Chapter 4059: Overwhelming Situation
"Still alive!"
Red Crow King gazed toward the distant horizon where rivers of sword energy surged, finding it hard to believe.
...
"Such powerful sword intent! Could it be that Master, after breaking through and rebuilding, has comprehended Sword Twenty-Five?"
Even Que, who was usually steady in character, felt his heart churning with excitement at this moment.
The situation had completely changed!
If Zhang Ruochen's appearance had propped up a sky for the gods and opened a door of hope, then the commotion caused by Golden Lion Ancestor, Void Heaven, and Feng Tian had completely stabilized the crisis.
Or rather, it had shifted them from the weaker side to the overwhelmingly dominant side.
The Dark Remnant sighed inwardly multiple times. Every time it was about to make a decision, variables always appeared.
This was the situation it least wanted to see.
If it insisted on first breaking through the Celestial World to seize the Dark Hand, Zhang Ruochen would likely abandon Nether Sea Spirit and Red Crow King to deal with it first.
That Fourth Confucian Ancestor had spoken such righteous words earlier—whether sincere or feigned—there was no turning back now. He would definitely help Zhang Ruochen deal with it.
Add to that Golden Lion Ancestor and Xu Fengjin, whose sword intent was rising step by step.
Below the Ancestor level, who could withstand such power?
But if it chose to ally with Zhang Ruochen to deal with Nether Sea Spirit and Red Crow King first, then after they died, would it be next?
After all, it had truly intended to take advantage of the chaos earlier. Zhang Ruochen couldn't have failed to notice that.
This was the consequence of harboring ulterior motives!
Caught between a rock and a hard place.
"Imperial Dust, does our previous alliance still count?" the Dark Remnant asked.
Zhang Ruochen, wearing a talisman-embroidered divine robe to cover the pierced hole in his chest, was quietly healing his injuries. "When have I ever gone back on my word?"
To prevent the Dark Remnant from taking desperate measures, Zhang Ruochen had to proactively dispel its doubts. "The Venerable Lord urgently needs to replenish the deficiencies in his divine soul. Nether Sea Spirit is the best tonic."
Xiu Chen Heavenly God, whether truly anxious or genuinely understanding Zhang Ruochen's intentions, said, "Are you crazy? Our Sword Realm, Destiny Temple, and Heavenly Court Universe paid a tragic price to create this perfect situation. How can we let it snatch the fruits of victory?"
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, "It doesn't matter! Our purpose in coming to North Marsh Great Wall is to destroy the Nether Ancestor Faction's lair, to help Feng Tian and Destiny Temple seize Demon Ancestor Ridge, and to take the Eighteen Layers of Nether Prison."
"After today's battle, Corpse Nightmare will inevitably retaliate. Letting the Venerable Lord have Nether Sea Spirit actually makes it bear part of the Ancestor's wrath for us. The question is whether the Venerable Lord has the courage for that."
Hearing this, the Dark Remnant's worries greatly diminished.
Indeed. Zhang Ruochen and Destiny Temple feared the retaliation of Ancestor Corpse Nightmare the most. How could they possibly deal with it after killing Nether Sea Spirit and Red Crow King?
At the same time, the Dark Remnant saw through Zhang Ruochen's intention in saying this.
Zhang Ruochen must be worried that it would recklessly break through the Celestial World to seize the Dark Hand. Doing so would certainly invite attacks and end badly for it.
But Nether Sea Spirit and Red Crow King would have a great chance to escape with the Nether Prison.
The Nether Prison was what Zhang Ruochen most wanted to seize.
Saying these words was nothing more than to stabilize it.
"Haha! Imperial Dust speaks frankly—that is the greatest trust in me. Good! Today, I will follow Imperial Dust's lead, sweep the Nether Kingdom clean, and cut off Corpse Nightmare's right-hand man."
The Dark Remnant flew away from the Celestial World, advancing step by step. Dark force spread out, rapidly devouring the light in this void space.
"Are you deciding my life and death so early?"
Nether Sea Spirit's tone carried a mocking smile. "I am heavily wounded, yet I can withstand two strikes from the Ancestor without dying. This is the strength of a Quasi-Ancestor! If you want to kill me, are you all prepared to be buried with me?"
Nether Sea Spirit released his aura, his battle intent blazing, showing no sign of the weakness he had just displayed.
He was completely integrated with the Nether Prison, continuously mobilizing the Nether Ancestor's residual power. He added, "The great Nether Ancestor can transcend time and space to attach his power to the Annihilation Bell and kill the Life Ancestor. Naturally, he can kill you too. But why use a butcher's knife to kill a chicken? Killing you all, I alone am enough."
Everyone present frowned, many intimidated by Nether Sea Spirit.
Even Chi Yao showed caution, transmitting her voice: "Nether Sea Spirit claims to possess four Ancestor Curse Seals left by Corpse Nightmare, having used only two so far—the Life-Killing Curse applied to Panyuan Ancient God, and the Blood-Devouring Curse struck at the Life Ancestor. Chen Ge, you must be extremely careful!"
"I have the Mani Pearl. Why should I fear his curse techniques?"
Zhang Ruochen took out the Mani Pearl, holding it in his palm, but before he could activate it—
He saw Nether Sea Spirit and Red Crow King flee in two different directions.
Their earlier aggressive posturing had been nothing but an act.
By doing so, they made Zhang Ruochen, the Dark Remnant, and the Fourth Confucian Ancestor wary, buying time to escape separately while they prepared their defenses.
Nether Sea Spirit fled toward Lihentian.
The moment he entered Lihentian, he and the Nether Prison vanished.
Zhang Ruochen waved his hand, sending the Sundial flying, carrying countless Time Imprint light particles, chasing Nether Sea Spirit at top speed and crushing through the spot where he had disappeared.
But he struck empty!
Nether Sea Spirit's trace was completely lost.
The Fourth Confucian Ancestor said, "It's the Heavenly Mechanism Brush and the Fate Heavenly Book! Nether Sea Spirit seized these two spiritual power treasures from Xu Fengjin. Using both together, they could be called the number one in the universe!"
"Where is there so much 'number one in the universe'? He only just obtained these two treasures; he absolutely cannot fully utilize them."
Zhang Ruochen would never allow Nether Sea Spirit to escape with the Nether Prison right under his nose. Panyuan Ancient God was still suppressed inside!
If Nether Sea Spirit escaped like this, Panyuan Ancient God would surely die.
"Venerable Lord, Red Crow King is yours!"
Zhang Ruochen's figure flickered, passing through the spatial hole, standing in Lihentian, raising both hands.
The Hong Ding rose rapidly, radiating Truth light.
Time passed second by second.
Chi Yao and several Indestructible Infinite cultivators outside Destiny Temple wanted to help but were stopped by Zhang Ruochen's shout: "Guard Demon Ancestor Ridge and the Celestial World. No accidents are allowed!"
The Fourth Confucian Ancestor looked at Zhang Ruochen on the other side of the spatial hole, a faint smile appearing on his face.
Immediately, Zhang Ruochen sensed an overwhelmingly powerful spiritual force surging from the spatial hole into the Hong Ding.
On the cauldron's body, a clear change occurred—the bronze eye spun rapidly.
The Truth light surged several times over.
"So to unleash the full power of the Hong Ding, spiritual power plays such a huge role. This Confucian Ancestor's spiritual power... is terrifying!"
As this thought flashed through Zhang Ruochen's mind, he sensed an unusual Heavenly Mechanism fluctuation billions of miles away.
"Shua!"
Array light flashed beneath his feet as Zhang Ruochen crossed billions of miles, slamming the Hong Ding down heavily.
"Boom!"
The space of Lihentian violently shook, and the Nether Prison appeared, with six volumes of the Fate Heavenly Book floating around it in six directions.
Nether Sea Spirit stood in the first layer of the prison world, holding the Heavenly Mechanism Brush, quickly sketching something. When Zhang Ruochen struck with the cauldron and revealed him, he was still in shock and confusion.
The Nether Prison had strong self-healing abilities; all prison worlds had already recovered.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen unfolded his Ancestor Blood Wings, turning into a streak of blood light, descending from above, striking the atmosphere of the first prison world with the Golden Staff, breaking through it.
Nether Sea Spirit raised his blade and slashed, clashing heavily with the Golden Staff.
The two were evenly matched, both retreating.
Nether Sea Spirit nervously looked around, then laughed loudly: "Zhang Ruochen, you actually chased after me alone, and even broke into the prison world."
"Dealing with you, I alone am enough," Zhang Ruochen said.
Nether Sea Spirit spoke in a seductive tone: "You alone are not enough. Besides, aren't you curious why that so-called Confucian Ancestor and the Dark Venerable Lord didn't chase after you? Aren't you worried about changes on Feng Caiyi and Xu Fengjin's side?"
Zhang Ruochen was completely unaffected by the seductive power. He successively struck out with the Sundial, the Hong Ding, and the Mani Pearl.
Then, following closely behind, he used the Golden Staff like a rod, swinging his arm and slashing diagonally downward.
Nether Sea Spirit was indeed formidable. He slashed away three treasure artifacts in succession with his stone blade, but was ultimately pierced through his defensive divine light by Zhang Ruochen's "rod" strike.
This strike hit his neck, sending his body tumbling sideways, water splashing everywhere.
His current body was condensed from the Nether Sea.
Otherwise, having endured two strikes from the Ancestor in a row, how could he still have such combat power?
Nether Sea Spirit crashed through countless Nether Mountains in the first prison world, finally falling into the second prison world before steadying himself on his legs.
Before he could catch his breath, the Sundial came crashing down heavily.
Although Nether Sea Spirit dodged the Sundial's main body, he was still affected by the time power it carried, slowing his speed slightly.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen struck down with his staff, golden light and blood light interweaving.
Nether Sea Spirit barely raised his blade to block, retreating step by step, while also having to divert power to counter the continuous attacks from the Sundial, the Hong Ding, and the Mani Pearl.
Zhang Ruochen was too ferocious. Even though he had been struck by the tribulation thunder, he acted as if nothing had happened.
"Zhang Ruochen, you alone cannot kill me! If we keep fighting like this, it will only end in mutual destruction. Then the Dark Venerable Lord and that Confucian Ancestor will be overjoyed. Why bother?"
Nether Sea Spirit's momentum had completely weakened.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
The Nether Prison shook, emitting earth-shattering roars.
The Nuwa Palace burst forth from the ground, rising into the air with five-colored divine radiance.
The palace was magnificent and splendid, with a thick Ancestor aura. Nuwa's sacred light shadow, tens of thousands of miles tall, purified all power belonging to the Nether Ancestor.
Panyuan Ancient God stood outside Nuwa Palace, like a peerless War God, holding a giant axe, shouting: "Add me—is that enough to kill you?"
"You... didn't you fall to the Life-Killing Curse?"
Nether Sea Spirit couldn't believe that a cultivator who had just entered the Half-Ancestor realm could withstand an Ancestor's curse seal, recover combat power so quickly, even if not dead.
"No matter how strong Corpse Nightmare is, is he stronger than Nuwa?"
Panyuan Ancient God flew out of Nuwa Palace, holding the giant axe with both hands as he struck down, showing every sign of engaging in close combat with Nether Sea Spirit.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Nuwa Palace and clearly saw Feng Yan's figure, a smile appearing on his face. Not only was Panyuan Ancient God not dead, but he had also recovered his combat power—this was an unexpected joy.
It seemed Feng Yan had obtained the secret of Nuwa Palace's deepest power.
After all, Nuwa Palace's mysterious power had once scared away Qishier Pin Lian.
...
At the edge of the Nether Kingdom.
Void Heaven stood straight as a sword, walking alongside Golden Lion Ancestor, intercepting Red Crow King who was trying to escape.
On Void Heaven's head grew a stone-material Sword Origin Divine Tree, making him look like Jing Daoren's blood brother, full of spirit and energy. He coldly shouted: "Revenge for grievances, payback for grudges. Red Crow King, today I, Xu Fengjin, repay the death sentence!"
"Receive my Sword Twenty-Five!"