Chapter 341: Breaking Through the Water's Surface
Seeing the Abyssal Ancient Sword drawing closer and closer, Di Yi's eyes turned cold, his pupils constantly contracting until they became as small as needlepoints.
Two bolts of purple lightning shot out from his pupils, striking toward the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
"Boom!"
The two forces clashed together, and both of them separated simultaneously.
In this exchange, Zhang Ruochen only stepped back two paces before steadying himself. Holding the Abyssal Ancient Sword, he swung it in a slash, effortlessly and gracefully cleaving apart the chaotic true qi force.
He stood in the water, with green light mist gushing out from all his pores like streaks of green radiance flying forth, as if a green lotus had taken root at the bottom of the water, giving him an ethereal and vast aura.
Di Yi, however, retreated fifteen paces, leaving fifteen large craters on the riverbed. His robe had been pierced by sword qi in three places, making him look somewhat disheveled.
Clearly, in this exchange, Zhang Ruochen had gained the absolute upper hand.
"Zhang Ruochen, we'll help you!"
In the distance, six figures rushed over rapidly, appearing behind Zhang Ruochen. They were Huang Yanchen, Si Xingkong, Chang Qiqi, Duanmu Xingling, Chen Xi'er, and Zi Qian.
The auras of these six people merged with Zhang Ruochen's, forming a unified front that put considerable pressure on Di Yi.
"Zhang Ruochen, if you have the guts, fight me one-on-one to decide victory or death!" Di Yi stood proudly on the opposite side, his voice cold and arrogant.
Chang Qiqi laughed loudly, "For someone like you, why bother with a one-on-one fight? Let's all attack together and take down this arrogant bastard."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head, "This is a battle between Di Yi and me. None of you should interfere."
"Zhang Ruochen..." Huang Yanchen said.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Don't say anything more. All of you, step back."
Zhang Ruochen's proposal to fight Di Yi alone was not out of arrogance but to protect their safety.
Although Huang Yanchen, Si Xingkong, and the others were all top-tier experts who could indeed provide considerable help, their strength still fell far short of Di Yi's. One misstep could get them killed by Di Yi.
Zhang Ruochen didn't want to risk their lives just to kill Di Yi.
"Fine! Zhang Ruochen, let's fight outside!"
Di Yi was still somewhat uneasy, afraid of being surrounded and killed by Zhang Ruochen and the others. Although he was confident he could kill everyone except Zhang Ruochen, he wasn't sure he could escape unscathed.
Only by leaving the Dragon Palace could he go all out.
"Swish!"
"Swish!"
Di Yi and Zhang Ruochen rushed out of the Dragon Palace one after another, each using their movement techniques, turning into two swift figures charging toward the surface of the Death River.
Moments later, two loud explosions sounded on the water's surface, sending water vapor shooting into the sky.
Zhang Ruochen and Di Yi broke through the water almost simultaneously, landing on the black water's surface.
They stood on the waves, as steady as if on solid ground.
In the distance, faint figures of martial artists could be seen rushing over rapidly. At the same time, massive warships were cutting through the waves, charging forward at high speed.
In the month or so since Zhang Ruochen and the others had entered the Dragon Palace, the entire martial world of the Demon Ridge had been stirred into a frenzy. Major powers had sent strong experts to the Death River, hoping to claim a share of the benefits.
In the distance, a white ancient warship flew a battle flag emblazoned with the character "Wu."
It was a Rainbow Flying Warship built by the Martial Market Academy.
On the warship, dozens of silver-robed elders rushed out of the cabin onto the deck. Each of them had Heavenly Extreme Realm cultivation, their auras vast and imposing, as they gazed into the distance at Zhang Ruochen and Di Yi standing on the water.
"They're out! It's Zhang Ruochen. Who's the one standing across from Zhang Ruochen?" a relatively young silver-robed elder exclaimed.
Then, two more powerful middle-aged men walked out of the cabin, standing side by side. The surrounding silver-robed elders all bowed to them.
They were Lei Jing, the master of the Silver-Robed Elder Pavilion, and Chen Ying, the master of the Martial Market Academy.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen break through the water, Lei Jing finally let out a long sigh of relief.
For the past month, Lei Jing had been worried about Zhang Ruochen, afraid that he might encounter Di Yi in the Dragon Palace and die at his hands.
Regardless, seeing Zhang Ruochen emerge alive from the Dragon Palace, the stone hanging over Lei Jing's heart temporarily fell.
Chen Ying was a refined-looking man in his forties, with neatly trimmed mustache on his upper lip, his hair combed immaculately, a straight nose, and piercing eyes. One could imagine that in his youth, he must have been a handsome young man who captivated countless women.
Even now, in his older age, his charm remained undiminished.
This man was Chen Xi'er's father and the master of the Martial Market Academy.
Chen Ying squinted his eyes, saying, "What formidable little fellows. They've only just broken through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm, yet their auras are already so profound. Old Lei, Zhang Ruochen's talent is probably more than what you've described."
Lei Jing chuckled, "Of course. Look who his master is."
Chen Ying shot him a disdainful look, saying, "Stop patting yourself on the back. With Zhang Ruochen's current strength, he can go toe-to-toe with Sacred Body martial artists. How could someone like you possibly produce a talent like Zhang Ruochen?"
"Regardless, he's my disciple, not yours. That's enough," Lei Jing said smugly.
Chen Ying shook his head, too lazy to argue with the old fool. After all, Zhang Ruochen was Huang Yanchen's fiancé, and Huang Yanchen was his niece. By that logic, Zhang Ruochen could be considered part of the Chen family's faction, not an outsider.
"Yanchen has better judgment than Xi'er. She managed to see Zhang Ruochen's extraordinary talent early on," Chen Ying said with a smile.
Besides the Martial Market Academy's large force gathered at the Death River, top sects from the Demon Ridge like the Yuntai Clan Manor, Taiqing Palace, and Blood God Sect had also sent experts.
They too were aboard warships, watching from a distance.
"The Young Master is out!"
Seven figures leaped out, rushing toward Di Yi and landing behind him, standing in a row.
They were the Seven Evil Star Envoys of the Black Market First Class Hall—four men and three women, each a top-tier expert. At first glance, they all seemed quite young, appearing to be in their early twenties.
Of course, the higher a martial artist's cultivation, the slower they aged. One couldn't judge a person's true age by appearance alone.
Even with the Seven Evil Star Envoys appearing, Zhang Ruochen showed no fear. Holding the Abyssal Ancient Sword, he stood straight and stared coldly at Di Yi, saying, "Let's begin."
Seeing the Seven Evil Star Envoys arrive, Di Yi finally relaxed, his tense nerves easing slightly. He smiled, "Zhang Ruochen, haven't you noticed that Zhang Tiangui hasn't appeared at all? Don't you find that strange?"
"What do you mean?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
"What do I mean? Think about it carefully. Take your time," Di Yi said with a smile.
Zhang Ruochen's heart sank, and he silently cursed his misfortune.
Right!
Zhang Tiangui had never appeared from start to finish. Where had Di Yi sent him?
Although his state of mind was affected, Zhang Ruochen still appeared very calm, showing no signs of disturbance.
He knew that Di Yi was saying this to unsettle him during the battle.
Just like when Di Yi had fought Bu Qianfan—he had first disrupted Bu Qianfan's state of mind and then defeated him in just three moves.
He wanted to use the same tactic against Zhang Ruochen.
Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, gradually calming his initially flustered heart. He absolutely could not let Di Yi affect his state of mind; otherwise, this battle would be fraught with danger.
Zhang Ruochen's aura surged. Gripping the sword hilt with both hands, he activated all sixty-six inscriptions on the Abyssal Ancient Sword. Powerful sword qi condensed in the air, covering a hundred-zhang radius of the water's surface.
Di Yi's lips curled into a smile. It seemed Zhang Tiangui was right—Zhang Ruochen's weakness wasn't himself but the people around him.
Although Zhang Ruochen appeared calm, Di Yi believed that his earlier words had already affected Zhang Ruochen's state of mind to some extent.
Now, he just needed to press the attack in one go to completely crush Zhang Ruochen.
"To deal with a mere Zhang Ruochen, the Young Master doesn't need to act. I'll take his life."
The Red Desire Star Envoy let out a seductive laugh. Her curvaceous, alluring figure turned into a blurry phantom as she soared into the air, attacking Zhang Ruochen first.
Seeing the Red Desire Star Envoy make her move, Di Yi frowned slightly.
He had originally planned to take advantage of Zhang Ruochen's mental turmoil, using his strongest martial arts to defeat or even kill him as quickly as possible.
But the Red Desire Star Envoy's sudden intervention gave Zhang Ruochen a buffer period. Once Zhang Ruochen stabilized his state of mind, it would be much harder for Di Yi to crush him in a short time.
The Red Desire Star Envoy's timing in making her move was indeed somewhat subtle.
"Could the Red Desire Star Envoy be deliberately helping Zhang Ruochen?"
Di Yi was a suspicious person, and he began to doubt the Red Desire Star Envoy.
But after thinking it over, he shook his head.
"The Red Desire Star Envoy doesn't know that Zhang Ruochen already has the strength to contend with me. In this situation, her attacking Zhang Ruochen actually benefits me. At the very least, by using her fight with Zhang Ruochen, I can probe some of his techniques and trump cards."
Di Yi stopped suspecting the Red Desire Star Envoy and instead began to carefully watch her battle with Zhang Ruochen, hoping to find flaws in Zhang Ruochen's martial arts.
"Zhang Ruochen, someone saved you last time, and you escaped. But this time, you won't have such an opportunity."
The Red Desire Star Envoy's snow-white body was clad in a layer of thin, crimson gauze. Her chest was full, her buttocks pert, making her look incredibly seductive. She used the Enchantress Movement Technique, charging at Zhang Ruochen like a peerless enchantress dancing on the water.
It had to be said, this woman was indeed stunningly beautiful. Even without lifting a finger, a single glance from her would make countless men willing to kill for her.
"Crimson Illusion Realm."
She unleashed an illusion technique.
In an instant, Zhang Ruochen felt his surroundings change, as if he had entered a luxurious and splendid palace. All around him were beautiful, moving women with fair skin and tempting legs. Even the air seemed to carry a faint, fragrant scent.
Just then, a breathtakingly beautiful young girl, wearing a tight pink undergarment, walked slowly toward Zhang Ruochen.
Compared to her, all the other beauties in the palace seemed to pale in comparison.
This young girl looked very much like the Red Desire Star Envoy. Her crystalline, flawless face tilted up slightly, revealing a seductive gaze.
Her jade-like hands slowly reached behind her back, untying two thin red strings. The only pink undergarment on her body slid down to her calves, revealing a flawless, jade-like body.
Zhang Ruochen stared coldly at the seductive woman across from him, saying, "Red Desire Star Envoy, you should know that I'm not afraid of your illusions."
"Oh? Is that so? Of course, I know."
With that, the woman gave a bewitching smile and suddenly struck, sending a finger sword toward Zhang Ruochen's brow.