# Chapter 1954: Only Speed Cannot Be Broken
(In the previous chapter, there were some errors in the description of the Mixed Yuan Sword, which have already been corrected. It's been too long, and I got confused! Sweating!)
...
Looking at the "blue starry sky" inside the tree trunk, many people couldn't help but feel their scalps go numb. Not daring to stay any longer, they immediately retreated from the void space at the fastest possible speed.
However, the temptation of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree was simply too great. Even knowing it was very dangerous, quite a few people still refused to withdraw, wanting to seek fortune amidst peril.
Those who had withdrawn from the void space were very restrained and did not start fighting among themselves. Instead, they all kept watch on the situation inside the void space.
Inside the void space, both sides employed their respective methods, slowly approaching the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree.
"Chi chi."
A strange sound rang out as a patch of blue fiery light flew out from the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, dotted with specks of light, looking exceptionally beautiful.
As Bore had said, the Devouring Spirit Insects were indeed unaffected by the void space. Their flight speed was extremely fast, forming a stark contrast with the snail-like movement speed of both the Heavenly Court Realm and Death Clan factions.
"Bang."
Source Demon God Son struck out powerfully, thrusting his demon spear, piercing through a fist-sized Devouring Spirit Insect.
As a fellow disciple of the Destiny Temple, Source Demon God Son did not possess the method Bore had to enslave the Devouring Spirit Insects. He could only kill them by striking out.
Among the more than two hundred experts present, the most relaxed were Zhang Ruochen, Ji Fanxin, and Bore. Zhang Ruochen only needed to open the Qiankun Realm, and upon sensing the aura of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree sapling, the Devouring Spirit Insects would voluntarily drill into the Qiankun Realm.
Ji Fanxin and Bore, on the other hand, mastered the secret technique to control the Devouring Spirit Insects. As long as they weren't dealing with the basin-sized Devouring Spirit Insects, there was no threat.
Zhang Ruochen did not deliberately collect the Devouring Spirit Insects. There were too many people entering the void space, which would greatly hinder his efforts to collect the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree.
Letting the Devouring Spirit Insects help clear out some of them would undoubtedly be more advantageous to him.
The Sky-Connecting Divine Tree belonged to the Kunlun Realm. Whether they were cultivators from the Heavenly Court Realm or the Death Clan, they were all outsiders. If they wanted to seize the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, they would have to pay the price.
"Ah."
A miserable scream rang out as an expert from the Heavenly Court Realm was attacked by a Devouring Spirit Insect, instantly turning into a pile of ashes.
Following closely behind, two Death Clan experts also met with disaster, turning to ashes and disappearing.
For a moment, the experts on both sides became panicked. Many regretted their decision and wished they could immediately withdraw from the void space.
They had difficulty moving in the void space, while the Devouring Spirit Insects were incredibly fast. In this environment, even those with considerable strength could easily fall victim to the Devouring Spirit Insects' attacks.
In the blink of an eye, more than ten experts from both sides had already perished, including two Heaven-Reaching Realm experts.
Those two Heaven-Reaching Realm experts were both killed by the same Devouring Spirit Insect, one that was basin-sized. Its vitality and defense were both extremely powerful. Even when experts at the Threshold Dao Realm struck out, it was difficult to kill it.
Now, this basin-sized Devouring Spirit Insect had set its sights on another Heaven-Reaching Realm expert, as if it specifically targeted the top-tier experts.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze had been fixed on the movements of this largest Devouring Spirit Insect. He was happy to see it attack the experts of the Heavenly Court Realm and the Death Clan, but now, he wanted to intervene and stop it.
Because the person this Devouring Spirit Insect had now targeted was Feng Wuxing. This man was Feng Yan's cousin, and he could not stand by and watch him die.
Feng Wuxing knew he was no match for this Devouring Spirit Insect. He quickly activated an ancient talisman, forming a tough protective barrier to firmly guard himself.
At the same time, he launched an all-out attack, trying to drive the Devouring Spirit Insect back. After all, the ancient talisman could not protect him for long.
This basin-sized Devouring Spirit Insect was even more terrifying than Feng Wuxing had anticipated. The protective barrier formed by the ancient talisman only lasted a moment before being bitten through.
"Ah."
Feng Wuxing let out a scream as his arm was bitten by the Devouring Spirit Insect.
"Pfft."
Zhang Ruochen approached at this moment, swinging the Abyssal Ancient Sword, cleanly severing Feng Wuxing's bitten arm at the root.
Fortunately, he struck in time. Just a little later, and the blue flames would have extended to Feng Wuxing's shoulder.
While swinging his sword, Zhang Ruochen opened the Qiankun Realm, releasing a trace of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree sapling's aura.
Like the previous Devouring Spirit Insects, this one was also attracted and eagerly drilled into the Qiankun Realm on its own.
"Thank you, fellow Daoist, for saving my life." Feng Wuxing said with great gratitude.
He was well aware that Zhang Ruochen had come specifically to save him. This debt of gratitude was already recorded in his heart.
Zhang Ruochen said, "No need to be polite. Feng Yan and I are sworn brothers. This is only right. However, I still advise Brother Feng to leave quickly and not remain in the void space."
"I was just thinking the same. Brother Zhang, take care." Feng Wuxing nodded.
Secretly, Feng Wuxing transmitted a message: "Brother Zhang, be careful of Red Fox King."
Leaving these words, Feng Wuxing did not delay any further and immediately began to retreat. He hadn't gone too deep into the void space yet, so retreating wasn't too troublesome.
"Be careful of Red Fox King?" Zhang Ruochen showed a strange expression and couldn't help but look toward Red Fox King.
He had no interactions with Red Fox King, and there seemed to be no enmity between them. Why did Feng Wuxing want him to be careful of Red Fox King?
But since Feng Wuxing had given such a warning, there must be a reason. He really needed to be on guard against Red Fox King.
After some time, the more than a thousand Devouring Spirit Insects that had flown out from the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, except for the hundred or so that Zhang Ruochen had collected, were all killed by the experts of the Heavenly Court Realm and the Death Clan.
After this battle ended, over a hundred people made the same choice as Feng Wuxing, withdrawing from the void space at the fastest possible speed.
Thus, only about seventy people remained in the void space, still unwilling to give up on the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree.
During the subsequent advance, the experts on both sides encountered two more groups of Devouring Spirit Insects, each numbering over a thousand.
Although those who remained were all top-tier experts, casualties were still unavoidable.
By the time they were close to the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, only fifty-seven people remained in total. The Heavenly Court Realm side had twenty-six people, and the Death Clan side had thirty-one, giving the Death Clan a relative advantage.
Zhang Ruochen swept his gaze over those present. The Death Clan, needless to say, were all enemies. On the Heavenly Court Realm side, there also seemed to be quite a few enemies.
The four from Black Demon Realm, two of the Six Absolutes from Netherworld Divine Hall, plus Red Fox King — a total of seven people.
If possible, he really wanted to wipe out all his enemies here.
Just as he was thinking this, Zhang Ruochen suddenly sensed something on his body stirring. He couldn't help but take it out. It was none other than the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
"This is..."
Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. He clearly sensed a strange power merging into the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
Immediately, he noticed some changes in the Space-Time Secret Scripture, as if it could now resonate with the void space.
Unable to help himself, Zhang Ruochen began to carefully experience the changes in the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
Without a doubt, this strange power must have been left behind by Xumi Saint Monk. Perhaps only the Space-Time Secret Scripture could accommodate it.
"So this is the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree that was cut down in the past. It has long since withered, but the trunk still contains a vast amount of Divine Wood Qi and Divine Wood Rules. Its value is immeasurable."
Standing before the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, everyone appeared very excited.
Source Demon God Son swung his demon spear and said with extreme arrogance, "Anyone who doesn't want to die, get out now."
"You'd better leave quickly, or else stay here forever and die without a burial place." Red Star Demon God Son said coldly.
They actually wanted to wipe out all the experts on the Heavenly Court Realm side, but this was clearly not easy. So, they could only try to make the Heavenly Court Realm experts retreat, saving themselves the trouble.
After all, if a real fight broke out, even if they could win, they would likely have to pay a considerable price. They might even lose one or two Demon God Sons or Demon God Daughters.
Bi Yunhai sneered, "You want to monopolize the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree? Do you have the ability? Who lives and who dies, we'll only know after a real fight."
"Bi Yunhai, you're nothing but a defeated opponent of Qi Yang. What right do you have to speak so arrogantly here?" Sheng Ku Demon God Son sneered.
Hearing this, a murderous intent immediately flashed in Bi Yunhai's eyes. "Qi Yang is indeed very strong, but what are you? If you have the guts, fight me right now."
"Afraid of you?"
Sheng Ku Demon God Son emanated a fierce killing intent. Blood-colored inscriptions surfaced on the surface of the blood axe in his hand, and the sharp edge it emitted seemed about to split the void space.
"Hmph."
Bi Yunhai let out a heavy snort, continuously pouring Saint Qi into the sky-blue gourd.
Being provoked like this, if he didn't make a move, what face would he have left?
"Kill."
Sheng Ku Demon God Son roared, swinging his blood axe and slashing toward Bi Yunhai.
At the same time, Bi Yunhai also moved, fearlessly meeting the attack.
The void space imposed great restrictions, so they had to be close to each other to fight. Otherwise, even if they used Supreme Sacred Artifacts, their attack range would be very limited.
Sheng Ku Demon God Son and Bi Yunhai collided at the fastest speed, using Sacred Arts and Sacred Artifacts to engage in a fierce duel.
Here, they couldn't rely on external forces. Even the power of Sacred Artifacts would be restricted. What they could rely on was entirely their own strength. Both of them were undoubtedly very confident in their own power.
"It seems we have to fight first to decide the ownership of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree. Everyone, at this moment, we must work together. After defeating the Death Clan, we can share the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree. In any case, we absolutely cannot let the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree fall into the hands of the Death Clan." Xuan Yuan Lie Kong said loudly.
Hearing this, none of the experts on the Heavenly Court Realm side raised any objections.
Under the current circumstances, it seemed this was the only option.
If they each acted independently, none of them would likely obtain the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, and they might even be picked off one by one by the Death Clan.
However, the Death Clan had more people, so this battle was clearly disadvantageous for the Heavenly Court Realm side.
In an instant, a great battle erupted, and no one could stay out of it.
Outside the Fire Slave's body, clusters of pale white fireballs condensed, icy cold to the bone, and he charged straight at Zhang Ruochen.
Outside, he was no match for Zhang Ruochen, completely suppressed by him. But that was because Zhang Ruochen had relied on external forces. Now, inside the void space, he was fully confident he could suppress Zhang Ruochen and complete the orders given by Source Demon God Son.
"Hmm?"
Sensing the threatening aura approaching, Zhang Ruochen snapped back to reality, withdrawing his mind from the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
"Die."
The Fire Slave growled, launching the dozen or so pale white fireballs he had condensed, sealing off all of Zhang Ruochen's escape routes.
At such a close distance, given the special environment of the void space, he believed Zhang Ruochen absolutely had no way to avoid them.
As long as he endured this attack, even if Zhang Ruochen didn't die, he would be severely injured.
"Shua."
In an instant, Zhang Ruochen shifted his body horizontally, dodging all the pale white fireballs.
"How is that possible?"
The Fire Slave's eyes were filled with disbelief.
This was the void space, where everyone's movement speed was extremely slow. How could Zhang Ruochen's speed have become so fast?
Just as the Fire Slave was stunned, Zhang Ruochen appeared right in front of him at extreme speed, thrusting the Abyssal Ancient Sword straight at his brow.
Tens of thousands of Time Imprints appeared, like countless stars, enveloping the Fire Slave.
Although the Fire Slave reacted very quickly, at this moment, time seemed to have stopped, leaving him unable to defend himself.
"Pfft."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword, indestructible and unstoppable, directly pierced through the helmet and into the Fire Slave's brow.
A sharp sword intent erupted, rushing into the Fire Slave's body, and with an unstoppable force, it instantly extinguished the Fire Slave's Sacred Soul.
The Fire Slave's eyes widened, and his gaze slowly dimmed.
He had thought he could suppress Zhang Ruochen in the void space, but unexpectedly, the moment they clashed, he died under Zhang Ruochen's sword, without even a chance to resist.
(Chapter End)