# Chapter 1682: Space Barrier
Zhang Ruochen stepped down from the Starlight Sacred Carriage, leaving the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden alone inside the vehicle.
Miraculously, after Zhang Ruochen released the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden from the Space-Time Secret Scripture, she did not attack him. Instead, she seemed dazed and disoriented, collapsing to sit on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen's words had struck her too hard, far more than the humiliation she had just suffered.
"You don't dare to fight me to the bitter end, because you cherish your life, because you think you're clever—if you endure now, you can certainly take revenge later."
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"Now I say your state of mind has flaws. When faced with a true great calamity, you might not dare to meet it head-on, even if it means death in battle. Do you admit it?"
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"Do you admit it?"
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"Do you admit it?"
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The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden felt as if billions of voices were echoing in her mind, repeatedly asking her, shaking her Sacred Soul, making it impossible for her to rise from the ground. Her delicate body trembled incessantly.
Since her birth, she had been the most outstanding among her peers. Everyone said she was unparalleled in the world, that she would surely attain the Divine Path in the future and inherit the position of Heavenly Venerable.
But now, all of that had been overturned. It was like being in a beautiful dream, only to be slapped back to reality.
Such a blow made her feel as if she had fallen from the clouds into an abyss.
The moment Zhang Ruochen stepped down from the Starlight Sacred Carriage, countless pairs of eyes immediately fixed upon him.
Some of those gazes contained anger, even murderous intent.
This startled Zhang Ruochen, making him think the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had already revealed his true identity through voice transmission.
"Does she have no scruples (gu ji) at all?"
Immediately, Zhang Ruochen reached out and grasped the Space-Time Secret Scripture, preparing to use its power to perform a Spatial Displacement and flee this place as quickly as possible.
The seductive woman beside the Wu Shen Heavenly Prince walked toward him, a strange smile in her eyes. She slightly cupped her hands and said, "Young Master Lin, you've finally stepped down. All the princes and princesses are waiting for you ahead. Please follow me."
Zhang Ruochen said warily, "Where are we going?"
The seductive woman said, "We've already reached the third layer of the space barrier in the folded space. But Master Pu Shan and Master Chou Gu spent half an hour and still couldn't break through the barrier. So, all the princes and princesses are waiting for you, hoping that Young Master Lin might have a way to break it open."
Zhang Ruochen carefully observed his surroundings. This place was no longer where he had boarded the carriage earlier.
About two hundred zhang ahead, there was a hazy, blurry expanse. A thick layer of chaotic space wall stood before everyone.
Through the chaotic space wall, one could vaguely see a broader world beyond, where ancient sacred mountains towered, like a primordial wilderness.
It seemed that while he and the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had been clashing inside the carriage, the Starlight Sacred Carriage had kept moving forward.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze swept around, and he said, "I'm curious—why are so many people suddenly hostile toward me?"
The seductive woman covered her mouth with her jade fingers and giggled. "They must be jealous, Young Master Lin. Don't mind them. You're someone close to the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden—they wouldn't dare do anything to you."
"Jealous?"
Zhang Ruochen still found it hard to understand.
As Saint King-level figures, these cultivators' jealousy was far too strong.
Just because the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden wanted to see him, just because he had boarded the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's sacred carriage—these cultivators were too fragile-hearted.
"Indeed, there are many jealous gazes, eyes red with envy."
After careful observation, Zhang Ruochen reached this conclusion, and his heart relaxed.
As long as his identity wasn't exposed, he didn't care how jealous these cultivators were.
Zhang Ruochen regained his composure and calmness, saying, "Let's go. Take me to see the princes and princesses."
Following the seductive woman forward, Zhang Ruochen heard many cultivators grinding their teeth, as well as some whispering among themselves.
"See? That bastard changed his clothes. Now do you believe it?"
"I smell a trace of the Heavenly Maiden's fragrance on him."
"Ah! Heavens, my Heavenly Maiden is such a holy fairy... how could... I can't accept this fact..."
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Zhang Ruochen's brow furrowed tighter and tighter.
The reason he had changed clothes was that during his battle with the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, his original robe had been torn and stained with Sacred Blood.
What were they thinking?
He heard more gossip, including the term "carriage shaking." Soon, Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood, and a look of astonishment appeared on his face.
"No way, these people's imaginations are incredible!"
No wonder so many cultivators had eyes red with jealousy. If Zhang Ruochen were a spectator, and the "carriage shaking" involved the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and another man, he would probably be envious and jealous too.
Not to mention that many cultivators present admired the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden or were her suitors. To them, this "carriage shaking" was too cruel. For half an hour, they must have been heartbroken, wanting to slice Zhang Ruochen into a thousand pieces.
Zhang Ruochen didn't care, but he wondered what expression the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden would have if she found out.
After Zhang Ruochen met with the various princes and princesses of the Ancient Civilization Faction, they all showed strange expressions.
Originally, they hadn't believed that the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden would openly engage in "carriage shaking" with Lin Yue. But seeing Lin Yue in a changed robe, looking smug and pleased, they all became half-convinced.
Da Zun laughed heartily and asked meaningfully, "Lin Yue, is the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden alright?"
Since everyone had already misunderstood, Zhang Ruochen didn't mind deepening the misunderstanding.
After all, this misunderstanding benefited him more than it harmed.
Zhang Ruochen deliberately put on an embarrassed expression and said, "Ahem, the Heavenly Maiden's cultivation is profound... nothing will happen... hmm, after resting a bit, she should come down."
The lofty princes and princesses looked at Zhang Ruochen with somewhat different eyes.
Even the majestic and domineering Da Zun became much more familiar with him.
Previously, he was just a space cultivator they had invited. Now, he was the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's man, half a step into the core of their faction.
The two were completely different concepts.
The Wu Shen Heavenly Prince said, "Brother Lin should also see that this dangerous killing ground is located within folded space. Only by shattering the space barrier can we further open the hidden space."
"Two layers of the space barrier have already been shattered. The space we opened is the palace complex we passed through earlier."
"Each layer of the space barrier is more solid (jian gu) than the last. The first layer only required the power of a Four-Step Saint King to break. The second layer required the power of a Nine-Step Saint King."
"For the third layer of the space barrier, we tried various methods, even using a damaged Supreme Sacred Artifact to draw out a strand of Supreme Power, but still couldn't break it. We speculate that only the power of a Great Saint can shatter it."
"However, space cultivators have clever techniques. Perhaps the power of the Way of Space can break through the third layer of the space barrier."
Now, they could only place their hope on the six space cultivators.
If even the six space cultivators couldn't break the barrier, then no matter how unwilling they were, they would have to immediately withdraw from this place. For the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden and the Wu Shen Heavenly Prince, who desperately needed the Divine Spring, this was the outcome they least wanted to see.
Zhang Ruochen walked toward the space barrier.
Ahead, Gu Feng, Pu Shan, Li Qinghai, Chou Gu, and Mo Xiao Gu were each using their own methods, launching spatial attacks against the thick space barrier, producing "bang bang" sounds.
Li Qinghai held a moon-shaped Space Blade, gathering (ning ju) power, and slashed out. A space crack (lie feng) appeared and struck the space barrier.
But the space barrier was extremely thick. Before the crack (lie feng) could penetrate it, the barrier's power squeezed it shut again.
Pu Shan used a palm-sized golden cymbal.
"Hua—"
The golden cymbal flew out, spinning continuously, growing larger than a millstone, turning into a golden flying disc. With a rumbling sound, it crashed into the space barrier. But it only created ripples.
Chou Gu and Mo Xiao Gu each used their own methods, but the commotion they caused was much smaller than Li Qinghai's and Pu Shan's.
The most impressive was Gu Feng. This man had an extremely powerful space imprint on his palm. After fully activating it, he struck out with a palm, causing dozens of zhang of the space barrier to tremble violently, producing a "creaking" sound.
Now, all the cultivators believed that Lin Yue's space mastery surpassed his. Naturally, Gu Feng wanted to go all out to prove himself.
Unfortunately, the third layer of the space barrier was not only solid (jian gu) but also had self-healing abilities. The spatial explosion from Gu Feng's palm could only cause a certain degree of damage to the barrier.
By the time he gathered (ning ju) power for a second strike, the damage had already healed.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen appear, Li Qinghai immediately put away his Space Blade, walked toward him sweating profusely, and said breathlessly, "This layer of the space barrier is too solid (jian gu). The five of us went all out but couldn't break it. Brother Lin, do you have a way to break it?"
Gu Feng, Chou Gu, Mo Xiao Gu, and Pu Shan also retreated. The Sacred Qi in their bodies was severely depleted, making it hard to continue.
Gu Feng snorted coldly, "With the toughness (jian ren) of this layer of the space barrier, how could he possibly break it? Even if Gongzi Yan were here, he would fail. Only a Great Saint-level figure, wielding a Supreme Sacred Artifact with Supreme Power, might be able to forcibly break it."
Zhang Ruochen ignored Gu Feng. Instead, he slowly walked toward the space barrier, reached out a hand, and gently pressed forward, as if pressing into a thick layer of cotton.
The deeper he pressed, the stronger the resistance (zu) force became. Finally, it turned into a rebound force, sending Zhang Ruochen flying backward like a leaf.
"Heh heh." Gu Feng laughed out loud.
In the distance, the princes and princesses of the Ancient Civilization Faction all furrowed their brows, extreme disappointment in their eyes. Could they really not break through the third layer of the barrier and had to retreat?
Zhang Ruochen landed steadily on the ground, rubbed his chin with his fingers, and said slowly, "Although I can't break this layer of the space barrier, opening a path through it shouldn't be difficult."
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(Happy Christmas to all readers.)