Chapter 355: A Strong Enemy Appears, All Show and No Substance p1
A silence fell over the scene.
Everyone looked towards where the young man had fallen, their faces filled with astonishment.
The once spirited and handsome young man was now sprawled pathetically in the corner, his eyes closed, clearly unconscious.
He hadn’t even lasted a moment on stage.
The outcome was clear.
“—Kang’er!”
The old man in official robes shouted angrily: “Someone, help Kang’er!”
“Yes!”
Several guards rushed down from the restaurant and towards the smoke-filled building across the street.
But the crowd below began to whisper amongst themselves:
“W-What kind of technique was that?”
“I didn’t see anything… Did he use some kind of magic?!”
“No!”
A middle-aged man dressed as a martial artist suddenly said in a deep voice: “Although it’s hard for ordinary people to see, we martial artists can see a little more clearly. That Master Lin on stage clearly used an incredibly profound and agile palm technique, as fast as lightning, defeating his opponent with a single strike.
That young man who challenged him couldn’t even block a single move, the difference in their cultivation… is truly vast!”
At the same time, other martial artists in the crowd also offered their explanations, murmurs of amazement rippling through the crowd. As they looked at Lin Tianlu on stage again, his figure seemed even more profound and unfathomable.
To possess such an extraordinary level of martial arts mastery at such a young age?
“Sir, do you still have any objections?”
Lin Tianlu looked back at the old man in official robes, smiling and cupping his hands: “Incompetent in both literary and martial arts, your disciple doesn’t seem qualified to marry Miss Hua.”
“Y-You—!”
The old man’s eyes widened in anger, his whole body trembling, as he pointed at Lin Tianlu: “You arrogant brat! Do you really think no one in this world can defeat you?!”
“I wouldn’t dare to be so arrogant. The world is vast, and there are many talented individuals, there are surely those whose martial arts skills surpass mine.”
Lin Tianlu smiled gently and cupped his hands from afar: “But your disciple truly needs more training, sir. To challenge someone without sufficient strength is just asking for ridicule.”
“Hahaha!”
Hua Yanxing, who had retreated to the side, couldn’t help but laugh heartily, stroking his beard: “Don’t be so upset, Brother Yang. This competition was proposed by your own disciple. Now that he’s been defeated by my grandson-in-law, there’s nothing more to say.”
The old man’s face darkened even more, but with the playful gazes of those around him, he could only snort coldly, fling his sleeve, and sit back down resentfully.
Hua Yanxing smiled and cupped his hands: “Don’t worry, Brother Yang, I’ll treat you to a drink later. As for the matters of the younger generation, there’s no need for us old folks to interfere.”
Seeing that the officials and scholars in the pavilion didn’t say anything more, he quickly withdrew his gaze and said in a loud voice: “You’ve all seen with your own eyes, my grandson-in-law is exceptionally talented, a perfect match for my granddaughter. Now, before all of you, I present the marriage contract between our Hua family and the Lin family!”
At the same time, two servants quickly ascended the platform, carrying a red silk-covered jade box, faintly revealing some exquisite pendants and a carved sword within.
…
Inside a private room in the pavilion.
Shanghan looked at the tall and straight figure on stage, her eyes sparkling, a faint smile on her lips. Hearing the occasional murmurs of admiration from the crowd below, she felt a surge of pride.
Master Lin, usually so low-key and unassuming, had finally received the recognition and admiration of the world.
Now, standing on the platform, his elegant and refined demeanor made her heart pound. Recalling the events in Jianggai County, her smile became even sweeter.
“You still look your age with that lively expression.”
Youluo quietly approached the window and teased: “Are you envious of Miss Hua?”
“N-No!” Shanghan quickly composed herself and pursed her lips, trying to appear indifferent: “Master and Miss Hua are a perfect match, I’m happy for them. But you, Big Sister—”
She glanced at Youluo coldly: “Aren’t you… feeling a bit envious yourself?”
Youluo chuckled softly: “I’m not as sentimental as you, little girl.”
She crossed her arms, resting her chin on her hand, looking at the figure on stage, a faint smile appearing on her face: “However, it’s quite impressive that this scholar has come this far… Hmm?!”
As she spoke, she seemed to sense something, her eyebrows furrowing slightly as she looked towards the other side, a look of surprise and uncertainty in her eyes.
Shanghan asked in surprise: “What’s wrong?”
“…I see.”
Youluo brushed her hair lightly and chuckled mischievously: “That old prince is truly cunning, no wonder he deliberately brought Lin Tianlu on stage.”
“What are you talking—”
“Look closely over there, someone is about to make a move.”
Shanghan followed her gaze and narrowed her eyes, but her pupils quickly constricted, and she stammered: “Wh-What is that monster?!”
…
Clap, clap, clap, clap—
Sudden applause echoed, unusually clear amidst the sea of people.
The crowd, who had been watching the stage, murmured in confusion, looking around, wondering where this strange applause was coming from.
“Hua Yanxing, Prince Zhengyang… The renowned Prince Zhengyang, truly well-prepared.”
A mocking chuckle drifted in the wind.
But these audacious and disrespectful words made everyone’s hearts clench, as if something terrifying was approaching.
They turned their heads and looked back nervously.
Then, as if pushed by an invisible force, the crowd parted, creating a clear path towards the platform, a deathly silence falling upon the surroundings.
“The Luo Xing, the Due’e Sect, and the Zhaoxiao Court, joining forces, thinking they had everything under control, but they didn’t expect that the old Prince had anticipated everything. Their hidden pawns were all eliminated, their schemes exposed, and now, with just a few words, those people have lost their composure and been captured.”
Hua Yanxing and Lin Tianlu both looked towards the end of the path. A handsome man with graying hair stood there alone, his features delicate and feminine, almost like a woman’s.
Dressed in a black, embroidered robe, wearing a crown and jade ornaments, he clapped his hands repeatedly with a meaningful smile, praising: “And now, using these tens of thousands of mortals as ‘shields,’ knowing that the other factions wouldn’t dare to act recklessly and risk being punished by the Luo Xing… Such cunning and decisive methods! Truly worthy of the renowned general, such iron-blooded tactics are not something ordinary people possess.”
Hua Yanxing laughed heartily, his hands behind his back, and shouted: “I don’t deserve such praise. But who are you, state your name!”
The handsome man smiled and cupped his hands from afar:
“Huangfu Zhong, of the Eastern Emperor’s Sect.”
Eastern Emperor’s Sect?
Lin Tianlu, standing beside him, was slightly surprised.
He had never heard of this faction before.
“So it’s the venerable one from the Eastern Emperor’s Sect.”
Hua Yanxing smiled coldly: “It’s said that the members of the Emperor’s Sect are incredibly powerful and influential, controlling the world from the shadows, but they haven’t appeared in public for centuries, incredibly mysterious. I didn’t expect you to appear at this Qingyang Grand Ceremony, could it be that you, like the other officials present, have come to offer your congratulations?”
“Indeed——”
Huangfu Zhong lowered his hands, nodding with interest: “Today is the auspicious day of the Qingyang Grand Ceremony, a ceremony to honor the ancestors of Qingcheng. It’s the perfect time to add another memorial tablet to the ancestral hall, wouldn’t you agree?”
Hearing this, everyone was shocked and stunned. Even the officials and scholars in the pavilion stood up abruptly, their faces filled with disbelief.
This person from the Eastern Emperor’s Sect, how dare he say such a thing in front of everyone!
“You’ve truly come with ill intentions.”
Hua Yanxing laughed heartily: “So, your Eastern Emperor’s Sect, after centuries of seclusion, is planning a massacre in Qingcheng?”
Huangfu Zhong’s tone was casual and relaxed: “Our Eastern Emperor’s Sect has indeed been in seclusion for a long time, but we’re not interested in such petty fame. It’s just that you, Hua Yanxing, have a strange destiny, you must die tragically today to ignite the flames of war in this Fengchen Kingdom and push the world towards the impending great change.”
Saying this, he smiled and pointed at Hua Yanxing: “In other words, you must die today, Hua Yanxing. Since the Luo Xing, the Zhaoxiao Court, and the Due’e Sect couldn’t do it, we, the Eastern Emperor’s Sect, will deliver the final blow.”
“…”
The hundreds of demons, ghosts, and practitioners standing below the platform darkened their faces and quickly formed hand seals, casting their spells.
But Huangfu Zhong just smiled faintly and waved his sleeve.
Instantly, a deathly silence fell upon the entire Qingcheng, all sounds ceasing, as if the world had become black and white, enveloped in an eerie and unsettling atmosphere.
The people’s faces were frozen in expressions of shock and fear, their bodies stuck in mid-motion, unable to move.
The demons and ghosts present felt a heavy pressure on their backs, their steps faltering, the Yin techniques they were about to cast dissipating, and they stumbled and fell to their knees.
“Luoshui Sect, Sky-Splitting Valley, Wuxiang Palace, Eight Directions Assembly, Imperial Zenith Hall… Factions from all corners of the world, and many renowned demons and ghosts.” Huangfu Zhong took a step forward, smiling as he pointed at them one by one: “Your cultivation levels are all above the Crimson Demon Realm, some of you have even reached the Savage Realm. Although your names might not be widely known in the Fengchen Kingdom, you’re all quite famous abroad.
I didn’t expect you to be such close friends with this mortal general, truly surprising.”
“…Hmph!”
“But I advise you all to protect yourselves first.”
Huangfu Zhong flung his sleeve, and a long, black spear materialized in his hand, its tip like a flickering flame, emitting a strange and sharp aura.
His figure became blurry and indistinct, flickering like a phantom, a casual and relaxed look on his face, as he slowly approached.
“It would be a pity to die here and waste centuries of cultivation.”
His words were light and frivolous, but with each step he took, the oppressive pressure around them intensified.
The demons and ghosts blocking his path were forced to retreat to both sides, but they gritted their teeth and cast their spells again, creating barriers.
Huangfu Zhong just sneered.
For demons and ghosts to protect these insignificant mortals, truly laughable.
Hua Yanxing’s expression darkened, and he raised his right arm with some effort, sighing: “The power of demons and ghosts… is truly unfathomable. We martial artists, even after a lifetime of cultivation, are still no match for them.
But I wonder how long you’ve been preparing for this moment, to be able to set up such a strange formation in secret.”
“Naturally, since half a month ago.”
Huangfu Zhong ignored the mortals and demons and ghosts, chuckling: “I anticipated your resistance, but I wanted to see if those three factions could break through, that’s why I waited and watched. Leaving aside the Luo Xing, the Due’e Sect and the Zhaoxiao Court were truly disappointing.”
“I see—”
Feeling the oppressive pressure, Hua Yanxing’s forehead was slightly damp with sweat, but a ferocious grin appeared on his lips: “It seems I’m quite important in your eyes!”
“Indeed.”
