Excessive ferocity due to caution

Whether in a world with or without internet access...

That's how news travels; it travels faster than people.

The news that Ren Wudi, this unparalleled demon, was about to be born spread to the ears of countless guests from the six kingdoms in less than an hour!

Rumors spread like wildfire.

Panic.

"Is Ren Wudi about to be born?"

"That demon... how come he's still alive?"

"I remember Yinxia Mountain isn't part of Qi territory... If Ren Wudi were to emerge, wouldn't Qi be the first to suffer?"

"Don't you have any basic geographical knowledge? Yinxia Mountain is part of the State of Lu, but the King of Qi spent a huge sum of money to take it from the King of Lu seventeen years ago..."

"I remember back then, there was a rumor in the martial arts world that the King of Qi was worried that when he attacked the State of Lu in the future, the King of Lu would want to destroy the State of Qi along with it, so he released Ren Wudi. That's why he went to great lengths to get the territory of Yinxia Mountain."

"King Lu didn't want to give in back then... but Qi offered just too much!"

"After the Battle of Liqiu, the State of Lu was severely weakened. If it hadn't sold this piece of land, who knows what state Lu would be in now..."

These people chatted, but soon new voices emerged from the crowd:

"I think... this news is most likely fake..."

"Why did Ren Wudi have to appear at this crucial moment, just when the secret of the Seven Constellations of the Azure Dragon is about to be revealed? Don't you think it's too much of a coincidence?"

"yes!"

"Without a doubt, it must be a false rumor spread by some faction, with the aim of causing the various schools of thought to retreat, so that they can benefit alone..."

"That's right! Besides, with so many of us, and countless masters from all over the world gathered at Cliff Mountain, what can Ren Wudi do, no matter how powerful he is? Can he possibly stir up trouble here?"

"If he dares to come, I, Jin Chanzi, will make sure that Ren Wudi knows what it means for the new generation to surpass the old, and for the old generation to die on the beach..."

...

On the mountain road, Zhao Yi and his two companions, who were about to head to the second checkpoint, also heard the same news.

Zhao Yi couldn't help but ask Su Xingcan, whose expression was somewhat grave:

"Brother Su, who is Ren Wudi?"

Upon hearing this, Su Xingcan snapped out of her reverie and remained silent for a while.

His nonchalant expression had completely disappeared.

"Ren Wudi... is an insurmountable mountain for martial arts practitioners from the six kingdoms."

Zhao Yi raised an eyebrow upon hearing this:

"Is he very capable?"

Su Xingcan sighed:

"Otherwise, why claim to be invincible?"

Zhao Yi looked ahead at the road and asked:

"Even Fan Qingxue isn't as good as him?"

Su Xingcan remained silent for a long time.

"no the same……"

"Qingxue is a fanatic obsessed with swordsmanship, while Ren Wudi is a martial arts genius unlike any other in history!"

Zhao Yi:

How talented are they?

Su Xingcan:

"Ren Wudi never learned any martial arts in his life."

"He killed people... without ever using any martial arts techniques."

Zhao Yi took the wine gourd from Su Qingyao's hand, took a sip of wine, and laughed:

"Without having learned a single move, he can break through all the laws of the world..."

"I'd say I have some talent, if I may."

Su Xingcan looked at Zhao Yi with surprise in her eyes:

"reluctantly?"

"Such unprecedented talent, in Brother Zhao's eyes, is merely barely passable?"

Zhao Yi smiled noncommittally.

Seeing his unfathomable nature, Su Xingcan did not pursue the matter further, and only said:

"No matter what, Ren Wudi is indeed invincible."

"Even Fan Qingxue... would have a hard time beating him."

"but……"

He changed the subject abruptly, looking at Zhao Yi as if joking:

"If Brother Zhao is willing to lend a hand..."

Zhao glanced at him.

The scholar gave an embarrassed smile.

"Isn't this a sign of trust in Brother Zhao?"

As they talked, the three of them arrived at the second checkpoint leading to the observatory.

There are also many people here.

Because Zhao Yi killed the drunken Taoist priest at the first checkpoint, the first checkpoint was destroyed.

Apart from the martial arts practitioners who fled intimidated by Ren Wudi's reputation, everyone else made it to the second checkpoint.

This level is much safer than the first one.

At least on the surface, that's how it appears.

The path up the mountain is full of hidden dangers.

A huge black stone tablet blocked their way.

Letter:

—Hidden Mountain.

This place is shrouded in fog all year round. The construction of the mountain road used exquisite Yin-Yang techniques and Qimen Dunjia techniques. Once people enter the mountain, they are very likely to get lost!

Some of those who arrived earlier had already tried entering once, but very few succeeded. Several of the failures sat dejectedly in front of the black stone tablet, cursing and swearing, before choosing another, much longer path...

Yes.

Even if you can't pass the second checkpoint, you can still go up the mountain.

But the road ahead... is very long.

"The owner of this observatory... has a truly filthy heart."

Looking at the road that was further away and more difficult to travel, Zhao Yi couldn't help but say something.

Su Xingcan, standing to the side, glanced at him and smiled:

"What did Brother Zhao say?"

Zhao Yi pointed to the road that was further away.

"These two tests, ostensibly meant to be trials, are actually a scheme to divert attention from the real issues."

Su Xingcan pretends to be stupid:

"Brother Zhao, I don't understand what you're saying."

Zhao Yi glanced at him, a half-smile on her face, and said:

"If the Star Gazing Tower prevents outsiders from ascending to the observatory, then at the crucial moment when the celestial phenomenon of the seven planets aligning will occur, the Star Gazing Tower... and even the entire State of Lu, will become the target of everyone's anger, and may even be attacked by all sides!"

"So, the owner of the Star Gazing Tower, who was hiding in the shadows, used a very clever... but very dirty method."

"—Shifting the blame."

Su Xingcan pretended to be deep in thought:

"Brother Zhao, what you're saying... I think I understand a little bit now."

Zhao Yi continued calmly:

"That guy first took advantage of the arrogance of the martial arts world and set up the first test, which turned the Star Gazing Tower from a passive to an active position, giving it the upper hand."

"After all, the test is there; some people can get through it, and some people can't."

"In this way, those who can't get through will no longer have the reason or ability to incite a disturbance..."

"Firstly, with comparison, it becomes clear that one's skills are inferior to others."

"Secondly, the most skilled martial artists among them have already passed the first test and are no longer on the same side as them."

"In this way, the vast majority of martial arts practitioners, though not strong, were eliminated without bloodshed."

"This force, which had originally been united and posed a threat to the State of Lu, suddenly fell apart."

Su Xingcan suddenly realized and gave Zhao Yi a thumbs up:

"Brother Zhao, you have an amazing eye!"

"It's a pity... the Drunken Taoist is dead, and the mastermind's wishful thinking has also failed."

Zhao Yi said lazily:

"No."

"In fact, he had anticipated this... so just in case, he set up this second barrier."

Su Xingcan's gaze was sharp; he looked at Zhao Yi as if he were looking at a treasure trove.

"And what do you mean?"

Zhao Yi said in a gentle voice:

"The second hurdle... doesn't distinguish between strong and weak, it only distinguishes between sides."

"A group of people were lucky enough to take the road up the mountain."

"A group of people are unlucky and have to travel a long way."

"But the resources for food, clothing, shelter, and transportation on the mountain are limited, so it's first come, first served... Yashan is located at a high altitude, and it's currently the dead of winter, so the nights must be unbearable, with both deadly blizzards and bone-crushing winds!"

"One or two nights wouldn't be a problem, but if it's like this for three to five days, or even seven or eight days, who can endure it?"

"At that time, who can guarantee that nothing will happen?"

"after all……"

"If some people don't die, then the martial world isn't the martial world anymore..."

"And from the moment the first person died, the alliance of martial arts forces gathered from the other five countries... was declared to have collapsed."

"Does Brother Su think it's dirty?"

Looking into Zhao Yi's deep, penetrating eyes, Su Xingcan looked away guiltily and chuckled awkwardly:

"Dirty...isn't it?"

"That owner of the observatory is such a jerk, he doesn't even get dermatitis after giving birth..."

PS: Second update.

One more chapter to come.

I'll make the MSG buns first!