The martial world of Jiangnan Prefecture was steeped in a rich martial atmosphere.
Earlier, in Xingcheng, Lu Changfeng had already heard about it from the inn's waiter.
Five Horse Street lay in the central region of Jiangzhou, so naturally, it was no worse.
The Martial Arts Hall Tournament was jointly organized by the martial arts halls overseen by the three most elite Bone Tempering Martial Sects on Five Horse Street.
The Martial Arts Hall Tournament was held every night at Five Horse Street's central assembly hall.
Anyone could register and compete immediately. The only requirement was having a martial arts hall to represent.
Once they entered the martial arts hall, the matches stopped once one side had established superiority, and everyone tried their best not to injure anyone.
Every night, the martial arts hall arena was bustling with activity.
The ordinary people of Jiangnan Prefecture were also more than happy to buy tickets and watch the matches.
Once a martial arts hall representing someone made a name for itself, there would naturally be ordinary people willing to join it.
"This Martial Arts Hall Tournament sounds pretty good, judging from the way you describe it."
"The martial atmosphere in Jiangnan Prefecture really is excellent." Lu Changfeng spoke up.
In Fengcheng, there had been no such frequent opportunities to spar with martial artists.
Whenever anyone made a move, it was basically with the goal of killing their opponent.
Lu Changfeng liked this sort of occasion best. It gathered the talented people from the martial arts halls of Five Horse Street, and perhaps some talents and natural endowments that could even tempt Lu Changfeng would appear.
Zhou Feng laughed heartily. "After staying in Jiangnan Prefecture for a long time, I've become much more even-tempered. Everyone here tries their best not to break the rules."
"Of course, that doesn't mean the Martial Artists of Jiangnan Prefecture aren't good at fighting to the death."
"The Martial Artists of Jiangnan Prefecture also have rules agreed upon in advance where the result is life or death."
"I feel that Jiangnan Prefecture has truly nurtured a unique culture from the martial path."
"That may be the reason Jiangnan Prefecture has been able to maintain its prosperity and peace."
Clearly, Zhou Feng was extremely fond of Jiangnan Prefecture's atmosphere.
After marrying and settling down, he might completely integrate into Jiangnan Prefecture, and his descendants would become true people of Jiangnan Prefecture.
"Junior Brother, I'll host tonight. Let's gather at a restaurant, and I'll introduce Sister-in-law to you."
"Your Sister-in-law comes from a scholarly family. Her father works at the Jiangzhou Prefecture Yamen, and sometimes he can help with minor matters."
Lu Changfeng did not refuse Zhou Feng's invitation. He nodded and agreed.
After eating and drinking, he could conveniently stop by the Martial Arts Hall Tournament venue to take a look.
Since he had decided to integrate into the martial world of Jiangnan, he naturally had to start from the ground up. Making a name for his martial arts hall was the first step.
"Then Senior Brother will go arrange tonight's gathering. Another day, I'll take you to look at my martial arts hall."
"All right!"
Lu Changfeng saw Zhou Feng to the entrance of the martial arts hall and watched him leave.
Sure enough, without a reputation in Jiangnan Prefecture, one could hardly survive.
After Zhou Feng left, apart from a few ordinary people who had seen the advertisement and come to ask about it, not a single disciple genuinely came to register at the martial arts hall that entire day.
The thirty taels of silver Lu Changfeng had spent on the newspaper advertisement had gone to waste.
That evening.
Zhao Xingtian still had not returned.
Lu Changfeng left Black Ox behind to watch the martial arts hall.
After changing into a new outfit, he took Chun Zhu to the restaurant for their appointment.
The restaurant was called Water Cloud Pavilion. Located on Five Horse Street, it was one of the better restaurants there.
Lu Changfeng and Chun Zhu walked there on foot.
Along the way, they admired the scenery of Five Horse Street.
The people most often seen coming and going on Five Horse Street were Martial Artists.
Looking around, Lu Changfeng saw that they all possessed a certain level of natural endowment.
Even some low- and mid-grade Martial Talents could be spotted among the passersby.
As Lu Changfeng looked at the others, they secretly admired him and Chun Zhu as well.
Lu Changfeng went without saying. He was tall and imposing, and after his body had fully developed over the years, he was exceptionally handsome and brimming with heroic spirit.
Although Chun Zhu's cultivation was still at the Blood Tempering Third Level, she had practiced martial arts for years. Combined with her accomplished lightness skill, her figure was extremely slender and beautifully proportioned.
On Five Horse Street, a martial couple like them was a rare sight.
When they reached Water Cloud Pavilion, Zhou Feng was already waiting downstairs with several people.
He raised a hand to greet Lu Changfeng from far away.
Lu Changfeng strode over.
"Let me introduce you. This is the Swordsmanship prodigy I often mention, my Junior Brother Lu Changfeng!"
"And this is his beloved, Sister Chun Zhu!"
Zhou Feng spoke to the woman in her early twenties beside him.
Lu Changfeng instinctively glanced at the woman. Her talent and natural endowment were somewhat poor, and her body was frail. She carried a scholarly air and showed no trace of having practiced martial arts. She was an ordinary person.
This woman should be Zhou Feng's companion.
Sure enough, Zhou Feng's next sentence introduced her. Her name was Sun Yu, and she was his fiancée.
"As expected, you really are a perfect couple. How enviable!" Sun Yu's eyes shone.
Although she did not practice martial arts because of her poor natural endowment, she was extremely fond of matters concerning the martial world.
She especially loved stories about martial heroes and heroines. Lu Changfeng and Chun Zhu perfectly matched the image in her heart.
Sun Yu had heard Zhou Feng say that this Junior Brother had condensed Sword Intent at a young age. With his age and talent, it was only a matter of time before he made a name for himself on Five Horse Street!
"Sister-in-law, you flatter us! You and Senior Brother are the ones who make us envious!" Lu Changfeng replied.
After exchanging a few pleasantries, Zhou Feng introduced the three youths behind him.
They were all True Disciples he had accepted since opening his martial arts hall.
Lu Changfeng swept his gaze over them. The most talented was Zhou Feng's eldest disciple, Xiao Yao. He was sixteen this year, three years younger than Lu Changfeng.
This boy had Grade A Lower natural endowment but no talent. If that natural endowment was properly cultivated, he still had a high chance of breaking through to Tendon Changing in the future.
After the introductions were complete.
The group went upstairs and took their seats in a private room.
Lu Changfeng and Zhou Feng had not seen each other for a long time, so the two of them naturally drank to their hearts' content.
Sun Yu and Chun Zhu also got along extremely well.
During the meal, Xiao Yao had probably heard people talking about Lu Changfeng's superb Swordsmanship.
Thus, he spoke with an expectant look on his face. "Martial Uncle, could you let this junior see your Sword Intent?"
Lu Changfeng had also drunk quite a lot. On the spot, he condensed Storm Sword Intent! Pale-blue energy flickered around his entire body!
But to the outsiders' senses, a current of wind swept out from Lu Changfeng within the private room, and a lethal feeling wrapped around their entire bodies!
In an instant, everyone in the private room stopped moving, and all sound died away.
Chun Zhu nudged Lu Changfeng with her elbow.
Only then did Lu Changfeng come back to himself. He circulated his Qi and Blood, and dense white fumes of alcohol streamed from the top of his head. He sobered up at once.
Lu Changfeng withdrew his Storm Sword Intent, his old face flushing slightly. "Ahem, sorry about that. I overdid it."
Yet the gazes everyone present directed at Lu Changfeng held no negative emotions. Instead, every pair of eyes gleamed brightly.
In particular, the three True Disciples of Zhou Feng looked at this young Martial Uncle with undisguised worship.
Xiao Yao was even more excited as he stood up. "Martial Uncle, you're too amazing!"
Lu Changfeng was afraid that they would abandon Senior Brother later and turn around to join his sect instead.
They were also seeing Substantialized Sword Intent with their own eyes for the first time!
"Junior Brother, your Sword Intent has actually reached the realm of Substantialized Sword Intent!" Zhou Feng said in shock.
Lu Changfeng set down his wine cup.
The martial world's divisions of Sword Intent were not as clearly defined as those on the interface.
Ordinary Sword Intent and Substantialized Sword Intent corresponded to Primary Sword Intent and Intermediate Sword Intent, respectively.
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