On the morning of March 19, Li Fei and his companions arrived at Tianshui City.
That afternoon, the people from Heavenly Tower also arrived at Tianshui City.
Zhu Fenghua, with his dark skin, dressed in a gray short coat and black cloth shoes, and two senior brothers from the sa sect, stepped out of the train station.
Though he was only 35 years old this year, he looked even older than his two senior brothers who were in their forties.
"Is that Zhu Fenghua?"
"It should be."
"He’s nothing like what I imagined."
"Indeed..."
"So that’s what Zhu Fenghua looks like."
"Where is his peerless elegance?"
"..."
Outside the station, many people from the World who admired his reputation and so young ladies from the governnt families who longed for the Jianghu were gathered.
Upon seeing Zhu Fenghua’s actual appearance, they were greatly disappointed.
If it weren’t for the two imposing disciples from Heavenly Tower accompanying Zhu Fenghua, had he been walking alone in the street, others might have thought he was a laborer.
’"Peerless elegance, unmatched in history," it turns out that these adjectives were about his martial arts, not his appearance...’
The governnt young ladies left disappointed, but the Jianghu people did not.
So approached him to get acquainted, while others followed from a distance, wondering if Zhu Fenghua would challenge Marquis Jing’an to a competition today.
However, Zhu Fenghua and his companions went straight to the hotel and then never ca out again.
That evening, another train arrived at Tianshui City.
A group of people surrounded a stunningly beautiful woman dressed in a white gown, who appeared like a white crane above the clouds, as she exited the train station.
The nearby crowd stirred, and many were stunned.
Ranked fifth on the Fengyun Leaderboard, Lan Ruoyun had arrived.
The Lan Family didn’t have a spot to enter the Tianshui Tomb. This ti, Lan Ruoyun’s visit wasn’t to enter the Tianshui Tomb but to witness the battle between Li Fei and Zhu Fenghua.
Shortly after Lan Ruoyun’s arrival at Tianshui City, a group of people dressed as Jianghu folks, ard with various weapons, erged from the train station.
Another group had already been waiting outside the station and greeted them upon their arrival.
"t the visitor of the Moon."
"Hahaha, no need for formalities, Gang Leader Zhang."
"..."
The two groups mingled and exchanged pleasantries.
Many people nearby at the station were surprised by the scene, especially since the man leading the welcoming group was Zhang Hanjiang, the Gang Leader of the biggest gang in Tianshui City, with a Tao Foundation Stage cultivation.
The fact that he personally ca to receive these guests indicated their significant background.
Zhang Hanjiang was welcoming this ’Brother Zhou,’ known as Zhou Yan, nicknad ’Visitor of the Moon,’ ranked eighth on the Fengyun Leaderboard from the neighboring Jiangbei Province!
Like Lan Ruoyun, Zhou Yan also did not have a spot to enter the Tianshui Tomb. He had co to Tianshui City for the sa reason—to observe the duel between Zhu Fenghua and Li Fei.
Just as Zhang Hanjiang was about to escort Zhou Yan to the car, Zhou Yan suddenly stopped, turned his head toward the exit of the station.
A rugged man, carrying a long box, walked out from inside the train station.
"What’s wrong, senior?"
Zhang Hanjiang asked cautiously.
"Didn’t expect him to co too."
Zhou Yan said gravely as he watched the man’s figure.
"Who is this?"
Zhang Hanjiang hastened to ask cautiously.
"Selfless Absolute Spear, Yan Dongchen!"
Zhou Yan whispered.
"Yan Dongchen?!"
Zhang Hanjiang was startled.
’Selfless Absolute Spear’ Yan Dongchen, ranked fourth on the Fengyun Leaderboard!
Before Li Fei’s sudden ergence, he had always been among the top three of the Fengyun Leaderboard, and even before Shen Tuyue’s rise, he had been ranked second.
Yan Dongchen had always been the sole inheritor of his master’s legacy, and with his master having passed away early, he was no different from a Loose Cultivator.
Over the years, many major forces had tried to recruit him, but all were declined.
Yan Dongchen had always remained independent.
Though his rank had dropped repeatedly over the years, nobody dared to underestimate him.
"Should we go greet him?"
Zhang Hanjiang asked quietly.
Although he was a local force in Tianshui City, there were so influential figures he definitely couldn’t afford to offend; he only hoped to foster good karma.
"Better not, Yan Dongchen has always been a loner and dislikes being disturbed."
Zhou Yan shook his head.
So, the group watched as Yan Dongchen’s figure disappeared from their view.
Thus, the little Tianshui City had now gathered six Tao Foundation Stage experts from the Fengyun Leaderboard!
This was a Jianghu event that hadn’t been seen in decades!
...
March 20.
The governnt of Tianshui City dispatched hundreds of inspectors and several hundred mbers of the City Guard Army to clear the area, cordoning off a large section of forest ten miles east of the city.
Subsequently, the Zhi Ge Court and Red Dust Pavilion sent out martial artists to search the forest and ’persuade’ those hiding within to leave.
According to estimates, the fissure leading to the Tianshui Tomb would appear within three days in the forested area that was cordoned off.
This ti, three major forces had the opportunity to enter the Tianshui Tomb:
The governnt, Red Dust Pavilion, and Heavenly Tower.
Representing the governnt was Wu’an University; Li Fei and his group didn’t need to wait in that forest in advance, but could head there once the location of the fissure was determined.
Until then, Li Fei and his group stayed in the governnt guesthouse within Tianshui City.
Red Dust Pavilion did have properties and residences in Tianshui City, but for so reason, Shen Tuyue and four others chose to stay in the guesthouse with Li Fei.
The afternoon sunlight was sowhat dazzling as a man carrying a long, narrow wooden box arrived at a mansion.
This mansion was Tianshui City’s official guesthouse.
The two guards stationed outside the front gate, seeing the man’s extraordinary bearing, were about to step forward to inquire, but the visitor spoke first:
"Yan Dongchen is here to request a duel with Marquis Jing’an!"
His voice wasn’t loud, but it was incredibly sharp, like a spear slicing through the sky, piercing the air so that everyone within several miles could hear clearly.
Since yesterday, when Li Fei and his group took residence in this mansion, many Jianghu people had started gathering nearby, hoping to witness the duel between Li Fei and Zhu Fenghua.
But they hadn’t expected Yan Dongchen to arrive first.
Fourth on the Fengyun Leaderboard challenges the first!
The news quickly spread, and many people hurried over.
Yan Dongchen quietly waited outside the mansion, and the sunlight reflecting off him produced a tallic luster.
After a mont, Xiang Dongliang ca out.
He glanced at Yan Dongchen, standing more than thirty ters away, but the brilliance made it hard to see the latter’s appearance, almost as if sothing sharp was right in front of his eyes.
"I am Xiang Dongliang, a professor at Wu’an University. Knowing that Marquis Jing’an is about to enter Tianshui Tomb, why insist on challenging him at this mont?"
Xiang Dongliang bowed to Yan Dongchen and asked.
The "Selfless Absolute Spear" Yan Dongchen, known for his unrivaled, deadly spear, was recognized on the Fengyun Leaderboard as the most lethal.
Battling such a person, even if one could win, would co at a cost.
Therefore, Xiang Dongliang was unwilling to let Li Fei accept such a challenge at this ti.
"I just left seclusion and heard of Marquis Jing’an’s achievents; they say even a Martial Arts Master couldn’t breach his defense. After two years of seclusion, I’ve developed a technique and wish to test it with Marquis Jing’an."
Yan Dongchen’s voice pierced the air, explaining his reasons.
He had indeed been absent from the Jianghu for the past two years, sequestered in his training.
Hearing this, Xiang Dongliang beca even less willing to let Li Fei duel:
"With Tianshui Tomb opening soon, why not wait until after it’s concluded to challenge Marquis Jing’an?"
However, Yan Dongchen shook his head: "The Dead Zone offers no easy paths, and life is too unpredictable. Who can tell what tomorrow will bring? Since I am here now, why wait for another day?"
While his words made so sense, they were not well received.
It implied he was concerned sothing might happen to Li Fei inside Tianshui Tomb, and that he might never get the chance to duel with him.
Xiang Dongliang frowned, not one to have much patience. Since Yan Dongchen was being forward, he didn’t see a reason to keep pleasantries:
"Kind words fall on deaf ears. Who do you think you are? Do you think just because you want to duel, Marquis Jing’an must accept?"
He didn’t even need to borrow Li Fei’s influence; as a Wuda professor, he had enough authority to reprimand Yan Dongchen!
After all, Yan Dongchen was just a Loose Cultivator.
As more people gathered, all eyes turned towards Yan Dongchen.
The sunlight on his face made it hard to discern his expression. His voice, still resonant and piercing:
"Does Marquis Jing’an not wish to fight ?"
As his words fell, an incomparable Gun Intent suddenly erupted from him.
This Gun Intent was so sharp that everyone present felt as if they were being physically pierced!
This Gun Intent, striking both heaven and earth, was sensed by every Tao Foundation Stage expert in Tianshui City at that mont.
"He’s beco stronger than two years ago," Zhou Yan, known as "Moon Catcher," remarked.
He hadn’t fought Yan Dongchen before, but had seen him in action two years ago.
Compared to then, Yan Dongchen’s Gun Intent was even sharper, more piercing to the soul!
Standing at the gate, Xiang Dongliang’s expression subtly changed, remaining silent.
He couldn’t directly represent Li Fei, so he waited for Li Fei’s "response."
After a short while, no sound ca from inside the mansion.
That was Li Fei’s response.
Xiang Dongliang internally breathed a sigh of relief and said to Yan Dongchen:
"It seems Marquis Jing’an won’t fight you now. Please co back another ti."
But Yan Dongchen remained unmoving:
"Then I’ll wait here until he cos out."
His words startled the onlookers, non expecting him to be so persistent.
If they didn’t know that neither Heavenly Tower nor Zhu Fenghua would resort to such tactics, many would have suspected Yan Dongchen was possibly acting on soone else’s behalf—purposely choosing this ti to issue a challenge.
"Since Marquis Jing’an doesn’t wish to fight for now, Brother Yan, why must you press so?"
A crisp and clear voice, like a flowing spring, suddenly sounded.
Everyone turned to look and saw Lan Ruoyun in a white silk robe, followed by a group of Lan Family martial artists walking towards them.
Everyone brightened and focused on Lan Ruoyun, a beauty.
Unexpectedly, she spoke up for Li Fei.
Yan Dongchen turned to look at Lan Ruoyun, his gaze unfathomable:
"This does not concern you."
Marching forward with her sword, Lan Ruoyun faced Yan Dongchen directly: "If you are so insistent on dueling, why not duel with instead?"
She was fifth on the Fengyun Leaderboard, only one ranking below Yan Dongchen, certainly qualified to challenge him.
The surrounding crowd instantly grew excited.
Compared to watching Li Fei and Yan Dongchen fight, they preferred to see a beauty like Lan Ruoyun compete.
"You cannot withstand my spear."
Yan Dongchen refused bluntly, without sparing her feelings.
Lan Ruoyun’s eyes sharpened, about to speak, when another pleasant voice erged from inside the mansion:
"If she can’t withstand it, how about ?"
Everyone turned again.
A figure in red attire, wearing a veil, Shen Tuyue holding a sword, walked outside.
...
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