The martial alliance leader was somewhat surprised to see the leader of the Lianshan Sect appear before him. They had not interacted since the martial arts competition to select the alliance leader, and even in public settings, they would eye each other with displeasure, as if they were each other's sworn enemies.
Though his mind raced with thoughts, his expression remained impassive. He greeted warmly, "What wind has blown my esteemed brother here today?"
The leader of the Lianshan Sect let out a hearty laugh, "I never come to your door without a purpose."
"Oh?" The martial alliance leader raised an eyebrow, not expecting his visitor to be so direct. He smiled, "For my brother to personally grace my presence, it must be no trivial matter. Pray tell, and I will do my utmost to assist if I can."
"It's like this," the Lianshan Sect leader began. "Some time ago, there were rumors that the 'Ping Bu Qing Yun' was in the hands of Shangguan Ke and Wu Caiwei. My disciples have crossed paths with them, but alas, they were no match for them. That's when I thought of you, my brother. After all, you are the martial alliance leader. If we two join forces, we can surely apprehend them." The Lianshan Sect leader looked at him with utmost confidence.
"Oh? Their martial arts have reached a level that requires both you and me to join forces? When did such individuals emerge from outside the martial world that we have never heard of them? Brother, are you certain you haven't mistaken them? Furthermore, is the martial arts manual truly in their possession? I have always harbored doubts." The martial alliance leader, while tidying his collar, paused unconsciously before continuing as if nothing had happened.
"I would not have ventured here without confidence. It is simply that my disciples witnessed their martial prowess, and it bore some resemblance to the legendary manual. It is likely they have been practicing it in secret after obtaining the manual. However, they have not had much time to master it, though their skills have already reached a level that commands apprehension. If they are given more time, I believe both you and I would be defeated. At that point, the situation would be beyond our control. We must nip it in the bud," the Lianshan Sect leader said earnestly, as if his every action was for the good of the martial world.
The martial alliance leader did not believe for a moment that he was truly so benevolent. He had only won the position of martial alliance leader, and for years, this man had been consumed by jealousy, even imagining that he had used underhanded tactics. If he were to obtain the martial arts manual, he feared it would be for the benefit of another.
The Lianshan Sect leader, aware of his concerns, stated openly, "Indeed, I have always been jealous of you. If I could have obtained the martial arts manual myself, I would never have sought you out. After all, we have been rivals for so many years. Now, we have no choice, do we? Once we obtain the manual, we can split it, study it together. Cultivating martial arts requires comprehension, and whoever proves more capable will be the leader, the other the subordinate. Together, we can dominate the martial world."
Despite the Lianshan Sect leader's confident pronouncements, the martial alliance leader did not fully trust him. This man was cunning and full of stratagems, and he feared a backstab.
"I need to consider this. It is a significant matter, after all," the martial alliance leader said, looking at him with hesitation, using it as an excuse to stall.
The Lianshan Sect leader expressed understanding but urged him to make a decision quickly. After all, time was not on their side, and they would soon be outmatched.
The martial alliance leader nodded, acknowledging the seriousness of the situation. He then enthusiastically saw him to the door. As soon as the Lianshan Sect leader left, the martial alliance leader immediately contacted his trusted friend, the leader of the Xishan Sect, currently ranked third in the martial world.
After a brief discussion, the two of them, along with their most promising disciples, set out that very night to scout ahead.
As they approached Wu Caiwei's courtyard, Wu Caiwei sensed their arrival. She quickly joined Shangguan Ke, and they leaped onto the rooftop, heading swiftly towards the city gates.
The pursuers followed closely behind them. They stopped in a wide-open area outside the city and turned to face their pursuers.
"Who are you? Please state your names promptly," Shangguan Ke said calmly, looking at them. He hadn't interacted with martial artists in years and felt a little rusty, though he found it rather interesting. Only through practical combat could one continuously improve. He was quite eager for these martial arts masters to spar with him, wondering if they would be satisfactory. After all, one-sided victories were utterly tiresome.
"I am Qiu Anshan, the martial alliance leader. This is my worthy brother, Wan Hequn, the leader of the Xishan Sect. We are here today to demand the martial arts manual from you," the martial alliance leader declared. He had a good impression of Shangguan Ke and Wu Caiwei. If they had fought in the courtyard earlier, innocent people would surely have been harmed. The fact that they had led him to an open space indicated a compassionate heart. At the very least, even if they had mastered their skills, they would not become great demons.
"Would you believe us if we said the martial arts manual is not in our possession?" Wu Caiwei asked mockingly. In just a few days, they had endured countless attacks.
If this was Shangguan Lao Ye's objective, they had to admit that his tactics were rather clever. While these attacks were child's play to them, they were sometimes incredibly bothersome.
"Why waste words with them? I haven't had a proper spar in days. Now that the martial alliance leader has finally arrived, I want to see how powerful their martial arts are."
With that, Shangguan Ke engaged them in combat. As soon as they exchanged blows, the martial alliance leader felt a sense of pressure. The Lianshan Sect leader was unaware that in his previous encounter with Qiu Anshan years ago, he had won by a narrow margin. To maintain his position, he had spent years collecting various martial arts techniques and continuously refining his skills. Although he hadn't sparred with anyone, he knew his martial arts had greatly improved. If he were to face Qiu Anshan again, he was certain he would achieve a decisive victory.
He had always believed his martial arts were among the best in the current era. Little did he know, upon clashing with Shangguan Ke, he realized he had been like a frog in a well. There were still many reclusive masters in this world, like the one before him.
Shangguan Ke was also greatly surprised. Having experienced so many lifetimes, he had encountered various masters. He never expected this martial alliance leader to possess such skill. He could be considered the most formidable opponent he had encountered thus far in terms of martial arts. It had to be said that the man possessed extraordinary talent. If Shangguan Ke had not lived through so many lifetimes and gained unexpected insights, he would never have been able to match him.
Both men were gaining inspiration from their exchanges, growing more excited as they fought. Gradually, their battle transformed into a friendly spar, giving them a sense of camaraderie.
As dawn broke, they finally ceased their combat. Both bowed to each other. Though their bodies were weary, their hearts were filled with satisfaction.
"We truly do not possess the martial arts manual. We made this abundantly clear when we encountered the Lianshan Sect. However, I am determined to befriend you. In the future, should the opportunity arise, let us share tea and spar again. How delightful would that be?" Shangguan Ke said sincerely to the martial alliance leader. He had a good eye for people, and he could tell that this martial alliance leader was inherently good and worthy of friendship.