The world of martial arts, the immortal swordsman in the mortal realm.

Chapter 128-143, Arrival! The World of Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty! [Seeking monthly votes!]

This is a bustling metropolis.

The streets are wide and bustling with people, with buildings and shops standing side by side, and street vendors calling out their wares incessantly.

In a three-story restaurant, Lu Chen stood at the window facing the street, holding a wine glass. He looked at the bustling street with its constant flow of traffic and people, sipping his wine while listening intently to the conversation of a few people in a private room downstairs.

"The Baling Gang's fleet has entered the city. I wonder how many beauties those scoundrels have sent to the tyrant this time."

"Hmph, that tyrant Yang Guang built so many palaces along the Grand Canal, each with beauties in it. I wonder how many beauties he kept. And he was still not satisfied, constantly searching for beauties from the common people! Damn it, was that tyrant all-powerful?"

"Ha, even if a tyrant is full of dicks and has thousands or tens of thousands of beauties, he still can't sleep with them all!"

"It's a good thing that the tyrannical ruler has gathered all the beauties in the land. When we conquer Jiangdu, every one of us Chu army brothers will get a share!"

"That's right, let's divide up the tyrant's house, silver, wife... and even his empress, who is said to be a beauty of unparalleled beauty!"

"What are you thinking? How could we possibly understand the empress of a tyrant? She should be offered to the king."

"That's right, a king and a queen, hehe..."

"Speaking of which, things seem a bit unsettled in Jiangdu lately, like something bad is about to happen."

"You don't need to feel it; the news has already spread throughout the streets and alleys that Yuwen Huaji is about to rebel!"

"No way? Last night at Linjiang Palace, there was a feast that lasted all night long. If the rumors of Yuwen Huaji's rebellion are spreading throughout the streets and alleys, how could the tyrant not know?"

"I've long heard that the tyrant only listens to good news and not bad news. He'll kill anyone who brings him bad news. So the people of Jiangdu know that Yuwen Huaji is going to rebel, all the civil and military officials know, the brave soldiers know, the beauties and eunuchs in the harem know, but the tyrant doesn't know."

"Perhaps he knows, but refuses to believe it? Or perhaps, even if he does believe it, he pretends not to, just getting through each day as it comes?"

"Who knows... On the other hand, if I were Yang Guang, and I could enjoy myself like this for more than ten years, even dying with a night of feasting and revelry, then my death would be worthwhile!"

"That's right, more than ten years of good times..."

"A good day? How can that be a good day? That's clearly a god's day!"

"On the other hand, with Yuwen Huaji's rebellion, Jiangdu will inevitably be thrown into chaos, and our king's opportunity will come."

The group discussed the emperor without restraint for a while, and then talked about some recent major events.

For example, Du Fuwei once again defeated the Sui army, occupied important towns such as Gaoyou and Liyang, and proclaimed himself the General Manager of Liyang, appointing Fu Gong Tu as his Chief Secretary.

For example, their "King of Chu," Li Zitong, is hoarding troops in Hailing, recruiting soldiers and horses, eyeing Jiangdu with hostility, and is ready to launch an attack at any time. There are far more than just them among the spies in Jiangdu.

For example, Li Mi killed Zhai Rang, seized power in Wagang, and issued the "Pushan Duke's Decree," offering large sums of money and power to apprehend Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling...

Well, when Lu Chen heard that the "Baling Gang" was searching for beauties for Yang Guang, he had a pretty good idea of ​​which world this was.

Now that they've heard of Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, it goes without saying.

"The world of Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty..."

Lu Chen pondered in his heart:

"The energy level of this world is exceptionally high..."

The era of the two dragons roaming the martial world may not be anything special, after all, no masters of the "shattering the void" level appeared in this era.

Even the three grandmasters, Heavenly Blade Song Que, and Evil King Shi Zhixuan, are still quite far from breaking through the void, but the energy level of the world itself is extremely high.

This is also reflected in the fact that even without experts who are close to breaking through the void, the martial artists in this world all have amazing performance abilities.

Blade and sword energy filled the sky; even a minor character could unleash a ranged attack.

When Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were still novice martial arts learners, even when they were falling from the sky and had nowhere to put their weight on, they could use the "Bird Crossing Technique" taught by Yun Yuzhen to rise into the air and change direction.

When fishing, one can even transmit true energy through the water surface to shatter the fish's internal organs.

Even someone as second- or third-rate as Yun Yuzhen could hear people whispering from twenty feet away.

A master of Du Fuwei's caliber could withstand the swords and blades of ordinary martial artists without flinching, while those who attacked him would be severely injured and cough up blood due to the shockwave from his protective inner energy. He could even withstand the sharpness of ordinary swords and blades with his bare hands.

Yuwen Huaji's casual, long-range punches, even in the sweltering summer heat, could instantly cool an entire room, turning it as cold as an icebox. When chasing Fu Junzhuo, he could cross a great river using only a withered branch.

Such a skill as "crossing the river on a single reed" is a miracle that only a grandmaster like Bodhidharma could accomplish in the world of low-level martial arts.

Even the Great Wheel King, after being tricked by Azhu and Abi, was unable to chase after Duan Yu, who had been taken away by Azhu and Abi in a boat, because he had no boat. He could only frantically dismantle wooden stakes and throw and smash wall panels.

If it were Yuwen Huaji, he could simply break off a dead branch or dismantle a plank and float after them.

Based on this level of skill, Yuwen Huaji was only the second-best fighter in the Yuwen Clan, and he wouldn't even rank among the top fighters in the entire world.

Even Fu Junzhuo, who was killed by Yuwen Huaji, was able to use her movement techniques to the extreme during the final battle with Yuwen Huaji, so fast that it seemed as if she was being attacked from all directions at the same time.

The powerful gusts of wind emanating from their duel, even from a distance of seven or eight zhang, could cause Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, who at the time did not yet possess protective true qi, to experience skin cracking, tears streaming down their faces, and blindness—the maximum distance for a ranged attack in the world of Tianlong was only five zhang.

Qu Ao, known as "Flying Eagle" for his lightness skills, can leap across ten zhang with a single bound, and that's not even his limit. After leaping ten zhang, he can float in the air and strike down from above!

The Heavenly Demon Force Field of Zhu Yuyan and her disciples was also extremely strange and magical.

This is only in terms of martial arts skills.

The masters in the Twin Dragons world also possess the ability to sense qi and even spiritual perception.

Not only are they difficult to ambush, but under the influence of their qi, their ability to adapt to changing situations in battle is also astonishing, making it difficult for them to show any weaknesses.

"The intensity is a bit high! But this world also has many advantages. Not only does it have cultivation treasures such as the He Shi Bi and the Evil Emperor's Relic, but it also has all kinds of extraordinary skills. The cultivation environment alone is far superior to that of the Tianlong World."

The world of Twin Dragons is not a martial arts world for old-timers who rely solely on years of experience.

Even without extraordinary opportunities or rare and precious resources, young people can rise rapidly through their talent and ability.

People like Yang Xuyan, Wanwan, and Shi Feixuan were able to become grandmasters at a young age thanks to their talent and skills.

Of course, it's also more dangerous than the world of Tianlong.

At the end of the Sui Dynasty, the country was in chaos, with warlords fighting each other and few places in the world at peace.

And so many righteous and demonic masters, each with their own schemes, are stirring up trouble...

Lu Chen pondered in his heart:

"I need to find a well-known expert to test my skills and assess my strength level."

If you arrive early, you might be able to spar with Shi Long, the top martial arts master in Yangzhou.

Unfortunately, he arrived too late.

Now Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling have already gained some fame. It is said in the martial arts world that they have mastered the "Longevity Technique" and obtained the secret of Yang Gong's treasure trove. They have also been wanted by Li Mi with the "Pushan Duke's Order". By now, Shi Long is naturally long gone.

The most famous masters in Jiangdu right now are Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji from the Yuwen clan.

However, they held high positions of power, were surrounded by large armies and numerous experts, and were also plotting a rebellion. It was clear that Lu Chen would not seek to spar with them.

"Yuwen Huaji could stage a coup at any time, and Jiangdu could descend into chaos at any moment."

Lu Chen tapped the windowsill lightly with his finger, pondering for a moment:
"Jiangdu City is so large. With my martial arts skills, even if a mutiny occurs, I should be able to protect myself. I'll stay in Jiangdu for now and see if I can run into a lone expert..."

Lu Chen was deceived by the prosperity of Jiangdu.

He thought that although Yuwen Huaji was preparing for a coup, it would be at least a while before he launched it.

Unexpectedly, that very night, Yuwen Huaji launched a coup and murdered the emperor! The rebel army then entered the city, plunging Jiangdu into chaos!
……

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling fought their way out of the Jiangdu Palace with great difficulty. Both of them were in a sorry state, covered in blood, and seriously injured.

Although their plan to use the incompetent emperor to overthrow Yuwen Huaji had failed, the two had once again escaped Yuwen Huaji's pursuit and survived. Seeing that there were no pursuers behind them, the two looked at each other and couldn't help but burst into laughter.

After laughing for a while, Kou Zhong said:
"Why can we still be so happy when we've suffered such a crushing defeat and are now facing an uncertain future?"

Xu Ziling smiled and said:
"It's simple. Because we're young, we have plenty of time. As long as we're not dead, we can settle all the old scores with Yuwen Huagu sooner or later!"

Kou Zhong nodded, about to speak, when suddenly his expression sharpened, and he looked at the dark alley ahead:
"who?"

Xu Ziling's expression also turned serious as he looked towards the alley entrance and gripped the long sword he had seized from the rebels.

Their eyes met and their minds made a decision.

From the darkness at the alley entrance, a tall and imposing figure dressed in a black robe slowly emerged.

There were no stars or moon tonight, and it was the dead of night. Only the distant flames of burning buildings cast a faint light from afar.

Even with only a faint light, when Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling focused their energy in their eyes, the world before them instantly became bright. They could see things as clearly as in daylight, and even details such as dust on the ground could be seen clearly.

This is the magic of the Longevity Formula.

The true energy cultivated through the Longevity Technique allows them to possess superhuman senses, and even extremely keen spiritual perception, even when their martial arts skills are still weak.

Of course, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling are no longer the useless kids they were when they first started learning martial arts.

They had just exchanged blows with Yuwen Zhiji of the Yuwen Clan in Jiangdu Palace and escaped from Yuwen Huaji's pursuit. Although they were seriously injured, they at least managed to save their lives.

Yuwen Huaji and Yuwen Zhiji were both renowned masters.

Yuwen Huaji, in particular, was the second-best martial artist in the Yuwen Clan, one of the four great clans. His martial arts skills were second only to the clan leader, Yuwen Shang. His "Ice Profound Force" was incredibly fierce. Even Shi Long, the number one martial artist in Yangzhou who had been famous for decades, and Fu Junzhuo, the first disciple of "Master Yi Sword" Fu Cailin, both died at Yuwen Huaji's hands.

The fact that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were able to escape from these two men, especially Yuwen Huaji's men, while taking advantage of the chaotic fighting and the disorderly situation, is enough to prove that Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling's martial arts skills have reached a considerable level.

now.

Kou and Xu stared intently and saw the tall figure emerging from the darkness. He looked to be only a few years older than them, around twenty years old, and his demeanor was calm and relaxed, appearing harmless.

However, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling dared not be careless in the slightest.

Their senses were extraordinary. As soon as they saw the black-robed youth, they felt that his entire body was covered with sword energy, as if he could completely engulf them with a wave of his hand.

This feeling even caused a faint stinging sensation between their brows.

Of course, this kind of "danger" perceived by the spirit is essentially the same as when an ordinary person sees a tiger. Even if the tiger has no intention of harming anyone, a person will instinctively tremble.

This doesn't mean the black-robed youth was hostile towards them; it's just that his very presence posed a threat to Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, who were currently seriously injured and in poor condition, which is why they felt threatened.

However, on the surface, the young man in black robes did not show any hostility.

So Kou Zhong softened his expression and said with a smile:
"Brother, what is your honorable name, and what brings you to us?"

Looking at Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling, who were covered in blood, disheveled, and in a somewhat disheveled state, Lu Chen was amazed by their keen senses.

He had been standing silently in the shadows of the alley, about seven or eight zhang away from them, and had concealed his presence. With his current skill, even Huang Yaoshi and Tong Lao might not have been able to detect his existence. But unexpectedly, these two discovered him in the blink of an eye.

No wonder even the "Shadow Assassin" Yang Xuyan couldn't ambush and assassinate them, and could only launch a direct attack.

Thinking this to himself, Lu Chen looked at Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling and asked:
"You two are the Twin Dragons of Yangzhou, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling?"

Huh? Has our name "Yangzhou Shuanglong" become so widely known? Even a complete stranger knows about it?
Kou Zhong's spirits lifted, and he said proudly:

“That’s right, we are the Twin Dragons of Yangzhou! I am Kou Zhong, and he is Xu Ziling!”

Lu Chen nodded and said:

"My name is Lu Chen. I was just passing by and happened to bump into you."

"So Brother Lu was just passing by..."

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a glance and breathed a sigh of relief.

But then Lu Chen said:
"However, it is fate that we have met. I have a few questions I would like to ask you both."

Kou and Xu exchanged a glance, their hearts sinking inwardly. Those who sought their advice were usually asking questions they couldn't answer, such as, "Where is Yang Gong's Treasure Vault?" or "How is the Longevity Manual practiced?"

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling exchanged a few glances, already prepared to make a run for it if things went wrong.

However, he said verbally:
"Brother Lu, please ask away. Xiao Ling and I will answer to the best of our knowledge!"

"So good."

Lu Chen nodded slightly and said calmly:

"In your opinion, between me and Yuwen Huaji, who is in greater danger?"

Upon hearing this strange question, Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling were slightly taken aback.

Kou Zhong pondered for a moment and said:

"When Xiaoling and I were not yet injured, we saw Yuwen Huaji, just as we are seeing Brother Lu now."

Xu Ziling added:

“Just now in Jiangdu Palace, I exchanged a few blows with Yuwen Zhiji and was seriously injured, but Yuwen Zhiji should also have suffered internal injuries. However, upon seeing Yuwen Huaji, Xiao Zhong and I dared not fight him at all and could only flee in a sorry state. Brother Lu gives me the feeling that he is much more dangerous than Yuwen Zhiji, but not as dangerous as Yuwen Huaji…”

Lu Chen seemed to be deep in thought.

Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling possessed exceptionally keen senses, with an astonishing perception of danger. Since they sensed that he was slightly less dangerous than Yuwen Huaji, it meant that his martial arts skills were also slightly inferior to Yuwen Huaji's.

Of course, this doesn't mean that if he fought desperately, he couldn't defeat Yuwen Huaji.

After all, he has three ultimate sword moves, and the sword body has been "refined" to be very durable. He also has super recovery ability, so he can choose aggressive tactics such as sacrificing blood to exchange for damage.

However, in terms of sensing energy, he was inferior to Yuwen Huaji. He might not be able to hit with "Sword One," so he could only use the ranged attacks of Sword Two and Sword Three, but even then, he couldn't guarantee that Yuwen Huaji wouldn't sense the danger in time.

and so……

My biggest weakness right now is still in spiritual cultivation.

I need to hurry up and practice "Sword Four: Heart Sword".

With this in mind, Lu Chen asked again:

"When would be a convenient time for you two? I would like to have a friendly spar with you and experience the prowess of the Yangzhou Twin Dragons."

Although the current Yangzhou Shuanglong are not daring to fight Yuwen Huaji, they are still considered minor experts.

In particular, their ability to sense energy and perceive spiritual energy is astonishing, and their ability to adapt to changing situations in battle is incredibly strong.

Fighting against them not only allows you to try and explore the wonders of the Longevity Technique, but also lets you learn how masters who are proficient in sensing Qi fight.

In addition, the longevity techniques cultivated by Kou Zhong and Xu Ziling are exactly yin and yang, which may be helpful for Lu Chen's understanding of the yin and yang principles of the "Sword Two Imprint".

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(End of this chapter)