Chapter 2285: Forcing Him Away
After all, White Jade Mad Lion was a powerful cultivator at the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm. Wind Queen did not want to lose this strong ally, so she walked toward Zhang Ruochen and said, "White Jade Great Saint was indeed somewhat rude earlier, but we are now allies advancing and retreating together. Please, Ruochen Great Saint, do not take it to heart and return the Thousand Ring Armlet to him."
Yan Beijun was dissatisfied with Zhang Ruochen's actions and snorted, "It was just a spar. White Jade Great Saint has already lost. There was no need for Ruochen Great Saint to seize his battle weapon, was there?"
Zhang Ruochen turned his gaze to him and said, "A spar? Did I agree to spar with him? If my strength were inferior to his, what do you think the outcome of this battle would have been?"
Yan Beijun said, "White Jade Great Saint would at least not have seized your battle weapon. Even less would he have been so aggressive."
"Is that so? What if I want to spar with you now?"
Without waiting for Yan Beijun's consent, Zhang Ruochen exhaled a breath.
"Whoosh!"
The breath condensed into a sword, turning into a streak of light that flew toward Yan Beijun's heart.
Although it was just a breath, it contained Zhang Ruochen's Sword Dao rules and powerful sword intent, its power no less than a high-rank sacred art.
This breath was no different from a true sacred sword.
Yan Beijun's expression changed drastically as he dodged frantically.
But he had only just broken through to the Great Saint realm. How could his cultivation gap with Zhang Ruochen be so vast? How could he possibly evade?
"Pfft."
The sword qi struck Yan Beijun's heart, the tip sinking in, carrying his body flying backward for over ten miles.
The sword qi pierced through his heart, passing through his body.
A large amount of Great Saint blood splattered to the ground, causing the soil to burn and melt into magma.
Immediately after, Zhang Ruochen formed his five fingers into a claw and reached out, using the technique of grabbing objects from a distance to seize a jade pendant-shaped battle weapon from Yan Beijun.
The artifact spirit of the jade pendant resisted violently, but Zhang Ruochen suppressed it firmly, preventing it from escaping his palm.
Wind Queen and White Jade Mad Lion were both stunned. Zhang Ruochen's actions were too arrogant, completely disregarding the usual rules. At the slightest disagreement, he would resort to violence.
Although Wind Queen thought highly of Zhang Ruochen and hoped to gain his support, his presumptuous behavior and his utter disregard for her stirred a surge of anger within her.
Did having strength mean he could do whatever he wanted?
Zhang Ruochen refined the Thousand Ring Armlet and wore it directly on his wrist. Then, he floated down to the ground, retracting the ten wings on his back into his body. His pupils returned to black, and his temperament was no longer as sinister as before, appearing both ethereal and handsome.
Yan Beijun was a Great Saint with a powerful life force. Even with his heart pierced, he would not die.
But to the Undying Blood Clan, the heart was one of the most vital organs. Once damaged, it would severely deplete one's vitality and be difficult to recover.
Yan Beijun pressed his hand to his heart, slowly rising from the ground, his face pale. "Zhang Ruochen, are you not afraid that the Myriad Realms Divine Eye will expel you from the Heaven Hunting Battlefield for being so ruthless?"
"Why would the Myriad Realms Divine Eye expel me?" Zhang Ruochen walked toward him step by step.
Having witnessed Zhang Ruochen's strength and ruthlessness, Yan Beijun couldn't help but retreat, saying, "You... you maliciously attacked a fellow cultivator. That will deduct five thousand points. Once your points turn negative, the artifact spirit of the Myriad Realms Divine Eye will naturally expel you."
"Malicious attack? You're mistaken. We were just sparring," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Did I agree to spar..."
Suddenly, Yan Beijun fell silent, understanding Zhang Ruochen's intention.
Zhang Ruochen said, "If White Jade Mad Lion had severely wounded me earlier and taken my Purple Gold Gourd, would you still consider that a spar?"
"He wouldn't do that," Wind Queen said.
Zhang Ruochen turned his head to look at her and said, "And if he did? Have you considered the consequences?"
Wind Queen wanted to argue, but after careful thought, she fell into silence.
After all, White Jade Mad Lion was not of the Undying Blood Clan but a Stone Clan cultivator.
For the benefit of the Stone Clan, it was entirely possible for him to strike hard at Zhang Ruochen, beating him so badly that he could no longer participate in the Heaven Hunting Battle. For the hundred-day hunt, he would have to stay in his clan's star to recover.
Even more terrifying was the thought of the Undying Blood Clan's supreme sacred artifact being taken. The consequences would be unimaginable.
And did she have the means to counter White Jade Mad Lion?
White Jade Mad Lion's face darkened. "What's the point of all this talk? Just name your terms. What do you want to return the Thousand Ring Armlet to me?"
Zhang Ruochen said indifferently, "Be my mount."
"What did you say?"
White Jade Mad Lion roared, almost shouting.
Zhang Ruochen said, "During the Heaven Hunting Battle, be my mount. After a hundred days, I will return the Thousand Ring Armlet to you."
"Haha!"
White Jade Mad Lion laughed in fury, "You are too arrogant, too insolent. Earlier, I only restrained myself out of respect for Wind Queen. Do you really think you have me cornered? A Great Perfection Great Saint of the Hundred Shackles Realm is not as simple as you imagine."
"Roar!"
White Jade Mad Lion raised his head and roared to the sky. Dazzling white light radiated from his skin.
His body grew larger and larger, expanding into his true form.
A jade lion, its body as massive as a mountain, appeared on the ground. The sacred light emanating from within him nearly condensed into liquid, forming a sea of sacred liquid.
"Boom, rumble."
The mountains in this area, unable to withstand the jade lion's aura, collapsed one after another.
Wind Queen quickly tried to stop the two, saying, "Are you two trying to destroy this clan star?"
"Dealing with it won't destroy the clan star."
With that, Zhang Ruochen raised his right arm and slapped it toward the massive jade lion.
Divine light radiated from his palm, accompanied by three Thousand Questions realm elephant souls, descending together. The area where the jade lion stood sank, forming a huge five-fingered basin.
The ground between the fingers rose up, forming four mountain ridges a thousand meters high.
White Jade Mad Lion struggled desperately beneath Zhang Ruochen's palm, roaring in fury, but it was useless. He was firmly suppressed.
Seeing this, Yan Beijun's expression changed repeatedly, and a strong sense of fear arose in his heart.
Wind Queen also held her breath, shocked inwardly.
Was Zhang Ruochen too strong?
White Jade Mad Lion had once ranked eighteenth on the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm list. After transforming into his true form, his combat power increased significantly. Even she had to be careful in dealing with him.
Yet Zhang Ruochen suppressed him with a single slap?
Because hidden experts from various major forces kept emerging, and the top Hundred Shackles realm Great Saints had consumed rare banquet foods, including the Dao-Deriving Sacred Fruit, at the Heaven Hunting Feast, and had also taken Sacred Intent Pills, many had broken through to the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm.
The number of Great Perfection Great Saints of the Hundred Shackles Realm had increased from the initial forty-seven to eighty-eight.
The rankings of the Great Perfection Great Saints of the Hundred Shackles Realm had also been reshuffled.
White Jade Mad Lion, who had once ranked eighteenth, had dropped to thirty-third.
Wind Queen, who had once ranked twelfth, had dropped to fifteenth.
Before entering the Heaven Hunting Battlefield, the Destiny Temple had given all cultivators not only a volume of records but also a rhombus-shaped mirror shard.
The mirror shard was born from the Myriad Realms Divine Eye and was of the same origin. It could intermittently display some information from the Heaven Hunting Battlefield.
For example, the list of Great Perfection Great Saints of the Hundred Shackles Realm.
Whenever a new Great Perfection Great Saint of the Hundred Shackles Realm was born, the list would appear, showing the latest rankings.
Another example: once a Heavenly Slave killed a Hell Realm banquet cultivator, the location of that Heavenly Slave would be tracked by the Myriad Realms Divine Eye and transmitted to each banquet cultivator's mirror shard.
...
"Boom, rumble."
The geological structure of the clan star was stable, but even so, the thousand-mile area centered on Zhang Ruochen's palm still cracked into numerous canyons.
The entire Blood Heaven Continent trembled.
Fortunately, the thirty million Undying Blood Clan members living on the Blood Heaven Continent had gathered in three major cities. Otherwise, even accidental injuries would have killed many.
When Zhang Ruochen lifted his arm, White Jade Mad Lion was already exhausted, with more cracks appearing on his body.
A deep fear showed in his enormous lion eyes. Zhang Ruochen's strength far exceeded his expectations. Even the top ten on the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm list might not be as strong.
"Wind Queen, today I am thoroughly convinced of my defeat. I have no face to remain on the Undying Blood Clan's clan star. I take my leave."
White Jade Mad Lion summoned a white cloud beneath his feet, soared into the sky, and broke through the clouds.
"Wait."
Wind Queen wanted to chase after him and persuade him to stay, so she rose into the air.
Zhang Ruochen was faster than her. In midair, he blocked her and said, "Let him go. Having a top expert of the Stone Clan stay on the Undying Blood Clan's clan star is a huge hidden danger. If we are not careful, we could lose everything."
Wind Queen said, "But..."
Zhang Ruochen interrupted her and continued, "You may not care about the lives of the 240 million Undying Blood Clan members on this clan star, but I do. I also care about the Undying Blood Clan's points. I don't want the Undying Blood Clan's points to be halved."
Wind Queen said, "So, you deliberately forced White Jade Mad Lion away?"
"You must understand, he attacked me first. Besides, weren't you already suspicious of White Jade Mad Lion's motives for approaching you? Since you suspect him, you should eliminate him immediately. Don't you understand the principle of 'if you doubt someone, don't use them; if you use someone, don't doubt them'?"
Zhang Ruochen flew back to the ground, raised both hands slowly, and released a large amount of sacred qi. Immediately, the destroyed land rose again, lush vegetation grew, and it became full of life.
The anger in Wind Queen's heart gradually subsided. She felt that Zhang Ruochen's words made sense.
More importantly, Zhang Ruochen's displayed strength was enough to play a key role in her fight for the Goddess position.
The Divine Son and Goddess of the Destiny Temple might not be the strongest of their era, but they must have enough say in that era.
If Zhang Ruochen was the strongest of this era and she had control over him, who in this era would dare to defy her?
Coming to Zhang Ruochen's side, she said, "Everyone knows that White Jade Mad Lion is my ally. You should have given me some face. You shouldn't have been so ruthless just now."
"It was precisely because I gave you face that I didn't kill him," Zhang Ruochen said.
When Wind Queen heard the word "kill," she clearly felt a strong killing intent, and a chill ran through her body.
So, Zhang Ruochen had already harbored murderous intent.
Zhang Ruochen said, "When White Jade Mad Lion said 'I am thoroughly convinced of my defeat' before leaving, he was only saying that to save his life."
"This shows that the so-called Mad Lion is not mad at all; on the contrary, he is very shrewd."
"He knew very well that if he dared to say a single word of refusal or threatened revenge, he would not leave the Undying Blood Clan's clan star alive today. If I wanted to kill him, he couldn't escape."
"Moreover, he attacked me first. Even if I killed him, he would deserve it."
Wind Queen was inwardly shocked. Zhang Ruochen's ruthlessness was even greater than she had imagined.
With Zhang Ruochen participating in the Heaven Hunting Battle, this session would likely be bloodier than any previous one, and many would probably die.
Wind Queen sighed softly, "White Jade Mad Lion's departure is also a good thing. It saves us from having to be on guard against him all the time."
Yan Beijun, hearing the conversation between Zhang Ruochen and Wind Queen, realized that Wind Queen had long suspected White Jade Mad Lion. Thinking about it now, it did seem suspicious. A top Great Saint of the Stone Clan, disregarding his own clan's interests to favor the Undying Blood Clan—how could the Stone Clan's gods have granted him a Four-Element Monarch Sacred Artifact?
It was indeed suspicious.
Unfortunately, he had realized it too late. For White Jade Mad Lion's sake, he had offended Zhang Ruochen and was now severely injured, with almost no chance of recovery during the Heaven Hunting Battle.
A bitter, self-mocking smile appeared on Yan Beijun's face.
Being severely injured and having his battle weapon taken—it seemed he had brought it upon himself.
"Catch."
Zhang Ruochen threw the jade pendant-shaped battle weapon back to Yan Beijun.
Yan Beijun was overjoyed. He caught the jade pendant with both hands, showing an embarrassed yet grateful smile. "Thank you, Ruochen Great Saint. Earlier, I failed to see the situation clearly and caused you trouble."
Zhang Ruochen mobilized the life essence from the Divine Wood Heart, channeled it through his palm, and pressed it against Yan Beijun's heart.
With a large amount of life essence injected, Yan Beijun's injuries healed rapidly.
Yan Beijun felt even more ashamed. He lowered his head without saying much, only cupping his hands in salute to show his respect for Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen patted Yan Beijun on the shoulder, then looked at Wind Queen and said, "I remember you seized a Quasi-Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill. Have you refined it yet?"
"Integrating sacred intent is a major matter. I am still adjusting my state," Wind Queen said.
"Try to refine it as soon as possible. If you can integrate a third-rank sacred intent, your ranking on the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm list should enter the top ten. A bloody battle is coming, and I need to prepare as well."
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, turned into a streak of blood light, and flew away.
Yan Beijun frowned and asked, "Senior Sister, how does Zhang Ruochen know a bloody battle is coming?"
Wind Queen said, "He is probably referring to White Jade Mad Lion. Since White Jade Mad Lion has left, he will definitely spread the news of Zhang Ruochen's breakthrough to the Hundred Shackles Realm back to the Stone Clan, or to the top experts of the Upper Three Clans. That way, the various forces that want to kill Zhang Ruochen will act immediately, afraid that he will become even stronger."
"Would White Jade Mad Lion really do that?" Yan Beijun still found it hard to believe.
Wind Queen said, "I don't know either. But if Zhang Ruochen's guess is correct, I will personally teach that lion a lesson when I see him again."
"Zhang Ruochen is indeed a figure as famous as Yan Wushen. Not only is he powerful, but he is also decisive and ruthless. Fortunately, he is our ally," Yan Beijun sighed.
...
"Zhang Ruochen has broken through to the Hundred Shackles Realm. Come to the Stone Clan's clan star immediately to discuss the plan to kill him."
After returning to the Stone Clan's clan star, White Jade Mad Lion immediately sent people to contact the Death Clan's Great Senluo Emperor and Yuanfei Great Saint, the Underworld Clan's Ten Thousand Hands Great Saint Wujiang, and the Destiny Temple's Bore.
After this battle, Zhang Ruochen's strength left an indelible impression on White Jade Mad Lion. He only wanted to eliminate this great threat immediately. With this person by Wind Queen's side, Bore's chances of competing for the Goddess position would be greatly reduced.
...
Let me talk about the changes in Zhang Ruochen's character. There are many reasons stacking up that have led to his current personality.
First, he is now in the Hell Realm. Such an environment forces Zhang Ruochen to adopt a different way of dealing with the cultivators around him. Moreover, deep down, Zhang Ruochen actually hates the cultivators of the Hell Realm. In other words, this is a personality he has disguised.
Second, as mentioned before, the inner demon and the influence of his bloodline.
In fact, Zhang Ruochen has always been decisive with his enemies, but he is very indecisive in matters of emotion, and his image has always been very positive. At this stage, he will be written as somewhat righteous and somewhat evil, with more ruthless methods and less scrupulous means.
When he reaches the Thousand Questions Realm and the Ten Thousand Deaths One Life Realm, due to the setting of those realms, his character will return. It is a process of seeking the true self, returning to simplicity, as well as atonement and ascetic cultivation.
Also, the Heaven Hunting Battle will not be written for too long. It is estimated to be about three major battles' worth of plot.