# Chapter 543: Blood Spring Trench
"What? You actually know about that period of history?"
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised, staring at Orange Moon Star Envoy, completely not expecting that she would be so knowledgeable and well-informed.
After all, eight hundred years had already passed. Times had changed, and things were no longer as they once were. The son of Emperor Ming was not some peerless expert either, merely a young genius less than twenty years old. Who would know that the son of Emperor Ming was called Zhang Ruochen, unless they were particularly concerned with that period of history?
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's expression, Orange Moon Star Envoy became even more certain of her conjecture, and quickly said: "Could it be that Young Master really has some connection with that Sacred Bright Crown Prince from eight hundred years ago?"
The so-called Sacred Bright Crown Prince naturally referred to Zhang Ruochen.
Originally, Orange Moon Star Envoy would never have believed that Zhang Ruochen could have any connection with that person from eight hundred years ago.
However, when she thought about how Zhang Ruochen could manipulate the power of space, a strange thought arose in her heart.
What if... he really was that person from eight hundred years ago?
If Zhang Ruochen really was that person from eight hundred years ago, then she would serve him faithfully no matter what.
Because Orange Moon Star Envoy's clan had once been court officials of the Holy Bright Central Empire.
Her clan's founding ancestor had once held one of the Three Ducal positions in the Holy Bright Central Empire, possessing power second only to the emperor and above ten thousand others.
However, her clan, like the Huo Saint Manor, had been forced to hide within the Black Market.
Zhang Ruochen naturally could not reveal his secret to Orange Moon Star Envoy. "How could that be? I just happen to share the same name as him."
Having said this, Zhang Ruochen leaped up and flew back down onto the warship fragment.
Orange Moon Star Envoy's eyes showed a look of disappointment. She gently shook her head and sighed softly to herself. "The Holy Bright Central Empire has long since fallen. Only my great-grandfather and the others still remember it fondly. How could I have thought he was the Sacred Bright Crown Prince?"
"No... the Sacred Bright Crown Prince back then was the number one genius on the Heaven Ranking. And this Zhang Ruochen is also number one on the Heaven Ranking."
"Two Zhang Ruochens, both reaching number one on the Heaven Ranking at the same time. Isn't that too much of a coincidence?"
"Moreover, Huo Wuji and Huo Guang clearly wanted to kill him and seize the treasures on his body, yet he repaid evil with kindness instead. That's not at all his style of doing things."
Orange Moon Star Envoy suddenly turned around and stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen, a strong doubt arising in her heart. "Could Zhang Ruochen really have some unspeakable secret connection with the Sacred Bright Crown Prince from eight hundred years ago?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy secretly decided in her heart that she would definitely investigate this matter thoroughly.
The warship fragment continued moving forward, but Zhang Ruochen's heart was extremely unsettled. He thought to himself: "Even Orange Moon Star Envoy would have suspicions. If those old acquaintances from back then are still alive, how could they not be suspicious? Chi Yao, do you know that I have already returned?"
Zhang Ruochen knew that he would definitely face even more severe challenges ahead, and his situation would become increasingly dangerous.
No matter what, he had to immediately break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Only by reaching the Fish-Dragon Realm could he have some ability to protect himself. Otherwise, once Chi Yao sent powerful experts to capture him, he would have no power to resist.
Fish-Dragon Realm!
Zhang Ruochen tightly clenched his fingers. The knuckles of both hands made a "cracking" sound, and his gaze became even more resolute.
...
They sailed on the sea for seven consecutive days.
Over the past seven days, Zhang Ruochen and his three companions had always encountered attacks from varying numbers of Red Scale Beasts and Red Cloud Python Flood Dragons, experiencing more than ten fierce battles.
On one occasion, more than seventy Red Scale Beasts appeared in succession. Even though the four of them were powerful, they still fought fiercely for an entire day and night before repelling the group of Red Scale Beasts.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen also gained a huge harvest. Over the seven days, he accumulated several million military merit points, taking another step closer to the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
In fact, having killed so many native savage beasts of the Ruins Realm, Zhang Ruochen could not accurately calculate exactly how many military merit points he had accumulated.
As long as he had not yet attracted the resonance of the gods, it meant his military merit points had not yet reached thirty million.
He had to continue fighting.
In the few months since arriving at the Black Tortoise Ruins Realm, Zhang Ruochen's cultivation level had not increased much, but his practical combat experience had improved significantly. He had gradually shed his youthful immaturity, becoming more seasoned, cold and ruthless, and reserved.
Orange Moon Star Envoy sat cross-legged on the warship fragment, her hands pressed together in a mudra. The skin exposed outside her robes had become crystalline and translucent, like jade porcelain, emitting a bright moonlight. That moonlight formed a white circle, enveloping her body.
Looking from afar, that circle of white moonlight was like a bright moon suspended above the sea surface.
After refining six Flood Dragon Pearls, her cultivation had finally broken through again, reaching the third transformation of Fish-Dragon, "Refining Bones to Jade."
Besides Orange Moon Star Envoy, Huang Yanchen's cultivation had also improved considerably.
After breaking through to the Fish-Dragon Realm, Huang Yanchen had abandoned her original cultivation method and switched to cultivating the "Black Tortoise Sacred Scripture."
Huang Yanchen had already completely refined the Black Tortoise Qi and cultivated the "Black Tortoise Sacred Scripture" to the third layer. Although her realm was still quite far from the third transformation of Fish-Dragon, she was now countless times more powerful than before.
Zhang Ruochen stood beside Huang Yanchen and asked, "Senior Sister, how is it?"
Huang Yanchen opened her eyes and glanced at the sea surface shrouded in white mist. "That sensation is still very faint, but I am certain that the direction we are heading is not wrong."
Because she was cultivating the "Black Tortoise Sacred Scripture," Huang Yanchen had a faint sense of the Black Tortoise's aura.
It was by relying on this sensing power of hers that Zhang Ruochen and the others had not lost their direction and were gradually approaching the Black Tortoise inheritance site.
"Team Leader, look quickly. Why has the seawater turned red?" Ao Xinyan said.
Not only the seawater, but even the mist on the sea surface had turned into faint blood mist.
"It seems we are about to reach the Blood Spring Trench."
A smile appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face. He walked over and looked into the water. "It is said that the Blood Spring Trench is ten thousand zhang deep, the deepest sea area of the West Black Sea. Deep within the trench, there is a spring that continuously gushes blood, turning the seawater for hundreds of li around the color of blood. Hence, it is called the Blood Spring Trench."
Ao Xinyan was somewhat astonished. "A spring like blood?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "That's right."
The warship fragment continued forward. The seawater became increasingly red, until finally, it was just like blood plasma, emitting a strong fishy smell.
Floating on the water surface were white bones, including human bones and many huge savage beast skeletons.
"Caw caw!"
A group of black strange birds perched on the white bones. They had sharp teeth, swallowing the rotten flesh on the bones, making piercing cries like ghostly wailing.
In this sea area, the air was filled with a deathly aura.
This place was like a Shura Blood Sea, showing no signs of life.
"Splash!"
The warship fragment cut through the water, raising a wave.
Zhang Ruochen stood at the front of the warship fragment, holding a sword in his arms, gazing at the deathly scene on the sea surface. "It's too quiet! So many Ruins Realm warriors entered this sea area. Why can't we see a single one?"
Huang Yanchen stared at those white bones. "Could it be... that they have all been killed in battle?"
Huang Yanchen's words made the atmosphere even more oppressive. Everyone remained silent, no longer speaking.
Before long, they discovered a Half-Saint-level warship on the sea surface.
However, that warship was already battered and broken, capsized on its side on the sea, seemingly about to sink at any moment.
On the front of the warship, there was a claw mark several tens of meters long, piercing a large hole in the ship. Seawater continuously poured in.
Zhang Ruochen stood beneath that claw mark, observing for a moment. "Such a strong deathly aura. Even a Half-Saint-level warship couldn't withstand its attack. I wonder what creature's claw could cause such terrifying destructive power."
"Swoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen lightly tapped his toes, soared up, flew to the top of that Half-Saint-level warship, stood on the railing, and looked down. The warship was covered with corpses lying in all directions.
All the Ruins Realm warriors on the warship had died, not a single survivor.
Huang Yanchen, Ao Xinyan, and Orange Moon Star Envoy followed behind Zhang Ruochen and also boarded the warship. Seeing this scene before them, they all drew in a cold breath, their heartbeats involuntarily quickening.
"The sea area where the Blood Spring Trench is located is indeed a deadly killing ground. Even a Half-Saint-level warship entering here cannot escape disaster," Orange Moon Star Envoy said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The bloodstains on their bodies are not yet dry, so they clearly haven't been dead for long. We should leave this place as soon as possible, lest that terrifying creature returns. If we encounter it, it will certainly be quite troublesome."
An entire warship full of Ruins Realm warriors had all died cleanly. It was truly terrifying and made one dare not stay long in this place.
After leaving, they continued forward. Another three hours passed before they finally encountered some other Ruins Realm warriors on the sea.
These Ruins Realm warriors had all been attacked by powerful enemies on their way to the Blood Spring Trench. Fortunately, their luck was extremely good, so they had survived.
The crowd gathered together, their numbers growing larger and larger. In the end, they had assembled more than six hundred people.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Several thousand people set out from Divine Turtle Island. Are we the only ones who survived?"
A Ruins Realm warrior at the first transformation of Fish-Dragon sighed. "Our Half-Saint-level warship was attacked by a group of Flood Dragons led by the Black Remains Flood Dragon King. Although more than half of the warriors on the ship successfully escaped, that Half-Saint warship was seized by the Black Remains Flood Dragon King."
Another Ruins Realm warrior said, "Our experience was even worse. We encountered a monster whose entire body was burning with flames. It sank the Half-Saint-level warship, and countless people were killed by it. If I hadn't escaped quickly enough, I would probably have died on that warship."
...
Everyone was recounting their respective experiences. After listening for a while, Zhang Ruochen finally understood one thing:
Four Half-Saint-level warships had set out from Divine Turtle Island. Three of them had already sunk or been damaged, and one had been seized by the Flood Dragon clan.
They had not even seen a shadow of the Black Tortoise inheritance, yet more than half of the Ruins Realm warriors had already died.
(There is still one more chapter.)