Chapter 220: The Duel
Since the face had already been torn, Zhang Ruochen saw no point in continuing the pretense. He might as well tear it even further.
Zhang Ruochen stared at the disciple from Yuntai Sect Mansion, smiled, and his gaze gradually turned icy. "You are just an outsider. What right do you have to meddle in the private affairs of our Yunwu Commandery royal clan?"
"You..."
That Yuntai Sect Mansion disciple was momentarily at a loss for words.
Zhang Tiangui interjected, "Ninth Brother, Huang Li was only trying to advise you. Why must you take it so seriously? You are the senior brother of the Western Courtyard; you should have the magnanimity befitting that title."
The disciple named Huang Li let out a cold snort. "I had long heard that the Ninth Prince was a peerless prodigy with extraordinary swordsmanship, so a bit of aloofness is only natural. As a disciple of Yuntai Sect Mansion, I came to the palace as a guest and merely offered well-meaning advice. Yet I am now being rebuked by His Highness the Ninth Prince. I cannot swallow this indignity. Lest outsiders think that our Yuntai Sect Mansion fears the Martial Market Academy, I hereby formally challenge the Ninth Prince."
Zhang Tiangui cast a satisfied glance at Huang Li. This was exactly what he had been waiting for—Huang Li to say those words.
Now, it was up to Zhang Ruochen to respond.
If Zhang Ruochen accepted the duel with Huang Li, he would be walking into a losing situation.
If Zhang Ruochen defeated Huang Li, people would say he lacked magnanimity, taking out his anger on a royal guest who had merely tried to offer advice over the matter of Princess Yanchen.
If Zhang Ruochen lost to Huang Li, people would say that the so-called senior brother of the Western Courtyard was nothing but a paper tiger—all bark and no bite.
Either way, Zhang Tiangui stood to gain. He could not only suppress and humiliate Zhang Ruochen but also use this opportunity to confirm his own suspicions.
It was a perfect two-birds-with-one-stone strategy.
Zhang Ruochen saw through Huang Li's intentions clearly.
"What's the matter? Is the so-called senior brother of the Western Courtyard afraid to accept my challenge?"
Seeing Zhang Ruochen remain silent, Huang Li continued to provoke him with a smirk. "I initially thought the Fifth Prince's words were a bit harsh. But now it seems the Ninth Prince is truly a coward. Perhaps he really did hide away because he was afraid to go to the Fire City..."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Very well! Since you insist on challenging me, how could I refuse? But I have one condition."
"What condition? Speak freely." Huang Li felt a surge of excitement, having finally angered Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen said, "The palace is no place for a fight. We should move the venue outside. I've heard that the Martial Market Arena has recently been renovated and is now open for business. Three days from now, we will fight at the Martial Market Arena. Do you dare to accept?"
"The Martial Market Arena..." Huang Li's heart jolted, and he glanced toward Zhang Tiangui.
Entering the Martial Market Arena meant signing a life-and-death contract.
Huang Li was only at the mid-stage of the Earth Extreme Realm and had no certainty of defeating Zhang Ruochen. What if Zhang Ruochen had hidden his strength and killed him in the arena? What then?
Zhang Tiangui said, "Ninth Brother, this is just a friendly spar. Why go to the Martial Market Arena?"
"Seventh Brother, you are mistaken. Brother Huang just said this is not an ordinary spar but a matter of honor between Yuntai Sect Mansion and the Martial Market Academy. Since Brother Huang himself issued the challenge, it should be fair and just, lest Brother Huang feel dissatisfied after losing. Don't you agree, Brother Huang?"
Huang Li looked at Zhang Tiangui again. Seeing Zhang Tiangui nod, he finally agreed. "Fine! As the Ninth Prince wishes. Three days from now, at the Martial Market Arena, we will settle this."
"If there is nothing else, I will take my leave." Zhang Ruochen said.
The Ninth Princess followed Zhang Ruochen as they left.
After returning to the Yushu Palace, the Ninth Princess finally laughed. "I was sweating for you just now, afraid you would fall into their trap. Luckily, you were sharp enough to see through their scheme and turned the tables on them. By the way, Ninth Brother, is that Huang Li strong? How confident are you?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Huang Li has reached the mid-stage of the Earth Extreme Realm. He is a fairly decent martial artist."
"What? He's at the mid-stage of the Earth Extreme Realm? What do we do then? Ninth Brother, since you saw through his cultivation, why did you still agree? What if..." The Ninth Princess grew anxious.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "Since I could see through his cultivation, I naturally have the confidence to defeat him—or rather, to kill him."
The Ninth Princess breathed a slight sigh of relief, a cold glint flashing in her eyes. "They went too far today. It's time to teach them a lesson. Otherwise, who knows how they will slander you in the future."
"This is just a small matter. Don't dwell on it. Focus on cultivation—that is the true path." Zhang Ruochen gently patted the Ninth Princess on the shoulder and walked inside.
He left the Ninth Princess to accompany Lin Fei for dinner, then entered the Time-Space Crystal again to continue refining the Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grass.
Time was precious; he had to seize every moment to cultivate.
...
In the palace, the residence where Zhang Tiangui stayed was brightly lit.
"Senior Brother, what if Zhang Ruochen has already broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm and intends to kill me in the Martial Market Arena? What should I do?" Huang Li asked anxiously.
If Zhang Ruochen were still at the Great Perfection of the Mysterious Extreme Realm, Huang Li would have had the confidence to contend with him. But what if he had already broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm?
Zhang Tiangui remained calm and composed. "What are you afraid of? You are a first-class genius at the mid-stage of the Earth Extreme Realm. Even if you cannot defeat him, escaping from the arena should be easy enough. Isn't that right?"
"But..."
Huang Li was still worried. After all, even Xun Guihai had fallen to Zhang Ruochen. When it came to a life-or-death duel, Huang Li was genuinely afraid of Zhang Ruochen.
His earlier provocation had been based on the assumption that Zhang Ruochen would not dare to kill him.
A duel in the Martial Market Arena was a different matter entirely.
Zhang Tiangui took out a bronze token and handed it to Huang Li. "This is an array shield forged by a formation master. Once you infuse it with true qi, it will activate the inscriptions and form a shield to block one attack. If Zhang Ruochen has indeed broken through to the Earth Extreme Realm, this shield will save your life."
"Thank you, Senior Brother!" Huang Li was overjoyed and immediately knelt to bow to Zhang Tiangui before taking the token.
With the array shield in hand, Huang Li no longer feared Zhang Ruochen.
"You may leave now." Zhang Tiangui waved his hand.
After Huang Li withdrew, Zhang Tiangui pressed his hand to his chest, feeling a sharp pain radiating from within.
"Damn it! I didn't expect Si Xingkong to be so powerful. Even though I've reached the Great Perfection of the Earth Extreme Realm, I still can't defeat him. If only I had cultivated the 'Six Profound Saint Art'—no, if I had cultivated Yuntai Sect Mansion's ultimate technique, the 'Ultimate Saint Qiankun Art,' how could I have lost to Si Xingkong?"
Zhang Tiangui slammed his fist onto the table. With a crack, the sandalwood table turned to dust.
The "Six Profound Saint Art" was a ghost-grade lower-level technique, but it was incomplete and could not compare to the "Ultimate Saint Qiankun Art."
Among the younger generation of Yuntai Sect Mansion, only the sect leader's daughter, Han Qiu, had cultivated the "Ultimate Saint Qiankun Art." For Zhang Tiangui to obtain it, he would first have to win Han Qiu.
Although he could no longer switch techniques now, there was still an opportunity after surpassing the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
At that point, a martial artist could change techniques and step into a new realm of cultivation.
Zhang Tiangui was determined to seize the "Ultimate Saint Qiankun Art" for his future plans. His ambition was not merely to become a martial arts legend; he aimed to surpass that and reach the legendary Saint Realm.
Fortunately, Han Qiu already had a favorable impression of him. It could be said that she and the "Ultimate Saint Qiankun Art" were already within his grasp.
"Zhang Ruochen's marriage to Princess Yanchen has secured the support of the Qianshui Commandery. I must also win over Han Qiu to gain the backing of Yuntai Sect Mansion. With my talent far surpassing Zhang Ruochen's, the position of heir is surely mine."
Zhang Tiangui took a deep breath, and six different-colored lights surged from his body as he continued to heal his injuries.
...
Inside the Time-Space Crystal, another nine days had passed.
Over these nine days, Zhang Ruochen had spent four days refining two stalks of Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grass, while the remaining five days were entirely devoted to practicing the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm.
Every day, Zhang Ruochen struck at least twenty thousand palm prints.
He was not only training his palm techniques but also using the practice to temper his body, circulate his blood, and fully integrate the medicinal power of the recently refined Three-Leaf Saint Qi Grass into his body for optimal absorption.
After nine days, Zhang Ruochen could clearly feel that his cultivation had improved significantly, his physical constitution had strengthened, and even his palm speed had increased.
"Dragon-Elephant Ninefold can now stack five palm prints together, unleashing five times the power. With my current cultivation, how strong would a single palm strike be if I unleashed five times the force?"
When he stormed the Fire City, Zhang Ruochen had used the identity of Chen Ruo and thus did not employ the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm.
Now, as Zhang Ruochen himself, he could use it freely.
"About three days have passed outside. It's time to head to the Martial Market Arena. I'll use Huang Li to test my palm technique. Since Zhang Tiangui sent Huang Li to probe me, I'll make sure he gets the answer he wants."
Leaving the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, Zhang Ruochen departed the palace and made his way to the Martial Market Arena.
The news of Zhang Ruochen and Huang Li's duel at the Martial Market Arena had already spread throughout the royal capital, fueled by those who thrived on gossip. It was now common knowledge.
The reason for the duel had also been leaked, with rumors linking it to Princess Yanchen. Some even speculated that the stunningly beautiful Princess Yanchen might appear at the arena.
The martial artists who loved a good spectacle were even more eager for this battle.