Chapter 1766: Returning to Moon God Mountain
The crimson-golden dragon transformed into a human figure and flew down to the edge of the Yang Pool.
On the surface of his skin, dragon scale light membranes still floated and sank, with powerful energy flowing around his body, producing sharp sounds like sword stabs and blade slashes.
His physical body was like a furnace, emitting terrifyingly high temperatures.
"Finally, I have cultivated the eleventh stance of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm to Great Perfection. How exhilarating! Truly exhilarating!"
Zhang Ruochen laughed out loud, slowly raising both arms. Thirteen dragon shadows and thirteen elephant shadows emerged on his left and right sides, presenting an extraordinarily divine and overbearing scene.
The yang energy within his body had reached one hundred thousand times that of an ordinary person.
If he swallowed a Saint King into his abdomen, Zhang Ruochen could directly refine and melt them.
Moreover, with the Great Perfection of the eleventh stance, Zhang Ruochen's physical body underwent a startling transformation, greatly enhancing his physical realm. Every tendon in his body was like an azure dragon; every bone was like a sacred elephant.
Dragon tendons, elephant bones.
Even more importantly, the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm had officially been elevated to the level of a Mid-rank Sacred Art, and furthermore, it was the most powerful "Tongxuan" level Mid-rank Sacred Art among them.
The more Palm Dao rules integrated into it, the more powerful the unleashed force became.
If tens of thousands of Palm Dao rules were integrated into the palm technique, then the power unleashed by the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm would be enough to rival a High-rank Sacred Art.
High-rank Sacred Arts were great techniques of heaven and earth that only Great Saints could cultivate. Each one possessed the power to reshape the world, capable of shattering stars with a flick of the finger.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen had currently only cultivated a few thousand Palm Dao rules. He still needed to continue diligently comprehending and improving his cultivation realm.
"With my current physical strength, plus the thirteen dragon souls and elephant souls, even without activating Saint Qi, I could probably crush a Seven-Step Saint King to death." Zhang Ruochen observed his arms and nodded with satisfaction.
Following that, Zhang Ruochen sat down cross-legged, circulating his technique to gradually calm the violent and raging yang energy within his body. The dragon scale light membranes and astonishing heat floating on his skin all retracted back into his body.
Standing up, Zhang Ruochen looked at the Yin Pool and Yang Pool before him.
The yin energy and yang energy in the pools were still quite dense, clearly usable for a long time yet.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Water Star Gourd, intending to collect the Yin Pool and Yang Pool. However, as soon as he opened the lid, a powerful divine energy fluctuation surged out from within.
If it had been an ordinary Saint, their Saintly body would likely have been shattered by the divine energy fluctuation.
"It's the Divine Throne Planet of Wang Xu."
Zhang Ruochen quickly re-covered the Water Star Gourd to prevent the Divine Throne Planet from flying out.
You see, this Divine Throne Planet still contained a wisp of star soul left behind by a god, possessing an extremely powerful will. The fact that Wang Xu could refine the Divine Throne Planet into his Qi Sea meant he must have obtained the recognition of the god's star soul, essentially receiving the inheritance of that god.
Without obtaining the recognition of the god's star soul, attempting to refine it into one's Qi Sea would surely lead to certain death.
"It seems the Water Star Gourd, like the Space-Time Secret Scripture, cannot be used for now. Once I return to the Shatuo Heaven Domain, I'll ask Moon God to erase the spiritual will of that wisp of star soul in the Divine Throne Planet, and then give it to Lingxi."
Zhang Ruochen's Qi Sea contained the Qiankun Realm, so naturally, he wouldn't spend a great deal of time refining a Divine Throne Planet. Giving it as a gift to Lingxi was quite appropriate.
With that, Zhang Ruochen spread open his right palm, and a dazzling light radiated from its center.
"Whoosh."
Eight Space Exquisite Balls spun out and flew into the air.
The Space Exquisite Balls were the battle treasures of Gongzi Yan. After refining away Gongzi Yan's spiritual will, Zhang Ruochen had conducted some research on them. He discovered that each Exquisite Ball contained a circular small world ten thousand miles in diameter.
Eight different stars were suspended within the Space Exquisite Balls.
The deeper he studied, the more Zhang Ruochen felt the mystery and power of the Space Exquisite Balls. They were likely space treasures that could rank among the top in the Space Divine Temple.
During the battle with Gongzi Yan back then, it was fortunate that the purple divine stone Zhang Ruochen wielded was even more mysterious and powerful, allowing him to suppress the eight Space Exquisite Balls.
Zhang Ruochen took out one of the Space Exquisite Balls. Inside the ball, a yin-yang star six thousand miles in diameter was suspended.
That star was half scorching hot like a furnace, with volcanoes erupting everywhere; the other half was perpetually frozen under ice several thousand meters thick, extremely cold.
Zhang Ruochen collected the Yin Pool and Yang Pool into the Space Exquisite Ball and placed them on the yin-yang star.
After doing all this, Zhang Ruochen sensed something and immediately took out the Divine Envoy Wooden Staff.
"Hua—"
A beam of light shot out from the staff, suspended in midair, and condensed into the incarnation projection of Moon God.
"Zhang Ruochen, set off immediately to return to Moon God Mountain. I have already ordered Manjian Great Saint to go and pick you up."
After speaking, Moon God's incarnation projection dissipated, turning into specks of light.
Moon God had once said that on the eve of the Kunlun Realm battlefield's opening, she would tell him the next step to take. It seemed that the Heaven and Earth Altar of Kunlun Realm had either already been breached or was on the verge of being breached.
How could Zhang Ruochen not want to return to Kunlun Realm immediately? With the flames of war approaching, all living beings would be affected. The great calamity that his master Xuanji Sword Saint had spoken of when he was resurrected from the dead had likely truly arrived.
His mother, fourth brother, and ninth sister, who were still in Yunwu Commandery, had to be taken away immediately. They could not be allowed to remain in Kunlun Realm.
In the face of the grand trend, even gods could not withstand it.
Zhang Ruochen did not know what the future outcome of Kunlun Realm would be, but he had to protect his family and friends in the midst of the great calamity.
He sent a voice transmission to Xiao Hei and Zhenmiao Xiaodaooren, telling them they were about to leave Truth Heaven Domain.
Then Zhang Ruochen went to see Su Jing and explained some matters to him.
That very day, Manjian Great Saint, holding Moon God's divine decree, piloted a Saint Ship, unimpeded as it sailed into Truth Heaven Domain and arrived at Tiandu Mountain.
Zhang Ruochen, leading nearly a hundred beautiful female Saints with Saint realm cultivation, boarded the Saint Ship. Looking into the distance, he discovered that as many as seventeen Saint Ships were docked near Tiandu Mountain.
Talented youths from various major worlds walked out of Tiandu Saint Market and boarded different Saint Ships.
This was something that had never happened before. Clearly, a major event was truly unfolding.
"Greetings, Great Saint."
Led by Zhang Ruochen, the nearly one hundred beautiful female Saints all bowed respectfully to Manjian Great Saint.
A Great Saint was the emperor among Saints, holding a lofty position in any world.
Bowing to a Great Saint was the most basic etiquette.
Even Divine Sons, Divine Daughters, or even the young leaders of a world had to pay a respectful bow upon meeting a Great Saint.
Manjian Great Saint laughed heartily, stepped forward, and patted Zhang Ruochen on the shoulder. "Good lad, you haven't let me down. In Truth Heaven Domain, you've truly made a name for the Guanghan Realm. When you return to the Shatuo Heaven Domain, cultivators from worlds like Blade Prison Realm, Great Demon Ten Directions Realm, and Purple Mansion Realm will probably tremble in fear just hearing your name."
"In the Crimson Dragon Saint Domain, when I heard news of you seizing the Mirror Fragrance Cliff Dao Field, breaking through the Moon God Dao Field, and crossing the sixth layer of the Truth Sea, my blood boiled. I wished I could be two thousand years younger and fight alongside you in Truth Heaven Domain, turning everything upside down."
"But you are Moon God's Divine Envoy, with a lofty status. From now on, you only need to bow to Moon God. There's no need for this when you see me. No need, haha!"
Zhang Ruochen was no ordinary person. Even before a Great Saint, he showed no nervousness at all. He smiled and said, "It has nothing to do with status. On the path of cultivation, those who have attained mastery come first. Being able to step into the Great Saint realm earns my respect and reverence, and it is worthy of this bow from me."
Manjian Great Saint nodded slightly, a look of approval in his eyes.
Zhang Ruochen had made a great name for himself in Truth Heaven Domain, with iron-blooded methods, fierce killing, and brilliant battle records. In less than two years, he had become a rising star shaking the myriad worlds of the heavens.
Yet despite this, he showed not a trace of arrogance or frivolity, remaining quite humble.
"His future achievements will surely surpass mine."
Manjian Great Saint thought to himself, then laughed. "Forget about respect and reverence. Don't bring up such irrelevant things. If you don't mind, from now on, just call me Brother Manjian."
"Brother?"
Zhang Ruochen was slightly startled, thinking he had misheard.
You see, for the vast majority of Saint Kings, even being able to worship a Great Saint as a master was an extremely difficult thing.
Could a Saint King and a Great Saint call each other brothers?
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen did not respond for a long time, Manjian Great Saint said, "Brother Ruochen, could it be that you find my age too great?"
Zhang Ruochen quickly shook his head. "Of course not. It's just... well, since Brother Manjian proposes it, from now on, we shall address each other as brothers."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was not being pretentious, Manjian Great Saint felt even more that he was to his liking, even entertaining the idea of becoming sworn brothers.
However, he did not bring it up for now. Instead, he piloted the Saint Ship and flew out of Truth Heaven Domain. First, he would take Zhang Ruochen back to Moon God Mountain to pay respects to Moon God—that was the real priority.
The female Saints who had boarded the Saint Ship with Zhang Ruochen all exchanged glances, finding it hard to believe. They felt even more that leaving with Zhang Ruochen was a wise decision.
They had been captured by evil cultivators from the Yin-Yang Realm, Black Demon Realm, and Ten Thousand Evil Realm and brought to the Moon God Dao Field. They had once been first-rate beauties, including princesses of dynasties or holy maidens of sects, possessing extraordinary talent and physiques.
Moreover, the vast majority of them were still pure, precious goods that the Yin-Yang Hall had planned to sell at a high price.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to rebuild the Holy Bright Central Empire, and what he lacked most was manpower. Cultivating a proud daughter of heaven like them with Saint realm cultivation was no easy task.
Naturally, Zhang Ruochen would not leave them at the Moon God Dao Field. He intended to use them for himself.
Manjian Great Saint's Saint Ship flew at an astonishing speed. Even if Zhang Ruochen used Great Space Teleportation, he could only surpass it over short distances. For long-distance travel, even if Zhang Ruochen exhausted his Saint Qi, he could not catch up to the Saint Ship.
With the Saint Ship for travel and teleportation arrays connecting various heaven domains to traverse space, by sunset of the second day, Zhang Ruochen had returned to Moon God Mountain. In the Guanghan Divine Palace, he saw Moon God's true form.
(Chapter End)