Martial Sovereign of the Turbulent World

Chapter 175: Chapter 173: Red Jade Barrier

The hunchbacked old man was dressed like a night watchman. Hearing Su Hui call him, he raised his single, cloudy eye and replied respectfully, "Ten years ago, I made a terrible mistake. If you hadn’t pleaded with the Old Madam for me, Miss, this worthless life of mine would have been over long ago.

"I thought I would never have a chance to repay your kindness in this life... I never imagined these old bones of mine would one day be of use.

"Rest assured, Miss. I know what to do."

A complicated look crossed Su Hui’s face as she said softly, "If anything happens to you today, Uncle Bai, I will treat your family as my own."

"I thank you, Miss."

After giving her instructions, Su Hui’s gaze returned to the field, her expression calm once more. Only occasionally did she glance in a certain person’s direction.

.....

"That guy is so shameless..."

In a crowd of onlookers on the other side, a disguised Tang Jing spat lightly and said with contempt, "All he knows is how to hide behind a woman and send his underlings to die for him..."

"This has always been the way of the gangs."

The man in the trench coat beside him said in a low voice, "The Qinglian Gang is already considered decent for giving out enough silver coins in compensation.

"Some gangs will send people to their deaths and won’t even pay for a cheap coffin afterward. Instead, they’ll turn right around and bully the deceased’s widow and orphans, seizing all their assets..."

A cold glint flashed in Tang Jing’s eyes. "People like that all deserve to die."

"They are all festering wounds from a bygone era. You can’t get rid of them all just by killing."

The man in the trench coat’s voice was low. "They must be guided by progressive ideas, and a new order must be established... Isn’t that exactly what we’re doing now?"

Tang Jing fell silent for a moment before slowly nodding.

.....

When a chest of silver coins was empty, a new one was brought up.

After five whole chests of silver coins were distributed, six White Jade Tokens now sat on the brocade tray before Fu Juemin.

Each token was soaked in the blood of the Qinglian Gang’s lowest-ranking members—these six barriers had cost the gang dozens of men. Three had died violently on the spot, and many more were severely injured or crippled.

Even though Fu Juemin was accustomed to life and death and had long understood that human lives were cheaper than dirt in this world... he couldn’t help but feel the immense weight of the six Jade Tokens on the tray before him.

He glanced at Aunt Ding. Madam Ding’s face still betrayed no emotion, but the killing intent in her eyes was growing stronger.

"The Seventh Barrier—"

Over at the Xuanwu Platform, the men from Martial Arts had already cleaned up the aftermath of the first six barriers.

A powerfully built man dressed in short-fitting attire dangled a Cyan Jade Token in his hand and shot a provocative look toward the Qinglian Gang.

Starting from the seventh barrier, the trial officially entered the "martial combat" phase.

If the first six barriers were primarily a test of "spirit" and courage, then from the seventh barrier onward, the challengers and defenders would be competing in a true test of martial arts and life-or-death combat.

For the first six barriers, any ordinary person with enough guts could give it a try. But for the combat barriers, anyone who stepped onto the platform without sufficient strength would likely be killed in a single exchange.

Madam Ding waved her hand, ordering the chests of silver coins to be taken away and replaced with trays of red paper envelopes.

The red envelopes contained Gold Yuan Banknotes.

Her gaze then turned to the Supporting Seat behind her.

The people sitting in the Supporting Seat knew exactly why they were here. Without a word, one of them soon rose, took a red envelope, and strode quickly onto the platform.

The Xuanwu Platform was shaped like a pyramid, with a small landing every dozen or so steps.

The combat for the seventh barrier took place on the lowest landing.

The Qinglian Gang’s fighter ascended the Xuanwu Platform. He had just cupped his fist in a salute to the brawny defender from Martial Arts when the latter attacked without warning.

Caught off guard, the Qinglian Gang’s fighter lost the initiative and was nearly knocked straight off the platform.

He had just managed to regain his footing and was about to counterattack when, after only two moves, the defender struck him on the forehead with a palm. His brains splattered, and he died on the spot.

"A Tongxuan?!"

In the Qinglian Gang’s Supporting Seat, the faces of many paled.

The man they had just sent up was a Blood Gate Martial Artist. They had assumed that would be enough for a probing attack, but they never expected Martial Arts to send out a Tongxuan Martial Artist from the start!

"They have a Tongxuan Martial Artist defending the seventh barrier, and there are still eleven more to go. Has Zhao Jigang brought every Tongxuan Martial Family from the entire Martial Arts organization here?"

Despite their grim expressions, someone still had to go up.

Soon, a second fighter from the Supporting Seat entered the stage. He, too, was a Martial Artist in the Tongxuan Realm, and the two were evenly matched.

But after more than a hundred moves, the Qinglian Gang’s fighter proved to be a step slower and was knocked off the platform.

"Send another one! This one was no challenge either!"

Having killed one man and defeated another, the Martial Arts defender stood on the steps of the Xuanwu Platform, roaring with laughter. His Qi Blood surged, his posture was arrogant, and his momentum was astonishing.

Another fighter from the Supporting Seat immediately went up. Because the previous challenger had drained much of the defender’s stamina and Vitality, this new fighter managed to defeat him smoothly, winning the first Cyan Jade Token.

A rare burst of cheers erupted from the Qinglian Gang’s side.

.....

"That idiot Zhao Jigang, can’t he change the rules?

Letting them use a war of attrition like this!"

Over on the Woodcutter Gang’s side, Luo Chengying, who was sitting with his legs crossed, heard the cheers from the other side and looked displeased.

Chai Xiong, the Gang Leader of the Woodcutter Gang standing beside him, replied with a smile, "How many Tongxuan Martial Artists are there in all of Shenghai?

"When it comes to Martial Dao experts, how can anyone have more than Martial Arts?

"Right now, it’s a two-for-one trade, and this is still just the Cyan Jade Barrier. After this comes the Red Jade Barrier and the Purple Jade Barrier... Ding Moshan will only have to trade more and more men, and there’s no guarantee she’ll even win the exchange.

"The rule is that each supporting fighter can only take the stage once. Once all her Shrimp Soldiers and Crab Generals are used up, it won’t matter how many ordinary people she sends up; Martial Arts will cut them all down.

"Don’t be anxious, Young Master. Sooner or later... we’ll force that Fu Lingjun to take the stage himself."

As Chai Xiong spoke, he shot a cold glance toward the Qinglian Gang and lowered his voice. "It doesn’t matter if he cowers and refuses to go up.

"Ding Moshan brought a lot of men this time, but she’s already lost quite a few helping that kid surnamed Fu pass these barriers, and she’s bound to lose even more...

"When the time is right, Young Master, give the order, and we’ll rush them. We’ll hack Ding Moshan and Fu Lingjun to pieces right then and there!"

Hearing this, Luo Chengying’s eyes shifted. "Are you sure Ding Moshan only brought these people with her?" he asked abruptly.

Chai Xiong said with conviction, "Rest assured, Young Master. We have our spies in the Qinglian Gang. Ding Moshan has already mobilized most of the men she can draw from her halls. If she were to mobilize any more, it would be against the rules; she could even lose her position as Hall Master.

"Besides, even if she dared, we would have enough time to strike before her reinforcements could arrive..."

"And the Blue-clothed Gang?"

"We’ve already made arrangements with them."

Luo Chengying slowly nodded, his mind finally at ease.

His gaze locked onto the distant figure as a cruel, cold smile played on his lips. He rested his cheek on one hand and patiently continued to watch.

...

A large, blood-stained hand gently placed a Cyan Jade Token onto the tray. Zhang Yi looked at Fu Juemin, his expression calm.

He didn’t say a word, but his silent posture seemed to be a declaration in itself.

Fu Juemin gave a slight nod. Zhang Yi turned and returned to his seat, his back straight and proud.

Zhang Yi was the last to fight in the Cyan Jade Five Gates.

His opponent was a renowned Hall Master Level figure from Martial Arts, a cultivator at the Middle Stage of Tongxuan, bordering on the Late Stage.

Zhang Yi was only at the Early Stage of Tongxuan. Before he took the stage, everyone, including Madam Ding, had considered him mere fodder, sent up primarily to exhaust the opponent.

The result, however, was unexpected. Zhang Yi’s Northern Palm Skill was masterfully executed, and he was barely at a disadvantage against an opponent a stage above him. In the end, at the cost of a severely injured arm, he forced a win in a duel where the odds were stacked against him.

As he left the stage, he was met with a sea of reverent gazes.

’He wanted to prove himself to me,’ Fu Juemin realized, ’so he deliberately chose a powerful opponent. He’s a proud man to the core.’

"The next barrier is the Red Jade Barrier."

Fu Juemin heard someone murmuring and turned to look behind him. The Qinglian Gang’s Supporting Seat was already more than half empty.

Just then, over in the distant seats of the Blue-clothed Gang, the pair of ugly twins from Toad Palace stood up in unison.

They had a strange, swaying gait as they walked side-by-side toward the Xuanwu Platform.