Quickly conquer the martial arts world, and let your fists dominate the heavens!

Chapter 238 Internal and External Conflicts, Head-to-Head Struggle

The atmosphere became even more enthusiastic when Gu Ruzhang arrived, and his fame grew even greater, especially in Foshan and Guangzhou.

The onlookers were even more enthusiastic.

Cheers erupted, with some clamoring for a match between Chen Zhan and Gu Ruzhang, turning Chen Zhan's China Alliance into a fighting arena.

However, the two seemed to have a mutual respect and showed no intention of fighting.

Huang Xiaoxia suffered a crushing defeat, and her mood fluctuated wildly. She was completely convinced of Chen Zhan's abilities and dared not act recklessly again.

This also disappointed many of the southern boxers.

Instead of the expected fierce battle, I won by crushing force. I was also relieved that it wasn't me who jumped out.

The unveiling ceremony has concluded.

Chen Zhan naturally invited everyone inside. Those who were watching the excitement outside no longer had a chance, but some of the younger disciples were very excited to be able to follow their master inside.

Inside the Chinese Alliance, as per Chen Zhan's request, the training ground was large but not overly decorated, retaining its original and rustic charm.

The rest was left to the three Ye sisters to decide.

The hall was large, but it couldn't accommodate everyone. Only the leaders of each sect had a place to sit. Some of their disciples followed behind their respective leaders, while others could only wait outside.

Chen Zhan exchanged a few words with the others.

He didn't know many Southern boxers, but he had Li Guangpu to look after him.

Chen Zhan was talking to Wang Ziping. There were too many people around, so he didn't have time to look after him. He had great respect for Wang Ziping.

"You even came in person, thank you for your trouble," Chen Zhan said with a smile.

“I will naturally come to attend your important event, and not just for you, but also for something else you should know,” Prince Ping said with a smile, stroking his beard.

"Yes, I heard about it when I was in Fengtian. The Central Martial Arts Academy has expanded rapidly, opening schools and teaching students everywhere, which has aroused dissatisfaction in the martial arts community in the south, who want to fight to divide up the territory."

“That’s right. Originally, this was not a big deal. Not to mention the long-standing conflict between the martial arts worlds of the North and South, even in Foshan, a small place, people have been opening schools and holding tournaments to compete for victory all year round.”

"Yes, in this day and age, there are not many career options for martial arts practitioners. They are almost only left with joining the army or opening a martial arts school, so naturally the competition is fierce."

Chen Zhan understood the reason, sighed, and then said:

"But unlike before, it's me who's here, right?"

Wang Ziping laughed twice. "That's right. This competition is organized by the Central Martial Arts Academy and the Guangdong-Guangxi Martial Arts Academy and is being held in Foshan. But now that you're in Foshan, given your personality, you can't possibly not participate, can you?"

Chen Zhan raised an eyebrow and smiled, "That's true. How boring would it be without me involved?"

"So both sides of this competition have come here, and they can discuss things with you."

"Oh?" Chen Zhan's eyes flashed with surprise. "Will Senior Uncle Sun come?"

Judging from the scale of this competition, Sun Lutang, as the head of Wudang Sect, will most likely come, and Wang Ziping seems to agree as well.

But Wang Ziping shook his head: "Heh, I don't know. He resigned a month ago. Now the current martial arts sect leader is his nephew Gao Zhendong, who is also here. He's over there."

Wang Ziping's gaze swept over the crowd behind him.

Gao Zhendong was tall and strong, and looked to be in his forties. He was talking to Gong Ruomei at the moment.

The two had met a few times, but many years had passed since then, when Gong Baotian was still alive.

Chen Zhan and Wang Ziping walked over, and when they saw Gong Ruomei, she smiled broadly: "It's been half a year since we parted in Fengtian, and we meet again. Mr. Chen has already taken the position of leader of the martial arts alliance."

Chen Zhan smiled and said, "The Second Miss has already established herself in Jinling and has been reborn, which is truly gratifying."

Gong Ruomei was now completely free of gloom, unlike when she was in Fengtian.

Even after avenging his father, he still lived in fear and gloom in Fengtian every day.

In Fengtian, she established her position. The Gong family was a martial arts powerhouse, the biggest overlord in Fengtian's martial arts world, with an extraordinary status. Suddenly, the family fell into decline, and the sense of loss and the tendency for everyone to kick someone when they're down led to the sects that had been suppressed by the Gong family in the past coming to devour her corpse.

From Fengtian to Jinling, Gong Ruomei not only resolved her inner conflict, but also made further progress in her martial arts, almost reaching the Transformation Realm. "Let's still call her by her name. The Second Miss is no longer here. Uncle Ding came to see me; he's going to Fengtian, and I couldn't dissuade him."

"There's no need to persuade them. If Fengtian falls into chaos, most of those present will head north."

While Chen Zhan and Gong Ruomei were talking, Gao Zhendong also noticed Chen Zhan and clasped his hands in greeting, saying, "Alliance Leader Chen, it's been a long time."

"Senior Brother Gao, I've long admired you."

The two were from the same school; Gao Zhendong was a disciple of Ma Yutang, who in turn was a disciple of Liu Lanqi, making them fellow disciples.

However, Gao Zhendong's tone lacked any sense of intimacy; he addressed him as "Alliance Leader" rather than "Junior Brother."

Chen Zhan roughly understood the reason. The recognized leader of Xingyi School was Sun Lutang, but Chen Zhan called himself the leader of Xingyi School because he had obtained Liu Lanqi's jade seal, which made him legitimate.

Although there are many people in the Xingyi School, it is unreasonable to have two leaders.

Gao Zhendong had been by Sun Lutang's side since childhood, and had witnessed Sun Lutang's extraordinary abilities firsthand, so he naturally respected him even more.

Moreover, regarding Chen Zhan's age, it was rumored in the martial arts world that he was already a grandmaster before the age of thirty, which Gao Zhendong did not believe.

This violates the principles of internal martial arts!
No matter how fast one progresses in internal martial arts, one must start by training the muscles and bones, and then by using the Tiger Leopard Thunder Sound technique to train the bone marrow and internal organs. One must progress step by step. Even if one starts training in their teens and hones their muscles and bones, it takes ten years to go from a beginner to a grandmaster.
A grandmaster in his twenties is absolutely impossible!
In Gao Zhendong's mind, Chen Zhan's martial arts skills were certainly not bad, but he could not be a grandmaster. He was more likely to use various schemes to gain Tian Jingjie's trust and obtain the jade seal.

If given the opportunity, he plans to retrieve the jade seal.

After exchanging greetings, Gao Zhendong saw Wang Ziping again. The two looked at each other, and the atmosphere was clearly off.

"Master Wang is here too? You've traveled all the way to Foshan to help Alliance Leader Chen. Didn't you look down on our internal martial arts?" Gao Zhendong's tone was cold.

“Wang has never said that he looks down on internal martial arts. On the contrary, you should ask your senior master.”

The two men spoke loudly, and both leaders of the Central Martial Arts Academy were martial arts masters, recognized by many present.

Boxers from both the north and south turned their gazes in, and the atmosphere in the hall suddenly became tense due to the confrontation between Gao Zhendong and Wang Ziping.

As Sun Lutang's grand-nephew, Gao Zhendong naturally didn't have a good attitude towards this master of external martial arts who had challenged his senior's authority.

He snorted coldly, his tone laced with sarcasm: "Master Wang, who is in charge of Shaolin and leads the external martial arts, naturally thinks that external martial arts are superior in every way. However, Senior Uncle Sun's article 'On the Difference Between Internal and External Martial Arts' already clearly pointed out that the difference between internal and external martial arts lies in the methods of strength and mental techniques, not in a distinction of superiority or inferiority. Yet some people insist on taking it out of context, saying that 'internal martial arts only reach their peak at fifty, while external martial arts decline at fifty.' Isn't that deliberately stirring up sectarian prejudice?"

Upon hearing this, Wang Ziping's thick eyebrows shot up, and a hint of anger flashed across his weathered, muscular face.

His challenge to Sun Lutang was because Sun Lutang, after becoming the head of the Wudang branch of the Central Martial Arts Academy, repeatedly made similar remarks, making him, the head of the Shaolin branch, feel that his disciples were being looked down upon.

Being brought up in person by Gao Zhendong, a junior, and then turning around and accusing him only added fuel to the fire.

"Hmph!" Prince Ping's voice boomed like a bell, causing dust to fall from the beams.
"I naturally admire Sun Lutang's principles of boxing! But his words, if heard by others, would be a slap in the face to the Shaolin School! I, Wang Ziping, have lived a life of integrity and uprightness. I have achieved mastery through internal and external training, transforming my body and spirit, and attaining the state of inner strength! My external boxing skills have never declined since I reached this level! Your senior uncle Sun Lutang's martial arts are divine, and I respect him greatly. You? It is not your place to criticize me!"

His arms were slightly bulging with muscles, and the imposing aura of his external martial arts style was faintly revealed, as if the entire hall was shrouded in an invisible pressure.

"What you said is not wrong, but how many people throughout history have reached your level in external martial arts? Most of them end up hurting themselves first, and then hurting others. Am I right?"

"Heh, that's right, but so what? In this world, how long can an ordinary person live? Practicing martial arts is harmful to the body, but killing enemies to serve the country is better than dying in hardship, isn't it?"

Gao Zhendong's face darkened. Although he was not as famous as Wang Ziping, he was still a master of internal martial arts and was not willing to show weakness.
As the two confronted each other, the tension grew increasingly palpable, and sparks seemed to fly through the air.

The crowd was excited to see the two of them locked in a fierce battle. This was Chen Zhan's territory, and if the two were to come to blows, it would be a disgrace to the leader of the martial arts alliance.

"enough!"

Chen Zhan took a step and stood in front of the two of them.

He said in a deep voice, “Senior Brother Gao, Brother Wang, we have gathered in Foshan today to discuss the grand plan for the martial arts world of the North and South to jointly resist foreign aggression. How can this be the time to argue over momentary feelings or the merits of different sects? Now that the country is in crisis and surrounded by foreign enemies, we should put aside our past grievances and work together with one heart and one mind.”

Wang Ziping took a deep breath, suppressing his anger, and clasped his hands in a fist salute to Chen Zhan, saying, "What the Alliance Leader says is true. I lost my composure. However..."

He abruptly changed the subject, his gaze flashing like lightning as he looked at Gao Zhendong. "I, Wang, have always acted with integrity and uprightness. Gao Zhendong, since you are not convinced, I, Wang, will not stoop to bullying the weak. There will be a martial arts competition in Foshan soon. At that time, on the arena, it will be a good opportunity for martial arts practitioners from all over the world to see whether the internal martial arts are more exquisite or the external martial arts are more powerful!"

Gao Zhendong smiled smugly. He hadn't been there when Wang Ziping challenged Sun Lutang before, and he had wanted to stand up for Sun Lutang ever since, but he hadn't had the chance. This was the perfect opportunity.

Gao Zhendong did not back down and said loudly, "Alright! I, Gao, am ready! We'll see who's the best in the ring!"

(End of this chapter)