Chapter 1576: Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly
On the cloud ship heading to the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market, besides Zhang Ruochen, there were also several dozen other powerful Saint Realm cultivators.
They came from various great worlds. Some were winged cultivators from the Feather Clan, all with handsome features and elegant bearing. Others were Butterfly Clan beings only the size of a palm, fluttering about like a group of brightly colored butterflies, yet each one contained terrifyingly powerful Saint Qi fluctuations within their bodies, and they were even conversing.
Apart from them, Zhang Ruochen also saw two Dragon Clan experts who had taken human form.
It was clear they were born with true dragon bodies, their blood energy vast, and they radiated saintly might at all times. They could not be compared to those dragons with mixed bloodlines.
The cultivators from each great world formed small groups, and only Zhang Ruochen was alone.
Zhang Ruochen wore a loose black robe, standing in a corner at the stern of the ship, quietly listening to their conversations, hoping to gather some useful information.
"Zhang Ruochen, ranked first on the Sacred Merit Ranking, has already appeared."
"I heard long ago that on his very first day in the Truth Heaven Domain, that guy killed dozens of experts from Cloud Realm. He has a tough hand and is truly strong."
"That's old news. The latest information I received is that Zhang Ruochen crossed the first sea region and almost crossed the second. Apparently, before that, he had only cultivated in the Truth Divine Temple for thirteen days. He's a terrifyingly talented prodigy. It probably won't be long before he rises in the Truth Heaven Domain."
The group of Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies chattered endlessly, actually discussing Zhang Ruochen.
The Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly was a fearsome race. It was said that a Great Saint-level Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly could wrap its wings around an entire planet and, with a single breath of flame, refine the planet into a droplet of liquid.
Among the two Dragon Clan experts, the man standing on the left was named "Xin Jian." He was tall and straight, with sword-like brows and eagle-like eyes. Hearing the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies' discussion, he let out a light laugh. "The rumors are getting more and more ridiculous. Zhang Ruochen isn't that strong."
The group of Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies whispered among themselves, clearly somewhat displeased.
Then, one of the demon butterflies, with gold and white spots on its wings, flew forward and said, "Zhang Ruochen is indeed very strong. The information this princess received cannot be false."
The Dragon Clan, no matter which great world, was an extremely proud race. Pure-blooded true dragons were even more so, looking down on all living beings under heaven.
Xin Jian had that proud dragon spirit and didn't take the demon butterfly seriously. He laughed, "Unfortunately, I was at the Truth Sea at the time and saw with my own eyes that the guardian of the second sea region merely struck Zhang Ruochen with a light palm, sending him tumbling into the sea like a dog eating mud, utterly powerless to resist. He's still far from crossing the second sea region."
That Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly was quite annoyed. "Nonsense! Zhang Ruochen fought the guardian of the second sea region for over seven hundred moves and almost broke through. Even if he ultimately lost, he retreated calmly, not a single drop of seawater touching his robes."
...
The two Dragon Clan experts and the group of Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies began arguing fiercely, the atmosphere growing increasingly tense.
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. Rumors were truly terrifying. Some exaggerated his strength to the point of absurdity, as if he were an invincible divine being; others belittled him mercilessly, sparing no effort to disparage him.
Of course, what surprised him most was that the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies and the two Dragon Clan experts had no connection to him at all, yet they were now fighting over him.
They flew out of the cloud ship, releasing Saint Qi and revealing their true forms.
"Roar!"
The two Dragon Clan experts transformed into two silver dragons over a dozen miles long, soaring into the clouds. Instantly, the entire sky turned silver, and every cloud seemed forged from silver, a spectacular sight.
Thick dragon qi surged between heaven and earth, as if ten thousand dragons were flying.
The nine Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies expanded their bodies, turning into nine massive clouds, releasing various colors of heavenly fire. The entire sky ignited, becoming a blazing sea of flames.
"Boom, rumble."
With a series of thunderous roars, in just a few breaths, the two silver dragons let out screams, burst out of the sea of fire, and fled toward the horizon.
Heavenly fire wrapped around the silver dragons' bodies, seeping through the gaps in their scales into their flesh and blood.
What were once two majestic silver dragons now looked like two fiery pythons, fleeing in panic, their wails echoing for thousands of miles.
Zhang Ruochen felt a chill. "The Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies are truly terrifying. Even true dragons suffer greatly when angered."
He knew that the true dragon body was one of the most powerful physiques, second only to the Five Elements Chaos Body and the True God Body. Combined with the dragon clan's innate abilities, those two Dragon Clan experts definitely had the power to kill a one-step Saint King.
The nine Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies withdrew their heavenly fire, shrinking back to palm size, and flew back to the cloud ship.
"Those two trash dragons dared to question what this princess said. If not for being in the Truth Heaven Domain, I would have beaten them into mud and used them as fertilizer in the garden," said the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly with gold and white spots.
The other cultivators on the cloud ship, having witnessed the demon butterflies' power, all showed wary expressions and tried to keep their distance.
Then, the nine Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies began chattering again, but this time they stopped discussing Zhang Ruochen and talked about recent events in the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market.
"I heard that a few days ago, the Paradise Realm auction house sold a five-yao ten-thousand-pattern sacred artifact. It was bought by a mysterious expert for twenty-four million sacred stones."
"I heard that too! I heard that mysterious expert is the Eternal Life Divine Son of the True Martial Realm."
"They're so rich! Spending tens of millions of sacred stones in one go. All my wealth combined isn't even a fraction of that."
"What's so special about that? Back when Divine Son Shi Qing was pursuing the Heavenly Beginning Fairy from the Nine Immortal Beauties Painting, he directly gifted a heavenly-grade sacred pill, the Kunxu Pill, worth over fifty million sacred stones. Anyway, those divine sons and grandsons all come from wealthy families and spend lavishly. We can't compare."
"This princess knows that in the end, the Heavenly Beginning Fairy rejected that Kunxu Pill. Truly admirable."
"Can't be helped. The Heavenly Beginning Fairy herself is a celestial maiden from an ancient civilization. The wealth she controls probably surpasses even Divine Son Shi Qing's. And countless proud sons of heaven pursue her. Why would she choose some big brute?"
...
This group of Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies was quite gossipy, chattering away, sharing all kinds of tidbits. They talked about the legendary stories of various divine sons and maidens, then moved on to the private life of some divine disciple of the Truth Divine Temple, as if they knew everything.
However, Zhang Ruochen only believed half of what they said.
After all, earlier they had greatly exaggerated Zhang Ruochen's strength, and they had spoken with such conviction.
As they neared the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market, one of the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies noticed Zhang Ruochen was alone and flew over to him. "Young human, is this your first time at the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market? You need to be careful!"
"Careful of what?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"There are many swindlers in the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market who specialize in tricking first-time visitors. If you want to buy something or sell a treasure, you must go to a reputable sacred shop. It's best to go to a sacred shop opened by a top-tier great world, so you won't get cheated," said the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly.
Zhang Ruochen was curious. "How do you know it's my first time at the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market?"
The Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly looked a bit proud. "Cultivators who go to the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market either go to buy treasures or to sell newly acquired ones. Either way, it means they carry valuable items or a large number of sacred stones. That's why few cultivators go alone—it's easy to be targeted by demonic or evil beings. Only someone as clueless as you would go alone."
"I see. Thank you for the warning," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly replied, "No need to thank me. Since we shared the same cloud ship, we're acquaintances. Acquaintances naturally don't cheat acquaintances. If you trust me, come with me to the Hundred Flowers Palace. The Hundred Flowers Palace is a sacred shop opened by the Thousand Stamen Realm, ranked one hundred seventy-fifth on the Myriad Realms Merit Ranking. They value their reputation above all."
Even a butterfly had such deep schemes!
Zhang Ruochen couldn't help but smile, but he didn't agree.
In the distance, the other eight Heavenly Fire Demon Butterflies laughed, as if mocking their companion's failed attempt to recruit a customer.
"You don't believe me?"
The Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly grew anxious and pulled out her trump card. "Do you know that the owner of our Hundred Flowers Palace is the Hundred Flowers Fairy, Ji Fanxin, from the Nine Immortal Beauties Painting? If you come with me to the Hundred Flowers Palace, you might even have a chance to encounter the legendary Hundred Flowers Fairy."
The Hundred Flowers Fairy, Ji Fanxin, was immensely famous throughout the Heavenly Court realm. She was a goddess-like figure, incredibly powerful in her own right, and countless divine sons and heavenly princes pursued her.
It was precisely because of Ji Fanxin's reputation that the Hundred Flowers Palace's business in the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market had grown larger and larger, even approaching the level of the sacred shops opened by the top ten great worlds on the Myriad Realms Merit Ranking.
Of course, the so-called "encounter with the Hundred Flowers Fairy, Ji Fanxin" was entirely a lie by the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly to trick Zhang Ruochen.
Although Ji Fanxin was the owner of the Hundred Flowers Palace, she was always focused on cultivation and never involved herself in the palace's affairs. Even many divine sons found it hard to meet her, let alone an unknown human nobody.
Zhang Ruochen was fully aware of the Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly's little scheme, but he still showed a thoughtful expression.
"Ji Fanxin is indeed a good name to trade on. Her reputation shouldn't be bad. Instead of wandering around aimlessly like a headless fly, it might be better to go to the Hundred Flowers Palace and see if I can buy a Saint King-level dragon soul and elephant soul."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Alright, I'll go with you to the Hundred Flowers Palace."
The Heavenly Fire Demon Butterfly immediately showed a sly, triumphant smile, flew back to the butterfly group, and began to boast.
The other cultivators on the cloud ship looked at Zhang Ruochen as if he were a fool. Someone even muttered with a low laugh, "Another poor soul tricked into going to the Hundred Flowers Palace. Does he really think he'll run into the Hundred Flowers Fairy?"
"It's not really a scam. The Hundred Flowers Palace has a good reputation and strength, but its foundation can't compare to the sacred shops opened by the top ten great worlds."
Soon, the cloud ship passed through a patch of white clouds. Looking ahead, the Heavenly Capital Sacred Market appeared in Zhang Ruochen's field of vision.