The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

Upon hearing this, Zhuo Bufan glanced at Chu Luren a few more times, but his gaze was more like scrutiny and... a hint of resentment.

He experienced a major upheaval in his early years, but also gained a great opportunity, obtaining an unnamed sword manual from a senior master. He secluded himself and practiced it for more than 20 years until he felt he had mastered it, at which point he emerged from seclusion. In the last two years, he has been working on building his reputation.

However, no matter how hard he tried, he always lagged behind Chu Luren, the real rising star, and the gap between them kept widening, which made him feel resentful!

"Liu Yuru has met the great hero Chu... I suppose this must be Young Master Murong? It's a pleasure to meet you. I wonder what kind of young master this is..." Liu Yuru looked at the youngest and least perceptive person.

"Hehe, this is suspect number two, Hua Wuque, Young Master Hua. Now that we've appeared together today, will there be rumors that you two are a gang that committed the crime?" Chu Luren quipped.

However, no one seemed to understand his humor. Murong Jiu gave him a disdainful look, while Hua Wuque smiled awkwardly but politely... Meanwhile, Liu Yuru and Zhao Quanhai were gasping for breath.

In just a short while, the temperature inside the cave seemed to have risen considerably.

"So you are the disciples of the two palace masters of Yihua Palace? Cough cough, my matter with Quan Hai is a personal grudge between us Jianghu people, Young Master Hua, you don't need to worry about it!" Liu Yuru said quickly.

Fearing he might speak too slowly, Hua Wuque directly delivered a slap of justice to Zhao Quan Hai...

Zhuo Bufan looked at the three of them with a solemn expression, as if to say, "If these three come at me together, I'm afraid I'll really be in some trouble!"

Chu Luren ignored this self-aggrandizing behavior and set his sights on the Nameless Sword Manual.

Zhuo Bufan, of course! Chu Luren would never forget him. The Sword God from "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils" single-handedly lowered the prestige of Sword Demon Dugu Qiubai and Sword Saint Feng Qingyang...

The Zhou Gong Sword of the Yi Zi Hui Jian Sect is nothing special. If it were truly useful, the sect wouldn't have been so easily wiped out by Tong Lao. However, in "Demi-Gods and Semi-Devils", Zhuo Bufan was able to unleash a three-foot sword beam!

In the vast world of martial arts, while the skill of wielding a three-foot sword may not be the average level, it is quite common among skilled martial artists. Based on Chu Luren's experience, the Nameless Sword Manual of the vast world should... probably help him develop some other unique skills, right?

Without a sword aura that stretches forty meters, even Chu Luren would look down on him!

Zhuo Bufan clearly wasn't serious with Liu Yuru just now; he was merely gesturing casually, without displaying any unusual skills.

"Chu Taisui said he came to mediate disputes and expose conspiracies? So, Chu Taisui doesn't believe there's treasure here?" Zhuo Bufan's tone was somewhat sarcastic, as if he were questioning, "You're so kind."

"Heh, if you say it's someone else's treasure, I might believe it for a second. Back then, Yan Nantian was such a chivalrous hero, why would he care about such material possessions? Besides, given Yan Nantian's character, if he wanted to pass on his swordsmanship, he would have chosen a successor openly and honestly. Why would he resort to such a pretentious method as leaving a legacy in the mountains and then distributing treasure maps?" Chu Luren said disdainfully.

Zhuo Bufan really wanted to say—I believe you!

It seems that picking up the secret manuals of one's predecessors is an addictive thing. After having the treatment of a protagonist once, Zhuo Yifan's imagination ran wilder and wilder. He sincerely believed that he might be able to get Yan Nantian's secret manual this time.

"Oh? Then how about I join in the fun? If there's no treasure, we mustn't let the villains succeed, but if there really is... hehe, it would be a bit unfair to an old man like me to just leave like this." Zhuo Bufan acted like a senior.

Seeing that more and more people were gathering, Chu Luren knew that it was better to guide than to block. Otherwise, even though he was confident that he could defeat Zhuo Bufan now, what if others came later if he was delayed?

“Alright, let’s go take a look together later.” Chu Luren looked at Murong Jiu and Hua Wuque, who obviously had no objections.

Chu Luren originally thought that he would catch up with Ouyang Ke first, since the Three Swords of Jinling should have died not long ago when he came down.

However, instead of seeing Ouyang Ke, they encountered two other groups of people fighting each other along the way...

Although they were called "two groups," only two people actually fought, and these two were fighting fiercely with their internal strength!

One of them, whom Chu Luren had met a few times, was the Divine Mountain Hermit of Mount Wutai!

That's the monk with the loud voice, who has a secret alliance with Songshan and is targeting Shaolin Temple. I've met him at Huashan and Juxianzhuang; he's the abbot of Qingliang Temple.

The person he was currently exchanging internal energy with looked somewhat unfamiliar to Chu Luren…

However, given Shenshan's skill level, which is above Ding Mian and even Yue Buqun, the fact that he could fight him with internal energy and reach a stalemate suggests that he is not an unknown figure... Of course, he is certainly not a top-tier expert either.

Chapter 412 There are very few experts.

The Venerable Shenshan of Qingliang Temple on Mount Wutai was considered to have an extremely strong competitive spirit among the eminent Zen monks. It is said that he wanted to become a disciple of Shaolin Temple in his early years, but was rejected because he was too competitive. So he went to Qingliang Temple instead, and within a few years his martial arts skills became the best in the entire temple, and he succeeded to the position of abbot.

Shenshan's martial arts skills are indeed not low. He and Abbot Xuanci of the Southern Shaolin Temple are known as "Dragon Subduers and Tiger Tamers". Moreover, Shenshan is the one who "subdued the dragon", and his reputation in martial arts skills surpasses that of Xuanci.

The person currently competing with him in internal strength also appears to be a middle-aged man, but he is dressed in white. Chu Luren looked at him more closely and, sure enough, there was a folding fan hanging at his waist.

Let's look at their appearance...

Tsk tsk, he really does look like a scumbag, Chu Luren couldn't help but curl his lip.

Chu Luren, who didn't recognize the man, nudged Murong Jiu with his shoulder and asked, "Who is Shenshan fighting with in terms of internal strength?"

There are at least eight hundred, if not a thousand, people in the martial arts world dressed like this.

"It's Yin Yewang of the Sky Eagle Sect." Murong Jiu was indeed knowledgeable, after all, he could even recognize Zhao Quan Hai, which shows that Murong Jiu had done his homework in order to win over people in the martial arts world.

The reason for constant failure is simply a lack of technical skill, not a lack of effort or preparation!

Murong Jiu was bumped on the shoulder, and after taking two steps back in disgust, she looked over with a blank expression... She had a feeling that Chu Luren was criticizing her in her heart!

Upon hearing the name "King Yinye," Chu Luren immediately became smug—"Indeed, my judgment was quite accurate."

The people standing behind the two immediately looked at the newcomers warily. At first glance, they recognized Chu Luren and became even more vigilant.

However, Chu Luren smiled and looked at Hua Wuque.

Why are these people so wary of me? The one I really need to be wary of isn't me!

As expected, Hua Wuque frowned deeply upon hearing Yin Yewang's name. At that moment, he slammed his paper fan shut with a "KU" sound—a signal indicating that he was not launching a sneak attack.

The attention of the people behind them immediately turned to Hua Wuque, but all they saw was a white shadow flash by as Hua Wuque forcefully made his move...

"Wait a minute!"

The five men—a monk, a Taoist, and a layman—rushed forward, wielding staffs, iron claws, and swords and spears to block their advance. However, Hua Wuque's figure passed right through their encirclement.

Amidst a chaotic clatter, the group stabbed and grabbed each other, creating utter chaos. Meanwhile, Hua Wuque remained unscathed, passing through the "flower garden" without a single petal touching him!

These were also renowned masters in the martial arts world. Upon seeing this, they were greatly alarmed. In the next moment, Hua Wuque's figure had already arrived in front of Yin Yewang and Shenshan Shangren. The true energy that was dissipated during the contest of internal strength could not even stir the hem of his clothes.

These two were undoubtedly the most nervous, after all, they were currently battling with internal energy, and if this person were to launch a "sneak attack" at this moment, I'm afraid...

"Excuse me." Hua Wuque clasped his hands in a fist salute, then reached out and grabbed the two men's shoulder acupoints.

The expected backlash of internal force did not occur; instead, cracks appeared beneath Hua Wuque's feet where he stood.

As for where Hua Wuque made his move, at least two dollars' worth of special effects light and shadow flashed...

After a brief standoff, Hua Wuque suddenly exerted his strength, forcibly separating the two who were exchanging blows. Both of them staggered back several steps, blood trickling from the corners of their mouths. However, Hua Wuque, who had just absorbed the full force of both of their internal energy, was completely unharmed!

Seeing this, Chu Luren roughly understood the situation—Hua Wuque's martial arts skills had greatly improved compared to two years ago.

It's only natural, considering that Hua Wuque was only fourteen or fifteen back then, and is only sixteen or seventeen now. He was previously working behind closed doors at Yihua Palace, but after traveling for two years, it's no exaggeration to say that he has made great strides.

If Huang Yaoshi were to encounter Hua Wuque now, he certainly wouldn't make a hundred-move challenge to humiliate himself—given Huang Yaoshi's age, unless he had some extraordinary encounter, his martial arts skills probably wouldn't have much of a chance to improve rapidly.

Shenshan stared at Hua Wuque for a while, then turned to look at Murong Jiu, before tentatively asking, "Transplanting flowers and jade?"

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren nudged Murong Jiu with his shoulder and said, "He must have thought you were older, so he recognized you as Nan Murong."

Murong Jiu's lips twitched; she didn't want to pay him any attention...

Indeed, if it weren't for Murong Jiu, they might have thought it was a "shift in the stars"!

After all, everyone knows that Nan Murong was traveling with Hong Bai Tai Sui. Judging from their ages, Murong Jiu is the real Nan Murong. So this move is undoubtedly "transferring flowers and replacing jade" - after all, the "Great Shift of Heaven and Earth" has been extinct in the martial arts world for a long time.

Hua Wuque is quite famous in the martial arts world now, but he hasn't been in the martial arts world for very long and has been active in Jiangnan. People in the martial arts world in the north and Sichuan are not familiar with him.

A young man in white certainly doesn't have the same recognizability as a suona horn...

Shenshan looked at Hua Wuque, lowered his eyelids slightly, and put on the appearance of an old monk, restraining his expression as he said, "Thank you for resolving the fight, Young Master Hua." However, even when he lowered his voice, it could still be described as a "grumpy voice."

The internal strength contest between him and Yin Yewang was quite dangerous, but it didn't come to the point of being inseparable. It was just that he saw that Hua Wuque was not friendly and was staring at Yin Yewang with dissatisfaction, so the old monk of Shenshan wanted to stay out of it!

Hua Wuque remembered to be polite, so he replied, "Master Shenshan, you are too kind."

Then he immediately turned to Yin Yewang and asked, "Young Master Yin, back then you allowed your concubine to harm your wife, and even forced your wife of many years to commit suicide, didn't you?"

Yin Yewang and the three people behind him immediately tensed up—Hua Wuque had been in Jiangnan for a long time, and their Tianying Sect was not familiar with him, but... the whole world knew about the Yihua Palace.

If it were anyone else, they would only laugh and mock Yin Yewang behind his back. Even if they were enemies, they wouldn't intentionally bring up someone's family affairs when they were fighting to the death.

However, it's a different story when it comes to the Yihua Palace. They'll make an enemy of you because of your own family matters!

Chu Luren watched the spectacle with great interest – after all, he wasn't familiar with Yin Yewang, and Hua Wuque's choice of a righteous person this time wasn't too far off.

It's not surprising that Yin Yewang would be here. After the Ming Cult split, the White-browed Eagle King established the Heavenly Eagle Cult, whose headquarters were originally in Sichuan. Moreover... the Heavenly Eagle Cult seems to have a strong addiction to treasure hunting. They were very active when they were trying to seize the Dragon-Slaying Saber!

"That's...that's because the unfilial daughter killed her stepmother first, and she committed suicide to plead for mercy...Besides, this is my family matter. Even if Young Master Hua becomes the supreme master of the martial arts world and sits on the throne, he can't interfere, can he?" Yin Yewang was also a little guilty.

“‘It’s none of your business’—what are you explaining?” Chu Luren muttered under his breath, revealing his guilty conscience.

However, Yin Yewang did not even look at Chu Luren. Just Hua Wuque alone was already putting a lot of pressure on him. The skill that Hua Wuque had just shown was far superior to his!

Chapter 413 Rebound

If Yin Yewang truly possessed the legendary martial arts prowess, there would be no need for the charlatan Hua Wuque—for the past few years, rumors have circulated in the martial arts world that Yin Yewang's skills are no weaker than his father's, and his uncle-master Li Tianyuan has been praising him to everyone he meets, claiming that Yin Yewang is already superior to himself…

However, judging from the close match between him and Shenshan just now, he is only at a barely first-class level. Although it is not low, to say that he is no less than his father is pure hype!

If it were the White-browed Eagle King, although he was older, he could easily rival the five masters of the Sword Tournament who were ten or twenty years younger than him, even if he set aside his age. Against Hua Wuque, who was sixty years younger than him, he would have a much better chance of winning.

Unfortunately, judging from the recent stalemate with the sacred mountain, Yin Ye Wang Xun's father is far gone.

Thinking this, Chu Luren looked at Murong Jiu again—there was another rumor here that he was "no less than his father." Chu Luren had originally thought that after Murong Jiu broke through to the seventh level of the "Dissolving Power Technique," he could truly be no less than his father, and might even have reached the level that a top ten Heavenly Ranking should have…

However, it still seems far from perfect!

Chu Luren didn't overestimate Murong Jiu's strength, but Murong Bo was truly powerful...

Murong Jiu gave him a sensitive glare—she had a feeling that Chu Luren was criticizing her in his heart all day!

"Young Master Yin, you were already wrong to first have an affair and fall in love with someone else, and then you even forced your wife to her death, which is outrageous... You should take your own life!" Hua Wuque addressed him very politely, but it was clear that he was going to do something drastic.

"The Yihua Palace has quite a reputation, but isn't it a bit too domineering to interfere with our Tianying Sect?" Li Tianyuan then took a step closer to Yin Yewang.

Although he and the others had just joined forces, they were instantly "defeated" by Hua Wuque, and he knew he was no match for him. However... Li Tianyuan thought that if he had been careful, he wouldn't have ended up in such a bad situation. Moreover, as Yin Tianzheng's junior brother, Yin Yewang's senior uncle, and one of the three hall masters of the Tianying Sect, he had no way out.

Skills like "Shifting Flowers and Jade" and "Shifting Stars" are like this: if you encounter them suddenly and are not prepared, you may be defeated in an instant. But if you are prepared, even if they are difficult to deal with, you can still put up a fight.

Along with Yin Tianzheng were two other men, younger than him and appearing to be in their thirties. They looked at each other and then stepped forward.

"My name is Song Feng..."

"Ximen Zhao".

"Young Master Hua's days in the martial world are short; he should always consider things more carefully."

The two seemed to be very close, one holding a knife and the other a sword, speaking in a back-and-forth manner.

Chu Luren asked in a low voice, "And who are these two people?"

Murong Jiu said in a somewhat strange tone, "The Song family of Tiandao City in Lingnan and the Ximen family of Wanmei Manor in Baozhou, Hebei are both famous martial arts families... My eldest brother-in-law and fourth brother-in-law are the heirs of these two families."