Chapter 171: Dragon Horn
Zi Qian stood opposite Zhang Ruochen, her black-and-white eyes fixed intently on him without a word, her gaze extremely cold.
Zhang Ruochen frowned and said, "Perhaps I really was inconsiderate. I thought you wouldn't mind..."
"Enough!"
Zi Qian pressed her lips together and sheathed her sword. "If it were anyone else, I would have killed them with one strike. Since you saved my life twice, I'll let it go this time. But... I do mind!"
Zi Qian made it very clear, explicitly telling Zhang Ruochen, "If another man had seen my body, I would have killed him with one sword strike. But since it was you, I don't mind."
However, Zhang Ruochen seemed not to catch the meaning in Zi Qian's words. A look of relief appeared on his face, and he smiled. "Can we still be friends?"
"Who wants to be friends with you? I'm an assassin of the Black Market, and you're a genius of the Martial Market Academy. We're as incompatible as fire and water, and sooner or later, we'll become enemies." Zi Qian said coldly.
Zhang Ruochen still didn't grasp the implication in Zi Qian's words. His mind turned to another matter, and his expression grew serious. "Who exactly unsealed the Flame River Purgatory?"
Zi Qian's expression also became grave. "The forces within the Black Market are extremely complex. There are assassin organizations like the Underworld Gate, sects formed by rogue cultivators of evil paths, merchant alliances made up of Black Market traders, and even alliances of female cultivators formed by women from brothels... The Black Market represents the dark side of this world. There are so many factions that even I can't count them all."
"Every organization is a member of the Black Market, yet each is independent, interdependent, and hostile to one another."
"Any organization might send people to infiltrate the Martial Market Academy. The identities of those infiltrators are kept absolutely secret. I'm not entirely sure who unsealed the Flame River Purgatory."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes grew even more puzzled. "Then why did those evil cultivators from the Black Market corner you in that stone cave?"
Zi Qian asked, "You should know about the Four Extremes Dragon Lair, right?"
"What is the Four Extremes Dragon Lair?" Zhang Ruochen asked, confused.
"You don't know?" Zi Qian was somewhat surprised. "After entering the Crimson Void Secret Mansion, have you never been to the Four Extremes Dragon Lair?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "I've been in seclusion, cultivating."
Everyone who came to the Crimson Void Secret Mansion hurried to search for treasures, but he had spent most of his time in cultivation.
If he was just going to cultivate, why come to the Crimson Void Secret Mansion?
Zi Qian shot Zhang Ruochen a glare. "The Four Extremes Dragon Lair was once the nest of the Four-Winged Earth Dragon and the main battlefield between the human army and the savage beasts. Many treasures were left there. After entering the Crimson Void Secret Mansion, many students rushed to the Four Extremes Dragon Lair to seek their fortunes."
Zhang Ruochen asked, "How many people found treasures?"
Zi Qian shook her head lightly. "Finding treasures is no easy task. Moreover, the Four-Winged Earth Dragon was a savage beast comparable to a Saint. It left behind a large amount of Saint Qi in the lair, nurturing many powerful underground savage beasts. It's extremely dangerous there. We could only explore the outer edges of the Four Extremes Dragon Lair and didn't dare enter the inner area."
Zhang Ruochen sighed softly. "You're all too ambitious. Treasures left by a Saint aren't so easy to obtain. It would be better to go to the fallen sites of Half-Saints—you might find more treasures there."
"Is that so?"
Zi Qian took out three Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses from her Space Ring, looking somewhat proud. "These three Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses were medicinal herbs I gathered from the outer edges of the Four Extremes Dragon Lair. You couldn't find them anywhere else... You... how do you have so many... Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses..."
Zhang Ruochen took out an entire jade box of Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses, ninety-eight in total, and opened it right in front of Zi Qian.
The jade box emitted a rich medicinal fragrance.
Zi Qian's jaw nearly dropped. Her ten snow-white, slender fingers clenched tightly together as she held her breath. "Where did you gather so many Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses?"
Zhang Ruochen closed the jade box and put it away. "The Crimson Void Secret Mansion is full of treasures. The Four Extremes Dragon Lair isn't the only place to find them."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's smug expression, Zi Qian felt displeased. After thinking for a moment, she took out a palm-sized vessel and held it in her hand.
The vessel looked somewhat like a dagger but was different, engraved with fine patterns and having three protrusions, making it look quite strange.
"This eighth-rank True Martial Treasure was something I found on the outer edges of the Four Extremes Dragon Lair. It contains a total of fifty-nine inscription patterns. It was because Tu Yun and the others discovered this eighth-rank True Martial Treasure that they chased after me."
Zi Qian's two slender, dark eyebrows furrowed slightly, and she sighed softly. "However, I still haven't figured out what it's used for. It doesn't seem to be an offensive True Martial Treasure, nor can it be used for defense."
Zhang Ruochen stared at the strange eighth-rank True Martial Treasure in Zi Qian's hand, a burning light in his eyes. "I'll trade with you!"
"Trade what?" Zi Qian looked up at Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen took out the jade box containing the Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses again. "I'll trade you twenty Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses for that eighth-rank True Martial Treasure."
"Twenty?" Zi Qian was tempted.
Twenty Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses would be enough for her to break through to the early stage of the Earth Extreme Realm in a short time, or even the middle stage.
A True Martial Treasure of unknown use, no matter how high its grade, was useless to her. It would be better to exchange it for Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses to enhance her strength.
Twenty Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses could definitely sell for a sky-high price of ten thousand Spirit Crystals in the Black Market, worth millions of silver coins.
Zi Qian didn't agree immediately. She thought for a moment and said, "Thirty!"
"Deal!"
Without a second thought, Zhang Ruochen took out thirty Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses and handed them to Zi Qian in exchange for the strange eighth-rank True Martial Treasure.
Holding the eighth-rank True Martial Treasure, Zhang Ruochen carefully stroked it, then infused it with true qi, continuing to sense the aura emanating from the treasure.
Zi Qian had never seen Zhang Ruochen look so captivated before, and she immediately felt that she might have made a bad deal.
"Zhang Ruochen, do you know the real use of that eighth-rank True Martial Treasure?" Zi Qian asked tentatively.
Zhang Ruochen nodded and didn't hide it from her. "This is a key forged from a dragon horn. Moreover, the aura emanating from the dragon horn is the purest dragon qi, indicating that this horn was cut from a Saint-level dragon. In the entire Demon Ridge, only the Four-Winged Earth Dragon has reached the Saint realm."
"You mean this is a horn from the Four-Winged Earth Dragon?" Zi Qian's beautiful eyes widened as she stared at the strange eighth-rank True Martial Treasure in Zhang Ruochen's hand. She bit her lip, wanting to take it back.
That was a Saint Dragon's horn. If sold in the Black Market, it would fetch an astronomical price.
Zi Qian felt unwilling to accept it. "Zhang Ruochen, this is the first time I've realized how shameless you are. You bought a Saint Dragon's horn for just thirty Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grasses."
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly. "That's how business works—mutual consent. Don't worry. This dragon horn is actually a key, probably used to open some door. If I find that door, I'll definitely take you with me to search for the treasures collected by the Four-Winged Earth Dragon. I won't shortchange you."
"Zhang Ruochen, what are you two whispering about?" A sharp shout came from afar.
The voice was like a thunderclap, shaking the air of the entire underground world.
Moments later.
Huang Yanchen turned into a graceful shadow, stepping with the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, riding a gust of wind, and flew over from a distance.
Seeing Huang Yanchen suddenly appear, Zhang Ruochen didn't hide the dragon horn, acting openly and honestly. "Zi Junior Sister and I were standing two meters apart. How is that whispering sweet nothings?"
Huang Yanchen landed on the ground, her long robe trailing, and raised her snow-white chin as she walked toward Zhang Ruochen, sneering. "I clearly heard you say you wouldn't shortchange her. If you hadn't done something wrong, why would you say something like that?"
Zhang Ruochen: "..."
Huang Yanchen's gaze fell on Zi Qian. Seeing the loose robe Zi Qian was wearing, her expression darkened further. "Zhang Ruochen, how dare you argue? Although we're only betrothed, we are betrothed. Everyone knows you're my fiancé. Carrying on with other women—how can I save face?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If Senior Sister Huang feels I've disgraced you, you can go to Qianshui Commandery Prince right now and dissolve our engagement. I won't object."
Huang Yanchen showed a haughty expression. "I said I'd wait three years, so I'll wait three years. I'm not the kind of person who goes back on my word. What's that in your hand?"
She didn't dissolve the engagement, and Zhang Ruochen showed a disappointed expression.
Zhang Ruochen didn't hide the secret of the dragon horn from Huang Yanchen, since he couldnt swallow the treasures left by the Four-Winged Earth Dragon alone. "Based on my speculation, it should be a horn from the Four-Winged Earth Dragon."
"A horn from the Four-Winged Earth Dragon?"
Huang Yanchen's eyes lit up. She extended a slender jade hand. "Such an important treasure—you should let me keep it for you. After all, my cultivation is stronger than yours, so there's no need to worry about it being stolen."
How could Zhang Ruochen hand it over to Huang Yanchen? He shook his head and smiled. "Senior Sister Huang, do you really think you're stronger than me?"
Huang Yanchen's eyes grew even brighter. "You want to spar with me? Fine. If you can take one of my strikes without getting hurt, I'll let you keep the dragon horn. If you can't, you have to hand it over to me."
Without waiting for Zhang Ruochen's agreement, Huang Yanchen formed a fierce wind around her body, turning into a massive tornado as powerful energy gathered within her.
After entering the Crimson Void Secret Mansion, Huang Yanchen's cultivation had also increased significantly. She wasn't just at the early stage of the Earth Extreme Realm—she seemed on the verge of breaking through to the middle stage.
The powerful wind covered a space of a hundred zhang in all directions, emitting a howling roar.
Suddenly, Huang Yanchen struck out with her palm, as fast as lightning, reaching Zhang Ruochen's chest in an instant.
Standing firm in the wind like a rock, Zhang Ruochen smiled slightly at the corner of his mouth. His hand rose with incredible speed, striking four palms in succession.
The four palms merged into one palm imprint, unleashing a fourfold force.
"Boom!"
The two palms collided, producing a deafening sound.
Under the impact of the two forces, Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen both flew backward, ending in a draw.