Immortality starts from the liver proficiency

Chapter 327: Force the King
As the carriages slowly entered the Seventy-Two Wards, the sandalwood shafts rolled over the stone-paved road, producing a deep, resonant sound.

The four snow-maned dragon steeds pulling the chariot thundered with their hooves, and the bronze bells hanging around their necks swayed gently with each step, emitting melodious sounds that echoed far and wide.

As the sound of bells echoed, the once noisy training ground suddenly quieted down considerably.

The swordsman squatting under the tea stall gnawing on a bone suddenly choked, hurriedly patting his chest. The burly man with a thick beard, who was boasting about his "thirteen consecutive strikes" with spittle flying, suddenly fell silent, slamming his wine bowl on the table. Even the two martial artists fighting on the stage simultaneously withdrew their moves and retreated, looking towards the street corner with surprise and uncertainty.

Why would people from the Daoist sect come to the Seventy-Two Wards?

Someone muttered in a low voice, their fingers unconsciously rubbing the tattered strips of cloth wrapped around the knife handle, clearly somewhat nervous.

The city of Yujing has seventy-two wards, mostly inhabited by ordinary people. The six major sects of the Great Zhou Dynasty generally do not come to these places.

The old Jianghu traveler wearing a straw hat next to him squinted his eyes: "Look at the mysterious patterns on the carriage shaft. It belongs to a true disciple of Qingwei Mountain of the Dao Sect. Only a true disciple of the Dao Sect Master's lineage is qualified to do that!"

Before he finished speaking, a collective gasp of astonishment rippled through the crowd.

Several men who had been carefree and with their clothes open were now hurriedly tightening their belts.

The most surprising thing was the awning carriage at the rear of the caravan.

The moment the carriage curtain was lifted by a corner in the wind, the temperature of the entire street seemed to rise by three degrees.

The figures of people sitting inside the car can be vaguely seen.

The crowd parted like a tide, clearing a path three zhang wide.

Several seasoned veterans with extensive experience had already changed their expressions. The Seventy-Two Workshops Martial Arts Arena has always been a place for rogue martial artists to gain a foothold in the martial arts world. According to custom, the true disciples of the Dao Sect should go directly to the Imperial Examination Hall to participate in the final martial arts examination.

With such a display of force, could it be...?

"It's terrible. The Dao Sect has even started fighting with their subordinates for food."

Some people complained bitterly.

As soon as Xu Yunfan stepped off the carriage, the entire long street suddenly fell silent.

The wind lifted a corner of his indigo robe, revealing the dragon scale armor flowing with dark gold hues underneath. The Mountain-Shaking and Sea-Suppressing Hammer at his waist swayed, each swing producing a low, whistling sound. The Sky-Splitting and Cloud-Piercing Bow slung across his left shoulder, though wrapped in some brocade, could not conceal the agility emanating from its tip.

The most awe-inspiring thing is the crimson dragon-swallowing mace slung across the back. The dragon patterns coiled around the mace seem to move as if they were alive in the sunlight, and lightning flashes between the opening and closing of the dragon's eyes.

"A true disciple of the Daoist sect?! How can he have so many divine weapons?!"

A martial artist in the crowd cried out in alarm, and the teacup in his hand shattered on the ground.

The spectators who were originally crowded in front of the ring unconsciously stepped back three steps, making way for them.

Several strongmen wearing the insignia of the Four Seas Escort Agency changed their expressions drastically. Their "Raging Bull Strength" technique collapsed on its own when it sensed the spontaneous fluctuations emanating from the Shaking Mountain and Suppressing Sea Hammer, and their knees went weak uncontrollably.

As Xu Yunfan got out of the car, he glanced at the strongmen.

They must be from the Amitabha Temple.

As everyone gazed at Xu Yunfan's back as he stood against the light, they felt as if they were witnessing a war god descend upon the world.

But Xu Yunfan didn't think so.

Awkward!

He had no other words to say except that he was embarrassed.

At this moment, he even missed Su Zhenhe, that arrogant guy. If he were being watched by so many people, that guy would feel extremely comfortable.

Died young.

Xu Yunfan felt a surge of emotion.

His expression was indifferent, his eyes seemed to hold the glint of cold stars, and a faint aura surrounded him. With each step he took, fine cracks silently appeared on the bluestone ground.

That's seriously high-class!

It's just that it's lost some of its value.

Xu Yunfan sighed inwardly. The Daoist disciples around him unconsciously held their breath, and led by Chen Hong, they parted to make way for him.

No one dared to meet his gaze. The oppressive aura emanating from this newly appointed second-in-command disciple of the Dao Sect Master's lineage even caused the blood and qi of several of his weaker fellow disciples to stagnate, and fine sweat beaded on their foreheads.

The moment Xu Yunfan stepped into the waiting area, the previously noisy atmosphere suddenly stopped.

Dozens of martial artists waiting to go on stage were struck dumb. Some of them smashed their teacups on the ground with a crash, and the brown tea splashed onto their trouser legs without them noticing. In the corner, a man carrying two swords suddenly straightened his back, his knuckles turning white from the excessive force.

Even more extreme was the subconscious reach for the weapon at his waist due to extreme tension, but when he met Xu Yunfan's gaze, he recoiled as if electrocuted, that look making him feel as if he had fallen into an ice cave.

"The True Inheritance of the Daoist Sect?!"

Someone squeezed out a few words with a dry voice, swallowing the rest of the question with a bobbing Adam's apple.

Everyone remained silent, not daring to make a move.

"Xu Yunfan of the Dao Sect, step onto the stage!"

The arena steward shouted, his voice piercing through the clamor, and the entire arena fell silent instantly.

Xu Yunfan slowly stepped onto the bluestone platform, his steps as steady as a mountain.

The nameless swordsman's gaze lingered on Xu Yunfan for a moment, his pupils contracting almost imperceptibly.

The nameless swordsman's fingertips unconsciously caressed the scabbard. The mottled, withered scabbard exuded a chilling aura, but at this moment, this chill could not suppress the cold sweat seeping from his back.

Who is this virtuous person dressed in divine weapons who comes here to challenge wandering martial artists?

"start!"

The ringmaster gave a loud shout.

The nameless swordsman took a deep breath and suddenly raised his hand.

"I surrender."

The three words were crisp and clear, spoken in a hoarse yet distinct voice, instantly silencing the noisy training ground.

An uproar erupted from the audience!

"What's going on? Sun Bing, the Soul-Destroying Sword, surrendered without a fight?!"

"What do you know! Xu Yunfan is equipped with divine weapons, and just standing there, his aura is so oppressive that it's hard to breathe..."

“But wasn’t Sun Bing a ruthless character who killed seven pursuers three years ago? How could he…”

Sun Bing ignored the surrounding discussions, only giving Xu Yunfan a deep look, a bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth beneath his cloak.

He recognized that aura.

Three years ago, he had seen a Grandmaster of the Ninth Realm make a move from afar in Yanbei Road, and now the aura surrounding Xu Yunfan was exactly the same as that one!
Xu Yunfan stood still as an abyss, his aura as deep and solid as a mountain, his indigo robes fluttering without wind, and his back as straight as a jade pillar supporting the sky.

The mere stillness of the air made the surrounding air feel as solid as lead.

The swordsman felt a tightness in his chest, as if an invisible giant hand was gripping his throat, and even his bones creaked under the pressure.

"This battle is pointless... How can a person be so powerful? Are you really no more than thirty years old?"

He murmured something, turned and leaped off the stage, his gray linen cloak billowing in the wind, and disappeared into the crowd in the blink of an eye.

This imperial examination was limited to those under thirty years old, and Xu Yunfan was naturally a worthy candidate.

Xu Yunfan raised an eyebrow slightly but did not stop the swordsman.

In seven consecutive matches, not a single person dared to withstand three moves from Xu Yunfan.

Whenever that indigo figure stepped onto the arena, the opposing warriors were struck as if by lightning. Some dropped their weapons with a clang, some staggered backward and knocked over the railing, and some even shouted out their surrender before the steward could announce it.

(Two more chapters to go, four updates today)

(End of this chapter)