Chapter 2327: Going to Invite in Person
"Remind me when one hour is up."
Zhang Ruochen's figure merged into space and vanished.
In reality, Zhang Ruochen had not left; he had entered his own Space Domain. The Space Domain he had cultivated was not an ordinary domain but a True Domain.
A Space True Domain falls under the category of Space Domains yet surpasses the vast majority of them. It is like the difference between the Gate of True Self and the Gate of Fate within the Path of Fate.
Once he released the Space True Domain, Zhang Ruochen's control over space greatly increased, allowing him to achieve absolute self-mastery.
However, the Space True Domain Zhang Ruochen had condensed could only reach a diameter of one hundred zhang. In battles at the Great Saint level, its effectiveness was less than that of a Space Domain.
Wind Queen stared at the spot where Zhang Ruochen's figure had disappeared, a flicker of doubt and contemplation passing through her eyes. She then took a few steps forward.
"Oh?"
She discovered that she seemed to be walking in place, the distance between her and where Zhang Ruochen had stood remaining unchanged.
She took a few more steps.
The result was the same.
"Could it be the legendary Space True Domain?" Wind Queen murmured to herself.
Only a Space True Domain could leave her perplexed, forcing her to walk in place. An ordinary Space Domain was not so mysterious.
A Space True Domain could only be cultivated by the most top-tier Space Path cultivators. With it, one could counter a Fate Path cultivator's Gate of Fate or a Truth Path cultivator's Truth Realm Form.
During the ten years inside the Dark Star, Zhang Ruochen's Space Rules had increased significantly, naturally elevating his Space True Domain to a higher level.
Within the Space True Domain.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Purple Gold Gourd and probed it with his Spiritual Power. He found that Zuo Mu Shengjun had been completely refined, transformed into Space Purple Rain, and fully integrated with the gourd.
The inner space of the gourd, which previously had a diameter of about twenty thousand li and could hold a planet, had now increased in volume several times.
"If I get the chance, I must make a trip to Haishi Xingwu. If I can find enough of the other six colors of Space Rain Liquid, the inner space of the Purple Gold Gourd might grow as large as a star. Then, absorbing the heavens and earth would be no problem."
From the gourd, Zhang Ruochen released Da Senluo Huang.
Because part of his soul had been devoured by the Ghost Head Whip, he was still unconscious.
Zhang Ruochen placed his hand on Da Senluo Huang's head and erased his memory once more.
A Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saint could play a significant role on the Heaven Hunting Battlefield, so Zhang Ruochen was naturally reluctant to kill him.
"Wake up."
Zhang Ruochen slapped his forehead, sending a stream of cool Saint Qi into his body.
Da Senluo Huang's body convulsed, and he woke up, feeling a splitting headache. He pressed his hands to the ground, panting heavily, and said in confusion, "Where is this place? Who am I... uh... and who are you?"
"Mo Yin, go tell him who he is," Zhang Ruochen said.
Vines extended from Zhang Ruochen's back, coalescing into a seductive woman. She grabbed Da Senluo Huang and dragged him aside.
Zhang Ruochen took out fourteen Monarch Sacred Artifacts. These were the war weapons seized by Zuo Mu Shengjun after capturing the fourteen Ghost Clan Great Saints.
The fourteen Ghost Clan Great Saints had fled too hastily, leaving their war weapons behind, all of which Mo Yin had collected.
Most were Second-rank Monarch Sacred Artifacts. Zhang Ruochen glanced at them briefly before setting them aside, uninterested.
Then, from the Purple Gold Gourd, Zhang Ruochen released the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron.
In his view, this bronze cauldron was the greatest gain from entering the Dark Star.
The cauldron landed on the ground, sinking deep into the earth. Black gaseous patterns enveloped it, giving it an air of mystery, antiquity, evil, and ferocity. Facing it, Zhang Ruochen felt as if he were standing before an evil god, on the verge of being devoured at any moment.
Zhang Ruochen released his Truth Realm Form, activating the Yin-Yang Five Elements Sacred Intent. Carefully, he once again broke through the gaseous patterns to thoroughly examine the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron.
This cauldron was somewhat strange.
Inside, there were no King-level Inscription Runes or Supreme Inscription Runes. Instead, it was densely engraved with beast-shaped patterns—golden birds spreading their wings, red centipedes coiling, phoenixes dancing in the sky—countless beast patterns, all containing a wondrous charm that Zhang Ruochen found difficult to analyze.
"Could it be a Divine Artifact?"
Zhang Ruochen had come into contact with Divine Artifacts before, such as the Emperor Divine Ruler.
But his understanding of Divine Artifacts was still very limited.
It was said that the Divine Patterns inside each Divine Artifact were unique, created by seizing the essence of heaven and earth, one of a kind. Even gods found it difficult to comprehend the mysteries of the patterns within Divine Artifacts.
Great Saints who comprehended the patterns inside Divine Artifacts could increase their chances of becoming gods.
"No, it shouldn't be a Divine Artifact. Divine Artifacts are extremely rare. Since Bore knew the origin of the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron, how could the gods not know? If the gods knew, wouldn't they have claimed it for themselves?"
"Although the beast patterns inside the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron are profound, they probably haven't reached the level of Divine Pattern Inscriptions."
Zhang Ruochen sent a strand of his Spiritual Will to communicate with the artifact spirit of the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron, but received no response.
Inside the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron, there was an independent inner space filled with mist and flashes of light, likely where the artifact spirit resided.
Zhang Ruochen dared not easily probe his Spiritual Power inside. If the cauldron had an artifact spirit that was asleep, waking it could have unpredictable consequences.
If the artifact spirit was too powerful, the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron might break free from his control and fly away.
"I'll wait until I leave the battlefield and let Mother handle it. That would be safest."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze then shifted to the cauldron's lid. He hesitated, wondering whether to open it and see what pill was being refined inside.
In the end, he restrained himself.
Back then, a single beam of Dan Qi light had sent him flying. If the pill inside was an Emperor-grade Sacred Pill, opening the lid would be suicide, as he would surely be devoured by it.
Generally speaking, an Emperor-grade Sacred Pill's combat power could almost reach the level of a Supreme Realm Great Saint.
The Emperor-grade Sacred Intent Pill refined by the Yama Clan's Tai Shang was also at the Supreme Realm Great Saint level, but most of its power had been sealed, reducing it to the level of a Thousand Questions Realm peak Great Saint.
"Space Freeze."
Zhang Ruochen spread his hands, releasing Space Rules to freeze the space around the Six Directions Heavenly Venerable Cauldron, forming a sealed space box four meters high.
He then retrieved it back into the Purple Gold Gourd, storing it safely.
"One hour is up."
Yu Huang's voice reached Zhang Ruochen's ears.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his Space True Domain, reappearing in the courtyard. He asked, "How many have arrived?"
Yu Huang said, "Aside from Wind Queen and the cultivators of the Yellow Heaven Tribe, not a single one has come. Instead, during this hour, several Great Saints have left our clan star, claiming to go out and hunt Heavenly Slaves."
"It seems they still don't take us seriously," Zhang Ruochen said.
A cold light flickered in Yu Huang's eyes. "In the end, in the eyes of the cultivators of the Ten Tribes, old stalwarts like Dao Yu Huang and Wind Queen are the true powerhouses. The Qi Tian Tribe and the Yellow Heaven Tribe are the top tribes. Dao Yu Huang and Wind Queen are the ones with the influence to rally others."
"Although we've risen in recent days, many are unwilling to accept this reality, so naturally, they refuse to obey."
Wind Queen hadn't expected this either. She said, "Let me summon them—"
"No."
Zhang Ruochen said meaningfully, "I'll go and invite them in person."
Before he finished speaking, Zhang Ruochen had transformed into a beam of golden light, soaring into the sky.
Wind Queen didn't think that Zhang Ruochen, with his current strength, would personally go to invite a group of weaklings. She quickly used her Spiritual Power to send messages to the cultivators of the tribes she had good relations with.
On Jingtian Continent.
Inside a Blood Clan city, Dao Yu Huang's Spiritual Power Doppelganger was in a secret meeting with Yue Tinghai.
Dense Blood Fiend Qi enveloped the room, preventing sound from leaking out.
Dao Yu Huang spoke in a reproachful tone, "What's going on? With your Hundred Shackles Great Perfection cultivation, attacking a Blood Heaven Continent should have been a sure thing. Yet you failed. You've disappointed me greatly."
Yue Tinghai was also in a bad mood. He said coldly, "Did you think the Blood Heaven Continent had no experts guarding it? Last night, the Blood Heaven Tribe produced another Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saint."
"Who?"
"Gu Chen Zi."
Dao Yu Huang fell silent, pacing back and forth. "How is this possible? How could the Blood Heaven Tribe suddenly produce so many Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saints? Could it be related to the Divine Travel Pills that Xue Tu bought back? Even with the help of Divine Travel Pills, Yi Xuan and Gu Chen Zi would need at least a hundred years of bitter cultivation to reach Hundred Shackles Great Perfection."
Yue Tinghai said, "You'd better come back quickly. Just now, Zhang Ruochen sent someone to order all cultivators of the Ten Tribes to go to the Blood Heaven Continent to pay him homage. It seems the position of Blood Heaven Tribe leader is no longer enough for him. He wants to become the leader of the entire Undying Blood Clan."
Dao Yu Huang chuckled. "Zhang Ruochen is still too young. A single great victory has gone to his head. The cultivators of the other nine tribes won't listen to him. Let's see how he handles this."
Yue Tinghai also smiled. "As far as I know, aside from Wind Queen, not a single cultivator from the other eight tribes has gone."
Dao Yu Huang snorted. "Wind Queen is shortsighted. Betting on Zhang Ruochen will only lead to total loss. The Blood Heaven Tribe may seem at its peak now, but once Wu Jiang and Lan Ying free up their hands, they'll be the first to be dealt with. Zhang Ruochen won't last long."
Suddenly, the Blood Fiend Qi in the room violently churned.
A deep voice sounded above Yue Tinghai and Dao Yu Huang's heads: "Yue Tinghai, you manipulated the tsunami, intending to massacre Undying Blood Clan members. What crime do you plead?"
"It's Zhang Ruochen."
Dao Yu Huang muttered, his gaze fixed on Yue Tinghai. "Did you leave any traces from last night?"
Yue Tinghai's expression remained unchanged as he shook his head.
"Then there's nothing to fear. The gods are watching. I'll leave first. Handle this properly." Dao Yu Huang's Spiritual Power Doppelganger dissipated into nothing.
Yue Tinghai walked out of the room, looked up at Zhang Ruochen hovering in midair, and smiled. "If Ruochen Great Saint has no evidence, don't spout baseless accusations. The Myriad Realm Divine Eye is watching here; all of Hell Realm is watching. Don't make a fool of yourself."
Zhang Ruochen spread his ten wings, golden light blazing behind him, even the clouds in the sky turning gold. "Do you think I came to argue with you or reason with you? I'm here to tell you today that my fists are harder, and you must listen to me. If you don't, I'll kill you."
"Boom."
A surge of overwhelming Saint Might erupted from Zhang Ruochen, intensifying the golden light until it was like a divine sun hanging in the sky.
In the city, all Undying Blood Clan cultivators were crushed to their knees, trembling in fear.
Even the Great Saint-level experts of the Jingtian Tribe felt as if countless mountains were pressing down on them, their legs shaking, unable to control their knees.
Yue Tinghai also felt the pressure, his legs sinking deeper into the ground. Shock filled his heart.
Zhang Ruochen's strength was greater than he had imagined.
However, as a Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saint, he couldn't show fear before a fight. He still maintained a strong tone. "Zhang Ruochen, you're too arrogant. I see you're deliberately trying to incite internal strife. Your Blood Heaven Tribe may be strong, but if you start internal conflict, you'll be a sinner of the Undying Blood Clan."
"Heh, still not convinced, huh?"
Zhang Ruochen's cold laugh rang out as he transformed into a golden light, diving down and punching toward Yue Tinghai.
Yue Tinghai's reaction speed was not slow, but compared to Zhang Ruochen's speed, it was far too lacking. His hand had only just extended when Zhang Ruochen's fist struck it, pressing it against his chest, breaking the joints of his arm bones.
"Bang."
Yue Tinghai's body bent backward, his feet leaving the ground as he flew backward, crashing through building after building in the city. After flying dozens of li, he slammed into the city wall, collapsing a large section of it.
"So... strong..."
Yue Tinghai's body ached as if it were falling apart. He lay on the ground like a dismantled frame. He had just begun to mobilize his Blood Fiend Qi when it hadn't even completed a single cycle through his body.
Zhang Ruochen descended from the sky, landing beside him. He grabbed his neck, lifting him like a chicken.
"Boom."
He slammed him hard into the ground, creating a crater dozens of meters wide.
The entire earth trembled, dust flying.
Yue Tinghai spat blood, flesh peeling from his bones and flying away. His eyes were pitch black, and he was on the verge of fainting from the pain.
In the nearby city, the Great Saints of the Jingtian Tribe were terrified. This great demon, Zhang Ruochen, was too fearsome. Yue Tinghai, the strongest of the Jingtian Tribe, had no chance to fight back.
The millions of Undying Blood Clan cultivators in the city knelt even more uniformly, kowtowing and trembling.
"Still not dead? Your life is quite tenacious."
Zhang Ruochen lifted Yue Tinghai, transforming into a golden light, and flew back to Yun City, the largest city on the Blood Heaven Continent.
He threw Yue Tinghai down from midair.
Yue Tinghai was, after all, a Hundred Shackles Great Perfection Great Saint with immense strength and deep cultivation. In a very short time, he suppressed his injuries.
He flipped his body, landing steadily on the ground, gritting his bloodied teeth and roaring, "That was because you were too fast earlier; I didn't react in time. If you have the guts, fight me again."
The Great Saint blood within Yue Tinghai burned, his power fluctuations intensifying. He was willing to sacrifice his potential to salvage his dignity.
Zhang Ruochen stood on the city wall, speaking indifferently, "You're not qualified to fight me. Kneel and reflect. When you've figured things out, you may get up."
"Rumble."
Thunder roared in the sky.
Countless bolts of lightning interwove into the form of a handprint several thousand meters long, pressing down onto Yue Tinghai's head. Yue Tinghai let out a long roar, using all his strength to hold up the lightning handprint.
"Kneel." Zhang Ruochen shouted.
This shout carried a Spiritual Power shockwave.
...
That's all for today's chapter!