# Chapter 321: Dark Clouds Cover the Moon
"Whoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen's fingertip blazed like the light of a scorching sun as a powerful sword wave shot forth, colliding with Zhang Tianqui's fist.
"Bang!"
Sword and silver fist clashed, producing a sound like metal striking metal.
The sword wave pierced through Zhang Tianqui's true qi, driving into his fist, directly severing his middle finger and stabbing deep into his palm.
Zhang Tianqui slid backward, crashing into the bronze mast of the Red Spider Giant Ship, causing even the mast to shake slightly.
His internal organs were torn by sword qi, leaving severe internal injuries. A sweet, metallic taste rose in his throat as blood rushed toward his mouth, but he forcibly swallowed it back down.
"Impossible... I couldn't even block... one move..."
Defeated in a single move, Zhang Tianqui felt intense unwillingness and humiliation.
That former sickly Ninth Prince had actually become so powerful. In the past, he could have crushed Zhang Ruochen with just one finger.
Although he knew Zhang Ruochen was strong, he never imagined it would be to such an extent—far surpassing him.
Being surpassed by a waste infuriated Zhang Tianqui.
Soon, a sharp pain shot through his right hand.
Only then did Zhang Tianqui realize that Zhang Ruochen's sword wave had severed his middle finger.
Zhang Tianqui spread his palm—only four fingers remained. Blood gushed from the severed middle finger and his palm. The excruciating pain nearly made him scream.
Zhang Tianqui was an extremely proud man. That was why he enslaved Lin Chenyu and looked down on him—because Lin Chenyu was a cripple.
But he never expected to become a cripple himself.
"No, no..."
Unable to accept this reality, Zhang Tianqui roared in anguish. If he had enough power, he swore he would use ten thousand methods to torture Zhang Ruochen.
"Excellent Ten Meridian Sword Wave. Let me test you."
A man's voice sounded from within the cabin.
Zhang Ruochen looked toward the cabin and saw a man wearing a golden mask. He exuded an overbearing aura. Though his cultivation was only at the Earth Extreme Realm, the Heaven Extreme Realm martial artists standing beside him bowed their heads in reverence.
Was this the young master of the Black Market First Class Hall, Di Yi?
Di Yi had been sitting in the cabin, but suddenly vanished.
The next moment, he stood before Zhang Ruochen, his metallic face only half a foot away.
Zhang Ruochen could clearly see Di Yi's cold, sharp eyes in his pupils.
Di Yi struck with incredible speed, fingers pressed together as he delivered a palm strike.
In an instant, countless bolts of lightning filled the space.
"Crackle!"
The lightning converged toward Di Yi's palm.
Zhang Ruochen's brow furrowed. In the blink of an eye, he gathered all his true qi and struck back with his palm.
"Dragon-Elephant Returns to the Field."
Dragon roars and elephant trumpets echoed from within Zhang Ruochen's body. The palm force even condensed phantom images of flying dragons and divine elephants.
"Boom!"
The two palm strikes collided with a thunderous roar, causing the entire Red Spider Giant Ship to shake.
Zhang Ruochen felt an immense force rushing toward him. His body flew backward as he grabbed Chang Qiqi's shoulder and landed below the Red Spider Giant Ship, steadying himself on the freezing, pitch-black water.
"Thank you, young master, for the send-off."
Without pausing, Zhang Ruochen grabbed Chang Qiqi and plunged into the water.
Beneath the surface, he quickly found Si Xingkong, whom he had sent into the water earlier. Holding one person in each hand, he broke the sound barrier, fleeing deep into the waters.
Although Di Yi had sent Zhang Ruochen flying with his palm, he himself took half a step back. Looking at his own hand, he smiled. "So it was the Ten Thousand Buddha Path's 'Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm.' I was wondering how the Demon Ridge suddenly produced such a talented young genius. Turns out he's a lay disciple of the Ten Thousand Buddha Path. I wonder which saint of the Ten Thousand Buddha Path took him as a disciple?"
"Young master, how strong is he?"
Red Desire Star Envoy leaped from the cabin, her figure seductive and graceful, as light as a red leaf. With a light tap of her toes, she crossed ten zhang and landed behind Di Yi.
Red Desire Star Envoy's beauty was stunning, her eyes bright and alluring, causing the Black Market martial artists on the Red Spider Giant Ship to blush.
But sensing the powerful aura emanating from her, none dared harbor improper thoughts. They immediately lowered their heads, not daring to look again.
Di Yi flexed his fingers lightly. "Among the young martial artists of the Earth Extreme Realm in the entire Eastern Domain, only Bu Qianfan and the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden could withstand one of my moves. Now, there's Zhang Ruochen. What do you think of his strength?"
"He will become a major threat to the Black Market." Red Desire Star Envoy's eyes narrowed as she spoke gravely.
Di Yi's gaze turned cold, clearly agreeing with her assessment. "Pursue him immediately. He must be eliminated."
"Whoosh!"
At Di Yi's command, a large number of Black Market experts surged forward, including Purple Wind Star Envoy, the chief of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild, and the Four Directions Commandery Prince—all top-tier figures.
With so many experts acting simultaneously, even if Zhang Ruochen could fly through the heavens and burrow into the earth, he couldn't escape.
But just as they were about to give chase, a mass of pitch-black leaden clouds rushed across the sky, like thousands of troops and horses galloping through the heavens, quickly covering the entire sky.
Howling winds swept across the water's surface, producing fierce sounds like giant beasts roaring.
The black clouds grew thicker, obscuring the moon and stars.
The entire world grew dim and dark, so pitch-black that one couldn't see their own hand.
In just an instant, the Death River Stretch became bitterly cold, as if heaven and earth had vanished.
"What's happening? Why are there suddenly dark clouds everywhere?"
"So cold. The temperature has dropped by at least half."
"I feel a massive presence approaching rapidly. Have we disturbed some powerful barbarian beast?"
...
The martial artists on all six Red Spider Giant Ships grew panicked. The sudden celestial change filled everyone with an ominous foreboding.
"Roar!"
A dragon's roar echoed, shaking the water's surface into rolling waves dozens of meters high, as if trying to sweep down the black clouds above.
In the darkness, a massive dragon claw extended from the void, striking one of the Red Spider Giant Ships. It instantly shattered the ship's protective formation, sinking the vessel.
"Boom!"
Nearly all the Black Market martial artists on that ship fell into the water.
Most were crushed to death by the dragon claw, leaving only a few survivors.
This was terrifying power. Even Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artists couldn't withstand it—their flesh split, meridians burst, and they died on the spot.
Before such power, human strength seemed insignificant, as fragile as ants.
"Young master, it must be the overlord of the Death River Stretch—the Three-Clawed Dragon-Jiao—arriving."
Purple Wind Star Envoy stood behind Di Yi, holding a dragon-headed long spear, his presence imposing.
A purple light bloomed from his brow as a purple moon emerged from his Divine Martial Mark, floating in the darkness, illuminating the entire world.
Under the purple moon's glow, even the ink-black waves took on a purple sheen.
By the purple light, those on the Red Spider Giant Ships could see massive barbarian beasts swimming in the water.
The martial artists from the sunken ship had been almost entirely devoured by the aquatic beasts, with none escaping.
A thick, bloody scent filled the air. Faintly, white bones could be seen floating in the water.
That ship had carried two hundred Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection Black Market martial artists, yet they all perished in an instant.
For the Black Market, this was a tremendous loss.
Di Yi's face darkened. "Red Desire Star Envoy, Jinchuan—go after Zhang Ruochen. Everyone else, follow me to deal with the aquatic barbarian beasts. Since the Three-Clawed Dragon-Jiao wants to disrupt my plans, I'll have to deal with it too."
"As you command!"
"I will surely cut off Zhang Ruochen's head and bring it back to you, young master."
Red Desire Star Envoy and Jinchuan transformed into streaks of light, flying off the Red Spider Giant Ship and charging into the darkness. Following the traces left in the water, they pursued Zhang Ruochen.
...
Zhang Ruochen, carrying Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi, swam rapidly along the bottom, trying to escape as quickly as possible.
All three were martial arts experts, capable of holding their breath underwater for an entire day without suffocating.
Soon, a large group of barbarian beasts appeared in the water, all swimming toward the six Red Spider Giant Ships.
Some beasts discovered Zhang Ruochen, Si Xingkong, and Chang Qiqi, attacking them. But Zhang Ruochen fought through.
Wearing the Flying Fish Armor, Zhang Ruochen could break the sound barrier underwater. Unless he encountered a fourth-rank barbarian beast, none could threaten him.
Seeing the approaching horde of beasts, Zhang Ruochen felt not fear but joy. He knew the Three-Clawed Dragon-Jiao had arrived—only it possessed such commanding power in the Death River Stretch.
With the Three-Clawed Dragon-Jiao and the aquatic beasts occupying the Black Market experts, their chances of escape greatly increased.
Zhang Ruochen had originally resolved to die when rescuing Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi. Now, with the aquatic beasts distracting many Black Market experts, the three of them had a glimmer of hope for escape.
But before Zhang Ruochen could relax, a golden figure flew across the water's surface.
"Zhang Ruochen, this old man has detected your aura. Do you think hiding in the water makes you safe?"
Jinchuan's voice came from above, shaking the water's surface and raising waves several meters high.
"Not good—it's Jinchuan."
Zhang Ruochen swam deeper.
Suddenly, Jinchuan, standing on the water, extended a palm.
A pillar of true qi light shot from his palm, condensing into a massive claw print that reached into the water. His five fingers closed, grabbing Zhang Ruochen and the other two in his true qi hand.