The martial arts community stands firm, on equal footing with the Pai Bang Leader and Thirteen High Gates.
Besides banding together with various rules, naturally, there are powerful figures holding the fort.
This black-robed elder, who looks like his teeth are about to fall out, is the sole remaining Four Cultivation Grandmaster of Hundred Rings Square.
Before Ninghai Zen gained fame, this person had the most remarkable battle records, standing undefeated for forty-nine days and fighting seventy-eight matches on the platform.
A decade ago in Yihai Prefecture, the plaque of the Qianshan Sect was a thunderous name.
In terms of seniority, Chen Xingâs call of "Elder" is not misplaced.
"All the disciples are dead, the followers are gone, and the ancestral skills are on the brink of extinction. What face is there after death, and what face is needed in life?"
The elder surnamed Weng drooped his eyelids and spoke in a weak voice:
"Master Chen, letâs have a cup of tea here and wait for the outside commotion to settle before presiding over the situation. If youâre not satisfied, then this old manâs life is yours too."
Chen Xing waved his hand, his expression calm:
"Elder Weng, you speak too heavily. You are a master who has broken through the Fourth Qi Cultivation Barrier, achieving a full cycle on your own, what difficulty is there in living past a hundred? My rebellious disciple, being heavy-handed, killed many from Qianshan Sect and even removed your familyâs plaque, indeed... it was a bit excessive. But as long as he leaves Yihai Prefecture, the previous grudges and blood feuds will be wiped clean. That was the agreement jointly established by the Thirteen High Gates, Pai Bang, Daoist Temple, and Martial Hall. Or does Elder Weng not wish to acknowledge it?"
The old man named Weng spoke hoarsely, his voice muddled:
"I havenât forgotten, if I really did, Qianshan Sect wouldnât still have the doors closed without a plaque, receiving disciples, and passing on skills. Life-and-death bouts on the platform have formed the very rules of the martial arts community. If you gamble, you must concede when you lose; this truth, even devoid of dignity, is clear to me. But letâs handle matters individually; the grudge between the martial arts community and Ninghai Zen is resolved. But the feud between Qianshan Sect and Tongwen Hall cannot be cleared! Master Chen, youâve taught a good disciple, achieving Four Training Perfection at thirty, a feat I know I canât block. Yet, grudges in the martial arts community are like skills, passed down through generations, unless the root is severed, itâs endless. I accept that Iâm not as good as Ninghai Zen. But itâs not certain that my disciple will lose to Bai Qilang."
Chen Xing nodded, put down his teacup, and placed his hands on his knees:
"I see. So, the various martial arts halls opening today in Hundred Rings Square all hold this sentiment? The big ones they canât handle, so they bully the small?"
The elder surnamed Weng showed a guilty expression, though his tone remained calm:
"The old ones are incapable, just hoping for the young ones to succeed, thereâs no helping it. Ninghai Zen broke one leg of the martial arts community, forcing half the martial arts halls in Hundred Rings Square to shut down for a decade, the pent-up frustration of ten years inevitably needs to be let out. Otherwise, the martial arts community cannot stand up again. Liang Daoâan of the Golden Crow Sect, an exceptional talent after changing blood seven times, died coughing blood for three days after being beaten by him; Zhou Bottle of Changle Sect, who achieved full mastery of Golden Flesh and Jade Veins, and Mercury Blood Silver Marrow, ended up crippled, hanging himself at home six months later... Master Chen, on this street, which family hasnât mourned due to Tongwen Hall. If tonight Ninghai Zenâs direct disciple boldly crosses through Hundred Rings Square, then the two hundred and sixty-three martial arts halls still struggling might as well disband their disciples and take the ancestral tablets away to find a new livelihood elsewhere."
Chen Xing raised an eyebrow, still sitting upright:
"So, Elder Weng intends to stop me with your life, allowing the numerous practitioners of Hundred Rings Square to vent their anger on my discipleâs disciple, as if the martial arts community has won against Tongwen Hall once?"
The elder named Weng replied frankly:
"Master Chen, why must you intervene? Ninghai Zen has already expelled you from the sect. Iâve lived for sixty-seven years and never heard of a disciple expelling a master; this matter is a laughing stock in the martial arts world. We have a sense of propriety, we donât want Bai Qilangâs life, we just want him to be defeated once, for Tongwen Hall to lose one match. To let that Golden Black Plaque in Yihai, known for its dragons, be dusted once."
Within the martial arts community, expulsion is not a simple matter.
Before the loss of the Dao, there were the customary rites of Heaven, Earth, Sovereign, Parents, and Teachers.
If a disciple acted disrespectfully, angered their master, or committed a grave offense provoking Heavenâs wrath and human anger.
Often, to sever the relationship, they would be expelled, no longer allowed to be part of the Sect.
The skills taught to them would also be entirely taken back.
This is what the story books often refer to as nullifying martial arts.
Whether Ninghai Zen ever nullified Chen Xingâs skills, the people in the martial world are unclear.
But one thing is certain, the true foundation of Master Chenâs cultivation was completely destroyed ten years ago.
Thus greatly diminishing his Vitality Essence, leaving no chance to ascend to the Divine Power Secret Realm.
This is why the elder surnamed Weng advised Chen Xing to stay out of it.
From his perspective, being esteemed as a teacher, but betrayed by his own direct disciple, who usurped the position of Sect Leader, expelled him, and destroyed his true skills, damaging his foundation.
Even the deepest bonds should turn into enmity!
"The disciple doesnât acknowledge the master, but the master hasnât said they donât acknowledge the disciple."
Chen Xing shook his head, his gaze falling on the elder surnamed Weng, whose amiable face now showed a bit of impatience:
"Perhaps I shouldnât have held him back at the time, I should have killed all you filthy scum in one fell swoop, saving trouble and effort, with no more hassle!"
"Weng Xiusheng, I, Mr. Chen, respectfully call you an elder, and you really think youâre somebody!"
The elder surnamed Weng lifted his eyelids, meeting Chen Xingâs gaze:
"Master Chen, itâs commonly said in the martial world that fists fear youth, which is because the skill hasnât reached maturity.
You, a Cultivation Grandmaster whose true foundation has been destroyed, may not necessarily compete against this old man halfway to the grave?"
Every word from his mouth, which was about to lose all its teeth, echoed like rolling thunder through his bones, as if the vibration filled his whole body, a surge of Vitality Essence erupting like a fountain, filling every corner of his body.
The black robe suddenly tore into shreds, fluttering like dancing butterflies, revealing an extremely robust and solid, strong flesh shell with a yellow jade-like hue.
"Master Chen, I donât have many years left, but it wouldnât be difficult to take half your life."
Weng Xiushengâs formerly ravine-like wrinkles were smoothed, each strand of hair turning from gray-white to jet black, his entire body filled with abundant Qi Blood, almost as broad as Nu Yun River, at full exertion, able to gather a straight-up smoke column thirty to forty meters high.
Chen Xing did not stand up, his gaze did not linger much on Weng Xiusheng:
"Perhaps you donât realize, before Ninghai Zenâs fame, his master with the nickname âTen Du Yamaâ was also quite renowned.
I can kill you without needing a second punch, but now you donât have to die yet.
I will have my grand-disciple extinguish the last breath of your martial arts before you go."
Humiliated by Chen Xing this way, Weng Xiushengâs expression changed drastically, a decade ago, his two beloved direct disciples were beaten to pulp by Ninghai Zen, turned into cripples.
Hence, he secretly partnered with the Seventeen Families Su Family at that time, to hunt down that rising killer star.
In the end, not only did they fail, but Ninghai Zen set traps, poisoned them into paralysis, nearly costing Weng Xiusheng his life.
Over the years, he stayed behind closed doors, focusing on nurture, like an old tortoise who gathers his essence and blood, seeming physically old and frail, but not only did his strength not decline, it became even deeper.
"Chen Xing, youâre arrogant..."
Weng Xiushengâs hair stood on end with anger, the immense Qi Blood was about to transform into a smoke column and break through the roof of the Inheritance Hall.
His five fingers opened, yin and yang forces rubbed against each other, like gripping thunder with a resounding boom.
This single palm strike alone could shock the distance of a hundred miles, and turn the surrounding ten meters into dust!
"Old thing! Youâre too noisy!"
Chen Xing remained seated on the round stool, as if an unwavering mountain, but as he moved, the entire world seemed to collapse, as though turned over, instantly overwhelming Weng Xiushengâs thunderous palm force!
Thump! Thump thump! Thump thump thumpâ
Every time Chen Xingâs raised palm pressed down a little, the soaring Qi Blood smoke column of Weng Xiusheng diminished by a fraction.
"Youâve actually re-cultivated the true foundation!"
Weng Xiushengâs eyes widened, his lifeâs accumulated foundation exhausted, the Qi Blood surging through his flesh shell, making a vast watery sound of "crashing," like a raging river.
Despite this, he was like a trapped dragon, finding it hard to break free, as his body, seemingly yellow jade-like, gradually lowered!
His bones, hard as the Divine Iron weaponry, broke with cracking sounds, scorching hot blood sprayed from his seven apertures!
"Watch closely, how my grand-disciple extinguishes the martial world!"
Chen Xingâs broad hand finally settled on Weng Xiushengâs neck, like lifting a small chick, holding tightly, forcing him to look outside the Inheritance Hall.