The Martial Arts Forum was one of the leading and most authoritative online forums in the Chinese Martial Arts community. It was also the most popular.
Many martial artists joined the forum to exchange and share their experiences. Sometimes, immortals and even masters from the Realm of the Unfettered would also come online to provide guidance on the forum.
But more often than not, the conversations on the forum went something like this:
“I’m going on a trip to Mount Hua tomorrow. After I jump off the cliff, will I be able to get a hold of the Secret Hacks of Martial Arts? Waiting online now. Very urgent!”
First comment: I’m on the couch!
Second comment: I think you can. But I heard that the masters have weird temperaments. So before you jump, it’s best you take off all your clothes. That way, the success rate might be slightly higher.
Third comment: What if the person asking the question is a lady?
Fourth comment: Then ask for a video.
Fifth comment: Same request!
These funny questions and comments were some of the reasons why so many people enjoyed browsing the Martial Arts Forum when they had nothing else to do.
Today, Li Qiang came online to the Martial Arts Forum out of habit. He planned to browse around to kill some time.
But the Martial Arts Forum seemed a little different today.
Right at the top of the page, a post was pinned and highlighted. Its presence loomed over the entire forum.
“The quadrennial Martial Arts Convention is going to be held soon. The Heroes Ranking will be reshuffled soon!”
Clicking on this post led to an ongoing, lively discussion that was already in full swing.
Second comment: This time, I won’t be watching from the couch. To all the Masters on the Heroes Rankings… would any of you take pity on me and take me under your wing?
Third comment: Pfft. The writer of the previous comment really has no shame. But I would like to join in too. Take me along!
Fourth comment: I don’t eat much and I can warm your bed. Bring me along too!
…
Li Qiang laughed as he read through the comments.
He knew that one of the most important purposes of the quadrennial Martial Arts Conference was to rearrange the order of the names in the Heroes Rankings.
The Heroes Rankings was a list that was recognized by everyone in the world of martial arts. The list ranked the top hundred people who were the best of all martial artists.
This time, he really wondered how many new masters would emerge and how many of the older ones would be ruthlessly eliminated!
Li Qiang was thinking about all the possibilities that could happen when suddenly… a post popped up and hit the front page at rocket speed.
“The Elderly by Heaven, who has gone missing for the past 30 years, is making a comeback. He is going to the Martial Arts Conference to kill the murderer of his disciples with his own hands!”
The Elderly by Heaven?
Who was this?
Li Qiang clicked on the post out of curiosity. After reading for a few minutes, he realized that everyone was just as puzzled and confused as he was.
But soon, there was a reply from the moderator of the forum.
Moderator: The Elderly by Heaven was a top name in the world of martial arts 30 years ago. At that time, he was at the Master Level in the Realm of the Unfettered. He placed third in the Heroes Rankings list. But then, he went missing. For 30 years there was no trace of him to be found. No one knew where he went. But it seems that he’s back this time!
Meanwhile, there was someone who replied, “Just got word that the name of the Elderly by Heaven’s disciple is Yu Qing!”
This news shocked many among the crowd of netizens.
Yu Qing!
Ranked 42nd on the Heroes Rankings list.
Although the ranking was not that high, just the fact that he made it on the Heroes Ranking list meant that he was an extraordinary person.
Who on earth could have actually killed Yu Qing? This mystery person had now provoked a master! A master who had disappeared from the earthly world and was living in seclusion. And now, he was making a reappearance because of this mystery man.
Meanwhile, the older generations of martial artists commented on the post. They were popularizing the prowess of the Elderly by Heaven and talking about how powerful he was.
Eventually, more and more netizens began to show their support for the Elderly by Heaven. There were even a few of them that started to taunt the person who had killed Yu Qing but did not dare to show his face.
“Who knows, he probably used some despicable, underhanded means to claim victory, right?”
“Yes, that must be it! Or maybe he used a gun?”
“I too, feel that something is not right. If he was able to kill such a highly skilled man, why would his name still be unknown?”
These speculations made the situation more and more unfavorable for Xue An.
But there was one person who saw these comments and was filled with righteous indignation. This person stepped forth and began speaking up for Xue An.
This person was none other than Tan Dong’s daughter, Tan Xiaoyu.
After seeing those slanderous remarks meant to malign Xue An, she felt her anger rising uncontrollably.
After everything that had happened, she was undoubtedly convinced by Xue An’s powers and skills.
Because of this, she could not hold herself back as she pounded on the keyboard to type her reply. “I am a friend of the man who killed Yu Qing. I won’t tell you who he is, but what I can tell you is that, with just one fist, this highly skilled master landed a single punch that killed Yu Qing!”
This online post stirred up a hornet’s nest of comments. Many netizens replied with sarcastic and scornful remarks.
“A single punch? Hey poster above me, I think you must be dreaming!”
“Exactly! We’re talking about an expert who’s ranked 42nd on the list. And you’re saying that someone can take him out with just one punch?”
“Hur-hur! It’s just another online poster that’s full of arrogance!”
Tan Xiaoyu was so angry that her face flushed red. She pounded on her keyboard again and typed her reply, “Don’t believe me? Very well, let’s make a bet. For this Martial Arts Convention, I bet that my friend will win. If I lose, I… I will run about stark naked!”
Replies from the netizens instantly skyrocketed.
“Gosh, I just took a look and saw that the poster is actually a young lady!”
“I’ve also taken a look. Her profile photo might be a little blurry, but her looks are definitely eight points and above!”
“I’m really looking forward to this Martial Arts Convention now!”
“Pin this post to the top of the page! Take a screenshot of this post as evidence! Take note of the profile!”
The Internet was abuzz with an influx of comments because of this Martial Arts Convention.
But Xue An was completely oblivious to all of this furor. Nowadays, his mission was to bring his two daughters to the lake to fish, then return home to think of different ways to cook the fish by updating his recipes.
Today, he was sitting by the lake. His two daughters were happily playing in the sand next to him.
But this rare scene of relaxation and comfort was quickly disrupted.
Tan Xiaoyu walked over with a solemn expression on her face.
She had asked Qin Yu where to find Xue An, and she was directed to Cloud Dream Lake.
Upon arriving, she found Xue An fishing leisurely in a carefree mood.
“Mr. Xue…” Tan Xiaoyu said respectfully as she bowed her head.
Xue An raised his head, took one look at her, and then nodded in acknowledgment.
“Can I help you?”
Tan Xiaoyu gritted her teeth. “Mr. Xue, are you aware that, right now, the Internet has been turned topsy turvy because of you?”
Xue An was slightly stunned for a moment. Then he shook his head and said, “What’s going on?”
Tan Xiaoyu gave him a rundown of what was going on.
When he was done listening, Xue An gave a faint smile but did not say anything.
Tan Xiaoyu, on the other hand, was visibly worried.
“Mr. Xue, my father said that with your level of cultivation, you have great power and immense talent and can even communicate with the gods. But the Elderly by Heaven is not an ordinary person. So you have to be careful!”
Xue An nodded and said, “Is there anything else?”
Tan Xiaoyu was suddenly a little angry.
She came over out of goodwill and with kind intentions. She wanted to warn him so he could prepare himself for the inevitable fight. But she had not expected Xue An to be so indifferent.
“Mr. Xue… I think that it’s best if you step forward in person to make a response. If not, it will cause public opinion to become more and more unfavorable to you!”
But Xue An did not seem to have heard her. Instead, he was looking at the misty waters and the vast expanse of Cloud Dream Lake in front of him.
“Look at this lake; do you think it’s big?” Xue An suddenly asked.
Tan Xiaoyu froze for a moment, then nodded and said, “Yes. It’s very big.”
“Do you think that I can catch all the fish with this one fishing rod?”
Tan Xiaoyu did not understand what Xue An was trying to say. She stood there, shaking her head. “How can you possibly do that?”
Xue An smiled faintly. He held up the fishing rod in his hand and gently raised it.
The calm and serene lake suddenly began to bubble furiously.
As Xue An slowly lifted the rod higher, countless fish emerged from the water’s surface. It was as though a giant, invisible hand was holding them up. The fish gradually floated up into the air.
Tan Xiaoyu’s breath was caught in her throat as she looked on in awe.
When she took a closer look at Xue An’s fishing rod, she was shocked to realize that there was no fishing line attached at all.
Xue An said indifferently, “You all think that he’s powerful, but in my eyes, he’s just like Cloud Dream Lake. It may seem big, but… there’s always something bigger and more powerful.”