The Wu and Fang Households exchanged glances, deep wariness showing in their eyes.
He had silently broken through to Xiantian, then bided his time until now to reveal his strength before everyone.
Someone with both martial courage and a calculating mind was often the most frightening of all.
Gu Yiping, for instance, had considerable talent in the Martial Way, but lacked a head for management. He could never have sustained the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall alone.
That was also why he had partnered with the Xu Household.
"Please step in, Cousin, and curb the Xu Household's arrogance," the Wu Household Head said in a lowered voice.
The cousin he referred to was the master of the Heavenly Dragon Martial Arts School.
He was much younger than the Black Wind School Master, only forty-five or forty-six, yet he had already reached mid-Xiantian.
"Xu Mingwei is no ordinary man."
The Heavenly Dragon School Master had been carefully observing the battle between the two men.
"His root bone is exceptional. His physical strength likely surpasses even mine, despite my mid-Xiantian cultivation. The difference between mid-Xiantian and early Xiantian is merely some additional Xiantian true qi."
"If he goes all out, I can suppress him at best. But given my age, if we prove evenly matched, everyone will still see me as the loser."
The Wu Household Head frowned. After a moment's thought, he said, "In that case, target the hall's master instead."
"Gravely injuring him will humiliate the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall just the same."
The Heavenly Dragon School Master glanced at Gu Yiping beside Xu Mingyuan and said calmly, "Very well."
"Nephew Mingwei, you truly deserve to be called a future Grandmaster of our Qingjiang County." The Wu Household Head offered a smiling compliment. "If you served as the Martial Arts School Master, I doubt anyone here would object."
"Oh? Does the Wu Household Head wish to test Master Gu's strength?"
The corners of Xu Mingwei's mouth rose slightly, his faint smile suggesting he had seen right through their intentions.
A household head on friendly terms with the Wu Household suddenly said, "The Wu Household is right. If the master lacks sufficient strength, how can he preside over a martial arts hall or instruct its disciples?"
"Wouldn't he end up getting injured by his own disciples instead?"
At that, Gu Yiping naturally could no longer remain silent. He stepped forward.
"If the gentlemen of Qingjiang County wish to test my martial skills, I have no objection. Since the Black Wind School Master has already fought Young Master Xu, why not have the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and the Black Tiger School Master spar with me together?"
"What do you two say?"
His words had barely fallen before people began mocking him.
"Hahaha, Master Gu, aren't you being far too arrogant? You actually want to fight two school masters at once?"
"Indeed. If you can fight even one of them without losing, you'll have proven yourself fit to preside over a martial arts hall."
Facing their mockery, Gu Yiping remained impassive. He walked to the center of the grounds and shook his body. Suddenly, his aura erupted, whipping up a fierce wind that swept outward in all directions.
It was every bit as terrifying as the auras Xu Mingwei and the Black Wind School Master had displayed earlier.
"Another Xiantian!"
"Where did the Xu Household find a Xiantian Martial Artist?"
"Exactly. I've never heard of anyone like him in Qingjiang County."
The crowd erupted into a clamor, voices tumbling over one another.
A green gleam surfaced in the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master's eyes. He said to the Black Tiger School Master, "Brother Fang, since Master Gu wishes to spar with us, why not oblige him?"
The Black Tiger School Master nodded.
Their figures blurred into afterimages as they swept to the center of the grounds.
The three exchanged looks, then immediately attacked.
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and the Black Tiger School Master struck from the left and right, one hand forming a dragon's claw and the other a tiger's claw, attacking Gu Yiping from both sides.
Gu Yiping raised his arms to either side and blocked them with startling ease.
Then his technique changed. His hands coiled like green snakes, seeking to seize their arms.
But the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and the Black Tiger School Master were no ordinary opponents either. Both changed their moves at the same instant.
Bang, bang, bang!
The three continuously countered one another's moves. Ordinary spectators could only see a rapidly shifting blur of afterimages.
Several dozen breaths passed.
Gu Yiping fought two against one and held his own against both school masters, leaving a large portion of the crowd utterly stunned.
After all, both school masters were mid-Xiantian martial artists at the height of their powers.
Surely they weren't putting on an act?
Two mid-Xiantian martial artists couldn't defeat some unknown nobody?
Quite a few people secretly entertained such thoughts.
So strong!
He was no ordinary mid-Xiantian martial artist. He might even be late Xiantian!
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and the Black Tiger School Master exchanged horrified glances.
They held nothing back now, both unleashing their Xiantian true qi to execute their martial techniques.
Xiantian true qi could leave the body and possessed unparalleled power. Depending on the cultivation method and martial technique, it could even produce special effects.
"Heavenly Dragon Claw!"
"Black Tiger Baleful Flame Fist!"
A golden dragon claw and a blazing crimson fist struck at Gu Yiping's chest, one immediately behind the other.
"Dragon Elephant Protective Aura!"
In an instant.
A dragon's roar and an elephant's trumpet rang out from Gu Yiping's body. A dark blue-green barrier of true qi formed around him, blocking both the golden dragon claw and the blazing crimson fist.
Clang!
Waves of sound rippled outward. Some of those present immediately heard a thunderous ringing in their ears, and sharp pain pierced their heads.
Fortunately, it lasted only an instant. Otherwise, those who were not even martial artists would likely have lost their hearing in both ears.
Bang, bang!
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and the Black Tiger School Master were both hurled backward by the recoil.
"Dragon Elephant Combined Strike!"
Seizing the moment before either man could regain his footing, Gu Yiping sent the Heavenly Dragon Hall Master flying with a punch, then kicked the Black Tiger School Master away.
The surroundings instantly fell silent.
Only the clicks of shifting throats as people swallowed could be heard with perfect clarity.
"Master Gu, I believe that is enough sparring."
Suddenly.
Xu Mingwei spoke.
Hearing him, Gu Yiping withdrew his aura.
The Heavenly Dragon Hall Master and the Black Tiger School Master slowly rose. Their faces were somewhat pale, and their breathing was weak and unsteady.
Still, both cupped their fists toward Gu Yiping. "Thank you for showing mercy."
"Of course." Gu Yiping swept his gaze over the surroundings. "Who else wishes to exchange a few moves with me? Whoever you may be, I'll gladly oblige."
Not a crow's cry or a sparrow's chirp broke the silence.
"Haha, you must be joking, Master Gu."
"We couldn't be happier about the founding of the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall."
"Indeed! Your strength stands above everyone in Qingping County, Master Gu. With you presiding over it, the hall's business will surely rise like steam with each passing day!"
As though they had put on entirely different faces, everyone began flattering Gu Yiping and the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall.
"Then thank you all for your support." Gu Yiping cupped his fists toward everyone and spoke calmly.
The five great Aristocratic Clans—Wu, Fang, Wang, He, and Cao—lowered their banners and stilled their drums. Having lost face today and practically become a laughingstock, they naturally had no intention of staying.
They soon left.
The other wealthy merchants and affluent households, however, all wished to send their children to the Dragon Elephant Martial Hall and began chatting with Gu Yiping about one thing and another.
After that day.
News that Xu Mingwei had broken through to Xiantian and overpowered the Black Wind School Master, while Gu Yiping had defeated the other two school masters single-handedly, soon spread throughout Qingjiang County.
Even people in the villages for miles around soon heard about it.
Naturally, Xu Mingyuan's efforts to fan the flames had played no small part in how quickly it spread.
Dongxi Village.
The Xu Household's grand residence.
When Xu Chuan heard the news, his lips curved slightly. Everything had gone just as he expected.
The Xu Household had long since investigated the three martial arts schools' resources and strength down to the last detail, while they knew nothing of the Xu Household's own reserves.
It was only natural, then, that they had come off worse.
And Xu Mingwei's mastery of archery, along with Xu Chuan's existence, would serve as yet another hidden trump card for the Xu Household.
"Qingjiang County should remain peaceful for a while now."
Xu Chuan murmured to himself, then looked up at the longbow hanging on the wall. "It's also time to make Shitou a new, more powerful bow."