Chapter 2440: A Single Sword Strike
Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World.
On an eight-hundred-mile blood lake not far from the Blood Absolute Clan, power fluctuations were chaotic. Lightning bolts darted like flood dragons between the sky and water, flames transformed into divine dragons that scorched heaven and earth like a bronze furnace, and fierce winds cut like blades, striking the lake surface with deep, rumbling explosions.
Zhang Ruochen stood leisurely by the lake, gazing at the Abyssal Ancient Sword as it underwent tribulation above the lake’s surface.
It was its third King Tribulation.
The four tribulations—wind, fire, water, and lightning—lasted an entire day. By the time the dark tribulation clouds in the sky dispersed, the eight-hundred-mile blood lake had already dried up, leaving only black scorched earth at the bottom.
"Clang!"
On the blade of the Abyssal Ancient Sword, lightning, fire dragons, water currents, and fierce winds still flowed, emitting a piercing sword hum.
The sound of the sword echoed for a thousand miles.
Zhang Ruochen reached out with his hand and made a grasping motion. The Abyssal Ancient Sword turned into a meteor and flew into his grasp.
On the sword’s body, the four tribulation marks had deepened slightly.
Monarch Sacred Artifacts capable of absorbing tribulation power and condensing tribulation marks were exceedingly rare. These four marks signified the Abyssal Ancient Sword’s extraordinary nature. The divine stone embedded in the hilt radiated pure divine power and constantly absorbed the world’s sacred qi and rules.
Although the Abyssal Ancient Sword was a Three-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact, in Zhang Ruochen’s view, it could unleash power surpassing even a Four-Yuan Monarch Sacred Artifact.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen casually swung the sword.
A purple-black sword qi flew out from before him, tearing the eight-hundred-mile dried lake apart and leaving behind a sword qi canyon ten zhang wide and a thousand miles long.
The Blood Absolute Clan soldiers patrolling nearby saw Zhang Ruochen effortlessly split a thousand miles with a single sword stroke. They straightened their backs, showing reverence and admiration in their eyes. Truly, he was the Eon-level hero who had led the Undying Blood Clan to seize first place in the Heaven Hunting Battle.
"If only I could become a personal guard of the Divine Son Ruochen, I’d surely rise to greatness in the future."
"By kinship, I am the Divine Son Ruochen’s cousin."
"Give it a rest. That relation is far too distant. Are you from the War God’s lineage?"
...
The younger generation of cultivators in the Blood Absolute Clan had almost all recognized Zhang Ruochen’s status and regarded him as the pride of the clan’s new generation. His admirers were countless.
"Hiss."
Not far from Zhang Ruochen, wisps of blood qi gathered, coalescing into the figure of Qingsheng Great Saint.
Zhang Ruochen sensed it, put away the Abyssal Ancient Sword, turned around, and smiled. "Uncle, coming to find me at this time must mean you have good news."
"Both good news and bad news. Which would you like to hear first?" Qingsheng Great Saint said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Let’s start with the good news."
"The Undying Divine Temple has issued your reward: three Quasi-Emperor Sacred Pills and a set of Divine Blood Armor. Additionally, three deities wish to take you as a disciple, and the Blood Emperor Divine Demon Camp has also extended an invitation to you." Qingsheng Great Saint spoke with great envy.
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "I have no interest in taking a master for now. As for the Blood Emperor Divine Demon Camp, it’s somewhat intriguing, but I’m afraid I can’t go at the moment."
The Blood Emperor Divine Demon Camp was the most powerful army under the Undying Divine Temple, composed of elites among the Undying Blood Clan’s Great Saints.
If he went there, he would surely encounter many powerful Great Saints, which would greatly aid in honing his combat techniques.
"I am quite interested in the pills and armor rewarded by the Undying Divine Temple."
"I’ll wait for you in the Council Hall."
Qingsheng Great Saint’s doppelganger dispersed.
Zhang Ruochen used a Great Space Teleportation and left the dried lake.
The Blood Absolute Clan’s formation masters immediately arrived to repair the ecological environment around the dried lake.
Moments later, Zhang Ruochen returned to the Blood Absolute Clan and met Qingsheng Great Saint’s true body in the Council Hall, receiving the three Quasi-Emperor Sacred Pills and the Divine Blood Armor.
The three Quasi-Emperor Sacred Pills were the Thousand Dao Pill, the Desire-Reading Pill, and the Life-and-Death Great Return Pill.
The Thousand Dao Pill was a pill used to help cultivators at the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm cultivate their Dao Domain and break through to the Thousand Questions Realm.
The Desire-Reading Pill was a pill used to help Hundred Shackles Realm cultivators break through the hundredth shackle, the "Desire-Reading Shackle."
The Life-and-Death Great Return Pill was a healing pill used by Great Saints above the Thousand Questions Realm. As long as one still had a breath left, swallowing this pill would allow them to recover from even the most severe injuries in a short time.
The pill spirits of these three Quasi-Emperor Sacred Pills were all comparable to early-stage Thousand Questions Realm Great Saints in cultivation, demonstrating the Undying Divine Temple’s generosity.
Of course, even though they were all Quasi-Emperor Sacred Pills, the combined value of these three was far less than a Quasi-Emperor Sacred Intent Pill.
This was because refining a Sacred Intent Pill to the King grade was already extremely difficult. Only if Tai Shang intervened was there a chance to refine one at the Quasi-Emperor level.
"The Undying Divine Temple is thoughtful. It seems they hope to help me break through to the Thousand Questions Realm as soon as possible."
Zhang Ruochen put away the three Quasi-Emperor Sacred Pills, then studied the Divine Blood Armor before storing it in his Space Ring.
He knew about Divine Blood Armor. It was forged from divine blood and various divine refining materials. Wearing it provided formidable defense and could also unleash divine power, greatly enhancing a cultivator’s combat strength.
However, Zhang Ruochen already possessed several sets of extraordinary armor, none inferior to the Divine Blood Armor.
For example: the Flame God Armor, the Flowing Light Merit Armor...
Thus, the Divine Blood Armor didn’t hold much appeal for him.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Both the Destiny Temple and the Undying Divine Temple have given rewards. Isn’t the Undying Blood Clan’s Clan Leader planning to give any? Shouldn’t the Blood Heaven Tribe also reward me with something?"
"As far as I know, after the Heaven Hunting Battle, the Blood Heaven Tribe’s ranking has risen from tenth to eighth. The Blood Heaven Tribe Wing World seems to have ascended to a higher-level plane. I can feel a noticeable increase in the concentration of blood fiend qi throughout the entire great world."
"By the way, shouldn’t the Blood Absolute Clan also give me a reward? I heard that Blood Chen and Blood Ningxiao both received rewards."
Qingsheng Great Saint’s heart was a mix of emotions, and his face had already darkened. "You have more treasures than a deity. Do you still need rewards? Would you even care about ordinary rewards?"
"Uncle, why do I detect emotion in your tone? I led the Undying Blood Clan to seize first place among the ten clans. Shouldn’t I be rewarded? I raised the Blood Heaven Tribe’s ranking. I made the Blood Absolute Clan famous across the world. I earned all of this with my life. Is there no justice for me?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Qingsheng Great Saint felt even more aggrieved. "Don’t say this to me. I’m just an acting Clan Leader. All my wealth combined isn’t even a tenth of yours. If you want to argue, go talk to the War God and the Clan Leader. Ask them for rewards."
Zhang Ruochen nodded seriously. "You’re right. I should indeed talk to the War God about this."
"The War God, the Clan Leader, and most of the Undying Blood Clan’s deities have already set off for the Jade Desolate Realm. If you want rewards, you’ll have to wait a long time." Qingsheng Great Saint’s eyelids drooped as he spoke with a smile.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Since Uncle is the Clan Leader, you can decide on the rewards the clan should give me, right? I don’t want any other treasures. Just give me divine stones—how about a hundred thousand?"
Qingsheng Great Saint’s expression turned grave. "Speaking of rewards, I have some bad news for you. Yesterday, in my capacity as Clan Leader, I announced that the Blood Absolute Clan’s assets on Ice King Star would be rewarded to you. After that, Nixuan Shi left the clan today. I suspect she’s headed to Ice King Star."
"The assets on Ice King Star were something we agreed upon earlier. How did they become a clan reward for me now?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Qingsheng Great Saint pretended not to hear and continued in a low voice, "The profits from Ice King Star are enormous. Nixuan Shi won’t give them up easily. Now that she’s personally overseeing things, it’s almost impossible for you to take over those assets. I suggest you stay in the clan to cultivate for a while, first raising your cultivation to the Great Perfection of the Hundred Shackles Realm before making your next move."
Zhang Ruochen finally understood. This uncle of his was a complete miser. If he kept asking for rewards, he would likely continue to pretend not to hear.
In truth, Zhang Ruochen didn’t lack divine stones. He only wanted to use this opportunity to make Qingsheng Great Saint owe him a favor.
A favor from a Supreme Realm Great Saint was, in his eyes, more valuable than a hundred thousand divine stones.
Zhang Ruochen put on a disappointed expression and said self-deprecatingly, "Blood Chen and Blood Ningxiao both got rewards, but I, the greatest contributor, got nothing. As Clan Leader, shouldn’t you be more fair?"
Qingsheng Great Saint’s old face flushed red with guilt. Feeling he had indeed treated Zhang Ruochen unfairly, he was about to speak when Zhang Ruochen added, "Forget it. I understand your difficulties, Uncle. You’ve just become Clan Leader and are eager to revitalize the clan and help it grow. Every divine stone must be used wisely. Giving me a hundred thousand divine stones would mean raising a hundred thousand fewer Saints and Saint Kings."
"Ruochen, it’s rare that you can understand your uncle. I’m truly moved."
Though he said this, Qingsheng Great Saint was inwardly wondering what scheme Zhang Ruochen was cooking up.
A hundred thousand divine stones—even he, a Supreme Realm Great Saint, dreamed of such a sum. Would Zhang Ruochen really give them up? He must have some other agenda.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Actually, there’s something I’d like to ask for your help with, Uncle."
Qingsheng Great Saint secretly guessed that Zhang Ruochen might want him to deal with Nixuan Shi, so he didn’t immediately agree. "Just say it. If your uncle can do it, I’ll definitely help you."
The unspoken implication was:
If he couldn’t do it, there was nothing he could do.
Going to Ice King Star to deal with Nixuan Shi was dangerous even for a Supreme Realm Great Saint. If she was pushed too far, she would stop at nothing.
Zhang Ruochen saw Qingsheng Great Saint’s concern and smiled. "Don’t worry, Uncle. I’m not asking you to come with me to Ice King Star. I can handle things there myself. I don’t need your help."
Qingsheng Great Saint caught the meaning in his words and said sternly, "You’re still going to Ice King Star?"
"Uncle, you’ve already granted me the assets on Ice King Star as a reward. If I don’t go out of fear, won’t I be laughed at by the entire Blood Heaven Tribe?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Qingsheng Great Saint knew that Zhang Ruochen was not one to act recklessly. Since he dared to go to Ice King Star, he must have some confidence.
What was this kid’s trump card?
Qingsheng Great Saint said, "Alright, since you’ve made up your mind, your uncle will fully support you. I’ll have someone send you a detailed dossier on Ice King Star later. How many cultivators do you plan to take to Ice King Star?"
"I don’t trust the clan’s cultivators. I won’t take any." Zhang Ruochen said.
Qingsheng Great Saint looked at Zhang Ruochen with a complex expression—curiosity, doubt, admiration, and concern all mixed together. "Earlier, you said you wanted me to help you with something. What is it?"
Zhang Ruochen revealed an enigmatic smile. "A big matter! If this succeeds, the clan’s growth will be within reach. But we’ll have to wait. I’ll send you a message in three months. By then, I should have already taken Ice King Star."
He was, of course, referring to the search for the Origin Divine Temple.
After Zhang Ruochen left the Council Hall, Qingsheng Great Saint’s old face still bore a look of shock. He muttered to himself, "Take Ice King Star in three months? A pipe dream. Impossible, absolutely impossible. Zhang Ruochen is still too young. He has no idea how formidable Nixuan Shi is. Besides, Ice King Star is her territory."
...
The Ancestor Pool, located above the Blood Absolute Clan’s underground divine vein, was one of the clan’s forbidden areas. Even Great Saints might not have the qualifications to enter.
The pool water was bottomless, appearing blood-red during the day.
At night, it turned a glowing white, like a bright moon embedded in the earth.
By the time Zhang Ruochen arrived at the Ancestor Pool, night had fallen. The blood-red sky had turned a dark crimson. The pool water, however, shimmered with white radiance, a layer of fluorescent light on its surface.
At the center of the pool stood a square altar, covered in strange divine patterns that flickered like earthworms.
Chi Kongle lay at the center of the altar, dressed in white clothes, with a swallow-shaped jade pendant hanging around her neck.
The power of the Ancestor Pool flowed through the divine patterns on the altar, continuously surging into her body, balancing the fierce Shura battle qi within her, along with the divine soul and divine thoughts left behind by Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
Every time he came to the Ancestor Pool, Zhang Ruochen could only stand at the edge, gazing from afar.
Underworld King appeared at the pool’s edge. "Your mother and Blood Absolute War God went to the Jade Desolate Realm. Before they left, they entrusted her care to me."
"When will she wake up?" Zhang