Chapter 48: Palace Hall Duel
After winning ten consecutive matches in the Yellow-Level Martial Combat Palace, Zhang Ruochen finally gathered one million silver coins and sent them to the Qingxuan Pavilion.
Immediately afterward, the Qingxuan Pavilion dispatched people to escort the seventh-rank True Martial Treasure-level refining furnace to the royal palace.
Just as Zhang Ruochen and the Ninth Princess arrived outside the palace gates, an old eunuch approached, knelt before them, and spoke in a shrill voice: “Your servant pays respects to the Ninth Prince and Ninth Princess. His Majesty and Consort Lin are waiting for you in the Radiant Cloud Hall. Please go there at once!”
There was no need to guess what this was about—news of his becoming a Yellow List martial artist had reached the palace. It would have been strange if the Yunwu Commandery King hadn’t summoned him.
Zhang Ruochen ordered the palace guards to deliver the refining furnace to his residence, then immediately headed to the Radiant Cloud Hall with the Ninth Princess.
As soon as they entered the hall, they heard the Yunwu Commandery King’s laughter: “Nine-Er, it’s only been a little over a month since the year-end assessment, and you’ve broken through two realms, reaching the Great Extreme Position of the Yellow Extreme Realm. Not only that, you’ve become a Yellow List martial artist. Your father is truly delighted.”
The Ninth Princess said, “Father, the Ninth Brother’s strength is truly unfathomable. His martial realm alone cannot determine his true cultivation.”
“Oh? Is that so? Today, your father really wants to test just how far his cultivation has reached. Haishu, go and spar with the Ninth Prince. See if you can gauge his true strength.” The Yunwu Commandery King spoke.
“Your subordinate accepts the order!”
From the left side of the hall, a man clad in iron scale armor knelt on one knee, bowed to the Yunwu Commandery King, and then walked toward Zhang Ruochen. “Ninth Prince, please enlighten me!”
Zhang Ruochen understood that the Yunwu Commandery King wanted to see his true strength.
After all, only a little over a month had passed since the year-end assessment. Achieving the level of a Yellow List martial artist in such a short time was hard even for the Yunwu Commandery King to believe.
Consort Lin, seated beside the Yunwu Commandery King, said, “Chen-Er, Lord Haishu is also a Yellow List martial artist, ranked twenty-third on the Yellow List. Sparring with each other will let your father know your true strength.”
Consort Lin felt deeply gratified. When news of Zhang Ruochen becoming a Yellow List martial artist reached the palace, she could hardly believe her ears.
Of course, she also hoped Zhang Ruochen would continue to improve and gain the Yunwu Commandery King’s recognition. This was the mindset of a mother hoping her son would succeed!
“In that case, Lord Haishu, let’s exchange a few moves!”
Zhang Ruochen did not underestimate Haishu. No one who became a Yellow List martial artist was weak.
“Whoosh!”
The Flash Soul Sword left its sheath. Driven by the true qi within Zhang Ruochen’s body, one force-type inscription, two ice-type inscriptions, and one light-type inscription were activated simultaneously.
As Zhang Ruochen mobilized his true qi, the Yunwu Commandery King let out a soft exclamation.
He saw over twenty meridians within Zhang Ruochen’s body. Some were strange meridian channels, so peculiar that even with his cultivation, he couldn’t fully understand them.
At least twenty-three, likely more.
“What level of technique has Nine-Er been cultivating to open so many meridians?” The Yunwu Commandery King felt astonished.
“Whoosh!”
Zhang Ruochen and Haishu finally began their duel.
Zhang Ruochen used a sword, while Haishu wielded a blade.
Haishu was also a Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm expert, but his combat power was inferior to Liu Chengfeng and even slightly weaker than Han Fu.
On the fifteenth move, Zhang Ruochen executed a move called “Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum,” sending Haishu’s war blade flying and securing victory in the match.
Haishu’s tiger’s mouth split open, dripping crimson blood, and his entire arm went numb. “The Ninth Prince truly lives up to being the eleventh-ranked expert on the Yellow List. Haishu concedes defeat.”
With these words, Haishu picked up his fallen blade and immediately retreated.
“The Ninth Prince defeated a Yellow List martial artist in just fifteen moves. This old servant is truly amazed today. Congratulations, Your Majesty! Congratulations, Consort Lin!” The old eunuch beside the Yunwu Commandery King flattered.
The Yunwu Commandery King laughed heartily. “Haishu, your defeat is not unjust. You have only cultivated your blade intent to the initial stage of following the heart, while the Ninth Prince has already reached the advanced stage of following the heart with his sword intent. With such a gap, how could you not lose?”
Intent, also known as mental state, refers to a martial artist’s understanding of the martial path.
Intent is divided into three realms: Following the Heart, Clear Understanding, and Unity.
For example, a martial artist cultivating the sword path who reaches the realm of Following the Heart is said to have “the sword follows the heart.”
Reaching Clear Understanding is called “sword heart clear and bright.”
Reaching Unity is called “man and sword become one.”
The same applies to cultivating blade techniques, spear techniques, palm techniques, fist techniques, and staff techniques—intent is also divided into these three realms.
Generally, in the Yellow Extreme Realm, reaching the initial stage of Following the Heart is already considered genius.
To reach the middle stage of Following the Heart, only martial artists in the Mysterious Extreme Realm can usually achieve it.
To reach the advanced stage of Following the Heart, only martial artists in the Earth Extreme Realm can typically achieve it.
Zhang Ruochen, only sixteen years old and at the Yellow Extreme Realm, had already reached the advanced stage of Following the Heart. This was naturally extraordinary—a single casual sword strike could defeat a martial artist of the same realm.
“At the same age, I’ve only reached the initial stage of Following the Heart, while he’s already at the advanced stage. What a freak.” The Ninth Princess muttered softly.
The Yunwu Commandery King said, “Everyone withdraw. There are some words I wish to speak alone with the Ninth Prince.”
Moments later, including the Ninth Princess and Consort Lin, everyone withdrew.
Only Zhang Ruochen and the Yunwu Commandery King remained in the Radiant Cloud Hall.
The Yunwu Commandery King rose from his throne, walked to the center of the hall, stood opposite Zhang Ruochen, and said solemnly, “Tell me, how many meridians have you opened in total?”
Zhang Ruochen did not hide it. “Twenty-seven meridians!”
In truth, there was nothing to hide. Once he mobilized his true qi, the meridians in his body would become visible, impossible to conceal from the Yunwu Commandery King’s eyes.
“So many!”
The Yunwu Commandery King drew a sharp breath. It was even more than he had anticipated.
His expression grew even more serious. “During the last year-end assessment, I knew you had encountered some opportunity and must have cultivated a powerful technique. Since you’re unwilling to speak of it, I won’t press. But you must learn to conceal it.”
“At the year-end assessment, why weren’t you wearing the Ice Fire Qilin Armor I bestowed upon you? Don’t you know that the Ice Fire Qilin Armor can conceal some of your meridians, making it impossible for others to see their number?”
“Hmm?”
Zhang Ruochen was momentarily stunned. He had never realized that the Yunwu Commandery King’s gift of the Ice Fire Qilin Armor carried this hidden meaning.
“From now on, when I fight others, I will wear the Ice Fire Qilin Armor,” Zhang Ruochen said.
The Yunwu Commandery King nodded. “In the Yellow-Level Martial Combat Palace, the only one who could see through the number of your meridians is likely Liu Chuanshen. I will personally speak to him and ask him to keep the secret.”
Zhang Ruochen had opened too many meridians. Such a feat could only mean he had cultivated some heaven-defying technique.
Any martial artist would want to obtain such a technique!
If a powerful expert took notice, it would be extremely disadvantageous for Zhang Ruochen.
The Yunwu Commandery King took a purple-gold box from his sleeve and handed it to Zhang Ruochen. “This is a fourth-rank body-tempering pill called the Qilin Pill, refined from the blood and inner core of a qilin. It should be of great help to you.”
A fourth-rank pill was worth hundreds of thousands of silver coins each. Even martial artists at the Heavenly Extreme Realm found it hard to obtain one.
Clearly, the Yunwu Commandery King recognized Zhang Ruochen’s limitless potential, so he bestowed this fourth-rank pill to help him solidify his martial foundation.
The Yunwu Commandery King said, “With your current cultivation, if you take the Qilin Pill directly, you won’t be able to refine it. Instead, it will cause your body to explode. So, wait until you enter the Barbarian God Pool to cultivate, then take the Qilin Pill. Only with the power of the blood essence in the Barbarian God Pool can you refine it.”
“Your cultivation has only just reached the Great Extreme Position, hasn’t it?”
Zhang Ruochen nodded.
The Yunwu Commandery King said, “First, cultivate the true qi in your qi pool to perfection, reaching the peak of the Great Extreme Position, before going to the Barbarian God Pool. That will bring you greater benefits.”
“Understood,” Zhang Ruochen nodded.
“You may withdraw,” the Yunwu Commandery King said, giving Zhang Ruochen a deep look before lightly waving his hand.
Zhang Ruochen bowed to the Yunwu Commandery King and walked toward the hall’s exit.
Suddenly, the Yunwu Commandery King’s voice came from behind: “Nine-Er, being born into an imperial family is like being born into a jungle. Even if your father is the king of the jungle, he cannot protect you forever. If you are not outstanding, you will only be eliminated. If you are outstanding enough, you can stand out in the cruel competition. The fittest survive—each has their own fate.”
Zhang Ruochen paused slightly but did not turn around. “I understand.”
With that, he walked out of the hall.
How could Zhang Ruochen not understand?
An emperor’s children were too numerous; it was impossible to care for each one.
Only the outstanding ones could gain the emperor’s attention. The unremarkable would simply fade from his sight.
If Zhang Ruochen had remained as he was, without showing exceptional talent in cultivation, he would have gradually disappeared from the Yunwu Commandery King’s view. Now, the situation was entirely different. As long as he remained outstanding, the cultivation resources he received would only increase, and his status would rise higher.
…
In another palace courtyard within the royal palace.
“Smack!”
The Queen slammed a teacup heavily to the ground, shattering it into pieces. Her voice was cold and sharp. “What a fine Ninth Prince! Becoming a Yellow List martial artist so quickly. If he’s allowed to grow, what then?”
“What does Her Majesty mean?” A beautiful maidservant with a red mole between her brows stood behind the Queen, her gaze sharp as she asked.
The Queen let out a long breath. “Has Qingluo’s cultivation broken through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm?”
“Two days ago, Junior Sister Qingluo just broke through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm,” the maidservant replied.
The Queen said, “Have her act as soon as possible. Spare no expense—the Ninth Prince must be eliminated. Within a month, I must see the Ninth Prince’s head.”
“What if the Ninth Prince doesn’t leave the palace within a month?” the maidservant asked.
The Queen’s eyes turned even more ruthless. “I said, spare no expense.”
“Your subordinate understands!”
The maidservant immediately withdrew to convey the Queen’s orders to Han Qingluo.
…
Monday, requesting recommendation tickets!