Dominating Martial King
Chapter 103 - 103 100 The Big Pit

103: Chapter 100 The Big Pit 103: Chapter 100 The Big Pit Chu Xisheng descended the ship’s ladder, and Zhou Xiangshan approached with eager strides to greet him.

His face brimmed with a smile as he spoke in a booming voice, “I’ve been looking forward to this day and night; I’ve finally managed to wait for Chu Shaohua.

Seeing you, my mind is at ease.

With this upcoming battle for the Secret Realm, our Zhou Family will surely triumph.”

Zhou Xiangshan then introduced the young man standing behind Chu Xisheng, “This is the eldest son of our Zhou Family, Zhou Liangchen.

Our family head had wanted to prepare a feast and meet you in person.

However, with the opening of the Secret Realm, numerous distinguished families and sects have taken a great interest, bringing many famous figures along.

Our family head and his wife have had to divide their attention to manage the situation, so they sent their eldest son to welcome Brother Chu, as a sign of respect.

He said that once Chu Shaohua returns, they will hold a celebration feast for the victor.”

Zhou Liangchen also gave Chu Xisheng a salute, “It’s been nearly a month since we’ve seen each other, Brother Chu, and you seem even more distinguished than before.”

Although his stature was more robust than Chu Xisheng’s, he was actually a few months younger.

Chu Xisheng was taken aback, looking at Zhou Liangchen in disbelief, “Your sirname is Zhou, are you the Zhou Family’s Mr.

Zhou?”

How could someone born with a golden spoon willingly fight in the Ancient Market’s Life and Death Arena?

Right after that, he remembered something, and his heart suddenly lurched.

Chu Xisheng had figured out why the Zhou Family would go to such lengths, spending a hefty sum to invite him to join this Secret Realm competition in Linhai County.

It turned out that the big pit he had dug for himself was when he used Qin Muge’s character card to defeat this guy with a single slash.

The Zhou Family wasn’t looking for him, but for the Ninth Rank expert who managed to prevent Ninth Grade Sword Demon Zhou Liangchen from drawing his sword.

Swallowing nervously, Chu Xisheng realized that all the preparations Chu Yunyun had made for him were in vain.

They had presented him with a meeting gift of two thousand taels of Demon Silver in the hope that he would claim the top spot, not just a place among the top ten.

At this thought, Chu Xisheng couldn’t help but feel a headache coming on.

If he could travel back in time to the past right now, he would choose to go back to the day of the Fire Bone Cave and give the Chu Xisheng of that day a sound thrashing.

——Let’s see you pretend to be a master again!

Chu Xisheng really wanted to return the greeting gift and set off back home now.

But he had already donned the weapons and war armor given by the Zhou Family.

The gold and silver ingots they had provided had also been exchanged for the “Gathering Spirit Cloak” he now wore.

Moreover, he had already arrived at the place; to suddenly decline at this moment would be deeply offensive to the Coastal Zhou Family, wouldn’t it?

And he also couldn’t bear to part with the “Divine Sky Rejuvenation Pill.”

So should he pretend ignorance and stick to the original plan, sneaking into the Secret Realm?

The problem was that Chu Xisheng wasn’t clear about the temperament of the Zhou Family’s head and their experts.

What if they turned hostile afterwards?

The reason Zhou Xiangshan was so enthusiastic now was entirely due to the ‘strength’ he had shown by defeating Zhou Liangchen with a single slash, believing that he could help the Zhou Family win the Secret Realm.

Seeing Chu Xisheng’s expression looking somewhat uneasy, Zhou Xiangshan didn’t think too much of it, assuming that Chu Xisheng was simply unaccustomed to sea travel and fatigued.

Zhou Xiangshan immediately smiled and said, “Brother Chu, please follow me.

I’ve prepared a fine room for you at an inn near the Secret Realm so that Brother Chu can rest.”

Chu Xisheng could only nod expressionlessly.

Under the current circumstances, he didn’t know what would be best, so he had no choice but to take things one step at a time.

Following that, Chu Xisheng was led onto a luxurious carriage by Zhou Xiangshan, like a wooden person, and they left the Zhou Family’s exclusive pier.

Zhou Xiangshan rode in another carriage, leaving Zhou Liangchen with Chu Xisheng, thinking they would find it easier to talk as peers.

However, once both men were in the carriage, they sat in silence, not exchanging any conversation.

Chu Xisheng’s expression was solemn, and as he gazed thoughtfully at the scenery outside the window, he pondered ways to get out of the current predicament.

Zhou Liangchen held his sword with both hands, several times opening his mouth wanting to speak, yet unsure of what to say.

He felt the guy in front of him was quite proud, not even sparing him a glance during the whole journey.

About half an hour later, Zhou Liangchen saw an inn built by the roadside in the wilderness through the carriage window, along with a cluster of tents around the inn.

Zhou Liangchen couldn’t help but break the silence, “Your expression seems very dignified?

Why so serious?

Among those vying for the prize, those so-called young heroes and Qingyun’s geniuses, I doubt many could withstand your single slash, not even if they teamed up against you.”

Chu Xisheng rolled his eyes.

The devil take not stopping your slash!

Wasn’t it Qin Muge’s character card I used to bully you?

Those young prodigies, if the heavenly prides of Qingyun truly united, they would definitely be able to bury him, Chu Xisheng.

The current strategy seemed to be solely reliant on using Qin Muge’s character card to hold the scene.

He hoped that Qin Muge’s 11-year-old character card could still be useful in the Ninth Grade Secret Realm; then he would not be afraid of facing anyone.

However, Qin Muge at 11 years old was of Eighth Rank upper realm cultivation, and others would inevitably be surprised upon seeing this.

Once someone dug deeper, there would be major trouble.

Chu Xisheng wiped his face and then glanced sideways at Zhoou Liangchen with a trace of resentment, “Brother Zhoou, have you not heard that even when a lion fights a rabbit it still uses all its strength?

When do we martial cultivators ever afford to be careless or take things lightly?”

As soon as he spoke, Chu Xisheng sighed to himself.

In front of the Fire Bone Cave, he had been too much like a lion, exerted too much force.

Therefore, he was even more unpleasant in tone.

It was this guy right in front of him who had caused him to fall into such an embarrassing situation.

Zhoou Liangchen’s eyebrows furrowed slightly, then he nodded slightly, “You’re right, I should take it as a warning.”

He then huffed lightly and looked at Chu Xisheng coldly, “It’s clear you look down on me.

But no matter, you have the right to do so now.

I just want you to know, I will catch up sooner or later and stand before you once again.”

At this moment, their carriage had come to a slow halt.

After finishing his words, Zhoou Liangchen jumped off the carriage.

Chu Xisheng rubbed his forehead, feeling an immense headache, and followed him down.

He looked ahead and then revealed a bit of surprise.

They were now in the wilderness, and the three-story inn before him was situated beside this official road.

It covered an area of about five mu, and though it was small, it had all the necessary facilities, but it was somewhat dilapidated on the outside.

Around the inn, more than a thousand tents had been erected.

At this moment, it was bustling with noise and excitement, with the sound of horses neighing incessantly.

Further away was an endless expanse of rice fields.

Zhoou Xiangshan, who had at some point arrived behind Chu Xisheng, explained with a smile, “The Ninth Grade Secret Realm that opened this time is on a wild mountain two li away.

There are only a few small villages around here, so everyone is staying in this area.

This inn, named Tongfu Inn, used to be an official post station, but later the government ran short of funds and sold it to a private owner.

The inn is limited in size with only over forty rooms.

Currently, only prominent figures from various places and the most powerful young prodigies can stay in it, while the rest have set up tents outside.”

As Zhoou Xiangshan was speaking, the people around the tents all quieted down and turned their eyes towards Chu Xisheng and the others with expressions of surprise and doubt.

Zhoou Xiangshan then led the way into the inn, “Young master, please.

The room we’ve arranged for you is on the third floor; it has the best environment in the inn.”

Chu Xisheng followed behind Zhoou Xiangshan without letting any emotion show.

He still had not figured out what to do next.

For the time being, he would take it one step at a time.

Zhoou Liangchen followed a step behind, silently trailing after Chu Xisheng.

Just as Chu Xisheng was entering the entrance of the inn, he heard a light laugh.

“Isn’t that Mr.

Zhou?

Where have you been lately?

Haven’t seen you in a while, hmmm?”

It was a boy of about fourteen years old with a strange silver pattern on his forehead, resembling the character ‘King’.

Chu Xisheng’s gaze sharpened as he recognized the boy as the ‘Silver Patterned Tiger’ Lu Chen, ranked ninety-seventh on the East State Qingyun List and one of the two most prominent young prodigies of Linhai County at the moment.

The pattern on his forehead was actually related to the ‘White Tiger’ Secret Technique Totem, its features very distinctive, known alongside another as the Coastal Twin Tigers.

The boy looked at Chu Xisheng, his eyes filled with astonishment, “How odd.

The prominent Mr.

Zhou, acting as someone’s lackey?

And who is this fellow?

Haven’t seen him before.”

This person, treated with such deference by the Outer Hall Steward of the Zhou Family, must be no ordinary person.

“His name is Chu Xisheng, the Inner Chief of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall and an honored guest of our Zhou Family,”

Zhoou Liangchen met Lu Chen’s gaze calmly, “If you, Lu Chen, can impress me and make me admire you, then I, Zhoou Liangchen, wouldn’t mind being your lackey either.”

As he spoke the title of Inner Chief of Zhengyang Martial Arts Hall, many young people eating and drinking inside the inn revealed disdain.

But when Zhoou Liangchen said the latter part, the inn instantly buzzed with a quiet hum, as surprised gazes turned towards Chu Xisheng.