Seeking Martial Dao in All Reborn Lives
Chapter 169 - 167: Chaotic Situation
Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan glanced at Zhao Xuanqi, their hearts still pounding with fear. If they hadn’t pulled the silver needles from his Baihui Acupoint in time, allowing him to regain control of his body in that state, there was no telling what terrifying things might have happened.
That aura was simply too terrifying. Just by standing there, Zhao Xuanqi had made them feel their Qi and Blood stagnate and their movements restricted, as if a great mountain was pressing down on their hearts. If he had regained his mobility and fully unleashed that aura through his physical techniques, the level of terror would have been unimaginable.
At that point, even if the two of them joined forces, they likely would have been no match for Zhao Xuanqi.
’Just a healing session?! How did it end up being so dangerous?!’
The two exchanged a look, took a deep breath, and glanced at Zhao Xuanqi, whose eyes were gradually regaining their clarity. With a tap of their feet, they scooped up Zhang Hongyun, who had collapsed nearby, and retreated together to the edge of the courtyard.
As Zhao Xuanqi’s consciousness returned, the Qilin form, which had revealed more than half of its body from the Fog, slowly receded. The various Secret Techniques were also deactivated, and his body returned to its normal appearance.
He didn’t move immediately. Instead, he sat cross-legged on the ground, closed his eyes, and focused his consciousness inward.
"What happened? Was it a success?"
Shi Huai’an asked Zhang Hongyun, confused.
"You could say it was partially successful. My abilities are limited,"
Zhang Hongyun said, shaking his head with a hint of resignation.
"That was only a partial success?!"
Fan Shiyan’s mouth fell open. If this was only a partial success, did that mean if Zhao Xuanqi’s hidden problem were completely resolved, he could immobilize them with his aura alone?!
’What kind of monster is hiding in that guy’s head...?’
Their understanding of Zhao Xuanqi had once again been completely overturned.
About an hour later, the seated Zhao Xuanqi slowly opened his eyes. Everyone seemed to vaguely sense that he had undergone some kind of indescribable change.
BANG!!
He suddenly tensed his muscles, and with a jolt that ran through his whole body, the silver needles still embedded in him shot out one by one, clattering to the ground nearby.
"My apologies. With my current abilities, this is as far as I could go. The strength of your will and aura exceeded my control. With the stimulation of certain medicinal materials, perhaps we could have achieved a better effect,"
Zhang Hongyun said to Zhao Xuanqi.
"Don’t worry about it. What you’ve accomplished already far exceeded my expectations. Besides, I’ve found a clue to resolving the hidden issue. I just need to wait for the right opportunity,"
Zhao Xuanqi said to Zhang Hongyun. He then turned to Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan and said, "I need some Rare Beast Materials and medicinal materials. I need a large quantity and a wide variety, so I’ll have to use your channels. Price is not an issue, but I need them fast. The situation in Jinmen has taken a bad turn recently, as you’re both well aware."
Now, with Zhang Hongyun’s help, his own will had been significantly liberated. The Qilin form, which could previously only manifest its head, could now reveal a full half of its body. His control over his physical form had increased dramatically, making this the perfect time for him to rapidly improve his strength.
As for money, with the current chaos, the Zhen Nan Chamber of Commerce needed him to hold the fort and would absolutely support him with all their resources. He didn’t need to worry about it. An increase in his strength was more valuable than any amount of money.
"Understood. Elder Zhao, just give us the list, and we’ll do our best to arrange it,"
Shi Huai’an and Fan Shiyan said with solemn expressions. Zhao Xuanqi’s current stance was aligned with theirs, so the two schools naturally hoped to see his strength grow even greater.
...
...
While Zhao Xuanqi was receiving the supplies from the two schools and seizing the opportunity to increase his strength, chaos had begun to erupt throughout Jinmen.
The Neon Nation had seized control over the influence wielded in the Jinmen Martial Arts Realm by numerous commercial powers connected to the Six Countries Concession.
Furthermore, the Neon Nation began using its own commercial power, along with some channels from the other Five Nations, to disrupt Jinmen’s entire business environment through these controlled entities, stirring up disputes and conflicts everywhere.
Because of the rule that people from the Six Nations could not compete in the arena, the Jinmen Martial Arts Association was unable to effectively mediate this series of conflicts. All off-stage negotiations were flatly rejected by the Neon Influence, causing the turmoil to escalate further, to the point where it even began to affect the daily lives of many ordinary Jinmen citizens.
At the same time, Neon Wanderers began to publicly challenge the Jinmen Martial Arts Association, demanding they open the Martial Arts Arena. Their taunts were vile and insulting.
"Jinmen, the so-called Martial Arts Capital of the Divine Land. I thought it was a gathering place for the world’s heroes, but it turns out you’re all just a bunch of cowards hiding in your shells. Don’t you even dare to open the Martial Arts Arena?"
"What bullshit rules? It’s just a game for a pack of cowards to deceive themselves. The Martial Arts Capital? I’d call it the Capital of Cowards. Are all Martial Artists of the Divine Land just Far East cowards?"
"The Neon Empire has countless experts, but our Profound Ocean Society’s Ten Schools and Nine Paths alone are enough to sweep through all of Jinmen! The Martial Dao of the Divine Land is pathetically weak!"
"The Martial Arts Association Three Elders and the Seven General Stars of Jinmen are unworthy of their reputations!"
"..."
A flood of such reports began to appear in various newspapers funded by the Neon Nation, spreading throughout the streets of Jinmen.
The news didn’t just stay in Jinmen. It spread through various channels to the Martial Arts Realm all across the Divine Land, and for a time, all eyes were on them.
Jinmen, the Martial Arts Capital, had, amid the current chaos, gathered nearly half of all the independent Martial Arts Experts in the Divine Land.
Half a month passed in the blink of an eye. The various rumors continued to ferment, and the public outcry grew increasingly intense.
"What the hell is the Jinmen Martial Arts Association doing?! The Neon People are walking all over us, and they still haven’t reacted?!"
"Is the Martial Dao of our Divine Land just going to let others bully us?! A hundred years have passed, are we still living like we were a century ago?! Do we not even have the courage to accept a challenge?"
"They’ve already stomped all over our doorstep, the challenge has been slapped in our faces, and the Jinmen Martial Arts Association still isn’t doing anything?"
"Damn it! Damn it all! We’ve supported the Jinmen Martial Arts Association for so many years, and this is how they repay us?!"
"..."
Cries of indignation rose one after another among the people of Jinmen. The Martial Arts Association’s prestige among the populace was plummeting.
At the same time, under the influence of propaganda from newspapers associated with the Neon Nation, the public’s confidence in the Divine Land’s Martial Dao was also being steadily eroded.
The people of the Divine Land were far more sensitive than one might imagine.
「In a large conference room at the Jinmen Martial Arts Association Headquarters.」
The key figures of the Martial Arts Association’s committee were all gathered in the room.
"The Warlords from the various regions have all stated their positions. They offer us their moral support, but they say this is a matter for the independent Martial Arts Realm. The situation is too sensitive right now for them to get too involved. Matters of the people should be solved by the people. They can only guarantee that the Neon Nation won’t deploy its military forces."
"Enough. I’ve said it before, we can’t count on the Warlords. To say nothing of their complicated relationships with the Six Nations—who knows if they’ve taken bribes under the table this time? Furthermore, to a certain extent, they’ve already detached themselves from the Divine Land Martial Arts Realm. They’d probably be happy to see our prestige take a hit, as it would only help them tighten their grip on the country. Take the Beidou Army, for example. They’ve been trying to interfere with our Martial Arts Association’s operations for a long, long time."
"That’s right. We can’t rely on the Warlords. Recently, major Warlords like the Giant Spirit Army, the Shenxiao Army, and the Beidou Army have all been deliberately recruiting power from the independent Martial Arts Realm. To them, this is an opportunity. Using a borrowed knife to kill someone is their best option. As for the prestige of the Divine Land’s Martial Dao, they couldn’t care less."
"This is something we can’t ask others to handle. The independent Martial Arts Realm must solve it ourselves. Three Elders, things have come to this. It is time to make a decision."
The main directors of the Martial Arts Association in the conference room spoke one after another, their voices rising and falling, before their gazes ultimately fell upon three elders at the head of the table. They were dressed in long robes, with white hair and the ruddy complexions of youth.