# Chapter 3488: Living Up to One's Reputation
Qing Feiwei stood near the entrance of the divine hall, startled by Zhang Ruochen's sudden move.
Challenge the Judgment Venerable?
Recently, because of the battle at Rakshasa Divine City, Zhang Ruochen had indeed been riding a wave of glory, being hailed as "Future Heavenly Venerable" and even "Young Ancestor."
But she sensed something unusual about it.
She felt that someone was deliberately stirring things up, engaging in praise to set him up for a fall, intentionally pushing Zhang Ruochen to the forefront of the storm.
After all, with Heavenly Mother's emergence, who would dare personally kill Zhang Ruochen?
They could only use a borrowed blade.
No matter how much they praised him, it couldn't change one fact: Zhang Ruochen had only recently broken through to the Infinite Realm, and his realm might not even be consolidated yet.
Even if he had spent a hundred years in the Past Divine Palace, a hundred years was almost negligible to an Infinite cultivator, and it would be difficult for his cultivation to improve significantly.
The Judgment Venerable, however, was a being who had cultivated for a million years.
Being able to firmly control the Judgment Hall was undoubtedly proof of his formidable strength. At the very least, Qing Feiwei had never heard of the Judgment Venerable suffering any defeat below the Great Unbound Infinite level.
Of course, Qing Feiwei would never underestimate Zhang Ruochen; on the contrary, she had full confidence in him. Other Infinite cultivators might not be able to overcome a higher realm, but Zhang Ruochen could definitely do it.
However, for him to rely on his own strength to defeat a Qiankun Infinite peak cultivator was almost impossible. Moreover, the Judgment Venerable was no ordinary Qiankun Infinite peak; he was only half a step away from the Great Unbound Infinite.
That extra half step represented a qualitative improvement in strength compared to a Qiankun Infinite peak cultivator.
If the Heavenly Mandate Venerable could see through this, how could the Judgment Venerable not?
The Judgment Venerable said, "If the Ruochen Divine Venerable looks down on these things, I have other generous gifts. World fiefdoms, Great Saint slaves, divine beast mounts, or some precious secret information—as long as the Divine Venerable proposes it, I will do my best to satisfy it."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Let's leave that for later. Right now, I only wish to spar and compete in divine techniques with the Venerable, to verify my current position in the world."
The Judgment Venerable was decisive in character and not one to be indecisive. Zhang Ruochen's persistent aggression had stirred up his temper and anger.
If he hadn't known that Zhang Ruochen's relationship with the three supreme figures of the Destiny Temple was rather ambiguous, he wouldn't have been so humble.
Especially regarding Feng Tian...
He had keen information and was skilled at analysis, having learned many hidden details.
Just from the fact that Feng Tian had appointed Mu Lingxi as a Heavenly Maiden and intended for her to succeed the Death Divine Palace, one could see Zhang Ruochen's importance in Feng Tian's eyes.
Furthermore, the old patriarch of the Undying Blood Clan had spread rumors, circulating some blasphemous tales about Feng Tian.
The Judgment Venerable naturally didn't believe these rumors, but they still made him cautious. He could only hate that the old patriarch of the Undying Blood Clan had little lifespan left and dared to provoke anyone, acting as if he were completely unafraid of death.
The Judgment Venerable said, "Since the Ruochen Divine Venerable has such keen interest, let us spar a little. However, since it's a sparring match, it's better to stop at the point of contact. How about this: we'll limit it to three moves. I won't use my Divine Realm World, Profound Meaning, or divine artifacts. As long as the Ruochen Divine Venerable can force me to retreat or dodge, you win!"
The Heavenly Mandate Venerable nodded inwardly. Such rules were quite harsh for the Judgment Venerable.
After all, everyone knew that Zhang Ruochen possessed the Earth Cauldron.
This should also be Zhang Ruochen's confidence in daring to challenge the Judgment Venerable.
Under such conditions, even if the Judgment Venerable retreated or lost, it wouldn't damage his reputation.
And if Zhang Ruochen couldn't force the Judgment Venerable to retreat or dodge under these circumstances, then losing would be due to his own overestimation, bringing shame upon himself, and he couldn't blame anyone else.
Whether he won or lost, it wouldn't harm the Judgment Venerable—a perfect way to resolve the problem.
Zhang Ruochen didn't persist further and smiled slightly. "Very well, three moves it is, stopping at the point of contact."
"Swoosh!"
Without anyone using any technique, a ten-thousand-zhang-long spatial rift appeared above the Fate Divine Domain.
Zhang Ruochen and the Judgment Venerable instantly vanished from the divine hall.
When they reappeared, they had passed through the spatial rift and were standing in the Void World, one Divine Spirit Step apart, facing each other from a distance.
The Heavenly Mandate Venerable stood up, his lion head opening wide as he laughed. "A divine venerable duel is worth watching. Let's go observe together!"
Using divine light to envelop them, the Heavenly Mandate Venerable led several gods from the divine hall, including Qing Feiwei, out of the Fate Divine Domain and into the Void World.
The spatial rift then closed.
In a secret realm within the Death Divine Palace's territory.
The Blood Leaf Parasol Tree was rooted atop the magnificent Origin Divine Temple. Feng Tian sat on a parasol leaf, opening a pair of bright phoenix eyes, a hint of confusion in her gaze.
But she quickly closed her eyes again, her ten fingers changing hand seals.
Countless death rules flowed between her and the Origin Divine Temple.
...
The Judgment Venerable was clad in armor, standing tall and proud, his pupils shining like sun and moon as he said, "Please!"
Though they were 129,600 li apart, Zhang Ruochen could see through the Judgment Venerable's reality with a single glance. He was like a divine sun hanging in the sky, giving substance to the void, with countless rule divine patterns flowing and shuttling around him.
Undoubtedly, although the Judgment Venerable hadn't released his Divine Realm World, he still had absolute control over this space.
With a clang!
Zhang Ruochen summoned the Abyssal Ancient Sword, looked at its heavy blade, and flicked his wrist, sending sword qi spreading across a hundred thousand li.
Time rules merged with the sword qi, surging in some peculiar pattern.
When the Judgment Venerable saw Zhang Ruochen draw the Abyssal Ancient Sword, his gaze flickered with strangeness, but he quickly became understanding.
He knew that Zhang Ruochen possessed a divine sword.
Heavenly Mother had once used this sword to severely wound the Supreme Pillar Qiang Shake, forcing him to flee in defeat.
But a proud son of heaven like Zhang Ruochen would surely have inner pride—how could he use a divine artifact to attack him?
No matter, once he understood the gap between himself and a half-step Great Unbound Infinite, he would naturally put away his pride and truly go all out.
However, the Judgment Venerable's contempt only lasted until this point.
The next moment, his divine qi began to circulate uncontrollably at high speed. This was his body's automatic response upon perceiving a tremendous threat.
"His power..."
The Judgment Venerable's pupils suddenly contracted, and by reflex, he summoned the divine artifact Judgment Blade, gripping it tightly in his right hand.
By the time he realized he had said he wouldn't use a divine artifact, it was already too late, because Zhang Ruochen had already attacked.
At this moment, he couldn't possibly put away the Judgment Blade.
Because he understood that his contempt had already put him at an absolute disadvantage. If he didn't use a divine artifact, there was absolutely no way he could block Zhang Ruochen's earth-shattering sword strike.
If he couldn't block it, it wouldn't just be a loss of face—it would be a loss of lifespan.
Due to the vast difference in cultivation, Zhang Ruochen naturally wouldn't show any mercy to the Judgment Venerable. The moment he struck, he used his strongest attack.
What he executed was the Sixty-Year Sword Art, which he had just cultivated to great completion.
"Rustle, rustle!"
Countless time streams and sword qi surrounded Zhang Ruochen.
Each stream, if it struck a god, could cut away sixty years of their lifespan.
If hundreds or thousands of streams landed on a body, even a divine venerable couldn't bear the cost!
The sword qi broke through defenses, while the time streams stretched speed.
Just as the Judgment Venerable summoned the Judgment Blade, Zhang Ruochen had already reached him and swung his sword straight down.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword instantly became a thousand zhang long, with streams of time flowing along the blade.
"Boom, rumble!"
The Judgment Venerable hastily raised his blade to block, and the rings of protective divine light around his body instantly exploded. His body was like a star struck by a collision, flying backward hundreds of thousands of li.
By the time he stabilized himself, a stretch of corpse soil had appeared beneath his feet, and a Fate Light Gate stood before him.
The corpse soil was a corner of his Divine Realm World.
It was precisely the Divine Realm World and the Fate Light Gate that had neutralized the time streams, preventing his lifespan from being cut away.
In the distance, within clusters of divine light, Qing Feiwei and the other gods of the Destiny Temple were all shaken to their cores, unable to believe what they had just seen.
They hadn't seen through the intricacies.
All they saw was Zhang Ruochen transforming into a sword light, instantly flying 129,600 li. Even though the Judgment Divine Venerable used a divine artifact to block, he was still sent flying.
The entire process took only the blink of an eye.
An ancient god of the Judgment Hall seemed to have his throat clutched, taking a long time before he could speak. "Is Zhang Ruochen a Great Unbound Infinite?"
If not a Great Unbound Infinite, who could send the Judgment Venerable flying hundreds of thousands of li with a single sword strike?
The Heavenly Mandate Venerable had already recovered his composure. His male head said, "If he were a Great Unbound Infinite, the Judgment Venerable would probably... Impressive, truly worthy of being a First-Rank of this era, completely impossible to judge by common sense. Young Ancestor—it seems this isn't just empty praise. He truly lives up to his reputation."
Zhang Ruochen stood with his sword, the streams of time that had burst apart re-forming and flowing around him.
There was admiration in his eyes. "Truly worthy of being a half-step Great Unbound Infinite. Impressive. I have already gone all out, using my strongest battle method, yet I still find it difficult to harm you in the slightest. Is this the absolute gap in realm?"
The Judgment Venerable found the words grating.
Every word from Zhang Ruochen felt like an insult.
There were junior gods of the Destiny Temple watching from there—did he really have to leave him no face at all?
Originally, the Judgment Venerable had wanted to admit defeat directly, but now he was stirred into a surging battle intent. "The Ruochen Divine Venerable is truly worthy of being the leading figure of the new generation. The title of Young Ancestor is in no way exaggerated. I have witnessed but a glimpse of it today. I admit defeat! But it seems the Ruochen Divine Venerable hasn't had his fill. How about we finish the remaining two moves?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Exactly my intention!"
The Judgment Venerable assumed his stance. The corpse soil beneath his feet grew increasingly crimson, and the Judgment Blade in his hand radiated a brilliance a thousand times brighter than before. The power of the divine artifact spread to billions of li away.
Qing Feiwei and the other gods had to stand within the protective divine light of the Heavenly Mandate Venerable to withstand the impact of the Judgment Blade's power.
The Fate Light Gate slowly rose, emitting light that could suppress Zhang Ruochen's cultivation and combat power.
Clearly, the Judgment Venerable was going all out to welcome Zhang Ruochen's second strike.
But then, Zhang Ruochen put away the Abyssal Ancient Sword, clasped his hands behind his back, and said, "For this second move, why don't you make it, Venerable?"
The Judgment Venerable was stunned, but only for a moment before he said, "Good!"
After learning of Zhang Ruochen's strength, the Judgment Venerable naturally wouldn't hold back any longer. He had to use this strike to reclaim the face he had lost earlier.
Countless soul shadows surged from the corpse soil, swirling around the Judgment Blade.
Threads of blood-red mist flowed from the Judgment Venerable's mouth and nose, merging with the divine ability he was executing.
"A billion undead, heaven-killing red mist. He's actually directly using a Heavenly Venerable divine ability, Undead Heaven Kill!" The Heavenly Mandate Venerable laughed, understanding that the Judgment Venerable was truly furious and embarrassed. At the same time, anticipation rose in his heart.
Since he was using this move, it would surely force out Zhang Ruochen's true strength.
Zhang Ruochen's level of strength would determine how great a price the Heavenly Mandate Venerable would have to pay to resolve the conflict between them and how to manage their future relationship.
The Heavenly Mandate Venerable was a man who knew the times and understood how to look at the long term. No matter the situation, he would leave himself an extra path.
That was why, even when the Fierce Terror Divine Venerable fell from power, he could still firmly control the Heavenly Mandate Hall.
The Judgment Venerable struck.
It was the Heavenly Venerable divine ability, Undead Heaven Kill.
With the blessing of the divine artifact and the Fate Light Gate, this strike caused the entire Void World to boil. The surging, overbearing power could crush an entire great world.
Rumbling sounds came from within Zhang Ruochen's body. Every collision of his bones was like thunder.
"Swoosh!"
Standing still, countless phantom images appeared around him.
Each phantom image formed a different fist stance.
These phantom images and fist stances, in an instant, converged back onto his body. His arm shot forward, and he punched out.
The Taiyin Divine Sea manifested beneath his feet, boundless and vast, with waves rising a thousand zhang.
On his arm, the Qilin Fist Gloves grew scales, releasing the aura of an ancient divine beast.
"Immovable Wisdom King Fist!"
The Judgment Venerable felt an ancestral might from Zhang Ruochen. His own unstoppable momentum was affected, and his power momentarily stalled.
Zhang Ruochen precisely seized this opportunity, taking a step forward, sending his fist force outward at even greater speed.
"Boom, rumble!"
Qilin light shadows, Origin Divine Sea, fist intent momentum, heaven-killing baleful aura, a billion undead, Judgment killing intent... All kinds of forces clashed together, mutually canceling each other out.
Finally, the Qilin Fist Gloves and the Judgment Blade collided directly.
"Bang!"
The power of the divine artifact spread in all directions, locked in a stalemate.
Zhang Ruochen naturally wouldn't be foolish enough to compete with the Judgment Venerable over who had deeper divine qi. He directly called out, "Third move!"
Just as the Judgment Venerable thought Zhang Ruochen absolutely couldn't escape his power suppression, Zhang Ruochen's figure vanished from beneath the Judgment Blade.
"Not good!"
There was no time to dodge. Forced into a corner, the Judgment Venerable could only immediately shrink his divine body.
"Shua!"
Even so, a sword mark was cut at the position of his neck.
Zhang Ruochen appeared eighteen zhang behind him, his right hand's index and middle fingers pressed together like a sword, with corpse blood dripping from his fingertips.
(Chapter End)