Chapter 414: The Hating Overlord's Invitation to Duel

One day, the fellow practitioners of the Fucheng Martial Arts Association came knocking.

"Brother Qin, Brother Yang, I trust you have both been well."

The visitors were unexpected; they were none other than the two out-of-town martial arts masters, Qin Lie and Yang Kuoqiong.

These two were no longer what they once were; they had already occupied a martial arts hall in the city, under the name... Zi Wu Fist Hall.

It turned out that the day Zhou You successfully challenged the halls, while it had stirred the ambitions of many out-of-town masters, it had also let them see how deeply rooted the influence of the local martial arts halls was.

Several subsequent challenges occurred, but without exception, the challengers failed, ending up either dead or crippled.

The local martial arts halls defended their status and dignity, and also indirectly warned the vast number of martial artists that not everyone could emulate the Hungry Tiger, Zhou You.

Qin Lie and Yang Kuoqiong did their homework and felt that they couldn't survive without banding together, so the two houses simply put their heads together and decided: let's crowdfund!

And so, the two martial arts masters from different places became sworn brothers of different surnames and joined forces to challenge a hall.

The challenge was a success! Not only was it a success, but they were also accepted by the Martial Arts Association one step ahead of Zhou You, becoming members of the Fucheng fist and martial arts circle.

And so, today they were representing the Martial Arts Association to invite Zhou You over.

"You two have finally tasted the fruits of your labor; congratulations, congratulations!"

Zhou You said politely.

Qin Lie was very humble, "Not at all, not at all, it was just good luck, plus some help from others."

He and Yang Kuoqiong did not hide it and told Zhou You directly that when they were choosing that martial arts hall back then, they had received guidance from an expert.

That martial arts hall had long since fallen into decline, had no backing or background, and had no outstanding successors; facing the two of them joining forces to challenge the hall, it was utterly defeated and handed the hall over.

Afterwards, it was that same expert who recommended they join the Martial Arts Association.

The question arose: what was the background of this expert who acted as a guiding light? "Jade Shell Golden Turtle, Pei Li."

Qin Lie praised him repeatedly, "Brother Pei is the most considerate person I have ever met. If not for his help, my brother and I would still be sleeping in the open, unable to find an opportunity!"

"Hall Master Zhou, Hall Master Pei has also admired you for a long time; we should all have a meal together when there is an opportunity."

Zhou You nodded; he began to understand the origin of this person's nickname.

Jade Shell Golden Turtle, smooth and slick in all directions; Pei Li was a social powerhouse with a clear mind who handled everything perfectly.

After the pleasantries, they stated their purpose.

As the Hall Master of Daqian Martial Arts Hall, Zhou You was logically a member of the Martial Arts Association, but he had never applied proactively and had no connection with the association; finally, the other side could no longer hold back.

"The local Martial Arts Association President, Hating Overlord Yan Shan."

Zhou You's eyelids twitched; this Yan Shan was no simple character!

From the first day he stepped into Fucheng, he had heard the great name of Yan Shan everywhere, to the point where almost everyone knew it.

He was also recognized as the seed with the most hope of breaking through to Vajra within a hundred years, and even more so, the ceiling that suppressed all the geniuses in Fucheng.

How high was Yan Shan's status? As long as he was in Fucheng for one day, there would be no second choice for the Martial Arts Association President.

"This time, it is the President who invites you to the manor for a meeting."

Zhou You agreed decisively, "Fine, I will go."

If it were anyone else extending an invitation, Zhou You might have considered it for a moment to see if he was in the mood to deal with it.

But since the invitation came from Yan Shan, he had to go on this trip.

Bawang Martial Arts Hall, the largest hall in the city, was situated in the northeast corner of Fucheng, standing with its back against the city wall.

This was the highest institution of learning in the city, and the disciples it admitted were all the most excellent talents from the vicinity; its source of students far surpassed other martial arts halls.

Because Yan Shan had been sprinting toward Vajra for the last few decades, and once he became a Vajra, he would be qualified to establish his own sect, his disciples and Apprentices were all filled with hope, presenting a scene of vibrant vitality.

Because the Bawang Martial Arts Hall was so large, it had set up main gates facing south and west.

Upon entering was the Outer Courtyard, where Strength Apprentices were sparring, shouting and throwing each other; the torrent of sound formed by their voices shook all directions.

Approaching noon, one could see hundreds of wisps of cooking smoke rising from the back kitchen of the martial arts hall, staining a large patch of the sky black.

It was said that when the martial arts hall drew water for cooking, the water level of the moat outside the city would drop by a few points. "Hmm?"

Zhou You glanced at the fist techniques the Apprentices were practicing; they were fierce and unbreakable, breaking through the air with the substance of metal and stone—it was clearly Vajra Fist.

He slowed his pace for a moment, and the accompanying Qin Lie and Yang Kuoqiong also slowed down.

"Hall Master Yan's fist technique is from the Vajra Mountain lineage that was popular a hundred years ago, using Vajra Fist as the foundation."

Vajra Mountain was also a sect that had once been extremely prosperous, but due to the mysterious disappearance of the Vajra in the sect, it fell apart and eventually perished.

Afterwards, fist techniques like Vajra Fist were lost to the common people, and there were many successors, ranging from ordinary martial arts masters like Mao Laoliu to existences like Yan Shan who were only half a step away from Vajra.

Just as they were speaking, a young man with a long spear slung across his back walked over quickly, "My master invites the three Hall Masters to enter."

Yang Kuoqiong stepped forward and cupped his fists politely, "We have kept Hall Master Yan waiting for a long time; please forgive us."

Qin Lie reminded Zhou You from behind that the young man was Yan Shan's nephew, an outstanding talent among the younger generation, the 'Little Overlord' Yan Wan Jun.

The long spear on his back was also extraordinary; it was Yan Shan's famous weapon, the Bawang Shu.

The Shu is a long spear, and this weapon could also be called the Bawang Spear; it could not be wielded with ease without ten thousand catties of divine strength.

"Hmm?"

As they entered the Inner Courtyard from the Outer Courtyard, Zhou You saw a tripod sitting in the center of the open space.

In his impression, only noble families were qualified to use a tripod; he had seen them in the Qi Family and the Liu Family, but this was the first time he had seen one in a martial arts hall.

"This tripod was a gift from a Fucheng noble family!"

Yan Wan Jun saw Zhou You's confusion and explained.

Yan Shan's temples were gray, and he did not have the overbearing aura rumored; he looked like an ordinary middle-aged man.

But when he turned his head, Zhou You caught a glimpse of a familiar aura: a Strong Martial Omen.

He understood in an instant; since they were meeting today, it was indeed still for the sake of the fist-intent puppet behind him.

"Zhou You, has your Daqian Martial Arts Hall started operating?"

Yan Shan asked directly, without any extra pleasantries.

Zhou You nodded, "Many thanks for your concern, Master Yan, everything is well."

"Since the martial arts hall is open, manage it well. We are currently in troubled times, so do not let down the Monarch's great favor."

Zhou You accepted everything Yan Shan said; after all, it was all correct, and there was nothing wrong with it.

This was the Martial Arts Association President's advice to a newly joined member, and also a senior's guidance to a junior.

"By the way..."

At the very end, Yan Shan suddenly said, "Help me arrange a meeting with Gu Lao; I want to have a match with him."

Having said that, without waiting for Zhou You to explain or argue, he directly waved his hand, "Show the guest out."

Only at this moment did Zhou You understand the Overlord's style of doing things: he never asked for your opinion, he simply gave orders.

Qin Lie and Yang Kuoqiong also suddenly realized that the purpose of Yan Shan's invitation was not Zhou You, but the high-level martial artist behind him, Gu Lao.

They had long heard that the Hating Overlord was a martial arts fanatic, and every high-level martial artist of status in the city had been challenged by him.

Now it was the turn of Gu Lao, who was behind Zhou You.

"Master Zhou, don't you worry either. Just pass the message along first; whether Gu Lao accepts the challenge or not is not something we can interfere with," Yang Kuoqiong kindly advised.

Zhou You rubbed his chin; the banner of Gu Lao's reputation could not be broken. Either he didn't fight, or if he did, he couldn't lose.

Otherwise, without this layer of protection, it would be difficult to gain a foothold in Fucheng, and he would be reduced to leaving his home once again.

"Let me think, let me think!"

To the two of them, Zhou You's behavior was undoubtedly a sign of deep worry.

(End of chapter)