Chapter 222: Young Master of the Underworld Gate
Inside the Martial Market Battle Ring, although the noise was chaotic, many martial arts experts still noticed something amiss from Zhang Ruochen's words.
"The person on the battle stage isn't Huang Li?"
"How is that possible? He looks exactly like Huang Li, there's no way it's fake."
A disciple of the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion sneered, "It's clearly because Zhang Ruochen can't defeat Huang Li, so he's deliberately saying this. Don't listen to him, that person is Huang Li. I'm his fellow disciple, I definitely wouldn't mistake him."
Although all the disciples of the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion claimed that the person on the battle stage must be Huang Li, the strength Huang Li displayed grew stronger and stronger. Even a second-rank genius might not be able to reach such a level.
"Senior Brother, what do we do now? Huang Li couldn't possibly be this strong. If the fight continues, Junior Brother Zhang will definitely die." Chang Qiqi said with some worry.
After all, Zhang Ruochen was a top genius of the Martial Market Academy. If he really died in the Martial Market Battle Ring because of a scheme by the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion, it would be a huge loss for the Martial Market Academy.
Zuo Lengxuan stood to the side and said coldly, "They both signed a life-and-death contract, requiring a completely fair fight. Without evidence, if we interfere recklessly, we'll definitely be ridiculed by the world. After all, the Martial Market Battle Ring is a property of our Martial Market Bank. We absolutely cannot break the rules ourselves."
Chang Qiqi glared at him angrily, "Zuo Lengxuan, are you still a student of the Martial Market Academy or not? What if this really is a scheme by the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion and Junior Brother Zhang dies on the battle stage?"
Zuo Lengxuan said, "All I know is that the person on the battle stage is indeed Huang Li, there's no way it's fake. Because I've seen Huang Li before, I know what he looks like."
The battle on the stage grew more and more dangerous, and the strength Huang Li displayed became increasingly formidable, far surpassing the power of an Earth Extreme Realm mid-stage martial artist.
Every slash of his blade seemed to increase in power.
Many people began to worry for Zhang Ruochen, but bound by the rules of the Martial Market Battle Ring, they dared not act rashly to help.
What to do now?
"Chi!"
The blade light swept across Zhang Ruochen's chest, tearing his martial robe and revealing the Ice Fire Qilin Armor underneath. The blade tip lightly scraped against the armor, sending sparks flying.
Zhang Ruochen immediately retreated backward, glanced at his chest, and asked in a deep voice, "Your cultivation has reached the Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection. Who exactly are you?"
"You can see through my cultivation?" Huang Li was slightly surprised.
Huang Li thought he had concealed it well, that even a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myth might not be able to see through his true cultivation level.
He didn't know that Zhang Ruochen's spiritual power and eyesight were even stronger than a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myth. Seeing through his true cultivation was naturally easy.
To Zhang Ruochen, Huang Li's strength was no less than that of the Poison Spider Young Master. Aside from Zhang Tiangui and Han Qiu, the younger generation of the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion couldn't possibly have such a strong expert.
Could it be a heretical expert from the Black Market or the Moon-Worshipping Cult?
After a brief pause, Huang Li attacked Zhang Ruochen again, his power increasing further.
Among the Martial Market Academy students, Zi Qian stared intently at Huang Li on the stage, biting her lip. After hesitating for a long time, she seemed to make a difficult decision.
A resolute look appeared in her eyes, and she said, "That person is indeed not Huang Li. He should be an assassin from the Underworld Gate. Top assassins of the Underworld Gate can cultivate the martial technique 'Silkworm Butterfly Art' to shift their bones and muscles, altering their appearance."
Chen Xi'er suddenly stood up, her gaze fixed on Zi Qian, and said, "You say that Huang Li is an assassin from the Underworld Gate? Do you have any evidence?"
Zuo Lengxuan's eyes turned cold as he stared at Zi Qian, "How ridiculous. Even we don't know about the Underworld Gate's bone-shifting martial technique. You're just an outer academy student, how would you know? Silkworm Butterfly Art? I've never heard of it."
"You haven't heard of it because only the top assassins of the Underworld Gate are qualified to cultivate the Silkworm Butterfly Art. Advancing, they can become butterflies; retreating, they can become silkworms. The silkworm and butterfly are of the same species but different forms. Once the Silkworm Butterfly Art is mastered, bones, muscles, and meridians can all shift, instantly transforming into another person. I'm certain that the Huang Li on the battle stage is actually the young master of the Underworld Gate, Zi Yinyang. Among the younger generation of the Underworld Gate, only he has cultivated the Silkworm Butterfly Art."
When Zi Qian said that the person was the top assassin Zi Yinyang of the Underworld Gate, she was mentally prepared that her identity might be exposed, and she might even die in the Martial Market Battle Ring.
But she had no choice; she had to say it. Only then would they believe her. Otherwise, Zhang Ruochen on the battle stage would be in mortal danger.
Zi Qian continued, "Senior Brother, Senior Sister Chen, please believe me. The Huang Li on the battle stage is definitely Zi Yinyang. His goal is to kill Zhang Ruochen on the stage, both to claim the huge bounty and to stir up conflict between the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion and the Martial Market Academy."
Si Xingkong and Chen Xi'er exchanged glances and nodded simultaneously.
Si Xingkong immediately rushed toward the battle stage, shouting, "Shut down the formation on the battle stage! That person isn't Huang Li, he's a top assassin from the Underworld Gate."
As Si Xingkong charged toward the stage, Chen Xi'er gave Zi Qian a deep look and signaled to two inner academy students, "Watch her, don't let her escape."
Chen Xi'er was very shrewd. How could an outer academy student be so familiar with the Underworld Gate? She couldn't help but be suspicious.
No matter why Zi Qian had revealed the secret of the Silkworm Butterfly Art, she couldn't be allowed to escape now.
On the battle stage, Huang Li glanced at Si Xingkong below and sneered, "Found out already? In that case, I'll have to kill Zhang Ruochen before the formation is shut down."
Huang Li's gaze locked onto Zhang Ruochen, a cold killing intent flashing in his eyes. His aura surged tenfold, his skin seemed to split, his body grew over a foot taller, his arms widened, and his facial features became more angular.
"Huang Li's" appearance changed drastically, no longer his original form, becoming a completely different person.
Only then did the Martial Market Academy students finally believe Zi Qian's words.
"Zhang Ruochen, ranked thirty-seventh on the Bounty List, this young master wants your head!" "Huang Li" laughed loudly, raising the Azure Dragon Broadsword and slashing it toward Zhang Ruochen.
This strike was countless times stronger than before.
If Zhang Ruochen were truly only at the Mysterious Extreme Realm Great Perfection, he would undoubtedly die.
In the spectator seats, someone recognized his identity and exclaimed, "He's one of the seven great experts of the younger generation of the Black Market, the young master of the Underworld Gate, Zi Yinyang."
"It really is Zi Yinyang. This is bad!"
Huang Yanchen stared intently at the battle stage, worried for Zhang Ruochen's safety, and immediately ordered, "Old Xuan, go save Zhang Ruochen! Don't let him die at Zi Yinyang's hands."
The white-haired old woman standing behind Huang Yanchen immediately rushed out. Her originally hunched and aged body erupted with immense power as she punched at the formation inscriptions on the battle stage.
"Why should an elder interfere in the battles of the younger generation?" A booming voice sounded like thunder, shaking the ground.
At that moment, a black shadow flashed out from the air, wearing a ghost-patterned mask. Standing at the edge of the battle ring, he struck out with a palm.
"Boom!"
Two Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myths clashed, causing violent fluctuations in true qi.
Countless martial artists in the Martial Market Battle Ring were sent flying by the powerful gale, crashing haphazardly into the walls.
The black-clad man with the ghost-patterned mask repelled Feng Xuan's attack, sneered, and infused his voice with true qi, shouting loudly, "Black Market martial artists, attack now! Slaughter all the disciples of the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion and the Martial Market Academy!"
"Boom!"
Hearing his voice, the Black Market martial artists hidden among the spectators immediately drew their weapons and launched attacks on the disciples of the Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion and the Martial Market Academy.
Feng Xuan stood ten zhang away from the battle stage, staring at the black-clad man, and asked in a hoarse voice, "Who are you?"
The black-clad man with the ghost-patterned mask clasped his hands behind his back, exuding a chilling aura, and laughed loudly, "I am the new president of the Black Market, now overseeing all Black Market affairs in the Yunwu Commandery. You alone are no match for me. Call Song Ji out as well! Today, I want to see just how strong the 'Xuan Ji Dual Wonders' really are."
"One old woman is enough to defeat you."
Feng Xuan's body shifted sideways, moving faster than the speed of sound. In an instant, she reached the Black Market president and threw a long punch.
Who would have thought that a withered old woman could unleash such power?
"The space here is too small. Let's fight outside."
"Boom!"
The Black Market president stomped his foot on the ground, shooting up like a cannonball, crashing through the roof of the Martial Market Battle Ring and flying out.
Feng Xuan also used her movement technique and immediately pursued him.
This operation saw the full deployment of Black Market experts, including three Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myths and countless heretical experts at the Earth Extreme and Mysterious Extreme Realms.
Si Xingkong was locked in battle with a Heavenly Extreme Realm assassin from the Underworld Gate, also fighting outside the Martial Market Battle Ring. Only the sounds of earth-shaking explosions could be heard.
When Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myths clashed, their destructive power was terrifying, capable of crushing Earth Extreme Realm martial artists. Only someone of Si Xingkong's level could contend with a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial arts myth.
Hua Minggong, the general manager of the Poison Spider Chamber of Commerce, also appeared in the Martial Market Battle Ring, attempting to capture Huang Yanchen again, but was blocked by Song Ji, who was guarding her.
"Hua Minggong, you dare to harm our princess again? Today, this old man will surely slay you," Song Ji said.
Hua Minggong laughed, "With the Black Market and the Moon-Worshipping Cult's experts all out, can you stop us?"
Song Ji and Hua Minggong, two Heavenly Extreme Realm experts, also began to fight, locked in fierce combat. Moments later, they shattered a wall and charged out together.
The entire Martial Market Battle Ring was in chaos, with shouts of killing everywhere.
The formation on the battle stage had long been shut down, but Zi Yinyang still clung to Zhang Ruochen, chasing after him and slashing with his blade, determined to take his life.
Zi Yinyang's martial arts cultivation was on par with the Poison Spider Young Master Hua Qingshan, but in killing techniques, Zi Yinyang was even more skilled. Every strike was lethal, giving Zhang Ruochen no chance to survive.
Zhang Ruochen released his Space Domain, continuously using the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow movement technique to create nine afterimages, constantly evading Zi Yinyang's attacks.
"Elephant Force Ninefold!"
Zhang Ruochen struck out five palms in succession, five palm imprints overlapping into one, unleashing five times the attack power.
"Boom!"
Zi Yinyang blocked horizontally with his blade, feeling a surging, mountain-toppling force coming from Zhang Ruochen's palm. The Azure Dragon Broadsword in his hand was sent flying by the palm force.
The Azure Dragon Broadsword flew over ten zhang away and stuck upright into the ground, the handle still trembling, emitting a piercing sound.
Zi Yinyang retreated over ten steps before finally stabilizing himself. He looked at Zhang Ruochen in surprise, "Impressive palm technique! So you've been hiding your strength all along."
In the distance, Zhang Tiangui also saw the palm technique Zhang Ruochen had used, a cold expression appearing on his face. "It really is him."