Chapter 1509: Gambling Battle
A black figure, like lightning, shot out and rushed toward the Merit Record Wall.
"It won't be that easy to seize the Merit Record Wall."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze turned cold, and a powerful sword intent erupted from his body. He transformed into a beam of sword light and charged at the black shadow.
The black shadow had already reached the side of the Merit Record Wall. Seeing the incoming sword light, it quickly withdrew its outstretched hand and struck out with a palm.
"Whoosh." Hundreds of sharp sword qi condensed in front of the palm print, forming a rain of swords.
"Boom." With a thunderous roar, all the sword qi shattered.
Zhang Ruochen and the black shadow both flew backward several zhang before landing again. The true identity of the black shadow was finally revealed—it was Jiuyou Sword Saint.
Seeing Jiuyou Sword Saint's aged face, Zhang Ruochen was not surprised. After all, in the Ancestral Spirit Realm, the only sword cultivator who could repel Mo Yin with a single strike was likely him.
After breaking through to the Saint King realm, Jiuyou Sword Saint's lifespan had greatly increased, making him look younger. His white hair had turned black again, the age spots on his skin had vanished, and the wrinkles on his face had diminished, making him appear around fifty years old.
Having been forced back by Zhang Ruochen's sword strike, Jiuyou Sword Saint's eyes flickered with a strange expression. He said, "Xuanji was fortunate to have a disciple like you. I am inferior to him in that regard."
"Compared to my master, you do indeed fall short in some ways," Zhang Ruochen said.
Jiuyou Sword Saint replied, "That only proves his luck was better than mine. Unfortunately, in the way of the sword, he is no match for me."
"Is that so?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Jiuyou Sword Saint and Xuanji Sword Saint belonged to the Black Market and the Martial Market Bank, respectively, and had always been mortal enemies. Neither could defeat the other until their life-or-death battle at the Sword Discussion Assembly, which finally decided the victor.
However, before that battle, Xuanji Sword Saint had been poisoned with Nether King Blood Venom, so the result of the fight could not be considered valid.
But Jiuyou Sword Saint was unaware of this and had always believed himself stronger than Xuanji Sword Saint.
Jiuyou Sword Saint said, "As Xuanji Sword Saint's proud disciple, I know you are reluctant to admit this. Unfortunately, at the Sword Discussion Assembly, Xuanji truly lost to me. There is no refuting that."
"My master did not lose to you; he lost to himself," Zhang Ruochen said.
"What do you mean?" Jiuyou Sword Saint asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "My master's heart was not ruthless enough. Back then, he saved a child from the Undying Blood Clan, took him as a disciple, and raised him to adulthood. Unfortunately, on the eve of your duel, he was betrayed by that very disciple. Do you think you could have defeated my master so easily otherwise?"
Jiuyou Sword Saint was silent for a moment, then burst into laughter: "To uphold your master's honor, as a disciple, you fabricate a story to excuse his defeat and shift the blame onto someone else. Such tactics are too lowly. I have lived for over five hundred years and have seen plenty. No matter how eloquently you speak, it cannot change the fact that I am stronger than Xuanji and more accomplished in the way of the sword."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze turned icy cold. "Since Senior Jiuyou is so confident, do you dare accept a challenge from this junior?"
"What for? To vindicate your master?"
Jiuyou Sword Saint was not a boastful person, but he was deeply calculating. In truth, his words were meant to provoke Zhang Ruochen.
Once a person's mind was disturbed, their combat strength would naturally decline.
"With my status, how could I casually accept a challenge from a junior?" Jiuyou Sword Saint sneered, lifting his chin with an air of arrogance.
"If you can defeat me, I will hand over the Merit Record Wall to you," Zhang Ruochen said, his eyes blazing with anger, as if he would not stop until the fight was over.
Jiuyou Sword Saint's eyes lit up. "Are you serious?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I can swear by my master's honor."
"Good. Since you want to vindicate Xuanji, I will give you a chance," Jiuyou Sword Saint said with a smile.
Jiuyou Sword Saint believed he had successfully provoked Zhang Ruochen and thrown him into disarray, even causing him to stake the Merit Record Wall as a wager. He felt a smug satisfaction at his clever scheme.
But the onlooker sees more than the player.
Shengshu Cainü stood to the side, frowning deeply. Finally, she sighed softly. "Zhang Ruochen is no longer what he used to be."
Had Zhang Ruochen truly been provoked into losing his composure by Jiuyou Sword Saint?
Not at all.
In fact, Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to challenge Jiuyou Sword Saint. Staking the Merit Record Wall was a desperate measure.
After all, among those present, Chu Siyuan, Jiuyou Sword Saint, and Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden were no weaklings.
Jiuyou Sword Saint's close-combat attack power was nearly unmatched, Chu Siyuan's long-range attack and defense were top-tier, and Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden possessed numerous treasures, such as the Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book, the Food God Kitchen Knife, and the Divine Hall.
With such a combination of three forces, they were practically an invincible setup in the Ancestral Spirit Realm.
No matter how strong Zhang Ruochen was, defeating all three in a siege with his own strength alone would be as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen had to look after Mu Lingxi.
Zhang Ruochen was not worried about Chu Siyuan and Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, but Jiuyou Sword Saint was a heretical figure who would stop at nothing to achieve his goals. If, during the battle, Jiuyou Sword Saint targeted Mu Lingxi, would Zhang Ruochen save Mu Lingxi or protect the Merit Record Wall?
Thus, the moment Jiuyou Sword Saint appeared, Zhang Ruochen had already formulated a battle plan.
First, he would lure Jiuyou Sword Saint into a duel. Once Jiuyou Sword Saint was dealt with, dealing with Chu Siyuan and Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden would be much easier.
Chu Siyuan also realized this and said, "Let's attack together and seize the Merit Record Wall first. You two can duel afterward."
Zhang Ruochen turned into a streak of light and landed on top of the Merit Record Wall, standing with his sword horizontal. "Senior Chu is a master of painting. Please mind your reputation. With your esteemed status, you want to outnumber and bully the younger generation? If you win, fine, but if you lose, where will you put your face?"
Chu Siyuan's weakness was his love of face and reputation. Using this tactic against him was almost foolproof.
Sure enough, upon hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, Chu Siyuan's face flushed red. He wanted to say something ruthless but ultimately held back.
Jiuyou Sword Saint also came to his senses and sneered, "I think Sect Leader Chu is right. We should seize the Merit Record Wall first."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Didn't Senior Jiuyou just boast about his mastery of the sword? Why the sudden lack of confidence? If you defeat me, won't you get the Merit Record Wall?"
Jiuyou Sword Saint didn't know how to respond. He, too, valued his face. Having been so assertive earlier, it wouldn't do to show insecurity in front of Xuanji's disciple.
Jiuyou Sword Saint frowned deeply. "The Merit Record Wall is of great importance. Although I am ten percent sure I can defeat you, what if something goes wrong? I don't want to be a sinner of the Kunlun Realm."
"Do you think that by joining forces, you are ten percent sure to take the Merit Record Wall?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"Of course."
Chu Siyuan finally managed to utter those two words after holding back for so long.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a smile, taking out a sacred sword from his space ring. "I was planning to let you all live, but since you are so ungrateful, I have no choice but to use my final trump card and kill you all. Let me tell you, this sacred sword contains the power of a god. I can only use it, not control it. Once unleashed, the consequences will be dire."
Chu Siyuan released his spiritual power to probe the sacred sword and indeed sensed a terrifying force. He quickly retreated, putting a long distance between them. "Zhang Ruochen, who are you trying to scare? According to the rules of the Sacred Merit Battle, participants cannot bring such weapons into the Ancestral Spirit Realm."
Shengshu Cainü's voice rang out: "Every divine envoy of the Shatuo Seven Realms can bring a divine weapon into the Ancestral Spirit Realm. So Zhang Ruochen is not bluffing."
Zhang Ruochen glanced sideways. "Are you the divine envoy of the Kunlun Realm?"
Shengshu Cainü took out a Realm Son Seal, holding it in her palm. "The Empress's divine power is imbued within this Realm Son Seal."
Zhang Ruochen sensed a familiar aura on the Realm Son Seal—it came from… Huang Yanchen.
It seemed Huang Yanchen had truly gone missing, or else Chi Yao would not have given her Realm Son Seal to Shengshu Cainü as a divine weapon.
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned unnatural, his gaze icy cold. "If I use a divine weapon to kill Jiuyou and Chu Siyuan, even if you have a divine weapon, you won't be able to stop me."
"But I can use it to kill you… Why must it come to this?" Shengshu Cainü closed her eyes and spoke with difficulty.
For the sake of the Merit Record Wall and the survival of two great worlds, they were once again pushed to the brink of life and death.
"If we fight to the death, everyone might end up dead here, and who knows who will benefit in the end. So let me and Zhang Ruochen settle this with a duel to decide the fate of the Merit Record Wall," Jiuyou Sword Saint said.
Zhang Ruochen breathed a slight sigh of relief. Deep down, he didn't want to fight Shengshu Cainü and the others to the bitter end.
"If I lose, I will hand over the Merit Record Wall to the Kunlun Realm. But if Senior Jiuyou loses, shouldn't you give me something in return?" Zhang Ruochen began negotiating.
Jiuyou Sword Saint snorted coldly. "Everyone knows you, Zhang Ruochen, are loaded with treasures that even Great Saints covet. Do you really think you need anything from me?"
"I want that purple divine stone from Lingquan Shaojun," Zhang Ruochen said.
Jiuyou Sword Saint was naturally confident in himself. Not only was he at the Saint King level, but he had also cultivated Sword Eight to Great Perfection. How could he lose to Zhang Ruochen, who had just broken through to the Ultimate Saint realm?
This was a battle he was sure to win.
"Fine, I agree."
Jiuyou Sword Saint leaped up and landed on top of the Merit Record Wall, facing Zhang Ruochen. The aura emanating from them grew stronger and stronger, and in the surrounding space, sacred qi swords began to condense automatically.
In this battle, Zhang Ruochen bore no small pressure. He had to not only protect the Merit Record Wall but also vindicate his master. Meanwhile, Jiuyou Sword Saint's strength was not weak; in fact, it was terrifyingly powerful, especially now that he could condense Sword Dao Profound Gang.
Having reached the Saint King realm, just how powerful had Jiuyou Sword Saint's Sword Dao Profound Gang become?
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