Chapter 3782: Self-Detonation of Divine Source
Krysa's divine soul was immensely powerful and formidable. Even though his physical body was torn in two, he still broke through Zhang Ruochen's spatial suppression.
In midair, his blood qi, divine soul, and remnant body parts separately drilled into his left and right eyes.
The two eyes, hundreds of miles apart, resembled two miniature black holes, distorting spacetime. They then transformed into two streams of black light, crashing through the spatial barrier from left and right directions, entering the Void World.
The protective Zhou Tian Grand Formation of the Cha Realm was already riddled with holes and could no longer stabilize space. Breaking the barrier between the Real World and the Void World was not difficult for a Great Unbound Infinite cultivator.
These two eyes of his were extraordinary, radiating an Indestructible Infinite aura. Indestructible-level rule divine patterns wrapped around them like cocoon silk, and they released dark fluctuations capable of devouring stars and worlds.
Without a doubt, his eyes were the true divine eyes of "Bessie," one of the Twenty-Four Heavens from three hundred thousand years ago, possessing infinite power.
"Still trying to escape?"
The Hong Cauldron rose, floating above Zhang Ruochen's head, its Truth radiance as brilliant as a star.
The eye on the cauldron's body rotated once, and a beam of Truth light shot out from its pupil, piercing through heaven and earth, spanning thousands of miles, entering the Void World, and striking one of the miniature black holes.
"Boom!"
The miniature black hole, formed from Krysa's eye and half of his divine body, exploded instantly, emitting a faint, vicious sound.
The power of the Nine Cauldrons was immense. All the divine soul and blood qi within Krysa's eye evaporated in an instant, dissipating into the void.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the other miniature black hole fleeing in a different direction, frowning slightly.
It had already escaped the killing range of the Hong Cauldron.
At the same time, the Qingcheng Cloud, severed in two beneath his feet, was gathering power to break free from Zhang Ruochen's divine force suppression.
"Rumble!"
The Yu Cauldron flew out, landing on the two halves of Qingcheng Cloud's remnant body, smashing it into a bloody pulp and causing its divine power to scatter once more.
Around the Yu Cauldron, spatial veins were dense, firmly suppressing Qingcheng Cloud.
After suppressing Qingcheng Cloud, a Space Teleportation Array appeared beneath Zhang Ruochen's feet. He instantly crossed space, chasing into the Void World to intercept the other fleeing miniature black hole.
No matter what, Krysa must not be allowed to escape.
Zhang Ruochen felt that Krysa was highly suspicious. He had to suppress this eye, search its soul and seize its memories, to find the answer to whether Bessie was still alive.
But Krysa was far more decisive than he had imagined. His spiritual will was among the strongest Zhang Ruochen had ever encountered.
The moment Zhang Ruochen crossed space and descended, Krysa's half divine body emerged from the miniature black hole. The dark power contained in his single eye seemed ready to devour even the Void World itself.
Laughter rang out.
"Boom!"
Krysa's body turned reddish-gold, then shattered into pieces.
Self-detonation of the divine source.
Zhang Ruochen had no time to stop it, nor to hide inside the cauldron. The destructive shockwave from the self-detonating divine source struck him directly, sending him flying backward, crashing deep into the void.
Fortunately, at the last moment, Zhang Ruochen shielded himself with the Hong Cauldron in front of him. Coupled with the Heavenly Venerable Treasure Gauze he wore and the Taiji Four Symbols Diagram Seal protecting his body, his physical form, though battered—bones exposed, many areas charred black—did not shatter into mist.
Golden light radiated from many parts of his body, emanating from the Sixth Patriarch's Relic.
Krysa's divine source, after all, was only at the Qiankun Infinite level. Even a close-range self-detonation did not inflict irreparable damage on Zhang Ruochen's physical body.
But his divine soul was terrifying, originating from the Indestructible Infinite realm, causing severe damage to Zhang Ruochen's divine soul. His consciousness scattered for two breaths.
After two breaths, Zhang Ruochen reopened his eyes, stood up, and immediately activated the Wuji Divine Dao to stabilize his divine soul and refine the dark force that had invaded his body.
Krysa's eye contained one-tenth of the Darkness Esoterica. The dark force clung like a stubborn bone-rotting maggot, penetrating deep into Zhang Ruochen's marrow and organs, even entering his divine soul.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen deeply realized how difficult it was to capture a powerhouse of Krysa's level.
He had already succeeded in a sneak attack, severely wounding him, yet he still could not take him alive, and had paid a heavy price.
If not for the sneak attack, defeating Krysa would have required a great deal of effort.
During the moment Zhang Ruochen's consciousness scattered, he lost control of the Yu Cauldron. Qingcheng Cloud re-formed his complete physical body, broke free from spatial suppression, and shot up like a beam of light.
His long hair disheveled, the star mark on his brow transformed into a starry gate. From within flew 782 Star Soul Divine Thrones. Each Star Soul Divine Throne contained energy and heat far surpassing a true star, capable of destroying heaven and earth with a single thought, sweeping across an entire star domain.
He grabbed the leg of the Yu Cauldron with one hand and shouted coldly, "Afuya, Murong Tailai, what are you waiting for? Still hoping to be the final predators? Zhang Ruochen has been severely wounded in his divine soul by Xi Tian. This is his weakest moment. If we don't kill him now, do you think he'll spare you once he recovers?"
As he spoke, Qingcheng Cloud had already burst into the Void World at maximum speed, charging toward Zhang Ruochen to attack.
Chi Xingtian rolled his eyes and roared, "Zhang Ruochen has already cultivated the Indestructible Dharma Body. He's invincible in close combat. What a clever move—feigning weakness to lure the enemy out. Qingcheng Cloud is doomed!"
Murong Tailai, who had been hiding in the starry sky and preparing to strike, hesitated upon hearing this.
Shanhe Divine King said, "After being hit by Krysa's self-detonating divine source, Zhang Ruochen's physical body didn't explode. It's very possible he has indeed cultivated the Indestructible Dharma Body. Didn't Tailai Tian analyze his strength before? The closer his Wuji Divine Dao gets, the stronger his combat power becomes."
"A man who achieves great things cannot be timid and hesitant."
Murong Tailai vanished from the starry sky and appeared in the Void World the next moment.
His hesitation earlier was largely due to debating whether it was necessary to become mortal enemies with Zhang Ruochen.
The conclusion was that Zhang Ruochen would never forgive the Murong Clan.
When Zhang Ruochen was pursuing Murong Huan, Murong Tailai had intervened, ultimately leading to Murong Huan being taken away by the Five Elements Temple Master.
That was the first grievance.
To gain control of the Space Divine Temple, Zhang Ruochen had wiped out the Murong Clan's power and interests there.
That was the second grievance.
Although suppressing Xiu Chen Heavenly God and seizing the Sundial was not Murong Tailai's intention—he was controlled by Murong Buhuo's talisman—Zhang Ruochen would surely hold the Murong Clan accountable for it.
That was the third grievance.
If he didn't strike now, he could perhaps apologize and seek forgiveness from Zhang Ruochen, possibly resolving the enmity.
But if Murong Tailai could do that, he would never have been listed among the Twenty Heavens in the first place.
A Heavenly Venerable must have the pride of a Heavenly Venerable and the decisive ruthlessness to kill.
And ambition.
By killing Zhang Ruochen and seizing the Earth Cauldron, Murong Tailai could quickly recover from his injuries and break through to the Indestructible Infinite realm.
Only by reaching Indestructible Infinite would he have the qualifications to contend with Murong Buhuo and find another path for the Murong Clan's survival.
He did not want the Murong Clan, under Murong Buhuo's leadership, to meet the same tragic end as the Weak Water Clan and the Thunder Clan.
On the other side, Afuya floated in the clouds, watching Xiu Chen Heavenly God charge into the Void World without stopping him. After a moment of contemplation, her gaze fell on the Baogai Divine Mountain of the Netherworld Demon Sect.
With Krysa's fall, the Netherworld Sect Leader had broken free from the dark force's suppression and was executing traitors, consolidating his followers, and preparing to activate the protective formation.
"Shua!"
Afuya descended on Baogai Divine Mountain, heading straight for the Netherworld Sect Leader.
...
The Sundial, wrapped within the Time Divine Dragon, sped through the Void World, crashing toward Qingcheng Cloud.
Qingcheng Cloud was also injured, his combat power severely diminished. He dared not underestimate the Sundial. Though Zhang Ruochen was right before him, he had to pause and unleash the Shang Tian Divine Temple.
"Rumble!"
The Sundial and the Shang Tian Divine Temple clashed, sending time power surging outward like tidal waves.
Qingcheng Cloud did not engage in a prolonged fight with Xiu Chen Heavenly God inside the Sundial. After repelling it, he directly struck out with the Great Dao Heavenly Desolation Seal, slamming it down toward Zhang Ruochen, who was stabilizing his divine soul and refining the dark force.
The Great Dao Heavenly Desolation Seal covered a thousand miles, containing billions of divine patterns.
"Whoosh!"
A sword light shot up from within Zhang Ruochen's body, piercing through the Great Dao Heavenly Desolation Seal.
The sword light was a skeleton clad in a white divine robe, standing beneath the Sword Ancestor Divine Tree. Its long hair fluttered, exuding an extremely ethereal aura, along with the overwhelming presence of an Ancestor.
It was the Sword Bone Doppelganger!
Seeing the Sword Bone Doppelganger, Qingcheng Cloud became even more convinced that Zhang Ruochen was severely injured and unable to fight in person.
"Zhang Ruochen, it seems your luck has run out. Today is your death day."
Qingcheng Cloud used the 782 Star Soul Divine Thrones to block the Sundial and headed straight for Zhang Ruochen's true body.
Murong Tailai withdrew the Stainless Dust Whisk, twisted his wrist, and slashed it down at the Sword Bone Doppelganger.
"Bang! Bang!"
The Sword Ancestor Divine Tree was shattered by the Stainless Dust Whisk, its branches and leaves flying everywhere.
The Sword Bone Doppelganger could not withstand the power of a Heavenly Venerable either. Murong Tailai sent it flying with a single strike.
The sword soul of Zhang Ruochen within the doppelganger was shattered into a mist-like state, unable to control the sword bone for battle any longer.
"Heavenly Desolate Flowing Light Finger!"
Qingcheng Cloud unleashed his ultimate technique, fully activating the Flowing Light Esoterica, aiming directly at Zhang Ruochen's lower abdomen, where the Xuan Embryo resided.
The moment he entered within eighteen zhang, Zhang Ruochen suddenly opened his eyes. Millions of golden sword qi burst forth from his pupils.
"Bang! Bang!"
The golden sword qi struck Qingcheng Cloud's body but was all deflected.
Yet Qingcheng Cloud felt no joy; instead, his heart sank into an abyss. He knew Zhang Ruochen's true body had regained its ability to act.
Now, retreat was impossible.
"Fortunately, I consumed a large number of soul pills before coming. My divine soul recovered quickly enough."
Zhang Ruochen silently breathed a sigh of relief, then, brimming with murderous intent, took a step forward, actively colliding with Qingcheng Cloud's Great Dao Heavenly Desolate Finger.
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen's body seemed to twist, effortlessly evading the Great Dao Heavenly Desolate Finger. He struck Qingcheng Cloud's face with a palm, collapsing his features, shattering his skull into powder, and sending his body reeling backward.
"Boom!"
Another punch struck Qingcheng Cloud's abdomen, breaking him in half once more.
Above, the silver radiance of the Stainless Dust Whisk descended.
Zhang Ruochen held the Eternal Spear and thrust it straight into the sky. The power of time order tore through the silver radiance like parting a curtain of water, creating a long path of time.
The Reader