Chapter 2195: Immortal Realm, Body Perishes
Zhang Ruochen's breakthrough appeared very easy, but in reality, it was extremely perilous.
If even a single mistake occurred, the least severe outcome would be half-crippled, and the worst would be death and the end of his path. Especially given Zhang Ruochen's current poor condition, with severe damage to his physical body, the difficulty of the breakthrough was even greater.
But, regardless, he succeeded!
He staked everything on a single throw, turning the impossible into reality.
And this was only the beginning. Zhang Ruochen condensed powerful force and surged it toward his heart.
Instantly, his heart radiated an immortal brilliance, growing stronger and stronger.
Zhang Ruochen had already cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Saint King Realm, with an extremely profound accumulation. As long as he was willing, he could almost at any moment break through his sacred path cultivation to the Immortal Great Saint Realm.
And now, he was precisely doing this.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Ruochen smoothly and completely immortalized his physical body, forging the Five Elements Chaos Immortal Saint Body.
"Zhang Ruochen has broken through to the Great Saint Realm. The Dao-Melting Tribulation is about to descend. Quickly withdraw the killing formation, or it will be affected," a Hell Realm strongman said urgently.
The so-called "Dao-Melting Tribulation" is a calamity that all cultivators must undergo when breaking through to the Great Saint Realm.
Back then, when the Dark Son broke through, there was no Dao-Melting Tribulation because True Dragon Island was too special, concealing the heavenly secrets.
It was precisely because he hadn't undergone the baptism of the Dao-Melting Tribulation that the Dark Son's strength was far from reaching its peak.
The Dao-Melting Tribulation is very special. If external forces interfere, then that interfering force will also be implicated, with extremely severe consequences.
Centered on Zhang Ruochen, the heavenly and earthly rules within a radius of hundreds of thousands of miles rapidly converged.
"Crackle."
Countless heavenly and earthly rules gathered, transforming into billions of dazzling and sharp golden lights, drilling into his body through the pores all over Zhang Ruochen's body.
Dao-Melting Tribulation, as the name implies, means to merge with the sacred rules of heaven and earth.
In this way, one can better utilize the heavenly and earthly rules, as if they were one.
Typically, the more profound one's accumulation in the Saint King Realm, the greater the difficulty of crossing the Dao-Melting Tribulation. Conversely, those with mediocre cultivation can easily cross the Dao-Melting Tribulation and become Immortal Realm Great Saints.
Most Saint Kings primarily cultivate only one type of Supreme Sacred Path. When becoming a Great Saint, they only need to merge with one type of heavenly and earthly rule.
Zhang Ruochen was different. Time, Space, Truth, Sword Dao, Palm Dao, Fist Dao, and the Five Elements Dao had all reached the Great Perfection Realm, meaning he needed to merge with these eleven types of heavenly and earthly rules.
Moreover, because of the Great Perfection Realm, the process of merging with the heavenly and earthly rules would become exceptionally perilous.
The Metal Dao heavenly and earthly rules were extremely sharp, continuously impacting Zhang Ruochen's physical body and sacred soul. The pain was indescribable in words.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was resolute, and he didn't even grunt.
Not long after, the merging of the Metal Dao heavenly and earthly rules was completed. Zhang Ruochen's body was covered with a faint layer of golden light, exuding sharpness.
Without a moment's pause, a large number of Wood Dao heavenly and earthly rules surged into Zhang Ruochen's body.
Then came the Water Dao heavenly and earthly rules, Fire Dao heavenly and earthly rules, Earth Dao heavenly and earthly rules, Sword Dao heavenly and earthly rules...
...
Just as Zhang Ruochen had predicted, this Dao-Melting Tribulation required merging with at least eleven types of powerful heavenly and earthly rules.
"Hiss."
Seeing this scene, many Hell Realm cultivators couldn't help but inhale sharply.
Such a terrifying Dao-Melting Tribulation was unheard of, let alone witnessed.
Simply merging with one type of heavenly and earthly rule would probably be too much for many to endure; they would be directly obliterated by the heavenly and earthly rules.
Later, countless Time Rules and Space Rules appeared simultaneously, evolving into a special Space True Domain, within which a River of Time flowed, enveloping Zhang Ruochen.
The trials of Time and Space were the most critical.
Zhang Ruochen immediately condensed his own Space True Domain and River of Time, aligning them with the Space True Domain and River of Time evolved from the heavenly and earthly rules.
His Space True Domain and River of Time were both top-tier, and the heavenly and earthly rules could do nothing to them.
Not long after, the two types of heavenly and earthly rules dispersed, causing no harm to Zhang Ruochen.
At this point, Zhang Ruochen had undergone the trials of eleven types of heavenly and earthly rules, gaining a deeper understanding of these eleven sacred paths.
Just as Zhang Ruochen thought the Dao-Melting Tribulation had ended, the pressure on him suddenly doubled.
Above him appeared nine layers of magnificent heavens, each layer solid and real, woven from countless heavenly and earthly rules.
"Is it because I cultivate the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture?" In an instant, Zhang Ruochen guessed the reason.
Without hesitation, Zhang Ruochen fully activated the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture, running all nine layers of the technique simultaneously within his body.
Nine layers of heavens, equally magnificent in momentum, manifested and overlapped with the nine layers of heavens woven from the heavenly and earthly rules.
Zhang Ruochen could clearly perceive that various strange imprints were being branded onto the nine layers of heavens he had condensed.
At the same time, many insights arose in his heart, giving him an extremely thorough understanding of the Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture.
When the Dao-Melting Tribulation ended, the nine layers of heavens still hung above Zhang Ruochen, gathering the power of heaven and earth and adding it to Zhang Ruochen's body.
An immensely vast Great Saint pressure radiated from Zhang Ruochen, as if he were about to rule the world.
Having crossed the Dao-Melting Tribulation, Zhang Ruochen's cultivation truly entered the Immortal Great Saint Realm. The sacred rules within his body doubled, reaching two hundred million.
Feeling this Great Saint pressure, the hearts of many Hell Realm cultivators sank.
There was no doubt that Zhang Ruochen had successfully broken through. His physical body had become a Great Saint, and he had forged the "Five Elements Chaos Immortal Saint Body," becoming a genuine Great Saint realm powerhouse.
Originally, Zhang Ruochen's body was covered in numerous wounds, but now they had almost all healed.
"What audacity, to dare break the rules of the Merit Battlefield. Die!"
At that moment, an extremely tall figure appeared in the sky, radiating powerful sacred might.
Outside the Kunlun Realm, there were always patrol envoys from the Heavenly Court Realm and Hell Realm inspecting the land of the Central Imperial City.
Previously, they couldn't interfere in the battles within the Kunlun Realm, but now that Zhang Ruochen had broken through to become a Great Saint, it undoubtedly gave the Hell Realm patrol envoys an opportunity to intervene.
In an instant, the sky was covered with dark clouds, and a dense Hell Realm aura spread out. Hundreds of black lightning bolts, like hundreds of demonic snakes, descended from the sky, striking directly at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen looked up, his eyes showing no fear, and calmly swung a ruler.
Using Great Saint power to drive the Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler, the power was worlds apart.
No matter how terrifying those lightning bolts were, they vanished into smoke in an instant before the Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler.
The patrol envoy in the sky wasn't too strong.
Back when Zhang Ruochen's cultivation and strength were far from reaching the peak of the Saint King Realm, he had already defeated a patrol envoy head-on. With his current cultivation, blocking their attacks was naturally not difficult.
The next moment, the figures of five Hell Realm patrol envoys were reflected in the sky. They joined forces to deliver a heavenly punishment, intending to obliterate Zhang Ruochen.
"Scram!"
Zhang Ruochen roared deeply, slashing upward with a ruler light tens of thousands of miles long, reaching beyond the heavens.
The heavenly punishment was once again dispersed, failing to harm Zhang Ruochen in the slightest.
Instead, the five Hell Realm patrol envoys were sent flying backward. If not for the barrier of the world membrane, they might have been severely injured.
With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, even across tens of thousands of miles of void, he had the power to injure them.
"Quickly, go invite the Hundred Shackles Realm and Thousand Questions Realm patrol envoys. We cannot let Zhang Ruochen continue to act recklessly."
Immediately, a patrol envoy moved to invite a more powerful patrol envoy to intervene.
Zhang Ruochen paid no further attention to those patrol envoys, his gaze fixed on the direction Wan Xin had fled.
"Wan Xin, leave Kong Le behind."
With a furious roar, Zhang Ruochen swung the Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler, striking forward. Vast Great Saint power, along with two hundred million sacred rules, all surged into the Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler.
Upon breaking through to the Great Saint Realm, the sacred rules within a cultivator's body would double.
Therefore, the more profound one's accumulation in the Saint King Realm, the greater the advantage after breaking through to the Great Saint Realm.
For those cultivators who broke through to the Great Saint Realm with thirty or forty million sacred rules, even if they barely cultivated to the late stage of the Immortal Great Saint Realm, the sacred rules within their bodies might not reach two hundred million.
"Boom."
Under one ruler strike, the earth sank.
Thousands of Hell Realm Saint Realm cultivators were directly turned to ashes, dying tragically.
The blockade ahead was forcibly broken, tearing open a huge gap.
Without any hesitation, Zhang Ruochen burst forth with extreme speed, like a meteor streaking across the sky.
"Stop him."
A Hell Realm strongman shouted.
Immediately, the elite armies of the Ten Clans of Hell moved in unison, chasing closely behind Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen had only just broken through to the Great Saint Realm; his cultivation was not yet consolidated, and his strength was far from reaching its peak. Moreover, although his injuries seemed to have healed, some invisible wounds were not so easy to mend.
There were many intelligent beings in the Hell Realm. They felt that Zhang Ruochen might already be at the end of his rope, just putting up a brave front.
Furthermore, with tens of millions of Hell Realm Saint Realm troops present, why should they fear an Immortal Realm Great Saint?
Even if that Immortal Realm Great Saint was Zhang Ruochen, it still couldn't change the fate of being killed.
From afar, Zhang Ruochen saw a massive space rift, tens of thousands of miles long, suspended in midair.
Centered on this space rift, an area thousands of miles around was lifeless, dark and gloomy, like a hell.
From the space rift, the power and aura of the Hell Realm continuously emanated, and even heavenly and earthly rules unique to the Hell Realm surged over, eroding the Kunlun Realm.
The space rift connected heaven and earth, surrounded by thunder and lightning, shrouded in a layer of grayish mist, exuding an extremely dangerous aura.
Seven enormous cities hung around the space rift, releasing powerful divine power, stabilizing the space rift while also tearing it further apart.
Wan Xin turned his head to look at Zhang Ruochen, who was desperately chasing after him, a cold glint flashing in his eyes. "Zhang Ruochen, originally your physical body was the most suitable for the master. But since Yan Wushen couldn't do anything to you, I had to settle for the second best. Becoming the body for the master's possession is the supreme glory of Chi Kong Le."
"I know you are very angry and want to kill me. If you have the guts, break into the Hell Realm, and I'll give you the chance."
Wan Xin naturally didn't think Zhang Ruochen would dare to break into the Hell Realm. His previous words were somewhat provocative.
With a movement of his body, he took Chi Kong Le and flashed into the space rift.
Having broken through to the Great Saint Realm, Zhang Ruochen's combat power was too terrifying. How could Wan Xin dare to truly confront him? If he accidentally took a ruler strike, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Having found a suitable body, he should return early to report to Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
"Wan Xin."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes were bloodshot. His body turned into a streak of light, charging straight toward the space rift.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen's body collided with the grayish mist layer on the periphery of the space rift. Instantly, a large amount of lightning surged out, striking his body, sending him flying backward and heavily crashing to the ground.
While flying through the air, Zhang Ruochen's gaze remained fixed on the space rift, watching helplessly as Wan Xin took Chi Kong Le away, disappearing into the depths of the rift.
His heart ached as if it were being twisted.
It was as if someone had stabbed his heart ten thousand times, causing him unbearable pain.
"Boom."
Zhang Ruochen fell to the ground, his immortal saint body carving a canyon dozens of miles long into the earth.
This space rift was specially opened by the Hell Realm to transport their army, allowing only Hell Realm cultivators to pass through. Heavenly Court Realm cultivators were all blocked outside.
"Break."
Zhang Ruochen, disheveled and covered in blood, climbed up again, flew into the air, raised the Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler, and struck forward.
The Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler released vast divine power, like a heavenly divine sword, crashing into the grayish mist layer on the periphery of the space rift.
The seven cities seemed eternal, immortal and indestructible, all glowing, delivering unimaginably powerful force.
"Boom," the space rift remained unmoved, but instead, even more violent thunder and lightning and light mist surged out, striking Zhang Ruochen.
"Pfft."
Zhang Ruochen spat out a mouthful of sacred blood and was sent flying backward again.
His extremely powerful immortal saint body was damaged, with flesh and blood exploding. More importantly, Zhang Ruochen's sacred soul was terrifyingly eroded, showing signs of dissipating.
The power condensed by the seven cities far exceeded that of an ordinary Great Saint.
"Kong Le, Kong Le, Kong Le..."
Zhang Ruochen kept shouting, climbing up again, swinging the Imperial Emperor Divine Ruler again and again.
"Boom."
"Boom."
...
With each swing of the ruler, Zhang Ruochen's immortal saint body cracked more severely, and his sacred soul further dissipated.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen had no rationality, no thoughts, and couldn't think of anything else. Only one obsession remained in his heart—he must save Kong Le.
If he couldn't save her, he would be worse than dead.
"Kill."
"Whoever kills Zhang Ruochen will become famous among the Ten Clans of Hell."
The Hell Realm army caught up and launched another attack on Zhang Ruochen, flying over a million sacred artifact-level war weapons, including Supreme Sacred Artifacts and Monarch Sacred Artifacts.
Zhang Ruochen roared, not turning to defend himself, but focusing all his strength on attacking the space rift ahead.
The grayish mist layer was actually dented, with a fine crack appearing, as if it were about to shatter.
"Bang bang bang."
But at that moment, over a million sacred artifact-level war weapons landed on Zhang Ruochen, engulfing him. Even with the protection of the Flame God Armor, Zhang Ruochen's saint body collapsed on a large scale, his flesh and blood turning to powder.
Because there was no blood left in his body to flow.
"Kong Le..."
With a murmur, Zhang Ruochen's body fell from midair.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen's body was almost half-crippled, skeletal, lifeless, and even the fluctuations of his sacred soul had completely disappeared, his soul scattered.
"How could this be..."
Feeling Zhang Ruochen's life fluctuations vanish, Luo Sha fell into a daze.
Blood Chen Heavenly Lord and Blood Ning Xiao exchanged glances, their hearts sinking to the bottom, and then they let out a long sigh.
"Hahaha, dead. Zhang Ruochen, no matter how brilliant you were, opposing the Hell Realm, your fate was already sealed," Shi Jue Xin couldn't help but laugh heartily, feeling delighted and clear-minded.
Not only him, but many Hell Realm strongmen were laughing wildly.
No matter how dazzling Zhang Ruochen was, unmatched in the world, in the end, he still died at their hands.
All the sacrifices made were completely worth it.
...
The Kunlun Realm chapter has dragged on a bit too long. There's really no choice, because many plot holes need to be filled, and many characters need to be concluded.
A new chapter is about to begin. The Hell Realm will be an even more bizarre and colorful world. Is Bore actually Huang Yanchen? How did she obtain the Hundred Dragon Bright Emperor Armor? Who is her backer in the Destiny Temple?
Is Qiangu Nüdi still alive?
Why did Xuanji Sword Saint stay in the Hell Realm?
Is the person destined for the Rakshasa Princess really Zhang Ruochen?
Also, I can reveal that Sword Emperor Xue Hongchen is also in the Hell Realm. They are all doing something extremely important.