Chapter 1589: Hundred Flowers Immortal Ji Fanxin
Whether it was the weakness in her body or the severe internal injuries, Shang Feng felt powerless and utterly unable to kill Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing the black skeleton charging at her, Shang Feng's expression changed drastically.
In her current state, how could she withstand this evil demon?
Flee.
Flee immediately.
Even if she was unwilling, frustrated, and hateful, she had to flee now.
"Swoosh—"
From within Shang Feng's body, a mass of demonic energy dispersed, transforming into thousands of blood-colored demon butterflies that flew into the night.
The black skeleton's body crashed into the swarm of butterflies, extending a black bone hand to grab the largest demon butterfly at the center of the swarm, directly tearing off one of its wings.
The blood-colored demon butterfly let out a miserable scream, realizing that escape was impossible today, and roared, "Zhang Ruochen, let us perish together..."
Just as the blood-colored demon butterfly was about to self-destruct its Sacred Source, the black skeleton let out an excited roar, its bone hand piercing into its head first, digging out the Sacred Source within.
Shang Feng's Sacred Soul did not split apart; it resembled a blood-red butterfly, trying to escape from the Sacred Source.
However, the blood-red butterfly had just flown out when it was caught by the ecstatic black skeleton and swallowed into its mouth. Inside the black skeleton's mouth, a green ghostly flame emerged, actually refining Shang Feng's Sacred Soul.
Zhang Ruochen had not expected such a turn of events. He quickly rushed over to observe what the black skeleton was doing. "It's actually refining Shang Feng's Sacred Soul..."
"The remnant soul of the Great Saint sealed inside the skull has already turned into an evil spirit. That evil spirit should be devouring Shang Feng's Sacred Soul, trying to make itself stronger." With the suppression of the Buddha Emperor Relic, Zhang Ruochen was confident he could still control that evil spirit.
After a moment of hesitation, Zhang Ruochen ultimately did not stop it, wanting to see what would happen next.
Shang Feng's Sacred Soul struggled violently inside the skull's mouth, trying to escape, but an even more terrifying soul force suppressed him.
About a quarter of an hour later, the black skeleton completely refined and absorbed Shang Feng's Sacred Soul. The evil aura emanating from it became significantly stronger. Its ghostly flame eyes glared angrily at Zhang Ruochen, its face ferocious, as if challenging him.
"Its aura has increased quite a bit; it seems to have the power to contend with a Five-Step Saint King. But I am still the master. If you want to challenge me, you are far from ready." Zhang Ruochen extended a hand to control the Buddha Emperor Relic.
Immediately, the relic on the black skeleton's forehead emitted a dazzling golden light, completely enveloping it, purifying the evil aura on its body.
"Roar!"
The black skeleton roared loudly, trying to resist.
Zhang Ruochen let out a deep snort, turning his palm downward. The relic became exceptionally heavy, suppressing the black skeleton until it knelt heavily on the ground, no longer daring to oppose Zhang Ruochen.
Only after purifying most of the evil aura from the black skeleton and it had completely calmed down did Zhang Ruochen withdraw his spiritual power. The black skeleton then reverted into a white bone scepter.
Next, Zhang Ruochen reached into the void and grabbed Shang Feng's Sacred Source.
The fist-sized Sacred Source was crystal clear, emitting a blood-red demonic light, like a heavy ruby.
Inside the Sacred Source, a thumb-sized cauldron floated.
Seeing that cauldron, a look of joy appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face.
That was the Rule Sacred Artifact that Shang Feng had condensed, a priceless treasure for cultivators at the Half-Saint King and Saint King realms.
Generally, a Rule Sacred Artifact would dissipate the moment a Saint King died. So even if one could kill a Saint King, they could not obtain their Rule Sacred Artifact. But Shang Feng died before she could dissolve her Rule Sacred Artifact, which was a boon for Zhang Ruochen.
The Rule Sacred Artifact left by a Five-Step Saint King was of immeasurable value.
Zhang Ruochen put away Shang Feng's Sacred Source and searched her corpse, finding three treasures: a True Illusion Sacred Flower seed, a pair of blood-red fist gloves, and a black demonic pot.
The fist gloves were of the Two-Shine Ten-Thousand Pattern Sacred Artifact level, quite valuable.
It was because she wore these gloves that Shang Feng could block the Abyssal Ancient Sword with her bare hands.
However, Zhang Ruochen was already wearing the Hundred Saint Blood Armor condensed into fist gloves, and he had not even used the Flame God Armor's gloves, so he had no use for these. After refining the sacred power left in the gloves by Shang Feng, he put them into his Space Ring.
The True Illusion Sacred Flower seed was quite interesting. By channeling spiritual power and sacred Qi into it, it could create illusions. Moreover, the illusion was controlled by the cultivator's spiritual power; with a thought, the illusion would change.
For a cultivator like Zhang Ruochen, who had never practiced illusion arts, obtaining it immediately turned him into an illusion master.
"Shang Feng said that the illusion formed by the True Illusion Sacred Flower seed could deceive a Seven-Step Saint King. If that's true, this seed's value might surpass even those fist gloves."
Finally, Zhang Ruochen picked up the demonic pot. After some study, he found it resembled a secret treasure, engraved with many ancient inscriptions, including sealing inscriptions, forbidden technique inscriptions, and divine fire inscriptions.
"Shang Feng released the Sacred Soul of Qianyu Demon Venerable from this pot. But Qianyu Demon Venerable's Sacred Soul is probably no match for Yao Jue Wang and has likely been suppressed."
Without Qianyu Demon Venerable's Sacred Soul, this demonic pot was just a shell, worthless.
The evil spirit in the Yi Huang Bone Scepter was merely a remnant soul of the Great Saint "Yi Huang," so its power was far inferior to Qianyu Demon Venerable's. If the bone scepter had sealed a complete Great Saint Sacred Soul, its power would be many times greater than now.
Of course, if that were the case, with Zhang Ruochen's cultivation, he certainly could not control the Yi Huang Bone Scepter.
Zhang Ruochen put away Shang Feng's corpse, planning to give it to Shi Shenghua as nourishment.
Then, he immediately left the place and headed toward the Yin Yang Hall.
What Zhang Ruochen did not know was that while he was killing Shang Feng, a pair of eyes had been watching him from the darkness.
Only after he left did a white figure emerge from the shadows, muttering to herself, "So it's the Heir of Time and Space, Zhang Ruochen. He's only at the Half-Saint King realm, yet he has the strength to kill a Five-Step Saint King. No wonder he dares to challenge Jin Peng Prince."
This white figure had originally chased out of the Hundred Flowers Palace to kill Shang Feng but had inadvertently discovered Zhang Ruochen's identity.
For the number one figure on the Sacred Merit Ranking, any cultivator would be curious, and this white figure was no exception.
...
As night fell, the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market did not become quiet; instead, more cultivators appeared on the streets.
The statue of the Moon God stood outside the Yin Yang Hall, beautiful and lifelike, but the cultivators passing by did not find it sacred; instead, they revealed meaningful, sinister smiles.
Especially the few seductive women standing beneath the statue, with their alluring figures and coquettish looks, completely shattered the statue's sanctity.
Cultivators wearing bamboo hats and masks, or shrouded in sacred power, streamed into the Yin Yang Hall's entrance, all cautious, as if afraid of being recognized by acquaintances.
At that moment, Zhang Ruochen used the Formless and Faceless Thirty-Six Transformations to change into Shang Feng's appearance, then put on a mask. After observing from the darkness for a long time to ensure there were no flaws, he strode toward the Yin Yang Hall.
But just as he reached the center of the street, a gust of wind swept him up.
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed drastically. He quickly mobilized his sacred power, trying to break free from the wind and escape. However, the strands of wind were like endless silk threads, sometimes soft, sometimes taut, impossible to break free from.
After a dizzying whirl, when the wind dissipated, Zhang Ruochen found himself back in the darkness, standing at the corner of the wall opposite the Yin Yang Hall.
"Who is it?"
Zhang Ruochen immediately activated the Hundred Saint Blood Armor, and green Purifying Divine Flame appeared on his palm.
Not far away stood a white-clad woman wearing a veil, her back to him. Her body was bathed in light rain, specks of light like a nebula enveloping her delicate form.
Just her back was breathtakingly beautiful, like a graceful divine shadow in a painting, full of mystery and ethereal aura.
"Ji Fanxin."
Zhang Ruochen recognized the Hundred Flowers Immortal Ji Fanxin and immediately identified the owner of that back.
Zhang Ruochen was quite shocked. How had Ji Fanxin discovered him?
He had been very cautious, using the Buddha beads to conceal his aura and even changing his appearance eight times before finally taking on Shang Feng's form. If Ji Fanxin had stumbled upon him by chance, Zhang Ruochen would never believe it.
The only explanation was that she had been watching him since he left the Hundred Flowers Palace, following him the entire way without him noticing.
Thinking of this, Zhang Ruochen's hands and feet turned cold.
If she wanted to kill him, wouldn't it be effortless?
Zhang Ruochen's expression was very grim. After a long while, he gradually calmed down and put away the Hundred Saint Blood Armor and Purifying Divine Flame. If she wanted to kill him, she would have done so already, not waited until now.
"Why did you stop me from going to the Yin Yang Hall?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ji Fanxin did not turn around, her voice beautiful, "I stopped you from going to your death."
"Why do you say that?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ji Fanxin said, "Do you think that by practicing transformation techniques, changing your appearance, and hiding your aura, you are absolutely safe? Do you see that black copper mirror above the Yin Yang Hall's entrance? That is the Yin Yang Mirror, capable of seeing through all disguises. No cultivator can hide their identity and sneak in. Your portrait has already been sent to the Yin Yang Hall. Who knows how many terrifying figures are waiting for you to walk into their trap?"
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the Yin Yang Hall across the street and indeed saw a Bagua black copper mirror hanging on the upper right side of the door.
Although he had great confidence in the Formless and Faceless Thirty-Six Transformations, he had not cultivated this secret technique to its highest level. Whether it could fool the Yin Yang Mirror was uncertain.
"A place as evil as the Yin Yang Hall, having offended countless major worlds, can still stand in the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market. It is indeed not as simple as I imagined. Fortunately, Ji Fanxin warned me, otherwise... the consequences would be unimaginable."
Zhang Ruochen further realized how terrifying his enemies were. Every step was fraught with danger, like walking on thin ice. One misstep could lead to utter destruction.
"Why did you save me? The grudge between me and the Yin Yang Hall seems to have nothing to do with your Thousand Stamen Realm, does it? We don't seem to have any relationship either. I don't believe that the Hundred Flowers Immortal, who always keeps people at a distance, would help a strange human man." Zhang Ruochen said.
"Who says it has nothing to do with the Thousand Stamen Realm?"
Ji Fanxin slowly turned around, her beautiful eyes like two exquisite divine pools, gazing at Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing those beautiful eyes, Zhang Ruochen immediately recalled their chance encounter in the Book Fragrance Pavilion's cave heaven. Surprised, he blurted out, "So it was you."