# Chapter 147: Left Prime Minister's Disciple
Liu Xin executed a movement martial technique, circulating his true qi internally, and his body shot up like a cannonball over fifty meters high.
"Boom!"
Liu Xin landed on the martial combat platform, a loud sound erupting beneath his feet, causing the platform to tremble slightly.
A wave of true qi surged outward from his feet in all directions.
Liu Xin slightly cupped his hands and smiled, "I am Liu Xin. Greetings to the number one sword technique expert under heaven. I wonder if the number one sword technique expert under heaven would be willing to compete with me in swordsmanship?"
Zhang Ruochen naturally caught the sarcasm in Liu Xin's words and said, "Sorry, I am not the number one expert under heaven. You've found the wrong person."
With that, Zhang Ruochen leaped down from the eighteen-meter-high martial combat platform, his toes lightly touching the water surface like a dragonfly skimming the water, and he floated lightly to the shore.
Zhang Ruochen had no intention of winning first place in the Sword Discussion Assembly, nor did he want to marry the Thirteenth Commandery Princess. Now, he planned to leave, not wanting to steal the spotlight any further.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen turn and walk away without any intention of fighting him, Liu Xin grew angry. His gaze turned cold and deep as he said, "Zhang Ruochen, your victory over Tuoba Linsu was just luck. You know you can't keep winning forever, and you're afraid of losing. So you're preparing to run away, aren't you?"
"Winning and losing are common matters. Why should I be afraid? I simply can't be bothered with unreasonable people," Zhang Ruochen said.
Liu Xin grew even more furious. "Who are you calling unreasonable? You claim to be the number one swordsman under heaven, and I humbly ask for a few pointers—how is that unreasonable? Who is the unreasonable one here?"
This Sword Discussion Assembly had truly disappointed Zhang Ruochen, and he no longer wanted to stay.
Huo Ming, who had previously lost to Zhang Ruochen, harbored a deep hatred for him. Seeing Zhang Ruochen about to leave, he immediately blocked his path.
"Zhang Ruochen, if you stay and fight Liu Xin, I can ask my father to withdraw his troops and stop attacking the Yunwu Commandery," Huo Ming said.
Huo Ming had been knocked off the martial combat platform by Zhang Ruochen earlier, landing like a drenched dog and losing all face. He had been looking for an opportunity to take revenge on Zhang Ruochen. Now, he could use Liu Xin's hand to teach Zhang Ruochen a harsh lesson.
Such an opportunity could not be missed.
Zhang Ruochen asked, "Are your words true?"
Huo Ming snorted coldly. "I am a prince of a kingdom. Do you think I would deceive you?"
With dozens of commandery princes and talented elites gathered here, if Huo Ming went back on his word, he would surely be ridiculed by the world.
The reason Zhang Ruochen had come to the Sword Discussion Assembly was precisely to seek reinforcements and prevent the impending disaster facing the Yunwu Commandery.
If the surrounding commanderies would voluntarily withdraw their troops, that would be the best outcome.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Very well, then. I agree."
A sinister smile curled at the corner of Huo Ming's mouth. He cupped his hands toward Liu Xin on the martial combat platform and said, "Young Master Liu, the number one swordsman under heaven, Zhang Ruochen, has agreed to compete with you in swordsmanship."
"Thank you, Prince Huo Ming, for your persuasion. Otherwise, Liu would not have had the opportunity today to experience the supreme sword technique of the number one swordsman under heaven," Liu Xin said, also revealing a hint of a smile.
Zhang Ruochen ignored their mutual flattery and remounted the martial combat platform. "Huo Ming, remember our agreement."
"Rest assured. As long as you step onto the martial combat platform, whether you win or lose, I will persuade my father to withdraw his troops," Huo Ming said.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen noticed a loophole in Huo Ming's words. He had said "persuade my father to withdraw his troops," which meant the surrounding commandery kings could completely ignore his advice and still lead their armies to attack the Yunwu Commandery.
*This Prince Huo Ming appears foolish on the surface, but he is actually quite treacherous and deep-minded,* Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Although he had detected the trap in Huo Ming's words, Zhang Ruochen had already remounted the martial combat platform. If he backed down now, he would only be ridiculed.
"Zhang Ruochen, if you defeat Liu Xin, I, Tuoba Linsu, will lead the Longchuan Commandery's army to aid the Yunwu Commandery," Tuoba Linsu said, casting a contemptuous glance at Huo Ming.
"Thank you, Prince Tuoba," Zhang Ruochen said.
Liu Xin stood proudly at the center of the martial combat platform, holding his sword in his arms, staring at Zhang Ruochen across from him. "True sword technique can only be unleashed with true qi. Do you dare to fight me for real?"
"What do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Liu Xin said confidently, "My cultivation has reached the late stage of the Earth Extreme Realm, while yours is only at the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm. I can suppress my realm to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm and fight you on equal footing. I just wonder if you have the courage."
After watching the previous three matches, Liu Xin could see that Zhang Ruochen's swordsmanship was extremely superb. Even he was not entirely confident he could defeat Zhang Ruochen.
Thus, he proposed fighting on equal footing, which would give him a greater chance of defeating Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen understood his meaning and laughed. "You think that without using true qi, you can't display your true strength?"
"Exactly," Liu Xin said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "If you truly fight me on equal footing, I'm afraid you won't even be able to withstand a single move from me. Have you thought this through?"
On equal footing, Zhang Ruochen had even defeated Luo Xu. Liu Xin was nothing in comparison.
Liu Xin felt that Zhang Ruochen's words were an insult to him. He snorted coldly. "Arrogant enough. If you can truly defeat me in one move, I'll chop off the hand that holds my sword."
"If you really want to chop off your hand, I won't stop you," Zhang Ruochen said.
Liu Xin glanced at the broken sword in Zhang Ruochen's hand. "I don't want to take advantage of you. Change your sword first."
"To defeat you, I don't need to change swords," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Arrogant!"
Liu Xin suppressed his cultivation to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, rapidly circulating his true qi and infusing it into his longsword.
"Shua! Shua!"
Liu Xin executed a footwork technique, a spirit-grade lower-class speed-type martial technique. His speed was astonishing, producing five afterimages as he simultaneously swung his sword toward Zhang Ruochen.
Although he had suppressed his realm to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, Liu Xin was still an Earth Extreme Realm expert, and his martial techniques were extremely formidable.
Moreover, his swordsmanship was indeed very high, having reached the advanced stage of the Sword Follows the Heart realm.
In terms of swordsmanship alone, Liu Xin's sword technique was even superior to Tuoba Linsu's.
Zhang Ruochen watched the five figures rushing toward him but remained motionless, even closing his eyes.
"Swish!"
Zhang Ruochen took a slight step to the left, dodging the attack of one figure. Then he shifted two steps to the right, evading the second figure's strike. Next, he stepped back once, avoiding the third figure's sword. Finally, he leaned backward, dodging the sword thrust from the fourth figure.
From the audience's perspective, Liu Xin had manifested five figures, his sword slashing and thrusting rapidly, each move exquisite and brilliant.
Zhang Ruochen, however, had manifested nine figures. He hadn't even drawn his sword, nor had he opened his eyes, yet he managed to evade all of Liu Xin's attacks.
On the martial combat platform, over a dozen figures moved rapidly, making it difficult to distinguish which was Liu Xin's true body and which was Zhang Ruochen's.
Even the Thirteenth Commandery Princess, who was always proud and arrogant, watched with wide eyes and a shocked expression.
The half-saint disciple Qing Chibai gently shook his head. "Liu Xin is gravely mistaken. He thought he could defeat Zhang Ruochen on equal footing, but on equal footing, Zhang Ruochen's strength far surpasses his. Defeating him would be as easy as crushing an ant."
The Thirteenth Commandery Princess found it hard to believe. "When Liu Xin hadn't yet broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm, he was ranked eighteenth on the Xuan List. How could he be so much worse than that country bumpkin from the Yunwu Commandery on equal footing?"
Xun Guihai, who had been sitting silently beside them, laughed. "Your Highness may not know this, but Zhang Ruochen is the top freshman of the Martial Market Academy in the Demon Ridge. It is said that his spiritual power has already reached the twenty-ninth rank. In the entire history of the Kunlun Realm, he is among the top ten spiritual power geniuses."
Hearing Xun Guihai's words, the Thirteenth Commandery Princess was completely stunned.
Qing Chibai said, "Zhang Ruochen may not be the number one swordsman under heaven, but on equal footing, I'm afraid there really aren't many who can defeat him."
The Thirteenth Commandery Princess grew anxious, her face falling. "Then what do we do? If he wins first place in the Sword Discussion Assembly, won't I have to marry him? I don't want to marry him."
Xun Guihai laughed. "Don't worry, Your Highness. Brother Qing is a half-saint disciple, and it is said that he has already cultivated his sword intent to the peak stage of the Sword Follows the Heart realm. If Brother Qing makes a move, defeating Zhang Ruochen will certainly not be difficult."
Qing Chibai smiled faintly. "When I was at the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, my sword intent realm had only reached the advanced stage of the Sword Follows the Heart realm, and I was slightly slower than Zhang Ruochen. I would definitely not be his match. If I suppress my realm to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm and fight him now, although I could defeat him, it would be an unworthy victory."
Qing Chibai was currently at the middle stage of the Earth Extreme Realm. Even if he suppressed his realm to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, some things could not be changed.
For example, his sword dao realm, or the fact that he had already opened his Qi Sea, which contained tens of thousands of times more true qi than Zhang Ruochen's Qi Lake. By suppressing his realm to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, he wouldn't need to worry about true qi consumption at all.
Additionally, the physique of an Earth Extreme Realm martial artist was far stronger than that of a Mysterious Extreme Realm martial artist.
Thus, even if Qing Chibai suppressed his cultivation to the middle stage of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, he would still have a considerable advantage.
Although Liu Xin was also an Earth Extreme Realm cultivator, his swordsmanship could not compare to Qing Chibai's.
The Thirteenth Commandery Princess said, "Qing Chibai, I command you to defeat that country bumpkin from the Yunwu Commandery. If you don't help me, I'll have to marry into that remote place of the Yunwu Commandery."
If she had to choose between Qing Chibai and Zhang Ruochen, the Thirteenth Commandery Princess would naturally choose Qing Chibai.
Qing Chibai smiled wryly, somewhat helpless. "If Liu Xin truly loses, I am willing to fight Zhang Ruochen."
Qing Chibai could also see that Zhang Ruochen was a formidable opponent. Even with his many advantages, defeating Zhang Ruochen would still not be an easy task.