Chapter 286 Part 1
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This chapter is edited by Cthulhu. Thank you for your contribution!
Chapter 286 Part 1: Oh No, She Has Been Tricked Into (1)
At noon, the sun hung high in the sky.
Qiao Mu and the shape-shifting Impermanent Demon Cat traversed the mountain path side by side. The mist ahead gradually dispersed under the sunlight, revealing the mountain village nestled midway up the slope.
“Xishan Village is almost here.”
“Remember, I’m called Zhou Mu now. Do not address me by the wrong name,” Qiao Mu cautioned the Impermanent Demon Cat beside him.
The reputation of the Qiao family member was widely known among martial artists, making it easy to gather information about Xishan Village. However, his renown was so significant that even if the Spear Saint were reincarnated, he would still be considered a junior. Thus, this time, he deliberately chose not to reveal his true identity.
The Impermanent Demon Cat opened its mouth, wide-eyed with a young girl’s visage, softly chanting, “Zhou… Zhou…”
“When did I ever teach you to repeat words?” Qiao Mu sighed, feeling slightly overwhelmed.
He was uncertain of the magical cat’s true age. Although transformed into a young girl, she struggled with coherent speech. In her original feline form, her silly nature was more endearing. Now, wearing a human appearance with a seemingly wise expression, her inability to speak fluently created a peculiar sense of awkwardness.
“Just remain quiet today. Speak less and minimize potential mistakes, understood?” Qiao Mu instructed.
“I understand,” the spirit nodded, a glimmer of intelligence sparkling in her large, round eyes.
The mountain village drew nearer.
Xishan Village typically remained shrouded in thick fog, even during daylight hours. Though the mist had now dissipated, dew drops still glistened on the verdant grass lining the mountain road.
Nestled against the West Mountain, the village comprised neatly scattered houses, approximately a thousand households in total. At the village entrance, around a hundred individuals had already assembled. Dressed in concise martial arts attire, they were clearly practitioners who had arrived after hearing the news.
As Qiao Mu and his companion entered the village, several gazes immediately converged upon them. Brief eye contact was made before the observers looked away.
“Hmm? Are skilled practitioners truly interested in the ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear’?” Wu Qiankun and Qiao Mu exchanged a fleeting glance, silently acknowledging each other before averting their eyes, both feeling a sense of surprise.
As spiritual refining experts and exceptional martial artists, their intuition remained razor-sharp. Despite employing the Flesh Changing Skill to disguise their appearances, they could still faintly sense each other’s presence.
“This individual possesses remarkable strength, with a restrained sharpness in his gaze reminiscent of a sheathed sword. Though his edge remains concealed, his momentum is already palpable,” Wu Qiankun contemplated.
“From this perspective, his Spiritual Refining Martial Art skills might rival my own.”
“Is the Spear Saint’s reputation truly so illustrious? Are there other spiritual refining martial artists of superb caliber drawn to this remote village?”
Although somewhat surprised, Wu Qiankun quickly dismissed the thought.
Strong spiritual refining skills merely indicated a firm mind and keen intuition, not necessarily combat prowess. Following his mastery of the Taotie Swallowing Heaven Skill and successive cultivator hunts, Wu Qiankun’s martial arts cultivation had progressed dramatically, advancing by unprecedented leaps and bounds.
During the era of great internal strife following the creation of the Martial Saint Spiritual Technique, the number and quality of high-grade martial artists born during that time exceeded any previous era.
The Taotie Swallowing Heaven Skill, a revolutionary martial art, had transformed the old martial arts world. From the moment it appeared, Wu Qiankun recognized that martial artists would no longer be confined to terrestrial battles but would challenge celestial immortals.
The present-day Wu Qiankun was unrecognizable from his past self. Even if the legendary Spear Saint were to return, he would pale in comparison to Wu Qiankun’s current prowess. Despite the Spear Saint’s exceptional spear techniques and mastery of ancient martial arts, Wu Qiankun could overwhelm him through sheer strength and skill.
In the martial arts world, only a handful of individuals like Yan Shenji, who had lived for three centuries, could potentially rival Wu Qiankun. Yan Shenji stood as an extraordinary being, entirely separate from the contemporary era.
Wu Qiankun confidently believed that no unparalleled master could emerge without his knowledge. The hidden practitioners of ancient martial arts could not surpass the legendary figures like the Spear Saint and Eight-armed Heavenly Dragon of bygone days.
Modern martial arts practitioners were closely affiliated with the Wuji Association, and Wu Qiankun was intimately familiar with their ranks. Consequently, he considered himself the top martial artist, ranking below only the four supreme masters.
Yet, a fleeting memory of Qiao Shuanggui from the Qiao family momentarily unsettled his confidence. Logically, there should be at most one or two hidden strong martial artists. Martial skills were not cultivated in isolation; true mastery required worldly experience, competition against contemporary heroes, and survival through life-and-death struggles.
But what of the Qiao family member? How could Yan Shenji, a 300-year-old martial arts legend, lose to an unknown elder from the Qiao family?
Wu Qiankun’s thoughts grew increasingly muddled. His mind seemed unusually clouded, potentially a result of the recent cultivator killings that had taxed his mental faculties.
“Even though today is about seizing martial arts skills, we must give the Spear Saint some respect. After all, he is a senior from the generation of my adoptive father,” he mused.
“If the Spear Saint’s descendants wish to follow tradition, then we shall adhere to the established rules.”
His gaze fell upon a young man standing nearby, holding a spear, with a tall, straight figure and black hair reminiscent of a pine tree.
“Long. Today’s matter depends entirely on the spear in your hands,” Wu Qiankun spoke softly.
“Of course,” the black-haired young man responded with an indifferent expression.
“Considering the entire Jiu Province, it would be challenging to find someone comparable to my spear skills.”
This was Wu Rulong, one of the surviving seventy-two wise men among the Martial Saint’s three thousand disciples, ranked fiftieth. Practicing the Taotie Swallowing Heaven Skill, he had reached the 1st rank of Spiritual Refining Period, requiring only time and battle experience to ascend to the superb rank.
As one of the seventy-two wise men, he possessed the highest spear skill talent among the Martial Saint’s disciples, naturally meeting the selection criteria for the Spear Saint’s successor.
The martial artists gathered in small groups, maintaining a hushed silence while waiting expectantly.
A thin old man with a short beard soon emerged from the crowd. “I am Zhao Hu, current head of the Zhao family,” he announced, bowing slightly.
The old man appeared frail, with sunken eye sockets, sparse hair, and a pale complexion marked by deep forehead wrinkles—a clear indication of an aging martial artist. Yet, his eyes remained remarkably bright, scanning the assembled crowd before fixing his gaze on Qiao Mu, Wu Qiankun, and other disguised individuals.
Qiao Mu raised an eyebrow in surprise. The old man seemed exceptionally perceptive, sensing that someone had noticed his presence. Despite his sharp perception, Zhao Hu looked severely weakened, his pale face suggesting a significant decline in strength.
Accompanying Zhao Hu were other Zhao family members. Qiao Mu surveyed the gathering and realized no particularly strong individuals were present. Among the Spiritual Refining Period warriors, Zhao Hu stood alone as the sole remarkable practitioner.
In their ancient martial arts world, exceptional martial artists like Zhao Hu had become increasingly rare. Not even Founding Emperor Yan had successfully cultivated a superb martial artist among his descendants in the past three centuries. The Imperial Guards commander Chu Tianming had only succeeded by recruiting talented individuals from outside Jiu Province.
The sickly old man cleared his throat and addressed the assembled martial artists.
“My purpose is simple: to find a young, talented individual who is calm and wise, capable of inheriting my father’s ‘Birds Adoring the Phoenix Spear’ and fulfilling his final wish.”
“Given that you are all renowned figures in Jiu Province’s martial arts world, competing directly with the younger generation would be inappropriate.”
“Though my eyesight is failing and my age advances, if you esteemed guests could observe the competition and guide the younger generation, it would help my Zhao family identify a talented successor and address the urgent situation in Xishan Village.”
“I offer a small gift: the martial arts teachings left by my father, which I am willing to share with you all.”
The crowd of martial artists fell into a contemplative silence. Despite the offered manual, their interest remained undiminished. Martial arts texts were perpetually coveted by strong practitioners.
While every family had its own rules, and the Spear Saint’s reputation lingered, the assembled martial artists were not entirely convinced. The Zhao family now comprised only this elderly man—why should they unconditionally submit to his terms?
Yet, their restraint demonstrated the enduring respect for the Spear Saint’s legacy.
Wu Qiankun was the first to speak. “That makes sense,” he declared loudly. “The Spear Saint was a hero from the past. His true heir must be a young hero, not an old, stubborn individual.”
A white-haired peculiar man in the crowd began to react, but before he could fully move, Wu Qiankun’s burly figure appeared. With a horrifying scream, the white-haired man was torn in half, blood splattering everywhere.
“Such a skilled practitioner is supporting the Spear Saint’s descendant?” The martial artists exchanged bewildered glances.
“With such extraordinary strength, why adhere to rules instead of attacking directly?”
Wu Qiankun’s intimidating display ensured no one dared to challenge Zhao Hu’s proposition, despite their underlying doubts. His clear support for Zhao Hu silenced any potential opposition.
