Chapter 3265: Powerful Reinforcements
On the other side, Huang was struck by lightning, his entire skeletal body charred black and nearly carbonized.
Zhang Ruochen arrived at the edge of the lightning cage even before Cang Jue, but before he could strike to break the cage, the Divine King Shide stood before him.
It was a body condensed from Infinite Rule Divine Patterns.
Six swords struck out simultaneously, slamming heavily into the Divine King Shide's form.
Divine King Shide clasped his hands together, each Infinite Rule Divine Pattern transforming into a lightning bolt as thick as a bowl, weaving into a net that condensed into an electric sphere around his body.
The six divine swords could not even cut through the lightning.
Chaos divine light appeared on Zhang Ruochen's body. He let out a long roar and threw a punch.
"Immovable Wisdom King Fist!"
On his arm, he wore a sub-divine-level Supreme Sacred Artifact fist glove. The fist force was both unending and heavy and grand, striking together with the six divine swords to pierce through Divine King Shide's defensive light barrier.
"Boom!"
Divine King Shide was blasted apart by the punch, scattering into chaotic lightning divine patterns.
"Just a mere rule clone dares to block me!"
The Yin Yang Eighteen Formations manifested around Zhang Ruochen, like eighteen divine formation worlds, crashing directly toward the lightning cage.
Behind him, what seemed to be Divine King Shide's true body charged forward, carrying a lightning sphere a thousand miles in diameter, hurtling toward the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations. The momentum was immense, as if it would shatter space itself.
But Zhang Ruochen instead relaxed completely.
If that were truly Divine King Shide's true body, there would be no need to charge directly; he could severely wound Zhang Ruochen with a divine ability from a hundred thousand miles away.
This clone of Divine King Shide was extraordinary, containing vast amounts of divine king divine power, divine soul, and Infinite Rule Divine Patterns, no different from a human-shaped divine king talisman.
Zhang Ruochen had no intention of fighting it head-on. Instead, he took out the damaged divine king talisman that Bore had given him and threw it out.
The divine king talisman flew out, transforming into the colossal form of the Wolf Ancestor, colliding with the incoming lightning sphere.
"Boom!"
Divine king divine power erupted in all directions, forcing the several deities trapped in the lightning cage to retreat and defend themselves.
At the same time, the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations slammed heavily into the lightning cage. Instead of a head-on clash, the God-Defying Stele led the way, easily smashing through.
Zhang Ruochen took a series of Divine Spirit Steps before stopping.
Turning back, he saw that the Wolf Ancestor divine king talisman had already shattered. Huang was suppressed by Lei Yu, and Cang Jue was trapped by Lei Suling in layers of formations, unable to escape for the time being.
Fortunately, Huang and Cang Jue were there; otherwise, with the combined forces of Lei Yu, Lei Su, and Divine King Shide's clone, Zhang Ruochen would not have found it so easy to break through the lightning cage.
Lei Yu called out, "Zhang Ruochen, are you planning to abandon your subordinates and flee like this?"
Zhang Ruochen looked around at the starry sky, a bad feeling rising within him. He sighed, "No wonder Senior Divine King's clone could be so powerful—it seems your true body is also in this starry sky."
Although he had broken through the lightning cage, Zhang Ruochen found that the heavenly secrets were still severed, preventing him from sensing the outside world.
This clone of Divine King Shide was merely condensed from simple divine qi, divine soul, and Infinite Rule Divine Patterns, unlike Xuan Yi's clone, which was cultivated with vast resources and effort, indistinguishable from the true body.
Yet, this clone, formed in a single thought, was not much weaker than Xuan Yi.
The only explanation was that Divine King Shide's true body must be nearby, continuously channeling divine power into the clone.
Divine King Shide's clone dispersed, transforming into a river of divine qi that flew into the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain.
A leisurely laugh emerged from within: "Since you know my true body is here, you can still remain so calm? Do you still think you can escape?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "So Senior Divine King has finally stopped pretending?"
"I genuinely wanted to recruit you into the Thunder Clan! But you must show sincerity. The Sundial and the Earth Cauldron are urgently needed by the Thunder Clan, and the resources of the Sword Realm can allow the Thunder Clan to grow rapidly. Just these two conditions, Zhang Ruochen, will you reconsider?" Divine King Shide's voice rang out, echoing through the starry sky.
Zhang Ruochen laughed, "Greed must have its limits, right? Earlier, Senior condemned greed and selfishness, yet here you are, doing exactly that. How can anyone trust your words?"
"This is not greed or selfishness. I do this for the entire Thunder Clan, for the Pure Land to develop and grow faster," Divine King Shide said.
Zhang Ruochen could not be bothered to argue further. His battle intent surged, and he said, "Forgive my bluntness, Senior Divine King. If you dare not even step out of the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, you will not be able to keep me here today!"
Lei Yu and Lei Suling approached. The former said, "Zhang Ruochen, you are far too arrogant, not taking us seriously at all!"
"No need for the Divine King to act; we can detain you ourselves." Lei Suling stepped forward with Divine Spirit Steps, exiting the lightning cage.
The lightning cage was as large as a star, emitting light as dazzling as a star, filled with destructive power fluctuations.
Lei Suling had the ability to harness the power of the divine formation on the lightning cage for her own use.
Cang Jue and Huang were both trapped inside.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What status do the two of you hold in the Thunder Clan? Do you have the right to fight me?"
"With my eighty-fourth-level spiritual power, I am not qualified to fight you? Zhang Ruochen, do not overestimate yourself just because of the Yin Yang Eighteen Formations and a few extraordinary divine weapons," Lei Suling said.
Lei Yu said, "I am the number one war god of the Thunder Clan below the Infinite Realm. Realm Lord Ruochen, would you care to offer some guidance?"
Lei Suling and Lei Yu were genuinely worried that Zhang Ruochen would flee directly, so they provoked him with words.
After all, no one knew if Zhang Ruochen still had divine king talismans or divine venerable talismans on him. If he escaped the Divine King's divine soul blockade zone, he would surely alert the watchers of the Heavenly Court and Hell.
The consequences were unimaginable.
In truth, it was because Zhang Ruochen's cultivation and strength far exceeded their expectations. They had thought they could suppress him easily, but the lightning cage they had prepared in advance was effortlessly broken by Zhang Ruochen.
"Whoosh!"
Beside them, within the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, a brilliant sword light appeared.
The starry domain sealed by Divine King Shide's divine soul trembled violently.
"Ruochen, no need to worry. Your grandmaster is here."
At the end of the sword light, Yuqing Patriarch stood proudly, surrounded by sword qi that transformed into rivers of sword energy stretching billions of miles, his aura magnificent and unparalleled.
Huang, trapped in the lightning cage, almost cried out in excitement.
As expected, Zhang Ruochen had an extraordinary background. Even during the Infinite Northern Expedition, a sword dao Infinite was protecting him. It seemed the Sword Realm had likely truly emerged.
This time, he had chosen the right person to follow!
Yuqing Patriarch raised his sword and charged toward a certain area of the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, saying coldly, "In the past, the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable was invincible across the universe for an era, yet his descendants are so pathetic. A Divine King, attacking a junior—greedy and shameless. Do you truly believe Zhang Ruochen has no master or grandmaster?"
"If you want war, let it be Infinite versus Infinite! Let's see if the Thunder Clan's divine abilities can block the three-foot sharp sword in my hand."
The long sword slashed, tearing space apart and forcing Divine King Shide out.
Both had concerns, unwilling to leave the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain, and instead fought deep into the darkness, not wanting to alert the watchers of the Heavenly Court and Hell.
"Ruochen, these Thunder Clan deities covet the Sword Realm. Leave no survivors—kill them all!" Yuqing Patriarch was fiercely resolute, his divine voice drifting from the depths of darkness into Zhang Ruochen's ears.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Lei Yu and Lei Suling, his head aching. Grandmaster, oh grandmaster, you have too much faith in me. These two—are they really so easy to kill?
But indeed, he could not let them leave, or news of the Sword Realm would spread quickly.
If that happened, the Sword Realm would likely end up like the Ancient Demon Gods.
"Miao Li, you were once a supreme powerhouse who shook the Hell Realm. Today, I need to rely on you! Suppress them, and their divine souls are all yours. Then you will be invincible below the Infinite. So stop holding back—use whatever secret techniques and killing arts you have," Zhang Ruochen communicated with Xiu Chen Heavenly God, seeking her full assistance.
"Are you serious? I am quite interested in their divine souls, but an eighty-fourth-level spiritual power deity and a Heart-Stop Realm Taixu Great God—are they so easy to kill? With your current cultivation, it would be impressive if you could match one of them!"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was very reluctant, thinking Zhang Ruochen was completely delusional. Suddenly, she sensed something and immediately changed her tone, saying, "Zhang Ruochen, does your previous promise still count?"
"What promise? Ah, you've finally decided to become Miao Li? Don't worry, the divine soul divine pill is no problem. Actually, being a woman is quite good," Zhang Ruochen said.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was so furious she nearly rushed out of the Sundial, saying, "I'm talking about the Time Source Pearl! You said you would help me reclaim it. If you keep your word, I have a secret technique here..."
"Zhang Ruochen!"
A crisp, pleasant voice came from within the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain.
Instantly, time rules in this starry sky trembled, and time imprint light points covered millions of miles.
A graceful, moving figure emerged from the darkness, sword qi surging, her posture tall and elegant, surrounded by light rain, like a peerless sword immortal descending.
"Qiangu Nüdi!"
Zhang Ruochen showed a surprised expression, curious about when she had left Haishi Xingwu.
Qiangu Nüdi's cultivation was even higher than Zhang Ruochen had imagined, having reached the Taixu peak, her aura unparalleled and unstoppable.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen understood why Xiu Chen Heavenly God suddenly had a secret technique—she had indeed been holding back, unwilling to reveal it without substantial benefit.
He would have to find a way to work her more in the future. Xiu Chen, once a being at the pinnacle of the universe, surely had many good things to offer.
Then, four more Taixu realm Great Gods appeared one after another, all wearing Daoist robes, white-haired, standing on a Ten Thousand Mile Mountains and Rivers Formation Diagram. They were senior veterans from the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, top-tier combat power below the Infinite.
As one of the top ten ancient civilizations, the Heavenly Beginning Civilization, despite heavy losses, still possessed such foundation.
"Grandmaster, oh grandmaster, you didn't explain clearly. I thought I was supposed to annihilate the Thunder Clan's two top powerhouses alone."
With reinforcements arriving, Zhang Ruochen's confidence soared. He took out the Sundial, patted it lightly, and said, "Pass me the secret technique! If I want to reclaim the Time Source Pearl from Qiangu Nüdi, I must first make her recognize my strength, right?"