Chapter 2525: Capturing Three More Saints
Perhaps it was because Zhang Ruochen had offended the various clans of Hundred Clans Royal City too deeply over the past few days, that even though he was on the weaker side and had defeated the aggressive Que Shenzi, he still drew waves of criticism.
No one believed Zhang Ruochen genuinely wanted to resolve the conflict with the Death God Temple.
Nor did anyone think the words Zhang Ruochen spoke to Que Shenzi came from the heart.
Instead, they believed Zhang Ruochen was deliberately humiliating Que Shenzi, with every sentence laced with mockery, threat, sarcasm, and ridicule, stripping a dignified peak-level Ten Thousand Death One Life Realm divine son of all his dignity.
"Zhang Ruochen is too hateful. Winning is impressive, sure. But toying with Que Shenzi like this shows no grace befitting an Eon-level genius."
"Yeah, what I can't stand most is that line, 'You don't even have a Supreme Sacred Artifact?' Listen to that, how arrogant. Having a few lousy Supreme Sacred Artifacts is something to brag about?"
Many cultivators nodded in deep agreement.
"A top-tier Great Saint of the Death Clan, reduced to Zhang Ruochen's prisoner, might actually be forced to study Buddhism or Daoism. How tragic!"
"This is no different from forcing a human to drink blood like the Undying Blood Clan."
"Que Shenzi would probably rather die than endure such humiliation."
A Great Saint from one of the clans shouted, "Great Saint Ruochen, why humiliate Que Shenzi like this? Just give him a quick death."
"Exactly! The victor is king, the loser a bandit. A Great Saint can be killed but not disgraced."
"If Great Saint Ruochen doesn't dare kill Que Shenzi, then release him immediately. If you're going to kill him, do it cleanly. Continuing this hypocritical act only disgusts us cultivators."
...
More and more cultivators rallied behind Que Shenzi.
But everyone knew getting Zhang Ruochen to release Que Shenzi was impossible. So most were just provoking Zhang Ruochen to kill Que Shenzi outright, to spare him further humiliation.
Que Shenzi's back went cold, his scalp tingling. In his heart, he cursed the families of every spectator.
How could he not be afraid?
The man before him was Zhang Ruochen.
There was no one in the world Zhang Ruochen didn't dare kill.
What was a little humiliation? As long as he could escape, there would always be a chance to save face.
What if Zhang Ruochen, suddenly enraged by shame, killed him? Then there would be no chance to turn things around. What a wrongful death that would be!
"Shush!"
A group of Great Saints from the Death God Temple flew down from the sacred building, crowding the entire street.
Each exuded deathly evil light, advancing toward Zhang Ruochen from both ends of the long street with overwhelming momentum.
The watching cultivators quickly made way.
"Release Que Shenzi, or this street will be where you fall today," Yuan Benji said, his tone full of authority, pointing at Zhang Ruochen.
With the hostage in Zhang Ruochen's hands, the Death God Temple, despite its many experts, dared not act rashly.
Zhang Ruochen frowned deeply. "Que Shenzi and I agreed beforehand: one battle to settle the grudge. Now that victory and defeat are decided, no matter how great the enmity between me and the Death God Temple, it should be resolved. Please withdraw. I don't wish to fight today."
"Release Que Shenzi first, then we'll talk," said Yuan Fei Great Saint.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "The grudge between Que Shenzi and me hasn't been resolved yet. I can't release him."
Que Shenzi quickly spoke up. "There... there's no grudge left. I... I admit defeat wholeheartedly. Victory and defeat are decided. One battle settles the grudge."
Suppressed by the Nether Light Curse, his mouth could barely open, and his speech was very strained.
Zhang Ruochen patted his shoulder, his eyes sincere. "No, you're not convinced. You still resent me in your heart and wish you could kill me. Hatred is the root of all evil. Brother Que's heart is still too stubborn."
Que Shenzi couldn't keep up the act. He ground his teeth, his face twisted and sinister.
Humiliation again!
Yuan Benji's eyes blazed with anger. "Zhang Ruochen, even if you hold a hostage, do you think we'll be deterred and not dare to act?"
Que Shenzi's face changed drastically, and he shook his head vigorously at the Great Saints of the Death God Temple.
Yuan Benji stared at Que Shenzi. "Rest assured, Que Shenzi. Don't worry. I don't believe Zhang Ruochen really dares to kill you. Today, the Death God Temple's forces will not rest until this brat is dead."
Que Shenzi's face grew even more panicked, and he hated Yuan Benji to the core.
Yuan Benji had already made it clear they would kill Zhang Ruochen. Under these circumstances, how could Zhang Ruochen not dare to kill him? Yuan Benji had clearly abandoned him.
Que Shenzi silently vowed that if he survived today, he would find a way to destroy Yuan Benji once back at the Death God Temple.
"Slap!"
Zhang Ruochen patted Que Shenzi's shoulder again. "How could I possibly kill Brother Que? The world should have those with great breadth of mind. If you can't even tolerate one enemy, how can you tolerate the world?"
Including Yan Zhexian and Lianxi, countless cultivators sneered in disdain.
...
The reason the Death God Temple's Great Saints had agreed to let Que Shenzi fight alone was, first, because Que Shenzi was powerful and had a sure chance of victory.
Second, behind Zhang Ruochen stood formidable figures like Xue Jue War God, Fulong Divine Venerable, and Luo Yan Great Emperor, who shook the universe. If the Death God Temple swarmed and killed Zhang Ruochen, leaving aside the other two, Xue Jue War God would surely be enraged.
But if Que Shenzi fought alone and killed Zhang Ruochen, what then?
If Xue Jue War God retaliated against the Death God Temple, he would only be mocked by the temple's gods.
Third, Que Shenzi held an extraordinary status in the Death God Temple, and everyone deferred to him. They let him defeat Zhang Ruochen and make a name for himself by stepping on an Eon-level genius.
But who knew Que Shenzi would be so useless, instead causing the Death God Temple to lose immense face.
To salvage their honor, the Death God Temple had to take Zhang Ruochen down, even if it meant outnumbering him.
Ignoring Que Shenzi's murderous glare, Yuan Benji gave the order: "Attack."
The four White-Clad Death Gods surrounding Zhang Ruochen struck first.
Sacred Dao rules and deathly evil energy surged from the four, and then a torrent of sword energy all slashed toward Zhang Ruochen.
Que Shenzi's face turned ashen. Knowing he was doomed, he closed his eyes.
"Whoosh!"
Ignoring the incoming sword energy, Zhang Ruochen first pressed a palm against Que Shenzi's chest. Ripples of space erupted from his palm. Que Shenzi's body vanished, and in the next moment, he entered the defensive formation of the Seven Star Divine Palace, landing at Lianxi's feet.
Que Shenzi was stunned, unable to believe his eyes as he watched Zhang Ruochen, now surrounded in battle.
The four White-Clad Death Gods were all at the middle and late stages of the Ten Thousand Death One Life Realm, each having cultivated at least thirty million Sacred Dao rules.
"Slap, slap."
Zhang Ruochen had already activated the Flame God Armor and released the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror.
Even when the sword energy pierced through the supreme power defense layer formed by the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror, its power was greatly reduced. By the time it struck the Flame God Armor, it only sparked.
Yuan Benji gritted his teeth. "Zhang Ruochen has a Supreme Sacred Artifact protecting him. We must attack at close range to break his defense."
The four White-Clad Death Gods immediately formed a sword-killing formation, with four Death God shadows manifesting behind them.
Their power seemed to merge into one, the aura they emitted even stronger than Que Shenzi's.
"Shush!"
A white shadow flew above Zhang Ruochen, raising a sword to slash down a river of sword energy.
A second white shadow charged from behind Zhang Ruochen, swinging a horizontal slash.
Space trembled around the sword edge.
A third white shadow thrust straight from the front, the sword light brighter than a star's radiance. Cultivators below the Great Saint level watching were all blinded, their eyes bleeding.
The fourth white shadow stood still, but the three-element monarch-level sacred artifact war sword in his hand flew out, transforming into a bone dragon that circled toward Zhang Ruochen's right.
The four White-Clad Death Gods attacked almost simultaneously, each strike seeming like the combined effort of all four.
"What a terrifying sword formation. The four White-Clad Death Gods are as one, yet can attack separately."
"The Death God Temple really wants to kill Zhang Ruochen."
On the Kunlun Tower, Yan Huangtu, Yan Zhexian, Bore, Xuan Zehai, and Xuan Qingying all held their breath, staring at the dazzling battle circle.
Que, who had been calm and composed, showed a grave expression. "The Four Extremes Sword Formation."
"Boom, rumble."
Zhang Ruochen's figure vanished.
The four lethal moves from the White-Clad Death Gods all struck empty air.
Among them, the two attacking from front and back came closest to cutting each other down. Fortunately, their cultivation was strong and their reactions sharp, allowing them to withdraw their swords in time.
The two swords clashed, sending both White-Clad Death Gods flying in opposite directions.
The Great Saints of the Death God Temple were all stunned, unable to believe Zhang Ruochen could still perform a spatial displacement to escape under those circumstances.
Suppressed by the domains of four Ten Thousand Death One Life Realm Great Saints and trapped in the sword-killing formation, Zhang Ruochen naturally couldn't use spatial displacement.
So he had hidden inside the Purple Gold Gourd.
"Shush!"
Zhang Ruochen emerged from the Purple Gold Gourd, muttering softly, "Nether Light Curse!"
A White-Clad Death God, just three steps away, was caught off guard and cursed, frozen like Que Shenzi, unable to move.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, sending him into the Seven Star Divine Palace.
"Nether Light Curse!"
A second White-Clad Death God was cursed, petrified on the spot.
Zhang Ruochen kicked him, sending him flying into the Seven Star Divine Palace.
"Nether Light Curse!"
A third White-Clad Death God was immobilized, and Zhang Ruochen struck him with a palm, teleporting him into the Seven Star Divine Palace.
Because Zhang Ruochen had released the Virtual Time Domain and was fast enough, the three Nether Light Curses were uttered almost simultaneously. The Death God Temple's Great Saints couldn't stop him in time.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to utter a fourth Nether Light Curse, Yuan Benji roared, "Shut up."
A whistling sound came as a palm-sized jade sword, like a spirit snake, flew toward his heart.
The Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror automatically flew back, transforming into a heart-protecting mirror.
"Bang!"
The jade sword struck the mirror's surface, producing a thunderous clang that sent Zhang Ruochen flying backward.
Yuan Benji, pleased with his successful strike, pushed out his right hand, channeling even greater power into the six-element monarch-level sacred artifact jade sword.
The Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror's surface flashed, swallowing the jade sword.
Zhang Ruochen landed on his feet, steadying himself. Turning his head, he found he had flown back into the defensive formation of the Seven Star Divine Palace, his back foot stepping on the stairs.
Yuan Benji, however, was stunned, realizing his connection with the jade sword was gone.
That was no ordinary item—a six-element monarch-level sacred artifact with the potential to advance to a Supreme Sacred Artifact, worth tens of thousands of divine stones.
Yuan Benji quickly composed himself and, along with the Death God Temple's Great Saints, surrounded the Seven Star Divine Palace.
This time, they truly dared not act rashly. Zhang Ruochen had already captured four Ten Thousand Death One Life Realm Great Saints. If pushed too far, and he killed them all, the consequences would be severe.
All the watching cultivators were dumbfounded. They never expected Zhang Ruochen, who had seemed cowardly and weak earlier, to make the Death God Temple suffer such a loss.
Had he been faking it all along?
Deliberately feigning weakness?
Despicable!
Many cultivators cursed Zhang Ruochen under their breath, calling him cunning and shameless.
Standing on the steps of the Seven Star Divine Palace, Zhang Ruochen felt deeply annoyed. What was wrong with them? Why such prejudice against him, Zhang Ruochen?
Clearly, he was the weaker side, targeted by a crowd of Death God Temple experts.
Clearly, he had treated others with the utmost goodwill, willing to make peace with the Death God Temple. Couldn't they see that?
Ah, forget it. Why care about others' misunderstandings? As long as his conscience was clear.
The clan emperor of the Earth Demon Clan, Xuan Disha, accompanied by a group of clan elders, arrived nearby. Xuan Zehai and Xuan Qingying immediately went to pay their respects.
Xuan Disha had an aged face, white hair and beard, wearing a purple jade brocade robe and a sacred crown, yet he was spirited. Looking at Zhang Ruochen on the steps of the Seven Star Divine Palace, he said, "A hero emerges from youth. Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power must have reached the sixty-eighth rank."
Xuan Qingying couldn't believe it. "How is that possible? Even among Supreme Realm Great Saints, those who cultivate spiritual power to the sixty-eighth rank are extremely rare."
Xuan Disha squinted and smiled. "Without such spiritual power, how could Zhang Ruochen so easily curse four Ten Thousand Death One Life Realm Great Saints? He must also rely on his powerful spiritual power to wield Supreme Sacred Artifacts at will, along with his mysterious and profound Sacred Will, and more effectively use the power of his half-divine body."
The Earth Demon Clan's clan emperor had lived for nearly thirty thousand years, his spiritual power immense.
Everyone naturally trusted his judgment.
Looking at Zhang Ruochen again, Xuan Qingying's gaze grew complicated, but soon turned disdainful and contemptuous. If he was so powerful, why had he pretended to be timid earlier?
Not a shred of a strong person's demeanor.
Xuan Zehai asked, "Clan Emperor, why have you left the sacred land to come here?"
"Someone asked me to resolve the conflict here and help Zhang Ruochen escape," Xuan Disha said.
Xuan Zehai's heart stirred, catching something profound.
It was "asked," not "invited."
That meant the cultivator helping Zhang Ruochen was at least on equal footing with the clan emperor, perhaps even higher in cultivation or status.
Moreover, to take Zhang Ruochen away from the Death God Temple, the Earth Demon Clan would surely pay a considerable price.
Xuan Disha smiled again. "Since no one from the various clans could move Zhang Ruochen, I, the clan emperor, will personally step in. Hopefully, he'll give me some face."
...
Readers in Wuhan, take care of yourselves and stay safe.