Translator: AnubisTL
The sky was gloomy, with thick clouds piled up together.
Accompanied by the rumbling of thunder, the long, sweltering summer finally saw a rare downpour.
Splash! Shengtian City, Chiming Street.
A carriage hurriedly made its way through the heavy rain, its wheels rolling through the accumulated water on the ground, unimpeded as it exited the city.
Upon closer inspection, the coachman, dressed in a raincoat and bamboo hat, appeared somewhat uneasy, even nervous.
The reason was simple: inside the carriage, besides a person, there was also a tiger.
Though the tiger was still young, it already exuded a certain aura of dominance, making the coachman feel quite uncomfortable.
A tiger cub, though not yet fully grown, already possesses the spirit to devour an ox!
"Master, no need to be nervous. My tiger won't harm anyone," a calm voice drifted out from the carriage, soothing the coachman's slightly agitated heart.
The person inside the carriage was none other than Li Qing, who was on his way to Qingzhou to return the Ancient Mystic Hammer Art to Master Gu's family.
Whether or not he could find Master Gu's family, this trip had to be made—it was a promise he had to keep.
Thus, the carriage exited the northern city gate and continued its journey northward.
Meanwhile, back in Shengtian City.
Within the newly established Maple Guard, the recently recruited guards stood in a circle under the eaves, facing the martial arts platform ahead.
The heavy rain splashed onto the platform, but it couldn't extinguish the fiery passion in their hearts. Their eyes were filled with anticipation.
"The top three in this assessment will not only receive silver rewards but also guidance from several commanders."
"Forget it, I'm not even considering it. My martial arts are too weak; I'd just embarrass myself."
"Ah, you're right. This platform is only for those Maple Guards who have reached the level of Outer Strength."
"Damn it, I've been practicing martial arts for years, but I still haven't developed Outer Strength!"
"..."
Indeed, to assess the combat strength of the newly formed Maple Guard, a small competition was being held.
The rewards for this competition had many people eager to participate, rubbing their hands in anticipation.
However, some martial artists with mediocre talent, who had never reached the level of Outer Strength, felt quite disheartened. Those who could secure the top three spots in the competition were already strong, and receiving guidance from Inner Strength experts would only make them stronger. It seemed like the strong would always remain strong!
In that case, they would never be able to surpass the top performers in their lifetime.
Of course, some people had a more pragmatic view.
"Haha, this is the Maple Guard, not some child's play."
"Isn't it normal for the strong to remain strong? Should the Inner Strength commanders waste their time guiding mediocre martial artists who rely on brute force?"
"Well said. Once you enter here, you should understand that your life is always on the line."
The Maple Guard was composed of a large number of martial artists from the Jianghu and a small number of people transferred from the Wu Li Army.
Without a doubt, both groups were accustomed to living on the edge, but the latter clearly had a more pragmatic outlook.
Soon, a hunched figure holding a black oil-paper umbrella stepped forward and leaped onto the center of the martial arts platform in a few swift movements.
If Li Qing had been there, he would have immediately recognized this person—it was none other than Guo Zhentong, the Chiliarch he had once met in the border army!
At the time when Li Qing was standing in front of Master Gu's grave, an old man came over with a jug of wine to pay his respects, leaving a deep impression on him.
As soon as Guo Zhentong appeared, the surroundings immediately fell silent.
Holding a black oil-paper umbrella, he spoke in a slightly hoarse, aged voice: "The rules for this martial arts demonstration are quite simple. Since most of you here are skilled in using weapons, to maximize your potential, this demonstration will not restrict the use of blades or weapons!"
"For those who practice hand-to-hand combat, you may wear armor when stepping onto the stage."
"However, there is one thing to keep in mind. After all, we will all be colleagues working together in the future. Although blades and swords have no eyes, the wielder does."
"In this competition, killing is forbidden, and we should also try to avoid crippling limbs!"
After Guo Zhentong finished speaking, the crowd below began to whisper among themselves.
"They're actually allowing weapons. It seems the Maple Guard is serious this time."
"What if someone gets seriously injured? Once the fight gets heated..."
"Don't worry, as long as it's not a severed arm or leg, as long as there's a breath left, they can be saved."
"This makes it more interesting. If we couldn't use weapons, my strength would be greatly diminished."
"..." Soon after announcing the rules of the competition, Guo Zhentong also jumped off the martial arts stage and went to a pavilion.
Inside the pavilion, besides Guo Zhentong, there were also a man and a woman sitting.
The man had a very scholarly demeanor, with a fair and clean face, resembling a scholar.
The woman, on the other hand, was dressed in a red outfit, exuding a heroic and spirited aura. Her eyebrows were not as soft as those of ordinary women but instead full of vigor.
Her ponytail hung down her back, and her tight waistband accentuated her beautiful figure.
"You've worked hard, Elder Guo. It's clear that you hold quite a reputation among these martial artists," the scholarly man in white said.
Guo Zhentong waved his hand dismissively. He picked up the wine gourd at his waist, took a sip, and said, "It's all just empty fame. Nowadays, in terms of reputation, Commander Qian's title of 'Green Rainbow Heroine' is much more renowned!"
Indeed, the woman in red was Qian Hong. Due to pressure from her family, she was forced to leave the Wu Li Army and now serves in the Maple Guard in the capital.
Qian Hong rolled her eyes at the mischievous Guo Zhentong and said in a neutral tone, "Let's get started. In my opinion, this kind of competition is just a waste of time. What's there to guide?"
Guo Zhentong laughed heartily and said, "You can't say that. Those who can enter the Maple Guard are all promising talents."
"Although they are still External Strength Martial Artists, not everyone can match your talent. You reached the Inner Strength level in your twenties, which truly makes me feel ashamed."
"I was just lucky. In terms of martial prowess, even two of me might not be a match for you, Elder Guo," Qian Hong said with a slight smile.
"You're too modest. At your age, Commander Qian, you have the potential to become a Grandmaster in the future," Elder Guo said with emotion.
The scholarly man listened to their conversation, smiling without saying a word.
As they chatted, the competition had already begun.
It must be said that those who can join the Maple Guard indeed have commendable qualities; they are certainly not just about flashy moves.
However, for the three Inner Strength masters watching from the pavilion, it was still somewhat too dull.
"Hmm, not bad. That lad named Zhong Ming looks quite slender, yet he's skilled with the Meteor Hammer."
"Quite impressive. I remember that young Wang Fugui is just over sixteen years old. Tsk tsk tsk, an External Strength Martial Artist at such a young age is truly remarkable."
"..."
Inside the pavilion, Old Man Guo sipped his wine while commenting on the ongoing matches with great interest.
As for Qian Hong, she remained indifferent throughout, not uttering a single word, merely watching everything with a calm demeanor.
Soon, the martial arts competition reached its halfway point, and a burly man, almost exaggeratedly robust, stepped onto the stage.
He was tall and massive, as strong as an ox, and just standing there exuded an overwhelming sense of pressure.
As soon as he appeared, the surroundings noticeably quieted down for a moment.
The next moment, his opponent also stepped onto the stage, another sturdy man, but compared to the first, there was still a significant difference in size.
"Heh, Zhao Yuan? I know you. Why did you leave being the boss of Gufeng Street to join the Maple Guard?"
Zhao Yuan was a man of few words. After a moment of silence, he spoke, "None of your damn business."
At these words, the burly man opposite him turned as red as a beet.
"Alright, alright, I'll see if that big sword on your back is just for show," the man said angrily.
In the next moment, the man wielding two Crescent Moon Blades charged straight at Zhao Yuan.
The rain continued to pour heavily, drowning out the sound of footsteps.
Zhao Yuan stared intently at the charging man, then reached behind him with one hand to grasp the large sword on his back.
As the man closed in, Zhao Yuan's strength surged like a river.
Whoosh! Amid the rain, a bright flash of blade light flickered and vanished.
Swish! The blade seemed to slice through the falling raindrops, sending Zhao Yuan's opponent, also an External Strength Martial Artist, flying backward.
Not only that, but along with him flew several broken blade fragments and a spray of crimson blood.
Witnessing this scene, the crowd fell completely silent.
Even the three commanders in the rain pavilion were momentarily stunned.
Bang! The first to react was Commander Qian Hong, who stood up and slammed her hand on the table.
"That sword..."
(End of the Chapter)
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