Chapter 2352: Ten Dragon Souls
On the rhombus mirror, the Yama Clan's points plummeted from twenty-five million to fourteen million.
The Undying Blood Clan's points also dropped from twenty-three million to twenty million, temporarily ranking first among the ten clans.
The Shura Clan, in third place, saw a slight decrease in points as well, but their total still exceeded the Yama Clan's, reaching around seventeen million.
Inside the city lord's mansion.
Zhang Ruochen sat at the highest seat in the hall, gazing at the rankings and data on the rhombus mirror. "The Yama Clan lost eleven million points, likely due to the massive death toll among their members."
"But why were we docked three million points?"
Feng Hou sat to Zhang Ruochen's right and said, "When we invaded the Yama Clan's home star, every Yama Clan Great Saint we attacked cost us five thousand points."
Zhang Ruochen said, "We attacked no more than three hundred Yama Clan Great Saints. That should only cost us one point five million at most. How did we lose three million?"
Dao Yu Huang let out an awkward expression. "It was me. I accidentally killed two Yama Clan Great Saints, costing us one million points."
"I killed one too," Feng Hou added.
On the Heaven Hunting Battlefield, maliciously attacking a Hell Realm Great Saint cost five thousand points.
Maliciously killing a Hell Realm Great Saint cost five hundred thousand points.
If points fell into the negative, one would be directly expelled from the battlefield.
This was a rule set by the Destiny Temple to prevent large-scale mutual slaughter.
Zhang Ruochen checked Dao Yu Huang's and Feng Hou's points on the rhombus mirror.
He saw that Feng Hou had only seventy thousand points left.
Dao Yu Huang's points were even more pitiful, reduced to just eight hundred.
In other words, Dao Yu Huang was now effectively crippled, unable to attack any cultivator.
If he did, he would lose five thousand points.
If his points went negative, the Myriad Realm Divine Eye would expel him from the Heaven Hunting Battlefield.
It could be said that although this battle seemed like a great victory for the Undying Blood Clan, it was a narrow one. Feng Hou and Dao Yu Huang had come dangerously close to being expelled.
Dao Yu Huang suddenly stood up, grabbed his war blade, and headed out. "I'll go hunt Heavenly Slaves now to earn points. I'll make up for the lost points as quickly as possible and won't hold the Undying Blood Clan back."
"Wait."
Zhang Ruochen stopped him. "In the battle on the Yama Clan's home star, it was a life-or-death situation. No one could fully control their power. Killing one or two Great Saints is understandable."
Dao Yu Huang had expected Zhang Ruochen to seize this opportunity to harshly punish him, seeking revenge.
But contrary to expectations, the notoriously ruthless Zhang Ruochen let him off.
The more lenient Zhang Ruochen was, the more uneasy Dao Yu Huang felt.
"Don't be so tense. Our top priority right now is indeed hunting Heavenly Slaves. But not just you going alone—we'll go together."
Zhang Ruochen gestured for Dao Yu Huang to return to his seat and continue the discussion.
Dao Yu Huang cautiously walked back, trying to maintain a composed and fierce demeanor. "Going together might not be wise. We just fought a bloody battle on the Yama Clan's home star; they'll definitely retaliate."
"Moreover, the Undying Blood Clan now ranks first among the ten clans, putting us in the spotlight. The other nine clans will likely want to invade our home star and wipe us out."
"Anyone can go out to hunt Heavenly Slaves, but you, Ruochen Great Saint, must stay and guard our home star. Only with you here can we ensure nothing goes wrong."
Feng Hou's beautiful eyes grew deep, and she nodded. "Dao Yu Huang is right. Only your presence can serve as a deterrent."
"It's not just because of your immense strength. It's also because you're outside the rules of the Heaven Hunting Battle. Attacking or killing any Great Saint won't cost you points. Who would dare provoke you lightly?"
On the rhombus mirror, Zhang Ruochen's personal points remained at ten million eight hundred forty thousand, accounting for half of the Undying Blood Clan's total.
Across the entire Heaven Hunting Battlefield, Zhang Ruochen ranked first in personal points.
He had attacked many Great Saints on the Yama Clan's home star, yet not a single point was deducted.
Now, almost every cultivator knew that Zhang Ruochen was beyond the rules.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "No, we must act quickly and conquer the various dark stars. At this stage, the Yama Clan has suffered heavy losses and is busy licking their wounds. They won't be able to organize a large-scale attack on the Undying Blood Clan's home star anytime soon."
"Cultivators from other clans are still focused on seeking opportunities on their own home stars. Moreover, they'd rather watch the Yama Clan and Undying Blood Clan tear each other apart before making a move."
"Besides, there's another crucial reason: the Chi Emperor of the Ten Thousand Deaths One Life Realm has yet to reveal himself. No one knows where he's hiding."
"So, I must go hunt Heavenly Slaves. If I encounter the Chi Emperor, at least I can hold him off."
"Yu Huang and Feng Hou will stay behind to guard our home star, which should ensure everything is secure."
The Undying Blood Clan cultivators present were all Hundred Shackles Realm powerhouses, the top-tier combatants.
They all nodded in agreement with Zhang Ruochen's analysis.
Feng Hou furrowed her willow-leaf-like brows. "Why do I have to stay behind? My points are too low; I need to go out and hunt Heavenly Slaves."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Your task is crucial. You must stay and guard our home star."
"Right now, our biggest threat is Yan Huangtu."
"In the battle on the Yama Clan's home star, he was the least injured, but he lost all face. He must harbor a deep hatred for the Undying Blood Clan and might come alone to annihilate our people on the home star."
Yu Huang snorted lightly. "Yan Huangtu is strong, but I'm confident that alone, he can't break through the defensive formation of the Undying Blood Clan's home star."
Zhang Ruochen said, "What if Yan Huangtu uses transformation techniques to disguise himself as an Undying Blood Clan Great Saint? Or uses other secret arts to infiltrate our home star?"
Yu Huang fell silent, deep in thought.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "Only you, Feng Hou, who cultivates the Path of Fate, and I, who cultivate the Way of Truth, can see through those who try to sneak into our home star. That's why Feng Hou must stay."
"Fine. I'll temporarily guard the home star and personally watch over the gates of the star-protecting formation. No outsider will set foot on this planet."
Then, Feng Hou spoke with a tone of concern, "How are your injuries? Why not rest for two days before conquering the dark stars?"
Her voice was exceptionally soft and pleasing.
Any man hearing such concern and seeing Feng Hou's pitiful eyes would have their heart melted.
Yu Huang's eyes, however, were full of disdain. She muttered to herself, barely audibly, "Hypocrite."
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's fine. Give me half a day to stabilize my injuries. You all may leave. Gather the Great Saints from the major tribes. In half a day, we'll depart from the city and use the Space Teleportation Array to go directly to the first dark star."
The cultivators from the ten major tribes withdrew one after another, busily preparing for battle.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Yu Huang, who was still sitting in her chair. "Why are you still here? Have nothing to do? In the near future, the Undying Blood Clan's home star will face an extremely brutal war. The formations you set up might play a critical role."
Yu Huang's stunning face was as cold as ice, expressionless. "I stayed only to remind you not to be blinded by beauty. Don't think your charm is irresistible and that you can easily win a woman's heart. She might just be using you."
Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but laugh. "You mean Feng Hou?"
"I wouldn't dare slander the future Destiny Goddess, but..."
Yu Huang's gem-like eyes locked with Zhang Ruochen's. "Feng Hou has such a noble status, pure bloodline, and the potential to become a god. Even gods would want to marry her. Once she becomes the Destiny Goddess, she'll have even more choices. How could she possibly fall for you? Your identity is too special."
"Didn't you just say you wouldn't dare slander the future Destiny Goddess?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Yu Huang snorted again. "Did she promise you something?"
"How do you know?" Zhang Ruochen asked, still nonchalant.
"You gave her two Blood Shadow Ghost Seeds, including a Sacred Blood Shadow. If you weren't completely infatuated with her, how could you make such a foolish decision?" Yu Huang said, almost scolding him.
Zhang Ruochen said, "She said that whether or not she becomes the Destiny Goddess, she would marry me and be my wife. Such a promise would move any man."
"If she becomes the Goddess, she'll have to sever all emotions for a thousand years. After stepping down from that position, with her status as a former Destiny Goddess, even War God-level figures would want to marry her. Do you really think you can win her over? She's playing you for a fool, and you don't even realize it." Yu Huang said.
Zhang Ruochen touched his forehead. "What you say makes sense, but what does it have to do with you? Why are you angrier than I am?"
Yu Huang stared at Zhang Ruochen, speechless.
Zhang Ruochen added, "I gave you a Supreme Sacred Artifact. Does that mean I'm infatuated with you too? Are you playing me for a fool?"
"I'm different from her," Yu Huang said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand. "Leave now. Remember, don't meddle in others' affairs. If Feng Hou finds out what you told me today, it might bring you deadly trouble. Women have narrow minds."
Yu Huang stood up, flicked her sleeve, and walked out coldly.
"Wait."
Zhang Ruochen's voice came from behind.
Yu Huang stopped. "What else?"
"I have one last Sacred Blood Shadow left. Take it and refine it. Refining a Sacred Blood Shadow not only enhances your blood energy and sacred soul but also boosts your spiritual power. It should help you a lot."
Zhang Ruochen took out the Sacred Blood Shadow, which turned into a mass of blood light, and sent it flying toward Yu Huang.
Yu Huang caught the Sacred Blood Shadow in her palm. Her beautiful eyes were filled with shock, confusion, bewilderment, and even a hint of panic.
Since childhood, aside from her deceased brother and the Xia Clan's ancestor, Zhang Ruochen was the only one who had been kind to her. He casually gave her rare treasures that even gods would covet.
If he wasn't foolish, he must have ulterior motives.
"What... what are you trying to do? What do you mean?"
Yu Huang's voice trembled as she spoke softly.
She wanted to say, if you're trying to buy loyalty, go buy Dao Yu Huang, or Yi Xuan Great Saint, or Gu Chenzi. They all have god-level backers. Her Xia Clan's god ancestor had already fallen and couldn't offer much support.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Emperor-grade Sacred Will Pill, holding it in his palm to study it carefully without looking at her. "You are important. Raise your spiritual power as quickly as possible. If you can break through to the sixty-fifth level, that would be best."
"Oh, and you're not just a formation master but also a rune master. So, besides the formation masters, I'll also assign the Undying Blood Clan's rune masters to you. You must defend the Undying Blood Clan's home star well. If you fail, don't expect any more good things from me."
In the Hell Realm, Zhang Ruochen trusted very few people.
Yu Huang was one worth investing significant resources in.
But her temperament still needed refinement.
Guarding the home star this time was a test for her.
After Yu Huang withdrew, Zhang Ruochen put away the Emperor-grade Sacred Will Pill. As he had estimated, the pill spirit's will had been refined, but the energy inside was too vast for his current cultivation to handle.
If he swallowed it, he would surely explode.
He would likely need to reach the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm, break all his shackles, and fully awaken his demigod body before he could withstand it.
Next, Zhang Ruochen closed his eyes and examined the ten dragon souls flowing through his saintly meridians.
The ten cyan dragon souls emitted an icy aura, circulating through his saintly meridians in cycles, driving back the divine flames surging from the Blazing God Leg.
It was these ten dragon souls, appearing from nowhere, that had saved Zhang Ruochen's life.
Otherwise, the consequences would have been dire.
Now, observing closely, Zhang Ruochen noticed that the ten cyan dragon souls were identical, each with a character "卍" on its head. The aura they emitted was not saintly.
It was divine.
The auras of the ten cyan dragon souls originated from the same source.
"Could it be that a divine dragon split into ten strands of dragon soul?"
Zhang Ruochen's heart was greatly shaken.
Because each strand of dragon soul emitted an aura no weaker than a Thousand Questions Realm dragon soul.
"Could this be related to the opportunity on the Yama Clan's home star? No, the opportunities on each home star should be extraordinary. How could it be just ten strands of divine dragon soul?"
Ten Thousand Questions Realm dragon souls were indeed remarkable for a Great Saint.
But for a divine dragon, they were probably like ten scales on its body.
"Never mind. Since I've obtained ten dragon souls, I'll refine them first. Perhaps they can elevate the power of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm to a new level," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
...
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