Chapter 1696: Breaking Out
"Crack! Crack!"
A skeleton dozens of meters tall climbed out from underground, step by step.
Its bones were extremely thick and crystalline, as if forged from stars into bone blocks, exuding an awe-inspiring aura. Even though the cultivators present were all top-tier talents, they still felt their hearts tremble with fear.
That skeleton, when alive, must have been a Great Saint.
Zhang Ruochen, accompanied by the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden, retreated far away while observing the connection between Mo Xiaogu and the Great Saint skeleton.
Controlling a ferocious Great Saint creature required extraordinary means. Even a Great Saint personally taking action might not succeed, let alone a Saint King.
Zhenmiao Little Daoist was the first to discern the secret, saying, "The black lotus in her hand is called the Yin Spirit Lotus. It is born by absorbing the yin energy from within a divine corpse, usually growing on the corpse's forehead. Only when the divine corpse is drained into a mummy does the Yin Spirit Lotus fully bloom. That demoness is using the Yin Spirit Lotus to control the Great Saint ferocious creature."
Zhang Ruochen was puzzled, "How do you know it's a Yin Spirit Lotus?"
"I'm not sure. It just suddenly came to me, as if it was buried deep in my memory and I've always known it," Zhenmiao Little Daoist said seriously.
Mo Xiaogu, holding the black lotus in her hand like a dark elf, flew onto the shoulder of the ferocious Great Saint creature, looking down at the crowd below. "Yan King, aren't you going to make a move? If you don't, this princess will have to act!"
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden was one of the Nine Beauties renowned throughout the Heavenly Court Realm, with extremely powerful cultivation and physique. Draining her would bring Yan King endless benefits. How could Yan King not want to act?
However, the methods Mo Xiaogu had displayed were too extraordinary and eerie, making Yan King feel she was the greater threat.
Yan King said warily, "Which clan's princess are you? Why have I never heard of someone like you before?"
Mo Xiaogu chuckled lightly, "Don't worry, we're not enemies. This princess is the cousin of Mo Yan, the current generation's leader of the Space Divine Temple. Actually, we're on the same side."
With that, Mo Xiaogu tossed out an iron token representing her identity.
Wang Tian caught the token, examined it, and said, "So it's the cousin of Prince Yan."
Yan King and Lian Hou both breathed a sigh of relief. Fortunately, this demoness was on their side; otherwise, opposing her would be a real headache.
Now, the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden must be in despair, right?
With no more worries, Yan King laughed, "Celestial Maiden, if you surrender to us, you still have a way out today. Otherwise, you will become this king's yin medicine."
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden withdrew her hand, her delicate body standing tall and proud. "Do you really think this Heavenly Maiden is afraid of you? Yan King, if you dare take one step forward, believe me, you will be annihilated on the spot."
Yan King was momentarily stunned, a flicker of caution in his eyes, then he licked his lips and smiled, "Celestial Maiden, you've already been poisoned by the Harmony Pill. Why pretend to be strong? When the poison takes effect, don't beg this king. Haha!"
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden's brows furrowed tightly, and she transmitted to Zhang Ruochen, "I'll open a gap for you to escape. Seize the opportunity."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "If I escape, what about you?"
"I have to hold them off, or neither of us will get away. Once you're out, go find the Great Venerable, the Wu Shen Heavenly Son, or the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden. Any one of them coming can save me," the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Aren't you afraid I'll escape and not come back?"
"As long as you escape, they'll think twice before dealing with me," the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden said calmly.
Her jade-like right hand extended from her sleeve, her slender index and middle fingers holding a golden talisman.
"When the world has no path, creation penetrates the profound."
Dense light patterns emerged on the golden talisman, spreading outward like a spider web, quickly connecting with the surrounding space.
"Careful, she's about to use the Creation Penetrating Profound Talisman."
Wang Tian, Yan King, and Lian Hou's expressions changed drastically. They retreated at their fastest speed, pulling back over a hundred zhang. At the same time, they summoned their strongest sacred artifacts to shield themselves.
The Creation Penetrating Profound Talisman of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization was renowned, feared by all below the Great Saint level.
Legends said it had killed a Nine-Step Saint King.
Even cultivators like Wang Tian had to retreat over a hundred zhang to be confident in withstanding the destructive power released by the talisman.
Seizing this opportunity, Zhang Ruochen executed a Space Displacement, darting through a gap between Wang Tian, Yan King, and Lian Hou.
"Stop him! Don't let him escape!" Wang Tian shouted.
"Worry about yourselves first."
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden pressed her two jade fingers through the air, sending the golden talisman flying toward Wang Tian and the others to block their pursuit of Zhang Ruochen.
"Lian Hou, Yan King and I will hold off the Creation Penetrating Profound Talisman. You go after that kid."
Wang Tian and Yan King each took out a defensive talisman to counter the Creation Penetrating Profound Talisman, but the defensive layer formed by the talismans lasted only two breaths before being torn apart.
A fierce golden storm slammed into them, forcing them backward.
Wang Tian's Endless Blade emitted five layers of sacred power light waves, like a blood moon blocking his front, resisting the residual force of the talisman.
Yan King dove into the Burial Lord Divine Furnace. Just as he activated over thirty thousand inscriptions within the furnace, the golden storm struck, blasting the furnace deep into the ground.
Fortunately, they had stood over a hundred zhang away; any closer, they might not have withstood it.
Both Wang Tian and Yan King were suppressed and slightly injured. The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden summoned the White Feather Peacock Sacred Chariot, moving in a flash to board it, preparing to drive away.
"Hehe! The Creation Penetrating Profound Talisman, said to threaten even Nine-Step Saint Kings, is indeed formidable. Celestial Maiden, do you have any more? Use them all!"
Mo Xiaogu controlled the ferocious Great Saint creature, blocking the White Feather Peacock Sacred Chariot.
Inscriptions on the chariot continuously emerged, releasing increasingly powerful energy as it charged toward the dozens-of-meters-tall Great Saint skeleton.
The Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden knew this was her best chance to escape. Once Wang Tian and Yan King recovered, leaving would be as hard as reaching the heavens.
Mo Xiaogu shook her head with a sigh, "It seems the Celestial Maiden still doesn't fully understand the power of a ferocious Great Saint creature."
The Great Saint skeleton's right hand formed a fist, emitting a "crackling" sound, and punched toward the White Feather Peacock Sacred Chariot.
Suddenly, the chariot changed direction, narrowly dodging the skeleton's fist.
The Great Saint skeleton let out a furious roar, spewing a fierce gust of yin wind, then slapped down.
"Boom, boom."
The bone handprint was ferocious, striking three of the white feather peacocks pulling the chariot, blasting them into three wisps of white smoke. Even the chariot was sent flying by the residual force of the handprint, crashing into a stone wall before falling heavily to the ground.
Wang Tian and Yan King arrived, witnessing this scene. They were inwardly shocked—a Great Saint-level ferocious creature was truly terrifying, far beyond what they could currently contend with.
Fortunately, Mo Xiaogu was on their side; otherwise, they would have had to flee immediately.
Yan King clasped his hands in a bow to Mo Xiaogu, then said with a triumphant laugh, "Celestial Maiden, won't you give up? This king knows you placed your hopes on that space cultivator, but unfortunately, Lian Hou has already pursued him. He's doomed to fail."
...
After escaping Wang Tian's encirclement, Zhang Ruochen continuously executed Space Displacements, fleeing down the mountain.
"Boom!"
A violent explosion sounded behind him, sending mud and rocks flying. Palaces were destroyed, and a golden energy storm raged in that area. Without guessing, it was the destruction caused by the Creation Penetrating Profound Talisman.
"Such powerful force. I hope the Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden can use that talisman to kill one or two enemies," Zhang Ruochen thought.
Suddenly, a delicate laugh rang out, "Kid, your mastery of the Way of Space is quite skilled, but each displacement is too short. How can you escape this queen's palm?"
"Lian Hou has caught up." Zhang Ruochen frowned.
The yin wind behind him grew stronger, forming a layer of frost on his back.
"Star-Plucking Hand."
Lian Hou extended her slender hand, with three thousand sacred dao rules flowing on her five fingers. The air within dozens of zhang seemed to solidify, slowing Zhang Ruochen's speed.
Lian Hou smiled, waiting for Zhang Ruochen to use Space Displacement. Once he did, she had follow-up moves prepared.
To her surprise, Zhang Ruochen suddenly turned around, his body blazing with scorching flames, and punched toward her.
By activating the power of the Flame God Armor Fist Gloves, this punch carried a faint divine might.
"Boom."
The power of flames clashed with the yin-cold energy. The ground beneath their feet cracked over a large area, and even ancient divine inscriptions were activated, sending dozens of light pillars shooting up from underground.
In this head-on clash, Zhang Ruochen was at a disadvantage, retreating dozens of zhang before steadying himself.
Lian Hou only retreated half a step.
But she was quite shocked, "This kid can already contend with me?"
A burning sensation came from her palm. Lian Hou raised her hand and saw that the snow-white skin on her palm had been burned red, nearly drawing blood.
"He has already cultivated Purifying Divine Flame to the Minister Flame level."
Lian Hou dropped her contempt. Few cultivators below the Great Saint level could cultivate Minister Flame, and those who did posed a certain threat to her.
Zhang Ruochen fled rapidly down the mountain, cold sweat on his face, his mind growing dizzy as his spiritual will weakened. He quickly bit his tongue, using pain to stay alert. "I've been poisoned! The more I use sacred qi, the faster the poison spreads. I wonder if I can refine the Harmony Pill's toxicity with Purifying Divine Flame."
Before he could refine it, Lian Hou caught up again.
Zhenmiao Little Daoist said, "Are we really going to find those cultivators from the ancient civilization faction?"
"Yes."
After a pause, Zhang Ruochen added, "That Heavenly Beginning Celestial Maiden is not bad. Since she helped me escape, I should do my best to help her. Her condition is probably worse than mine. Falling into Yan King's hands would be worse than death for her."
"Unfortunately, far water can't quench a near fire. By the time we find the ancient civilization faction cultivators and return, it'll be too late," Zhenmiao Little Daoist sighed, then said, "But I do have a good plan."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What plan? Speak quickly."
Zhenmiao Little Daoist said unhurriedly, "We're not far from Zhenmiao Temple. We could go get the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror. You know, that Purple Gold Bagua Mirror is a Supreme Sacred Artifact. Once we have it in hand, we can kill gods and buddhas without resistance."
...
(I'm sorry for the past two days. My apologies. I won't say much else. I'll try to resume updates starting today.)