The Great Martial Arts World: Hot Topics and Great Heroes

This time, Zhou Zhiruo found Zhou Xiong and told him the secrets of the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber. She didn't go into details about how to open them, but told her uncle that if he obtained the Heaven Sword and Dragon Saber, he could not only get martial arts manuals, but also the military strategy of Li Jing, the God of War from the Tang Dynasty!

Martial arts manuals held little appeal for Zhou Xiong, but the latter held an irresistible attraction for them.

Zhou Xiong, who didn't really identify with the Ming Cult, agreed to Zhou Zhiruo's request and did indeed find an opportunity to steal the Dragon-Slaying Saber. Xiao Zhao and the three envoys didn't expect that these representatives of the rebel army would actually steal the Dragon-Slaying Saber, so they were caught off guard.

However, he has always been mindful of the safety of the manor itself, so Zhou Xiong has not yet found an opportunity to give the Dragon Slayer Saber to Zhou Zhiruo!

Zhou Xiong originally wanted to wait a day or two longer, since the Ming Cult wouldn't keep them around indefinitely. Moreover, given the current situation, Zhou Xiong was also betting that the Ming Cult wouldn't forcibly search them.

He felt even more at ease when he saw that the cult leader was carrying a knife case and had not made a fuss.

However, now...

Zhou Xiong arrived at the back room with a blank mind, restless as he carried the knife box!

If it's found, what will the other rebels think of me? The leader just said it's a symbol of "commanding the world," and I couldn't wait to steal it?

I'm afraid it's not just the Ming Cult that will take notice, but also all the other rebel armies!

……

The others went out with Xiao Zhao and met the people from the Snow Mountain Sect.

Although they had little to do with them and didn't strongly identify with the Ming Cult, they couldn't back down for the sake of face, and the Snow Mountain Sect was not only a martial arts sect but also a powerful force in the Western Regions. These righteous armies in the Guanzhong region would inevitably have to deal with them.

The reason they were willing to talk to the Ming Cult was not only because they had indeed raised the Ming Cult's banner when they started the uprising, and many of the grassroots rebels were followers of the Holy Fire, making it difficult to completely sever ties at this point, but also because they hoped that the Ming Cult, located at Bright Peak, could intercept the Mongol forces in the Western Regions...

Mr. Wade arrived in a menacing manner, looking like he was there to interrogate him.

However, after Xiao Zhao's clever rebuttal and questioning, the Snow Mountain Sect was relieved. Mr. Weide not only reconciled with the Ming Cult, but also agreed to discuss further alliances later.

Those who don't know might misunderstand and think Mr. Wade is putting on an act!

If they knew, they would be absolutely certain that Mr. Wade was acting...

After all, Bai Zizai is the grandson-in-law of the Snow Mountain Sect and a sworn brother of Chu Luren. He was also saved by Chu Luren and has now decided to join the Righteous Alliance, but he has not yet officially announced it to the world.

If Bai Zizai were to encounter Yang Xiao again, he might absolutely have to fight him to the death, but when it comes to Xiao Zhao…

Bai Zizai was only hired to act!

Of course, the fact that the Snow Mountain Sect would cooperate closely with the Ming Cult on the Western Regions issue was not just a performance.

What was originally tense and hostile turned into a pleasant conversation in no time.

Other representatives of the rebel army also experienced the influence of the Ming Cult and the Righteous Alliance.

What they didn't know was that after Xiao Zhao led everyone back to the manor and took back the sword box from Zhou Xiong, she smiled almost imperceptibly—the weight had changed!

As expected, Zhou Xiong eventually succumbed to the pressure and replaced the fake knife with the real one...

Although if Zhou Xiong had gritted his teeth and stopped, the leader might not have made a move, he didn't dare to gamble—what if it wasn't just a test, but that the Ming Cult already had evidence? Or what if the Ming Cult took a gamble?

Judging from the leader's attitude, he doesn't intend to pursue the matter further.

……

In the afternoon, Chu Luren received news that the Dragon Slayer Saber had been "returned".

"Wonderful, Rongrong! Zhou Xiong really did return the Dragon-Slaying Saber!" Chu Luren couldn't help but praise.

The brilliance lies in the fact that this "test" is an open scheme only for Zhou Xiong; no one else will notice anything. In fact, if it really wasn't Zhou Xiong's doing, he wouldn't even think that Xiao Zhao was testing him...

Huang Rong accepted Chu Luren's praise with a smile, not only enjoying it but also seemingly pleased.

"But Rongrong, how did you know it was Zhou Xiong who did it?" Chu Luren asked in confusion.

Huang Rong only looked at the basic information that Xiao Zhao sent her; there was nothing special about it.

“Longxi, surnamed Zhou,” Huang Rong said succinctly.

Chu Luren was still confused...

Huang Rong didn't remind her again, but simply said, "I've made an appointment with Headmaster Zhou to go out for a stroll. You can think about it first." With that, Huang Rong went out in a great mood.

For some reason, Chu Luren always had the feeling that she was going to go out and bully people...

"Rongrong and Zhiruo are very close?" Chu Luren looked at Mu Wanqing beside him with a puzzled expression.

Chu Luren was also puzzled. Mu Wanqing and the others were in the inn, but Rongrong didn't go to invite them. Instead, she specifically invited Zhou Zhiruo. But... if they were close, they wouldn't call her "Sect Leader Zhou," would they?

"Really? I think it's just so-so," Mu Wanqing said, wrinkling her nose.

“It’s more than just ordinary…” Azi muttered to herself.

This time, Chu Luren didn't say anything to A Zi, because... he thought so too!

Although Chu Luren wasn't particularly sensitive to this, he had vaguely sensed that Huang Rong and Zhou Zhiruo were somewhat at odds—perhaps Zhou Zhiruo was just as clash-minded as some intelligent people.

Chapter 944 Boarding the Ship

As December approaches, Xuwen City becomes increasingly lively.

Under the supervision of the Righteous Alliance, the city was in good order, and people from all walks of life were contributing their "taxes" in an orderly manner...

The righteous warriors of the Righteous Alliance were greatly pleased – this was much faster than looting!

Of course, this is also because the concentration of martial arts practitioners in Xuwen City is too high.

Moreover, the righteous alliance, with several hundred members in Xuwen, was operating under the banner of righteousness and was not afraid of other martial arts figures "rebelling".

If this were done in any other city, the cost-effectiveness wouldn't be so high.

After all, if more people stay behind, there will be more people sharing the money. And if there aren't enough "tax sources," it won't be able to support so many people. Conversely, if fewer people stay behind, let alone a disguised form of "taxation," a good beating is definitely in order...

We need to think more about how to do it!

Chu Luren's current concern is still about going to Xia Ke Island for some porridge.

On the first day of the twelfth lunar month, a group of martial arts practitioners arrived at the port where Xuwen sails out to sea.

The two envoys, one for rewarding good and the other for punishing evil, were already waiting there. A huge ship was also moored near the shore, waiting for everyone to board in small boats.

The ship was thirty or forty feet long and nearly twenty feet wide, with eight masts and twelve sails. Even at sea, it looked enormous.

Ordinary people in the martial arts world have never seen such a large sea vessel.

Moreover, on the deck, there were several "Junior Envoys of Rewards and Punishments" standing in the middle. Their clothes were in similar colors to those of the two Envoys of Rewards and Punishments, but they looked younger and their style was less flamboyant.

There were more than two hundred disciples from Xia Ke Island on the ship—more than half of Xia Ke Island's elite forces!

These disciples are all masters created by the two island masters of Longmu Island, using the Dao patterns of heaven and earth in the stone chamber to draw "external meridians".

Although they are not as good as Zhang San and Li Si, they are at least top-tier third-rate experts. On this ship alone, there are probably no fewer than ten first-rate experts!

In terms of the number of experts, it absolutely surpasses any martial arts sect. Among martial arts organizations, perhaps only the Dragon Guard Manor and the Righteous Alliance can rival it in terms of the number of experts...

The former, backed by the imperial court, recruited heroes from all over the world; the latter... had many members, including both good and bad, but they could still find the gold in the sand.

In terms of the proportion of experts, Xia Ke Dao is undoubtedly the best in the world, and its advantage is very obvious compared to the other two seemingly behemoth organizations.

The retainers of the Dragon Guard Manor are mostly guest advisors. Some are attracted by the court's preferential treatment, while others are wealthy enough to influence even the gods. They are not spies who risk their lives for the Iron-Blooded Marquis. If you really want them to do something, you have to make other conditions.

Just like the top detective Zhang Jinjiu, whenever the Marquis asked him to investigate a case, he would always reward him with fine wines.

Although the Righteous Alliance has many experts, especially a staggering number of peerless masters, it is ultimately a disorganized mess!

The upper echelons only join the alliance because they have a personal relationship with the Chu Lu people; the middle and lower echelons will scatter like birds and beasts when things go wrong.

Upon arriving at the port, Chu Luren bid a reluctant farewell to the righteous warriors of the Righteous Alliance, as well as Wang Yuyan, Huang Rong, and others.

Only Xiao Zhao isn't here...

Because the arrival of the Ming Cult was a secret, Xiao Zhao secretly met with Chu Luren last night to give him all sorts of instructions and advice. Chu Luren was very pleased with this, as it proved that Xiao Zhao was capable in everything she did and did not have the common problem of not keeping secrets when planning things, which is common among people in the martial arts world.

The only slightly capricious thing was that Xiao Zhao entrusted the Dragon-Slaying Saber to Chu Luren for safekeeping...

In Xiao Zhao's words, this was to encourage Chu Luren to return safely. She had also told Chu Luren that she was using the Dragon-Slaying Saber as a token of "commanding the world" within the righteous army.

Although Chu Luren appointed Xiao Zhao as the leader in order to quell the Persian Ming Cult incident and resolve the internal grievances within the Ming Cult, for Xiao Zhao, becoming the leader was half to save her mother and half to keep her promise to Chu Luren!

Now that Dai Qisi is out of danger, Xiao Zhao is naturally more concerned about the latter.

Whether it's one or two years, or ten or twenty years, Xiao Zhao will keep waiting. Even if Chu Luren never returns, and someone else returns to Shenzhou with the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the promise between Xiao Zhao and Chu Luren, Xiao Zhao will still keep her promise and even ensure that her successors do not forget their commitment to Chu Luren.

This newly established flag is very much like the foreshadowing in a novel where, decades later, a young man wielding a dragon-slaying sword returns to the Central Plains as the protagonist...

"Thank you all for keeping your promise and for not leaving us brothers waiting in vain. Please, everyone, board the ship!" The Good Samaritan came out with a smile and exchanged a few polite words.

"Get on the ship immediately!" the magistrate said succinctly.

As they got closer, many people were apprehensive. But at this point, not to mention the large number of experts from Xia Ke Island who had come, the loss of face they would have to give up if they fled now was something they were unwilling to give up.

Chu Luren was the first to step forward and said, "Haha, I've long wanted to pay my respects to the two island lords. I'll go ahead first."

As Chu Luren spoke, he leaped out and arrived on the ship in the blink of an eye—even the Xia Ke Island disciples standing on the deck didn't have time to react!

As for the Righteous Alliance, Chu Luren had already given instructions...

Certainly some of these sects joined the Righteous Alliance to "avoid disaster." It's estimated that after Chu Luren leaves and the calamity of Xia Ke Island passes, they will be able to take the opportunity to purify and reorganize the alliance.

"Second Brother! Wait for me!" Dog Bastard ran across the water.

His steps were very "solid," as if he were truly stepping on the ground. If it weren't for the rolling waves in the distance, one might have thought there was only a thin layer of seawater here.

It may not look light, but this lightness skill is truly "solid"!

Inspired by Chu Luren's unseen influence, many experts used their lightness skills to fly onto the large ship.

Even though Lin Pingzhi was slightly weaker, he could only skim the water a few more times on the surface of the sea. In terms of speed, he was already superior to most of the "guests".

Seeing this, Shang Shanshi smiled and said, "Good, good, this year is much more efficient than before."

"Save your energy." The Executioner still had a sour face.

As for the gazes directed at them, whether filled with resentment or other meanings, the two envoys of reward and punishment paid no heed.

revenge?

The most difficult to deal with is undoubtedly the Righteous Alliance—if Chu Luren doesn't return for a long time, a crazy old woman might really come knocking on the door...

However, the two envoys who reward good and punish evil were not worried!

Because Xia Ke Island is not a place of killing, if they leave, it means they are captivated by the Dao patterns of heaven and earth and no longer care about Xia Ke Island. Xia Ke Island has never tried to stop them from leaving. In fact, if Yao Yue and Dongfang Bubai come and participate in the comprehension of the Dao patterns of heaven and earth, the two island masters, Long and Mu, will be even happier.

……