Chapter 79: The Baiyun City Lord issues a challenge, the apex of the martial world as the enemy, the grand affair of the martia

Killing without mercy, lightly crippling people's martial arts, it seems the mastermind behind the previous Golden Peng Dynasty case is really you.

Lu Xiaofeng gave a wry smile; if he had to choose between losing a finger and losing Xue Bing, he would certainly choose the former.

In that case he couldn't really get angry; perhaps he truly understood the red-clothed youth's nature, and he couldn't help but think this was exactly something he would do, and he had already acted quite lightly.

Zhuang Buran said lightly:

"Entering the martial world, one either lives or dies; that should be the consensus of the martial arts community. I suppose whether dead or alive, everyone accepts this principle."

"Although that's true, don't you think you're being a bit too decisive in killing?" Lu Xiaofeng said while staunching his own bleeding.

Hua Manlou also advised:

"Little Eight, if you keep acting like this, sooner or later you'll provoke the martial world into shouting for battle and slaughter."

The red-clothed youth lightly shook his foot, and in an instant sent the tumbling Jin Jiuling, who was not far away, bleeding from his seven orifices, dying violently.

"Everyone says the Shaolin Temple's Dabei Chan Master and the Wudang Elder Mu Daoist have both internal and external arts perfected to the point of transformation, but when it comes to the sharpness and marvel of swordsmanship, one must count the Baiyun City Lord Ye Gucheng of the South Sea Flying Immortal Island and Ximen Chuixue of the Ten Thousand Plums Manor."

The red-clothed youth leapt up, landing on the eaves, one hand behind his back, the other naturally hanging down, and spoke softly:

"On the fifteenth of the ninth month, the night of the full moon, at the apex of the Forbidden City, I respectfully await the world's greatest masters to duel with me."

His gaze fell upon Ye Gucheng, who stood leaning on his sword:

"And Lord Ye you. is the invitation I extend to the heroes of the martial world."

"I hope you will properly go and inform the martial world, and in the next two or three months, quickly recover from your injuries to come to a spectacle of the heroes clashing with the demonic leader."

Hahaha

The red-clothed youth laughed loudly to the heavens, seeming extremely happy.

"The Baiyun City Lord issues a challenge, the martial world's apex as the enemy, the grand spectacle of martial arts begins from now; who under heaven can stand against it?"

With his words, he flashed across eight or nine zhang in an instant, disappearing into the night.

Lu Xiaofeng let out a long sigh, looking toward Hua Manlou:

"I was still wrong before; the great expert hidden in your household is not some 'win first, preserve second, stable third'—if we talk about one-on-one combat, I think under heaven there is simply no one who could be his match."

"Therefore, I dare to incur the world's great disapproval, wishing to invite the top masters of the martial world to a match unprecedented in history."

"What he referred to as a little bit is actually a hundred million taels of gold and silver." Hua Manlou also let out a long sigh.

Ten days later.

The martial world was shaken; a white-haired, red-clothed blind youth suddenly appeared, nearly dropping countless jaws.

No one would have expected that a blind youth under twenty could possess such a lofty martial arts attainment that leaves others in the dust.

It turned out that the unclear cause of death of Huo Xiu and others, the guilt for the unjust abdication of the Emei Dugu Sect Leader, and the embroidery‑great‑thief Jin Jiuling who cried thief while stealing—all were his doing, and they died at his hands.

Even the world‑renowned Baiyun City Lord Ye Gucheng was defeated by his subordinates; furthermore, with a lawless outlaw's heart, he issued a challenge as a peerless swordsman, inviting the world's top masters to a battle at the Forbidden City.

Furthermore, word spread in the martial world that the so‑called apex of the Forbidden City is a fight on the ridge of the Taihe Hall, and the Taihe Hall is the Golden Throne Hall, the tallest hall within the Forbidden City.

The hall stands tens of zhang high, its ridge laid with slippery glazed tiles that offer no foothold; to climb up is already as hard as ascending to heaven, and besides, that place is exactly where the emperor receives officials' homage, with guards so strict that nowhere else in the world can compare.

Precisely because of these reasons, the reputation of that red‑clothed blind youth as a lawless outlaw grows ever louder in the martial world.

Moreover, in the martial world a betting pool was opened, wagering whether the red‑clothed blind youth, facing many alone, would live or die.

Most people think he is surely doomed; if he were to face one or two peerless masters, given his past deeds he might still have a chance, but now he simply invites the martial world's apex masters—surely that is just seeking death.

In the blink of an eye over a month has passed, leaving twenty‑three days until the fifteenth of the ninth month.

In Jiangnan, inside a small pavilion blooming with flowers.

Not only were Lu Xiaofeng, Hua Manlou, and Shi Xuexue present, but also a gentle, demure woman like a narcissus, and an old man with white hair yet giving off a monkey‑spirited air—none other than Xue Bing, one of the Four Great Matriarchs of the martial world, together with the King of Thieves, Sikong Zhaixing.

"Besides the Shaolin Temple's Dabei Chan Master, who as a monk ought to stay clear of martial affairs and thus remain tranquil, I fear Mu Daoist, Ximen Chuixue, and Ye Gucheng will all go to the Forbidden City."

"Furthermore, many masters attempt to take part in this martial world grand event."

Sikong Zhaixing related the information he had gathered, item by item.

Lu Xiaofeng spoke:

"I think that anyone who cannot escape false fame will probably go mad‑like in joining this unprecedented grand event."

"Indeed so; in the world, what people cannot escape most is fame and profit." Shi Xuexue nodded.

Xue Bing questioned:

"I'm just curious—does Hua Manlou's younger brother truly have such high martial arts?"

"When he saved you, didn't you see him strike?" Shi Xuexue countered.

"After being dazed by the She Wang, when I woke I saw only my elder sister." Xue Bing frowned.

"How could Little Eight be connected to your red shoes?" Hua Manlou showed a puzzled expression.

Xue Bing thought for a moment, then said:

"I heard Fourth Sister say that the elder sister once picked up a handsome youth, though it's a pity he was blind, and she also said he later disappeared for no reason."

Lu Xiaofeng pondered slightly, then spoke:

"It seems the top swordsman Hua Manxin spoke of wanting to find that night is none other than Gongsun Lan."

"He must have first encountered Gongsun Lan, after some contact—unknown why no conflict arose—then bumped into the She Wang, and from the She Wang's mouth discovered that Jin Jiuling was the behind‑the‑scenes black hand, whereupon he launched a great slaughter."

His gaze turned to Xue Bing, and he continued:

"Afterward he contacted Gongsun Lan, so that what you saw upon waking was her."

Xue Bing still felt some resentment toward Lu Xiaofeng, for the despair of that time remains fresh in her memory; but seeing the severed finger on someone's left palm softened her heart, and she said:

"You still haven't said—just how high is Hua Manxin's martial arts?"

Lu Xiaofeng put on a solemn expression:

"His martial arts isn't merely high; it's strong—strong to the point of being inhuman."

Immediately the room fell silent, everyone's silence indicating their strong agreement with that statement.

Shi Xuexue let out a light sigh:

「Actually you guys don't understand his true strength; that day at Prince Pingnan's Mansion, I felt he didn't use his full strength at all. 」

As soon as these words were spoken, they instantly drew everyone's attention.

「Back then when he met my master, he proactively let my master make a move; my master used his most proud technique, Blade and Sword Double Kill Seventy-Seven Forty-Nine Style, unleashing thirty-seven moves, all of which were easily dodged. 」

「Afterward, with just one move, he ruined my master's dantian qi sea. 」

Everyone's expressions were shaken; knowing that Dugu Yihe's martial arts, even Ximen Chuixue couldn't guarantee a sure victory, yet that red-clothed youth accomplished with just one move to only cripple not kill, imagine how terrifying that is; no wonder after injuring Ye Gucheng, he arrogantly wanted to challenge all the top masters of the martial world.

At the same time.

Outside the Peach Courtyard small pavilion appeared a gorgeous woman as brilliant as the morning glow, graceful like a fairy, wearing seven-colored rosy robes, with a pair of short swords at her waist, each blade one chi seven cun long, the hilts tied with red silk.

Immediately, the gorgeous woman pushed the door and entered, seeing a barefoot, white-haired red-clothed youth lazily lying under a peach tree resting.

「Zhuang Buran, long time no see! 」

A bit rushed; tomorrow at noon 12:00 will be released, asking the big shots for an initial subscription; on the release day at least ten thousand characters update, thanks!!!

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(End of chapter)