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

Chapter 241 Bajiquan vs. Wing Chun!
These people don't want to step into the ring; they know their limitations. But they simply feel obligated to attend this grand event.

These days, dragon and lion dances can attract tens of thousands of people, let alone a battle between martial arts masters from the North and South, a life-or-death duel, which is a once-in-a-century event.

Only the World Martial Arts Tournament held more than twenty years ago can compare to it.

The international martial arts competition held in Shanghai at that time drew massive crowds, and it was during that competition that Sun Lutang established his reputation as the best martial artist in the world.

But more than 20 years have passed, a new generation has emerged, and many people don't remember it.

Only the older generation of martial arts practitioners have seen it.

This time, the notice was very clear, and newspapers in various places also recorded it clearly.

July 23rd.

The major events in the martial arts world of the North and South were both the division of territories and the selection of a martial arts alliance leader.

The arena is located in the former military training ground in the western suburbs of Foshan, which was requisitioned when the Central Martial Arts Academy moved south.

A platform seven feet high and fifty paces square was built from bluestone.

The platform was tamped down with tung oil, its surface gleaming a dark, somber light in the sunlight. Nine-foot-long white waxwood poles were planted at each of the four corners, red silk ribbons hanging from their tops. A three-zhang-wide reed shed was erected on the west side of the platform, bearing the words "Site for Signing Life-or-Death Contracts" in large black characters on red paper.

The arena in the south is different from the arena in the north.

A white waxwood pole with a red silk ribbon hanging from the top is an ancient custom of the Southern School of martial arts, where "life and death are determined by fate, and the pole marks the boundary."

The rules were simple: each of the North and South would send five masters to the stage.

Best of five.

The martial arts masters of the South are victorious; Northern boxers are not allowed to cross the border to pass on their skills.

The Northern martial arts world is victorious; no Southern martial arts style may make things difficult for Northern martial arts masters who come south to teach their styles.

This is just one of the martial arts competitions; the next step is the election of the martial arts alliance leader, who will be chosen by the person with the highest martial prowess.

As the former leader of the alliance certified by the National Government, Chen Zhan allowed people from the martial arts world of the North and South to challenge him.

One person at a time, unlimited times.

If Chen Zhan wins, the challenge continues; if Chen Zhan loses, the winner retains the title, and the others continue to challenge.

Until the very end, no one challenged them, and the ultimate winner became the leader of the martial arts alliance.

Those who saw the notice all noticed its unreasonable aspects.

With unlimited attempts, wouldn't it be possible to send people to exhaust their strength, like Tian Ji's horse racing strategy?

However, the notice also explained that, on the one hand, rest time would be provided, and on the other hand, as the leader of the martial arts alliance, one must naturally be different from others, otherwise, what right would one have?
And of course, there's one more thing: the pre-match life-or-death pact.

No matter the casualties!

Those who go on stage must leave their fingerprints and sign a statement indicating "no complaints".

A player who concedes defeat, falls off the platform, or falls unconscious is considered to have lost; another player who fights to their last breath is also considered to have lost.

Time flies, and people from the thirteen prefectures of Guangdong and Guangxi are on their way.

By July 23rd, Foshan was already packed with people, and the area around the arena was even more crowded, with people even climbing on the trees and beams.

The people who arrived were divided into three groups.

Chen Zhan's side naturally included members of the Cheng School of Bagua, including Wang Ziping, Ma Yingtu, Xiong Hanshan, and Gong Ruomei, who also represented the martial arts world of the North.

However, there was another group of people from the Northern martial arts world, led by Gao Zhendong. Chen Zhan did not recognize them, but they should all be masters of internal martial arts, from the Wudang sect of the Central Martial Arts Academy.

Since Wang Ziping isn't going to introduce him, Ma Yingtu will have to do it:

"The man next to me is Liu Yinhu, a senior disciple of the Yang-style Tai Chi Chuan lineage of the Wudang School."

"On the right is Jiang Rongqiao. His lineage is quite complex. The Jiang family is a martial arts family. His great-grandfather Jiang Tingju was a master of Mizongquan, his uncle Detai was a martial arts scholar, and his uncle-in-law Chen Yushan was known as "Iron Legs". He also learned various boxing techniques from "All-rounder" Sun Tong. In 1909, he became a disciple of Zhang Zhankui to specialize in Xingyi.

“His martial arts skills are very high. Gao Zhendong may not be his match. The only ones who can reliably beat him at the Central Martial Arts Academy are Yang Chengfu and Uncle Wang. Well, Elder Sun has already left the Central Martial Arts Academy, so he doesn’t count.”

Ma Yingtu's statement was meticulous; after excluding Sun Lutang, he also excluded Li Jinglin and Zhang Zhijiang.

Chen Zhan smiled. "So, there are quite a few people."

Ma Yingtu scratched his head and continued his introduction.

"The person to Gao Zhendong's left and behind is Chu Guiting, a disciple of Tai Chi master Yang Chengfu, who also practices Xingyi Quan."

"The man on the right rear is Tian Lin, a disciple of Gao Zhendong, who practices both Xingyi and Bagua."

The rest were all ordinary disciples. Ma Yingtu didn't introduce them, but Chen Zhan understood.

“Yang Chengfu didn’t even come. Heh, could it be that Gao Zhendong couldn’t get him to come?” Wang Ziping chuckled.

"They probably won't come. They left in a huff, and even if Gao Zhendong invites them, they might not give him face," Ma Yingtu said.

"Oh? What's going on?" Chen Zhan asked with a smile.

Yang Chengfu certainly knew that his grandfather Yang Luchan, uncle Yang Banhou, and father Yang Jianhou were all famous Tai Chi masters.

But Chen Zhan was unaware of this past event. Gao Zhendong explained in a low voice.

"When the Central Martial Arts Academy was first established, the Wudang School originally invited Yang Chengfu to serve as its head, but he delayed his appointment due to matters related to boxing in Beijing. In April 1928, the Central Martial Arts Academy officially appointed Sun Lutang."

"After Yang Chengfu arrived in Nanjing, Zhang Zhijiang may have suggested that he compete with Sun Lutang to vie for the position of head of the school."

"But Yang declined on the grounds that 'Brother Sun is my sworn brother,' and Zhang Zhijiang recommended Yang Chengfu to serve as the director of the Zhejiang National Martial Arts Academy."

Chen Zhan nodded, thinking to himself, "There are some things here that are hard to explain."

Since it was only two months from when Yang Chengfu was invited to Sun Lutang take office, it's unreasonable to say that they couldn't wait.

It's likely that Zhang Zhijiang felt Sun Lutang had a better status and greater reputation in the martial arts world, so he changed his mind.

However, this reason could not be made public, so a contest was proposed. In a real contest, Yang Chengfu would probably be no match for Sun Lutang, and he would be convinced and there would be no way to argue with him.

However, Yang Chengfu refused.

On the one hand, he did indeed become sworn brothers with Sun Lutang; on the other hand, he saw through the situation and, out of respect for Zhang Zhijiang, decided not to pursue the matter further.

However, given the existing rift, it's understandable that he didn't come.

Gao Zhendong glanced at Chen Zhan and Wang Ziping, his expression remaining unchanged.

The two groups each occupied one side, with the remainder given to the Southern boxers.

Soon we arrived at the other side as well.

Wan Laisheng and Gu Ruzhang were in front, and behind them were people they had met some time ago. There was only one new face, who was unremarkable. If there was anything special about him, it was that he had very fair skin and long arms, which were hidden in his sleeves.

Chen Zhan looked at Li Guangpu and Li Wenbiao, and the two of them shook their heads as well.

I initially thought he was an unknown southern boxer, but since he was closely following Wan Laisheng, his status must be quite high.

Approaching.

Wan Laisheng proactively clasped his hands in greeting: "Alliance Leader Chen, Sect Leader Wang, Sect Leader Gao, now that you three are here, there's no need for further words. Let's sign the life-or-death agreement and begin."

Chen Zhan and Gao Zhendong stood up.

"Almost everyone's here. Let's begin immediately. Whoever steps onto the stage must sign a waiver of liability," Chen Zhan said.

"Yeah, no problem."

After Wan Laisheng finished speaking, he led his men to the side, where the three parties sat down. An old man was in charge of signing the life-and-death contract. He was an older generation man from Foshan, a master of Wing Chun, a disciple of Leung Jan, and of the same generation as Ip Man's master, Chan Wah-shun, but he was not well-known.

It doesn't matter who presides over it, nor does the martial arts world in the north care. There's no trickery involved in the life-and-death contract; it's just a formality to appease the officials.

These days, let alone fighting in a ring, it's normal for a couple of people to die in a conflict between a few martial arts schools.

The onlookers and martial arts students were pleased to see that neither side was hesitant. They had expected a long exchange of threats, pleasantries, and rules, but instead, they decided to fight without regard for life or death.

Everyone present knew the rules.

However, the first match to emerge was not between a southern boxer and a northern boxer, but between Gao Zhendong.

He stepped onto the arena, not looking at Wan Laisheng's side, but at Chen Zhan's side.

Clearly wanting to resolve his own affairs first, Wang Ziping raised an eyebrow and was about to get up, but Chen Zhan held him down.

"Senior Brother Gao, how about we put our grudges aside for now? We can settle our own affairs after we've conquered the Southern martial arts world."

Gao Zhendong's gaze shifted, and Chen Zhan said that we should also realize his purpose.

His previous attitude and words were very cold, which was normal for Chen Zhan to realize. However, he wanted to fight Wang Ziping and challenge Chen Zhan to take back the jade seal. He did not think that Chen Zhan was just a show-off. Northern boxers were not stupid. Chen Zhan must have some skills. He just did not believe that Chen Zhan was a grandmaster.

"The alliance leader is right, let's put internal matters aside for now."

After Gao Zhendong stepped down, Wan Laisheng also realized that there were significant conflicts within the Central Martial Arts Academy, but this was none of his business.

"Who among you is willing to take the lead?" Wan Laisheng asked the people around him.

There are many experts from both the North and the South, but this is a chance to fight on stage and make a name for yourself. If you win, you will achieve fame and fortune; if you lose, you will suffer a crushing defeat.

It's very simple: if you lose, not only will your life be in danger, but you'll also lose face.

Opening a martial arts school in Foshan would damage one's reputation and make the business much more difficult.

After a moment of silence, someone spoke up.

"I'll go first."

The one who spoke was a man with thick eyebrows and broad eyes, Yao Cai, a master of Wing Chun, who was known as one of the three heroes of Wing Chun along with Ip Man and Ruan Qishan.

Wan Laisheng was well-known among Southern boxers, and he also knew about Yao Cai's martial arts skills. He nodded in agreement.

The others didn't object either; being the first to appear was important, and they were very cautious about it.

The situation in the Northern martial arts world is also simple: Ma Yingtu will take the stage.

Chen Zhan asked Gao Zhendong for his opinion, and Gao Zhendong smiled and said he didn't care.

(End of this chapter)