Chapter 455: Heavenly Level Battle Stage
Inside the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal, after spending five consecutive days, the Abyssal Ancient Sword completely absorbed one hundred tenth-rank True Martial Treasures, transforming them into power for the sword body itself. Readers, please search for the most complete and fastest updated content.
With this, the number of basic inscription patterns in the Abyssal Ancient Sword reached two hundred and ten.
The number of intermediate inscription patterns remained at eighteen.
The power of the Abyssal Ancient Sword had risen to a new height. Of course, with Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation level, he was still far from being able to unleash the full power of the Abyssal Ancient Sword.
"Absorbing so many war weapons, the sword spirit of the Abyssal Ancient Sword still hasn't fully awakened. I estimate that I'll have to wait until the Abyssal Ancient Sword reaches the level of a Thousand-Mark Sacred Artifact before the sword spirit can recover from its injuries," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Afterward, Zhang Ruochen practiced sword techniques in the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal.
In his mind, scenes from his battle with Kong Lanyou kept replaying.
That simple move, "Heavenly Heart Pointing the Way," in Kong Lanyou's hands, could turn the ordinary into the extraordinary, like using four ounces to deflect a thousand pounds, easily defeating Zhang Ruochen.
The same sword technique, executed by different people, could produce such a vast difference in power.
"Right now, I can't even block a single move from her. Within a month, being able to withstand ten of her moves will be a huge challenge. If I succeed, my control over power will definitely reach an unprecedented height."
For an entire day, Zhang Ruochen continuously imitated Kong Lanyou's stances and the way she applied force, hoping to glean some insights from them.
Just the move "Heavenly Heart Pointing the Way" alone, Zhang Ruochen performed no less than a thousand times.
Finally, Zhang Ruochen grasped something subtle, perceiving the exquisite essence within Kong Lanyou's sword technique.
Just as Zhang Ruochen was about to calm his mind and delve deeper into this feeling, a voice came from outside the Time-Space Crystal. It was Xiao Hei: "Zhang Ruochen, the carriage from the Sword God Sacred Land has arrived outside the Martial Market Inn to pick you up. They said the three-day deadline is up, and the successor of the Sword God Sacred Land is ready to fight you fairly on the Heavenly Level Battle Stage."
Startled by Xiao Hei's voice, the mysterious sensation in Zhang Ruochen's mind suddenly vanished.
Zhang Ruochen tried to recapture that feeling but found no success.
He sighed and stepped out of the inner space.
The successor of the Sword God Sacred Land likely referred to Lu Fantian, and Zhang Ruochen had indeed agreed to fight him.
"I was defeated by Kong Lanyou in one move, not just because my control over power is insufficiently refined, but also because my practical combat experience is lacking. This is a good opportunity to go to the Heavenly Level Battle Stage and fight to my heart's content. Perhaps, in battle, I can improve faster."
Having thought this through, Zhang Ruochen boarded the Sword God Sacred Land's carriage and headed toward the Martial Market Arena in the Seventh City District.
The Martial Market Arena in the Seventh City District was the most fiercely contested battleground in the entire Eastern Domain Sacred City, and even in the entire Eastern Domain Divine Land. Countless proud sons of heaven gathered there.
Disciples from various academies and martial arts schools would enter the Martial Market Arena to fight at any time. They didn't just want to become famous overnight; they also sought to temper themselves through constant combat, enhancing their battle experience and skills.
Lu Fantian was already quite famous in the Eastern Domain. Possessing a Divine Wood Body, he had reached the Heavenly Extreme Realm at a young age, making him a rare match among his peers.
In this generation, if it weren't for extraordinary talents like Zhang Ruochen, Bu Qianfan, and Di Yi—once-in-a-century prodigies—Lu Fantian's aptitude would have shone brilliantly, making him a benchmark of his era.
But he was born at the wrong time. This era not only saw the emergence of several Saint Bodies but also exceptional individuals like Zhang Ruochen and Bu Qianfan, who could cultivate to the Supreme Extreme Realm. As a result, his fame was overshadowed.
Even so, Lu Fantian's talent should not be underestimated. Not only had he broken through to the Great Extreme Position of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, but he had also refined the Purple Cloud Agarwood, bringing his Divine Wood Body to its peak state.
Before Zhang Ruochen arrived at the Martial Market Arena, Lu Fantian had already challenged seven Heavenly Ranking martial artists in a row, winning all seven battles.
Now, he was in his eighth fight, facing an opponent named Yi Qusheng, a disciple of the Suspended Void Sect. Yi Qusheng ranked five thousand eight hundredth on the Heavenly Ranking, with military merit points totaling two hundred and eighty-seven thousand.
The Heavenly Ranking recorded all Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artists from the entire Kunlun Realm. Only those who won ten consecutive matches on the Heavenly Level Battle Stage or accumulated ten thousand military merit points in the Ruins Realm Battlefield could qualify for the Heavenly Ranking.
Currently, the Heavenly Ranking included over three million seven hundred thousand martial artists, all under the age of sixty.
Those who made it into the top ten thousand were all top-tier experts, almost all possessing special physiques. Moreover, in the Yellow Extreme Realm, Mysterious Extreme Realm, and Earth Extreme Realm, they were certainly very close to the Supreme Extreme Realm.
It could be said that the martial artists ranked in the top ten thousand of the Heavenly Ranking were all outstanding talents, one in ten thousand. A hundred years later, they would become the rulers of the Kunlun Realm, with the vast majority becoming dominant figures in their regions.
Yi Qusheng appeared to be around thirty years old, wearing a light blue Confucian robe, with two neatly trimmed mustaches above his lips, giving him the look of a scholar.
This man had reached the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Extreme Realm at the age of thirty-eight, a talent higher than many successors of Saintly clans.
However, at fifty-eight years old, he was still at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
For twenty whole years, he had failed to break through the limits of a mortal.
Despite this, his strength had continued to improve over those twenty years, keeping him in the top ten thousand of the Heavenly Ranking.
Although his realm hadn't surpassed the limits of mortal martial artists, the power he could unleash had already exceeded that limit, enough to contend with cultivators at the first transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
"Lu Fantian, you've only just broken through to the Great Extreme Position of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, and you dare challenge me? Isn't that a bit arrogant?" Yi Qusheng said, holding an iron fan, a relaxed expression on his face.
In Yi Qusheng's eyes, Lu Fantian was still too young. Even if he had won seven in a row, it was nothing remarkable.
At Lu Fantian's age, Yi Qusheng had also looked down on the world, winning thirty-one consecutive matches at the Martial Market Arena.
So what?
Now, he was still stuck at the Great Perfection of the Heavenly Extreme Realm, unable to break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm.
The path of sainthood was so elusive!
Lu Fantian stood with his sword horizontal, his gaze firm, and said, "Yi Qusheng, you're already old. After today, I will replace you as the new five thousand eight hundredth on the Heavenly Ranking. To be honest, I've never considered you a real opponent. My opponent is someone else; I'm just using you to warm up."
"Once you're knocked off the Heavenly Level Battle Stage, you won't be saying such big words."
Somewhat angered, Yi Qusheng mobilized his true qi and charged at Lu Fantian, striking out with a palm technique.
"Bang! Bang!"
On the Heavenly Level Battle Stage, the two experts clashed fiercely.
The Martial Market Arena echoed with rising and falling cheers. Nearly twelve thousand martial artists sat in the circular spectator stands, watching the battle between Lu Fantian and Yi Qusheng.
Seeing Zhang Ruochen enter, Lu Xuan immediately rushed down from the spectator stands and linked her arm with his.
"Zhang Ruochen, you're finally here! My brother is a battle maniac; he couldn't wait and went to challenge various Heavenly Ranking martial artists on the stage. Before you arrived, he had already defeated seven people."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Heavenly Level Battle Stage and said, "Your brother's strength has improved a lot. I remember he used to be ranked after three hundred thousand on the Heavenly Ranking. Now, he dares to challenge Yi Qusheng, who's in the top ten thousand."
Lu Xuan chuckled and said, "With my brother's current strength, defeating Yi Qusheng is no problem. Of course, he owes a lot to the Purple Cloud Agarwood you gave him. After refining it, his Divine Wood Body reached its peak state. According to the sect leader, my brother's physique can now rival a Saint Body."
Zhang Ruochen carefully observed the battle on the Heavenly Level Battle Stage and couldn't help nodding in admiration, saying, "Their strength is formidable, their martial techniques exquisite, and their moves smooth. They've almost unleashed the ultimate power of a mortal martial artist. Few below the Fish-Dragon Realm can match them."
If he didn't use the power of his martial soul, with his current strength, Zhang Ruochen had no absolute certainty of defeating Lu Fantian.
Moreover, Zhang Ruochen could sense that Lu Fantian had hidden techniques; he wasn't using his full strength against Yi Qusheng.
Zhang Ruochen could absorb Half-Saint light to elevate his martial soul to the level of the sixth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Given the power of the Sword God Sacred Land, they could certainly find Half-Saint light to enhance Lu Fantian's martial soul. Even if Lu Fantian's martial soul hadn't reached the terrifying level of the sixth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, it wouldn't be far off.
For the first time, Zhang Ruochen felt that fighting Lu Fantian would be a tough battle, far from easy to win.
As Zhang Ruochen sat down in the spectator stands, he suddenly spotted a familiar petite figure. She was dressed in a green outfit, with a white jade belt wrapped around her slender waist, outlining her curvaceous figure.
It was Duanmu Xingling.
Duanmu Xingling was sitting right behind Zhang Ruochen, her youthful face always carrying a charming, playful smile. She said, "Zhang Ruochen, I heard you're going to fight the successor of the Sword God Sacred Land. I came to the Martial Market Arena early this morning and have been waiting for you for a long time."
Ever since learning of Duanmu Xingling's true identity, Zhang Ruochen's relationship with her had become somewhat distant, no longer as close as before.
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Duanmu Xingling and smiled, "Senior Sister Duanmu, long time no see."
Duanmu Xingling's red lips curled up, the corners of her eyes tilting upward, and she said with a hint of grievance, "We both live in the Martial Market Inn, yet you've never come to find me on your own. Of course, it's been a long time."
"I knew that once you found out my true identity, our relationship would never be the same as before."
Her last sentence was transmitted via sound waves, audible only to Zhang Ruochen.
Then, she took a deep breath and said somewhat self-deprecatingly, "Just focus on preparing for the upcoming battle; don't mind me. I've just been overthinking things lately. Lu Fantian is a formidable opponent; don't take him lightly. If you defeat him, I'll give you a type of Five Elements Spiritual Treasure."
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