Chapter 533: Huge Changes
It had only been a little over two months since Zhang Ruochen arrived at the Xuanwu Ruins Realm, but Huang Yanchen, Ao Xinyan, and Orange Moon Star Envoy had already been cultivating in the Scroll World for two years.
Over these two years, Ao Xinyan had made the greatest progress.
She cultivated a King-rank technique and consumed a large number of Flood Dragon Soul Pills, finally achieving "Skin Forged into Gold" and "Bones Transformed into Jade," breaking through to the Third Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm in one go.
Orange Moon Star Envoy cultivated the "Heavenly Demon Dark Moon Diagram," one of the thirty-six stone carvings from the world-renowned six great strange books, *Heavenly Demon Stone Inscription*. With her exceptionally high talent and her ability to absorb the sacred qi of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, her cultivation had reached the peak of the Second Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Huang Yanchen's aptitude was far inferior to Ao Xinyan's and Orange Moon Star Envoy's, but with the aid of Xuanwu Qi and Fish-Dragon Pills, she too broke through to the Second Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
In just two short years, their strength had undergone earth-shattering changes, rising to a terrifyingly high level.
Each of them had become a top-tier expert capable of standing alone.
Huang Yanchen stood beneath the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, a hairpin securing her long, sapphire-blue hair, revealing her slender, snow-white, and delicate neck. She stood gracefully, like an ice-pure beauty from a painting.
As her cultivation increased, her temperament grew even colder and more aloof. She had completely transcended the mortal realm and begun treading the Sacred Path.
Her eyes fixed on Zhang Ruochen not far away, she said, "This time we're going out to deal with the three experts of the Black Market. Are you really sure about bringing Orange Moon Star Envoy? She's a member of the Black Market First Class Hall. If she betrays us at a critical moment, it will be extremely disadvantageous."
Zhang Ruochen said, "It's only been a little over two months in the outside world, and your cultivation has already broken through to the Second Change of the Fish-Dragon Realm. How do you feel?"
Huang Yanchen was momentarily stunned. Although she didn't know why Zhang Ruochen was asking this, she still spoke her true thoughts, "Of course, I find it incredibly unbelievable. Without the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, even if I were given ten more years, I might not have been able to reach my current realm."
Zhang Ruochen smiled and nodded, "A ten-year cultivation path, completed in two months. Orange Moon Star Envoy is a clever woman. I believe she knows how to choose."
Huang Yanchen's eyes lit up, "You mean, if Orange Moon Star Envoy wants to continue cultivating within the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, she has to help you? But... what if she colludes with the Black Market experts to seize the Cosmic Divine Wood Map?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "Only someone who has awakened the Space-Time Divine Martial Mark can open the Cosmic Divine Wood Map. Even if she snatched it, she couldn't open the inner world of the scroll. Besides, since I'm going to nurture her, she naturally has to do things for me. Consider this a test for her, and also a way for her to completely sever ties with the Black Market. Otherwise, if she reaches the Half-Saint realm before betraying me, the loss would be even greater."
Understanding Zhang Ruochen's intentions, Huang Yanchen said no more.
She just hoped that Zhang Ruochen wouldn't be seduced by Orange Moon Star Envoy's beauty. After all, no man could truly remain indifferent to a beauty like Orange Moon Star Envoy.
...
...
The news of the Xuanwu inheritance, after two months of fermentation, had spread throughout the entire Huangyu Island military camp.
Not only the foreign cultivators, but even the Ruins Realm warriors from the Ministry of War had set out in large numbers, heading deep into the West Xuan Sea to try their luck.
Suddenly, the once extremely dangerous West Xuan Sea was filled with human ships.
Of course, the West Xuan Sea was still the territory of the Crimson Cloud Python Flood Dragon. Conflicts between humans and aquatic savage beasts continued to occur, with casualties on both sides.
Zhang Ruochen stood at the bow of a small ship, over thirty meters long. He released his spiritual power, which transformed into specks of light, flying in all directions.
A moment later, his spiritual power detected a medium-sized ship, over fifty meters long, six hundred miles away.
On that ship was a squadron of Ruins Realm warriors, a total of one hundred and two people. Most were Heaven Extreme Realm martial artists, with only two having reached the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Fearing detection by the Fish-Dragon Realm experts on the ship, Zhang Ruochen carefully controlled his spiritual power, only approaching the Heaven Extreme Realm martial artists to eavesdrop on their conversation.
Soon, he heard what he wanted to know. It turned out that over the past two months, human cultivators had almost pinpointed the location of the Xuanwu inheritance site—a place called the Blood Spring Trench.
It was said that someone had discovered ancient Xuanwu footprints on the seabed near the Blood Spring Trench.
Someone else had even found a Xuanwu scale on an island near the trench, sparking a bloody fight that resulted in dozens of experts dying.
It was precisely that battle that alerted the high command of the Huangyu Island military camp.
They dispatched a large number of Ruins Realm warriors to the waters near the Blood Spring Trench.
This squadron was one of them.
Their destination was an island called Divine Turtle Island, less than two thousand miles from the Blood Spring Trench.
According to the Ruins Realm warriors on the ship, most of the human cultivators were now gathered at Divine Turtle Island.
A middle-aged man at the Small Extreme Position of the Heaven Extreme Realm, while wiping a Nine-rank True Martial Treasure-grade war blade, said, "The Blood Spring Trench is an ancient, murderous land in the West Xuan Sea. It's said that many Fish-Dragon Realm experts tried to force their way in, only to die on its outskirts."
"No wonder they're all gathered at Divine Turtle Island now. They don't dare act rashly. They're probably waiting for Lord Jin Huangwang. Only a powerhouse like him can breach that ancient, murderous land and enter the Blood Spring Trench."
"That's right. Lord Jin Huangwang was among the first Ruins Realm warriors to enter the Xuanwu Ruins Realm for battle. He's been here for nearly a hundred years. With his strength, he can definitely break into the Blood Spring Trench. If we follow behind, we might get some benefits too."
"If it really is the Xuanwu inheritance site, even getting a tiny bit of benefit would let us live comfortably for the rest of our lives."
...
The Ruins Realm warriors chatted among themselves, and Zhang Ruochen gleaned a lot of useful information.
Feeling he had heard enough, he slowly withdrew his spiritual power and opened his eyes again.
"Divine Turtle Island," Zhang Ruochen murmured to himself.
Since everyone was gathering there, how could he not go?
Zhang Ruochen used true qi to propel the ship, following the medium-sized vessel six hundred miles away, heading towards Divine Turtle Island.
They sailed for an entire day, crossing over ten thousand miles of sea, finally passing through the central waters of the West Xuan Sea and entering the deep sea.
The natural environment became even harsher. Occasionally, a water savage beast would attack the ship—all Fifth-order Savage Beast level creatures, immensely powerful, capable of overturning rivers and seas.
However, Zhang Ruochen killed them all, converting them into military merit points.
After nightfall, the medium-sized ship ahead activated its protective formation and stopped on the sea surface.
Clearly, they knew that traveling at night was very dangerous.
Zhang Ruochen didn't know the exact location of Divine Turtle Island and still needed them for guidance, so he also stopped.
The moonlight that night was exceptionally beautiful. A bright, clear moon hung in the sky, casting down silvery, gauze-like rays onto the sea, covering the entire area with a layer of pearly white light.
Around the moon floated oddly shaped dark clouds, their edges rimmed with beautiful light under the moon's illumination.
"Swoosh!"
Orange Moon Star Envoy sat cross-legged on the deck. She clasped her hands together, and above her head, a black demonic moon condensed.
The demonic moon rose slowly, ascending to a height of a hundred zhang, and began to absorb the light of the moon in the sky. It was like a black hole, instantly devouring almost all the moonlight between heaven and earth.
The surrounding sea area immediately grew darker.
A cold light flashed in Huang Yanchen's eyes, and she said sternly, "Orange Moon, what are you doing? Are you trying to lure the evil path martial artists of the Black Market over here?"
Orange Moon Star Envoy remained silent, ignoring Huang Yanchen.
A chilling aura emanated from Huang Yanchen's body. The water vapor around her condensed into snowflakes.
The snowflakes collided with each other, forming a three-foot-long cold ice sword. With a *swish*, it flew out, striking towards Orange Moon Star Envoy's head.
"Bang!"
Orange Moon Star Envoy activated her Heavenly Demon Eyes. Her pupils turned violet-black, and two beams of black light shot from them, shattering the cold ice sword Huang Yanchen had launched.
She stared at Huang Yanchen, smiled, and said, "I never intended to lure the Black Market experts here. I was just absorbing moonlight to temper my physique."
"Oh, really?"
How could Huang Yanchen believe her? Her five fingers spun rapidly as she mobilized her true qi and struck a palm towards Orange Moon Star Envoy.
A low dragon roar emanated from her arm, and the palm force transformed into a dragon claw.
"Swoosh!"
Zhang Ruochen's body flickered slightly. He shifted three zhang sideways, appearing in front of Orange Moon Star Envoy, blocking Huang Yanchen's palm strike.
Huang Yanchen asked, puzzled, "Why are you stopping me?"
Zhang Ruochen said calmly, "Let her cultivate."
"What if she really does lure the Black Market experts over?" Huang Yanchen asked.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Wouldn't it be better if they came?"
Huang Yanchen gave Zhang Ruochen a deep look, then withdrew her palm force. Her sharp gaze turned back to Orange Moon Star Envoy. "If you dare betray us, I will be the first to kill you."
Orange Moon Star Envoy curled her lips, giving only a cold smile, completely disregarding Huang Yanchen's words.
In the latter half of the night, a chilly wind suddenly blew across the calm sea.
Zhang Ruochen's eyes snapped open. He looked towards a certain direction on the sea surface and said, "Since you're here, why not show yourself?"
On the ship, Huang Yanchen and Ao Xinyan were both startled. They immediately stopped cultivating and entered a battle-ready state.
A hoarse male voice rang out, "To be able to detect me, your spiritual power is indeed formidable. You must have reached the forty-first rank, haven't you?"
Zhang Ruochen just smiled and didn't answer.
"Whoosh!"
His left thumb struck out into the void.
"Solar Meridian Sword Pulse!"
The meridians in his finger completely drained the surrounding true qi, condensing it into a sword pulse as thick as a bowl's mouth. Like a powerful, flaming light wave, it shot forth.
(One more chapter.)