Chapter 845: New Life

The black clay pot was extremely rough, with even a network of dry cracks covering its surface. Yet, such an ordinary-looking clay pot had actually absorbed a Ghost King.

Not only Zhang Ruochen, but also some cultivators hidden in the shadows were quite shocked.

"Could it be... that legendary Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot?"

"Very likely. It is said that the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot was refined by a Great Saint ancestor of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan, passed down from the medieval period to the present day."

"Devouring Heart Great Saint?"

"That should be correct. Only a figure like Devouring Heart Great Saint could refine the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot."

The Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot ranked eighteenth on the Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact Ranking, higher than the Skyward Sword. It could not only subdue wandering souls but also extract the souls of the living, making it a quite fearsome malevolent object.

No sooner had the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot absorbed Blood Moon Ghost King than the pot began to shake violently, with "bang bang" collision sounds coming from within.

"A mere Two-Calamity Ghost King still wants to escape from the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot?"

Shiva Saint snorted coldly, broke her finger, and let a drop of sacred blood overflow. It flew out and struck the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot. Immediately, blood-red patterns emerged on the pot's surface, suppressing the Blood Moon Ghost King inside.

While Shiva Saint was suppressing Blood Moon Ghost King, Zhang Ruochen used his sword intent to summon the Skyward Sword back and store it in his Space Ring.

The cultivators of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan did not intervene.

After all, in their eyes, Zhang Ruochen was like a turtle in a jar, unable to escape even if he grew wings.

Besides the three Saints, more than ten Half-Saints from the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan and the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan also appeared, standing at the edge of the magma ocean. Each exuded extremely powerful energy auras.

Except for Yin Xuanji and Feng Yinshen, the rest were all old-generation overlords nearing the end of their lifespans, having lived at least two hundred years.

Feng Yinshen narrowed his eyes and smiled, "Zhang Ruochen, why don't you just surrender? Continuing to resist is meaningless."

Zhang Ruochen was the Heir of Time and Space and had cultivated the Five Elements Chaos Body. For the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan, he was a tremendous treasure.

The Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan had thoroughly researched souls and could use secret techniques to seize Zhang Ruochen's physical body.

If the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan could produce a Time and Space Heir with a Five Elements Chaos Body, they would surely lead the clan to prosperity.

Zhang Ruochen looked around. All were old-generation experts from the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan. Not one of them was weaker than him.

Their gazes were either mocking or pitying, as if Zhang Ruochen were already meat on their chopping block, waiting to be butchered.

"And if I refuse to surrender?"

Despite being in a very passive situation, Zhang Ruochen did not compromise. He remained quite calm.

"Refuse a toast only to drink a forfeit."

Kongtong Saint was too lazy to waste words with Zhang Ruochen. He directly extended a withered arm, crossing dozens of miles of space to grab at Zhang Ruochen.

He was using the martial technique "Fetching Objects from Afar," which he had cultivated to the pinnacle. Even at a distance of a hundred miles, a simple reach could retrieve whatever he wanted.

"Chi chi."

Above Zhang Ruochen's head, sacred dao rules rapidly interwove, forming a black hand over twenty meters long that reached down.

Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to be caught by Kongtong Saint, a cyan light pillar surged from the bottom of the pit at the center of the magma ocean.

The light pillar contained an extremely rich life energy.

In the next moment, on the shore of the magma lake, green grass blades sprouted from the cracks in the stones, growing at an astonishing speed into vines, flowers, and shrubs.

The deathly still Ghost Spirit Valley instantly became vibrant with spring.

At the same time, a sword qi, seemingly from nowhere, flew out and shattered the large hand Kongtong Saint had formed.

The sword qi did not dissipate but continued forward.

"There's another expert."

Kongtong Saint's expression changed slightly. He immediately activated three defensive talismans, forming three layers of light shields before him.

Each layer of light shield was three feet thick.

Normally, using just one defensive talisman would be enough to resolve a crisis.

The reason he activated three talismans in succession was that the power of that sword qi was truly too great, giving him a feeling of being unable to resist.

"Boom!"

With three consecutive explosions, the light shields formed by the three defensive talismans were pierced through in an instant.

The sword qi slashed into Kongtong Saint's body, severing his right arm.

A large amount of sacred blood gushed from Kongtong Saint's body. He let out a low, painful cry, flew backward, and fell into the magma ocean.

This scene was too shocking, stunning many people.

"What a powerful sword strike. Only a Sword Saint could unleash such power."

"Kongtong Saint has been a Saint for hundreds of years, with profound strength. Unless Xuanji Sword Saint were resurrected, who could cut off his arm with a single sword strike?"

"I suspected Zhang Ruochen had a trump card. So his backer is such a powerful figure."

As everyone speculated, Zhang Ruochen's face showed ecstasy. His eyes fixed on the center of the magma ocean.

A distinguished figure slowly emerged from the cyan mist.

Seeing that figure, Zhang Ruochen's eyes grew moist. His body trembled uncontrollably, and he knelt on one knee: "Master..."

Before he could kneel, Xuanji Sword Saint raised his hand. In the next instant, he appeared before Zhang Ruochen and helped him up. Xuanji Sword Saint's deep, profound eyes carefully examined Zhang Ruochen, his expression quite complex.

The dead had come back to life. Even with Xuanji Sword Saint's state of mind, various inexplicable emotions arose—bewilderment, emotion, amazement—before finally settling into calmness.

Having lived two lives, he could naturally remain unruffled.

Xuanji Sword Saint patted Zhang Ruochen's shoulder and said, "Good child, step back. Leave this to your master."

Zhang Ruochen had a thousand words to say but held back, stepping behind Xuanji Sword Saint.

For his master to come back to life was already a miracle among miracles.

The cultivators of the Ghost-Raising Ancient Clan and the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan were all shocked. The dead had truly come back to life.

Having long been in contact with ghosts and corpses, they could naturally distinguish whether Xuanji Sword Saint was human or ghost.

There was not a trace of death qi on Xuanji Sword Saint. Instead, the life energy radiating from him was thousands of times greater than that of an ordinary person.

His once-white hair had turned cyan.

The wrinkles on his face had also disappeared, making him look like a man in his forties.

"Splash!"

Kongtong Saint burst out of the magma ocean and landed on the ground. Though missing an arm, he still exuded powerful sacred qi.

However, when he saw Xuanji Sword Saint, he was greatly alarmed: "How is this possible?"

A ring of life light surged around Xuanji Sword Saint. "Kongtong, you dared to lay hands on my disciple. Did you truly believe I was dead?"

Kongtong Saint took a deep breath and snorted coldly, "Zhang Ruochen must have found a resurrection medicine for you. No wonder that brat was blocking us here—he was buying time for you."

"So, do you regret it?" Xuanji Sword Saint said.

Shiva Saint said, "Kongtong, don't waste words with him. He has just revived and hasn't fully absorbed the resurrection medicine's power. Take this chance; let's join forces and kill him. We might even refine the resurrection medicine from his corpse."

With that, Shiva Saint launched the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot.

Countless ghosts flew out from the pot, four of which had extremely powerful auras, comparable to four Ghost Kings. Controlling four Ghost Kings was already Shiva Saint's limit.

Blood Moon Ghost King had not yet been refined by the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot. Seizing the opportunity, she escaped from the pot, turning into a ghostly mist that landed on the ground, looking quite weak.

Shiva Saint was fully focused on dealing with Xuanji Sword Saint and had no time to suppress her again.

At the same time, Kongtong Saint and the man in the purple-gold armor each unleashed their trump cards, casting sacred arts to attack Xuanji Sword Saint from the flanks.

The combined attack of three Saints was naturally devastating. The cliffs and hills in Ghost Spirit Valley all shattered, producing rumbling sounds.

Zhang Ruochen was quite worried. After all, Xuanji Sword Saint had just awakened and certainly hadn't reached his peak. He might not be able to withstand the attacks of three Saints, especially since the enemy possessed the Soul-Devouring Sacred Pot.

So, he took out the Skyward Sword, intending to hand it to Xuanji Sword Saint.

Xuanji Sword Saint gently shook his head, a confident expression on his face. He stepped forward into the void. Using his hand as a sword, he slashed forward.

The sword qi was like a ten-mile-long waterfall, cascading from the sky and striking the two Saints of the Corpse-Driving Ancient Clan.

"Puchi."

Kongtong Saint's body lasted only an instant before shattering into a cloud of blood mist. Within the mist, broken sacred bones fell to the ground.

The Saint in the purple-gold armor also screamed. His armor shattered, and blood flowed from his entire body as he fell from the sky.

A large pit appeared on the ground, along with a broken corpse.

With just one strike, two Saints had fallen.