Chapter 25: Chapter 18: Entrance_1
Translator: 549690339
In the Hall of Righteous Gathering, the noise gradually subsided, and the pattern became clearer.
East-bound Escort Agency, Golden Jade Hall, and other escort bureau merchants stood together, siding with Hundred Broken Mountains.
Shaolin, Wudang, E’mei, Kunlun, as well as Kongtong and other sects formed a group, representing the Martial World faction.
Then there was Princess Qingpin leading the imperial troops, and Li Shaobai with his Sacred Fire Sect followers, each forming their own faction.
The four factions stood divided, their expressions bizarre, and the atmosphere even more subtle.
After a moment of silence, someone could no longer hold back and turned their eyes to Zhou Hai, “To this point, if Heavenly King Li does not make an appearance, I’m afraid tonight this Hundred Broken Mountains will be awash in blood!”
As soon as these words were uttered, all eyes gathered on Zhou Hai.
Indeed, as stated, such a situation could only be resolved by the appearance of a key figure who could decide the overall situation.
And on Hundred Broken Mountains, there had always been only one person who could decide the overall situation, and that was…
“Tap!”
A soft footstep, barely noticeable, but with all the present company being who they were, instantly startled and turned around, looking towards the door.
Just then a person entered, striding in with ease, a tall and majestic young man with an awe-inspiring presence.
“This…”
Upon seeing this person enter the hall, everyone from all factions was stunned, their eyes filled with confusion.
“Who is this man?”
“From which faction does he come?”
“Moreover, was this porridge not chaotic enough already?”
The crowd furrowed their brows, filled with shock and doubt, until the newcomer crossed the center hall and ascended a high tier, turning to sit down on the dragon-head chair.
“This…!”
The pupils of the people constricted, filled with astonishment, and the leaders of the various sects, along with many elders, were even more horrified.
Even Miao Fang, Wang Tang, and other Hundred Broken Mountains’ sect members were agape with disbelief upon this sight.
Only Wang Hai, the chief steward, looked as usual, bowing to the seated youth, “Heavenly King!”
These words caused an uproar in the entire hall.
“How is that possible?”
“He is Heavenly King Li?”
“What a joke!”
“Could they be fooling us?”
“Surely this is deception and bluster!”
Everyone was in disbelief regarding the newcomer’s identity, except the leaders of the major sects and a few renowned figures of the Martial World who were deeply furrowing their brows, filled with doubt.
The public’s reaction was no surprise, for who in the world did not know Heavenly King Li of Hundred Broken Mountains? He had been renowned for over seventy years, his reputation shaking the south and the north, echoing from the east to the west, living as a martial arts legend, a Peerless Master.
How could this legendary figure, nearly a hundred years old, possibly be the young man before them?
Could there really be a technique in this world for reversing age, to achieve immortality and eternal youth?
Or was it just the Trickster Prince, a deceptive ruse?
Naturally, people were more inclined to believe the latter, for if not, the matter would be far too terrifying.
Yet…
“No, this man certainly is not Heavenly King Li!”
“Fifteen years ago, when Heavenly King Li was at Shaolin to challenge the Three Crossing Divine Monk, I had the fortune to catch a glimpse of him. Then, Heavenly King Li was clearly an old man with white hair and beard, with an immortal-like demeanor!”
“Why would this person pretend to be Heavenly King Li? What exactly is Hundred Broken Mountains trying to achieve by doing so?”
“What else could it be? At a hundred years old, his vital energy depleted, how could he withstand such a force? They had to find a substitute to deceive and impress. Who would have thought, who would have thought, that the illustrious Hundred Broken Mountains would come to such a pass…”
“Master Kongjian, I heard that fifteen years ago, Heavenly King Li went to Shaolin to challenge the Three Crossing Divine Monk, and you four were there to witness. You should know best, is this man really…”
“Amitabha!!!”
The voices of the crowd’s astonished discussions were overwhelmed by a resounding Buddhist chant.
Shaolin’s abbot Kongjian stepped forward with his staff and performed a Buddhist salute, “Heavenly King Li has achieved a level of skill that alters creation, reversing the cycle of life and death, rejuvenating himself. He can now stand shoulder to shoulder with our sect’s Bodhidharma. This humble monk admires, truly admires!”
“This…!”
As these words came out, the hall was in an uproar once again.
“Truly Heavenly King Li?”
“What kind of joke is this?”
“Reversing age, immortality, and eternal youth?”
“Is there such martial skill in the world?”
“Why have I never heard of it?”
“Impossible, impossible, absolutely impossible!”
The crowd was in shock, unable to believe it.
Only the outer disciples of Hundred Broken Mountains accepted the fact and immediately prostrated themselves, “Congratulations to our Grandmaster for the great achievement of his Divine Skill!”
Xu Yang shook his head, remained silent, and merely waved his hand for them to stand aside, then turned his gaze towards the leaders of the various sects and the numerous renowned figures of the Martial World, “Shaolin, Wudang, E’mei, Kunlun, as well as Kongtong, Beggar’s Guild, Witch Mountain Sect, Divine Sword Manor… You have all arrived quite promptly.”
“…”
As soon as these words were spoken, a sense of foreboding surged in everyone’s heart.
Was he about to settle accounts?
Of course, it was time to settle accounts!
If it had been before, they would not fear being held accountable, because they had long been prepared to fall out with Heavenly King Li and even to engage in a fight, otherwise, they would not have dared to come to Hundred Broken Mountains to cause trouble during his birthday celebration.
The crowd had such confidence because this martial arts legend was nearly a hundred years old. Even though he had once been invincible in the Martial World, no one can withstand the merciless ravages of time. At the age of a hundred, no matter how high his martial skills were, when faced with the major sects united and wearied by rotation in battle, they could still exhaust him to death.
“`
But now, gazing at Xu Yang, whose hair was as black as ink and who bore a striking and majestic appearance, everyone fell into silence.
Could this still end in death?
Even if it did, how much would they have to pay?
Damn it, why did the traitor arranged within the Hundred Broken Mountains know nothing of such an important matter, leaving them completely unprepared?
The crowd felt annoyed in their hearts, and the pressure on their shoulders grew heavier.
But silence wouldn’t solve the problem, and Kongjian, the abbot of Shaolin, could only pluck up his courage and step forward to say, “Heavenly King’s mastery over creation is beyond mortal, and none of us wish to disturb the Heavenly King, to again mix in these worldly matters, yet the actions of the Heavenly King’s disciples are too overbearing and tyrannical, causing grievances among the various Martial World sects…”
As soon as these words were uttered, the disciples from outside the Hundred Broken Mountains turned pale and immediately cursed in anger.
“Bald donkey, in the presence of the Grandmaster, you still dare to twist truth and spout slander!”
“The Grandmaster’s earnest teachings are etched in our hearts, we have never done anything to tarnish our sect’s reputation!”
The crowd exclaimed in shocked anger, but were silenced by a wave of Xu Yang’s hand.
Xu Yang glanced at Kongjian and then turned his gaze to Princess Qingpin and Li Shaobai.
“Martial World?”
“Imperial court?”
“Rebels?”
“Ha!”
Made to laugh, Xu Yang said in a muted tone, “In truth, you are all of the same ilk, unable to tolerate my man, Li Qing Shan!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
Once these words were said, the hall became deathly quiet.
The crowd was shocked and dared not speak.
In the end, it was Kongjian who came back to his senses first, “Amitabha, Heavenly King, your words are too severe, we truly have no such intentions!”
Both Qingping and Li Shaobai were jolted awake too, “Yes, yes, yes, we absolutely have no intention to cause the Heavenly King any trouble!”
However, Xu Yang paid them no mind and said with a cold glance, “You can’t tolerate me, yet how could I ever tolerate you?”
“This…”
The crowd’s pupils shrank, showing a look of shock and fright.
Kongjian furrowed his white brows, feeling greatly unsettled, but as the Shaolin abbot, he still had to ask, though with difficulty, “What do you mean by this, Heavenly King?”
Xu Yang gave no answer, his gaze swept across the crowd, finally landing on the leader of the Kunlun Sect, Mr. Iron Sword, He Tianchong, “Fifty years ago, I ascended Kunlun and fought your grandfather, Mr. Three Exceptional. In fifty-two moves, I was victorious!”
“…”
The statement caused He Tianchong’s face to twitch with fury and shock, yet he dared not speak.
Xu Yang ignored him, looking next at the leader of the Kongtong Sect, Chen Longfei, “Forty-five years ago, I went to Kongtong. The five elders of Kongtong met me in battle. In forty-two moves, they were defeated by my hand!”
Chen Longfei: “…”
“Forty years ago, at the Beggar’s Guild headquarters, your former leader, along with six of the nine-bag elders and eighteen disciples, formed the Dog Beating Staff Formation. In fifty-eight moves, it was broken by me!”
“Thirty-five years ago, at Divine Sword Manor, your grandfather with the Yishan Eight Swords combined, took eighty-eight moves to admit defeat.”
“Thirty years ago, on the golden summit of E’mei, the thirty-six Heaven Gang Sword Formation, sixty-two moves!”
“Twenty-five years ago, on Wudang Mountain, the True Martial Seven Sections, eighty-one moves!”
“Fifteen years ago, on Shaoshi Mountain, one hundred and eight Arhats formed the Vajra Demon Subduing Array, seventy-five moves!”
“…”
“…”
“…”
As he recounted each incident, the sect leaders’ faces twitched, and their eyes flickered uncontrollably.
Over these decades, the ability of the Hundred Broken Mountains to operate freely across the world, establishing escort agencies, horse gangs, merchant associations, and fleets in all directions, depended first on monopolies of several goods like salt, soap, and glaze, and second on the martial power of Heavenly King Li.
Seventy years ago, after the takeover of the Hundred Broken Mountains, this newly ascended Heavenly King offered a hefty reward for the purchase of martial arts techniques from well-known families across the world.
Twenty years thereafter, having perfected his skills, he came down from the mountain to challenge the masters of the world. Mr. Three Exceptional of Kunlun, the five elder gods of Kongtong, and the Seven Disciples of Wudang, the three monks of Shaolin, and even the leading figure of the contemporary Martial World, the master of Divine Sword Manor, all suffered defeats.
Thus, the world came to know a figure who made history in the Martial World — Heavenly King Li of the Hundred Broken Mountains!
Now, seventy years had passed, and he had not made a move in fifteen years, causing people all over the world to forget these remarkable feats of the Defence Heavenly King.
“Amitabha!”
With the chant of Buddha’s name, Kongjian lowered his head, “Heavenly King’s divine skill is unparalleled, and we cannot match it, yet the sun and moon shine bright, justice lies within the human heart. If the Heavenly King intends to suppress the voices of the people with martial force, we will neither be convinced by speech nor heart!”
With these words, he tried to bolster morale, and immediately, someone responded.
“Indeed!”
“Li Qing Shan, with your divine skill unmatched, do you intend to shield your own disciple?”
“Since ancient times, it is said that wealth cannot corrupt, power cannot bend, how can the people of the world be intimidated by your tyranny?”
“Don’t be afraid, everyone. However formidable he is, he’s still just one person; I don’t believe he can kill us all!”
“Indeed, Heavenly King Li, even if your power is unmatched and peerless, you are still flesh and blood, not steel and iron. Jade Fluid and Golden Core, once your True Qi is exhausted, you too cannot escape your fate!”
The crowd shouted, forcefully stabilizing their position.
Listening to this, Xu Yang smiled and said, “Is that so? Then let’s give it a try.”
After speaking, his gaze dropped coldly. He looked first at Kongjian and others, then at Princess Qingpin and the young master of the Sacred Fire Sect.
“You, you, and you!”
“Come at me together!”
With those words, the battle began.