Chapter 1497: A Battle of Wits and Courage
The Rakshasa Princess's cultivation had already reached the peak of the Saint realm, and she was currently impacting the realm of Half-Saint King.
Between her ten fingers, a small purple-red cauldron floated. Strands of Sacred Dao Rules emanated from the cauldron, surging into the palms of her hands.
Clearly, that small cauldron was a Rule Sacred Artifact.
When a cultivator's cultivation reached the Saint peak, the Sacred Dao Rules within their body were condensed to an extreme state. To take a further step and reach the Half-Saint King realm, or even the Saint King realm in one go, one had to comprehend deeper levels of Sacred Dao Rules.
For example, the Rakshasa Princess cultivated Space Rules. Currently, in her Qi Sea, there was only a single Space Rule at its extreme state.
This single Space Rule was a "Rule Seed." Only by continuing to comprehend the Way of Space could the "Rule Seed" take root, sprout, and continuously grow. Finally, the cultivator's Qi Sea and physical body would merge with the Space Rule, completely integrating with Heaven and Earth. That realm was the pinnacle realm below the gods.
If the Sacred Dao Rules within the Rakshasa Princess's body were currently "one," then the pinnacle realm below the gods was "infinity."
Only when "infinity" underwent a transformation could one reach the realm of the gods.
Comprehending and absorbing the Sacred Dao Rules within a Rule Sacred Artifact was a shortcut, allowing a cultivator to more easily impact the Half-Saint King realm, or even the Saint King realm in one go.
Sensing Zhang Ruochen approaching behind her, the Rakshasa Princess stopped her comprehension, put away the small purple-red cauldron, and slowly opened her lively eyes.
Zhang Ruochen sat down cross-legged beside the Rakshasa Princess and said, "Judging by your state, you're almost at the Half-Saint King realm."
"The Rule Seed has just awakened. Only after it takes root can it be considered the Half-Saint King realm," the Rakshasa Princess said, glancing sideways. Then she added, "Isn't your realm also about to reach the Saint realm?"
Both of them had sharp eyesight; just by observing each other's state, they could gauge the depth of each other's cultivation.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I'm one step away."
"Have your Space Rules and Time Rules not yet reached the ultimate and extreme level?" the Rakshasa Princess asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Are you testing me?"
Previously, Zhang Ruochen had only revealed that he was a Space Controller, possessing Space Rules within his body, but he had not exposed himself as a Time Controller.
The Rakshasa Princess's seemingly casual question was actually a test to see if Zhang Ruochen was a Time Controller.
The biggest difference between a Time cultivator and a Time Controller was whether they had Time Rules within their body.
"If you don't want to say, consider it as if I never asked," the Rakshasa Princess said.
Zhang Ruochen noticed that the Rakshasa Princess was unusually calm today, completely different from before.
In that instant, Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood.
The Rakshasa Princess was an extremely intelligent person. His series of actions must have made her realize that her identity had been exposed.
Zhang Ruochen was staying by the shores of the Nether Ice Cold Sea but deliberately refrained from seizing the Phoenix Nest. Clearly, he was intentionally holding her back.
Zhang Ruochen had left Chu Siyuan behind, and the target was also her.
Recently, every time Zhang Ruochen met with important figures, he used his Space Domain to isolate the outside world, undoubtedly to guard against her.
Although the Rakshasa Princess had realized her identity was exposed, she dared not leave because she knew Zhang Ruochen would not let her go.
With the strength of Zhang Ruochen, Chu Siyuan, A Le, and the others, it would not be easy for her to leave alone.
This was her concern.
Zhang Ruochen also had his concerns, which was why he had not yet taken down the Rakshasa Princess.
First, because of her noble status, she definitely possessed offensive treasures like Divine Artifacts. If she used them, both sides would suffer losses.
Before the Guanghan Realm's ranking reached first, Zhang Ruochen did not want to do this.
Second, even if Zhang Ruochen successfully suppressed and killed the Rakshasa Princess, it would certainly invite a siege from the Rakshasa Clan. The Spirit Flame Demon Consort might not be fully prepared yet. Starting a full-scale war now would be very disadvantageous for the Shata Seven Realms.
Since everyone already knew the truth, there was no need to continue pretending.
After a moment of thought, Zhang Ruochen said, "That's right, I do cultivate both Time and Space."
A bright light flashed in the Rakshasa Princess's eyes, and she finally showed a faint smile again. "Impressive. Throughout history, in all recorded texts, you are the third being to simultaneously control Time and Space. Here, I congratulate you in advance. After the Sacred Merit Battle, you will undoubtedly become the most sought-after proud son of Heaven in the entire Heavenly Court Realm. But I must also warn you: the tree that stands out in the forest is the first to be felled by the wind. Sometimes, you should hide your brilliance and know when to retreat. Never stand at the forefront of the storm, lest you fall from a great height."
Zhang Ruochen knew that the Rakshasa Princess said this for a deeper reason. "Thank you for the reminder," he said.
The Rakshasa Princess continued, "Refining Condensed True Sacred Dew is merely an auxiliary cultivation method, not the true path of cultivation. The Way of Time and the Way of Space are both eternal paths. Refining Condensed True Sacred Dew cannot cultivate them to the ultimate and extreme level. In the end, you must comprehend them yourself. This is the test of the eternal paths for their cultivators."
Zhang Ruochen carefully pondered the Rakshasa Princess's words, and a smile appeared on his face. "I see. Thank you for your guidance."
The two were enemies, and both knew it, yet they could still sit calmly by the water and talk. That in itself was a rare thing.
It had to be said that this Rakshasa Princess, young as she was, could command an army and conquer a vast world. She was indeed a person of great boldness and charm.
"You don't need to thank me. You could have asked the Great Saints of the Guanghan Realm about these things, and they would have told you as well."
The Rakshasa Princess stood up, her hands behind her back. Her jade peaks stood tall, her waist was slender, and her graceful figure cast a beautiful reflection on the water, like a fairy walking on the waves.
Her eyes gazed into the distance at the Phoenix Nest, and she asked, "Your goal is to make the Guanghan Realm the number one in the Sacred Merit Battle, right?"
Zhang Ruochen also stood up. "That's right."
The Rakshasa Princess took out an exquisite small box and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen took the small box. As soon as it touched his hand, he sensed a spatial fluctuation inside.
A Space Treasure.
"Whoosh—"
He opened the box, and a brilliant white light surged out.
Zhang Ruochen guided with his finger, and from the box flew countless bottles containing Rakshasa blood and remnant souls. There were many, roughly estimated to be over ten thousand.
Countless Saints had died at the hands of the Rakshasa Clan. The bottles on those Saints would naturally have been taken by the Rakshasa Clan.
Therefore, Zhang Ruochen was not surprised that the Rakshasa Princess could produce so many bottles.
The Rakshasa Princess said, "With this Rakshasa blood and remnant souls, it should be enough to push the Guanghan Realm to first place, right?"
"Why are you giving this to me?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"No particular reason. These things are useless to me anyway," the Rakshasa Princess said.
Zhang Ruochen thought carefully. If he really exchanged all this Rakshasa blood and remnant souls for merit points, he could indeed push the Guanghan Realm to first place in the Sacred Merit Battle ahead of time.
Then, by destroying the Merit Record Wall, he would have completed the Moon God's mission.
But...
Zhang Ruochen felt something was off.
He and the Rakshasa Princess were enemies. How could she be helping him at every turn?
It was too illogical.
In the distance, Han Qiu had been watching Zhang Ruochen and the Rakshasa Princess's every move. Seeing this, she walked over and sneered, "Free merit points—why not take them?"
With that, Han Qiu waved her sleeve, releasing a burst of Saint Qi to sweep up the ten thousand bottles and headed toward the Merit Record Wall.
Unable to figure it out, Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly and immediately followed.
Chu Siyuan had set up a Painting Dao Formation around the Merit Record Wall, painting a "Golden Armor and Iron Horse" picture. A Le and White Li Princess stood guard on the left and right sides of the wall.
Seeing Han Qiu approaching with over ten thousand bottles, Chu Siyuan, A Le, and White Li Princess were all slightly moved. The Rakshasa blood and remnant souls in the bottles were too many. Exchanged for merit points, they would definitely exceed one hundred million.
Chu Siyuan licked his lips and said, "Zhang Ruochen, the Guanghan Realm only needs ten million more merit points to surpass the Great Demon Ten Directions Realm. You don't need so much Rakshasa blood and remnant souls. Share some with our Kunlun Realm, how about it?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Even if I were to share, it wouldn't be with you."
A Le, Han Qiu, and White Li Princess had always followed Zhang Ruochen, risking their lives, yet they had never received any merit points.
Since there were now surplus merit points, Zhang Ruochen would not be stingy. He planned to give the extra portion to them so they could all enter the Heavenly Court Realm's "Sacred Merit Ranking."
Accumulating ten million merit points individually would allow one to enter the Heavenly Court Realm's "Sacred Merit Ranking."
Those who entered the Heavenly Court Realm's "Sacred Merit Ranking" could obtain many benefits in the Heavenly Court Realm that ordinary cultivators could not. It was a reward from the Heavenly Court Realm for top-tier talents.
Chu Siyuan did not care much, as he had already reached the Saint King realm and had no need to compete for the Heavenly Court Realm's "Sacred Merit Ranking."
As long as A Le, Han Qiu, and White Li Princess obtained merit points, they would be counted toward the Kunlun Realm's total merit points, which was naturally a good thing for the Kunlun Realm.
Chu Siyuan released his spiritual power to probe the total amount of Rakshasa blood and remnant souls inside the bottles. He had only examined half when his expression suddenly changed drastically. "Not good! One of the bottles contains a Locust Python King Talisman."
The Rakshasa Princess had hidden the Locust Python King Talisman very secretly. Only someone with spiritual power comparable to hers could detect its presence.
Not far away, a cunning light flashed in the Rakshasa Princess's eyes, and she uttered a single word: "Break!"
"Boom!"
The Locust Python King Talisman was triggered. Cracks appeared on the surface of one of the bottles on the ground, and it exploded. A vast surge of Saint power erupted from within, transforming into thousands of locust python phantoms that charged at Zhang Ruochen, Chu Siyuan, White Li Princess, and A Le.
Zhang Ruochen had been on high alert, so in the first instant, he pressed one hand to the ground, pouring his spiritual power and Saint Qi into the "Golden Armor and Iron Horse" picture.
"Rustle."
The scroll formation was activated. Humanoid and beast-shaped phantoms emerged from the ground, resembling a host of murderous knights, colliding with the thousands of locust python phantoms.