Chapter 1450: Truth Rules
Zhang Ruochen took out the Buddha Emperor Relic, holding it in his left palm. Immediately, tens of thousands of golden Buddhist characters appeared, forming a spherical golden light barrier that protected Mu Lingxi, Su Qingling, and the others.
The saints of the Blade Prison Realm also retreated into the distance. Six Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts rose from among them, radiating six rings of bright sacred light.
In the central area, Fang Yi and the Rakshasa Princess stood in midair, their sacred Dao auras growing increasingly powerful.
Behind Fang Yi, a massive white figure emerged, more than a hundred times taller than his true body.
He let out a soft shout: "Supreme True Shadow."
Immediately, a white beam of light shot out from the forehead of that enormous white figure.
The next moment, the entire dark space trembled slightly, forming rippling energy waves like water.
Fang Yi's Supreme True Shadow was condensed from the most extreme sacred Dao rules, able to harmonize with heaven and earth, thus allowing him to mobilize the power of heaven and earth to a certain extent.
Su Qingling, Bu Ji, and Qing Mo were all top-tier geniuses, yet upon seeing Fang Yi's strike, their expressions changed.
With just this one attack, Fang Yi could likely kill them.
The Rakshasa Princess, like a peerless celestial maiden, stood beneath the massive white figure. Between two of her fingers, a cyan feather appeared.
"Whoosh—"
The feather, like a fan, waved gently.
Instantly, the sharp white beam of light dispersed, splitting into hundreds of streams of energy that flew outward in all directions.
At the same time, from the cyan feather, over a thousand fireballs flew out, like a rain of fire crossing the sky, converging in the void to form twelve flaming dragons.
"Roar!"
Those flaming dragons, all composed of Nanling Dragon Fire, circled around Fang Yi, intertwining to form a fireball a hundred zhang in diameter.
From a distance, it seemed as if Fang Yi had been devoured by the twelve fire dragons.
The Rakshasa Princess acted decisively, using Space Displacement to appear near the fireball. She formed a hand seal with both hands and pressed a palm strike toward the fireball's interior, leaving Fang Yi no escape.
The palm print grew larger and larger, and the flame aura contained in the palm force grew stronger.
Even though the saints of the Blade Prison Realm had great confidence in Fang Yi, they couldn't help but feel worried and tense at this moment, after all, the "Flame Demon Consort" had a fearsome reputation and was also a super-strong expert.
"Break for me."
Inside the fireball, Fang Yi roared up to the sky. Immediately, a surging force erupted from the "White Micro Star" at his brow, like a massive wave crashing outward.
The twelve fire dragons formed from Nanling Dragon Fire were shattered by this force, scattering into palm-sized flames.
However, the Rakshasa Princess was not pushed back. Instead, she pressed forward against the current, her flaming hand seal getting closer and closer to Fang Yi.
Ten zhang, nine zhang, eight zhang...
A rumbling roar filled Fang Yi's ears, as if the very space around him was collapsing.
Five zhang, four zhang...
...
Fang Yi's eyes widened, and a blinding white light burst from his pupils. The massive white sacred shadow floating behind him transformed into a white wheel, merging with the power of the "Hundred Micro Star" and hurtling toward the Rakshasa Princess.
"Boom."
The white wheel collided with the flaming palm print.
Instantly, all the cultivators in that dark space were sent flying backward.
Even the powerful Rakshasa Princess was forced back four steps before stabilizing herself.
Fang Yi, on the other hand, was knocked back sixty-seven steps. The sacred Qi within him became extremely chaotic, his face alternating between pale and dark—clearly, he had sustained some internal injuries.
"Even with the White Micro Star and the Supreme True Shadow, I still end up at a clear disadvantage. How can the Flame Demon Consort be this powerful?"
The White Micro Star at Fang Yi's brow was not just a mark; it was a real planet.
Moreover, it was the Divine Throne Planet of an ancient god.
Although that ancient god had long since fallen and the star soul of the Divine Throne Planet had dissipated, it still contained unparalleled terrifying power.
Fang Yi had spent nearly thirty years refining the Divine Throne Planet into his body, a process that was extremely arduous and perilous.
He had thought that after refining a Divine Throne Planet, even if he wasn't invincible at the same cultivation level, he would at least be among the strongest. Yet, he had encountered such a formidable opponent in the Rakshasa Princess so quickly, shaking his once-unshakable confidence in victory.
The Rakshasa Princess's heart was also unsettled.
Since childhood, she had faced countless top-tier geniuses, but very few had been able to withstand three of her full-power strikes and survive.
"To think you could refine a Divine Throne Planet into your body. Your strength truly exceeds my expectations."
The Rakshasa Princess's soul-stealing demon eyes emitted rings of dark red light.
Fang Yi's eyes met the Rakshasa Princess's gaze for a moment, and then his expression became dazed, his body beginning to sway unsteadily.
At that moment, the Rakshasa Princess launched the cyan feather from her hand, turning it into a streak of cyan light aimed at Fang Yi's brow.
The saints of the Blade Prison Realm all cursed "demoness" under their breath and simultaneously unleashed their sacred artifacts, attacking toward the Rakshasa Princess in an attempt to block the cyan feather.
But the cyan feather was too fast; in an instant, it had already reached Fang Yi.
Just as it seemed Fang Yi's head would be pierced, the Celestial Compass in his hand suddenly vibrated violently, emitting nine layers of white light.
The cyan feather collided with the nine layers of white light, producing nine thunderous explosions.
Hearing the loud noise, Fang Yi snapped back to his senses, cold sweat pouring down his back. Seeing the cyan feather so close, he immediately launched the flying knife in his hand.
"Whoosh—"
The one-inch-long white flying knife shattered the cyan feather, unleashing extreme penetrating power as it flew toward the Rakshasa Princess.
At the same time, Fang Yi pressed his hands forward. An incredibly mysterious force from heaven and earth infused the flying knife, causing its light to surge, its speed to increase, and its power to more than triple.
"How is this possible... what kind of power is that?"
Zhang Ruochen found it hard to believe and couldn't comprehend how the power of Fang Yi's knife strike had suddenly increased so dramatically.
Su Qingling also gasped, her expression extremely grave. "It should be... the legendary Truth Rules."
"The Way of Truth among the Nine Eternal Paths?" Zhang Ruochen's heart shook even more.
Su Qingling said, "I've only heard my grandfather mention it. Cultivators who comprehend the Way of Truth can mobilize Truth Rules to enhance their martial techniques and sacred arts, multiplying their power several times over. With just one strike, they can kill an opponent of equal strength."
"The Eternal Paths are truly monstrous." Bu Ji remarked.
Su Qingling continued, "It's said that to comprehend the Way of Truth, one must go to the Truth Temple to cultivate. Every ten years, the Guanghan Realm has three slots to enter the Truth Temple for training. These three are selected from the Ultimate Saints."
"Two years ago, Wu Hao and two other Ultimate Saints entered the Truth Temple for training. Only he comprehended the Way of Truth; the other two gained nothing."
Bu Ji said, "Comprehending the Way of Truth is no ordinary feat. Only figures like Wu Hao and Fang Yi can succeed."
Su Qingling nodded and added, "Those who comprehend the Way of Truth are indeed a cut above the rest. At the Saint realm, they are virtually invincible, able to command the wind and rain. However, they can only mobilize simple Truth Rules to enhance their attack and defense; they are not true Truth Controllers."
"Those who truly control Truth can activate the Divine Martial Mark of Truth and integrate Truth Rules into their own sacred soul. Such beings are called Sons of Truth, even more formidable than Fang Yi and Wu Hao."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Is it impossible to comprehend the Way of Truth without going to the Truth Temple?"
"Not necessarily."
Su Qingling shook her head and continued, "When figures like Fang Yi and Wu Hao mobilize Truth Rules, the Truth Rules themselves manifest. Therefore, observing their battles might allow one to comprehend Truth Rules. Of course, it's extremely difficult; ordinary geniuses wouldn't have such insight."
Zhang Ruochen fixed his gaze on the trajectory of the flying knife, observing the fluctuations of Truth Rules while also wanting to see if the Rakshasa Princess could counter this strike.
The Rakshasa Princess did not use space power. Instead, she also mobilized Truth Rules and pressed a palm strike directly forward. The Ten Thousand Saint Plain Garment on her body seemed to manifest ten thousand sacred shadows, merging with the Truth Rules.
"Boom."
Both the flying knife and Fang Yi were sent flying.
Blood trickled from Fang Yi's mouth as he stared at the Rakshasa Princess in disbelief. He had been confident of victory, yet he was ultimately defeated.
She was too powerful—the greatest enemy he had faced since embarking on the path of cultivation.
"Retreat! Leave this place immediately."
Fang Yi knew he had to flee today.
Only by escaping could he survive.
Otherwise, with two space cultivators joining forces, plus the Divine Artifact in the hands of the Guanghan Realm Divine Envoy, the saints of the Blade Prison Realm would likely be annihilated.
He flew out first, charging toward the passage they had entered earlier.
The saints of the Blade Prison Realm had also witnessed the Rakshasa Princess's terrifying strength, their hearts trembling with fear. They all followed Fang Yi, fleeing outward.
"Stop them."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were cold. After saying this, he launched the Buddha Emperor Relic, using the Great Saint Source power to kill a True Saint-level being.
At the same time, the Rakshasa Princess used space power to intercept Fang Yi.
The Nine-Headed Cyan Bird, Bu Ji, Su Qingling, Mu Lingxi, and Qing Mo also acted. Some followed behind Zhang Ruochen, directly attacking the Blade Prison Realm saints, while others stood at a distance, unleashing war weapons to strike at the saints lagging behind.
Even in retreat, the Blade Prison Realm saints maintained their formation, not scattering like a rabble. Even when Zhang Ruochen pursued them, he couldn't break them all at once, instead triggering an even more intense melee.