Although Zhang Ruochen had never come to Sky Demon Martial City, many of the young martial artists in Sky Demon Martial City had heard of him.
It wasn’t because Zhang Ruochen’s natural talent was so amazing, but because Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yichen’s engagement had caused quite a stir in Sky Demon Martial City.
The geniuses of the 36 counties and kingdoms of the Heavenly Demon Ridge were endless, and in the Heavenly Demon Martial City, there were at least dozens of young masters whose reputations were even more illustrious than Zhang Ruochen’s.
If they were really ranked, Zhang Ruochen might not even make it into the top 100.
Even though Zhang Ruochen had once defeated the princes of various countries in the Thousand Water County, everyone knew that it was only in the same realm that Zhang Ruochen could take first place. When they really fought, who cared if you were in the same realm or not?
Even if you were invincible in the same realm, but someone else’s cultivation level was a whole lot higher than yours, and their cultivation speed was also faster than yours, so what was the use of your invincibility in the same realm?
Besides, the Thousand Water County Kingdom and the Heavenly Demon Martial City were far apart, so everyone only knew that Zhang Ruochen had defeated the princes of various countries in the same realm, but they didn’t know the process of that battle, so naturally, they wouldn’t think too highly of Zhang Ruochen.
Therefore, what really made Zhang Ruochen famous was still because he had become the fiancé of County Lord Smoke Dust, making many people envious and jealous.
“With Zhang Ruochen’s strength, if he really goes to the Martial Market Fighting Arena, it shouldn’t be difficult for him to enter the top two hundred positions of the Xuan Ranking.”
“That’s not necessarily true, it’s said that his cultivation level isn’t very high. For the younger generation of martial artists, there are only so many twenty-odd people who can enter the top two hundred positions of the Xuan Ranking, not everyone can shoot their way in.”
“If he really possesses the strength to enter the top two hundred positions of the Xuan Ranking, I’m afraid that he would have already gone to the Martial Market Fighting Arena to compete for the ranking of the Xuan Ranking. Why hasn’t he gone until now?” Hua Jiuhan said.
The crowd nodded, feeling that Hua Jiuhan had a point.
“He was engaged to County Lord Smoky Dust of the Thousand Water County King, and at that time, this incident caused a big stir in the Sky Demon Martial City, and everyone thought that he was not worthy of County Lord Smoky Dust.”
“Although Zhang Ruochen is outstanding, he is still inferior to the Heavenly Demon Ten Xiu, and is indeed unworthy of County Lord Smoke Dust. When the Ten Heavenly Demon Xiu were his age, all of them had already reached the Earth Extreme Realm.”
“It is said that two of the Ten Heavenly Demon Xiu have already let slip that if Zhang Ruochen dares to enter the Heavenly Demon Martial City, they will definitely not let him leave the city intact.”
After learning of Zhang Ruochen’s identity, the entire Near Sky Pavilion became noisy, and they all looked at Zhang Ruochen with rather strange eyes, both admiring, jealous, and regretful.
Lin Mishan also looked at Zhang Ruochen, only a year had passed, the once sickly young man that she had looked down upon had become handsome and dashing, he had even become the number one expert in the West Academy of the Martial City Palace, and he was even engaged to the County King of Thousand Waters’ Smokey Dust County Mistress.
She already had some regrets that she shouldn’t have treated Zhang Ruochen like that in the first place.
Otherwise, the person who was now engaged to Zhang Ruochen should be her.
Although Lin Mishan was engaged to Zhang Tianwei, she was not valued by Zhang Tianwei at all, and had even only seen Zhang Tianwei from afar. In Zhang Tianwei’s eyes, she was just a dispensable woman.
What everyone didn’t know was that at this moment, Huang Yicun was in the Near Sky Pavilion, and was sitting in an elegant room on the third floor of the Near Sky Pavilion.
Inside the elegant room, there were more than a dozen geniuses in total, the men were handsome and the women were beautiful. Each one of them was a renowned person in Sky Demon Martial City, with both a background and a powerful self.
Beside Huang Yichen, sat a very beautiful woman, about the same age as Huang Yichen, also with a head of long, treasured blue hair, skin as white as snow, with delicate features and long eyelashes, surprisingly on par with Huang Yichen’s beauty.
This woman, named Chen Xi’er, was Huang Yichen’s cousin, her age was only a month younger than Huang Yichen.
When Chen Xi’er heard the chatter downstairs, she narrowed her eyes and smiled, “Cousin, since Zhang Ruochen has also come to the Near Sky Pavilion, why don’t you invite him up here so that we can get to know him?”
Chen Xi’er had always liked to compare with Huang Yichen since she was a child, when Huang Yichen was five years old and wore gorgeous clothes, she was going to wear even more gorgeous clothes; when Huang Yichen was nine years old and used a fourth-ranked True Martial Treasure Weapon, she was going to use a fifth-ranked one; when Huang Yichen went into the Martial City Academic Palace to cultivate, she went into the Martial City Academic Palace to cultivate as well, and she went straight into the Inner Palace to cultivate.
It seemed like anything, she had to do better than Huang Yichen before she would be willing.
Now that Huang Yichen had a fiancé, she decided that she would also go and find a fiancé, and that she must be even better than Huang Yichen’s fiancé.
Huang Yichen naturally understood Chen Xi’er’s character, and not wanting Zhang Ruochen to get involved in this furore of mutual comparison, he said, “Wait for him to enter the inner palace of the Martial City Academy Palace, and when that time comes, you’ll naturally have a lot of chances to meet each other, so there’s no rush in this moment.”
Chen Xi’er’s voice was soft and somewhat petulant as she said, “But I want to meet my future cousin-in-law now, I’m really curious, how did he gain the favour of your high-minded and proud County Lord Highness?”
Xun Guihai sat opposite Chen Xi’er and snorted coldly, “Miss Xi’er, I advise you not to see him, I’m afraid that after you see him, you will be greatly disappointed.”
Xun Guihai’s cultivation had also broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm, becoming an Inner Palace disciple of the Martial City Palace of Learning.
Huang Yichen’s eyes chilled as he stared at Xun Guihai and said, “I’m afraid it’s not your turn to judge whether Zhang Ruochen is good or bad.”
Xun Guihai said, “County Master Yichen, you mustn’t be fooled by Zhang Ruochen’s flowery words… As far as I know, Zhang Ruochen’s character is quite low, and his relationship with the female trainees of the Western Academy is quite ambiguous. Moreover, he also decided to get engaged to Her Highness the County Lord in order to seek the support of the County Lord of Thousand Waters against the annexation of the Four Directions County Kingdom. Your Highness, he is using you.”
In the elegant room, the eyes of the crowd, all of them, became strange.
None of them had ever met Zhang Ruochen before, and they only knew that Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation talent seemed to be quite good, but they simply didn’t know what kind of person Zhang Ruochen was?
Hearing Xun Guihai say this, everyone felt bad for Huang Yichen.
How beautiful and outstanding was County Mistress Smoky Dust, even if they wanted to find a woman who was ten or a hundred times better than Zhang Ruochen, it would be as easy as pie.
Xun Guihai laughed, ”Moreover, I have heard that Zhang Ruochen used to be quite fond of his cousin, but it’s just a pity that others simply couldn’t look at him. It’s because, his character is too low.”
“Xun Guihai, you’ve inquired quite clearly!” Huang Yichen sneered.
Xun Guihai also didn’t want to provoke Huang Yichen into anger, so he hurriedly said, “County Lord Yichen, I’m doing this for your own good, so that you can see Zhang Ruochen’s true colours. Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation talent is indeed not bad, but it is not unrivalled, at least the Ten Heavenly Demon Xiu are even better than him.”
Seeing that Huang Yichen seemed to be about to get angry, Chen Xi’er hurriedly chided, “Xun Guihai, don’t you stop talking. Zhang Ruochen is now cousin’s fiancé, even if he has any faults, it’s not for you to say anything.”
Xun Guihai didn’t dare to offend Chen Xi’er, so he hurriedly apologised to Huang Yichen, saying, “Your Highness, County Lord, it was all my mouth that was out of order just now, please atone for your sins.”
As soon as Xun Guihai’s words fell, the ground floor of the Near Sky Pavilion resounded with a mountain of noise.
Chen Xi’er hurriedly asked, “What’s happening down there?”
Upon hearing Chen Xi’er’s command, a maid hurriedly walked out from the elegant room.
A moment later, that one maid returned to the elegant room and said, “Reporting back to you honourable guests, the bidding for today’s eight ‘accompanying food beauties’ is going on down below.”
The women in the elegant room all revealed a look of contempt, quite displeased with the Heavenly Moon Palace’s behaviour.
Those male Celestial Pride’s eyes, however, revealed a few strange lights, appearing eager to try. If they didn’t want to preserve their image in front of Huang Yichen and Chen Xi’er, some of them would definitely be willing to spend a large sum of money to purchase an escort to spend a night* in the Heavenly Moon Palace.
Huang Yichen frowned slightly and said, “It’s not just an auction of eight ‘companion food beauties’, why would it cause such a big stir?”
That one maid hesitated a bit and said, “It’s because, the top ranked genius of the Western Academy of the Martial City Palace of Learning, and Ximen Guanren of the Yuntai Zongfu, are competing for tonight’s head food girl, and the price has already been lifted to the sky-high price of one and a half million silver coins.”
Hearing the maid’s words, a gloating smile appeared in the eyes of the crowd in the elegant room, and all of their gazes, all of them, looked towards Huang Yichen.
Huang Yichen’s face was as cold as frost as he said, “Say that again, who is fighting with Ximen Guanren for the head food girl tonight?”
That one maid became even more timid and carefully said, “It’s the first genius of the Western Academy of the Martial City Academy, Zhang Ruochen.”
Xun Guihai’s heart was overjoyed as he laughed, “Now everyone should believe my words!”
“Zhang Ruochen’s guts are also too big, he’s already engaged to County Mistress Smoke Dust and still dares to act recklessly outside. Smoky Dust County Mistress, I am willing to step in and help you teach that one wannabe a lesson. sl*t.” A man wearing a purple and gold crown stood up, cupping a folding fan in his hand, and said with righteous indignation.
This man’s name was Zuo Lengxuan, he was twenty-eight years old this year, ranked thirty-fourth in the inner palace of the Martial City’s Academic Palace, his cultivation had reached the Earthly Extremity Realm Grand Extremity Position, and he was a genius that had the hope of breaking through to the Earthly Extremity Realm Grand Completion before the age of thirty.
In the Heavenly Demon Martial City, only those who were able to break through to the Earth Extremity Realm Great Extremity Boundary before the age of thirty could be considered exceptionally gifted.
If one could not reach the Earth Extremity Realm Grand Circle even at the age of thirty, then they could no longer be called a genius and could only be considered a member of the ordinary martial artists.
Another martial artist whose talent wasn’t below Zuo Lengxuan’s, also stood up and said, “As long as County Lord Yanchen gives her a word, I’ll go down right now and waste that brat’s hands and feet.”
Huang Yichen’s heart was naturally very angry as well, gripping his hands tightly, wanting very much to personally go down and break Zhang Ruochen’s legs.
That guy was just too detestable, truly an unabashed lecher. Thief.
However, Huang Yichen still held back, very much not wanting to be seen as a joke by Chen Xi’er, and trying to remain calm, he said, “There’s no rush! I want to see how high he can raise the price first?”
……
Tonight, the head food girl of the Nearly Heavenly Pavilion was a beautiful seventeen year old woman, wearing a red ice silk tunic, with a slender figure, a pink face and peach blushes, and crystalline vermilion lips, definitely a one-in-a-million beauty.
She was also a half-human, from the Peac*ck Half-Human Race, so she had a pair of seven-coloured feathered wings on her back. It was said that she was also a martial artist with a not-so-low natural talent, with her cultivation reaching the Yellow Extreme Realm Minor Extreme Position.
Although her martial cultivation was not high, but she was superior because she had a beautiful face, wonderful dancing style, and was extremely feminine, so many men wanted to take him for themselves.
There were quite a lot of people shouting at the beginning, but after the price exceeded one million silver coins, the only people left shouting were Zhang Ruochen and Ximen Guanren of the Cloud Platform Sect Mansion.
One million silver coins, even for an Earth Extreme Realm martial artist, was a huge fortune that could purchase many cultivation resources. No one was willing to spend so many silver coins for a woman.
The reason why Zhang Ruochen shouted the price was because he wanted to help Zhang Shaochu buy a prince consort.
The reason why he would continue to shout after the price exceeded one million silver coins was because for Zhang Ruochen, there was no difference between one million silver coins and two million silver coins.
Just by selling a space bracelet, he could naturally sell a large amount of silver coins.
He did not lack this amount of money!
“One million eight hundred thousand silver coins.” Zhang Ruochen shouted out the next price.
Ximen Guanren sank coldly and continued to shout the price, saying, “Two million silver coins.”
Ximen Guanren was the number one expert of the outer house of the Yuntai Zongfu, ranking thirteenth on the Xuan Ranking. Moreover, he was also the grandson of one of the Vice Mistresses of the Yuntai Zongfu, so he was similarly not short of money.
Ximen Guanren was sitting at the same table as Lin Chenyu and Lin Mishan, and was also one of the guests invited by Hua Jiuhan.
“Ninth brother, why don’t we just forget about it! Spending two million silver coins for a woman is simply not worth it.” Zhang Shaochu said in a low voice.
Liu Xifeng, who was sitting on the side, shook his head and said, “Your Highness the Fourth Prince, it’s already too late to give up now! It’s not as simple as competing for a Head Eating Girl right now, it’s a game between the Senior Brother of the Western Academy of the Martial City Palace and the Senior Brother of the Yuntai Sect Mansion. If Eldest Brother gives up now, it’s like telling others that our Martial City Academy is inferior to the Yuntai Sect House. In the future, our Western Academy’s students won’t be able to raise their heads when they see the disciples of the Yuntai Zongfu.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly and said, “Fourth Brother, don’t worry, it’s just some silver coins, it’s not much.”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t want to haggle with Ximen Guanren anymore and decided to auction off that head food as soon as possible, so he shouted out a sky-high price, saying, “Four million silver coins.”
“Boom!”
The entire Near Sky Pavilion exploded as everyone was shocked!
Zhang Ruochen had actually directly doubled the price, with such a high price, not to mention buying one woman, even buying a thousand women would be enough.
Ximen Guanren was silent for a long time, but in the end, he didn’t continue to raise the price, after all, he didn’t have much money, only more than a million silver coins. If he were to spend two million silver coins to buy that one Head Eater girl, he would still need to go borrow some of the money.
Borrowing several hundred thousand silver coins was not a difficult task for him. But for him to yet borrow several million silver coins, that would not be a small amount.
Ximen Guanren glanced towards Lin Chenyu, gently shook his head, and apologetically said, “I can’t raise the price any further!”
Lin Chenyu gently nodded in understanding.
Afterwards, Lin Chenyu stood up and looked over towards Zhang Ruochen, smiling, “I haven’t seen you in a year, I didn’t realise that cousin has turned into a flirtatious man, and that you can spend four million silver coins for a woman who accompanies you to the table, it really makes cousin admire you. I just don’t know, if County Lord Smokey knew about this, how would she feel?”
Everyone else thought that Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yichen were already engaged and must have a close relationship.
However, only Zhang Ruochen himself knew that he and Huang Yichen were only temporarily engaged, used to solve their respective troubles, and it was impossible for them to actually be together in the future.
Therefore, Zhang Ruochen appeared quite relaxed and smiled confidently, “Cousin can rest assured, even if County Lord Smoky Dust knows about this, she definitely won’t have any opinions.”
……
