Small Extreme Rank
With Zhang Ruochen's current physique and the abundant true energy within him, opening the seventh, eighth, ninth, and tenth meridians was an easy task. In just one day, he successfully opened four meridians, allowing the true energy to circulate throughout his body, completing five full cycles.
However, when he attempted to open the eleventh meridian, he finally began to feel the strain. It took him six full hours to succeed, leaving him exhausted and drenched in sweat, with nearly 90% of his true energy consumed.
As the eleventh meridian was successfully opened, Zhang Ruochen's body trembled slightly.
A muffled sound emanated from his brow.
Boom!
He had reached the Small Extreme Rank of the Yellow Extreme Realm!
His Qi Pool expanded tenfold, growing to five meters square—almost the size of an actual pond. The true energy inside surged, swirling like mist.
"As expected! This body is still too weak. At the Small Extreme Rank of the Yellow Extreme Realm, I've only managed to open eleven meridians. I must find a way to strengthen my physique."
If other martial artists knew what Zhang Ruochen was thinking, they would undoubtedly cry out in despair.
After all, being able to open six meridians at the Small Extreme Rank was already considered a sign of talent.
Opening eight meridians would mark one as a top-tier genius.
Opening ten meridians would be nothing short of monstrous, leaving others in the same realm far behind.
The Seventh Prince had opened ten meridians at the Small Extreme Rank, making him a renowned figure and the top prodigy of Yunwu Commandery, unrivaled in the same realm, and earning him the title of Yunwu Commandery's first "heavenly prodigy." He outshone all other geniuses.
For a century, he was the only one in Yunwu Commandery to open ten meridians at the Small Extreme Rank—until now.
Now, there was Zhang Ruochen!
"Regardless, I've finally reached the Small Extreme Rank of the Yellow Extreme Realm! I wonder how much my strength has increased."
After cleaning off the impurities from his body and changing into a blue robe, Zhang Ruochen left his room, intending to find a quiet place to test his strength.
The palace of Yunwu Commandery was built around three mountains: Jun Mountain, Wang Mountain, and Tianzi Mountain. Beyond the dense palace structures, there were also secluded gardens and wooded areas.
Zhang Ruochen and Concubine Lin resided in the Ziyi Hall, which was equivalent to a cold palace, far from the main palace complex.
Beyond Ziyi Hall was a dense, snow-covered forest. Continuing forward led to Jun Mountain, one of the three mountains within the palace walls.
At the base of Jun Mountain, there were no bustling maids or eunuchs, and even palace guards were scarce.
"This spot will do," Zhang Ruochen murmured as he stopped, preparing to test his newfound strength.
His legs bent slightly, taking a stance similar to a horse stance but also resembling a mighty elephant standing proudly in the snow.
He stepped forward and struck with his palm, the speed of his movements increasing.
Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm, First Palm—Stampede of the Wild Elephant!
Zhang Ruochen's legs kicked off the ground, his bones and muscles tensing as he shot forward, landing a powerful blow against a stone wall.
Boom!
Cracks spider-webbed across the stone wall, growing wider and wider.
The five-meter-high stone wall collapsed with a deafening crash.
Zhang Ruochen swiftly retreated, stepping back to avoid being crushed by the falling rubble.
"That strike unleashed the strength of approximately eight bulls," Zhang Ruochen nodded to himself.
Ordinary martial artists at the Small Extreme Rank of the Yellow Extreme Realm could only muster the strength of four bulls.
Zhang Ruochen had just broken through to the Small Extreme Rank, yet he could already unleash eight bulls' worth of strength—a remarkable feat. As his cultivation deepened, his strength would undoubtedly grow even more.
"Let's try out my sword technique now."
Zhang Ruochen retrieved the Flash Soul Sword from the Time and Space Crystal, gripping it tightly as he infused true energy into the blade.
Whoosh!
The first power inscription was activated, bringing the sword's weight to 153 pounds.
Next, the second ice inscription came to life, and a bone-chilling cold emanated from the blade, causing the surrounding air to become noticeably cooler.
With Zhang Ruochen's current cultivation, activating two inscriptions simultaneously was his limit.
Over the past six months, Zhang Ruochen hadn't spent all his time on body refinement; much of it had also been dedicated to practicing the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique and the Dragon-Elephant Prajna Palm.
Cultivation techniques, body refinement, and martial arts—none could be neglected.
The Heavenly Heart Sword Technique, a low-tier spiritual-level sword art, consisted of twelve moves in total.
Each move was incredibly intricate, containing numerous variations far beyond what human-level sword techniques could offer.
For martial artists in the Yellow Extreme Realm, mastering the Heavenly Heart Sword Technique would require a tremendous amount of time. Even mastering a single move could take months of intense training.
Drawing upon his memories of having practiced the technique in his past life, Zhang Ruochen spent six months mastering three of its moves.
The 153-pound Flash Soul Sword felt light in Zhang Ruochen's hand, as though it were a part of his own body.
With just a flick of his arm, the sword moved in perfect synchronization.
Heavenly Heart Guides the Way!
Zhang Ruochen raised his right arm and swung the sword.
A sharp, piercing sound cut through the air as a streak of sword energy slashed forward.
Whoosh!
The ground was left with a seven-meter-long, three-foot-deep sword mark. Everything in its path—grass, stones—was sliced cleanly, leaving a perfectly straight cut.
It was as if a sword path had been carved into the earth!
Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum Blossom!
Zhang Ruochen flicked his arm again, thrusting the sword forward!
The Flash Soul Sword turned into a blue blur, casting seven sword shadows that appeared to strike simultaneously.
When the sword struck the stone wall, the seven shadows merged into a single point, producing a clear "ding" sound.
Seven tiny sword holes appeared on the stone wall, all arranged in the shape of a plum blossom.
Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum Blossom—the target wasn't a plum blossom, but the opponent's brow.
The move left seven tiny sword holes on the opponent's brow, creating the image of a bloody plum blossom.
Only by reaching the "Sword Follows the Heart" stage of sword intent could this move be mastered.
Sword intent was divided into three levels: Sword Follows the Heart, Sword Heart Transparency, and Unity of Man and Sword.
Zhang Ruochen had already reached the Sword Follows the Heart stage and was not far from achieving Sword Heart Transparency.
In addition to Heavenly Heart Guides the Way and Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum Blossom, Zhang Ruochen had also mastered a defensive sword move—Heavenly Heart Sword Bell.
Heavenly Heart Sword Bell!
Zhang Ruochen infused the Flash Soul Sword with true energy, positioning the blade horizontally in front of him. A pale blue bell of sword energy swiftly formed around him, spinning rapidly and enveloping him in a protective barrier.
Once this defensive technique was activated, it could block a full-force strike from a martial artist at the Large Extreme Rank of the Yellow Extreme Realm. Only a martial artist of the same level who had also mastered a spiritual-level sword technique could break through Zhang Ruochen's defense.
Heavenly Heart Guides the Way!
Heavenly Heart Breaks the Plum Blossom!
Heavenly Heart Sword Bell!
Zhang Ruochen repeatedly practiced the three sword techniques, seeking to comprehend the higher realm of Sword Heart Transparency. However, achieving such a level was not something that could be done overnight.
Only when he had exhausted his true energy did Zhang Ruochen return to Ziyi Hall.
"There are only thirteen days left until the year-end examination. I need to raise my cultivation even further."
Zhang Ruochen sat down inside the Time and Space Crystal, swallowed a Qi Gathering Pill, and focused all his energy on cultivation.
As the date of the year-end examination drew closer, all the princes and princesses of Yunwu Commandery were diligently training, hoping to shine and distinguish themselves during the event.
The year-end examination was open only to royal descendants and nobles under the age of twenty, designed to motivate and foster competition among the younger generation.
In previous years, Zhang Ruochen hadn't even qualified to participate in the examination and could only watch from the sidelines. For both him and Concubine Lin, it was always the most humiliating and uncomfortable time of the year.
But this year might be different.
As Zhang Ruochen worked hard to improve, so did the other princes and princesses.
In Yushu Palace, where Zhang Ruochen and Concubine Lin used to live, the sound of the Eighth Prince Zhang Ji's laughter echoed through a luxurious room. "Haha! I've finally broken through to the Small Extreme Rank of the Yellow Extreme Realm!"
Concubine Xiao's face showed satisfaction as she praised, "Good! Ji'er, with your current cultivation, you may not be able to compete with the Fifth and Sixth Princes, but at least your father will see your progress and reward you accordingly."
The Eighth Prince nodded. He knew that his cultivation was far behind the Fifth and Sixth Princes.
The Sixth Prince had reached the peak of the Small Extreme Rank by last year's year-end examination and had likely advanced to the Middle Extreme Rank by now.
As for the Fifth Prince, he was even more formidable, rumored to have already broken through to the Large Extreme Rank.
The Eighth Prince sneered, "It doesn't matter. Someone will be at the bottom, and his presence will only make me look better by comparison."
"You mean the Ninth Prince? He only recently unlocked his martial imprint and likely hasn't even completed his marrow cleansing yet. I doubt he'll even participate in the year-end examination," Concubine Xiao said.
"Hehe, whether he participates or not isn't up to him," the Eighth Prince sneered, a cold smirk on his face.