Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
Wan Zhaoyi's eyes seemed to have been made of gold. He scanned the surroundings, looking for traces of Zhang Ruochen.
If anyone was close enough to study him, they would find that his pupils were two golden divine lions. This was the “Hidden Lion Golden Eye.” According to legends, only Supreme Saints of the Lion Clan could have these eyes. They would be able to see through all disguises.
Seeing Wan Zhaoyi use these eyes, even Zhang Ruochen became serious. He was a bit worried if Blackie's Xuanwu Sky-concealing Formation could hide from Wan Zhaoyi's investigation.
However, Blackie was very confident. “It's the rarely-seen Hidden Lion Golden Eye. This Wan Zhaoyi is quite interesting. He has the resources of a Supreme Saint. The Xuanwu Sky-concealing Formation by itself might really be exposed to him.”
“However, the geography here is unique. My formation has already become one with the land. Even the Hidden Lion Golden Eye won't be able to see through it.”
A ma.s.s of blue words flew over from the sky. They formed a long bridge that crossed thousands of miles, hanging in the air. A beautiful girl with white skin and red lips was on the bridge. She stood proudly like a G.o.ddess. Her beauty was worth that of cities. Even more shocking was that her elegance was comparable to the talented ladies of n.o.ble clans.
“The words have constructed a bridge and the Qi connects to the clouds. Has some Saint of Spiritual Power from the Confucius Way arrived?”
Li Min widened her eyes, staring at the white-clothed woman in shock. It had always been her dream to enter the four sects of the Confucius Way to cultivate. If she could become a Half-Saint of Spiritual Power, it would be even better.
Zhang Ruochen glanced up and said nonchalantly, “That's the Saint Lady, Nalan Danqing.”
He hadn't expected to see the Saint Lady so soon either.
“She…she's the Saint Lady…oh my G.o.d…” Li Min was so excited that her legs trembled. She went limp as if she'd pa.s.s out and collapsed onto Zhang Ruochen.
“What's wrong?” Zhang Ruochen reached over and helped her up.
“The Saint Lady is indeed as beautiful as a G.o.ddess…ah…Zhang Ruochen, if I die…I really saw the Saint Lady…”
Li Min was practically going nuts. She grabbed Zhang Ruochen's arm and actually bit down. If Zhang Ruochen wasn't holding her, she probably would have dropped to the ground in reverence.
It was understandable. Any student of the Confucius Way would probably want to kowtow to a beautiful Saint of the Confucius Way.
But was the Saint Lady really that mesmerizing? Zhang Ruochen couldn't understand Li Min's feelings. He just shook his head and continued focusing on the two flying in the air.
Saint Lady stared at Wan Zhaoyi. “Where's the Taotian Sword?” she asked.
Wan Zhaoyi put away his Hidden Lion Golden Eyes and composed himself. “When I got here, the Taotian Sword disappeared. Zhang Ruochen must be hiding nearby. It seems that we can only force him out with the Tianming Summoning Rune.”
“Wait. It's best not to use the Tianming Summoning Rune so carelessly. You may disrupt the Rules of Saintly Way nearby. It is only a few hundred miles from the Ziyong Pa.s.s. If you use the rune, the Military Base would have to move. It's too much.”
With that, the Saint Lady activated her Heavenly Eyes and looked around.
She turned it off a while later. “Neither your Hidden Lion Golden Eyes nor my Heavenly Eyes can find Zhang Ruochen. He must have escaped. Zhang Ruochen can probably use a wormhole or another spatial technique to put the Taotian Sword away. The power of s.p.a.ce is unpredictable.”
Wan Zhaoyi also suspected that Zhang Ruochen had escaped. After all, the Hidden Lion Golden Eyes could even see through the Invisibility Formation. How could a mere Half-Saint hide from his eyes?
“It's fine,” Wan Zhaoyi said. “Since Zhang Ruochen dared to come to the Central County, there'll be more chances to deal with him in the future. Let us return to Ziyong Pa.s.s in case anything else happens.”
Whoos.h.!.+
Golden light streaked past. Wan Zhaoyi left first. Only the Saint Lady remained in the sky. She looked down with her starry eyes and then waved her fan. She swept backwards with the bridge of words.
After the two left, Zhang Ruochen finally asked, “What's the Tianming Summoning Rune?”
Li Min patted her chest and exhaled deeply. “Thankfully the Saint Lady stopped Wan Zhaoyi from using the rune. Otherwise, we would die here.”
“The Tianming Summoning Rune is the inheritance summoning left behind by Emperor Tianming. It contains all the Emperor Qi from his life. Anyone who receives the rune can command the world and all the Emperor Qi, change the Rules of Saintly Way, and become the new emperor of the Tianming Central Empire.”
“Of course, after Emperor Tianming died, the Tianming Central Empire fell more than 70,000 years ago, becoming ancient history. Now, the Empress rules the world and is undefeatable. Even if Wan Zhaoyi really has the summoning rune, it's only a powerful weapon. It can't create an empire by itself.”
Zhang Ruochen had naturally heard of Emperor Tianming's legend. Apparently, after the middle ages, all of Kunlun's Field was in chaos. It was Emperor Tianming who'd established the first Central Empire in the Southern Region.
The Tianming Central Empire had flourished for a time. Unfortunately, after Emperor Tianming died, he had no strong heirs and the empire disintegrated. The Southern Region once again fell into chaos.
It wasn't until 30 years ago that Emperor Tianming's tomb had flown out of the deep underground. After battles with various parties, Wan Zhaoyi came out on top and took the inheritance of Emperor Tianming.
The Tianming Summoning Rune was the most precious treasure from the tomb.
“Wan Zhaoyi must be very lucky and fated to become the top figure of Kunlun's Field in the past century,” Zhang Ruochen said.
He also warned himself inwardly to be more careful. Even those ancient figures would probably choose to avoid someone like Wan Zhaoyi.
Wan Zhaoyi and the Saint Lady had left, but Zhang Ruochen knew that their cultivations were very strong. Their senses and Spiritual Power must still be over this area. Thus, he waited until midnight of the next day. Then he put on the Shooting Star Invisibility Cloak over him and Li Min and left the area.
On the morning of the third day, Zhang Ruochen and Li Min appeared in a village 3,000 miles away from Ziyong Pa.s.s. They sat in a small stand and ate a light meal. Zhang Ruochen obviously didn't have to eat anymore because of his cultivation, but it was different for Li Min. She was a genius in Spiritual Power, but she was still a mortal.
The town was small, but it had everything necessary. Its roads stretched in all directions. Merchant caravans and martial artists came to and fro.
News of Zhang Ruochen splitting Ziyong Pa.s.s with his sword had spread throughout the entire Central County quickly. Even the lowliest commoners discussed this news.
“Zhang Ruochen hasn't stopped since he's come to Yuan Mansion. First, he killed four Half-Saints of the Ministry of War. Now, he even broke into the Military Base and split Ziyong Pa.s.s into two halves.”
The Ministry of War is completely humiliated. Apparently, Wan Zhaoyi has announced that he'll capture Zhang Ruochen within three months.”
“Ever since Wan Zhaoyi has become famous, none of his opponents could live past three months. This time won't be an exception either.”
One could hear all sorts of news by sitting on the roadside. Of course, some rumors were too exaggerated. Some people even said that Zhang Ruochen and Wan Zhaoyi had fought for one day and night, sending the entire Ziyong Pa.s.s into the ground.
When Zhang Ruochen heard this, he just smiled. It was evident how unreliable the so-called legends were.
“You've made it hard for me to find you two.”
An ancient figure came out of nowhere. He walked into the stand and unabashedly sat across from Zhang Ruochen.
Seeing the old man, Li Min paled with fear. She immediately stood up and bowed, trembling. “Greetings, Grand Elder.”
This was Half-Saint Li Ku, the grand elder of the Li Family.
“You really know how to make trouble. I'll deal with you later.” Half-Saint Li Ku stared at Li Min and huffed. Then he looked to Zhang Ruochen and put his hands together in greeting. “Lord Zhang, the clan leader wishes to see you.”
Zhang Ruochen seemed to have expected this, so he wasn't shocked at all. He just nodded lightly. “Sir, please lead the way.”
The Guardians of the Prison were indeed in every corner of the Yuan Mansion. Zhang Ruochen and Li Min had just arrived last night, but Half-Saint Li Ku already found them in the morning.
It was obvious that people had their eyes on them when they entered the town.
Soon after Zhang Ruochen, Half-Saint Li Ku, and Li Min left, the strong cultivators of the Ministry of War also rushed over. Of course, they were too late.
