157: Chapter 157 Gathering of All Parties

In the capital, at the Martial Arts Plaza.

A massive circular platform of bluestone rose from the ground, covering an area of nearly a thousand square meters.

This was the venue for the Grand Martial Arts Tournament.

The surrounding stands were already packed with people.

The highest level of the stands was reserved for gorgeously dressed high-ranking officials and nobles.

They sat on chairs lined with soft cushions, with maids fanning them and pouring tea nearby.

As for the middle section, it was crowded with Jianghu travelers carrying swords and blades.

These people gathered in groups of three or five, talking loudly and spitting while they spoke.

The outermost periphery was filled with commoners watching the spectacle.

They stood on tiptoe and stretched their necks, afraid of missing any exciting moments.

The imperial court held the Grand Martial Arts Tournament primarily to showcase its strength, so naturally, it was organized as lavishly as possible.

The noise was deafening.

Lin Wan was dressed in a crisp Six Doors Flying Fish Robe.

Her hand rested on the hilt of her blade, and her sharp gaze scanned the entire scene.

For such a major event, the Six Doors naturally could not remain uninvolved.

The livelier the event, the stricter the supervision required to prevent any mishaps.

Chen Ran yawned, following behind in boredom.

As a deputy captain of the Six Doors, he had been forcibly dragged here today to be responsible for perimeter security.

"Buck up."

Lin Wan said without turning her head.

"Yes, yes, yes, Lord Lin is right."

Chen Ran replied perfunctorily.

He calculated in his heart that so many Jianghu people were gathered together.

If he could arrest a few and throw them into the Heavenly Prison, how many years of cultivation would he gain?

Seeing Chen Ran's lack of interest, Lin Wan snorted coldly.

"Today is the Grand Martial Arts Tournament held by the imperial court, with all major forces gathering here."

"You had better not cause any trouble."

Chen Ran acknowledged and thought to himself,

"I am just a small Prison Officer, ah no, a small Prison Warden, what trouble could I cause?"

"Instead, you should avoid rushing forward to risk your life the moment you see a thief."

Lin Wan naturally did not know that her subordinate was complaining about her.

Her gaze shifted to the distance of the circular arena, where waves of excited shouts came from the crowd.

"Look over there."

Lin Wan tilted her chin slightly, signaling Chen Ran to look at the plaza entrance.

"The people from the various Sects have arrived."

A sudden exclamation rose from the crowd.

Chen Ran followed their gaze.

Looking up, he saw a group of monks walking slowly into the venue.

They wore moon-white cassocks and held refined steel Zen staffs.

Each of them looked solemn and dignified.

Chen Ran heard someone exclaim not far from him.

"It's the martial monks from the Bodhi Zen Monastery!"

"I didn't expect such a famous Buddhist Sect in Great Wei to actually come?"

The young monk leading them had a dot of cinnabar between his eyebrows.

His eyes were lowered, and his steps were steady and powerful.

Immediately afterward, a dull, vibrating sound came from the ground.

Chen Ran shifted his attention from the Martial Artists talking nearby and looked into the distance.

He saw a group of people walking over, all dressed in uniform short-sleeved martial attire.

Their muscles were knotted, and their skin had a bronze color.

"The people from the Tiangang Sect have arrived too?"

"It seems it's going to be lively this time."

The youth walking at the front had an extremely burly figure.

Every step he took carried an immense sense of oppression.

He casually brushed aside a burly man blocking his path.

The burly man retreated several steps and fell to the ground on his backside.

"What immense strength!"

Someone exclaimed.

Chen Ran watched the youth, a glimmer of interest flashing in his eyes.

This physique was quite interesting.

Following them, a group of women entered.

They wore elegant, plain cyan dresses.

The woman walking at the front was sweet-looking with a gentle temperament.

She wore a faint smile that made people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.

The surrounding Jianghu travelers gave way one after another.

Everyone's eyes were filled with respect.

Chen Ran also learned from the nearby Martial Artists that this was a medical School.

Known as the Ciyin Medical Valley, it was famous for its healing arts that saved the world, and it had an excellent reputation in the Jianghu.

The final group to appear was the Zhengyang Sword Sect.

A group of swordsmen with long swords on their backs strode forward.

The youth leading them had sword-like eyebrows and star-like eyes, with a cold expression, and a heavy sword strapped to his back.

Chen Ran raised an eyebrow.

He recognized the man walking at the front.

He Linfeng.

He had met him once before at the Wenxin Hall Poetry Conference.

This kid possessed a once-in-a-century Pure Yang Sword Body and was considered a famous, up-and-coming Genius.

Chen Ran rubbed his chin and said nothing.

He Linfeng scanned the entire scene with a hint of arrogance.

The swordsmen behind him also had haughty expressions.

The Zhengyang Sword Sect was the number one Sword Sect in Great Wei.

They had the capital to be proud.

In the private seating area at the highest point of the stands, the leading Elders of several Sects were sitting together drinking tea.

They had been specially invited by the imperial court to maintain order.

"Quite a few good seedlings have come to this Grand Martial Arts Tournament."

The Zhengyang Sword Sect Elder sipped his tea.

"That kid Cheng Wuchuan's physique has improved quite a bit recently, hasn't it?"

The Tiangang Sect Elder stroked his beard and smiled.

"Not at all, not at all. He's just simple and honest, his combat power is barely passable."

The Tiangang Sect Elder spoke modestly, but his eyes were full of pride.

Cheng Wuchuan, the number one person in the younger generation of the Tiangang Sect, with a Fifth-Rank Meridian Opening Realm cultivation, could be considered a Prodigy.

Speaking of this, the Tiangang Sect Elder changed the subject:

"If we are talking about outstanding ones, it has to be Bai Nianci of the Ciyin Medical Valley, who was the first to enter the Prodigy Ranking."

The Bodhi Zen Monastery Elder pressed his palms together:

"Amitabha, Benefactor Bai is unparalleled in both medicine and martial arts; I have heard of her as well."

The female Elder of the Ciyin Medical Valley shook her head slightly.

"Nianci has too gentle a nature and does not like to fight."

"Nephew Shi Jingchen is the true Dragon Elephant of the Buddhist Sect; his Buddhist Golden Body is unbreakable among those of the same rank."

The few old men flattered each other, and finally, the topic fell onto the Zhengyang Sword Sect.

"That child He Linfeng, the youngest, is already at the Peak of the Inner Breath Realm."

"He is only one step away from the Meridian Opening Realm, isn't he?"

The Zhengyang Sword Sect Elder smiled without speaking, but his eyes were full of pride.

He Linfeng's talent was rare even in the Zhengyang Sword Sect, and he was the Sect Master's only closing Disciple.

Naturally, he attracted a lot of attention.

The exchange in the private seating area was naturally unknown to those below.

Chen Ran stood under the stage, appearing to be keeping watch.

In reality, he pricked up his ears, listening to the heated discussions of the surrounding Jianghu travelers.

"Who do you think will come out on top this time?"

"It must be Cheng Wuchuan, that physique is simply not human."

"Bullshit, Shi Jingchen's Buddhist Golden Body is invincible."

"Fairy Bai Nianci is not weak either, right?"

"What do you know? He Linfeng is the strongest; he is the closing True Disciple of the Zhengyang Sword Sect!"

"One sword breaks all laws, do you understand?"

Listening to this gossip, Chen Ran secretly noted down these names.

These top Sects and the up-and-coming Prodigies were a blind spot in his knowledge.

"This is a perfect opportunity to observe just how strong the younger generation of the imperial court is," Chen Ran whispered to himself.

Suddenly, a long, resonant horn sounded.

Hum.

The whole place gradually quieted down.

A team of heavily armored imperial guards cleared the way.

Several high-ranking imperial court officials wearing scarlet official robes walked slowly onto the high platform.

The leader was an old man with white hair and a white beard.

His gaze was majestic as he scanned the entire scene.

"By the grace of Heaven, the Emperor decrees."

The old man's voice was loud and clear, spreading across the entire plaza.

"The Grand Martial Arts Tournament officially begins today!"

"This tournament aims to select the talents of the world."

"Anyone who makes it into the top ten may choose to join the imperial court as an official and will receive generous rewards!"

"The one who comes out on top will also receive an imperial treasure!"

As soon as these words were spoken, the whole place erupted.

The Jianghu travelers' eyes flashed with fanatical light.

Joining the imperial court as an official, an imperial treasure.

This was a great opportunity to bring honor to their ancestors.

Chen Ran narrowed his eyes and looked at the high platform.

The show was about to begin.