Chapter 3283: Boundless Manifestation
The stone statue stood a hundred zhang tall, solemn and sacred.
Unknown was the hand that had carved it, so lifelike that it perfectly captured the imposing aura and majesty of the Darkness Temple Hall Master, Boundless.
The stone statue opened its mouth, its divine voice like nether thunder booming: "Zhang Ruochen, you actually came here?"
Divine might pressed down, but Zhang Ruochen remained unperturbed, his figure straight as a longsword. "I am half the master of the Darkness Temple. Why can't I come here? Hall Master Boundless, how are things on the North Marsh Great Wall? Will you be able to return alive?"
A deep snort rang out!
Divine power that pierced through time and space, splitting heaven and earth, surged from an infinitely distant star domain, merging with the stone statue.
From within the stone statue, dense arrays of rule divine patterns and profound dark divine power burst forth, forming a black cloud.
The black cloud rapidly surged toward Zhang Ruochen, taking the shape of a malevolent spirit wielding a Heaven-Slaying Divine Blade, slashing down.
The space inside the temple was vast, the malevolent spirit like dark clouds blotting out the sky.
The rule divine patterns fused within the malevolent spirit far surpassed those of a Great God—they were Infinite divine patterns, each containing the power to slay gods.
Zhang Ruochen retreated repeatedly, stopping not far from the temple gate. Planting his feet in a bow stance, he erupted with chaotic radiance from within his body and threw a punch.
Immovable Wisdom King Fist!
The moment he punched, sixty-eight humanoid shadow figures manifested around Zhang Ruochen, each in a different posture with distinct fist techniques, representing the sixty-eight fist intents of the Immovable Wisdom King Fist's seventeenth layer.
The sixty-eight fist intents merged as one, overlapping with his true body.
"Boom!"
The fist collided with the Heaven-Slaying Divine Blade slashed by the malevolent spirit.
Dark radiance and chaotic radiance clashed against each other, splitting the temple and tearing space apart. A terrifyingly powerful shockwave spread outward beyond the temple.
All cultivators outside the temple were sent flying like withered grass and dead wood.
The sub-god-level supreme sacred artifact fist gloves on Zhang Ruochen's arms lit up with bright runic patterns, blocking Boundless's strike. He laughed heartily, "Hall Master, times have changed. Trying to kill me from across a distant star domain is no longer possible!"
"Shush, shush!"
Six divine swords manifested behind Zhang Ruochen, tracing streaks of flowing sword light.
The light on the sword bodies grew increasingly blazing, as if they would melt the entire temple.
Zhang Ruochen charged forward.
The six divine swords followed.
Zhang Ruochen formed sword seals with both hands, and the six swords formed a sword array, their tips all pointing at one spot. With a "bang," they shattered the dark malevolent spirit.
Amid flashes of lightning and thunder, Zhang Ruochen reached the stone statue. He pressed his right index and middle fingers together and thrust them straight forward. The six divine swords simultaneously stabbed into the chest of Boundless's stone statue, breaking through layers of Infinite divine patterns.
"Crack!"
A fissure appeared on the statue's chest.
But at that moment, a deep, profound dark force erupted from within the statue.
Zhang Ruochen's vision was completely swallowed by darkness. Even the divine light emitted by the six divine swords could not tear through the blackness. At the same time, a powerful pulling force emerged from the darkness, dragging Zhang Ruochen toward an abyss.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm, activating his Dark Essence.
"Boom!"
A thunderclap rang out above the temple.
Chi Xuan Ghost Lord, standing outside the temple, was horrified to discover that all the dark force and dark rules of the entire Great Heart Ape Ancestor Realm had condensed into tangible dark energy threads, all surging toward the temple.
A towering, majestic black figure stood above the temple, gazing up at the sky.
Instantly, the dark rules in the starry sky also converged endlessly. The stars lost their luster, and heaven and earth were swallowed by darkness.
That towering black figure was identical to Zhang Ruochen.
"Lord of Darkness... a Lord of Darkness!"
After the divine power fluctuations subsided, Chi Xuan Ghost Lord was the first to rush into the temple. Seeing the rubble everywhere, he was so shocked he could not speak.
So it was the Hall Master manifesting his divine power!
But judging by the scene, the Hall Master had actually lost, unable even to preserve his own divine statue.
"Boundless is truly formidable. From as far away as the North Marsh Great Wall, his divine power could still affect the Great Heart Ape Ancestor Realm. I understand now—it's the rule divine patterns. Boundless left some of his rule divine patterns within the statue."
"I knew it. Boundless isn't an Indestructible Infinite. A mere stone statue couldn't possibly be this powerful."
Zhang Ruochen gathered all the Infinite rule divine patterns and dark divine power from the rubble into his palm, condensing them into a dark light sphere. He then began refining it with divine flames.
Chi Xuan Ghost Lord had completely calmed down. A look of reverence surged in his eyes as he exclaimed in awe, "Realm Lord Ruochen is actually a Lord of Darkness! Unbelievable! A Lord of Darkness among Great Gods is rare throughout the ages. Today, I have witnessed something extraordinary."
Then, cautiously, he added, "Since Realm Lord has married Hall Master Wu Yue, past grievances can be set aside. There's no need to offend the Hall Master further."
"I say this not to favor the Darkness Temple, but entirely for Realm Lord's sake. After all, who wouldn't want one less enemy and one more powerful ally?"
Zhang Ruochen had already refined Boundless's rule divine patterns and dark divine power. Too lazy to explain anything to Chi Xuan Ghost Lord, he said, "Go do what you need to do."
After Chi Xuan Ghost Lord left, light flickered from Zhang Ruochen's chest. He released tens of thousands of spiritual power thought avatars, which shot off in all directions, busily analyzing the formation inscriptions inside and outside the temple.
After a while, Chi Xuan Ghost Lord returned, his expression not very good. "I've given them a thorough lesson, but among the true gods, only Chi Hun Monarch is willing to submit."
This result was within Zhang Ruochen's expectations.
After all, those who became true gods all had strong spiritual wills.
Even Chi Xuan Ghost Lord and Yuan Tian Monarch were not truly submitting at this moment. It was just that their temperaments and beliefs differed, leading them to seek advantage and avoid harm.
Each of them had their own calculations and methods of self-preservation.
Chi Xuan Ghost Lord said, "But Chi Hun Monarch has conditions."
"What conditions?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chi Xuan Ghost Lord said, "He says that if he submits to you, the Chi Hun Divine Kingdom will surely be destroyed by the Death God Temple. All his clansmen and descendants will become wandering souls or prisoners. If Realm Lord can protect the Chi Hun Divine Kingdom, he is willing to submit and remain loyal from then on."
"Loyal from then on!" Zhang Ruochen chuckled.
Chi Hun Monarch knelt on one knee outside the temple, speaking solemnly, "This is no empty talk! The reason I submit to Realm Lord is not out of fear of death. There are two reasons."
"First, if I die, the Chi Hun Divine Kingdom will lose its divine guardian and will surely be carved up by the various divine kingdoms of the Death Clan. My clansmen and descendants will still end up as wandering souls or prisoners!"
"Second, I am truly convinced by Realm Lord's talent. I firmly believe that Realm Lord's future achievements will be extraordinary. Following Realm Lord is to abandon darkness for light, to pursue a grander future. Who wouldn't want to follow the future master?"
Yuan Tian Monarch, standing nearby, thought to himself, *Usually, you, Chi Hun Monarch, act so majestic and proud, but when it comes to flattery, you're unmatched. I can't compete with you at all!*
Yuan Tian Monarch pondered whether he had submitted too quickly and whether his standing in Zhang Ruochen's eyes would be surpassed by Chi Hun Monarch.
From within the temple, Zhang Ruochen's voice came: "Excellent! Having such thoughts shows you value loyalty and responsibility, and you have foresight and clarity. You are a talent."
"This Realm Lord has already sent word to Xue Mu, the former Hall Master of the Longevity Hall, ordering him to rush to the Death Clan immediately and bring the entire Chi Hun Divine Kingdom here. The same goes for the Yuan Tian Divine Kingdom!"
Yuan Tian Monarch looked flattered and quickly bowed, smiling, "Thank you for your favor, Realm Lord. In truth, I have already sent word to my beloved daughter, Yuan Shu, instructing her to bring the Yuan Tian Divine Kingdom to the Hundred Clans Royal City Star Domain. Although the Yuan Tian Divine Kingdom is only a small divine kingdom, it has countless talents and resources, which will surely contribute to Realm Lord's forces."
Zhang Ruochen said, "This Realm Lord is actually quite averse to the philosophies and extreme practices of the various clans in the Hell Realm. The contradictions between the dead and the living are indeed irreconcilable. But I have a mind as vast as the sea, embracing all rivers. As long as you act according to the rules, there will naturally be a place for the Death Clan to survive in this world."
Yuan Tian Monarch and Chi Hun Monarch were both visibly moved.
Zhang Ruochen's words seemed calm and ordinary, but they revealed a terrifying ambition, vaguely suggesting an intention to annihilate the entire Death Clan.