Chapter 1983: Battle with Canglong Again
At this moment, on Mount Kongle outside Saint Ming City, Shang Zi stood with a group of powerful figures, overlooking Saint Ming City, clearly watching the battle within the city.
Saint Ming City lay in ruins, nearly half of it sunk into the ground, littered with corpses everywhere, having turned into a Shura hell.
Beside Shang Zi stood a fourteen or fifteen-year-old youth, dressed in a python robe, with delicate features, rosy lips, and fair skin, every inch of his skin emitting divine sacred radiance.
He was none other than Chi Kunlun, who had once sought revenge against Zhang Ruochen in the Truth Heaven Domain. Possessing a true god's body and being a Space Controller himself, his growth potential was limitless.
Chi Kunlun had originally been fighting on the Merit Battlefield, killing countless cultivators from the Hell Realm, but he was schemed against by experts from the Heavenly Realm Faction and fell into Shang Zi's hands.
"Shang Zi, why go to such trouble to capture this kid?" Si Han asked, a hint of confusion in his eyes.
Shang Zi smiled faintly and said, "This child must have a significant connection to Zhang Ruochen. Keeping him might prove very useful."
"If you have the guts, kill me. I may have a blood-deep grudge against Zhang Ruochen, but don't think I'll help you deal with him—that's pure wishful thinking," Chi Kunlun snorted coldly.
Although he hated Zhang Ruochen, he would never cooperate with the Heavenly Realm Faction.
"Shang Zi, Zhang Ruochen has arrived outside Saint Ming City. Should we make a move to capture him?" Si Han spoke again, his gaze locked onto Zhang Ruochen, who was rapidly approaching Saint Ming City.
Shang Zi also turned his gaze there and said indifferently, "There are people in Saint Ming City who will deal with Zhang Ruochen. He can't escape even if he grows wings. Let's head to Peacock Villa first, capture Kong Lanyou, and destroy the Bright Hall. I want Zhang Ruochen to witness his friends and family dying one by one."
He had already arranged enough powerful figures in Saint Ming City to ensure Zhang Ruochen couldn't escape, so he had no concerns now.
Attacking Saint Ming City was indeed a trap set by Shang Zi, solely to lure Zhang Ruochen here.
Otherwise, with the few cultivators in Saint Ming City, there would be no need for such a large force—any Nine-Step Saint King could have wiped them out.
Now, Saint Ming City was almost completely overrun, and even if there were survivors, they were only putting up futile resistance.
Immediately, Shang Zi took out a warship and set off for Peacock Villa.
In comparison, he valued Kong Lanyou more, as she had once been a Great Saint. Even if her immortal sacred body had been broken, her strength should not be underestimated.
On the other side, Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi were approaching Saint Ming City at top speed.
Seeing the overwhelming killing intent rising from Saint Ming City, Zhang Ruochen's heart sank to the bottom.
From a distance, Zhang Ruochen saw two figures standing on the city wall. One was Canglong, and the other was even more robust, with disheveled hair like a lion, exuding an aura as mighty as an ancient divine mountain, no weaker than Canglong.
"Zhang Ruochen, you've finally arrived. I've been waiting for you," Canglong said with a cold laugh.
Zhang Ruochen halted and fixed his gaze on Canglong, saying coldly, "A defeated general, and you still dare to appear before me?"
Hearing this, Canglong's face darkened. "Who are you calling a defeated general? If you hadn't used external help, you would have died by my hand last time."
"So what if I used external help? You still lost to me and fled in disgrace," Zhang Ruochen sneered.
Just as Canglong was about to retort, a sharper voice rang out: "Canglong, what are you pretending to be? You're just not good enough—otherwise, how could Ruan Ling have become Lord Chen's woman? You pursued Ruan Ling for years and couldn't even touch a finger, but our Lord Chen won her over in no time."
"If I were you, I'd just find a piece of tofu and smash myself to death. How can you still have the face to show up and make a fool of yourself?"
Hearing this, not only Canglong but even Zhang Ruochen's forehead was covered in black lines.
Without seeing who it was, Zhang Ruochen knew exactly who was so foul-mouthed.
"Bang."
A hole appeared in the ground, and Shoushu emerged from it, wearing a lecherous grin.
"Lord Chen, why were you in such a hurry? I chased you all the way and finally caught up," Shoushu said, slightly out of breath.
Clearly, he hadn't grasped the situation and didn't know the purpose of Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi's trip.
Otherwise, with his timid nature, he wouldn't have dared to come and join the fun.
Mu Lingxi looked at Zhang Ruochen, clearly expecting an explanation.
"It's a long story. I'll... tell you later," Zhang Ruochen transmitted secretly.
Mu Lingxi was sensible enough to know this wasn't the time to press, so she didn't pursue it.
Canglong's face flushed red, and he nearly spat blood, truly choked by Shoushu's words.
"You're asking for death."
Canglong's face twisted with rage.
"Shua."
Shoushu instantly hid behind Zhang Ruochen and then shouted loudly, "If you've got the guts, fight Lord Chen! Watch Lord Chen knock your teeth out!"
With Zhang Ruochen around, he wasn't worried at all.
Canglong exuded an extremely terrifying aura. Black sacred light transformed into black dragons coiling around his body, darkening the entire sky as wind and clouds swirled around him.
"Zhang Ruochen, this time I'll trample you underfoot in front of everyone," Canglong roared.
His heart had been suppressed for too long. If he didn't personally eliminate Zhang Ruochen, Zhang Ruochen would become his inner demon, tormenting him endlessly.
Shoushu chuckled, "Lord Chen, don't go easy on him! Teach this bastard Canglong a lesson—beat him so badly even his mother won't recognize him!"
He was just enjoying the spectacle, not caring if Canglong was about to vomit blood from anger.
"Protect yourself."
Zhang Ruochen said softly to Mu Lingxi.
The next moment, he shot out directly, pointing his sword at Canglong.
Last time, he lacked the strength and let Canglong escape. This time, he wouldn't give Canglong any chance.
"Canglong is the strongest below Great Saint in the Nether God Hall. Even if Zhang Ruochen is the Heir of Time and Space, his chances against Canglong are slim."
"A Rule Great Heaven realm cultivator facing a high-cultivation Approach to the Dao realm expert—such a thing has never been seen or heard of before."
"Don't you know that not long ago, Canglong lost to Zhang Ruochen? It's said that in that battle, Zhang Ruochen captured Ruan Ling and made her his woman."
"Really?"
"It's said Zhang Ruochen used a trump card given by the Moon God to defeat Canglong. In terms of real strength, Zhang Ruochen is no match for Canglong."
"You believe that? Did Zhang Ruochen use trump cards to kill several divine sons from the Hell Realm in the Sword Grave and Immortal Machine Mountain? How many trump cards does he have? Those who underestimate Zhang Ruochen have all died by his hand."
...
Before Zhang Ruochen and Canglong even started fighting, the onlookers were already buzzing with discussion.
Although there were some supporting Zhang Ruochen, most favored Canglong.
The gap in cultivation between Zhang Ruochen and Canglong was too great. Crossing two minor realms to defeat Canglong seemed nearly impossible.
"Zhang Ruochen, I'll wash away my shame with your blood."
Canglong growled, extending his Undying Black Dragon Claw. A vast number of heaven and earth rules converged, forming a terrifying devouring vortex.
Zhang Ruochen continuously infused his sacred qi into the Abyssal Ancient Sword in his hand, activating the purple divine stone embedded in the hilt.
Instantly, fifty percent of the heaven and earth rules within three thousand miles were mobilized, surging in.
With Zhang Ruochen's improved sword dao attainment, reaching the second level of Sword Ten, and the transformation of his sword soul, the purple divine stone's ability to mobilize heaven and earth rules had greatly increased.
"Sword Ten."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword slashed out like lightning, emitting a white sword light that met the Undying Black Dragon Claw.
"Bang."
The devouring vortex formed by the Undying Black Dragon Claw was instantly shattered by the white sword light.
Then, the tip of the Abyssal Ancient Sword pressed against the Undying Black Dragon Claw.
If it were an ordinary Ten-Shining Ten-Thousand-Pattern Sacred Artifact, colliding with the Undying Black Dragon Claw like this would likely have damaged it.
But the Abyssal Ancient Sword remained unharmed, instead releasing an extremely terrifying force that sent Canglong stumbling backward.
"Haha, Canglong, I told you, you're no good. Your body's so weak—go back and recharge!" Shoushu laughed recklessly.
"What's going on? Canglong used his full strength with the Undying Black Dragon Claw and still ended up at a disadvantage?"
"Is Zhang Ruochen really only at the Rule Great Heaven realm? When has it been possible to easily mobilize such a wide range of heaven and earth rules without forming a Dao Domain?"
...
Seeing Canglong retreat, many spectators were stunned.
At this moment, Canglong's expression grew even darker. In less than a month, Zhang Ruochen's strength had clearly increased significantly. Such a rate of improvement was truly terrifying.
"I can't let him continue living," Canglong thought fiercely.
If this continued, in a while, he might no longer be a match for Zhang Ruochen.
"Lord Chen, don't give Canglong a chance to catch his breath. Hack him down with a few strikes!" Shoushu shouted loudly.
A cold gleam flashed in Canglong's eyes. Once he dealt with Zhang Ruochen, he would tear that damned rat to pieces.
Seeing the cold gleam in Canglong's eyes, Shoushu showed no fear, instead making a provocative expression, looking even more lecherous.
With a thought, Canglong summoned the Nether Moon Blade, injecting five hundred thousand sword dao rules into it, and slashed angrily at Zhang Ruochen.
He actually wanted to use the power of the Nether God, unleashing the Nether Heaven Divine Light to kill Zhang Ruochen in one blow.
He thought that the power Zhang Ruochen's left leg had unleashed last time must have had limitations and couldn't be used freely. If he used the Nether Heaven Divine Light again, he could surely kill Zhang Ruochen.
But unfortunately, the Nether Heaven Divine Light could only be used three times. Last time against Zhang Ruochen, he had used the last chance, thinking it would easily kill Zhang Ruochen, but an accident occurred.
"Space Shatter."
Zhang Ruochen pointed forward, and seventy thousand space rules emerged, densely covering the space ahead.
"Boom."
A ten-foot-wide section of space shattered, and the destructive spatial forces surged wildly.
The blade light Canglong slashed was strong, but it was quickly devoured by the shattered space, dissolving into nothingness.