53: Chapter 53 That little girl's talent is no less than any of yours!

He stared blankly at Su Rui, not expecting the other to have seen through his deepest secret in a single sentence.

Murong Fu's expression shifted unpredictably as he fell silent for a moment.

"You're still thinking of restoring your state? My Master has long said that your path is misguided.

You should first strengthen your own power base, not rush about everywhere pointlessly!"

Sikong Qianluo snorted coldly, her tone laced with a hint of disdain.

Murong Fu's face turned pale then flushed red; hearing these words, he suddenly felt as if enlightened, a sudden clarity dawning upon him.

However, seeing this, Su Rui silently shook his head in his heart — hopeless.

Having said that, truly developing one's power base is easier said than done?

Moreover, Su Rui could almost certainly conclude that even if Murong Fu started developing his power, he would only tread the Evil Path.

This man, in the end, is limited to this.

"I have said my piece. You may leave."

Su Rui spoke faintly.

Hearing this, Murong Fu could only offer a deep bow before leading his few companions away dejectedly.

"Master, you seem quite interested in that young girl?"

Yin Luoxia walked over to Su Rui's side, picked up a peach blossom branch from the table, took his hand, placed the flower in his palm, then consciously extended her own hand, speaking simultaneously.

Li Hanyi: ...

Sikong Qianluo: ...

Mu Liangyue and the other two women: ...

Su Rui: ...

Gently patting three times, Su Rui had completely given up on the notion of making her use the door.

This girl truly loves getting hit.

"That young girl's Aptitude is not inferior to any of yours!"

Su Rui stated.

"What?"

The several women were simultaneously startled.

They had always been extremely confident in their own Aptitude, especially Li Hanyi, who was outstanding even among them.

Even Yin Luoxia herself felt that not being able to match Li Hanyi was her limit.

And now, Master actually said that young girl's Aptitude was so astonishing?

This is simply too outrageous!

"Master, are you lying?"

Sikong Qianluo blurted out.

Those women following behind Murong Fu didn't know the slightest bit of martial arts — this she had seen clearly.

"They don't know any martial arts at all!"

As soon as Sikong Qianluo's words fell, the other women nodded in agreement.

"I know they don't know martial arts. I'm talking about Aptitude!"

Su Rui shook his head helplessly.

"She is Murong Fu's cousin. It's true she hasn't practiced martial arts, but her understanding of the martial studies of the Great Song's Martial Forest is at least seventy to eighty percent! Photographic memory — such an Aptitude can be called a Prodigy!"

Su Rui said slowly.

Sikong Qianluo's eyes widened.

Mu Liangyue and the other women also wore expressions of shock.

"There really are such people in the world?"

Yin Luoxia couldn't help but speak.

One must know, the martial studies of the Great Song are numerous and diverse, with many Schools and styles. Even if one gathered all the world's classics, one might not Master them all in a lifetime.

And this young girl is at most seventeen or eighteen, yet she can achieve this level?

It's simply unbelievable.

"Since I said it, it's naturally true.

Unfortunately, her ambitions lie elsewhere."

Su Rui sighed. Though a Genius, he wouldn't force the matter.

"That truly is a pity."

After hearing this, Yin Luoxia finally understood why that young girl's steps were unsteady, lacking any martial Foundation.

"So you all must not slack off either. Your Master also worked hard like this to get here!"

"..."

"Master, you should just rest properly. If you keep being this amazing, there really will be no way for us to survive!"

Mu Liangyue couldn't help but say.

"Nonsense! One lives to learn till old age. As your Master, I am someone who will step onto the Peak of the martial Dao and establish my own School in the future. How can I stagnate!"

Su Rui put on a stern face and reprimanded.

The several women listened, stunned.

Step onto the Peak, establish a School?

This... this talk is too mystical, isn't it?

"Practice your skills diligently. Your Master will go rest for a while."

Su Rui flicked his sleeve, clasped his hands behind his back, took that peach blossom branch, and swayed leisurely into the room, leaving the women still standing there in a daze.

"Did Master just say 'one lives to learn till old age'?"

Sikong Qianluo looked at Su Rui's retreating back and murmured.

"And said we should cultivate diligently, while he wants to establish a School?"

Mu Liangyue's gaze went vacant.

"And then he went back to his room?"

The Su Sisters said in unison.

"Ahem—" Li Hanyi gave a light cough, thinking how to smooth things over for her Master.

"Master's Realm is far beyond what we can reach. Master can rest, but we cannot."

Li Hanyi spoke with a dry tone.

"Qianluo, come. Master instructed me to properly accompany you in practice!"

"Ah?" Sikong Qianluo's face immediately fell.

Meanwhile, Su Rui lay on the bed, silently pondering whether he should find a more spacious place.

Given his current status and position, as long as he spoke up, he could certainly obtain the most suitable place to open a Martial Arts Hall.

But he didn't want to do it that way.

So Yin Luoxia went to the gambling den to place bets.

Once this tournament ended, five hundred thousand taels of silver should be enough to find a suitable place in Snow Moon City. A bit remote didn't matter.

At least the Disciples could practice with more freedom of movement.

The current small courtyard was indeed too cramped.

Sensing Li Hanyi accompanying Sikong Qianluo in spear practice in the courtyard, with Yin Luoxia and Mu Liangyue watching from the side, Su Rui silently calculated in his heart.

Murong Fu walked out of the Martial Arts Hall.

The onlookers at the entrance saw everything clearly.

His expression wasn't good; it seemed the outcome wasn't ideal.

So what if he entered the second round of the major tournament?

He still failed to catch the Martial Arts Hall Master's Dharma Eye.

Some people secretly gloated in their hearts.

After returning to the inn, Murong Fu sent Wang Yuyan and the other two back to their rooms and took Bao Butong and the other man into his own.

"Young Master, are you pondering the Martial Arts Hall Master's words?" Bao Butong tentatively asked.

"Exactly. A single sentence awakened the dreamer!" Murong Fu's expression was complicated.

Yes, all these years of rushing about everywhere — apart from some empty fame, what had he truly gained?

"Then why doesn't the Young Master return to the Great Song and start anew? We've built up some prestige in the Jianghu over the years.

In the Gusu area, if the Young Master takes action to manage things, you could likely control a region."

Murong Fu was about to nod when his expression suddenly changed. He sharply turned his head towards the window.

A figure was standing outside the window.

"Why must Young Master Murong go to such trouble? An opportunity lies before you now. I wonder what Your Excellency thinks?"

"Who are you?" Murong Fu's hand rested on his sword hilt.

The window opened, and a man with a sinister, cold expression flashed inside.

Seeing the wary expressions of Murong Fu and his two companions, this person calmly found a chair to sit in, leisurely looking at Murong Fu.

"As for restoring a state... we are quite adept."

As soon as these words were spoken, Murong Fu's face changed dramatically.

"Find it strange? Strange how we know?" the man said with a smile.

"At the major tournament, that Martial Arts Hall Master already exposed your identity — descendant of the Yan State!"

Hearing this, Murong Fu nearly lost his grip on his sword.

"Whatever plans you have in Snow Moon City, they won't succeed!"

"Who exactly are you, Your Excellency?"

"Heaven Beyond Heaven," the man replied faintly.

"The Demon Sect?" Murong Fu's expression tightened.

Li Hanyi had once challenged several major Schools with her sword, and it was rumored people from Heaven Beyond Heaven had colluded with her.

"That's what the people of Northern Li call us.

We are also a group with aspirations to restore our state, sharing common ground with you, Young Master.

Our Holy Sect's Sect Master has already stepped into the Half-Step Divine Roaming Realm. This time, Northern Li will undergo a dynastic change. If you are willing to join, we can then send troops to help you revive Great Yan and restore your throne. The day is within sight."

"Half-Step Divine Roaming Realm!"

Though the name was different, Murong Fu now understood what this meant.

This was the Peak Realm of a Great Grandmaster, one step away from becoming a Land Immortal!

Even in the Great Song, experts at the Great Grandmaster level were extremely rare!

Murong Fu had traveled quite a bit north and south over the years.

But he truly hadn't heard of any experts above the Great Grandmaster level.

So hearing now that the Heaven Beyond Heaven Sect Master had reached the Half-Step Divine Roaming Realm, equivalent to the Peak Great Grandmaster of the Great Song, he was so shocked.

Such a Realm was probably already invincible under heaven!

Seeing the shocked expressions of Murong Fu and his two companions, this Demon Sect envoy was clearly very satisfied.

"You share common aspirations with our Holy Sect. And you should understand that now that your identity as a descendant of the Yan State is exposed, and you still intend to restore your state, the things you plan to do next will likely become extremely difficult."

Seeing Murong Fu's conflicted expression, the man added another sentence.

Hearing this, Murong Fu's face turned even uglier.

When he left the Martial Arts Hall earlier, he was still thinking of finding another path, and even felt a trace of gratitude towards that Martial Arts Hall Master in his heart.

But now, anger churned in his chest.

"Your Aptitude is not bad. If you join our Holy Sect, you might even become the Sect Master's Personal Disciple. By then, wouldn't anything you want be within easy reach?" The man spoke slowly, his tone full of temptation.

"Young Master, you mustn't believe his nonsense! The Demon Sect is ultimately the Demon Sect. Our Gusu Murong Family is a renowned, righteous School with a resounding reputation in the Jianghu!"

Seeing Murong Fu show hesitation, Feng Biaoe immediately spoke up urgently to dissuade him.

"That statement is mistaken!"

Bao Butong waved his hand in refutation. Seeing Feng Biaoe's sharp glance sweep over, he coughed lightly and lowered his voice.

"Young Master, your title 'Southern Murong' commands a huge following in the Jianghu, with extremely high prestige. Why trouble yourself wading into Northern Li's muddy waters? Better to proceed according to our original plan, slowly accumulate strength. In the future, we will naturally achieve something!"

"Hmph! Though the Great Song's imperial family may appear weak, its Foundation is solid, far beyond what Northern Li can compare to.

You actually set your sights on the Great Song? I thought you would favor Dali or Western Xia more!"

The man spoke with a cold laugh, his words practically stating they were overestimating themselves.

These words hit right at Murong Fu's concerns.

Indeed it was so.

The Great Song emperor might seem negligent in governance, but the state's power was strong, and the people could still live and work in peace. It was fundamentally difficult to stir up a popular rebellion.

As for external affairs,

there were even Jianghu experts who spontaneously defended the borders.

Such as the couple Guo Jing and Huang Rong guarding Xiangyang, and the Beggars Gang's leader Qiao Feng, whose fame rivaled Great Hero Guo's.

For the time being, no crisis of the Great Song's collapse could be seen.

"What are you still hesitating for?"

The Demon Sect envoy asked in a low voice.

"Are you truly confident? Though Northern Li is not equal to the Great Song, it is also not an easy land to take. Various forces are entrenched there, with many experts!"

This question, once asked, indicated Murong Fu was already somewhat tempted.

"Young Master, you absolutely must not!"

Bao Butong and Feng Biaoe were greatly alarmed and urgently tried to dissuade him.

Once collusion with the Demon Sect was exposed, everything would come to naught.

"No need to say more!"

A cold light flashed in Murong Fu's eyes as he spoke with a steady tone.