Chapter 173: Martial Arts Supreme, Duoqing Sword Steals Affection, Commanding the World, None Dare Disobey

"Hahahaha, I won't joke with you all anymore."

Yu Liancheng looked up and laughed heartily. The laughter echoed endlessly in the hall, shaking everyone as if thunderclaps were exploding beside their ears: "Let us discuss the serious business from three days ago. Everyone, there is no need for formalities; feel free to speak your minds."

Lianchengbi was currently recovering from his injuries and had not arrived. Yu Liancheng sat in the seat of honor without the slightest hesitation. Though his figure appeared lean, he sat with the coiled power of a dragon and the crouching stance of a tiger, his imposing aura such that no one dared to underestimate him.

"Gentlemen, I wonder if what I said three days ago still counts?" Yu Liancheng's gaze darted about like lightning, his eyes brewing with thunder. He looked down upon the hall as if from the clouds, and as he swept his gaze across the room, no one dared to meet his eyes.

"The Chu-mo Alliance is meant to eliminate the Great Demon Yu Liancheng. If I bring Yu Liancheng to Shen Family Manor, you all will appoint me as the Alliance Leader—is that so, or is it not?"

He intended to establish his authority, and as he spoke, he employed the exquisite technique of the "Dragon-Shattering Chant," shaking the Qi and Blood and True Qi within everyone's bodies until they churned incessantly.

After a long silence, a renowned master of the martial arts finally broke the stillness and said: "That is correct. Those words are true. If you bring Yu Liancheng to Shen Family Manor, we will immediately appoint you as the Chu-mo Alliance Leader."

"Indeed, we are willing to appoint you as Alliance Leader."

In truth, no one wanted an Alliance Leader above them issuing orders, but the arrow was already on the string; they had no choice but to fire.

These past few days, they had also been monitoring every move of the "Invincible Mad Blade." The man spent most of his time at Shen Family Manor, either practicing his blade or strolling about with his wife.

Even though he would sometimes disappear, no one knew where he went, but in such a short time, he likely couldn't even leave Jinan, let alone capture Yu Liancheng.

Even if they really let him become the Alliance Leader, once the Great Demon Yu Liancheng was eliminated, would there even be a need for the Chu-mo Alliance to exist?

"Good. You are all righteous experts who keep your word; you would certainly not commit an act of bad faith." Yu Liancheng nodded with satisfaction and clapped his hands: "Since that is the case, I shall have Yu Liancheng come up."

Footsteps sounded from outside the door.

They drew closer and closer.

Many heroes could not help but feel their hearts sink. Could it be that Yu Liancheng had truly been captured by him?

But why were there only the footsteps of one person? If it were truly Yu Liancheng, was there no one guarding him? Were they not afraid he would run away?

Soon, a figure entered the hall.

The crowd of heroes saw the person who had arrived and could not help but heave a sigh of relief, but they quickly furrowed their brows, their gazes fixed intently on the object in that person's hand.

The person who entered was a woman.

Madam Hao.

Although Madam Hao was not beautiful, she was full of charm and very capable of attracting men.

But the moment the sword in her hand appeared, everyone's gaze was completely focused on the blade, as if everything else no longer mattered.

This sword was ancient, long and narrow, and pitch-black; it looked unremarkable.

But once this sword was drawn, all love and hatred would turn to nothingness.

—Duoqing.

It was precisely Yu Liancheng's personal sword, Duoqing.

Too many people had died under this sword, including great figures and great experts like Xie Tianshi and Li Qingfeng.

But how did this sword appear in the hands of Madam Hao?

Could it be that Yu Liancheng was already dead?

For a swordsman, a sword is not only his weapon, but also his dignity and glory; sometimes it is even more important than his life. No swordsman would ever hand his personal sword to another.

"Hurry and take it, this sword is heavy as death." Feng Siniang walked to Yu Liancheng's side and handed the "Duoqing Sword" to him with an expression of distaste.

The crowd's gazes followed the Duoqing Sword as it moved from Feng Siniang to Yu Liancheng.

"Gentlemen, I have already brought Yu Liancheng. Should you not first appoint me as the Alliance Leader and follow my orders?" Yu Liancheng took the Duoqing Sword into his hand.

The moment he picked up the Duoqing Sword, he seemed to transform from the arrogant and domineering Invincible Mad Blade into a cold and aloof swordsman.

And the heavy Duoqing Sword seemed to become very light in his hand, no different from an ordinary sword.

Some sharp-witted individuals seemed to understand something; their expressions suddenly changed drastically, revealing terror, and even their bodies began to tremble, as if they had encountered the most inconceivable thing in the world.

"Although you have obtained the Duoqing Sword, we have not seen the shadow of Yu Liancheng, so it still does not count," a large man said.

Yu Liancheng was silent for a long while, his gaze sweeping the hall once more, before he finally sighed: "Very well. Since there are truly such foolish people here, I will simply lay my cards on the table."

He wiped his hand across his face, and his bones cracked and popped with a series of explosions. In an instant, he had returned to his original appearance, changing from a lean, middle-aged man into a flawless young master, filled with an ethereal and light aura, as if a Heavenly Human had descended to the world.

"Can I reveal my identity now?" the Madam Hao beside him laughed.

"Of course." Yu Liancheng nodded.

"Wearing this mask is truly uncomfortable; I can finally take it off."

Feng Siniang turned around, and when she turned back a moment later, she had already recovered her original beautiful appearance. Combined with that unique beauty, it was even more breathtaking, and one could not help but be attracted to her.

At this moment, everyone in the entire hall was stunned, their breathing audible.

Clearly, they had also recognized the true identities of the "Invincible Mad Blade" Hao Ren and Madam Hao.

—Yu Liancheng, Feng Siniang.

Yu Liancheng still sat brazenly in the seat of honor, smiling slightly: "Gentlemen, I have already brought Yu Liancheng. How do you intend to deal with him?"

Silence.

A deathly silence.

They were so shocked by what was happening before their eyes that they could not speak, nor did they know what they should say.

"No matter how you deal with Yu Liancheng, you should first fulfill your promise to the 'Invincible Mad Blade' Hao Ren. As long as he could bring Yu Liancheng to Shen Family Manor, you would be willing to appoint him as Alliance Leader."

Yu Liancheng sat on the stool with a smile on his face and said loudly: "Why have you not yet bowed down in submission? Otherwise, once this Alliance Leader gets angry, you had better watch your heads."

Perhaps it was too absurd and bizarre, or perhaps they wanted others to be the first to lead, but in the vast hall, not a single person spoke. The scene remained quiet to the extreme.

"The 'Heavenly God' Yu Liancheng has appeared. Why do you not act, and carry out the way of Heaven?" Suddenly, a short, withered, and sallow-faced man stood up, his voice like a great bell, as if he were treating everyone else as deaf.

"Indeed, this person has disguised himself; he may have already killed the true 'Invincible Mad Blade' Hao Ren." Another burly man stood up. He was robust, and in his hand, he carried a large iron spear longer than his own body, the red tassel on the spearhead fluttering; he truly looked imposing.

Some had already recognized the identities of these two men.

The short one was called Leimantang, Hero Lei.

The tall one was called Longyishan, Hero Long.

These two were closer than brothers, always inseparable, and were known in the martial arts world as the two Thunder and Lightning Gods. One possessed immense strength and wielded a thunder-god chisel. The other had peerless light-body skills and used a large iron spear.

The two of them dominated Taihu, were public-spirited and righteous, and their chivalrous reputations spread far and wide; they were first-class heroes of the martial arts world.

Yu Liancheng glanced at them, a cold sneer curling his lips: "Very good, two little dogs of the Heaven Sect. I was originally too lazy to bother with you, but since you want to seek death, I can only fulfill your wish."

A chilling murderous intent had already dispersed, filling the entire hall, and Yu Liancheng's hand had already moved toward the hilt of the "Duoqing Sword".

The "Thunder and Lightning Twin Gods" felt their hearts leap wildly, and suddenly unfolding their light-body techniques, they darted out of the hall.

They naturally understood that once the Duoqing was drawn, someone would surely die.

Experts such as Xie Tianshi and Li Qingfeng had both died at his hands, let alone the two of them.

"Everyone, are you really going to just watch this person..."

"As long as we martial arts comrades present attack together, are we still afraid of this person..."

While darting outward, they tried to get the crowd of martial arts experts to deal with Yu Liancheng together.

But before they could finish their words, a brilliant sword light flashed, the two figures stopped abruptly, but their two heads had already flown into the sky and rolled onto the ground.

Yu Liancheng, however, was still sitting in the main seat, as if his figure had not moved at all, only lowering his head to mutter: "Two stupid dogs, do not think that just because I have sat in the position of Alliance Leader, I will not move to kill at will."

"Hero Lei, Hero Long, you have tragically met a poisonous hand from a villain; we were too late to assist you, but even if the Four Righteous Ones of Ludong are killed by this Demon, we are determined to fight this Demon to the end."

"Fellow martial arts comrades, are you really going to watch this Demon become the Martial Arts Alliance Leader? At that time, the entire martial arts world will surely fall into a state of no return."

Suddenly, four more people stood up, shouting with righteous indignation.

These four were called the "Four Righteous Ones of Ludong", all surnamed Shen; speaking of which, they still had some connection with the Shen Family, and they also had quite a reputation and status in the martial arts world.

Of course, the reason they were so anxious to stand up was because they were also people of the Heaven Sect.

They had originally prepared to incite the crowd to attack along with the "Thunder and Lightning Twin Gods".

But they had not expected that Yu Liancheng's actions would be so decisive and so merciless.

Yu Liancheng looked at them and sighed lightly: "Why seek death."

The Four Righteous Ones of Ludong were startled, their figures unfolding as they fled in four directions.

But Yu Liancheng's hand was already placed on the hilt of the Duoqing.

In an instant, another stunningly brilliant sword light appeared, sweeping across the air.

Thus, the Four Righteous Ones of Ludong also became four headless corpses, their heads rolling with a rumble.

"Yu Liancheng, you act perversely and are doomed to die!"

"Everyone, let's attack together; surely he alone cannot defeat all of us."

Although the Four Righteous Ones of Ludong were dead, the crowd was even more incensed.

The Heaven Sect had planted quite a few moles among this group of so-called martial arts heroes.

And although Yu Liancheng's killing methods were heavy and had frightened many people, they had also stirred up public anger.

Some heroes, their emotions affected, also stood up one after another, drawing sabers and swords, glaring at Yu Liancheng.

Yu Liancheng looked at the crowd and rose to his full height.

As he rose, it was as if a ten-thousand-foot mountain had risen across the space, and his massive presence filled the entire hall.

And at this moment, everyone's heart jumped involuntarily; in the face of this mountain-like, massive pressure, they only felt as if they had become a speck of dust.

An insignificant speck of dust.

"This was originally a grievance between me and the Heaven Sect; the rest of you may simply withdraw. But if there are those who dare to commit an offense against their superior, I, this Alliance Leader, will definitely execute them without mercy." Yu Liancheng stood with his hands behind his back, his expression already icy.

"Now, I will count to ten; after ten, whoever still dares to stand, do not blame me for being impolite."

In the face of Yu Liancheng's massive aura, some could no longer hold on and sat down with a thud.

Moreover, this matter revealed a few traces of treacherous and unpredictable atmosphere, seemingly related to a force called the Heaven Sect; they were not worth risking their own lives for this.

"Ten..."

Yu Liancheng had already begun to count.

When this "ten" was spat out, his figure flickered and he suddenly appeared in front of an old man with white hair and beard.

The old man was startled; he had originally been exchanging glances with the person next to him and had not yet had time to speak when Yu Liancheng raised his palm, and the man fell backward, bleeding from his seven orifices.

Yu Liancheng flicked his finger lightly again, and a finger-force from the air struck the forehead of the person next to him.

"Nine..."

By the time he said this word, Yu Liancheng had already drifted to the side of another person, his arm moved again, and he took another life, extremely easily, as if reaching into a bag to take an object.

"Kill!"

"He doesn't keep his word."

"This person acts perversely, everyone attack together."

The remaining people finally reacted.

This guy Yu Liancheng was actually tricking them.

If he were really allowed to count to the end like this, I fear there wouldn't be many left standing in the hall.

"Eight..."

"Seven..."

In the hall, an extremely fierce battle had unfolded.

A group of martial arts figures attacked Yu Liancheng, mostly Heaven Sect experts, each with no small ability, and they were numerous.

But often, the key to victory does not lie in numbers.

"Three!"

"Two!"

In the hall of Shen Family Manor, screams, pleas for mercy, and exclamations were incessant.

Among them, a clear countdown was interspersed.

This sound was not loud, yet it was clearly audible.

"One!"

Finally, the last count was finished.

After this sound, there were finally no more screams.

"It seems my prestige as Alliance Leader is still somewhat effective; after counting to ten, not a single person is left standing. Oh, myself excluded." In the great hall, Yu Liancheng wore a smile, while twenty or thirty corpses already lay on the ground.

These corpses were all heroes, sect leaders, and chief escorts who had once shaken their respective regions.

But now, they were merely meaningless corpses.

Among these people, most were experts from the Heaven Sect.

As for the others, since they had chosen to walk the path of the pugilistic world and had wanted to strike at Yu Liancheng, they should have no regrets about dying by his hand.

The remaining martial arts heroes sat on their stools, terrified to the core, unable to muster the slightest bit of strength in their entire bodies.

They had originally thought the martial arts of "Heaven's Father" were high, but they had not expected them to be far higher than they had imagined.

The pugilistic world is about human relationships and worldly wisdom, not just fighting and killing.

But if one's martial arts reached this level, the so-called pugilistic world was nothing more than a chessboard to be manipulated at will.

Cheating at chess, hiding pieces, wantonly changing the rules. If one were to become angry out of shame, one could just smash the board; there was no need to talk about any damn human relationships or schemes.

"If any of you still have opinions about me, just speak up; there is no need to be polite."

Yu Liancheng sat in his chair, picked up a teacup, took a shallow sip, and said with a smile: "I am a very open-minded person; it would be bad if I accidentally killed the wrong person."

Once he said this, the martial arts figures in the hall became even more silent, like cicadas in winter; even their breathing seemed to slow down, for fear of being noticed by him.

Looking at the cowering martial arts heroes, Yu Liancheng suddenly felt bored to death. He let out a long sigh: "With a bunch of cowards like you, being this Alliance Leader is probably quite boring too. Siniang, do you want this position of Alliance Leader?"

"You throw the position of Alliance Leader to me just because you don't want to be it; what do you take me for?"

Feng Siniang "humphed": "Besides, being your damn Alliance Leader must be exhausting, and once a person gets exhausted, they will age very quickly."

"That is troublesome." Yu Liancheng scratched his head: "You don't want to be the Alliance Leader, and I don't want to be the Alliance Leader; surely we can't let this position remain vacant. You must know that a family cannot go a day without a master, and a country cannot go a day without a ruler."

Feng Siniang said: "The Chu-mo Alliance exists to eliminate a Demon like you. Since it cannot eliminate you, is there any need for this alliance to exist?"

"There are still many Demons and monsters in this pugilistic world, so the Chu-mo Alliance is quite meaningful. Furthermore, I worked so hard to obtain this Alliance Leader position, it would really not be worth it to just throw it away."

Suddenly, Yu Liancheng's eyes lit up, and he raised the Duoqing Sword in his hand: "I became famous because of my Sword; since the people in this pugilistic world fear me, they also fear the Duoqing Sword. I don't want to be the Alliance Leader, so naturally, it shall be the Alliance Leader."

Feng Siniang said in surprise: "Are you crazy? Letting a sword be the Alliance Leader."

"Hahaha." Yu Liancheng laughed loudly, stood up tall, held the Duoqing Sword high in his hand, and swept his gaze across the room: "Everyone remember this: the supreme master of the pugilistic world is the Duoqing Sword. When it issues a command to the world, no one dares to disobey."

The experts all around were silent; they looked at one another, feeling that having such an Alliance Leader would be a total loss of face, and it would truly be better to just die.

But by this time, they had also lost the courage to resist. One by one, they hung their heads, like morning glories at closing time.

"You... simply..." Feng Siniang shook her head, no longer knowing what to say to him.

Yu Liancheng laughed: "I have an Alliance Leader in my hand, which can be considered holding the Emperor hostage to command the vassals; you had better be careful how you speak to me, woman."

Feng Siniang covered her forehead helplessly.

Thus, this struggle for the position of Alliance Leader ended in such a joking manner.

The pugilistic world was in turmoil, and news from the Shen Family Manor spread quickly.

Everyone was shocked by the outcome of this grand event, and at the same time, they understood that the martial arts of "Heaven's Father" Yu Liancheng had likely exceeded everyone's expectations.

And the experts killed at the Shen Family Manor were all prominent figures of the pugilistic world. With their deaths, the pugilistic world was bound to be in turmoil once again, undergoing a reshuffling.

Regardless, this no longer had anything to do with Yu Liancheng.

He had already decided to find Young Master Tian to engage in this final battle.