Chapter 471: Storms Rise Again
The saint who had come to the library was clearly not interested in books on humanities and geography. Therefore, when Zhang Ruochen took "A Brief Introduction to Three Thousand Ruins Realms" down from the bookshelf, the book was already covered in dust.
Gently wiping the dust off the cover with his sleeve, Zhang Ruochen slowly opened the pages.
Following the table of contents, Zhang Ruochen quickly found a suitable Ruins Realm in the book.
"Wood Essence Ruins Realm, a lower-grade Ruins Realm, contains rich wood-attributed spiritual energy. The realm is covered in vegetation, with ancient trees forming forests, abundant spiritual energy, and countless precious spiritual medicines and rare ancient plants growing there."
"However, the Wood Essence Ruins Realm is also extremely dangerous. Flowers, grass, trees, and wood can all transform into powerful spirits that devour humans and savage beasts."
A look of delight appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face. "Good! This is the one!"
A Ruins Realm with abundant wood-attributed spiritual energy would surely have a powerful source of Wood Spirit Origin Qi. As long as he found the origin Qi of the Wood Essence Ruins Realm and let the Cosmic Divine Wood Map absorb it, the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree would surely grow and support the inner world of the Scroll World.
By then, Zhang Ruochen could enter the inner world of the Cosmic Divine Wood Map to cultivate, and his cultivation speed would be ten times faster than it was now.
Zhang Ruochen soon found another passage in the book: "The Wood Essence Ruins Realm is an excellent world for spiritual medicine growth. The First Central Empire has decreed that cultivators above the Fish-Dragon Realm are not permitted to enter the Wood Essence Ruins Realm, to avoid damaging its natural ecology."
Cultivators at the Fish-Dragon Realm had too much destructive power and could not enter the Wood Essence Ruins Realm.
Martial artists at the Heavenly Extreme Realm could enter the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. However, the spirits in the Wood Essence Ruins Realm were extremely powerful, and an ordinary Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist entering would be no different from seeking death.
Originally, Zhang Ruochen had planned to invite Nie Honglou to go with him to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. With Nie Honglou's strength, he could sweep away all the dangers of the Wood Essence Ruins Realm, making it easier to capture the origin Qi. Now, it seemed that was not possible; he would have to rely on his own strength.
The book page outlined a map of the Wood Essence Ruins Realm, recording some major place names.
Zhang Ruochen mobilized his spiritual power and memorized that map in his mind.
"Let's set off now."
He closed the book, put it back on the shelf, and prepared to go to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm immediately.
Just then, from behind the bookshelf, a slender woman's figure emerged, carrying a faint, refreshing fragrance. She stood opposite Zhang Ruochen and said, "Zhang Ruochen, I want to go to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm too."
Earlier, Zhang Ruochen had been completely absorbed in reading and hadn't noticed anyone behind the bookshelf.
It was only when she voluntarily stepped out that Zhang Ruochen, by the dim light, could see her face clearly.
It was that princess of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan, Ao Xinyan.
Zhang Ruochen frowned. "The Wood Essence Ruins Realm is very dangerous. Why are you going?"
"Since the Wood Essence Ruins Realm is so dangerous, why are you going?" Ao Xinyan asked.
"I'm going to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm for an important matter. You'd better not go. If you die there, the royal family of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan will surely come to me demanding an explanation. So, it's best if you don't cause me trouble."
Zhang Ruochen walked past her and headed out.
Ao Xinyan turned around, staring at Zhang Ruochen's back, gritting her two rows of snow-white teeth. She said firmly, "I lost to you, and my state of mind has developed a flaw. Only by defeating you can I mend that flaw. So, from now on, wherever you go, I will follow, until I defeat you."
"Is that so? Then let's see if you can keep up."
With these words, Zhang Ruochen's figure flickered and vanished from the spot.
Ao Xinyan snorted coldly and immediately used her movement technique to give chase.
But after chasing out of the Holy Academy, she lost him. Zhang Ruochen had disappeared without a trace.
"Damn it, his speed is so fast."
Ao Xinyan stomped her foot in frustration, looked around, and channeled her true qi, shouting loudly, "Zhang Ruochen, since you won't let me follow you, then I'll make more people follow you. I'll show you what real trouble is. Just wait and see."
Zhang Ruochen stood with his hands behind his back on the top of a distant blue-tiled pavilion, looking toward the Holy Academy. He clearly heard Ao Xinyan's voice, shook his head with a smile, and didn't take her words to heart.
"Shua!"
His figure flickered and disappeared again.
An hour later, Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei set off together, leaving the Eastern Domain Sacred City.
Not long after, a piece of news spread through the Seventh District and quickly reached the ears of many more people.
"Zhang Ruochen, one of the six kings of the new generation, left the Eastern Domain Sacred City today and headed for the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. It's said he's going to handle some important matter."
"What important matter? I think Zhang Ruochen must know there's some incredible treasure in the Wood Essence Ruins Realm, so he's rushing there."
"It's said that the Wood Essence Ruins Realm is covered in spiritual medicines. If you're lucky, you might even pick a sacred medicine."
"Heavens! If that's the case, the Wood Essence Ruins Realm is a land of treasures. If not now, then when?"
...
Because Zhang Ruochen went to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm, many people learned of its existence. In less than a day, the Wood Essence Ruins Realm became famous, reaching the ears of countless young martial artists.
Moreover, the stories about the Wood Essence Ruins Realm grew more and more exaggerated, with some even claiming to have found sacred medicine there.
So, on that very day, a large number of Heavenly Extreme Realm experts and groups of mercenaries left the Eastern Domain Sacred City, boarding ships and passing through wormholes to head to the Chaotic Myriad Realms Mountain. Everyone's target was the Wood Essence Ruins Realm.
Xi Yunxi and Zuo Qiuling immediately returned to the Holy Academy and reported the news they had gathered to Xu Hai.
Xu Hai was originally recovering from his injuries, but upon hearing the news, he was greatly energized and laughed heartily. "Excellent! Zhang Ruochen is walking right into his death. The Wood Essence Ruins Realm only allows cultivators below the Fish-Dragon Realm to enter, so Nie Honglou can't go in. Without Nie Honglou's protection, what is Zhang Ruochen? Hurry! Go find Pei Ji. This time, no matter what, we must eliminate Zhang Ruochen."
Soon after, Pei Ji, Xi Yunxi, and Zuo Qiuling selected eighteen Heavenly Extreme Realm Great Perfection experts from the Xu Holy Clan, Xi Holy Clan, and Zuo Holy Clan, and rushed to the Chaotic Myriad Realms Mountain at top speed.
In the Eastern Domain Sacred City, on the Golden Rainbow Continent, there was a spiritual mountain shrouded in white mist.
In the mountain, there was a study.
At that moment, the sun was shining brightly, and the clouds had parted.
Di Yi held a roll of bamboo slips in his hand, sitting under a cherry blossom tree, studying the contents of the bamboo slips.
"Hua!"
Orange Moon Star Envoy turned into a blur, flying from afar, passing through the vermilion palace-style buildings, and appearing before Di Yi.
Her feet did not touch the ground; she hovered in midair. "Young Master, Zhang Ruochen has left the Eastern Domain Sacred City. Someone has spread word that he went to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm."
"Oh!"
Di Yi put down the bamboo slips, raised an eyebrow slightly, and fell into thought. "Have you found out who spread the news? Could it be that Zhang Ruochen himself is setting a trap, trying to lure our Black Market people into a snare?"
Di Yi was a cautious person, and ever since he lost to Zhang Ruochen once, he never underestimated him again.
Orange Moon Star Envoy said, "It has been found out. The one who spread the news is also a saint of the Holy Academy, named Ao Xinyan."
"Ao Xinyan? Isn't that the princess of the Divine Dragon Half-Human Clan?" Di Yi asked.
"Exactly," Orange Moon Star Envoy said.
A slight smile curled at the corner of Di Yi's mouth. "How did Zhang Ruochen provoke her?"
Ao Xinyan's talent was very high, and she was also one of the Holy Academy geniuses that the Black Market needed to nip in the bud. Di Yi had already added her to his list.
"It is said that not long ago, she lost to Zhang Ruochen. And Zhang Ruochen only used nine moves," Orange Moon Star Envoy said.
Di Yi thought for a moment. "In that case, it doesn't seem like a trap set by Zhang Ruochen."
"I know a bit about the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. It is said that only cultivators below the Fish-Dragon Realm are allowed to enter. Since Zhang Ruochen is going there, it presents a good opportunity for us."
Orange Moon Star Envoy asked, "Will the Young Master go to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm in person?"
Di Yi shook his head. "I am at a critical stage in breaking through my realm, so I cannot go to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm for now. If time permits, after I break through, I should head over immediately."
Orange Moon Star Envoy said, "In that case, let me lead the Crystal Knights and rush to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. This time, I will definitely kill Zhang Ruochen and give him no more chances."
"No, you are not Zhang Ruochen's match."
Di Yi tapped his fingers lightly on the table. "Red Desire Star Envoy should have already refined the Blood Spirit Pill. With her current strength, she is probably not weaker than you. The two of you, each lead a team of Crystal Knights and one set of Nine Star Formation Banners. Go to the Chaotic Myriad Realms Mountain first."
Orange Moon Star Envoy said, "Is it necessary to activate the Nine Star Formation Banners just to deal with a Zhang Ruochen? And two sets at that?"
Di Yi said, "My goal is to capture him alive. Of course, if you really can't catch him, you can also suppress and kill him. People like Zhang Ruochen should not exist in this world."
Orange Moon Star Envoy was well aware that Di Yi had always wanted to capture Zhang Ruochen to cultivate a shadow.
If Zhang Ruochen died, Di Yi would have to settle for the next best option and target Bu Qianfan.
The image of Bu Qianfan flashed through Orange Moon Star Envoy's mind. A struggle appeared in her eyes, and she bit her lip. In the end, she decided that no matter what, she had to capture Zhang Ruochen alive.
For now, Zhang Ruochen could not die.
Di Yi watched Orange Moon Star Envoy's departing back, a sinister smile appearing in his eyes. "Hei Xin, come out."
A person completely wrapped in black clothes appeared before Di Yi, kneeling on one knee. "Young Master, what are your orders?"
"Yellow God Star Envoy should be training in the Black Tortoise Ruins Realm. Send my order for him to go to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm."
"I want him to do two things. First, he must find out why Zhang Ruochen went to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. Second, no matter what, he must capture Zhang Ruochen alive or kill him."
The black-clothed man hesitated for a moment. "Young Master has already sent Red Desire Star Envoy and Orange Moon Star Envoy to the Wood Essence Ruins Realm. Just to deal with a Zhang Ruochen, why does the Young Master need to send Yellow God Star Envoy personally?"
Di Yi smiled. "They are just the people I sent on the surface. Their strength is still a bit lacking when it comes to fighting Zhang Ruochen. Yellow God Star Envoy is the one who will truly deal with Zhang Ruochen. Don't ask me any more questions. Go do what you need to do."
"Understood."
The black-clothed man's body twisted, turning into a ball of black mist that sank into the ground and disappeared.