Starting With The Martial Arts Holy Fire Order

Chapter 38: Show of Strength at the Martial Arts Conference

“Exactly! Our Ming Sect initiated this Martial Arts Conference, so our Leader should be sitting in the principal seat. But instead, it’s been taken by those bald-headed monks from Shaolin and those old geezers from Wudang,” Zhou Dian grumbled, glaring at the Shaolin and Wudang disciples seated to the north.

Ling Yihan shook his head, smiling indifferently.

“Let it go. Dominating the martial world doesn’t depend on petty matters like seating arrangements. True power lies in one’s own strength.”

After some persuasion from other sects, Kunlun and Huashan finally settled their seating dispute.

Ling Yihan surveyed the attendees. Apart from minor sects like Sea Sand and Giant Whale, he noticed Shaolin’s Four Divine Monks—“Perception, Knowledge, Wisdom, and Nature.” Only Kongjian was missing.

Wudang Sect was represented by Zhang Sanfeng’s senior disciple, Song Yuanqiao, who led the Seven Heroes of Wudang, as Zhang Sanfeng was in seclusion practicing his Taiji techniques.

The Emei Sect, of course, was led by Extermination Master Tai, who had brought nearly all her disciples, as Ling Yihan had encountered them just two days earlier.

From Kunlun Sect, both the leader, “Iron Qin Master” He Taichong, and his wife Ban Shuxian were present, along with several disciples, including Xihuazi and Wei Sinian.

The Huashan Sect, without an appointed leader since Ling Yihan had killed their former leaders, “Shenji Master” Xianyu Tong and his brother Bai Yuan, was led by “The Elder Twins.” They managed Huashan’s affairs and were here to represent the sect at Mount Tai.

The Kongtong Sect was represented by the “Five Elders of Kongtong” and their disciples.

As the Ming Sect’s new Leader, Ling Yihan reached the summit with his followers. Although the other sects had past conflicts with the Ming Sect, they all greeted him with feigned courtesy, knowing he held both the Dragon-Slaying Saber and the Heaven-Relying Sword.

As Ling Yihan moved to sit on a wooden chair, he noticed something unusual about it. When he lightly touched it, the chair suddenly splintered, collapsing into pieces on the ground.

“Leader…”

Yang Xiao and other Ming Sect members looked alarmed.

At this, Ban Shuxian of Kunlun couldn’t resist mocking him.

“Leader Ling’s inner strength is truly impressive! A mere touch and the chair falls to pieces. What a remarkable display!” she laughed loudly.

Her words prompted the disciples of other sects to join in the laughter.

Unable to tolerate such disrespect, the Ming Sect members prepared to retaliate.

“Stand down!”

Ling Yihan commanded, and his followers obeyed, refraining from action.

He knew someone had deliberately used hidden force on his chair, intending to make him fall and embarrass himself. Such subtle manipulation required significant skill, likely the work of an expert from one of the Six Sects. The Shaolin monks, Wudang’s Seven Heroes, and Emei’s Extermination Master Tai were all too proud to resort to such tactics.

Given the recent seating dispute between Huashan and Kunlun, they likely had no time to arrange such a trick. Most likely, it was a member of the Kongtong Sect, whose Seven Injury Fist technique could weaken the chair without causing it to break immediately.

“Amitabha! Leader Ling, the chair seems too fragile for you. Allow my two junior monks to offer you a suitable seat,” Shaolin’s monk Kongwen said, rising politely.

Ling Yihan knew Kongwen was known for his calm demeanor and cunning, concealing his emotions well. His sudden offer was clearly not out of genuine goodwill.

As expected, Kongxing and Kongzhi, two Shaolin monks, each lifted a large boulder, weighing four to five hundred pounds, and hurled them heavily toward Ling Yihan.

The crowd watched, astonished.

To catch even one of these boulders would be a feat few present could accomplish. Each stone weighed about four to five hundred pounds, and with the added force of the throw, they could easily total nearly a thousand pounds. A single mistake could lead to broken bones or worse, especially with two boulders thrown simultaneously.

Ming Sect members cursed the monks’ cunning tactics. Dodging the stones would damage the Ming Sect’s reputation, but catching both barehanded was nearly impossible.

As the boulders hurtled toward him, Ling Yihan smirked. He silently channeled his inner strength, leapt into the air, and hooked his hands around the stones, slightly redirecting their descent as he flung them skyward.

He concealed his hands in his sleeves, so it appeared he had used his robes to redirect the boulders. In truth, he’d employed the “Great Teleportation of Heaven and Earth” technique, subtly deflecting the monks’ throw without expending much inner energy.

As one boulder fell after the other, Ling Yihan gracefully sat atop the higher one, descending with the stones.

Boom! Boom!

One stone landed in the ground, sinking deep, while the other rested atop it, sparks flying from the impact and causing the seats of the assembled sects to vibrate.

Ling Yihan, seated on the stone, smiled proudly.

“The skill and strength of these two monks are remarkable. I am truly impressed!”

Kongxing and Kongzhi, dumbfounded, stood in speechless awe.

Silence reigned over Mount Tai for a moment, then the Ming Sect members erupted into cheers, their applause echoing across the mountaintop.