Chapter 2920: Mounted Qilin Eagle
The six divine swords stood like yellow-brown heavenly pillars, erected within Chi Yao's Divine Realm World, with divine flames blazing fiercely and countless formation inscription runes flickering across the sword bodies.
Half a year had passed, and the Six-in-One Sword Shocking Divine Formation was finally complete.
Bai Qinger stood beneath the six swords, her posture heroic and graceful, unparalleled in beauty. She said, "Zhang Ruochen, only the final stroke remains!"
Zhang Ruochen hesitated slightly, spreading his hands apart.
"Whoosh!"
The Taiji circle expanded from his Xuan Tai, with only life rules and death rules flowing on the circle—no sword dao rules at all.
"In sword dao, hesitation is forbidden! You, Zhang Ruochen, were able to cultivate a third-rank sword dao sacred intent—are you still afraid you can't control a Six-in-One Sword Shocking Divine Formation?" Bai Qinger said.
The hesitation in Zhang Ruochen's eyes vanished. He withdrew the Taiji circle, soared into the air, and suspended himself among the six swords.
Blood wounds split open on both his wrists.
Divine blood seeped from his body, turning into dense blood threads that formed formation patterns, imprinting themselves onto the six swords.
"Boom!"
In an instant, the formation inscription runes on the six swords interwove, merging into one to form a circular formation disk.
Within the disk, ten thousand swords flew simultaneously.
"Withdraw!"
Zhang Ruochen raised his right hand above his head. The six divine swords combined into one and flew into his palm.
A "sizzling" sound rang out as Zhang Ruochen's right arm turned red-gold, covered in divine fire and sword patterns. After a long moment, it receded, returning to normal.
Chi Yao walked over and said, "What were you hesitating about just now? Did you think that without sword dao rules in your body, you couldn't use a sword?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "I just felt that with seven soul swords at my disposal, I had no need for the Six-in-One Sword Shocking Divine Formation. If this formation were given to you, it could probably unleash even greater power."
A look of emotion appeared in Chi Yao's eyes, and she showed a girlish, coy expression, speaking softly, "In all the world, I doubt there's another person like you who treats six divine swords as if they were nothing. Why did you change your mind later?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I want to know what sword dao without rules looks like."
"Sword dao without rules?"
Bai Qinger and Chi Yao both wore bewildered expressions.
Zhang Ruochen said, "In sword dao, hesitation is forbidden, and even more so, restraint. Without rules, there is no restraint, no techniques, no flaws. Only that sword intent remains!"
"The sword is one. Every strike is one."
"I want to know which path is the strongest—sword dao with rules, or sword dao without rules."
Faintly, the sound of countless sword cries echoed in Zhang Ruochen's ears.
These sword cries came from all directions of the universe!
In the distance, the massive divine body of the Blood Roar True Lord had been nearly devoured entirely by the Devouring Spirit Insects.
"They're coming!"
Zhang Ruochen sensed it first and rushed out of Chi Yao's Divine Realm World.
Bai Qinger and Chi Yao followed closely behind, standing to his left and right, gazing into the gray deathly mist as they felt a powerful divine power fluctuation rapidly approaching.
Before long, the other party seemed to sense them as well and slowed down.
From within the gray mist, an avian demon god with an eagle's head emerged, letting out a sharp laugh. "I didn't expect you all to have made it here too—excellent!"
Zhang Ruochen observed the Qilin Eagle True Lord for a moment and said, "This place is extremely dangerous, yet you can still laugh?"
"Why wouldn't I laugh?"
The Qilin Eagle True Lord's body shimmered with a metallic luster, his feathers as sharp as sword blades. "You three new gods each carry priceless treasures, and your flesh, blood, and divine souls are a great tonic for me. Meeting you is a gift from the heavens."
Chi Yao's eyes revealed a trace of disdain as the aura of an upper-rank god spread outward.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord's eagle eyes froze, staring at Chi Yao with disbelief. "You've broken through to upper-rank god?"
"Are you still daring to speak arrogantly now?" Chi Yao said.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord glanced behind him, his expression conflicted, and then made a move that stunned the three of them.
He knelt on one knee and said, "Empress Chi Yao has cultivated the 'Thirty-Three Heavens' and will surely dominate the cosmos in the future, becoming one of the Twenty Heavens. Qilin Eagle is willing to serve as the Empress's mount to atone for past sins."
Zhang Ruochen had intended to use the Qilin Eagle True Lord to test the power of the Six-in-One Sword Shocking Divine Formation. How could he have expected that an upper-rank god would cave so quickly?
Chi Yao said, "You and the Blood Roar True Lord were always plotting against the Empress. Why have you changed your mind so suddenly?"
The Qilin Eagle True Lord said, "If the Empress were still a mid-rank god, Qilin Eagle would naturally still have some ideas. But now that the Empress has reached the upper-rank god level, opposing you would be no different from seeking death."
"You could still run! You're an upper-rank god of the Demon God Realm. If word gets out that you've become a mount for a new god like me, won't the gods of the Heavenly Court laugh at you?" Chi Yao said.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord coughed up a mouthful of blood.
Unable to hold it together any longer, he said weakly, "To be honest, if I could escape, I would have burned my divine blood and fled by now. But my earlier bravado was all an act—I was just trying to scare you off."
Zhang Ruochen had already noticed he was severely injured.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord continued, "Moreover, you've blocked my path forward, and behind me is extremely dangerous. I have nowhere to run. Becoming a mount to atone for my sins is my only way out. Besides, with the Empress's talent and foundation, you will surely become one of the Twenty Heavens in the future. Serving as a mount for a Heavenly Venerable is no disgrace—it's an honor."
Zhang Ruochen said, "You say behind you is extremely dangerous. What kind of danger?"
The Qilin Eagle True Lord's eyes showed a look of utter terror, as if recalling something horrifying. "An unfamiliar starry sky, a black divine temple, towering pillars of fire, a corpse god ten thousand li tall... In short, we need to leave this place immediately!"
A distant breathing sound came from within the gray mist.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord's body trembled. "You heard that, didn't you? That's why I didn't dare go back. I'd rather be the Empress's mount than flee back there. Let's go—leave here now. This is the most terrifying forbidden land on Xinghuantian!"
The aura of the old corpse ghost grew even clearer.
Even Zhang Ruochen felt a chill run down his spine. He asked, "Where did you and the Blood Roar True Lord enter the underground from, and where is the exit?"
The Qilin Eagle True Lord said, "That day, after the Blood Roar True Lord and I escaped from the First Divine Maiden City and saw that the Blood Absolute War God didn't strike, our fear subsided."
"We thought it over and decided that the Yuchen Mountain Range was unusual. First, the Four-Armor Blood Ancestor fell, and then even the Colorful Garment God went there. You, Zhang Ruochen, and the Blood Absolute War God entering the Yuhong Mountain Range must have had some purpose."
"So you secretly entered the Yuhong Mountain Range to investigate, hoping to find a great opportunity?" Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord said, "Exactly! For a cultivator to become a strong one in this world, you can never let any opportunity slip by. If you seize a major opportunity, you can surely break through to the great god level in the future."
"Why have the Blood Roar True Lord and I always wanted to deal with the Empress? It's all for cultivation—to take shortcuts. I believe other gods have similar thoughts."
Chi Yao said, "You're being quite honest."
The Qilin Eagle True Lord said, "The Empress is so wise. Lying or playing tricks before you would only be digging my own grave. Since I've decided to submit, I naturally wouldn't dare hide anything."
"What makes you think I would accept you as a mount? Do you know that the Blood Roar True Lord has already died by our swords?" Chi Yao said.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord said, "The Blood Roar True Lord was invaded by the corpse god's evil qi in his divine soul. By the time you saw him, he had probably already turned into a ferocious creature. Although we had some friendship, it's not enough for me to seek revenge against the Empress."
"As long as the Empress accepts me as a mount, I'll take you to the exit."
Chi Yao looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Why don't you take him?"
The Qilin Eagle True Lord said, "I only submit to the strong! Zhang Ruochen's martial arts cultivation is already crippled—he's not worthy to be my master. Only by following the great Empress Chi Yao can I have a bright future."
Zhang Ruochen shrugged. "He's an upper-rank god with dignity, after all. Only you, Empress Chi Yao, the future Heavenly Venerable, would make him willingly submit."
Then Zhang Ruochen sent a telepathic message to Chi Yao: "If you take the Qilin Eagle True Lord, you won't have to handle many matters personally. He's clearly been scared out of his wits by the old corpse ghost, which is why he submitted so quickly. If we were anywhere else with even a sliver of a chance to escape, he wouldn't have knelt to you."
Chi Yao stepped forward, extending a smooth, jade-like hand. "Give me half of your divine soul."
The Qilin Eagle True Lord didn't hesitate. A mass of divine soul light flew from the top of his head into Chi Yao's hand.
Chi Yao said, "From now on, no matter how far apart we are, I can perceive your every word and action, and I can kill you with a single thought."
"Qilin Eagle understands!"
The Qilin Eagle True Lord transformed into a palm-sized green qilin with an eagle's head and said to Chi Yao, "Empress, as a god of the Heavenly Court, you should still keep your distance from Zhang Ruochen, or there will be endless trouble."
"Is that something you should be saying?"
Chi Yao's eyes blazed with divine light, striking the Qilin Eagle True Lord to the ground, eliciting a scream of pain.
"Empress, Qilin Eagle speaks from the heart—it's for your own good. Honest advice may be hard to hear, but you must listen!" the Qilin Eagle True Lord shouted loudly.
Zhang Ruochen walked over to Chi Yao and said with a smile, "I'm starting to regret letting you take him. This guy is clearly trying to drive a wedge between us."
"There's no wedge-driving! I only know that you, Zhang Ruochen, are unworthy of the Empress. At best, you could be her male concubine," the Qilin Eagle True Lord said stubbornly, as if he had already become a loyal minister and fierce general under Empress Chi Yao's command.
"Whether I'm worthy or not isn't for you to decide."
Zhang Ruochen reached out and wrapped his arm around Chi Yao's slender, supple waist, showing the Qilin Eagle True Lord the reality of the situation. "Lead the way."
"No! Empress, you can't fall so low. How can you let this cripple Zhang Ruochen hold you? He's not worthy!" The Qilin Eagle True Lord was agitated, wanting to fight Zhang Ruochen.
Chi Yao genuinely felt that the Qilin Eagle True Lord talked too much.
Did all bird-men talk too much?
"Seal!"
Holding his divine soul light in her hand, she used a secret technique to seal the Qilin Eagle True Lord's mouth.
The Qilin Eagle True Lord showed a defeated expression, flapping his wings weakly as he led the way, feeling that he had no future ahead—everything was dark.
Mainly because he had chosen a master with no future.
Now, regret was too late.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly stopped, his eyes sharpening. "Wait a moment—the Black Heart Demon Lord is catching up!"