Chapter 817: The Hunt

Zhang Xing felt a surge of murderous intent in his heart; he glanced around at the Yan Party faction members in the vicinity and suppressed this murderous intent.

If one wishes for internal chaos in the Great Xia, wiping out the Yan Party and the Xunyang faction is necessary.

But for now.

Whoosh!

Shen Yiwei unleashed the Reverse Nine Swords, the sword shadows pouring down like a sudden rain, instantly weaving into an airtight curtain of light that enveloped everyone completely.

The speed had increased by a notch.

Zhang Xing narrowed his eyes; the current rise of Li Zhiyi surprised him.

But he also knew Li Zhiyi's ending well: the moment the Blood Brand emerges is the moment Li Zhiyi is devoured.

The Five Clans side must have already made preparations to obtain the Blood Brand.

In Zhang Xing's memory, when the high-level officials of Chen Prefecture collected the Blood Brand back then, they waited for the Blood Brand to devour the Blood Gu, then retrieved it using the Blood Brand scabbard in their hands.

The current high-level officials of the Five Clans must certainly have the same idea.

But...

Zhang Xing knew a method that could sever the connection between the Blood Brand and the scabbard.

Malice Crystal.

That's right.

The Blood Brand, the fifth divine artifact in the world, devours killing intent and cuts through everything.

This initial killing intent was actually a method researched by the high-level officials of Chen Prefecture to deal with malice.

Clearly, killing intent cannot contend with malice.

The research in Chen Prefecture failed completely, so they sought another path, expending vast resources to create a divine artifact like the Blood Brand.

The connection between the Blood Brand and the Blood Brand scabbard is killing intent.

But killing intent cannot contend with malice.

Therefore, one only needs to use a Malice Crystal to block the connection between the scabbard and the blade...

A sharp light bloomed in the depths of Zhang Xing's eyes; the Blood Brand is, after all, the fifth divine artifact in the world.

Moreover, its properties, even its limitless sharpness—even though he is an Ancient Divine Beast, he wants it.

At the very least, he cannot let the human race obtain it.

Zhang Xing shook his head slightly.

I integrated into the human race and learned the various base behavioral patterns of the human race.

Now, the thoughts in my heart are actually revealed through my eyes.

His pupils gradually returned to calm, finally turning indifferent and cold.

It was also at this moment that a telepathic message entered Zhang Xing's mind.

"It has been investigated clearly; on Li Zhiyi's side, there are not only the tens of thousands of troops from Ji Prefecture."

"There are also ten Creation Realm experts waiting, and furthermore..."

This was the voice of the Zhang family's Eighth-Rank expert, Zhang Wang; Zhang Wang had long since become Zhang Xing's lackey.

"Furthermore, there is another Eighth-Rank expert, who is the daughter of the current Chen Lord, who is riding the crest of success: Chen Youqing."

Zhang Xing's gaze was indifferent, and he did not reply.

He sensed his surroundings; currently, Shen Yiwei and his party had already fought their way out of the Five Clans' front line, leaving the twenty-plus Five Clans Creation Realm experts who were pursuing them behind.

This was because of the Reverse Nine Swords in Shen Yiwei's hand.

It was also possible that there was assistance from the master of the true intent within the Reverse Nine Swords.

Zhang Xing began to ponder a strategy.

"First point: before the Blood Brand emerges, Li Zhiyi cannot die."

"Second point: Shen Yiwei and the others are not important, but with the existence of the master of the true intent within the Reverse Nine Swords, they might ruin my grand plan."

"Third point: if Li Zhiyi can still hold on, and his speed of slaughter is too fast, I might not be able to arrive in time."

"Fourth point: I need to restrict Chen Youqing; although she does not enter the battle, she is also a person who disrupts the situation."

Thoughts swirled in Zhang Xing's mind, and he immediately sent a telepathic message to Zhang Wang:

"Disguise yourself as the Second Elder of Chi Prefecture and send a message to those ten Creation Realm experts, telling them to capture Li Zhiyi."

"Afterward, I will snipe them from a distance."

Above the clouds, Zhang Wang, dressed in white, nodded, understanding Zhang Xing's idea in his heart.

Zhang Xing wanted to use the hands of the Five Clans' Creation Realm experts to break the 【Domain-Suppressing Saint Image Array】 that Li Zhiyi had deployed.

Once the 【Domain-Suppressing Saint Image Array】 is destroyed, Li Zhiyi would no longer need to bear the pressure brought by the 【Domain-Suppressing Saint Image Array】 and would not need to be on the verge of death.

Simply holding the Blood Brand to slaughter, by the time Zhang Xing arrives, the Blood Brand would have just emerged.

But...

Zhang Wang frowned; if it were like this.

Zhang Xing would arrive, and Shen Yiwei and the others would also arrive.

Then how would Zhang Xing operate?

Yet, it was also at this moment.

Woo!

An earth-shattering beast roar suddenly resounded.

Boom!

Within the shattered Yixian City, the already dilapidated ruins were suddenly blown apart by waves of terrifying wind.

Shen Yiwei instantly narrowed his eyes and looked toward the front.

"What is that?"

Lu Jingqiu cried out in alarm, and Jiang Yuan also furrowed his brows.

As for Zhang Xing, his eyes were cold, yet a faint smile appeared at the corners of his mouth.

Then, it was seen.

Shen Yiwei and the others, a thousand miles away.

A massive Black Tortoise Dharma Image descended from the horizon, its blue-black tortoise shell adorned with deep blue mysterious patterns.

When its four feet stepped on the ground, the rumbling shook the heavens and earth, and cracks in the earth continuously extended following its footsteps.

And before the Black Tortoise.

A red-haired man stood bare-chested, his bronze skin taut with fluid muscle lines; as his hair danced wildly, his eyes burned with intense divine light, intertwining with the heavy divine might of the Black Tortoise.

His eyes were indifferent, and an endless domineering aura pressed down instantly as he walked toward Shen Yiwei and the others.

Although he stepped calmly, each step covered a thousand meters.

This person appeared suddenly.

Attracting the attention of everyone.

Xia Hanzhou stared fixedly, narrowing his eyes:

"Who is this person?"

Chen Qi also displayed an expression of extreme astonishment, and soon, reports from his subordinates after their investigation reached his ears.

"Wu Yuan, a powerful expert of the Tempering Creation Realm from seven hundred years ago; I didn't expect... he wasn't dead..."

Chen Qi murmured aloud.

This Wu Yuan was an epic-level figure.

It was said that back then, because his tempering foundation was too solid, he was already invincible at the same realm, but he found it difficult to break through to the Eighth Rank, so he went to the Ancient God Forbidden Land to seek a chance for a breakthrough.

The world thought he had long since died, but no one expected him to appear now.

And now...

He is still in the Creation Realm.

"Hahahaha!!!"

The red-haired man named Wu Yuan laughed out loud, and at this moment, he met Chen Qi's gaze:

"If I intercept Shen Yiwei and the others, what reward will your Five Clans give me?!"

Wu Yuan's voice came across, and Chen Qi's expression froze, then he immediately said:

"Intercept them, and I will ask the Chen Master to assist you in breaking through your realm!"

The next moment.

Brilliant light erupted from Wu Yuan's eyes:

"Good!"

Xia Hanzhou narrowed his eyes; how did a Wu Yuan suddenly appear?

Of course, Wu Yuan could not defeat Shen Yiwei and the others, but if Wu Yuan obstructed them, the Five Clans' Creation Realm experts chasing Shen Yiwei would be able to catch up.

Damn it!

Xia Hanzhou immediately spoke:

"Wu Yuan, assist my Great Xia, and I can let you enter the Great Xia Master's Divine Temple!"

The red-haired man Wu Yuan laughed out loud:

"Once the Five Clans trample your Great Xia, wouldn't it be easy for me, Wu Yuan, to enter the Great Xia Master's Divine Temple?!"

Cold light shot from the depths of Xia Hanzhou's eyes: "Do you think you can live until that time?!"

Woo!

Behind Wu Yuan, the huge Black Tortoise Dharma Image suddenly raised its head and let out a cry, the sound shaking the heavens and earth.

Blood-red light erupted from Wu Yuan's eyes, veins bulged all over his body, and Black Tortoise patterns appeared on his knotted muscles, making him look exceptionally domineering in an instant.

"Xia Hanzhou!"

Wu Yuan roared:

"No matter what, I, Wu Yuan, am a Tempering Creation Realm expert; my life is tough!"

Boom!

As his voice fell, circles of earth cracks suddenly exploded from beneath his feet.

Xia Hanzhou's expression turned extremely ugly in an instant.

Chen Qi, however, had an exceptionally calm expression.

In his view, the two-hundred-thousand-strong army of Great Xia was doomed, and Li Zhiyi was nothing more than a doomed Blood Gu.

In this battle, Great Xia would lose no matter what.

And the appearance of this Wu Yuan was actually better than nothing.

Hum hum hum!

The Reverse Nine Sword in Shen Yiwei's hand vibrated crazily, and a terrifying sword soul erupted instantly.

"I'll go test him!" Jiang Yuan suddenly said:

"You continue to take the others to support Li Zhiyi!"

Shen Yiwei looked at Jiang Yuan and nodded.

This person, Jiang Yuan, was quick-witted; even if he encountered a strong enemy, he had means to save his life.

Zhang Xing, however, said nothing, sneering in his heart.

Wu Yuan was the third human vessel of the Unmanifested Void Sacrifice, besides himself and Chen Liu.

Although they display the strength of the peak Creation Realm, they have actually long since transcended the concept of the human race; even if they wanted to enter the Eighth Rank, it would be but a single thought away.

Jiang Yuan is simply no match for Wu Yuan.

When the time comes, Wu Yuan will block Shen Yiwei and everyone else, and once the pursuing Creation Realm experts of the Five Clans arrive, it will be even harder for Shen Yiwei and the others to extricate themselves.

And he, meanwhile, will seize the momentum to break through and be the first to reach Li Zhiyi's side.

This struggle between the Great Xia and the Five Clans will be won by him, the Ancient Divine Beast Wei Zhao Xu Ji!

Above the clouds, Zhang Wang of the Eighth Rank from the Zhang Family felt secretly shocked to see Wu Yuan arrive.

He had originally been pondering how Zhang Xing would deal with Shen Yiwei, never expecting there to be a backup plan.

One person has already thrown the entire Great Xia and the Five Clans into chaos, and today, he has even schemed against everyone.

Impressive.

As a human, and now a dog under Zhang Xing's seat, Zhang Wang felt immensely fortunate at this moment to have submitted to Zhang Xing.

If even Ancient Divine Beasts have begun to employ schemes, how can the human race still win?

Bitterness appeared in Zhang Wang's eyes, but then the bitterness vanished, replaced by pride and arrogance.

"This old man... has already transcended; I no longer belong to the category of the human race.

I am superior, I am holy, I am noble.

If the Ancient Gods are gods..."

Zhang Wang lightly stroked his chin:

"For this old man to act as a false god... is not impossible."

"Hahahaha!!!"

Crackle...

Above a distant mountain peak, a streak of azure lightning flashed.

However, compared to this earth-shattering battle, no one cared about this faint bolt of lightning at all.

Underground.

Inside an artificially excavated earthen cave.

Clap, clap, clap!

Upon receiving the latest report from the Lightning Ball Creatures, a handsome youth with an evil charm on his face clapped gently.

"Brilliant..."

Zhang Huizhi's expression shifted constantly, smiling one moment and excited the next:

"Too brilliant."

Beside him, several Lightning Ball Creatures were watching him respectfully.

"Boss, shall we go up now?"

A Lightning Ball Creature floated over, its anthropomorphic face filled with a fearless spirit:

"I will definitely be the first to charge!"

With a *slap*.

Zhang Huizhi swatted that Lightning Ball Creature away with a single palm:

"Go up for what? What if you attract that woman again?"

Zhang Huizhi sneered.

Some time ago, a Lightning Ball Creature had been captured by a woman with extremely strong formation skills.

And that woman had begun using that Lightning Ball Creature to track down Zhang Huizhi's base camp.

Fortunately, Zhang Huizhi had long since prepared measures, making that Lightning Ball Creature self-destruct.

Otherwise, he would have truly been exposed.

Moreover, that woman gave Zhang Huizhi a strange feeling.

That was, he absolutely must not make a move against that woman.

This feeling was one Zhang Huizhi did not wish to experience again.

Therefore, Zhang Huizhi would not let the Lightning Ball Creatures appear, so as to avoid being exposed again.

"The Blood Brand has emerged; the world will surely fight for it, and even Eighth Rankers might make a move."

Zhang Huizhi calmed down:

"I was originally going to head to Wanxiang Island, but I have been hunting in this place for so long; once I make a move, I must succeed!"

He looked at the Lightning Ball Creatures beside him:

"No one can stop me!"

"Yes!"

The Lightning Ball Creatures spoke in unison, their demeanor respectful.

He sat cross-legged, focused his mind and calmed his breath, and the moment he opened his eyes the next instant, an aura of vying for the world erupted.

"Report!" Zhang Huizhi suddenly spoke.

"Reporting to Master, 1,500 spider-type mechanical bodies are ready!"

"Reporting to Master, the space formation disk group is ready!"

"Reporting to Master, the demolition formation disk group is ready!"

"Reporting to Master, the suppression weapon group is ready!"

The voices of the Lightning Ball Creatures rang out one after another.

Only then did Zhang Huizhi nod with satisfaction; the resources within the Jizhou Treasury were vast in the extreme, enough for him to launch this surprise attack.

"With such a formation, even an Eighth Rank can be annihilated!"

Zhang Huizhi let out a cold laugh:

"The Blood Brand must be contested; whoever blocks me, I will kill!"