Daqin Zhentiansi

Zhang Yuan's voice carried a hint of solemnity.

Even with his own capabilities, he would feel pressure when considering the future situation.

Those powerful figures who have been famous for countless years and only appear in history may all come.

What kind of major trend was that?
Zhao Yu leaned on his shoulder, feeling the weight and profound consideration in his words, and nodded slightly.

She understood the emperor's deeper meaning and Zhang Yuan's predicament.

This trip to Yangtianzhou was not only to avoid the storm, but also a race against time to accumulate the power to cut through the waves in preparation for the coming monstrous storm.

A day passes in the blink of an eye in the tranquility of the cave.

……

Outside the gates of the Great River Sword Sect.

The clouds and mist surged, and hundreds of sword lights soared into the sky, converging into a dazzling river of light.

They flew majestically towards the western horizon of Yangtian Continent, where demonic energy and blood light intertwined.

Zhang Yuan was still wearing that black outfit.

He carries the heavy, black, blunt ruler known as "Broken Waves".

Standing alone at the front of a huge floating shuttle, her clothes fluttered in the strong wind.

He did not use a sword, a move that stood out conspicuously among the group of sword cultivators.

Behind him were the elite disciples selected by the Great River Sword Sect.

Leading the group was Ling Hao, the man who had once been repelled by him with a single strike, his face still bearing a gloomy and unwilling expression. The three spirit swords floating behind him had been replaced, their sword light chilling.

There were also several other disciples with extraordinary presence, such as Lu Chengzhou, who carried seven water-splitting daggers on his back and had a cold look in his eyes, and Lin Susu, a spirited but slightly nervous young female disciple.

They looked at Zhang Yuan's silent back in front of them, their eyes filled with complex emotions, a mixture of envy, jealousy, and even a hint of fear.

At a deeper level, there is a natural fear of the infamous "Demon Abyss and Blood Sea".

The shuttle flew through the clouds and mist, and along the way, spiritual light from other forces continuously flowed into the team heading towards the Sea of ​​Blood.

From the direction of the Immortal Alliance, disciples of the Taixu Sword Pavilion rode in crane-shaped cloud boats, their white robes fluttering, their sword intent transcendent.

The leader was a young man with a sword mark between his eyebrows. His gaze occasionally swept over the Great River Sword Sect's group, carrying a hint of scrutiny and superiority, clearly regarding his own side as the orthodox one.

The cultivators of the Myriad Tribulations Talisman Sect stood on a huge rune-covered flying carpet, their bodies surrounded by flowing spiritual runes and shimmering precious light.

The elder at the head of the group closed his eyes to meditate, his aura obscure, emanating an unfathomable pressure from the talismans.

The neutral forces also have their own representatives.

Besides the Great River Sword Sect, there were also sword cultivators from the Heavenly Pivot Sword Pavilion, riding on a giant stone sword.

The sword energy was fierce and intense, and the burly man leading the group had piercing eyes filled with fighting spirit.

Another group of rogue cultivators from the Alliance, dressed in strange attire and riding spirit birds, had shifty eyes that revealed a wildness and shrewdness.

Another group of people came from "Mysterious Yin Valley," traveling in bone boats, their bodies shrouded in eerie ghostly energy.

One of the women, whose face was covered by a light veil, had particularly cold eyes, scanning the crowd as if she were sizing up prey.

Although they are all nominally fighting against the Demon Cave of the Outer Realm, undercurrents are swirling among the various forces as they vie for opportunities, accumulate points, and even eliminate potential future rivals—all of which is perfectly reasonable.

A silent competition and vigilance permeated the air, and alliances were as fragile as paper.

In comparison, the Great River Sword Sect's team did not stand out.

Aside from Ling Hao's considerable strength, his overall aura was significantly weaker than that of other top forces.

The disciples' nervousness and unease were easily noticed by the experienced observers.

As for Zhang Yuan, many people noticed the heavy ruler on his back.

On the edge of a sea of ​​blood.

The entrance to the Demon Abyss.

Several days later, the large group arrived at their destination.

The scene ahead was breathtaking.

A boundless, viscous, and foul-smelling dark red ocean replaced the land. Huge white bones occasionally floated in the rolling blood waves, and mournful demonic howls came from the depths.

The sky was shrouded in murky blood-red clouds, with lightning bolts slithering through them like veins.

This is the Blood Sea of ​​the Demon Abyss!
The entrance is a huge stone platform covered with blood-red runes.

The leaders of each faction confirmed the handover with the elder in charge of guarding the Blood Sea Seal.

The rules are simple.

Disciples enter the Blood Sea to kill demons or demonic cultivators, collect their core blood crystals or specific identity tokens, and hand them over. The monitoring jade tablet records the points.

The competition lasts for one month, and the winners of each point will be determined by their rankings to gain entry into the core Sword Tomb.

At the elder's command, the elite disciples from various factions, who had been unable to contain themselves any longer, unleashed their magical treasures and used their escape techniques, rushing into the churning sea of ​​blood like dumplings being dropped into a pot.

"Go!" Ling Hao shouted, his sword energy protecting him as he charged in first.

Lu Chengzhou, Lin Susu, and the others exchanged glances, their eyes then turning to Zhang Yuan.

Zhang Yuan did not take any action, but simply looked at the blood-stained land ahead.

He ignored the various gazes around him, but his mind was already immersed in the memories he had obtained from the fragments of the Blood River Ancestor's soul.

A crimson sea of ​​blood churning, giant islands rising and falling, ferocious demons lurking in the shadows, the various strongholds of the Blood Sea Demon Sect, the weak points of the mountain-protecting formation, the techniques and weaknesses of the main protectors...

There was also the aura of the so-called "Blood Sea Ancestor," who was actually the Blood River Ancestor, the sect leader of a branch of the Blood River Demon Sect...

He already knew everything about this place.

Zhang Yuan, unhurriedly, ran his finger across the heavy ruler "Broken Waves," and a thick, abyss-like water elemental shield covered his entire body. Ignoring the overwhelming, corrosive, and sweet bloody aura that rushed towards him, he stepped into it!
"boom--"

The moment you step into this filthy, dark red ocean, the overwhelming, sweet, and pungent smell of blood mixed with the stench of decaying souls hits you, enough to suffocate the weak-willed instantly.

Beneath the rolling waves of blood lies endless malice and howls.

Countless blood-red sea snakes, as thick as an arm and covered with ferocious barbs, burst forth from the churning waves like leeches that have smelled blood!
Their fangs dripped thick, emerald-green venom, whistling through the air with a sickening sound, forming a dense, deadly net that instantly enveloped the spot where Zhang Yuan stood.

Almost simultaneously, a piercing bone whistle and a strange howl came from the depths of the blood mist.

Three bone boats, crudely pieced together from pale skeletons, burst through the blood mist and sped out!

Each bone boat was occupied by two Blood Sea Demon Sect disciples, each wielding a curved sword and covered in filthy blood demonic patterns.

Their eyes gleamed with a cruel red light, and they spewed out foul and bloody swear words.

The blade whipped up streaks of blood-red energy that tore through the air, carrying a nauseating, corrosive demonic aura, and slashed in a triangular pattern toward Zhang Yuan's head, chest, abdomen, and legs!

The low-level bone demons and the even weaker ghost-faced fish-bats appeared and disappeared in the waves, like hyenas watching from the sidelines.

Faced with this overwhelming first wave of calamity, Zhang Yuan's eyes remained as still as a deep, ancient pool.

He didn't even use any complex martial arts techniques or mobilize his true energy to protect himself. "Buzz—!"

Only the dark, heavy ruler in his hand—"Broken Waves"—let out a muffled roar, as if from the deep sea.

Moved!

He held the ruler in one hand and simply swung it horizontally!
The movements may seem clumsy, but they carry a domineering spirit that can suppress waves and shatter mountains.

The true essence of the Great River Sword Sect's swordsmanship.

Transform the sword into a mountain.

"Boom!!!"

Wherever the ruler passed, space seemed to be forcibly squeezed and distorted by a terrifying force!
A pure, unadorned, immense force erupts forth, perfectly combined with the profound and weighty nature of water!
The dozens of venomous snakes at the forefront were struck as if by an invisible giant hammer!

The snake's tough body crumbled inch by inch in that absolute power domain, turning into thick, viscous blood and flesh mist, and even the venom was instantly dispersed and evaporated!
Blood fell like rain.

The three bone boats charging towards them, along with the six grinning demonic sect disciples on board, were completely engulfed by the sweeping shadow of the ruler before they could even complete a swing of their swords!
"Crack! Splat!"

The ear-piercing sounds of bones shattering and flesh tearing rang out in rapid succession!

The sturdy, demon-inlaid bone boat was as fragile as paper, and the demon cultivators on it were instantly crushed into a pool of blood-colored slag, indistinguishable from flesh and bone!
The violent shockwave pushed the surrounding stench of blood and mist back more than ten feet, creating a brief vacuum zone.

The power of the Canglang Water Element swirling around the ruler surface gently washed away the filth and blood that had splashed on it, restoring the dark ruler to its original state, spotless.

The points jade pendant hanging from Zhang Yuan's waist flashed slightly, instantly jumping from zero to "seventy-three".

The slaying of dozens of blood serpents and six demonic sect disciples brought in a considerable initial profit.

Looking up ahead, Zhang Yuan's eyes shone brightly.

In his mind, the Chaos Furnace swirled, and the nourishing blood and demonic energy were also being refined, and a new Chaos Spirit Pearl was about to take shape.

The Chaos Spirit Pearls he has accumulated are each equivalent to tens of millions of Qi, Blood, and Divine Souls, and the accumulation of Heavenly Dao Golden Pearls.

To condense one, one would need an extreme killing spree.

Zhang Yuan put down the ruler, but his steps did not stop. As if stepping on solid ground, he continued to move deeper into the surging waves of blood.

His movements carried a sense of stability, like the ballast of a sinking ship.

"Roar!"

A muffled roar erupted from the sea of ​​blood below, and a "reef" covered in dark red moss suddenly rose up!
It turned out to be a lurking, bloodthirsty giant crab, the size of a small hill!
It brandished a pair of enormous pincers that gleamed with a cold metallic luster and were engraved with ancient runes that resisted magic, and with a powerful gust of wind that tore through space, it fiercely slashed at Zhang Yuan's waist!
A dark red liquid capable of corroding spiritual energy flowed between the cleavage of the pincers.

At the same time, from the depths of the churning blood clouds overhead, several even faster shadows swooped down!
Those were several incredibly fast "Sky-Eroding Demon Owls" whose bodies looked like congealed blood!
Their sharp beaks opened, silently spewing out several streams of grayish-green acid.

Extremely fast speed, tricky trajectory, blocking any room for evasion.

The air and the remaining blood mist even made a "sizzling" dissolving sound!
From the undercurrents not far away, a dozen or so more disciples of the Demonic Sect, whose cultivation was slightly stronger and who were clearly more organized, emerged.

They were quickly setting up a small blood-refining combined attack formation. The filthy array flags waved, condensing into a ferocious phantom of a blood shark, which lunged straight at Zhang Yuan's back.

Faced with this pincer attack from above and below, and an even more cunning one, Zhang Yuan's movements remained remarkably concise and chilling.

Instead of blocking the deadly pincers of the giant crab beneath his feet, he used "Broken Waves" to draw a deep arc, like a giant axe cleaving down fiercely at the base of the swinging claws!
There was no sharp sound, only a muffled thunderous boom!
That incredibly tough, thick armor, capable of withstanding the cuts of ordinary flying swords, shattered like glass striking a vajra!
The force of the ruler did not stop, embedding itself deeply into the joint between the crab's most sturdy carapace and cephalothorax, its terrifying pure power penetrating the entire body!

"Pfft—Boom!"

The entire massive upper body of the crab, as if flattened by an invisible mountain, instantly exploded into countless blood-stained shell fragments and viscous internal organs, which were instantly swallowed up by the surging waves of blood.

While cleaving the giant crab, Zhang Yuan's free left hand remained completely still as it faced the corrosive acid attacking from above.

He simply and naturally raised the "Broken Waves" heavy ruler, which he was holding upside down, slightly, tilting it at a precise angle!

The broad, dark, and blunt ruler instantly transformed into an indestructible, solid shield!

"Chichichichi——!"

The corrosive acid, strong enough to melt metal, slammed into the ruler, splashing up large plumes of pungent white smoke.

However, when that filthy, corrosive energy touched the thick, vast waters surrounding the ruler, it vanished as if it had been thrown into the sea.

The impact was largely neutralized and dissipated by the invisible, heavy force emanating from the ruler.

The ruler remained completely still, without leaving even a trace.

Zhang Yuan blocked the acid with movements as fluid as a breath.

As soon as he settled into his blocking stance, Zhang Yuan stomped his foot hard!
A ring of blood exploded beneath his feet, and his figure shot forward at an eerie speed, like an arrow released from a bow, seemingly carrying no weight whatsoever!
The target was the source of the acid, one of which, the Void Owl, was the closest and was trying to spew it out again!
The tip of the "Broken Waves" ruler he held horizontally transformed into the sharpest armor-piercing spear at that moment!
"puff--!"

Simple and neat!

The ruler tip pierced through the demon owl's hard, blood-stained chest, precisely striking its pulsating, filthy demon core!

The penetrating force not only destroyed the demon core, but also shattered the powerful body of this demon owl from the inside, causing it to explode into a ball of filthy blood in mid-air!

The whole process happened in the blink of an eye, and the other demonic owls scattered with terrified screams.

Zhang Yuan pierced through the Demon Owl, his momentum carrying immense force.

The moment he landed, he stepped right into a vortex node in the sea of ​​blood.

He used the momentum to slam the heavy ruler down, and a powerful shockwave spread out from him!
A ring-shaped water element shock wave was formed!

"boom!"

The blood shark phantom that was just taking shape, along with the dozen or so disciples forming an array behind it, were struck hard as if by an invisible, heavy hammer!

The formation collapsed instantly. The Blood Shark howled and dissipated. The disciples who set up the formation were like leaves falling in a whirlwind, spitting blood as they flew backward, their tendons and bones broken.

Before they could fall into the water, a heavy gust of wind swept past them like a shadow, ending their lives.

The numbers on Zhang Yuan's points jade token started jumping wildly again!

315

"Five hundred and eighty-two"

The final number was "809"!
Low-level Blood Fiend Crabs are quite valuable, and Void-Eating Demon Owls are even rarer.

This series of overwhelming victories, especially the Blood Fiend Giant Crab that easily killed even a peak Cave Profound Realm cultivator, caused the number of points on Zhang Yuan's waist jade token to surge wildly like an out-of-control tide!
The entrance to the Demon Abyss, a massive crystal platform.

Beneath the blood-red crystal tablet that displays the real-time updated scores of the top 1,000 people, are the elders, team leaders, and disciples from various factions who remain behind to keep track of the results.

The leader of the Taixu Sword Pavilion, a white-robed youth with a sword mark between his eyebrows, was resting with his eyes closed, seemingly indifferent to the changes in the rankings below.

The elder of the Myriad Tribulations Talisman Sect held the jade talisman and silently deduced its meaning.

"Hey? Look! A new name!"

A rogue cultivator responsible for guarding the list suddenly exclaimed, pointing to a name rapidly rising at the bottom of the list.

"Zhang Qingyang of the Great River Sword Sect?"

"Zhang Qingyang? Never heard of him before! A disciple of the Great River Sword Sect?"

"How long has it been? Less than an hour, right? These points—three hundred, five hundred, eight hundred, wow! Eight hundred and nine! They've broken into the top one thousand!" (End of Chapter)