# Chapter 1549: Five Elements Women
"Bang bang."
The iron token and sacred sword, bursting with full power, clashed against Zhang Ruochen's fists, forming a stalemate.
Even with Tian Shu and Tian Miao's cultivation and experience, they were shocked to the core, their minds filled with a single thought: "Could Zhang Ruochen's body be forged from divine iron, already indestructible and immortal?"
After all, although the two of them were at the First Step Saint King realm, they both possessed the strength to briefly contend with Second Step Saint Kings, and they had just launched attacks with all their might.
Zhang Ruochen had responded hastily yet still blocked their power, which exceeded their understanding.
Tian Shu and Tian Miao exchanged a glance, then transformed into two streaks of light, rushing to the side of the two Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifacts. One grabbed the Xin Kong Iron Token, the other seized the Miao Ji Sacred Sword, unleashing even greater power to suppress Zhang Ruochen.
"Boom."
The two forces shook Zhang Ruochen's entire body, causing his bones to misalign with a series of "crack" sounds. He had no choice but to retreat backward to dissipate the power.
However, every step Zhang Ruochen retreated, they advanced a step, clinging like bone-gnawing maggots.
Under such immense pressure, Zhang Ruochen could only defend with all his strength, unable to spare any power to employ spatial techniques.
Although Tian Shu and Tian Miao wore masks, their graceful figures, snow-white jade skin, and the beautiful, lively eyes beneath the masks were still visible. There was no need to guess—both of them undoubtedly possessed astonishing beauty.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was sharp as it met theirs. Then, the fourteen acupoints on both his palms opened completely, releasing fourteen wisps of azure Purifying Divine Flame.
At the same time, Shi Shenghua burst forth from Zhang Ruochen's back, forming dozens of vines that shot into the sky, attacking Tian Shu and Tian Miao from above.
Both Tian Shu and Tian Miao had protective treasures on them, but they still dared not touch the Purifying Divine Flame. They immediately withdrew the Xin Kong Iron Token and Miao Ji Sacred Sword, their bodies turning into streaks of afterimages as they retreated left and right.
"Swish swish."
Their movement techniques were extremely profound and unpredictable. Every step they took contained hidden mysteries, making it impossible to discern their next position.
Zhang Ruochen did not attack rashly. He stood still, releasing his spiritual power and Space Domain to remain vigilant. Shi Shenghua's dozens of vines acted like his dozens of hands, surrounding his body from all directions.
Any force attempting to approach Zhang Ruochen would surely face his swift counterattack.
"Zhang Ruochen, the young master sent us to deliver a message: if you are willing to submit to him, you will have a path to survival today."
Tian Shu's voice rang out.
With every word she spoke, her position changed.
Zhang Ruochen naturally did not think the "young master" they referred to was Wang Xu. After all, Wang Xu had already been severely wounded by him—how could he have such audacity to demand submission?
Zhang Ruochen had some guesses in his mind but still asked, "Who is your young master?"
Tian Shu tossed out a Saint-Binding Chain and said, "If you put on this Saint-Binding Chain, I will take you to see him."
"You want me to surrender without a fight?"
Zhang Ruochen let out a mocking laugh, gripping the Buddha Emperor Relic and the purple divine stone tighter. One hand emitted blinding golden light, while the other surged with purple divine radiance.
Tian Shu said, "The young master said you are a Space Controller, unrivaled in escape techniques, and it is not easy to trap you once. So, you must wear the Saint-Binding Chain before I can take you to him."
"Hmph."
Zhang Ruochen let out a cold laugh.
"Whoosh—"
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen performed a Space Displacement and vanished from his spot.
Tian Shu was momentarily stunned. Before she could react, Zhang Ruochen's cold, sharp eyes appeared before her, only six feet away.
Beneath the golden mask, a pair of beautiful eyes revealed astonishment: "How could you possibly lock onto my true position?"
"You are within my Space Domain—how could I fail to lock onto you?"
Accompanied by Zhang Ruochen's deep, cold voice, a golden fist carrying hundreds of ancient Sanskrit characters struck heavily forward.
"Bang."
Tian Shu raised the Xin Kong Iron Token, using it as a shield to block Zhang Ruochen's punch.
From the Buddha Emperor Relic surged the Buddha Emperor's origin power. On the surface of the Xin Kong Iron Token, starlight containing Great Saint origin power emerged. The two forces clashed violently, producing a deafening sound.
Although Tian Shu's cultivation was profound, her strength fell short of Zhang Ruochen's. She was knocked backward, both arms numbed with pain, nearly unable to hold the Xin Kong Iron Token.
"Again."
Zhang Ruochen prepared a second punch.
Tian Shu gritted her teeth, and the pupils of her eyes suddenly turned golden.
Then, two golden Vermilion Birds flew out from within her pupils, emitting piercing cries as they lunged straight at Zhang Ruochen. Both Vermilion Birds were about ten feet long, their beaks and claws as sharp as sword tips, their feathers like golden blades.
From a distance, Wen Shusheng suppressed his injuries and warned, "Be careful! She is one of the Five Elements Women under Shang Zihong, the new generation leader of the Palace Divine Hall—the Golden Soul Woman, Tian Shu. The Golden Soul Woman possesses a pair of Hidden Gold Divine Eyes of boundless power."
"Bang."
As Zhang Ruochen's second punch struck the Xin Kong Iron Token, the two golden Vermilion Birds pounced onto his body. The distance was too close to avoid.
Zhang Ruochen's left chest and right shoulder were scratched by the sharp claws, sending two waves of intense pain through him.
Even wearing the Hundred Saint Blood Armor, the force still transmitted to Zhang Ruochen's body, splitting his skin and spilling sacred blood.
Fortunately, it was only a shallow external wound.
However, Zhang Ruochen's punch sent Tian Shu flying backward. The golden mask on her face shattered, revealing a cold yet delicate face, with crimson blood flowing from her red lips.
Before the two golden Vermilion Birds could fly back, Zhang Ruochen struck again, aiming to kill Tian Shu.
"Clang!"
Killing intent came from behind.
A strange, slender figure appeared behind Zhang Ruochen. A snow-white jade hand seemed to extend from water ripples, holding a sacred sword that thrust straight at Zhang Ruochen's back.
Zhang Ruochen immediately changed his target, activating the purple divine stone into a divine mountain and smashing it behind him. It blocked the sacred sword, shattered the water ripples, and forced Tian Miao to reveal her form.
"Attack together."
Tian Shu shouted delicately, charging at Zhang Ruochen again.
Tian Shu was the Golden Soul Woman, and Tian Miao was the Water Soul Maiden. They were not human but spirits of gold and water, possessing extremely unique constitutions.
Facing either one alone, Zhang Ruochen was confident he could severely wound them within ten moves.
However, the two of them were exceptionally skilled at coordination, as if their minds were connected, or as if they were using some mysterious formation. They could contend against enemies stronger than themselves, fighting Zhang Ruochen to a draw.
The Golden Soul Woman not only controlled two golden Vermilion Birds with Saint King-level combat power, but her Hidden Gold Divine Eyes, when fixed on Zhang Ruochen, caused his body to stiffen, his skin to turn golden, and his senses to numb, as if he were turning into a golden statue.
Legends spoke of those who could "turn stone to gold."
But with the Golden Soul Woman's Hidden Gold Divine Eyes, anything she looked at would turn to gold.
Fortunately, Zhang Ruochen's cultivation technique was extremely special. By circulating it through one cycle, his body could return to normal. However, the Golden Soul Woman's eyes still suppressed his combat power.
Standing at the center of the purple formation, Hun Wang curled his lips, thinking to himself: "Even the Golden Soul Woman and Water Soul Maiden joining forces can only fight Zhang Ruochen to a draw. It seems Young Master Zi Heng has miscalculated. Zhang Ruochen is at least twice as strong as he imagined."
The Heavenly Court's heavenly laws were strict, and Shang Zihong's identity was particularly special, so naturally, he could not personally come to kill Zhang Ruochen. If an accident occurred and the assassination failed, even if Shang Zihong survived, he would likely be imprisoned for life, ruining all his prospects.
As for Wang Xu, it was different. Both he and Zhang Ruochen were at the Half-Step Saint King realm. Even if the assassination failed and was discovered, he could claim he merely wanted to challenge Zhang Ruochen.
The heavenly laws only restricted cultivators from different worlds from killing each other but did not prohibit sparring and combat between two cultivators.
For example, if a Second Step Saint King killed a First Step Saint King, the heavenly laws would not punish him.
Because the gap in cultivation was not large, it was entirely possible that they accidentally killed each other during a sparring match. Moreover, a First Step Saint King facing a Second Step Saint King enemy still had a good chance of escaping.
However, if a Fifth Step Saint King killed a First Step Saint King, they would definitely be punished by the heavenly laws. This was entirely one-sided slaughter. If such behavior was tolerated, the entire Heavenly Court would be awash in blood from internal strife. If a Great Saint went on a killing spree, countless Half-Saints and Saints would die.
Only the heavenly laws themselves knew where the boundary of tolerance lay.
Shang Zihong naturally dared not take risks lightly. So, he first invited Liao Sang Jun, who had a grudge against Su Jing, as the first layer.
Then, he dispatched Wang Xu, Tian Shu, and Tian Miao, plus a desperado from the assassin organization, "Hun Wang," as the second layer. In Shang Zihong's view, such an arrangement was more than enough to kill Zhang Ruochen.
"Liao Sang Jun has taken so long and still hasn't dealt with Su Jing. It seems Young Master Zi Heng overestimated his strength."
Hun Wang was well aware that if Liao Sang Jun could kill Su Jing earlier, with his Ninth Step Saint King realm, killing Zhang Ruochen would be as easy as crushing an ant.
But to complete the task sooner, Hun Wang was unwilling to wait any longer and prepared to personally take action to kill Zhang Ruochen.
"The Spirit King emerges, all spirits bow."
Hun Wang pressed two fingers together against the top of the White Bone Holy Staff, causing it to sink half a foot. Hun Wang's body remained in place, but a black soul form stepped out from his body.
Man and soul separated.
Instantly, all the soul shadows in the purple formation let out roars and knelt down in unison.
Zhang Ruochen, locked in fierce battle, saw this bizarre scene and showed an extremely shocked expression: "Is he a soul or a man?"
"Zhang Ruochen, since this king has acted, you have no chance to turn things around!"
The black soul form stepped forward, spreading its hands. Between its hands, it condensed a three-foot-long lightning talisman. All the soul shadows in the purple formation converged toward the lightning talisman, turning into talisman patterns on its surface.