Chapter 896: The Past of the Sword Tomb

A slight breeze blew through the bamboo forest, causing the green bamboo leaves to flutter down.

Li Min snuck a glance at Zhang Ruochen. She pursed her lips, feeling a bit nervous, and said, “Debating the Young Clan Leader is taboo. If the others hear, you’ll be punished.”

Zhang Ruochen activated his Space Domain. It covered dozens of miles in radius and covered Li Min. Then he said, “Now, no one can hear us speak. Tell me what exactly is happening.”

Li Min didn’t know what tactic Zhang Ruochen had used, but he was a Half-Saint. If he said no one could hear them talk, then he must be right.

“It’s not really a secret. Actually, 200 years ago, the clan leader of the Guardians of the Prison wasn’t the current one. Instead, it was Shi Ren’s grandfather, Shi Mingyuan. We call him the Old Clan Leader.”

Zhang Ruochen made note of the name “Shi Mingyuan.” He must be an extraordinary man if he could become the Guardians of the Prison’s clan leader.

“At that time, Clan Leader Shi entered the 15th level of the Underground Spirit Prison,” Li Min said animatedly. “He completely isolated himself to try and enter the Saint King Realm. If everything went successfully, he could enter the realm in only three years.”

“However, Clan Leader Shi stayed there in isolation for 30 years and never walked out. Thus, many people guessed that he’d failed the attempt and died in the 15th level. Of course, the Guardians of the Prison can’t be without a clan leader. Wang Beilie, the patriarch of the Wang Family at that time, used his powerful cultivation and tactics to quickly become the new clan leader.”

“The day he entered the position, he swore that he would step down if Clan Leader Shi ever came out. At the same time, he also personally appointed Clan Leader Shi’s eldest son as the Young Clan Leader. As long as the Young Clan Leader reached the Saint Realm, he would also step down.”

Zhang Ruochen nodded. “So, the Young Clan Leader at that time was Shi Ren’s father?”

“Yes,” Li Min said.

“So did Shi Ren’s father reach the Saint Realm?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

Li Min glanced around. It was clear that she was still worried people would overhear. After confirming that no one could hear, she said, “Shi Ren’s father was a step away from the Saint Realm. Unfortunately, he lost his mind at the most critical moment and turned into a murderous creature covered in blood-red fur.”

“On a night with a full moon, he charged into where the clansmen were gathered and killed many innocent people. After that, the current Clan Leader defeated him and imprisoned him in the Underground Spirit Prison.”

“This is a taboo topic amongst the clan. I only learned about this when eavesdropping on two elders talking.”

Zhang Ruochen found it strange. “Did Shi Ren’s father really lose his mind?”

“Actually, I think there’s something wrong too. After all, the Shi Family focuses on Spiritual Power and the Way of the Runes. Even those who become Saints in the Martial Way have strong wills, let alone a Spiritual Power Saint like Shi Ren’s father. It’s impossible for him to lose his mind.”

Li Min blinked with her pretty eyes and asked softly, “Zhang Ruochen, do you think Wang Beilie used some dark trick to cause this? After all, he’s the biggest benefactor.”

“You, little girl, are quite brave to say the clan leader’s full name,” Zhang Ruochen teased.

Li Min glared with her big eyes. Clearly, she didn’t like being called “little girl.” Puffing up her chest and raising her snowy-white chin, she said, “I’m already 16 years old! How am I little? You’re not much older than me. How come you can call me ‘little girl’?”

Zhang Ruochen sized her up and then shook his head, chuckling. “Do you know how powerful a Saint’s senses are? Thankfully, we’re in the Space Domain. If we were outside, even if we were thousands of miles away, a Saint could still hear if someone utters his name.”

“Hmph!” Li Min crossed her arms before her chest and pursed her lips. “You told me to tell you the clan’s secret, but now you’re criticizing me. If I knew you’d do this, I wouldn’t tell you so much.”

Back then, this little girl had pretended to be composed, like a weak but learned scholar. Ever since she went to Thousand-elephant County with Zhang Ruochen, she stopped pretending and revealed her whiny side.

Zhang Ruochen didn’t actually mean anything other than reminding her. If she accidentally said something wrong and angered the clan leader, he could kill her with just a thought.

According to what Li Min had said, Zhang Ruochen felt that Wang Beilie, current clan leader of the Guardians of the Prison, was no kind soul. More accurately, how many people with high statuses didn’t have hands covered in blood?

Even the venerable Empress had killed her fiancée and massacred countless lives to sit comfortably in her position, did she not?

Zhang Ruochen stroked his chin, eyes turning sharp. “Did Shi Ren become the new Young Clan Leader after his father was imprisoned in the Underground Spirit Prison?”

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“Yes.” Li Min hesitated to speak. “But…he almost died as well when he broke into the Half-Saint Realm.”

“What exactly happened?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“I’m not sure what happened exactly,” Li Min said. “Apparently, he hadn’t been in the Half-Saint Realm for long before the Vampires tried to kill him. It was his wife who blocked the fatal strike for him, allowing him to survive.”

Shi Ren had entered the netherworld, knowing that he might die, to find the Pill of Resurrection for his wife. It was evident how deep their love was.

If Wang Beilie really had orchestrated this all, then the Shi Family and Wang Family were truly deep rivals. Shi Ren was also treading on thin ice now. Danger lurked everywhere. He could die from a tiny mishap.

Blackie lay on the ground, clutching a white thousand-year raven in its claws. While chomping on it, it said, “The waters of the Guardians of the Prison are unusually deep. Zhang Ruochen, I think it’s best to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, how can you fight with these old guys with your current cultivation?”

Zhang Ruochen shook his head. “I don’t think we could leave even if we wanted to now!”

Just then, Zhang Ruochen sensed something. He raised his head and looked down the mountain. A ball of white fog had suddenly risen up, covering more than half the mountain.

“How come there’s suddenly fog?” Li Min walked to the cliff and looked down, feeling shocked.

“A Saint used his Saint Soul to control the Spiritual Qi and gather it toward Bamboo Mountain,” Zhang Ruochen said.

Even with Zhang Ruochen’s current state, he had to activate the Heavenly Eye to see the dozens of figures in the fog clearly. Those people were rushing towards the mountaintop.

At the same time, they also sensed Zhang Ruochen’s eyes. They locked down on him with their Spiritual Power.

Next, a thunderous roar arose in the white fog, “Zhang Ruochen, I didn’t expect you to hide in the Pluto Sword Tomb! I’d like to see where you run to now!”

A red figure burst from the clouds. He passed through the various defense formations and quickly climbed to the mountaintop, appearing before Zhang Ruochen.

This man was very muscular. He was ten feet tall and wore ancient armor. His abdomen, arms, and legs were bare. A thick chain wrapped around his waist. He wore silver-scale boots on his feet.

This was none other than King Giant Scorpion, Feng Qin, of the Ministry of War.

When Zhang Ruochen had tried for the Tenth Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm near Qingli County, he’d been surrounded by seven strong cultivators from the Ministry of War. Feng Qin was one of them.

Without more words, Feng Qin sped over like wind. He was before Zhang Ruochen in an instant. Clenching his fist, he punched Zhang Ruochen’s chest.

They were too close. Feng Qin’s speed was also shocking. Thus, Zhang Ruochen couldn’t dodge him at all. He could only take it head-on.

“Disaster for Divine Dragon.” Golden dragon scales appeared on Zhang Ruochen’s palm. Red flames surged out, crashing against Feng Qin’s fist.

Feng Qin’s fist contained rules of the fist way and wind way. Not only was it extremely powerful, it could also shatter Rules of Saintly Way. The powers it contained were layered upon each other.

Zhang Ruochen’s palm was a Consummate Skill that contained rules of the palm way and fire way.

The palm and fist clashed, immediately setting off powerful shockwaves. All the bamboo within dozens of feet shattered, turning into dust. Thankfully, there were many defense formations around Bamboo Mountain. Thus, the shockwaves from the two Half-Saints fighting could be controlled within this area instead of spreading out.

Zhang Ruochen skidded back dozens of feet before he dissolved Feng Qin’s power and steadied himself.

Feng Qin stood in his spot without moving. He glanced at Zhang Ruochen in shock. “You’re only in the first level, but you can block my Hundred-battle Ox Demon Fist. Without the help of the Divine Fire Jingmie, you’re still very strong. No wonder you dared to attack Ziyong Pass. But how many fists can you block?”

Zhang Ruochen wriggled his fingers. Then he activated Holy Qi, sending it through the meridians of his arm to dissolve the pain.

Just as Feng Qin prepared to attack again, Li Min cried from the side, “Stop… This…this is the Pluto Sword Tomb. Even the Ministry of War…can’t break the rules. Whoever breaks the rules is the enemy of the Guardians of the Prison.”

Li Min was scared of Feng Qin’s status and cultivation, but as she spoke, she somehow felt less scared. She straightened her slender frame.