Chapter 299: Reputation Gradually Rising

"Po Liu Han Baling?"

Li Yan frowned. "Who is he?"

This name sounded a bit strange, not like someone from the Central Plains.

He looked at Zhang Xiaoshan, but the old man shook his head directly. "Why look at me? I don't recognize him either."

The monk from the Law Enforcement Hall put his palms together and explained, "That person was the leader of the Liuzhen rebellion during the Northern Wei Dynasty of Tuoba."

Saying it this way, Li Yan immediately understood.

During the Northern and Southern Dynasties, Emperor Xiaowen of Northern Wei moved the capital to Luoyang and comprehensively promoted Sinicization, changing the surname to "Yuan."

Because of this, the political and economic status of the military and civilians in the Liuzhen region dropped sharply. Coupled with the corruption of the Northern Wei imperial court in the later period, large-scale uprisings appeared.

Although suppressed by the Northern Wei imperial court and Rouran, it also buried hidden dangers for the collapse of the Northern Wei regime.

Thinking of this, Li Yan was a bit strange. "Why did this Po Liu Han Baling come to Ezhou?"

The so-called Liuzhen were in the Hetao and Youzhou areas.

The rebels at that time, besides Xianbei, were tribes like Gaoju, Xiongnu, Di, and Qiang.

Coming thousands of miles away was truly a bit strange.

The monk from the Law Enforcement Hall had an awkward expression, but after a moment of silence, he still said, "At that time, the Liuzhen uprising failed, and Po Liu Han Baling disappeared without a trace. Some said he was beheaded by Rouran experts."

"But in reality, he had already escaped into the empty gate (Buddhism) and was hiding in the Longmen Grottoes. We didn't expect him to reappear..."

"So that's how it is."

Li Yan suddenly realized, but didn't say much.

The era of the Northern and Southern Dynasties was a bit special. In the Mystic Sect, both Buddhism and Daoism were developing rapidly.

"Four hundred and eighty temples in the Southern Dynasties, how many pavilions in the misty rain." This refers to that era.

He had read some materials in his previous life. The Southern Dynasties region had more than 3,000 temples and more than 80,000 monks and nuns. The Northern Dynasties were even more exaggerated, with more than 2 million monks and nuns, and more than 30,000 temples.

And the Daoist sect, with Kou Qianzhi in the North and Lu Jingxiu in the South, were both carrying out reforms, laying the framework for the predecessor of the current Tai Xuan Zheng Jiao.

Of course, the two sides also fought endlessly. The most famous was the dispute over "Laozi Transforming into Hu."

In that era, both sides had quite a few dark histories.

Li Yan was too lazy to continue investigating, but asked, "Since the reason has been found, what does the Law Enforcement Hall intend to do?"

The martial monk put his palms together. "Senior Brother Chengjue said that this news came suddenly, probably related to demon people, wanting to use our hands to deal with Po Liu Han Baling."

"This person is crucial, and since he can return to life and escape into the empty gate, he must have strange treasures on him. If we can catch him, the demon people's layout can be fully known."

"He has a deep friendship with the Tian family; he might go to see them. If Li Li Shaoxia encounters him, be sure to ask the reason clearly."

Li Yan nodded. "That's natural."

His face was calm, but his heart was startled.

The wise people of the Buddhist sect were indeed many. Relying on some information, they immediately deduced many things.

Maybe they had already guessed that he helped the Tian family hide this news, so they pointed it out directly, letting him pay attention.

The martial monk from the Law Enforcement Hall left quickly after delivering the news.

Watching the figure of the other party leaving, Li Yan also shook his head slightly.

He promised the Tian family, so he naturally wouldn't break his word, but if the other party took the initiative to come to the door, some things had to be done.

And this Po Liu Han Baling.

The relationship with those demon people probably wasn't that simple...

……

Although there was this sudden situation, the martial arts tournament hadn't ended after all. Li Yan stayed on the mountain, so he could only continue doing what he was supposed to do.

"Seventh match, Li Yan from Guanzhong, Yan Gate!"

Following the Chamber of Commerce deacon's shout, someone jumped onto the ring.

Under the gaze of many eyes below the stage, many people had complex expressions.

When Li Yan arrived in Wuchang, his reputation had already spread. Some were unwilling to provoke him, but more were skeptical, just like Flower Snake Yang Yun's idea.

After all, he was too young and had no sect.

In this era, loose cultivators without a sect who could become a climate were very few. Even if they had talent, they couldn't advance further due to techniques and resources.

Just like the previous Flower Snake Yang Yun.

After he died, some of his past was gradually investigated.

This person's talent was considered intelligent, but although he was from the Snake Sect, he was from a small sect with master-led apprentices. Wandering the Jianghu, he was repeatedly looked down upon, and his actions gradually became extreme, heading toward the evil path.

But the current Li Yan was shining brightly.

From now on, no one would question his strength and reputation again.

The reason was simple: Thunder Method!

The status of Thunder Method in the Mystic Sect goes without saying.

Someone who masters Thunder Method is no ordinary person!

And many Jianghu masters present could see that Li Yan had already stepped into Hua Jin.

At this age, with this cultivation and aptitude, if anyone dared to look down on him, they would be blind.

Therefore, in the second day's tournament, he hadn't even entered the field, and the opponent directly admitted defeat, not wanting to waste energy on him.

And this time, the Xi Cai Gate didn't chicken out.

Li Yan looked opposite, his eyes full of expectation.

Soon, an old man jumped onto the ring. He wore a coarse cloth shirt, a white cloth towel wrapped around his head, his back hunched, his body thin and dry, and a large pipe stuck behind his waist.

The old man smiled and bowed. "Xi Cai Gate, Qin Gulun."

The other party was polite, so Li Yan naturally wouldn't be arrogant, and also bowed respectfully. "Guanzhong, Li Yan."

The old man looked around and smiled. "Li Li Shaoxia's means are not ordinary. Naturally, those of us eating Jianghu rice are not your opponents."

"But the so-called losing the battle doesn't mean losing the person. My Xi Cai Gate has already lost two matches in a row. If the old man doesn't even dare to fight, then it would be a joke if it spread out."

"Let's ask Li Li Shaoxia for some advice on some small tricks."

As he spoke, he pulled out the large pipe from his waist and took out some tobacco from a delicate leather bag in his bosom to load it.

Li Yan didn't rush to take action, but checked with interest.

He could smell that this tobacco was not simple. Besides tobacco leaves, it was mixed with some mushrooms and spices, and the formula was very complex.

If there were no accidents, the other party was going to use illusion techniques.

Sure enough, after the old man lit the smoke, he formed a magic seal and took a few puffs, then moved his lips slightly, spitting out smoke rings one after another.

These smoke rings didn't dissipate, surging forward in the air, and under the sunlight, they actually began to twist continuously, turning into wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards.

"Good!"

"It's Pointing Smoke to Transform Soldiers!"

Many people under the stage cheered one after another.

Li Yan had also heard of this unique skill.

In the Xi Cai Gate, this was called "Smoke Play."

Ordinary people can only puff out some circles, big circles looping small circles, creating tricks like "shooting an arrow through a ring."

But if one practiced illusion techniques, they could spit out smoke, turning into pavilions and towers, and even inside there were little people singing operas, like a dream.

If one went a step further, they could point smoke to become soldiers, gathering and dispersing without form, which was a kind of alternative army, although combined with illusion techniques, it had attack capability.

It is said that during the Tang Dynasty, at the Hua E Xiang Hui Pavilion, people from the Xi Cai Gate borrowed this method, added some miscellaneous arts, and created a scene of immortals ascending to the Heavenly Palace, which made the Emperor and Consort praise repeatedly. Didn't expect to see this secret technique again today...

Just as he was looking carefully, those wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards transformed by smoke were already circling left and right on the ring, baring fangs and brandishing claws at him, each vivid and fierce.

Whoosh~

A wild wind blew, and a fierce tiger transformed by smoke pounced. Li Yan clanged, drew his blade, and slashed.

Ding!

Sparks flew, he seemed to have slashed through something, and then the blade edge passed through the smoke, and the fierce tiger dissipated instantly.

This Duan Chen Hu Hu Dao Ren of his had a blade of hundred-refined meteorite steel and a core of Shou Shan copper essence, surrounded by Lei Gang, which itself carried the power to break evil.

Even with an ordinary slash, it was comparable to the Guanshan blade added by the Three Talents Suppressing Demon Coin blade tassel before.

After the smoke cloud tiger dissipated and gathered again, it was already hazy, only vaguely seeing the form, and it couldn't maintain it for half a breath before dissipating rapidly.

And Li Yan's gaze looked at the ground.

There, a cross-rotating flying knife had been split in two by him.

Li Yan understood instantly; it turned out this thing was the threat, and the so-called smoke transformation was just a cover.

!.

But being able to hide weapons and hidden weapons, and even he couldn't smell it, I'm afraid most sorcerers would be unlucky as soon as they came into contact.

"Li Li Shaoxia has good skills."

This old man didn't expect Li Yan not to dodge at all.

Of course, he displayed this technique in broad daylight, naturally not afraid of being seen, waving the large pipe in his hand, and on the ring, wind whistled, and various monsters transformed by smoke pounced together.

And Li Yan had long since taken out the Divine Tiger Order, formed a magic seal, and chanted quickly: "Nuogao, left with three stars, right with three prisons, heaven turns and earth flips..."

This was the Northern Emperor Body Protection Curse, which originally had the ability to attack the soul. With Li Yan's current cultivation, its power naturally increased accordingly.

"Roar!"

Everyone only saw a wild wind suddenly rise around Li Yan, stirring the smoke, forming a vortex, and then a tiger roar suddenly sounded.

Like a fierce tiger descending the mountain, all beasts hibernating.

Those smoke wolves, insects, tigers, and leopards pouncing over suddenly exploded and dissipated, leaving behind cross-rotating blade edges, flying up and down.

Li Yan stood still, spun the blade, and clanged, blocking all the blade edges.

And opposite, this old man of the Xi Cai Gate smiled slightly. "Li Li Shaoxia is worthy of being a Mystic Sect orthodox. The old man's little tricks make you laugh."

After speaking, he bowed and jumped off the ring directly.

The people under the stage immediately understood, secretly calling him an old fox.

This old man didn't think about winning when he got on stage, but he couldn't lose his prestige, so he used this rare "Pointing Smoke to Transform Soldiers" unique skill.

Li Yan used Mystic Sect orthodox methods to break it, which couldn't be considered losing face; after all, his Xi Cai Gate was originally a Jianghu side sect.

And this "Pointing Smoke to Transform Soldiers" wasn't that simple. If it were night, it could even drive Yin ghosts and spirits, making it even more hidden and terrifying.

If it spread out, no one would dare to look down on the Xi Cai Gate. After all, "Pointing Smoke to Transform Soldiers" was just one of the secret methods; who knew if they had mastered other legendary methods.

This time, it had the meaning of Jianghu sparring.

With an example, those who came to the stage later didn't fight to the death anymore, various strange skills and unique arts emerged, making people dazzled.

Of course, Li Yan didn't idle either.

Although Zhang Xiaoshan had gone on strike and stopped guiding him, he had already broken that layer of barrier for him.

Like climbing over a hill, the front was flat.

Whenever Li Yan had leisure time, he would either practice storing spirit or combine what he saw these days to perfect his own cultivation method.

Although he was on the mountain, news from under the mountain kept coming.

After the Ezhou Chamber of Commerce was attacked that night and repelled by Lu San, no one came to harass them again, temporarily safe...

On Hearing Sha Lifei's side, he was preparing for refining with Master Lu, processing various materials, busy in a mess.

Hearing Sha Lifei was very excited in his letter, clearly having learned quite a bit, and could prepare some ordinary things himself in the future...

Po Liu Han Baling's identity was exposed, but after leaving Mulan Mountain, he disappeared without a trace and never appeared again.

As for those demon people, they seemed to have stopped, not knowing where they were hiding, planning some conspiracy.

Just like this, the three cities of Wuchang were temporarily in a stable state.

Merchant caravans and literati from all over Ezhou were also increasing. After all, this annual Dragon Boat Festival was considered the grandest festival in the Ezhou region, even better than the New Year.

On the fourth day, the tournament continued.

The one who came to the stage was a Xingyi Fist expert, already in Hua Jin, a famous big escort from the Hankou Escort Agency.

Both sides didn't use techniques. Li Yan had just entered Hua Jin, and his moves weren't as experienced as the old man's, so he spent a lot of effort, relying on his youth and vigorous blood and qi to force the person off the ring.

Up to this point, the goal of this time had been achieved.

All four spots were in hand. Once the new-style firearms and those Dharma artifacts were refined, the strength of their team would rise abruptly.

On the last day, Li Yan also welcomed a real opponent.

"Seventh match, Li Yan from Guanzhong, Yan Gate!"

Following the Chamber of Commerce deacon's shout, someone jumped onto the ring.

This person was not tall, his muscles were coiled, thick eyebrows and big eyes, wearing a martial robe, clearly in his prime.

He looked at Li Yan on the stage, his eyes full of solemnity, and bowed. "Cangzhou Wu Qu, Baji, Huaguang Sect!"

Li Yan bowed solemnly. "Guanzhong Li Yan, Pi Gua Red Fist, loose cultivator!"

This Turtle Mountain tournament competition, not only he became famous.

Old Jianghu forces all had outstanding talents appearing.

For example, the Wudang Escort Agency had a lay disciple who had obtained Zhang Xiaoshan's inheritance, and the Eight Trigrams Willow Leaf Cotton Silk Palm was deeply flavored.

Although not as good as Li Yan, he was already considered brilliant among the younger disciples.

Of course, there were also some greenwood experts.

They fought in the tournament for others, not just for money.

Making a name this time, their value would also increase when taking jobs in the future.

And these few days, the one who became famous alongside Li Yan was this middle-aged man Wu Qu.

This person came from a famous sect in Cangzhou, traveled the Jianghu, Baji Fist was fierce, and Huaguang Dharma was also sharp. The combination of the two was even more fierce.

Even Zhang Xiaoshan said this person was not easy to provoke.

Although he didn't know why he was hooked up with the ill-reputed Yan Gate, Li Yan knew that this Wu Qu was mostly the kind of ruthless person who wandered around and pursued the grandmaster realm.

After the two met, they didn't rush to take action, but looked up and down, suddenly asking, "Brother Li's Pi Gua, does it come from Cangzhou?"

Li Yan didn't hide it. "From the Ma family in Cangzhou."

Madam Li's original surname was Ma, also a famous sect in Cangzhou. Li Yan worshipped a master to practice, and experts could naturally see it at a glance.

Wu Qu nodded solemnly. "Sure enough, I thought the Ma family's Pi Gua had been lost, didn't expect there to be successors."

"Exactly, let's try how hard your Pi Gua is!"

After speaking, his right foot probed forward, simultaneously his hands supported, his right fist raised, his elbow aimed at Li Yan.

Looking at this stance, it was clearly to compare fist and foot first.

Li Yan naturally wasn't afraid and set a Pi Gua stance.

The people under the stage were all focused.

Pi Gua needs to open the door, and Baji is even more "Open Door Eight Extremes." The two fighting was completely hard-to-hard, seeing who would break the opponent's stance first...

(End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 300 =====