# Chapter 1637: Ghosts and Gods Crossing
Ten cultivators simultaneously crossing to the third layer sea region was an extremely rare spectacle, attracting a large number of cultivators to watch.
The seaside was packed with people.
They were commenting on the various cultivators currently crossing the sea. Among them, the most discussed was undoubtedly the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden. Next were Feng Yan and Qing Liaoya, as well as those two Divine Son level figures.
Of course, the three-step Saint Kings who had just fallen into the sea were not within the scope of commentary.
"Strange, truly strange. Have you noticed that metal-masked man sailing at the very rear? His strength is quite formidable. He defeated the second layer sea region's gatekeeper with just two punches."
"Indeed, he is somewhat extraordinary. With his strength, he shouldn't be lagging at the very back."
Finally, some cultivators noticed Zhang Ruochen.
Moreover, because Zhang Ruochen wore a mask, it added a layer of mystery. Everyone present was guessing his identity. How could someone at the one-step Saint King realm who crossed the second layer sea region be a simple character?
Changes occurred again on the sea surface.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was the first to defeat the third layer sea region's gatekeeper and enter the fourth layer sea region.
Following that, Feng Yan's three heads and six arms simultaneously erupted with powerful force, blasting the gatekeeper full of holes until its body shattered. Then, he steered his Truth Boat into the fourth layer sea region.
"Plop."
"Plop."
Two consecutive sounds of falling water rang out. Two more Saint King level figures, after crossing more than ten li, plunged into the sea, failing to reach the third layer sea region's checkpoint.
The cultivators on the shore all sighed.
The third layer sea region was simply too difficult. Even outstanding talents were repeatedly defeated and sinking into failure.
Now, the only cultivators still in the third layer sea region were Zhang Ruochen, Xiang Chunan, Qing Liaoya, and the two Divine Son level figures.
"Boom."
Qing Liaoya defeated the third layer sea region's gatekeeper and disappeared from the light screen.
The two Divine Son level figures reached below the light screen and began fighting with the gatekeeper.
The difficulty of navigating the third layer sea region was enormous. Zhang Ruochen had to fully mobilize his spiritual power just to barely control the Truth Boat.
Even so, the Truth Boat still shook violently from time to time.
Gradually, Zhang Ruochen caught up to Xiang Chunan.
Xiang Chunan was greatly startled. He carefully examined Zhang Ruochen from head to toe and said, "You actually managed to defeat the second layer sea region's gatekeeper too?"
Zhang Ruochen had already grown accustomed to Xiang Chunan's straightforward way of speaking, so he wasn't the least bit angry. He smiled faintly and said, "Lucky. I stumbled through by chance."
"Hehe, it seems the two of us both relied on luck to get here. What a coincidence! How about we become sworn brothers?" Xiang Chunan got excited, and the Truth Boat beneath him began swaying left and right again.
Seeing the massive amplitude of the small boat's rocking, Zhang Ruochen felt certain he himself would have fallen into the sea. So, he gently shook his head, steered his Truth Boat, and continued sailing forward.
When he reached below the third layer light screen, Zhang Ruochen did not immediately challenge the gatekeeper. Instead, he quietly observed the two battles beside him.
The two Divine Son level figures were quite remarkable. They employed various sacred arts with superb skill. Moreover, the Truth Rules they had cultivated were close to a thousand in number. Every sacred art they unleashed could explode with triple the power.
Clearly, they had both fully comprehended the third visualization diagram of the Truth Divine Temple's first floor.
That Divine Son whose entire body emitted five-colored divine light had reached the two-step Saint King realm, with spiritual power at the peak of the fifty-fifth rank. After a fierce struggle, he finally defeated the gatekeeper and entered the fourth layer sea region.
The other Divine Son was at the one-step Saint King realm, with slightly weaker spiritual power.
At this moment, he was fighting quite laboriously, gradually being forced into a disadvantage by the gatekeeper. Eventually, the gatekeeper struck him flying with a single sword strike. With a booming sound, he fell into the seawater.
Failure.
"It seems that even among Divine Sons, the gap is quite enormous. Wang Xu, at the half-step Saint King realm, could cross the fourth layer sea region. That Divine Son just now, having reached the Saint King realm, couldn't even cross the third layer." Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Of course, being able to reach the third layer sea region's checkpoint was already something ordinary people couldn't achieve, and could be considered quite outstanding.
Xiang Chunan's voice sounded behind Zhang Ruochen: "Hehe, brother, have you considered my proposal?"
"Bang."
The Truth Boat beneath Xiang Chunan's feet violently collided with Zhang Ruochen's Truth Boat, startling Zhang Ruochen. He quickly mobilized sacred qi and spiritual power together to stabilize the Truth Boat as much as possible.
"You didn't fall into the sea?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiang Chunan laughed loudly: "Surprised? Unexpected? Actually, it's all luck. Haha!"
"What did you say about considering earlier?" Zhang Ruochen furrowed his brow and distanced himself from Xiang Chunan, afraid that this dark, reckless fellow would knock him into the sea.
Xiang Chunan widened his eyes and said, "Becoming sworn brothers! Have you forgotten already?"
Zhang Ruochen revealed an awkward but polite smile, yet said nothing in response.
What a joke! He didn't even know the other person's name, hadn't seen what they looked like, and on their first meeting, they wanted to become sworn brothers? Just how thick were this dark, reckless fellow's nerves?
Zhang Ruochen steered his Truth Boat to directly below the light screen.
"Sizzle."
The third layer sea region's gatekeeper materialized. It was still clad in silver armor, but its semi-transparent body contained silver bones and silver blood vessels, far more powerful than the gatekeepers of the first two layers.
Moreover, the aura emanating from it put considerable pressure on Zhang Ruochen.
"Even a Divine Son level figure was defeated. The third layer sea region's gatekeeper should be quite difficult to deal with."
Zhang Ruochen used his spiritual power to stabilize the Truth Boat. All one hundred and forty-four acupoints on his body emitted bright radiance. He clenched his fists, and the vast sacred qi within his body circulated rapidly. His gaze locked onto the gatekeeper.
"Defeat me, and you may enter the fourth layer sea region."
The gatekeeper clenched its fists, silver light flowing through its ten fingers, and its pupils exuded a formidable aura.
"Luo Water Fist Art, First Form: Heavenly River Divides Labor."
Zhang Ruochen mobilized sixty fist dao rules, integrating them into the fist technique, truly unleashing the mid-rank sacred art level Luo Water Fist Art.
Instantly, the water vapor in the Truth Sea was stirred by the fist technique, merging with the heavenly river above his head, producing the rumbling sound of surging rivers.
With one punch thrown, the tens of zhang long heavenly river violently crashed toward the gatekeeper.
Because sixty fist dao rules were integrated, the power of this punch far exceeded the one Zhang Ruochen had thrown in the second layer sea region.
However, the gatekeeper was quite formidable. Its fist technique was fierce, each punch like an iron mountain flying out. It actually shattered that tens of zhang long heavenly river, turning it into water droplets that pattered down into the Truth Sea.
Following that, the gatekeeper transformed into a bolt of lightning, charging straight at Zhang Ruochen.
"Luo Water Fist Art, Second Form: Nine Bends and Nine Turns."
For this punch, Zhang Ruochen mobilized seventy fist dao rules.
The thirty-six moves of the Luo Water Fist Art, one punch following another, each punch stronger than the last, like layer upon layer of rolling waves. The more waves stacked, the higher they rose, and the more powerful the force they unleashed.
"Bang."
The gatekeeper's strength was abnormally formidable. With a single strike, it broke through Zhang Ruochen's Luo Water Fist Art second form.
Another silver iron fist violently struck toward Zhang Ruochen's chest.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm and composed, unleashing the Luo Water Fist Art's third form: Severing the Heavenly Path. This punch integrated eighty fist dao rules.
...
The clash between Zhang Ruochen and the third layer gatekeeper was quite intense.
Both of them used fist techniques. The difference was that the gatekeeper's fist technique was more rigid and fierce, while the Luo Water Fist Art was firm yet gentle. Zhang Ruochen's two arms were like two rivers, sometimes curving, sometimes straight, unpredictable.
"Boom, boom, boom."
The Truth Boat beneath Zhang Ruochen's feet shook violently the entire time, splashing up large amounts of water.
"Luo Water Fist Art, Tenth Form: Soul Severed Long Song."
Zhang Ruochen mobilized one hundred and fifty fist dao rules, integrating them into the fist technique, and clashed with the gatekeeper once more.
With this strike, Zhang Ruochen was still at a disadvantage, nearly flying off the Truth Boat.
However, the gatekeeper was also pushed back four steps. Clearly, it was not easy for it to withstand Zhang Ruochen's Luo Water Fist Art.
Zhang Ruochen saw hope and revealed a delighted expression. So, he continued to unleash the Luo Water Fist Art in an unbroken chain.
As the power of the fist technique grew stronger and stronger, Zhang Ruochen gradually gained the upper hand, forcing the gatekeeper to retreat continuously.
Seeing that the time was ripe, Zhang Ruochen suddenly leaped up from the Truth Boat and threw both fists simultaneously: "Luo Water Fist Art, Eighteenth Form: Ghosts and Gods Crossing."
A full two hundred and thirty fist dao rules were integrated into the fist technique. A large amount of sacred qi burst forth, condensing into two ghost and god phantom images in front of the fist seal.
The ghost image and god image each had a heavenly river coiled around their bodies, emitting sharp, piercing howls that caused the entire third layer sea region's waters to churn.
"Boom."
The gatekeeper's body was shattered in two.
Before the two halves of its body could fall onto the sea surface, they transformed into specks of light that flew into the light screen.
A voice sounded from the light screen: "Pass."
Zhang Ruochen breathed a slight sigh of relief, withdrew his sacred qi and fist technique, and returned to a calm state.
"That was truly a hard-fought victory. Without using Truth Rules, I had to go all out to defeat the third layer sea region's gatekeeper."
Although the Luo Water Fist Art had a total of thirty-six moves, divided into the first eighteen forms and the last eighteen forms, the first eighteen forms and the last eighteen forms were completely different systems. Their power was actually quite similar. The final move of the first eighteen forms, "Ghosts and Gods Crossing," was just as powerful as the final move of the last eighteen forms, "Luo Water Severing Flow."
How much further he could cross from now on depended entirely on Zhang Ruochen's attainment in the Way of Truth.
Zhang Ruochen steered his Truth Boat and disappeared from the light screen.
Below the light screen, Xiang Chunan stared wide-eyed, revealing a shocked expression. After a long while, he rolled his eyeballs and snapped back to his senses, shouting loudly: "What a wonderful fist technique! Big brother, can you teach me?"
Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen had already entered the fourth layer sea region and could not hear his voice.