Chapter 1756: Two Shang Zihongs
"Boom."
The illusion array platform, dozens of feet tall, fell from the clouds, burning with flames and emitting thick black smoke.
In addition, Huan Ji's two disciples, Xiao Qianji and Yun Bing, fell together with the array platform, plunging into the boundless lake and splashing huge waves.
Immediately, two patches of blood spread across the lake's surface.
"The illusion array has been breached?"
"How could Huan Ji, with her profound spiritual power and illusion arts, fail to hold the array platform and even lose her two disciples?"
"Could it be that Huan Ji... has also met with misfortune?"
The kings of the Paradise Realm all felt a tremor in their hearts.
Huan Ji's formidable strength ranked among the top ten of the Paradise Realm kings in the Truth Heaven Domain. Even the Saint Kings present would have to bow respectfully when they saw her.
If even Huan Ji had been defeated, it was clear that the one who struck must be extremely powerful.
This battle was far more brutal than they had imagined.
It was nothing like what Shang Zi had initially claimed—that they could wipe out the Kunlun Realm cultivators without any casualties. Instead, one unexpected event after another had led to heavy losses.
No one knew how many Divine Sons and Imperial Princes had fallen. Even going to the Merit Battlefield wouldn't have such a high death rate.
Above the island.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and the Red Desire Star Envoy stood on a black-gold warship, facing the wind. One was heroic and spirited, the other alluring and charming, forming two refreshing and delightful sights.
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden sighed softly, "It's a pity that Huan Ji escaped. There will be endless trouble!"
The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden was too confident, so she had fought Huan Ji with her true face.
Unfortunately, Huan Ji's strength was far greater than she had imagined. Even though the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had used a talisman capable of suppressing an Eight-Step Saint King, she had only destroyed the illusion array platform, failing to kill Huan Ji.
Although Huan Ji did not recognize the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden, there were people in the Paradise Realm who had seen her face.
Now that Huan Ji had escaped, it would certainly bring great trouble to the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden.
The Red Desire Star Envoy looked at the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden standing before her, still deeply shocked. This woman was about the same age as her, yet her spiritual power had reached the fifty-eighth level, and her illusion arts were far superior.
Even her master, Huan Sheng, might not be stronger.
What surprised the Red Desire Star Envoy even more was that this woman seemed to have an endless supply of treasures, each one so valuable that she couldn't afford it even with all her wealth.
Eight Illusory Pearls, the Illusion Death Talisman, and the talisman she had used at the end—each was probably worth over a hundred million sacred stones.
And the black-gold warship beneath their feet was clearly no ordinary item.
Who exactly was she?
Zhang Ruochen had managed to invite such a mysterious woman with extraordinary strength and likely a deep background. The Red Desire Star Envoy felt she needed to reassess Zhang Ruochen, at least to avoid offending him.
If she could build a good relationship with Zhang Ruochen, she might have a way out if the Kunlun Realm were to fall in the future.
Shang Zi could not see the figures of the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and the Red Desire Star Envoy, but he saw the hovering black-gold warship, and his expression turned extremely grave.
The warship was inscribed with numerous Great Saint inscriptions.
Moreover, the warship seemed to have a life of its own, actually absorbing the sacred energy of heaven and earth.
Such a warship was extraordinary. It was possible that its attacks could reach the Great Saint level. Of course, this probability was low, as all power reaching the Great Saint level would be sealed upon entering the Truth Heaven Domain.
"Zhang Ruochen, this Heavenly Maiden has helped you break the illusion array. Whether you can escape from Shang Zi's hands depends on your own ability!"
After transmitting this spiritual message, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden drove the black-gold warship, which moved faster than a Nine-Step Saint King, disappearing beyond the horizon.
Since Huan Ji had escaped, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden naturally had to return and make arrangements to create an alibi. She didn't want to provoke the behemoth that was the Paradise Realm, lest it bring trouble to the Thousand Star Civilization.
All the cultivators were puzzled, unable to guess who had broken the illusion array. Why had they come and gone so quickly?
The Red Desire Star Envoy turned into a streak of red light and landed behind Zhang Ruochen. Her seductive red lips moved slightly, as if she wanted to ask about the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's identity. But she held back—now was not the time.
With the illusion array broken, the real Xumi Dao Field finally revealed itself.
It was indeed very close, just over twenty miles away. There, temples stood in clusters, pagodas rose high, and a hundred-foot-tall Buddha statue was particularly striking.
Even without monks chanting sutras, the Dao Field emitted a calming Sanskrit sound.
"Head for the Xumi Dao Field."
Zhang Ruochen and Luo Xu gave the order almost simultaneously.
Immediately, the Kunlun Realm cultivators rushed toward the Xumi Dao Field.
Once inside the Dao Field, with the activation of "Equality for All," they might be able to fight the Paradise Realm kings on equal footing.
The key was that they had to find the supreme treasure left by Xumi Saint Monk.
A flicker of disdain passed through Shang Zi's eyes. He waved his arm, and a large number of Paradise Realm Saint Kings went to pursue the Kunlun Realm cultivators.
Bloodshed erupted once more.
But those Paradise Realm Saint Kings were intercepted by a horde of undead, struggling to cope, and could only watch helplessly as the Kunlun Realm cultivators drew closer to the Xumi Dao Field.
"In the Heavenly Court Realm, there are few cultivators who have cultivated the Path of Darkness to your level."
Shang Zi dragged his crimson sacred sword and swung it through the air. A waterfall-like sword Dao profound energy tore through the void, slashing toward Han Qiu, who stood inside a black sphere.
Sensing the danger, Han Qiu mobilized her dark power to the fullest.
Two black pillars of energy shot out, intertwining and growing stronger, clashing with the sword Dao profound energy.
But the moment they made contact, the two black pillars were torn apart by the sword Dao profound energy, and even the black sphere around Han Qiu was split open.
"So strong?"
Han Qiu's eyes sharpened. She tried to use a dark escape technique but found herself locked in place by her opponent's power, unable to move.
"Boom."
A purple light shot out from the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror in Zhenmiao Little Daoist's hand, rising into the sky and shattering Shang Zi's sword energy.
Han Qiu felt a lingering fear. She retreated, disappearing into the center of the black sphere and hiding. Shang Zi was not someone she could contend with at her current level.
With the dark power gone, all the undead fell to the ground.
The Paradise Realm kings finally had a chance to act, unleashing sacred artifacts to attack the Kunlun Realm cultivators from a distance. However, Luo Xu, wielding the "Ten Thousand Lamps Picture," joined forces with several other Kunlun Realm Saint Kings to hold it up, blocking the first wave of attacks.
Shang Zi's expression darkened, as if he had made a very important decision. He said coldly, "Make your move."
He struck first, unleashing the Five-Colored Merit Stele, which descended above Zhenmiao Little Daoist and pressed down violently.
Shang Zi had realized that Zhenmiao Little Daoist was the strongest on Zhang Ruochen's side and possessed a Supreme Sacred Artifact, making him nearly invincible below the Great Saint level.
But if he could suppress him, dealing with Zhang Ruochen and the Kunlun Realm cultivators would become much easier.
"Boom."
Zhenmiao Little Daoist raised the Purple Gold Bagua Mirror, channeling its supreme power, but he could only barely hold up against the Five-Colored Merit Stele. He cursed inwardly, "What a formidable junior. He's a whole realm lower than me, yet he can suppress me."
What surprised Zhenmiao Little Daoist even more was yet to come.
Standing on the Five-Colored Merit Stele, a second "Shang Zi" emerged from Shang Zi's body, wielding a crimson sacred sword and slashing downward at Zhang Ruochen.
This was not a clone technique.
Because the power fluctuations from both Shang Zis showed no sign of weakening. Both were equally strong, an almost unbelievable sight.
Everyone present was shocked.
Zhang Ruochen drew in a cold breath. He had seen such a technique before.
Back then, Di Yi, the young master of the Black Market First Class Hall, had cultivated the "Demon Extreme Primordial Diagram" from the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription. One of its secret methods involved finding a creature with the same talent as oneself and refining it into one's own shadow.
Thus, the shadow's combat power would be equal to the original.
Clearly, Shang Zi's cultivation technique was as mysterious as the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription. He must have refined some other creature into his body, turning it into a clone as powerful as himself.
Shang Zi's strike came swiftly, locking onto Zhang Ruochen.
Given Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, he was naturally no match for Shang Zi. However, Zhang Ruochen had already thought of a countermeasure and remained calm and composed.
"Rise."
Zhang Ruochen raised both hands, and the purple divine mountain flew up.
At the same time, the Yi Emperor Bone Staff transformed into a massive black skeleton, spitting out a mouthful of pitch-black evil energy that surged into the purple divine mountain. The evil spirit's strength was now comparable to a Nine-Step Saint King, and the Buddha Emperor Relic provided it with an endless supply of energy.
Together with Zhang Ruochen, they lifted the purple divine mountain. The mountain's surface underwent a tremendous change, revealing dense purple patterns and emitting thick purple mist.
"Bang."
The purple divine mountain clashed with the crimson sacred sword. A powerful wave of energy surged outward, causing the entire island to tremble violently. The lake's waters churned into towering waves, and the powerful sacred Dao energy reached all the way to the lakebed.
Shang Zi was knocked backward, landing several miles away. He stared intently at the purple divine mountain floating above Zhang Ruochen's head.
As if recognizing something, a blazing light surged into Shang Zi's eyes. "It's that thing—it must be that thing. Zhang Ruochen actually managed to obtain such a treasure that would drive even a Great Saint mad. He truly has great fortune."
"Boom."
A loud noise came from the direction of the Xumi Dao Field.
More than a dozen Kunlun Realm cultivators who had rushed to the Dao Field's entrance were sent flying backward. Two of them had their souls scattered on the spot, their bodies exploding into blood mist. The others were also severely injured.
Shang Zi had set a trap even at the real Xumi Dao Field, showing just how meticulous he was.