The Wu and Fang families exchanged looks, deep wariness showing in their eyes.
He had silently broken through to Xiantian, endured in concealment until now, and only then revealed his strength before everyone.
He possessed both courage and strategy. People like that were often the most terrifying.
Though Gu Yiping had considerable Martial Arts Talent, he was not skilled at management. It was impossible for him alone to prop up the Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School.
That was also why he had partnered with the Xu Family.
"Please, brother, make a move and suppress the Xu Family's arrogance," the Wu Family Patriarch said in a lowered voice.
The cousin he spoke of was the Dragon Heaven Hall Master.
Though much younger than the Black Wind Hall Master, only forty-five or forty-six this year, he had already reached Mid-Innate.
"Xu Mingwei is no simple man."
The Dragon Heaven Martial Arts School had been closely observing the battle between the two just now.
"His Bone Structure is exceptional. His physical strength is likely even somewhat greater than mine, a Mid-Innate Martial Artist's. Compared to Early-Innate, Mid-Innate merely has somewhat more Innate True Qi."
"If he goes all out, I can at most suppress him. But my age is there for all to see. If we are evenly matched, then in everyone's eyes, I will still be the one who loses."
The Wu Family Patriarch frowned. After considering it for a moment, he said, "In that case, target the Martial Arts Hall's director."
"Severely injuring him would likewise make the Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School lose face."
The Dragon Heaven Hall Master glanced at Gu Yiping beside Xu Mingyuan and said indifferently, "Fine."
"Mingwei, worthy nephew, you truly deserve to be called a Grandmaster seed of our Qingjiang County." The Wu Family Patriarch smiled and praised him. "If you were to serve as the Martial Arts Hall's director, I believe no one present would object."
"Oh? Does the Wu Family Patriarch wish to test Director Gu's strength?"
The corners of Xu Mingwei's lips lifted slightly, his faint smile seeming to see through their thoughts.
A certain Patriarch friendly with the Wu Family suddenly said, "The Wu Family speaks rightly. If a Martial Arts Hall lacks strength, how can it hold down the fort? How can it teach its disciples?"
"Could it be that he is to be injured by his own Disciples instead?"
Hearing this, Gu Yiping naturally could no longer remain silent. He stepped forward several paces.
"If all of Qingjiang County wishes to test Gu's Martial Dao, I naturally have no objection. Since the Black Wind Hall Master has already exchanged blows with Young Master Xu, why not ask the Dragon Heaven Hall Master and the Black Tiger Hall Master to spar with me together?"
"What do you two think?"
As soon as those words fell, someone began to mock him.
"Hahaha, Director Gu, you are far too arrogant. You actually want to fight two Martial Arts Hall directors at once."
"Indeed. If you can fight one of them without losing, you will be qualified to hold down a Martial Arts Hall."
Facing everyone's ridicule, Gu Yiping's expression remained calm. He walked to the center of the grounds, shook his body, and suddenly unleashed a mighty force that formed a fierce gale, pressing down upon all directions like the sky collapsing.
Its terror was not the slightest bit inferior to that of Xu Mingwei and the Black Wind Hall Master earlier.
"Another Xiantian!"
"Where did the Xu Family find an Innate Martial Artist?"
"Exactly. No one like him has ever been heard of in Qingjiang County."
The crowd erupted into uproar, their voices rising without end.
A blue glint surfaced in the Dragon Heaven Hall Master's eyes as he said to the Black Tiger Hall Master, "Brother Fang, since Director Gu wishes to spar with us, let us grant his wish."
The Black Tiger Hall Master nodded.
Their figures turned into streaks of afterimages as they Flickered Out into the center of the grounds.
The three exchanged glances, then immediately attacked.
The Dragon Heaven Hall Master and the Black Tiger Hall Master flanked him from left and right. One formed his hand into a Dragon Claw, the other into a tiger claw, attacking Gu Yiping from both sides.
Gu Yiping raised both arms to block, easily stopping them.
Then his moves shifted. His hands curled like winding green snakes as he sought to seize their arms.
But the Dragon Heaven Hall Master and the Black Tiger Hall Master were no ordinary men either. They changed their moves at the same time.
Bang! Bang! Bang!
The three continuously countered each other's moves. Ordinary people could see only a blur of rapidly shifting afterimages.
Dozens of breaths passed.
Gu Yiping faced two opponents alone and remained evenly matched with the two directors, utterly shocking a large portion of those present.
One had to know that these two directors were both Mid-Innate Martial Artists, and both stood at the peak of that realm.
They were not putting on an act, were they?
Two Mid-Innate Martial Artists still could not defeat an unknown nobody?
Quite a few people secretly speculated.
So strong!
He was definitely no ordinary Mid-Innate Martial Artist. He might even be Late-Innate!
The Dragon Heaven Hall Master and the Black Tiger Hall Master exchanged looks, shock appearing in their eyes.
They no longer held anything back and both used Innate True Qi to unleash their martial arts.
Innate True Qi could leave the body and possessed peerless might. It could even produce special effects due to one's cultivation method and martial techniques.
Tianlong Claw!
Black Tiger Fierce Fist!
A golden dragon claw and a crimson fierce fist struck toward Gu Yiping's chest, one after the other.
Dragon Elephant Bodyguard Shield!
In an instant.
A dragon's roar and an elephant's trumpeting sounded from Gu Yiping's body, forming a dark azure True Qi shield that blocked both the golden dragon claw and crimson fierce fist.
Clang—
Sound waves rippled outward. Some of those present immediately felt thunder booming beside their ears, and piercing pain began stabbing through their heads.
Fortunately, it lasted only an instant. Otherwise, the ears of those who were not even Martial Artists would likely have been ruined.
Bang! Bang!
The Dragon Heaven Hall Master and the Black Tiger Hall Master were both sent reeling back.
Dragon Elephant Combined Attack!
Taking advantage of the two being shaken back and not yet steady on their feet, Gu Yiping sent the Dragon Heaven Hall Master flying with a punch, then kicked the Black Tiger Hall Master flying as well.
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
Only the clear crack of throats shifting as people swallowed could be heard.
"Director Gu, I think this sparring match has gone far enough."
In an instant.
Xu Mingwei spoke.
Hearing this, Gu Yiping restrained the imposing force around him.
The Dragon Heaven Hall Master and the Black Tiger Hall Master slowly rose to their feet. Their faces were slightly pale, and their Auras unsteady.
Yet the two still clasped their fists toward Gu Yiping. "Thank you for showing mercy."
"Think nothing of it." Gu Yiping swept his gaze over the surroundings. "Who else wishes to exchange a few moves with Gu? Whoever it is, Gu is willing to accompany them."
The area was silent as a graveyard.
"Haha, Director Gu, you jest."
"With the Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School established, we could not be happier."
"Exactly. Director Gu's strength reigns supreme throughout Qingping County. With you holding down the fort, the Martial Arts Hall's business will surely flourish day by day!"
The crowd seemed to have changed faces. They all began showering Gu Yiping and the Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School with praise.
"Then I thank you all for your support." Gu Yiping clasped his fists in all directions and spoke calmly.
The Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao Five Great Families lowered their banners and beat their drums. Having lost face today and nearly become a joke, they naturally had no intention of staying any longer.
They quickly departed.
As for the other wealthy merchants and affluent households, they all intended to send their disciples to the Dragon Elephant Martial Arts School and began making idle conversation with Gu Yiping.
After this day.
News of Xu Mingwei breaking through to Xiantian and overpowering the Black Wind Hall Master, as well as Gu Yiping fighting two alone and suppressing the directors of the other two Major Martial Arts Halls, quickly spread throughout Qingjiang County.
Even the people of the Ten-Mile Eight Villages soon heard of it.
For the news to spread so quickly, Xu Mingyuan had naturally done no small amount of fanning the flames.
Dongxi Village.
Xu Family Mansion.
Upon hearing of this, Xu Chuan's lips curved slightly, as if it had all gone exactly as expected.
The foundation of the Three Major Martial Arts Halls had long since been thoroughly investigated by the Xu Family, yet they knew nothing of the Xu Family's foundation.
Thus, it was only natural that they had fallen into a disadvantage.
And Xu Mingwei's attainments in Archery Skills, along with Xu Chuan's existence, would become another hidden card of the Xu Family.
"Qingjiang County should remain peaceful for a while."
Xu Chuan murmured to himself. Raising his head, he saw the longbow hanging on the wall. "It is time to forge Shitou a new powerful bow as well."
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