October 29th, Friday, 7 pm, Jiu Qu City Martial Arts Association Banquet Hall.
Round tables were placed neatly with six chairs around them. The red carpet extended from the entrance to the "stage" at the very front, dividing the hall into two.
Lou Cheng and the other Mighty Ones walked slowly along the long carpet amidst the flashing lights and clicking sounds.
Outside the entrance, there were many security guards preventing the excited crowd from approaching.
With so many Physical Invulnerability experts gathered, security was no longer a concern. Unless a nuclear bomb was launched, no one would be foolish enough to attack this place. However, there had to be someone to maintain order and prevent any opportunists.
As soon as they left the focus of the media, Lou Cheng, who was following behind Ning Zitong, saw Peng Leyun in blue.
He was wearing a combination of Taoist robes and training clothes. He looked relaxed, as though his mind was wandering in every corner of the hall.
"You're early," greeted Lou Cheng with a smile.
He looked around and didn't see any other Mighty Ones from the Shangqing Sect around Peng Leyun, including but not limited to the Warrior Sage, Qian Donglou.
Peng Leyun's eyes gradually became clear.
He smiled and said, "You guys are late."
After that, he called out, "Senior Empress Luo."
Ning Zitong nodded slightly and asked elegantly,
"The Warrior Sage doesn't want to go out again?"
"Martial Uncle Qian is like that. He doesn't like such social occasions," replied Peng Leyun.
Everyone knew that although the Warrior Sage, Qian Donglou, was an outstanding figure that only appeared once in a thousand years, he had a lazy personality. If he could sit, he would not stand. If he could lie down, he would not sit. He had no interest in such banquets. He found it troublesome to socialize with others, so he was often absent.
"What about the others?" asked Lou Cheng curiously.
Peng Leyun's eyes became unfocused again. He seemed to have thought of something. While his friend waited patiently, he finally smiled bitterly and said,
"They haven't arrived yet …"
Following which, he explained, "Sect Master hates to take planes. He took the high-speed rail. Wasn't there a continuous downpour a few days ago? Many flights were canceled or delayed. He only left today with Martial Uncle Yunyan and Senior Minghe accompanying him. I'm the only representative from the Shangqing Sect now … "
Lou Cheng almost laughed out loud. Ning Zitong, Long Zhen and the rest were right beside him. He didn't bother to exchange pleasantries with Peng Leyun. Instead, he searched for the nameplate on the banquet table and walked forward.
After about ten steps, Ning Zitong lowered her voice and chuckled.
"Do you know why Yun Yan and Ming He insisted on accompanying Daoist Wuguang?"
A thought flashed through Lou Cheng's mind. Could this be the older version of Ren Li?
"We can't let a sect leader take the high-speed rail alone, right?" He guessed hesitantly.
"Then leave it to the people from the External Affairs Hall of the Shang Qing Sect." Ning Zitong snickered. "Not only is Taoist Wuguang afraid of flying, but he also thinks that it's like a floating coffin. He won't be able to use it in the event of an emergency. Moreover, he's a sect master with a very weak presence. There was a time when the Shangqing Sect's annual ritual ended without anyone noticing that the sect master never showed up."
"With Yun Yan and Ming He following us, the organizing committee will at least be able to remember that some of the participants have yet to arrive."
This could be said to be very unique … Lou Cheng secretly complained. He looked around and finally found the table with his name written on it.
Just as he was about to approach, another acquaintance entered his eyes. Ren Li, with her long black hair hanging loosely over her shoulders, opened her big eyes that seemed to only exist in manga, and accompanied a woman in a white dress as she passed by.
The woman was bare-faced and had bangs that covered half of her eyebrows. She was beautiful and refined. At first glance, she looked like she was in her early twenties. However, her deep, dark eyes gave off the vibe of someone who had experienced the world.
As a loyal fan of top professional competitions and title matches, Lou Cheng recognized her without any introduction. She was the First Pin Mighty One of Kongtong School, Ren Li's master, Qi Ling, the Blazing Sword.
From her appearance and outfit, it was hard to tell that she was from the same generation as her master, the Queen of Thought, Fei Dan. Her exact age was kept secret at her insistence, but she was definitely in her fifties.
She had been in professional competitions for twenty to thirty years, but she always lost the chance to win a title due to a freak combination of factors. Until now, she had only won a few inter-sect competitions and had no other honors.
It was said that in the few years when Empress Luo debuted, she was often compared to Empress Luo due to her equally stunning looks and equally powerful strength. She was called "Little Qi Ling", which resulted in a grudge between them. For a very long period of time, she was the victim of Empress Luo.
Seeing Ning Zitong, Qi Ling smiled faintly.
"Your dress is really interesting. It's so colorful and beautifully matched."
"It's nothing compared to Senior Qi's beauty. Even in the most ordinary outfit, you can still amaze everyone," said Ning Zitong with a smile. "However, as a former Grandmaster, I have to be a little more formal when I go on stage to draw lots later."
She emphasized the words' former grandmaster '. She had received two titles before, one was' King 'and the other was' Grandmaster '. But both were before the Dragon King and the Warrior Sage shone brightly.
Qi Ling's expression froze for a moment, then she nodded with an elegant smile.
"Then I won't delay you."
With that, she led Ren Li to the side. Throughout the entire process, Ren Li kept quiet like a lady and didn't say a word.
After a few steps, Ren Li lowered her voice and asked,
"Master, who was that just now?"
"Ning Zitong from Longhu," replied Qi Ling calmly.
Realization dawned on Ren Li.
"I knew the person beside her looked like Lou Cheng. So it's really him!"
It had been close to three months since they last met. As a competent face blind, she was already unfamiliar with Lou Cheng's looks.
On the other hand, Lou Cheng vaguely sensed the sarcasm in Empress Luo and Qi Ling's conversation when they sat down at the dining table.
They were mocking each other for being old and coquettish, and Empress Luo had dealt a fatal blow with the title incident.
Damn, this conversation sounds like a monk playing mind games …
Gathering his thoughts, Lou Cheng looked around and saw Mighty Ones he had only seen on TV. Some of them had been active for a decade or two, while others had just broken through a few years ago and were rapidly advancing. However, he was familiar with their names. As for their faces, some of them had even appeared on posters in his bedroom.
At this moment, there was a commotion at the door. A man over 1.9 meters tall walked in. He wore a martial arts suit that was light white with crimson interspersed in it. It was made of a special material, and as he walked, it revealed his masculine and powerful lines.
His sideburns were combed up into a bun commonly seen in ancient martial artists. His facial features weren't exactly handsome, but he had the air of a man who looked down on everything. He was the chief disciple of the Yanzhao League, a martial artist from the generation of Empress Luo, Ning Zitong, the forty-four-year-old Dong Baxian.
Before the era of the "Absolute Duo", he had received four titles. Two were Challenger, one was Grandmaster, and one was Supreme Class. He was known as the "Warrior King" and was a highly anticipated Mighty One. Unfortunately, he was born at the wrong time and met the "Warrior Sage" and the "Dragon King". A few years later, when Lou Cheng was in his first year of university, he only received one Grandmaster title.
However, he seemed to have gradually adjusted his mentality and walked out of the shadows. In the past two years, he had made further progress and regained his glory. He had received two titles in a row, the Warrior Sage last year and the Kirin last month. He had a spirit that didn't allow the Dragon King and Warrior Sage to monopolize the limelight. He had become one of the "other" martial artists who had received the most titles during the era of the Absolute Twins.
Unlike the stern and dignified Dragon King, Dong Baxian had a smile on his face. From time to time, he would chat cheerfully with the Physical Invulnerability Mighty One beside him. They were all members of the Yanzhao League. They were the beautiful First Pin Lin Shuyao who liked to imitate famous figures from the Wei and Jin Dynasties, the Mighty One who Dong Baxian said would be a title holder in the future, the twenty-nine-year-old Second Pin Wang Que, and the Third Pin Hu Shubai who had been praised by Wang Que after just a year …
Retracting his gaze, Lou Cheng saw the chairman of the Jiu Qu City Martial Artist Association, Li Hao, on the stage, ready to give a speech.
At this moment, all the Physical Invulnerability Mighty Ones had arrived. The door slowly closed, leaving only a few media partners.
After the guests gave their speeches, Li Hao, who was also the person in charge of the organizing committee, smiled and said,
"This year, there are five new Physical Invulnerability Mighty Ones. As the goal of this competition is to nurture Martial Arts Grandmasters, I would like to select one of them to open the curtains of this competition …"
In the first half of the year, it was Gou Wen from the Xuanwu Sect and Meng Liang from the Shizhou Island. In the second half of the year, it was August. Lou Cheng from the Ice God Sect, Peng Leyun from the Shangqing Sect, and Ren Li from the Kongtong School. This was the year with the most Martial Arts Grandmasters in the past decade.
This suggestion received a round of applause from all the Mighty Ones. Li Hao got the hostess to bring over a large glass bottle containing five small balls. Each ball had a crack in it, hiding a ball of paper with a name written on it.
Not one in three, but one in five … The corner of Lou Cheng's mouth twitched. He had a premonition that it should be him. He watched as Senior Li Hao took out a small ball, pulled out the ball of paper, and unfolded it.
"Longhu Club, Lou Cheng," said Li Hao with a laugh.
As expected … Lou Cheng smiled and shook his head.
"Let's welcome the former Grandmaster, Empress Luo, Ning Zitong, to select Lou Cheng's opponent for us," said Li Hao with open arms.
Ning Zitong stood up and gracefully went up the stage. From another box, she took out a ball of paper.
She unfolded it and took a closer look. The corner of Ning Zitong's mouth slowly curled into a meaningful smile.
This made Lou Cheng's heart skip a beat. He had a feeling that this wasn't a good draw.
After a few seconds, Ning Zitong opened her mouth with a clear voice.
"Wuyue Club …"
F * ck, what an ill-fated relationship … Don't tell me he's going to fight with my senior? Or the Clown? Lou Cheng's heart skipped a beat.
In a loose sense, Wuyue Club could be considered his sect …
Hearing these three words, a commotion broke out in the hall. All the Physical Invulnerability experts started discussing in low voices.
Ning Zitong paused for two seconds before continuing to announce,
"Xin Xiaoyue!"
Phew, that's good … Lou Cheng heaved a sigh of relief.
She was a Physical Invulnerability expert from Hanchi Sect of Wuyue Club. She had just made the great leap at the end of last year.
However, she was definitely not to be underestimated. There had never been a Physical Invulnerability expert before the age of thirty in ancient times. Even now, there were less than five of them. And she was one of them!
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