Chapter 611: Deep into the Mountain Range
"The Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect was severely injured by experts from the Black Market... How could this happen..."
Zhang Ruochen's expression changed, and his heart, which had been as calm as an ancient well, became somewhat disturbed.
Without any hesitation, under Hongyu Xing Shi's astonished gaze, Zhang Ruochen turned and walked toward the main gate, his steps extremely fast, almost rushing out of Saint Willow Hall in an instant.
What did this mean?
Hongyu Xing Shi frowned, transformed into a streak of red light, chased after him, and blocked Zhang Ruochen, saying, "Where are you going?"
"I need to go out for a while."
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was heavy, as if he were pondering something.
Without needing to guess, it was clear that his departure from Red Willow Manor at this moment was definitely related to the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect. He was acting too tense, too obvious, not even bothering to conceal it.
How could Hongyu Xing Shi know that Zhang Ruochen staying in Red Willow Manor was entirely to kill Di Yi? But how could killing Di Yi be more important than Senior Sister Duanmu's life?
Somewhat angered, Hongyu Xing Shi said, "You want to save the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect? Are you a member of the Demon Sect?"
Zhang Ruochen met Hongyu Xing Shi's gaze, his expression very firm, and said, "I am indeed going to save the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect, but I am not a member of the Demon Sect. Star Envoy, this is my personal matter, I hope you won't interfere."
"Shua!"
Using the Thunderclap Technique, Zhang Ruochen transformed into a flash of lightning, passed by Hongyu Xing Shi's left side, rushed out, and left Red Willow Manor.
Hongyu Xing Shi absolutely did not believe that Zhang Ruochen had only met the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect once.
Watching Zhang Ruochen's resolute departing figure, for some reason, Hongyu Xing Shi felt quite furious in her heart.
She had personally appointed him as the Great Protector, and she had trusted and favored him in every way. At such a critical moment, how could he abandon her and leave?
Could it be that the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect was more important than her?
Hongyu Xing Shi gritted her silver teeth, feeling extremely unwilling and unbearably uncomfortable in her heart.
"Star Envoy, the Great Protector left a letter and asked me to give it to you."
A tall, heretical cultivator walked quickly from afar, knelt on one knee, and presented a letter engraved on jade to Hongyu Xing Shi.
Hongyu Xing Shi immediately composed herself, took the jade letter, and began to read it.
"By staying stationed at Red Willow Manor, you are forever in the open, constantly being suppressed by Di Yi. Only by abandoning Red Willow Manor can you shift from the open to the shadows and have a chance to seize the initiative. I am now going to Fallen God Mountain Range, not only to save the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect but also to deal with Qing Yi Xing Shi and Ice Demon. If you think it through, you can come to Fallen God Mountain Range to find me and lend me a hand. There may be an opportunity to turn defeat into victory."
After reading the contents of the jade letter, Hongyu Xing Shi closed her eyes, tried to calm herself, thought for a long time, and then opened her eyes again, as if she had finally made up her mind, saying, "I'll trust you one more time."
Hongyu Xing Shi immediately began to gather her people, assembling the group of heretical cultivators who were loyal to her, and left Red Willow Manor, heading for Fallen God Mountain Range.
...
...
Rushing out of Red Willow Manor, Zhang Ruochen immediately mobilized his spiritual power, lifted off the ground, and flew toward Fallen God Mountain Range.
It only took half a day for Zhang Ruochen to reach the outskirts of Fallen God Mountain Range.
Fallen God Mountain Range covered a vast area, with peaks rising one after another, dense forests, stretching for countless thousands of miles. Finding a single person was like looking for a needle in a haystack.
Zhang Ruochen controlled the heaven and earth spiritual energy, hovering three zhang above the ground. He closed his eyes, brought his hands together, and his spiritual power transformed into specks of light that burst out from his body, flying in all directions, covering a region of a thousand miles in radius.
His spiritual power was like thousands of eyes, gradually making the primeval ancient forest within a thousand miles clear. Ferocious beasts, savage birds, humans, fish, insects... all appeared in his mind.
After a moment, Zhang Ruochen discovered traces of a battle.
"East, six hundred miles away."
With a "shua" sound, Zhang Ruochen used Space Shift, disappeared from the spot, and rushed over at the fastest speed.
Soon, Zhang Ruochen arrived six hundred miles away.
This was a dense primeval forest, completely covered by towering trees. But now, looking out, dozens of miles around were covered in white frost, exceptionally cold. Trees, flowers, grass, and the ground were all encased in a thick layer of ice.
"Pa!"
Zhang Ruochen lightly tapped a tree trunk with his finger, and a maple tree over twenty zhang high immediately shattered, collapsing into pieces of ice crystals, piling up into a small mountain of ice.
"Such powerful cold energy! Only a forty-fourth level ice-type spiritual power master could cause such devastating destruction."
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath of cold air and followed the traces of the battle, continuing his pursuit. His already anxious heart grew even more tense.
The appearance of a forty-fourth level ice-type spiritual power master was definitely a dangerous signal.
From day to night, Zhang Ruochen had completely entered the depths of Fallen God Mountain Range.
In the mountain range, powerful ferocious beasts could be seen everywhere, along with towering peaks, poisonous valleys filled with miasma, and bottomless cliffs, giving a sense of boundless wildness.
Late at night, Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power suddenly sensed an abnormal energy fluctuation, so he immediately stopped and landed on the peak of a steep mountain.
"Heavenly Eye, open."
A white light crack appeared on his forehead, and a vertical eye emerged, shooting out three-foot-long white light, looking down at the vast land below.
"Who is opening the Heavenly Eye?"
A cold shout came from a hundred miles away.
A nine-meter-tall snowman warrior, carrying a three-zhang-long war spear, stood on the back of a griffin, flying up from the dark forest.
Snowmen, also known as "Ice Giants," lived in the far north and possessed innate divine strength. An adult snowman warrior, even without cultivating any techniques, could unleash hundreds of thousands of jin of force, making them human-shaped ferocious beasts.
The snowman warrior before him had obviously cultivated advanced techniques. He wore white battle armor, and the war spear in his hand was as thick as a bowl, with strange inscriptions carved on its surface.
Zhang Ruochen used his Heavenly Eye to glance at the Ice Giant and said, "Seventh Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Seeing that the other party could open the Heavenly Eye, clearly a spiritual power master, the snowman warrior didn't want to offend him too much, so he shouted, "The Black Market First Class Hall is conducting business here. A three-thousand-mile radius has been designated as a restricted zone. Bystanders, leave."
The name of the Black Market First Class Hall was already thunderous, especially in the territory of the Eastern Region Evil Soil. Who would dare to oppose them?
Under normal circumstances, the other party would naturally retreat immediately.
However, Zhang Ruochen showed no intention of leaving and instead said, "You are from the Black Market First Class Hall? Perfect, you are exactly who I'm looking for."
"Wind Thunder Finger."
Zhang Ruochen struck first, gathering wind and thunder power at his fingertip, and attacked the snowman warrior.
According to Zhang Ruochen's plan, he would first capture the snowman warrior and then slowly extract information about Senior Sister Duanmu from him.
Although the snowman warrior was at the Seventh Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm, he had a physical advantage and formidable strength, enough to cross one realm in combat and unleash the power of the Eighth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm at its peak.
"Bold!"
The snowman warrior roared, a fierce light flashing in his eyes. He extended both arms forward and thrust out his spear.
The inscriptions on the spear emitted a cyan light, rapidly spinning around the shaft, unleashing a burst of cold energy that actually blocked the power of the Wind Thunder Finger.
Zhang Ruochen did not engage in a direct clash with the snowman warrior. His figure was like lightning, quickly flashing and changing positions, appearing right in front of the snowman warrior.
"Nine-Cut Lightning Blade."
He swung his arm forward, forming nine lightning blade arcs over ten meters long, like waves crashing layer upon layer, slashing toward the snowman warrior's neck.
The snowman warrior's expression changed in shock. He immediately raised his spear vertically, blocking in front of him to defend against Zhang Ruochen's spell.
"Boom, boom, boom!"
A series of nine lightning blades struck, their power increasing with each one, finally piercing through the snowman warrior's sacred light shield. The last lightning blade struck his body, emitting a sizzling sound and leaving a scorched black wound.
The snowman warrior let out a muffled groan. A burning pain came from his chest, and a sweet taste rose in his throat. A mouthful of blood surged up from his throat and sprayed from his mouth.
Just as the snowman warrior steadied himself and prepared to counterattack, a dazzling purple electric light appeared before his eyes.
It was a shuttle-shaped lightning bolt, shooting from Zhang Ruochen's fingertip, its other end pointing at the snowman warrior's brow. If it advanced another foot, it would pierce through the snowman warrior's skull.
The snowman warrior dared not move, only staring coldly at Zhang Ruochen with his large eyes, saying, "Opposing the Black Market First Class Hall will not end well."
"The Black Market First Class Hall cannot cover the sky with one hand either."
Zhang Ruochen stood in the void, like a spirited young Thunder God, his gaze arrogant, and said, "Tell me, where is the Holy Maiden of the Demon Sect? Otherwise, die."
The snowman warrior did not answer Zhang Ruochen. His gaze glanced toward the northeast, then immediately looked away.
Zhang Ruochen naturally noticed his change in demeanor and released his spiritual power to probe the northeast direction.
"Hua!"
From the bottom of a deep valley in the northeast, a plume of black smoke shot up, flying high into the sky, condensing into a black human figure.
This person was completely shrouded in a black robe, standing on a cloud of white cold mist, suspended in the void, at the same height as Zhang Ruochen.
"Youngster, this is not a place for you. Release Yuan Man, and this old man will spare your life and let you leave." The black-robed man's face was hidden within his hood, only two clusters of cyan ghostly flames visible in his eye sockets.
The moment the black-robed man appeared, the air became exceptionally cold. Water vapor condensed into ice particles, forming snowflakes that drifted down from the sky.
A wave of cold air rushed toward Zhang Ruochen, making him feel immense pressure.
The black-robed man opposite him gave him the feeling of a towering snow mountain—cold, lofty, and majestic, pressing down on him so heavily that it was hard to breathe.