Today, the streets of the Wu Dynasty Capital City were empty.
The inns and restaurants near the Martial Arts Arena had long been fully booked, packed to the rafters.
Rooms with a good view of the event sold for exorbitant prices.
The nearby streets and alleys were teeming with people, bustling with extraordinary excitement.
After all, it was the opening battle of the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion. The crowd was at its largest, and all departments of the Capital City were operating at full capacity. Government constables, Guards, and the Imperial Guard were stationed on every street to maintain order and prevent any incidents.
"Shi Ang is fighting in today’s opening battle. We’ll finally get to see just how capable this highly-touted Martial Dao genius really is."
"I wonder if our Wu Dynasty has any genius who can compete with him."
"It’s unlikely. According to the rankings, the third-strongest in our Wu Dynasty should be Ning Guan, the Duke of Jing’s son. His Blood Qi is infinitely close to nine feet, but he hasn’t developed a Golden Core Phenomenon. It’ll be tough for him to defeat Shi Ang."
The crowd moved slowly toward the arena, their discussions rising and falling.
"This Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion is truly an unprecedented event. Your Highness’s decree, ’When the Martial Dao reaches its peak, the Golden Platform shall rise,’ coupled with the promise of a title for the victor and an Exotic Treasure as a reward, is just too enticing."
"How else could it attract Martial Dao geniuses from all over the Divine Land?"
"Speaking of which, aside from Shi Ang and the matchups between our dynasty’s True Masters of Martial Dao and the various foreign Martial Artists, the battle between Mo Yuanting and that Lu Bai is also a major highlight."
"Who’s Lu Bai?"
"Black Hand Yama."
"You should have said so earlier! So it’s him. We all call him Lu Hei. I heard that as soon as he returned to the Capital City, he struck from the shadows, not only slaughtering the Demon Beast raised by Mo Yuanting but also crippling three of his True Masters of Martial Dao. They have a huge feud now; a fight between them is inevitable."
Lu Bai and Mo Tang followed the crowd to the entrance of the Martial Arts Arena. They presented their Identity Tokens and entered.
Inside the arena, it was considerably more spacious.
Aside from the five Martial Arts Discussion Platforms, the other areas were occupied only by the competing Martial Artists. Spectators were not allowed inside.
The twelve groups of competitors each had their own designated area.
"Did you hear? A mysterious, esteemed guest is personally attending this Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion."
"Oh? Who?"
"It’s not clear yet. They say that even Your Highness must treat this person as a guest of honor and be extremely polite."
"Someone that important?"
Hearing the discussion nearby, Lu Bai looked at Mo Tang and asked with some curiosity, "Is some esteemed guest really coming?"
Mo Tang nodded.
After a slight hesitation, Mo Tang whispered, "It’s one of the four most renowned Daoist Monarchs in the Celestial Divine Land—Daoist Monarch Tian Yuan of the Great Abyss Country. Duke Zhong personally requested his presence."
"The Four Daoist Monarchs?"
Lu Bai had never heard of them and didn’t know how much weight that title carried.
Mo Tang explained simply, "They are considered among the top few Daoist Monarchs of the Dharma Realm in the Celestial Divine Land in terms of combat power. They made their names long ago. It’s not just their combat strength; their abilities and strategic minds are also top-tier. Furthermore, they represent the Four Great Dominator Countries, so their status is exceptionally noble."
"Why would he come to a competition between True Masters of Martial Dao?"
Lu Bai asked, "Are any of his disciples competing?"
The Dharma Realm was far beyond the Golden Core Realm.
For a Daoist Monarch of the Dharma Realm, no matter how intense a battle at this level was, it wouldn’t be interesting enough to warrant a personal visit.
Mo Tang shook her head slightly and didn’t elaborate, only saying softly, "Duke Chen."
Lu Bai understood instantly.
’This Daoist Monarch Tian Yuan has been invited to deal with Chen Shihu!’
Chen Shihu had entered the Dharma Realm, refused to accept King Wu’s decree, and defied a royal command—actions tantamount to treason!
It seemed that after the Late King’s death, the Wu Dynasty was lacking in top-tier Martial Artists, not even having a single Daoist Monarch of the Dharma Realm.
That must be why they invited Daoist Monarch Tian Yuan to deal with Chen Shihu.
From the looks of it, once the Golden Platform Martial Arts Discussion was over, the rift between King Wu and Chen Shihu would become a complete break.
Caught in the middle, Lu Bai felt a headache coming on.
’Once I get the Desolate Emperor Ancestral Coin, I’ll go back to my old home in Jing State and lay low. I’m not getting involved in their mess.’
Lu Bai mused to himself.
In any case, his strength was insufficient to participate in the games and confrontations between such powerful figures.
In that short time, most of the Martial Artists had already arrived at the Martial Arts Arena.
Lu Bai sensed a wave of intense hostility. He instinctively looked over, his gaze instantly clashing with several others.
Mo Yuanting stood in the crowd, a cold sneer on his face and a sharp look in his eyes. He raised a hand and drew it across his throat, making a beheading gesture at Lu Bai.
Lu Bai’s expression remained unchanged. He ignored the man and looked away.
’This kind of provocation is childish,’ he thought.
They would settle it on the Martial Arts Discussion Platform. There was nothing more to say.
"That’s Shi Ang."
Mo Tang’s gaze shifted in one direction, her expression grave.
In truth, Lu Bai had already noticed the man without Mo Tang’s reminder.
The man wasn’t particularly burly, but he possessed an aura as deep and still as an abyss, as imposing as a mountain. His face was lean with slightly high cheekbones and brows as sharp as knives. He carried a Thick-Backed Long Saber on his back. He stood in silence, yet no one dared to come within ten yards of him!
He stood out like a crane among chickens—so conspicuous it was impossible not to notice him.
’This man’s bloodline is very strong,’ Lu Bai thought.
It wasn’t just a matter of cultivating his Blood Qi to nine feet.
Because his bloodline was so formidable, the mere wisp of Blood Qi he emanated was enough to exert a bloodline suppression on other Martial Artists!
Just then, the bell announcing the Hour of the Dragon chimed in the distance.
The morning sun rose in the east, casting out a myriad of rosy rays.
A single auspicious cloud drifted over from the direction of the Royal Palace. Bathed in the morning glow, it shimmered with golden light, stretching for hundreds of yards and dyeing half the sky in a magnificent, warm hue.
Amidst the churning clouds and mist, a colossal Tower Ship broke through!
The Tower Ship was constructed entirely from Agarwood. With carved railings and jade-inlaid masonry, it was opulent and magnificent, its upturned eaves reaching a height of three full stories.
Each side of the hull was carved with a Five-Clawed Golden Dragon, its head held high and its tail trailing behind, looking as if it might burst forth from the wood at any moment. A large banner stood at the bow, the character for "Wu" embroidered on it in gold thread, snapping smartly in the wind.
"They’re here, they’re here!"
"King Wu has arrived!"
Seeing this scene, the crowd let out a great cry.
The Tower Ship came to a steady halt a few hundred yards above the platforms. The thousands of Martial Artists in the arena below looked up as the scene on the ship gradually came into focus.
The deck was covered with a thick White Jade Carpet, and a Gilded Incense Burner stood at each of the four corners, wisps of fragrant blue smoke curling upwards.
Purple Sandalwood Long Cases were arranged at the bow, laden with a dazzling array of fruits and wines. There were seven or eight different kinds of wine pots alone.
Dozens of Maids stood by the cases, some holding round fans, others carrying Fruit Plates. Each one had their eyes lowered submissively, moving without a sound.
Five Dukes were on the Tower Ship. Some were seated on chairs, some stood leaning against the railing, and others stood at the bow with wine cups in hand, looking down at the lively scene below...
And one stood silently beside a pavilion.
On the highest level of the ship stood a small, elegant pavilion.
Inside the pavilion was a single person.
King Wu, Qin Shiyue.
Lu Bai looked up, glancing from afar at the vaguely familiar face in the ship’s pavilion, then quickly looked away, afraid of drawing the man’s attention.
’You people sure know how to live it up.’
Lu Bai grumbled to himself.
Watching the battles from high above offered a better, clearer view. And on top of that, there were all sorts of exotic delicacies and fine wines, allowing them to eat and drink as they watched. What a heavenly experience.