# Chapter 1470: Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden
With a violent collision, the artifact spirits of the Lintian War Halberd and the Giant Axe were torn apart by the thunderous lightning torrent, letting out two mournful cries before retreating back into the sacred artifacts.
Heavenly Halberd Marquis and White Cloud Marquis were both slightly startled. They quickly grabbed hold of the Lintian War Halberd and Giant Axe, resisting the surging thunderous lightning torrent.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen charged out from the thunderous lightning torrent, wielding the Abyssal Ancient Sword. He launched a series of dozens of fierce attacks, forcing the two First-Class Marquises to continuously retreat backward, able only to defend passively, looking extremely embarrassed (langbei).
"Get down."
Zhang Ruochen raised the Abyssal Ancient Sword with one hand. Within the sword body, dense inscriptions emerged, emitting a pitch-black sword light like ink.
At the same time, bolts of lightning chains descended from the nine heavens above, connecting with the sword tip.
Zhang Ruochen slashed out with his sword, severing the Giant Axe in White Cloud Marquis's hand and the Lintian War Halberd in Heavenly Halberd Marquis's hand. Lightning and sword energy struck their bodies, sending them flying horizontally, crashing heavily to the ground.
However, both White Cloud Marquis and Heavenly Halberd Marquis possessed extremely powerful protective treasures on their bodies, which managed to block the destructive force of the Abyssal Ancient Sword, saving their lives.
"What kind of battle weapon is this? How can it be so powerful?"
Heavenly Halberd Marquis felt as if his internal organs had been shattered, burning with pain. Lying on the ground, he looked at the war halberd that had been broken into two pieces in his hand, feeling a sense of shock.
White Cloud Marquis's body was covered in sword wounds, with large amounts of blood flowing out. Fortunately, his physical body was quite strong, so he could still hold on.
The other First-Class Marquises all showed expressions of disbelief, forced to treat this great enemy from the human race with even greater caution.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was like a War God radiating blood light all over his body, his aura powerful, his gaze sweeping contemptuously over the assembled Rakshasa Marquises. "Pathetically weak."
These words were too arrogant, enraging all the First-Class Marquises.
"Courting death."
"This Marquis will break your hands and feet, imprison you forever, cut off a piece of your flesh every day, making you wish you were dead but unable to die, and unable to live even if you wanted to."
Chengxuan Marquis took out a scroll painting and unfurled it before Zhang Ruochen. On the scroll was depicted a blazing sun and a demonic beast bound by chains.
As evil Rakshasa energy surged into the scroll, a sun like a blazing furnace rushed out from the painting, hovering above the divine hall.
Zhang Ruochen looked up at that sun, able to sense the extremely violent (kuangbao) power contained within it. If it were to fall, even he might not be able to withstand it.
"Roar!"
A deafening beast roar sounded, causing the entire space to tremble slightly.
The demonic beast from the scroll slowly walked out, its body dozens of zhang tall, entirely wrapped in iron chains. Every step forward it took produced a "clanking" sound.
From the aura emanating from the demonic beast, Zhang Ruochen could judge that its strength was comparable to an eighth-level barbarian beast. In other words, its power was enough to contend with a human Saint King.
Clearly, Chengxuan Marquis's strength surpassed that of White Cloud Marquis and Heavenly Halberd Marquis. He was definitely a strong one among the First-Class Marquises.
Shengshu Cainü looked at the demonic beast slowly emerging from the scroll, her beautiful face changing slightly. "These nine First-Class Marquises each have the strength to challenge a Saint King. Even if you have a Supreme Perfect Physique, you cannot defeat them all. This matter has nothing to do with you. You should leave here quickly."
"You leave with me," Zhang Ruochen said.
Shengshu Cainü shook her head, a bitter smile in her eyes. "You should understand that I cannot leave with you."
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the other captured Mysterious Maidens, knowing in his heart that if Shengshu Cainü abandoned them to escape alone, she would never be able to overcome the psychological shadow for the rest of her life.
Death was indeed terrifying (kepa).
But living a life worse than death and being unable to die even when wanting to—that was even more terrifying.
From afar came Canglan Wusheng's voice: "Zhang Ruochen, I, Wan Canglan, have never begged anyone before. Today, I beg you to kill me."
"Alright, I'll grant your wish."
Zhang Ruochen formed hand seals with both hands, unleashing a massive sword intent. The next moment, he merged with his sword, transforming into a long sword light that shot toward Canglan Wusheng.
"That is the beautiful pet that Young Master captured. Do you think you can kill her just because you want to?"
Chengxuan Marquis controlled that sun suspended in midair, sending it crashing down toward Zhang Ruochen, colliding with the long sword light.
Zhang Ruochen activated thirty protective talismans in succession while still controlling the Abyssal Ancient Sword to pierce through the sun, slashing down toward Chengxuan Marquis who stood behind it.
White Cloud Marquis, Heavenly Halberd Marquis, and Evil Hundred Marquis—three First-Class Marquises—attacked Zhang Ruochen from three different directions.
"Heaven and Earth Reversal."
White Cloud Marquis stood in a horse stance, raising both palms upward, condensing a huge (juda) white light sphere above his head.
As the white light sphere spun rapidly, the entire space within the divine hall seemed to rotate along with it.
"Ten Thousand Calamity Finger."
Heavenly Halberd Marquis extended a finger, channeling "Sharpness Rules" into it, sending out a finger force three meters in diameter.
Evil Hundred Marquis, meanwhile, carried a bone shield—a shield refined from the bones of a Great Saint. Once evil Rakshasa energy was injected into it, it could even stimulate (jifa) a trace of Great Saint power.
Chengxuan Marquis controlled the demonic beast, also launching an attack at Zhang Ruochen.
Four First-Class Marquises joined forces (lianshou), finally managing to intercept Zhang Ruochen, forcing him to withdraw. Otherwise, even if he could kill Canglan Wusheng, he himself would probably die.
Zhang Ruochen reached out with his finger to grasp at the void, wanting to mobilize spatial power, only to find that this space had been sealed.
In the distance, Lingquan Young Master held a peculiar purple stone in his palm. From the purple stone emanated strands of divine light, as if it were a purple divine mountain, suppressing the space.
"Even if you cultivate an Eternal Dao, you cannot be invincible. There are always things in heaven and earth that can suppress your power." Lingquan Young Master laughed.
"Is that so?"
Zhang Ruochen traced lines in the void with his finger, then condensed a Time Imprint. Flicking his finger, the Time Imprint flew out and landed on Lingquan Young Master.
"What is that?"
Even mobilizing the power of the purple stone, Lingquan Young Master could not block the Time Imprint. He quickly examined himself internally, finding that much of his life energy had been lost—at least a dozen years of his lifespan.
Lingquan Young Master's expression turned extremely cold. He shouted, "Be careful, everyone. This person can also control the power of time."
Zhang Ruochen activated the second level of the Hundred Saint Blood Armor, causing the soul shadows of a hundred mid-level Saints to manifest.
"Boom."
He swung his sword in a slash.
Evil Hundred Marquis, holding the Great Saint Bone Shield, was struck to one knee, letting out a muffled sound.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to deliver a second blow to completely (chedi) cripple Evil Hundred Marquis, a sacred art from Heavenly Halberd Marquis flew in from behind. Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to meet it, swinging his war sword to shatter the sacred art.
This great battle was extremely fierce (jilie).
Zhang Ruochen, with the strength of one man, fought against four First-Class Marquises, as if he had inexhaustible power. Although there were moments when he was nearly hit, overall, he held a slight advantage.
The few First-Class Marquises who had not yet joined the battle were also shaken.
This human male's combat power was simply too abnormal (biantai). Even someone like Lingquan Young Master might not be able to simultaneously fight four First-Class Marquises.
Lingquan Young Master finally understood why the Princess placed so much importance on Zhang Ruochen. This fellow was indeed quite extraordinary.
As long as he lived, he was a huge (juda) threat.
At this moment, Lingquan Young Master changed his mind and ordered, "All Marquises attack together. Cut him down."
Except for Xianli Marquis, who was still suppressing Chu Siyuan, the other four First-Class Marquises all dropped their Saint-Binding Chains and attacked Zhang Ruochen.
In their view, the several Mysterious Maidens posed no threat at all. Only Zhang Ruochen was truly terrifying.
Seizing this opportunity, Shengshu Cainü pressed her jade-white hands together, releasing seven Sacred Soul avatars that rushed in seven directions, grabbing the seven Mysterious Maidens bound by Saint-Binding Chains and bringing them all back to her side.
At the same time, Qing Mo also rushed up from below the steps, appearing behind Shengshu Cainü. The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens gathered together, forming an extremely beautiful scene.
Lingquan Young Master glanced at them, a contemptuous smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Even if you save them, what use is it? Do you think you can escape from this Young Master's grasp?"
Shengshu Cainü's eyelashes slightly upturned, her red lips parting as she said, "Nine Heavens Mysterious Maidens, blood compatible, sacred energy interwoven, merge as one."
Suddenly, Shengshu Cainü, Canglan Wusheng, Qing Mo, Siming Shennü... their bodies radiated brilliant divine light. Mysterious acupoints opened on them, shooting out thousands of light threads that interwove their power together.
Above Shengshu Cainü's head appeared a white sky, with characters imprinted upon it.
Above Canglan Wusheng's head appeared a crimson red sky, with a blazing sun shining in the mid-heaven.
Above Qing Mo's head appeared a cyan sky, with various rays of light emerging, transforming into strange (qiyi) clouds.
...
The nine Mysterious Maidens each cultivated different techniques, yet there existed some wonderful (qimiao) connection between them.
One person, one layer of heaven.
Nine people, nine layers of heaven.
At this moment, the nine layers of heaven merged into one, and then the bodies of the nine Mysterious Maidens also overlapped, transforming into a stunningly beautiful, ethereal divine maiden.
Seeing this, Lingquan Young Master was also quite shocked. Nine beauties could actually merge into one body? Too bizarre.
What technique were they cultivating?
Without further hesitation, Lingquan Young Master clenched his five fingers into a fist and attacked, his fist imprint becoming enormous, like a small asteroid from beyond the universe, crashing toward the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden radiating divine light.
"Whoosh—"
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden extended a snow-white jade hand, holding the Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book, and pressed forward. Instantly, billions of characters flew out, like raindrops striking Lingquan Young Master's body, sending him flying backward.