Chapter 460: Orange Moon Star Envoy
"What? She really is one of the seven Star Envoys of the Black Market First Class Hall, the Orange Moon Star Envoy?"
"Legend has it that the seven Star Envoys of the Black Market First Class Hall are all top-tier geniuses, each one no weaker than a Sacred Body, truly outstanding among men."
"The Orange Moon Star Envoy is about the same age as Lu Fantian, this year, twenty-five years old, yet her ranking on the Heavenly Ranking is much higher than his, reaching six hundred and forty-third place."
"To enter the top one thousand of the Heavenly Ranking at such a young age, this Orange Moon Star Envoy might very well be able to challenge the top ten of the Heavenly Ranking in the future."
Although young martial artists from the Black Market and the Demon Sect could not openly enter the Martial Market Arena to participate in battles, they could still enter the Ruins Realm Battlefield to accumulate military merit. Therefore, they could also enter the Heavenly Ranking.
Of course, there were even more evil-path martial artists who simply disdained to enter the Heavenly Ranking.
Their way of proving their strength was simple: defeat the renowned experts on the Heavenly Ranking.
Just like Di Yi back then. Although he was not a martial artist on the Earth Ranking, he defeated Bu Qianfan, the number one on the Earth Ranking, with only three sword strikes, thereby making his name known throughout the world.
The veiled woman did not hide her identity. "That's right, I am indeed the Orange Moon Star Envoy."
Hearing this, a group of warriors clad in black armor immediately rushed in from outside the Martial Market Arena, surrounding the Heaven-level Battle Platform.
Since someone from the Black Market had appeared in the Martial Market Arena, they naturally could not let her leave.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy glanced down at those warriors and let out a cold laugh. "What? Is the Martial Market Bank worried that I might defeat Zhang Ruochen, the Sacred Disciple of the Saint Academy, and bring shame to the Saint Academy? So you're in such a hurry to capture me now?"
A purple-robed elder of the Martial Market Bank, Xie Yun'an, walked out from among the group of warriors with his hands clasped behind his back, standing below the Heaven-level Battle Platform. He laughed, "Haha! The Orange Moon Star Envoy graces the Martial Market Arena with her presence. Our Martial Market Bank naturally extends a warm welcome. You don't need to leave today, do you?"
To become a purple-robed elder, Xie Yun'an's cultivation was naturally unfathomably profound. He held a very high position in the Martial Market Bank and was specifically responsible for maintaining order on the Heaven-level Battle Platform.
Capturing a Star Envoy of the Black Market First Class Hall was a great merit, and Xie Yun'an would not let such an opportunity slip by.
"Just you? You are not qualified to decide whether I stay or leave."
The Orange Moon Star Envoy cast a disdainful glance at Xie Yun'an. Then, ignoring him, she looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Zhang Ruochen, how about we make a bet?"
"What kind of bet?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy said, "Let's have a fair fight. If I win, you let me leave. If you win, I'll surrender and let you decide my fate. What do you think?"
Standing below the Heaven-level Battle Platform, Xie Yun'an sneered, "Today, the one who decides your fate is me, not him."
The Orange Moon Star Envoy sneered back, "Zhang Ruochen is the top-ranked student of the Saint Academy. In the future, he will likely become the Heir of the Academy Master, or even the Young Venerable of the Martial Market Academy. A mere purple-robed elder dares to look down on him? From now on, your days in the Martial Market Bank will probably be very difficult."
Hearing this, Xie Yun'an's expression changed. He pondered carefully and finally realized the gravity of the situation.
With his current status as a "purple-robed elder," he was indeed a bit more honorable than Zhang Ruochen's status as a "Sacred Disciple." However, Zhang Ruochen was no ordinary Sacred Disciple; he was the top-ranked Sacred Disciple.
In every session, the top-ranked Sacred Disciple almost always became the "Heir of the Academy Master."
The status of "Heir of the Academy Master" was far more honorable than that of a mere "purple-robed elder." They were not on the same level at all.
As the Orange Moon Star Envoy had said, if he truly offended Zhang Ruochen, he would certainly have no good days ahead in the Martial Market Bank.
Xie Yun'an said sternly, "How dare you, evil woman of the Black Market, try to sow discord between us! When did this elder ever look down on Brother Zhang? Brother Zhang is a Sacred Disciple of the Saint Academy and one of the Six Kings of the younger generation in the Eastern Domain. He is the pride of our Martial Market Bank. This elder has always admired him, and today, I finally get to see him in person. Brother Zhang, this evil woman from the Black Market has come to challenge you after all. How do you think we should deal with her?"
Seeing Xie Yun'an's fawning expression, the Orange Moon Star Envoy smiled charmingly, a look of contempt in her eyes.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Since she has already stepped onto the Heaven-level Battle Platform, she is a challenger. I am willing to fight her fairly."
The Orange Moon Star Envoy couldn't help but think more highly of Zhang Ruochen. "You're actually willing to fight me fairly? Zhang Ruochen, don't regret it. Since it's a fair fight, is our bet still valid?"
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "If you can beat me, I'll let you leave."
"Bold," said the Orange Moon Star Envoy.
Without any warning, the Orange Moon Star Envoy rose from the ground and took a step forward. After that one step, she was standing right in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Her two fingers formed a sword technique, thrusting toward Zhang Ruochen's neck.
Her speed was so fast that it surpassed the naked eye's ability to distinguish.
Just as she thought this move would succeed, she suddenly found her two fingers striking something as hard as an iron wall.
A sharp pain shot through her fingers, as if the bones in her two fingers were about to break.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy looked closely and saw that, at some point, Zhang Ruochen had extended a palm to block her two fingers. His palm was covered in golden dragon scales.
"Such fast reflexes, such immense power! He didn't even budge from my strike. His strength has reached such a level? No wonder Lu Fantian could only withstand eleven of his moves."
Only by truly fighting Zhang Ruochen did one realize how terrifying his cultivation was, far beyond her imagination.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy immediately set aside her contempt, mobilized twelve-tenths of her true qi, and prepared to go all out against Zhang Ruochen.
But Zhang Ruochen's attack was faster; he had already struck first with a palm imprint.
The palm force was like an endless, surging flood, overwhelming her and drowning her.
"Demon Moon Overhead."
The Orange Moon Star Envoy clasped her hands together. Her martial soul mobilized the spiritual energy of heaven and earth, condensing a black full moon above her head.
That full moon was filled with a sinister aura, exuding a devouring energy that absorbed the palm force Zhang Ruochen had unleashed, dissolving it into nothingness.
Zhang Ruochen laughed heartily. "So you cultivate the 'Heavenly Demon Dark Moon Diagram' from the Heavenly Demon Stone Inscriptions. You can absorb the essence of the moon, temper it into your body, and cultivate a 'Postnatal Yin Moon Body.' No wonder you can contend with a Sacred Body."
"No, you're wrong. I was born with a Yin Moon Body; it's not something I cultivated later," the Orange Moon Star Envoy snorted coldly.
Cultivating the "Heavenly Demon Dark Moon Diagram" allowed one to absorb the essence of the moon, thereby cultivating a Yin Moon Body, but that was only a Postnatal Yin Moon Body.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy had an Innate Yin Moon Body, which was far more powerful than a Postnatal Yin Moon Body.
The "Heavenly Demon Dark Moon Diagram" itself was a top-tier technique, on the same level as the "Heavenly Demon Innate Diagram" that Di Yi cultivated. Combined with her Innate Yin Moon Body, the power she could unleash was naturally extraordinary.
"Even if you have an Innate Yin Moon Body, meeting me will only lead to your defeat."
Zhang Ruochen drew his Abyssal Ancient Sword, rapidly rotating his arm, and thrust it toward the Orange Moon Star Envoy's chest from an extremely tricky angle.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy immediately controlled that black demon moon, trying to block Zhang Ruochen's sword strike.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen's sword strike shifted, and with a backhanded blow, he slashed at the back of the Orange Moon Star Envoy's neck.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy's expression changed, and she immediately dodged.
Zhang Ruochen's sword followed like a shadow, chasing after her. Soon, he broke the demon moon that the Orange Moon Star Envoy had condensed.
"Swish, swish!"
By the time Zhang Ruochen executed his tenth move, he had already left three bloody sword wounds on the Orange Moon Star Envoy's body. Finally, the tip of his sword pressed against her brow.
The Orange Moon Star Envoy's ten fingers continuously emitted demonic qi. She was unwilling to admit defeat and wanted to continue fighting.
"If you make a move, this will be your death," Zhang Ruochen said calmly.
Though his tone seemed calm, it carried an unquestionable certainty that made even the Orange Moon Star Envoy's heart tremble. She could feel the firm will in Zhang Ruochen's words.
She dared not gamble. With a sigh, she gradually withdrew the demonic qi from her hands. Her eyes dimmed slightly. "I only managed to block ten of your moves, one fewer than Lu Fantian. I underestimated you."
When Zhang Ruochen defeated Lu Fantian with eleven moves, the Orange Moon Star Envoy had been somewhat dismissive, not thinking Zhang Ruochen was all that powerful. She had only thought Lu Fantian was somewhat overrated.
But when she personally fought Zhang Ruochen, she truly felt the terror of his swordsmanship. That level of sword technique was simply unattainable for a young martial artist.
From this perspective, it wasn't that Lu Fantian was too weak, but that Zhang Ruochen was too monstrous.