Martial skills, divided into four realms: the
Introductory, Minor Achievement, Major Achievement, and Transformation Realm.
Earlier, those talented students had performed sword techniques at the Grand Completion level, whether it was three swords or ten swords, no one had reached the Realm of Transformation.
In fact, very few people were able to take a set of sword techniques and cultivate them to the Realm of Transformation. Unless it was the kind of martial artist who had been immersed in a set of sword techniques for decades, they could only achieve it.
Who would spend that much time polishing a set of sword techniques?
If they had that much time, they would have already gone to cultivate a higher level sword technique.
Of course, if one was able to cultivate a set of sword techniques to the realm of realisation, then the sword techniques would undergo a radical change, greatly increasing in power, greatly revealing the subtleties, and advancing to a brand new height.
Take this set of Soul Pursuing Thirteen Swords for example, originally it was only a peak Spirit Grade Upper Grade Sword Technique, but when cultivated to the Realm of Transformation, the power was even more powerful than the power of some Ghost Grade Lower Grade Sword Techniques.
“Soul Breaking Hearing Wind.”
Zhang Ruochen performed his second sword technique at an extremely slow speed, even slower than the speed of the first move.
“What is Zhang Ruochen up to? Is it going to work or not?”
Huang Yichen stared with a pair of almond eyes, somewhat exasperated, always feeling that Zhang Ruochen wasn’t seriously executing a sword technique, but rather, he was just fooling around.
With her cultivation, she couldn’t see through the subtleties either.
There were also some trainees who were even dozing off as they watched.
“Soul Suppressing Standing Shadow.”
Zhang Ruochen continued to perform the third sword technique at a very slow pace.
After finishing, Zhang Ruochen stopped and did not continue the drill.
“Why did he stop? Could it be that he only managed to cultivate three sword moves?”
Below, a large chorus of questioning voices resounded.
“The so-called Sword Mind is only able to cultivate three sword strokes, and moreover, it’s still so slow, it’s really not worthy of its name.”
“It seems like he was really lucky to have received the Buddha Emperor’s inheritance to reach the Sword Heart Passage.”
Those trainees who were jealous of Zhang Ruochen deliberately uttered sarcastic words, as if they were saying that Zhang Ruochen was just a bit luckier than them, and that if they had received the Buddha Emperor’s inheritance, they would also be able to reach Sword Mind Enlightenment.
It was true that Zhang Ruochen had only cultivated the first three sword strokes to the Realm of Transformation, and the next ten strokes, all of which were at the Realm of Great Perfection.
Since they were not cultivated to the most perfect realm, there was no need to perform them.
“In just three days, he was able to cultivate his sword techniques to the Transformation Realm, this son is truly worthy of his sword mind.”Lingyuan Half-Saint exclaimed in admiration.
The Spirit Pivot Half-Saint nodded and said, “Cultivating three sword techniques at the level of the Realm of Transformation successfully is even more powerful than cultivating the entire set of sword techniques to a great success. His natural talent is above me.”
The first place winner of the second round of examination was definitely Zhang Ruochen.
The second round of the examination continued.
The trainees who had finished rehearsing their sword moves left the Sacred Courtyard one after another and returned to the Martial City Stage House, waiting for the results of the second round of the examination, and at the same time, waiting for the content of the third round of the examination.
Si Xingkong, Chang Qiqi, Luo Shuihan, and Chen Xi’er, had also finished the second round of assessment, so they all gathered together and headed to the largest restaurant in the Seventh City District, the Sacred Music Pavilion, to host a celebration banquet.
The Holy Music Pavilion’s spending was extremely high, and only the heirs of Half-Saint clans and Saint sects could go to a luxurious restaurant like that.
Chen Xi’er claimed that she was the host, so she treated the guests.
During the celebration banquet, Luo Shuihan revealed a piece of news to the crowd, “The third round of examination may be a bit different from the previous ones, it will most likely not be held in the Sacred Courtyard, or even, not in the Kunlun Realm.”
The old ancestor of the Luo Sheng Sect Clan, was Saint Luo Xu, and since Luo Shuihan had revealed the news, it was definitely not an empty rumour.
Chang Qi Qi woke up a few points from her wine, and hurriedly asked, “If it’s not held in the Kunlun Realm, where will it be held?”
Luo Shuihan pursed her lips and smiled gently, but was silent.
Zhang Ruochen revealed a thoughtful expression and said, “The Market Realm Battlefield.”
Hearing this, everyone’s faces changed.
“It can’t be! The Market Realm Battlefield is so dangerous that only cultivators of the Fish Dragon Realm and Half-Saint level existences are the main force, and for Heavenly Extremity Realm martial artists to go there is no different from cannon fodder.”Huang Yichen said solemnly.
Luo Shuihan said, “I also heard some news from my old ancestor, and right now, the higher echelons of the Sacred Academy, haven’t fully decided whether or not they’re really heading to the Market Realm Battlefield. It’s quasi no bad thing for everyone to make preparations in advance.”
Everyone nodded.
After the celebration banquet, everyone went to buy healing pills, True Martial Treasures, protective treasures, and prepared a large amount of resources and treasures. Since they were travelling to the Market Realm Battlefield, they naturally had to fully arm themselves.
In the Holy Courtyard, a deep cave mansion.
This cave mansion, very close to the Holy Vein of the Holy Courtyard, had a rather thick aura. There also seemed to be aura escaping from the surface of the stones on the rock walls.
“Ta-da!”
The sound of clear footsteps resounded through the cave mansion.
Xu Hai came to the bottom of the cave mansion, knelt down on one knee, bowed, and said, “Old Ancestor, Zhang Ruochen unexpectedly cultivated his sword technique to the realm of Transformation during the second round of the examination. Not only is this son’s natural talent exceptional, his enlightenment is also terrifyingly high, and with the fact that he has refined the Golden Dragon’s Dragon Pearl, his future achievements are unpredictable. If we don’t kill him now, in the future, it will surely become a great disaster.”
The Three Blades Half-Saint sat perched on top of a stone chair above him, projecting a huge humanoid shadow that radiated an intimidating aura as he snorted coldly, “He is a disciple of Lei Jing, and was originally an enemy of our Xu Sheng Sect. Today, at the Pilgrimage Heavenly Staircase, he even disgraced our Xu Sheng Sect Valve, if we don’t kill him, our Xu Sheng Sect Valve will not be laughed at by the world.”
In the beginning, it was Lei Jing who had offended the Xu Sheng Sect Valve, and that was why he was forced to leave the Sacred Academy and head to the Heavenly Demon Ridge.
Now, Lei Jing had returned to the Holy Academy with a group of talented trainees, which naturally made the Xu Sheng Sect Valve feel threatened, treating all of Lei Jing’s trainees as imaginary enemies as well.
Xu Hai said, “Since that’s the case, I’ll go and make arrangements now to get rid of Zhang Ruochen before he grows up.”
“Wait.”
The Three Blades Half-Saint stopped Xu Hai and said, “Today, Zhang Ruochen’s performance was just too stunning, and there are already people at the level of Academy Masters who have noticed him and are ready to accept him as a disciple. If he were to lay an assassin in the Eastern Domain Sacred City, how could he possibly hide it from a coming House Master?”
Xu Hai was somewhat puzzled and said, “What does the old ancestor mean?”
The Three Blades Half-Saint said slowly, “The location of the third round of examinations has basically been determined. It will be sending all the trainees who participated in the examination to the Market Realm Battlefield.”
“What? The Market Realm Battlefield.”Xu Hai was greatly shocked.
The Three Blades Half-Saint laughed and said, “What’s the point of being so surprised? The Market Realm Battlefield is also divided into different levels, and they should be sent to an inferior Market Realm. Although, a lower Ruins Realm is still very dangerous, with the cultivation level of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, it wouldn’t be difficult to survive.”
Xu Hai Dao: “Does the Old Ancestor know which Inferior Ruins Realm it is?”
“The Five Elements Ruins Realm, that’s a Ruins Realm that has just been discovered.”
The Three Blades Half-Saint said, “Go find a few reliable top experts under the Fish Dragon Realm and bring them to Old Master. Old me can contact the manpower over at the Market Realm Battlefield and send them to the Five Elements Market Realm in advance. When Zhang Ruochen enters the Five Elements Ruins Realm for the third round of examination, they will be able to get rid of Zhang Ruochen unknowingly in the Five Elements Ruins Realm.”
Xu Hai rejoiced, “It’s still the Old Ancestor who is wise enough to think of such a good plan. In the Sacred Courtyard, there is a Saint loyal to our Xu Sheng Sect Clan named Nie Wenlong, who is an expert who has ascended the Heavenly Ranking. With him taking action, he will definitely be able to put Zhang Ruochen to death.”
“An expert on the 《Tian List》, good, great! Under the Fish Dragon Realm, he is considered a top expert. Moreover, even if the Saint of the Sacred Academy finds out that he appeared in the Five Elements Ruins Realm, he can explain that he went to participate in the 『List of the Heavens』 training mission. Haha!”
The Three Blades Half-Saint said, “You will now go and bring Nie Wenlong, to my cave. Xu Hai, do your best for the Old Ancestor, and as long as you can get rid of Zhang Ruochen this time, I’ll reward you with a Sword Mind Pill to help you impact the Sword Mind Realm.”
“Many thanks, Old Ancestor.”
Xu Hai’s heart was overjoyed as he hurriedly bowed and exited the cave to look for Nie Wenlong.
……
It was already dark when they returned to the Martial City Stage House.
Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi each returned to their rooms and continued to refine the dragon blood.
Zhang Ruochen was alone, standing in the courtyard as strands of lustrous moonlight, like a silver veil, showered down on his body, projecting a long reflection.
“Wow…”
His finger touched on top of his storage ring, and with a flash of light, he took out a purple longsword and cupped it in his hand, the body of the sword slightly appeared to be a bit cold, it was about four feet long and about half a palm wide.
On the surface of the sword, the mark of an ancient divine beast was engraved, like a Thunder Sculpture Beast.
The Violet Thunder Sword, a tenth rank True Martial Treasure Weapon, had seventy-two basic inscriptions and three intermediate inscriptions engraved within it. Among them, the seventy-two basic inscriptions were all of the “electricity” system.
The three intermediate level inscriptions were an “Electricity” system inscription, a “Force” system inscription, and a “Fire” system inscription.
This Violet Thunder Sword was purchased by Zhang Ruochen at the Seventh City District’s Martial Market just now at a cost of 370,000 Spirit Crystals.
The Sinking Abyss Ancient Sword was temporarily placed in the Divine Sword Holy Land, and was probably unable to be repaired for a while.
If the third round of assessment was really to go to the Market Realm Battlefield, Zhang Ruochen would certainly need a suitable and powerful battle sword.
Even if he had already reached the realm of Sword Mind, everything could be a sword. However, wielding a true divine sword, the battle power that could be exerted was definitely more powerful.
A tenth rank True Martial Treasure Weapon was indeed much more expensive than a ninth rank True Martial Treasure Weapon.
Three hundred and seventy thousand spirit crystals.
For an average Heavenly Extremity Realm martial artist, it was definitely a huge fortune.
“Wow!”
Zhang Ruochen held the hilt of the sword and did not operate his true qi, he simply swung it gently, and a crackling sound of lightning was emitted.
Wisps of fine electricity surged out from the top of the sword body, completely wrapping Zhang Ruochen’s right arm.
“Good sword.”
Zhang Ruochen mobilised his entire body’s true qi, surging into his right meridian and injecting it into the Violet Thunder Sword, instantly activating the seventy-two basic “Electricity” inscriptions in the Violet Thunder Sword.
“Rumble!”
The sounds of heavenly thunder and beast whistles erupted from the sword body.
One could only see a purple electric aura rushing out from the tip of the sword, forming dozens of lightning bolts the thickness of a wine glass that flew out in all directions. The entire compound seemed to be completely covered in electric light, and Zhang Ruochen’s silhouette could not be seen at all.
