# Chapter 1517: The Crown Prince
The remnants of the Sacred Bright Central Empire numbered roughly two hundred saints, including White Su Granny and Qin Yutong under the command of Mingjiang King, Murong Yue of the Murong Family, the Devouring Elephant Rabbit and Demon Ape among the barbarian beasts, as well as White Li Princess, A Le, Han Qiu, and others. It was precisely under the protection of the three great experts—White Li Princess, A Le, and Han Qiu—that most of them still survived.
The number of Rakshasa Marquises besieging them was vast, and the evil Sha qi leaking from them condensed into layers of dark red evil clouds that surged in from all directions.
Even the bodies of powerful figures like A Le, Han Qiu, and White Li Princess bore wounds upon wounds, with blood flowing freely.
The other saints were injured even more severely.
With each wave of attacks pressing down, several saints fell into pools of blood, losing their lives, eventually becoming food in the bellies of the Rakshasa Marquises.
"Why continue this desperate struggle? It's utterly useless. This land is destined to become a graveyard for ten thousand saints, and what will be buried here is you. Hehe."
From within the evil clouds, a giant python phantom over three hundred zhang long emerged, rising like a mountain peak from the ground all the way to the sky. Streams of blood converged into small rivers flowing within the giant python phantom, producing a gurgling sound.
"Him again."
A look of wariness appeared in White Li Princess's eyes.
The master of that giant python phantom was a rather terrifyingly powerful being. The bloody wound on White Li Princess's back had been inflicted by a single strike from him, and it had yet to heal. A rather sinister and strange force was surging through White Li Princess's meridians, continuously worsening her injuries.
"Roar!"
From within the giant python phantom came a roar.
Immediately afterward, a serpent's tail swept across, causing sand and stones to fly within a radius of a hundred li, and the earth itself was shaved off by several zhang in thickness. Blade-like sacred dao force flew out ahead of the serpent's tail, charging into the group of saints.
"Pfft."
"Bang."
...
Struck by the sacred dao force, some saints had bloody holes punched through their bodies, or their heads were shattered, killing them instantly and leaving them fallen on the ground.
"Just sacred dao force, and yet it's this terrifying."
Murong Yue's left shoulder was gushing blood. She raised her head to look at the serpent's tail sweeping over like a black mountain range, and immediately felt oppressed and suffocated, unable to suppress the fear rising in her heart.
That power was too terrifying. As it swept past, it destroyed everything in its path.
"That's a Rakshasa Saint King, and not an ordinary one at that..."
White Su Granny, whose cultivation had reached the Ultimate Saint realm, now had a face as pale as paper. She bit her lips tightly, waiting for the arrival of doom.
"Howl."
From the Devouring Elephant Rabbit's mouth came a dragon's roar. Its body underwent a transformation, turning into a Devouring Demon Dragon several hundred zhang long. It also lashed out with its dragon tail, striking horizontally.
"Bang."
The tails of the python and the dragon collided.
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit couldn't withstand that blow. Its massive body was sent tumbling backward, large scales falling off, blood gushing out like spring water, and it let out miserable howls.
The gap in cultivation was too great; it simply couldn't block it.
"Just a beast that has cultivated a bit, yet dares to cross swords with this Marquis. Overestimating yourself." Within the evil clouds, the massive python phantom soared up again.
The demon dragon's body continuously shrank, reverting to a big-mouthed rabbit. Its rear and tail were a bloody mess. It pitifully lay on the ground, roaring: "Your mother is the beast."
"What did you say? This Marquis is a Blood Nether Python of pure bloodline."
The giant python phantom was furious. A head the size of a palace plunged down, revealing sharp fangs, about to bite the Devouring Elephant Rabbit into pieces.
"Don't kill my brother."
The Demon Ape let out a roar, beating its chest with both arms. A large amount of demon qi burst forth from its body, and in an instant, its body shot up, transforming into a world-shaking ferocious ape charging forward.
"Seeking death." From within the evil clouds, a large handprint flew out, striking the Demon Ape and sending its massive body crashing heavily to the ground. The Demon Ape was already severely injured; how could it withstand this blow? After falling, it let out an unwilling wail.
Among the human saints, several figures rushed out one after another, trying to save the Devouring Elephant Rabbit and the Demon Ape, but they were all blasted away by sacred arts unleashed from the evil clouds. Some were directly exploded into clouds of blood mist.
Clearly, besides the Blood Nether Python, there were other Rakshasa strong ones standing within the evil clouds.
Too many enemies, too powerful. It stirred a strong sense of powerlessness in everyone, with despair spreading in their hearts.
It seemed... they truly might not be able to return to the Kunlun Realm...
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit, lying on the ground, looked at the plunging python head. Naturally, it was still quite terrified, feeling suffocated. But suddenly, its round, gleaming eyes became extremely bright, and it roared: "Chen Ye!"
Behind the giant python phantom, a figure radiating blood light, like a sharp and boundless sword, broke through the evil clouds. Holding a black war sword, it slashed down, dragging a hundred-zhang-long sword light.
"Boom."
The giant python phantom was split in two by the sword qi, then turned into wisps of mist, dissipating into the air.
Zhang Ruochen, clad in the Hundred Saint Blood Armor, landed heavily on the ground. His tall figure stood right in front of the Devouring Elephant Rabbit, scanning the surging evil clouds ahead with a domineering posture.
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit felt its eyes sting, so excited it was about to cry. It quickly stretched out two claws to grab Zhang Ruochen's thigh: "Chen Ye, if you hadn't come, I would have been beaten to death."
"It's the Crown Prince, it's the Crown Prince..."
The eyes of Qin Yutong, White Su Granny, and others finally shone with radiance, feeling hope. Because in their hearts, Zhang Ruochen was the backbone, representing hope and invincible combat power.
In all the world, aside from Empress Chi Yao, no one had yet been able to make him fall.
The other remnants of the Sacred Bright Central Empire also let out howls to express the excitement in their hearts.
The Crown Prince had come, come for them. Even if they were to die fighting alongside the Crown Prince, what did it matter?
Zhang Ruochen turned back to look at the eyes of the crowd—some excited, some exhilarated, some tearful—and his heart became even more certain that his choice was not wrong.
Originally, he had intended to use the power of the twelve Buddhist beads to conceal his aura, take the Merit Wall, and hide underground until midnight tonight.
Although this method still risked being discovered by the Rakshasa Marquis army, it was the safest and most secure approach.
But seeing the remnants of the Sacred Bright Central Empire being besieged and slaughtered by the Rakshasa clan, Zhang Ruochen simply could not turn away.
Those saints had once, for his sake, not feared the court's retaliation and had charged up Wuding Mountain with him. Now that they were in danger, Zhang Ruochen would protect them even at the cost of his life.
"Take the sacred pills. Within an hour, your injuries should all heal."
Zhang Ruochen waved his sleeve, and healing sacred pills flew out, landing in their hands.
The Kunlun Realm's resources were limited. When the saints present had entered the Ancestral Spirit Realm, they had brought only low-grade healing pills. Getting a healing sacred pill was already good fortune. Moreover, after three months of battle, the low-grade healing pills on them were all depleted.
Zhang Ruochen's appearance was truly like timely rain.
"Howl."
A long roar came from within the evil clouds, causing the earth to tremble lightly.
Immediately afterward, the true body of the Blood Nether Python charged out from the evil clouds. Its body was over five hundred zhang long, with two claws. Each snake scale was as large as a palm leaf. Its snake head was somewhat strange, covered in spikes, looking particularly ferocious.
Besides it, seven First-Class Marquises also emerged from the evil clouds. Among them were graceful, stunningly beautiful Rakshasa women, as well as ugly, burly Rakshasa men.
However, even the seven First-Class Marquises seemed to follow the Blood Nether Python's lead.
The Blood Nether Python opened a bloody mouth as large as a basin: "Human, you were able to break one of this Marquis's soul projections. Your strength is not weak. Unfortunately, you shouldn't have made an enemy of this Marquis."
Zhang Ruochen stood before the Blood Nether Python, saying indifferently: "What if I do make an enemy of you?"
"It will only lead to death."
"I don't think so."
Zhang Ruochen couldn't be bothered with more nonsense. He raised the Abyssal Ancient Sword and charged forward in attack.
"Be careful, Sect Leader. The Blood Nether Python's cultivation has reached the Saint King realm. Its strength is immense, not comparable to ordinary One-Step Saint Kings. Moreover, the evil qi within its body is like clinging bone gangrene; once it invades your body, it's very hard to dissolve." White Li Princess reminded him.
"Daring to take the initiative to attack? Truly seeking death."
Two Rakshasa First-Class Marquises raised their sacred weapons, spread their wings on their backs, and soared into the air. Thick evil Sha qi surged within their bodies as they went to intercept Zhang Ruochen.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen used the technique of spatial displacement and vanished from his spot.
The two First-Class Marquises were momentarily stunned. Before they could prepare a countermeasure, Zhang Ruochen's sword had already slashed down on one of them.
The protective talismans on that First-Class Marquis shattered one after another, but they still couldn't stop the Abyssal Ancient Sword. Zhang Ruochen pressed him from midair all the way to the ground. With a pfft sound, his body was cut in two.
"Boom."
Zhang Ruochen stepped on the two halves of the corpse, crushing them into two lumps of bloody mud.
In an instant, a First-Class Marquis had been killed. It was truly shocking, causing all the Rakshasa Marquises surrounding them to tremble inwardly. For the first time, they felt fear in their hearts.
The other First-Class Marquis who had gone to intercept Zhang Ruochen was also greatly startled, cold sweat breaking out all over his body. He then retreated rapidly, trying to escape.
"Still trying to flee?"
Dragon scales appeared on Zhang Ruochen's arm, accompanied by a deafening dragon roar. Then, he formed a hand seal and struck out with a palm from a distance, like swatting a mosquito, sending that First-Class Marquis crashing to the ground.
"Pfft."
Immediately afterward, the Abyssal Ancient Sword turned into a streak of black light, descending from the sky, piercing through that First-Class Marquis's body and pinning him to the ground dead.
Zhang Ruochen strode forward, forcing the evil clouds ahead to slowly retreat.
Only when he reached the side of the Abyssal Ancient Sword did Zhang Ruochen stop. He reached out a hand and firmly grasped the sword hilt.
Purifying Divine Flame surged from Zhang Ruochen's palm, spreading down along the Abyssal Ancient Sword, burning that First-Class Marquis's corpse to ashes.
The Rakshasa Marquises all drew in cold breaths. Even the Blood Nether Python's gaze turned quite solemn, no longer looking down on the man before him as before. It spoke human words: "Space power... You are that Divine Envoy of the Guanghan Realm, Zhang Ruochen. This Marquis wants to kill the saints of the Kunlun Realm. Why are you meddling in this business?"
Zhang Ruochen lifted the Abyssal Ancient Sword again and said: "Don't you know? They are all my people."