Chapter 44: Nationwide Movement

Chapter 44: Chapter 44: Nationwide Movement

Yu Hai and Huaiyi nodded woodenly.

"The Divine Dragon worshipped by the Divine Dragon Sect was probably something I caught for food. My ship broke apart in spacetime turbulence, and it arrived on this planet before I did. It bewitched the people of the Western Regions, who came to worship it as a divine being."

Li Ye looked at the two of them and said, "I was severely injured by the spacetime turbulence and lost all my Skill Level. I’m afraid I’m no match for it. That’s why I wanted to ask you two Grandmasters to help me slay the dragon."

’You lost all your Skill Level, yet you still crippled Murong Kaixin? Then what does that make us?’

Yu Hai glanced at Murong Kaixin, a dark look on his face. "Lord Li, our martial skills are comparable to Celestial Master Murong’s. If even you are no match for that Divine Dragon, wouldn’t we just be a burden to you?"

"Grandmaster Yu, you jest. I am not a reckless man. Since we’re going to slay a dragon, we must naturally be fully prepared," Li Ye said. "Otherwise, whether the beast escapes or we get injured by it, neither is an outcome I wish to see."

"How will we prepare?" Huaiyi asked.

"Even I was injured in the spacetime turbulence, so that abomination’s injuries should be no lighter than mine. However, it arrived here three years before me, established the Divine Dragon Sect, and has probably recovered a great deal using the Power of Faith. Therefore, I plan to slay the dragon one year from now."

Li Ye looked at the two of them and said seriously, "During this year, we will use the league to improve ourselves as much as possible.

"I estimate that in a year at most, my Skill Level will be enough to overpower that beast. Then, we’ll retrieve my Soul Devourer from Xiangli, and with everyone’s help, taking down that abomination shouldn’t be a problem."

Yu Hai and Huaiyi exchanged a look but said nothing.

"I am willing to lend Lord Li a hand," Murong Kaixin said weakly, eager to earn merit.

He had gone from arrogant and conceited to being beaten like a dog. Now, he trusted Li Ye the most.

After all, Li Ye’s injuries had been just as severe as his, yet now Li Ye was acting as if nothing had happened. The living proof was right in front of him, leaving no room for disbelief.

"I need Dragon Flesh to restore my Skill Level." Li Ye ignored Murong Kaixin and continued, "But I can’t eat a whole dragon by myself. After we slay it, you two Grandmasters are welcome to bring your disciples to enjoy a feast of Dragon Flesh.

"A Divine Dragon is a treasure from head to tail. A single bite of Dragon Flesh can increase one’s Skill Level by a hundred years. Dragon Blood can preserve one’s youth and beauty, and its Dragon Scales and Dragon Bones can be forged into Divine Weapons. My nickname is Timely Rain; I never mistreat my own people.

"Spatial jumps require sufficient physical strength. Once your bodies are strong enough, I can take you into the universe to explore a much vaster cosmos. Wouldn’t that be far more exhilarating than being trapped in this tiny little world?"

’Explore a much vaster cosmos?’

Yu Hai hesitated for a moment before saying, "Lord Li, could you allow us some time to consider this?"

"Of course. I know you don’t believe my words. You two Grandmasters can send people to investigate as you please," Li Ye said with a frank smile. "Just be careful not to startle that abomination. No matter what, it’s still a dragon. It’s not something you can deal with at your current level. If you alert it, I won’t let you off either."

"Thank you for the reminder, Lord Li," Yu Hai said with an awkward laugh. "You just mentioned retrieving Soul Devourer, but it’s in the hands of the Royal Family. And since you’ve injured Murong Kaixin, the Royal Family probably won’t give you much time, will they?"

"Soul Devourer is my weapon. Without knowing the proper way to use it, one might be able to unleash its power, but over time, they will inevitably suffer a backlash," Li Ye chuckled. "Murong Kaixin said Xiangli hasn’t been seen in a year. He’s probably already suffering from Soul Devourer’s backlash. Getting it back should be quite easy.

"Why don’t you two Grandmasters stay in Sirius Valley for a few days and lend me a hand in retrieving Soul Devourer? Then you will naturally know whether my words are true or false. It will also be a good opportunity to discuss the league with you both."

Yu Hai and Huaiyi exchanged glances, then stood up at the same time.

Yu Hai said, "In that case, we’ll impose on your hospitality."

Huaiyi smiled. "This old man is quite interested in interstellar matters. When you have the time, I hope you’ll tell me more about them, Li Ye."

With Murong Kaixin crippled, they no longer cared about the Chu Royal Family. If what Li Ye said was false, the National Guardian Grandmaster was gone, so there was nothing to fear from Chu Country.

If what Li Ye said was true, then that went without saying. Following Lord Li was definitely a better bet than protecting the Chu Royal Family...

No matter how they looked at it, they wouldn’t lose out.

"Of course."

Li Ye smiled and nodded.

His goal was to make the two Grandmasters stay. As long as they stayed, his plan was halfway to success.

Earth had well-developed cosmology, as well as all sorts of science fiction novels and scientific theories. It couldn’t be easier to use them to hoodwink two natives of a Martial World.

...

In fact, it didn’t even take two days for Yu Hai and Huaiyi to become completely convinced of Li Ye’s origins.

After all, the physical changes brought about by the Demon Qi couldn’t be faked.

Furthermore, when Shen Tuhong and Xu Chuan subsequently arrived at Sirius Valley with their newly formed football teams and announced the establishment of the Celestial Dao Alliance Club and the Red Flame Sect Club, Li Ye used a special feature in the *Football Newspaper* to promote them. This immediately caused the Demon Qi within their bodies to surge dramatically.

For a Grandmaster, even the slightest advancement in Skill Level was as difficult as ascending to heaven. But in just two short days at Sirius Valley, they had done nothing, and yet their Skill Level had undergone a world-shaking transformation. How could they not believe?

The two Grandmasters immediately became Li Ye’s most loyal followers. After learning from him about the wonders and splendor of the universe, they spent their days longing for the chance to achieve Ascension with Li Ye and explore the cosmos.

After all, in Li Ye’s telling, immortality was the most basic prerequisite for exploring the universe.

Who wouldn’t want to live forever?

As for making a name for themselves on the football pitch, that wasn’t just grandstanding—it was cultivation. As long as they could achieve Ascension, forget playing football; they’d be willing to do a handstand and eat shit.

The Celestial Dao Alliance controlled the righteous path of the Martial Arts World, while the Red Flame Sect controlled the unorthodox path.

With the two Grandmasters on board, advancing the league suddenly became much easier.

One after another, letters flew out from Sirius Valley.

The Three Sects and Five Schools established their own clubs almost on the very day they received the Grandmasters’ messages. Then, they rushed to Sirius Valley without stopping to participate in the so-called martial arts tournament.

That’s right, they were treating the league as a new kind of martial arts tournament.

Such was the influence of the leaders of the Martial Arts World.

...

The *Football Newspaper* reported on the latest club formations and match previews every day.

...

"Qingcheng Sect to face the Fun People Club in an away match at Sirius Valley on May 15th"

"Celestial Dao Alliance to face the Fun People Club in an away match at Sirius Valley on May 16th"

"Red Flame Sect to face the Fun People Club in an away match at Sirius Valley on May 17th"

"Celestial Dao Alliance’s Grandmaster Yu Hai to play as a forward; Planet Cup league champion likely to be either the Celestial Dao Alliance or the Red Flame Sect"

"With a huge disparity in member skill levels, can the Fun People Club make a comeback and defeat the Celestial Dao Alliance, a team with a Grandmaster?"

"Football is a team sport. Can a Grandmaster truly dominate the field alone?"

"Fun People Club founder Lord Li calls for the establishment of a Football Alliance, appointing himself the first Alliance Leader. The Football Alliance will standardize the rules of football and establish a points and penalty system."

"All football-related events must be registered with the Football Alliance"

"It’s been proven: you really can cultivate to become an Immortal through football! The cultivation methods in the storybooks are wrong."

"With guidance from a higher civilization, can the Great Chu Country break free from the shackles of a Level 1 civilization..."

...

Previously, the *Football Newspaper* only reported on football-related content.

But there was always a group of people in the world who were uninterested in, or even opposed to, a violent activity like football that disrupted productivity.

Li Ye steeled his heart and simply exposed the matter of Spiritual Power in the *Football Newspaper*.

The commotion he was causing was getting bigger and bigger; there was no way to hide it. 𝒻𝘳ℯℯ𝑤ℯ𝒷𝘯ℴ𝓋ℯ𝘭.𝑐ℴ𝑚

He could secretly investigate the Divine Dragon Sect, which meant the Divine Dragon Sect could just as easily investigate him.

After all, there was a connection between different sources of Demon Qi. He planned to make a run for it in a year, but the other party didn’t know that. Therefore, he had to be constantly prepared for the other two sources of Demon Qi to come for him.

As the old saying goes, you can’t spend a thousand days on guard against a thief. Rather than hoping for the best, he might as well go all out and truly promote football into a national sport. Maybe he’d even have a chance to unlock a second Derived Skill.

That way, even if they really did come for him, he would have the confidence to face them.