Chapter 537: Half-Saint Level Warship
"Anyone who comes to the Azure Dragon Ruins Realm is a member of the Ruins Realm warriors. Whoever dares to engage in internal conflict on the Ruins Realm battlefield, whether they are a saint of the Holy Academy or a star envoy of the Black Market, I, the king, will strike them down."
King Jinhuang's voice rang out from within the Eight-Scaled Golden Armor War Chariot.
Just a casual remark, yet it contained the will of a half-saint. Each word struck like a heavy fist, slamming into Zhang Ruochen, the Green Robe Star Envoy, and the others, forcing the two sides apart.
The Green Robe Star Envoy did not dare to provoke King Jinhuang. He shot a cold glare at Zhang Ruochen and immediately withdrew.
Zhang Ruochen was also suppressed by an invisible force. He felt as if all the true qi in his body had solidified, unable to flow at all.
He looked up again at the Eight-Scaled Golden Armor War Chariot in the sky and thought to himself, "As expected of a half-saint. Their power is unimaginable. My current achievements may seem impressive, but compared to a half-saint, I am still nothing more than a slightly stronger ant."
Zhang Ruochen felt no discouragement; instead, a surge of even greater motivation welled up within him.
A moment later, King Jinhuang's voice sounded again: "Where are the seventh-level Ruins Realm warriors?"
"Shua!"
"Shua!"
...
Four figures shot out from Divine Turtle Island, converging beneath the Eight-Scaled Golden Armor War Chariot.
The four of them were clad in white battle armor, each riding a serpentine dragon, exuding powerful energy fluctuations. They leaped down from the backs of their serpentine dragons, knelt on one knee, and said in unison, "Greetings, Your Highness."
The Ruins Realm warriors of the Ministry of War were divided into nine levels based on the accumulated military merit points.
Generally, reaching the fourth-level Ruins Realm warrior rank earned one the title of "General," commanding a medium-sized unit.
Those who reached the seventh-level Ruins Realm warrior rank were invariably the strongest among the strong.
At the Yellow Imperial Island base, aside from King Jinhuang himself, only four individuals had reached the seventh-level Ruins Realm warrior rank. Their strength was formidable, and they had experienced countless battles, each being a top-tier expert below the half-saint level.
King Jinhuang said, "The news of the Azure Dragon inheritance has already spread. It's not just us who know; the native barbarian beasts of the Western Azure Sea have also learned of it. Therefore, whether or not the Azure Dragon inheritance exists in the Blood Spring Trench, we must go and investigate. We absolutely cannot let the native barbarian beasts obtain it."
"Now, I will go ahead to clear the path. Each of you will lead a large unit, board the half-saint level warships, and follow behind. Together, we will charge into the Blood Spring Trench. Those who fear death may stay on Divine Turtle Island for now, to avoid throwing away their lives in vain."
"Rumble!"
The sky rumbled again with the immense sound of wheels turning.
The eight Crimson Cloud Serpentine Dragons pulled the golden armored chariot as it swooped down from the sky, landing on the sea surface. It churned up massive waves and charged toward the direction of the Blood Spring Trench, eventually disappearing into the mist.
After King Jinhuang left, the four seventh-level Ruins Realm warriors rode their serpentine dragons and each flew to a half-saint level warship.
The four half-saint level warships were docked at the four cardinal directions of Divine Turtle Island.
These half-saint level warships were war vessels forged by the Divine Engineering Department of the First Central Empire, specifically used for Ruins Realm battlefields and overseas battlefields. The warships possessed immense power, capable of withstanding attacks from half-saints while also unleashing half-saint level attacks.
They were forbidden artifacts, allowed only to be manufactured and used by the imperial court. Any other force that dared to build them privately would face severe sanctions.
From a distance, a half-saint level warship looked like a steel mountain. Its pitch-black hull stood a hundred zhang tall, fitted with three iron-cloth cloud sails. At the edges of the deck stood war banners, and a massive war drum seven meters in diameter was mounted.
Standing beneath the warship, a person was the size of an ant, utterly insignificant.
"The Yellow Imperial Island base actually has four half-saint level warships. How terrifying. Such a battle group would be enough to besiege a half-saint clan." Huang Yanchen said.
On the sea surface, the aura emanating from that one warship was like a half-saint standing there, inspiring awe.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Yellow Imperial Island base is responsible for wiping out all the native barbarian beasts of the Western Azure Sea and stabilizing the rear situation of the Eastern Martial Sea. Having such a battle scale is only natural."
Building half-saint level warships was an extremely high-end technology, integrating formations and artifact forging. It was almost like mass-producing half-saints.
In truth, Zhang Ruochen rather admired Chi Yao. The concept of half-saint level warships had originally been proposed by the Ming Emperor and the Divine Sword Holy Land, but the resources required were so enormous that they were never built.
Unexpectedly, she had turned it into reality, forging a large batch of warships of this level. No wonder she had been able to unify the Kunlun Realm, sweep through various Ruins Realms, and continuously expand the territory of the First Central Empire. She truly had great boldness.
Ao Xinyan walked up beside Zhang Ruochen and said in a low voice, "Team leader, the people from the Black Market have been following us. They definitely want to board the same warship as us."
Zhang Ruochen turned around and looked. Sure enough, he saw the Green Robe Star Envoy, Iron Lady, Huo Wuji, and five other older evil path experts standing behind them.
The Green Robe Star Envoy showed a smile, locking eyes with Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen averted his gaze and said, "Once we enter the waters of the Blood Spring Trench, we will definitely encounter extremely dangerous situations. Even half-saint level warships may not be able to defend against them. Once chaos erupts, the evil path experts of the Black Market will surely make their move. Everyone, be careful and guard against their ambushes."
At that moment, a rough voice sounded, "Amitabha! Benefactor Zhang, we meet again."
Standing Monk, carrying a huge blade case on his back, walked over from Divine Turtle Island with his sleeves fluttering. He pressed his palms together, a smile on his face, and stared at Zhang Ruochen.
This monk was actually on Divine Turtle Island too.
Seeing Standing Monk, Zhang Ruochen immediately felt a headache coming on. He quickly walked toward one of the half-saint level warships, as if avoiding a plague god.
Standing Monk just smiled and followed.
The Green Robe Star Envoy glanced at Standing Monk and asked, "Does anyone know the origin of this monk? What is his relationship with Zhang Ruochen?"
The evil path martial artists all shook their heads.
Huo Wuji snorted coldly and said, "This monk is only at the first transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, and it seems he has just broken through. Even if he is Zhang Ruochen's helper, he is nothing to fear. If he dares to meddle, I can slap him to death with one palm."
The Green Robe Star Envoy nodded as well. A monk at the first transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm did indeed seem unworthy of concern.
"Since Zhang Ruochen has already boarded the warship, we will follow. Once an opportunity arises, we must kill Zhang Ruochen. Whoever can kill Zhang Ruochen will achieve a great merit and surely receive a generous reward." The Green Robe Star Envoy said.
The evil path martial artists immediately became excited, eager to make their move.
Led by the Green Robe Star Envoy, they also boarded the half-saint level warship, closely following Zhang Ruochen.
The seventh-level Ruins Realm warrior commanding this warship was a powerhouse at the ninth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, named Situ Fenglan.
With such a formidable figure on the warship, the evil path martial artists of the Black Market naturally did not dare to act rashly.
Situ Fenglan appeared to be in his thirties. He stood atop a serpentine dragon's head, flying above the warship. Dressed in white battle armor, he looked heroic and spirited. After making a round, he said coldly, "Once you board a half-saint level warship, you become a member of the Ruins Realm army. When we enter the waters of the Blood Spring Trench, everyone must work together and unite against the enemy. Even if the Azure Dragon inheritance truly exists, you must absolutely not fight or kill each other over it. Anyone who dares to violate this military order, I will be the first to strike them down."
Situ Fenglan's gaze finally settled on the Green Robe Star Envoy, Iron Lady, and the other evil path martial artists, giving them a warning look.
Once the Ruins Realm warriors had assembled, under Situ Fenglan's command, the protective formation of the half-saint level warship was activated, forming an egg-shaped light shield.
The power formation of the half-saint level warship began to operate, slowly starting up and moving toward the direction of the Blood Spring Trench.
Not long after they set out, strands of white mist rose from the sea surface, obscuring everyone's vision.
Even experts at the Fish-Dragon Realm could only see the sea within a hundred zhang. Beyond that, there was nothing but a vast expanse of white.
Zhang Ruochen gently rubbed his chin and nodded slightly. "This sea area is indeed somewhat strange."
Not only was his vision blocked by the mist, but when Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power, it was suppressed by an invisible force, unable to probe beyond a hundred zhang.
Clearly, the other Ruins Realm warriors also noticed this.
The crowd grew restless and anxious, with some already regretting boarding the warship.
Standing Monk stood at the bow, gazing at the mist-shrouded sea, shaking his head and muttering to himself, "Death qi fills the air. A place of great ill omen. Today, I fear many people will die here. This humble monk seems to already see corpses floating on the sea, and even the half-saint level warship appears destined to sink."
What a jinx!
Many Ruins Realm warriors were already...