Chapter 308

Chapter 308: Exiting Seclusion

No one had expected the Supreme Emperor to emerge amidst the massive waves and attack the Ghost Ship of the Buried Immortals, nor had they expected him to glance at Jin Zhihong.

Even more astonishing was the incredible transformation caused by that single glance.

But there was a price to pay for such an encounter, Jin Zhihong had been given a command.

A direct order to kill Zhang Yang.

He was utterly baffled. Logically, the Supreme Emperor should not have known about Zhang Yang at all. Ever since stepping onto the Ghost Ship, Jin Zhihong had kept a close eye on Zhang Yang’s every move, considering his bloodline special at most.

But this?

How strange!

Jin Zhihong felt deeply puzzled.

Yet, even after achieving the Holy Body, he did not rush to attack Zhang Yang. Instead, his mind replayed his experiences since encountering him.

Competing with Yaoruoxian for comprehension.

That woman, an unparalleled genius, had pioneered Saint Laws during the Eternal Night, yet she had been unable to defeat Zhang Yang. Their battle had ended in a draw.

Later, during the Great Battle, he had witnessed Zhang Yang accomplish the impossible, slaying a Hellhound.

And what astonished him most…

Zhang Yang, while facing the ghostly figure of the Ghost Island Master, had somehow obtained the Moonlight Saint Stone, from the skeletal hands "raised" by that very ghost.

Each of these experiences made Jin Zhihong increasingly cautious.

Without absolute certainty, he would never act recklessly.

Especially because he had sensed something unusual, something ominous.

All the movements of the Great Terror in the Cabin seemed to be tied to Zhang Yang’s bloodline.

This was Jin Zhihong’s uniqueness.

Even after achieving the Holy Body, even with his bloodline returning to its roots and his spirit soaring to new heights, he did not allow himself to be blinded by arrogance.

"Sect Leader, killing Zhang Yang may not be so easy," Yuan Chiyang said, frowning.

Jin Zhihong’s eyes sharpened. "I want to hear all of your opinions."

His tone was composed, displaying the demeanor of a true Butian Pavilion master, one who did not rule with tyranny.

Yuan Chiyang spoke first. "Zhang Yang is deep and unfathomable."

Nie Bahuang hesitated before adding, "I don’t know if it’s just my intuition, but it seems like even Yaoruoxian lacks confidence when facing him."

Behind Qing Xie, his scorpion tail twitched as he muttered, "I can’t explain why, but based on my beast soul’s instincts… Zhang Yang is extremely dangerous."

The words of the three top experts made Jin Zhihong fall into deep thought.

This Zhang Yang truly was terrifying.

Without even a direct confrontation, he had already intimidated the three top talents of the Butian Pavilion.

The Butian Pavilion had no shortage of geniuses. But these three were the finest among them.

After a moment of contemplation, Jin Zhihong finally spoke.

"There is still time before the ship arrives. Do the three of you have any plans?"

Yuan Chiyang, Nie Bahuang, and Qing Xie exchanged glances.

Then, in unison, they declared, "Kill the moon-returning dragon!"

"Hahaha! That suits my intentions perfectly," Jin Zhihong laughed heartily.

"The grand plan of the dynasty relies heavily on the moon-returning dragon. Right now, the skeletons are deep in cultivation, and while Zhang Yang and Yaoruoxian are focused on their realm cultivation, they will be unable to intervene. This is the perfect moment to determine life and death. Let’s go—kill the moon-returning dragon!"

At Nie Bahuang’s shout, a hundred Butian Guards rose in unison.

One could not underestimate the Butian Guards of the Butian Pavilion.

Each one was an elite fighter, handpicked from the Taixu Dynasty’s finest troops. They possessed a solid martial foundation and exceptional potential.

Under the Butian Pavilion’s training, their strength had skyrocketed.

Give them another ten or eight years, and they would become a force capable of shaking the Western Desert.

The Butian Pavilion itself had only been established three years after the new emperor of the Taixu Dynasty took the throne, yet its accomplishments were already astonishing.

Now, filled with vigor after achieving the Holy Body, Jin Zhihong led the charge with unwavering confidence.

They advanced directly toward the Reincarnation Well.

A force radiating overwhelming might.

Midway to the Reincarnation Well… They encountered the moon-returning dragon, accompanied by his three top experts.

Jin Zhihong’s eyes flashed with amusement.

"Hahaha! Moon-returning dragon, you actually have the courage to take the initiative and attack me?"

He found it laughable.

Yet the moon-returning dragon, with his striking appearance and refined demeanor, remained unfazed.

"Brother Jin," he said calmly, "you were well aware of my purpose in coming to the Falling Star Mountain Range. You set a trap, forcing me to the brink of death. Do you think I would forget?"

Jin Zhihong burst into laughter.

"You seek revenge against me? You might end up losing your life instead!"

Suddenly, he unleashed a brilliant holy light.

The might of his Holy Body surged forth, sending a wave of pressure that made the three experts behind him tense.

Even the moon-returning dragon’s eyes contracted slightly.

Among non-saints, the sheer advantage of possessing such a domineering physique was terrifying.

Jin Zhihong smirked.

"Come! I’m standing right here. If you wish to seek revenge, then go ahead and make your move!"

The moon-returning dragon remained silent for a moment before speaking.

"You surprise me… You’ve actually achieved the Holy Body."

His expression darkened slightly as he continued, "Before stepping into the Abyss of the Buried Immortals, you showed no signs of even being remotely connected to the Holy Body. Yet, within the Abyss, you never strayed far from me—I observed your every move. Unless you encountered some great fortune during your three days of seclusion, you wouldn’t be standing here so confidently. The only possible explanation is…"

He paused briefly, then said gravely, "The Supreme Emperor."

Jin Zhihong laughed heartily.

"That’s right! My ancestor helped me awaken my bloodline and achieve the Holy Body. Why shouldn’t I tell you? You’re nothing but a dead man!"

"Dead man?" the moon-returning dragon retorted. "Brother Jin, you’re celebrating too soon."

As his last word fell, a sharp, overwhelming intent erupted from him—strong enough to shatter the holy might radiating from Jin Zhihong’s Holy Body.

The sound of a trembling blade resonated through the air.

A cold, gleaming light flickered before the moon-returning dragon.

It was a holy weapon, the Handleless Crescent Blade!

Like a crescent moon, its edge shimmered ominously, swirling around the moon-returning dragon.

Jin Zhihong’s expression twisted in disbelief. "Impossible! How could you refine a holy weapon so quickly? A holy weapon cannot possibly—" He suddenly stopped mid-sentence, his eyes narrowing.

Then, as if realizing something, he shouted, "The Bloodline Inheritance Pearl!"

The moon-returning dragon smirked. "That’s right. The Bloodline Inheritance Pearl was left behind by my ancestor, Saint Yue Shou. It perfectly aligns with my bloodline. This holy weapon, his life’s work, has now merged with both my lineage and the pearl, allowing me to refine it effortlessly."

Jin Zhihong forcibly suppressed his shock, focusing solely on the killing intent emanating from his opponent.

He knew that this version of the moon-returning dragon wasn’t far from attaining the Holy Body himself.

With a Holy Body, a holy weapon, and his formidable martial skills, the moon-returning dragon was on the verge of a meteoric rise, something the Taixu Dynasty could least afford to allow.

"Kill!"

Jin Zhihong roared as he launched his attack.

The three experts behind him, Yuan Chimuyu, Nie Bahuang, and Qing Xie immediately lunged forward.

The moon-returning dragon met Jin Zhihong’s fierce gaze, his fighting spirit surging, his killing intent even stronger.

He had brought many warriors to the Falling Star Mountain Range, yet now only three remained by his side, all because of Jin Zhihong.

His voice rang out like a war drum. "Kill!"

Liu Yuewu, Zhan Fei Yu, and Du Ziteng—the three top experts at his side, charged forward without hesitation.

Among them, Liu Yuewu and Zhan Fei Yu were both Martial Arts Marquises of the Cold Moon Dynasty, their strength formidable.

The six top experts collided in an earth-shattering battle.

Meanwhile, Jin Zhihong and the moon-returning dragon locked eyes, their mutual enmity reaching a breaking point.

Jin Zhihong sneered. "They say there are two dragons in the Western Desert… but soon, there will be only one."

As the last syllable left his lips, he suddenly charged forward.

The moon-returning dragon retaliated without hesitation. The two mortal enemies clashed head-on. The battlefield erupted into chaos. The eight top warriors paired off, engaging in fierce combat. The hundred Butian Guards, however, did not join the fray directly. Instead, they combined their powers to invoke a forbidden law, amplifying their side’s strength.

With a hundred warriors acting in unison, they had the potential to shift the tides of battle.

Amidst the Chaos, a Ghostly Figure Approached…

A breathtaking figure drifted elegantly into the battlefield’s periphery—her presence ethereal, yet commanding.

Yaoruoxian had emerged from seclusion.

She did not rush to intervene.

Instead, she waited.

She was waiting for Zhang Yang, waiting to witness the outcome of their Sixth Battle.

She did not have to wait long.

In the distance, Zhang Yang’s figure finally appeared.