Chapter 2208: The Neverwither Realm and Death
Zhang Ruochen’s breakthrough may seem easy, but it was gravely dangerous.
If anything went wrong, he would either be half-crippled or dead. Zhang Ruochen wasn’t in a good condition currently. As he was severely injured, it was more difficult for him to break through.
Regardless of what had happened, he had succeeded!
Putting everything on the line and making the impossible possible.
And this was only the beginning. Zhang Ruochen gathered a powerful force and charged it into his heart.
Instantly, his heart emitted an immortal brilliance, which grew stronger and stronger.
Zhang Ruochen had already cultivated his Saint Kinghood to completion. His acc.u.mulation was vigorous. He could break through to the Neverwither Supreme Sainthood at almost any time, as long as he wanted to.
And now, he was going to do it.
In the blink of an eye, Zhang Ruochen had transcended his physique into Five-element Chaotic Neverwither Physique.
“Zhang Ruochen has broken through to the Supreme Saint realm. The Path-melding Tribulation is about to happen. Hurry up and withdraw the killing array. Otherwise, you’ll be drawn into it,” an elite of the Infernal Court said anxiously.
The so-called Path-melding Tribulation was a tribulation that all cultivators had to go through to break through to the Supreme Saint realm.
The reason why the Son of Darkness didn’t have a Path-melding Tribulation when he broke through was that True Dragon Island was unique and concealed the secrets of heaven.
It was also because he hadn’t experienced the cleansing of the Path-melding Tribulation. Thus, Son of Darkness’s strength hadn’t reached its peak.
The Path-melding Tribulation was very special. If there was an external force interfering, it would also be implicated. The consequences would be extremely severe.
With Zhang Ruochen as the center, the precepts of heaven and earth within a radius of hundreds of thousands of miles quickly gathered.
Whoosh
Countless precepts of heaven and earth gathered and turned into millions of bright and sharp golden lights. They entered Zhang Ruochen’s body through his pores.
As its name implied, the Path-melding Tribulation was to blend with the Precepts from heaven and earth.
In this way, one could better use the precepts of heaven and earth as if they are one.
Under normal circ.u.mstances, the more powerful one’s acc.u.mulation in the Saint Kinghood was, the more difficult it would be to overcome the Path-melding Tribulation. On the other hand, those with average cultivation could easily overcome the Path-melding Tribulation and become a Neverwither Supreme Saint.
Most Saint Kings only cultivated one Path of Supreme Saint. When they became a Supreme Saint, they only needed to fuse with one precept of heaven and earth.
On the other hand, Zhang Ruochen was different. His cultivation on Time, Dimension, Truth, Swordsmans.h.i.+p, Palm, Fist, and Path of Five-Element had all reached completion. This means that he needed to fuse with these eleven precepts of heaven and earth.
Moreover, because he had completed his cultivation, the process of melding with the precepts of heaven and earth would be extremely dangerous.
The Precepts of Metals from heaven and earth were extremely sharp. They continuously attacked Zhang Ruochen’s body and Saint Soul. Words could not describe the pain he had.
Zhang Ruochen’s gaze was resolute, but he didn’t even make a sound.
Not long after, Zhang Ruochen had melded with the Precepts of Metals from heaven and earth. His body was filled with a layer of faint golden light.
Without stopping, a large number of Precepts of Woods from heaven and earth poured into Zhang Ruochen.
Then, the Precepts of Water, Fire, Earth, and Swordsmans.h.i.+p from heaven and earth…
…
Just as Zhang Ruochen had predicted, this Path-melding Tribulation needed to meld with at least eleven powerful precepts of heaven and earth.
Hiss
Many cultivators of the Infernal Court were shocked by what they witnessed and gasped.
Such a terrifying Path-melding Tribulation was unheard of, let alone seen.
Not many people would be able to withstand melding with one precept of heaven and earth. They would be obliterated by it.
After that, countless Precepts of Time and Dimension appeared at the same time. They evolved into a special Profound Spatial Dimension with a River of Time flowing in it, enveloping Zhang Ruochen.
The trial of time and dimension was the most crucial part of the tribulation.
Zhang Ruochen immediately condensed his Profound Spatial Dimension and River of Time, which was compatible with the Profound Spatial Dimension and River of Time evolved from the precepts of heaven and earth.
His Profound Spatial Dimension and the River of Time were both top-notch, and the precepts of heaven and earth could do nothing to them.
It didn’t take long for the two precepts of heaven and earth to disperse, and they didn’t cause any harm to Zhang Ruochen.
At this point, Zhang Ruochen had experienced a total of eleven trials from the precepts of heaven and earth, and he had a deeper understanding of these eleven Paths.
Just when Zhang Ruochen thought that the Path-melding Tribulation was over, the pressure on his body suddenly doubled.
Above him, nine layers of the magnificent sky appeared. Each layer was extremely solid and countless precepts of heaven and earth were intertwined.
‘Is it because I cultivated the Empyrean Emperor Ming’s Scripture?’ Zhang Ruochen guessed the reason instantly.
Zhang Ruochen activated the Empyrean Emperor Ming’s Scripture with all his strength, operating the nine levels of techniques in him at the same time.
The equally magnificent nine-layered sky appeared and overlapped with the nine-layered sky formed by the precepts of heaven and earth.
Zhang Ruochen could feel that there were many strange marks imprinted on the nine-layered sky that he had condensed.
At the same time, he had many epiphanies in his heart. He had a very thorough understanding of the Empyrean Emperor Ming’s Scripture.
When the Path-melding Tribulation ended, the nine-layered sky was still hovering above Zhang Ruochen. It gathered the power of heaven and earth and blessed Zhang Ruochen.
An incomparably vast pressure of a Supreme Saint emanated from Zhang Ruochen. It was as if he wanted to rule the world.
After pa.s.sing the Path-melding Tribulation, Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation reached the Neverwither Supreme Sainthood. The Precepts in him had doubled to 200 million.
Feeling the Supreme Saint’s pressure, the hearts of many cultivators in the Infernal Court sank.
Without a doubt, Zhang Ruochen had broken through the realm. His physique had become a Supreme Saint. At the same time, he had forged the Five-element Chaotic Neverwither Physique and became a genuine Supreme Saint powerhouse.
The wounds on Zhang Ruochen’s body had almost all healed.
“How dare you break the rules of the Battlefield of Merits? Die!”
At this moment, an extremely tall figure appeared in the sky, emitting a powerful saint’s might.
Outside Kunlun, there were always Emissaries Vigilant from the Celestial and Infernal Court patrolling the Central Imperial City.
They couldn’t interfere with the battle in Kunlun before. Now that Zhang Ruochen had become a Supreme Saint, it was undoubtedly a chance for the Emissaries Vigilant from the Infernal Court to intervene.
Suddenly, dark clouds shrouded in the sky. A strong aura of the Infernal Court spread out. Hundreds of pitch-black thunderbolts like demonic snakes fell from the sky and struck directly at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen raised his head. There was no fear in his eyes and he calmly waved the Imperial Ruler.
Using the power of the Supreme Saint to activate the Imperial Ruler, its might was very different from before.
No matter how terrifying the thunderbolts were, they disappeared in an instant when it clashed with the Imperial Ruler.
The Emissaries Vigilant in the sky wasn’t very strong.
Back then, Zhang Ruochen had defeated an Emissaries Vigilant before his cultivation had reached the pinnacle of the Saint Kinghood. With his current cultivation, it wasn’t difficult for him to resist their attacks.
The next moment, the figures of five Emissaries Vigilant of the Infernal Court appeared in the sky. They joined hands and sent down heavenly punishment to kill Zhang Ruochen.
“Get lost!”
Zhang Ruochen roared in a deep voice. He hacked out a ruler’s ray tens of thousands of miles long into the sky.
The heavenly punishment was scattered again before it could land a hit on Zhang Ruochen.
On the contrary, the five Emissaries Vigilant of the Infernal Court flew backward. If it were not for the barrier of the world membrane, they might have been seriously injured.
With Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation, he could hurt them even though they were thousands of meters away from the void.
“Hurry up and invite the Emissaries Vigilant of the Hundred-Shackle Realm and the Thousand-Koan Realm. We can’t let Zhang Ruochen continue to act recklessly.”
Immediately, an Emissaries Vigilant set out to invite the more powerful Emissaries Vigilant.
Zhang Ruochen ignored the Emissaries Vigilant and looked in the direction where Wan Xin had escaped.
“Wan Xin, leave Kongyue behind.”
With a roar, Zhang Ruochen swung the Imperial Ruler and hacked forward. The majestic power of the Supreme Saint, along with 200 million Precepts, poured into the Imperial Ruler.
The moment a cultivator broke through to Supreme Sainthood, the Precepts in his body would double.
Therefore, the stronger one’s acc.u.mulation of the Saint Kinghood, the greater one’s advantage after breaking through to the Supreme Sainthood.
For those cultivators who broke through to the Supreme Sainthood with 30 to 40 million Precepts, even if they managed to cultivate to the advanced stage of the Neverwither Supreme Sainthood, they might not have 200 million Precepts in them.
BOOM!
The ground sank under one foot.
Thousands of Saint cultivators of the Infernal Court were directly turned into ashes and died.
The blockade in front of the Saint cultivators was forcibly broken through and a huge hole was torn open.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t hesitate at all. He immediately burst out with extreme speed and streaked across the sky like a meteor.
“Stop him!”
An elite from the Infernal Court shouted.
Instantly, the elite army of the ten clans of Infernal Court moved together and chased after Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen had just broken through to the Supreme Sainthood. His cultivation has yet to consolidate, and his strength was far from reaching its peak. Moreover, his injuries seemed to have healed, but some hidden injuries still required some time to heal.
There was no lack of geniuses in the Infernal Court. They thought that Zhang Ruochen was probably at the end of his rope and was just holding on.
Besides, there were tens of millions of Saint soldiers in the Infernal Court. How could they be afraid of a Neverwither Supreme Saint?
Zhang Ruochen couldn’t change his dooming fate even now that he became a Neverwither Supreme Saint.
From Afar, Zhang Ruochen saw a huge Dimensional Rift that was tens of thousands of miles long. It hung in the air.
With this Dimensional Rift as the center, everything within thousands of miles was dead, the sky was dark and h.e.l.l-like.
From the Dimensional Rift, the power and aura of the Infernal Court flowed out continuously. Even the precepts of heaven and earth that belonged to the Infernal Court surged over and eroded Kunlun.
The Dimensional Rift connected heaven and earth. Lightning flashed and thunder rumbled around. The surrounding was covered by gray fog. It gave off an extremely dangerous aura.
Seven huge cities hung around the Dimensional Rift and released powerful divine force. As they stabilized the Dimensional Rift, they tore it apart.
Wan Xin turned to look at Zhang Ruochen, who was chasing after him. A cold light appeared in his eyes, “Zhang Ruochen,” he said. “Your body is the most suitable for my master. But since Yan Wushen can’t do anything to you, I can only settle for second-best. It’s Chi Kongyue’s honor to be my master’s body.
“I know you’re angry and want to kill me. If you have the guts to barge into the Infernal Court, I’ll give you a chance.”
Wan Xin naturally didn’t think that Zhang Ruochen dared to barge into the Infernal Court. His words were a bit provocative.
Wan Xin made a move and he flashed into the Dimensional Rift with Chi Kongyue.
Zhang Ruochen had broken through to the Supreme Sainthood and his battle strength was too terrifying. Wan Xin didn’t dare to challenge him. If he was careless, the consequences would be unimaginable.
Now that he had found a suitable body, he should hurry back and report to Asurendra Samay.
“Wan Xin.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes were red. He turned into a streak of light and rushed straight into the Dimensional Rift.
Bang
Zhang Ruochen’s body collided with the gray fog of light outside the Dimensional Rift. Instantly, a large amount of lightning surged out and struck him. He was sent flying and fell heavily to the ground.
While flying in the air, Zhang Ruochen’s eyes were still fixed on the Dimensional Rift. He could only watch as Wan Xin took Chi Kongyue away and disappeared into the depths of the rift.
His heart was in pain.
It was as if someone had stabbed thousands of knives into his heart. He was in so much pain that he wished he was dead.
Rumble
Zhang Ruochen fell to the ground. His Neverwither Physique crashed into the ground and created a canyon that was dozens of miles long.
This Dimensional Rift was specially created by the Infernal Court to transport the army. Only cultivators from the Infernal Court were allowed to pa.s.s through. Even cultivators from the Celestial Court were blocked outside.
“Break.”
Zhang Ruochen’s hair was disheveled. He crawled up with blood all over his body. He flew up, lifted the Imperial Ruler, and hacked forward.
The Imperial Ruler released vast divine power. Like a divine sword, it crashed into the gray fog of light around the Dimensional Rift.
The seven cities seemed to last forever, indestructible, immortal, and were all glowing. They were delivering unimaginable power.
With a boom, the Dimensional Rift didn’t move at all. Instead, more violent lightning and light fog surged out and hit Zhang Ruochen.
Pfft
Zhang Ruochen spat out Saint Blood and flew back again.
His powerful Neverwither Physique was damaged and some of his flesh and blood exploded. More importantly, Zhang Ruochen’s Saint Soul was being corroded and showed signs of crumbling.
The power formed by the seven cities far surpa.s.sed that of an ordinary Supreme Saint.
“Kongyue, Kongyue, Kongyue…”
Zhang Ruochen kept shouting and getting up again. He struck out the Imperial Ruler again and again.
BOOM!
BOOM!
…
Zhang Ruochen’s Neverwither Physique would crack more severely with each strike, and his Saint Soul would be further dispersed.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen could not think of anything else. There was only one desire in his heart—he had to save Kongyue.
If Kongyue could not be saved, Zhang Ruochen would suffer a fate worse than death.
“Kill.”
“Whoever can kill Zhang Ruochen will become famous among the ten clans of Infernal Court.”
The army of the Infernal Court chased after Zhang Ruochen and attacked him again. More than a million Saint Artifacts like weapons flew out, including Supreme Artifacts and Regal Artifacts.
“Die!” Zhang Ruochen roared. He didn’t turn around to defend. He just attacked the Dimensional Rift in front of him with all his strength.
The gray light fog caved in. A tiny crack appeared as if it was about to break.
BANG!BANG!BANG!
But at this moment, millions of Saint Artifact-level weapons landed on Zhang Ruochen and swallowed him. Even with the protection of the Armor of the Fire G.o.d, Zhang Ruochen’s Saint Physique still collapsed on a large scale. His flesh and blood turned into powder.
This was because there was no more blood left in his body.
“Kongyue…”
With a murmur, Zhang Ruochen’s body fell from the sky.
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen’s body had almost become a half-broken skeleton. He was not human anymore. He was dead. Even the fluctuations of his Saint Soul had disappeared completely. His soul was scattered.
“How can this be…”
Sensing that Zhang Ruochen’s life pulses had disappeared, Luo Sha couldn’t help but fall into a daze.
Lord Xue Chen and Xue Ningxiao looked at each other. They sighed as their hearts sank to the bottom.
“Hahaha, you’re dead, Zhang Ruochen. No matter how magnificent you are, you’re destined to become enemies with the Infernal Court.” s.h.i.+ Juexin couldn’t help but laugh. He was in a good mood and had a clear mind.
He wasn’t the only one. Many elites of the Infernal Court were laughing wildly.
No matter how dazzling and invincible Zhang Ruochen was, he still died at their hands.
All the price paid for this was worth it.
…