The Martial Saint rose to power starting as a substitute bridegroom.

Chapter 76 Disbandment

The next day.

When Li Yuan arrived at the martial arts club, the huge training ground was deserted with only a few scattered disciples, making it even more desolate.

This was an expected scenario.

Most people have ordinary talents to begin with, and now that they have lost the aid of elixirs, it is truly as difficult as climbing to heaven if they want to make further progress in the path of martial arts.

Rather than wasting my time here, I'd better go out and find a stable way to make a living.

Rosanne sat on the stone steps of the doorway, a small coarse cloth bundle draped over her shoulder.

She seemed to have been waiting for Li Yuan there. Upon seeing him, she stood up and went to greet him, her eyes already slightly red.

"Junior Brother Li, I'm leaving now. You—take good care of yourself."

She forced a smile, but her eyes were already a little moist.

"Senior Sister Luo, what's wrong with you? Why did you leave all of a sudden?" Li Yuan asked.

Rosanne paused, lowered her eyes, and said softly, "My natural talent and aptitude are mediocre to begin with, and I see no hope of ever passing the entrance exam. The world is in such chaos now, and my family is struggling to make ends meet. I think—I should go back and help support the family."

Li Yuan's throat moved slightly; he wanted to say something to persuade her to stay, but the words stuck in his throat.

Is staying here truly the best option for Senior Sister Luo?

For an ordinary person, the chance of unlocking the secrets of internal energy is already incredibly low, let alone in these turbulent times when even elixirs are hard to find, making the possibility even more remote.

Going back to live the life of an ordinary family might be the most stable choice.

"Senior sister—take care." These were the only words he could utter in the end.

Rosanne nodded and walked out of the courtyard with her head down.

When they reached the moon gate, they couldn't help but turn back for one last look, their eyes filled with reluctance.

This place bears the marks of her countless hours of hard work and tireless effort; every brick, every tile, every blade of grass is so familiar to her.

Of course, there were also his fellow disciples with whom he spent every day, and—Li Yuan.

She withdrew her gaze, shook her head, and smiled bitterly. She had once regarded Li Yuan, who was of similar mediocre talent, as a role model to strive to catch up with, but now—Junior Brother Li had a bright future ahead of him, while she had become a passerby who was gradually drifting away.

From now on, they will be two parallel lines that never intersect.

gone.

Li Yuan stared thoughtfully at the empty moon gate until Yang Cheng approached. Noticing his odd expression, Yang Cheng patted him on the shoulder and sighed, "There's nothing we can do about it. The current situation... well, it's truly hard to explain in a few words."

Li Yuan nodded silently.

"Oh, right, Master wants you to come in," Yang Cheng added.

Inside the hall, Lin Chong's eyes were sunken, and his face looked even more haggard than it had been a few days ago.

"Li Yuan, how's the progress lately?"

Rarely did his master show such concern for his cultivation, Li Yuan quickly bowed and replied, "Reporting to Master Lin, I am well."

Lin Chong smiled calmly.

For some reason, he found himself growing to like this diligent and composed disciple more and more each time he looked at him.

"You don't need to hide it from me. The Merchant Alliance has now monopolized all the pharmacies in the city, and there are almost no pills to be found in the entire Linjiang City. Your progress in cultivation must have been greatly affected."

With his thoughts laid bare, Li Yuan could only offer an embarrassed smile.

"Any news from the Guicang Alliance?" Lin Chong asked again.

If we can go to the prefectural city and enter the Guicang Alliance, the current predicament of resource depletion can be easily resolved.

"Not yet." Li Yuan shook his head.

Lin Chong pondered for a moment, then murmured, "In previous years, the letters recruiting disciples would arrive around this time, so why is it different this year—"

He shook his head, as if trying to shake off these chaotic thoughts. "Forget it, never mind all that."

He lowered his head, his face full of bitterness, and remained silent for a long time before finally speaking with difficulty. Although he tried his best to keep his voice calm, he could not hide the faint tremor in his voice: "I summoned you here today to inform you in advance. It seems that our master-disciple relationship has come to an end. You—go."

"What makes you say that, Master Lin?!" Li Yuan was startled.

"The Green Ox Martial Arts Club—it can't continue." Lin Chong slowly closed his eyes, as if all his strength had been drained away. "I should also take a break and enjoy my retirement."

With the merchant alliance monopolizing resources and resources depleted, the martial arts schools and clubs in the city have long been in dire straits, with many closing down. The Green Ox Martial Arts Club is also facing difficulties.

But Li Yuan knew that with his master's competitive nature, he would never make such a hasty and rash decision, especially since he hadn't heard a single word about it beforehand.

After leaving the inner hall, Li Yuan went straight to Yang Cheng. After repeated questioning, Yang Cheng finally sighed and told the truth.

"Qin Lang, a retainer of the Cheng family, has issued a challenge to the Qingniu Martial Arts Society."

"Qin Lang? Who is this person? I've never heard of him before?"

"A highly skilled disciple of the White Cloud Sect, possessing the cultivation of the early-stage peak of the Transformation Realm. Your master feels he is getting old, and you have only recently broken through to the Transformation Realm; the time is still short, and your realm is not yet stable. Looking at the Green Ox Martial Society now, no one is his match. The challenge clearly states that it is not only a matter of victory or defeat, but also a matter of life and death. If you lose, the entire Green Ox Martial Society must submit to the Merchant Alliance and be at the command of the Cheng family!"

A surge of anger shot from Li Yuan's chest to the top of his head.

"The White Cloud Sect—is it a major martial arts sect on par with the Guicang Alliance and the Four Symbols Sect?"

Yang Cheng nodded and said, "That's right. Qin Lang has been immersed in the White Cloud Sect for three years, and his cultivation is extraordinary."

"So Master Lin intends to take this on alone and disband the martial arts club?" Li Yuan's voice turned somber.

"Thank you for informing me, Senior Brother Yang." He clasped his hands in a salute, then turned and walked back towards the inner hall.

Yesterday, he rejected the Cheng family's offer of employment.

Today, the Cheng family's challenge was delivered to the Qingniu Martial Arts Association.

Are things in this world really just such coincidences?

This is clearly aimed at me.

Even if he were to play the coward now, would the cunning and treacherous Cheng Shimo be able to let him go?

Impossible.

Sooner or later, this battle was inevitable.

Rather than wasting away the years in anxiety, it's better to cut the Gordian knot.

Qin Lang, peak of the early stage of Transformation Realm? In the end, he's just an early stage Transformation Realm cultivator.

The Cheng family, like the Tianlong Martial Arts School, is now prominently listed in his accounts. He won't be able to sleep peacefully until they are completely eradicated.

I imagine that those two families felt the same way about themselves.

Li Yuan gently pushed open the door, and in his gaze toward Lin Zhong, there was an unquestionable certainty and resolve.

"Master Lin, I will fight this battle."

The square on Wumiao Street was bustling with activity.

The entire city of Linjiang was focused on this battle.

"Qin Lang," Cheng Shimo's voice was icy cold, devoid of any warmth, his gaze shifting to the silent figure beside him, "Don't hold back."

Most importantly, we must beat Li Yuan to a pulp!

"I understand."

Qin Lang slowly walked towards the arena.

He had an ordinary face and a lean build. His gray clothes were unremarkable, except for his eyes, which were calm as a deep well, with a sharp inner light shining through them.

He walked to the edge of the stage, bit his right thumb, and pressed the blood heavily onto the death warrant on the edge of the ring, leaving a glaring dark red fingerprint.

Immediately, without any apparent movement, he floated down to the center of the arena like a gray cloud.

"Qin Lang of Baiyun Sect," he said in a steady, even somewhat wooden voice, "please enlighten me."

The entire audience was stunned once again!

Qin Lang!

Cheng Shimo had already spread the news that Qin Lang was a master of the Transformation Realm.

It's a rare sight in Linjiang City for a master of internal energy to stand on the arena.

Qin Lang had already reached the Transformation Realm several years ago; his foundation was so profound, and his strength so mature and refined, that it was far beyond what Xiao Yichen could compare to.

He was Cheng Shimo's most trusted reliance!

The air seemed to be sucked out at that moment, solidifying into a heavy block of lead, making it hard to breathe.

An even more oppressive and dangerous atmosphere enveloped the entire venue, like the thick darkness before a storm, foreshadowing an even more terrifying clash.

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