Chapter 1512: The Owner of the Sundial
After Mu Lingxi and Canglan Martial Saint obtained the inheritance of the Ice Fire Phoenix, the formation inscriptions within the Phoenix Nest dimmed considerably due to the loss of support from the Great Saint’s sacred power.
Zhang Ruochen walked over to a Rainbow Transformation Vine, activated the inscriptions within the Abyssal Ancient Sword, and slashed at it with a single stroke.
“Boom.”
The formation patterns on the Rainbow Transformation Vine flickered once before being severed by the power unleashed from the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
Before this, Zhang Ruochen had been unable to accomplish such a feat.
“The Ice Fire Phoenix’s sacred source and sacred dao rules have both entered the Phoenix Wings of Lingxi and Wan Canglan. The Phoenix Nest’s defenses are indeed weakening rapidly. It probably won’t be long before the formations here completely lose their effect.”
Zhang Ruochen collected Rainbow Transformation Vines while searching for the Hunting God’s Divine Star Soul.
A treasure like the Rainbow Transformation Vine was rare and hard to come by.
Earlier, if not for the assistance of the Rainbow Transformation Vine, Zhang Ruochen might not have been able to cultivate to the Ultimate Saint Realm so quickly. This alone proved the immense value of the Rainbow Transformation Vine.
Mo Yin was also collecting Rainbow Transformation Vines.
Although the Devouring Saint Flower possessed a terrifying talent—able to directly absorb a saint’s blood qi, sacred power, and even sacred dao rules, converting them into nutrients for its own growth—a trait that made other beings envious, it still required a great deal of time to comprehend and master the absorbed sacred power and sacred dao rules for free use. Otherwise, it would be no different from an infant with a full set of robust muscles.
The Rainbow Transformation Vine held considerable value for her as well.
“Master, is the Hunting God’s Divine Star Soul really in the Phoenix Nest? How could such a treasure not emit even a trace of aura? Could it be that the Rakshasa Princess deliberately deceived you?” Mo Yin asked.
They had already collected a fair amount of Rainbow Transformation Vines, and Zhang Ruochen and Mo Yin had traveled a long distance within the Phoenix Nest without finding anything, naturally giving rise to some suspicion.
“If there were no Divine Star Soul, the Rakshasa Princess wouldn’t have gone to such lengths to lurk by my side, using me to help her break the space formation. The only possibility is that she guessed wrong too. Perhaps the Hunting God never placed the Divine Star Soul in the Phoenix Nest,” Zhang Ruochen said, pondering as he spoke.
“Then we…”
Just as Mo Yin was about to say something, the entire space within the Phoenix Nest suddenly shook violently, accompanied by a loud “crackling” sound.
It sounded very much like the noise of space shattering.
Following that, the ground beneath their feet began to sink slowly.
“What’s happening?” Mo Yin asked, startled.
“The space within the Phoenix Nest is about to collapse.”
Zhang Ruochen did not panic. After all, the spatial structure of the Phoenix Nest was quite stable and wouldn’t collapse in an instant. They could leave this place unhurriedly.
“The spatial structure of the Phoenix Nest is undergoing a drastic change. Perhaps that sundial will also undergo some transformation. Let’s go take a look. I hope we can take it away.”
Not finding the Divine Star Soul was indeed a disappointment to Zhang Ruochen, which made him even more eager to take the sundial.
The two of them rushed quickly toward the location of the sundial. As they neared it, Zhang Ruochen suddenly sensed a familiar aura fluctuation and immediately stopped in his tracks.
“The Rakshasa Princess’s aura.”
Zhang Ruochen quickly activated the power of the twelve Buddha Emperor Relics to conceal the auras of himself and Mo Yin, ensuring that the Rakshasa Princess’s powerful spiritual power wouldn’t detect them.
Mo Yin asked, “Has the Rakshasa Princess discovered the sundial?”
“It seems so.”
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment and said, “Take the Merit Record Wall and leave the Phoenix Nest first. Then find a hidden place to lie low.”
“Lingquan Shaojun and a large number of First-Class Marquises have also entered the Phoenix Nest. If they join forces with the Rakshasa Princess, does Master have the confidence to deal with them?” Mo Yin asked.
“Even if it’s dangerous, it’s worth the gamble for the sundial.”
A sharp glint flashed in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.
“Alright.”
Knowing that the sundial held immense value for Zhang Ruochen and that he wouldn’t give it up, Mo Yin said no more. She took the Merit Record Wall and headed in another direction.
No sooner had Mo Yin left than the Rakshasa Princess’s cold voice drifted over from a distance: “Who’s there? Do you think hiding from me, the Princess, is meaningful?”
Zhang Ruochen silently acknowledged her skill.
He had activated the power of the Buddha Emperor Relics at the first moment, yet she had still detected a trace of his aura and tracked him down.
This woman’s perception was truly terrifying.
The Rakshasa Princess’s graceful and unparalleled figure emerged from the multicolored sacred light, appearing a hundred zhang away. She wore a simple green dress, her tall and slender figure accentuated, holding a sacred staff in her snow-white jade-like hand. There was no trace of evil aura about her; instead, she seemed like a goddess descending to the mortal world.
Zhang Ruochen did not retreat or launch an attack. Instead, before the Rakshasa Princess appeared, he used the “Thirty-Six Transformations of Formlessness and Invisibility” to change into the appearance of Lingquan Shaojun.
When the Rakshasa Princess saw Lingquan Shaojun standing in the distance, she was slightly surprised and asked, “Why is it you? What are you sneaking around for?”
Zhang Ruochen imitated Lingquan Shaojun’s demeanor and said, “I was worried about Your Highness’s safety, so I quietly followed you into the Phoenix Nest.”
The Rakshasa Princess released her spiritual power to probe the surroundings and said, “Are you alone?”
“Yes.”
A hesitant expression appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s face as he asked, “Your Highness, are you not with Zhang Ruochen?”
The Rakshasa Princess was clearly quite cold toward Lingquan Shaojun, showing no smile on her face. “Zhang Ruochen has already seen through my identity, so you no longer need to stay hidden. Since you’ve come to the Phoenix Nest, follow me to study something.”
Zhang Ruochen strode over and asked, “What is it?”
“Something very interesting. I guarantee you’ve never seen it before.”
The Rakshasa Princess did not suspect Zhang Ruochen’s identity. After all, his mastery of the Thirty-Six Transformations of Formlessness and Invisibility had reached a high level. As long as he didn’t make too obvious a mistake, he could deceive her completely.
The Rakshasa Princess walked ahead, her fragrance wafting through the air. Coupled with her flawless figure and the alluring curves between her waist and hips, even with Zhang Ruochen’s state of mind, walking behind her involuntarily brought to mind the intimate scene of their spiritual power dual cultivation from that day.
Faced with such a stunning beauty of unparalleled appearance and figure, with a noble status and top-tier cultivation talent, it was no wonder Lingquan Shaojun was so infatuated with her.
The Rakshasa Princess naturally felt “Lingquan Shaojun’s” gaze fixed on her. She felt some disgust but suppressed her emotions, knowing that Lingquan Shaojun held an extraordinary status in the Rakshasa Clan and wasn’t a mere nobody she could casually kill.
Sure enough, the Rakshasa Princess led Zhang Ruochen to the vicinity of the sundial, stopping about one hundred and twenty zhang away from it.
“What is that thing? A broken stone, yet it emits the sound of flowing water?”
Zhang Ruochen pretended not to know the danger and strode forward.
The Rakshasa Princess shook her head inwardly, thinking, “Truly a reckless brute. To charge into such a strange place without caution. Compared to Zhang Ruochen, he’s far too inferior.”
“Be careful. The area around the sundial is filled with the power of time. If you go any further, you’ll be committing suicide.”
A hint of disdain flashed in the Rakshasa Princess’s eyes.
Zhang Ruochen quickly stepped back, retreating behind the Rakshasa Princess, and asked with feigned uncertainty, “The power of time? What is a sundial?”
“A sundial is an instrument used by human civilizations to measure time. If I’m not mistaken, this sundial should be a supreme treasure capable of manipulating time. And… it might have some connection to the Divine Star Soul,” the Rakshasa Princess said.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart stirred, and he said in shock, “How is that possible? The Divine Star Soul is hidden inside such a broken stone?”
The Rakshasa Princess rolled her eyes and said, “When did I ever say the Divine Star Soul was hidden inside the sundial? It’s just that within the Phoenix Nest, this is the only thing I can’t fully see through. If I were the Hunting God, I might also hide the secret of the Divine Star Soul inside such a time-related treasure.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “But we can’t get close to the sundial. How about I go capture Zhang Ruochen? With his control over time, he might help us seize the sundial.”
The Rakshasa Princess looked at Zhang Ruochen as if he were an idiot and said, “What kind of person is Zhang Ruochen? Who do you think you are to order him around? Besides, even with my methods, I don’t have full confidence in capturing him. As for you, it’s better not to provoke him, or you might end up falling into his hands instead.”
Zhang Ruochen hadn’t expected the Rakshasa Princess to hold him in such high regard, which put some pressure on him. Because the higher her opinion of him, the more formidable the methods she would use against him.
The Rakshasa Princess raised her crystalline face, her eyes fixed on the top of the sundial, as if talking to herself: “There’s no sun in the Phoenix Nest, nor any sunlight. What did the Ice Fire Phoenix mean by placing the sundial here?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Your Highness is learned and knowledgeable. Do you know the origin of this sundial?”
The Rakshasa Princess thought for a long time without reaching a conclusion. Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s question, she replied, “The sundial has existed for an extremely long time, and it’s impossible to trace who forged it. However, I do know that during the great divine war that swept the entire universe one hundred thousand years ago, it appeared once. At that time, the one who controlled it was a terrifying figure from the Kunlun Realm.”
“Who?”
Zhang Ruochen had some guesses and was eager to know the answer.
The Rakshasa Princess showed a hint of doubt, glanced at Zhang Ruochen, and said, “Why are you so agitated?”
Zhang Ruochen let out a hearty laugh to cover it up and said, “A treasure like the sundial must be controlled by an incredibly powerful figure. Naturally, I’m very curious.”
The Rakshasa Princess didn’t suspect anything and said, “That person was indeed formidable. In that divine war, quite a few gods of the Hell Realm died by his hand. Even my father speaks of him with considerable reverence. He mastered two eternal paths—time and space—and was known as Xumi Saint Monk.”
“Xumi Saint Monk,” Zhang Ruochen repeated softly.
“If hell is not empty, I vow not to become a Buddha; if hell is not empty, I vow not to claim godhood. Otherwise, with his heaven-and-earth-shaking power, he would have been more than just a Saint Monk. Calling him a divine Buddha would not have been an exaggeration.”
The Rakshasa Princess continued, “The Ice Fire Phoenix must have found the place where Xumi Saint Monk passed away, thus obtaining this sundial.”