Chapter 55: Challenging the Alliance Leader
"Master, we've arrived!" The now-grown Gu Mu led the donkey through the bustling city gate, looking around with curiosity.
Xu Ning, sitting on the donkey, nodded. "Let's find a place to rest first. Tomorrow we'll challenge the Martial Arts Alliance Leader."
Gu Mu was startled. "Master, are you confident? I've heard he's the strongest in the martial world."
Xu Ning's voice was calm. "Yes."
The Martial Arts Alliance Leader may sound impressive, but he was rely at the peak of the Innate Realm. A formidable opponent, but not invincible.
That's right, the Martial Arts Alliance Leader wasn't a Grandmaster. However, the difference in strength among Innate masters was actually vast, and the Martial Arts Alliance Leader was the strongest representative of that level.
A true Grandmaster wouldn't even consider the title of Martial Arts Alliance Leader. It was beneath them.
Gu Mu didn't say anything more and led the donkey to an inn to settle down, securing rooms for them both.
"Don't slack off on your cultivation!" Xu Ning reminded Gu Mu before entering his room.
"Yes, Master!" Gu Mu quickly replied, knowing his master's strict expectations.
Over the past decade, under Xu Ning's rigorous tutelage, Gu Mu's strength had beco among the best in the Acquired Realm. He predicted he would soon break through to the Innate Realm, a rather impressive pace for his age.
That night, restless, Gu Mu climbed out of his window and went to the stable, finding his master's donkey, Tie Dan.
"Brother Donkey, wanna go for a ride? See the city at night?"
Tie Dan's eyes lit up, and he nodded eagerly. He was always up for an adventure.
Having spent so many years together, Gu Mu and Tie Dan were quite familiar. Although he didn't know Tie Dan's background in detail, Gu Mu knew that Tie Dan could understand human speech and communicate like a person.
Later, Gu Mu and Tie Dan often talked, and their relationship gradually beca closer. The donkey was his confidant.
Martial Arts City was so prosperous at night that Gu Mu and Tie Dan naturally wanted to go out for a stroll and see the sights.
However, as a gathering place for martial arts practitioners, the nights here were not peaceful. Fights and chases were common.
While Gu Mu was riding his donkey for a leisurely stroll, an unexpected incident occurred. He encountered a chase between two experts, one fleeing, one pursuing.
The one in front, a disheveled man with a sword, was blocked by Gu Mu and Tie Dan in the narrow street.
"Get out of the way!" the man seed very anxious, shouting at Gu Mu with murderous intent.
"Yo!" Gu Mu exclaid in surprise, his hand imdiately drawing his broadsword from his back.
Without hesitation, the two charged at each other, their weapons clashing repeatedly in the moonlight.
After a few exchanges, Gu Mu's longsword was knocked away, showing he was no match for his opponent's skill.
"Kid, you have a path to heaven but choose not to take it, opting instead to block my way. Now you die." As he spoke, he slashed at Gu Mu's neck with his longsword, aiming to decapitate him.
Gu Mu didn't dodge, simply standing there letting the opponent's blade strike him.
Clang—
The blade struck Gu Mu's neck, producing a loud tallic sound, like striking iron.
The man with the blade was dumbfounded, looking up to imdiately see the faint golden light emanating from Gu Mu's neck.
"The Vajra Indestructible Divine Art!" the man exclaid in surprise, recognizing the legendary technique.
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But Gu Mu ignored him, suddenly raising his hand and thrusting it straight into the man's chest with terrifying force.
Standing at a distance, Tie Dan watched this scene calmly, chewing on so hay he had found.
Of course, he knew that the most powerful aspect of the Vajra Indestructible Divine Art was the physical strength during its application. It made the practitioner's body comparable to a divine weapon.
However, Xu Ning, his master, had never been seen using it since the first ti he practiced. He always avoided fights if possible.
Tie Dan had asked Xu Ning about it, but Xu Ning told him it was a trump card, best never to be used. If you had to use it, it ant you had already failed to avoid danger.
In comparison, the rather reckless Gu Mu had used it countless tis. Although he was Xu Ning's disciple, he hadn't learned even a fraction of Xu Ning's cunning and caution. He was far more straightforward.
At this mont, a stunningly beautiful woman flew over and landed in front of Gu Mu, looking at the corpse below him with surprise.
"Were you chasing this man, young lady?" Gu Mu asked, looking at the woman.
The woman nodded. "This man is a wicked villain. He killed many won in Martial Arts City and desecrated their corpses. I've been hunting him for weeks."
Gu Mu nodded. "Then I didn't kill the wrong person. Justice is served."
The two then chatted and strolled around Martial Arts City together. Gu Mu learned the woman's na: Wu Dairou. She was a wandering swordswoman.
However, Gu Mu grew bored with the sights and, after wandering around for a while, asked Wu Dairou, "Miss, does Martial Arts City have any famous items? Like rare and precious herbs? My master likes those."
Wu Dairou's eyes lit up, and she replied eagerly, "Yes! The Alliance Leader's Mansion grows Heavenly Origin Peaches. They can strengthen the foundation and improve martial arts aptitude. They're legendary."
Gu Mu's eyes imdiately lit up with avarice. He cupped his hands in farewell. "Then I'll take my leave! Thank you for the information."
He turned to leave, but Wu Dairou, noticing his intentions, called out, "How about you take with you? I know the layout of the mansion well."
Gu Mu hesitated. "But, there might be danger! I can't guarantee your safety."
Wu Dairou shook her head. "It's alright. I can handle myself."
Soon, the two rode donkeys—Gu Mu on Tie Dan, Wu Dairou on a borrowed mount—to the Alliance Leader's Mansion and quietly sneaked inside through a hidden entrance.
To Gu Mu's surprise, this woman seed very familiar with the Alliance Leader's Mansion, leading him directly to the place where the Heavenly Origin Peaches were grown. She knew the patrol routes.
However, before they could pick even a few, they were discovered by a guard. They quickly fled, grabbing what they could.
But a large number of guards suddenly appeared and surrounded them in the garden. They were trapped.
At this mont, a donkey suddenly fell from the sky, landing in front of them with a thud.
Gu Mu was overjoyed and quickly pulled Wu Dairou onto Tie Dan's back. "Go, Brother Donkey!"
Tie Dan suddenly kicked off, leaping out of the Alliance Leader's mansion in a single bound and fleeing through the night sky. He soon shook off his pursuers with incredible speed.
anwhile, Xu Ning, having just finished drinking and returned to the inn, imdiately discovered Tie Dan was missing from the stable.
He shook his head helplessly. "Always hanging out with that rascal Gu Mu! Who knows what trouble he's causing now, stealing chickens and doing sothing underhanded. That donkey should know better."
Xu Ning, of course, didn't bother to intervene. With Tie Dan's current strength—a Mortal-level Divine Grade creature—unless he encountered a cultivator, he was practically invincible. He was more than capable of protecting Gu Mu from any mundane danger.
Back in his inn room, Xu Ning began to ponder his next plans.
If he could defeat the Martial Arts Alliance Leader and establish a challenge arena as he intended, continuously acquiring cultivation techniques from challengers, he believed he could upgrade all four of his core techniques to the Divine Grade of the Mortal Realm within a few years.
Then, he could find a secluded place to cultivate them all to Great Perfection. And incidentally, nurture all his crops to the Divine Grade of the Mortal Realm as well. It was a solid plan.
He just didn't know if setting up the challenge arena would go smoothly. There would be politics involved.
Early the next morning, Xu Ning went to the Alliance Leader's mansion to issue his formal challenge.
Instantly, the entire martial arts world was shaken. Soone actually wanted to challenge the Martial Arts Alliance Leader, Wu Yue, the undisputed strongest.
It should be known that Wu Yue was currently the most promising master in Da Xuan to break through to the Grandmaster level. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to call him the number one master of the Innate Realm. He was legendary.
Currently, apart from the mysterious Grandmaster in Mingdu City who had never revealed his identity, probably no one in Da Xuan could defeat Wu Yue in a fair fight.
However, when the challenger's na was announced, everyone understood.
It was the scholar-swordsman Li Xunbei, a famous madman for over ten years. He had challenged various masters since his debut in the martial arts world, a streak that had continued for over a decade. So far, he had never suffered a defeat. His reputation was fearso.
In an instant, their battle beca the focus of the entire martial arts world. Everyone speculated about who would erge victorious, placing bets and arguing.
However, Li Xunbei's support was clearly low. Although he possessed formidable strength, he lacked the prestige and long history of veteran masters like Wu Yue.
The appointed day arrived quickly, and Xu Ning and Wu Yue went to the grand arena in Martial Arts City.
The area was already packed with people, mostly martial arts practitioners from all over Da Xuan who had traveled to see the fight.
Under the expectant gazes of the crowd, Xu Ning and Wu Yue stepped onto the arena, facing each other from opposite ends.
"It's been many years since anyone challenged ," Wu Yue said calmly, carrying his longsword, his expression filled with anticipation. "I had begun to think no one would dare."
Xu Ning, carrying his long axe, spoke softly. "I imagine the Alliance Leader is also looking forward to this day? The chance to test your skills against a worthy opponent."
Wu Yue nodded without pretense. "Of course. It's what I live for."
Xu Ning raised his axe. "Then let's begin. No more words."
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