Placing a bride price was quite a delicate matter, it couldn’t be sloppy, and in order to show respect for the female parent, it had to be grand and the bride price couldn’t be too casual.
After all, the Chen Clan was a medieval family, a prestigious clan, and within it, it was further divided into eight main veins, seventy-two branch veins, and even more foreign clans and family generals.
It was unknown how many clansmen were paying attention to Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yichen’s marriage. Countless pairs of eyes were staring, and if the bride price sent over by Zhang Ruochen was not substantial enough, those clansmen of the Chen Clan were afraid that they would have to mock Huang Yichen’s parents.
Therefore, Zhang Ruochen was treating this marriage very seriously and was not stingy at all, so the bride price sent over had to be heavy no matter what.
Knowing that Zhang Ruochen was going to the Chen family to make the bride price, all the friends and relatives gathered at Zhang Ruochen’s mansion on the first night to help Zhang Ruochen set up the bridal room and the mansion.
Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi were the first to come over, the two of them, and Zhang Ruochen’s relationship was extremely good, from the Heavenly Demon Ridge, all the way to the Sacred Courtyard, all of them were like brothers and sisters.
Although Zhang Ruochen’s current cultivation level had far surpassed theirs, he did not have the slightest bit of arrogance, and when he heard that they had already arrived at the door, he personally went out to greet them.
Zhang Ruochen saw the figures of Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi from afar and called out, “Eldest Brother, Chang Qiqi, you guys are really well-informed, you know so quickly that I’m going to go to the Chen Clan tomorrow to place an offer?”
Compared to when he first came to the Eastern Domain Sacred City, Si Xingkong hadn’t changed too much and was still very sprightly, with a wine gourd hanging from his waist and a hint of a smile on the corner of his mouth.
He looked like a drunkard, yet he was not unsteady as he said, “First of all, howdy, we’re masters and brothers. Secondly, we are all far from home and have come to the Eastern Region Holy City to fight, so we should have supported each other. If you’re getting married, we definitely have to come over to help.”
Chang Qi Qi also heatedly laughed, “That’s right, although Eldest Senior Brother and I can’t do anything big or be of much help, we are still able to do a good job in helping you carry the boxes and deliver the bride price. Senior Brother Zhang, you won’t mind us, right?”
Zhang Ruochen knew that Chang Qiqi was joking, however, Zhang Ruochen still remembered the two of them in his heart, and heartily said, “Many thanks to the two senior brothers.”
Si Xingkong walked up to Zhang Ruochen’s side and said in a low voice, “Don’t ever say thank you, even if you want to thank us, it’s us who will thank you. We have already received the Xuanwu Qi that you asked Miss Kong Xuan to send. With such a valuable gift, Eldest Brother doesn’t know how to say thank you.”
“Just one word, in the future, no matter when, no matter where, as long as Eldest Brother gives the word, I, Si Xingkong, will do nothing even if I have to go up a mountain of swords or down a sea of fire.”
When Si Xingkong said this, his tone was very firm, his gaze was like two flames, as if he was making an oath.
Chang Qi Qi also put away her smile and her gaze was serious as she said, “Add me to the list.”
Si Xingkong and Chang Qi Qi were both people who valued righteousness, to be able to obtain a promise from the two of them, the value of which would definitely be more precious than ten million Spirit Crystals.
Outside the gate, a deep muddled voice rang out, “What are you guys talking about, why are you so happy?”
“Swish!”
A lanky divine shadow, forming a series of residual shadows, travelled in through the door.
Lei Jing carried his hands behind his back as he walked down the stone steps with a steady pace and a surging aura, and a faint wisp of holy qi vaguely surged out from his pores.
With every step he took, the aura beneath his feet spread out in all directions like water ripples.
Zhang Ruochen, Si Xingkong, and Chang Qiqi, immediately greeted him.
Zhang Ruochen just glanced towards Lei Jing and saw that within Lei Jing’s body, five Sacred Veins had opened up, and he had already reached the Eighth Transformation of the Fish Dragon.
Only one step away from cultivating into the Glazed Treasure Body.
Zhang Ruochen’s hands closed and bowed, “Greetings to Master.”
Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi also immediately bowed and said in unison, “Greetings to Pavilion Master Lei.”
Lei Jing’s pair of tiger eyes stared at Zhang Ruochen’s body and nodded, the serious look on his face instantly disappeared without a trace, revealing a smile, “You brat, you’ve already become a disciple of the Sword Sage, and you’re actually willing to recognise me as a master?”
“Once a teacher, always a teacher.”Zhang Ruochen said.
Just now, Lei Jing was just joking with Zhang Ruochen, after all, he had also received the Xuanwu Qi sent by Zhang Ruochen, and knew in his heart that Zhang Ruochen was a filial child who had not forgotten his roots.
By obtaining the Xuanwu Qi, Lei Jing had hope that he would be able to strike the Half-Saint realm in his lifetime.
Lei Jing’s expression was solemn as he said, “I have just learnt of a piece of news, just two days ago, the Market Realm Battlefield saw the resonance of the Gods again.”
Si Xingkong was a little surprised and said, “It’s only been how long since Senior Brother Zhang reached the Heavenly Extremity Realm’s Supreme Extremity Realm, could it be that there is another person, who has reached the Heavenly Extremity Realm’s Supreme Extremity Realm?”
Zhang Ruochen’s eyes narrowed slightly as he tentatively asked, “Is it Emperor Yi?”
Lei Jing nodded and said, “It is none other than the young master of the Black Market One Piece Hall, Di Yi, and it is rumoured that after he broke through to the Heavenly Extremity Realm’s Supreme Extremity Realm, he returned to the Eastern Domain under the escort of the Black Market Saints. Zhang Ruochen, this is very bad news for you.”
Chang Qi Qi snorted coldly and said, “Could it be that he dares to go to the Eastern Domain Sacred City to cause trouble?”
“Emperor Yi is a person with both strategy and guts, so maybe he will really make a move.”Si Xingkong said.
Lei Jing was also a bit worried, saying, “Zhang Ruochen killed the Yellow God Star Envoy, captured the Orange Moon Star Envoy, and even the outside world attributed the death of the Green Robe Star Envoy to him.”
“It can be said that the Black Market One Piece Hall was disgraced at the hands of Zhang Ruochen, if they didn’t seek Zhang Ruochen’s misfortune, would they still be able to call themselves the Black Market One Piece Hall?”
“Obviously, the seventh day of this month, when Zhang Ruochen gets married, is a great opportunity. The Black Market is definitely going to get their face back even if they have to pay some price.”
“It is rumoured that there are some old-generation Evil Dao powerhouses that have already released harsh words to kill Zhang Ruochen and capture the bride on the day of his wedding. They want to make Zhang Ruochen pay for his blood and human debts.”
Si Xingkong snorted coldly, his fists couldn’t help but squeeze tightly as he said, “A group of arrogant people, actually wanting to come to the Eastern Domain Sacred City to snatch a person, they are too lawless.”
Chang Qi Qi stared at Zhang Ruochen and said, “Senior Brother Zhang, you need not worry, in the Eastern Domain Sacred City, it’s not the turn of the evil martial artists from the Black Market to run wild.”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t have the slightest why of fear, but was not completely free of worry, saying, “Although the Eastern Domain Sacred City is relatively safe, the Black Market has a huge power and has a very long history in the Kunlun Realm. The undercover agents they have cultivated have long since infiltrated into the major forces and can be considered to be Avray rooted, so it’s better for us to be as careful as possible.”
That night, at Zhang Ruochen’s residence, a family banquet was held.
The guests present, apart from Si Xingkong, Chang Qiqi, and Lei Jing, there were also cultivators from the Luo Sheng Sect Valve represented by Luo Shuihan, cultivators from the Divine Sword Sacred Ground represented by Lu Flipping Tian, the Silver Sky Mercenary Regiment’s Vice Regiment Leader Nie Honglou, and so on.
It was just a family banquet, thus, it wasn’t really grand, it was mainly the younger generation that was gathering, and the older generation of cultivators didn’t show up.
At the banquet, Zhang Ruochen saw a lot of familiar friends, however, he was the only one who failed to see Duanmu Xingling.
He had already enquired, and Duanmu Xingling had left the Eastern Domain Sacred City a few months ago and had never returned.
For some reason, Zhang Ruochen’s heart was still slightly lost.
After all, within all the elder brothers and sisters, Duanmu Xingling had the best relationship with him.
Although, Duanmu Xingling was a member of the Devil Cult, Zhang Ruochen had always treated her as a confidante.
Zhang Ruochen knew very well that the reason why Duanmu Xingling had left the Eastern Region Sacred City was because, she had been entrusted by Zhang Ruochen to protect the Nine County Lords of Yunwu County Kingdom and Zhang Shaochu.
For several months in a row, Duanmu Xingling had not returned to the Eastern Domain Sacred City, was it because the experts sent by the Black Market to the Yunwu County Kingdom were too strong, or was she deliberately avoiding Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yichen’s wedding?
In the sky above the Seventh Urban District, there was a spirit mountain suspended.
The Spirit Mountain was a hundred feet from the ground, and a wisp of white mist was like a cloud bridge that surrounded the Spirit Mountain. Looking upwards from the ground, one could vaguely see what appeared to be the silhouette of a vermillion-red temple and pavilion in the white mist.
At this moment, wearing a white robe and a metal mask on his face, Di Yi stood at the edge of the Spirit Mountain, a pair of clear eyes staring at the ten thousand lights below.
Finally, his gaze, fixed on Famous King Street, Zhang Ruochen’s mansion.
Emperor Yi’s voice, full of magnetism, smiled, “Qingyi, look at Zhang Ruochen’s mansion, it’s really lit up and bustling, even I want to go and join in the fun.”
Star Envoy Qing Yi stood behind Emperor Yi, holding a sword, her slender figure reflecting a long reflection under the moonlight.
She said, “Young Lord can’t wait to fight Zhang Ruochen?”
The corner of Emperor Yi’s mouth turned up slightly as he said, “It is a good thing to be born in an era with Zhang Ruochen.”
“If it wasn’t for his stimulation, I might not have been able to cultivate the Heartless Saint Body. If it wasn’t for his oppression, I might not have been able to impact the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Heavenly Extreme Realm.”
“He’s like a whetstone, able to sharpen my blade more and more.”
The green-clothed Star Envoy said, “It’s just a pity that he’s not a member of the black market, otherwise, he would probably be the Young Lord’s best friend.”
Emperor Yi was quite proud of himself, looking up at the crescent moon hanging in the sky, saying, “In today’s world, there is not a single person worthy of being my friend. There are only six people worthy of being my enemy, and he counts as one of the rather important ones.”
The green-clothed star ambassador asked curiously, “The other five, what are their identities?”
“Those five people, some of them, you are expected to know the names, but there are others, you may not even have heard of them. However, their natural talents are not below mine and Zhang Ruochen’s.”Emperor smiled.
“Tomorrow, Zhang Ruochen will be going to the Chen Family to place an offer. The day after tomorrow, it will be the day of their official marriage, so as an enemy, how can I not go to congratulate them? The gift I want to give to Zhang Ruochen, have you prepared it?”
The green-clothed Star Envoy’s face changed slightly, and he hurriedly kneeled down on one knee, saying, “Young Lord, forgive me, the Yunwu County Kingdom has encountered some trouble over there, and the experts that were sent over there were all like stones sinking into the sea, with none of them being able to return alive. The operation failed.”
