The Wu and Fang families exchanged glances, both revealing deep wariness in their eyes.
To break through to innate silently, hiding it until now before displaying his strength before everyone, having both martial prowess and strategic thinking, such people were often the most terrifying.
Someone like Gu Yiping, though his martial arts talent was excellent, wasn't good at management. It would be impossible for him to support the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall on his own.
This was also why he cooperated with the Xu family.
"Please take action, cousin, and suppress the Xu family's arrogance," the Wu family head said in a lowered voice.
The cousin he spoke of was none other than the hall master of Heavenly Dragon Martial Hall.
In terms of age, he was much younger than Hall Master Black Wind, only forty-five or forty-six now, yet he had already reached mid-innate realm.
"Xu Mingwei is not simple."
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master had been carefully observing the battle between the two just now.
"If he goes all out, I can at most suppress him. But my age is what it is. If we're evenly matched, in everyone's eyes, I would still be the one who lost."
The Wu family head furrowed his brow and after a moment's thought said, "If that's the case, then target the martial hall's hall master."
"Severely injuring him would equally cause the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall to lose face."
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master glanced at Gu Yiping beside Xu Mingyuan and said blandly, "Very well."
"Nephew Mingwei, you truly are worthy of being our Qingjiang County's grandmaster seed," the Wu family head said with a smile of praise. "If you were to serve as the martial hall's hall master, I don't think anyone present would disagree."
"Oh, does Family Head Wu wish to test Hall Master Gu's strength?"
The corners of Xu Mingwei's mouth rose slightly, his three-part smile as if seeing through their thoughts.
A certain family head friendly with the Wu family suddenly said, "What the Wu family says is correct. If the martial hall's strength is insufficient, how can one oversee a martial hall, how can one instruct disciples?"
"Perhaps they'll be injured by their own disciples instead."
Upon hearing this, Gu Yiping naturally couldn't remain silent. He stepped forward several paces.
"If all of you in Qingjiang County wish to examine my martial arts, naturally there's no problem. Since Hall Master Black Wind has already exchanged blows with First Young Master Xu, why don't Hall Master Heavenly Dragon and Hall Master Black Tiger spar with me together?"
"What do you two think?"
As soon as his words fell, some people began mocking and laughing.
"Hahaha, Hall Master Gu, you're far too arrogant, actually wanting to fight two martial hall masters simultaneously."
"Yes, if you can fight one of them without losing, that would be sufficient to oversee a martial hall."
Facing everyone's ridicule, Gu Yiping's expression remained calm. He walked to the center of the field, his body shook, and suddenly an aura erupted, forming a powerful wind that pressed outward in all directions.
Its terrifying degree was in no way inferior to the earlier exchange between Xu Mingwei and Hall Master Black Wind.
"Another innate!"
"Where did the Xu family find an innate martial artist?"
"Yes, we've never heard of such a person in Qingjiang County."
The crowd was in an uproar, discussing ceaselessly.
Green light emerged from the depths of the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master's eyes. He said to the Black Tiger Hall Master, "Brother Fang, since Hall Master Gu wishes to spar with us, why not fulfill his wish?"
The Black Tiger Hall Master nodded.
The two men's forms became afterimages, gliding to the center of the field.
The three looked at each other, then immediately began fighting.
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Black Tiger Hall Master positioned themselves left and right, one with palm formed into a dragon claw, one into a tiger claw, attacking both sides of Gu Yiping.
Gu Yiping blocked with both arms to the sides, easily blocking them.
Then his technique changed, his hands coiling like green serpents, trying to grasp the two men's arms but the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Black Tiger Hall Master were no ordinary opponents either, changing their moves at the same time.
Bang bang bang~
The three continuously exchanged moves. Ordinary people could only see a blur of rapidly changing afterimages.
After several dozen breaths of time passed, Gu Yiping, fighting one against two, was evenly matched with the two hall masters, truly shocking a large portion of those present.
One should know these two hall masters were both mid-innate realm martial artists at their peak.
Were they putting on a show here?
Two mid-innate realm martial artists couldn't take down an unknown nobody?
Many people secretly wondered in their hearts.
So strong!
Definitely not an ordinary mid-innate realm martial artist, possibly even late innate realm!
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Black Tiger Hall Master exchanged glances, shock showing in their eyes.
They no longer held anything back, both employing innate true qi to execute martial techniques.
Innate true qi could leave the body with extraordinary power, even having special effects due to cultivation methods and martial techniques.
"Heavenly Dragon Claw!"
"Black Tiger Fierce Sha Fist!"
A golden dragon claw and crimson fierce fist simultaneously struck toward Gu Yiping's heart from front and back.
"Dragon Elephant Protective Shield!"
Suddenly, Gu Yiping's body emitted dragon roars and elephant calls, forming a dark cyan protective shield of true qi that blocked both the golden dragon claw and crimson fierce fist.
Clang~
The sound waves rippled outward. Some present immediately felt a roaring sound beside their ears, their heads beginning to throb with pain.
Fortunately it lasted only an instant. Otherwise, those who weren't even martial artists would probably have their ears ruined.
Bang bang~
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Black Tiger Hall Master were both shaken back.
"Dragon Elephant Combined Strike!"
Taking advantage of the two being shaken back with unstable footing, Gu Yiping sent the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master flying with one punch, then kicked the Black Tiger Hall Master away.
The surroundings immediately fell silent.
Only the "crack" sound of throat bones shifting as people swallowed was clearly audible.
"Hall Master Gu, I think this sparring has gone about far enough."
Suddenly, Xu Mingwei spoke up.
Upon hearing this, Gu Yiping restrained the aura around him.
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and Black Tiger Hall Master slowly stood up, their complexions slightly pale, their breathing unsteady. However, the two still cupped their fists toward Gu Yiping, "Thank you for showing mercy."
"You're welcome." Gu Yiping swept his gaze around. "Who else wishes to spar with me? No matter who, I'm willing to oblige."
The surroundings were silent as a grave.
"Haha, Hall Master Gu jests."
"We're overjoyed at the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall's establishment."
"Yes, Hall Master Gu's strength is unrivaled in all of Qingping County. With you presiding, the martial hall's business will surely flourish!"
Everyone seemed to have changed faces, all beginning to flatter Gu Yiping and the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall.
"Then I thank everyone for their support." Gu Yiping cupped his fists toward all sides, speaking blandly.
The five great aristocratic families—Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao, lowered their flags and muted their drums. Having lost face today and nearly become a laughingstock, they naturally wouldn't remain any longer.
They quickly departed.
As for the other wealthy merchants and rich households, they all had intentions of sending their family disciples to the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall and chatted idly with Gu Yiping about this and that.
After today, the news that Xu Mingwei had broken through to innate and overpowered Hall Master Black Wind, and that Gu Yiping had fought one against two and suppressed the other two major martial hall masters, quickly spread throughout all of Qingjiang County.
Even people from villages ten li around soon heard of it.
The speed was so fast naturally because Xu Mingyuan had fanned the flames.
In Dongxi Village, at the Xu family estate, when Xu Chuan heard of this matter, the corners of his mouth rose slightly, it was all within expectations.
The Xu family had long since thoroughly investigated the foundations of the three major martial halls, but they didn't know the Xu family's foundation.
Therefore, them falling at a disadvantage was naturally within reason.
And Xu Mingwei's archery attainments and Xu Chuan's existence would be yet another trump card for the Xu family.
"Qingjiang County should be stable for a while."
Xu Chuan murmured to himself, looking up to see the longbow hanging on the wall. "It's also time to forge a new powerful bow for Shitou."