# Chapter 598: Star Envoy Meets Star Envoy
This time, Zhang Ruochen no longer immediately executed the palm technique. Instead, he extracted the yang energy and guided it into the thirty-six meridians throughout his body.
As the yang energy surged in, Zhang Ruochen's thirty-six meridians completely transformed into thirty-six fire dragons, spreading across his entire body.
The yang energy seemed to merge with his true qi, yet its movement pattern appeared entirely different from true qi.
Zhang Ruochen spent a full ten days before the yang energy completed a full cycle within his body. Subsequently, part of the yang energy continued flowing through the meridians, while another part dispersed again, integrating into his blood, flesh, and bones.
Just as Zhang Ruochen thought he had succeeded, suddenly, the yang energy in his meridians began converging toward the area below his navel, forming a vortex of yang energy.
Zhang Ruochen felt a sensation in his lower abdomen as if a ball of flame were burning.
Moreover, the yang energy vortex below his navel actually stabilized, connecting with all the meridians throughout his body to form a marvelous internal circulation.
Even Zhang Ruochen found it quite remarkable. He murmured to himself, "Unbelievable. I've actually stumbled into cultivating the prototype of a Xuan Tai."
The Xuan Tai was the second qi sea.
According to the records of the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture," only by cultivating the fifth layer, "Xuan Tai Pacifies Demon Heaven," to an extremely high level could one open the Xuan Tai.
Zhang Ruochen had never expected that cultivating the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm would accidentally allow him to develop a prototype Xuan Tai.
"Could it be that the 'Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture' has some connection with the Ten Thousand Buddha Path?"
Zhang Ruochen was firmly convinced it couldn't be mere coincidence. The "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture" and the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm definitely had some relationship.
He estimated that precisely because he cultivated the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture," he was able to so easily master the seventh palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen had only achieved minor success with the seventh palm. To reach major success, he would still need to spend considerable time refining the technique.
Only when he reached sufficient proficiency would the palm technique achieve major success.
...
Deep beneath the Red Willow Manor, Red Desire Star Envoy sat cross-legged in the void. Around her snow-white, delicate body, countless wind blades flew in continuous rotation, forming a massive vortex.
At the same time, particles of water mist condensed in the air, turning into raindrops that fell downward.
The underground space, centered on Red Desire Star Envoy, had completely transformed into a scene of wind and rain. Suddenly, with a booming sound, all the wind blades and raindrops rushed toward the center, entering Red Desire Star Envoy's body.
"My spiritual power intensity has finally broken through to the forty-third rank. With my current strength, I only need a single thought to summon wind and rain."
Red Desire Star Envoy flew down from midair, landing at the edge of the altar, a smug smile spreading across her face.
At her age, being able to cultivate her spiritual power intensity to the forty-third rank had already surpassed her master, Huan Saint, when she was young. If Huan Saint learned of this news, she would likely be quite pleased.
Red Desire Star Envoy put away the Saint Intent Diagram and said, "Those waiting outside may enter now."
With a booming sound, the stone door opened.
Ji Gui and Yao Yao walked in from outside, standing below the altar. They bowed to Red Desire Star Envoy and said in unison, "Greetings, Star Envoy."
Ji Gui spoke first, "Star Envoy, Zhang Shengming's background has been investigated. This person first appeared at Liyuan City below the Fallen God Mountain Range. After entering the city, he contacted the Demon Sect's branch in Liyuan City, and it was also at that time that he killed Fang Jie and Cao Ying."
Red Desire Star Envoy asked, "What did he go to the Demon Sect branch for?"
Ji Gui hesitated for a moment, not daring to conceal anything, and said, "To purchase sacred stones."
Red Desire Star Envoy nodded. "Continue."
"After leaving Liyuan City, three days later, he appeared in Qingyun Commandery City, where he purchased a barbarian beast ancient chariot and then went to another Demon Sect stronghold in the commandery city."
Red Desire Star Envoy smiled. "He must have gone to trade sacred stones with the Demon Sect again. From this, it seems this person is not a member of the Demon Sect. Moreover, he definitely doesn't belong to any major force."
Ji Gui quickly asked, "Star Envoy, how can you be so certain?"
Red Desire Star Envoy said, "If he truly had a powerful background, why would he need to repeatedly trade with the Demon Sect?"
Ji Gui harbored hostility toward Zhang Ruochen and said, "But before he arrived at Liyuan City, we couldn't find any information about him at all. This person is practically someone without a past."
"Without a past? Truly an interesting person."
Red Desire Star Envoy gently stroked her chin with two slender fingers, her gaze shifting to Yao Yao. "Where has he been these past few days?"
Yao Yao shook her head. "This person never leaves his room. He hasn't stepped outside once."
Red Desire Star Envoy was slightly surprised. After pondering for a moment, she said, "In that case, I'll go meet him myself. Let me see if he's truly a self-taught spiritual power genius or if he's deliberately hiding his identity."
Leaving the underground space, Red Desire Star Envoy first bathed, then changed into a crimson long dress. Over her upper body, she draped a snow-white spirit fox fur, and around her waist, she tied a moon-white belt with a purple sachet hanging from it.
The lower part of the dress had a long trailing hem but was extremely thin, allowing a faint glimpse of two straight and slender jade-like legs within, full of a hazy allure.
Arriving outside Zhang Ruochen's guest room, Red Desire Star Envoy did not immediately barge in. Instead, she sent Yao Yao to knock on the door.
After a while, Zhang Ruochen, still wearing his metal mask, opened the door and stepped out.
Standing on the steps, he looked toward Red Desire Star Envoy in the distance, a hint of admiration rising in his heart.
He had to admit, this enchantress was indeed extremely beautiful, and she knew how to make herself even more beautiful and alluring.
Regardless of whether she was vicious or cunning, at least when one looked at her, it was pleasing to the eye, without any urge to reject or dislike her.
What Zhang Ruochen didn't know was that Red Desire Star Envoy was also somewhat surprised when she saw him.
Because she could clearly sense that Zhang Ruochen's body contained a strong yang energy, like a blazing flame, which held great attraction for her.
It wasn't just Red Desire Star Envoy; Yao Yao, standing beside Zhang Ruochen, felt it even more intensely. She felt an urge to throw herself at Zhang Ruochen like a moth diving into a flame.
Yang energy naturally held great allure for women.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Congratulations, Star Envoy."
Red Desire Star Envoy walked toward Zhang Ruochen, step by step, approaching him. With a charming smile, she asked, "Congratulations for what?"
"Congratulations on your spiritual power intensity breaking through to the forty-third rank," Zhang Ruochen said.
Red Desire Star Envoy nodded and asked probing, "Young Master Zhang seems to be cultivating some kind of martial arts technique?"
Zhang Ruochen knew clearly that it was because the yang energy within his body hadn't yet reached the state of complete control, so she had detected it.
Unflustered, Zhang Ruochen said, "I've only been cultivating a crude technique, nothing remarkable. As spiritual power cultivators, our main focus is still on cultivating spiritual power. Martial arts cultivation is merely for strengthening the body."
Red Desire Star Envoy didn't suspect anything, because she simply couldn't believe that someone could, like her, cultivate both martial arts and spiritual power to extremely high levels simultaneously.
Even with her talent, she couldn't balance both and could only choose to focus on spiritual power while supplementing it with martial arts.
Red Desire Star Envoy took out a book woven from golden silk threads and smiled. "Take a look."
Zhang Ruochen showed a puzzled expression, took the book, and began flipping through it. He was immediately drawn in by its contents.
After a while, Zhang Ruochen looked up at Red Desire Star Envoy. "Second-rank spells?"
Red Desire Star Envoy laughed. "That's right. If I'm not mistaken, you can control lightning power, so I specially found two lightning-type second-rank spells for you. What do you think? I keep my word, don't I?"
Zhang Ruochen had once browsed the Holy Bright Central Empire's "Spiritual Power Codex" and remembered the cultivation methods of many high-rank spells. Two second-rank spells held no appeal for him whatsoever.
However, his current identity was different, so he naturally had to act flattered. He quickly bowed to Red Desire Star Envoy. "Thank you for the generous gift, Star Envoy."
"No need for formalities."
Red Desire Star Envoy laughed inwardly. Just two second-rank spells have you this excited. If I give you a third-rank spell, won't you obey my every command from now on?
Zhang Ruochen showed an eager expression. "If the Star Envoy has no other instructions, I would like to go into seclusion now to cultivate these second-rank spells."
"Go ahead."
Red Desire Star Envoy watched Zhang Ruochen return to his guest room before her smile gradually faded.
Leaving the courtyard, Yao Yao immediately asked, "Master's Disciple, why did you give him high-rank spells so soon? Aren't you afraid that after obtaining them, he'll turn his back on you?"
Red Desire Star Envoy smiled. "They're just two second-rank spells, nothing special. If you want to buy someone's loyalty, you have to give them a little sweetness first."
Just then, a martial artist in the evil path, completely wrapped in a black robe, quickly walked over and knelt on one knee before Red Desire Star Envoy. "Reporting to Red Desire Star Envoy, Blue Nether Star Envoy has arrived at Red Willow Manor."
The smile on Red Desire Star Envoy's face instantly vanished, replaced by a chill. She said in a deep voice, "What is he doing at Red Willow Manor?"
Blue Nether Star Envoy was one of Di Yi's people. His arrival in Qingyun Commandery certainly meant no good, and Red Desire Star Envoy was naturally displeased.
A cold, sharp voice came from afar. "What? Red Desire Star Envoy doesn't welcome me?"
Blue Nether Star Envoy carried a deep blue greatsword on his back, his hands clasped behind him as he strolled in from outside. A wild expression was on his face, and even when looking at Red Desire Star Envoy, he wore a condescending demeanor.
Among the seven star envoys, ranked by age, Blue Nether Star Envoy was second, while Red Desire Star Envoy was at the very bottom.
Blue Nether Star Envoy naturally carried himself as superior to Red Desire Star Envoy.
Blue Nether Star Envoy's attitude, however, greatly displeased Red Desire Star Envoy. She said coldly, "Without my orders, who allowed you to barge into Red Willow Manor?"
Blue Nether Star Envoy's gaze was quite contemptuous. He glanced at the surrounding evil path martial artists and said mockingly, "These stray cats and dogs you've tamed are nothing but a rabble. Do you think they can stop me?"
Ji Gui, Luo Shi, Yao Yao, and all the other evil path martial artists present showed angry expressions, but none dared to act out.
Are you joking? Setting aside Blue Nether Star Envoy's formidable combat power, just his identity alone was not something these people dared to offend. Even Red Desire Star Envoy had to defer to him.