Chapter 227: Lingkong Manor
When Zhang Ruochen saw Duanmu Xingling, she was unusually excited, a beautiful smile blooming on her fair face. Her round, bright eyes blinked repeatedly as she said, "Zhang Ruochen, guess what good news I’ve brought you?"
"With the current situation in the royal capital, can there still be good news?" Zhang Ruochen wore a metal mask, his expression neither sad nor happy.
Duanmu Xingling rolled her eyes, took a wooden box from her space bracelet, and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.
"What is it?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Duanmu Xingling lifted her chin, revealing her slender jade neck, and said with a proud tone, "Open it and see for yourself!"
Zhang Ruochen hesitated for a moment, then opened the wooden box.
"Whoosh—"
A chilling, yin-cold aura emanated from the wooden box.
That aura contained a powerful corrosive force, instantly devouring Zhang Ruochen’s five fingers.
The skin on his right hand turned black in an instant.
Zhang Ruochen showed no fear at all; instead, a look of delight appeared on his face as he closed the wooden box. At the same time, he activated his spirit fire true qi to refine the toxins within his body.
"Shenqi Grass! Senior Sister Duanmu, where did you find this?" Zhang Ruochen asked, somewhat excited.
Although the toxicity of Shenqi Grass was extremely strong, only a trace amount of the toxin had entered Zhang Ruochen’s body just now. Thus, he could use his spirit fire true qi to refine it. If Zhang Ruochen had dared to swallow the Shenqi Grass directly, he would likely have died instantly, with no one, not even a god, able to save him.
Duanmu Xingling shrugged nonchalantly. "I just asked a friend to find it from the Qianshui Commandery and have it delivered to the royal capital day and night. It’s a small matter; don’t worry about it. Of course, Shenqi Grass is very rare and highly toxic. My friend only found three stalks. I’m not sure if that’s enough for you?"
"It’s enough! Regardless, I truly thank Senior Sister Duanmu this time." Zhang Ruochen slightly cupped his hands, expressing his sincere gratitude to Duanmu Xingling.
The Qianshui Commandery and the Yunwu Commandery were separated by at least a hundred thousand miles. To deliver the Shenqi Grass within three days, a fourth-level barbarian bird had to be used to travel at the fastest speed possible. This was a debt of gratitude he had incurred.
Zhang Ruochen neither asked how Duanmu Xingling managed to deliver the Shenqi Grass to the royal capital in three days, nor did Duanmu Xingling ask what Zhang Ruochen needed the Shenqi Grass for. They maintained a tacit understanding.
Duanmu Xingling tilted her head, squinting with a smile. "You came to see me; you must have something to discuss, right?"
"To be honest, Senior Sister, I do have something."
Zhang Ruochen put the Shenqi Grass into his storage ring and said, "I just want to know the current situation of the Martial Market Academy’s students in the royal capital."
"Is that all?" Duanmu Xingling showed a knowing smile.
Zhang Ruochen chuckled. "I’ve never been a complicated person."
Duanmu Xingling said, "After that battle at the Martial Market Arena, the Martial Market Academy suffered heavy losses. Dozens of genius students died tragically, and some were captured, though it’s unknown where they’re being held. Right now, the Martial Market Academy has three strongholds in the royal capital. Zi Qian is imprisoned in the dungeon of Lingkong Manor. Once it’s confirmed that she’s an assassin from the Underworld Gate, Chen Xi’er will likely execute her within a certain timeframe."
Zhang Ruochen stared into Duanmu Xingling’s eyes, coughed dryly twice, and said, "Um... how did you know I came to you about Zi Qian?"
Duanmu Xingling covered her mouth with a laugh. "Your relationship with Zi Qian is so close, and she exposed her identity because of you. Anyone would know that your connection is extraordinary. You were imprisoned, so you would definitely go to rescue her. Is it surprising that I guessed it?"
Duanmu Xingling added, "I’m actually quite curious. How far have you and that female assassin developed?"
"We’re just very pure friends. It’s not what you think..." Zhang Ruochen realized he had let something slip and immediately shut his mouth, wanting to slap himself.
"Hehe! I tested you, and you fell for it. She really is an assassin from the Underworld Gate. Zhang Ruochen, you have quite the nerve, messing around with an Underworld Gate assassin. If Sister Chen finds out, won’t all hell break loose?" Duanmu Xingling laughed heartily.
Zhang Ruochen had to admit he had underestimated Duanmu Xingling’s intelligence. He would never again believe the saying "women with big chests have no brains."
Zhang Ruochen’s expression turned serious. "Senior Sister Duanmu, this is no small matter. Please don’t spread it around."
"Don’t worry! What kind of relationship do we have? Would I betray you?"
Duanmu Xingling put away her smile, resting two jade-like fingers on her chin, and said, "Besides, if you want to rescue someone, I can help you."
...
In the royal capital, every family and sect had their own manors.
Lingkong Manor covered an area of one hundred and twenty acres, neither large nor small. It was a secret stronghold of the Martial Market Academy in the royal capital.
Given the current critical period, the defenses of Lingkong Manor were extremely tight, with all formations fully activated. Even a Heaven Extreme Realm expert would find it impossible to sneak in undetected.
As Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling approached Lingkong Manor, they were immediately spotted by the guards watching the estate.
"This is a private estate. You two..."
Before the guard could finish, Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling simultaneously produced their Martial Market Academy tokens.
Seeing the inner palace student tokens in their hands, the guard immediately knelt on one knee, bowed to them, and respectfully invited them into Lingkong Manor.
Duanmu Xingling and Chen Ruo’s arrival at Lingkong Manor stirred up many students. In particular, the mysterious Chen Ruo piqued everyone’s curiosity. Many came specifically to see the genius youth who had rescued Yanchen Commandery Princess from the Fire Earth City.
"Is that the secret disciple of the Silver Robed Elder Council’s Hall Master, Chen Ruo? Why is he wearing a mask?" an outer palace student asked, looking at Zhang Ruochen walking side by side with Duanmu Xingling, his eyes filled with both envy and admiration.
"Senior Brother Chen is a secret disciple. His status is far beyond what we can compare to. It’s only natural for his identity to be somewhat mysterious," another student said.
Another student said with a dejected face, "I didn’t expect Senior Sister Duanmu to be Senior Brother Chen’s girlfriend. It seems I have no hope at all!"
"Senior Sister Duanmu is as beautiful as a celestial maiden. Only a genius like Senior Brother Chen is worthy of being her boyfriend. Don’t even think about it. Competing with Senior Brother Chen for a girlfriend is practically suicide."
Once inside Lingkong Manor, Zhang Ruochen and Duanmu Xingling didn’t act immediately. Under the steward’s arrangements, they first settled in.
To rescue Zi Qian, every step had to be carefully planned. They couldn’t act rashly.
"I’ll first check the dungeon’s defenses. If possible, I’ll rescue Junior Sister Zi tomorrow night," Zhang Ruochen said.
Duanmu Xingling shook her head. "Getting her out of the dungeon is easy, but getting her out of Lingkong Manor is the hard part. We need to plan carefully and not act recklessly."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don’t worry. I have a way to get her out of Lingkong Manor."
With that, Zhang Ruochen opened the window. Seeing no one around, he kicked off the ground, turning into a blurry shadow that shot into the night.
The entrance to the dungeon was set within a rockery on a lake in the center. To reach the dungeon, one had to fly across the lake unnoticed and open the dungeon door.
But with Lingkong Manor’s defenses, would it be that easy? The lake surface itself was likely covered with formation inscriptions.
Zhang Ruochen released his space domain and immediately detected three powerful auras hidden by the lakeshore. Without the space domain, he would never have found the three martial arts experts lurking in the shadows.
Just then, Zhang Ruochen heard a light footstep. He immediately suppressed his aura, leaped to a treetop, and hid himself.
The footsteps grew closer.
By the faint light, Zhang Ruochen saw a stunningly beautiful woman approaching the lakeshore.
It was Chen Xi’er.
She stopped and lightly snapped her fingers.
From the darkness, an old man emerged, cupping his hands and bowing to Chen Xi’er. "Greetings, Miss."
Chen Xi’er nodded. "Has no one approached the rockery in the lake?"
The old man said, "With the three of us brothers guarding here, not even a mosquito could fly to the rockery in the lake, let alone a person."
Chen Xi’er nodded. "Elder Xue examined her blood and found that her bloodline contains sacred power. She is a descendant of a saint. If she really is a spy from the Underworld Gate, then she’s no ordinary assassin."
"The news of her imprisonment has likely been leaked. Experts from the Underworld Gate will definitely come to rescue her. You must be careful not to let her be taken away."
The old man said coldly, "The Martial Market Academy suffered such heavy losses this time. Naturally, we must make the evil path martial artists of the Black Market pay a price. Rest assured, Miss. No matter how many evil path martial artists the Black Market sends to rescue her, they will all meet their deaths."
Chen Xi’er said, "I want to see her. You continue to stay hidden and don’t reveal yourselves."
Chen Xi’er took out a palm-sized iron boat and placed it in her hand.
That small iron boat was a seventh-rank True Martial Treasure.
Under the infusion of true qi, the small, delicate iron boat transformed into a three-meter-long skiff.
Boarding the skiff, Chen Xi’er headed toward the rockery in the lake. At the same time, the formation inscriptions set in the lake fully activated.
"Perfect opportunity!"
Zhang Ruochen used his space domain to conceal his body, executed the Wind-Riding Flying Dragon Shadow, crossed the void, and landed on top of the rockery in the lake.
Because Chen Xi’er was heading to the rockery, the three old men hidden by the lakeshore didn’t notice the faint fluctuation of true qi on the lake surface.
Chen Xi’er stepped onto the rockery and entered a dark path.
"Greetings, Miss."
The two guards of the dungeon immediately knelt and bowed to Chen Xi’er.
"Open the stone door." Chen Xi’er didn’t even glance at them, speaking coldly.
The two dungeon guards each took out a key, inserted them into two keyholes, and activated the formation inscriptions on the stone door.
"Boom!"
The thick stone door slowly opened, revealing a staircase leading underground.
A chill wind blew out from the stone door.
Inside the stone door was pitch black, with no end in sight.
Zhang Ruochen, following behind Chen Xi’er, glanced at the two dungeon guards and immediately assessed their cultivation levels.
They were both at the Earth Extreme Realm, Great Extreme Position.
After the defeat at the Martial Market Arena, the Martial Market Bank and the Martial Market Academy had indeed transferred martial arts experts to the royal capital.
The two dungeon guards were both over fifty years old, clearly not students of the Martial Market Academy, but martial artists from the Martial Market Bank.
The Martial Market Academy was a base for the Martial Market Bank to cultivate talent, but not all martial artists of the Martial Market Bank came from the academy. The Martial Market Bank also spent large sums of money to recruit martial artists from elsewhere.
However, these recruited martial artists rarely entered the upper echelons of the Martial Market Bank. They also didn’t enjoy the same status as the academy’s students and didn’t receive abundant cultivation resources. They were merely outer-level figures of the Martial Market Bank.