Chapter 633: Sword Discussion Assembly
“No wonder Di Yi was able to break through to the second transformation of the Fish-Dragon Realm in such a short time—he actually possessed a Sacred Source.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded, a faint smile of sudden understanding appearing at the corner of his mouth.
Earlier, in order to escape with his life, Di Yi had abandoned even his Sacred Source without hesitation. That showed he could indeed let go when necessary. Unfortunately, he still hadn’t managed to get away.
“That is… a piece of Sacred Source.”
Seeing the Sacred Source in Zhang Ruochen’s hand, Xiao Hei, Mu Lingxi, and Orange Moon Star Envoy all had their eyes gleaming as they crowded around. They made no attempt to hide their expressions of astonishment.
Every piece of Sacred Source was a treasure of immeasurable value, incredibly precious. Not only could it greatly enhance a cultivator’s training speed, but it could also dramatically increase their chances of becoming a Saint.
Even Half-Saints would fight desperately to obtain one.
Even within major powers like the Black Market, the Martial Market Bank, or the Demon Sect, no matter how extraordinary one’s talent was, if their cultivation hadn’t reached the seventh step Half-Saint realm or above, it was absolutely impossible to obtain a Sacred Source.
For Di Yi to possess a Sacred Source while still in the Fish-Dragon Realm was already an unprecedented matter.
“Good stuff. Everyone who sees it gets a share.”
Xiao Hei’s legs shot forward, turning into a black shadow as he pounced, trying to snatch the Sacred Source.
Zhang Ruochen pulled his arm back, dodging Xiao Hei.
After missing his target, Xiao Hei couldn’t find any leverage and fell to the ground, tumbling head over heels. His chubby head slammed into a large boulder with a bang, cracking the stone.
“Zhang Ruochen, you already have the Dragon Pearl and the Sarira. The Sacred Source is useless to you, so why are you hogging it? I propose that you bestow your Sacred Source upon my disciple.”
Xiao Hei climbed up from the ground and said with a serious expression.
Zhang Ruochen said, “When did I ever say I was going to keep the Sacred Source for myself?”
Hearing Zhang Ruochen’s words, Orange Moon Star Envoy’s eyes grew even brighter.
A Sacred Source was far too precious. Even as a Star Envoy of the Black Market’s First Class Hall, she rarely had the chance to obtain one.
If she could get a Sacred Source from Zhang Ruochen, combined with the tenfold time flow of the Scroll World, she was confident she could make rapid progress in her cultivation, perhaps even leaving Zhang Ruochen far behind.
But Zhang Ruochen paid no attention to Orange Moon Star Envoy. Instead, he turned his gaze to Mu Lingxi and said, “In this battle, Senior Sister Duanmu contributed the most. The Sacred Source should naturally go to her.”
Mu Lingxi was stunned. She had never expected Zhang Ruochen to give the Sacred Source to her.
A Sacred Source—even a Holy Maiden of the Moon Worship Demon Sect would find it difficult to obtain one. After all, the Moon Worship Demon Sect had more than one Holy Maiden, and it was impossible for every single one to possess a Sacred Source.
With a Sacred Source, there was at least a fifty percent chance of breaking through to the Saint realm.
This showed just how precious a Sacred Source truly was.
“Senior Sister Duanmu? What Senior Sister Duanmu?”
Xiao Hei clearly hadn’t recognized Mu Lingxi. He widened his round, glossy eyes and looked at her with great curiosity.
Although Mu Lingxi was surprised, she wasn’t one to be overly modest. She didn’t stand on ceremony with Zhang Ruochen. She accepted the Sacred Source and held it tightly in her hands.
Strangely enough, a joy greater than obtaining the Sacred Source welled up in her heart.
Zhang Ruochen could give away a Sacred Source without even furrowing his brow. This showed that she still held a certain place in his heart—she wasn’t just a dispensable woman.
That feeling was like secretly eating honey—warm and sweet, stirring the heart.
“Di Yi’s status is noble. There must be Half-Saints hidden in the shadows protecting him. The evil cultivators from the Black Market will surely catch up soon. We need to leave this place first,” Zhang Ruochen said.
Although Red Desire Star Envoy had mobilized a Half-Saint from the Ye Clan to hold back Di Yi’s protector, that protector was still a Half-Saint. Once he sensed something was wrong, he would definitely give chase.
Encountering a Half-Saint, even with a Sacred Edict in hand, would be extremely dangerous. So they had to leave as quickly as possible.
Zhang Ruochen put away the Refining War Puppets and led the group all the way out of the Eastern Domain Evil Lands, deep into the Fallen God Mountain Range, before finally stopping.
Finding a secluded and hidden valley, Zhang Ruochen took out the Cosmic Divine Wood Map, opened the Space-Time Gate, and brought everyone into the Scroll World.
It was Mu Lingxi’s first time entering the Scroll World, and she found it quite novel. When she saw the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree at the center of the world, she was so shocked she couldn’t speak.
The trunk of the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree soared into the clouds, connecting the earth and the sky. She could clearly sense it absorbing spiritual energy, exuding an ancient and immense aura.
“I never thought you would also possess a cave world. Unbelievable. Truly unbelievable.” Mu Lingxi exclaimed in admiration.
Zhang Ruochen caught the implication in her words and couldn’t help asking, “Has Senior Sister seen a similar spatial world elsewhere?”
Mu Lingxi immediately suppressed her amazement and showed a troubled expression. “That is a great secret of the Moon Worship Demon Sect. I swore an oath before the Sect Leader never to reveal it. Zhang Ruochen… I’m sorry.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled and comforted her, “Senior Sister, why are you apologizing to me? I shouldn’t have asked in the first place, since it’s a secret of your sect. As a Holy Maiden, you naturally cannot divulge the sect’s hidden matters.”
Zhang Ruochen had once been the Crown Prince of the Holy Bright Central Empire, so he had some understanding of the secrets of various major powers.
In fact, even if Mu Lingxi didn’t say it, he could roughly guess. But some things were better kept to oneself—there was no need to voice everything.
Just now, he had indeed been too presumptuous in asking, lacking consideration, which had made Mu Lingxi feel guilty.
Mu Lingxi bit her lip and sighed, not dwelling on the matter any further, though the guilt in her heart only grew.
“Senior Sister, please don’t overthink it. Everyone has their own secrets. I also have some things I can’t tell you, so there’s no need for you to feel so guilty.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled and deliberately changed the subject. “Since we’re in the Scroll World, let’s first settle the grudge between Di Yi and me.”
With that, he took out the Wish-Fulfilling Treasure Vase, tapped it with his finger, and activated the spatial inscriptions within.
“Whoosh!”
A stream of air surged out from the vase.
Di Yi’s body was wrapped in the airflow and flew out. Unaware that he was in the Scroll World, the moment his feet touched the ground, he immediately unfurled a Sacred Edict, activating its sacred power in an attempt to escape.
“Where do you think you’re going?”
Xiao Hei snorted coldly and swung a claw, drawing upon the world’s spiritual energy to form a massive black claw print that swatted Di Yi down from the sky.
Although Xiao Hei had only casually struck, his power within the Scroll World was immense. The blow directly broke over a dozen bones in Di Yi’s body, producing a series of cracking sounds.
With a bang, Di Yi crashed to the ground, creating a two-meter-deep pit.
Severely injured, he lay at the bottom of the pit, his entire body wracked with excruciating pain, completely unable to move.
“How… how can this be…”
Di Yi’s face was covered in sweat, his body trembling uncontrollably.
Even now, he refused to admit defeat. Since childhood, everyone around him had told him he was the most outstanding talent in the entire Kunlun Realm, with natural gifts surpassing even the Evil Emperor of the past.
How could someone so exceptional suffer repeated defeats at Zhang Ruochen’s hands?
Why?
He couldn’t accept it.
Zhang Ruochen walked over to Di Yi and snatched the Sacred Edict from his hand. Then, he searched Di Yi’s body and found a second scroll.
“Two Sacred Edicts…”
Zhang Ruochen opened the second scroll and examined it closely.
“Ninth day of the ninth month, Sword Discussion Assembly…”
Finally, Zhang Ruochen’s gaze fell to the lower left corner of the scroll, where the signature was none other than the renowned Shengshu Cainü of the Eastern Domain.
Zhang Ruochen had heard a little about the “Sword Discussion Assembly” from Xuanji Sword Saint. It was said to be a grand gathering of sword users from across the world, held only once every hundred years.
The Sword Discussion Assembly was not just an opportunity to study the “Wordless Sword Manual”; it was also a convergence of heroes. Both the proud sons of heaven from the younger generation and the older Sword Saints would all gather at the Sword Pavilion.
Among them, the older generation would naturally exchange insights on the Way of the Sword accumulated over a century, or sit and discuss the trends of the world.
The younger sword experts, however, would inevitably engage in fierce competition. Many unknown swordsmen might rise to fame in a single stroke at the Sword Discussion Assembly, shaking the entire world.
Why would Shengshu Cainü invite Di Yi to the Sword Discussion Assembly?
And in what capacity would Shengshu Cainü appear?
This year’s Sword Discussion Assembly on the ninth day of the ninth month might not be merely about discussing the sword.
Zhang Ruochen shook his head lightly, rolled up the Sacred Edict, and with a flick of his finger, tore open a spatial rift, tossing both scrolls into the crack.
With a tearing sound, the two Sacred Edicts were shredded by spatial force and swept into the chaotic void.
The scrolls bore the sacred power of Shengshu Cainü and the Master of the Black Market’s First Class Hall, so they had to be destroyed without leaving any trace, lest they bring disaster upon themselves.
Seeing Di Yi on the verge of death, Orange Moon Star Envoy’s gaze turned cold. True Qi began to circulate slowly within her body. The Lock Dragon Chain coiled around her wrist emitted a clattering sound as a layer of crimson sacred light surged forth.
Zhang Ruochen sensed the fluctuation of power and looked up, fixing his gaze on Orange Moon Star Envoy.
Xiao Hei’s expression also turned stern. Knowing that Zhang Ruochen was already somewhat angered, he quickly advised, “Yue’er, you should understand that within the Scroll World, with your strength, it’s impossible to rescue Di Yi. I advise you not to do anything foolish.”
Orange Moon Star Envoy’s eyes showed a determined resolve. “The ancestral teachings of the Murong family consist of four major tenets: Loyalty, Filial Piety, Courage, and Righteousness. Among them, ‘Loyalty’ is ranked first.”
“Since I am a Star Envoy of the Black Market’s First Class Hall, and he is the Young Master, how can I stand by and watch him die before my eyes?”