Chapter 606: Securing the Position of Grand Protector
Ji Gui, standing nearby, looked at Zhang Ruochen with a pitying gaze, as if he could already predict that Zhang Ruochen would surely face dire consequences today.
In the eyes of Ji Gui and the other evil path (xie dao) overlords, Zhang Ruochen was far too young and had only been with Red Desire Star Envoy for a very short time. In terms of age and seniority, how could he possibly be qualified to stand above everyone else and become Grand Protector?
Moreover, they had all heard the news: this Grand Protector’s strength was nothing remarkable, merely on par with the likes of Ji Gui and Luo Shi. How could anyone accept such a person as Grand Protector?
Originally, Zhang Ruochen had wanted to avoid standing out and drawing resentment, which was why he chose to sit at the very last seat. Yet, unexpectedly, these evil path (xie dao) overlords still refused to let him off.
Since that was the case, he had no choice but to be even more forceful.
Zhang Ruochen remained seated in the sixteenth chair on the left, maintaining a calm and composed demeanor. He cast a contemptuous glance at the crowd and said, “I am the Grand Protector. Where I choose to sit is none of your concern.”
“Is that so? Then let me, the Red Sea Evil Monk, test the Grand Protector’s skills and learn from his superb (gao chao) techniques.”
The Red Sea Evil Monk strode toward Zhang Ruochen. With each step, the blood energy radiating from his body grew denser. By the time he reached Zhang Ruochen, no one could see the Red Sea Evil Monk’s form anymore—only a thick mass of blood clouds.
From within the blood clouds came the crackling sound of lightning, “Chi chi,” as the blood energy writhed and shifted into various shapes.
The fact that he sat in the seventh seat on the left already demonstrated the Red Sea Evil Monk’s formidable strength.
From the blood clouds, a pair of enormous claws extended, aiming to grab Zhang Ruochen by the shoulders and throw him out of the Saint Willow Hall.
“Boom!”
Within the hall, two bright bolts of lightning materialized and struck forward, unleashing a sharp, violent (kuang bao), and destructive force that pierced through the blood clouds.
A cry of pain rang out from within the blood clouds.
Then, the blood energy receded like a tide, gathering back at the center of the hall and condensing into the Red Sea Evil Monk’s body.
On both of the Red Sea Evil Monk’s hands, there was now a bloody hole, piercing from palm to back, with blood continuously dripping down.
Threads of lightning lingered on his arms, shredding his sleeves into powder and revealing two crimson arms.
It took three breaths for the Red Sea Evil Monk to dispel the lightning energy from his arms.
The surrounding evil path (xie dao) overlords, seeing that the Red Sea Evil Monk had been injured by Zhang Ruochen, all drew in a cold breath. They had to reassess this Grand Protector. Was he really just on the same level as Ji Gui and Luo Shi?
Zhang Ruochen, holding the Thunder Pearl in his hand, stood up and walked toward the Grand Protector’s seat at the head of the hall.
Since sitting at the last seat still invited provocation (tiao xin), why not assert himself and secure the Grand Protector’s position?
The Red Sea Evil Monk glared at Zhang Ruochen with indignation and said coldly, “I was merely careless just now, which is why you injured me. Let’s fight again.”
“Is that so?”
Zhang Ruochen shot a cold glance at the Red Sea Evil Monk. With a flicker of his form, “Hua,” he transformed into a streak of lightning and appeared before the Red Sea Evil Monk in an instant.
Before the Red Sea Evil Monk could react, Zhang Ruochen had already formed the Wind-Thunder Finger and pressed it against the Red Sea Evil Monk’s heart. With just a slight exertion, he could pierce through his heart.
The Red Sea Evil Monk felt a sharp pain radiating from his chest, spreading throughout his body.
In that moment, his nerves tightened completely, and he dared not move. The look in his eyes toward Zhang Ruochen was now tinged with fear.
“You… you dare…”
The Red Sea Evil Monk tried to suppress the terror in his heart, his eyes wide, his voice trembling slightly.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Why wouldn’t I dare? Do you believe that with just a slight movement of my finger, I could turn your heart into a pile of black ash?”
“Grand Protector, calm down, calm down. Red Sea did not mean to offend you; please spare him this once.” A evil path (xie dao) overlord at the eighth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm immediately stepped forward, smiling ingratiatingly at Zhang Ruochen, trying to soothe his emotions.
“Red Sea acted on impulse. Grand Protector, please don’t take it to heart.”
“We all work for the Star Envoy; we’re all on the same side. Don’t let this harm our harmony.”
“Grand Protector, please be magnanimous and forgive Red Sea this time. I believe he won’t offend you again.”
…
Those evil path (xie dao) overlords who had previously been dissatisfied with Zhang Ruochen were now all worried, afraid that Zhang Ruochen might kill Red Sea in a fit of rage.
Ji Gui and Luo Shi were both stunned, never imagining that in just a few days, Zhang Ruochen’s strength had grown to such an extent.
After all, just a few days ago, Zhang Ruochen was still slightly weaker than them.
What they didn’t know was that for a Spiritual Power Master, the most important things were high-level spells and spiritual power artifacts. Back then, Zhang Ruochen had fought them barehanded, using only the weakest first-level spells.
Now, with the Thunder Pearl, he could triple the speed of spellcasting and amplify spell power by ten times, making him a completely different person.
Seeing the reactions of the crowd, Zhang Ruochen chuckled inwardly. In the evil path (xie dao), it seemed only overwhelming force could truly intimidate them.
Zhang Ruochen’s finger still did not move from the Red Sea Evil Monk’s heart. He smiled coldly and said, “All of you are pleading for him, but I can see he’s still far from convinced.”
Just then, the evil path (xie dao) big shot sitting in the first seat on the left, a ninth-transformation Fish-Dragon Realm expert, spoke coldly, “Red Sea, apologize to the Grand Protector immediately.”
Hearing that voice, the Red Sea Evil Monk immediately knelt on one knee and said, “Grand Protector, I admit my mistake. Please spare me this time.”
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze shifted to the evil path (xie dao) big shot in the first seat on the left. He saw that the man’s body was entirely shrouded in a colored glaze (liu li) treasure light, leaving only a blurry silhouette.
He deliberately released the colored glaze (liu li) light to conceal his form and face. Even with Zhang Ruochen’s Heavenly Eye, he couldn’t see through his true appearance.
This man, with just a single word, could make a top expert like the Red Sea Evil Monk kneel and admit fault—he was certainly no ordinary figure.
Zhang Ruochen suspected that the Red Sea Evil Monk’s active provocation (zhu dong tiao xin) and attack might have been orchestrated by this man behind the scenes.
“I must be wary of this person,” Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen had already suppressed all the evil path (xie dao) overlords present, Red Desire Star Envoy nodded in satisfaction and said, “Red Sea, the Grand Protector is a forty-fourth-level Spiritual Power Master who can control lightning. It’s no surprise you lost to him.”
Among the evil path (xie dao) overlords in the Saint Willow Hall, a large portion had only heard of Zhang Ruochen’s battles with Ji Gui and Luo Shi, unaware that he was also a forty-fourth-level Spiritual Power Master.
When Red Desire Star Envoy revealed Zhang Ruochen’s strength, all the evil path (xie dao) overlords showed newfound respect. Even the four ninth-transformation Fish-Dragon Realm big shots turned their heads to look at Zhang Ruochen.
The Red Sea Evil Monk drew in a cold breath. If he had known earlier that Zhang Ruochen was a forty-fourth-level Spiritual Power Master, he would never have dared to attack him.
“Rise.”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Red Sea Evil Monk, then, under the gaze of the crowd, walked to the Grand Protector’s seat below Red Desire Star Envoy’s left and sat down firmly.
The Red Sea Evil Monk also returned to his original seat, took a medicinal pill, and began healing, not daring to say another word.
Red Desire Star Envoy said, “Now that the Grand Protector has emerged from seclusion, let’s discuss the matters we were previously deliberating.”
The evil path (xie dao) big shot in the first seat on the left stood up and said, “Star Envoy, I believe now is not the time for a decisive battle with Di Yi. It’s best to wait for another opportunity.”
Red Desire Star Envoy was slightly displeased and asked, “Why?”
The man’s voice was quite aged as he replied, “Di Yi is surrounded by numerous experts. Just the Purple Wind Star Envoy and the Blue Robe Star Envoy alone are beyond our ability to withstand. Engaging him now would be like throwing an egg against a rock. That’s the first reason.”
“Second, our arrangements in Qingyun Commandery are not yet complete. Rushing into battle would put us at a significant disadvantage.”
“I believe we should avoid conflict for now, wait until our forces grow stronger, and then confront Di Yi.”
Red Desire Star Envoy naturally understood the gap between herself and Di Yi. Even though she had secretly recruited many evil path (xie dao) experts, she was still far from matching even half of Di Yi’s strength.
But she was unwilling to give up. If she missed this opportunity, when would the next one come?
Red Desire Star Envoy’s eyes turned to Zhang Ruochen, and she asked, “Grand Protector, what do you think?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I believe now is the best time for a decisive battle with Di Yi.”
Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s words, the Saint Willow Hall erupted in an uproar.
Everyone was puzzled. Di Yi’s forces were so vast, with countless experts at his disposal. Why did he say now was the best time to go to war?
The evil path (xie dao) big shot in the first seat on the left sat back down and snorted coldly, “Young and ignorant.”
Red Desire Star Envoy, however, brightened at Zhang Ruochen’s words and asked, “Grand Protector, why do you think now is the best time?”
Zhang Ruochen said unhurriedly, “The reason I believe now is the best time is that if we miss this opportunity, Star Envoy, you will never have another chance.”
Red Desire Star Envoy’s expression grew serious as she earnestly sought his advice, “Why?”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Di Yi’s greatest strength is not the experts gathered around him, but his own heaven-defying (ni tian) talent.”
“Di Yi has already refined Bu Qianfan, one of the six new generation (xin sheng dai) kings of the Eastern Domain, into his Heavenly Demon Shadow, inheriting Bu Qianfan’s abilities.”
“Bu Qianfan reached the Supreme Extreme Realm at the Yellow Extreme Realm, and Di Yi reached the Supreme Extreme Realm at the Heavenly Extreme Realm. By refining Bu Qianfan, Di Yi has effectively achieved the Supreme Extreme Realm twice. Moreover, Di Yi’s Heartless Saint Body is inherently more powerful than ordinary saint bodies.”
“With a saint body, one can only cross (kua) three realms in battle at the Fish-Dragon Realm, but Di Yi can cross (kua) six realms.”
“Di Yi has only recently broken through (tu po) to the Fish-Dragon Realm, so his cultivation cannot be very high yet. We can still deal with him now. If we wait until his cultivation reaches higher levels, who under the Half-Saint realm can match him? By then, even all of us combined might not be enough for him to kill single-handedly.”
Zhang Ruochen’s words stunned everyone present.