Chapter 1597: The Identity of the Golden-Robed Man
Walking out of the Yin-Yang Hall, Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin both breathed a sigh of relief.
Ji Fanxin’s beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, her face full of apology. “I’m sorry. Earlier, it wasn’t that I was unwilling to strike at Lian Hou, but because our chances of fighting our way out of the Yin-Yang Hall were too low. It simply wasn’t worth the risk.”
Zhang Ruochen’s face was cold, and he remained silent, his mood extremely poor.
However, only a small part of that was because Ji Fanxin hadn’t acted at the most critical moment to help him out of his predicament. The greater reason was that Zhang Ruochen realized the immense gap between himself and a powerhouse of Lian Hou’s level. He didn’t even have the strength to resist; none of his trump cards were of any use.
The gap in cultivation was too vast.
And as Zhang Ruochen’s current greatest enemy, Shang Zihong’s strength was at least on par with Lian Hou’s, if not even greater.
Fortunately, Zhang Ruochen had been cautious enough since arriving in the Truth Heaven Domain. Otherwise, if he were to face Shang Zihong, the consequences would be unimaginable.
“I must break through to the Saint King Realm as quickly as possible.”
A strong sense of urgency arose in Zhang Ruochen’s heart.
Ji Fanxin naturally had no idea what Zhang Ruochen was thinking. She thought that Zhang Ruochen had been drained by Lian Hou, which was why he was in this state.
A strange expression appeared in her eyes.
After thinking for a moment, she took a long, narrow box from her Space Bracelet and handed it to Zhang Ruochen. “This time, it was my fault. Consider it a big favor I owe you. This is a fifty-thousand-year-old Mixed Yang Flower. Refining it should make up for the Yang Qi you’ve lost in your body.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen snapped out of his thoughts and found Ji Fanxin staring at him with a concerned, comforting gaze. The anger in his heart couldn’t be vented.
“As expected of the young leader of a great world, you really do carry a lot of treasures.”
A fifty-thousand-year-old Mixed Yang Flower was extremely rare and invaluable. It could help Zhang Ruochen cultivate the eleventh stance of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t stand on ceremony. He took the long, narrow box and put it into his Space Ring, then said in a displeased tone, “How could Lian Hou and I have been that fast? We hadn’t even started when Lian Hou received a message saying that a major figure had arrived at the Yin-Yang Hall. Do you know who that major figure was?”
Ji Fanxin looked serious and thought carefully. “A major figure who could alarm Lian Hou is definitely extraordinary. But I’ll have to investigate to find out who came to Tiantu Sacred Market.”
Suddenly, Ji Fanxin thought of something, and her starry eyes turned cold. “Since you weren’t drained, why did you accept my Mixed Yang Flower?”
Zhang Ruochen had no intention of returning it. Instead, he put on a reproachful expression. “You knew I was going to attack the Yin-Yang Hall, so why did you hand over the Six-Yao Ten-Thousand-Pattern Sacred Artifact, the Water Moon Sacred Cup, to the Yin-Yang Hall? Weren’t you just strengthening their power?”
Perhaps feeling that she had indeed wronged Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin didn’t press for the return of the Mixed Yang Flower. She said, “I tampered with the Water Moon Sacred Cup. Lian Hou won’t be able to refine it in a short time. It will take at least three to five years before she can use it freely. And if she’s not careful enough, the hidden trap I left inside the Water Moon Sacred Cup might even severely injure her.”
Zhang Ruochen was secretly startled.
So, before entering the Yin-Yang Hall, Ji Fanxin had already made various preparations. She did have some schemes and methods.
The reason she had been so full of flaws in the Yin-Yang Hall was likely because the environment there truly disgusted and repulsed her. At the same time, she cared too much about Dan Ling Wang’s safety, which caused her to lose her composure.
After all, Ji Fanxin had never had any family since she was young. Dan Ling Wang was practically her only relative.
This time, the two of them had ventured into the dragon’s den and tiger’s lair of the Yin-Yang Hall together, gaining a better understanding of each other. Although Zhang Ruochen’s actions during the crisis had been somewhat excessive, almost like he was deliberately taking liberties with her.
But looking back, without Zhang Ruochen, if she had gone to the Yin-Yang Hall alone, she probably wouldn’t have been able to save Dan Ling Wang and would have ended up trapped herself.
It had to be said that in the most dangerous environment, Zhang Ruochen was indeed calmer and more composed than she was, handling things with ease. It was something worth learning from.
Ji Fanxin said thoughtfully, “After this investigation, you should have a more concrete understanding of the Yin-Yang Hall. What are your plans next?”
“That’s probably none of your business, is it?”
Zhang Ruochen put on a distant demeanor, with no intention of telling Ji Fanxin his plans.
After all, their relationship wasn’t that deep.
If the person beside him during this crisis had been Ling Feiyu, she would have struck at Lian Hou without hesitation, unlike Ji Fanxin, who weighed the pros and cons and calculated gains and losses.
That was the difference between a deep bond and a shallow one.
Since it was a shallow bond, there were some things he naturally couldn’t tell her.
Ji Fanxin’s brows furrowed slightly, realizing that she had probably left a bad impression on Zhang Ruochen. But even if she had to do it all over again, she would still make the same choice.
Watching Zhang Ruochen’s retreating figure, Ji Fanxin sighed softly. Suddenly, her Spiritual Power stirred, and she sensed something. She called out sharply, “Who’s there? Show yourself.”
Zhang Ruochen, who was about to leave, was slightly startled and quickly stopped.
Ji Fanxin’s Spiritual Power was stronger than his. She had probably noticed something unusual.
Zhang Ruochen released his Spiritual Power and Space Domain and immediately discovered that the surrounding space had been enveloped by a strange force, completely cut off from the outside world. His Spiritual Power was blocked when it reached just thirty zhang away.
“Someone is using a treasure similar to the Colored Glaze Heaven-Sealing Cover to trap Ji Fanxin and me. Could it be that a heretical expert from the Yin-Yang Hall has discovered our identities and pursued us?”
Zhang Ruochen’s Saint Qi began to circulate rapidly, ready to tear open a Space Rift at any moment to break through the enemy’s blockade.
“Heh, I never expected that the one to discover me first would be this ugly maid by your side. Could she also be an expert?”
A familiar laugh rang out.
Then, a golden-robed man wearing a mask stepped out from the darkness. He had broad shoulders and a tall, upright figure, gradually coming into Zhang Ruochen and Ji Fanxin’s view.
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised. “It’s you. Are you still not giving up on Dan Ling Wang?”
The golden-robed man glanced at Dan Ling Wang and chuckled. “Dan Ling Wang is the slave I’ve set my sights on, so of course, she should be mine. But I’m even more curious about you. A mere Half-Saint King, and you can produce a Six-Yao Ten-Thousand-Pattern Sacred Artifact. You must have quite a few good things on you, right?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “No matter how many good things I have, they’re still mine. Are you thinking of robbing me?”
“What if I am? This is a world where the strong prey on the weak! Besides, you’ve committed two capital offenses today. Do you really think you can leave here alive?”
The golden-robed man was clearly a powerful figure, his words carrying the domineering will of a superior.
“I’d like to know what these two capital offenses are.”
As he spoke, the Yi Emperor Bone Staff appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s left hand.
The golden-robed man said, “First, you shouldn’t have competed with me for the slave. That is the greatest capital offense.”
“Second, when you’re not strong enough, revealing a treasure like the Six-Yao Ten-Thousand-Pattern Sacred Artifact is also a capital offense.”
Since the other party had made it clear that he intended to kill him, Zhang Ruochen wasn’t about to sit idly by. He drew his right hand’s finger through the air, tearing open a half-zhang-long Space Rift that slashed horizontally toward the golden-robed man.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen channeled his Spiritual Power into the Yi Emperor Bone Staff, transforming it into a massive black skeleton that struck out with a chilling ghost claw, following behind the Space Rift.
“You’re a Space cultivator…”
The golden-robed man was slightly startled and quickly executed a profound movement technique, transforming into a streak of golden light that shot upward, dodging the Space Rift.
The black skeleton seemed to have anticipated that he would leap upward, and its ghost claw came crashing down from above toward the golden-robed man’s head.
It was worth noting that the black skeleton’s attack power was comparable to a Fifth-Step Saint King. A single claw strike was like five bone mountains falling from the sky, the wind howling fiercely, with the power to shatter the earth. It put considerable pressure on the golden-robed man, forcing him to reveal his true strength.
“Roc Spreads Its Wings.”
A pair of golden wings, several zhang long, spread out from the golden-robed man’s back. Instantly, blinding golden light illuminated the world, as if a primordial Roc had emerged. The Saintly Might descended upon the earth, and all living beings felt compelled to kneel in worship.
“Boom.”
The golden-robed man struck out with a palm, unleashing Golden Roc Divine Light that collided with the black skeleton’s claw mark. The impact sent the black skeleton staggering backward.
The golden-robed man hovered in midair, his wings spread wide, like a Roc God King looking down at Zhang Ruochen below. He said disdainfully, “Now you should know my identity, shouldn’t you? Hand over that bone staff willingly, and perhaps this prince will grant you a quick death.”
A flicker of surprise passed through Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, and then he laughed. “So it’s the Golden Roc Prince. Interesting, very interesting. It seems there’s nothing for me to do today. I can just stand aside and watch the show.”
With that, Zhang Ruochen put away the Yi Emperor Bone Staff and stepped back, showing no intention of continuing to fight. “Since he’s your suitor, you handle him.”
The Golden Roc Prince’s identity and background were formidable—he was a divine grandson—and his own strength was also very powerful. This Half-Saint King before him, even if he cultivated the Way of Time, should have felt fear. Why wasn’t he afraid at all?
And what did that cryptic remark mean?
Just as the Golden Roc Prince was feeling puzzled, his eyes glanced sideways at the ugly woman standing not far away, and his expression changed drastically.
That ugly woman… had transformed into a stunningly beautiful, ethereal fairy, bathed in a rain of light. She was none other than the woman who haunted his dreams and whom he had been pursuing all along—the Hundred Flowers Fairy, Ji Fanxin.