Chapter 3302: Xuan Yi Makes His Move, Luring the Snake Out of Its Hole
After one space jump after another, Zhang Ruochen arrived in the void outside the Paradise Realm.
Since the Boundless Northern Expedition, most of the Space Teleportation Arrays in the Paradise Realm had been closed, leaving only two operational: one at the Radiant Divine Temple and one at Shangqiu. Moreover, only gods were permitted to use them in emergencies.
For other cultivators to enter or leave the Paradise Realm, they had to travel via the Overwhelming Pressure Space Ancient Path to reach the Overwhelming Pressure Realm.
The Overwhelming Pressure Realm was a major world, but compared to the Paradise Realm, the dominant world of the Western Universe, it was less than one-tenth the size. Because it was very close to the Paradise Realm and served as its gateway major world, the name "Overwhelming Pressure" did not appear on the Myriad Realms Merit Ranking.
It was also known as the Overwhelming Pressure Continent, a detached territory of the Paradise Realm in the universe.
Above the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, the Radiant Divine Mirror hung high, like a full moon, illuminating the entire world. For any Hell Realm god wanting to infiltrate the Paradise Realm through the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, they first had to pass the test of the Radiant Divine Mirror.
Xiao Hei was very anxious. "We could capture a god from the Paradise Realm and hide inside their Divine Realm World. That would most likely avoid the Radiant Divine Mirror's detection."
"The Radiant Divine Mirror is just one divine artifact; it has never been a real threat. The greatest threat of the Paradise Realm is the various protective measures left behind by multiple Primordial Ancestors, Heavenly Venerables, and All Heavens over billions of years, such as formations. If there really is a trap, once we sneak in, even God Kings and God Venerables would die without a doubt." Zhang Ruochen said.
The words of the Fading Lamp when he left had put Zhang Ruochen on alert.
At this moment, using his Truth Divine Eye, he peered at the formation structure of the Paradise Realm's protective divine formation. It was terrifyingly profound. Many formation inscription patterns were not activated, remaining in a silent state, just like the Fengdu Ghost City back then.
The foundation of the Paradise Realm was in no way inferior to that of the Fengdu Ghost City.
After all, the Hell Realm had only risen to prominence in the last three hundred thousand years.
This trip to the Paradise Realm was completely different from the situation at the Fengdu Ghost City back then. At that time, even the few power-holders of the Fengdu Ghost City had ulterior motives and couldn't effectively utilize the city's protective measures.
In fact, even the gods of the Fengdu Ghost City were desperately trying to prevent the activation of the powerful city-defense measures, afraid that these measures would fall into the hands of the Heavenly Court's spies and the Quantity Organization.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Entering the Paradise Realm is actually not difficult. The Goddess Twelve Pavilions still has some hidden forces within the Paradise Realm that haven't been rooted out, which we can use."
Zhang Ruochen raised his right hand, and the space in his palm trembled as a bloody head materialized.
The head was covered in Underworld Inscriptions.
This was Xuan Yi's head. Zhang Ruochen had used the methods from the "Underworld Soldier Scroll" to refine it, allowing him to control the divine soul remnants still present in the head's flesh and blood.
Although it was just a head, and it had been shattered by the Bright Mirror Platform, with his Divine Sea shattered into pieces and his Divine Source taken away by Xuanyuan Lian, Xuan Yi was still alive. His blood energy was vigorous, and a large amount of his divine soul remained, granting him combat power not inferior to a Soul-Stop Realm Ancient God.
If Zhang Ruochen could collect all of Xuan Yi's remaining body parts, even with this half-crippled form, he would be no weaker than a Heart-Stop Realm powerhouse like the Dark Crow God. His physical body was simply too strong. Unlike Xiu Chen Heavenly God back then, who was beaten down to just a wisp of residual soul.
It could be said that Eon-level geniuses like Xuan Yi, Desolate Heaven, and Qiangu Nüdi had an absolute gap between them and other gods. Within the same realm, it was as difficult as ascending to heaven for others to even withstand a single blow from them, even for disciples of the All Heavens or heirs of Heavenly Venerables.
As for Zhang Ruochen, let alone those of the same realm, even gods several realms above him would find it hard to withstand a single blow from him.
Xuan Yi spoke, "Zhang Ruochen, my true body will soon sense my aura. When it arrives, that will be your death."
"Your true body can't even save itself; I doubt it has the time to deal with me."
Zhang Ruochen had absolute confidence in his own Wuji Divine Dao. At the very least, Xuan Yi, who hadn't reached the Infinite Realm, could never hope to see through the Wuji Divine Dao and sense the aura of this head.
Zhang Ruochen formed hand seals, using the Taiji Yin-Yang Diagram to convert Nether Qi, controlling the Underworld Inscriptions on Xuan Yi's head to shape a complete body for him.
Xuan Yi used his will to resist fiercely, unwilling to be controlled by Zhang Ruochen.
But with his remaining divine soul, he couldn't withstand Zhang Ruochen's will.
The body was formed, and a living, breathing Xuan Yi appeared before everyone.
Xiao Hei immediately threw a heavy punch, hitting Xuan Yi on the top of the head. Underworld Inscriptions flickered, and electric light spilled out. Xiao Hei was sent flying backward, unable to lift his arm.
Zhuque Huowu looked on with disgust, truly thinking he was an idiot.
Just an Upper-Level God, daring to strike at Xuan Yi.
Xiao Hei flew back, acting as if nothing had happened. "Forget it, it's just a clone. This Emperor won't bother with you! Zhang Ruochen, so your decision is to enter the Paradise Realm through Xuan Yi?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "Xuan Yi is a member of the Quantity Organization. Once he appears, he will definitely be besieged by the gods of the Paradise Realm."
"Then why did you summon him?" Xiao Hei asked.
"To lure the snake out of its hole and see the true situation in the Paradise Realm."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fell on Zhuque Huowu. "Miss Huowu, would you be willing to lend me a hand?"
"Do I have a choice?" Zhuque Huowu asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Yes, you can choose to refuse. But if I can't make it out of the Paradise Realm, as a Hell Realm god, you will only die more miserably."
"What do you want me to help you with?" Zhuque Huowu asked.
"I'll tell you after we enter the Paradise Realm."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze then shifted to the Moon God. "Lady Moon God, do you truly wish to enter the Paradise Realm with us? This is very dangerous. You should have heard the Fading Lamp Master's prophecy."
"I do have some old friendship with Shen Ba, after all. How could I bear to stand by and do nothing when she's in danger?" The Moon God said, her tone ethereal and reluctant.
Xiao Hei sent a voice transmission to Zhang Ruochen. "Let her go. If the Paradise Realm really is dangerous, it's possible that Bian Zhuang War God will abandon the second Starry Sky Defense Line to come and save her. Having her with us is like carrying a death-exemption talisman."
Even Xiao Hei understood this, so how could the Moon God not?
Zhang Ruochen's heart was as clear as a mirror.
This Lady Moon God, though she enjoyed squeezing her divine envoys, was not one to be coy when facing matters of life and death. She had been standing behind Zhang Ruochen all along, firmly maintaining her position as the divine master, using all her power to protect his safety, just like before.
Even though her divine envoy's wings had hardened now.
Zhuque Huowu said, "I think there's no need to risk our true bodies. Think about it, from the time we got the news to when we arrived at the Paradise Realm, several days have passed. In those few days, could the Great Elder of the Space Divine Temple have already taken the person away from the Paradise Realm?"
"If the person had been taken away, such a big event couldn't possibly be hidden." Zhang Ruochen said.
Zhuque Huowu said, "Since so much time has passed and the person hasn't been taken away, that precisely proves it's a trap, waiting for you to show up."
Xiao Hei was furious. "Shut up! Chi Xingtian and Princess Shen Ba are top-tier great gods of the Kunlun Realm. Even if we know it's suspicious, we have to face the difficulty head-on. What would a ghost girl like you know about the emotions of flesh-and-blood beings? If you say one more word..."
"What will you do?" Zhuque Huowu asked.
Xiao Hei thought about how Zhang Ruochen might soon unseal Zhuque Huowu's seal, felt a pang of fear, and immediately changed his tune. "Forget it, I can't be bothered to argue with you."
Zhang Ruochen watched Xiao Hei and Zhuque Huowu bickering the whole way, looking very much like a pair of enemies, and a plan formed in his mind. "Xiao Hei is right. For our own people, we would risk our lives to save them. Even if we know it's dangerous, we must go forward without hesitation. This is different from your Ghost Clan; you are too cold towards emotions."
Having said his piece, Zhang Ruochen said no more. Whether he could influence Zhuque Huowu's beliefs, or even win her over to Xinghuantian, couldn't be achieved with just a few words.
Xiao Hei sent a low voice transmission to Zhang Ruochen: "Has the Nüdi really already gone to the Paradise Realm?"
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. This guy had exposed his true feelings with just one sentence. He was still very cowardly. However, if Qiangu Nüdi really was in the Paradise Realm and in danger, Zhang Ruochen was certain that Xiao Hei would truly risk his own life.
Under Zhang Ruochen's control, Xuan Yi let out a hoarse scream.
Unable to resist Zhang Ruochen's will, he transformed into a lightning god, flew above the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, and struck out with a palm.
From his palm surged a fierce torrent of lightning, striking towards the Radiant Divine Mirror.
The Radiant Divine Mirror was as large as a planet, thousands of miles in diameter. One divine shadow after another emerged within the mirror, all letting out angry divine roars.
The mirror's light instantly intensified, and the surrounding void of the universe became densely covered with divine patterns and formation inscription patterns.
"Boom!"
The lightning torrent pierced through one formation after another before colliding with the Radiant Divine Mirror.
Vast divine power spread out.
The Radiant Divine Mirror shook violently, blocking Xuan Yi's attack.
"It's Xuan Yi! Xuan Yi has appeared!"
From within the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, figures radiating powerful auras flew out. They were all True Gods, each manifesting giant divine bodies, drawing upon the Star Soul Divine Thrones in the nearby star regions.
Some had white feathered wings, some stood on seas of light, and some were as dazzling as stars.
But, intimidated by Xuan Yi's fearsome reputation, no one dared to fly out of the Overwhelming Pressure Realm's protective divine formation.
"Hua! Hua! Hua!"
Above the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, one divine formation after another, spanning over a hundred thousand miles in diameter, activated. Some were left by Formation Divine Masters, others were remnants of formations from the All Heavens.
Their defensive power could block God Kings and God Venerables, and their offensive power could cross star seas to kill Grand Void Great Gods.
"Xuan Yi, you really can't accept it, can you? Trying to forcefully break into the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, return to the Paradise Realm, and retrieve the All-Connecting Divine Temple?" The white-winged angel was Zhou Kai, the number one powerhouse guarding the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, with a cultivation at the Grand Void Realm.
As a high-born angel and a top expert of the Radiant Divine Temple, Zhou Kai had always looked down on Xuan Yi, considering him a shameless traitor with dirty methods, unworthy of being a god of the Paradise Realm.
It was just that Xuan Yi's cultivation was too strong, and with Shang Tian backing him, Zhou Kai would never have dared to offend him before.
Xuan Yi manifested a divine ability, executing the Great Dao Desolate Heaven Seal, and attacked directly towards Zhou Kai.
In the sea of clouds above the Overwhelming Pressure Realm, a divine formation operated at full speed. From the center of the formation flew a beam of Radiant Divine Light a hundred miles in diameter, clashing with the Great Dao Desolate Heaven Seal.
Xuan Yi immediately unleashed a second divine ability, then a third...
In the starry sky, divine light continuously collapsed, and space was torn into many fissures.
Zhou Kai, who had been on high alert, relaxed, but then sensed something was wrong. It was too strange. Why would Xuan Yi choose to forcefully attack the Overwhelming Pressure Realm? And he seemed too easy to deal with, not the invincible figure of legend.
Zhang Ruochen did not watch the battle at the Overwhelming Pressure Realm. His gaze was fixed on the interior of the Paradise Realm, focusing on the Radiant Divine Temple, the Elf Godly Land, Shangqiu, and other places.
The protective formation of the Paradise Realm was powerful, but it couldn't block Zhang Ruochen's Truth Divine Eye. He could see various scenes within the realm from over a hundred million miles away. He could use the Wuji Divine Dao to sense fluctuations of divine power beyond the vast void.