Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
After that previous fight, Princess White Li had an idea about the human male's true abilities. He was indeed strong, but she could still counter him.
He might have some hidden tricks he hadn't used, but so did Princess White Li. If they truly started fighting, they might not be able to produce a victor even after three days and nights.
It was a fantasy to want to defeat her in 17 strikes.
"You're too conceited!" Princess White Li said.
Zhang Ruochen didn't say anything more. He poured Holy Qi into the Abyss Ancient Sword. All the strength runes on it were activated, making the sword extremely heavy.
"First strike, thunder and fire burning the plain."
The ancient black sword stabbed into the ground. Lightning covered the sky and shot toward Princess White Li. The purple bolt of lightning was very thick. It melted more than 100 feet of the ground as soon as it landed, forming a small pool of lava.
Boom, boom.
Dozens of lightning bolts fell one after another. It felt like the world was ending soon. The green land was instantly turned into scorched earth—completely destroyed.
This move was from the True-Thunder Fire Sword Technique. Zhang Ruochen had completed the entire set long ago and could unleash saintly might.
Princess White Li was still composed. Walking with light steps, she kept dodging the plummeting bolts of lightning, leaving behind dozens of beautiful afterimages.
"Is that all you can do?" She pointed with a slender finger, sending a finger sword to Zhang Ruochen's chest.
"Gold Morning Sun."
Zhang Ruochen stabbed forward again. His sword flew out like a shooting star, cras.h.i.+ng against the other's finger sword. It was another saint technique.
This one was from the Nine-Life Sword Technique.
Princess White Li retreated again, shocked inwardly. This human was so young, but he was already an expert in two saint sword techniques. He'd also completed Sword Five of the Wordless Sword Manual.
Where did he get the time?
Many strong cultivators on the Half-Saint Rank and Outer Rank were only experts in one saint spell and could already fight the heroes of the world.
She naturally didn't know that Zhang Ruochen had spent a lot of effort on cultivating sword techniques in the Seven Lives and Seven Deaths Map. He'd only combined his knowledge of the Saintly Way from two worlds, but it was already extraordinary.
Whoosh.
Princess White Li and Zhang Ruochen's battle grew more and more intense. Their speed picked up more and more too. In the end, all one could see were blurs.
After ten strikes, Princess White Li had seen through Zhang Ruochen's tactics and became more relaxed.
"You indeed have high attainments in the Sword Way, but you lack variety," Princess White Li said. "You're unable to surpa.s.s Xue Wuye. You'll be unable to defeat me in 1,700 strikes too, let alone 17 strikes."
"Really?"
A strange smile flashed past Zhang Ruochen's eyes. He grasped the Abyss Ancient Sword and used Sword Five again.
Whooshes sounded around the blade. Dense shadows appeared, forming a sword river that struck toward Princess White Li.
She shook her head softly. Standing her ground, she formed a sword print with her fingers. Just then, she felt sharply an unfamiliar energy wave within the sword river.
"It's…time…"
By the time Princess White Li grew cautious, the time around her had already paused. The next moment, Zhang Ruochen's sword was already between her brows. The cold sword glinted. If it went in a bit more, it could pierce Princess White Li's skull.
"Fifteen strikes," Zhang Ruochen said.
Princess White Li was dazed. She dissipated the sword print she'd formed without losing her composure. Biting her lip with her white teeth, she said, "Time and s.p.a.ce Descendant, Zhang Ruochen. Am I right?"
"Indeed."
"You are so calculative," Princess White Li said.
"In my opinion, it's strategy."
Actually, Zhang Ruochen and Princess White Li were at the same level. It wasn't easy for Zhang Ruochen to win. It was even more impossible for him to win within 17 strikes.
This was why he had to be smart. He'd used the True-Thunder Fire Sword Technique and Nine-Life Sword Technique in the beginning to numb Princess White Li. It led up to using the time sword technique of Life and Death of Scale Eight in the end.
If Zhang Ruochen had used the time sword technique in the beginning, it would be when Princess White Li was the most alert. It would be impossible to defeat her, even if Zhang Ruochen could hurt her.
Once Princess White Li grew cautious, it would be impossible for Zhang Ruochen to trick her again.
Princess White Li stood up straight, not admitting defeat. "Let us fight again. If you can defeat me, I will help you save the humans from the Sky-swallowing Demonic Dragon with all my might."
Even if the opponent was the Time and s.p.a.ce Descendant, Princess White Li was still confident in countering him. She'd only lost in the previous round because she hadn't been careful enough.
"Are you still qualified to negotiate?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Princess White Li huffed coldly. She looked at the Carnivorous Holy Flower from the corner of her vision. She discovered that the fat cat had somehow sealed it within a formation.
No, it seems like I've underestimated that fat cat.
Princess White Li knew that her advantage was over, and was ready to retreat. She moved back and used the Close Heavenly Pace. The vast land behind her was shrinking quickly. One hundred miles became only a few feet.
Zhang Ruochen knew that the White Li Cat Clan had this natural saint spell, so he didn't let down his guard. As soon as Princess White Li started moving, Zhang Ruochen immediately used the Great Spatial Move and caught up. He pointed, hitting the Tianxin Aperture in her back.
Whoosh—
Rings of white flooded out of her back, sealing 90% of the Holy Qi within her. She fell down involuntarily.
Zhang Ruochen reached out. He held onto her thin waist and picked her up. Princess White Li's waist was very thin and flexible. She immediately flipped up and jabbed Zhang Ruochen with a sharp finger.
"If you don't want to die, you better be more obedient." Zhang Ruochen was flying in the air with a cold expression. He held her waist with one hand, pointing the Abyss Ancient Sword at her neck with the other.
The sharp blade already left a trail of blood down her pale neck.
Princess White Li glared at him angrily. She retracted her finger and then turned her delicate face to the side. "You make me hate humans even more than Xue Wuye."
"Really?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"At least Xue Wuye won't hurt a girl with his sword."
"That's why he's Xue Wuye and I'm Zhang Ruochen."
The oasis was destroyed and broken. Other than the Carnivorous Holy Flower, there was no other living plant. The holy tree had withered too, all the leaves having fallen off. It added a bit of misery to the land.
Whoos.h.!.+
Zhang Ruochen flew down and placed Princess White Li on the ground. He immediately hit 18 spots on Princess White Li's body to seal all her Holy Qi.
Blackie stood under the withered holy tree. It was maintaining the formation to seal the Carnivorous Holy Flower.
The flower had already grown into a towering vine. The root was as thick as a bowl. It had grown scales too. They shone metallically like dragon scales. The flower at the top of the plant was the size of a basin, but it hadn't bloomed yet. It shone brilliantly with ripples of saintly light.
The spirit and wisdom had already been born. Knowing that Princess White Li was captured, it started attacking Blackie's formation.
Kaboom.
Even though it hadn't bloomed yet, the flower's strength was still considerable. It even broke some of the formation runes. It wouldn't be long before it destroyed the formation.
Zhang Ruochen took out the Life and Death Mirror. He was ready to destroy the flower with the Destruction of the Thousand Patterns before it could break through the formation.
While controlling the formation, Blackie said, "The Carnivorous Holy Flower is a powerful battle plant, rarely seen throughout history. I think you should try to tame it and plant it in your Sea of Qi. That way, your combat ability will improve greatly."
"Are you tricking me?" Zhang Ruochen frowned.
The Carnivorous Holy Flower could suck a Saint's Holy Qi entirely, but Blackie wanted him to plant it in his Sea of Qi? Wasn't this suicide?
Princess White Li stood on the side with a strange smile. She felt like Blackie was tricking Zhang Ruochen too.
She was more familiar with the Carnivorous Holy Flower than anyone else. If Zhang Ruochen really planted the flower in his Sea of Qi, he would definitely become its nutrient. He would quickly be sucked dry.
Blackie shook its head quickly. "As long as you can tame and feed it, it won't suck your Holy Qi. Instead, it'll become an attack you can use. Even the Sky-swallowing Demonic Dragon will fear it when it blooms. Aren't you tempted?"
Princess White Li chuckled. "You think you can tame the Carnivorous Holy Flower?"
She and the flower were working together. It wasn't a master-servant relations.h.i.+p.
Blackie stared at her. "Others might not be able to, but the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree can."
The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree was the master of all plants. Any plant would feel respect for it. The Carnivorous Holy Flower was only a sapling now. The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree could tame it.
Zhang Ruochen thought carefully, weighing the pros and cons. In the end, he took out the Universe Spiritual Map. He wanted to communicate with the Divine Sky-Connecting Tree first and then make a decision.
The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree had a weak spirit now. Only Zhang Ruochen could communicate with it for a short period.
"The Divine Sky-Connecting Tree?"
Princess White Li's pretty eyes filled with shock. She stared at Zhang Ruochen's Universe Spiritual Map. Could it be…
