Misty Rain of the Old Times

As Zhou An finished speaking, seven or eight innate masters, including Xuan Yang, the head of Tai Xuan Sect, Ye Ling, the owner of Maple Leaf Manor, and Zhang Aoxue, the head of Fei Yu Sect, appeared one after another.

They were originally disguised and inconspicuous in the crowd, but when they appeared, they removed their outer clothes and quickly changed their appearance to reveal their true faces.

These people are all big shots who can shake the martial arts world with a stomp of their feet. Seeing their appearance, the martial arts practitioners who came to participate in this martial arts conference were all shocked. This trip was worthwhile. They could see them and they could brag about it for a lifetime.

Xuan Yang, the head of the Tai Xuan Sect, was dressed in a purple Taoist robe, carrying a long sword and holding a whisk. He was accompanied by two Xiantian experts: Gui Yao, Xu Yun's senior sister, and Xuan Ming, another elder of the Tai Xuan Sect. If Xuan Qing were included, most of the Tai Xuan Sect's high-end combat force would be present. Of course, it was impossible for all of them to come out; someone had to guard the place. Naturally, the Grandmaster-level expert of the Tai Xuan Sect would not participate in such a small skirmish.

Stepping to Xuan Qing's side, Xuan Yang's gaze lingered on Lang Jingfeng for a moment before he looked around and said loudly, "Master Luo of the Chongyan Sect, Master Ji of the Yingsha Sect, this old Daoist has been waiting for you for a long time. Why hide yourselves and not show yourselves!"

Xuan Yang is, after all, the leader of the Tai Xuan Sect, the most righteous sect in the martial world. In this situation, Lang Jingfeng, a bandit leader, is not worthy of his attention. It's not a matter of cultivation level, but rather that their statuses are not equal.

Qin Yun came up behind Zhang Aoxue and called her "Shishu" as a greeting, as it was not appropriate to exchange too many pleasantries at the moment.

Zhang Aoxue, the leader of the Flying Feather Sect, wore a white dress with ink plum blossom embroidery on the hem. She was a mature and beautiful middle-aged woman with a full figure. Her hair was styled in a bun, indicating that she was already married. Although the age of a woman with high cultivation is always a mystery, the traces of time were faintly visible at the corners of her eyes, which made her look even more mature and charming.

She is beautiful, but she lives up to her name, with a cold and aloof expression and a silent gaze that carries a sense of detachment. If she is like this at home, her married life would probably be disharmonious, since no man likes to sleep with an iceberg.

Speaking of which, she was Gao Jingyu's teacher. However, many years ago, after Gao Jingyu married Prince Qing, the princess's status was special, so the teacher-student relationship was dissolved. After all, a teacher still has to bow to a student, and maintaining the teacher-student relationship would be chaotic. But the bond between them remained.

The owner of Maple Leaf Manor also stepped forward, dressed in a black and white long robe with maple leaf patterns. He was a truly handsome uncle with a refined face and a foot-long beard, giving people a sense of warmth and gentleness. Behind him was his most outstanding son, Ye Hong.

"Hahaha, you old fox, you've been hiding it well. Good, this makes it interesting, otherwise it would be too boring. My junior brother died tragically in the desert back then, and your Tai Xuan Sect was also involved. Today, let's settle this score and avenge my junior brother to comfort his spirit in heaven!"

A cold laugh rang out, the words revealing no murderous intent. The voice was like muffled thunder and raging fire, but no sonic attack was used. With Xuan Yang and the others around, such petty tricks were useless.

The one who spoke was Luo Yan, the current leader of the Chongyan Sect. However, in recent years, many people have gotten used to calling him Yama (the King of Hell), which makes people turn pale at the mention of his name, which shows his fearsome reputation.

He was also the senior brother of the previous leader Liu Zhenwei. The two were from the same school. When Liu Zhenwei died in the desert, he was in seclusion cultivating. Later, he took over the Chongyan Sect.

Only the two brothers themselves probably know who is stronger. Back then, Liu Zhenwei defied the world and died in the desert. It's hard to say that Luo Yan didn't push things along behind the scenes. After all, there can only be one leader. And do you expect people from the evil path to be benevolent and righteous?

As soon as he uttered the first word, his figure appeared in people's sight, accompanied by several guardian elders of the Chongyan Sect, all of whom were innate masters.

Luo Yan was a little over two meters tall, with a burly and imposing physique. He wore a fiery red robe and a cloak that resembled flames, and his red hair was styled in a slicked-back style, giving him an aura of raging fire.

He stood on the treetop as if his body were weightless, his gaze cold as if everyone else were dead, exuding an aura of dominance.

Liu Zhenwei clearly died at the hands of Yang Guo back then, well, that is, Chen Xuan. With Chen Xuan revealing what happened back then at Tai Xuan Sect, this is already common knowledge. However, Luo Yan is now blaming the people who were there at the time, making it sound high-sounding, but it is clearly bullying the weak and fearing the strong.

A cold smile flashed in Xuan Yang's eyes. He wouldn't say something like, "Why don't you go and take revenge on Young Master Chen?"—a statement that would only reveal his cowardice and shift the blame. Instead, he looked directly at the other man and calmly said, "Back then, Liu Zhenwei only had himself to blame. Now that you dare to come, I will rid the martial world of this scourge. After today, the martial world should be able to enjoy some peace."

"How dare you speak so arrogantly! Just as humans may have the desire to hunt tigers, tigers may also have the desire to devour human hearts. You have meticulously planned this grand scheme to lure us here. It is not certain who will leave alive!" A fleeting voice seemed to come from all directions, and it was even impossible to tell whether it was male or female.

Those who heard it were all terrified, as if a sharp dagger was about to slit their throats at any moment.

Apart from a very few individuals, no one present, including Xuan Yang, could discern where the sound was coming from. It seemed as if it were right next to their ears, truly ghostly and chilling.

The one who spoke was undoubtedly Ji Jue, the leader of the Shadow Assassin Sect. He was an assassin by nature, skilled in lying in wait, assassinating, and launching sneak attacks, making him difficult to guard against. As the saying goes, it is easy to dodge a spear in the open but hard to guard against an arrow in the dark. Such people are often the most dangerous.

Moreover, the Shadow Assassin Sect has a history of successfully assassinating grandmasters. Who wouldn't feel chilled by that?

"Sect Leader Ji is only good at hiding like a rat and launching sneak attacks. The moment you make your move will be your death day. It is said that no one has ever seen your true face. I will see what you have to hide. And your Shadow Assassin Sect's top assassins, I wonder how many of them came today. They will all be left here forever!" Zhang Aoxue said with a disdainful tone, her words carrying a hint of sarcasm.

Even so, she remained vigilant in the slightest. After all, anyone would be uneasy if they were being targeted by a terrifying assassin who appears and disappears without a trace. It was just that she couldn't show any fear in this situation.

"Sect Leader Zhang once amazed an era. Flowers always wither, but I imagine the blood that bloomed after your death must have been quite beautiful," Ji Jue's elusive voice rang out again.

These top figures in the martial arts world were talking, but no one mentioned Lang Jingfeng at all, which infuriated him. He was the one who arranged all of this, yet he was being made to look like a clown.

Taking advantage of the lull, he looked at Xuan Yang and the others with a suspicious gaze and said in a deep voice, "Didn't you go to Wanku Mountain? How come you suddenly appeared here?"

“Mr. Zhou said we’ve already lured you into a trap. In order to uphold justice, can’t we come back? It’ll only take a little longer,” Ye Ling said calmly to him.

In reality, they were quite conflicted. Who wouldn't want a piece of the pie in the cave world beneath Wanku Mountain? Unfortunately, it had already been taken over by the imperial court, and there was also the power struggle between various countries, which meant that they often had no choice but to cooperate, making them seem dispensable. So they took this opportunity to come here to change their mood. If they could get rid of the evil bandits, they would be able to vent their frustrations.

There's another point, which is the current situation at the foot of Wanku Mountain. It always feels like there's an invisible hand controlling things from behind, but I can't find any clues. I subconsciously want to get away from there, but I can't bear to leave such a magical world.

Now that everyone who was supposed to come has arrived, the forces of good and evil are almost evenly matched. The righteous side has more high-end combat power, but the evil side has more people. In this tense situation, neither side has made any rash moves. At this point, both sides have made their intentions clear, and they are definitely not going to let things end peacefully. They are bound to have a big fight. They just need a fuse. Once it is lit, it will be the most brutal battle in the martial arts world in nearly ten years.

Chen Xuan, who was watching from the attic, initially found it quite interesting, but as they kept talking nonsense without taking anything seriously, he gradually started to get bored.

Turning back to Zhang Yu, he said speechlessly, "Aren't people in the martial arts world supposed to be decisive, drawing their swords at the drop of a hat? But why are they all talking nonsense? They don't act like martial arts people at all. If they utter any foul language, they're just like shrewish women cursing in the street, all talk and no action."

Influenced by the atmosphere outside, Zhang Yu was also somewhat uneasy. After all, they were right there, and if a fight broke out, they would inevitably be caught in the crossfire. However, after hearing Chen Xuan's words, she became even more speechless and said, "That depends on the occasion, okay? This isn't just about one family or one person. A fight is inevitable, but it needs to be justified. Otherwise, whoever strikes first will not be able to bear the heavy consequences of casualties."

“Since ancient times, good and evil have not been opposed to each other. Just do it directly and that’s it. Why do you need to be righteous and just? It’s not like we’re in a courtroom where we have to reason with each other,” Chen Xuan said, laughing and crying at the same time.

Zhang Yu looked outside and said, "Young Master Chen, you don't understand. It's not easy to be the first to stick your neck out; otherwise, the psychological pressure afterward can drive you crazy, provided you can even survive."

She used to be a member of the martial arts world, and now, looking outside, she seemed to have an urge to get involved, since many people can only experience such a major event in their lifetime.

Having no interest in discussing these matters with her, Chen Xuan looked at Du Juan curiously and asked, "The leader of the Shadow Assassin Sect is called Ji Jue, right? I heard that no one has ever seen his true face, and no one knows whether he is male or female. Is he really that mysterious? Sister Juan, do you know anything about him?"

Du Juan had worked for the Shadow Assassin Sect for over twenty years, and by the time she left, she was almost a top assassin. She knew a lot about the Shadow Assassin Sect, which is why Chen Xuan asked such a question.

However, Du Juan shook her head and said, "Master, I don't know either. I have met the sect leader, Ji Jue, a few times before, but he never shows his true face. Even when he is face to face, he doesn't dare to look me in the eye, so I don't know anything about him." "Then, Sister Juan, do you think Ji Jue is male or female, old or young?" Chen Xuan asked with interest as he glanced at a corner of the room.

After a moment's thought, Du Juan said, "Based on my woman's intuition, she's probably a woman, and she must be quite old. After all, she's managed the Shadow Assassin Sect for so many years, such a large organization; she couldn't possibly manage it without a meticulous mind."

Nodding, Chen Xuan smiled and said, "I see..."

The little princess turned around and asked curiously, "Husband, have you already discovered that Ji Jue? Is he a man or a woman?"

She had no interest in guessing; she would just ask her husband directly if she had any questions.

Of course, he answered all his wife Chen Xuan's questions with a smile, saying directly, "Sister Juan guessed right, Ji Jue is a woman. It's hard to say her age, but she looks like a flat-chested little girl who hasn't grown up yet. Tsk, no wonder she never shows her true face. She has no intimidation at all. But such deception is really dangerous. Tsk, a legal loli, huh?"

"Really? Where is she? Point her out to me quickly. What does 'legal loli' mean? My husband is talking nonsense again," the little princess suddenly became interested.

Chen Xuan's gaze swept around, saying, "I can't point you to where she is because she never stays in one place for more than a breath. Even if I pointed her out, you wouldn't be able to keep up with her movements."

"Oh, is that so? Then why don't you bring her over so I can see her, my husband?" the little princess said excitedly.

Recently, Chen Xuan, both amused and exasperated, said, "Wife, stop messing around, they're just starting out with the group buy."

Listening to the couple's back-and-forth conversation almost made Zhang Yu feel depressed. The once mysterious and fearsome leader of the Shadow Assassin Sect had been exposed so easily, which was quite unsettling.

Zheng Wanxi smiled to herself, thinking to herself, "Your Highness, if you're so curious, you only need to say one word, and the other party will obediently appear before you."

Noticing that his father-in-law was yawning from boredom in the crowd, Chen Xuan yawned as well, as if he had caught the urge. It was really boring with so many people outside just talking and not doing anything.

Although he was always eager for a good show, Chen Xuan never intended to secretly fan the flames and break the deadlock. As long as he wasn't involved, he wouldn't get involved in the affairs of the martial world. Even if they fought to the death, he would just stand by and watch. He wouldn't actively interfere and cause endless bloodshed because of himself.

Normally, it's only a matter of time before they start fighting; it just depends on who makes the first move.

However, the spark that ignited the conflict was not ignited by the forces of good and evil themselves, but by an outsider.

Among the crowd, Zhang Ao, trembling with fear, had actually wet himself. He couldn't hold it in any longer and some of it leaked out, making his crotch soaking wet.

He originally just came to watch the excitement and witness the martial arts tournament, so he would have something to brag about later. Who knew he would encounter such a battle between good and evil? The atmosphere alone was so oppressive that he could hardly breathe. He knew that once the fight started, even a small fry would be enough to kill him ten times over.

Feeling like crying but having no tears, he just wanted to go home and get away from trouble. He wanted to stay as far away from such places as possible in the future, and that joining in such a commotion was just being a dog.

Now he realized that Zhang Yu was right not to give him an admission ticket, but it was too late to regret it.

Unable to bear the tense atmosphere any longer, feeling as if he were about to be scared to death, he gritted his teeth, mustered his courage, and raised his hand, saying, "Excuse me, everyone, I'm just a weak scholar passing by, with the title of Xiucai (a lower-level scholar). I originally just came to the island to enjoy the scenery, but I never expected to encounter this. I didn't mean to disturb you. Could you please let me leave first? I still need to go back and prepare for this year's imperial examination. Yes, I just came out to clear my head because I was getting a headache from studying at home."

In the end, he almost believed it himself. He thought to himself that he was, after all, a scholar with official rank. For the sake of the imperial court, he should have some consideration for leaving them. After all, if there were people in power, killing scholars would be tantamount to rebellion.

However, it would have been better if he hadn't spoken up. Once he did, people like him who had come to join in the fun all responded, wanting to stay away from trouble for all sorts of strange reasons.

"I'm just here to deliver food, it's none of my business, can you let me leave?"

"Heroes and valiant men, please have mercy! I am also a scholar, preparing to take this year's imperial examination. I'm sure I'll pass. Moreover, I have connections, and I'll rise through the ranks to become a high-ranking official. Just let me leave, and I'll turn a blind eye to whatever you do under my rule."

"My grandma is about to give birth and I need to go back to take care of her during her postpartum period. I haven't even seen my unborn uncle yet, so please let me go..."

Good heavens, the tense atmosphere was completely ruined by this, and it turned into a scene resembling a bustling market.

That old man who looks to be sixty years old, is your grandma really about to give birth?

Chen Xuan, who was bored in the attic, almost laughed out loud. Is it more interesting to not have to swing a knife to kill people?
Looking at Zhang Ao, who was clearly terrified and had wet himself, especially with his crotch soaked, Chen Xuan felt disgusted. However, he had his own reasons for being here, and he wouldn't have gotten involved if he hadn't asked Zhang Ao for an admission ticket. After all, they were acquaintances, so he decided to keep him safe.

But what about your integrity as a scholar? How shameful! In view of this, Chen Xuan has no intention of staying in that little courtyard any longer and will move out today.

Many people were scrambling to escape, but they were interrupted by a cold shout before they could even get started.

Then Lang Jingfeng raised his broadsword and said in a deep voice, "Things have come to this, what are you all waiting for? Kill them all, leave no one alive! From today onwards, the martial arts world of the South will be ours!"

“Since ancient times, evil has never prevailed over good. We must eradicate evil completely. There is no need to be merciful to these evil demons and heretics. Today is the day to act on behalf of Heaven. Everyone, there is no need to hold back,” Xuan Yang said in a deep voice, standing up and pointing directly at Luo Yan, the leader of the Chongyan Sect.

Old Deng, amidst the crowd, shoved the exercise ball Chen Xuan had given him into his arms, and immediately became as energetic as if he'd been injected with adrenaline, swinging a stick and shouting, "I'm going to hit ten of them!"

The people around him gave him a speechless look. What are you doing, a beggar trying to be a show-off? If you weren't one of them, they would have said a few words to you.

Grandpa Wang thought to himself, "Grandma, you'd better take it easy. You're already so old. Don't overwork your old bones. If anything goes wrong, your son-in-law is watching. He'll probably skin me alive."

Then he couldn't care less about anything else and quickly shielded the old man in front of him. He couldn't control the old man's playful nature, but as long as he was there, no one could harm a hair on the Emperor's head.

"You filthy beggar, I've had my eye on you for ages, die!"

Lang Jingfeng said coldly, and with a wave of his hand, he slashed at the old man from a distance. The blade emitted a sharp, dark blue light that stretched for dozens of feet across the sky. People desperately tried to avoid it, and those who couldn't dodge in time were instantly torn apart by the blade.

With that slash, a fierce battle ensued, affecting most of the martial arts world in Jing Kingdom and involving tens of thousands of participants!
Regardless of the outcome, this battle will surely shake the world.

After glancing at Lang Jingfeng, Chen Xuan thought to himself, "You dare to lay a hand on my father-in-law? I wonder if I should admire you..." (End of Chapter)