God Emperor
chapter-578

Zhang Ruochen's innate talents had certainly terrified many Saints of the Black Market. They were worried another sword saint would emerge from the Eastern Region if Zhang Ruochen was allowed to develop fully.

This was the reason why the Black Market wanted to eradicate Zhang Ruochen. They also wanted this opportunity to regain their former glory and to regain lost face and prestige.

Second Senior Brother apprentice Zhu Hongtao glanced at Zhang Ruochen and chuckled. "Youngest junior brother, this honor is so great. Even the Nine Serenity Sword Saint has come to the East Region Saint City for you. I can't hold a candle to you."

However, Third Senior Brother Wan Ke shook his head and said, "I'm afraid it won't be that simple. Their real purpose, I believe, is to wreck the relationship between Saint Academy and East Region Saint Mansions. Imagine this: given Master's high expectations of our youngest junior brother, if he gets killed by the Black Market while in the mansion of the Chens, wouldn't our Master bear a grudge toward the Chens? You ought to know his temper! And when Saint Academy has broken with the East Region Saint Mansions, the Black Market will have no difficulty dealing with anything in the Eastern Region."

Zhang Ruochen frowned and said, "Since the Black Market dared to attack the East Region Saint City, they must have made adequate preparations. They must have foreknowledge that Master was leaving Saint Academy on some business."

Sword Saint Xuanji had indeed left East Region Saint City half a month ago. He left word that he had an urgent matter to see to and that he would be back before Zhang Ruochen's wedding.

Zhu Hongtao and Wan Ke had not found anything amiss back then. Now, thanks to Zhang Ruochen's reminder, they realized it could well have been a scheme of the Black Market.

Since the Black Market might have lured Sword Saint Xuanji away, they would definitely have plotted to contain all the superiors left in East Region Saint City.

They might even have infiltrated the Chens' mansion. Otherwise, it would not have taken the Defender Array this long to start.

Wan Ke patted Zhang Ruochen on the shoulder and said, "Don't worry! East Region Saint City is still a territory under the Chens. They've been in control for generations and will be able to cope with any crisis and change. Even the Nine Serenity Sword Saint's presence won't rock the Chens."

The arrival of Nine Serenity Sword Saint had indeed stunned many.

The names of the Three Great Sword Saints had reverberated around the region like thunderclaps. Their reputation far exceeded those of Ghost Saint and Hammer Saint.

But Chen Wutian's face did not change color upon seeing the Nine Serenity Sword Saint. Instead, he let out a long laugh. "You must be joking, sword saint! It's no easy task to seize someone from the Saint Prince's Mansion in East Region Saint City. Even for your esteemed self."

Nine Serenity Sword Saint asked, "Why not? You don't believe I can?"

Chen Wutian answered sharply with a voice full of righteous dignity. "Of course I don't. Let me offer you a piece of advice. This is the East Region Saint Mansions, not Nine Serenity City. Please leave at once, or you may not be able to later."

A loud laugh rang out from the vault of heaven. "Shang Jiuyou, you have indeed aged! Now even the younger generations don't hold you in any regard."

Chen Wutian's expression turned even more somber. He lifted his head and looked at the sky.

Amidst the layers of clouds, a gigantic black city was suspended.

The roar of laughter just now had erupted from the dark city.

Apart from Chen Wutian, no one else could see the black city. The laughter merely made it known to them that some master from Black Market had not yet shown his face.

Third Senior Brother Wan Ke's face froze as he exclaimed. "Terrible! It looks like one more person other than the Nine Serenity Sword Saint is here - the Black Market Excellence Hall Owner. That person is possibly hiding in the background."

"How do you know?" asked Zhang Ruochen.

"Among the superiors of the evil way very few would dare invoke the name of Nine Serenity Sword Saint. It's not hard to guess who it is." Third Senior Brother Wan Ke replied.

A faint smile continued to linger on Nine Serenity Sword Saint's lips. He stared at Chen Wutian opposite him and said, "You are the first person who has dared to threaten me. Not bad, not bad at all. For your sheer guts, I can address you as a young hero."

Even someone Chen Wutian's age would count himself as a young man before the Nine Serenity Sword Saint.

Chen Wutian stood straight and proudly said, "Sword saint, I'm afraid I'm the one who holds the aces now. Do you believe I can exterminate the Ghost Saint this moment?"

"Swosh!"

The Sky Piercer had almost pierced into the Ghost Saint's chest. The halbert tip gleamed brightly; the Ghost Saint's face had turned ghastly white in its reflection.

The Nine Serenity Sword Saint smiled. "You have someone in your hands, but the Black Market also has hostages."

As the Nine Serenity Sword Saint's voice faded, two shadowy figures could be discerned in the darkness.

Two elders, one in green and one in white, were floating in void space with both hands gripping their necks. Their legs were kicking wildly. Whines could be heard from their lips, as an invisible rope seemed to wrap around their necks, suspending them in midair.

No one could see anything around the two elders' necks.

The scene struck everyone as being bizarrely eerie.

The two elders were two of the Branch Heads of the Chens: Chen Xican and Chen Tiankun.

Zhang Ruochen stared in their direction and could not help remarking. "What an impressive feat of sorcery! Even a Half-Saint will be fooled."

Even the intrepid Senior Brother Zhu Hongtao looked around carefully and spoke with some dread and much caution. "This must be Phantom Saint! The power of this siren is terrifying. She's like an omnipresent phantom, almost impossible to guard against. We must be careful!"

The Black Market and the Chens both had hostages. They were suddenly in a deadlock and tension mounted.

Bu Qianfan suddenly stepped out toward the center of the arena and said, "Since the seniors here will not strike, let this junior first resolve my feud with Zhang Ruochen."

Bu Qianfan's figure and facial features gradually morphed into the exact appearance of Di Yi.

Di Yi held both hands behind his back and stared at Zhang Ruochen who was standing in the distance. He waved his hands and smiled. "Bring up the gift! This betrothal gift ought to have been presented much earlier."

Two Glazed Knights riding on the back of savage beasts emerged from behind Di Yi.

A six-foot-high iron cage was dragged along by the two savage beasts. Sparks flew due to the friction.

Within the cage was a woman with disheveled hair. Steel nails had been driven through both of her wrists, pinning her onto the iron framework. Fresh blood was dripping down her arms, dyeing her sleeves and robe red.

Although the woman had already lost consciousness, Zhang Ruochen could still tell at a glance that it was his mother, Concubine Lin.

A green vein bulged in Zhang Ruochen's forehead. With bloodshot eyes, he launched himself forward and shouted severely. "Di Yi, you're looking for death!"

Di Yi lifted an arm and made a gesture.

"Pffff!"

The two Glazed Knights raised their Dragon Bone Spears and stabbed Concubine Lin's left and right shoulders. Their expressions were icy.

Concubine Lin immediately awoke with pain and uttered a horrific shriek.

Fresh blood spurted from her shoulders like fountains.

"Zhang Ruochen, if you dare to take one more step, your royal mother will die before your eyes." Di Yi smiled.

He gave a sunny and charming smile with an exceptionally hideous feel.

Zhang Ruochen checked his steps and clenched his fists tightly. His whole body quivered. He said, "What has this got to do with my mother? Why have you... brought her... into this?"

Huang Yanchen immediately dashed over and took her place beside Zhang Ruochen.

Her heart was filled with grief and rage, seeing Concubine Lin in the iron cage. She said coldly, "A warrior should not take another's family in a fight. It looks like the Saints from Black Market won't toe even the basic line of morality."

Zhang Ruochen's Half-Saint mansion had an extremely strong defense. With Fifth Senior Sister in charge, no one but a Saint could break through it.

Di Yi smiled and said, "This has nothing to do with the Saints. I invited auntie here to get one thing clear. I'm curious about who Zhang Ruochen holds nearer to his heart, his mother or his fiancee?

"This isn't a question many can answer, but I'm sure Zhang Ruochen is smart enough to give me a precise answer.

"Zhang Ruochen, you now have two options.

"Option one: allow me to take your fiancee and wed her. Then I will let your royal mother off.

"Option two: you can go ahead and marry your fiancee, but before this, please prepare for your mother's funeral.

"What an extraordinarily tough dilemma! I shall give you half an hour to consider, Zhang Ruochen. Will that be enough?"

Senior brothers Zhu Hongtao and Wan Ke rushed to each side of Zhang Ruochen.

Di Yi glanced at the two of them and immediately said, "The two seniors, don't even think about saving her. It's much faster for anyone to kill than to save. If either one of you blunders and Zhang Ruochen's mother dies, as a result, I'm sure he will hate you for the rest of his life."

Zhu Hongtao had wanted very much to crack Di Yi's skull, but he still kept his impulse under control.

Wan Ke looked worriedly toward Zhang Ruochen and said, "Don't believe his lies, Junior Brother. Even if you hand Miss Yanchen over, he won't let your mother off. Their ultimate target is you. You are the one they are looking to kill."

Huang Yanchen understood Zhang Ruochen's dilemma very well, so she said, "Let me go! When Di Yi releases Concubine Lin, I will commit suicide and make sure he doesn't shame me. It's very worthwhile, using my life to exchange for your mother's."

Huang Yanchen's eyes looked determined. She had just taken one step forward when Zhang Ruochen grabbed her by the wrist and pulled her back.

"Come back. Let me resolve this."

Zhang Ruochen raised his head and gradually calmed down, but his eyes still exuded a heavy, murderous gleam. He said, "Di Yi, are you sure you are holding all the aces?"

Di Yi shrugged and spread out both hands. He smiled. "Isn't that obvious?"

"Swoosh!"

Zhang Ruochen suddenly disappeared from his original spot.

None of the Saints could see his figure clearly; they only felt a momentary fluctuation of space.

The very moment he disappeared, another Zhang Ruochen appeared on top of the cage confining Concubine Lin. Exhibiting Time Swordsmanship, this figure thrust his sword out twice.

"Swish!"

The heads of the two Glazed Knights flew off almost at the same time.

"Space Moving... Sword of Time... Has the Time and Space Descendant reappeared?"

Nine Serenity Sword Saint's aging eyes stared sharply. The Qi from his eyes turned into a heaven-churning sword Qi.

Right at this moment, the secret that Zhang Ruochen could control time and space was finally revealed to the entire world.

From this moment forward, he would encounter countless assassination attempts, but he did not regret revealing this because it was his only option.

Only by manipulating the Power of Time and Space could he slay the two Glazed Knights and rescue his mother before any Black Market Saint could react.