# Chapter 187: Chen Xier
Outer palace students could also use their tokens to enter the inner palace academy.
The prerequisite was that they could not disrupt the order of the inner palace academy, nor were they qualified to attend lectures given by Heavenly Extreme Realm elders, and they could not enter the Scripture Pavilion to browse cultivation texts.
These were all rules!
At noon, the blazing sun hung high in the sky.
A black cat the size of a fist swaggered into the inner palace academy, arriving at a relatively secluded spot.
That black cat appeared utterly ordinary, and no one noticed its presence.
Xiao Hei's eyes looked around, then he stopped and said in a low voice, "Zhang Ruochen, you can come out now!"
The Time-Space Crystal hanging around Xiao Hei's neck emitted a ring of white light.
"Whoosh," a grain of white light rushed out from the crystal, landed on the ground, and transformed into a white-clothed youth.
That youth was naturally Zhang Ruochen.
"Truly, I've entered the inner palace academy without anyone noticing."
A hint of a smile tugged at the corner of Zhang Ruochen's mouth as he looked around and then took a deep breath.
The spiritual energy between heaven and earth surged toward him endlessly, converging into the Qi Lake at his brow.
"As expected of the inner palace academy, the spiritual energy is three times richer than the Western Courtyard."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes held a look of anticipation, and he also wanted to break through to the Earth Extreme Realm as soon as possible to become an inner palace disciple.
If he were willing, he could break through to the Earth Extreme Realm right now. However, his goal was the Unrivaled Extreme Realm of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, so for now, he had to suppress his urge to advance.
"In the inner palace academy, the weakest students are at the Earth Extreme Realm. Any one of them, when they go out, is considered a top-tier expert in the martial world and will be courted by various forces."
All students who could become inner palace disciples of the Martial Market Academy were first-rate geniuses, and almost every one of them could fight across one realm.
Someone like Xun Guihai, at that level, could even fight across two realms.
For the martial artists of Yunwu Commandery, the inner palace academy of the Martial Market Academy was like a sacred land of martial arts, a cradle of martial learning that everyone admired and yearned for.
Zhang Ruochen had come to the inner palace academy with a purpose, and he headed directly toward the "Sacred Ascension Mountain" of the inner palace academy.
"Sacred Ascension Mountain" was one of the important cultivation secret grounds of the inner palace academy. Within the mountain, there was a Spirit Crystal vein. The rich spiritual energy of the inner palace academy emanated from that Spirit Crystal vein.
It could be said that that Spirit Crystal vein was the very foundation of the Martial Market Academy's establishment.
On Sacred Ascension Mountain, dozens of cultivation secret chambers were set up.
Each cultivation secret chamber was different; some were "Blazing Flame Secret Chambers," some were "Freezing Ice Secret Chambers," some were "Thunder and Lightning Secret Chambers," and some were "Hell Secret Chambers."
Zhang Ruochen was going to Sacred Ascension Mountain to borrow a "Gale Secret Chamber," using the special environment of the chamber to help him master the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow more quickly.
"Sacred Ascension Mountain restricted area, unauthorized persons keep out!"
Zhang Ruochen arrived at the mountain gate of Sacred Ascension Mountain and was about to enter when two imposing inner palace disciples walked out, standing on either side to block Zhang Ruochen's path.
One of the inner palace disciples, who looked about thirty years old, was named Huo Sheng. He had a goatee on his chin and looked down at Zhang Ruochen with a cold, sharp gaze. "Who are you?"
The number of inner palace disciples at the Martial Market Academy was not large, and almost everyone had a name and reputation.
The two inner palace disciples guarding Sacred Ascension Mountain had never seen Zhang Ruochen before, so naturally, they would not allow him to enter Sacred Ascension Mountain.
Zhang Ruochen took out his token from the Martial Market Academy and said, "I am an outer palace disciple of the Martial Market Academy."
"So you're an outer palace disciple."
Both inner palace disciples showed contemptuous expressions. Huo Sheng looked Zhang Ruochen up and down and said indifferently, "Sacred Ascension Mountain is not a place you should come to. Leave quickly, or don't blame us for being rude."
Huo Sheng and Zhao Minggong were both at the mid-stage Earth Extreme Realm, making them martial arts experts. Naturally, they did not take a Mysterious Extreme Realm outer palace disciple seriously.
Zhang Ruochen put his token away and said unhurriedly, "As far as I know, outer palace disciples can also enter Sacred Ascension Mountain to cultivate. Why are you two senior brothers blocking my way?"
The two inner palace disciples guarding the mountain gate both laughed.
Zhao Minggong said, "The academy does have that rule, but it only applies to outer palace students ranked in the top three of the four courtyards. If you had that kind of strength, we would let you enter Sacred Ascension Mountain right now. If you don't have that kind of strength, then you're deliberately causing trouble, and even if we kill you, the Martial Market Academy won't punish us."
Seeing that Zhang Ruochen was just a teenager of about ten-something years old, they naturally would not believe he was a genius ranked in the top three of the four courtyards.
Just then, a graceful and elegant woman walked out from Sacred Ascension Mountain.
From a distance, she said, "Huo Sheng, Zhao Minggong, you two are too ignorant. Don't you know that the person standing before you is the number one talent of the Western Courtyard?"
Hearing the woman's voice, Huo Sheng and Zhao Minggong were startled. They immediately turned around and bowed to the woman, saying in unison, "Greetings, Senior Sister Chen."
Zhang Ruochen had not expected that someone in the Martial Market Academy would recognize him either. He looked at the woman and couldn't help but feel a sense of stunning beauty.
She was an extremely beautiful woman with long, sapphire-blue hair that reached her waist. Tied into her hair bun was a small, delicate white bell. As she walked, the bell emitted a crisp, pleasant sound.
Her figure was very tall and slender, with graceful curves, a slender willow waist, and two straight, jade-like legs faintly visible beneath her skirt. Her appearance was quite similar to Huang Yanchen's, but her temperament was completely different, giving off a gentle, water-like feeling, full of femininity.
Zhang Ruochen felt he had some impression of her, as if he had seen her somewhere before, but he couldn't quite remember at the moment.
As Zhang Ruochen was sizing her up, Chen Xier was also sizing him up.
Chen Xier walked up to Zhang Ruochen, her exquisite and beautiful face showing an elegant smile. "Junior Brother Zhang, do you want to enter Sacred Ascension Mountain to cultivate?"
Although Chen Xier was extremely beautiful, Zhang Ruochen had seen quite a few beautiful women, so he remained very calm.
"Because I need to cultivate a martial technique, I plan to borrow a cultivation secret chamber."
After saying this, Zhang Ruochen added, "Have I met Senior Sister somewhere before?"
Chen Xier rolled her eyes slightly and said with a hint of reproach, "Junior Brother Zhang truly has a poor memory. Not long ago, we met at Tianyue Tower. Could it be that Junior Brother Zhang has already forgotten?"
Chen Xier's voice was very pleasant, as melodious as a lark, making one involuntarily get lost in her voice.
Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood and finally recalled that he had indeed seen her at Tianyue Tower. She had been sitting beside Huang Yanchen at the time.
Zhang Ruochen said, "May I ask how to address Senior Sister?"
Chen Xier narrowed her eyes and smiled. "My name is Chen Xier, and I am also the cousin of Princess Yanchen. By rights, I should call you Brother-in-law."
In the distance, the two inner palace disciples guarding the mountain gate saw Zhang Ruochen and Chen Xier chatting happily, and envy appeared in their eyes.
In the Heavenly Demon Martial City, there was a saying about the "Ten Talents of Heavenly Demon" and the "Ten Beauties of Heavenly Demon."
Chen Xier was one of the "Ten Beauties of Heavenly Demon." Many inner palace students regarded her as their dream lover and considered marrying Chen Xier as their cultivation goal.
Normally, even the top experts among the inner palace students might not be qualified to exchange a word with Chen Xier. How could an outer palace student be worthy of conversing with her?
Huo Sheng and Zhao Minggong naturally felt very unbalanced.
"Isn't he just an outer palace disciple? What's so great about him?" Huo Sheng said in a low voice.
Chen Xier smiled. "Junior Brother Zhang, if you want to enter Sacred Ascension Mountain to cultivate, you'll need to spend merit points. Entering a cultivation secret chamber once costs about one hundred merit points. How many merit points do you have left?"
Zhang Ruochen was slightly taken aback. "Do I need to spend merit points to enter Sacred Ascension Mountain to cultivate?"
Before entering the Red Sky Secret Mansion, Zhang Ruochen had spent all his merit points, leaving not a single one.
Chen Xier seemed to see Zhang Ruochen's predicament. Her red lips curved slightly, revealing her white teeth as she smiled. "If Junior Brother doesn't have enough merit points, you can use mine! I can lend them to you first!"
"No need. I'll spend silver coins to buy merit points right now." Zhang Ruochen didn't want to owe Chen Xier a favor.
Using silver coins to buy merit points was the most uneconomical method.
Generally speaking, one merit point was equivalent to one thousand silver coins.
But if one used silver coins to buy merit points, they would need to spend two thousand silver coins to buy one merit point.
Therefore, under normal circumstances, no one was willing to use silver coins to buy merit points. It was too much of a loss!
Chen Xier nodded. "Actually, there's another way. You can exchange items for merit points, which is relatively cheaper. For example, one drop of Half-Saint True Liquid can be exchanged for two hundred merit points."
Zhang Ruochen's eyes lit up. Exchanging items for merit points was indeed a good idea.
"Since I'm free anyway, why don't I take you to the Merit Tower?" Chen Xier offered proactively.
"Thank you, Senior Sister Chen."
Zhang Ruochen sighed inwardly. Although Chen Xier and Huang Yanchen were cousins, her personality was much better than Huang Yanchen's, and she was also very helpful.
Beautiful and with a good personality. Such a woman was truly rare.
Zhang Ruochen and Chen Xier walked side by side, chatting and laughing all the way. They actually had many common topics, gradually disappearing from Sacred Ascension Mountain as they headed toward the Merit Tower.
...
"Senior Sister Chen actually personally took that outer palace student to the Merit Tower?" Huo Sheng was as if petrified, finding it hard to believe.
Chen Xier was the daughter of the Grand Palace Master of the Martial Market Academy. She usually acted aloof and above others. Even figures at the level of the Ten Talents of Heavenly Demon were not taken seriously by her.
Now, she was walking side by side with an outer palace disciple, laughing and chatting. Naturally, Huo Sheng and Zhao Minggong were extremely shocked.
Zhao Minggong was even more jealous and sneered coldly, "That kid actually dares to get so close to Senior Sister Chen. He really doesn't know his place. In the Martial Market Academy, how many talented geniuses are pursuing Senior Sister Chen? It will never be his turn. Should we tell Senior Brother Zuo about this?"
"Right! Tell Senior Brother Zuo about this and let him teach that kid a lesson." Huo Sheng also showed a sinister smile.
"All the students in the inner palace academy know that Senior Brother Zuo is pursuing Senior Sister Chen. If we tell him about this, with his temper, he'll tear that outer palace student to pieces! Hehe!" Zhao Minggong said.
Huo Sheng stayed behind to continue guarding the mountain gate of Sacred Ascension Mountain.
Meanwhile, Zhao Minggong left Sacred Ascension Mountain and hurried toward Zuo Lengxuan's cultivation secret mansion to report this matter to Zuo Lengxuan.