Chapter 59: Hidden Dragon 98
Lu Changfeng made an inviting gesture.
He led Gongsun Wu into the Martial Arts Hall’s main parlor, and the two sat facing each other across a tea table.
"My apologies, Elder Gongsun. My seclusion this time was a bit long." Lu Changfeng raised his cup, using tea in place of wine, and drained it in one go.
Gongsun Wu took a sip of tea and shook his head. "It’s no matter to me, Master Lu."
"But do you know what rumors have been spreading about you while you were in seclusion?"
Lu Changfeng’s hand, holding his teacup, paused for a moment. "What are they saying?"
"Basically, everyone is saying that you, Master Lu, are afraid of Sikong Jue!"
"They’re saying you’re a coward who doesn’t dare to step into the ring!"
Lu Changfeng just smiled. He didn’t really care about such things.
Especially now that he had the Longevity Sword Dao, his entire mindset had undergone a major shift.
His previously established plan—to build a reputation in Jiangnan Prefecture, befriend people from all circles, and copy their Root Bone Talents—could actually be completely discarded.
A new path had opened up: collect Swordsmanship techniques to increase his Lifespan, and lie low for a thousand years before making his debut.
He shook his head, clearing his mind of these distracting thoughts.
Lu Changfeng asked with a smile, "Elder Gongsun, you don’t think that way too, do you?"
’I was *this* close to believing it myself,’ Gongsun Wu thought. Of course, he couldn’t possibly say that out loud. "Master Lu, you’re overthinking things. I’ve always believed in your spirit. My own strength may not be much, but I’d like to think I’m a good judge of character."
"Otherwise, I wouldn’t be the one arranging the duels at the venue."
"Ahem, Master Lu, so... how about we schedule the match for tonight?"
Lu Changfeng nodded lightly. "Tonight it is."
Lu Changfeng was also eager to see what level his strength had reached.
Sikong Jue would be an excellent whetstone for his sword.
With the matter settled, Gongsun Wu turned and left.
Lu Changfeng had a servant bring him the newspapers from the past few days.
As expected, many of the papers had articles about him, most of which suggested that Lu Changfeng had chosen to run away out of fear.
A few of the articles were particularly vivid and sharply worded, making even the normally calm Lu Changfeng’s blood boil a little.
In truth, this was all Gongsun Wu’s doing. He had genuinely thought Lu Changfeng was scared and had used these provocative tactics to try and force him out.
Unfortunately, Lu Changfeng had been in genuine seclusion and hadn’t seen any of it.
Lu Changfeng took out the latest issue of the *Hundred Knows Thousand*.
This newspaper, run by the Thousand Knowledge Sect, was the most outstanding publication in the Martial Arts Realm, not just in Jiangnan Prefecture but in all of Song Country.
The ranking lists it published were recognized throughout the entire Martial Arts Realm.
Lu Changfeng unfolded the *Hundred Knows Thousand*. Aside from a small section for news, the rest of the paper was filled with all sorts of ranking lists.
The most eye-catching lists were the Celestial Tier, the Earth List, the Azure Dragon, and the Hidden Dragon.
The Celestial Tier listed ten people, considered by the Thousand Knowledge Sect to be the ten strongest individuals in Song Country today. Each was a legendary figure.
Some of those at the top of the list hadn’t been seen in the Martial Arts Realm for decades, or even a century.
Ranked tenth on the Celestial Tier was the current prominent figure of the Martial Arts Realm, the Profound Nether Sect Leader, Lii Tianxing.
The Earth List ranked thirty people, all renowned experts just below the Celestial Tier.
The Azure Dragon List ranked fifty people, exclusively Bone Refining Realm Martial Sects, representing the backbone of the Martial Arts Realm.
The Hidden Dragon List ranked one hundred people, mostly Tendon Transformation Martial Artists, with a small portion being Blood Forging Martial Artists.
Naturally, Lu Changfeng’s name was nowhere to be found on these four lists, even though he was now a famous Swordsman on Five Horses Street.
The Hidden Dragon List included geniuses from all seven prefectures of Song Country. The mere third-best Swordsman of Five Horses Street was not yet worthy of inclusion.
However, if he defeated Sikong Jue, that might change.
Lu Changfeng’s gaze fell to the ninety-eighth spot on the Hidden Dragon List, where the name "Sikong Jue" was written.
Hidden Dragon #98, Sikong Jue. Reason for ranking: Reached the Blood Forging Sixth Layer at nineteen, condensed a corporeal Sword Intent at twenty-one. Extraordinary potential.
If Sikong Jue had chosen to advance to Tendon Transformation, he would likely have climbed much higher on the Hidden Dragon List.
However, the fact that Sikong Jue could make the Hidden Dragon List with only a Blood Forging Realm cultivation was a testament to how highly the Thousand Knowledge Sect regarded his potential.
Lu Changfeng glanced over the list. Across the entire Hidden Dragon List, a mere twelve people had been included with only Blood Forging Realm cultivation.
On average, that was less than two people per prefecture in all seven prefectures of Song Country.
It was no wonder the Broken Moon Sect had taken the initiative to recruit Lu Changfeng after he displayed Talent on par with Sikong Jue’s.
Such Talent was indeed worthy of attention.
"Ten Great Blood Forging Realm Swordsmen of Jiangnan Prefecture..."
Lu Changfeng finally found his name on a smaller list tucked away in a corner, also compiled by the Thousand Knowledge Sect.
On this list, Lu Changfeng was ranked fourth.
Ranked ahead of him were Fengy Jiu, Sikong Jue, and Bai Yimeng, respectively.
’This Fengy Jiu must be the number two Swordsman on Five Horses Street, right under Sikong Jue. I didn’t expect her to be a woman.’
’Sikong Jue is only ranked second among all the Blood Forging Swordsmen in Jiangnan Prefecture?’
’Bai Yimeng...’
Lu Changfeng took a moment to read Bai Yimeng’s description on the small list.
Bai Yimeng, Disciple of the Divine Sword Sect, the foremost of Jiangnan Prefecture’s Ten Great Sects.
Reached the Blood Forging Sixth Layer at seventeen, comprehended a corporeal Sword Intent in the same year. Now twenty-two, she is known to still be in the Blood Forging Realm, but her specific Realm and the level of her Sword Intent are unknown.
’The Divine Sword Sect, huh? Then it’s no surprise. Her Root Bone Talent probably far surpasses that of an ordinary genius,’ Lu Changfeng thought.
The Divine Sword Sect, also known as the Divine Sect, was one of the top three Sects in Song Country.
The Divine Sword Sect, the Saint Demon Sect, and Yunfo Temple were the three most powerful Sect forces in Song Country for the past thousand years.
The Sects’ histories could be traced all the way back to Ancient Times.
Dynasties rose and fell, but these three Sects had never faded away.
Bai Yimeng had no public battle record, but for the all-knowing Thousand Knowledge Sect to rank her as the number one Blood Forging Swordsman in Jiangnan Prefecture, they must have had their reasons.
’We’ll have a chance to meet.’
’And when that time comes, no matter what Root Bone Talent you have, I’ll copy it for myself.’
Lu Changfeng grinned, folded the newspaper, and went to the training grounds to instruct his Disciples.
The sun rose and fell.
The sky grew dark.
Night had come.
The Disciples of the Changle Martial Arts Hall rested early, then rushed to the venue to grab good seats to watch their master’s match.
Zhou Feng’s Round Saber Martial Arts Hall also took their disciples to cheer for Lu Changfeng.
Lu Changfeng, with his sword, had at some point quietly slipped out of the Martial Arts Hall alone.
He stood on the shore of Jiangzhou’s central lake, gazing at the distant Misty Rain Tower in the middle of the lake, still shining brilliantly with lights in the night.
"That Sikong Jue’s Talent is quite good. From what I know, something seems to have changed about him recently. He’s gained some sort of special secret." Reeking of perfume, Zhao Xingtian appeared at Lu Changfeng’s side.
"Oh? And how would you know that?" Lu Changfeng asked, curious.
Zhao Xingtian yawned. "You know how it is. The sources of information in the pleasure districts are always many and varied. Besides, as a Young Sect Leader, I’m quite popular at the Misty Rain Tower."
Lu Changfeng: "..."
"How much silver is this information worth?" Zhao Xingtian asked seriously.
Lu Changfeng rolled his eyes. "What’s the difference between you telling me that and not telling me anything at all? I still have to face him in the ring to find out the truth."
Zhao Xingtian scratched his head and dropped the act. "I’m serious. Lend me five thousand taels of silver. My expenses at the Misty Rain Tower have been a little high recently."