Chapter 71

Zhang Ruochen's mental power was incredibly strong, and he immediately sensed a dangerous aura, which put him on high alert.

As long as one's mental power reached the 30th level, they could sense danger in advance, perceiving some nearby blessings and misfortunes in the midst of the unknown.

A strong sense of unease arose in Zhang Ruochen's heart, making his hair stand on end. He instinctively stood up, startling Zi Qian, who was sitting beside him. She immediately retracted the venomous bee needle from her fingertips.

"Could he have sensed it? How is that possible?"

Zi Qian's heart raced, and she dared not make a move.

Seeing that Zi Qian did not act, Chen Libing's eyes narrowed, a glint of killing intent flashing in his pupils.

He hid his fingers in his sleeves, channeling true qi between them, and silently shot out a venomous bee needle.

After all, Chen Libing was sitting right behind Zhang Ruochen, at a very close distance.

Moreover, the venomous bee needle was as fine as a cow's hair, and even a Xuanji Realm martial artist would not be able to see its flight path as it shot out from his fingertips.

If Zhang Ruochen were to be hit by the venomous bee needle, he would surely die.

However, to Chen Libing's surprise, Zhang Ruochen actually caught the venomous bee needle with his hand.

It should be noted that Zhang Ruochen did not turn around at all, as if he had eyes on the back of his head. He simply turned his arm, extended two fingers, and accurately caught the venomous bee needle.

"Impossible! Even a Xuanji Realm Great Perfection martial artist would not be able to sense the venomous bee needle at such a close distance, let alone catch it," Chen Libing was greatly alarmed.

What he did not know was that Zhang Ruochen possessed a spatial domain, and within a ten-meter radius, nothing could escape the perception of his martial soul.

The moment Zhang Ruochen sensed the danger, he immediately stood up and released his spatial domain.

Holding the venomous bee needle, Zhang Ruochen turned around, his eyes cold as he stared at Chen Libing and said, "Venomous bee needle, silent and invisible, kills without a trace, and seals the throat with a single drop of blood. Are you a professional assassin?"

Knowing his identity was exposed, Chen Libing made another move, gripping the hilt of his sword. With a swift motion, a sword beam shot out from his sleeve, piercing toward Zhang Ruochen's heart at lightning speed.

The Fish Intestine Sword in the Sleeve!

The sword was hidden in the sleeve.

The blade was as fine as a fish's intestine.

Although Chen Libing was only at the late Xuanji Realm, he had once assassinated a Xuanji Realm Lesser Perfection martial artist and had profound expertise in swordsmanship.

With one strike, thirteen sword shadows appeared.

In an instant, the tip of the sword reached Zhang Ruochen's chest.

Many people nearby let out cries of shock.

Xie Changlao, seated on the head of the Blood Feather Eagle, shouted, "How dare you!"

"Swish!"

A sword aura shot out from Xie Changlao's hand, passing through Chen Libing's body.

Chen Libing let out a muffled sound, his body convulsing before he fell straight onto the back of the Blood Feather Eagle.

Liu Chengfeng placed his finger at Chen Libing's nose and said solemnly, "He's already dead!"

Everyone's gaze turned to Xie Changlao.

This Xie Changlao was incredibly powerful, killing a late Xuanji Realm martial artist with just one sword strike. Moreover, there were no wounds on Chen Libing's body, which was quite bizarre.

Xie Changlao sheathed his sword, coldly staring at Chen Libing's corpse and said, "He used the venomous bee needle and the Fish Intestine Sword in the Sleeve. He must be an assassin from the Underworld Gate. The Underworld Gate has always wanted to plant assassins in the Martial Market Academy. I didn't expect to encounter one today. He deserved to die."

Then, Xie Changlao turned his gaze to Zhang Ruochen and asked, "Who are you? Why did the Underworld Gate's assassin want to kill you?"

Before Zhang Ruochen could speak, Liu Chengfeng interjected, "Uncle Xie, he is the Ninth Prince of Yunwu County, a martial arts prodigy."

"A martial arts prodigy?"

Xie Changlao carefully examined Zhang Ruochen. Reaching the early Xuanji Realm at sixteen was indeed impressive, but it was far from being a martial arts prodigy.

The only martial arts prodigy from Yunwu County that Xie Changlao had heard of was the Seventh Prince of Yunwu County, who reached the Xuanji Realm at the age of twelve.

Compared to the Seventh Prince, the Ninth Prince was far inferior. In Xie Changlao's view, even Zi Qian had higher potential than Zhang Ruochen.

After glancing at Zhang Ruochen, Xie Changlao withdrew his gaze and ordered, "Throw the corpse of the Underworld Gate assassin off the Blood Feather Eagle."

After saying this, Xie Changlao closed his eyes again and said no more.

"Truly bizarre, I clearly saw a sword aura pass through his body, but why are there no wounds?" a martial artist said in surprise.

Liu Chengfeng sneered, "What do you know? Uncle Xie practices the lower-grade Ling-level martial technique, 'Heart-Shattering Sword Technique,' and has already mastered it. He kills by striking the heart, leaving no blood after death. If you don't believe me, go feel the assassin's heart!"

A martial artist went to feel Chen Libing's heart and found that it was already split in two.

Although Zi Qian and Chen Libing were both talented assassins from the Underworld Gate, assassins rarely interacted with each other. Therefore, their relationship was not deep, and Zi Qian remained calm after Chen Libing's death.

"Fortunately, I didn't make a move just now, or I would be the one dead," Zi Qian thought to herself.

She glanced at Zhang Ruochen, still unable to figure out how he caught the venomous bee needle shot by Chen Libing.

After all, only a Diji Realm expert could hear the sound of the venomous bee needle through their superior hearing. Only a Diji Realm expert could dodge the venomous bee needle shot by Chen Libing.

Zhang Ruochen could not possibly be a Diji Realm expert.

He must be hiding some secret. Before uncovering this secret, she could not easily make a move to kill him. If she failed, she might end up like Chen Libing, dead.

For Zi Qian, the main task was to infiltrate the Underworld Gate. Assassinating Zhang Ruochen would be a bonus, bringing her a substantial reward. If she failed, it would not have a significant impact.

If she couldn't kill Zhang Ruochen within a month, the Underworld Gate would send a more powerful assassin.

"Chen Libing is dead, and my identity will be even safer. I must not expose myself easily," Zi Qian thought to herself.

Chen Libing's corpse was thrown off the Blood Feather Eagle, and everyone began discussing the Underworld Gate, their faces filled with apprehension.

The Underworld Gate was a giant assassin organization in Yunwu County and even the nine counties of Lingxi. It had once assassinated a county lord and succeeded, causing a huge stir. Since then, the name of the Underworld Gate had spread far and wide.

Few people who were targeted by the Underworld Gate could survive for more than a month.

Liu Chengfeng said, "Your Highness, don't worry. Once you enter the Martial Market Academy, the assassins of the Underworld Gate will not be able to harm you, no matter how powerful they are."

"I hope so," Zhang Ruochen said with a smile.

If the assassins of the Underworld Gate could infiltrate the candidates, they could also infiltrate the Martial Market Academy. Zhang Ruochen did not believe that the Martial Market Academy was absolutely safe.

Just now, an assassin from the Underworld Gate was sitting right behind him, and he had no idea. If his mental power had not reached the 30th level and he had not cultivated a spatial domain, he would already be dead.

Hiring an assassin from the Underworld Gate would cost a considerable amount of money.

Zhang Ruochen knew without guessing that it must be related to the Empress.

"I will settle these old accounts with her when my cultivation reaches the Tianji Realm," Zhang Ruochen clenched his fingers, a cold light flashing in his eyes.

The Tianmo Ridge was an ancient mountain range, stretching for twelve thousand miles, with vast territory and abundant spiritual energy, resembling a giant dragon lying across the northern border of Yunwu County.

Including Yunwu County, thirty-six counties were all located on the periphery of the Tianmo Ridge, like stars surrounding the moon, encircling the Tianmo Ridge in the center.

The Tianmo Ridge was the territory of the barbaric beasts, and within its vast mountains, billions of beasts lived. The thirty-six counties would regularly dispatch large armies to guard the borders adjacent to the Tianmo Ridge, preventing the beasts from escaping and slaughtering the human populace.

Most large sects were established on the periphery of the Tianmo Ridge.

Firstly, to resist the invasion of the beasts into the human realm; secondly, to provide a more convenient place for the disciples to train.

The Martial Market Academy was also built on the periphery of the Tianmo Ridge.

The Blood Feather Eagle carried everyone to the sky above the Martial Market Academy, and everyone was stunned by the scene below.

At a glance, the ground was filled with dense ancient buildings, including crystal towers built in deep valleys, pavilions constructed on cliff edges, and training platforms erected on mountain peaks.

Even before entering the Martial Market Academy, one could feel the overwhelming aura.

Xie Changlao stood up from the back of the Blood Feather Eagle, took out a token, and loudly said, "I am Xie Nantian. Who is guarding the array? Open the gate quickly!"

A young man in his twenties, standing on the back of a two-headed snow eagle, flew up from the ground and said, "Greetings, Uncle Xie! Why are there so few candidates from Yunwu County this year? Uncle Situ brought back over six hundred candidates from the four counties, including several top martial arts prodigies."

As he spoke, the young man raised his hand slightly and let out a long whistle.

From the Martial Market Academy, seven crystal towers at seven different positions shot out seven beams of light, forming a massive array.

"Rumble!"

At the edge of the array, a virtual light gate over a hundred meters long opened.

The Blood Feather Eagle carried the sixty-seven candidates from Yunwu County through the virtual light gate, flying toward a white stone square in a mountain hollow.

As the Blood Feather Eagle entered the Martial Market Academy, the light from the seven crystal towers immediately disappeared, and the virtual light gate vanished with a loud boom.