Martial Arts Crossover: My Wife is the Top Scholar

Chapter 434 The Cannon Fodder's Counterattack: A Pawn Crossing the River Becomes a Rook
Jinzhou, beach, Dalian Bay.

A cold wind howled, and dark clouds covered the sky. What should have been a warm, sunny day turned into a chilling and murderous atmosphere as martial arts practitioners and the Eight Banners cavalry entered the arena.

The entire beach was surrounded by the Eight Banners cavalry. Cao Xiong set up eight small arenas and one large arena, with neat rows of round wooden stumps behind each arena.

The soldiers beat the cowhide drums, and the Eight Banners cavalry stood in a circle with their swords drawn, like black iron thorns. Cao Xiong, wearing a python robe and jade belt, held an enamel snuff bottle and pressed his left hand down. At the same time, the fifty-six strong soldiers blew long horns.

The deep, resonant horn sounded continuously and for a long time, startling even experts like Su Penghai, Ge Ying, and Tie Haitang, who instinctively held their breath.

Although we know that a fierce battle is inevitable today, with more than twenty Grandmasters both overt and covert, it would not be an exaggeration to say that this is the most intense battle in fifty years, we still need to hold a grand celebration in order to show the wealth and power of the imperial court.

Cao Xiong analyzed intelligence on various sects overnight, dividing them into different formations. The powerful sects that were close to the Manchus were placed at the front, while the smaller, mixed sects were placed at the back. Lone heroes were placed in the middle of the sects to prevent them from launching a surprise attack.

The podium is of paramount importance.

In addition to Cao Xiong, the host, the Qing Dynasty also sent two important officials to watch the game, along with ten imperial guards and twenty-eight lamas, who were on high alert in the stands.

The martial arts tournament was extremely dangerous, so civil officials were not allowed to watch. The two high-ranking officials were both imperial bodyguards, and their official positions were higher than Cao Xiong's, but they were not well-known in the martial arts world.

A man in his thirties, full of vigor and spirit, practiced the Demonic Sect's inner cultivation method and was skilled in fist and foot martial arts. This man was a descendant of Ao Bai, the number one warrior of the Manchu Qing Dynasty, and his name was Ao Fei.

Ao Fei learned martial arts in the Mongol Yuan Dynasty from a young age and was one of the disciples personally taught by the Demon Master Pang Ban. After mastering his skills, Ao Fei went to the Manchu Qing Dynasty palace to challenge the imperial guards. He easily defeated all the imperial instructors and became the chief instructor of the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

A man nearing seventy, with a white face and no beard, had two long, thin "phoenix eyes" that were close to his delicate, woman-like eyebrows, which slanted upwards.

He wore a purple satin cap with two long phoenix feather ribbons hanging down. A square, bright white jade was adorned in the center of the cap. He wore a purple robe with wide sleeves and a jade belt around his waist. Although he did not utter a word, he exuded a sharp and imposing aura. This person was clearly a eunuch.

His name is Cao Yu, a master of the Imperial Guard. He accidentally obtained the inheritance of the Divine Dragon Sect and developed a set of "Golden Leopard Palm" based on the formula of Leopard Embryo Tendon-Changing Pill. He is skilled at using the "Leopard Embryo" energy to injure people's internal organs, and his insidiousness is even more than that of Bone-Melting Palm.

The generals rumored to be leading troops to besiege and kill martial arts masters, such as Fukang'an and Wu Sidao, have never appeared.

With the arrival of the Manchu masters and the taking of seats by Ao Fei and Cao Yu, Cao Xiong gained some confidence.

Cao Yu coughed lightly. Cao Xiong understood, stood up, and said loudly, "Esteemed sect leaders, please hear me out. Today, the drill ground outside Jinzhou City is paved with camel wool from the northern desert and cushioned with tiger bones from Liaodong..."

Before he finished speaking, Zhang Zhaozhong led his musketeer soldiers to stomp their feet and thrust their muskets into the ground, startling thousands of birds into flight, which then crashed into the barbed wire.

Cao Xiong smiled with satisfaction: "His Majesty is compassionate towards the hardships of the martial world and cherishes the martial artists. The East Seat is specially bestowed with a golden cup of plum wine, and the West Seat is specially bestowed with a silver platter of braised venison!"

Hundreds of soldiers brought out trays, holding golden cups of fine wine. The white crane was covered in red glaze, with the glaze on the top of the crane. The venison box was filled with smoke, which condensed into the shape of a soul-summoning banner.

Suddenly, the Eight Banners heavy cavalry split up and formed ranks, revealing thirty powerful cannons, each with its muzzle wrapped in yellow silk.

Cao Xiong laughed loudly, "I know that the remnants of the Wanyan clan and Song spies are hiding here. Those who surrender voluntarily will be pardoned, but those who cannot see the situation and are stubborn traitors will be crushed to pieces by me."

A sudden gust of north wind whipped up a bloody cloud, and the eighteen dragon flags fluttered wildly in the drill ground. Cao Xiong flicked a golden melon seed between his fingers and then flicked it at the bronze gong, producing a sound that could break metal and shatter stone.

Cao Yu straightened his clothes and stood up: "Those hypocritical and pedantic quacks like to hide things and talk about 'courtesy before force,' but you heroes are generous and straightforward, and you should talk about 'force before courtesy.'"

Lord Cao is a bodyguard of the emperor, referring to soldiers.

Our family are imperial eunuchs, so we are very particular about etiquette and respect.

Since the founding of our Great Qing Dynasty, the country has been prosperous and the people have lived in peace. The martial arts world of Northeast China has produced many outstanding figures.

Since ancient times, a snake cannot function without a head. Today, we are holding the Guandong Martial Arts Conference for two reasons: first, to select a martial arts leader so that everyone can better serve the imperial court; and second, to bestow imperial favor and rewards.

His Majesty has decreed:

The winner will be granted the titles of Leader of the Guandong Martial Arts Alliance, Deputy Commander of the Imperial Guard, bestowed with a yellow riding jacket, Marquis of the Nine Provinces, ten thousand taels of gold, thirty beautiful women, and ten volumes of secret manuals.

Nine major sects were established in the Guandong region, and they were permitted to establish their own sects in the capital and to accept members of the imperial family as disciples.

He was the leader of the martial arts alliance and the head of one of the nine major sects. He was also granted the title of Plain Yellow Banner Bondservant, and his official rank and title were hereditary for three generations.

"Heroes, please!"

Among the rewards bestowed by Emperor Qianlong was the title of "First Warrior of the Manchu Qing Dynasty," but unfortunately, the previous "First Warrior" was Ao Bai, who was killed by Emperor Kangxi and Wei Xiaobao.

The previous number one warrior was Emperor Kangxi, whom Emperor Qianlong personally certified in front of his uncles and elders.

If this title were given, it would either imply that the leader of the martial arts alliance was Ao Bai, who would inevitably be discarded after his usefulness was over, or it would imply that the leader of the martial arts alliance was Emperor Qianlong's grandfather. Not to mention that Ao Fei was also present. This title would be truly inappropriate.

That being said, these rewards were by no means small.

With fame and fortune, money and beauty, the opportunity to establish a sect and recruit disciples, ensuring the sect's long-term survival, these rewards were extremely tempting to martial artists in Liaodong, and many were eager to try.

Zhang Zhaozhong wished he could go on stage himself.

For Zhang Zhaozhong, an official-obsessed man, the title of Plain Yellow Banner Bondservant was an honor he could never attain even after a hundred years of hard work, and he was green with envy.

The title of "major sect" is not just for show. Major sects certified by the imperial court can receive preferential treatment from the court's resources. Some martial arts masters who come from humble backgrounds, lack resources, and do not want to serve the powerful will join such sects.

These martial arts masters do not participate in the management of the sect. Instead, they serve as elders who pass on skills and elders who protect the Dharma. They can focus on cultivating martial arts in peace and enjoy the resources provided by the imperial court. As long as the sect does not perish, the resources for martial arts training will continue to be available.

To reiterate, most of the martial arts masters in the Qing Dynasty were imperial bodyguards, and the martial arts sects were extremely distorted.

The fact that nine sects were bestowed with such honors at once demonstrates the sincerity of the gesture. To draw a parallel, it can be seen as the "Eight Sects Alliance" in the novel "The Legend of the Condor Heroes," where one of the sects directly became an instructor in the Imperial Guard, holding a prestigious position.

Even those renowned sects in the Central Plains, though declining in power, still need to engage in bloody battles to maintain their reputation. How much resources did it take for Emperor Qianlong to bestow titles upon nine sects at once? Once a sect becomes a "major sect," how many unaffiliated martial artists can it recruit, and how many benefits can it gain?

A rough calculation shows that the profits are enormous.

Nangong Ling had initially misled Li Zhaoting, thinking that promising a large reward would be enough, and then pocketed the money.

Unexpectedly, Li Zhaoting was from the Central Plains and didn't know the rules of the Manchu martial arts world. He immediately asked for money, squeezing Nangong Ling dry, and finally borrowed his head for his own use.

Until her death, Nangong Ling never knew where her words went wrong. In the eyes of the Manchu martial arts world, a major sect recognized by the court was qualified to take a prince as a disciple. As long as one wasn't too stupid, one could easily rake in hundreds of thousands of taels of silver.

Such a grand reward should have attracted a large following, with martial arts masters vying for it. However, after the words were spoken, there was complete silence.

The training ground, with thousands of people, was so quiet you could hear a pin drop.

The powerful forces vying for the title knew that the Wanyan clan would cause trouble, and they also knew that Li Zhaoting was eyeing Cao Xiong's head, so they dared not be the first to act.

Those from humble families who could only afford soup, seeing that Su Penghai and the others dared not go on stage, naturally dared not overstep their bounds. They sat upright, each one like a meditating monk.

Cao Xiong glared and glanced down.

The crowd remained still.

Even Su Penghai, who had received benefits from Cao Xiong and had many business dealings with him, remained seated and unmoved, while Yi Yangzi, whom he had bribed with a large sum of money, counted the silver notes with a grin.

—That money-grubber! I'll kill him!
"Hahahahahaha..."

A burst of wild laughter echoed from afar: "This is the talent-filled martial arts world of Northeast China? What a joke!"

A figure rushed out from the crowd, nimbly rolled in mid-air, and landed in the center of the arena. This person was named Wanyan Zhuo, one of Jin Chenying's guards.

Jin Chenying is the legitimate prince of the Wanyan clan. His master is Jin Yan Shenying, and he has six bodyguards.

In order to strike at the martial arts world of Guandong, Wanyan Honglie was sent to his death by having three guards assist him. Wanyan Zhuoxin was arrogant and proud, and was thrown out as cannon fodder.

Wanyan Zhuo had long understood this, but life and death, success or failure, all depended on this battle. He was even more resolute than Jin Chenying, who was hiding his true intentions. His eyes were sharp and he looked like a madman.

"Cao Xiong, I am Wanyan Zhuo. Didn't you want to see if the Wanyan family has any heroes? With the direct descendant of the Wanyan family here, which of the rebel Qing dares to make a move?"

Wanyan Zhuo's martial arts skills were far inferior to those of Manchu masters like Cao Xiong and Cao Yu. Ao Fei could kill him with a single punch. However, he was challenging on stage, and in order to maintain morale, he had to find a master to deal with. He couldn't just show his chariot when the opponent advanced a pawn; that would be too embarrassing.

Of course, from a chess theory perspective, revealing the rook first would give one an absolute advantage. If Li Zhaoting were in command, he would definitely send out a top player to defeat Wanyan Zhuo in one move and crush the morale of the Wanyan clan by stepping on Wanyan Zhuo's head.

This situation demands a swift resolution.

We must never allow Wanyan Zhuo to show off his power.

A pawn advancing one step is a provocation, its purpose being to loosen the horse's legs and set up a cannon. If the pawn advances two more steps, allowing the pawn to cross the river, the pawn will be transformed.

A pawn that crosses the river becomes a chariot. Nobody wants to touch a pawn that has crossed the river.

Cao Xiong frowned and snorted. A Taoist priest in his forties, with a handsome face and slightly lewd features, flew onto the arena. The priest carried an iron sword on his back and was quite agile in his light-footed movements. His Taoist name was Yu Zhenzi.

Yu Zhenzi was a renegade of the "Iron Sword Sect". He was fond of fame, fortune, money and women, especially women. He committed all kinds of evil deeds, including adultery and kidnapping. His senior brother, Daoist Musang, repeatedly advised him, but Yu Zhenzi ignored him.

As Yu Zhenzi's martial arts skills improved, Mu Sang gradually became no match for him. During their last encounter, Mu Sang managed to escape with her life thanks to the protection of her protective armor.

A few years ago, the two learned by chance that the Iron Sword Sect's lost symbol of its leader, the "Iron Sword," had appeared in the Western Regions. They went there together to search for it. Yu Zhenzi rode at full speed, while Mu Sang encountered a Go master on the way and suffered a series of defeats. Mu Sang loved playing Go and forgot about finding the Iron Sword. He only thought about pestering that master and was determined to win a game.

That Go master was just an ordinary person; how could he withstand the entanglement of a martial arts expert? He was so entangled that he had no choice but to make a series of wrong moves, losing more than twenty moves in a row with the Eagle's Move, before he barely lost to Mu Sang. Mu Sang had his fill of Go, but this delayed his time, and his iron sword was taken away by Yu Zhenzi, leaving behind a bloody corpse.

The Iron Sword Sect has strict rules. When its members and disciples see the sect leader, Iron Sword, they must kneel and kowtow. Mu Sang was powerless to deal with Yu Zhenzi from then on. Fortunately, there were many experts in the Central Plains, so Yu Zhenzi did not dare to go too far, fearing that he would be surrounded and killed.

Two years ago, Yu Zhenzi offended the Huashan Sect and was chased by Mu Renqing until he was completely disoriented. He fled north to the Manchu Qing Dynasty and became a disciple of Cao Xiong. With Cao Xiong's support, he founded his own sect and rebuilt the Iron Sword Sect in the Manchu Qing Dynasty.

Therefore, even though Yu Zhenzi knew that there were many dangers, he still seized the opportunity to gain fame and fortune in one fell swoop.

On the arena, Yu Zhenzi drew his sword and fought with Wanyan Zhuo. After counting the silver notes, Li Zhaoting met Cao Xiong's sinister gaze and chuckled awkwardly.

—I'm terrified of poverty!

—I didn't spend a single penny of this money!
Gao Damao asked with a grin, "Yiyangzi, among our small families, you have the highest martial arts skill. Who do you think will win? Want to make a bet?"

"Yu Zhenzi has a 90% chance of winning."

"why?"

“Yu Zhenzi’s lightness skill is far superior to Wanyan Zhuo’s. As long as we play steadily and make full use of our lightness skill advantage, even two Wanyan Zhuos would not be a match for Yu Zhenzi.”

"Where does Wanyan Zhuo's chance of winning lie?"

"Victory is within our grasp!"

Li Zhaoting pointed to the arena.

Wanyan Zhuo was forced to flee in terror by Yu Zhenzi's agile and unpredictable light footwork. Just when everyone thought Yu Zhenzi had the victory in his grasp, Wanyan Zhuo clenched his right fist and grabbed it hard, causing the air in the arena to swirl into a whirlwind.

Caught off guard, Yu Zhenzi was pulled down by the whirlwind. Unsteady on his feet, he instinctively moved closer to Wanyan Zhuo. Wanyan Zhuo finished gathering his strength and unleashed a powerful punch that could shatter stone tablets.

Heaven and Earth Overlord Fist - Raging Whirlwind!
Wanyan Zhuo's skill was insufficient, and he had only mastered one move, the Heaven and Earth Overlord Fist. However, the Heaven and Earth Overlord Fist was so powerful that even a single move could change the course of the battlefield. Yu Zhenzi was blasted away by the punch, spitting out blood, his ribs were broken, and bone fragments pierced his internal organs. He fell off the stage with a pale face.

Before Yu Zhenzi could shout to surrender, Wanyan Zhuo raised his hand and shot out a flying knife, and Yu Zhenzi fell to the ground powerless.

His eyes were wide open, and he died with his eyes wide open, unable to close them in peace.

In every respect, Yu Zhenzi was superior to Wanyan Zhuo. However, Yu Zhenzi wanted to make more contributions and show off his skills in front of Cao Xiong. He used his light footwork to dart around and toy with Wanyan Zhuo, and every move he made was to injure but not kill.

How can one be so arrogant and careless in a duel where the outcome is decided?
The lion fights the rabbit with all his strength.

Wanyan Zhuoneng was chosen as cannon fodder, a mere pawn of the Wanyan clan. How could he not have a trump card to turn the tide?
Wanyan Zhuo's leap onto the arena was like making a move on a chessboard. Using the Heaven and Earth Overlord Fist to kill Yu Zhenzi was another move. After making two moves, the pawn crossed the river.

When a pawn crosses the river, another pawn appears on the other side.

Defeating the opponent, or moving sideways, is like having a vast sky and a boundless sea, making a mess of the opponent.

Cao Xiong was pale and burning with rage.

Wanyan Zhuo laughed wildly: "Come on! Is there any other hero who wants to give me pointers? The mighty martial arts world of Guandong can't even beat the lowly soldiers of the Wanyan clan. No, it's not that you can't beat me, it's that you don't dare to step onto the stage to fight. What kind of bullshit Eight Banners Iron Cavalry are you? You're all fucking rats!"

Cao Xiong roared, "Wanyan Zhuo, you bunch of stray dogs, how dare you provoke the Eight Banners of my Great Qing!"

Wanyan Zhuo had a pill hidden in his mouth and was about to take the opportunity to say a few more words to digest the effects of the medicine. What he wanted most was to engage in a verbal battle, hoping that the verbal battle would last forever.

"Was any of what I said a lie?"
Cao Xiong, is all you can do is talk?

Are the Eight Banners cavalry all just all talk?
If you've got the guts, come up on stage and kill me!

Ao Fei, Ao Bai is known as the number one warrior of the Manchu Qing Dynasty. Do you dare to accept my challenge? I advise you not to. It seems that the number one warrior of the Manchu Qing Dynasty did not have a good ending!
Cao Yu, you damned eunuch, get out of my way!

Cao Xiong, besides picking up girls and putting on airs, what other skills do you have?
My daring to step onto the stage means I've won a round.

I killed one person and won another round.

I, a notorious traitor on the list, am swaggering around in front of you, and you dare not make a move!

I won big today!

Even if I die, I've lived a full life!

Who dares to fight me to the death!

I only want to know one thing...

"How many can I kill today!"

Wanyan Zhuo is not considered a master. There are more than three hundred masters present who can deal with him. However, these people either have their own plans, are waiting for the right price, or want to play the long game. If the big fish doesn't bite, Ao Fei and Cao Yu will not make a move, thus forming a special kind of balance.

Those who can win are unwilling to take the stage.

If you can't win, there's no point in taking the stage.

Cao Xiong was prepared. He snapped his fingers, and a guy dressed in messy animal skins, with tangled hair hanging over his shoulders and looking like a savage, leaped onto the arena. This guy's body was covered in animal skins, but his hands and feet were exposed. He had rough hands and big feet and a strong build.

Due to long-term physical labor, even in the high-latitude Northeast region, they were still tanned dark all over, and their muscles bulged like iron lumps.

"May I ask your esteemed name?"

"I have no name, no code name. The gang leader ordered me to kill you! Are you ready?"

"Hmph! Come on!"

The Wanyan clan, like many others, emerged from a primitive, bloodthirsty era. They were fierce and savage, capable of frightening delicate flowers in a greenhouse, but not Wanyan Zhuo.

The two roared and charged into battle.

The "wild man" was born with superhuman strength and profound power. He did not know martial arts and relied solely on his physical instincts and sharp teeth and claws to fight against Wanyan Zhuo. Every move he made was aimed at vital points.

Analyzing the way the man exerts his strength, the savage has no martial arts foundation whatsoever, yet he possesses a profound and pure internal energy, either bestowed by a master or enhanced by a spiritual medicine. Could this person be from the Ginseng Clan?
The Ginseng Clan reveres ginseng above all else and has no shortage of nourishing elixirs. It's likely that the Clan's leaders eat ginseng like it's food, their bodies practically overflowing with it...

Li Zhaoting gasped.

Is this a martial arts sect, or a humanoid elixir?
I remember someone analyzing it in my past life: Liang Ziweng's value was higher than his strange snake. The strange snake only ate rare and precious herbs for a dozen years, while Liang Ziweng ate them for decades.

wait?

Ginseng gang... ginseng harvesters... undercover agents...

Li Zhaoting's eyes widened!
The spy hidden within the Wanyan clan was actually him!

Li Zhaoting looked to his left, where a small sect in Liaodong called the Iron Arm Sect was located. Their main cultivation method was Iron Shirt, and the members were as strong as black bears. In reality, they belonged to the Wanyan clan. Wanyan Honglie, along with his retainers, was hiding in the Iron Arm Sect, waiting for an opportunity to assassinate Cao Xiong.

If Liang Ziweng was an undercover agent, Cao Xiong would most likely know Wanyan Honglie's plan. Looking up, the Eight Banners cavalry formed a crescent shape, and the core of the musket battalion was the Iron Arm Gate. Cao Xiong, Cao Yu, and Ao Fei's eyes would always inadvertently sweep over Wanyan Honglie.

interesting……

Li Zhaoting gave a cold smile.

You have your brilliant strategies, I have my troublemakers.

No matter how meticulous and rigorous a plan is, if there are two troublemakers, it will be disrupted and sparks will fly.

It seems unlikely that Cao Xiong will get his wish!
(End of this chapter)