Jie teaches the Immortal Sweeping Heaven’s Cultivation of All Heavens

Time passed as Lian Chengbi waited for the ship to return.

During this period, Xu Qing Teng and Shen Bi Jun held their wedding.

Six months later, the ship that had gone to Europe returned, bringing back a large amount of gems, gold, and local specialties.

Reselling local specialties brings in another large sum of money.

Lian Chengbi gave the two large ships to the imperial court and once again received the court's commendation.

The imperial court controlled this trade route with Europe, which enriched the national treasury.

The emperor was pleased and exempted the people from taxes for two years.

The people praised the emperor as a wise ruler.

The emperor was even more pleased, feeling that Wugou Manor was truly his lucky star, and that the Lian family members were so patriotic that mere verbal praise seemed insufficient.

Therefore, the emperor bestowed upon Lian Chengbi a title: Marquis of Anyi!

Upon hearing this news, the carefree Marquis was speechless.

Carefree! Comfortable!
This is a complete slap in the face to him.

However, his title of "Marquis of Leisure" was self-proclaimed, while Lian Chengbi's title of "Marquis of Peace and Tranquility" was bestowed by the emperor.

They are the ones who truly deserve the title and are rightfully so.

The carefree Marquis was so angry!

Originally, he only intended to deal with the Shen family and the Xu family—of course, in order to obtain the most beautiful woman in the martial arts world.

But now, the Marquis of Xiaoyao has one more person to deal with: Lian Chengbi!

News of the Deer-Slaying Knife spread throughout the martial arts world.

It is said that this new sword, which was forged less than six months ago, was being escorted into the pass by four great heroes from the martial arts world.

It is said that the final decision on who will own this knife will be made by Old Madam Shen of Shenjiazhuang.

Because this knife has a close relationship with the Shen family.

It is said that Xu Luzi, the man who forged this knife, was a descendant of Lady Xu from the Autumn and Warring States periods.

Madam Xu was not a woman, but a man, whose surname was Xu and given name was Madam.

Madam Xu was a renowned swordsmith and ironworker, on par with masters of the time such as Gan Jiang, Mo Xie, and Ou Yezi.

Legend has it that the dagger used by Jing Ke to assassinate the King of Qin was made by this Lady Xu.

Xu Luzi inherited his ancestors' superb forging skills and devoted his life to forging the Deer-Slaying Knife, which could cut through ancient weapons—the Crimson Cloud Sword—as soon as it was born.

Many years ago, Xu Luzi was almost killed by bandits outside the Great Wall. Fortunately, the son and daughter-in-law of Old Lady Shen, Shen Jingfeng, killed the bandits and saved Xu Luzi's life.

Unfortunately, Shen Jingfeng and his wife have already passed away.

Unable to repay the two men's kindness, Xu Luzi decided to give the deer-slaying knife to Shen Jingfeng's family.

Upon receiving the message from Xu Luzi, Old Madam Shen invited Zhao Wuji, the leader of the Wuji Sect, Tu Xiaotian, the great hero of Guandong, Hai Lingzi, the expert from Hainan, and Si Jiaoshu, the one-armed Eagle King, to escort the precious sword into the pass.

But somehow the news got out, and people throughout the martial arts world became interested in that precious sword.

Especially those who wield knives, all want to obtain the deer-slaying knife.

Righteous martial arts practitioners wouldn't resort to robbery; they all gathered at Shen Family Village.

At that time, Lady Shen will choose the most suitable owner for the deer-slaying knife from among these people.

Therefore, righteous people are not busy.

However, all the gangsters went to the area outside the pass and on the way in, trying to seize the deer-slaying knife.

However, with four top masters present, many people either lost their lives or returned defeated.

But the deer-slaying knife was lost, and only three of the four men returned, all of them seriously injured.

Zhao Wuji said to Madam Shen with remorse, "I have failed the old lady's trust, as the deer-slaying knife has been stolen."

Even though Lady Shen was more interested in knowing who had stolen the Deer-Slaying Knife, she now had to be more concerned about the three people who were protecting the knife.

"The Deer-Slaying Knife is merely an external possession. I feel deeply guilty for causing the three of you to be seriously injured. You three should go and rest immediately. I will have someone fetch a doctor for you." Zhao Wuji waved his hand and said, "No rush. So many people have gathered at the Shen residence for the Deer-Slaying Knife. If we don't explain the whereabouts of the Deer-Slaying Knife, we cannot focus on healing."

Hai Lingzi and the other person nodded in agreement.

Someone in the crowd shouted, "Yes, yes! Sect Leader Zhao, please tell us who stole the Deer-Slaying Knife!"

Zhao Wuji uttered a name: "The great thief Xiao Shiyi Lang".

Lian Chengbi slightly turned his head and glanced at the person standing behind him.

The man gave Lian Chengbi an innocent look.

Lian Chengbi returned a look that said, "You deserve it."

Turning around, Lian Chengbi narrowed his eyes and sized up Zhao Wuji and the other two, trying to discern something from them.

Did these three people really see "Xiao Shiyi Lang," or did they steal from each other?

In any case, Lian Chengbi did not believe that Xiao Shiyilang had stolen the Deer-Slaying Knife.

Therefore, the real Xiao Shiyi Lang was standing behind him.

He and Xiao Shiyilang have known each other since childhood, and it has been more than ten years now.

He knew what kind of person Xiao Shiyilang was.

In the martial arts world, Xiao Shiyilang has a bad reputation. In the eyes of the people, he is a vicious bandit who does not even spare the old and children, and who sucks blood and eats human flesh.

In the martial arts world, wherever a murder or massacre occurs, the ultimate culprit is always Xiao Shiyilang.

In response, Lian Chengbi said: Xiao Shiyilang is really hardworking, even more so than a model worker.

Are all these people in the martial arts world brainless?
Today, an entire family in Guangdong was murdered; the killer is Xiao Shiyilang.

Three days later, the leader of a certain sect in Shanxi was murdered, and the murderer was also Xiao Shiyilang.

Is Xiao Shiyilang able to fly?

In just three days, they traveled from the south to the north.

Even when you're trying to smear someone, you should still follow basic principles.

Lian Chengbi originally did not want to participate in this so-called sword appraisal competition, since his weapon was a sword, not a knife.

The deer-slaying knife was useless against him.

But Xiao Shiyilang came to him some time ago, expressing interest in the Deer-Slaying Knife.

Lian Chengbi considered whether he should ask Shen Taijun for the deer-slaying knife to give to his friend.

But the friend said they would take it themselves.

Since that's the case, Lian Chengbi decided to leave it alone.

However, in order to make things convenient for his friends, he still came to attend this "grand event".

Madam Shen was very pleased that Lian Chengbi had come to give her face.

After all, Lian Chengbi's reputation in the martial arts world is now vastly different from what it used to be, and Wugou Manor's status has surpassed that of Shen Family Manor.

Madam Shen was somewhat frustrated. Why hadn't Lian Chengbi agreed to marry her granddaughter back then?
Otherwise, her granddaughter would be a marquis's wife now, not a general's wife.

Xiao Shiyilang pretended to be Lian Chengbi's subordinate and followed Lian Chengbi into the Shen family openly.

He immediately recognized that the young man next to Yang Kaitai was Feng Siniang in disguise.

But Feng Si Niang did not recognize Xiao Shiyi Lang.

First, Feng Si Niang didn't know that Xiao Shiyi Lang, this notorious thief, was actually a friend of Lian Chengbi, the leader of the most reputable of the Six Gentlemen. Second, Xiao Shiyi Lang was in disguise.

Neither Xiao Shiyilang nor Lian Chengbi knew how to disguise themselves, but Lian Chengbi had learned makeup techniques from Liu Dong.

The most advanced makeup techniques are comparable to disguise techniques.

Lian Chengbi personally did Xiao Shiyilang's makeup, so much so that even Feng Siniang, a woman who knew Xiao Shiyilang very well, didn't recognize him. (End of Chapter)