Chapter 239: Chapter 228: Foresight
In the living room of the Xingyun Sect’s lodgings.
Sect Leader Lu Chaohuan dismissed the servants and maids, handing a thin booklet to Courtyard Head Yang Lin.
"This is intelligence we’ve gathered over the past three years. Please take a look, Brother Yang."
"Intelligence?"
Yang Lin took the booklet curiously. Opening it, he found it filled with dense, minuscule script.
It was filled with the names, ages, origins, cultivation levels, martial arts, cultivation techniques, and rough strength assessments of the disciples from every nation participating in the tournament...
"Younger Brother Lu, you’re really something else! To think you’d have something this good!"
Yang Lin’s eyes lit up as he exclaimed in delighted surprise.
"I can’t take all the credit."
Lu Chaohuan shook his head with a smile. "This is the result of a joint effort between us, the Li Yang Sect, and the Southern Suppression Sect. The imperial court also provided significant help. It was just compiled into a booklet a couple of days ago."
"That must have taken a lot of work."
"Of course. But all the sects from the other nations are on their guard, so the reliability of some of this information is questionable. Use it as a rough guide, but don’t take it as gospel."
"Got it. Let me take a look."
Yang Lin focused his attention and began to speed-read through the booklet.
The further he read, the graver his expression became. He muttered to himself, "It seems the other nations have all gotten much stronger than they were three years ago."
Lu Chaohuan agreed, "Yes. We’ve been improving, but so has everyone else."
Yang Lin said no more, continuing to read page after page. When he flipped to the last one, he saw six words written in the header: Chief Disciples of the Four Nations.
He raised an eyebrow and began to read it slowly and carefully.
The first entry read: Bolta, from Wuzhu, of the Wuchuan Sect.
Age twenty-nine, Third Layer of the Blood Realm, Earth Attribute.
Martial Arts: Gathering Body Skill, Heavy Mountain Fist.
Assessment: Heavily built and tall; his strength and durability are world-class.
According to multiple sources, Bolta has cultivated his Heavy Mountain Fist to the Fifth Layer. Augmented by the Gathering Body Skill, he is powerful yet not sluggish.
Weakness: Lacks agility in close quarters.
"I knew it would be him!"
Yang Lin slapped his knee and sighed. "Bolta made it to the top four in the last tournament, only losing by a narrow margin to that year’s champion."
"Now, three years later, the other three from the top four are all over thirty. He’s the only one left. I’m afraid he’ll be unstoppable!"
Lu Chaohuan didn’t reply, simply gesturing with his eyes for him to keep reading.
’Could there be someone even stronger?’
Puzzled, Yang Lin continued to the next entry.
Mai Kun, from Weizi, of the Flame Sect.
Age twenty-six, Second Layer of the Blood Realm, Wind and Fire dual attribute.
Martial Arts: Wind Flame Palm, Crimsonflame Legs.
Assessment: Wind and fire enhance each other. Empowered by Wind Attribute True Qi, his Wind Flame Palm surpasses even the Fiery Flame Saber. Mai Kun seized the position of chief disciple two years ago and has since received the full-force cultivation of three Flame Sect elders.
Weakness: Overly reliant on the fire attribute; his wind attribute is comparatively weak, leading to an imbalance in his dual-attribute cultivation.
Reading this, Yang Lin said in surprise, "I remember Weizi’s strongest disciple was Su Mu. He’s thirty this year, which should be a huge advantage. To think he actually lost to a disciple four years his junior."
Lu Chaohuan said, "Correct. And that was two years ago, when Mai Kun was only twenty-four."
"Incredible!"
As he spoke, Yang Lin turned to the third entry.
Li Taiqing, from Xiuzhao, of the Cyan Bamboo Sect.
Age twenty-six, Second Layer of the Blood Realm, Wood Attribute.
Martial Arts: Yin Wood Palm, Ancient Vine Strength.
Assessment: The Yin Wood Palm is a signature technique of the Cyan Bamboo Sect. Once mastered, it overcomes the elemental weaknesses to Metal and Fire. The Ancient Vine Strength is incredibly resilient. The two techniques, one offensive and one defensive, complement each other perfectly.
Weakness: Has only risen to prominence in the last six months. He was not highly regarded by his sect before this, and thus lacks practical combat experience.
Yang Lin’s face was full of doubt. "When did this Li Taiqing pop up?"
"Mai Kun from Weizi might be young, but at least he participated in the last tournament. I’ve never even heard this guy’s name before."
Lu Chaohuan chuckled and explained, "It’s because he cultivates the Yin Wood Palm. It’s a rather peculiar cultivation technique. It’s not a gradual progression; before one reaches the stage of Great Accomplishment, it possesses very little power."
"But once mastered, one’s strength increases dozens of times over!"
"It’s said that Li Taiqing was a complete unknown until the second half of last year, when he finally mastered the Yin Wood Palm. He then swept through the disciples of the two major sects in Xiuzhao and leaped to the rank of chief disciple."
"So that’s how it is!"
Yang Lin sighed emotionally. "In past tournaments, the strongest disciples from every nation were usually veterans from the last one. This time, though, it’s mostly newcomers, and they’re so young. The new generation is truly formidable!"
As he spoke, he began reading the introduction for the final disciple. Halfway through, his expression changed, and he drew in a sharp breath.
Basang, from Wuche, of the Vajra Sect.
Age twenty-four, Second Layer of the Blood Realm, Thunder Attribute.
Martial Arts: Sealing Wolf Slash, Thunder Blade Fist.
Origin: Son of a herdsman from Fenglang Mountain. Before he began his martial arts training, he lived a feral existence alone in the mountains.
Exceptionally gifted. By observing wolves and goshawks hunting, he developed his own Fist Skill, tempering his body by fighting wild beasts.
At the age of seventeen, the Vajra Sect elder Sa Tianshi discovered his Thunder Attribute talent and brought him back to the sect to be cultivated with all their resources.
Upon seeing the name Sa Tianshi, Yang Lin’s heart sank.
Years ago, he had fought his way into the top four of the tournament and had a real chance at the championship, but he was defeated at the hands of Sa Tianshi.
The man’s tyrannical Thunder Attribute Boxing Skill was something he found unforgettable, even to this day.
"Elder Water Mirror said that Sa Tianshi had taken a disciple. That would be this Basang?"
"Yes, that’s him."
Lu Chaohuan nodded. "People with Thunder Attribute talent are as rare as morning stars. Sa Tianshi searched for decades; I never thought he’d actually find one."
Yang Lin glanced at the final part of the entry on the page. There were only two lines of text.
Assessment: His strength and speed are peerless in this generation. Among those of the same cultivation level, his Thunder Attribute attacks are invincible.
Weakness: None.
Yang Lin stroked the upturned ends of his mustache, a look of realization dawning on his face. "I remember now. The disciple from Wuche that Huo Shan sent assassins after... that was Basang?"
Lu Chaohuan nodded lightly. "The very same."
Yang Lin spat lightly. "You know something? That old bastard Huo Shan has a sharp eye. If it were me, I’d want to take a shot at killing this Basang too."
"He’s only twenty-four! Including this one, he can participate in a total of three tournaments. How is anyone supposed to deal with that!"
Lu Chaohuan teased, "Careful, Brother Yang. If you keep talking like that, you might tempt me to do something."
Then, his expression turned serious. "Do you think anyone from our Great Yue can defeat these four? Or, for that matter, even one of them?"
Yang Lin gave a wry laugh. "Younger Brother Lu, you’ve put me in a tough spot."
"No matter how impressive this all looks on paper, it’s all hearsay until you see it with your own eyes. How do you expect me to make a judgment?"
Lu Chaohuan said calmly, "Then make your estimate based on what’s on paper."
Yang Lin thought for a moment, then slapped his thigh. "Alright, I’ll give you my wild guess, and you can take it for what it’s worth."
Lu Chaohuan sat up straighter, assuming a posture of rapt attention. "Go on!"
Yang Lin closed the booklet and sank into thought. After a long while, he finally said, "It’s grim. I dare say if these four were to fight one-on-one against the top four from the last tournament, they’d win easily."
"Let’s take the chief disciples of our Great Yue’s three major sects: Xiao Jin, Huang Guanglie, and He Liancheng. In our last internal competition, He Liancheng was the strongest."
"If He Liancheng were to face Basang or Bolta, he wouldn’t stand a chance. Against Mai Kun or Li Taiqing, his odds of winning are less than thirty percent."
"That low?"
"You think his chances are better?"
Lu Chaohuan’s gaze was piercing. "Brother Yang, the one I actually want to ask about... is Zhao Lin."
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