Chapter 2068: Killing the Spirit Emperor
"Chenjing, what did you discover?" The Great Venerable sensed something.
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden furrowed her brows slightly, then smiled. "I told you Zhang Ruochen must still be in Yin-Yang Sea. That fearless, reckless guy—interesting. What is he planning to do?"
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was hidden in the seawater, moving closer to the warship where the Spirit Emperor was located.
This was an extremely dangerous move!
Throughout the entire Hell Realm's Bone Clan, only three had achieved the title of "Becoming an Emperor Before Becoming a Great Saint," and the Spirit Emperor was one of them. At such a level, even a Heavenly King-level figure from the Heavenly Palace would have to treat him with caution.
Although Zhang Ruochen was strong, there was still a considerable gap between him and a Heavenly King.
Moreover, beside the Spirit Emperor were countless Hell Realm experts. If Zhang Ruochen approached alone and was discovered, he would be blasted into ashes in an instant.
Zhang Ruochen's actions were truly difficult for Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden to understand. Facing the Hell Realm army alone was no longer bravery—it was recklessness.
Hearing Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's account, Linglong Fairy frowned. "Those Dragon Clan members from Ancestral Dragon Mountain are trapped inside the Space Linglong Ball in the Spirit Emperor's hand. Zhang Ruochen's goal is most likely that."
Although Linglong Fairy had never interacted with Zhang Ruochen, his courage and his willingness to risk life and death to save a group of dragons earned her a sliver of goodwill.
Upon hearing this, Blazing Sun Heavenly Son said, "Zhang Ruochen is truly overestimating himself. He wants to rescue the Dragon Clan from the Spirit Emperor's hands? I'm afraid before he even touches the Space Linglong Ball, he'll be killed by the Spirit Emperor. How foolish."
The Great Venerable's eyes sharpened, and he said solemnly, "Zhang Ruochen is indeed too reckless this time. The Spirit Emperor ranks first among the Bone Clan's Three Emperors, and his strength is absurdly powerful. He has no chance of winning."
"Zhang Ruochen, what exactly are you trying to do?" Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's emotions churned as she stared intently at the figure lurking in the seawater.
No matter what, she refused to believe Zhang Ruochen was seeking death, but for the moment, she couldn't fathom his intentions.
At a certain moment, Zhang Ruochen's figure came to a halt.
At that very instant, an invisible spatial force transmitted through the seawater, reaching the area shrouded by illusion.
"Buzz."
The originally flawless illusion suddenly showed a slight fluctuation.
"Not good. Zhang Ruochen has triggered the illusion I set up."
On the magnificent warship, Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's eyes suddenly tightened.
The illusion over this sea area was personally arranged by her, and she had even used an illusionary secret treasure to ensure it was foolproof.
But unexpectedly, such a refined illusion had been detected by Zhang Ruochen.
"Could it be..."
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's mind stirred, and she guessed Zhang Ruochen's purpose. She was so furious that her teeth itched—even angrier than when Zhang Ruochen forced her to write the marriage contract.
"Boom."
From the seven warships of Hell Realm, powerful auras erupted.
The slight fluctuation just now might have gone unnoticed by ordinary Saint Kings, but it could not be hidden from the top-tier experts of the Underworld Clan and Bone Clan.
In an instant, the attention of many Hell Realm powerhouses was drawn to the sea area covered by the illusion, including the Spirit Emperor.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was extremely close to the Spirit Emperor's warship—only a few hundred zhang away.
"Now is the time."
Seeing the opportunity, Zhang Ruochen did not hesitate to act.
A powerful spatial force surged from Zhang Ruochen's body, instantly reaching the Space Linglong Ball in the Spirit Emperor's hand.
"Hmm?"
The Spirit Emperor sensed it immediately and tried to grip the Space Linglong Ball.
Unfortunately, he was a step too slow. The Space Linglong Ball vanished into thin air.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen deliberately created a subtle disturbance, extending it toward the sea area covered by the illusion.
As for himself, he did his best to merge with the seawater and retreat as quickly as possible.
"Courting death."
The Spirit Emperor roared and struck a palm toward the sea area covered by the illusion.
A vast dark force gathered in the Spirit Emperor's bone palm, condensing into a massive dark handprint. Wherever it passed, space shattered inch by inch.
At the same time, an Underworld Clan expert also struck, unleashing a terrifying black, white, and gold three-colored thunderbolt toward the illusion-covered sea.
"Come out, you."
He wore black dragon-scale armor, held a square-headed halberd, stood three zhang tall, had a burly build, a sinister face, and a pair of jet-black, gleaming dragon horns on his head, engraved with strange secret patterns that faintly emitted the aura of thunder.
He was the leader of the Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods, hailing from the Underworld Dragon Clan, named Xuanming Wushang. He was infamous in both the Heavenly Court Realm and Hell Realm.
Among the countless clans of the Underworld Clan, the Underworld Dragon Clan had always been a top-tier clan—few in number but immensely powerful. Every generation produced top-tier experts, ensuring their enduring prosperity.
"Boom."
The three-colored Underworld Thunder exploded violently, releasing a terrifying, world-destroying power. It instantly shattered the illusion, leaving dense, pitch-black spatial cracks in the air. The sea surface churned, stirring up monstrous waves.
With the illusion gone, five massive warships immediately appeared, rising and falling amidst the wind and waves.
The dark handprint unleashed by the Spirit Emperor, like an ancient demonic mountain, pressed down toward the five warships.
Fortunately, brilliant sacred light rose from the five warships, successfully blocking the attack.
"Thousand Star Civilization, Big Dipper Civilization, Witch God Civilization, Blazing Sun Civilization, plus the Heavenly Dragon Realm—what audacity, hiding right under my nose. Do you think you can get a share of the spoils? How utterly ignorant of death." Xuanming Wushang sneered.
As the leader of the Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods, he truly did not take the forces of the four great ancient civilizations and the Heavenly Dragon Realm seriously.
Blazing Sun Heavenly Son stood at the bow of the ship, speaking aggressively, "Xuanming Wushang, you're far too arrogant. Others may fear your Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods, but I, the Heavenly Son, do not."
Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden's face turned somewhat ugly. She hadn't expected to be used by Zhang Ruochen. This tactic of diverting trouble was truly brilliant... no, shameless.
"Big Brother, this so-called... what's-his-name Blazing Sun Heavenly Son is really annoying. Let's just kill him first." Deathless One's eyes flashed with killing intent as he smiled.
At these words, the other members of the Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods also locked their killing intent onto Blazing Sun Heavenly Son, not hiding their murderous thoughts at all.
The Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods acted without restraint; there was no one they dared not kill.
Feeling the terrifying killing intent emanating from the Seven Absolute Kill Gods, Blazing Sun Heavenly Son's heart tightened, and a chill ran through his body, leaving him momentarily unable to move.
Inside the hidden spatial passage, Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on the five massive warships that had appeared, and a strange light flickered in his eyes. He hadn't expected to see an acquaintance among the other faction.
"What is Yu Chenjing doing here? Are they also after the World Gate Key?" Zhang Ruochen looked puzzled.
The reappearance of the World Gate Key was supposed to be an extremely secret matter, but now it seemed everyone knew about it.
"Leader, your tactic of diverting trouble is brilliant. Let these two sides fight each other, and we'll have an easier time." Ao Xinyan smiled in praise.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "They won't fight so easily. They haven't even entered True Dragon Island yet and haven't gained any benefits. Fighting to the death now would be completely meaningless."
"Moreover, the transition between day and night is about to occur. Both sides should be eager to break the forbidden formation on True Dragon Island as soon as possible. After all, if they miss the opportunity, they'll have to wait another half month."
Although he had already rescued the Dragon Clan from Ancestral Dragon Mountain, he didn't think this would stop Hell Realm from attacking True Dragon Island.
So many Hell Realm experts had arrived, demonstrating a powerful will.
It was a will that would not stop until True Dragon Island was breached.
Zhang Ruochen was worried that Hell Realm might still have other trump cards.
"Regardless, with the intervention of these major forces, it's still much better than us facing the Hell Realm army alone." Ao Xinyan said softly.
...
...
"Don't you dare harm the Heavenly Son."
With a loud shout, two figures rushed out from the Blazing Sun Civilization's warship and appeared beside Blazing Sun Heavenly Son.
The two looked identical—both handsome and imposing, clad in golden armor, with powerful blood energy surging from within, creating various terrifying phenomena.
Like Blazing Sun Heavenly Son, both had golden sun marks on their foreheads, though not as brilliant.
Seeing these two appear, Blazing Sun Heavenly Son's tense mind relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on his face as he looked down at the Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods.
"You want to kill me, the Heavenly Son? Do you think the Blazing Sun Civilization has no one?" Blazing Sun Heavenly Son snorted coldly.
Just as the Underworld Hall's Seven Absolute Kill Gods were about to lose their temper, the Dark Son's low voice suddenly rang out, "The transition between day and night is here. Don't delay the breaking of the forbidden formation."
"Hand over the Space Linglong Ball." Deathless One shouted loudly.
Hearing this, Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and the others looked bewildered, having no idea what Deathless One was talking about.
Yeming Wuyou sensed a familiar aura and said, "It's not them. Zhang Ruochen took the Space Linglong Ball."
"Zhang Ruochen? He dares to show his face before us?" Deathless One looked surprised.
Yeming Wuyou said, "To take the Space Linglong Ball with such a bizarre method, it can only be Zhang Ruochen. He deliberately caused the commotion here to divert our attention."
To snatch the Space Linglong Ball from a top-tier Lintao Realm expert in an instant was no ordinary feat. Zhang Ruochen was undoubtedly the prime suspect.
"What a Zhang Ruochen. He's got some nerve. Get out here." Deathless One's gaze swept around, carefully searching for traces of Zhang Ruochen.
Blood Ripple's gaze locked onto the Heavenly Dragon Realm's warship, and a cold light flashed in his eyes. "Since the Ancestral Dragon Mountain's Dragon Clan is gone, let's use these Dragon Clan members from the Heavenly Dragon Realm as substitutes."
On the Heavenly Dragon Realm's warship were all Saint King Realm experts, each with extremely powerful bloodlines. The effect of a blood sacrifice would likely be even better.
"Roar."
A world-shaking dragon roar echoed.
Thick black mist dispersed, and a golden divine dragon, hundreds of miles long, swooped down from the sky and landed on the Heavenly Dragon Realm's warship.
As the golden light converged, the golden dragon transformed into an extremely handsome young man with long golden hair, golden pupils, and a pair of dragon horns on his forehead that seemed forged from divine metal. Countless dragon qi swirled around him, forming small golden dragons that danced and spiraled.
"Blood Ripple, if you want to take the Dragon Clan of the Heavenly Dragon Realm for a blood sacrifice, feel free to try." The golden-haired man's eyes shot a piercing glare, fixed on Blood Ripple.
At the same time, from the warships of the Thousand Star Civilization, Big Dipper Civilization, and Witch God Civilization, extremely terrifying auras also emanated, opposing the Hell Realm side.
Clearly, the four great ancient civilizations and the Heavenly Dragon Realm had come prepared, lacking no top-tier experts.
...
After struggling all day, I finally wrote six thousand words. Sorry for the late update.
: . :