“About our Master…”
Everyone present wore an awkward, ashamed smile, unsure how to respond.
Seeing that the young men and women all had handsome and lovely features, the old man chuckled and said, “Lei Ming probably thought you’d never reach the level of a Transformation Grandmaster in your lifetime, so he never mentioned it!”
“A so-called Grandmaster is a martial arts expert who has reached the Transformation realm. They can condense qi into weapons, manipulate objects with their energy, injure people from over a hundred meters away, and even fear no bullets!”
The old man sighed wistfully as he began his explanation.
“What? Grandmasters are that powerful?”
“Even bullets can’t kill them? Are they even human?”
The crowd was shocked and disbelieving.
This was simply unbelievable, like special effects from a Hollywood blockbuster—it didn’t seem real at all.
“So… the Lei family isn’t considered top-tier martial artists…”
Even Lin Monong, who had some understanding of martial arts, found it hard to believe.
Compared to these god-like figures, Lei Gang was merely someone with immense strength, capable of kicking bricks and stones to pieces.
“Hah, what are bullets? Twenty years ago, the God of War from the military, Ye Zhantian, battled the veteran Grandmaster from the northwest, Qiao Bin, at Heaven’s Pool on Mount Baekdu!”
The old man said with a proud smile, “Ye Zhantian had just finished a fierce fight with Lin Zhenyu and was seriously injured, his strength depleted. In desperation, he had to order the military to bombard the area with artillery. Guess what happened?”
“What else could happen?”
“He died, of course!”
Everyone asked, thinking that being shelled by the military would turn anyone into mincemeat.
“It’s said that thousands of artillery shells roared that day, but Qiao Bin only vomited blood from his injuries. He didn’t die. Instead, he fled to the frozen plains of Siberia!”
The old man sighed with a complicated expression.
“My goodness…”
Upon hearing this, everyone was struck dumbfounded, utterly petrified on the spot.
“This Li Tuofeng may not look like much, but he’s actually quite formidable in the northwest!”
The old man said reverently, looking at Li Tuofeng seated in the front row, “Back when he was traveling across the Inner Mongolian grasslands, he once single-handedly killed over a hundred wild wolves. And he was only thirty years old at the time…”
“This… this little old man is that powerful?” Tang Bao’er asked, her voice trembling.
Just as the old man was about to say more, Li Tuofeng had finished exchanging greetings with the crowd. Wei Feilong from the front row stood up, smiling as he swept his gaze across the audience:
“Thank you to all our martial arts comrades who have come from far and wide, and to all our friends from the secular world who support the development of martial arts!”
After a thorough speech of thanks, he straightened up and announced, “Today is the last day of my tenure as the Martial Alliance Chairman. Immediately following this, a new Alliance Leader will be decided through tournament matches!”
“The platform? Where is it? I don’t see it!” Tang Bao’er exclaimed in surprise, looking around.
“Hah, today, only Transformation Grandmasters will truly take the stage to compete. How could an ordinary martial artist be qualified to serve as the Martial Alliance Chairman?”
It was that old man again who explained:
“Once Transformation Grandmasters make a move, it shakes heaven and earth. Ordinary platforms, martial arts halls, or stadiums—how could they withstand the might of a Grandmaster? They’d be torn apart in minutes!”
“What? That powerful…” Upon hearing this, everyone felt as if they were dreaming.
“Indeed. My father is only at the Iron Body level, but I’ve personally seen him punch a platform guardrail post to smithereens with one fist!” Lei Gang said boastfully.
“Then where will they fight?” Tang Bao’er once again became the curious child.
“See that? The Xie Mountain…” The old man pointed towards a peak on the water’s surface and said calmly.
Xie Mountain, also known as Xie Shan Island, gets its name from its resemblance to a shoe dropped by a fairy into Poyang Lake. It is only a few kilometers from where Poyang Lake flows into the Yangtze River, facing the Little Solitary Mountain in the Yangtze from afar. Hence, Xie Mountain is also called the Great Solitary Mountain.
“The Great Solitary Mountain stands distant from the Little Solitary Mountain, the moon shines on Dongting as the traveler’s boat returns”—this is a fine line by a Tang Dynasty poet describing Xie Mountain.
Shaped like a shoe, low in the front and high in the back, Xie Mountain is about 500 meters long and 200 meters wide, with its highest point over 90 meters above sea level. Surrounded by vast blue waves, it has steep cliffs on three sides, with only the northwest corner suitable for mooring boats.
Xie Mountain rises about 70 meters above the lake, with a circumference of over a hundred meters. A single peak towers, steep and beautiful, referred to in ancient times as the “Island of Penglai (a mythical fairyland).”
Sturdy pines stand tall on the mountain, lush green trees abound, dotted with a beautiful ancient structure—the Tianhua Palace. Its halls are majestic, its statues splendid. On ordinary days, the morning bells and evening drums, the sounds of Buddhist music, make one feel as if floating in immortality.
“Fighting on that? But it’s a scenic spot…” Tang Bao’er said, dumbfounded.
“Hah, Grandmasters are like dragons. Slight damage to a scenic area is also a grand event!”
The old man chuckled. “Mount Song is famous worldwide for Shaolin, Mount Hua is remembered for the debates of past sages, and Mount Shu has legends of sword immortals. I dare say that after this great battle, countless people will come to admire the remnants!”
He sighed with deep feeling and nostalgia, “Ancient martial artists strode across heaven and earth, delighting in practicing martial arts by great lakes. Competing on this vast, boundless Poyang Lake, a strategic place contested by military strategists since antiquity—that truly reflects the breadth of mind and magnanimity of us martial artists!”
At this moment, after a dragon and lion dance performance, Wei Feilong stood up again. His eyes swept the room as he smiled and said:
“All of you present are renowned martial arts heroes. If any of you have the ambition to seize the top spot and are willing to take over my humble position, simply ascend that Xie Mountain below!”
“We forfeit!” As Wei Feilong’s gaze swept over him, Hong Hetu hurriedly declared.
“I admit defeat!”
“The position of Martial Alliance Chairman can only be held by a Transformation Grandmaster. How dare we challenge such prowess?”
“Indeed, we dare not contend. We await the battle of the Grandmasters!”
The martial artists present all stood up, bowing respectfully to the several Transformation Grandmasters in attendance, their gazes filled with reverence.
The hierarchy in Hua Xia’s martial arts is strict, with vast disparities. Generally speaking, a Transformation Grandmaster facing Inner Strength or Iron Body practitioners could take on a hundred alone, killing with a flick of a finger.
For those at the Iron Body or Inner Strength level to challenge a Transformation Grandmaster is like an ant trying to shake a mighty tree—ridiculously overestimating their own strength.
They attended this martial arts gathering to forge connections, to discuss plans to eliminate Jiang Tian, and to broaden their horizons. But to contend for the position of Martial Alliance Chairman? They wouldn’t dare in a million years.
“We respectfully invite the Grandmasters to make their move!”
“We respectfully invite the Grandmasters to make their move!”
For a moment, numerous martial artists vied to stand up, shouting in unison.
The voices grew louder, merging into a mighty torrent that seemed to soar to the clouds—an astonishing display of momentum.
“They certainly know the fearsome power of Grandmasters!”
“You flatter us, thank you for your esteem!”
Huo Qingtian, Zhao Yuankun, Li Tuofeng—the three veteran Grandmasters present—along with several middle-aged Grandmasters, showed no surprise. Smiles of either contentment or pride appeared on their faces as they nodded slightly.
“Which one of you will step onto the stage first?”
Wei Feilong smiled approvingly and looked at the Grandmasters present. “It seems the position of Martial Alliance Chairman will be decided among you today. I suspect we’ll have a result by the end of the day!”
“With Elder Huo present, it’s like the sun and moon in the sky. How dare we compete for their brilliance? In my opinion, let’s invite Elder Huo to assume the chairmanship. We absolutely support him!”
Zhao Yuankun said with a chuckle.
“Indeed! Elder Huo is our senior!” Wei Feilong echoed.
The other Grandmasters present also nodded in agreement. Only Li Tuofeng snorted coldly, smiling without a word.
“You all praise this old man too highly!”
Huo Qingtian clasped his hands with a smile. “I am advanced in years, my qi and blood are waning. I fear I am not up to the task.”
“Elder Huo, you are a veteran Grandmaster, on par with the God of War Ye Zhantian himself. If you don’t take the position, who will?”
“As the saying goes, ‘An old steed in the stable still aspires to gallop a thousand miles.’ You still have hope of glimpsing the Divine realm. Your blade is not yet dull!”
Everyone knew he was being modest and didn’t take it seriously, offering a stream of flattery, praises flying high and low, colorful and elaborate.
At this moment, Hong Junshan from Hubei Province stood up shakily, clasping his hands. “Elder Huo, please take on this chairmanship and uphold justice! That Jiang Taichu killed my son so cruelly!”
“That Jiang Taichu is right here in the manor, acting so arrogantly! My son was also beaten until he vomited blood by him!” Zhao Yuankun added.
“This person is insane, brutal, and bloodthirsty. This old man has already heard. Rest assured, I will surely eliminate this scourge, this demon seed, and rid Hua Xia’s martial world of this public menace!”
Huo Qingtian’s face was full of pride, his gaze cold and stern as he declared solemnly:
“Summon that Jiang Taichu here. This old man wants to ask him: what exactly does he rely on to dare oppose the entire martial arts world, to play the role of the solitary tyrant under heaven?”
At that moment, an overwhelmingly powerful aura swept across the room. He himself seemed like a sword drawn from its scabbary—sharp and formidable.
Many martial artists felt they could hardly breathe. Only three seconds after his voice fell could they finally gasp for air. Hearts filled with trepidation, eyes fearful—a veteran Grandmaster was indeed a Grandmaster. So powerful!
“Even this Huo Qingtian is targeting Master…”
Among the crowd, Tang Linglong’s heart jumped, her pretty face paling.
Suddenly, Li Tuofeng scoffed, scratching his scalp as he sneered coldly, “Elder Huo, you haven’t even become the Martial Alliance Chairman yet, but you’re already wielding a chicken feather as a command arrow, issuing orders. Aren’t you afraid the world will laugh at you?”
Everyone was stunned. Li Tuofeng was clearly dissatisfied. But no one dared speak.
After all, Huo Qingtian was ranked third on the Divine List, while Li Tuofeng was fifth. Their cultivation levels were comparable; he indeed had the qualification to contend.
Both were rare, top-tier experts. When gods fight, mortals should stay silent. The others had no place to interject.
Huo Qingtian’s expression darkened slightly, his eyes turning cold. He said sternly, “Old Camel, you make a valid point. ‘He who is not in the position does not meddle in its affairs.’ It seems you feel this old man is not fit for the heavy responsibility of the Martial Alliance Chairmanship. Very well. It’s been a long time since we sparred. You go first to that Great Solitary Mountain!”
“Huo Qingtian, you’re spouting nonsense! You lack any Grandmaster dignity whatsoever. Come on, let’s fight!”
Li Tuofeng hated nothing more than others mocking his hunchback disability. Hearing this, he flew into a rage. With a loud roar, he was already like a gust of fierce wind sweeping onto the surface of the lake.
“Ah! What’s wrong with that old man? Is he going to jump into the lake to kill himself?” Tang Bao’er cried out in shock.
The moment Li Tuofeng’s feet touched the water’s surface, he actually sprang up as if skimming the water like a swallow, shooting out dozens of meters.
Just like that, like a nimble swallow, he flitted lightly up and down across the water’s surface. In the space of a single breath, he had ascended Xie Mountain.
“How is this possible!”
“He just walked across the water like that!”
“Am I seeing things?”
Lin Monong, Chu Mengyao, Tang Bao’er—these ordinary people from the secular world—were dumbstruck, their hearts nearly jumping out of their throats, feeling dizzy and spellbound.
