Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Princess White Li stayed beside Zhang Ruochen to try and steal back her memory pearl. This went without saying.
If her cultivation level was far above Zhang Ruochen, she would definitely try to forcefully steal the memory pearl, instead of begging like now. No matter what, keeping Princess White Li nearby was like carrying a ticking bomb. There were too many uncertainties.
Blackie rushed over to stop Zhang Ruochen. "Give her to me. I'll watch over her."
The two Sikongs put their hands together and said, "Amitabha! Senior Uncle, please forgive White Li this one time. I believe she isn't an evil demon. She really didn't use all her might and must have really been testing what level she'd reached in the Pre-Saint Realm."
Princess White Li was annoyed, feeling that Zhang Ruochen was being unreasonable. "You're so inhumane. No woman will like a man like you."
Zhang Ruochen stared deeply at her and put away the Abyss Ancient Sword. "You better be obedient," he said coldly. "Otherwise, my sword won't hold back."
With that, he turned to leave.
It wasn't that Zhang Ruochen was being overly-sensitive. It was mainly because Princess White Li was too strong. Now that she'd entered the First Trial Pre-Saint Realm, she'd joined the ranks of the true top figures. It wouldn't be easy for Zhang Ruochen to defeat her.
If she started killing in the scroll world, the Sacred Sect would suffer great losses. This was why Zhang Ruochen had to be careful and couldn't have any missteps.
In the end, Zhang Ruochen still didn't see Princess White Li as a part of them.
"Such a cold-blooded animal." Princess White Li stuck her tongue out, making a face at Zhang Ruochen's back.
Huang Yanchen finished cultivating and walked down the mountain. "He actually isn't cold-blooded and he's quite easy to get close to. Treat him well and he'll treat you multiple times better."
"Really?" Princess White Li doubted Huang Yanchen's words. She felt from the start that Zhang Ruochen was hard to get along with. He was very strange.
Huang Yanchen nodded and followed after Zhang Ruochen.
Her cultivation had now reached the pinnacle of the Ninth Level. It was hard to improve even if she continued absorbing the Pill Spirit. For now, she needed more acc.u.mulation and fortification.
Catching up to Zhang Ruochen, she said, "Princess White Li has a high status in the Nine Li Cat Clan. She's now reached the pinnacle too. If you can lead her into the Sacred Sect, it'll definitely strengthen our sect. Having a good relations.h.i.+p with the Nine Li Cat Clan is also completely beneficial to you."
"I understand, but she's only this innocent because she lost her memory. What about after she recovers?"
"As long as she feels like she belongs in the Sacred Sect now, the feeling will remain even after she recovers her memories."
"Perhaps you're right," Zhang Ruochen said.
There were at least two days before the pill was mature. Zhang Ruochen and Huang Yanchen went to the city where the Sacred Sect disciples were gathered to give lessons.
The six high-level Half-Saints of the Murong Clan and Blackie would often help answer questions from the Sacred Sect disciples. Zhang Ruochen, the sect leader, very rarely appeared.
All the disciples hurried over to listen to his lecture. Nowadays, Zhang Ruochen was like a G.o.d to them. Everyone revered him.
Two days later, the six Murong Clan Half-Saints returned to the scroll world and reported to Zhang Ruochen what had happened in the Blue Dragon Void World.
"The Vampire spy among the beasts spread a rumor about you and Princess White Li," Murong Chengfeng said. "This angered the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon, making it target you once again. Crown Prince Qingtian and the Qingtian Tribe were able to escape. We heard that they've already left the Ingmar Desert, entering the territory of the Blue Dragon Dynasty."
Zhang Ruochen smiled. "The Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon isn't stupid. It won't risk its life against the Qingtian Tribe. It doesn't matter if it can destroy them or not. Even if it can, it can't offend the entire Immortal Vampire tribe."
"The Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon has already become the mortal enemy of the humans. If it becomes a great enemy of the Immortal Vampires too, it won't have a good end no matter how strong it is. I'm just an excuse. In my opinion, it would rather have the humans go after the Qingtian Tribe so it can just reap the benefits."
Murong Chengfeng nodded. "Your Majesty, you are correct. I believe so as well."
Zhang Ruochen suddenly thought of something, so he asked, "What exactly is the rumor?"
Murong Chengfeng's expression turned strange. Glancing at Huang Yanchen who was standing nearby, he told Zhang Ruochen the popular rumor telepathically.
After hearing this, Zhang Ruochen froze and finally laughed. "People really…believe this kind of rumor?"
Huang Yanchen's pretty eyes scanned him and Murong Chengfeng, but she didn't ask anything. She just stood there quietly.
"This will harm your reputation," Murong Chengfeng said. "Will you step out to explain?"
"Whatever. The more I explain about these things, the more people will believe them. Those who are innocent will always be innocent. Just let it go!" Zhang Ruochen was very calm. He didn't care what others thought of him. He would just be himself.
"From what I know, the Blue Dragon Void World hasn't been at peace these days," Murong Chengfeng continued. "There has been a string of large battles. Some unknown figures rose up in the battle, reaching the top ranks."
Only those who could kill a Beast King and didn't fear their desperate last attempts could be in the top rank. There were less than ten humans who could do this. Each one would cause a commotion if they appeared anywhere.
A top rank figure was synonymous with being undefeatable in the Blue Dragon Void World. They could cause great damage and kill a group of Half-Saints alone. It was also practically impossible to kill a top rank figure too. There was only a chance if three or four other top rank figures worked together.
They were very rare. How could three or four be gathered?
"It's because a few legendary items were produced," Murong Chengfeng continued to say. "That's why more top rank figures were created. It's said that a Grade Six beast in the eastern sea region of the Blue Dragon Void World dug out a giant dead clam. There was a five-colored pearl that was 100,000 years old. After swallowing the pearl, the Grade Six beast instantly became a top rank figure. It fought with the prince of the Kun Clan, sixth on the Half-Saint Rank, for two days and one night, without losing."
"A swordsman from the Moon Wors.h.i.+p Demonic Clan that had some fame recently charged into the Huangtian Tribe's camp, one of the ten Immortal Vampire tribes, and killed hundreds of Vampires. The Huangtian Tribe's empress had to come out personally to force him away."
"In addition, many unknown figures from the natives of the Blue Dragon Void World, Immortal Vampires, dead spirits, and mutant creatures all made their names known through a shocking battle. They became the newest top rank figures."
Zhang Ruochen nodded and sighed. "It seems that many nice things have been produced in the void world. We can't keep staying inside the scroll world. We must go out and look for opportunities."
"There's something else," Murong Chengfeng said. "A while ago, the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon underwent its first Pre-Saint Trial. The trial cloud covered more than 50 miles in radius and the destructive ability was so shocking. Almost half of the desert melted into a sea of lava. I felt my saint soul quaking even though I was thousands of miles away."
Zhang Ruochen's temple pulsed. "It had only reached the pinnacle of the Ninth Level a while ago and hadn't gone through much acc.u.mulation and settling down. Isn't it afraid of getting struck to death by going through the first trial so impatiently?"
Huang Yanchen was confused too. She'd just reached the pinnacle and she hadn't dared to try for the Pre-Saint Realm. She was worried that she hadn't acc.u.mulated enough and would run into problems during the trial.
"I heard that the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon was indeed injured during the trial," Murong Chengfeng said. "It almost died. Later, I continued investigating and finally learned the reason."
"What is it?" Zhang Ruochen said.
"It didn't attract the Pre-Saint Trial voluntarily. Instead, it faced a very strong enemy and was hurt by it. It was forced to take the risk and try for the Pre-Saint Realm."
"There's a creature here that can hurt the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon?"
Zhang Ruochen didn't really believe this. He thought it might be a rumor. After all, the dragon was third on the Half-Saint Rank. Even Monk Lidi, who was higher up, would find it hard to defeat it.
Could there really be a creature that could force the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon to risk its life and go through a Pre-Saint Trial to save itself?
Unless…Monk Lidi and Xue Wuye worked together or the Crown Princes and Empresses of the Immortal Vampire allied, then it would be possible.
Murong Chengfeng had only heard some gossip, so he didn't know the truth. He wouldn't know who the Sky-Swallowing Demonic Dragon was hurt by either.
Of course, no matter the reason, the fact that the dragon had pa.s.sed the first Pre-Saint Trial was horrible news. It had already been the strongest creature in the Blue Dragon Void World without going through the first trial. How terrifying must it be now?
Whoosh—
Pill Spirit spewed out from the Flame Mountain. The seven-colored light shot into the air, spreading for thousands of miles.
Pill fragrance spread out, making all the creatures throughout the land breathe greedily.
"The furnace is about to produce the pill."
Zhang Ruochen was happy. Along with Huang Yanchen and the six Half-Saints of the Murong Clan, they flew toward the seven-colored rays as eight streaks of light.
