I can only beat noobs.

Chapter 126 Lion versus Rabbit
"It's just a small thing."

Chen Ming didn't take it to heart; there are all sorts of birds in a big forest.

There are kind-hearted people like Zhou Weihao in this world who care deeply about their friends' affairs. There are also those like Li Qingchang who are clueless and become incredibly arrogant after achieving some success, wanting the whole world to know.

He wouldn't even bother slapping that kind of person in the face.

Chen Ming changed the subject, "Brother Feng, you come from a family with a long history of scholarship, are you familiar with the Heavenly Dao Alliance?"

He had just asked Gu Yuantao, but Gu Yuantao didn't know much either; it was all common information that he had heard before.

Feng Siyuan clapped his hands and said, "You've come to the right person. For a while now, there have been rumors that the Heavenly Dao Alliance would send disciples to deal with the evil people of the Longevity Sect. I specifically asked someone to inquire about it, but unfortunately, the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance have not shown up. I haven't been able to make any connections with them."

His tone was quite regretful.

Chen Ming thought to himself, "Actually, not only did the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance come, but you've also met them before."

"Although the Heavenly Dao Alliance is the head of the nine major sects and is renowned throughout the world, most of the rumors about it are just hearsay. Have you ever heard of any deeds of Heavenly Dao Alliance disciples in Jiangzhou?"

Of the few people in the courtyard, only Gu Yuantao remained, lost in thought. Chen Ming and Zhang Mingyu listened intently, pretending to recall something, then both shook their heads.

They couldn't recall any such concrete rumor.

Feng Siyuan lowered his voice and said, "It is said that this is because the Heavenly Dao Alliance acts too domineeringly and has made too many enemies. So, starting three hundred years ago, whenever a disciple of the Heavenly Dao Alliance went out to train, they would be ambushed and killed by mysterious people. Even if the strong members of the Heavenly Dao Alliance retaliated afterward, they could not deter those people."

"This ambush targeting Heavenly Dao Alliance disciples has continued for many years. As a result, many battles broke out between experts at the Divine Treasure Realm, with battles that darkened the heavens and earth."

"Later on, in order to deter potential enemies, the higher-ups of the Heavenly Alliance went on a killing spree. All those involved in the ambush, along with their respective sects and families, were executed. During that period, the entire Great Jin was ravaged by bloodshed, and countless forces, sects, and families were wiped out."

"Such bloody slaughter finally provoked several reclusive old monsters to fight a great battle with the powerhouses of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. That battle caused the heavens and earth to collapse and the mountains and rivers to collapse. Countless civilians died or were injured. In the end, the Great Jin royal family intervened to stop this earth-shattering war."

Chen Ming and Zhang Mingyu looked at each other in bewilderment. It was as if they were listening to a myth, and it felt unreal.

Seeing their reaction, Feng Siyuan guessed what they were thinking and chuckled, "When I first heard this story, I had the same reaction as you. Then, I went to check the local gazetteers."

"Guess what? Many county annals record that three hundred years ago, there were several years of frequent natural disasters: earthquakes, tsunamis, landslides, and rivers changing their course... causing the tragic loss of half the population of the county. What's even more terrifying is that this disaster affected more than half of the prefectures and counties of the Great Jin Dynasty. If you don't believe me, you can check it out."

Chen Ming thought about it and realized that given the Heavenly Alliance's style of doing things, it wasn't surprising that they had made enemies of the whole world.

Zhang Mingyu couldn't help but ask, "And then what happened?"

Feng Siyuan said, "Later, the Heavenly Dao Alliance added a rule: never interfere in the grudges between martial arts practitioners. Moreover, since then, the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance have become extremely low-key, appearing and disappearing like dragons."

At this moment, Zhang Mingyu couldn't help but ask, "Why do the disciples of the Heavenly Dao Alliance insist on coming out to train? Can't they stay in the sect and cultivate until they have mastered their martial arts before venturing out into the world?"

Feng Siyuan said mysteriously, "Do you know why the Heavenly Dao Alliance is so powerful that it can stand against the entire world with the strength of a single faction?"

Zhang Mingyu hurriedly asked, "Why?"

Feng Siyuan said, "Because the Heavenly Dao Alliance is favored by the Heavenly Dao, they are acting on behalf of Heaven, so they can borrow the power of the Heavenly Dao."

"what?"

Feng Siyuan continued, "However, not just anyone can gain the favor of Heaven. Only those who are selfless and have a sincere heart can master the supreme techniques of the Heavenly Dao Alliance. Moreover, once they have reached a certain level of cultivation, they must enter the world to gain experience in order to advance further."

Zhang Mingyu was stunned. "Such a technique actually exists in this world?"

Chen Ming suddenly remembered the changes that had occurred to Su Zhining that morning, and how she had thanked him earnestly afterward. It turned out she really had made a breakthrough.

What is this, some kind of "flow of mind"?

As long as one's mindset improves, one's strength will also increase.

At this moment, Feng Siyuan continued, "Haven't you noticed? In Jiangzhou, most families are centuries old, and very few have been around for more than three hundred years. Even the three great families and the four major sects have all risen to prominence in the last two hundred years..."

At this moment, Gu Yuantao finally finished his debriefing, walked over, and suddenly said, "My Gu family only began to rise two hundred and fifty years ago."

This indirectly confirms what Feng Siyuan said.

……

After nightfall, Feng Siyuan and the other two had already left.

Chen Ming was reading "The Illusion of Gods and Forms" again, but after a while, he started to drift off. Finally, he shook his head and closed the book.

He could barely manage to learn an internal skill from a secret manual. But a movement technique was far too complex, with too many movements and terms related to the Eight Trigrams, making it seem like a foreign language to him.

Just then, footsteps sounded outside. Chunxiang whispered, "Young Master, Young Master Zhao is here."

Chen Ming got up and went out to greet her. He saw Zhao Xiyan dressed in men's clothing, holding a folding fan in her hand, standing in the courtyard. The moonlight shone on her, and her eyes were filled with a unique charm.

Compared to when we first met, she had grown taller and more mature, with a slender and tall figure, and was no longer a flat-chested girl.

She stood in the courtyard, not going inside, and asked, "Are you going to deal with the Qi family?"

In fact, although she had visited his house many times, she always stayed in the courtyard, and her personal maid always followed her. She never went into his room.

This shows that she is very sensible in some aspects.

Chen Ming sat down at the table and said, "They jumped out on their own, so it's good to deal with them."

Zhao Xiyan said quietly, "My father is taking me to Jiangzhou to visit an elder tomorrow. The trip will probably take ten days to half a month."

Zhao Shouchang took her to Jiangzhou at this juncture, and his attitude was very clear: he did not want her to get involved in the feud between Chen Ming and Jin Yuansheng.

Chen Ming smiled and said, "It's alright, don't worry."

Zhao Xiyan was a little worried, "That Qi Yanxiong is not simple. He has a lot of connections behind him. Can you handle it? Actually, if you can wait a little longer, it will be easier once you reach the fourth rank."

"Qi Yanxiong isn't stupid; how could he just sit and wait to die?"

"That's true. Then be careful in everything you do. If things really don't work out, try to reconcile with the Qi family."

"Don't worry, I know what's going on."

"I have to go. I snuck out. If my dad finds out, he'll put me in solitary confinement again."

"Well, go back."

Chen Ming watched her leave, the smile on his face slowly fading.

Suddenly, Su Zhining's voice rang out from behind, "She's a perfect match for you."

"Thank you."

Chen Ming didn't turn around; he was already used to her elusive nature.

"You seem unhappy?"

"No, not at all." Chen Ming turned around and changed the subject. "I have many questions about 'Divine Form and Illusion,' could Miss Su could enlighten me?"

"can."

……

At the Qi residence, Qi Xingdong had just returned home when he was stopped by the steward, who said that the master wanted to see him.

He went straight to the study, and as soon as he entered, he asked anxiously, "Father, how is it?"

Qi Yanxiong sat in the armchair, his expression solemn. "Young people are so arrogant, they don't even give face to a third-grade expert."

Upon hearing this, Qi Xingdong felt a chill run down his spine and asked, "Then, what do we do next?"

Seeing his useless state, Qi Yanxiong felt a surge of anger, but he could only suppress it.

He had many sons, but none of them were successful; this third son was the only one he could count on.

He said in a deep voice, "Admiral Zhao is going to Jiangzhou tomorrow to report on his duties, and he will be taking his daughter with him."

Qi Xingdong's eyes lit up, and he said excitedly, "So, the Admiral doesn't think much of that kid? Haha, I knew it! How could someone from such a poor background possibly catch Lord Zhao's eye?"

Qi Yanxiong's face was expressionless as he said, "Things have come to this point, and we have no other way out. I've contacted your fifth uncle; don't go out for the next few days."

Upon hearing "Fifth Uncle," Qi Xingdong was startled. "Does dealing with that kid require Fifth Uncle's intervention?"

"Fifth Uncle" was the Qi family's last resort, hidden for more than ten years. He felt it wasn't worth exposing Fifth Uncle for the sake of Chen Ming.

Qi Yanxiong said, "Dong'er, remember this: even a lion must use its full strength to hunt a rabbit. Once you decide to take action, you must use swift and decisive methods and never give the other side a chance to breathe."

Although Qi Xingdong disagreed, he couldn't object to it either.

(End of this chapter)