Chapter 913: The Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan
Above one of the half-saint-level warships, a sharp sound of something breaking through the air rang out, and a black sword flew forth.
"Shua."
The sacred sword, originally only three feet long, transformed into a hundred-zhang-long black flood dragon after flying out, charging straight down toward the Golden Sparrow City below.
The spiritual energy between heaven and earth trembled violently, surging outward.
That sacred sword was a thousand-mark sacred artifact listed in the *Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact Catalog*, named the Profound Dragon Sword, the life-bound sword of the Shi family's sacred realm ancestor, Shi Yunzong.
Earlier, it was Shi Yunzong who had used the Profound Dragon Sword to unleash the Thousand Ripple Annihilation Force, splitting an entire mountain range with a single strike.
With a thunderous roar, the Profound Dragon Sword collided with the Golden Sparrow City's city-protecting grand formation, unleashing a powerful shockwave.
The earth within a hundred li trembled violently.
While the Shi family's cultivators were attacking the outer city-protecting grand formation of Golden Sparrow City, Zhang Ruochen, riding the Devouring Elephant Rabbit, arrived at a mountain estate less than fifty li from the city.
Zhang Ruochen had been scouting the outskirts of Golden Sparrow City, quite worried that the Undying Blood Clan might have received advance news and set up a trap.
What if they had stationed a hidden force of Blood Clan cultivators outside the city to launch a surprise attack from the rear? Wouldn't that catch the Shi family's army off guard?
"Master Chen, why did you suddenly stop?" the Devouring Elephant Rabbit asked.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze fixed on the nearby mountain estate, and he muttered to himself, "Something's off."
"Hua."
A heavenly eye opened on his forehead, and he looked toward the estate.
However, the estate was eerily silent, with no sign of anything unusual.
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit shook its head and said, "I don't see anything strange. But it seems all the cultivators in the estate have been killed by the Undying Blood Clan—not a single survivor."
Zhang Ruochen carefully examined the surrounding terrain and environment, then jumped down from the Devouring Elephant Rabbit's back and said, "Let's go in and take a look."
If he were the commander of the Undying Blood Clan in Golden Sparrow City and had learned in advance that the Prison Suppression Ancient Clan was coming to besiege them, he would have made two choices.
The first choice would be to immediately lead the Undying Blood Clan out of the city, scattering in all directions. That way, no matter how powerful the Prison Suppression Ancient Clan's army was, they couldn't wipe them out completely.
The second choice would naturally be to arrange a powerful force to lie in ambush outside the city, set up a trap, and deal with the Prison Suppression Ancient Clan's army from both inside and outside.
The Prison Suppression Ancient Clan's large-scale siege against the Undying Blood Clan was already a massive undertaking. Even with careful arrangements, the Undying Blood Clan would likely get wind of it in advance.
Since the Undying Blood Clan in Golden Sparrow City hadn't fled, they had probably chosen the second option.
Zhang Ruochen had already thoroughly scouted the terrain around Golden Sparrow City. If the Undying Blood Clan really wanted to station a hidden force outside the city, this mountain estate was the best choice.
On the stone steps outside the estate, corpses lay scattered in disarray. All of them were shriveled, their blood drained, leaving only a layer of skin wrapped around their bones. Among them were the remains of children.
Zhang Ruochen stepped onto the stone steps and walked upward.
Looking at the corpses on the ground, a surge of intense anger rose within him. But he forced himself to control his emotions and remain vigilant.
"Master Chen, why are you being so cautious? It's just an abandoned estate. Could there really be Undying Blood Clan members hiding inside?"
The Devouring Elephant Rabbit, without any hesitation, turned into a red blur and rushed straight up the stone steps, entering the estate's gate.
"Careful..."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and quickened his pace to follow.
But the moment he stepped through the estate's gate, he immediately sensed something was wrong, feeling a sharp killing intent charging toward him from straight ahead.
Only when that killing intent entered within ten zhang of Zhang Ruochen did he detect a faint fluctuation of sacred energy, yet he still couldn't see the enemy's trace.
"Illusion art."
Zhang Ruochen was secretly startled and immediately retreated backward, trying to exit the estate.
Since an illusion art covered the estate, it meant there was indeed an ambush inside. He had to escape immediately and notify the Shi family's cultivators.
However, another surge of killing intent came from behind him, condensing into a mass of blood mist that blocked his retreat.
From within the blood mist, a sharp claw extended, piercing through Zhang Ruochen's sacred soul domain and striking toward the back of his head.
"Nine Returns to One."
The Abyssal Ancient Sword flew out, and dozens of lightning bolts surged from its blade as it swung out, forming nine sword shadows in succession, each with a different technique.
"Puchi."
The sound of a sword cutting into flesh rang out, and a large amount of blood splattered onto the ground.
Two Undying Blood Clan corpses fell from the void, landing in a pool of blood.
Zhang Ruochen withdrew the Abyssal Ancient Sword and thrust it into the ground. In an instant, hundreds of sword qi flew out, forming a sword qi domain that enveloped him at the center.
With Zhang Ruochen's current spiritual power strength, he couldn't see through the opponent's illusion art. Escaping wouldn't be easy.
The more critical the moment, the more he couldn't panic.
If he fled recklessly, he would only die faster.
"What a formidable illusion art, capable of covering the entire estate and even evading the perception of the Shi family's sacred realm ancestor. The Undying Blood Clan truly hides dragons and crouching tigers," Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
"Clap, clap."
Applause sounded.
Then, a sinister voice came from the main hall of the estate: "As expected of the sword bearer of the Skyward Sword, to remain so calm even when trapped in a deathly situation, this prince truly admires you."
With a flash of a figure, the Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan appeared out of thin air outside the main hall's gate, standing straight, exuding a cold, aristocratic aura.
Zhang Ruochen fixed his gaze on the Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan, squinting his eyes, then his pupils rapidly dilated. "You are Xiang Zhengfeng?"
Xiang Zhengfeng's appearance had changed drastically, but the sword intent he had cultivated and his temperament remained unchanged.
The corner of the Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan's mouth curled upward. "No wonder you could see through the illusion art on the estate's outskirts. Your eyesight is indeed beyond ordinary."
Wang Jie walked out of the main hall, wearing a fawning expression as he bowed respectfully to the Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan.
Then, when he turned to Zhang Ruochen, his face changed, and he coldly shouted, "Zhang Ruochen, when you see the Second Prince, why don't you kneel and pay your respects? If you know what's good for you, maybe the Second Prince will be pleased and spare your life."
Zhang Ruochen pressed his hand on the sword hilt, not even glancing at Wang Jie. "So it's the Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan. Not a lowly status."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen dared to ignore him, Wang Jie grew even more furious, gritting his teeth. "Zhang Ruochen, you think you're clever for discovering the Second Prince's layout. But in truth, you're the biggest fool. The moment you stepped into this estate, you walked right into the trap. You're now a fish in a barrel. Why not surrender immediately?"
"In a place where humans speak, can a dog also interrupt?"
Zhang Ruochen made no effort to hide his contempt for Wang Jie.
Wang Jie, after all, was the son of a clan leader and a proud son of the Prison Suppression Ancient Clan, yet he willingly served as the Second Prince of the Undying Blood Clan's servant, making him even more detestable than the Undying Blood Clan itself.
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, Wang Jie was so furious that smoke seemed to rise from his head, and he roared, "Zhang Ruochen, today we settle old and new scores together!"
Powerful sacred energy surged from Wang Jie's body, gathering in his hands.
Two white bone swords emerged from his palms, emitting a dazzling white light, clearly two formidable sacred swords.
(These two chapters are slightly shorter; an extra chapter will be added in the afternoon.)