Chapter 1502: Murderous Aura
From the navel area of Cheng Xuanhou, a dazzling sacred light radiated, and then a mouth full of sharp teeth appeared there.
"My Qi Sea is cultivated within my heart. Even without a head, I will not die."
At that moment, Cheng Xuanhou took out a battle painting, unfurled it before him, pressed one hand upon it, and channeled a stream of evil fiend aura.
"Roar!" Immediately, the battle painting was activated. From the scroll, a ferocious beast charged out, its body entwined with iron chains. The beast was over thirty zhang long, with a hideous visage, exuding a powerful aura comparable to a One-Step Saint King.
"Attack! Destroy Zhang Ruochen for the Young Lord!"
Cheng Xuanhou flew onto the beast's head, grabbed a Heaven-Shaking Spear, a Ten-Thousand-Pattern Sacred Artifact, and activated its full power. A ring of dark red sacred light surged outward from his body.
On the other side, Qian Juehou and Wu Kunhou each manifested an "Ultimate True Shadow," charging at Zhang Ruochen from two different directions.
Only by reaching the Ultimate Saint realm could one condense an Ultimate True Shadow.
An Ultimate True Shadow was formed from the most extreme Sacred Dao Rules, harmonizing with Heaven and Earth, allowing one to draw upon the power of Heaven and Earth to a certain extent. In other words, by activating an Ultimate True Shadow, an Ultimate Saint's combat power could be greatly enhanced.
This was one of the reasons why a True Saint could never contend with an Ultimate Saint.
Zhang Ruochen struck out with the Abyssal Ancient Sword, using the technique of controlling the sword from afar to block Cheng Xuanhou and the beast beneath him. At the same time, Zhang Ruochen formed fist seals with both arms and executed the Luo Water Fist Art.
"Azure Waves and Flowing Clouds." The millennia-old Nether Ice Water in the sea, influenced by the fist art, roared as it rose into the air, transforming into two rivers over ten li long that revolved around Zhang Ruochen.
The Luo Water Fist Art was most suitable for use in a watery domain, allowing one to borrow the momentum of Heaven and Earth, unleashing the fist art's most powerful might.
It was worth knowing that Zhang Ruochen had spent an entire year by the Luo River, not just drinking, but also comprehending the true essence of the Luo Water Fist Art. Now, he had cultivated the fist art to the Ninth Layer.
Zhang Ruochen's fists shot out, the fist seals carrying the two Nether Ice Rivers as they flew forward, colliding with the power unleashed by Qian Juehou and Wu Kunhou.
"Boom."
"Boom."
The two First-Class Marquises were sent flying backward, several of their protective talismans exploding upon their bodies.
Because the millennia-old Nether Ice Water landed on them, they were instantly frozen numb, their flesh becoming stiff, and even the circulation of the evil fiend aura within their bodies became extremely slow.
"Now is the perfect time to kill them."
Zhang Ruochen struck out two Space Rifts, each seven or eight zhang long, slashing toward Qian Juehou and Wu Kunhou.
"How dare you!"
Cheng Xuanhou roared. Two thick iron chains flew from the beast beneath him, wrapping around the two First-Class Marquises and dragging them onto the beast's back, saving them from death.
The two Space Rifts devoured a large amount of millennia-old Nether Winter Water on the sea surface before slowly closing, the space returning to flatness once more.
Zhang Ruochen's pupils contracted. Then, he began to practice the fist art again on the sea surface. "Luo Water Fist Art, Twenty-Seventh Form, Azure Sea Surging Waves."
Guided by the fist art, the sea surface churned and surged. Waves rose dozens of zhang high, like a mountain range, crushing down toward the beast.
Even the powerful cultivations of Cheng Xuanhou, Qian Juehou, and Wu Kunhou felt a sense of instability, as if the sky were collapsing and the earth were splitting.
"Zhang Ruochen is truly a formidable opponent. His combat power is too strong," Qian Juehou said, feeling a chill in his heart.
Just then, Xian Linghou, holding a sacred staff, flew into the air. With her powerful Spiritual Power, she also mobilized the millennia-old Nether Winter Water, forming a water wall as high as a mountain range, which crashed down toward Zhang Ruochen's location.
"Boom."
The two sheets of water collided, erupting with a thunderous roar, then collapsed simultaneously.
The three First-Class Marquises on the beast's back breathed a slight sigh of relief.
Before them, only a vast expanse of white mist remained, like a cloud covering the sea, making it impossible to see where Zhang Ruochen was hiding within the mist.
Cheng Xuanhou snorted coldly, "Zhang Ruochen, with your strength alone, you are far from a match for the four of us First-Class Marquises. If I were you, I would flee immediately..."
"Boom."
Before Cheng Xuanhou could finish his words, a massive fist seal flew out from within the mist, causing the millennia-old Nether Winter Water for dozens of li around to tremble violently.
This fist seal was even more powerful than the one before.
Cheng Xuanhou, a veteran of countless battles, was not intimidated. He channeled his evil fiend aura into the battle painting.
"Ssss."
The surface of the scroll erupted with blazing flames. A blazing sun flew out from within, colliding with the fist seal.
The two forces, one cold and one hot, clashed and dissipated simultaneously.
However, before they could recover, Zhang Ruochen had already used a Spatial Displacement, appearing on the beast's back. From fourteen acupoints on his hands, a vast amount of Purifying Divine Flame surged out, forming a sea of fire that engulfed the three First-Class Marquises.
Qian Juehou and Wu Kunhou were slightly slower to react. Several wisps of Purifying Divine Flame landed on them, and in an instant, their bodies ignited.
"Damn it! It's Purifying Divine Flame..."
"Ah... Damn you, Zhang Ruochen..."
The Purifying Divine Flame was impossible to extinguish, as if it would burn their bodies to ashes.
At this moment, even the First-Class Marquises could not remain calm, terrified to the extreme.
Wu Kunhou jumped off the beast's back, splashing into the Nether Ice Cold Sea, hoping to use the millennia-old Nether Winter Water to extinguish the Purifying Divine Flame.
Qian Juehou was slightly more rational, knowing that jumping into the Nether Ice Cold Sea would also mean certain death. So, with a death wish, he charged at Zhang Ruochen, a ferocious glint in his eyes. "If I'm going to die, we'll die together!"
Qian Juehou activated a secret technique, his aura rising step by step. He unleashed his final life force, unleashing his most powerful strike.
"Dying together with you? How boring."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. He struck out with both hands simultaneously, mobilizing space power and employing the technique of Space Distortion. Originally, Qian Juehou was charging at him, but after the spatial structure changed, Qian Juehou instead charged toward Xian Linghou, who was suspended in midair.
"Zhang Ruochen, you bastard!"
Xian Linghou's beautiful face twisted hideously at that moment.
Because she knew very well that Qian Juehou's dying strike would be terrifying, enough to kill even a One-Step Saint King.
Xian Linghou quickly mobilized her Spiritual Power, deploying defensive measures while simultaneously activating the various protective talismans on her body.
Layer after layer of sacred light shields surged out from her body.
"Boom."
Qian Juehou's dying power pierced through Xian Linghou's layers of defense, blasting her until her flesh and blood were mangled, and she fell from the sky.
Just as she was about to plunge into the sea, a pair of wings spread from Xian Linghou's back. She struggled to fly up, wobbling as she fled back, landing on the Xuanwu shell.
"Ugh."
A mouthful of blood spewed from her lips, and then her body slumped weakly to the ground.
Earlier, when Zhang Ruochen had unleashed the Purifying Divine Flame, Cheng Xuanhou had reacted the fastest. He immediately activated his protective talismans and retreated quickly, managing to avoid the Purifying Divine Flame and save his life.
As for Qian Juehou, who had jumped into the Nether Ice Cold Sea, he had indeed extinguished the flames on his body. However, his body was frozen stiff, unable to move, and he sank toward the seabed.
A vine from the Sacred Devouring Flower shot out from Zhang Ruochen's back, plunging into the millennia-old Nether Winter Water, wrapping around Qian Juehou's body and dragging him up.
"Pfft."
Zhang Ruochen struck out with the Abyssal Ancient Sword, piercing Qian Juehou's Qi Sea and shattering his head. This powerful First-Class Marquis ultimately died completely.
In the distance, Young Lord Lingquan had just broken through the giant ship piloted by Dongliu Sword Venerable and Xue Lingfeng. He stood on the deck, having sent Dongliu Sword Venerable and Xue Lingfeng flying backward. But before he could rejoice, he witnessed this bloody scene.
How much time had passed?
In that short span, of the four First-Class Marquises, two were dead and two were severely injured.
Young Lord Lingquan bared his two rows of snow-white teeth and snorted coldly, "Xie Baihou, Qian Yuhou, Ku Yahou, Xue Yuhou, Qi Zhenhou! The two of them are yours to handle. I, the Young Lord, will personally go and kill Zhang Ruochen."
The giant ship's defenses had already been breached. Dongliu Sword Venerable and Xue Lingfeng were also severely injured, standing at the stern of the ship, barely holding on.
In Young Lord Lingquan's view, with the strength of five First-Class Marquises, they could completely eliminate the two of them.
Now, he could finally free himself to deal with Zhang Ruochen.
As long as he suppressed and killed Zhang Ruochen, he would firmly grasp the victory. With this achievement, the Rakshasa Princess would surely look upon him with new respect. Thinking of this, a cruel smile involuntarily appeared on Young Lord Lingquan's face.
"Zhang Ruochen, no matter how strange your Space Power and Time Power are, you won't escape my grasp."
Young Lord Lingquan struck out with the purple stone in his hand. Driven by his evil fiend aura, the purple stone spun continuously, growing larger and larger, until it finally transformed into a purple divine mountain, standing on the surface of the Nether Winter Cold Sea.
At that moment, Zhang Ruochen clearly sensed that the surrounding space had been locked down.
"First, I'll cripple your Way of Space, like cutting off one of your arms. I've heard your Time Sword Art is also quite formidable. Show it to me, let me have a look?"
Young Lord Lingquan flew to the top of the purple divine mountain, sneering mockingly at Zhang Ruochen.
Young Lord Lingquan also possessed a Supreme Perfect Physique, and his body was further enhanced by Divine Marks. He also wielded a treasure like the purple divine mountain. More importantly, his cultivation realm was far higher than Zhang Ruochen's.
Facing such an opponent, Zhang Ruochen naturally felt considerable pressure.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen was not afraid. If truly pushed to the limit, he could completely use a Divine Battle Artifact.
"Time Sword Art never misses its mark. Few can evade it," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Swoosh——"
Mo Yin's extraordinarily beautiful figure stepped out from the bones of Zhang Ruochen's back. She stood gracefully, yet exuded boundless allure. Her snow-white, jade-like skin emitted an intoxicating floral fragrance. In an instant, the scent spread across the entire Nether Ice Cold Sea.