Chapter 2626: The Half-Gods of Kunlun Realm
The injuries of Yushan Dragon Emperor, Wen Di, and Gai Tianjiao stabilized, and their lives were no longer in danger. Naturally, the Great Saints of Kunlun Realm no longer had to hold back, and quite a few were determined to fight to the death against Blade God Realm.
Nalan Danqing's gaze turned to Zhang Ruochen.
If he were willing to act, Kunlun Realm would surely be able to get through this crisis.
But she understood that in the Heavenly Court, Zhang Ruochen had to be careful to conceal his abilities. Once exposed, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Wan Canglan, however, had no such reservations. She walked up to Zhang Ruochen and said, "On the North Cliff of the Book Mountain, weren't you speaking eloquently, claiming you could easily resolve the situation? I still remember what you said—something about repaying someone in their own coin. Now, isn't it time to show off your extraordinary skills?"
Nalan Danqing felt quite helpless about Wan Canglan's personality. This was also why she dared not tell Wan Canglan the truth. This Martial Saint sister was too straightforward, never knowing how to be tactful or conceal anything.
She quickly stepped forward to stop her, trying to hold Wan Canglan back.
"Danqing, why are you stopping me? This great expert here doesn't even take Shang Zihong and Paradise Realm seriously. To him, mere Blade God Realm is probably no different from chickens and dogs," Wan Canglan said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "You're right. Those Great Saints of Blade God Realm are indeed like chickens and dogs. Why would I need any strategy to deal with them? I'll just draw my sword and cut them down."
Many of the Saint Realm cultivators of Kunlun Realm present heard this, and some showed displeased expressions.
Blade God Realm was the fourth-ranked powerful realm in the Western Universe, possessing the strongest Blade Dao inheritance. Even the ruling worlds dared not underestimate them. How could a mere Great Saint speak such arrogant words?
If it were Yan Wushen of Hell Realm, or Que, saying such things, the crowd wouldn't be so averse. Instead, they would find it domineering and powerful, befitting an Eon-level genius looking down on all others.
But for anyone else to say this, they were either foolish or truly arrogant beyond measure.
In short, it was overbearing to the point of excess.
Wan Canglan's gaze turned to Xian Feizi, as if saying, "Now you see what an arrogant fool this guy is."
Zhang Ruochen seemed oblivious to the strange looks in the eyes of those present and continued, "I have two friends who have deep ties to Kunlun Realm and can be considered cultivators of Kunlun Realm. If they were to act, repelling this provocation from Blade God Realm would actually not be difficult."
Who among the strong of Kunlun Realm knew them better than these people?
Currently, the strongest below the God Realm in Kunlun Realm was probably the artifact spirit of the Sword Pavilion, the Seven-Colored Begonia.
However, the Sword Pavilion was striving to become a divine artifact, and the artifact spirit could not afford any mishap.
Between a Saint Domain and a divine artifact, the latter was clearly more important.
Besides that, what other strong figures could repel Blade God Realm?
Just then, an old man carrying four war swords on his back, surrounded by a group of Saint Realm cultivators from the Four Symbols Sect, walked into the Domain Mansion.
The old man said, "Everyone, I will take on the challenge from Blade God Realm."
Some of the awakened ones recognized the old man and immediately went over to pay respects. "I heard Senior Huo was in seclusion, striving for the God Realm. Why have you come out of seclusion?"
This old man was one of the few Great Saint-level awakened ones of Kunlun Realm. During the Middle Ages, he was a half-god of the Four Symbols Sect, named Huo Shanhai.
A figure of such caliber should have been in secluded cultivation, striving for the God Realm.
Reaching the God Realm would allow him to share the burden of Tai Shang.
His emergence from seclusion now was clearly a matter of necessity.
Huo Shanhai's blood energy was vigorous, and the Sacred Dao rules within his body exceeded ten trillion, giving him an impressive bearing. He said, "The mundane world of Kunlun Realm ultimately needs top-tier strong figures to oversee it. I can only temporarily come out of seclusion to first deal with Blade God Realm's provocation. Come, let's go see what kind of experts Blade God Realm has below the God Realm in this generation."
"With Senior Huo coming out of seclusion, we finally have a pillar of strength."
Huo Shanhai's arrival boosted Kunlun Realm's morale greatly, and no one paid any more attention to Zhang Ruochen's earlier arrogant words.
The crowd surged out of the Domain Mansion, heading toward the border between the Golden Tree Saint Domain and the Golden Sand Saint Source.
Only a few cultivators remained in the Domain Mansion, tending to the severely injured Wen Di, Gai Tianjiao, and Yushan Dragon Emperor.
Wen Di and Nalan Danqing walked toward Zhang Ruochen.
Wen Di's gaze was fixed on Zhang Ruochen, his expression calm and composed. He said, "Thank you for saving us earlier. This great kindness, Nalan Mo will remember for life."
Using his own name to address himself clearly indicated that Wen Di recognized the other party's formidable cultivation and thus treated him as an equal.
"Senior, there's no need to be so polite. You are Cai Nu's grandfather. Given my friendship with Cai Nu, saving you was only right and proper," Zhang Ruochen said with a clasped fist.
Wen Di said, "May I ask what miraculous technique you used? Why is it that with my spiritual power, I cannot see your true face?"
This person before him had an unknown origin, profound cultivation, and was too close to Nalan Danqing. Naturally, Wen Di had some concerns and wanted to clarify his identity.
The space around Zhang Ruochen was distorted, and he had used Sacred Intent to alter the rules of heaven and earth, further concealed by spiritual power.
Not to mention Wen Di, even a god with seventieth-level spiritual power would find it no easy task to see his face clearly.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Nalan Danqing and said, "Cai Nu, tell Senior Wen Di my identity. I trust him."
Nalan Danqing transmitted a message to Wen Di, saying a single sentence.
Wen Di's eyes suddenly shook. Even with his state of mind, he couldn't help but lose his composure. His fingers trembled slightly as he pointed at Zhang Ruochen, finding it extremely hard to believe.
Of course, after just a moment, Wen Di recovered.
Wen Di said, "I never thought it would be you. Why have you come to the Heavenly Court? It's too dangerous."
"I have a reason I must come," Zhang Ruochen said.
Wen Di pondered for a moment, then shook his head. "This won't do. Deliberately concealing yourself will instead draw the attention of other cultivators. Among Saint Realm cultivators, those who can see through your methods may be few. But once a god sets their sights on you, it will be very dangerous."
"Thank you for your concern, Senior Wen Di. I have confidence in protecting myself."
Zhang Ruochen was not being arrogant.
One must understand that when he went to the Primordial Beginning, his physical body was shattered into particles, and he spent endless time recondensing it. The aura on his body had undergone earth-shattering changes.
Even if a god could see his face clearly, they would not know he was Zhang Ruochen.
Furthermore, Zhang Ruochen could completely shift his bones and flesh to change his appearance. With the coverage of his First-Rank Sacred Intent, what the gods saw would only be a stranger's face.
Wen Di took out a paper scroll and handed it to Zhang Ruochen. "This is a face personally painted by the Fourth Confucian Ancestor. When necessary, you can wear it over your face. It can not only change your appearance but also conceal your aura."
Zhang Ruochen did not refuse and accepted it openly.
Wen Di asked, "You said earlier that you have two friends from Kunlun Realm with great strength, capable of repelling Blade God Realm. Do these two people really exist?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
Wen Di asked, "Where are they?"
"They are on me," Zhang Ruochen said.
Wen Di clasped his hands and bowed to Zhang Ruochen. Zhang Ruochen quickly supported him and said, "Senior, if you have anything to say, please speak freely. Don't do this, or Cai Nu will surely blame me."
Wen Di's face showed worry as he looked toward the southern sky. "Blade God Realm is not simple. The mysterious cultivator who wounded me is especially powerful."
"Senior, are you worried that Kunlun Realm's half-god awakened one will lose?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Wen Di said, "Huo Shanhai's combat power is very strong, but Blade God Realm has a large number of Supreme Realm Great Saints. If they use a wheel battle, even a half-god can be worn down to death."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Blade God Realm shouldn't use a wheel battle. They came today intending to crush the confidence and fighting spirit of Kunlun Realm's Great Saints. They will adopt a strategy of quick victory."
Wen Di placed his hopes on Zhang Ruochen. "If Huo Shanhai loses, can your two friends hold them off?"
"They can hold them off and even fight back," Zhang Ruochen said with great confidence.
"Good!"
...
Zhang Ruochen walked toward the border of the Saint Domain together with the Demon God Rat.
The Demon God Rat had already learned of Zhang Ruochen's true identity and, with tears and snot streaming down, cried out, "Master Chen, you're finally back. With you here, our Kunlun Realm can finally hold its head high!"
"Teach them a lesson, a harsh lesson to Canghai Yishu. It was him who severely wounded the Sect Leader and forced her to marry that waste Xu Xu."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Unfortunately, I am no longer a cultivator of Kunlun Realm."
"What about Black Master? If he makes a move, he should be able to take down a large number of them. He claims to be invincible below the God Realm."
Zhang Ruochen said, "He's not here."
"Then what do we do? Master Chen, won't you avenge the Sect Leader?" the Demon God Rat said with a bitter expression.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Everyone must learn to face their own challenges. No matter how difficult, as long as they hold on, there is a chance to see the dawn and usher in glory. Of course, bullying Feiyu is bullying me, Zhang Ruochen. This grudge must be avenged, and avenged thoroughly."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen carefully used Space Essence to conceal the aura of the Qiankun Realm, then brought out Shi Huang and Jian Huang from within.
Although, when approaching the singularity, a large amount of Space Essence had burned away and been released back into heaven and earth.
But when Zhang Ruochen's First-Rank Sacred Intent successfully condensed, the Yin-Yang Taiji Mark absorbed quite a bit of that Space Essence and Time Essence back.
Shi Huang's true form was Xuanhuang Stone, fused with the spiritual will of six gods.
Jian Huang was formed from the sword intent of a Middle Ages Sword God, combined with a large amount of Saint Qi and Divine Qi, and had cultivated intelligence. His situation was similar to that of the Cosmic Divine Fetus, Lan Ying.
Both Shi Huang and Jian Huang had also obtained the great fortune of the Origin Divine Temple.
Their cultivation, a thousand years ago, had already far surpassed that of Da Sikong and Er Sikong. After a thousand years of cultivation, their realm was even more profound than those two monks.
Especially Jian Huang. In the Sword Mountain of the Qiankun Realm, he had received the inheritance of a peerless Sword God from the ancient Sword Realm, cultivated the Heavenly Soul Sword and his own Sword Soul, unearthed a Supreme Sacred Artifact war sword, and even obtained a portion of Sword Dao Essence.
Among the current Great Saints of Kunlun Realm, Zhang Ruochen did not believe anyone was stronger than Jian Huang.
Shang Xia and Shang Yue were both half-gods, so why didn't they dare to resist Zhang Ruochen?
There was no need for Zhang Ruochen to act himself. Any one of Jian Huang, Shi Huang, or Shi Shenghua could handle them.
Zhang Ruochen, the Demon God Rat, Shi Huang, and Jian Huang arrived at the border between the Golden Tree Saint Domain and the Golden Sand Saint Domain. Looking into the distance, they saw across a golden sacred river a mass of surging sacred mist.
Many figures of extraordinary bearing sat by the bank of the golden river.
The white sacred light radiating from Michael was particularly dazzling.