Chapter 60: The Martial Arts Forum

Chapter 60: The Martial Arts Forum

The Martial Arts Forum was the most authoritative and well-known online platform in the Chinese martial arts world.

Many martial artists gathered there to exchange insights and experiences. On rare occasions, even real-life masters and Transcendence-realm experts would visit the forum to offer guidance and dispel doubts.

However, more often than not, the forum was flooded with posts like this:

"I'm going on a trip to Mount Hua tomorrow. If I jump off a cliff, will I obtain a secret martial arts manual? Waiting online, it's pretty urgent!"

First floor: "First!"

Second floor: "I think it's possible, but I heard these high-level masters have eccentric tempers, so you'd better strip naked before you jump. That way, your chances of success will be much higher."

Third floor: "What if the person asking is a woman?"

Fourth floor: "Then we demand a video!"

Fifth floor: "I second that!"

Such comedic posts prompted many people to browse the Martial Arts Forum just to pass the time when they had nothing to do.

Today, Li Qiang routinely opened the Martial Arts Forum, planning to lurk for a while.

Yet, today's forum seemed somewhat different.

Pinned right at the very top was a highlighted and bolded post:

"The Quadrennial Martial Arts Tournament is About to Begin, and the Heaven-Pride Rankings Will Be Reshuffled!"

Upon clicking into it, a fierce and lively discussion was already underway inside.

Second floor: "I'm not fighting for the first comment this time. Masters on the Heaven-Pride Rankings, could any of you take pity on me and take me in as a disciple?"

Third floor: "Bah, the person above me is truly shameless, but I just want to say: count me in!"

Fourth floor: "I eat little, can warm the bed, please take me with you!"

...

Li Qiang couldn't help but smile.

He knew that the primary purpose of the quadrennial Martial Arts Tournament was to rearrange the standings on the Heaven-Pride Rankings.

The Heaven-Pride Rankings were universally recognized by the martial arts world as a list containing one hundred individuals, every single one of whom was the absolute cream of the crop among martial artists.

This time, who knew how many new masters would emerge, and how many veterans would be ruthlessly eliminated!

Just as Li Qiang was sighing in emotion, suddenly... a post rocketed straight to the headlines with blistering speed.

"The Heaven-Pointing Elder, Missing for Thirty Years, Returns to the Jianghu to Settle the Score and Kill His Disciple's Murderer at the Martial Arts Tournament!"

The Heaven-Pointing Elder?

Who was this?

Puzzled, Li Qiang clicked into the post and discovered that many others were equally confused.

Before long, however, a moderator replied:

Moderator: "The Heaven-Pointing Elder was a top-tier master thirty years ago. Back then, he was already an expert of the Transcendence realm and once ranked third on the Heaven-Pride Rankings. Later on, he vanished without a trace for thirty years. Who could have imagined he would emerge from seclusion this time!"

At the same time, someone replied: "Just received word, the Heaven-Pointing Elder's disciple is named Yu Qing!"

This news shocked numerous netizens.

Yu Qing!

He was ranked forty-second on the Heaven-Pride Rankings.

Although this ranking wasn't exceptionally high, anyone capable of making it onto the Heaven-Pride Rankings was far from ordinary.

Just who on earth could have killed Yu Qing, and managed to provoke a reclusive master who had long since withdrawn from the Jianghu into coming out of retirement?

Concurrently, older generations of martial artists continuously posted explanations detailing just how formidable this Heaven-Pointing Elder was.

Gradually, the sentiment of many netizens began to sway overwhelmingly in favor of the Heaven-Pointing Elder, and some even started mocking the person who had killed Yu Qing yet lacked the courage to show their face.

"They probably won using some despicable and dirty tricks."

"Probably! Otherwise, why would they use a gun?"

"I also think something's fishy. Otherwise, how could someone capable of killing such a master remain entirely obscure and unknown until now?"

These speculations made the situation increasingly disadvantageous for Xue An.

Yet, there was one person who saw this, and filled with righteous indignation, stood up to speak on Xue An's behalf.

This person was none other than Tan Dong's daughter, Tan Xiaoyu.

Upon seeing those malicious words slandering Xue An, she felt an overwhelming surge of fury.

As for Xue An, her current attitude toward him was one of utter reverence and submission.

Thus, unable to hold back, she hammered away at her keyboard and replied: "I am a friend of the person who killed Yu Qing. I can tell you all that this master used merely a single punch to finish off Yu Qing!"

This comment was akin to poking a hornet's nest, prompting a wave of sarcasm and ridicule from many quarters.

"A single punch? The person above must be dreaming!"

"Exactly, a master ranked forty-second, and someone killed him with a single punch?"

"Heh! Another braggart who loves telling tall tales!"

Tan Xiaoyu's face turned red with anger, and she typed back: "You don't believe it? Fine then, let's make a bet. In this upcoming Martial Arts Tournament, I bet my friend will win. If he loses, I... I will streak!"

The replies from netizens instantly skyrocketed.

"Goodness, I just checked her profile, it's actually a young lady!"

"Checked it too. Although her avatar is blurry, she's definitely an eight-out-of-ten beauty or higher!"

"I'm instantly even more excited for this Martial Arts Tournament!"

"Marking my spot on this post, witnessing history!"

Monstrous waves of excitement swept across the internet because of this upcoming Martial Arts Tournament.

Yet Xue An remained completely oblivious to all these storms and commotions. His daily routine now consisted of taking his two daughters fishing by the lake, then returning home to cook fish in various new ways.

Today, he sat by the lakeside, while his daughters eagerly dug in the sand nearby.

However, this hard-earned tranquility was soon shattered.

Tan Xiaoyu walked over with a solemn expression.

She had only found out that Xue An was by the Yunmeng Lake after asking Qin Yu.

Upon arriving, she discovered Xue An leisurely and carefree, busy fishing.

"Mr. Xue..." Tan Xiaoyu lowered her head and said respectfully.

Xue An glanced up at her and nodded.

"Is something the matter?"

Tan Xiaoyu bit her lip and said, "Mr. Xue, do you know that the internet has been turned completely upside down because of you right now?!"

Xue An paused slightly, then shook his head. "What happened?"

Tan Xiaoyu recounted the entire sequence of events from beginning to end.

Hearing this, Xue An merely smiled faintly, offering no immediate commitment.

Tan Xiaoyu, however, grew rather anxious.

"Mr. Xue, my father said your cultivation is boundless and godlike, but after all, this Heaven-Pointing Elder is no ordinary person. You must be careful!"

Xue An nodded. "Is there anything else?"

Suddenly, Tan Xiaoyu felt a twinge of annoyance.

She had come out of good intentions to warn him, yet Xue An wore an expression of total indifference.

"Mr. Xue... I think it would be best for you to make a public statement in response. Otherwise, public opinion will turn increasingly unfavorable toward you!"

Xue An acted as though he hadn't heard her, instead gazing out at the misty and boundless expanse of Yunmeng Lake before him.

"Do you think this lake is big?" Xue An suddenly asked.

Taken aback, Tan Xiaoyu nodded. "It's huge!"

"Then tell me, can this single fishing rod of mine catch every single fish in it?"

Not understanding what Xue An was driving at, Tan Xiaoyu shook her head. "How could that be possible..."

With a calm smile, Xue An gripped the fishing rod and gave it a gentle lift.

The previously serene surface of the lake suddenly began to boil.

Then, as Xue An slowly lifted the rod upward, countless fish seemed to be supported by an invisible giant hand, gradually rising from the water and hovering suspended in mid-air.

This sight made Tan Xiaoyu hold her breath in sheer astonishment.

It was only then that Tan Xiaoyu noticed there was no fishing line attached to Xue An's rod at all.

Xue An said flatly, "You all view him as formidable, but in my eyes, he is just like this Yunmeng Lake—though he appears vast, he is still... far too small."