Chapter 4127: Seventh Miss Has Changed
Lanshi Shen, his face gaunt and withered, his body constantly shifting between stone and flesh states, cast a faint glance at Tantuo Dizang, who had completely turned into a stone figure on the ground. "First, seal him up. After this battle ends, we'll slowly refine and kill him."
Behind him, two figures flew out.
Two Stone Crowd Great Gods each held a divine chain as thick as a wine cup, wrapping it around Tantuo Dizang's body, limbs, and soul.
"Boom!"
"Boom!"
Two fragments of a metal great world, each the size of a house, tore through the air, smashing the two Stone Crowd Great Gods into pieces.
The two divine chains fell to the ground.
Lanshi Shen looked behind him, his pupils blazing with radiant light, but he couldn't find who had thrown the metal great world fragments.
"Clatter!"
The sound of chains rang out.
Lanshi Shen looked again at where Tantuo Dizang had fallen, only to find it empty.
Enraged to the point of laughter, he said, "What a remarkable escape technique—silent and soundless, yet a feint to the east and a strike to the west. Daoist, don't leave. Let's have a battle."
"Whoosh!"
Lanshi Shen transformed into a pillar of light and vanished from the spot.
Zhang Ruochen, carrying Tantuo Dizang under his arm, stepped on the steep cliffs, continuously breaking through the obstacles of the Ancestor's order, rushing toward the summit of Qing Mountain.
Huang Tian was at a critical moment in breaking through his realm, and someone had to guard him.
Baozhu Dizang couldn't possibly be a match for Bing Shituo, and she also needed his rescue.
"So fast? The cultivation of a Heavenly Venerable is truly different."
Sensing Lanshi Shen chasing behind him, Zhang Ruochen stopped mid-flight, and within his body, the divine radiance of life and death erupted. He struck a palm strike backward.
Lanshi Shen was secretly shocked.
This palm strike came too suddenly!
Shengsi Daoshi, while traveling at high speed, stopped in an instant, completely defying the rules of speed.
Without giving him any time to react, the palm print had already reached Lanshi Shen, colliding with his protective rules, order, and divine light.
Lanshi Shen was extremely confident in his own cultivation. At the same realm, no one could possibly break through his defense with a single palm strike.
"Boom!"
Zhang Ruochen's palm strike, with overwhelming force, pierced through all of Lanshi Shen's protective measures and landed heavily on his chest.
The flesh on his chest immediately turned to stone.
Then, his entire body became a stone torso.
"This is... the Tianqin Palm Technique!"
Lanshi Shen endured Zhang Ruochen's palm strike and muttered this sentence in a low voice.
Shengsi Daoshi's palm force was very strange, causing his protective rules, order, and divine light to tremble like the strings of a zither, which was why it could break through with one palm.
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "That's right, this was taught to me by Sanying Tian. Lanshi Shen, without the Stone Crowd army and the Gandharva battle formation to support you, you are no match for me. Don't seek your own death. Go!"
The palm force on Lanshi Shen's chest, like a bowstring pulled to a full moon, then released its power.
Lanshi Shen flew out like a meteor, the force from his chest unending, unable to steady his body, and he fell down the mountain.
This Tianqin Palm Technique was, of course, not taught to Zhang Ruochen by Sanying Tian.
Zhang Ruochen had already attained the ability to understand all laws with a single thought. Any divine ability or wondrous technique, as long as he had seen it, could be turned into his own use. If he wished, he could even use the power of an Ancestor.
Wuji Wuwei, non-action yet all-action.
"Roar!"
Huang Tian's long howl spread across Qing Mountain.
The black-and-white dual-colored divine radiance of life and death completely enveloped him. He was frantically absorbing the precious energy of heaven and earth, even pulling the gray mist outside Qing Mountain toward him.
Black, white, and gray—three streams of energy formed an increasingly massive vortex.
Bing Shituo and Baozhu Dizang, who had been fighting at the summit, stopped.
"What a Huang Tian, even able to absorb the gray mist, which is the power of the Nether Ancestor! Isn't he afraid of the curse?"
Bing Shituo sensed danger and felt that Huang Tian absolutely must not be allowed to break through to the Heavenly Venerable realm.
"Prairie of Corpse Seas!"
Corpse Qi and rules surged out from his body, manifesting into an endless sea of corpses and mountains of blood.
The corpse mountains burned fiercely, and the blood sea was as hot as magma.
This ultimate divine ability was unleashed, striking the vortex suspended in midair, determined to interrupt Huang Tian's process of breaking through to the Heavenly Venerable realm.
Baozhu Dizang fled into the dilapidated Qing Mountain Inn and then fell heavily to the ground with a loud thud, completely powerless to stop Bing Shituo.
Her entire body was corroded by corpse poison and disease curses, black blood flowing inside her. Her skin, once as smooth as jade and fatally alluring to men, had turned green and was covered in corpse spots.
Baozhu Dizang mobilized Buddhist Qi to circulate through her body, trying to refine the corpse poison.
But the disease curse erupted again, leaving her weak and feeble, with blood flowing from all seven orifices.
Meng Huangni and Meng Ershiba, hiding in the inn, saw this and dared not approach. Even an Indestructible Infinite couldn't withstand the corpse poison and disease curse; if they touched it, they would only die faster.
"Boom!"
The Prairie of Corpse Seas divine ability had just collided with the black-white-gray vortex when it exploded, turning into a rain of fire across the sky.
Huang Tian flew out from the chaotic storm of energy.
Bing Shituo's pupils suddenly contracted as he sensed the oppressive divine might of a Heavenly Venerable. He immediately injected divine Qi into the Thousand Army War Banner. On the banner's surface, Ancestral patterns began to emerge.
"Bing Shituo!"
As Huang Tian shouted this name, a handprint like a Five Finger Mountain had already landed on Bing Shituo.
Before the Thousand Army War Banner could even be swung, Bing Shituo spat out corpse blood and flew downward, crashing into the mountain.
"He still broke through!"
This thought flashed through Bing Shituo's mind, and he noticed that Huang Tian wasn't pursuing him but instead heading toward the direction of the Nether Envoy. Only then did he secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
So what if he had broken through to the Heavenly Venerable realm?
As long as he returned to the ranks of the Kinnara Corpse Crowd and led the army up the mountain, relying on the battle formation, there was still a chance to defeat Huang Tian.
As one of the hall masters of the Ten Clans of Hell, Bing Shituo had extremely high pride and would never admit defeat.
"Boom!"
Bing Shituo had just fallen to the mountainside when he was sent flying again by a sweeping club as thick as a bowl, crashing into the cliff wall.
Zhang Ruochen flew into a cave on the cliff wall and found Bing Shituo.
First, Huang Tian's Five Finger Mountain handprint, then the ambush of the Wangqing Demon-Subduing Staff.
Bing Shituo was beaten senseless. He had just stood up and swung the Thousand Army War Banner when Zhang Ruochen struck him on the left temple with the staff, knocking him down.
In this state, how could he be a match for Zhang Ruochen?
"Pfft!"
Zhang Ruochen took out the Human Head Staff and thrust its handle into Bing Shituo's chest.
The gray eyes of the Human Head Staff released the Withering Death Art curse, continuously eroding Bing Shituo's flesh and soul. His body withered rapidly like a dead tree.
The Withering Death Art curse eroded his spiritual will to self-destruct his divine source.
Bing Shituo was pinned to the ground, unable to break free from Zhang Ruochen's suppression.
No matter how much corpse poison or disease curse he released, it had no effect on Zhang Ruochen.
"My master is the Nether Ancestor. If you kill me, the Nether Ancestor will surely make you die without a burial place." Bing Shituo grabbed the Human Head Staff with both hands, his arms erupting with terrifying power capable of lifting a world, trying to pull it out of his chest.
Zhang Ruochen pressed one hand on the head of the Human Head Staff, suppressing Bing Shituo, who could only roar in fury.
"Sigh, everyone claims to be a disciple of the Nether Ancestor! In reality, you're just pawns of the Nether Ancestor, with some use value."
Zhang Ruochen picked up the Thousand Army War Banner and found it had no artifact spirit.
Ancestral patterns were still flowing on the banner's surface.
They were the Ancestral patterns of the Nether Ancestor!
The fact that Bing Shituo could use this banner to swiftly kill Baoyin Dizang showed that it was definitely an extraordinary god-killing war weapon. It was likely, like the Human Head Staff, a creation of the Nether Ancestor.
Zhang Ruochen guessed that the one who gave the Human Head Staff to Tantuo Dizang was probably the Nether Ancestor.
After all, just the gray eyes of the Human Head Staff could curse a Heavenly Venerable like Meng Huang'e. How could it not be the work of an Ancestor?
Zhang Ruochen, imitating Bing Shituo's earlier actions, thrust the Thousand Army War Banner into his head.
Then, strands of blood Qi and soul mist flowed out along the banner pole, reaching the banner's surface.
"Cough, cough!"
Just absorbing a wisp of the power emanating from the banner's surface, Zhang Ruochen coughed violently.
Too putrid!
It contained a large amount of corpse Qi and disease curse.
Bing Shituo wasn't killed yet, and a cold laugh came out: "Do you think everyone can use the Thousand Army War Banner to absorb the power of other cultivators?"
"Yes, no need."
Zhang Ruochen pressed his palm to Bing Shituo's heart, and the Wuji circle was released.
In just a few breaths, all the power within Bing Shituo's body was absorbed, even his bones turning to dust.
This was perhaps, aside from self-destructing his divine source, the fastest death for an Indestructible Infinite peak.
Bing Shituo's divine Qi, rules, order, esoterica, and soul ran through the Wuji circle for one cycle, then gathered in Zhang Ruochen's left palm, condensing into a ball of black Dao light.
This ball of Dao light was comparable to an Indestructible Infinite peak powerhouse.
Lanshi Shen, leading the Stone Crowd army to the mountainside, suddenly changed expression and said, "How is this possible? Bing Shituo's aura has disappeared!"
"He's an Indestructible Infinite peak. Who could kill him so quickly?" a Stone Crowd God Venerable exclaimed in shock.
Moments later, in the darkness of the Silent Night, the Stone Crowd army saw the figure of Shengsi Daoshi.
This Shengsi Daoshi was extremely ostentatious, carrying the Thousand Army War Banner on his shoulder and holding high the divine source of Baoyin Dizang, as if afraid the Eight Divisions Followers army couldn't see him.
Baoyin Dizang's divine source had been dug out and taken by Bing Shituo.
With Bing Shituo dead, the divine source naturally fell into Zhang Ruochen's hands.
As for Bing Shituo, even his divine source hadn't been left behind, completely absorbed by the Wuji circle.
The Indestructible divine source burned, emitting a dazzling golden Buddha light.
"How infuriating! Is he showing off?"
"This is a provocation to the Eight Divisions Followers army. If it weren't for the Silent Night's great influence on us, any one of the divisions could suppress him."
Without an Indestructible Infinite to lead them, the army dared not easily enter Qing Mountain and could only attack from outside the mountain.
The Silent Night changed the flow of time and suppressed Zhang Ruochen and the others, but it also suppressed the Eight Divisions Followers army.
There were gains and losses.
Lanshi Shen stared intently at the Thousand Army War Banner, secretly guessing that Shengsi Daoshi had used this war banner to kill Bing Shituo in such a short time, never considering that it was Shengsi Daoshi's own means.
After all, he had personally seen Bing Shituo kill Baoyin Dizang.
"This war banner contains the Ancestral patterns of the Nether Ancestor. It should have been bestowed by the Nether Ancestor himself to Bing Shituo. Such a god-killing treasure—how can it change hands?"
Lanshi Shen was very tempted, but at this moment, he had to restrain himself and not let greed affect his reason. Leading the Stone Crowd army together would certainly increase combat power, but it would also limit speed.
Chasing Shengsi Daoshi to the summit would be falling into a trap, wasting a lot of time. Supporting the Nether Envoy was the top priority.
"He didn't chase!"
Zhang Ruochen, holding the petrified Tantuo Dizang in one hand and carrying the Thousand Army War Banner on his shoulder, stood by the stone mill outside the inn, looking down and shaking his head in disappointment.
Now, the biggest threat from the Eight Divisions Followers was only the Stone Crowd army led by Lanshi Shen.
If he could lure the Stone Crowd army to the summit, the Soul Mother would be doomed. Seizing the Saha World, Bliss World, and Life-Death Lamp from her was the top priority.
The light of the Life-Death Lamp flickered faintly on the mountainside, where the battle was fierce.
A group of Heavenly Venerables and Half-Ancestors were dueling, enough to overturn an entire star domain.
On Qing Mountain, they could only fight from one peak to another.
Zhang Ruochen entered the Qing Mountain Inn, intending to check on Baozhu Dizang's condition. But as soon as he stepped inside, he sensed danger, immediately stopped, and retreated.
Behind him, Sanying Tian's cold voice sounded: "Daoist, since you're here, do you still want to leave?"
Sanying Tian emerged from a mass of Ancestral order mist, blocking Zhang Ruochen's retreat at the inn's entrance.
Zhang Ruochen didn't turn around, looking instead at Meng Huangni and Meng Ershiba inside the inn.
Earlier, after the three Dizangs from Dihuang went to hold off the Eight Divisions Followers army, it was these two who were responsible for guarding Sanying Tian.
Meng Huangni and Meng Ershiba were both sitting on the left side of the hall.
Meng Ershiba rolled his eyes at Zhang Ruochen, signaling something.
Zhang Ruochen looked up to the second floor.
The door to Guiyi's room was open!
"Hehe! Daoist, your methods are truly impressive, even killing a leader of the divisions."
Meng Huang'e emerged from behind a pillar not far from Meng Huangni and Meng Ershiba, dressed in a light cyan cloud robe, with a red outer robe, her hair tied up with a hairpin, like a noble lady about to be married, elegant yet not vulgar.
Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Seventh Miss's cultivation is even more impressive, breaking the seal so quickly and escaping the Six Desires Divine Furnace. I was just saying, how could Sanying Tian break free from the Nether Net on his own? So it was you who helped him undo it."
Though he appeared relaxed and natural, Zhang Ruochen was actually tense and extremely vigilant.
If there was even the slightest fluctuation of power from Sanying Tian and Meng Huang'e, he would strike first.
Meng Huang'e's smile always lingered on her pretty face. Compared to before, she had an extra three parts of naivety and softness, and even a hint of immaturity.
Appearance could be made younger, and demeanor could be disguised.
But that naive, soft, yet sincere gaze, like threads pulling, contained an indescribable and inexplicable resentment that couldn't be faked.
"Boom!"
Meng Huang'e threw the corpse-poisoned and disease-cursed Baozhu Dizang to the ground, playing with the tin staff, pouting her lips and saying, "Do you still think she's beautiful now? Such a strong stench of corpse rot, she's almost completely rotten."
Baozhu Dizang's condition was indeed very dire. Her whole body was trembling, her once immortal-like skin replaced by corpse fur, her hair turning white, like a monster wrapped in a kasaya.
After absorbing Bing Shituo's power, Zhang Ruochen had noticed the clue.
The corpse poison he cultivated likely originated from the corpse of some Ancestor, extremely terrifying.
Zhang Ruochen said, "I've always thought Seventh Miss is more beautiful than her."
"Liar! How could I compare to her? Who doesn't know that Baozhu Dizang is a beauty that even gods dare not look directly at? Little Ershiba, do you dare to look at Baozhu Dizang's face?" Meng Huang'e said.
Meng Ershiba always felt that Seventh Miss was a bit off.
Although she had always killed people while smiling, today's smile didn't seem to carry murderous intent.
Especially when Shengsi Daoshi praised her, even Meng Ershiba could tell she was being insincere.
"If there's nothing else, I'll take my leave!"
Zhang Ruochen prepared to force his way out.
As long as he didn't have to face Meng Huang'e and Sanying Tian at the same time, he was confident he could escape the Qing Mountain Inn.
He figured that Meng Huang'e cared about the lives of Meng Huangni and Meng Ershiba. Once he and Sanying Tian started fighting, Meng Huang'e...
That was Zhang Ruochen's chance!
"Don't you want to save her?" Meng Huang'e shouted.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Facing two Heavenly Venerables, I'm like a clay Buddha crossing a river—barely able to save myself, let alone having the strength to save others? Besides, we're not related by blood or friendship. Why risk my life to save her? It's not worth it."
Baozhu Dizang on the ground, her green-tinged eyes, showed a hint of gloom, but she didn't say anything.
If she were in Shengsi Daoshi's position, she would surely do the same.
Meng Huang'e spoke up for Baozhu Dizang, saying, "How can you be so heartless and unjust? You haven't even tried, and you already know you can't save her?"
"Let's just fight directly. Are we fighting or not?"
Zhang Ruochen felt that Meng Huang'e was very abnormal and worried that she had been affected by the love soup in the Six Desires Divine Furnace.
If it was really like Gandharva said—that drinking the love soup would make one deeply rooted in love, devoted to the point of death, even to the extent that if one died, the other would commit suicide—then it would be an absolute disaster.
Zhang Ruochen could kill Meng Huang'e without mercy, but he would find it hard to kill a woman who loved him.
Don't be so absurd.
If Jie Laotou encountered such a thing, he would also immediately flee and hide underground for a hundred thousand years.
A dignified Heavenly Venerable, in some eras in history, could be invincible in the universe. There was absolutely no way they could be swayed by love soup to control their seven emotions and six desires.
Sanying Tian cracked his knuckles, eager to avenge the beating from Shengsi Daoshi's staff, and said, "I also think we should just fight!"
Meng Huang'e said, "Fight what? Do you have the confidence to keep him here? The advantage is ours. Stall for some time until the Eight Divisions Followers army surrounds us, or..."
"You're just going to say 'stall for time' outright?" Zhang Ruochen found it unbelievable.
"So what if I say it? Will you really not save her?"
Meng Huang'e clearly didn't believe Zhang Ruochen would abandon Baozhu Dizang and flee alone. "I have one condition. As long as you meet it, I'll return her to you."
Zhang Ruochen's expression suddenly changed.
The battle situation on the mountainside had undergone a major shift.
Although the Soul Mother had been severely wounded, she had successfully held out until Lanshi Shen and the Stone Crowd army arrived. She retreated to the rear and headed down the mountain.
If the Soul Mother joined the several armies at the foot of the mountain, with her Half-Ancestor cultivation, the power she could unleash by controlling the battle formation would be unimaginable.
An even greater crisis was on Cihang Zunzhe's side.
Would the Soul Mother allow Cihang Zunzhe to break through the forbidden layer of the Ancestor's order field?
Zhang Ruochen could sense this, and naturally, Sanying Tian and Meng Huang'e could too. Their auras completely locked onto Zhang Ruochen. If Zhang Ruochen tried to rush out, they would...
"You can't stop all this in time. The Nether Envoy will lead the Eight Divisions Followers army to suppress all of you. The first to die will be that pure and holy Cihang Zunzhe." Meng Huang'e widened her eyes and said very seriously.