Chapter 2490: Brother Ruochen
Bare-handed against the Cloud-Chasing Lightning Axe?
Fei Zhong was both shocked and delighted.
Shocked because he had never expected the other party to dare such a thing.
Delighted because this Rakshasa clan Great Saint was too reckless. Even a Supreme Realm Great Saint would not dare to catch this axe with bare hands using their Supreme Dharma Body.
"Boom."
Fist met giant axe, producing a deafening sound like divine iron mountains colliding, as lightning bolts rampaged in all directions.
Zhang Ruochen was not shattered by the axe as Fei Zhong had imagined. Instead, he sent the Cloud-Chasing Lightning Axe flying backward.
"How is this possible?"
Fei Zhong's eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. He saw clearly that the Rakshasa clan Great Saint had only used physical strength, without any Sacred Dao rules or evil Rakshasa Qi, yet he had broken through this axe strike.
However, he was not completely bare-handed.
On his hands, he wore fist gloves of Monarch Sacred Artifact level.
"Sir, you were too careless to discard your own weapon!"
Zhang Ruochen returned Fei Zhong's earlier words, his form appearing before Fei Zhong like a ghost. He spread his five fingers wide like a palm leaf and pressed down heavily.
Fei Zhong did not underestimate his opponent. He drew back a small portion of the Sacred Dao rules scattered in his Dao Domain, gathering them in his palms to condense a radiant light sphere.
"Bang."
The palm print shattered the light sphere and struck Fei Zhong's chest.
Zhang Ruochen thought this palm would land solidly and severely wound Fei Zhong. But after the palm print landed, his expression froze slightly.
Empty.
The force of the palm print struck the ground, shattering a black iron mountain.
"Your physical strength is indeed formidable. Supreme Dharma Body? Or Demigod-level physique? No wonder you weren't scared off by my name. You do have some skill."
Fei Zhong appeared behind Zhang Ruochen, both hands gripping the Cloud-Chasing Lightning Axe, raising it above his head. With the momentum of splitting heaven and earth, he swung it down. Billions of rules in his Dao Domain surged like rivers into the axe head.
Yan Zhexian's beautiful face changed color. How could she have expected Fei Zhong to be so eerily powerful?
Just as she was about to shout a warning, she saw the Rakshasa clan Great Saint, with his back to the battle axe, suddenly retreat backward and crash into Fei Zhong. Her beautiful eyes froze for a moment before she smiled. That move was exquisitely clever.
Zhang Ruochen's collision broke Fei Zhong's killing axe strike.
The two tumbled together, rolling down the iron mountain while engaging in close-quarters combat.
Because they were too close, every time Fei Zhong tried to gather power, activate the King-level inscriptions in the Cloud-Chasing Lightning Axe, or perform a Sacred Art, Zhang Ruochen's palm strikes and fist force would disrupt him.
Thus, the two had to fight with their physical bodies.
The Dwarf clan was renowned throughout the world for their powerful physiques. The two fought fiercely, causing space to tremble continuously, and for a time, neither could gain the upper hand.
Zhang Ruochen grew more excited as he fought, his blood energy surging and boiling.
His physical strength should actually surpass Fei Zhong's, but because his cultivation realm was insufficient, his utilization of his Demigod-level physical power was low. This battle with Fei Zhong allowed him to better understand the power of his Demigod physique and his own weaknesses.
Yan Huangtu used the Tongtian Ruyi to break through Fei Zhong's Dao Domain and escape with Yan Zhexian.
"Fifth Uncle, that Rakshasa clan senior saved our lives. We can't just leave like this," Yan Zhexian said.
Yan Huangtu was extremely weak, his aura rapidly declining. "When experts of their level fight, even if I were at my peak, I couldn't help much. You have even less strength. What do you think we can accomplish by staying here?"
Yan Zhexian was a woman with strong principles and didn't want to treat her savior so coldly. Even if she couldn't help, she shouldn't just leave.
She said, "But what if..."
Yan Huangtu knew what she wanted to say. "Have you considered that Fei Zhong's target is us? As long as we escape, Fei Zhong naturally won't continue targeting that senior. Their battle will end quickly. But if we stay, and that senior loses, what do we do?"
"Alright, I'll listen to Fifth Uncle."
...
Shortly after Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian fled, Fei Zhong finally seized an opportunity. He dispersed his Dao Domain, gathered over a trillion Sacred Dao rules, and unleashed a Ten-Thousand-Death-One-Life level high-rank Sacred Art.
Within ten thousand miles of cosmic space, Fei Zhong's Saint Qi and the power of heaven and earth condensed into a sea of lightning.
Countless purple lightning bolts transformed into innumerable primordial electric dragons, continuously surging toward Zhang Ruochen.
"Boom, rumble."
Zhang Ruochen recalled his Monarch Sacred Artifact-level war hammer, using it to shield his body. A pair of bone wings spread from his back as he flew rapidly, retreating from the lightning sea.
When he reached the edge of the ten-thousand-mile lightning sea, the war hammer in his hand had already melted into droplets, completely destroyed. The Monarch Sacred Artifact-level armor on his body was also tattered, with many places showing signs of melting.
Two Monarch Sacred Artifacts were lost.
"There is still a gap after all," Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly.
The lightning sea contracted, swirling upward.
Fei Zhong stood atop the lightning sea, holding the Cloud-Chasing Lightning Axe, looking at Zhang Ruochen with a complex expression. "Sir, you have ruined my plans. Sooner or later, you will pay a heavy price."
With those words, Fei Zhong soared away.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head with a smile, understanding that Fei Zhong retreated because, from start to finish, he had not used any Sacred Arts or mobilized rules, fighting only with his physical body.
Pure physical cultivators were too rare.
Fei Zhong must have thought that if Zhang Ruochen was this powerful using only physical strength, once he used Sacred Dao rules and released evil Rakshasa Qi, he might not be able to win.
Since Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian had already escaped, continuing the fight was meaningless.
But Fei Zhong's final words made Zhang Ruochen's heart sink slightly.
Zhang Ruochen did not pursue Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian. Saving them once was already the utmost of kindness. Now he had to return to Ice King Star immediately.
"Senior!"
Yan Zhexian, as if pulling aside an invisible curtain, stepped out of cosmic space, revealing her graceful figure before Zhang Ruochen.
Behind her followed Yan Huangtu, who had recovered some flesh and wore a helpless expression.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why didn't you escape?"
"How could we abandon our senior and flee alone? The Yan clan's children would never be so ungrateful," Yan Zhexian said matter-of-factly, her beautiful and moving figure carrying a heroic spirit.
Yan Huangtu certainly wouldn't tell Zhang Ruochen that they had come back after leaving.
His niece was indeed intelligent, but she lacked experience and was still too naive and sentimental, not decisive or ruthless enough.
Yan Zhexian smiled. "I just used my last Heaven Concealment Talisman to hide nearby. If you were losing, we would have struck unexpectedly to attack Fei Zhong and help you escape."
Zhang Ruochen knew well that Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian were in even more danger than he was now, and he didn't want to get entangled with them.
Zhang Ruochen said, "We are all strangers who happened to meet. Let's part ways here."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen eager to leave, Yan Huangtu's wariness lessened instead.
Earlier, he had wanted to escape with Yan Zhexian because he knew that even among Hell Realm cultivators, trust was impossible.
In this desolate place, it was entirely possible that this Rakshasa clan Great Saint coveted his Tongtian Ruyi, attacked to seize it, killed them to silence them, and framed Heaven Realm Great Saints.
"Hey, senior, wait! Zhexian hasn't thanked you yet!"
"It was nothing. No need for thanks."
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, looking indifferent.
"At least leave a name! Our Yan clan will surely repay you handsomely in the future," Yan Zhexian said.
Zhang Ruochen refused again. "No need, no need."
Yan Huangtu blocked Zhang Ruochen, who was about to leave, and clasped his hands in salute. "Thank you, senior, for saving our lives. This is a great kindness. Xian'er is right. We Yan clan children are not ungrateful people. Since senior doesn't wish to leave a name, we juniors naturally respect that and admire your character. But I have a request. If senior agrees, you can seek the Yan clan's help for any trouble in the future."
"Any trouble?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Yan Huangtu said, "Senior should have heard my name, Yan Huangtu, and should understand the weight of this promise. I may not represent the entire Yan clan, but in the future, the Yan clan will likely be under my control."
Having just broken through to the Thousand Questions Realm, he had managed to escape Fei Zhong's pursuit for so long while dragging Yan Zhexian along.
Yan Huangtu was arrogant and confident.
But he had the capital to be arrogant and confident.
Once he reached the Supreme Realm, he might truly become the Yan clan's patriarch.
Yan Zhexian guessed what Yan Huangtu wanted to ask Zhang Ruochen, and a look of hope appeared in her eyes.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and smiled. "No! I cannot agree to your request."
Yan Huangtu frowned. "I haven't even mentioned it yet!"
"It's not hard to guess. You want my protection to deal with Fei Zhong," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Huangtu said, "Exactly. Isn't this an easy task for senior? An easy task that would earn you a huge debt of gratitude from me and the Yan clan."
Zhang Ruochen said, "No. Saving you was a simple act, not a difficult matter. But protecting you and evading Fei Zhong's pursuit is as difficult as reaching the heavens."
Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian both looked confused.
Hadn't he already driven Fei Zhong away?
How had protecting them become so difficult?
Seeing their confusion, Zhang Ruochen said, "Earlier, I saved you because I recognized that was only Fei Zhong's puppet clone, with less than twenty percent of his true body's combat power. If I had encountered Fei Zhong's true body, I would have fled."
"He was only Fei Zhong's puppet clone?" Yan Zhexian was astonished.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Fei Zhong is a titan-level existence among the Dwarf clan. How could he have cultivated only a trillion or so Sacred Dao rules? Of course, even this puppet clone is not far from a true Supreme Realm cultivator."
"I understand. Great Master Dazheng must be held back by his true body, which is why he hasn't arrived," Yan Zhexian said, a look of sudden realization in her eyes.
The "Great Master Dazheng" she mentioned was "Dazheng Chan Master," a Supreme Realm Great Saint.
After Yan Yu and Fu Xiangnu went after Kailuo Dishi and the others, Dazheng Chan Master stayed behind on Ice King Star to secretly protect Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian. Of course, Dazheng Chan Master was not their guardian but one of their masters.
No force would assign guardians to Great Saints.
Once one cultivated to Great Saint, being constantly protected would prevent them from ever becoming a strong enough to stand alone.
This time was special. The Yan clan planned to temper Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian so they could eventually take over Yan Yu and Fu Xiangnu's positions. Otherwise, with their cultivation levels, they wouldn't have qualified to participate in the competition for the Origin Divine Temple.
Yan Huangtu's expression changed several times. After a long silence, he said, "So that's it. I understand. It's understandable that senior won't help with this matter! But please, senior, leave a name. If we juniors manage to escape by chance, we will know who to repay."
Yan Zhexian looked dejected but understood she couldn't force the issue, so she didn't try to persuade him further.
Zhang Ruochen was about to make up a random name when a familiar voice suddenly rang out.
"Brother Ruochen, I've been chasing you for quite a while. Finally caught up!" Gong Nanfeng approached from afar, flying at incredible speed, and grabbed Zhang Ruochen's shoulder, panting heavily.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes widened, completely stunned as he looked at him. "How did you catch up? Are you really..."
He wanted to say, "Are you really a persistent ghost?"
But remembering Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian were standing nearby, he quickly changed his words. "Are you mistaking me for someone else?"
Zhang Ruochen had transformed into a Rakshasa clan cultivator and used secret medicine to completely conceal his aura, precisely to avoid Gong Nanfeng catching up and deducing his identity.
Logically, even if Gong Nanfeng were a god, he shouldn't have been able to track him here or see through his disguise.
Heavens, what was going on?
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, Gong Nanfeng was overjoyed, his face beaming. "Of course I couldn't mistake you. Brother Ruochen treated me with sincerity, and when the strong enemy came, you alone lured them away. Every time I think of this, I feel deeply ashamed. I've decided to no longer hide things from you..."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Wait, what did you just say? You alone lured the strong enemy away?"
Gong Nanfeng said, "Right! After I woke up and found you gone, I did some divination and discovered traces of Yunhuan Iron Blood King nearby. Hehe, so I boldly guessed that Yunhuan Iron Blood King must have caught up, and you worried about my safety, so you went alone to lure him away. Right?"
Zhang Ruochen stopped denying his identity, resigned to his fate. "Since you've divined everything, I naturally can't keep hiding it. But I wonder, how much did you divine?"
Zhang Ruochen felt a hint of worry inside.
"Not much. Everything about you is hard to divine. I could only guess the cause and effect based on your character and actions," Gong Nanfeng said.
Zhang Ruochen breathed a sigh of relief. "You know me so well?"
"I've never been wrong about people."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Though we've known each other for a short time, we've come to understand each other like close friends. That's rare."
Gong Nanfeng looked pained and ashamed. "Exactly. That's why I feel so guilty inside. Brother Ruochen treats me sincerely, but I've been hiding things from you. No, I must tell you all my secrets. Then you'll understand how I found you!"
Zhang Ruochen's eyes lit up.
He was very interested in this secret.
Only by knowing Gong Nanfeng's secret could he prevent being caught again in the future.
Standing nearby, Yan Zhexian looked suspiciously at the tall Rakshasa clan senior. "What did you just call him?"
Zhang Ruochen was about to send a voice transmission to stop Gong Nanfeng.
But Gong Nanfeng had already blurted out, "Brother Ruochen, the grandson of Blood Absolute War God, the fiancé of Princess Luo Sha, the last Eon-level genius of Hell Realm, Zhang Ruochen. Miss Zhexian has a close relationship with him, how could you not recognize him? Oh! He seems to have changed his appearance now."