CHAPTER 262: CHAPTER 213: MIANRAN SECT FOLLOWERS, CHAOS IN WORSHIP!

"Innate Master?"

Yan Chuan was stunned.

Shao Yancong smiled and nodded, "Elder Jiang achieved the Innate realm because of the Xingyi Boxing Manual, and it’s not an exaggeration to call Professor Yan, who created ’Xingyi Boxing’ and wrote the manual, an ’Innate Master’."

"Is this flattery?"

"Or a trap?"

Yan Chuan laughed bitterly, "What a coincidence."

"Everyone is just joking."

Shao Yancong clearly knew it was a coincidence as well. Whether it was Jiang Bianliu or Ni Mengtong, or even yesterday’s Gu Shengyan, they had all reached a certain level in their cultivation and were at a bottleneck, waiting for a breakthrough. This ’opportunity’ could be anything inspiring, whether beautiful scenery or worldly suffering. Once touched, they might break through.

However, by a stroke of luck or misfortune, the ’opportunity’ somehow involved Yan Chuan.

"Some people humorously call you an ’Innate Master’."

"But more see you as a ’Fortune Star’—"

"With fortune comes great progress in martial arts!"

Shao Yancong joked with Yan Chuan.

Yan Chuan smiled lightly.

In truth, his humility wasn’t false, and Shao Yancong’s perspective wasn’t wrong. Indeed, with ’Mutual Teaching and Learning’, the understanding efficiency of listeners could be increased by 75% during martial arts lectures, but he wasn’t divine.

At an event like the ’Jianzhou Competition’, when Yan Chuan spoke about martial arts, covering broad topics meant few details were discussed.

The audience listened, but few could relate it to themselves for understanding or significant progress, let alone rapid progress and breakthroughs.

After all.

Even back in the Iron Wire Martial Arts Hall or while teaching on Suanzao Mountain, where he taught martial arts in person one-on-one, those who achieved enlightenment were the minority. The majority improved incrementally, day by day, through persistent effort.

Still, even so, some like Wei Quan, who practiced ’Cheng Family Boxing’, reached the peak of the Fourth Realm with ’Copper Bridge Iron Horse’ and found themselves stuck at a bottleneck, unable to break through to the Fifth Realm.

Such a small bottleneck, Yan Chuan’s ’Mutual Teaching and Learning’ barely made a difference.

And that was with one-on-one, targeted guidance.

Low-level!

Small bottleneck!

One-on-one!

Even then.

Let alone breaking from the Third Grade to the Fourth, Eighth Grade to Ninth, or even from Limit-breaking to Innate in such high-level, larger bottlenecks, especially with broad rather than targeted discussions and teachings.

The effect, as you can imagine.

Just as Shao Yancong said—

"They are already outside the door, well-prepared, just missing the last push."

"My role, at best, is just a light push."

How to put it—

This ’light push’, you could say it’s ’the icing on the cake’, ’helping one’s way’, or ’changing fate against the odds’, ’saving the day’.

How to confirm?

No way to confirm!

"Maybe, even without me, Gu Shengyan would break through to the Fourth Grade, Ni Mengtong to the Ninth Grade, and both Jiang Bianliu and Tian Jing to Innate."

"But it’s also possible that without my presence and help, they would remain stagnant, trapped by bottlenecks, forever stuck on that ’last step’, finally ending in regret."

But who can have foreknowledge of these two possibilities?

Without a comparative experiment, it’s impossible to determine the importance or necessity of Yan Chuan’s ’push’.

That’s why people only humorously call Yan Chuan the ’Innate Master’ or ’Fortune Star’, not truly elevating him to the level of heavenly people—

"Helping them break through?"

"Just a coincidence!"

"Their ability to breakthrough and progress is all due to their own efforts, their own accumulation, their own step-by-step cultivation."

"You, Yan Chuan, better not take credit for yourself!"

That’s about the gist of it.

...

Fortune Star.

Innate Master.

Just jokes, no one takes it seriously.

However, most people do recognize Yan Chuan’s ’teaching ability’, with ’Yu Jinpeng’ and ’Jin Yutang’ under Yan Chuan as the best testimonials.

Therefore.

During the ’Jianzhou Competition’, one after another, many prominent figures connected with Yan Chuan through various relationships, offering various promises just to have their disciples receive his guidance. They were dignified and felt superior.

Some even wanted Yan Chuan to accept them as disciples.

Constantly.

Endlessly.

But Yan Chuan paid no attention to any of them.

He relied on his friendship with Jiang Bianliu, who was an older friend, along with his rapid growth, ignoring officials from all levels and authorities everywhere.

A martial arts practitioner!

Love and hate with abandon!

Yan Chuan practiced martial arts—

First for freedom.

Second for longevity.

With ’Purple Mist Palace’ backing him, as long as he did no evil, Yan Chuan could do whatever he wanted, and no one could force him otherwise.

Accept disciples?

Depending on his mood!

But now he obviously was in no mood to take on more disciples, especially when the ’Jianzhou Competition’ was ongoing. Developing divine skills and absolute skills was the true path.

For example, in recent days, he had been diligently researching swordsmanship, and after creating ’Five Mountains Swordsmanship’ and ’Quanzhen Swordsmanship’, especially after creating ’Dai Sect’ in the ’Taishan Swordsmanship’, countless feedback and thoughts sparked endless inspiration in Yan Chuan—

...

[Task Four: Dugu Nine Swords]

[Inspiration: 91]

...

Dugu Nine Swords!

Near completion!

...

As the ’Jianzhou Competition’ entered its third round, although only 28 teams remained, the duels grew even more exciting. Each competing Limit-breaking team provided a visual feast for the spectators from the Nine Counties.

Blood-boiling!

Stunningly brilliant!

Yan Chuan also gained a lot from it, with ’Mutual Teaching and Learning’ giving frantic feedback.

The third round of regular matches lasted two days, followed by one day for the Resurrection Match. In the end, 20 teams advanced to the fourth round, and the group stage was about to begin.

Coincidentally.

On the last day of the third round, the Dugu Nine Swords was completed smoothly.

...

The Jianzhou Competition was in full swing.

In Yingze City, undercurrents surged.

At a hidden location.

Twelve cultists dressed in flame robes and wearing flame masks gathered. Those in the know would recognize them as cultists from the ’Flame God’s Cult’ among the Four Great Evil God Sects. From the intensity of the flames, it was clear—among these twelve, three held golden cymbals, being ’Mirror Holders’ from the sect’s headquarters, while the other nine held ’Guiding Banners’, representing the Divine Master in shepherding the flock, spreading the divine teachings.

In recent days.

The three Mirror Holders and nine with High Hand Function frequently gathered, finalizing ’sacrifice’ lists—

"Yan Chuan from Taikang Academy, his cultivation isn’t extraordinary, but his comprehension is commendable, should be the first choice."

"No, no, no! Wang Zhengyi from Guangling Academy, with his immense strength and rapid progression, should be first!"

"In my view, Yan Chuan falls short, Wang Zhengyi also falls short, but Liu Qifeng from Liyang Academy, though low-key, possesses mighty Qi-blood, surpassing Yan Chuan and Wang Zhengyi, making him the first choice!"

Yan Chuan!

Wang Zhengyi!

Liu Qifeng!

These twelve acknowledged these three as the outstanding Heavenly proud youngsters of the ’Jianzhou Competition’, equally unmatched in their arguments.

Skipping these three, next down the list were ’Fu Yunzhan’ from Qiancheng Academy, ’Zhou Family Sisters’ from Wendeng Academy, and ’Wang Ge’ from Yingze Academy.

Additionally.

Several others were either on par with Fu Yunzhan or the Zhou Family Sisters or Wang Ge.

In total.

Fourteen Heavenly proud ones from Jianzhou were targeted by the ’Flame God’s Cult’.

Each one.

Unique, all Heavenly proud youngsters.

The initial list was set—

"With the ’Jianzhou Competition’ about to enter the fourth round, halfway through, when do we make our move?"

Xiong Ji was anxious, asking each time.

Liao Ai among the Three Divine Envoys laughed eerily, "No rush, Xiong Gaogong. The fourth round hasn’t begun; these ’sacrifices’ have yet to show their true strength and potential. Let’s wait a bit. By the end of the fourth round, perhaps the headquarters will issue decrees. We merely need to observe carefully and wait patiently."

"Wait so long, driving me nuts!"

He understood the logic, but Xiong Ji was impatient.

To see but not to eat!

An unbearable itch!

How tempting!

"You can’t rush heavenly tofu! "

Qin Wushan among the Three Divine Envoys, with a more serious tone, looked at Xiong Ji and then glanced at everyone, emphasizing again, "This time, the four sects are jointly discussing the ’Dragon Slaying’ matters. Anyone acting without orders, don’t blame me for not showing mercy. I know you’re all eager, but best control yourselves and restrain your subordinates."

He said, focusing particularly on Xiong Ji, "I know you’re anxious, but hold on!"

"Got it!"

Xiong Ji responded sullenly.

Damn it!

If it weren’t for the Three Divine Envoys constantly watching, would he care about following the Sect Hierarch’s decrees?

The law afar by the emperor!

All garbage!

As for now—

"I will endure!"

Xiong Ji decided to bide his time.

But just then.

They heard a dog barking like a dragon’s roar, echoing in all directions, along with an evil, burning energy rising nearby. Everyone present felt the sensation through the golden cymbals and Guiding Banners they held.

This commotion!

This aura!

Too familiar!

It’s clearly a Flame God’s Cult follower performing successful worship, inviting the deity to descend.

Damn it!

Despite repeated warnings!

Someone still acted without orders.

"Courting death!"

Qin Wushan’s aura shifted, instantly filled with murderous intent—

"Not me!"

"Absolutely not me!"

Xiong Ji waved his hands.

His subordinates were well-behaved, only acting on his command.

Besides—

"None of my men are that stupid!"

"To act now without guaranteeing success, getting forced into worship, causing this big commotion?"

"Oh my gosh!"

"Embarrassment doesn’t get bigger than this!"

Xiong Ji grinned, speaking nonsense but laughing inwardly.

Liao Ai’s voice was chilling to the bone, "Gentlemen, please check your people and find the one responsible. Hand them over, and we will turn a blind eye. But if there’s any concealment, let’s not speak of the consequences."

"Yes!"

"Rest assured, Envoy!"

"Damn it, no need for the Envoy’s hand. Once found, we’ll give them a swift end!"

Xiong Ji and others either shouted or stayed silent as they left.

The Three Divine Envoys exchanged glances, their masks hiding bitter smiles on their faces.

The cultists’ uprising!

A single spark set off waves!

Uncertain what chain reaction will follow. Hoping it turns from big to small, from small to none!

...