Chapter 2094: Cover Blown
Translator: EndlessFantasy Translation Editor: EndlessFantasy Translation
“Hey, Bald Donkey, where is the Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb?”
Blackie’s enthusiastic voice came from a distance.
Elder Patriarch Death Zen and the Corpse Emperor Tianming turned around and saw Zhang Ruochen and Blackie approaching.
“Mr. Zhang, Mr. Blackie, thank you for coming. The Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb that I discovered has escaped into this forest in front of us.” Elder Patriarch Death Zen clapped his hands together in a Buddha hand gesture.
Blackie’s eyes widened as it activated the Supreme Saint’s Eye to scan the foggy, ancient forest.
There was a look of surprise in Blackie’s eyes after a while. “I didn’t know that True Dragon Island still has such a well-preserved forest after a terrible disaster. It is possible that the sacred herb garden of the Divine Dragons is in there.”
The eyes of Zhang Ruochen, Elder Patriarch Death Zen, and Corpse Emperor Tianming lit up instantly.
Legend has it that the herb garden of the Divine Dragons had many precious sacred or even divine herbs. Even G.o.ds would be tempted if these herbs had been preserved until now.
“There is a strange array and a dimensional barrier outside the forest. Brute-force attack will trigger a powerful resistance. It is difficult to crack them,” said Corpse Emperor Tianming in a low voice.
“Mr. Zhang has a high attainment in dimensional technique while Mr. Blackie an accomplished array master; you two together will surely defeat these obstacles. Please let us know what we can help. I and Corpse Emperor Tianming will be on standby,” said Elder Patriarch Death Zen.
“Absolutely. There is no array that I can crack,” said Blackie proudly.
“Let’s take a look first,” said Zhang Ruochen with little emotion.
While speaking, he activated the Eye of the Divine Mark to study the ancient forest in front of him.
Meanwhile, Blackie had gone closer to the forest and carefully examined it.
Elder Patriarch Death Zen and Corpse Emperor Tianming said nothing more. They both unleashed their spiritual power to monitor the surroundings. The last thing they wanted was to have someone come and spoil the party.
Three hundred miles from here, a mysterious illusion was shrouding a hill, on which Maiden of a Thousand Stars and six elders from the Thousand-Star Civilization were standing.
Maiden of a Thousand Stars had spotted Zhang Ruochen and the other three using her Divine Eye of Origin.
“The Jinyang Twin Kings are really no slouch; they have successfully lured Zhang Ruochen over,” said Maiden of a Thousand Stars with a sigh.
“The Jinyang Twin Kings used a Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb as bait to lure Zhang Ruochen through Elder Patriarch Death Zen. No one could have seen this coming,” said an elder.
“No one can resist the temptation of the Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb. By the looks of the situation, Zhang Ruochen is doomed this time,” said another elder.
“Your Highness Maiden, this is the vendetta between Zhang Ruochen and the Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization. We had better stay out of it. Even if we were to intervene, we can only help the Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization.”
Apparently, this elder was worried that Maiden of a Thousand Stars would help Zhang Ruochen. He knew that she and Zhang Ruochen had some personal relations.h.i.+p.
Maiden of a Thousand Stars could not help but frown. She knew that with her capacity, if she helped Zhang Ruochen, she would cause a lot of trouble and that would affect the relations between the Thousand-Star Civilization and the Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization.
“I know you will not so easily get yourself killed, Zhang Ruochen,” Maiden of a Thousand Stars thought to herself.
Others might walk into the trap and be doomed, but not Zhang Ruochen. He should not ever be understood with common sense.
Blackie smiled after some careful observation. “This array here is indeed strange. It will take a long time to crack it if we use ordinary methods. But for me, this is child’s play.”
While speaking, Blackie took out a strange stone, which was none other than the Inscription-Suppressing Stone that it seized from Zhou Yu.
The Inscription-Suppressing Stone refined by a King of Sea and Land of the array masters could defeat most Ninth Stratum Arrays.
It was a pity, however, that the Inscription-Suppressing Stone was a consumable item, which meant there was a limit to how many it could be used.
Fortunately, as an array master, Blackie could use the Inscription-Suppressing Stone much better than Zhou Yu could.
If Zhou Yu could use the Inscription-Suppressing Stone three times, then Blackie could extend its usage to five or even six times.
Controlled by Blackie, the Inscription-Suppressing Stone slowly flew and came into contact with the complex array outside the forest.
The Inscription-Suppressing Stone glowed. When a series of mysterious inscriptions appeared, it immediately caused the array inscriptions to dim, and an opening appeared in the array.
After putting away the Inscription-Suppressing Stone, Blackie raised his foot and cast out a series of array marks. It started using its attainment in array skills to further tear the array while preventing it from self-repairing.
All higher-level arrays had self-repair ability. The higher the level, the quicker the repair speed.
Blackie was highly efficient. In just a while, it had torn open a gap that was wide enough for a person to pa.s.s through in the array.
But behind the array, there was still a complex dimensional barrier. It was impossible to enter the forest without dismantling the dimensional barrier.
“I have done my part, Zhang Ruochen. Now it is your turn.” Blackie kept the gap in the array open as it turned to look at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward and stretched out a hand. 200,000 Precepts of Dimension appeared, unleas.h.i.+ng a powerful dimensional force to penetrate the dimension ahead.
Dismantling a dimensional barrier is meticulous work, which needs patience.
The Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization cultivators in the forest were holding their breaths as they could not wait for Zhang Ruochen to enter.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen stepped into the forest, he would fall into the traps they had prepared for him, and he would be dead.
Everyone, including the Jinyang Twin Kings, were waiting with bated breath. The closer they were to success, the more tense they became.
“Am I overestimating Zhang Ruochen? It takes him so long and still can’t defeat the dimensional barrier I built.” There was a scornful look in Saint King Xuankong’s eyes.
If not for the fear of spooking Zhang Ruochen, he would lift the dimensional barrier now.
Zhang Ruochen continued to hack the dimensional barrier with his Power of Dimensions. He did not want to break it just yet. Instead, he wanted to figure out the structure of it first to avoid troubles.
Unlike other places, here was the Dragon Temple ruins, where there were too many weird things. He could get himself killed if he was not careful.
Zhang Ruochen had an uneasy feeling, and he did not think it was an illusion.
“Something is not right.” He had detected something strange.
He could vaguely sense that the dimensional barrier in front of him had signs of artificial control.
But when he investigated again, that feeling went away.
He was spontaneously on his guard, his mind racing.
Quickly, he had figured out something and turned to look at Elder Patriarch Death Zen. “Are you sure there is a Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb in there, not trying to trick me into helping you by using the Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb as bait?”
“Hey, Bald Donkey, don’t tell me this is just a scam.” Blackie could not help but become suspicious of him.
“I am a monk and will not lie to you all. Perhaps the Wuyuan Royal Flower is too frightened and hiding deep inside the forest after I cut off a petal from it,” said Elder Patriarch Death Zen in all seriousness.
“This forest is only so big. How deep can the Wuyuan Royal Flower hide? Even if you haven’t lied, I wonder if the flower has already escaped from the forest. You know that Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herbs know how to seek good luck and avoid calamity, right?” said Zhang Ruochen in a low voice.
Even Corpse Emperor Tianming became suspicious, let alone Blackie. The Wuyuan Royal Flower was nowhere to be seen after it escaped into the forest. He had checked around the forest, but found nothing.
“Has the Wuyuan Royal Flower really gone?” Elder Patriarch Death Zen frowned.
In the forest, King Dayang’s expression changed. He did not know that Zhang Ruochen would be so cautious—a typical ‘not letting lose the falcon until seeing the hare’ person.
They were all ready to give him a fatal strike, but Zhang Ruochen suddenly stopped, and they started to lose their patience.
Without needing for King Dayang to speak, Saint King Wuyuan had form s.h.i.+fted into a colorful, strange sacred flower.
There were five beautiful, five-color exotic flowers blooming on a slim stalk, four of which had five petals of different colors, and only one had a missing petal.
A potent water-attribute essence gathered and formed into the shadow of a petal to replace the missing one.
Many Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization cultivators were drooling when they saw the true form of Saint King Wuyuan.
The Wuyuan Royal Flower was a magical plant that everyone desired. Anyone who refined it would have their path of self-cultivation cleared out for them.
Swis.h.!.+
Saint King Wuyuan moved in a flash and lunged out from her hiding place.
The next moment, it appeared in the center of the forest, manifesting the Five-Qi Convergence phenomenon.
“It is really the Wuyuan Royal Flower! Holy moly! Break open the dimensional barrier, Zhang Ruochen. Don’t let it get away!” Blackie was excited.
Meanwhile, Elder Patriarch Death Zen quietly breathed a sigh of relief; he had not broken their trust.
But when Zhang Ruochen saw the Wuyuan Royal Flower, his heart sank and thought to himself quietly, “I knew it; something is wrong.”
At first, he was just not so sure, and deliberately questioned Elder Patriarch Death Zen. But he did not know that the Wuyuan Royal Flower would reveal itself. That was way too obedient.
Besides, when the Wuyuan Royal Flower appeared, he could clearly sense a strange dimensional fluctuation.
Judging by these things, Zhang Ruochen was almost certain that everything here was a deliberate arrangement, and the purpose was self-evident.
“Who is trying to ambush me—the Jinyang Twin Kings, the ten reverends of the Bone Clan, or the Seven Top Killers from the Nether Fane?” Zhang Ruochen secretly asked himself.
He suddenly cast out the Zangshan Demonic Mirror over the forest and spurred it with his powerful saint Qi.
The Zangshan Demonic Mirror glowed in a dim demonic light as a million Supreme Inscriptions emerged. The inscriptions covered an area of a hundred miles in radius and gave out a powerful demonic Qi to envelop the entire forest below.
After receiving instruction from Zhang Ruochen through telepathy, Blackie, Elder Patriarch Death Zen injected their saint Qi into the Zangshan Demonic Mirror.
“Did Zhang Ruochen just activate a Supreme Artifact?”
“s.h.i.+t. He must have blown our cover and knows that this is a trap. Act now!” King Dayang’s face changed as he came to his senses.
“Since we have been exposed, let’s fight. Crush them with the might of our Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization cultivators.” There was a determined look in Saint King Xuankong’s eyes.
They had gathered so many cultivators and came prepared. There was no better way to kill Zhang Ruochen by catching him by surprise. But if that failed, they could always revert to the good old way of brute-force attack.
“I didn’t know that the Jinyang Twin Kings were delivering the Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb to us. What a pair of ice guys!” Blackie burst into laughter.
“Where do you guys get off? We have Supreme Artifacts just like you all do.”
“Let me borrow your head, Zhang Ruochen, so I can answer to the elder Tianzu back in the Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization.”
While speaking, the Jinyang Twin Kings beckoned and the Golden Crow Ancient Cauldron suppressed in the depths of the forest of the microworld flew out and hovered above the two of them.
The Golden Crow Ancient Cauldron was an extremely ancient Supreme Artifact of the Suns.h.i.+ne Civilization. It was once in the hands of an immortal, but later damaged during a great battle, its implement spirit destroyed. After many years had pa.s.sed, it nurtured a new implement spirit.
If not for this, they could not have brought the Golden Crow Ancient Cauldron into the Kunlun Realm.
But even if the Golden Crow Ancient Cauldron was damaged, its power must not be underestimated. The Jinyang Twin Kings were confident that they could fight the Zangshan Demonic Mirror.
“Suns.h.i.+ne Tianzi deserves it. You can’t blame me for that. Aren’t you all afraid of following his footsteps by coming to avenge him?” said Zhang Ruochen in a bitter voice.
“You might have strength but not brain. If I were you, I would have run away at the notice of a trap,” said King Dayang loudly.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head gently but said nothing.
Having put two and two together finally, Elder Patriarch Death Zen was fit to be tied. “How dare you try to trick me! If you think I am just a kind and forgiving monk, then you will be sorely sorry.”
He had been the one pulling tricks on others all his life. He never expected that he would be played this time.
Elder Patriarch Death Zen was shrewd. No one had ever outwitted him until now.
He just soiled his reputation, and Zhang Ruochen and others had something to make fun of him from now on.
“Stinking monk, you harmed my cultivation base and refined my petals. I swear I will suck your blood dry.”
Saint King Wuyuan had transformed into human form and was giving Elder Patriarch Death Zen a deadly stare.
As a Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb, it was extremely difficult to grow back a petal after losing one.
Saint King Wuyuan did not think that she was any less powerful than Elder Patriarch Death Zen. She was relatively weak when she was in her true form. But now, there was nothing to hold her back anymore.
Blackie’s eyes beamed as it stared at Saint King Wuyuan. “I have not eaten any Yuanhui Tribulation sacred herb for a long time. Come out here and let me eat you.”
“You have a death wish, you freaking owl?” There was a killer look in Saint King Wuyuan’s eyes.
Blackie was not intimidated, however. It instead chortled. “Surrender yourself. Otherwise, I will capture and devour you whole. But if you surrender, I might just pluck the flowers and not eat everything.”
Blackie’s eyes beamed even more with saliva almost dripping down its mouth while speaking.