Staring at Duanmu Xingling’s delicate back, Zhang Ruochen revealed a few puzzled looks and quietly followed.
In the air where Duanmu Xingling had walked, a faint fragrance lingered.
Under Duanmu Xingling’s leadership, the two of them walked past a hall and came to the bottom of a cliff in the West Courtyard. Below the cliff, was a water pavilion, constructed with a three-storey high attic, counting the environment as elegant.
Zhang Ruochen looked towards a three-storey attic in the distance and saw a familiar and beautiful silhouette, revealing a few surprised looks as he said, “Senior Sister Huang, why is she here?”
Zhang Ruochen looked towards Duanmu Xingling.
“Waiting for a good show.” Duanmu Xingling gave a charming smile.
Only to see Huang Yichen holding a sword, standing at the top of the pavilion, her long, precious blue hair flying in the wind, giving off an unusually clear and beautiful feeling.
A handsome man in his twenties walked to the bottom of the attic and seemed to be exchanging something with Huang Yichen?
“It’s him.”
Zhang Ruochen recognised the man at the bottom of the attic, he had seen him during the daytime, he was precisely an expert from the old class of trainees from the East Academy, his cultivation was very powerful.
Duanmu Xingling’s jade hand rested on Zhang Ruochen’s shoulder, moving a little closer to Zhang Ruochen, and said in a low voice, “He is the number one expert of the East Academy, Xun Guihai, ranked fourteenth on the Xuan Ranking. In the entire Four Great Courts of the Martial City Academy, only Senior Sister Luo is able to overpower him.”
Zhang Ruochen stroked his chin and laughed, “Why are they meeting in secret here? Could it be that he and Senior Sister Huang are lovers?”
“How could that be?”
Duanmu Xingling blankly glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, “Xun Guihai is the prince of the medium-sized county state, Da Qian County, which has always wanted to join hands with Thousand Waters County, hoping to borrow the power of Thousand Waters County to unify the nine counties of Lingdong.”
“The Thousand Water County State also intends to want to marry the Great Qian County State as a way to strengthen its control over the nine counties of Lingdong.”
Zhang Ruochen understood and said thoughtfully, “Could it be that the one chosen by the Great Qian County Kingdom is Senior Sister Huang? The Thousand Water County Kingdom also has its eyes on Xun Guihai?”
“It’s probably so.”
Duanmu Xingling stretched out her fragrant tongue and licked her lips, staring at the man and woman in the distance, revealing an expression of readiness to watch a good show.
Zhang Ruochen said, “But today in the martial arts arena, the two were at swords drawn and it didn’t look like they wanted to join forces.”
Duanmu Xingling laughed, “That’s because, Xun Guihai only learnt tonight that Sister Dust is the County Lord of the Thousand Water County Kingdom.”
“How did he know?” Zhang Ruochen said.
Duanmu Xingling said, “I told him.”
“Why did you do that?”
Duanmu Xingling said, “If I didn’t tell him, we would be able to see a good show now? Besides, if Xun Guihai really married Senior Sister Huang, wouldn’t you be in a lot less trouble?”
Zhang Ruochen was even more puzzled and said, “What less trouble for me?”
“You yourself know best!” Duanmu Xingling glared at Zhang Ruochen and suddenly, once again, made a silent gesture, saying, “Don’t speak, let’s listen to what they talk about.”
In the distance, Xun Guihai stood at the bottom of the pavilion, dressed in a white suit, handsome and elegant, holding a golden box in his hands as he said, “Smoke Dust County Lord, I have offended you many times during the day, so please make sure you don’t take it to heart. I have come here to make amends to you, and I hope you can forgive me for my presumption. This is a Danchen Bead, which is worth a lot of money, even if it’s a gift to make amends for my offence.”
Huang Yichen stood at the top of the attic, stepping on the flying eaves, glancing downwards, and said coldly, “It’s not like I’m very familiar with you, what are you doing making amends with me? If you really want to make amends, then fight me.”
Xun Guihai laughed, “There’s no need for a battle, I’ll announce to everyone tomorrow that I lost to you. In the future, you will be the fourteenth in the Xuan Ranking.”
“You dare to insult me?” Huang Yichen didn’t appreciate the insult, instead, his face became even colder.
“I have absolutely no such intention. In front of County Mistress Smoke Dust, I am willing to be a defeated man.” Xun Guihai said with icy politeness.
Huang Yichen proudly said, “Xun Guihai, I know your intentions, but I will not agree to marry you. If your Da Qian County Kingdom really wants to marry Thousand Waters County Kingdom, then you can go and marry my younger sister and elder sister, anyway, I have thirty-six sisters, so you can just pick one at random.”
“Wow!”
After saying this, Huang Yichen’s arms unfolded and he travelled on the wind, cutting out a beautiful shadow that flew to the top of a large vermilion-red hall in the distance. The silhouette flickered once again and disappeared into the night.
Xun Guihai stood at the bottom of the pavilion, a hint of a smile appearing at the corner of his mouth as he mumbled to himself, ”Huang Yichen, since you’re the county princess of the Thousand Water County Kingdom, then I must take you as my wife. Who of those other county lords can compare to a tenth of you?”
Holding the golden box, Xun Guihai followed suit.
“Hehe! I thought I would be able to watch a good show, what a disappointment.” Duanmu Xingling sighed and said with some regret.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Let’s go back. No one can manage a woman like Senior Sister Huang, if Xun Guihai really married her, he would definitely regret it. Whoever marries her will be unlucky.”
Duanmu Xingling said, “You’re wrong! Xun Guihai will definitely go out of his way to propose to County King Qianshui, and, eight or nine out of ten will be able to succeed.”
“Why?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Duanmu Xingling said, “First of all, Xun Guihai is indeed a supreme celestial pride, 14th on the Xuan Ranking, enough for countless geniuses to be unable to catch up.”
“Secondly, although the Da Qian County Kingdom is a medium county, it has a Half Saint level old ancestor. For the sake of that one Half-Saint, the Thousand Water County King will most likely agree to the marriage between Xun Guihai and Sister Dust.”
“There is a Half-Saint in the Great Qian County Kingdom?” Zhang Ruochen was a little surprised.
Duanmu Xingling said, “There is indeed a Half-Saint who is Xun Guihai’s ancestor, however, that One Half-Saint is not in the Daqian County Kingdom, instead, he has gone to a distant battlefield of the Human Race, and hasn’t come back for sixty years, and has most likely already fallen.”
“Of course with the deterrent power of that one Half-Saint, the Great Qian County Country still possesses a supreme position among the thirty-six counties of the Heavenly Demon Ridge, with its comprehensive national power ranking first among the thirty-six countries.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Anyway, it’s none of our business, even if we have to fret, it’s still Senior Sister Huang’s own business. We have to go back, the quarterly examination should already be over.”
The Quarterly Examination, which lasted until late at night, was completely over.
Mo Qinglong defeated Cai Chen in the second challenge and became the eighth place in the Western Academy.
Sikong Art defeated Ju Hailan and became the sixth place in the Western Academy.
Ju Hailan then dropped to seventh place.
Because Zhang Ruochen had defeated Sikong Technique, Zhang Ruochen automatically became the fifth place in the Western Academy.
Therefore, the latest rankings of the top ten in the Western Academy were: Luo Shuihan, Huang Yichen, Duanmu Xingling, Duo Mu Zi, Zhang Ruochen, Sikong Art, Ju Hailan, Mo Qinglong, Cai Chen, and Zixi.
The ten of them, two months later, would represent the Martial City Academy and enter the Intermediate Ruins to take the Exploration Exam.
At the same time, the experts who became the top ten in the Western Academy would be able to receive two drops of Half-Saint True Liquid per quarter.
Today, it was the time to distribute the Half Saint True Liquid. Thus, Zhang Ruochen received two more drops of Semi-Saint True Liquid.
The Half Saint True Liquids on Zhang Ruochen’s body added up to twenty-seven drops.
When the quarterly examination ended, Zhang Ruochen returned to the Dragon Martial Hall once again, temporarily residing in Xuan Zi No. 1.
Two months later, it would be the Intermediate Level Ruins Exploration Examination, time was quite tight, and if the cultivation level could be raised by one point, the survival rate in the Intermediate Level Ruins would be higher.
Although the intermediate level relic was a place with great opportunities, it was also quite a dangerous place, even if a Xuan Ranked Martial Artist went in, there was a high probability that they would die inside.
After two days of cultivating in the Space-Time Crystal Stone, Zhang Ruochen was always restless, unable to calm down at all, and his mind would always think of his mother, who was far away in the Yunwu County Kingdom, and worry about her situation.
“No, if I continue to cultivate like this, I will have to go off the deep end. It seems like I have to make a trip back to the Yunwu County Kingdom to do so, and it would be best if I can bring my mother to the Martial City Academy.” Zhang Ruochen opened his eyes and let out a long sigh.
Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself, “I also wonder if the war between the Four Directions County Kingdom and the Yunwu County Kingdom has started yet?”
“Little Black, come back with me to the Yunwu County Kingdom.” Zhang Ruochen’s heart was very worried, unable to let go of his family’s feelings, and resolved that he must make a trip back.
Even if time was no longer precious, it was still no match for the safety of one’s loved ones.
“Good! You wait for me for an hour first, I’m going to go to the Book Depository to borrow some more books.” Little Black transformed into a black shadow and swept out.
“I’m going to meet fourth brother first, so look for me at fourth brother’s residence.”
Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Dragon Martial Hall and bid farewell to Duanmu Xingling before heading straight to Zhang Shaochu’s dormitory.
When Duanmu Xingling learnt that Zhang Ruochen was going back to Yunwu County Kingdom, a trace of strange colours appeared in her beautiful eyes, however, she didn’t say much, and only nodded gently, instructing Zhang Ruochen to rush back early, and not to delay the Intermediate Ruins Exploration Examination in two months.
When Zhang Shaochu saw Zhang Ruochen, he immediately closed the door behind him, a worried look on his face as he said, “Ninth Brother, did you kill Prince Huo Xing?”
Zhang Ruochen appeared calm as he sat on a chair, poured white water in a teacup, gently took a sip and said, “What happened?”
Zhang Shaochu was like a mountain of meat as he sat opposite Zhang Ruochen and said solemnly, “Of course something heavenly has happened, the Four Directions County Kingdom has declared war on the Yunwu County Kingdom. ”
“I received the latest news that came in, in just ten days, the Four Directions County Kingdom has captured twelve cities on the borders of the Yunwu County Kingdom, slaughtering 100,000 soldiers and soldiers of the Yunwu County Kingdom, and capturing more than three million poor people. Those captured soldiers and poor people have all become slaves of the enemy country. Hey! Thinking about it makes me feel very annoyed, and I wish I was right there on the battlefield, fighting them to the death.”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes sank as he said, “Didn’t you say that the war will not start until the beginning of next year?”
Zhang Shaochu said, “That was a trick of the Western County Kingdom, it was used to confuse the generals of the Yunwu County Kingdom.”
“In reality, they attacked Yunwu County Kingdom ten days ago at night. Under the sneak attack by the armies of the Four Direction County Kingdom, all three cities on the border of the Yunwu County Kingdom fell in one night. When the news travelled back to the royal city, the court was shaken and people were on edge.”
……
