Chapter 2127: Sword Dao Great Perfection
The Azure Sky Sacred Dragon withdrew its dragon breath, allowing the dozens of Rakshasa Saint Kings to regain their freedom.
"Devour Grand Prince Mara—this is your only path to survival." Mo Yin's voice was extremely indifferent.
The dozens of Rakshasa Saint Kings all fixed their gazes on Grand Prince Mara, and most of their eyes flickered with a fierce light.
"Grand Prince, since you've fallen into Zhang Ruochen's hands, you're already doomed to die. Why not sacrifice yourself for us, so we can earn a chance to live?" one Rakshasa Saint King said in a deep voice.
Another Rakshasa Saint King added, "At this point, we have no choice. Grand Prince, forgive us."
With perfect tacit understanding (moqi), the dozens of Rakshasa Saint Kings moved together, step by step advancing toward Grand Prince Mara.
As the saying goes, if one does not act for oneself, heaven and earth will destroy them. Moreover, they were all ruthless characters. To survive, they would not hesitate to eat the flesh of Grand Prince Mara, or even the flesh and blood of a Rakshasa god.
Terror filled Grand Prince Mara's eyes, and he shouted in a trembling voice, "Stop! Don't come closer! I am the son of the Mo Yue Evil God, a Grand Prince personally appointed by many gods... Ah..."
Before he could finish, the dozens of Rakshasa Saint Kings had already pounced on him. Dozens of mouths simultaneously bit into his body, tearing away large chunks of flesh and blood, leaving him drenched in gore.
In an instant, the hall echoed with Grand Prince Mara's agonized screams, like the howling of a demon from hell, sending chills down everyone's spine.
Witnessing this scene, Luo Sha's pupils contracted sharply, and a look of unbearable pain appeared in her eyes. Although she was a Rakshasa, this was the first time she had seen Rakshasa devouring Rakshasa.
Mo Yin cut a palm-sized piece of flesh from Grand Prince Mara's body and leisurely walked toward Luo Sha. "Your Highness, the noble princess, I have selected the most tender piece of meat for you. Please savor it."
Hearing this, Luo Sha's mind trembled violently. Even human flesh she was unwilling to eat, let alone the flesh of her own kind. If she were forced to swallow this piece of Grand Prince Mara's flesh, it would be more unbearable than death itself.
"Swish."
Just as Mo Yin was about to bring the flesh to Luo Sha's mouth, a dazzling sword light suddenly burst forth from Luo Sha's body.
"Crack."
The sword light was indestructible, severing the spatial chains left by Zhang Ruochen and breaking through the exquisite seals he had placed.
An ancient sword hilt flew out and landed in Luo Sha's hand.
Driven by the evil and fiendish power, streams of divine light emerged from the sword hilt, manifesting countless sword dao rules. These intertwined to form a slender blade, radiating an extremely dense divine power.
Without Luo Sha needing to do anything, the rules of heaven and earth began to revolve around the divine sword.
"Boom, rumble."
Drawn by the power of the divine sword, the Luo River stirred up towering waves, each wave displaying a sharp edge, as if about to condense into thousands of swords.
"This is..."
Mo Yin's expression changed slightly.
Back in the Northern Domain, she had seen this ancient sword hilt and knew it was connected to the Sword Grave.
At that time, Luo Sha had taken out this sword hilt and nearly seized Zhang Ruochen's Sky-Soaring Sword.
Before the attack, Mo Yin had thoroughly searched Luo Sha's body but had not found the sword hilt. She had no idea where Luo Sha had hidden it.
With the divine sword in hand, Luo Sha poured all her evil and fiendish power into it without hesitation.
Tens of thousands of sharp sword qi emerged, forming a terrifying torrent of sword energy that enveloped Luo Sha, as if she were in another dimension, making it impossible for anyone to approach.
Mo Yin tried to intervene, but the vines she extended were instantly shredded upon touching the torrent of sword energy.
Even the Nuan Ling Dragon Flame spewed by the Azure Sky Sacred Dragon was blocked by the sword energy torrent.
"Boom."
The sword energy torrent was unstoppable, instantly destroying the hall, piercing through the numerous folded spaces within the Luo River, and forcibly opening a passage leading out of the river.
"Save... save me..."
Grand Prince Mara called out in pain.
Though Luo Sha's eyes showed reluctance, she did not hesitate. She immediately stepped into the passage created by the sword energy torrent.
It wasn't that she didn't want to save Grand Prince Mara, but she had no way to do so. If she delayed, she might lose this chance to escape herself.
The sword hilt from the Sword Grave was indeed extraordinary, but with her current strength, she could not truly unleash its power.
Seeing Luo Sha retreat without hesitation, the last hope in Grand Prince Mara's heart shattered, plunging him into the abyss of despair.
Just as Luo Sha stepped into the sword energy passage, a strange movement occurred on Nine Bends Heavenly Star. An incredibly profound sword intent enveloped the entire star.
The source of this sword intent was the secret mansion where Zhang Ruochen was in seclusion.
"Whoosh."
In an instant, tens of thousands of Zhang Ruochen's figures appeared on Nine Bends Heavenly Star, all solid and indistinguishable from the real one.
Each Zhang Ruochen was practicing swordsmanship, performing profound and unfathomable sword techniques.
"What's happening?"
The cultivators of the Heavenly Beginning Civilization training on Nine Bends Heavenly Star were all alarmed.
The successive waves of terrifying power made them think that Nine Bends Heavenly Star was under attack by a powerful enemy.
"Not good."
Luo Sha's expression changed, and she immediately retreated from the sword energy passage at top speed.
The reason was simple: the sword intent released by Zhang Ruochen had vaguely evolved into an independent world, encompassing the entire Nine Bends Heavenly Star, and had cut off the passage created by the sword hilt.
"Master has emerged from seclusion. Luo Sha, you cannot escape."
A hint of joy appeared in Mo Yin's eyes.
Luo Sha ignored Mo Yin, her gaze fixed on the mid-air where a massive sacred sword hung, ten thousand zhang tall, like a towering sword mountain.
The sacred sword radiated a brilliant nine-colored light, its blade imprinted with countless mysterious patterns, seemingly containing the most essential truth of the sword dao.
In an instant, countless rules of heaven and earth converged frantically, and the sacred qi of heaven and earth condensed into numerous phantom sacred swords, all pointing toward the ten-thousand-zhang sacred sword, like ten thousand swords paying homage.
"Hum."
The sword hilt in Luo Sha's hand vibrated violently, as if about to fly out of her grasp.
"Sword Dao Great Perfection." Luo Sha said word by word.
Once a cultivator in the Saint King Realm successfully cultivates a certain sacred dao rule to one million strands, it can be called Great Perfection.
Theoretically, a cultivator in the Saint King Realm can cultivate up to one million strands of each sacred dao rule, but those who actually achieve this are as rare as phoenix feathers and unicorn horns.
Even for the Ten Thousand Minor Daos, cultivators often only manage to cultivate close to one million rules without truly reaching Great Perfection.
Cultivating the Great Dao, Supreme Sacred Dao, or even the Eternal Dao to Great Perfection is even more difficult than ascending to heaven.
Luo Sha never expected that Zhang Ruochen could cultivate the sword dao, one of the Seventy-Two Supreme Sacred Daos, to one million sacred dao rules, triggering a celestial phenomenon.
A full one million sacred dao rules versus being just one rule short of one million—there is a world of difference between the two.
Any sacred dao cultivated to the Great Perfection realm undergoes unimaginable and wondrous changes, involving many aspects.
Among the several sacred daos Zhang Ruochen primarily cultivated, the sword dao had always been at the forefront. Before this seclusion, it was already close to one million rules.
By deeply comprehending Sword Ten, he finally achieved a great transformation in the sword dao, reaching the Great Perfection realm that countless sword cultivators desperately yearn for.
"Whoosh."
All the figures merged, revealing Zhang Ruochen's true form.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, and the ten-thousand-zhang nine-colored sacred sword directly entered his body.
Although the nine-colored sacred sword was as solid as a real sacred sword, its essence was the sacred sword manifestation cultivated by Zhang Ruochen.
Subsequently, the various phenomena enveloping Nine Bends Heavenly Star quickly dissipated.
"Congratulations, Master, on your breakthrough in cultivation and achieving Great Perfection in the sword dao."
Mo Yin and the Azure Sky Sacred Dragon immediately stepped forward to congratulate him.
Although both of them were already top-tier experts comparable to the first level below Great Saints, they still felt immense pressure when facing Zhang Ruochen, as if confronting a powerful Great Saint.
After achieving Great Perfection in the sword dao, Zhang Ruochen had undergone significant changes. These changes were not superficial but rooted in his essence.
Sword cultivators, in particular, would perceive Zhang Ruochen's transformation most clearly.
Zhang Ruochen descended to the ruined hall, his gaze falling on the ancient sword hilt in Luo Sha's hand.
Despite Luo Sha's desperate resistance, under Zhang Ruochen's powerful sword intent, the sword hilt uncontrollably flew out of her hand.
"Return the sword hilt to this princess. It belongs to me." Luo Sha widened her beautiful eyes and snorted lightly.
Zhang Ruochen reached out and grasped the sword hilt, examining it as he said, "This item originates from the Nether King Sword Grave and does not belong to you."
"Zhang Ruochen, you bully me. Why do you always snatch this princess's treasures? The Sundial is mine, and the sword hilt is also mine." Luo Sha's eyes were full of resentment, grinding her teeth, her ample chest heaving violently.
Zhang Ruochen remained unmoved, saying calmly, "You are mistaken. Nothing belongs to you. Even your life is now in my hands."
Hearing this, Luo Sha's heart stirred, and she truly felt a terrifying killing intent from Zhang Ruochen.
Luo Sha knew very well that Zhang Ruochen was always extremely ruthless toward cultivators of the Hell Realm. Especially since Grand Prince Mara had provoked Zhang Ruochen this time, it was hard to say whether she would be implicated.
"Zhang Ruochen, killing this princess will do you no good. It will only bring you endless trouble. I know you will say you don't care. But then, those who see you as a thorn in their side will probably clap their hands in celebration. Besides, you have already obtained the treasures from the Sword Grave. How about letting this princess go?" Luo Sha quickly said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I can give you a chance to live. Send a message to the Rakshasa Clan, telling them to return the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree that Grand Prince Mara took back to the Kunlun Realm."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen turned his gaze to Grand Prince Mara, but what he saw was only a skeleton. All the flesh had been devoured by the group of Rakshasa Saint Kings.
Even so, Grand Prince Mara had not truly died. His sacred source and sacred soul still remained.
Reaching out, Zhang Ruochen seized Grand Prince Mara's sacred source, within which his sacred soul was sealed.
After being devoured alive by the Rakshasa Saint Kings, Grand Prince Mara's spiritual will was already on the verge of collapse.
Even if he were to seize a new body, he would be crippled and could no longer achieve much.
With a thought, Zhang Ruochen stored Grand Prince Mara's sacred source into the Qiankun Realm, letting the evil spirit refine his sacred soul.
Then, Zhang Ruochen also collected Grand Prince Mara's sacred bones.
This skeleton had already undergone immortalization, equivalent to the bones of an Immortal Great Saint, with many uses.
At the same time, Mo Yin suddenly released a large number of vines, stabbing out like lightning, piercing the bodies of the Rakshasa Saint Kings one by one.
"You... broke your promise."
The group of Rakshasa Saint Kings were all filled with unwillingness.
They had cast aside all concerns (gulü) and devoured Grand Prince Mara's flesh clean, only to find that they still could not escape death.
Mo Yin said coldly, "Keeping promises to you Hell Realm cultivators is nothing but womanly mercy. Should I let you go back to continue devouring the living beings of the Kunlun Realm?"
From the moment she and the Azure Sky Sacred Dragon personally captured this group of Rakshasa Saint Kings, their fate was already sealed.
Whether it was Grand Prince Mara or this group of Rakshasa Saint Kings, they were all executioners who had slaughtered the Painting Sect. How could they be let go?
In no time, the essence of all the Rakshasa Saint Kings was drained, turning them into dried corpses. When the wind blew, they scattered into dust.
"Senior Chu, you can rest in peace now." Zhang Ruochen silently recited in his heart.
Having experienced too much helplessness, pain, and hatred, Zhang Ruochen's heart had gradually turned cold, no longer as merciful as before.
Perhaps this was the price to pay on the path to becoming a strong one, pursuing the road of an emperor.
Regardless, having avenged Chu Siyuan, Zhang Ruochen's mind felt much lighter.
Next, he needed to reclaim the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree that belonged to the Painting Sect and help Shengshu Cainü revive the Painting Sect and the Confucian Path.
All hope rested on Luo Sha.
As a princess of the Rakshasa Clan, Luo Sha's status was even more revered than Grand Prince Mara's. Holding her in his hands might force the Rakshasa Clan to compromise.
In fact, using Grand Prince Mara might also have worked to exchange for the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree.
However, Grand Prince Mara was the murderer of Chu Siyuan, and since Luo Sha was already captured, there was no need to keep him alive.
"You want to reclaim the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree so badly, it's for Shengshu Cainü, isn't it? Zhang Ruochen, you always pretend to be cold and ruthless, but you're actually quite sentimental. Hmph!" Luo Sha said.
Clearly, Luo Sha knew everything about Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said coldly, "If you don't want to die, do as I say."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen released an even more terrifying killing intent, along with an irresistible will, enveloping Luo Sha.
"This princess will send the message. Why are you so fierce?" Luo Sha's heart trembled, and she couldn't help pouting.
She could feel that Zhang Ruochen was not joking. If she didn't obey, the consequences would be unpredictable.
To avoid truly angering Zhang Ruochen, Luo Sha immediately began to inscribe the message to be sent.
Soon, Luo Sha finished writing all the text. After Zhang Ruochen reviewed it, she immediately sent it out.
Having to ask her clan to hand over the Sacred Dao Ancient Tea Tree to save herself made Luo Sha feel very embarrassed, but she had no choice. Zhang Ruochen was growing stronger and stronger, and no matter how many tricks she had, they were useless this time.
Even Yan Wushen, so arrogant and domineering, had fallen into Zhang Ruochen's hands. Even if she failed, it didn't seem too shameful.
In Luo Sha's view, Zhang Ruochen's transformation was not only in his cultivation but also in his heart, which now had no flaws.
To achieve his goals, he would stop at nothing.
Such a Zhang Ruochen was the most terrifying.