Chapter 621: A Generation’s Prodigy
“Who is it?”
“A powerful surge of sacred energy is emanating from that silver moon… Could it be a Half-Saint has arrived?”
…
The heretical cultivators in the Quicksand Canyon all looked up at the silver moon in the sky, clearly feeling the vast sacred energy radiating from it, which created an urge to kneel and submit.
Only a Half-Saint could possess such terrifying sacred might.
“Whoosh!”
The sound of wind breaking rang out.
The heretical cultivators at the bottom of the canyon quickly used their movement techniques, climbing up the cliff walls to stand behind Red Desire Star Envoy. They each took out their True Martial treasures, injecting true qi into them, staring at the sky as if facing a great enemy.
If it truly was a Half-Saint arriving, they would have to risk their lives to protect Red Desire Star Envoy.
Red Desire Star Envoy’s eyes also fixed on the sky. When she clearly saw the figure within the silver moon, her expression changed, and she uttered a name: “Silver Moon Over the Sky.”
“It’s her? Why has she come to the Eastern Region’s Evil Lands?”
“Silver Moon Over the Sky… Isn’t she that traitor?”
Only then did the heretical cultivators present realize who had arrived.
Older heretical overlords like Shi Buchou and Xu Hong changed color repeatedly, for they knew well how formidable Silver Moon Over the Sky was. If she truly intended to harm Red Desire Star Envoy, who among them could stop her?
Even if the two of them joined forces, they probably wouldn’t even be enough to fill her teeth.
Silver Moon Over the Sky had once been the first Star Envoy selected by the Black Market’s First Class Hall, possessing an innate Silver Moon Body. Although she wasn’t a Saintly Body, at the same cultivation level, she was by no means inferior to one.
Moreover, her comprehension was extremely high. Her speed in learning martial techniques was several times faster than that of a Saintly Body, making her a true prodigy of her generation.
However, later on, Silver Moon Over the Sky became dissatisfied with some of the Black Market’s actions, rebelled against them, and became a public enemy of the Black Market.
The Black Market sent a large number of experts to hunt her down, but she killed them all one by one. Among the Black Market experts she killed were even some Saint Heirs and Half-Saint Heirs.
After that great hunt, she completely severed ties with the Black Market.
Later, Silver Moon Over the Sky hid in the Eastern Region Sacred City, founded the Silver Sky Mercenary Group, and after nearly twenty years of development, she had become a dominant force in her own right.
It could be said that Silver Moon Over the Sky’s personal ability and cultivation talent were enough to leave countless proud sons of heaven far behind.
Back then, Di Yi had led the Seven Evil Star Envoys to the Eastern Region Sacred City, setting up a deadly scheme to clean house and eliminate Silver Moon Over the Sky.
Zhang Ruochen had also participated in that battle, witnessing with his own eyes many members of the Silver Sky Mercenary Group falling under the spears of the Colored Glass Knights. Nearly half of the entire Silver Sky Mercenary Group had been wiped out.
Silver Moon Over the Sky’s hatred for Di Yi was probably even deeper than Zhang Ruochen’s.
“Such dense sacred energy. Silver Moon Over the Sky’s strength is probably very close to that of a Half-Saint.”
Zhang Ruochen could tell that Silver Moon Over the Sky had not yet broken through to the Half-Saint realm, but her strength far exceeded that of a Fish-Dragon Ninth Change cultivator.
In the sky, that silver moon was actually her martial soul—an extremely rare Silver Moon Martial Soul.
When the Silver Moon Martial Soul became powerful enough, it could evolve into a Silver Moon Saint Soul, which would be the moment Silver Moon Over the Sky broke through to the Half-Saint realm.
If a Silver Moon Saint Soul hung in the sky, it would be comparable to a real moon, enough to illuminate the earth for a thousand miles. Given the current strength of Silver Moon Over the Sky’s martial soul, she clearly hadn’t reached that level yet.
“Red Desire Star Envoy, was it you who sent me a message, asking me to come to the Eastern Region’s Evil Lands to deal with Di Yi together?” Silver Moon Over the Sky’s gaze shifted downward, landing on Red Desire Star Envoy.
Red Desire Star Envoy showed a confused expression, somewhat puzzled, because she had never sent any message to Silver Moon Over the Sky.
A cool voice rang out: “It was me.”
Zhang Ruochen stepped forward, walking to the edge of the cliff.
Everyone’s gaze fell on Zhang Ruochen, their expressions filled with surprise.
Even Mu Lingxi, who knew Zhang Ruochen best, showed a puzzled look, never expecting that Zhang Ruochen would know Silver Moon Over the Sky.
Red Desire Star Envoy was even more astonished. Her beautiful eyes revealed a hint of confusion, and her suspicions about Zhang Ruochen’s identity deepened.
Silver Moon Over the Sky’s gaze shifted slightly, fixing on Zhang Ruochen.
Her eyes grew increasingly bright, like two stars twinkling within the silver moon. Two beams of light shot out from her pupils, instantly seeing through the metal mask on Zhang Ruochen’s face.
Even though Silver Moon Over the Sky’s cultivation was very close to the Half-Saint realm, and her mindset was quite steady, she was still startled when she saw Zhang Ruochen’s true face.
“Let’s talk somewhere private.”
Silver Moon Over the Sky waved a hand, and a stream of sacred energy like a white river flew out, stretching for dozens of miles. It wrapped around Zhang Ruochen’s body and carried him away into the distance.
“You can’t take him away!”
Worried for Zhang Ruochen’s safety, Mu Lingxi immediately chased after them.
Red Desire Star Envoy also gave Xu Hong a look. Xu Hong then pushed off the ground with both legs, leaping into the air, trying to rescue Zhang Ruochen.
Silver Moon Over the Sky turned around, glanced at them lightly, and waved her hand gently. A heaven-and-earth-shaking hurricane immediately formed, striking Mu Lingxi and Xu Hong, sending them flying backward.
Before Silver Moon Over the Sky, a Fish-Dragon Ninth Change cultivator was so fragile. If she hadn’t wanted to hurt anyone, that strike alone could have severely injured Mu Lingxi and Xu Hong.
By the time Mu Lingxi and Xu Hong regained their footing, Silver Moon Over the Sky and Zhang Ruochen had long since vanished, nowhere to be seen.
“That damned Silver Moon Over the Sky, daring to snatch someone right in front of this Holy Maiden.”
Mu Lingxi’s eyes widened, gritting her teeth in anger.
Half a moment later, Silver Moon Over the Sky and Zhang Ruochen arrived at the top of a rather desolate mountain range. They stopped and both landed on the ground.
Silver Moon Over the Sky was tall and slender, with a cold demeanor. She had long silver hair and wore battle boots and armor, revealing her smooth, flat abdomen and long, shapely legs.
Her silver pupils fixed on Zhang Ruochen as she said, “Incredible. A dead man is still alive.”
Zhang Ruochen held one hand behind his back and used the other to remove the mask from his face, gazing at the red sun just rising on the horizon. “How did you see through my mask?”
“You think a mere mask can hide your identity? Do you really take me for a blind woman?” Silver Moon Over the Sky looked quite spirited, rolling her eyes at Zhang Ruochen.
“But I’ve been channeling my spiritual power into the mask all along. An ordinary person’s eyes shouldn’t be able to see through it.”
Silver Moon Over the Sky said, “What about a Half-Saint’s eyes?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her, suddenly understanding, and smiled slightly: “So you’ve already cultivated Half-Saint Eyes. No wonder. It seems you’re not far from the Half-Saint realm.”
“It’s not that easy. It looks like just one step away, but it’s like crossing a chasm. Step over it, and you soar to the sky. Fail to cross, and you’re stuck at the Fish-Dragon Ninth Change for life.”
Silver Moon Over the Sky looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, “Tell me about yourself. I’m curious—why are you still alive?”
“Those you think are dead may not truly be dead. Those you think are alive may not still be living.” Zhang Ruochen laughed.
Silver Moon Over the Sky knew Zhang Ruochen didn’t want to talk about it, so she didn’t press further and got down to business. “I know Di Yi and Red Desire Star Envoy are fighting for the position of Young Master. This is indeed a good chance to kill Di Yi.”
“But if the Black Market’s higher-ups learn that I’ve come to the Eastern Region’s Evil Lands, they’ll likely send a Half-Saint to intervene immediately. So if we’re going to act, we need to do it as quickly as possible.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “I think so too. Let’s do it today. After killing Di Yi, I’ll have to flee the Eastern Region’s Evil Lands immediately.”
Di Yi’s identity was special. Killing him would shake the entire Eastern Region’s Evil Lands.
The Black Market’s retaliation would be nothing to scoff at.
Silver Moon Over the Sky asked again, “Do you know where Di Yi is?”
“Yes.”
“Do you have a plan and a setup?”
Zhang Ruochen glanced at her and said, “Of course. But I still need to discuss it further with Red Desire Star Envoy. After all, where Di Yi is now—Red Willow Manor—was once Red Desire Star Envoy’s old lair. If we can use the formations in Red Willow Manor, killing Di Yi will face much less resistance.”
Silver Moon Over the Sky nodded. She took out a blood-soaked bundle and tossed it to Zhang Ruochen. “I’m a traitor to the Black Market, so Red Desire Star Envoy definitely won’t trust me. But if you give her this gift, it might help a little.”
Zhang Ruochen was somewhat puzzled. He took the bundle and opened it.
Inside was a bloody human head. Upon closer inspection, it was the Green Robe Star Envoy who had fled earlier.
Had Silver Moon Over the Sky intercepted and killed her?
Even Zhang Ruochen drew in a cold breath.
Silver Moon Over the Sky spoke as if it were the most ordinary thing: “I ran into her on the way. What a coincidence, don’t you think?”
Zhang Ruochen retied the bundle and smiled. “What a twist of fate. A Saintly Body dies like this. Running into you was just Green Robe Star Envoy’s bad luck. Want to come back with me?”
Silver Moon Over the Sky shook her head. “No. I’m a traitor to the Black Market, while Red Desire Star Envoy is one of their own. Staying with her would likely cause conflict. Don’t worry—I’ll be nearby. When the time comes, I’ll show up.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded, not forcing the issue. He put his mask back on and was about to leave. Suddenly, he stopped and turned back to look at Silver Moon Over the Sky. “Keep my secret. Can you do that?”
“Whether you’re alive or dead, what does it matter to me?” Silver Moon Over the Sky retorted, but then added, “I owe you a favor. Now, by keeping your secret, I’ll consider that favor repaid. What do you think?”