Chapter 2180: Fight to the Death
Archangel Michael held a small black jar filled with an extremely viscous liquid. Previously, he had been pouring it out slowly, using it most efficiently, unwilling to waste any. But now, Archangel Michael directly flipped the jar over, pouring out all the black liquid.
"Splash."
Though the jar was small, it contained a universe within. The black liquid instantly submerged a large area of divine patterns.
This black liquid was concocted from divine blood mixed with various strange substances, specially formulated to decipher divine patterns, and was extremely precious. To break into the Yuanchu Divine Temple as quickly as possible, he had to go all out.
"Hiss."
The black liquid was highly corrosive. As soon as the divine patterns touched it, they rapidly dissolved.
At the same time, many experts from the Heavenly Realm Faction struck out, unleashing various powerful sacred arts, war weapons, talismans, and more, accelerating the erosion of the divine patterns.
Feeling the weakening of the divine patterns, the seventy-two palace female saints couldn't help but show anxiety. Disregarding everything else, they all released their own sacred blood to merge with the divine patterns.
They had all received the blood baptism of Empress Chi Yao. Though the amount was small, it had imbued them with the empress's divine aura. Now, the seventy-two palace female saints were using Empress Chi Yao's divine aura to stimulate the divine patterns' power to its limit. However, even this only slightly delayed the time it took for the divine patterns to be worn away, unable to truly stop it.
In this situation, all the experts inside the temple gathered together. Everyone's eyes were firm, filled with resolve, ready to face death. Even knowing they were outmatched, they would never give up resistance.
Cultivators from the Kunlun Realm could be killed but not humiliated.
"Kong Le, are you afraid?" asked the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden softly.
Chi Kong Le's gaze was determined. "No. If I can contribute to protecting the Kunlun Realm, I'll die without regrets."
"You really are like your father. Once you've set your mind on something, you won't regret it even if you die a hundred times," the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden sighed.
She no longer cared about life or death, but no matter what, she would do her utmost to protect Chi Kong Le, leaving a spark of hope for the Kunlun Realm.
"Crack."
The divine patterns showed signs of collapsing. In the end, they could no longer protect the Yuanchu Divine Temple.
Archangel Michael's expression was cold as he gave the order: "Capture Chi Kong Le and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden. Kill everyone else without mercy."
The Saint King realm cultivators of the Heavenly Realm Faction all moved out, flashing through the torn opening into the Yuanchu Divine Temple.
"Fight for the Kunlun Realm until the last drop of blood is shed."
"Fight to the death."
...
The experts of the imperial court did not retreat. Their battle intent was high.
They had no way out. Death was certain either way, so they might as well give it their all and fight the Heavenly Realm Faction to the bitter end, showing them their courage and blood.
The artifact spirit of the Blood Drip Sword and the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden stood at the forefront. At this moment, only the two of them had any power to fight.
The Blood Drip Sword was Empress Chi Yao's war weapon. Though it was a newly promoted supreme sacred artifact, the power it contained was extremely formidable. It had absorbed a vast amount of divine blood and, in Empress Chi Yao's hands, could even slay gods.
Even without anyone activating it, the artifact spirit of the Blood Drip Sword possessed extremely strong strength, with few opponents below the Great Saint realm.
As for the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, she had many treasures, such as the "Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book," the Food God Kitchen Knife, and so on. Each one was extraordinary and could serve as a realm-protecting treasure for a weaker major world.
As for the other experts of the imperial court, not many had even reached the Nine-Step Saint King realm. The disparity in strength was too vast. How could they resist the Heavenly Realm Faction?
The artifact spirit of the Blood Drip Sword stood tall with a cold gaze, holding the Blood Drip Sword's blade in her slender arm. A faint but powerful divine aura emanated from her, as if Empress Chi Yao herself had descended.
"Like a mantis trying to stop a chariot."
Led by Archangel Michael, over ten leaders of major worlds launched an attack together, each reaching out a hand.
Every hand was like a cloud, layering upon each other. Countless sacred dao rules shuttled within the clouds, pressing down on the artifact spirit of the Blood Drip Sword.
"Boom."
The artifact spirit of the Blood Drip Sword swung the blade, releasing a dense aura of death, desperately resisting.
Despite her formidable strength, facing so many leaders at once, she was firmly suppressed and could no longer protect anyone else.
Seeing the Blood Drip Sword suppressed, many experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction surged into the Yuanchu Divine Temple.
With the greatest threat gone, the others of the imperial court were no longer a concern.
"Truly a peerless beauty. In terms of appearance and temperament, she's in no way inferior to the nine beauties on the 'Nine Heavens Beauty Chart.' No wonder Yao Tian was so infatuated with you. You'd better surrender obediently, so I don't accidentally hurt you," the Heartless Evil Lord said with a lecherous smile, eyeing the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's figure.
As he spoke, a strange power spread from his body, attempting to infiltrate into the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's body.
But he failed. The "Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book" flew out from the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's body, hovering above her head, emitting a soft sacred light that completely isolated the strange power.
At the same time, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's aura underwent an earth-shattering change. From refined and gentle, she became valiant and domineering, her gaze sharp and fierce. Purifying divine flames, blue and white, were released from her body, and a pair of phoenix wings appeared behind her.
Clearly, the one now controlling the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's body was Canglan Wu Sheng.
"Intruding into the empress's bedchamber is a capital offense."
A cold killing intent radiated from the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's brow.
The phoenix wings spread out like two heavenly blades, gathering countless sacred dao rules and slashing toward the Heartless Evil Lord.
These phoenix wings contained half the inheritance power of the Ice and Fire Phoenix, akin to a powerful Great Saint ancient artifact with inconceivable might.
"Quite a personality. Let me have some fun with you."
The Heartless Evil Lord raised his skull staff, instantly releasing two violent blood-evil gales that collided with the phoenix wings.
"Bang."
The phoenix wings were blocked, and even the divine flames they carried were extinguished.
A look of gravity appeared in the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's eyes as she truly felt the terror of the Heartless Evil Lord.
Her spiritual power flowing, the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden waved her hand lightly, sending the "Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book" flying out.
"Formation! Seal Heaven and Earth."
The seventy-two palace female saints moved simultaneously, instantly forming a battle formation, transmitting all their power to the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden, jointly activating the "Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book."
"Rustle."
The pages of the "Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book" flipped, flying out tens of thousands of bright light spots, each one a character.
These light spots grew enormous, like stars, containing immense power, enough to crush everything.
The Heartless Evil Lord's eyes gleamed with a sinister smile. The skull staff released a vast evil aura, and one by one, evil corpses appeared, charging out without restraint.
On the other side, Xue Wuye, Li Di Heshang, Beigong Lan, Gai Tianjiao, Chi Wansui, and Mi Yingzi—the six realm sons—stood in a line, blocking the front of the other imperial court experts. They all activated their realm son seals.
The power of the six realm son seals overlapped, emitting brilliant divine light. Empress Chi Yao's divine shadow appeared, her divine might overwhelming.
Perhaps because they were inside the Yuanchu Divine Temple, the power of the realm son seals was further enhanced, with streams of divine power converging from all directions.
"Boom."
A large number of Saint King realm experts from the Heavenly Realm Faction charged into the temple, like a torrent, unstoppable. In an instant, they shattered Empress Chi Yao's divine shadow.
The six realm sons all trembled violently, spitting blood, involuntarily retreating. Their strength was already considerable, but because their cultivation time was too short, they had only barely reached the Nine-Step Saint King realm.
In the Kunlun Realm, they were considered top-tier, but placed among those powerful realms, they were nothing.
They knew their strength was insufficient, so from the start, they had chosen to form the battle formation created by Empress Chi Yao to fight together.
Empress Chi Yao had once tailored a battle formation for the nine realm sons. As long as two people were present, it could be executed. Of course, the more people, the stronger the formation's power.
Even so, facing the attacks of many experts from the Heavenly Realm Faction, they still had no power to fight back.
The situation for the other imperial court experts was even worse.
The divine patterns within the temple were continuously being dismantled, leaving the imperial court experts with nowhere to retreat.
The imperial court experts were all filled with grief and indignation, despair showing in their eyes. At this point, they were truly at the end of their rope, with no hope left.
"The Kunlun Realm will never be destroyed. You will be held accountable one day."
A heavenly king from the Ministry of War, disheveled and covered in blood, shouted unyieldingly.
Then, Xing Yuan, who had rushed to the Merit Divine Temple, had his sacred body ignite, cracks appearing in his sacred source, releasing violent energy.
Xing Yuan's palms came together, using thick sacred qi to envelop that heavenly king. No matter how the latter struggled, he couldn't break free from the suppression of those two large hands.
"Boom."
The heavenly king's sacred body exploded, turning into a cloud of blood mist.
The violent force caused Xing Yuan's hands to tremble slightly.
"Accountability? How naive. The Kunlun Realm will be destroyed this time, and no one can stop it. So what if you self-destruct? Your cultivation is too weak; even self-destruction can't hurt me. The weak are truly pathetic," Xing Yuan said contemptuously, shaking his sleeves.
Last time outside the Peacock Villa, he had watched helplessly as Shang Zihong was killed without being able to stop it. Returning to the Merit Divine Temple, he had received a severe punishment. This time, he had come specifically to atone for his crimes.
Xing Yuan held a grudge. He was indeed no match for Zhang Ruochen, but killing other cultivators of the Kunlun Realm was not difficult.
Seeing this, the hearts of the imperial court experts sank to the bottom.
The gap in strength between them and the Heavenly Realm Faction was like the difference between heaven and earth. How could they resist?
No one wanted to despair, but now only despair remained.
On the other side, many experts rushed toward Chi Kong Le, as capturing her alive was the most important mission.
A female saint king from the Elf Clan raised her ice jade staff, releasing powerful spiritual power, trying to forcibly control Chi Kong Le.
Her spiritual power had reached the fifty-ninth rank. Controlling Chi Kong Le, whose cultivation had just reached the Four-Step Saint King realm, was a piece of cake.
"How dare you! Laying a hand on little princess Kong Le? Ask this pot if I'll allow it!"
The Swallowing Elephant Rabbit let out a loud shout, charging out from Chi Kong Le's embrace.
A powerful demonic aura surged from the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit's body, and in the blink of an eye, it transformed into a hundred-zhang-long Devouring Demon Dragon.
If not for the spatial limitations of the temple, with its current strength, it could have turned into dozens of miles long without issue.
The Elf Clan female saint king immediately changed her target, directing her powerful spiritual power at Guo Guo.
"Why isn't it working?"
The Elf Clan female saint king showed a shocked expression.
Her spiritual power acted on the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit like a stone sinking into the sea, having no effect at all. In the moment she was stunned, the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit had already pounced close, its sharp dragon claws reaching out.
Though she quickly reacted and fully released her spiritual power, it was still ineffective against the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit.
"Pfft."
The dragon claws fell, crushing the Elf Clan female saint king's physical body, causing her to perish.
"Trying to use spiritual power against this pot? You don't know that this pot has eaten divine medicine and is immune to spiritual power attacks, hehe." The Swallowing Elephant Rabbit showed its two rabbit teeth, secretly laughing.
Each leaf of the Seven Star Divine Ling had a special function. The Azure Dragon leaf could enhance spiritual power, but more importantly, it granted living beings immunity to spiritual power attacks.
Although the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit's martial cultivation had just reached the Dao Domain realm, its spiritual power had already reached the fifty-ninth rank peak.
If it came to a spiritual power contest, few below the Great Saint realm could make it afraid.
Now, it actively released its spiritual power, enveloping the experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction around it.
Instantly, many experts were affected, some even falling into a daze.
"They're all food for this pot."
The Swallowing Elephant Rabbit shouted, opening its huge dragon mouth to bite at those experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction.
At the same time, the Demon Ape's body grew to ten zhang tall, holding Chi Kong Le in its arms, displaying astonishing speed as it ran through the temple.
If not for over ten leaders of the Heavenly Realm Faction guarding the temple entrance, it might have already escaped with Chi Kong Le.
On the Demon Ape's back was a large black turtle shell, covered in natural patterns, containing all kinds of inconceivable mysteries.
The Demon Ape was too fast, and few experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction could catch up.
"Don't run!"
An expert who had cultivated the Path of Flowing Light caught up to the Demon Ape, swinging his sacred sword to slash out a terrifying sword light.
"Clang."
The sword light struck the turtle shell on the Demon Ape's back, producing a metallic sound but causing no damage, not even a scratch.
The expert's expression changed, and he slashed out a few more swords.
Several other Saint King experts struck together. Some unleashed sacred arts, others activated sacred artifacts. A series of attacks engulfed the Demon Ape.
All the attacks landed solidly on the Demon Ape's body. But the Demon Ape was completely unharmed, not even a single hair falling off.
"What kind of monster is this? Its cultivation is only at the Dao Domain realm, so why is its physical body so strong? Has it reached the level of an indestructible sacred body?"
The cultivators who had just attacked were all shocked.
How could they know that the Demon Ape had eaten the Black Tortoise leaf of the Seven Star Divine Ling, gaining a powerful physical body and unmatched strength?
The turtle shell on its back came from further refining the Black Tortoise leaf.
As a result, the Demon Ape had a physical body comparable to an indestructible sacred body. Ordinary methods could only tickle it, unable to cause any harm.
Knowing the abilities of the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit and the Demon Ape, Zhang Ruochen had specifically sent them to protect Chi Kong Le.
Even if they encountered an enemy too powerful to defeat, escaping with Chi Kong Le should not be a problem.
...
"Realm sons? Let me kill you all and cut off the Kunlun Realm's hope." A black-clothed man carrying two swords charged forward, murderous intent blazing in his eyes.
He was the second strongest of the Sword God Realm, Xu Tianjing. After the death of the Little Sword Venerable Gu Xin'ao, he had become the new leader of the Sword God Realm.
The previous leader of the Sword God Realm had died pathetically in the Kunlun Realm, which was a great humiliation for the Sword God Realm.
Thus, in this operation targeting the Peach Tree and Zhang Ruochen, the Sword God Realm was particularly active, mobilizing a large number of experts.
Xu Tianjing's gaze swept over Xue Wuye, his eyes cold. "You have nine lives. Let's see who can save you this time."
As he spoke, Xu Tianjing drew a sword. It was thin and soft, like a willow leaf, vibrating continuously, forming countless afterimages.
Xue Wuye's pupils contracted. He quickly activated the time imprint in his hand, pushing his sword speed to the limit, executing the eighth level of the "Flying Immortal Sword Art."
At the same time, Li Di Heshang pounced forward, swinging the Great Slaughter Buddha Knife, slashing at Xu Tianjing.
Gai Tianjiao released a blazing yang aura, like a scorching sun, causing the temperature inside the temple to soar.
Beigong Lan entered a state of unity between man and sword, activating the vast Great Saint power contained in her sacred sword, merging all her learned skills into one strike.
Mi Yingzi mobilized powerful spiritual power, casting spiritual illusions while unleashing intricate formation seals, vigorously drawing on the power of heaven and earth.
Chi Wansui's aura also rose steadily, swinging his Qilin Long Lance, with the momentum to sweep through a thousand armies.
The six realm sons held nothing back, all unleashing their strongest techniques to try to block Xu Tianjing's sword strike.
"Bang."
Xu Tianjing's sword was unstoppable, easily breaking through the six realm sons' techniques.
The six realm sons were sent flying backward simultaneously, each with bloody holes in their bodies, sacred blood flowing continuously. Their eyes were filled with shock. Combining the strength of all six, they were not even a match for a single strike from Xu Tianjing.
If not for the protection of the realm son seals, they might have already died under Xu Tianjing's sword.
...
"A bunch of trash, can't even deal with two beasts?"
With a cold rebuke, a graceful, beautiful woman entered the temple.
She was the leader of the Ruiya Realm, Wanhou Fangze, known as "Fangze King." Though beautiful, she was ruthless.
The Ruiya Realm had also suffered heavy losses in the Kunlun Realm, with outstanding disciples from two divine temples killed, causing extreme dissatisfaction among the Ruiya Realm's high-level officials.
If not for that, Fangze King would not have been specifically dispatched this time.
"Demoness, who are you calling beasts? Come here, and this pot will beat you to death," the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit shouted provocatively.
A cold light flashed in Fangze King's eyes. She raised her hand, and hundreds of thousands of palm dao rules emerged, combining with vast sacred qi to form a huge flame sacred furnace, hurtling toward the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit.
The Swallowing Elephant Rabbit glared and immediately shouted, "Stupid Demon Ape, come block it!"
Rarely, the Demon Ape didn't bicker with the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit. It moved at top speed, flashing in front of Guo Guo.
"Roar."
The Demon Ape let out a earth-shaking roar, throwing a punch carrying vast demonic qi.
"Bang."
The flame sacred furnace exploded directly, flames scattering everywhere.
The Demon Ape staggered back over ten steps before steadying itself, shaking its arm vigorously.
Fangze King's strength was too great. Even with a physical body comparable to an indestructible sacred body, the Demon Ape couldn't handle it.
"Oh? Quite tough, but it can't stop me."
Fangze King executed an extremely exquisite movement technique, as if dancing gracefully, instantly catching up to the Demon Ape.
With a wave of her hand, Fangze King summoned a sacred stele, pressing it down toward the Demon Ape.
At the same time, her hand turned into a claw, reaching for Chi Kong Le in the Demon Ape's arms.
"Kong Le."
The Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's expression changed. She wanted to rush over to help.
"Distracted while fighting me?"
The Heartless Evil Lord sneered, raising his skull staff.
The skull staff emitted a dark light, releasing a vast evil aura. A strange and terrifying ghost king lurked within, faintly visible.
"Chi."
The ghost king broke through the defense of the Confucian Ancestor Sacred Book, unleashing a powerful spiritual power attack.
Pain appeared on the Nine Heavens Mysterious Maiden's face, feeling as if her sacred soul were being torn apart.
Just as Fangze King was about to touch Chi Kong Le, a figure appeared out of thin air in front of Chi Kong Le, using his body to block Fangze King's claw.
The one who appeared was none other than Xue Wuye.
"Courting death."
Murderous intent flashed in Fangze King's eyes. Her claw directly pierced through Xue Wuye's body.
Injured on top of injury, Xue Wuye spat blood and then fell straight down. His life had been saved by Zhang Ruochen, and now he was repaying that debt.
"Uncle Wuye."
Chi Kong Le cried out, quickly activating a talisman.
The talisman burst with dazzling silver thunder light, releasing seven terrifying thunderbolts in succession, striking at Fangze King.
"Little girl, still not resigned to your fate?"
Fangze King was completely unconcerned, raising her hand to extinguish all the thunderbolts.
As the leader of the Ruiya Realm, her strength was very close to the first tier below the Great Saint realm. How could she be easily stopped?
However, just as Fangze King was about to reach for Chi Kong Le again, she suddenly sensed danger.
Immediately, she switched from offense to defense, even recalling the sacred stele.
"Courting death."
A cold voice echoed through the temple.
A peerless sword light appeared, slashing through the space behind Fangze King. Then, the peerless edge sent the sacred stele flying, breaking through all of Fangze King's defenses.
"Pfft."
Fangze King's sacred body was cut in half at the waist, split in two, including her sacred soul.
As her two halves flew backward, her eyes were wide open, filled with terror.
"Such strong sword qi."
"Who is it?"
...
Everyone's gaze turned toward the temple entrance. A tall figure, holding a sacred sword, came into view.
"Zhang Ruochen."
Many experts of the Heavenly Realm Faction gasped.
They had never imagined that so many top-tier Saint King realm experts from across the realms, who had set up a heaven-encompassing net to surround and kill Zhang Ruochen, would still let him break through to the Yuanchu Divine Temple.
Had the outside already been defeated?
...
Today, I returned to my hometown and was in the car the whole time. I'll write again as soon as I get home. There's really no other way.