Guangdong Martial Arts Hall.

In the VIP lounge, Zhou Lie, a True Inheritor of the Giant Spirit Sect, sat on a leather sofa listening to an introduction from the members of the Martial Arts Conference Committee.

The Martial Arts Conference Committee was composed of senior figures from the four major Schools within the Yuehai Martial Arts Realm. However, these veterans were not the core strength of their respective Schools. Seniority didn’t equate to power; otherwise, they wouldn’t have been assigned to manage such affairs.

Therefore, these old men, who all looked to be well past fifty, treated Zhou Lie with utmost respect and caution.

The Yuehai Martial Arts Association would officially conclude tomorrow morning after the top-eight ranking matches. Following the competition, a conference would be held to "strip power" from the various martial arts halls. This involved a wide range of issues. Although the regional martial arts halls had long anticipated this and made preparations, the meeting itself was unlikely to be peaceful. As the one in charge, Zhou Lie needed to understand the situation in greater detail.

Melissa sat in a corner, the picture of boredom, but she was actually committing every detail to memory.

The Giant Spirit Army accepted funding from the Jili Empire, and naturally, there was a price to pay. The Director-General, under the pretext of "introducing outstanding young people to promote friendship between our nations," was actually trying to plant spies near the direct lineage of the Giant Spirit Sect. Both Zhou Lie and Melissa understood this perfectly.

Suddenly, the door to the VIP lounge swung open. A burly man in a Giant Spirit Army uniform strode into the room, approached Zhou Lie, and leaned in to whisper in his ear.

Zhou Lie’s eyes narrowed instantly.

Realizing something had happened, everyone else in the room fell silent.

"Celestial Sea Prefecture’s Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall. Its Hall Master, Weng Xiaolin, and its True Inheritor, Zhao Qi. Where are they now?"

Zhou Lie looked up and questioned the men from the Martial Arts Conference Committee.

They were instantly alarmed. ’Could the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall have done something wrong?’

"Young Master, please wait a moment," one of them said hastily. "We’ve been monitoring the movements of all the martial arts hall factions that have entered Yuehai, especially the hall masters. We’ll know with a quick check."

The committee members immediately sent someone to investigate, and a reply came back quickly.

"Weng Xiaolin is currently a guest at the Taihe Tiger Form Boxing Martial Arts Hall. It seems other Tiger Form Fist Schools from Yuehai are there as well. As for Zhao Qi, he went out today and is not with Weng Xiaolin. His exact whereabouts are still unknown."

The head of the committee reported to Zhou Lie.

"What is Weng Xiaolin’s level of strength?"

Zhou Lie asked.

"He reached the Inner Cultivation realm in his youth, but only an ordinary level. He later suffered a severe injury and still has a lingering wound in his lungs. Combined with his advanced age, he cannot easily circulate his Qi. He hasn’t fought in years. At most, his strength is at the peak of an average Cross-Training practitioner."

The committee head said after some consideration.

"I’ll send my men with you. Go to the Taihe Tiger Form Boxing Martial Arts Hall as fast as you can and capture him. Bring him back, preferably alive."

Zhou Lie said nonchalantly.

Everyone present was shaken. The committee head asked cautiously, "Young Master, if I may be so bold... what has Weng Xiaolin done?"

"Didn’t you hear me? Just do your job. You don’t need to know what doesn’t concern you."

Zhou Lie said, glancing at him.

"Yes, we understand."

The committee members felt a chill run down their spines. They quickly excused themselves and departed.

"Use the Military Department’s channels. I want to know Zhao Qi’s location at once. Also, have twenty soldiers on standby. And tell the top five of the Ten Heroes to come see me."

Zhou Lie turned and said to the soldier who had delivered the message.

"Yes, sir!"

The soldier’s expression was grim as he immediately exited the VIP lounge.

"Well? What happened? What’s all the fuss about?"

Melissa stretched languidly, showcasing her stunning curves as she asked nonchalantly.

"Trying to pump me for information? Fine. It won’t hurt for you to know. After all, this is somewhat related to your people."

"Have you heard of the Doumu Primordial Soul Needle?"

Zhou Lie said, glancing at her.

"The Celestial South Su Family? Of course I know of them. Back when Xu Qingyuan was eradicating the opium trade, the Celestial South Su Family was a great help. An uncle of mine died to one of their Doumu Primordial Soul Needles. But your people were supposed to have annihilated the Celestial South Su Family back then. We even dispatched three of our Knights to aid you in the matter."

Melissa’s eyes narrowed.

"Some from the main branch of the Su Family escaped back then. I just received the latest report from the Military Department. The first True Inheritor of the Xiaolin Martial Arts Hall, Zhang Hongyun—serving as the captain of the Third Legion’s Second Spiritual Martial Vanguard Team—is a Su Family remnant. He resisted arrest at the Sanlinchuan Military Camp and has already escaped. Now, the Military Department has ordered the arrest of anyone connected to him. Since Weng Xiaolin and Zhao Qi are here for the Martial Arts Association, the task has fallen to me."

"I suspect that the reason Zhao Qi has performed so exceptionally is that he secretly inherited the Doumu Primordial Soul Needle. He’s hidden it well, though, leaving no trace."

Zhou Lie said.

"The Doumu Primordial Soul Needle, you say? That’s very possible."

Melissa mused.

A short while later, as they were talking, the soldier returned to the VIP lounge and whispered something in Zhou Lie’s ear.

"Let’s go meet this Zhao Qi. I’ve wanted to summon him for a while but never had the opportunity. It seems I’ll get to meet him now after all."

Zhou Lie stood up and said calmly.

"And when you see him, what will you do? Kill him?"

Melissa asked, a look of amusement on her face.

"If he’s sensible enough to hand over the Doumu Primordial Soul Needle and pledge his life to me, I might let him live. Otherwise, I’ll cripple his limbs and bring him back."

Zhou Lie said nonchalantly.

...

...

Taihe Tiger Form Boxing Martial Arts Hall.

The hall masters of the eight great Tiger Form Fist martial arts halls were drinking tea and chatting amiably. Weng Xiaolin’s name came up frequently, as Zhao Xuanqi had stolen the show at this year’s Martial Arts Association.

In the middle of their conversation, a disciple entered the tea room and whispered something in the ear of Xu Guitang, the Hall Master of the Taihe Tiger Form Boxing Hall. Xu Guitang frowned slightly, then excused himself to the others and stepped out.

The others didn’t think much of it; after all, a hall master’s days were never idle.

Before long, Xu Guitang returned. "Gentlemen," he said, "please, let’s move to the dining hall. What’s the fun in just drinking tea? Let’s talk over some wine."

No one objected. What kind of gathering for Martial Artists had tea but no wine?

The group chatted and laughed as they walked from the tea room to the dining hall. The dining hall doors were ajar, leaving a narrow gap.

Xu Guitang walked behind the group, his eyes fixed on Weng Xiaolin’s back. His expression was conflicted, but finally, a vicious glint flashed in his eyes.

WHOOSH!!

He lunged forward, striking Weng Xiaolin’s back with a Tiger Palm.

Xu Guitang was at the Inner Cultivation realm. Though elderly, he wasn’t plagued by old injuries like Weng Xiaolin, so his strike was exceptionally vicious.

BAM!!

The palm struck Weng Xiaolin’s right shoulder. The immense impact sent the unprepared Hall Master flying, and he crashed heavily against the half-open doors of the dining hall.

The doors burst open, and Weng Xiaolin’s body tumbled into the room.

"Hall Master Xu?!" 𝐟𝕣𝕖𝐞𝐰𝕖𝚋𝐧𝗼𝚟𝐞𝕝.𝗰𝐨𝐦

The other hall masters whirled around in horror to look at Xu Guitang. His expression was grim, his eyes fixed on the room beyond.

Sensing something was terribly wrong, they quickly turned back. Inside the hall, a dozen Giant Spirit Army soldiers armed with blades and firearms, along with the committee members and several experts from the four major Schools, had surrounded the fallen Weng Xiaolin.

Seeing this scene, the hall masters’ hearts began to pound wildly.

’What in the world is going on?’

Blood trickled from the corner of Weng Xiaolin’s mouth. His mind went blank for a moment before he quickly realized what was happening.

"Hall Master Weng, you and I have no quarrel. You can only blame yourself for taking such a good disciple. Zhang Hongyun, an heir of the Celestial South Su Family, tsk, tsk... If you know what’s good for you, you’ll cooperate and come along quietly."

The head of the committee said nonchalantly.

Weng Xiaolin’s heart pounded.

’Zhang Hongyun... an heir of the Celestial South Su Family...’

His decades of life experience allowed him to understand one thing in an instant.

’I can’t let them take me. If I’m captured, it’s all over.’

He gritted his teeth, a fierce glint flashing in his eyes.

...

...

「Meanwhile, in the Dean’s Office at the Guangdong University School of Arts and Humanities.」

"Then I’ll leave everything in your hands, Dean."

Zhao Xuanqi said to the vigorous, white-haired old man before him. As he spoke, he took an envelope from his pocket, placed it on the desk, and slid it over to the old dean.

"Mr. Zhao, I approved your sister’s application because of her own knowledge and abilities, nothing more. There is much filth in this world, but I believe none of it should enter our campus. This is the Divine Land, the hope of our nation. This place should maintain its due purity. Therefore, please take this back."

The old dean frowned, pushing the envelope back toward Zhao Xuanqi.

"You misunderstand. The university’s development requires the community’s support. I’m merely doing my part—perhaps to add a couple of books for the students or provide a few extra meals for the teachers."

Zhao Xuanqi smiled and pushed the envelope back once more.

"I appreciate your goodwill, Mr. Zhao, but I cannot accept it at this particular time."

The old dean shook his head again, refusing to accept it under any circumstances. In the end, Zhao Xuanqi had no choice but to take back the envelope, feeling a growing admiration for the old man.

’There aren’t many people this principled in the world anymore.’

’Well, maybe I just haven’t met many.’

’Anyway, I can always donate it later under a different name. A good dean like him deserves more support.’

After bidding farewell to the old dean, Zhao Xuanqi stood up and made his way down from the School of Arts and Humanities administration building.

The building seemed strangely empty. He didn’t see a single student.

He still hadn’t seen a single student by the time he approached the ground-floor lobby.

’Weren’t there quite a few students here when I arrived?’

Zhao Xuanqi frowned, sensing that something was wrong.

A heavy atmosphere seemed to be spreading through the air.

Zhao Xuanqi moved to a window and looked outside. To his surprise, he saw soldiers in Giant Spirit Army uniforms surrounding the entire administration building.

’It seems something major has happened.’

"Zhao Qi, is it? Your master is already in our hands. Come on down. Let’s talk."

Just then, an indifferent voice echoed up from the lobby on the ground floor.