Reviving the Wandering Dragon Sect

As soon as Mu Yuan, Situ Nan, and Zhao Kai entered, they looked around. When they saw Li Wei standing among the servants, they all quickly whispered to their companions.

Li Wei, who had already noticed the three, narrowed his eyes, trying to guess what these three 'acquaintances' were planning. However, no matter what their intentions were, Li Wei didn't want to pay too much attention to them, much less get involved. He had only one goal: to improve his strength in a short period of time, to the point where he could easily kill demonic beasts.

Li Wei had no other thoughts besides that.

"Perhaps I should leave here and find a quiet place to cultivate. After all, it's definitely not an easy task to master the Qi Transformation Manual of the Nine Yin Transformation Scripture in a short period of time. Fatty's place should be a good choice..." Li Wei had already begun to plan for the future.

Meanwhile, as everyone took their seats under the arrangement of the servants, Wandering Dragon Hermit, the host of the place, also stood up and greeted each of the guests. Although Wandering Dragon Hermit's martial arts skills were average, he was quite considerate in dealing with people and affairs, showing a great demeanor, which made the guests nod in approval in their hearts.

"You are all prominent figures in Qingzhou Prefecture or the surrounding counties. Your visit to my humble abode today is truly an honor. However, I was unaware of your arrival, so please forgive any shortcomings in our hospitality!" Wandering Dragon Hermit, being a man who had lived for over fifty years, was adept at feigning ignorance. He completely ignored the important points and did not inquire about the purpose of these people's visit.

Now that these people have arrived, they must have made ample preparations. Their objectives are clear, ultimately boiling down to three things: to test, to win over, and to establish connections.

Almost everyone had one of these three objectives. Undoubtedly, what they previously knew of Wandering Dragon Hermit was just an unskilled, unknown old man with little ability. However, the Hunyuan Sect, the Iron Sword Gang, and the Divine Might Escort Agency all believed that Wandering Dragon Hermit possessed extraordinary skills and was a reclusive master. After all, leaving such a powerful expert unattended would be a loss if rival forces tried to recruit him. Even if they couldn't recruit him, they couldn't afford to offend him, so 'making friends' with him was of paramount importance.

Of course, all of this is based on the premise that Wandering Dragon Hermit possesses the kind of power that would impress them, so this test is the prerequisite.

Finally, the man carrying a large sword, nicknamed "Nine-Ring Divine Saber Swordsman Guo Shaohuang," stood up and stepped forward. He clasped his hands in a fist salute to Wandering Dragon Hermit and said in a voice like thunder, "Senior Youlong, I have heard that you are a master of this era, and your martial arts have reached the pinnacle. Therefore, I have come to pay you a visit. If possible, I would like to ask you for some guidance."

It's truly remarkable that he could speak so eloquently. Without a doubt, Guo Shaohuang had made thorough preparations before coming. His words were impeccable, but his purpose was clear: to test his martial arts skills.

The appearance of Guo Shaohuang, the Nine-Ring Divine Saber, immediately attracted everyone's attention. They all watched Nine-Ring Divine Saber Wandering Dragon Hermit's reaction. If he was truly a dragon, he could naturally deal with Guo Shaohuang. If he was a fraud, they could use this opportunity to defeat him and test his true strength, achieving two goals at once.

Li Wei also saw the problem. He understood that Guo Shaohuang, the Nine-Ring Divine Saber, seemed to be a master who had cultivated a wisp of true qi, and was probably about equal to Wandering Dragon Hermit. However, Guo Shaohuang had made it clear beforehand that if Wandering Dragon Hermit only managed to fight him to a draw, he would be laughed at immediately, given his age. Therefore, from Wandering Dragon Hermit's perspective, he had to win this battle.

Looking at Wandering Dragon Hermit again, his expression was calm and composed, completely unaffected by Guo Shaohuang's words. This calm and collected demeanor impressed everyone, who thought to themselves that this old man was indeed a hidden master. Such composure was not something that ordinary people could learn.

However, if these people heard what Wandering Dragon Hermit was thinking at this moment, they would probably be very surprised.

"These bastards, why did they suddenly come to ruin my place today? What did I do to deserve this? It's really strange. This Nine-Ring Divine Saber Guo Shaohuang is no ordinary person. Judging from his strong and powerful aura, he must be a master who has cultivated true qi. It's not that I can't defeat such an opponent, but it will take some time. I'm afraid it will be difficult to defeat him within a hundred moves... But this bastard just praised me so highly. He obviously has ill intentions. If I can't defeat him quickly, I will definitely lose face..." With his mind racing, Wandering Dragon Hermit just stood there, seemingly calm, but his heart was already in a state of internal struggle.

Others, of course, didn't know this and thought the old man disdained to make a move. After all, although Guo Shaohuang of the Nine-Ring Divine Saber was a well-known figure, he was actually only a third-rate expert. For forces like the Hunyuan Sect and the Iron Sword Gang, any disciple ranked in the top three could easily defeat him.

Thinking of this, Guo Shaohuang, feeling 'looked down upon,' looked rather displeased. He took another step forward and once again proclaimed loudly, "Senior Youlong, do you perhaps look down on me, Guo, and are unwilling to spar with me?"

The previous respect was gone from his voice; it was clear he would attack if Wandering Dragon Hermit didn't intervene. The surrounding martial artists watched with expressions of anticipation, remaining silent to see how Wandering Dragon Hermit would respond.

"This old man is in big trouble!" Li Wei shook his head, turned around and prepared to leave, not wanting to watch any longer. These things were none of his business; he should focus on cultivating the 'Nine Yin Qi Transformation Manual'.

Just then, a notification suddenly sounded in Li Wei's mind, "Hidden quest triggered, 'Revitalize Soaring Dragon,' Quest Difficulty A, Quest Requirements: Before the main quest is completed, revitalize 'Wandering Dragon Sect' and make it the largest power in Qingzhou Prefecture... Rewards will be given based on the evaluation upon completion of the quest."

Li Wei stopped in his tracks.

He hadn't expected to trigger a hidden quest at this time, and now he needed to make a choice immediately: whether to complete it. Li Wei knew that, generally speaking, the rewards for hidden quests were better than those for main quests, but that was the problem. Li Wei had already modified the main quest reward to a 'Hades Fruit' that could increase his level using the Rule Codex, so would the reward for the hidden quest also change?

If the rewards for the hidden mission also change, then Li Wei will definitely not let this mission pass him by; it's an opportunity. The sooner he upgrades to the 'Star King' level, or even the 'Star Emperor' level, the more confident he will be in dealing with the Main God.

Li Wei's mind raced, and he finally made his decision. He withdrew his step and returned to his original position. At this moment, Wandering Dragon Hermit could no longer withstand the pressure and was preparing to enter the arena for the match.

Upon seeing Wandering Dragon Hermit descend, Guo Shaohuang, the Nine-Ring Divine Saber, grinned maliciously, bowed respectfully, and then drew his weapon— the Nine-Ring Broadsword —from behind his back.

"Please enlighten me, Senior Youlong!" Guo Shaohuang said, his muscles bulging as he clearly channeled his inner energy.

"This... alright!" Wandering Dragon Hermit's face stiffened. Helpless, he also channeled his inner energy, and a crimson hue spread across his face. His beard swayed without wind, and his palms moved back and forth, giving him a certain imposing aura.

Guo Shaohuang dared not be careless, but suddenly stepped forward and slashed out with his sword.

The blade is sharp and its momentum is overwhelming.

Seeing this, Wandering Dragon Hermit did not retreat but advanced, taking a step forward and striking out with his palm, aiming directly at Guo Shaohuang's chest. The two exchanged blows, revealing their full strength, and even some of the experts present nodded in approval.

"This Wandering Dragon Hermit is indeed extraordinary. His move seems casual, but it is all about speed. If nothing else, his palm will hit Guo Shaohuang!" Qin Yuan, the chief disciple of the Hunyuan Sect, nodded and said to Mu Yuan beside him.

The latter nodded hastily, but his eyes kept glancing in the direction of the group of servants. Qin Yuan quickly noticed this reaction, glanced over, and asked, "Mu Yuan, what are you looking at?"

"N-nothing!" Mu Yuan couldn't possibly tell him that he had been saved by a servant, so he quickly shook his head and turned his attention back to the fight in front of him.

Qin Yuan added, "This Nine-Ring Divine Saber Guo Shaohuang is no ordinary person. This strike was probably just a test. If that Wandering Dragon Hermit truly possessed the skills you claim, he should have seen through it long ago!"

No sooner had he finished speaking than Guo Shaohuang, who was in the middle of the fight, remained expressionless. He changed his slashing motion with his broadsword from a chopping motion to a slicing motion, and slashed downwards, intending to sever Wandering Dragon Hermit's arm.

If the opponent doesn't retract this palm strike, even if it hits him, he will still be cut. Therefore, the opponent will definitely stop the move. As Guo Shaohuang thought, Wandering Dragon Hermit quickly retracted his palm and dodged the knife. However, he did not retreat. Instead, he turned around and swept his leg horizontally, aiming straight for the opponent's lower body.

The two then engaged in a fierce battle, exchanging blows for over a dozen moves in a short while. Ordinary people were already dazzled by the spectacle, but some of the experts present were filled with doubt. It was said that the Wandering Dragon Hermit was a highly skilled martial artist, his level high enough to establish his own sect. While Guo Shaohuang was also considered an expert, he wasn't exactly a top-tier fighter. He should have been defeated within ten moves; why were they locked in a stalemate?

Meanwhile, Wandering Dragon Hermit grew increasingly frustrated with each fight, but he was helpless and inwardly groaned. He had already used all his ultimate moves, but still couldn't defeat his opponent. If this continued, he would lose all face. However, things had come to this point, and he had no choice but to continue.

Just then, a voice rang out from inside the arena. "Master, please stop your move!"

Everyone was stunned, but the Wandering Dragon Hermit was competing on the field, was very quick-witted. Realizing that this was an opportunity, he quickly withdrew his palm and retreated. Seeing this, Guo Shaohuang also took a step back and broke away from the battle.

"Who's making a fuss?" Wandering Dragon Hermit stroked his beard and asked.

Amidst the astonished gazes of the crowd, a servant-like young man stepped forward with a smile. He first bowed to Wandering Dragon Hermit before saying, "Master, you were mindful of your status and did not use your full strength against this Hero Guo. We all witnessed this..."

Upon hearing this, everyone looked on in sudden realization.

"No wonder, so this old man was hiding his strength. Indeed... Guo Shaohuang is only a junior to someone his age. It's not a glorious thing to go all out against a junior!"

"I thought this old man only had a few skills, but it turns out he was hiding his true strength..."

"..."

The crowd was buzzing with discussion, which made Wandering Dragon Hermit's face burn with embarrassment. He had just been about to pounce on Guo Shaohuang and fight him to the death, but now his own servant was saying that he was "holding back his dignity and not going all out." Even someone as thick-skinned as him couldn't help but blush.

Unexpectedly, the servant below became more and more enthusiastic as he spoke.

"Master, with your martial arts skills, you could certainly defeat him in one move, but you endured these dozen or so moves with him to save Guo Shaohuang's face. Your magnanimity is truly remarkable..."

"This... cough... cough!" Wandering Dragon Hermit didn't want his servant to boast about him anymore, but he didn't know what to say. He had some impression of this servant. He should have arrived here a month ago. After he taught him the Wandering Dragon Palm and the Wandering Dragon Inner Method, he stopped paying attention to him. After that, the servant was responsible for guarding the side gate by himself.

This servant was none other than Li Wei. Seeing the awkward expression on Wandering Dragon Hermit's face, he stopped saying those words that even he himself found cringe-inducing. Instead, he straightened his expression and said, "Master taught us the Wandering Dragon Palm and its mental cultivation method. You are our mentor. This time, I will step forward to spar with Hero Guo. Master, rest assured, I will do my utmost and live up to your reputation!"

Upon hearing this, many people, including Wandering Dragon Hermit, thought that this servant had gone mad. It was common knowledge that all the servants in Wandering Dragon Hermit's residence had learned the Wandering Dragon Palm, but none of them had mastered it, a fact that Wandering Dragon Hermit was well aware of. He sighed, shook his head, and prepared to dissuade the servant from going to his death, but suddenly thought of something.

After a moment of contemplation, Wandering Dragon Hermit suddenly changed his mind, nodded, and cupped his hands towards Guo Shaohuang, saying, "Great Hero Guo, if you don't mind, how about I, your disciple, spar with you from now on?"

Guo Shaohuang Nine-Ring Divine Saber, looked displeased. He had just become certain that the old man's skills were mediocre, and his palm techniques were even more ordinary. If it weren't for the fact that the old man's internal energy was more abundant than his own, it would be hard to say who would win or lose.

He originally intended to defeat his opponent to enhance his own prestige, but unexpectedly, a servant appeared out of nowhere, which infuriated him.

"Very well, I'll defeat this brat in one move, and then I'll challenge this old man. I doubt he'll be able to pull any tricks by then!" Guo Shaohuang thought to himself, his face darkening, but he sneered, "Since this young brother is willing to fight on behalf of his master, then I, Guo, will accept the challenge without hesitation. Please, young brother, enlighten me!"

His tone had completely changed; the previous respect was gone, replaced by arrogance. Clearly, after their recent exchange, he had ascertained the true strength of this so-called Wandering Dragon Hermit. If even this Wandering Dragon Hermit possessed such pathetic abilities, how strong could his disciple possibly be?

Li Wei smiled calmly, said no more nonsense, rolled up his sleeves, walked into the arena, and then assumed the starting stance of the Wandering Dragon Palm.

At this moment, everyone present expressed their concern for him, and some even secretly placed bets, betting that this overconfident servant would be defeated by Guo Shaohuang of the Nine-Ring Divine Saber in the first or second move. Of course, not everyone thought so; three people caught their breath when they saw Li Wei appear.

These three were Mu Yuan, Situ Nan, and Zhao Kai, who had truly witnessed Li Wei's abilities. At this moment, they clenched their fists, staring intently at Li Wei in the arena, their expressions solemn.

The news that Wandering Dragon Hermit was a reclusive master was leaked by these three individuals. Given the power of the three major forces, it naturally spread throughout Qingzhou Prefecture very quickly, which explains why so many people came to pay their respects to Wandering Dragon Hermit so soon. The three of them were indeed eager to know what level Wandering Dragon Hermit was at.

Guo Shaohuang, wielding Nine-Ring Broadsword, also walked to the center of the arena. He looked at Li Wei, who was already in a fighting stance, with disdain and said in a deep voice, "Young brother, you still have a chance. Go back. You are no match for me. If you don't want to get hurt, go back. It's more reliable to let your master come up!"

Li Wei ignored his words and calmly said, "Please make your move!"

"Good, you've got guts, young brother. Watch out!" Guo Shaohuang roared, suddenly channeling his inner energy and slashing at Li Wei with his sword. Both the movements and the techniques were exactly the same as the first strike he had used when he competed with Wandering Dragon Hermit.

"What superb swordsmanship! It seems Master Guo is serious. Even if that brat doesn't die, he's destined to be crippled for the rest of his life..." Several martial arts figures who were on good terms with Guo Shaohuang hurriedly cheered. What they said was basically the consensus of everyone present. Even Wandering Dragon Hermit, upon seeing this strike, closed his eyes, sighed deeply, and silently mourned for Li Wei.

Seeing this, Li Wei neither dodged nor avoided, but instead suddenly took a step forward and launched a palm strike.

"Huh!" Qin Yuan of the Hunyuan Sect and Situ Lan of the Iron Sword Iron Sword Gang, were both stunned. How could they not see that the move used by the young man on the field was exactly the same as the first move that Wandering Dragon Hermit used when he fought against Guo Shaohuang? But what surprised them even more was what followed.

The servant on the field moved faster and more decisively, without the slightest hesitation. His raised palm contained a powerful offensive force, and in just one move, he stunned Guo Shaohuang.

"Not good!" Guo Shaohuang quickly withdrew his sword and held it horizontally in front of his chest in a defensive stance.

The reason he didn't slash down with his sword like he did when facing the Wandering Dragon Hermit was because this time, Li Wei's movements were more than twice as fast as the Wandering Dragon Hermit's, so he didn't have time to make that move, and even when he was on the defensive, it was very difficult.

Fortunately, although it happened in haste, the broadsword still managed to completely cover the opponent's attack trajectory. If the opponent insisted on attacking, they would inevitably strike the steel blade with their palm, which would have virtually no effect.