Chapter 1443: News of the Phoenix Nest
The Rakshasa Princess stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen, her beautiful eyes blazing with anger. She quickly crossed her jade-like arms over her chest and said, "How can you be so shameless? Give me back the All-Saints Garment right now."
Zhang Ruochen picked up the All-Saints Garment that was wrapped around the tip of his sword. He could feel how incredibly smooth this sacred garment was, and there was a faint, subtle fragrance emanating from it, as if he were touching a young maiden's skin.
"A sacred garment refined from a saint's meridians and sacred veins, yet it withstood a strike from the Abyssal Ancient Sword without any damage at all," Zhang Ruochen remarked.
It could be said that the All-Saints Garment was a treasure, its value even surpassing that of the Hundred Saint Blood Armor.
The Rakshasa Princess's eyes turned as cold as two icy stars. She stopped acting coy and, with a kick of her long, slender legs in the void, transformed into a streak of white light, charging toward Zhang Ruochen to snatch the All-Saints Garment.
There was no denying that the Rakshasa Princess was a peerless seductress, with a fairy-like face and a devilish figure. Without the All-Saints Garment covering her, every inch of her skin radiated an alluring luster.
Zhang Ruochen steadied his mind and swung his sword again, slashing horizontally.
The Rakshasa Princess simply reached out and grabbed the blade of the Abyssal Ancient Sword, then wrapped her legs around Zhang Ruochen's neck.
Her slender, smooth, and perfectly rounded legs were a dazzling expanse of white, breathtakingly beautiful. Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen dared not appreciate that beauty. He quickly formed a blazing flame palm strike and aimed it at her calf.
The Rakshasa Princess twisted her ankle, dodging Zhang Ruochen's palm strike. In the next moment, her lithe body coiled around Zhang Ruochen's, one jade-like arm locking around his neck while the other grabbed the All-Saints Garment. "Sometimes, even if you have the power to move mountains and seas, you can't use it at close range," she said.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed. "Your speed is indeed impressive. But don't you think wrapping yourself around me like this is a bit disadvantageous for you?"
The Rakshasa Princess pressed her red lips close to Zhang Ruochen's ear and chuckled, "A very wise elder from my clan once divined my fate for me. He said that whoever could take off my All-Saints Garment would be my destined one. So, since you're already my destined person, letting you take a little advantage is no big deal."
Zhang Ruochen didn't believe a word she said. He replied calmly, "Taking off your All-Saints Garment isn't that hard. You must have quite a few destined ones."
The Rakshasa Princess's brows furrowed. She snatched the All-Saints Garment back, lightly slapped Zhang Ruochen on the back, then released her arm from around his neck.
When she landed back on the ground, she had already put the All-Saints Garment back on. She cast a resentful glance at Zhang Ruochen and said, "I tell you the truth, and you don't believe me. You're really no fun."
The Rakshasa Princess's strength was truly unfathomable. Her speed was at least a third faster than Zhang Ruochen's, and no matter what defensive measures he used, she could bypass them.
Zhang Ruochen had seen Saint Kings in action before, and the Rakshasa Princess's speed and spatial power would give her a decent chance of victory even against them.
She hadn't reached the Saint King realm, yet she was already on par with one.
Zhang Ruochen would only be able to threaten her with the Time Sword Art, catching her off guard.
"Truly, there is always a sky above the sky, and people beyond people. I might need to reach the peak of the True Saint realm before I have a chance to defeat her. Who is this woman? Is she really the Flame Spirit Demon Consort?"
This was the first time Zhang Ruochen had encountered such a formidable opponent, and he became even more cautious.
In truth, the Rakshasa Princess was even more shocked than Zhang Ruochen. After all, her cultivation had reached the Ultimate Saint realm, while Zhang Ruochen was only at the early True Saint stage. Yet he had managed to push her to such an embarrassing state. If word of this got back to the Rakshasa Clan, no one would believe it.
After all, among cultivators of the same realm in the Rakshasa Clan, she had never met her match.
The Rakshasa Princess had an idea and said, "The four first-rank marquises of the Rakshasa Clan have all arrived at the Giant Whale River Basin. If we keep fighting, we're just wasting our strength. Wouldn't that let the Rakshasa Clan take advantage?"
Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power and indeed sensed faint fluctuations of energy in the shadows. "First-rank marquises are among the top figures in the Rakshasa army. Any one of them can rival a Saint King. Why would four first-rank marquises all come to the Giant Whale River Basin at once?"
The Rakshasa Princess rolled her eyes at him. "That's what I've been trying to tell you, but you wouldn't let me speak. Hmph!"
Zhang Ruochen sheathed the Abyssal Ancient Sword and landed on the ground. "Speak, then."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's cold and aloof demeanor, the Rakshasa Princess felt irritated. No living being had ever dared to be so arrogant and rude in front of her. But she restrained herself and said, "Have you heard of the Phoenix Nest?"
"The Phoenix Nest of the Ice-Fire Phoenix?"
A gleam of light flashed in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
He had come to the Giant Whale River Basin to find the Phoenix Nest with Mu Lingxi and claim the Ice-Fire Phoenix's inheritance.
Could the Phoenix Nest be in the Giant Whale River Basin?
The Rakshasa Princess said, "The Ice-Fire Phoenix was the strongest being below the gods in the Ancestral Spirit Realm, and the Phoenix Nest is one of the most valuable treasures in the entire realm. The treasures inside the Phoenix Nest can elevate a saint to greatness overnight, give a Saint King a chance to break through to the Great Saint realm, and even Great Saints covet it. Who wouldn't want such a massive opportunity?"
"Most of the resources in the Ancestral Spirit Realm have been plundered by the Rakshasa Clan. Now, only the Phoenix Nest still holds extraordinary value. Naturally, the Rakshasa marquises have swarmed here."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Is the Phoenix Nest in the Giant Whale River Basin?"
"Exactly," the Rakshasa Princess replied.
Zhang Ruochen said, "But I know that only beings with the bloodline of the Ice Phoenix or Fire Phoenix can locate the Phoenix Nest. How did the Rakshasa Clan find it?"
The Rakshasa Princess remained calm and spoke unhurriedly, "Because the Merit Wall of the Southern World fell near the Phoenix Nest. While searching for the Merit Wall, someone discovered the Phoenix's aura and then found traces of the Phoenix Nest."
"News of the Merit Wall and the Phoenix Nest spread quickly, even reaching the ears of the Rakshasa Clan."
"Now, a large number of Rakshasa marquises are rushing here. We must get there before them, break through the barrier, and seize the treasures of the Phoenix Nest. We absolutely cannot let the Rakshasa Clan plunder the Ancestral Spirit Realm's treasures again."
Zhang Ruochen pondered her words carefully.
The Phoenix Nest was bound to be extremely dangerous. He might not be able to handle it alone.
This woman was powerful and could be useful.
"How do we cooperate?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Rakshasa Princess's eyes lit up. "We're both space cultivators. If we work together, we can definitely break through the Phoenix Nest's barrier. Then we'll split the treasures inside fifty-fifty. As a reward, I'll also give you half of the Rakshasa blood and residual souls."
"With such generous terms, I have no reason to refuse," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Rakshasa Princess squinted with a smile. "Our Great Demon Ten Directions Realm is far stronger than the other six realms, so there's no need to worry about finishing last in the merit battle. Giving you half of the Rakshasa blood and residual souls is no big deal."
"Alright. Since the Demon Consort is so generous, I accept this cooperation. But I need to contact my friend first and meet up with her," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Male or female?" the Rakshasa Princess asked.
Zhang Ruochen didn't answer. He took out three message light talismans, inscribed a message on each, and then sent them out.
This time, the Rakshasa Princess didn't intercept them.
However, she looked curious and asked warily, "Why three message light talismans?"
"With your strength, are you afraid I'll call for help to deal with you?" Zhang Ruochen countered.
The Rakshasa Princess wasn't afraid at all. Not only was she incredibly powerful—arguably the strongest in the Ancestral Spirit Realm—but she also had a large number of Rakshasa warriors under her command. Even if Zhang Ruochen had earth-shattering abilities, he couldn't escape her grasp.
The other two message light talismans Zhang Ruochen sent were for Han Qiu and A Le, summoning them to help him deal with the Rakshasa Princess.
Zhang Ruochen was well aware that once the Phoenix Nest was opened, the Rakshasa Princess wouldn't share the treasures with him. That would be the moment they turned on each other.
He had to make some preparations in advance, or else she would have complete control.
The Sacred Flower of Devouring, the Nine-Headed Azure Bird, and Qing Mo returned from afar, standing behind Zhang Ruochen and the Rakshasa Princess respectively.
Zhang Ruochen asked the Sacred Flower of Devouring, "How much longer until you break through to the Ultimate Saint realm?"
"Just a little more. Another day or two, and I should break through," the Sacred Flower of Devouring replied, its voice echoing in Zhang Ruochen's mind.
Soon after, Zhang Ruochen received a light talisman back from Mu Lingxi.
Reading the content on the talisman, Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised and muttered to himself, "She went to the Phoenix Nest alone. Quite bold."
The Rakshasa Princess asked, "Can we set off now?"
"Let's go."
Zhang Ruochen retracted the Sacred Flower of Devouring into his body, then glanced at Qing Mo. After a moment's thought, he said, "For the next two months, you'll stay by my side."
Qing Mo quickly shook her head. "No, I still need to hunt Rakshasa cultivators and accumulate merit points."
"With your battlefield experience, any second-rank marquis could capture you and refine you into a pill," Zhang Ruochen said, grabbing Qing Mo's wrist and dragging her onto the back of the Nine-Headed Azure Bird.
The Nine-Headed Azure Bird's body expanded to over a hundred zhang in length, radiating azure sacred light and carrying a faint trace of Phoenix aura.
Zhang Ruochen took out a thick stack of protective talismans from his space ring—several hundred in total—and handed them all to Qing Mo. "Stick them on your body. As many as you can."
These protective talismans had all been taken from cultivators of the Blade Prison Realm, Purple Mansion Realm, and Rakshasa Clan. The ones he gave to Qing Mo were just a portion.
Seeing several hundred high-grade protective talismans, Qing Mo was startled.
Each protective talisman was incredibly valuable. Sticking several hundred of them on her body would allow her to hold out for a while even against a Saint King.