Chapter 37: Martial Virtue is Virtue

"Li Mu!"

"I watched all the fights at the Martial Arts Tournament!"

"I just want to say!"

"Nicely done!"

"Like Zhao Jianfei, that scumbag, he deserves a good thrashing!"

Li Mu didn't respond either, just stood with his arms crossed, silently watching Qian Wenyi.

"However, Li Mu and the Xuan Yue Feng crowd are all vindictive petty people."

"Last time you were so ruthless, they will definitely seek revenge in the Yunshan Secret Realm."

"So, Li Mu, how can you manage without a suitable weapon?"

"Here!"

"Look!"

"This is the black-backed great cleaver I prepared especially for you!"

"A low-grade spiritual artifact!"

"This blade is geared toward strong attacks and heavy slashes."

"If placed in your hands, big brother, it will surely give you a notable boost!"

Speaking, Qian Wenyi presented it like an offering, handing over a black blade with an antiquated design; its back is extremely thick, making it feel very heavy in hand.

"You can't beat me."

"You just want to secretly sabotage me from behind?"

"Isn't it that after I entered the secret realm with your blade, just as I was about to strike someone, the blade and hilt suddenly separated?"

But Li Mu didn't reach out to take it; instead, he eyed Qian Wenyi with suspicion.

He really couldn't figure out what this guy was up to.

"Hey!"

"Li Mu, your words are so harsh, they really hurt my feelings."

"This blade is something I prepared especially for you!"

"I swear!"

"I really didn't tamper with it!"

Qian Wenyi was excitedly defending himself.

At the same time, to prove his innocence, he immediately performed a set of blade techniques with that big knife, waving it with great vigor and impressive might.

"How's that?"

"Li Mu, you should now believe I didn't tamper with this blade!"

Qian Wenyi plunged the long blade into the ground, panting as he spoke.

Li Mu took the long blade from Qian Wenyi's hand and examined it closely.

"Indeed!"

"As Qian Wenyi said, his black-backed great cleaver is indeed a decent low-grade spiritual artifact!"

"Although the design is ugly, you have to admit, this blade is really heavy!"

"If you used this thing to strike someone, just its weight alone could crush them to death!"

"One who offers service without cause is either a traitor or a thief."

"Just tell me, what do you want?"

Qian Wenyi: ……

"Well..."

"I want to acknowledge you as my big brother!"

Saying this, Qian Wenyi clasped his fists toward Li Mu in a salute, his attitude utterly sincere.

"What?"

"You want to acknowledge me as your big brother!"

Li Mu stared for a moment, actually wondering if he'd had an auditory hallucination.

At the same time, he subconsciously increased the distance between himself and Qian Wenyi.

"Could this guy have actually developed some strange fetish from being beaten by me?"

"Did he instantly become a masochist?"

"Last time I hit Qian Wenyi, I really didn't hold back at all."

"I told you so!"

"On the Heavenly Dao Treasure Scroll, why hasn't Qian Wenyi's name appeared yet?"

"Turns out it was waiting for me here!"

"That's right!"

"After being lectured by big brother last time, I felt remorse and reflected deeply on myself!"

Qian Wenyi paused, looked at Li Mu with sincere eyes, and spoke earnestly.

"Big brother!"

"I, Qian Wenyi, know that I have no exceptional talent in the cultivation path."

"But to make my way in the Qian Kun Realm, I need to learn to pick the right side and cling to a strong thigh."

"So, please, big brother, definitely accept me as your little brother!"

Qian Wenyi saying this wasn't entirely flattery; he really did think that way.

Don't be fooled by Qian Wenyi's outward swagger with two henchmen running rampant, because in reality his mind is still quite sharp.

Moreover, there are plenty of people within the Ziyang Sect who also reside in top‑grade, premium caves.

But he didn't snatch Yang Yuanwu's or Lin Zehong's caves?

Instead, he chose to snatch Li Mu's!

Isn't that simply because Li Mu is just a mundane mortal who has only just ascended from the secular world to the Qian Kun Realm?

He lacks power and lacks background.

He's nothing but a rootless floating duckweed; if Qian Wenyi doesn't take him, whose will he take?

Later, Qian Wenyi did consider taking revenge!

But when he saw with his own eyes that Li Mu cut down Zhao Jianfei with a single slash at the martial debate tournament,

he immediately became honest!

Qian Wenyi may be a bit chubby, but he's not a fool!

Seeing such a robust thigh before him, how could one not give it a hug?

Holding the heavy spirit artifact in his hand and hearing Qian Wenyi's heartfelt sincere confession, Li Mu felt quite moved.

"Fine!"

"I'll take you as my henchman!"

"But you gave me your sword."

"Then what will you use?"

"Me?"

"I'll just make do!"

Qian Wenyi pretended to be indifferent and shook his hand.

Then, with a reverse motion, he drew from his waist a golden‑glinting treasured sword, whose aura was so impressive it was a full grade larger than the one in his hand!

Li Mu: "???"

"No!"

"Wait a moment!"

"You wait first!"

Li Mu was instantly stunned: "What grade is this sword of yours?"

"Hey!"

"Forgive my elder brother's embarrassment; this sword was specially prepared by my mother for this Four Peaks Tournament!"

"Superior spirit artifact: Earth‑Dragon Piercing‑Mountain Blade, which grants a certain boost to earth‑type martial techniques!"

Watching Qian Wenyi repeatedly brandish the golden‑glinting treasured sword before him, Li Mu glanced at his own pitch‑black long blade, feeling somewhat silent.

Is this what the dreaded rich are like?

Entering the Four Peaks Tournament, and his family directly funds a Superior spirit artifact!

Damn!

So angry!

They say a treasured sword is given to a hero, and a rouge to a lady.

In the end.

Li Mu, winning by virtue, successfully persuaded Qian Wenyi to hand over his golden‑glinting treasured sword.

Of course, martial virtue is also virtue!

"……"

Just as Li Mu was happily twirling his new blade, more and more disciples of Longtan Feng gathered beside him and Qian Wenyi.

In the spacious Ziyang Daochang, the various peaks quickly formed four distinct camps, each clearly separated from the others.

Suddenly.

In the distant sky, five massive, vast surges of energy rolled toward the Ziyang Daochang.

The once fiery atmosphere of the Ziyang Daochang instantly fell silent at that moment!

All the Four Peaks disciples inside the Ziyang Daochang felt the overwhelming pressure, their expressions changing.

It felt as if five mountains were pressing down, making even breathing extremely difficult, their hearts pounding like drums.

Yet, they saw.

In the far sky, five Dao‑robe elders rode in on swords, their surrounding aura shimmering, their presence imposing—indeed, they were the five Inner Peak elders of the Ziyang Sect.

Among the five elders, the foremost was a youthful elder with crane‑like hair, his Dao robe embroidered with the pattern of Heaven Peak Ridge, underscoring his extraordinary status.

The Elder of Heaven Peak Ridge stepped forward, scanned the arena, and finally fixed his gaze on the three top‑ranked on the wind‑and‑cloud list—Yang Yuanwu, Zhao Ruifeng, and Lin Zehong—exclaiming in admiration.

"It seems this year the Outer Peak of our Ziyang Sect has produced many talents!"

"Three disciples have even reached the Five‑Qi Primordial Concentration Realm!"

"Yang Yuanwu, Zhao Ruifeng, Lin Zehong, you three are all excellent!"

"In the upcoming Four Peaks Tournament, we five Inner Peak elders are very much looking forward to your performances."

The other four elders, upon hearing this, stroked their beards and nodded, their eyes showing unabashed admiration.

Yang Yuanwu smiled confidently.

Zhao Ruifeng's fighting spirit surged.

Lin Zehong exuded an imposing aura.

Meanwhile, the other Outer Peak disciples of the Ziyang Daochang all cast admiring glances toward the three.

Undoubtedly!

For these three who possess the Five Qi Chao Yuan level of the Concentration Realm, coming to this Four Peaks Grand Competition is undoubtedly a Dimensionality Reduction Strike!

And the only thing that could truly capture their attention is probably the final tower duel segment located in the core area of the Yunshan Secret Realm.

There, the champion of this Four Peaks Grand Competition will be decided!

The elder with splendid hair gently pressed his palm toward the void.

The once noisy and bustling Ziyang Daochang instantly fell silent, and everyone held their breath, eyes wide, staring at the elder with splendid hair.

"This Four Peaks Grand Competition will be convened under the joint presiding of our five Inner Peak elders."

"I am the chief examiner!"

"Next, I will announce the rules of the Four Peaks Grand Competition!"

"I will say it only once; everyone listen carefully."

When the elder with splendid hair spoke this time, his voice thundered like a massive bell, rolling forward, and a terrifying pressure spread throughout the venue.

All the Outer Peak disciples present wore a stern expression, fully focused, as if fearing they might miss any important information.

"This Four Peaks Grand Competition will be held within the Yunshan Secret Realm."

"After one incense stick burns, the five of us Inner Peak elders will jointly set up a teleportation array to transport all of you into the Yunshan Secret Realm."

"Each person's location will be randomly generated in the outer region of the realm; no one will be sent to the inner or core areas!"

"Outer Peak disciples who fail to enter the top sixteen to participate in the tower duel segment will be teleported to Ziyang Daochang three days later when the realm closes."

"Now we begin the rules explanation!"

"First, during the Four Peaks Grand Competition, in principle, harming fellow sect members' lives is prohibited!"

"Second, each person will wear a token when entering the realm; the top sixteen in ranking will qualify for the tower duel segment!"

"Third, in this Four Peaks Grand Competition, only the top ten seats can receive ranking rewards!"

The elder with splendid hair's words had just finished.

All the Four Peaks disciples, after a few breaths of silence, suddenly erupted in a huge roar.

They each looked toward the different camps ahead, their eyes filled with vigilance and unease.

Just now, the elder with splendid hair deliberately emphasized 'in principle, harming fellow sect members' lives is prohibited,' but the amount of information implied behind that is quite substantial!

What about beyond the principle?

Or if a truly special situation arises, does that then permit a kill?