Chapter 17

In the Lin family’s training ground.

"Guided by the Heart of Heaven!"

Lin Nishan’s five fingers gripped a starlight treasure sword, and with a slash, a sword aura immediately formed in the air, leaving a seven-meter-long sword trail on the ground.

A deep sword seam formed on the hard stone slab.

"Clap, clap!"

Lin Fengxian clapped his hands, walked into the training ground, and said with a smile, "Nishan, your talent in swordsmanship truly leaves me in awe. In less than three months, you have successfully cultivated a low-grade Spirit-level sword technique. With this sword technique, you will surely dominate the year-end assessment and become the most dazzling one."

Lin Nishan replied, "That's because I have long reached the realm of 'sword follows the heart,' and have a deep understanding of swordsmanship, which is why I could successfully cultivate this sword technique in such a short time."

Lin Fengxian nodded and said, "In the entire capital, there are absolutely fewer than ten young geniuses who can cultivate sword intent to the realm of 'sword follows the heart' before the age of twenty. You are only fifteen now, and your future achievements are boundless."

Lin Fengxian left the training ground, and Lin Nishan continued to practice her sword technique.

Thirteen days passed quickly.

Thirteen days in the outside world were thirty-nine days in the time crystal.

With the help of the Qi Gathering Pill, Zhang Ruochen finally advanced from the early stage of the Lesser Yellow Extreme Realm to the peak of the Lesser Yellow Extreme Realm. The amount of true qi in his qi pool was ten times what it was thirteen days ago, and his cultivation was once again complete.

Now, with a casual punch, he could exert ten oxen of force.

If he used the Dragon Elephant Bodhi Fist, leveraging the enhancement of the martial technique, he could even burst out with sixteen oxen of force.

An average Lesser Yellow Extreme Realm martial artist could burst out with four oxen of force.

A Middle Yellow Extreme Realm martial artist could burst out with nine oxen of force.

A Greater Yellow Extreme Realm martial artist could burst out with sixteen oxen of force.

In other words, although Zhang Ruochen was only at the peak of the Lesser Yellow Extreme Realm, he could exert a force that could rival a Greater Yellow Extreme Realm martial artist.

Zhang Ruochen did not rush to advance to the Middle Yellow Extreme Realm, because even if he reached the Middle Yellow Extreme Realm now, he could only open up sixteen meridians in his body.

He had to remember that in his previous life, he had opened up twenty meridians when he was at the Middle Yellow Extreme Realm.

"I must find a way to improve my physical constitution. If I fall behind at the starting line, what will I have to compete with Empress Chi Yao in the future?"

Zhang Ruochen walked out of the room and saw Yun'er standing outside the door.

"Yun'er, is today the day of the year-end assessment?" Zhang Ruochen asked.

"Yes!"

Yun'er nodded, looking somewhat nervous, and said, "Your Highness, you must be careful. It is said that the Eighth Prince has already advanced to the Lesser Yellow Extreme Realm. If he finds out that you are now a martial artist, he will definitely target you."

"No problem! It's not a big deal!" Zhang Ruochen smiled faintly and asked, "Will Mother also go to watch the year-end assessment today?"

"Empress Lin will definitely go, but she doesn't know that you will participate in the year-end assessment." Yun'er thought to herself that if Empress Lin knew that the Ninth Prince had become a martial artist, she would be very happy.

"Your Highness, I will help you change into the imperial dragon robe, and we can go to the royal martial field on Wang Mountain now." Yun'er said.

At this moment, Zhang Ruochen noticed the copper tray Yun'er was holding, on which a golden long robe embroidered with a four-clawed giant python, a hairpin, a jade belt, and golden boots were neatly folded.

In Yunwu County, only princes could wear the imperial dragon robe, while princesses wore the imperial phoenix robe.

After three months of cultivation and physical training, Zhang Ruochen's physique and aura had undergone a complete transformation. He no longer appeared weak and sickly, but rather exuded a youthful vigor.

Wearing the imperial dragon robe and the hairpin, his entire aura changed, as if a carp had leaped over the dragon gate, a wrinkle eagle had transformed into a giant Peng, giving off an indescribable nobility.

"Your Highness, you... you really look more like a prince than any other prince!" Yun'er's heart raced as she stared at Zhang Ruochen, unable to resist being attracted by the aura he exuded, and her cheeks turned red.

Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Yun'er, let's go to the royal martial field!"

Yun'er nodded lightly and said, "Empress Lin has already gone to pay respects to the king. We should hurry, so we don't arrive late and have the concubines and princes start gossiping."

The royal martial field was located at the foot of Wang Mountain.

The year-end assessment was the second most important royal event after the grand ceremony, and even Yunwu County's king had stopped his seclusion to personally attend the year-end assessment.

The princes, princesses, and concubines arrived at the royal martial field before dawn to wait for the king's arrival.

Yunwu County's king sat in the highest position in the martial field, looking about forty years old, with neatly trimmed mustaches, exuding an aura of authority. He glanced at the princes and princesses and said with a smile, "Seventh Prince, has he not returned?"

The queen, sitting beside the king, said, "Your Majesty, half a month ago, the Seventh Prince sent a letter, stating that he encountered an important matter and could not return for now. Besides, with the Seventh Prince's martial cultivation, participating in the year-end assessment is no longer meaningful."

The king looked somewhat disappointed and said, "Without the Seventh Prince participating in the year-end assessment, this year will lack much anticipation."

Xiao Fei, the mother of the Eighth Prince, stepped forward and said, "Your Majesty, although the Seventh Prince cannot participate in the year-end assessment, the Ninth Prince can participate this year."

"Oh! Ninth Prince?" The king's gaze turned to Empress Lin.

Xiao Fei smiled and said, "Three months ago, the Ninth Prince activated his Divine Martial Mark."

"Is that so? Ha ha! Empress Lin, why didn't you tell me this good news as soon as it happened?" The king was in a great mood. After all, the Ninth Prince was also his biological son and the only prince who had not activated his Divine Martial Mark.

With all nine princes activating their Divine Martial Marks, the king was naturally very pleased.

Empress Lin bit her lip lightly and said in a low voice, "The Ninth Prince has just activated his Divine Martial Mark, and I did not dare to disturb Your Majesty."

The king said, "As long as the Ninth Prince can activate his Divine Martial Mark, it is a cause for celebration. Even if his future achievements are limited, he will still be a martial artist stronger than ordinary people. Where is the Ninth Prince? Why hasn't he come out to see me?"

The Eighth Prince sneered, "Everyone is here, but the Ninth Prince is still not here. Hmph, it's different now that he has activated his Divine Martial Mark, what a grand manner."

At this moment, Zhang Ruochen, wearing the imperial dragon robe, walked up the high stone steps and said, "Eighth Brother, is it really good to speak ill of others behind their back?"

Zhang Ruochen looked dignified and walked up to the Eighth Prince, staring at him sharply.

The Eighth Prince clenched his fists, feeling extremely angry. The Zhang Ruochen of the past would never dare to speak to him in such a tone. He was truly acting without restraint!

Zhang Ruochen shook his sleeves and walked forward, looking at the king sitting above, and bowed, saying, "Greetings, Your Majesty!"

Hearing Zhang Ruochen address the king as "Your Majesty," everyone present was stunned.

The atmosphere instantly became tense, and everyone held their breath, not daring to make a sound.

The king stared at Zhang Ruochen below and said, "You call me 'Your Majesty'?"

The queen coldly snorted and said, "Ninth Prince, you have a lot of nerve. Are you trying to disown your father?"

"Thud!"

Empress Lin was terrified and immediately knelt on the ground, hurriedly explaining, "Your Majesty, Dust must have been careless and called you wrong."

"I did not call you wrong!"

Zhang Ruochen stood tall, his body straight, and his gaze fixed on the king, saying, "As a father, one must be able to teach one's child. Your Majesty, since I have been weak and sickly since childhood, what have you taught me? What have you helped me with? Have you ever cared for me?"

"As a husband, one must have affection, righteousness, and moral integrity. Your Majesty, when my mother was beaten by the queen, did you show her any affection? For three years, my mother has been bullied, where is your righteousness? When my mother and I were driven out of our residence in the cold winter night and forced to move to a side hall, as if we were sent to a cold palace, where is your moral integrity?"

"Since you cannot be a father and cannot be a husband, may I ask, is it wrong for me to call you 'Your Majesty'?"

It was the first time someone had spoken to the king in such a tone, and a large number of people around him were already kneeling in fear. The palace maids and eunuchs on the ground were all trembling.

At this moment, the king's face was very cold, and he glanced at the queen sitting beside him, saying in a deep voice, "Who gave the order? Who drove them to the side hall?"

The queen remained calm, her gaze coldly staring at the Eighth Prince and Xiao Fei.

"Thud! Thud!"

The Eighth Prince and Xiao Fei immediately knelt on the ground, their bodies weak, and cold sweat continuously dripping from their foreheads.

"It... it was... this... this subject!" Xiao Fei's voice was trembling.

Although the queen had given the order, how could Xiao Fei dare to expose her?

The king coldly snorted and said, "You alone?"

Xiao Fei glanced at the Eighth Prince beside her, gritting her teeth, and said, "Only this subject!"

"Fine! Since you want to take all the responsibility