Chapter 347: Digging Out the Demon Heart
Under Zhang Ruochen's control, nearly a thousand ice swords transformed into pillars of light, soaring into the sky, leaving trails of sword paths as they stabbed toward Di Yi.
Di Yi swallowed a cyan medicinal pill into his mouth, beginning to recover his true qi.
At the same time, he no longer employed ghost-level sword techniques, relying solely on his powerful sacred body to unleash claw marks one after another, continuously shattering the ice swords as he charged toward Zhang Ruochen.
He decided to settle the battle quickly, no longer giving Zhang Ruochen the chance to drain his true qi.
"Whoosh!"
Only when he reached Zhang Ruochen did Di Yi finally mobilize his true qi, injecting it into the Black Dragon Ghost Claw.
A pair of fist gloves emitted black radiance, transforming into something like two black dragon claws, reaching for Zhang Ruochen's abdomen.
"Di Yi, do you think I'm necessarily inferior to you in close combat?"
Zhang Ruochen shifted his body to the right, evading Di Yi's claw strike, while simultaneously striking a palm toward Di Yi's left shoulder.
"Bang!"
The innate demon qi shook violently, and Di Yi retreated two steps. That previous palm strike had nearly breached Di Yi's defenses.
Di Yi was extremely furious. "Zhang Ruochen's speed is indeed a notch faster than mine."
Now, Di Yi was almost certain that Zhang Ruochen had reached the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Earth Extreme Realm, which was a highly unfavorable piece of information for him.
Reaching the Supreme Extreme Realm meant Zhang Ruochen had triggered the "Resonance of All Gods."
The Resonance of All Gods could grant a martial artist unimaginable benefits, thereby compensating for the gap between non-sacred bodies and sacred bodies.
"Swish!"
Zhang Ruochen activated his speed again, appearing behind Di Yi, swinging his sword in a slash aimed at the spine of Di Yi's neck.
"Whoosh!"
The white bone sword embedded in Di Yi's spine flew out on its own, like a bone whip, striking toward the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
The power unleashed by a tenth-rank True Martial Treasure far surpassed that of a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure. Every time the Abyssal Ancient Sword clashed with it, Zhang Ruochen felt as if a boulder had struck his chest, his entire body wracked with excruciating pain.
But Zhang Ruochen persisted, continuing to swing his sword.
In the span of a single breath, Zhang Ruochen delivered over eighty slashes in succession, each one with all his strength.
Sword light fell like a violent storm, colliding with the white bone sword, producing a series of "bang bang" sounds.
Di Yi did not turn around, merely controlling the white bone sword to continuously fend off Zhang Ruochen's attacks, letting out a loud laugh: "Zhang Ruochen, you only possess a broken sword, yet you think you can contend with my tenth-rank True Martial Treasure-level bone sword?"
Suddenly, Di Yi's expression changed, because he heard a cracking sound from behind.
With a "crack," when Zhang Ruochen delivered his one hundred and third slash, he finally severed the white bone sword.
"No... no, you... how could you..."
Di Yi felt a searing pain on his back, a stream of hot liquid flowing down from his neck, soaking his robes.
It was blood.
That final slash from Zhang Ruochen not only cut through the white bone sword but also struck Di Yi's neck, leaving a wound an inch deep, severing the muscles of the cervical spine and exposing the bone.
Although he had broken the white bone sword, Zhang Ruochen was also wounded by its sword qi.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword was indeed exceptionally sharp, but it was still only a ninth-rank True Martial Treasure, far inferior in power to the white bone sword. It was only by relying on that sharpness, repeatedly striking the same section of the white bone sword, that he managed to break it.
In the earlier battle, the sword qi unleashed by the white bone sword had left dozens of qi wounds on Zhang Ruochen's arms. Blood flowed from his arms, the flesh mangled, and half the blood vessels in his arms were severed.
Originally, with that slash, Zhang Ruochen had intended to sever Di Yi's neck.
But when the Abyssal Ancient Sword struck Di Yi's bones, a five-colored light radiated from within the bones, blocking the war sword.
Looking closely, it was revealed that Di Yi's bones were not white but five-colored.
From this, it could be deduced that Di Yi had cultivated the "Five Elements Sacred Body."
"The bones of a sacred body are indeed beyond comparison with ordinary martial artists."
The bone density of a sacred body martial artist was no less than that of a Half-Saint.
It was thanks to these hard bones that Di Yi escaped death.
Failing to land a decisive blow, Zhang Ruochen immediately struck again, channeling true qi into the meridians of his legs and kicking Di Yi in the back.
"Bang!"
A powerful impact struck his back. Di Yi felt his five viscera ache as if splitting, a "cracking" sound emanating from within his body. A sweetness rose in his throat, and he spat a mouthful of blood.
Di Yi flew backward, the pain from within causing him to vomit blood continuously. It was certain that his five viscera were severely damaged, possibly even shattered.
His vision went dark, his head heavy and feet light, as if he might faint.
In the distance, the onlookers were all greatly shocked.
The martial artists who had earlier believed Di Yi would surely win were all astonished. "How could this be? How is it Zhang Ruochen who is suppressing Di Yi? Is the Sacred Body Demon Heart so fragile?"
"It's not that the Sacred Body Demon Heart is weak, but that Zhang Ruochen is too heaven-defying. Haven't you noticed that Zhang Ruochen's speed is even a notch faster than Di Yi's? Moreover, Zhang Ruochen has also cultivated Sword Heart Illumination, while Di Yi hasn't reached such a profound realm."
"Perhaps... the Dragon Relic really was obtained by Zhang Ruochen," someone speculated.
Hearing this, the crowd fell silent, then nodded slightly.
If he hadn't obtained the Dragon Relic, Zhang Ruochen could never have defeated the Sacred Body Demon Heart.
It was the only reasonable explanation.
Even Lei Jing and Chen Ying wore grave expressions, for they too felt that Zhang Ruochen had likely obtained the Dragon Relic, inheriting the legacies of the Buddha Emperor and the Golden Dragon.
Once this matter spread, it would surely shake the world, possibly even alarming the higher-ups of the Ten Thousand Buddha Path and the First Central Imperial Dynasty.
The legacy of the Nine Emperors was no small matter.
Lei Jing frowned. "Once today's battle spreads, Zhang Ruochen's path ahead will be difficult."
"It might not be entirely bad for him," Chen Ying said.
Lei Jing nodded, a sharp glint flashing in his eyes. "As long as I still have breath, I will protect him completely. Anyone who dares to touch him must first get past me."
...
"No, I have the Sacred Body Demon Heart; how could I lose to an unknown nobody from a backwater place?"
Di Yi's heart was nearly shattered, filled with unwillingness.
Relying on his strong will, he steadied himself, preparing to counterattack.
Just then, Zhang Ruochen descended from the sky, gripping his sword with both hands, slashing down a waterfall-like sword qi, like a young sword immortal descending from the nine heavens.
Di Yi knew that in his current state, he could not withstand that strike.
"Zhang Ruochen, you leave me no choice..."
Di Yi clasped his hands together, and the Divine Martial Mark on his brow emerged. A tiny vortex formed around the Divine Martial Mark, growing larger and larger, sweeping Zhang Ruochen into it.
Zhang Ruochen immediately controlled his body, looking toward the center of the vortex. He could faintly see, deep within Di Yi's brow, a crimson ancient seal floating.
That was... a sacred artifact.
Di Yi was actually going to use the power of a sacred artifact. Zhang Ruochen was slightly startled and immediately activated the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, preparing to escape the vortex.
A sacred artifact, even if it only unleashed a sliver of its power, was not something Zhang Ruochen could withstand now.
"Trying to escape? Too late! Haha!"
Di Yi's face was twisted with ferocity as he let out a wild laugh.
The crimson ancient seal in his qi sea, driven by his true qi, flew out and hovered above Zhang Ruochen's head.
Looking up, the ancient seal had grown to over thirty meters tall, emitting flames as it slowly rotated in the air, radiating an ancient and vast sacred might.
The crimson ancient seal, over thirty meters high, was equivalent to more than ten stories tall, appearing enormous. Zhang Ruochen stood beneath it like a tiny ant.
Just as Di Yi unleashed the sacred artifact, Lei Jing and Chen Ying both rushed toward Zhang Ruochen, intending to save him.
But the Seven Evil Star Envoys charged out, deploying the Seven Star Battle Formation to hold them back.
"Both of you, today Zhang Ruochen will surely die under the sacred artifact; you cannot save him," the Purple Wind Star Envoy said coldly.
Lei Jing roared in fury: "Di Yi is clearly no match for Zhang Ruochen; even if he wins by relying on a sacred artifact, what skill is that?"
The Purple Wind Star Envoy replied, "As long as Zhang Ruochen dies, the young master is victorious."
Lei Jing wasted no more words, immediately activating the Blood God Shadow, condensing it into a massive ox-headed divine shadow to assault the Seven Star Battle Formation.
"Zhang Ruochen, you must hold on, don't die under that sacred artifact."
The Seven Star Battle Formation linked the power of the Seven Evil Star Envoys completely, firmly holding Lei Jing and Chen Ying back, denying them the chance to rescue Zhang Ruochen.
"Zhang Ruochen, today I'll teach you a lesson: the living are kings, the dead are bandits. It's all over now!"
Di Yi laughed loudly, controlling the massive ancient seal as it pressed down toward Zhang Ruochen.
Sweat beaded on Di Yi's face like beans, his entire body trembling, veins bulging. Clearly, controlling a sacred artifact was no easy task.
At the same time, Zhang Ruochen immediately infused true qi into the Dragon Pearl, activating its power.
"Whoosh!"
A layer of golden radiance burst from Zhang Ruochen's body, like a massive golden dragon egg enveloping him, actually blocking the sacred artifact.
Using the sacred artifact drained the true qi from Di Yi's qi sea in an instant, and even burned most of the blood in his body.
Having failed to kill Zhang Ruochen with one strike, Di Yi no longer had the strength to use the sacred artifact.
"How... can this be?" Di Yi felt his eyelids growing heavier and heavier, losing control of the ancient seal.
Finally, the true qi in Di Yi's qi sea was completely exhausted.
"Swish!"
Deprived of power, the ancient seal turned into a speck of light and flew back into Di Yi's brow.
How could Zhang Ruochen miss such a golden opportunity?
He formed a sword finger with his index and middle fingers, executing the Flying Sword Art, mobilizing the Abyssal Ancient Sword to pierce Di Yi's heart.
"Pfft!"
The Abyssal Ancient Sword turned into a streak of light, piercing through Di Yi's protective heavenly shield, stabbing into his heart, puncturing the heart's artery, passing through his body, leaving a bowl-sized bloody hole, and digging out that demon heart.
"No..."
Di Yi let out a scream, reaching out a hand, trying to grab that detached demon heart.
But Di Yi's true qi was depleted, and even his blood energy was greatly diminished. He had no strength left, only able to watch helplessly as that demon heart, like a fireball, fell into the water.
"Hiss!"
The demon heart entered the water, and the entire water area boiled, bubbling up.
The change happened too suddenly. Earlier, Di Yi had been in absolute control, unleashing the sacred artifact, seemingly on the verge of crushing Zhang Ruochen.
In an instant, the scene shifted. Zhang Ruochen, under the crushing pressure of the sacred artifact, launched a counterattack, not only severely wounding Di Yi but also digging out his demon heart.
Even the Seven Evil Star Envoys, who had been holding back Lei Jing and Chen Ying, were all stunned. The seven of them looked toward Di Yi, falling from the sky in the distance, somewhat bewildered.
The young master had already used the sacred artifact, yet he still suffered a crushing defeat.