Chapter 1452: White Space
The so-called "bright moon" was actually a suspended circular jade stone, a full thirty-three zhang in diameter. Only by flying close to it would one realize just how enormous it truly was.
The aura emanating from the circular jade stone was extremely cold, its surface covered in a layer of frost.
Standing ten zhang away, Zhang Ruochen observed carefully and noticed a layer of liquid Condensed Truth Sacred Dew on the stone's surface. Every ten breaths, a single drop would fall.
The Rakshasa Princess's phoenix-like eyes revealed an unusual expression. "The patterns on the jade stone are connected to the entire Ancient Sacred Mountain. They can continuously condense Condensed Truth Sacred Dew. In other words, it's a spring of Condensed Truth Sacred Dew."
"A priceless treasure. Whoever obtains it would have an endless supply of Condensed Truth Sacred Dew. But just now, I clearly sensed a faint spatial fluctuation. What was that about?"
Zhang Ruochen slowly approached, releasing his spiritual power to probe while extending a finger toward the circular jade stone.
A bone-chilling cold surged toward Zhang Ruochen.
At the same time, another spatial fluctuation emanated from within the circular jade stone, generating a tremendous suction force as if trying to devour Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen's expression shifted slightly. He quickly mobilized his spatial power, attempting to use Spatial Displacement to escape.
However, the more he mobilized his spatial power, the stronger the suction force from the circular jade stone became.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen couldn't resist the force and was swallowed by the circular jade stone. He felt a dizzying spin, and when he finally steadied himself, he found he had fallen into a white space.
This white space stood in stark contrast to the dark space outside.
The white space was even colder, with wisps of gaseous Condensed Truth Sacred Dew slithering like snakes past Zhang Ruochen.
"What is this place? Such a strange realm."
Zhang Ruochen didn't feel elated despite the abundance of gaseous Condensed Truth Sacred Dew. Instead, he found the space unsettling.
"Swoosh—"
The space trembled slightly, and the Rakshasa Princess's enchanting figure appeared in this space as well.
Zhang Ruochen quickly released his spiritual power to probe the area where the spatial disturbance had occurred, but in an instant, it stabilized again, leaving no trace of an entrance.
He withdrew his spiritual power and asked, "Why did you come in too?"
"You are my destined one. I'm quite concerned about your safety, so I rushed in," the Rakshasa Princess said with utmost seriousness.
Zhang Ruochen naturally didn't take her words seriously. Instead, he said solemnly, "Getting in is easy, but getting out is hard."
The Rakshasa Princess's spiritual power was even stronger than Zhang Ruochen's. She also probed the surroundings, trying to understand what kind of space this was.
Zhang Ruochen was more direct. He fully activated the sacred qi in his body, channeling spatial power. With a wave of his finger, he tore open a dozens-of-meters-long spatial rift and slashed it outward.
But the spatial rift closed again in an instant.
The Rakshasa Princess frowned. "A highly skilled spatial cultivator once inscribed spatial inscriptions here. Their methods were extremely sophisticated, and their spatial mastery far surpasses ours."
Among spatial cultivators, there were indeed formidable figures.
Even Zhang Ruochen, a spatial controller, might not necessarily surpass them. After all, Zhang Ruochen had only been cultivating the Way of Space for a short time, while those skilled spatial cultivators might have dedicated centuries, millennia, or even tens of millennia to it.
Zhang Ruochen also noticed some traces. "Even the most sophisticated spatial techniques are just techniques. They don't truly alter space. There must be flaws."
"Exactly. Only a spatial controller can truly change space and create complete spaces," the Rakshasa Princess nodded.
"Let's search separately. We might find the flaw and escape from here."
Zhang Ruochen activated his Heavenly Eye, scanning the white space inch by inch.
Although this place was completely isolated from the outside world, it had one advantage: it was filled with vast amounts of gaseous Condensed Truth Sacred Dew. Zhang Ruochen opened all one hundred and forty-four acupoints on his body, and the gaseous Condensed Truth Sacred Dew surged into him, rushing into the Heavenly River in his Qi Sea.
In the Heavenly River, over three hundred Sacred Dao Rules absorbed the Condensed Truth Sacred Dew and grew stronger.
...
...
In the dark space, Mu Lingxi, Qing Mo, and the others watched Zhang Ruochen and the Rakshasa Princess vanish, seemingly entering the "bright moon."
At first, they weren't too worried, given Zhang Ruochen and the Rakshasa Princess's overwhelmingly powerful cultivation levels, which should allow them to handle any crisis.
However, after waiting for two full hours without either of them emerging from the "bright moon," Mu Lingxi began to grow anxious.
"Something's wrong."
Mu Lingxi spread a pair of resplendent Ice Phoenix Wings from her back and flew toward the "bright moon."
Qing Mo, Bu Ji, Su Qingling, and the Nine-Headed Azure Bird also approached the "bright moon," but no matter what methods they tried, the "bright moon" showed no reaction.
Doubts arose in their minds: How exactly had Zhang Ruochen and the Rakshasa Princess entered the "bright moon"?
Fang Yi led over twenty saints from the Blade Prison Realm out of the canyon, fearing pursuit from Zhang Ruochen and the Rakshasa Princess. They fled down the Ancient Sacred Mountain at top speed.
Only after reaching a safe area did they stop.
Fang Yi's expression was extremely grim, not just because of his severe injuries, but also because he had never suffered such a crushing defeat in his life. His mood was heavy and resentful.
"Immediately send a message to Divine Envoy Blood Wind Spirit, telling him to come to the Giant Whale River Basin at once. Additionally, issue a Realm Son Decree to summon all saints of the Blade Prison Realm. This time, I will raze the Phoenix Nest to the ground," Fang Yi said.
Beside him, a white-haired Supreme Saint wore a grave expression. "The Great Demon Ten Directions Realm's power is immense, several times greater than the Blade Prison Realm. Are we really going to deal with the Spirit Flame Demon Consort as well?"
Fang Yi's gaze was sharp, showing no sign of retreat. "As long as we do it cleanly and leave no traces, what does it matter if we eliminate the Spirit Flame Demon Consort?"
Suddenly, a piercing sword cry came from the wind and snow.
"Watch out."
Fang Yi shouted.
"Pfft."
A sacred sword flew past, piercing through the sacred body of a Blade Prison Realm True Saint.
The sword's escaping sword energy shredded the sacred body into fragments, scattering as blood rain in the snow.
The sudden incident startled the Blade Prison Realm saints like startled birds. Thinking the Rakshasa Princess and Zhang Ruochen had caught up, they quickly gathered together and activated protective talismans.
Only Fang Yi remained calm, recognizing that the aura on the sacred sword didn't belong to Zhang Ruochen or the Rakshasa Princess but to another force.
Fang Yi's eyes darkened. "Impressive sword intent. Your strength is formidable. But making an enemy of the Blade Prison Realm is hardly a wise move."
From the wind and snow, an aged voice replied, "Is the Blade Prison Realm so fearsome? With a group of injured and crippled little ones like you, this old man can still handle you."
This remark clearly struck Fang Yi's sore spot, and killing intent erupted from him.
"Provoking this Realm Son is a death wish."
With a flick of his finger, a white flying dagger triggered a series of sonic booms, shooting at over a hundred times the speed of sound toward one direction.
"Boom."
A large burst of sword energy erupted not far away, colliding with the flying dagger.
Instantly, the snowflakes in the sky accelerated a hundredfold, turning into tiny swords with a "swish, swish" sound.
The opponent's sword intent was far stronger than Fang Yi had predicted, forcing him to channel the power of Baiwei Star to repel the sword energy.
"As expected of a Realm Son from a major world. Even injured, you're still this powerful."
Nine Nether Sword Saint, dressed in gray cloth and simple straw sandals, walked out slowly, holding a sacred sword. He made no effort to hide his admiration and respect for Fang Yi.
"Your mastery of the Sword Dao is also beyond what a saint should possess."
Fang Yi felt somewhat frustrated. In the Blade Prison Realm, he had been undefeated, but today he had encountered three formidable opponents capable of matching him.
Indeed, every major world hid dragons and crouching tigers, not to be underestimated.
Fang Yi was heavily injured, and the other Blade Prison Realm saints were also wounded, so he didn't want to make more enemies.
He said, "Relying on your strength alone to take down so many of us won't be easy. We have no grievances or enmity; there's no need for a life-or-death battle."
"No grievances or enmity?"
Nine Nether Sword Saint sneered. "The Blade Prison Realm has killed many saints from the Kunlun Realm. Such a great hatred, and you say there's no grievance?"
"Kunlun Realm... The Kunlun Realm actually has a strong one like you."
Fang Yi finally realized that battle was unavoidable today.
"The Kunlun Realm was once one of the most powerful worlds in the entire universe. Its inheritances and Dao methods are far greater than you imagine. Those who truly inherit those Dao methods are no weaker than geniuses like you with powerful innate physiques."
Nine Nether Sword Saint said no more. His black hair flew wildly as a terrifying evil qi merged with the sacred sword in his hand. He murmured softly, "Sword Eight."
The eight directions of heaven and earth trembled.
Then, Nine Nether Sword Saint's body vanished, leaving only a sacred sword charging toward Fang Yi.
Fang Yi dared not underestimate Nine Nether Sword Saint. He quickly mobilized the power of Baiwei Star, raised the Heavenly Mechanism Compass, and pressed it forward to meet the incoming sacred sword.
"Boom."
Fang Yi was sent flying dozens of li backward, dozens of bloody gashes appearing on his body. His internal injuries worsened, and his five organs and six viscera felt as if they were about to shatter.
"Not good..."
Fang Yi realized the danger and immediately burst forth at his fastest speed, rushing back to where he had been.
When he arrived, all the Blade Prison Realm saints had been killed, not a single survivor.
On the snow-covered ground lay a large pile of bloody corpses, their storage bags all taken.
Nine Nether Sword Saint had already fled, all his aura vanished.
"Roar!"
Fang Yi's eyes were bloodshot. Mad with rage, he let out a roar that shook the entire Ancient Sacred Mountain. After suffering repeated setbacks and blows, only his iron will kept him from collapsing entirely.