Chapter 670: The Ninth Layer of Sword One
Zhang Ruochen wrote two letters, one to Mu Lingxi and one to Orange Moon Star Envoy. The content of the letters was, of course, asking them to help investigate the backgrounds of the Qi Clan and Qi Feiyu.
The two letters were also somewhat different.
In the letter to Mu Lingxi, Zhang Ruochen gave no special instructions, only asking Han Xue to deliver it and make sure it was personally handed to Mu Lingxi.
However, in the letter to Orange Moon Star Envoy, Zhang Ruochen specifically warned Han Xue to be very careful.
Although Orange Moon Star Envoy had not revealed Zhang Ruochen's identity, it did not fully prove her loyalty. If she intended to harm Han Xue, given Han Xue's lack of experience, she would be no match for her.
Han Xue took the two letters and asked, "Master, the letters have no specific addresses. How am I supposed to find the two sisters?"
"I said it's a training journey, so naturally you have to rely on your own skills to find them," Zhang Ruochen replied.
Before she left, Zhang Ruochen handed Han Xue the "Sword One" manual and a small gourd containing sacred spring water. "Don't slack off during your training outside. When you return, I will test your cultivation progress again."
Han Xue clenched her small, delicate fists and said with utmost seriousness, "Xue'er will not disappoint Master."
The Evil Emperor City was a paradise for evil-path cultivators. Zhang Ruochen was naturally not at ease letting Han Xue go alone, so he sent the Demon Ape and Guo Guo to accompany her on the journey.
Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei personally saw them off outside the Liangyi Sect.
Xiao Hei was still somewhat worried, glaring coldly at the Demon Ape and Guo Guo. "You two, make sure to take good care of little Xue'er. If anything goes wrong, this Emperor will not let you off."
The Demon Ape thumped its chest with a fist, exuding a powerful aura. "Don't worry, Black Lord. Unless a Half-Saint makes a move, whoever dares to touch Xue'er, I'll smash their head with one punch."
Han Xue stood on the Demon Ape's left shoulder, waving at Zhang Ruochen and Xiao Hei, gradually disappearing over the horizon.
With the Demon Ape—brutal and strong—and Guo Guo—clever and cunning—protecting Han Xue, it was almost impossible for her to encounter any major danger.
Zhang Ruochen stopped worrying, turned around, and headed back to Purple Cloud Spirit Mountain.
There were still eight days until the sword dao competition. Zhang Ruochen naturally wanted to take this opportunity to continue cultivating, improving his strength as much as possible.
Sitting cross-legged beneath the Sky-Connecting Divine Tree, Zhang Ruochen poured out all the sacred spring water from his space ring, dividing it into two Ruyi Treasure Bottles.
Holding up a Ruyi Treasure Bottle, Zhang Ruochen took a small sip of the sacred spring water, roughly ten drops.
Immediately, a cold liquid stream surged into his body, rapidly transforming into seven-colored light that merged into his blood and true qi.
"Splash!"
A seven-colored halo formed around Zhang Ruochen's body, like a circular rainbow displaying red, orange, red, green, blue, indigo, and violet hues, enveloping him.
After fully absorbing the sacred water in his body, Zhang Ruochen found that not only had his cultivation base become more consolidated, but his understanding of the sword dao had also deepened.
"No wonder it's a treasure everyone desires. Just taking a sip produces such marvelous effects. No wonder Qi Feiyu, with her Fish-Dragon Eighth Change cultivation, was so furious when a gourd of sacred spring water was stolen."
Zhang Ruochen continued drinking the sacred spring water, beginning to cultivate with full effort.
Over the course of a month, Zhang Ruochen drank ten gourds of sacred water from the first sacred spring.
With the help of the sacred spring water and his diligent practice, he finally cultivated Sword One to the eighth layer.
Unfortunately, after drinking ten gourds of sacred spring water, Zhang Ruochen's body reached its limit. Even if he continued taking the sacred spring water, the effects became negligible.
What Zhang Ruochen didn't know was that for other sacred disciples, only the first gourd produced significant effects. Even those with exceptional talent could only drink four or five gourds before reaching their limit.
"The sacred water from the first sacred spring should be different from that of the second sacred spring."
Zhang Ruochen took out the sacred water from the second sacred spring and took a sip. Immediately, seven-colored light flowed rapidly through his body, rushing straight to the qi sea in his brow, making his mind incredibly clear.
Over another month and a half, Zhang Ruochen drank about ten gourds of sacred water from the second sacred spring, thereby cultivating Sword One to the ninth layer.
With the aid of the sacred spring water, his comprehension speed increased significantly, saving him a great deal of time.
"If I could obtain sacred water from the third sacred spring and drink another ten gourds, I should have a chance to break through to the tenth layer, the Great Perfection of Sword One," Zhang Ruochen muttered to himself.
With his current sword dao realm, he had a good chance of passing the first trial of the third mountain.
He only needed to wait until the first day of next month to continue challenging the trials and collect the sacred water from the third sacred spring.
Of course, before that, he still had to deal with the upcoming sword dao competition.
Zhang Ruochen checked his condition. Nourished by the sacred spring water, his Fish-Dragon Fourth Change peak cultivation was fully consolidated. His true qi was abundant, perfectly round and unified, with no signs of rejection.
If time permitted, he could now attempt to open his second sacred meridian and break through to Fish-Dragon Fifth Change.
Unfortunately, the sword dao competition was scheduled for today, so he had to temporarily suppress his cultivation.
Leaving the Scroll World, Zhang Ruochen went with Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji to the Upper Clarity Palace to participate in the Liangyi Sect's three palaces and seventy-two courtyards sword dao competition.
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji had already refined the Black Water Glazed Crystal, cultivating the Water Spirit Treasure Body and breaking through to Fish-Dragon Second Change, reaching the "Skin Refined to Gold" realm.
With their greatly improved cultivation, the two were now full of confidence, walking with their heads held high and their eyes looking upward, casting a disdainful gaze at everyone they saw.
Of course, they didn't dare to be too arrogant in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Xun Hualiu said, "Boss, during the sword dao competition, you must be very careful. If you're outmatched, make sure to concede immediately."
"Why?" Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xun Hualiu's eyes turned cold, and he snorted, "Many people within the sect are jealous of your luck and charm. Especially those suitors of Senior Sister Qi, several of whom have already declared they will humiliate you on the competition platform. I've even heard that some are plotting to use this opportunity to kill you."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The sword dao competition should have Half-Saint ancestors supervising. If someone deliberately kills, wouldn't the Half-Saint ancestors intervene?"
Mu Jiji sighed, "Although internal sect competitions always require that no lives be taken, you know as well as I do that in every outer sect and inner sect competition, there are disciples who 'accidentally' kill their opponents. Moreover, the higher the cultivation level, the greater the likelihood of accidents."
"I see."
Zhang Ruochen nodded. Although he was not afraid, he still took Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji's words to heart.
It was better to be prepared than not.
Arriving at the Upper Clarity Palace, the three separated and headed to different venues.
Zhang Ruochen's destination was naturally the competition platform for the Fish-Dragon Eighth Change level.
Competition platforms for different levels were built in different locations, equipped with formations of varying grades. There were four competition platforms for the Fish-Dragon Eighth Change level, located at the Zhiyu Spirit Mountain of the Upper Clarity Palace.
The four platforms were quite tall, entirely constructed from ten-thousand-jin heavy red blood spirit stones, standing twenty zhang high, with length and width both thirty zhang, like four cylindrical stone mountains, exuding a majestic aura.
Not only were the platforms larger, facilitating Fish-Dragon Eighth Change cultivators in unleashing powerful sword techniques and martial skills, but more importantly, top-grade defensive formations were arranged around the platforms, capable of withstanding a full-force strike from a Half-Saint.
Thus, no matter how fiercely the Fish-Dragon Eighth Change cultivators clashed on the platform, the residual energy of the battle would not spill out.
A total of 368 cultivators registered for the Fish-Dragon Eighth Change competition, including sacred disciples and a large number of Azure Robe Elders.
The biggest difference between Azure Robe Elders and sacred disciples was that they had broken through to the Fish-Dragon Realm after the age of sixty.
Theoretically, due to limited talent, it was very difficult for Azure Robe Elders to cultivate beyond Fish-Dragon Seventh Change.
However, those Azure Robe Elders who managed to reach Fish-Dragon Eighth Change were undoubtedly remarkable figures, even surpassing sacred disciples in some aspects, but for various special reasons, they had failed to break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm before sixty.
Battles between Fish-Dragon Eighth Change powerhouses were not something one could see at any time. The inner disciples who couldn't participate in the sword dao competition naturally wouldn't miss such a rare opportunity to observe.
By the time Zhang Ruochen arrived below the competition platform, many inner disciples had already gathered at Zhiyu Spirit Mountain. The crowd was like a sea, boiling with excitement and reaching a fever pitch.
Every time a Fish-Dragon Eighth Change participant arrived, it immediately caused a huge commotion.
"Elder Dao Xuanqi has arrived. I heard he is already 150 years old and has always been the top Azure Robe Elder of the Enforcement Court. I never expected even him to participate in the sword dao competition. With his profound cultivation, making it into the top ten should be no problem."
"Uncle Xu Changsheng has also arrived. His cultivation is unparalleled; he is a hot contender for the top three."
"Look, Senior Sister Qi Feiyu has appeared. So young, and she has already reached the summit of the second mountain on Ancient God Mountain. She definitely has the talent to become a Sword Saint."
Every Fish-Dragon Eighth Change cultivator was a major figure in the Liangyi Sect. Usually, they were all lofty and aloof, and it was very difficult to even see one.
Only on a big day like today could one see them all appear at once.
Some were senior elders who had been famous for nearly a hundred years, while others were young heroes renowned throughout the world.
Zhang Ruochen's arrival naturally also caused a considerable stir. Although no one favored him, he was still a notable figure now. His sword dao talent was undeniable, leaving others with no choice but to acknowledge it.