Chapter 465: The Past and Present of the Human World
"You cultivate the 'Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture'?"
Kong Lanyou stared at Zhang Ruochen, her exceptionally beautiful eyes filled with an expression of immense anticipation.
A storm raged within Zhang Ruochen's heart, waves crashing violently. Yet, his face remained extremely calm, showing no unusual expression. He said, "Senior is indeed a person of great insight; I cannot hide it from you. You must have seen through the cultivation technique I practice long ago, right?"
"As far as I know, throughout the entire Kunlun Realm, only two people have ever cultivated the 'Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture.' One of them was one of the Nine Emperors from eight hundred years ago, the Ming Emperor. The other was the Ming Emperor's son."
Kong Lanyou paused her words, carefully observing every subtle movement of Zhang Ruochen, and said, "Of those two, one has been missing for many years, his life or death unknown, while the other has been dead for eight hundred years. Zhang Ruochen, don't tell me that the 'Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture' was also passed on to you by that consciousness within the Abyssal Ancient Sword."
Zhang Ruochen said in a firm tone, "That is exactly what happened."
Since he had already made his decision, Zhang Ruochen would continue to conceal the truth. There were still many things he needed to spend time verifying. Before finding the answers, he did not want anyone to know his true identity.
As long as he didn't relent, even if Kong Lanyou had her suspicions, she couldn't do anything to him.
In truth, Kong Lanyou could have completely used a Soul Search technique to forcibly plunder Zhang Ruochen's memories and uncover the truth of the matter.
But she was afraid that this man before her might truly have an extraordinary connection with that person from eight hundred years ago. Using a Soul Search technique would likely damage his martial soul, causing him an irrecoverable injury.
What to do now?
While Kong Lanyou was pondering, Zhang Ruochen had already entered a state of cultivation.
He closed his eyes, fully activating the 'Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture,' his body tensed, all one hundred thousand pores on his body completely sealed shut, turning his body into a leak-proof space.
The medicinal power of the Sky-Clearing Grass erupted, surging through Zhang Ruochen's blood vessels and meridians in an extremely short time, ultimately converging at his brow center.
With the support of the Sky-Clearing Grass's medicinal power, Zhang Ruochen's mind became a blank slate, his thoughts clear, as if the gate of wisdom had been opened. His speed of comprehending sword techniques increased by more than ten times.
Within his Qi Sea, the Sword Heart Illumination rapidly practiced sword stances, causing Zhang Ruochen's Sword Dao realm to soar.
"With the help of the Sky-Clearing Grass, my Sword Dao realm will surely increase greatly. Perhaps, tonight, I can withstand ten moves from Kong Lanyou."
Zhang Ruochen pushed his Spiritual Power to its limit, fully concentrating on comprehending sword techniques. He had to perfectly utilize this opportunity to avoid wasting too much of the Sky-Clearing Grass's medicinal power.
"Sword Dao follows the heart; intent is clear."
"Move with the wind; shift with the clouds."
"Sun and moon rise together; the Sword Dao is the universe."
"Taiji and Two Forms; ten thousand swords return to one."
Within Zhang Ruochen's Qi Sea, a small white figure, wielding a light sword with its finger and stepping on true qi, practiced sword techniques, leaving behind shadowy sword stances in his mind.
The difficult points in sword techniques that he usually couldn't penetrate were all suddenly comprehended in an instant.
A Sword Dao intent was born from his heart, surging upward, as if it wanted to fly out from the top of his head.
Suddenly, Zhang Ruochen's eyes snapped open, revealing a sharp light. He formed his hands into finger swords and swiftly attacked Kong Lanyou, who was sitting across from him.
"Whoosh!"
Kong Lanyou reacted extremely quickly, striking later but arriving first. Using her bamboo flute as a sword, she struck at Zhang Ruochen's wrists.
Zhang Ruochen twisted his wrists, quickly changing his technique. His body suddenly stood up, his arm thrusting straight in, carrying a sharp sword aura, striking towards her chest.
"Bang! Bang!"
The two exchanged moves rapidly, clashing fiercely. Every strike was like two swords colliding.
Sometimes Zhang Ruochen stood, sometimes he sat, sometimes he moved his body swiftly around the bamboo pavilion, attacking Kong Lanyou from different angles.
Kong Lanyou, however, remained seated the entire time, almost completely still except for her constantly moving arm.
After about three breaths, Zhang Ruochen was struck by the bamboo flute once again, sent flying, and fell outside the bamboo pavilion.
Zhang Ruochen sank his legs, stabilizing his center, and landed on the ground, avoiding appearing too disheveled. He clutched his chest, feeling as if his body had been pierced by the bamboo flute, the pain splitting and unbearable, unable to muster even a shred of strength.
Yet, there was no wound on Zhang Ruochen's body, indicating that Kong Lanyou had used hidden force.
"You can already exchange thirteen moves with me. You are indeed a peerless genius," Kong Lanyou said.
Zhang Ruochen endured the pain and said, "All thanks to Senior's Sky-Clearing Grass; otherwise, this junior could not have progressed so quickly."
"You don't need to be modest. No matter how good the Sky-Clearing Grass is, it's just a cup of tea. The key lies with the martial artist themselves."
Kong Lanyou stood up, clasped her hands behind her back, displaying a powerful aura, and said proudly, "Zhang Ruochen, are you interested in withdrawing from the Martial Market Academy and becoming my disciple? I can provide you with the best cultivation environment, the best guidance, and the finest spiritual pills and medicines. I do not easily take on disciples."
"Just as I thought. Kong Lanyou really does want to plan my cultivation path. Fortunately, she doesn't know my true identity; otherwise, she would undoubtedly take me away without hesitation," Zhang Ruochen thought to himself.
Standing at different heights, one sees problems in different ways.
Kong Lanyou felt that taking the initiative to accept Zhang Ruochen as her disciple was a favor to him.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Thank you for Senior's kindness, but this junior has already decided to cultivate at the Holy Academy. Moreover, I have already agreed to become the disciple of Academy Head Xuanji."
Kong Lanyou nodded, as if she had come to terms with it, and said, "Xuanji Old Man is known as one of the three Sword Saints of the Eastern Domain. His strength is naturally not lacking. It is not a bad choice for you to become his disciple. Since you have already made your decision, I should also leave and return to the Central Domain."
"You're leaving already?" Zhang Ruochen said.
Kong Lanyou sighed, "I came to the Eastern Domain precisely to see you. Since you are not that person, there is no need for me to stay any longer. Eight hundred years! His bones have probably already turned to dust. It's just that I have an obsession in my heart that I can't let go of. You cannot be him, and it is impossible for you to be him."
Her voice carried an indescribable melancholy, not at all like a powerful Saint with vast abilities, but rather like a fragile, sentimental woman.
For some reason, a sense of loss also arose in Zhang Ruochen's heart, whether it was because Kong Lanyou was about to leave, or because of a sorrow born from the passage of time.
Eight hundred years had passed. Zhang Ruochen was no longer the Zhang Ruochen of yesteryear, and Kong Lanyou was no longer the Kong Lanyou of yesteryear.
Everything had changed.
The sun and moon race across the sky; the human world flows from past to present.
Looking back, all things turn to dust; only the green hills remain unchanged.
"You withstood ten of my moves, and your Sword Dao realm should be nearing the middle stage of Sword Heart Illumination. According to our agreement, this Half-Saint Mansion is now your private property."
Kong Lanyou stood up, her slender and beautiful figure outlined, and walked out of the bamboo pavilion, about to leave.
Zhang Ruochen stared at her back, and finally couldn't help but ask, "You've mentioned that son of the Ming Emperor from eight hundred years ago many times. Did you two know each other?"
Kong Lanyou's body trembled slightly. She stopped walking and said quietly, "It's more than just knowing each other. His place in my heart can never be replaced by anyone. But I know that he never had me in his heart. He deeply loved another woman, and I could only stand in the distance and secretly watch them. Watch them practice swords together, watch them laugh together, watch them embrace under the moonlight."
"It was precisely because of that time, when I stood in the distance secretly watching him, that I witnessed with my own eyes him being killed by that woman with a single sword. I rushed out desperately, trying to stop it. But in the end, I was still a step too late, and I could only watch helplessly as he fell in a pool of blood."
"Even though eight hundred years have passed, that scene still often flashes through my mind. Every time I recall it, it truly brings unbearable pain."
"In an instant, the human world and the underworld become two separate realms; from then on, an old acquaintance becomes a ghost."
Kong Lanyou didn't know why she had revealed the secret buried deep in her heart, telling it to a junior she had only met twice.
Perhaps, in these eight hundred years, she had truly been very lonely, without a single person to talk to, until she met Zhang Ruochen, and then she poured out all the words she had suppressed for eight hundred years.
A long sigh sounded in the air.
Hearing Kong Lanyou's words, Zhang Ruochen's eyes became moist. He no longer wanted to hide anything in his heart and wanted to immediately tell her his identity. Tell her that her old acquaintance was not dead.
But when Zhang Ruochen looked intently, she had already disappeared, having left the Half-Saint Mansion at some unknown time.
Zhang Ruochen rushed over, channeling his true qi to the fullest, and shouted, "Lanyou! Lanyou!"
However, with Kong Lanyou's cultivation level, she had already flown out of the Eastern Domain Sacred City by then, tens of thousands of miles away, unable to hear his shouts.
"In an instant, the human world and the underworld become two separate realms; from then on, an old acquaintance becomes a ghost."
Zhang Ruochen recited this sentence, closed his eyes, and felt as if he could sense Kong Lanyou's sorrow and longing over these years.
All along, Zhang Ruochen had only regarded Kong Lanyou as a little sister, never expecting that she held such deep feelings for him.
If Zhang Ruochen had known all this earlier, he should not have concealed it from her when he first met her. He should not have let her continue living in guilt, pain, and hatred. She should be happier.
"In the future, there will eventually be a chance to meet her again. For now, I should focus more on cultivation. Only with greater strength can I do more things."
Zhang Ruochen put away the complex thoughts in his heart and began to reconsider how to quickly improve his cultivation.
His enemy was the lofty Empress Chi Yao. Without powerful strength, how could he take revenge?
After drinking that cup of Sky-Clearing Grass tea, Zhang Ruochen not only greatly increased his Sword Dao realm but also improved his martial arts cultivation by a large margin, vaguely touching the threshold of the Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position.
If he could break through to the Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Extreme Position, Zhang Ruochen's strength would climb another step. Even breaking into the top thirty of the "Heavenly Ranking" would not be a difficult task.