Chapter 1602: Dawn
Yin-Yang Hall.
Shang Zi stood with his spine straight, hands clasped behind his back, his silver eyes fixed on a depiction of the Way of Truth hanging above. He had remained motionless for five days and five nights, as if carved from stone.
Finally, a smile appeared on his handsome face. "As expected of the Moon God, incomparable to other deities. The Truth Way diagram she left behind is truly remarkable. I have only spent a few short days contemplating it, yet I have already gained so much."
"Whoosh."
Wang Xu's figure flickered, appearing like a ghostly shadow not far from Shang Zi, and chuckled, "That move of yours doesn't seem to be working very well. Zhang Ruochen is quite clever; he simply won't take the bait."
Hearing this, Shang Zi turned his head to look at Wang Xu and smiled, "This move might not work on others. But against Zhang Ruochen, it will definitely succeed."
Wang Xu said, "Yet the sacred souls of those seventeen saints have been lashed day and night by the Soul-Whip, on the verge of dissipating, and Zhang Ruochen still hasn't shown himself."
"Is that so?"
Shang Zi shook his head with a smile, "I wouldn't be so sure. Zhang Ruochen is very likely nearby the Yin-Yang Hall, watching those heads that scream day and night."
"Only, he has been restraining himself, like a fierce wolf lurking in the darkness, already furious beyond measure, yet forced to bury his claws in the soil to stay calm. Because he knows that once he approaches the Yin-Yang Hall, he will fall into the hunter's trap and die without a burial place."
"And I am that hunter who makes him fear, makes him tremble, makes him dare not show himself."
Wang Xu said, "Since he knows the Yin-Yang Hall is a trap, won't he simply never show up?"
Shang Zi walked over and patted Wang Xu on the shoulder, laughing, "If he won't show, then we force him to. Mu Po Nu, spread the news: tomorrow, at the fourth ke of the noon hour, those seventeen heads hanging at the gate will be taken down... and fed to the dogs."
"Yes."
A beautiful woman in blue robes acknowledged the order and left.
The dog was a Phosphorus Demon Hound from the Black Demon Realm.
The Phosphorus Demon Hound had a body covered in blood-red long fur, three heads, and a frame as large as a house.
It was led outside the Yin-Yang Hall and tied to a bronze pillar. Its three blood-red eyes stared intently at the heads above, unusually excited, occasionally letting out barks.
Almost overnight, the news spread throughout the Heavenly Capital Saint Market.
Cultivators from various worlds had mostly learned what had happened, knowing that the heads hanging outside the Yin-Yang Hall were closely related to the recently renowned Zhang Ruochen.
Of course, few cultivators knew that the one orchestrating everything was actually Shang Zi.
They only believed it was the Yin-Yang Hall's method of dealing with Zhang Ruochen.
Those cultivators with grudges against the Yin-Yang Hall all began to hope, wishing Zhang Ruochen would appear soon, ideally wiping out all the heretical cultivators inside.
Of course, many cultivators also sighed in secret, "The Guanghan Realm has finally nurtured a peerless prodigy, but before he can grow into a top-tier powerhouse, he might fall at the Yin-Yang Hall."
"Those heretical figures in the Yin-Yang Hall are actually very afraid, which is why they use such despicable means to force Zhang Ruochen to appear."
"I hope Zhang Ruochen doesn't fall for it. After all, two fists are no match for four hands."
"For now, he should swallow this anger. Once his cultivation reaches the pinnacle below the Great Saint realm, with Zhang Ruochen's strength, he might not be unable to destroy the Yin-Yang Hall. I just fear Zhang Ruochen is too young and might act impulsively."
...
In truth, many cultivators from the Heavenly Court's various worlds sympathized with the plight of the Kunlun Realm and the Guanghan Realm.
Of course, this was a world where strength reigned supreme and interests mattered most. Sympathy was one thing, but they did not want to invite trouble for themselves, let alone bring disaster upon their own worlds.
Someone like Ji Fanxin, who could to some extent secretly help Zhang Ruochen, was already quite remarkable.
Zhang Ruochen, who had emerged from the Time-Space Crystal's inner space, heard this news from Ling Feiyu.
However, Zhang Ruochen appeared unusually calm, instead fixing a deep gaze on Ling Feiyu, remaining silent for a long time.
"What are you staring at me for?"
Ling Feiyu found Zhang Ruochen's gaze strange, but didn't think much of it, her mind occupied with planning the attack on the Yin-Yang Hall. "Are you going to devise the attack plan, or should I? If you haven't thought about it, then listen to me."
"First plan: I'll lead the charge, drawing the attention of the heretics in the Yin-Yang Hall while probing what killing moves and traps they've set up."
"If their defenses are too tight, or if I accidentally die at their hands, then don't go any further. Flee the Heavenly Capital Saint Market immediately."
"If there are gaps in their defenses, you immediately use your space power to take the seventeen heads hanging at the gate, then retreat as fast as possible. I'll hold the rear."
"Second plan: We act together, but I must still be in the open while you remain in the shadows. Your main task is to rescue the sacred souls sealed within those seventeen heads..."
Zhang Ruochen kept staring quietly at Ling Feiyu, listening to her plans.
But every plan Ling Feiyu proposed was aimed solely at rescuing the sacred souls trapped in the heads, without any thought of destroying the heretics in the Yin-Yang Hall.
Perhaps she thought it was impossible.
Or perhaps she believed that, at this stage, Zhang Ruochen didn't need to do that—it was too dangerous.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen interrupted Ling Feiyu's fourth plan, saying, "Give me the Sealing Heaven Glass Cover."
"What for?" Ling Feiyu asked.
"I think it's better if I take the lead in the attack. You just need to support me."
Ling Feiyu's gaze sharpened, and she was about to say something when Zhang Ruochen cut her off, adding, "I control space power and time power. If I want to retreat, they can't stop me."
"Is that so? Shang Zi is such a clever man—how could he not have accounted for those two points? He's certainly prepared means to suppress your space and time powers."
Ling Feiyu had cultivated for centuries and experienced countless fierce battles, large and small. She wasn't so easily fooled.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then said, "I think before we act, we need to choose a commander. Otherwise, once we start, if opinions differ and everyone does their own thing, it won't end well."
"Fine. I have more experience, more knowledge, and greater strength than you. I'll be the commander. In this operation, everything follows my orders." Ling Feiyu said assertively.
As the foremost saintess of the Demon Sect, Ling Feiyu naturally carried an imposing aura.
But Zhang Ruochen wasn't buying it. He shook his head and said, "Since we're choosing a commander, we should vote. Whoever gets the most votes qualifies."
"Let's start voting now."
"Those in favor of selecting me as commander, raise your right hand."
With that, Zhang Ruochen raised his own right hand, then looked at Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei had been with Zhang Ruochen for a long time and knew exactly what he intended, so he raised his right paw.
At the same time, not far away, Mo Yin also raised her right hand.
Zhang Ruochen lowered his hand and said, "That's three votes for me. I think the result is clear. You have no objections, do you?"
Ling Feiyu's eyes were like cold stars. "So, what's your plan?"
"No rush."
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Before we act, everyone must swear a blood oath."
"What blood oath?" Ling Feiyu asked.
Zhang Ruochen said unhurriedly, "Everyone here must strictly obey the commander's orders. If anyone dares to act on their own and disobey, may heaven and earth destroy them, and may their relatives and friends die off."
Ling Feiyu could clearly see that this blood oath was aimed entirely at her, so she said warily, "What if, after I swear, you order me not to go to the Yin-Yang Hall? Would I have to obey unconditionally?"
"How could I do that? I have a very important task for you at the Yin-Yang Hall." Zhang Ruochen said with a serious expression.
"Are you sure?" Ling Feiyu asked.
"I can swear a separate blood oath." Zhang Ruochen said.
"No need."
Ling Feiyu was quite decisive. Without further thought, she immediately swore a blood oath.
Then Xiao Hei and Mo Yin also swore their oaths. Only then did Zhang Ruochen nod in satisfaction and say, "The time for action is at dawn."
...
At dawn, the sky was dim, with countless stars dotting both sides of the Heavenly River. The world was utterly silent.
Even the bustling Heavenly Capital Saint Market was quite desolate at this hour.
Thin, cold white mist drifted through the streets.
Four heretical cultivators of considerable strength stood beneath the gate of the Yin-Yang Hall, chatting idly.
A heretical saint with a crocodile head said, "The news has been out for so long. Why hasn't Zhang Ruochen shown up yet?"
"I think he doesn't dare to come at all," said a dwarf, only five feet tall.
A blood-haired man sitting cross-legged on the ground had been releasing his spiritual power, unusually cautious.
Now he snorted coldly, "You'd better be careful. If Zhang Ruochen is going to strike, it will likely be at midnight or dawn. Since he didn't act at midnight, the probability of him acting now is quite high."
The five-foot dwarf sneered disdainfully, "Blood Cliff, the higher your cultivation, the smaller your courage? So what if Zhang Ruochen comes?"
"Master Lin has set up six formations near the gate of the Yin-Yang Hall. Three of them are defensive formations. Even if Zhang Ruochen comes, he'll need some time to break through them before he can take those heads."
"And during that time, he'll alert the experts inside the Yin-Yang Hall. Once Lord Blue Fang and Lord Zhan Yu make their move, even if Zhang Ruochen has three heads and six arms, he won't escape."
Except for the blood-haired man named "Blood Cliff," the other three heretical cultivators all laughed.
But at that moment, Blood Cliff keenly detected a faint spatial fluctuation and immediately let out a roar, "Zhang Ruochen, you've finally shown yourself!"