God Emperor

King Jinhuang knew that Zhang Ruochen had already returned, but he did not turn around. “The person you wanted to rescue, are they alright?”

Zhang Ruochen stood behind King Jinhuang and also stared at the Pillar of the Vicious Sea. He said, “Fortunately, she was given the Xuanwu holy source quickly. The period of danger has already passed.”

A moment later, King Jinhuang said, “The power of time and space is uncommon. Rumors say that only those who have activated a time and space Sacred Mark are able to control these two powers. Since ancient times, only two people have activated a time and space Sacred Mark. That makes you the third, right?”

To become a Half-Saint, one had to be broadly knowledgeable, with a thorough knowledge of martial arts and the profound mysteries in the world.

It was actually a very normal matter for King Jinhuang to have heard the rumors concerning the time and space Sacred Mark.

Zhang Ruochen said without surprise, “What are you talking about?”

King Jinhuang’s aura was distinctive. He naturally emanated an aura of awe. He smiled and said, “I am saying this to tell you that I have not activated a time and space Sacred Mark. I will not covet your unique techniques in time and space.”

“Furthermore, we were familiar with each other at first glance. Without discord, there would be no concord. In the future, you don’t have to treat me as an elder, we can talk as equals.”

After reaching the Half-Saint realm, a Monk’s life expectancy would increase greatly.

Among them, some long-living Half-Saints could live to over two hundred years old.

On the surface, King Jinhuang looked about 40 years old. In reality, his true age was over one hundred. He was even older than Zhang Ruochen’s grandfather.

Zhang Ruochen smiled, “If the fact that I speak on equal terms with a Half-Saint got out, there would probably be countless people who would say that I am an arrogant scoundrel who has an exaggerated opinion of his own abilities.”

King Jinhuang said, “If I remember correctly, you are the Commandery Prince of an inferior commandery and a Baron of the First Central Empire. I am also a Baron, so how can we not be considered peers? Furthermore, you are a disciple of Sword Saint Xuanji, perhaps your seniority may exceed mine.”

Zhang Ruochen and King Jinhuang were indeed both Barons. However, Zhang Ruochen was the lowest “inferior commandery prince,” while King Jinhuang was an “inferior domain king,” a full three noble titles above him.

Ranks were very strict in the First Central Empire. A difference of one title of nobility was already the difference between heaven and earth, much less three noble titles.

However, if King Jinhuang did not care about such mumbo-jumbo then Zhang Ruochen would not be so pretentious. “Alright! Since you have already said so much, then I will daringly call you brother.”

King Jinhuang laughed loudly and patted Zhang Ruochen’s shoulder. “Since you called me brother, then of course, I will have to protect my little brother’s secret.”

Afterward, King Jinhuang withdrew his smile and said solemnly, “I won’t tell anyone your secret of activating a time and space Sacred Mark.”

Zhang Ruochen nodded. Staring at the Pillar of the Vicious Sea, he asked, “How are you going to deal with this evil weapon?”

King Jinhuang’s brows locked together and he said, “Given my cultivation, I can’t restrain it. Earlier, I used a signal flare to send a message to the Ministry of War to send a Saint to restrain it.”

Even with King Jinhuang’s cultivation, he did not dare to touch the Pillar of the Vicious Sea. Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation was not even one percent of King Jinhuang’s, so he did not even dare to go near it.

Only a Saint would be able to contain such an evil weapon.

King Jinhuang suddenly thought of something and said, “The flesh of a sixth level redcloud python and the body of a Cyan Fire Xuanwu are rare treasures for you. You have to move quickly. Don’t let the fellows from the Ministry of War take advantage.”

If the masters from the Ministry of War arrived, they would certainly not stop at taking the Pillar of the Vicious Sea. They would probably also take the bodies of the Cyan-fire Xuanwu and the Black Skeleton Flood Dragon King.

It was for this reason that King Jinhuang reminded him.

Zhang Ruochen understood tacitly, and he immediately triggered the Dragon Pearl Qi of Saint Dragon. The flesh on his back opened and formed into a pair of massive dragon wings.

“Whoosh!”

The dragon wings spread out and gave off streaks of golden light. Zhang Ruochen controlled the wings and flew up, leaving a shadow on the ocean.

A moment later, he arrived at the bodies of the Black Skeleton Flood Dragon King and the Cyan Fire Xuanwu. He withdrew his dragon wings and landed on the shell of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu.

The fleshy crown of the Black Skeleton Flood Dragon King had reverted into its true body after Zhang Ruochen landed. It turned into a Redcrown Mushroom that was nine meters in diameter. It looked like a bloody red flower.

Zhang Ruochen found the Redcrown Mushroom inside the body of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu and put it away in his Storage Ring.

When he drew down the Chord of Gods for the fourth time, Zhang Ruochen’s Spiritual Power had increased a great deal. He was very close to the 44th level.

For a Monk of Spiritual Power, this Redcrown Mushroom was a priceless treasure. Once it was refined, it would not be difficult for Zhang Ruochen to break into the 44th level.

Of course, there were many other treasures in the body of the Black Skeleton Flood Dragon King, such as a Dragon Pearl, as well as flood dragon blood, tendons, bones, and scales.

Each could be sold for an immense amount of money.

Particularly the Dragon Pearl. It was a treasure that could raise cultivation. Even a Half-Saint would be tempted.

Of course, all the treasures in the body of the Black Skeleton Flood Dragon King could not compare to one claw of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu.

The body of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu was a full 10 kilometers long. Lying on the water, it was like a green island.

The Cyan Fire Xuanwu had died many years ago. 90% of its Sacred Blood had been lost. The remaining 10% had been corrupted by the Pillar of the Vicious Sea. It could be used only by refining the evil Qi with the Yin Yang Wooden Graph.

What Zhang Ruochen valued more highly was the outer shell of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu. This was more precious than any weapon-refining material.

Only a two-meter square piece of outer shell was needed to create a suit of Xuanwu Armor that even a Holy Weapon would be hard-pressed to destroy.

Such a massive shell would be able to create at least 100,000 Xuanwu Armors, and it could be used to cultivate a Xuanwu army.

If the elders in the Ministry of War saw the body of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu, they would definitely be very greedy.

Although the Xuanwu Armor could not compare to armor at the level of a Holy Weapon and had limitations in its defensive power, it was easy to make and enough material for many.

Zhang Ruochen could create 100,000 suits of Xuanwu Armor, but which power could create 100,000 suits of Holy Weapon armor?

Thus, the body of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu was extremely precious.

King Jinhuang was able to let Zhang Ruochen have the body of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu because he had something even better.

The Pillar of the Vicious Sea.

The Pillar of the Vicious Sea was a very precious treasure. As long as Saint from the Ministry of War came to collect it, then King Jinhuang would have achieved a great military exploit. He would certainly receive a large reward.

Thus, he and Zhang Ruochen each had what they wanted.

Zhang Ruochen took out the Ancient Abyss Sword, circulated his Genuine Qi, and struck down abruptly.

“Snap!”

The tip of the Ancient Abyss Sword clashed against the outer shell of the Cyan Fire Xuanwu and created sparks.

Zhang Ruochen felt like he had struck an iron wall. It created an ear-splitting shriek and the vibrations hurt his arms.

However, he only left a scratch on the shell.

And this was only because the Ancient Abyss Sword was very sharp. If he had used another Hundred Inscription Weapon, it probably would not have damaged the shell at all.

The cultivation of a Cyan Fire Xuanwu far surpassed that of a Saint. It had certainly reached the Eighth Level of Savage Beast.

The fighting strength of a Seventh Level Savage Beast was already more than of a Saint.

An Eighth Level Savage Beast surpassed the king of Saints, who was known as the “Saint King.”

With nourishment from Holy Qi, any part of its flesh contained the power of the Holy Road. Also, its shell had the most defensive power.

“The Ancient Abyss Sword was not yet strong enough to damage the tortoise shell. In the future, it may be of great use.”

Zhang Ruochen opened the Yin Yang Wooden Graph and stored the bodies of the Black Skeleton Flood Dragon King and the Cyan Fire Xuanwu in the world inside.

He was going to collect the Half-Saint flood dragon blood and the Xuanwu Sacred Blood after he returned to the Saint Academy.

Zhang Ruochen had just walked out of the inner world when a painful wave of heat washed over his face.

“Rumble!”

“Rumble!”

…

Wash-basin sized bubbles appeared in the roiling sea.

The air above the sea was also unusually hot.

“Ouch!”

In the distance, a red fire cloud surged over the flat surface of the sea.

The figure of a beast appeared in the cloud and let out an ear-splitting roar.

Zhang Ruochen stared at it and felt his heart jump in surprise. “An Ember Kylin!”

Thick flames emanated from the Ember Kylin’s body. Its four legs, as thick as columns, moved quickly in Zhang Ruochen’s direction as it came bounding over.

Right now, they were not at the bottom of the ocean and there was no pressure from the sea water. Furthermore, Zhang Ruochen was unable to use the power of the Sarira, and he could not have the fighting strength of a Half-Saint a second time.

At present, Zhang Ruochen was only a Monk in the First Change of the Fish Dragon Realm. How could he defeat an Ember Kylin? It was a Sixth Level Savage Beast!

Just as he was about to hide inside the Yin Yang Wooden Graph, he realized that the Ember Kylin was not charging at him. It was following Monk Lidi.

Monk Lidi flew away quickly. Seeing Zhang Ruochen in front of him, he said breathlessly, “Alms Giver Zhang, help me defeat this Kylin quickly.”

“Teacher, please don’t make such a joke. Given my feeble cultivation, how could I challenge an Ember Kylin? It is better if you defeat it yourself. It will better demonstrate your power,” Zhang Ruochen said.

What a joke, to have Zhang Ruochen defeat the Ember Kylin?

Zhang Ruochen knew himself well. He would not attempt something he could not do.

Of course, he also did not leave. He only stood to the side, quietly observing. If Monk Lidi was truly in danger, naturally, he would not stand aside and do nothing.

The Ember Kylin chased Monk Lidi and circled around Zhang Ruochen a few times.

It was very strange. It seemed that the Ember Kylin could not see Zhang Ruochen, and it only chased Monk Lidi.

Monk Lidi chanted Buddhist sutras non-stop as if he wanted to give it redemption.

However, the Ember Kylin’s mouth only revealed sharp teeth, and it let out an ear-splitting, angry roar occasionally. It was very clear that it wanted to eat Monk Lidi.

Actually, the Ember Kylin chased Monk Lidi because he had melded with the Buddhist Emperor’s golden body.

For the savage beast, Monk Lidi was just human-shaped holy medicine. Eating him would allow it to become a Saint.

Zhang Ruochen observed for a while, stroked his chin, then nodded his head. “Monk Lidi was worthy of having reached the realm of his flesh becoming holy. Although he could not perfectly circulate the power of his body, his escape was top notch. Even an Ember Kylin Could not catch up to him.”

Probably no one would believe that a Half-Saint Class Kylin could not catch up to a Monk in the First Change of the Fish Dragon Realm, even if it got out.

However, reality was happening in front of Zhang Ruochen’s eyes.

The Ember Kylin chased Monk Lidi around hundreds of times. Not only could it not catch him, it tired itself out.

It stopped and stared at Zhang Ruochen.

He just now noticed that there was another human around.