Gao Wu insists on cultivating immortality.

Chapter 195 The storm is rising
Qu Tianji was pried off the wall by the crowd. His body was exceptionally strong, and he was still able to stand steadily. However, his face was a little pale, and his martial arts uniform on his chest was imprinted with deep fist marks, making him look quite disheveled.

As the personal disciple of Fire King Qu Hanshan, Qu Tianji has been very high-profile in recent years. He is a well-known martial arts genius in Dongzhou and has a great reputation.

In this Qinglong Cup tournament, the entire Dongzhou region has high hopes for Qu Tianji.

The live stream of Qu Tianji's battle against Gao Wu on Dongzhou's network had a very high viewership, with approximately 70 to 80 million people watching the fight online.

As a result, everyone in Dongzhou saw Qu Tianji encased in a glass wall. Those watching the live stream couldn't help but curse.

"What a waste!"

"Trash..."

The higher the praise for Qu Tianji, the louder the condemnation. Qu Tianji's immense reputation, built up over many years, was almost completely destroyed in this battle.

That's just how emotional the audience is. They don't consider why Qu Tianji failed. If they're unhappy with what they watch, they'll criticize it; if they're happy with it, they'll praise it. Their emotions are just that simple and direct.

Of course, there was also a small group of die-hard fans who cursed Gao Wu, saying, "Everyone in Beizhou is an idiot..."

On the live streaming platform in Zhongzhou, someone made sweeping generalizations, which naturally triggered another wave of controversy.

Gao Wu's great victory gave Bei Zhou a lot of confidence to criticize him.

Actually, people who engage in flame wars are just venting their emotions; nobody wants to reason with anyone... The internet is for having fun, and nobody's going to tolerate anyone else's behavior...

On the stage, Gao Wu bowed to the audience in all directions. His sleeves and arms were charred black, and he looked a bit disheveled.

Fortunately, the victors are surrounded by an aura of glory, and everyone automatically overlooks these minor issues.

The audience applauded and cheered for Gao Wu.

The people of Zhongjing were naturally proud, and they looked down on Qu Tianji's arrogance. As for Gao Wu, they didn't really think much of him either.

However, Gao Wu defeated Yan Qiushui. Now, everyone in Zhongjing hopes Gao Wu can win the championship. The stronger Gao Wu is, the higher Yan Qiushui's level appears.

The people of Zhongjing understood this very well: to belittle the strong who defeated them was to belittle themselves.

To be fair, the battle between Gao Wu and Qu Tianji was also very intense and exciting. They deserved applause and cheers.

After Gao Wu left the arena, the staff carried out emergency repairs on the arena.

The standard glass walls were replaced, and the plastic-metal floor was repainted. Twenty minutes later, the arena was back to normal.

Chu Shenxiu stepped onto the stage and easily defeated a high-ranking warrior from Shanzhou.

Today's matches are over. The final match will be held tomorrow afternoon.

Back at the hotel, Dragon King Tian Wuji summoned Chu Shenxiu to his room.

As a top expert, Tian Wuji naturally stayed in the largest and most luxurious imperial suite, which had a dedicated tea room furnished with antiques of considerable age.

Tian Wuji loved brewing tea, a habit he had developed since childhood.

Chu Shenxiu always followed Tian Wuji, so he naturally knew his teacher's habits. He sat quietly across the tea table and watched his teacher brew tea.

"What's your opinion?" Tian Wuji asked casually.

Chu Shenxiu thought for a moment and said, "I heard that Gao Wu killed Shi Tieyu. At that time, he was not a Martial Master. Now that he has advanced to Martial Master, the power he can unleash must be even stronger. He poses a great threat to me."

He could tell that Gao Wu had fought Yan Qiushui and Qu Tianji today, but he hadn't used his full strength.

He wasn't really confident of winning tomorrow's decisive battle.

"What are your plans?" Tian Wuji asked again.

"Buy tens of millions of high-level martial arts equipment to hedge," Chu Shenxiu said seriously, taking a sip of tea.

Tian Wuji couldn't help but laugh. He knew that his disciple wasn't joking, but had come to this conclusion through calm calculation.

Buying high-level weapons for hedging means that even if you lose, you can still win some money.

He said, "Gao Wu's explosive power talent is very special. This year, he often killed stronger people who were above him, but his body was not affected, and his martial arts cultivation advanced by leaps and bounds."

"I can clearly feel the powerful and enduring vitality within Gao Wu's body. This shows that Gao Wu's physical talent is very special, and he is not afraid of extreme bursts. It is precisely because of this foundation that he is able to rapidly strengthen himself by injecting drugs."

Tian Wuji said, "Gao Wu comes from a humble background and is ruthless by nature. He will definitely fight to the death tomorrow. If he can unleash more than three times his original power, you must avoid his sharp edge."

"He's not afraid of getting hurt, and can even withstand serious injuries. You can't. Our bodies are very precious. If our foundation is damaged, it's almost impossible to advance to level seven."

Chu Shenxiu nodded: "Master, don't worry, I know what's important."

"Hai Gong might come tomorrow."

Tian Wuji: "Hai Gong acts as he pleases and is unconventional, so don't overthink it. Just focus on playing well in the game."

"Yes." Chu Shenxiu didn't care much about this. As Tian Wuji's personal disciple, he would never become Hai Wuji's disciple.

After Chu Shenxiu left the teahouse, Tian Wuji got up and went to the window to look at Zhongjing under the twilight. The lights in the streetlights, buildings and houses were all very soft. The exterior of the buildings did not have complicated lights or those psychedelic blue and red neon lights.

The twilight in Zhongjing is natural and serene, revealing a history spanning thousands of years.

Tian Wuji was used to the hustle and bustle of the city, and the sight of Zhongjing before him made him feel somewhat complicated. Zhongjing was, after all, not the lively and noisy Nandu.

He suddenly realized: "He doesn't belong here, and this place is not suitable for him."

Qi Tian, ​​Hai Wuji, and the group of powerful figures from Zhongjing were plotting something, and he was completely excluded. This made him feel very uncomfortable.

People like Qu Hanshan are all like that. Tianzhou has always closely followed Zhongzhou, so perhaps Lei Ming knows something.

To accomplish great things, you need two things: people and money.

Hai Wuji announced that he would use the Azure Dragon Cup to gather young geniuses from the alliance. Was he preparing a talent pool for future major events?
So, are these guys planning to target the conglomerates in Nanzhou and Dongzhou next?
No, this plan is too crude...

Tian Wuji thought for a long time but couldn't figure it out. His power was all in Nanzhou, and it was not his place to interfere in Zhongjing. He had never thought of interfering.

Dominating a region in Nanzhou is far more comfortable than staying in Zhongjing. However, Zhongjing is, after all, the central government. He's always the last to know about any major events…

That's the situation right now. Tian Wuji felt something was off, but he couldn't quite put his finger on what it was.

Are they guilty of doing business with the federal government in private? Moreover, this involves many conglomerates in Haizhou and Dongzhou.

Colluding with the evil cult, what does that matter?

Ultimately, it was all in preparation for welcoming the other world. This wasn't for himself, but to find a way out for billions of people! He had a clear conscience.

Although the other world is rapidly integrating into the real world, this process will take one or two decades, or perhaps even longer. Even if Hai Wuji and the others are anxious, they won't overturn the table and disrupt the alliance right now.

Tian Wuji suppressed his chaotic thoughts and let out a soft breath. There was no need to overthink it. Qi Tian had always been this arrogant and unruly; if he truly had a plan, he wouldn't be so haughty and rude…

He'll just stop coming to Zhongjing! At the Beizhou Building, Gao Wu was chatting with Xiao Song in his room while washing his hands at the sink.

The skin on the burned arms and fingers has returned to normal; all that's needed is to clean off the dead skin.

Song Mingyue stood at the door watching Gao Wu scrub off the dead skin, revealing the tender and smooth skin underneath. She couldn't resist touching it gently.

She knew, of course, that Gao Wu's regenerative abilities were extraordinary; he hadn't even been stabbed in the heart. However, the fact that his charred arm had healed so quickly, a process clearly visible, still surprised her.

"You like touching it... then touch it more..." Gao Wu finished removing the dead skin and chuckled as he reached out his hand to Song Mingyue.

Song Mingyue took a few steps back and sat on the sofa. When she saw Gao Wu still grinning and coming closer, she stretched out her leg to block him, but Gao Wu grabbed her little foot.

Song Mingyue's face immediately turned red. She dared not tease Gao Wu anymore and hurriedly pulled her foot back. She looked at Gao Wu with a reproachful look.

Gao Wu looked completely innocent: "Don't look at me like I'm a pervert. I was just joking with you."

He said in a serious tone, "Have you ever heard the saying 'Contentment brings happiness'? The ancients understood this principle long ago. If one understands the joy of contentment, one will be very happy. I am also learning from the sages of the past."

"You're talking nonsense again." Song Mingyue immediately realized something was wrong. She glanced at Gao Wu and sat cross-legged to avoid being attacked by him.

Gao Wu was rubbing his hands together, about to play games with Xiao Song for a while longer, when his phone rang. It was Lu Yuan calling, "Come to my room."

Gao Wu was a little surprised. Why did Lu Yuan want to see him so late at night? He glanced at Song Mingyue, who shook her head. After thinking for a moment, she said, "I'll go with you."

Even though the teacher didn't call her, she knew the teacher wouldn't say anything if she went.

After changing their clothes and tidying up briefly, the two quickly arrived at Lu Yuan's room.

Upon entering the living room, Gao Wu saw Li Wang Lei Ming sitting on the sofa. This king was at least two meters tall, bald, with a face full of scars, and dark skin. He exuded the aura of a gangster, making him stand out among the group of powerful figures.

In addition, Lei Ming is Wei Yue's teacher, so Gao Wu has a deep impression of him.

Lu Yuan said, "This is Mr. Lei from Tianzhou. You all know him, right?"

Gao Wu and Song Mingyue both bowed and greeted him. In front of a king, Lu Yuan had no weight, so the two juniors had to be even more respectful and polite.

Lei Ming waved his hand: "We don't like formalities, you two sit down."

He glanced at Gao Wu's smooth hands and his eyes lit up. He pondered for a moment and said, "Let me be frank, Gao Wu, I'm here to see you."

Gao Wu remained silent, somewhat curious as to why Lei Ming had sought him out. Could it be that Lei Ming had recognized him as a martial arts prodigy, one in a million, and wanted to take him as a disciple?
“You have excellent physical gifts, which are a good fit for my style.”

Lei Ming said solemnly, "I am willing to accept you as my personal disciple. If nothing unexpected happens, you will inherit the mantle of my sect."

Gao Wu was somewhat surprised; this older brother really wanted to take on a disciple!

Don't let Lei Ming's seemingly unrefined appearance fool you; he's a level seven king, the undisputed ruler of Tianzhou, and has close ties with Zhongjing.

In terms of status, position, and power, he is far superior to Song Xuetao, who is stationed in the Aurora Icefield.

Commanding a million-strong army may seem impressive, but in reality, the logistics are controlled by the alliance, and the officers are all trained by military academies. Although Song Xuetao is strong, the army is not his private property.

Gao Wu certainly understood the difference. Putting aside Lei Ming himself, the fact that the other party, a dignified king, took the initiative to come to him showed great sincerity.

The problem is that the Bull Demon King's Heaven-Turning Scripture is different from his own approach, so how can he inherit his mantle? The Dragon King might be a possibility.

More importantly, he has a very good chance of becoming a disciple of the Sword Saint. Choosing Lei Ming at this point would be extremely unwise.

Lei Ming understood this principle, which was why he rushed to see Gao Wu.

He stood up and said, "You don't need to answer right away. It's not too late to make a decision after the Azure Dragon Cup. My door will always be open to you."

"Thank you for your kind words, Mr. Lei. I am flattered. I will definitely consider it carefully." Gao Wu hurriedly stood up to be polite, but before he could finish speaking, Lei Ming waved his hand and left the room.

Lu Yuan and Gao Wu saw him off for a few steps and then saw Wei Yue and the others waiting at the elevator entrance. Wei Yue even managed a forced smile when he saw Gao Wu.

Gao Wu nodded in acknowledgment, and only after the elevator doors closed did he follow Lu Yuan back to the room.

"Master Lu, what does this mean?" Gao Wu was still a little confused.

"It's nothing. This person has taken a liking to your qualifications but was too embarrassed to compete with Hai Gong, so he came to say hello first."

Lu Yuan understood this very well. He said, "Hai Gong does things as he pleases, so he might not really accept you as his disciple."

"You don't want a genius like me who is both talented in literature and martial arts, and who is benevolent, righteous and brave?" Gao Wuzhen was a little confused. What criteria did this sword saint use to select students?

"Hai Gong's actions are unpredictable."

Lu Yuan shook his head; he didn't want to discuss this topic. He changed the subject, saying, "I have a vague feeling that the atmosphere in Zhongjing is a bit oppressive. You shouldn't go out anymore."

"If we don't hear from Hai Gong after the competition ends tomorrow, we'll leave Zhongjing as soon as possible."

Gao Wu nodded.

Lu Yuan asked, "Are you confident about tomorrow?"

"Five points, I'd say." Gao Wu didn't dare to boast. After all, Chu Shenxiu was a martial arts master, and his source energy level should be stronger than his. His physical advantages would be difficult to utilize in the face of powerful source energy.

Only by unleashing his full power can he have a chance to defeat Chu Shenxiu. Even if Chu Shenxiu possesses a secret technique for unleashing power, he probably wouldn't be willing to fight to the death with him.

Lu Yuan was also unaware of Chu Shenxiu's situation and had no good advice to offer, so he told Gao Wu to go back and rest and adjust.

Regardless of Hai Wuji's choice, winning the Azure Dragon Cup is still an extremely prestigious honor.

Winning the championship would be great news for both Kita State University and Ankyo University, and would be very encouraging and morale-boosting.

Back in the room, Gao Wu asked Song Mingyue, "How was it?"

“The bookmaker has adjusted the odds, so it looks like they won’t back out.” Song Mingyue glanced at her phone. “If you win, we can get 80 million according to the odds.”

"Making money through crooked means is still the fastest," Gao Wu sighed.

Song Mingyue shook her head slightly: "After all, it's an unorthodox path. The risks are high, but the rewards are naturally higher."

She said, "If you win the championship, the contract with Zhongzhou Longteng Company will take effect immediately, which is a lot of money."

"The champion also receives a prize of 50 million and ten top-grade Heavenly Dragon Potions. That's worth over 100 million."

The Azure Dragon Cup is a highly influential tournament within the alliance, and the participation of the Sword Saint this year has amplified its influence to the highest level. Winning this tournament will ensure the champion is remembered by all martial artists.

Gao Wu said nonchalantly, "I don't care about money. I just enjoy the thrill of sweeping away all the heroes under heaven!"

Song Mingyue couldn't help but chuckle...

(End of this chapter)