Chapter 2064: Silver Dragon Island
"Such formidable spatial techniques, able to even cut through the void space—truly worthy of being the heir of Xumi Saint Monk."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen break the dark prison, the Great Venerable's eyes immediately showed surprise.
The Thousand Star Celestial Maiden smiled and said, "What do you think? I told you long ago, with Zhang Ruochen's abilities, there's no way he would fall so easily into the hands of the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods."
Clearly, she was very satisfied with this outcome.
The Blazing Sun Heavenly Sovereign's gaze narrowed slightly, and he said in a flat tone, "Although Zhang Ruochen has escaped for now, he has already been targeted by the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods. If he doesn't leave the Yin-Yang Sea, he might not be so lucky next time."
"Having Zhang Ruochen draw the attention of the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods is a good thing. It would be best if a few more people from the Kunlun Realm could come to tie down the Hell Realm's experts—that would be even more advantageous for us."
A Heavenly Sovereign from an ancient civilization spoke in a deep voice.
This man was the Heavenly Sovereign of the Big Dipper Civilization. He wore black tight-fitting attire, had a stern expression, and exuded a terrifying murderous aura from his brow. On his forehead was the mark of the Big Dipper Seven Stars, emitting flickering starlight and an ancient, weathered aura.
The Great Venerable frowned slightly and said, "The Kunlun Realm is too weak. Aside from Zhang Ruochen, there are no truly formidable figures. Even if all their experts gathered in the Yin-Yang Sea, it probably wouldn't amount to much."
"No, the Kunlun Realm is not as simple as you think. I'm certain that this time, Zhang Ruochen is not the only one from the Kunlun Realm to come to the Yin-Yang Sea. If the Hell Realm is too careless, they might suffer a considerable loss." The Thousand Star Celestial Maiden spoke with great meaning.
Unlike the Blazing Sun Heavenly Sovereign and the others, the Thousand Star Celestial Maiden had already arrived in the Kunlun Realm long ago and had seen and heard much more. For this reason, she did not underestimate the Kunlun Realm.
The Big Dipper Heavenly Sovereign said, "In any case, we must hurry to the True Dragon Island as quickly as possible. The Hell Realm has come with great force this time, deploying many elites from the Underworld Clan and the Bone Clan. It seems even the Dark Son has come."
"The Dark Son."
Upon hearing these four words, everyone present changed color.
The Dark Son was the leader of the Darkness Temple, the master of the Path of Darkness, and was hailed as the most outstanding heir of the Darkness Temple in the past one hundred thousand years.
Legend had it that the Dark Son had accidentally entered an extremely dangerous secret realm. Not only did he survive, but he also obtained a great opportunity there, perfecting his Dark Body. Within his body, he had fused a kind of extremely eerie dark substance capable of corroding everything.
For a long time, the Dark Son had lived in seclusion, appearing extremely mysterious.
"It seems that obtaining the key to the World Gate will not be an easy task. Sister Linglong, when will your elder brother arrive?" The Thousand Star Celestial Maiden turned to ask the Linglong Fairy.
The Linglong Fairy said, "My elder brother is currently cultivating in the ancestral land, but the ancestor has already ordered him to come out of seclusion. He should arrive soon."
Hearing this, the Blazing Sun Heavenly Sovereign and the others secretly breathed a sigh of relief. With the Linglong Fairy's elder brother stepping in, they no longer needed to fear the Dark Son.
"Splash."
Ripples spread across the sea surface as massive warships, one after another, cut through the black mist and appeared.
The four warships that appeared, though different in form from those of the Thousand Star Civilization, were equally colossal. Each warship was densely packed with Saint King realm experts, their numbers astonishing.
This time, the four great ancient civilizations and the Heavenly Dragon Realm had all prepared thoroughly, each dispatching a powerful army of Saint Kings, determined to seize the key to the World Gate.
...
After flying tens of thousands of miles and confirming that the three, including Death Without End, had not pursued him, Zhang Ruochen finally stopped.
With a wave of his hand, the pitch-black warship appeared on the sea surface.
To Zhang Ruochen's slight surprise, the purple-robed woman of the Three-Eyed Ancient Clan was also on the warship.
"Why are you following us?"
A trace of displeasure flashed in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
Earlier, when he was locked in a fierce battle with the three, including Death Without End, if the purple-robed woman had been willing to intervene, they might have been able to make the three suffer a great loss. Yet, she had stood by and done nothing.
For this reason, Zhang Ruochen found it difficult to develop any goodwill toward her.
The purple-robed woman naturally sensed Zhang Ruochen's displeasure and said, "The sea area where the True Dragon Island is located is extremely special. Without guidance, it is very difficult to reach. The Divine Dragon Princess is likely already stretched thin, so I can only take you there."
At the same time, Xiao Hei secretly transmitted a message to Zhang Ruochen, telling him everything the purple-robed woman had said to it earlier.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen's heart trembled. He had not expected the situation in the Yin-Yang Sea to be so dire.
"What exactly is the key to the World Gate? Why is the Hell Realm making such a big fuss to seize it?" Zhang Ruochen asked with a very serious expression.
Since he was going to stop the Hell Realm's plans, it was necessary to first clarify some important matters.
Xiao Hei's expression turned grave, and he said thoughtfully, "If the key to the World Gate is really on the True Dragon Island, Ao Xinyan might know more clearly. She sent a message asking for your help, and it’s likely related to this. We’d better meet Ao Xinyan first."
Given Ao Xinyan's status as the Divine Dragon Princess, she would certainly have access to many of the secrets hidden in the Yin-Yang Sea. Instead of speculating further, it was better to go and ask her directly.
"Let's move. Delay will lead to unforeseen changes." Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
Immediately, the purple-robed woman determined the direction and steered the pitch-black warship forward at full speed.
This warship from the Hell Realm was of a very high grade, making it an excellent means of travel in the Yin-Yang Sea, saving them a lot of trouble.
Seeing the pitch-black warship set sail, Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the deck, activated the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture," and began to recover his expended Saint Qi.
The situation in the Yin-Yang Sea was extremely complex, and they could encounter powerful enemies at any time. He had to keep himself in peak condition at all times.
Moreover, after the battle with the three, including Death Without End, Zhang Ruochen had vaguely grasped some insights that he now needed to digest thoroughly.
The combined attack formation of the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods was truly eerie and unpredictable. It was worth studying in depth. Even if he couldn't find obvious flaws, becoming more familiar with it would make future encounters much easier.
Although Zhang Ruochen had been to the Yin-Yang Sea once before, he was not very familiar with it. After all, he had traveled on an ancient ghost ship back then, following a fixed route.
In reality, the Yin-Yang Sea contained many islands, each of which was extraordinary, producing various rare treasures that were hard to find elsewhere.
Of course, ever since the forbidden formation of the Yin-Yang Sea was activated, none of the islands could be easily set foot on.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen had no mood to explore these islands. He only wanted to meet Ao Xinyan as soon as possible and clarify everything.
The pitch-black warship moved extremely fast, and before long, it had crossed a vast expanse of sea.
"We've arrived!"
Suddenly, the purple-robed woman stopped the black warship.
Xiao Hei looked around and asked in confusion, "Where are we? Why is there nothing around?"
Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes and stood up from the deck. A strange light flickered in his eyes as he said, "Such a well-hidden folded space. It seems this is one of the awakened sacred lands in the Yin-Yang Sea."
If his spatial mastery had not improved significantly, he might not have noticed the existence of the folded space.
Just then, the space ahead rippled slightly, and a graceful figure in silver armor appeared out of thin air.
Zhang Ruochen was very familiar with this figure—it was Ao Xinyan.
A few years had passed, and Ao Xinyan had become even more beautiful and enchanting, naturally exuding a noble aura that made her seem unapproachable.
More importantly, Ao Xinyan now carried a murderous aura. Paired with her divine dragon silver armor, she looked heroic and spirited, like a female war god.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, Ao Xinyan's eyes immediately lit up with surprise. With a flicker of movement, she appeared directly on the warship.
"Captain, why didn't you tell me when you came to the Yin-Yang Sea?"
The purple-robed woman cupped her hands and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Divine Dragon Princess."
"Purple Xin Saint King, congratulations on successfully retrieving the sacred artifact of the Three-Eyed Ancient Clan." Ao Xinyan said with a smile.
The purple-robed woman's usually cold face actually showed a faint smile. Clearly, recovering the Three-Leaf Nine-Life Flower had made her very happy.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I encountered some things as soon as I arrived in the Yin-Yang Sea, and since Purple Xin Saint King was guiding me, I didn't send you a message. I imagine you've been very busy lately."
"This is not a good place to talk. Let's go inside first." Ao Xinyan said.
The space ahead rippled again, blending with the water waves. The pitch-black warship moved forward, directly entering the spatial ripples and disappearing without a trace.
In the blink of an eye, the scene before them underwent a startling transformation.
The warship was still on the sea, but the mist was gone, and the icy chill had vanished. The view became crystal clear.
Directly ahead of the warship was an enormous landmass, so vast that its end was nowhere in sight.
The land was lush and green, with towering trees that had grown for who knows how many years, giving it the feel of a primordial world.
"Is this the True Dragon Island?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ao Xinyan shook her head and said, "This is not the True Dragon Island, but the Silver Dragon Island, one of the dwelling places of the Divine Dragon Clan. I'm sure you've already used your spiritual power to scan it. The Silver Dragon Island is boundless, with a diameter of millions of miles—a sacred fertile land."
"Comparable to the Silver Dragon Island are the Golden Dragon Island and the True Dragon Island. Though they are called islands, it would be more accurate to describe them as three continents."
"We, the Half-Divine Dragon Human Clan, trace our ancestry back to the Five-Clawed Silver Dragon. That is why that great one arranged for us to settle on the Silver Dragon Island."
The Divine Dragon Clan had many branches, with the two most dominant being the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and the Five-Clawed Silver Dragon, both extremely powerful in all aspects.
For this reason, among the many islands in the Yin-Yang Sea, the islands inhabited by the Five-Clawed Golden Dragon and the Five-Clawed Silver Dragon, along with the True Dragon Island, held the most special status. All three were sacred lands of the Divine Dragon Clan.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. So these were the islands where the Divine Dragon Clan once dwelled—truly vast beyond compare, nothing like ordinary islands.
Only the Yin-Yang Sea could accommodate such enormous islands.
"You sent a message asking me to come to the Yin-Yang Sea. What exactly do you need my help with?" Zhang Ruochen asked directly.
Ao Xinyan's expression instantly turned serious. "A major event is about to occur in the Yin-Yang Sea, one that concerns the survival of the Kunlun Realm. I had no choice but to ask for your help, Captain."
"Is it because of the key to the World Gate?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Ao Xinyan first showed a hint of surprise, then nodded. "Indeed. I didn't expect you to already know, Captain."
"What exactly is the key to the World Gate? Why is the Hell Realm making such a big fuss?" Zhang Ruochen asked, very puzzled.
So far, he knew nothing about the key to the World Gate.
Anything that could drive the Hell Realm to such madness would naturally pique anyone's curiosity.
Before Ao Xinyan could answer, Xiao Hei jumped in and asked, "Is the key to the World Gate really on the True Dragon Island?"
"Yes, my master personally issued a divine decree, revealing the secret of the key to the World Gate, and instructed me to guard it carefully." Ao Xinyan said very firmly.
"A divine decree? Could your master be..."
Xiao Hei thought of that taboo figure of the Divine Dragon Clan. Who else could manifest a divine decree? So he continued to ask, "What about that great one? The Hell Realm is attacking the Yin-Yang Sea so aggressively, yet he does nothing."
With that taboo figure's abilities, if he had intended to obstruct them, the Hell Realm's army would never have been able to enter the Yin-Yang Sea.
Ao Xinyan sighed. "Not long ago, my master left the Yin-Yang Sea, seemingly heading to the Heavenly Dragon Realm. I don't know when he will return. Moreover, even if he hadn't left, he probably couldn't act easily. If the Hell Realm knew he was still alive, they would certainly come with even greater ferocity."
Hearing this, Xiao Hei suddenly understood. So that was why so many things had happened—it was all because that taboo figure was not in the Yin-Yang Sea.
If he were here, even without acting personally, he could use various means to block the Hell Realm's army outside the Yin-Yang Sea.
"Buzz."
Just then, the space outside the island trembled violently. A figure passed through the folded space and appeared in this hidden sea area.
It was an old monk, kind-eyed and draped in a ten-thousand-treasure kasaya, emitting a faint Buddha light, like a bodhisattva walking between heaven and earth.
"Hmm? Dead Zen Ancestor."
Zhang Ruochen raised an eyebrow, somewhat surprised.
But after a moment's thought, Zhang Ruochen realized that Purple Xin Saint King had mentioned that Ao Xinyan had invited several top experts from the Kunlun Realm to the Yin-Yang Sea.
Among the top-tier experts, there were very few, and the Dead Zen Ancestor could certainly be counted as one.
Compared to a few years ago, Zhang Ruochen could sense that the Dead Zen Ancestor's cultivation had deepened.
At this moment, the Dead Zen Ancestor's aura was slightly chaotic, suggesting he had just been in a fight and seemed to have suffered a loss.
In the blink of an eye, the Dead Zen Ancestor appeared on the warship, standing opposite Zhang Ruochen. He smiled slightly and said, "Benefactor Zhang, we meet again."
"Old bald donkey, who bullied you?" Xiao Hei laughed.
The Dead Zen Ancestor glanced at Xiao Hei and said, "This old monk went to scout near the True Dragon Island earlier and unexpectedly encountered four of the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods. After their powers merged, they were indeed formidable. This old monk was nearly trapped and unable to escape."
"What a coincidence. We also encountered the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods earlier, but only three of them." Xiao Hei said with a strange expression.
Hearing this, Purple Xin Saint King's heart stirred, and she cast a deep glance at the old monk. She hadn't expected this old monk to be so powerful, able to clash with four of the Nether Hall Seven Absolute Kill Gods. Although he had suffered a considerable loss, it still demonstrated his strength.
Zhang Ruochen nodded inwardly. As the most outstanding disciple of the Ten Thousand Buddha Path in the past, the Dead Zen Ancestor had created the Dead Zen Buddhist Dharma, and his strength was naturally extraordinary. In terms of creativity and talent, he was also at the pinnacle.
Before the Kunlun Realm had revived, the Dead Zen Ancestor was already the top expert below the Great Saint realm, able to use the Dead Zen Buddhist Dharma to subdue divine corpses and contend with the Great Saint realm's Shi Qianjue.
Years later, the Dead Zen Ancestor's cultivation and strength must have reached an even higher level.
However, the Dead Zen Ancestor was a heretic, with eccentric behavior. That Ao Xinyan would invite him for help surprised Zhang Ruochen quite a bit.
He wondered who else Ao Xinyan had invited besides him and the Dead Zen Ancestor.
...
Xiao Yu's new book, "The Legend of the Heavenly Emperor," has already reached three hundred thousand words. I hope all readers can go and support it.