Chapter 1790: Water Under the Bridge

Qianshui Commandery was one of the largest commanderies outside the Eastern Region’s divine lands. Many famous rivers such as the Tongming River, the Wansang River, and the Baiyue River flowing through its borders, and were connected to thirty-three other commanderies. Its water and land-based roadways are very well developed and could be said to be in a very favorable geographical location.

In addition, the thirteenth Merit sub-terminal was built in the Qianshui Royal City, which immediately made this place a bridgehead fortress for the battles between the Celestial Court and the Infernal Court.

In the city, there were more and more saint-level elites coming from all realms in the universe, but most of them hid their aura away and did not show off just because Qianshui Royal City was a mortal city in Kunlun Realm as if quietly following some sort of rules.

Some cultivators even set up saint shops in the Martial Market to trade various cultivation resources.

No matter how terrible the fighting was elsewhere, Qianshui Royal City was thriving and was many times more prosperous than before.

When Zhang Ruochen entered the city, he noticed the interior of the city walls were all engraved with formation inscriptions, and the inscriptions were all quite complicated and arcane, very likely a Ninth-Rank Formation Array.

“With such a formation array protecting it, the Qianshui Royal City can be literally called an ironwall. It seems like Earthlord-realm Formation Masters from the Celestial Court had come to the Kunlun Realm.”

One could become an Earthlord with the rank of a Saint King, and Earthlords were definitely talented and experienced people in the way of the formation arrays. Such people could determine the victory or defeat of a large scale War of Merits and were extremely rare. At the very least, they could not find one in the entirety of Guanghan Realm.

Outside Qianshui Royal City, countless refugees had gathered and wanted to enter the city to escape the war. Recently, there had been continuous outbreaks of battles between Saints, and that terrified those civilians.

However, Qianshui Royal City was only so big, and it was impossible for it to accept the continuous influx of refugees, and could only expel them beyond the city walls.

Zhang Ruochen arrived at the city gate and immediately unleashed his saint aura. The saint guards manning the gate did not dare to stop him and immobilizing let him through.

However, an ancient mirror hung below the city, and after the examination by the ancient mirror, determining that he was not an Infernal Court cultivator in disguise, only did Zhang Ruochen officially entered the city.

It was easy getting out of the city, getting in, however, was difficult.

Looking at the bustling scenery in the city, Zhang Ruochen sighed to himself. “The war brought not only devastation to Kunlun Realm, but also hope of rebirth. This War of Merits, if it lasts for a hundred years, it will definitely be a realm where both suffering and opportunities coexist, and will definitely stimulate the Kunlun Realm to give birth to a large number of talents and strong persons.”

“Of course, there is a bigger possibility of it being destroyed by both internal and external woes.”

Even the gods could not predict where the Kunlun Realm will head to in the future.

Perhaps the destiny of Kunlun Realm was annihilation, but there would always be a group of stubborn ones who would not surrender to fate, as they puff their chest, grit their teeth, endure whatever shame, bleed and fight as they screamed at the heavens and declare war against destiny.

When he arrived at the Martial Market Bank’s Qianshui Commandery branch, the first person Zhang Ruochen saw was actually Lei Jing.

Zhang Ruochen hurriedly clasped his hands together and bowed. “Greetings, Master.”

Lei Jing was once the principal of the Martial Market Academy at Tianmoling and was Zhang Ruochen’s first master. He had played a great role in helping Zhang Ruochen before his growth.

A day as his master was a master for a lifetime.

And now, Lei Jing had cultivated to the realm of a Demi-Saint and was now working in the Martial Market Bank’s Qianshui Commandery branch.

“Haha.”

Lei Jing was obviously quite happy as he laughed and patted Zhang Ruochen on the shoulder with his large hand, and said. “Good lad, it had only been a few years and your cultivation had reached the realm of a Saint King. Not bad, not bad, you must drink a couple of rounds with Master tonight.”

While he was just a Demi-Saint, Lei jing did not exude any pressure at all and looked all carefree.

“Sure!” Zhang Ruochen smiled.

Immediately after, Lei Jing sighed again, knowing that Zhang Ruochen’s life these past few years had not been easy. He wanted to say something but stopped, and instead said. “Forget that, let’s get down to business. Your senior sister had been waiting for you for a long time now.”

“Which senior sister?” Zhang Ruochen asked.

“The one who brought you something.”

Lei Jing took Zhang Ruochen to a quiet courtyard of the Martial Market Bank. In the courtyard was planted with a Four-seasons Begonia, with a fragrance of flowers and the trace scent of calligraphy ink.

Suddenly, Lei Jing stopped and said. “She’s over there. Go on!”

Zhang Ruochen looked at the pond and saw Luo Shuihan’s graceful figure. She wore an immaculate white robe, and the white robe was whiter than snow, yet her person was whiter than her robes. The green water of the pond reflected her image, and the fragrance of the surrounding flowers made her look just as stunning as when Zhang Ruochen saw her at the western courtyard for the first time.

There was an elegant and artistic temperament around her.

The Saint Tome Maiden had such a temperament too, but as the maiden was active in court, and was well acquainted with the ways of the land, with troubles in her heart, and schemes within her being. She was always out and about, worrying about the safety of kin and country, or weighing the heroes of the world.

But Luo Shuihan was a hermit, with no quarrels in the world. She was like a cloud of mist floating in the sky and was untouched by worldly things.

What surprised Zhang Ruochen was that Luo Shuihan had actually reached the realm of a Saint King.

Luo Shuihan had always wanted to walk the path of Luo Xu. In fact, her talents surpassed Luo Xu, and Luo Xu did not have the conditions she had back then at all. He relied on his own hard work and continuous efforts to make up for what he lacked innately to achieve what he had today.

In addition to her own efforts, Luo Shuihan stood on Luo Xu’s proverbial shoulder of a giant, and with Luo Xu paving the way for her, her cultivation speed was naturally fast.

Of course, Luo Shuihan must have her own opportunities and fortune, otherwise, she would not have reached her current place.

The Three Demons of the Western Courtyard are all women of talents, each with their own personality and fortunes.

Seeing Luo Shuihan again, Zhang Ruochen sighed in his heart as he thought of the past.

“Senior sister.” Zhang Ruochen said.

Luo Shuihan took out a crystal box and handed it to Zhang Ruochen. “The item you wanted in is it.”

Zhang Ruochen took the crystal box and only after propping up a Dimensional Domain did he opened the box. The box was inlaid with a formation array, and even so, two blinding divine light rushed out of it like two scorching suns, containing terrifying energies within.

Bam!!

Quickly closing the box, Zhang Ruochen suppressed his excitement. He did not want to appear too immature before Luo Shuihan and tried his best to keep his composure as he said, “How many saint stones?”

Luo Shuihan shook her head lightly and said, “This is just a small favor, you don’t have to pay any saint stones.”

Zhang Ruochen said. “I appreciate, senior Luo Xu’s kindness! But Senior Sister, you should you know that I, Zhang Ruochen don’t like to owe anyone anything, just name the price.”

Luo Shuihan fell silent, and a moment later, she said. “No need for saint stones!” However, this is one thing that I might need to trouble you.”

“What’s the matter?”

“You should know about Luoshui, right?”

Zhang Ruochen nodded gently.

Luo Shuihan said, “Luoshui has a deep relationship with the Luo Saint-Clan, and with the recovery of the Kunlun Realm, Luoshui would soon undergo a lot of changes, and the eyes of the cultivators will probably be attracted to there.”

Zhang Ruochen obviously knew that Luoshui was extraordinary, and Luo Xu’s cultivated Luoshui Fist was actually learned at Luoshui.

There was a possibility that it was not Luo Xu who had learned the fist techniques there, but there were other secrets. After all, Luo Xu was already proficient in Luoshui Fist when he was out and about in the martial arts realm.

Given how exquisite Luoshui Fist was, how could a mere martial artist of the Huangji-Realm learn it?

Of course, that was Luo Xu’s secret, and he would definitely try to keep that secret hidden. Luo Xu was already being very generous when he thought the Luoshui Fist technique to Zhang Ruochen, and Zhang Ruochen naturally pretended not to know anything and did not deliberately ask anything about it.

“Then what can I do? Take Luoshui away?” Zhang Ruochen said.

Luo Shuihan gently shook her head and said. “You cannot take Luoshui away. There is a great secret hidden there, and the opportunities of Master Xu, and mine, are obtained there.”

“The civilians of Luoshui’s bank are more or less related to the Luo Saint-Clan. Master Xu hopes you can pick them up and take them away so that they don’t perish in the chaos of war.”

Zhang Ruochen agreed and said. “This is just a small matter! The two Godstones from Senior Luo Xu, I’ll accept them, and take it that I owe him a favor. If the Luo Saint-Clan were to get into any trouble, just let me know, and Zhang Ruochen will definitely rush over to help.”

Luo Shuihan smiled lightly, “A favor from Zhang Ruochen is much more valuable than two Godstones. There’s no loss in us gifting you them.”

Zhang Ruochen suddenly thought of something, and immediately took out a list and handed over to Luo Shuihan, as he said. “I need the materials in the list. It shouldn’t be difficult for the Martial Market Bank, right?”

Luo Shuihan took the list and read it carefully as she said. “They are all materials for a formation array, and a rather high-level one. Give me a night, and I should be able to help you to get all of them by tomorrow morning.”

After parting with Luo Shuihan, Zhang Ruochen went to see Lei Jing.

Lei Jing had long taken out the best wine he had from his wine cellar. Even himself was only willing to taste only a sip a year, but at this moment, he and Zhang Ruochen were drinking it by the bowls.

As they drank, they walked about their experiences over the years.

Zhang Ruochen asked about his former senior Si Xingkong and Chang Qiqi. Lei Jing did not want to hide the truth from Zhang Ruochen and told him everything. Back then, when Zhang Ruochen’s three meridians were completely ruined and caused quite the trouble with many people related to him affected. Si Xingkong, the easygoing senior was brutally killed by the Immortal Vampires, and neither his wife nor children were spared, and his end was gruesome.

Hearing that, Zhang Ruochen crushed the wine bowl in his hand and deeply blamed himself. At the same time, his hatred towards the Immortal Vampires grew even more.

Lei Jing then told him that Chang Qiqi was still alive but had gone incognito, gotten married, and had children, living his life like a mortal.

That night, Lei Jing and Zhang Ruochen talked about many things and people, and no one knew how much they drank, and both of them got slightly tipsy.

Perhaps because he was tipsy, Lei Jing asked about Huang Yanchen.

Lei Jing knew that Huang Yanchen was the last name Zhang Ruochen wanted to hear. If he was sober, he would have definitely not asked about it.

Zhang Ruochen shook his head and told Lei Jing that there was no news of Huang Yanchen.

In the end, Zhang Ruochen did not know if he really got drunk, or if he was just too tired that he got himself drunk. In short, as he lay on the table, he heard in a daze Lei Jing sighing. “Aih! Actually, she did return to Qianshui Commandery… Yunwu royal city… Western Court… Seen her once… Will never return… Hell’s Gate… Tears…”

He did not hear it clearly, and by the time he woke up the next day, Zhang Ruochen could not remember anything.