# Chapter 99: Eight Wastelands and Six Directions
Huang Yanchen's cultivation was very strong, far surpassing ordinary Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artists.
Duanmu Xingling was able to contend with her, so naturally she was not weak either.
Duanmu Xingling had also awakened a special Divine Martial Mark, the Ice Divine Martial Mark. When she released her inner true qi externally, it carried an extreme cold aura, and white snowflakes immediately appeared in the surrounding air.
Other martial artists who had awakened the Ice Divine Martial Mark, even if they cultivated to the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection, could not be this formidable. Only a genius of Duanmu Xingling's level could achieve "true qi released, three zhang of flying snow."
Duanmu Xingling was currently only at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection, so she could only condense flying snow within three zhang of her body. If her cultivation reached the Earth Extreme Realm, then when she released her inner true qi externally, flying snow would condense within ten zhang.
Ten zhang of flying snow.
If her cultivation reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm, she could even achieve "one hundred zhang of flying snow." Once she engaged in combat, for several hundred meters around, snow would fill the sky—that would be a true martial arts legend.
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "Truly worthy of being Mysterious Ranking martial artists, they are indeed formidable. They should have already reached the middle stage of Sword Follows the Heart, and might even be close to the high stage of Sword Follows the Heart."
Only martial artists who reached the middle stage of Sword Follows the Heart at the Mysterious Extreme Realm had the opportunity to challenge at the Martial Market Arena, impact the Mysterious Ranking, and become Mysterious Ranking martial artists.
"Xingling, if you stop me again, I won't be polite anymore!" Huang Yanchen's sword technique became faster and faster. Because her true qi contained the Wind attribute, her speed advantage gradually emerged.
Duanmu Xingling said, "Chen Jie, calm down first. If you act impulsively and kill him, the Martial Market Academy will surely punish you heavily. Why would you want to perish together with a lecher? Besides, even if you don't act, that lecher won't live past a month!"
"What do you mean?" Huang Yanchen stopped attacking, sheathed her sword, and asked curiously.
Duanmu Xingling also sheathed her sword, her eyes sparkling as she smiled, "He agreed to fight Feng Zhilin on the Life and Death Platform, with the duel taking place twenty days from now."
"How is that possible? Feng Zhilin's cultivation has reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position. In the Western Courtyard, although he's not a top expert, he's still considered upper-middle level. If Zhang Ruochen cultivated for another year or two, he might be able to defeat him, but fighting him on the Life and Death Platform now means certain death." Huang Yanchen said.
Duanmu Xingling nodded and said, "Right! So, you don't need to kill him yourself. Twenty days from now, Feng Zhilin will take his life."
Huang Yanchen still didn't believe Zhang Ruochen would be that foolish. Her beautiful eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, and she said coldly, "Twenty days from now, are you really going to fight Feng Zhilin on the Life and Death Platform?"
"That's right!" Zhang Ruochen said indifferently.
He had never thought it was a big deal.
"Shua!"
Huang Yanchen returned her blue treasured sword to its sheath, looking at Zhang Ruochen as if he were already dead, and said, "In that case, I'll let you live twenty more days."
Then, Huang Yanchen walked toward the door of Yellow Character Number One, preparing to leave. Suddenly, she stopped, turned around, and looked at Zhang Ruochen, saying, "In twenty days, if you can defeat Feng Zhilin on the Life and Death Platform, I will spare your life. If you lose to Feng Zhilin, even if he doesn't kill you, I will personally kill you."
After saying this, Huang Yanchen walked forward. Strands of true qi appeared beneath her feet, and with each step she could cover three zhang, leaving only a series of afterimages.
Seeing Huang Yanchen leave, Duanmu Xingling finally breathed a sigh of relief and asked, "Zhang Ruochen, with twenty days left, do you have any confidence in defeating Feng Zhilin?"
Zhang Ruochen didn't answer Duanmu Xingling's question. Instead, he carefully examined Duanmu Xingling, gently nodded, and said, "Senior Sister Duanmu, what grade is your Ice Divine Martial Mark?"
"Sixth grade!"
Duanmu Xingling looked somewhat proud, crossing her arms in front of her chest, and then added, "Moreover, I awakened the Ice Divine Martial Mark when I was two years old."
The earlier a Divine Martial Mark was awakened, the earlier a martial artist could begin cultivating.
Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, "No wonder you reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection at just thirteen or fourteen. Your talent is truly that high."
"How is that possible? I'm eighteen years old this year, alright?"
Duanmu Xingling rolled her eyes at Zhang Ruochen, her eyelashes gently fluttering, and added, "Reaching the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection at thirteen or fourteen—how heaven-defying would that be? Even the number one genius of the Demon Ridge, Zhang Tiangui, only reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection at fifteen."
To prove her age, Duanmu Xingling slightly puffed out her chest, revealing two rounded, upright curves.
It had to be said, in terms of appearance, the curve of Duanmu Xingling's chest was even a full circle larger than Huang Yanchen's, having developed quite well.
"Eighteen?" Zhang Ruochen was somewhat surprised. Apart from the curve of her chest, there was no other place that showed she was eighteen.
Duanmu Xingling said, "The cultivation technique I practice is somewhat special. Once I successfully cultivate the first layer of that technique, my body's state remains fixed at that time. I successfully cultivated the first layer of that technique when I was thirteen and a half, so I've always had the appearance of thirteen and a half. Unless I disperse my true qi, I can only return to my normal age's appearance."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood. Then, as if thinking of something, he said, "I remember that the Moon Worship Demon Sect has a remarkable technique called the 'Eight Wastelands and Six Directions Art,' which is somewhat similar to the technique you practice."
"You know the 'Eight Wastelands and Six Directions Art'?"
Duanmu Xingling exclaimed, a hint of surprise and uncertainty in her eyes, as if realizing she had lost her composure. She immediately added, "The Moon Worship Demon Sect has such a technique? I've never heard of it."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Eight Wastelands and Six Directions Art is a top-tier technique of the Moon Worship Demon Sect. Only those with extremely high status in the Demon Sect are qualified to cultivate it. Outsiders naturally wouldn't know about it."
"How do you know about it? Could you be a spy sent by the Moon Worship Demon Sect to the Martial Market Academy?" Duanmu Xingling asked tentatively.
"I've only heard of it."
Zhang Ruochen had read many cultivation techniques and had naturally flipped through the scrolls of the Eight Wastelands and Six Directions Art. Of course, the final chapter of the Eight Wastelands and Six Directions Art was kept at the Moon Worship Demon Sect's headquarters, so Zhang Ruochen hadn't seen it either.
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to reveal the secrets of his previous life, so he immediately changed the subject and asked, "Why were you so surprised when you heard about the Eight Wastelands and Six Directions Art?"
"Was I? No!"
Duanmu Xingling shook her head vigorously and said, "I was startled by the Moon Worship Demon Sword. In the Kunlun Realm, the Moon Worship Demon Sect is taboo. It's better not to discuss it, lest we be mistaken for heretics of the Moon Worship Demon Sect."
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to continue this topic either and said, "Senior Sister Duanmu, I'm practicing a palm technique and have encountered a bottleneck. Could you spar with me? I want to find the weaknesses of the palm technique in combat."
"No problem!"
Duanmu Xingling carried a faint, subtle fragrance. She transformed into a fragrant breeze, flew to the center of the courtyard, stood straight, and gently curled her finger at Zhang Ruochen, saying, "Use your palm technique to attack me with full force."
"Senior Sister Duanmu, please be careful!"
Zhang Ruochen stood about ten zhang away from Duanmu Xingling. He took a step forward with his left foot, his hands half-palm, half-claw, every bone and muscle in his body tensed.
Zhang Ruochen pushed off with the tips of his toes and charged forward fiercely.
Duanmu Xingling was slightly surprised. "Only ten days have passed, and his speed has improved so much. Ten days ago, his speed could only reach thirty-eight meters per second, but now it has reached forty meters per second. A martial artist at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Middle Extreme Position can only burst out at forty meters per second."
"Dragon Elephant Shadow!"
Zhang Ruochen's arms emitted sounds of dragon roars and elephant trumpets. His palm technique was fierce and powerful, unleashing all his strength without reservation, striking toward Duanmu Xingling.
Vast true qi surged from Zhang Ruochen's palm center, transforming into an invisible palm wind. When he was still five meters away from Duanmu Xingling, the powerful palm wind blew Duanmu Xingling's robe, making it rustle loudly.
Duanmu Xingling nodded again. The palm technique Zhang Ruochen had unleashed was indeed formidable and extremely exquisite. Being able to merge all his strength into a single palm was no simple feat.
"Bang!"
Duanmu Xingling's striking speed was faster than Zhang Ruochen's. A shadow shot out and repelled Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen then struck with a second palm, a third palm...
"Bang! Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen's striking speed was very fast, like a continuous wave of water, sending out palm prints in an unbroken stream.
Duanmu Xingling stood still without moving, one hand behind her back, using only one hand to block all the palm prints Zhang Ruochen sent out.
After unleashing over a hundred palms in succession, Zhang Ruochen's true qi in his Qi Sea finally began to run low. He immediately retreated, stopped, and ceased attacking.
Duanmu Xingling looked deeply at Zhang Ruochen and said, "This palm technique of yours is quite formidable—almost no flaws!"
Zhang Ruochen was covered in hot sweat and smiled, "This palm technique of mine hasn't reached Great Perfection yet!"
"Not yet at Great Perfection?" Duanmu Xingling was somewhat surprised. "I was going to give you some pointers, but I find I can't guide you at all. I thought your palm technique had already reached a perfect state!"
Zhang Ruochen gently shook his head and said, "I already know the shortcomings of the palm technique. Again!"
With that, Zhang Ruochen struck with the fourth palm, "Dragon Elephant Shadow," attacking Duanmu Xingling.
After all, Duanmu Xingling was a Mysterious Ranking martial artist—an excellent sparring partner.
It wasn't until Zhang Ruochen was completely exhausted that he stopped practicing his palm technique. After seeing Duanmu Xingling off, he returned to the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, consumed half a jin of Spirit Meat, and quickly recovered his stamina and true qi.
Zhang Ruochen began to recall the shortcomings of his palm technique during his sparring with Duanmu Xingling, while continuously practicing and refining it.
The next day, Zhang Ruochen took the initiative to go to Mysterious Character Number One, found Duanmu Xingling again, and continued sparring with her to hone his palm technique.
The third day, the fourth day...
By the fifth day.
The fourth palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm hadn't been successfully cultivated yet, but Zhang Ruochen broke through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage first.
Zhang Ruochen's ability to break through so quickly was actually quite normal. After all, he possessed the Time-Space Crystal, allowing him to cultivate for three times as long as other martial artists.
Moreover, he had consumed all forty-eight jin of Spirit Meat. It could be said that breaking through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage was only a matter of course.
# Chapter 100: Palm Technique Reaches Great Perfection
Having reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage, with his cultivation greatly improved, Zhang Ruochen was naturally in an excellent mood.
As soon as dawn broke, he went to Mysterious Character Number One again, planning to continue sparring with Duanmu Xingling to hone his palm technique.
As his palm technique continued to improve, Zhang Ruochen felt that he was not far from successfully cultivating the fourth palm, "Dragon Elephant Shadow." He only needed an opportunity to break through. It was a very wonderful feeling!
Zhang Ruochen didn't rashly barge into Mysterious Character Number One. Instead, he stood outside, infused his true qi into his voice, and said, "Senior Sister Duanmu, I've come to spar with you in palm techniques again. Are you inside?"
A moment later, Duanmu Xingling opened the door, looking somewhat sleepy. She glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Don't you sleep every day?"
Martial artists were also human; they had to sleep and rest every day, just that their sleep time was much less than ordinary people. A Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artist only needed two hours of sleep a day to recover full energy.
Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power was strong; he only needed one hour of rest a day, and the rest of the time could be used for cultivation. Even if he didn't sleep for three days and three nights, he could maintain the most full mental state.
Zhang Ruochen smiled apologetically and said, "I'm truly sorry. I didn't mean to disturb Senior Sister Duanmu's rest. In that case, I'll come back at noon!"
"Forget it, I've rested enough anyway. Let's start now, so you don't come bothering me again at noon. Has your palm technique improved again?"
Duanmu Xingling led Zhang Ruochen to the center of the Dragon Martial Hall's square. Her delicate body stood straight, still with one hand behind her back, and she gestured with her hand, saying, "Today, we'll spar here. I'll still use only one hand, and you attack me with full force."
Zhang Ruochen looked at Duanmu Xingling and gently nodded. He was quite grateful to this beautiful senior sister who appeared to be only thirteen or fourteen. After all, she was a Mysterious Ranking martial artist—how could ordinary people have the opportunity to have her as a sparring partner?
His palm technique had improved so quickly, and Duanmu Xingling had helped a lot.
"Ao!"
Zhang Ruochen let out a long roar, mobilizing all the true qi in his body. Strands of blood qi seeped out from his pores, condensing into a faint blood pillar that shot straight into the sky.
"Blood qi surging to the sky—he's already reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage!" Duanmu Xingling's eyes brightened, her eyelashes gently blinking, surprised by Zhang Ruochen's cultivation speed.
In the past five days, Zhang Ruochen's progress had been too great. Duanmu Xingling could clearly feel that his cultivation had reached a new level every day.
Even with abundant cultivation resources, such progress was quite exaggerated.
The bones and muscles inside Zhang Ruochen's body were all rumbling, sounding like dragon roars and elephant trumpets. The blood qi emanating from his body grew denser and denser.
"Shua!"
His body moved, transforming into a gust of wind and charging forward.
His speed reached forty-four meters per second, another step up.
"So fast, comparable to a martial artist at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position."
Duanmu Xingling's eyes grew even brighter. Zhang Ruochen's talent surprised her. In just half a month, he had become this powerful. If she hadn't seen it with her own eyes, it would be hard to believe.
She finally had some confidence in Zhang Ruochen defeating Feng Zhilin.
"At his rate of progress, defeating Feng Zhilin in half a month won't be difficult."
Duanmu Xingling extended her palm, releasing true qi from her palm center. She took a step forward, as if walking on the wind, appearing very graceful. She actually took the initiative to attack Zhang Ruochen, striking out with a palm. A faint wave of true qi appeared in front of her hand.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen took Duanmu Xingling's palm strike, his body retreating three steps backward.
Duanmu Xingling's true qi was too cold. A layer of white frost formed on Zhang Ruochen's hand, numbing his arm.
This was the first time Duanmu Xingling had taken the initiative to attack. Zhang Ruochen was not afraid; instead, he was overjoyed. He once again struck out with a palm print, attacking Duanmu Xingling.
Jade Pure True Qi surged out, instantly melting the frost on his palm.
Duanmu Xingling's speed was as fast as a ghost, and her palm technique was also very agile. She forced Zhang Ruochen to retreat continuously, beating him until he had no power to fight back.
After only three exchanges, Duanmu Xingling struck Zhang Ruochen in the chest with a palm, sending him flying more than ten meters.
Zhang Ruochen slapped the ground with one hand, flipped his body in the air, and landed steadily on the ground.
Having taken Duanmu Xingling's palm strike, his internal organs all shook violently, suffering some minor injuries.
Duanmu Xingling laughed and said, "Guess how much of my power I used just now?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head.
Duanmu Xingling smiled and said, "I only used half of my power, roughly equivalent to the strength of a martial artist at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position. For you to withstand three of my moves is already quite remarkable."
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly and said, "Senior Sister Duanmu only used one hand."
Duanmu Xingling shook her head and said, "My understanding of the martial path is much stronger than those martial artists at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position. So, for me to use only one hand is fair."
Duanmu Xingling suppressed her cultivation to the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position because Feng Zhilin was at that level.
Duanmu Xingling said, "If you can force me to use my second hand, or push me back, then you'll be able to defeat Feng Zhilin."
"Alright! Let's go again!"
Zhang Ruochen's battle intent was strong, and he attacked once more.
This time, he no longer only used the fourth palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm but also unleashed the first three palms.
"Wild Elephant Charging the Ground!"
"Soaring Dragon in the Sky!"
"Dragon Elephant Returning to the Field!"
"Dragon Elephant Shadow!"
After unleashing four palms, Zhang Ruochen's true qi slightly declined. He was once again sent flying by Duanmu Xingling, looking quite embarrassed, almost falling to the ground.
"All four palm techniques are very powerful. Not bad, quite good." Duanmu Xingling let out a silvery laugh.
"Again!"
Zhang Ruochen was not discouraged and attacked Duanmu Xingling once more.
This time, Zhang Ruochen withstood six of Duanmu Xingling's moves. After six moves, Duanmu Xingling grabbed Zhang Ruochen by the chest and threw him away.
Zhang Ruochen flipped in mid-air, stabilized his body, squatted down with his legs, and supported himself with one hand on the ground, not falling.
"Getting stronger and stronger!"
Duanmu Xingling stared at Zhang Ruochen, feeling the aura on his body growing stronger and stronger, like a wild elephant crouching on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen's gaze was extremely firm. Jade Pure True Qi surged rapidly through the thirty-six meridians in his body, and his ten fingers turned the color of white jade.
"Pa!"
The stone slabs beneath his feet and fingers let out a cracking sound, splitting into cracks.
"Dragon Elephant Shadow!"
Zhang Ruochen leaped directly into the air, attacking Duanmu Xingling.
In Duanmu Xingling's eyes, Zhang Ruochen seemed to split into two people. One Zhang Ruochen struck out with a dragon claw, while the other struck out with an elephant palm, attacking from two directions.
"This is?"
Duanmu Xingling's expression changed slightly. She infused true qi into her index finger, pointed out, and struck the palm center of the Zhang Ruochen on the left, repelling him.
Suddenly, the Zhang Ruochen on the right attacked, striking a palm toward her chest.
Duanmu Xingling bent her slender waist, leaned backward, supported herself with both hands on the ground, and lifted a slender leg, kicking toward the wrist of the Zhang Ruochen on the right.
Suddenly, the Zhang Ruochen on the left and right merged into one, striking out with both palms simultaneously.
Duanmu Xingling condensed her true qi and struck out with a palm.
"Bang!"
Zhang Ruochen stood firmly in place, while Duanmu Xingling flew backward, sliding five zhang before sinking her legs and stabilizing her retreat.
Duanmu Xingling stared at Zhang Ruochen in shock and said, "Was that the power of 'Dragon Elephant Shadow' at Great Perfection?"
Zhang Ruochen withdrew his palms and smiled, nodding. "Senior Sister Duanmu, what do you think of the power of this palm?"
"It's comparable to a Spirit-grade mid-quality palm technique." Duanmu Xingling smiled and said, "With your current strength, you have at least a seventy percent chance of defeating Feng Zhilin."
Originally, at the very beginning, Duanmu Xingling absolutely didn't believe Zhang Ruochen could defeat Feng Zhilin in a month.
The reason she helped Zhang Ruochen practice his palm technique was only to give him more chances to survive. After all, it was rare for the Western Courtyard to produce a genius like Zhang Ruochen. It would be a pity if he died on the Life and Death Platform.
Unexpectedly, in just half a month, Zhang Ruochen already had the strength to defeat Feng Zhilin. Moreover, she had witnessed Zhang Ruochen's growth step by step—it was simply unbelievable.
But Duanmu Xingling didn't know that Zhang Ruochen's greatest trump card was the Space Domain. If he unleashed the power of the Space Domain, Zhang Ruochen had a one hundred percent chance of defeating Feng Zhilin.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Thank you for your help these past few days, Senior Sister Duanmu. Otherwise, I wouldn't have been able to cultivate 'Dragon Elephant Shadow' to Great Perfection in such a short time."
Duanmu Xingling smiled and said, "I was just afraid you would disgrace the Dragon Martial Hall, so I helped you practice your palm technique. After all, you are the Yellow Character Number One of our Dragon Martial Hall. I'm suddenly curious—how strong will your cultivation be in half a month?"
"In half a month, on the Life and Death Platform, Senior Sister Duanmu will naturally find out. Since my palm technique has reached Great Perfection, I won't disturb you any longer. I'll take my leave." Zhang Ruochen said politely, then walked toward Yellow Character Number One.
Duanmu Xingling stared at Zhang Ruochen's back, her eyes sparkling. "Such high talent. In a short while, he'll probably be able to cultivate to the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection. It seems Chen Jie has found a treasure. Why can't I pick up such a formidable genius?"
Zhang Ruochen returned to Yellow Character Number One, held two spirit crystals in his hands, and continued cultivating.
He absorbed spiritual qi to consolidate his realm.
Cultivating for three days in the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, his Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage realm was completely consolidated.
Of course, his current realm was just entering the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage. The true qi in his Qi Sea was only about twenty percent of its capacity, leaving much room for improvement. Having reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Late Stage, Zhang Ruochen's Qi Sea capacity had expanded tenfold again, allowing him to store more true qi.
...
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