Chapter 2547: I, Zhang Ruochen, Am Not One to Bully Others by Relying on Power
"It seems this eldest daughter of the Yama Clan has indeed changed her heart, throwing herself completely into Zhang Ruochen's arms. Yuan Qianmo is truly pitiful."
"With a child already born, the matter is settled. Hmph, Zhang Ruochen is truly blessed with romantic fortune, enviable indeed. Now he has secured the support of both the Tianluo Divine Kingdom and the Yama Clan."
"Rest assured, the more one gains, the more one incurs resentment. People like that won't live long. Marriage alliances are ultimately just a side path; the true path lies in one's own strength."
After exchanging telepathic messages, Nan Sheng and Hai Ke left a few perfunctory words, turned around, and entered the Ni Pen Marsh, leaving the matter to the Rot Clan's Clan Leader.
What else could the Rot Clan's Clan Leader do? Was he really supposed to wait for Zhang Ruochen to produce the Fate Heavenly Token before yielding?
Zhang Ruochen's challenge was a pretense; his real intention was to kill and vent his anger.
The Rot Clan's Clan Leader found an elderly Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saint with little remaining lifespan and sent him to accept Zhang Ruochen's challenge. If he died at Zhang Ruochen's hands, the clan would receive various benefits.
That elderly Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saint said, "Clan Leader, say no more. Zhang Ruochen goes too far. Even if you hadn't sought me out, I would have accepted his challenge myself. Otherwise, the cultivators of the world would think the Rot Clan is full of cowards. Besides, I have less than a hundred years of life left. At worst, I'll self-destruct my Sacred Source on the battlefield and take him down with me."
Zhang Ruochen, with his powerful spiritual power, overheard their discussion clearly and said, "Vast Marsh Great Saint is an elder. He should be spending his remaining years peacefully in the clan and passing away naturally. Clan Leader, sending him into battle will only chill the hearts of your clan's cultivators. I've heard the Rot Clan has a Thousand Questions Realm Great Saint named Fire Li, who can be considered a strong one. Let him come out and fight me."
"Zhang Ruochen, don't you dare!" the Rot Clan's Clan Leader roared, stomping his foot and releasing a corrosive killing intent that turned into a fierce gale.
Fire Li had fused a Fifth-Rank Sacred Intent and was a heroic talent qualified to attain true godhood. Such a True God Seed was the only one in the entire Rot Clan, representing their future hope.
If something happened to him, the Rot Clan would have to wait countless years to produce another True God Seed.
Unfazed by the Clan Leader's saintly might, Zhang Ruochen used a sonic Sacred Art and said, "Fire Li, come out and fight me. Don't let an elder on the verge of death die in your place. You should understand that if you cower today and dare not face me, even if you cultivate to the Supreme Realm in the future, you'll still be unable to face the Divine Tribulation. What's the difference between living like that and being dead?"
"Whoosh!"
A blinding flash of firelight shot out from the Rot Clan's sacred land and landed beneath the Seven Star Divine Palace.
Fire Li was not a humanoid cultivator; his body resembled a giant lizard. He said in a deep voice, "Zhang Ruochen, there's no need for you to provoke me with words. After your insults and belittlement of the Rot Clan earlier, I will fight you to the death today."
The Rot Clan's Clan Leader tried to stop him: "Don't fall for his trap."
"Clan Leader, as hateful as Zhang Ruochen is, he spoke one truth: if I cower and refuse to fight today, not only will I never reach the Divine Realm in the future, but breaking through the mental barrier to reach the Ten Thousand Deaths One Life Realm will also be difficult."
"Fight! For the dignity of the Rot Clan!"
"Fight! To wash away this disgrace!"
"Fight! For myself!"
He shouted the word "fight" three times.
With the first shout, Fire Li ignited the Sacred Blood within his body.
With the second shout, he furiously burned his lifespan.
With the third shout, even the Sacred Source within him began to burn.
With each shout, his power fluctuations doubled. After shouting all three, Fire Li's state had reached an unprecedented peak. With just a single thought, he could self-destruct his Sacred Source.
"Fire Li lives up to his reputation, worthy of being the Rot Clan's pride. A True God Seed who fused a Fifth-Rank Sacred Intent is truly extraordinary."
"Zhang Ruochen goes too far. He might just capsize in a ditch."
...
As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Zhang Ruochen flew out of the Seven Star Divine Palace and slashed down with his sword, clashing with Fire Li, who had unleashed his Divine Flame Sacred Art.
"Pfft!"
Fire Li's undying sacred body was split in two.
His corpse fell to the ground.
Zhang Ruochen had already returned to the entrance of the Seven Star Divine Palace, wiping the blood off the Abyssal Ancient Sword. "Let's go. Next stop, challenge the Immortal Source Clan. No, we're going to the Immortal Source Clan to apologize."
The eighteen Six-Calamity Ghost Kings lifted the Seven Star Divine Palace and departed.
Blood Butcher stared at Fire Li's two halves, licking his lips. But when he saw the Rot Clan's Clan Leader charging over with murderous intent, he suppressed his restless urges and could only let out a sigh: "What a waste! Such good blood."
Outside the Ni Pen Marsh, countless spectators remained frozen in shock.
One sword!
With just one sword, Zhang Ruochen had killed the Rot Clan's only True God Seed. Fire Li didn't even have a chance to self-destruct his Sacred Source.
The young man had acted impulsively.
In the face of absolute power, admitting defeat wasn't a mistake.
Some marveled at Zhang Ruochen's sword path, others sympathized with the Rot Clan's plight, and some envied Zhang Ruochen for winning the favor of the Yama Clan's eldest daughter... In short, their emotions were mixed, and even their urge to gossip had faded.
"Did you hear that? Zhang Ruochen said he's going to challenge the Immortal Source Clan?"
"No, he clearly said he's going to the Immortal Source Clan to apologize."
"Let's go. Whether Zhang Ruochen is going to challenge or apologize, we can't miss this show."
...
A crowd of cultivators followed behind the Seven Star Divine Palace, swarming toward the Immortal Source Clan.
The Immortal Source Clan's cultivators rushed back to their sacred land to report this shocking bad news to their Clan Leader.
The Immortal Source Clan's sacred land was not far from the Rot Clan's, and Zhang Ruochen arrived in no time.
The Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader, Princess Snow Gaze, and a group of Great Saints were already waiting outside the mountain gate.
Their expressions were grim, and anxiety filled their hearts. Princess Snow Gaze, in particular, wondered if Zhang Ruochen held a grudge against her for personally escorting Tian Shuzi to deal with him, making the Immortal Source Clan his second target.
Back at the Ghost Wood Studio, she had sensed Zhang Ruochen's resentment toward her.
If only she had known Zhang Ruochen was such a vengeful person, she would never have gotten involved.
Truly, when gods fight, mortals suffer.
The Seven Star Divine Palace descended before the Immortal Source Clan's sacred land and slowly stopped. The ten chests of Divine Stones were brought out again and opened one by one, their divine light illuminating hundreds of zhang.
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the palace and said, "Greetings, Clan Leader. Ruochen's visit to the Immortal Source Clan today has three purposes."
"First, when I entered the city that day, Princess Snow Gaze invited me to visit the Immortal Source Clan, but I was at a critical point in my cultivation and couldn't respond immediately. I've heard that Princess Snow Gaze and the Immortal Source Clan have held a grudge against me because of this. That really shouldn't be the case. I've come in person today to clear up any misunderstandings and resolve the conflict."
"Just as I thought, I offended Zhang Ruochen, and he's targeting me." Princess Snow Gaze looked at her mother, the Clan Leader, wanting to take responsibility alone and not drag the entire clan into this.
The Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader stopped her, stepped forward a dozen paces, and said, "Ruochen Great Saint, there's no need to be so polite. The Immortal Source Clan and Snow Gaze have never held a grudge against you. On the contrary, Snow Gaze has mentioned you to me many times, calling you a talent of the era and expressing great admiration and fondness."
Blood Butcher said, "In that case, let Princess Snow Gaze marry my senior brother, and we'll let this matter slide."
Zhang Ruochen shot him a glare, and Blood Butcher quickly shut his mouth.
Zhang Ruochen bowed to the Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader and said humbly, "So it was all a misunderstanding. I feel much more at ease now. Clan Leader, you must accept these ten chests of Divine Stones as an apology."
The Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader quickly shook her head and said gently, "Since it was a misunderstanding, there's no need for an apology."
Zhang Ruochen chuckled. "The Clan Leader speaks wisely. In that case, let's move on to the second matter. I wish to cultivate the Heavenly Sword Soul in the Hundred Shackles Realm..."
Then, Zhang Ruochen listed the cultivation resources he wanted to purchase.
Although the Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader had mentally prepared herself, her noble and elegant face still turned cold.
The resources Zhang Ruochen demanded were the kind of treasures that formed a clan's foundation, used to nurture True God Seeds. How could they be sold so easily?
And even if he said he was buying, who would dare accept Zhang Ruochen's Divine Stones?
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Does the Immortal Source Clan have none of these?"
Just as the Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader was struggling to respond, the Demon Wolf Clan's Clan Leader's voice echoed in her ear: "Sell the resources to Zhang Ruochen. It will protect the lives of your clan's True God Seeds."
The Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader was sharp-minded and instantly understood.
So Zhang Ruochen's grand display of apologizing to various clans and killing Fire Li to establish his authority was all for this purpose.
If she could trade some cultivation resources for the lives of her clan's True God Seeds, it seemed acceptable.
"Ruochen Great Saint, the Immortal Source Clan does have some of the resources you seek."
The Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader immediately sent someone to fetch three bottles of Divine Sword Cleansing Liquid.
Zhang Ruochen was overjoyed. "Three bottles of Divine Sword Cleansing Liquid are worth nine hundred Divine Stones."
"These three bottles are a gift to Ruochen Great Saint. We won't accept a single Divine Stone," the Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader quickly declined, as if afraid of being tainted by the stones.
Zhang Ruochen's expression turned serious. "Ruochen came here sincerely to purchase cultivation resources. If the Clan Leader refuses to accept the Divine Stones, won't the world think I'm bullying others by relying on power?"
The Demon Wolf Clan's Clan Leader's voice rang in the Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader's ear again: "It's best to accept Zhang Ruochen's Divine Stones, and accept all of them, to protect your clan's True God Seeds. Three bottles of Divine Sword Cleansing Liquid can only save their lives, not their cultivation."
Although the Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader didn't know where the Demon Wolf Clan's Clan Leader was, she guessed that Zhang Ruochen had visited the Demon Wolf Clan before the Rot Clan.
The Demon Wolf Clan was wealthy and had sold Zhang Ruochen three thousand Divine Stones' worth of resources, thus saving their True God Seeds' lives.
That must be it.
If Zhang Ruochen was really willing to pay three thousand Divine Stones, then giving up those resources wouldn't be a loss for the Immortal Source Clan.
The Immortal Source Clan's Clan Leader silently thanked the Demon Wolf Clan's Clan Leader and quickly said, "Actually, the Immortal Source Clan has more Divine Sword Cleansing Liquid. I'll have someone bring it all."
"Thank you, Clan Leader." Zhang Ruochen bowed again.
And so, Zhang Ruochen spent three thousand Divine Stones to buy ten bottles of Divine Sword Cleansing Liquid from the Immortal Source Clan.
Back then, he had searched every sacred store and merchant guild in the Hundred Clans Royal City and only managed to buy half a bottle.
The third matter, of course, was to challenge the Immortal Source Clan's strongest Hundred Shackles Realm Great Saint and strongest Thousand Questions Realm Great Saint.
Zhang Ruochen defeated each of them with a single move, then left the ten chests of Divine Stones, returned to the Seven Star Divine Palace, and headed to the next minor clan to apologize. Before leaving, he even asked Princess Snow Gaze if she held a grudge against him.
Princess Snow Gaze responded with a sweet smile, declaring that Ruochen Divine Son was the prodigy she admired most and the Immortal Source Clan's best friend.
(Chapter End)