Chapter 301: Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report
"What's wrong? You've already made it onto the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report,' praised as the most outstanding 'Young Heavenly Prodigy' of Demon Ridge since Luo Xu."
Chang Qiqi's face was flushed with excitement, barely able to contain himself.
He spread open the newspaper in his hand, pointing to a passage with his finger, and read aloud: "Zhang Ruochen, the Ninth Prince of Yunwu Commandery, only eighteen years old, defeated Yan Qingwu, the number one genius of the Yan Clan, and ranks ninety-eighth on the 'Earth Ranking.' Before the age of sixteen, he could not practice martial arts. At sixteen, he awakened his Divine Martial Mark, and from then on soared to greatness, becoming the most outstanding 'Young Heavenly Prodigy' of Demon Ridge since Luo Xu."
Further down, there was also a passage detailing Zhang Ruochen's major achievements.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at it and smiled faintly. "It's just being featured in the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report,' and I'm placed on the eighteenth page, which is only the last page. It's nothing remarkable."
"How is that not impressive? You have to understand, martial artists from our Demon Ridge haven't been featured in the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report' for over ten years. Do you even know what this represents? You've become famous, truly famous! Not just in Demon Ridge, but even across the entire Eastern Domain, you've gained some renown, enough to catch the attention of those Half-Saint families and Saintly clans." Chang Qiqi said.
The "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" was a newspaper published by the Martial Market Bank, one issue per month, each with eighteen pages, mainly recording major events from the entire Eastern Domain in the previous month.
The more significant the event, the further forward it was placed.
For example, in this issue, the Commandery Prince of Tianyi Commandery breaking through to the Half-Saint realm was featured on the second page. It was considered news across the Eastern Domain, a explosive event in Tianyi Commandery, and even had a considerable impact on the surrounding commanderies. It was estimated that the Commandery Princes of the neighboring commanderies had already prepared large gifts to go and congratulate the Tianyi Commandery Prince.
Of course, Demon Ridge was a million miles away from Tianyi Commandery, so the martial artists there only discussed it briefly without causing much of a stir.
As for the front page of this issue, it was dominated by another shocking piece of news:
A young mysterious expert from the Black Market First Class Hall, with just three sword strikes, defeated Bu Qianfan, the number one on the "Earth Ranking." Some Half-Saint-level experts speculated that this young mysterious expert from the Black Market had already reached the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Earth Extreme Realm.
Even the news of the Tianyi Commandery Prince breaking through to Half-Saint was pushed off the front page, showing just how shocking this news was.
Bu Qianfan, hailed as a once-in-a-century genius in the Eastern Domain, had reached the level of Seven and a Half Absolutes, dominating the top spot on the "Earth Ranking" for three years, with no one able to withstand a single move from him.
For such a genius to be defeated in three sword strikes by a young expert from the Black Market First Class Hall, how could it not be shocking?
If that young mysterious expert from the Black Market had truly reached the Supreme Extreme Realm of the Earth Extreme Realm, the shock would be even greater, and it was likely that even the imperial center of the First Central Empire would send experts to investigate.
If such a figure grew up, who could be his opponent a hundred years from now?
Compared to that young expert from the Black Market First Class Hall, Zhang Ruochen's achievement of defeating Yan Qingwu seemed insignificant, only worthy of the last page.
Even so, Zhang Ruochen still caused a huge sensation in Demon Ridge.
Demon Ridge had not had anyone enter the top thousand of the "Earth Ranking" for many years, let alone Zhang Ruochen entering the top hundred. It was definitely a matter of bringing honor and glory to Demon Ridge.
This issue of the "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" and the "Earth Ranking" sold like crazy, with many people lining up outside the Martial Market Bank to buy them.
Being featured in the "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" was a great honor.
"Have you seen this issue of the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report'? The Ninth Prince of Yunwu Commandery, Zhang Ruochen, has been published in the newspaper!"
"Really? Our Demon Ridge has produced such a figure?"
"Impressive, right? Zhang Ruochen defeated the number one genius of the Yan Clan, entered the top hundred of the 'Earth Ranking,' and became the most outstanding talent of Demon Ridge since Luo Xu."
"He's really brought honor to our Demon Ridge. I have to buy a copy of this issue of the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report' and the 'Earth Ranking'!"
...
This scene was playing out in almost every city across the thirty-six commanderies of Demon Ridge, with everyone talking about "Zhang Ruochen."
This young man, who had once only been slightly known, was now a household name.
The martial artists of Yunwu Commandery were even more frenzied, buying up all the copies of the "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" and the "Earth Ranking" from the Martial Market Bank. Almost every young martial artist aspired to become the next Zhang Ruochen, burying themselves in hard training.
Before dawn, a copy of the "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" was delivered to the royal palace of Yunwu Commandery and placed before the Yunwu Commandery Prince.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen's name, the Yunwu Commandery Prince was overjoyed. "I've trained my whole life and never had the chance to be featured in the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report.' This ninth son of mine, only eighteen years old, has already entered the top hundred of the 'Earth Ranking.' He's brought me so much honor. Good! Good! Good!"
While the Yunwu Commandery Prince praised Zhang Ruochen, the Queen was furious. "If I had known this little bastard would grow to this point, I should have spared no cost to eliminate him back then. Now that he's grown up, even Gui'er has been overshadowed by him. No, he must die."
The Queen was filled with regret. Once, Zhang Ruochen was just a sickly waste in her eyes, and she could have crushed him with a single finger.
Now, wanting to kill Zhang Ruochen was as difficult as reaching the heavens.
At the same time, a copy of the "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" was also delivered to Zhang Tiangui's hands.
Seeing the newspaper's evaluation of Zhang Ruochen, Zhang Tiangui's hands trembled, and his pupils seemed ready to spit fire. He too was filled with regret. If he had known Zhang Ruochen would become a threat, he should have acted personally to nip him in the bud.
Zhang Ruochen had already entered the top hundred of the "Earth Ranking," while he himself was still ranked in the thousands. All the glory that once belonged to him had now fallen onto Zhang Ruochen.
How had this happened?
It had only been a few months, so how had things turned out like this?
What made Zhang Tiangui even more unable to understand was that in the last two months, the Sect Leader had not summoned him, and even Han Qiu was nowhere to be seen. Every time he went to find Han Qiu, he was turned away at the door.
It hadn't been like this before.
Lin Chenyu stood behind Zhang Tiangui, looking at him with some pity, a hint of coldness in his eyes that went unnoticed.
Zhang Ruochen had now grown strong, and Zhang Tiangui's good days were over.
"Whether in Yunwu Commandery or at Yuntai Sect Mansion, Zhang Tiangui will find it hard to have a foothold anymore." Lin Chenyu's smile grew even more sinister.
Zhang Tiangui forced himself to stay calm and said coldly, "Lin Chenyu, do you know who the Sect Leader and Junior Sister Han have been in contact with recently? Why has their attitude toward me suddenly changed so drastically?"
Lin Chenyu stepped forward and said respectfully, "Reporting to Master, I heard that Senior Sister Han sent people to Yunwu Commandery to investigate you."
Zhang Tiangui's eyes darkened, and he stood up abruptly. "When did this happen?"
"It was after Senior Sister Han returned from outside last time... I remember, Senior Sister Han had previously fought alongside Zhang Ruochen against pursuers from the Black Market and the Four Directions Commandery. It's likely that Zhang Ruochen said something bad about you in front of her." Lin Chenyu said.
Zhang Tiangui clenched his fists, his gaze icy. "Zhang Ruochen again!"
Lin Chenyu lowered his head and said cautiously, "I also heard that Senior Sister Han seems to have a favorable impression of Zhang Ruochen. She has visited the Martial Market Academy three times wanting to see him, but Zhang Ruochen was in seclusion each time, so she didn't get to meet him."
Hearing this, Zhang Tiangui's heart shook even more. He roared, "Why didn't you tell me this earlier?"
A woman's voice sounded from outside the room: "I told him to keep it from you for now."
As the voice fell, Han Qiu walked in from outside, holding a white jade war sword.
As Han Qiu entered, Lin Chenyu immediately stepped back several paces and fled the room.
Since Han Qiu had appeared, his betrayal of Zhang Tiangui could no longer be hidden. He naturally had to escape quickly and wait for the situation to unfold.
It seemed Han Qiu could no longer hold back and was about to confront Zhang Tiangui. With her current strength, she was no weaker than Zhang Tiangui. Moreover, Han Qiu was the Sect Leader's daughter. What could Zhang Tiangui use to fight her?
Seeing Han Qiu and the fleeing Lin Chenyu, how could Zhang Tiangui not understand what was happening?
He let out a long laugh. "Good Zhang Ruochen, good Lin Chenyu. It seems I truly underestimated them. Junior Sister, you wouldn't believe their words, would you?"
Han Qiu stood five steps away from Zhang Tiangui, holding the white jade war sword, and said, "Why wouldn't I believe them? Senior Brother, to be honest, you have always been a role model for me to learn from. Unfortunately, some of your actions really don't deserve to be my role model."
"What did Zhang Ruochen say in front of you?" Zhang Tiangui asked.
"Zhang Ruochen said nothing. Everything was the result of my own investigation." Han Qiu said. "Zhang Tiangui, you even snatched the woman your own younger brother loved. I truly admire your character. You even plotted against your own younger brother. I really wonder if you have any humanity left."
"Haha! Junior Sister, since you've put it that way, it seems nothing I say will matter anymore?"
Zhang Tiangui laughed loudly and said, "Is there no place for me in Yuntai Sect Mansion anymore?"
"As long as you haven't done anything against the sect, how could Yuntai Sect Mansion not accommodate you?" Han Qiu said.
Zhang Tiangui said, "Since you and the Sect Leader have believed the words of petty people and started to guard against me, treating me as a despicable man who stops at nothing, then even if I continue to stay at Yuntai Sect Mansion, I'm afraid I won't be able to learn any deeper martial arts. In that case, what meaning is there in my staying at Yuntai Sect Mansion? Don't worry, I won't make things difficult for you. I'll leave on my own."
Zhang Tiangui took nothing with him, walked past Han Qiu, and followed a long stone staircase out of the mountain gate of Yuntai Sect Mansion.
He looked back, his gaze gradually turning cold. He thought to himself, "Han Qiu, Yuntai Sect Mansion, today you let me go. In the future, I will make you regret it."
In front of Han Qiu, Zhang Tiangui had put on such a pitiful act solely to gain her sympathy.
Only then could he walk out of Yuntai Sect Mansion.
Otherwise, today would have been his death day.