832 One Ghost, One Buddha

Zhang Ruochen also used a technique. Controlling the various deity prints, he attempted to absorb the divine power in the air. However, he discovered that it had all been absorbed by Mu Lingxi. The deity prints didn't change at all.

Thus, he could only go toward the sea of lava at the heart of the black volcano. There must be more remnants of divine power there. He realized that he might have the chance to try for the Tenth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.

He didn't actually have much hope for the Tenth Change. He'd already refined seven drops of divine blood. His physical body was already at its limit. He couldn't contain much more divine power.

Three days later, Mu Lingxi consolidated a saint soul. She'd instantly become a Half-Saint.

When she walked out of the scroll world, her entire body shone with brilliant saint light. Every inch of her skin was translucent like saintly jade. Her eyes were now extremely deep and filled with endless wisdom.

She was only in the beginning of the first level, but the aura she radiated was close to a fourth level Half-Saint.

Once she entered the Half-Saint Realm, she immediately became one of the stronger Half-Saints. She was even stronger than some of the older generation.

Zhang Ruochen was genuinely happy for her. "Senior Sister, congratulations on leaving the mortal realm and becoming a Half-Saint."

Clearly, Mu Lingxi was very happy too. Smiling, she said, "Aren't you at the peak of the Ninth Change now? You can enter the Half-Saint Realm at any time."

"Me? I still need to reinforce it for some time." Shaking his head, Zhang Ruochen said seriously, "Since you've already had a breakthrough, we'll go to the black volcano now."

He didn't suggest for Mu Lingxi to enter the scroll world or wait by the side of the lava sea because he was clear that she wouldn't agree. If he insisted on making her stay, it could cause unnecessary problems instead.

Mu Lingxi's eyes glowed beautifully and she agreed softly.

There were many black rocks in the lava sea. Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi used them as footstones.

Zhang Ruochen manipulated the power of space. He moved away the spatial cracks across the air, forcefully opening up a path.

Even if he prepared for everything, there were still many dangers. Once, a huge tide was lifted in the lava sea. A lava wave more than ten meters tall swept toward them. Thankfully, Zhang Ruochen moved a spatial crack to swallow the wave, thus resolving the crisis.

The closer they were to the black volcano, the heavier the pressure they felt. It took an entire half day before they finally reached the foot of the mountain.

They'd used up almost all their Holy Qi and they panted endlessly. They had to take out a saint stone and absorb the Holy Qi to recover their cultivation. When they'd reached their top state, Zhang Ruochen started observing their environment seriously.

Even though they were only at the foot of the volcano, the pressure on Zhang Ruochen was already very large. Every step used up a great amount of Holy Qi. Other Monks in the Ninth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm would probably already be immobile on the ground.

"Zhang Ruochen, look. There are two…people…"

Mu Lingxi widened her eyes and reached out, pointing at the middle of the mountain. Zhang Ruochen looked over. His gaze passing through layers of ghost fog, he saw a burly armored man standing on a boulder in the middle of the mountain.

He was more than 13 feet tall and his arms were thicker than a normal man's waist. He gave off a powerful and towering feeling.

Impressive Ghost Qi spread from under his feet. Even though Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi were at the foot of the mountain, their souls still shuddered before the demonic force.

This didn't mean that their hearts, souls, and spiritual power weren't powerful enough. It was just that the other's cultivation was too far above them. Even a bit of his Qi could hurt them heavily.

"This is too scary… I've already awoken my Ice Phoenix lineage and cultivated my saint soul, becoming a Half-Saint. But it's still hard to block the Qi coming from him. I'm afraid only the legendary Supreme Saints can have such horrifying Qi."

Blood flowed from Mu Lingxi's mouth. She could no longer remain standing and sat onto the ground. Zhang Ruochen wasn't much better off. Even with the deity prints protecting him, his martial soul still cracked. It could shatter at any time.

"Space Domain."

Zhang Ruochen raised his arms and manipulated the power of space. He propped up a semi-transparent domain shield more than 30 feet wide. Only then did he manage to block the Qi.

"This must be a very powerful Ghost King of the netherworld," he said. "If Ghost King Bloodmoon was here, she'd probably be able to recognize him."

The Qi coming from this Ghost King was too strong. However, there were 36 gold chains that passed through his body, restricting him fully. This was why he stood in place, unable to move.

Otherwise, he would have only had to wave his hand to destroy Zhang Ruochen and Mu Lingxi.

The 36 gold chains were formed by various Buddhist runes. They radiated with extremely saintly Qi. The other end of the chains was connected to an old monk's forehead.

That old monk sat cross-legged across from the armored Ghost King. He wore a plain cassock. His hands were placed on his knees.

His body was already withered. His Blood Qi and liquid seemed to have all dried. Only his skeleton and wrinkled skin remained. It might not be long before the monk would burn out and die.

Even so, he still restricted the Ghost King with all his might. It was unknown how long this had been going on for.

"Who is that monk?" Mu Lingxi asked. "If he can fight with that Ghost King, he must be very impressive as well."

"This monk and ghost have probably been fighting for more than a year," Zhang Ruochen said. "The monk has the upper hand now, but if this stalemate continues, he'll probably die from loss of Blood Qi in a few days."

"If the monk dies, we won't be able to escape either," Mu Lingxi said. "The human Monks who've charged into Ghost God Valley all die without a doubt. Who would've expected that these two frightening existences are battling here?"

"Go, let's get out of here," Zhang Ruochen said decisively."

Mu Lingxi nodded. She prepared to retreat.

They wanted to help the monk, but their cultivations were too low. They couldn't get involved in a battle of this level. Once they did, there was only death.

Just then, an ancient voice sounded in Zhang Ruochen's ears. "Sir…wait…"

Zhang Ruochen stopped. He looked around but didn't see anyone. Finally, he looked thoughtfully at the old monk on the mountain.

He was still sitting in place. He didn't move at all or open his mouth.

"Yes, I am calling for you…"

The voice was very weak. It was like a candle in the wind, about to extinguish at any moment.

Zhang Ruochen let out a relieved breath and asked, "Senior, how can I help you?"

No answer sounded in his ear.

After a candle's time, the voice sounded once again. "The man before me is the strongest of the fringe of the netherworld—Ghost King Shenchu. He is also the commander of the various Ghost Kings. Now, I have some strength to restrict him, but I do not have much time left… After I die, he will break free from the restrictions. At that time, he will definitely wreak havoc in Kunlun's Field."

Zhang Ruochen hesitated slightly. "What can I do?"

"Other Monks cannot help even if they come here," the ancient voice said. "But you can control the space. Perhaps you can do something. You might be able to kill Ghost King Shenchu in one fell swoop and rid Kunlun's Field of some disasters."

The monk's cultivation was too deep to be calculated. Even though he sat on the ground, unable to move, his spiritual power and saint soul were very strong. He could probably sense anything that happened in the Ghost God Valley.

Thus, he naturally knew that Zhang Ruochen could manipulate the power of space.

If the armored man really was Ghost King Shenchu, then Zhang Ruochen couldn't let him loose. Once he entered Kunlun's Field, it would be a catastrophe. He was more horrifying than billions of shadow soldiers.

Zhang Ruochen continued communicating with the monk. He finally understood the other's intentions.

The old monk wanted Zhang Ruochen to manipulate the spatial cracks above the sea of lava and attack Ghost King Shenchu. The Ghost King was powerful, but he couldn't move. Zhang Ruochen's spatial attacks really could be threatening to him.

If someone else came, even a Saint, they probably couldn't change the situation.

"Senior Sister Duanmu, do you want to enter the scroll world?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

Mu Lingxi knew how dangerous it was to get involved in the fight between Ghost King Shenchu and the old monk. There was barely any chance of surviving. However, she also knew that Zhang Ruochen had no other choice. If he didn't take the initiative to attack Ghost King Shenchu, they'd be the ones dying once Ghost King Shenchu was freed.

Mu Lingxi shook her head forcefully. Gaze strong, she said, "We'll fight together. Even if…I die here, I'll have no regrets."

Zhang Ruochen stared hard at her. He didn't continue forcing her. After all, if he and the old monk couldn't kill Ghost King Shenchu, Mu Lingxi would be dead even if she was in the scroll world. There was no difference.

Zhang Ruochen stood at the edge of the volcano. He slowly opened his arms, allowing the power within him to burst out fully.

The spatial cracks above the sea of lava gradually approached the black volcano. That force seemed able to destroy everything in the world.

Beads of sweat budded on Zhang Ruochen's forehead. His arms trembled. It was clear that controlling so many spatial cracks at once was nothing easy. The smallest mistake could destroy him in the broken space.