# Chapter 312: Deadly Traps at Every Step
"What? What exactly happened in Death City to attract so many Black Market experts?" Chang Qiqi exclaimed in shock.
Chen Xi'er's expression turned grave. "The Martial Market Bank did send word that there were signs of a large number of Black Market experts being mobilized. But is it too exaggerated to say that more than half of the Black Market's experts have gathered at once?"
Duanmu Xingling was also surprised. Like Chen Xi'er, she had already received some intelligence.
However, her information came from the Demon Sect.
Similarly, Duanmu Xingling shared the same doubt as Chen Xi'er. It was nearly impossible for the Black Market to mobilize more than half of its experts to come to Death City.
Chen Xi'er said, "Even during the most intense conflict between the Black Market and the Martial Market Bank, they never mobilized more than half of the Black Market's experts. Zhang Ruochen, you need to understand, the Black Market is composed of countless large and small factions. Each commandery's Black Market has a president, forming an independent Black Market system. In Demon Ridge, no one can simultaneously mobilize the Black Market martial artists from thirty-six commanderies. The thirty-six presidents can't do it, the Gate Master of the Underworld Gate can't do it, and even the Chief Master of the Poison Spider Merchant Guild can't do it."
Zhang Ruochen said, "You're right, but what they can't do, the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall can."
"Who?" Chang Qiqi asked.
"Who is the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall?" Si Xingkong also followed up.
Upon hearing "Black Market First Class Hall," Duanmu Xingling's expression shifted slightly, a strange light appearing in her eyes. "The Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall has come to Demon Ridge?"
Zhang Ruochen nodded. "It's not just the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall who has arrived; all Seven Evil Star Envoys have also come. Do you understand now how dire the situation is?"
Chen Xi'er and Huang Yanchen had extraordinary backgrounds and had both heard of the Black Market First Class Hall. So, after Zhang Ruochen spoke, their faces turned somewhat pale.
Chang Qiqi glanced at them, still somewhat puzzled, and asked, "What exactly is the Black Market First Class Hall? Why do you all look so terrified?"
Huang Yanchen snorted coldly. "The Black Market First Class Hall is the largest organization within the Black Market. At the same time, it was specifically established by the Black Market to deal with the Martial Market Academy. Listen carefully—it was built to deal with the Martial Market Academy, not the Martial Market Bank."
Chen Xi'er added, "Back then, the Martial Market Bank established the Martial Market Academy to recruit talented individuals from across the realm, cultivating a continuous stream of talent resources for the bank. Now, most of the high-ranking members of the Martial Market Bank came from the Martial Market Academy. Seeing the immense effectiveness of the Martial Market Academy, the Black Market feared that one day it would be suppressed by the Martial Market Bank, so they established the 'Black Market First Class Hall.'"
"The Black Market First Class Hall was jointly founded by the saints of the Black Market. It serves both as an institution for the Black Market to cultivate talent and as a weapon to counter the Martial Market Academy."
"For the heirs of the major forces within the Black Market, being able to enter the Black Market First Class Hall is considered an honor. To enter the Black Market First Class Hall, one needs not only extraordinary talent but also one thing."
Chang Qiqi asked, "What thing?"
"A human head," Chen Xi'er said.
"A genius from the Black Market must bring the head of a Martial Market Academy student to step through the gates of the Black Market First Class Hall," Huang Yanchen said.
Chang Qiqi immediately shrank back, feeling a chill run down his neck.
Chen Xi'er said, "The Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall is roughly equivalent to the 'Young Venerable' of the Martial Market Academy's Holy Academy and the 'Holy Maiden' of the Demon Sect. Moreover, in some respects, the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall wields even greater power, almost representing the will of the Black Market's saints."
"The Seven Evil Star Envoys were specifically chosen to protect the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall. Their talent is only slightly inferior to his, and they will eventually become major figures in the Black Market First Class Hall. Because they are older than the Young Master, they are currently stronger than him."
Huang Yanchen added, "If the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall dies young or his talent wanes, then a new Young Master will be selected from among the Seven Evil Star Envoys."
Duanmu Xingling asked, "Why would major figures like the Young Master of the Black Market First Class Hall and the Seven Evil Star Envoys come to Demon Ridge?"
"Because of a treasure—the Dragon Relic," Zhang Ruochen said.
"What Dragon Relic?"
Everyone was puzzled.
So, Zhang Ruochen explained the origin of the Dragon Relic to them. After hearing it, everyone became excited again.
"The Buddha Emperor's relic—that's a good thing. If I could swallow it, I'd probably become a legendary Seven-Absolute Genius, dominating the world with no one able to match me," Chang Qiqi said ecstatically.
Huang Yanchen shot him a glare. "The energy contained in the Buddha Emperor's relic is immense. If you swallowed it all at once, you'd definitely explode on the spot."
Chang Qiqi said, "Even if I can't get the Dragon Relic, if I could find the Golden Dragon's corpse and extract a few drops of dragon blood to temper my body, reaching the Three-Absolute Genius level should be easy, right? I might even grow to the Four-Absolute Genius level."
Chang Qiqi's words made everyone present's hearts stir.
Legend has it that a young dragon of the Dragon Clan, upon birth, is at least equivalent to a human Three-Absolute Genius in constitution. As it cultivates, it grows even stronger. And that refers to dragons with mixed bloodlines, like the Four-Winged Earth Dragon.
Those dragons with pure bloodlines are even more formidable. Some of them, upon birth, are roughly equivalent to human Five-Absolute or Six-Absolute Geniuses in constitution.
Therefore, among human martial artists, "dragon blood" has always been regarded as a precious body-tempering medicine.
The stronger the dragon's cultivation, the better the blood's tempering effect. The purer the dragon's bloodline, the more it can enhance a human martial artist's constitution.
The Golden Dragon is not only a pure-blooded dragon but also a dragon with terrifyingly powerful cultivation. If one could obtain its blood, even just a single drop, it would bring endless benefits to a young martial artist.
Even Si Xingkong, who was usually calm, now had a fervent look in his eyes.
This was an opportunity—a tremendous one. If he could seize it, his life would take a remarkable new direction.
If he missed this chance, it would never come again.
Zhang Ruochen observed everyone's expressions and said, "I've told you the general situation. The underwater Dragon Palace holds great opportunities, but also immense danger. You should already know in your hearts how to choose."
"Even if it's nine deaths and one life, I have to give it a try. But there's one problem now: the underwater Dragon Palace has been sealed off by Black Market experts. Even if we hold the key to open it, we can't break in," Si Xingkong said.
"The Black Market wants to monopolize the Dragon Relic—how could it be that easy? I'll send a message to my father right now, asking him to come personally."
Chen Xi'er took out a Message Light Talisman and crushed it directly.
"Whoosh!"
A dazzling stream of light flew out from the talisman and disappeared into the horizon.
Chen Xi'er's father was, of course, the Palace Master of the Martial Market Academy.
Zhang Ruochen did not stop Chen Xi'er. After all, at this point, relying solely on the strength of a few young juniors like them was no match for the large number of Black Market experts. Only by notifying the experts of the Martial Market Bank and the Martial Market Academy could they contend with the Black Market.
Duanmu Xingling took out a Message Light Talisman, smiled slightly, and said, "I'll also notify my aunt to come over. After all, the Black Market has gathered a large number of experts in Death City. The Martial Market Academy and the Martial Market Bank may not be able to gather a large number of experts in a short time. One more person means one more helper."
As the Little Holy Maiden of the Moon Worship Demon Sect, Duanmu Xingling naturally had her own responsibilities.
Recently, she had also been investigating the purpose of the Black Market experts gathering in Death City and had even clashed with Di Yi once. However, she hadn't found any results and didn't know Di Yi's identity. It wasn't until Zhang Ruochen appeared that she understood the whole story.
With such a major incident occurring, Duanmu Xingling naturally had to send word back to the Moon Worship Demon Sect.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Duanmu Xingling, a thoughtful expression on his face, but in the end, he said nothing.
Chang Qiqi asked, "What do we do now?"
"What else can we do? For now, we just need to lie low and wait for the Palace Master to arrive and take charge," Si Xingkong said.
"I'm afraid you won't be able to wait that long."
From outside the estate, a penetrating sonic wave rang out. Every word felt like a needle stabbing into their eardrums.
"Not good—this estate has been surrounded by Black Market people," Chen Xi'er said.
Outside the estate, the ground shook violently, accompanied by the roars of savage elephants.
Massive savage elephants, like small mountains, surrounded the entire estate.
Si Xingkong said, "Everyone, don't panic. This estate has a secret passage that leads directly to an underground river. That underground river connects to the Tongming River. Escaping shouldn't be difficult. I'll take you to the entrance of the secret passage now."
The Martial Market Bank had operated in Death City for many years and naturally had contingency plans.
Si Xingkong had already trained in Death City twice, so he naturally knew about the secret passage in the estate.
"You go first. I'll buy some time."
Zhang Ruochen waved his arm, and thirty-two formation flags flew out from his Space Ring, inserting themselves into thirty-two positions within the estate. He himself stood at the center of the formation.
With so many Black Market experts, even with the secret passage, escape would be difficult.
Someone had to help them buy time to flee.
"Zhang Ruochen, I'll stay and help you."
Huang Yanchen stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen and was about to rush back.
Duanmu Xingling quickly grabbed her. "If Zhang Ruochen's cultivation can't buy enough time, your staying won't make any difference either. What we need to do now is evacuate as quickly as possible so that he can also withdraw swiftly."
"Sister Duanmu is right. Senior Sister Huang, if you stay, you'll only distract me," Zhang Ruochen said.
Chen Xi'er also grabbed Huang Yanchen's other wrist and, together with Duanmu Xingling, pulled her away.
After they left, Zhang Ruochen finally breathed a slight sigh of relief. He took out a battle diagram, held it in his hand, and gently toyed with it, ready to unfold it at any moment.
"Boom!"
Outside the estate, two savage elephants charged forward, smashing through the estate's walls, turning them into a pile of rubble and creating a huge gap.
The savage elephants were over nine meters tall, their legs like pillars, their bodies covered in pitch-black scales, with two sharp ivory tusks like white blades held in their mouths.