Yan Chuan looked at his master.
"Not going, not going!"
Cheng Fengxiao waved his hand: "I now have ’Star Stone’, enabling me to freely enter and exit the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’. Why should I join the court?"
Yan Chuan chuckled in response.
This master is truly genuine!
He smiled and said: "But Master, if you want to explore the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’, in terms of understanding it, the court is unmatched. Solo efforts can’t compare to the countless experts in the court."
Cheng Fengxiao certainly knew: "Yes, indeed, the court has developed the Mountain and Sea Realm for ten years or more. There must be a wealth of information within, and if I join them, I could familiarize myself with the realm faster."
He understood the logic.
But he changed his tone: "Conversely, once in the system, one is bound by constraints. Those royal families, those nobles, those officials, they know the ins and outs of the system and hold the initial advantage. If they dislike you, they have a hundred ways to make you suffer!"
Cheng Fengxiao knew too well the filthy dealings in the government offices, so he avoided them if he could.
With the ’Star Stone’, he had no need to join the court; he could explore the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’ by himself, so there was no need to bring trouble upon himself.
"I once had an old friend who joined the academy, and after eight years, he moved from the academy to other government offices and now holds a high position. If I go, fitting below him would be quite awkward."
Thinking it over, it wasn’t suitable.
But still didn’t join.
Cheng Fengxiao had a long conversation with his disciple Yan Chuan.
From the Mountain and Sea Realm to the Martial Arts Competition, from the court to the Martial Arts World, and from the academy to his own Martial Arts Hall, Cheng Fengxiao let go of his thoughts and felt at ease, seeing the myriad things in the world clearly.
What he now wanted most was to continue ascending the martial path—
"I thought I was old, but the ’Star Stone’ and the ’Mountain and Sea Realm’ reignited my passion."
"Since the alien race has War Generals and War Gods of invincible strength, there’s no reason we martial artists can’t match them."
The road ahead was open.
There are always people better than oneself.
Cheng Fengxiao’s spirits soared in an instant.
In reality, he carried the burden of the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall for half of his life, inheriting the family business at a young age and working diligently without daring to be reckless.
Longing for the Jianghu, but it seemed distant.
Yet in the Mountain and Sea Realm, alone, he could be free and unfettered!
"Fight with all my heart!"
Magpies on the tree chirped, signifying good luck approaching.
Wei Quan looked up at the magpies, wearing new clothes and smiling cheerfully.
Che Qi looked at Wei Quan’s new clothes, then at his own worn-out rough clothing, puzzled: "Senior Brother Wei, today there will be fighting in the competition, bumps and scrapes are inevitable. These new clothes—"
He wanted to advise Wei Quan to change, considering Senior Brother Wei wasn’t wealthy and getting a new outfit wasn’t easy, he shouldn’t spoil it .
"He’s just a show-off!"
Jin Yutang clutched a Red Tassel Spear, glanced at Wei Quan, and couldn’t help but laugh: "In this outfit, those who know will see him as going to compete, those who don’t might think he’s going for a date!"
In high spirits, Wei Quan ignored them all.
The Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall was closed, and a group led by Yan Chuan with his disciples Yu Jinpeng, Jin Yutang, Wei Quan, and a volunteer Che Qi, a total of five people, set off toward the Martial Arts Competition venue.
As for Cheng Fengxiao, he had already left the night before, going to the house of Luo Liang, one of the ’Guangling Ten Tigers’ known for ’Secret Sect Boxing’. The two were old friends, with a friendship even closer than that with the late Song the Chief, and their wives were related by blood, making them even more close.
Cheng Fengxiao planned to start from the Luo family and attend the martial observation together with Luo Liang.
"Today’s Master will also watch, don’t mess up."
"Yes, you! Wei Quan! Keep your mouth shut, don’t babble nonsense. Everyone in the city is here to watch the fun. The first day has the most people, and if you embarrass us, it would be a major humiliation!"
Yan Chuan scolded Wei Quan, dampening his arrogance a bit.
The group moved forward in a Dragon Walk Tiger Step manner, heading straight to the south of the city.
Upon arriving at the Martial Arts Competition grounds, Wei Quan couldn’t help but exclaim.
Even Che Qi, Jin Yutang, and Yu Jinpeng were amazed.
This year’s Martial Arts Competition seemed to be even more lively than previous ones.
"The court has been promoting martial arts for ten years."
"Guangling opened its academy eight years ago."
"The people in the county, nowadays, may not have someone practicing martial arts in every household, but among relatives and friends, there’s bound to be no shortage of martial artists."
"Every year, more people practice martial arts."
"Naturally, the audience also grows each year."
Yan Chuan saw in front of him the vast Martial Arts Competition site, now shoulder to shoulder, layer upon layer, packed to the brim.
When he arrived, someone noticed him and called out excitedly—
"The ’Jade-faced Tiger’ of the ’Ten Tigers’ has arrived!"
"The ’Tiger Crane Double Forms’ Master Yan!"
"Come, come, everyone make a path for Master Yan, let him move to the front."
A path, barely enough for one or two people to pass through, emerged.
"’Stone to Gold’ Yan Chuan?"
Fame follows the name.
Before July, Yan Chuan was not well-known, even when he killed Fan Defang and opened an Advanced Study Hall, his reputation spread only among martial arts practitioners and limitedly within the Guangling Academy.
Until Yan Chuan closed the Advanced Study Hall.
Until the Martial Arts Competition was about to commence.
Various publications frequently introduced martial artists and academy elites; Yan Chuan, with a remarkably strong record, frequently appeared and became widely known.
Merely mentioning Yan Chuan might not bring up memories for some.
But if you add titles like ’Jade-faced Tiger’, ’Tiger Crane Double Forms’, ’Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall’, ’Advanced Study Hall’, ’Stone to Gold’, ’Cheng Family Boxing’, along with these prefixes, it’s truly a renowned name!