Chapter 2286: Bore's Strategy to Kill Zhang Ruochen
The home planet of the Stone Clan was covered in yellow sand, with no oceans or vegetation. Viewed from the starry sky, it appeared lifeless and desolate, no different from billions of barren planets.
At the planet's north pole, it was dark, cold, and gloomy, with only streaks of aurora diffusing across the sky and earth.
Beneath the layer of auroral mist stood a pyramid-shaped majestic structure, densely wrapped in Great Saint inscriptions, emitting a white sacred radiance that could illuminate a thousand miles.
Yuan Fei Great Saint, Yuan Mo Shenzi, and Da Sen Luo Huang of the Death Clan arrived here first, standing inside the tower, listening to Bai Yu Feng Shi recount his battle with Zhang Ruochen.
Of course, Bai Yu Feng Shi held back some details.
After all, he had been thoroughly beaten in that fight, so naturally, he wouldn't recount it exactly as it happened. It was too embarrassing.
After hearing the account, the three Death Clan Great Saints in the tower all wore grim expressions.
Yuan Mo Shenzi felt extremely bitter inside. "How long has it been since Zhang Ruochen broke through to the Great Saint realm? How could he already have the strength to defeat you? And the Hundred Shackles realm... how could it be so easy to reach?"
Back in the Kunlun Realm, Yuan Mo Shenzi had never taken Zhang Ruochen seriously.
Even after his defeat at Xianji Mountain, he believed Zhang Ruochen had relied on external forces and remained unconvinced.
But now, Zhang Ruochen had already reached the Hundred Shackles realm, while he himself had only just entered the late stage of the Immortal realm. The gap in cultivation level had already become enormous.
Yuan Fei Great Saint, Yuan Mo Shenzi's elder brother and the strongest of the Death Clan in this Heaven Hunting Battle, spoke calmly, "Zhang Ruochen controls the Sundial and possesses a large amount of cultivation resources. It's understandable that he can cultivate so quickly."
"He was able to defeat Moluo Zhandi while still in the Immortal realm. Now that he has stepped into the Hundred Shackles realm, Bai Yu Great Saint's defeat at his hands is nothing surprising."
Then, Yuan Fei Great Saint fixed his gaze on Bai Yu Feng Shi's eyes, as if trying to see through him, and asked seriously, "Did you and Zhang Ruochen really exchange dozens of rounds?"
"What do you mean? Would this Saint lie? Zhang Ruochen is indeed very strong, but this Saint is not much weaker than him." Bai Yu Feng Shi widened his eyes, somewhat annoyed.
Yuan Fei Great Saint quickly soothed his emotions, "I didn't mean that. I just want to understand Zhang Ruochen's current strength more clearly to avoid misjudgment. Based on what you said, Zhang Ruochen has likely awakened his Ancestor bloodline. But how strong is an Ancestor bloodline? None of us have seen it; only you know best."
Bai Yu Feng Shi's expression turned solemn. "The Ancestor bloodline greatly increased Zhang Ruochen's speed. Even without using time and space, his speed can surpass some Thousand Questions realm Great Saints."
"In my fight with him, I could only passively defend and struggled to seize the initiative."
Yuan Mo Shenzi snorted lightly, "In battles between Great Saints, speed advantage doesn't play a decisive role. A single strike from a Great Saint can cover a thousand miles with its destructive power. Even if you're fast, can you instantly escape a thousand miles away? Besides, formations, death thought power, curses... many methods can't be evaded just by being fast."
"If Yuan Mo Shenzi underestimates a Great Saint's speed so lightly, be careful you don't die without knowing how."
A clear voice rang out in the tower.
The voice was very young.
Yuan Mo Shenzi looked toward the source and found a figure in black armor had appeared in the tower at some unknown time.
That person stood at the edge of the stone tower, back to them, facing a stone window. Light streaming in from the window cast a long shadow on the floor.
Yuan Mo Shenzi touched his neck and found a trace of blood on his fingertip. His heart tightened. "Such terrifying speed! Not only did he walk in from outside in an instant, but he also left a blood mark on my neck. Is it a warning?"
Da Sen Luo Huang and Yuan Fei Great Saint exchanged glances and nodded slightly.
Yuan Fei Great Saint spoke in a probing tone, "Could you be the Underworld Clan's Que Fei?"
The man in black armor turned around. "Exactly."
Although he turned around, Que Fei's black armor was extremely peculiar, seemingly able to absorb light. Any cultivator looking at him could only see a black outline, unable to make out his features.
It was like a human-shaped black mirror, very eerie.
"So this is the Underworld Clan's second-strongest, Que Fei. No wonder he's so formidable." Yuan Mo Shenzi thought to himself.
Que Fei was a hidden powerhouse of the Underworld Clan, only recently rising to fame. He now ranked sixteenth on the Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Ranking.
Bai Yu Feng Shi asked, "What about Wan Shou Great Saint? Why hasn't he come?"
Que Fei's tone was cold. "Wan Shou Great Saint is refining the Quasi-Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill, striving to condense a Second-Rank Sacred Intent. Once he succeeds, my Underworld Clan will surely take first place in this Heaven Hunting Battle. Yan Huangtu and Lan Ying will be trampled under his feet. Even that mysterious Que, when faced with a Second-Rank Sacred Intent, probably won't fare well."
Hearing this, Yuan Fei Great Saint, Da Sen Luo Huang, and Bai Yu Feng Shi showed no dissatisfaction. After all, in this Heaven Hunting Feast, the Death Clan and Stone Clan were indeed weaker and had to follow Wan Shou Great Saint Wu Jiang's lead.
Bai Yu Feng Shi said, "If Wan Shou Great Saint doesn't come, it won't be easy to surround and kill Zhang Ruochen with our strength alone."
Que Fei snorted, "Dealing with a mere Zhang Ruochen, why would Wan Shou Great Saint need to act? Here, we have four Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints. Killing him is like slaughtering a pig or dog."
Bai Yu Feng Shi knew Zhang Ruochen's prowess well, but thinking of Yuan Fei Great Saint and Que Fei as unfathomably strong, his worries diminished somewhat.
"Tap, tap."
Light footsteps sounded.
Bore, dressed in male attire, walked in from outside the tower. She was tall and elegant, with a mysterious aura. "If you underestimate Zhang Ruochen like this, be careful you don't fail to kill him and instead fall in the Heaven Hunting Battlefield."
Bore had already broken through to the Great Saint realm. A bright and dazzling Gate of Destiny always floated behind her, casting her figure sometimes clear, sometimes dim, as if shuttling between light and dark.
This was a manifestation that appeared only when one had cultivated the Way of Fate to a very high level, called the "True Self Gate."
The True Self Gate was also the Gate of Destiny.
However, the True Self Gate had completely merged with the cultivator, inseparable. The power of fate was always present and never disappeared.
With the True Self Gate, Bore could weaken her opponents at any time, suppressing them constantly. Of course, the degree of suppression was proportional to her cultivation level.
The higher the opponent's cultivation above hers, the weaker the suppression.
The people in the tower all stepped forward, cupping their hands in greeting, and laughed, "Congratulations to Princess Bore for cultivating the True Self Gate. The position of Divine Maiden is already in the bag."
According to the usual practice of the Destiny Temple, a cultivator who cultivated the True Self Gate could directly become a Divine Son or Divine Maiden.
But Bore had cultivated the True Self Gate only after entering the Heaven Hunting Battlefield, which was a special case.
Although Bore's cultivation level was not as high as those present, her gaze was proud and cold, with an air of superiority. She sat directly in the highest seat and said, "We absolutely cannot take Zhang Ruochen lightly. If we don't strike, fine. But once we do, we must send him into an inescapable death trap."
Rumors had it that behind Bore stood one of the twelve gods of the Destiny Temple, Nutian Shenzun, giving her immense backing. Even the proud Que Fei and Da Sen Luo Huang dared not act presumptuously before her.
Moreover, Bore's talent in the Way of Fate was astonishing, and her future achievements were limitless.
Yuan Mo Shenzi, Bore's steadfast supporter, quickly asked, "Does Princess Bore have a clever plan?"
Bore looked at Bai Yu Feng Shi. "When Zhang Ruochen defeated you, did he use the power of time and space?"
Bai Yu Feng Shi showed a troubled expression and shook his head.
Bore continued, "Did he use his Sacred Intent?"
Bai Yu Feng Shi shook his head again.
Bore asked again, "Did he use any battle weapons?"
Bai Yu Feng Shi shook his head once more.
Yuan Fei Great Saint, Da Sen Luo Huang, and Yuan Mo Shenzi all showed shock. They hadn't expected Bai Yu Feng Shi to hide so much from them.
Time, space, Sacred Intent, battle weapons—none used, and he still defeated Bai Yu Feng Shi?
Zhang Ruochen's strength needed to be reassessed.
Bore said, "Zhang Ruochen, having reached the Hundred Shackles realm, is definitely more terrifying than you imagine. Even more terrifying is that we still don't know exactly how powerful he has become."
Que Fei said, "He's only broken the first shackle. Even if he's strong, I'm confident I can defeat him."
"Great Saint Que Fei had better understand one thing: we don't want to defeat him; we want to kill him. Are you confident you can kill him?" Bore asked.
Que Fei fell silent.
Killing someone was much harder than defeating them.
Bore said, "I believe we can deal with Zhang Ruochen in three steps."
"First step: use a borrowed knife to kill."
"Use a borrowed knife to kill? Are you referring to Lan Ying, or Yan Hong Great Saint and Xu?" Yuan Fei Great Saint asked.
Bore said, "Lan Ying and Yan Huangtu are still tracking Que, competing for the Quasi-Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill. They probably won't have time to deal with Zhang Ruochen for now. To borrow a knife, we can only use Xu and Yan Hong Great Saint."
Yuan Mo Shenzi quickly chimed in, "Excellent strategy! Let Xu and Yan Hong Great Saint deal with Zhang Ruochen. First, it will test Zhang Ruochen's depth. Second, it will make them wear each other down, ideally both severely injured."
Bore said, "Bai Yu Great Saint, you handle this. Go tell Xu and Yan Hong Great Saint that Zhang Ruochen has broken through to the Hundred Shackles realm. Yan Hong Great Saint has always wanted to kill Zhang Ruochen to gain support from the major powers. She'll definitely act impatiently."
"Besides, Yan Hong Great Saint and Xu suffered heavy losses at Zhang Ruochen's hands during the Heaven Hunting Feast and the competition for the Sacred Intent Pill. They already hate him to the bone."
Da Sen Luo Huang said, "Yan Hong Great Saint and Xu aren't stupid. Won't they see that we're using them? How could they willingly be used?"
Bore shook her head. "That's why we have Bai Yu Great Saint inform them. Everyone knows Bai Yu Great Saint is a supporter of Feng Hou. Because of this, he offended the entire Stone Clan and even us. Now, humiliated by Feng Hou and even having his battle weapon taken, he has to leave. Of course, he wants revenge. But we certainly won't accept him, so he naturally has to go to Yan Hong Great Saint."
Bai Yu Feng Shi laughed loudly. "Princess Bore's consideration is thorough."
Yuan Mo Shenzi said, "If Yan Hong Great Saint and Xu can't kill Zhang Ruochen, then the second step is for us to act?"
Da Sen Luo Huang smiled. "Even if Zhang Ruochen can escape from Fen Hong Ku Lou and Xu, he'll be severely injured. By then, this Emperor alone can kill him."
Bore shook her head. "Killing Zhang Ruochen deducts 500,000 points. Unless absolutely necessary, we shouldn't act ourselves. So, the second step is still using a borrowed knife to kill."
"Whose knife?" Yuan Mo Shenzi asked.
Bore said, "The Tian Nu."
Everyone immediately showed expressions of sudden realization.
On this Heaven Hunting Battlefield, the Tian Nu were an extremely large force. Although they were prey, they had many strong members. More importantly, they deeply hated Zhang Ruochen as a traitor and wished to grind his bones to dust.
Bore said, "I've received news that near the third dark star region, a large number of Tian Nu have gathered, including a Thousand Questions realm Tian Nu overseeing them. Great Saint Que Fei, I've heard your skill in illusion arts has reached the Earth Master level. Go inform the Tian Nu and tell them about Zhang Ruochen."
Que Fei let out a long laugh. "Princess Bore is formidable. Another brilliant strategy that kills two birds with one stone. No matter who wins between Zhang Ruochen and Yan Hong Great Saint, they'll be besieged by the Tian Nu. We remain invincible. Once the Tian Nu kill them, we can wipe out the Tian Nu and earn points. Haha!"
Bore's expression was calm. "Third step: if even the Tian Nu can't kill Zhang Ruochen, then we'll have to act ourselves."
Yuan Mo Shenzi laughed. "With these three strategies, no matter how high Zhang Ruochen's cultivation is, he's doomed this time."
...
...
On the home planet of the Undying Blood Clan, Zhang Ruochen stood in a sea region, repeatedly practicing the Demon God Prison Suppression.
Massive projections of gods and demons appeared, sometimes merging with the Immovable Wisdom King Sacred Form, sometimes separating, creating a huge whirlpool on the sea surface that churned all the way to the seabed a thousand meters below.
Merging the Demon God Prison Suppression with the Immovable Wisdom King Sacred Form wasn't too difficult. The hard part was that Zhang Ruochen also wanted to integrate the Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent during the merge.
After dozens of attempts, all ended in failure.
"Merging any two powers isn't easy. I'm still too impatient."
Zhang Ruochen stopped, let out a long breath, flew to a nearby island, and sat on a reef. Soon, he sank into thought and contemplation.
How could he become stronger in a short time?
With the help of the Heart of Truth, Zhang Ruochen had already found the second shackle, located in his left arm.
But even with the Shen You Dan and Yan Dao Sheng Guo, breaking it probably wouldn't be possible in just a few days.
Aside from that, Zhang Ruochen could think of using the Sacred Intent Pill to fuse a fifth type of Sacred Intent. If he could truly raise his Sacred Intent to the Second-Rank level, then even facing powerhouses like Wu Jiang or Lan Ying, he could handle them calmly.
"Rumble."
At that moment, a piercing sound came from the sky.
Zhang Ruochen looked up and saw a streak of fire flying in from beyond the sky, piercing through the atmosphere like a meteor, heading straight for the sea area where he was.
"Boom."
The fire plunged into the sea, pressing the surface down and raising waves dozens of meters high.
A black meteorite the size of a stone mountain appeared there.
Zhang Ruochen sat by the island, his long hair hanging down, calm and composed. The onrushing waves automatically parted to both sides.
Looking closely, he saw a line of text carved on the meteorite: "Man Jian Great Saint is in my hands. Within three days, come alone to the Ghost Clan's home planet to fight me. Settle victory or defeat, life or death."
A challenge letter from the starry sky.
Based on the sacred aura contained in the text on the meteorite, Zhang Ruochen naturally knew that the challenger was the Ghost Clan's strongest, Xu.