Chapter 69: Two Assassins
Lin Mansion.
Lin Ningshan received the news and immediately rushed to Lin Chenyu’s residence, speaking anxiously, “Brother, Zhang Ruochen has already left the royal palace and is heading to the Martial Market Academy. Why haven’t you made a move yet?”
Lin Chenyu smiled faintly and said, “What’s the rush?”
“If he reaches the Martial Market Academy, we’ll never have another chance to kill him.” Lin Ningshan’s eyes were filled with a chilling coldness, her hatred for Zhang Ruochen extremely deep.
Lin Chenyu sat on a chair, his hands clasped together as he cultivated some evil technique, his entire body emitting a frigid chill. With his eyes closed, he said calmly, “Ningshan, even if you don’t trust me, you should trust the Underworld Gate. Don’t worry. He won’t make it to the Martial Market Academy before he’s killed.”
“The Underworld Gate? The largest assassin organization in Yunwu Commandery, said to have once killed a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist.” Lin Ningshan’s eyes lit up. If they had truly hired assassins from the Underworld Gate, then Zhang Ruochen was definitely as good as dead.
Lin Chenyu laughed, “The Underworld Gate is not just the largest assassin organization in Yunwu Commandery; it’s also the number one in the entire Lingxi Nine Commanderies. This time, the two assassins dispatched by the Underworld Gate have each assassinated at least one Mysterious Extreme Realm Minor Position martial artist. With the two of them acting together, even if Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation has reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm, he’s absolutely doomed.”
“I suspect we won’t even need to wait until noon to receive the good news of the Ninth Prince’s assassination. By then, the Queen will surely reward me generously. Haha!”
Lin Chenyu opened his eyes, his pupils blood-red, giving him an unusually ferocious appearance.
Lin Ningshan’s face also showed a smile as she said, “Since the assassins sent by the Underworld Gate are handling it, it’s naturally foolproof.”
…
Besides Zhang Ruochen, there were other martial artists in the royal city who were also heading to the Martial Market Academy to take this year’s academy exam.
If they could pass the exam and enter the Martial Market Academy, it would be like a carp leaping over the dragon gate—a meteoric rise to success, gaining access to endless cultivation resources. Just thinking about it was enough to excite anyone.
These martial artists were all very young, under thirty years old, yet their cultivation had reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm. None of them were weak. At this moment, they had all gathered at the Martial Market Arena, waiting quietly.
When Zhang Ruochen arrived, over thirty young martial artists had already gathered in the Martial Market Arena, including both men and women.
“Look, everyone, the Ninth Prince has actually come too!”
“It really is the Ninth Prince. I heard he just recently claimed the top spot on the Yellow List. Has he already broken through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm?”
“Since he’s come to the Martial Market Arena, he must have reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm. It’s unbelievable. His cultivation speed is too fast. He truly is a martial arts prodigy.” A woman in a purple dress, around twenty years old, held a jade flute in her hand and stared at Zhang Ruochen as he stepped down from the carriage, a strange glint flashing in her eyes.
Across from the purple-dressed woman, a gaunt man exchanged a glance with her. They both nodded slightly, then turned their gazes toward Zhang Ruochen in the distance, a faint killing intent emanating from them.
These two were the assassins sent by the Underworld Gate. Young and both having reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm, they could be considered exceptionally talented.
The woman in purple was named Zi Qian. She was very beautiful and had some renown in the royal city. However, no one knew that she was an assassin of the Underworld Gate.
The gaunt man was named Chen Libing. He looked somewhat sickly, appearing to be only about twenty-five years old.
Before reaching the Mysterious Extreme Realm, he had won ten consecutive matches in the Yellow-Level Martial Arena, with his highest ranking on the Yellow List being eighteenth.
Because of his outstanding performance in the Yellow-Level Martial Arena, he had been recruited by the Martial Market Bank and became a captain of the guard. With abundant cultivation resources, his strength had soared, and he had reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage.
Those who could become Yellow List martial artists were, upon reaching the Mysterious Extreme Realm, undoubtedly top-tier experts at the same level, even capable of killing opponents across realms.
Zi Qian and Chen Libing were considered genius assassins within the Underworld Gate. Their main mission this time was to infiltrate the Martial Market Academy to facilitate future assassination tasks there.
The assassination of the Ninth Prince was merely an additional task assigned to them from above.
If they succeeded, they would naturally receive a generous reward.
Killing the Ninth Prince without exposing their identities was a considerable challenge for them.
Liu Chengfeng immediately stepped forward, cupped his hands in a bow, and smiled, “Ninth Prince, I, Liu, apologize for my past offenses.”
Zhang Ruochen looked at Liu Chengfeng’s humble demeanor, slightly surprised, and said, “Brother Liu, what’s this about?”
Liu Chengfeng laughed, “After losing to the Ninth Prince twice in the Yellow-Level Martial Arena, I reflected deeply and decided to reform myself and start anew. Unexpectedly, once I cleared my mind, my cultivation immediately broke through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen studied Liu Chengfeng’s eyes carefully and smiled, “Congratulations, Brother Liu.”
“If not for the Ninth Prince’s encouragement, I probably wouldn’t have broken through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm so quickly.” Liu Chengfeng laughed.
Liu Chuanshen, the master of the Martial Market Bank, along with several other high-ranking figures from the bank, walked into the Martial Market Arena, immediately drawing the attention of all the martial artists.
Liu Chuanshen walked over to Zhang Ruochen and smiled, “Ninth Prince, your father the Commandery Prince and I were sworn brothers in our youth, with a deep bond. I hope you can forgive any past grievances between you and Chengfeng for my sake. If you both pass the exam and enter the Martial Market Academy, you must look out for each other and support one another.”
Then, Liu Chuanshen glared sharply at Liu Chengfeng and said, “Chengfeng, you act too recklessly and lack composure. I want you to learn more from the Ninth Prince from now on and take him as your role model.”
Liu Chuanshen was shrewd enough to recognize Zhang Ruochen’s extraordinary talent, which his own son could never match. If his son could build a good relationship with Zhang Ruochen, it would bring endless benefits in the future.
Liu Chengfeng said, “Father, you don’t need to tell me. I will definitely learn more from the Ninth Prince.”
If Liu Chengfeng had truly reformed and decided to turn over a new leaf, Zhang Ruochen was naturally willing to set aside past grievances and not dwell on old matters.
Liu Chengfeng was indeed a genius. At just seventeen, he had reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Great Perfection, later became a Yellow List martial artist, and broke through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm at twenty.
Such a genius was rare in the entire Yunwu Commandery.
Because Liu Chuanshen was standing beside Zhang Ruochen, Zi Qian and Chen Libing had no opportunity to strike.
By noon, the number of young Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artists gathered at the Martial Arena had reached sixty-eight. All the martial artists from Yunwu Commandery who were heading to the Martial Market Academy had now assembled.
“Whoosh!”
A piercing eagle cry rang out from the sky, echoing across half the royal city.
A massive Bloodfeather Eagle emerged from the clouds, its wings spanning over seventy meters, like a small crimson mountain descending from the heavens.
An immense aura radiated from the Bloodfeather Eagle, pressing down on the Mysterious Extreme martial artists below. Some of the weaker ones felt their legs go weak and broke out in cold sweat.
“A Bloodfeather Eagle is a third-rank upper-level savage beast, with combat power comparable to an Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artist. In terms of destructive power, a Bloodfeather Eagle is even more terrifying than an Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artist.” A young Mysterious Extreme martial artist said tremblingly.
Another young female martial artist added, “I once saw a Bloodfeather Eagle on the outskirts of the Demon Ridge. That eagle just spat out a single flame, turning an entire town into scorched earth, killing everyone.”
Hearing these discussions, the noble children who had never left the royal city were all terrified, their faces pale at the sight of the Bloodfeather Eagle.
Zhang Ruochen, however, remained calm and composed, looking up to see a middle-aged man in a silver robe standing on the eagle’s head.
The silver-robed man stood straight, an ancient sword strapped to his back. His aura seemed even more powerful than the Bloodfeather Eagle’s.
Liu Chuanshen clasped his hands behind his back and smiled, “Elder Xie, long time no see.”
The silver-robed man stood atop the Bloodfeather Eagle and said, “Elder Liu, is Yunwu Commandery only sending a few dozen people for this year’s academy exam? I recall that last year, Yunwu Commandery had a total of one hundred and three Mysterious Extreme martial artists take the exam, but only three passed and became outer disciples of the academy.”
Liu Chuanshen was the master of the Yunwu Commandery Martial Market Bank, but within the bank’s internal structure, he and the silver-robed man both held the rank of elder.
Liu Chuanshen laughed, “Elder Xie, rest assured. This year, the number of people who pass the Martial Market Academy exam will definitely be higher than last year, and there might even be a pleasant surprise.”
“Oh?”
Hearing Liu Chuanshen’s words, Xie Nantian’s heart stirred. “Has Yunwu Commandery produced some unparalleled genius? One who could rank in the top ten of the academy exam?”
Liu Chuanshen smiled mysteriously and said, “You’ll find out when the time comes.”
Xie Nantian knew that Liu Chuanshen was a meticulous man who never let details slip. Yunwu Commandery must have indeed produced some extraordinary talent. He had to identify that genius and take them on as a disciple early.
Xie Nantian’s gaze swept over the sixty-eight Mysterious Extreme martial artists below, finally settling on Zi Qian, letting out a soft exclamation of surprise.
Zi Qian appeared to be only about twenty-two years old, yet she had already reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Minor Position. Even among the outer disciples of the Martial Market Academy, she would be considered a genius.
“It seems Liu Chuanshen was referring to her.”
A hint of a smile appeared in Xie Nantian’s eyes as he nodded slightly. “Since everyone is here, all of you, come onto the Bloodfeather Eagle’s back. We’re heading to the Martial Market Academy now.”
The sixty-eight Mysterious Extreme martial artists all used their movement techniques to leap onto the Bloodfeather Eagle’s back, each finding a spot to sit.
Zhang Ruochen sat side by side with Liu Chengfeng when suddenly, he caught a faint, fragrant breeze.
Zhang Ruochen turned to his left and saw a woman in purple sitting beside him. She was very beautiful, with an exceptionally perfect figure, especially her chest, which was particularly prominent, with a rounded curve that seemed ready to burst through her purple dress.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her and then looked away.
“Whoosh!”
Once everyone was seated on the Bloodfeather Eagle’s back, the eagle soared into the sky, quickly flying out of the royal city and heading toward the Demon Ridge.