The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

"That's not what I meant! It's just that Master Yang's dying wish was to find the one who would receive the Sacred Flame Token..."

Yang Xiao was about to explain when Chu Luren interrupted, "If that's the case, there should be a set of rules. Otherwise, if you, Left Envoy Yang, also have to move, what will become of this leader?"

Zhuang Zheng then said, "That's right. Since we've accepted Miss Han Zhao as the acting leader, we naturally need to make things clear!"

"The Eagle Sect will stand with Bright Peak... But if Bright Peak becomes like it was before, I think it would be better to give Bright Peak to my Eagle Sect as its headquarters," Yin Tianzheng said deliberately.

“Alright! Then let’s agree on three rules: anyone who betrays this rule will be abandoned by the Holy Flame!” Yang Xiao stood up at this moment.

The members of the Ming Cult made a pact, one of which was that "whoever obtains the Sacred Flame Token will become the leader of the cult"—of course, this was limited to the Ming Cult; otherwise, if an outsider obtained it, it would not be considered that the Ming Cult had welcomed back the Sacred Flame Token.

Secondly, Han Zhao was appointed as the acting leader. Important matters of the sect were discussed and decided by the leaders after everyone had discussed them. Once the decision was made, everyone was to strictly follow the teachings. Anyone who disobeyed would be considered a traitor.

Thirdly, unless Han Zhao betrays the Ming Cult, or the Sacred Flame Token is taken back by someone else, the position of acting leader will be permanently established, and no one may usurp it.

In addition, after clarifying the boundaries of rights and responsibilities with Chu Luren, the Ming Cult officially joined the Righteous Alliance, with Xiao Zhao as the acting leader. However, after joining the alliance, Yang Xiao, Yin Tianzheng, Wei Yixiao, the Five Wanderers, the Five Elements Flag, and others still have the right to speak directly to the Righteous Alliance.

Xiao Zhao is not Zhang Wuji after all. Their identities and circumstances are different. Even when the Ming Cult was fighting with the major sects before, it was not on the verge of extinction. In their view, continuing the fight would only result in mutual destruction.

Furthermore, given Xiao Zhao's relationship with Chu Luren, Yang Xiao and the others couldn't completely trust her. Therefore, the fact that they had managed to achieve the current level, which could be considered as having reunited the Ming Cult and brought them into the Righteous Alliance, was enough to fulfill Chu Luren's goal.

As for what happens next, once the Sacred Flame Token is retrieved, Xiao Zhao's position as acting leader can be stripped of the "acting" title, making her more legitimate...

Chapter 652 The Plan

After Xiao Zhao became the acting leader, the Ming Cult immediately faced its first wave of divisions after its reunification – should the search for Xie Xun be the top priority, or should the resistance against the Mongols be the primary task?

Logically speaking, the Ruyang Prince's Mansion has already shown its true colors this time. The Ming Cult has two main concerns: firstly, it needs to face more overt suppression from the Mongol Yuan Dynasty, and secondly, it needs to re-establish contact with local righteous armies. These are the "most urgent tasks"!

However, now that Zhang Wuji has appeared, Xie Xun's whereabouts can be found. It wouldn't be right to leave Xie Xun unattended, especially since the leader of the Yang Sect's will specifically named Xie Xun as his successor.

Only by welcoming back the Lion King can the Ming Cult achieve true stability...

Rationally speaking, resisting the Mongol Yuan dynasty and contacting the rebel army were more important, but the Ming Cult was, after all, a Jianghu sect, and couldn't always be rational about everything.

Yang Xiao and the people of the Five Elements Banner prioritized resisting the Yuan Dynasty—the Lion King had been overseas for so many years, a few more years wouldn't make a difference!

However, Eagle King, Bat King, and two of the Five Wanderers, Shuobude and Zhou Dian, all hoped to welcome Xie Xun back first.

In the end, it was Xiao Zhao who made the final decision—demonstrating her role as "acting leader" right from the start—and then the Ming Cult headquarters was put in charge of contacting local rebel armies, restoring the Ming Cult's organizational capacity, and effectively resisting the foreseeable attacks from the Mongol Yuan dynasty.

The Ming Cult's desire to restore ties with the rebel army was not just empty talk.

People like Monk Peng and Zhou Dian were already connected to many rebel armies, and some were even leaders of certain rebel armies or chief strategists of several rebel armies...

The Five Elements Banner has always maintained a semi-military management system, and there are still tens of thousands of them in the Western Regions over the years.

The headquarters was just partially paralyzed before, so everyone was not in contact with each other!

In addition, there are many more rebel armies that operate under the banner of the Ming Cult but have never contacted the main headquarters. The ones we need to re-establish contact with are mainly these.

Chu Luren specifically asked the flag bearer of the Five Elements Flag if there was a flag bearer or altar master named Zhu Yuanzhang. He found that the anti-Mongol rebels had also been greatly weakened. Not to mention Zhu Yuanzhang, Chu Luren later asked Zhang Wuji and found that there were no Chang Yuchun or Xu Da. The few followers he knew before Butterfly Valley were just flag bearers of the Five Elements Flag whom Chu Luren had never heard of.

Among the rebels, there was one led by Han Lin'er, but... what good was it?

Chu Luren had originally hoped to unlock the easy mode, but it seems there's no room for laziness now. When it comes to rebellion, the Ming Cult's most professional members are the Five Wanderers, and when it comes to marching, the most professional are the Five Elements Flags. There are no other notable figures.

That makes sense when you think about it; after all, even the Mongol Yuan dynasty was reduced to this extent.

As for the Lion King, it's not that she won't accept him, but Xiao Zhao will personally go to pick him up, trying to avoid troubling everyone.

In this way, the important affairs of the Ming Cult will not be delayed, and the journey will be streamlined. It will also prevent people in the martial arts world from watching them to bring Xie Xun back, either because they want the Dragon-Slaying Saber or to seek revenge on Xie Xun.

Both sides were very satisfied with Xiao Zhao's decision, especially Yin Tianzheng and Wei Yixiao, who believed that Xiao Zhao was humble and of noble character.

After all, if contacting the rebel army were successful, it would mean that the Ming Cult's power would rapidly expand, transforming it from a "symbolic" entity back into its "main source of influence."

For the sake of the Ming Cult, the acting leader delegated power to everyone at this time and went to bring back the Lion King from overseas. What else could this be but a display of noble character and integrity?

This was actually something that Xiao Zhao and Chu Luren had already discussed beforehand...

Xiao Zhao had mentioned that her mother, Dai Qisi, had already received some information about Xie Xun's whereabouts.

Several years ago, Zhang Wuji was tricked into revealing some information about Icefire Island. However, the person who knew this had been living in the Western Regions for a long time and had never even seen the sea. They had no idea what was going on with the information they had given him.

Having lived overseas for a long time, Dai Qisi was able to guess the location of Icefire Island after pressing for answers.

If it weren't for the delay caused by all the major sects going to Bright Peak, Dai Qisi would probably have already found Xie Xun...

Needless to say, the Chu Lu people had their sights set on Dai Qisi—the Sacred Flame Token had now been taken back by the Persian Sacred Flame Cult, which had been relentlessly pursuing Dai Qisi.

As long as we hold onto Dai Qisi, we won't have to worry about not being able to catch the "rabbit" of the Persian Holy Fire Cult!

Uprisings and military campaigns are not the forte of the Chu Lu people. The key is to first take the Jianghu route and retrieve the Sacred Flame Token.

On the surface, Xiao Zhao went to inquire with Zhang Wuji about Xie Xun's whereabouts, but in reality, she had already made an appointment with Chu Luren to meet in Jiaxing in July!

Ice and Fire Island is located in the north. The island is covered with glaciers, but it also has an active volcano, hence its name.

However, Dai Qisi will later take Xie Xun to Ling Snake Island, which is where she and her husband live. It is located in the East China Sea and can be reached by sea from Jiaxing.

As for Zhang Wuji...

He had already told the Ming Cult about Icefire Island, but he hadn't revealed its exact location. Having learned his lesson, Zhang Wuji knew he had to go there in person to put his mind at ease, as it concerned his adoptive father.

On the surface, Xiao Zhao made a promise with him that after he visited Zhang Zhenren at Wudang, she would secretly arrange for someone to accompany him on a sea voyage to find the Lion King.

Chu Luren didn't remind him either—after all, Xie Xun's identity was sensitive, and if Zhang Wuji was nominally leading the way to Beihai to bring Xie Xun back, it would also lure away many demons and monsters.

When the time comes, Zhang Wuji will take some members of the Righteous Alliance to the North Sea, while Chu Luren and Xiao Zhao will secretly go to the East Sea. It will be wonderful.

Anyway, a letter will be left for Zhang Wuji on Icefire Island, so he doesn't need to worry too much. I believe he will understand that this was all designed for the safety of his godfather.

Chu Luren did not stay at Bright Peak for long afterward. After all, with so many members of the Righteous Alliance staying at Bright Peak, the Ming Cult members would have objections.

After the Ming Cult crisis was resolved, Chu Luren removed the "life and death talismans" from many of the island lords and cave masters who had made meritorious contributions, and dispersed most of the gathered members of the alliance so that everyone could go home—the martial arts alliance does not always have to stick together.

Chu Luren waited for half a month longer until the people from the Prince of Ruyang's mansion used "Black Jade Broken Heart Ointment" to exchange for Ah San.

After testing it on Ah Er and confirming that it was the real medicine, Chu Luren prepared to return to Leigu Mountain...

Shouldn't it be given to my master first?

Even if the meridians are not connected, you can still stand up and walk.

Otherwise, it seems a bit inappropriate to send it to Wudang first. What if someone thinks that Chu Luren is flattering Zhang Zhenren?

However, just as Chu Luren was about to set off, he encountered someone unexpected...

“Uncle-Master…would you like to deliver medicine to Master on my behalf? That’s not impossible…” Chu Luren did not refuse Li Qiushui’s sudden appearance and her request.

Judging from Li Qiushui's attitude towards Wang Yuyan, even if she didn't want to rekindle her relationship with Wuyazi, she certainly didn't want to kill him.

And Wang Yuyan will also go back with them...

As for how Li Qiushui will argue with Wuyazi about her sister-in-law, how Wuyazi views Li Qiushui's remarriage, whether Wuyazi is moved by Azi leading a group of righteous people from Xingxiu Sea to recognize their ancestors, and who will apply the Black Jade Broken Heart Ointment to Wuyazi...

What does this have to do with me, the sect leader? My master has his own blessings, and the sect leader of the Free and Unfettered Sect shouldn't interfere in his master's private affairs!

Since someone is returning to Leigu Mountain, I, the sect leader, will conveniently deliver medicine to Wudang Mountain along the way…

Dongdong: Although it's only two updates, there's a lot of information!

The main issue is that the Ming Cult part has been written for quite a while, so I'll fast forward a bit. Otherwise, stretching this chapter into three or four would be a bit redundant.

I also recommend a new book... I initially thought it was about popular idols and refused to recommend it at first, but after reading it, I found that it takes an anti-popularity approach, starting by angrily criticizing irrational fans, so I decided to recommend it.

(End of this chapter)

Chapter 653 The Petty-Minded King Yin

During their stay at Bright Peak, Chu Luren and Wei Yixiao discussed martial arts, mainly by giving Wei Yixiao multiple "physical examinations" to familiarize themselves with the "abnormalities" in his meridians.

In the end, Chu Luren lived up to expectations and designed a training plan for the Bat King that avoided the deformed meridians when practicing his internal energy. In this way, he could retain the super-fast lightness skill brought about by the deformed meridians, and prevent the cold and yin true energy from accumulating in the deformed areas.

Yang Xiao also wanted to learn about the "Great Shift of the Universe," but...

When Yang Xiao thought about how the sect leader always blushed and looked embarrassed when he mentioned Chu Luren's guidance, he suspected that it might not have been proper guidance. So... he never dared to mention it to Chu Luren!

After all, given Chu Luren's martial arts skills, his rapid mastery of the "Great Shift of the Universe" could be attributed to exceptional talent. Xiao Zhao's meager internal energy level, however, made normal cultivation difficult; how could she have grasped the first two levels so quickly? It certainly wasn't some ordinary "guidance"...

After Li Qiushui's visit, Wang Yuyan went back to Leigu Mountain with her, while Azi and Mu Wanqing led a group of righteous people from Xingxiu Sea to bring up the rear.

Xiao Zhao will stay at Bright Peak for the time being and make an appointment with Chu Luren to meet in Jiaxing in July;

Lianxing and Tongtong returned to Lingjiu Palace first to stay with Tongtong for a while to ensure that Li Qiushui would not suddenly return. Her good sister Liusheng Piaoxu was also taken along, but she did not know why "Sister Nongyue" wanted to return to Lingjiu Palace. Lianxing also made an appointment with Chu Luren to meet in Jiaxing in July.

If Li Qiushui doesn't come looking for trouble by then, she must have already met Wuyazi and been able to let go of some of her grudges with Tonglao—Tongtong doesn't want someone to "protect" her all the time.

Chu Luren originally wanted to take a rare opportunity to travel the world alone, as it had been a long time since he had done so.

While having a companion is nice, Chu Luren sometimes longs to recapture that carefree feeling, but...

Ultimately, it didn't work out!

The four sword attendants insisted on following Chu Luren. After being refused, they cried and begged, blaming themselves for being useless and only causing trouble for their lord.

With Lianxing and others also persuading him, saying that bringing plum blossoms, orchids, bamboo, and chrysanthemums would show the demeanor of an alliance leader, Chu Luren couldn't refuse and had no choice but to agree.

There are some advantages, though. This way, someone can help carry the salted fish, drunken crabs, and the suona (a traditional Chinese wind instrument).

Moreover, Chu Luren secretly felt that among all the companions he had traveled with, the Four Sword Attendants were truly the most considerate. After all, if it were anyone else, they wouldn't be there to take care of him!

In this way, Chu Luren could also indulge in wearing a feather cloak. When he was alone, Chu Luren was too lazy to change his clothes often, and he rarely even wore light-colored robes.

After mastering internal strength, unless you engage in fierce combat with someone, you will basically only get dust on your clothes, with very little metabolic waste remaining. A set of gray or brown clothes can last a long time.

Chu Luren planned to go to Wudang first, so he naturally had to return to the Song court first. Zhang Wuji also accompanied Chu Luren.

And the route from the Western Regions to Sichuan happened to be on the same route as Yin Yewang.

Yin Tianzheng and some of the core members of the Eagle Sect stayed at Bright Peak for the time being, while Yin Yewang, with his two sons, prepared to return to his old home in Sichuan.

Yin Yewang knew this road very well, so Chu Luren accompanied him.

Chu Luren had met Yin Yewang during the Emei treasure incident, and later, when they rushed to the aid of the Four Heroes of the South, Yin Yewang also appeared along with other heroes from Shu...

From the perspective of chivalry, Yin Yewang is not entirely unreasonable—the TV series always portrays him as a lecherous thief, and in both versions, he is shown to be attracted to Ji Xiaofu and even take action against her. However, in the original work and in the general reputation of the martial arts world, there are no rumors of Yin Yewang being a womanizer.

Despite his lustful nature, he still considered himself a romantic.

However, as a second-generation hero, Yin Yewang is indeed a prime example of a tiger father and a dog son. His fame relies entirely on publicity, and he is also very petty and narrow-minded. When Yin Susu was still alive, Yin Tianzheng always relied more on his younger daughter.

In the original work, Yin Yewang's image is indeed not good. First of all, Yin Li's background leads to the incident of Yin Yewang indulging his concubine and humiliating his wife. It can be seen that he is not only lustful, but also unable to manage his own family.