Dominating Martial King
Chapter 148 - 148 145 Return to the Ancient Market

148: Chapter 145: Return to the Ancient Market 148: Chapter 145: Return to the Ancient Market After Chu Xisheng returned to Xiushui County, he didn’t head directly to the county town but went to the Ancient Market on the eastern coast instead.

At that time, Zuo Ya was waiting for him at the docks of the Ancient Market.

Zuo Ya was still in that steel-cast carriage, and the Female Guard stood alert at the top in all directions.

However, when they met, Zuo Ya just kept staring at Chu Xisheng with an odd look in his eyes, mixed with a hint of doubt and belief.

In recent days, Chu Xisheng had seen this expression all too often and thus didn’t take it to heart.

It all stemmed from the Qingyun List released by the Debating Martial Arts Tower seven days ago, on which Chu Xisheng was ranked eighty-ninth.

This must be the reason why, on the day of the battle in the Secret Realm, Chu Xisheng’s Martial Arts Points had surged by nearly a thousand, which also brought him quite a few doubts.

Over these seven days, Chu Xisheng, introduced by Zhou Xiongba and Lu Ze among others, met with various figures from Jianghu in Coastal.

The initial reaction of many people when they met him was just like Zuo Ya’s, skeptical and hesitant.

They believed in the authority of the Debating Martial Arts, yet they still reserved some doubts.

After all, it wasn’t as if the Debating Martial Arts had never been wrong before.

Chu Xisheng couldn’t help but think of Xie Zhenqing, whom he had embarrassed twice, and thought to himself that she was truly kind.

Even after he had offended her so, Xie Zhenqing still took a risk to boost his rank to eighty-ninth on the Qingyun List, praising him highly in her articles and raising him to high esteem—

How much did this woman hate him?

Chu Xisheng chuckled, “How long does the official plan to keep looking?

No matter how much you stare, I remain the same.”

Zuo Ya, however, continued to shake his head, “It’s unbelievable.

It’s only been a month since that life-and-death match with Zhuang Hongfei, and you’re already on the Qingyun List, ranked so highly.

I still think there’s something wrong with this Qingyun List that the Debating Martial Arts Tower settled on this time.”

Chu Xisheng raised an eyebrow, puzzled, “Has the official not heard about me seizing the first place in the Ninth Grade Secret Realm in Coastal?”

“I’ve heard, but at the moment, rumors are flying everywhere; it’s hard to tell which ones are true and which ones are false.”

Zuo Qingyun stirred his folding fan, his demeanor calm and composed, “According to official sources, this time a devil wreaked havoc by summoning the Demon God Zangtian into the Mortal World, causing severe casualties among the Ninth Grade Martial Cultivators participating in the Secret Realm;

but besides that, there are other rumors.

Some say that the Debating Martial Arts Tower Master, Situ Li, is the devil; others believe that Situ Li fought against the evil demon and died; there are also rumors that Situ Li’s identity has been taken over by the evil demon.

As for your victory as the leader of the Ninth Grade Secret Realm, there are also many versions.

Some say Chu Xisheng swept through the Qingyun’s geniuses of East State; some argue that Si Huangquan was invincible in the Secret Realm but had to give up due to sudden affliction with Gu Poison; others believe several of Qingyun’s geniuses fought amongst themselves, letting you benefit as the third party, so whom should I believe?”

Chu Xisheng inwardly exclaimed at the cleverness.

This must be the doing of the East State Royal Guard.

Given the details of the dispute in the Ninth Grade Secret Realm, it was impossible for the Royal Guard to completely suppress the information.

With nearly two thousand people outside the Secret Realm talking, it was impossible to silence everyone.

Thus, the Royal Guard did the opposite by spreading various rumors to confuse the public, making it difficult for outsiders to discern the truth.

“Let’s talk about your opponent this time,” said Zuo Qingyun as his tone shifted:

“Tao Yuan comes from He Province and was brought here by One-Armed Blade Li Cang with a considerable sum.

His cultivation is at the lower Eighth Rank, he specializes in an Earth Element Technique, and is skilled with the ‘Vast Blade’; he possesses four Magic Artifacts and six War Maps, making him exceedingly powerful under the Eighth Rank Lower Tier.

Originally, Tao Yuan targeted my Eighth Rank fighters, but after hearing you made the Qingyun List, he has declared a challenge against you.

Li Cang also intends to hype him up, forcing me to accept this life-and-death match by promoting it grandly in the Ancient Market, making a big fuss, though I have yet to agree.”

Zuo Qingyun stopped waving his folding fan and looked seriously at Chu Xisheng, “Although your cultivation level is still just Upper Ninth Rank, you are a Qingyun’s genius and theoretically could take on a higher-tier challenge, or refuse—”

“I’ve already reached the lower Eighth Rank,” Chu Xisheng said with a smile, interrupting him.

He had returned to the Ancient Market specifically because Zuo Qingyun had informed him of a worthy opponent.

The critical point was the appearance fee and commission this time might be substantial—

Zuo Qingyun, surprised for a moment, then nodded slightly, “Still, you need to gauge your own strength.

What Li Cang wants is a competition, but just a month ago, I already contested him once.

Theoretically, we should wait another twenty days before he can force me into a match, so it’s still up to me whether or not to fight at this moment.”

He then took out thirty Copper Coins and placed them in his hand.

“Since it involves a challenge for the platform, it’s not just your concern.

Though Tao Yuan hasn’t made it onto the Qingyun List, he has been stuck at the Low Fourth Grade for over a decade, mastering all battle skills, totems, and magic artifacts to the pinnacle of the Low Fourth Grade.

Therefore, I need to first ensure, Xisheng, that you indeed have the ability to defeat him.

Here are thirty copper coins, which I will later throw.

If you can cut them all in half before they hit the ground, I will agree to this life-and-death challenge.”

Chu Xisheng glanced at the copper coins, his eyes flashing slightly: “Official, please proceed!”

Zuo Qingyun immediately flung his robe sleeves, tossing the thirty copper coins he held in his hands.

He did not want to go easy, letting Chu Xisheng risk his life recklessly.

Thus, he threw each of the thirty copper coins only seven feet high, not a bit more, not a bit less.

Chu Xisheng did not draw his blade immediately.

He waited until the copper coins began to fall, then a clank echoed from his waist.

Zuo Qingyun could not discern his movements, only seeing a flash of white light before his eyes twice.

The Female Guard on the carriage roof let out a surprised “hmm”, her senses alerted as she looked down into the carriage with astonished eyes.

Sitting inside the carriage, Chu Yunyun did not glance at all, unconcerned.

When Chu Xisheng’s long blade sheathed, the copper coins also dropped to the ground one by one.

Initially, Zuo Qingyun was puzzled as the copper coins did not appear fragmented, still whole.

But as all the copper coins fell to the ground, he realized something was amiss—not the original thirty, but sixty coins, each now thinned to half its thickness.

Chu Xisheng’s blade had sliced from the edge of the copper coins, neatly splitting them into two in an instant.

And the cut was so smooth, Zuo Qingyun could not even see the mark of the blade.

“Hiss~”

Zuo Qingyun instantly drew a sharp breath.

Chu Xisheng’s swordsmanship was a bit too fierce!

This was genuinely a Heavenly Pride’s standard; the opponent still seemed to do it with ease—

He suddenly stood up, eyes slightly gleaming: “I’ll arrange it right away!”

Li Cang, that rascal, like him, still judged him by the battle Chu Xisheng had with Zhuang Hongfei a month ago, trying to take advantage of him, but that was a miscalculation.

Seeing this, Chu Xisheng smiled wryly: “Can it be arranged as soon as possible?

I would like to return to the Martial Arts Academy quickly.”

His Nourishing Essence Skill had entered the Fourth Level, and he hadn’t secured a visualization picture yet.

He must access the Library soon to see the new visualization pictures.

Zuo Qingyun, upon hearing this, pondered briefly then slapped his palm with his folding fan: “Then tomorrow at noon, I need time to prepare the betting pool.

I estimate that after this fight, there will be fewer and fewer daring to challenge you, so it’s best to make this betting round as big as possible, to make a proper profit!”

His lips curved into a smile: “Li Cang has already hyped this life-and-death arena immensely, and tomorrow’s betting pool is expected to be no less than 300,000 taels.”

Chu Xisheng nodded his head.

Tomorrow noon, which meant staying overnight in the Ancient Market.

His expression shifted at that moment, and he glanced out of the window at some ruins.

Chu Xisheng looked over in surprise: “This place is the Market Shipping Department Office?

How did it turn into this mess?”

Could it be that the Iron Banner Gang could no longer restrain themselves and attacked the Market Shipping Department Office?

“The Market Shipping Department ah~” Zuo Qingyun also looked out the window briefly, his face showing a hint of abnormality: “This has to do with you.

Seven days ago, Ye Zhiqiu, instructor from your Martial Arts Academy, stormed into the Market Shipping Department under the pretext of chasing the Blood Wind Thieves and engaged in a fierce battle with Long Heng.

This Mr.

Ye’s swordsmanship was exceptional.

On the spot, she severed one of Long Heng’s arms.

Had the Lord County Captain not arrived timely, Long Heng’s life would have been claimed by her right then and there.”

The Lord County Captain is an assistant to the governor, in charge of all military affairs in the county, having authority over the management of the armed forces, ranked Fourth Grade Lower, second only to the governor in the county and wielding more power than the Prefecture Governor.”

Upon hearing this, Chu Xisheng was momentarily stunned, then his lips curved up slightly into a grin.