Chapter 2069: Jinlong Seizes the Armor
Seeing the Four Heavenly Kings retreating, Ghost Lord Yulin, Skeleton King Jinlie and Corpse King Yuanjue all heaved a sigh of relief as a look of excitement appeared in their eyes.
Having the opportunity to fight against the Four Heavenly Kings was something countless Infernal Court powerhouses all desired, but it was mostly a daydream.
After all, the Four Heavenly Kings were really powerful, and if they were to run into them, their end will probably be rather miserable.
The trio led by Ghost Kings Yulin considered their long-held ambition to be fulfilled. Even though all of them have suffered serious injuries, and had lost many men, to wound the Four Heavenly Kings, such a price was without a doubt totally worth it.
When word was sent back to the Infernal Court, it will definitely cause great fanfare, and their reputation will undoubtedly increase greatly as their ranking among the elites of the ten clans will also increase accordingly.
Pan Ruo was very calm, as she quickly retracted all of her power, and at the same time absorbed the Compass of Destiny into her body.
Yan Wushen also put away the Book of Death, as he turned around and looked at Pan Ruo and the others with a smile. “This time, it’s thanks to you guys, or else dealing with the Four Heavenly Kings would be really troublesome. Consider me owing all of you a favor. If you run into anything trouble in the future, you can come to look for me.”
“Brother Yan, you are too generous. It is our duty to deal with the Celestial Court’s powerhouses, plus, it is our honor to be able to fight beside you.” Ghost Lord Yulin said with a smile and complimented.
There was no choice, Yan Wushen was very powerful and forceful, even in the Infernal Court, there was no one that dared to pick a fight with him.
There were people who had challenged Yan Wushen before, but they were all given a proper beating. Even the top powerhouses in the Infernal Court’s Saint Kings ranking second and third were also beaten to a pulp by Yan Wushen before.
So, against Yan Wushen, Ghost Lord Yulin had to be cautious, lest he raised the former’s ire.
Yan Wushen naturally knew what Ghost Lord Yulin meant and said seriously. “I know what’s right and wrong. Since you lot have aided me, I will remember this. All right, you guys may return to your stations to mend your wounds.”
“Then, we shall take our leave.” Ghost Lord Yulin said.
After bidding farewell to Yan Wushen and Pan Ruo, Ghost Lord Yulin, Skeleton King Jinlie and Corpse King Yuanjue quickly exited the ruined battlefield with the surviving powerhouses.
From the beginning to the end, Corpse King Yuanjue was extremely silent and said nary a word.
No one was surprised at this because everyone knew that he was a person of few words.
Yan Wushen looked at Pan Ruo with a thoughtful look, saying. “With my strength alone, I have no chance winning against the Four Heavenly Kings, but… hahaha, from now on, you are my ally and I shall aid you to become the Chosen of the Fane of Destiny. When you get stronger, if you joining forces with me, we should be able to fight them on equal footing, or even overwhelm them.”
“The strength of the Four Heavenly Kings are indeed very powerful. The power of World Creation they have is also extremely unusual. I am very interested in fighting them again.” Pan Ruo’s tone was calm but there was a brilliant glint in her eyes.
Although she did not expressly agree to Yan Wushen’s proposal of an alliance, she had no doubt expressed her thoughts on the matter with these words.
At this moment, a saint light flew from the sky and fell into Yan Wushen’s hands.
“Hmmm? The sacred will of Xue Lingxian had already dissipated. A shame, I wanted to fight him too. Seems like there’s no chance now.”
Upon reading the content on the light talisman, Yan Wushen could not help but let out a sigh.
With the matter here over, Yan Wushen was prepared to leave for the Sect of the Blood God, but now, he had to give up upon this idea.
“Never mind, I’ll just look for a place to heal up first, and cultivate a little more. Pan Ruo, what’re your plans?” Yan Wushen turned his head toward Pan Ruo.
Pan Ruo looked into the depths of the Darkmourn Mountains and said. “I want to enter the Darkmourn Mountains and further comprehend the Path of Destiny.”
“I wish you luck then.”
As he said that, Yan Wushen did not linger as he disappeared without a trace.
Pan Ruo stood there for a while as she pondered a little before setting off, darting towards the depths of the Darkmourn Mountains.
The duel between the top powerhouses of the Celestial Court and the Infernal Court thus came to an end, with both Yan Wushen and the Four Heavenly Kings all wounded. If this were to spread out, one could only imagine what sort of uproar it will cause.
It was a pity that there were no spectators of this battle, save for only Jinlong who only knew how to eat that secretly observed while hidden in the dark.
“Hmm? What is this Netherkin woman doing entering the Darkmourn Mountains? I need to follow and have a look, and perhaps even get my body back.”
Jinlong’s eyes whirled about as it quietly followed Pan Ruo.
After sending the six Emissaries Vigilant away, peace once again returned to the Sect of the Blood God as everything seemed to have been settled.
After suffering repeated attacks, the sect grounds were seriously damaged. Aside from Yingzhu Peak, Qianyuan Mountain, and the Blood God’s Altar, the other places were nothing but a scene of devastation. They needed rebuilding as the formation arrays too needed redeploying.
These things were not troublesome, and there was no need to trouble the grandmaster, Zhang Ruochen.
Yingzhu Peak, Inside Guiyuan Hall.
After some treatment, Zhang Ruochen’s injury was basically fully healed. Only now he had the time and energy to count the spoils from the previous battle.
With the exception of a piece of the Demonstone Engraving and Rune Suppression Stones that were given to Blackie, all of the treasures seized were with Zhang Ruochen.
With a flip of his hand, Zhang Ruochen took out the Exquisite Dimensional Orb that contained the treasures.
There were not only many treasures inside it, but it also subdued the Azuresky Holy Dragon and Xuetu.
The total net worth of more than a thousand Saint King-realm elites was definitely a bonanza, even Zhang Ruochen could not help but look forward to it.
It did not take long for Zhang Ruochen to roughly count the treasures in the orb as a bright smile appeared on his face.
“One Supreme Sacred Artifact, two Divine Artifacts, three King’s Weapons, seven Demonstone Engravings, eight precious items to forge the Neverwither Saint Body, thirteen Godstones…”
Pieces of precious treasures were taken out by Zhang Ruochen from the orb, and any one of them would attract countless powerhouses to fight for it. Even a Supreme Saint powerhouse or even the gods would be tempted.
Some weaker major realms may not even be able to produce such an amount of treasures.
The Infernal Purgatory Tower was a Supreme Sacred Artifact, and the Nethersun Wheel and the Tome of Light were ancient divine artifacts, but all of them had one thing in common, that they were all created by powerful gods. So their power was unparalleled, and they had even slew gods before.
Of the three King’s Weapons, Mo Sheng’s Blade of the Voracious Wolf was the best, but unfortunately, it suffered some damage. Zhuo Gu’s Purple-Gold Demonic Spear and the Blacksoul Umbrella that many Black Demon cultivators had used to fight Zhang Ruochen’s thunder attacks were slightly worse in quality but were still very powerful.
Speaking of which, if not for that Blacksoul Umbrella, those eight hundred Black Demon Saint Kings would have been blasted to smithereens by Zhang Ruochen’s thunder attacks, and there was no need to wait until Xue Lingxian to come out and deal with them.
“The people of Black Demon Realm sure are capable, to collect so many Demonstone Engravings. Blackie said that the engravings are probably related to a divine artifact, and I wonder if it’s true or not.”
Reaching out to touch the engravings on the ancient stone carvings, Zhang Ruochen had many thoughts in his mind.
There were a total of 12 Demonstone Engravings before him, and counting the one Blackie had, there were 13 in total, which was more than one-third of the total number.
This amount was more than the Black Market’s own collection.
In Zhang Ruochen’s mind, the Saint King-realm powerhouses of Black Demon Realm were many, and the number of Demonstone Engravings they have collected should be more than eight pieces, but he had no idea who were holding the remaining engravings.
There were a total of 36 Demonstone Engravings, Zhang Ruochen had thirteen, the Black Market nine, the Moon Worship Demonic Sect three, which adds up to a total of 25 pieces.
In other words, there were still eleven pieces scattered outside, and collecting all of them would not be easy.
The Black Market had very deep tendrils, and the Moon Worship Demonic Sect were no pushovers as well, so the Black Demon Realm have little hope of getting the Demonstone Engravings from these two factions.
And some of the Demonstone Engravings had long since disappeared, with their whereabouts unknown.
So, no matter how great the Black Demon Realm was, the Demonstone Engravings they had were probably a handful.
“Losing eight Demonstone Engravings to me in a single go, I suppose the people in Black Demon Realm now hates me right into the bone.” Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly.
Black Demon Realm was once under Kunlun Realm’s grace, but they shamelessly betrayed the latter in the end and willingly became the minions of the Heavenly Realm. Zhang Ruochen had no goodwill towards this major realm, and naturally would not allow them any hint of satisfaction.
Anyone in Kunlun Realm should not be willing to see Black Demon Realm continue to grow bigger.
If possible, Zhang Ruochen would not let anyone from Black Demon Realm take away a single piece of the Demonstone Engravings.
After carefully observing the twelve Demonstone Engravings before him, Zhang Ruochen could not help but show a contemplative expression. “The Demonstone Engravings sure is arcane, and a sacred artifact of the Demonic Path. Cultivating anyone to its pinnacle means a chance to become a god. I wonder what powerful existence had created it. Although I don’t cultivate the demonic arts, I still can gain something useful from them.”
In his previous life, Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation level was too low, and could not understand the Demonstone Engravings.
In this lifetime, Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation was profound and his strength powerful, and he could comprehend the mysteries inside the Demonstone Engravings and enhance his own accumulations.
In his recent battles, Zhang Ruochen had been more and more aware that he had a lot of flaws in his swordsmanship. Except for the Swordsmanship of Time, and Sword Ten, he had no other sword techniques that he could rely upon. Be it the True Thunder-Fire Sword Technique of the Dreadblade, or Ling Feiyu’s Nine Lives Sword Technique was no longer on par with his current cultivation level.
If he cannot learn a more powerful swordsmanship technique, then there was only one path to go, to create his own sword technique.
Although this is difficult, it was a step that must be taken.
For those peerless sword masters, almost all of the strongest sword techniques they mastered were their own creations.
It was because only a self-created sword technique can bring out one’s strongest power.
“I’ve now cultivated over seven hundred thousand precepts of the sword. With such an accumulation, and if I were to spend some time, I should be able to create my own sword technique.”
A brilliant glint appeared in Zhang Ruochen’s eyes, as he made a decision in his heart.
With thirty-three Godstones in hand, time was not a problem.
Too many things had happened recently, and Zhang Ruochen had been pushed to the cusp of the storm, so it was time to lay low and reduce the attention he gets from all parties.
“Hmm?”
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen noticed something.
With a flicker, Zhang Ruochen left the Guiyuan Hall and appeared outside the sect grounds.
“Come out.” Zhang Ruochen looked in a direction and said indifferently.
Suddenly, a handsome figure appeared out of thin air as he bowed and saluted Zhang Ruochen. ” Greetings, Your Royal Highness.”
The young man that appeared before him was no stranger to Zhang Ruochen. He was the former Crown Prince of the Qitian Clan of the Immortal Vampire of Kunlun Realm, Qi Sheng.
Back then, after Empress Chi Yao returned as a goddess, she had wiped out the Immortal Vampires in Kunlun Realm in one fell swoop, only Qi Sheng and the Undying Shennü, Ying Huo were lucky to escape that fate.
Back then in the Eastern Region, Zhang Ruochen accidentally met the two and seized the Godslayer Cross Shield and the Grimoire of Beasts from their hands. He had wanted to kill them, but the Beguiler Demon Qiu Yichi suddenly appeared and rescued both of them.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Qi Sheng for a while, with a look of surprise in his eyes. He had not expected Qi Sheng’s cultivation to have reached the realm of a Seven-step Saint King.
However, when he thought of the many precious cultivation resources that the Blood Empress had, and Qi Sheng’s already excellent fundamental aptitude, it was not surprising for him to rise by two realms in a short period of time.
Especially when the second level of the Endless Abyss had many mysterious and unfathomable secret areas, one of them had a time flow rate that was different from the outside world.
Making full use of these, cultivating a powerhouse was not too difficult.
“Qi Sheng, what business have you with me?” Zhang Ruochen asked faintly.
Qi Sheng wore a respectful look, saying. “Your Royal Highness, I came with orders from Her Majesty the Blood Empress, and hope that Your Royal Highness can hand over Xuetu to me.”
Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s expression suddenly changed slightly. He really did not expect the Blood Empress would send someone to ask for Xuetu from him.
There were deep grievances between him and Xuetu, and Xuetu was an Immortal Vampire. Now that the latter had fallen into his hand, there was no possibility of him letting the Xuetu go.
Inadvertently, a tinge of murderous intent radiated out of Zhang Ruochen’s body.
Sensing the murderous intent, Qi Sheng’s eyes could not help but twitch, as he said. “Her Majesty the Blood Empress beckoned me to inform you that Xuetu Shenzi is very useful to her, and she guarantees that Xuetu will never appear in Kunlun Realm again, nor will he be your enemy anymore.”
“Also, this is something Her Majesty asked me to hand over this to Your Highness in exchange for Xuetu Shenzi.”
Zhang Ruochen wanted to refuse straight away, but upon remembering that Kong Lanyou and Chi Kunlun were still in the second level of the Endless Abyss, if the Blood Empress were to take her anger out on them, things will undoubtedly be troublesome.
His mind ran quickly as Zhang Ruochen said solemnly. “Tell her, I hope that she could keep her promise. I do not want to see Xuetu in Kunlun Realm ever again.”
As he said that, Zhang Ruochen released Xuetu from the Exquisite Dimensional Orb, and casually tossed the latter to Qi Sheng.
“Your Royal Highness, this…”
Qi Sheng raised the dimensional bag with a distressed look.
“I don’t need anything from her.”
After saying that, Zhang Ruochen disappeared without a trace.
Qi Sheng was taken aback for a moment, and could only put the dimensional bag away. This result was totally expected by the Blood Empress.
Regardless, he had finally completed his task and successfully obtained Xuetu Shenzi from Zhang Ruochen’s hands.
Not wasting any time lingering, Qi Sheng immediately took Xuetu Shenzi and left towards the direction of the Endless Abyss.
In the depths of the Darkmourn Mountains, it was enveloped by a powerful evil Yin Qi all year round, and the environment was extremely complicated, even a top-level Saint King powerhouse would not dare to go into the place willy-nilly.
Pan Ruo seemed to be very familiar with the Darkmourn Mountains, and it did not take long before she was deep inside it.
Darkmourn Mountains was a world of its own. It was gray throughout, with countless spirits of the dead and ghosts roaming within it. It was silent, without any signs of life.
Before Pan Ruo was an extremely majestic mountain. This mountain was very different, and its outline looked much like a standing giant.
Compared to the surrounding peaks, this human-shaped peak had the strongest concentration of Yin Qi and death Qi, and many fragments of fate lingered outside the peak.
“The Darkmourn Mountains is indeed very unusual, for it to contain the Fragments of Destiny of living creatures here. This place is indeed very suitable for me to cultivate my Path of Destiny.
Looking at the towering human-shaped peak, a glint appeared in Pan Ruo’s eyes.
“Let’s cultivate here for a while, and then look for the vessel spirit of the Emperor Ming’s Hundred Dragon Cuirass, or perhaps it will come looking for it itself.”
With a whisper, Pan Ruo stepped forward and headed towards the human-shaped mountain.
She did not fly directly to the mountain top, but instead slowly climbed up from the foot of the mountain as she carefully comprehended the mysteries of the mountain, and absorbed the Fragments of Destiny into her body.
As it looked at Pan Ruo climbing the mountain, a surprised look appeared in its eyes. “Oh? She sure knows how to look, this is indeed a wonderful place to cultivate the Path of Destiny.”
“Let’s take back the cuirass first.”
After staring for a moment, Jinlong stretched its dragon claw out and grabbed the void as a series of inscriptions that matched Emperor Ming’s Hundred Dragon Cuirass formed in its claw.
When it was outside, it was not convenient for it to strike, for fear of attracting the attention of the Emissaries Vigilant, but now that it is in the depths of the Darkmourn Mountains, it had no more of such concerns.
Suddenly, the phantom of the cuirass appeared on the surface of Pan Ruo’s body as hundreds of golden light rushed out of it, turning into golden dragons and let out a heaven-shaking dragon roar.
“Hmm?”
Pan Ruo’s expression froze for a moment, as she quickly roused the precepts of destiny in her body, forming an ancient Gate of Destiny to try to suppress the cuirass.
It was just that Jinlong’s strength was too strong, and as the vessel spirit of Emperor Ming’s Hundred Dragon Cuirass, it had a very mystical connection with its body, and Pan Ruo’s strength as it was today could not suppress it at all.
Baaaammm!
The Gate of Destiny blasted open, and the true form of Emperor Ming’s Hundred Dragon Cuirass flew out of her body.
Whoosh!
The Hundred Dragon Cuirass fell into Jinlong’s hand as it grabbed onto it firmly.
Suddenly, Jinlong’s body grew rapidly and instantly transforming into a giant dragon tens of thousands of feet long. Each of its dragon scales was several dozens feet in size, and its whole body radiated with golden light as if they were made of divine gold.
Jinlong coiled in the sky as its body exuded a vast and powerful Supreme Saint aura, that pressed onto Pan Ruo like a series of ancient sacred mountains, causing her to feel like she was unable to move. However, she did not panic and remained very calm.
Jinlong lowered its head as it looked at Pan Ruo from high above with cold eyes and nary any emotions as if it was looking at a gnat.
“Netherkin woman, where did you get Emperor Ming’s Hundred Dragon Cuirass from? You better be honest about this, or I will rip your soul out and burn it for ten thousand years with divine flames, making you wish that you were dead.”