Invincibility Begins with Mastery of Fist Techniques-Chapter 198 - 192: Alliance

'Zhou Yuanjue...'

Lately, that name had resounded like thunder. In the entire Donghua Martial Arts Realm, there was likely no one who hadn't heard of it.

The Saint Awakening Realm. In ancient times, it was the stuff of Martial World myths. Such a young Saint Awakening deserved this level of fame.

'Twenty-five... And I'm now fifty-three...'

A dazed look flickered in Wang Lin's eyes as he seemed to recall his own youth. At that age, he too had been just as confident and brazen.

Suppressing the faint, almost imperceptible irritation in his heart, Wang Lin began to focus his attention on the matter at hand.

As the Patriarch of the Wang Family, he had weathered countless storms over the years, faced all kinds of trials, and seen every sort of spectacle. This allowed him to immediately sense that something was wrong with this situation.

After so many years of opposition and conflict, no matter how secretive they were, there were bound to be tell-tale signs. He knew that the Changhe Martial Arts School likely had many hidden connections to the Secret Inspection Bureau.

And Zhou Yuanjue, this new Saint Awakening, was already registered with the Secret Inspection Bureau. No matter how you looked at it, he was essentially branded as part of their faction. Even in a friendly spar, a new Saint Awakening wouldn't injure Feng Chuan—a member of the same faction—so badly that he'd need to go into seclusion.

Moreover, with the relationship between the Changhe Martial Arts School and the Northern Martial Alliance escalating, this was a critical moment. For this man to arrive in the Northern Three Prefectures at this specific juncture was all the more suspicious.

If he connected this to his subordinates' descriptions of Wang Zhenwen's bizarre and severe injuries in the ring, he could basically draw one conclusion.

"I understand. Leave the item and go. Don't disturb me unless it's important."

Wang Lin's expression became calm, betraying no hint of his emotions. He waved his hand, dismissing the few Wang Family disciples.

The men exchanged a glance, bowed slightly to Wang Lin, then rose and left the study, closing the door behind them.

Silence returned to the study.

RIP!

Wang Lin tore open the formal invitation in front of him and began to read its contents.

"'To meet friends through martial arts and witness the world's heroes'? What a way to 'meet friends'!"

After reading the invitation, he had a basic understanding of Zhou Yuanjue's intentions for this visit.

This visitor did not come in peace.

Even if Feng Chuan, the old headmaster of Changhe Martial Arts School, was injured, it couldn't have been serious enough to warrant seclusion. The real target of this new Saint Awakening's visit to the Northern Three Prefectures was, in fact, their Northern Martial Alliance.

Feng Chuan was merely playing a part in a show to silence the gossiping masses.

"So this is a Saint Awakening..."

Wang Lin set down the invitation, sighing with a trace of wonder.

He could temporarily halt the conflict between Changhe Martial Arts School and the Northern Martial Alliance, buying time for the school's development. At the same time, he could do so without giving anyone an excuse for criticism or allowing the higher-ups to use this as a point of attack. To single-handedly take on the entire Northern Martial Alliance... only a mythical figure like a Saint Awakening could pull this off. Anyone else, no matter how high their status or how respected they were, could not accomplish such a thing.

It was like the tide of history washing in—grand, open, and aboveboard, sweeping everything before it. In its wake, conspiracies and schemes seemed crude by comparison.

This was the spirit of a Saint Awakening, even a newly ascended one.

'We just pulled some strings to have those few outstanding disciples from Changhe Martial Arts School transferred away, and now this happens...'

Wang Lin fell silent, his head lowered as he contemplated his next move.

'This isn't something the Wang Family can handle alone. Nor should we be the only ones to bear the burden.'

After a long moment, Wang Lin sighed, forced to admit this reality.

He secretly clenched his fists, his expression ugly. 'If only I were a Saint Awakening...'

'That's right. If you were a Saint Awakening.'

'Too bad you've lost your chance.'

'Reaching that realm requires a price. Perhaps you should try a different path.'

Just then, a voice seemed to whisper in Wang Lin's ear.

"Who's there?!"

Wang Lin shot up from his chair, his gaze sharp and fierce.

But after a long moment, the voice did not sound again.

Wang Lin carefully recalled it. At first, the voice had sounded strange, but upon closer recollection, he realized it was almost identical to his own.

It was like his own inner voice.

'Am I hearing things?'

Puzzled, Wang Lin sat back down, suppressing a growing restlessness within him. He took out his phone.

Zhou Yuanjue had not come in peace. Of course, he couldn't just follow the other man's rhythm and have the Wang Family bear the brunt of the impact.

Besides, he wasn't alone.

This was a matter for the entire Northern Martial Alliance to bear.

And so, an explosive piece of news spread rapidly from the Celestial Yang Wang Family throughout the upper echelons of the Northern Martial Alliance.

...

...

「Three hours later.」

The luxury hotel where Zhou Yuanjue and Ning Muqing were staying.

KNOCK KNOCK KNOCK!

Ning Muqing knocked on the door to Zhou Yuanjue's room.

"Come in."

Zhou Yuanjue's voice came from within. Sitting cross-legged on the floor, he looked at Ning Muqing as she entered and asked, "It's been a full three hours. Has the Celestial Yang Wang Family finally responded?"

"Yes, they've responded. That was more than enough time for them to come up with a countermeasure. However, the reply isn't from the Celestial Yang Wang Family."

Ning Muqing nodded, her expression grave.

She took out an envelope and handed it to Zhou Yuanjue.

Zhou Yuanjue looked up. The signature on the envelope was from the Martial Arts Association of the Northern Three Prefectures.

"This reply was sent in the name of the entire Northern Martial Alliance,"

Ning Muqing said in a low voice.

"The entire Northern Martial Alliance?"

"It seems the Patriarch of the Celestial Yang Wang Family sensed something was amiss. He knew the news released by the old headmaster was likely just an act. He's a sly old fox who's been navigating these circles for decades; his instincts are sharp. Playing games of conspiracy and intrigue with them really isn't my forte."

Upon hearing this, Zhou Yuanjue showed no surprise. Instead, a smile of amusement touched his lips.

When he'd made his move, he knew those guys wouldn't be so easily fooled. Their reaction was just faster, sharper, and more thorough than he had anticipated.

He tore open the envelope in his hand and slowly began to read the letter.

"Just as I thought."

He quickly finished the letter, shook his head slightly, and handed it to Ning Muqing.

"The Martial Arts Myth has graced the Northern Three Prefectures, and the Northern Martial Alliance has been remiss in its welcome... In three days, a Hero Assembly will be held in Songyang City. The younger generation of Martial Artists from the Northern Martial Alliance will gather, with a seat of honor awaiting the great Martial Arts Myth's arrival? This is a trap!"

After reading the letter's contents, Ning Muqing understood the Northern Martial Alliance's strategy.

They weren't going to follow Zhou Yuanjue's rhythm or give him the chance to pick them off one by one. They were uniting first.

'Since you've made such a grand entrance, let's see if you can really take on the entire Northern Martial Alliance!'