Chapter 59: Chapter 59: Martial Arts Forum
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
The Martial Arts Forum is the most authoritative and well-known online forum in the Huaxia Martial Arts World.
Many martial artists exchange insights there, and occasionally, real masters or even experts from the Xiaoyao Realm drop by to offer guidance.
However, more often than not, the most common questions on the forum are like this one.
If I jump off a cliff at Mount Hua tomorrow, will I find a martial arts manual? Online now, quite urgent!
First floor: Sofa! (meaning, first to comment)
Second floor: I think it’s possible, but I’ve heard these recluses are quite eccentric, so it might be best to strip off your clothes before you jump to increase your chances of success.
Third floor: What if the person asking is a woman?
Fourth floor: Then ask for a video!
Fifth floor: Ditto!
These ridiculous questions are what bring many people to casually browse the Martial Arts Forum in their free time.
Today, like usual, Li Qiang opened the Martial Arts Forum, ready to lurk around for a bit.
But today the forum seemed a little out of the ordinary.
At the very top was a pinned and highlighted post.
“The once-every-four-years Martial Arts Conference is about to convene, and the rankings of the legendary list will be reshuffled!”
Clicking into it, he found a heated discussion was already underway.
Second floor: Not going for the first comment, but masters on the legendary list, could any of you take pity on me and take me under your wing?
Third floor: Ugh, the guy above is utterly shameless, but I want to say, count me in!
Fourth floor: I eat little and can warm your bed; please take me with you!
Li Qiang couldn’t help but laugh.
He knew that the most important aspect of the once-every-four-years Martial Arts Conference was to rearrange the rankings of the legendary list.
The legendary list was a roster universally recognized in the Martial Arts World, featuring one hundred individuals, each and every one of them an outstanding martial artist.
This time, who knew how many new masters would emerge, and how many veterans would be ruthlessly eliminated!
As Li Qiang was musing, suddenly… a post rocketed to the top of the headlines at breakneck speed.
“The Pointing Sky Elder, missing for thirty years, has re-emerged and plans to exact revenge on his betrayer at the Martial Arts Conference! ”
The Pointing Sky Elder?
Who is that?
Li Qiang clicked in curiously, and then he realized that many others were just as puzzled.
But soon, a forum moderator replied.
Moderator: Pointing Sky Elder was a top-notch expert from thirty years ago, already a master of the Xiaoyao Realm back then, he used to rank third on the legendary list but disappeared without a trace for thirty years, and unexpectedly he has decided to come out of seclusion now!
At the same time, someone replied: Just got the news, Pointing Sky Elder’s disciple was named Yu Qing! This news shocked many netizens.
Yu Qing!
Ranked forty-second on the legendary list.
Although not the highest rank, anyone on the legendary list was no ordinary
person.
Who could have killed Yu Qing and incited such a reclusive master to re-enter the jianghu (martial arts world)?
At the same time, many senior martial artists began to educate the community about the fearsomeness of the Pointing Sky Elder.
Gradually, many netizens began to side overwhelmingly with the Pointing Sky Elder, and some even started to ridicule the person who killed Yu Qing but dared not show his face.
Maybe he won using some despicable methods.
Maybe! Or perhaps a gun?
I also feel something is off; if someone capable of killing such an expert, why would they remain unknown?
These speculations made the situation increasingly unfavorable for Xue An.
But there was one person who saw this and, filled with righteous indignation, stood up to speak on Xue An’s behalf.
This person was none other than Tan Dong’s daughter, Tan Xiaoyu.
After seeing the slanderous comments about Xue An, she felt an anger that had nowhere to vent.
As for Xue An, her current admiration for him was immense.
Thus, she couldn’t help but start typing a response: “I am a friend of the person who killed Yu Qing, and I can tell you, this expert defeated Yu Qing with just a single punch!”
This comment was like poking a hornet’s nest, and many people began to mock and jeer.
“One punch? The poster above must be dreaming!”
“Exactly, how could anyone kill a top-tier fighter ranked forty-second with just one punch?”
“Haha! Another one who’ll die if they don’t brag!”
Tan Xiaoyu’s face turned red with anger, and she typed furiously: “Don’t believe it? Fine, let’s make a bet. In this Martial Arts Conference, I bet on my friend to win. If I lose… I’ll… run naked!”
The number of replies from netizens exploded instantly.
“Heavens, I just checked, and it’s actually a young lady!”
“Checked too, the profile picture is a bit blurry, but definitely above an eight out of ten!”
“Suddenly looking forward to this Martial Arts Conference even more now!” “Marking this thread for evidence, to be held accountable!”
Because of this Martial Arts Conference, the internet had kicked up a massive storm.
But Xue An was completely oblivious to all these tumults; his daily task was to take his two daughters to the lake for fishing, then come back and cook the fish in various creative ways.
Today, he was sitting by the lake while his two daughters were enthusiastically digging in the sand nearby.
However, this rare tranquility was soon disrupted.
Tan Xiaoyu approached with a solemn expression.
She had found out from Qin Yu that Xue An was by Yunmeng Lake.
When she arrived, she discovered Xue An leisurely fishing.
“Mr. Xue…” Tan Xiaoyu said respectfully, her head bowed.
Xue An looked up at her and nodded.
“Do you need something from me?”
Tan Xiaoyu bit her lip, then said, “Does Mr. Xue know that the internet has been turned upside down because of you?”
Xue An was slightly surprised, then shook his head, “What’s happened?” Tan Xiaoyu recounted the events.
After listening, Xue An simply smiled uncertainly and noncommittally.
But Tan Xiaoyu was getting anxious.
“Mr. Xue, my father says that your cultivation level can reach the divine. But still, this Old Man Who Points to the Sky is no ordinary person; you must be careful!”
Xue An nodded, “Is there anything else?”
Tan Xiaoyu suddenly felt somewhat irritated.
She had come over with good intentions to warn him, but Xue An seemed completely unconcerned.
“Mr. Xue… I think you should make a public response, or the public opinion will become even more unfavorable towards you!”
Xue An seemed not to hear her, instead looking at the vast expanse of Yunmeng Lake before him.
“Do you see how big this lake is?” Xue An suddenly asked. Tan Xiaoyu was startled but nodded anyway, “It’s huge!”
“Then tell me, could I catch all the fish in it with this rod?”
Tan Xiaoyu didn’t understand what Xue An was getting at, but still shook her head and said, “How could that be possible…”
Xue An smiled faintly, took hold of the fishing rod, and gently raised it.
The previously calm lake surface suddenly began to boil.
Then, as Xue An slowly lifted the rod higher, countless fish, as if held up by an invisible giant hand, gradually rose to the surface and then floated mid-air.
This scene made Tan Xiaoyu’s breath catch in her throat.
And at this moment, Tan Xiaoyu finally noticed that Xue An’s fishing rod had no line on it.
Xue An spoke lightly, “You consider him formidable, but to me, he is just like
Yunmeng Lake here. Although it looks vast…. it’s still too small!”