"Master Zhang, are you only buying this broken sword?" Zhang Ruyi's eyes narrowed slightly, his heart pounding as he forcibly averted his gaze from the wall-mounted sword. After regaining his composure, he pointed to a sapphire blue war sword and inquired, "Madam, what rank is this sword among the True Martial Sacred Weapons?"
Qin Ya's eyes revealed a hint of disappointment as she replied, "It's a fourth-rank True Martial Sacred Weapon called the Flash Soul Sword. It bears fourteen inscriptions: four 'Force Inscriptions,' four 'Ice Inscriptions,' four 'Thunder Inscriptions,' and two 'Light Inscriptions.' In total, it possesses three distinct attributes: ice, thunder, and light."
Normally, a first-rank True Martial Sacred Weapon only contains a single inscription. It takes ten or more inscriptions to qualify as a fourth-rank True Martial Sacred Weapon. With each additional inscription, the power of the weapon increases to varying degrees. Furthermore, depending on the attributes of the inscriptions, the True Martial Sacred Weapon will exhibit different properties suitable for different martial practitioners.
"Price?" Zhang Ruyi inquired.
"Thirty thousand silver coins," Qin Ya responded.
"Good, I'll take it!" Zhang Ruyi picked up the Flash Soul Sword and the Abyssal Ancient Sword and briskly headed towards the armory's exit, as if fleeing. Being alone with the seductive proprietress was too perilous for him to handle.
After retrieving the Abyssal Ancient Sword, purchasing another True Martial Sacred Weapon of this caliber would be completely sufficient for his current stage.
"You might be quick to escape, but can you truly escape my sister's grasp? There will be opportunities to play in the future," Qin Ya revealed a hint of alluring smile, her interest in Zhang Ruyi deepening.
...
As Zhang Ruyi and Qin Ya entered the armory, an older shopkeeper from Qingxuan Pavilion led a man and a woman to the outside of the armory. The man and the woman's identities seemed quite noble; even the older shopkeeper slightly bowed and wore a flattering smile in their presence.
The young man was none other than Zhang Ruyi's elder brother, the Eighth Prince of Yunwu County, Zhang Ji. Accompanying him was one of the four young beauties in Yunwu County, the beloved daughter of the Patriarch of the Red Cloud Sect, Shan Xiangling.
Shan Xiangling exuded extraordinary elegance, akin to a fresh and charming lily. At the age of sixteen or seventeen, with bright and captivating eyes and a graceful figure, she would undoubtedly stand out wherever she went.
The Eighth Prince smiled, "Mother instructed me to take good care of my junior sister on her first visit to the royal capital. Qingxuan Pavilion is one of the largest stores in the martial market. If my junior sister takes a liking to any weapon, she must inform me."
The Eighth Prince's mother, Xiao Fei, was once a disciple of the Red Cloud Sect and the younger sister of the sect's Patriarch, explaining why he addressed Shan Xiangling as his junior sister.
Shan Xiangling smiled gently, "Thank you, Your Highness. My primary purpose for visiting the royal capital this time is to meet the geniuses here, especially the First Arrogant of Yunwu County, the Seventh Prince. I have heard his name many times and greatly admire him. Many female disciples of the Red Cloud Sect hold him in high esteem, but unfortunately, it's very difficult to even catch a glimpse of him."
"If the Seventh Brother is in the royal capital, I could help you fulfill your wish. Unfortunately, my junior sister's timing isn't ideal; the Seventh Brother isn't in the royal capital," the Eighth Prince lamented.
Shan Xiangling's eyes revealed a hint of disappointment, "I recall that the royal family's end-of-year assessment ranks just below the grand sacrificial ceremony. Does it mean that the Seventh Prince won't return?"
"At the age of ten, the Seventh Brother ranked first in the end-of-year assessment. Do you think there's any value for him to participate in the assessment again? Nevertheless, it's a grand event only open to royal family members and young disciples under twenty years old from various noble families. The Seventh Brother might still return. If my junior sister wishes to witness this grand event, I will surely secure an entry pass for you," the Eighth Prince assured.
If you stumble upon this narrative on Amazon, it's taken without the author's consent. Report it.
"Thank you once again, Your Highness," Shan Xiangling smiled.
As the Eighth Prince and Shan Xiangling conversed, the elderly shopkeeper approached a simpleton and inquired, "Simpleton, who went into the armory? Why is the armory's gate closed?"
The simpleton looked strange and replied in a low voice, "It's the proprietress and a young gentleman."
Upon hearing this, the elderly shopkeeper was slightly surprised and even gasped, muttering to himself, "The proprietress actually... Hopefully, no lives will be lost!"
Naturally, the Eighth Prince and Shan Xiangling also overheard the conversation between the elderly shopkeeper and the simpleton. Shan Xiangling was puzzled and asked, "Could it be that Qingxuan Pavilion is involved in robbery and murder?"
The Eighth Prince shook his head, "No! It's just that there are many rumors about the proprietress. It is said that she is extremely beautiful, and any man who sees her will surely fall at her feet. There are also rumors that she is ruthless and has caused the deaths of many men. Furthermore, she is said to be quite promiscuous, keeping many men and enjoying mistreating them, causing some to lose their hands and eyes. Of course, these are just rumors, and I have never met the proprietress, so I don't know what kind of woman she truly is."
After the Eighth Prince's explanation, Shan Xiangling's impression of the proprietress diminished. Entering the armory alone with a man and closing the gates suggested unsavory activities. The proprietress certainly didn't seem like a virtuous woman, and the man she brought into the armory was revolting.
The armory's door swung open, and Zhang Ruyi stepped out with two swords in his arms. Upon seeing the Eighth Prince standing in the distance, a hint of surprise appeared on his face. The Eighth Prince gazed at Zhang Ruyi with a cold and stern expression, "Ninth Brother, why are you also at Qingxuan Pavilion? This isn't the place for you to be!"
Upon hearing the Eighth Prince's address, the simpleton and the elderly shopkeeper were slightly astonished. This young master Zhang indeed had an extraordinary background, being the son of the Yunwu County King.
At the same time, they breathed a sigh of relief, thankful that nothing had happened to the Ninth Prince at Qingxuan Pavilion. If anything had befallen the Ninth Prince, Qingxuan Pavilion would be in great trouble.
Shan Xiangling had also heard some rumors about the Ninth Prince, considering him the only waste among the nine princes who couldn't activate the Divine Martial Mark. Unaware that Zhang Ruyi had activated the Divine Martial Mark half a month ago, she couldn't comprehend why such a waste prince would emerge from the armory.
Could it be...
Recalling the Eighth Prince's words earlier, Shan Xiangling's gaze turned disdainful as she looked at Zhang Ruyi, suspecting him with contempt.
Zhang Ruyi frowned slightly, appearing displeased. "Since you can come to Qingxuan Pavilion, why can't I?"
The Eighth Prince sneered, "I came to Qingxuan Pavilion to purchase weapons. What are you doing here? Can you afford True Martial Sacred Weapons? Where did the two swords in your hands come from?"
Feeling increasingly perplexed, Zhang Ruyi retorted, "You're interfering too much! Even if my swords were picked up, it shouldn't concern you."
"Stop right there!" The Eighth Prince's voice turned stern. "With your poor martial talent, you should behave yourself in the palace and refrain from doing disgraceful things outside. Otherwise, I will break your legs on behalf of the king."
Zhang Ruyi found the Eighth Prince's words increasingly incomprehensible and replied bluntly, "Do you have the capability?"
Upon hearing this, the Eighth Prince was momentarily stunned, then burst into laughter, clasping his hands and moving his ten fingers, "Ninth Brother! Today, I will show you what capability means!"
Zhang Ruyi stood tall and calm, focusing his true qi flow through his six meridians with five fingers pinched together. If a battle was to ensue, so be it.
"Hehe! Your Highness, what are you planning to do? This is Qingxuan Pavilion, not the palace. If anyone dares to lay a hand on the Ninth Prince at Qingxuan Pavilion, I will have to intervene!" Qin Ya emerged from the armory, wearing a coquettish smile on her cheeks.
Upon seeing Qin Ya, the Eighth Prince displayed a look of astonishment, his heart fluttering slightly. Were it not for Shan Xiangling standing beside him, keeping him on high alert and preventing any misconduct, he wouldn't have been able to remain as composed upon encountering such a mesmerizing enchantress.
The Eighth Prince averted his gaze and coldly fixed his eyes on Zhang Ruyi, saying, "Humph! You have disgraced the royal family!"
In the eyes of the Eighth Prince, Zhang Ruyi couldn't possibly afford True Martial Sacred Weapons. Acquiring those two swords must have involved him becoming the mistress of Qingxuan Pavilion's proprietress. He used his body to serve her in exchange for resources to cultivate martial arts.
In truth, Shan Xiangling's thoughts were similar to the Eighth Prince's.
"Alas! Both are sons of the Yunwu County King. Why has the Seventh Prince become an unparalleled genius while the Ninth Prince has willingly become a plaything for a promiscuous woman? One is the dragon of the clouds, the other is a worm in the mud!" Shan Xiangling sighed softly, shaking her head as she gazed at Zhang Ruyi.
Zhang Ruyi was oblivious to the Eighth Prince's words, maintaining his composure and not bothering to engage in idle chatter. Carrying the two swords, he walked toward the outer courtyard of Qingxuan Pavilion.
Qin Ya had already discerned some clues and understood what the Eighth Prince and Shan Xiangling were thinking.
With a faint smile curling her lips and a sparkling gleam in her eyes, she beckoned, "Your Highness, Ninth Prince, do come again in the future! I will certainly entertain you well! If you need other cultivation resources, feel free to find me! Hehe!"
(The End of this Chapter)