Starting with a blind date with a female constable, you acquire the Nine Swords of Dugu.

Chapter 55: Little Li's Flying Dagger and the Martial Arts Tournament

In the hall,

Gu Guanqi cupped his hands towards Zhao Lingyuan and said, "Your Highness, it is fine as long as you have no homosexual desires."

He had no interest in exposing Zhao Lingyuan's disguise as a man, and of course, he had no interest in the women of the royal family either.

Regardless of the era, royal rules are always complex, and the internal interests involved are intricate and intertwined. Once you get involved, you'll face a whole host of troubles.

but,

Since Zhao Lingyuan was mentioning this matter under the identity of Zhao Mingxuan, he was happy to pretend to be confused and chat with her, after all, the four-star reward was really generous.

In addition to the first phase, there is also a second phase.

His last four-star blind date was An Yi, who gave him the Mingyu Gong and the Fifteen Deadly Swords, greatly enhancing his martial arts skills.

He's now quite looking forward to the second stage of his blind date with Zhao Lingyuan, to see what kind of results they'll get.

Zhao Lingyuan smiled slightly upon hearing Gu Guanqi's words and said, "Brother Gu, you can rest assured." Then, he asked, "Brother Gu, do you have any plans for the future?"

Gu Guanqi said, "I haven't been in the martial world for very long, and I don't have any clear goals yet. I'll just take it one step at a time!"

Zhao Lingyuan said, "That's true. The world is vast, and it's good to travel around and see more of its beautiful landscapes. If Brother Gu has nothing urgent to attend to, why don't you come with me to Hongzhou? I'll arrange for my sister to meet you there, what do you say?"

At this moment, the system's voice rang in Gu Guanqi's mind—

[A blind date invitation has been detected; advanced blind date event can be started]

[Enable?]

Gu Guanqi quickly muttered "Activate".

[Blind Date Partner - Zhao Lingyuan]

Rating – Four Stars

[Advanced Dating Reward: Little Li Flying Dagger]

The Advanced Dating Event has begun. Players are encouraged to complete it diligently. Rewards will be distributed after the event concludes.

……

Little Li Flying Dagger, Li Xunhuan's signature move.

It is incredibly powerful and has a renowned reputation for never missing a shot.

After reaching the peak of cultivation, the blade becomes hidden and its power is concentrated inward rather than outward. Therefore, when drawing the blade, one does not lose essence, energy, or spirit. On the contrary, one can further refine the way of the blade, making the blade's power endless and inexhaustible.

Furthermore, the sword intent condenses into an invisible sharpness. Once it locks onto a target, no matter how the opponent tries to dodge or evade, or how their weapons obstruct them, they will be firmly restrained by the sword's momentum, like a shadow following them with no way to escape.

This is a martial art that has transcended the traditional techniques. Although it has skills and moves, these are not the core of Little Li's Flying Dagger. The core of Little Li's Flying Dagger lies in willpower.

The martial arts competition aims to achieve a state of perfect harmony between mind and blade, a connection between will and heaven and earth, and a state of detachment from self.

……

Gu Guanqi naturally knew about Little Li's Flying Dagger.

This is a martial art whose intent is comparable to the Fifteen Deadly Swords.

The Fifteen Deadly Swords represent the will to die, while Little Li's Flying Dagger represents the chivalrous will that justice will prevail.

The first thing I did upon seeing that the system's next stage reward was Little Li's Flying Dagger

Gu Guanqi's mind began to fill with anticipation.

It's unclear whether the deathly will of the Fifteen Deadly Swords or the chivalrous will of Little Li's Flying Dagger is superior, or whether the simultaneous appearance of these two wills would...

……

at this time,

The system notification sounded in Gu Guanqi's mind again:

[Blind date event concluded]

[Reward: Max level "Wedding Dress Divine Skill", already issued]

Do you want to claim the reward?

……

Gu Guanqi did not claim it immediately, after all, integrating internal energy requires a certain amount of time.

Subsequently,

He quickly composed himself and smiled at Zhao Lingyuan, saying, "If I have the opportunity, I will definitely visit Hongzhou!"

Zhao Lingyuan smiled faintly and said, "Then, I will await Brother Gu's arrival in Hongzhou!"

immediately,

The two didn't continue the topic and instead chatted about other things. Lu Lin joined in at the right time. All three of them were quite talkative, and the atmosphere was very harmonious as they chatted.

The main topic of discussion is about zombies.

After a long time,

The rain gradually stopped.

Gu Guanqi put the human skin mask back on. Although it looked fake at first glance, it was only meant to cover her up a little. As long as she wasn't recognized in public, it would be fine, so as not to cause unnecessary trouble.

Subsequently,

The group quickly descended the mountain, and then Lu Lin arranged for his trusted confidants to drive a carriage to take Gu Guanqi and Han Youniang back to their residence.

Zhao Lingyuan and Lu Lin saw the carriage off at the mountain gate.

Lu Lin turned his head to look at Zhao Lingyuan and said, "Does the young master admire Gu Guanqi?"

Zhao Lingyuan laughed heartily and said, "It's hard not to admire him, isn't it? So young, yet possessing superb martial arts skills and a renowned reputation in the martial world. In terms of his career, it's practically certain he'll become the leader of the Qingzhou martial arts alliance; his potential is immense. From every perspective, he's an excellent candidate for marriage!"

Lu Lin said, "But, he's a bit of a womanizer..."

Zhao Lingyuan laughed heartily and said, "This problem, let alone in the royal family, is probably the least noteworthy weakness in even a slightly larger family. It could even be considered a strength. In the future, they will surely have many offspring and the family will prosper!"

Lu Lin nodded slightly and said, "He also offended the Left Prime Minister."

Zhao Lingyuan turned and returned to the Tingchao Sword Sect, saying as she walked, "I am a member of the royal family. Although I don't get along with your Eastern Depot faction, Zhang Jiexi is ambitious and treacherous, so we get along even less. Therefore, his enmity with Zhang Jiexi makes him even more worthy of being courted!"

Having said that, he waved his hand and said, "Alright, Commander Lu, stop testing me. I came here suddenly today specifically to deal with Gu Guanqi. I have absolutely no interest in zombies. I know your Eastern Depot faction also wants to win him over, but so be it, we'll each use our own methods!"

Lu Lin cupped his hands and said, "Your Highness speaks frankly, but I don't think the Rong Prince's Mansion can compete with our Eastern Depot faction. After all, the Rong Prince's Mansion is restricted by the Hanyue Gate in Hongzhou. As for the honey trap, the Eastern Depot can also use it."

Zhao Lingyuan smiled slightly and didn't say anything more.

……

After returning to my residence.

Gu Guanqi then told Han Youniang that he had had a sudden enlightenment and needed to go into seclusion, and then went into the house.

Gu Guanqi closed the door, bolted it, and sat down cross-legged on the bed.

He took a deep breath, focused his mind on his consciousness, and summoned the system.

Silently say "receive".

In an instant, a blazing and powerful martial arts essence surged into his mind like a volcanic eruption.

Originally, to cultivate the Wedding Dress Divine Skill to its peak, one must break through and rebuild, abandoning one's own cultivation. However, the system reward allows one to skip that process and directly reach the pinnacle.

In an instant,

The essence of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill unfolded in his mind like an inverted galaxy, and was deeply engraved into the depths of his soul like a brand.

At the same time, deep within the dantian, a brand new, extremely powerful and yang true energy emerged from nothingness—the Wedding Dress True Energy.

Subsequently, the true energy of the wedding dress began to spread to the limbs and bones. Wherever it passed, the meridians were enveloped by a layer of warm energy, becoming more resilient, wider, and smoother.

The bones emitted a faint humming sound as they were immersed in this true energy, and their bone density increased at a visible rate, becoming as hard as refined steel.

The flesh and blood are also changing; every inch of the muscle is tempered by true qi, becoming dense and elastic.

This is the mystery of the Wedding Dress Divine Skill—when the skill is completed, the power becomes one with the body, forming the Xuan Yuan Tian Gang Di Sha Qi within the body, and the physical body reaches the realm of Vajra Indestructible, Unbreakable King, and Tathagata Protector.

The next moment,

The realms of Wuji Shura, Yi Jin Nirvana, and Danmeng Xiaoyao in Mingyu Gong, the realm of Tianren Heyi in Xiantian Gong, and the realms of Vajra Indestructibility, Unbreakable Mingwang, and Tathagata Protector in Jiayi Shen Gong

These three levels of martial arts began to collide and resonate.

At this moment, Gu Guanqi's consciousness seemed to detach from his body and ascend to a completely new realm.

He "saw" the invisible and intangible flow of primordial energy between heaven and earth, and saw the two forces of yin and yang intertwining, entangled, and coexisting in all things.

The alternation of the sun and moon is yin and yang, the cycle of the four seasons is yin and yang, the blooming and withering of flowers is yin and yang, and even breathing is yin and yang.

Yin and Yang are omnipresent and exist at all times.

They are the fundamental laws governing the operation of heaven and earth, the ultimate laws governing the birth and death of all things. They are neither cold nor hot, neither hard nor soft, yet they can be both cold and hot, hard and soft, changing at will and infinitely.

This is the realm of Yin and Yang without limit.

Gu Guanqi slowly opened his eyes.

A glint of light flashed in his eyes, then vanished, leaving only a calm, still surface, like the waters of a deep pool.

This is not the fusion of true qi.

Rather, it is the mutual verification, integration, understanding, and resonance of martial arts realms!

this moment,

He seemed to have merged with heaven and earth, with no distinction between them.

He sat there as naturally as the mountains and rivers, as harmoniously as the sun, moon and stars, as if he was meant to be there, meant to be this way.

He raised his right hand, a thought flashing through his mind.

A wisp of true energy appeared in his palm. That true energy was sometimes as cold as ice, sometimes as fiery as fire, and sometimes returned to a warm and peaceful state. The three states flowed and alternated in his palm, perfectly harmonious and unimpeded.

Having reached his current level of martial arts mastery,

He can freely control and release all kinds of true energy within his body, and can use them individually or in combination.

immediately,

He slightly withdrew his hand.

True Qi is drawn into the body.

He then stood up and stretched his limbs, feeling an unprecedented abundance of internal energy. Every meridian felt as if it had been washed by a clear spring, crystal clear and unobstructed.

Feeling the yin and yang merging and endlessly regenerating power within his body, Gu Guanqi was very satisfied.

Outside the window, the sky was already beginning to lighten.

He actually secluded himself for a whole day and night.

……

immediately,

He walked out of the room, went to the door next door, knocked gently, and said, "Youniang, I've finished my seclusion. You can rest now."

Although he had been in seclusion all night, he kept a close eye on the situation outside and knew that Han Youniang had not slept at all yesterday, both day and night, and was quietly waiting in the room to protect him during his seclusion.

in the room,

Upon hearing the sound, Han Youniang rushed over and opened the door, then exclaimed "Ah!" and hurriedly lowered her head.

"What's wrong?" Gu Guanqi asked.

Han Youniang lowered her head, her face slightly flushed, and said softly, "No...it's nothing..."

Then, she secretly glanced up at Gu Guanqi again, thinking to herself: How come Brother Gu is getting more and more handsome? I want to look at him more, but how embarrassing!

Gu Guanqi saw Han Youniang's expression,

I immediately understood what was going on.

Originally, his temperament and appearance had been greatly improved after he obtained the Mingyu Gong. However, due to the cold and yin nature of the Mingyu Gong, he actually lacked some righteousness in his temperament. Now, the aura brought by the Wedding Dress Divine Skill has just made up for the lack of righteousness in the Mingyu Gong.

This naturally enhanced his current aura even further.

"Hmm... Young Lady," Gu Guanqi said, "I know you didn't sleep a wink last night, you should go and get some rest!"

"I...I'll go cook first."

With that, Han Youniang lowered her head and went out to the kitchen.

Gu Guanqi stopped him, saying sternly, "I'm not hungry right now. Go to sleep, do you hear me?"

Han Youniang immediately stopped.

Once Gu Guanqi gave her clear instructions, Han Youniang would never disobey. She immediately nodded and said, "Then, Brother Gu, I'm going to rest. If you get hungry anytime, just call me, okay?"

"Hmm." Gu Guanqi nodded.

Han Youniang immediately returned to her room, and as she turned to close the door, she quietly looked up at Gu Guanqi.

Gu Guanqi smiled slightly.

Han Youniang's cheeks flushed instantly, and she whispered, "Brother Gu... I need to rest!"

Gu Guanqi nodded and turned to leave.

Han Youniang breathed a slight sigh of relief and gently patted her chest to calm herself down.

……

Time flies, and two more days have passed.

For the past two days, Lu Lin has come every day to deliver vegetables and meat to Gu Guanqi and Han Youniang, and also to tell them about what's happening outside. However, the zombies have not reappeared, and the Six Doors' investigation has made almost no progress.

but,

Preparations for the martial arts tournament venue are complete.

That morning,

The sky was just beginning to lighten.

Lu Lin then brought the two masters of disguise to help Gu Guanqi and Han Youniang disguise themselves.

Afterwards, Gu Guanqi and Han Youniang, dressed in the uniforms of the Six Doors constables, followed Lu Lin towards Cuiyun Manor.

After walking for about half an hour, we finally arrived at Cuiyun Manor.

The resort was already packed with people.

Flags from various factions fluttered in the morning breeze. Thousands of martial arts practitioners gathered around the square. Some sat on the ground, some stood with their hands behind their backs, some chatted in hushed tones, and some argued loudly about something.

A huge arena was erected in the center of the square.

Lu Lin led Gu Guanqi through the crowd to the Six Doors' seats.

The seating was set up on the east side of the arena, with dozens of chairs, many of which were already occupied by constables from the Six Doors. Lu Lin sat in the main seat, while Gu Guanqi and Han Youniang sat discreetly behind him, appearing no different from the other constables.

On the other side, there were also some officials from the state government.

About half an hour later,

The clamor in the square gradually subsided. Leaders, elders, and renowned figures from various sects took their seats one after another, and the eyes of thousands of people all fell on the tall arena in the center of the square.

An elderly man with gray hair slowly walked onto the arena. He wore a dark gray robe, had a serene face, a long beard that reached his chest, and a solemn air about him.

This man's surname is Zhou, and his given name is Wenyuan. He is the most senior and prestigious martial arts master in Yunzhou.

Although his martial arts skills were not top-notch, he was a public-spirited and righteous man who upheld justice throughout his life. He was highly respected in the martial arts world of Yunzhou. Even Master Fayuan, Tang Yu and others would respectfully address him as "Old Master Zhou".

Zhou Wenyuan stood in the center of the arena, looked around, clasped his hands in a fist salute, and said loudly, "Fellow martial arts practitioners, I am Zhou Wenyuan. I am honored by your kindness and have been elected as the host of today's martial arts gathering. I am old and lack virtue, so please forgive me if I do anything inappropriate."

With the enhancement of internal energy, the sound traveled far, and although there were many people present, almost everyone could hear it.

A chorus of responses erupted from the audience:

"You're too kind, Mr. Zhou!"

"Elder Zhou is highly respected and perfectly suited for this position!"

"..."

Zhou Wenyuan nodded slightly, and after the commotion subsided, he continued, "Today's martial arts gathering is an unprecedented event in the history of Yunzhou's martial arts world. All sects and heroes from all directions have gathered here to discuss the election of the martial arts alliance leader. This is a great fortune for Yunzhou's martial arts community!"

He paused, his gaze sweeping over the crowd below, and raised his voice slightly: "Today's gathering is not only to elect a leader of the martial arts alliance, but also to establish the charter of the martial arts alliance, jointly set the rules of the martial arts world, and maintain order in the martial arts community. This matter concerns the rise and fall of the martial arts world in Yunzhou for the next hundred years, so I hope you will all treat it with utmost care."

The leaders of various factions below the stage nodded in agreement.

Zhou Wenyuan stroked his beard and continued, "This martial arts tournament is not only a grand event for the martial arts world, but also of great interest to the imperial court. They have specially arranged two distinguished guests: Zhao Mingxuan, the heir of the Rong Prince's Mansion in Hongzhou, and Lu Lin, the commander of the Six Doors in Yunzhou."

After the martial arts alliance leader is elected, these two will present the imperial seal, specially made for the first martial arts alliance leader of Yunzhou, to him. Now, please invite them to the stage to give their speeches!

Subsequently,

Then Lu Lin and Zhao Lingyuan went on stage.

Zhao Lingyuan, dressed in men's clothing, was extremely handsome and had a dashing demeanor, which aroused much discussion among the female warriors present.

At last,

Lu Lin announced the start of the martial arts tournament.

Then, the martial arts tournament began its formalities.

Each faction votes to nominate candidates, and then the votes are counted.

By the time the process was completed, the sun was high in the sky.

Finally, after several rounds of discussion and nomination, the six candidates for leader of the alliance were finalized: Master Fayuan of Bodhi Temple, Master Fachen, the head of the Arhat Hall of Bodhi Temple, Tang Yu, the head of the Mechanical Gate, Su Qingxing, the head of the Medicine King Valley, Yang Tong, the Red Lion, and Yuan Guangkai, the Great Vajra.

Six people went up on stage to pay their respects.

The thousands of martial arts practitioners below the stage erupted in deafening cheers, the waves of sound echoing across the square.

On the arena, the six people greeted each other with clasped hands, and then retreated to their respective positions.

According to the rules of the competition, the six candidates will be matched in pairs by drawing lots, and the winners will advance to the next round. The final winner will be the leader of the Yunzhou Martial Arts Alliance.

However, before the draw could even begin, Tang Yu suddenly leaped onto the stage and declared loudly, "No need for the draw! I, Tang Yu, will throw out an opening and be the first to defend my title!"

Everyone present was taken aback by these words.

Then Tang Yu said, "I had the honor of exchanging skills with Master Fachen of Bodhi Temple in my younger days. However, due to other matters, we were unable to determine a winner, which has always been a regret of mine. Today, with this opportunity, I dare to ask Master Fachen for guidance!"

These words caused an uproar, and everyone's attention turned to the seats of the Bodhi Courtyard.

The seats in the Bodhi Courtyard were completely silent.

Master Fachen slowly stood up. He was extremely tall and imposing, standing there like an iron tower. He then clasped his hands together and said, "Since Sect Master Tang has invited me, this humble monk naturally cannot refuse!"

Immediately, Master Fachen walked towards the arena.

At this moment, there was much discussion within the conference.

From his seat at the Six Doors, Lu Lin watched this scene, chuckled softly, and turned to Gu Guanqi behind him, whispering, "You're on good terms with the Mechanical Gate and Medicine King Valley. Did they tell you about their strategy?"

Gu Guanqi naturally knew, but he didn't admit it. Instead, he asked, "What do you mean?"

Lu Lin said, "Sect Leader Tang is going to wage a war of attrition. He himself is still recovering from serious injuries and has no intention of vying for the position of Alliance Leader. Mu Fenghua of Medicine King Valley is old, and Su Qingxing is not strong enough to compete for the position of Alliance Leader."

The fact that Yuan Guangkai and Yang Tong were selected indicates that Medicine King Valley and the Mechanical Gate were recommending them. Under these circumstances, Tang Yu's move has a clear purpose: to eliminate one of Bodhi Academy's combatants first, paving the way for Yang Tong and Yuan Guangkai.

If I'm not mistaken, Tang Yu and Su Qingxing will compete against Master Fachen, while Yuan Guangkai and Yang Tong will compete against Master Fayuan.

Gu Guanqi chuckled and asked, "What are the chances of winning?"

Lu Lin pondered for a moment, then said in a low voice, "Theoretically, about 60%. However, the plan of the Mechanism Gate and Medicine King Valley is not very clever. Bodhi Academy can come up with a countermeasure."

For example, in the next round, Master Fachen will be the defending champion, while Su Qingxing will challenge him. If Master Fayuan were to swallow his pride and, like Tang Yu, step forward to challenge Su Qingxing, thus disrupting the original order, then Bodhi Academy's chances of winning would reach 70%.

Gu Guanqi nodded slightly and said, "Do you think Master Fayuan would do that?"

"Probably not," Lu Lin said. "After all, Su Qingxing is just a woman, and she doesn't even have the title of Grandmaster. Master Fayuan, on the other hand, is known as the number one expert in Yunzhou and is also a monk. He probably wouldn't be so shameless as to invite Su Qingxing to a fight."

As things unfolded,

Just as Lu Lin had guessed.

Although Bodhi Monastery knew about Medicine King Valley and the Mechanical Gate's plans, Master Fayuan did not take any countermeasures; instead, he cooperated fully.

In the first match, Tang Yu faced off against Master Fa Chen. Tang Yu relied on the Thousand Chance Umbrella for both offense and defense. Although he was still recovering from serious injuries, he greatly exhausted Master Fa Chen.

In the second round, Su Qingxing went on stage to challenge, and Master Fayuan and Master Fachen did not call a stop.

In the end, Su Qingxing barely managed to defeat Master Fachen, but her true energy was completely depleted. In the third match, facing Master Fayuan, she decisively withdrew from the competition.

Then, we came to the fourth game.

Yuan Guangkai versus Master Fayuan.

At this moment,

The atmosphere reached its peak because most people had realized that what appeared to be a battle between five grandmasters and Su Qingxing—six people in total—was actually four against two.

Now, Yuan Guangkai's duel with Master Fayuan paves the way for Yang Tong, the Red Lion.

Therefore,

This match is the decisive one.

No one thought Yuan Guangkai would be a match for Master Fayuan. Everyone was looking forward to seeing how far Yuan Guangkai could go against Master Fayuan and how far he could pave the way for Yang Tong.

In the spectator area,

Lu Lin said, "Master Gu, now that things have come to this, I suddenly feel that Master Fayuan has a 60% chance of winning."

Gu Guanqi asked, "Why?"

Lu Lin said, "Think about it carefully. Master Fayuan knew about the plans of Medicine King Valley and the Mechanism Gate, but he still cooperated. What does this mean? It means that he had absolute confidence."

Three years ago, I had a sparring session with Master Fayuan at Bodhi Temple. He said at the time that his martial arts training had reached a bottleneck, and that once he broke through it, he would become a Vajra in Buddhism. Now that I think about it, he must have broken through.

Yuan Guangkai, known in the martial arts world as "Great Vajra," probably wouldn't last long against this Buddhist Great Vajra.

Gu Guanqi said, "Yuan Guangkai and Yang Tong are evenly matched in martial arts. If Yuan Guangkai loses too easily, then Yang Tong will have little chance."

"That's absolutely true. That's why I'd say Bodhi Temple has a 60% chance of winning!"

Just as the two were talking,

On the arena, Yuan Guangkai and Master Fayuan had already begun their fight.

Indeed, as Lu Lin said,

Yuan Guangkai, this powerful figure in the martial arts world, was completely outmatched by Master Fayuan, a powerful figure in Buddhism.

The two followed similar paths, combining offense and defense. However, it was clear that Yuan Guangkai's defense and offense were both weaker than Master Fayuan's.

The two fought for no more than thirty rounds.

Yuan Guangkai was then at a disadvantage.

By the fiftieth round,

Yuan Guangkai was immediately suppressed.

however,

To everyone's surprise, at the last moment, Yuan Guangkai actually used a move that risked his life to injure himself.

In that instant,

Everyone was shocked.

Yuan Guangkai was sent flying by Master Fayuan's palm strike, his sternum shattered as he flew off the stage, spitting blood and instantly losing consciousness.

Master Fayuan suffered a severe injury to one arm, and for at least three to five months, that arm will be unable to be used for combat.

For a time,

The room erupted in uproar.

Lu Lin stared in astonishment at Yuan Guangkai, who was being urgently saved by Su Qingxing, and exclaimed, "What promise did Yang Tong make to Yuan Guangkai that made him willing to risk his life to become the alliance leader?"

Gu Guanqi shook his head slightly and said, "They only promised some business benefits before, but now it seems that the two of them have other deals in private."

Lu Lin sighed softly, "It seems the martial arts alliance leader is going to pull off an upset today."

quickly,

Yuan Guangkai was taken away and Su Qingxing personally treated his injuries, while Master Fayuan was treated by the physicians of Bodhi Academy.

Nearly an hour later,

Master Fayuan felt it was inappropriate to wait any longer, so he took the initiative to go on stage and challenge Yang Tong to a duel.

The final result,

There were no further incidents.

Yang Tong won.

However, Master Fayuan lived up to his reputation as the number one expert in Yunzhou. Even with a severely injured arm, he managed to create several suspenseful moments against Yang Tong at his peak, almost turning the tide of the battle.

Although Yang Tong won in the end.

But the performance was indeed somewhat unsatisfactory.

When the final battle ended

It was already dark, and torches were burning everywhere in Cuiyun Manor.

After Lu Lin and Zhao Lingyuan presented Yang Tong with the seal of the Alliance Leader, Yang Tong exercised his power as the Alliance Leader for the first time, summoning the leaders of various sects and renowned figures in the martial arts world to a meeting.

This is the second stage of the martial arts tournament.

Discuss the specific charter of the Martial Arts Alliance.

Lu Lin and Zhao Lingyuan were naturally going to be there as well. Of all the prominent figures in Cuiyun Manor, apart from Yuan Guangkai, who was still seriously injured and unconscious, only Gu Guanqi was absent.

Gu Guanqi was neither a member of the Yunzhou martial arts world nor a member of the imperial court, and it was inconvenient for him to show himself at the moment, so he naturally did not participate. Instead, he took Han Youniang to find a place to freeload.

……

Cuiyun Villa was bustling with activity and brightly lit.

The leaders of various sects and renowned figures in the martial arts world all went to the back manor to discuss the charter of the martial arts alliance.

Meanwhile, the manor was bustling with activity, with martial arts practitioners from various schools gathered everywhere. Some were drinking, some were eating, and some were even exchanging martial arts techniques, creating a lively and exciting atmosphere.

Gu Guanqi and Han Youniang were having a meal in a relatively quiet courtyard.

Suddenly, at a certain moment,

Chaos broke out in the manor. Gu Guanqi, with his sharp ears and eyes, heard someone shouting:

"Fire! Fire!"

Immediately afterwards, several more exclamations came from different directions:

"Fire! Help!"

"Fire here too! Quick, save people! The fire is too big!"

"What happened? Why did it burn so fast?"

"..."

Amidst the chaos and noise,

Flames shot into the sky from many parts of the front manor of Cuiyun Villa. The fire was extremely fierce, with orange-red flames licking the night sky and thick smoke billowing up, turning that part of the sky crimson.

The fire was fueled by the wind, and the wind fueled the fire's power. In just a few breaths, the fire had spread and engulfed the surrounding houses.

Shouts, screams, cries, and chaotic footsteps mingled together.

Gu Guanqi stood up, intending to take Han Youniang out first and then see what was going on.

But at that moment, Han Youniang suddenly raised her head.

Her crimson eyes, previously concealed by the medicine, now shimmered with a faint, almost invisible red mist. Her body trembled slightly.

Gu Guanqi noticed Han Youniang's unusual behavior and asked, "Youniang, what's wrong?"

"Brother Gu," Han Youniang whispered, "that zombie... it's appeared again!"