# Chapter 1987: Surrounded by Many Strong Ones
"Your Highness, it is our incompetence that has caused the foundation of Sacred Bright to be destroyed in an instant."
The four great generals all knelt prostrate on the ground, their hearts filled with self-blame.
Seeing Mingjiang Wang and the four great generals in such a state, Zhang Ruochen immediately let out a loud shout, saying: "As long as I am here, Sacred Bright will never perish. They destroyed my city and killed my people—I will make those butchers pay blood for blood."
Hearing this, Mingjiang Wang could not help but raise his head, saying: "Ruochen, how can you fight them alone? Leave here. At least if you live, Sacred Bright will still have hope of revival."
"Leave? Where do you think you can go?"
Just at that moment, an extremely cold voice sounded.
In the blink of an eye, dozens of figures appeared, completely surrounding the Sacred Mountain.
The dozens of people who appeared all emitted powerful auras, at least at the Dao Domain realm cultivation level, with not a single weakling present.
Zhang Ruochen paid no attention to these people, instead looking toward Mingjiang Wang and the four great generals, saying: "Twelfth Imperial Uncle, your injuries have not yet healed. Go heal first. Leave the rest to me."
Without waiting for Mingjiang Wang and the four great generals to say anything, Zhang Ruochen took out the Space Exquisite Sphere and absorbed them all inside.
Putting away the Space Exquisite Sphere, Zhang Ruochen finally turned his gaze to the group of strong ones who had appeared.
Mo Yin had already killed all the strong ones who had been pursuing Mingjiang Wang, then returned to Zhang Ruochen's spinal bone.
A strong one with distorted space around him stepped forward, holding a Space Exquisite Sphere in his hand, sneering: "Zhang Ruochen, inside this Space Exquisite Sphere in my hand is most of the population of Sacred Ming City. So you had better obediently surrender, or else they will only have one path—death."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen immediately turned his gaze to that Space Exquisite Sphere, and indeed saw a massive number of figures inside, numbering in the tens of millions, including both cultivators and ordinary people.
Sacred Ming City had a large population; throughout the entire Kunlun Realm, few cities could compare to Sacred Ming City in scale.
"One Gongzi Yan died, it seems the Space Divine Temple has not learned its lesson from that." Zhang Ruochen said coldly.
Toward the Space Divine Temple, Zhang Ruochen had no good feelings at all, because the Space Divine Temple was too close to the Paradise Realm. Previously, the young generation leader of the Space Divine Temple, Gongzi Yan, had joined forces with Shang Zi to deal with him, but unfortunately, he had been killed by Zhang Ruochen instead.
Because of this, a great conflict had arisen between Zhang Ruochen and the Space Divine Temple.
In fact, this conflict had already existed since the era of Xumi Saint Monk, irreconcilable.
The strong one from the Space Divine Temple snorted coldly: "Zhang Ruochen, I advise you not to persist in your delusions. Surrender and come back with me to the Space Divine Temple, and you may still have a path to survival. Otherwise, you will surely die."
Zhang Ruochen did not speak, but instead waved his hand, releasing a person.
This person had four huge blood wings, emitting an extremely strong bloody killing aura from his body, but unfortunately, he was bound by the Saint-Binding Rope, unable to move.
"En? Tian Chen."
A strong one who also had four huge blood wings revealed a look of shock.
Without a doubt, like Tian Chen, he was a Scarlet Angel cultivated by the Blood Battle Divine Temple.
Tian Chen was captured by Zhang Ruochen when he had previously attacked the Eastern Domain Sacred City with Shenya Xiansheng, and had been suppressed in the Qiankun Realm ever since.
Unlike this Scarlet Angel, Tian Chen was a Scarlet Angel from the previous generation of the Blood Battle Divine Temple. Although his cultivation had not reached the Dao Domain realm, his strength was stronger than most Dao Domain realm strong ones.
In terms of talent, not many Scarlet Angels in the Blood Battle Divine Temple could compare to Tian Chen, so Tian Chen was highly valued by the Blood Battle Divine Temple and was a key cultivation target.
"Zhang Ruochen, release Tian Chen." That Scarlet Angel who recognized Tian Chen shouted loudly.
"Slap."
Zhang Ruochen stepped on Tian Chen's back, pressing him prostrate to the ground.
"If you want to save Tian Chen, then give me that Space Exquisite Sphere." Zhang Ruochen said coldly.
That Scarlet Angel glanced at Mu Jian, then said in a deep voice: "Zhang Ruochen, you need to understand the situation. Right now, you have no right to negotiate terms with us."
"Is that so? Then Tian Chen can die."
Having said that, Zhang Ruochen lifted his foot and brought it down fiercely.
"Bang."
This kick was astonishingly powerful, actually smashing Tian Chen's body into pieces, his Sacred Soul instantly annihilated.
"Zhang Ruochen, you..."
The Scarlet Angel of the Blood Battle Divine Temple was furious, flames of rage burning in his eyes.
He never expected that Zhang Ruochen would dare to step on Tian Chen to death right in front of him, as if stepping on an ant, clearly humiliating the Blood Battle Divine Temple.
Arrogant, far too arrogant, arrogant beyond measure.
Zhang Ruochen paid no attention to the Scarlet Angel of the Blood Battle Divine Temple, as if nothing had happened, instead turning his gaze to Mu Jian, saying: "I know what you want. How about we make a trade? I'll give you the Space-Time Secret Scripture, and you give me the Space Exquisite Sphere in your hand. What do you think?"
Turning his hand over, Zhang Ruochen took out the Space-Time Secret Scripture, clearly presenting it before the strong one from the Space Divine Temple.
Seeing the Space-Time Secret Scripture, the strong one from the Space Divine Temple's gaze immediately became burning hot.
This Space-Time Secret Scripture left behind by Xumi Saint Monk was something even the gods of the Space Divine Temple desperately wanted to obtain.
After thinking briefly, the strong one from the Space Divine Temple nodded, saying: "Fine, I will trade with you. But you had better not play any tricks, or I will immediately kill everyone inside the Space Exquisite Sphere."
He actually did not care at all about the lives of the people in this Space Exquisite Sphere; using them to exchange for the Space-Time Secret Scripture was undoubtedly the best outcome.
The dozens of strong ones from the Paradise Realm faction around them all did not step forward to stop this, clearly wanting to give face to the Space Divine Temple.
After all, Zhang Ruochen was on the Sacred Mountain, unable to escape even if he grew wings. Delaying a bit more time would not matter.
Almost at the same time, Zhang Ruochen sent the Space-Time Secret Scripture out, while the strong one from the Space Divine Temple sent the Space Exquisite Sphere out.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze locked onto the Space Exquisite Sphere, while the strong one from the Space Divine Temple locked his gaze onto the Space-Time Secret Scripture. Both of their nerves were taut, the atmosphere extremely tense.
Just as the two treasures were about to meet in midair, Zhang Ruochen and the strong one from the Space Divine Temple both made their moves, employing space techniques, both wanting to seize both treasures at once.
Given their attainments in the Way of Space, using the method of teleportation across space was very easy for them.
For a moment, the two treasures were locked in a stalemate in midair, neither able to teleport them away.
"Unexpected that Zhang Ruochen's attainment in the Way of Space has already reached such a level, able to contend evenly with Mu Jian."
"Although Mu Jian is not a Space Controller, he is a Divine Disciple of the Space Divine Temple, having cultivated for over fifteen hundred years and already reached the Lintao realm. His Way of Space is profound and unfathomable, yet he still cannot easily deal with Zhang Ruochen. It seems the inheritance left by Xumi Saint Monk is indeed extraordinary, no wonder the Space Divine Temple has always wanted to obtain it."
"Should we help Mu Jian?"
"Better not. If we interfere and ruin Mu Jian's good fortune, it will only displease him. We only need to seal off this Sacred Mountain so Zhang Ruochen cannot escape."
...
While Zhang Ruochen and Mu Jian were contending with space techniques, a group of strong ones from the Paradise Realm faction secretly transmitted messages to discuss.
Regardless of the outcome of the struggle between Zhang Ruochen and Mu Jian, Zhang Ruochen would not be able to escape in the end.
"Without ever entering the Space Divine Temple to cultivate, his space attainment can be this high. The Space-Time Secret Scripture is indeed extraordinary—I must obtain it." Mu Jian thought to himself.
At this moment, Mu Jian was very annoyed. He had already used a precious space talisman, yet still could not gain the upper hand. If he had not used the space talisman, he would probably have already lost.
On the surface, while Mu Jian was using all his strength contending for the Space-Time Secret Scripture, he shouted loudly: "Zhang Ruochen, you dare to play tricks. It seems you really don't care about their lives."
As he spoke, Mu Jian mobilized all his space rules, launching his strongest attack, wanting to kill everyone inside the Space Exquisite Sphere.
"Don't even think about it."
Zhang Ruochen performed a Space Teleportation, appearing near the Space Exquisite Sphere.
Tens of thousands of space rules surged out from Zhang Ruochen's body, densely covering the space, trying to freeze this area of space.
Mu Jian, on the other hand, used the method of space collapse, shattering space, shattering everything.
Two completely different space forces collided instantly.
"Boom."
The space did not shatter, but several large cracks appeared, pitch black, like prehistoric giant beasts opening their bloody mouths.
Terrible space ripples appeared, rapidly spreading in all directions, shaking even some Dao Domain realm strong ones backward.
At the critical moment, Zhang Ruochen grabbed the Space Exquisite Sphere, then rapidly retreated.
The Space-Time Secret Scripture was sent flying by the space ripples and caught by Mu Jian.
"Hahaha, from now on, the Space-Time Secret Scripture belongs to me." Mu Jian could not help but laugh loudly.
Zhang Ruochen said nothing, quickly retreating back to the Sacred Mountain.
After confirming that the Space Exquisite Sphere had no problems, Zhang Ruochen immediately put it away.
Being able to save most of the people of Sacred Ming City, even if it meant taking great risks, was undoubtedly worth it.
Seeing this result, the group of strong ones from the Paradise Realm faction also showed smiles. Since Mu Jian had gotten what he wanted, they could now safely deal with Zhang Ruochen.
With the Sacred Mountain as the center, a radius of a thousand miles had already been tightly sealed off. Even if Zhang Ruochen used space techniques, he could not escape.
So even though Zhang Ruochen had now seized the Space Exquisite Sphere, it would not be long before the people inside the Space Exquisite Sphere would die anyway. Everything was already destined; one person alone could not turn the tables.
"Ah."
Just as the group of strong ones was about to attack Zhang Ruochen, a miserable scream from Mu Jian suddenly reached their ears.
Immediately, everyone turned their heads, looking toward Mu Jian.
They saw Mu Jian with a terrified expression, three basin-sized divine insects attached to his body, their bodies glowing with blue flames.
Mu Jian's body burst into raging flames, and in the blink of an eye, he was burned to ashes, leaving nothing behind.
"God-Eating Insects."
A strong one recognized the divine insects glowing with blue flames and could not help but change color drastically.
None of these people had ever seen God-Eating Insects, but they had all heard about what happened in the Northern Domain.
Zhang Ruochen had collected the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, and inside the trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree were a large number of terrifying God-Eating Insects. Even top-tier strong ones could lose their lives if they accidentally touched them.
Clearly, Zhang Ruochen had hidden three God-Eating Insects in the Space-Time Secret Scripture beforehand. Mu Jian, without any precautions, opened the Space-Time Secret Scripture and fell into the trap.
Watching helplessly as Mu Jian was killed by the God-Eating Insects, the faces of all the strong ones present became extremely ugly. They had all been too careless.
Zhang Ruochen stretched out a hand, grabbing through the air, using Space Capture to retrieve the Space-Time Secret Scripture.
Daring to threaten him with the lives of most of Sacred Ming City's people—Mu Jian deserved to die.
The three basin-sized God-Eating Insects immediately locked onto other prey, wanting to launch an attack.
However, very abruptly, the three God-Eating Insects' bodies stiffened, unable to move.
"Zhang Ruochen, do you think mere God-Eating Insects can threaten us?"
A strong one spoke, his eyes full of contempt.
This person had a thin figure, less than five feet tall, wearing a black robe, with gloomy eyes like a poisonous snake, emitting an extremely cold aura.
His name was Feng Gudao, the strongest below Great Saint of the Soul Realm. His spiritual power was extremely powerful, having cultivated the Soul-Holding Art to an astonishing level. Even Nine-Step Saint Kings could easily be controlled by him.
Stared at by Feng Gudao's gaze, Zhang Ruochen could not help but feel a slight dizziness, his spirit becoming somewhat weary, wanting to fall asleep.
"Soul-Holding Art."
Zhang Ruochen immediately reacted, quickly guarding his mind.
Fortunately, he was not only a martial cultivator but also cultivated spiritual power, and his spiritual power was extremely strong, already close to the peak of the fifty-ninth rank. Otherwise, he might have fallen into the trap.
"En? You can actually resist my Soul-Holding Art. Zhang Ruochen, you do have some skill." Feng Gudao's eyes showed a slight hint of surprise.
Another strong one stepped forward, speaking in a rough voice: "Feng Gudao, let this king make a move instead. I'll just beat Zhang Ruochen down directly. Why make things so complicated?"
This person had a very tall figure, over three meters tall, with his upper body bare, his skin bronze-colored, with many strange secret patterns clearly visible.
He had eyes like copper bells, ears like palm-leaf fans, and a bloody mouth. When he spoke, two rows of jagged teeth were revealed, looking extremely ferocious and terrifying.