Chapter 180: Discussing Zhang Ruochen's Character
Although Zhang Ruochen had never been to Heavenly Demon Martial City, many young martial artists there had heard his name.
It was not because his talent was exceptionally astonishing, but because his engagement to Huang Yanchen had caused quite a stir in Heavenly Demon Martial City.
The geniuses from the thirty-six commanderies of Heavenly Demon Ridge emerged endlessly. In Heavenly Demon Martial City, there were at least dozens of young experts with more prominent reputations than Zhang Ruochen.
If a real ranking were made, Zhang Ruochen might not even make it into the top hundred.
Even though Zhang Ruochen had once defeated the princes of various countries in Qianshui Commandery, everyone knew that was only because they were at the same cultivation level that he could claim first place. In a real fight, who cared if you were at the same level?
Even if you were invincible at the same level, what use was that when others had cultivation levels far above yours and trained faster?
Besides, Qianshui Commandery was far from Heavenly Demon Martial City. Everyone only knew that Zhang Ruochen had defeated the princes at the same level; they did not know the details of that battle, so naturally they did not think highly of him.
Thus, the real reason Zhang Ruochen became famous was because he became the fiancé of Princess Yanchen, which made many people envious and jealous.
"With Zhang Ruochen's strength, if he really went to the Martial Market Arena, entering the top two hundred of the Xuan List should not be difficult."
"That's not necessarily true. I heard his cultivation is not that high. Among the younger generation of martial artists, only about twenty or so can enter the top two hundred of the Xuan List. Not everyone can make it in."
"If he really had the strength to enter the top two hundred of the Xuan List, he would have gone to the Martial Market Arena long ago to compete for a spot. Why hasn't he gone yet?" Hua Jiuhan said.
Everyone nodded, finding Hua Jiuhan's reasoning sound.
"His engagement to Princess Yanchen of Qianshui Commandery caused a huge stir in Heavenly Demon Martial City at the time. Everyone thought he was not worthy of Princess Yanchen."
"Although Zhang Ruochen is outstanding, compared to the Ten Talents of Heavenly Demon, he still falls short. He really does not deserve Princess Yanchen. When the Ten Talents of Heavenly Demon were his age, they had all already reached the Earth Extreme Realm."
"It is said that two of the Ten Talents of Heavenly Demon have already declared that if Zhang Ruochen dares to enter Heavenly Demon Martial City, they will not let him leave the city intact."
After learning Zhang Ruochen's identity, the entire Jintian Pavilion became noisy. The looks they gave him were quite strange, a mix of admiration, jealousy, and pity.
Lin Ningshan also looked at Zhang Ruochen. Just a year ago, the sickly, weak youth she had looked down on had become handsome and carefree, the top expert of the Western Academy of the Martial Market Academy, and even engaged to Princess Yanchen of Qianshui Commandery.
She already regretted how she had treated Zhang Ruochen back then.
Otherwise, the one engaged to Zhang Ruochen now might have been her.
Although Lin Ningshan was engaged to Zhang Tiangui, he did not value her at all. She had only seen him from afar once. In Zhang Tiangui's eyes, she was just an insignificant woman.
What no one knew was that Huang Yanchen was right there in Jintian Pavilion, sitting in a private room on the third floor.
In the private room, there were over a dozen talented elites, the men handsome and the women beautiful. Each one was a renowned figure in Heavenly Demon Martial City, with both background and personal strength.
Beside Huang Yanchen sat an extremely beautiful woman, about the same age as Huang Yanchen. She also had long, sapphire-blue hair, skin as white as snow, delicate features, and long eyelashes. Her beauty rivaled Huang Yanchen's.
This woman was Chen Xi'er, Huang Yanchen's cousin, only a month younger than Huang Yanchen.
Hearing the discussion downstairs, Chen Xi'er squinted her eyes and smiled. "Cousin, since Zhang Ruochen is also in Jintian Pavilion, why not invite him up so we can get to know him?"
Chen Xi'er had always liked to compete with Huang Yanchen. When Huang Yanchen wore fancy clothes at age five, she would wear even fancier ones. When Huang Yanchen used a fourth-rank True Martial Treasure at age nine, she would use a fifth-rank one. When Huang Yanchen entered the Martial Market Academy for training, she also entered, and directly into the Inner Palace.
It seemed she would only be satisfied if she did everything better than Huang Yanchen.
Now that Huang Yanchen had a fiancé, she decided she would find one too, and he had to be even more outstanding than Huang Yanchen's.
Huang Yanchen naturally understood Chen Xi'er's personality. She did not want Zhang Ruochen to get caught up in this competition of comparisons. "Wait until he enters the Inner Palace of the Martial Market Academy. Then you will naturally have many chances to meet. There is no rush."
Chen Xi'er's voice was soft and coaxing. "But I want to meet my future brother-in-law now. I am really curious how he won the favor of your proud and aloof Highness the Princess."
Xun Guihai sat across from Chen Xi'er and snorted coldly. "Miss Xi'er, I advise you not to meet him. If you do, you will be greatly disappointed."
Xun Guihai's cultivation had also broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm, making him an Inner Palace disciple of the Martial Market Academy.
Huang Yanchen's eyes turned cold as she stared at Xun Guihai. "Whether Zhang Ruochen is good or not is not for you to judge."
Xun Guihai said, "Princess Yanchen, do not be deceived by Zhang Ruochen's sweet talk. From what I know, Zhang Ruochen's character is quite despicable. He has ambiguous relationships with female students of the Western Academy. Moreover, he decided to get engaged to you to seek the support of Qianshui Commandery in resisting the annexation of the surrounding commanderies. Princess, he is using you."
In the private room, everyone's expressions turned strange.
None of them had met Zhang Ruochen before. They only knew his training talent seemed decent, but they had no idea what kind of person he really was.
Hearing Xun Guihai's words, they all felt it was unfair to Huang Yanchen.
Princess Yanchen was so beautiful and outstanding. Even finding someone ten or a hundred times better than Zhang Ruochen would be easy for her.
Xun Guihai smiled. "Also, I heard that Zhang Ruochen used to be quite fond of his cousin, but she looked down on him. That is because his character is too low."
"Xun Guihai, you have done your research quite thoroughly," Huang Yanchen said coldly.
Xun Guihai did not want to anger Huang Yanchen too much and quickly said, "Princess Yanchen, I am only doing this for your own good, to help you see Zhang Ruochen's true face. Zhang Ruochen's training talent is indeed passable, but he is not irreplaceable. At least the Ten Talents of Heavenly Demon are more outstanding than him."
Seeing that Huang Yanchen seemed about to lose her temper, Chen Xi'er quickly scolded, "Xun Guihai, shut up. Zhang Ruochen is now my cousin's fiancé. Even if he has faults, it is not for you to gossip about."
Xun Guihai did not dare to offend Chen Xi'er and quickly apologized to Huang Yanchen. "Princess Yanchen, I spoke recklessly just now. Please forgive me."
As soon as Xun Guihai finished speaking, a deafening uproar erupted from the first floor of Jintian Pavilion.
Chen Xi'er quickly asked, "What is happening downstairs?"
Hearing Chen Xi'er's order, a maid hurried out of the private room.
A moment later, the maid returned and said, "Reporting to the esteemed guests, they are auctioning tonight's eight 'Companion Dining Beauties'."
The women in the private room all showed looks of disdain, finding the practices of Tianyue Palace quite disgraceful.
The male prodigies, however, had a glint in their eyes, looking eager. If not for wanting to maintain their image in front of Huang Yanchen and Chen Xi'er, some of them would have been willing to spend a fortune to buy a companion and spend a night of pleasure at Tianyue Palace.
Huang Yanchen frowned slightly. "Isn't it just an auction of eight 'Companion Dining Beauties'? Why is it causing such a commotion?"
The maid hesitated. "Because the top genius of the Western Academy of the Martial Market Academy and Ximen Guanren of Yuntai Manor are competing for tonight's top dining girl. The price has already been driven up to a sky-high one million five hundred thousand silver coins."
Hearing the maid's words, the people in the private room wore gleeful smiles. All eyes turned to Huang Yanchen.
Huang Yanchen's face was as cold as frost. "Say that again. Who is competing with Ximen Guanren for tonight's top dining girl?"
The maid grew even more timid and said cautiously, "It is the top genius of the Western Academy of the Martial Market Academy, Zhang Ruochen."
Xun Guihai was overjoyed inside and laughed. "Now everyone should believe what I said!"
"Zhang Ruochen has quite the nerve. He is already engaged to Princess Yanchen and still dares to act recklessly outside. Princess Yanchen, I am willing to teach that rogue a lesson for you." A man wearing a purple-gold crown stood up, holding a folding fan, and spoke indignantly.
This man was Zuo Lengxuan, twenty-eight years old, ranked thirty-fourth in the Inner Palace of the Martial Market Academy. His cultivation had reached the Great Extreme Position of the Earth Extreme Realm, and he was a genius with hope of breaking through to the Great Perfection of the Earth Extreme Realm before the age of thirty.
In Heavenly Demon Martial City, only those who could break through to the Great Perfection of the Earth Extreme Realm before thirty could be called exceptionally talented.
If one could not reach the Great Perfection of the Earth Extreme Realm by thirty, they could no longer be called a genius and were just an ordinary martial artist.
Another martial artist, whose talent was no less than Zuo Lengxuan's, also stood up. "Just say the word, Princess Yanchen, and I will go down now and break his hands and feet."
Huang Yanchen was naturally furious inside. She clenched her hands tightly, wanting to go down herself and break Zhang Ruochen's legs.
That bastard was truly detestable, an out-and-out lecher.
But she held back, not wanting to be made a fool of in front of Chen Xi'er. She tried to stay calm. "No rush. I want to see how high he can drive the price."
...
Tonight, the top dining girl of Jintian Pavilion was a seventeen-year-old beauty. She wore a red ice-silk robe, had a slender figure, rosy cheeks, and sparkling vermilion lips. She was definitely a rare beauty.
She was also a half-human, from the Peacock Half-Human Clan, so she had a pair of colorful wings on her back. It was said she was a martial artist of no low talent, with her cultivation reaching the Small Extreme Position of the Yellow Extreme Realm.
Her martial arts cultivation was not high, but she made up for it with her pure beauty, graceful dancing, and feminine charm. Many men wanted to possess her.
At first, many people bid, but after the price exceeded one million silver coins, only Zhang Ruochen and Ximen Guanren of Yuntai Manor were left.
One million silver coins was a huge fortune even for Earth Extreme Realm martial artists, enough to buy many training resources. No one was willing to spend so much silver on a woman.
Zhang Ruochen bid because he wanted to buy a princess consort for Zhang Shaochu.
The reason he continued bidding after the price exceeded one million silver coins was that, to Zhang Ruochen, one million silver coins and two million silver coins made no difference.
He could just sell a space bracelet and get a large amount of silver.
He was not short of this money.
"One million eight hundred thousand silver coins," Zhang Ruochen called out the next price.
Ximen Guanren remained calm and continued bidding. "Two million silver coins."
Ximen Guanren was the top expert of the Outer Manor of Yuntai Manor, ranked thirteenth on the Xuan List. He was also the grandson of a vice manor lord of Yuntai Manor, so he was not short of money either.
Ximen Guanren sat at the same table as Lin Chenyu and Lin Ningshan, also a guest invited by Hua Jiuhan.
"Elder brother, maybe we should give up. Spending two million silver coins on a woman is not worth it," Zhang Shaochu said quietly.
Liu Chengfeng, sitting nearby, shook his head. "Fourth Prince, it is too late to give up now. This is no longer just about competing for a top dining girl. It is a contest between the senior brother of the Western Academy of the Martial Market Academy and the senior brother of Yuntai Manor. If the senior brother gives up now, it is like telling everyone that our Martial Market Academy is inferior to Yuntai Manor. From now on, the students of our Western Academy will not be able to hold their heads up when they see the disciples of Yuntai Manor."
Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly. "Fourth brother, do not worry. It is just some silver coins. It is not a big deal."
Zhang Ruochen did not want to haggle with Ximen Guanren any longer and decided to secure the top dining girl quickly. He called out an astronomical price. "Four million silver coins."
"Boom!"
The entire Jintian Pavilion erupted. Everyone was shocked!
Zhang Ruochen had directly doubled the price. At such a high price, it was enough to buy not just one woman but a thousand.
Ximen Guanren was silent for a long time but ultimately did not raise the bid. He only had a little over a million silver coins. If he spent two million to buy the top dining girl, he would need to borrow some money.
Borrowing a few hundred thousand silver coins was not hard for him, but borrowing several million was no small amount.
Ximen Guanren glanced at Lin Chenyu and shook his head apologetically. "I cannot raise the bid anymore."
Lin Chenyu nodded slightly, indicating understanding.
Then Lin Chenyu stood up, looked toward Zhang Ruochen, and smiled. "It has been a year since we last met. I did not expect my cousin to have become such a romantic figure, spending four million silver coins on a dining companion. I truly admire you, cousin. I wonder, if Princess Yanchen finds out about this, what will she think?"
Everyone thought Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen were engaged and must have a close relationship.
But only Zhang Ruochen knew that he and Huang Yanchen were only temporarily engaged to solve their respective problems. They would never really be together.
So Zhang Ruochen appeared quite relaxed and said confidently, "Cousin, rest assured. Even if Princess Yanchen finds out about this, she will definitely not have any objections."
...
This chapter is a long one of four thousand three hundred words, equivalent to two chapters from others. I have something to do tomorrow, so the update might be later.