Chapter 2653: Peach Blossom Appears, Murderous Intent Spreads
The Heavenly Dragon Realm dominated the southern universe. Thirty thousand years ago, Dragon Multitude, one of the Twenty Heavens, shook the eight directions, suppressed all gods, and was the leader of the dragon clan.
Now, although Dragon Multitude was dead, the nine sons he left behind were all extraordinary, each having reached the Divine Realm and become giants among gods. Such a phenomenon was extremely rare throughout history.
Among them, the ninth son, Jiwang, was born from a union with a being from the Kunlun Realm. He had the highest talent and was called the "Dragon Lord."
Ao Xukong and Linglong Fairy were pure-blood descendants of Dragon Multitude's fifth son, the "Five-Clawed Golden Dragon." Their talents were also exceptionally high, laughing proudly among their peers.
Having them protect the eight cultivators from the Book Realm should have been the best arrangement. However, Zhang Ruochen raised an objection. He said, "How much do the two of you know about Peach Blossom?"
Ao Xukong and Linglong Fairy exchanged a glance, understanding Zhang Ruochen's concern.
Ao Xukong said, "Peach Blossom is indeed extraordinary. It is said that he once successfully assassinated a False God. However, including the killing of Yongshu Saint, he has only made eight moves in total, and each identity he assumed had a significant background. Would a killer of his level easily act to kill a few juniors from the Book Realm?"
Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Feng Yan interjected, "Betting life and death on the gamble that a killer won't kill. I find it truly hard to believe that such words came from the mouth of the Third Prince."
Ao Xukong looked somewhat embarrassed, as Feng Yan was speaking the truth. But at this moment, there was simply no better way.
A senior Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Heavenly Dragon Realm spoke in a deep, heavy tone, "If Peach Blossom wants to kill, unless a god acts, who can stop him?"
"Then let the Third Prince step forward and invite the Mysterious Case Divine General to come with you to pick up the people. The Mysterious Case Divine General should give the Heavenly Dragon Realm that face, right?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"The Mysterious Case Divine General is burdened with many affairs. To invite him would cost at least one hundred thousand Divine Stones." Another Great Saint from the Heavenly Dragon Clan said with great displeasure, feeling that Zhang Ruochen and Feng Yan looked down on the Heavenly Dragon Realm, believing it incapable of protecting the Book Realm cultivators.
"One hundred thousand Divine Stones—I believe that compared to the lives of cultivators, it is not too much," Zhang Ruochen said.
Just as the two sides were about to argue, Linglong Fairy quickly stepped forward to mediate. "Book Sir, Rock Emperor, Young Hall Master, the three of you have misunderstood my brother. Since we dared to come and pick up the people, we naturally have the power to protect them."
With a peerless beauty stepping in, face had to be given, and the atmosphere temporarily eased.
Linglong Fairy's golden hair was dazzling and bright. The sacred armor on her body accentuated her perfect figure, her skin was lustrous like fine jade, and her eyes rippled like autumn water. She took out a purple jade pendant, revealing a corner.
Zhang Ruochen narrowed his eyes, and the corner of his eye twitched.
The purple jade pendant was covered with extremely mysterious talisman inscriptions. Even with Zhang Ruochen's current spiritual power intensity, he could not see them clearly.
Feng Yan also noticed the purple jade pendant and was visibly moved. "Is this a Divine Talisman?"
Linglong Fairy nodded. "It is indeed a Divine Talisman. However, it has been used twice before and is now slightly damaged. It can only be considered a sub-Divine Talisman."
Zhang Ruochen had seen a Divine Talisman once before, on Ice King Star in Divine Maiden City.
A single talisman had fallen, and the entire Divine Maiden City had turned to ashes. Even with many sacred cultivators joining forces, they could not withstand it.
When a Divine Talisman was unleashed, even a False God risked falling.
The few senior Supreme Realm Great Saints from the Heavenly Dragon Realm saw the expressions on Zhang Ruochen and Feng Yan's faces and revealed smug smiles.
The Heavenly Dragon Realm's foundation was powerful—how could outsiders look down on it?
"Alright, since the fairy has come with a Divine Talisman, I assume you have a foolproof plan and should be able to ensure the safety of the Book Realm cultivators," Zhang Ruochen said.
In the end, given the current situation, the fact that the Heavenly Dragon Realm cultivators were willing to come and protect the Book Realm cultivators was already commendable.
The eight cultivators from the Book Realm all showed moved expressions. Every person present was a major figure, yet they were willing to risk enmity with the Confucian Realm and the Heavenly Realm Faction for their sake, rather than treating them as abandoned pawns.
They quickly expressed their gratitude to Zhang Ruochen, Feng Yan, and Xiang Chunan.
Just as they were about to leave, Zhang Ruochen's expression suddenly changed, and he let out a fierce roar.
"ROAR!"
The sound exploded like thunder. Within the sound waves, peak sixty-ninth-level spiritual power condensed into a sound bell, which crashed toward the southeastern wall.
This sound wave was not aimed at the eight Book Realm cultivators, but the residual force still sent them all flying, injuring them to varying degrees.
As for the tables, benches, and wine cauldrons, they were all shattered into powder by Zhang Ruochen's single roar.
Feng Yan reacted most decisively. Although he did not know exactly what had happened, the fact that a strongman like Shu Qianchi had acted instantly, without regard for the safety of the Book Realm cultivators, meant that a shocking crisis must have arisen.
Feng Yan immediately released his Dao Domain, shielding the eight Book Realm cultivators within it.
He possessed three heads and six arms. A dazzling white divine light burst from his body. The eyes on his left and right heads, which had been closed, suddenly snapped open.
The eyes on his left head crackled with lightning.
The eyes on his right head blazed with divine flames.
The eyes on his central head emitted two white light pillars, surrounded by wind blades, which struck toward the southeastern wall.
The entire process was completed in an instant. Before the sound bell had even struck the southeastern wall, the two white light pillars followed closely, showcasing Feng Yan's astonishing reaction ability.
It must be noted that the residences of cultivators from various realms were filled with Dao locks, and the walls of each courtyard were inscribed with divine patterns.
"BOOM!"
The sound bell crashed into the wall. The divine patterns on the wall immediately emerged, but they could not block the sound bell. The divine patterns shattered, and a large section of the wall collapsed.
"What happened?" a senior Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Heavenly Dragon Realm asked.
"Peach Blossom is here!"
Zhang Ruochen grabbed a cyan-green sword, and his figure instantly vanished from its original position, turning into an afterimage. He swung the sword and slashed down at a certain point in the void.
The sword cut through the air, leaving a bottomless sword mark on the ground.
The divine patterns deep underground were sliced open.
This sword was one Zhang Ruochen had casually brought out from the Sword Mountain. It had no sword spirit, but its material was unique, and its power was not weak.
After missing the strike, Zhang Ruochen attacked again.
The cultivators from the Heavenly Dragon Realm and the Book Realm watched as Zhang Ruochen danced his sword alone within the Dao Domain that Feng Yan had erected. Each strike was immensely powerful, but it seemed as if he were fighting the air.
No one present except him could see or sense Peach Blossom.
Feng Yan's Dao Domain was like a chaotic sea, purple-blue in color. Above it hung the sun and moon, and when unfolded, it was boundless.
Linglong Fairy held the Divine Talisman, asking nervously, "Where is Peach Blossom?"
Feng Yan frowned deeply and shook his head.
"Peach Blossom should be inside your Dao Domain, right? Even if you can't see him, you should be able to sense him," Linglong Fairy said in surprise.
"I'm not sure what's going on," Feng Yan said. He did not rashly attack again, his heart filled with shock and doubt.
What shocked him was that if Peach Blossom was truly inside his Dao Domain, yet he could not sense Peach Blossom's position, then how terrifying must Peach Blossom's stealth technique be?
What he doubted was whether Peach Blossom had really come.
"I have clairvoyant eyes. Let me take a look."
Xiang Chunan released his boundless Truth Realm Form, pressed his hands against his temples, and shot blazing divine light from his pupils. However, after searching in all directions, he did not see Peach Blossom.
A long-bearded Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Heavenly Dragon Realm snorted coldly, "Even if Peach Blossom's stealth technique is formidable, he would inevitably reveal a flaw in battle. If even Rock Emperor and Young Hall Master cannot detect him, then wouldn't that mean even a False God's divine soul would find it hard to notice? I think Shu Qianchi is just putting on an act, deliberately saying Peach Blossom has come, with the intention of not letting the Book Realm cultivators leave."
"Why would Brother Shu do that? What benefit would it bring him?" Xiang Chunan said angrily.
That long-bearded Supreme Realm Great Saint said, "The Book Realm's heritage comes from the Confucian path of the Kunlun Realm. The Book Realm was once attached to the Kunlun Realm. Shu Qianchi wants to personally protect the Book Realm cultivators to earn their gratitude, paving the way for the Kunlun Realm to recall the Book Realm in the future..."
"Shut up!" Ao Xukong roared in reprimand.
The long-bearded Supreme Realm Great Saint said, "If Shu Qianchi had no ulterior motive, why would he put on this fake... play... ah..."
Before he could finish speaking, the smile on his face froze, and he let out a scream.
All the cultivators present looked over and were horrified.
They saw that this strongman, who had reached the Supreme Realm, had the Great Saint blood inside his body burst out from his pores, turning into patches of bright red peach blossom petals that filled the sky, dazzling and gorgeous.
He was like a grotesque and enchanting peach blossom tree.
In the next instant, he turned into a hideous, withered skeleton, collapsing to the ground, his life force extinguished.
"Peach Blossom Calamity!" a cultivator choked out these three words from his throat.
No one doubted Zhang Ruochen any longer. All the Great Saints present simultaneously released their Dao Domains, enveloping the void that Zhang Ruochen was pursuing.
Finally, with their combined strength, a flaw appeared in Peach Blossom's stealth technique, and a trace of aura leaked out.
Peach Blossom seemed to realize he could no longer hide, so he chose to reveal himself. However, he appeared only as a mass of black shadow, bursting forth with speed faster than lightning. In an instant, he shook off Zhang Ruochen's pursuit and appeared before the Heavenly Dragon Realm cultivators.
Zhang Ruochen was about to use Spatial Displacement, but remembering that he could not reveal his identity now, he had to rely on his movement technique to chase after him.
"Those who meddle die without mercy."
A hoarse, wind-like voice echoed through the space.
The black shadow exploded, turning into countless peach blossom petals that formed a long dragon, charging into the midst of the Heavenly Dragon Realm cultivators. As the peach blossom dragon flew past, peach blossom petals flew out from the bodies of the Heavenly Dragon Realm Great Saints, turning them into dried corpses.
In less than a breath's time, seven Heavenly Dragon Realm Great Saints had died, including three senior Supreme Realm Great Saints.
"ROAR!"
Linglong Fairy activated the power of the Divine Talisman. A golden dragon several hundred miles long flew out from the talisman, its roar deafening. Unfortunately, the golden dragon could not lock onto the enemy. The long dragon formed by the peach blossom petals coiled around the golden dragon, flying in a winding path, and then charged back toward Linglong Fairy.
Linglong Fairy's face turned pale. The corpses of seven top-tier Great Saints lay on the ground. Faced with such a terrifying Peach Blossom, she could only retreat rapidly.
But Peach Blossom came even faster. The fragrance of the petals had already entered her nostrils.