From Under One Person: Sincere Journey Through the Heavens

The most outrageous version seems to be that Yan Chixia and Nie Xiaoqian are in love? And Nie Xiaoqian is a fox demon?

"That's right, it's the one from Strange Tales from a Chinese Studio."

Zhuge Yu said, "That is not a story, but a fact. It was told to me by a master from the Liuyun Sword Sect."

During the Southern Song Dynasty, one of the celestial meteorites belonging to the First Emperor, specifically a fragment of the ninth meteorite, ended up in the Jiangnan region. A monk obtained it and, fearing it might bring further disaster, built a temple to suppress it and prevent the meteorite from reappearing…

In the story of "Nie Xiaoqian," the perspective is focused on Ning Caichen—

The plot differs from that of the TV series "A Chinese Ghost Story".

The story of "Nie Xiaoqian" does not focus on the battle between Yan Chixia and the demons in the deserted temple. Instead, it focuses on Yu Ningcaichen's integrity and incorruptibility. He is not tempted by beauty or driven by money, so much so that the demons in the temple cannot do anything to him.

Nie Xiaoqian valued Nie Caichen's qualities, which is why she asked him to help her dig up the remains and bring them home. Yan Chixia gave Nie Caichen a sword pouch for self-defense, and they even captured a yaksha in the end.

After Nie Xiaoqian came to the Ning family, she initially served as Ning's mother's daughter. Later, after Ning Caichen's wife died, she married Ning Caichen. In the end, she had three sons with Ning Caichen and another concubine whom Ning Caichen later took.

But Zhuge Yu's account is from Yan Chixia's perspective—

After Yan Chixia gifted the sword pouch to Ning Caichen and escorted him away from Lanruo Temple, he returned to the temple and guarded the celestial meteorite to cultivate.

It turns out that the Heavenly Star could attract countless evil spirits. The temple was originally built on a natural treasure land in the mountains, but as more and more spirits accumulated in the Heavenly Star, it turned the place into a ghostly realm, where evil demons and monsters emerged, specifically to harm people.

Yan Chixia guarded the deserted temple not to subdue demons, but to hone his swordsmanship with that piece of ghostly energy.

Flowing Cloud Sword.

This method was created by observing the myriad changes in weather.

If Yan Chixia wants to make another breakthrough based on this, he needs to observe more complex changes—what is more than just weather changes?

human heart.

Spirits, having broken free from the constraints of the physical body, are driven by desires and obsessions, making them even more unpredictable. Especially after combining with the natural energy to form a ghost realm, the changes within it are countless.

Observing within the Ghost Realm was, in Yan Chixia's opinion, the best way to break free from the constraints of the Flowing Cloud Sword.

"But he overestimated himself."

Zhuge Yu sighed, "In the end, Yan Chixia was trapped in the Ghost Realm. He only managed to send out a letter home before losing all contact with the rest of the Liuyun Sword lineage."

And the ghost realm seemed to have vanished.

The head of the Liuyun Sword Sect in that generation asked many experts from major sects for help, but to no avail, until the Dragon Tiger Celestial Master revealed the truth.

It turned out that the ghostly realm was in harmony with the local energy, and when Lanruo Temple was built, the Shentu and Mihua families were invited to use their skills to paint images of heavenly kings on the temple walls. Perhaps influenced by the ghostly realm, the abilities of the Shentu and Mihua families were activated, and with the help of the energy, that area of ​​space was concealed, making it impossible to explore further.

"So, the demon realm has recently re-emerged?"

Lu Jin guessed, "That smiling tiger also discovered that the establishment of Lanruo Temple was related to a meteorite left behind by the First Emperor that could be used to refine elixirs of immortality?"

"That smiling tiger must have found out some information. If the Ghost Realm were to emerge, how could it be his turn? The Taoist and Buddhist sects would have already taken action to find a way to make it disappear from the world again."

Zhuge Yu sighed, "Immortality? It's nothing but a dream! Yet everyone is eager for it!"

How many beings in the world, especially those who control power and wealth, do not desire immortality in order to maintain their rule over the lower classes?

# Chapter 302 The Martial Arts Tournament Continues

"Brother Jiang, it seems we've all misjudged that smiling tiger's main objective—"

After bidding farewell to Zhuge Yu, Gao Huan, and others, Lu Jin complained, "That smiling tiger is really ambitious. He hasn't even conquered the entire land of China yet, and he's already thinking about immortality!"

They still yearn for the meteorite from the First Emperor's celestial asteroid!

Tsk tsk~

"Didn't you see that even Qin Shi Huang died?"

"Should we send Qian Dui and the others to call Zhao Qian back?" Hong Guniang then brought up the matter of Zhao Qian delivering a letter to Zhang Muzhi and Chen Yulou.

"Need not."

Jiang Liu shook his head. "Given their personalities, they don't like being passive. I imagine they'll take the initiative once they get a warning!"

Is the Smiling Tiger planning to take advantage of the martial arts tournament to attack warlords in other provinces?

better!

Through correspondence with Zhang Muzhi and Chen Yulou over the past year, Jiang Liu learned that they had already made contact with the Guo faction and Gong faction in Guangdong.

The Northern Expedition could have been launched much earlier!

The Smiling Tiger wanted to stabilize morale, gain the support of the supernatural sects, and coerce them into finding a piece left behind by the ninth celestial meteorite for him.

But with Jiang Liu's actions, the foundation of this smiling tiger is likely to be destroyed ahead of time!

"That's true."

Zhang Muzhi...

Hong Guniang doesn't understand.

But she knew Chen Yulou's character perfectly well.

Although he may become discouraged by setbacks, he is by no means the type to passively accept his fate. With just a little encouragement, he can quickly recover...

···

Two o'clock in the afternoon.

The knockout stage has officially begun.

The area outside the arena was still packed with people.

The first round is a selection of 21 out of 42, divided into 21 groups. Each group draws lots to choose their opponent.

Jiang Liu was matched with Zhang Zhiwei.

"Are you kidding me? We were matched in the first round?" Zhang Zhiwei held a piece of paper with the number "two" written on it.

"In a sense, this is actually a fairly fair draw."

Jiang Liu waved the piece of paper with the number "two" written on it, but his focus was on the word "fairness".

In the future, many large-scale boxing and Sanda competitions will be mixed with commercial elements. In order to ensure the entertainment value of the competition, that is, to put aside the possibility of match-fixing and only judge the real strength, the organizers will also manipulate the list of contestants behind the scenes in order to make the final match spectacular.

However, a truly fair draw might mean that the top three players could meet in the first round, or even in the qualifiers.

Given the current situation, Zhang Zhiwei and Jiang Liu met in the first round of the knockout stage. If Zhang Zhiwei loses and fails to advance to the top 21, can we say that his strength ranks 22nd among these 42 players?

impossible!

Apart from Jiang Liu, Zhang Zhiwei didn't take any of the forty-two people present seriously in terms of strength.

"If I were to organize a similar tournament in the future, I would definitely not allow such a strong opponent to encounter this situation in the first round," Zhang Zhiwei said confidently.

"Yes, I believe you."

How could Jiang Liu not believe it?

The list of contestants for the future Luo Tian Grand Ceremony will be arranged by Zhang Zhiwei, the top expert, along with the other ten elders.

They even secretly drugged Zhang Lingyu—

Is this how you act as a teacher?

"However, if you want to deliver a spectacular performance for the audience at the last moment, and don't want to run into me in the first round, that's easy too." Jiang Liu suddenly smiled, and while Zhang Zhiwei was still confused, he found Zhuge Yu not far away, discussed it with him, and switched their stage numbers.

"This works?"

Zhang Zhiwei stared wide-eyed, with an expression that said, "One is never too old to learn."

Jiang Liu pointed to the chameleon who was calling the person who drew number "one" to come on stage and said, "He is only responsible for letting us draw lots and recording the match schedule. The rules are incredibly simple, so we can naturally exchange the numbers we draw."

After Jiang Liu's reminder, apart from the two "Number One" personnel who had already taken the stage, the others also realized what was going on and began to exchange numbers in order to meet their opponents.

Since that chameleon poisoned them anyway, why should they give him face?

Changing my phone number is against the rules?

Are there any rules against changing your phone number?

No?

What kind of rules are those!

Just one word:

Change!

The chameleon noticed the forty people outside exchanging numbers, and his eyelids twitched, but considering their abilities, he dared not say anything and could only pretend not to see them.

Under these unconventional number exchanges, two days passed, the first and second rounds ended, and the eleven who advanced were Jiang Liu, Zhang Zhiwei, Lu Jin, Hong Guniang, Zhao Xinchuan, Li Muxuan, Si Chong, Gao Huan, Zhuge Yu, Zheng Zibu, and a master of the Flowing Cloud Sword: Zhang Dong.

The third round took place on the third day. Zhuge Yu was lucky enough to receive a bye. The remaining ten people competed to determine the five, who then joined Zhuge Yu, who also received a bye, in the fourth round to determine the top three.

With the arrival of the third day, the draw for the third round of matches has been finalized:

Jiang Liu versus Si Chong—Si Chong felt his cultivation was sufficient and wanted to spar with Jiang Liu in order to prove the third level of Reverse Life.

Zhang Zhiwei versus Li Muxuan.

Lu Jin versus Zheng Zibu.

Red Girl versus Gao Huan.

Zhao Xinchuan vs. Zhang Dong.

Zhang Zhiwei and Li Muxuan were the first to take the stage.

“Zhang Zhiwei from Longhu Mountain, I watched your previous matches. Apart from showcasing your Thunder Technique in the qualifiers, you relied on your formidable life-saving skills the rest of the time.”

Li Muxuan smiled knowingly, "Now I can experience it for myself."

Zhang Zhiwei: "..."

With a command from the chameleon.

Zhang Zhiwei had already darted out, and with a palm strike, golden light shot out on its own, as sharp as lightning, instantly striking Li Muxuan's chest.

Bang!

In the instant the air exploded, Li Muxuan was also sent flying backward!