My Monster-Derived Skills Are the True Power
Chapter 14: Spreading Fame

The Chu Kingdom revered martial arts.

Although there were numerous martial arts sects, the ones near Crane Peak Mountain were mostly second- or third-rate. Within ten days, these sects were completely swept through by the first and second teams of the Fun Seekers Club.

Faced with their unconventional tactics and the boost provided by demonic energy, none of the sects could stand against them.

The Fun Seekers Club rapidly expanded in size.

At the same time, under Li Ye’s deliberate maneuvers, the club’s reputation quietly began to spread.

“Have you heard? The Flying Bear Gang was taken down by a group of people.”

“Of course! I heard the gang leader had his family jewels kicked to pieces. Over twenty disciples, a hundred gang members—all either with torn muscles or broken bones. Not a single one was unscathed. Their gold and manuals were looted clean.”

“It wasn’t just the Flying Bear Gang. Red Pavilion Stronghold and Wolf Valley were hit too. Same people, same methods.”

“I heard it’s some group called the Fun Seekers Club. Never heard of the name before. Probably a fake name to hide their real identity. Though, someone recognized one of them—Shi Xiang, the Hall Master of the Azure Dragon Hall of the Scarlet Flame Sect.”

“Scarlet Flame Sect?”

“Almost certainly.”

“If they’re using a fake name, why didn’t they mask their faces? How did someone recognize them? Seems odd.”

“Very odd indeed. They looted manuals and treasures, shattered family jewels with kicks, yet left people alive. What’s their game?”

“It gets stranger. Want to hear?”

“What?”

“Every time the Fun Seekers Club attacks a sect, it’s always eleven people, and they bring a ball with them.”

“A ball? What kind of ball?”

“A ball with a face on it. During fights, everyone scrambles for it. Whoever gets the ball fights like they’re possessed—stronger and faster.”

“Is that true? What kind of ball could be so strange?”

“No idea. And they don’t just fight; they bring cheerleaders. When someone from their side defeats an opponent with a clever move, the cheerleaders cheer loudly…”

“This sounds more and more ridiculous. Old Liu, are you making this up?”

“If I’m lying, may I be struck by lightning! This is what those sect members are saying. It’s all over Weining City now. The storytellers in tea houses are all talking about the Fun Seekers Club. The members even have nicknames.

“Shi Xiang, for instance, is known as the ‘Supreme Shadow Kick’ for disabling over a dozen Flying Bear disciples with groin kicks, including the gang leader himself. Liu Guangsheng, who’s earned the nickname ‘Rear Strike Master,’ specializes in catching people off guard from behind. And Fan Jie, who smashes into people’s faces with his kicks, is now called the ‘Iron Foot Immortal.’”

The Xuanguang Sect, one of the three great sects independent of the Heavenly Dao Alliance, was located less than 300 li from Crane Peak Mountain.

The sect leader, Gongsun Jie, was a renowned Half-Step Grandmaster.

In the rear hall of the sect, his chief disciple, Cao Bin, was reporting the situation regarding the Fun Seekers Club.

“Advanced civilizations? Spiritual energy?” Gongsun Jie frowned. “Cao Bin, have you been fooled?”

“Master, I wish I were. But after hearing the rumors about the Fun Seekers Club, I secretly observed them for a long time,” Cao Bin replied, shaking his head with a bitter smile. “These details come from their private conversations. They might deceive outsiders, but they wouldn’t lie to their own people.”

“Why wouldn’t they? Deceiving their own could reinforce their narrative,” Gongsun Jie retorted with a chuckle. “When I was young, I eradicated a cult called the Lamp Immortal Sect. The followers firmly believed their leader was a god and that practicing the sect’s Lamp Immortal Technique would make them deities.

“In the end, their leader turned out to be an outcast from the Heavenly Dao Alliance, and the so-called technique was merely a basic meditation manual.”

“Master, I understand how cults work, but this is different.” Frustrated, Cao Bin hastened to explain. “I’ve witnessed their abilities firsthand.

“Take Liu Guangsheng, for example. At Red Pavilion Stronghold, he was just a skilled martial artist. Two days later, at Wolf Valley, he showed signs of breaking through to the Innate Level.

“Before this, Liu Guangsheng was a third-rate sect leader with no hope of reaching the Innate Level. Similar transformations happened with Fan Jie and Yu Fei. Their progress is astonishing. One person improving like this might be chance, but everyone?”

“Perhaps they consumed some rare treasures that boost internal energy,” Gongsun Jie suggested.

“They’re all training with the Dragon Emperor Technique from Du Xia Xie Yue eighty years ago,” Cao Bin pointed out.

“The Dragon Emperor Technique?” Gongsun Jie paused, frowning. “That’s not unusual. It’s on par with our Xuanguang Technique. Rapid progress is expected.”

“They’re sharing the Dragon Emperor Technique with everyone,” Cao Bin added, retrieving a handwritten copy from his robes and offering it respectfully. “I took this from one of their members. I verified it—it’s the genuine manual. They don’t treat it as valuable, and anyone in their club can train with it.”

“Everyone?” Gongsun Jie raised an eyebrow as he examined the manuscript. His expression shifted. “It is genuine. The Fun Seekers Club is generous with its members. But freely distributing manuals is unsustainable.”

“That’s not the point,” Cao Bin insisted. “I suspect they truly have spiritual energy. At Red Pavilion Stronghold, Fan Jie was struck by Jiang Sheng in the chest. The wound was deep, breaking two ribs. We thought he was a goner. Yet, two days later, he was fighting at Wolf Valley as if nothing happened.”

“Did you see that clearly?” Gongsun Jie asked skeptically.

“I swear on my life. If I’m lying, may the heavens strike me down,” Cao Bin declared. “Master, the Fun Seekers Club is unusual. If you don’t believe me, come with me to investigate. With your skills, they won’t detect you. If they’re a fraud, we can help Weining Prefecture eliminate the problem. If not, we can prepare ourselves.”

Gongsun Jie was silent for a moment before glancing at the Dragon Emperor Technique. “Very well. I’ll go with you.”

Meanwhile, at Wolf Valley, Li Ye smiled at two captains of the Investigation Bureau.

“Captain Liu, Captain Zhao, here’s what you’ll report to your superiors,” he instructed with a grin. “Lure them to Wolf Valley, and this will be a great merit for you. Next time, I might let you start on the front lines.”

The Fun Seekers Club’s activities had naturally drawn the attention of the martial world.

Wandering swordsmen, curious by nature, and disciples of reputable sects, emboldened by their skills, couldn’t resist investigating such an unusual phenomenon.

Li Ye, with his growing strength and reputation, lay in wait for these interlopers. Capturing them easily, he would demonstrate the wonders of spiritual energy, convincing them to join the club.

Then, he’d assign them new roles—as bait.

Li Ye was cautious and had no intention of clashing head-on with major sects.

While his power was sufficient, his club members were still prone to injury when battling minor sects. Against Innate Experts, they’d suffer heavy losses.

Furthermore, major sects commanded hundreds or thousands of members. A loss in a high-stakes confrontation would be a severe blow to their reputation.

Instead of risking direct confrontation, Li Ye adopted a more strategic approach: lure the leaders of major sects into his “Ascension Club,” the new organization he had created alongside the Fun Seekers Club.

After all, football was a sport—not a battle. Resolving matters peacefully, without needless bloodshed, was always preferable.