The Martial Arts World is Full of Experts Chapter 35

102

Cao Zilian fell from mid-air and dropped on the ground.

Lu Zhaoming landed beside him, bending to pick up the scabbard, casually telling Cao Zilian, "I hit you."

Compared to Hua Liuque, Cao Zilian had it worse. Lu Zhaoming's scabbard struck his lower back. Every movement caused excruciating pain. He thought his back was broken. Gritting his teeth, tightly clenching his fist, he cursed at Lu Zhaoming, "I... I... This palace master can't avoid you!"

Lu Zhaoming paused, looking puzzled, "Princess?"

He scrutinized Cao Zilian, feeling that this physique... probably wasn't a woman disguised as a man.

Pei Wuluan had already arrived by their side. He had just witnessed Lu Zhaoming knocking someone down from the sky with a scabbard. Slightly surprised, he couldn't help but clear his throat. "Virtuous Nephew Lu indeed has excellent swordsmanship."

After saying this sentence, he felt something was off.

Lu Zhaoming didn't use a sword. He wielded a scabbard, using it to knock people down.

Consequently, Pei Wuluan changed his statement, remarking, "Virtuous Nephew Lu is skilled with hidden weapons."

...That being said, it still sounded a bit off.

A scabbard — could it be considered a hidden weapon?

Pei Wuluan, considering himself an experienced figure in the martial arts world, had seen people treat a scabbard as part of their weaponry. However, it was the first time he witnessed someone draw a sword merely to use the scabbard as a bludgeon.

He couldn't help but feel puzzled.

Wang Henian... What exactly had he taught Lu Zhaoming?

Zhang Xiaoyuan also arrived.

He already didn't know what else he could say. Eldest Senior Brother just liked to throw away his sword. Not to mention tying a jade cat to the tip of his sword, even if his sword were completely replaced with jade, Lu Zhaoming would probably still throw it without hesitation.

Zhang Xiaoyuan could only sigh deeply.

Approaching Lu Zhaoming, he said, "Eldest Senior Brother, you've thrown your sword again."

Even he felt the weakness in his words, but he never expected Lu Zhaoming to lift his sword earnestly. "I threw the scabbard."

The jade cat on the sword tassel remained intact, but the scabbard striking against the concealed weapon on Cao Zilian's lower back created a small dent.

Zhang Xiaoyuan muttered under his breath, "Hitting the lower back can lead to trouble."

Lu Zhaoming explained, "I held back my strength and stopped just in time."

Watching Cao Zilian wincing in pain on the ground, Zhang Xiaoyuan thought Eldest Senior Brother's idea of stopping just in time might be another criterion.

With this thought, he suddenly witnessed several smoke bombs exploding in front, enveloping Cao Zilian. Pei Wuluan exclaimed, "Not good," and dispersed the smoke with a flick of his sleeve. However, Cao Zilian, who was in pain moments ago on the ground, had disappeared.

Zhang Xiaoyuan observed clearly that when the smoke cleared, a fresh introduction of a new identity appeared above Cao Zilian's name.

「Ashner, Elder of the Ethereal Illusion Palace, a person from the Western Regions. His martial arts prowess doesn't rank high in the Central Plains martial arts world.」

「Ranked thirty-third among the various clans in the Western Regions.」

A sect with only two people, one being the sect master, and the other an elder...

It turned out that the two of them didn't even have a single disciple.

Although Zhang Xiaoyuan saw the direction in which the two fled, he hesitated to point it out to Pei Wuluan. With so many martial arts experts present, none had seen it clearly. What right did he, as a junior, have to intervene? Being questioned on how he saw it would be troublesome.

Having said that, Cao Zilian's entire sect had only two members, unlikely to stir up any significant waves.

Lu Zhaoming felt a twinge of regret. Sheathing his sword, he turned to walk back. However, he noticed that the group of martial arts seniors following Pei Wuluan had eyes that looked different.

Perplexed, he walked outward, the crowd making way for him. After covering some distance, he overheard hushed conversations among the people behind him.

"Quick! Replace your senior brother's name on the challenge board! Let our martial uncle take his place!"

"This time, let me handle it personally!"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt that Eldest Senior Brother was truly frightening.

He could even make middle-aged seniors showcase their sect's martial arts on the challenge board!

However, Zhang Xiaoyuan couldn't understand. If these seniors did go on the challenge board and were kicked down by Eldest Senior Brother again... wouldn't that be more embarrassing?

Hua Liuque's foot injury hadn't healed, so he hadn't followed. Witnessing Lu Zhaoming knocking someone down from mid-air with a scabbard, he leaned against the wall, holding his leg, seemingly recalling the pain of that day.

On the first day of the martial arts conference, with such a big hiccup, everyone had lost the initial enthusiasm for participating. Pei Wuluan ordered an investigation into what kind of sect the Ethereal Illusion Palace was. Originally, the plan was to disperse today and resume the matches tomorrow. However, someone hastily entered the Heavenly Star Hall and approached Pei Wuluan, whispering into his ear.

The official covered his mouth with his hand, leaving Zhang Xiaoyuan unaware of what was said. Pei Wuluan raised an eyebrow and walked out. Seeing everyone following Pei Wuluan, Zhang Xiaoyuan decided to check what was happening outside and followed suit.

As they reached outside the Martial Arts Alliance, Zhang Xiaoyuan immediately noticed several black coffins placed at the gate, adorned with white flowers — ominous and quite frightening.

Already somewhat fearful of supernatural matters, the sudden appearance of coffins without reason outside the Martial Arts Alliance was terrifying. He huddled behind his two senior brothers, peeking outside. Pei Wuluan had ordered the coffins to be opened, revealing only paper figures inside. Each coffin had a note, and Pei Wuluan, after reading one, wore a grim expression.

The note had his name written on it.

He instructed people to open all the coffins, each containing a paper figure with a note. Most names on the notes were respected elders within the Martial Arts Alliance. The last coffin contained a paper figure with the name of the Master of the Demon Sect, Mo Wentian.

The note stated that the Martial Arts Alliance was now led by the waste master of the Demon Sect, Mo Wentian.

Waste.

Uttering this word, perhaps even within the righteous path, few would acknowledge it.

When Mo Wentian was still active in the martial arts world, his methods were ruthless and sinister to the point that everyone spoke of him with dread. If not for the rise of the Martial Arts Alliance later on, the Demon Sect gradually fading from the public eye, the current state of the martial arts world might still be a fearful mystery.

The current situation was a significant provocation for both the righteous path and the Demon Sect.

Pei Wuluan inquired with the Alliance guards, learning that the coffins were delivered by a group of strange individuals who hastily came and went. The guards were unable to stop them in time.

Lin Yi stood behind Pei Wuluan, angrily cursing, "This Ethereal Illusion Palace has quite the audacity."

Zhang Xiaoyuan, however, found it quite peculiar.

These were substantial, well-crafted coffins, each weighing around a hundred pounds or more. They were not something one could easily abandon and leave behind.

If ordinary people were to carry them, it would take at least three or four strong men to lift them. Even someone with years of martial arts training and robust physical strength would still need two or three people, at the very least.

As far as he knew, Cao Zilian's Ethereal Illusion Palace consisted of only two people.

Moreover, considering Cao Zilian's back... it wouldn't be healed in just ten days or so.

This definitely couldn't be something the foolish Cao Zilian would orchestrate.

But if not them, then who?

Zhang Xiaoyuan regretted not having the ability to gather information from objects.

In such a critical moment, he found himself unable to discern anything!

......

Zhang Xiaoyuan returned to the Martial Arts Alliance, feeling deeply concerned. However, everyone else seemed nonchalant, as if they were accustomed to such occurrences.

Hua Liuque remained the calmest, murmuring to himself, "The martial arts conference, there's always something happening every year."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "......"

"Perhaps it's because the Demon Sect has been quiet for too long, and some people in the dark path couldn't sit still," Jiang Jianyu added, "No worries, it's not a big deal."

People from the dark path provoking at the martial arts conference wasn't a big deal?!

Jiang Jianyu seemed more concerned about tomorrow's swordsmanship competition.

Frowning, he asked Lu Zhaoming, "Eldest Senior Brother, how confident are you for tomorrow's competition?"

Lu Zhaoming shook his head. "I don't know who my opponent will be tomorrow."

Jiang Jianyu: "Then let's go early tomorrow. If we can secure the first place, I believe it won't be difficult to initiate our new junior brother."

Hua Liuque: "I want a new junior sister."

No one paid attention to him.

Zhang Xiaoyuan suddenly felt a bit excited.

Wait! If he could learn about Eldest Senior Brother's opponent's martial arts techniques for tomorrow, wouldn't Eldest Senior Brother have an even greater chance of winning?

Zhang Xiaoyuan felt he had a new strategy all of a sudden.

He grabbed Lu Zhaoming's hand, his excitement hard to conceal.

"Eldest Senior Brother!" Zhang Xiaoyuan held Lu Zhaoming's hand. "I can help you win!"

Jiang Jianyu couldn't help but laugh. "You don't understand anything."

Zhang Xiaoyuan muttered under his breath, "I understand much more than you all."

103

On the second day of the swordsmanship competition, everyone arrived early at the venue. Sitting below the stage, Jiang Jianyu watched disciples from various sects receiving their swordsmanship name cards. He rubbed his chin, analyzing Lu Zhaoming's opponent.

Jiang Jianyu: "The disciple from the Mountainous View Sect is the personal disciple of their sect master, a young talent, undoubtedly a strong opponent—"

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Ranked 177th in the martial arts world, good at defense but weak in offense. If you kick him in the buttocks, he definitely won't be able to withstand it."

Jiang Jianyu: "The disciple from the Scattered Blossom Palace is Ke Xingwen..."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Every time he sees Eldest Senior Brother, his buttocks hurts."

Jiang Jianyu: "Uh... The martial uncle from the Purple Mist Tower is a respected figure, at least a senior. We should show him some respect. Senior Brother, go easy on him. If you can perform a close victory that appears barely achievable, that would be even better."

Zhang Xiaoyuan: "Be gentle when kicking his buttocks. His back isn't good. If you really injure him, our sect won't have the money to compensate."

Jiang Jianyu couldn't hold back.

"Junior Brother!" Jiang Jianyu looked serious. "Why do you always think about kicking people in the buttocks!"

"The buttocks have thick muscles!" Zhang Xiaoyuan said, "Eldest Senior Brother's strikes are so heavy! If you kick elsewhere, it could cause serious injuries!"

Jiang Jianyu covered his face: "You, this child..."

Surprisingly, Lu Zhaoming blinked and joined in, "I used to think the same way."

Jiang Jianyu: "......"

He watched Lu Zhaoming and Zhang Xiaoyuan seemingly reach a sudden agreement or understanding. Zhang Xiaoyuan even shook Lu Zhaoming's hand before continuing his analysis.

"The eldest senior brother from Shuchuan is left-handed, but he usually prefers using his right-hand sword against opponents, aiming to catch them off guard," Zhang Xiaoyuan explained. "The martial arts skills of the Swallows Nest Tower have always been subpar. They deal in intelligence. A casual fight should secure an easy victory."

Lu Zhaoming nodded earnestly.

"The one sent by the Emei Sect is the senior disciple. Let's refrain from kicking girls in the buttocks. It's not appropriate," Zhang Xiaoyuan said seriously. "Also, don't be too heavy-handed. She's ranked 288th in the martial arts world. It should be easy to defeat her."

After a moment's thought, he added, "And don't hit her face."

After saying this, he glanced around at the crowd and suddenly felt something was amiss.

Among the people in the crowd... wasn't that Xing Yan?

He initially thought Xing Yan came to observe the excitement and perhaps keep an eye on Pei Wuluan. After a quick glance, he was about to continue analyzing disciples from other sects for Lu Zhaoming when he again felt that something was off.

Xing Yan was following behind a man wearing a veil.

The man, dressed in black, stood tall with a sword at his waist, hands behind his back. The veil covered his face, making it difficult to discern anything else. He seemed to be watching the righteous disciples on the stage. After a moment, he slightly turned his face, as if trying to say something to Xing Yan. Xing Yan immediately approached, respectfully bending down to listen attentively.

Zhang Xiaoyuan's heart skipped a beat, thinking, "This can't be right," hastily looking up at the man's head.

「Mo Wentian, Demon Sect Master, formidable martial arts skills, ruthless and cunning. Ranked second in the martial arts world alongside the Chief of the Martial Arts Alliance, Pei Wuluan.」