Chapter 1925: A Single Sword Hilt
No one knew better than Shi Lingkun how powerful the Black Flame General was; otherwise, how could he have been defeated so miserably?
Yet he could never have imagined that Zhang Ruochen could kill the Black Flame General with just one sword. Just how powerful did one need to be to accomplish that?
At this moment, everyone in the hall looked at Zhang Ruochen with truly changed eyes.
Previously, they might have thought Zhang Ruochen was merely lucky, having captured the Black Flame General by some fortuitous chance.
But now, no one doubted it anymore.
Being able to kill the Black Flame General with a single sword meant capturing him would naturally be no difficult task.
Naturally, some people now looked at Zhang Ruochen with a hint of awe in their eyes.
"Clap, clap, clap."
Xuan Yuan Liekong stood up and applauded Zhang Ruochen.
"Excellent swordsmanship. The Heir of Time and Space truly lives up to his reputation."
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly: "Brother Xuan Yuan flatters me. My meager skills are nothing compared to yours."
"No need to be modest. If you had cultivated for a longer time, how many here could be your match? Zhang Ruochen, I think highly of you. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to come to me." Xuan Yuan Liekong said with a smile.
Hearing this, many people showed surprised expressions. They all knew Xuan Yuan Liekong's temperament, never expecting him to extend goodwill to Zhang Ruochen.
For a moment, many people re-evaluated Zhang Ruochen in their minds. Even if they couldn't become friends with him, it was best not to become enemies.
Bai Bian Xiao Xiao Sheng and the few from the Black Demon Realm had very ugly expressions now. They had become complete jokes here.
"Two fairies, how did the interrogation go? Did you obtain any important intelligence?" Xuan Yuan Liekong turned his gaze to Ji Fanxin and Fairy Yuan.
Ji Fanxin nodded slightly to Fairy Yuan, then walked over to Zhang Ruochen's side.
Fairy Yuan said: "Bai Hua Fairy and I worked together and did gain something. As Brother Zhen Yuan said, the Death Clan built an extremely evil death altar beneath Xianji Mountain to absorb the power of the Northern Domain's resurgence."
"As time passes, the death altar's power will grow stronger. Eventually, the Northern Domain's resurgence power will be drained completely, and the Northern Domain will fall into utter stillness."
"The Death Clan can then absorb the resurgence power gathered by the death altar to strengthen themselves, while also brewing a trump card to completely open the passage between the Death Clan's star domain and the Kunlun Realm. Then, the Death Clan army can sweep down and destroy the Kunlun Realm."
"The one leading this matter is Source Demon God Son, and behind him seems to be the shadow of the Destiny Temple."
Hearing this, many present showed grave expressions. This was truly not good news for them.
If the passage between the Death Clan's star domain and the Kunlun Realm was truly fully opened, who could stop the Death Clan army's invasion?
And with the Destiny Temple involved, it was even more troublesome.
"Zhen Yuan, what do you think should be done?" Xuan Yuan Liekong looked at Zhen Yuan.
Although Zhen Yuan was much younger than Xuan Yuan Liekong, being able to become the leader of the Daoist lineage meant he was no simple figure. So Xuan Yuan Liekong had never underestimated him, and at this moment, he especially wanted to hear his opinion.
Zhen Yuan pondered briefly, then said: "Since we already know the Death Clan's scheme, we cannot sit idly by. It's best to strike with lightning speed, destroy the death altar, and retake Xianji Mountain, letting us take control of the Merit Battlefield."
"Mm, I agree. But Xianji Mountain's situation is complex, with countless hidden Death Clan experts. To attack it, we need thorough preparation and cannot act rashly." Xuan Yuan Liekong said.
As the helmsman of the Northern Domain camp, he naturally wouldn't let the Death Clan's scheme succeed; otherwise, where would his dignity be?
No matter what, the Northern Domain could not fall first. He didn't want his rivals to laugh at him.
Soon, most of the people present dispersed, leaving only Zhen Yuan, Xuan Yuan Liekong, and a few other major figures to continue discussing.
Attacking Xianji Mountain was no small matter; a detailed plan was necessary.
The leaders of various worlds returned to mobilize their armies, preparing for the assault on Xianji Mountain.
Even the people from the Nether God Hall and the Black Demon Realm had to participate. At this point, they couldn't extricate themselves even if they wanted to.
And while everyone was busy making preparations, Luo Yi quietly left the Northern Domain camp.
On a mountain peak thirty thousand miles from the Northern Domain camp, Luo Yi descended gracefully.
"Shua."
A Rakshasa Clan expert appeared.
"Greetings, Princess."
The Rakshasa Clan expert bowed to Luo Yi.
Luo Yi glanced behind her and said flatly: "Go deal with the rat following behind."
"Yes, Princess."
The Rakshasa Clan expert immediately flashed away.
On another mountain peak, Fairy Yuan stood on a branch of a towering tree, observing from afar.
From the first time she saw Luo Yi, she felt something was off. It was unlikely he was really Xuan Meng Great Saint's secret disciple, so she secretly watched him.
When she sensed Luo Yi leaving the Northern Domain camp alone, Fairy Yuan immediately followed quietly, and indeed discovered Luo Yi's secret.
Although she hadn't heard what Luo Yi said to the Rakshasa Clan expert, the fact that Luo Yi secretly met with a Rakshasa Clan expert was already telling. And now that the Rakshasa Clan expert was charging at her, it further proved Luo Yi had major issues, likely being a Rakshasa cultivator himself.
Fairy Yuan couldn't gauge Luo Yi's background, so she didn't hesitate to retreat.
In the blink of an eye, both Fairy Yuan and the Rakshasa Clan expert disappeared over the horizon, heading who knows where.
Luo Yi turned around, looking in a certain direction, and said flatly: "Zhang Ruochen, I know you're here. Show yourself."
Ripples spread through space, and Zhang Ruochen appeared out of thin air, only three zhang away from Luo Yi.
Looking at Luo Yi, Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly: "Luo Sha, Rakshasa Princess, you really are a persistent ghost."
"Hehehe, you are my destined one, so of course I came to find you."
Luo Yi let out a silvery laugh, not surprised that Zhang Ruochen had guessed her identity.
The next moment, Luo Yi's form rapidly changed.
In an instant, Luo Yi transformed from an effeminate man into a tall, beautiful woman wearing a light green sacred garment, with a silver-white divine crystal crown on her head, exuding an extremely noble aura.
Zhang Ruochen was very familiar with the tall, beautiful woman Luo Yi had transformed into—it was the Rakshasa Princess who had crossed paths with him many times: Luo Sha.
He had suspected Luo Yi's identity long ago, and after some probing, he had vaguely guessed Luo Yi's true identity. Now it was truly confirmed.
"Tell me, what exactly do you want by scheming to infiltrate my side?" Zhang Ruochen demanded coldly.
Luo Sha rolled her eyes and said somewhat resentfully: "What do you mean by scheming to infiltrate your side? It was just a coincidence."
"What do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"That day, the Rakshasa Clan saint realm cultivators I was leading were ambushed by the Heavenly Court army, and almost all were wiped out. I was severely injured too. Just then, that brother of yours, that fool Xiang Hei, popped up. Forced into a corner, I had to transform into a Heavenly Court cultivator, and surprisingly, he was fooled."
"But the hateful thing is, that fool was too familiar, and I couldn't shake him off. Instead, he brought me back to the Heavenly Court camp, and I couldn't find a way to escape."
"Fortunately, at that time, he heard the news of your return to the Kunlun Realm, so I went with him to the Eastern Domain. Tell me, am I wronged?" The Rakshasa Princess spread her lotus-root-like fair arms, showing a helpless, lazy expression.
Bringing an enemy princess back to his own camp—such an unreliable thing happening to someone else, Zhang Ruochen would absolutely not believe it. But Xiang Chunan...
Zhang Ruochen said: "Just now, when you met with that Rakshasa Clan cultivator, what was it about?"
Luo Sha smiled charmingly: "Give me the Sundial, and I'll tell you."
"It seems I'll have to capture you to get the truth."
"Then let's change the approach. Come with me to the Hell Realm and become the Rakshasa Clan's consort. Then I'll tell you all my secrets." Luo Sha said with a seductive, enchanting smile.
That smile was full of charm and allure, enough to trap even saint realm cultivators, unable to extricate themselves.
Zhang Ruochen was unmoved. He reached out, and the Abyssal Ancient Sword appeared. With a single sword stroke, countless dazzling sword auras tore through the air and flew out.
Seeing this, Luo Sha couldn't help but shake her head and sigh: "You really are heartless. Fortunately, I obtained a treasure from the Sword Grave; let me test its power."
"The Sword Grave?" Zhang Ruochen was puzzled.
Luo Sha took out an object, very ancient, which was a single sword hilt.
The sword hilt immediately caught Zhang Ruochen's attention. It seemed ordinary at first glance, but the world's sword dao rules had already begun to tremble.
On the sword hilt, there was a special aura, identical to that of the Sword Grave.
The Sword Grave contained countless swords, yet Luo Sha only brought out a single hilt; there must be a special reason.
"Hua."
Luo Sha swung the sword hilt, and instantly, a divine light burst forth from it, transforming into a slender blade. Countless sword dao rules intertwined on it, and a rich divine power spread out.
In an instant, the rules of heaven and earth all revolved around the light sword.
Even more astonishingly, within a thousand li radius, all vegetation revealed sharp edges, as if about to turn into swords.
The swords formed by the vegetation all pointed toward the light sword in Luo Sha's hand, as if paying homage. This was true ten thousand swords paying homage.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword trembled uncontrollably, as if facing the king of swords. The pressure was too great to resist.
"Hua."
Completely unexpectedly, the Skyward Sword flew out from the Qiankun Realm.
The Skyward Sword trembled violently, completely out of Zhang Ruochen's control, flying straight toward the light sword in Luo Sha's hand.
"What's happening?"
Zhang Ruochen was greatly shocked. Such a situation had never occurred before.
Just a sword hilt could make the Abyssal Ancient Sword tremble and the Skyward Sword uncontrollable—it was utterly unbelievable.
Shocked, Zhang Ruochen acted immediately, grabbing the Skyward Sword to prevent it from flying toward Luo Sha.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen used his spiritual power to communicate with the sword spirits of the Abyssal Ancient Sword and the Skyward Sword, hoping they would know the reason for all this.
To his surprise, the Skyward Sword's sword spirit had completely fallen into an unconscious state, left with only an instinct to fly toward the mysterious light sword in Luo Sha's hand.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword's sword spirit was also greatly affected, but at least it could remain conscious.
"That sword in Luo Sha's hand contains the origin power of the Sword Grave. It's very likely that the formation of the Sword Grave is related to that sword. When I condensed my Dao Body earlier, I absorbed some of the Sword Grave's origin power, but it's far less than what that sword in Luo Sha's hand contains."
"Inside the Skyward Sword's blade, there is a small clump of divine light wrapped in other materials. I suspect that small clump of divine light is a fragment of that sword in Luo Sha's hand, which is why the Skyward Sword is out of control."
"Hurry and suppress the Skyward Sword. Don't let that small clump of divine light inside be taken away, or the Skyward Sword will be ruined." The Abyssal Sword Spirit urgently transmitted its voice.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen didn't dare hesitate. He quickly took out the Space-Time Secret Scripture, used multi-dimensional space to store the Skyward Sword, and then suppressed it with all his might.
At this moment, he also discovered that a small clump of divine light had manifested inside the Skyward Sword, extremely unstable, ready to break free from the blade at any moment.
"Hua la."
Luo Sha swung the light sword in her hand, and countless sword qi flew toward Zhang Ruochen.
At the same time, the vegetation within a thousand li also released countless sword qi, all locking onto Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes sharpened. He opened the Space-Time Secret Scripture again, forming multi-dimensional space to envelop himself.
"Boom."
Thousands of sword qi slashed in from all directions, all striking the multi-dimensional space formed by the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation and strength, the multi-dimensional space formed by the Space-Time Secret Scripture was extremely solid and hard to break.
But facing the torrent of sword qi, the multi-dimensional space still shattered layer by layer, completely submerged by the sword qi.
Luo Sha did not press the attack. That single sword strike had consumed a large amount of evil fiend qi, and her pretty face had turned quite pale. Although she had the upper hand thanks to the sword hilt from the Sword Grave, if the fight continued, she would surely lose.
Zhang Ruochen was no longer what he used to be.
"Zhang Ruochen, one day, you'll come begging me. Hehe!"
Leaving these words, Luo Sha let out a silvery laugh, soared into the air, and in an instant, disappeared at the edge of the sky.