Chapter 2396: There Will Be No Compromises
No one had expected that when Zhang Ruochen took the Pleiades Lotus from Yan Huangtu, Yan Zhexian, whose cultivation had been sealed, had torn open the frozen s.p.a.ce that suppressed the Eight Sons of Life and Death, allowing them to escape.
Before Zhang Ruochen could return to the tree, a sharp pain came from his head.
Yan Zhexian’s finger shattered the spiritual clone left under the tree.
The spiritual clone was condensed by Zhang Ruochen using 1,000 Spirits.
The destruction of 1,000 Spirits didn’t damage Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual power greatly, but it also caused him serious injuries.
A spider web-like talisman rune flew out from Yan Zhexian’s fingertip and covered Lord Xia Yu’s body. She looked at Zhang Ruochen in the distance and said with a cold voice, “It’s best if you don’t attack me with your Path of Dimension. A flick of my finger, her body, which she had painstakingly condensed, will instantly turn into many pieces of flesh and blood.”
On the side, the Eight Sons of Life and Death quickly formed The Indestructible Great Array.
Four Books of Death and four Books of Life floated above their heads, emitting a dazzling radiance that was as bright as the stars.
Despite the serious loss of blood in their bodies, with their cultivation in the Great Perfection stage of the Hundred-Shackle Realm and the power of the array formation, they still had the battle strength to overpower the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting.
The Eight Sons of Life and Death were all enraged. They wanted nothing more than to rush up to Zhang Ruochen and teach him a lesson so they could regain their lost face.
This time, they would never give Zhang Ruochen the chance to defeat them one by one.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes were fixed on Yan Zhexian’s tall and slender figure.
Divine light flowed from Yan Zhexian’s body, and the spiritual power fluctuation she emitted was even more powerful. It could affect the vision of all cultivators who were staring at her. Her figure was like a shadow.
Zhang Ruochen thought, ‘Her spiritual power should have reached the peak of the 65th level. What a mistake! I have benefited greatly from the sarcophagus. Not only did the Five-element Chaotic Neverwither Physique achieve the greatest transformation, but my spiritual power has also increased greatly. As the recipient of the Madre b.l.o.o.d.y Shadow’s Spiritual Qi, divine power, and Divine Soul, Yan Zhexian must have gained more benefits.
‘Although I sealed all 144 acupoints in her body, I didn’t seal the divine embryo in her belly. It doesn’t seem difficult for her to break the seal in her body by mobilizing the power of the divine embryo.’
It was too late to regret now!
Zhang Ruochen was depressed because he had become pa.s.sive as a result of a lapse in judgment. He, on the other hand, remained calm and devised a solution to the problem.
If Zhang Ruochen had not been soft, he would have killed Yan Zhexian and the baby in her belly and none of these complications would have happened.
Yan Zhexian and Yan Huangtu would not have threatened Zhang Ruochen if he had been cold-blooded enough to disregard Lord Xia Yu’s life. Who could possibly stop him?
Unfortunately, it was these shackles and weaknesses in his character that allowed the enemy to take advantage of Zhang Ruochen.
But that was also why he felt that he was still a living person, not a soulless p.a.w.n that was manipulated by others.
Seeing that everything was going well, Yan Huangtu wanted to laugh but seeing Yan Zhexian’s protruding belly, he couldn’t, he asked in a deep voice, “Xian’er, did Zhang Ruochen mistreat you while you were on the Immortal Vampires’ home planet?”
Yan Zhexian was speechless.
She wondered, ‘Is that how he shows his concern?’
Could she answer this question?
It was the same as asking her, “Did Zhang Ruochen force you to have a child, or did you do it voluntarily?”
Should she say yes or no?
Yan Zhexian certainly knew the secret of the reincarnation of the Madre b.l.o.o.d.y Shadow. She could not expose it, even if it was misunderstood by all the cultivators in the world.
The only way was to acquiesce.
The baby was Zhang Ruochen’s.
As for whether it was forced or voluntary?
It was not for outsiders to know.
Zhang Ruochen scolded, “You’re pregnant. You should take care of the baby. Don’t partic.i.p.ate in the Battle of Celestial-Hunting anymore. Leave the battlefield immediately.”
Yan Zhexian raised her eyelids and said, “You can’t control me.”
“Of course, I can’t control you, but I can control the child in your belly. I can’t control where my strikes would land. When the battle starts later, I won’t stop no matter what,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Yan Zhexian secretly gritted her teeth and said, “Zhang Ruochen, you’re the one who should leave the battlefield.”
Yan Huangtu’s eyes turned cold. He asked, “Xian’er, are you sure you want to let him leave the battlefield?”
Yan Zhexian’s answer was very important.
If Yan Zhexian was humiliated by Zhang Ruochen, Yan Huangtu and the Yanluo clan cultivators would not allow Zhang Ruochen to leave the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting alive.
If Yan Zhexian was willing to let Zhang Ruochen leave, then... her behavior was a bit funny, and people had to think about it.
Yan Zhexian was so angry that she was about to vomit blood. Why would her uncle ask so many questions?
Yan Zhexian said, “Zhang Ruochen let me go once on the home planet of the Yanluo clan. I’m just repaying his kindness.”
In the end, although Yan Zhexian hated Zhang Ruochen, she didn’t want to kill him.
The reason why Yan Zhexian had destroyed Zhang Ruochen’s spiritual clone was that everyone had their own master in the Battle of Celestial-Hunting. She had no choice but to do so. Just like Luo Sha, although she liked Zhang Ruochen very much, she had to put the interests of the Rakshasas first in the Battle of Celestial-Hunting.
Coming to the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting represented more than just herself.
They have to put their personal feelings aside.
It’s the same as how Zhang Ruochen had to kill Supreme Saint Manjian.
“Alright, I respect your decision,” said Yan Huangtu.
Yan Huangtu’s eyes flashed with the words “I understand.” “Zhang Ruochen, you should know this flute, right?” he said, pulling out a blood jade flute.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen knew it. It was Lord Xia Yu’s Soul-siphoning Flute.
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes flashed with surprise. He immediately checked the Pleiades Lotus in his hand. Then he let out a long sigh. “I didn’t expect that Yan Huangtu, who cultivates the Imperial Path, would be so cunning.”
“The Imperial Path is unpredictable,” Yan Huangtu said.
There were only 100,000 Spirits of Lord Xia Yu in the Pleiades Lotus. Her Saint Soul was nowhere to be found.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Is her Saint Soul in the Soul-siphoning Flute?”
Yan Huangtu nodded, he said, “My last attack sent the Pleiades Lotus flying in advance. She had no chance to hide her Saint Soul in it. The Soul-siphoning Flute had been hanging on her body and became the carrier of her Saint Soul. I have won. What else do you have to say?”
Zhang Ruochen was silent.
Yan Huangtu said, “If you want Lord Xia Yu to live, you should immediately withdraw from the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting. This is the best outcome for you.”
Zhang Ruochen remained silent.
Yan Huangtu said, “I know that your cultivation has improved greatly and your fighting spirit is high. You must be very unwilling. However, it’s useless. Look at this starry sky. The powerful figures of the Bone Clan and the Yanluo clan are gathered. As for you Immortal Vampires, you are either a low-level Nine-Step Saint King or a seriously injured Neverwilt Realm Supreme Saint. This is the momentum. You can’t turn it over by yourself! I believe that even if you leave the battlefield, the Immortal Vampires’ G.o.ds won’t blame you.”
Hundreds of Supreme Saints of the Bone Clan gathered here. Every one of them was extremely imposing.
Pink Skull stood in the repaired dimensional teleportation array and predicted the coordinates of the 63 Nine-Step Saint Kings of the Immortal Vampires who had left. At the same time, he sent the Supreme Saints of the Bone Clan to chase after them; they wanted to destroy the Immortal Vampires that those Nine-Step Saint Kings had taken away.
Other than Yan Huangtu, Yan Zhexian, and the Eight Sons of Life and Death, all the Array Masters of the Yanluo clan formed three ninth-cla.s.s arrays under the leaders.h.i.+p of six High-Saint Array Masters. They formed three giant beasts that looked like centipedes.
All the Talisman Masters of the Yanluo clan drew the Great Orbital Talisman. It formed a circular wall that sealed off this s.p.a.ce.
The cultivators of the Immortal Vampires had come out of seclusion because of Zhang Ruochen. Their cultivation was low, but their fighting spirit was strong.
However, at this moment, because of the reversal of the momentum, Zhang Ruochen was tightly held by Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian. They all looked depressed as if they felt that the momentum was over.
“Zhang Ruochen is indeed strong, but it’s a pity that it’s hard to fight alone. The Yanluo clan is destined to be the supreme clan. No clan can challenge them.”
“I feel so bad. I had a chance to win first place in the Battle of Celestial-Hunting.”
“Supreme Saint Yao Jia died in vain!”
...
As a cultivator of the Imperial Path, Yan Huangtu was very satisfied with the current atmosphere. He suppressed any enemy with his power and was very happy. If he could force Zhang Ruochen out of the battlefield, his momentum would rise to a higher level. He would have a chance to fuse a Grade Two Saintwill.
As a winner, he didn’t have to defeat the enemy himself.
Utilizing the momentum was the true winner.
Yan Huangtu said, “Your Power of Dimension and Time is indeed mysterious. Maybe you can take away Lord Xia Yu’s body from Xian’er, or maybe you can take away the Soul-siphoning Flute from me. However, you can’t do both at the same time.
“After all, Lord Xia Yu is a Supreme Saint who has fused a Grade Three Saintwill. She’s also the number one beauty of your b.l.o.o.d.ysky Clan. Are you willing to watch her die? Instead of struggling bitterly, why don’t you take a step back and take the beauty home?
“I can promise you that as long as you withdraw from the battlefield, I will not exterminate the Immortal Vampires and leave the Immortal Vampires in second place in the Battle of Celestial-Hunting.”
Yan Huangtu’s words were very tempting. It made the eyes of the Immortal Vampires s.h.i.+ne and made them lose their will to fight.
Second place in the Battle of Celestial-Hunting seemed to be a very good result. It had far exceeded the expectations of the Immortal Vampires’ G.o.ds.
However, Zhang Ruochen remained silent.
Yan Huangtu’s eyes were cold. He seemed to have lost his patience. He waved his sleeve and said, “Go and capture all 14 Immortal Vampires’ Supreme Saints who have their clansmen with them.”
Instantly, a team of Array Masters from the Yanluo clan controlled the 300-mile-long centipede formation to fly toward the Madre b.l.o.o.d.y Shadow jade tree.
The 14 Immortal Vampires Supreme Saints who stood near the jade tree had 77 million clansmen with them. They all looked at Zhang Ruochen in panic.
The aura of the centipede formation was comparable to that of a Thousand-Koan realm Supreme Saint. They couldn’t resist it at all.
Some Immortal Vampires weren’t willing to lose. They wanted to take first place among the ten clans. Although they were heavily injured, they were still charged at the 14 Supreme Saints, trying to cover their escape.
“It’s already the last day. How can we give up just like that? Let’s fight to the death with the Yanluo clan.”
“Retreat quickly. As long as the Immortal Vampires aren’t wiped out, we still have a chance.”
They knew that they were just like a mantis trying to stop a chariot, so they all looked at Zhang Ruochen. Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen seemed to have chosen to compromise with Yan Huangtu and Yan Zhexian. He had no intention of attacking.
The 300-mile-long centipede formation swooped down and exploded with terrifying force. Even a Supreme Saint couldn’t stand firm in the face of such power. He resembled a s.h.i.+p at sea.
“Fight!”
“I will self-detonate my Sainthood Source and destroy it.”
A Supreme Saint from the Qitian Clan revealed a look of determination as he spread his blood-red wings and flew toward the centipede formation.
A slightly plump High-Saint Array Master from the Yanluo clan chuckled within the centipede formation. “He’s just a Supreme Saint of the Neverwilt Realm. He won’t be able to destroy my Gigantic Centipede Formation even if he self-destructs.”
WHOOs.h.!.+ WHOOs.h.!.+
He raised the staff in his hand. Immediately, ten layers of defensive halo shot out from the centipede’s body.
The other Array Masters within the centipede also raised their staffs.
The ten layers of the defensive halo became even brighter.
To them, the self-destruction of a Neverwilt Realm Supreme Saint was insignificant.
Only the self-destruction of a Hundred-Shackle Realm Supreme Saint could pose a threat to their array. From this, one could see how powerful the array they had set up was.
However...
The 300-mile-long centipede formation shook violently. Tens of thousands of inscriptions of the array were shattered from the back.
“How is it possible... He hasn’t self-destructed yet...”
More than 20 Array Masters of the Yanluo clan looked up.
They saw a fire cloud breakthrough 10 layers of defensive light. It broke through the Gigantic Centipede Formation and rushed toward them.
A remarkable figure was wrapped in the fire cloud.
Only Zhang Ruochen was capable of such an entrance.
Boom
The centipede formation exploded and turned into a cloud of divine flames.
More than 20 Array Masters of the Yanluo clan flew out. Most of them were severely injured. Their bodies were charred black and they screamed in pain.
“It’s the Divine Purification Flame... It’s invaded my body...”
“It’s not just the Divine Purification Flame. Other divine flames are refining my Saint Soul...”
The next moment, more than 20 Array Masters of the Yanluo clan were pulled back by the Power of Dimension. They were all trampled under Zhang Ruochen’s feet.
The divine flames were still burning on their bodies. Some of them were only left with bones.
Zhang Ruochen said in a deep voice, “I’m sorry! Since I’m on the Battlefield of Celestial-Hunting, I represent the entire Immortal Vampires. No threat can make me surrender. Let her go!”
The Immortal Vampires watching the projection of the Mystic Eye of Myriad Realms all breathed a sigh of relief.
Zhang Ruochen did not disappoint them. Although he was a womanizer, he was able to forsake his personal feelings and sever all ties in the face of major events.
One needed such boldness to achieve great things.
The Immortal Vampire Supreme Saint who was about to self-detonate was stunned. Then he revealed a look of ecstasy and stopped activating the blood-red aura in his body. As long as Zhang Ruochen was willing to fight, it would be extremely difficult for the Yanluo clan to exterminate the Immortal Vampires.
Because Zhang Ruochen was very powerful, he was one of the strongest cultivators on the battlefield.
After many battles, many of the Immortal Vampires had let go of their prejudice. They wors.h.i.+ped Zhang Ruochen like an idol.
Yan Huangtu, Yan Zhexian, the Eight Sons of Life and Death, and all the cultivators of the Yanluo clan wanted to attack at the same time.
Crack
As soon as they moved, there was the sound of bones breaking under Zhang Ruochen’s feet.
Some of the Yanluo clan’s Array Masters’ bones were shattered.
“Zhang Ruochen, do you think I will be threatened?” Yan Huangtu’s eyes were cold. He had no intention of compromising.
Over 20 Array Masters, including two High-Saint Array Masters, were extremely valuable. Many Macroworlds lacked even a single High-Saint Array Master. However, in Yan Huangtu’s opinion, the Yanluo clan’s face and dignity, the supreme clan’s status, and a firm heart were more important.
Yan Wushen was the one who compromised on the Yanluo clan’s home planet previously.
However, Yan Huangtu would never compromise.
If Zhang Ruochen dared to kill more than 20 Array Masters, he would be hunted down by the Yanluo clan endlessly.
Yan Huangtu stared at Zhang Ruochen, “Kill them!” He said. “If you kill them, I’ll kill Xia Yu right now. I’ll do as I say. Next, all the Immortal Vampires present, including you, will suffer the Yanluo clan’s most vicious revenge.”
No cultivator doubted Yan Huangtu’s will.
Zhang Ruochen had long known that Yan Huangtu was such a ruthless person. Nothing could threaten him, so he had prepared a second strategy.