Chapter 17: Yunwu Commandery Prince
Lin Family, Martial Arts Ground.
"Heart-Pointing Finger!"
Lin Yingshan's five fingers gripped a star-glittering sword. As she swung it, a sword qi immediately formed in the air, leaving a seven-meter-long sword path on the ground. A deep sword crevice was carved into the hard stone slabs.
"Clap! Clap!"
Lin Fengxian clapped his hands as he walked into the martial arts ground, smiling. "Shan'er, your talent in the Sword Dao truly amazes me, your father. In less than three months, you've mastered a spirit-grade lower-class sword technique. With this technique, you'll surely dominate the year-end assessment and become the most dazzling one."
Lin Yingshan said, "That's also because I've long reached the 'Sword Follows the Heart' realm and have a deep understanding of the Sword Dao. That's why I could master this sword technique in such a short time."
Lin Fengxian nodded. "In the entire royal capital, there are fewer than ten young geniuses under twenty who can cultivate their sword intent to the 'Sword Follows the Heart' realm. You're only fifteen now, and your future achievements are limitless."
Lin Fengxian left the training ground, and Lin Yingshan continued practicing her sword technique.
Thirteen days quickly passed.
Thirteen days in the outside world meant thirty-nine days within the Time-Space Crystal.
With the help of Qi-Gathering Pills, Zhang Ruochen finally advanced from the early stage of the Yellow Extreme Minor Position to the peak of the Yellow Extreme Minor Position. The amount of true qi in his qi pool was ten times greater than thirteen days ago, and his cultivation was once again perfected.
Now, a casual punch from him could unleash a force of ten oxen.
If he used the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, amplified by martial technique, he could even unleash a force of sixteen oxen.
An ordinary minor position martial artist could unleash a force of four oxen.
A mid-position martial artist could unleash a force of nine oxen.
A major position martial artist could unleash a force of sixteen oxen.
In other words, although Zhang Ruochen was only at the peak of the minor position, he could unleash power comparable to a major position martial artist.
Zhang Ruochen didn't rush to break through to the mid-position. Even if he reached the mid-position now, he could at most open sixteen meridians in his body.
He remembered that in his previous life, when he was at the mid-position, he had opened twenty meridians.
"I must find a way to improve my physique. If I lose at the starting line, how can I compete with Empress Chi Yao in the future?"
Zhang Ruochen walked out of his room and saw Yun'er standing outside the door.
"Sister Yun'er, is today the year-end assessment?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"That's right!"
Yun'er nodded, looking a bit nervous. "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, you must be careful. I heard that the Eighth Prince has already broken through to the Yellow Extreme Minor Position. If he finds out that you're now a martial artist too, he'll definitely target you."
"It doesn't matter. It's not a big deal." Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly, then asked, "Will Mother be watching the year-end assessment today?"
"Consort Lin will definitely go, but she doesn't know you're participating in the assessment." Yun'er thought to herself that if Consort Lin knew the Ninth Prince had become a martial artist, she would be overjoyed.
"Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, Yun'er will help you change into your royal python robe. We can head to the royal martial arts ground on the royal mountain now." Yun'er said.
At that moment, Zhang Ruochen noticed the copper tray Yun'er was holding. On it lay a neatly folded golden robe embroidered with a four-clawed giant python, a crown, a jade belt, and golden boots.
In the Yunwu Commandery, only princes could wear the royal python robe, while princesses wore the royal sparrow robe.
After three months of cultivation and body tempering, Zhang Ruochen's physique and temperament had undergone earth-shaking changes. He no longer looked weak and sickly but exuded a youthful, heroic spirit.
Donning the royal python robe and crown, his entire demeanor transformed once again. It was as if a carp had leaped over the dragon gate, or a young eagle had transformed into a roc—an aura of nobility radiated from him.
"Your Highness, the Ninth Prince... you... you truly look more like a prince than any other prince!" Yun'er stared at Zhang Ruochen, her heart pounding uncontrollably. She was involuntarily drawn to the aura he exuded, and two blushes appeared on her cheeks.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Sister Yun'er, let's go to the royal martial arts ground."
Yun'er nodded gently. "Consort Lin has already gone ahead to pay respects to the king. We should hurry over too, or else those consorts and princes will start gossiping again."
The royal martial arts ground was built at the foot of the royal mountain.
The year-end assessment was a royal clan event second only to the sacrificial ceremony. Even the Yunwu Commandery King had ended his seclusion to personally attend.
Princes, princesses, and consorts had all arrived before dawn, waiting at the royal martial arts ground for the king's arrival.
The Yunwu Commandery King sat in the highest seat of the martial arts ground. He looked about forty years old, with two neatly trimmed mustaches, exuding an imposing aura. He glanced at the princes and princesses and smiled. "The Seventh Prince hasn't returned?"
The Queen sat beside the king and said, "Your Majesty, half a month ago, the Seventh Prince sent a letter. He encountered an important matter and couldn't return for now. Besides, given the Seventh Prince's martial arts cultivation, participating in the year-end assessment is no longer meaningful."
The king looked somewhat disappointed. "Without the Seventh Prince in the assessment, there's much less to look forward to this year."
Consort Xiao, the Eighth Prince's birth mother, stepped forward. "Your Majesty, the Seventh Prince may not be able to participate, but the Ninth Prince can this year."
"Oh? The Ninth Prince?" The king's gaze shifted to Consort Lin.
Consort Xiao smiled. "Three months ago, the Ninth Prince awakened his Divine Martial Mark."
"Is that so? Haha! Consort Lin, why didn't you tell me this good news immediately?" The king was in a good mood. After all, the Ninth Prince was also his biological son and the only prince who hadn't awakened his Divine Martial Mark.
Now that all nine princes had awakened their Divine Martial Marks, the king was naturally delighted.
Consort Lin bit her lip gently and said softly, "The Ninth Prince only just awakened his Divine Martial Mark. I didn't dare to trouble Your Majesty with it."
The king said, "As long as the Ninth Prince can awaken his Divine Martial Mark, it's a cause for celebration. Even if his future achievements are limited, he's still a martial artist stronger than ordinary people. Where is the Ninth Prince? Why hasn't he come to see me?"
The Eighth Prince sneered coldly. "Everyone's here, but the Ninth Brother is late. Hmph, awakening a Divine Martial Mark really changes things—such a grand air."
Just then, Zhang Ruochen, wearing his royal python robe, walked up from the high stone steps below. "Eighth Brother, is it really appropriate to speak ill of others behind their backs?"
Zhang Ruochen appeared dignified and imposing. He walked up to the Eighth Prince and shot him a sharp glance.
The Eighth Prince clenched his fists, extremely angry. The old Zhang Ruochen would never have dared to speak to him like this. This was outrageous!
Zhang Ruochen flicked his sleeves, walked forward, and glanced at the king sitting above. He cupped his hands and bowed. "Greetings, Great King!"
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's address to the king, everyone present was stunned.
In an instant, the atmosphere turned tense and murderous. Everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.
The king stared at Zhang Ruochen below. "You call me 'Great King'?"
The Queen snorted coldly. "Ninth Prince, you have quite the nerve. Are you trying to deny your father?"
"Thump!"
Consort Lin's heart trembled with fear. She immediately knelt and quickly explained, "Your Majesty, Chen'er must have made a slip of the tongue."
"I didn't make a slip!"
Zhang Ruochen stood tall and straight, his gaze as sharp as a torch as he fixed his eyes on the king. "A father must be able to teach his son. Let me ask you, Great King: I was weak and sickly from childhood. As a father, what have you taught me? What have you done for me? Have you ever cared for me?"
"A husband must have gratitude, affection, and righteousness. Let me ask you, Great King: When my mother was caned by the Queen, did you show her any affection? For three years, my mother was bullied and humiliated—where was your gratitude? When my mother and I were driven out of our residence on a cold winter night and forced into a side hall, as if cast into a cold palace—where was your righteousness?"
"Since you cannot be a father, nor a husband, I dare to ask: Is it wrong for me to call you 'Great King'?"
For the first time, someone dared to speak to the king in such a tone. A large crowd around them had already knelt in fear. The maids and eunuchs trembled as they knelt on the ground.
At this moment, the king's expression was extremely cold. He glanced at the Queen sitting beside him and said in a deep voice, "Who gave the order? Who drove them to the side hall?"
The Queen remained calm, sitting there, and cast a cold glance at the Eighth Prince and Consort Xiao.
"Thump! Thump!"
The Eighth Prince and Consort Xiao immediately knelt, their bodies weak, cold sweat pouring from their foreheads.
"It was... it was your servant... your servant!" Consort Xiao's voice trembled slightly.
Although it was the Queen who gave the order, how could Consort Xiao dare to expose her?
The king snorted coldly. "You alone?"
Consort Xiao glanced at the Eighth Prince beside her, gritted her teeth, and said, "Only your servant alone!"
"Very well. Since you want to take all the responsibility yourself, then from now on, you will live alone in the Ziyi Side Hall!" the king said.
Hearing this, Consort Xiao knew she had truly been cast into the cold palace, with no chance of recovery. Her body went limp, and she fainted on the spot.
After Consort Xiao was carried away, the king stood up from his seat, locking eyes with Zhang Ruochen. "It seems you've completed your marrow washing and meridian opening, becoming a true martial artist. You've indeed changed. Good! For this rare spirit of yours, I will make an exception and forgive you this once. Do you want to participate in the year-end assessment?"
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was firm, neither humble nor arrogant. "Of course I want to participate!"
"Good! Haha! Worthy of being my offspring—you've got guts!" The king laughed heartily.
This was a world where martial arts reigned supreme. A true strong one needed three things: backbone, integrity, and pride.
If Zhang Ruochen had cowered and feared everything today, even if he had awakened his Divine Martial Mark, the king would not have appreciated him.
The kneeling Eighth Prince clenched his five fingers tightly, his gaze venomous as he stared at Zhang Ruochen. He thought to himself, "Zhang Ruochen, enjoy your pride while you can. On the martial arts ground of the year-end assessment, I will trample you underfoot and make you clearly understand who the true strong one is!"
...
This book is now signed. You can tip now! Old Yu is rolling around begging for tips, votes, five-star ratings, and book reviews! All kinds of begging!
From now on, two stable chapters every day!
One more thing: if any reader tips as a patron, Old Yu will add an extra chapter.