Chapter 3337: Seventy Percent Boundless
At Xiong Guan Star, the sea of clouds stretched vast and boundless, divine radiance soaring for tens of thousands of feet.
Ships, each hundreds of miles long, sailed through the sea of clouds, continuously transporting beings from the former Hundred Clans Royal City Star Domain in the Hell Realm to this planet.
Any being that survived the war and became a captive either possessed a certain level of cultivation power or had special value as a slave.
Most other beings had already turned into blood food, soul food, or ghost soldiers...
This was the cruel reality of survival of the fittest in the universe!
Forced by circumstances, the major powers of the Hell Realm had previously agreed to the conditions Zhang Ruochen proposed, but they did not immediately withdraw their armies. They only made a show of action on the surface, while secretly plotting, waiting for the right moment to counterattack.
After parting ways at the Wuding Divine Sea, Zhuque Huowu arrived at Xiong Guan Star.
Just as she issued the order for Fengdu Ghost City to withdraw from the Hundred Clans Royal City Star Domain, deities from all sides of the Hell Realm came to visit her one after another.
"Lord Huowu displayed great divine might in the Paradise Realm, avenging Xuanyuan Lian's intrusion into Fengdu Ghost City. We have all heard of it and have come specially to congratulate you," said Kong Can, the Taixu Great God of the Death Clan, manifesting a divine light body.
"Whoosh!"
Gu Chuan, the Taixu Great God of the Bone Clan, arrived and said, "Zhang Ruochen's cultivation has now reached great success. May I ask how Lord Huowu managed to escape from him?"
"Not good! Not good! Lord Huowu absolutely must not withdraw the army. If Fengdu Ghost City withdraws, we will be leaderless!" Yanyang Tianzhu, like a cluster of stellar-bright flames, hovered in the void.
"Whoosh!"
...
Divine lights came one after another, and more and more deities gathered.
Some advised Zhuque Huowu not to withdraw the army, some asked her about Zhang Ruochen's whereabouts, and others flattered her, boasting about her deeds in the Paradise Realm.
Zhuque Huowu understood their intentions and responded calmly, "Didn't you all already agree to Zhang Ruochen's conditions? Why do you now not want to withdraw?"
Yanyang Tianzhu laughed, "Times have changed! Our agreement back then was only a temporary measure. Now that the Starry Sky Defense Line and the Hell Realm have stabilized, our eleven clans can fully free up our hands to teach Zhang Ruochen a harsh lesson and completely take over the Hundred Clans Royal City and Xinghuantian."
Kong Can's tone was cold and deep, "Zhang Ruochen's conditions are too harsh. Just the compensation in divine stones alone amounts to one hundred and twenty million pieces. If the Hell Realm agrees to this, what face will we have left to wage war against the Heavenly Court?"
"Xinghuantian and the Hundred Clans Royal City are only supported by a few Great God-level experts. We have already prepared a comprehensive plan, enough to annihilate them all," Gu Chuan said.
"The Zhang Ruochen in Xinghuantian is someone else transformed. The real Zhang Ruochen has long since left. This shows that Xinghuantian lacks true strength and can only rely on bluffing."
"Now is the opportune moment for our Hell Realm to counterattack. Avenge the Black Sea Realm, wash away the shame of the Great Heart Ape Ancestor Realm!"
...
The deities from various powers were all high in battle spirit, their killing intent fierce.
Clearly, these days they had been holding back a breath of foul air, feeling humiliated.
Zhuque Huowu said, "Fine, if you want to fight, then continue fighting. But Fengdu Ghost City is under my command, and I will withdraw the army today."
Zhuque Huowu was a top-tier expert in the Hell Realm, and Fengdu Ghost City was a divine city where the Heavenly Venerable resided. If they withdrew, it would certainly affect the morale of the Hell Realm's army.
How could the deities present easily let her leave?
"Is Fengdu Ghost City really under your command?" A vast and melodious voice came from above.
Zhuque Huowu looked up and saw a black divine temple, hundreds of thousands of meters tall, suspended within a swirling vortex of clouds. Lightning and thunder crackled around the temple, and space rifts occasionally appeared and disappeared.
Ban Zun, clad in a purple robe, stood outside the temple, his bearing outstanding, and said, "Did you ask Hun Qi about withdrawing the army?"
Zhuque Huowu was secretly shocked. Ban Zun, who was stationed at the Starry Sky Defense Line, had actually come in person to the Hundred Clans Royal City Star Domain.
Could it be that the Hell Realm truly refused to give up and was going to launch a full-scale attack on the Hundred Clans Royal City and Xinghuantian?
Zhuque Huowu said, "I have the authority to decide matters concerning the Hundred Clans Royal City. I don't need you, Yuan Ruhai, to trouble yourself."
After going to Lihentian, Zhuque Huowu had full confidence in breaking through to the Infinite Realm and felt completely indifferent to the so-called "Ban Zun," so she could call him by his name directly.
"Boom, rumble."
The earth shook violently.
A bone serpent slithered over, with nine white skull heads, its death qi surging, turning everything it passed into decayed land.
Gu Chuan and the Bone Clan deities all bowed to the nine-headed bone serpent.
The nine bone heads rose up, and it said, "Zhuque Huowu, did you make some unspeakable deal with Zhang Ruochen?"
Zhuque Huowu had never seen the nine-headed bone serpent before, nor had she heard of such a powerful being in the Bone Clan. But its cultivation was extremely high, reaching the Heart-Stop level, and the divine might it unconsciously released made Zhuque Huowu wary.
It was a top-tier expert not listed in the "Great God Theory."
Zhuque Huowu summoned the Zhushen Spear and said, "Who are you, to dare question me?"
"I am one who emerged from the depths of the Luo Yi Bone Sea, born specifically to resolve the matter of the Hundred Clans Royal City. The Bone Clan will not compensate Xinghuantian, nor will it withdraw its army," the nine bone heads spoke in unison.
Ban Zun stood outside the temple, lofty and aloof, like a sovereign overlooking the mortal world, and said, "Huowu helped Zhang Ruochen massacre in the Paradise Realm, then escaped unscathed. After returning, she directly ordered Fengdu Ghost City to withdraw. These things are all too abnormal, so don't blame everyone for being suspicious."
Zhuque Huowu had long anticipated this situation might arise and said, "So, you think I made a deal with Zhang Ruochen? Fengdu Ghost City withdraws, so it doesn't have to pay compensation? Zhang Ruochen will also release all the hostages under Fengdu Ghost City? And I can even get benefits from Xinghuantian?"
"Let me tell you the truth: I am withdrawing the army out of necessity. With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, if I don't withdraw, Fengdu Ghost City will inevitably suffer heavy losses."
"Moreover, Xinghuantian is not just about Zhang Ruochen alone."
"Listen to my advice: even if you are unwilling to compensate or redeem the hostages, you should still withdraw the army first. Wait until the Infinite-level experts return before attacking this star domain. That's all I have to say. Whether you listen or not is up to you."
Zhuque Huowu transformed into a streak of firelight and broke through the air, disappearing.
Yu Mang Jun clasped his hands behind his back and snorted coldly, "Boosting others' morale and diminishing our own. Women ultimately find it hard to achieve great things. Even if Zhang Ruochen had three heads and six arms, how many could he defeat?"
Yanyang Tianzhu said, "I have fought Zhang Ruochen before and have some understanding of his strength. Among the deities at Xiong Guan Star, at least three can defeat him! If he shows up, there's no need for a divine king battle formation. If the three of you—Ban Zun, Lord Nine Heads, and Yu Mang Jun—join forces, you can certainly take his life."
Ban Zun said leisurely, "Zhuque Huowu can't see the situation clearly! The reason the Hell Realm compromised before and was constrained in every way was due to a combination of various factors. My biggest concern was that Xinghuantian and the Heavenly Court would join forces."
"Zhang Ruochen's massacre in the Paradise Realm has already destroyed the possibility of an alliance between the two sides. The Heavenly Court might even declare war on Xinghuantian!"
"With such a great opportunity, how can the Hell Realm withdraw its army? I will go and persuade her again."
The temple in the sky vanished.
The nine-headed bone serpent transmitted a message to several of the main war advocates: "Actually, I have a plan that not only gives us ample reason to declare war on the Hundred Clans Royal City and Xinghuantian but also makes Fengdu Ghost City the main force."
Yanyang Tianzhu asked, "What brilliant plan?"
"Kill Zhuque Huowu and frame Xinghuantian."
Seeing the deities' expressions change in unison, the nine-headed bone serpent said unhurriedly, "I have received news that a great upheaval has occurred in Lihentian. Both the Watcher and some Infinite-level old monsters who did not go to the North Marsh Great Wall have all rushed there. So, this plan is feasible and can be carried out completely silently."
...
The greatest influence of a cultivation technique on a cultivator occurs before becoming a god. After becoming a god, the cultivator needs more self-enlightenment.
Zhang Ruochen's current path is different from all other cultivators in history, and he can only gain insights from heaven and earth. It is somewhat close to some ideas of Daoist sages, from which he can learn something.
The "Tongtian Record" was indeed a peerless divine manual of extraordinary scope, but Zhang Ruochen only observed it for three days before returning it to Shenba Gongzhu.
This kind of technique must be cultivated from the mortal stage to reach the incredible levels recorded in the manual. It is quite different from Zhang Ruochen's current path.
The "Tongtian Record" is more about cultivating oneself, continuously developing the treasures of the physical body.
Zhang Ruochen copied a copy of the Tongtian Divine Pill formula and looked at the various rare materials listed on it, gradually forming ideas on how to collect them.
The materials were indeed scarce, each one difficult to obtain.
For other Great Gods, even some divine kings and divine lords, it might not be possible to gather them all.
But he had considerable confidence.
He had to admit that Shenba Gongzhu was really easy to deceive. She trusted those she trusted without reservation, even allowing him to borrow the "Tongtian Record" and the Tongtian Divine Pill formula.
Zhang Ruochen thought about it from her perspective and felt that he might not be so generous.
Time passed.
In the blink of an eye, twelve years had passed in the area covered by the Sundial.
Over these twelve years, the blood mist and divine power here were completely absorbed by Shenba Gongzhu, Zhang Ruochen, Yu Ling Shen, and Xiao Hei.
Xiao Hei's cultivation broke through to the Great Perfection of the Upper-Level God in one go, just one step away from the Great God level, equivalent to tens of thousands of years of bitter cultivation for other deities.
He knelt on the ground, kowtowing to the stone table, tears and snot flowing, saying, "Master, your disciple has failed your expectations. If I had a thousand years alone to absorb all the opportunities here, I might have directly reached the peak below the Infinite level. How shameful! I tried my best!"
Zhang Ruochen wanted to kick him away. He had only received a bit of opportunity thanks to Shenba Gongzhu's care, and he actually thought of himself as Wen Tianjun's disciple?
"Zhang Ruochen, why are you looking at me like that? Over the years, if you hadn't absorbed so quickly, I might have already broken through to the Great God level. This was the opportunity Master left for me!"
Xiao Hei was very confident in himself, feeling that he truly had a sincere and innocent heart and was the person Wen Tianjun was waiting for.
Zhang Ruochen had gained a lot. The quality of the divine qi in his body had greatly improved, now comparable to a Great God at the Body-Stop level.
His physical strength had also significantly increased, reaching seventy percent of the Boundless level.