Chapter 2681: Yan God Was Attacked
The three Angel Emperors were all extraordinary figures. After the Red Dust Assembly, they were to enter the Radiant Divine Temple and break through to become gods. Once they reached the divine realm, they would be among the strong among true gods. Any one of them carried more weight than ten Supreme Realm cultivators.
It was easy to imagine how massive the shockwaves would be in Paradise Realm, and even the entire Heavenly Court, from the fall of two Angel Emperors. Combined with the earlier brutal deaths of the Divine Martial Envoy, Michael, and Krafilin, tonight was undoubtedly a cataclysmic upheaval for Paradise Realm.
"Don't devour all of them. I still have use for his corpse!" Zhang Ruochen said to Mo Yin, then reached into the void with one hand, pulling back the corpse of the Black Angel Emperor that was drifting away, and stored it in his Space Ring.
To return to Hell Realm, he naturally had to prove his worth. What better way to demonstrate his ability and loyalty to Hell Realm than with the corpses of top-tier Heavenly Court experts?
Zhang Ruochen's wounds healed rapidly. He locked eyes with Shang Zihong, who stood on the planet radiating multicolored merit divine light, and called out, "Brother Zihong, do you think you can still kill me today?"
The Red Angel Emperor had already been reduced to a dried corpse, tossed aside by Mo Yin. She stood shoulder to shoulder with Zhang Ruochen, her red lips curling slightly, her voice soft and seductive. "Shang Zihong's current body is the Multicolored Merit Divine Stele. If I could absorb him, I might break the curse that prevents ferocious plants from crossing the divine tribulation. Master, help me!"
Shang Zihong's expression shifted uncertainly. He glanced at the White Angel Emperor, who was being swarmed by the Devouring God Insect swarm, and a smile suddenly appeared on his face. "This outcome is indeed unexpected. But my plan has already succeeded. In the end, you won't escape death."
"Master, has this guy lost his mind?" Mo Yin had no patience. Her interest in the Multicolored Merit Divine Stele was intense, seeing it as the key to stepping into the divine realm. So, she controlled her lightning vines and attacked Shang Zihong first.
Shang Zihong snorted lightly and grabbed at the air. A piercing sword cry rang out as the Red Son Sword returned to his hand. Instantly, a blood-red supreme power erupted from the sword, turning into a rainbow of sword energy that sliced all the incoming vines into dust.
Mo Yin's cultivation was not necessarily weaker than Shang Zihong's, but she excelled in group combat and trapping. Against a top-tier expert like Shang Zihong, she found it harder to handle.
"Master, lend me a Supreme Sacred Artifact," Mo Yin said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen seemed not to hear Mo Yin's words. He continued staring at Shang Zihong, having understood the meaning behind his earlier words. "It seems a god came with you. Why not invite him out?"
Shang Zihong's so-called "plan has succeeded" likely referred to forcing Zhang Ruochen to reveal his true form. As a cultivator from Hell Realm appearing in the Heavenly Court and killing many Heavenly Court experts, any god of the Heavenly Court could kill him. Back then, Bai Qinger had transformed into Ji Fanxin's appearance. If she had gone on a killing spree in the heart of Hell Realm's Fate Divine Domain, she would have long attracted gods from the Destiny Temple.
Gods couldn't interfere in mortal affairs, but that didn't mean mortal experts could run rampant in an enemy's stronghold. That's why Yan Wushen didn't dare to enter the Heavenly Court openly.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen remain calm, Shang Zihong felt a slight surprise. "You don't think that Tai Shang of Kunlun Realm can sense what's happening here and come to save you, do you? Let me tell you, the divine-level big shots of the Heavenly Court are all at a critical moment of their game. That Tai Shang probably can't spare attention for places outside the Heavenly Court."
Zhang Ruochen sensed something and looked up. Above, the originally dark and cold void of space was now burning with blazing divine flames, forming a boundless sea of fire that radiated scorching heat. A towering divine figure floated within the flames, exuding a soul-shaking divine might.
The billions of vines Mo Yin had released all exploded. Her charming face turned pale in an instant. She let out a pained cry, her body curling up, unable to maintain human form, reverting to her plant state.
Zhang Ruochen was about to open the bronze coffin to recall the Devouring God Insects, but the coffin vanished. His eyes narrowed coldly as he looked up, seeing the coffin in the hands of the god above.
"Greetings, Yan God!" The White Angel Emperor bowed to the god in the sea of fire.
The god appearing in the flames was none other than Yan God of the Merit Divine Temple, Shang Zihong's master, a very powerful true god.
Yan God collected all the Devouring God Insects into the bronze coffin. Even in his eyes, these insects held immense value. With time, they could be cultivated into an insect army capable of devouring gods. Their worth was incalculable.
The bronze coffin shrank to the size of a matchbox, held in Yan God's hand. He looked down, his gaze icy. "Zhang Ruochen, by killing the Black Angel Emperor and the Red Angel Emperor, you have committed a heinous crime. Today, I, this god, will execute you on behalf of the Heavenly Court."
Yan God's desire to kill Zhang Ruochen was even stronger than Shang Zihong's. Back then, Moon God had refined the divine leg she had severed from him into Zhang Ruochen's leg. Even after a thousand years, this incident remained a joke in the divine realm, causing Yan God immense shame.
Moreover, Yan God knew Zhang Ruochen possessed many treasures, even esoteric truths of eternal paths. Killing him would yield far greater rewards than killing a true god of Hell Realm. How could he pass up such a golden opportunity?
Zhang Ruochen said, "If you kill me, you will pay a heavy price."
Yan God laughed loudly. "You mean Xue Hou or Xue Jue War God? First, the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm are inherently hostile. I have no fear of them. Second, not many will know about your death today."
The White Angel Emperor smiled faintly. Since a true god had intervened, the situation was settled. She sheathed her war sword.
But at that moment, she suddenly felt her body lighten, her vision went dark, and she fell into a vast, dark space. Realizing something was wrong, she knew a god was lurking nearby and had been pulled into their divine realm.
The White Angel Emperor's sudden disappearance alerted Yan God. He roared, "Who?"
"Boom!"
Yan God felt a sharp pain in his rear. Someone had kicked him hard, throwing him off balance and sending him stumbling forward.
Furious, Yan God hadn't even steadied himself when his head was smacked with a loud "boom." His consciousness grew hazy, his head throbbing with pain, and divine blood flowed from his seven orifices.
The bronze coffin in his hand had vanished.
Shang Zihong watched in stunned disbelief, completely baffled. Why had a mighty true god suddenly lurched forward, then flown sideways? Who had attacked him? Could it be that Tai Shang from Kunlun Realm?
Shang Zihong looked at where Zhang Ruochen had stood, only to find him gone.
"Master!" Shang Zihong flew upward, supporting Yan God, whose mouth was dripping with divine blood.
After a long moment, Yan God recovered, his eyes gradually regaining focus.
"What just happened?" Shang Zihong asked.
Yan God's eyes shot out two beams of light, scanning the universe in all directions. "A powerful figure among the gods just attacked me."
"Who was it? That Tai Shang from Kunlun Realm?"
Being able to beat a true god helplessly meant they were a super-strong expert in the divine realm.
Yan God shook his head. "It couldn't be Yunshen Daozhu. Didn't you notice? They not only took Zhang Ruochen but also captured the White Angel Emperor. How could someone of Yunshen Daozhu's status do such a thing?"
Shang Zihong pondered bitterly. "Could it be Xue Jue War God from Hell Realm?"
"If it were a god from Hell Realm, why wouldn't they capture or kill both you and me?" Yan God said.
Shang Zihong frowned deeply. "This is truly strange... Since it's a powerful god, why specifically capture the White Angel Emperor?"
"Their cultivation is unfathomable, beyond my ability to handle. But this place is only a stone's throw from the Heavenly River. We must invite Bian Zhuang War God to deal with them."
Yan God took Shang Zihong and, using Divine Spirit Step, arrived at the bank of the Heavenly River in moments. At Yan God's call, a divine shadow of the Heavenly Palace's first war god, Bian Zhuang, emerged from the river, towering like a mountain. His voice rumbled, "Yan God, why have you summoned me?"
Yan God recounted what had happened, glossing over the attack's details.
"I know nothing of this. Let me investigate."
Bian Zhuang's divine shadow's eyes blazed brighter than a star, scanning the universe. After a while, his gaze retracted. "I found no suspicious gods, nor any Zhang Ruochen. Yan God, are you sure you're not playing me?"
Yan God dared not offend Bian Zhuang and quickly said, "How would I dare do such a thing? Zhang Ruochen is truly alive and has reappeared! Earlier, less than a hundred million miles from the Heavenly River, a battle broke out. He killed two great saints from Paradise Realm..."
"Hmph!" Bian Zhuang snorted angrily. "Such a trivial matter among great saints, and you dare disturb me?"
"Splash!"
The divine shadow dissipated, turning into weak water and retreating into the Heavenly River.
"War God, wait..."
Yan God clenched his teeth, his fists tight.
Shang Zihong watched the rolling Heavenly River, his gaze cold. "With Bian Zhuang War God's cultivation, how could he..."
"Shut up!" Yan God glared at Shang Zihong, stopping him from continuing. Then, his expression calmed, and he instructed, "We'll talk back at the Merit Divine Temple."
Even Yan God dared not speak ill of Bian Zhuang War God.
...
The Heavenly River was vast and magnificent.
At this moment, a crescent-shaped heavenly boat floated on the river. It was the Moon God Heavenly Boat, refined by Bian Zhuang from the core essence of ten thousand stars.
The elegant and ethereal Moon God stood on the boat, gazing at the starry skies on both sides of the river. Bian Zhuang approached from behind, standing beside her, following her gaze. He smiled, "I've invited you many times to sail the Heavenly River together, even promising that if you agreed, I'd do anything for you—join Guanghan Realm, or even abandon the Heavenly River—but you always refused. Today, you finally agreed, and I'm overjoyed. Yet, I never imagined your reason was just to let that brat go. Is a saint-level cultivator worth so much to you?"
Moon God's face was cold and pure. She said lightly, "He is my envoy. Naturally, I must protect him."
"Strangely enough, that kid stirred up Zhuang Tai'a. He personally sent me a message, insisting I kill him after he left the Heavenly River."
Bian Zhuang already knew Zhang Ruochen's identity. But in his eyes, even if Zhang Ruochen was a Hell Realm cultivator, he was only at the great saint realm—too insignificant. Since Moon God had pleaded for him, it was worth giving her face.
...
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