Chapter 3102: Divine Sources One by One
Trapped within the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations, Snowwood Hall Master, Azure Cloud Terrace, and the Emperor had lost their former invincible demeanor. Watching Zhang Ruochen’s face shift between gloomy and smiling, their hearts alternately rose and fell.
In the past, each of them had been a regional overlord, ruling over more than one great world, receiving worship from countless beings, looking down upon the world as if viewing a panorama of sentient life.
When had they ever been so terrified as today?
It was all because this young man was far too bloodthirsty. In a single day, he had slain five true gods and two ancient great gods in succession.
A great god of the Destiny Temple had been killed, a great god of Fengdu Ghost City had his divine source dug out and was exiled, and the disciple of the Darkness Temple’s hall master had been struck down…
In the face of death, even the most powerful gods could not remain tough.
Nevertheless, they ultimately maintained their dignity, not losing their composure, putting on a resolute expression as if prepared to perish together.
The gods and saint realm cultivators of the various small clans in the Hundred Clans Royal City had all been mobilized, conducting a full-scale search. Instantly, chaos erupted, slaughter broke out everywhere, and cries of agony rang without end.
“Howl!”
A wolf’s howl came from within the Seven Peaks Interlocking Mountains.
Wolf Ancestor’s son, Amur, broke free from Boundless God Venerable’s divine pattern suppression, escaping his confinement.
Before long, his tall and robust figure appeared below the Crown Cloud Array Tower. His fierce eyes were filled with bloodlight, exuding a heavy killing aura.
Snowwood Hall Master’s eyeballs rolled several times. He directly compromised, bowing to Zhang Ruochen and saying, “This time, Snowwood and the Eternal Life Hall were deceived by the Ghost Lord, leading to this grave mistake. The Eternal Life Hall is willing to offer divine stones, sacred medicines, sacred artifacts, planets… and various other resources to compensate for Realm Lord’s losses.”
This was an attempt to trade resources for their lives!
Zhang Ruochen said, “A wise man submits to circumstances. Great God Snowwood, as a hall master, is willing to bow and pay respects to this Realm Lord—truly rare. If the compensation resources satisfy this Realm Lord, this matter may not be impossible to set aside. From now on, Star Huan Heaven and the Eternal Life Hall will be allies advancing and retreating together!”
The corner of Snowwood Hall Master’s mouth twitched.
Be allies with Star Huan Heaven?
Zhang Ruochen really had some wild thoughts.
Never mind that for now—first, preserve his life and escape from the Hundred Clans Royal City.
Azure Cloud Terrace immediately said, “I am also willing…”
Zhang Ruochen interrupted him, saying coldly, “You still want to live? Rest assured, I will take you back to the Undying Blood Clan alive.”
The harm was minimal, but the humiliation was immense.
Azure Cloud Terrace glared at Zhang Ruochen, gnashing his teeth so hard they might shatter, wanting to self-detonate his divine source and perish together with Zhang Ruochen. Unfortunately, his divine source had already been dug out!
Miserable!
With such a favorable situation on their side, how had he ended up in such a miserable state?
The Emperor knew very well that Zhang Ruochen had already achieved his goal and would not refine them to death either.
But Mysterious Qi Ancestor and Fire Ze God Lord—renowned great gods—had just fallen before his eyes. How could he gamble his own life on Zhang Ruochen’s boldness?
The Emperor bowed and said, “The Hidden Exhaust Bone Sea and I were also deceived by the Ghost Lord. I am willing to offer all my wealth to compensate for Realm Lord’s losses.”
For someone of the Emperor’s status to humble himself and speak such submissive words to a junior who had only become a god a hundred years ago was already the limit. The hatred, shame, and anger in his heart could not be extinguished even by all the water of the Wuding Divine Sea.
Amur said in a deep voice, “Ruochen, you cannot let them go! Even if you repay evil with kindness and spare them, they will never be grateful. Instead, because of today’s defeat and the humiliation of begging for their lives, they will retaliate tenfold in the future.”
Snowwood Hall Master said, “Amur, am I the kind of petty and narrow-minded villain? If not for the Ghost Lord’s deception, the Eternal Life Hall and I had no great enmity with Realm Lord Ruochen—how could things have come to this?”
“How hateful—so the culprit is actually the Ghost Lord.” Zhang Ruochen ground his teeth, his hatred boundless.
Snowwood Hall Master also ground his teeth, his hatred boundless, saying, “Exactly! It’s that deranged old ghost. This time, he has ruined me and the Eternal Life Hall!”
“In that case, Hall Master Snowwood should take revenge!” Zhang Ruochen said.
Snowwood Hall Master was momentarily stunned, then fixed his gaze on Zhang Ruochen. “Do I even need to say it? From now on, the Eternal Life Hall and the Earth Fiend Ghost City are irreconcilable.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Just saying it won’t do. How about this: Hall Master Snowwood leaves your divine source here. When you return, prepare three million divine stones and kill one great god of the Earth Fiend Ghost City. When you come back to the Hundred Clans Royal City, I’ll return your divine source. All past grievances will be wiped clean.”
Snowwood Hall Master’s eyes darkened as he realized he had been toyed with by Zhang Ruochen!
This young man had never intended to let him go from the start.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Even without a divine source, with your status, Hall Master Snowwood can still invite senior experts to act. Just killing one great god is enough—even a Tai Yi realm great god will do.”
“Zhang Ruochen, you go too far!”
Snowwood Hall Master roared, no longer holding back. His aura surged violently, and divine qi within his body converged toward his divine source.
Death was terrifying, but having his divine source dug out—such humiliation was worse than death.
Amur charged into the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations. His wolf paw, the size of a water vat, struck out, densely covered with radiant divine patterns. Within a single breath, he sent Snowwood Hall Master flying over seventy times.
Snowwood Hall Master wanted to self-detonate his divine source but was horrified to discover that his spiritual power, cultivated over hundreds of thousands of years, was inferior to Zhang Ruochen’s, who suppressed his suicidal impulse.
He tried to escape but was trapped by the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations.
“Pfft!”
His divine sea was pierced through, and Amur dug out his divine source with a single claw.
Snowwood Hall Master seemed to lose all essence and spirit, his body limp and powerless. His legs gave way, and he knelt, his divine body collapsing forward.
This hall master, who had dominated one corner of the Corpse Clan’s starry sky, suffered the greatest humiliation since beginning his cultivation.
The happiest person at this moment was none other than Azure Cloud Terrace.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell on the Emperor.
The Emperor had already taken out his own divine source, holding it in his palm. “Three million divine stones is an astronomical figure. I will do my utmost to gather them. As for killing a great god of the Earth Fiend Ghost City, I will also do my best.”
Zhang Ruochen collected the divine source from a distance and shook his head. “The Earth Fiend Ghost City will be dealt with by Hall Master Snowwood. You only need to reclaim the ten realms that were taken from me—no need to compensate with divine stones.”
The flames in the Emperor’s bony eye sockets flickered as he stared at Zhang Ruochen.
This young man was truly calculating. He intended to use him to deal with various factions—both splitting their alliance and leveraging their strength.
However, when he had taken out his divine source, he had already made the decision to sacrifice it to save his life, never intending to compensate Zhang Ruochen with divine stones. With the remaining divine soul in his body, his powerful bone structure, and his spiritual power, though he could no longer be a great god, he was still a true god-level powerhouse.
Unwilling, but it was his only choice now.
Snowwood Hall Master seemed to realize this as well. He climbed up from the ground and said, “Even if it costs me my life, I will kill a great god of the Earth Fiend Ghost City.”
“Go ahead!”
Zhang Ruochen, true to his word, opened the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations and released the two gods.
Amur frowned deeply, wanting to speak but stopping himself.
Azure Cloud Terrace sneered, “Zhang Ruochen, you are truly foolish and far too arrogant. Do you really think that just because they lost their divine sources, they will be under your control? Kill a great god of the Earth Fiend Ghost City? Offend various factions to reclaim ten realms? What are you thinking?”
“Even without their divine sources, they are still gods, still able to command the wind and rain.”
“This move of yours seems clever, but in reality, it’s letting tigers return to the mountains—stupid and laughable. Ha ha!”
Zhang Ruochen looked at him as if he were an idiot. “Without their divine sources, of course they won’t be under my control. But after losing their divine sources, when they taste the coldness of human relations, endure contempt, have their wealth, territories, and war weapons taken away, and are bullied, scolded, and suppressed by subordinates who were once weaker than them—when their hatred accumulates to a certain point, they will come back to beg me.”
Azure Cloud Terrace’s expression changed drastically.
Yes, as ancient great gods with formidable cultivation and long-held high positions, they had accumulated immeasurable wealth and territories, and countless favored consorts. But once they lost their divine sources and their strength plummeted, how could they continue to possess these things?
Wouldn’t the gods who had previously feared their cultivation and tolerated them seize the opportunity to kick them while they were down?
Once a god ascended to a high position, they never wanted to come down!
Moreover, without their divine sources, Hall Master Snowwood and the Emperor would not be able to survive the next Eon Calamity. Were they truly willing to accept that?
When they came back to beg Zhang Ruochen, to regain their power and cultivation, they would truly be under his control!
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was clear-headed, Amur nodded slightly and handed over Snowwood Hall Master’s divine source, transmitting his voice: “A war sweeping across the entire star domain is about to break out. The Demon Wolf Clan may face annihilation. Has Lord Dragon Lord abandoned us?”
Zhang Ruochen understood Amur’s worry. “In Uncle Wolf’s heart, is Uncle Dragon that kind of person?”
“Of course not, but this time, you’ve stirred up too much trouble. Even if Wolf Ancestor steps in, he won’t be able to defuse the Hell Realm’s overwhelming offensive.” Amur was full of worry, wanting to say, “Let the Demon Wolf Clan move back to the Kunlun Realm.”
But Wolf Ancestor was still by Nutian Shenzun’s side.
Moreover, the Demon Wolf Clan was already tightly intertwined with the various clans of the Hundred Clans Royal City. How could they simply leave? Nor could they flee in the face of danger.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Don’t worry, the sky won’t fall.”
For some reason, even though Zhang Ruochen was just a young junior with lower cultivation than him, hearing these words dispelled Amur’s worries and made him feel much more at ease.
Amur left. The great battle was imminent, and preparations had to be made in advance.
Zhang Ruochen suppressed Azure Cloud Terrace, then entered the city domain where the thirty-six array towers stood. Watching Rain Master being escorted up by Dazzle Clan Leader, he was pondering how to deal with her when footsteps sounded and a fragrant aroma wafted over.
Night Roam Master led a group of stunningly beautiful female saint realm cultivators, found Zhang Ruochen, and said with a beaming smile, as if showing off his merits, “Master, look—this is the secular world’s number one powerhouse of the Darkness Temple, titled the Dark Goddess. She possesses a Mysterious Dark Nether Yin physique and has extraordinary beauty. Some gods call her the most beautiful woman in the Hell Realm in forty thousand years.”