Chapter 161: Opportunity Must Not Be Lost, The Eighth Rank Saint

"Lu Yuan!?"

As Nayancheng finished speaking, Victor's expression shifted violently:

"What is the meaning of this? Why is this person the ringmaster?"

Jonathan also furrowed his brows, saying with an unpleasant expression:

"I have heard of this person's battle record. He once defeated Seventh-tier powerhouses from Sha'e Country and Sunlight Country in public; he is indeed a powerhouse. But for you to say that defeating this person will earn the title of world number one—are you not saying that he is currently the world number one? That Governor, this joke does not sound funny at all."

Nayancheng smiled:

"Everyone, please do not misunderstand. We do not have that intention. The main reason this person is defending the ring is that his strength and cultivation are indeed ranked at the top within our Great Jin, second to none. He can basically be regarded as the strongest among the common people and is fully qualified to represent Great Jin in the ring.

Aside from your side, we also have some disputes with the Sha'e People that need to be resolved through this Martial Arts Tournament, which is why we initially agreed on this competition format. Whether it is your side or powerhouses from other countries, as long as one can defeat our ringmaster and repel subsequent challengers, they can become the final winner. Overall, this is still relatively fair. What do you all think?"

Nayancheng's explanation was barely passable. Jonathan thought for a moment and said indifferently:

"So-so. I understand your proposal. Later, I will arrange for someone to send a message back to let the Council decide. We will notify you when there is news."

Nayancheng did not linger. He rose with all his officials in a flurry and smiled:

"In that case, I shall await the good news."

Saying this, he led his party and left the Consulate.

After they had left.

Williams hesitated and said:

"General Jonathan, do you think the Holy See will agree to participate in this International Martial Arts Tournament?"

"Why wouldn't they?"

Jonathan exhaled a puff of smoke and said indifferently:

"This Nayancheng does indeed have a point. While we can certainly use strong ships and cannons to force the Jin Dynasty people to open up missionary rights in every province, war will also cause the civilians within their borders to be hostile toward us, which is highly unfavorable for the spread of the Lord of Heaven's gospel.

His Holiness the Pope has grand strategies; his vision is to spread the gospel and teachings of the Lord of Heaven across the whole world, and this ancient land of Shenzhou is the most important part of all. If the Shenluo People can achieve final victory in this so-called International Martial Arts Tournament, it would be an incomparably sufficient proof of the strength and superiority of our faith, looking down upon other great powers.

At the same time, defeating the Jin Dynasty people in the place they are most proud of can also completely shatter the pride of this ancient civilization, making millions of Jin Dynasty people worship and kneel, and allowing the radiance of the Lord of Heaven to completely illuminate this vast land."

Williams naturally dared not refute anything, only frowning as he said:

"The General's foresight is truly admirable. However, since the Jin Dynasty people dare to make such a proposal, they clearly have great confidence. I wonder which lord the Holy See will send over."

Jonathan smiled:

"That is none of our business. There is more than one person within the Holy See who has already approached the level of an Eighth Rank Saint; sending any one of them over would be enough to suppress the entire city. Victor, you immediately draft a dispatch and report the Jin Dynasty people's proposal to the Council in detail, and ask His Holiness the Pope to make the final decision!"

Victor immediately complied:

"Yes!"

Not long after the negotiations on the Shenluo side ended.

In the Sha'e Country Consulate, Jinjin Governor Qi Yuanjiang, who had submitted his visiting card in advance, led a group of interpreters and attendants with his head held high after receiving the message sent by Nayancheng, and entered the Consulate for the second round of negotiations.

"Hmm?"

After learning of Qi Yuanjiang's intent, Valianjing, who came to meet him, raised his eyebrows, his tone playful:

"International Martial Arts Tournament... The Shenluo People have already agreed!?"

Qi Yuanjiang put on an arrogant posture:

"Of course it couldn't be that fast, but the Shenluo People are very interested in this and have already sent a message to their country for discussion; presumably, they will agree soon. Your Sha'e Country's overall strength is also top-tier in the world, it is just that you are mostly suppressed by Shenluo. You shouldn't be afraid of them for such a rare opportunity, right?

With the two strongest countries in the world, Shenluo and Sha'e, agreeing, Sunlight Country will inevitably participate as well. Added to that, countries and peoples from all over the world, such as Nanyang, West Asia, and Indu, will all participate in this unprecedented grand event. The final winning side will have their fame spread across the world; such an opportunity is very rare."

Although he knew Qi Yuanjiang was using a goading tactic, Sergei still said coldly:

"Whether in military or individual cultivation, our Great Sha'e Empire is the true strongest in the world; the Shenluo People are no match for us!"

Valianjing, however, narrowed his eyes and said:

"Your suggestion is indeed interesting, but letting this Lu Yuan be the ringmaster to accept challenges from powerhouses of all nations is giving him too much credit. He is the prime suspect in the killing of Aojinniezi; what qualifications does he have to accept challenges from powerhouses of all nations?"

Qi Yuanjiang's expression did not change as he said:

"This is also a matter of no choice. This person's name is known throughout the world, and his strength and battle record have been recognized by the Imperial Court. For such a figure, the Imperial Court cannot arrest him just because of your accusations with insufficient evidence; we can only provide such an opportunity for your side to handle it yourselves.

The Old Buddha's meaning is that if you can defeat this person at the International Martial Arts Tournament, the Imperial Court is willing to take responsibility for Aojinniezi's death; whether it is an apology or compensation, everything is open for discussion."

"Oh?"

Valianjing raised an eyebrow in slight surprise:

"It seems you are very confident in this Lu Yuan. Although a Martial Arts Grandmaster as young as this is indeed rare in the world, the world is full of powerhouses and hidden talents. Are you not afraid that he will be beaten to death in the very first challenge, causing the entire country to lose all face?"

Although Qi Yuanjiang now knew of Lu Yuan's battle record, he was not very confident in his heart either, and could only force himself to remain calm:

"This is the Old Buddha's decree; we have no right to comment. If that really happens, it is just his skills being inferior to others, and he cannot blame anyone else. The situation is as it is now; I wonder how your side is considering it?"

Valianjing thought for a moment and said slowly:

"This matter is extraordinary and cannot be decided casually. I need to send a message to His Majesty the Tsar for him to consider and decide. You should go back and wait for news first."

"Very well."

Qi Yuanjiang stood up immediately:

"In that case, we shall await the good news. Farewell."

Having said that, he led his party and took his leave.

After they left, Sergei could not help but sneer:

"These cunning Jin Dynasty people actually came up with such a proposal; it is truly unexpected. General, I now seriously suspect that they are planning to drive the wolf to swallow the tiger, wanting to use this to provoke a fight between us and the Shenluo People!"

"We and the Shenluo People have always been fighting; there is no need for provocation. Moreover, no matter how two lions fight, the sheep on the side acting as food cannot escape the fate of becoming food."

Valianjing's eyes flickered as he said:

"And I must say, the proposal of an International Martial Arts Tournament is very interesting. His Majesty the Tsar will surely be very interested when he hears it."

On this day.

Not only the Shenluo and Sha'e, but also the Sunlight Country Consulate.

The original Consul, Guangye Shensi, had long since been dismissed and returned home due to the losses suffered by the Black Dragon Society's assassination squad; the person now serving as Consul was Takeda Hikaru, a Sunlight aristocrat who had only recently been transferred from the home country.

Because it was a formal invitation sent by letter, officials of the rank of Nayancheng and Qi Yuanjiang did not appear in person, instead dispatching Prefectural Assistant Liu Guobai to personally deliver an official letter to Takeda Hikaru.

"International Martial Arts Tournament?"

In the conference room, Takeda Hikaru, who was over fifty years of age, finished reading the contents of the official letter item by item, then could not help but suddenly raise his head, his gaze flickering as he said:

"Prefectural Assistant Liu, this martial arts tournament seems very interesting. Are you certain that the Shenluo and Sha'e countries will definitely participate?"

And even without any additional conditions, upon learning that the Shenluo and Sha'e countries might participate, Takeda Hikaru immediately developed a huge interest in this tournament.

Liu Guobai said with a chuckle:

"Both countries are very interested in the International Martial Arts Tournament. They are now both sending messages back to their home countries to discuss it; the probability of participation should be over seventy percent. I wonder about your side?"

Takeda Hikaru sat kneeling on the tatami, his expression solemn and resolute as he said:

"As long as those two countries participate, my Great Sun Empire will certainly participate in this grand event!"

Not expecting the other party to answer so categorically, Liu Guobai was somewhat surprised:

"Does Consul Takeda not need to notify your home country first...?"

Takeda Hikaru said proudly:

"Of course we need to notify our Cabinet first, but I believe that neither the ministers of the Cabinet nor His Majesty the Emperor would miss this opportunity to let the world witness the bushido spirit of the Great Sun Empire. In the forest of the world's top experts, there must be a seat for my Great Sun nation!"

In the world today, Shenluo and Sha'e are old-established powers, while the Sunlight Country is a late-rising power that, relying on comprehensive Westernization and reform, now also possesses a powerful military and can be called a great power.

Of course, being a latecomer with insufficient foundations, the Sunlight Country's overall strength was still a notch weaker than the two top powers of Shenluo and Sha'e, which also led to their strategic development, especially their schemes regarding the land of Shenzhou, being repeatedly interfered with by these two powers.

For example, the Jin-Sunlight Naval Battle more than half a year ago; the Sunlight Country originally had the opportunity to completely swallow the entire Liaodong Peninsula, but it was because of the meddling of Sha'e Country that their scheme fell through, which also made them harbor deep hatred.

And now, this International Martial Arts Tournament proposed by the Jin Dynasty was undoubtedly an excellent opportunity to flex their muscles. If their domestic top experts could defeat the experts of Sha'e and even Shenluo at such a grand event, their national self-confidence and world prestige would inevitably rise to an unprecedented height. For a nation with a great propensity for gambling, this was an opportunity that absolutely could not be missed!

Liu Guobai had some experience after all and roughly understood Takeda Hikaru's psychology, so he immediately coughed lightly and said:

"Since your side is willing to participate, that could not be better. Once there is a response from the Shenluo and Sha'e side, we will notify your side at the first opportunity."

"Many thanks, Prefectural Assistant Liu."

Without discussing much more, Takeda Hikaru stood up and saw Liu Guobai and the others out of the Consulate.

Once the carriages in the distance had departed, Takeda Hikaru's gaze continued to flicker, and he then instructed his personal guard officer:

"Immediately send this news to the Cabinet and notify all the ministers and His Majesty the Emperor!"

The matter of the so-called International Martial Arts Tournament had not been publicized by the imperial court because it had not yet been finalized, so apart from a very small number of people, the commoners of Jinjin were unaware of it.

As for the three major consulates, through their respective wireless communication methods, they transmitted the news back to their home countries within a single day, stirring up shock and waves.

The next morning.

Capital of Shenluo, Bulitani.

The Shenluo Empire was a country where politics and religion were one, formed by integrating dozens of large and small kingdoms on the Western European continent under the iron fist of the Holy See.

And Bulitani was not only the capital of the Shenluo Empire but also the power center of the Holy See, a holy land for pilgrimages for the hundreds of millions of believers across the entire Western European continent.

The city of Bulitani had a history of over a thousand years, and its current population exceeded five million. The outskirts of the city were filled with huge factories spewing black smoke, while the inner city area was lined with high-rise buildings, and the streets were bustling with Steam Locomotives, making it extremely prosperous.

And right in the center of this giant city, there was an extremely empty, open, and even solemn and magnificent square. Standing on the square was a giant statue of the Lord of Heaven over a hundred meters tall, and behind the statue was a giant cathedral that was magnificent and solemn to an extreme degree.

This was the largest cathedral in the entire Shenluo Empire and also the highest power center of the Holy See, St. Paul's Cathedral.

At this moment, inside the deliberation hall of St. Paul's Cathedral.

Behind a giant round table, a total of eight aged Cardinal Archbishops sat motionless, their auras mysterious and majestic, as they whispered in discussion:

"International Martial Arts Tournament..."

"The news sent back by Jonathan is very interesting. Does His Majesty the Pope have any edicts?"

"Missionary work in the Jin Dynasty has never been able to open up a situation. His Majesty the Pope believes this is a good opportunity to demonstrate the majesty and power of the Holy Church to the world, and has already approved this matter."

"The land of Shenzhou has too ancient a history. If we want the gospel of the Lord to spread to all corners, we indeed need a special opportunity. Then, has His Majesty the Pope designated which Saint should represent the Holy See in the battle?"

"His Majesty the Pope has left it for us to discuss. As for personal cultivation, the most outstanding ones are undoubtedly Hellers of the Religious Inquisition and Abraham of the Templar Legion."

"These two are the practitioners closest to the Eighth Rank Saint, second only to His Majesty the Pope. Indeed, only they are qualified to represent the Holy See in the battle... but which one should we choose to go?"

"This is a headache-inducing problem. Although the world's number one reputation contested in this International Martial Arts Tournament is not entirely deserved, it is, after all, a rare honor. It would not be appropriate to overlook either one..."

"Since that is the case, let them both go. The news sent back did not mention a limit on the number of people. His Majesty the Pope has been evaluating them, and this is just a suitable opportunity. What does everyone think?"

"Agreed."

"Seconded."

"Seconded. It is only a pity that I am already too old; otherwise, I would also like to participate in such an interesting grand event..."

"Then let it be so. We can reply to Jonathan and notify these two."

"Wishing them a triumphant return in advance, and may the glory of the Lord shine upon every inch of land in the world."

"May the glory of the Lord shine upon every inch of land in the world!"

(End of chapter)