Star Martial Soaring Cloud

Of the nine provinces and five regions, the Central Province is mostly plains. The mountains of the Central Province are not as beautiful as those of the Southern Frontier, nor as treacherous as those of the Northern Plains, nor as majestic as those of the Eastern Coast, nor as mysterious as those of the Western Wilderness.

In the eyes of the world, the mountains in the Central Plains tend to be mediocre, with few famous ones.

Liangshan, however, became an exception.

An obscure little mountain, thanks to the arrival of Song Qing, has become one of the ten most famous mountains in China in just a few years.

Song Qing took over Liangshan as a bandit, and was deified for his thievery.

Zhongyun City, located near Liangshan, is a bustling and extravagant place.

Literati, merchants, and famous actors often gathered here.

A dappled horse, a thousand pieces of gold, call the boy to exchange them for fine wine.

With fine wine from a thousand years ago flowing down my throat and a bewitching songstress in my arms, it truly feels like paradise.

Chung Yun City has thus earned the reputation of "When fireworks bloom across the land, Chung Yun City is the champion".

To everyone else, Zhongyun City was perfect in every way, except for Song Qing from Liangshan.

He led a group of bandits known as "Shao Mali" and turned the entire Zhongyun City upside down, leaving the city's wealthy in constant fear.

"Suo" literally means "extremely despicable," and this group of bandits appeared and disappeared without a trace.

What's even more infuriating is that they are masters of using tactics like feints and diverting attention from others, often manipulating wealthy individuals at will.

At the slightest sign of trouble, they vanish without a trace, leaving their pursuers helpless.

Once the pursuers relaxed, they became as rampant as rats again, daring to cause trouble right under their noses.

When the enemy comes, they run away, so fast that it seems as if they never appeared; when the enemy rests, they harass them, and then they are nowhere to be seen, making them impossible to guard against!

During the pursuit, they were fully aware of the pursuit team's every move, even their next plan.

Every action is rewarded; you never leave empty-handed.

Despite thousands of manhunts, large and small, no one has been caught to this day.

Only a god could produce such an invincible band of robbers.

"Swift" perfectly describes their modus operandi. They are quick-witted and decisive, saying whoever they want to rob and never backing down their word. They may have already succeeded before they even finish speaking.

His hands and feet were incredibly nimble, he came and went like the wind.

Wherever they went, they left the robbed a pair of underwear intact; that must have been out of great mercy.

The wealthy have considered leaving, but where can they find such a treasure after leaving Zhongyun City?

Furthermore, it's not unacceptable that Song Qing and his gang robbed people of their money but not their lives.

Putting aside Song Qing's outstanding leadership skills, his personal charisma is equally remarkable.

In terms of cultivation, it is rumored that someone witnessed a powerful expert at the Divine Sense Void Realm who did not last a single move against him.

After that battle, even the most powerful cultivators at the Divine Sense Void Realm were terrified of Song Qing. It's intriguing to wonder what kind of psychological trauma Song Qing left on them.

With such strength, he could easily dominate a region, yet he willingly chose to be a bandit leader, leaving all who heard of it speechless.

For a time, his story spread widely throughout Kyushu, and he became a frequent guest in the stories of storytellers and wandering poets.

Many cultivators even compared him to "Yi Lao Feng Tang" and "Nan Feng Li Guang," believing that they were among the most outstanding cultivators in the Nine Provinces today, the most likely candidates to become emperors in the "Era without an Emperor," and very likely to reach the legendary Void Immortal Realm.

Besides his talent for cultivation, Song Qing's verbal skills are legendary.

In the eyes of the people of Zhongzhou, Song Qing's verbal skills were unmatched for five hundred years. If they were to compete with him in cultivation, they might have a chance of winning. But if they were to reason with him, they would be digging their own grave.

His ability to deceive people reached a level that everyone looked up to. It is said that he could lie so seriously that he would not blush or skip a beat, and no one could see through his lies.

If there are different levels of deception, then he must have reached the highest level. Many Confucian scholars who take it upon themselves to bring peace to the world have published articles denouncing Song Qing's banditry. Some even have the courage to go to Liangshan to confront Song Qing, daring to challenge him.

But the result?

In the end, the group of scholars all clung to Song Qing's legs, weeping and begging for his forgiveness. During that time, cries like "A single conversation with you is worth more than ten years of study!" could be heard everywhere in Liangshan.

From then on, the "Short-skinned and cunning" bandits wrote at least eight or ten manifestos, each one filled with righteous indignation. After reading them, the victims felt that being robbed was a matter of course, and some even felt grateful to them.

A series of events made Song Qing famous far and wide. If he wasn't a god, what else could he be?

Song Qing's popularity with women further helped him maintain his position on the altar; such a person fulfilled all women's fantasies.

They prefer to call him "Dream Song Qing" or "Beloved Song Qing".

In their eyes, Song Qing was simply the embodiment of their dream lover.

Women who had met Song Qing described their encounters with him, all of them closing their eyes and becoming deeply enraptured.

Legend has it that after a courtesan died alone, Song Qing would go to that brothel every night to mourn her. He would sit in a fixed spot, facing the pouring moonlight, and play the guzheng for half an hour. The melody was like heavenly music, making listeners shed tears without realizing it.

From then on, Song Qing became a god in the hearts of women. If he could treat courtesans like this, one can imagine how he would treat other women. Meeting him even once was the dream of many women throughout their lives.

With Song Qing's arrival, Liangshan was completely transformed. Flowers bloomed all over the mountains, creating a magnificent landscape with their vibrant colors, accompanied by fluttering bees and butterflies, surpassing countless other beautiful scenes in the human world.

Perhaps because of his personal preference, the entire Liangshan area is dominated by peach blossoms, and the ever-blooming peach blossoms have become a symbol of Liangshan.

The previous lord of Zhongyun City, in pursuit of political achievements, was determined to eradicate this band of robbers at all costs. In order to find them, he even came up with the idea of ​​blowing up the mountain. However, when he carried it out, he realized that this action would push him into the abyss.

What does he want to blow up?

It was a famous mountain in the Nine Provinces, one of the most famous mountains in the Central Plains. This time, not only women who were infatuated with Song Qing stood up, but also countless literati and scholars. This city lord had offended the two types of people that one should never offend in the world, and unfortunately, he lost his official hat the next day.

This made things even more difficult for the pursuers. They couldn't destroy the mountain, they couldn't find the suspect, they couldn't catch him, and they couldn't defeat him in a fight. "Trivial and efficient" became Zhong Yuncheng's eternal heartache.

This caused the reward offered for Song Qing's capture to skyrocket, from ten thousand to one hundred thousand to one million... to the point that people no longer cared about the ever-increasing numbers.

But this gave those who wanted to become famous a chance to take advantage of the situation. They tore off the red paper, shouted that they were going to arrest Song Qing, and attracted everyone's attention. For a time, they were incredibly famous, and countless people imitated them, causing the price of red paper in Zhongyun City to skyrocket.

Every day, a steady stream of people come to the gate of the city lord's mansion, all shouting that they want to become great heroes, making the pursuit even more difficult!

Finally, the Imperial Observatory had no choice but to intervene and use a secret method to cover the red text with a blood curse. Anyone who tore off the red text would fail to resolve the calamity of Song Qing and would undoubtedly die a month later.

Thus, this farce in which everyone wanted to be a hero finally came to an end.

Song Qing's name still exists today, but the red article has remained unexamined for ten years.

Therefore, it is already a great achievement for someone to be able to take on the task of writing the red document—it means that the city lord is well-governed and his subordinates are brave and courageous.

"Ah! I never expected this! I thought I was so lonely, but I never imagined there was someone in this world who could rival me. Finally, I don't have to bear the cold at the top all by myself anymore." In a teahouse at the foot of Liangshan, Kung Pao Chicken leisurely sipped his tea and sighed as he looked at the case file.

The peach blossoms covering the mountains and fields were a beautiful sight to everyone else, but to Wang Xiao they were mysterious, interwoven patterns. The entire Liangshan Mountain was a great array, and Song Qing used the mountain as an array, integrating his own cultivation into it.

Unless one's strength surpasses his, even if one counts all the peach blossoms in Liangshan, it will be difficult to find Song Qing and his companions.

"Kid, you have no chance of defeating Song Qing by force. Is there any possibility of outsmarting him?"

"Force should be simpler. Nine years ago, a high-ranking monk who traveled around saving lives volunteered to persuade Song Qing to repent and reform. He went to Liangshan alone and talked with Song Qing about life, Buddhism, and reincarnation."

"and then?"

"The high monk has disappeared. When Song Qing and his group acted again, there was an extra bald monk who was rummaging through drawers and cabinets while chanting 'Amitabha' loudly."

"Wow, is this even human? No wonder everyone calls him the God of Liangshan. Kid, I think you should kneel down here and beg Song Qing to take you as his disciple. Maybe then you can break the blood curse sooner."

"It's not impossible, but he doesn't seem to take on apprentices. It's unusual that you have connections?"

"Hey kid, just get straight to the point and leave your last words! After you die, that black belt is mine, and I can carry you back to Seven Star Mountain for free."

On the second floor of the teahouse, by the window, Wang Xiao tapped his fingertips on the table, his gaze piercing through the thin mist outside the window and landing on the pink peach blossoms covering the distant mountains.

The dark red mark between his brows was faintly burning, not from the previous scorching pain, but rather like some kind of resonance—the trembling of every peach blossom, the sound of every gust of wind passing through the branches and leaves, were clearly transmitted to his perception through the mark.

"Hey kid, what are you daydreaming about?" Kung Pao Chicken took a bite of the osmanthus cake on the table. "If you don't come up with a solution soon, you'll be going to spend your time daydreaming with the King of Hell."

"Don't worry about that, come with me."

"Where to?" Kung Pao Chicken asked, his mouth still full of pastries.

"Fengyuxuan! Didn't you say that the Holy Maiden of Fengyuxuan descended upon Zhongyun City yesterday? Fairy Su is a fairy descended from the Moon Palace; I don't want to miss the chance to catch a glimpse of her divine beauty!"

"With the situation so dire, you still have this mood? But I like it. I desire brothels, and I also desire holy maidens."

A pavilion with green tiles and upturned eaves is hidden among the lush sycamore trees. The vermilion gate has no plaque, but the couplets on the gate are engraved with their principles in small dark gold characters.

The sounds of wind, rain, and reading fill my ears; I care about family affairs, national affairs, and world affairs.

What enters the ears is intelligence; what is concerned about everything is trade.

A bronze wind chime hangs above the doorway. When the wind blows, the chime rings out, its clear and melodious sound penetrating the hustle and bustle of the street and reaching the hearts of people.

Most of the passersby were merchants in fine clothes or cultivators with restrained auras, but no one dared to stop without permission—this was the Zhongyun City branch of Fengyuxuan.

The two guards in blue robes stood expressionless at the gate, their presence heavy and tense.

Wang Xiao stepped forward directly. The guard in blue moved slightly, his long sword half-drawn from its sheath, exuding a chilling aura: "Entering Fengyu Pavilion without permission is not permitted. Please return."

"I heard that the Holy Maiden is at the branch. Please inform her that Wang Xiao, the acting city lord of Zhongyun City and the one destined for the Blood Inscription, has a business deal worth 10 billion that he wants to discuss with Fengyuxuan." He raised his hand and showed the city lord's military token.

"Ten billion?" The guard on the left twitched slightly, clearly shocked by the number. Although Fengyuxuan was incredibly wealthy, a single deal worth ten billion was unheard of.

The two men exchanged a glance, looking at the city lord's military token in Wang Xiao's hand. One of them said in a deep voice, "Please wait a moment." He then turned and quickly stepped inside.

Kung Pao Chicken leaned close to Wang Xiao's ear, his voice trembling: "Are you crazy? 10 billion! You can't even scrape together ten copper coins, and you dare to brag like this?"

"When you're out in the world, you give yourself an identity. I don't have one, but Zhong Yuncheng does!"

A moment later, the guard in blue returned: "The Holy Maiden requests your presence."

Outside the door is the hustle and bustle of the city, but the moment you step across the threshold, all the noise is invisibly shut out, leaving only a room full of tranquility.

Hanging from the corridor are rows of glass lamps, their light filtering through the openwork lamp walls and casting dappled patterns of light onto the marble slabs, meandering forward.

Koi carp swim in the pools on both sides, and the misty air is mixed with the faint scent of ink and the aroma of spirit stones.

Inside the main hall, the light was dim, except for the soft glow emanating from the luminous pearl hanging directly above.

A woman dressed in a moon-white gauze dress sat gracefully behind a jade table. Her black hair cascaded down her back, and her face was shrouded in a thin veil, revealing only a pair of clear, moon-like eyes. She was none other than Su Qinhe, the Holy Maiden of Fengyuxuan.

Behind her stood an elderly woman with white hair, her aura ethereal, her gaze fixed intently on Wang Xiao, filled with scrutiny and impatience.

"I would like to ask Fengyuxuan to act as my guarantor and hold a betting game on whether Song Qing will leave Zhongyun City in seven days," Wang Xiao said bluntly.

"Is this the billion-dollar deal that Young Master Wang wants to discuss with Fengyuxuan?" Su Qinhe's voice was clear and cold, without a trace of emotion. "There's profit to be made, and Fengyuxuan can act as guarantor, but where will the huge payout for this bet come from?"

The clash between the Fish Leap Dragon Realm and the Divine Sense Void Realm is a foregone conclusion. Given Song Qing's reputation, even if the odds for Song Qing are set very low, it's practically throwing money away.

"I've also decided on the odds. Song Qing's odds are 0.1 to 1, and mine are 1 to 10," Wang Xiao continued, never one to shy away from a bombshell. "The betting is guaranteed by Fengyuxuan. The stakes are not limited to gold, silver, or spirit stones; you can bet cultivation techniques, rare and precious materials, anything of value is acceptable."

"Absurd!" the elder behind Su Qinhe shouted angrily. "Song Qing has been entrenched in Liangshan for ten years, and even experts at the Divine Sense Void Realm can't do anything to him. What makes you think you can make him leave, you mere brat who has just entered the Fish Leap Realm?"

"What about the compensation funds?" Su Qinhe stopped the elders behind her and looked at Wang Xiao with great interest.

"Here." Wang Xiao waved the city lord's military token in his hand. "The tax revenue of Zhongyun City will last for ten years if one year is not enough, and fifty years if ten years is not enough."

"As for why I could make him leave, what if I could fight him on equal footing?"

"What?! You're also at the Divine Sense Void Realm?" the elder behind the Holy Maiden exclaimed in shock. "That's impossible!"

"Couldn't he just seal off his cultivation and fight me with his initial stage of the Fish Leap realm?"

"What!" This time, even the saintess and Kung Pao Chicken were so shocked that they jumped up.

Martial arts are divided into four realms, and each realm has three stages: beginner, minor mastery, and perfection.

Each realm is separated by vast chasms, as different as heaven and earth, but each realm has its peak and its limit.

The fish leaps into the dragon realm, a battle between equals. Considering the odds Wang Xiao mentioned, it is indeed a huge business with no upper limit.

Once this betting game begins, the entire Zhongyun City, no, the entire Zhongzhou, the entire Kyushu will go crazy.

Wang Xiao paused for a moment, then continued, "If I lose, the City Lord's Mansion will cover the compensation; if I win, Fengyuxuan will receive 10% of the betting profits."

Su Qinhe remained silent for a long time, then lightly tapped the jade table with her delicate fingers. "You've certainly thought things through, but since Fengyuxuan is acting as guarantor, there needs to be collateral." Her gaze fell on the city lord's military tally in Wang Xiao's hand. "This tally will be temporarily entrusted to Fengyuxuan for safekeeping."

"make a deal."

The city lord's military token arced through the air before she gently caught it.

"Furthermore, as long as you can get Song Qing to fight on equal footing with you, Fengyuxuan will immediately open a betting pool," Su Qinhe added. "Fengyuxuan will send twelve top-tier messengers to spread the news to every city and every sect, and await good news from Young Hero Wang."

"Having presented the Holy Maiden with such a generous gift, would the Holy Maiden like to add a little something to this bet?"

"What does Young Master Wang mean?"

"I've heard that the Holy Maiden has never removed her veil. If I win the bet, could the Holy Maiden remove my veil herself?" Before the words were finished, Wang Xiao had already disappeared from the room.

All that remained was loud laughter and the song "Graceful lady, my heart aches for you" from Kung Pao Chicken.

At the same time, Shen Yue from the City Lord's Mansion was so startled that he fell to the ground with a thud.

"What did you say? The city lord's treasury has been advanced for a hundred years?"