“Master of the Hall, I ordered all the masters from the Law Enforcement Hall of the Seventh District to block all passes and city gates and search for them all night. But, we haven’t found them. The Orange Star Emissary and Di Yi have probably escaped.”
Shen Fengtian, the Master of the Law Enforcement Hall, stood in the center of an empty street listening to the report from his subordinates. His face grew more and more solemn.
Shen Fengtian had tracked them through the night with no luck. Both of them had disappeared as if they had evaporated from the world.
“Damn! Di Yi and the Orange Star Emissary are key people from the Black Market. If I caught them, it would definitely bring great merit. I could go to practice in the holy meridian.”
He clenched his teeth. He could not be reconciled, saying, “Someone must have helped them, they couldn’t have left otherwise.”
The warrior got down on one knee. “Master of the Hall, do you mean Zhang Ruochen? Could it be that… he is a Black Market undercover?”
Shen Fengtian certainly did not think that Zhang Ruochen was a Black Market undercover.
To start with, Zhang Ruochen had once defeated Di Yi. It had been a hard hit on the Black Market. He had also thoroughly offended the Black Market.
Secondly, if Zhang Ruochen was a Black Market undercover, he would not have released the Orange Star Emissary openly. It went against his interests.
However, even if Zhang Ruochen was not a member of the Black Market, he should take full responsibility. This matter was related to him.
“Let’s go to the Courier Station of Martial Market. I want to ask him why he released the Orange Star Emissary. If he can’t give me an account, he can hardly absolve himself from blame. Even if he is a Saint.”
Shen Fengtian was furious. He stamped his feet and the flagstone ground below them cracked.
“Master Shen, even if you go to the Courier Station of Martial Market, you can’t do anything to him.” There was a young voice.
Shen Fengtian remained solemn. He looked toward the alley on the left side where the sound had come from. A tall thin figure came out. Gradually, a young and handsome face appeared.
After seeing the young man clearly, Shen Fengtian’s brows lifted slightly. “Xu Hai.”
Xu Hai was a descendant of Saint Xu Gentry, a Saint of the Saint Academy.
Xu Hai bowed to salute.
Both Saint Shen Gentry and Saint Xu Gentry were prestigious rich and powerful families in the Eastern Region. Moreover, they had been on friendly terms for generations and exchanged marriages. Shen Fengtian certainly knew Xu Hai. He was impressed by this nephew.
Shen Fengtian praised Xu Hai, saying, “You’ve made progress in your cultivation. You can show yourself from 33 meters away without a sound.”
Xu Hai replied in a humble way, “Uncle, my cultivation is too far from yours. You were thinking about the Orange Star Emissary and Di Yi, so you didn’t notice me.”
Shen Fengtian said, “You said that I couldn’t do anything to Zhang Ruochen. What do you mean? Is there an incredible individual behind him?”
Xu Hai laughed. “Headmaster Xuanji is ready to accept Zhang Ruochen as his apprentice. Is it appropriate for you to deal with him now?”
“What? Headmaster Xuanji.” Shen Fengtian’s facial expression changed.
Although the Law Enforcement Hall and the School of the Martial Market were relatively independent entities, Shen Fengtian wanted to handle matters without suffering the tempers of High-level from the School of the Martial Market.
However, Headmaster Xuanji was not an ordinary person. He ranked second among the top ten headmasters and was known as a “sword saint”.
Throughout the Eastern Regions, there were only three people who could be called sword saints.
For a superior like Headmaster Xuanji, there were countless superior warriors among his disciples. His seniority was extremely high and he was highly respected. He was not only particularly influential in Martial Market Bank, but also in the entire Eastern Region.
Even if Shen Fengtian was as bold as brass, he dared not to offend him.
Xu Hai said, “The ancestor told me personally. It’s absolutely true. Uncle, don’t force the situation, you should be more patient.”
Shen Fengtian said, “Hmm! So what if Headmaster Xuanji backs him up? As long as I find his vulnerable points, our Law Enforcement Hall can investigate and handle him accordingly.”
“Who doesn’t have a dark past? If we investigate, we’re sure to find something.”
Xu Hai laughed and bowed again. He left promptly after saying goodbye.
Xu Hai didn’t think that Shen Fengtian could discover anything new about Zhang Ruochen. However, he was the Law Enforcement Master of the Seventh District. As long as Zhang Ruochen stayed in the Seventh District, he would not live comfortably.
“Zhang Ruochen, you killed my brother. Someday I’ll pay you back for this!”
Xu Hai’s eyes grew cold, with murderous intent in his pupils.
Over the next seven days, Zhang Ruochen went to the Coliseum of the Martial Market every day. He challenged 227 warriors listed on the Heaven Board.
Most warriors could not force him to display the power of Martial Soul. He mostly worked on perceiving sword comprehension.
Only four masters were able to force him to display his Martial Soul. Unfortunately for them, they all were defeated in three moves.
For half a month, no one on the Heaven Board could last more than 10 movements when he fought with them.
Word eventually spread in the Seventh District, “Only an outstanding figure can last ten movements from Zhang Ruochen.”
When the news spread, countless young masters came to challenge him, including students from the Saint Academy and the Royal Academy.
Those who challenged Zhang Ruochen lined up and registered in the Coliseum of the Martial Market. Many people came not to defeat him but to withstand more movements.
In the following days, Zhang Ruochen fought nearly a hundred times every day. Of course, most people could not force him to use all his strength. He was still working on perceiving sword comprehension.
During the day, Zhang Ruochen fought like crazy and practiced his sword technique. In the evening, he practiced hard in the internal space of the Time and Space Spinel to improve his cultivation.
Half a month passed very quickly.
Zhang Ruochen could clearly perceive that his strength had improved considerably. Compared to half a month ago, it seemed he had changed a lot and reached a new level.
He had replaced the Orange Star Emissary and now ranked 643rd on the Heaven Board.
“The Saint Academy opens tomorrow. I’ll be an official Saint. My swordsmanship has improved so much over the last two weeks. I’m ready to fight with Kong Lanyou. Tonight.”
Zhang Ruochen did not care about the Half-Saint mansion he could win from Kong Lanyou. He was more concerned about his cultivation. Kong Lanyou’s swordsmanship was the only way he could test if his sword technique had improved.
Zhang Ruochen went to the Half-saint mansion together with Nie Honglou.
Nie Honglou stood outside and Zhang Ruochen went into the bamboo forest alone.
Kong Lanyou still sat in the Bamboo Pavilion. Her white hair trailed along the floor. She held a yellowing xiao, a vertical bamboo flute. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on a brook nearby.
Upon hearing footstep behind her, an emotional fluctuation appeared in her eyes. Without turning, she already knew who it was.
“Zhang Ruochen, you’re finally here.” Her voice sounded so nice, like water flowing over stones. Listening to her was delightful.
He stopped and stood 33 meters away. “Over the last two weeks, many people came to challenge me to test their swordsmanship. Now, I come to challenge you to test my swordsmanship.”
Kong Lanyou’s lips were bright red. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly. “If you can withstand my sword strikes three times, I’ll buy you a delicious drink. Of course, it depends on your ability.”
SWISH!
She shook her body and flew out of the Bamboo Pavilion, with her vertical bamboo flute in hand. She mobilized her Genuine Qi and quickly pointed to Zhang Ruochen’s left temple.
She flew 30 meters and stood before Zhang Ruochen.
It seemed that the vertical bamboo flute was sharper than a sword.
She controlled her cultivation at the Mid Stage of the Heaven Realm, three realms lower than Zhang Ruochen. Moreover, what she displayed was still Sacred Guiding Sword, the first movement of Sacred Sword Skill.
Zhang Ruochen had already released Spiritual Power. He observed Kong Lanyou every moment. Every time Kong Lanyou displayed sword movement, he had already conceived a solution to the problem.
However, struck by the vertical bamboo flute, Zhang Ruochen was still disturbed. He could not display his strength.
Seeing he would be beaten in one strike, Zhang Ruochen suddenly kicked up his heels and took the initiative to slam into her.
“Sacred Guiding Sword! ”
Zhang Ruochen put two fingers together and used them as a sword to hit Kong Lanyou’s right wrist.
“You’ve progressed considerably! Unfortunately, your movements are useless against me.”
Kong Lanyou moved swiftly out of sight.
Zhang Ruochen was suddenly overwhelmed with a strong sense of crisis. All his hair stood on end. Without hesitation, he turned and waved his arms to slash the figure above him.
His arm was like a sword.
“The second movement, Sacred Plenilune Sword.”
Kong Lanyou cut down with the vertical bamboo flute. It collided with Zhang Ruochen’s arms and uttered a loud blast of Genuine Qi.
Zhang Ruochen thought to himself, “This is really dangerous. If I was just a little bit later, her vertical bamboo flute would have hit me in the head.”
Because Kong Lanyou’s cultivation was controlled at the Mid Stage of the Heaven Realm, it was her who was thrown out after one bout.
She defused his power skillfully. She fell to the ground. With a hint of surprise, she said, “Your strain capacity has improved a lot. You have a good comprehension ability.”
Actually, Kong Lanyou was extremely shocked. When she was his age, she had been inferior to Zhang Ruochen, both in sword technique and strain capacity.
“If my cousin was still alive, he would likely be a bit better than Zhang Ruochen at this age,” Kong Lanyou thought.
In her mind, her cousin, who had lived eight hundred years ago, was the most amazing young talent, and no one could surpass him.
“The third movement, Sacred Wave Sword.”
PHHF!
Kong Lanyou swung her arms in the air. Motivated by her Genuine Qi, all the bamboo leaves from the ground flew up and swirled in the air.