Zhang Ruochen planned to make a trip to the Western Courtyard to meet the Nine County Lord.
Now that there weren’t many members of the royal clan left, and he was on good terms with the Nine County Lords, Zhang Ruochen was prepared to hand over some cultivation resources to her before he left for the Eastern Domain Divine Soil, to help her go even further on the path of cultivation.
“Your injuries are very serious, don’t go to the Western Academy yourself, stay in the Academy Palace at ease and recuperate. I will send a silver-robed elder to the Western Academy to fetch the Nine County Lord to the Inner Palace Academy. I can break the rules and allow her to become an Inner Palace Cadet in advance, so she won’t have to return to the Western Academy. In the Inner Palace Academy, she will have a better cultivation environment.”Lei Jing said.
“Many thanks, Master.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded and agreed.
It was indeed unsuitable for him to leave the Heavenly Demon Martial City right now, not to mention whether or not he would be assassinated by the experts of the Black Market and the Moon Worshipping Demon Sect, the Blood Spirit King that could appear at any time was also a huge threat.
If he met up with her again, Zhang Ruochen might not be that lucky to escape.
“In that case, disciple will take my leave first.”
Returning to the cultivation mansion, Zhang Ruochen saw Kong Xuan, who was sitting cross-legged by the pool.
Dressed in a flawless white long garment, she sat perched on top of a white smooth boulder on one side, a pair of feathered wings on her back emitting seven-coloured light, and her long hair hanging down from the top of her head all the way to the water.
Kong Xuan was cultivating the Ten Veins Sword Wave, her ten fingers constantly changing and striking out.
According to Zhang Ruochen’s observation, she had already cultivated the “Tai Yin Vein Sword Wave” of the Ten Veins Sword Wave to the introductory level, and with her true qi poured into her fingertips, she was able to strike out sharp sword qi that could easily pierce through a jack of stone ten feet away.
Zhang Ruochen stood behind her and looked at her for a long time before nodding and saying, “Not bad, in just a few months’ time, you were able to comprehend a hint of the true meaning of the Ten Veins Sword Wave, you are considered to be at the top of the heap in terms of your enlightenment.”
Only the higher the realm was, the faster a martial artist could cultivate martial arts.
Kong Xuan was only at the Xuanji Realm’s cultivation level right now, and to be able to cultivate a Spirit Grade Upper Grade martial skill to the introductory level was naturally considered quite impressive.
Only when she heard Zhang Ruochen’s voice did Kong Xuan realise that there was someone standing behind her and immediately stood up.
After she saw Zhang Ruochen’s familiar face, she revealed a joy she couldn’t hide and was immediately about to kneel down and salute Zhang Ruochen.
“Greetings to master ……”
Zhang Ruochen stretched out an arm, and a wave of Green Void True Qi surged out from his palm, which was like a wisp of smoke that held Kong Xuan in place as he said, “When you see me in the future, don’t kneel down again.”
“But ……,” Kong Xuan said.
Zhang Ruochen said, “This is an order!”
“Fine!”
Kong Xuan gently pursed her lips and stood up straight again, in her heart, she admired Zhang Ruochen even more, she could obviously take her life and death, yet she gave her more freedom, and didn’t treat her as a slave at all.
To be able to meet Zhang Ruochen, it was truly heavenly luck for her.
“Master, your martial cultivation, have you already broken through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm?”
At the first moment of meeting Zhang Ruochen, Kong Xuan was able to clearly perceive the powerful force emanating from Zhang Ruochen’s body.
It was a thick aura, like an insurmountable mountain standing in front of her. As Zhang Ruochen struck out his true qi, she felt as if she would suffocate, her entire body unable to move.
“It has indeed reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen laughed, “You are also very impressive, in just a few months’ time, you have already reached the Xuan Polarity Realm Grand Circle, and after consolidating for a while, you should be able to break through to the Earth Polarity Realm.”
Although, Kong Xuan hadn’t reached the Earth Extreme Realm yet, but with her current cultivation, she was completely able to fight against an Earth Extreme Realm martial artist.
If she were to display her cultivation, she could completely become the number one Heavenly Pride of the Xuan Ranking.
Receiving Zhang Ruochen’s compliments, Kong Xuan was indescribably happy, and a trace of shyness unexpectedly appeared on her face as she gently lowered her head.
It had to be said that Kong Xuan was indeed extremely beautiful, with a standard goose-egg face, two willow-like eyebrows, crystal clear lips, a delicate agar nose, skin so fair that it was as if it was made out of sheep’s fat, without a single blemish, and long eyelashes, each of which was so curved and arched.
As her cultivation became higher and higher, not only did her body develop even more perfectly, even the temperament of her body gradually came out, giving off a feeling of being a country-dweller.
With her outstanding talent and stunningly beautiful face, who would have thought that she was just a maid by Zhang Ruochen’s side?
No wonder Huang Yichen’s eyes were unfavourable whenever he saw Kong Xuan.
Not to mention her, if any woman saw her fiancé’s side, there was such a world-class beauty as a maid, I’m afraid her face wouldn’t be any better.
As if Kong Xuan suddenly thought of something, he said, ”Master, there is one more thing that I have to report to you. Just three days ago, a mysterious person, sent the old lady to the Martial City Academy Palace.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Which old lady?”
“It’s the Lady Lin Concubine of the Yunwu County Kingdom, and that one mysterious person said that she was the master’s mother.”Kong Xuan softly said.
Zhang Ruochen’s heart was overjoyed, he didn’t expect to have news of his mother’s mother so soon, and said, “Where is my mother now, quickly take me to see her.”
Seeing Zhang Ruochen’s happy appearance, Kong Xuan was also very pleased in his heart and said, “It’s in the master’s cultivation mansion, I’ll take the master to see her now.”
“It seems that Zhang Tiangui didn’t lie to me, Mother was indeed rescued by someone. That one mysterious person is probably Ah Le.”
Zhang Ruochen immediately followed Kong Xuan and arrived at the compound where Concubine Lin lived.
Seeing Consort Lin, Zhang Ruochen’s hanging heart finally fell.
When Consort Lin saw Zhang Ruochen return, she naturally cried tears of joy, and the mother and son embraced each other.
Subsequently, Zhang Ruochen told her what had happened in the royal palace, including, of course, the tragic extermination of the Lin family.
Hearing about the tragic death of the Yunwu County King, Concubine Lin was so hurt that she directly burst into tears.
Hearing about the tragic extermination of the Lin Family, Concubine Lin once again shed tears, and if it wasn’t for Zhang Ruochen continuously injecting True Qi into her body, I’m afraid she would have already fainted.
Telling the truth was a bit cruel, but she would know sooner or later, and a long pain was better than a short one, so why not tell her now?
At least now, Zhang Ruochen was still by her side and could comfort her.
It was only after Concubine Lin fell asleep that Zhang Ruochen walked out of the room and gently closed the door behind him.
At this moment, the sky had already darkened, and in the air, a cold, light breeze blew.
Zhang Ruochen glanced towards Kong Xuan, who was still standing in the courtyard, and walked over, saying, “Take good care of Mother for me, for the recent period of time, she should all be very sad.”
“Don’t worry master, slave girl will definitely take good care of old madam.”Kong Xuan said.
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment and said, “Did that mysterious person who sent the old madam to the Martial City Palace of Learning leave a message for me?”
Kong Xuan said, “He did say a word, he said that he had already left the Heavenly Demon Ridge and was going to pursue an even more profound martial dao, and that he would remember your kindness to him.”
“Looks like it’s really him, and I don’t know if there will be a chance to meet again in the future.”
Zhang Ruochen gently shook, and had to say that saving Ah Le’s life back then was indeed a wise decision.
Luckily, it was him who had stepped in so that Concubine Lin could save her life.
Zhang Ruochen took out the School Palace token and handed it over to Kong Xuan so that she could collect the Semi-Saint True Liquid and Holy Liquid that were distributed every quarter.
Afterwards, he entered the cultivation chamber and began to close the door to heal his wounds.
When he entered the cultivation chamber, Zhang Ruochen took out the Space-Time Crystal Stone and injected his True Qi into it, and a layer of white light emerged from the surface of the crystal stone.
“Wow!”
Zhang Ruochen entered the inner space of the Space-Time Crystal Stone, discarded the distractions in his mind, and took another Healing Pill.
Sitting in the Space-Time Crystal Stone, Zhang Ruochen spent a day and a night, and with the aid of the healing elixir, he finally allowed his injuries to heal.
The loss of blood qi, however, was not something that could be cultivated back in an instant, and Zhang Ruochen still had not yet recovered to his peak state.
“After the Blood Spirit King suffered a loss this time, he will definitely rank me as his number one enemy. I must endeavour to raise my cultivation, or else the chances of winning against her again will be even smaller.”
Once the Blood Spirit King started to guard against Zhang Ruochen, it was estimated that Zhang Ruochen would already be killed by her before he could even use his Soul Invocation Skill.
Just when Zhang Ruochen was about to make a big effort to refine the Half-Saint’s Light in his Qi Sea, Kong Xuan came to the outside of the Cultivation Chamber and reported to him, “Master, Senior Brother Chang Qiqi and Senior Brother Si have come to the Cultivation Residence and want to see you.”
Since it was Chang Qiqi and Si Xingkong who had come to visit, Zhang Ruochen was definitely going to meet them.
Zhang Ruochen stepped out from the Space-Time Crystal Stone and put it away. It was said that he had been cultivating for a day and a night, but in fact, only a few hours had passed outside.
From afar, Chang Qiqi’s loud laughter could be heard, ”Senior Brother Zhang, you’ve finally returned to the Academy Palace, you don’t know, ever since we learnt that something had happened to you, Senior Brother Daisi and I picked twenty-three Black Market branches in a row in the Yunwu County Kingdom, causing a ruckus. However, it was still impossible to find you. Unexpectedly, you actually returned to the Academy Palace on your own first, so Eldest Senior Brother and I have been working for nothing!”
In the last few days, Chang Qi Qi and Si Xingkong had been in the Yunwu County Kingdom in order to search for Zhang Ruochen, killing in all directions, almost patronising all the branches of the Black Market, and even some of the Moon Worshipping Demon Sect’s rudders had suffered along with them.
The Elephant Swallowing Rabbit, Pot Pot, pushed Chang Qi Qi out of the way and rushed towards Zhang Ruochen, saying, “Master Dust, there’s still me. I’ve also destroyed three Black Market branches and a Devil Cult’s rudder.”
Zhang Ruochen’s heart was very touched because, after his accident, there were surprisingly so many friends who were worried about him.
In order to find him, they were killing in all directions.
Such friends were true friends.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Senior Brother Chang, Senior Brother, and Potpourri, I won’t say anything else pretentious, so thank you for everything you’ve done for me.”
“What ‘thank you’ to say? Even if you want to say ‘thank you’, it’s us. If it wasn’t for you, it would be impossible for Eldest Brother and I to obtain the Dragon Blood and have the achievements we have now. Pavilion Master Lei has already informed us that Eldest Brother and I are also qualified to go to the Eastern Divine Lands and take the Holy Academy Examination, and we’ll be leaving in half a month. If I can get into the Holy Academy, then I will really be considered a big shot in the future! Haha!”Chang Qi Qi laughed out loud.
Zhang Ruochen asked, “Senior Brother Chang, since you guys have returned, have Senior Sister Huang and Senior Sister Duanmu returned yet?”
“Don’t you know? That one fiancée of yours, that’s Senior Sister Huang, has already been picked up by her mother and taken to the Eastern Domain Divine Soil. Right, there’s also Senior Sister Chen. They have long since left the Heavenly Demon Martial City.”Chang Qi Qi said.
When he was in Tongming River, Zhang Ruochen was in a hurry to rush back to Yunwu County Kingdom, so he didn’t know what happened behind him.
Only after listening to Chang Qi Qi and Si Xingkong speak did he realise that the Half-Saint who had defeated the Yuan Ying Old Devil at the Tongming River that day was actually Huang Yichen’s mother.
It was also on that day that that one Half-Saint picked up Huang Yichen and Chen Xi’er and went to the Eastern Divine Lands.
A slurping sound came out of Chang Qi Qi’s mouth as he said enviously, ”Senior Brother Zhang, you don’t know, that one mother in law of yours is really very powerful, and with just one sword, she severely injured the mighty old YuanYing Demon, and I almost kneeled down and worshipped. How wonderful would it be if I had such a mother-in-law?”
Si Xingkong smiled and said, “Senior Sister Huang’s mother-in-law, named Chen Liuli, when she was young, she entered the top fifty of the Heavenly Ranking. Being the proud daughter of the Chen Family, I don’t find it strange in the slightest that she was able to cultivate to the Half-Saint realm.”
Chang Qi Qi said, “Our Heavenly Demon Ridge Martial City Academy Palace’s Palace Master, back in the day, was also a young genius of the Chen Family, and although she could not be compared to Senior Sister Huang’s mother, she was also a genius ranked in the top 30 of the Chen Family back in the day.”
Both Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi seemed to have an understanding of the Chen Family, but Zhang Ruochen didn’t know much, so he asked, “Is the Chen Family very powerful?”
Chang Qi Qi widened her eyes and said, “Senior Brother Zhang, you are Senior Sister Huang’s fiancé, but you don’t even know about the Chen Family?”
A rare look of reverence appeared in Si Xingkong’s eyes as he said, “The Chen Clan is a Middle Ancient Family that has already possessed a history of more than 100,000 years, and in the Eastern Domain, the Chen Clan’s power is so Avray rooted, with their clansmen spreading all over the world, that even the Empress Chi Yao has to be a little wary of them.”
“Our Heavenly Demon Ridge Martial City Academy Palace’s Palace Master, ‘Chen Ying’, is a member of the Chen Family.”
“Senior Sister Huang’s mother, the Queen ‘Chen Liuli’ of the superior county kingdom Thousand Waters County Kingdom, is also a member of the Chen Family.”
…
“Of course, the person who truly gives the Chen Family unrivalled influence in the Eastern Domain is the contemporary head of the Chen Family, Chen Yin. At the same time, he is also the Domain King of the Eastern Domain, managing thousands of counties in the Eastern Domain and the Eastern Divine Lands.”
Zhang Ruochen said as if he was talking to himself, “The Chen Family’s Family Head is actually the Eastern Domain’s Domain King.”
“Right! Now, you know how terrifying the Chen Family is, right?”
“In that case, this Chen Clan should be the same Chen Clan from back then.”Zhang Ruochen muttered.
Chang Qi Qi seemed not to have heard Zhang Ruochen’s words at all as he continued, “Our Heavenly Demon Ridge Martial City Academy Palace’s Palace Master is already the topmost powerhouse in the Heavenly Demon Ridge’s thirty-six counties, but, back then, in the Chen Family, he was only just able to be ranked in the top thirty geniuses. One must know that every ten years, there would be a change of generation, and Palace Master Chen was only ranked in the top thirty amongst the young children of one of the Chen Family’s generations.”
Of course, Zhang Ruochen knew how powerful the Chen Family was, not to mention now, as early as eight hundred years ago, the Chen Family had a pivotal position in the Eastern Domain, and even though it was not comparable to the Nine Emperors, it was still considered to be a dominant party.
Only after hearing Chang Qiqi and Si Xingkong’s account did Zhang Ruochen match the Chen Family in his memories with the Chen Family they were talking about.
Zhang Ruochen really didn’t expect that Huang Yichen would still have a connection with a medieval family like the Chen Family.
After Chang Qi Qi and Si Xingkong left, Zhang Ruochen once again entered the Space-Time Crystal Stone and began to refine that mass of Half-Saint Light, wanting to raise his spiritual power to the 40th rank before travelling to the Eastern Region Divine Soil.
