bu Ji—these renowned prodigies of the Guanghan Realm—and taken the lead?"
"That Heaven-Connecting Realm saint blocked attacks from Chi Yan Qing Lang and Ji Kongpo. How could he be ordinary?"
"Who is he? Which Great Saint does he serve?"
"Even if he doesn't win the sacred sword, he's made a name for himself today."
Wu Hao stared upward, fixing his gaze on Zhang Ruochen, a look of interest appearing on his face. "Everyone, observe carefully. There is divine might suppressing the area around the Guanghan Divine Palace."
"If I'm not mistaken, the higher one's cultivation, the greater the suppression of the divine might."
"The higher one climbs, the stronger the suppression becomes."
The surrounding saints all showed expressions of sudden realization, secretly admiring Wu Hao's keen observation.
"This makes things fairer."
"No wonder Ji Kongpo, at the initial True Saint stage, could briefly contend with Ling Mi and Su Qingling, who are at the peak of the True Saint stage. That's the reason."
"Even if the Heaven-Connecting Realm saint bears slightly less suppression from the divine might, it's still remarkable that he can stand out among so many top prodigies."
Soon, Zhang Ruochen had climbed to a height of three hundred zhang.
Below, Ling Mi and Su Qingling were closing in, having reached two hundred and fifty zhang.
Ji Kongpo was slightly behind Ling Mi and Su Qingling. Watching Zhang Ruochen at the very top, his eyes burned with intense fury, and he let out a series of long howls.
Being left behind by a nobody he had once looked down upon filled Ji Kongpo with a sense of humiliation.
Today, even if he couldn't become the Divine Envoy, he would at least knock that Heaven-Connecting Realm saint off the Guanghan Divine Palace.
"Ling Mi, I'll help you. If you get the ten thousand drops of Condensed True Sacred Dew, give me half. Deal?" Ji Kongpo said.
"Deal."
Ling Mi agreed to Ji Kongpo's terms, as she too realized that if they didn't join forces, the sacred sword might be taken by that Heaven-Connecting Realm saint.
Ten thousand drops of Condensed True Sacred Dew was a trivial matter, but she had to seize the position of Divine Envoy. She could not let the fate of the Guanghan Realm fall into the hands of a Heaven-Connecting Realm saint.
Ji Kongpo stood three zhang behind Ling Mi, forming a massive Kunpeng seal with both hands. He struck forward, sending eighteen layers of force into Ling Mi's back.
In the next moment, Ling Mi's speed surged, turning into a streak of white light as she shot upward.
"Qingling, I'll help you too." Bu Ji charged up from behind, mobilizing the power of his Great Saint battle soul. He also struck with eighteen layers of force, sending Su Qingling flying forward to catch up with Zhang Ruochen at the very front.
"Thanks! If I get the Condensed True Sacred Dew, I'll share half with you." Su Qingling's pleasant laughter rang out.
Ji Kongpo and Bu Ji had not given up on the competition for the Divine Envoy. They too were climbing with all their might.
At a height of three hundred and eighty zhang.
Ling Mi attacked Zhang Ruochen. A crystalline jade finger extended from the white, misty sacred fog.
In an instant, with her finger as the center, the laws of heaven and earth seemed to change, becoming distorted.
Zhang Ruochen sensed an extremely dangerous aura. He furiously circulated his sacred qi, and the Abyssal Ancient Sword emitted a menacing black light. With all his strength, he swung the sword toward Ling Mi.
"Boom."
The edge of the Abyssal Ancient Sword collided with Ling Mi's jade finger, producing a sound like metal striking stone, unleashing a deafening roar.
In the next moment, half black light and half white light surged outward in all directions.