Dragon Elephant Martial Hall "Please Keep Reading"

Half a month later.

In the western part of East Market, Qingjiang County Seat.

Over the past three months, a grand compound had risen there. Inside were pavilions, terraces, artificial hills, and emerald ponds—everything one could wish for.

There was also a vast open ground paved with bluestone.

Wooden training dummies of varying heights stood in the southwest corner. In the southeast corner lay all manner of traditional weapons—long spears, broad sabers, swords, and halberds—each polished to a gleam that reflected a cold light.

Before the gate, a pair of imposing stone lions stood proudly.

Not far away grew a tall willow, its countless silken branches trailing into the emerald Square Pond.

Four gleaming golden words were written on the signboard: Dragon Elephant Martial Hall.

Now,

red firecracker scraps carpeted the ground, red silk hung from the signboard, and the entrance was packed with people. There were wealthy merchants in splendid robes and ordinary folk in plain clothes.

"Everyone, today the Xu Household opens the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall. We hope you'll come and support us!"

Xu Mingwei was the Xu Household's next head and a potential Grandmaster of exceptional talent. His words carried the full weight of the household.

"Please, come inside."

"The Wang Clan presents three fine swords to wish the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall a prosperous opening!"

"The Cao Clan presents a pair of dragon-patterned jade pendants to wish the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall a prosperous opening!"

"The Wu Household presents three fine sabers..."

With the martial hall opening, visitors naturally brought congratulatory gifts.

But not every guest came in goodwill, nor was every gift given in goodwill.

Everyone among the Aristocratic Clans knew the Xu Household intended to take a slice of Qingjiang County's martial-hall pie. Most had come to watch the spectacle.

After all, the three major martial halls were backed by the Wu, Fang, and Wang families.

Those three were arguably the strongest Aristocratic Clans in Qingjiang County. They had held their ground there for nearly two hundred years and possessed deep foundations.

Even the Xu Household, as it stood now, fell far short of them.

With Yang Zhao transferred to the Commandery Seat, they had a few fewer reasons to be wary of the Xu Household. After all, even a mighty dragon could not suppress a snake on its own turf.

What was more, the Xu Household was now moving against their interests.

Trouble and attempts to crush the new hall were inevitable.

The Xu Household was represented today by the three brothers Xu Mingwei, Xu Mingyuan, and Xu Mingxuan.

They showed the guests around, then introduced the instructors they had hired and Gu Yiping, the hall master.

But the Aristocratic Clans paid Gu Yiping little heed. To them, he was merely the Xu Household's puppet in public; the real authority lay with the household.

"Young Master Xu, we've toured the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall. It's certainly been built to look the part, but a martial hall's true heart is its instructors and its master."

"Without good teachers, anyone who comes here to learn will only waste their time. Wouldn't you agree?"

A burly middle-aged man in a black gauze cloak, its collar embroidered with golden hornless dragons, stepped forward. He looked at Xu Mingwei with a hint of disdain in his eyes.

"Hall Master Black Wind, what keen insight. You've opened my eyes. What, then, makes a good teacher?"

"A martial hall is built around martial arts. Among martial artists, the strong command respect."

"I see. Hall Master Black Wind, whom do you plan to send from your hall?"

"No need to waste time. I'll test them myself."

"Then please, everyone, come to the training ground."

The crowd streamed to the training ground. Hall Master Black Wind walked to the center of the open space and swept his gaze over the people beside Xu Mingwei.

"Young Master Xu, whom do you intend to send out? Don't worry, I won't bully a junior with my seniority."

"I've admired you for a long time, Hall Master. I'd like to ask you for a few pointers."

Smiling, Xu Mingwei walked up opposite Hall Master Black Wind.

Hall Master Black Wind's eyes lit up. The thought flashed through his mind: he could gravely injure Xu Mingwei and ruin his path along the Martial Way.

Xu Mingwei was too great a threat.

If he could be stopped now, it would slow the Xu Household's development by at least twenty years.

"Make your move, Young Master Xu. Let me see how strong you've become."

Hall Master Black Wind was brimming with confidence. He had become a Xiantian Martial Artist years ago. Though he remained at the early stage, his foundation was exceptionally solid.

Subduing seven or eight fighters at Houtian Peak would be easy for him.

Xu Mingwei wasted no words. He burst forward in a single stride, closing in on Hall Master Black Wind. His palm slithered like a snake, winding and twisting through the air until afterimages appeared.

The wind of his palm howled as it struck toward the man's chest from a strange, shifting angle.

Hall Master Black Wind's pupils contracted. He stamped his foot and retreated at speed, but Xu Mingwei was just as fast. His palm strike clung to him like a green snake that refused to release its bite.

Hall Master Black Wind sprang into the air and flipped over Xu Mingyuan's head, landing behind him.

Xu Mingwei changed his palm strike to a fist. Its soft, yielding force turned hard and domineering, bearing down like mountains toppling and seas overturning. The pressure of his punch gave Hall Master Black Wind no room to breathe.

Hall Master Black Wind had already given ground. If he retreated again, people would think he feared Xu Mingwei.

And who was he?

One of the few Xiantian Martial Artists in Qingjiang County.

He was also a senior figure in the Wang Clan—the uncle of its head.

If he retreated, it would mean the Wang Clan had retreated before the Xu Household.

"Black Wind Palm!"

Hall Master Black Wind held nothing back. Black currents of energy condensed into a palm print that met Xu Mingwei's fist head-on.

"Xiantian True Qi?"

"Hall Master Black Wind, I happened to master it myself not long ago!"

Xiantian True Qi erupted. The force of Xu Mingwei's punch turned golden and, in an instant, condensed into a radiant fist. Its hard, domineering power reached its peak.

Boom!

Fist and palm collided in midair.

Black and gold each held half the ground.

Several breaths later,

with a thunderous crash, both men staggered back several steps. They were evenly matched.

"The Xu Household's eldest young master has broken through to Xiantian?!"

"Isn't he still under twenty?"

"In another three months, after the Year Sacrifice, he'll turn twenty."

"No wonder he's a future Grandmaster. He's only just entered Xiantian, yet he can fight a veteran Xiantian Martial Artist like Hall Master Black Wind to a draw."

The surrounding Aristocratic Clans cried out in amazement. Some who had intended only to watch the spectacle felt their thoughts stir anew at the sight of Xu Mingwei's breakthrough.

At this rate,

given another ten-odd years, might Xu Mingwei not become a Grandmaster?

With such martial might to deter them, no Aristocratic Clan in all Qingjiang County would dare provoke him. Even the authorities would have to be wary.

After all, the strongest fighters in the County Seat were only at Xiantian Perfection.

"Hall Master Black Wind, you're as vigorous as ever despite your years! Again!"

With a shout, Xu Mingwei charged at Hall Master Black Wind once more.

Hall Master Black Wind's face turned livid, as though he had been insulted. Every move he made now aimed for one of Xu Mingwei's vital points.

Bang, bang, bang!

They traded attack and defense, their roles shifting constantly.

As they fought, Hall Master Black Wind sensed the force behind Xu Mingwei's blows growing stronger and stronger, as though it had no limit.

Yet a Xiantian Martial Artist's Xiantian True Qi was finite.

If Xu Mingwei attacked this fiercely with every move, his Xiantian True Qi would run dry after a few dozen exchanges.

But in the blink of an eye,

Xu Mingwei began to overpower Hall Master Black Wind.

The repeated clashes sent numbness through the webbing of Hall Master Black Wind's hands. He barely had the strength left to grip a weapon.

He was only holding on by force of will.

If this continued, the tendons and bones in his hands would be damaged. He might even lose the use of them entirely.

What fearsome strength in his bones and sinews. No wonder he's a martial prodigy!

Hall Master Black Wind was past sixty, and his bones had begun to weaken.

Naturally, he could not compare with younger martial artists at the same level.

Still less could he compare with a Xiantian Martial Artist like Xu Mingwei, whose Fate Talent further enhanced him.

Just as he wondered whether to keep fighting or admit defeat, Xu Mingwei suddenly stopped. "As expected of a respected senior, your experience is beyond a junior like me. Shall we end today's test here?"

Hall Master Black Wind was surprised. Xu Mingwei had given him a graceful way out, and he breathed a sigh of relief.

But then he remembered that Xu Mingwei was not yet twenty and had only just entered Xiantian.

He himself had spent more than ten years at the Xiantian level. Though he had yet to reach Mid-Xiantian, his foundation was firm.

Sure enough, a young man's wild punches could beat an old master to death!

Hall Master Black Wind sighed softly. "Young Master Xu, your talent is extraordinary. I fear it won't be long before you surpass this old man."

"I've grown old."

With another sigh, Hall Master Black Wind left the field and returned to the Wang Clan's side.

"Are there any other seniors who would care to offer me a pointer or two?"

Xu Mingwei's gaze suddenly sharpened. His eyes swept the crowd like blades, and ordinary people dared not meet them.

He remained calm and unhurried, already carrying something of a Grandmaster's bearing.