Chapter 872: Ten Top Experts
What made Wanxiang Wang even more uneasy was that Zhang Ruochen had already broken through to the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation, yet the Purifying Divine Flame had not dissipated. It floated on the surface of Zhang Ruochen's skin, flickering and burning, distorting the surrounding space.
In other words, Zhang Ruochen still had the blessing of the divine flame, allowing him to unleash combat power several times beyond his own cultivation level.
With the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation realm, Zhang Ruochen was certainly far stronger than when he was at the Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation. Even Wanxiang Wang, with his realm, was not absolutely certain he could defeat him.
"How can this be?" Wanxiang Wang was extremely puzzled.
He naturally would not know that during the previous battle, Zhang Ruochen had comprehended seven types of flame-based Sacred Dao Rules in succession. It was precisely for this reason that the Purifying Divine Flame continued to burn.
At this moment, the Sacred Dao Rules Zhang Ruochen had comprehended had already exceeded a hundred, and he was continuing to explore the secrets of Time Rules.
"Wanxiang Wang, with your strength alone, you cannot keep me here. Do you think there is any need for us to fight?"
Zhang Ruochen did not want to fight Wanxiang Wang. He only wanted to find a quiet place immediately to comprehend Time Rules.
After all, the power of the Purifying Divine Flame did not descend at any time. If he missed this night, it would be extremely difficult to comprehend Time Rules in the future.
"Shua!"
Xiao Hei leaped out from the ruins, turning into a black shadow and appearing behind Wanxiang Wang, his entire body emitting a cold aura.
Zhang Ruochen had broken through to the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation, and Xiao Hei's strength had also increased significantly. He very much wanted to fight Wanxiang Wang again, preferably giving him a good lesson.
Wanxiang Wang held his breath, his expression becoming quite solemn, and a thought of retreat arose in his heart.
Suddenly, Wanxiang Wang's ears twitched as he heard a faint sound coming from the horizon. Immediately, joy appeared in his eyes, and without any further hesitation, he laughed wildly: "Zhang Ruochen, with my strength alone, I indeed cannot keep you here. But what if the ten top experts of the Ministry of War attack together?"
A white vertical eye appeared on Zhang Ruochen's brow, and he looked toward the horizon. Sure enough, he saw several powerful clouds of Saint Qi rapidly flying in this direction.
"We will have plenty of time to continue our contest in the future." Zhang Ruochen glanced at Wanxiang Wang, then flew down onto Xiao Hei's back, tossing the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit and the Demon Ape into the Scroll World. He then grabbed Li Min's wrist and pulled her onto Xiao Hei's back, making her lie across it.
After all, Li Min was an outsider, and the Scroll World was Zhang Ruochen's greatest secret, so he naturally could not put her inside, lest its secrets be exposed.
Xiao Hei's body grew to over ten zhang in length, turning into a massive black beast, spreading a pair of black wings dozens of zhang long.
With a flap of his wings, he stirred up two hurricanes and charged toward the sky.
Just then, a black-and-white chessboard flew over from the eastern sky, appearing in a square shape, covering the void for ten li in radius, blocking Zhang Ruochen's path.
On the chessboard, hundreds of black and white chess pieces, like infinitely powerful stars, flew out one after another, striking Zhang Ruochen on Xiao Hei's back.
"Break."
Zhang Ruochen formed a sword seal with his fingers and struck out with the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
The Abyssal Ancient Sword flew into the air, evolving into hundreds of sword-shaped sword qi, turning into a meteor shower of sword qi that flew forward, colliding with the black and white chess pieces.
"Bang bang."
The chess pieces and sword qi collided with each other, forming waves of power and energy, producing explosive sounds, and soon dissipated into nothingness.
However, blocked by the chessboard, Zhang Ruochen had no choice but to retreat to the ground. If he continued flying in the sky, they would only become living targets for the Ministry of War's experts.
Li Min recognized the black-and-white chessboard in the air and said, "The Yin-Yang Chessboard, that is Zhuang Xuankong's sacred artifact. It is said that this person recently broke through to the Six-Step Half-Saint realm. In the Yuan Mansion, he is a powerful figure of the Ministry of War who dominates the region."
From the darkness came a soft, feminine voice, the sound waves spreading like water ripples, "Little girl, you actually recognize this king's sacred artifact. You have some insight."
A man in a Confucian robe stepped on a misty bridge and walked over from afar. He appeared to be about thirty years old, with extremely fair skin, slightly upturned eyes, and thin lips. Although he was a man, he exuded a feminine aura.
This person was one of the ten top experts selected by Wan Zhaoyi from the Ministry of War camp in the Yuan Mansion, Zhuang Xuankong.
Zhuang Xuankong raised his hand and retracted the Yin-Yang Chessboard.
Li Min was quite afraid of Zhuang Xuankong and hid behind Zhang Ruochen, speaking in a low voice: "This person once served as a eunuch in the Lingxiao Heavenly King's Mansion. Later, because of his outstanding talent, he joined the military camp. He achieved remarkable military merits and even broke through to the Half-Saint realm."
Zhuang Xuankong's hearing was extremely sharp. Even though Li Min spoke very softly, he still heard her.
He hated it most when people mentioned the word "eunuch." At this moment, his face naturally turned cold and gloomy, and he very much wanted to drag that little girl out and flay her alive.
Li Min naturally did not know that she had already angered Zhuang Xuankong. She continued in a low voice: "Although Zhuang Xuankong's cultivation is extremely powerful, he also has weaknesses. It is said that the cultivation technique he practices is too feminine. Once he encounters flames and yang energy, the combat power he can unleash will be greatly reduced."
Zhuang Xuankong's five fingers curled into a claw shape, and his originally quite handsome face became twisted and ferocious. "Hateful girl, once I capture Zhang Ruochen, I will make you wish you were dead."
Li Min was startled and immediately shut her mouth, not daring to speak recklessly anymore.
Wanxiang Wang rode the Silver Moon Dragon Elephant, holding the Thunder God Halberd, and charged out from the ruined ancient city, roaring: "Zhang Ruochen has already broken through to the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation and killed Beilang Wang. Attack together, suppress and kill him. Do not let him escape!"
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had indeed pierced Beilang Wang's chest with a single sword strike, but he had only severely wounded him. The one who actually killed Beilang Wang was clearly Wanxiang Wang.
To evade responsibility, Wanxiang Wang was shifting the blame onto Zhang Ruochen.
A cold smile curled at the corner of Zhang Ruochen's mouth as he glanced at Wanxiang Wang and sneered coldly.
Wanxiang Wang met Zhang Ruochen's gaze and also sneered coldly, appearing calm and composed. Although he had only accidentally killed Beilang Wang, once the news spread, he would inevitably face punishment from the Ministry of War.
So why not frame Zhang Ruochen?
Not only had the experts of the Ministry of War arrived here, but cultivators from other forces had also come.
However, the Ministry of War's power was too immense, and no one dared to provoke them. Therefore, the cultivators from those forces were hiding in the distance, not approaching.
Wanxiang Wang's words were undoubtedly like throwing a deep-water bomb, stirring up a thousand waves, shocking all the cultivators beyond measure.
"The legendary Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation? How is that possible?"
"Zhang Ruochen has condensed a Divine Fate? Absolutely impossible. Even with the talent of the Nine Realm Sons, they could not achieve it."
"If Zhang Ruochen really has condensed a Divine Fate, that would be a good thing. As long as we capture him and seize his fate, even if I cannot become a god, I can at least become a saint."
Wanxiang Wang was also a prominent figure in the Ministry of War. Since he said Zhang Ruochen had reached the Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation, there must be some basis for it. He would not speak without evidence.
Therefore, the people present were about seventy or eighty percent convinced.
The thought of someone cultivating a Divine Fate, even just thinking about it, was extremely exciting.
Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power and detected at least five Half-Saint auras in the darkness. Moreover, they were not low-level Half-Saints. Each one's cultivation was very powerful, and they should be among the so-called ten top experts.
He was surrounded. Even if he used the Sacred Edict, it would be difficult to escape.
"In that case, let's fight it out. Perhaps pushing myself to the brink of life and death can stimulate greater potential and allow me to comprehend Time Rules."
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen did not have many choices. He could summon the Blood Moon Ghost King and have her kill all the Ministry of War's experts.
However, doing so would cause Zhang Ruochen to miss an opportunity for training.
More importantly, once the Ministry of War learned of the Blood Moon Ghost King's existence, the next time they sent experts to capture Zhang Ruochen, they would likely be at the War Saint level.
By then, Zhang Ruochen might not even have a chance to escape.
Therefore, it was best not to expose his trump cards if possible.
"Fish-Dragon Tenth Transformation, heh, quite interesting. Let me test you."
Zhuang Xuankong let out a sinister laugh, flipped his palm, and with a bang, slammed the Yin-Yang Chessboard onto the ground.
Black and white light shuttles rapidly surged out from the chessboard, making a "shua shua" sound of breaking wind, like flying swords and blades, charging toward Zhang Ruochen's direction.
Zhang Ruochen recalled what Li Min had said earlier and decided to test whether Zhuang Xuankong really had a weakness.
Zhang Ruochen stomped his foot on the ground, pressing a clump of Purifying Divine Flame into the earth. The terrifying high temperature emitted by the divine flame melted the soil within dozens of zhang, turning it into a small lava lake.
Then, Zhang Ruochen waved his sleeve, and a powerful yang energy surged from his palm, rolling up the red-hot lava and sending it toward Zhuang Xuankong.