Chapter 604: Cultivation Progress Again
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Zhang Ruochen smiled, sweeping his gaze over those evil path martial artists, and asked, "Why are you calling me Grand Protector?"
Ji Gui, bowing and scraping, laughed obsequiously. "Lady Red Desire Star Envoy has already appointed Young Master Zhang as Grand Protector. From now on, the Grand Protector is the second-in-command of Red Willow Manor, and we all must obey your orders."
Zhang Ruochen carefully examined Ji Gui, quite surprised to find that the arrogance and insolence on Ji Gui had vanished completely.
This showed that Red Desire Star Envoy was quite skilled, managing to subdue even a half-saint heir at the seventh transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, making him completely obedient.
"You all continue."
Zhang Ruochen had no interest in the title of "Grand Protector." He simply shook his head and walked toward the gate.
Without reporting to Red Desire Star Envoy, he went straight back to his room, entered the Scroll World, and continued his cultivation.
The death of Deep Blue Star Envoy was just the beginning; the real storm was only just unfolding.
Naturally, Zhang Ruochen had to enhance his own strength as much as possible to face the even more severe challenges ahead.
First, Zhang Ruochen took out "Sword One," but after flipping through just two pages, he closed the book again.
Without killing Di Yi first, Zhang Ruochen simply couldn't calm his mind to comprehend the sword path.
"Sword One" was too profound; without achieving a peaceful state of mind, it was impossible to grasp its essence.
"Better to keep improving my cultivation and strive to break through to the fourth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm as soon as possible."
Only by reaching the fourth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm could he open the first sacred meridian within his body, thereby converting true qi into sacred qi and executing the thirty-six transformations.
Right now, Zhang Ruochen was barely managing to conceal his identity by relying on his powerful spiritual power and a metal mask. It was like walking on thin ice; he could be exposed at any moment.
Remember, Mu Lingxi had started to suspect him after just one meeting. If he encountered a half-saint from the Black Market, his identity would definitely be revealed.
Only by executing the thirty-six transformations could he truly deceive heaven and cross the sea.
"Fourth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself, his expression extremely solemn.
He had to cultivate to the fourth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm before Di Yi arrived at Qingyun Commandery.
He took a box from his space ring and opened it. Instantly, a mass of red-gold flame surged out, like a small sun being released, radiating terrifying heat.
Within a radius of a hundred zhang, fireballs coalesced one after another, floating in midair, turning the area into a domain of fire.
This was a fire-attributed spiritual treasure: the Source of Spiritual Fire.
Zhang Ruochen had already reached the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm and could begin refining the "Source of Spiritual Fire."
Of the five elemental precious bodies—Metal, Wood, Water, Fire, and Earth—Zhang Ruochen had already cultivated three, reaching the level of a Three-Spirit Precious Body. If he could cultivate the "Fire Spirit Precious Body," he would reach the level of a Four-Spirit Precious Body.
A Three-Spirit Precious Body already rivaled a sacred body. How powerful would a Four-Spirit Precious Body be?
"Cultivating a Four-Spirit Precious Body is certainly no easy task, but I can absorb the Source of Spiritual Fire to rapidly improve my cultivation."
Zhang Ruochen released his space domain, completely enveloping the Source of Spiritual Fire within a hundred zhang. He activated the fifth layer of the "Nine Heavens Bright Emperor Scripture" and began to absorb it.
...
...
While Zhang Ruochen was in seclusion cultivating, Di Yi, far away in Evil Emperor City, was also in seclusion, refining the sacred source and striving to break through to the second transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Seven days later, Di Yi broke through the realm in one go. This should have been a cause for celebration, but on that very day, he received a message light talisman from Qingyun Commandery.
His good mood vanished instantly.
Di Yi looked at the content on the light talisman, let out a cold, sardonic laugh, and clenched his fist. With a bang, the jade light talisman shattered into a fine powder of jade dust, slipping through his fingers.
Purple Wind Star Envoy rushed in from outside like a ghost. Seeing Di Yi's gloomy expression, he thought Di Yi had failed to break through the realm. He asked, "Young Master, what happened?"
Di Yi stood up, his expression shifting between overcast and clear. He snorted and muttered to himself, "Interesting. To be able to kill Deep Blue Star Envoy, he's quite capable, isn't he?"
"Deep Blue Star Envoy is dead?"
Purple Wind Star Envoy clearly found it hard to accept the news of Deep Blue Star Envoy's death, maintaining a skeptical attitude.
"That's right," Di Yi confirmed.
"How is that possible? With Deep Blue Star Envoy's cultivation, Red Desire Star Envoy couldn't possibly be his match. Besides, how dare Red Desire Star Envoy be so bold as to openly kill a star envoy?"
Di Yi said, "This news was relayed by a secret organization under the Black Market; it should be true. Heh! Guess who killed Deep Blue Star Envoy?"
Purple Wind Star Envoy asked in confusion, "Wasn't it Red Desire Star Envoy?"
"A Heavenly Extreme Realm disciple of the Liangyi Sect, named Lin Yue."
Although Di Yi had a smile on his face, his expression was extremely cold. Those who knew Di Yi understood that he was now furious.
"A star envoy meticulously trained by the Black Market First Class Hall, a genius among geniuses, an expert among experts, killed by a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist. Is there a funnier joke than this?" Di Yi said.
Purple Wind Star Envoy also exuded a chilling aura, his murderous intent fully exposed. "I'll head to Qingyun Commandery right now and bring this person's head back to Evil Emperor City."
Di Yi shot a glare at Purple Wind Star Envoy and scolded, "With your cultivation, going out of your way to kill a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist—aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
"Someone has to be held accountable for Deep Blue Star Envoy's death. This time, when I go to Qingyun Commandery, I won't just kill that Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist named Lin Yue; I'll make the Liangyi Sect pay a hundredfold," Purple Wind Star Envoy said.
Di Yi shook his head, speaking unhurriedly, "Don't act impulsively. This matter gives me a very strange feeling. Perhaps the truth isn't as simple as it seems on the surface. Could it really have nothing to do with Red Desire Star Envoy?"
Purple Wind Star Envoy was slightly startled. "Young Master suspects that Red Desire Star Envoy colluded with the Liangyi Sect to kill Deep Blue Star Envoy, giving her a reason to stay in Qingyun Commandery."
Di Yi rubbed his temples, deep in thought. "No, no. If Red Desire Star Envoy truly cooperated with the Liangyi Sect, how could she possibly push a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist forward as a scapegoat? No one would believe that a Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist could kill Deep Blue Star Envoy, who was at the sixth transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm."
Purple Wind Star Envoy said, "Perhaps Red Desire Star Envoy intends to confuse us this way, diverting our attention to that Heavenly Extreme Realm martial artist from the Liangyi Sect, so no one suspects her."
For some reason, Di Yi sensed a dangerous aura. His expression turned somber. "This matter must be investigated thoroughly. If Red Desire Star Envoy truly has a secret alliance with the Liangyi Sect, then she must be eliminated immediately."
Purple Wind Star Envoy immediately volunteered, "Young Master, let me go to Qingyun Commandery. Within a month, I will bring the heads of Lin Yue and Red Desire Star Envoy back to Evil Emperor City."
"No, this matter is fraught with strangeness. I must go to Qingyun Commandery myself."
Di Yi's brow furrowed into a "chuan" shape. Since Zhang Ruochen's death, this was the first time he felt a sense of urgency.
The difference was that before, the person he wanted to eliminate was Zhang Ruochen; now, it had become Red Desire Star Envoy. Only now did Di Yi truly take her seriously, regarding her as an opponent.
...
Zhang Ruochen cultivated continuously in the Scroll World for half a month, refining a large amount of the Source of Spiritual Fire into his body until it reached a saturated state.
Although he was still far from cultivating the Four-Spirit Precious Body, his cultivation had improved considerably, nearing the middle stage of the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
Zhang Ruochen noticed that after absorbing the Source of Spiritual Fire, the nascent embryo below his navel had increased by about one-tenth and become more stable.
If he could cultivate the Four-Spirit Precious Body, perhaps the embryo would fully form, becoming a second qi sea.
However, that wouldn't happen overnight; it required gradual progress. Only by breaking through to higher realms could he successfully cultivate the Four-Spirit Precious Body.
Still, Zhang Ruochen was quite confident about the Four-Spirit Precious Body.
"Dragon-Elephant Divine Furnace."
In the following time, Zhang Ruochen continued to cultivate the seventh palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, aiming to master the palm technique as soon as possible.
Every day, Zhang Ruochen practiced the palm technique at least eight hundred times, only stopping to restore his true qi with half-saint flood dragon blood when his internal true qi was depleted.
In this way, Zhang Ruochen could feel his cultivation rapidly increasing every day.
After twelve consecutive days of cultivation, Zhang Ruochen finally mastered the seventh palm of the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm. At the same time, his cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds, reaching the middle stage of the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm.
"If I refine a drop of Basalt Sacred Blood, it should push my cultivation to the peak of the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm. Once I reach the peak, I can attempt to open the first sacred meridian. If successful, I'll break through to the fourth transformation."
But refining Basalt Sacred Blood was not only dangerous but also time-consuming.
Last time, Zhang Ruochen refined a drop of Basalt Sacred Blood, which directly pushed his cultivation from the first transformation to the second transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm. However, it took him half a year to fully refine it.
Even though Zhang Ruochen was now at the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, speeding up the refinement process, it would still take at least four months to fully refine a drop of Basalt Sacred Blood.
Four months in the Scroll World equated to twelve days in the outside world.
For a full twelve days, Zhang Ruochen would have to stay in the Scroll World without any disturbance.
But within twelve days, too many changes could occur.
Before killing Di Yi, he absolutely couldn't afford any accidents.
After much deliberation, Zhang Ruochen ultimately decided that he couldn't go into seclusion at Red Willow Manor. He needed to find an excuse to go out. After twelve days, when he had broken through to the peak of the third transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm, he could return.
(Recommendation: "Urban Super Special Forces" by the time-traveling author Di Gua—full of excitement, worth a read.)
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