Chapter 311: Meeting
Zi Qian looked down at Zhang Ruochen below and was momentarily stunned.
She thought she had seen things, closed her eyes, and thought to herself, “How could I possibly see him in Death City? It must be an illusion, definitely an illusion.”
But when Zi Qian opened her eyes again, Zhang Ruochen was still standing there.
Zhang Ruochen stood in the middle of the street, smiling at her from afar, gently nodding.
“He actually came to Death City.”
After a long moment, Zi Qian, wearing a purple veil, walked down from the tavern, threaded through the crowd, and found Zhang Ruochen.
The two stood facing each other.
Zi Qian said coldly, “Why did you come to Death City?”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “If you can come, why can’t I?”
“Don’t you know that the entire Death City is now filled with Black Market experts, and many people want your life?” Zi Qian lowered her voice. “This isn’t a place to talk. Follow me.”
Zi Qian led Zhang Ruochen into the tavern, to a room, and closed the doors and windows before removing her purple veil, revealing a clear and beautiful face.
Zhang Ruochen remained calm throughout, sitting down on a chair, and asked, “Has the Underworld Gate also sent many experts to Death City?”
His composure clearly surprised her.
Zi Qian said, “The Underworld Gate has gathered two hundred and fifty-seven Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection assassins from the thirty-six commanderies of Demon Ridge, all converging on Death City. Most of them are older-generation experts. Although they aren’t on the Earth Ranking, many possess strength at the Earth Ranking martial artist level.”
One of the rules for the Earth Ranking was that the martial artist must be under fifty years old.
Thus, in Demon Ridge, there were still many older martial artists with Earth Ranking-level strength, but their age disqualified them.
Among those two hundred and fifty-seven assassins from the Underworld Gate, at least twenty had Earth Ranking-level strength.
“The Underworld Gate truly lives up to its reputation as the largest assassin organization in Demon Ridge, able to dispatch two hundred and fifty-seven Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection assassins in such a short time. With that kind of power, they could easily wipe out a lower-level commandery.”
Zhang Ruochen continued, “Are they all preparing to follow Di Yi into the underwater dragon palace?”
Zi Qian’s eyes showed a hint of surprise. “You already know the news? Who told you?”
“Don’t ask about that,” Zhang Ruochen said. “I’ll ask you directly: are you willing to go to the underwater dragon palace with me? You were the one who found the dragon horn, and I promised you that if I went, I’d take you along.”
“I’m no longer a student of the Martial Market Academy,” Zi Qian said, somewhat gloomily.
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “Whether it’s the Martial Market Academy or the Black Market, as long as you say the word, you’ll have a share of the treasures from the underwater dragon palace.”
Suddenly, Zi Qian’s expression changed slightly. “Zhang Ruochen, listen to my advice. Don’t go to the underwater dragon palace. You have no idea how powerful Di Yi is. Even Bu Qianfan, number one on the Earth Ranking, couldn’t withstand three of his sword strikes. Moreover, Di Yi has sent Black Market experts to patrol the death river section, forbidding anyone from entering the waters near the dragon palace.”
“It seems the Black Market has sent quite a few experts,” Zhang Ruochen said, frowning slightly.
Zi Qian said, “At least half of the Black Market’s experts are gathered in the Tongming River waters. Also, according to reports, experts from the Moon Worship Demon Sect have appeared in Death City, seemingly gathering information.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled. “With the Black Market making such a big move, the Moon Worship Demon Sect and the Martial Market Bank are bound to be alerted. I’ll think this over carefully. If I really can’t break into the underwater dragon palace, I won’t force it. I’ll stay in Death City. If you need anything, you can find me anytime.”
After leaving Zi Qian’s room, Zhang Ruochen returned to the street, looked up, and saw Zi Qian standing above. Their eyes met, and Zi Qian’s face showed a hint of panic and shyness before she quickly turned away.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t dwell on it. He wandered around Death City a few times, quickly found the marks left by Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling, and followed them to a rather grand manor.
This manor was property of the Martial Market Bank.
Before they decided to come to Tongming River, Si Xingkong had already notified the Martial Market Bank martial artists in Death City to prepare this manor, waiting only for their arrival.
Zhang Ruochen circled the manor, found nothing unusual, and then entered through the main gate.
“Junior Brother Zhang, with your highest cultivation, why are you the last to arrive? We’ve been waiting here for two days.”
Chang Qiqi walked up to Zhang Ruochen, laughing.
Behind Chang Qiqi followed a pig-fat Swallowing Elephant Rabbit, with crimson red fur, long ears, and two snow-white teeth showing from its mouth.
The Swallowing Elephant Rabbit walked on two legs, standing upright, holding a bowl-thick ginseng root, gnawing on it like a carrot.
“Chomp, chomp.”
Seeing Zhang Ruochen, the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit’s eyes lit up. It immediately pounced over, baring its two white rabbit teeth, and vigorously rubbed against Zhang Ruochen’s shoe.
It also pointed at the ginseng in its paw, looking disdainful, tossed it a couple of times, and threw it away.
Clearly, that ginseng didn’t suit its taste.
The ginseng Chang Qiqi had given it, though weighing five or six pounds, was not a spiritual medicine, just an ordinary medicinal root.
It might have some effect on ordinary people, but for martial artists and savage beasts, it was as common as cabbage.
“Guoguo!”
Chang Qiqi shouted, clenching his fist, pained, and quickly picked up the half-eaten ginseng root, saying bitterly, “This rabbit is way too hard to keep. It eats a lot and is picky. This ginseng cost eight hundred silver coins, and it just throws it away. I can’t afford it anymore. I’m selling it.”
“Guoguo” was the name Chang Qiqi had given the Swallowing Elephant Rabbit.
Guoguo seemed to understand Chang Qiqi’s words, got startled, its ears standing up, and immediately hid behind Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen smiled, took a jade box from his storage ring, opened it, and pulled out a piece of spiritual meat weighing over twenty pounds.
“I just killed a Black Wind Giant Serpent in Tongming River and dug out its spiritual meat. Give this to Guoguo to eat,” Zhang Ruochen said, patting Guoguo’s head.
The Swallowing Elephant Rabbit’s eyes lit up at the sight of the spiritual meat. It snatched it, ran to the side, and began devouring it noisily, making “slurp, slurp” sounds.
“A Black Wind Giant Serpent is a fourth-rank mid-level savage beast, with strength comparable to a Heavenly Extreme Realm Pinnacle martial artist. Especially in water, its power is even greater, capable of capsizing even human warships. Junior Brother Zhang, has your martial cultivation reached such a level?” Chang Qiqi exclaimed in shock.
“Chang Qiqi, you’re a mediocrity, but Junior Brother Zhang is a top talent ranked in the top hundred of the Earth Ranking. His martial cultivation is beyond your imagination,” a beautiful woman’s voice rang out, melodious like a heavenly sound.
Then, Chen Xi’er, dressed in a moon-white snow robe, walked out.
Chen Xi’er indeed had an angelic voice and appearance; any man would find it hard not to be moved. No wonder a talent like Yan Yunhuan turned into an idiot in her presence.
Chen Xi’er, with a smile on her face, approached Zhang Ruochen and said softly, “Junior Brother Zhang, where have you been these past few days? Did you encounter any danger? My cousin and I were very worried about your safety!”
Since Zhang Ruochen defeated Yan Yunhuan and established himself as the number one genius of Demon Ridge, Chen Xi’er had taken a renewed interest in him, frequently making advances, actively discussing sword techniques, the underwater dragon palace, and martial cultivation with him.
Previously, she had approached him only to provoke Huang Yanchen.
But now, Chen Xi’er seemed to be chasing after Zhang Ruochen, always looking at him with the eyes of a lover.
The title of number one genius in Demon Ridge might not mean much, but being in the top hundred of the Earth Ranking was significant, marking him as a top-tier prodigy in the entire Eastern Domain.
Such a figure could be said to have the potential to become a Half-Saint, or even a Saint.
Seeing Chen Xi’er’s tender demeanor, Zhang Ruochen had long become immune, showing no emotional fluctuation. He said to Chang Qiqi, “Call everyone together. I have something very important to discuss.”
Soon, Huang Yanchen, Duanmu Xingling, and Si Xingkong all arrived.
The six gathered together.
Zhang Ruochen said, “You’ve been in Death City for two days. Have you noticed anything unusual?”
“Unusual? What’s unusual?” Chang Qiqi asked, thick-headed.
Si Xingkong’s expression was serious. “I’ve come to Death City twice for training and know it fairly well. This time, I do feel something is off.”
“What’s off?” Chang Qiqi asked.
“There are more experts in Death City, and it feels like danger lurks everywhere,” Si Xingkong said.
In a place like Demon Ridge, Si Xingkong could reach the Three Extremes Half-Saint level, truly a dragon among men.
Just by staying in a city, he could sense its dangers—something only those highly sensitive to their environment could do.
Chen Xi’er and Huang Yanchen were curious about what was happening.
Since Zhang Ruochen had brought it up, he must know something.
Seeing everyone looking at him, Zhang Ruochen said calmly, “The situation is quite severe. You could say that more than half of the Black Market experts from the thirty-six commanderies of Demon Ridge are gathered in Death City and the death river section of Tongming River.”