Chapter 2105: Zhang Ruochen's Will
Having obtained the spring water of the Sun-Moon Divine Dragon Spring from Zhang Ruochen, all the awakened ones immediately swallowed it, eager to complete their baptism as quickly as possible.
Ao Xinyan walked to Zhang Ruochen's side, looking as if she wanted to say something but hesitated.
"What do you want to say?" Zhang Ruochen asked with a smile.
A trace of unwillingness flickered in Ao Xinyan's eyes. "There are still many powerful experts from the Hell Realm on True Dragon Island. Are we just going to leave like this?"
Although they had already found the most important key to the World Gate, the Hell Realm experts were still lingering in the former sacred land of the Divine Dragon Clan, plundering the treasures that belonged to them. This was naturally hard for Ao Xinyan to accept.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Of course not. I will take action and do my best to kill the Hell Realm experts. But at the same time, the key to the World Gate must be taken out of True Dragon Island as soon as possible. There are too many variables here, and I don't want any problems to arise."
"Then, Leader, how do you plan to handle the key to the World Gate?" Ao Xinyan immediately asked.
The key to the World Gate was undoubtedly a hot potato. If it wasn't handled properly, it would likely attract the covetousness of the Hell Realm and be difficult to protect.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then let out a soft breath. "First, place the key to the World Gate on Silver Dragon Island. After we finish dealing with matters here, we'll make other arrangements."
The key to the World Gate was of great importance, unlike anything else. For the time being, Zhang Ruochen couldn't think of a suitable way to handle it.
If that taboo figure from Yin-Yang Sea hadn't left, there would be no need to worry about this matter, and the Hell Realm army would never have dared to invade Yin-Yang Sea in the first place.
Not long after, the eruption of divine power subsided, and True Dragon Island gradually returned to calm.
Taking this opportunity, the awakened ones almost all completed their baptism, roughly restoring their former strength while also erasing the special aura of the awakened ones, making it impossible for anyone to detect them.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze swept over all the awakened ones, and his heart stirred. Those who were qualified to be sealed during the Middle Ages were indeed no ordinary people. Each of them possessed the exceptional talent to become a top-tier Great Saint or even a god.
But Zhang Ruochen didn't understand why the giants of the Kunlun Realm had chosen to seal away the top geniuses born in various eras.
Even with his current cultivation and strength, many things remained confusing and difficult to comprehend, making it hard to grasp what kind of plans those giants had laid out.
After a serious discussion, most of the awakened ones, along with Dead Zen Ancestor and the Heavenly Corpse Emperor, decided to stay on True Dragon Island temporarily to deal with the Hell Realm army alongside Zhang Ruochen.
Meanwhile, Xiao Hei, Ao Xinyan, Red Gold King, and Thousand Absolute Blade King were tasked with taking the key to the World Gate out of True Dragon Island first, eliminating any future concerns.
Originally, Zhang Ruochen had planned to have only Red Gold King and Thousand Absolute Blade King escort Xiao Hei, but for safety's sake, he added Ao Xinyan, who could activate the Divine Dragon Silver Armor in a critical moment.
Having been baptized with enough spring water from the Sun-Moon Divine Dragon Spring, Red Gold King and Thousand Absolute Blade King had fully recovered their strength, becoming even stronger than before.
"Zhang Ruochen, you can rest assured. This Emperor has already refined a small amount of the sacred spring. If trouble arises, I can easily raise my cultivation and strength to the Great Saint realm. No one will be able to take the key to the World Gate from me," Xiao Hei said confidently.
It could now restore its cultivation and strength to the Great Saint realm, but it chose not to do so because once it became a Great Saint, it could no longer remain in the Kunlun Realm.
Without further delay, Xiao Hei and the other three immediately set off, carrying the key to the World Gate and swiftly flashing out of True Dragon Island.
Watching the four leave, Zhang Ruochen and those who stayed behind also began their actions, searching for traces of the Hell Realm experts.
The Hell Realm experts had already scattered in all directions, so Zhang Ruochen and the others didn't stay together either. They split into several teams and acted independently.
Although their numbers were small, they were all top-tier experts.
Riding the Dragon Fiend Emperor, Zhang Ruochen found that there were few places on True Dragon Island that could stop their advance.
In no time, they discovered a team of dozens of Underworld Clan members.
"It's Zhang Ruochen and that monster!"
This Underworld Clan team couldn't muster any will to fight. All they could think of was escape.
To have a chance at survival, these Underworld Clan members immediately scattered, fleeing in different directions.
"Roar!"
The Dragon Fiend Emperor let out a roar.
Opening its mouth, a terrifying suction force appeared, pulling in all dozens of Underworld Clan experts and sweeping them back.
Without any hesitation, the Dragon Fiend Emperor carried Zhang Ruochen and continued forward like a streak of light.
The Hell Realm had dispatched a large number of experts this time, all elites from the Underworld Clan and the Bone Clan. If they were all lost, it would surely cause both clans great pain.
In a short time, Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor had wiped out dozens of Hell Realm expert teams, totaling over a thousand people. It was a one-sided slaughter.
Whether these Hell Realm experts resisted or not, the outcome was already decided.
"Zhang Ruochen, by slaughtering our Hell Realm experts so crazily, you will come to no good end. Someone will soon come to take your life," a Nine-Step Saint King of the Underworld Clan roared in extreme resentment, knowing he couldn't escape.
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, "If they want to kill me, let them come. I'll kill as many as come."
With that, Zhang Ruochen swung the Abyssal Ancient Sword in his hand, slashing out a sharp and fierce sword light.
"Pfft."
The sword light pierced through the Underworld Clan expert's head, directly shattering his sacred soul, leaving only a wisp behind.
Killing these Hell Realm experts could earn a large amount of merit points, so Zhang Ruochen naturally wouldn't waste the opportunity.
Once he swept through True Dragon Island, the sacred souls he could collect would be quite considerable.
After Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor left, another team emerged from a distant location. They didn't belong to the Hell Realm but came from the Blazing Sun Civilization.
Although Zhang Ruochen had suppressed over a thousand Blazing Sun Civilization experts earlier, that wasn't all of them. Some were still scattered within the Dragon God Palace ruins.
"Zhang Ruochen dares to kill the Heavenly Son and make an enemy of our Blazing Sun Civilization. How infuriating!"
"He's too strong. Even Lord Twin Kings was suppressed by him, and the Dark Son was defeated by his hand. Even if we gather all our forces, we can't do anything to him."
"The waters of True Dragon Island are too deep. We'd better leave first and report what happened here to the higher-ups. Let the Old Heavenly Lord decide."
......
All the Blazing Sun Civilization experts were filled with indignation but felt helpless. Facing Zhang Ruochen, they couldn't help but feel a deep sense of powerlessness.
In fact, it wasn't just the Blazing Sun Civilization experts. The experts from the Heavenly Dragon Realm, Thousand Star Civilization, Giant Spirit Civilization, and Big Dipper Civilization also felt intimidated when they saw Zhang Ruochen.
After all, they had all come to seize the key to the World Gate. If Zhang Ruochen regarded them as enemies too, it would undoubtedly be very troublesome.
"Boom!"
The Dragon Fiend Emperor crushed a small mountain underfoot and stopped, blocking the path of four experts.
These four experts were none other than Ao Xukong, Xing Wuji, Nether Tiger True Lord, and Giant Spirit King. Each of them was a top-tier expert below the Great Saint realm.
Facing the overwhelmingly powerful Dragon Fiend Emperor, a trace of unease stirred in the hearts of Ao Xukong and the others.
They could all sense that, in just a few hours, the Dragon Fiend Emperor's aura had become noticeably stronger, meaning it would be even more dangerous than when it had devoured the Dark Son.
"Whoosh."
Zhang Ruochen leaped down from the Dragon Fiend Emperor's head and appeared before Ao Xukong and the others.
"Zhang Ruochen, what is the meaning of this?" Nether Tiger True Lord frowned slightly.
Being forcibly blocked was naturally displeasing to Nether Tiger True Lord. If it had been anyone else, he would have already struck out fiercely.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze swept over the four of them, and he got straight to the point. "I hope you can gather your armies and withdraw from True Dragon Island."
Hearing this, the expressions of Ao Xukong and the others changed slightly. They were all smart people and immediately understood Zhang Ruochen's intention—he was clearly driving them away.
Obviously, with Zhang Ruochen's increased strength and the subduing of the Dragon Fiend Emperor, he was now fully confident and would no longer allow anyone to covet the key to the World Gate or the treasures left behind by the Dragon God Palace.
Seeing the four remain silent, Zhang Ruochen continued, "Everything on True Dragon Island belongs to the Kunlun Realm. Next, I will eliminate all outsiders on the island."
They could feel an unyielding and powerful will emanating from Zhang Ruochen.
"Roar!"
The Dragon Fiend Emperor roared to the sky, releasing an extremely terrifying aura, as if it wanted to suppress everything in the universe.
Nether Tiger True Lord was about to say something, but after feeling the terrifying aura from the Dragon Fiend Emperor, he swallowed the words that had reached his lips.
Ao Xukong laughed. "Our Heavenly Dragon Realm sent an army into Yin-Yang Sea precisely to help the Kunlun Realm fight against the Hell Realm army and protect the key to the World Gate. Now that the Hell Realm army has been routed by you, Brother Zhang, our Heavenly Dragon Realm army naturally won't stay on True Dragon Island any longer."
"If you need any help, Brother Zhang, feel free to ask."
Zhang Ruochen had always had a good impression of Ao Xukong, and hearing these words only increased his goodwill.
"Ao Xiong, I will remember this friendship. Thank you," Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
Ao Xukong replied, "Making a friend like you, Brother Zhang, makes this trip to the Kunlun Realm truly worthwhile. Once this matter is settled, I must have a few drinks with you."
"Then I'll be sure to bring out the finest wine to entertain you, Ao Xiong," Zhang Ruochen said.
With just a few words, the relationship between Zhang Ruochen and Ao Xukong was significantly closer.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen and Ao Xukong chatting happily like old friends, Xing Wuji, Nether Tiger True Lord, and Giant Spirit King couldn't help but frown.
They had all felt Zhang Ruochen's assertiveness. There was no room for negotiation on this matter. If they refused, Zhang Ruochen might really take action against them.
Throughout his career, Zhang Ruochen had never seemed to have any scruples. He had even dared to provoke the Paradise Realm, one of the four ruling worlds.
"The Thousand Star Civilization's army will withdraw soon. I wish you, Brother Zhang, success in obtaining the key to the World Gate," Xing Wuji said with a faint smile.
Giant Spirit King also added, "Since the threat from the Hell Realm has been eliminated, the Giant Spirit Civilization's army should naturally withdraw as well."
Seeing Ao Xukong, Xing Wuji, and Giant Spirit King successively express their stance, Nether Tiger True Lord, though somewhat reluctant, could only say coldly, "The Big Dipper Civilization will also withdraw its troops."
Having received clear answers from the four, a hint of satisfaction appeared in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. If it wasn't necessary, he naturally didn't want to turn everyone into enemies.
Zhang Ruochen cupped his hands. "Thank you all for your understanding. We'll meet again."
With that, he moved and reappeared on the Dragon Fiend Emperor's head.
The Dragon Fiend Emperor used spatial techniques and vanished from the spot, reappearing hundreds of miles away.
"What a Zhang Ruochen! He's driving everyone away so quickly. He wants to monopolize True Dragon Island!" Nether Tiger True Lord said angrily.
Giant Spirit King replied, "If you or I had such strength, I believe we would do the same thing. Unfortunately, the situation on True Dragon Island is far from what we expected. It's not a land full of treasures but rather full of danger. Leaving early might not be a bad thing."
Hearing this, Ao Xukong, Xing Wuji, and Nether Tiger True Lord all felt a chill in their hearts. They immediately thought of the Dragon Fiend Emperor under Zhang Ruochen's command. It was a terrifying monster born on True Dragon Island. If they encountered it, the outcome would be unpredictable.
Then there was the mysterious and unpredictable Mother Ancestor. Just releasing her so-called "children" posed a great threat, causing heavy losses to all sides.
Not long ago, the four of them had personally witnessed many Blazing Sun Civilization experts encountering a group of eerie children. After suffering a terrifying spiritual attack, they all transformed into those same eerie children.
They had even tried to intervene and save them, but it was useless. Those Blazing Sun Civilization experts had been completely assimilated by the Mother Ancestor's strange power and could no longer return to their original forms.
Besides the Dragon Fiend Emperor and the Mother Ancestor, True Dragon Island might have given birth to other terrifying beings. Encountering them would be a catastrophic disaster.
Thinking of this, Ao Xukong and the others no longer hesitated. They used special means to send out messages, hoping to gather their own experts as quickly as possible.
Meanwhile, Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor continued their sweep of the Hell Realm army, causing them to flee in all directions.
"Run! Zhang Ruochen is coming!"
Many Hell Realm experts were terrified and fled desperately toward the outside of True Dragon Island.
After a long pursuit, Zhang Ruochen finally spotted some big fish—the eight venerables of the Bone Clan.
At this moment, the eight Bone Clan venerables had already reached the edge of True Dragon Island. Just as they were about to breathe a sigh of relief, they suddenly felt a terrifying crisis descending upon them.
The eight-armed venerable leading them roared, "Damn it! How did Zhang Ruochen catch up to us?"
"Not good! The space is being locked down. Our speed is slowing down!"
The eight Bone Clan venerables were all panicked.
The sea was less than a hundred miles away, a distance they could normally cover in the blink of an eye, but now it seemed unreachable.
The eight-armed venerable swung his black-gold staff and gritted his teeth. "Break through with all our strength! As long as we leave True Dragon Island, Zhang Ruochen won't be able to do anything to us!"
Once they left True Dragon Island, the patrol envoys in the sky would be able to monitor everything. If the Dragon Fiend Emperor dared to take a single step out, it would be mercilessly obliterated.
And if it was just Zhang Ruochen alone, combining the strength of all eight venerables, they were absolutely confident they could defend themselves.
The eight Bone Clan venerables immediately formed a battle formation, channeling their power into the eight-armed venerable. He fully activated the black-gold staff, releasing waves of powerful supreme force, trying to tear apart the sealed space.
"None of you will escape!"
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were cold as he waved his hand and summoned the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror.
As he and the Dragon Fiend Emperor simultaneously poured power into it, the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror began to tremble violently. Surging demonic energy burst forth, condensing into continuous majestic demon mountains that pressed down on the eight venerables.
"Boom!"
Even though the eight Bone Clan venerables tried their best to block with the black-gold staff, they couldn't withstand the demon mountains. The battle formation collapsed in an instant.
"Crack."
Under the pressure of the demon mountains, even the hardness of their Great Saint bone bodies couldn't hold up, and cracking sounds were heard.
"Rumble!"
At that moment, three extremely powerful forces appeared, striking the demon mountains and shattering them into pieces.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on the sea surface. There stood three tall figures, all made of bone, exuding powerful auras. They were the three Bone Clan emperors who had inherited the Vajra Force.
His heart tightened as he deeply recognized the might of the three emperors.
He wondered how the three Bone Clan emperors compared to the four Heavenly Kings of the Heavenly Palace.
However, with the Dragon Fiend Emperor as his mount, Zhang Ruochen was not afraid even of the three Bone Clan emperors. His gaze was domineering and filled with killing intent.
How could the eight Bone Clan venerables miss such an opportunity? They immediately fled with all their might.
The three Bone Clan emperors continued to attack, obstructing Zhang Ruochen and the Dragon Fiend Emperor.
"Roar!"
The Dragon Fiend Emperor roared repeatedly, flapping the wings under its ribs to release vast divine power, forming a terrifying divine power storm that swept outward.
The three Bone Clan emperors dared not be careless. They quickly joined forces, simultaneously unleashing the Vajra Force, combining it to form a Vajra barrier in front of them.
"Hmph!"
Zhang Ruochen let out a heavy snort, fully mobilizing the space rules. He reached out and pressed forward.
"Boom!"
A large area of space instantly shattered, and the power of annihilation spread out.
"Ah!"
Screams of agony rang out as the eight Bone Clan venerables were all enveloped by the power of spatial annihilation.
Facing spatial annihilation, even their Great Saint bone bodies couldn't withstand it, and they shattered one after another.
"Buzz!"
The three Bone Clan emperors had to resist the Dragon Fiend Emperor's attack and couldn't free their hands. They could only each offer up a bronze seal.
As they flew out, the three bronze seals merged into one, releasing powerful Vajra divine power that shattered the power of spatial annihilation.
Taking this opportunity, including the eight-armed venerable, five venerables broke free and were protected by the bronze seal.
The other three venerables weren't so lucky. Their bone bodies were severely damaged, on the verge of death, and were instantly sucked into the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror.