Chapter 580: The Nine-Phoenix Cauldron
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
The second strike was ten times stronger than the first, and it might have even destroyed a Saint.
The Black Market Saints were all seized with fear. If it were not for the presence of the Nine Serenity Sword Saint, they might all have scattered.
The second attack was about to fall, when suddenly a black city soared over from the distance. All the Black Market Saints stepped onto the city.
“Huaa!”
An ancient, green, nine-legged cauldron flew out from the black city. It shattered the Yin-Yang fish mark in the sky and rammed into the Cosmic Formation.
With a loud crash, Supreme Strength emanated from the ancient, nine-legged cauldron. A breach was opened in the Cosmic Formation.
The black city took this opportunity to glide through the breach and disappear into the boundless mists and clouds.
In the sky beyond drifted a distant voice, its echo reverberating throughout East Region Saint City. “Chen Yin, we must have the life of the Time and Space Descendant. You can protect him once, but definitely not twice!”
The Prince of the Eastern Region stood his ground, gazing up in the sky. No one could read the expression on his face.
They only saw him wave his sleeve, and all the dark clouds within a 300 mile radius were swept away. Radiant sunshine reigned again.
Everything seemed to have passed and East Region Saint City regained its calm.
But this battleground was badly scarred with utter devastation. Neither the lightning nor the flames were quenched.
With the retreat of the Black Market Saints, ten thousand dead bodies were left, some with incomplete body parts, some charred like charcoal, others mangled in bloody piles. It was impossible to tell who were the Chens and who were the Black Market Monks.
Second Senior Brother stamped his foot angrily and said, “How detestable! They even managed to break through the Cosmic Formation and get away!”
Third Senior Brother Wan Ke said, “Unfortunately, the Cosmic Formation hadn’t closed completely yet. Otherwise, they wouldn’t have escaped even with the help of the Black Market’s Nine-Phoenix Cauldron.”
“What did you say, Third Junior Brother? You mean the cauldron we saw soaring here was the legendary Nine-Phoenix Cauldron, the Supreme Holy Weapon of Evil Emperor?”
“Didn’t you sense the Supreme Strength emanating from that cauldron?”
Third Senior Brother Wan Ke continued. “Only the power of the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron could breach the Cosmic Formation.”
“Wait a minute! I seem to recall that this Nine-Phoenix Cauldron was sealed in the Saint Mountain of Saint Academy. How did it end up in the hands of the Black Market?” asked Zhu Hongtao.
The fact that the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron was sealed in the Saint Mountain was a highly concealed secret, which only Saints within the Saint Academy knew.
Even someone of Wan Ke’s rank and stature had not heard about it.
Wan Ke’s face flushed, and he asked hastily, “Is this true?”
Zhu Hongtao was startled by Wan Ke’s reaction and could not respond in time. Instead he said, “Of course it’s true. Didn’t you know this?”
Wan Ke’s look in his eyes kept shifting. He was wringing his hands as he said, “Now we’re done for! It looks like something momentous has happened in Saint Academy. Most likely the Black Market assault on East Region Saint Mansions was simply a feint. Their real intention was to seize the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron.
“I was misled from the very beginning… I ought to have realized–even if the Black Market wants to take revenge on our Youngest Junior Brother, they wouldn’t need to dispatch Saints on such a massive scale.
“The East Region Saint Mansions was just a decoy. Their real purpose was… within Saint Academy.”
Zhu Hongtao finally reacted. Clapping his head, he still continued speaking quite casually, “Now that the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron has been stolen, we won’t be able to do anything about it even if we return. Better think about the problem in hand now, Third Junior Brother.”
Zhu Hongtao looked in Zhang Ruochen’s direction, and a complex expression shone in his eyes. “The Black Market won’t let Youngest Junior Brother off. Both of us wouldn’t be able to fend off the Nine Serenity Sword Saint at all if he attacks again.”
In the past, if the Black Market had wanted to deal with Zhang Ruochen, they would not have gone all out to attack him. They would merely have dispatched younger warriors.
But now, Zhang Ruochen’s identity as the Time and Space Descendant had been revealed.
If the Black Market made another move, they would have chosen to kill him with a single strike. They would not have left him with any more chances.
“Dispatch a Signal Flare and notify Master.”
Wan Ke gave a long sigh. “Some calamity is going to rock the entire Eastern Region.”
One day and one night had elapsed after the Black Market attack on East Region Saint City, yet the situation had not settled. Rather, it had intensified.
From Saint Academy came the news that the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron, once sealed by Empress Chi Yao within the Saint Mountain, had now been seized by the Black Market Excellence Hall Owner.
A total of five headmasters had remained behind to guard Saint Academy.
In principle, no matter how powerful the Black Market was, it would not have been possible for them to remove the seal and get ahold of the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron.
Unfortunately, a Black Market mole had infiltrated into Saint Academy. It was the sixth headmaster of Saint Academy, Ji Kongtong. He colluded with the Black Market Excellence Hall Owner. The two of them had captured the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron.
Jointly attacked by the other four headmasters, Ji Kongtong was, however, killed on Saint Mountain.
On the same day, the Ministry of War dispatched troops to eradicate Ji Kongtong’s family, the Saint Ji Gentry.
Not only was Saint Ji Gentry affected. After an all-out investigation of Saint Academy and East Region Saint Mansions, seven powerful Saint families, 12 Ancient Lines, and 73 Suzerains and families were found to have worked intimately with the Black Market. They all had a hand in this operation.
Further investigation was ongoing.
However, many more bloody annihilations appeared to be in the works in the Eastern Region. Countless Suzerains and Families would be extirpated. The jails of government offices and counties would be swarming with convicts.
Only after he received some incoming information from the external world did Zhang Ruochen realize that the East Region Saint Mansions was just one important battleground.
The real purpose of the Black Market was Evil Emperor’s Nine-Phoenix Cauldron.
In the days when the Evil Emperor was alive, the Eastern Region was the nerve centre of the Black Market. It was a dark domain where demons roamed and the people lived in dire poverty.
The power of the Black Market was then at its acme.
Even the power of East Region Saint Mansions and the Chens nowadays could not compare with that of the Black Market then.
The Black Market had only collapsed after Empress Chi Yao had slaughtered the Evil Emperor.
After hundreds of years, the Chens, the Martial Market Bank, the Moon Worship Demonic Sect and the Yin and Yang Sect had grown steadily in influence. Finally, the land was partitioned by these five powers.
The imperial court also sent troops, stationing them in the Eastern Holy Land to drive away savage beasts, eradicate evil cities, conquer new lands, and balance the various forces.
The situation in the once chaotic Eastern Holy Land had gradually stabilized.
The outskirts of the Eastern Holy Land were originally a savage land, sparsely inhabited and roaming with savage beasts. With the birth of human civilization came more than 12,000 commanderies, Yunwu Commandery being one of them.
After several hundred years, the Eastern Region was no longer a dark land of the past. It had now become a flourishing and prosperous region where Martial Arts thrived. Although Martial Arts flourished even more in the Four States of Center Region, it was now practiced far more than during Evil Emperor’s time.
Thanks to Empress Chi Yao’s administrative and military attainments, monks in the Eastern Region regarded her as a near-deity. They were unable to tolerate anyone showing her an ounce of disrespect.
The Black Market’s seizure of the Nine-Phoenix Cauldron caused a mighty shock which might upset the balance of the entire Eastern Region, plunging it once more into darkness.
Of course, this was too important a matter for Zhang Ruochen to be involved.
He was merely a Monk of the Second Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm. His prime consideration was to safeguard his own life.
Concubine Lin lay in bed, having awakened.
After resting a day and a night, she had recovered greatly from her injury.
Concubine Lin was still very weak and her voice was feeble. Her first words were, “Chen-er, what day is it today?”
“The sixth.”
Zhang Ruochen sat beside the bed, gently holding her hand.
Concubine Lin heaved a sigh of relief. “Good thing… I haven’t missed your wedding. If I had delayed your marriage, how could I ever face your father in the underworld? And I couldn’t face your ancestors either… ”
Concubine Lin’s voice broke, and she started sobbing.
Huang Yanchen immediately approached her for consolation. “My marriage with Junior Brother Zhang isn’t an urgent matter. Your Grace must first recover and try not to think too much.”
Concubine Lin suddenly became rather flustered. She forced herself to sit up from the bed and grabbed hold of Huang Yanchen’s hand, saying nervously, “You two must get married… Must definitely get married… Tomorrow is the seventh. You two must hold your wedding ceremony. Promise me… ” And she gave two coughs.
Due to her anxiety, she had started to cough rapidly.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen could not understand Concubine Lin. In her opinion, since the Zhangs had undergone such a great ordeal and were almost wholly massacred, Zhang Ruochen must take on the grave responsibility of procreating the next generation.
For an ordinary person like Concubine Lin, Martial Arts and the Holy Road were not anything important. No matter what level of cultivation Zhang Ruochen had reached, it would not make her any happier than him bearing her a grandson.
Therefore, Zhang Ruochen must wed Huang Yanchen as soon as possible.
The Zhangs needed descendants.
Zhang Ruochen stared at Huang Yanchen, who, at first, gazed back blankly. Then, a rare bashfulness crept onto her face as she nodded at him.
Zhang Ruochen said, “Mother, I give you my word. I shall wed Senior Sister Yanchen tomorrow. I won’t delay the ceremony, even if it must be very simple.”
There was no other way. Such a colossal incident had occurred in East Region Saint City and the Chens had suffered so many casualties. If Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen were to carry on with their wedding, the ceremony must be a simple one.
…
At this moment, a troop of golden-armored, beast-riding soldiers had arrived from afar and now halted by the gate of the East Region Saint Mansions.
This detachment had only a hundred soldiers.
But each soldier was bursting with energy and full of vigor. They were indeed the best of the best.
Wan Zhaoyi, clad in green dragon armor, perched on the back of a white flood dragon. He sat on the head of the flood dragon at the vanguard of the golden armor detachment. He gave a loud command, and the white flood dragon stopped at once.
Wan Zhaoyi raised his head and gave the board of East Region Saint Mansions a glance. He chortled. “I have heard that just yesterday, the Chens’ gate was wrecked by masters from Black Market. Today, they got themselves a new board.”
“Who is it?”
Two Half-Saints dashed out from East Region Saint Mansions and stood at either side of the terrace, looking warily at Wan Zhaoyi on the head of his white flood dragon.
“Clomp, Clomp!”
Hurried footsteps sounded. Two contingents had rushed out, surrounding Wan Zhaoyi and his 100 golden-armored troops.
After the uproar caused by the Black Market, the East Region Saint Mansions guards had naturally raised their vigilance. Any minor disturbances would draw in large contingents of guards.
Wan Zhaoyi did not even deign to look directly at the two Half-Saints of the Chens. He completely ignored them.
“How impudent! Don’t you realize we are the Royal Golden Armor Troop?”
A man riding the back of a Golden Armor Beast gave a loud roar from behind Wan Zhaoyi. Instantly, a strong sound wave immediately quaked the surrounding contingents so badly that they were forced to back up.
“The Royal Golden Armor Troops?”
A unconvinced voice came from inside the gate.
Third Senior Brother Wan Ke strolled out from inside the gate of the Saint Prince’s Mansion. He swept a glance at the Golden Armor Troops and finally rested his gaze on Wan Zhaoyi.
This man could tame a flood dragon?
A proper flood dragon, not just a simple jiao. It was really a full-fledged dragon.
Wan Ke’s instincts told him that the man before him was absolutely brutal. He was not just any ordinary man.
He became guarded and asked, “How do I address you, sir?”
Wan Zhaoyi stared at Wan Ke with some interest and laughed. “You are alright, you are deserving enough to speak with me. My surname is ‘Wan’ and I am under Her Majesty’s orders to apprehend the criminal Zhang Ruochen. Lead us on!”