Chapter 714: Social Club (4)

After leaving seclusion, Qi Honglei had challenged martial artists from all walks of life and remained undefeated, sweeping through the martial arts world of the mainland.

Whether it was traditional martial arts, sanda, boxing, muay thai, or any other combat style, no one could last more than three seconds against him.

Having reached the peak of his abilities and finding no worthy opponents, Qi Honglei returned to Mount Hua and chose to live in solitude once more. He silently refined his martial arts and honed his techniques in the long years of isolation. Eventually, he founded the Mount Hua Sect.

This piece of information piqued Li Xiaofei’s curiosity. He had only ever read about such events in wuxia novels, yet here they were, happening in the modern world. Since this data came from an official investigation, the likelihood of it being fabricated was extremely low.

𝗳𝐫𝚎𝗲𝚠𝚎𝗯𝕟𝐨𝘃𝚎𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝗺

This made Li Xiaofei all the more intrigued by the mysterious valley of Mount Hua and the abandoned Daoist temple within it. He decided that once the exchange event was over, he would investigate it himself.

Secret manuals and alchemy pills were extremely rare in modern society. Even if they did exist, they were difficult to cultivate, and the art of refining pills had long been lost. Yet, an abandoned temple had somehow produced a master swordsman?

When he scanned Qi Honglei, Li Xiaofei estimated that the Wukong Sword Master’s cultivation level was roughly at the sixth stage of the Qi Refining Realm.

Zhang Hongjing continued introducing a few other ancient martial arts experts who would be competing. One of them was the leader of the Kongtong Sect, known as Daoist Sanjue.

He was said to have mastered three supreme martial arts: hidden weapons, palm techniques and lightness skill. His appearance truly embodied the ethereal aura of a Daoist master. It was far more otherworldly than Wang Zilai, the young celestial master of Wudang.

Then, there was a young man who appeared completely out of place, dressed in the simple attire of a rural farmer. According to the records, he was a shepherd boy from the northwestern Loess Plateau, named Li Baoguo. His martial arts heritage consisted of a single saber technique passed down through his family.

Official reports stated that Li Baoguo’s great-grandfather had been a well-known northwest bladesman known as Old Gawa before the founding of the nation. Li Baoguo was the only one of his generation who failed to get into college. As a child, he disliked studying. Instead, he picked up an old, dusty martial arts manual that had been used as a table wedge in his family’s ancestral hall.

By tinkering with it, he had actually managed to develop a few deadly saber techniques of astonishing power.

In addition to the ancient martial artists, there were also several superpowered individuals present. Unlike the martial artists, these superpowered beings dressed more like modern civilians. Most of them appeared quite ordinary. They resembled office workers, students or even elderly men who looked like they had just come from a park stroll.

Their energy levels varied greatly. However, Li Xiaofei could clearly sense that none of them had reached the Sky Level. A few students, still carrying their school backpacks, were obviously just there to fill numbers and gain some experience. There was no way they would actually participate in the matches.

Li Xiaofei quickly noticed a subtle division within the hall. There was an underlying tension between the martial artists and the superpowered individuals. The emerging conflict between the ancient and the modern had already begun to take shape.

The first match was set to be a battle between two ancient martial artists. Li Xiaofei glanced at the gathered crowd and asked, “Who would like to go first?”

No one responded. Instead, all eyes turned toward him.

Wang Zilai grinned mischievously and said, “Boundless Celestial Venerable! Commander Li, how about you go first? Show us what you’ve got and set an example?”

Daoist Sanjue stroked his long beard and added in an indifferent tone, “If someone as young as yourself was appointed as the leader of this delegation, your strength must be truly extraordinary. Why not take on the entire exchange yourself, defeat all of Jiepeng’s champions, and let the rest of us simply enjoy the spectacle?”

Hmm?

Li Xiaofei’s gaze instantly locked onto Daoist Sanjue. No wonder the Kongtong Sect was often depicted as a villainous faction in wuxia novels. Just look at this so-called sect leader. His words were laced with sarcasm, and his tone was dripping with mockery. He was the embodiment of an old-school schemer.

If this were Chongque City, anyone daring to speak to him in such a manner would have become a corpse long ago. However, Li Xiaofei had no interest in making a move just yet to establish dominance. This was a peaceful era on a peaceful Earth, where every life was precious.

Li Xiaofei had spent the past few days gradually dissolving the violent aura accumulated from countless blood-soaked battles by immersing himself in the ordinary warmth of human life. His mindset had become much more peaceful.

Moreover, those who had responded to the government’s call to participate in this exchange event were, in some way, willing to serve their country. Li Xiaofei saw no need to forcefully suppress martial artists with different temperaments and attitudes. After all, the martial world had always been a complex mixture of varied personalities, competing interests and differing strengths.

There was a saying that scholars tend to belittle each other. But in reality, martial artists looked down on each other even more openly. One could never attain true strength without a competitive spirit and strong individuality.

“I am the team leader. I cannot be the first to take the stage,” Li Xiaofei spoke calmly, his tone unwavering. “In fact, I do not intend to fight at all in this exchange event, because there is no opponent here worthy of my attention. I hope all of you will do your best, since opportunities to bring honor to the nation are rare. So, who would like to step up first?”

"Heh." A sneering chuckle escaped Daoist Sanjue.

Clearly, Li Xiaofei was merely making excuses to avoid battle.

Government officials are all the same. He must have either pulled some strings or is just another privileged second-generation elite, here to earn some meaningless merit.

Zhang Hongjing’s heart tightened. She feared that Daoist Sanjue’s arrogance would push him toward a tragic fate, one where he would truly anger Li Xiaofei. Because right now, the grass on Sun Xiaochuan’s burial mound was already three feet tall.

However, Li Xiaofei simply sent the female officer a reassuring glance, indicating she didn’t need to worry. He chose not to bother with Daoist Sanjue any further and instead turned back to the rest of the martial artists.

He repeated calmly, “Who is willing to step up first?”

The warriors remained silent. A brief pause filled the air. Then, the shepherd boy, Li Baoguo, stood up.

“Me, can I do it?” asked Li Baoguo. His dark, wind-chapped face, hardened by the fierce gales of the Loess Plateau, carried a simple and honest smile.

Li Xiaofei patted his shoulder and said, “Good. You’ll go first. May you achieve victory in your opening battle.”

“Alright.” The shepherd boy, clutching an iron-bladed knife wrapped in sheepskin, was about to head out.

“Wait.” At that moment, Qi Honglei, the Wukong Sword Master, suddenly stood up, stepping in front of Li Baoguo to block his path.

“The first match is important,” he said. “I should go instead.”

“No can do,” replied Li Baoguo, shaking his head, then glanced at Li Xiaofei. “I already agreed with the leader.”

Qi Honglei asked, “Have you ever killed a man?”

Li Baoguo shook his head vigorously, the white scarf wrapped around his head flapping like a windmill.

Qi Honglei continued, “Have you ever fought in the ring against true martial arts masters?”

Li Baoguo shook his head again.

“Then what have you done?” Qi Honglei pressed.

“I’ve killed wolves.” Li Baoguo answered proudly.

For a moment, the entire resting hall fell silent, as if a cold wind had swept through. The other martial artists collectively facepalmed.

That... counts as combat experience?

Qi Honglei’s expression darkened as he turned toward Li Xiaofei. In a calm but firm voice, he said, “Let me take the first fight. The Jiepeng fighters are ruthless. Even though this is a friendly exchange match, if they decide to go all out, an unfortunate blow could leave lasting injuries.”

Li Xiaofei replied, “Don’t worry. Trust in Brother Baoguo.”

Qi Honglei furrowed his sword-like brows and said, “I urge you to reconsider. The first match is crucial and we must take our brothers’ safety into account.”

“No need to discuss it further. I’ve made my decision,” replied Li Xiaofei.

“You—!” Qi Honglei was stunned. He had said so much, yet this young team leader had completely ignored his advice.