Chapter 165: The Martial Arts Association's Provocation

Lu Yan’s daily routine returned to its regular rhythm. Every day, he would cook martial provisions, consume them to strengthen his bones and sinews, and advance his cultivation realm.

As for martial arts techniques, he had enough for the time being, so he did not waste any martial provision energy on them.

He decided to elevate his cultivation to the fifth stage of Martial Lord first, before sparing any distraction to improve his martial techniques.

Whenever he had free time, he would guide the martial arts apprentices and Wang Liu and the others.

In the blink of an eye, three months passed.

The biting wind was fierce, and it was already the coldest season of the year.

On this day, two disciples from the Three Extremes Martial Academy returned to the academy in a disheveled and battered state and sought out Wen Yuan.

"Senior Brother, bad news! The sparring ring we set up on 'Star Martial Street' was dismantled by people from the Martial Academy Alliance, and the junior brothers responsible for recruiting apprentices were beaten by them as well."

The two apprentices reported to Wen Yuan.

By this time, Wen Yuan was around twenty years old, tall, robust, and possessing an imposing aura. Coupled with his exceptional talent and profound cultivation, he had become the Senior Brother of the Three Extremes Martial Academy and the leader among all the apprentices.

Moreover, Wen Yuan was magnanimous and treated others with sincerity, holding extremely high prestige among the apprentices.

"What? Such a thing happened? For no reason at all, why would the Martial Academy Alliance tear down our stage and beat our people?"

Wen Yuan frowned.

"It's simply because their apprentice recruitment is no match for ours. The apprentices recruited by their alliance of thirteen martial academies combined only equal ours. They grew jealous, so they started mocking us, sneering that the disciples of the Three Extremes Martial Academy are incompetent and lack any real experts, and even ridiculed the Master for not knowing how to teach apprentices and producing a bunch of good-for-nothings."

"We couldn't help arguing with them, and then both sides started fighting, but we... we were no match for them..."

One of the apprentices reported.

Star Martial Street was a famous street in Herb City. Every year during this period, major martial academies would set up sparring stages on Star Martial Street, where apprentices would spar and showcase martial arts to attract newcomers to learn martial arts.

The Three Extremes Martial Academy had a resounding reputation. Furthermore, there were no strict restrictions on imparting martial arts—as long as one paid, arts would be taught. There was even a chance to practice top-tier martial arts, and occasionally, martial provisions were provided to eat.

With such generous treatment, it naturally became the top choice for many people wanting to learn martial arts.

Although the alliance of thirteen martial academies had also followed the example of the Three Extremes Martial Academy by relaxing the conditions for imparting martial arts, they still could not compete with it.

Ever since the Three Extremes Martial Academy withdrew from the Martial Academy Alliance, friction had frequently occurred between their disciples.

However, this was the first time there had been a public dismantling of a stage and a direct attack.

Wen Yuan acutely sensed that this matter was not simple.

Perhaps someone had intentionally instigated it.

"Senior Brother, among all the apprentices, your strength is the greatest. You must vent our frustrations for the brothers."

"That's right, they are still over there mocking the Three Extremes Martial Academy, causing many people who originally wanted to join us to hesitate."

The two apprentices chimed in one after another.

"Alright, I will go take a look with you. Zhang Shun, go inform Steward Li Quan and have him notify the Master."

Wen Yuan instructed, and together with the apprentices, he headed toward Star Martial Street.

In the training room, Lu Yan was practicing martial arts when he heard a knock on the door.

"Who is it?"

"Master, it is your subordinate."

Li Quan's voice came from outside the door.

"Come in."

Lu Yan said.

He knew that something must have happened; otherwise, Li Quan would not dare to disturb his training.

"Master, trouble has arisen. The sparring ring we set up on Star Martial Street was dismantled by people from the Martial Academy Alliance. They also beat our disciples sent to recruit apprentices, clamoring that the Three Extremes Martial Academy does not know how to teach disciples and that everyone they produce is useless. Wen Yuan has already rushed over there."

Li Quan reported.

"Oh, the Martial Academy Alliance can't wait to suppress us anymore, eh? Who gave them the courage? Li Wenxuan?"

Lu Yan's expression turned cold.

"Master, should we go and take a look?"

Li Quan asked.

"Naturally we must go. Among the disciples, Wen Yuan's presence is sufficient to hold the ground, but I'm afraid that after beating the juniors, the seniors will step forward. Let's go take a look."

Lu Yan strode toward the outside.

On Star Martial Street, a wide open space was surrounded by a dense crowd.

Inside the grounds stood two large wooden sparring rings—one belonging to the alliance of thirteen martial academies, and the other to the Three Extremes Martial Academy.

At this moment, the sparring ring of the Three Extremes Martial Academy had collapsed into pieces, with timber scattered all over the ground.

More than a dozen disciples of the Three Extremes Martial Academy were supporting each other. Most of them were pale-faced with bloodstains at the corners of their mouths, clearly injured.

Opposite the Three Extremes Martial Academy stood several dozen people.

Among them were young men in their twenties as well as middle-aged men in their forties and fifties—all disciples of the Martial Academy Alliance.

A burly and robust-looking man in his forties stood in front of the Three Extremes Martial Academy disciples with a sneer, saying, "Is this your strength? Vulnerable to a single blow! To think you usually boast everywhere, claiming that the Three Extremes Martial Academy is the number one academy in Herb City, and that the Three Extremes Martial Lord is the strongest among all academy masters. With this kind of level, how dare you falsely claim to be number one?"

"Exactly! Although the Three Extremes Martial Lord is strong, his skill in teaching disciples is appalling."

Another disciple of the Martial Academy Alliance shouted loudly.

The faces of the Three Extremes Martial Academy disciples turned beet red with righteous indignation.

Ever since the Three Extremes Martial Academy withdrew from the alliance, friction between the two sides had been constant. In order to build up their reputation, the disciples of the Three Extremes Martial Academy had indeed proclaimed outside that their academy was the top martial academy and the Three Extremes Martial Lord the top master.

"Our Master teaches students in accordance with their aptitude, and his martial arts are unfathomable—not something you people can comprehend."

A robust young man from the Three Extremes Martial Academy shouted loudly.

"Teaching according to aptitude and unfathomable? Then how did he teach you a bunch of good-for-nothings? Not a single one of you can fight! True capability is proven through combat, not bragged about with idle lips."

Duan Feng sneered.

"We've only been practicing for a short time. What level were you at our age?"

The robust young man rebuked angrily.

"Incompetent is incompetent. Giving you more time wouldn't change a thing. Why drag age into this? If you have the guts, step out and fight, and show some real skill."

Duan Feng said coldly.

"I'll come and test you."

The robust young man raged.

"Wang Qiang, don't fall for his provocation. You are no match for him. It's safer to wait for Senior Brother."

Nearby, other disciples of the Three Extremes Martial Academy advised.

"What? Too cowardly to strike? If you lack the skill, you might as well keep cowering. And furthermore, the Three Extremes Martial Academy shouldn't even remain open—it's just swindling people and misleading the youth."

Duan Feng shouted aloud.

"Preposterous! This is intolerable!"

Wang Qiang's face flushed crimson with anger. He strode forward, standing before Duan Feng. His blood and qi surged, his body turning golden, and he threw a punch straight at Duan Feng.

Wang Qiang was one of the earliest six apprentices—apart from Wang Liu, Wen Yuan, and others—to be taught the Indestructible Vajra Skill. By now, his cultivation had broken through its limits three times. Possessing exceptional natural talent, he was second only to Wen Yuan among the apprentices.

Although Duan Feng spoke with scorn and disdain, he did not dare to be careless in his execution. Unleashing the full power of his cultivation—having broken his limits four times with blood and qi overflowing—his fists turned pitch black as he met Wang Qiang's punches head-on.

Bam! Bam!

The two exchanged more than a dozen consecutive blows.

Duan Feng was the Senior Brother of the Divine Fist Martial Academy, having practiced martial arts for nearly thirty years. He had reached the state of peak blood and qi with four limit-breaks, and his mastery of the tier-two martial art, Flowing Stream Divine Fist, was quite profound.

Although Wang Qiang practiced a top-tier martial art, he had only been at it for a short time and his mastery was limited. Moreover, his blood and qi lagged a bit behind, and his practical combat experience was insufficient. After a dozen exchanges, he fell into a disadvantage and was beaten into a continuous retreat.

Bam!

On the twenty-first move, Duan Feng landed a punch on Wang Qiang's chest, sending him flying backward. Wang Qiang crashed to the ground and spat out a mouthful of blood. Fortunately, relying on the formidable defensive power of the Indestructible Vajra Skill, he did not sustain any severe injuries.

"Hahaha, I told you, whatever the Three Extremes Martial Lord teaches turns out to be mere chickens and dogs—vulnerable to a single blow. Everyone must make sure not to go to the Three Extremes Martial Academy to practice martial arts."

Duan Feng declared.

The surrounding commoners could not tell who had the higher realm; they could only judge by who won or lost, and thus they nodded in agreement.

"You defeated Senior Brother Wang Qiang by relying on a higher realm. What is there to be proud of?"

A disciple of the Three Extremes Martial Academy demanded angrily.

"Having a lower cultivation realm means you're just making excuses. You're low in realm simply because you're incompetent."

Duan Feng retorted.

"You've practiced for decades just to reach this realm? Give me ten years, and I'll trample you underfoot."

The Three Extremes Martial Academy disciple said.

"Trying to fool the commoners for another ten years? Ten years after ten years, when will it ever end?"

Duan Feng sneered.

"You..."

The disciples of the Three Extremes Martial Academy were all young and mostly came from impoverished backgrounds. When it came to eloquence, how could they compare to Duan Feng? Their faces flushed red one by one, yet they did not know how to retort.

"What? If you're not convinced, feel free to come and fight. In your Three Extremes Martial Academy, besides the Three Extremes Martial Lord, is there anyone capable of a real fight?"

Duan Feng continued his clamor.

"I will come and test you."

At that moment, a deep and resonant voice rang out. Two figures walked out from the crowd.

One of them was precisely Wen Yuan.

"Senior Brother!"

"Senior Brother is here!"

The spirits of the Three Extremes Martial Academy disciples lifted, and joy appeared on their faces.

"Are you all alright?"

Wen Yuan first checked the disciples' injuries. Breathing a sigh of relief upon finding no serious harm, he stepped forward in front of Duan Feng, cupped his fists, and said, "Wen Yuan of the Three Extremes Martial Academy, here to learn from you."

"You are the Senior Brother of the Three Extremes Martial Academy? Then you must be the strongest disciple they have?"

Duan Feng asked.

"I have merely practiced for a few more years. My junior fellow apprentices possess far greater natural talent than I do. Under the guidance of our Master, given time, they will surely all surpass me."

Wen Yuan said modestly while simultaneously elevating the Master and the academy.

"Don't try to gild the lily for the Three Extremes Martial Academy. Make your move, and let me see what level the strongest disciple of the Three Extremes Martial Academy is at."

Duan Feng said.

"No, you should make your move first. Otherwise, I'm afraid you won't even have the chance to strike."

Wen Yuan said with an earnest expression.

Lu Yan's movement technique was extremely fast, and by this time he had already arrived. Concealing himself in the crowd, he did not reveal his presence immediately.

This was an opportunity to temper Wen Yuan and the others; he wanted to see how Wen Yuan would handle the situation.

After all, flowers in a greenhouse could not go very far; they had to learn to stand on their own feet.

Hearing this now, he could not help but smile. Wen Yuan was truly getting better and better at speaking.

"The masters of the thirteen martial academy alliance are all pretty much here, aren't they?"

Lu Yan's gaze swept across the crowd.

Although the masters of the thirteen martial academies were hiding within the crowd, they were all caught one by one by Lu Yan's watchful eyes.

"I want to see what gave you the confidence to provoke me."

A cold glint flashed in the depths of Lu Yan's eyes.

In the arena, Duan Feng, being treated with such utter disregard by Wen Yuan, burned with anger. Operating the Flowing Stream Divine Fist, he unleashed a continuous chain of punches toward Wen Yuan.