Chapter 832: One Ghost, One Buddha
Zhang Ruochen also activated his technique, controlling the Divine Marks, attempting to absorb the divine power between heaven and earth.
However, he discovered that the surrounding divine power had already been completely absorbed by Mu Lingxi, and the Divine Marks had not changed at all.
Thus, he had no choice but to head to the black volcano at the center of the magma ocean, where more residual divine power surely remained, and there might even be a chance to break through to the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation in one go.
Zhang Ruochen did not hold much hope for the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation.
Because he had already refined seven drops of divine blood, reaching the limit of his physical body, making it difficult to accommodate any more divine power.
Three days later, Mu Lingxi successfully condensed her Sacred Soul, achieving the Half-Saint rank in one fell swoop.
When she emerged from the Scroll World, her entire body radiated brilliant sacred light. Every inch of her skin was like sacred jade, appearing crystal clear and translucent. Her eyes had become extremely deep, filled with boundless wisdom.
Although Mu Lingxi's cultivation was only at the initial stage of a First-Step Half-Saint, the aura she emitted rivaled that of a Fourth-Step Half-Saint.
Having just broken through to the Half-Saint realm, she immediately became a powerhouse among Half-Saints, even stronger than those older Half-Saint ancestors.
Zhang Ruochen was genuinely happy for Mu Lingxi and said, "Congratulations, Senior Sister, for completely transcending the mortal world and achieving the Half-Saint rank."
Mu Lingxi was clearly overjoyed as well. She smiled and said, "Aren't you also at the peak of the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation, ready to break through to the Half-Saint realm at any time?"
"I? I still need to consolidate for a while longer."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly and said seriously, "Since Senior Sister's cultivation has already broken through, let's head to the black volcano now."
He did not suggest that she enter the Scroll World or stay on the shore of the magma ocean. Because he knew very well that Mu Lingxi would never agree.
If he insisted on leaving her behind, it might instead create unnecessary trouble.
Mu Lingxi's eyes shimmered with a beautiful light, and she softly hummed in agreement.
In the magma ocean, many black reefs were scattered, which could serve as footholds for Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi.
Zhang Ruochen mobilized the power of space, shifting the space rifts that stretched across the sea surface, forcibly opening a path.
Even with everything prepared, they still encountered many dangers.
On one occasion, the magma ocean stirred up a huge wave, rolling up magma over ten meters high, surging toward them.
Fortunately, Zhang Ruochen took the initiative to tear space apart, devouring that wave of magma, thus resolving the crisis.
The closer they got to the black volcano, the greater the pressure on their bodies. It took them a full half day to finally reach the foot of the black volcano.
The sacred qi in their bodies was almost completely depleted. They gasped for breath and could only first take out sacred stones to absorb the sacred qi and recover their cultivation.
After recovering to their peak state, Zhang Ruochen began to carefully observe the surrounding environment.
Even at the foot of the volcano, the pressure on Zhang Ruochen's body was already enormous. Every step he took consumed a large amount of sacred qi.
If it were any other cultivator at the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation, they would probably already be lying on the ground, unable to move.
"Zhang Ruochen, look over there... there are two... people..."
Mu Lingxi's eyes widened as she stretched out a hand, pointing toward the mountainside.
Zhang Ruochen looked up, his gaze piercing through layers of ghostly mist. Sure enough, he saw a burly man in armor standing atop a rugged boulder on the mountainside.
He was four meters tall, with arms thicker than an ordinary person's waist, giving off a towering sense of majesty, as if his head touched the sky and his feet pressed against the earth.
An extremely vast ghostly qi spread out from beneath his feet. Even though Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi were only standing at the foot of the mountain, they were shaken by that ghost-fiend-like aura, their souls trembling.
It was not that their minds, souls, or spiritual power were weak, but that the opponent's cultivation was far too high. Even just a wisp of aura emanating from him could severely injure them.
"How terrifying... I have awakened the Phoenix bloodline, cultivated a Sacred Soul, and achieved the Half-Saint rank, yet I still find it difficult to withstand the aura emanating from him. I'm afraid only a legendary Great Saint could possess such terrifying power and aura."
Blood flowed from the corner of Mu Lingxi's mouth. She could no longer remain standing and sat cross-legged on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen was not much better off than Mu Lingxi. Even with the protection of the Divine Marks, his Martial Soul had developed cracks and was on the verge of shattering at any moment.
"Space Domain."
Zhang Ruochen raised both arms, mobilizing the power of space, and erected a semi-transparent domain barrier three zhang in diameter, barely managing to block that aura.
He said, "This person should be a very powerful Ghost King from the Underworld. If Blood Moon Ghost King were here, he would surely be able to identify this Ghost King's identity."
Although the aura emanating from that Ghost King was extremely powerful, thirty-six golden chains pierced through his ghostly body, firmly suppressing him, which was why he stood still and could not move.
Otherwise, with just a wave of his arm, Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi would likely have been reduced to ashes.
The thirty-six golden chains were composed of Buddhist characters, radiating an extremely sacred aura.
The other end of the golden chains was connected to the brow of an old monk.
That old monk sat cross-legged opposite the armored Ghost King, wearing a simple Buddhist robe, his hands resting on his knees.
His body had become extremely withered, as if his blood qi and moisture had been drained away, leaving only a skeleton and a layer of wrinkled skin.
It seemed that before long, the old monk would die from exhaustion.
Even so, the old monk was still doing his utmost to suppress the Ghost King opposite him. Who knew how long they had been maintaining this state?
"Who is that monk? To be able to contend with that Ghost King, he must be an incredibly remarkable existence as well," Mu Lingxi said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "This monk and ghost have been fighting for at least a year. Although the Saint Monk currently has the upper hand, if this stalemate continues, in at most three to five days, he will die from the loss of blood qi."
Mu Lingxi said, "If the Saint Monk dies, I'm afraid we won't escape disaster either. And those human cultivators who have broken into the Ghost Spirit Valley will surely die as well."
"Who could have expected that two such terrifying existences are locked in battle here?"
"Let's go. Leave this place immediately." Zhang Ruochen said decisively.
Mu Lingxi also nodded, preparing to retreat.
Although they wanted to help the Saint Monk, their cultivation was too low to intervene in a battle of that level.
If they did get involved, it would be no different from seeking death.
Just then, an extremely aged voice entered Zhang Ruochen's ears, "Benefactor... wait..."
Zhang Ruochen stopped and looked around, but saw no one. Finally, with a thoughtful expression, he stared at the old monk on the mountainside.
The old monk sat cross-legged in place, motionless, without opening his mouth.
"That's right, it is this humble monk calling you..."
The voice was very weak, like a candle flickering in the wind, on the verge of going out at any moment.
Zhang Ruochen breathed a slight sigh of relief and asked, "Senior, do you have any instructions?"
No response came to his ears.
After waiting for about the time it takes to burn an incense stick, the voice sounded again: "The man standing opposite this humble monk is one of the supreme powers on the outskirts of the Underworld, Divine Beginning Ghost King, also the ruler of the various Ghost Kings in the Underworld. Right now, this humble monk still has some strength left to suppress him. But my time is short... After I die, he will break free from suppression, and will surely bring endless calamity to the Kunlun Realm."
Zhang Ruochen hesitated for a moment and said, "Is there anything this junior can do to help Senior?"
"If it were any other cultivator, even if they came here, they would be of no help. But you, who can control space, can play a role. Perhaps you can even eliminate Divine Beginning Ghost King in one fell swoop, sparing the Kunlun Realm some disasters," the aged voice said.
The old monk's cultivation was unfathomable. Even though he sat cross-legged and could not move, his spiritual power and Sacred Soul were extremely powerful. It was likely that nothing happening in the Ghost Spirit Valley could escape his perception.
Thus, he naturally knew that Zhang Ruochen could mobilize the power of space.
If the man in armor was truly Divine Beginning Ghost King, then under no circumstances could he be allowed to escape. Once he entered the Kunlun Realm, the disaster he would cause would be even more terrifying than billions of ghost soldiers.
Zhang Ruochen continued to communicate with the old monk and finally understood his intention.
The old monk hoped that Zhang Ruochen could mobilize the space rifts above the magma ocean to attack Divine Beginning Ghost King. Although Divine Beginning Ghost King was powerful, he was now unable to move. Zhang Ruochen's spatial attack methods could indeed pose some threat to him.
Apart from Zhang Ruochen, even if a Saint came, they probably could not change the outcome of the battle.
"Senior Sister Duanmu, do you want to enter the Scroll World first?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Mu Lingxi naturally knew how dangerous it was to interfere in the battle between Divine Beginning Ghost King and the old monk—it was a matter of life and death, with only a slim chance of survival.
However, she also knew that Zhang Ruochen had no other choice. If he did not take the initiative to attack Divine Beginning Ghost King, once the Ghost King broke free, they would be the ones to die.
Mu Lingxi shook her head vigorously and said with firm eyes, "Let's fight together. Even if... we die here, I have no regrets."
Zhang Ruochen gave her a deep look and no longer insisted. After all, if he and the old monk failed to kill Divine Beginning Ghost King, even if Mu Lingxi hid in the Scroll World, she would still die—there was no difference.
Zhang Ruochen stood at the edge of the volcano, slowly spreading his arms, unleashing the full power within his body.
Above the magma ocean, one space rift after another slowly converged toward the black volcano.
Looking from the foot of the volcano toward the sea surface, one could see a shattered expanse of heaven and earth pressing in.
That power seemed capable of destroying everything in the world.
Sweat beaded on Zhang Ruochen's forehead, and his arms trembled. Clearly, controlling so many space rifts at once was no easy task. Any small mistake could destroy him within the shattered space as well.