Chapter 3374: An Even More Formidable One Arrives
"Rumble."
At the edge of Sword Soul Hollow, space-time was extremely unstable, as various divine abilities and great techniques evolved.
Although it seemed like only a minor breakthrough in cultivation level, the combat power of Yuqing Patriarch had undergone earth-shattering changes. Even someone as powerful as the Heavenly Ladder was reduced to a mere foil.
The entire Sword God Temple, due to the chaotic battle between Divine Kings and Divine Venerables, was filled with danger at every turn. In the space, every residual force could injure a True God.
Ji Fanxin stepped on a lotus emitting the divine light of origin, presiding over the formation to block all kinds of chaotic forces.
At the same time, strange yet regular fluctuations appeared on Taiqing Patriarch's body. Unceasing sword sounds rang from within, and circles of sword shadows automatically manifested, rotating slowly.
Clearly, the soul attack of Qiangshake had been repelled by Yuqing Patriarch earlier, and Taiqing Patriarch had reached a critical moment of breakthrough.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God stood guard nearby, on high alert.
The Bodhi Tree once again bloomed with bright golden light, with thousands of Buddha shadows floating around it.
Zhang Ruochen gazed towards the direction of Sword Soul Hollow, his expression perpetually heavy. "Something's not right! Qiangshake and Xiangfati belong to completely different eras, yet they appeared together in the Sword God Temple. This is too bizarre!"
"Obviously, they intend to use the Sword God Temple as a transition point to descend into the real world," Xiu Chen Heavenly God said.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "How can the Sword God Temple possibly conceal the perception of Heaven and Earth's rules?"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God had lived for an extremely long time and had witnessed many strange phenomena, taking them in stride. "Beixi and Afuya are right there in Lihentian, successfully seizing bodies. They might soon descend into the real world. Zangjin Baihu, a prehistoric divine beast, with the help of a guide, can gradually integrate into this era as well."
Zhang Ruochen felt a sense of crisis, believing things were not as simple as they appeared on the surface.
Could Qiangshake descend into the Sword God Temple? Could the remnant souls of other powerful beings among the Seventy-Two Pillar Demon Gods also descend?
If Xiangfati could appear here, could the remnant souls of other powerful figures from the Underworld Clan's history also show up?
Yuqing Patriarch was so aggressive, wanting to charge into Sword Soul Hollow. He must have sensed something, which was why he was so urgent.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God said, "Don't put too much pressure on yourself. The sky won't fall. We are Divine Venerables of this era. Even if something truly terrifying happens in Sword Soul Hollow, retreating would be effortless."
"Whoosh!"
A sword light shot into the sky, like a white rainbow.
Taiqing Patriarch had broken through. He stood up and rushed towards Sword Soul Hollow.
A voice drifted into the ears of Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God: "You two leave immediately, return to Sword Realm. Leave no trace behind. If Yuqing and I do not return within three days, immediately seal off Sword Realm. When Dragon Lord and Tai Shang arrive, inform them of what happened here."
Zhang Ruochen stared intently at Taiqing Patriarch's back.
Having broken through, Taiqing Patriarch's combat power had greatly increased, yet he spoke such words. Was it caution? Or was he too pessimistic?
What exactly had they sensed?
Xiu Chen Heavenly God was no longer as optimistic as before. "Let's go! The cultivation and combat power of Taiqing and Yuqing surpass ours by at least two major levels. If there really is some extraordinary figure about to descend, and even they cannot handle it, staying would only be a burden."
Zhang Ruochen raised his arm, divine light rising, and called out, "Patriarch, take the swords."
The six divine swords transformed into six bright beams of light, catching up to Taiqing Patriarch.
Taiqing Patriarch accepted the six swords without looking back, but a gratified smile appeared in his eyes.
Previously, because their contact with Zhang Ruochen had been too brief, he and Yuqing had trusted Zhang Ruochen only because of Xumi Saint Monk and Dragon Lord.
They acknowledged Zhang Ruochen's talent.
As for his character, this time they truly saw it.
To protect them, he was willing to fight against a Divine King.
Zhang Ruochen had already taken a tremendous risk by charging out of the War Formation Divine Hall to help them resist Qiangshake's soul attack. After all, he was only a Great God!
Later, when they sensed the impending danger and told Zhang Ruochen to flee quickly, he had already fulfilled his moral obligation and could have taken the opportunity to leave. At that point, Zhang Ruochen had done what most people could not.
Yet Zhang Ruochen chose to stay and guard them.
In the face of life and death, he chose to stand firm.
This was already beyond mere moral duty!
It could be said that from this day forward, Taiqing Patriarch and Yuqing Patriarch would support Zhang Ruochen without reservation. Their relationship with him would become even closer than with Dragon Lord and Tai Shang.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiu Chen Heavenly God returned to the War Formation Divine Hall, intending to directly pilot the hall away.
The Sword Source Divine Tree dimmed another degree.
In the final moments before leaving the Sword God Temple, Zhang Ruochen glanced beneath the Sword Source Divine Tree. This time, he was certain he truly saw an aged figure sitting there.
The artifact spirit of the Black Water Divine Staff was very agitated. "The Grand Elder is still alive, right under the Sword Source Divine Tree. We cannot leave like this."
Bai Qinger had never met the Grand Elder of the Inverse God Clan, but she had heard many legends about him. She wanted to wait until the Sword Source Divine Tree extinguished to go and check.
To the Inverse God Clan, the Grand Elder was the soul figure, an unparalleled banner.
Of course, she knew very well that the Grand Elder could not possibly still be alive. If he were, with such a commotion, how could he not come out to meet them?
"Are we really going to abandon the two patriarchs?" Chi Yao asked.
Zhang Ruochen looked towards Sword Soul Hollow. Finally, with a hardened heart, he pulled Bai Qinger and Chi Yao, leading the gods out of the temple gate.
Only Xiu Chen Heavenly God could understand the pain and struggle in Zhang Ruochen's heart. Yuqing and Taiqing had not chosen to escape with them but had instead taken the initiative to attack Sword Soul Hollow. A large part of that was likely to buy them time.
If they could leave together, who would choose to risk a desperate battle?
Yuqing Patriarch charged into Sword Soul Hollow and looked at Taiqing Patriarch, who had caught up. "Have they left?"
"Yes. As long as Ruochen lives, the Sword Dao can regain its glory, and Kunlun can once again prosper. We two old fellows have to fight this time. If we can destroy the evil in Sword Soul Hollow first, we might prevent that being from descending."
As soon as Taiqing Patriarch finished speaking, a look of confusion appeared in his eyes. "They... they're back!"
Zhang Ruochen transmitted his voice to them: "An even more terrifying one has arrived outside. Do the two patriarchs know if the Sword God Temple has another exit?"
"Boom!"
A thunderous roar, shaking heaven and earth, came from the distant heavens.
The speed of the thunder surpassed the speed of light.
Taiqing and Yuqing exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking to the bottom. They told Zhang Ruochen that the Sword God Temple had no other exit and told him to come quickly to Sword Soul Hollow.
Now, they could only fight to the death in a desperate situation.
The evil within Sword Soul Hollow also sensed the terrifying pressure. The thunder directly ignored the chaotic space and the various ancient powers within the Sword God Temple.
The two dark abyss-like evil eyes, Qiangshake, and Xiangfati all acted together, drawing upon the dark power within Sword Soul Hollow. Like a black curtain of Dao techniques, it covered space-time.
"Whoosh!"
A bolt of lightning, tens of millions of miles long, surged into the Sword God Temple.
Yuqing Patriarch and Taiqing Patriarch had said there was no other exit or entrance in the Sword God Temple. But this bolt of lightning directly pierced through one of the temple's high walls, forcefully opening a passage.
A power of this level would make even Divine Kings and Divine Venerables tremble.
"The Sword God Temple truly lives up to being a Patriarch Hall comparable to the Heavenly Palace. So many years have passed, and it remains indestructible." The voice of Thunder Ancestor came from tens of millions of miles away. He continued, "Quite lively indeed, with so many who have become kings and venerables gathered here. I, the Ancestor, have come. You wouldn't be unwelcoming, would you?"
With every word, a bolt of lightning struck the black curtain covering the entrance of Sword Soul Hollow.
The black curtain contained an unimaginably strange power, blocking most of the lightning bolts each time.
Zhang Ruochen and the others were blocked outside the black curtain.
Inside the black curtain, the two patriarchs launched attacks but could not break out.
"This time, it's completely over," Xiu Chen Heavenly God said.
The sky lit up, turning purple.
Countless bolts of lightning covered the heavens, crisscrossing and shuttling.
Space suddenly seemed to freeze, and everyone found it hard to breathe.
Thunder Ancestor appeared within the Sword God Temple, floating beneath the lightning, his figure slowly moving forward. The crisis of death struck everyone's hearts.
The exit of the Sword God Temple was sealed by lightning!
Thunder Ancestor glanced at the black curtain at the entrance of Sword Soul Hollow, a cautious look flashing in his eyes, and then he fell into thought.
Zhang Ruochen racked his brains for a countermeasure. At present, the only path to survival seemed to be using one enemy against another—luring Thunder Ancestor to attack Sword Soul Hollow, using it to deal with him.
Thunder Ancestor's gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen. "I never expected a junior like you to cultivate so quickly. The Sundial and the Earth Cauldron are truly mysterious."
Hearing this, Xiu Chen Heavenly God suddenly stopped panicking.
She was now the artifact spirit of the Sundial.
Even if Thunder Ancestor killed Zhang Ruochen and took the Sundial, he could not kill her.
But strangely, even though Thunder Ancestor was clearly stronger and would be a better master, Xiu Chen Heavenly God could not feel happy. Instead, she was somewhat worried about Zhang Ruochen's safety.
Xiu Chen Heavenly God had to admit that this kid Zhang Ruochen possessed a unique charm. Spending time with him fostered feelings.
Perhaps he himself was a person rich in emotions.
He valued emotions more than life itself.
These emotions included gratitude, friendship, love, kinship... They manifested in him at all times.
While Xiu Chen Heavenly God was thinking about all sorts of random things, Zhang Ruochen faced Thunder Ancestor directly and said, "Lord Thunder Ancestor did not get lost in the vast darkness but found the Sword God Temple. Perhaps fate has destined you to become the new master of the Sword God Temple!"
Thunder Ancestor had been chased by Feng Tian into the Dark Great Triangle Star Domain and had only escaped by sacrificing half of his divine body.
But being able to escape from Feng Tian undoubtedly proved that Thunder Ancestor possessed supreme and powerful cultivation.
Thunder Ancestor saw through Zhang Ruochen's thoughts. "Junior, are you trying to lure me into that black curtain? Rest assured, I will become the master of the Sword God Temple, and I will also charge into the black curtain to annihilate all the remnant souls and evil within. But before that, I must first take the Sundial and the Earth Cauldron."
This old, cunning figure was too terrifying. Zhang Ruochen had only had a thought, and he had seen through everything.
Destructive lightning shuttles burst forth from Thunder Ancestor's body.
Suddenly, Bai Qinger knelt towards the direction of the Sword Source Divine Tree. "Bai Qinger, a descendant of the Inverse God Clan, begs the Grand Elder to emerge from seclusion and suppress the powerful enemy."