Could They Only Blame His Bad Luck?

Zhang Teng saw how Mu Qingyue reacted.

He could even hear the unspoken meaning behind her questions.

He simply did not offer much explanation.

In his eyes, even though Mu Qingyue was now a Martial Artist at the martial True Intent level, she was still like a frog at the bottom of a well.

Since that was the case, why waste words arguing?

Zhang Teng had once been a Martial Artist, and a Dantian Sea Realm Martial Artist at that.

He knew better than anyone.

Immortal Cultivators and Martial Artists followed completely different systems.

Just then.

Mu Qingyue suddenly spoke. "Zhang Teng, forgive my presumption, but how did you break through from bronze skin and iron bones to indestructible vajra?"

"I comprehended the Breath-Absorbing Art and unexpectedly broke through to indestructible vajra while practicing body refining."

At those words, a gleam flashed in Mu Qingyue's eyes.

"If that is the case, do you teach the Breath-Absorbing Art of your immortal cultivation school?"

Zhang Teng looked at Mu Qingyue in utter astonishment.

He suddenly realized that the woman before him wanted to use the Breath-Absorbing Art to break through to indestructible vajra.

Sure enough, the gulf between their understanding was too wide. Hadn't it already led to this absurd misunderstanding?

"The arts cannot be imparted lightly. If you wish to cultivate immortality, you must become a disciple of my Martial Arts Grounds..."

Mu Qingyue felt a little disappointed.

"In that case, forgive my presumption."

"Your Martial Arts Grounds has now proven its strength. I need to return to the Central Hall and report the results. From now on, your Martial Arts Grounds will be a member of our martial hall alliance!"

"Thank you for your trouble!" Zhang Teng deliberately put on a troubled expression. "By the way, there is another matter I must trouble you with, Miss Mu."

"Please, go ahead." Mu Qingyue responded with a smile.

Only then did Zhang Teng say, "I recall that under the Central Hall's rules, any member of the martial hall alliance facing a life-or-death crisis may apply for its protection."

Mu Qingyue glanced at Zhang Teng in mild surprise.

"Your Martial Arts Grounds is in danger?"

Zhang Teng sighed and said helplessly, "It's a long story... would you be willing to hear me out, Miss Mu?"

"Of course." Mu Qingyue nodded.

Zhang Teng immediately recounted everything that had happened to him, exactly as it had occurred.

After hearing his account, a flash of shock passed through Mu Qingyue's eyes!

It was not his ordeal that shocked her, but the fact that his dantian had actually been destroyed.

Once someone's dantian was destroyed, their path in martial arts was destroyed along with it.

Yet he could still cultivate under such circumstances?

At that moment, Mu Qingyue's expression grew more attentive.

A school that could restore someone's path of cultivation would be vastly more valuable.

With that thought, Mu Qingyue immediately said, "I understand the situation now."

Mu Qingyue said solemnly, "I will return to the Central Hall at once and ask it to mediate this matter."

"Thank you!" Zhang Teng rejoiced inwardly. If the Central Hall could successfully mediate, the crisis facing the Martial Arts Grounds would be resolved as easily as bamboo split before a blade.

"It is the Central Hall's duty." Mu Qingyue's expression was rather grave.

"This matter is urgent, so I will take my leave!"

"Let me see you out, Miss Mu."

Only after Mu Qingyue left did Lin Bei emerge.

"Master, you've come out of seclusion?" Zhang Teng asked, bowing respectfully.

Lin Bei naturally could not admit that he had been watching in secret all along, so he nodded.

"Has the matter with the Central Hall been settled? Did it go smoothly?"

Lin Bei asked despite already knowing the answer.

"Very smoothly," Zhang Teng said. "Our Martial Arts Grounds has joined the martial hall alliance. I also asked the Central Hall to mediate my feud with the Nanyang Commandery Prince."

Lin Bei had long known all of this, and inwardly he rather admired Zhang Teng's ability to handle matters.

However, although he approved inwardly, he still had to offer a little instruction on the surface.

Thus, Lin Bei adopted a stern expression and began admonishing him.

"Do not place your hopes in others. Your own strength is the foundation upon which you stand and build your life."

"Yes!"

"Your disciple understands!"

Time passed.

Elsewhere.

At the Central Hall.

The hall master was a man who looked barely over twenty, with a square face, sharply defined features, thick brows, and large eyes. He had a somewhat rugged appearance.

Upon her return, Mu Qingyue went straight to the hall master's training grounds.

"You're back, Qingyue?" The hall master wiped the sweat from his body and looked at Mu Qingyue with a broad smile.

"Hall Master... there are a few matters I need to report to you."

Seeing her solemn expression, the hall master immediately looked intrigued.

"Let's hear them."

Mu Qingyue wasted no words and gave a detailed account of everything concerning the Martial Arts Grounds.

When the Central Hall's master heard about indestructible vajra and the ability to cultivate even with a destroyed dantian, his expression grew serious as well.

"Achieving indestructible vajra, and cultivating even after the dantian has been destroyed? This school is rather interesting."

After saying this, the Central Hall's master considered the matter briefly before responding.

"However, Zhang Teng's account is ultimately only one side of the story, and this is a private matter..."

The hall master sighed. "We cannot argue his case on that basis, but we can try to mediate."

"Mu Qingyue, go to the Nanyang Zhou Clan yourself and take my handwritten letter."

"Yes!"

At that moment.

Elsewhere.

At the Nanyang Zhou Clan.

Dressed in lavish robes, the Nanyang Commandery Prince wore a stern, imposing expression as he coldly regarded the man kneeling before him.

The man before him was none other than Cheng Lu, Hall Master Cheng of the Six Harmonies Martial Hall.

At that moment.

Kneeling before the Nanyang Commandery Prince, Cheng Lu tearfully explained everything about Zhang Teng's presence at the Martial Arts Grounds.

"That little brat! So he's been hiding in Qingyun territory."

The Nanyang Commandery Prince snorted coldly.

"Guards!"

A man in a black shirt with several scars on his face appeared before the Nanyang Commandery Prince and dropped to one knee.

"Your Highness, what are your orders?"

"Inform the Zhang Clan of this. They were the ones who drove him away. Now make them capture him and bring him back!"

"Yes!"

"Wait!" At the Nanyang Commandery Prince's words, the man immediately stopped.

"Tell the Zhang Clan that only when they bring him back will they be eligible to participate in the Demon-Hunting Ceremony!"

"Yes!"

The black-shirted man was somewhat surprised, but accepted the order and departed.

Soon.

News that Zhang Teng was at the Martial Arts Grounds reached the Zhang Clan.

At the Zhang Clan.

A stifling gloom hung over the council hall.

"Everyone, what should we do? Zhang Teng has been found, and the Nanyang Commandery Prince's order has already arrived."

"What else can we do? Since things have come to this... we can only capture him and bring him back!"

At that moment, Zhang Teng's grandfather spoke, his body trembling slightly.

"Must we really... leave him no way to live?"

The Zhang Clan's patriarch sighed.

"We can only blame... his bad luck!"