Surviving in the chaos of battle, I'm grinding for proficiency.

"What?!"

Wu Jingyi looked at the returning Qianyun Martial Arts School disciples in disbelief and pressed for an answer:

"Are they telling the truth?"

When asked about that person, his expression turned bitter:

"Senior Sister Wu, it's true... Senior Brother Dan Yi died on the spot."

"Stop talking!"

Wu Jingyi recalled her earlier words, and her face immediately burned like fire.

Feeling the mocking gazes of the people at Songfeng Martial Arts School, she quickly lowered her head, wanting to escape this place as soon as possible.

"Senior Sister Wu, where are you going?"

One of the disciples cried out urgently.

Wu Jingyi walked away quickly without looking back, dragging her severed arm.

His back view looked quite disheveled.

Jiang Ting, who was standing some distance away, also felt extremely embarrassed.

She immediately looked around to see if anyone had noticed her embarrassing situation.

Unfortunately, everyone's attention was completely drawn to Li Chuan.

In reality, nobody cared about her at all.

Li Qing quickly went to greet him, saying worriedly:

"Ah Chuan, are you alright?"

Li Chuan patted him on the shoulder:

"Don't worry, big brother!"

Li Qing was somewhat skeptical, always thinking that Li Chuan was just trying to comfort him.

Li Chuan was also somewhat helpless.

Admittedly, if he hadn't practiced the Jade Skin Technique, a martial arts method that trains one's body horizontally.

Even if he dodged most of the force of Li Danyi's palm strike, it would be impossible for him to be so unharmed.

However, Xiao Cheng's Jade Skin Technique, combined with his powerful Qi and blood, gave him outstanding defensive capabilities, which is why he only suffered minor scratches.

But he couldn't explain these things to Li Qing, so he could only signal to him with his eyes not to worry.

Liang Xingzhou stepped forward and laughed heartily:

"Ah Chuan, I misjudged you. I never thought you could actually kill Li Danyi."

"In my opinion, it was good that they killed him!"

"When Li Danyi stole the show at the Gathering of Heroes, that old man Ji from Qianyun Martial Arts School showed off quite a bit in front of me!"

Liang Xingzhou paused, then sneered:

"And those outside who look down on our martial arts school always try to use the Gathering of Heroes to put us down."

"With these results you've achieved, let's see what they can say now!"

While the master and disciple were talking, those from other factions who had come to gather intelligence hurriedly returned to their master's house.

This message needs to be sent out quickly.

Li Chuan's eyes flickered as he watched the departing figures.

This is just the beginning.

After the news of his killing of Li Danyi spread throughout Anning County.

The Gathering of Heroes, meticulously planned and orchestrated by the county magistrate and the Wang family, is likely to face a huge backlash!

And the reputation of Songfeng Martial Arts School will suddenly turn around!

Now, all it takes is a little time and patience.

……

Qianyun Martial Arts School, a dimly lit secret room.

Wu Yanshu, with disheveled hair, appeared to be insane.

"Soon, soon! My Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique will soon achieve a new breakthrough!"

He had been in this small, dark room for a full sixty-eight days!

Since losing to Li Chuan in the last martial arts examination and losing his title of martial arts scholar.

He lost his appetite and couldn't eat or drink, spending all his time thinking about how to regain his dignity.

After careful consideration, he decided to focus on improving his playing style.

One must master the Cloud-Dispelling Palm technique to its utmost perfection.

In this way, he would be fully confident of defeating Li Chuan.

And now, after sixty-eight days of arduous training, we are finally seeing the light at the end of the tunnel!

"Senior Brother Wu, outside..." A disciple gently knocked on the door, reminding him.

"Get out! I said no one is allowed to disturb my cultivation!" Wu Yanshu roared, his expression violent.

Spending two months in this secluded little room would drive anyone close to madness.

The disciples outside the door were too frightened to utter a sound and left dejectedly.

A glint flashed in Wu Yanshu's eyes.

He had already decided that once he left, he would immediately issue a challenge to Li Chuan.

We must defeat him face-to-face with overwhelming force!

……

Songfeng Martial Arts School.

"Senior Brother Li!"

Wherever Li Chuan went, many excited disciples would greet him loudly.

Their eyes were filled with reverence.

This is the person who personally killed Li Danyi!

Songfeng Martial Arts School has been open for seven years, and only one ruthless person has emerged from it!

Li Chuan smiled and nodded in response.

Unexpectedly, such a simple action drew cheers and jubilation from many female disciples.

Li Chuan waved his hand calmly, seemingly unconcerned.

He strode out of the Songfeng Martial Arts School and wandered around outside.

However, he discovered that the attitude of the outside world towards him had completely changed.

There was no longer any contempt or disdain, but rather a sense of respect.

Even the disciples of Tianyi Martial Arts School and Qianyun Martial Arts School, who had a grudge against Songfeng Martial Arts School, looked at him with apprehension.

Li Chuan understood.

After news of his killing of Li Danyi spread, public opinion of him had quietly changed.

The once-crowded gathering of heroes, while not exactly deserted, is much quieter than it was at its peak.

Previously, he was swayed by herd mentality and looked down on the disciples who did not participate in the Gathering of Heroes.

After this incident, it was discovered that Juyinghui was not actually as "mythical" as it seemed.

After all, Li Chuan, who had never participated in the Gathering of Heroes, was able to kill Li Danyi, who was ranked fourteenth!

Once the irrefutable facts were presented, the influence of Juyinghui was greatly diminished.

"Who says that not participating in the Gathering of Talents means a lack of ability or a fear of showing one's face?"

"The Gathering of Heroes is just a martial arts competition; why exaggerate its importance?"

"Look at Senior Brother Li Chuan from Songfeng Martial Arts School, didn't he still casually kill Li Danyi?"

Li Chuan keenly noticed that many unfamiliar faces were talking loudly on the street.

It seems to be an attempt to vindicate him.

Li Chuan fell into deep thought, recalling the news of the past few days.

Many martial arts scholars who had never participated in the Gathering of Heroes before, and veteran hidden masters, suddenly jumped out to criticize the Gathering of Heroes after seeing this opportunity.

Some even shouted:

"Those who carry firewood for the masses should not be left to freeze to death in the wind and snow!"

Before long, a wave of opposition to the Gathering of Heroes had already formed.

Li Chuan could vaguely sense that the three major families of the inner city were behind this.

Under the influence of this enormous force, the reputation of Juyinghui has been declining, which has a bit of a sense of correcting past mistakes.

"The county magistrate and the Wang family want to use the public opinion of the Gathering of Heroes to create momentum for themselves."

"But little did they know... once public opinion takes hold, it becomes uncontrollable."

"As things progressed, the direction of public opinion was no longer determined by the initiator."

Li Chuan steadied himself:

"However, this is good news for me."

The worse the reputation of Juyinghui, the better the situation of Songfeng Martial Arts School will be.

Of course, the Gathering of Heroes could not collapse instantly, thanks to the prestige it had previously accumulated.

We need an event big enough to ignite everything...

Just relying on his killing of Li Danyi isn't enough.

……

County government office.

In the high hall.

The county magistrate, dressed in a green robe with a round collar and wide sleeves, and wearing a black gauze hat, stood with his hands behind his back.

As he heard footsteps approaching, he slowly turned around, his expression calm:

"Wen Chi, you handled this matter poorly."

Wang Wenzhi opened his mouth to explain, but was suddenly interrupted.

The magistrate calmly said:

"Let Zhang Chengfeng go; let him salvage some of his reputation."

"With him around, the sky won't fall down at this Gathering of Heroes."