Having studied for a hundred years, why do you call me the Martial Saint?

Qin Zhongyu took a deep breath, managed his expression, showing only a slight anger on his face, hiding his rage and anxiety, and then calmly said.

"Please come in."

Before long, Lu Zhongzheng walked into the hall alone, without any other attendants.

He entered the room, glanced around at everyone's expressions, and then cupped his hands in greeting, "Sect Leader Qin, everyone."

"I am merely acting sect leader, Master Lu, please don't be so polite. Please have a seat," Qin Zhongyu returned the greeting.

The two sat down, and the other fellow disciples stepped back a few paces and stood on either side.

Lu Zhongzheng didn't beat around the bush and said in a deep voice, "I have already heard the news from the mountain. Since we are old friends of so many years, I will speak frankly."

"Master Lu, please speak."

Lu Zhongzheng was silent for a moment, then slowly said:

"Sect Leader Qin, tell me honestly, has something happened to the Sword Master?"

Upon hearing this, the expressions of everyone in the hall changed slightly.

Qin Zhongyu coldly said, "Master Lu, our two sects have been on good terms for many years, and I have always respected Chijin Mountain. But today you come to curse my master and wish him ill. What is the reason for this?"

Lu Zhong was staring into his eyes, his expression unchanged.

"After all, I am from Chijin Mountain. I brought my disciples and children here, and I have a responsibility to them."

"Let's be frank. If the Sword Master is alright, please allow us to take a look at the Jinghong Sword."

Qin Zhongyu slowly said, "The Jinghong Sword was sealed away in my master's secluded cultivation place along with him, and it is impossible to retrieve it."

Lu Zhongzheng sighed: "Sect Leader Qin, I've come today not to probe your intentions, but to help you."

Qin Zhongyu remained unmoved: "Master Lu, I have already told you the truth, please do not say anything more."

Lu Zhongzheng narrowed his eyes, stood up angrily, and said with a flick of his sleeve:

"Since Sect Leader Qin has no faith in our friendship, then I shall play the villain today."

I'm giving you two choices.

"First, let my men see the Jinghong Sword. After they have seen it, I, Lu Zhongzheng, will declare before the world that I will live and die with you, Suishan!"

"Second, tomorrow morning, I will lead the people of Chijin Mountain down the mountain. We will only say to outsiders that we have urgent business to attend to and will not say anything else. As for what outsiders think, I have no say in that."

The atmosphere inside the hall was tense and confrontational.

Qin Zhongyu's expression remained unchanged, but his fist clenched tightly in his sleeve. He remained silent for a long time before letting out a soft sigh.

"Master Lu, you're forcing me."

"I wouldn't dare, but Sect Leader Qin should also understand that there's no such thing as a free lunch. If you want to borrow the power of my Crimson Mountain, you should at least show some sincerity."

Qin Zhongyu closed his eyes to rest, then opened them again, his gaze sharp, clearly having made a decision.

"Alright, I'll show the sword to Lu Zhongjiang, but there are conditions."

"you say."

"Only three people are allowed to see this, and it must not be spread outside."

"it is good."

Lu Zhongzheng agreed without hesitation.

He knew what Qin Zhongyu was planning. Of the three spots, he would definitely reserve them for Lu Zhi and Xue Ling, and these two children would be sent down the mountain after they saw the sword.

As for the others, they had to go through fire and water with Suishan. This was Qin Zhongyu's implication, and of course, it was also Lu Zhongzheng's decision.

……

The fifth day of the competition.

The weather is unusually gloomy today.

Suddenly, a commotion arose at the entrance to Suishan Mountain.

A gaunt old man strode down the mountain path, his hair gray, his eyes sharp, and he wore an ordinary old robe.

It looks ordinary.

However, with each step he took on a bluestone brick, a fine crack would quietly appear on it.

What's even more astonishing is that not a single snowflake could fall into his three-zhang-wide area.

"Who is this person?"

"Such powerful energy! Could it be the True Essence Realm?!"

"Why does this look so familiar..."

A seasoned veteran racked his brains for a memory, then suddenly his expression changed drastically, and he exclaimed, "He...he is 'Wrathful Vajra' Helian Chuan!"

Upon hearing this name, the group of martial arts practitioners were extremely surprised.

"Wrathful Vajra" Helian Chuan!

A veteran master of the True Essence Realm who was famous throughout the world thirty years ago, his unique internal energy cultivation method of the Three Secrets Combination is extremely profound, and his Vajra Annihilation Hand is even more ruthless! It is said that he once shattered a city gate that even siege weapons could not touch with a single palm!

This person disappeared for many years, yet he has suddenly reappeared in Suishan!

Helian Chuan continued walking straight to the mountaintop without stopping.

The wandering travelers on both sides of the mountain path dared not utter a sound and consciously made way for them.

A group of disciples guarding the mountain tried to stop and question him, but Helian Chuan ignored them and continued forward, unstoppable.

The disciples guarding the mountain turned pale and hurriedly turned to report to their superiors.

Helian Chuan walked leisurely to the front of Suishan Palace.

His voice was booming, making people's eardrums buzz.

"Having heard of Yang Qingfeng's death, I have come to offer my condolences!"

These words caused an uproar in the room.

"What did he say? The Sword Master is dead?!"

"Nonsense! Isn't the Sword Master in seclusion?"

"Is Helian Chuan here to cause trouble?"

"That must be it! There haven't been any challengers at the Sword Master's gate for many years, but we never expected to run into one today!"

The palace doors swung open, and Qin Zhongyu led several fellow disciples out quickly.

He clasped his hands and said, "So it is Senior Helian Chuan, the 'Wrathful Vajra'. I have long admired your name and am sorry for not being able to greet you from afar."

Then Qin Zhongyu's eyes turned cold: "However, senior's joke has gone too far."

Helian Chuan looked up at him, a hint of disdain in his eyes: "You're Yang Qingfeng's disciple? You're not qualified to speak to me. Let your master come out and see me!"

"My master is currently in a critical period of seclusion and is unable to receive guests," Qin Zhongyu said neither humbly nor arrogantly.

"Seclusion? Ha." Helian Chuan suddenly burst into laughter, his laughter like thunder, making people's ears hurt.

"I think he's locked up in his coffin!"

Qin Zhongyu's expression changed drastically: "Helian Chuan! I respect you as a senior figure in the martial arts world, but if you curse my master even half a word more, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"You're welcome? You think you can do that?"

Helian Chuan snorted coldly and suddenly took a step forward.

boom!

The stone slab beneath his feet shattered with a deafening roar, and the shockwave swept outwards like a whirlwind, sending several Suishan disciples who were standing nearby tumbling over.

"I made a promise with Yang Qingfeng back then. He said that if he died, he would entrust the Jinghong Sword to me, Helian Chuan, for safekeeping."

Helian Chuan stood with his hands behind his back and spoke slowly and deliberately.

nonsense!

If Master had seen you, you old fool, he would surely have cleaved you in two with a single sword stroke, and then made a pact with you?

Qin Zhongyu was furious, but calmly replied, "I have never heard my master mention this matter."

"There are many things you, as a junior, don't know," Helian Chuan said calmly. "What, are you going to renege on your master's promise?"

Qin Zhongyu gripped the sword hilt tightly and said in a deep voice, "I'll say it again: my master is still alive. If you really want the sword, then we'll wait until my master comes out of seclusion."

"Wait for him to come out of seclusion?" Helian Chuan scoffed. "I don't have that kind of patience."

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly shot out and struck out with his palm!

His face changed color continuously, displaying six colors: blue, yellow, red, white, sky, and turquoise. These were the six colors of the true essence of Vajra. He used his signature move, the Vajra Annihilation Hand, clearly intending to kill him!