Chapter 3338: Returning to the Hundred Clans Royal City Star Domain
It must be understood that once physical body strength reaches fifty percent of the Infinite Realm, trying to improve even a single shred requires a hundred times more effort than before.
If he were to encounter the renowned Sword God wearing the Beixi Feather Robe again, Zhang Ruochen was confident he could defeat him alone.
"These are all the divine feathers from one pair of Beixi's angel wings, containing immense divine power and myriad heavenly god patterns. Fortunately, Sword God obtained this feathered robe only recently and hasn't fully studied it; otherwise, all of us combined probably wouldn't have been his match."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said this, then black light swirled around her body, converging on her back to form a pair of broad black wings.
In twelve years, she had refined Beixi's feathered robe into a pair of wings.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God felt the powerful energy emanating from the wings as she slowly rose, thoroughly enjoying the sensation of seemingly being able to control heaven and earth. "When Beixi was alive, he reached the Indestructible Infinite Realm. With these wings, in the short term, I can truly contend with genuine God Kings and God Venerables. However, the myriad heavenly divine power contained in these wings can only sustain one battle at the God King or God Venerable level at most. After that, the power won't be as strong!"
As a former Heavenly God who had once been very close to the Indestructible Infinite Realm, Xiu Chen, after research and refinement, could fully master the divine power and myriad heavenly god patterns left by Beixi, far surpassing Sword God.
Having already been reduced to a wisp of remnant soul, yet receiving opportunity after opportunity to regain combat power at the Infinite level, Xiu Chen Heavenly God felt deeply moved.
Zhang Ruochen had always felt that Paradise Realm giving a treasure like the Beixi Feather Robe to Sword God was ill-intentioned, so he let Xiu Chen Heavenly God keep it for herself.
Besides, with his current cultivation level, there was no need to rely on a feathered robe to boost his combat power.
On the icy surface, divine light flickered.
Sword God, Array Extinction Palace's Second Elder, Lihen Ancient God, Huang Daozi, and the Soul Realm Lord were released one after another, their cultivation sealed and their spiritual will suppressed.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God immediately descended from midair, releasing her divine might like a supreme god venerable examining a group of juniors.
"Let's do it, refine them all to death. Don't hesitate! If we kill them here, who will know it was us?" Xiu Chen Heavenly God said.
Xiao Hei disagreed with Xiu Chen's view. The fall of five Realm Lord-level ancient gods in one go would surely shake heaven and earth. If the Heavenly Court investigated, they would definitely find clues.
But having witnessed the wondrous power of the Earth Cauldron, Xiao Hei didn't try to persuade Zhang Ruochen.
If these five ancient gods were refined into divine pills, he would certainly get a share. Breaking through to the Great God level would be within reach.
Sword God had already calmed down, speaking indifferently, "If Zhang Ruochen dared to kill us, he would have done so already. Why wait until now?"
"That's right, everyone need not fear. The forces behind us are not something Zhang Ruochen can afford to provoke. What is mere Xinghuantian in the face of the Heavenly Court?" Array Extinction Palace's Second Elder said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Can't afford to provoke? Your Array Extinction Palace's Third Elder was refined into a furnace of spiritual power divine pills by me, with the help of the Yama Clan's Tai Shang. I didn't see Array Extinction Palace do anything to me."
Array Extinction Palace's Second Elder was speechless. Remembering that Zhang Ruochen indeed acted with reckless audacity and no restraint, he immediately dared not speak further.
Lihen Ancient God was tough, saying, "Zhang Ruochen, Shenba, you used underhanded schemes to trap us. Even if you win, it's no achievement. If you want to kill or butcher us, just do it directly!"
"I didn't expect you to have such backbone. Fine, let's start with you!"
Zhang Ruochen took out the Earth Cauldron and, with a flick of his sleeve, swept Lihen Ancient God into the cauldron.
Urged by divine qi, the Earth Cauldron spun into the air, emitting dazzling origin divine light.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
Collision sounds rang out from within the cauldron.
After a moment, Lihen Ancient God, who had been so tough, began to beg for mercy. "I was wrong, Shenba. This god knows he was wrong. Please persuade Zhang Ruochen to stop refining!"
Lihen Ancient God had been tough because he was certain Zhang Ruochen wouldn't dare kill him.
Moreover, he had inherited the true teachings of Nine Radiance Divine Lord, with a mysterious cultivation method and powerful life force. He believed no cultivator of the same realm could kill him. Even if continuously refined, it would take at least several hundred years to completely refine him to death.
By then, the Heavenly Court's Infinite cultivators would have returned and could naturally save him.
But the reality was that as soon as he entered the Earth Cauldron, his divine body began to decompose into particles.
Decades of bitter cultivation were about to be destroyed in an instant. How could Lihen Ancient God not be terrified? How could he not beg for mercy?
If he were truly a god with integrity, he wouldn't have secretly defected to the Paradise Realm faction.
"My legs are decomposing..."
Lihen Ancient God grew more urgent. "This god fought bloodily for centuries to protect the Kunlun Realm, repelling the Hell Realm's armies time and again. You can't repay kindness with enmity!"
"Shenba, this time I truly did wrong, letting greed override righteousness. For the sake of the old friendship with my master, make Zhang Ruochen stop and give me another chance. If I ever do anything to betray you and the Kunlun Realm again, may I surely die in the next Eon Calamity."
Shenba Princess thought of the gods of Tianquan Great World who had died outside the Kunlun Realm, and of the already fallen Nine Radiance Divine Lord, and felt some reluctance.
Lihen Ancient God's arms decomposed into particles of origin light, his waist continuously turning into particles. He was completely panicked, feeling death drawing ever closer.
Zhang Ruochen deliberately manifested Lihen Ancient God's state on the cauldron's surface.
Huang Daozi, the Soul Realm Lord, and Array Extinction Palace's Second Elder could maintain their composure for now, but terror was unmistakable in their eyes. This Zhang Ruochen was utterly insane—was he really going to refine them all to death?
Were they about to follow in Lihen Ancient God's footsteps?
Unwilling! With their status and position, how could they die so ignominiously?
Lihen Ancient God couldn't hold back anymore. "Realm Lord Ruochen, please spare this god. I am willing to offer half my divine soul and become your divine servant. Over these decades, I have collected countless treasures, all of which I can give to you."
Sword God showed a look of contempt. "Nine Radiance Divine Lord had such a glorious reputation, yet how did he end up teaching a disciple like you? Do you think begging like that will make them spare you? They'll only mock you in their hearts, and in the end, you'll still die without even a good name left."
Zhang Ruochen stopped activating the Earth Cauldron, sighing, "Talents are hard to come by. It would be a pity to just refine them to death. Since Lihen Ancient God is willing to offer half his divine soul and all his treasures, this Realm Lord, considering the old bond between the Kunlun Realm and Tianquan Great World, can spare your life."
Zhang Ruochen released Lihen Ancient God from the Earth Cauldron.
At this moment, Lihen Ancient God was left with only a head and half a chest.
Zhang Ruochen unsealed the seals on him. Gradually, Lihen Ancient God reformed his arms, waist, abdomen, and legs, but his aura had dropped significantly, and even his cultivation had become unstable.
Yet there was no resentment on him; instead, he joyfully bowed to Zhang Ruochen and Shenba Princess, smiling, "Thank you, Princess, and Realm Lord Ruochen, for sparing my life!"
"Still calling him Realm Lord?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Lihen Ancient God said, "Master, this god will now offer half my divine soul!"
Seeing Lihen Ancient God's fawning demeanor, Sword God, Huang Daozi, and the others all showed disgust.
Lihen Ancient God glanced at them and said, "My master has emerged for only two thousand years and has already become the strongest below the Infinite Realm. How extraordinary, how supremely talented! In the future, he will surely be unparalleled, attaining the position of Heavenly Venerable. Becoming the divine servant of a future Heavenly Venerable is this god's greatest honor. As for you... heh... you will never live to see that day!"
Zhang Ruochen put away half of Lihen Ancient God's divine soul and looked at the four ancient gods opposite him. "You are all rare talents. If you are willing to submit, I can give you three positions as divine servants. Remember, only three positions—first come, first served. The last one will be refined into a divine pill by the Earth Cauldron."
Sword God, Huang Daozi, Array Extinction Palace's Second Elder, and the Soul Realm Lord all remained silent, not scrambling for the positions of divine servants.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Fine, I'll give you time to think. But that time is limited. If this Realm Lord loses patience, you will all die."
The four ancient gods of Paradise Realm were suppressed again.
Yu Ling Shen walked over. Her cultivation had achieved a major breakthrough, rising from the peak of Grand Void to the Body Stop realm. In just twelve days, such progress could be considered a great opportunity.
Shenba Princess had made the greatest progress. As the daughter of Wen Tianjun, she was most compatible with the blood mist and divine power here, absorbing it no slower than Zhang Ruochen. Her martial cultivation had risen from the peak of Tai Bai realm to the middle stage of Tai Xu realm.
"Are you really planning to take them as divine servants? Even if you hold half their divine souls, they may not be loyal." Yu Ling Shen said.
"Their lives still have uses. I can't kill them for now. When the time comes to use them... you'll understand then."
Zhang Ruochen said to Yu Ling Shen, "Once I refine the Tongtian Divine Pill, I can help you break through Body Stop. Let's go. We need to leave."
The group flew out of this frozen planet.
Shenba Princess stood in the void, waving her sleeve.
The blood-colored battle robe of Wen Tianjun flew up. Though tattered and torn, it still contained an extraordinary aura of power, especially the overwhelming battle intent and killing intent, which could probably affect even God Kings and God Venerables.
Through space wormholes, they quickly left the Juehan Desert Star Domain and returned to the edge of the Hundred Clans Royal City Star Domain.
"What's wrong?" Yu Ling Shen noticed Zhang Ruochen's unusual expression.
Zhang Ruochen pressed his fingers to his temples, and brilliant truth light burst from his pupils. Immediately, scenes from an infinitely distant star domain appeared before his eyes.
"The Hell Realm is truly ruthless. It seems I was indeed too merciful before."
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his Truth Divine Eye and began setting up a Space Teleportation Array.
"What exactly happened?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God thought her perception was now powerful, but compared to Zhang Ruochen, she still seemed far behind.
"A few bold gods from the Hell Realm are hunting down Zhuque Huowu. They must be trying to frame me and force Fengdu Ghost City to declare war on Xinghuantian. Very well, there are still plenty of courageous gods in this world!" Zhang Ruochen said.
...
Regarding the update issues over the past few days, there was really no choice. A few days ago, I went to have a tooth extracted, swallowed blood all day, and was in so much pain I couldn't type at all. Then I caught a cold—coughing, fever, and my mouth is still swollen... It's really been a mess.