Chapter 3166: Finding Life in Desperate Circumstances
Chi Yao held the Time-Space Chaos Lotus in one hand and the Blood-Dripping Sword in the other, her voice cold. "Xuan Yi, you couldn't wait to make your move after all, could you?"
The translucent figure's voice carried no emotion. "Knowing it was I, yet still daring to face me with sword in hand—worthy of one who cultivated the 'Thirty-Three Heavens.' For that courage alone, I shall regard you highly."
"Roar!"
Zangjin Baihu let out a long howl, its body blazing with golden light as it charged forward, crashing into Chi Yao's back.
"Splash!"
A layer of golden radiance surfaced on Chi Yao's snow-white skin, and a character for "burial" appeared on her brow. Her aura instantly surged to the peak of Grand Void.
But almost simultaneously, the translucent figure shot forward.
Explosive sounds rang out in succession.
His form moved like a sharp sword, piercing through the protective divine formation of the divine ship and the time-space barriers formed by the Time-Space Chaos Lotus as if they were nonexistent, unable to stop him for even an instant.
He pointed a finger straight at Chi Yao's brow.
Just as Chi Yao and Zangjin Baihu were merging, Xuan Yi's fingertip had already shattered their layered defenses, closing in.
The speed was astonishing, shocking the world.
Its penetrating power was unparalleled, as if no force in the world could block it.
Even someone as strong as Qian Heng Yi Shu could not muster a single counterattack before him—imagine how difficult it was to withstand Xuan Yi's first strike.
An assassin's first strike was always the most dangerous.
Zhang Ruochen's speed could not match Xuan Yi's, but he was closer to Chi Yao. With a single step, he placed himself before her, pressing a palm forward to meet Xuan Yi's fingertip.
"Boom!"
Rune patterns flickered on Zhang Ruochen's palm, unleashing the might of a Divine Venerable.
From within the runes came the roar of a Divine Venerable, and a blood-red fist flew out from Zhang Ruochen's hand.
Xuan Yi was struck by the blood fist, his translucent form solidifying as he was hurled back like a cannonball.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes narrowed sharply. He saw that, though the blood fist had made Xuan Yi spit blood, his divine body remained intact—a shock beyond measure.
"Don't fight him. Go!" Zhang Ruochen said.
Chi Yao knew this was a rare chance to escape. She immediately stored the divine ship and Feng Xi, who was aboard, into her sleeve, wrapped Zhang Ruochen in golden light, and shot away at top speed.
As long as they could put distance between themselves and Xuan Yi, they could survive today.
In an instant, Xuan Yi steadied himself in the void, a trace of blood at the corner of his mouth. "A punch from a Divine Venerable of the Undying Blood Clan. So the so-called Master Yuanchen was him. He really has grown."
Xuan Yi sighed because, just moments ago, when he struck at Chi Yao, Zhang Ruochen had managed to move ahead of him to reach her.
Xuan Yi's speed far surpassed Zhang Ruochen's.
It was precisely because Zhang Ruochen had moved first that he could save Chi Yao.
That step ahead was a testament to Zhang Ruochen's ability—his vision, judgment, combat experience, all at the pinnacle. No one else could have done it.
If it had been another cultivator, even with an attack-type Divine Venerable talisman, they could not have harmed Xuan Yi.
In other words, Zhang Ruochen now only needed to raise his cultivation level to stand against Xuan Yi, or even defeat him. And raising cultivation was merely a matter of time for Zhang Ruochen.
Xuan Yi felt an unprecedented threat. His desire to kill Zhang Ruochen now surpassed that for Chi Yao.
"It seems he hasn't caught up," Zangjin Baihu said.
Zhang Ruochen did not relax in the slightest. "Assassins excel at stealth. By the time you sense them catching up, it's already too late."
"Zhang Ruochen, you had a Divine Venerable talisman. Why didn't you press the attack and kill Xuan Yi?" Zangjin Baihu asked, puzzled.
"If I had, I'd be dead by now."
Zhang Ruochen said, "A Divine Venerable talisman can only unleash three or four strikes at most; it can't compare to a Divine Venerable acting in person. Just now, I had the advantage and caught him off guard. If I could have shattered his divine body with the talisman, I would have pressed on—even if I couldn't kill him, I'd have rendered him completely combat-incapable."
"But you saw it too. Xuan Yi's defensive measures are astonishing. A single strike from a Divine Venerable talisman only made him spit blood."
Chi Yao said, "Xuan Yi obtained the Tongtian Divine Temple, so he must have some heavy defensive treasure. He ranks first on the 'Great Divine Theory' comprehensive list, said to be able to fight Divine Kings within ten zhang. With the Infinite Realm's northern expedition, who in the world can still control him? When we meet him, we can only flee."
Zhang Ruochen recalled how Xuan Yuan Lian had fought Yu Divine King, completely dominated.
Though he didn't know if that was Xuan Yuan Lian's full strength, or if Xuan Yi's claim of fighting Divine Kings within ten zhang was exaggerated, it was an indisputable fact that no one in the world could match Xuan Yi now.
Chi Yao said, "Xuan Yi must know we're heading to the Western Buddha Realm. If we continue forward, we'll likely be intercepted. How about returning to the Starry Sky Defense Line?"
"Xuan Yi isn't just powerful in martial arts; his mind is exceptional. He'll think of that too. Heading to the Western Buddha Realm or the Starry Sky Defense Line isn't safe..."
As he spoke, Zhang Ruochen's expression suddenly changed drastically, and he stopped.
Chi Yao asked, "What's wrong?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Xuan Yi killed Qian Heng Yi Shu first, then came for you. He clearly has no more scruples. If you were him, and you couldn't guess where we'd flee, what would you do?"
Chi Yao's face turned pale instantly. "He'll go to the Kunlun Realm!"
Zhang Ruochen took out a message light talisman, inscribed words, and sent it to Xuan Yuan Lian, agreeing to destroy the Quantity Organization together.
In all of the Heavenly Court, perhaps only Xuan Yuan Lian could personally step in to stop Xuan Yi.
But whether it would be in time, Zhang Ruochen had no idea.
"Now we have no choice but to face him. Let's go back to Kunlun." Zhang Ruochen's eyes were filled with resolve. No matter how strong Xuan Yi was, they had to fight now.
Chi Yao sent light talismans back to the Kunlun Realm. "Tai Shang has re-laid the realm-protecting grand formation and set up a divine formation in the Central Imperial City. If they can enter the city in time, with Chi Xingtian Divine Lord sitting there, Xuan Yi may not be able to do much."
"The fear is they won't make it into the city in time. Either way, we have to fight Xuan Yi and buy time," Zhang Ruochen said.
In the Kunlun Realm were too many people Zhang Ruochen cared about. The fall of any one would be a pain etched into his bones.
If any fell into Xuan Yi's hands, Zhang Ruochen would face a painful choice between life and death.
Rather than that, it was better to strike first, perhaps gaining some initiative.
Chi Yao said, "I have another strategy. We split up. Zangjin Baihu and I will go to engage Xuan Yi and buy time. You go to the Paradise Realm and destroy his lair."
Zhang Ruochen knew exactly what she was thinking and smiled. "Xuan Yi is strong, but still below the Infinite Realm. Let's go! Today, the two of us will face the number one on the 'Great Divine Theory'!"
Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao rode their swords, heading toward the space wormhole leading to the Kunlun Realm.
When they arrived, they found the cultivators originally guarding the space wormhole all dead, floating in the void.
A scene of death and blood!
Beside the space wormhole, on a thousand-mile-long rocky mountain range, Xuan Yi stood silently, eyes closed, as if he had been waiting a long time.
Chi Yao's expression shifted slightly.
Because the universe was so vast, even message light talismans sent by gods could not cross the stars directly; they needed to be relayed through space wormholes.
Since Xuan Yi had arrived here first, it was very likely he had intercepted her message light talismans.
Xuan Yi had the power to intercept them!
Xuan Yi opened his eyes. "You two didn't disappoint me, but you came a little slowly."
Zhang Ruochen showed no fear. "The so-called number one below the Infinite Realm is nothing but a hollow reputation. I've wounded you twice now; I must have shattered your invincible confidence. Do you fear me?"
"Stalling for time is meaningless; it only reveals your inner fear." Xuan Yi stared into Zhang Ruochen's eyes and continued, "Today, I will kill Chi Yao first, seize her source essence, and help my killing path break through to the Infinite Realm. As for you, you will taste every kind of suffering in the world."
Only by acquiring a vast amount of source essence and gaining insight into the world's origin could Xuan Yi have a chance, in the future, to elevate the killing path to the supreme sacred path and achieve his position as the ancestor of the killing path.
In an instant, Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao's spirits were stretched to the limit, locking onto Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi did not attack from close range, knowing Zhang Ruochen possessed an attack-type Divine Venerable talisman.
He was confident he could deal with Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao without getting close.
Before the battle even began, their divine souls and spiritual power clashed. In an instant, Zhang Ruochen and Chi Yao suffered a massive defeat. Once their divine souls and spiritual power could no longer lock onto the enemy but were locked onto instead, death was near.
Just as Xuan Yi was about to strike...
A thunderous Buddhist voice rang out: "Amitabha! Your killing intent is too heavy. How about coming to the Western Buddha Realm for a period of pure cultivation?"
In the starry sky, a five-fingered hand imprint covered heaven and earth, pressing down mightily toward Xuan Yi.
Xuan Yi showed no fear, his battle robe fluttering, divine qi within him transforming into a nebula, his killing intent multiplying severalfold as he pressed a palm upward.
"Boom!"
The five-fingered Buddhist hand imprint crushed heaven and earth, its fingerprints like golden mountains, shattering the nebula enveloping Xuan Yi and sending him plummeting into the Void World.
"Xuan Yi, don't run. Come with us to the Western Buddha Realm for quiet cultivation."
The five-fingered Buddhist hand imprint dispersed, revealing five monks in large red kasayas—some fat, some thin, some old, some young—who charged into the Void World in pursuit.
Zhang Ruochen had been mentally prepared for a desperate fight, but this unexpected turn left him stunned.
Where had these five monks come from, and how could they be so strong as to drive Xuan Yi away?
A smile appeared in Chi Yao's eyes. "They are the five disciples of the Sixth Patriarch. I didn't expect them to emerge from seclusion and come here. Now Xuan Yi is in big trouble!"
Three hundred thousand years ago, after the Sixth Patriarch returned, knowing his lifespan was nearly exhausted, he took on five disciples in succession.
Each of these five disciples had extraordinary origins. Before becoming monks, they were renowned experts across the universe. One of them had even been a god of the Hell Realm, repeatedly "educated" by the Sixth Patriarch before converting to Buddhism.
(Chapter End)