Translator: Larbre Studio Editor: Larbre Studio
The four-winged silver crane didn’t lie to Zhang Ruochen. It flew speedily for 600 miles and the craggy mountains disappeared, replaced by a misty marsh.
The air here was fresh and the scenery was beautiful. It had a blue sky, white clouds, and looked like a paradise.
The clear rivers stretched for tens of thousands of miles. You couldn’t even see the end. Islands of various sizes dotted the water’s surface.
Zhang Ruochen vaguely felt various strong auras radiating from some of the islands.
He took a deep breath and he had an intoxicated expression. “This is truly a haven for cultivation. No wonder the Divine Dragon and Half Human Clan lived here for generations instead of moving to the eastern region.”
“The 80,000-mile Divine Dream Marsh is a fertile land,” Blackie said. “The divine medications and saintly items born here each year surpass any other land. Countless human and savage beast forces want this land.
“Unfortunately, Divine Dream Marsh intersects with the eastern region and Savage Barren Territory. The geographical location is special. If the Divine Dragon and Half Human Clan didn’t have blood of both the human and divine dragons, the human race and beasts would probably have upended this place with war.”
Zhang Ruochen nodded. Clearly, he had some knowledge of Divine Dream Marsh too.
“How will we look for the wormhole? Break into Divine Dream Marsh directly?” Blackie was afraid that Zhang Ruochen would do it forcefully, so he reminded, “They aren’t like other Half Human Clans. They inherited part of the divine dragon’s power, along with some of their techniques and spells. Their heritage is longer than the others. They’re definitely strong. It’s not just a few Saints.”
“I definitely will not do it forcefully.” Zhang Ruochen took out a badge. Holding it up, he said, “With this, I can become a respected guest of the Divine Dragon and Half Human Clan.”
The badge had four powerful words—Yin and Yang Sect.
The Yin and Yang Sect were allies with the Divine Dragon and Half Human Clan. They often cooperated in strategy and interests.
Soon after Zhang Ruochen entered Divine Dream Marsh, tall waves surged on the river. A surveillance team dressed in armor stopped Zhang Ruochen’s path. There were 20 men riding 20 water beasts.
The man at the front was Ao Zhan. He looked to be around 30 years old. He was the seventh general of the surveillance team.
“Halt. This is the Divine Dream Marsh, only the Divine Dragon and Half Human Clan can enter. Humans and savage beasts cannot.”
As the seventh general, Ao Zhan’s cultivation was at the peak of the Ninth Level of the Half-Saint Realm. He had quite a high status in the clan.
Ever since the Dragon Saints came to Divine Dream Marsh, the clan had entered high alert. Ao Zhan personally guarded the entrance. Any creature that entered would be stopped.
Zhang Ruochen was dressed in a robe and looked very calm. He took out the Yin and Yang Sect disciple’s badge. “I am the heir of the Yin and Yang Sect. I came just to visit the Clan Leader.”
Ao Zhan took the badge. After checking it carefully, he confirmed that it was the Yin and Yang Sect disciple’s badge.
When he looked back at Zhang Ruochen, his eyes were much friendlier. More importantly, he couldn’t see Zhang Ruochen’s true form with his cultivation.
This could only mean that Zhang Ruochen’s cultivation far surpassed him or that he was strong in Spiritual Power.
No matter what, he was definitely an important figure of the Yin and Yang Sect. He was also an esteemed guest of the clan and couldn’t be offended.
Zhang Ruochen didn’t change his appearance. He just shrouded himself in Spiritual Power. Only those stronger than him in Spiritual Power could see his true form.
Ao Zhan smiled. “May I know your name or which Saint you are under?”
“My surname is Zhang. I am an unknown figure. I once studied under the Moon-Burial Sword Saint in the Sword Pavilion for a period.”
Ao Zhan’s expression turned awed. The man spoke humbly, but no one who entered the Sword Pavilion and could study under the Moon-Burial Sword Saint was simple.
“Brother Zhang, welcome.”
The water beast under Ao Zhan’s feet was a Tide Beast. It was a Grade Six upper beast. It was more than 80 meters long and looked like a huge rhinoceros swimming in the water.
Zhang Ruochen flew to the Tide Beast’s back. He stood shoulder-to-shoulder with Ao Zhan and moved to the depths of the Divine Dream Marsh.
Ao Zhan was interested in Zhang Ruochen. Eyes gleaming, he said, “Brother Zhang, if you can cultivate with the Moon-Burial Sword Saint, you must be advanced in the Sword Way, right? Which sword have you reached on the Wordless Sword Manual?”
Zhang Ruochen gazed at the beautiful marsh. Facing the wind with his arms behind his back, he chuckled. “I only studied with the Moon-Burial Sword Saint for a while. I am not his disciple. How can I be advanced in the Sword Way?”
He obviously didn’t dare to speak the truth. Was he supposed to tell Ao Zhan that he’d already completed Sword Six and had studied Sword Seven too?
Ao Zhan was very curious. “Brother Zhang, your cultivation must be advanced, right?” he continued to ask. “How many Pre-Saint Trials have you gone through?”
Zhang Ruochen didn’t avoid the question this time. “I just went through the third trial,” he answered honestly.
Ao Zhan was envious. He looked at Zhang Ruochen differently now. There was more reverence.
If one could go through three Pre-Saint Trials, he would definitely be able to become a Saint. A Saint and Half-Saint’s difference was like an emperor and the court officials. It was a dramatic difference.
Ao Zhan was much more careful when he continued to speak to Zhang Ruochen. He didn’t dare be as casual as before.
Along the way, Zhang Ruochen saw many guards and passed by many defensive formations. Each time, Ao Zhan had to show himself so the other party would let them pass.
Zhang Ruochen grew doubtful, but he purposely looked casual. Smiling, he asked, “Is the Divine Dragon and Half Human Clan always so heavily guarded?”
“No,” Ao Zhan said. “It’s just, recently…” Here, he paused before continuing. “Recently, the Savage Barren Territory’s chaos has become fiercer and fiercer. We naturally need to be cautious too.”
Zhang Ruochen could tell that Ao Zhan wasn’t speaking the truth, but he didn’t press. He closed his eyes and continued to heal.
Just before entering the Divine Dream Marsh, Blackie’s Spring Pills had come out of the furnace. There were 12 pills.
Zhang Ruochen ingested one and refined it while traveling. Now, he was mostly recovered.
The Spring Pill is indeed miraculous, he thought. No wonder it’s a healing Divine Pill. Sometimes, a Spring Pill is worth a life.
The Tide Beast was very fast. In four hours, it brought Zhang Ruochen and Ao Zhan to a large island in the heart of the Divine Dream Marsh.
This island was incredibly large. It had 2,000 miles of coastline. It was shrouded in white clouds and gave off a mysterious feeling.
More than half of the clan lived on this island. After reaching Dragon Spirit Island, Zhang Ruochen and Ao Zhan quickly arrived at the Divine Dragon Pavilion. They went straight in.
Zhang Ruochen was a Third Trial Pre-Saint and had studied with the Moon-Burial Sword Saint. He was definitely a powerful figure of the Yin and Yang Sect. The Clan Leader naturally had to welcome him personally.
Zhang Ruochen bowed respectfully. “Greetings, Clan Leader.”
Ao Yi studied the young man from the Yin and Yang Sect. It felt like he had a thin layer of mist shrouding him. Ao Yi couldn’t see his features even after using a Saintly Look.
“What a powerful young man. You must be a Spiritual Power Saint instead of some Third Trial Pre-Saint.” Ao Yi’s voice turned colder. “The Yin and Yang Sect only has a few Spiritual Power Saints and I know them all. You are not one of them.”
Zhang Ruochen smiled calmly. “The Yin and Yang Sect has such a rich heritage. Even the Saints of the sect do not know how many strong cultivators there are. How are you sure that I am not one of the Spiritual Power Saints?”
“Why did you claim that you’re a Third Trial Pre-Saint?” Ao Yi asked. “And you claimed that you studied with the Moon-Burial Sword Saint? Isn’t that contradictory?”
“It is not contradictory. In addition to being a Spiritual Power Saint, I’m also a Third Trial Pre-Saint and swordsman.”
He put his fingers together, forming a sword technique.
Whoosh!
Thousands of beams of Sword Qi instantly appeared in the pavilion. They whizzed around Zhang Ruochen.
So powerful, Ao Yi couldn’t help but praise, even with his mindset and cultivation.
This man was so young but already so advanced in Spiritual Power and the Sword Way. He was definitely the secret heir of the Yin and Yang Sect.
Amazing, truly amazing.
“Why did you come to visit me in the Divine Dream Marsh?” Ao Yi asked.
Before Zhang Ruochen could reply, Ao Zhan ran into the pavilion. He looked anxious. “Clan Leader, the two Dragon Saints went to Heart Moon Lake to see Princess Yan, but they were refused. Now, they actually want to break in. We can’t stop them. Even the general was injured by them.”
“How dare they! What are they doing? Forcefully arresting someone?” Ao Yi’s anger burst out completely. “Stay to welcome the guest. I will visit Heart Moon Lake personally.”
Roar!
Ao Yi transformed into a huge dragon. He charged off of his throne and left the pavilion.
“Princess Yan…” Zhang Ruochen murmured to himself. Then he asked, “General Ao Zhan, what happened? What Dragon Saints?”
Since Ao Zhan had already leaked the information, he didn’t keep hiding it. He told Zhang Ruochen about the Dragon Saints. After all, the Yin and Yang Sect were reliable allies. They weren’t outsiders.
