Chapter 101: Surging Undercurrents, The Arrival of the Powers

That night.

Four Martial Arts Masters were defeated in succession; the news of what happened at Haihe Square during the day swept through more than half of Jinjin City like a hurricane.

The Martial Arts Association has a long history in Jinjin and has produced many experts, yet they could do nothing against a young outsider setting up a ring. Such a matter was too bizarre; almost everyone from street vendors to common laborers was discussing it, and they were especially looking forward to the arrival of tomorrow.

And amidst such surging undercurrents.

The news also reached the Jinjin Governor's Yamen.

At this moment, in the hall of the rear office.

The nearly sixty-year-old Jinjin Governor, Qi Yuanjiang, was dressed in casual clothes, sitting upright in the main seat, sipping tea while listening to the Prefectural Assistant's report.

The Jinjin Governor is a second-rank high official of the current dynasty, in charge of military affairs, civil administration, personnel, justice, customs, and water transport; he is a frontier official whose status is second only to the Governor-General.

After a long while, he set down his teacup:

"Interesting. 'God Fist Invincible', 'Jinmen Number One', defeating four Martial Arts Masters in a single day... Such a great disturbance has occurred in the city over these two days, why did no one come to tell me yesterday?"

The Prefectural Assistant said respectfully:

"Actually, this subordinate received the news yesterday, but at the time I only thought it was some madman from who-knows-where seeking attention, so I didn't take it to heart. Who would have known he would cause such a big scene today?"

Qi Yuanjiang said slowly:

"So, now the Martial Arts Association has no way to deal with that young man, and they hope the government will step in to seal off Haihe Square tomorrow and stop the ring?"

"Exactly."

Liu Guobai, the Prefectural Assistant, said:

"Setting up the ring for two consecutive days has already caused a huge sensation in the city. A veteran of the Martial Arts Association just visited in person to make the request, and it would be difficult for me to refuse him. But if we are to seal off the square, it would require deploying elite troops, which has significant implications. I did not dare to act on my own, so I came specifically to report it to you, Excellency."

"To resort to such methods... the Jinjin Martial Arts Association has truly fallen."

Qi Yuanjiang instead showed a look of curiosity:

"What is the background of that outsider?"

The Prefectural Assistant said: "I do not know his background for now, only that his name is Lu Yuan, and he looks to be just in his early twenties. I do not know where he came from."

As the Governor, Qi Yuanjiang also knew some martial arts and understood the ways of the world, so he couldn't help but sigh:

"In his early twenties, yet he can leave these accomplished martial arts veterans helpless... he is truly a peerless talent."

"Who is to say otherwise? Such a talent could be called unprecedented and unrepeatable. If he were at the Palace Examination, he would surely take the top spot with ease and gain the appreciation of the Emperor and the Old Buddha."

The Prefectural Assistant asked:

"In your opinion, should we provide some convenience to the people of the Martial Arts Association?"

Qi Yuanjiang's eyes showed a look of contemplation.

Although he was the noble Jinjin Governor, high-ranking and powerful, the several veterans in the Martial Arts Association were all Six Realms Martial Arts Masters with numerous disciples and grand-disciples. Their strength was deeply intertwined, and their influence in Jinjin was immense. When he first arrived in Jinjin, he had even relied on these people to open up the situation.

More importantly, within the Martial Arts Association, there was the top-ranked Wu Taidou. Even the Emperor had to treat such a figure with three parts of courtesy, and he had to attach great importance to him as well.

"Since they have come to me with this request, I must naturally give them some face."

In the end, Qi Yuanjiang deliberated and said:

"Sealing off Haihe Square directly is somewhat crude. It would be best to communicate with that young man and let him abandon the ring himself, leaving some face for the Martial Arts Association. Such a talent is rare in this world; it would be best to find out his background and see if there is any possibility of having him serve the imperial court. Otherwise, it would be too much of a pity."

"Your Excellency is far-sighted, this subordinate admires you!"

Liu Guobai gave a respectful bow and prepared to withdraw.

But before he could exit the hall, a runner appeared at the door and announced in a loud voice:

"Governor, Commandant Fan of the City Guard requests an audience!"

The Jinjin Commander is in charge of military affairs; to deploy elite troops, one must go through this person. Prefectural Assistant Liu Guobai walked back, and Qi Yuanjiang immediately smiled:

"This Fan Zhenxiong has come at just the right time. Let him in."

The official runner received the order and withdrew. Before long, a sturdy, armor-clad general walked into the hall with the stride of a dragon and the step of a tiger, then bowed and saluted: "This subordinate greets the Governor!"

Qi Yuanjiang smiled faintly:

"Commandant Fan, coming to see me so late, is there something the matter?"

Fan Zhenxiong had a rugged face and a voice like a booming bell:

"Indeed. I wonder if Your Excellency has heard that a mysterious outsider has appeared in Jinjin City these past two days, setting up a ring at Haihe Square and defeating several Martial Arts Masters who have stepped into the Embrace Dan Realm?"

Qi Yuanjiang nodded, slightly surprised: "I have only just heard of it myself. Prefectural Assistant Liu and I were just discussing this matter. It will require some effort on your part."

Fan Zhenxiong was stunned:

"Your Excellency means?"

At Qi Yuanjiang's signal, Prefectural Assistant Liu Guobai smiled:

"Isn't it because that outsider's act of setting up a ring is too flashy? The people from the Martial Arts Association have suffered great losses for two consecutive days and feel they have lost face, but they are too embarrassed to ask Wu Taidou to take action, so they have come to the government to ask for help in stopping that outsider from holding the ring.

Since the people of the Martial Arts Association contributed money and effort when Your Excellency was resisting the foreigners in Jinjin, you intend to give them some face. So, tomorrow, we may have to trouble Commandant Fan to dispatch some elite troops to first seal off Haihe Square."

"Seal off Haihe Square?"

Upon hearing this, Fan Zhenxiong immediately frowned and said at once:

"Your Excellency, this subordinate believes this move is inappropriate!"

"Oh?"

Surprised by Fan Zhenxiong's direct opposition, Qi Yuanjiang looked over with a calm gaze:

"In what way is it inappropriate?"

Fan Zhenxiong said in a deep voice:

"This subordinate believes that not only should this outsider's ring-setting not be stopped, but it should be widely publicized! It would be best to invite those foreign devils from the Concession to the scene to watch the ceremony!"

Qi Yuanjiang's gaze shifted sharply: "You mean?"

Fan Zhenxiong chuckled:

"Your Excellency, that young outsider set up a ring and defeated multiple Martial Arts Masters in succession; what an astonishing feat! Looking through history, it is no exaggeration to call it unprecedented and unrepeatable. Since that is the case, why doesn't Your Excellency make use of it?"

The Shenluo, the Sha'e, and even the Sunlight Country Japanese pirates who only recently settled in the Concession have brought great humiliation to the Imperial Court over these years; whether it be the princes and ministers or the Emperor and the Old Buddha, all hate them deeply, yet they have never had the opportunity to regain their dignity.

This suddenly appearing stranger possesses world-shaking talent, and has already proven his ability over these past two days. Why don't we add fuel to the fire and issue an official document inviting the experts of the Concession powers to participate in the ring, using their defeat to boost our national prestige? If this succeeds, the Emperor and the Old Buddha will surely be greatly pleased, and it will also be of great benefit to you, Excellency!"

How did I not think of that!?

Upon hearing this, Liu Guobai immediately revealed a look of regret, while Qi Yuanjiang, sitting in the main seat, had his eyes light up, feeling very tempted:

"Not bad, not bad, these words are very reasonable."

Over these past few decades, first the Shenluo powers bombarded our national gates and invaded repeatedly, then the Sha'e Empire took advantage of the chaos to occupy our territory; and not long ago, the Sunlight Country Japanese pirates brazenly invaded, not only occupying the Ryukyu Bay Islands but even landing to slaughter thousands of soldiers and civilians. The Imperial Court has lost its power and humiliated the nation, with no dignity left.

Although the Jin Dynasty is corrupt and incompetent, only able to shamefully sue for peace, it does not mean they have no temper. In reality, everyone from the court down to the commoners hates the powers so much they wish to eat their flesh and sleep on their hides; it is only because the Imperial Court's military strength is weak and unable to match them, otherwise they would have long since declared war to regain their dignity.

And right now, what cannot be won back on the battlefield seems to be recoverable through another method.

Once this succeeds, within the court, the Emperor and even the Empress Dowager Xici will surely be greatly pleased, and he, Qi Yuanjiang, will certainly be able to advance a step further because of this!

The more Qi Yuanjiang thought about it, the more tempted he became. In the end, he even stood up and paced back and forth, saying solemnly:

"Commandant Fan, as far as I know, whether it be the Shenluo, the Sha'e, or the Sunlight Country, they have all left behind many experts to hold down their respective Concessions. If we really invite them to the scene, can that stranger win steadily without defeat?"

"There should be no problem."

Fan Zhenxiong replied:

"Within the Concessions, it seems there are no top-tier experts of the Seventh Realm. As long as they are below the Seventh Realm, no matter how many come, they are no different from those Martial Arts Masters who were defeated in the ring today. Even if we take a step back and say they have hidden Seventh Realm top-tier experts who take action, there is no glory in the strong bullying the weak; it can be said that we are naturally in an invincible position."

The land of Shenzhou has two paths of cultivation: Martial Arts and Daoist Arts; other countries and continents naturally have them too, and it is said they even evolved from those spread from Shenzhou.

Nowadays, regardless of the Shenluo, the Sha'e, or the Sunlight Country, although their populations are far inferior to the Jin Dynasty, their paths of cultivation have developed prosperously, and their experts are not much behind the Jin Dynasty.

Of course, if it weren't for the Jin Dynasty destroying mountains and temples, burning books, and banning martial arts at the beginning of its founding, which caused the development of folk Martial Arts and Daoist Arts to be greatly frustrated, these three countries might not necessarily be able to compare with the Jin Dynasty.

"Good!"

Clearly completely persuaded, Qi Yuanjiang immediately made up his mind:

"Prefectural Assistant Liu, draft a letter for me immediately. Tomorrow morning, send it to the three major Concession Consulates of the Shenluo, the Sha'e, and the Sunlight Country!"

In the blink of an eye, a night passed.

When the first ray of sunlight broke through the clouds and shone upon the world, Jinjin, this thousand-year-old ancient city, also woke up from its slumber and glowed with vitality.

At the same time, the Consulate in the Shenluo Concession also received the official letter from Qi Yuanjiang.

In a conference room filled with exotic customs.

"Hmm?"

In the main seat, a Shenluo person with golden hair, blue eyes, a high nose, and deep-set eyes looked unexpectedly at the Han translator beside him, a look of contemptuous laughter on his face:

"What did you say? A Jin Dynasty person set up a ring in Haihe Square, claiming to be the number one strongman under Heaven, and then Governor Qi Yuanjiang invited our experts to go and watch the competition?"

"As long as one can take three punches from that person and still stand on the stage, they are considered the winner?"

A thin translator wearing Western clothes but also glasses had a fawning smile on his face, and said in fluent Shenluo language:

"Yes, Lord Victor, that is exactly what is written on the official letter."

As the words fell, several Shenluo people in the conference room with the same golden hair and blue eyes suddenly burst into laughter:

"Hahahaha. What kind of trick are these Jin Dynasty sick men playing? Do they want to regain the humiliation suffered on the battlefield through this method?"

"The number one strongman under Heaven, oh my Lord of Heaven, this is the biggest joke I have heard in my life!"

"These Jin Dynasty sick men wouldn't be going crazy because they just lost to those little dwarves from the Sunlight Country, would they!"

"Our soldiers' time is very precious, we don't have time to play house with them!"

Amidst the wanton and arrogant laughter of several Shenluo people, the Han translator's face turned from green to white, and he could only reveal a look of humiliated, fawning compliance:

"Then shall I go and decline on behalf of Lord Victor?"

"Wait."

Victor took the official letter and looked at it carefully, then revealed a slight smile and raised his head to look at everyone in the conference room.

"Everyone, this official letter also says that if one wins on the stage, they can receive a reward of 100,000 Silver Yuan, equivalent to 10,000 gold pounds of ours."

As the words fell, the several Shenluo people who had been dismissive just a moment ago suddenly had their eyes light up:

"10,000 gold pounds? This is not a small sum. Aren't these Jin Dynasty people actively sending us money?"

"Since that is the case, then we must not miss it!"

"The Jin Dynasty people have an old saying: 'If Heaven gives you something and you do not take it, you will instead be blamed.' Let us reluctantly go and accept it!"

"Lord Williams, the Chief Holy Knight of the Holy See, has long felt very bored here. It is just right to let him go out and relax, and incidentally let these cowardly Jin Dynasty people know what it means to be truly powerful!"

Victor also nodded: "Good, then go and invite Lord Williams, and see if he will be interested!"

Before the explosion of industry and technology, the Shenluo was merely a loose alliance formed by many small countries, a scattered mess; the only thing they had in common was that they all believed in the Heavenly Lord Holy Church.

However, over a hundred years ago, an incredibly formidable Pope appeared in the Heavenly Lord Holy Church. He developed and strengthened the church's power, used unprecedented means to tightly bind the entire loose Shenluo Alliance, and then developed industry, technology, and science, even using science and technology to research and promote the path of Secret Martial Arts cultivation, thereby forming the current 'Empire on which the sun never sets' that looks down upon the world.

It can be said that the Heavenly Lord Holy Church is the spine and soul of the behemoth that is the Shenluo Alliance.

And those who can become the Chief Holy Knight in the church are not only favored by the Holy Father, the Lord of Heaven, but their life energy level has stepped into the Sixth Stage, second only to the various Archbishops and even the Pope.

They have also personally slaughtered countless heretics and walked out of mountains of corpses and seas of blood to earn this title!

Just as the Shenluo Consulate received the Governor's official letter.

The Sha'e Consulate also received this letter.

On the garrison drill ground next to the Consulate, a Sha'e giant with a nose like an eagle and a height of a full two meters held a huge iron ball in his arms. Under the roar and the bulging of his powerful muscles, he erupted with immense strength, actually squeezing the iron ball in his arms into an iron disc bit by bit.

"General Ogliev!"

At this moment, a female soldier with a voluptuous figure walked up to the side of the field:

"We just received an official letter from the Jin Dynasty Governor Qi Yuanjiang. Would you like to see it?"

The giant called Ogliev squeezed the iron disc-like iron ball casually and said offhandedly:

"I don't recognize those ugly Chinese characters. What does it say? Just read it to me directly!"

The female soldier, who also served as a translator, immediately unfolded the official letter, looked at it carefully, and then giggled:

"General, the official letter says that Jinjin has a 'Number One Strongman Under Heaven' who is going to set up a fighting ring at Haihe Square; whoever can take his Three Punches and remain standing on the stage will be the victor and take away a prize of 100,000 Silver Yuan."

"This Governor, named Qi Yuanjiang, specifically sent letters to invite you, as well as experts from the Shenluo and Sunlight Country Concessions, to attend the ceremony."

"What? Among that group of sick men in the Jin Dynasty, there is actually someone who dares to call himself the Number One Strongman Under Heaven!?"

The giant, bear-like man turned around abruptly upon hearing this, revealing a wild and ferocious grin:

"They are insulting the term 'Number One Under Heaven'!"

"Where is that person? I want to twist his head off!"

His voice was muffled like thunder, and at the same time, he did not stop moving; one could see a massive iron disc in his hand being torn apart as easily as paper, then kneaded into a muddy pulp.

Including the Sunlight Country Consulate.

"Hahahaha. 'Number One Strongman Under Heaven'—the people of the Jin Dynasty have truly degenerated into clowns who seek to amuse the public."

A sinister old man wearing a military uniform laughed loudly, then looked at a man in a military uniform with a resolute and cold expression kneeling on his right side:

"Sangtian-kun, the experts in the military all come from your Black Dragon Society; as a Black Dragon Society General, what is your take? Are you willing to go and have some fun?"

Sangtian Hengyi took the official letter, a look of extreme mockery appearing on his face:

"One who takes Three Punches and remains standing on the stage is the victor?"

"Very interesting. I look forward to seeing how this Jinjin Number One Strongman kneels before me and begs for mercy."

(End of this chapter)