Age of Heroes

Wang Liao Ming and Chen Yanghua are heading to the Xenosian Desert to watch the martial art meet. 

It is one of the most talked about event since the Western Serpent announce it a few years ago, during her clash with the Southern Healer. 

Many of their friends have gone there before them. 

From what Liao Ming had heard in taverns and inns along the way, was that many reputable schools are joining. 

Even the Five Righteous Sect all joins the Martial Arts Meet.

Since they came from Northern Chu it has took them many months before they arrived here in Zettel. 

And not only that, they also have to contend with the bounty put on their heads by the Southern Tai.

From what they heard many martial art school is participating in the Meet to become famous or maybe even dreaming to take one of the title of the Immortals after all Southern Healer is rumored not to participate. 

The disciple of Eastern Devil and Northern Badger also will participate. In the Martial Art world who does not know the famous Thunder Step Liao Bao? 

And who in the martial art world does not know Veiled Little Devil, the disciple of Eastern Devil who is known to be very beautiful, the exotic disciple of the Eastern Devil. 

The school like Ermeishan, Lishan sect, Sun Moon Sect and many more will battle each other for the prize.

They are excited to see all this exciting matches and gained some understanding of martial arts technique. 

Maybe if they are lucky they get to be acquainted with some expert and then they can ask their help in martial arts or maybe such expert would recruit them into their schools or sect. 

They are walking along the forest at the night and the wind blows strong. They are also tired and exhausted.

'We need to make camp, Yanghua' 

'Yes, I agree. It is about to get dark.' Yanghua nodded while looking overhead.

They make camp quickly and then after all is settled they pull out some bread and eat in silence. 

Then after the bread is eaten, Yanghua began conversing with Liao Ming, one who he believes more experienced than him in the matter of the martial art world of some things

'Who do you think will win this martial art meet, Senior Brother Liao Ming?' 

'Hmm' Liao Ming considers. Then he said

'Probably Northern Badger. If not him maybe Eastern Devil.' Yanghua then frowned and ask

'Why not the Western Serpent?' 

'Don't you hear? She is heavily injured by Northern Badger in their last meeting. I was there.'

'Senior Brother Liao Ming was there?' Liao Ming smiles his eyes look at the emptiness of the sky, like he is looking back at the battle all over again

'Yes, after all isn't Northern Badger is one of our organization close friend? Their battle was like a raging god fighting with each other. The forest was damaged and it looks like two great armies clashed there, pulling down roots of tree and cleared out large swathe of land'

Yanghua nodded again. Then he asks

'But then wouldn't Northern Badger also injured? How could Senior Brother make the judgment that Northern Badger might even have the chance to win?'

Liao Ming smiles and then he said

'The Northern Badger is injured, but not too severely. Not to mention, he is one of the oldest member of the Immortals. The oldest is of course the Southern Healer; Abbot Montesquieu. Eastern Devil on the other hand is on his prime condition, young though not too young when compared to us, he is already thirty-seven years old.

'and not to mention Eastern Devil technique is acknowledged to be very vicious. Every one of the Four immortals is even said to try not to offend him too much. He is also very mysterious both in technique ad personality.'

'Hmm, that is true' Yanghua said, clearly admiring his Senior Disciple analysis.

'But why are so many schools and martial arts sects participating? Isn't this Meet to determine who is the strongest among the Four Immortals?'

Liao Ming nodded and then he said

'Well, that is true. But to make it interesting Western Serpent offers the Annals of Divine Medicine and Internal Energy Rejuvenating Pill both created by the Poison Lord, her father to those who win the Meet. Both are a prize that is very precious'

'But even so, won't one of the Four Immortals win?' 

'HAHAHAHA. That is true. Which is why Western Serpent is making a tournament. Anyone who wins the tournament can challenge one of the Four Immortals to take their title or be content with the winning in the tournament and take those two precious treasures as their compensation.' 

'If they win the tournament they have to choose?' 

'Yes, title or treasure. Of course if any one of the martial art school representative win, surely they will pick the treasure. After all they knew their limit. Why rushing to their own funeral? The power of the Four Immortals is like the force of nature. They are not many experts like them in the martial arts world even in that other continent. This is why so many people in the martial art world do not dare offend any of the Four Immortals. This is why they bowed their head to Western Serpent even though she is younger than them. One could say their strength is equal to an army.'

'Why didn't they join the Kingdom guard then? Helping the Kingdom?' 

'It is worldly matter to these experts. They rather train and fight among them then embroiled in the dirty politics of Kings and noble.'

"Hmm" Yanghua nodded. But then his mind remembers something, a rumor he had heard before in a teahouse, a few years ago.

'But I heard there is a noble lord whose strength is not weaker than even our Master, but also a lord of a large territory. Our teacher always says that involving ourselves in the matter of the worldly matters will make our concentration dull and we will not improve in such an environment but from what I heard of this lord he has renowned reputation in the martial art world even though he rarely interferes in the matter of our world'

'You mean Arial the Dragon?' Liao Ming asked

'Yes, that is his name!' Yanghua exclaimed.

'He might be a genius, that is why he could be like that. After all, Eastern Devil in his youth once serves the Kingdom and Northern Badger himself sometimes helps our organization.'

Yanghua nodded.

They are pondering this when suddenly they felt their entire being was assaulted. Every senses they had suddenly went on an alarm as they feel their heart constricting and then suddenly they are attacked with a feeling of dread. 

They unconsciously kneel to the ground by the sheer pressure of this energy. Wang Liao Ming quickly cupped his hand. 

In his mind, there is some expert here, practicing some ultimate technique. After all it is not such coincidence. 

This expert might also be going to the martial art meet. He dares not offend.

'Junior name is Wang Liao Ming. Here is my Junior Brother, Chen Yanghua. I beg expert to let us off.' 

He said but no one reply but then suddenly the energy dissipated. 

For a few minutes they do not dare to make any sudden moves, fearing that the expert is testing them. But after a while they began to believe that the expert has let them off.

'What's that?' Yanghua said clearly puzzled and fearful, remembering the feeling he felt. 

His heart constricted, his hand trembling, and he felt a sense of an impending death was about to descend on him. That is what he feels when he was attacked by that feeling

For a while Liao Ming and Yanghua look around their vicinity to see if someone is looking at them but then they could sense it. 

A malevolent storm of internal energy is concentrated not far away from them. 

'Did you feel that, Brother Liao Ming?' 

'Hmm' he nodded 

They quickly ran to that area. Every time their step nearing that place, they could sense the internal energy. 

Malevolent like a storm. A terrifying amount of internal energy is being outwardly released right now. Liao Ming shudders to think who this person is. 

He almost wanted to run away but his curiosities get the best of him. He wanted to know who this expert is.

Hiding behind a large tree, they peek around that area. They could see a tent and they could sense that wherever this energy came from, it is from that tent. 

They peek from the safety of the huge tree.

And then to their shock, they see a young man, sitting cross legged, in that tent.

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