Chapter 151: Nine Swords Fly Together
Just as Qing Chi Bai was dodging the fragments of the war sword, Zhang Ruochen, instead of retreating, advanced toward him.
"Dragon-Elephant Shadow!"
The fourth move of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, though a spirit-grade low-rank martial technique, unleashed power comparable to a spirit-grade mid-rank martial technique.
Zhang Ruochen's body seemed to split in two, charging at Qing Chi Bai from both left and right. The left figure struck with a Dragon Claw Hand, while the right figure delivered an Elephant Palm Seal.
Not good!
Seeing Zhang Ruochen rushing toward him, Qing Chi Bai's expression changed. He had no choice but to muster his true qi and hastily strike back, forming both hands into fists and punching out simultaneously.
"Boom!"
Fist and palm collided.
Zhang Ruochen executed the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, while Qing Chi Bai was forced to defend hastily, naturally unable to withstand Zhang Ruochen's palm technique.
Under the impact of the powerful palm force, Qing Chi Bai spat out a mouthful of blood, his body flying backward and plummeting toward the ground below the hall.
The Golden Phoenix Pavilion was over eighty meters high. If Qing Chi Bai hadn't been injured, he could have used the "Walking on Clouds" movement technique to land safely.
But now, not only was he injured, he couldn't even execute any movement technique.
If he fell, he would be severely injured, possibly even killed.
To defeat Qing Chi Bai, Zhang Ruochen had been hit by two sword fragments and was also injured. However, he immediately leaped down from the hall's rooftop, intending to save Qing Chi Bai. After all, Zhang Ruochen didn't dislike Qing Chi Bai; instead, he saw him as a formidable opponent.
At the last moment, Zhang Ruochen grabbed Qing Chi Bai's sleeve, slowing his descent.
A moment later, a "rip" sound was heard.
The sleeve tore.
"Plop!"
Qing Chi Bai fell into the pond, splashing water over six meters high.
Zhang Ruochen landed on the water's surface, standing on a wooden branch, looking at the torn sleeve in his hand, then gazing at the water.
At the last moment, he had already reduced much of the falling force, and the pond water provided a buffer. Would he be alright?
Not only Zhang Ruochen, but the other young prodigies were also tense. If Qing Chi Bai died from the fall, it would be a true joke if word got out.
Of course, everyone also admired Zhang Ruochen. Despite having defeated Qing Chi Bai, he still risked his injury to save him. Such magnanimity was truly commendable.
Those who had previously looked down on Zhang Ruochen now changed their views.
"Splash!"
Suddenly, Qing Chi Bai flew up from the water not far from Zhang Ruochen, only three meters away, and roared, "I haven't lost yet!"
"Whoosh!"
Between Qing Chi Bai's two fingers was a chilling broken sword fragment. He channeled his true qi, flicked his finger, and the fragment shot toward Zhang Ruochen.
That fragment was the sword tip Qing Chi Bai had broken off earlier.
He had thrown the tip into the pond, and now he picked it up again, using it as a hidden weapon.
At such close range, there was no way to dodge.
Zhang Ruochen could only try to avoid vital spots.
"Thud!"
The half-foot-long sword tip pierced Zhang Ruochen's chest, blood gushing out like a fountain.
Qing Chi Bai, with disheveled hair, landed on the water and laughed heartily, "Haha! I am the number one young powerhouse! Zhang Ruochen, do you still have the strength to fight?"
Zhang Ruochen looked at Qing Chi Bai with a complex gaze, a hint of determination in his eyes. Gritting his teeth, he spread his arms, and blood qi surged from his wound.
The dense blood qi gathered around Zhang Ruochen, condensing into nine blood swords, tips pointing down, hilts up, spinning rapidly around him.
Qing Chi Bai, seeing Zhang Ruochen standing opposite him, changed his expression and immediately mobilized his true qi to execute a defensive martial technique.
"Swish!"
The nine blood swords merged into one.
Zhang Ruochen pointed his finger forward.
That blood sword, like a streak of blood light, shot out, shattering Qing Chi Bai's true qi with irresistible force.
"Pfft!"
The blood sword pierced through Qing Chi Bai's body, the immense impact sending him flying dozens of meters, crashing into a rockery on the shore.
With a bang, Qing Chi Bai clutched his bleeding abdomen, fell from the rockery, and fainted.
No one had expected such a turn of events. It was thrilling, but in the end, Zhang Ruochen emerged victorious.
Especially at the end, when Zhang Ruochen used his blood qi to condense nine blood swords and defeated Qing Chi Bai with a single sweeping strike. If he had used this move from the start, Qing Chi Bai would have lost long ago.
"Blood Condensation Nine Swords. Such a bloodline is rare even since ancient times; one can't help but admire it," Tuoba Linsu said.
Chen Tianshu added, "Zhang Ruochen probably didn't want to reveal this trump card initially, but he never expected Qing Chi Bai, who had always been upright, to resort to a sneak attack. So, Zhang Ruochen's final strike was a furious blow, without much thought, unleashing the Nine Swords Fly Together."
At this moment, everyone in the Golden Phoenix Pavilion was restless, still excited, especially by Zhang Ruochen's final strike—it was simply breathtaking.
With the nine swords unleashed, who could stand against them?
Even Qing Chi Bai was defeated, making Zhang Ruochen the undisputed champion of the Sword Discussion Assembly.
The talent Zhang Ruochen displayed left even the Thirteenth Princess, who had previously despised him, speechless.
Zhang Ruochen channeled his true qi to expel the broken sword from his body.
With a clang, the bloodstained sword fragment fell to the ground.
Then, Zhang Ruochen sealed the blood vessels at the wound and took a healing pill.
After stabilizing his injuries, Zhang Ruochen glanced at Qing Chi Bai, who was being carried away, and shook his head slightly, a hint of disappointment in his eyes.
Without a word, Zhang Ruochen walked toward the exit of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion.
"Brother Zhang, you can't leave yet!" Chen Tianshu stepped in front of Zhang Ruochen, glanced toward the Thirteenth Princess, and whispered, "You are now the champion of the Sword Discussion Assembly; you must marry the Thirteenth Princess."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I didn't join the Sword Discussion Assembly to marry the Thirteenth Princess."
Chen Tianshu smiled bitterly, "Regardless of the reason, you have become the champion. If you refuse to marry the Thirteenth Princess, it would be a slap in the face to the royal clan of the Thousand Water Commandery. If the royal clan loses face, do you think they'll let you off easy? Then, not only you, but the entire Cloud Wu Commandery might be wiped out overnight."
Just as Chen Tianshu finished speaking,
"Boom!"
A thunderous sound echoed from the sky. Two hundred meters above the ground, purple array patterns appeared in the void.
As the purple array patterns flickered, an exquisite pavilion materialized in the air, suspended midair like an immortal's palace.
The Thousand Water Commandery King, clad in a golden robe, and the ten powerful ministers all stood on the Flying Heaven Pavilion, looking down. A powerful martial aura covered the entire royal palace.
Only now did the young prodigies below realize that the great figures of the Thousand Water Commandery had been watching the Sword Discussion Assembly all along.
The Thousand Water Commandery King radiated golden light, exuding an oppressive pressure. In an excellent mood, he stared at Zhang Ruochen below and said, "Truly, geniuses emerge in our time, a thriving scene. Zhang Ruochen, you have defeated the number one prodigy of the Thousand Water Commandery, Qing Chi Bai. I think highly of you. When do you plan to marry the Thirteenth Princess?"
A genius like Zhang Ruochen would surely grow into a top-tier powerhouse. The Thousand Water Commandery King naturally wouldn't let him go; he had to bring him into the fold.
Zhang Ruochen had no intention of marrying the Thirteenth Princess, but he absolutely couldn't say that. If he did, it would surely anger the Thousand Water Commandery King.
It would not only harm him but also his family.
Standing straight, Zhang Ruochen slightly cupped his hands toward the Thousand Water Commandery King above and said calmly, "To be honest, I have a significant misunderstanding with the Thirteenth Princess, and she doesn't think highly of me either. If we were to become husband and wife, it might not be suitable."
Then, Zhang Ruochen added, "Since the Commandery King has been watching the Sword Discussion Assembly, you should understand that I didn't want to participate; I was forced to. In truth, my purpose in coming to the Sword Discussion Assembly was not to marry the Thirteenth Princess, but to seek an audience with the Commandery King, hoping you could send reinforcements to save the Cloud Wu Commandery. If the Commandery King can aid the Cloud Wu Commandery, I would be eternally grateful."
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, Minister Ning thought to himself, "This kid is going to anger the Commandery King!"
Minister Ning knew better than anyone that the Thousand Water Commandery King didn't care about Zhang Ruochen's purpose for attending the Sword Discussion Assembly. He only wanted to take Zhang Ruochen as his son-in-law and bring this peerless genius into the royal clan.
Regardless of the reason, Zhang Ruochen's refusal of the Thousand Water Commandery King was a death sentence.
If a genius couldn't be used, the best course of action was to kill him early.
The Thousand Water Commandery King remained calm, showing no unusual expression, and smiled, "I've heard Minister Ning mention the Cloud Wu Commandery's current predicament, and I understand your feelings. If you marry the Thirteenth Princess, you'll be the consort of the Thousand Water Commandery. Then, the surrounding commanderies naturally won't dare to attack the Cloud Wu Commandery. What do you think?"
The Thousand Water Commandery King spoke calmly, but only the ten powerful ministers knew that he was giving Zhang Ruochen one last chance to live.
Zhang Ruochen was also well aware of the consequences of refusing the Thousand Water Commandery King and felt immense pressure. He could disregard his own life, but not the lives of his family.
Zhang Ruochen glanced again at the Thirteenth Princess and shook his head. If he agreed to marry her, he would be betraying his own heart.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to make his decision and answer,
"Whoosh—"
Huang Yanchen flew down from the third floor of the Golden Phoenix Pavilion, her sapphire-blue hair flowing like a waterfall, her figure graceful, her skin as white as snow, with a beauty that could topple kingdoms. She walked toward Zhang Ruochen and smiled slightly at him.
Then, Huang Yanchen looked up at the Thousand Water Commandery King and said, "Father, the calamity of the Cloud Wu Commandery was actually caused by me. That Prince Huo Xing from the surrounding commanderies wasn't killed by Zhang Ruochen; he died by my hand. So, Father, you must aid the Cloud Wu Commandery!"
Seeing Huang Yanchen appear, everyone present was stunned.
A thought crossed their minds: Had Yanchen Princess also taken a liking to Zhang Ruochen, trying to snatch her sister's consort?
Yanchen Princess had always been assertive; it wasn't impossible.
...
Although subscriptions haven't reached three thousand, I still feel everyone's support. I'll maintain three chapters a day for a week. At least two chapters daily; if I can write three, I definitely will.
Two chapters tonight, and one more today, to be updated at noon.