As one of the five major sects of the world, the Southern Hua Sect was prosperous and had extraordinary financial resources. The sect was built quite lavishly, and one could see continuous pavilions and houses. With the scenery of the clouds as the backdrop, it added a hint of otherworldliness.
This place was originally a place of tranquil cultivation, but now, it had become very lively.
During this period of time, there was an endless stream of martial artists who rushed over to participate. Every day, a large number of martial artists would come to visit.
Although the Southern Hua Sect was not a small sect, it could not accommodate all the martial artists, so the sect only welcomed the experts from the various large sects and martial arts supporters to stay. As for the martial artists who came to watch the show, they did not receive such treatment.
As the saying went, those who came from afar were guests. These people were all here to create hype for the Martial Conference, so the Southern Hua Sect could not neglect them. Under the orders of Sect Master Luo Zhen, the disciples of the sect had to explain and apologize to the new martial artists every day. Their faces were almost stiff from smiling.
Although there would occasionally be some small conflicts, most people in the martial world could understand and had no objections.
Some of them were used to living in the wilderness and found a place to camp near the Southern Hua Sect’s mountain gate, while others went to the inn at the foot of the mountain to settle down and wait for the Martial Conference to be held. For a time, the scene was unprecedented.
When there were still a few days before the date of the battle, all the other eight sects finally arrived.
In the main hall of the Southern Hua Sect, the leaders, elders, and invited experts of the eight sects were gathered. In addition, a few sects with good strength had also sent their backbones to help.
At this moment, everyone present was a famous figure in the martial world. The scene could be said to be a gathering of heroes.
Luo Zhen sat at the head of the table and bowed before opening up solemnly,
“I’m very grateful to all of you for coming in front of me. Let’s not talk nonsense. That demon, Chen Feng, has wreaked havoc in the martial world. He ignored the rules of the sect and snatched their secret manuals to spread everywhere. It’s really an evil deed. The Wu Mountain Sect and a few others have already suffered under his claws. I specially invited everyone to hold a martial arts conference to deal with him.”
Everyone present nodded in response, united against a common enemy.
The people from the Wu Mountain Sect were also among them, their faces filled with anger.
The reason for the Martial Conference was to stand up for the Jiangchun Sects, whose secret manuals had been snatched away. As the representative of the victims, it was not appropriate for the Wu Mountain Sect not to appear, so they naturally had to attend the conference.
The person leading the team was Lin Song. Now, his identity was completely different. He had already become the acting sect master of the Wu Mountain Sect.
Originally, it was not his turn to take this position, but because the elders and martial uncles in the sect had been frightened by Chen Feng last time, when they thought about how they had to face Chen Feng again, they wanted to avoid it at all costs and were unwilling to stand out.
As for him, he volunteered. Therefore, without anyone competing, he temporarily became the acting sect master and led the team.
At this moment, Lin Song stood up and cupped his fists at everyone with a grateful expression.
“My Wu Mountain Sect has encountered a calamity and could not protect the sect’s ultimate technique. I’ve let down the Ancestral Master. Thank you, seniors, for standing up for my Wu Mountain. No one in my Wu Mountain Sect dares to forget this kindness.”
Hearing this, everyone comforted him.
“Great words!”
“Sigh, Sect Master Shen is a hero. It’s a pity that he died.”
Lin Song bowed and said a few more polite words before sitting down again.
His expression did not change, but he was actually not confident.
However, his experience in the sect was still shallow. If he did not take this opportunity to climb up the ranks, even if he married the daughter of the previous sect master in the future, it would be very difficult for him to fight for the position of sect master.
Lin Song dared to stand up not because he felt that Chen Feng would show mercy because of him, but because after spending some time together, he felt that with Chen Feng’s straightforward personality, he would not expose him. At the same time, he did not plan to deal with Chen Feng this time. He was just pretending.
At this moment, an elder of one of the sects spoke in a deep voice.
“With the various sects gathered, we have many experts and numbers now. Why should we talk about morality with those evil people? After Chen Feng comes, we might as well swarm up and kill him once and for all. There’s no need to fight for supremacy.”
“That’s not appropriate.” Luo Zhen immediately objected, “We people of the righteous path keep our word. Since we’ve agreed to spar, it’s not good to break our agreement. Otherwise, if Chen Feng starts a massacre, our vitality will be greatly damaged and we’ll be mocked by the martial world. Moreover, Chen Feng has tens of thousands of pirates under him now. He’s far more powerful than us.”
The venue of the Martial Conference was at the peak of a mountain inside his Southern Hua Sect. If he broke the contract and killed Chen Feng on the spot, he would definitely anger the Green Forest. Regardless of whether he succeeded or not, the tens of thousands of water bandits would not let the matter rest.
Therefore, at least in the Martial Arts Conference, Luo Zhen did not intend to violate the agreement to spar. As for dealing with it later, he had other plans.
He looked around at everyone and explained,
“It’s beneficial for both sides to stop when the time is right. Chen Feng can’t ruin the life of the challenger, and we can exhaust his strength in a round-robin battle. When he runs out of his strength, our chances of winning will only increase.”
Hearing this, most people nodded in agreement.
Many people had heard of Chen Feng’s deeds and were afraid. If not for the fact that this Martial Arts Conference was a sparring session, many people would not have dared to participate.
At this moment, a bald old man with a Mediterranean hairstyle snorted coldly,
“I’ve heard you guys talk for a long time, but how high is Chen Feng’s martial arts to make so many of you hesitate?”
This person was an expert from the northwest. His name was Sha Xingzhou, and his nickname was “Northern Desert Bald Eagle.” He was originally a martial artist unaffiliated with any of the sects, but he had been invited by one of the sects to help.
The northwest was very far from the south, so he did not know much about Chen Feng’s name. Therefore, Sha Xingzhou did not think much of it.
“Senior Sha, don’t underestimate Chen Feng. It’s said that he can resist an army alone and is the number one expert in the Green Forest. Even the former number one expert of the Green Forest, Heavenly King Lu Longchuan, can’t be compared to him,” Someone beside him said.
Sha Xingzhou curled his lips, “Hmph, seeing is believing. When the time comes, I’ll personally test this person’s ability and see if he’s as powerful as the rumors say.”
At this moment, an old man with a sword sitting there also spoke calmly,
“I’m also curious if this number one expert of the Green Forest can defeat the three-foot-long blade in my hand.”
This person had white hair and a white beard. His long hair was tied up in a crown, and his long beard reached his chest. His face was thin, and there was a red dot between his eyebrows. His temperament was otherworldly, like that of an immortal. He was wearing a green robe, and his sleeves fluttered on their own from time to time. His demeanor was extraordinary.
Hearing the old man’s words, everyone present, be it the sect master or disciples, bowed solemnly.
“At that time, I’ll have to trouble Senior Sword Saint to meet this Chen Feng.”
This old man’s name was Zhuo Jianchen, and his nickname was “Sword Saint.” He had been famous in the martial world for decades and rarely met a match. His martial arts level far exceeded that of the sect masters of the various sects. He was one of the most powerful experts invited to help in this martial arts conference and was regarded by everyone as the main force to challenge Chen Feng.
“It’s a small matter.”
After Zhuo Jianchen finished speaking, he closed his eyes to rest and stopped talking.
The various sects present continued to discuss fervently for a while before going down to rest.
After everyone dispersed, Luo Zhen sat for a while more before turning to the inner hall alone.
There was a person waiting in the inner hall. It was a secret guard from the Martial Inspectorate who was secretly contacting Luo Zhen on behalf of the Imperial Court. The two sides had long cooperated.
“How are your preparations?”
Luo Zhen asked in a deep voice.
The secret guard of the Martial Inspectorate cupped his fists, “Sect Master Luo, don’t worry. The death warriors have already dispersed. If we can get rid of Chen Feng this time, the Imperial Court will remember the contribution of the Southern Hua Sect.”
“Don’t leak the news,” Luo Zhen instructed in a low voice.
“Of course.”
The secret guard nodded and left quietly.
…
March 18th arrived as scheduled.
Early in the morning, the martial artists living at the foot of the mountain set off one after another. The mountain path was filled with people climbing, and it was noisy.
Because there was no large square in the Southern Hua Sect, the Martial Arts Conference was instead located on a platform on Mount Yunxia. It was called the Cloud Ascension Platform, and it was wide enough to accommodate most people.
The teams of the various sects arrived one after another and occupied the center position. They formed a formation and left an empty space for the arena to spar.
The disciples brought over chairs for the sect master, elders, and invited experts to sit down. They drank the tea provided as they waited.
Soon, the martial artists who were watching the show arrived and surrounded the place.
The usually quiet Cloud Ascension Platform had become a sea of people today, and it was extremely lively.
As time passed, the sun gradually rose higher.
As the crowd grew larger and larger, some people gradually became impatient.
“Then why isn’t Chen Feng here yet? Don’t tell me he forgot the appointment?”
“Why are you so anxious to watch the show? Can’t you see that those sect masters of the large sects are all calm and composed?”
“I wonder if Chen Feng is really as strong as the rumors say.”
“Heh, you’re from the north, right? We in the south know that Chen Feng has divine strength. Splitting mountains and rocks is as easy as eating and drinking.”
The crowd was noisy as they continuously discussed.
Just as everyone was in a commotion, a disciple of the Southern Hua Sect who was passing information at the foot of the mountain ran up the mountain and shouted in front of the martial artists.
“Chen Feng is going up the mountain!”
As soon as he finished speaking, the expressions of the members of the various sects turned cold, as if they were facing a great enemy.
“That demon is here!”
Luo Zhen’s tone was solemn.
Many of the martial artists who were joining in the fun also perked up. They craned their necks and looked curiously at the mountain path.
Not long after, a group of people appeared in everyone’s vision.
The person in the lead was Zhou Jing. He only brought some lackeys with him. Compared to the group of people present, there were not many of them, and the skills of the lackeys could be ignored. It was not an exaggeration to say that he was coming alone.
Zhou Jing casually held the iron spear, his footsteps imposing. Even though there was a sea of people here, he ignored them and walked closer with his head held high. It was as if a thousand troops could not move him.
There were many people in the martial world present, but at this moment, they were all tactful and did not stop him. Their eyes followed Zhou Jing closely as his group made its way.
Zhou Jing was not afraid at all. He passed through the sea of people and arrived at the empty space in the center. He looked around and laughed loudly.
“What a huge formation. In order to deal with me, you’ve put in a lot of effort. I came today to fulfill my promise. I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“Audacious madman, you’re doing the opposite of what you’re supposed to do. How dare you be impudent in front of us!”
A large group of elders could not stand Zhou Jing’s arrogant appearance, so they berated him.
Zhou Jing glanced at one of them and pointed his spear at them with curled lips,
“Old thing, stop showing off. If you can’t stand it, come down and fight me. If you don’t have the guts, shut up. Otherwise, don’t even think about leaving the mountain alive today.”
The elder immediately felt a murderous aura on his face, and his courage deflated. His face turned pale, and he kept quiet out of fear.
Seeing this, Zhou Jing snorted and swept his spear across everyone from afar. He boomed out,
“Today, Grandpa will use martial arts to defeat all the experts in the world. Use whatever ability you have. Don’t talk nonsense. Let’s fight!”
Although he did not bring many people with him on this trip, his aura soared into the sky and actually suppressed the crowd.
Seeing that he was not afraid, no matter what everyone thought of him, they could not help but praise him in their hearts.