# Chapter 223: Life and Death Crisis
After repelling Zi Yin Yang, Zhang Ruochen immediately channeled his true qi to his feet, stomped hard, and leaped backward, landing on the spectator platform over ten zhang high, seizing the commanding position.
This way, no matter how Zi Yin Yang attacked, he could strike first in response.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Martial Market Arena below, where martial artists from various factions were locked in fierce combat, with already dozens of corpses on the ground.
Most were corpses of evil path martial artists from the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect, but there were also disciples from the Martial Market Academy and Yuntai Prefecture who had fallen, lying in pools of blood, letting out low, mournful cries.
The Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect had prepared thoroughly, laying their plans well in advance. Thus, even though the Martial Market Academy students and Yuntai Prefecture disciples were all experts, they had suffered heavy losses.
With a sweep of his gaze, Zhang Ruochen saw the Ninth Princess surrounded by seven evil path martial artists, the situation extremely dire.
Those seven evil path martial artists were all experts. Under their combined assault, they had already left three wounds on the Ninth Princess's body, her robes stained red with blood.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen burst forth at his maximum speed, reaching one hundred and forty meters per second, diving down to stand before the Ninth Princess.
"Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm!"
He struck out with a palm, unleashing countless palm shadows.
True qi surged forth, forming dragon and elephant silhouettes that flickered through the void.
"Crack! Crack!"
The sound of bones breaking rang out.
The seven evil path martial artists cried out in agony, spat blood, and were sent flying backward simultaneously, landing over ten meters away, all unconscious.
The Ninth Princess finally breathed a sigh of relief. "Ninth Brother, what do we do now?"
"Don't worry. With such a major incident, the royal capital's army will arrive as fast as possible. The evil path martial artists from the Black Market and the Moon Worship Demon Sect will retreat soon," Zhang Ruochen said.
The Ninth Princess bit her lip, watching the increasingly ferocious attacks of the evil path martial artists, feeling she couldn't hold out until the royal army arrived.
Zhang Ruochen took out the battle diagram that Luo Shuihan had given him and pressed it into the Ninth Princess's hands. "Inject true qi into the battle diagram, and the Leopard-Head Blood Bat within will awaken, enough to block attacks from ordinary Earth Extreme Initial Stage martial artists."
After a moment's thought, still uneasy, he took out a Wind Wing and handed it to the Ninth Princess.
"Zhang Ruochen, your opponent is me. Today, I, this young master, will take your head."
Zi Yin Yang's true qi was thick and abundant, containing immense energy. After cutting down three Martial Market Academy students in succession, he charged out from the crowd, a blood-drenched Fish Intestine Sword in hand, thrusting it toward Zhang Ruochen's throat.
Zhang Ruochen struck the Ninth Princess's chest with a palm, the palm wind sending her flying dozens of meters away.
"Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow!"
Zhang Ruochen's body split into nine, transforming into nine illusory shadows.
Zi Yin Yang immediately changed his sword technique, his arm swinging continuously, manifesting dozens of sword shadows.
Every sword stroke nearly grazed Zhang Ruochen's body. If Zhang Ruochen hadn't cultivated Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow to great perfection, his body would have been severed into dozens of pieces long ago.
"Junior Brother Zhang, let me help you!"
Chang Qiqi let out a long roar, raising his blade with both hands and slashing down toward Zi Yin Yang.
Chang Qiqi's martial arts cultivation had reached the Earth Extreme Grand Extreme Stage, and as a Two-Absolute Genius, he was a top-tier expert below the Heavenly Extreme Stage. Even ordinary Earth Extreme Great Perfection martial artists were no match for him.
With a full-powered slash, even Zi Yin Yang had to avoid its edge, quickly stepping back to dodge the blade.
"Boom!"
Chang Qiqi's blade struck the ground, leaving a long gash. Around the gash, fine cracks spread outward.
"Meddlesome."
Zi Yin Yang's eyes darkened as he thrust his sword forward.
"Startling Swan Strike!"
The Fish Intestine Sword spun rapidly, emitting a piercing sword cry.
"Puchi!"
Despite Chang Qiqi's high martial arts cultivation, he couldn't evade Zi Yin Yang's strike. His body was pierced by the Fish Intestine Sword, the blade emerging from his back.
"Ugh..."
Chang Qiqi's body trembled in pain, blood dripping from the corner of his mouth.
Zi Yin Yang's mastery of the sword surpassed his mastery of the blade. Even with Chang Qiqi's cultivation, he couldn't withstand a single sword stroke.
"Senior Brother Chang!"
Zhang Ruochen roared and charged forward immediately, forming a sword finger with his index and middle fingers, pointing toward Zi Yin Yang's right arm.
"Good timing. I'll send you on your way together."
Zi Yin Yang withdrew his sword, bringing with it a spray of blood. A surge of cold energy flowed from his hand, forming a layer of icy blood crystals on the blade's edge.
In Zi Yin Yang's view, although Zhang Ruochen's martial arts cultivation was inferior to Chang Qiqi's, in terms of movement speed and technique application, Zhang Ruochen was far superior. Thus, comparatively, he regarded Zhang Ruochen more seriously and dared not be careless.
When Zhang Ruochen charged to within five steps of Zi Yin Yang, the latter immediately struck, his movements as fast as lightning, thrusting his sword toward Zhang Ruochen's brow.
As a top-tier assassin, Zi Yin Yang knew best how to seize the moment.
If he didn't strike, fine. But once he did, he sought to kill with a single blow.
This strike would surely take Zhang Ruochen's life!
Just as Zi Yin Yang's sword thrust toward Zhang Ruochen's face, suddenly, space twisted slightly, and the sword tip passed by Zhang Ruochen's left cheek.
"Damn it!"
Zi Yin Yang's expression shifted slightly. He was about to change his sword technique, but Zhang Ruochen had already struck first, pointing at his chest.
With Zhang Ruochen's current strength, a single finger strike could pierce half a meter of solid iron.
"Bang!"
The armor on Zi Yin Yang's body emitted a red glow. Zhang Ruochen's finger struck the armor, producing a loud crash, sending ripples of energy spreading outward.
"It blocked it?"
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to give Zi Yin Yang a chance to catch his breath. He channeled all his true qi through thirty-six meridians, transforming his finger into a palm, and struck Zi Yin Yang's chest.
"Bang! Bang! Bang..."
At lightning speed, he delivered twelve consecutive palm strikes.
With each palm strike, Zi Yin Yang's body took a step back.
When Zhang Ruochen delivered the final palm, Zi Yin Yang was sent flying backward.
Zi Yin Yang's cultivation was deep after all. After enduring twelve of Zhang Ruochen's palm strikes, he still managed to stabilize himself. Landing on the ground, he clutched his aching, splitting chest and spat out a mouthful of blood.
The veins on his body bulged completely, his eyes bloodshot, and his battle intent grew even stronger. He said coldly, "What martial technique did you just use? If not for the sword deviating, you'd be a dead man now."
Zhang Ruochen stood opposite him, a shallow sword cut on his cheek, warm blood trickling down.
He cursed inwardly. He had just delivered twelve full-powered palm strikes, and even his arms ached, yet he hadn't managed to completely defeat Zi Yin Yang.
As expected of one of the Black Market's seven young experts—his strength was astonishing.
Zi Yin Yang was now on guard. Even if Zhang Ruochen used spatial power again, it might not work.
How could he fight now?
Zhang Ruochen glanced toward Chang Qiqi and saw that he was severely injured but hadn't died from that sword strike. He was gravely wounded; if not treated in time, he might die.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen dashed over, grabbed Chang Qiqi's arm, hoisted him onto his back, and soared upward, passing through the massive hole in the Martial Market Arena's roof, landing on top of the structure.
The Martial Market Arena was over eighty meters tall. Standing atop it, one could overlook most of the royal capital's scenery.
"At this height, with Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, when I land, I should be at least ten li away—enough to escape the Black Market and Moon Worship Demon Sect's blockade."
When Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow was at minor completion, Zhang Ruochen could cross a li in nine steps.
Now that it had reached great perfection, it was naturally even more powerful.
Zhang Ruochen, carrying Chang Qiqi on his back, fully mobilized all his true qi, surging out from his body to form a windstorm of true qi.
"Ao!"
Zhang Ruochen charged forward at full speed, the true qi around his body transforming into the shape of a flying dragon, racing through the void. With each step he took on the empty air, that dragon silhouette could traverse hundreds of meters.
Zi Yin Yang also chased to the top of the Martial Market Arena, glancing at Zhang Ruochen in the distance. "Impressive movement technique."
Without pausing, Zi Yin Yang stepped off the wall, landing on the ground, and pursued Zhang Ruochen's direction at a speed of one hundred and eighty meters per second.
"Boom!"
After nine steps, Zhang Ruochen landed on the ground, his feet shattering the stone slabs, his knees sinking into the earth.
From his current position, he was not far from the royal palace.
If he could just escape into the palace, how could Zi Yin Yang dare to follow?
But just as Zhang Ruochen was about to dash forward, he abruptly stopped, his gaze fixed on the Poison Spider Young Master standing opposite him, Hua Qingshan.
"Haha! I've been waiting for you!"
The Poison Spider Young Master held a curved blade in his hand, a playful smile curling at the corner of his mouth. "Just as I expected, you're that so-called mysterious genius, Chen Ruo. Ninth Prince, you haven't disappointed me."
Zhang Ruochen stood in the middle of the street, his eyes sharp. "I don't know what you're talking about."
"You know exactly what I'm talking about," the Poison Spider Young Master said with a laugh. "Now, you have two paths. The first is to come with me—you might still have a chance to live."
"The second path is to wait for Zi Yin Yang to catch up. Then you'll die for sure. Think carefully about which to choose."
Zhang Ruochen said, "I never like walking the path others choose for me."
The Poison Spider Young Master's face darkened. "Then you're left with only death."
From behind came a long roar.
Zi Yin Yang had caught up, landing on the roof of an ancient building behind Zhang Ruochen, holding his blood-drenched sword, standing straight as a rod, like a reaper come to claim souls.
"Hua Qingshan, Zhang Ruochen's life is mine!" Zi Yin Yang said coldly.
The Poison Spider Young Master chuckled. "Just one head. Since Brother Zi wants it, I naturally won't contend with you. But Zhang Ruochen is cunning. Though he just broke through to the Earth Extreme Stage not long ago, his various tricks are hard to guard against. Brother Zi, be careful!"
The Poison Spider Young Master leaped up, landing on the tallest building nearby, appearing merely an onlooker, yet commanding the entire situation. No matter which direction Zhang Ruochen fled, he could intercept and kill him at the fastest speed.
Under the watchful eyes of two evil path experts, escape was nearly impossible for Zhang Ruochen.
Moreover, using his spatial domain, Zhang Ruochen sensed that within several hundred meters, in the main streets and alleys, at least a hundred evil path martial artists lay in ambush. All his escape routes were completely sealed off.
Zhang Ruochen had escaped from the Poison Spider Young Master's hands twice, making the latter increasingly wary of him. This time, he was determined not to give Zhang Ruochen any chance to flee.
"He just broke through to the Earth Extreme Stage?"
Zi Yin Yang found it hard to believe, given that Zhang Ruochen's displayed strength already surpassed many Earth Extreme Great Perfection martial artists. How could he have just broken through?
The Poison Spider Young Master laughed. "I had someone check his records. At least four months ago, he was still at the Mysterious Extreme Great Perfection Stage."
"Then he must die today."
Zi Yin Yang's gaze toward Zhang Ruochen grew even colder.