Chapter 165: On Sendai Mountain, the Heroes Gather

"Master!"

The instant Kanze Masamune fell backward, bathed in blood, his disciple Sangtian Hengyi felt his eyes split with rage; he rushed up like a madman and lifted the corpse.

Upon discovering that Kanze Masamune's life force had been completely extinguished, he sat on the ground, stunned and wooden, as if he had lost his soul.

Before coming, both he and Kanze Masamune knew that Lu Yuan's strength was such that defeating him would inevitably be difficult.

But he never imagined that in just a single move, Kanze Masamune, who held Onimaru Kunitsuna and had further refined his Sword Path, would be defeated and killed!

He sat there blankly, as if unable to accept this reality, while everyone present, wary of him acting out of desperation, stood in solemn readiness. Chen Zhantang spoke coldly:

"In a fair duel, your master's skills were inferior; you cannot blame anyone. Leave quickly."

A line of tears streamed down Sangtian Hengyi's face.

After sitting blankly for a moment, he did not scream or shout; instead, he looked woodenly in the direction Lu Yuan had left, then picked up Kanze Masamune's body in a daze and stumbled away.

With such an incident occurring, the Post Station manager Gao Zhiyuan felt his scalp tingle and hurriedly led men to follow, asking:

"My good sir, do you require us to provide a carriage to escort you?"

Sangtian Hengyi ignored him, walked out of the Post Station with the corpse, boarded a car that had been waiting outside, and drove away rapidly.

Gao Zhiyuan watched the car drive off, spewing black smoke, and muttered to himself with a shocked expression:

"A Grandmaster from Sunlight Country, just died like that?"

"My heavens, no wonder this Pavilion Master Lu dares to challenge the world's heroes alone. The International Martial Arts Tournament the day after tomorrow is going to be a good show!"

A moment later.

Foreign Guest Mansion, the area where the Sunlight Country delegation was staying.

Inside a pavilion.

A white-bearded old man wearing a high crown and pure, simple divine robes, along with a slightly short but extremely sturdy and sinister-looking old man, were looking with gloomy expressions at Kanze Masamune, who lay on the table with his eyes still wide open in death.

Several other Sunlight martial artists with profound auras, as well as subordinate officials and attendants like Consul Jinjin Takeda Hikaru, were also shocked and filled with righteous indignation.

Ignoring the other noisy sounds, Great Priest Ueda Masaaki turned his head and stared at Sangtian Hengyi, who was kneeling on the ground with red eyes:

"Are you saying that with just one sword strike, that Lu Yuan killed your master?"

Sangtian Hengyi seemed to have lost his soul, only nodding woodenly:

"Yes, with only one strike, Master's Onimaru Kunitsuna shattered on the spot, and Master he..."

To the side, the sinister old man, Miyamoto Shinichi, the current Ninja King of the Miyamoto family, said in disbelief:

"This is impossible. Kanze Masamune, holding Onimaru Kunitsuna, is close to us in strength. Even if the Great Priest and I joined forces, it would be very difficult to kill him in one move. Could that Lu Yuan be a powerhouse who has stepped into the Legendary Realm?!"

Ueda Masaaki said coldly:

"Impossible. Even the Master, exhausting his life's efforts and consuming countless resources of the shrine, only achieved Heaven and Human Communion and took that step at the advanced age of nearly eighty. This person is said to be not even thirty; it is absolutely impossible for him to have reached such a state."

Kanze Masamune appeared to have challenged him privately on his own initiative, but in reality, this behavior had been tacitly approved by them.

Knowing oneself and the enemy ensures victory in every battle. If Sunlight Country wanted to surpass the two nations of Shenluo and Sha'e in this International Martial Arts Tournament, they had to grasp their opponent's strength, which was why Kanze Masamune's probe had occurred.

However, the result of the probe left them feeling genuinely shocked and terrified.

Takeda Hikaru clearly sensed the gravity and murderous intent of these two powerhouses, his eyelids twitching as he said:

"Could it be that this person used some Secret Technique specifically designed to restrain Kanze Masamune?"

"The tournament is imminent, and it concerns the Empire's strategy and honor. Do neither of you have confidence?"

Miyamoto Shinichi narrowed his eyes and said gravely:

"Judging by the situation of Kanze Masamune's battle with this person, I am afraid I am not his match either."

"Although this person's strength is unfathomable, he is not invincible. There will be many powerhouses at the tournament the day after tomorrow. If I can wait until he has fought other powerhouses, exhausted his physical strength, and observed his flaws before making a move, I might have a sixty or seventy percent chance of defeating him if I give it my all."

A sixty or seventy percent chance was clearly far from enough. Takeda Hikaru said in a dilemma:

"But the matches the day after tomorrow are by lottery, and powerhouses from all countries will be present. I am afraid it will be difficult to use methods to control it. What if we are the first to take the stage..."

"Even so, there is no need to be nervous."

At this moment, Ueda Masaaki's expression was calm as he spoke slowly:

"To ensure the Empire achieves results at this tournament, the Master gave me his Budu Mitama Sword, which he had carefully nurtured for decades, before he left, and it even contains a strand of Divine Sense he poured his full strength into."

"Budu Mitama Sword?"

Miyamoto Shinichi showed surprise, while Takeda Hikaru's face cleared of all gloom, becoming extremely delighted:

"That is truly wonderful!"

The Budu Mitama Sword, the legendary blade of the god-slayer passed down to this day, the sword of the god Takemikazuchi, is known as a legendary divine artifact in Sunlight Country and is a national treasure.

This sword has passed through the ages and was only unearthed nearly a hundred years ago. It has been enshrined in the Buto Soul-Cleansing Shrine. Rumor has it that this sword contains supreme divinity; a Seventh-tier Imperial God General wielding it can display legendary power that nearly breaks the limits, with unparalleled might.

Especially.

As a divine artifact sword, having been nurtured for decades by that legendary priest, this sword will surely be able to unleash unimaginable power in the hands of Great Priest Ueda Masaaki, enough to settle the matter once and for all!

Meanwhile.

In another area of the mansion.

The news of Kanze Masamune being carried back did not escape the eyes and ears of the Shenluo and Sha'e delegations. Both delegations learned of this news almost simultaneously, causing a stir.

The Shenluo side.

In a living room, several powerful figures gathered. After hearing the report from Consul Victor, a burly, mountain-like blond Shenluo man sneered:

"The Sunlight delegation secretly sent a Grandmaster to challenge that Lu Yuan, and he ended up dying right there?"

"Heh, they tried to steal a chicken only to lose the rice; these little short people born on that island nation are truly weak and shameless."

This person was the Knight King of the Holy See's Temple Legion, Abraham.

Opposite him, the black-haired, black-eyed Director of the Religious Inquisition, Hellers, smiled:

"No matter how shrewd the calculations, without powerful strength, it remains a joke. However, this so-called Kanze Masamune is a Seventh-tier powerhouse after all. It seems the strength of that Lu Yuan is truly not to be underestimated. How about it, you, the Knight King, do you have confidence?"

Abraham's laughter reverberated:

"No need to probe further. His Majesty the Pope treats us equally, and the trump cards he has bestowed upon you and me are the same. Relying on myself alone, even if I were to defeat that Lu Yuan, I might not be able to withstand the successive challenges from those who come after. Therefore, it is better for the two of us to cooperate fully. Otherwise, if we fail to achieve the victory we anticipate, we will have no face to see His Majesty the Pope. What do you think?"

The corners of Hellers' mouth curled up:

"Very well. In that case, let us leave it to luck. Whoever gets on the stage first to become the ring master, the other shall assist in defending the ring wholeheartedly, ensuring the Empire obtains the final victory and glory. How about that?"

Abraham said proudly: "That is exactly how it should be!" This included the Sha'e side.

In a conference room, several Empire generals gathered, their expressions intrigued.

"These Sunlight monkeys are still so skilled at calculating. This so-called Sword Dao Grandmaster is nothing more than this; it is laughable."

"The Sunlight People are not to be feared. General Alexeyevich, General Julius, besides that Lu Yuan, our main opponents should be the Shenluo People."

"They have dispatched the Knight King of the Temple Legion, Abraham, and Hellers of the Religious Inquisition. Both are claimed to be Seven-Tier Peak existences, and it is very likely they have utilized a Holy Artifact of the Holy See. You two—"

At the head of the table, an old man with a bulbous nose and a slovenly appearance said cautiously:

"Compared to General Alexeyevich, my strength is still slightly insufficient. Therefore, for this tournament, he shall be the primary focus, and I will merely assist from the side."

This was exactly one of the participants from Sha'e Country, Julius.

"And what of a Holy Artifact of the Holy See?"

At the head of the table, Alexeyevich, whose figure was like a mountain and whose eyes shone with a brilliant golden light, spoke indifferently:

"His Majesty Alexander has granted special permission to activate the Ancestor Relic. You should all know what this represents."

"With the protection of the Ancestor spirits, the Sha'e Empire will be invincible. Even the Shenluo Holy See shall not be able to block our path to victory."

Under the intentional cold treatment from all sides.

The news that Guanshi Masamune had challenged first only to be defeated and killed spread only in a small circle and did not cause much of a stir throughout Tianjing. Even the Sunlight delegation, as the aggrieved party, kept quiet and did not pursue the matter.

Under such surging undercurrents, two days passed in the blink of an eye.

In a flash, it was the first day of the eighth lunar month.

When the first ray of faint morning light shone upon Tianjing.

This ancient city seemed to suddenly come alive; people surged through every street and path, becoming exceptionally bustling.

Today was the official opening day of the International Martial Arts Tournament. Many commoners and even merchants from other regions climbed out of bed before dawn to leave the city and rush to Xiantai Mountain, over ten miles outside the city, wanting to occupy a good spot outside the arena.

And at this moment inside the city, although the sky had only just brightened, quite a few people had already gathered in front of the Jinyuan Post House, craning their necks in anticipation.

Those who arrived included well-known experts from the local Martial Arts Association of Tianjing and other factions, as well as martial artists and merchants who had traveled specifically from other regions, and some nosy commoners.

They did not know where they had heard that Lu Yuan was staying here, so they rushed over early in the morning to catch a close-up glimpse of Lu Yuan's countenance.

However, the imperial court had long been prepared. Shortly before the departure time, hundreds of soldiers arrived to separate the sea of people.

Before long, a convoy of carriages stopped in front of the Post House gate. Nayancheng, accompanied by several officials, personally invited Lu Yuan and his party out:

"Master Lu, the time is approaching; we should set off."

As the protagonist of this Martial Arts Tournament, he naturally had to make a grand finale appearance. Lu Yuan did not move immediately; instead, he leisurely drank a cup of tea, then took his dozen or so disciples to board the carriage, and was then escorted by a group of soldiers toward the outside of the city.

Xiantai Mountain, only ten miles away from Tianjing City, was not far. The convoy moved at a steady pace. Wherever they passed, many nosy onlookers followed and shouted. Inside the slightly bumpy carriage, Lu Yuan closed his eyes to rest, ignoring them.

And Chen Zhantang, Zhao Shuhua, and the others in the same carriage, although their hearts were surging and they were extremely excited, none made a sound to disturb him.

Just like that, in less than half an hour, the convoy slowly stopped. Lu Yuan stepped out of the carriage under the welcome of others and saw that this place was surrounded by green mountains, with clouds and mist swirling, the sky a deep blue, and the peaks lush and verdant.

Among the peaks was a huge, low mountain that looked as if it had been sliced in half by a god, resembling a platform for ascending to immortality. In the center of the Xiantai, a wide stone staircase wound its way up, about nearly a hundred zhang long.

Now, this main stone staircase had been blocked off by soldiers. One could see dense crowds of people climbing up along the other few mountain paths. At the foot of the mountain, there were also surging crowds, black and dense, one after another, rushing hurriedly toward the mountain.

Having never seen such a scene, Chen Zhantang and the other disciples of the hall could not help but click their tongues. Nayancheng was anxious and hurriedly said:

"Master Lu, the Old Buddha and the delegations from various countries have already arrived and are just waiting for you!"

Lu Yuan nodded and stepped forward. His footsteps were light, and his whole body was like a wisp of smoke without weight, ascending the stone stairs unhurriedly, step by step.

The hundred-zhang distance was covered in an instant. After ascending to the summit of Xiantai, what greeted them was an incomparably wide and grand plaza, over a hundred zhang in length and width.

In the center of the plaza was a ring two or three zhang high. Around it were rows of slightly crude viewing stands. Only in the due east, facing the ring, stood a viewing building with flying eaves and carved dragons and phoenixes, clearly prepared for Xici, the Emperor, and even the royalty and nobility.

And at this moment, as the time for the tournament to open had arrived, the plaza was already overcrowded. Whether it was the viewing stands or the empty space outside where one could only stand, it was already a surging sea of people, with not a single gap to be found.

"They're here! Master Lu of the Guangwu Hall has finally arrived!"

"Master Lu must win! You must defeat all these foreign devils! Raise our national prestige!"

"Losing to any side is fine, but one must never lose to the Japanese pirates of the Sunlight Country!"

"All the commoners of the thirty-six provinces are cheering for you here. Today, you shall have victory and no defeat!"

"Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan, Lu Yuan..."

When Lu Yuan entered under the guidance of a group of officials, the whole city suddenly became excited and boiling. Tens of thousands of watching commoners cheered and shouted, the rolling sound waves instantly rushing straight into the clouds and echoing endlessly among the mountains.

Including those on the viewing stands.

The officials and experts from Shenluo, Sha'e, Sunlight, and other countries who had also arrived not long ago all turned their heads one after another, gazing at Lu Yuan, who was walking slowly from the passage, his clothes fluttering, looking like an immortal among men.

"This person is Lu Yuan?"

"Strange, I actually cannot feel this person's Qi energy. Is it some kind of concealment technique?"

"Be careful, this person seems very simple. Before engaging with him, one must carefully observe his flaws."

"Heh, thin arms and thin legs; he doesn't seem to have anything extraordinary. Where does he get the courage to challenge the strong of the world?"

"A mere sick man of the Gold Dynasty. May Brahma bless me, Garava, so that I can draw the lot to be the first to get on the stage later, and with invincible posture, defeat this Gold Dynasty man, thereby becoming world-famous!"

Among the three major powers and various parts of the world, there were more than ten participating experts. These people stared at Lu Yuan as he walked through the passage with eyes that were either contemptuous, intrigued, angry, or solemn, and then his figure swept up lightly and landed on the central ring.

As for Chen Zhantang and the others, they stood under the ring, scanning the surroundings vigilantly, as if probing for something.

Just as Lu Yuan had stepped onto the stage and was the center of attention, a sharp and highly penetrating voice rang out from the viewing building:

"The Emperor and the Old Buddha have arrived—!"