Chapter 9

"Exactly! It is indeed a low-grade spirit-level sword technique, and moreover, it was drawn by a powerful Heaven Extreme Realm senior!"

Lin Fengxian’s face lit up with joy, and he immediately put away the mnemonic and sword technique diagrams of the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.

How wonderful!

By purchasing this low-grade spirit-level sword technique, the Lin Family’s strength could increase significantly.

The chief steward walked up to Zhang Ruochen and said, "Sir, the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique' was auctioned for 1,240,000 silver coins. After deducting 12,000 silver coins paid to the auction house, the total is 1,228,000 silver coins. Would you like to exchange all of it for spirit crystals, or blood pills, or deposit it in the Martial Market Bank?"

Ordinary people use copper, silver, and gold coins for transactions. However, martial artists generally use blood pills or spirit crystals for transactions.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Deposit 1,200,000 silver coins into the Martial Market Bank, exchange 20,000 silver coins for spirit crystals, and give me the remaining 8,000 silver coins directly."

Half an hour later, the chief steward handed a yellow crystal card to Zhang Ruochen and said, "Sir, this is a three-star noble card from the Martial Market Bank, and 1,200,000 silver coins have been deposited into the card."

The "noble card" is a symbol of status, and in Yunwu County, very few people possess a three-star noble card.

Possessing a three-star noble card indicates that one's wealth has reached over one million silver coins.

Subsequently, the chief steward handed a package containing twenty spirit crystals and 8,000 silver coins to Zhang Ruochen.

Zhang Ruochen said nothing, picked up the package, and walked out of the central auction house.

"That person's back looks so familiar!"

Lin Nishan stared at the gradually receding black figure, a sense of familiarity rising in her heart.

Lin Fengxian said, "I also have a familiar feeling; it should be someone I've seen in the palace. This person is not simple, and his true identity might be quite terrifying."

Lin Nishan asked curiously, "Father, why do you say that?"

Lin Fengxian said solemnly, "The ink on the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique' has not dried, indicating that the sword technique diagrams were drawn today. The person who drew the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique' must be a Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse."

"In other words, either he is that Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse, or he has a Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse backing him. In either case, this person is not someone we can provoke."

"Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse..." Lin Nishan was shocked, "Even Grandfather seems not to have broken through to the Heaven Extreme Realm yet."

Lin Fengxian nodded, a look of longing in his eyes.

The four major realms of martial arts are the Yellow Extreme Realm, the Profound Extreme Realm, the Earth Extreme Realm, and the Heaven Extreme Realm.

The "Heaven Extreme Realm" represents the pinnacle of martial arts, a true martial legend. Once one steps into the Heaven Extreme Realm, they can fly, and a single person can resist an army of ten thousand, making them a true powerhouse.

Beyond the Heaven Extreme Realm, it transcends the realm of martial arts, even surpassing the mortal body, and the various techniques they can employ are beyond the imagination of ordinary martial artists.

Lin Nishan said, "There shouldn't be many Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouses in the palace. If we investigate, we might find out who it is."

Lin Fengxian's face turned serious, "Absolutely don't do such a foolish thing. If we anger that Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse, our entire Lin Family will pay a heavy price."

Lin Nishan's eyes sparkled with wisdom, "Father! I have a question. Since he is a big figure in the palace, he shouldn't lack silver coins. Why would he auction off a spirit-level sword technique?"

Lin Fengxian pondered for a moment and said, "The eight spirit-level martial techniques of the royal family are all famous combat techniques, and none of them is the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.' It's best we don't investigate this. A Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse is not someone our Lin Family can offend."

"Nishan, you have the Sword Dao Divine Mark, making you the best candidate to cultivate the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.' After you return, you should seclude yourself to cultivate the 'Heavenly Heart Sword Technique.' If you can successfully cultivate the first move within three months, you will definitely shine in the year-end assessment among the young talents of the royal family."

...

Leaving the central auction house, Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Martial Market, circled around the capital, found a secluded place, and took off his black cloak and the golden-inlaid kylin boots, putting them into the spatial crystal. He then changed into a pair of ordinary cloth shoes.

Dressed like this, he looked like an ordinary young martial artist.

"Probably no one will recognize me as the mysterious person who auctioned the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique just now."

Zhang Ruochen, carrying the package with spirit crystals and silver coins, walked back into the Martial Market and began purchasing the items he needed.

First, he spent 4,000 silver coins to buy twenty bottles of bone-washing liquid.

Then, he spent 1,000 silver coins to buy 200 blood pills. At his current cultivation level, first-grade blood pills were sufficient. Two hundred first-grade blood pills would last him half a year.

Next, he bought two other cultivation-enhancing medicines, "Body Strengthening Powder" and "Qi Gathering Pills."

These two medicines were extremely expensive, and even the genius disciples of major families could not afford such treasures at the initial Yellow Extreme Realm.

For the "wealthy" Zhang Ruochen, as long as it could quickly enhance his cultivation, spending any amount of silver coins was worth it.

In the end, he spent five spirit crystals to buy five bottles of Body Strengthening Powder.

He spent ten spirit crystals to buy ten Qi Gathering Pills.

Additionally, he spent 500 silver coins to buy bone-healing ointment for Yun'er. Not counting the 1,200,000 silver coins deposited in the Martial Market Bank, he still had five spirit crystals and 2,500 silver coins left.

Putting all the purchased pills into the spatial crystal, Zhang Ruochen returned to the palace.

"Big Sister Yun'er, this is the bone-healing ointment I bought for you. It will definitely help your arm heal faster." Zhang Ruochen took out an exquisite blackwood box and handed it to Yun'er.

Yun'er was slightly shocked for a moment, then took the blackwood box with some hesitation and opened it.

The box immediately emitted a fragrant medicinal scent.

She felt both grateful and surprised, asking, "Ninth Prince, where did you get the silver coins to buy the bone-healing ointment?"

After all, even the cheapest bone-healing ointment costs 200 silver coins, and a better one can cost 500 silver coins.

Zhang Ruochen smiled and said, "Big Sister Yun'er, I have some secrets that I can't tell you yet, and I hope you can keep them for me."

Yun'er stared deeply at Zhang Ruochen, nodded, and whispered, "Can I tell Lady Lin?"

"Not yet," Zhang Ruochen said.

"Alright! I promise." Yun'er tightly held the blackwood box, feeling a sense of comfort. If the Ninth Prince could spend hundreds of silver coins to buy bone-healing ointment for her, he must have had a great opportunity.

Perhaps the Ninth Prince could become a martial powerhouse in the future!

Zhang Ruochen asked, "There's something I've been wondering about, and I hope Big Sister Yun'er can tell me the truth. Since Mother is the younger sister of the Lin Family's head, why did she sever ties with the Lin Family? What happened three years ago?"

Yun'er sighed and said, "Because the Ninth Prince has always been weak and cannot withstand any shock, this matter was kept secret. Now that the Ninth Prince has awakened the Divine Mark, I will tell you."

"You should remember Lin Chenyu, the Lin Family's top genius, who is your cousin and the eldest son of the Lin Family's head. At just seventeen, he had cultivated to the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm."

"However, three years ago, Lin Chenyu offended another even more outstanding genius and was beaten and imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison."

"How could this happen?" Zhang Ruochen asked. "The Lin Family is one of the top families in Yunwu County. Who would dare to imprison their top genius in the Heavenly Prison? Could it be that the genius Lin Chenyu offended has a very powerful background?"

Yun'er nodded and said, "Yes! The genius Lin Chenyu offended is the most brilliant talent in Yunwu County, the Seventh Prince. Compared to the Seventh Prince, other geniuses pale in comparison."

"I see!" Zhang Ruochen nodded, finally understanding.

Yun'er continued, "After Lin Chenyu was imprisoned, the Lin Family's head immediately came to the palace to seek Lady Lin. He hoped that Lady Lin could intercede with the Duke, and the Lin Family was willing to pay any price to save Lin Chenyu's life."

"Lady Lin naturally went to see the Duke immediately, but she was stopped by the Empress. Because of this, Lady Lin and the Empress had a dispute, and the Empress, in a fit of anger, ordered Lady Lin to be beaten with thirty rods. By the time the beating was over, Lady Lin was covered in blood and on the verge of death."

"Bang!"

Zhang Ruochen struck the pillar with his palm, gritting his teeth, "The Duke of Yunwu County didn't even investigate this matter?"

Yun'er said, "You must understand that the Seventh Prince is the most talented of the Duke's nine sons, deeply loved by the Duke and held in high regard. The Duke of Yunwu County investigated the matter and found that the entire incident was Lin Chenyu's fault, and the Seventh Prince was almost killed by Lin Chenyu."

"Because of this, the Duke of Yunwu County was furious. He felt that since Lin Chenyu had committed such a grave mistake, Lady Lin should not have interceded for him, which was unreasonable."

"The Duke of Yunwu County, who had always doted on Lady Lin, became much colder towards her after this incident."

Yun'er continued, "Lady Lin suffered a great injustice, but the Lin Family did not understand. They did not dare to offend the Empress and the Seventh Prince, so they blamed Lady Lin for everything. They believed that it was because Lady Lin did not intercede with the Duke that the Lin Family lost a top genius. From then on, the Lin Family completely severed ties with Lady Lin and no longer recognized her as a member of the Lin Family."

Zhang Ruochen took a deep breath, feeling a bitter taste in his heart, feeling unfair for Lady Lin. He clenched his fists tightly and struck the pillar again, saying in a low voice, "Strength! In this world, without great strength, one cannot stand firm and cannot receive fair treatment!"