Chapter 1718: Eight Dragon Umbrella
The appearance of Feng Xi made Shang Zihong, Wu Ying Xianzi, Gongzi Yan, and the others’ expressions turn grave. They knew they absolutely could not go to the Truth Divine Temple with her; otherwise, even with their formidable backgrounds, they would likely face severe punishment.
If they could escape, Feng Xi would have no evidence and naturally couldn’t do anything to them.
However, when they saw Liancheng Baili severely wounded by a palm strike and rendered combat-ineffective, their hearts sank heavily.
Such terrifying power could only mean one of the Ten Great Divine Transmission Disciples had arrived.
Nie Xiangzi, one of the Ten Great Divine Transmission Disciples, appeared out of thin air beside Feng Xi. He flexed his hand lightly and said calmly, “If you don’t want to die, come with me.”
“Plucking stars with one hand, indifferent by nature—Nie Xiangzi.”
Seeing Nie Xiangzi and Feng Xi appear, Zhang Ruochen felt greatly relieved.
Although Shang Zihong, Wu Ying Xianzi, and the others were strong, they were still relatively young. Compared to someone like Nie Xiangzi, who was infinitely close to the Great Saint realm, there was a massive gap.
Wu Ying Xianzi, Gongzi Yan, Xunya, and the others all turned their gazes toward Shang Zihong.
They knew very well that Shang Zihong was meticulous and always cautious, surely leaving himself a way out. Sure enough, Shang Zihong remained unflustered even now.
Zhang Ruochen was also observing his opponent, Shang Zihong, and nodded slightly. He couldn’t help but admire the man—to remain calm and composed under such circumstances was truly remarkable.
Then, Shang Zihong took out a precious bottle, from which a three-colored mist began to emanate.
White, black, and red fog quickly spread across the sky and earth, turning the world into an incredibly surreal scene. The sky was red, the ground was black, and between them, streaks of white light drifted.
Black vines sprouted from the ground, swaying slowly like dragon tails.
Shang Zihong and the others’ figures vanished in an instant.
“It’s the Three-Colored Illusory Mist.”
Zhang Ruochen immediately opened his Heavenly Eye.
After reaching the fifty-seventh level of spiritual power, the power contained in Zhang Ruochen’s Heavenly Eye had grown even stronger, allowing him to see through even the Three-Colored Illusory Mist.
Shang Zihong and the others had indeed used escape techniques to flee in different directions.
However, Nie Xiangzi, Feng Xi, Zhen Yuan, and Ci Hang Xianzi were no ordinary individuals. The mere Three-Colored Illusory Mist couldn’t fool their eyes, and they split up to intercept them.
Nie Xiangzi’s movement technique was as fast as lightning. In an instant, he caught up to Shang Zihong and struck out with a hand seal. Instantly, the air within a radius of several hundred zhang seemed to solidify, and even the Sacred Dao rules became still.
Shang Zihong, holding Liancheng Baili with one hand, struggled twice but failed. He sighed lightly, “Impressive. A simple move like the Star-Plucking Hand, in Senior Brother Nie’s hands, can unleash such formidable power.”
Nie Xiangzi said, “Come with me and accept the judgment of the Truth Divine Temple.”
Shang Zihong shook his head. “That’s impossible. If I go with you to the Truth Divine Temple, the best outcome would be expulsion from the Truth Heaven Domain, never to return for cultivation.”
Nie Xiangzi said no more. He clenched his five fingers, and five pillars of Sacred Qi, as thick as mountain peaks, materialized, enveloping Shang Zihong and tightening around him.
Shang Zihong endured immense pressure, fully mobilizing his Sacred Qi to resist.
“Whoosh—”
Suddenly, a blinding white light streaked in from afar, like a deity wielding a white ribbon dancing in the sky. It cut through the five Sacred Qi pillars with devastating force.
A white mass of light descended from the sky, instantly reaching above Nie Xiangzi’s head.
Within the white light was a human figure.
Seeing that figure in the white light, Shang Zihong’s eyes showed a hint of relief. Then, carrying Liancheng Baili, he quickly fled into the distance, soon disappearing over the horizon.
Nie Xiangzi exchanged a blow with the figure in the white light. Instantly, the ground beneath them sank and continued to spread outward.
Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation was still too low, and he didn’t know what had happened. He only saw a flash of white light, and his eyes couldn’t open anymore.
Feeling the surge of powerful energy, Zhang Ruochen immediately used the “Space-Time Secret Scripture” to perform a Great Space Teleportation.
“Such immense power—can this still be a battle between Saint Kings?”
Zhang Ruochen performed seven Great Space Teleportations in a row, fleeing hundreds of li away, but he was still struck by the energy. Fortunately, protected by the “Space-Time Secret Scripture,” he was only sent flying.
Without the “Space-Time Secret Scripture,” with his Four-Step Saint King realm, he would have likely been reduced to ashes.
This made Zhang Ruochen suspect that two Great Saints were clashing, and the residual shockwaves from their battle could easily kill Saint Kings.
Half an hour later, the battle ended, and the area gradually calmed down.
Zhang Ruochen met Feng Xi.
He approached and cupped his hands. “Greetings, Senior Sister Feng. Thank you for coming to my rescue.”
Zhang Ruochen had no connection with Zhen Yuan, Ci Hang Xianzi, or Nie Xiangzi, so he naturally assumed that Feng Xi had received word and brought these cultivators to save him.
Only Feng Xi had such influence.
Feng Xi nodded and gave Zhang Ruochen a deep look. “You’re quite impressive! To hold out against a siege from Shang Zihong and his group until we arrived—that’s far beyond my expectations.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “I was just barely holding on. If Senior Sister Feng had been a moment later, I’d probably be a pile of bloody soil.”
Zhen Yuan and Ci Hang Xianzi turned into two streaks of light, flying over from afar and landing beside Feng Xi, shaking their heads at her.
Zhang Ruochen understood—Shang Zihong, Gongzi Yan, Wu Ying Xianzi, and the others had likely escaped.
There was no helping it. Those figures were all extraordinary. Many older generation experts below the Great Saint realm could defeat them, but capturing or killing them would probably require a Great Saint’s intervention.
Feng Xi said to Zhang Ruochen, “Let me introduce you to two cultivators with whom you share some connections. Zhen Yuan, the leader of the Daoist sacred land, the Five Elements Temple, and Ci Hang Xianzi, the leader of the Western Buddha Realm.”
“Wuliang Tianzun!”
“Amitabha!”
Zhen Yuan and Ci Hang Xianzi both smiled slightly, studying Zhang Ruochen at the same time.
Zhang Ruochen felt quite surprised and puzzled. How could he have connections with the Daoist leader and the Buddhist leader? What kind of connections?
Before Zhang Ruochen could ask, Nie Xiangzi flew in from beyond the sky.
Feng Xi quickly asked, “Senior Brother, how did it go?”
Nie Xiangzi frowned. “A powerhouse of equal strength to me intervened to help them escape. That person must also be one of the Ten Great Divine Transmission Disciples. I have a rough idea who it is.”
Feng Xi snorted. “Even if they escaped, can they avoid punishment? With the four of us as witnesses, that’s enough to judge them. I’ll report this now and ask the elders of the Enforcement Saint Pavilion to personally apprehend them.”
“It’s not that simple. The Paradise Realm faction has considerable influence in the Truth Divine Temple. Without solid evidence, just our word won’t be enough to touch them,” Nie Xiangzi said.
Zhang Ruochen added, “Senior Brother Nie is right. In fact, Shang Zihong’s real purpose in using the Three-Colored Illusory Mist earlier wasn’t to escape but to create an alibi. Even if we report it and the Enforcement Saint Pavilion elders capture them, they could claim someone used illusions to deceive our eyes and frame them.”
Nie Xiangzi looked at Zhang Ruochen with newfound respect. “To think of that—no wonder you’ve survived this long.”
Then he added, “Since this assassination attempt failed, they probably won’t act rashly for a while. I’ll head back and also go meet the person I just fought. Feng Xi, I’ll leave this to you.”
After Nie Xiangzi left, Zhang Ruochen voiced his confusion. “Senior Brother Zhen Yuan, Senior Sister Ci Hang, what exactly is this connection that Senior Sister Feng mentioned?”
Zhen Yuan clasped his hands behind his back. “The connection lies between the Five Elements Temple and the Kunlun Realm. The Daoist sacred land, the Five Elements Temple, was originally founded by several Daoist ancient sages from the Kunlun Realm and the Pangu Realm. Although the Five Elements Temple lost contact with the Kunlun Realm a hundred thousand years ago, the inheritance left by the Kunlun Realm within the temple has never been severed.”
“I see.” Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood.
Zhen Yuan continued, “In fact, I’ve been watching you for a long time. The reason I never showed myself was to see if you were worthy of the Five Elements Temple’s support. You must understand, the Paradise Realm faction’s power is vast. Once we decide to support you, the Five Elements Temple will have to pay a heavy price.”
Zhang Ruochen could fully understand that. He then asked, “So, do I qualify now?”
“There’s hope, but it’s not enough,” Zhen Yuan said bluntly.
Then he added, “It’s because there’s hope that I showed up today. Of course, until you’re fully qualified, the Five Elements Temple absolutely won’t provide you with too much help. Everything depends on you. Honestly, I very much hope the Kunlun Realm can rise again, because one of my ancestors was once a cultivator from the Kunlun Realm. But…”
Zhen Yuan didn’t finish, as if he felt it was impossible. The Kunlun Realm had completely declined. Even without the suppression of the Paradise Realm faction and the attacks of the Hell Realm, rising again would be as difficult as reaching the sky.
Ci Hang Xianzi took out an umbrella and handed it to Zhang Ruochen. “Several hundred years ago, an emperor from the Kunlun Realm crossed the vast universe, reached the Western Buddha Realm, shaved his head, and became a monk. Now, that emperor has attained Buddhahood. Before coming to the Truth Heaven Domain, he asked me to bring this umbrella to you.”
Seeing the umbrella, Zhang Ruochen stood frozen, as if turned to stone, but his heart pounded like thunder.
It was… the Eight Dragon Umbrella.
The Eight Dragon Umbrella, the Nine Dragon Chariot, the Ten Dragon Blade, and the Hundred Dragon Bright Emperor Armor were all personal belongings of the Ming Emperor and the hereditary royal sacred artifacts of the Zhang Clan of the Sacred Bright Central Empire.
…
(These past few days, because I have to attend the author’s annual meeting and my writing speed is extremely slow, I can only write one chapter per day. I’m truly sorry, and I really apologize to all the readers. Crying my eyes out.)
(Chapter End)