Chapter 38. You really want to see my true form?

To Shiwuhai, the Demon Lord of the Sky, there is a dream.

His dream is to unite the power of the Green Forest and stand shoulder to shoulder with the Seven Fiend Gate.

This is why he has been passing on his martial arts to the young talents of the Green Forest. He wants to manage the thirty-six mountain strongholds and water strongholds through them.

With the number of strongholds now increased to seventy-two, the role of the Twelve Demon Lords has become even more important.

That's why he thought of the Green Forest Conference.

In fact, the purpose of the Green Forest Conference is not to foster camaraderie among thieves. Rather, it is to grant official positions within the Green Forest to the Twelve Demon Lords—positions such as enforcers and patrollers. Only then can the Green Forest be effectively controlled.

Shiwuhai looked at Yin Feng Miao Jun with a gentle smile.

"So, what's the matter?"

"Actually, when I went to deliver the invitation to the Five Peaks Mountain Stronghold in southern Henan Province..."

Yin Feng Miao Jun frankly recounted what happened two months ago. He then subtly extended his right hand, still under treatment, to show the injury.

"So, you lost to a young thief from the Five Peaks Mountain Stronghold? You, one of the Twelve Demon Lords?"

Shiwuhai's face showed disbelief.

After all, it had been over ten years since the Twelve Demon Lords mastered the Dark Heaven Asura Scripture.

Even before mastering the scripture, the Twelve Demon Lords were already high-ranking experts in the Green Forest.

After mastering the scripture, they had never lost to anyone. For one of the Twelve Demon Lords to lose to a young thief from the Five Peaks Mountain Stronghold was simply unbelievable.

"Yes..."

Yin Feng Miao Jun hung his head in shame.

"How old is this young thief?"

"He's not even twenty, I heard."

"Wow!"

At that age, he must have been practicing martial arts for about ten years. That's roughly the same amount of time the Twelve Demon Lords have been mastering the scripture. To lose to him? That's impossible, no matter how talented he is.

"Were you drunk?"

"Yes, a little..."

"Tsk! I could lose to you all if I were drunk. That's why I've been telling you not to drink until you're drunk."

Shiwuhai attributed Yin Feng Miao Jun's defeat to alcohol. It was the only explanation. Of course, even so, it was still hard to accept.

"Have you found out more about this young man?"

"Yes. His name is Lian Jieha. Last year, the chief of the Five Peaks Mountain Stronghold saved him when he was on the brink of death. Since then, he has been living in the stronghold. Recently, he has been known as one of the Five Peaks Ten Heroes."

"Five Peaks Ten Heroes?"

"They are ten thieves from the Five Peaks Mountain Stronghold. A well-known name among the merchants traveling in southern Henan Province."

"Hmm! Did they attend this Green Forest Conference?"

"Yes, I confirmed their faces from a distance yesterday."

"What about the skills of the Five Peaks Ten Heroes?"

"They are considered third-rate in the Green Forest. Only one of them is outstanding, the rest are nothing special. They didn't even dare to meet my eyes."

Shiwuhai nodded in understanding.

Third-rate in the Green Forest means they are just ordinary thieves.

"So, you're saying that among the Five Peaks Ten Heroes, only this young man is useful?"

"Yes. Do you want to meet him separately?"

"If I step in, it will just make him stand out. Just find out if he will participate in the competition. We can meet him afterward."

"Yes."

Shiwuhai then turned his gaze to the Twelve Demon Lords.

"You've heard, right? It's still unknown whether this young man will participate. If he does, don't underestimate him just because he's young."

"Don't worry."

"We'll take care of him."

The Twelve Demon Lords responded firmly.

No one thought they would lose to a young man not even twenty years old.

***

East of Luoyang, in the Wulong Hall of Yanshi.

In the training ground, someone is diligently swinging a sword.

It's Lian Shengbai, the second son. As a martial arts instructor in the Ren Hall, he has been practically living in the training ground lately. He is trying hard not to be looked down upon by the wandering disciples.

Lian Wubai, passing by the training ground, watched him with a pleased look. Since becoming a martial arts instructor in the Ren Hall, Lian Shengbai has been practicing diligently every day.

Currently, there are three martial arts instructors in the Wulong Hall. Lian Wubai himself is in the Tian Hall, his uncle Lian Zhiping is in the Di Hall, and his younger brother Lian Shengbai is in the Ren Hall.

Lian Shengbai, who was in the middle of practicing his sword technique, frowned.

Something didn't feel right.

Lian Wubai approached with a smile.

"Ha ha, what are you thinking so hard about?"

"Ah, Brother. The eighth form isn't smooth."

Lian Shengbai, who was initially formal with his brother after not seeing him for ten years, now speaks more casually.

"Nine Dragon Turning?"

"Yep. It's the only movement technique in the Nine Heavens World Law."

"Right."

"Is there a reason to gather energy by moving nine times?"

Lian Shengbai's confusion is understandable. Moving nine times means giving up nine opportunities to strike. In a real fight, even one strike is precious.

Lian Wubai smiled and replied.

"It means the power of the final ninth form is extraordinary. I heard Father used the ninth form, Thunder Sword Splitting Form, as a finishing move in his lifetime."

The eighth form, Nine Dragon Turning, leads to the ninth form, Thunder Sword Splitting Form. In other words, the energy gathered through the eighth form, Nine Dragon Turning, is used to execute the ninth form, Thunder Sword Splitting Form.

Lian Shengbai looked at Lian Wubai meaningfully.

"What do you think, Brother?"

"About what?"

"Which is better, combining the eighth and ninth forms, or using the ninth form separately? I think using it separately is much better. Let me show you."

Before Lian Wubai could say anything, Lian Shengbai moved.

His feet lightly touched the ground, stepping through nine positions.

Then, he executed the technique of the ninth form, Thunder Sword Splitting Form.

Swoosh.

A sharp sword wind cut through the air.

"This time, I'll just use the Thunder Sword Splitting Form."

Lian Shengbai gathered the power of the Heavenly Dragon Supreme Skill to its peak and swung his sword.

Swoosh.

The sword wind that came out was incomparably stronger than when he combined the eighth and ninth forms. If the combination was a strong wind, this was a typhoon.

Lian Shengbai said proudly.

"The reason the ninth form is stronger when used separately is the difference in focus. We base our techniques on the Heavenly Dragon Supreme Skill. By excluding the eighth form and focusing on the Heavenly Dragon Supreme Skill, it becomes even stronger. What do you think, Brother? Am I misunderstanding something?"

Lian Wubai looked at his brother with a mix of pride and complexity.

"Actually, I had the same thought a long time ago. I even sought advice from Uncle Nangong."

"Ah, you knew too. What did Uncle say?"

"Before seeing the lost Xian Nü Scripture of the Lian family, he said it was hard to make a definitive statement."

"The elders always say the same thing. We should think about what the best option is with what we have now. Don't you think?"

Lian Wubai nodded and said.

"I asked the elders recently, and Father also used only the Thunder Sword Splitting Form. Everyone knew that using the ninth form alone was superior to combining the eighth and ninth forms."

"So, Nine Dragon Turning is like a spare part? It's not useful, but it's a pity to discard."

"But there might be unknown functions within it. So, we shouldn't take it lightly. If we do, the eighth form might not be passed down to future generations."

"I understand that much. I asked you to confirm if my thoughts were correct."

"Did you confirm it?"

"Yep, the Thunder Sword Splitting Form is really an extraordinary technique. Maybe one day I'll be able to release sword qi like you."

"That depends on how much you master the Heavenly Dragon Supreme Skill. Uncle Lian said our cultivation method might have originated from the Kunlun Sect."

"Kunlun?"

"Yep, an old Daoist sect in the borderlands. It's a mysterious sect that doesn't show itself in the secular world."

"In other words, it's excellent?"

"Right. The cultivation method we practice is as remarkable as the lost Xian Nü Scripture. So, there's no need to be discouraged."

"Suddenly, I want to see you perform the Thunder Sword Splitting Form with the Heavenly Dragon Supreme Skill. Can you show me?"

"Hehe! You really want to see the true form of the Thunder Sword Splitting Form?"

"Yep."

Lian Shengbai nodded.

What he can do is just a sword wind. The manifestation of sword qi is a world apart.

"Watch closely."

Lian Wubai walked to the training ground for his brother.

He executed the Thunder Sword Splitting Form with the power of the Heavenly Dragon Supreme Skill, lightning-fast.

Swoosh, swoosh, swoosh, swoosh.

Four sword qi emerged from the tip of the sword.

The sword qi flew about three zhang (about 9 meters) forward and then disappeared.

Lian Wubai, sheathing his sword, regulated his breathing.

"Wow! Amazing."

"Amazing? Father used to release nine sword qi in his prime."

"You're still young, Brother."

Lian Wubai chuckled.

As his brother said, he is still young.

With a bit more time, he might be able to release nine sword qi.

***

Wansiping, Jiangnan.

Finally, the day of the Green Forest Conference arrived.

Chief Shiwuhai announced the competition to the gathered thieves from all over the world. The thieves cheered at the promise of selecting patrollers and enforcers through fair competition.

Unlike the excited other thieves, the Five Peaks Ten Heroes had indifferent faces.

In fact, except for Lian Jieha, the Five Peaks Ten Heroes were not at the level to compete with the chiefs. The only one qualified to participate in the competition was Lian Jieha.

If he participated, winning would be a piece of cake.

However, he had told Yin Feng Miao Jun the night before that he would not participate in the competition. Naturally, the eyes of the Five Peaks Ten Heroes watching the competition were dull.

The sixth member, Zhang Sufeng, glanced at Lian Jieha and asked.

"Lian, are you really not going to participate in the competition?"

"Yes."

"Why? Being a patroller or enforcer would be good."

"It's too troublesome. If I take on such a role, I have to travel around. Why would I do that boring job?"

"True, it would be hard work."

Zhang Sufeng, tired from two months of travel, nodded in understanding.

The number of thieves from the seventy-two mountain strongholds reached over a thousand. To ensure a smooth process, the chief of staff, Wu Jin Ying, personally took charge of the competition.

Hundreds of bandit leaders, including the Twelve Demon Lords, who were the chief's disciples, expressed their intention to seize power through this opportunity.

Initially indifferent, the Five Peaks Ten Heroes became engrossed in the competition as time passed. Most of them were petty thieves or bandits and had never seen a competition of this scale.

Hao Sobei, who had become a martial artist from a laborer, watched with sparkling eyes.

"Still, it's really interesting."

To Hao Sobei, everything in the martial world was fascinating.

At that moment, Guang Dao Ren Jun, one of the Twelve Demon Lords, leaped into the air and released a sword qi at his opponent.

Hao Sobei, who exclaimed 'Ah!' at the scene, asked Lian Jieha.

"Brother, when you fought those bandits in black clothes last time..."

"Hmm?"

"You moved your body several times in the air. Why did you do that?"

She was curious why Lian Jieha didn't use a single strike like Guang Dao Ren Jun, even though flying through the air was impressive.