Chapter 65: Battle Between Women
A Le said, "The sword art I cultivate is the Killing Life Sword Technique and the Nine Cycles of Life and Death Decision. I am destined to walk a path of killing that is fraught with peril. Now that my cultivation has reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm, I have decided to venture into the Black Market."
Zhang Ruochen said, "For others, the Black Market is definitely a road of no return, but for you, it might be a decent way out."
The Black Market's influence was also quite vast, spread across the world, possessing the strength to contend with the Martial Market Bank, the Inscription Rune Guild, and the Moon Worship Demon Sect. It was a gathering place for heretics and desperadoes.
"Your Highness, the Ninth Prince! Lin Chenyu and Lin Ningshan sent a palace maid to deliver a message, saying that the one-month period has arrived, and they invite you to the Royal Clan Training Ground to watch the battle." Yun'er hurried over, slightly bowing to Zhang Ruochen.
"Oh! The one-month period is already up? Alright! I'll head to the Royal Clan Training Ground immediately." A hint of a smile appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face. He glanced at A Le and noticed his expression remained unchanged, perfectly calm.
Zhang Ruochen nodded slightly and asked, "Do you want to come along and watch?"
"That would be fine," A Le replied.
When Zhang Ruochen, A Le, and Yun'er arrived at the Royal Clan Training Ground, the various princes and commandery princesses were already waiting inside.
The Lin family, besides Lin Chenyu and Lin Ningshan, had also brought four guards to the training ground.
Seeing A Le walk into the training ground with Zhang Ruochen, all the Lin family martial artists, including Lin Ningshan, were momentarily stunned.
"Isn't that the Second Miss's slave? He's actually still alive—quite lucky," one of the four guards sneered.
"So what if he's alive? His meridians are all severed; he's just a cripple," another guard said disdainfully.
The four guards following Lin Ningshan were the same ones who had broken A Le's hands and feet outside the Martial Market Arena.
They had all thought they had beaten A Le to death, so seeing him now following Zhang Ruochen was naturally surprising.
One of the guards, with an aquiline nose, stepped out from behind Lin Ningshan holding a hundred-jin iron rod and barked, "A Le, you are the Second Miss's slave. Seeing the Second Miss, why aren't you kneeling immediately?"
A Le's gaze turned cold as he glared at the guard.
That guard was only at the late stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm. Feeling A Le's stare, his heart suddenly chilled.
His meridians are broken—why am I afraid of him?
The guard continued, "What's the matter? Is a slave trying to rebel? Today, I, Lin Zhuosi, will teach you, this lowly slave, a proper lesson on behalf of the Second Miss."
The guard gripped the iron rod with both hands and swung it horizontally, aiming for A Le's waist.
"Swish!"
A flash of sword light.
The guard's head flew off his neck, and a three-foot-high column of blood spurted from the stump.
The headless body crashed heavily to the ground.
The three remaining guards behind Lin Ningshan were all stunned, never expecting A Le to dare kill Lin Zhuosi.
Moreover, his speed was too fast; they couldn't even see how he drew his sword.
Not just the three Lin family guards, but even Lin Ningshan hadn't seen A Le's sword technique clearly.
Only Lin Chenyu had seen it, and a smile appeared on his face. "A Le, you truly live up to being the Lin family's life-taking swordsman. Your cultivation is stronger than before, and your sword is faster. Have you reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm?"
A Le said, "Young Master Lin, the old A Le was the Lin family's slave. The current A Le is just A Le, with no connection to the Lin family."
"A Le! You are too naive. Once a slave, always a slave. If you dare betray your master, you violate the laws of the commandery and will be executed by dismemberment," Lin Ningshan said coldly. "Since you've broken through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm, return to the Lin family. If you are loyal to the Lin family, you won't lack benefits in the future."
A Le's gaze was extremely sharp. "Miss Lin, I agreed to be your servant because you once saved my life. But outside the Martial Market Arena, you beat the old A Le to death. Your life-saving grace is thus settled. The current A Le will not be anyone's servant. If you push me, you will die."
Lin Ningshan trembled with anger, her fingers shaking. "Rebellion! Guards—"
"Cousin, I'll buy this slave!" Zhang Ruochen walked toward Lin Ningshan, pointing at A Le.
Although Lin Ningshan was arrogant, she wasn't wrong about one thing: in the Yunwu Commandery, if a slave betrayed their master, it was a serious crime and indeed punishable by dismemberment.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, a hint of a smile appeared in Lin Ningshan's eyes. "Cousin, should I take that as you begging me?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If you insist on interpreting it that way, I suppose it's acceptable."
"Fine! Since you personally beg me, cousin, how could I, as your cousin, refuse? As long as you give me one million silver coins, I will immediately sell you this slave." Lin Ningshan's chin lifted, a faint smile on her face.
A slave at the initial stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm was worth at most ten thousand silver coins. No one would spend one million silver coins to buy a slave at that level. Lin Ningshan naturally thought the same.
The Ninth Commandery Princess immediately said, "Lin Ningshan, why don't you just rob someone? One million silver coins would be enough to buy a hundred slaves at the initial Mysterious Extreme Realm!"
Lin Ningshan laughed. "If you can't afford the silver coins, don't pretend to be a good person. Being a good person comes at a price—"
Zhang Ruochen interrupted Lin Ningshan. "One million silver coins is indeed a very reasonable price. It's settled. Within a month, I will deliver one million silver coins to the Lin residence."
Including Lin Ningshan, everyone present was stunned.
Spending one million silver coins to buy a lowly slave?
Only a fool would make such a losing deal.
"Eighth Brother—"
The Ninth Commandery Princess wanted to say something, but Zhang Ruochen stopped her.
Zhang Ruochen stared at Lin Ningshan, extending a hand. "Cousin, can you give me the slave contract now?"
"Cousin, you are truly generous. I admire that. One million silver coins will serve as my dowry for marrying the Seventh Prince. Thank you, cousin, for your generous support." Lin Ningshan revealed a brilliant smile, took out a beast-hide contract, and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen also wore a faint smile as he took the beast-hide contract. After confirming the name on it was A Le, he channeled his true qi toward his five fingers.
"Boom!"
The beast-hide contract was shattered by the true qi, breaking into pieces the size of fingernails.
Everyone was stunned again.
He spent one million silver coins to buy a lowly slave and then destroyed the contract. Was the Ninth Prince truly mad?
A Le stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen. "In the future, I will repay you a hundredfold."
"Pfft!"
One of the guards behind Lin Ningshan laughed. "A hundredfold? Bragging! A hundredfold would be one hundred million silver coins. Even a Heavenly Extreme Realm expert couldn't accumulate that much wealth in a lifetime."
Lin Ningshan naturally didn't believe it either, dismissing A Le as naive.
Even the Ninth Commandery Princess shook her head slightly, feeling it was a waste for Zhang Ruochen. Even large families would struggle to come up with one million silver coins at once.
She sighed inwardly. Since her eighth brother had already made his decision, she could only let that bitch Lin Ningshan benefit.
The Ninth Commandery Princess stood proudly in the center of the training ground, graceful and elegant, holding her battle sword and pointing it at Lin Ningshan. "Lin Ningshan, don't be too smug. The one-month period is up. I now formally challenge you."
Having just gained a fortune of one million silver coins, Lin Ningshan was indescribably pleased. With her cultivation greatly improved, why would she fear the Ninth Commandery Princess?
"Your Highness, the Ninth Commandery Princess, is certainly full of confidence. I wonder if you'll still be this aloof after losing to me for the third time?" Lin Ningshan laughed.
The Ninth Commandery Princess was brimming with confidence. "If you lose to me, I won't let you off so easily."
Lin Ningshan was like an untainted lily, stunningly beautiful, her white clothes fluttering as she walked into the training ground and stood opposite the Ninth Commandery Princess.
Her gaze fell on Ning Xiaochuan. "Cousin, I want to change the rules. If I win against the Ninth Commandery Princess, I don't want you to apologize. I want you to do one thing for me."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "What thing?"
Lin Ningshan's eyes tilted upward slightly as she smiled. "I haven't thought of it yet. When I do, I'll tell you. Don't worry—you're my cousin. Why would I harm you?"
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Ninth Commandery Princess and nodded. "I have faith in my ninth sister. I agree."
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, the Ninth Commandery Princess felt the pressure double. She thought to herself, I must win. I absolutely cannot lose. I can't let that little bitch Lin Ningshan succeed again. With my current cultivation and the Heavenly River Jade Scripture, defeating Lin Ningshan shouldn't be difficult.
The Ninth Commandery Princess naturally understood the importance of this battle. Over the past month, she had spent all her savings on cultivation resources, and her strength had soared.
"Eighth Brother, don't worry. Your ninth sister won't let you down." A hint of a smile appeared in the Ninth Commandery Princess's beautiful eyes as she gave Zhang Ruochen a mysterious look.
"That look? Has she already successfully cultivated the first layer of the Heavenly River Jade Scripture?" Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised.
"Enough talk. Ninth Commandery Princess, you are destined to fall into my hands again today."
Lin Ningshan snorted, and with a "swish," she drew her Star Radiance Treasure Sword, thrusting it straight at the Ninth Commandery Princess.
As soon as she struck, a half-zhang-long sword light trailed behind, emitting a piercing sword hum.
"Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection." Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly. The moment Lin Ningshan struck, he saw her martial realm.
Her cultivation had improved too quickly. In just one month, she had gone from the Great Extreme Stage of the Yellow Extreme Realm to the Great Perfection Stage. Without taking pills, such a speed would be impossible.
The Third Prince shook his head, a smile appearing on his face. "Lin Ningshan has reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection. It's over—the Ninth Sister is bound to lose."
"If the Ninth Sister loses, won't the Eighth Brother have to do something for Lin Ningshan? If she makes him kneel, wouldn't that damage the royal family's dignity?" The Fifth Prince's gaze turned cold.
The Third Prince said, "The Eighth Brother is too young and impulsive. Letting him suffer some setbacks will be good for him."