Chapter Fifty: Yan Qing's Anxiety

  Sorry about that, just got back from work, might have to update in the afternoons from now on. The martial world is chaotic, treasures stir men's hearts, and martial skills dazzle people's eyes.

  Wu Ming is no longer a newcomer to the Jianghu, and this remark was made just to test his newly sworn brother. If he had any intention of making a move, he would have to use some means, but apparently these did not have much attraction for Hong Qigong.

  "Hmm, I understand what you mean, but they also don't dare to make a move on the Beggars' Sect. Hehe, to be blunt, there are countless street performers in the world, and who doesn't know about any rumors? Just because we've formed an alliance, if we were to take action against the Beggars' Sect, the imperial court would also have to turn upside down. Moreover, my Beggars' Sect has chivalrous justice that spreads throughout the land, and there are people in the imperial court who will speak up for us." Hong Qigong smiled, not fearing this person at all.

  On the contrary, Hong Qigong was not worried at all after knowing the truth. Not to mention that no one knew about their sworn brotherhood, even if they did, these were just secret manuals, and there were countless martial arts secret manuals in the world, would they come for them? If it were the "War God's Diagram" or the "Longevity Formula", then it would be different. But these few books, although also top-notch secret manuals, were not enough to make those two big shots take action. The incomplete Holy Spirit Swordsmanship, only the last sword was the true essence!

  Others didn't know, but Hong Qigong was still aware of some things. The dead eunuch had learned the unparalleled and supreme skill of the Peony Treasure Manual, while the Iron Gallbladder God Hou practiced the Star-Absorbing Great Method, a completely worry-free Star-Absorbing Great Method that wasn't inferior to the long-lost Supreme Secret Scripture of the Carefree Sect's North Ming Divine Merit. Those were all divine-level skills, and having these three secret books would be like adding flowers to brocade at most, perhaps just for show or to teach subordinates.

  Cultivation is about the individual, and the method is not the most important thing. Just like the leader of the Beggar Gang, Tianfu Gai, who is now only in his fifties, can shock the world with his Dragon Subduing Palm technique. It's said that even Wei Zhongxian, the old eunuch who cultivated the Peony Jade Manual, had to yield three points to him. As for whether they have fought before, no one knows.

  Wei Zhongxian can be considered a senior minister of four dynasties, lived for over a hundred years, still deeply valued by this generation's saintly ruler, and remained his trusted aide. However, he had already retired sixty years ago and never appeared in the jianghu again; everyone knew that his martial arts skills were unparalleled, but no one had ever seen him take action again.

  In Wu Ming's view, these extraordinary masters might all have the possibility of breaking through the air and leaving, their strength is absolutely capable of overturning the seas.

  "Haha, you're still young and full of potential, hard to predict. What's there to be afraid of? Being timid isn't what we martial artists are about." Hong Qigong chuckled and patted Wu Ming on the back, then stood up and said: "Don't think too much about it, I reckon the Martial Arts Assembly is about to begin. It's all young folks like you, want to take a look?"

  Wu Ming smiled and said, "This is the first time I've seen a martial arts conference, how can I miss it?"

  This session of the Wulin Conference was led by the Quanwangmen, Wuyingmen and Changqingmen of Yanzhou, with other sects participating in the organization. The host is located on the Trial Peak of Quanwangmen. At this time, the Trial Peak has been fully opened by Quanwangmen, and it is now crowded with people, including many martial artists and locals who have come to do business and watch the excitement, a bustling scene that is no less than the Temple Fair during the Lantern Festival.

  Yan Qing, the master of Fist Emperor's Gate who looked like he was only in his middle age, furrowed his brow slightly. Although the Trial Peak and the main peak of Fist Emperor's Gate were still some distance apart, judging from this year's situation, it seemed that a large number of people would have to be sent out to maintain order.

  It's also unknown why, but Yan Qing had a faint sense of unease in his heart. In previous years, the Fist Emperor's door wasn't usually the one to host the Wulin Conference, it was mostly hosted by the three major families of Yanzhou, so the location would rotate among them. But this year was an exception, clearly it was just the Yanzhou Wulin Conference, outsiders coming wouldn't be strange, but why did a considerable number of foreign martial artists also hurry over?

  Yan Zhou produced heroes, and the Jianghu Xia Shi menpai were extremely numerous, occupying nearly 80% of Liao Guo. But this time it was completely beyond their expectations, could there be some hidden circumstances? Yet why did the alliance leader himself not know?

  That's right, the current master of the Fist King Sect, Yan Qing, who is almost seventy years old, is indeed the contemporary martial arts leader of Liao State! However, this martial arts leader only has jurisdiction over places like Yanzhou, and if it's a bit further away, it's beyond his ability. Nevertheless, the Fist King Sect has been flourishing in recent years, with great prestige in Liao State.

  Looking at the crowds flowing endlessly up and down the mountain, Yan Qing's face was somewhat gloomy at this time. Perhaps it was because of the thread of unease in his heart, or perhaps it was because things were developing beyond his control. Looking up at the bright sunlight in the sky, Yan Qing stood up in vain and asked the disciples standing on both sides: "Have all the arrangements been made?"

  A middle-aged man stepped forward and said, "Master, rest assured, everything has been arranged properly. The elders are in charge of the important places in the sect, and all the disciples have made preparations to defend against them, so we're not afraid of their trouble."

  The words are steady, but the tone can't hide a hint of arrogance. As Yan Qing's top disciple in the martial arts world, Wan Zixun also has the capital to be proud.

  "Ah, I'm telling you, Master, you can rest assured. Who dares to cause trouble at our Fist Emperor's Gate? Ha! Looking around the world, how many sects can compare to ours? Like the Shadowless Sect and the Evergreen Clan, they're just so-so. Even if they join forces, we won't be afraid. In the entire world, only the Beggar Clan of Tianchao and perhaps a certain Mystic Sect from Tubo might be able to compare with us, but even they wouldn't dare come to our Great Liao to cause trouble. You can rest assured, Master. With you as our sect's unparalleled expert and tens of thousands of disciples, anyone who wants to cause trouble is just asking for death!"

  The young man who spoke had a somewhat immature look on his face, but he spoke as if he were firing a machine gun, rattling off a string of words. Although what he said was arrogant, even Yan Qing nodded in agreement, thinking it made sense.

  The development of the Fist King Sect over the years is not just something to be taken lightly. The Martial Arts Conference sounds good, saying it's a joint venture between three families, but for more than a decade, it has almost become a one-family affair with the Fist King Sect. For so many years, the other two families have found it difficult to shake the position of the Fist King Sect, and Yan Qing's position as the Alliance Master has remained unchanged for 15 years. The Martial Arts Conference is held every five years, which means he has not encountered a rival for three sessions. Although some of the selected ones are not realistic, after all, they include the vast majority of the forces in the Liao State martial arts world. With such a record of being undefeated for over a decade, Yan Qing naturally has some confidence!

  Yan Qing nodded in agreement, thinking that even if something did happen, who would be their opponent? The government? They had already made arrangements and had an understanding with them. Ha ha, even if there were enemies, the Fist Emperor's Gate had hundreds of thousands of disciples, who could still rival them?

  "Hu Zi De, you little scamp..." Yan Qing smiled and patted the young man's shoulder. "Not bad, have you made progress in your recent cultivation?"

  Hu Zi De, Yan Qing's closed-door disciple, had an extremely high talent for martial arts and was the most favored by Yan Qing. This should have caused jealousy among his fellow disciples, but this little guy was actually very likable, with a mouth that treated everyone like they were his own brothers, and he got along swimmingly in the sect. Furthermore, this little guy also had a strong competitive spirit, having only cultivated for over ten years, yet his martial arts skills were not much inferior to those of his senior brother.

  Huzi De scratched the back of his head, looking somewhat embarrassed, and said: "This, Master, I'm still in the First Heaven of the Nine Heavens, and it's really hard to break through the realm of martial arts. But I'll work twice as hard... The Fist Classic hasn't been fully comprehended yet..."

  Yan Qing nodded in satisfaction, this disciple he had accepted was indeed good. He seemed to be only eighteen years old this year? Yet he had already reached the Ninth Heaven of Innate Realm, and on top of that, he was still alive, could speak, although there was still some immaturity, but with eight to ten more years of training, it was possible for him to surpass his master, and could be considered as having a worthy successor.

  "The profound and intricate fist techniques passed down through our school are not even fully understood by me, your master. Take your time, don't rush, lay a solid foundation, and your future achievements will surely surpass mine! Alright, the grand assembly is about to begin, go prepare yourself!"

  "Yes, Master!"

  Hu Zi De felt a sense of pride in his heart, but since his master and eldest brother were right in front of him, he couldn't show off too much. However, the joy on his face didn't escape the eyes of the two men. One was lamenting that this disciple was still too immature, while the other was feeling downhearted, thinking to himself that he was already over thirty years old and yet still wandering in the First Heaven, whereas this little brother... Alas!