Chapter 9

"Exactly! It is indeed a low-grade Spirit-level sword technique, and moreover, it is a sword technique diagram drawn by a powerful Heaven Extreme Realm senior with their own hands!"

Lin Fengxian's face was filled with joy as he immediately put away the mnemonic and sword technique diagram 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 a total of 1,240,000 silver coins. After deducting 120,000 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 coins, silver coins, and gold coins when trading. However, martial artists generally use blood pills or spirit crystals when trading.

Zhang Ruochen said, "Deposit 1,200,000 silver coins into the Martial Market Bank, exchange 20,000 silver coins for spirit crystals, and just 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. 1,200,000 silver coins have already been deposited into the card."

A "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 means that you have wealth exceeding 1,000,000 silver coins.

Subsequently, the chief steward handed Zhang Ruochen a package containing 20 spirit crystals and 8,000 silver coins.

Without saying a word, Zhang Ruochen picked up the package and walked out of the central auction house.

"This person's back is so familiar!"

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

Lin Fengxian said, "I also have a familiar feeling. I must have seen him in the palace. This person is not simple; his true identity might be quite terrifying."

Lin Ningshan 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 diagram was drawn today. And 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 Ningshan was shocked, "Even Grandfather seems to have not yet broken through to the Heaven Extreme Realm."

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 legend. A single person can resist an army of ten thousand, making them a true powerhouse.

Beyond the Heaven Extreme Realm, one 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 Ningshan said, "There should not be many Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouses in the palace. If we investigate, we might be able to find out who it is."

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

Lin Ningshan's eyes sparkled with wisdom, "Father! I have a doubt. Since he is a big figure in the palace, he should not 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 matter further. A Heaven Extreme Realm powerhouse is not someone our Lin Family can offend."

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

...

After leaving the central auction house, Zhang Ruochen walked out of the Martial Market and circled around the capital, finding a secluded place to take off his black cloak and golden kirin boots, putting them into the temporal crystal stone, and changing 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 20 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. 200 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 more 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 temporal crystal stone, 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 black wooden box and handed it to Yun'er.

Yun'er was slightly shocked for a moment, then took the black wooden box with some trepidation 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?"

You must know that 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. 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 black wooden 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 arts powerhouse in the future!

Zhang Ruochen asked, "There's something I've always wanted to know, 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 sickly, unable to withstand any shock, this matter was kept hidden. Since the Ninth Prince has now awakened the Divine Martial Mark, I will tell you."

"You should remember Lin Chenyu, the Lin Family's top genius. He is your cousin and the eldest son of the Lin Family's head, who reached the Great Perfection of the Yellow Extreme Realm at the age of seventeen."

"However, three years ago, Lin Chenyu offended another even more outstanding genius and was beaten to the point of having his legs broken and was imprisoned in the Heavenly Prison."

"How could this happen?" Zhang Ruochen said, "The Lin Family is one of the top families in Yunwu County. Who would dare to imprison the Lin Family's 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, "Exactly! The genius Lin Chenyu offended is the most brilliant talent in Yunwu County, the Seventh Prince. All other geniuses pale in comparison to the Seventh Prince."

"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, 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 matter, 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 thirty rods were finished, Lady Lin was covered in blood and on the verge of death."

"Bang!"

Zhang Ruochen struck the pillar with his palm, clenching his teeth, and said, "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 truth 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 tried to intercede for him, which was unreasonable."

"The Duke of Yunwu County used to love Lady Lin very much, but after this incident, he became much colder towards her."

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 all the faults on Lady Lin. 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, "Power! In this world, without great power, one cannot stand firm and cannot receive fair treatment!"