Chapter 2317: Integration
"Trajectory of fate?"
Luo Yan's divine eyes retracted their radiance, growing deep and profound.
As a former Divine Maiden of the Destiny Temple, Tianyin's understanding of the Way of Fate was unmatched by few in the world.
Xue Jue War God could not calculate Zhang Ruochen's future, yet Tianyin could perceive a thread of fate's trajectory between Zhang Ruochen and Luo Sha—an extraordinary skill and ability, worthy of her status as Divine Empress.
Fate was not a particular god, nor any living being, but an intangible Dao, representing the will of heaven and causality within the universe.
Fate was the fixed number.
Fortune was the variable.
The combination of fate and fortune determined everything in the world.
The more powerful a cultivator, the deeper their understanding of fate, and the greater their reverence.
Those who did not know, instead, had no fear.
Within the Divine Realm World, Tianyin strolled gracefully, her divine robes fluttering, dignified and elegant, accompanied by the sounds of divine music and celestial melodies. She arrived beside Luo Yan and said, "Let Luo Sha decide this matter herself. Fortune and misfortune are the two greatest variables within fate—who can truly say?"
Xue Jue War God let out a hearty laugh, cheerful and open, saying, "Tianyin understands reason better, truly worthy of being the former Divine Maiden. Back in the day, when we both trained under the blessing of the Divine Venerable of Fortune and Blessing, if I had felt even a flicker of desire, how could Luo Yan have had the chance to marry you?"
He added, "Luo Yan, marrying your daughter to my grandson is also a way of repaying a debt to me."
What did he mean by repaying a debt?
It sounded as if Xue Jue War God had deliberately yielded Tianyin to him.
Luo Yan, who had just calmed his emotions, was instantly provoked again, and angrily said, "If it weren't for the fact that you and Tianyin share the same master, I would have thrown you out of the Divine Realm World long ago. For Zhang Ruochen to marry Luo Sha, he must at least walk out of the Hunting Heaven Battlefield alive. But as I see it, he may not have that chance."
Luo Yan's gaze shifted to the Gate of Destiny behind the Divine Venerable of Fortune and Blessing's statue, where he saw the battle scene on the third dark star. The fight between Zhang Ruochen and Wujiang had reached a fever pitch.
Zhang Ruochen had only broken fourteen shackles, yet he could hold his own against Wujiang, who was at the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm, almost evenly matched. Luo Yan was somewhat surprised.
After all, that was Wujiang—the leading figure of this generation nurtured by the oldest god of the Darkness Temple.
Of course, Wujiang's cultivation was far above Zhang Ruochen's. In their battle, the former had always held the upper hand, advancing and retreating with ease, unleashing various sacred arts one after another, merging with the Nether Realm Kingdom, and launching continuous attacks, suppressing Zhang Ruochen so that he could never unleash the tenfold attack power of the Way of Truth.
On the other side, Yu Huang and Mo Yin had not fully suppressed Zuo Mu Shengjun. Instead, Zuo Mu Shengjun showed signs of breaking free from the spatial confinement and escaping.
The battle situation was quite unfavorable for Zhang Ruochen and the Blood Heaven Tribe.
If the balance of victory continued to tilt, Zhang Ruochen might not have the chance to leave the third dark star alive, and the Blood Heaven Tribe would face total defeat.
Xue Jue War God's expression turned slightly grave, and he said, "At this stage, Wujiang is indeed a major adversary for Zhang Ruochen. If he can get through this hurdle, Zhang Ruochen will undergo a complete transformation."
Xue Jue War God said "get through this hurdle," not "defeat Wujiang," showing that even he did not hold much hope for Zhang Ruochen.
Not because Zhang Ruochen was not strong enough, but because Wujiang was too powerful.
Luo Yan said, "How about we make a bet?"
"Bet on what?" Xue Jue War God asked.
Luo Yan said, "Bet a Supreme Sacred Artifact."
Luo Yan knew very well that he and Xue Jue War God could not really start a divine war, as the impact would be too great. But Xue Jue War God had angered him today, and if he did not make him bleed a little, how could he swallow this anger?
"How do we bet?" Xue Jue War God asked.
Luo Yan said, "We bet on how far Zhang Ruochen and Wujiang's battle can go. If it reaches seven points or more, I lose."
Gods had their own assessment of a battle.
For example:
If Zhang Ruochen and Wujiang were evenly matched, fighting to a standstill, it would be a ten-point battle.
If Wujiang could defeat Zhang Ruochen with overwhelming force, it would be a zero-point battle.
Luo Yan's meaning was to use Wujiang as a test to evaluate Zhang Ruochen's level.
Xue Jue War God pondered for a moment, then said, "Alright, I'll bet with you. If you lose, I don't want your Supreme Sacred Artifact. Just agree to the marriage alliance."
"Fine, it's settled."
Luo Yan laughed inwardly. Even if I agree, what does it matter? If Luo Sha disagrees, the so-called marriage alliance naturally becomes void.
Tianyin watched the two of them and gently shook her head.
...
The Nether God Ancestor that Wujiang had condensed came from a legend.
It was said that in the extremely ancient past, the first powerful being to transform from a Ghost Clan member into a Nether Clan member was the ancestor of all Nether Clan. The Nether God Ancestor referred to him.
Of course, the era of the Nether God Ancestor had passed countless tens of thousands of years. Even the gods did not know what kind of person he was, or even whether he was truly the first cultivator to transform into the Nether Clan.
The only evidence proving the existence of the Nether God Ancestor was the eight volumes of the "Nether Scripture." Some said it was written by the Nether God Ancestor in his later years, summarizing his lifelong cultivation achievements.
Others said the eight volumes of the "Nether Scripture" were compiled by an ancient sage of the Nether Clan tens of millions of years ago, forming a comprehensive cultivation text.
Of course, in various legends, the eight volumes of the "Nether Scripture" could not be separated from the Nether God Ancestor and were certainly closely related to him.
Any single volume of the "Nether Scripture" could rival the techniques on the "Taiyi Divine Skill Ranking."
The Nether Clan once had an ancient prophecy: if someone could merge the eight volumes of the "Nether Scripture" into one and cultivate to the peak, they would have a chance to find the secret of eternal life.
Eternal life was the thought that could most move the hearts of the gods.
In pursuit of the secret of eternal life, they would give everything.
Unfortunately, no one had succeeded since ancient times.
Now, the Hell Realm only had six volumes of the "Nether Scripture," with the Darkness Temple possessing four volumes. The other two volumes had been lost many years ago.
The eight volumes of the "Nether Scripture" would never be merged again.
Wujiang, with his own strength, simultaneously cultivated two volumes of the "Nether Scripture"—the "Nether Realm Volume" and the "Nether Ancestor Volume"—equivalent to cultivating two techniques from the "Taiyi Divine Skill Ranking."
At this moment, the Nether Realm Kingdom and the Nether God Ancestor he manifested were the most concrete expressions of these two volumes.
"Boom, rumble."
Zhang Ruochen propped up the Truth Realm Form, Space Domain, and Virtual Time Domain, using three eternal Daos to resist the Nether Realm Kingdom. The Immovable Wisdom King Saintly Form fought endlessly with the Nether God Ancestor's phantom, with divine power surging like waves.
The huge gap in realm exposed Zhang Ruochen's disadvantage.
In this battle, Zhang Ruochen could never gain the upper hand.
Of course, maintaining the current state, Zhang Ruochen was confident he would not lose. But the current state consumed too much sacred Qi, and a prolonged battle would be very unfavorable for him.
"I can't continue like this, or I will definitely lose."
Just as this thought flashed through Zhang Ruochen's mind, a sharp pain struck every part of his body, as if every inch of flesh was being pricked by needles.
The sacred blood within him rapidly drained away.
"Not good, it's the Blood Devouring Curse."
Wujiang's advantage of having a spiritual power of the sixty-sixth rank also manifested. While maintaining peak combat power, he could still cast curses. This was something Zhang Ruochen could not do at this stage.
In an instant, one-tenth of Zhang Ruochen's sacred blood had drained away.
"Way of Truth, tenfold attack power."
Zhang Ruochen's Truth Realm Form shone brightly, with countless starry shadows releasing powerful energy fluctuations.
But before the power of truth could be applied to him, it was swallowed by the dark power derived from the Nether God Kingdom, dissipating into nothingness.
Zhang Ruochen's power quickly waned, and two-tenths of his sacred blood had drained away.
"Wujiang is so shrewd. Since he released the Nether Realm Kingdom, he certainly won't give me the chance to mobilize the rules of truth and unleash tenfold attack power. Since that's the case, I have to fight to the death."
Zhang Ruochen knew very well that if his sacred blood drained too severely, his body would rapidly weaken, and he might not even have the chance to leave alive today.
Of course, at this moment, he could choose to flee. With his mastery of time and space, Wujiang would definitely not be able to stop him.
But if he fled, he would be handing over the severely injured Zuo Mu Shengjun to Wujiang, letting him gain millions of points for nothing.
Zhang Ruochen's chance to lead the Blood Heaven Tribe and the Undying Blood Clan to first place would become extremely slim.
Secondly, if he fled, what about Yu Huang and Mo Yin?
Just then, Zhang Ruochen sensed Bore's presence on the dark star. He felt both puzzled and more determined.
Some unknown psychology was at play. The thought of losing to Wujiang in front of Bore made him unbearably uncomfortable.
"Fight! No matter what, I must not lose. As long as I can merge the Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent with the Immovable Wisdom King Saintly Form and fully unleash the power through the Divine Demon Prison Suppression, I can definitely break the Nether Realm Kingdom."
Three-tenths of Zhang Ruochen's sacred blood had drained away, and his body was already feeling weak.
But the weakness was driven away by his powerful battle intent. Zhang Ruochen, as if nothing was wrong, activated the Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent and forcefully tried to merge it with the Immovable Wisdom King Saintly Form and the Divine Demon Prison Suppression.
Failure!
Failure!
...
...
He tried ten times in a row, all ending in failure.
Although Zhang Ruochen had cultivated the Sacred Intent and also the Thousand Questions-level high-rank sacred art, he lacked the time to refine and deeply understand them. Merging the two was naturally as difficult as ascending to heaven.
Wujiang sensed the powerful fluctuation of the Sacred Intent on Zhang Ruochen.
That fluctuation of Sacred Intent was far stronger than the one he had cultivated.
"Could Bore's guesses be true? Did Zhang Ruochen cultivate a second-rank Sacred Intent? This... how is this possible..."
Wujiang knew the terror of Sacred Intent well. If Zhang Ruochen really had a second-rank Sacred Intent, it would pose a great threat to him. So, he channeled even more powerful force to attack Zhang Ruochen.
Four-tenths of Zhang Ruochen's sacred blood had drained away. He had activated the Sacred Intent twenty-seven times, but all ended in failure.
At this moment, he was on the edge of life and death, stimulating his potential.
In the Divine Realm World, Luo Yan said, "Whether human or Undying Blood Clan, blood Qi is very important. If half of the sacred blood is drained, no matter how strong Zhang Ruochen's will is, he cannot continue to hold on. Sigh!"
Luo Yan was not gloating; instead, he let out a sigh.
Opposing the marriage between Zhang Ruochen and Luo Sha was one thing, but Luo Yan actually hoped that a benchmark figure like Zhang Ruochen could emerge among the living beings of the Hell Realm, setting a banner for all living beings and also suppressing the various dead clans.
If Zhang Ruochen died in the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, it would not be a good thing for all living beings in the Hell Realm.
The struggle between the living and the dead, and the distinctions among the lower three clans, middle three clans, upper three clans, and the supreme clan, were matters that even the gods cared about.
If Zhang Ruochen rose, it would have extraordinary significance for all living beings in the Hell Realm.
Xue Jue War God's divine eyes were fixed on the Gate of Destiny behind the Divine Venerable of Fortune and Blessing. Unconsciously, strands of divine power surged from his hands.
Luo Yan glanced sideways, surprised. Was Xue Jue planning to charge into the Hunting Heaven Battlefield to save Zhang Ruochen's life?
The rules of the Hunting Heaven Battlefield could not be broken by anyone.
For this reason, even Ghost Lord could only watch as Xu died before his eyes.
Even if Xue Jue War God truly had the intention to enter the Hunting Heaven Battlefield, how could Ghost Lord and the others allow it?
"Zhang Ruochen, everything should end now. Let me send you off on your final journey. Your fate and the achievements of your years of cultivation will become my bridal dress, making me the most dazzling new star of this eon."
Wujiang sensed that half of Zhang Ruochen's sacred blood had drained away, so he manipulated the Nether God Ancestor's phantom to unleash his strongest attack.
"Nether God's Wrath."
The Nether God Ancestor's phantom let out a long roar, its mouth growing wider and wider, turning into a black hole a hundred miles in diameter, flying toward the Immovable Wisdom King Saintly Form and Zhang Ruochen.
Wherever the black hole passed, the Truth Realm Form, Space Domain, and Virtual Time Domain all shattered, and all power was swallowed up.
At this moment, in the various Divine Realm Worlds, the gods did not blink, clearly paying close attention to the outcome of this battle. Some gods even showed a hint of a smile on their faces.
Only great saints of Zhang Ruochen and Wujiang's level could move the hearts of the gods.
Because they not only had the potential to become gods but, if they survived, would become powerful beings in the divine realm.
"Thirty-ninth time, Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent, merge! I want to shatter everything before me!"
Zhang Ruochen had already transformed into the form of the Undying Blood Clan, gritting his teeth, his two fangs showing a fierce appearance, his eyes emitting a crimson glow, and strange blood patterns appearing on his pale, paper-like face.
The massive black hole was already close at hand.
Zhang Ruochen stood like a speck of light at the edge of the black hole. Suddenly, the Immovable Wisdom King Saintly Form, which was about to shatter, burst forth with dazzling light once more. A Yin-Yang Taiji imprint manifested before Zhang Ruochen, slowly rotating, several times larger than the black hole.
"Finally... succeeded!"