# Chapter 930: Murong Yue
In the blink of an eye, Second Minister of Works had already knocked down all the cultivators of the Blood Dragon Hall and crippled their cultivation.
Immediately after, he waved his sleeve, and a large area of golden light blades condensed, suspended in midair, then flew out, severing all the iron chains on the slaves' hands and feet.
"Thank you, Master, for saving us."
The disciples of the Mysterious Realm Sect, having regained their freedom, immediately bowed to Second Minister of Works to express their gratitude.
On the sedan chair, Blood Dragon Young Master was quite furious. In this Yuan Mansion, there was actually someone who dared to oppose the Blood Dragon Hall. Had that dark-faced monk eaten a bear's heart and leopard's gall?
He pushed aside the two beautiful women he was holding in his arms, condensed two balls of red sacred qi in the palms of his hands, and said in a deep voice, "This young master will test you and see just how capable you really are."
"Roar!"
A blood-colored dragon shadow over ten zhang long flew out, coiling around Blood Dragon Young Master's body, causing his aura to grow increasingly powerful.
Originally having only Fish-Dragon Ninth Transformation cultivation, Blood Dragon Young Master now emitted power fluctuations that only a First-Stage Half-Saint should possess.
The aura of a Half-Saint startled the evil cultivators present, forcing them to retreat repeatedly.
"Blood Dragon Young Master has actually cultivated the 'Blood Dragon Scripture' to the seventh layer. Even without reaching the Half-Saint realm, he can still unleash power comparable to a Half-Saint."
"Quick, retreat. Better to retreat far away. Even just a residual wave from a Half-Saint level attack could shake us to death."
...
Those disciples of the Mysterious Realm Sect were all trembling with fear, their hearts filled with terror. Some of the weaker disciples even went limp and collapsed to the ground.
Blood Dragon Young Master smiled cruelly, sending out a palm strike that formed a powerful blast of energy, destroying all the buildings on both sides of the street.
Immediately after, a huge blood-red handprint condensed above Second Minister of Works' head, pressing downward.
Just as Blood Dragon Young Master was feeling quite pleased with himself, he saw a figure flash before his eyes. The next moment, Second Minister of Works was already standing before him.
"Bang!"
Second Minister of Works struck out with a palm print, hitting Blood Dragon Young Master in the abdomen.
Blood Dragon Young Master spat out heart blood, flying backward, crashing through the three-zhang-tall sedan chair, and slamming into the ground in a posture like a dog pouncing on food, his face covered in blood and grime, utterly miserable.
From another direction, Zhang Ruochen gathered his breath and blew out in one go, dispersing the blood-red handprint that Blood Dragon Young Master had struck, causing it to vanish like smoke.
With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, a single breath was enough to neutralize the attack of a First-Stage Half-Saint.
Second Minister of Works did not kill Blood Dragon Young Master. He retreated and saw that Zhang Ruochen had already neutralized the residual battle waves, so he bowed slightly and said, "Thank you, Martial Uncle, for taking action and saving their lives."
Zhang Ruochen said, "The one who saved them was not me, but you. However, I do not think you saved them; in fact, you may have harmed them."
Second Minister of Works was very puzzled and asked, "Why?"
Zhang Ruochen said, "If they had been sent to the auction house, even if they could only be slaves, they would at least survive. However, by saving them, you have left them with only one path—death. The Blood Dragon Hall's power in Yuan Mansion is extremely vast. With their cultivation, even if they regain their freedom, they probably won't even escape the mansion city before being killed by the experts sent out by the Blood Dragon Hall."
Second Minister of Works said, "This humble monk can protect their lives."
"How long can you protect them? You can protect them for a while, but can you protect them for a lifetime? The next time you encounter a similar situation, what will you do? Continue saving people, continue protecting them? How many people can you protect? If you spend all your energy protecting them, will you still need to cultivate?"
Zhang Ruochen's expression became quite serious, and he continued, "Even your master dares not incur karmic consequences, yet you dare?"
Since Master Yintuoluo had entrusted the two to Zhang Ruochen, Zhang Ruochen naturally had to teach them some things.
Sometimes, acting too recklessly only harms oneself and others.
Second Minister of Works was somewhat bewildered and muttered to himself, "Did I do wrong?"
First Minister of Works scolded, "You definitely did wrong. Why don't you immediately apologize to Martial Uncle?"
Zhang Ruochen extended a hand to stop First Minister of Works and said, "You didn't do wrong either; it's just that your method of doing things was somewhat inappropriate."
"Right, Martial Uncle is correct. Your method was wrong. Why use violence when you can solve things with money? Just buy them directly with money, and wouldn't the matter be perfectly resolved?" First Minister of Works said.
Zhang Ruochen glared at First Minister of Works, wanting to scold him, but found that he couldn't quite refute his words.
Right!
Why use violence when you can solve things with money?
Those disciples of the Mysterious Realm Sect clearly also knew that offending the Blood Dragon Hall would only lead to death. Therefore, even after regaining their freedom, they were even more terrified.
"Master, you must save us."
"Blood Dragon Young Master was severely injured. The Blood Dragon Hall will surely vent their anger on us. With the Blood Dragon Hall's vast power, we have no way to survive."
...
The disciples of the Mysterious Realm Sect heard First Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works calling Zhang Ruochen "Martial Uncle" and thought he was a Buddhist monk practicing with his hair still grown.
So they all knelt down and begged Zhang Ruochen for help.
Zhang Ruochen was naturally not someone who would stand by and watch others die, so he began to think.
Just then, a sound wave drifted over from afar and entered Zhang Ruochen's ears.
Zhang Ruochen raised his head and looked toward the crowd in the distance. He saw a woman dressed in a goose-yellow long skirt meeting his gaze, nodding to him.
That woman had a slender figure, like a crescent moon, standing within a mass of hazy mist. Apart from Zhang Ruochen, few present could clearly see her appearance.
"She actually came to the Central Domain."
The corner of Zhang Ruochen's mouth curled slightly, revealing a hint of a smile. He instructed First Minister of Works and Second Minister of Works, "Bring them along and follow me."
Following the aura left by that woman in the goose-yellow long skirt, Zhang Ruochen arrived at the heart of the Black Market, appearing outside a six-story palace-style building.
Zhang Ruochen led First Minister of Works, Second Minister of Works, and the disciples of the Mysterious Realm Sect straight inside.
Everyone else remained waiting in the courtyard, while Zhang Ruochen alone walked into the inner courtyard, once again meeting the woman in the goose-yellow long skirt.
"Greetings, Crown Prince."
The woman in the goose-yellow long skirt immediately knelt on one knee and bowed to Zhang Ruochen.
This woman was none other than Murong Yue of the Murong Family, who had also been the Orange Moon Star Envoy of the Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall, belonging to the old subordinates of the Sacred Bright Central Empire's king.
It was quite normal for Murong Yue to recognize Zhang Ruochen, as she knew that Zhang Ruochen had once used the identity of Lin Yue.
"How did you come to the Central Domain?" Zhang Ruochen asked with some curiosity.
Murong Yue stood up again and said, "I heard news that the Crown Prince had appeared in Yuan Mansion. Worried about Your Highness's safety, I immediately led the experts of the Murong Family and the Black Market First Class Hall and rushed over."
Zhang Ruochen glanced at Murong Yue and found that her cultivation had already reached the Half-Saint realm.
With Murong Yue's current cultivation and her special status, she had probably become a high-ranking member of the Black Market First Class Hall and could indeed mobilize a very large amount of manpower and resources.
Zhang Ruochen said, "Did you tell the elders of the Murong Family about my identity?"
"No. Without Your Highness's decree, this subordinate would not dare to make decisions recklessly."
Suddenly, Murong Yue thought of something, her eyes rolling slyly, and immediately said, "Your Highness seems to have some grievances with Blood Dragon Young Master. Should this subordinate send people to destroy the Blood Dragon Hall?"
Zhang Ruochen shook his head and said, "I came to the Black Market; it's best to keep a low profile. Dealing with the Blood Dragon Hall is a small matter, but attracting the attention of the Ministry of War and the experts of the Undying Blood Clan would be a big trouble."
Then Zhang Ruochen continued, "The Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall should have some influence in Yuan Mansion, right?"
"Whatever Your Highness needs, just command. Although the Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall and the Central Domain Black Market First Class Hall operate separately in different locations, they are ultimately both branches of the First Class Hall. I am now the Young Master of the Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall, and even in the Central Domain, I have considerable authority," Murong Yue said.
Zhang Ruochen narrowed his eyes and asked, "Have you already defeated Ye Honglei and officially become the Young Master of the Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall?"
Ye Honglei was the former Red Desire Star Envoy.
Murong Yue gently shook her head and said, "Ye Honglei is extremely intelligent and very good at winning people over. The forces behind her are very powerful. I can only be considered evenly matched with her. So, in this term, the Eastern Domain Black Market First Class Hall has selected two Young Masters. It remains to be seen who between her and me can laugh last."
Zhang Ruochen also had some understanding of Ye Honglei. She was indeed a quite formidable woman, especially in terms of spiritual power and illusion techniques, she could be considered the number one among her generation.
"I came to the Black Market because I want to buy a Third-Rank Saint Yuan Pill," Zhang Ruochen said.
Murong Yue said, "Is Your Highness preparing to break through to the Third-Stage Half-Saint?"
"I can only say I am preparing to break through to the Third-Stage Half-Saint," Zhang Ruochen said.
"Saint Yuan Pills have always been strictly controlled by the various medieval aristocratic clans and cannot be sold externally. In the Black Market, by paying a high price, one can buy Saint Yuan Pills below the Fourth Rank. However..."
A rather embarrassed expression appeared on Murong Yue's pretty face as she said, "However, a Third-Rank Saint Yuan Pill is far too expensive. Even if this subordinate exhausts all her savings, she cannot afford half a pill."
"If Your Highness truly needs one, I can immediately send a message back to the Eastern Domain and have the elders of the family escort a Third-Rank Saint Yuan Pill to Yuan Mansion. With the Murong Family's foundation, we can refine one Saint Yuan Pill every three years, so we should have a Third-Rank Saint Yuan Pill in stock."
The Saint Yuan Pill was the only shortcut to the Half-Saint realm. Even for medieval aristocratic clans, it took several years, or even decades, to refine one.
Therefore, Saint Yuan Pills were extremely expensive. Even Saint realm figures might not necessarily be able to afford one.
In the entire Kunlun Realm, probably only the nine Realm Sons could obtain sufficient Saint Yuan Pills, taking one at each cultivation level.
Zhang Ruochen smiled quite confidently and said, "You don't need to worry about the price. No matter how high the price, I can afford it. The key is, you need to tell me where I can buy a Third-Rank Saint Yuan Pill." (To be continued.)