The Martial Contest Begins

"How did they die?"

Jiang Dao asked without betraying any emotion.

Yang Xu's expression twisted with struggle, as if he were caught in fierce hesitation. After a moment, he still lowered his voice. "I corresponded with your father before, and I learned that your family seemed to have encountered something similar in Hengzhou City. So you should know that this world has vicious monsters and Malevolent Spirits, right? To this day, we still have not figured out whether the things that killed those two Hall Masters were vicious monsters or Malevolent Spirits."

"What do you mean?"

Jiang Dao looked puzzled.

Yang Xu sighed softly. "They all died ten nights ago. That night, the sect headquarters held a meeting that lasted until very late. It was close to the third watch when the two Hall Masters finally left headquarters.

But something suddenly happened right then. The people inside headquarters only had time to hear a burst of screams. By the time they rushed out, both Hall Masters had already died a gruesome death. Their bodies had been shredded to pieces, their faces utterly unrecognizable. It looked as though they had been hacked to death by countless blades.

Even the many experts accompanying them were no exception. Every one of them died miserably, with flesh and blood flying everywhere, splattering all over the place. It could be said that not a single one was left with an intact corpse!

After that night, the Sect Master ordered the entire sect to remain on high alert and conduct a thorough investigation. But even after all this time, not the slightest clue had been found. It was as if those people had died for nothing."

As he spoke, obvious fear surfaced in Yang Xu's eyes, and he looked somewhat horrified.

Jiang Dao narrowed his eyes.

"So you do not know what exactly made the move either?"

"That's right. But one thing is certain: it definitely was not human, and it definitely was not something our Blazing Flame Sect could afford to provoke. Among ordinary people, our Blazing Flame Sect could be considered a major sect, capable of shaking the southern part of the Great Ye Dynasty. But compared to those terrifying inhuman creatures, we are nothing."

Yang Xu wore a complicated expression. "So after investigating for only ten days, the Sect Master ordered everyone to abandon the matter and select new Hall Masters."

Jiang Dao's heart churned.

He had come here in the first place to learn more advanced martial arts.

Yet he had not expected things to become even more complicated after arriving.

To kill two Hall Masters beneath the very nose of the Blazing Flame Sect in an instant, that thing was definitely several times stronger than the Eerie Youth from before.

It made him feel waves of danger once again.

"Third Uncle, after martial arts cultivation reaches the Divine Strength Realm, is there no way to continue advancing?"

Jiang Dao asked.

"I do not know about that. I know very little about martial arts. I only know that Divine Strength Realm experts are exceedingly rare. At the very least, across the entire Great Ye Dynasty, their number can be counted on one's fingers!"

Yang Xu said.

Jiang Dao pondered slightly. "There is one more matter, Third Uncle. That bearded brute I killed before said before he died that he was from the Blazing Flame Sect..."

"The Blazing Flame Sect?"

Yang Xu's expression froze. "Impossible. The rules within our Blazing Flame Sect are strict. No one would dare do such a thing!"

But as soon as the words left his mouth, his expression changed. He thought for a moment, then murmured, "It is not entirely impossible. If certain Protectors or Hall Masters wanted to make a windfall, they might secretly recruit experts, have them pose as bandits, and intercept merchant routes for profit!"

He suddenly raised his head. "Dao'er, let this matter end here. Whether Bearded Bandit Guo Biao was someone's secret agent within our Blazing Flame Sect or not, pretend you know nothing."

"I understand."

Jiang Dao nodded directly.

Afterward, Yang Xu gave him a few more instructions before leaving.

Time flew by.

Over the next two days, Jiang Dao hardly left the house.

The farthest he went was to wander around the nearby docks.

This place lay west of Qianyuan City. Outside the door was a huge, broad river, magnificent and surging, stretching from north to south. Merchant ships traveled back and forth every day, and trade flourished.

If this world had been like the ancient world of his previous life, Jiang Dao could have lived exceedingly well with his family background.

Unfortunately, this place had Malevolent Spirits and vicious monsters!

Each one could easily kill ordinary people countless times over.

Even experts who had practiced martial arts for decades would be utterly helpless before these inhuman creatures...

Two days passed in the blink of an eye.

Early on the third day, Yang Xu woke Jiang Dao. They mounted swift horses and hurried together toward the Blazing Flame Sect headquarters.

"Dao'er, our Blazing Flame Sect headquarters is located in the south of the city and is enormous. A huge sum was spent to build it back then. It can be called a city within a city. Around seventy percent of the sect's experts live inside. You will see its grandeur once we arrive. The martial contest will be held at headquarters this time."

Yang Xu smiled.

After a journey of more than an hour.

The two finally arrived outside a massive wall. The entire wall was towering and heavy, stretching on without end and covered in moss. There was only one entrance for people to pass through.

However, both sides of the entrance were tightly guarded by burly men dressed in black, carrying broadswords and long spears. Their gazes were sharp, and thick calluses covered their palms and fingers.

One look was enough to tell that they were all skilled martial artists who had trained for many years.

"Third Uncle, the Blazing Flame Sect built a city within a city here. Does the imperial court not question it?"

Jiang Dao asked suspiciously.

"The court is incompetent. As long as we send money upward every year, they cannot be bothered with such matters. Besides, the Great Ye Dynasty is declining by the day, and its control over the regions is gradually weakening. Perhaps one day even the imperial court will perish. They will have even less time to concern themselves with what happens below."

Yang Xu smiled.

"So that was it!"

Jiang Dao came to a sudden realization.

They entered through the inner wall and continued onward. Before long, they arrived at an enormous square.

Flags fluttered throughout the square, and crowds packed the area. At least several hundred people had gathered there, densely filling the space.

Blades, spears, swords, and halberds had been planted all around, their cold gleams flashing.

At the very center stood a massive raised platform.

Seated atop the platform was a man in his fifties or sixties. He wore a crimson robe, and his head was covered in thick black hair. He was broad and powerfully built, with large hands and feet, his gaze sharp as that of a mighty lion.

Below him, to his left and right, sat three more men. One wore white, one wore green, and one wore black. All of them had deep, formidable auras and sharp eyes. In terms of strength, they seemed only a fraction weaker than the Sect Master.

Below those three men was a row of seats.

Every seat was occupied by a core member of the Blazing Flame Sect.

Without exception, all of them had bright eyes and deep auras.

The instant Jiang Dao arrived, he noticed the Sect Master's piercing gaze and frowned inwardly.

What a formidable expert!

With just one glance, he could sense how terrifying this Sect Master was. He was definitely stronger than Jiang Dao!

This was the first time Jiang Dao had encountered such a powerful expert since his martial arts had achieved success!

"Dao'er, quickly pay your respects to the Sect Master!"

Yang Xu tugged at Jiang Dao from the side, immediately stepped forward, and bowed. "This subordinate, Yang Xu, pays respects to the Sect Master!"

Jiang Dao immediately followed Yang Xu in paying his respects.

"Yang Xu, is this the talent you recommended, Jiang Dao?"

The Sect Master at the head of the platform stared down at Jiang Dao with bright, piercing eyes as he spoke.

Experts could sense one another's auras.

Just like Jiang Dao, he had immediately sensed the other party's deep strength.

This secretly astonished the Sect Master.

How old did Jiang Dao look?

At most, around twenty!

Yet how could his strength be so profound?

"That is correct. This is Jiang Dao, the son of one of my cousins. His background is spotless, and he is absolutely reliable!"

Yang Xu said with a smile.

"Good. What a heroic young man!"

Sect Master Fang Tianba could not help praising him.

The people beside him immediately snorted coldly. Several gazes turned toward Jiang Dao, filled with hostility.

Jiang Dao frowned slightly and could not help looking back.

Five or six meters away stood more than ten figures. There were men and women, tall and short, fat and thin. All of them swept their cold gazes over him, faintly unwilling to accept him.

"Dao'er, do not pay them any mind. They are all your competitors..."

Yang Xu immediately whispered into Jiang Dao's ear.

Jiang Dao withdrew his gaze at once.

"Jiang Dao, was Bearded Bandit Guo Biao truly killed by you? Did no one else help?"

Suddenly, another voice rang out.

Among the three men seated below Sect Master Fang Tianba, the one in green spoke up.

"He is Left Guardian Guo Linyu!"

Yang Xu immediately introduced him in a low voice.

"That is correct. I killed him alone!"

Jiang Dao replied.

"But according to what I know, Bearded Bandit Guo Biao had gathered several hundred skilled martial artists around him. Every one of them was quite capable and proficient with all kinds of weapons. You alone were able to kill him? Were his subordinates merely decorations?"

Guo Linyu narrowed his eyes.

"They were nothing but clay chickens and porcelain dogs. I killed them, so I killed them. What is there to say?"

Jiang Dao said.

"What clay chickens and porcelain dogs."

Guo Linyu forced out a smile and applauded with both hands, but a flash of gloom passed through the depths of his eyes.

"Enough. Nearly everyone has arrived. There are only two Hall Master positions, while there are eleven competitors. We will now decide the candidates for Hall Master through martial contests. This contest will use a king-of-the-hill format. Whoever can remain on the platform and win five consecutive matches will obtain the qualification. Blades and spears have no eyes. Begin now."