Chapter 806: Comprehending the Speed Rule
Zhang Ruochen retracted the Abyssal Ancient Sword, glaring at Xiao Hei with black lines appearing on his forehead. "What are you doing?"
Xiao Hei placed the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin on the ground, appearing calm and composed, and said with a smile, "Naturally, I'm collecting treasures. It's not easy to come to the Underworld; I can't just return empty-handed, can I?"
Zhang Ruochen felt somewhat helpless. The Underworld was so dangerous, yet Xiao Hei still dared to harbor greed. Didn't he know that one misstep could doom everyone?
Since Xiao Hei had already stolen the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin, they couldn't just hand it back.
Besides, even if Zhang Ruochen returned the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin, the three Wuchang and the heretical monks of the Death Zen Sect would absolutely not let them go.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin. He could vaguely see a figure lying inside the coffin. However, the coffin walls were thick, making it impossible to discern the figure's face. He could only tell that it seemed to be a woman.
Jialuoyuan's gaze fixed on Zhang Ruochen, a hoarse laugh escaping his lips. "After being in the Underworld for so long, I've finally seen a living person. Young man, I am Jialuoyuan, a Half-Saint of the Death Zen Sect. Hand over the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin to me, and we can consider this a good karmic connection. What do you say?"
Although Jialuoyuan said this, his hand, hidden within his kasaya, was rapidly condensing Buddhist Qi, ready to strike at any moment and kill Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen stood with his sword, appearing heroic and spirited, and said indifferently, "Sorry, I have no need to form a good karmic connection with a heretical monk of the Death Zen Sect. Speak! What is the true purpose of the Death Zen Sect entering the Underworld?"
Initially, when he saw the heretical monks of the Death Zen Sect, Zhang Ruochen had assumed they were also searching for the resurrection medicine.
However, the appearance of Xinshu Foshi made Zhang Ruochen change his mind.
A figure like Xinshu Foshi would never rashly enter the Underworld. If he did, there must be an extraordinary reason.
Jialuoyuan let out a cackling laugh. "Since you're so ungrateful, I won't bother being polite with you."
"Thousand Ghost Prajna."
Jialuoyuan had already gathered his power. A withered, skeletal hand shot out from his sleeve, striking forward with immense force.
Immediately, a massive black palm print, carrying a chilling cold aura, appeared before Zhang Ruochen.
On the palm print were the imprints of over a thousand ghost souls, emitting wailing sounds.
The Thousand Ghost Prajna was a ghost-rank upper-class palm technique, derived from the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm of the Ten Thousand Buddha Path.
Jialuoyuan had entered the Underworld and refined a thousand Yin Sha into his arm before mastering the Thousand Ghost Prajna Palm. When he struck, he could unleash the power of a thousand Yin Sha.
If he could refine three thousand Yin Sha into his arm, the power of this palm technique would greatly increase, becoming a true unique skill.
Currently, Jialuoyuan's right arm had already refined one thousand seven hundred and forty-eight Yin Sha. As the palm print shot out, his entire arm turned pitch black.
"This heretical monk's cultivation should be at the peak of the Second-Step Half-Saint realm."
Zhang Ruochen was not afraid. After all, his cultivation had also broken through to the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm, and he might not necessarily be unable to defeat Jialuoyuan.
"Sword Two, Yin-Yang Wuji."
Zhang Ruochen sent the Abyssal Ancient Sword flying, unleashing a massive surge of sword Qi that formed a huge circular sword aura.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword transformed into a pillar of sword Qi, striking the black palm print, piercing through it, and shooting with sharp momentum toward Jialuoyuan's chest.
"Hmph! At such a young age, you've already cultivated Sword Two to Great Perfection. Not bad, you have some skill. No wonder you managed to fight your way here."
Jialuoyuan pressed his palms together and chanted a Buddhist mantra. Immediately, the brows of dozens of Half-Saint puppets lit up with golden Sanskrit marks.
A total of thirty-four Half-Saint puppets had golden light surging from their brows, converging on Jialuoyuan.
With Jialuoyuan at the center, a strange formation took shape.
Each Half-Saint puppet served as a formation eye, channeling their Saint Qi and Corpse Qi into Jialuoyuan.
"Boom!"
Jialuoyuan's aura continuously rose, and the Buddhist Qi he emitted grew stronger. Golden Buddhist light covered an area of dozens of miles.
The flying Abyssal Ancient Sword was stopped by the powerful Buddhist Qi when it was still a zhang away from Jialuoyuan, unable to advance further.
A sinister smile curled on Jialuoyuan's lips. He struck out with a palm from a distance.
"Bang!"
The Abyssal Ancient Sword trembled, its tip flipping as it flew back.
Not only the sword, but Zhang Ruochen also suffered some damage. He was forced back seventeen steps, leaving seventeen deep imprints in the ground before stabilizing himself.
"Such formidable evil Buddhist techniques. He can actually draw power from dozens of Half-Saint corpses and merge it into himself. At this moment, Jialuoyuan is probably at the top tier among Second-Step Half-Saints," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
At that moment, his blood and Qi were churning, and blood clots had formed at the junctions of some meridians.
This was not his first time fighting a Second-Step Half-Saint. Xuanlong Half-Saint of the Four Symbols Sect, Taixi Half-Saint of the Undying Blood Clan, and Feng Han were all Second-Step Half-Saints.
However, even among Second-Step Half-Saints, the gap in strength was enormous.
The power Jialuoyuan had just unleashed by combining with dozens of Half-Saint puppets far exceeded that of Xuanlong Half-Saint and Taixi Half-Saint. Compared to Feng Han, he was only slightly inferior.
While Zhang Ruochen fought Jialuoyuan, the three Wuchang also attacked Xiao Hei, attempting to seize the Sun-Moon Crystal Coffin.
Mu Lingxi and Han Xue charged forward immediately. With their Fish-Dragon Realm cultivation, they joined forces to activate the power of the Void Sword, forcing the three Wuchang back.
The Void Sword, known as a supreme sacred artifact, was naturally immensely powerful. Even just unleashing a single sword Qi could kill a Half-Saint.
Such an extraordinary war sword was rare even in the entire Kunlun Realm.
"Young man, how was the power of that palm strike from me?" Jialuoyuan said with a laugh.
Zhang Ruochen quickly dispersed the blood clots in his body, recovered, and smiled. "It does have some power, but it's not enough to kill me."
"Heh! It's a pity these Half-Saint corpses are only puppets and haven't been refined into battle corpses. Otherwise, my strength would increase five or six times, and a single palm strike would shatter your body into pieces," Jialuoyuan said.
Zhang Ruochen replied calmly, "That is indeed quite unfortunate."
"Young man, you have good courage, but your strength is far lacking."
"In a battle of cultivation and power, I am indeed far inferior to you, senior. However, in a real life-or-death fight, it's not always the one with higher cultivation who laughs last."
Jialuoyuan let out a loud laugh, released his Saint Soul Domain, merged it with the thirty-four Half-Saint puppets, and unleashed unprecedented speed. Both palms struck down simultaneously.
Two golden, five-fingered light clouds hovered above Zhang Ruochen's head, rapidly descending.
If struck by those two palm prints, even if Zhang Ruochen didn't die, he would likely be severely injured.
At the most critical moment, Zhang Ruochen grasped a rule of heaven and earth. His figure flickered as he stepped into a mysterious footwork, penetrating the blockade of the two palm prints and escaping.
"Boom!"
The two palm prints struck the ground, leaving two handprint pits nearly a hundred meters long. The earth trembled violently, and all the tombstones around were sent flying.
Zhang Ruochen stood unscathed beside the two handprint pits, finding it quite unbelievable himself.
"Just now... it seems I comprehended a Speed Rule."
The Way of Speed was one of the ten thousand minor paths.
More often than not, the Way of Speed was merely an auxiliary path. Most Half-Saints would deliberately study it because comprehending the Speed Rule could significantly enhance combat power.
However, at the Fish-Dragon Realm, very few cultivators could comprehend a Speed Rule.
Above the Way of Speed were the Way of Flying and the Way of Flowing Light.
The Way of Flying was a major path.
The Way of Flowing Light was a supreme sacred path.
Going further up was the Way of Time.
Ultimately, the seventy-two supreme sacred paths, three thousand major paths, and ten thousand minor paths of the world all evolved from the nine eternal paths.
For example, the Way of Speed evolved from the Way of Time.
Without time, there would be no speed.
Conversely, Zhang Ruochen's comprehension of a Speed Rule could greatly help him deduce the Time Rule in reverse. Thus, this was a significant gain.
Jialuoyuan was also slightly surprised and laughed. "Your comprehension is indeed high. That palm strike not only failed to kill you but also helped you comprehend the Speed Rule. However, it's just a minor path, not the Flying Rule or the Flowing Light Rule."
"Since I've already comprehended the Speed Rule, can the Flying Rule and Flowing Light Rule be far behind?" Zhang Ruochen retorted with a laugh.
Jialuoyuan said no more. He once again mobilized the power of the thirty-four Half-Saint puppets, used a burst of speed, appeared before Zhang Ruochen, and struck a finger toward Zhang Ruochen's brow.
His aged face was only inches from Zhang Ruochen's, twisted and ferocious. His sharp golden finger was about to pierce through Zhang Ruochen's skull.
"Finally losing your composure. Good, now I'll send you on your way."
From start to finish, Zhang Ruochen had been deliberately provoking Jialuoyuan, waiting for this moment.
If Jialuoyuan didn't come close, how could Zhang Ruochen kill him?
"Instant Without Trace."
Zhang Ruochen's arm moved. The Abyssal Ancient Sword transformed into an invisible, shadowless light, severing Jialuoyuan's neck. His head flew three zhang into the air, like a blood-red watermelon, and fell to the ground with a thud.
Jialuoyuan's dying strike also hit Zhang Ruochen's brow.
Unfortunately, he didn't know that Zhang Ruochen's strongest defensive point was his brow. Just as Jialuoyuan's finger descended, the Divine Mark flew out from his brow, instead sending Jialuoyuan's corpse flying.
Zhang Ruochen walked over to Jialuoyuan and searched his kasaya, hoping to find clues to deduce the true purpose of the Death Zen Sect's powerful figures entering the Underworld.
After searching for a while, Zhang Ruochen found no valuable clues. However, he made an unexpected discovery—a drop of Divine Blood on Jialuoyuan's body.
How strange. Why would a Half-Saint of the Death Zen Sect carry Divine Blood on him?
(After reading this chapter, everyone, please help by casting your recommendation votes for Xiao Yu. Thank you very much.)