Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
King Lixian knew that time was short. He wanted to capture Zhang Ruochen quickly, so instead of wasting more time, he attacked immediately with the Killing Token.
Every regional king of the Ministry of War received a Killing Token given personally by the Empress. The token's power was different according to the king's level.
For example, King Thousand-elephant, Feng Qin and the others Zhang Ruochen had killed were merely lower regional kings. The power of their Killing Tokens was naturally limited.
However, King Lixian had accomplished great things in both overseas battles and in the Void World Battleground. He'd already become a mid-level regional king. His Killing Token was naturally stronger than the ones that the lower regional kings had.
With a wave of his hand, the Killing Token enlarged greatly. It seemed to cover the sky and gathered tumultuous killing Qi that surged out.
Kaboom.
The wind contained the cries of thousands of soldiers and horses. The rolling black Qi transformed into human and beastly forms that swept across the sky.
If Zhang Ruochen was still a first level Half-Saint, he might not have been able to block this attack. Of course, even as a second level Half-Saint, his expression was still serious and cold. He didn't relax at all.
His Masculine Qi and Holy Qi spun wildly in him. Thousands upon thousands of flames poured out of his pores.
"Dragon and Elephant Divine Furnace."
Zhang Ruochen's body was like a burning furnace. It melted the dirt under his feet into dripping red lava.
A golden palm was struck out. One could see a dragon and elephant coiled in the heart of the palm.
The Killing Token and Zhang Ruochen's palm clashed, creating a deafening boom. A soundwave visible to the naked eye flooded out, shattering all the oak trees on the mountain.
However, when the soundwave was about to hit the Sikong Zen Temple, various Buddhist words flew out of the temple. They formed a golden wall of words and blocked the force.
Zhang Ruochen retreated hundreds of feet before dissolving the Killing Token's power. He exhaled deeply.
A seventh level Half-Saint was indeed powerful. With his current cultivation, it was quite difficult to fight against people of that level.
King Lixian stared deeply at the Sikong Zen Temple with fear. The shockwave emitted from that clash was enough to kill a low level Half-Saint. Who would've thought that a wall of Buddhist words could block it?
There must be a strong figure hiding there. If they continued fighting outside the temple and angered the figure hiding inside, it might lead to trouble.
King Lixian stared at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Zhang Ruochen, let's go fight elsewhere."
"I'm afraid we can't go anymore."
Zhang Ruochen looked into the distance. There was a dark red cloud coming quickly from the east. King Lixian also sensed something. He immediately turned and gazed in the direction of the b.l.o.o.d.y cloud with a pair of burning eyes.
"Immortal Vampire." King Lixian's expression was serious. He became a bit nervous.
How did the Vampire get here? He also had silver wings growing out of his back. He wasn't an average Vampire general.
The Second Vampire Prince stood in the heart of the cloud. The large silver wings lightened up the dark sky. He sneered. "So there's someone from the Ministry of War too. Ha, which one should I kill first?"
"Such confident words."
Holding the Killing Token in one hand and the halberd in the other, King Lixian rode on the Winged Dragon. He charged into the b.l.o.o.d.y mist and started fighting with the Second Vampire Prince.
The Ministry of War and Immortal Vampires were nemeses. They didn't have to say anything and just started killing each other as soon as they met.
Boom, boom.
There were various bright booms from the b.l.o.o.d.y mist. All the Spiritual Qi shook violently.
The battle hadn't gone on for too long before King Lixian's Winged Dragon let out a pained cry. The large frame was split in half by the Second Vampire Prince and fell from the sky.
A moment later, the Second Prince's Blood Sword stabbed King Lixian's chest.
"Ha! How come the Ministry of War's seventh level Half-Saint is so weak?"
The Second Prince sneered menacingly. Baring his fangs, he bit the artery in King Lixian's neck and drank his fresh blood. King Lixian's entire body trembled. Uttering a loud roar, he took out a saint decree to try and escape.
However, the Blood Sword was stabbed through his body. He couldn't escape at all.
Gradually, his body withered and dried. His skin turned ashy gray and lost all vitality.
Pow!
The Second Prince shattered King Lixian's body. It turned into a clump of broken armor and ash. He scattered it in the air.
"A seventh level Half-Saint's blood is so sweet. If I can absorb all his blood, I'll probably reach the peak of the sixth level of the Half-Saint Realm." The Second Prince took out a white handkerchief and wiped the blood around his lips.
Inside the Sikong Zen Temple, Zhao Yue and Pu Yuelin were completely terrified. Their legs shook uncontrollably.
King Lixian was a big figure and in the top ten of the Ministry of War. Even the clan and family leaders feared him. But…such a powerful and dominating figure had died before their eyes. How could they not be in fear?
King Lixian was already dead. Would the Immortal Vampire let them go?
However, the Second Prince didn't even look at them. His eyes focused on Zhang Ruochen. Smiling, he said, "Zhang Ruochen, your cultivation isn't very high, but you're quite good at escaping. You made me look so hard. How about…you guess if you can escape this time?"
Zhang Ruochen took out the Abyss Ancient Sword. Grasping it, he looked at the cold blade. "Why should I escape? Let's fight! Who knows who will lose?"
The Second Prince's eyes hardened. He studied Zhang Ruochen closely. "No wonder you're so confident. You've entered the second level of the Half-Saint Realm! Let me see just how much you've improved."
Whoosh.
The Second Prince formed a sword gesture with his hands. Soon after, the Blood Sword flew out. It spun around him and kept picking up speed.
When the Blood Sword was 20 times faster than the speed of sound, a huge wind vortex formed around the Second Prince. At the same time, the Blood Sword flew out and attacked Zhang Ruochen, who was outside the Sikong Zen Temple.
Such a fast sword would be difficult for a ninth level Half-Saint to dodge, let alone Zhang Ruochen.
The power that came from a sword 20 times faster than the speed of sound was even more terrifying. An average seventh level Half-Saint wouldn't be able to stop it either. The Second Prince had used this trick earlier to pierce King Lixian's body and win the battle.
The tip of the Blood Sword grew clearer and clearer in Zhang Ruochen's eyes. Without thinking, his Sword Intent spilled out. Zhang Ruochen lifted the Abyss Ancient Sword by instinct and thrusted forward.
Boom.
The two sword points crashed against each other. Dense Sword Qi flew out in all directions. The Blood Sword's immense power traveled down the Abyss Ancient Sword to Zhang Ruochen's palm. The vibrations hurt and numbed his fingers.
Zhang Ruochen twisted and transmitted the force to the ground. The next moment, the ground underfoot cracked. It caved in, creating a 100-foot-wide ditch. Zhang Ruochen was slightly injured, but he'd still blocked the Second Prince's attack.
The Second Prince was slightly shocked. How could Zhang Ruochen counter an attack that even a seventh level Half-Saint couldn't take? He couldn't believe that Zhang Ruochen abilities were comparable to a seventh level Half-Saint.
He just thought that Zhang Ruochen was advanced in the Way of Sword and had used a trick to dissolve the Blood Sword's power.
"Winning with a trick is just luck. Winning with power is the true way." The Second Prince huffed coldly. He waved his arm to retrieve the Blood Sword.
Zhang Ruochen obviously wouldn't let him. He pointed forward and uttered, "Break."
The s.p.a.ce above the Blood Sword collapsed. It formed a shattered void and swallowed the Blood Sword.
The Blood Sword was very close to a Thousand-pattern Saint Weapon. It was 24th on the Hundred-pattern Saint Weapon and was very precious. In addition, the Second Prince had practiced the Way of Sword since he was young and refined the Blood Sword into his main sword. Losing the Blood Sword would reduce his combat ability by 30 percent.
"Oh, no. I was careless!"
The Second Prince's expression changed drastically. He formed a sword gesture and tried to control the Blood Sword to escape from Zhang Ruochen's void.
He'd only wanted to defeat Zhang Ruochen quickly, s.n.a.t.c.h the Taotian Sword, and take it to the Pluto Sword Tomb. He'd forgotten that Zhang Ruochen could control the power of s.p.a.ce and even swallow the Blood Sword.
The mysteries of the power of s.p.a.ce far surpa.s.sed the Second Prince's imagination. He couldn't combat it at all.
In the end, the Blood Sword was completely devoured by the void. A moment later, the s.p.a.ce returned to normal.
Zhang Ruochen looked calm. He smiled and said, "Having power but no tricks is no different from a boorish fellow."
The Second Prince's features twisted. His expression looked as if he wanted to devour Zhang Ruochen. "Since childhood, no one has ever been able to fight against me. All those who've dared to go against me have died."
"Really?" Zhang Ruochen asked. "Seems like I'll be the exception."
Angering the Second Prince was a type of victory. When someone was furious, they could release 120 percent of their power, but they would also have more flaws. If Zhang Ruochen could catch one flaw, he'd be able to kill the Second Prince.
Roar!
The Second Prince howled. He opened his arms and the vast blood cloud actually condensed into a huge shadow of a legendary lion. It covered up one-third of the sky and radiated with powerful beastly Qi.
