Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 173 The Three Dragons Meet, the Ghost Appears, Who is the Mantis Stalking the Cicada?

"Gently! Gently! It hurts so much!"

Li Zhaoting grimaced in pain.

Li Zhaoting couldn't possibly have escaped unscathed after being instantly killed by Huo Xiu, a man built from dozens of cartloads of rare and precious materials; his bones, meridians, and muscles suffered multiple injuries.

Shaolin and Wudang, as the two pillars of the Central Plains martial arts world, both have protective qi techniques, but the principles behind them are different.

The protective qi of Wudang lies in its ability to absorb and neutralize, like a whirlpool, a flowing stream, a sponge, or a vast ocean, eliminating all external forces into nothingness.

Just now, Hua Manlou dissipated the force of the recoil and caught Li Zhaoting with the Weak Water Softness Nine Turns Technique, using the softness of water to easily dissipate the external impact.

The Shaolin protective qi lies in its ability to withstand and counteract force, like a copper wall, an iron wall, a gong, or a chime bell. When external force hits it, it will inevitably cause a counteracting force.

The stronger the external impact, the stronger the counterforce. Even if the protective aura is shattered in one blow, the counterforce will not be reduced in the slightest. If someone offends me, I will retaliate in kind.

If Li Zhaoting were to engage in a protracted battle with Huo Xiu, continuously bombarding him with Tathagata's divine light, he might be able to break through the Vajra Indestructible Body Divine Skill. However, during this period, the violent backlash would form a formless sonic aura, which would rebound and reflect unrestrainedly in the enclosed space of a cave, making the consequences difficult to predict.

This is equivalent to continuously banging a gong in someone's ear, which could easily cause all four people to bleed from their seven orifices and have their internal organs shattered. Not one of them could escape the backlash.

Instead of dragging things out, it's better to win in one fell swoop.

While treating Li Zhaoting's injuries, Lu Xiaofeng said sarcastically, "Oh~~ Isn't this the great hero who killed the Green Robe Pavilion Master with a single sword strike? How can a great hero be afraid of pain? Where did your heroic spirit go? You just like to show off your heroism, you deserve to be in so much pain!"

"Lu Xiaofeng, wait for me to regain my strength..."

"You're not feeling strong right now, are you?"

"Nonsense! Huo Xiu is an iron turtle. If I held back even a little bit, I would never be able to hurt him. I exhausted all my energy and spirit in order to pierce through his protective aura."

"Tsk tsk tsk~ What I mean is, you've finally fallen into my hands, you bastard, prepare to die!"

Lu Xiaofeng revealed a smug, wicked smile.

"Presbyopia~ Help~ Help me~~"

Li Zhaoting frantically waved his arms and legs in a plea for help.

The three of them were not in a hurry to go out.

Because the three of them simply couldn't get out.

Huo Xiu's "mutual destruction" plan involved sealing off all entrances and exits, leaving only the stone platform beneath his feet.

Li Shengnan destroyed the stone platform mechanism, which is equivalent to sealing off all exits. They can either slowly dig a tunnel or break through from the outside, so they definitely won't be able to get out in a short time.

The items in the cave were destroyed by the recoil. There was nothing to eat or play with, only the flatbread, dried meat, cold wine, wound medicine, and gauze that he had brought with him.

Li Zhaoting was wrapped up like a rice dumpling by Lu Xiaofeng.

Hua Manlou went to sit down and meditate.

Lu Xiaofeng skillfully "licked the bag".

A man like Huo Xiu would definitely carry his most precious treasures with him at all times. He doesn't trust anyone, nor does he trust secret treasure vaults; he only trusts himself.

"Li Zhaoting, take a look at this!"

Lu Xiaofeng discovered a backpack on Huo Xiu's back, inside which was an exquisite mask with antlers like a deer, a head like a camel, eyes like a rabbit, and a neck like a snake. It was actually a Green Dragon mask, belonging to the Twelve Green Dragons of the Green Dragon Society.

Li Zhaoting curled his lip: "The Qinglong Society's April branch is in charge of finances. Given the size of the Qinglong Society, there are no more than ten people qualified to be the Qinglong Society's chief financial officer."

The list includes wealthy businessmen such as Huo Xiu, Wan Sanqian, Lu Changqing, Wang Xiangqing, Zhang Dajing, and Yan Tieshan. To be more general, Uncle Hua is also on the list.

Strangely enough, Jinpeng Kingdom was a small country in the south, which was easily destroyed by foreign enemies. Among the few who escaped, three became top figures: the head of the Emei Taoist sect, the number one jeweler in the world, and the richest man in the Central Plains and the master of Qingyi Tower.

The fate of the Golden Roc Kingdom likely rests on the shoulders of its four regents; it truly is a matter of timing and destiny!
Are there any other items?

The Azure Dragon Society is a clandestine organization.

What is a "hidden force"?
It refers to forces that cannot be openly revealed.

They must be shrouded in mystery, using supernatural tricks to deceive people. Things like the Twelve Azure Dragons and the Three Hundred and Sixty-Five Branches are all examples of this kind of tactic.

The more you learn about it, the easier it is to demystify the Green Dragon Society. One day, when you find the mastermind behind the Green Dragon Society, you might be completely surprised.

There may be hidden masters in the martial arts world, but the secretive forces of the martial arts world can never defeat the open forces.

If these clandestine forces are truly that powerful, why don't they dare to expose themselves publicly? No matter how much business they do in secret, it's never as lucrative as doing business openly and honestly.

What is the pinnacle of martial arts?

A dynasty that lasted a lifetime, its words were law and its authority was absolute.

Shaolin and Wudang, the two great jewels of Central China.

One immortal, two Buddhas, three demon lords, four supreme beings, five evil spirits, and eight great leaders.

This is the real master.

How can someone who hides their true nature reach the summit?
Lu Xiaofeng shared the same thought.

Many people underestimate Lu Xiaofeng, thinking that he is evasive and dodging in fights and cannot be considered a master. However, they do not know that in a battle between masters, the outcome can be decided by the slightest margin.

Masters like Lu Xiaofeng and Chu Liuxiang rely on adaptability. They first observe the enemy's weaknesses, then strike suddenly to defeat the enemy in one move. Fancy moves are useless; defeating the enemy in one move is the true essence.

In some ways, Lu Xiaofeng is more suited to the "five-step kill" tactic than Li Zhaoting, because the vast majority of Lu Xiaofeng's battles are decided in a single move.

It's all about "one move".

A clear finger!
Catch the weapon, and you will win this battle.

Unable to withstand the weapon, one awaits reincarnation.

Lu Xiaofeng is alive and well because he can catch weapons every time, which shows that he is invincible.

A plague god who meddles in the martial arts world all day long and brings death wherever he goes, has never been sick or injured, has won every battle, and has never encountered a fatal crisis.

If this isn't strong, then what is powerful?

Lu Xiaofeng really liked these kinds of rumors circulating in the martial arts world.

If everyone in the martial arts world thinks he's not that strong, and that he's only lucky, then their plans against Lu Xiaofeng will definitely have loopholes. As long as there are loopholes, he can turn defeat into victory and continue to roam the martial arts world freely.

Lu Xiaofeng searched Huo Xiu's body.

A blue dragon mask.

An inner armor that has been pierced.

The two bottles contained pills for healing and saving lives. One bottle contained two Shaolin Great Rejuvenation Pills, and the other bottle contained a Nine-Turn Purple Gold Pill from Medicine King Valley.

The bottles are all carved from ancient medicinal jade, which can effectively lock in the medicinal power and prevent it from being lost for hundreds of years.

The medicine bottle itself is a priceless treasure, and the three pills are the most precious of treasures. They have the effect of reviving the dead and restoring flesh and bones, and can also increase one's power. If Huo Xiu were to fight a protracted battle, with these three pills by his side, Huo Xiu would have at least a 20% chance of winning against three opponents.

A stack of silver notes, totaling one million taels.

Lu Xiaofeng complained, "Li Zhaoting, you said a few days ago that you were so poor you could hardly afford to eat, and today you've made a fortune. Making money is really easy for you!"

"Making money is faster by plundering!"

Li Zhaoting shook his radish-like arms.

The arm injury wasn't that serious; it was Lu Xiaofeng's revenge, and it was wrapped up like a big white radish.

There was really nothing interesting in the cave, and Lu Xiaofeng was bored. He looked at Huo Xiu's shoes, thinking of the genetic characteristics of the Golden Roc Kingdom, and wondered if he could see Huo Xiu's...

"Li Zhaoting, Huo Xiu has six toes! This Huo Xiu is not Shangguan Mu, he is... Shangguan Jin!"

Lu Xiaofeng took off Huo Xiu's shoes and was surprised to find that the guy had six toes and was a member of the royal family of the Golden Roc Kingdom.

Only two members of the royal family escaped.

The dashing and carefree Little Prince.

The loyal and devoted imperial brother-in-law, Shangguan Jin.

How could Huo Xiu be Shangguan Jin?
Shouldn't Huo Xiu be Shangguan Mu?

How is this going?

Did Shangguan Jin fake his death to escape?
What makes Shangguan Jin capable of replacing Huo Xiu?

If Shangguan Jin replaced Huo Xiu, and Shangguan Feiyan, who was carrying out the mission, was his granddaughter, why would he put his own granddaughter in danger? What is Shangguan Jin planning?
Lu Xiaofeng was filled with doubts.

Some of the doubts in Li Zhaoting's mind were resolved.

"Lu Xiaofeng, do you remember Shangguan Feiyan's complaints about Shangguan Danfeng? Ever since then, I've been curious about one thing: if Shangguan Jin is so loyal to the Great Golden Roc King, why would Shangguan Feiyan complain?"

"I don't understand the logic behind this question."

"If you find a baby and raise it from a young age, tell it that you are its father. In the baby's heart, you are its father."

The same is true.

If Shangguan Jin was loyal to Jinpeng Kingdom, he was equally loyal in educating his children and descendants. Shangguan Feiyan was instilled with the idea of ​​loyalty to Jinpeng Kingdom from childhood, so how could she have any complaints?
Shangguan Feiyan harbored deep resentment towards Shangguan Danfeng.

This suggests that from the time Shangguan Feiyan could remember, she was constantly instilled with the idea of ​​abandoning the Jinpeng Kingdom, or frequently heard complaints that made her feel it was extremely unfair. Whose complaints came from?
Of course, it's Shangguan Jin.

When Shangguan Jin first arrived in the Central Plains, he was probably loyal to the little prince. But as time went by, as his treasures ran out and his family became penniless, he had no choice but to swallow his pride and ask the old ministers of Jinpeng for money.

Shangguan Jin's heart changed.

The Little Prince thought this was perfectly natural, and Shangguan Danfeng probably thought so too. This was the unique arrogance of royalty, but they overlooked one thing.

They are not royalty!

They were exiled slaves of a conquered nation who fled to the Central Plains.

If the little prince had the idea of ​​restoring his kingdom, he could claim to be royalty. But if he didn't want to restore his kingdom, how could there be a Golden Roc royal family if the Golden Roc Kingdom didn't exist?

Perhaps it was during a time when he was asking for money, or perhaps it was because he didn't enjoy breakfast one morning, but the pent-up resentment finally exploded, and Shangguan Jin completely turned to the dark side.

Shangguan Jin ambushed Huo Xiu. Because Huo Xiu was mysterious and rarely appeared, most of his subordinates did not recognize him. As long as he could imitate the handwriting and find Huo Xiu's seal, he could replace Huo Xiu and become the head of Qingyi Tower.

Recently, the internal management of Qingyi Tower has become increasingly lax, leading to a series of problems, all because Huo Xiu is now a fake.

There is one last question.

When I fought Huo Xiu just now, I clearly felt the aura of the "Boyhood Skill". Shangguan Jin has children and granddaughters, how could he be a boy?
They are either adopted sons or daughters.

Alternatively, one can cultivate special secret techniques.

What are your thoughts on this?

Li Zhaoting spoke at length, his mouth dry and his throat parched.

There wasn't a drop of water in the cave.

When you feel like writing something long, try writing it down!
……

Jinpeng Manor.

Shangguan Feiyan was packing her things.

Shangguan Feiyan was not without a way out.

Six months ago, under Huo Xiu's arrangement, Shangguan Feiyan fell in love with Huo Tianqing, the head of the Tianqin Sect and Yan Tieshan's steward. This was her last resort.

The three bodyguards remained loyal.

Someone admired Shangguan Feiyan.

Someone wants to become an elder of the Celestial Bird Sect.

Some people want to learn the unique martial arts techniques of the Tianqin Sect.

Shangguan Feiyan quickly packed her valuables and was about to leave the room when a silvery laugh came from outside the door. A person who could never possibly be there stood gracefully at the bedroom door, with a strange man in a straw hat standing behind him.

"Shangguan Danfeng, it's impossible! It's impossible! I clearly killed you! I killed you with the Flying Phoenix Needle! How could you still be alive? This is absolutely impossible!"

Shangguan Feiyan knelt on the ground, utterly dejected.

"Because you resented me so much and wanted me to die in agony, you killed me with the Flying Phoenix Needle. The person who was hit by the Flying Phoenix Needle is actually in a state of suspended animation."

Shangguan Danfeng's eyes were filled with murderous intent.

Each of the Shangguan family's daughters possesses a unique hidden weapon.

The Flying Swallow Needle strikes the throat, killing swiftly and decisively.

The Flying Phoenix Needle can paralyze the blood and qi of the whole body, making people's muscles stiff and like zombies, entering a state of apparent death. In reality, the brain remains clear. While still alive, the person will be sealed in a coffin, buried underground, and suffer the biting of snakes, insects, and rats, dying in endless pain.

The Flying Swallow Needle is used to kill.

The Flying Phoenix Needle is used to torture people.

In the original story, Shangguan Feiyan used the Flying Phoenix Needle to kill the Four Beauties of Emei. Ximen Chuixue saw through the principle of the Flying Phoenix Needle at a glance, carried Sun Xiuqing over mountains and valleys, cleared Sun Xiuqing's blood vessels, and then used his internal energy to detoxify her.

Since childhood, Shangguan Feiyan often heard Shangguan Jin complaining about the Great Golden Roc King. She harbored deep resentment towards Shangguan Danfeng and did not want her to die quickly, but rather to make her suffer endless torment.

This gave Shangguan Danfeng the opportunity to fake her death.

Beforehand, the antidote and the drug to induce a state of apparent death are taken, making the person appear no different from a dead body. At the same time, acupuncture points are sealed with silver needles to completely induce a state of apparent death and turbid breathing. Except for the fact that the body does not decompose, it is no different from a corpse.

The heartbeat and pulse become very weak, and the muscle skin becomes very hard, which is equivalent to putting a zombie shell on oneself. From the outside, one can only feel the cold, hard corpse and cannot feel the heartbeat and pulse.

No one would have guessed that the person buried underground for three days was not actually dead; it was assumed that some kind of highly toxic substance had been used for preservation to prevent the body from decaying.

There are too many anti-corrosion drugs in the world. The Crystal Death Powder that Ouyang Ting and Fang Lingji took can keep the corpses as solid as a rock and prevent them from decaying for decades.

Beautiful women always have certain privileges.

For example... his appearance remained unchanged for years after his death!
There is a problem here.

Even in a state of suspended animation, breathing is still necessary!

How does Shangguan Danfeng breathe while buried underground?
Of course, someone helped dig the ventilation holes.

This person is... the gardener!
The gardener at Jinpeng Manor.

Only he can loosen the soil anytime, anywhere.

Only he could walk through every corner of the garden.

"Why...why did you fake your death?"

"If I don't die, how will you carry out the plan? If you don't carry out the plan, who will kill the Green Robe Pavilion Master? Shangguan Jin is truly cunning. He killed Huo Xiu, seized his wealth, and went from a penniless pauper to the Green Robe Pavilion Master. He's still not satisfied and wants even more wealth!"

Shangguan Danfeng sneered, "I don't need to do any scheming. I just need to give him a gentle push. Shangguan Jin is insatiable, and he will bring about his own destruction sooner or later."

Shangguan Feiyan suddenly thought of something.

This method, this style of doing things...

Qinglonghui!
Shangguan Danfeng is a member of the Azure Dragon Society.

The strange man in the straw hat gently raised his head, revealing a lifelike Azure Dragon mask: "Let me introduce myself, I am Old Knife Handle, the leader of the September branch of the Azure Dragon Society!"

Only those who pass the test of death are qualified to become my subordinates; all those under my command are dead!
You only get one chance.

This opportunity belongs to Shangguan Danfeng.

So, you can all die now!

The old knife handle drew his sword.

The sword flashed.

There is no one left alive at Jinpeng Manor.

Old Knife Handle is not a living person.

Shangguan Danfeng was certainly not a living person either.

They are dead.

The dead are ghosts.

Ghosts should live in Ghost Manor.

Shangguan Feiyan, Liu Yuhen, Xiao Qiuyu, and Dugu Fang fell one after another, utterly powerless to fight back. They couldn't even see where the sword light came from.

The gap in strength is too huge.

Old Dao didn't even glance at her before leaving with Shangguan Danfeng. Shangguan Danfeng had passed the test and was qualified to join the Azure Dragon Society and Ghost Manor.

……

The first building in Qingyi.

Li Shengnan didn't lead anyone to excavate the mountain range; she was chasing someone, a person wearing a blue dragon mask. This guy was an assassin, a professional assassin of the Blue Dragon Society. Judging from his position, he belonged to the December branch.

He's here to hunt down the traitor!
Shangguan Mu is the chief financial officer of the Qinglong Society.

Shangguan Jin is not.

Shangguan Jin stole Shangguan Mu's identity and acted ambivalently towards the Azure Dragon Society. According to the rules of the Azure Dragon Society, Shangguan Jin must be eliminated. Just then, Shangguan Jin plotted against his old partner, which the Azure Dragon Society seized upon.

Old Knife Handle, the head of the September Hall, is the person in charge.

Shangguan Danfeng was the planner and executor.

The leader of the December Hall was responsible for checking for omissions and filling gaps, cleaning up all related traces, and eliminating all people and things related to it to ensure the secrecy of the Azure Dragon Society.

Then, he was discovered by Li Shengnan.

Li Shengnan launched a pursuit without hesitation.

The leader of the December Hall is an assassin.

Assassins are not good at head-on confrontations!
(End of this chapter)