We're practicing all martial arts, so why did you switch to easy mode?

Chapter 256 The Battle at Shouyang Mountain, The Turn of Events for Li Mu'e (5K)

The challenge at Shouyang Mountain ignited the entire Holy Yuan Kingdom.

The massive spectacle of onlookers began as the news spread.

Upon hearing this news, countless martial artists traveled from afar to the Ziyang Sect, eager to witness an earth-shattering battle.

"Grandpa, shall we go back after we finish watching the martial arts competition?"

Just when everyone thought the great battle was over, things took an unexpected turn. Not long after the grandfather and grandson left Shouyang City, news of their duel at Shouyang Mountain spread.

When Xiaoxing heard that there was more excitement to be had, she lost all interest in going back and wanted to join in the fun.

The old man held Xiaoxing's hand, looked at his granddaughter's pitiful expression, and finally, his heart softened, and he agreed.

"Okay, we've agreed this time. If that older brother hasn't come back in a month, we have to go back, otherwise your mother will worry."

The elderly prepare in advance to avoid wasting time, month after month.

However, in his opinion, Xiaoxing would probably be disappointed again in a month.

This young man named Su Chen would have appeared long ago if he wanted to.

The news of the duel at Shouyang Mountain had already spread throughout the Holy Yuan Kingdom, but Su Chen had not yet appeared, and the chances of him appearing a month later were even slimmer.

Of course, he didn't care about Su Chen's attitude of temporarily avoiding the limelight.

Even he had to admit the strength of Yuan Wu and the others.

Even with just a fleeting glance, he could sense the sharpness of the younger generation of martial artists from the Holy Yuan Kingdom.

Even if Su Chen had grasped the true meaning of martial arts, he probably wouldn't be able to compete with so many talented martial artists.

Xiao Xing, of course, had no idea what the old man was thinking. After getting his consent, she nodded with a smile and said, "Okay, I'll listen to Grandpa."

The two returned and settled down temporarily in Shouyang City.

The elderly man didn't experience the benefits of having a large group, but the disadvantages followed one after another.

Even though he was an alchemist, he couldn't help but feel that the cost of staying overnight in Shouyang City was too high.

Fortunately, he had enough pills on him. After going to the Wanhai Chamber of Commerce, he sold the pills he had and exchanged them for Spirit Essence Pills, and then rented a house in Shouyang City for a month.

During this time, to avoid making Xiaoxing's mother too worried, he asked someone to send a message back.

A month is not a long time, but considering the time spent before and after, this journey to find the medicine has been quite long.

I should let you know I'm safe.

……

Ziyang Sect.

Su Chen lived in the villa for less than a month.

Shang Shuo, Zu Peng, Zhu Yan, Xie Sui, and others who knew Su Chen gathered here.

Everyone frowned, and the atmosphere was heavy.

Jie Sui comforted Zhu Yan and the others, saying, "Zhu Yan, you don't need to worry too much. Su Chen may not show up in half a month."

"Well, I'm more worried if Brother Su doesn't show up." Unlike Zhu Yan, Zu Peng was actually hoping to find out some news about Su Chen.

After all, more than ten years had passed and there had been no news of Su Chen, so he couldn't help but worry.

What if something happens to Su Chen?

After hearing this, Shang Shuo firmly said, "Su Chen will be fine. He didn't show up, perhaps because he was comprehending the true meaning of martial arts and was unaware of this matter."

Even so, he still had some concerns.

Su Chen, please don't get hurt! I'm still waiting to defeat you with my own hands.

He also wanted to challenge Su Chen, but unlike Yuan Wu and others who wanted to wash away their shame, he wanted to verify his progress over the years.

His three years of training in the secret realm brought him great progress, but also caused him great suffering.

He needs to defeat Su Chen to prove that he has not let down the hardships he has endured over the years, and he also wants to prove that his efforts have not been in vain.

However, not now; he will find an opportunity to challenge Su Chen alone.

Zhu Yan interjected, "Our benefactor will be fine, there's no need to worry about that. What I'm most worried about is whether our benefactor will keep the appointment after hearing the news."

"What's there to worry about?" Jie Sui asked, puzzled. Wouldn't it be better for Su Chen to keep the appointment?
Zu Peng understood Zhu Yan's meaning and asked, "Are you worried that Brother Su hasn't grasped the true meaning of martial arts?"

Zhu Yan nodded, and everyone fell silent.

"Knowing my benefactor as I do, if he were to learn of this, even if he hadn't grasped the true essence of martial arts, he would still appear, and then..."

Zhu Yan didn't continue, but everyone had already guessed the outcome.

If what Zhu Yan said is true, and Su Chen appeared without comprehending the true meaning of martial arts, then he will be met with the frenzied revenge of Yuan Wu and others.

His fate was predictable.

Failure is not terrible, but being defeated by former underlings, especially by dozens of people on the same day, could leave an indelible impression on Su Chen's martial arts path, and even directly affect Su Chen's martial arts heart.

Once a martial artist's martial spirit weakens, even with extraordinary opportunities, they may not achieve anything, and their martial arts path will inevitably come to a halt.

This is the scariest thing!

“But what if he comprehends the true meaning of martial arts?” Jie Sui asked.

He hadn't known Su Chen for long, but they already had a relationship that felt like a gentleman's friendship, as light as water.

Although the probability is very low, it is not impossible.

No one spoke, but Zhu Qingyou rolled her eyes at Xie Sui.

The Divine Realm is not the same as the Primordial Spirit Realm, where one can win simply by relying on abundant Yuan Power and its momentum.

Even if Su Chen comprehends the true meaning of martial arts and comes to keep the appointment, how could he possibly defeat so many people by himself?

It should be noted that Yuan Wu comprehended not the beginner level of martial arts essence, but the perfect level of martial arts essence.

Among all the disciples who entered the secret realm, he was undoubtedly the number one.

Moreover, Yuan Wu wasn't the only one who wanted to deal with Su Chen; there were also Jue Wuya and others.

The true essence of martial arts they comprehended may not be as profound as that of Yuanwu, but it is still extremely powerful.

A martial artist at the Divine Intent Realm can only comprehend one true martial intent, and no matter how high Su Chen's talent is, it is impossible for him to comprehend two.

If they are all practicing the same martial arts essence, then the competition is naturally about their understanding of that essence. How could Su Chen possibly recapture his former glory?
Once he appears, all that awaits him is the humiliation of Yuan Wu and his ilk.

While everyone else was troubled, on the other side, others were also discussing the same issue.

Yin Sisi looked at the timid and soft-spoken Fang Rou with great dissatisfaction, raising her voice several decibels.

"Junior sister, I'm already being lenient by not challenging Su Chen with Yuan Wu out of consideration for you. How could you ask me to help Su Chen for the sake of your little man? That's just too much!"

Thinking back to the swollen face of that year, it was a lifelong wound that she can never erase to this day.

She had already promised Fang Rou that she would no longer cause trouble for Su Chen with Yuan Wu and the others, but her most beloved junior sister was going too far and asking her to help Su Chen instead, which really broke her heart!
Fang Rou stood to the side with her head down, her lips pursed, her face flushed, but still pleading, staring expectantly at Yin Sisi.

Yin Sisi turned her head away, unwilling to look any longer, lest she soften her heart.

After a moment, Yin Sisi couldn't stand Fang Rou's gaze any longer and softened, saying, "Even if I go to help your Su-gege, I can only hold off one person!"

"No, there's also Zhu Yan, Zu Peng, and Shang Shuo. If all else fails, could you also invite Nie Long, Senior Sister?" Fang Rou shook her head and said.

Yin Sisi: "..."

Not only did they call themselves "Nie Long," but they also called themselves "Nie Long"—this is simply outrageous!
"roll!"

A moment later, Yin Sisi couldn't help but roar, which startled Fang Rou so much that she quickly ran out of the room.

……

As time went by, more and more martial artists gathered at the Ziyang Sect.

At the foot of Shouyang Mountain, every day a large number of martial artists count down the remaining time on their fingers.

Ten days, seven days, five days... three days, until the day before the duel.

"Tomorrow is the deadline, and if Su Chen doesn't show up, I'm afraid he won't be showing up at all."

"I thought there was going to be a good show, but now it seems like I've wasted a whole month."

"This is Su Chen's fault. Even if he wasn't coming, he should have told everyone in advance. There's nothing shameful about admitting defeat."

"..."

As the day of battle approached, the discussions about whether Su Chen would appear gradually subsided.

By this point, many people believed that Su Chen would not risk showing up, and although they were disappointed, they still held onto a sliver of hope.

This hope persisted until the very last day of the deadline.

The next day, it was dawn.

The entire Shouyang Mountain became incredibly lively, with tens of thousands of martial artists rushing towards it like locusts.

Such a large crowd directly covered the area within a hundred miles of Shouyang Mountain.

As the sun rises and the first rays of sunlight fall on everyone's faces, the tranquil Shouyang Mountain begins to stir.

A prodigy martial artist has appeared!

"It's Duan Feng!"

A tornado rose up not far away, and a figure was seen within it. Everyone quickly recognized the person's identity.

Duan Feng, riding the tornado, became the first martial artist to arrive at Shouyang Mountain. He looked around, landed on a small hill at the foot of the mountain, and waited for the others to arrive.

Before long, several more martial artists appeared, scattered around Shouyang Mountain, waiting quietly.

"So many outstanding martial artists! I never imagined that Su Chen would offend so many martial artists back then."

Some people exclaimed in amazement as they watched the continuous stream of outstanding martial artists appear.

The old man standing nearby was deeply moved.

Half an hour later, he saw over a hundred outstanding martial artists appear, each with extraordinary strength, which truly surprised him.

Moreover, it's not over yet; martial artists are still arriving from all directions in an endless stream.

Several hours have passed, and the expressions of the many onlookers have changed from initial surprise to numbness.

But amidst this numbness, there was also a mixture of hope and despair.

From sunrise to high in the sky, batches of martial artists arrived, but still did not see the figure they longed for.

"Look, Zhu Yan and the others have appeared."

As noon approached, Zhu Yan and his group swept across the sky, arriving late to the attention of everyone.

Duan Feng and the others, who were sitting cross-legged and resting with their eyes closed, opened their eyes when they heard Zhu Yan's voice.

"Wow, there are so many people!" Xie Sui couldn't help but exclaim after scanning the area.

There were so many people that they could hardly find a place to stand.

"Jue Wuya and the others have also arrived."

Shortly after Zhu Yan and his group appeared, a beam of light suddenly streaked across the sky, descending with unparalleled momentum.

Immediately afterwards, several more terrifying auras descended.

A sharp sword swept across the sky, piercing through the void and falling down. Sword Master Jian Wuxiao, having merged with his sword, landed in one spot.

With a cry that pierced the sky, the golden cloud eagle descended slowly, its enormous form blotting out the sun, carrying Shi Tianyi of the Spirit Demon Sect.

Yin Sisi of the Xuan Yin Sect, Nie Long of the Long Xiang Sect, Jie Wuyou of the Corpse Puppet Sect, Bei Xiaotian of the Yuan Bing Pavilion... all made their appearances one after another.

"Zhu Yan, does Su Chen dare to come?"

Jue Wuya's gaze was like lightning; without any deliberate effort, his aura was extremely imposing, making him impossible to ignore.

Upon appearing, he turned his gaze to Zhu Yan and his group not far away and coldly questioned them.

The voice was urgent, but also carried a strong sense of dissatisfaction.

The others also stared at Zhu Yan and the others, their expressions varied, but all were indifferent.

"If you want to fight, then bring it on!" Zhu Yan made no attempt to hide his dissatisfaction with Jue Wuya.

Back then, this guy actually tried to use Hong Ming and Li Mo to lure out his benefactor. He wished he could beat the guy up.

After hearing this, Jue Wuya sneered: "After I defeat Su Chen, you and I will naturally have a chance to fight."

"You think you can beat me?" Zu Peng scoffed. "You dare to challenge Brother Su?"

"Hmph, you sharp-tongued bastard, you dare to be so insolent in front of me?"

He took a step forward from the cliff, and it felt as if his whole body was engulfed in flames.

With a shout, a flame shot into the sky, carrying the fierce force of a furnace, and landed precisely on Zu Peng.

Faced with Jue Wuya's offensive, Zu Peng smirked, then waved his hand, and a crystal drop of water condensed at his fingertips.

With a flick of the finger, a drop of water rises into the air, and the moment it touches the flame, it melts into it.

The once imposing furnace fire was instantly covered by blue light and silently vanished into the world.

Upon seeing this, Jue Wuya's pupils shrank slightly. He only knew that Zu Peng was Su Chen's friend, but he never expected that Zu Peng was so powerful.

But then a question arose in my mind.

Zhu Yan was able to contend with him because he had gained a lot in the secret realm, but this person did not enter the secret realm, so what makes him capable of contending with him?
Just as he was preparing to fight Zu Peng again and show him his prowess, a rumbling sound suddenly came from the sky not far away.

He looked in the direction of the sound, and his gaze suddenly froze. Through the layers of light, he saw a terrifying figure approaching.

Wherever it passed, it seemed as if even the sky collapsed.

Behind him, endless swirling clouds and mist made him appear like a god, radiating boundless light.

"Yuan Wu!"

Such a stunning and sensational entrance could only have been made by Yuan Wu.

Its mere appearance brought a heavy sense of oppression to everyone, and some weaker martial artists did not even dare to look directly at the newcomer.

Like everyone else, Yuan Wu also began searching for Su Chen shortly after landing.

However, after scanning the area, he found that the figure he disliked was not on the field.

This discovery did not anger him like Jue Wuya; instead, he revealed a sneer of "I knew it."

"Heh, cowardly rat!" Yuan Wu shook his head and sneered.

The voice wasn't loud, but it was extremely sarcastic, instantly igniting Zhu Yan and Zu Peng's dissatisfaction.

"What did you say?"

Two angry voices rang out simultaneously, Zhu Yan and Zu Peng glaring at Yuan Wu with displeasure.

Seeing the two men's aggressive demeanor, Yuan Wu raised a slight smirk: "What, am I wrong?"

“Of course not. What right do you, a defeated opponent, have to say such things?” Zu Peng retorted solemnly, his expression very serious.

The moment the words "defeated opponent" were uttered, Yuan Wu's eyes sharpened: "What did you say?"

Upon hearing this, Zu Peng obediently repeated the sentence, and before finishing, he added, "Don't be angry, I've always been straightforward and only speak the truth."

It would have been better if they hadn't said anything, because once they did, even Jue Wuya and the others standing nearby showed dissatisfaction and their eyes were filled with anger.

"Zu Peng, at this point, empty words are useless. If you have the guts, let Su Chen come out and fight us!" Jue Wuya roared.

Upon hearing this, Zu Peng seemed to have made up his mind and stepped forward, saying, "Why does Brother Su need to step in? I can handle it!"

“Me too!” Zhu Yan added immediately.

Shang Shuo didn't speak, but took a step forward and stood shoulder to shoulder with the two of them.

Jie Sui glanced at Zhu Qingyou and received her unconditionally supportive look, so he also stepped forward.

Fang Rou, who was not far away, saw this and was about to rush forward when Yin Sisi stopped her, signaling her with her eyes not to make any rash moves.

Under the watchful eyes of the crowd, the four stood side by side, their gazes firm, radiating a resolute determination.

"Alright, Zu Peng, since you want to fight, then I will grant your wish!"

Upon hearing these words, Jue Wuya could no longer hold back. He unleashed a palm strike, his boundless Yuan power lacking any skill, yet far surpassing that of an ordinary Yuan Shen realm martial artist. With a single strike, a fiery dragon instantly pierced through everyone's vision.

"Well done!"

Zu Peng's gaze sharpened, and he was about to make a move when he suddenly paused.

A giant sword suddenly appeared, standing horizontally in front of him, blocking Jue Wuya's attack.

Then came a dashing figure, with eyes like deep pools of black jade and eyebrows as pure and holy as crescent moons.

She wore a purple dress, which not only accentuated her alluring figure but also highlighted her snow-white skin.
This outfit, far from being seductive, exudes a heroic spirit both inside and out, causing the light to dim upon its appearance.

"Who are you?" Zu Peng asked curiously, looking at the beautiful figure standing in front of him.

Zhu Yan explained to him: "Li Mu'e!"

"And who are you?" Jue Wuya asked in a deep voice, his curiosity mixed with a hint of seriousness.

He could sense that the person in front of him was no ordinary person.

Li Mu'e remained silent, and the Demon-Slaying Sword trembled violently, releasing a vast power of divine weaponry.

Caught off guard, Jue Wuya was struck unexpectedly and staggered back several steps.

"you……"

Jue Wuya's gaze fell on the Demon-Slaying Sword, revealing a hint of surprise, before his face darkened.

"Su Chen is really lucky. He didn't expect another person to come to his aid. But what's the use of having more people if he's so timid?"

Yuan Wu guessed Li Mu'e's identity and spoke calmly.

Li Mu'e sheathed her demon-slaying sword, calmly looked at Yuan Wu, and said, "You don't need to waste words, Su Chen will be here soon!"

"what?"

These words were like a thunderclap from a clear sky, shaking the surrounding area and causing everyone to gasp in astonishment.

"When will he arrive?" Yuan Wu's eyes were deep and his voice carried an urgency that even he himself did not realize.

The others also stared intently at Li Mu'e, their expressions varying greatly.

Without exception, their eyes held a deep sense of anticipation.

Upon hearing this, Li Mu'e did not speak, but instead cast her gaze in a certain direction with a complicated expression.

There, she seemed to see a desolate, lonely, hunched figure, walking with faltering steps.

Step by step, they moved slowly and steadily toward Shouyang Mountain.

(End of this chapter)