Chapter 65

Alè said, "I cultivate the Art of Killing Swordsmanship and the *Nine Transcendences of Life and Death*. I am destined to walk a path of slaughter where death is nine times more likely than life. Now that my cultivation has reached the Profound Realm, I have decided to venture into the Black Market."

Zhang Ruochen said, "For others, the Black Market is definitely a one-way road, but for you, it might be a good way out."

The Black Market is a formidable force, widespread across the land, with the power to rival the Martial Market Bank, the Engraving Guild, and the Moon Worship Demon Sect. It is a gathering place for evil cultivators and outlaws.

"Your Highness, the Ninth Prince! Lin Chenyu and Lin Nishan sent a palace maid to inform you that the one-month period has arrived, and they invite you to the royal training ground to watch the match," Yun'er hurried over and bowed slightly to Zhang Ruochen.

"Oh! The one-month period has passed so quickly? Alright! I will head to the royal training ground immediately." A smile appeared on Zhang Ruochen's face as he glanced at Alè, noticing that Alè's expression remained unchanged, showing great calmness.

Zhang Ruochen nodded slightly and said, "Do you want to come along and watch?"

"Sure," Alè replied.

When Zhang Ruochen, Alè, and Yun'er arrived at the royal training ground, the various princes and princesses were already waiting there.

The Lin family, besides Lin Chenyu and Lin Nishan, had also brought four guards to the royal training ground.

Seeing Alè and Zhang Ruochen walk into the training ground, all the Lin family martial artists, including Lin Nishan, were slightly taken aback.

"That's not the slave of the Second Miss. He's actually still alive, what a lucky dog," one of the four guards sneered.

"So what if he's still alive? His meridians are already broken; he's just a cripple," another guard said disdainfully.

The four guards who followed Lin Nishan were the same ones who had broken Alè's hands and feet outside the Martial Market arena.

They all thought they had killed Alè, so seeing him following Zhang Ruochen, they were naturally very surprised.

One of the guards, with a hooked nose, holding a hundred-pound iron staff, stepped out from behind Lin Nishan and shouted, "Alè, you are the slave of the Second Miss. Why don't you kneel immediately when you see her?"

Alè's eyes turned cold as he glared at the guard.

The guard was only at the late Yellow Extreme Realm. Seeing Alè's gaze, he felt a chill in his heart.

His meridians are broken, what do I have to fear?

The guard continued, "What's wrong? Does a slave want to rebel? Today, I, Lin Zhuosi, will teach you this lowly slave a lesson for the Second Miss."

The guard gripped the iron staff with both hands and swung it horizontally, aiming for Alè's waist.

"Whoosh!"

A flash of sword light.

The guard's head flew off his neck, and a three-foot-high blood column spurted from his neck.

The headless body fell heavily to the ground.

The three guards following Lin Nishan were all stunned, never expecting Alè to dare kill Lin Zhuosi.

Moreover, his speed was so fast that no one could see how he had drawn his sword.

Not even Lin Nishan could see Alè's sword technique.

Only Lin Chenyu saw clearly and smiled, "Alè, you truly live up to your reputation as our Lin family's deadly swordsman. Your cultivation is stronger than before, and your sword is faster. Have you reached the Profound Realm?"

Alè replied, "Young Master Lin, the Alè of the past was a slave of the Lin family. The Alè of now is just Alè, with no connection to the Lin family."

"Alè! You are too naive! Once a slave, always a slave. If you dare to betray your master, you will violate the laws of the Yunwu County and be executed by slicing," Lin Nishan said coolly. "Since you have broken through to the Profound Realm, return to the Lin family. As long as you are loyal to the Lin family, you will not lack benefits in the future."

Alè's eyes were sharp as he said, "Miss Lin, I agreed to be your slave because you once saved my life. But outside the Martial Market arena, you killed the Alè of the past. Your act of saving my life is now null and void. The Alè of now will not be anyone's slave. If you force me, you will die."

Lin Nishan's fingers trembled with anger, "You dare to defy me! Guards..."

"Cousin, I'll buy this slave!" Zhang Ruochen walked over to Lin Nishan and pointed at Alè.

Although Lin Nishan was arrogant, she was not wrong about one thing: in Yunwu County, if a slave betrays their master, it is a serious crime, and they will be executed by slicing.

Seeing Zhang Ruochen, Lin Nishan's eyes showed a hint of a smile, "Cousin, can I consider this as you begging me?"

Zhang Ruochen replied, "If you insist on seeing it that way, it's not a problem."

"Fine! Since Cousin is personally asking me, as a cousin, I can't refuse you. If you give me one million silver coins, I will immediately sell this slave to you." Lin Nishan's chin was raised, and she wore a faint smile.

An early Profound Realm slave is worth at most ten thousand silver coins. No one would spend one million silver coins to buy an early Profound Realm slave. Lin Nishan naturally thought the same.

The Ninth Princess immediately said, "Lin Nishan, why don't you just rob someone? One million silver coins could buy a hundred early Profound Realm slaves!"

Lin Nishan laughed, "If you can't afford the silver coins, don't pretend to be a good person. Being a good person comes at a cost..."

Zhang Ruochen interrupted Lin Nishan, "One million silver coins is indeed a very reasonable price. It's settled. I will deliver one million silver coins to the Lin residence within a month."

Everyone, including Lin Nishan, was stunned.

Spending one million silver coins to buy a lowly slave?

Only a fool would do such a losing deal.

"Ninth Brother..."

The Ninth Princess wanted to say something but was stopped by Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen stared at Lin Nishan, extended his hand, and said, "Cousin, can you now hand over the slave contract?"

"Cousin, you are truly wealthy and generous. I admire you. One million silver coins will be perfect for my dowry when I marry the Seventh Prince. Thank you for your generous support." Lin Nishan smiled brightly, took out a beast skin contract, and handed it to Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen also smiled faintly, took the beast skin contract, and confirmed that the name on it was Alè. He then channeled his true qi into his fingers.

"Bang!"

The beast skin contract was shattered by the true qi, turning into small pieces of skin the size of fingernails.

Everyone was stunned again.

Spending one million silver coins to buy a lowly slave, and then destroying the slave contract. Has the Ninth Prince really gone mad?

Alè stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen and said, "From now on, I will repay you a hundredfold!"

"Ha!"

One of the guards behind Lin Nishan laughed, "A hundredfold? You're just boasting! A hundredfold is one hundred million silver coins. Even a Heaven Extreme Realm expert would not accumulate that much wealth in a lifetime."

Lin Nishan naturally did not believe it, thinking Alè was too naive.

Even the Ninth Princess shook her head slightly, feeling that Zhang Ruochen's decision was not worth it. Even the great families would find it difficult to come up with one million silver coins at once.

She sighed inwardly, since the Ninth Prince has already made his decision, Lin Nishan, that wretch, will benefit!

The Ninth Princess stood gracefully in the center of the training ground, elegant and charming, holding a war sword and pointing it at Lin Nishan, "Lin Nishan, don't be too smug. The one-month period has arrived, and I now formally challenge you."

Lin Nishan, who had just received one million silver coins, felt extremely pleased. With her cultivation greatly improved, how could she take the Ninth Princess seriously?

"Your Highness, the Ninth Princess, you are indeed very confident. I wonder if you will still be so cold and proud after losing to me for the third time," Lin Nishan laughed.

The Ninth Princess, full of confidence, laughed, "If you lose to me, I won't let you off so easily."

Lin Nishan, like a lily untouched by dust, beautiful and graceful, walked into the training ground and stood opposite the Ninth Princess.

She glanced at Zhang Ruochen and said, "Cousin, I want to change the rules. If I win the Ninth Princess, I don't want you to apologize to me. I want you to do something for me."

Zhang Ruochen asked, "What is it?"

Lin Nishan's eyes slightly tilted, and she smiled, "I haven't decided yet. When I do, I will tell you. Don't worry, you are my cousin, I wouldn't harm you."

Zhang Ruochen glanced at the Ninth Princess, nodded, and said, "I have confidence in the Ninth Sister. I agree."

Hearing Zhang Ruochen's words, the Ninth Princess felt the pressure increase. She thought to herself, I must win, I absolutely cannot lose, and I cannot let Lin Nishan, that little wretch, succeed again. With my current cultivation and the *Heavenly River Jade Scripture*, winning Lin Nishan should not be difficult.

The Ninth Princess understood the importance of this battle. In the past month, she had spent all her savings to purchase cultivation resources, and her cultivation had advanced rapidly.

"Ninth Brother, don't worry, the Ninth Sister will not disappoint you." The Ninth Princess's beautiful eyes showed a hint of a smile, and she gave Zhang Ruochen a mysterious look.

"Is this look? Could it be that she has successfully cultivated the first level of the *Heavenly River Jade Scripture*?" Zhang Ruochen was slightly surprised.

"Enough talk, Ninth Princess, you are destined to lose to me again today."

Lin Nishan coldly snorted, drew her Starlight Sword, and thrust it at the Ninth Princess.

As soon as she drew her sword, a half-ten-foot-long sword light trailed behind it, emitting a piercing sound.

"Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm." Zhang Ruochen's brows slightly furrowed. As soon as Lin Nishan drew her sword, he recognized her martial realm.

Her cultivation had improved too quickly. In just one month, she had advanced from the Great Position of the Yellow Extreme Realm to the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm. Without taking elixirs, such a cultivation speed would be impossible.

The Third Prince shook his head and smiled, "Lin Nishan's cultivation has reached the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm. This is bad, the Ninth Sister will definitely lose."

"If the Ninth Sister loses, the Ninth Brother will have to do something for Lin Nishan. If Lin Nishan makes him kneel, it will damage our royal family's dignity," the Fifth Prince's eyes turned cold.

The Third Prince said, "The Ninth Brother is too young and impetuous. Letting him experience some setbacks will be good for him."