Chapter 61: Awakening
The true qi in the qi pool had reached perfection, and his realm had reached its limit. There was no possibility of further increasing his strength.
Only one ox of force short of reaching the Supreme Extreme Realm. What a pity.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The reason I cannot unleash the power of one hundred oxen is not because my martial body is not strong enough, but because the martial technique I am using is only a Human-grade, Middle-rank technique. Its amplification of power is insufficient."
Xiao Hei suddenly came to a realization and let out a strange cry. "Right! How could I forget about the amplification from martial techniques? By the way, why have you only cultivated one Human-grade, Middle-rank technique so far? If the technique you mastered were a Spirit-grade, Lower-rank technique, you would definitely be able to unleash the power of one hundred oxen."
"I don't need a Spirit-grade, Lower-rank technique. A Human-grade, Upper-rank technique should be enough to let me unleash the power of one hundred oxen and reach the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Yellow Extreme Realm," Zhang Ruochen said.
Having opened thirty-six meridians, it would be strange if he still couldn't reach the Supreme Extreme Realm.
Martial techniques, cultivation methods, and the martial body must all be cultivated simultaneously, advancing together, for a martial artist to unleash their greatest power. If any one of these is weak, reaching the Supreme Extreme Realm is impossible.
For Zhang Ruochen, both his cultivation method and martial body had reached the limit of the Yellow Extreme Realm. Only his martial techniques were still lacking. The Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm had only been cultivated to the second palm, which could only be considered a Human-grade, Middle-rank technique.
The Heavenly Heart Sword Art, although a Spirit-grade, Lower-rank technique, its main function lay in the sword, not the person.
If he could successfully cultivate the third palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, "Dragon-Elephant Returns to the Field," he could elevate this martial technique to the Human-grade, Upper-rank level. Then, increasing his strength by one ox of force would certainly not be difficult.
Of course, the further one progressed in the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, the harder it became to cultivate. For example, Zhang Ruochen had been cultivating the third palm, "Dragon-Elephant Returns to the Field," for many days, yet he still hadn't succeeded.
"After all, there are too many constraints within the royal palace. I can't practice my palm techniques freely and unrestrainedly. Moreover, cultivating the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm to the later stages requires more sparring with others, honing my palm techniques through continuous combat."
"Right now, I lack that kind of honing, which is why I can't successfully cultivate the third palm."
"If I leave the palace to train, I will definitely be assassinated by the killers sent by the Queen. My wings are not yet fully grown. Once I leave the palace and lose the protection of the King of Yunwu Commandery, it will be certain death. Wait, I can also train within the palace; I don't necessarily have to leave."
A thought struck Zhang Ruochen. He thought of the Royal Mountain.
The royal clan had raised a large number of savage beasts in the Royal Mountain, most of which were first-rank savage beasts, with a very few second-rank ones. This was perfect for Zhang Ruochen's training.
By fighting savage beasts, he could strive to successfully cultivate the third palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm in the shortest possible time.
Zhang Ruochen had cultivated for twenty-five days in the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, while only eight or nine days had passed in the outside world.
As soon as Zhang Ruochen pushed open the door and walked out, he saw Yun'er waiting outside.
"Your Highness, A Le's injuries have healed, and even his broken arm and leg bones have been reconnected. But he spends all day sitting on the stone steps in a daze, or drawing portraits on the ground. He seems to have gone stupid," Yun'er said.
Zhang Ruochen sighed, feeling it was a pity. "Since his injuries have healed, give him two hundred silver coins and send him away. Whether he can overcome his difficulties depends entirely on his own will. No one else can help him."
"Very well, I will send him away now," Yun'er said.
Zhang Ruochen watched Yun'er leave, a thoughtful expression on his face. He called her back. "Wait, take me to see him."
Yun'er showed a hint of joy and immediately nodded, leading Zhang Ruochen towards the side courtyard where A Le was staying.
Just as Yun'er had said, A Le was indeed sitting blankly on the stone steps, holding a bamboo twig in his hand, drawing Lin Ningshan's portrait on the ground.
After finishing one, he started another.
However, his eyes were hollow and lifeless; he was drawing purely by instinct.
Even when Zhang Ruochen walked up to him, he didn't look up.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the youth sitting on the stone steps. "Where is your sword?"
A Le continued drawing on the ground, muttering to himself, "My meridians are severed. I can no longer lift a sword."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Meridians severed, and the person is useless?"
A Le said dully, "Meridians severed, naturally the person is useless too."
Zhang Ruochen said, "If you are useless, then where do you get the strength to draw portraits here? Even a person who is paralyzed and cannot get out of bed, as long as they have an enterprising heart, will surely achieve something. Someone like you, with hands and feet, yet wallowing in self-pity, is the truly useless one."
A Le's voice became deeper, and he gritted his teeth. "I am not wallowing in self-pity. I am not."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the portrait on the ground. "To become a useless person over a woman, it seems I overestimated you before."
Zhang Ruochen walked over and stomped on the portrait of Lin Ningshan on the ground. With a swift movement of his foot, the portrait was obliterated.
A Le's eyes turned red, and he glared. "What are you doing?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "She didn't treat you like a person, yet you worshipped her like a god. You are worse than trash."
"If I didn't owe you two lives, I would kill you right now," A Le said.
Zhang Ruochen laughed. "Ha! With you, this piece of trash? Even if you trained for another ten years, you wouldn't be my match."
"I am not trash!"
A Le roared, and a surge of true qi erupted from his body, flooding into the bamboo twig in his hand as he thrust it towards Zhang Ruochen's heart.
The originally soft and brittle bamboo twig, supported by true qi, became sharper than an ordinary iron sword.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen struck out with a palm.
The bamboo twig in A Le's hand snapped, and his entire body was sent flying. In mid-air, he spat out a mouthful of blood and crashed heavily to the ground.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Now that I have beaten you until you spit blood and called you trash, do you still see me as your savior?"
"Roar!"
A Le let out a wolf-like howl, his eyes bloodshot. He scrambled up from the ground and lunged at Zhang Ruochen again, opening his mouth to bite Zhang Ruochen's neck.
Zhang Ruochen used his hand as a blade, chopping down diagonally onto A Le's neck, sending him flying once more.
"Bang! Bang!"
A Le kept attacking Zhang Ruochen, growing more and more frenzied, the power he unleashed increasing.
But each time, he was sent flying by a single blow from Zhang Ruochen, unable to get close.
Yun'er, standing in the distance, watched with a pounding heart, but she did not step forward to stop it.
She knew that Zhang Ruochen was trying to beat A Le back to his senses.
Half an hour later, A Le was exhausted, lying on the ground, panting heavily.
Zhang Ruochen walked over and prepared to strike another palm.
"Enough!" A Le said.
Zhang Ruochen was slightly pleased and withdrew his palm. "What? Still want to continue being a useless person?"
A Le shook his head. "I am a swordsman, not a useless person. Actually, I had already figured it out when you struck me with your first palm. Thank you."
"You don't need to thank me. The fact that you could emerge from the shadows so quickly is entirely due to your own will."
Zhang Ruochen bent down and helped A Le up, smiling. "What are your plans next?"
A Le's eyes dimmed. "My meridians are severed, and I am destined never to step into the Mysterious Extreme Realm. But I won't give up. I will definitely find a spiritual medicine to reconnect my meridians."
Zhang Ruochen pondered for a moment. "Having your meridians severed might not be a bad thing for you. I have a volume of techniques here that is quite peculiar. Normal people cannot cultivate it; only those whose meridians are completely severed can. If your willpower is strong enough, you might be able to successfully cultivate this technique."
A Le had not been very hopeful about reconnecting his meridians, but upon hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, a blazing light of determination shone in his eyes. "What if I succeed in cultivating it?"
"Then you will break through your cocoon and transform into a butterfly, becoming stronger than before. Your future achievements will only be greater," Zhang Ruochen said.
A Le knelt on one knee. "Benefactor, please accept A Le's bow."
After bowing, A Le said with a firm expression, "A Le now owes you three lives: the grace of not killing me, the grace of saving my life, and the grace of giving me a new lease on life. From now on, if you ever have need of A Le, I will go through fire and water without hesitation."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and directly transmitted the cultivation method of the "Nine Revolutions Life and Death Art" to A Le.
The "Nine Revolutions Life and Death Art" was even more profound and terrifyingly powerful than the "Heavenly River Jade Scripture" he had given to the Ninth Princess. However, Zhang Ruochen was not at all worried that A Le would leak the secret.
After receiving the "Nine Revolutions Life and Death Art," A Le immediately went into seclusion to cultivate, with Yun'er taking care of his daily needs.
After sending A Le and Yun'er away, Zhang Ruochen went to the Royal Mountain to train, striving to cultivate the third palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, "Dragon-Elephant Returns to the Field," as soon as possible.
General Ge Qian naturally accompanied Zhang Ruochen to the Royal Mountain, guarding its perimeter to prevent anyone from entering to assassinate Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen entered the dense forest alone, heading straight for the gathering place of first-rank, upper-level savage beasts.
Ordinary savage beasts posed no threat to him anymore. Only first-rank, upper-level savage beasts were barely suitable for practice.
Half a day later, Zhang Ruochen encountered his first first-rank, upper-level savage beast, a Wind-Thunder Leopard.
Among first-rank, upper-level savage beasts, the Wind-Thunder Leopard was considered quite formidable, possessing the power to kill a Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artist. Even Yellow List martial artists found it a headache to encounter a Wind-Thunder Leopard.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen struck out with a bare-handed palm, killing the Wind-Thunder Leopard with a single blow.
Zhang Ruochen looked at the dead Wind-Thunder Leopard on the ground and shook his head. "A first-rank, upper-level savage beast is only as strong as a Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artist. For me now, they are too weak. If I want to hone my palm techniques, I will have to go find second-rank savage beasts."
Zhang Ruochen continued deeper into the Royal Mountain.
General Ge Qian, hiding in a concealed spot, watched from afar as Zhang Ruochen killed the Wind-Thunder Leopard with a single palm strike. He was slightly startled. "The Ninth Prince's strength is so formidable. As long as he doesn't encounter those few second-rank savage beasts, nothing will go wrong. It seems I was worrying too much."
He had been worried about Zhang Ruochen's safety, so he had secretly followed him into the Royal Mountain, keeping a distant watch.