The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"Your Highness!"

"This servant knows her mistake and begs Your Majesty to punish her."

"That's right, Your Excellency can hit us or scold us as you please, just don't send us away..."

Upon hearing this, Mei, Lan, Zhu, and Ju immediately knelt down and began to beg. Chu Luren understood and interrupted, "Uncle-Master, there's no need for that. I usually travel the world and don't need any maids. It would be inconvenient... If you're willing to train me, Uncle-Master, why not give me some guidance?"

Four maids with third-rate martial arts skills?

If it were when he had just transmigrated, Chu Luren might have been quite happy. If he were to change into a pure white robe, he would at least be a "Young Master Wuhen," right?

But now...

The people of Chulu have grown up!

Not only do they not need anyone to serve them, but they also often feel that women are hindering their progress in life.

At least someone of Liu Sheng Piaoxu's level would be considered not a burden, and someone with the strength of Murong Jiu and Lian Xing would be considered to be of help.

Although they were inexplicably annoyed by Chu Luren's statement, the four sword servants still chimed in, "That's right, Lord, Chu Taisui doesn't need to be served!"

"Chu Tai Sui looks like someone who can take good care of himself..."

"Your Majesty, are you willing to abandon us?"

Upon hearing this, Granny Tong's face hardened, and she said, "How dare you! How dare you! How dare you!" As she spoke, she slapped each of their heads, and said in a fit of anger, "How could my words not be considered true? From now on, you will follow him. If he doesn't want you anymore, you can go wherever you want. You don't listen to Granny anyway!"

No matter how much the four sword servants pleaded and cried, the Child Granny did not change her mind.

Granny Yu felt sorry for the four sword servants, but she didn't plead for them. She just whispered from the side, "Master, should we kill this person directly, or turn him into a human pig for the other demons and monsters to see?"

What she was holding in her hand was none other than Boss Wu, who was on the verge of fainting from fright.

Reflecting on his experiences tonight, Boss Wu even had a fleeting moment of daze, feeling that his life had not been in vain...

Upon hearing this, Granny Tong sneered, "Heh! What? Are you regretting not killing Granny Tong with one strike just now?"

"Grandma, spare me... no, I know I'm guilty of grave sins, please give me a quick death! Young Master Chu, just kill me!" Old Wu was so frightened that he didn't even dare to beg for mercy, only wanting to die.

Chu Luren's expression shifted at this moment, and he said, "Uncle-Master, the Four Sword Attendants are your personal maids, so you must be used to them... Instead of giving them to your junior nephew, why not give me this Elder Wu and the people from the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands? In the future, they can serve as servants of the Lingjiu Palace and also obey the orders of the sect leader, junior nephew?"

Upon hearing this, Wu Laoda was filled with anticipation, but his legs tightened—this Chu Taisui was abandoning the four delicate beauties like the Sword Attendants, but wanted us people instead… was he going to use us to death?

The four sword attendants, who had just been reprimanded, knelt before the Child Granny, heads bowed, not daring to speak, but secretly hoping for her agreement.

"You are the leader of the Free and Unfettered Sect. Unlike that little brat who has lost all manners after becoming an imperial concubine... The people of these thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands are naturally entitled to obey your orders. As for the Four Sword Attendants, there's no need to mention them again! If you think they're in your way, then kill them all!" Granny Tong said angrily without any politeness.

"What are you still kneeling here for?" Granny Tong glanced at the four sword servants.

The four sisters looked at each other, and no matter how unwilling they were, they had no choice but to obediently come before Chu Luren and bow down, saying, "Greetings, Master."

“You all get up first… Uncle, you’re being too polite. Since you’ve already recognized your junior brother as the sect leader, isn’t Lingjiu Palace just like my home? I’ll take in the four sisters, Plum, Orchid, Bamboo, and Chrysanthemum. But when there’s nothing else to do, they can still help me look after Lingjiu Palace!” Chu Luren said, changing his tone.

This time, Granny Yu, Fu Minyi and other department leaders were all taken aback – how come Lingjiu Palace is now yours?

Chu Luren didn't think too much about it. He just wanted the four sword attendants to stay here, ostensibly to help him look after the small house, but in reality, he just wanted them to stay with him and not have to leave Lingjiu Palace.

Granny Tong glanced at Chu Luren: "Nephew, even if your uncle's old illness doesn't fully heal, he'll be able to recover his power in three months..."

“That’s right, so it’s best to help Master Uncle recover within these three months… no, within two months.” Chu Luren said obliviously, thinking that it was Tong Lao who was anxious.

After all, if the Child Granny regains her powers, Chu Luren might not be able to help her with her health through dual cultivation.

Upon hearing this, Granny Tong pursed her lips and said, "Yes, come to the main peak to find Granny tomorrow."

"Then I'll take my leave," Chu Luren said, and left with his four sword attendants.

Moreover, without Chu Luren saying a word, Boss Wu gritted his teeth and followed him...

After returning to the peak where he lived, Chu Luren saw that the four sword attendants had not spoken a word the whole way, so he comforted them, "Don't worry, my master was just saying that in a fit of anger. Besides... even if my master can't back down and doesn't want to take back his order, you can stay at Lingjiu Palace afterwards. Just think of it as helping me look after the house."

“Thank you, my lord! However… since you… since Grandma has asked us to follow you, my lord, then we will certainly serve you from now on!” Mei Jian immediately took the lead and said.

Chu Luren felt a headache coming on, but considering that he would have to stay in Lingjiu Palace for at least two more months, he wasn't in a hurry. So he gave instructions to Boss Wu first.

"Boss Wu..." Chu Luren had just opened his mouth when Boss Wu immediately interrupted, "You can just call me Little Wu!"

"Little Wu, you thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands, can you usually keep in touch with each other? If we're counting down to next spring, how many can you reach?"

Chapter 586 Righteousness and Chivalry Alliance

When Elder Wu heard Chu Taisui's question, he dared not lie and honestly replied, "Reporting to Taisui, if we take next year as the deadline... most of the brothers will be able to make it."

"Huh?" Chu Luren was somewhat surprised upon hearing this.

The people from these thirty-six caves and seventy-two islands have traveled as far as the East China Sea and the South China Sea. Even with methods like sending messages by carrier pigeon, it would take several months to get them here.

After all, pigeons can fly, but people can't!

"Your Excellency, you may not know this, but we servants who live nearby have to send annual offerings to Lingjiu Palace every year, and those who live far away have to do so once every three years. This year is the time for the three-year grand offering... Everyone will be able to arrive before the New Year," Old Wu explained weakly.

Upon hearing this, Chu Luren also showed a look of realization—it made a lot of sense, after all, in the original work, not long after Boss Wu explored Lingjiu Palace, there was the "Ten Thousand Immortals Assembly".

If they really needed to send out notices all over the country, by the time their conference started, three months would have already passed...

It seems that we were able to organize this gathering precisely because everyone was already quite close to getting together!

"Little Wu, if I were to ask you to do something, would the other island lords and cave masters be willing to do their best?" Chu Luren asked kindly.

Terrified, Elder Wu immediately knelt down and said, "Don't worry, Your Majesty, we will go through fire and water and die without hesitation!"

“It’s not that serious. It’s probably just for show. But… you’ve seen my master’s situation. Do you think the brothers might have some… other thoughts?” Chu Luren asked further.

"No! Your Majesty, you are overthinking it. I was blinded by greed before. Otherwise, how could I have any disloyalty to Lingjiu Palace? Besides... I originally thought that something had happened to Granny Tong, but now it seems that Granny Tong's martial arts are about to improve! With Your Majesty here, Lingjiu Palace is extremely secure. I'm overjoyed to have found a powerful ally..."

Old Wu was so frightened that he started rambling incoherently. If Chu Luren had asked him this question alone, Old Wu might have been more inclined to guess that Chu Luren wanted to join forces with them to seize Lingjiu Palace.

But now...

With the four sword attendants standing nearby, how could Boss Wu dare to have any other thoughts?

Especially after realizing that it was too late to pretend to be loyal, Boss Wu quickly changed tactics and began to analyze his useless followers, saying that they couldn't make a fuss at all, indirectly proving that they were all the virtuous grandsons of Tong Lao and the filial sons of Chu Tai Sui.

That's not entirely unreasonable!

Even if Tong Lao was not present in the original work, if it weren't for a large number of Lingjiu Palace elites going down the mountain to find Tong Lao, even if the people of the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands joined forces and brought in external aid, they still wouldn't be able to defeat Piaomiao Peak.

Now there's another Chu Luren, and besides... Boss Wu also heard that Granny Tong's martial arts had only temporarily declined and she would recover in three months. Judging from her current appearance, she might even live longer than him.

Considering the "Life and Death Talisman," even if others knew the truth, they would know what choice to make!

not to mention……

"Oh? Then Xiao Wu, do you think they won't have any bad intentions?" Chu Luren asked, staring at him.

Upon hearing this, Elder Wu quickly changed his tune, saying, "I don't know what they will do, but I am absolutely loyal to Tai Sui and Lingjiu Palace. I will not say a word that I shouldn't say! If anyone dares to say a word that they shouldn't say in front of me, I will not miss a single word and will tell Tai Sui Chu everything in detail for his judgment!"

"Well, Xiao Wu, your loyalty has saved me a lot of trouble... Here's what you'll do: go and tell them to entrust the annual tribute to the disciples and send it to the palace. The other island lords, cave masters, and their disciples should all go to the Kunlun Mountain area."

You must have heard what's going to happen at Bright Peak next year, right? Don't get too close to avoid misunderstandings, but when I come to find you, be ready at any time! "Chu Luren instructed.

"Yes! Rest assured, Your Excellency, I will handle things clearly and thoroughly!" Old Wu was secretly relieved that he had managed to save his life despite all this.

"You can rest assured that since your master has ordered you to obey me, I will not be as domineering as he is. If there is an opportunity, I will ask him to remove the 'Life and Death Talisman' from your names," Chu Luren said solemnly.

It's unclear how much of it Old Wu actually believed, but on the surface he appeared overjoyed.

Chu Luren was indeed not lying to them. He had always believed that this "Life and Death Talisman" could only be used temporarily. In the vast world of martial arts, it would be cracked sooner or later. The more convenient it was before, the more ferocious the backlash would be.

Especially now that the gates of heaven are wide open, no one knows what the martial arts world will be like in the future.

Previously in Wudang, Chu Luren consulted Master Zhang about Xia Ke Island and also about the Knock on the Heavenly Gate, especially... whether a true warrior capable of defeating ten thousand men would be born after knocking on the Heavenly Gate!

As for the latter conclusion, even Master Zhang didn't know!

After all, knocking on the Heavenly Gate is not always the same – six hundred years ago, only four gates were actually opened.

However, when Chu Luren asked Master Zhang whether he could now move freely amidst a vast army, Master Zhang simply smiled and remained silent…

Although the Chu Lu people had no intention of becoming kings or conquering the Central Plains, they felt that the martial arts world might need a stronger alliance to maintain order.

After all, there are only two Heavenly Gates, and the martial arts prowess of the martial arts world has not yet caught up. If things continue to develop like this, the influence of the martial arts world will only grow.

If, like six hundred years ago, four or even five Heavenly Gates were to be opened, it might resemble the situation in the early days of the Stories of the Three Kingdoms – at that time, the real rulers of the mortal realm would be the various martial arts organizations and the leaders of the martial arts alliance.

Since I have such good interpersonal relationships, I can take this opportunity to do something that is beneficial to the stability of the martial arts world, such as forming a Righteous Alliance or a Heroic Alliance!

Chu Luren calculated that the leader and Yaoyue would probably come to support him, and if he could successfully rescue Bright Peak, the Ming Cult would probably join him. Also, Lingjiu Palace was one of their own.

Putting aside other things, with these four giants joining, plus the Thirty-Six Caves and Seventy-Two Islands, not to mention the Ming Cult, with its Dharma Kings and wandering monks, its influence spread throughout the world, and then there are Ren Yingying's Five Poisons Sect, the Heavenly River Gang, and so on, there are countless others, big and small...

Needless to say, the Ancient Tomb Sect is fine, and the Quanzhen Sect should also be no problem...

Wasn't the rudimentary form of the Righteous Alliance already there?

At that time, Ren Woxing won't have to go to the sect leader to be killed—with the alliance's configuration, giving you a protector is already a good fit, right?

Afterwards, Chu Luren could go and ask Master Zhang again to see if he would be willing to become the leader of the Righteous and Chivalrous Alliance!

……

Zhang Sanfeng, far away in Wudang Mountain, suddenly touched his nose—was someone talking about him?

Chapter 587 Twenty-six years old

"Master, tomorrow will be your 26th birthday. Are you nervous?" Chu Luren was in Lingjiu Palace, in the secluded chamber of Tonglao, keeping vigil with her until midnight.

Once midnight passes, it will be exactly twenty days since Tong Lao's power was dissipated. Tong Lao started practicing the "Eight Desolations and Six Harmonies, I Alone Am Supreme" skill at the age of six. After dissipating her power, she recovers a year's worth of power every day. Tomorrow she will be back to the age of twenty-six.

This year was a crucial turning point in Tong Lao's cultivation!

From the age of eight or nine, Tong Lao stopped growing up—she secretly practiced the "Eternal Youth and Longevity Technique" without any prior internal energy foundation, which caused her body to stop growing prematurely.

In this respect, Tong Lao's aptitude was something that even Xiaoyaozi was quite amazed by back then.

How could a six-year-old child be able to cultivate such profound martial arts on his own?

The Xiaoyao Sect is based on a master-disciple system. When Tong Lao secretly practiced her skills, Xiaoyaozi did not blame her too much. Instead, he explored ways to restore her health with her.

Originally, after cultivating for twenty years, when she was twenty-six, Tong Lao had the opportunity to restore her body. However, Li Qiushui deliberately interfered, causing her to suffer a qi deviation and miss the opportunity. She could only maintain the body of an eight or nine-year-old.

During these two weeks, Chu Luren and Tong Lao discussed martial arts every day. Apart from her daily practice and recovery, Tong Lao spent most of her time studying the "Eternal Youth and Longevity Technique" with Chu Luren...

In terms of martial arts prowess, Tong Lao is superior to Chu Luren. After all, Chu Luren can only fight Li Qiushui to a draw, while Li Qiushui usually avoids Tong Lao and dares not leave the Western Xia Palace.