Chapter 2805: Beneath the Witch Palace
Blood Butcher sliced open his index finger, and a drop of scarlet divine blood fell to the ground.
A divine doppelganger, identical to him in every way, grew up from the earth.
The divine doppelganger strode toward the nine cauldrons.
...
The nine cauldrons were located beneath an ancient structure, and between the position where Zhang Ruochen and the others stood and the cauldrons lay a stretch of undulating terrain. These rises were only a few hundred meters high, appearing like hills to mortals.
The landscape between the hills was vast and desolate, the soil reddish, with all kinds of strange black trees growing.
"Bang!"
Before even climbing the first hill, the divine doppelganger exploded, its divine blood annihilated, turning into grains of black dust.
Blood Butcher suffered backlash, and his index finger rapidly blackened.
His face changed drastically, and he immediately slashed off the finger with his blade, retreating swiftly to Zhang Ruochen's side, using the power of the Origin Divine Light to block any witch force that might surge toward him.
Witchcraft was invisible and intangible, impossible to guard against, enough to terrify even gods.
"Sizzle, sizzle."
The severed finger on the ground decayed at a visible rate.
Then it turned as black as charcoal.
...
Elsewhere, a Supreme Realm Great Saint from the Yama Clan pulled out a silver bean.
The bean sprouted and grew, transforming into a three-zhang-tall silver-leafed iron tree. Its trunk resembled a human, its roots like feet, climbing over hills toward the bronze cauldron at the very edge.
"Whoosh!"
No sooner had it climbed the first hill than the silver-leafed iron tree burst into flames like a lantern, burning to ashes.
...
They each tried various methods to approach the nine cauldrons, but one bizarre incident after another unfolded, dousing their enthusiasm like cold water and gradually sobering them up.
As they looked again at the massive, crumbling ancient building before them, everyone's heart was completely shrouded in a shadow of terror.
Blood Butcher's eyes darted around. "Senior Brother, you're an Origin Envoy and protected by the Buddha Relic. Why don't you give it a try?"
Zhang Ruochen valued his life too much to be so reckless.
Just now, he had mobilized both the Truth and Origin powers to observe and had discerned some clues. Whether it was the destruction of Blood Butcher's doppelganger or the burning of the silver-leafed iron tree, an invisible force—imperceptible to the naked eye and even to spiritual power—had struck them.
It should be witch force.
But where did the witch force come from? How strong was it?
There was no way to judge.
"This building, which even gods cannot approach, is most likely the legendary Witch Palace."
Zhang Ruochen was very rational and sighed. "This place is beyond our cultivation level to meddle with. Let's go handle the real business first."
After entering the Heavenly Gate, the fragrance of the Udumbara flower had grown stronger.
Fortunately, the fragrance did not come from the Witch Palace, so there was no need to risk death to investigate. Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao led the way, following the scent, planning to go around the Witch Palace.
"Hmm?"
Zhang Ruochen sensed something and suddenly stopped, looking toward the Heavenly Gate.
Chi Yao's black-and-white eyes narrowed slightly, sword light flickering, and the Five-Colored Stone Sword appeared in her hand.
"Senior Brother, what's wrong?" Blood Butcher asked.
A light laugh rang out, the sound rolling like waves: "Impressive perception, worthy of an Origin Envoy. Even Master Qu You's spiritual power concealment couldn't fool you."
Below the Heavenly Gate.
"Whoosh—"
It was as if an invisible curtain of water parted, and Wu Jiang's figure materialized.
Besides him, there were also Jiang Qing, Mohe Yan, and Master Qu You.
Blood Butcher's admiration for Zhang Ruochen grew even more. He hadn't sensed the danger even with his true god's divine soul, but Zhang Ruochen had. If Zhang Ruochen achieved godhood through martial arts, he would surely dominate the cosmos.
Hearing the name "Master Qu You," Yan Wushen's eyes narrowed. He fixed his gaze on the figure that was like a ghost, formless and intangible, and sent a telepathic message to Zhang Ruochen, Chi Yao, Blood Butcher, and Xiao Hei: "Master Qu You is one of the Twelve Spirit Gods of the Darkness Temple, with extremely powerful spiritual power, not comparable to ordinary gods. I didn't expect her to come to the Abyss of Darkness. It shows the Darkness Temple's scheme this time is enormous."
Yan Wushen's tone was filled with caution.
Blood Butcher said, "Twelve Spirit Gods? Never heard of them."
"The Twelve Spirit Gods specialize in cultivating spiritual power, studying talismans, formations, beasts, artifacts, poisons, death, life... twelve categories in total. Each is immensely powerful. They are the hidden force of the Darkness Temple, unknown to outsiders. The Dark Abyss Yan Clan only discovered their secret by chance," Yan Wushen said.
Blood Butcher said, "The Twelve Spirit Gods—are they trying to imitate the Twelve Divine Palaces of the Destiny Temple?"
"That's far from comparable," Yan Wushen said.
Blood Butcher curled his lip in a contemptuous smile. "I'll go test her and see how strong she really is."
He knew Wu Jiang, Jiang Qing, and Mohe Yan, roughly understanding their combat power, so he felt no fear.
Zhang Ruochen said quietly, "This Master Qu You is no ordinary figure. She once single-handedly trapped five true gods of the Yama Clan, including Qian Kong, who had reached the Upper God realm."
Blood Butcher stepped forward and declared loudly, "I, this god, have recently broken through a realm, my spirit soaring to the heavens, my battle intent boiling. Come at me all at once... uh..."
Just as he finished, he heard Zhang Ruochen's telepathic message.
Blood Butcher's heart trembled.
What?
Single-handedly trapped five true gods? And Qian Kong?
Qian Kong was an Upper God, renowned even in the divine realm.
Blood Butcher remained calm and immediately stepped back, saying, "Come at me all at once—even if you do, you're no match for Prince Xia."
Retreating to Xiao Hei's side, Blood Butcher nudged him with his elbow and whispered, "You have the trump card granted by the Ice Emperor. You dealt with the dragon-shaped and phoenix-shaped strange beasts; dealing with them should be a piece of cake."
Xiao Hei was also very calm. "You've recently broken through a realm, your spirit soaring to the heavens, your battle intent boiling. You handle it."
"No, no. Prince Xia is the son of the Ice Emperor, noble in the Undying Blood Clan. How could I steal your thunder?" Blood Butcher declined modestly.
"You are the disciple of the Death God Venerable, a representative of the Eon level. The fame of the Great Slaughter War God Emperor is even greater."
...
Jiang Qing and Mohe Yan both wore mocking smiles.
Wu Jiang was also smiling, but his smile was sincere. "There's a secret that the Great Slaughter War God Emperor probably doesn't know yet. Actually, you've been used by Zhang Ruochen all along. He and that Prince Xia are both cultivators from the Kunlun Realm."
Blood Butcher showed displeasure.
Saying he was being used—wasn't that questioning his intelligence?
He said, "Are you going to say that the Goddess Bore is also a cultivator from the Kunlun Realm?"
"Exactly," Wu Jiang said.
Blood Butcher grinned. "And that the God Venerable Nutian is Xumi Saint Monk?"
Wu Jiang frowned.
"Haha! I spread those rumors myself."
Blood Butcher dropped the smile and continued, "Isn't it just that you admire the Goddess Bore, but she likes my senior brother? You're furious and will stop at nothing. With such a clumsy scheme, you think you can drive a wedge between us?"
Wu Jiang's frown deepened.
Blood Butcher pressed on, "My senior brother did indeed cultivate in the Kunlun Realm. But he is the grandson of the War God Xue Jue and the legitimate son of Xue Hou. He is a member of our Undying Blood Clan. Countless Heavenly Court experts have died at his hands, even true gods. And you? How many Heavenly Court experts have you killed? Are you worthy of being a god of the Hell Realm?"
"Prince Xia did cultivate in the Kunlun Realm, but he is the son of the Ice Emperor, bearing the most noble bloodline of the Undying Blood Clan. Questioning him is questioning the Ice Emperor."
"When you used your doppelganger to massacre Yama Clan cultivators, I knew you were no good. Besides killing your own people, what else can you do? Do you have the guts, like my senior brother, to kill a true god of the Heavenly Court? To disrupt the Heavenly Court's Red Dust Assembly? To wipe out an entire generation of geniuses from Paradise Realm? Do you have that courage?"
"You're speechless, aren't you? With my wisdom, you think you can use a divide-and-conquer scheme? Wu Jiang, you're too arrogant. You've angered me. I've long wanted to fight you, and now that you've delivered yourself to my doorstep... according to the rules, a one-on-one duel. Do you dare?"
Blood Butcher finally found a way out, avoiding having to face Master Qu You.
He had no fear of a one-on-one duel with Wu Jiang.
"Idiot!"
Wu Jiang's face flushed red with anger. The irregular black metal box in his hand kept changing shape.
Xiao Hei's eyes fixed on that black metal box, his expression shifting. He quickly sent a telepathic message to Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao: "That's the Dark Domain Heavenly Net of the Darkness Temple."
Zhang Ruochen quietly moved toward Yan Ting.
Wu Jiang, with extraordinary mental fortitude, finally suppressed his emotions, revealing two rows of snow-white teeth as he smiled. "This era is full of outstanding talents. I used to think you, Blood Butcher, were a worthy opponent, but now it seems only Zhang Ruochen, Yan Wushen, and the Goddess Bore are my true rivals."
Zhang Ruochen had already reached Yan Ting's side and said, "You see me as a rival, but in my eyes, you are nothing."
Wu Jiang was neither angry nor annoyed. "So, Zhang Ruochen, you think too highly of yourself, too arrogant, and that's why you let others use you. Aren't you curious why we've been following you all this way without attacking immediately?"
"Now that you mention it, I am a bit curious," Zhang Ruochen said.
Wu Jiang said, "Because someone told us that only you can find the key location in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City. Following you is the safest. Look at the Heavenly Gate, the Witch Palace, and the nine cauldrons before us—didn't you lead us here?"
"And those dragon-shaped and phoenix-shaped strange beasts that attacked you outside? They're all dead. That's all because of you. You are too crucial. There's a forbidden power in the Ancient Desolate Ruins City protecting you. Anyone who attacks you will die."
Blood Butcher, Chi Yao, Yan Wushen... everyone's gaze snapped to Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei said calmly, "The forbidden power he mentioned is me."
Zhang Ruochen didn't believe Wu Jiang's words at all. "Since you know attacking me will bring death, how dare you oppose me?"
"Attacking you outside would indeed invite the forbidden power. But in here..." Wu Jiang spread his hands and smiled. "In here, everything is under my control."
Zhang Ruochen asked one final question: "Who told you all this?"
Wu Jiang smiled. "Figure it out yourself. No, you won't have the chance. We've found the place we were looking for. You've lost your value now."
He swung his hand, and the irregular black metal box flew out.
At the same time, Yan Ting threw out the "Seven Evil Formation Diagram." Zhang Ruochen pressed a palm against her back, channeling his internal power into her continuously, which then surged into the formation diagram.