Chapter 2661: The Lure and Kill Scheme
Zhang Ruochen did not even look at her gaze. Gazing at the battlefield, he spoke in an aged voice, humbly saying, "This old man is not some great master; I have merely cultivated for a sufficiently long time."
Top-tier illusion techniques are almost always executed through the eyes, thereby disrupting the mind, ensnaring the soul, and seducing desires.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox possessed extremely high spiritual power, at least at the peak of the sixty-ninth rank, and possibly even at the sixty-ninth and a half rank. Although Zhang Ruochen was not afraid of her, he did not wish to provoke such a troublesome and formidable opponent.
"Whoosh!"
A dazzling flash of blood light streaked through the Return Sea Pavilion.
It was a sword light.
Shang Zihong, wielding the Red Child Sword, slashed through Xu Sheng's Dao Domain with a single strike, sending him flying. Xu Sheng used his Purple Gold Hammer to block the sword light, and with Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power helping him dissipate the residual force, he managed to steady himself on the corridor.
Blood streamed down his right arm, which held the Purple Gold Hammer.
Shang Zihong, displaying great composure, did not pursue the attack. With a refined and courteous demeanor, he said, "Imperial Uncle, having tragically lost your beloved son, your extreme actions are understandable. However, Zi Hong must still explain that the Merit Divine Temple has always been fair and just, and would never harm an ally of the Heavenly Court."
Xu Sheng wanted to strike again but was stopped by Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen advised, "Young Master Shang speaks reasonably. Imperial Uncle, please calm your emotions first. Do not be swayed by rumors."
Xu Sheng gritted his teeth but ultimately held back. He said coldly, "I didn't expect you, Shang Zihong, to have reached such a terrifying level of cultivation at such a young age. You are formidable. But regarding Cai Lin's death, I will investigate thoroughly."
Xu Sheng put away his Purple Gold Hammer and, fuming with anger, returned to the Qian Character Chamber.
Zhang Ruochen, with a smiling face, clasped his hands in a bow to Shang Zihong, the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox, and the Ancient Bronze Lion, then followed Yan Shenfei and Yan Xiaoli inside.
As Zhang Ruochen and the others entered the chamber, the smile vanished from Shang Zihong's eyes.
When he stepped into the Li Character Chamber, his handsome face was completely covered in frost.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox walked slightly behind him, speaking with a smile, "I didn't expect Xu Sheng to be such a reckless and impulsive person. Zi Hong let him off so easily, which shows your broad-mindedness. I truly admire that."
Shang Zihong shook his head. "Xu Sheng is not an impulsive man. His attack on me was a test to gauge my cultivation level."
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox dropped her smile. "Why does Zi Hong think so?"
"A reckless and impulsive person would inevitably show countless flaws in battle. However, when Xu Sheng attacked me, each move was more vicious than the last, without any flaws," Shang Zihong said.
A look of confusion appeared in the Nine-Tailed Heart Fox's intelligent eyes. "Interesting. Could it be that the Giant Deer Divine Dynasty has involved itself in tonight's conflict? What benefit would that bring them?"
Shang Zihong's mind recalled an aged figure. "Did you notice that white-haired old man from the Giant Deer Divine Dynasty? Have you seen him before?"
The Ancient Bronze Lion shook his head.
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox said, "That old man is certainly no ordinary person. My illusion techniques had no effect on him at all. His spiritual power is likely not inferior to mine. His state of mind is also unfathomably deep."
"It seems he is indeed a remarkable figure."
Shang Zihong stroked his chin, a thoughtful expression on his face.
In the chamber, only Chu Jian was sitting on a chair.
He had a pair of ox-like ears and let out a disdainful laugh. "Remarkable? How remarkable can he be?"
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox swayed her slender waist, exuding a fragrant aura, and walked over to sit lightly on his lap.
Chu Jian wrapped one arm around her waist and placed the other on her snow-white jade-like leg, his tiger-like eyes fixed on her watery, intelligent eyes. "Your illusion techniques don't seem to affect me either. Tell me, am I stronger, or is that old man?"
The Nine-Tailed Heart Fox's lips were as red as fire. She wrapped her jade-like arms around his neck and laughed, "No matter how remarkable a master in this world is, when they meet you, they can only be a foil. That old man, even if he cultivates for another ten thousand years, wouldn't be a match for a single hand of yours."
...
In the Qian Character Chamber.
Xu Sheng's expression was solemn. "Shang Zihong is too strong. If he had gone all out, he could have killed me within ten moves. The Paradise Realm has produced another extraordinary figure. Truly, the younger generation is formidable."
Yan Shenfei said, "Shang Zihong forged his body with the Five-Colored Merit Stele. He is practically an incarnation of merit, able to directly absorb merit power to enhance his cultivation. His cultivation speed is naturally unparalleled. His physical strength is so great that he can be called a half-divine body. Such a person's future achievements are limitless."
Yan Wushen asked, "What do you think, Zhang Ruochen? Are you still planning to make a move?"
"Of course. My resolve to kill Shang Zihong has never wavered," Zhang Ruochen said with firm eyes.
Yan Shenfei, Xu Sheng, and Yan Xiaoli all drew in a sharp breath, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was far too audacious. Shang Zihong was this strong, and he still dared to act?
Moreover, with the presence of the Red Dust Splendid World Pavilion's Pavilion Master and the various Divine Generals, Zhang Ruochen's identity could not be exposed.
Under such circumstances, if he could still kill Shang Zihong, that would truly be a feat of heaven-defying skill.
Yan Shenfei said, "It's too risky. Wouldn't it be better to kill him on the battlefield in the future?"
"Someone like Shang Zihong must not be allowed to live even a single day longer. Otherwise, I will inevitably pay a heavy price." Zhang Ruochen still remembered the heads hanging outside the Yin Yang Hall back then—a deep pain in his heart.
Yan Wushen said, "Do you plan to act within the Return Sea Pavilion? The pavilion is densely covered with divine patterns, making it an excellent place to conceal one's actions. When Ao Yi and Chu Jian's decisive battle begins, and everyone's attention is drawn away, that will be the best time to strike."
"No."
Zhang Ruochen rejected this plan. "Rather than seeking him out, it's better to make him come to me."
"What do you mean by that?"
Yan Wushen, who prided himself on his intelligence, found it somewhat difficult to grasp Zhang Ruochen's thoughts.
"Shang Zihong is inherently suspicious and cunning. We need to deliberately expose a flaw to lure him in," Zhang Ruochen said.
"What flaw?" Yan Wushen asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Just now, when Imperial Uncle Xu made his move, he already revealed a flaw. Coupled with my sudden appearance as a strange spiritual power expert, he is bound to be suspicious and curious about me."
Xu Sheng was startled. "Did I reveal a flaw just now?"
Yan Wushen had already figured it out. "Having no flaws is the biggest flaw. A cultivator who has just lost a beloved son should be at the peak of grief and anger. How could there be no flaws in battle?"
"In fact, the bigger flaw is that the excuse Imperial Uncle Xu used was too far-fetched. To bring up something from five hundred years ago now—anyone could guess it was a deliberate provocation," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xu Sheng smiled. "So, as long as I chose to act, no matter what excuse I used, it would essentially be a flaw."
"Now, we need one final hook."
"How do we set it?"
Zhang Ruochen stood up. "The cultivators who came to the Return Sea Pavilion tonight are all here to witness the epic battle between Ao Yi and Chu Jian. If I leave alone ahead of time, wouldn't that seem a bit abnormal?"
"If I were Shang Zihong, I would definitely follow," Yan Wushen said.
Zhang Ruochen had already pushed open the door, descended the stairs, and left the Return Sea Pavilion.
Tonight, the Red Dust Sea Market was packed with people, all Saint-level powerhouses, all here to watch the battle.
In such a situation, it was very easy for a cultivator to conceal their aura. For this reason, Zhang Ruochen did not deliberately check if anyone was following him.
Leaving the Red Dust Sea Market, Zhang Ruochen intentionally used his spiritual power to make his body ethereal, stepping on the sea surface as he headed toward the island where the Green Pear Garden was located.
On this open sea, Zhang Ruochen finally sensed a faint fluctuation following behind him. The corners of his mouth curled up slightly, and he suddenly stopped.
"Whoosh—"
He released his spiritual power, forming a sealed small world.
Zhang Ruochen struck without hesitation, his body transforming into a streak of sword light, unleashing unparalleled speed as he crashed into an invisible, formless spot on the sea surface.
This sword strike was infused with the essence of the Sword Dao.
"Boom!"
Lian Xi, clad in the Radiant Saint Armor, raised her sword to block.
But she could not withstand Zhang Ruochen's peerless strike. The Judgment Sword in her hands rebounded against her chest, and her body flew backward like a cannonball.
Standing on the sea surface, Lian Xi caused waves to churn beneath her feet. Her tiger's mouth was split open, dripping blood.
She was deeply shocked. She had not expected that the old man Shang Zihong had asked her to follow was such a formidable figure. If he had not retracted part of his power at the last moment, that sword strike could have seriously injured her.
How had such a strange and powerful figure suddenly appeared in the Heavenly Court?
And why had he retracted some of his power just now?
Zhang Ruochen showed a surprised expression. "Why is it you? Where is Shang Zihong?"
Lian Xi, having reached the peak of the half-divine realm, quickly composed herself. "You guessed someone would follow you? Tell me, who are you?"
The Judgment Sword in her hand was covered in densely packed Supreme Inscription Runes, emitting an increasingly powerful energy fluctuation.
Now, she was not as unprepared as before, having been caught off guard. She was confident that, with her peak half-divine cultivation and the Judgment Sword, even if she could not defeat her opponent, she could retreat safely.
Looking at Lian Xi's face, as beautiful as a celestial maiden, Zhang Ruochen felt immense disappointment. He had lost a perfect opportunity to kill Shang Zihong.
Yan Wushen stepped into Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power domain and appeared behind Lian Xi, laughing. "A mere maidservant, seeing her former master, still dares to draw her sword? If you do not kneel and kowtow immediately, tonight will be your death."
Zhang Ruochen shot Yan Wushen a cold glare. How could he say something like that?
It exposed his identity.
Lian Xi was shaken. She spun around sharply, her starry eyes landing on Yan Wushen. "Who are you? What nonsense are you spouting?"
Yan Wushen, ignoring their exchanged glances, shrugged. "I'm not talking nonsense. Isn't Zhang Ruochen your former master? Or have your memories been erased since returning to the Heavenly Court?"
"You... what did you say? He is..."
Lian Xi's memories had not been erased, but she found it hard to believe Yan Wushen's words.
She stared directly at Zhang Ruochen, who stood nearby with his hands behind his back. The light emitted by the Judgment Sword in her hand flickered, reflecting her chaotic and turbulent inner state.
Since things had come this far, Zhang Ruochen saw no need to continue hiding. He transformed back into his original appearance and shot a reproachful glare at Yan Wushen.
Wasn't this deliberately causing him trouble?