The Zhan Shen Dao was forged from the finest Xuan Tie. It was three feet and three inches long, with a thick spine and a narrow blade. The hilt was jet black, the blade snow white, and the spine a dark crimson.
The black color was the natural hue of the Xuan Tie. The snow-white blade was the result of an ancient craftsman's three hundred and sixty-six days of meticulous grinding. The dark crimson spine was a consequence of blood seeping into the metal.
The Zhan Shen Dao was the most renowned blade in the Dragon Country and the global martial arts community in modern times.
It had drawn blood countless times on the extraterrestrial battlefield, including during the earth-shattering God War twelve years prior!
That was its last battle, and its most glorious one.
On that day, the strength of the extraterrestrial enemy leader surpassed that of a Five-Star War God; he was a legendary 'Heavenly God Realm' expert, invincible on the battlefield.
"I possess a blade that can slay Heavenly Gods!"
In that critical moment, Jiang Zhan, wielding the Zhan Shen Dao, unleashed a world-shattering strike at the extraterrestrial enemy leader, perishing with the enemy near the barrier, leaving behind only the Zhan Shen Dao stained with Heavenly God's blood.
After the God War concluded, the Zhan Shen Dao was planted atop the city walls of the ancient city of Loulan, becoming the Dragon Country's national blade.
Today, as Saint Lun @ Roman took that step towards the 'Heavenly God Realm,' stunning the crowd and ruthlessly imprisoning Jiang Wuming in a True Qi cage, intending to humiliate and force the Dragon Country's martial arts community into submission, the Zhan Shen Dao arrived. It was plunged into the ground before the main stage, exuding an overwhelming killing intent!
This sudden appearance shocked everyone present and those watching through the streaming platform of the God Network.
This was because the Zhan Shen Dao was too famous, having been the subject of discussions on the God Network forums multiple times.
The photograph of it planted in the ancient city of Loulan, in particular, had left a deep impression on martial artists worldwide!
"Why has the Dragon Country's national blade appeared at this critical moment?"
Amidst their shock, martial artists worldwide, gazing at the battle-scarred blade with its glorious combat record, were filled with questions.
As doubts arose, both the representatives from the various countries in the War God Hall, led by Saint Lun @ Roman, and the powerful members of the Dragon Country delegation, led by Qi Wufu, guessed what was happening and turned their attention towards the entrance of the martial arts arena.
The next moment.
An old man appeared in their sight.
He wore cloth shoes, a grey tunic, his hair was white, and he was skeletal, walking with a stoop.
The old man was frail and appeared to be at the end of his life, ready to depart the mortal world at any moment.
However—
Even so, the instant everyone saw the old man, their pupils dilated!
Because his name was Zhuge Lingjun.
He was once invincible in the mortal realm!
"Uh..."
As Zhuge Lingjun appeared, the members of the delegation, including Qi Wufu, were stunned.
Because, including Qi Wufu himself, no one knew that Zhuge Lingjun had returned, let alone brought the Zhan Shen Dao with him!
It wasn't just them; even the master and disciple duo Dawson and Gaid from the City of Sin, and Qi Tian and Caroline from the Underworld Hall, were somewhat bewildered.
They had not expected Zhuge Lingjun to appear at this moment either!
Only Shen Zui remained calm.
To be precise, from the moment Jiang Wuming was hijacked by Saint Lun @ Roman to Zhuge Lingjun's appearance, he had remained composed.
This calmness was not because he had anticipated Zhuge Lingjun's arrival!
It was because he firmly believed that his master, renowned as the foremost Go player in Dragon Country, would absolutely not allow his junior disciple to perish at such an event, thus prematurely ending the game!
Jiang Wuming's expression was also calm.
At this moment, he was the only one whose gaze was not fixed on Zhuge Lingjun; he did not know Zhuge Lingjun had arrived.
When the Zhan Shen Dao appeared, he had been captivated.
Currently, within the black cage, he stared motionlessly at the Zhan Shen Dao, radiating immense killing intent, planted before the main stage. A scene flashed in his mind.
It was a photograph he had once seen on the God Network forum.
In the photo, a tall, straight-backed man stood before an army formation, the Zhan Shen Dao strapped to his back.
It was his father's silhouette.
Swish, swish, swish...
Simultaneously, the faces of the members of the War God Hall delegation, including Saint Lun @ Roman, changed drastically!
This was because, according to the intelligence they had gathered, Zhuge Lingjun had suffered severe injuries during the God War twelve years ago and had been in seclusion at the Dragon Gate for recovery, never having emerged.
Both five years ago and this time at the Global Martial Arts Conference, the Dragon Country's Martial Arts Department had requested leave for Zhuge Lingjun.
And now, Zhuge Lingjun had suddenly appeared at the martial arts combat competition of the Global Martial Arts Conference!
And this occurred at the most critical juncture for the Dragon Country's martial arts community!
What did this imply?
First, Zhuge Lingjun had secretly arrived in London prior to this and had been monitoring the dynamics of the Global Martial Arts Conference.
Second, Zhuge Lingjun had arrived this time carrying the Dragon Country's national blade, clearly having come prepared!
Third, the Zhan Shen Dao arrived before Zhuge Lingjun himself, and its placement before the main stage was a declaration of intent!
"Invincible in the mortal realm, Zhuge Lingjun!"
"After twelve years of seclusion, Master Zhuge appears at the Global Martial Arts Conference with the Zhan Shen Dao. Something big is about to happen!"
"Damn it, our Dragon Country's martial arts world has always valued peace and human safety, yet these 'evil dragons' led by Saint Lun @ Roman have been pushing their luck and constantly causing us trouble. Today, they even want to force our submission—do they really think we're easy to bully?!"
"Heh... judging by Master Zhuge's past actions, those foreign riff-raff led by Saint Lun @ Roman are finished!!"
...
At the same time, the viewers in the God Network live stream erupted, and the chat was once again flooded with comments.
The Dragon Country's martial artists, who had been feeling wronged and unwilling, were instantly ignited with excitement!
This was because they knew what the name Zhuge Lingjun represented in the global martial arts world!
They also knew what the old man in cloth shoes and a grey tunic in the picture had done in the past!
Years ago, the Dragon Country's martial arts world had mobilized entirely to rescue Jiang Zhan, heading to the War God Hall's hunting squad base.
The War God Hall refused to release them, leading to a standoff. The situation was ultimately broken by Zhuge Lingjun.
On that day, after Zhuge Lingjun appeared, he said to Jiang Zhan and Ye Jinmei: "Little Zhan, Jinmei, let's go home."
As he spoke, Zhuge Lingjun intended to take the couple with him. When a strong expert from the War God Hall stepped forward to stop him, he did something.
He publicly threw his battle spear, planting it before Saint Lun @ Roman and the others, then said:
"After you have concluded your investigation, have someone send the findings and the spear back to Dragon Country."
Afterward, he left with Jiang Zhan and Ye Jinmei. No one, including Saint Lun @ Roman and all the War God Hall experts, dared to speak against him, nor did anyone dare to step over the spear!
Dominant, invincible.
That was the profound impression Zhuge Lingjun first left on martial artists worldwide.
Later, the War God Hall, led by Saint Lun @ Roman, propagated the "Dragon Country's Martial Arts Threat Theory" and used various means to suppress the Dragon Country's martial arts community. Zhuge Lingjun did something else.
First, he had his battle spear brought to the War God Hall council meeting, and then he personally appeared, saying five words: "I've come to retrieve my weapon."
At that time, the War God Hall council meeting was silent. Everyone watched as Zhuge Lingjun swaggered away.
Moreover, from then on, the War God Hall had to restrain itself and dared not openly suppress the Dragon Country's martial arts community!
Today.
With Jiang Wuming imprisoned in a True Qi cage by Saint Lun @ Roman, and the Dragon Country's martial arts community being trampled and humiliated under Saint Lun @ Roman's feet, what will this old man do upon his reappearance?!
...