Chapter 463: Battle with Kong Lanyou Again
"Reporting to the Hall Master, your subordinate mobilized all the experts from the Enforcement Hall of the Seventh District to seal off all major passes and city gates. We searched for an entire night but still did not find them. Orange Moon Star Envoy and Di Yi have likely already escaped."
Shen Fengtian, the Hall Master of the Enforcement Hall, stood in the middle of an empty street. Upon hearing his subordinate's report, his expression grew increasingly cold and grim.
For an entire night, Shen Fengtian had been tracking the traces of Di Yi and Orange Moon Star Envoy, but to no avail. The two of them seemed to have vanished from the face of the earth, disappearing without a trace.
"Damn it! Both Di Yi and Orange Moon Star Envoy are talents that the Black Market has invested heavily in cultivating. If I could capture them, it would definitely be a great merit. With such a merit, I could gain the opportunity to enter the Saint Meridian for cultivation."
Shen Fengtian gritted his teeth, extremely unwilling to give up. He said, "Someone must be helping them; otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to escape."
The warrior kneeling on one knee said, "Is the Hall Master referring to Zhang Ruochen? Could it be... that he is a mole for the Black Market?"
Shen Fengtian certainly did not believe Zhang Ruochen was a mole for the Black Market.
First, Zhang Ruochen had once defeated Di Yi, which had dealt a heavy blow to the Black Market. At the same time, it had made Zhang Ruochen an outright enemy of the Black Market.
Second, even if Zhang Ruochen were a mole for the Black Market, he would never be so blatant as to release Orange Moon Star Envoy. It would do him no good.
However, even if Zhang Ruochen was not a member of the Black Market, he was undoubtedly implicated in this matter and must bear full responsibility.
"Let's go to the Martial Market Courier Station. I, the Hall Master, will confront him face to face and ask him clearly why he released Orange Moon Star Envoy. If he doesn't give me an explanation, even if he is a Saint Disciple, he cannot escape blame."
Shen Fengtian was furious in his heart. He stomped his foot heavily, cracking the stone slabs beneath him with numerous fissures.
"Hall Master Shen, even if you go to the Martial Market Courier Station now, you won't be able to do anything to him." A young voice rang out.
Shen Fengtian's expression stiffened. Following the direction of the voice, he looked toward a small alley on his left. He saw a tall, thin figure emerge from within, gradually revealing a young, handsome face.
Upon recognizing the young man's appearance, Shen Fengtian raised an eyebrow slightly. "Xu Hai."
This person was none other than the heir of the Xu Holy Clan and also a Saint Disciple of the Saint Academy, Xu Hai.
Xu Hai cupped his hands and bowed respectfully. "Xu Hai pays respects to Uncle Shen."
The Shen Holy Clan and the Xu Holy Clan were both prestigious noble families in the Eastern Domain, with generations of friendly relations and intermarriage. Shen Fengtian naturally knew Xu Hai and had a good impression of this nephew.
Shen Fengtian praised him, "To appear silently within ten zhang of me, your cultivation must have improved again."
Xu Hai humbly replied, "With my meager skills, I am far from being able to compare with Uncle Shen. It was only because Uncle Shen was preoccupied with the matter of Orange Moon Star Envoy and Di Yi that he failed to notice me."
Shen Fengtian said, "You just said that even I, as Hall Master, cannot do anything to Zhang Ruochen. What exactly do you mean? Does Zhang Ruochen have some formidable figure backing him?"
Xu Hai smiled. "Academy Master Xuanji is preparing to take Zhang Ruochen as his disciple. Is it really appropriate for Uncle Shen to go after him now?"
"What? Academy Master Xuanji." Shen Fengtian's expression changed.
Although the Enforcement Hall and the Martial Market Academy were relatively independent entities, and Shen Fengtian did not have to answer to the higher-ups of the Martial Market Academy, Academy Master Xuanji was no ordinary person. He ranked second among the Ten Academy Masters and was known as the "Sword Saint."
In the entire Eastern Domain, there were only three people who could be called Sword Saints.
A powerhouse like Academy Master Xuanji had countless outstanding experts among his disciples and students. His seniority was extremely high, and he was highly respected. His influence extended not only within the Martial Market Bank but also throughout the entire Eastern Domain.
Even if Shen Fengtian had the guts, he would not dare to offend him.
Xu Hai said, "The Old Ancestor told me personally; there is absolutely no mistake. Uncle Shen, circumstances are stronger than people. When one must endure, one must endure."
"Hmph! Even if Academy Master Xuanji is backing him, so what? As long as I find evidence of his wrongdoing, our Enforcement Hall can investigate and deal with him." Shen Fengtian said.
"Everyone has some dark history. As long as we investigate, we will surely find something."
Having said this, Xu Hai laughed, bowed once more, took his leave, and then departed.
Xu Hai did not believe that Shen Fengtian could find anything on Zhang Ruochen, but as long as Zhang Ruochen remained in the Seventh District, his days would not be easy from now on.
"Zhang Ruochen, you killed my younger brother. I will avenge this grudge sooner or later."
Xu Hai's gaze gradually turned icy cold, a flash of killing intent passing through his pupils.
Over the next seven days, Zhang Ruochen went to the Martial Market Arena every day to challenge various experts on the Heavenly Ranking. The number of battles reached two hundred and twenty-seven.
Among them, the vast majority of martial artists could not even force Zhang Ruochen to unleash the power of his Martial Soul; they could only accompany him in his sword comprehension.
The experts who could force Zhang Ruochen to use his Martial Soul totaled only four, and all of them were defeated by Zhang Ruochen within three moves.
For half a month, no Heavenly Ranking martial artist had appeared who could withstand ten moves from Zhang Ruochen.
Thus, a saying spread throughout the Seventh District: "Anyone who can withstand ten moves from Zhang Ruochen is undoubtedly a top-tier young elite of the younger generation."
After the news spread, countless young experts came forward to challenge Zhang Ruochen, including students from the Saint Academy and the Royal Academy.
Those who challenged Zhang Ruochen lined up, all registering at the Martial Market Arena. Many of them did not aim to defeat Zhang Ruochen but merely wanted to last a few more moves against him.
Consequently, in the following days, Zhang Ruochen fought nearly a hundred battles each day. Of course, the vast majority could only accompany him in his sword comprehension and could not force him to use his full strength.
During the day, Zhang Ruochen fought fiercely in the Martial Market Arena, honing his swordsmanship. At night, he trained diligently within the Time-Space Crystal's inner space, improving his cultivation.
Thus, half a month passed quickly.
Zhang Ruochen could clearly feel that his strength had increased significantly. Compared to half a month ago, it was as if he had undergone a transformation, reaching a new height.
Moreover, he had replaced Orange Moon Star Envoy and become the six hundred and forty-third ranked expert on the Heavenly Ranking.
"Tomorrow is the opening day of the Saint Academy. From now on, I will officially become a Saint Disciple. Since my swordsmanship has improved over the past half month, I'll take tonight to meet Kong Lanyou again."
Zhang Ruochen did not care about winning Kong Lanyou's Half-Saint Mansion. What he valued more was his own cultivation. Only by using Kong Lanyou's sword could he verify whether his sword dao realm had advanced further.
This time, Nie Honglou accompanied Zhang Ruochen to the Half-Saint Mansion.
After entering the mansion, Nie Honglou waited outside while Zhang Ruochen went alone into the bamboo grove.
Kong Lanyou was still sitting in the bamboo pavilion, her white hair trailing on the ground, holding the yellowed bamboo flute. Her beautiful eyes were fixed on the small stream beside her.
Hearing the footsteps behind her, a flicker of emotion finally appeared in her eyes. Without turning around, she already knew who had arrived.
"Zhang Ruochen, you've finally come." Kong Lanyou's voice was very pleasant, like a clear spring flowing over stones. Just listening to her speak was an enjoyable experience.
Zhang Ruochen stared at Kong Lanyou's back, stopping ten zhang away. "Recently, many people have come to challenge me, trying to see how many of my sword strikes they could withstand. Now, I've come to challenge you as well. I want to know, with my current strength, how many of your sword strikes can I withstand?"
Kong Lanyou's red lips were very vivid. The corners of her mouth curled up slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. "If you can withstand three of my sword strikes, I'll treat you to something good. Of course, it depends on whether you have the skill."
"Whoosh!"
Her body swayed slightly as she flew out of the bamboo pavilion, bamboo flute in hand, channeling her true qi, and swiftly thrust toward Zhang Ruochen's left temple.
In an instant, she crossed the ten-zhang distance and appeared before Zhang Ruochen's eyes.
The bamboo flute seemed even sharper than a sword.
She still suppressed her cultivation to the Heavenly Extreme Realm Middle Stage, three minor realms lower than Zhang Ruochen. Moreover, she still used the first move of the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique, Heavenly Heart Points the Way.
Zhang Ruochen had already released his spiritual power, constantly observing Kong Lanyou. The moment she executed her sword move, he had already thought of a way to counter it.
However, when the bamboo flute struck, it still disrupted Zhang Ruochen's rhythm, leaving him with a body full of power but unable to unleash it.
Just as it seemed Zhang Ruochen would be knocked down by her single move again, he suddenly kicked off the ground and charged toward her.
"Heavenly Heart Points the Way!"
Zhang Ruochen pressed his two fingers together, using them as a sword, and struck toward Kong Lanyou's right wrist.
"Not bad progress! Unfortunately, in front of me, your moves are useless."
Kong Lanyou's figure flickered and disappeared from Zhang Ruochen's sight.
A primal sense of crisis surged into his heart. The hairs all over Zhang Ruochen's body stood on end. Without any hesitation, he immediately turned around and swung his arm, slashing diagonally upward behind him.
His arm was like a sword.
"Second move, Heavenly Heart Full Moon."
Kong Lanyou held the bamboo flute and slashed downward, colliding with Zhang Ruochen's arm, producing a violent explosion of true qi.
Zhang Ruochen breathed a sigh of relief inwardly, thinking how close it was. If he had been even a fraction of a second slower, Kong Lanyou's bamboo flute would have struck the top of his head.
Because Kong Lanyou had suppressed her cultivation to the Heavenly Extreme Realm Middle Stage, after their clash, it was actually Kong Lanyou who was sent flying backward.
Kong Lanyou skillfully neutralized Zhang Ruochen's force, landing on the ground. She was slightly surprised. "Your adaptability has improved so much. Your comprehension is quite remarkable."
In truth, Kong Lanyou was quite shocked. When she was Zhang Ruochen's age, her sword dao realm and adaptability were far inferior to Zhang Ruochen's current level.
"Even if my cousin were still alive, at this age, he probably wouldn't be much better than Zhang Ruochen." Kong Lanyou thought to herself.
In her heart, that cousin from eight hundred years ago had always been the most outstanding young prodigy, and no one could surpass him.
"Take my third move, Heavenly Heart Stirring the Tide."
"Whoosh, whoosh!"
Kong Lanyou's arm traced through the air. Under the guidance of her true qi, the bamboo leaves on the ground all flew up, swirling in midair.