Chapter 2707: Finally Destroyed
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen's palm strike, like a thunderbolt from the blue, nearly blasted Shang Zihong into unconsciousness, sending his body plummeting toward the sea surface.
The space above the sea had long been frozen solid.
Shang Zihong crashed onto the sea, creating ripples of spatial distortion. His body collapsed, unable to rise again, his eyes completely losing their luster. He knew—he had been utterly defeated.
This scene sent a chill through the cultivators of the Heavenly Court Myriad Realms.
Another peerless prodigy had fallen.
Compared to Chu Jian, Shang Zihong was even more dazzling. Having been renowned for a thousand years, he wielded immense influence across the entire Western Universe and was hailed as the successor of the Merit Divine Temple.
Zhang Ruochen hovered above Shang Zihong's body, suppressing him firmly with the Ten Thousand Ages Return to One Dao Domain. The Ten Thousand Curse Heavenly Pearl flew out, releasing strands of invisible curse power that surged toward Shang Zihong's five-colored stone body.
With the power of curses, he would extinguish his soul.
Donghua Emperor's head regrew, and the Compassionate Boat Immortal condensed a holy, pure white body within Buddha light. The two of them, along with Zhen Yuan, Ao Yi, Yao Guang, and the Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader, gathered together. Some unleashed divine abilities, others struck with Supreme Sacred Artifacts, all attacking Zhang Ruochen.
No matter what, they could not stand by and watch Zhang Ruochen curse Shang Zihong to death.
"The reason Zhang Ruochen was able to defeat the eight Heavenly Court experts was by borrowing the power of time and space, picking them off one by one. If he stood still and took the strongest attacks from these six great masters head-on, he probably wouldn't be able to withstand them."
Every cultivator present thought the same.
They believed Zhang Ruochen would surely abandon the chance to curse Shang Zihong and temporarily avoid the onslaught.
"Yin-Yang Five Elements, Heavenly Dao Without Extremes."
Zhang Ruochen fully mobilized the power of his Wuji Sacred Intent. Above his head, beneath his feet, and in all directions, marks of Yin-Yang and the Five Elements appeared. The power of heaven and earth converged endlessly, spinning around him.
The three Supreme Sacred Artifacts and three divine abilities unleashed by the six great masters landed within the Yin-Yang Five Elements vortex. The six forces canceled each other out, unable to harm Zhang Ruochen at the vortex's center.
Donghua Emperor's expression shifted slightly. "This power is strange. I feel my connection with the Azure Underworld Bell weakening."
"Even before Zhang Ruochen broke through to the Supreme Realm, he could seize the Star Soul Divine Throne from the Judgment Divine Envoy. With his current cultivation, taking a Supreme Sacred Artifact is hardly difficult," said the Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader.
Donghua Emperor, Ao Yi, and the Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader fully released their spiritual power and holy soul strength, maintaining communication with their Supreme Sacred Artifacts.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen single-handedly resist six Heavenly Court powerhouses, the entire Hell Realm cultivators erupted in cheers.
Their emotions ran high, their excitement boundless.
Especially the Great Saints of the Undying Blood Clan, who shouted Zhang Ruochen's name, regarding him as a hero of their clan.
"The Ruochen Divine Son is mighty and extraordinary, suppressing the Heavenly Court with his own strength."
"Ruochen Great Saint is truly the glory of our Undying Blood Clan. A thousand years ago, he led the Undying Blood Clan to first place in the Heaven Hunting Battle. A thousand years later, he is unmatched in the mortal world. Below the divine realm, who dares contend with him?"
"After today's battle, those rats of the Heavenly Court will tremble in fear at the mere mention of Ruochen Great Saint's name."
...
The Hell Realm most revered the strong. To be as powerful as Zhang Ruochen was enough to earn the respect and fear of all cultivators.
Earlier, when Zhang Ruochen declared he would fight everyone and become the Lord of Ten Realms, most Hell Realm cultivators dismissed it as arrogant delusion. But now, his explosive combat power had conquered their hearts, making them believe he truly deserved to be the Lord of Ten Realms.
Some even felt that if anyone opposed Zhang Ruochen becoming the Lord of Ten Realms, they would speak up for him.
The strong possess everything—it was only natural.
And this was exactly what Zhang Ruochen needed.
Once he gained the recognition of all Hell Realm cultivators, even the Destiny Temple would find it no easy task to move against him.
In the sky, from the direction of the Heavenly Court cultivators, a vast divine might surged forth, turning a large expanse of the heavens into a dark purple-black. A deity intended to save Shang Zihong.
But at that moment, a demonic claw extended from the Judgment Venerable's divine realm world, blocking that divine might.
Sensing that Shang Zihong's soul fluctuations had been cursed to near extinction, Zhang Ruochen withdrew the Ten Thousand Curse Heavenly Pearl and struck out with the Diamond Moon Wheel, the Black Gold War Heaven Pillar, and the Mountain-Hiding Demon Mirror, clashing with the three Supreme Sacred Artifacts within the Yin-Yang Five Elements vortex.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
...
Deafening collisions erupted, sending out dazzling waves of Supreme power.
Donghua Emperor, the Compassionate Boat Immortal, Ao Yi, Zhen Yuan, Yao Guang, and the Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader all retreated, putting a long distance between themselves and Zhang Ruochen.
Shang Zihong's body transformed into the Five-Colored Merit Divine Stele, which Zhang Ruochen held aloft.
Zhang Ruochen declared loudly, "If you still wish to fight, I will gladly oblige. I wouldn't mind burying you all here in the Wuding Divine Sea."
The Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader's eyes darkened. As an Eon-level representative figure, who didn't have some pride?
Even if he had to burn his life force and release a fleeting brilliance, dying together with Zhang Ruochen would restore the Heavenly Court's honor.
But Zhen Yuan grabbed his wrist and shook his head.
"Let Zhang Ruochen be the Lord of Ten Realms," Zhen Yuan's voice transmitted into the Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader's ear.
The Ten Thousand Ruins Realm Alliance Leader was momentarily stunned, then seemed to understand something. He took a step back.
Zhen Yuan clasped his hands from a distance and said calmly, "Brother Ruochen's cultivation is already unmatched in this era. Even if we join forces, we are no match for you. Today, I admit defeat with full sincerity. You are worthy of being the Lord of Ten Realms. But the Heavenly Court will not concede so easily. On the true battlefield, we will surely have another chance to settle the score."
Hearing "You are worthy of being the Lord of Ten Realms," many Hell Realm cultivators showed expressions of shock.
"What does Zhen Yuan mean? We never acknowledged Zhang Ruochen's qualification to participate in the Ten Realms Battle. How did he become the Lord of Ten Realms?" a Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Earth Fiend Ghost City said angrily.
Great Saints from the Death God Temple also clamored: "The Heavenly Court cultivators' defeat doesn't mean the Hell Realm's strong will also lose to Zhang Ruochen. At the very least, Que and Yan Wushen—Zhang Ruochen may not be their match."
A Great Saint from the Green Deer Divine Temple sneered, "As far as this Saint knows, Zhang Ruochen and Zhen Yuan have a deep relationship. This was likely premeditated. Could this be a scheme of the Heavenly Court? If the Ten Realms go to Zhang Ruochen, what difference is there from them going to the Heavenly Court?"
The Undying Blood Clan cultivators grew indignant. "How many Heavenly Court experts have fallen at Ruochen Great Saint's hands, including figures like Chu Jian and Shang Zihong? And you dare call this a scheme?"
"Ruochen Great Saint spared Lian Ying and Yuan out of courtesy. Are you all biting the hand that feeds you?"
"If the Ruochen Divine Son is the Lord of Ten Realms, and anyone disagrees, step forward and fight. If you can win, you can be the Lord of Ten Realms. If you don't have the guts, shut your mouths."
"Ruochen Great Saint is invincible under heaven. He could be the Lord of a Hundred Realms, not just ten."
...
Countless cultivators of the Undying Blood Clan were captivated by Zhang Ruochen's peerless bearing. Especially the beautiful female cultivators, who felt a deep sense of worship.
The strong held an irresistible allure for them.
Not just the Undying Blood Clan, but even cultivators from the Rakshasa Clan, Shura Clan, and the Middle Three and Upper Three Clans spoke up, defending Zhang Ruochen.
"Let alone Chu Jian and Shang Zihong—if you could kill someone like the Three Angel Emperors of Paradise Realm, I, Fang Mofeng, would respect you. Compared to Ruochen Great Saint, what are you?" a Great Saint from the Shura Clan's Falling Star Divine Temple said.
On the Heaven Hunting Battlefield, the Falling Star Divine Temple owed Zhang Ruochen a considerable debt.
This debate saw more cultivators siding with Zhang Ruochen, forcing the cultivators from Earth Fiend Ghost City, Green Deer Divine Temple, and Death God Temple to fall silent.
Donghua Emperor and Zhen Yuan retreated. Zhang Ruochen did not pursue. Forcing cultivators of their level into a mutual destruction mindset would not be wise.
Mutual destruction techniques served best as a deterrent, enough to let them survive even against false gods.
Of course, even if one of them self-detonated their sacred source, it might not kill Zhang Ruochen at his current level. But Zhang Ruochen himself wasn't entirely sure he could withstand it, nor would he gamble with his life.
Yin Yuan Chen did not retreat, standing atop the Heaven-Reaching Floating Tower.
Zhang Ruochen looked over. "You didn't flee. Do you think I can't kill you?"
Yin Yuan Chen said, "You can't kill me. Because you know very well that I am different from Shang Zihong. Shang Zihong had a will to live, so he died. But for the past thousand years, my heart has long been dead. So I won't give you the chance to kill me. Either we die together, or you can only let me leave."
"Saying that is admitting you are inferior to me," Zhang Ruochen said.
Yin Yuan Chen replied, "In the Saint realm, you have indeed reached a height I cannot attain. But divine realm cultivation holds infinite possibilities. A mere few thousand years of Saint realm cultivation cannot determine the heights reached in tens of thousands of years of divine realm cultivation. How many dazzling figures have been surpassed by later generations?"
"It seems you have gained much insight over this thousand years. With such a mindset, no wonder you became an Eon-level genius."
Zhang Ruochen temporarily ignored Yin Yuan Chen. He took a step, crossing space, and intercepted Lian Ying and Yuan, who were about to return to the Hell Realm cultivator camp.
Lian Ying and Yuan fell into the Ten Thousand Ages Return to One Dao Domain, trapped in two time-space vortices. Their expressions changed.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Have you two considered my offer? Do you want your Supreme Sacred Artifacts, or your lives?"
Lian Ying gritted his teeth, letting out a sinister laugh that sounded like a child's cry. "Zhang Ruochen, you are indeed strong, making me feel I cannot defeat you. But if you push us to mutual destruction, it won't benefit you."
Yuan's eyes also showed a resolute look.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I don't believe you have the resolve to die together with me. Without that resolve, you are doomed."
Having cultivated to such heights, only a step away from becoming gods, who would be willing to die?
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen had not shown a clear intent to kill them. Why would they think of dying together with him?
Lian Ying and Yuan locked eyes with Zhang Ruochen, their auras clashing.
They could not back down, but they could not truly self-detonate their sacred sources. Their hearts were in turmoil.
Zhang Ruochen looked up at the sky and declared loudly, "They won't self-detonate their sacred sources to kill me. They lack that resolve. Ghost Lord, Green Deer Divine King, if you two don't show yourselves now, they will die by my sword!"
The Hell Realm cultivators erupted in uproar, finding Zhang Ruochen incredibly audacious. At the Saint realm, he dared to summon two divine-level giants to appear before him. Even the Blood Absolute War God had never been so arrogant in his day!