Chapter 963: Chapter 963: Secrets
"It’s neck and neck."
Li Feng gave a vague answer.
Hua Jiufeng glanced up at Li Feng.
"You’re being modest."
Hua Jiufeng said.
Huang Shuyao, who was brewing tea nearby, also looked up, surprised at her master’s high opinion of Li Feng.
And does he really compare to her senior brother?
"No need to argue. Since I said this, I obviously have the insight. I’ve watched your previous matches too."
"In the battle against Wushuang, you didn’t actually use your full strength. If you had shown your real abilities, you might have gotten hurt, but Wushuang would die."
Li Feng held his teacup without arguing, instead looking at Hua Jiufeng, waiting for his next words.
Seeing Li Feng didn’t argue, Hua Jiufeng smiled and continued.
"Do you know why I say this? Because there’s a murderous aura in you. Wushuang, whom I taught from a young age, may be talented and praised as the top of the younger generation."
"But ultimately, he hasn’t weathered big storms, everything has been too smooth for him."
"Like a flower in a greenhouse, however bright it may bloom, it may wither when faced with a storm."
"Oh!"
Li Feng looked at Hua Jiufeng, "Elder Hua, why tell me this?"
These words seemed a bit baffling.
Because it’s unnecessary, and the misunderstanding between him and Huang Shuyao doesn’t warrant Hua Jiufeng intervening personally. After all, there isn’t an irreconcilable vendetta between them.
Hua Jiufeng observed his clear, bright eyes, showing no sign of apprehension or tension as a junior in front of him.
"Because the martial arts tournament’s conspiracy is deeper than you know."
"Don’t deny it. While I don’t know why you’re participating in this tournament, it’s definitely not just for fun."
"You might know some inside information."
"I won’t ask about your purpose, but do you truly understand the tournament’s conspiracy?"
"Please enlighten me, Elder Hua."
Li Feng straightened his expression, although he wasn’t sure why Hua Jiufeng was saying these things, he hoped to hear some unknown information from him.
"Do you know why there’s so much novelty in this year’s regional selections, with rules changing repeatedly from the preliminaries instead of the previous pure arena battles?"
"Why?"
This question actually aroused Li Feng’s curiosity, since he’d watched last year’s tournament, which was mainly focused on arena battles.
This year indeed had too many novelties.
"Because the martial arts tournament is nearly monopolized."
"Our current world can be called the secular world, yet unbeknownst to the public, there exists a High Martial World."
"This High Martial World pursues cultivation and asking, not participating in secular conflicts, but cannot completely exist separate from the secular world."
"Because there are so few people in the High Martial World, it lacks the ability to renew itself, and to absorb fresh blood, a promotion channel was created."
"Which is the National Martial Arts Tournament, selecting the best talents from the secular world to enter the High Martial World, adding fresh blood."
"And the monopoly you mentioned earlier?"
"The High Martial World exists as sects. These hidden sects evolved from the hundred schools of thoughts during the Spring and Autumn and Warring States, remain hidden since Confucianism was made supreme in Yan Country."
"Today, in the High Martial World, aside from those born to sect members who are recognized directly as sect members, the other significant avenue is cultivation families!"
"Cultivation families exist in the secular world, but are intricately linked with the High Martial World as their members are essentially strong figures from the sects."
"In our Yan Country, there’s a saying, ’When one person attains the Tao, chickens and dogs ascend to heaven.’"
"This applies here as well."
"A cultivation family founded by sect members of the High Martial World can only be established if they at least reach elder status."
"Oh, and what are the benefits of a cultivation family?"
Li Feng asked.
"Naturally, there are benefits. As mentioned before, sect members’ offspring are directly recognized as sect members."
"Although there’s no explicit rule in the High Martial World prohibiting marriages with the secular world, it implicitly limits such marriages because even if you do marry and have children, they won’t be recognized by the sect."
"But cultivation families are different; internally, they have a promotion channel. Direct heirs with superb talent are given a sect trial opportunity annually."
"Therefore, those eligible to establish families wield notable power, constantly adding fresh blood, maintaining their influence."
"But this also makes the High Martial World become just a High Martial World for some, thus observant people united to create the martial arts tournament to introduce fresh blood."
"There are only ten spots available in each National Martial Arts Tournament, which isn’t a lot, right?"
"Heh, actually, just entering the national tournament means stepping into the High Martial World’s door, the latter competitions become trials."
"Trials presented to all sects of the High Martial World, and the ten strongest earn the privilege to choose a sect, while others wait to be selected."
"If no one chooses them, they’re deemed unfortunate and face elimination, of course, this isn’t openly declared."
Turns out, it’s like this. The top ten have the privilege of choice, while others simply await selection.
But this is more than expected.
"And in recent years, this promotion channel of the tournament is watched by powerful sects, usually sending their secular family members to compete."
"These cultivation families possess some exclusive cultivation techniques of the High Martial World, culminating in the tournament becoming their battleground."
"Turning it into a channel for their advancement, and naturally, those dispatched are loyal to their family, making smaller sects grind their teeth."
Li Feng understood.
In the High Martial World, influential figures can establish cultivation families and possess an internal promotion channel, constantly strengthening themselves, while smaller sects with insufficient self-renewal must absorb new blood to survive.
Ultimately, these powerful sects leverage their cultivation families to seize spots.
And if you recruit too many, your smaller sect risks becoming their vassal.
"So you create so many tricks to eliminate cultivation family members?"