Chapter 194: Major Mission
Duanmu Xingling said, "Going to the Red Plains Primary Ruins to hunt the third-rank barbarian beast, the Golden-Eyed Soul-Eating Beast. As long as we gouge out its eyes and bring them back to the Martial Market Academy, we can exchange them for six hundred merit points. But the Golden-Eyed Soul-Eating Beast is extremely powerful. I’m afraid I can’t kill it alone, so I’d like to ask for your help."
The eyes of the Golden-Eyed Soul-Eating Beast had high medicinal value and could be used to refine third-rank pills.
Hunting the Golden-Eyed Soul-Eating Beast wasn’t particularly dangerous, and with six hundred merit points on the line, it was worth accompanying Duanmu Xingling to the Red Plains Primary Ruins.
Zhang Ruochen thought this over and glanced at Huang Yanchen.
Huang Yanchen, however, showed a disdainful expression and said coldly, "A mere six hundred merit points? A waste of time. I have a better mission here—one of the most significant tasks the academy has released in recent years."
Duanmu Xingling was slightly startled. "What mission?"
Zhang Ruochen also looked curious.
Huang Yanchen said, "Half a year ago, the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect joined forces to destroy the Martial Market Bank’s operations in the Yunwu Commandery. At the same time, they’ve been expanding aggressively in the Yunwu Commandery, establishing branches and controlling key economic lifelines, trying to completely push the Martial Market Bank out of the region."
"Just now, the Martial Market Academy responded immediately by issuing a mission. Any outer or inner disciple of the academy who kills a Yellow Extreme Realm Grand Perfection martial artist from the Black Market or the Moon Worship Demon Sect will earn one merit point."
"Killing a Mysterious Extreme Realm initial stage martial artist earns ten merit points."
"Killing a Mysterious Extreme Realm Grand Perfection martial artist earns one hundred merit points."
"Killing an Earth Extreme Realm initial stage martial artist earns five hundred merit points."
"…"
"Depending on the enemy’s strength, the stronger the enemy you kill, the more merit points you earn. If you can wipe out a branch of the Black Market or a sub-sect of the Moon Worship Demon Sect, killing all important members above the Mysterious Extreme Realm, you can directly earn one thousand merit points."
"For particularly powerful branches or sub-sects, the merit points are even higher. For example, the Demon Sect’s sub-sect in Peiyun Commandery, guarded by an Earth Extreme Realm Grand Perfection expert, offers five thousand merit points."
"If you can destroy the Demon Sect’s main headquarters or the Black Market’s central headquarters, the merit points are even greater."
Zhang Ruochen’s expression shifted. "Is the Martial Market Bank going to wage an all-out war against the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect?"
Huang Yanchen said, "Not an all-out war. The battlefield is limited to the Yunwu Commandery, and only inner and outer academy disciples can participate. Elder-level figures are not allowed to join."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "If elder-level figures got involved, it could trigger a full-scale war across the thirty-six commanderies. The Martial Market Bank might not be able to control the situation. They’re probably just retaliating against the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect."
Duanmu Xingling frowned slightly. "The evil cultivators from the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect are all cunning, ruthless, and vicious. Fighting them will be extremely dangerous. Sister Chen, are you sure you want to take this mission?"
Huang Yanchen said, "Just wait and see. Even if we don’t take it, other disciples will rush to the Yunwu Commandery. This is a chance to earn a lot of merit points—no one will miss it."
Huang Yanchen fixed her gaze on Zhang Ruochen. "Zhang Ruochen, would you rather go with Junior Sister Duanmu to hunt the Golden-Eyed Soul-Eating Beast in the Red Plains Primary Ruins, or come with me to the Yunwu Commandery to hunt down the evil cultivators of the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect?"
Zhang Ruochen gave a wry smile. Agreeing to either side would offend the other.
How was he supposed to choose?
Zhang Ruochen said, "My cultivation has just broken through, and my realm isn’t stable yet. I plan to spend the next month consolidating my foundation. I don’t intend to go out on missions for now."
Huang Yanchen bit her glossy lips lightly, cast a cold glance at Zhang Ruochen, and stood up with a hint of pride. Without saying another word, she turned and walked out of Duanmu Xingling’s cultivation secret chamber.
Seeing Huang Yanchen leave, Zhang Ruochen let out a long breath and shook his head. "The Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect have always operated in the shadows. Their power is no weaker than the Martial Market Bank’s. If the Martial Market Bank tries to deal with them, they’ll surely retaliate. Senior Sister Huang is oversimplifying things. Going after the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect is an extremely dangerous mission."
Duanmu Xingling nodded. "You’re right. The Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect have vast influence—they’re no pushovers. While they won’t launch a large-scale counterattack, they’ll definitely send young experts to deal with the academy’s disciples."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Martial Market Academy must have considered all factors before making this decision. Maybe it’s a way to train the disciples."
Duanmu Xingling squinted her eyes and smiled. "Are you sure you won’t go with Sister Chen to the Yunwu Commandery? I think she might actually be angry."
"I’ll think about it in a few days."
Zhang Ruochen picked up the key to the cultivation secret chamber from the table, gripped it tightly, and then left Duanmu Xingling’s chamber.
Xiao Hei was still staying in Duanmu Xingling’s cultivation secret chamber, while Zhang Ruochen left the inner academy and headed to Liu Chuanshen’s residence.
Although he was now a hot target on the Bounty List, with many people wanting to kill him, Tianmo Martial City was still relatively safe. Even a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist would find it hard to escape after killing an inner disciple of the Martial Market Academy in the city.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen had now broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm initial stage, stepping into the ranks of martial arts experts. Ordinary assassins couldn’t kill him.
Arriving again at Liu Chuanshen’s residence, Zhang Ruochen first met Zhang Shaochu.
Zhang Shaochu had been staying in Tianmo Martial City and hadn’t returned to the Western Courtyard. His cultivation had improved rapidly, reaching the Mysterious Extreme Realm Grand Perfection.
"Ninth Brother, thanks to the half-saint true liquid you gave me, my cultivation has advanced so quickly. My fastest burst speed is now fifty-six meters per second. Although I have no hope of making it onto the Mysterious List, I’m still a top expert among those below the Mysterious List." Zhang Shaochu was very proud. He had never imagined he could reach the Mysterious Extreme Realm Grand Perfection so soon.
By his own estimate, he would have needed at least three more years to reach this level. It was all thanks to Zhang Ruochen’s help that his cultivation had soared.
Zhang Ruochen looked at Zhang Shaochu, thought for a moment, then took out spirit paper and a marking brush. He quickly wrote down a spirit-level mid-grade martial technique—the Vajra Titan Fist Art.
"Fourth Brother, your martial arts cultivation has already reached the Mysterious Extreme Realm Grand Perfection. If you switch to another technique now, it would have a big impact on you. I have a fist art here called the Vajra Titan Fist Art, which can temper your martial body to some extent. If you can master this fist art, your martial body will definitely reach a higher level." Zhang Ruochen handed the spirit paper with the fist art to Zhang Shaochu.
Zhang Shaochu took the spirit paper, examined it carefully, and could feel the subtlety of the Vajra Titan Fist Art. He quickly tucked it into his sleeve and whispered, "Ninth Brother, this fist art you gave me is at least a spirit-level low-grade martial technique, right?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "It’s just a fist art. Just practice it. If you master it, you might even have a chance to challenge the Mysterious List martial artists."
Zhang Shaochu chuckled sheepishly. "With my physique, I can never become a Mysterious List martial artist. Ninth Brother, you probably don’t know yet. Over the past few months, Senior Sister Zi has made tremendous progress. Her ranking on the Mysterious List keeps rising, and she’s now at rank one hundred and forty-two. And she definitely has room to grow—she might even break into the top fifty."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "Her talent was always high. Achieving this doesn’t surprise me."
After parting with Zhang Shaochu, Zhang Ruochen went to check on Kong Xuan’s cultivation progress.
Ever since Zhang Ruochen had passed the Peacock Sacred Scripture to Kong Xuan, her cultivation had soared. In just four months, she had successfully cultivated the first layer of the Peacock Sacred Scripture, reaching the Yellow Extreme Realm Grand Perfection and opening twenty-seven meridians in her body.
Kong Xuan’s achievement far exceeded Zhang Ruochen’s expectations.
Even geniuses like the Ten Talents of Tianmo probably hadn’t opened that many meridians in their bodies.
Moreover, Kong Xuan was only seventeen years old. Achieving so much had surprised even herself.
She knew that her earth-shattering transformation in just four months was all thanks to Zhang Ruochen.
If Zhang Ruochen hadn’t given her the Peacock Sacred Scripture and provided her with cultivation resources, she would probably still be stuck at the Yellow Extreme Realm small pole position.
But Zhang Ruochen didn’t see it that way. He believed that the Peacock Sacred Scripture and cultivation resources were secondary—the main reason was Kong Xuan’s own high talent.
"Greetings, Master." Kong Xuan bowed immediately upon seeing Zhang Ruochen, full of respect.
She wore a white robe, her body as supple as a willow, her long hair like a waterfall. Her eyes sparkled with intelligence as she curiously stared at Zhang Ruochen, clearly sensing that her master’s cultivation had grown stronger, giving her an invisible pressure.
Even a single glance from her master seemed to see through everything in her heart.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I’ve told you before, don’t call me master, and you don’t need to bow. You’ve reached the Yellow Extreme Realm Grand Perfection, haven’t you?"
"Yes," Kong Xuan replied, standing up, her hands crossed in front of her, gently biting her lip as if she wanted to say something.
Zhang Ruochen knew what she wanted to say. He smiled slightly, took out the cultivation method for the second layer of the Peacock Sacred Scripture, but didn’t hand it over immediately. He asked, "What’s the maximum force you can unleash now?"
"Seventy-eight oxen of force," Kong Xuan said softly.
Zhang Ruochen handed her the cultivation method for the second layer of the Peacock Sacred Scripture, then took out four drops of half-saint true liquid and gave them to her as well.
"With your current strength, you already have a chance to become the Yellow List number one in a lower-level commandery. But I hope you don’t break through to the Mysterious Extreme Realm just yet. Continue to stimulate your body’s potential, temper your martial body, and condense your true qi. If you can unleash ninety oxen of force at the Yellow Extreme Realm, it will help you greatly in the future." Zhang Ruochen said.