Chapter 530: Why Practice Martial Arts?
On the sea surface, where was there any trace of a human figure? Only a scroll painting remained, bobbing up and down with the waves.
"What kind of scroll is this? It withstood a strike from the Calamity Thunder Hammer without even breaking."
The creature with a human head and a serpentine body felt somewhat curious. It grabbed the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and examined it closely.
Earlier, the lightning radiance emitted by the Calamity Thunder Hammer had been too bright, completely overshadowing the light of the Cosmic Divine Wood Map. Thus, the human-headed, serpent-bodied creature hadn't seen Zhang Ruochen retreat into the Scroll World and assumed he had been utterly annihilated.
"This should be a treasure. I'll take it back and study it slowly."
After staring at it for a while without figuring anything out, it carelessly rolled up the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and stuffed it under a scale on its abdomen.
The human-headed, serpent-bodied creature glanced down at the Crimson Cloud Python Serpents below and said, "That outsider human has been killed by me, the Marshal. Everyone, stay alert and continue the patrol. Lately, more and more outsiders have been coming to the West Xuan Sea, supposedly searching for the Black Tortoise Inheritance Ground."
This creature was one of the six great marshals under the command of the Black Bone Serpent King.
A Crimson Cloud Python Serpent in the water raised its massive head and asked, "Is there really a Black Tortoise Inheritance Ground in the West Xuan Sea?"
The human-headed serpent sneered coldly, "I've been in the West Xuan Sea for over a thousand years and have never heard of any Black Tortoise Inheritance Ground. However, the West Xuan Sea is vast and boundless. There are a few places even the Serpent King doesn't dare to enter. Perhaps there really is some extraordinary treasure there."
Another Crimson Cloud Python Serpent lifted its head and asked, "Marshal, where are those places?"
The human-headed serpent's eyes widened, and it said in a deep voice, "You're not actually interested in that Black Tortoise Inheritance Ground, are you? Let me tell you plainly, those places are ancient killing grounds. Don't go there. If you get trapped, there's only one way out—death."
"Besides, the Serpent King has ordered us to patrol the West Xuan Sea and wipe out any outsiders who break in. Doing our duty is the top priority. Let's go! Find the next target."
The human-headed serpent plunged into the water, leading the serpent group to continue searching for other outsiders.
...
...
Zhang Ruochen returned to the Scroll World and immediately took healing pills to begin treating his injuries.
This time, his injuries were more severe than ever before. His left shoulder was charred black by flames, blood seeping out continuously. His right thigh was frozen solid by profound ice, sending sharp pains through him. The back of his head had been struck by a wind blade, leaving a long, bloody gash that nearly split his skull in two... His entire body was covered in wounds, a gruesome sight to behold.
However, his chest, abdomen, and back had been protected by the Cosmic Divine Wood Map and were unharmed.
Huang Yanchen stood nearby, just looking at Zhang Ruochen's injuries was enough to imagine how perilous the situation had been.
"If my cultivation were strong enough, I could have helped him."
Huang Yanchen had a strong, proud, and unyielding personality, but at this moment, she felt utterly useless, completely unable to assist Zhang Ruochen.
Xiao Hei yawned, stretched, and stood up. "Why are you blaming yourself? Breaking through to the Supreme Extreme of the Heavenly Extreme Realm is his own business. No one can help him with that."
"Accumulating thirty million military merit points is easy, but gaining the recognition of the gods is extremely difficult. Great perseverance, great courage, and great wisdom—all are indispensable. There are so many geniuses, but how many have achieved the Supreme Extreme?"
Huang Yanchen frowned and said coldly, "Does he have to risk his life every time just to accumulate military merit points?"
"Exactly."
Xiao Hei continued, "Those who don't risk their lives can't accumulate thirty million military merit points. Girl, this is something outsiders can't help with and shouldn't help with. I suggest you go and break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm first. Otherwise, not only will Zhang Ruochen's cultivation leave you further and further behind, but the other two girls' cultivation will also leave you in the dust."
Ao Xinyan and Orange Moon Star Envoy had already been cultivating in the Scroll World for three months. Under Xiao Hei's guidance and the sacred qi emanating from the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree's stump, they had broken through the limits of mortals and reached the first transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Moreover, their cultivation was still advancing rapidly.
Huang Yanchen bit her lip, still uneasy. She shook her head. "Let's wait until he wakes up. There's no rush for martial arts cultivation."
Three days passed. Zhang Ruochen consumed a large amount of Wood Spirit Red Elixir, aided by healing pills, and finally recovered about thirty percent of his injuries, stabilizing his condition.
With a "crack," Zhang Ruochen's skin split like ceramic. Through the cracks, one could see a layer of delicate, snow-white skin beneath, completely free of scars.
Xiao Hei squinted and smiled. "As expected of a cultivator who has opened the 'Wheel Meridian.' Skin becomes like tree rings, layer upon layer. Each layer of skin is practically another life."
After a while, Zhang Ruochen stepped out of a pile of hard shells. His external injuries had fully healed.
Zhang Ruochen stretched his limbs, producing cracking sounds, and let out a long breath. "That was close! If I had been even a moment slower, I might have lost my life in the West Xuan Sea."
Huang Yanchen shot him a glare. "You were already incredible. Surrounded by a group of serpents, you not only escaped with your life but also killed four Crimson Cloud Python Serpents. If word of this gets back to the Kunlun Realm, it will definitely make headlines in the *Eastern Domain News Report*."
Zhang Ruochen was a self-aware person and smiled. "I'm not that impressive. If it weren't for the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, I wouldn't have survived the serpent group's siege."
Huang Yanchen asked, "So, what do you plan to do next?"
"What else? Heal my injuries and continue accumulating military merit points," Zhang Ruochen said.
Huang Yanchen bit her teeth, her eyes showing some struggle, but she eventually advised, "Actually, you don't necessarily have to pursue the Supreme Extreme of the Heavenly Extreme Realm. Throughout history, many saints and great emperors didn't achieve the Supreme Extreme, yet they still became top-tier powerhouses in the world."
Zhang Ruochen shook his head. "I don't care about others, and I don't care about the future. I only seek to do my best in the present."
Huang Yanchen's tone became somewhat sharp. "Why do we practice martial arts and pursue the path of sainthood? Is it just to become stronger, even if it means risking our lives? What if something happens to you? What about your family? What about your mother?"
Although Huang Yanchen wasn't good at expressing her emotions, Zhang Ruochen could feel her deep concern for his safety.
It was because of this concern that she tried to dissuade him.
Perhaps in her eyes, Zhang Ruochen being alive was more important than anything else. There was no need to risk his life to pursue the Supreme Extreme of the Heavenly Extreme Realm.
But she didn't know Zhang Ruochen's predicament.
He had to become stronger—the strongest—or how would he ever avenge himself against Empress Chi Yao?
Zhang Ruochen didn't know how to explain it to Huang Yanchen. After a long silence, his eyes grew distant. "Practicing martial arts isn't about competing, gaining fame, earning money, or killing. It's so that one day I can stand before her, not kneel before her. If that day comes... perhaps only one of us will survive."
"Who is she?" Huang Yanchen pressed.
Zhang Ruochen looked into Huang Yanchen's eyes. "Senior Sister, there are some things I can't tell you yet. But please believe me—I will live well. I will marry you. I won't let down everyone who cares about me. I will fulfill all my promises."
His voice was firm, carrying a seriousness that left no room for doubt.
With that, Zhang Ruochen resumed his healing.
Huang Yanchen knew that Zhang Ruochen's will was unchangeable. She sighed and stepped back.
Perhaps she, too, should train hard—not for fame or fortune, but so that one day she could help him.
After Zhang Ruochen's internal injuries healed, he consumed the Serpent Pearl and spent two days finally breaking through to the late stage of the Heavenly Extreme Realm's Great Perfection, further strengthening his power.
"I wonder if that human-headed, serpent-bodied creature has taken the Cosmic Divine Wood Map?"
Zhang Ruochen released his spiritual power, merging it with the Cosmic Divine Wood Map.
In an instant, his spiritual power appeared in a massive underwater stone cavern, seemingly a nest of the Crimson Cloud Python Serpents.
At that moment, the Cosmic Divine Wood Map was placed on a red coral stone table. The human-headed serpent was lying in the cavern, its body coiled in circles, only its head hanging in the air as it studied the map.
"What kind of scroll is this? Can't be cut by a blade, can't be burned by fire. It must be an extraordinary treasure. If I present it to the Serpent King, maybe he can figure something out."
Just as the human-headed serpent was about to put away the Cosmic Divine Wood Map—
Suddenly, a layer of azure light emerged from the scroll, revealing dense, intricate patterns.
"What's going on?"
The human-headed serpent stopped, staring curiously at the scroll.
"Whoosh!"
Suddenly, a flash of sword light. The Abyssal Ancient Sword flew out from the scroll, striking the human-headed serpent's face. It pierced through its left eye, shattering half of its skull.
"Ah..."
The creature let out a blood-curdling scream. It swung a claw, smashing the coral stone table to pieces.
How could Zhang Ruochen miss such a perfect opportunity?
At that moment, he charged out of the Scroll World, grabbed the Abyssal Ancient Sword, and dragged a long sword light downward, slashing at the human-headed serpent's neck.
(Last night, there was a red packet command that couldn't be sent due to the command itself. It will be made up for at noon tomorrow.)