Chapter 41

The news of the Black Heaven Alliance's downfall and the announcement of the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's grand opening spread rapidly across the Central Plains at a dazzling speed.

While the martial world was well aware of the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's attractive goods, no one had ever imagined that this guild would become the new power in the Jiangxi region, replacing the Black Heaven Alliance.

Of course, when the news first broke, most people laughed it off. However, the subsequent rumors left everyone speechless.

The rumor that reached them was the alias of the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's chairman.

Sword God Zhao Hui.

The emergence of this young swordsman, who had mastered the sword techniques of the legendary Sword God, sent the entire martial world into a frenzy.

Witnesses who had seen his martial prowess firsthand were pouring out all sorts of legendary martial arts techniques.

Intent-Form Sword Aura.

Sword Control Flight.

Qi-Driven Sword Technique.

Sky-Ladder Ascension.

If the eyewitness accounts from the people of Jiangxi were true, this was a major event in the martial world.

Until now, no young swordsman in the history of the martial world had ever reached such a level at such a young age.

Naturally, the martial world was eager to participate in the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's grand opening, not just to celebrate it, but to witness the emergence of this new absolute expert with their own eyes.

As everyone was just watching and waiting, the Wu Emperor, the leader of the Martial World Alliance, suddenly declared his intention to participate.

This news from the Martial World Alliance became the catalyst.

The Nine Great Sects, including Shaolin, Wudang, Huashan, and Kunlun, also announced their participation, and numerous minor sects, including the Five Great Families, followed suit.

It was the first time in hundreds of years since the founding of the Martial World Alliance that all orthodox forces had united to participate in a grand opening of a single faction.

In front of the inner courtyard of the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's headquarters.

Amid the bustling crowd preparing for the grand opening, Zhao Hui was shouting at the workers.

"Hey! I told you not to install fireworks there!"

One of the workers, on the roof of a pavilion adorned with red banners, hastily bowed to Zhao Hui.

"Sorry! Chairman!"

Zhao Hui frowned.

If fireworks were installed on that roof, the carefully decorated banners might catch fire.

"I'll say it again! No fireworks on pavilions decorated with banners! Understand?"

"Yes! Chairman!"

Zhao Hui wanted to make the grand opening a grand event.

A grand opening is like a large-scale gathering in the martial world.

The grander and more magnificent it is, the better the atmosphere.

How the grand opening is conducted will determine the image of the Zhao Family Merchant Guild. It's not something to be stingy about.

As Zhao Hui was directing the workers, Zhuge Yun came running up.

"Huff, huff! Wait! Wait a moment! Chairman!"

Zhao Hui, who was about to move to another location, looked at Zhuge Yun.

"Why are you running around like this?"

Zhuge Yun, still in disbelief, pulled out a secret letter from his robes.

"Huff, huff... Look at this!"

"Hmm?"

The secret letter Zhuge Yun pulled out had a clear white tiger pattern.

"White Tiger...?"

Was there a sect in the martial world that used the white tiger as its symbol?

As Zhao Hui tilted his head in confusion and took the secret letter.

"The Sima Family has lifted its seclusion!"

"What, what did you say?"

The Sima Family, a martial family that had been in seclusion for hundreds of years and had not interfered in the martial world at all.

"They are coming to our Zhao Family Merchant Guild!"

Zhao Hui's face was filled with shock.

"The Sima Family is participating in our grand opening?"

When martial people talk about the greatest sect, there is always a precondition.

'If the Sima Family does not lift its seclusion.'

This is the evaluation of the Sima Family from the Great Battle of Xuewai to the present day.

Their reputation is on par with the 'Heavenly Demon' of the Ma Sect, a truly heaven-like existence in the orthodox forces.

The martial deity who single-handedly ended the tragic Great Battle of Xuewai, the great martial artist's family.

For some unknown reason, they declared seclusion right after the Great Battle of Xuewai, and that seclusion has continued for hundreds of years.

But now, that great family has lifted its seclusion and declared its return to the martial world.

'Why...?'

Zhao Hui couldn't easily understand.

During the long years, the martial world has faced numerous crises, large and small, but they never interfered in martial affairs.

Yet, they lift their seclusion in this era of peace, when the Martial World Alliance, the protector of the orthodox forces, is at its strongest?

What could a martial deity's family, which claims to be the guardian of the orthodox forces, have to do in such a peaceful era?

-It doesn't seem to be just because of the gravitational pull of the Lingyu.

The calm voice of the Heavenly Master.

The venerables of the Dugu family used the 'cause and effect manipulation' ability of the Hunse Tianyu, consuming vast amounts of spiritual energy to break the life-sealing technique that bound them.

However, no matter how powerful such cause and effect manipulation is, can it be strong enough to break the long-standing beliefs of a family?

No one could guarantee such a phenomenon.

'Then what is it? If they lifted their seclusion, why did they immediately participate in our grand opening as if they were waiting for it?'

-I don't know either.

Zhao Hui clenched his teeth for a moment.

Until now, all the attention of the martial world was on the Zhao Family Merchant Guild and the Little Sword God.

But at this timing, the martial deity's Sima Family suddenly lifts its seclusion and, of all things, participates in the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's grand opening, revealing its might after hundreds of years?

It's obvious that all the attention of the martial world will shift from the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's grand opening to the Sima Family.

No matter how he thought about it, this was like sprinkling ashes on his own event.

-Destruction! Sweep them all away!

-They must all be killed and eliminated!

-That's just the kind of people they are!

As the ancestors of the Zhao family raged, Zhao Hui's expression suddenly changed.

'Wait, hold on!'

After some thought, he realized it wasn't as frustrating a situation as he initially thought.

Several ideas for leveraging the Sima Family's immense reputation came to mind.

The ancestors of the Zhao family, reading Zhao Hui's thoughts, were shocked and speechless.

-What...! Huh! At a time like this?

-This, this madman!

This descendant is becoming more and more terrifying the more he encounters.

The Sword God's worried voice echoed.

-How about using martial prowess to punish them and break the pride of the martial deity's family?

'I don't want to!'

They are charging in with the intention of challenging him; he couldn't treat them with such a merciful method. Hehe.

Most importantly, the Sima Family, being a martial deity's family, likely has martial artists even stronger than the Wu Emperor or the Zixia Sword Saint.

If he rashly engaged them in combat and lost, the Zhao Family Merchant Guild's grand opening would be over.

Reading Zhao Hui's thoughts, the Sword God's voice sounded dejected.

-Don't you have confidence in the realm you have achieved?

'Well, I'm just at the absolute pinnacle right now.'

The Sword God laughed in exasperation at Zhao Hui's response.

-There are countless people who, despite dedicating their entire lives to martial arts, cannot even reach the realm of transformation, let alone the absolute.

Zhao Hui smiled and replied.

'Don't compare me to ordinary people.'

-Your martial arts are so extraordinary that it's meaningless to categorize them by realm. You should have confidence in yourself.

Zhao Hui's martial arts, a perfect blend of the Sword God's sword techniques and the Devil God's demonic techniques, were pioneering a realm never before seen in the history of martial arts.

Given that the great martial artists, the Sword God and the Devil God, were genuinely impressed, Zhao Hui's martial arts were truly beyond the heavens.

'Hmm, I understand.'

After a long moment of contemplation, Zhao Hui looked at the stunned Zhuge Yun.

"The Sima Family's participation won't change anything. Let's proceed with the plan."

"No, we need to address the immediate issue. We should send them an invitation, right?"

Zhao Hui firmly shook his head.

"No, we won't send it."

"Huh?"

Zhuge Yun, with a bewildered expression, asked.

"The Sima Family! The greatest family in the world! And you're not inviting them?"

Zhao Hui smiled.

His scheme starts with not sending the invitation.

"Yes, understand and handle it accordingly."

"Ha...!"

If the Sima Family is not officially invited, it will undoubtedly bring significant repercussions to the Zhao Family Merchant Guild.

"I don't care. I will follow the instructions. You can hold me responsible later."

"Should we have a witness?"

"I don't care! I'm leaving!"

Zhao Hui, watching Zhuge Yun, who was walking away with a sinister smile, for a while, then lifted his iron sword into the air.

Zhao Hui, jumping onto the iron sword, suddenly looked toward the northern sky.

It was time to see the people he missed.

* * *

Whoosh!

Hundreds of water buckets, filled to the brim, instantly froze.

The Ice White Heaven technique, Xue Xue Bai Tian Xia, had reached its peak.

Han Xuebai stood in the center of the dark ice chamber, with a face filled with regret.

Still in disbelief, he examined his hands.

At that moment, a door at the top of the stairs opened, and a familiar voice echoed.

-Dinner.

Even before checking the food, a bitter taste rose in his throat.

He knew it was the damn dumplings without even looking.

Boiled dumplings, steamed dumplings, fried dumplings, stir-fried dumplings, dried dumplings...

He never imagined there could be so many ways to prepare dumplings.

At first, he thought all the food in the Central Plains was dumplings.

But after occasionally experiencing special meals, he began to look forward to special days like a hungry wolf.

It was hard to believe that a person could become so