Chapter 367: Seeing Through Senior Sister Duanmu
Because of that thunderclap in the clear sky, all the martial artists in Heavenly Demon Martial City became tense, thinking a powerful enemy had arrived. In the first moment, all defensive formations were fully activated.
First, they worried that a fifth-rank savage beast might attack the city, or even a beast tide.
Second, they feared that a heretical path (xiedao) expert at the Fish-Dragon Realm might come to Heavenly Demon Martial City to cause trouble.
Whether it was a fifth-rank savage beast or a heretical path (xiedao) expert at the Fish-Dragon Realm, both possessed considerable destructive power. All major forces treated the situation with caution. One misstep, and Heavenly Demon Martial City could face a massive disaster.
Once, a fifth-rank savage beast from deep within Heavenly Demon Ridge had broken into Heavenly Demon Martial City, causing thousands of casualties. That was only because the Sect Master of Cloud Terrace Sect Mansion had intervened in time to suppress it. Otherwise, the casualties would have been even greater.
"What a powerful lightning strike—definitely not natural lightning."
"Could it be that Golden Crown Thunder Eagle King has come to Heavenly Demon Martial City?"
"Not necessarily. It's said that the Gate Master of Underworld Gate has awakened the Thunder Fiend Divine Martial Mark and cultivates the *Heavenly Thunder Spirit Art*, which also grants such power."
...
All kinds of speculation spread through Heavenly Demon Martial City.
As the instigator of this incident, Zhang Ruochen appeared calm and composed, gently nodding to himself, expressing satisfaction with the power of that strike just now.
It was enough to rival a full-force strike from a cultivator at the first transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
"It's said that Spiritual Power Masters can compete with martial artists at the Fish-Dragon Realm—truly true," Zhang Ruochen said.
When spiritual power reaches the fortieth rank and above, one is called a "Spiritual Power Master."
When spiritual power reaches the forty-fifth rank and above, one is called a "Spiritual Power Half-Saint."
When spiritual power reaches the fiftieth rank and above, one is called a "Spiritual Power Saint."
Spiritual power and martial arts are actually two completely different paths of cultivation.
For example, a great Confucian scholar who has read extensively, even if they have never practiced martial arts, can become a top-tier expert as long as their spiritual power reaches the fortieth rank.
Of course, spiritual power and martial arts have many commonalities and can be cultivated simultaneously.
Zhang Ruochen's talent in spiritual power far exceeded his talent in martial arts, but he did not focus solely on spiritual power; instead, he chose to cultivate both spirit and martial arts.
In his previous life, he had persisted in this.
In this life, he continued to persist.
Before spiritual power reached the fortieth rank, the advantages of a spiritual power cultivator were not obvious. In a fight, they would be far inferior to martial artists.
Only when spiritual power reached the fortieth rank and above would the advantages of a spiritual power cultivator gradually emerge.
Below, a girl's crisp laughter rang out, like wind chimes, very pleasant.
"Zhang Ruochen, what are you climbing so high for? Aren't you afraid of falling down and getting yourself killed?"
Hearing the girl's laughter, Zhang Ruochen looked down and saw a graceful, charming woman standing in the center of the courtyard. She looked like a teenage girl, but her figure was astonishingly good—snow-white skin, a slender neck, full breasts, a waist as supple as a willow, a flat abdomen, a delicate navel, and below... uh...
"How can this be?"
At this moment, Zhang Ruochen's eyes were fixed straight on Duanmu Xingling, and he swallowed slightly, as if he had seen something shocking.
"Why is Senior Sister Duanmu... coming to my cultivation mansion without a single stitch of clothing?"
For a moment, Zhang Ruochen didn't react, having forgotten that he had activated his Heavenly Eye, which could easily see through Duanmu Xingling's clothes and the thin silk bellyband underneath.
The scene was as alluring as it could be, utterly tempting to the extreme.
Even when she was dressed, there was probably no man who could take his eyes off her.
Not to mention that her flawless, perfect body was now completely exposed before Zhang Ruochen.
Of course, the reason Zhang Ruochen couldn't look away wasn't entirely because he was infatuated with Duanmu Xingling's body; it was more out of shock—shock that she had come to his cultivation mansion without wearing any clothes.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen staring at her, his gaze growing hotter and stranger, Duanmu Xingling blinked her round eyes with a smile and said softly, "It hasn't been that long since we last saw each other. Do you have to look at me like that? Am I more beautiful than Sister Chen?"
Zhang Ruochen finally snapped out of it, feeling very embarrassed, and quickly withdrew his Heavenly Eye.
When he looked at Duanmu Xingling again... everything was normal!
Duanmu Xingling was wearing a silver robe, which made her skin look especially fair. Around her waist was a green jade belt, with a butterfly-shaped ring pendant hanging from it.
She seemed like she would never grow up, always looking like a fourteen- or fifteen-year-old girl, but her figure was developing more and more perfectly, more and more seductive—she was simply a captivating enchantress.
Suddenly, the beautiful image he had just seen flashed through Zhang Ruochen's mind, and his expression turned a bit unnatural.
Duanmu Xingling was quite surprised, her big round eyes widening as she walked closer to Zhang Ruochen and said, "Zhang Ruochen, what's wrong with you today?"
Fortunately, Duanmu Xingling didn't know the truth; otherwise, she probably wouldn't be so calm and would insist that Zhang Ruochen take responsibility for her.
Zhang Ruochen coughed dryly twice to cover his embarrassment and said, "Nothing, probably because I was injured some time ago and haven't fully recovered yet."
Duanmu Xingling had long heard that Zhang Ruochen was injured, but every time she came to visit him, Kong Xuan told her that Zhang Ruochen was in seclusion.
It wasn't until today that she finally saw Zhang Ruochen.
Duanmu Xingling said with concern, "In a few days, we're going to the Eastern Domain Sacred Land for the Saint Academy assessment. You need to recover quickly and strive to overpower all the geniuses of the Eastern Domain, achieve first place, and let the talented youths of the entire Eastern Domain see the style of us martial artists from Heavenly Demon Ridge."
Then, she took out a half-foot-long cold jade box from her storage bracelet and handed it to Zhang Ruochen, saying, "This is a fifth-grade healing pill, 'Dragon Bone Pill.' Take it first."
Zhang Ruochen tried to decline, saying, "My injury isn't serious. Senior Sister Duanmu doesn't need to be so kind to me."
Zhang Ruochen's injury had long since healed. He had only said that earlier out of embarrassment, never expecting Duanmu Xingling to be so enthusiastic.
Duanmu Xingling rolled her eyes at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Since Sister Chen isn't here, as her best sister, of course I have to take care of you."
Feeling that saying this was a bit inappropriate, she immediately added, "That's right, now that you have millions of spirit crystals in wealth, you probably look down on a single fifth-grade healing pill."
Zhang Ruochen smiled bitterly and shook his head, quickly taking the jade box containing the Dragon Bone Pill.
If he didn't take it, he might offend this senior sister.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen accept the Dragon Bone Pill, Duanmu Xingling felt a slight secret joy, though she herself didn't quite understand why she was so happy. It seemed that she was ten times happier than if she had gotten a Dragon Bone Pill herself.
"You mentioned the Saint Academy assessment earlier. Is Senior Sister Duanmu also going to the Eastern Domain Sacred Land?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Duanmu Xingling smiled and said, "Of course. The Saint Academy of the Martial Market Academy has trained many saints. It has a long history and deep foundations. Countless geniuses dream of entering the Saint Academy for further study. However, the threshold of the Saint Academy is very high. At the very least, one must have a cultivation level at the Heavenly Extreme Realm, and there are certain age restrictions. Every martial artist who can enter the Saint Academy is a top-tier talent."
Zhang Ruochen had no worries about the Saint Academy assessment. With his strength and talent, he could almost certainly pass, and might even be admitted on special terms.
As for Duanmu Xingling, she probably wouldn't have much trouble either.
Recently, Duanmu Xingling had been refining that drop of dragon blood. Even without using his Heavenly Eye, Zhang Ruochen could tell that her strength had improved again.
However, Zhang Ruochen always felt that Duanmu Xingling seemed shrouded in a layer of mist, making it hard to see the real her.
It seemed that her strength was far more than what she showed on the surface. Even her body and appearance seemed somewhat unreal, despite Zhang Ruochen having seen them clearly earlier.
In the past, Zhang Ruochen had never felt this way.
It wasn't until his spiritual power reached the fortieth rank that he began to have this feeling.
Duanmu Xingling's true identity was the Saintess of the Demon Sect, and she was also the representative of the younger generation of the Demon Sect, carefully selected by the sect's saints.
With her talent, even if she wasn't invincible under heaven, she was at least one of the top few among her peers.
Her true strength was naturally more than what Zhang Ruochen had seen.
However, her body bore a Dharma Seal personally placed by the Demon Sect's High Priest. Not to mention Zhang Ruochen, even the most top-tier (dingji) spiritual power saint of the Martial Market Academy probably couldn't see through her disguise.
If there wasn't complete certainty, how would the Demon Sect dare to send their Saintess into the Martial Market Academy?
Duanmu Xingling wanted to pay a visit to Lin Fei, so Zhang Ruochen naturally accompanied her.
Duanmu Xingling personally handed a gift she had carefully prepared to Lin Fei. It was a spiritual medicine that could prolong life, called Five-Colored Begonia.
Seeing that Duanmu Xingling was well-behaved and sensible, with a sweet smile, Lin Fei liked her very much and pulled Duanmu Xingling to sit beside her.
In the end, she even kept Duanmu Xingling for lunch.
Besides Duanmu Xingling, there was another guest at this lunch—the Ninth Princess.
As early as ten days ago, the Ninth Princess had been brought to the Martial Market Academy, but Zhang Ruochen had been in seclusion at the time, so he only saw her today.
After lunch, Duanmu Xingling left.
Zhang Ruochen and the Ninth Princess also left Lin Fei's courtyard and went to the secret chamber where Zhang Ruochen usually cultivated.
After closing the stone door, he activated the formation.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen so cautious, the Ninth Princess's expression gradually became serious. She guessed that Zhang Ruochen had brought her alone to the secret chamber because he had something important to tell her.
Zhang Ruochen took out a light-element spirit crystal and placed it on the stone table, illuminating the secret chamber.
The Ninth Princess said, "Ninth Brother, what exactly is the matter? Why are you being so careful?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's nothing too major, but in a few days, I'm going to the Eastern Domain Sacred Land, and I probably won't be back at Heavenly Demon Ridge for a short time. So, before I leave, I have some words I want to say to you, and some things I want to give you."
"Oh!"
For some reason, seeing Zhang Ruochen's powerful aura, the Ninth Princess always felt that she was the younger sister, and he was the older brother.
Zhang Ruochen said solemnly, "When a martial artist's cultivation reaches the Heavenly Extreme Realm, their hearing and eyesight greatly increase. Therefore, some words cannot be said outside, and some things cannot be done outside, to prevent them from being heard or seen by those with ulterior motives. You must remember this in the future. In the martial world, you must be extremely cautious. One misstep, and you could fall into eternal damnation."