# Chapter 398: Demon Sect Holy Maiden
The Purple Lightning Sword was forged from purple-patterned steel, quenched with the blood of Thunder Carving Beasts, tempered a hundred times into a sword of boundless power—truly a peerless blade.
Just as Zhang Ruochen activated the seventy-two foundational "Lightning" pattern inscriptions, a massive purple shadow emerged from the sword's body, spreading its wings like a giant Thunder Carving Beast.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen seemed to notice something. His eyes fixed on a shadowy spot not far away.
With a sweep of his arm, he slashed toward it.
"Whoosh!"
The lightning-condensed Thunder Carving Beast came alive, flying toward the shadowy direction.
It was not a real Thunder Carving Beast, but a shadow formed from sword qi and lightning—what was called "Sword Qi Materialization."
Standing in the shadows, Duanmu Xingling had not expected Zhang Ruochen to detect her. She immediately executed her movement technique, shifting one step to the left.
Though it appeared to be only a single step, she crossed ten zhang of distance, leaving a trail of afterimages, her speed as ghostly as a specter.
"Hiss hiss!"
The sword qi in the form of the Thunder Carving Beast did not dissipate. As if possessing intelligence, it pursued Duanmu Xingling, continuing its attack.
From the Thunder Carving Beast's belly, a purple war sword flew out, stabbing toward Duanmu Xingling's back.
Feeling the dangerous force behind her, Duanmu Xingling abruptly stopped, flipping her body backward, leaping over the purple war sword, and striking a palm toward the Thunder Carving Beast.
Duanmu Xingling's palm turned blood-red, unleashing a massive Winged Serpent. The serpent had four wings, opening a bloody maw to swallow the Thunder Carving Beast whole.
She had executed "Palm Force Materialization."
Using palm force to drive true qi, she transformed it into the form of a Winged Serpent, unleashing even greater power.
Zhang Ruochen struck again with his sword, shaking his arm to form seven sword qi phantoms, as if seven swords were simultaneously thrusting toward Duanmu Xingling.
It was the first sword of the Thirteen Soul-Chasing Swords: Soul-Slaying Seven Kill.
At this moment, the might Zhang Ruochen displayed with this sword was completely different from when he had used it on the martial stage. It was no longer slow and sluggish, but swift as the wind, fast as lightning.
The same move, Soul-Slaying Seven Kill, when executed by Zhang Ruochen, was worlds apart from when others used it—its power directly elevated by an entire tier.
"So formidable. He has already cultivated the Thirteen Soul-Chasing Swords to the realm of perfection." Duanmu Xingling was secretly astonished.
Duanmu Xingling hovered in midair without landing. A white bracelet on her arm, driven by true qi, spun rapidly, gradually expanding, and flew off her wrist.
It was a tenth-rank True Martial Treasure-level battle weapon called the Dragon-Binding Ring.
Legend said it could expand and contract. If all its inscriptions were activated, it could even lock down a massive Flood Dragon.
The Dragon-Binding Ring clashed with the Purple Lightning Sword, sending sparks flying. A wave of true qi surged outward.
Fortunately, the Martial Market Courier Station was arrayed with formations; otherwise, their battle would have demolished half the station.
Duanmu Xingling wore black night attire, with a black hood covering her head, only a pair of bright eyes visible.
After blocking Zhang Ruochen's sword strike, she immediately turned and leaped into the distance, intending to leave.
Duanmu Xingling had appeared here entirely because of Zhang Ruochen's words during the day. She had been compelled to come see him, not truly wanting to fight.
So, seizing the opportunity, she fully executed her movement technique, preparing to escape.
But Zhang Ruochen was even faster. In an instant, he caught up behind her and thrust his sword again.
Duanmu Xingling once again struck with the Dragon-Binding Ring. With a whoosh, the ring flew above Zhang Ruochen, spinning rapidly, growing larger, and attacking from above, trying to trap him within.
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen's body plummeted rapidly as he swung his sword upward.
The sword tip accurately struck the Dragon-Binding Ring, sending it flying away.
Duanmu Xingling waved her sleeve, channeling a stream of true qi to envelop the Dragon-Binding Ring, quickly retrieving it and re-wearing it on her wrist.
At the same time, her feet lightly landed on a corner of the eaves not far away.
Under the moonlight, Duanmu Xingling's figure appeared exceptionally graceful, curvaceous and alluring, every line exuding infinite temptation.
"Rip!"
A tearing sound.
Duanmu Xingling's black hood split open, and her jet-black long hair cascaded down, revealing her gleaming white forehead, two long and slender willow-leaf eyebrows, and a pair of beautiful, large eyes as distinct as black and white.
However, the face below her eyes remained covered by a black veil, hiding her true features.
Duanmu Xingling was slightly flustered. When had she already been struck by a sword?
If the sword qi had been just a bit stronger, wouldn't her neck have been severed?
"Shua!"
Zhang Ruochen swung his arm. The Purple Lightning Sword turned into a streak of light, flying accurately into its sheath ten zhang away.
"Sister Duanmu, visiting late at night—you must have something to discuss, right?"
"How did you recognize me?"
Duanmu Xingling slowly pulled down her face veil, revealing a stunningly beautiful face. Her skin was crystal clear, her features exquisite. She appeared to be only about ten years old, yet exuded a seductive charm.
Zhang Ruochen walked to a stone table in the courtyard. With a sweep of his sleeve, a surge of air blew away the dust from two stone stools.
He sat on one of the stools and said slowly, "We've been together for almost three years. If I couldn't recognize you, that would be strange."
Zhang Ruochen sniffed lightly and said, "The air still carries your fragrance. You weren't deliberately trying to be recognized, were you?"
Duanmu Xingling flew down from the eaves and sat opposite Zhang Ruochen. She seemed troubled, quite unlike her usual cheerful demeanor.
After a long silence, Duanmu Xingling raised her pretty face and broke the stillness. "You already know my identity?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "I have some guesses, but I can't be completely certain."
Seeing Zhang Ruochen smile, Duanmu Xingling felt somewhat relieved. She pursed her lips and said, "Then tell me—I want to know if your guess is correct."
Zhang Ruochen stared into Duanmu Xingling's eyes. "You are the Holy Maiden of the Moon Worship Demon Sect. The people who appeared on Tongming River back then were not martial artists from the Duanmu Clan, but demon sect followers."
The smile on Duanmu Xingling's face froze. She sighed, her brow furrowing slightly, showing a hint of struggle. Finally, she said, "Your guess is correct."
Zhang Ruochen said, "Why?"
Duanmu Xingling said, "Are you asking why I changed my identity to enter the Martial Market Academy? Can you first answer one question for me—how did you guess my identity?"
Zhang Ruochen raised three fingers. "Three reasons."
"First, your talent is too high, far surpassing even the heirs of Saintly clans. A Half-Saint family could hardly produce a proud daughter of heaven like you. If I'm not mistaken, during the Saint Academy assessment, you didn't use your full strength."
Duanmu Xingling revealed two rows of snow-white teeth and smiled. "Isn't your talent even higher?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "I also harbor a great secret in my heart, but I can't tell you right now. It's because of that secret that I've achieved what I have."
Duanmu Xingling said, "What about the second reason?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "The Demon Sect's Holy Maiden once appeared at Demon Ridge. How could someone as important as her appear at Demon Ridge?"
Duanmu Xingling smiled. "Didn't Di Yi also appear at Demon Ridge?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Di Yi went to Demon Ridge for the Dragon Relic. What did the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden go to Demon Ridge for? Moreover, Di Yi never saved me, but the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden did. I'm not familiar with the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden—why would she save me?"
Duanmu Xingling looked somewhat dejected. "So you already knew."
In the royal capital of Yunwu Commandery King, when Zhang Ruochen was being hunted by several Black Market experts, it was Duanmu Xingling, in her identity as the Demon Sect's Holy Maiden, who helped him drive them away.
Zhang Ruochen continued, "And third. On Tongming River, when seizing the Dragon Relic, the Duanmu Clan gathered several hundred Earth Extreme Realm Great Perfection martial artists in an extremely short time."
"Even the Demon Ridge overlords, Yuntai Manor and Taiqing Palace, couldn't do what the Duanmu Clan did. That was when I started to suspect you."
"Combining these three points, guessing your identity wasn't difficult."
Duanmu Xingling said, "Now that you know my identity, what do you plan to do?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "You have to answer my question first."
Duanmu Xingling said, "I entered the Martial Market Academy on the Sect Leader's orders, to train hard and strive to become a high-ranking member of the Martial Market Bank."
"Is it really that simple?" Zhang Ruochen was somewhat skeptical.
"Of course."
Duanmu Xingling crossed her arms in front of her chest, speaking very seriously.
Zhang Ruochen didn't press further. Instead, he advised, "Sister Duanmu, what you're doing is very dangerous. If the Saint Academy's experts discover your identity, the consequences will be dire. You should know that every year, the Black Market and demon sect infiltrators who are exposed all meet a miserable end."
Duanmu Xingling looked somewhat gloomy. "Do you think I have a choice? It was the Sect Leader's order—how could I defy it? Though I am the Holy Maiden and can command the sect's ten regional leaders, we are all just servants of the sect's saints. Without becoming a saint, we are ultimately just ants."
She looked at Zhang Ruochen and continued, "Now that you know my identity, will you report it to the Saint Academy's elders?"
Zhang Ruochen stood up. "Of course not."
If Zhang Ruochen reported Duanmu Xingling's identity to the Saint Academy, it would certainly be a great merit, earning him many rewards.
But he would not do that.
Zhang Ruochen had joined the Martial Market Academy only to temporarily find a good cultivation environment to aid his growth, and to gain the academy's protection when facing danger.
There was no need to betray a friend.
In Zhang Ruochen's heart, there was only one enemy—Empress Chi Yao.
As for others—whether Black Market martial artists or demon sect followers—if their temperaments were compatible, if they could help and support each other, why couldn't they be friends?
Hearing Zhang Ruochen's affirmative answer, Duanmu Xingling's eyelashes fluttered, and tears involuntarily flowed from her eyes. She walked directly behind Zhang Ruochen, stretched out her snow-white lotus-like arms, and embraced him.
Zhang Ruochen could clearly feel a soft, delicate body pressing against his back, along with two springy balloons tightly pressing against him, carrying an alluring warmth and fragrance.
During the years she had infiltrated the Martial Market Academy, Duanmu Xingling had been under tremendous pressure, walking on thin ice, hiding her secrets carefully, never daring to reveal her identity to anyone.
On the surface, Duanmu Xingling always appeared optimistic, but inside, she was filled with fear.
Now, she finally dared to speak her identity, sharing it with Zhang Ruochen, and Zhang Ruochen was willing to share it with her.
That feeling of being moved, that release of tension, caused Duanmu Xingling to pour out all her emotions at once.