Mu Qingyue of the Headquarters

Failing a challenge against another martial hall was embarrassing enough.

Being hauled back like garbage made it an embarrassment that reached all the way to your grandmother's doorstep.

Azure Cloud City had four towns under its jurisdiction.

They were ranked A, B, C, and D.

This Qingyun Town was ranked D.

Why had Mu Qingyue come to Qingyun Town?

It was because Hall Master Cheng of the Six Harmonies Martial Hall had broken through to the Dantian Sea Realm and applied for an assessment from Central Hall.

As long as it passed the assessment, the Six Harmonies Martial Hall could advance from third-rate to second-rate.

Once it became a Second-Rate Martial Arts Hall, it would qualify to establish branches.

There were two ways to establish a branch, just as there were for a martial hall.

The first was to register a challenge with Central Hall. A victory would grant the challenger the defeated martial hall's jurisdiction, while the loser could only seek somewhere else.

The second was to mark out an area and recruit commoners to settle there.

Mu Qingyue knew that challengers usually came thoroughly prepared, with some confidence in their chances.

This was her first time seeing people return from a challenge beaten into such a state...

Mu Qingyue glanced at Hall Master Cheng and the others, puzzled.

The Six Harmonies Martial Hall hasn't passed its assessment yet, but they actually went out to challenge another hall? He doesn't even have permission to establish a branch yet!

Isn't that just asking for trouble?

After a little thought, Mu Qingyue decided there was only one possibility.

A grudge match!

Mu Qingyue looked at Tieniu and asked, "What is your martial hall called?"

"We're not a martial hall. We're the Martial Arts Grounds."

Tieniu dared not hide anything and answered honestly.

Martial Arts Grounds?

Mu Qingyue was a little curious.

"A new school?"

Tieniu shook his head with an earnest look.

"Our master said we're immortal cultivators, not a new school."

Mu Qingyue smiled. "A school no one has heard of-that's a textbook new school. If it were a new system, it would shake all of Cang Province. How could it remain unknown?"

Then she asked another question.

"Do you have a grudge against the Six Harmonies Martial Hall?"

Tieniu explained the whole story from beginning to end.

"So that's how it is."

Understanding dawned on Mu Qingyue's face. "No wonder... It's perfectly normal for a new school to be looked down on."

"Your Martial Arts Grounds defeated the Six Harmonies Martial Hall. Your strength is impressive."

Mu Qingyue paused and gave it some thought before speaking again.

"A newly established school needs support. Here's what we'll do: in seven days, Central Hall will send someone to visit your Martial Arts Grounds."

"Oh... oh! All right!"

Tieniu hurriedly answered.

He realized that if the Martial Arts Grounds gained the support of the Azure Cloud Headquarters, its standing would soar.

Not only that, but their village would also reap enormous benefits.

Their safety would be far better assured, too.

In the world of martial artists, the strong reigned supreme.

In fact, Central Hall also intended to win them over.

After all, an unregistered establishment like the Martial Arts Grounds could go wherever it pleased.

Being able to beat Hall Master Cheng and the others into such a state already met her criteria for recruiting them.

Especially since this new school seemed remarkably powerful.

A powerful new school was a treasure anywhere.

Of course, it was too early to conclude that the Martial Arts Grounds truly represented a new school, which was why she had proposed a visit...

Just then.

Mu Qingyue glanced at Hall Master Cheng again, then said, "Please wait a moment. I'll take a look at Cheng Lu."

Tieniu and the others did not stop her.

Mu Qingyue walked over to Cheng Lu.

Cheng Lu looked at the girl in white before him, his heart steeped in bitterness.

He knew.

It's all over!

Not only was he finished, but the Six Harmonies Martial Hall was probably finished too.

"Cheng Lu, your dantian has been crippled. There is no longer any need to conduct the assessment you applied for."

Cheng Lu's eyes were lifeless... He knew it was all over.

Mu Qingyue wasted no words and continued.

"Your martial hall's strength has been severely compromised. I'll return in seven days to inspect it. If you no longer have the ability to maintain public order, we will revoke the Six Harmonies Martial Hall's status as a martial hall."

Cheng Lu opened his mouth, wanting to say something, but in the end, no words came out.

In this world, the strong reigned supreme.

Weakness was the original sin.

The Six Harmonies Martial Hall.

Cheng Lu and the others sat numbly on the ground.

"Hall Master... what... what do we do now?"

One martial artist whose injuries were less severe forced himself to his feet... and walked over to Cheng Lu.

"Hall Master... can I even remain hall master anymore?" Cheng Lu said bitterly.

"One moment of greed, and it brought us to this."

Everyone in the Six Harmonies Martial Hall fell silent...

At that moment, a cold gleam flashed through Zhao Bao's eyes.

"Hall Master, we absolutely cannot let this matter end here. Zhang Teng offended the Nanyang Commandery Prince. Perhaps we can borrow someone else's blade to kill him."

At those words, a vicious glint flashed through Cheng Lu's eyes.

One martial artist had already been beaten into submission, and even his voice lacked confidence.

"Hall Master... perhaps we should let this go. Zhang Teng's master seems very mysterious... I'm worried..."

"Zhang Teng's master may be mysterious, but so what?" Zhao Bao said coldly.

"The greatest lineage in Nanyang Commandery is the Zhou Clan. They even style themselves princes! Do you know how powerful they are?"

"Forget Zhang Teng's master. If they pursue this matter, even Central Hall in Azure Cloud City would probably have to weigh its options!"

A trace of madness flashed through Cheng Lu's eyes.

"He destroyed me and the Six Harmonies Martial Hall. I'll make sure the Martial Arts Grounds is destroyed too!"

At those words.

Some martial artists shared his hatred, but different thoughts flickered in the eyes of others.

In this world.

The strong reigned supreme, after all...

When defeated fair and square like this.

Some refused to accept their loss.

But others accepted it wholeheartedly...

Elsewhere.

Nameless Village.

Even the way Tieniu and the others walked had changed as they returned to the village.

"Tieniu, what's got you so happy?" a villager asked.

"We finally got to hold our heads high this time, and we even met someone from Central Hall."

Tieniu beamed, unable to contain his delight.

"Someone from the Martial Arts Headquarters said they're coming to visit our master's Martial Arts Grounds."

An apprentice from the Martial Arts Grounds chimed in.

"Central Hall? Good heavens, what would someone that important come to our little village for?"

Tieniu smiled and said, "To help register our Martial Arts Grounds, of course."

At those words, many people in the village lit up with joy.

"With Central Hall's support, our village will be able to live well from now on. Good fortune is coming our way!"

Everyone understood.

Lin Bei's Martial Arts Grounds would not leave.

If the Martial Arts Grounds received the martial hall's support, they could recruit large numbers of residents to settle here.

Why were there four major Qingyun Towns under Azure Cloud City?

Azure Cloud City itself had originally grown prosperous step by step around a small martial hall.

In high spirits, Tieniu returned to the martial hall.

As soon as he arrived.

Tieniu saw Zhang Teng teaching Tai Chi to some apprentices.

"Senior Brother Zhang! I'm back!"

Zhang Teng looked up at Tieniu and asked with a smile, "How did it go? Everything smooth?"

Tieniu nodded. "Senior Brother Zhang, something wonderful happened on our trip to Qingyun Town!"

"Oh?" Zhang Teng asked with interest. "What happened?"

"We met a martial artist from Central Hall..."

Tieniu immediately recounted his encounter with Mu Qingyue.

Zhang Teng was briefly taken aback, then smiled.

"Master values tranquility and non-action. He doesn't care about these things. Tieniu, I'm not trying to lecture you as your senior brother, but you should still keep your mind on cultivation."

At those words, Tieniu immediately felt a little ashamed.