Chapter 371: Traveling Together
A few moments later, besides Xue Yingrou, seven other talented disciples gathered around Zhang Ruochen.
"Many thanks, Senior Brother. May I ask your esteemed name?" one of the disciples asked gratefully.
The disciples of the Martial Market Academy were spread across the world. Although they did not recognize Zhang Ruochen, they recognized the academy insignia on his robe. Since they were all disciples of the Martial Market Academy, they were naturally fellow brothers.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen's strength was so formidable that regardless of his actual age, they had to address him as Senior Brother.
"First, let's drive back the Red Blazing Crows," Zhang Ruochen said with a slight frown. He then added, "Since you are all disciples of the Martial Market Academy, don't you know any combined attack formations?"
"We do!"
Xue Yingrou, standing beside Zhang Ruochen, reached into her sleeve and pulled out a fist-sized formation jade stone.
It was only then that Zhang Ruochen gave Xue Yingrou a proper look. At first glance, his eyes lit up with a sense of stunning beauty.
A thought surfaced in his mind: "What a beautiful woman."
No matter how strong one's spiritual power or how profound their cultivation, the appreciation of "beauty" never changes. Xue Yingrou, known as the number one beauty of the younger generation in Nanyun Commandery, was flawless in appearance—from her delicate features to her perfect figure and elegant demeanor, enough to captivate countless men.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen had seen many beautiful women, so he was only momentarily stunned before withdrawing his gaze and continuing to strike down the Red Blazing Crows.
Following Zhang Ruochen's suggestion, the other talented disciples took out their formation jade stones and, together with Xue Yingrou, set up a combined attack formation.
Earlier, when the Red Blazing Crow King had breached the Silver Moon Ship's defensive formation, they had been caught off guard and separated by the endless swarm of Red Blazing Crows, leaving no chance to use the formation.
Secondly, they were all top-tier geniuses, each with a proud heart. Apart from respecting Senior Brother Zi Hansha, they looked down on the others. Thus, although they all belonged to the Nanyun Commandery Martial Market Academy, they rarely interacted or fought together, making their coordination unfamiliar.
When danger struck, they still fought individually, prioritizing their own survival over using the combined attack formation.
Only now did the formation truly activate.
Their talent was indeed extraordinary, and all were at the Heavenly Extreme Realm. Once the combined attack formation was in place, the power it unleashed was terrifying. In just a short time, they scattered the surrounding Red Blazing Crows, temporarily lifting the siege.
In another direction, centered around Senior Brother Zi Hansha, seventeen talented disciples had also gathered.
"Right! Why did we forget to use the combined attack formation?"
"With the combined attack formation, how could those Red Blazing Crows stand a chance? They can attack together, but we can defend together too."
Zi Hansha glanced at Zhang Ruochen in the distance, feeling as though his spotlight had been stolen. Especially when he saw Xue Yingrou beside Zhang Ruochen, a cold glint flashed in his eyes. He concealed his emotions, however, and ordered, "Set up the combined attack formation."
Just as the disciples were taking out their formation jade stones to prepare the formation, the Red Blazing Crows retreated like a receding tide, turning into a cloud of fire that vanished on the horizon.
The disciples were all stunned.
Why did they suddenly retreat?
Whatever the reason, since the Red Blazing Crows had withdrawn, it meant they had fully and completely survived!
The disciples were naturally overjoyed, letting out long sighs of relief. They had truly escaped disaster, a cause for celebration.
"Shua!"
Two figures descended from the sky.
It was Lei Jing and He Yunlou, landing almost simultaneously on the Silver Moon Ship. Their auras, not yet fully restrained, crashed down like two great mountains, causing the disciples on the ship to gasp for air.
"Greetings, Elder He."
All the disciples respectfully bowed to He Yunlou.
Although the talented disciples were proud, and many had talent surpassing He Yunlou's, that didn't matter. He Yunlou was a Fish-Dragon Realm expert, having transcended martial arts. For that alone, he deserved their respect.
Moreover, high talent didn't guarantee reaching the Fish-Dragon Realm. Even someone with Zi Hansha's talent couldn't confidently claim he would become a Fish-Dragon Realm expert.
Since ancient times, countless so-called five-absolute or six-absolute geniuses had died at the Fish-Dragon Realm threshold, remaining mere mortals unable to transcend. Conversely, some previously unremarkable "mediocrities" had soared in the Fish-Dragon Realm, transforming from fish to dragon, becoming saints or great emperors.
Thus, even Zi Hansha had to lower his proud head and bow respectfully before He Yunlou.
He Yunlou raised his hand slightly, signaling them not to bow.
Then, he walked over to Lei Jing, clasped his hands, and said gratefully, "Nanyun Commandery, Martial Market Academy, Gold-Robed Elder He Yunlou, thanks you, brother, for defeating the Red Blazing Crow King. If not for your intervention, all the talented disciples of Nanyun Commandery would have perished here."
The disciples of Nanyun Commandery finally understood: someone had defeated the Red Blazing Crow King, causing the crows to retreat.
They had witnessed the terrifying power of the Red Blazing Crow King. For someone to defeat it was truly remarkable. They wondered which commandery's Martial Market Academy this person belonged to, or perhaps a prefecture's?
In the Eastern Region Sacred Land, there were thirty-six prefectures, each divided into thirty-six commanderies, with a Martial Market Academy in every commandery.
Commanderies and prefectures were directly under the First Central Empire's administration, unlike commandery kingdoms and prefecture kingdoms.
A commandery's local official was called a "Commandery Governor," and a prefecture's was called a "Prefecture Lord."
In terms of size, a commandery in the Eastern Region Sacred Land was about as large as a high-ranking commandery kingdom. However, because this was sacred land—fertile soil, abundant spirit mountains, and a long history—a commandery's population was over ten times that of a high-ranking commandery kingdom.
Still, the Commandery Governor's power was much less than a Commandery King's, and he was directly under the central court's jurisdiction, unable to act arbitrarily.
Due to the flourishing martial arts in the Eastern Region Sacred Land, there were many deeply rooted half-saint families, ten-thousand-year sects, and saint clans, giving young disciples more options. They didn't necessarily have to join the Martial Market Academy to have a future.
Even so, the Nanyun Commandery Martial Market Academy had selected thirty-seven geniuses with a chance to enter the Holy Academy, all at least three-and-a-half-absolute talents. Any one of them could have become the number one genius of the Demon Ridge.
Lei Jing glanced at the disciples and sighed inwardly, "This is the Eastern Region Sacred Land—geniuses like clouds. Even a single commandery's Martial Market Academy can produce dozens of top talents. In the Demon Ridge, it's unimaginable."
When his gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen, Lei Jing felt emboldened. Why feel inferior? The Demon Ridge might have been weak before, but not anymore.
Forget Zhang Ruochen; even Si Xingkong and Duanmu Xingling, after refining the dragon blood, were top-tier among Nanyun Commandery's disciples.
This year, I'll make those old fellows from the Eastern Region Sacred Land's Martial Market Academies see that the Demon Ridge is also producing talents in abundance.
Lei Jing and He Yunlou exchanged pleasantries. When He Yunlou learned that Lei Jing was a former saint disciple of the Holy Academy, he showed even more respect. "No wonder Brother Lei's cultivation is so powerful—you're an expert from the Holy Academy. I'm far inferior; I've never even set foot through the Holy Academy's gates."
Hearing this, the Nanyun Commandery disciples admired Lei Jing even more.
What was the Holy Academy? It was the cradle of saints, where even the lecturers were half-saints. Every cultivator who emerged from the Holy Academy was no weakling.
Moreover, as a former saint disciple, Lei Jing likely had many connections within the Holy Academy. With him leading the way, their chances of entering the Holy Academy would be much greater.
Xue Yingrou glanced at Zhang Ruochen, a soft smile on her beautiful face, her eyes filled with envy. "No wonder he's so strong. His leading teacher was once a saint disciple of the Holy Academy."
Then, she looked at Zi Hansha and shook her head slightly. Although Zi Hansha was a genius, compared to Zhang Ruochen, he seemed to pale.
In Xue Yingrou's eyes, Zhang Ruochen was simply perfect, and her heart stirred more and more. She recalled the scene of him charging out of the Red Blazing Crow swarm to save her, feeling her cheeks burn and her heart race. She admired this man even more, feeling that Zi Hansha couldn't compare.
At He Yunlou's earnest invitation, Lei Jing finally agreed to travel with them on the Silver Moon Ship to the Eastern Region Sacred City.
Soon, the Dragon Eagle carried Duanmu Xingling, Si Xingkong, Chang Qiqi, and the others to the Silver Moon Ship.
He Yunlou was somewhat surprised. "Brother Lei, you only brought this many disciples?"
He Yunlou had assumed Lei Jing was a big shot, perhaps an elder from a prefecture's Martial Market Academy. Given his strength, he should have brought at least a hundred disciples, not just a few.
Lei Jing just smiled. "There are other disciples, but they've already gone ahead to the Eastern Region Sacred City."
In fact, Lei Jing wasn't wrong. Another group of disciples had indeed gone ahead, including Huang Yanchen, Chen Xi'er, and Luo Shuihan.
He Yunlou nodded in understanding, thinking that most of the disciples had already left for the Eastern Region Sacred City and these few were just stragglers. He didn't ask further.
Then, he glanced at Si Xingkong, Duanmu Xingling, and Chang Qiqi. They were surrounded by a dragon aura, clearly extraordinary proud sons of heaven.
He Yunlou was greatly shaken, his suspicions confirmed.