# Chapter 1548: Severely Wounded
The Dark King's eyes revealed a fierce light as he roared, "Fight quickly and decisively to avoid complications. If you can't defeat Zhang Ruochen, let Tianshu and Tianmiao join forces with you."
"Shut up. This is my battle with Zhang Ruochen. Anyone who dares to interfere, I'll kill them."
Wang Xu's heart was extremely proud. He had to personally kill Zhang Ruochen to defend his undefeated conviction.
Wang Xu was the young son of a god from the Ruiya Realm, with a status so high it was terrifying. Even Tianshu and Tianmiao dared not offend him, so they could only stand by and not interfere.
In truth, Wang Xu also wanted to fight quickly and decisively, but Zhang Ruochen's strength was greater than he had anticipated. After two consecutive slashes of the Void-Breaking Blade Art, he had achieved nothing.
Although the Void-Breaking Blade Art had seven forms, with the number of Sacred Dao Rules in his body, he could only execute the first three forms.
The last four forms required a large number of Sacred Dao Rules to support their execution.
"Zhang Ruochen, you have the Hundred Saint Blood Armor to mobilize the power of a hundred saints. I also have the Divine Blood Battle Garment, which is even more powerful than your Hundred Saint Blood Armor."
Wang Xu opened all his acupoints, and black sacred light fell upon his sacred garment. That sacred garment immediately revealed blood-red patterns, releasing a faint divine might.
"Don't you have a Time Sword Art that claims to be invincible? Now, I'll give you a chance to use it. Otherwise, when I strike again, you'll have no chance at all." Wang Xu, clad in the blood-colored battle garment and holding the dark crescent blade, looked like a demon god.
"If I use the Time Sword Art, you won't have any chance to strike either."
Zhang Ruochen said this, then took out a wineskin made from sacred beast hide, opened the lid, and took a long drink.
"Gurgle, gurgle."
The scalding Dragon Spirit Mad Bull Wine entered his abdomen, and heat spread throughout. Immediately afterward, a rumbling sound came from within Zhang Ruochen's body. His meridians and blood vessels seemed to transform into roaring great rivers.
"Hmph!"
Wang Xu's eyes sharpened. He mobilized twenty-eight Blade Dao Rules, which flew out from between his brows and merged into his blade technique.
"Void-Breaking Third Form, Void Split."
After drinking the Dragon Spirit Mad Bull Wine, an extremely maddened look appeared in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. His internal power surged greatly. Grabbing the Abyssal Ancient Sword, he executed a Great Perfection level Sword Seven.
"Boom."
Blade and sword clashed, and countless blade energies and sword energies surged outward.
"Impossible... blocked again. How did Zhang Ruochen's power suddenly increase so much? Could he be using Truth Rules?" Wang Xu simply couldn't believe that Zhang Ruochen could block his third strike with just a single Sword Seven.
"Moo—"
At that moment, Wang Xu heard tens of thousands of bull cries coming from within Zhang Ruochen's body, and he suddenly understood, "It's the power of the wine..."
After a brief stalemate, Zhang Ruochen's arms suddenly exerted force, sending Wang Xu flying backward.
"Roar!"
Zhang Ruochen raised his head and roared to the sky. Countless mad bull phantoms spewed from his mouth. Then, Zhang Ruochen charged out again, activating the Abyssal Ancient Sword's power to its limit, and slashed diagonally downward.
Before the sword arrived, the sword energy had already stirred up a wild wave.
Wang Xu dared not clash head-on with Zhang Ruochen. He could only mobilize his Flowing Light Rules, unleashing his fastest speed to evade Zhang Ruochen's sword strikes.
Zhang Ruochen's sword strikes were like water waves, one move following another without any pause. After attacking more than ten moves in succession, he forced Wang Xu into a precarious situation.
The sixteenth move.
"Ssss."
The tip of the Abyssal Ancient Sword touched Wang Xu's body, scraping across the Divine Blood Battle Garment, producing a harsh metallic friction sound, with sparks flying everywhere.
Although it was just a scrape, the power contained in the sword was extraordinary. It directly sent Wang Xu flying backward like a cannonball. With a "bang," his body slammed into the light curtain at the edge of the purple formation diagram.
Seeing this, the Dark King's heart tightened, and he revealed an expression of disbelief. He had never seen Wang Xu suffer such a great loss before. In the past, no matter how powerful the opponent, Wang Xu could kill them with a single slash.
"Zhang Ruochen's strength is too great. Is he really at the Half-Saint King realm?"
"At the same level, even the Young Master might not be able to win steadily against him."
Tianshu and Tianmiao both held their breath, feeling some pressure. Then, each took out a Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifact and secretly began to activate them. Once they found the situation unfavorable, they would have to strike immediately.
Wen Shucheng had long guessed Wang Xu's identity, so his inner shock was greater than anyone else's. "Divine Envoy... worthy of being a Divine Envoy. Just based on this peak battle with Wang Xu, it's enough to establish his position in the Heavenly Court Realm. No one will doubt his strength anymore."
Ling Mi's personality had always been ethereal and quiet, but at this moment, her beautiful eyes held intense anticipation. "The Divine Envoy must win! As long as he defeats Wang Xu, who from now on would dare to look down on the Guanghan Realm?"
Wang Xu landed on the ground. His long black hair danced in the wind, and his gaze became exceptionally sharp. "Zhang Ruochen, you have successfully ignited the battle flame within my heart."
"Shua, shua."
Wang Xu's figure charged forward, transforming into dozens of afterimages in an instant. All his power converged onto the Void Moon Blade in his hand.
"Try to take this strike from me."
It was still a move from the Void-Breaking Blade Art.
But this time, Wang Xu, leaping in midair, mobilized Truth Rules. The power on the Void Moon Blade increased several times, and the blade's speed also greatly improved.
One could say that the power of this strike might not even be blockable by a Second-Step Saint King.
Zhang Ruochen had no intention of receiving this strike head-on. He held the Abyssal Ancient Sword in his right hand, while his left hand pressed against the void, using his palm to block the Void Moon Blade.
"Is Zhang Ruochen seeking death? Wang Xu has already mobilized Truth Rules. Even if he's wearing the Hundred Saint Blood Armor, his hand will probably be chopped into pieces." Tianshu felt puzzled.
Wen Shucheng, Ling Mi, and Su Qingling all showed worried expressions. Their eyes widened, and all their muscles tensed. Even the air seemed to solidify.
Just as the Void Moon Blade was about to land on Zhang Ruochen's palm.
Suddenly, ripples of space appeared before his palm, actually causing the blade's edge to deviate in direction, instead slashing toward the Dark King not far away.
The Dark King, Wang Xu, Tianshu, and Tianmiao were all slightly stunned. Then, each deployed their own countermeasures.
The Dark King quickly extended a hand and drew dozens of lines in the void. Those lines converged into the shape of a shield, used to block the blade energy slashed by Wang Xu.
Wang Xu, meanwhile, immediately discarded the Void Moon Blade, activated Flowing Light Rules, appeared above Zhang Ruochen, and used his arm as a blade to strike downward.
Tianshu and Tianmiao each launched a Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifact—one was an iron seal, and the other was a sacred sword. Both erupted with full power, coordinating with Wang Xu's attack as if to put Zhang Ruochen to death.
"Three against one, what kind of skill is that?"
Mu Lingxi naturally didn't want to see Zhang Ruochen surrounded. She immediately drove the Golden Step Dragon Chariot, charging toward Tianshu and Tianmiao. Even though they were Saint Kings, and she knew she couldn't defeat them, she still attacked without hesitation.
Even if she could only delay them for a single breath, it would make Zhang Ruochen's response easier.
Wen Shucheng and Ling Mi also understood this principle, so they too went all out.
Wen Shucheng cut open both his wrists. A large amount of sacred blood flowed out. Then, he pressed both palms to the ground, knelt, and bowed: "One bow before the god, all things are born."
"Rustle, rustle."
From the blood-red earth, towering ancient trees and coiling dragon-like vines grew. Leaves and vines rushed into the clouds, intercepting the Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts launched by Tianshu and Tianmiao.
Ling Mi transformed into her true form, becoming a piece of crystal-clear spiritual jade, crashing into the iron seal launched by Tianshu.
The three went all out and actually managed to intercept the two Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts.
At this moment, the battle between Zhang Ruochen and Wang Xu had also entered a white-hot stage. One mobilized Truth Rules, executing a blade technique of infinite power, while the other mobilized Space Rules, either performing Space Teleportation or Space Distortion.
At this time, their spiritual power was highly concentrated. Any slight distraction from either side would result in death.
"Boom, boom, boom."
Tianshu and Tianmiao's strength was too great. Controlling the two Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts, they continuously attacked. Finally, they sent Mu Lingxi, Wen Shucheng, and Ling Mi flying, each suffering extremely severe injuries.
There was no other way. The gap in cultivation was too great. Being able to block Tianshu and Tianmiao for a few breaths was already quite an achievement.
Seeing the Golden Step Dragon Chariot and Mu Lingxi sent flying, Zhang Ruochen's peripheral vision couldn't help but glance in that direction.
"You got distracted."
Wang Xu snorted coldly, seizing this opportunity. He transformed into a dark shadow, and blade energy like a violent storm enveloped Zhang Ruochen.
At the same time, Tianshu and Tianmiao's bodies emitted brilliant sacred light, like two huge white orbs. They controlled the two Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts, blocking Zhang Ruochen's retreat.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen surrounded and attacked by three top experts, even Wen Shucheng, Ling Mi, and Mu Lingxi showed a look of despair in their eyes.
But Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed. His eyes were fixed on the dense blade light. "I was just deliberately distracted to lure you into attacking with all your strength. Didn't you want to see the Time Sword Art? Now, as you wish."
Wang Xu, who was in the midst of a fierce attack, felt his heart sink slightly. The blade technique he was executing showed a brief pause.
That was the moment. An unforgettable sword strike was thrust out from Zhang Ruochen's hand. The brilliant sword light completely covered Wang Xu's two pupils.
"Puchi."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword pierced into Wang Xu's brow. Bright red blood gushed out from his cranial cavity like a spring.
Wang Xu let out a loud cry from his mouth, as if in agony or like a mad shout. His feet kept retreating, trying to break free from the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
This sword had indeed pierced into Wang Xu's brow, but it hadn't penetrated his skull. The Abyssal Ancient Sword went in an inch deep before being blocked by an extremely hard bone.
"Could it be that he's not human at all, but some kind of alien creature?"
Zhang Ruochen's body was filled with killing intent. He continuously increased his strength, wanting to use this opportunity to completely kill Wang Xu.
But behind Zhang Ruochen, Tianshu and Tianmiao caught up. The two Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts they launched emitted majestic sacred might, as if they would blast Zhang Ruochen into ashes.
With no other choice, Zhang Ruochen had to strike a palm onto the hilt of the Abyssal Ancient Sword, unleashing tremendous force. Immediately, a "crack" sound came from Wang Xu's brow, and numerous cracks appeared. Those cracks covered most of his skull.
"Fight."
Zhang Ruochen roared loudly, then turned around abruptly. With one hand holding the Buddha Emperor Relic and the other holding the purple divine stone, all the sacred energy in his body converged into his hands. His two fists collided with the two Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts launched by Tianshu and Tianmiao.