Chapter 694: Cultivation Improved

“What happened? Why are you so excited?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

Xun Hualiu had at least six sword scars on his body, and even his defensive robe was in tatters and dotted with many blood stains. Obviously, he had just been in a big fight.

In spite of that, his face glowed with excitement and his body trembled with joy. “Boss, do you still remember the bet with Gai Hao?”

Zhang Ruochen nodded and said, “Of course, I remember. What about it? Have you fought with Pang Long already?”

Zhang Ruochen once made a bet with Gai Hao: if Pang Long beat Xun Hualiu in the sword contest, Zhang Ruochen would have to give Gai Hao a holy sword.

If Xun Hualiu won the battle, however, Gai Hao would have to do something for Zhang Ruochen.

Judging from Xun Hualilu’s excitement, it was quite obvious that he had defeated Pang Long.

Xun Hualiu chuckled. “Boss, you really should have been there. The moment Pang Long was defeated, there was quite a stir in the audience. The disciples of the Supreme Pure Palace were dumbfounded. They could not believe that their Elder Brother Pang Long suffered defeat at my hands. At that moment, many junior sister apprentices shouted my name in admiration. Oh! The feeling is so cool!

“From now on, I will learn hard from Lord Blackie and become a top master. Only top masters are held in high esteem by others.”

Zhang Ruochen patted his shoulder and said, “It’s good that you have such awareness.”

When Zhang Ruochen made that bet with Gai Hao, he had been interested in Gai Hao’s Yang Spirit Saintly Being.

Having since met Gai Tianjiao, Zhang Ruochen realized that there was a huge difference between Yang Spirit Saintly Being and the Extreme Yang Body.

Anyway, since he had won the bet, it was still a good thing to have Gai Hao owe him a favor. Perhaps it would come in handy in the future.

“Boss, I plan to throw a party with my elder brothers in the Demon Seal Yard and have fun. You must come.”

Defeating Pang Long used to be something beyond Xun Hualiu’s reach, so he was now beside himself with excitement.

Zhang Ruochen said, “Forget about it for now. I have something to ask you. Did you know that Sword Saint Xuanji issued a letter of challenge to Nine Serenity Sword Saint?”

Xun Hualiu couldn’t help feeling a sense of superiority when he realized that Lin Yue was ill-informed. He said, “Of course, I know. I am sure everyone in the entire Eastern Region knows about this issue. The life and death battle between two great Sword Saints must have caught the world’s attention.”

Mu Jiji who stood on the side sighed. “It is said that Sword Saint Xuanji issued this challenge in order to avenge his disciple’s murder.”

Zhang Ruochen spoke to himself, “Avenge his disciple’s murder?”

At this moment, Zhang Ruochen suddenly understood.

Sword Saint Xuanji issued the letter of challenge in order to make a big deal about Zhang Ruochen’s murder. That way, Zhang Ruochen, who was hiding in the dark, would be safer.

If Sword Saint Xuanji had no reaction to his disciple’s murder, people would be suspicious about whether Zhang Ruochen had really died.

To Zhang Ruochen’s surprise, Nine Serenity Sword Saint actually accepted the challenge.

Obviously, Nine Serenity Sword Saint had not killed Zhang Ruochen, so why would he accept the challenge? Moreover, he never spoke up for himself as if indirectly admitting that he had killed the disciple.

Zhang Ruochen was both grateful and anxious.

Nine Serenity Sword Saint was one of the three great sword saints in the Eastern Region. He was no ordinary person. If his Master had a mishap, Zhang Ruochen would live with guilt for the rest of his life.

“The disciple of Sword Saint Xuanji was a really rare genius. He was not only highly gifted in sword technique but also a master of the power of time and space. If I were Sword Saint Xuanji, I would also fly into a rage upon learning of the murder of such an outstanding disciple.”

“Nine Serenity Sword Saint actually deigned to kill a young warrior? That’s not how a sword saint should behave at all.” Xun Hualiu sneered.

So as not to expose his true identity, Zhang Ruochen put on an act and swore at Nine Serenity Sword Saint too. Then he went with Xun Hualiu and Mu Jiji to the Demon Seal Yard.

Xun Hualiu’s party was attended mostly by indoor disciples. Some Saint’s disciples also came to extend their congratulations.

After three rounds of drinking and toasting, Zhang Ruochen left and went back to Zixia Sacred Mountain.

“Master is literally covering for me. I need to double my efforts so that I won’t let him down.

“He has long hoped that I would practice Sword Two to the Completion while in the Fish-Dragon Realm. I must make it before the Sword Technique Conference.”

Zhang Ruochen clenched his fists as his face hardened with determination.

Three months passed.

Zhang Ruochen had refined three drops of Xuanwu Sacred Blood again and finally improved his cultivation to the peak of the Fifth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.

His body brimmed with genuine Qi and his Qi sea was like a swelled-up balloon. He had to break through realms before he could continue to absorb more genuine Qi into his body.

He had to spend time condensing the genuine Qi inside his body to build the realm on a more solid foundation and then break through the Sixth Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm.

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It took him at least half a year.

Half a year in the Scroll World was equal to about 20 days in the external world.

During this time, Zhang Ruochen began to perceive the sophistication of Sword Two by studying the notes recorded by Moon-burier Sword Saint, Sword Emperor, and Thousand-bone Empress.

The first step was to read between the lines in the Sword Two notes.

He had to have a general idea what Sword Two was.

It was easier said than done.

Relatively speaking, the Sword Two notes recorded by Moon-burier Sword Saint were easier to understand, and it just took Zhang Ruochen three days to make sense of it.

His interpretation of Sword Two was quite orthodox, and every sentence contained great truths and was enlightening.

After Zhang Ruochen was finished with one set of sword notes, he felt that his understanding of the Tao of the sword had deepened again.

Only in the Sword Pavilion could he have easy access to such precious masterpieces.

In the external world, the notes of Moon-burier Sword Saint would be sold out even if it was priced unreasonably.

Zhang Ruochen then began to read the notes compiled by the Sword Emperor. It was more abstruse.

However, with his current sword realm, the Advanced Stage of “Heart Integrated Into Sword”, it took Zhang Ruochen only seven days to get a general idea of it.

“The Sword Emperor really deserved his reputation as the pioneer of the Tao of the sword for thousands of years. He had insights so unique that you can’t help but be in awe of him.”

After Zhang Ruochen was done with these notes, he felt his understanding of the Tao of the sword deepen even more.

If Zhang Ruochen were to practice cultivation according to the notes of the Sword Emperor, it would really make his speed quicker, but the thing was, Zhang Ruochen first had to find five women who would be his swordsman maidservants.

Therefore, Zhang Ruochen could only take it as a reference and learn its essence.

Finally, Zhang Ruochen also studied the notes left by the Thousand-bone Empress.

Perhaps because the Thousand-bone Empress had lived in an era so far removed from the present, each sentence seemed rather mysterious. In half a month Zhang Ruochen only made sense of a third of it.

That day, Blackie called from the external world. “Gai Tianjiao wants to see you. If you don’t come out, I am afraid nothing can stop her.”

“Gai Tianjiao.”

Zhang Ruochen dared not ignore her, so he immediately left the Scroll World.

In the courtyard, Blackie intercepted Gai Tianjiao at the door as she tried to break in.

Zhang Ruochen pushed the door open and went out. He glanced at Gai Tianjiao and gave her a salute with hands folded. “Greetings, Senior Sister Apprentice.”

Gai Tianjiao smiled approvingly at Blackie who was on the ground. “Lin Yue, the savage beast you keep is superior in wisdom and power. How about you give it to me?”

There were some remains of charred wood and traces of thunderbolts. Apparently, a fight had broken out just now.

Zhang Ruochen held Blackie in his arms and patted his head, smiling. “It’s just a savage beast. He doesn’t know how strong you are and dared to engage you. I would like to thank you for not hurting him.”

Realizing that Lin Yue had no intention to give her the cat, Gai Tianjiaio said nothing more about it. “Do you remember the agreement between you and Moon-burier Sword Saint? You have to spend nine days in the Sword Pavilion each month. This month is about to end and you have not been there for even a single day.”

Zhang Ruochen scratched his head and appeared to be surprised. “I have been busy practicing in confinement. I forgot about it. Come, let’s go to the Sword Pavilion now.”

With just a glance, Gai Tianjiao saw that his cultivation had improved a lot.

“Within less than a month, his cultivation improved by leaps and bounds. This guy must be keeping a lot of secrets from us.” Gai Tianjiao thought inwardly.

On the way to the Sword Pavilion, Gai Tianjiao quietly spoke to Zhang Ruochen via sound transmission. “Qi Feiyu took first place in the contest.”

Zhang Ruochen raised his eyebrows and quickly understood, “Is her power really so strong?”

There were top masters like Qin Yufan, Can Dong, and Zhao Wuyan among the Monks with a cultivation of the Eight Change in the Fish-Dragon Realm, and they were not to be trifled with. Even Zhang Ruochen was not sure he could rout them all.

Based on Qi Feiyu’s previous displays of strength, she was not likely to win first place.

“I went to watch her fights with Qin Yufan and Can Dong respectively. It appears that she has already cultivated to the tenth realm of Sword One—the Completion.”

Zhang Ruochen felt something was wrong and said, “I think she has concealed her actual power.”

“I think so too.”

Gai Tianjiao looked at Zhang Ruochen and said, “I can’t figure out why she chose to reveal her actual power now. Does she want to attend the Sword Technique Conference on behalf of the Yin and Yang Sect? What’s in it for her?”