Chapter 2227: Public Enemy of the Hell Realm
The cultivators of the Hell Realm gathered around the Life-and-Death Platform were all dumbfounded, utterly shocked to the point where their eyeballs nearly popped out, thinking they were hallucinating.
The War Emperor of the Moro Clan, the leader of the Di Shang Divine Kingdom, had actually been pinned down by an Immortal Realm human Great Saint, who had even used a gourd to knock him unconscious.
"This can't be real. How could Moro War Emperor possibly lose?"
"Who exactly is he? Even Yan Wushen, at the Immortal Realm, would find it no easy task to defeat Moro War Emperor."
A colorful-robed woman wearing a gold-thread mask, flanked by two teams of Saint Realm guards, arrived beneath the Life-and-Death Platform and said with a smile, "What Yan Wushen cannot do, he might still achieve. Because he once defeated Yan Wushen at the same cultivation level."
The colorful-robed woman's skin was like crystalline divine jade, her body shrouded in swirling mist, her graceful figure faintly visible. The mask on her face was woven from strands of gold thread, covering everything below her eyes. Beneath the gold-thread mask hung tassels that clinked softly as they collided.
Her aura was noble and exalted; even Saint Kings with supreme cultivation would feel an involuntary sense of inferiority standing before her.
"Defeating Yan Wushen at the same level? How is that possible?" said a Yama Clan Great Saint in a deep black robe, utterly disbelieving her words.
Zhang Ruochen's victory over Yan Wushen was indeed known to all on the Kunlun Realm Merit Battlefield.
But the Hell Realm was vast, and many cultivators spent years in seclusion, detached from worldly affairs. It was perfectly normal for them not to have heard of it.
Some among them didn't even know who Zhang Ruochen was.
The colorful-robed woman said, "His name is Zhang Ruochen. Hanxi Great Saint, if you don't believe me, you can send someone to investigate. The results should come quickly."
The Yama Clan Great Saint, Hanxi, waved his hand and dispatched a subordinate to look into it.
Before long, a dossier appeared in Hanxi Great Saint's hands, recording all of Zhang Ruochen's information.
"Hmm?"
Hanxi Great Saint's eyes turned cold as he read one particular entry. "So many of our clan's prodigies have died by his hand, and even the Dark Son was slain by him."
Like Hanxi Great Saint, many cultivators who hadn't known Zhang Ruochen's identity began investigating.
But upon seeing the results, one after another, they burned with righteous indignation and blazing fury, convinced that Zhang Ruochen was a public enemy of the Hell Realm who must be killed without hesitation.
"His hands are drenched in the blood of Hell Realm cultivators, and yet he dares to come to the Fate Divine Domain."
"Moro War Emperor may have lost, but the Hell Realm is teeming with experts. There will surely be a peerless Great Saint who can slay him."
...
Zhang Ruochen paid no heed to the Hell Realm cultivators beneath the Life-and-Death Platform. He reached out his hand, pressed it against Moro War Emperor's head, and channeled his spiritual power into it, attempting to search his memories.
But the moment his spiritual power entered Moro War Emperor's skull, it was crushed by a surge of divine power.
A more powerful spiritual force counterattacked, blasting Zhang Ruochen back dozens of steps and causing holy blood to trickle from the corner of his mouth.
"It's the power of a god, protecting his memories and holy soul."
Zhang Ruochen wiped away the holy blood and calmly considered ways to make Moro War Emperor speak. After a long moment, he murmured to himself, "The Life-and-Death Platform is indeed a perfect place."
Beneath the platform, Zhang Ruochen spotted Xue Tu and pointed at him. "Come up here."
"Senior Brother, the Life-and-Death Platform is not a place to be taken lightly," Xue Tu said, shaking his head vigorously, afraid of being caught in Zhang Ruochen's schemes.
Once you set foot on the Life-and-Death Platform, life and death were no longer your own.
Xue Tu was a man who valued his life; how could he not be cautious?
Zhang Ruochen's gaze sharpened. "Are you sure you won't come up?"
Xue Tu's heart trembled under that glare. He licked his lips, and in the end, steeled himself, walking step by step to the edge of the platform, but refusing to set foot inside.
"Senior Brother, is there anything I can help you with?" he asked.
"Strip his armor off and tie him up," Zhang Ruochen said, pointing at the prone Moro War Emperor.
Xue Tu swallowed hard and reminded him, "He's Moro War Emperor, a man of no ordinary status. Tying him up will offend the entire Moro Clan."
"Why are you still standing out there? Do you want me to personally drag you in?" Zhang Ruochen said coldly.
Xue Tu was genuinely afraid of Zhang Ruochen. In the end, he stepped onto the Life-and-Death Platform with stiff legs.
At that moment, Xue Tu could feel countless eyes from all directions fixed on him. His heart was bitter and pained. "I was just passing by to watch the excitement. How did I end up at the center of the storm? I should never have come. Getting mixed up in Zhang Ruochen's reckless deeds will surely get me labeled a 'public enemy of the Hell Realm' too."
Xue Tu knew well the fearsome reputation of Moro War Emperor. He hesitated, saying, "Do we really have to do this? A Great Saint can't just be tied up like that. Once he wakes up, even ten Saint-Binding Chains wouldn't hold him."
Zhang Ruochen tossed a white bone whip to Xue Tu. "Use this."
"This is... this is a quasi-Supreme Sacred Artifact once used by Gu You Emperor..."
Xue Tu held the white bone whip in both hands, his emotions churning. Zhang Ruochen was richer than a god, casually pulling out treasures like this.
But he was a miserly rich man.
With so many treasures, he still made Xue Tu sell his fiefdom, and even wanted to sell his holy blood and holy body.
Xue Tu thought these things, but his hands didn't stop. He stripped the black armor from Moro War Emperor's body, revealing a burly, muscular frame, completely naked.
The sight... was truly an eyesore.
Holding the black armor in his hands and examining it, Xue Tu found it was a Monarch Sacred Artifact. His heart grew even more unbalanced.
All Great Saints, all divine sons—why was Zhang Ruochen decked out in Supreme Sacred Artifacts from head to toe, while Moro War Emperor had Monarch Sacred Artifacts, and he, Xue Tu, was so pitifully poor, with nothing, not even a decent sacred artifact, no fiefdom, and no freedom?
"I am the most miserable Great Saint of all, no doubt about it."
Xue Tu looked at the naked Moro War Emperor lying on the Life-and-Death Platform and shook his head. "No, there's someone even worse off than me. At least I still have my basic dignity."
When Moro War Emperor woke up and found himself still alive, he breathed a sigh of relief.
After all, losing on the Life-and-Death Platform meant certain death.
But soon, he felt that living was worse than dying. He realized he was still on the platform, stripped bare, and being stared at by countless eyes.
Moro War Emperor was a man of great status who valued his face immensely. Suffering such a profound humiliation, the rage within him seemed ready to incinerate the entire Hell Realm.
"Zhang Ruochen, I will never rest until you are dead!"
Moro War Emperor strained his arms, erupting with blinding holy light, trying to break the white bone whip binding him.
But the moment he exerted force, a multitude of Supreme Inscription Runes appeared on the whip, unleashing Supreme power that struck back, dispersing all his strength.
Zhang Ruochen conjured a gleaming golden holy chair and sat down at the center of the Life-and-Death Platform, holding the white bone whip in his hand. "This is a quasi-Supreme Sacred Artifact. You won't break it. Don't waste your strength."
This white bone whip was forged from the spine of a divine dragon, an ancient artifact that had weathered seven Monarch Heavenly Tribulations, with a wealth of Supreme Inscription Runes born within it.
Thus, it could be called a Seven-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact, or a quasi-Supreme Sacred Artifact.
It was once the battle weapon of Gu You Emperor, the strongest below the Great Saint realm among the Bone Clan.
Moro War Emperor refused to accept it and continued struggling, but Zhang Ruochen kept flinging him around, each time smashing him half to death.
"Just kill me!" Moro War Emperor roared.
He felt he had no face left to live.
Zhang Ruochen said mockingly, "Can't take it anymore? I heard you have the potential to become a god, a great figure of the Moro Clan and the Di Shang Divine Kingdom. But from what I see now, that so-called potential to become a god is nothing but a joke."
Moro War Emperor's face twisted in fury. "Stop humiliating me!"
Zhang Ruochen continued calmly, "The heart of a god is unyielding. You've suffered only a little humiliation and already want to die. Where is your godly heart?"
Hearing this, Moro War Emperor was struck as if by a thunderbolt, completely stunned.
Gradually, he calmed down. "You're right. One with a godly heart should be indomitable. What's a little humiliation? As long as I don't die, one day I'll trample you underfoot."
"Since you don't want to die anymore, tell me now: where did you get this jade bracelet?" Zhang Ruochen held the Space Jade Bracelet and walked up to Moro War Emperor, his gaze cold and stern.
Moro War Emperor laughed loudly. "Haha! If you want to know, release me immediately and kneel down to beg. That's the only way."
Zhang Ruochen punched him in the face, bloodying it.
"It's useless. Even if you kill me, you won't get me to speak. You should know how strong a Great Saint's will is." Moro War Emperor did not yield, still laughing wildly.
Zhang Ruochen stood up and tossed the Qi Xin War Axe to Xue Tu. "Do you know what to do?"
Xue Tu was dumbfounded. "What do I do?"
"A Great Saint is a treasure from head to toe. Dismantle Moro War Emperor piece by piece and sell them off. Start with the Great Saint's blood, then sell the legs and arms, the Great Saint's heart... A Great Saint's regeneration and self-healing abilities are strong, so you need to be careful not to kill him outright. The heart, hands, and feet can be sold at least ten times over. Don't you agree?" Zhang Ruochen remained calm throughout.
But to Moro War Emperor's ears, it was like a thunderbolt, scaring him nearly out of his wits.
He wished he could die immediately.
"I can't die so easily. I must live strong. I have the potential to become a god, and I must have the heart of a god. I must be indomitable, indomitable..." Moro War Emperor repeated to himself.
Xue Tu's arm, holding the Qi Xin War Axe, was trembling. He had heard these same words before.
"Why does it have to be me who offends the Moro Clan to the death? Can't you do it yourself?"
Xue Tu was deeply frustrated, regretting even more that he had come to watch the excitement.
Earlier, when Zhang Ruochen and Moro War Emperor were fighting, he had secretly rejoiced, hoping Moro War Emperor would kill this demon.
But alas...
Xue Tu said, "Senior Brother... are you... are you serious?"
"Do you think I'm joking? If you can't do it, lie down there, and I'll sell you along with him." Zhang Ruochen said sternly.
"How could I not do it? I, Xue Tu, have killed countless people. I'm no soft-hearted fool."
Xue Tu raised the Qi Xin War Axe and walked toward Moro War Emperor.
Moro War Emperor was not afraid of death, but at this moment, every inch of his muscle and skin was trembling, except for his eyeballs.
The cultivators around the Life-and-Death Platform were stunned, never imagining that Zhang Ruochen and Xue Tu would dare to do this.
But some Saint Realm and Saint King Realm cultivators present were tempted.
If they could truly obtain Moro War Emperor's Great Saint blood, bones, heart, or lungs, it would be a tremendous help in advancing their cultivation and comprehending the Great Saint realm.
"Zhang Ruochen, you are outrageously bold, daring to humiliate our clan's War Emperor. Come out and die!"
Five Great Saints of the Moro Clan arrived: one at the Hundred Shackles Realm and four at the Immortal Realm, all under a thousand years old. Clearly, they were attendees of the Heaven-Hunting Feast.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Moro War Emperor lured me onto the Life-and-Death Platform to kill me. Am I not allowed to fight back? If you want to save him, step onto the platform and face me. Shouting from below—what skill is that?"
Moro Tian Su, the only Hundred Shackles Realm expert among the five, having broken seven shackles, said coldly, "You defeated Moro War Emperor. If you want to kill him, just do it. Why humiliate him?"
"Are you urging me to kill him because you want to become the new War Emperor of the Moro Clan after he's dead?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Moro Tian Su was left speechless, his heart seething with anger, unsure how to respond.
Another Immortal Realm Great Saint of the Moro Clan said, "By humiliating Moro War Emperor, you humiliate the entire Moro Clan. From now on, we are irreconcilable enemies."
"The Great Saints of the Moro Clan only know how to shout? If you have the guts, fight me on the Life-and-Death Platform," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Fight if you dare. Do you think I'm afraid of you?"
Another Immortal Realm Great Saint of the Moro Clan, already fuming with rage, raised a holy spear and charged toward the platform.
Moro Tian Su quickly stopped him, sending a voice transmission: "Zhang Ruochen is no ordinary foe. Even the War Emperor lost to him. Are you going up to die?"
Zhang Ruochen added, "The Great Saints of the Moro Clan are nothing but a bunch of cowards. It goes without saying that those below the Great Saint realm are even worse. If you're afraid to die, you can all come at once. I'll take you all on."
That Immortal Realm Great Saint with the holy spear could no longer bear it. He felt Zhang Ruochen deserved a thousand deaths and roared, "Even if I die, I won't let outsiders think the Great Saints of the Moro Clan are cowards!"
"Fight!"
Breaking free from Moro Tian Su's restraint, he charged onto the Life-and-Death Platform.
The mighty aura of a Great Saint swept across heaven and earth. The holy spear in his hand transformed into a silver furious dragon, charging at Zhang Ruochen.
"Kneel."
Zhang Ruochen stood still, unleashing the Truth Realm Form, Space Domain, and Virtual Time Domain. The power of these three Eternal Dao paths pressed down simultaneously.
Instantly, that Immortal Realm Great Saint was forced to a halt. His bones cracked loudly, and he stood frozen in place, his legs trembling uncontrollably.
He gritted his teeth, refusing to kneel.
"The will and power of a Great Saint are truly extraordinary."
Zhang Ruochen flicked his finger, sending a Time Imprint flying out, striking the Great Saint's chest.
In an instant, that Immortal Realm Great Saint lost a hundred years of his lifespan, his body weakening. Unable to withstand the suppression of the three Eternal Dao paths any longer, he fell heavily to his knees.
"Zhang Ruochen... you... you deserve a thousand deaths..."
The Immortal Realm Great Saint roared in unwillingness, his eyes filled with humiliation.
The moment he knelt, a massive amount of lightning erupted from within him, turning the entire Life-and-Death Platform into a space of thunder.
Below the platform.
The other four Moro Clan Great Saints were all enraged. Without hesitation, they charged onto the platform, shouting, "Attack together! Suppress Zhang Ruochen! Fight for the glory of the Moro Clan!"
"Kill!"
"Suppress Zhang Ruochen! Torture Xue Tu to death!"
...
Xue Tu, who was about to bleed Moro War Emperor, was deeply frustrated, feeling utterly innocent. "Your enemy is clearly Zhang Ruochen. Why do you want to torture me to death? I'm being forced into this!"
Whether dealing with Moro War Emperor or provoking the five Great Saints of the Moro Clan, Zhang Ruochen's goal was not only to force out Mu Lingxi's whereabouts but also to crush the Moro Clan, establish his authority in the Hell Realm, and deter enemies from other major forces.
Otherwise, enemies would keep coming one after another, becoming an endless headache.
...
(Explanation: The first space treasure Zhang Ruochen gave to Mu Lingxi should have been a jade bracelet. When I wrote the day before yesterday, I was on a mountain and didn't carefully check the earlier text. I wrote it as a ring, but it has been corrected.
I've come down from the mountain and returned home. From now on, I should be able to maintain updates.)