Chapter 2228

In the Vastsea Garden, the Saint realm disciples of the Xue Jue Family were all excited. It was a great honor to have a superior of their family as the leader of the Bloodsky Clan.

Even if that person was Zhang Ruochen.

The ordinary Saint realm disciples of the Xue Jue Family did not care whether Zhang Ruochen was once a cultivator from Celestial Court. They only cared that Zhang Ruochen was the Scion and a member of the Xue Jue Family.

There were two new gods before this. Then, Wargod Bloodximius has conferred the title of clan leader of the Bloodsky Clan. Now, Zhang Ruochen had defeated Supreme Saint Yi Xuan and would become the leader of the Celestial-Hunting Festival.

The Xue Jue Family was full of good news and its reputation has greatly increased.

The Xue Jue Family had been silent for too long. Finally, they were about to return to their former glory.

After a long time, the aftermath of the battle between Zhang Ruochen and Supreme Saint Yi Xuan disappeared completely. With the protection of the Divine Marks, their battle did not cause any damage to the Xue Jue Family despite being intense.

The surging Qi in Supreme Saint Yi Xuan quickly calmed down. He was not injured even though he was defeated. To be more precise, he had only lost half a move.

“Zhang Ruochen, your strength is indeed beyond my expectations. According to our agreement, I won’t fight for the leadership position with you,” said Supreme Saint Yi Xuan. He was not angered by his defeat.

He just felt a little regretful. Due to the agreement, he could not truly determine a victor with Zhang Ruochen.

As one of the Three Top Elites of Bloodsky Clan, Supreme Saint Yi Xuan had many extraordinary techniques. He had many trump cards. His strength was not limited to this.

Unfortunately, he had already said it. With so many cultivators as witnesses, he could not go back on his words.

“Thank you,” Zhang Ruochen said calmly.

In fact, it would not have been easy for Zhang Ruochen to resist Supreme Saint Yi Xuan’s Frozen Universe Palm if he had not cultivated the Thirteenth Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm Strike to the initial phase.

The two saint techniques could be said to counter each other. Zhang Ruochen had taken advantage of the exuberant Yang Qi.

If it were anyone else, even a Hundred-Shackle Realm Supreme Saint, few would be able to control such a strong yang qi. This was something Supreme Saint Yi Xuan had never expected.

Supreme Saint Yi Xuan returned to the floating island. He still had a smile on his face and he looked very free and easy.

All the cultivators present turned their gaze to Zhang Ruochen.

Since Supreme Saint Yi Xuan had withdrawn from the competition, Zhang Ruochen could undoubtedly become the leader of the Bloodsky Clan.

Then, it was time to decide who would participate in the Celestial-Hunting Festival. The Supreme Saints and Saint Kings with weaker cultivations could not help but feel nervous.

The Celestial-Hunting Festival had many benefits. Anyone would want to participate, but many of them were destined to lose the opportunity.

Only the twenty elites selected by the Xue Jue Family were in a good mood and felt less pressure.

Just when some cultivators were about to congratulate Zhang Ruochen, Lord Xia Yu, who had been the most indifferent to the leadership contest, suddenly stood up.

At that moment, Lord Xia Yu’s temperament suddenly changed. She was no longer elegant and otherworldly. Instead, she became extremely cold and an intangible chill spread out.

Some weaker cultivators felt the chill and could not help but shiver as if they had fallen into an ice cave.

“Zhang Ruochen, just because Yi Xuan doesn’t want to fight with you doesn’t mean you can be the leader of the Bloodsky Clan. You still have to go through at the least,” Lord Xia Yu said in a cold voice.

Gu Chenzi also stood up and said indifferently, “Just because you beat Yi Xuan doesn’t mean you can beat me. I suddenly want to fight for the position of leader again.”

Many cultivators heard them and could not help but look surprised. They did not know what was going on.

Lord Xia Yu had already stated at the beginning that she had no interest in becoming a leader. Gu Chenzi had also given up on the competition. He wanted to give the position of leader to Supreme Saint Yi Xuan.

But now, both of them have changed their mind. It was unexpected that they wanted to stop Zhang Ruochen from becoming the leader of the Bloodsky Clan.

Supreme Saint Yi Xuan smiled and drank alone. He seemed to have expected this to happen and he was enjoying the show.

The cultivators present were not fools. They all understood that anyone could be the leader, but not Zhang Ruochen.

Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi were targeting him obviously.

Simply because Zhang Ruochen was an outsider and he was not a pure Immortal Vampire. He even had a huge grudge with the Immortal Vampires on the Battlefield of Merits.

Of course, there might be a deeper reason.

How could it be easy for a creature of the Celestial Court to gain a foothold in the Infernal Court and not be ostracized?

Zhang Ruochen glanced at Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi without any fear, and said calmly, “I wasn’t interested in becoming the leader. However, since I’ve already fought for it, I will have to take it. Since you two had objections, there was no need to go through so much trouble. We will decide the winner with our battle strength. How about it?”

“At least you have some courage. I’ll go first and see what else you could do,” Gu Chenzi snorted.

“Gu Chenzi, your battle strength and Yi Xuan’s are about the same. I’m afraid it won’t be easy to defeat him. Why don’t I do it?” Lord Xia Yu said.

Gu Chenzi said, “That might not be the case! Previously, my battle with Yi Xuan and the battle between Zhang Ruochen and Yi Xuan was just a test. We didn’t fully display our skills. “If we fight, do you think a Supreme Saint in the Hundred-Shackle Realm will lose to a Supreme Saint who has just broken through the Neverwilt Realm?”

…

Zhang Ruochen shook his head slightly and said, “Both of you can stop arguing. Why not both of you do it together?”

As soon as he said that, the entire Vastsea Garden fell silent. Even a pin drop could be heard.

All the cultivators looked at Zhang Ruochen as if they were looking at a monster.

How crazy was it to challenge Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi at the same time?

Saying such words was a provocation. It was easy to annoy Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi. Zhang Ruochen was asking for trouble.

Not to mention the Bloodsky Clan, even among the entire Immortal Vampires, few dared to challenge Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi at the same time.

“Zhang Ruochen is too arrogant. He dares to challenge Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi at the same time. Does he think he’s invincible?”

“If Supreme Saint Yi Xuan attacked with all his strength, Zhang Ruochen wouldn’t have the chance to be arrogant.”

“It’s really stupid to provoke the Three Top Elites of Bloodsky Clan.”

“Don’t worry. Zhang Ruochen will soon pay the price for his arrogance.”

…

Zhang Ruochen was calm and he did not seem arrogant at all.

He had his reasons for asking Lord Xia Yu and Gu Chenzi to attack together. He had a very special identity. No matter what he did in the Infernal Court, there would be voices of doubt. He would be ostracized and isolated everywhere.

If he wanted to change all of this, he had to show his absolute strength.

In the end, strength was the foundation of standing.

Since he had come to Infernal Court, Zhang Ruochen naturally had all kinds of plans and many things to do. So, he had to stand firm first.

A battle to establish his power.

In the future, no matter where he went in Infernal Court, no one dared to look down on him. Others had to respect him as much as they respected Yan Wushen.

It was one of Blood Empress’s ideas to fight for the leadership of the Bloodsky Clan. But it was also Zhang Ruochen’s idea. He did not want to be under Blood Empress’s protection all the time, and he did not want Blood Empress to be isolated because of him.

As long as Zhang Ruochen became the leader of the Bloodsky Clan with his own strength and defeated the elites of the other tribes at the Celestial-Hunting Festival, no one would dare to say anything in the future.

It would be much easier for him to do whatever he wanted to do when that time came.

Zhang Ruochen’s original intention in joining Infernal Court was to save Chi Kongyue and Chi Kunlun.

But now, he had more ideas.

He found that the Celestial Court cultivators’ understanding of the Infernal Court was too narrow. Very few people knew what the Infernal Court looked like, including himself.

When Zhang Ruochen joined the Infernal Court, he found that it was very different from what he had imagined. There was an ancient and brilliant civilization here, and there were also warm and welcoming people.

Because of this, Zhang Ruochen wanted to explore the Infernal Court and solve his doubts.

“If you can defeat Yan Wushen, then you must be extraordinary. There’s no need to join hands. I shall see it for myself, the so-called rare genius of the Yuanhui period.”

Lord Xia Yu walked out of the floating island. As if she was so close to Zhang Ruochen, and she reached him in one step.

Gu Chenzi remained on the floating island and he did not show up with Lord Xia Yu. He had his pride because he did not want to fight Zhang Ruochen with Lord Xia Yu.

Lord Xia Yu’s eyes were cold, and she exuded cold murderous intent.

It seemed that Lord Xia Yu not only wanted to fight Zhang Ruochen, but she intended to kill him.

“Cousin Ruochen, you have to be careful. Lord Xia Yu hates the cultivators from Celestial Court. She would not show you any mercy if she gets the chance.”

Xue Ningxiao’s voice rang in Zhang Ruochen’s ears.

“Really?” Zhang Ruochen asked

“Lord Xia Yu is also a pitiful person. When she was young, her parents died on the Battlefield of Merits. Later, her only elder brother was killed by the Celestial Court’s cultivators to save her. That’s the reason why Lord Xia Yu cultivated so hard to avenge them,” Xue Ningxiao replied.

Xue Ningxiao continued after a pause, “The family that Lord Xia Yu was once in was also one of the great god families of the Bloodsky Clan. They were very powerful. Unfortunately, that god was later killed by the Celestial Court god in the starry sky. Lord Xia Yu’s family gradually declined.

“Lord Xia Yu’s heart is full of hatred. She wants to kill all the cultivators of the Celestial Court and end the war forever.”

Zhang Ruochen’s heart skipped a beat after hearing that and thought, ‘What was the cause of cultivators from Celestial Court and Infernal Court being hostile to each other and wanting to destroy each other?

‘Why did two different starry skies break out into a long-lasting war?

‘Why did they have to fight to the death?

‘What caused all this?’ he thought.

Zhang Ruochen could understand Lord Xia Yu’s thoughts. He had once wanted to kill all the cultivators of Infernal Court.

In the eyes of the cultivators of Celestial Court, Infernal Court was evil, and they only knew destruction. To survive, they had to resist.

Similarly, in the eyes of the cultivators of Infernal Court, Celestial Court was a huge threat to them. If Infernal Court did not initiate the attack first, Celestial Court would grow stronger and surpass them.

In the future, perhaps the Celestial Court would destroy them.

After so many years, the conflict between the two was almost irreconcilable.

Once there was hatred, it became very difficult to let it go.

Zhang Ruochen could not help but think of the realms that Kunlun had attacked. The cultivators of Kunlun were probably as evil as the cultivators of Infernal Court in the eyes of those realms’ lifeforms.

There were many times when the line between good and evil could not be too clear.

‘Since I set foot on the Battlefield of Merits, I have killed countless cultivators of Infernal Court. Their relatives and friends must hate me to the bone,’ Zhang Ruochen thought.

However, he did not do anything wrong. Everything he did was to protect his hometown.

Zhang Ruochen had never felt that what he had done represented justice, but at least he had a clear conscience.

“Please enlighten me,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Lord Xia Yu did not speak. Her body shook and eight huge silver wings appeared, absorbing the Saint Qi of heaven and earth crazily.

As Lord Xia Yu flapped her wings, a fierce wind swept up and enveloped Zhang Ruochen. There were countless intangible wind blades mixed in the wind. Each of them was extremely sharp and could cut through everything.

Zhang Ruochen immediately used his dimension technique to condense the Profound Spatial Dimension and isolated all the wind blades.

However, the wind grew stronger. The Precepts of Wind from heaven and earth gathered and evolved into a terrifying storm. It seemed to sweep through heaven and earth.

Whoosh

A large area of Dimensional Rifted open. Dark cracks covered the area like a spider web.

Anyone could see that Lord Xia Yu did not show any mercy. She went all out as soon as she attacked. It was as if she wanted to heavily injure Zhang Ruochen or even kill him.

At the same time, Lord Xia Yu’s hands formed seals with incredible speed. She released a turquoise flame and poured it into the storm.

As the saying went, wind-aided the fire.

The moment it combined with the storm, the turquoise flame expanded explosively and formed a sky-burning force—the Grim Soul-devouring Flame.

Many cultivators could not help but fear the sight of the turquoise flame.

There was nothing they could do. The reputation of the Grim Soul-devouring Flame was too great, and not many people could not be unafraid.

This flame was not a natural existence but was condensed by a secret technique.

To condense the Grim Soul-devouring Flame, one had to go to the extreme yin region, gather all kinds of evil yin energy, and fuse them.

In the process of refining, one had to endure extreme pain. Moreover, there was an extremely high risk that one could lose their life if they were not careful.

Therefore, many cultivators knew the method of condensing the Grim Soul-devouring Flame, yet only a few dared to try it and succeeded.

“Lord Xia Yu has been so quiet for the past hundred years. So she’s trying to condense the Grim Soul-devouring Flame. To be able to condense the Grim Soul-devouring Flame to this extent, just how much effort did she put in?”

Many of the cultivators present were extremely shocked.

They also understood that Lord Xia Yu was desperately trying to make herself stronger because she wanted to revive her family’s name and avenge the deceased.

Sometimes, the power of hatred was so terrible that people would go crazy.

“Zhang Ruochen is in trouble!”

Many cultivators could not help but think this.

Lord Xia Yu was invincible when she combined wind and fire. It was a question of whether Zhang Ruochen would be able to escape unscathed, let alone win.

Once the Three Top Elites of Bloodsky Clan became serious, who could resist it?

At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was completely enveloped by the firestorm. It was as if he was trapped in a huge furnace. His body and mind were being tempered.

The invisible wind blades were too sharp. They cut open many cracks in the Profound Spatial Dimension, allowing the Grim Soul-devouring Flame to penetrate.

The Grim Soul-devouring Flame was different from ordinary flames. It was not hot. Instead, it was extremely cold. It could freeze everything.

Most importantly, the Grim Soul-devouring Flame targets the Saint Soul. Once it touched it, it was like a maggot in one’s bones. It was hard to remove.

Zhang Ruochen did not panic. He raised his hand and the Emperor-level Divine Purification Flame surged out of him.

His Divine Purification Flame was originally pure white. Now, it was faintly dyed with a golden color.

With the improvement of his cultivation and the integration of the Precepts of heaven and earth during the Path-melding Tribulation, the Divine Purification Flame had undergone a great transformation and became even more powerful.

Zhang Ruochen mobilized his Precepts of Wood and Fire and unleashed the Power of Supreme Saint to the maximum.

Zhang Ruochen wanted to see whether Lord Xia Yu’s Grim Soul-devouring Flame or his Divine Purification Flame was stronger?