Chapter 3766: The Azure Deer
The sword intent contained within this strike affected Zhang Ruochen's sword soul, even though he was hundreds of millions of miles away, causing the Sword Dao rules gathered around him to rapidly disperse.
Moments later, blood rain fell from the clouds.
The dominating power that had enveloped the entire Wuding Divine Sea weakened by a notch, and Zhang Ruochen could clearly feel the pervasive suppression recede.
"Could it be that they truly wounded the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable?"
That old Void fellow actually has some tricks up his sleeve!
Zhang Ruochen understood very well that the reason Xu Tian had succeeded was certainly because the joint assault of Nutian Shenzun and Meng Ge had made it difficult for the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable to handle the situation with ease.
Secondly, with the fortress formation breached and a large number of Thunder Clan elites falling, the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable must have been distracted and unsettled, which gave Xu Tian the opportunity for a successful strike.
"Whoosh!"
Lei Zu's expression changed drastically. He instantly transformed into a bolt of lightning, leaping through space and heading westward.
Fei Ma Wang and Wan Zunzhe flew off in two other directions, each fleeing separately.
The former shot straight up into the sky, clearly trying to pierce through the thundercloud layer and enter the vast starry sky.
The latter headed east, disappearing deep into the Wuding Divine Sea.
At this moment, the entire star domain was in chaos, with the rules of heaven and earth in disarray and the celestial mechanisms difficult to trace. Once they escaped beyond the range of perception, it would be impossible to catch up to them.
"This poor Daoist will pursue that demoness! Be careful on your own. If the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable tries to kill you again, I won't be able to spare the effort to protect you!"
Jing Daoren reacted swiftly, stepping onto a five-colored auspicious cloud and charging into the starry sky, chasing after Fei Ma Wang.
Without a doubt, among the three, Fei Ma Wang posed the greatest threat. In a short time, she had the potential to recover to the Indestructible Infinite level.
Once she reached Indestructible Infinite, capturing or killing her would become more than ten times harder.
Zhang Ruochen wanted to take advantage of Lei Zu's severe injury to strike him down and eliminate a major threat, but the secrets hidden within Wan Zunzhe were even more important.
Just as he was torn over what to prioritize, Xiu Chen Heavenly God, riding the Sundial, transformed into a cloud of time light and chased after Wan Zunzhe in the direction she had fled, saying, "Leave her to this god!"
Xiu Chen Heavenly God lived up to her Shura identity, having slaughtered her way through the Thunder Clan's gods in an extremely short time.
With the time power of the Sundial and the Killing Dao Essence that Zhang Ruochen had given her, she could easily annihilate even true gods.
Among the four Thunder Clan Boundless cultivators who had fought her, one was suppressed inside the Sundial, while the other three were all injured and fled back to the Guixu.
"Take her alive! Don't push her too hard; you can drive her toward the Heavenly Court universe."
Zhang Ruochen sent a voice transmission to Xiu Chen Heavenly God.
Although Wan Zunzhe had already been wounded by Zhang Ruochen and had her Gui Chi taken away, causing her combat power to plummet significantly, with the same level of cultivation, killing or capturing her was nearly impossible.
Zhang Ruochen himself wasn't very confident that he could suppress Lei Zu single-handedly.
But he was certain that if he kept pursuing Lei Zu, chasing him out of the Wuding Divine Sea and into the Yellow Spring Star River, the gods of the Hell Realm would surely intervene.
Since the situation had already escalated this far, even if various forces were checking each other, some powerful figures from the Hell Realm must have already arrived in the star domains near the Wuding Divine Sea.
This war of extermination, with its hidden storms, must have already swept across the entire universe.
Otherwise, why hadn't the Quantity Organization, the Ancient Demon Gods, or the ancient powerhouses come to aid the Thunder Clan?
Didn't they know that when the lips are gone, the teeth feel cold?
Clearly, the Heavenly Court and Hell Realm's All Heavens had already intercepted them.
In unknown places, thrilling battles of wits and power were undoubtedly taking place.
...
The Heavenly River had already calmed down.
Only the shattered star bodies along the river's edge still told the world that not long ago, a battle at the All Heavens level had erupted here, nearly breaking the Heavenly River and almost causing the Heavenly Court to lose its protective barrier.
Bian Zhuang War God gathered all the God-Defying Stele material, recondensing it into a stele, and meticulously analyzed the substance, as if trying to find the answers to the All Heavens' war from 300,000 years ago.
"The God-Defying Stele in your hands will only bring you a catastrophic disaster."
A deep, heavy voice sounded.
Xuanyuan Taizhen appeared on the Heavenly River, ignoring the Ruo Water, standing directly on the surface as light as a feather.
But his mountain-like, towering body and his blazing eyes radiated an overwhelming, heaven-defying dominance.
Appearing alongside Xuanyuan Taizhen were Zhao Gongming, Guangmu War God, and Xuanyuan Lian.
The latter three rode on a heavenly boat.
Bian Zhuang War God showed little respect for Xuanyuan Taizhen, neither humble nor arrogant, saying, "The God-Defying Stele belongs to Zhang Ruochen. When he returns, I will naturally return it to him. I won't keep it for myself."
"The God-Defying Stele was brought back by the Sixth Patriarch, hiding the secrets of the war 300,000 years ago. It should not belong to anyone."
Xuanyuan Taizhen said.
Bian Zhuang War God said, "You want it?"
Xuanyuan Taizhen said, "What I care about is the secret it hides. Even more, I care that it must be in the hands of a Heavenly Court god, not falling into the Hell Realm or the Quantity Organization. With your current cultivation and Zhang Ruochen's, neither of you can protect it."
"What nonsense are you spouting? Everyone in the world knows that the God-Defying Stele belongs to Zhang Ruochen, to the Zhang family!"
Jie Tian arrived at the Heavenly River and landed directly on the star where Bian Zhuang War God was, saying, "At least Bian Zhuang War God is a reasonable man, worthy of Ruochen helping you reclaim the Tianpeng Bell from Feng Tian. Give the God-Defying Stele to me. I will return it to Zhang Ruochen."
Bian Zhuang War God knew Xuanyuan Taizhen's character well. Since he had set his mind on it, he wouldn't easily give up.
He didn't want to wade into this muddy water, nor did he want to fuel the rumors of discord between Xuanyuan Taizhen and the Heavenly Venerable. So, he readily handed the God-Defying Stele over to Jie Tian.
Jie Tian held the God-Defying Stele, his heart already rejoicing, but his face remained stern. He stared at Xuanyuan Taizhen and said, "I advise you to abandon the idea of taking the God-Defying Stele. Although the Xuanyuan family is powerful, the Zhang family is an ancestral family. My ancestor, Ling Yanzi, is still alive and will soon emerge from the Abyss of Darkness. When it comes to heritage, though the universe is vast, which clan, which family can compare to my Zhang family?"
Xuanyuan Taizhen had some understanding of the forbidden pact between Ling Yanzi and the Twelve Ancient Clans. Jie Zunzhe's half-truthful words actually made him cautious.
In his youth, he had witnessed the grace of the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable and Ling Yanzi, and their images were still indelibly etched in his mind.
Xuanyuan Lian said, "The battle in the Wuding Divine Sea is fierce. Zhang Ruochen's reckless involvement in a Heavenly Venerable-level duel is bound to be extremely dangerous. Jie Zun, you possess the Ancestor Divine Source and are qualified to go and help. Why don't you seem worried about his safety at all?"
What good would worrying do?
How would Jie Tian dare to fight the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable?
Jie Tian frowned, shaking his head, and said, "The Hell Realm has gathered a massive army, ready to attack the Starry Sky Defense Line and the Heavenly Court at any moment. I promised the Heavenly Venerable that I cannot leave the Heavenly Court for even a step; I must guard the Heavenly Palace for him. As for Ruochen... hmph, he has the blessings of heaven!"
In truth, he wanted to say, that kid is asking for death. Who can blame him?
Jie Tian turned his gaze to Xuanyuan Taizhen, shifting the topic, and said, "The Great Ancestor's divine power is unmatched. If you were to go to the Wuding Divine Sea, you would surely display the Heavenly Court's might, slay the Thunder Punishment, and annihilate the Thunder Clan. Then, wouldn't all the cultivators in the world admire and praise you?"
Xuanyuan Taizhen was not swayed by Jie Tian's flattery, remaining as calm as still water, and said, "The Thunder Punishment is the master of the Thunder Dao. In the Wuding Divine Sea, he is nearly invincible. No matter how many cultivators go, they cannot kill him; they would only be throwing away their lives."
"Nearly invincible? That means he isn't truly invincible?"
Jie Tian said.
Xuanyuan Taizhen said, "Naturally. If the Heavenly Venerable were to go in person, even if he truly transformed into the master of the Thunder Dao, he would only end up defeated. What I said earlier was actually too absolute. If the Heavenly Venerable were to go to the Wuding Divine Sea, with Kong Fannu, Xu Fengjin, Meng Ge, and others cutting off his retreat, there would still be a chance to kill the Thunder Punishment."
Jie Tian certainly knew that Hao Tian was extremely powerful, but he still felt that Xuanyuan Taizhen was praising him too highly. Truly brothers, blowing things up to the heavens!
Who said they were at odds? Jie Tian would be the first to disbelieve it.
...
On the western shore of the Wuding Divine Sea, countless massive star bodies revolved according to some mysterious pattern.
On one rocky planet stood two figures, one tall and one short.
The tall, thin one was a spirited old man with high cheekbones, a straight nose bridge, and strands of long hair neatly tied on top of his head, wearing a wooden crown.
Behind him was a mass of Shura battle mist in the shape of an azure deer, its two antlers stretching upward as if piercing the clouds.
The shorter figure was a rather sinister and strange child, his skin emitting nine lights and eighteen colors, with six war swords strapped to his back.
The old man exclaimed in admiration, "Zhang Ruochen truly is the most astonishing and talented figure since the Immovable Bright King Great Venerable. Lei Zu has cultivated for over a million years, yet he is being hunted by Zhang Ruochen and can barely escape."
The child's eyes flickered with a restless, eager light, as if born for slaughter, born for battle.
But as Lei Zu and Zhang Ruochen drew closer, the aura they emitted caused the surrounding star bodies to rise and fall, some even exploding into meteors that flew off into the dark universe.
He finally woke up, recognizing the vast gap between himself and Zhang Ruochen now.
Reality was cruel; no matter how unwilling he was to admit defeat, he had to.
Zhang Ruochen and Lei Zu had fought all the way from the Guixu to the western shore of the Wuding Divine Sea.
As the distance grew, the suppression of the Thunder Punishment Heavenly Venerable's dominating power weakened, and Zhang Ruochen's combat power grew stronger.
Moreover, Lei Zu had lost the confidence to fight to the death, only wanting to flee, so his combat power naturally suffered greatly.
With one side rising and the other falling, Zhang Ruochen completely gained the upper hand. Lei Zu's body was covered in wounds that couldn't heal in a short time.
At this moment, both Zhang Ruochen and Lei Zu sensed the presence of the Azure Deer God King at the edge of the divine sea.
Both knew that the Azure Deer God King was far from simple, his true strength unfathomable. His appearance was extremely unexpected.
Zhang Ruochen immediately became vigilant, unsure of the Azure Deer God King's intentions.
Speaking of which, his grievances with the Azure Deer Divine Temple were considerable, having killed many core figures of the Azure Deer Divine Temple.
Adding in the account of Fangcun Dashi, Zhang Ruochen had reason to believe that the Azure Deer God King had come for him.
Four of the Nine Cauldrons were enough to tempt him into revealing his true strength.
One must know that even the Grandmaster had evaluated the Azure Deer God King as "far from simple."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God had once speculated that he was most likely the reincarnation of the Shura clan's ancestor, Ashura's remnant soul; otherwise, he couldn't have broken the shackles of a God King at the Qiankun Boundless level.