Chapter 1823: Forging the Sacred Altar
The frozen space covered too wide an area, failing to completely suppress Xue Lie Hongdong.
From within his body, flames rules and ice rules surged forth, causing the heaven and earth rules to undergo subtle changes. The powerful force that erupted shook space violently.
Mu Rongyue’s Azure Light Crescent Moon Blade struck out in attack. However, from Xue Lie Hongdong’s back, a giant beast phantom covered in blazing flames charged out, blocking all her attacks.
“Roar.”
The flame giant beast roared, its claws swiping, unleashing immense power that sent Mu Rongyue flying.
“So strong. Even though His Highness used spatial power to suppress him, I am still far from being his match. His strength is probably not inferior to experts at the Rule Great Heaven realm,” Mu Rongyue thought to herself.
“Break for me.”
Xue Lie Hongdong summoned the Seven Star War Hammer, a seven-aura ten-thousand-pattern sacred artifact, and swung it. Dazzling starlight shot out in all directions.
The main hammer of the Seven Star War Hammer was like a small mountain, covered in spikes and teeth.
Around the main hammer, seven dazzling light clusters floated, each containing a smaller hammer. The seven small hammers and the main hammer were separate yet connected by formation inscriptions.
The frozen space was shattered into pieces by the power radiating from the Seven Star War Hammer.
Zhang Ruochen glanced toward the square, where Xie Chengzi and the corpse army had already slaughtered all the sacred realm cultivators of the War Hammer Palace. Bloody sacred corpses lay on the ground.
“Killing the disciples of my War Hammer Palace, I will tear you apart limb from limb!”
Xue Lie Hongdong’s eyes were bloodshot, mad with rage. He suddenly took three steps forward, charging to Zhang Ruochen’s front. The previously frozen space erupted in a series of explosions.
The Seven Star War Hammer flew up, appearing above Zhang Ruochen’s head.
Mu Rongyue knew Xue Lie Hongdong’s ferocity well and feared Zhang Ruochen might not prevail. She cried out in alarm, “Your Highness, be careful!”
Zhang Ruochen twisted his feet, causing space to twist along with them. Then, a spatial vortex formed, sweeping Xue Lie Hongdong and the Seven Star War Hammer into it.
“Let’s go.”
Zhang Ruochen pulled Xue Lie Hongdong along, disappearing from the Jade Saint Spirit Mountain.
When they reappeared, they were above a collapsed spirit mountain.
Zhang Ruochen’s right hand formed a fist seal, mobilizing sacred qi and Truth Esoterica to activate the power of the Flame God Armor. He struck out a cloud of fire, clashing head-on with Xue Lie Hongdong.
“Boom.”
Zhang Ruochen’s body plummeted downward, causing the ground to collapse as he landed.
“Xue Lie Hongdong’s strength is truly formidable. I cannot clash with him head-on,” Zhang Ruochen thought quickly.
A howling gale came from above.
Zhang Ruochen looked up and saw seven black stars surrounding a round mountain, rapidly pressing down. The air was compressed, becoming exceptionally heavy.
That was…
The Seven Star War Hammer swung by Xue Lie Hongdong.
The Seven Star War Hammer was not only a seven-aura ten-thousand-pattern sacred artifact but also a Great Saint ancient artifact, carrying the power of a Great Saint.
“Whoosh.”
Zhang Ruochen raised the Eight Dragon Umbrella. Eight golden dragons charged out from the umbrella, spiraling upward to clash with the Seven Star War Hammer.
“Bang, bang.”
Eight explosive sounds rang out. All eight golden dragons shattered, turning into eight showers of golden light.
“An eight-aura ten-thousand-pattern sacred artifact in your hands is like a pearl cast into darkness. Better to let me have it,” Xue Lie Hongdong pressed his advantage, continuing his assault on Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen used spatial displacement, constantly shifting his form, evading the Seven Star War Hammer time and again.
At the top of the Jade Saint Spirit Mountain, the disciples of the Divine Sword Sacred Land watched the awe-inspiring battle scene in the distance, their hearts filled with worry for Zhang Ruochen.
After all, the sacred might Xue Lie Hongdong unleashed was overwhelmingly powerful, like a war god. The Seven Star War Hammer continuously emitted Great Saint power, shaking the spirit mountains.
Against such a fearsome figure, who among those below the Great Saint realm could stand against him?
Lu Huaiyu’s injuries had stabilized. He clasped his hands and bowed to Mu Rongyue and Xie Chengzi, thanking them. Then, with some concern, he said, “That benefactor’s strength seems somewhat inferior to the War Hammer Palace’s young master. Perhaps we should join forces to help him?”
Mu Rongyue was also hesitating about whether to act. “His Highness’s strength is not as simple as it appears on the surface. He used spatial power to pull the War Hammer Palace’s young master far away, precisely because he doesn’t want us to get involved. Wait a little longer. This battle might take a turn.”
Mu Rongyue knew that Zhang Ruochen possessed a supreme sacred artifact. If he used it, the War Hammer Palace’s young master would likely not be a match.
“A turn?” Lu Huaiyu’s heart was uneasy.
After a moment of thought, Lu Huaiyu asked again, “May I ask if the lady and the benefactor are cultivators from the Kunlun Realm?”
Mu Rongyue’s lips curled upward. “Senior Jade Saint need not be so formal. We are all on the same side.”
“The same side…”
Lu Huaiyu was momentarily stunned, then seemed to realize something. He abruptly looked up at the masked man fighting the War Hammer Palace’s young master in the distance, an expression of disbelief on his face.
“Proficient in spatial power… Could it be him? But has his strength already reached such a level?”
The disciples of the Divine Sword Sacred Land were also restless.
Some suggested retreating immediately to avoid burdening their benefactor. Others insisted on staying to fight alongside him against the powerful enemy.
Lu Huaiyu, seeing that Mu Rongyue had confidence in the masked man, went to calm the emotions of the Divine Sword Sacred Land’s cultivators.
Xue Lie Hongdong, unable to defeat his opponent for a long time, grew impatient. He mobilized all his sacred qi, activating the Seven Star War Hammer’s seven-aura perfect power.
Instantly, the Seven Star War Hammer became enormous. The main hammer and the seven sub-hammers each emitted different power fluctuations.
The sky grew dim as various forces filled the area where the Divine Sword Sacred Land was located.
“This ends now. Die!”
Xue Lie Hongdong roared and swung the Seven Star War Hammer.
Zhang Ruochen stood atop a spirit mountain, his posture proud, his gaze sharp. He took out the Azure Heaven Floating Tower, holding it in his palm, and activated its supreme power.
A patch of azure clouds instantly covered the sky.
The Azure Heaven Floating Tower flew out, colliding with the Seven Star War Hammer.
“Boom, rumble.”
All seven sub-hammers shattered, turning into scrap metal.
Even the main hammer was sent flying out of the Divine Sword Sacred Land, falling to an unknown location.
Xue Lie Hongdong’s armor was a sacred artifact far superior to the Seven Star War Hammer, possessing astonishing defensive power. It managed to withstand a blow from the Azure Heaven Floating Tower.
However, he still suffered severe injuries, his entire body bleeding.
Within the armor, his sacred body was covered in blood lines. If the Azure Heaven Floating Tower struck again, it would shatter him into pieces.
“I will remember this grudge, Xue Lie Hongdong. Another day, when I borrow a supreme sacred artifact, I will fight you again to the death, no quarter given.”
Xue Lie Hongdong was filled with resentment but dared not continue fighting Zhang Ruochen. He immediately took out a talisman, crushed it, and turned into a streak of light, flying out of the Divine Sword Sacred Land and disappearing into the clouds.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Zhang Ruochen used Great Space Teleportation to pursue.
He chased for several thousand miles, leaving the Golden Rainbow Continent and entering a sea area within the Eastern Roaming Sacred City. Suddenly, Xue Lie Hongdong’s aura vanished without a trace.
Worried that something might happen at the Divine Sword Sacred Land, Zhang Ruochen did not search thoroughly and hurried back.
Upon returning, Zhang Ruochen moved all the disciples of the Divine Sword Sacred Land into the Qiankun Realm.
“Greetings, Crown Prince.”
Lu Huaiyu clasped his hands and bowed respectfully to Zhang Ruochen above.
Lu Huaiyu had lived for hundreds of years and was a prominent figure in the Kunlun Realm. He bowed to Zhang Ruochen not only because of Zhang Ruochen’s status but also because of Zhang Ruochen’s formidable strength.
“Greetings, Crown Prince.”
“Greetings, Crown Prince.”
…
The core members of the Divine Sword Sacred Land also bowed together.
Learning that their savior was the Sacred Bright Crown Prince Zhang Ruochen, the cultivators of the Divine Sword Sacred Land were extremely excited, as if they had found a pillar of support in this chaotic era.
Indeed, Zhang Ruochen was their pillar.
From Lu Huaiyu, Zhang Ruochen learned the full story of the incident. He asked, “Is the ‘Heavenly Works Qi Record’ really in the Divine Sword Sacred Land?”
The “Heavenly Works Qi Record” was a legendary book in the art of artifact forging, considered by artifact forgers to be on par with the divine techniques and sacred scriptures on the “Taiyi Divine Skill Ranking.” Zhang Ruochen was naturally curious.
Lu Huaiyu said, “The ‘Heavenly Works Qi Record’ was indeed once in the Divine Sword Sacred Land, but not long ago, my grandfather took it away.”
Mu Rongyue’s eyes flashed with sharp light. “Grandfather? As far as I know, Senior Jade Saint’s grandfather should be Lu Yuanzhi, the sixth disciple of the Ming Emperor, who fell several hundred years ago.”
Zhang Ruochen was shocked inside but kept his face calm, waiting for Lu Huaiyu to give a reasonable explanation.
Lu Huaiyu glanced left and right, signaling the cultivators of the Divine Sword Sacred Land to withdraw.
Finally, only Zhang Ruochen, Lu Huaiyu, and Mu Rongyue remained in the hall.
Only then did Lu Huaiyu speak in a low voice. “My grandfather was a member of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion. After he died, I took over his identity.”
“Did Senior Lu Yuanzhi die or not?” Mu Rongyue was confused.
Lu Huaiyu sighed. “Both dead and not dead.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “What exactly is going on?”
“Eight hundred years ago, the Ming Emperor secretly ordered the members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion to take away the national treasury of the Sacred Bright Central Empire and build a sacred altar at the Divine Sword Sacred Land. Over the past eight hundred years, the vast majority of sacred souls of saints who died in the Kunlun Realm have been brought back by the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion members and preserved within the altar. My grandfather’s sacred soul is also in that altar.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart shook violently. He asked urgently, “Why was the sacred altar built? How can the sacred altar preserve the sacred souls of saints? Where is the sacred altar?”
Lu Huaiyu could understand Zhang Ruochen’s feelings, as this matter was indeed incredible.
He said, “Building the sacred altar was a secret order from the Ming Emperor. The blueprints for the altar were also provided by the Ming Emperor. As for how the altar can preserve the sacred souls of saints, given my cultivation level, I cannot yet understand the principles and mysteries behind it.”
“Is the sacred altar still at the Divine Sword Sacred Land?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Lu Huaiyu shook his head. “Before the Hell Realm broke through the heaven-earth altar of the Kunlun Realm, several senior members of the Dragon-Protecting Pavilion were ordered to take the altar away. I don’t know where they took it.”
Zhang Ruochen showed a disappointed expression, but soon seized on a key point. “Ordered? Whose orders were they following? What identities did those senior Dragon-Protecting Pavilion members hold in the Kunlun Realm?”
…
Dear readers, I apologize. For the next week, due to personal reasons, I can only update one chapter per day. I’m sorry!