Chapter 1996: A Mysterious Man

Seeing Zhang Ruochen constantly attack the elites on his side and render any counterattack useless, even Feng Gudao, Zi Linglong, Chi Sheng, and Gu Tianyin could not remain calm.

“Zhang Ruochen, if you have the ability, fight me fair and square,” Chi Sheng roared.

Seeing his own allies being reduced to become nourishment for the Saint Devourer, Chi Sheng was almost driven mad. If he was going to die, he would never want to die like that.

Zhang Ruochen turned his head and looked at Chi Sheng as he icily spat, “What right do you lot have to talk to me about being fair and square?”

Feng Gudao wore a grim look and said, “Zhang Ruochen, don’t you want to know where Shang Ziyan is? I’ll tell you right now, he has gone to the Peacock Manor.”

Hearing this, Zhang Ruochen’s expression changed slightly. How could he not know what Shang Ziyan was up to?

Feng Gudao continued, “In addition, Shang Ziyan has captured Chi Kunlun.”

In response, a surge of anger suddenly erupted in Zhang Ruochen’s chest. To have the guts to strike at those who were close to him, Shang Ziyan was really looking to die.

“With you being delayed so long at Shengming City, Shang Ziyan may very well have taken Kong Lanyou captive. Only by keeping us, do you have a capital to negotiate terms with Shang Ziyan,” Zi Linglong added.

In this situation, they were no match for Zhang Ruochen at all, and since they cannot escape, they could only find a way to save their lives.

Zhang Ruochen’s gaze became even icier, as a terrifying killing intent seeped out from his body.

Even though they were far apart, Feng Gudao and the others felt their scalp turning numb, as their bodies trembled uncontrollably.

They could not figure out what Zhang Ruochen was thinking right now, and if he were to kill them all in a rage, their deaths would be just too tragic.

Whoosh!

Zhang Ruochen struck with force and captured all of the remaining Heavenly Realm elites before him, as he sealed their saint Qi and spiritual power.

Aside from Feng Gudao, Zi Linglong, Chi Sheng, and Gu Tianyin, he threw the rest to Moyin.

In Zhang Ruochen’s opinion, only Feng Gudao, Zi Linglong, Chi Sheng, and Gu Tianyin had value in being bargaining chips for him to force a negotiation with Shang Ziyan.

After he sealed the four, Zhang Ruochen took out four Saint-Binding Ropes and bound the four of them before he kept them inside an Exquisite Dimensional Orb.

With a wave of his hand, he recalled the Zangshan Demonic Mirror, yet the purple light curtain constructed by the Imperial Purple Qi remained.

Taking advantage of the time he took to deal with the Heavenly Realm elites, Zhang Ruochen had fully healed his injuries and had restored his strength back to his peak form.

“Lanyou, Kunlun, wait for me!”

Without stopping for a moment, Zhang Ruochen immediately activated the Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light, rushing toward Peacock Manor with all his might at one thousand times the speed of sound.

“Shang Ziyan had taken a large number of people with him to Peacock Manor. Zhang Ruochen is just looking for death by rushing over now. Peacock Manor is no Shengming City, and there’s no Imperial Providence to bless him.”

“Zhang Ruochen has kept Feng Gudao, Zi Linglong, Chi Sheng, and Gu Tianyin alive. Perhaps he can negotiate some terms with Shang Ziyan.”

“To think that he can get Shang Ziyan to negotiate terms with him by capturing Feng Gudao and the other three is just peak naivety. Just see, nothing good will come from Zhang Ruochen’s trip. Forget saving people, whether he can retreat alive or not is difficult to tell.”

“If you want to know what will happen, just go to Peacock Manor to find out.”

…

At this moment, many of the spectating cultivators all made their move as they followed behind Zhang Ruochen and rushed towards the Peacock Manor.

In their minds, the situation in Peacock Manor will definitely be much more interesting than in Shengming City.

There were many who did not rush over either. They were terrified of the skills that Zhang Ruochen had shown and dared not join in such fun again.

“The Peacock Manor… Interesting.” Luo Sha, the Rakshasa Princess broke into a cunning smile as her figure disappeared into thin air on Mount Kongyue.

In the other direction, Fairy Tianchu, the Thousand Star Maiden, the Butcher, and the Fool also set off for Peacock Manor.

Peacock Manor was quite far away from Shengming City, and it took Shang Ziyan, as well as the others who were riding on a warship, much time to travel before they approached it.

Shang Ziyan stood at the bow of the ship as he frowned slightly. For some reason, he felt an inexplicable uneasiness, as if something bad had happened.

“Ziyan, what’s the matter?” King Daxi stepped forward and asked.

Shang Ziyan put his hands behind him and whispered, “My emotions are in flux. Something has probably gone wrong in Shengming City.”

“Ziyan, you’re overthinking. With Senior Brother Feng and the others standing guard at Shengming City, it will be impossible for Zhang Ruochen to kick up any storm. Just wait for them to capture Zhang Ruochen and bring him over.” Si Han laughed.

Shang Ziyan said, “I hope so.”

Just as Shang Ziyan was pondering in silence, a violent ripple suddenly appeared in space as a figure swept across the sky like a meteor and disappeared in an instant.

But the aura that figure released made everyone on the warship tremble.

Not waiting for Shang Ziyan and the others to regain their composure, four more meteors ripped through the skyline.

To be precise, the four people were going in the same direction as the previous individual, seemingly pursuing the one before them.

The aura that the four unleashed was also extremely terrifying, as though they could cause the sky to come crashing down.

“Who was that just now?”

On the warship, almost everyone was curious.

A strange look appeared on Shang Ziyan’s face as he cast his gaze in the direction they had left. Then, some speculations rose in his heart.

He knew very well that be it an elite from the Celestial or the Infernal Court, for someone to have such a tyrannical aura, they must be someone of note.

“Look, up ahead.”

An elite sudden called out.

Hearing this, everyone on the battlefield could not help but raise their heads and look straight ahead.

Directly in front of the warship was a massive lake, and at the center of the lake stood an extremely steep mountain shaped like an unsheathed sword that pointed straight into the sky.

At that moment, a man stood on top of the mountain. His form was tall and burly, while he was clad in dark red battle armor with faint bloodstains. It was as if he had just gone through a fierce battle.

The man’s expression was stern, and although he had a tired look he was still drinking wine leisurely.

There was a very strange mark on the man’s forehead, looking like deep starry space. Like a black hole, it was seemingly capable of swallowing all light and heat in the world.

Any light that reached the man’s side was all sucked away by the strange mark on the man’s forehead.

Perhaps it was because of this reason no one could see the man’s true appearance.

The warship stopped immediately and dared not continue to advance.

Anyone could see that the person had deliberately blocked their path.

“I’m not sure who you are, Sir, but why are you blocking our path?” Shang Ziyan performed a hold-fist salute and asked rather politely.

Before he had an idea of the other party’s identity and the person’s strength, it was better not to provoke the person.

The mysterious man did not pay any attention to Shang Ziyan, but instead looked at Chi Kunlun beside Shang Ziyan as he let out a wide grin, revealing two rows of white teeth as he said. “A body of a True God, plus a Controller of Space, what a good seedling.”

Chi Kunlun also cast his gaze on the mysterious man, his eyes were firm without the slightest sign of being intimidated.

After gaining experience on the battlefield of merit, Chi Kunlun had grown a lot and was far more determined. Compared to the time at the Celestial Domain of Truth, he could be said to have been completely reborn.

“Not a bad gaze, just right up my alley. Boy, come with me.” The mysterious man smiled.

Hearing this, Shang Ziyan’s expression soured as he said. “Sir, if you want to take someone away forcibly, that is just too unreasonable.”

The mysterious man took a step forward and instantly appeared on the warship.

As his speed was too fast, none of those on the warship could even react.

The mysterious man looked at Shang Ziyan and said indifferently. “The current generation leader of the Fane of Merit, Shang Ziyan. I’ve heard of your name before, and a rather decent genius, if your cultivation level had reached the realm of Path’s Anterior, I could give you a chance to challenge me.”

“A shame, you’re too weak now, and you can’t rouse my interest at all.”

As he said that, the mysterious man turned around and looked at Chi Kunlun.

Clearly, he was much more interested in Chi Kunlun than in Shang Ziyan.

Upon hearing this, and then watching the man’s attitude, the embers of fury burned in Shang Ziyan’s heart. Ever since he started his path of cultivation, he had never been looked down like this before.

A chilling gleam flashed past Shang Ziyan’s eyes, as a terrifying blob of flame appeared in his hand as he swiftly smashed it at the mysterious man.

The mysterious man did not even look at him, and instead just raised his head to drink. Some of the liquor spilled and one of the droplets appeared on his finger as he flicked it out.

Whoosh!

The droplet of liquor blasted out at a terrifying speed, almost ripping the space apart.

Baaaamm!! Baaaaam!!

Shang Ziyan’s body was pierced by the drop of liquor, leaving a visible gaping hole on his chest as he was sent flying.

DUSSHH!

Shang Ziyan fell onto the deck and spat out a mouthful of blood.

Immediately, Shang Ziyan summoned the Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light and wore it to guard against further attacks.

And seeing Shang Ziyan putting on the Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light, a different look appeared in the eyes of the mysterious man. “To think it’s a highest grade Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light. It seems like as the leader of the Fane of Merits, you have many nice toys on you. This armor is not bad, and could come in real handy. Trying to dodge those four b*stards is just too tiring.”

As he spoke, the mysterious man stretched his hand out, and a jet of blue-black gas flew out and wrapped around Shang Ziyan. It instantly stripped the Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light off his body.

The other elites on the warship actually wanted to help Shang Ziyan, but they were all frozen in place by the mysterious man’s terrifying aura, and could not move at all.

After taking the Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light into his hand, the mysterious man smiled with satisfaction. “Well, I gotta go now, or else those annoying four will be on my tails again.”

Immediately, the mysterious man grabbed Chi Kunlun as he took a step forward and disappeared without a trace. No one knew which direction he had gone.

Not far behind the warship, a shuttle-shaped artifact was in stealth mode as it followed the warship unhurriedly.

There was a person on the shuttle, a coquettish-looking woman, and it was the Beguiler Qiu Yichi.

At this moment, Qiu Yichi also felt very uncomfortable, as her eyes bore a horrified look.

Suddenly, Qiu Yichi’s heart thumped as she whispered to herself. “Could it be him?”

Thinking of that person, Qiu Yichi shuddered involuntarily. That kind of existence was definitely not something she could afford to provoke.

The Heavenly Realm elites on the warship took a good while before they managed to regain their ability to move.

Both King Daxi and Si Han appeared beside Shang Ziyan as they helped him up and fed him a healing sacred pill at the same time.

“Ziyan, how are you?” King Daxi asked with concern.

Shang Ziyan clenched his fist tight as the flame of fury burned in his eyes. Not only did that person severely wounded him, he had also seized the Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light that could unleash ten thousand times the speed of sound that Yanshen had gave to him, and also taking away Chi Kunlun. It was just too outrageous.

“The Infernal Yanluo Qi, he’s one of the high clans of the Infernal Court, the Yanluo-clan.” Shang Ziyan said grimly.

When the mysterious man stripped him off his Meritorious Armor of Flowing Light, what the former used was the Infernal Yanluo Qi, an ability that only the Yanluo clan can master.

“Terrifying, I’ve never met someone so terrifying before.” A four-winged Scarlet Angel with a hideous scar on his face whispered.

That Scarlet Angel was a veteran Scarlet Angel raised by the Fane of Bloody War, named Chen Hu. He had long reached the realm of Path’s Anterior and his strength was deep-rooted and unfathomable, and he was one of the top elites by Shang Ziyan’s side.

To make a top level Path’s Anterior elite feel fear, it was evident how terrifying that person was.

Although Shang Ziyan was furious, he was helpless as well. For the time being, he could not contend with that sort of existence, and he had vaguely had an idea who that person was.

This time, he could only admit that he was unlucky.

On a cliff not too far away from the Peacock Manor, the mysterious man alongside Chi Kunlun appeared out of thin air silently.

“After rushing for so long, I’m a little hungry. Boy, are you hungry?”

The mysterious man waved his hand and a fire appeared, he then pulled out a leg of an unknown holy beast as he put it on the fire and began to roast it.

“Who are you? Why did you rescue me?” Chi Kunlun asked boldly.

The mysterious man sat by the fire, drinking his liquor as he stared at Chi Kunlun, saying. “You think I’m rescuing you? Sure, if you want to think like that. Boy, you’re Zhang Ruochen’s son aren’t you?”

“What nonsense are you spouting? Zhang Ruochen is my nemesis, my parents died in his hands!” Chi Kunlun said angrily.

The mysterious man laughed out loud. “Nemesis? Boy, are you really that stupid, or you’re pretending to be stupid? You have the body of a True God, and is also a Controller of Space. As far as I know, your sister also have the Five-Element Chaotic Body, and is also a Controller of Time. In Kunlun Realm, the only person that could give birth to you two siblings are Empress Chi Yao and Zhang Ruochen.”

Hearing this, Chi Kunlun expression changed drastically as he shook his head violently. “Impossible! Don’t even try to deceive me. How can I be the son of master and Zhang Ruochen?”

In fact, it was not like Chi Kunlun had never had any doubts about his birth, especially when he saw Zhang Ruochen’s face in the Celestial Domain of Truth, he grew even more suspicious.

But Empress Chi Yao had told him that both his parents had died in Zhang Ruochen’s hands, and so he had no choice but to believe it.

“Boy, you are too innocent. There are no other Supreme Saints in the Chi clan another than Empress Chi Yao, how could they give birth to the body of True God and the Five-Element Chaotic Body?” The mysterious man continued.

Chi Kunlun’s mind roared as he remembered when Zhang Ruochen had desperately rescued him and his sister regardless of the danger when he was in Xumi Dojo. Was there a need for Zhang Ruochen to do such things for his enemies?

“No.”

Chi Kunlun showed an expression of pain and struggle, and his blood flow was constricted for a moment, causing him to spit out a mouthful of blood.

The mysterious man stretched out his hand and patted Chi Kunlun’s shoulder, saying. “Boy, don’t be so agitated, I’m still waiting for you to take me as your master.”

Chi Kunlun raised his head and said blankly. “Why should I take you as my master?”

“Because I am strong, don’t you think Zhang Ruochen is very strong? But I want to say that ten Zhang Ruochen is still no match for me.”

“Forget ten Zhang Ruochens, even the Ten Divine Scions of the Fane of Truth were to strike at the same time, I can take all of them down. Take me as your master, and I can make you even more powerful than Zhang Ruochen and the Ten Divine Scions of the Fane of Truth.”

The mysterious man exclaimed.

Chi Kunlun said faintly. “Not interested.”

Unexpectedly, the mysterious man was not angry, and instead laughed. “You got character boy. However, you don’t want take me as your master, yet I insist on being you taking me as your master. You cannot run from me, boy.”

Chi Kunlun felt silent but he did not ignore the mysterious man as he kept thinking about what the latter had said just now. Was Zhang Ruochen really his father?