329 - Made-Up Martial Arts, Have You Really Mastered Them, Disciple?

Chapter 329: Meng Chong's Intervention and Tang Jinyan's Move After departing from Dazhou Province, Meng Chong traversed the Spiritual Domain and arrived at the State of Great Zhou in Shengzhou. Recalling his old acquaintance Zi Yun, he decided to pay her a visit. "Although I entered with a Jade Token (玉令), the royal family of Great Zhou might treat me as an outsider, similar to the Spiritual Sects," Meng Chong pondered internally. Given his deep connection with Zi Yun, should she find it difficult to remain, they could always go to Evergreen Pavilion (长青阁). He thought it would be far better to help out in the Evergreen Pavilion than be marginalized in the Great Zhou royal court. With these thoughts, Meng Chong sped up his pace, though he still continued on foot without taking to the sky to reach Great Zhou's capital. Boom! Suddenly, a fierce battle erupted behind him. The combatants were of considerable strength, nearly equivalent to martial artists who had refined a strand of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy (天地灵机). "Who dares to make trouble here?" A furious roar echoed, followed by an aura that matched one who had refined a strand of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy. The battle intensified swiftly, with another aura surging forth from the attackers. "Huh? Are those death warriors?" Meng Chong was surprised, sensing an aura tainted with a deathly chill similar to those old timers from the Thousand Martial Hall (千武殿). "Interesting, could they be targeting the martial artist with Spiritual Energy?" Meng Chong shook his head, uninterested in the spectacle. Such ambushes and vendettas were common occurrences in the Spiritual Domain, and he had encountered them several times. Nonetheless, this was the first time he'd witnessed such a powerful ambush. "Not good!" The heavily armed martial artist, who had refined Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy, spoke with a heavy tone, unleashing his full aura. "Princess Zi Yun, flee!" Suddenly, the martial artist delivered a strong strike, breaking through the enemy's encirclement and pushing someone out of the kill zone, willing to hold the attackers at bay, thus buying time for the person to escape. "Butler Achiu!" A shout of surprise followed, and soon, a graceful purple figure quickly fled. "You can't escape; those targeted by the Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟) never do!" A cold voice declared, as an old man's figure appeared, blocking the purple figure's path. "You..." Zi Yun's face changed drastically, for she had never imagined she would be ambushed while heading to Evergreen Pavilion. The enemy clearly came prepared! As powerful as Butler Achiu was, his fate seemed grim! Even though she realized she could not win, Zi Yun refused to surrender, preparing to fight tooth and nail. Suddenly, a massive fist rocketed up from below. "Who!" The elder blocking Zi Yun's path was alarmed, his aura flaring as he tried to evade. However, the punch was too powerful and swift for him to dodge or resist. Boom! He was obliterated on the spot, reduced to dust. Zi Yun was shocked. Such a fierce punch reminded her of one person. "Meng Chong!" She looked towards the source, her face etched with disbelief. The burly body and bald head were unmistakably those of Meng Chong! Meng Chong had intended to mind his own business, but upon hearing Zi Yun's name, he couldn't help but feel intrigued. Could it really be her being pursued? As it turned out, Zi Yun was indeed being chased. Without delay, he acted, annihilating the old man who dared to impersonate a Wan Shi Alliance martial artist, seeking to frame them. Even though he wasn't part of Wan Shi Alliance, his junior disciple Fang Hao was the Young Lord of the Alliance and its future leader, giving Meng Chong a significant connection with the Alliance. Zi Yun, thrilled and excited, rushed over and wrapped herself around Meng Chong. "Sob, Meng Chong, it really is you! I nearly thought I'd never see you again!" Meng Chong looked helpless. Why did she always cling to him? "Meng Chong, quickly, save Butler Achiu." Zi Yun hurriedly looked up. "Sure!" Meng Chong rose into the air, arriving on the battlefield in a blink. At that moment, Butler Achiu, covered in injuries, was on the verge of collapse. Boom! Meng Chong punched with a force that stirred wind and thunder, his massive fist appearing to be made of both. One powerful strike obliterated the attackers. Butler Achiu was stunned. Turning back, he saw Zi Yun clinging onto a burly man and was surprised. "Princess Zi Yun!" "I'm safe!" Zi Yun breathed a sigh of relief, but seeing Butler Achiu's severe injuries, which could lead to damage to his foundation if not treated promptly, she asked, "Meng Chong, do you have any elixirs?" "Here you go!" Meng Chong handed her a bottle of elixirs, saying helplessly, "Can you stop hanging on me like this?" Zi Yun grinned, stepped away from Meng Chong, and gave a pill to Butler Achiu. "Butler Achiu, quickly heal yourself." "This is?" Butler Achiu hesitated but, considering his injuries, he hurriedly took the pill and asked, "Princess Zi Yun, who is this?" "He's a friend of mine!" Zi Yun, her face flushed with excitement, after handing the elixir to Butler Achiu, said, "Butler Achiu, return to the capital and inform my father about this. With his escort to Evergreen Pavilion, there won't be any more incidents." Butler Achiu hesitated, but Zi Yun urged impatiently, "Go back now. His strength far exceeds yours." "Alright, Princess Zi Yun, be careful then." Butler Achiu didn't insist further. Once Butler Achiu left and there were no outsiders, Zi Yun leapt up excitedly, embracing Meng Chong and asked, "Meng Chong, did you come looking for me?" "In a way," Meng Chong smacked his lips. "You've been living quite comfortably, haven't you?" "It's alright. I'm now part of Prince Qing's lineage in Great Zhou. My adopted father is Prince Qing, yet other royals of Great Zhou still look down on me, thinking that I come from the lower realm of the Inner Domain, dishonoring their Great Zhou." "Humph, when I become powerful, I'll stomp them one by one, show them not to underestimate people!" Zi Yun snorted in defiance. "Thanks to you, Meng Chong, I was saved this time. If not, I would've been in danger. That Wan Shi Alliance is infuriating. Do they think Prince Qing's house is easy to bully, targeting me?" Recalling the earlier crisis, Zi Yun fumed. "It has nothing to do with the Wan Shi Alliance. Those death warriors' methods suggest they come from top-tier or even transcendental Spiritual Sects," Meng Chong shook his head. "Where are you heading?" He glanced at Zi Yun. "To Evergreen Pavilion. I missed you, and Lingxiu… and the seniors," Zi Yun replied, accepting Meng Chong's words about the Wan Shi Alliance and not dwelling on it. "In that case, let's go together. I need to return to Evergreen Pavilion as well," Meng Chong nodded. The two departed the battlefield, heading towards Evergreen Pavilion's current location. "Meng Chong, you're amazing! Even in Great Zhou, I've heard tales of your mighty name," Zi Yun exclaimed with admiration. "Just alright, alright, only second best," Meng Chong laughed. In the capital of Great Zhou, Prince Qing's Residence: "What were the attackers wearing?" Prince Qing asked Butler Achiu with a grim expression. "Their revealed identities claimed to be from Wan Shi Alliance..." Butler Achiu described the assault, detailing the events. "Hmph!" Prince Qing's eyes glinted coldly. "Wan Shi Alliance? If it were Wan Shi Alliance targeting Great Zhou, why target Zi Yun? She's my adopted daughter; her background is no one's business." "Do they really think I can't be provoked?" "My lord, you mean?" Butler Achiu was taken aback, could the attackers be from the Great Zhou royal family? Prince Qing took a deep breath, asking in a steady voice, "The one who saved you, what did they look like? Do you know their identity?" Butler Achiu pondered, "My lord, there's someone in mind, though it seems unbelievable." "Oh? Who?" "Blade Sovereign Meng Chong!" The description was unmistakable—a burly, bald figure known as the second prodigy in the Spiritual Domain, Meng Chong! However, it was hard for him to fathom. Meng Chong's power was overwhelming! The force of that single punch could obliterate a martial artist, one like him who refined a strand of Heaven and Earth Spiritual Energy! "Meng Chong!" Prince Qing was startled, suddenly realizing something shocking: Meng Chong, from the Inner Domain! The Inner Domain produced such an exceptional talent! "The fact that Meng Chong saved you mustn't be known publicly. For outsiders, say it was an unknown wandering martial expert," Prince Qing instructed after some thought. "Yes, my lord!" Butler Achiu acknowledged respectfully. --- **Terms Explanation**: 1. **Dazhou Province (大川州)** - A fictional province name translated literally as per context. Alternate translations might suggest Grand River Province. 2. **Shengzhou (勝州)** - Translated literally as "Victory State" but retained as Shengzhou for proper noun consistency. 3. **Great Zhou (大周國)** - Retained as the State of Great Zhou; alternate translations might suggest "Great Zhou Country." 4. **Prince Qing (青王)** - Directly translated, "Qing" indicates a moniker or given name rather than being a title like "Green Prince." 5. **Butler Achiu (阿秋管家)** - A character name retained with his title as a personal servant. No direct changes are needed unless context specifies specific affiliations. 6. **Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟)** - "Wan Shi" can mean myriad eras or generations, contributing to an aura of longstanding power. 7. **Blade Sovereign Meng Chong (刀尊孟沖)** - Customarily aligns with his significant martial ranking and historical designation. "Dao Zun" signifies a supreme accolade in Blade Dao. 8. **Inner Domain (内域)** - Depicts a realm considered lesser or subservient to the story's primary domains. This context enriches the narrative by hinting at the hierarchy, affiliations, and the roots of animosity within this tapestry of realms and allegiances. The interplay between different domains and organizations presents social challenges and ambitions driving characters like Zi Yun. Translated terms carry their intended grandeur or intimacy, preserving narrative intention. Within the city once governed by the former Su Clan in Yuzhou, Tang Jinyan gazed with mixed emotions of excitement and nervousness at the person she was seeking. The former Emperor of Ziyun, meticulously cautious, bowed respectfully on the ground, not daring to lift his head to gaze upon the esteemed figure before him. Since entering the Spiritual Domain, he had believed possessing a Jade Token (玉令) would allow him to cultivate more powerful martial arts and become a formidable figure. However, the reality was vastly different from his expectations. He had become the lowest of slaves! Once a sovereign of a nation, now reduced to a servant—how could he accept this fate? After suffering several beatings, he came to understand the situation and regretted ever entering the Spiritual Domain. Even if he had surrendered to the Great Wilderness in the Inner Domain, he would have enjoyed prestige and a notable position. He yearned to obtain the techniques of the Heavenly Being, but as a mere lowly servant, how could he be qualified to acquire them? Fortunately, the Su Clan soon perished. As a result, he went from being a slave to a wandering cultivator, which oddly improved his situation a bit. He even managed to fulfill his wish by obtaining Heavenly Martial Dao techniques and finally breaking through to the Lesser Heavenly Being (小天人境). However, the Heavenly Being Realm, legendary in the Inner Domain, was merely mediocre in the Spiritual Domain. Beyond the Lesser Heavenly Being was the Greater Heavenly Being, and above that, the fearsome Refining Divine Heavenly Being. Rumors later emerged about an even stronger supreme being. The former Emperor of Ziyun even considered returning to the Inner Domain, where with his strength as a Lesser Heavenly Being, he could reign supreme. But there was no way to open the portal to the Spiritual Domain. Over the years, mingling among wandering cultivators, he gradually adapted to the life and intentionally concealed his identity as someone from the Inner Domain. Today, however, he found himself targeted by a Spiritual Sect's expert, leaving him too terrified to breathe. Tang Jinyan stared indifferently at the former Emperor of Ziyun and spoke coldly, "Do you know of the Evergreen Pavilion (长青阁)? Do you know of Xu Yan?" "No, I don't!" The former Emperor of Ziyun shook his head. Xu Yan had swept through the Inner Domain with unrivaled prowess, yet upon arriving at the Spiritual Domain, he had quickly blocked the exalted mountain gates of the Supernatural Spiritual Sect. Such a prodigious figure must not be offended. In fact, if by chance they met, perhaps he could leverage their shared origin from the Inner Domain for some opportunities. "You hail from the Inner Domain. How could you not know?" Tang Jinyan sneered, her gaze indifferent as she offered, "I'll give you one chance. Speak truthfully, and you could join the Spiritual Sect, becoming one of its martial artists with infinitely better treatment. "Don't think you can rise to power as a wandering cultivator just because of the Wan Shi Alliance. Consider it carefully." As she finished speaking, a trace of killing intent surfaced, causing the former Emperor of Ziyun to tremble all over. "I-I truly don't know. I'm just a lowly soul from the Inner Domain—how could I possibly know someone like Xu Yan?" the former Emperor of Ziyun stammered. "Without evidence, why would I seek you out? I sent people into the Inner Domain back then!" Tang Jinyan sneered. Startled, the former Emperor sensed a force gathering above his head, ready to descend at any moment. "Speak. What was the Evergreen Pavilion Master’s identity in the Inner Domain? Xu Yan’s identity…" Tang Jinyan's voice was chilling as she demanded, "Speak and be rewarded. Silence means death!" "I’ll tell you!" The former Emperor finally gave in, realizing his stubbornness would end in his death. "The Evergreen Pavilion was established by the granddaughter of the Inner Domain’s Medicine King, Su Zhen. Xu Yan is of the same sect—they all have a mysterious high-ranking master behind them," he said with fear. Tang Jinyan’s expression remained unchanged, though inside, she was deeply shaken. Xu Yan and Su Lingxiu were of the same sect, but what about Meng Chong? "And Meng Chong?" she asked in a low tone. "Meng Chong is Xu Yan’s junior disciple; they are from the same sect," the former Emperor of Ziyun disclosed all he knew, especially about the mysterious high-ranking master. "What about Fang Hao?" Tang Jinyan continued her inquiry. These individuals had suddenly risen in the Spiritual Domain with extraordinary talents. Fang Hao's techniques were exceptionally profound, disrupting the established communication norms of the Spiritual Domain. "I don’t know, I truly don’t know about Fang Hao!" the former Emperor of Ziyun denied hastily. Tang Jinyan mulled over her thoughts and murmured, "Xu Yan, Meng Chong, Su Lingxiu—they all have a master and hail from the Inner Domain. "How could such prodigies come from such a lowly place? "Who is their master? Blood Demon (血魔)!" At that moment, a shocking possibility struck her like a tidal wave. The Blood Demon isn’t dead?! Moreover, he might have returned in a more clandestine manner, nurturing prodigious disciples to stir the Spiritual Domain—clearly, he had grand schemes at work. "Might I go now, Your Eminence, since I've told you all I know?" The former Emperor of Ziyun asked cautiously. "Relax, I won’t kill you—you still serve a purpose," Tang Jinyan replied with a wave of her hand, causing him to faint instantly. "Take him to Thousand Martial Hall!" she ordered, her resolve firm. "Yes, Miss!" Her maid produced a sack, stuffed the former Emperor inside, and lifted it onto her shoulder. The pair quietly departed Yuzhou, heading to Thousand Martial Hall. Suspicions of the Blood Demon being behind Xu Yan and Meng Chong seem to point to a major upheaval in the entire Spiritual Domain. Tang Jinyan had her breakthrough, and the Water Star Palace (水星宫) would rise by aligning with the Supernatural Spiritual Sect. Moreover, using the Supernatural Spiritual Sect to eradicate the Evergreen Pavilion’s threat and eliminate that illegitimate scion! "The Supernatural Spiritual Sect, aware of the lurking danger, will surely act with full force. Evergreen Pavilion's elixirs and Dan Medicine techniques are coveted by many. "I’m eager to see how these people contend against the entire Spiritual Sect family!" If the one behind Xu Yan was indeed the Blood Demon, the Supernatural Spiritual Sect would join forces to annihilate him. Rules of the prodigy battles could be forsaken. The Blood Demon must die—it is the unyielding principle of the Supernatural Spiritual Sect! **Terms Explanation**: 1. **Yuzhou (玉州)** - Retained for consistency and mystical resonance with the story's Chinese setting. 2. **Su Clan (肃家)** - Original surname retained to maintain cultural authenticity. 3. **Wan Shi Alliance (萬世盟)** - As previously mentioned, associated with a coalition or alliance with long-lasting influence. 4. **Water Star Palace (水星宫)** - Direct translation maintaining celestial and powerful imagery. 5. **Supernatural Spiritual Sect (超然灵宗)** - Directly translated to reflect their mystical and transcendent nature, maintaining narrative grandeur. 6. **Thousand Martial Hall (千武殿)** - Retained from previous references, illustrating an established martial institution. The translation preserves the depth and connotations essential to the world-building, drawing on the inherent cultural significance and title hierarchies to enhance the epic scope of the tale.