Chapter 2151: Heavenly Court Enforcement Team
Zhou's mind raced as he considered countermeasures, caught in a dilemma. There were things he couldn't say, yet at this moment, it seemed he couldn't avoid speaking.
Given Zhang Ruochen's intelligence and sharpness, he wouldn't be easily fooled. If Zhou wanted to extricate himself, he would likely have to reveal something of genuine value.
After some thought, Zhou said, "Gu Xin'ao vaguely mentioned that the seven existing Realm Sons are connected to the Imperial Court's fortune. They can mobilize the power of the countless spiritual veins converging on the Central Royal City, which is of great significance for guarding it."
"If any Realm Son dies, the defenses of the Central Royal City might develop a weakness."
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen's mind stirred. With the situation in the Central Royal City so critical, the fact that all seven Realm Sons had been gathered together might indeed be for this reason.
A deity would not expend effort to cultivate seven Realm Sons without an extraordinary purpose. Even if they had not yet fully matured, they could still play an important role.
Yet the Heavenly Realm Faction wanted to kill the Realm Sons—truly sinister intentions. At a time like this, the Heavenly Realm was still focused on internal strife instead of concentrating their strength to fight the Hell Realm. It was utterly insane.
"You and Gu Xin'ao gathered at Tianle Palace—what were you plotting?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Zhou replied, "Gu Xin'ao valued my position in the Array Destruction Palace and wanted to build a connection with me. That's why he hosted a banquet at Tianle Palace to welcome me. Even a powerful realm like the Sword God Realm has need of the Array Destruction Palace."
As he spoke, a hint of pride involuntarily appeared in Zhou's eyes—the superiority of being the Array Destruction Palace's heir. The Array Destruction Palace held a transcendent status, independent of the world, and even ruling worlds did their utmost to maintain harmonious relations.
Zhang Ruochen nodded noncommittally. Whether he believed Zhou's words or not, only he knew.
"The Heavenly Court Enforcement Team has arrived. Where is Zhang Ruochen?"
Just then, a cold voice suddenly rang out.
Though the voice did not spread throughout the entire royal city like the evil spirit's, it did carry across the First Central District where the Ziwei Imperial Palace was located, reaching the ears of millions of Saint-realm cultivators.
"Since the Heavenly Court Enforcement Team has stepped in, let's see how long Zhang Ruochen can keep up his arrogance."
"Arrogance? Facing the Heavenly Court Enforcement Team, even if he were a true dragon, he'd have to coil up. Who dares to defy the Heavenly Court's authority?"
"Let's watch the show. I wonder what interesting scene it will be when Zhang Ruochen is put in chains."
...
In an instant, the cultivators of the First Central District were all stirred, turning their gazes toward the Ziwei Imperial Palace. Though everyone knew Zhang Ruochen acted as he pleased, few believed he would dare to oppose the Heavenly Court.
A flash of joy passed through Zhou's eyes. With the deterrent power of the Heavenly Court Enforcement Team, Zhang Ruochen should no longer dare to do anything to him. If the Enforcement Team could capture Zhang Ruochen, that would be even better.
Zhang Ruochen glanced coldly at Zhou and said, "When Gu Xin'ao was killed, the Heavenly Court Enforcement Team made no move. But the moment you were captured, they came rushing over. Your face really is something."
"Are you thinking that with the Enforcement Team's arrival, I'll let you go?"
Hearing this, Zhou's heart trembled slightly. Instinct told him things might not be as simple as he had imagined.
Outside the Ziwei Imperial Palace, six Heavenly Court enforcers sat astride white jade heavenly horses, lined up in a row. Each exuded a fierce killing aura, manifesting as ferocious demonic gods. Just their presence was enough to inspire fear, making it clear they had not come with good intentions.
"Zhang Ruochen, show yourself immediately," one enforcer shouted coldly.
As his words fell, the palace gates opened, and a green-clad palace maid of considerable beauty walked out.
Stopping three zhang from the six enforcers, the green-clad maid said nervously, "The Eastern Domain King is handling important matters and is not receiving anyone."
Though she was also a Saint, she was on an entirely different level from the six enforcers. The powerful Saintly Might they emitted put immense pressure on her.
"How dare you! We represent the Heavenly Court, yet Zhang Ruochen sends a mere palace maid to dismiss us? Is he trying to insult us? Zhang Ruochen, do you still have any regard for the Heavenly Court?" one enforcer demanded loudly.
Being turned away at the door—since becoming a Heavenly Court enforcer, such a thing had never happened to him.
A powerful aura burst forth from his body.
"Boom."
The green-clad maid's cultivation was too weak to withstand such force. She was sent flying backward, blood spraying from her mouth.
Terror filled her eyes as she felt as if her entire body was about to explode. She had never expected the other party to be so overbearing.
In her panic, a gentle force appeared, enveloping her and stabilizing her body. The crushing pressure that had nearly torn her apart dissipated into nothing.
Then, a cluster of crystalline life spring water flew out from the Ziwei Imperial Palace and merged into the green-clad maid's body.
"What impressive authority. As a Heavenly Court enforcer, do you think you can ignore the realm laws I established and bully the cultivators of the Kunlun Realm at will?"
A cold voice came from within the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
The enforcer who had spoken urged his white jade heavenly horse forward a few steps and declared loudly, "Zhang Ruochen, stop your sophistry. You have unjustly killed the leader of the Sword God Realm and captured the Array Master sent by the Heavenly Court, violating the Heavenly Laws. Release Array Master Zhou immediately, surrender yourself, and come with us to the Heavenly Court to accept punishment."
Others might fear Zhang Ruochen, but as a member of the Heavenly Court Enforcement Team, he had no regard for him at all.
"Arrest me? Do you have a Heavenly Decree from the Heavenly Court?" Zhang Ruochen's indifferent voice sounded.
The enforcer snorted coldly, "Do you think you're a god or a Great Saint? To arrest you, we don't need a Heavenly Decree."
"Without a Heavenly Decree, you want to arrest me? Do you think I'm someone to be bullied?" Zhang Ruochen's tone was calm, but an invisible pressure emanated from the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
Another enforcer said, "Zhang Ruochen, are you thinking of resisting? You'd better consider the consequences."
Anyone could hear the heavy threat in his words.
The six enforcers all had cold glints in their eyes, ready to force their way into the Ziwei Imperial Palace at any moment. They had come to arrest Zhang Ruochen, and even Empress Chi Yao could not charge them with trespassing.
"Without a Heavenly Decree or a commander present, the six of you want me to surrender? Where do you get the nerve?"
"I don't care what status you have. Unjustly harming a cultivator of the Kunlun Realm and violating the realm laws—you must accept punishment," Zhang Ruochen's indifferent voice rang out.
One enforcer sneered coldly, "Realm laws? Zhang Ruochen, don't overestimate yourself. Punish us? Go ahead and try."
He truly did not take Zhang Ruochen's words to heart. It had always been the Heavenly Court enforcers who punished others—who could punish them? At times, their words were equivalent to the Heavenly Laws, and no one dared to defy them.
But before his words had even faded, the surrounding Heaven and Earth Saint Qi violently trembled, instantly condensing into a hundred-zhang giant hand that pressed down from above.
Seeing this, the six enforcers' expressions changed.
Without any hesitation, they immediately struck, unleashing powerful sacred arts to block the descending hand.
At the same time, six chains flew out from their bodies, each blazing with brilliant sacred light. Numerous intricate secret patterns surfaced on their surfaces, like six divine dragons awakening and soaring into the sky.
These chains had been refined by the Heavenly Court using a unique secret method, possessing the property of sealing various forces. They were enough to bind top-tier Nine-Step Saint Kings, even undying Great Saints.
Yet no matter what methods they employed, it was all useless.
As the hundred-zhang hand pressed down, space within a hundred-zhang radius became absolutely frozen.
The six enforcers were all as if struck by a paralysis technique, completely unable to move.
"Zhang Ruochen, you have some nerve! How dare you attack Heavenly Court enforcers? Do you truly regard the Heavenly Laws as nothing?" one enforcer roared angrily.
Zhang Ruochen did not speak but instead used action to show his stance.
The hundred-zhang hand no longer hesitated but slammed down violently.
"Boom."
In an instant, the six enforcers and their mounts were all driven into the ground, with only their heads exposed.
"Zhang Ruochen, you will regret this."
The six enforcers were furious. They had never suffered such humiliation.
A hundred li away, Jin Hong and the other Heavenly Court enforcers stood atop a low hill, watching the Ziwei Imperial Palace from afar.
"Commander, should we intervene to rescue them?"
One enforcer asked.
Jin Hong clasped his hands behind his back and said calmly, "They disobeyed my orders and went to provoke Zhang Ruochen on their own. Let them suffer a bit—it'll do them good."
Hearing this, the other enforcers said nothing more, not wanting to incur Jin Hong's displeasure.
Just then, Jin Hong sensed a gaze coming from the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
He knew this gaze must belong to Zhang Ruochen. He was not surprised at all, as he had not deliberately concealed himself.
Feeling Zhang Ruochen's gaze, Jin Hong revealed a faint smile, not intimidated by the other's powerful Saintly Might. But the enforcers beside him were not so relaxed. Each felt as if a great mountain had been placed on them, their bodies completely immobilized.
"Tian Sha Lang Jun, Jin Hong."
Though he had never seen him before, with Zhang Ruochen's current powerful spiritual power, he could naturally use various knowledge to carve the other's identity information in his mind.
A wisp of Saint Qi, a rule, a glance, a strand of hair, an inch of skin—all contained infinite knowledge, allowing one to see one and know ten thousand.
Spiritual power was not only for combat.
Since the other party had no intention of showing himself, Zhang Ruochen could not be bothered to provoke another powerful enemy.
After staring for a moment, Zhang Ruochen withdrew his gaze.
"Whoosh."
All the enforcers let out a long breath, feeling an unprecedented lightness.
"Zhang Ruochen is truly terrifying. No wonder so many top-tier experts below the Great Saint level joined forces and were still suppressed by him. Those few going to provoke Zhang Ruochen were indeed asking for trouble."
"The commander is wise. Given Zhang Ruochen's style, without a Heavenly Decree from the Heavenly Court, there's no way to subdue him."
At this moment, these enforcers were completely convinced of Jin Hong's decision.
Jin Hong said nothing and simply turned and left.
Seeing this, the other enforcers naturally dared not stay and followed.
As for the six enforcers buried in the ground, they could only fend for themselves.
Seeing the six enforcers suppressed, the cultivators watching in secret were in an uproar.
"Zhang Ruochen has gone mad. He dares to suppress even Heavenly Court enforcers. Isn't he afraid of adding to his crimes?"
"Too bad Commander Jin Hong didn't act. Otherwise, Zhang Ruochen wouldn't dare to be so arrogant."
"Maybe even if Commander Jin Hong had acted, the result would have been the same. Zhang Ruochen now has no equal below the Great Saint level."
"It seems we can only wait for word from the Heavenly Court. It shouldn't be too long."
...
Many cultivators were deeply disappointed but helpless.
As things stood, without an order from the Heavenly Court, since Great Saints and gods could not enter the Kunlun Realm, no one could do anything to Zhang Ruochen.
And as long as Zhang Ruochen remained, the realm laws would hang over the heads of cultivators from all realms, binding everyone.
Inside the Ziwei Imperial Palace, Zhang Ruochen was extremely calm, as if nothing had happened.
Zhou, however, was somewhat shaken. Though he did not know the specifics outside the palace, he had heard the six enforcers' words.
It was hard to imagine how Zhang Ruochen could be so bold as to provoke even Heavenly Court enforcers.
This made it truly difficult for him to escape.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Zhou, pondered for a moment, then revealed a smile and said, "Don't be nervous. Since Array Master Zhou has been so cooperative, I, Zhang Ruochen, will naturally keep my promise and let you leave."
Zhou showed a strange expression. "You really mean to let me go?"
"Of course. Come, I'll personally see you out."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen released a stream of Saint Qi, enveloping Zhou, and then performed a Space Displacement.
The next moment, the two appeared at the entrance of the Ziwei Imperial Palace.
Zhang Ruochen smiled warmly, lightly patting Zhou's shoulder, appearing very friendly, as if they were newly made friends.
"My apologies for the offense. Please don't take it to heart. If you ever need anything in the future, feel free to come to me. In the Kunlun Realm, there are few things I, Zhang Ruochen, cannot accomplish," Zhang Ruochen said.
At this moment, the six enforcers buried in the ground all had cold glints in their eyes, staring fixedly at Zhou.
They were all experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction. Given their status, they naturally knew many secrets.
If not for that, they would not have ignored Jin Hong's orders and rushed to the Ziwei Imperial Palace to demand Zhou's release the moment he was captured.
But judging by the current situation, Zhou might have a serious problem. He had likely leaked important secrets to Zhang Ruochen.
Why else would Gu Xin'ao be killed while Zhou could walk out of the Ziwei Imperial Palace alive? And Zhang Ruochen had personally seen him off.
Zhou was still somewhat dazed, unable to figure out what was happening.
But since Zhang Ruochen was letting him go, why would he hesitate?
Watching Zhou leave, Zhang Ruochen secretly used his spiritual power to send a message to Yin Yuanzhen: "Brother Yin, I'd like to ask for your help."
"Brother Zhang, please speak," Yin Yuanzhen replied.
Zhang Ruochen transmitted, "Please follow Zhou and see who he contacts."
"Since Brother Zhang trusts me, I'll take care of it," Yin Yuanzhen agreed readily.
Immediately, Yin Yuanzhen concealed his form, left the Ziwei Imperial Palace, and quietly followed.