Chapter 670: The Ninth Realm of Sword One
Translator: Transn Editor: Transn
Zhang Ruochen wrote two letters, one to Mu Lingxi and one to the Orange Star Emissary, in which he asked them to look up the details of the Qis and Qi Feiyu.
But the two letters were different.
Zhang Ruochen asked Han Xue to hand the letter to Mu Lingxi in person, without saying anything special.
But as for the letter to Orange Star Emissary, Zhang Ruochen cautioned Han Xue to be careful.
Although the Orange Star Emissary had not made his identity public, her loyalty was still unproven. If she harbored evil thoughts against Han Xue, then Han Xue, with her current cultivation, would be no match for her.
Han Xue took the two letters and asked, “Master, there are no specific addresses on the letters. How can I find the two sisters?”
“I want you to gain more experience. Surely, you can find them on your own.”
At her departure, Zhang Ruochen gave Han Xue “Sword One” and a small gourd filled with water from the Holy Spring. He said, “Don’t slacken your efforts while you are gone. When you come back, I will check your cultivation again.”
Han Xue clenched her tender fists and said in earnest, “Master, I won’t let you down.”
As Evil Emperor City was a paradise for evil warriors, Zhang Ruochen would certainly not let her go there alone. Therefore, he sent Monster Ape and Guoguo to keep her company.
Zhang Ruochen and Blackie saw them off in person.
Blackie was still worried, and he looked at Monster Ape and Guoguo coldly. He said, “You two must take good care of little Xue. If something goes wrong with her, I will not forgive you.”
Monster Ape beat his chest and said confidently, “Lord Black, you have my word that if someone bullies Xue, I will crush his skull, unless he is a Half-Saint.”
Han Xue stood on Monster Ape’s left shoulder and waved until they disappeared over the horizon.
Monster Ape and Guoguo, one violent and one shrewd. Under their care, Han Xue was not likely to run into any trouble.
As Zhang Ruochen’s misgivings were dispelled, he turned around to go back to Zixia Sacred Mountain.
Tao of the sword Martial Arts Contests would be held for another eight days, and Zhang Ruochen could use all the practice he could get.
Sitting cross-legged under the Sacred Prime Tree, Zhang Ruochen poured Holy Spring water out of the Spatial Ring and into two Auspicious Vases.
Then, he had a drink of Holy Spring water from one of the vases, about ten drops.
Instantly, a current of freezing water flowed into his body and turned into colorful light. It integrated with his blood and genuine Qi.
“Swoosh!”
Zhang Ruochen’s body was instantly shrouded by a rainbow halo. All around him were bands of red, orange, yellow, green, blue, indigo, and violet.
After absorbing the Holy Water completely, Zhang Ruochen found his cultivation strengthened and his understanding of Tao of the sword deepened.
“No wonder everyone wants to have this treasure. Only a mouthful of it has achieved this marvelous result. Naturally, Qi Feiyu was so infuriated when her Holy Spring water had been stolen, even though her cultivation was already the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.”
Zhang Ruochen continued to drink the Holy Spring water and practice.
In a month, Zhang Ruochen drank ten gourds full of Holy Water.
He finally managed to reach the eighth realm of Sword One through his hard work and the power of the Holy Spring.
Unfortunately, Zhang Ruochen’s body was stretched to the limits by the Holy Water. Even if he continued to drink it, the effect would be inconsequential.
Zhang Ruochen did not know that other Saint’s disciples could feel its effect clearly when they drank the first gourd of holy water, and even the most talented could drink four or five. Then, they would reach their limits.
“The Holy Water from the first Holy Spring may be different than the water from the second Holy Spring.”
Then, Zhang Ruochen had another mouthful of Holy Water from the second Holy Spring. Immediately, a rainbow halo again surrounded his body and charged at the Qi sea between his eyebrows. His brain was refreshed.
It took Zhang Ruochen another month and a half to increase his cultivation to the Ninth Realm of Sword One after drinking ten gourds from the second Holy Spring.
With the help of the Holy Water, Zhang Ruochen saved a lot of time. He had been able to perceive martial mysteries much quicker.
“If I can get ten gourds from the third Holy Spring, I might be able to break through the tenth level — the Completion Realm of Sword One.” Zhang Ruochen was speaking to himself.
With his current sword realm, he was very likely to pass the first stage of Third Level Mountain.
All he needed to do was wait until the first day of next month. Then, he could collect the holy water from the third Holy Spring by clearing one hurdle after another.
Of course, he had to face up to the Tao of the sword Martial Arts Contest first.
After checking it out, Zhang Ruochen made sure that his cultivation, the peak of the Fourth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, was strengthened by the holy spring and that he was full of genuine Qi. It was mingled with his body as a whole, without the slightest resistance. way.
If time allowed, he could try his hand at opening his second holy meridian to break through to the Fifth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm right now.
But, the Martial Arts Contest would be held today, and he had to delay practicing at the moment.
When he left the Scroll World, Zhang Ruochen headed to the Supreme Pure Palace with Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji to attend the contest. Everybody from the Yin and Yang Sect was present.
Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji had refined the Black Glazed Spinel, and it had become a Treasured Body of the Water Spirit. Moreover, they had broken through to the Second Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, and they had reached the realm “Skin Refining to Gold.”
As their cultivation improved, they were so confident in themselves. They strutted along, looking superciliously at everyone.
Surely, they would not dare to be so conceited in front of Zhang Ruochen.
Xun Hualiu said, “Boss, you must be careful when you are fighting. If you can’t defeat your enemy, you must give in immediately.”
“Why?” Zhang Ruochen asked.
Xun Huali’s eyes turned cold. She snorted. “Many people inside the sect are very jealous of your luck and charm, especially Senior sister apprentice Qi’s suitors. Some of them swore that they would put you to shame in the Coliseum. I even heard that some are plotting to kill you.”
Zhang Ruochen said, “Half-Saint Patriarchs will be around watching during the contest. If somebody tries to kill on purpose, how could the Half-Saint Patriarchs turn a blind eye?”
Mu Jiji sighed. “Although the martial arts contest participants should not harm each other, sometimes a disciple will kill his rival by mistake. Moreover, the higher your cultivation, the greater the chances of accidents.”
“I see.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded his head. Though he feared nothing, he made a mental note of their words.
It’s always better to be more prepared than less.
After they arrived at the Supreme Pure Palace, they three headed to different venues.
Of course, Zhang Ruochen made his way to the contest coliseum, where Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm had gathered.
Contest coliseums for Monks at different levels were set in different places with defenses of different levels. There were four contest coliseums for Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, all located on Zhiyu Sacred Mountain in the Supreme Pure Palace.
The four contest coliseums were rather immense, with huge columns of blood-red spiritual stone. They were about 30 meters high and 100 meters square, like four stone mountains.
The area larger for Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm was larger so they could exert more powerful sword and martial techniques.
Also, top defensive arrays, tough enough to bear a full blow from a Half-Saint, were deployed on the four sides of the platform.
Therefore, no matter how fierce the confrontation was between monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, the repercussion of the battles would not affect other innocent people.
368 Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm had signed up for the contest, including Saint’s disciples and a lot of Cyan-Robed Elders as well.
The most significant difference between Cyan-Robed Elders and Saint’s disciples was that the former had broken through the Fish-Dragon Realm when they had been on the wrong side of 60.
In theory, the limited talents of Cyan-Robed Elders should hardly allow them to cultivate themselves above the Seventh Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.
However, the Cyan-Robed Elders who could achieve the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm were fairly impressive. They were even superior to Saint’s disciples in some aspects. It was just that, for whatever reason, they had been unable to break through to the Fish-Dragon Realm before they were 60 years old.
The spectacle of Monks with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm fighting with each other was rarely seen. Inner disciples that could not participate in the contest would certainly miss out.
When Zhang Ruochen came to the contest coliseum, many inner disciples had already gathered at the Zhiyu Scared Mountain. The place was packed with a sea of people making a boisterous hubbub.
Each time a participant showed up, there would be a commotion.
“It’s Elder Dao Xuanqi. It’s said that he is already 150 years old. He has been the number 1 Cyan-Robed Elder of the Law Enforcement Court. I never expected him to participate in the martial arts contest. With his cultivation, it will not be difficult for him to enter the top ten.”
“Junior Uncle Master Xu Changsheng comes, too. Judging from his cultivation, he will be a popular frontrunner for the top three.”
“Look! Qi Feiyu appears on the stage. So young as she is, she has already scaled to the peak of the Second Level Mountain of Ancient Gods Mountain. She definitely has the potential to become a sword saint.”
Each Monk with a cultivation of the Eighth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm was a big shot in the Yin and Yang Sect. It was usually difficult to see them in person, as they were all elusive most of the time.
Only on a special day like today would they all make an appearance.
Some of them were elders who had rose to fame a hundred years ago, while some were young heroes who were celebrated far and wide.
Of course, the appearance of Zhang Ruochen caused a big commotion too. Though nobody expected much from him, he was still a big shot because of his outstanding talents in the Tao of the Sword.