My Martial Arts Level Never Drops

Chapter 450: Chapter 206: Golden Rainbow

They fought for their lives as blasts of Anjin whistled through the air.

...But to Qin Fang, this clash between Anjin Martial Artists was like watching children roughhouse.

...And yet, they clearly weren’t just roughhousing. This was a fight to the death...

Their moves were vicious. More than ten people were already dead.

The two Anjin Martial Artists soon had a victor. The loser, heavily wounded, immediately declared he was willing to relinquish control of the market to end the fight.

But his opponent clearly had no intention of leaving him alive... After another brutal exchange, the heavily wounded Anjin Martial Artist finally leaped into the river and fled.

The victor wanted to give chase and finish him off, but ultimately decided against it...

...’They’re both at the Anjin level. Defeating an opponent is easy, but killing one... that’s certainly not a simple matter.’

The victorious side cheered. Then, at their Gang Leader’s signal, they moved from man to man, finishing off the wounded from the opposing side before tossing their bodies into the river.

The surface of the Chujiang River immediately turned crimson...

Qin Fang watched from beginning to end from within the reeds, finally letting out a soft sigh.

’True Martial County was destroyed three years ago. Has this new group of people already formed gangs?’

’...It really is a dog-eat-dog world.’

’Whenever people gather in groups, the law of the jungle always returns.’

’...There will always be those who strive to climb to the top and seize more resources.’

After shaking his head, Qin Fang stopped paying attention. He continued on his way, hoping to find a Treasure Fish.

Not long after, he saw Four Directions City on the riverbank...

’...So this is the new site of True Martial County’s county seat.’

’It’s not on the original site... because that place has already become a swamp.’

’But it’s not too far from the original location, near the edge of that Palm Seal.’

There was still a large amount of wooden scaffolding and the like near the city walls, which were still under construction.

The massive Five-Finger Swamp Country had now become a natural harbor. He could see merchant ships and Official Ships docked there; it was surprisingly bustling...

Qin Fang watched from a distance with no intention of entering the city. He continued along the riverbank, heading downstream...

But this time, too, he returned empty-handed.

He found no Treasure Fish.

After returning to Old Ox Back and spending two more days gathering some honey and Bee Meat, Qin Fang mounted Xile and took a roundabout route toward Lanyang City.

「Seven days later」

After taking a detour, Qin Fang returned to Lanyang City.

When the massive Xile appeared again, it still caused quite a stir.

...As a Prefecture City, Lanyang City saw a large number of people from various counties arriving for the first time every day.

When these people saw Xile galloping across the Great Cloud Marsh, they were all stunned speechless.

”A demon, a demon!” they stammered in panic.

But the local residents of Lanyang City, having seen it a few times, had gradually grown used to it.

”That’s no demon, that’s a Spirit Beast from the Heavenly Gang Upper Sect... See? The one riding on its back is a big shot from the Heavenly Gang Upper Sect.”

They explained with a smile to those who were seeing Xile for the first time.

Leaving the newcomers gaping in astonishment...

Finally, someone murmured.

”As expected of a Prefecture City... Someone... actually keeps a demon...”

...Unintentionally, Qin Fang and Xile had become the most shocking sight these people witnessed upon setting foot in Lanyang City.

...Perhaps many of them would return to their hometowns and talk about this for the rest of their lives.

They would tell the younger generation... about the prosperity and wonders of the Prefecture City.

And even how the big shots in the Prefecture City raised demons...

And because Xile had appeared a few too many times now, Qin Fang’s entry into the Inner City and Outer City barely caused a stir anymore.

He returned to the Sect without any trouble, but as soon as he reached the mountain gate, he noticed the atmosphere was off.

The Outer Sect and Inner Sect Disciples were all whispering about something.

Until someone spotted Xile.

A few Inner Sect Disciples saw Qin Fang, and their eyes immediately lit up.

”Senior Brother Qin!”

”Senior Brother Qin! You’re finally back!”

The moment Qin Fang returned to the Sect’s grounds, he was surrounded by several flushed and agitated Inner Sect Disciples. Their faces were a mixture of frustration and urgency, which left Qin Fang feeling a bit baffled.

”What’s... going on with you all?”

”Senior Brother, you don’t know yet?”

One disciple blurted out, speaking rapidly, ”People from the ’Golden Rainbow Sword Sect’ are here for an ’exchange’ with our Sect!”

”The Golden Rainbow Sword Sect?”

Qin Fang blinked.

He had heard of the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect.

It was a Sect from the neighboring Jinlan Prefecture.

Its status in Jinlan Prefecture was comparable to the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect’s status in Canglan Prefecture.

’...In recent years, Qin Fang had been cramming knowledge about the Extraordinary Domain, so he naturally knew about the Great Yu and, in particular, the situations of the sects in the nearby prefectures.’

”An ’exchange,’ my ass! They’re just here to cause trouble!!”

another disciple said, grinding his teeth.

Qin Fang frowned. ”One at a time... What exactly is going on?”

The Inner Sect Disciples then began to explain angrily.

It turned out that three months ago, a group from the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect had arrived at the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect.

Most were senior members of the Elder rank, but there were also some True Disciples and Inner Sect Disciples among them.

”Among them is a guy named Zhao Yuanling, who calls himself one of the ’Golden Rainbow Seven Sons’... We heard he’s a True Disciple from one of the Golden Rainbow Seven Peaks. He’s only in his early thirties, but his Cultivation has already reached the True Essence Third Realm... Rumor has it he’s a once-in-a-century prodigy of the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect.”

”At first, everyone was quite curious about him, but we never expected him to be so arrogant! Not two days after arriving, he set up an arena, saying he wanted to ’experience’ the skills of his peers under forty in our Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect!”

As the disciples spoke of this, looks of shame and anger crossed their faces. ”As a result, several of our Senior Brothers and Sisters in the True Essence Realm who are under forty went up one after another... only to be defeated one after another!”

”The guy cultivates some kind of Sword Dao Leaf Skill, and he’s truly powerful.”

”Normally, in an exchange between peers, no one cares too much about winning or losing... But the infuriating part is that Zhao Yuanling not only fought viciously, injuring several of our Senior Brothers and Sisters, but he also ran his mouth... He said things like ’The Leaf Skills of the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect are all flash and no substance’ and ’The Martial Artists of Canglan Prefecture are nothing special’... He’s gone too far!”

”Everyone is furious now! The really powerful Senior Brothers and Sisters are past the age limit, so they can’t fight. And the Elders can’t intervene because of their status...”

A slightly older disciple looked at Qin Fang with pleading eyes. ”Everyone has been waiting for you to come back! Senior Brother Qin, you have to do something! You have to teach that Zhao Yuanling a lesson and redeem the honor of our Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect!”

After listening, Qin Fang’s brow furrowed slightly...

’A sect from a neighboring prefecture just shows up for a ”sparring session” out of the blue?’

He quickly thought of something.

’...When he had been worried about the threat the Three Religions posed to Canglan Prefecture, his Master had told him, ”The Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect isn’t the only sect in the Great Yu.”’

’Could it be...’

’...that the Sect invited the Golden Rainbow Sword Sect to help deal with the Three Religions?’

he mused.

’But...’

’This plotline where the reinforcements show up only to slap the hosts in the face...’

’...feels strangely familiar...’

Looking at the agitated disciples, Qin Fang’s expression didn’t change much. He nodded slightly and said, ”I think I understand the general situation... But I’ve just returned and don’t have all the details. I’ll look into it first.”

Seeing this, the Inner Sect Disciples hurriedly and respectfully agreed.

Qin Fang rode Xile straight up the Heaven-Reaching Road and back into the Sect proper.

The disciples at the gate had looks of anticipation in their eyes...

”Senior Brother Qin is hailed as the most talented disciple the Heavenly Gang Wuji Sect has seen in a hundred years!... He’ll definitely teach that Zhao Yuanling a lesson and show him how powerful our Sect is!”

”Speaking of which... I’ve never actually seen Senior Brother Qin fight...”

”Let’s go, let’s go, back to the Sect! There’ll probably be news soon...”

They all rushed back into the Sect.

Leaving only the few Inner Sect Disciples on guard duty, who were anxiously scratching their heads!

”We... We want to watch too!”

”ARGH! Why did Senior Brother Qin have to come back on the one day I’m on duty?!”

They couldn’t even focus on guarding the gate.

Qin Fang rode Xile all the way to his Master’s place of quiet cultivation.

”Come up.”

His Master’s voice echoed from the peak.

With a few leaps, Xile was at the top of the peak.

”Master.”

Qin Fang bowed respectfully.

His Master looked Qin Fang up and down, then a smile touched his lips. He nodded gently and said, ”It seems you’ve made considerable progress... Sit.”

”Yes.”

Qin Fang walked over and sat down on a meditation cushion.