Chapter 2093: Writing a War Letter with Blood
After a moment of contemplation, Zhang Ruochen looked back at the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden and asked, "Why are you telling me this?"
The key to the World Gate was of great importance, and many factions had dispatched numerous powerful experts for it. Anyone who obtained clues would surely try to seize it in secret, with no reason to inform others.
"Consider it me repaying a favor, so you won't keep bringing up how you saved my life in the future. Besides, obtaining the key to the World Gate isn't an easy task. That old fellow is quite slippery. We'll just have to see who's more capable," the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden said casually.
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but give her a deep look. Was the reason really as simple as she claimed? A mere favor could hardly compare to the key to the World Gate.
Moreover, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden cultivated the Path of Origin. She should be extremely eager for the Origin Qi of the Kunlun Realm, making it even less likely that she would share clues about the key to the World Gate with others.
Thinking this over, a faint realization stirred within Zhang Ruochen, causing his emotions to ripple.
After a moment of silence, he said softly, "Thank you."
"It's rare to hear those words from your mouth, Zhang Ruochen. I need to go rendezvous with the experts of the Thousand Star Civilization. If I hear any news about the Dark Son, I'll let you know."
With those words, the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden didn't linger. Her figure moved, turning into streaks of afterimages that quickly dissipated among the ruined ruins.
Zhang Ruochen stood atop the head of the monster king, watching her leave, a complex expression in his eyes.
In the deep pit, he and the Thousand Star Heavenly Maiden had shared life and death, facing hardships together. Even though they both possessed the Truth Esoterica, they no longer needed to be enemies.
But what were they now?
Shaking his head firmly, Zhang Ruochen pushed aside the distracting thoughts for the time being and focused on how to deal with the Dark Son and find the short, thin old man. These were the two most important tasks at hand.
"First, settle accounts with the Dark Son. That might draw out that old fellow as well." A gleam of sharp light flashed in Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
He guessed that the short, thin old man seemed to enjoy stirring up trouble. Earlier, he had been lured out by the commotion of battle. If there was an even bigger spectacle, he might not be able to resist showing himself again.
Either way, taking revenge on the Dark Son was a must. He couldn't swallow this bitter anger.
Zhang Ruochen didn't plan to wait idly. He would take the initiative, striking with overwhelming force to force the Dark Son into a decisive battle with him.
...
Five thousand miles away, in a hidden cave, the Golden Yang Twin Kings, who were recovering in seclusion, opened their eyes simultaneously.
"What madness has gotten into Zhang Ruochen? He wants a decisive battle with the Dark Son? Is he tired of living?" Little Yang King's eyes were filled with confusion.
In his view, Zhang Ruochen's strength was not weak, but compared to the Dark Son, he was clearly far behind, not even on the same level.
Big Yang King's eyes gleamed with cold light. "He wants to die, but we can't let him die at the hands of the Dark Son. That task is ours."
Their Bright Sun Civilization had suffered a major setback at Zhang Ruochen's hands. If they couldn't reclaim their honor, they would be a laughingstock forever. This was their only chance to atone for their mistakes.
"But Brother, your Yuan Qi still needs some time to recover," Little Yang King hesitated slightly.
Big Yang King stood up, exuding a sharp and domineering aura, his gaze contemptuous. "No matter. Dealing with Zhang Ruochen doesn't require being at full strength."
Last time, he had been too cautious and ended up being outsmarted by Zhang Ruochen. This time, he would crush him with absolute power.
Little Yang King also stood up, a terrifying killing intent flashing in his eyes. The two brothers had been undefeated since their debut, making a fearsome name for themselves in both the Heavenly Court Realm and the Hell Realm. Together, they could rival top-tier experts below the Great Saint level, yet they had suffered such a humiliating defeat at Zhang Ruochen's hands. It was a disgrace beyond measure.
Only Zhang Ruochen's blood could wash away this shame.
Without further delay, the Golden Yang Twin Kings flew out of their cave and headed straight for the direction of the long roar.
Meanwhile, experts from all sides had also heard Zhang Ruochen's bold declaration. It spread like a storm, rapidly sweeping through the entire Dragon God Hall Ruins, drawing widespread attention.
"Who does Zhang Ruochen think he is? Daring to challenge Lord Dark Son? How utterly reckless. If Lord Dark Son makes a move, he can suppress him with one hand."
"No one has ever dared to threaten our Hell Realm. Zhang Ruochen, you're seeking death."
"A mere unseasoned Heir of Time and Space, thinking he's someone important. Does he believe he's the second Xumi Saint Monk? Anyone who opposes the Hell Realm will die."
...
The reactions from the Hell Realm side were extremely fierce, almost all of them filled with disdain for Zhang Ruochen.
The battles at the Sword Grave and Immortal Machine Mountain had seen many Hell Realm experts die at Zhang Ruochen's hands, enraging the Hell Realm. Countless experts wished they could grind his bones to dust.
The Dark Son, the main party involved, remained remarkably calm, offering no response at all, as if he had already left the True Dragon Island.
After all, inside the monster's body, the Dark Son had obtained treasures worth over a hundred million years, an unimaginably huge haul. He could easily return with a full load.
But in truth, the Dark Son was still in the ruins, having not retreated to the Hell Realm with his treasures.
First, with his strength, he feared no one and still hoped to acquire more treasures.
Second, as the leader of the Darkness Temple, the Dark Son was responsible for leading the Hell Realm army into the True Dragon Island to seize the key to the World Gate. Since the mission was not yet complete, how could he retreat?
...
"Pfft."
Zhang Ruochen swung his sword, beheading a Nether Clan expert and using his terrifying Sword Intent to obliterate his Sacred Soul.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was like a figure in a Shura Blood Hell, with mountains of corpses and rivers of blood. The entire sky and earth were dyed crimson.
Not long ago, Zhang Ruochen had found a team of over a hundred Nether Clan members here. They were the flag guards of the Nether Clan army, responsible for protecting their war banner.
The direction of the war banner indicated the Nether Clan army's advance, with all their experts scattered around it.
If anything happened, the Nether Clan army could gather at the fastest speed.
Zhang Ruochen slaughtered all the flag guards with overwhelming force, then cut down the Nether Clan war banner and stuck it to the side.
Many Nether Clan experts tried to reclaim the banner, rushing in from all directions, only to end up as corpses beneath Zhang Ruochen's sword.
The mountain of corpses before him was piled high with the bodies of over a thousand Nether Clan experts, their resentment soaring to the heavens.
With a flicker of movement, Zhang Ruochen appeared atop the towering corpse mountain, looking down at the lake of blood formed from the Nether Clan experts' blood.
These were all Saint King-level experts, their blood energy incredibly vigorous. The blood they shed was comparable to that of a million ordinary beings.
After a moment's thought, Zhang Ruochen raised both hands and lifted them sharply. Instantly, rolling blood energy surged upward, filling the entire sky with a terrifying omen, as if the end of days had arrived.
Then, using his finger as a pen, the sky as paper, and blood as ink, Zhang Ruochen began to write.
"Dark Son, I await you atop the corpse mountain of the Nether Clan for a life-or-death battle—Zhang Ruochen."
Three lines of murderous, large characters appeared in the sky, visible even from tens of thousands of miles away.
Compared to his earlier empty threats, these three lines of blood-red characters were a true war letter.
Writing a war letter with the blood of over a thousand Nether Clan experts—only Zhang Ruochen would dare to do something so mad.
For a moment, cultivators from all sides in the ruins looked up, their gazes locking onto the three lines of blood-red characters.
"How many Nether Clan experts did Zhang Ruochen kill to produce such vast blood energy?"
Many cultivators were shaken to their core.
Everyone could sense that a storm was about to break. The Hell Realm side would never swallow this insult. Even if the Dark Son didn't act, other experts would come to kill Zhang Ruochen.
After writing the war letter, Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged on the stone mountain, waiting for more Hell Realm experts to arrive. Since he had already struck, he might as well kill to his heart's content.
Half a day later, sensing someone approaching, Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes.
Hundreds of miles away, two figures walked side by side—a man and a woman.
The man was a heroic and extraordinary youth with golden hair and golden eyes. On his forehead grew a pair of golden dragon horns, as if forged from divine metal. Around him swirled vigorous golden blood energy, like a vast divine sea.
The woman possessed a celestial beauty, indescribably lovely. Unlike many delicate women, she was tall and slender, clad in golden soft armor like a female war god, unforgettable at first sight.
Even from a distance, one could feel an incredibly noble aura radiating from them, emanating from within, not cultivated but innate.
"Ao Xukong, Linglong Xianzi."
A flicker of surprise crossed Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
He was no stranger to this pair, as their fame was too great for many not to know them.
Ao Xukong was the strongest below the Great Saint level in the Heavenly Dragon Realm, possessing an extremely powerful body and strength, undefeated wherever he went.
Linglong Xianzi was a fairy on the "Nine Immortal Beauties Chart," her beauty renowned across myriad realms. Countless people admired her.
However, Zhang Ruochen had no connection with them and didn't know why they had come.
But Ao Xinyan had once mentioned that the taboo figure from Yin-Yang Sea seemed to have gone to the Heavenly Dragon Realm, and since the Heavenly Dragon Realm was involved in this matter, it made him think.
The Heavenly Dragon Realm ranked second in the Southern Universe, second only to the Demon God Realm, the ruling world of the south. Its foundation was deep. Ten thousand years ago, it could rival the Kunlun Realm and the Western Buddha Realm. Now, it was even more unfathomable, a truly top-tier powerful realm.
With such a top-tier realm, even if he couldn't befriend them, he must not make enemies.
His thoughts racing, Zhang Ruochen stood up and took the initiative to greet them, cupping his hands. "Brother Ao, Linglong Xianzi, it's an honor."
"You know me?" Ao Xukong's eyes showed a hint of surprise.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Brother Ao is a peerless genius of the Heavenly Dragon Realm, renowned across the heavens. How could I not know of you?"
"If we're talking about fame, few in the younger generation can match you now. I've long wanted to meet you, the Heir of Time and Space favored by the Moon God." Ao Xukong said.
Hearing "Moon God," Zhang Ruochen's heart stirred. Could the Moon God have some connection with the Heavenly Dragon Realm?
Looking at the corpse mountain before her, Linglong Xianzi shook her head slightly, a worried expression on her face. "Brother Zhang, you were too impulsive. Doing this will only invite a frenzied retaliation from the Hell Realm. Besides the Dark Son, there are the Seven Absolute Kill Gods of the Nether Hall and the Three Emperors and Twelve Venerables of the Bone Clan. Each is a top-tier expert, not easy to deal with."
"I rarely admire anyone, but the things you've done for the Kunlun Realm, Brother Zhang, fill me with admiration. The battle between the Kunlun Realm and the Hell Realm has only just begun. There's no need for you to clash head-on with the Hell Realm so soon."
"With your potential, Brother Zhang, it won't be long before you become a top-tier expert below the Great Saint level, even rivaling Yan Wushen. By then, few in the Hell Realm will be able to oppose you."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen's expression shifted slightly. He hadn't expected Linglong Xianzi to say such things.
Ao Xukong nodded. "My sister is right. Brother Zhang, you are the Heir of Time and Space, inheriting the legacy of Xumi Saint Monk. In time, you may reach the heights he once achieved. There's no need to contend with the Dark Son now."
"If the Dark Son has truly provoked you to the point where you must fight, I can fight in your stead and make him pay a price."
As he spoke, a powerful battle intent radiated from Ao Xukong, as if he had long been anticipating such a battle.
As the rumors said, Ao Xukong was indeed a battle-crazed dragon, eager to encounter all kinds of powerful opponents and improve himself through combat.
Zhang Ruochen gave Ao Xukong and Linglong Xianzi a deep look. He could feel their sincerity in trying to persuade him to abandon the idea of a decisive battle with the Dark Son.
For them to come personally to persuade him, it was likely that the Heavenly Dragon Realm valued his potential, much like the Daoist lineage. Perhaps the Moon God and Xumi Saint Monk were also factors.
Of course, an important reason was probably that they thought his strength was still too weak, that he didn't recognize the gap between him and the Dark Son, and believed he was acting on impulse.
It made sense. Before entering the True Dragon Island, his best record was his battle with Mo Sheng. Not much time had passed since then, so no one would believe he could match the top-tier combat power below the Great Saint level.
Letting out a light breath, Zhang Ruochen said solemnly, "Thank you for your kindness, Brother Ao and Fairy. But the grudge between the Dark Son and me must be settled by my own hand. Besides, I've already issued the war letter. How can I back down now? If I did, my state of mind would surely suffer a great flaw."
"The Dark Son may be strong, but he is not invincible. Only after a real battle will we know who is stronger."
Hearing this, Ao Xukong's eyes showed a strange light. He hadn't expected Zhang Ruochen to be so confident. Even he didn't have full certainty of defeating the Dark Son.
A life-or-death battle was no joke.
"It seems I can't persuade you. In that case, be careful." Ao Xukong felt helpless but added, "Given your current status, your life and death don't just affect you alone. Be rational and think carefully."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "I know exactly what I'm doing."
Ao Xukong and Linglong Xianzi chatted with Zhang Ruochen for a while longer. Seeing that they couldn't change his mind, they reluctantly left.
Of course, they didn't truly leave but remained nearby, watching from a distance.
"I wonder what happened to make Zhang Ruochen lose his reason," Linglong Xianzi sighed.
A strange light flickered in Ao Xukong's eyes. "I hope he's not really acting on impulse."
Watching Ao Xukong and Linglong Xianzi leave, Zhang Ruochen returned to the corpse mountain, his mind utterly calm. Their persuasion hadn't shaken his determination or confidence to fight the Dark Son.
After Ao Xukong and Linglong Xianzi, more people appeared nearby, but none approached, only watching from a distance.
Zhang Ruochen noticed them but paid them no mind. As long as they didn't provoke him, he wouldn't bother with them.
"Shua."
A flash of red light, and Xiao Hei appeared from nowhere.
"I finally found you. Weren't you chasing that old slippery fellow? Why did you pick a fight with the Dark Son?" Xiao Hei was full of confusion.
Zhang Ruochen didn't hide anything from Xiao Hei and roughly recounted the series of events.
After hearing his story, Xiao Hei was furious. "That bastard Dark Son is so insidious! You're right, we have to kill him. The treasures of the Kunlun Realm must not be taken back to the Hell Realm."
Clearly, Xiao Hei's focus was on the treasures worth over a hundred million years. Everything else was secondary.
"By the way, that old slippery fellow might know where the key to the World Gate is. If he shows up again, we have to catch him," Zhang Ruochen suddenly said.
This matter was of great importance. He would soon focus his main energy on dealing with the Dark Son. Even if the short, thin old man appeared, he wouldn't have time to handle him. Xiao Hei's arrival was just in time.
Hearing this, Xiao Hei's eyes widened. "Are you sure?"
"He carries the Origin Qi of the Kunlun Realm, so he must have come into contact with the key to the World Gate," Zhang Ruochen affirmed.
Xiao Hei's eyes gleamed. "Finally, a clue about the key to the World Gate! Don't worry, leave this to me. If that old bad guy dares to show his face, he won't get away."
When it came to the key to the World Gate, Xiao Hei became extremely serious, already scheming on how to deal with the short, thin old man.
As for Zhang Ruochen's challenge to the Dark Son, Xiao Hei wasn't worried at all.
Because he knew very well that Zhang Ruochen never did anything without being sure of success.
(Chapter End)