Chapter 183: Heavenly Man Mansion
Liu Chuanshen was a martial arts myth at the Heavenly Extreme Realm and a Silver Robe Elder of the Martial Market Academy, possessing his own mansion in the Demon Martial City.
Liu Chuanshen's mansion, resembling a castle, covered two hundred acres and housed eight hundred soldiers, along with over two hundred servants and maids.
Only martial artists at the Heavenly Extreme Realm could enjoy such treatment.
For a martial arts myth at the Heavenly Extreme Realm, a single word from him would immediately draw many martial artists to serve as soldiers and servants.
A soldier under a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist would hold a high status even in the martial arts world, and no one would dare offend them easily.
Moreover, stationed in a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist's mansion, there was a chance to obtain advanced martial techniques and cultivation methods, or even receive guidance from the Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist.
Due to the special geographical location of the Demon Martial City, Liu Chuanshan had only recruited eight hundred soldiers.
In the Yunwu Commandery, some Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artists could build their own cities, recruit tens of thousands of soldiers, and become regional overlords.
"If I could become a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist, I would also build a castle, recruit three thousand soldiers, and possess eight hundred beauties. Awake, wielding the killing sword; drunk, resting on a beauty's lap—that would be the true essence of a hero." Zhang Shaochu said with high spirits.
Liu Chengfeng smiled and said, "The Heavenly Extreme Realm is known as the ultimate realm of martial arts. Every Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist is called a myth of the martial world. Achieving the Heavenly Extreme Realm is no easy feat! Even with my talent, I only have a twenty percent chance of reaching the Heavenly Extreme Realm."
Zhang Shaochu felt as if cold water had been poured on him, and he said dejectedly, "Then I have even less hope, don't I?"
Kong Xuan, standing behind Zhang Ruochen, also showed a look of longing, her beautiful eyes shimmering as she thought to herself, "A Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist is a top-tier figure in the martial world. Do I have any hope?"
She knew she had no hope at all. With her cultivation speed, reaching the Earth Extreme Realm would already be quite good.
Upon hearing that Zhang Ruochen had arrived, Liu Chuanshen immediately came out to greet him personally, followed by a large group of servants.
Liu Chuanshen's laughter was hearty as he said from a distance, "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, it's good to see you again."
All the servants looked at Zhang Ruochen with curiosity, puzzled as to why their master, a lofty martial arts myth, would personally come out to welcome a young man.
Liu Chengfeng immediately whispered something into Liu Chuanshen's ear.
Hearing Liu Chengfeng's words, Liu Chuanshen nodded slightly and said, "Your Highness, the Ninth Prince, feel free to stay in my mansion. In the Demon Martial City, few dare to cause trouble here."
"Thank you, Senior Liu." Zhang Ruochen said.
Liu Chuanshen glared and said, "What thanks? You are a key talent being cultivated by the Martial Market Academy, and I am a Silver Robe Elder of the Martial Market Academy. If anyone dares to touch you, I will naturally protect you. If anything, I should thank you. Last time, if not for you and the Fourth Prince saving me, I would have died at the hands of those evil people from the Moon Worship Demon Sect. Tonight, I will host a banquet to welcome you. Stay as long as you like, and if you need anything, just tell me."
Liu Chuanshen was so courteous to Zhang Ruochen not only because Zhang Ruochen had saved his life, but also because Zhang Ruochen's displayed talent made Liu Chuanshen believe that Zhang Ruochen's future achievements would surpass his own.
Perhaps, in the future, he would even need to ask Zhang Ruochen for a favor.
After the evening banquet, Liu Chengfeng led the way, bringing Zhang Ruochen, Zi Qian, Kong Xuan, and Zhang Shaochu to their lodging.
As night fell, Zhang Ruochen and Zi Qian sat in the courtyard.
"Junior Sister Zi, I'm sorry for dragging you into this. It might be a while before you can return to the West Courtyard." Zhang Ruochen said apologetically.
Zi Qian stood with her sword in hand, her eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen, and said, "In that case, you should compensate me, shouldn't you?"
Zhang Ruochen was slightly taken aback and said, "Compensation?"
Zi Qian nodded seriously and said, "Because of you, I've also incurred the hatred of Lin Chenyu and Xun Guihai. You have to give me some compensation."
"What compensation do you want?" Zhang Ruochen asked with a smile.
Zi Qian seemed to have prepared in advance and said, "I want to learn your movement martial technique, the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow. If I learn this movement technique, even if someone tries to kill me, I'll have more ways to save my life. It's just that I'm not sure if you're willing to part with it."
"I think you want to learn this movement technique to make it easier to kill people." Zhang Ruochen said sternly. "I can teach you the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, but you must promise me that you won't use it to kill. Only use it to save your life when someone is trying to kill you."
Zhang Ruochen had never supported Zi Qian continuing as an assassin.
A hint of joy appeared on Zi Qian's cold face as she said, "Alright! I promise you."
Zhang Ruochen did not hold back and taught Zi Qian the secrets of the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow.
As for the footwork of the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, it could not be drawn on paper, so he would have to teach her slowly over time.
After sending Zi Qian off, Zhang Ruochen saw Kong Xuan walking toward him.
She had a slender figure, a soft and beautiful appearance, skin as smooth as cream, and a pair of colorful wings on her back. In her hands, she carried a bronze tray with a pot of tea and two cups.
Kong Xuan placed the tray on the stone table, extended her slender jade fingers, set a cup in front of Zhang Ruochen, and filled it with tea.
Zhang Ruochen did not drink the tea but looked at Kong Xuan and said, "You are a Peacock Half-Human. You should know about the Peacock Manor, right?"
Kong Xuan showed a hint of surprise and said, "Reporting to the Young Master, the Peacock Manor is the largest force among the Peacock Half-Humans. In the recent ancient era, it was always the ruler of the Peacock Half-Humans. However, five hundred years ago, the Empress ascended the throne and established the First Central Empire. The Peacock Manor refused to submit to the Empress's rule and was suppressed by the First Central Empire, ultimately leading to its destruction."
"After the Peacock Manor fell, the status of the Peacock Half-Humans plummeted, and they were attacked by human forces. They specifically capture Peacock Half-Human women to sell as slaves at high prices, turning them into playthings for human strongmen on their beds."
At this point, Kong Xuan became somewhat sorrowful.
Wasn't she one of those unfortunate ones?
Peacock Half-Human women were all very beautiful, naturally becoming targets for martial artists to capture. Capturing one could basically sell for tens of thousands of silver coins.
A beauty like Kong Xuan could even sell for over a million silver coins.
Zhang Ruochen let out a soft sigh. Eight hundred years ago, three hundred half-human clans had been under the command of the Ming Emperor, including the Peacock Half-Humans.
One of Zhang Ruochen's cousins was the granddaughter of the Peacock Manor's master. In childhood, she, Zhang Ruochen, and Princess Chi Yao had been very close.
He wondered if she was still alive.
If she was still alive, she would be over eight hundred years old.
"I never expected Empress Chi Yao to be so ruthless, even destroying the Peacock Manor."
Zhang Ruochen pressed his lips tightly, his fingers lightly tapping the table, lost in thought.
After a long while, Zhang Ruochen looked up and continued to look at Kong Xuan, asking, "What grade of Divine Martial Mark did you awaken?"
"Fourth-grade Divine Martial Mark." Kong Xuan said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The grade of the Divine Martial Mark is only average. Of course, the grade of the Divine Martial Mark does not absolutely represent a martial artist's potential. In history, some martial artists who awakened only the lowest first-grade Divine Martial Mark have managed to cultivate to sainthood."
Then, he asked again, "What cultivation method are you practicing?"
"Reporting to the Young Master, this servant practices the Human-grade Middle-rank method, the Mystic Wind Listening Wave Art. Currently, I have opened nine meridians." Kong Xuan said.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "Opening only nine meridians at the Yellow Extreme Realm Minor Extreme Position will have a significant impact on your future martial arts cultivation. I can teach you a top-tier method of the Peacock Half-Humans, but you must swear that you will not pass this method to anyone else, nor tell anyone that you are practicing it. Are you willing to swear?"