Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 461 I said we'd compete in a sword contest to determine who would win the title, and you actually did it!

The sky is clear and the wind is gentle and gentle.

Perhaps to celebrate the Sky-Piercing Sword Sect finding a new headquarters, this dying oasis is given a final burst of life before the sect relocates.

On the training ground of the Qingtian Sword Sect, two disciples of the sect are sparring, which serves both as a starting point and a demonstration of the sect's solid foundation.

The Qingtian Sword Sect relocated its sect not because it had offended a powerful enemy, nor because it coveted wealth and status, nor because it feared Li Zhaoting's intimidation, but because the underground water veins had been cut off.

Even if we have to abandon the ancestral home of the sect, even if we have to rebuild the Qingtian Sword Sect, as long as these disciples are here, we can ensure the sect's inheritance and the prestige of the Qingtian Sword Sect will not fall.

Song Lingxiao was quite pleased with this.

To be honest, among the major powers in the Western Regions, excluding the sect leader, the Sky-Supporting Sword Sect is indeed the strongest, overwhelmingly powerful, with its disciples having an exceptionally high average quality.

The Qingtian Sword Sect is a standard prestigious sect, adopting the training methods of major sects in the Central Plains, progressing step by step, with a solid foundation, which is incompatible with the martial arts world of the Western Regions.

Sects like the Supreme Alliance, Sea Shark Palace, Divine Moon Sect, and Four Directions Sect, though called martial arts sects, are actually all supported by their leaders. They lack a proper training system and are mostly scattered and disorganized, far less capable than the Beggars' Sect.

It is said that the Beggars' Sect relies entirely on its leader; a strong leader means a strong Beggars' Sect. However, in addition to the leader, the Beggars' Sect also has nine-bag elders and eight-bag branch leaders, and two sets of inherited martial arts techniques.

The Beggars' Sect's management structure includes: the leader of the staff-bearing leader, the leader of the alms bowl-bearing leader, the elder who transmits skills, the elder who protects the Dharma, and six major branches with great benevolence, wisdom, courage, righteousness, faith, and courtesy.

There are usually four Dharma Protectors. At its peak, each Dharma Protector had a group of "Five Directions Dharma Protectors" and some "Ten Bag Elders" of high status.

The Beggars' Sect's strength required a valiant leader and favorable environment. At the end of the dynasty, the Beggars' Sect was at its peak, but its succession and management structure were very complete from the inside out, and it did not rely solely on the leader.

Forces like the Supreme Alliance and the Sea Shark Palace are basically useless except for a leader and two disciples. As soon as the leader falls, the sect immediately falls apart.

Song Lingxiao is no match for Helian Ba, Guan Yutian, or Bantianyue, nor is he skilled at managing a sect, but he is the top sect in the Western Regions when it comes to laying a foundation for his disciples.

—The undisputed number one who crushes the martial arts world of the Western Regions!

Such a thing cannot be covered up with words, nor can it be pretended not to see. The representatives of the major sects were ashen-faced. They thought that Song Lingxiao had hit the jackpot and made a random move before his death, which was a divine intervention that revived the Qingtian Sword Sect. They did not expect that it was not only the opportunity for the Qingtian Sword Sect to turn death into life, but also the luck of the Queen of Kucha.

On second thought, if we're talking about luck, who's luckier than the Queen of Kucha? At this time last year, the rebels drove the King of Kucha out of the capital. The King of Kucha, along with his guards, hid in the desert, looking like a lost dog, and could become a prisoner at any moment. Just when the Kucha royal family was about to be captured alive by the rebels, the Song Dynasty delegation arrived.

With the support of Li Zhaoting, Princess Pipa not only successfully defeated the rebels but also became the Queen of Kucha. Her luck was truly extraordinary.

Countless beautiful and ambitious princesses were envious of the Queen of Kucha. In the thirty-six kingdoms of the Western Regions, princesses were not rare, and beauties were even more numerous.

The problem is, I can't run into Li Zhaoting!
Li Zhaoting doesn't like everyone, nor is he easily swayed by beautiful women; the key is that he's decisive!
Hold Li Zhaoting down and make it a fait accompli!

Wang Shenglan suddenly spoke up: "The disciples of the Qingtian Sword Sect are very elite, no less so than the Seven Great Sword Sects! Sect Leader Song's ability to teach his disciples is truly remarkable!"

Song Lingxiao stroked his beard smugly: "Thank you for your praise, Madam Li. How can my meager skills compare to those of the famous families of the Central Plains? I have heard that Madam Li is the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect. I imagine she has some unique insights into teaching disciples. I was just about to ask Sect Leader Wang for guidance!"

Wang Shenglan looked distressed.

Her becoming the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect was entirely due to Li Zhaoting's extraordinary abilities and was for the sake of the Xiaoyao Sect's martial arts inheritance. Wang Shenglan was completely ignorant about teaching disciples.

That being said, aside from not being able to teach disciples, Wang Shenglan is more suitable than anyone else to be the leader of the Xiaoyao Sect. The disciples of the Xiaoyao Sect throughout the ages have either been obsessed with jealousy and rivalry or have been studying strange and miscellaneous arts. They are all bound by conventions and, while claiming to be carefree, they are actually the most pedantic and rigid.

In terms of magnanimity, character, personality, and disposition, Wang Shenglan is several times better than Wu Yazi, Li Qiushui, Su Xinghe, and others; she is simply a divinely ordained leader.

This is not some kind of "great luck," but rather finding an opportunity that was rightfully theirs. If Xiaoyaozi were alive today and knew that Wang Shenglan had become the sect leader, he would surely exclaim: "The Xiaoyao Sect and Wang Shenglan are destined to be together!"
Disciples of the Free and Unfettered Sect do not need to be taught.

In fact, without Ding Chunqiu as an enemy, the decades-long shadow of darkness had been lifted, and the disciples, including the Eight Friends of Hangu Pass, could devote themselves to studying various arts and sciences, which could be considered a kind of carefree life.

It's not about going on trips to be carefree; true carefree living is about following your heart and doing what you love most.

Confucius said, "Knowing something is not as good as liking it, and liking it is not as good as enjoying it." The philosophy of the Free and Unfettered School is to enable its disciples to become "those who enjoy it."

From this perspective, Wang Shenglan's approach of doing nothing and managing the sect in a completely laissez-faire manner can also be considered a management style.

—The most suitable business model for the carefree lifestyle!

Cheng Huaixiu transmitted the above information to Wang Shenglan via telepathy. Wang Shenglan's eyes lit up, and she achieved a mental synchronization with Cheng Huaixiu. She repeated exactly what Cheng Huaixiu said, displaying the demeanor of a martial arts master.

Everyone nodded in agreement, thinking to themselves that she truly was a heroine, worthy of being Li Zhaoting's wife.

The Queen of Kucha saw what everyone was thinking, curled her lip in disdain, and thought to herself, "Me, the Queen of Kucha, only able to be a concubine, and a concubine kept outside at that? Do you think I don't want to compete? I can't compete with you!"

"Whoosh!"

Yi Shuihan flipped over and leaped onto the arena.

"Fellow disciples, let's cut to the chase. Whoever can withstand ten moves from me, I will immediately step down from the stage. Junior Sister doesn't count, and neither does Junior Brother Yuan!"

Upon hearing this, Li Zhaoting almost burst out laughing.

They initially tricked Gu Hanyang into going to the prefecture near the boundary river (Haihe River), claiming that there were many extraordinary people there, including a strongman who had a similar experience.

There is a huge stone lock weighing several hundred kilograms in the area. No one can lift it with their bare arms. Someone has offered a reward: whoever can lift the stone lock will be rewarded with a large sum of money.

Zhang Dali thought to himself that a money-making opportunity had arrived. He picked up the stone lock and found a note underneath.

—Only Zhang Dali doesn't count!

This leads to the question: if no one could lift the large stone lock, where did the note underneath come from?

No one can lift the large stone lock by themselves, but it doesn't say that several people can't move it together, or that tools like crowbars and pulleys can't be used. To put it bluntly, it's just for laughs.

However, when some people say these things, it makes people laugh out loud and forget their troubles, while when others say these things, it always feels a bit awkward.

Perhaps it's the added effect of "dialect".

Cheng Huaixiu is normally a serene fairy, but when she speaks in dialect, she instantly transforms into a Sichuan-Chongqing tyrannosaurus.

What kind of female overlord or Jiazi Tai Sui? She could toss them away like chicks.

Li Zhaoting yawned, thinking of Zhang Dali from Yi Shuihan's pretentious behavior, then of the added effect of dialect from Zhang Dali, and then of Cheng Huaixiu from dialect. He subconsciously looked over, and Cheng Huaixiu, as if on cue, turned around and looked at Li Zhaoting, her eyebrows furrowed in anger.

Li Zhaoting's eyes sparkled, his eyebrows conveying a knowing glance.

Cheng Huaixiu feigned anger, yet her affection remained tender.

Wang Shenglan was sandwiched between the two men. She looked at Li Zhaoting on her left and Cheng Huaixiu on her right, wishing she could transform into a catapult and throw them off the planet.

Just as the three were exchanging glances, Yi Shuihan swung his sword and defeated each of his junior brothers. Each junior brother could only last three moves at most before he won with a clean and decisive sword strike.

"Junior Brother Yuan, it's your turn!"

Yi Shuihan pointed his sword at Yuan Xiaotian.

Yuan Xiaotian said, "Senior Brother, I am no match for you. I am willing to admit defeat in this battle."

Yi Shuihan shouted, "Nonsense! Do you think this is child's play? This is a sect competition, a contest to determine the Qingtian Sword Sect's century-long legacy. If you voluntarily admit defeat, what will others think of the Qingtian Sword Sect? Do you think the position of sect leader is handed over? Are you kidding me?"

If the Queen of Kucha weren't here, this would just be a martial arts contest, and Yi Shuihan would readily accept the position of leader of the Qingtian Sword Sect.

Given the current situation, a decisive battle is necessary.

Fang Yeyu had warned Yi Shuihan that if Yuan Xiaotian voluntarily admitted defeat, she absolutely could not accept it. Otherwise, the Queen would only need to say, "I admire your humility. How can fellow disciples kill each other? Young Hero Yuan truly has a magnanimous heart," and the position of leader of the Qingtian Sword Sect would undoubtedly belong to Yuan Xiaotian.

To become the sect leader, one must win a martial arts contest, force Yuan Xiaotian to use his full strength, and defeat Yuan Xiaotian with real skill to create overwhelming momentum and leave the Queen of Kucha speechless with the might of a hundred battles and a hundred victories!

Yuan Xiaotian may not be suited for the martial world, but as a royal guard, no one is more suitable than him! Even before the martial arts competition, Yuan Xiaotian was already the designated sect leader!
This sentence, written in delicate small characters, was not Fang Yeyu's handwriting, yet in just thirty-nine characters, it caused Yi Shuihan's mentality to explode, almost causing him to go berserk.

"Junior Brother Yuan, step onto the stage! Let's duel! Show us your strongest moves! Our victory or defeat is not important; the reputation of the Sky-Piercing Sword Sect cannot be ruined in our hands!"

"Thank you for your guidance, senior brother. I have learned a lot!"

Yuan Xiaotian leaped onto the arena. Li Zhaoting covered his eyes.

Back when I watched the TV series, the main characters' stupid actions made me so angry I wanted to smash the TV. The most infuriating thing was Yi Shuihan's tried-and-true tactic of sowing discord. No matter what the villain said, the main characters would believe it without question and then start fighting amongst themselves.

If Yi Shuihan says "pigs can fly," the main characters will believe him without hesitation. Anyone who doesn't believe him will be bullied by the group until they are killed.

Having a brain, common sense, and the judgment that a normal human being should have, they are an anomaly in the protagonist group, a heinous crime that needs to be completely eradicated.

Yi Shuihan unintentionally unleashed this ability.

Yuan Xiaotian originally intended to just go through the motions, to get through the arena fight, and to admit defeat after a few moves.

Since my senior brother says we cannot hold back in this battle, as holding back would damage the reputation of the Sky-Piercing Sword Sect and make us a laughingstock, I will do my best to uphold the sect's honor.

"I am a novice with limited knowledge and skills, and I am lazy in practicing martial arts. My swordsmanship is utterly inadequate. Please, senior brother, give me some pointers on swordsmanship!"

Yuan Xiaotian bowed deeply to Yi Shuihan.

Yi Shuihan laughed and said, "Junior Brother, why be so modest? Everyone knows that Junior Brother is exceptionally talented and ranks first among his peers in martial arts. You should be the one guiding me!"

Li Zhaoting shouted, "You two are the top two of the Sky-Piercing Sword Sect. Who is superior should be decided by a martial arts contest. This is a martial arts arena, why bother with scholarly tricks!"

Wang Shenglan said, "My husband is right! We've shown everything we needed to. The disciples of the Qingtian Sword Sect have a solid foundation and solid swordsmanship, but there aren't many experts. You two, fight it out and let me see your limits!"

Yi Shuihan shouted sternly, "Junior Brother Yuan, did you hear that? If you don't take this seriously, my Qingtian Sword Sect will become a laughing stock in the Western Regions from today onwards."

Yuan Xiaotian sighed, "I was short-sighted. If it weren't for your guidance, Senior Brother, I would have made a terrible mistake. I would have done everything in my power to protect the reputation of the Qingtian Sword Sect."

"Alright! You can make your move now!"

With his sword held horizontally across his chest, Yi Shuihan, as the senior disciple, could not launch a preemptive attack and had to concede the first move.

Yuan Xiaotian raised his longsword overhead, bent over, and used the move "Moving the Wine Cup to Learn".

This is the starting stance of the Sky-Supporting Sword Technique. It is the standard move for juniors to ask their elders for guidance. When sparring with fellow disciples, if the senior brother voluntarily gives way, the junior brother must start with this move.

First, it teaches disciples to respect their elders; second, it fosters unity and friendship among disciples to prevent infighting; and third, it establishes sect rules to ensure order and discipline among disciples.

This applies only to internal sect members; there are no rules for outsiders!
"Junior brother, be careful!"

Yi Shuihan shouted sharply and moved suddenly!

In his previous duel with his fellow disciple, Yi Shuihan's swordsmanship was majestic, powerful, and magnificent. He defeated his disciple in just a few moves, demonstrating the style of a master swordsman.

Now, when fighting Yuan Xiaotian, Yi Shuihan's first move is a killing blow. He attacks relentlessly, his sword flashing like lightning, filled with intense anger and killing intent, each move aimed straight for vital points.

It wasn't like a duel between fellow disciples; it was more like a life-or-death struggle against the enemy who killed his father and mother, a fight to the death.

Although Yuan Xiaotian was startled, he remained calm and defended with his sword. He was extremely talented and had a solid foundation. He countered each move with ease, and his sword techniques were fluid and fluid, making his defense watertight.

The sword light swirled around me, like an impregnable fortress, or a poplar forest in the desert sands. No matter how fierce the tornadoes and how the yellow sands ravaged me, I stood firm and unmoved, seemingly like a lotus leaf swaying in the wind, yet my feet remained as immovable as a mountain.

Yi Shuihan was furious and launched an even fiercer attack, pressing forward relentlessly, each sword strike carrying a menacing edge.

"Junior Brother Yuan! Are you still holding back? Show your true skills! Show your full strength! Fight back now! You've almost completely disgraced the Sky-Piercing Sword Sect!"

The martial arts of the Qingtian Sword Sect are primarily offensive, but somewhat weak in defense. Yi Shuihan seized the initiative and pressed forward relentlessly, already holding an absolute advantage. Yuan Xiaotian, who only defended and did not attack, was bound to lose if he remained defensive for too long, and had little chance of winning.

"Difficult to win" still has a chance of winning!
Yi Shuihan not only wanted to eliminate Yuan Xiaotian's last chance of winning, but also to destroy his reputation and overwhelm him in every way, leaving him disheartened.

Yuan Xiaotian didn't know how to retort, nor did he want to argue with his senior brother in front of hundreds of people. He knew that Yi Shuihan was arrogant and power-hungry, so he had been tolerant of Yi Shuihan and was used to verbal attacks.

Compared to Yi Shuihan, who liked to secretly learn martial arts, Yuan Xiaotian was always very proper. He learned whatever his master taught him, and created everything else on his own.

Sect martial arts are not suitable for defense. Faced with Yi Shuihan's aggressive attack, Yuan Xiaotian became increasingly dangerous. He was gradually compressed to the edge of the arena by Yi Shuihan's sword circle, and he could feel the pressure of the boundary ropes on his back.

With his back against the rope, Yuan Xiaotian parried the attacks with his sword. In this critical moment, the thought of the sect's honor stimulated Yuan Xiaotian's potential, and his sword energy became more and more refined.

No matter how swift Yi Shuihan's attacks were, how exquisite his moves were, or how ruthless his killing tactics were, Yuan Xiaotian always managed to find a weakness in his desperate stance.

Before they knew it, they had exchanged three or four hundred moves.

Yi Shuihan's attacks were swift and fierce, his sword energy like a rainbow, repeatedly striking Yuan Xiaotian's vital points. Yuan Xiaotian was in dire straits countless times. It is said that bystanders see things more clearly, but even the spectators did not know how to alleviate the deadly situation.

Surprisingly, Yuan Xiaotian always manages to pull out unexpected moves in seemingly hopeless situations, turning defense into offense. Even with his back against the ropes of the ring, he manages to regain three points of offensive momentum.

Song Lingxiao was surprised. He had known for a long time that Yuan Xiaotian was exceptionally talented, but he hadn't expected him to be this talented.

The two switched positions, putting Song Lingxiao in the same situation as Yuan Xiaotian. He had no way to resolve the situation except to fight back with the Qingtian Sword. However, Yuan Xiaotian was able to use the authentic Qingtian Sword Technique to dismantle the moves, causing Yi Shuihan to return empty-handed.

Occasionally, Yi Shuihan would thrust out a sword and counterattack with two moves, leaving him flustered and seemingly holding an absolute advantage, but his losses far exceeded those of Yuan Xiaotian.

Whether continuing the fight would lead to defeat or allow them to wait for the enemy to tire themselves out, Song Lingxiao couldn't provide an answer.

Yi Shuihan knew the answer: if he could not win within five hundred moves, relying on the short-sighted and opportunistic secret techniques of the demonic sect to force growth would inevitably backfire.

There were many martial arts masters present, including a sword god like Li Zhaoting who could break through a thousand with a single sword strike. It was clear at a glance who had the higher talent and who had the better swordsmanship.

Playing dirty tricks will only make you a clown, and you might become the chicken that is killed to scare the monkey. The Queen of Kucha needs to set rules for the Sky-Piercing Sword Sect, and she desperately needs troublemakers.

"Damn it! Let's fight!"

Yi Shuihan leaped high into the air and slashed out with his sword.

This is the "Jade Shatters Kunlun" of the Wolf Annihilation Five Oaths, which is quite similar to the "Sky-Supporting Sword" of the Sky-Supporting Sword Sect, which perfectly covers up Yi Shuihan's crime of stealing martial arts.

The sword energy whistled, and Yuan Xiaotian felt a sharp sword energy piercing his chest. There was no way to avoid it. Severe injury or even death was just a matter of Yi Shuihan's decision.

In that critical, life-or-death moment, his exceptional talent and solid foundation came into play.

At this moment, Yuan Xiaotian's shock, helplessness, and resentment at being driven to the brink were overwhelmed by his strong survival instinct and sense of responsibility to his sect.

The situation changed too quickly for Yuan Xiaotian to think. He subconsciously used the most basic and commonly used move in the Sky-Supporting Sword Technique, "A Stick of Incense Facing the Sky," pointing the sword upwards and resolving the crisis just in time.

Yi Shuihan leaped down and slashed, splitting Mount Hua in two. Yuan Xiaotian retaliated with "An Incense Stick Facing the Sky." If Yi Shuihan did not stop, he would deliberately ram his abdomen into the sword's edge, or possibly his chest and throat. Every vital point along the midline of his body was pointed at by the sword's edge, leaving him with no way to dodge.

Yuan Xiaotian's gaze was firm, and his moves were precise. This was not a duel in the arena, but an attempt to uphold the dignity of the sect.

Yi Shuihan never dreamed that his words of provocation to Yuan Xiaotian before the battle would ultimately backfire on him.

Yi Shuihan was ambitious and would never trade his life for Yuan Xiaotian's. His body suddenly lurched, and a sharp pain shot through his waist and abdomen. He had accidentally strained his back.

Before Yi Shuihan could even land, Yuan Xiaotian, in a state of sudden enlightenment, was completely absorbed in his own world, his mind filled only with Yi Shuihan's words of advice and his memory of the sect's authority.

We can't hold back!

Holding back would make the master lose face!

Go all out and support the Sky-Supporting Sword Sect!
In a critical moment, Yuan Xiaotian actually turned the negative buff unique to the protagonist group into a positive one, unleashing twenty-four points of potential, and with a wave of his hand, he performed the move "Su Qin Carries the Sword".

The sword tip did not pierce Yi Shuihan's vital points, but rather targeted the back of his knee joint. The timing, angle, and speed were all perfect. Yi Shuihan hastily changed his move, and his abdominal muscles were pulled and injured. Coupled with his original high-angle forward momentum, he was completely unable to swing his sword to defend.

"Clap!"

As Yi Shuihan landed, he felt pain in his waist and abdomen, his knee was stabbed, and his left leg was weak. Just in front of him was the rope that Yuan Xiaotian had been leaning against for a long time. The huge inertia combined with the pain in his knee left him no time to adjust and he fell off the stage in an extremely disheveled manner.

"Good! Good! Good!"

Li Zhaoting passionately explained: "What a brilliant strategy of retreating three steps, waiting for the enemy to tire themselves out, and avoiding the strong to attack the weak! With such a disciple, how can the Qingtian Sword Sect not prosper?"

(End of this chapter)