Translator: CinderTL
In the season of autumn frost, the red sun was just rising.
A thin mist slowly dispersed over the river's surface. Willows swayed on the shore, revealing an ancient town with red wooden beams and black-tiled white walls stretching out.
An iron chain bridge spanned the river. Someone wearing a vintage straw rain cape poled a boat, gradually disappearing into the distance.
"The Huai River flows from north to south into the sea, passing through three provinces and seventeen cities. It's one of the famous large rivers in our Red Nation."
"This branch in Nanjiang is where Huai River Ancient Town was established. People have lived here since ancient times."
"Huai River beef soup is a local specialty. We can have lunch here later."
As the mist dissipated, the red sun was reflected on the river's surface.
A tour group arrived at the riverside town, momentarily mesmerized by the beautiful scenery.
"Tour guide Wang, you seem to know Nanjiang so well. Are you a local?" someone asked curiously.
The bespectacled woman in a black down jacket and jeans smiled and nodded. "Yes, I grew up around here."
"Oh, so you must have been a tour guide for a long time?"
"No," she shook her head with a smile. The young woman with thick glasses explained, "Although I got my tour guide license in college, I never thought about becoming one."
"I usually work at an office supplies company, but business hasn't been good, so I started leading tour groups on weekends."
"I see," someone nodded as Wang Hanwen efficiently handled a few more questions.
The group walked across a stone bridge. Soon, quiet inquiries could be heard.
"Tour guide Wang, are there usually this many people in Huai River Ancient Town?"
"Many are wearing long robes. It looks quite vintage."
Hearing this, Wang Hanwen looked around in confusion.
On the gray brick road and among the town's willows, figures stood along the shore - men and women, young and old, mostly in ancient-style robes.
An elderly man with white hair and a youthful face had his gray hair tied up with a wooden hairpin. His robes fluttered in the wind, giving him the appearance of a master.
Young men with short hair and rugged features stood with arms crossed or at their sides, many gazing intently at the river.
Interspersed among them were men and women in hoodies or casual sportswear, their faces ruddy and exuding an extraordinary aura. There were at least a hundred people scattered about.
Inexplicably, the atmosphere grew quiet, with only the river breeze rustling through the willows.
The group of tourists instinctively stopped, their curiosity piqued, but they dared not approach to ask questions.
"Tour guide Wang, why don't you ask?" someone urged, unable to contain their curiosity.
Wang Hanwen hesitated, sensing these people were not to be trifled with and seemed to be waiting for something.
Finally, unable to resist the pressure, she approached an elderly man in a long robe who appeared kind-faced, and quietly asked, "Sir, are you here for sightseeing?"
"No," he shook his head calmly, gesturing to a young man beside him not to interfere.
"Oh? May I ask what brings you here? This is the first time I've seen so many people gathered so early."
"We're just waiting for someone," the old man said in an aged voice, glancing at her. "This is a major event in our martial arts world. It's normal that you wouldn't know about it."
A major event in the martial arts world?
Wang Hanwen was stunned, but a tourist behind her couldn't help speaking up.
"Sir, may I ask what kind of major event?"
"I've practiced martial arts too. How come I don't know about this?"
"You?" The young man beside the elder suddenly spoke, looking at him with disdain.
"You haven't even reached Bone Forging. With your amateur sixth or seventh-dan level, how dare you question my master?"
"You!"
"A Hu." The elder shook his head to stop him, then bowed slightly to the young tourist with a calm tone.
"My disciple lacks discipline. Please forgive him."
Hearing this, the young tourist didn't escalate the situation. Instead, he averted his gaze and quickly waved his hands.
"I overstepped, sir."
He had clearly felt it earlier - when the young man called A Hu merely glared at him, he was struck with fear, his blood and qi stagnating.
Without a doubt, the other party was truly from a martial arts sect, at least at the professional level or above.
Seeing his attitude, the young man named A Hu finally relaxed his brow.
The elder didn't dwell on it either. Instead, he patiently explained to the other curious tourists.
"Since you've all practiced martial arts, you're considered half-insiders in the martial arts circle."
"I assume you all know about the Grandmaster level?"
"I do," the previous young man nodded eagerly. Wang Hanwen also came to her senses, inexplicably recalling that burly young man.
When she was rescued from the riot, she had looked into it privately afterward.
Shattering steel with one's fist was the hallmark of a Grandmaster.
"Above the Grandmaster level, there are even higher existences. We martial artists call them Grandmasters."
"Today, we are waiting for a battle between two Grandmasters."
As his words fell, breaths were held.
The dozen or so tourists felt their horizons broadening. Wang Hanwen once again thought of that burly young man.
So this was the world he belonged to?
"Wang Hanwen?"
Suddenly, a female voice called out, interrupting her thoughts. She turned to look.
Dressed in a black fur coat and stockings with a skirt, carrying a new light blue designer handbag, with delicate features and thick makeup.
"Han Yue?"
"It's me. What are you doing here?"
"I'm working as a tour guide. What about you?"
"Oh, my boyfriend bought a small courtyard house in the ancient town. I came to take a look."
Han Yue smiled smugly, then introduced the young man beside her.
He wore casual clothes, had decent features, was slightly overweight, and had a Flying Car brand key hanging from his waist.
"This is my boyfriend, Sun Zhi."
"So, how's work going? If it's not good, I can have Sun Zhi arrange a position for you. His company is quite short-staffed."
Han Yue said, feigning generosity.
Seeing the show-off and pride in her eyes, Wang Hanwen shook her head and declined.
The two parted ways, and as she watched their retreating figures, Wang Hanwen felt her classmate had become increasingly unfamiliar.
"Who was that?"
"My classmate. She's hardworking, but her perspective is too narrow. By the way, what are all these people doing here? Why are there so many people today?"
"I don't know."
Han Yue and her companion walked on. Soon, several flying cars arrived, hovering and stopping by the riverside.
The lowered windows revealed the faces of seven or eight young men and women, all exuding extraordinary auras and clearly from influential backgrounds.
"Luo Yue, will Coach Chen really show up today?"
"Yes, the information is reliable. Don't worry."
"That's good. We're his students after all. We should be here to support him!"
Amid the chatter, Han Yue suddenly noticed her boyfriend had stopped walking.
"What's wrong?"
"That's Young Master Luo, the younger brother of Captain Luo."
His voice was excited. It was the first time Han Yue had seen him with such an expression. He even waved enthusiastically towards the flying car.
Unfortunately, the people in the car seemed not to notice him at all, completely ignoring him as they headed straight for the viewing platform by the river.
The atmosphere suddenly became awkward, until the next moment.
Whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh whoosh!!
A series of whistling sounds filled the air. The two looked up.
The red sun hung high, all mist dispersed.
One after another, blue and white flying cars of the Safety Bureau streaked across the sky, leaving white trails over the river as they descended onto the open spaces of the ancient town. Safety officers disembarked.
Yellow lines were unfurled, cordoning off the scenic area.
Many early-rising tourists who had come to watch the sunrise were stunned.
"Such a big operation?"
Han Yue's boyfriend came to his senses, somewhat surprised.
The next moment, dozens more flying cars appeared. One by one, rarely-seen bigwigs emerged, making their way to the central viewing platform by the riverside.
"Sun Zhi, who's that?"
"That's the chairman of Kui Pharmaceutical Group, Councilor Fang!"
"And there, Tian Hao Security Group. That's the biggest security company in our Nanjiang!"
"Wow, Coun- Councilor Chu! He's our Nanjiang representative councilor. He actually came too!"
Han Yue discovered for the first time that her boyfriend could be so excited, his voice even trembling as he spoke.
But before they could recover from their shock.
Whoosh!!!
Several more flying cars arrived. Figures in brown Giant Elephant robes and deep blue Whale robes could be seen.
Among them were two men - one a bald, burly man standing two meters tall, the other an elderly man in white robes with white hair and beard.
As they walked towards the shore with several disciples, the previously arrived councilors and company directors all smiled and actively greeted them, shaking hands.
"Giant Elephant Grandmaster, Whale Sect Grandmaster."
"Representative Chu."
On the riverside viewing platform, occupying the best spot in the entire ancient town and spanning nearly a hundred meters, Cyborgs and armed Enhanced Humans stood guard on both sides.
Chu Shihong, dressed in a dark suit, smiled as he shook hands with the two Grandmasters in turn.
"I'm afraid we'll have to trouble you both to keep an eye on the scene today."
"Councilor Chu is too kind," the Whale Sect Grandmaster stroked his beard, smiling and shaking his head to indicate it was no trouble.
He glanced at Qin Xiao behind Chu, secretly noting that Nanjiang indeed had some new developments, even willing to deploy a Titanium-grade Cyborg for security.
"The Flame Tiger Sect people haven't arrived yet?" the Giant Elephant Grandmaster asked, looking around.
Chu Shihong nodded slightly, then seemed to think of something and proactively asked, "Grandmasters, what are your thoughts on today's battle?"
"I'd say it's 70-30," the Giant Elephant Grandmaster sighed. "Brother Chen has the Innate Tyrant Bone and is stronger than me, but as fellow Physical Grandmasters, there's still a limit to his strength."
"In my view, the outcome might be decided within a hundred moves."
"Oh?" Chu Shihong's expression remained unchanged as he looked to the Whale Sect Grandmaster.
"That sounds about right," he shook his head, looking somewhat worried. "The Flame Tiger Grandmaster is unstoppable, with an impressive aura. But that's both his strength and his weakness."
"I can confirm that Lu Xinglong has already broken through the Gate of Spirit. This battle... sigh, he shouldn't have accepted the challenge."
Hearing this, although he had personally witnessed Chen Feng kill Jin Wei, Chu Shihong still frowned.
He didn't practice martial arts, but he had heard of the three gates for Grandmasters.
"Qin Xiao, what do you think?"
"Councilor Chu, I don't understand martial arts, but I feel that guy probably isn't that simple."
Shaking his head, Qin Xiao thought back to the scene in Nanjiang city center last week.
Killing Jin Wei with a punch, forcing him back with just a glance.
Someone with that kind of presence couldn't possibly be inferior to Lu Xinglong in any way.
The Giant Elephant and Whale Sect Grandmasters didn't argue with him about this. They were just pondering how to save Chen Feng's life later.
In a battle of life and death, according to martial arts world rules, outsiders couldn't interfere.
But if the worst-case scenario really occurred, they might still have to step in for the sake of their respective sects' survival.
Moreover.
Looking at Councilor Chu before them, they felt slightly reassured.
He was, after all, Nanjiang's representative councilor. As long as he was willing to step forward, then in the end...
Whoosh!!!
Suddenly, their thoughts were interrupted as several gray shapes appeared on the distant horizon.
Looking closely, the whistling intensified.
Several gray-black circular aircraft cut through the sky, arriving above the river in just over ten seconds.
"They're here," the Giant Elephant Grandmaster said in a low voice. The Whale Sect Grandmaster and others all became solemn.
The martial arts circle members on both sides of the shore focused their attention. Wang Hanwen and the others only felt the atmosphere suddenly change, becoming inexplicably tense.
Hiss! Clank!
White vapor dispersed as the hatches of several aircraft opened simultaneously.
Seven or eight black-clad Cyborgs riding personal flight devices emerged. Three of them appeared middle-aged, each with a small silver flying shuttle hovering behind them.
In an instant, despite the morning sun being high in the sky, everyone present felt the temperature drop by a couple of degrees.
"Three Grandmaster-level Cyborgs," the Whale Sect Grandmaster's face darkened. The Giant Elephant Grandmaster looked even grimmer.
Beside them, Chu Shihong sensed something was amiss. Then he saw an aircraft land nearby, and several Cyborg bodyguards escorted a young man in casual clothes out.
"Councilor Chu, long time no see."
His heart sank, but Chu Shihong could only put on a smile and step forward to greet him.
"So it's Representative Luo."
He hadn't expected the Flying Dragon Sect to invite this person over.
The son of Feng Province's Vice Chairman Luo, Luo Hui.
One of the councilor representatives from Yun Port's outer city.
Though they held the same rank, the other's background was undoubtedly more significant than his own.
"Please don't mind, Councilor Chu. It's rare to witness a battle between Grandmasters. I was curious and decided to come," said the young man with black curly hair, handsome features, and a somewhat effeminate and refined demeanor.
As his smiling words fell, more people emerged from the aircraft hovering above the river.
Most wore ancient-style robes bearing emblems of giant bears, flying swallows, and fist imprints - clearly other True Intent Sects from Yun Port's martial arts world, including Jiang Yunshan and others.
Each rode a personal flight device, surrounding the aircraft.
Besides them, several other figures appeared.
Three elderly men and one middle-aged man.
One had eyes like an eagle, wearing a Flying Eagle robe. Another was exceptionally burly with white hair and beard, a golden blade at his waist.
The last elderly man, with white hair and a youthful face, wore a gray robe and maintained an expressionless visage. Only his sleeves bore two flying dragon imprints.
As for the middle-aged man, he had a square, stern face and wore a light blue robe with a particularly eye-catching water-flowing dragon design.
In an instant, many who had come to watch the battle from the martial arts world had changing expressions - some excited, some worried.
"The Flying Eagle Grandmaster and Golden Blade Grandmaster, they actually came too."
"And there's Lu Xinglong. His injuries really have healed."
The expressions of the Whale Sect Grandmaster and his companion grew even darker, their faces constantly changing.
Chu Shihong sighed inwardly. Then he saw the curly-haired young man walk to the center of the viewing platform, looking around the entire riverside like the main character.
"Councilor Chu, I hear today's Grandmaster battle is a duel to the death."
"In that case, I suppose we outsiders shouldn't interfere, right?"
His tone was light, but his expression was somewhat playful, as if setting the rules.
The nearby Whale Sect Grandmaster and others looked even grimmer. Chu Shihong's eyes flickered slightly, and he was about to speak.
Wooong!!!
A dragon's roar echoed as the middle-aged man in the blue robe leapt down from mid-air, plummeting dozens of meters towards the river.
The river's surface rippled as blue energy gathered, forming a lifelike seven or eight-meter flying dragon that bore him down, allowing him to stand on the water.
Chu Shihong's words were cut off. Countless martial arts circle members were stunned by this display.
"That's a Grandmaster!?"
"Dragon Soars in the Sky, standing on water!"
Voices rang out one after another. Wang Hanwen and the others, who previously didn't know what a Grandmaster was, were all shocked and wide-eyed at this moment.
"Is- is- is this still human?"
"Can martial arts really reach this level?"
Some tourists on the shore couldn't help but ask. Others realized a crucial point.
"A Grandmaster battle... doesn't that mean someone is going to fight him?"
"Yes," the elderly man in the long robe nodded slightly, sighing, "And it's a duel to the death."
As his words fell, Wang Hanwen and the others were all shocked.
In this society of advanced technology and rule of law, it was the first time they had heard of duels to the death.
"The Safety Bureau people are here too. Will they allow this?" a tourist asked, coming to his senses.
"Duels to the death are a rule in our martial arts circle. Even the Safety Bureau..."
"He's here!"
"That person has arrived!"
(End of the Chapter)
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