Chapter 405: Chapter 404: I Have One Condition
"So, Brother Shi is not originally from Mirror State."
After their conversation, both parties had a deeper understanding of each other, and Yu Fei and his junior sisters all felt relieved.
Given Shi Xiaole’s age and strength, if he were from Mirror State, it would have been impossible for him to remain so obscure.
"By the way, have you three ever heard of Maple Forest Cottage?"
The main reason for coming to Mirror State was to find Maple Forest Cottage and investigate the clues about Shi Xuanzhong and his wife. Shi Xiaole naturally would not miss the opportunity to inquire.
"Maple Forest Cottage?"
Yu Fei and the others were stunned.
The junior sister named Wang Xuemei said, "Legend has it that Maple Forest Cottage is a piece of movable land that appears at any place in Mirror State every year on the seventh day of July."
"And on that day, any martial artist who discovers Maple Forest Cottage has the chance to receive guidance from the cottage master."
Seeing their awe-filled faces, Shi Xiaole asked, "Is this cottage master’s martial arts very proficient?"
"It’s more than proficient."
Yu Fei expressed a speechless look and said, "Back then, the top master of Mirror State, Yuan Zhizi, who reached the peak of Dragon Gate Realm, accidentally found Maple Forest Cottage and challenged the cottage master. But, he couldn’t even handle a random move of the cottage master."
Shi Xiaole was slack-jawed listening to this.
"Brother Shi, do you know about the land chart? That mysterious cottage master has been ranked 69th on the land chart fifty years ago."
Listening to their explanation, Shi Xiaole came to understand that the so-called land chart was a list compiled by Divine Strategy Academy, the most powerful intelligence organization in Flying Horse Dynasty.
The targets listed were all the top masters within the Flying Horse Dynasty — only 72 people in total.
It’s conceivable that these 72 people are super masters who have astonished the world. Their strength is extraordinary; rarely seen in the world!
Shi Xiaole, of course, had heard of Divine Strategy Academy, but did not know much about the land chart. Moreover, he suddenly had a doubt: as the most potent intelligence organization of the Flying Horse Dynasty, why didn’t it have any branch in all eight states?
"For ordinary people, the appearance of Maple Forest Cottage is entirely random, but I’ve heard a rumor that if you can get a Maple Forest Red Leaf, it can guide you and help you find Maple Forest Cottage."
Yu Fei was staring at Shi Xiaole, subconsciously thinking that he wanted to get the cottage master’s guidance to become a super master famous throughout the dynasty.
Being a martial artist, especially the youth, who doesn’t dream of making a name in the martial world?
"How can I find the Maple Forest Red Leaf?"
Shi Xiaole asked casually, with no real hope in mind.
Unexpectedly.
Yu Fei suddenly whispered, "My third Senior Sister once encountered a strange man who seemed to know how to find the Maple Forest Red Leaf."
The mention of this instantly alerted Shi Xiaole that this matter must be very secretive. He chortled and said nothing; until everyone had rested, then he asked via whispering, "How, may I ask, can Brother Yu teach me?"
"Brother Shi, this secret, apart from my master and mistress, the third Senior Sister has only told me; thus for you to obtain the method demands the impossible. However, an opportunity is presenting itself."
"What opportunity?"
Shi Xiaole asked.
"My third Senior Sister is the biological daughter of our Sect Master and is already twenty-seven years old, but still unmarried. Thus, my master and mistress have forced her into marriage by arranging a martial arts contest."
"My third Senior Sister naturally disagreed, but under the threat of severance by our master and mistress, she had to back down and set a rule that she would agree to marry anyone who could defeat her and the five masters she would appoint."
"Originally, given the skills of my third Senior Sister, there would not be many rivals among young men under thirty. However, unexpectedly, even ’Young Master Flame’ Zhang Qiuhua has signed up."
At this point, Yu Fei shook his head with a bitter smile.
’Young Master Flame’ Zhang Qiuhua, is one of the top ten young geniuses in Mirror State, born into the top tier faction Wind and Fire Sect. He is only twenty-eight years old but has already achieved great success in practicing the Fierce Fire Divine Skill, a first-class cultivation technique, becoming an unmatched opponent amongst his peers.
Knowing that he was joining the martial arts contest, the master and mistress were overjoyed. However, my third Senior Sister wasn’t willing to marry him, but she knew she couldn’t refuse him either, hence she kept delaying the contesting due to her distress.
However, before this trip, the master gave a final deadline that the contest must be held on the eighth day of next month.
Shi Xiaole was powerful, but in Yu Fei’s view, he still couldn’t compete with Zhang Qiuhua.
After all, Zhang Qiuhua’s cultivation, comprehension, martial arts realm, and combat skills have already reached an unparalleled level among his peers, achieving numerous amazing feats.
In Mirror State’s vast land, there are countless talents, and only nine other people can be considered his peers.
But apart from Shi Xiaole, Yu Fei couldn’t find anyone better, and time was pressing, he had no time to find other people.
"You want me to help your third Senior Sister by targeting those contesting suitors?"
Shi Xiaole looked puzzled.
"Brother Shi, my third Senior Sister has announced that whoever passes her selection and becomes one of the five favored masters will receive eight hundred Mystic Crystal Stones, and if he can defeat all the suitors for her, he will receive five thousand Mystic Crystal Stones."
Being the daughter of a top-tier faction in Mirror State, the Heavenly Jade Sect, Yu Wenxiu could afford these Mystic Crystal Stones.
Considering her level of cultivation, while these Mystic Crystal Stones couldn’t help her make any significant progress, they were still a huge fortune, and it was the same for others.
That’s why the master and mistress were annoyed, and the candidates kept coming. They could not only gain Mystic Crystal Stones but also make a name for themselves, so why not?
"Brother Shi, if you can defeat Zhang Qiuhua, perhaps the third Senior Sister will tell you how to find Maple Forest Red Leaf. What do you think, will you go with me to the Heavenly Jade Sect?"
Though doubtful of Shi Xiaole’s chances of success, Yu Fei had no choice but to do his utmost to ’bewitch’ him for the sake of his Third Senior Sister.
"Five thousand Mystic Crystal Stones?"
Shi Xiaole gave a quiet laugh.
Since becoming an Incense Master of the Demon Alliance, he had been able to collect ten Mystic Crystal Stones every month. Over the years, he had managed to accumulate hundreds. Adding another five thousand might not be a major help, but something is better than nothing.
The most important thing was not to miss an opportunity to gather information about the Maple Forest Cottage. Therefore, Shi Xiaole accepted, "In that case, I’ll impose upon you."
"Ha ha ha, Brother Shi, you’re doing me a favor. I should be the one thanking you," Yu Fei replied, appearing not too excited.
If Shi Xiaole was ranked among the top ten talents of Mirror State, or even a top-five-level young expert, Yu Fei would have been jumping for joy.
...
The Heavenly Jade Sect was located on Heavenly Jade Mountain, to the north of Mirror State.
Aside from servants and handymen, the sect had around 300 members. The Sect Master Yu Cheng was renowned as the ’Soaring Azure Dragon’, a top-tier expert of Mirror State with a level-nine cultivation in Dragon Gate Realm.
Beneath Yu Cheng were three other Dragon Gate Realm elders and twenty-three experts at the peak of level-nine Spiritual-Passage Realm. Those at levels eight and seven of Spiritual-Passage Realm numbered over a hundred.
The remaining members were disciples of excellent talent.
In terms of both quantity and quality, the Heavenly Jade Sect was a powerful force. Each of their members was capable enough to fight off ten opponents. Few in the Martial World of Mirror State dared to provoke them.
Lately, because of the marital arts competition for the hand of Yu Wenxiu, known as the ’Flower Bud Sword’ and the precious daughter of the Heavenly Jade Sect, throngs of young and highly-skilled fighters had gathered around Heavenly Jade Mountain, preparing to show their mettle on the day of the contest.
Shi Xiaole, following Yu Fei and his party, arrived at the Heavenly Jade Sect and was guided to a courtyard rich with blooming orchids.
"Why the hell are they all here?"
In the pavilion of the courtyard, a woman tying her hair into a lofty coil of braids angrily balled her fist. With a swift strike of her sword, she split a stone pillar ten feet away in two. The cut surface was as smooth and neat as if it had been polished with great labor.
"Third Senior Sister, don’t be angry,"
A group of young men and women exchanged glances, all responding with a helpless, bitter smile.
In the Martial World, the number of high-level female warriors was significantly smaller. Among them, a woman like their Third Senior Sister, who was as beautiful as a fairy, and with such a high degree of aptitude, was one in a million. Of course, the young heroes would be swarming.
Albeit not being included among the top ten talents in Mirror State, everyone knew that Third Senior Sister herself was a first-rate talent with close ties to several of the top ten talented individuals. Being warm-hearted and generous, she also had a deep friendship with Young Master Flame Zhang Qiuhua and Young Master Aoyun Lin Aotian.
Who would have known that these two would both register this time to compete and win her hand, revealing their wolfish nature? Naturally, this infuriated the Third Senior Sister who had always considered them friends.
The challenge lay in the fact that even after adding herself to the five people she’d found so far, they would still be no match for either of the two Masters.
Or maybe they should say that, within the age limit of those eligible to participate in the contest, unless some of the remaining top ten talents entered the fray, no one in the entire Mirror State could match either of the two Masters.
Third Senior Sister had tried to solicit the others to be her decoy suitors, but given the participation of the two Masters, those individuals were not about to stick their noses in and meddle with the situation.
It seemed that this time, Third Senior Sister was doomed.
As they were thinking this, they heard the sound of footsteps approaching from outside the courtyard.
"Third Senior Sister, I’m back."
With a loud laugh, Yu Fei strode into the yard.
Yu Wenxiu called out to her sixth junior brother and fell silent, clearly still angry.
"Eh, Sixth Junior Brother, who’s this friend?"
The other young men and women became excited immediately when they saw the unfamiliar Shi Xiaole. He had an irresistible charm that compelled them.
"Ha ha, this is a friend I met outside, and the help I found for Third Senior Sister."
Yu Fei’s words made Yu Wenxiu lift her head and look at Shi Xiaole for the first time.
At first glance, he was very handsome, almost too handsome.
But on closer inspection, Yu Wenxiu sighed with disappointment. He looked to be in his early twenties, far too young. He wouldn’t stand a chance against Zhang Qiuhua or Lin Aotian. Even a top-tier young talent would probably defeat him.
Was her sixth junior brother trying to make fun of her?
"Third Senior Sister, Brother Shi’s martial arts skills are amazing. Even if there were two of me, I wouldn’t be able to beat him," Yu Fei quickly added as he noted her disappointment.
"Oh? Maybe we should put him to the test then. Seventh Junior Sister, please ask those five experts to come over."
Though not rated among the top talents of Mirror State, Yu Fei was at least a second-class talent. Given his commendation of the young man in the light blue robe, there must be something exceptional about him.
Yu Wenxiu didn’t think that Yu Fei would lie to her. Well, if he could beat any of the five experts, she might as well let him take the place. The stronger the team, the better.
"Wait a moment." Shi Xiaole, who had been silent all along, suddenly indicated for them to stop. "I can help Miss Yu in the competition, but you must agree to one condition of mine."
