Chapter 33

Zhang Ruochen retracted the Flash Soul Sword and thrust it out again swiftly, piercing through the gaps in the claws and striking the black giant cat's forehead, producing a metallic clanging sound and splashing sparks.

"Bang!"

The Flash Soul Sword, a Fourth Rank True Martial Treasure, was unable to penetrate its physical defense.

The black giant cat's cultivation was not strong, equivalent to the Lesser Extreme of the Yellow Apex Realm. How could its defense be so terrifying?

"Ha ha! Although my cultivation is a minor realm weaker than yours, I possess an indestructible body, superior martial skills, and ruthless means, allowing me to fight across three minor realms. With my current strength, I can even fight a Yellow Apex Realm Great Perfection martial artist to a draw. Boy, prepare to die! Meow!"

The black giant cat charged at Zhang Ruochen again, leaping two meters high, opening its mouth wide, and biting at Zhang Ruochen's shoulder.

"Heaven Heart Plum Blossom!"

Zhang Ruochen's true qi circulated throughout his body, and he thrust his sword, releasing seven sword auras.

When the Flash Soul Sword reached the black giant cat's face, the seven sword auras converged into one, striking the black giant cat's chin.

The black giant cat let out another painful cry, falling heavily to the ground, and shouted, "So painful! It's killing me! Boy, how can you be so strong? You are only at the Middle Extreme of the Yellow Apex Realm, how can you unleash the power of the Yellow Apex Realm Great Perfection?"

"Do you think I don't have a powerful physique just because you do? If we were at the same realm, I might be slightly weaker, but now that I am one realm higher, you are absolutely no match for me." Zhang Ruochen walked over with his sword.

The black giant cat was indeed very strong. If they were at the same realm, Zhang Ruochen might not be its match. After all, it had an almost invincible body.

Seeing Zhang Ruochen approach, the black giant cat hurriedly said, "Boy, I think since neither of us can defeat the other, why continue fighting? It's just a waste of time. Why don't we sit down and talk things over?"

The black giant cat's defense was indeed very strong, and even the Flash Soul Sword couldn't penetrate its physical defense. If the fight continued, Zhang Ruochen might be able to defeat it, but he definitely couldn't kill it.

Zhang Ruochen stopped and said, "If you can answer a few of my questions, I might consider a temporary truce."

The black giant cat sat on the ground, its round belly protruding, and said comfortably, "Ask away! I know everything from ten thousand years ago to ten thousand years in the future, from heaven to earth, in the Saha World, there is almost nothing I don't know!"

Zhang Ruochen asked, "Why did the Venerable Sumeru seal you inside the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map?"

"That's a long story! Back then, I committed heinous crimes, and the Venerable Sumeru felt that my sins were too great, so he sealed me inside the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map." The black giant cat's large ears twitched, and its eyes rolled.

Zhang Ruochen asked, "What heinous crimes did you commit?"

"Killing countless people, massacring the masses, wreaking havoc, killing dragons for their gall, burning the sky and boiling the sea... yeah, something like that!" the black giant cat said.

Zhang Ruochen stared at the black giant cat's fat body and said, "You don't look like it!"

"Exactly! I don't think I look like it either. It's clear that the monk was unreasonable, falsely accusing me and sealing me in the scroll world. Sigh! I don't know where to appeal!" The black giant cat lay on its back, shaking its head and sighing.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Those who don't look like bad people are often the worst. Those who don't look like good people can sometimes do great deeds."

"I'm just a cat, don't think I'm that bad... Hey... boy, what are you doing?" the black giant cat said.

With a "whoosh," the black giant cat was resealed in the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map.

"It's just as I suspected. The power of the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map can suppress you. I am now the master of the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map, and with a thought, I can reseal you in the scroll world." Zhang Ruochen held the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map and smiled.

"Boy! You must stay calm, quickly release me. I promise to be loyal to you and will never have any ulterior motives. If you ask me to catch fish, I will never catch mice." The black giant cat said anxiously.

It had been trapped in the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map for ten thousand years and was naturally unwilling to be resealed after finally regaining its freedom.

Zhang Ruochen ignored it, placed the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map aside, and began to study the eight basic spatial inscription patterns.

"Boy! To inscribe basic spatial inscription patterns, you need to cultivate your mental energy to at least the 20th level. You are so young, it's impossible for you to have such powerful mental energy! Quickly release me, and I will teach you how to cultivate mental energy." The black giant cat's voice came from the scroll.

"20th level? My mental energy has already reached the 32nd level. Basic inscription patterns are not difficult for me."

Zhang Ruochen sat cross-legged, opened the "Secret Canon of Space and Time," placed it in front of him, and began to study it carefully.

"How is that possible? An average adult's mental energy is only around the 10th level. For a boy like you, reaching the 8th level is already very good. Even for those with naturally strong mental energy, reaching the 15th level before the age of 20 is the best they can do. How can your mental energy reach the 32nd level?" the black giant cat said, disbelieving.

Zhang Ruochen ignored it and began to study the first basic spatial inscription pattern, the point-type inscription pattern.

The black giant cat's voice sounded again from the scroll, "Did you start cultivating mental energy from a young age? That doesn't make sense either! At your age, even if you started cultivating mental energy from a young age, reaching the 20th level would be impressive, let alone the 32nd level. Boy, you are even more boastful than I am!"

For most basic inscription patterns, cultivating mental energy to the 15th level is enough to have a chance of successfully inscribing them.

However, spatial basic inscription patterns are very special, more complex and unstable, requiring mental energy to be cultivated to the 20th level to have a chance of inscribing them.

"Whoosh!"

Zhang Ruochen gathered his true qi at his fingertip and pointed it out, forming a light point, trying to inscribe the point-type inscription pattern in the air.

After more than thirty attempts, all ended in failure.

"Ha ha! I told you you were boasting! For ordinary martial artists, cultivating mental energy to the 20th level is as difficult as climbing to the sky. Inscribing spatial basic inscription patterns is even harder," the black giant cat mocked.

Zhang Ruochen stopped and muttered to himself, "Inscribing an inscription pattern for the first time is indeed very difficult. I should practice on spirit paper with an inscription pen first!"

When alchemists and weapon refiners first learn inscription patterns, they all practice on spirit paper with an inscription pen. It takes at least a year of practice to inscribe the first pattern on spirit paper.

Zhang Ruochen, learning inscription patterns for the first time, naturally couldn't succeed by trying to inscribe them in the air with his finger.

Zhang Ruochen stood up and decided to go buy an inscription pen and spirit paper.

"Boy, take me with you! I promise not to cause trouble, I will do everything you say..."

Before the black giant cat could finish speaking, Zhang Ruochen rolled up the Heaven-Earth Divine Tree Map and stored it in his brow, then left the inner space of the Time Crystal.

Subsequently, Zhang Ruochen left the palace and headed towards the Martial Market.

As soon as Zhang Ruochen left the palace, a palace maid immediately rushed to the queen's residence to inform Han Qingluo.

"He finally left the palace? That's great! Prepare a team, and we will leave the palace together. Tonight will be the night of a young genius's downfall." Han Qingluo's eyes glinted with a cold light, and a sinister smile appeared on her beautiful lips.

...

Zhang Ruochen arrived at the Martial Market and headed straight for the Inscription Guild.

The Inscription Guild is one of the most powerful organizations in the Kunlun World, with a history that is incredibly long. It was already established before the First Central Empire was born.

The Inscription Guild has four major alliances under its umbrella: the Alchemist Alliance, the Weapon Refiner Alliance, the Beast Tamer Alliance, and the Odd Talent Alliance.

Only at the Inscription Guild can you buy "inscription pens" and "spirit paper."

These two items are completely monopolized by the Inscription Guild and cannot be found anywhere else.

In the Kunlun World, every city has a branch of the Inscription Guild. As the capital of Yunwu County, the Inscription Guild is built on a grand scale, almost like a castle.

Outside the Inscription Guild, there is always a steady stream of carriages and people, including martial artists and alchemists in green robes.

The back of an alchemist's robe is usually embroidered with a pill cauldron.

The back of a weapon refiner's robe is usually embroidered with a hammer.

In addition to alchemists and weapon refiners, there are also beast tamers riding on savage beasts, walking into the Inscription Guild with pride.

A middle-aged man in a weapon refiner's robe, looking to be in his thirties, walked proudly towards the Inscription Guild.

"Greetings, Master Zouen, the weapon refiner!"

The guards outside the Inscription Guild all bowed to him, their eyes filled with respect.

"Hmm!" Zouen nodded, not even glancing at the guards, and walked straight into the Inscription Guild.

"It's actually Master Zouen, the weapon refiner. I heard his mental energy has reached the 26th level, and he is a very powerful Second Rank weapon refiner."

"Master Zouen has seventeen disciples, eight of whom have become First Rank weapon refiners. In the capital, there are countless martial artists who want to become his disciples."

"I heard that Master Zouen's requirements for taking disciples are very high. He doesn't accept anyone whose mental energy is below the 12th level or who is over twenty years old."

"To cultivate mental energy to the 12th level before the age of twenty is no easy feat. Only true geniuses can achieve that."

...

At this moment, Zhang Ruochen saw two familiar figures: the Eighth Prince Zhang Ji and the daughter of the Chiyun Sect's sect master, Shan Xiangling.

They had also come to the Inscription Guild.

After the year-end assessment, the Eighth Prince's status in the palace plummeted.

His birth mother, Consort Xiao, was sent to the cold palace, and he became the prince with the lowest cultivation among the nine princes. Under the double blow, the Eighth Prince became dispirited.

Today, he accompanied Shan Xiangling to the Inscription Guild to seek a master, hoping to become a disciple of Zouen, the Second Rank weapon refiner.

In terms of martial talent, he couldn't match Zhang Ruochen.

So, he wanted to surpass Zhang Ruochen through other means and regain his status.