The evening vegetarian meal, Liu Jianxin didn't touch.
Naturally, some people thought similarly to Liu Jianxin, but seeing the Shaolin monks eat without issue, and many major sects having ways to test poison that confirmed there was none, everyone felt at ease enough to partake.
Liu Jianxin pondered, doing it to this extent, there shouldn't be a problem?
Once hunger sets in, people convince themselves the food is fine. When hunger reaches its peak, anything looks like food.
But Liu Jianxin still didn't eat.
Because this time, the voice in his mind aligned with his thoughts.
[You sense the food might be poisoned, the Martial Arts Heroes wouldn't easily believe it either. They used every method and didn't detect anything unusual, but out of caution, you decide not to eat.]
Liu Jianxin actually felt a bit like eating later on.
Yet each time that thought arose, as he swallowed his saliva, he immediately stopped again. One reason was the voice in his mind would reappear.
Another reason, he was someone accustomed to using knockout drugs.
However, it seemed he was overthinking, and the Martial Arts Heroes were indeed unharmed. After finishing, they were even more vigorous and energetic.
It appeared that the martial arts tournament would proceed without issue. Shaolin indeed did not make any trouble.
He thought so, but soon after, a night passed, and unexpected changes arose.
"Report! A large group from Azure Dragon Association, a force subordinate to the Martial Arts Alliance, is approaching Shaoshi Mountain!"
"Report! A large group from Golden Phoenix Drizzle Pavilion, a force subordinate to the Martial Arts Alliance, is approaching Shaoshi Mountain!"
"Report! Six-Finger Piano Demon, carrying the Demon Piano, is nearing Shaoshi Mountain at full speed!"
"Report! A large group from Ming Cult, a force subordinate to the Martial Arts Alliance, is approaching Shaoshi Mountain!"
The gathering of heroes invites the dance of demons.
Everyone was astonished, but even more surprising was that they all felt weak and powerless, unable to muster any strength.
Even Xiao Jianglong, the most likely candidate to become a Martial Arts leader, couldn't gather palm strength.
"Is the heavens determined to doom us?" The heroes wailed outside the hall.
Only the Shaolin monks seemed unaffected, continuing to set up the arena as if nothing happened.
Soon, Abbot Xuanyong spoke:
"It seems everyone's condition is not quite right? Amitabha, this martial arts tournament can't be delayed. Since everyone is indisposed, this old monk has no choice but to invite others to participate."
At this point, everyone knew they had been outmaneuvered by Shaolin.
Xiao Jianglong shouted and forcefully gathered palm strength, unleashing a domineering strike that made Abbot Xuanyong retreat several steps, barely blocking it with his cassock kung fu.
The great monk was sweating coldly. Knowing that Shaolin's incense was non-toxic and Shaolin's vegetarian meal was non-toxic, but when combined, they became a poison.
If not for the Shaolin disciples collectively inducing vomiting at night, they too would be weakened and as powerless as ordinary people today.
Yet even so, the fact that Shaolin's Abbot nearly couldn't withstand Xiao Jianglong's strike showed his ferocity.
"Xiao Benefactor's palm technique is unparalleled under heaven. It's a pity that today you will all be buried at Shaolin!"
Seeing Xiao Jianglong's strength declining and his harsh breathing, Xuanyong was finally convinced Xiao Jianglong was spent.
Outside the hall, no one could battle anymore.
And at this time, the forces of the Martial Arts Alliance gradually arrived.
Piano Demon, the number one killer in the world, Azure Dragon Association's twelve towers, Golden Phoenix Drizzle Pavilion's four great masters longing for death from the heavenly yin...
The dance of demons congregates at Shaolin.
The leader of Azure Dragon Association, named Gongsun Yu, wearing a bronze mask, coldly said:
"Everyone, how could this martial arts tournament lack our Martial Arts Alliance people?"
"I won't make things difficult for everyone. Next, we each send six to compete in the arena. Winner holds the stage, the defeated leaves, and whoever first has no more to send up the stage will be considered lost, how about it?"
Gongsun Yu's martial arts were reputedly capable of matching Xiao Jianglong's, ranking among the highest in the martial world, surpassed only by the number one big villain—Wen Xishu.
However, given the heroes' powerlessness, why would Wen Xishu need to take action?
Clearly, this martial arts tournament is a conspiracy.
Liu Jianxin muttered again:
"Chivalry, justice, morality... merely human self-restrictions. The world should be everyone for evil, better I betray others than be betrayed."
"Ha, what chivalrous martial world—it doesn't logically exist! This martial world is mere child's play."
Liu Jianxin was now both shocked and delighted.
Shocked that the Martial Arts Heroes lost their strength, while only part of the Martial Arts Alliance came. If the group hadn't lost strength, the Martial Arts Heroes could actually defeat them.
Delighted that… he hadn't lost his strength.
He could quietly sneak over to the Martial Arts Alliance side. After all, in everyone's view, those who lost strength and were poisoned were from the hero community.
Those who weren't poisoned belonged to the Martial Arts Alliance.
All he needed to do was quietly retreat during their showdown to escape unnoticed.
"To hell with bullshit justice, to hell with overthrowing tyranny... it's all the same in the world, forever filled with smoke and chaos, isn't it?"
In Liu Jianxin's mind, he repeated this over and over.
And he began quietly retreating.
But at that moment, he suddenly heard a voice.
No, more accurately, several voices.
"Young Hero Liu, you haven't been poisoned? Excellent!" said the leader of Emei.
"Brother, next I'll join with all the leaders to confront them, we'll fight to draw their attention, and you can slip away amidst the chaos," Xiao Jianglong said.