Playing with fantasy beasts in the martial arts world

Chapter 204 A Minor Gathering in the Martial Arts Tournament
"What else do you know?"

"For example, which forces and individuals might participate in the competition for the Longevity Formula?" Cha Nan would certainly go, and she was well-prepared, but it was only right to be cautious and find out more information before going.

The Longevity Manual is quite special; it's a martial arts manual that can increase the probability of dying. Even grandmasters are attracted to it, so you can't be too careful.

"I know part of it, but certainly not all of it."

"Besides the martial arts figures from the early Tang Dynasty who will definitely be there, I'm quite certain that at least one God of Wealth ranked above 20 will also be present at the God of Wealth Gathering," Shangguan Xiaoxian said.

"You also know about the God of Wealth Association?" Cha Nan asked, but she wasn't really surprised.

Organizations like the God of Wealth Society, while possessing a degree of secrecy, certainly cannot truly remain hidden.

The kind of hidden sects and families in online novels that can subtly control every aspect of reality and are incredibly powerful, yet remain unknown to the public, do not actually exist in theory.

Or it may appear to be hidden, using layers of disguise to shift the focus to a certain extent, cutting a behemoth into many small parts that are invisible to ordinary people, but still very obvious to those with certain knowledge and status.

It is absolutely impossible for a richest person in a major city, or for a hidden force that has never been heard of, to suddenly appear and take over everything.

The God of Wealth Society is like this kind of hidden force that is invisible on the surface. Ordinary people in the martial arts world are unaware of it, but those who have a certain amount of power and are well-informed will definitely be able to find its clues.

"Haven't you already been in contact with it?"

"They even had an island taken from them by you!" Shangguan Xiaoxian said with a smile. Clearly, she had always been paying attention to Cha Nan. Unlike Cha Nan, who had almost forgotten about her, she cared a lot about Cha Nan.

"Are you also a member of the God of Wealth Society?"

"Which number are you, God of Wealth?" Cha Nan suddenly asked.

If Shangguan Xiaoxian is a member of the God of Wealth Society, then many things can be explained immediately.

Moreover, Shangguan Xiaoxian does indeed meet the selection criteria of the God of Wealth Association. She is quite powerful, possesses considerable influence, prioritizes power and wealth, and has little moral restraint. She is practically the chosen God of Wealth.

"You want to know?"

"If you and I are on the same side, then I'll tell you everything!" Shangguan Xiaoxian playfully tempted Cha Nan.

This answer actually already provides the answer; Cha Nan's guess was correct.

"Tell me who the God of Wealth will be visiting, and what arrangements they've made, and I'll give you another credit!" Cha Nan continued, making empty promises.

Shangguan Xiaoxian stood up, put her hands behind her back, took a few lively steps, then turned around and smiled sweetly: "No way! You're unwilling to give me anything, yet you expect me to give you everything. There's no such thing as being a scoundrel!"

"Alright, I've told you everything I could. See you next time!"

After saying that, she stopped arguing and turned to leave, quickly climbing over the wall and disappearing into the vast night.

Cha Nan did not stop her, because he knew very well that if he wanted Shangguan Xiaoxian to speak, he would have to offer the Fuhailong that she wanted in exchange.

As for ordinary mythical beasts, he believed that Shangguan Xiaoxian would not lack them. Even if she had never been to the Mythical Beast Island, as long as the trading channel existed, the other party would have many ways to obtain mythical beasts.

Cha Nan's Fantasy Beast Island has been open for some time now, so how can it be clear whether the people who come to buy the fantasy beasts need them for themselves or are buying them on behalf of others?

During this period, we received quite a few ordinary martial arts practitioners who had mediocre skills but brought superior martial arts techniques from the martial arts world to trade.

For example... just for example, the Huashan Sect has mastered the sword techniques of the other Five Mountains Sword Sects. They are not willing to make them public, but if they take them to the Illusionary Beast Island and find a middleman to sell them, wouldn't they neither sell their sect's secrets nor lose a powerful Illusionary Beast?
Hey! What a coincidence! Many so-called reputable and righteous sects in the martial arts world share similar ideas.

Everyone's been around in the martial arts world. Those powerful sects with deep roots have been collecting secret manuals and treasures from fellow martial artists and even rivals over the years. Nobody would believe that they haven't done so. They can only browse through them occasionally to accumulate knowledge and understand the techniques and methods of each sect. They can't actually learn them.

Now, it's a perfect opportunity to 'make use of waste'.

Of course, Cha Nan wouldn't take the initiative to expose this matter.

Those various secret manuals and treasures collected from the martial arts world, whether complete or incomplete, needed or not, are all part of an accumulation, a process of waiting for quantitative change to break through to qualitative change.

Cha Nan's talent can only be considered above average. He cannot follow the path of mastering one method and then mastering all methods. Therefore, he can only hope to accumulate experience and wait for the day when inspiration strikes and all methods converge into one.

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In the world of the Immortal Crane Needle, in the Nine Provinces Prefecture, the Martial Arts Tournament is about to be held.

This martial arts conference was convened by the imperial court to redefine the territories of the major sects in the martial arts world.

With the rise of the Tianlong Gang, the spheres of influence of various sects were constantly squeezed, and friction between them continued, resulting in the deaths and injuries of a large number of innocent people.

The purpose of the imperial court convening the martial arts conference was twofold: first, to resolve most of the martial arts disputes, reduce casualties, and prevent the fighting from escalating further; and second, to encourage the major sects to unite and jointly fight against the Tianlong Gang.

The Tianlong Gang is a powerful force with money and manpower, and has long been a significant threat to the imperial court.

The imperial court's control over martial arts factions has always been like this. If a small, quiet sect hides in the mountains, no matter how skilled its practitioners are, the imperial court will mostly keep to itself. However, if a sect descends from the mountains and grows powerful, spanning the north and south, the imperial court will definitely make some noise and try to dismantle it.

Amidst the hazy smoke and dust, knights from various sects raced swiftly through the swirling winds and dust.

They gathered amidst the sandstorm, and then swarmed into Kyushu Prefecture, which had been emptied of most of its ordinary people.

The once somewhat empty Kyushu Prefecture quickly became chaotic again.

Not all those who came were legitimate and reputable sects. In addition to the nine major sects, led by Shaolin, Wudang, and Kongtong, there were also many unorthodox figures from the martial arts world mixed in.

Various forces converged, secretly colluded, and tested each other, creating quite a lively scene.

Of course, some people wanted to muddy the waters, shouting the slogan "Work together to protect the martial arts world," and shifting their target from the Tianlong Gang to the imperial court.

It can be said that even before the conference began, undercurrents of competition were already swirling beneath the surface.

Cha Nan entered Kyushu Prefecture together with Yan Nantian.

They disguised themselves as a small sect, pretending to be master and disciple, and infiltrated the sect.

In any case, quite a few people did this. Some little-known sects also hoped to take advantage of the court's decision to redistribute power and gain some small benefits.

The protagonist, Ma Junwu, and his master, Yiyangzi, also came with this purpose.

Their Kuocang Sect actually only occupied a small hilltop in Kuocang Mountain. They had very few disciples, and their martial arts skills were generally mediocre. Only their master, Yiyangzi, had a reputation in the martial arts world.

"There are no guest rooms left! You'll have to sleep in the woodshed!" Yi Yangzi walked back to his apprentice Ma Junwu with a look of misfortune on his face.

"They said only the largest sects, those with the most members, have rooms!" Judging from Yi Yangzi's expression, he had become accustomed to this differential treatment.

When you're out in the world of gangsters, you need influence and connections.

Even with high martial arts skills, they're not very useful unless you're incredibly skilled.

So Yi Yangzi's martial arts skills were quite good, but he seemed very cowardly.

Even someone with a decent reputation like Yi Yangzi couldn't get a room, so Cha Nan and Yan Nantian, this fake "master and disciple" pair, from a fabricated Longsword Sect, had no foundation in this martial arts world, so of course they had even less chance of getting a room.

"Gentlemen! Are there any empty spaces in the woodshed?"

“My master and I are also here to participate in the martial arts tournament, but we haven’t found a place to stay either. Could we share a room?” Cha Nan said with a smile to Ma Junwu and his disciple Yi Yangzi.

Ma Junwu immediately retorted, "Build it? Build it my ass! I've already checked the woodshed; you can't even stretch your legs out. If two more people move in, their farts will stink all night."

Yi Yangzi immediately grabbed his disciple, smiling broadly, and said, "It's alright! You can squeeze in. The woodshed is well-ventilated, so your farts won't stink all night. If you like farting, you can sleep with your butt facing the window."

Ma Junwu was very dissatisfied with his master Yiyangzi's easygoing manner, and muttered under his breath, "One of them is slovenly and smells bad, while the other has greasy hair and is dressed like a pretty boy. How can they look like master and disciple?"

"I think he has ulterior motives and doesn't seem like a good person!"

Yi Yangzi grabbed his apprentice and said in a lower voice, "You have little experience in the martial world, so don't talk nonsense. Look closely at that master. Although he is thin, he has a tall frame, thick calluses on his hands, and bright eyes. He is definitely a master."

"And that disciple, although we can't tell how deep his skill is, his master always puts him first. I think this is more like master and servant than master and disciple. It's probably some young nobleman who came out to watch the show. If we serve him well, and he just slips a little bit out of his fingers, our Kuocang Sect will be rich."

"Wow! I didn't realize you were so cunning!" Ma Junwu's temper flared faster than flipping through a book. He immediately said to Cha Nan and Yan Nantian, "Living together is fine, but let's make it clear first: my master and I prefer to sleep by the window and the door. Don't try to take them from us."

These two locations are not good places at all.

After all, the woodshed is usually located near either an outhouse or a stable, and the stench at the door and windows is so strong that most people simply can't stand it.

Besides, the windows of the woodshed were definitely broken, and cold winds would blow in through the cracks in the windows and doors in the middle of the night, making people shiver.

Cha Nan nodded with a smile.

By getting to know Ma Junwu and his disciple Yiyangzi, it will be easier to get to know Bai Yunfei, Lan Xiaodie, and Lan Haiping in the future. These are all among the top martial artists in this area.

It's not that you have to get close to the main character, but as a newcomer, if you want to seize the opportunity, you always need to know some locals to help you.

Currently, the Tianlong Gang has the largest influence in Kyushu Prefecture. However, according to Cha Nan's speculation, the leader of the Tianlong Gang, Su Penghai, is very likely a member of the God of Wealth Society. He can be used if there is an opportunity, but cannot be truly regarded as an ally.

While the nine major sects appear to have a large number of members and great power, they are actually a disorganized mess and are fundamentally insignificant.

As for Cao Xiong, who represents the imperial court, he is an utterly treacherous and despicable villain, a typical example of someone who can be used but not relied upon.

Of course, Ma Junwu and his apprentice were only slightly better compared to each other.

They have principles and integrity, but not many. They are capable and intelligent, but not many either.

Cha Nan wanted to get to know Bai Yunfei through them because she had come up with a very good idea.

Whether this idea can succeed depends on the cooperation of Bai Yunfei and Lan Haiping.

"How about we add two more people?" a voice chimed in, drawing the attention of the four.

Cha Nan turned her head and saw a handsome middle-aged man with a simple smile, accompanied by a dashing young man in white, who was smiling and bowing to them.

Both men carried long, narrow bundles, which likely contained swords or similar long, narrow weapons.

"My name is Tang Xiaolan, and this is my son, Tang Jingtian!" The handsome middle-aged man introduced himself very proactively.

Cha Nan felt the name sounded familiar, but couldn't immediately place it. However, she was certain that they weren't locals either.

They must also be outsiders seeking the secret to immortality.

It couldn't have been a coincidence that we arrived here, since this world is currently under temporary lockdown and the gate to the dimensional realm cannot be opened here.

Of course, there is also a small chance that they were already stuck here before this world was sealed off.

"What sect are you from?" Ma Junwu asked, taking the initiative to strike up a conversation when he saw that Tang Xiaolan was speaking politely.

“Tianshan Sect!” Tang Xiaolan said.

"Tianshan Sect? Aren't those your people over there? Why are they here joining in the fun?" Ma Junwu pointed to an area on the second floor where a group of people were enthusiastically drinking and toasting.

"No! We are not a Tianshan Sect!" Tang Jingtian, unable to keep his words to himself, replied.

“Not from the same sect, oh... you guys are dividing things up…” Ma Junwu’s mouth was faster than his brain, but he was pulled back by his master Yiyangzi and glared at fiercely.

"So you are two masters from the Tianshan Sect... Welcome! Welcome! We can all meditate together tonight." Yiyangzi smiled broadly, trying not to offend anyone.

In the myriad realms and martial arts worlds, there are those like Wudang and Shaolin who recognize each other as relatives, then form alliances and become behemoths. Of course, there are also sects with the same name or from the same mountain that do not recognize each other, do not interact with each other, or are even hostile to each other.

This is also related to the origins of various schools and sects.

Taking the Huashan Sect as an example, the metal-based Huashan Sect originated from Hao Datong of the Quanzhen School and worshipped Hao Datong as its patriarch. However, the ancient-based Huashan Sect was not a branch of Taoism at all, and it was impossible for it to worship Hao Datong. The same is true for many other worlds. Their origins are different, and even if they share the same name, they cannot be in the same place.

Moreover, even if integration is forcibly achieved, without a powerful figure capable of maintaining order, the question of who is in charge and who has the final say will be a major problem.

The endless bickering has made it even more difficult to unite them into one entity than to create a new, powerful force spanning multiple worlds.

Therefore, it's perfectly normal for Tang Jingtian to look down on these local Tianshan Sect members.

At this moment, Cha Nan suddenly remembered who Tang Jingtian was.

He's the husband of Gui Bing'e, the Ice Fairy!
When Cha Nan was in junior high school, she read through almost all of Liang Xi's novels. She didn't remember the stories very well, but she did remember quite a few of the female characters.

Li Shengnan from The Grandmaster of Demonic Cultivation, Nian Nishang, the White-Haired Witch, Hamaya, the Flying Red Scarf, Gui Bing'e, the Ice River Fairy... all of them are women who are just as capable as men, and they are much more eye-catching than those male characters who always seem a bit soft and stereotypical.

Once it was confirmed who it was, Cha Nan could understand why Tang Jingtian looked down on those local Tianshan sects.

After all, the center of the Liang system universe is Tianshan!
Qiao Beiming, Meng Shentong, Li Shengnan... all of them were so arrogant, but in the end they all failed at the Tianshan Sect.

Qiao Beiming's opponent is Zhang Danfeng, who is not from the Tianshan Sect.
However, Huo Tiandu, the founder of the Tianshan Sect, was Zhang Danfeng's eldest disciple.

Therefore, how can Zhang Danfeng not be considered to have a very deep connection with the Tianshan Sect?
"I wonder if the Tianshan Sword Technique and the Anti-Tianshan Sword Technique can be combined into a perfect sword formation like the Quanzhen Sword Technique and the Ancient Tomb Sword Technique," Cha Nan thought, his imagination running wild.

After all, Huo Tiandu was the creator of the Tianshan Sword Technique, and this sword technique is basically the number one sword technique of the Liang family. Since its creation, it has been a formidable force in the martial arts world, and those who have mastered it have few rivals.

The Anti-Tianshan Sword Technique was created by Huo Tiandu's wife, Ling Muhua. The two were also in love but separated, their relationship lingering and intertwined, perfectly capturing the essence of being both adversaries and intimately connected.

The Snow Mountain Sword Technique and the Golden Crow Saber Technique, both originating from the metal element, are similarly created by the husband and wife. They are mutually restraining and mutually reinforcing, and when combined, they possess immense power.

It's not to say that all two targeted martial arts techniques can be combined.

Rather, these two martial arts must target each other, yet they are also inextricably linked, leaving room for extremely subtle maneuvering.

Although Cha Nan had studied swordsmanship with Ximen Chuixue for a period of time, he still lacked a powerful swordsmanship skill to rely on.

Now it seems that the Tianshan Sword Technique and the Anti-Tianshan Sword Technique are quite suitable!
The question is whether the Tang father and son are willing to make a deal!

The group of six squeezed through the crowd and moved to the woodshed.

When they pushed open the door of the woodshed, which looked like it could collapse at any moment, they found that two people were already living inside.

One was a young beggar, dressed in a... dissolute and unrestrained manner.

There was also a young man with a small mustache, very exaggerated sausage lips and protruding ears, who... also looked quite like a person!
They looked at each other, gazing at each other with deep affection, and when they heard someone push open the door, they turned around at the same time to look at the group of six.

"This place is already occupied! Get out of here!" The young man with sausage lips and protruding ears waved his hand impatiently.

“You think you can just leave like that? This is the land that Commander Cao assigned to our Kuocang Sect. Did you get our permission to stay here?” Ma Junwu said immediately.

"You won't leave? I'll make you regret it right now!" The man with sausage lips had a bad temper and got up to make a move, but was kicked over by the beggar: "Sorry! He ate a lot of poop today, so his mouth smells a bit bad."

"The woodshed belongs to everyone. If you have any difficulties while traveling, please make do. Please come in! Please come in!" The young beggar said, grabbing a handful of firewood and barely managing to clear a place for someone to sit in the middle of the woodshed.

Cha Nan glanced at Ma Junwu, then at Sausage Lips, and began to form ideas about Sausage Lips and the young beggar's identities.

In fact, if it weren't for his sausage lips, which were swollen like fat sausages and almost covered half of his face, everyone present would have noticed that he looked remarkably similar to Ma Junwu.

The small woodshed was mostly filled with firewood, leaving only enough space for eight people to sit side by side.

However, apart from the sausage lips, none of the eight people seemed to mind. They filed in one after another, found places to sit cross-legged, and began to chat idly. Although they didn't reveal anything important, they did exchange names.

The young beggar was indeed Hong Qi, and the sausage-lipped man was Ouyang Feng.

Cha Nan was very curious about where the two of them got the tokens and used them for fixed-point travel.

After all, the Tang family father and son have very strong backing. Zhang Danfeng, Huo Tiandu, and even their complete forms have a chance to reach the top twenty in swordsmanship. Even if they don't, with the resources of the Tianshan Sect, it wouldn't be too difficult to obtain a token.

But Hong Qi and Ouyang Feng... could it be that they relied on Duan Zhixing, who had become an Arhat?
This shouldn't be happening!

Even if Duan Zhixing were to give out tokens, they should be given to Huang Yaoshi!

Indeed, Hong Qi and Ouyang Feng here are clearly from the world of 'The Eagle Shooting Heroes'.

Meeting unexpected people one after another made Cha Nan no longer confident about the outcome of this competition for the Longevity Formula.

It's not that he was afraid of the Tang family father and son, or Hong Qi and Ouyang Feng from the East Meets West, but rather that it represented a lot of uncertainty.

Some uncertain people have entered this closed world, so who knows what other characters might suddenly emerge from some nook or cranny?
In Cha Nan's original estimate, his biggest competitors should be some martial arts practitioners from the world of Twin Dragons of the Tang Dynasty, as well as experts from the God of Wealth Society.

He had already made contingency plans for these two aspects.

But now, things have far exceeded his expectations.

The allure of the Longevity Formula was far greater than he had imagined.

"Perhaps I can change my approach."

"I don't intend to keep the Longevity Technique to myself. I also have unique resources that I can use for exchange, forming a basic framework for mutual benefit..." A rough plan was vaguely taking shape in Cha Nan's mind, but it was not yet complete.

This plan, combined with the inspiration I had when I first thought of Bai Yunfei, has gradually become more complete.

"With such distinguished guests here, let's speak frankly and openly!" Cha Nan was the first to end the meaningless small talk and chatter.

All eyes were on him.

In fact, there were hardly any fools present. Apart from Ma Junwu and his apprentice, everyone else had some vague speculations about each other's origins and purposes.

"Everyone must be here for the Longevity Formula, right?" Cha Nan bluntly revealed the truth.

The Tang father and son remained silent, with their sausage lips lowering their heads to conceal the ambition in their eyes. Only Hong Qi openly admitted, "That's right! We came for the Longevity Manual. My cousin said that as long as I get the Longevity Manual as a betrothal gift, she will be willing to marry me."

All right!

Cha Nan now knew where Hong Qi's token came from!

It was definitely Duan Zhixing who gave it to Huang Yaoshi, and then Huang Yaoshi's junior sister stole it and handed it to Hong Qi to do for him.

Regarding the timeline issue, tokens can be transferred.

It's just a waste of one use.

(End of this chapter)