Chapter 400: Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion
A thumb-sized jade pill bottle contained the Sword Heart Pill.
Zhang Ruochen opened the bottle cap, and with a whoosh, a streak of white sword light shot out from the bottle.
It was not a real sword light, but a wisp of pill essence.
Zhang Ruochen immediately closed the lid again, tightly gripping the pill bottle in his hand.
"I have already reached Sword Heart Illumination, so the Sword Heart Pill is no longer of much use to me. Who should I give it to?"
Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi did not follow the path of the sword, so the only options were Huang Yanchen and Duanmu Xingling.
Duanmu Xingling was the Holy Maiden of the Moon Worship Demon Sect. If she wanted a pill of the Sword Heart Pill's level, it would be a simple matter.
Huang Yanchen's mother was a sword path Half-Saint. With a Half-Saint's ability, obtaining a Sword Heart Pill would probably not be difficult either. However, Huang Yanchen's mother would certainly have some considerations and would not give the Sword Heart Pill to Huang Yanchen to take now.
Because Huang Yanchen was still far from the realm of Sword Heart Illumination. Even if she took the Sword Heart Pill, the effect would be poor, and it would be impossible for her to break through to Sword Heart Illumination.
After some thought, Zhang Ruochen finally decided to give the Sword Heart Pill to Huang Yanchen.
Even if it could not help her break through to Sword Heart Illumination, it would definitely elevate her sword path realm by a large margin.
Carrying the Sword Heart Pill, Zhang Ruochen left the Martial Market Courier Station and headed for the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion.
The Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion was not just a single mansion; it was composed of three hundred and sixty large and small mansions scattered throughout the entire Eastern Domain Saint City.
Legend said that beneath each Saint Prince Mansion was the formation platform of an ancient formation. Activating all three hundred and sixty formation platforms could start a Zhou Tian Grand Formation covering the entire Eastern Domain Saint City.
On the seventh city district of Golden Rainbow Continent, there was also a Saint Prince Mansion located at Jiangyue Lake.
With a little inquiry, it was easy to find.
The Chen Clan's younger generation numbered in the hundreds of thousands. Among them, the most outstanding group of genius disciples almost all lived in the Saint Prince Mansion at Jiangyue Lake.
Jiangyue Lake was vast and boundless, said to be eight hundred li at its widest point.
In the lake were scattered islands like stars in the sky. On the islands were built resplendent pavilions, halls, towers, and martial grounds. At a glance, it looked like a place where immortals dwelled.
The main gate of the Saint Prince Mansion was ten zhang high. On the left and right sides stood two huge stone qilin statues, looking ferocious, as if they were alive.
Guarding the Saint Prince Mansion were sixteen soldiers, eight on the left and eight on the right.
The eight on the left were all three meters tall, with burly bodies, human torsos, but huge wolf heads on their necks.
They belonged to the Fire Wolf Half-Human Clan, and each one had a Heavenly Extreme Realm cultivation.
The eight on the right, though human in appearance, were even more burly, all over four meters tall. They possessed the bloodline of the Giant Clan, born with divine strength, capable of tearing apart a barbaric elephant with their bare hands.
With such powerful sixteen soldiers guarding the Saint Prince Mansion, who would dare approach the gate?
"Who goes there?"
A Fire Wolf Half-Human with a cultivation at the late stage of Heavenly Extreme Realm looked at Zhang Ruochen in the distance. He lifted his war weapon, took a step forward, and let out a great roar. The sound waves he emitted stirred up sand and stones on the ground.
Zhang Ruochen remained very calm. He walked forward, stopped outside the gate, and said, "I am Zhang Ruochen, here to visit Huang Yanchen. Please announce my arrival."
The Fire Wolf Half-Human soldier sized up Zhang Ruochen and said in a rough voice, "Do you have a token from the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion?"
"No," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Without a token, why should I announce you? Leave this place quickly. This is not a place for you to be." The Fire Wolf Half-Human soldier said coldly, showing no kindness.
As a member of the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion, even a gate-guarding soldier held a high status. So, the Fire Wolf Half-Human soldier was very arrogant, unwilling to say more to Zhang Ruochen, and directly dismissed him.
Zhang Ruochen frowned slightly but was not angry, because he knew that the larger the force, the greater the rules.
Without a sufficiently high status, even a gatekeeper would look down on you. How could they possibly deliver a message for you?
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to leave, a group of young disciples approached from afar. There were more than ten of them, all geniuses of the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion, including handsome young men and beautiful young women.
They were holding the newly published "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report" and discussing something.
"The one who defeated Bu Qianfan is actually the young master of the Black Market First Class Hall. I wonder what kind of person Di Yi really is?"
"No matter how powerful Di Yi is, he still lost to the Buddha Emperor's heir, Zhang Ruochen."
"Geniuses emerge in succession: Bu Qianfan, Di Yi, Zhang Ruochen. Which one of them is not a heaven-defying talent? We are far behind them."
...
...
Suddenly, Chen Tianshu raised his head, his gaze locking onto Zhang Ruochen in the distance. He let out a loud laugh, "Haha! What a coincidence. Isn't that Zhang Ruochen? You were doubting his strength, so go challenge him now. If you can win, you will definitely make it onto the next issue of the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report.'"
Chen Tianshu was about twenty years old, exceptionally handsome, dressed in a silver martial robe, looking elegant and refined.
Zhang Ruochen's hearing was extremely sharp. Although they were dozens of zhang apart, he still heard Chen Tianshu's voice and glanced at him.
"Oh? This person looks familiar."
Zhang Ruochen thought hard and finally remembered. Two years ago, at the Sword Discussion Assembly in Qianshui Commandery, he had met him once.
His name should be Chen Tianshu.
Was he also a member of the Chen Clan?
In an instant, the dozen or so young Chen Clan disciples had already arrived ten steps away from Zhang Ruochen, all staring at him with curious eyes. Among them, the male martial artists were mostly filled with battle intent, looking eager to try.
Zhang Ruochen, on the other hand, was a bit baffled, not knowing what was going on.
Chen Tianshu had a smile on his face. He cupped his hands and said, "Brother Zhang, since our parting in Qianshui Commandery, do you still remember me, Chen?"
"Of course I remember."
Zhang Ruochen returned the greeting and said, "At that time, I did not know that Brother Chen was a young expert of the Eastern Domain Saint Prince Mansion."
Chen Tianshu laughed and said, "Back then, I was ordered by the elders of the clan to go to Qianshui Commandery on business. It was fate that we met there. I never expected that in just over two years, Brother Zhang would become a renowned talent of the Eastern Domain. Truly congratulations."
Just then, a man in his twenties stepped out from behind Chen Tianshu. He had an aquiline nose and sharp eyes. "I am Chen Tianran, ranked twelfth among the younger generation of the Chen Clan. Zhang Ruochen, are you willing to accept my challenge?"
Zhang Ruochen was a bit surprised and looked at Chen Tianshu with a puzzled expression.
Chen Tianshu laughed heartily and said, "My sixth brother here is a battle maniac. Whenever he meets a young expert, he wants to fight. Just now, he saw the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report' and learned that Brother Zhang had defeated the young master of the Black Market First Class Hall, Di Yi, so he couldn't help but want to challenge you. If Brother Zhang doesn't mind, please give him a few pointers."
Chen Tianran was a bit displeased and said coldly, "Tianshu, you are really boosting others' morale and diminishing our own. I am, after all, one of the top twenty experts of the Chen Clan, with a cultivation at the Small Extreme Position of the Heavenly Extreme Realm. If I go all out, I might not necessarily lose to him. Although his talent is high, he is still too young."
Chen Tianshu smiled and said, "Sixth brother, Brother Zhang was able to defeat Di Yi, and Di Yi defeated Bu Qianfan. If I remember correctly, you once fought Bu Qianfan. He was two realms lower than you, and it only took him seven moves to defeat you."
A ponytailed genius girl from the Chen Clan let out a silvery laugh and said, "Sixth brother, didn't you just see Saint Book Talented Woman's evaluation of Zhang Ruochen in the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report'? Saint Book Talented Woman rated Zhang Ruochen as one of the six young kings of the new generation in the Eastern Domain, possessing the potential to become a saint."
Chen Tianran's expression did not change. He said coldly, "Although Saint Book Talented Woman controls the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report' and can deduce heavenly secrets and record the great events of the world, that does not mean her words are absolutely correct. As long as I can defeat Zhang Ruochen, I can also make it onto the next issue of the 'Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report.'"
The girl giggled and said, "You don't need to win. As long as you can withstand ten moves from Zhang Ruochen, I will give you that Peacock Pill that Uncle gave me."
A gleam of joy appeared in Chen Tianran's eyes. He said, "Jingmei, the Peacock Pill is refined from peacock blood, extremely precious. Taking it allows a martial artist to grow a pair of peacock wings, enabling flight and earth-shrinking abilities. Are you sure you want to bet that?"
Chen Jingjing laughed and said, "If you can withstand ten moves, the Peacock Pill is naturally yours. If you lose, you have to be my follower for ten days. Are you willing?"
"Hmph! How could I possibly lose?"
Chen Tianran raised his chin, looking somewhat disdainful.
If it were about defeating Zhang Ruochen, Chen Tianran really had no confidence.
But if it was just about withstanding ten moves, how could that be difficult? So, Chen Tianran immediately agreed.
Zhang Ruochen was a bit amused and annoyed. He said, "I don't seem to have agreed to accept your challenge."
"As a powerful martial artist, how can you be afraid of challenges?"
Chen Tianran, regardless of whether Zhang Ruochen was willing or not, let out a loud roar and released the true qi inside his body.
Driven by the true qi, a black long spear originally strapped to his back flew up and landed in Chen Tianran's hand.
"Tenth-rank True Martial Treasure, Ghost King Spear."
Chen Tianran's arm suddenly shook, and the long spear curved, making a cracking sound. A ball of cold flame emerged from the spear tip, carrying a faint, eerie chill.
"Hiss!"
On the ground, a layer of white frost formed, covering an area of dozens of zhang.
"Ghost King Formless Spear."
Chen Tianran took the initiative to attack, executing a ghost-rank lower-grade spear technique.
The long spear spun continuously, carrying a wave of cold energy as it thrust toward Zhang Ruochen.
As the spear tip approached, Zhang Ruochen faintly heard ghostly wailing in his ears. A wave of cold air rushed toward his face, making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave, with his blood seemingly about to freeze.
Being able to rank among the top twenty of the Chen Clan's younger generation was indeed no small feat. He was a first-rate expert, having already cultivated a ghost-rank martial technique to great perfection.
Zhang Ruochen finally understood what was happening. It was all because of the "Eastern Domain Wind and Cloud Report." In the future, such challenges would likely become more frequent.
Since that was the case, he would suppress his opponent with overwhelming force and display his strength appropriately, to avoid being endlessly challenged.