Chapter 2348: Escape
On the Arctic Glacier Continent.
Dark demon clouds covered the sky, and cold night rain dripped without end.
The raindrops could pierce through mountains and penetrate the hardest rocks.
"Crack!"
Occasionally, lightning streaked across the sky, like a bright heavenly blade traversing a thousand miles before dissipating into nothingness.
This land, whether Buddha realm or demon domain, had become even more perilous.
In the darkness not far from Sleep Buddha Mountain, Mo Yin, Feng Hou, Dao Yu Huang, Yue Ting Hai, and Da Sen Luo Huang stood within a concealment formation, gazing into the distance at Dragon Crow Copper Temple. They had not followed Zhang Ruochen into the temple but had hidden themselves at the foot of the mountain.
Dao Yu Huang's expression was sinister, his eyes deep and unfathomable. "Three hours have passed."
"Zhang Ruochen was still too reckless. If he had brought us into the copper temple, the danger would have been much lower. How can he, alone, contend with notorious powerhouses like Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu?" Feng Hou said with a light sigh, her golden veil covering her face.
Even though Zhang Ruochen had defeated Wu Jiang, she still did not believe he could stand on equal footing with Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu. Snatching food from a tiger's mouth was never easy.
Yue Ting Hai's voice was low. "Perhaps he deliberately chose not to bring us along. After all, the Bright Mirror Platform and the Buddha Relic can only be enjoyed alone, not shared equally."
"What nonsense are you spouting?"
Da Sen Luo Huang roared, stepping forward to teach Yue Ting Hai a lesson.
Mo Yin raised her delicate hand, stopping Da Sen Luo Huang, and said with a light laugh, "Even if the master intends to monopolize the Bright Mirror Platform and the Buddha Relic, it's because he has the ability to seize them. If you went, you wouldn't even need Yan Huangtu to act; Yan Zhexian could kill you. What right do you have to criticize the master? Haven't you knelt enough?"
Yue Ting Hai, as the number one powerhouse of the Jingtian Tribe, was revered by tens of thousands and naturally carried a sense of pride. "What are you? Just Zhang Ruochen's servant girl. Do you have the right to reproach me?"
Mo Yin's face was seductive, and she lightly licked her red lips, looking at Yue Ting Hai as if he were prey.
Dao Yu Huang was well aware of how terrifying Mo Yin's cultivation was, so he stepped sideways to block between them and said with a placating smile, "Miss Mo Yin, now that Zhang Ruochen has been missing for so long, we are all worried about his safety. Please consider the bigger picture and don't argue with him."
"Apologize to Miss Mo Yin immediately!"
Yue Ting Hai had heard of Shi Shenghua's strength, but he still felt disdain in his heart. In his view, given the Yama Clan's layout at Dragon Crow Copper Temple and the freakish power of Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu, Zhang Ruochen entering alone would likely not come out alive.
If Zhang Ruochen died, Shi Shenghua would also perish. What was there to fear?
Still, he had to give face to Dao Yu Huang.
So Yue Ting Hai cupped his hands and said perfunctorily, "I misspoke earlier. Please forgive me, Miss Mo Yin."
Dao Yu Huang quickly smoothed things over, laughing, "Miss, you should understand how terrifying Zhang Ruochen's opponents are today. We are all worried. After waiting so long, it's natural to feel restless. That's just human nature."
"You handle things flawlessly," Mo Yin said coldly before turning her gaze back toward Dragon Crow Copper Temple. "Since you all know how powerful Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu are, you should understand that the master didn't take you along because he didn't want you to die."
These words left Dao Yu Huang, Yue Ting Hai, and Feng Hou speechless.
They were indeed top-tier experts below the Thousand Questions Realm, but if Zhang Ruochen had truly brought them to storm Dragon Crow Copper Temple, they would have felt some fear. After all, competing for top-tier treasures would inevitably lead to life-or-death battles.
Engaging in deadly combat with powerhouses like Que, Lan Ying, and Yan Huangtu carried a huge risk of falling.
Feng Hou said, "Yan Huangtu and the Eight Life-and-Death Sons have entered the temple. Yan Zhexian and Xi have set up an inescapable net around the copper temple's periphery. But they are targeting the experts inside the temple and don't know that we have also come to the Yama Clan's home star."
"I believe we can take this opportunity to first break through the Yama Clan's formation. That way, once Zhang Ruochen escapes, he can leave smoothly."
Dao Yu Huang shook his head. "Not a good idea. Outside the copper temple, the Yama Clan has gathered over two hundred Great Saints, including top experts like Yan Zhexian and Xi. At best, we could disrupt their formation temporarily, but they would quickly reorganize."
"I think we must strike at the most opportune moment, coordinating from inside and out, to truly break the Yama Clan's formation."
Feng Hou and Dao Yu Huang's gazes fell on Mo Yin, waiting for her decision.
"I agree with Dao Yu Huang. We wait for the master's signal," she said.
Yue Ting Hai's eyes flickered. "We can't have only one plan. If Zhang Ruochen dies in the copper temple, the Yama Clan's cultivators will immediately set up defenses on their home star. By then, it will be too late to think about how to leave."
Even Dao Yu Huang and Feng Hou couldn't ignore this issue.
If Zhang Ruochen fell, the Undying Blood Clan's plan to compete for the top spot among the ten clans would fail, and they would have to find a way to escape the Yama Clan's home star.
"If you want to run, go ahead. I won't stop you," Mo Yin said coldly.
Yue Ting Hai wanted to leave, but he feared that if Zhang Ruochen escaped alive, he would settle accounts later, and his life would be miserable.
...
Yan Wushen had unleashed the true form of the Naihe Bridge. Even just a segment of it suppressed the space, making it nearly impossible for Zhang Ruochen to move.
On the other side, the Eight Life-and-Death Sons had formed the Undying Indestructible Grand Formation, trapping the severely injured Que. Waves of attacks turned into an ocean of energy, engulfing Que's body.
Yan Huangtu once again faced Lan Ying.
In the earlier battle, Lan Ying had lost a large amount of chaos energy, killing energy, and divine energy, suffering a significant blow. Now, even with the Asura Sword as his body, his attack power had plummeted. Yan Huangtu's Tongtian Ruyi struck the sword body until it was dim and dull, showing signs of being suppressed.
It had to be said that Yan Huangtu's plan was very successful.
If Que, Lan Ying, and Zhang Ruochen were all at full strength, even if the Yama Clan mobilized hundreds of Great Saints to besiege them, they might not be able to hold them.
Yan Wushen's eyes were sharp and bright, and he called out, "Zhang Ruochen, our three previous battles were never satisfying, never truly deciding a winner. How about today we have a truly fair and just duel? The victor lives, the loser dies."
Though suppressed by the Naihe Bridge, Zhang Ruochen revealed a smile. "This is the Yama Clan's home star. I have concerns, while you can fight with full abandon. How is that fair? Besides, this Buddha land resonates with your power, giving you a huge geographical advantage, allowing you to unleash even greater strength. How is that fair?"
Through voice transmission, Zhang Ruochen added in a low voice, "And third, the Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill is already in hand. What point is there in fighting you? A mere stone bridge cannot hold me."
"Sizzle."
Zhang Ruochen's body released a massive amount of Purifying Divine Flame, forming a fiery shield that melted the lock patterns binding him.
His left leg slowly lifted.
Waves of immense divine power surged outward from his leg, creating a majestic and overwhelming presence.
"Bright Leg Technique, One Style Demon Subduing."
Zhang Ruochen used the Blazing God Leg to execute the Thousand Questions-level high-rank sacred art he had cultivated inside the Dark Star, the Bright Leg Technique.
This leg technique was based on power, amplified by the Way of Flame, drawing on the flame rules of heaven and earth to unleash unparalleled destructive force.
Combined with the Blazing God Leg, its power was even greater.
"Boom!"
His left foot came down, instantly crushing the ground into a massive depression, while powerful flame energy surged upward with the dust, breaking the Naihe Bridge's suppression.
Zhang Ruochen spread his ten golden wings and flew out from the golden dust, heading straight for the exit of the golden world.
"Brother Wushen, I'll take my leave first."
With a whoosh, Zhang Ruochen passed through a watery light curtain and left the golden world.
Yan Wushen stared at the hundred-mile-wide crater on the ground, his expression extremely solemn. Zhang Ruochen's kick had left him deeply shaken.
If that kick had been aimed at him instead of the ground, could he have blocked it?
"Zhang Ruochen's cultivation speed is even faster than mine. This time, he's gotten ahead. I must quickly merge the fifth path of the Six Paths Reincarnation Sacred Intent."
Yan Wushen felt immense pressure, and for the first time, a hint of fear arose in his heart.
He feared that he couldn't keep up with Zhang Ruochen's cultivation speed and would be left behind.
If that day came, his state of mind would surely develop a serious flaw, and his already perfected good-evil dual bodies might split apart again.
From now on, he had to work hard.
No!
Not just work hard—he had to push himself to the limit, train relentlessly, and seize every opportunity to grow stronger.
Wasn't Zhang Ruochen always pushing himself to the brink?
His own training environment had been too comfortable.
Yan Wushen gave chase. He couldn't let Zhang Ruochen escape. No matter what, he had to seize the Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill.
...
Outside the gate of Dragon Crow Copper Temple, sixty-one Great Saint Rune Masters and nearly two hundred Yama Clan Great Saints formed layers of encirclement, making the area as tight as an iron barrel.
Led by Yan Zhexian and Xi, over a dozen top-tier Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saints of the Yama Clan gathered together.
"Zhexian, you don't need to be so tense, do you? First of all, can those three even get past Yan Huangtu, Yan Wushen, and the Eight Life-and-Death Sons? Even if they break through and enter the copper temple, how can they get past us?" a Great Saint who had broken ninety-nine shackles said with a laugh.
Xi was clearly confident in the setup outside the copper temple. "Even if it were Que, Lan Ying, or Zhang Ruochen, let alone a Ten Thousand Death One Life Realm Great Saint, they couldn't break through our rune formation, let alone the combined attack formation of one hundred and ninety-eight Great Saints."
"For some reason, I just feel uneasy. I have a feeling something unpredictable is about to happen."
Yan Zhexian's delicate brows furrowed slightly. Her beautiful eyes turned toward the foot of the mountain, a thoughtful expression on her face. "Yan Huangtu pursued Que and took the Eight Life-and-Death Sons. Lan Ying pursued Que and took Hong Foutu. Zhang Ruochen came to the Yama Clan's home star to seize the Emperor Grade Sacred Intent Pill. Why did he come alone?"
"You suspect there are other Undying Blood Clan cultivators who came to the Yama Clan's home star with Zhang Ruochen?" Xi's expression shifted slightly.
Yan Zhexian said, "Ever since I was young, my intuition has always been accurate..."
Just then, a startled cry rang out: "All Great Saints, be on full alert! Zhang Ruochen has come out from inside! Rune Masters, activate the runes! Where is Lady Zhexian? Come take command!"