Chapter 191: The Furious Smoke Dust Commandery Princess
Three days had passed. Although Zhang Ruochen's injuries were growing increasingly severe, he had not escaped. He remained inside the Hurricane Training Chamber, cultivating the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow.
Under the unique environment and immense pressure of the chamber, Zhang Ruochen's progress was astonishingly fast.
Now, at most, he would crash into the stone walls only ten times per minute. If he performed well, he might even reduce it to just seven impacts.
This was a clear sign of progress in the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow!
Crashing into the stone walls did not merely cause injury; it also tempered his body.
After each training session, Zhang Ruochen could feel his physical body improving by a fraction, becoming more robust, and the strength of his bones and tendons growing greater.
At the same time, the true qi within his body became purer, and his meridians grew tougher.
"Although the environment inside the Hurricane Training Chamber is extremely harsh, it is also helping me rapidly consolidate my realm. If I keep training like this, in at most three months, I will be able to hone my current cultivation to a state of perfection."
Zhang Ruochen had calculated that, training in the Hurricane Chamber, he would collide with the stone walls hundreds of times each day.
Half a month passed quickly.
Inside the Hurricane Training Chamber, Zhang Ruochen had hardly rested at all. He was either training or recovering from his injuries.
If not for his powerful spiritual power, he would likely have broken down by now.
Even so, he now felt utterly exhausted, his mind foggy and dizzy. His entire being seemed lost in a daze, and he could not muster a single ounce of strength from his whole body.
Of course, after half a month of devilish training, Zhang Ruochen's gains were also significant.
Now, inside the Hurricane Training Chamber, he would only crash into the stone walls about five times per minute.
In his optimal state within the hurricane, he could remain suspended in the air for thirty seconds. Within those thirty seconds, he could harness the wind's force, control his center of gravity, and ensure he did not collide with the stone walls.
...
Chen Xier walked into Tong Sheng Mountain and arrived outside the Hurricane Training Chamber. She was dressed in robes made of Snow Silkworm True Silk, her hair tied up in a bun, her eyebrows arched, her lips painted red, and a white bell still hung from her head.
With every step she took, a pleasant ringing sound came from the bell.
In the past half month, this was Chen Xier's fifth visit to Tong Sheng Mountain.
"He still hasn't come out of the training chamber?" Chen Xier asked.
The silver-robed elder stood up and said, "He has been training inside for half a month. Calculating the time, he should be coming out soon."
The silver-robed elder knew Chen Xier's identity, so he did not act as a senior in front of her, instead speaking to her as an equal.
Chen Xier gently stroked her chin with her jade-like finger, a smile appearing on her face. "At just the Mysterious Extreme Realm, he can last half a month in an Earth-level training chamber. Elder Yao, what do you think makes him capable of this?"
The silver-robed elder said, "In the past ten years, the most outstanding genius to perform in the Hurricane Training Chamber was Smoke Dust Commandery Princess. The first time she entered the Hurricane Training Chamber, she lasted three days. However, her cultivation at that time had already reached the initial stage of the Earth Extreme Realm."
"The second time she entered the Hurricane Training Chamber, she lasted half a month. By then, her cultivation had reached the middle stage of the Earth Extreme Realm. Moreover, that was because she possessed a wind-attributed physique, which allowed her to be so formidable."
"Zhang Ruochen does not have a wind-attributed physique, and he is at the Mysterious Extreme Realm, yet he surpasses Smoke Dust Commandery Princess. This means his cultivation is likely very close to the Unbound Extreme Realm of the Mysterious Extreme Realm. Perhaps he entered the Hurricane Training Chamber specifically to break through to the Unbound Extreme Realm."
Hearing the silver-robed elder's analysis, a hint of surprise appeared on Chen Xier's fair face. "Isn't it said that since ancient times, no one has ever reached the Unbound Extreme Realm?"
The silver-robed elder laughed. "Actually, it's not necessarily that no one has reached it. It's just that those who achieve the Unbound Extreme Realm never speak of it publicly. Take Zhang Ruochen, for example. If he reached the Unbound Extreme Realm, he would definitely keep it to himself."
Chen Xier nodded.
If Zhang Ruochen was truly trying to break through to the Unbound Extreme Realm, then she absolutely could not let him go.
...
Covered in wounds, Zhang Ruochen dragged his exhausted body out of the Hurricane Training Chamber.
At this moment, all he wanted was to find a place to sleep soundly.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen emerge, Chen Xier immediately approached him. Her voice was crisp and pleasant, and she asked with concern, "Junior Brother Zhang, how did you get so badly injured?"
Zhang Ruochen looked at Chen Xier with a somewhat surprised expression. "Senior Sister Chen, why are you here?"
Chen Xier said, "I calculated the time and figured you would be coming out today, so I came to pick you up."
"Pick me up? Pick me up to go where?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Chen Xier rolled her eyes at Zhang Ruochen. "To take you somewhere to recover from your injuries and get some proper rest, of course."
Although Zhang Ruochen was extremely tired after half a month without rest, he still maintained his rationality.
After all, he and Chen Xier were not very familiar with each other. Why was she being so good to him?
"That won't be necessary," Zhang Ruochen said.
Chen Xier replied, "Why not? In your current state, are you planning to leave the Inner Palace Academy and find lodging outside? That would be too dangerous. Besides, what if you run into Zuo Lengxuan again?"
He had to admit, Chen Xier was indeed very clever. Every word she spoke touched on Zhang Ruochen's greatest concerns at that moment.
Zhang Ruochen thought for a moment. "Alright."
Inner Palace disciples of the Martial Market Academy only needed to spend one hundred merit points to exchange for a cultivation mansion within the Inner Palace Academy.
The vast majority of Inner Palace disciples had their own cultivation mansions, and Chen Xier was no exception.
As they entered the cultivation mansion, twelve maidservants came out to greet Chen Xier and Zhang Ruochen.
"Greetings, Master," said the leading maidservant, whose cultivation had reached the Great Position of the Yellow Extreme Realm. She appeared to be around twenty years old and had a rather attractive face.
The maidservants were all somewhat surprised, as this was the first time their master had brought a man into the cultivation mansion.
Chen Xier glanced at Zhang Ruochen and smiled. "In the Martial Market Academy, as long as you have merit points, you can exchange for almost anything. For example, these maidservants. The cheapest ones cost only one merit point each. Once you exchange for one, from that moment on, she belongs to you. If you have enough merit points, you can even exchange for maidservants with Mysterious Extreme Realm or Earth Extreme Realm cultivation."
Chen Xier then gave an order. "Green Tea, Green Leaf, is the Seven Spirit Medicinal Liquid Spring ready?"
"According to your instructions, Master, the medicinal liquid has been prepared," the two maidservants said in unison.
Chen Xier nodded. "You two, take Junior Brother Zhang to the medicinal liquid spring to heal his injuries immediately."
Zhang Ruochen stared at Chen Xier, a hint of doubt in his heart. "I've only met her twice. Why is she so attentive to me?"
Even if Chen Xier was Huang Yanchen's cousin, there was no reason for her to go this far.
What was her real motive?
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen was too exhausted to think much about it. He followed the two maidservants to a bathing pool.
The medicinal liquid in the pool displayed seven different colors and emitted a strong, exotic fragrance.
The Seven Spirit Medicinal Liquid Spring was made by blending seven types of healing medicinal liquids in a specific ratio. Any one of these liquids was worth over one hundred thousand silver coins, and the total value of all seven exceeded one million silver coins.
Even martial arts legends at the Heavenly Extreme Realm would only use the Seven Spirit Medicinal Liquid Spring to heal their injuries when they were severely wounded.
A pool of this medicinal liquid could buy nearly half a city, making it an extremely extravagant expense.
Lying in the Seven Spirit Medicinal Liquid Spring, Zhang Ruochen felt an indescribable comfort throughout his body. His pores opened wide, greedily absorbing the medicinal power from the spring.
Gradually, Zhang Ruochen fell asleep in the pool.
...
Meanwhile, Huang Yanchen arrived at Chen Xier's cultivation mansion. With one hand gripping her war sword, she swung her other palm outward.
With a loud crash, the copper ring was shattered and fell to the ground.
The two massive copper doors burst open under the force of her palm strike.
"Smoke Dust Commandery Princess, our master is in seclusion cultivating. Please do not barge in now," two maidservants immediately rushed out, kneeling on either side, pleading.
Huang Yanchen held her war sword, standing upright with a sharp gaze. "Is that so? Then how did I just see her returning from Tong Sheng Mountain?"
"Whoosh!"
A graceful figure flew out from the cultivation mansion, leaving a trail of afterimages, and landed beneath a maple tree.
It was Chen Xier.
A smile hung on Chen Xier's face as she walked toward Huang Yanchen. "Cousin, who has angered you so much? Why are you in such a fiery temper?"
Huang Yanchen's eyes were icy cold, without a trace of a smile. She got straight to the point. "Where is Zhang Ruochen? Tell him to get out here."
"Hehe! So it turns out Cousin is here for Junior Brother Zhang."
Chen Xier's face showed no panic; instead, her smile grew even more radiant. Her voice was soft. "Junior Brother Zhang was training in the Hurricane Chamber and sustained serious injuries. He is currently recovering in the Seven Spirit Medicinal Liquid Spring."
Huang Yanchen's gaze turned even colder. "Cousin, he is my fiancé. Even if he needs to heal, he should come to my place. Staying in your cultivation mansion is hardly appropriate, is it?"
Chen Xier continued to smile. "It's because of what happened at Tianyue Tower last time. He was worried you might still be angry with him, so he didn't go to you and temporarily moved into my cultivation mansion. Cousin, why don't you go back first? I'll take good care of Junior Brother Zhang for you. As long as he's in my cultivation mansion, no one can harm him."
Huang Yanchen showed no intention of leaving. Her expression darkened. "Chen Xier, don't go too far. I know exactly what you're plotting. Let me be clear: since Zhang Ruochen and I are engaged, he is my fiancé. Any woman who dares to set her sights on him is making an enemy of me."
Chen Xier laughed. "Hehe! I never expected Cousin to actually treat Junior Brother Zhang as your real fiancé. I thought your engagement was just a sham. Cousin, don't worry. If any woman dares to covet my brother-in-law, I'll help you teach her a lesson."
Huang Yanchen and Chen Xier had been rivals since childhood, so she knew Chen Xier very well.
Chen Xier was the type of woman who would stop at nothing to achieve her goals. She must have recognized Zhang Ruochen's talent and potential, which was why she was actively trying to snatch him away.
It wasn't just about taking Zhang Ruochen; it was also about striking at Huang Yanchen. Only by taking Zhang Ruochen could she prove she was superior to Huang Yanchen and more charming.
Huang Yanchen couldn't be bothered to play mind games with Chen Xier. "Where is Zhang Ruochen? I'm taking him away today. Anyone who dares to stop me, don't blame me for being rude."
Chen Xier smiled. "Cousin, don't say I didn't warn you. Men don't like being forced by women. If you insist on taking him away, it might backfire."
"I don't need you to teach me how to handle my affairs."
Huang Yanchen's finely arched brows furrowed slightly. She shot a cold glare at Chen Xier, then, dragging her magnificent blue hair behind her, she strode toward the direction of the Seven Spirit Medicinal Spring Pool.