Chapter 50

In Xiao Ran's plan, the branch meetings of the Dimensional Martial Assembly would be held in every town, but at the beginning, the scale couldn't be so large, so the main meeting of the Dimensional Martial Assembly was held in Gusu City!

Before dawn, a large crowd had already gathered outside the meeting place!

Hua Xun, who had once listened to Xiao Ran's lectures, also came, carrying a burlap bag that occasionally trembled and made clucking sounds—it contained two old hens!

He and his brother stood far away from the people in fine clothes.

His brother timidly said, "Brother, are these people also here to congratulate Master Xiao's Martial Assembly on its opening?"

"That one over there is Wang Dazhang, Wang Million. When I first entered the city, I smelled the fragrance from his tavern, and my mouth watered at the time."

"Look at the gifts he's bringing..."

Hua Xun looked at the pearls and jewels on Wang Million's carriage, his face turning extremely grim. He said, "For Master Xiao's opening... no matter what, I have to come!"

Just at that moment, the door of the Martial Assembly opened, and Murong Jiumei walked out, addressing the crowd, "Today is the opening day of Master Xiao's Martial Assembly. However, Xiao Ran has always disliked fuss, so he didn't invite people to beat gongs and drums."

"Everyone can go in and sit down, take a look, and understand how the Martial Assembly operates, and what items can be exchanged!"

When Xiao Ran used to tell stories, Murong Jiumei often tried to attract customers, and now she was getting better at it, exuding a bit of a businesswoman's aura!

The crowd, holding their gifts, walked towards the reception area, and the announcements of gifts began to sound out!

"Chen Xiang, the Three Rings Swordsmen, presents a golden-threaded robe..."

"The Three Lakes Martial Alliance's leader, Tie Wushuang, who loves talent, presents a pair of jade walnuts..."

"Jiang Beige, the great hero of Jiangnan, presents a bottle of Jade Essence Pills..."

"Master Shenxi of Mount Emei presents a handwritten manual of the Seven Divine Swords of Emei by the founding master..."

"Gu Siye, the invincible boxer, presents a set of Heavenly Gang Star-Crushing Fist techniques..."

"Wang Million, Wang Dazhang, presents a coral tree and a pair of jade walls..."

Just the first few gifts made the crowd burst into excitement. The names of these people alone were enough to command respect and admiration in the martial world!

Now they were personally bringing such valuable gifts!

The golden-threaded robe was said to be woven from celestial silk, the silk of the celestial golden silkworm, light as a girl's bellyband, yet impervious to blades and fire, a top-tier treasure!

Tie Wushuang was even more renowned; the jade walnuts were said to be a pair of naturally grown walnuts, with the ability to calm the mind, priceless and invaluable!

Jiang Beige, though less experienced than Tie Wushuang, had a reputation that rivaled his. The Jade Essence Pills were even more remarkable, said to be made from 130 top-grade herbs, capable of increasing one's martial arts prowess by a year with just one pill.

They were always in demand but never for sale, and no one would part with them!

Now, Jiang Beige was giving a whole bottle, a truly generous gesture!

Master Shenxi of Mount Emei, though slightly less famous, was presenting a handwritten manual by the founding master, containing not only the essence of sword techniques but also the master's insights, the lifeblood of Emei. Even if you slaughtered the entire Emei Sect, Master Shenxi would not hand it over!

Now he was giving it to Xiao Ran!

Was he mad?!

Gu Siye was the patriarch of the Gu family, a renowned hero in his youth, and a contemporary of the great hero Yan Nantian!

Now, as the head of the Gu family, the Heavenly Gang Star-Crushing Fist techniques were the family's most treasured possession, said to be forged by the famous blacksmith Ouyezi from meteoric iron!

Wearing them did not hinder finger movement and made one impervious to blades, while also enhancing one's true qi.

Such a treasure, and he was willing to give it away!

The crowd had just begun to offer their congratulations, and these top-tier gifts had already stunned everyone!

With these gifts, Wang Million's coral and jade walls seemed insignificant!

But the announcements did not stop!

"Lord Nangong presents ten thousand acres of fertile land..."

"The martial alliance leader of Guangdong and Guangxi, the third son-in-law of the Murong family, presents a jade-cutting sword..."

"Venerable Dafang presents a handwritten copy of the Diamond Sutra..."

The previous guests were all led in by Xiao Ran's disciples for tea, but upon hearing the name Dafang, Xiao Ran personally came out to greet him!

Hearing Dafang's name, those who had listened to Xiao Ran's lectures smiled knowingly, realizing that the two were indeed close friends, and Dafang, who usually secluded himself, had come to congratulate Xiao Ran!

Xiao Ran bowed to Dafang and said with a smile, "I spoke some frivolous words under your name earlier, I hope you can forgive me!"

Dafang returned the bow and smiled, "Master Xiao spreads the Dharma to the world, a great virtue. A monk's minor reputation is nothing!"

"Master Xiao has the spirit of the Zen patriarchs, scolding the Buddha and cursing the ancestors. If one practices the Dharma, one should be a true disciple of the Buddha!"

Xiao Ran laughed heartily and led Dafang to his seat!

At this moment, the announcement outside sounded strangely, "Brothers Hua Xun, present two old hens..."

The crowd burst into laughter, and Xiao Ran rushed outside, seeing two young boys standing at the reception area, their faces red with embarrassment, as if they wanted to bury themselves in the ground!

Xiao Ran approached them, and Hua Xun, the boy who had once dared to challenge Xuanyuan Sanguang, now seemed to have lost all his courage, not even daring to lift his head!

Xiao Ran nodded at him, "You're Hua Xun, right?"

"Very good, you've already broken through the first level of body training."

"You don't need to be embarrassed. This is actually the most precious gift I've received today!"

Xiao Ran's eyes swept over the laughing crowd, who were all stunned, not understanding why he said this!

Xiao Ran continued, "I'm not just comforting you! These divine weapons and treasures are valuable, but to their owners, they are just gifts."

"But these two old hens are everything your family has!"

Xiao Ran had passed through Hua Xun's village during his travels and knew a bit about his family's situation!

Hearing Xiao Ran's words, the previously laughing crowd suddenly felt embarrassed, realizing how shallow they had been, and felt ashamed!

Xiao Ran then smiled at Hua Xun, "Did you steal the chickens, aren't you afraid your mother will spank you?"

Hua Xun replied, "I'm thirteen, my mother won't spank me anymore!"

"Then what will your mother do without the chickens to lay eggs?"

"I and Xiaogouzi have found jobs in the city, we can support my mother. I will definitely practice hard and make her live a good life!"

Xiao Ran nodded with a smile, "Very good! I have high hopes for you!"

He then turned to Zhang Jing, "Since they've given gifts, they are guests. After today, find them jobs in the assembly!"

He then had Zhang Jing lead the two boys inside.

The crowd looked at the two boys with envy, knowing that getting a job in the Dimensional Martial Assembly was something many people dreamed of!

They had spent so much effort and money, but these two boys had achieved it by simply bringing two old hens!

Master Xiao's actions were truly strange!

At this moment, someone said, "I understand, how could Master Xiao care about such trivial things? He values the sincerity of the gift-givers!"

"His broad and proud spirit, the master's demeanor, is truly unlike anyone in this world!"

At this moment, a carriage approached from a distance, not overly luxurious, but exuding an indescribable nobility, making people feel inferior and hesitant to defile it!

Everyone held their breath when they saw the ink plum blossom embroidered on the corner of the carriage!

Only those with some knowledge of the martial world could recognize what it was!

In the past twenty to thirty years, there was no more famous symbol in the martial world!

Some keen-eyed people even recognized the elegant young man driving the carriage as the most renowned young hero in the martial world, the successor of the Yihua Palace—Hua Wuque!

With Hua Wuque as the driver, the identity of the person in the carriage was clear!

The scene fell silent as Hua Wuque stopped the carriage and respectfully pulled open the curtain.

Two stunning beauties descended from the carriage!

These martial heroes, who had already seen beauties like Murong Jiumei, Zhang Jing, and Su Ying, felt they had already been treated to a feast for the eyes!

But these two women were unlike any ordinary mortals, as if they had descended from the heavens!

They looked similar, one wearing a cloud-like palace dress, her long skirt trailing to the ground, her long hair flowing over her shoulders, her eyes filled with indescribable wisdom!

The other, with her clothes fluttering in the wind, was as white as snow, her hair like a cloud.

Everyone felt she was like a celestial being, but no one dared to look at her face, for it would be a desecration of the world!

She exuded an irresistible aura, always high above, untouchable!

These two could only be the Yihua Palace mistresses, the only two world-renowned beauties and martial experts of the past twenty to thirty years, who could have such an aura!

Everyone's hearts raced, the Yihua Palace, and even the Yihua Palace mistresses, had come to congratulate Master Xiao!

All the previous guests combined could not match the status of these two, Master Xiao's face was truly great!

In their excitement, no one heard what the Yihua Palace mistresses had brought as gifts!