Chapter 7: The Heart of the Sword

Zhang Ruyi showed no emotional fluctuations and said lightly, "Congratulations, cousin. From now on, we are even closer kin." With these words, he turned and left.

Upon their first meeting, Zhang Ruyi felt no affinity for his beautiful cousin, as their conversation failed to spark any connection. Thus, he left feeling somewhat disinterested.

Seeing Zhang Ruyi's lack of reaction, all the young warriors of the Lin family were greatly disappointed. How could this be?

Witnessing Zhang Ruyi's indifferent demeanor, Lin Ningshan also felt a tinge of disappointment. Gazing at his departing figure, she couldn't help but ask, "Don't you want to know the reason?"

Though Zhang Ruyi had no real interest in who Lin Ningshan was engaged to, her insistent tone compelled him to reluctantly pause and nod, "I will certainly be there to congratulate you on your engagement. If there's nothing else, I shall go find my mother."

Just as he finished speaking, Zhang Ruyi noticed Lin Fei walking out from the courtyard of the Lin mansion.

Her eyes were slightly red, indicating that she had just been crying. Although she had dried her tears, how could she hide it from Zhang Ruyi?

Rushing over, he asked with concern, "Mother, what's wrong? Who has upset you?"

Shaking her head, Lin Fei said, "It's nothing. Let's go back."

How could everything be fine judging by Lin Fei's appearance?

After seeing Lin Ningshan, Zhang Ruyi had no favorable impression of the Lin family. Now, witnessing Lin Fei's current state, his sentiment toward the Lin family worsened even more.

"Wait!"

Walking out from the courtyard with his hands behind his back, Lin Fengxian glanced at Zhang Ruyi and took out a scroll made of animal skin from his sleeve. "This is a set of low-grade human-level cultivation method called 'Tai A Decision', which can open up seven meridians. Take it for your cultivation! Though it may not be a profound cultivation method, it should suffice for you to complete the Marrow Cleansing and Meridian Refinement."

Subsequently, Lin Fengxian ordered someone to bring two vials of Marrow Cleansing Liquid and coldly said, "As you also have the blood of our Lin family, take these two vials as well!"

Glancing at Lin Fengxian's display of generosity, Zhang Ruyi felt deeply displeased. No wonder his mother's eyes were red. She must have suffered humiliation while asking for a cultivation method from him.

"No need for the Lin family's charity. Let's go, Mother!" Ignoring the cultivation method and Marrow Cleansing Liquid brought by Lin Fengxian, Zhang Ruyi left the Lin mansion with his mother.

"The nerve of him! He truly thinks he's a prince." The young warriors of the Lin family sneered contemptuously.

Lin Ningshan stared at the young man who had decisively left the Lin mansion, feeling increasingly astonished. It seemed that her once weak cousin was now displaying a different side.

"After awakening the Divine Martial Mark, he naturally becomes more resolute. But he doesn't know that he only awakened the Divine Martial Mark at the age of sixteen, missing the prime age for martial arts training. There's no need to dwell on it. We are destined to belong to two different worlds."

Letting out a sigh, Lin Ningshan returned to the training ground to continue her cultivation.

Outside the Lin mansion, Lin Fei said, "Ruochen, you are too impulsive. As long as you become a warrior and strengthen your body through martial arts, it doesn't matter how much I suffer."

Standing tall, Zhang Ruyi turned to the golden plaque of the "Lin Mansion" and said firmly, "Mother, rest assured! Even without the Lin family's assistance, I will still become a strong warrior."

Lin Fei sighed softly and did not speak further. Suddenly, she seemed to remember something and said, "Ruochen, do you already know about Ningshan's engagement with the Seventh Prince? You mustn't be too upset!"

Smiling, Zhang Ruyi replied, "Mother, you can rest assured. There are plenty of good women in the world, and there are certainly those better than Lin Ningshan."

"If you can think like this, then I can truly rest assured," Lin Fei said with a relieved smile.

Back at the Cloud Martial Palace, Zhang Ruyi swallowed the last drop of Blood Dan and entered the inner space of the Time-Space Crystal to resume practicing the Dragon Elephant Prajna Palm.

After exhausting himself, he sat down for a brief rest.

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"I must repay the Lin family for the humiliation my mother suffered. What exactly happened three years ago? I need to find an opportunity to ask Yun'er about it. But for now, my primary goal is to quickly reach the mid-stage of the Yellow Realm."

To achieve the mid-stage of the Yellow Realm, he needed to use the Marrow Cleansing Liquid.

A single vial of Marrow Cleansing Liquid cost at least two hundred silver coins.

For Zhang Ruyi, two hundred silver coins was no small amount. Moreover, to break through to the mid-stage of the Yellow Realm with the "Nine Heavens Emperor Scripture," one vial of Marrow Cleansing Liquid was clearly insufficient.

"Ah, I've got it!"

Slapping his forehead, Zhang Ruyi scolded himself for being foolish. Despite having a vast treasure trove, he had been preoccupied with earning silver coins.

In his previous life as the son of the Emperor Ming, he had perused many high-quality cultivation methods and martial techniques, all of which he had committed to memory. Any random cultivation method or martial technique he put up for sale would fetch a sky-high price.

The "Nine Heavens Emperor Scripture" and the Dragon Elephant Prajna Palm were both considered divine-level classics in the entire Kunlun world, and naturally, they could not be sold.

In addition to these, he remembered various other low-grade cultivation methods and martial techniques. Just offering one of them in the Cloud Martial County would cause quite a stir.

Zhang Ruyi immediately found paper and ink and transcribed a set of spiritual-level martial techniques called the "Heavenly Heart Sword Art."

The Heavenly Heart Sword Art was the lowest-grade spiritual-level martial technique in Zhang Ruyi's memory.

"A lower-grade spiritual-level martial technique should be considered top-tier in the Cloud Martial County. Even the most powerful martial techniques of families like the Lin's are probably no more than lower-grade spiritual-level, and there are likely only one or two sets that serve as the clan's signature skills."

In the Cloud Martial County, many martial practitioners did not have the opportunity to practice martial techniques. Even a lower-grade human-level martial technique would be an extraordinary treasure to them.

The lowest-priced lower-grade human-level martial technique would sell for at least three hundred silver coins. Some formidable lower-grade human-level martial techniques could fetch a price of over a thousand silver coins, making them unaffordable for ordinary wandering martial artists. Some martial practitioners were even willing to fight to the death to obtain a copy of a lower-grade human-level martial technique.

As for a lower-grade spiritual-level martial technique, simply putting it up for sale would make even the heads of prominent families covetous, and they would spare no effort to purchase it. The possession of an additional lower-grade spiritual-level martial technique would significantly enhance a family's strength.

After completing the transcription of the Heavenly Heart Sword Art, Zhang Ruyi also sketched out a diagram for each sword move on the paper.

Concentrating all his true energy into the tip of the pen, Zhang Ruyi depicted the essence of his true energy and martial intent in each stroke of the sword move.

After depleting all his true energy, he had only managed to finish drawing one diagram.

Zhang Ruyi immediately sat down, circulated the "Nine Heavens Emperor Scripture," replenished the true energy in his Qi Pool, and began drawing the second diagram.

It took him half a day to complete all twelve diagrams of the "Heavenly Heart Sword Art."

Although his cultivation realm had declined, his insight into martial arts and his understanding of the martial path remained intact. Each sword move he drew was exquisite, similar to those in the original "Heavenly Heart Sword Art."

"With my current understanding of martial arts, drawing a lower-grade spiritual-level martial technique is already at the limit for me. If I were to attempt to draw a middle-grade spiritual-level martial technique, I could probably only capture about one-third of its artistic conception."

Martial technique manuals were not easily copied or replicated.

Even if an ordinary person transcribed the verbal and diagrammatic instructions of the "Heavenly Heart Sword Art," it would merely be a superficial imitation. Even if they successfully practiced the sword technique, they would not be able to unleash the full power of a lower-grade spiritual-level sword technique.

In his previous life, as a supreme expert in the Heaven Realm, Zhang Ruyi could only capture a fraction of the artistic conception of a lower-grade spiritual-level sword technique. As for higher-level martial techniques, he could no longer fully capture their artistic conception.

"A lower-grade spiritual-level sword technique should fetch a decent price."

Zhang Ruyi did not immediately take the "Heavenly Heart Sword Art" to the martial market. Instead, he waited until nightfall before heading toward the palace gates.

"Prince Nine, are you leaving the palace so late?" asked the guards at the palace gates.

The guards knew that Prince Nine and Lin Fei had been relegated to a side hall, indicating their diminished influence in the royal palace. Consequently, they did not show any respectful demeanor and did not even offer a salute to Zhang Ruyi.

However, Zhang Ruyi was no longer the weakling he once was. Casting a sharp gaze at the guards, he stood tall and declared, "I am going to the Lin mansion to visit my cousin. Open the palace gates immediately!"

Being of noble birth, Zhang Ruyi naturally could not be truly offended by the guards. They opened the gates and watched him depart.

"What a show of arrogance! If he weren't the son of the Cloud Martial King, he would have died countless times by now," one guard sneered.

"I heard that the genius maiden of the Lin family, Lin Ningshan, is about to be engaged to the Seventh Prince. Yet, he still holds onto hope, truly foolish," another guard scornfully remarked.

Of course, Zhang Ruyi had no intention of visiting Lin Ningshan. This was simply a pretext to leave the palace without arousing suspicion.

Leaving the palace, Zhang Ruyi retrieved a large black cloak from the Time-Space Crystal and wrapped himself in it, concealing his entire body. In the darkness, no one could see his face.

Before long, he passed through bustling streets and arrived at the martial market.

While other parts of the palace could be considered "common markets," the "martial market" occupied only a tenth of the entire palace but was the most prosperous area in Cloud Martial County.

The martial market was divided into five areas: the Pill Market, the Weapon Market, the Beast Market, the Slave Market, and the Central Auction House.

To a certain extent, the prosperity of the entire Cloud Martial County hinged on the martial market, so the county exercised strict control over it.

Each entrance to the martial market was guarded by soldiers. Only martial practitioners or individuals of high status were granted entry.

...(End of Chapter)

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