[Wuxia] Embroidered Robes and Cloud-like Hair (Complete) - 18

page views:1 Publication date:2023-03-24

Chapter Twenty-One: The Moon Reflects the Sword's Appearance.

Jiang Tiantao landed gracefully, a cold smile on his face. "You think you can leave without watching me practice my sword?" he said. As he spoke, he drew his sword with a horizontal elbow strike, a resounding clang like a dragon's roar. A flash of cold light, followed by a burst of colorful brilliance, and the Spectral Star Sword appeared in Jiang Tiantao's hand. At the same time, his sword-like eyebrows shot up, his starry eyes gleamed, and a cold smile played on his lips as he slowly advanced.

The fourteen burly men, who had been standing there in alarm, suddenly saw the Spectral Star Sword shimmering in Jiang Tiantao's hand, and their expressions changed simultaneously. They were all stunned. In particular, the tattered-robed scholar, the pedantic gentleman, and the skinny man with rat-like ears and a thin face seemed to vaguely recall a great figure in the martial arts world, and a sword with such colorful light. However, in this life-or-death moment, none of them could remember whether that person was a great hero or a great demon. Seeing Jiang Tiantao's sword-like eyebrows shot up, his starry eyes gleaming, and him slowly approaching with his sword drawn, they knew that the other party had already decided to kill them.

Then, the men exchanged glances and simultaneously roared, "We'll fight you to the death!" With that roar, they leaped forward, drawing their weapons and attacking Jiang Tiantao. The fourteen men wielded fourteen different weapons: knives, hooks, forks, ropes, whips, iron-boned fans, abacuses, double spears, short sticks, meteor hammers, great axes, and judge's pens. Each displayed their unique skills, all with deadly precision.

Jiang Tiantao laughed arrogantly, his body spinning like lightning. His Lixing Sword swung, scattering colorful clouds across the sky. Where the rainbow passed, a terrified scream erupted as the man with the red nose, wielding his abacus, was sent flying. Immediately after, a flash of color followed, another scream, and the skinny man's nose and ears were sliced off. The great pestle was knocked away, the double spears were cut in half at the waist, the tattered scholar's chest was slashed, and the meteor hammer's iron chain was severed. The fourteen men screamed and howled, their souls scattered, and chaos ensued.

Just then, a sharp, urgent shout came from not far away: "Nephew Jiang, please stop!"

Jiang Tiantao was startled by the voice, quickly sheathed his sword, leaped into the air, flicked his left sleeve slightly, and flew three zhang horizontally before gracefully landing on the ground. As he landed, he heard the powerful voice again, angrily rebuking: "A bunch of blind fools! You don't even recognize Young Master Jiang of Jiugong Fortress? What are you doing running around the martial world, trying to cause trouble?" He paused, then roared angrily: "Get out of here! Are you waiting to die?"

As he spoke, Jiang Tiantao landed on the ground and saw an old man with a silver bun on his head, glaring sternly at the fourteen burly men who were fleeing in terror. Behind the old man stood a handsome young man of about twenty-one or twenty-two, dressed in a blue robe with a golden whip tucked into his back. As Jiang Tiantao sheathed his sword, he looked closely and saw that the old man wore a sky-blue robe, held a jade-bone fan, had frosty eyebrows and tiger-like eyes, a straight nose and square mouth, and exuded a kind but dignified aura. Although he didn't recognize the old man who addressed him as "nephew," he dared to do so only because of the "Lixing Sword" in the old man's hand.

In that instant, the old man approached with a smile, laughing heartily, "Nephew, do you recognize this old man?"

Jiang Tiantao truly didn't recognize him, so he could only bow and humbly say, "This junior is foolish and cannot recall for the moment. Please enlighten me, senior."

Upon hearing this, the old man looked up and let out a hearty laugh, then said loudly, "My dear brother Jiang often says that you are mediocre and unworthy of improvement. It seems that this is entirely out of modesty and politeness. Such a response is certainly not from the mouth of a commoner."

Jiang Tiantao knew that his father had previously referred to the upturned nose, but he couldn't explain it on his father's behalf at this moment. Then he heard the old man laugh happily and say, "I am Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip from Gushi County, Henan Province. Do you still remember me

, my dear nephew?" Jiang Tiantao dared not say that he did not recognize him, but judging from the old man's tone, he concluded that he had a good relationship with his father. So, he hurriedly stepped forward, bowed deeply to the ground, and said respectfully, "So you are Uncle Zhao, the Divine Whip. Please accept my deepest respects." After bowing, he quickly lifted the hem of his blue robe and bent his knees to kneel down. The old man, Zhao Peifeng, laughed heartily and said, "No need, no need!" As he spoke, he had already helped Jiang Tiantao up, and then, facing the handsome young man carrying the golden whip, said, "De'er, this is your Uncle Jiang's beloved son, Tiantao..."

Before Zhao Peifeng could finish speaking, Jiang Tiantao took two steps forward and bowed deeply to the smiling young man, saying respectfully, "Younger brother Jiang Tiantao greets Brother Zhao!"

The handsome young man, knowing his father was present, naturally returned the greeting hastily and humbly, smiling warmly, "Younger brother Zhao Huaide, from now on..." "Please enlighten me, Brother Tao."

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly and humbly replied, "Brother Huaide, you are too modest. I should be asking you for guidance."

Seeing the two young men being so courteous, Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip Master, couldn't help but laugh heartily, then asked cheerfully, "Nephew, why did you get into a fight with those Jianghu enthusiasts?"

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly and respectfully replied, "I was camping here when I saw the beautiful moonlight and, on a whim, practiced a few sword moves. Unexpectedly, they came and forcibly demanded my treasure."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Peifeng burst into laughter again, while Zhao Huaide smiled awkwardly. Jiang Tiantao continued to explain, "I guess they must have been drawn by the shimmering colorful light to come and investigate."

Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip, chuckled humorously, "Not only were they curious, but I myself was drawn here by the hazy, seven-colored sword energy. However, I'm not here to claim the treasure, but to see what brings my brother Jiang here." As he spoke, he glanced at Jiang Tiantao's Radiant Star Sword, then solemnly asked, "When did you take over the Nine Palaces Fortress, and why did my brother suddenly retire?"

Jiang Tiantao, seeing that his father was being questioned, quickly bowed respectfully and said, "My father, seeing that I spend my days idly in the fortress, specially ordered me to go out and broaden my horizons. Although he has transferred the Radiant Star Sword to me, my father still manages the important affairs of the fortress."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Peifeng's tiger-like eyes suddenly lit up, and he smiled knowingly, "So, my nephew must have specially come to the 'Golden-Faced Nezha's' martial arts tournament?" Jiang Tiantao immediately replied respectfully, "Yes."

Zhao Peifeng laughed excitedly and said, "What a coincidence! This time, I brought your brother Huai De out to Dahong Mountain. I don't necessarily want him to compete with 'Golden-Faced Nezha,' but rather to broaden his horizons and expand his knowledge." As he spoke, his tiger-like eyes glanced at Jiang Tiantao's horse and immediately suggested, "Nephew, you have a horse, so you can reach the foot of the mountain by tomorrow afternoon. Your brother Huai De and I still have several hours of travel at night, so we can only meet in Hongtong Town tomorrow night."

Jiang Tiantao decided that he still needed to practice the Lixing Sword Technique tomorrow night, so he couldn't be with the Zhao father and son. Therefore, his handsome face showed a slight reluctance as he respectfully said, "I still have some trivial matters to attend to tomorrow night, so I'm afraid I won't be able to reach the foot of the mountain by tomorrow evening..."

Zhao Peifeng, a seasoned veteran of the martial world, immediately laughed heartily upon hearing Jiang Tiantao's tone and said, "Since you have matters to attend to, nephew, we'll meet on Dahong Mountain the day after tomorrow." Having said that, he and his beloved son Zhao Huaide turned and galloped out of the forest.

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly cupped his hands and said respectfully, "Uncle Zhao, Brother Huaide, please go ahead. I apologize for not seeing you off further." No sooner

had he spoken than the powerful voice of Zhao Peifeng, the master of the Divine Whip, echoed from outside the forest: "If my nephew can reach the foot of the mountain by tomorrow evening, I will be waiting for you at the Yuelai Inn in Hongtong Town."

Jiang Tiantao quickly gathered his inner energy and replied loudly, "Your nephew obeys!" As he spoke, he looked again and saw that the Zhao father and son were already far away. Turning around, he

saw that the dark-faced, short, fat youth and the bald-headed knife who had bumped into him at the gate of the ancestral hall had also vanished without a trace. Jiang Tiantao looked up at the night sky; the bright moon was already setting in the west. Thinking of the tattered-robed scholar and the others' antics, which had wasted a lot of precious time, he became more alert. So, he sat on the stone steps of the ancestral hall gate and continued to study the following seven moves. The two crimson and light brown spots below represent the other side of the sword blade, which is adorned with five spots of color, in red, purple, green, yellow, and blue. The five sword moves are: "Poured-down Milky Way," "Starry Night Reflecting Snow," "Comet Sparks," "Stars Shift and Dippers Move," and "Cold Stars." A glimmer of light. Having learned from his earlier experience, Jiang Tiantao dared not practice any more freely. He could only close his eyes and meditate, silently practicing the sword techniques from memory, unable to grasp their subtleties and mysteries.

Jiang Tiantao silently practiced seven sword techniques until the rooster crowed three times, and dawn broke. He then sheathed his sword, sat cross-legged, and circulated his inner energy to nourish his spirit.

When he opened his eyes again, the sun was high in the sky. He looked at Xiao Qing, who was idly munching on grass, occasionally glancing at Jiang Tiantao. Jiang Tiantao smiled happily, leaped up, and beckoned. Xiao Qing let out a joyful neigh and immediately rushed over. Jiang Tiantao first stroked Xiao Qing's long hair, then wiped the pine needles and dew from the saddle, mounted his horse, and galloped straight out of the forest.

As they rode up the official road, they saw mostly martial arts figures in fine clothes and on spirited horses; very few skilled travelers on foot were to be seen. Horses neighed and hooves thundered, the entire road a blur of galloping figures and billowing dust. Xiao Qing, refreshed after a night's rest, unleashed her full strength, galloping like the wind. She was faster than an arrow among the herd, a wisp of smoke shooting forward.

Among these galloping horses were many capable steeds, and some narrow-minded, competitive riders inevitably spurred their horses to chase after her. Jiang Tiantao, eager to reach the foot of Dahong Mountain and find a quiet courtyard in a nearby town, allowed Xiao Qing to gallop freely. The race was not a one-man contest; the entire road was filled with the sounds of neighing horses, shouts, and the cracking of whips amidst the billowing dust. Therefore, everyone on horseback wanted to be the first, and everyone inevitably ended up covered in dust. Although Jiang Tiantao's Xiaoqing was fast, there were still riders ahead who had set off at dawn, so Jiang Tiantao's blue robe was also covered in dust. At noon, the vast and seemingly endless Dahong Mountain was already in sight.

Jiang Tiantao had lunch in a crowded town and continued galloping towards Dahong Mountain. He hadn't expected that the martial arts gathering hosted by Jin Shang Nezha would attract so many martial arts figures; the grand scale of tomorrow's gathering was unimaginable. With heroes from all over the country flocking there, the small villages and towns near Dahong Mountain were all full and bustling. About seventeen or eighteen li from Dahong Mountain, people were already lodging in the inns along the main road.

Jiang Tiantao looked up at the sky; it was just past Shenshi (3-5 PM). Lodging at this time was too early, but if he continued further, he would surely not find an inn. So he stopped at a large town about seventeen or eighteen miles from Dahong Mountain, deciding to climb the mountain early the next morning. He went into an inn to bathe, changed into a blue robe, and felt completely refreshed. After dinner, it was already dusk. He sat cross-legged on the bed, closed his eyes to rest, and prepared to reread the Star Sword Technique once the moon rose.

Half an hour passed, but no moonlight shone through the window. He went outside and saw dark clouds gathering, soon to cover the moon in the east. Jiang Tiantao grew anxious; it seemed there would be no moonlight tonight. Just as he was getting impatient, a sudden commotion erupted on the street outside the inn, with a cacophony of voices, seemingly cheering. An idea struck him, and he hurried towards the inn.

The cheers seemed to spread incredibly fast; before Jiang Tiantao even reached the front yard, the clamor had already reached outside the inn. At this moment, all the martial arts figures staying at the inn came out to see what was happening. They saw three neatly dressed young men waving their right hands excitedly and shouting, "Everyone, hurry up and set off! Our friends from the town ahead have already started heading into the mountains..."

This shout caused an uproar throughout the inn, with everyone asking loudly, "Why are we heading into the mountains tonight? Where are we staying?"

The three young men replied simultaneously, "It's said there's a grand feast at Dahong Mountain tonight, a night of drinking and revelry, and the martial arts competition will begin at dawn."

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in a loud, boisterous cheer, and those who hadn't even sheathed their weapons rushed out of the inn. Jiang Tiantao, who was anxiously waiting, was overjoyed. This was a perfect opportunity to capture the Poisonous Lady. Nighttime was naturally easier than daytime, especially with the dark clouds covering the sky. Having made up his mind, he hurried to the inn, briefly instructing the suspicious innkeeper to take care of the horses, and headed towards the west end of the street.

At this moment, the martial arts figures filling the street were overjoyed, cheering in unison as they surged towards the west end of the street in a frenzy. The Golden-Faced Nezha's martial arts contest had suddenly stirred up a huge wave in the martial arts world, which had been peaceful for many years. Jiang Tiantao could see that while these people were restless and eager for martial arts, taking this opportunity to join in the fun and relax, it was also possible that some of them coveted the Golden-Faced Nezha's jade lion.

His purpose in going to Dahong Mountain was to capture the Poisonous Lady and retrieve the embroidered garment his mother had woven; he had no interest in martial arts. Therefore, he decided that unless someone challenged him, he would not participate in any fight. In the blink of an eye, he arrived at the street entrance. He saw that the official road and fields were filled with figures leaping and flying, all heading towards Dahong Mountain. Looking further afield, Dahong Mountain, several miles away, was bathed in a red light that shot straight into the sky, with lights appearing on many peaks and ridges.

Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao concluded the rumors were true. He then unleashed his lightness skill and, along with the surging heroes heading towards Dahong Mountain, sped forward. After covering several miles, they reached the foot of the mountain in a short time. Thousands of heroes from all walks of life, amidst the clamor and shouts of the crowd, surged towards a wide mountain pass. Due to the dense crowd, no one could use their lightness skills, so Jiang Tiantao had to squeeze into the throng and proceed towards the pass.

At this moment, among the crowd, some praised "Golden-Faced Nezha's" martial arts prowess, while others criticized him for his lack of planning. How could heroes from all directions, entering through a single mountain pass, possibly proceed? Entering the pass, one found a wide mountain path leading straight into the depths. As they proceeded, a burst of brilliant light suddenly erupted from the brightly lit depths. Upon hearing this, the heroes immediately launched into a blind shout: "Hurry up! The competition has begun!"

The shouts had barely subsided when another burst of brilliant light shot into the sky from the depths. So, those in front ran wildly, those behind surged forward, and the mediocre martial artists, eager to make a living and come to watch the spectacle, further fueled the chaos, making the situation extremely chaotic. After a while, they ran across two ridges and around several peaks, and the slopes and ridges on both sides were filled with tents and lanterns like stars. But every tent was empty; no one had entered to stay. Only three or five burly men in tight-fitting clothes and carrying swords stood scattered on the ridges as guards. The brightest light and the bursts of cheers came from the other side of the ridge filled with tents.

Jiang Tiantao followed the crowd and climbed the ridge. Suddenly, his eyes lit up. Below the ridge was a large, round, flat green valley of about a thousand acres. The ridges around it were filled with tents, and nearly a hundred strong men held torches high in the valley. Nearly a thousand heroes had formed an open space in the center of the valley. Across the valley, a brightly lit archway stood tall, its lights illuminating the area. Dozens of burly men, wielding spears and shields, stood on either side.

On the ridges flanking the archway, numerous stone arrow emplacements were built, behind each emplacement standing two powerful crossbowmen, totaling approximately three hundred men. Jiang Tiantao, observing the scene, followed the crowd to the foot of the ridge. Squeezing into the central open space of the valley, he discovered that on benches in front of nearly a hundred burly men holding torches, sat over thirty young women, old men, and burly men dressed entirely in black, their outfits tight-fitting and headscarves black. In the center of the space, a circle several meters in diameter had already been drawn with white lime, and at each of the four corners of the circle, a tray of white lime was placed on a square bench.

Jiang Tiantao was utterly puzzled. Just as he was wondering what was going on, a deep shout suddenly rang out from the crowd: "Everyone's been waiting so long, let me, Lin Changshu, join in the fun!" With that shout, a figure flashed, and a burly man in blue robes leaped out, went straight to a basin of white ash, pressed his hands together, instantly turning them snow-white, and then stepped into the circle.

A thin, elderly man in black robes sitting in the center of the bench immediately stood up and humbly asked, "Which level would you like to choose?" The burly man in blue robes

replied cheerfully, "Choosing level five would be beneath my dignity, Lin Changshu, and I'm afraid I won't pass level three, so I'll choose level four!" Upon hearing this, the crowd of heroes on three sides burst into laughter.

The elderly man in black robes nodded slightly and glanced at several young men in black robes on the bench to his left. One of them, a young man of about twenty-five or twenty-six, immediately stood up. The young man in black robes also walked to the basin of white ash, pressed his hands together, and then stepped into the circle, facing the burly man in blue robes.

Lin Changshu, the burly man in blue, slightly clasped his hands in a fist salute and said loudly, "Little brother, I, Lin, have something to offer." As soon as he uttered the word "off," he leaped forward, his left hand flashing in the air while his right palm struck out with tremendous force.

The young man in black shouted, "Well done!" and his figure flashed, incredibly agile. His left palm remained hidden, while his right hand pinched the burly man's right wrist. The burly man in blue changed his right palm technique, the downward strike swirling around to a horizontal sweep, while his left hand flashed towards the young man in black's right shoulder. The young man in black stepped back, lowered his shoulder, dodged the two attacks, and then launched a fierce counterattack against the burly man.

Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao knew that only those who fought and gained the upper hand would be allowed to enter the mountain. He wondered how many days it would take for all the heroes in the valley to finish their competition. Listening intently to the conversations of those nearby, he learned that tonight's martial arts contest was a screening of those who intended to attend the evening banquet. To facilitate the arrangement of seating and status, there were six levels. Top-level masters would sit alongside or next to Golden-Faced Nezha, first-level masters would be seated nearby, and the rest would be arranged outwards in order. This screening competition was an interlude on the eve of the martial arts tournament, intended to create a lively atmosphere without causing discord, and also to prevent gluttonous individuals from sneaking into the banquet to feast. The screening would continue until the start of the banquet. Those who did not wish to attend the banquet did not need to enter; after midnight, they could find tents on the ridge. However, renowned masters or senior figures in the martial arts world were exempt from the screening and, once discovered, were respectfully invited into the mountain.

Just then, a loud shout suddenly rang out, followed by a thunderous roar that shook the mountains and fields. Jiang Tiantao looked closely and saw the burly man in blue robes, smiling broadly, arms clasped in a fist salute, repeatedly saying to the young man in black opposite him, "Thank you for your hospitality."

The young man in black quickly returned the salute, his expression not overly embarrassed, and turned to walk back to his seat. Only then did he notice that the burly man had lightly imprinted a white handprint on the young man's shoulder. The old man in black immediately stood up and, amidst enthusiastic applause, personally pinned a small, bright red embroidered flower, only an inch and a half in diameter, on the burly man in blue robes. Afterwards, accompanied by another young man in black, he led the burly man to the vermilion gate.

Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao, though not greedy for food, had no choice but to take the plunge in order to gain entry into the heavily guarded back mountain and secure his place at the banquet. Then he thought, if he wanted to blend into the mountains without attracting attention, it would be best to be at the second, third, or fourth level. But if his identity were revealed, it would damage the reputation of Jiugongbao and his father's prestige. After weighing the options, he decided on a plan that would allow him to remain anonymous until then, without compromising his identity. So, he quietly took out the pink, five-step Soul-Severing Handkerchief from the Fragrant Concubine of the Barbarian Flower and tied it lightly to his sword, seemingly as a gorgeous decoration, but actually to cover his two jade-like hands.

Jiang Tiantao finished tying the handkerchief and was about to step out of the crowd when a clear, delicate shout suddenly rang out from not far away. Startled, he recognized the voice. Peeking out, he saw a red figure gracefully land in the center of the circle. Upon closer inspection, his expression changed drastically, and he involuntarily took two steps back. Standing prominently in the center of the arena was a beautiful young woman in a red satin outfit, carrying a long sword on her back. She had large, bright eyes, arched eyebrows, bangs framing her forehead, and dimples on her cheeks. Her face held a mischievous yet charming air; she was Zhu Caidie, a disciple of the blind nun Jinfo of Mount Fanjing.

Upon seeing Zhu Caidie, Jiang Tiantao thought: "At this crucial moment, it's best not to meet her. Otherwise, not only will I fail to capture the Poisonous Lady tonight, but I might even ruin everything." In that instant, the lean old man appeared

, clasping his hands in a respectful greeting: "May I ask which level you choose, young lady?" Zhu Caidie raised an eyebrow and replied bluntly, "What level are you sitting at the same table as your mountain lord?" This question immediately stirred a commotion and murmur of discussion among the dense crowd of onlookers on three sides.

The lean old man, with his piercing eyes, glanced at Zhu Caidie briefly, then said humbly, "She's a Special Grade!"

Zhu Caidie waved her hand, immediately urging in an impatient tone, "Alright, then she's a Special Grade!"

The lean old man seemed to sense that Zhu Caidie was a girl of considerable background, and thus nodded without the slightest displeasure. He then turned to look at a beautiful young woman beside him, giving her a cautious look. The beautiful young woman slowly stood up, gracefully appearing before the white ash tray. Those in the crowd who had initially doubted the young woman's martial arts skills—whether she could assess a Special Grade expert—immediately cheered loudly upon seeing her agile movements.

The ever-competitive Zhu Caidie immediately blurted out a sharp cry: "Wait!"

The beautiful young woman looked up at the sound of her voice, immediately withdrawing her jade-like hands that were about to be placed on the ash tray,

and said humbly, "What is it, young lady?" Seeing that everyone around her was so humble, Zhu Caidie seemed a little embarrassed, so she smiled and said, "I think your lightness skill is not bad, so I'll have a contest with you!" As soon as she said this, the nearly two thousand heroes who were watching felt somewhat dissatisfied, and Jiang Tiantao, who was hiding behind the crowd and watching, couldn't help but shake his head, thinking to himself: My junior sister Zhu is indeed a bit too arrogant.

The beautiful young woman smiled nonchalantly and said, "How to compare them? Please draw the lines yourself, young lady!"

Zhu Caidie pointed to the four gray plates placed at the corners and said, "Please have someone level these plates of white ash first." As soon as she said this, the beautiful young woman's face changed instantly, and the crowd of onlookers all stared in astonishment, their displeasure vanishing completely.

The thin old man waved his hand, and immediately four young women in black, close-fitting clothes, rushed over from the bench, each picking up a dry twig and carefully leveling the four plates of white ash. Zhu Caidie seemed to already know the rules of the selection process. As soon as the four girls retreated, she humbly said to the beautiful young woman, "Please don't laugh if some ash spills!" As soon as she uttered the word "laugh," her delicate body rose into the air. Then, she gracefully flew diagonally, descending slowly towards a nearby ash tray. At this moment, the entire scene fell into a deathly silence. Everyone present stared wide-eyed; apart from the crackling of the torch flames, no other sound could be heard.

Zhu Caidie, descending slowly, lightly touched the ash tray with her small boots. With a flick of her jade arms, her delicate body rose again, like a wisp of cotton in the wind, and landed on another ash tray. The onlookers were all dumbfounded, their faces changing drastically. On the ash surface, about four inches thick, there was only a very shallow boot print. With a graceful leap, Zhu Caidie traversed four gray discs, each boot imprint on the surface growing shallower than the last. Finally, she soared into the air, landing lightly back on her original spot, breathless and without a flush. A smile bloomed on her cherry lips, her bright eyes sparkling. She nodded to the beautiful young woman and said with a light laugh, "Please enlighten me!"

The beautiful young woman's face turned ashen, unable to reply for a long time. The entire arena remained silent, everyone stunned by Zhu Caidie's astonishing lightness skill. Jiang Tiantao, watching Zhu Caidie tread the snow through the air, couldn't help but secretly admire her. In the two or three months since he last saw her, Zhu Caidie had not only become even more beautiful, but her lightness skill had also improved significantly.

In a flash, the thin old man, whose expression showed slight excitement, stood up with forced composure. He took a small, exquisite golden orchid from the velvet tray behind him and said with a smile and humility, "Young lady, your lightness skill is superb, reaching a state of perfection. No one below me can match you. You are the first person tonight to be awarded the title of Special Guest based on your martial arts. Wear this golden orchid, and you may ride into the mountain."

After a pause, he handed the golden orchid to the beautiful young woman standing by the side. Then he continued, "Young lady must already know the rules for guests of the first rank and above to enter the mountain. Apart from well-known, highly respected first-class masters or renowned senior figures, everyone else must state their lineage, sect, and name." Upon hearing this, the crowd of heroes fell even quieter, each holding their breath, eager to know which grandmaster in the martial arts world had trained such an amazing female disciple.

Seeing so many martial arts heroes announce her name and lineage before them, Zhu Caidie, though secretly overjoyed, dared not show it. She respectfully bowed and said in a clear voice, "This humble woman is Zhu Caidie, a disciple of Mount Fanjing. My master is the Abbess of Wuyou Cave, also known as the Golden Buddha Blind Nun..."

The moment the words "Golden Buddha Blind Nun" were uttered, the more than two thousand martial arts heroes erupted in a thunderous roar of applause. Amidst the deafening cheers, the beautiful young woman pinned a delicate golden orchid to the chest of Zhu Caidie, whose expression was also showing signs of excitement.

Jiang Tiantao paid no attention to the flower-pinning scene; he was secretly anxious about reporting his entry into the mountain. According to the rules, it seemed impossible to sneak in tonight. Before he could finish his thought, a loud, hoarse shout suddenly rang out from the crowd not far away: "Don't go yet! There's still Zhang Shitou to watch!"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but chuckle to himself amidst his anxiety, thinking: "With this Brother Stone at the Golden-Faced Nezha's martial arts tournament tomorrow, things will be even more lively." He peeked out and saw Zhang Shitou, short and stocky with a thick back, dressed in a brand-new black satin outfit, striding confidently towards the center of the arena, his belly bulging like a drum. Zhang Shitou, with a wide-open mouth and glaring eyes, looked extremely angry. He stood in the center, beckoned to the thin old man, and declared matter-of-factly, "Old man, give me a first-class red-embroidered flower pendant too!"

At this moment, the crowd had already quieted down, all staring in astonishment at Zhang Shitou standing proudly in the center of the arena. No one could figure out who this seemingly foolish Zhang Shitou was. Seeing Zhang Shitou's tough skin, thick flesh, and head as big as a bushel, and knowing he was asking for the Red Ribbon Big Flower, the thin old man concluded that he was no ordinary person. Therefore, he stood up and said humbly, "It's not difficult for you to wear the Red Ribbon Big Flower, but you must surpass the top-level masters of this mountain."

Zhang Shitou glared at him and immediately said in a simple voice, "Why? Zhu Caidie is my junior sister, and I am her senior brother. We are disciples of the same master. She got the Special Grade, so why can't I, Shitou, get the First Grade?" Before he finished speaking, the whole audience burst into laughter.

Seeing Zhang Shitou's simple-mindedness, the gaunt old man knew he was a bit dim-witted. However, as a disciple of the blind nun who had intimidated both the righteous and the wicked for decades, his martial arts skills were undoubtedly formidable. Therefore, he smiled and said, "Although Miss Zhu achieved the highest rank with her lightness skill, she cannot bring you in with her."

Zhang Shitou glared and immediately retorted angrily, "That white-bearded old man called Divine Whip Zhao Peifeng, didn't he bring a young man in too?"

Before he finished speaking, the gaunt old man threw back a hearty laugh and explained, "That young man is the eldest son of the old hero Divine Whip Zhao. According to the rules, Zhao should be allowed to enter the mountain. If the blind nun graces us with her presence tonight, Miss Zhu and you can naturally enter without examination." He then threw back another hearty laugh.

Jiang Tiantao, having overheard the conversation between the old man and Zhang Shitou, knew that the Zhao family father and son had also entered the mountain long ago. It seemed that the hope of capturing the Poisonous Lady tonight was becoming increasingly slim. In a moment of thought, he noticed Zhang Shitou, who had been stunned for a while, suddenly waved his hand, seemingly helpless, and said, "Alright, alright, stop nagging. To be honest, I'm not really interested in the first level..."

The thin old man smiled without any concern and asked, "Then which level would you like to choose?"

Zhang Shitou pointed at the old man without hesitation and said, "I'll choose your level." The old man was stunned upon hearing this. The

surrounding heroes, finding Zhang Shitou's foolishness amusing, all cheered and encouraged him. Seeing so many heroes from all walks of life cheering him on, Zhang Shitou shook his large head, his mouth agape in a half-smile, becoming even more smug. The thin old man, having witnessed Zhu Caidie's terrifying lightness skill, already knew his own limitations. Seeing Zhu Caidie's composed expression, constantly smiling as she watched her foolish senior brother, seemingly very confident in his ability to pass the test, he became even more hesitant to make a move. Especially since Jin Fu, the blind nun, was a notoriously difficult person to deal with. How could he possibly defeat her foolish disciple in front of so many heroes? Besides, even if he won, it wouldn't be honorable. He would inevitably be seen as bullying the weak, and if he were defeated by this fool, his lifelong reputation would be ruined in front of thousands of heroes from all over the land.

The thin old man pondered this, caught in a dilemma. Even as a seasoned veteran, he couldn't help but secretly lament his predicament. Then, a thought struck him, and he laughed heartily again, then said with a self-deprecating smile, "It's not that I'm unwilling to spar with you, but I'm afraid that if I do

, I'll be seen as bullying the weak..." Zhang Shitou's eyes widened upon hearing this, and he was about to say something when suddenly a burly man sitting on the bench leaped up and roared, "I, Wang Guanglu, will accompany you!" With a roar, he flew into the arena, landed, and continued to advance, his right palm swinging through the air in a powerful strike, aiming to cleave Mount Hua at Zhang Shitou's crown.

Zhang Shitou rolled his eyes and said contemptuously in a deep voice, "Hmph, you're in for a rude awakening." As he spoke, he took two quick steps forward, not only refraining from attacking but also heading the blow head-on.

Zhu Caidie, seeing this, fearing trouble, cried out in alarm, "Don't hit him!"

The thin old man and the pretty young woman also realized the situation was dire and hurriedly tried to stop him. The burly man, realizing the danger, roared in panic and hastily withdrew his palm, changing his stance. At the same time, he realized he couldn't let Zhang Shitou's large belly hit him, so

he tilted his body and fell sharply to the right. Seeing his opponent suddenly change his move, Zhang Shitou chuckled smugly, "What a fool." With that word, he swung his arm horizontally, striking the burly man's shoulder with a loud thud. The burly man, already tilting, couldn't withstand Zhang Shitou's arm strike. With a muffled groan and a loud thud, his massive body crashed to the ground.

The crowd of heroes who had been there just to watch the spectacle cheered for Zhang Shitou. Seeing the burly man pinned to the ground by his arm, Zhang Shitou looked at the gaunt old man and said smugly, "How about it? Do I deserve to be your special guest?"

The gaunt old man looked extremely embarrassed, but still managed a forced smile and laughed, "Of course, of course!" As he spoke, he helplessly took a golden orchid from the velvet tray, feigning a conciliatory attitude, and amidst the cheers and applause of the crowd, personally pinned it to Zhang Shitou's chest.

The atmosphere in the valley was even more lively than before, and large numbers of martial arts figures continued to pour into the valley from the ridge ahead. Surrounded by four young men in black, Zhang Shitou, wearing a glittering golden orchid on his chest, waved to the cheering crowd and followed Zhu Caiyuan, walking triumphantly towards the gate.

Jiang Tiantao watched, shaking his head inwardly, thinking: Brother Shitou has really made a name for himself tonight. Looking back at the arena, two young men had helped the burly man to his feet. His face and head were covered in white dust; he had clearly taken a serious fall. The thin old man feigned nonchalance, but inwardly he was deeply troubled. However, the two thousand heroes surrounding them could all see that the old man's forbearance was entirely due to fear of the blind nun's protective instincts. At this moment, a murmur of discussion arose throughout the arena, everyone talking about Zhang Shitou. Many experienced individuals had already discerned that Zhang Shitou possessed formidable martial arts skills.

Jiang Tiantao looked at the dark, overcast night sky, unable to discern the time. He feared both encountering the Zhao father and son and Zhu Caidie inside, preventing him from capturing the Poisonous Woman, and missing tonight's golden opportunity. A moment passed, and no one else entered to fight. Jiang Tiantao, fearing the old man might suddenly announce the end of the banquet's guest selection process, decided to head into the mountains first and then act accordingly. Since all guests of the highest rank and above were required to state their lineage and name, he simply removed the Five-Step Soul-Severing Silk Scarf from his sword and quietly put it back in his pocket. He then parted the group of people in front of him and strode into the center of

the arena. The assembled heroes, seeing that someone had taken so long to appear, erupted in a cheer of impatience. But when they looked closely and saw a handsome young man in a scholar's cap and blue robe, with a sword at his waist, they instantly fell silent. Immediately afterward, many eyes lit up with surprise. The dozen or so young women sitting on the benches, seeing a handsome young man with sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a straight nose, and red lips suddenly emerge from the crowd, all felt their hearts flutter and their cheeks flush.

The gaunt old man, still sullen and secretly annoyed, had no choice but to stand up from the bench when a handsome young man with a scholarly air suddenly stepped out from the crowd. He forced a smile and asked, "Which level would you like to choose, sir?"

Jiang Tiantao stood in the white circle, cupped his hands in a humble manner, and said, "I choose the Special Level!"

Upon hearing this, the crowd erupted in discussion and commotion, with a few murmurs of contempt and doubt, but mostly shock and calm. The gaunt old man, still shaken by Zhu Caiyuan's intimidation and Zhang Shitou's teasing, was no longer as composed as before. Especially hearing the laughter from the crowd, he mistakenly believed they were mocking his inferior martial arts and incompetence, which he attributed to the provocation of these young men. Thus, an inexplicable anger rose within him. So, with a slightly flushed old face, he looked at Jiang Tiantao standing in Zhuo Li's position, smiled coldly, and said in a low voice with a hint of contempt, "Have you seen others obtain the Special Grade too easily?" As soon as he spoke, a chorus of shocked gasps erupted from the crowd.

Jiang Tiantao was stunned, his handsome face turning red with anger. However, hearing the gasps of shock from the crowd, he knew that many had recognized his identity. Thinking of his father's magnanimous heart, his anger subsided, and he calmly said, "How can the old master insult a friend who has come with such enthusiasm?"

The gaunt old man, seeing the accusatory undertone in Jiang Tiantao's words, flew into a rage. Just as he was about to speak, a young man suddenly leaped from the bench and rushed towards him. A collective sigh escaped the crowd of heroes. Seeing the young man in black rushing towards him in a panic, the gaunt old man mistakenly assumed he was about to attack Jiang Tiantao. He

immediately blocked the way, angrily shouting, "Let me test him..." Before he could finish, the young man in black blurted out in a panicked whisper, "Altar Master... Wei Ming!"

The gaunt old man, not understanding the meaning, was taken aback, but still asked in a deep voice, "What Wei Ming?"

The young man in black, unable to explain clearly, only hurriedly whispered, "Li Bashan, he injured Li Bashan!"

Upon hearing this, the gaunt old man's mind went blank, his senses instantly clearing. He was also startled by the gasps of surprise from the crowd and the sighs of disapproval of his foolishness. Shocked and flustered, Jiang Tiantao's face turned ashen.

He hastily clasped his hands in front of his chest and forced a dry laugh, saying, "So it's the famous Young Hero Wei..." Before the old man with the limp could finish speaking, Jiang Tiantao immediately bowed and clarified, "Old master, you've mistaken me for someone else. I am Jiang Tiantao from Mufu Mountain!"

The old man with the limp was already agitated and confused, his mind racing. At that moment, someone in the crowd shouted, "Look at the Lixing Sword hanging at his waist..." At this shout, the old man and the crowd immediately turned their gazes to Jiang Tiantao's waist.

Jiang Tiantao was not surprised at all, because among the heroes of the valley, there were many who recognized the ancestral Lixing Sword of the "Nine Palaces Fortress." Just as everyone's eyes were fixed on the Lixing Sword, someone else shouted loudly, "Sun Yuanhu, don't forget that the person wearing the Lixing Sword is the master of the Nine Palaces Fortress!" The words had barely left his lips when the crowd trembled. Heroes from both the righteous and the wicked, who admired the Land Dragon Jiang Fortress Master, erupted in a thunderous cheer. Meanwhile, those standing further back crowded towards the central open space, all eager to catch a glimpse of Jiang Tiantao, the newly appointed young master of Jiugong Fortress.

At this moment, the gaunt old man glanced at the Lixing Sword hanging at Jiang Tiantao's waist, his heart trembled, his expression changed instantly, and cold sweat beaded on his forehead. Based on the martial arts tournament held every five years, he knew that Jiugong Fortress's reputation in the martial arts world was no less than that of Shaolin or Wudang. In particular, the highly respected Old Master Jiang was renowned throughout the land. Tonight, his son's arrival had been met with such arrogance and disrespect. If the mountain lord found out, it would be disastrous. Because the master of Jiugong Fortress held the same supreme status as the leaders of various sects, gangs, and associations, regardless of Jiang Tiantao's martial arts skills, he would receive the same courtesy as the leaders of the major sects. Seeing the enthusiastic cheers and surging forward of the crowd for Jiang Tiantao, the gaunt old man, Sun Yuanhu, felt even more apprehensive. In a flash, he took several steps forward, clasped his hands, bowed respectfully, and said, "Shen Qifeng, Lord of Dahong Mountain, and Sun Yuanhu, Lord of the Blue Flag Altar, pay their respects to Young Master Jiang!"

As Sun Yuanhu bowed, the other thirty young men and women also stood at attention. Jiang Tiantao, filled with immense regret, never imagined things would turn out so badly; it was too late for regrets now. Seeing the thin old man's respectful manner, Sun Yuanhu had no choice but to step forward, bow, and smile humbly, saying, "Master Sun, there's no need for such formality. I was delighted to hear that Master Shen of your mountain is holding a martial arts competition early tomorrow morning, so I've come specifically to broaden my horizons..."

Sun Yuanhu dared not straighten up, still bowing respectfully, and said, "Young Master's presence at our mountain is a great honor. All the altars below the mountain master and all the brothers of the mountain welcome you with the utmost respect. I was foolish and ignorant just now, and I beg your magnanimity to forgive my rudeness."

Jiang Tiantao laughed heartily and said, "It's nothing, why bother? Master Sun is too modest."

As he spoke, four young women in black, carrying a red velvet brocade box, respectfully approached Sun Yuanhu, the Blue Flag Altar Master. Jiang Tiantao glanced at it and saw a peony flower, about three inches in diameter, made of coral and with jade leaves, inside the box, shimmering and extremely eye-catching.

Chapter Twenty-Two: The Gathering of Heroes.

Sun Yuanhu picked up the peony flower with both hands and respectfully pinned it to Jiang Tiantao's chest. At this moment, the crowd surged, cheers thundered, and the atmosphere was frenzied; the open space in the center grew smaller and smaller. Seeing this, Sun Yuanhu hurriedly bowed and said loudly, "Respectfully inviting Young Master Jiang to enter the mountain."

A middle-aged strong man standing behind Sun Yuanhu immediately repeated loudly, "Respectfully inviting Young Master Jiang to enter the mountain."

As soon as the word "mountain" was uttered, a series of booming cannon shots rang out from the archway, accompanied by the thumping of drums and the blaring of horns. The thunderous cheers of the heroes on the battlefield filled the solemn atmosphere with joyful enthusiasm. Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but feel excited at this sight, especially moved by the cheers of the heroes for him. Looking further ahead, he saw nearly a hundred strong men holding torches, already standing on both sides, each a foot apart, leading directly to the archway, forming a brightly lit path. In the distant night sky within the colorful gate, streaks of colored fire occasionally rose, presumably to notify the Golden-Faced Nezha within the main stronghold.

Jiang Tiantao, at this point, could neither refuse nor explain; in fact, with the old fortress lord Jiang retired, he was now the lord of Jiugong Fortress. Thus, accompanied by Sun Yuanhu, he walked directly towards the colorful gate. At this moment, the crowd of heroes, their expressions frenzied, half eager to catch a glimpse of Jiang Tiantao's prowess, and half simply joining in the excitement, erupted in a shout, surging from both sides like a tidal wave.

Jiang Tiantao smiled, his sword-like eyebrows slightly raised, his bright eyes gleaming, as he walked calmly and gracefully between the torch-lit paths, frequently waving to the cheering heroes standing on either side in thanks. Upon reaching the colorful gate, the dozens of burly men holding spears on either side raised their shields to their chests, and the crossbowmen on the sloping ridges inside the gate also stood at attention. Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao deduced that the Golden-Faced Nezha had not only been planning the martial arts tournament for a long time, but had also made thorough preparations for receiving the more prestigious figures in the martial arts world and the leaders of various sects and gangs.

Just then, a beam of light suddenly appeared at the foot of the peak ahead. Upon seeing this, the lean old man, Sun Yuanhu, immediately said respectfully, "Reporting to the young master, my mountain lord has led the leaders of various sects to personally welcome you."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao knew that tonight's plan was completely impossible. Although he was annoyed, he still hurriedly smiled and said, "I have come here rashly. I should have gone into the mountain to see the mountain lord. How could I dare to trouble the mountain lord to personally welcome me?"

Sun Yuanhu's expression gradually returned to calm. At this moment, he laughed heartily and said, "The young master's arrival not only brings honor to our mountain, but also adds much luster to tomorrow morning's martial arts tournament." As he spoke, countless lanterns and torches appeared at the foot of the peak ahead, and at the same time, the thunderous galloping of horses and their neighing could be heard.

At this moment, the heroes in the Great Green Valley outside the colorful gate had stopped cheering and were all crowded outside the gate, thousands of bright eyes watching the rapidly approaching cavalry. Upon seeing this, Sun Yuanhu respectfully said to Jiang Tiantao, "Please wait here for a moment, Young Master, while I inform the Mountain Master..."

Jiang Tiantao immediately stopped and humbly replied, "Please go ahead, Master Sun."

Sun Yuanhu respectfully responded and hurried towards the rapidly approaching cavalry. Jiang Tiantao stood alone in the center of the wide mountain path inside the colorful gate, with thirty young men and women in black standing a few feet behind him. Dozens of burly men with spears outside the gate were already blocking the way to prevent the heroes from rushing in. At this moment, the approaching cavalry was only a few dozen feet away from the gate. The figures, clothing, and colors of the horses were clearly visible under the bright lanterns, which were several dozen large. The cavalry was vast and impressive, numbering no less than a hundred people.

Jiang Tiantao, with his sharp eyes, focused intently and saw a middle-aged man in an orange velvet outfit riding a tall, yellow horse. The man, about thirty-two or thirty-three years old, wore an orange turban inlaid with gold, a gold-threaded hero's belt, and yellow satin tiger-head boots. He had sword-like eyebrows, bright eyes, a high nose, thin lips, and no beard. His orange-yellow velvet outfit made his face appear even more pale.

Jiang Tiantao immediately recognized the man as Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, the master of Dahong Mountain. Behind the Golden-Faced Nezha, on horseback, sat an old man in a purple robe and a middle-aged scholar in a milky-white robe. The old man in the purple robe had white eyebrows and a silver bun, and piercing eyes. Aside from being slightly short and stout, he resembled Ma Yunshan, the "Suppressor of the Nine Provinces." The middle-aged scholar in the milky-white robe had well-groomed eyebrows, bright eyes, and a long five-stranded beard. He held a sandalwood folding fan and possessed a refined and scholarly air.

Following them came dozens of men and women, young and old, dressed in sturdy attire. On either side of these figures were burly men on horseback, one after another. The first dozen or so riders each carried a hanging lamp post with three large lanterns, each bearing the three large red characters: "Master Shen." The riders behind them all held flaming pine branches, creating a fiery dragon-like sight.

Jiang Tiantao paid particular attention to the men and women behind Golden-Faced Nezha. Although he knew it was impossible for Poisonous Lady and Upturned Nose to be among them, he couldn't help but scrutinize them closely.

At this moment, the lean old man, Sun Yuanhu, had already hurried to within fifteen zhang and stood respectfully waiting by the roadside. Upon seeing Sun Yuanhu, Golden-Faced Nezha had already raised his right arm high from seven or eight zhang away, and the large group of men immediately slowed their pace. Upon arriving before Sun Yuanhu, the Golden-Faced Nezha eagerly asked, "Master Sun, which sect's leader are you?"

Sun Yuanhu immediately clasped his hands in a respectful greeting, "Jiang Tiantao, the newly appointed lord of Jiugong Fort!"

The Golden-Faced Nezha's expression changed, and he exclaimed softly, "Where are you now?"

Seeing that even the mountain lord was so shocked by the young lord's name, Sun Yuanhu secretly rejoiced that he hadn't further neglected this distinguished guest, and hurriedly replied respectfully, "Waiting at the Rainbow Gate."

Upon hearing this, the Golden-Faced Nezha immediately looked towards Jiang Tiantao, and at the same time spurred his horse, galloping over as if flying, with only the purple-robed old man and the white-clad scholar following closely behind. Seeing the Golden-Faced Nezha galloping towards him, Jiang Tiantao politely smiled and stepped forward to greet him. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao, Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced Nezha, immediately dismounted and hurried towards him. He clasped his hands in a fist salute, and from a distance of about two zhang, he said loudly with a laugh, "Having just received your report, I rushed to greet you. Only now do I realize that Young Master Jiang has arrived. I apologize for not having come down the mountain to welcome you properly." As he spoke, he was already in front of Jiang Tiantao, his face beaming with smiles, repeatedly clasping his hands in a fist salute.

Jiang Tiantao laughed heartily and said, "I have already been impolite to come here, and I am even more uneasy to be personally welcomed by the Mountain Lord and his entourage..."

Before he could finish speaking, the Golden-Faced Nezha laughed heartily and said, "Young Master Jiang is too modest." He paused, as if remembering something, and quickly turned to face the purple-robed old man and the white-robed scholar, smiling, "Come and greet Young Master Jiang of Jiugong Fortress."

The purple-robed old man and the white-robed scholar stepped forward, one clasping his hands in front of his chest, and the other bowing, and introduced themselves, "Meng Lechang, the Red Flag Altar Master of Dahong Mountain, greets Young Master Jiang."

"Fu Yuqing, the White Flag Altar Master of Dahong Mountain, pays respects to Young Master Jiang."

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly cupped his hands and said with a humble smile, "I have long admired the names of the two altar masters, but it is a pity that I have never had the opportunity to meet them. I hope that the two altar masters will give me more guidance in the future."

The purple-robed old man Meng Lechang and the white-robed scholar Fu Yuqing bowed at the same time and said humbly, "We dare not, we dare not. We hope that Young Master Jiang will give us more guidance in the future."

As soon as the two finished speaking, the golden-faced Nezha immediately laughed loudly and said, "The hall is full of guests, who are eager to see the young master's demeanor. Please prepare the horses quickly." Meng

Lechang and Fu Yuqing simultaneously responded respectfully, turning to beckon to a burly man who was already waiting by the roadside. The man immediately led the horse over, and Golden-Faced Nezha, once the horse was close, clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Young Master Jiang, please mount your horse."

Jiang Tiantao knew this was a polite way of speaking in the martial world, so he also quickly clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Mountain Lord, please go first!"

Golden-Faced Nezha laughed heartily and said cheerfully, "Then let's mount our horses together." With that, he and Jiang Tiantao simultaneously mounted their horses.

At this moment, Sun Yuanhu, the leader of the Blue Flag Altar, had returned. Upon seeing Jiang Tiantao mount his horse, he hurriedly clasped his hands and said respectfully, "Young Master, please wait. I'm sorry I cannot accompany you."

Jiang Tiantao, still on his horse, clasped his hands and smiled, saying, "Altar Master Sun, please go ahead!

" Golden-Faced Nezha glanced at the thousands of heroes gathered outside the colorful gate in the Great Green Valley, then ordered, "The evening banquet and selection process shall continue."

The gaunt old man, Sun Yuanhu, immediately bowed and replied, "Yes. " The golden-faced Nezha then clasped his hands in a fist salute to Jiang Tiantao and said "Please," before shaking his head and striding forward. The two altar leaders, one red and one white, followed closely behind. At this time, the large group of people who had come with the golden-faced Nezha were already lined up on both sides, all sitting solemnly on their horses. Apart from the crackling sound of the torches being blown by the mountain wind, no other sound could be heard.

Upon approaching, the golden-faced Nezha first pointed to the men and women in martial attire sitting on their horses on either side, and said with a humble smile, "These two groups in front are the incense masters and stewards of the red, white, and blue altars. The two groups behind are all the high-ranking leaders of the three altars. Due to time constraints, I will not introduce them to the young master in detail." After pausing, he turned to look at Jiang Tiantao, smiling modestly, and said, "If you ever need to rely on Young Master Jiang in the future, please give us your guidance and instruction."

Jiang Tiantao laughed heartily and said, "Mountain Lord, you are too modest. In the future, we should look after each other to enhance the friendship between our two families."

Golden-Faced Nezha also smiled happily and said, "Of course, of course!"

After Jiang Tiantao finished speaking, he carefully observed the expressions of the various altar leaders on the horses to his left and right, nodding and smiling frequently. He saw that everyone was sitting solemnly and upright, without any strange expressions. Then, recalling the responses of the thin old man Sun Yuanhu and the two altar leaders, Red and White, there were no flaws. Could it be that Poisonous Lady did not come to Dahong Mountain? Thinking of how Golden-Faced Nezha was surprised when the thin old man Sun Yuanhu reported "Jiang Tiantao, the new leader of Jiugong Fortress," he thought it was only human nature. Because his father's retirement had not yet been announced to the martial arts world, "Golden-Faced Nezha" was naturally surprised and taken aback upon hearing this.

In the blink of an eye, he had passed the convoy of horses and saw a wide, flat man-made mountain path leading directly to the narrow valley between two peaks. On both sides of the path, ancient pines and cypresses cast dense shadows, making the night sky appear even darker. Behind the two peaks ahead, the faint sound of rushing water could be heard.

As he looked around, he suddenly heard Golden-Faced Nezha humbly say, "The news of Old Master Jiang's retirement shocked the martial arts world, and almost no one believed it. Only yesterday, upon receiving a personal letter from the Old Master informing our martial arts friends, did I finally believe it to be true."

Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat. He hadn't expected his father to have also informed the martial arts world of his retirement. It seemed that the old man truly no longer cared about worldly affairs. With a thought racing through his mind, he had already bowed respectfully and said, "My father is old and has long desired to retire, but due to many unfinished business, he has delayed until today."

Jin Shang Nezha then sighed with emotion and said in a regretful tone, "Senior Jiang has devoted his life to the martial arts world, saving countless calamities and saving millions of heroes from harm. He has earned the unanimous admiration and respect of heroes from both the righteous and evil paths of the martial arts world. I never imagined that while the old master was working so diligently outside, the evil servants in the fortress would dare to take the opportunity to deceive heaven and destroy their master. This is truly abhorrent..."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao knew that his father had recounted the evil deeds of the Poisonous Lady and Min Wu Kui during his retirement in Feidong, so he was not surprised. Then, with a calm smile, he said, "This wicked servant, having committed a heinous crime, encountered a tiger at night, causing

his plot to fail. His scheme was exposed a month ago, and the mother and son fled to escape punishment; their whereabouts remain unknown." Jin Shang Nezha's gaze shifted, and he suddenly asked in a highly puzzled tone, "The fortress is filled with experts, all renowned senior heroes. Why doesn't the young fortress master order a full-scale search for the Poisonous Lady and her son and bring them back to the mountain to be punished as they deserve?"

Jiang Tiantao's heart stirred, but he deliberately smiled indifferently and said, "Deceit..." "The Lord of Destruction is guilty of heinous crimes. All righteous and chivalrous people despise his actions. Who would take him in? In time, he will surely be too ashamed to face anyone, and eventually, he will have nowhere to turn but to find a secluded place in the mountains to live out his days in despair and die in sorrow, ending his life of sin. Why bother troubling everyone and wasting manpower?" As he spoke, he glanced around and noticed that the expression on the face of the Golden-Faced Nezha changed several times, turning from blue to red. This gave Jiang Tiantao a glimmer of hope that seemed to have been extinguished.

The Golden-Faced Nezha composed himself, forced a smile, and said, "After listening to the young master's words, I have gained much insight." He paused, then suddenly added in a seemingly hesitant tone, "I've heard that Zhang Lehua, the Water Demon of Dragon Palace Lake, is the younger sister of your fortress's head, the Poisonous Lady. Doesn't the young master think that the Poisonous Lady has sought refuge with Dragon Palace Lake?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but laugh heartily, then said with a casual smile, "Zhang Lehua, the Water Demon, is cunning and deceitful. After weighing the pros and cons, even though she is his sister, I'm afraid he wouldn't dare to take her in!"

The Golden-Faced Nezha's face gradually paled, and he appeared extremely uneasy. He hurriedly said, "Young Master is indeed exceptionally wise, and his judgment is absolutely correct."

Although Jiang Tiantao noticed the unease in the Golden-Faced Nezha's expression, he pretended not to see it and quickly smiled humbly, saying, "You flatter me, Mountain Lord. I am ashamed." As they spoke, they arrived at the entrance to the valley between the two peaks.

The mountain wind was strong, carrying a chill, and the rumbling of the water was already quite deafening. Upon entering the valley, they saw a straight mountain path about a hundred feet deep, leading directly to the gate of a brightly lit, imposing Wei'e stronghold a mile away. Inside the gate, thousands of lights were scattered like stars, and the shadows of houses stretched out in a crisscross pattern. Although it was a magnificent stronghold, no walls or watchtowers were visible. A gust of cold wind swept through the valley between the two peaks.

Jiang Tiantao turned his head and saw a wide waterfall cascading down from the peak on his left, plunging into the deep ravine below with a deafening roar. Half a mile further on, they came to a massive wooden bridge, about two zhang wide. Jiang Tiantao's expression changed instantly as he looked closely. The bridge spanned a nearly ten-zhang-wide abyss, leading directly to the imposing gate of the stronghold. Below the bridge was complete darkness; the sound of the water was faint and indistinct, its depth easily imaginable. The abyss curved inwards.

Jiang Tiantao then realized with astonishment that the stronghold of the Golden Merchant Nezha was built on a precipice surrounded by a deep abyss. Beyond the brightly lit gate of the stronghold, nearly a hundred burly men with swords stood. As soon as Jiang Tiantao and the Golden-Faced Nezha passed by, a shout rang out, and they all bowed and touched their swords. Taking advantage of the gesture of a nod in return, Jiang Tiantao glanced around and discovered that the edge of the cliff was sheer and precipitous, a natural barrier that only a deity could pass through. Seeing this, Jiang Tiantao couldn't help but feel fortunate; otherwise, exploring the mountain at night would have been an impossible task.

Entering the village gate, his horse didn't slow down at all. Passing through a man-made, curved bamboo grove, his vision suddenly brightened. Opposite a plaza spanning a hundred acres, stood a grand, imposing brick hall, brightly lit and bustling with people. Simultaneously, from the edge of the bamboo grove all the way to the steps of the hall, every ten feet there stood a pair of burly men in tight-fitting clothes, each holding a sword.

At this moment, the steps and the area below the hall were filled with martial arts figures from all over the land, some greeting each other, others exchanging pleasantries, a lively atmosphere filled with laughter and chatter. Jiang Tiantao hadn't expected that so many heroes from all walks of life had already entered the village.

Just then, two burly men standing in the center of the hall simultaneously shouted, "The Lord of Jiugong Fortress has arrived..." Their voices echoed each other, melodious and solemn. Looking towards the hall, faces flashed, and a commotion arose. Those seated inside rushed out, hundreds of astonished gazes fixed on Jiang Tiantao.

Jiang Tiantao struggled to suppress his excitement, his brows slightly furrowed, a faint smile playing on his lips, appearing remarkably composed. Although he had once visited Dongliang Mountain alone, this welcoming ceremony was far more grand than that of the Three Beauties Gang. While he and Golden-Faced Nezha rode slowly forward, his bright, piercing eyes searched the crowd for the Zhao family father and son, Zhang Shitou, and Zhu Caidie. His gaze sharpened, and his unease deepened, for hundreds of heroes stood respectfully with their hands at their sides on the hall steps.

Looking towards the entrance, his body trembled violently, his face paled, and he nearly fell from his horse. Dressed in silver, with a silver sword at her waist and a silver hairpin adorned with a golden orchid at her chest, Huangfu Xiang stood prominently on the high steps. Jiang Tiantao, upon seeing Huangfu Xiang—with her willow-leaf eyebrows arching sharply towards her temples, her almond-shaped eyes bright and clear, her beauty exquisite and alluring—in her silver attire, inwardly groaned. It was truly a case of "enemies meeting by chance"; he feared encountering her, yet here she was, in front of a large crowd of heroes from all corners of the land. At this point, avoidance was impossible;

he could only try his best to remain calm, prepare to act according to circumstances, and grit his teeth and deal with the situation. He could imagine the anger Huangfu Xiang would feel when she realized that the new master of Jiugong Fortress was Wei Ming, the Left Headmaster who had come to pay respects at the Three Hairpins Gang's headquarters. He stared intently and saw a flash of cold light in Huangfu Xiang's bright eyes; her expression indeed changed, and her once crimson lips instantly lost their color.

Upon seeing this, Jiang Tiantao knew he was in trouble. He couldn't predict what capricious actions Huangfu Xiang would take once they reached the main hall. Looking at Zhao Peifeng and his son, both stood respectfully beside Huangfu Xiang, their expressions cheerful and their faces smiling as they looked at him. Zhu Caidie, standing not far to Huangfu Xiang's right, had her tightly furrowed eyebrows gradually arch upwards as Jiang Tiantao approached, and her mischievous cherry lips opened in surprise.

Zhang Shitou, standing beside Zhu Caidie, had his belly bulging, his mouth wide open, staring increasingly intently, seemingly completely dumbfounded. All the heroes on the steps of the hall, regardless of seniority or age, stood solemnly, but when they realized that the person sitting on the white horse wasn't Old Master Jiang, their expressions gradually changed from serious to astonished.

Many experts from both the righteous and the underworld knew of the close friendship between Zhao Peifeng and Old Master Jiang, and thus all glanced at Zhao Peifeng. But when they noticed that the Zhao father and son were both looking at Jiang Tiantao with delighted expressions, they suddenly realized that the blue-robed youth on horseback must be the son of the old fortress lord, Jiang, and the newly appointed young fortress lord.

At this moment, the hall steps fell silent, and the pairs of burly men in the square stopped shouting. Apart from the thunderous hooves of the horses, no other sound could be heard.

Just then, a dark figure flashed through the crowd, and Zhang Shitou leaped down the steps, laughing loudly with delight, "Haha, I wondered what fortress lord he was, it's actually Brother Tao from Mufu Mountain..." He gestured wildly, laughing heartily in front of the deer-shaped steps.

The assembled heroes on the steps all glared at Zhang Shitou with annoyance, but when they noticed the golden orchid he wore on his chest, they were all stunned. They exchanged glances, as if to say: This foolish boy is actually quite a big shot. Zhu Caidie, who was intently watching Jiang Tiantao, was startled when Zhang Shitou suddenly appeared at the foot of the steps shouting. She quickly waved her hand and hissed, "Senior brother, come up here! Come up here!"

Although Zhang Shitou was simple-minded, he could sometimes read the situation. Seeing the assembled heroes standing silently on the steps, he realized that his younger brother Tao was probably not the same Tao who had competed in the stone-splitting contest at Mount Fanjing a few months ago. He quickly composed himself and hurried back to his original spot.

The sound of hooves rang out, and Jiang Tiantao and the Golden-Faced Nezha had arrived at the steps. Jin Shang Nezha, still on horseback, clasped his hands in a fist salute, glanced at the assembled heroes, and immediately proclaimed in a loud voice, "Esteemed seniors, friends, and heroes, I am here on horseback to introduce to you the first distinguished guest in the history of our mountain." He then gestured respectfully towards Jiang Tiantao on his white horse and continued, "This is the highly respected and recently retired Jiang Tiantao, the only son of the late Master Jiang, the newly appointed Young Master of Jiugong Fortress, Jiang Tiantao." As soon as he finished speaking, the assembled heroes erupted in a heroic cheer, except for Huangfu Xiang, who stood coldly motionless on the highest step of the hall.

Jiang Tiantao, feigning ignorance of Huangfu Xiang's pale face and trembling body, quickly cupped his hands in greeting, facing the cheering crowd, and said with a smile, "I have only recently descended the mountain, and my experience is still very limited. I am especially ignorant of the rules of the martial world and the etiquette of the martial arts world. In the future, I humbly request that the seniors and heroes present here not hesitate to teach and guide me." After speaking, amidst the enthusiastic applause of the crowd, he and the Golden-Faced Nezha dismounted and descended the steps.

As Jiang Tiantao ascended the steps, he repeatedly returned the clapping greetings from the crowd on both sides. Before even reaching the top step, Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip, burst into laughter, saying, "Nephew Jiang, you've indeed arrived just in time tonight."

Jiang Tiantao hurried up two steps, bowed deeply, and said respectfully, "I was visiting friends but didn't get to meet them. Then I heard the Mountain Master was hosting a grand banquet for heroes, so I rushed here to meet some of the martial arts seniors and heroes..."

Before Jiang Tiantao could finish, Zhao Peifeng laughed again, saying, "There are quite a few heroes and valiant figures here tonight. You can go and get to know your brother Huai De later."

Jiang Tiantao respectfully agreed, then cupped his hands to Zhao Huai De, saying, "I hope Brother Huai De will guide me from afar later."

Zhao Huai De quickly returned the greeting, smiling, and said, "Brother Tao is too modest."

Just then, a deep shout suddenly rang out from the other side: "Don't just talk over there, there's another Brother Stone over here."

The heroes all knew about Zhang Shitou's foolishness, and upon hearing this, they all laughed. Jiang Tiantao turned around upon hearing the voice, facing Zhang Shitou, who was glaring and pouting, looking quite smug. He quickly cupped his hands and said with a smile, "Brother Shitou, it's been a long time. How have you been?"

Zhang Shitou, with his belly bulging, didn't return the greeting, only nodding casually and saying, "Hmm, not bad."

Zhu Caidie found it amusing and couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth with her hand. Jiang Tiantao hurriedly cupped his hands to Zhu Caidie again, smiling as he asked, "Sister Die, how have you been?"

Zhu Caidie was naturally delighted to hear Jiang Tiantao call her Sister Die, her face blooming like a flower, and she smiled and said, "Not bad!"

Just then, he suddenly heard the golden-faced Nezha behind him cheerfully say, "Young Master Jiang, let me introduce you to some senior masters whose martial arts are unparalleled and renowned throughout the martial world."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Tiantao immediately responded sincerely twice, and at the same time, he naturally glanced around and noticed five or six elderly men, scholars, and middle-aged men in the crowd around him, each wearing a golden orchid on their chest. Of course, his gaze also naturally swept over Huangfu Xiangning's beautiful face. However, he had long held a principle: unless Huangfu Xiang nodded to him first or indicated any intention to converse, he would never greet her first. This

was because he was now the lord of Jiugong Fortress, representing its illustrious reputation in the martial arts world and the prestige of its many masters. Judging from Huangfu Xiang's proud posture at the center of the highest platform, with Zhao Peifeng, the two elderly men wearing golden orchid ornaments, and the scholar standing on either side, he concluded that Huangfu Xiang held the highest position among them. He also imagined that his, Jiang Tiantao, would soon replace Huangfu Xiang's supreme status.

At this moment, the Golden-Faced Nezha seemed to have noticed the unusual expression on Huangfu Xiang's face. He smiled happily, first pointing respectfully at Huangfu Xiang, and introduced her: "This is the renowned leader of the Three Beauties Gang, the daughter of the Jade Fan Scholar Huangfu Yang, the Silver-Clad Huangfu Xiang."

Seeing that Huangfu Xiang's expression hadn't improved, Jiang Tiantao's mind raced. He feigned sudden realization, and with a slightly respectful tone, cupped his hands and smiled, saying, "So it's the Jade Fan Scholar..." "Miss Huangfu, I've long admired you. May I ask, young lady, how is Senior Huangfu's health?"

Huangfu Xiang, determined to ignore Jiang Tiantao, was surprised when he took the opportunity to inquire about her father. Daring not to be negligent, she quickly returned the greeting, saying respectfully, "Thank you, thank you! My father is well!" As she spoke, her almond-shaped eyes flashed coldly, glaring resentfully at Jiang Tiantao. However, deep down, she secretly admired his quick wit and resourcefulness.

Jiang Tiantao's aim was to force Huangfu Xiang to answer; he completely ignored her resentful gaze. At this moment, the Golden-Faced Nezha pointed to the gray-robed old man standing beside Zhao Peifeng and said, "This is Wei Changshun, the renowned judge of Gansu, the Old Hero Wei."

Jiang Tiantao saw that Wei Changshun had white hair and silver hair, a pair of black judge's pens crossed at his waist, and a righteous air between his frosty eyebrows. He knew that Wei Changshun was an upright person and hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I have long admired the old hero's name." Wei Changshun also hurriedly cupped his hands and smiled, calling him Young Master Jiang.

The next person introduced was Chen Dongyun, a middle-aged scholar in a light blue robe, and another old man and two middle-aged swordsmen in strong clothes. Jiang Tiantao had no interest in remembering the nicknames and names of those people, or which region they were famous heroes from. Apart from constantly cupping his hands and saying "I have long admired you," he found that these people did not seem to be any kind of sinister or evil people. Therefore, he also felt that although the Golden-Faced Nezha was a friend of Zhang Lehua, the Water Demon, he might not be the wicked villain he had imagined.

After the introductions were completed, they entered the hall. Palace lanterns hung high in the hall, illuminating it like daytime. The outer hall was already filled with food and drink, with a particularly large, round table in the center, capable of seating a dozen or twenty people, all seated in brocade-covered chairs. Since the evening banquet had not yet begun, everyone headed towards the inner hall. Behind the inner hall, a twelve-foot-long brocade screen stood horizontally, with a long, lacquered table in front of it, and three large armchairs arranged in a row behind it. To the left and right of the long table, two rows of light-colored armchairs were arranged in a goose-shaped pattern, with a high-legged tea table between each armchair, laden with refreshments and teaware.

Approaching the long table, the golden-faced Nezha immediately gestured respectfully to the grand chair and said cheerfully, "Young Master Jiang, please take the seat of honor."

Jiang Tiantao hurriedly cupped his hands and said, "I am but a junior, how dare I take the seat

of honor, especially with my father's esteemed Uncle Zhao and the old hero Wei present..." Upon hearing this, Zhao Peifeng stroked his beard and laughed heartily, saying, "Nephew, as the master of a fortress, you should take the seat of honor." As he spoke, he gestured respectfully to the two grand chairs behind the long table and continued, "Nephew, you should know that these three chairs belong to Shen Shan..." "The high seat specially set up for the leaders of all sides is not a place for just anyone to sit in..."

Before the words were finished, Wei Changshun, the Double-Pen Judge, also interjected solemnly, "Although Young Master Jiang is young, the rules of the martial world cannot be disregarded. Young Master Jiang, there's no need for modesty. Please take your seat so everyone can also take their places."

Jiang Tiantao, having heard Zhao Peifeng's explanation, understood the implication: even if he, Jiang Tiantao, didn't sit, Zhao Peifeng and Wei Changshun were not qualified to sit. Furthermore, insisting on not sitting would only invite ridicule. Therefore, he smiled subtly, cupped his hands, and humbly said, "I'd rather accept your offer. I thank the Mountain Lord and all the seniors." As he spoke, he bowed slightly and turned to walk towards the left side of the long table.

But just as he walked towards the left side of the long table, a thought struck him; he suddenly remembered the seating arrangement. Thinking to himself: If I were to sit in the highest seat in the center, it would likely provoke dissatisfaction among the assembled heroes. Moreover, what if another elderly leader arrived? Then I would inevitably have to relinquish that high seat, wouldn't that be embarrassing? If I were to sit in the last seat on the right, it would be tantamount to lowering my status. And what if another person, merely a gang leader or guild master, arrived? His mind raced, and he decided to sit in the second large chair, where he wouldn't have to worry about the arrival of an elderly and venerable sect leader, nor about the arrival of other gang leaders.

Just as he settled in, he heard the Golden-Faced Nezha, Shen Qifeng, cheerfully announce, "Please, everyone, continue to take your seats."

A flurry of movement followed, accompanied by cheerful laughter, as Zhao Peifeng, Wei Changshun, and others, as usual, offered their seats. Taking advantage of the polite exchange, Jiang Tiantao glanced around and his two sword-like eyebrows immediately furrowed. All the guests were seated in the large chairs on the right. The leaders and incense masters of all the altars of Dahong Mountain sat on the large chairs in the left row. However,

Huangfu Xiang, the silver-haired beauty, was earnestly invited by the golden-faced Nezha to sit on the first large chair in front of Jiang Tiantao's table. Huangfu Xiang's beautiful face was deep and her expression still extremely unpleasant. She sat upright in the first chair, not even glancing at Jiang Tiantao, who was so close. Jiang Tiantao smiled inwardly, pretending not to see her. He then looked at Zhang Shitou and Zhu Caidie, who were already sitting side-by-side on the two large chairs behind the middle-aged scholar Chen Dongyun. Zhu Caidie was beautiful, with bright almond-shaped eyes, but she would occasionally glance at Jiang Tiantao with tender affection. Then he looked at Zhao Huaide, the son of Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip. Although he wore a large red flower on his chest, he stood among the heroes in the outer hall and did not enter.

As he looked around, three handsome young boys brought in four plates of exquisite pastries and a cup of fragrant tea, all served in silver-carved vessels, looking extremely luxurious. The children respectfully arranged themselves and then bowed and withdrew. Jiang Tiantao looked up again and saw that Zhao Peifeng and the others were already seated. The Golden-Faced Nezha sat on the first large chair in front of the various altar masters, directly opposite Huangfu Xiang.

Wei Changshun, who was judged by his double-pen hand, immediately turned to Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip Master, and exchanged a few words in hushed tones after the Golden-Faced Nezha was seated. Zhao Peifeng, the Divine Whip, nodded knowingly and immediately looked at Jiang Tiantao, saying gently, "Nephew, is there anything you wish to say to everyone present?"

Jiang Tiantao knew that the Double-Pen Judge had something to ask the Golden-Faced Nezha, but out of respect for him as the lord of the fortress, he asked Zhao Peifeng to ask him on his behalf. Therefore, he humbly said, "Uncle Zhao and Hero Wei, please speak first."

Zhao Peifeng and Wei Changshun, the Double-Pen Judge, nodded simultaneously. Then, the two turned to the Golden-Faced Nezha, Shen Qifeng, and said, "Please continue with the purpose of our martial arts exchange, which we had not finished explaining earlier!" The

Golden-Faced Nezha smiled broadly, cupped his hands slightly, and said, "I am here to..." "The true purpose of this martial arts gathering is to make friends with heroes from all over the world, giving those who haven't seen each other for years a chance to meet and reunite..."

Before he finished speaking, a burly man in blue robes with a soft rope around his waist, sitting on the ninth large chair, suddenly clasped his hands in a fist salute and said in a deep voice, "I, Qi Danai, the Tongtian Cannon, am deeply moved by the Mountain Lord's kind intentions, but some say that the Mountain Lord's true purpose is to secretly recruit heroes from all walks of life..."

Upon hearing this, Golden-Faced Nezha laughed loudly and said, "I frankly tell you all, there is absolutely no such thing. However, if any heroes from all walks of life are willing to stay and serve at this mountain, I would certainly welcome them."

The middle-aged scholar Chen Dongyun immediately said humbly, "Since that's the case, since the Mountain Lord's fame spreads far and wide, why not invite heroes from all walks of life to linger and travel on your esteemed mountain, instead of saying 'a martial arts gathering'?"

The Golden-Faced Nezha, seemingly prepared, continued with a smile, "In recent years, the world has been at peace, and the martial arts world is stable. Apart from the Dragon Head Assembly held every five years, there have been few opportunities for heroes from all over the world to gather. In view of this, I have specifically called for a martial arts gathering, hoping to give heroes from all walks of life an opportunity to display their skills before the world's elite, and thereby make a name for themselves..."

Before he could finish speaking, Zhang Shitou shook his large head and said disdainfully in a deep voice, "I, Zhang Shitou, am not here to make a name for myself. I've come specifically to see if the jade lion you found is interesting."

Upon hearing this, the crowd not only didn't laugh, but all focused intently, secretly observing the expression of the Golden-Faced Nezha, Shen Qifeng, and how he would respond. Because everyone in the martial arts world, from all schools and sects, knew that the Golden-Faced Nezha had found a jade lion inscribed with martial arts techniques on the cliff face of Mount Dahong. Unexpectedly, upon hearing this, the Golden-Faced Nezha laughed heartily, then declared with a sigh, "I did indeed find a pure white jade lion, but it is certainly not as useful as the rumors suggest, and certainly not one that records various martial arts techniques..."

Before he could finish, a middle-aged man in green, sitting on the tenth large chair, suddenly interjected, "Since the rumors are untrue, why doesn't the Mountain Lord clarify them sooner rather than later, lest our friends in the martial arts world spread misinformation and cause a great stir?"

The Golden-Faced Nezha smiled calmly and said, "Hero Xing's question is quite apt, but I will handle this matter according to the principle of 'the strange is not strange, and its strangeness will defeat itself.'" "I hope my friends in the martial arts world will gradually forget about this matter, because those who try to smear it only make it worse, and those who try to refute it only make it more and more popular..."

Zhang Shitou was very impatient and immediately said in a deep voice, "I don't care if you wrote anything down on it or not, I just want to see the jade lion you picked up..."

Before Zhang Shitou could finish speaking, the Golden-Faced Nezha immediately said solemnly, "Young hero, there's no need to be impatient. Tomorrow morning, I will place the jade lion on the high steps outside the hall for all heroes to see..." As soon as he finished speaking, Zhao Peifeng and the others, as well as the heroes listening quietly in the outer hall, all suddenly brightened up, and every face was filled with suspicion. Shen Qifeng, the Golden-Faced

Nezha, frowned slightly as he judged Wei Changshun with his double-pen pen, and hesitated before asking, "Is what the Mountain Lord said true?"

Upon hearing this, the Golden-Faced Nezha laughed heartily, then declared loudly, "Not only will I allow all the heroes to witness this, but I will also present the Jade Lion to the person with the highest martial arts skill tomorrow..."

Before he finished speaking, the faces of all the heroes in both the inner and outer halls changed, and a chorus of exclamations erupted in shock. Everyone stared wide-eyed at the Golden-Faced Nezha, Shen Qifeng. Jiang Tiantao, though sitting high above, hadn't heard a word of their conversation, as he was preoccupied with how to enter the back stronghold and capture the Poisonous Lady and the Upturned Nose. Only now, hearing the exclamations and seeing the shocked expressions on the faces of the heroes, did he realize that they were discussing a crucial matter.

Zhang Shitou glanced contemptuously at the Golden-Faced Nezha, then suddenly snorted angrily, saying disdainfully, "Hmph, I don't want to see it, it must be fake."

As soon as he spoke, the assembled heroes nodded in agreement. Although no one echoed his sentiments, their eyes revealed their shared feeling. At the same time, many looked at Zhang Shitou with astonishment, as if to say, "Even fools can be naive sometimes!"

The Golden-Faced Nezha burst into loud laughter, saying, "That jade lion, after years of wind, rain, and sun exposure on the cliff face, shows signs of erosion in its exquisitely carved areas. It's estimated to be at least three hundred years old. Tell me, who could fake something so ancient?" With this explanation, everyone was speechless.

Zhu Caidie, who had been silent for a long time, suddenly asked coldly, "Is your other purpose in this martial arts gathering also to dispel rumors?"

Upon hearing this, the Golden-Faced Nezha and the leader of the Great Flood Mountain all looked at Zhu Caidie with astonishment and admiration. The Golden-Faced Nezha nodded forcefully and said in a deep voice, "What you say is correct, young lady."

Another middle-aged man, seemingly eager to know how to obtain the jade lion, changed the subject and asked, "Mountain Lord, could you please explain the rules of this martial arts gathering?"

The Golden-Faced Nezha nodded slightly and said, "The rules are simple: palm strikes, not weapons; no hidden weapons used; a serious injury results in defeat; and the fight ends when both sides have made their point."

The burly man Qi Danai also asked eagerly, "What about the events?"

The Golden-Faced Nezha smiled arrogantly and said, "The first event is horsemanship." The

moment the words "horsemanship" were uttered, all the heroes were stunned. Huangfu Xiang, sitting on the first large chair, immediately turned to look at Jiang Yaotao. Jiang Tiantao was quite surprised to hear that the first martial arts competition for Golden-Faced Nezha was horsemanship. Just then, he saw Huangfu Xiang looking at him coldly, knowing she was thinking about the chase down the mountain, the galloping horse and the missed attempt to pull the horse out of the forest.

Before he could finish his thought, he heard Wei Changshun say in a deep voice, "Although horsemanship is one of the Six Arts, many schools no longer value it!"

Before Golden-Faced Nezha could finish his double-pen judgment, he immediately smiled calmly and said, "The horsemanship competition I will be holding tomorrow is an important test of the opponent's martial arts skills."

Zhao Peifeng frowned, immediately asking in confusion, "Please explain in detail."

Golden-Faced Nezha continued, "I have a friend from Yunnan who gifted me a wild mountain horse named Thunder Leopard. It is fierce and violent, attacking anyone it sees, biting, headbutting, lunging and kicking." "To this day, no one can ride it. Dozens of people in this mountain have been seriously injured, and many have died from their injuries. According to my friend, unless one possesses superb martial arts skills and exceptional riding ability, no one can subdue it." He paused, glanced at the assembled heroes, and continued, "I am not fortunate enough to ride this precious horse, so I will seek a worthy master for it tomorrow. That is why I have included riding skills as the first criterion in the competition for the Jade Lion."

Upon hearing this, Zhao Peifeng and the others' expressions changed slightly. The heroes in the outer hall also exchanged glances, remaining silent. The entire hall suddenly became extremely quiet. Just then, Huangfu Xiang, whose face was as white as ice, suddenly smiled inscrutablely at the corner of her crimson lips, and then calmly said, "I would like to solemnly recommend someone."

Upon hearing this, everyone's eyes suddenly focused on Huangfu Xiang. Jiang Tiantao had always been wary of Huangfu Xiang. When he heard her recommend someone, he knew something was wrong. He knew that Huangfu Xiang was recommending him, Jiang Tiantao. Before his thoughts had even died down, he heard Huangfu Xiang say in a deep voice, "This man is not only incredibly skilled in martial arts and exceptionally intelligent, but also a master horseman with lightning-fast reflexes. He will surely be able to tame the mountain lord's four prized horses tomorrow."

Upon hearing this, the Golden-Faced Nezha hurriedly cupped his hands, excitedly asking, "May I ask who you are, young lady?"

Jiang Tiantao, upon being asked, immediately held his breath, staring intently at Huangfu Xiang, waiting to see her answer. Huangfu Xiang smiled coldly, not even glancing at Jiang Tiantao, and immediately said shrewdly, "This man is none other than Jiang Tiantao, the new lord of Jiugong Fortress."

Upon hearing this, the assembled heroes were shocked, a collective gasp rippled through the crowd, and all eyes immediately turned to Jiang Tiantao's handsome face. Seeing that Huangfu Xiang had indeed recommended him, Jiang Tiantao felt a surge of anger rising within him. Because a skilled horseman could not necessarily tame a wild horse born deep in the mountains, its wild nature untamed. Huangfu Xiang's purpose and intentions were obvious; she aimed to humiliate him in public. Since they had been introduced as strangers by Golden-Faced Nezha upon their initial meeting, it was inconvenient to expose her scheme now. He could only face Huangfu Xiang, give a slight bow, and force a smile, saying, "I am deeply grateful for your recommendation, young lady, but unfortunately, I do not possess the great abilities you speak of."

Golden-Faced Nezha, thinking Jiang Tiantao was deliberately declining, hurriedly bowed and smiled, saying, "Young Master Jiang, with your profound family learning, you will surely be able to subdue the precious horse tomorrow. Why be so modest?"

Jiang Tiantao smiled calmly, about to say something, when he suddenly saw Zhu Caidie's eyes flash, and she raised an eyebrow and said in a deep voice, "Mountain Lord, please wait!"

Golden-Faced Nezha turned his head upon hearing this, bowing and smiling, "What treasures does the young lady wish to see?"

Zhu Caidie glared at Huangfu Xiang resentfully, then said in a deep voice, "Please ask Miss Huangfu, Mountain Lord Shen, how did she know that Young Master Jiang of Jiugong Fortress possesses astonishing martial arts and superb horsemanship?"

Upon hearing this question, Golden-Faced Nezha, Zhao Peifeng, and the others suddenly realized, exchanging glances as if to say, "Yes, how did Huangfu Xiang know?" Jiang Tiantao's heart skipped a beat, knowing he was in trouble. It seemed Zhu Caidie suspected some romantic entanglement between him and Huangfu Xiang, and her address as "Young Master Jiang" indicated she still held sway over him.

In that instant, Huangfu Xiang smiled coldly, looking arrogantly at Golden-Faced Nezha, and said, "Anyone with discerning eyes can see that I have known Young Master Jiang for a long time. As for how I know Jiang Tiantao, please pass on a message, Mountain Lord… I'm afraid I cannot answer."

Golden-Faced Nezha, Zhao Peifeng, and the others were all stunned. The gazes of the assembled heroes in the outer hall also focused on Jiang Tiantao, Zhu Caidie, and Huangfu Xiang. Jiang Tiantao's handsome face flushed red; he was neither able to retaliate nor explain.

Just then, Zhang Shitou slammed his hand on the armrest of his chair, glared at Zhu Caidie, and shouted, "Junior Sister, sit down! Don't pay her any attention. Brother Tao is your fiancé. He promised Master himself. Are you afraid someone will snatch him away?"

These words shocked the assembled heroes. Hundreds of eyes turned to Zhu Caidie behind Hong Fei's ear. No one had expected that the stunningly beautiful girl in red, adorned with a gold flower, was the future mistress of Jiugongbao. Golden-Faced Nezha and Zhao Peifeng were stunned again. Golden-Faced Nezha, in particular, was taken. According to martial arts rules, Jiang Tiantao and Zhu Caidie should have been seated side-by-side immediately. Even though they weren't married, Zhu Caidie should have been invited to the first seat.

But the first seat was occupied by Huangfu Xiang, who was the second-highest-ranking member of the Three Hairpins Gang after the gang leader. With the two men in the heat of the moment, how could she willingly give up her seat? Golden-Faced Nezha was caught in a dilemma. Asking Zhu Caidie to be promoted risked angering Huangfu Xiang, while feigning ignorance would break martial arts rules. He was truly caught in a bind, secretly lamenting his predicament, speechless for a long time.

Jiang Tiantao recalled the words of the blind nun Golden Buddha by the Jade Pool on Mount Fanjing: "Silly child, this old nun has no regrets in my life. As long as you treat Luan'er well in the future, I will be happy, and that will be my repayment." He had suspected the nun had a hidden meaning then, and it seemed he hadn't been wrong. Anyway, "when soldiers come, we'll block them; when water comes, we'll dam it." He and his master, Fairy Haitang, had already consummated their marriage; what harm was there in having another wife, as long as they lived in harmony? Thinking of this, his handsome face flushed slightly, and he glanced at the shy Zhu Caidie with a smile. However, remembering Zhu Caidie's spoiled and jealous nature, he needed to change her ways.

Huangfu Xiang, who hadn't even glanced at Zhu Caidie's silver hairpin, suddenly stared wide-eyed at Zhu Caidie and Zhang Shitou. She only knew of Wang Yanling before, but now Zhu Caidie had suddenly appeared; perhaps in a few days, another stunningly beautiful young woman would claim to be Jiang Tiantao's fiancée. Although she looked at Zhu Caidie with astonishment, her heart was filled with jealousy and hatred, a deep resentment towards Jiang Tiantao.

Just then, Zhang Shitou raised his thick eyebrows, waved to the Golden-Faced Nezha, and said impatiently, "Let me ask you, what if I subdue the Thunder Leopard?"

The Golden-Faced Nezha, who was worrying, regained his composure and immediately said seriously, "Of course, I will present the Thunder Leopard to you."

Zhang Shitou nodded vigorously and said with great confidence, "Good, watch me tomorrow."

Just then, a burly man dressed in brand-new, close-fitting clothes strode to the front of the inner hall, bowed to the Golden-Faced Nezha, and said loudly, "Reporting to the Mountain Lord, it is time for the banquet." Upon hearing this, the

Golden-Faced Nezha felt relieved and immediately said excitedly, "Quickly invite all heroes to take their seats."

Hearing this, the burly man hurriedly turned around, faced the heroes in the outer hall, and loudly called out, "Please take your seats, everyone." As soon as the call ended, a burst of laughter and the sound of tables and chairs being moved erupted.

As soon as the burly man finished speaking, the Golden-Faced Nezha stood up from his chair, faced Jiang Tiantao, clasped his hands in front of his chest, and said with a smile, "Please, Young Master Jiang and all the seniors, take your seats."

Jiang Tiantao had already planned his exit, so he immediately stood up, cupped his hands, and said with a humble smile, "Thank you for your kindness, Mountain Lord, but I have already had dinner..."

The Golden-Faced Nezha didn't wait for Jiang Tiantao to finish speaking. He hurriedly urged, "Young Master, although you have already had dinner, what harm is there in having a few more drinks?"

Jiang Tiantao bowed again and declined, saying, "I have been traveling for several days and am feeling slightly unwell. In order to attend the Mountain Lord's martial arts competition early tomorrow morning, please allow me to take my leave first."

Zhao Peifeng, unaware that Jiang Tiantao intended to take the opportunity to capture the Poisonous Lady, and thinking it inconvenient to sit at the same table with Huangfu Xiang and the others, interjected, "Young Master Jiang does indeed look unwell; the Mountain Lord need not detain you."

The Golden-Faced Nezha was also afraid of causing trouble at the table, but as the host, he had to insist that Jiang Tiantao stay. Seeing Zhao Peifeng smooth things over, he hurriedly nodded and smiled, saying, "Since Young Master has had a long journey, I would like to ask Master Meng to accompany you to the inn to rest." The Red Flag Master, the purple-robed old man Meng Lechang, immediately agreed respectfully and stepped forward.

Jiang Tiantao thanked the Golden-Faced Nezha, bid farewell to Zhao Peifeng and Wei Changshun, and greeted Zhu Caidie. Then, together with the Red Flag Altar Master who was leading the way, he headed straight for the back of the hall.

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