Chapter 899: An Arduous Battle

Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio

“No…” the demonic marten cried out and flew back, crashing right into the spatial crack. Soundlessly, the huge body was ripped in half.

Gradually, the two bloody parts of the body shrunk into a broken human-shaped corpse.

A regional king of the Ministry of War had died on the battle platform with only a skull and a pair of boots left. Everyone gasped and stared at Zhang Ruochen in shock. Was he really a first level Half-Saint?

“He’s this powerful?” Wang Jie’s expression darkened.

“He didn’t even use the Destruction of the Thousand-patterns. How can he be this strong?”

Wan Zhaoyi furrowed his brow, also in shock. Even with his talent and opportunities, he had been weaker than Zhang Ruochen when he was in the first level. If Zhang Ruochen became a Saint one day, he would definitely reign over everyone else.

But would that day ever come?

Whoosh—

Wang Piao’s saint soul flew out from between his eyebrows and rushed out of the battle platform. However, Zhang Ruochen was faster. He caught the saint soul with the Ruyi Treasure Bottle.

Below the platform, Feng Qin yelled, “Zhang Ruochen, you’re too cruel! Not only did you kill the Marten Demon King, you won’t let his saint soul go either?”

Holding the Ruyi Treasure Bottle, Zhang Ruochen said nonchalantly, “I already said that anyone who comes up here will die. Please think carefully before coming.”

“If you die in my hands, I will definitely send your saint soul to the Nirvana Prison to suffer through 108 types of torture, never to be reincarnated.” Feng Qin’s eyes turned bloodshot. He wanted to go up right then and duel with Zhang Ruochen.

But then Wan Zhaoyi reminded him, “Zhang Ruochen’s abilities are equal to that of a sixth level Half-Saint, but he can use spatial power and change his direction, tear the space…and more. It’ll catch you by surprise. Be careful when you fight with him. Keep note of the spatial ripples. Don’t get caught and die like Wang Piao.”

“Understood,” Feng Qin replied. Then he signed the life-or-death contract. Stepping off the ground, he shot to the platform.

This time, no one tried to compete with Feng Qin. After all, everyone had seen the previous fight clearly. Zhang Ruochen was a cruel figure. Not everyone could handle him.

Feng Qin’s body radiated red saintly light. It was like a patch of fiery clouds flew past Zhang Ruochen’s head. Next, a fiery-red fist print slammed down on Zhang Ruochen’s head.

Feng Qin’s fist technique was called the Hundred-battle Ox Demon Fist. It had 100 moves in total and each one was a powerful Consummate Skill. It was only a bit weaker than a saintly technique.

“War God Yu Jing.”

His punch made an ear-splitting boom. Thankfully, there were soundproof formations around the battle platform. Otherwise, just this boom could burst the eardrums of many Monks.

Wang Piao had just reached the sixth level of the Half-Saint Realm and was already a hard match. Zhang Ruochen had been forced to use a spatial crack to kill him.

Feng Qin was more powerful. He had reached the pinnacle of the sixth level. They were both in the sixth level, but Feng Qin could defeat Wang Piao in less than ten moves.

Zhang Ruochen didn’t dare to underestimate him. He called out the Abyss Ancient Sword. Activating his Holy Qi and Sword Intent, the Abyss Ancient Sword shone brilliantly with black light. He struck down.

He couldn’t use the Destruction of the Thousand-patterns. Under these circumstances, only the Abyss Ancient Sword could unleash his strongest power.

Whoosh!

A beam of sword light flew out. It seemed like a simple strike, but it contained some of Sword Three’s mysteries. It used a specific angle to dissolve the force of Feng Qin’s fist.

Feng Qin was a war-hardened King. Each of his moves flowed like water. He immediately regathered his power and punched a second time.

“Stallion and Chaos.”

Dozens of black demonic oxen shadows appeared around his fiery-red fist as it punched toward Zhang Ruochen again. The strong force shrouded the entire platform. Zhang Ruochen had nowhere to hide.

It was clear that Feng Qin was repressing Zhang Ruochen with speed and power. This way, he couldn’t use spatial power.

Zhang Ruochen crossed his sword to block the force. Dense Sword Qi flew out of the blade. The thousands of beams formed a semi-circular sword formation.

With a boom, the fist print shattered the sword formation. Zhang Ruochen was thrown back.

Zhang Ruochen had already activated his Space Domain, so he quickly dissolved the punch’s force. But before he could land, Feng Qin’s third punch was already before him. It came down like a burning meteorite.

That moment, Zhang Ruochen’s turned red from the reflection.

“Five Elements Laksana.” Lights of five colors shone from Zhang Ruochen’s body, shattering all the surrounding oxen apparitions.

At the same time, sword light flashed.

The tip of the Abyss Ancient Sword crashed against Feng Qin’s fist. There was a huge boom as if two steel mountains had clashed.

Feng Qin wore saint level gloves on his hands. He wasn’t hurt when he crashed against the Abyss Ancient Sword. However, the gloves cracked and became useless.

“Even a Thousand-pattern Saint Weapon can’t be that sharp.” Feng Qin stared at Zhang Ruochen’s Abyss Ancient Sword. Fear was in his eyes. He didn’t dare to go against that sword anymore.

If a saint weapon couldn’t block that sword, a Half-Saint’s body had no chance.

Zhang Ruochen wasn’t much better off from the clash. He flew out and hit the formation wall at the edge of the platform with a boom. He indented the wall.

When he landed on the ground again, blood flowed out of his right arm. It went down his finger and into the sword. Zhang Ruochen had borne the brunt with his strong physique, so he was only slightly hurt. Any other first level Half-Saint would have turned into dust from Feng Qin’s punch.

Whoosh.

The Abyss Ancient Sword absorbed Zhang Ruochen’s fresh blood and pulsed with rings of red light.

“This…”

Zhang Ruochen sensed the sword’s changes. He was overjoyed. It was a sign that the Abyss Ancient Sword was about to upgrade into the Thousand-pattern Saint Weapon.

Once it upgraded, the sword spirit would awaken too.

Not only would the sword sharpen, the sword spirit would also help Zhang Ruochen. His sword moves would become more perfect and powerful. Plus, in his previous life, the Abyss Ancient Sword’s sword spirit had been his good friend.

How could Zhang Ruochen not be happy that it was about to awaken? He swept up Wang Piao’s four Hundred-pattern Saint Weapon blood blades and sent them flying to the Abyss Ancient Sword.

The sword was smart. It immediately started refining the four blades. It also wanted to reach the Thousand-pattern Saint Weapon level as soon as possible and help Zhang Ruochen with the coming fights.

“It can refine other saint weapons.” Feng Qin stared at the Abyss Ancient Sword in even more shock.

The black saint sword in Zhang Ruochen’s hands could disable a Hundred-pattern Saint Weapon. That alone was strange. It was like the kryptonite of all saint weapons.

Wouldn’t it become sharper if it refined the four blood blades?

“Killing Token.” Feng Qin took out a metal badge and added Holy Qi to it.

The badge turned into a black stone tablet, dozens of feet tall. It radiated with domineering royal Qi and pummeled down at Zhang Ruochen, who was at the edge of the platform.

“Collect!” Zhang Ruochen opened the Ruyi Treasure Bottle and collected the Killing Token.

However, the Killing Token was very aggressive. The Empress’ mark emerged and sent the Ruyi Treasure Bottle flying away.

The Ruyi Treasure Bottle couldn’t collect the Killing Token, but Zhang Ruochen used the chance to activate the Luan Phoenix Deity Print Speed. He flew out, avoiding the Killing Token’s attack.

Kaboom.

The Killing Token hit the edge of the platform. The hovering platform shook violently from the force. It was about to fall to the ground.

Zhang Ruochen was faster than a seventh level Half-Saint. However, Feng Qin grasped rules of the wind way. He was very fast as well and was comparable to Zhang Ruochen.

Just as Zhang Ruochen rushed out, Feng Qin already predicted how Zhang Ruochen would dodge the attack. He sent out a second attack, taking the initiative.

The Kings of the Ministry of War have all experienced hundreds of battles, Zhang Ruochen thought. They’ve experienced many life-or-death challenges. As expected, they’re difficult to deal with.

The Killing Token’s power shrouded the entire platform. Zhang Ruochen couldn’t escape. The platform was too small. This was a disadvantage for him.

With no other choices, Zhang Ruochen steadied himself and shone with five-colored lights. He pressed forward, clashing squarely with the Killing Token.

Thud!

Zhang Ruochen flew back again, hitting the defense light shield at the edge of the platform. This crash was even stronger. His spine seemed to break and his entire body was numb. He couldn’t feel it anymore.

Poof.

Zhang Ruochen stood up again. As soon as he straightened, he spat out a mouthful of blood. Gradually, intense pain surged from all over his body. His vision went black and he swayed, almost falling to the ground.

Seeing this, cheers arose below the platform.

“I thought Zhang Ruochen would last a while, but he only blocked a few of Feng Qin’s attacks.”

“This Immortal Vampires’ dog will finally be killed. I’m so happy, haha.”

“Kill Zhang Ruochen. Hack him into thousands of pieces.”

“If you want to infiltrate the Guardians of the Prison and work for the Vampires, this will be your ending.” Wang Jie grinned and looked toward Shi Ren.

Shi Ren clenched his fists tightly. He wanted to rush onto the platform, but the elders of the Shi Family stopped him.

Li Min bit her lip. Her clear eyes shone with unshed tears. She couldn’t bear to see Zhang Ruochen die on the platform.

She believed fiercely that Zhang Ruochen wasn’t a bad person. He definitely wouldn’t work with the Vampires. He should rise up powerfully and become a Saint that everyone looked up too. He shouldn’t have this kind of ending.