Chapter 2003: Stepping Into Desperate Circumstances
Shang Zihong's original accumulation was already extremely profound; his breakthrough only lacked a catalyst. After consuming the Earth Soul Liquid, that catalyst appeared, making his breakthrough effortless, with no one able to intervene.
Seeing the massive commotion Shang Zihong had caused, all the spectators revealed expressions of shock, and some couldn't help but shake their heads.
"Zhang Ruochen is indeed formidable. In a battle at the same cultivation level, even Shang Zihong is no match for him. But unfortunately, Shang Zihong broke through in an instant, doubling his strength. No matter how strong Zhang Ruochen is, he probably won't be a match anymore."
"Truly unexpected that Shang Zihong had this card up his sleeve. He really leaves no stone unturned."
"With Shang Zihong having cultivated a Dao Domain, Zhang Ruochen can no longer contend with him. This battle will soon have a result."
...
Many of the watching cultivators shook their heads and sighed for Zhang Ruochen, feeling that he had no hope of victory. Crossing realms to defeat a peerless genius like Shang Zihong was almost impossible.
On that cliff, the mysterious man from the Yama Clan revealed a hint of surprise and said, "I never thought I would misjudge someone. Good, Zhang Ruochen. Though he hasn't condensed a Dao Domain, his Sword Soul has reached the Earth Sword Soul level. He truly is a sword dao prodigy."
"Zhang Ruochen's Yang energy is not only blazing and vast but also of extraordinary quality, containing divine aura. Without a doubt, he must have refined a divine medicine rich in Yang energy. That's why his Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm is so fierce and domineering, making even Shang Zihong unable to withstand it."
The mysterious man's insight was extraordinary, quickly uncovering the secrets within Zhang Ruochen, unlike other spectators who were merely astonished.
Hearing the mysterious man's words, Chi Kunlun couldn't be happy at all, because Shang Zihong had already broken through to the Dao Domain realm, exuding an incredibly terrifying aura that posed a massive threat to Zhang Ruochen.
In front of Peacock Manor, Shang Zihong displayed a momentum that could swallow mountains and rivers, frantically absorbing the sacred qi of heaven and earth while also swallowing a golden-yellow sacred pill.
With this sacred pill, Shang Zihong could quickly replenish his sacred qi and accelerate the transformation of his sacred qi.
"Zhang Ruochen, you are indeed strong, but everything ends here."
Shang Zihong said coldly.
An extremely icy aura burst forth from Shang Zihong, condensing into a ferocious three-headed strange beast.
It was the same Yinming Profound Light, but when executed with the cultivation of the Dao Domain realm, its power was many times greater.
"Roar."
The strange beast roared, its ferocious might spreading in all directions, causing souls to tremble.
Zhang Ruochen knew there was no avoiding it, so he immediately executed the twelfth palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, the strongest palm he had cultivated so far.
To maximize the power of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, Zhang Ruochen drew a large amount of Yang energy from the divine sun within his Divine Light Qi Sea.
Instantly, Zhang Ruochen's body emitted a blazing radiance, as if he had turned into a scorching sun, impossible to look at directly.
"Bang."
Though the dragon and elephant were still torn apart by the strange beast, they managed to block most of its ferocious might.
When the weakened strange beast lunged at him, Zhang Ruochen crossed his arms in front of him, opening all the acupoints in his arms, releasing a large amount of sacred qi into the Flame God Arm Guards.
The Flame God Arm Guards were activated, immediately raising a vast expanse of red fire clouds, like a shield.
"Boom."
A powerful force struck him, sending Zhang Ruochen stumbling backward.
The red fire clouds gradually faded, their power rapidly depleting, but they ultimately managed to withstand the strange beast's attack.
Watching the strange beast vanish, Zhang Ruochen felt a slight numbness in his arms, and the sacred qi in many of his arm's acupoints had been heavily consumed.
Fortunately, the divine sun in his Divine Light Qi Sea kept rotating, releasing streams of essence to quickly replenish this consumption.
"Shang Zihong has broken through to the Dao Domain realm. Even if his cultivation isn't yet consolidated, his strength has still greatly increased. This is very troublesome." Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly.
Facing Shang Zihong's sudden breakthrough had truly caught him off guard.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen withstand the High-rank Sacred Art attack, Shang Zihong sneered, "Let's see how many blows you can endure. I'll make you realize that all your struggles are in vain."
With that, Shang Zihong poured a large amount of sacred qi into the Ten-Thousand Refining Tower, causing it to release a terrifying Supreme power, pressing down on Zhang Ruochen.
With the Five-Colored Merit Divine Stele sealing time and space, Zhang Ruochen had no chance to escape. Shang Zihong could take his time playing with him.
In response, Zhang Ruochen quickly activated the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror to meet the Ten-Thousand Refining Tower.
"Bang."
The power released by the Ten-Thousand Refining Tower was extremely violent, sending the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror flying, along with Zhang Ruochen himself.
Shang Zihong didn't stop, continuing to activate the Ten-Thousand Refining Tower, releasing wave after wave of Supreme power.
"Boom."
Zhang Ruochen held the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror, enduring another strike from the Ten-Thousand Refining Tower, only to be blasted deep into the ground.
The already sunken ground now violently shattered, becoming fragmented, as if struck by a terrible earthquake.
"After breaking through to the Dao Domain realm, Shang Zihong's strength has increased too much. Zhang Ruochen is no match; defeat is only a matter of time."
"It's not just Zhang Ruochen in danger; his companions are likely doomed as well."
"Though many unexpected changes have occurred, in the end, the Heavenly Realm Faction will be the final victor in this battle."
"Once Zhang Ruochen dies, who can restrain the strong ones of the Heavenly Realm Faction? The Kunlun Realm is in peril."
...
Watching the one-sided situation on the battlefield, almost all the spectators could foresee the final outcome.
"Is Zhang Ruochen really going to die this time?" The Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's brows were deeply furrowed.
On the battlefield, seeing Zhang Ruochen at a disadvantage, Kong Lanyou's expression turned extremely cold, and the killing intent emanating from her grew even stronger.
"Get out of my way."
Kong Lanyou shouted, striking out with a palm at Di Feng.
The anger-driven Yuhua Feitian Palm was immensely powerful. An enormous seven-colored peacock appeared, gently flapping its wings, releasing dazzling Yuhua Sacred Light.
Di Feng's expression changed slightly, but he didn't panic. He quickly struck out with a sinister sacred pearl.
This sacred pearl was no ordinary item; it was originally a powerful Monarch Battle Tool, though it had been damaged and not yet repaired. Still, its power was not to be underestimated.
At that moment, over a hundred thousand King-level inscriptions emerged from the sacred pearl, drawing on vast heavenly and earthly power, striking out like a star.
"Bang."
Though the seven-colored peacock was strong, it was still shattered by the sacred pearl, turning into a rain of seven-colored light.
The sacred pearl's radiance dimmed instantly, all the King-level inscriptions receding, and it flew back into Di Feng's hand.
Di Feng smiled, blocking Kong Lanyou's path, and said, "Zhang Ruochen is as good as dead. No one can change that. If you obediently submit to me, you might still have a way out. Otherwise, you'll end up just like Zhang Ruochen."
"Anyone who blocks me dies."
Kong Lanyou's eyes blazed with killing intent.
An incredibly terrifying aura emanated from Kong Lanyou. Her white hair, nearly reaching her heels, floated, each strand emitting brilliant sacred light.
When the seven-colored sacred light reached its peak, Kong Lanyou transformed into a seven-colored sacred peacock.
Clearly, Kong Lanyou had already pushed her peacock bloodline to its limit, allowing her to take the form of a peacock.
The seven-colored sacred peacock flapped its wings, sending countless seven-colored feathers flying, turning into swords that pierced through the air toward Di Feng.
Di Feng's expression changed drastically, feeling a significant threat.
In this situation, Di Feng naturally dared not be careless, quickly reactivating the sacred pearl in his hand, forming a powerful protective barrier around himself.
At this moment, not only Kong Lanyou was fighting desperately, but Jin Yu, Luo Chen, Bao Lie, and others had also gone wild, unleashing all their power without reservation, trying to shake off their opponents to save Zhang Ruochen.
"Boom."
The shattered ground exploded violently, and Zhang Ruochen, with disheveled hair, rushed out from underground.
Shang Zihong sneered, "You're really tenacious. Fine, I'll beat you until you can't stand up again."
Before his words faded, the Five-Colored Merit Divine Stele hanging high in the sky came crashing down.
"Not good."
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed, and he immediately raised his hands.
"Boom."
The Five-Colored Merit Divine Stele didn't smash directly onto Zhang Ruochen but was supported by his hands.
However, it was extremely heavy, like an ancient divine mountain, pressing Zhang Ruochen downward.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Ruochen landed on the ground.
"Rumble."
The already fragmented ground violently shattered once more.
A terrifying force acted on the ground, creating a powerful shockwave that swept in all directions like a tidal wave.
Wherever it passed, everything was destroyed.
The range of impact was vast, extending nearly ten thousand miles.
Some weaker spectators were thrown into the air by this force, and some suffered serious injuries.
Peacock Manor, protected by powerful Great Saint inscriptions and high-level formations, remained unscathed.
But the land around Peacock Manor had completely collapsed, leaving the manor isolated, like a lone island in the sea, constantly battered by storms and waves, appearing precarious.
Inside Peacock Manor, many Peacock Half-Humans existed, but most were weak and unable to participate in such a great battle.
At this moment, those Peacock Half-Humans were already terrified, and some had even despaired, feeling that the end was near.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen pinned down by the Five-Colored Merit Divine Stele, Bao Lie's eyes nearly split. "All of you, die!"
As he roared, Bao Lie recklessly activated his Star Soul Eye, releasing a dazzling beam of starlight.
The Heavenly Realm Faction strongman fighting Bao Lie couldn't react in time, and his body was pierced by the starlight, suffering severe injuries.
Just as Bao Lie was about to go help Zhang Ruochen, another Heavenly Realm Faction strongman suddenly struck, hitting Bao Lie in the back.
"Pfft."
Bao Lie spat out a large mouthful of blood, mixed with fragments of internal organs.
"Can't even save yourself, yet you want to save Zhang Ruochen? How ridiculous."
The strongman who injured Bao Lie sneered coldly.
(Chapter End)